When you choose the Naples real estate agent who will be your home-marketing partner, you are choosing someone who will need to fill many roles: marketer, stager, tour guide, negotiator.  And don’t leave out another role -- psychology major!   

 To build our kind of successful track record, a real estate agent needs to study and understand the way prospective buyers think about their search for a future home, how they are likely to react to different forms of presentation, and what builds or detracts from the value they assign to your property. It’s psychology, all right -- and it’s usually an integral part of any sales or marketing success.

  A good example of how psychology can affect a real estate transaction comes from a study done at the University of Texas. There they have a Real Estate Finance and Development Program. A couple of years back, they began conducting some psychological studies, and one of them used sophisticated statistical tools and a huge sample of real estate transactions.

 What’s fascinating is what they discovered about using the word “new.” Real estate agents who marketed homes with phrases like “new paint,” “new carpets,” and “new roof” wound up selling them for slightly less than those who did not!  

  The study’s explanation is that, for homes that are not brand new, touting “all new” features seems to call attention to the fact that the items mentioned needed to be replaced. It unnecessarily opened the door to suspicions about what went wrong that made replacement necessary. 

A more effective strategy is one that I frequently favor: under-promise and overdeliver. Rather than trying to convince buyers how “new” an older home is, do the renewal work, but don’t brag about it.  Then when potential buyers walk into the home, they will be impressed by the new carpets and fresh paint.  It’s the approach that uber-successful Zappos company founder Tony Hsieh calls “surprise and delight.” What is effective for leading a company and retaining customers can also be psychologically effective for selling a Pelican Bay or Bay Colony home.

 As a leading real estate agent in Naples, Florida community,  I am constantly reminded of how important it is to never stop learning. If you are considering selling your home and are looking for cutting-edge marketing and advice, I hope you’ll contact me for a complimentary consultation.

You don't have to be a real estate professional to search the Multiple Listing System (MLS) for the home of your dreams.  In fact, with the help of Ginny Lee, America's Best Agent for Pelican Bay, you can do it yourself and see exactly what properties are on the market at any given time.

 America's Best Agents knows that most home buyers like to have the option to do some of the searches for property themselves.  You can have that same option!  How can you search the MLS on your own?  It's simple!  Sign up for aListingbook Account by clicking on this link.  A courtesy service from America's Best Agents, it is FREE and will give you the access that you need to find your new home.  Searches can be performed on the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, your price requirements and your preferred locations.  You can view your results instantly – all without the help of a realtor.  Just give me a call when you are ready to see the property in person.

  Having access to the MLS is a great way for you to go ahead and find several properties that might suit your needs, or even provide a way for you to see what might be available in your area.  America's Best Agents wants to give you all the tools you need to find your dream home.  Contact us today for more information our our agents or using the MLS/Listingbook system. 

For more information about Naples, Pelican Bay, or America's Best Realtors, just go to Ginny's website or call! 

www.ginnylee.com
239-591-3225

All of life’s major projects take preparation, and selling a home in Pelican Bay and Bay Colony requires just that.  Contacting me is a pretty good place to begin, because selling a home efficiently and within a reasonable amount of time most often takes extensive knowledge of the Naples market. A checklist is a good way to introduce the steps you can take to prepare for selling a home. Here’s a quick overview of five of the items I include in that checklist:

 1. The obvious first step is identifying any major problems and determining what should be done about them. Decide whether you are going to fix items like roof leaks, rewiring, insect infestations or the presence of asbestos -- or whether you are going to reduce your asking price to reflect any unremediated issues.  I can provide input to help you establish where possible value may be added or lost, and what is worth your time and investment to fix.

 2. Whenever you return home, take a moment to pause and visualize what someone seeing your home for the first time will see. Make a solid first impression by tidying the front yard and keeping the lawn neatly cut and edged. Strategically place colorful flowers in planters where that is appropriate. Repair fences and gates, and be certain that they look freshly painted. And if Fido has the run of the place, be sure that his (ahem!) evidence is nowhere to be seen.

  3. Stage your home to maximize its appeal – and keep in mind that staging needs to be fresh for every prospect. Remove any unnecessary furniture. That may well mean renting a storage unit to place it and all other clutter into (it’s bound to be a better solution than trying to jam everything into closets or the garage!). Paint walls in light, neutral colors. Remove heavy window treatments to let in as much light as you can (the ‘cheeriness factor’). Keep the kitchen and bathroom as spotless as possible. Make sure that your home smells fresh by opening windows and using flowers, candles or air fresheners; but be careful not to overdo it.   I can be especially helpful at this stage, and if it’s indicated, we can discuss whether it makes sense to hire a professional stager.

