Bradenton Real Estate ~ and Beyond

LEOPARD CREEK AND VALDERRAMA AT LAKEWOOD RANCH, COUNTRY CLUB EAST, IS AN EXCLUSIVE, GATED, AND ECO-FRIENDLY, GREEN COMMUNITY of homes built around an 18 hole private golf course in Lakewood Ranch, FL (Bradenton, FL)

Learn more about this fantastic community!:  BRADENTON, LAKEWOOD RANCH, MANATEE COUNTY, NEW CONSTRUCTION, HOMES.

Enjoy the video showcasing the area and the Lakewood Ranch Community!

If you're actively involved in today's Real Estate market, you've either heard the term "short sale" or you may even be selling your home or buying a home by short sale.  Short sales and foreclosures are still, indeed, a large part of the market and below you will find some short sale tips and advice that will help you navigate through a "short sale transaction" process with a little less stress and frustration.

SHORT SALE SELLER TIPS

• Share the full story of your situation with your Real Estate agent.  Your agent will not be able to represent your interests to the best of their ability if they don't have all of the pieces to the puzzle.   This includes the details of your "financial hardship"... you will need to compose a "hardship letter" to present to the bank with your request to sell your home for short sale and your agent needs to understand the situation in its entirety so that they can negotiate, with the bank, effectively on your behalf.  Make sure to get your financial documents in order and make copies for your agent.  The bank will be asking for documentation of your employment, assets, and taxes.  You may need to update these documents throughout the process depending on the time it takes to get a purchase offer.  Assembling this information in advance will expedite the listing process and you will be ready when an offer comes in for your home.
• Make sure your home is "show ready" at all times!  There's lots of competition out there right now so do your best to present your home in its best light.  A quicker sale means that this painful chapter in your life will close sooner and you and your family can move on to a better future.
  
• Do not sell or remove appliances or any fixtures (anything that is "attached") that is being sold with your home.  It is sometimes tempting to a seller in financial distress to "swap out" appliances or fixtures with inferior replacements... DON'T DO IT!  This could cause the buyer to walk away from the transaction and the process to sell your home would have to begin again.
• Be cooperative and responsive... your agent is working hard to help you resolve an unhappy situation and your quick response to a request by your agent or your bank will ensure the fastest and most positive outcome.
• Do not enter into any legal or financial transactions or situations without first discussing your plans with your agent. If you're contemplating further financial or legal maneuvers... bear in mind that they could adversely affect or halt the "short sale" process and the sale of your home. 
• If you are selling an "investment home" by short sale make sure to keep the property secure and check it or, if you're not a local resident, have someone else check periodically to make sure the property is secure and the operating systems are functioning properly.  It is heart breaking when a sale is delayed or halted due to vandalism.  (which is, unfortunately, an issue with distressed property sales, especially investment properties and foreclosure homes because there is generally no one living there)
• Treat yourself with care!  Eat right, exercise, try to stay positive,  and participate in uplifting activities.  This will help you deal with the stress that is unavoidable with a "challenged" financial period in your life.

SHORT SALE BUYER TIPS

• Be realistic about the length of time involved with a "short sale purchase."  Traditionally, short sales can take anywhere from 3 - 6 months to go to closing.  Ask your agent to explain the process thoroughly and stop him/her to raise questions or concerns about any part of the transaction as it is explained to you.  Remember, although this will be a bit different in terms of time frames and third party involvement by the bank... you have still entered into a contractual situation with the seller and you will be expected to perform and complete your obligations to the transaction. Even though you are buying a short sale and the process is lengthy and more complicated... YOU ARE STILL ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT AND WILL BE BOUND TO ALL TERMS WITHIN THAT CONTRACT!
• Make sure you understand the time lines related to your short sale purchase contract... when you should expect a response from the bank, when your home inspection, financing, and appraisal periods begin.
• It is a good idea to instruct your agent to write into your short sale purchase contract that your offer will be the only offer presented to the bank and that all other offers will be held in a "back-up" position not to be presented to the lender.  This will ensure that your offer receives the attention and credence that it deserves.
• Even though short sales are typically "as is" transactions, it is important to have the home inspected by a licensed Home Inspector to reveal any serious defects that might not be apparent to the untrained eye.  Agree upon and have your agent write a "repair limit" into the purchase contract to protect you from defects that might be above your "financial comfort level."
• Be positive!  Although the short sale process may be grueling at times, at the end of the road you will be a proud homeowner or will have increased your investment portfolio.  Owning real estate is STILL one of the best ways to increase wealth in the long term!

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 BELOW IS A NEW SHORT SALE LISTING...

PRESENTED BY THE SERENA GROUP...

