Noted economist Dr. Hank Fishkind says of Florida’s housing market that “things may not be great but there’s also no indication that they’re getting any worse.” Fishkind says that the latest housing starts numbers confim that the market has bottomed out.

Fishkind does not believe that Florda resale prices will drop any further over the next 18 to 36 months.  He does think they will remain flat.

Fishkind’s website is a good resource for economic data.  You can see his latest forecasts and also his powerpoint presentations. 

In his weekly radio address on WMFE in Orlando He says, “While recovery may be some time off, it is clear that Florida’s housing markets have bottomed out.”

Please give me a call if you have questions abour our Bradenton, Florida real estate market.  You can reach me, Dan Forbes, at 941-746-0505 or toll free 877-646-8326.  Also visit my web site at BradentonFloridaRealEstate.Com  

There is an easy path through life and a hard path.  Some people try to climb up the rocky side of the mountain while others take the Sky Lift up. You can take the hard path through life or the easy path.  It’s all up to you and the choices you make.The hard path is the path of resistance. It is when you learn life’s lessons the hard way. It is stubbornness and ego. It is the need to be right.  It is the path of conflict, pain, failed relationships, disappointment, scarcity, and problems. It involves climbing over rough rocks and steep ravines in an effort to reach the top of the mountain.  Some never make it.  The mountain takes its toll.

On the other hand, the easy path is the path of least resistance. It is when you learn life’s lessons from those who have gone before.  It is doing the right things, at the right time, for the right reasons. It is the path of peace, happiness, harmonious relationships, accomplishment, abundance, and joy. Instead of struggle, it is the path of ease paved by faith, belief, and allowing.

The really, really neat thing about all this is that rather than taking the hard path up to the top of the mountain you have a choice.  The easy path is already there.  Take it if you want to.  Life is always about choices.

Two paths lie before you today.  Which will you take? The choice is yours.

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(Copyright © 2007 By Dan Forbes, All Rights Reserved.)

Please give me a call if you have questions abour our Bradenton, Florida real estate market.  You can reach me, Dan Forbes, at 941-746-0505 or toll free 877-646-8326.  Also visit my web site at BradentonFloridaRealEstate.Com  and my blog at The Real Estate ZOO.

Today is my birthday.  I have reached the double-nickel, 55 years old. As I drove to my office this morning I countinued my routine of giving thanks for life’s blessings.  It’s a habit I’ve cultivated, beginning each day with an attitude of gratitude.I am so happy and grateful for my health and life.  It’s exciting to be alive! I am amazingly grateful for my family, my wife, my kids, and my grandkids. I am happy to enjoy my career, my real estate team, and my partnership. I am blessed to live in a beautiful home, in a beautiful community, in a beautiful place in Florida.

Today is a super-terrific day full of wonderful opportunities.

Here’s a few things I’ve learned over my 55 years.  These principles guide me daily.

1. To always give my best.  I always look for ways to improve myself.

2. To live by the Golden Rule.  Be happy, friendly, courteous, and POSITIVE. 

3. To always keep my word.  I will keep my promises and always OVER-DELIVER. 

4. To treat others with honesty, fairness & kindness. My REPUTATION is my most important ASSET.  I will be above reproach and trustworthy.  I will be kind to others.

5. To offer encouragement to others along the way. I will be helpful and ENCOURAGING to others.  I will not criticize or condemn.  I will always speak positively TO and OF others.

6. To learn from every experience, even failure. I know that I will sometimes fail and that’s OK, as long as I learn from it. 

7. To always get back up when I fall down.  Never, Never, NEVER give up.  PERSISTENCE is the key to success.  I will remember, that in the battle between the rock and the river, the river always wins.  Not because it is bigger or stronger, but through the power of persistence.

8. To live the principle, “Anything worth doing is worth doing right”.  I will always strive to do the RIGHT THINGS and then to DO THINGS RIGHT.  I will do it right the first time.

9. To have a “Whatever it takes” attitude in life and work. “That’s not my job,” is not in my vocabulary. 

10. To live and work enthusiastically.  I will consistently look for ways to make life fun and my business more efficient, profitable, and FUN. 

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I’m Dan Forbes and I want to be your Realtor and resource for all your Bradenton Florida Real Estate needs.

Don’t miss this week’s meeting of the Bradenton Real Estate Club, Friday at 11:45 a.m. (see details below)

Jim Willig of Sire Properties and President of the Sarasota Real Estate Investors Association, is our speaker. Jim is going to talk about

 “13 Deadly Mistakes Made by New Investors”.

Follow this link to see all of our upcoming events:
http://www.bradentonrealestateclub.com/Events.htm

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BRADENTON REAL ESTATE CLUB

WHEN: Every Friday Arrive: 11:45 - 12:15 Networking, Order and enjoy lunch ($13.00 includes lunch, drink, and tip). Meeting: 12:15 - 1:15 Discussion/Presentation

WHERE: Stoneybrook Clubhouse in Heritage Harbour, 7515 Grand Harbour Parkway, Bradenton, Florida 34212.(I-75Exit 220, go one mile East on State Road 64 to entrance).

WHAT: This is a round-table luncheon and discussion of real estate topics and trends open to investors, landlords, owners, renters, buyers, and sellers. We help investors by focusing on Information, Motivation, Education, Training, and Networking.

INFO: For information call Dan Forbes at 941-746-0505 or visit our web site at http://www.BradentonRealEstateClub.com
I hope to see you there!
Dan

P.S. Please visit my Blog at http://TheRealEstateZoo.com

There is a lot of attention on short sales in our Bradenton - Sarasota market right now. This series of posts is intended to help sellers, buyers, and Realtors understand the short sale process. Everyone involved in a short sale transaction needs to know what to expect. 

Buyers of short sale properties need to understand what they are getting into. Some buyer’s believe that they are going to be able to “steal” a property and make a killing by reselling it.  They have heard the stories that investors tell and think it’s a piece of cake to buy a property fifty cents on the dollar.

While that may be the case in some instances it is not the norm and should not be expected. Remember, the lender wants to sell the property as close to market value as possible.  In fact, most lenders have pretty rigid guidelines as to how far below market value they will sell for.  Beyond that point, they will take the house back in foreclosure. Today’s lender is expecting about 83% of the market value of the property.

For the seller, the best buyer is what I call the “end-user” buyer.  That is, a buyer who is actually going to live in the property.  If you sign a contract with an investor who is looking to offer only 50% of market value, it is unlikely that the sale will be approved.  Plus, you will lose valuable time looking for a new buyer.

So, what do “end-user” buyers need to know?

• Buyer’s need to know that short sales require patience.  It may take 2-4 months to complete the transaction.

• They should be pre-approved before submitting an offer.  The borrower’s lender is going to require proof of funds if it’s a cash deal or a commitment letter if there is financing involved.

• A buyer offering to close quickly with a substantial down payment is more attractive than one seeking 95% financing.

• Buyers may not want to spend money on a home inspection or appraisal until after the short sale is approved.

• Buyers should expect to buy the home in it’s as is condition.  The seller doesn’t have any money to make repairs and the lender is going to require an as-is offer.

• Buyers should only work with Realtor’s who are knowledgeable about the short sale process. Inexperienced agents may hinder the transaction.

(Copyright © 2007 By Dan Forbes, All Rights Reserved. This material is excerpted from Everything You Need to Know About Short Sales, by Dan Forbes)

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Please give me a call if you have questions abour our Bradenton real estate market.  You can reach me, Dan Forbes, at 941-746-0505 or toll free 877-646-8326.  Also visit my web site at BradentonFloridaRealEstate.Com  and my blog at The Real Estate ZOO.