 4. Have the property's value appraised, and educate yourself about the competition. For a bank to issue a loan, your home must compare favorably with similar properties on the market. When we sit down to establish a list price, we’ll need to keep that research and the recent and best comparables in mind. 

 5. This is my favorite to-do item: Be prepared to go!  If a move is going to be in your future, you should begin the hunt for a new home, and be prepared to move quickly once you have an executed offer!

 These are just a few of the steps I help my clients take before listing to get top dollar for their properties.  If you are considering selling a home in Naples, call me today to see how I can put my marketing experience to work for you.

This is usually the time of year when Florida residents have gotten through tax season, heaved a sign of relief, and gone back to working on more important matters – like earning enough to make reducing taxes a goal worth pursuing. (Taxes are always low for Forida Residents)

 This year, the latter part of April may be a little different. Because this is an election year, tax matters are already being widely debated, and changes that could affect everyone are more possible than usual. I am bringing these topics up for discussion with the firm caveat that your own planning (including Pelican Bay and Bay Colony home buying decisions) should always be made after consultation with the financial experts you trust. Currently, federal and Florida rules carry tax benefits that can greatly reduce a homeowner’s tax liability. They are very unlikely to be eliminated, but you may want to keep your ear tuned whenever you hear these topics under discussion, because seemingly minor changes can have major impacts. 

Mortgage Interest and Points

 Many renters found that they were able to use the standard deduction tables to simplify their federal filings.  Homeowners, on the other hand, were usually better off using itemized deductions because of the welcome mortgage interest deduction. Qualifying points paid to obtain a mortgage can also generally be deducted in the year they are paid.

 IRA Penalties

 Everyone with a standard Individual Retirement Account has heard about the penalties for withdrawing funds before retirement age. But currently there is an exception in some home buying situations. Generally, some IRA funds can be applied to home buying (or building) a first home without those tax penalties. The catch is that you can only withdraw up to $10,000 over your entire lifetime (not annually). Those with Roth IRAs may find additional tax advantages, too.
  Real Estate Taxes

 Qualifying local and Florida's property taxes can amount to sizeable deductions, if you make the Florida residence your main residence! (that only means 6 months and a day)
 

As in all financial planning, you should consult your accountant or other tax professional before making any important decisions.  And whenever buying or selling  a Pelican Bay or Bay Colony property makes sense for your family, I’m standing by to answer all of your real estate questions.

With more than 1,000,000 members the National Association of Realtors^® is the nation’s largest trade association. It’s no wonder that what it says carries a lot of weight. When a gargantuan outfit like NAR makes a prediction, its words may not always make headlines, but they do influence everyone whose job it is to forecast the future of the nation’s economic activity.

 That’s why their most recent report dealing with pending home sales put smiles on many of those one million members’ faces.

  “The spring home buying season looks bright,” according to Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “If activity is sustained near present levels, existing-home sales will see their best performance in five years.”

 Like all statistics, those he was describing can be looked at in more than one way. We know that some numbers are more reliable than others. This particular index is based on an unusually large sample: about 20% of all transactions for existing home sales. It’s a forward-looking indicator: in the past, it has signaled coming trends before they materialize. This index seldom produces a straight line of activity because of seasonal and monthly ups and downs, but this time a trend is evident that is “notably above the pattern from a year ago.”

 Our Pelican Bay and Bay Colony home sales patterns are not invariably tied to national trends -- but they aren’t impervious to them, either.  So we are pleased when our own impression that the spring market is looking up is borne out by the experts who deal in the broader picture. “Based on all of the factors in the current market,” Yun went on, he expects to see “sales rising 7 to 10 percent in 2012.” 

  Real estate is a famously local phenomenon, and although we keep an eye on the national and state markets, our real attention is always centered right here inNaples, Florida. If you have questions about your own real estate outlook, call me anytime for a consultation focused on your neighborhood. 

When it comes time to put their home on the market, the Number One topic Naples sellers focus on is Pelican Bay and Bay Colony home and condo prices:  home prices historically, home prices this April, projected home prices in the future. What many sellers don’t truly realize is that they have more control over the price their home fetches than they may think. 

 Smart application of remodeling dollars to maximize a property’s salability is the earliest and most important action a homeowner can take. If you plan to remain in your home for the foreseeable future, lifestyle and personal preference issues will rightly get your attention. But if a move is on your planning horizon, remodeling decisions should be hard-eyed business decisions. In my experience, there are three rooms that buyers are particularly interested in – and homeowners bent on raising their own Naples home prices should share that interest!

 Kitchens can drastically raise or lower home prices.  Since kitchens have evolved into the major social hubs of American homes, increasing its size can be superbly cost-effective. If there is a possibility of and opening it up to living space by knocking down a non load-bearing wall, it is well worth considering. Upgrading appliances to stainless steel, replacing countertops with granite or other stone, and refinishing kitchen cabinets can absolutely give some much-needed appeal to an outdated kitchen. Just switching out old hardware for contemporary substitutes can add appreciably to a kitchen’s appeal.

  Families spend much of their time in their living rooms – and even if they don’t, psychologically, it can seem the center of family activity. A cramped, cluttered and dark space will detract from other more attractive features of a home. A living room can be made into a bright and welcoming space by making inexpensive changes, such as removing all but essential furniture, painting walls a neutral color, and removing drab window coverings to let in as much light as possible. Replacing worn carpet with a wood laminate -- or refinishing long-covered wooden floors -- can take a bit more elbow grease and budget, but can be worth the cost.

In the master bedroom, homebuyers want to visualize a sanctuary where they can escape from the trials of their busy lives. Simple but effective changes can make all the difference. Remove large pieces of furniture (particularly desks and computers)…in other words, aggressively de-clutter.  Find pale, tranquil and soothing colors for the walls, and choose simple bed linens in complimentary colors (think “hotel luxury”). Make sure that clothes are not on show and that closet spaces are tidy, even if it means putting some of your apparel into storage. 

The goal is always to make changes that allow buyers to see the potential in a home; it’s how individual local home prices can rise above general market trends.  If you’re considering selling a property and would like to discuss home prices in Pelican Bay and Bay Colony and ways to maximize values, give me a call today so we can schedule a free consultation! 

Tenant or Owner? With rental rates rising, a lot more tenants in Pelican Bay are likely to be wondering whether they should be taking a new look at their residence situation. 

Conceptually, paying your own mortgage has always seemed more appealing than paying a landlord’s mortgage every month.   Especially this time of year, when tax time puts the whole year’s finances out there on one piece of paper, seeing how thousands of dollars have slipped away for another year can be a little frustrating.  Not surprisingly, then, this is a time of year when, as a buyer’s agent, I begin hear the phone ring a little more often! 

Seen from the long term perspective, dollars put toward a home you are buying go toward building a future -- something rent dollars cannot do. But there are more intangible benefits to owning versus renting: control over the title being potentially the most valuable.  Any tenant who has been forced to move because the homeowner needed to sell, or was foreclosed upon, or decided to move back in himself, is someone who has learned the value of controlling when their next family move should happen.

  For tenants newly considering becoming a first-time homeowner, consulting Me as your agent is the place to start. An experienced agent can help you determine a practical budget, and then guide the pre-qualifying process to make it happen. 

The next step will be to identify properties that fall within your budget.  Are there neighborhoods you have always wanted to live in, but thought you couldn’t afford?  In today’s market, just about every neighborhood – even the most chichi ones – have experienced some foreclosures.  A buyer’s agent can help you identify potential homes at bargain prices.  Some might need a little work, but the long-range payoff can be worth it. 

 The bottom line? Everyone has to pay to live somewhere, and in today’s market, owning a home in Pelican Bay  is more attainable than ever.  With mortgage rates still at near-historic lows, if you are on the verge of becoming a former renter, now is the time to consult me.  I am always available for questions -- and would be happy to schedule a pre-qualification consultation anytime you decide it is worth exploring.

With spring in the air, notions of fresh starts and new horizons have a way of pushing into just about everybody’s consciousness. It’s only natural, whether because of the weather, school schedules, or everything else around us that seems fresh and new. And something else is in the air, too: if past history is any guide, now is also simply the most popular time of year to sell or buy Naples, Florida property.

 For those with a home to sell, this is traditionally the most active time to be in the real estate market. Homes entered in Naples property listings during springtime can be expected to attract buyers more quickly, and they stand a better chance of fetching a good price. With 60% of moves in America taking place during the summer months (most likely a reflection of the school year schedule), it stands to reason that spring is a great time to get your Naples property onto the market.

 For potential homebuyers expecting to shop for a new home sometime this year, there is ample reason to swing into action sooner rather than later.Pelican Bay property listings can be expected to conform to the national trend: at a rapidly rising rate, Realtors® expect constant or higher residential prices in the coming year (73% vs. 62% just three months ago, according to the NAR). Following the past few years of price declines, it won’t be surprising if the market’s recovery brings a rapid rise in prices. Then the bargains people have begun to take for granted could quickly become tomorrow’s regretful “I could have bought that house for only $---” stories…that happens again and again. Those who know they are going to be in the market this year should seriously consider getting in the market!

  For both buyers and sellers, spring is the most popular season for a number of reasons. Especially for families with kids in school, or anyone whose business is geared to encourage summer vacations, it’s also the most sensible time to act. Whether you will be adding your own contribution to Naples, Florida and Pelican Bay propertylistings, or beginning to comb those property listings to zero in on a new home, do get in touch with me to help make this spring the one that makes 2012 your Year of the Big Move!

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The investment- and vacation-home markets have been among the first to show signs of real estate resurgence, according to the people who keep track of such things (as usual, the National Association of Realtors® is one). It might seem unlikely, given the general view that the housing sector continues to post mixed signs of recovery. But when you think about it, there are reasons why it could make perfect sense. A few that come to mind:

 * The price is right. If the overall real estate market is in fact in the process of rebounding, it’s still so early that no one can be certain it will be strong -- or even that it will continue. You couldn’t describe a more appealing situation for small investors who have been biding their time, waiting for the right bargain to pounce upon. Investment home prices rose 6.4% last year (of course, because rents were rising), yet the median vacation-home price was down over 19%! Talk about vacation bargains! All of a sudden, the daydream of affordable beach houses for sale seems to have become a reality.

 * The market is open. Right now, there are also strong inventories of vacation and beach houses for sale – many of them located in attractive settings. Many of those settings also happen to be the very places were the real estate market is still digging out from under the foreclosure mess. This makes it easy for people to find vacation- or investment-home opportunities that previously would have been out of their price range.

* Interest rates are low. Low interest rates make a second mortgage even more affordable for those seeking a luxury vacation home.  Today's interest rates signal savings throughout the term of the loan, which is even more appealing for those seeking a second home. Combined with the sheer volume of beach houses for sale, this makes it the ideal time to purchase a dream vacation or retirement home.

  *Optimism on the rise. When the wolf is at the door, few of us are tempted to make luxury purchases. And for years, it seemed like the only news about the economy was bad. But declining unemployment numbers, soaring stock markets, and the resulting good news for retirement accounts can change attitudes…the same attitudes that underlie investment decisions of every kind.

  A second home can be a vehicle to generate investment income. Or it might be the fulfillment of a long-held dream. For those fortunate enough to have put aside some disposable cash, today any one of those mountain or beach houses for sale could wind up representing both! 

One of the best places to buy now is Pelican Bay in Naples, Florida, Cloise to the beach

Click Here to Check it out!  Life just doesn't get any better than Paradise!

In an age where technology is king, the concept of free and widespread listing syndication at first sounded promising to agents and consumers alike. “Listing Syndication” is the term used when third parties – including big Internet outfits like Zillow and Trulia -- take Pelican Bay real estate agents’ listings and put them up on their humongous national websites.

 Most Pelican Bay real estate agents thought to themselves ‘Great! – now everyone in the country can see my clients’ home listing; we will get the word out nationally.’ And they were right about that, up to a point. But now some serious scrapping has broken out, and the details are something I think readers will find useful to think about. They affect what happens whenever you look for a Pelican Bay or Bay Colony real estate property, or put your own up for sale.

  For Pelican Bay house-hunters, the biggest issue with syndicators is information that is either out of date or inaccurate. To any would-be homebuyer, sites like Zillow or Trulia hit them first: they’re always smack dab at the top of the Google or Bing pages when you look on the web. What isn’t apparent is that such websites don’t always offer all of the homes or data that might be available through a Pelican Bay real estate agent.

  Rather than using feeds that offer each viewer the freshest information possible, syndicators lead those searching for a new home through a dizzy trail of listings. Moreover, if you have ever used them, you probably know that some of those have usually expired. In addition, syndicators are real search engine hogs; local real estate agents have to battle against their Google-engineered pages to get a top spot. As a result, house-hunters may be unable to find what the very local housing market and its most active agents have to offer.

 As well as failing to deliver accuracy to consumers, syndicators may lead consumers in the wrong direction when they do find a house that interests them. If a listing agent is not willing to pay Zillow a monthly fee for the privilege of having listings accurately placed at the top of the search results, a consumer may find a different agent's contact information displayed. It’s easy to see why some agents are fuming about this, but more importantly, it may do damage to the client’s experience. Just because an agent is at the top of a search result does not mean that he or she can answer important questions a buyer may have about that listing. 

  Finally, it is not uncommon for consumers to experience confusion when it comes to listing prices. Syndication has in the past led to inaccurate information about prices to be published online, even duplicates with different prices. Yikes. 

 However, those slowly evolving issues don’t totally cancel the early promise of wide syndication. Personally, I love the wealth of information syndication provides consumers.  Technology and free access to information are boons to us all.  However, when it comes to buying a house in Pelican Bay, sometimes there’s no replacement for the human touch. 

Call me anytime for the personal service only I can give you because I have been Living, loveing and selling Pelican Bay and Bay Colony since 1984 and no one knows this area better than Ginny Lee, No One!