Your BRADENTON, SARASOTA, MANATEE COUNTY, AND SARASOTA COUNTY SHORT SALE SPECIALISTS!

MAGNOLIA CROSSING is a fantastic East Manatee County home community located within the Preserve at Tara.

Centrally located and offering easy access to I-75 for commuting, MAGNOLIA CROSSING is convenient to abundant shopping, wonderful restaurants, and is only a short drive to beautiful Manatee or Sarasota county beaches.

MAGNOLIA CROSSING'S list of amenities include:  heated community pools, walking and biking trails, tennis courts, and a clubhouse featuring a restaurant and lounge.

Another attractive feature of MAGNOLIA CROSSING is the fact that the homes there offer maintenance-free living... great for home buyers looking for a  second home, vacation home, or to down size... slow down... and relax and enjoy life! 

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Are you already a resident of the fantastic East Bradenton golfing community of Heritage Harbour? If so, please check out the newest Heritage Harbour community information resource....

 www.HeritageHarbourBradenton.com!

 

This blog is dedicated to providing important, relevant, community information, real estate information, homeowner association information, events calendars, golfing information... Anything you want to know about Heritage Harbour... you will find it here!

 

For Heritage Harbour homeowners who may have plans to sell their home in 2010... THE SERENA GROUP has a "Listing Promotion" that will surely interest you... Check it out at:

http://www.heritageharbourbradenton.com

THE SERENA GROUP welcomes contributions to the content for this new blog. Please feel free to email us at: info@theserenagroup.com with informational post suggestions, photos, etc.... anything that you'd like to share with your fellow Heritage Harbour neighbors!

 

 

As a part of our "New Year" listing maintenance, our team always researches and updates the tax information for all of our home listings in January.

This year, we discovered that several of our clients appear to have been "over-charged" for their property taxes, due to the steep decline in home values and the apparent in-ability of the county tax collector and appraiser to keep up with the changes in the real estate market!

We notified our listing clients of our observations and advised them to call the county property tax appraiser to have their property "re-evaluated" to "protest" their property taxes.

 

 

How are property taxes calculated?
The Property Appraiser first accumulates the millage rates from all the Taxing Authorities that have jurisdiction over your parcel. The taxes are then calculated as follows:

Property Tax Formula

(Taxable Value/1000) X millage rate = property taxes

Example: $55,000/1000 = $55 X 5.1639 = $284.01

 

TRIM NOTICES!

Below you will find a link to an informational video regarding the Manatee County homeowner's TRIM (Truth in Millage) NOTICE, sent in August of each year, ... explaining what a "TRIM NOTICE" is...  a review of the tax assessment process and the differences between "ad valorem" and "non ad valorem" taxes, explanation and description of CDD fees, and a discussion of the charges on the TRIM notice: 

MANATEE COUNTY TRIM NOTICES VIDEO

If after reviewing your TRIM notice, you think that your property taxes are too high, you should contact the Manatee County property appraiser to have an appraiser come out and review your tax assessment.  This needs to be done within 25 days after the date that the TRIM Notice is mailed. The actual date is always specified on the TRIM Notice.  Contact your Real Estate professional to request a "CMA" or analysis of your property market value for you to give to the appraiser to support your protest.

PRINTABLE PDF: PROPERTY TAX VALUE ADJUSTMENT PETITION

 

MORE QUESTIONS?  CLICK HERE FOR:  

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT PROPERTY VALUE ASSESSMENT

 

 

 

If you suspect that you're paying too much property tax... don't let another year go by without investigating and addressing the situation... DO IT IN 2010!! ... it could save you a lot of money!!

Contact your Real Estate professional... they can assist you with the process!

Heritage Harbour is a golfing community in East Bradenton offering 2 championship golf courses, Stoneybrook Golf Club and River Strand Golf and County Club.  Both courses were designed by world-renowned Arthur Hills and offer a memorable golfing experience to the expert and novice golfers alike.

If you're looking for an active, luxurious lifestyle in the Bradenton area of Florida, ... you will find it at Heritage Harbour!  Amenities offered by this community include: world class clubhouses & fine dining, walking and biking trails around a lake, ball fields, tennis, state-of-the-art fitness center, resort-style pools, billiards and card rooms, inline skating, sand lot volleyball .... and more!

Below are 2 beautiful Heritage Harbour homes, in "like - new" condition that have just been reduced by $20,000 with owner financing available!

Are you considering selling your Bradenton, Manatee county, Sarasota county home in 2010? 

If so... Here are some home selling tips to help you get prepared!

LET'S START INSIDE!

• Clean upholstery and polish wood surfaces
• Clean, neat, well-kept rooms make a
  good impression and show your home in a favorable light
• Clean carpets and remove spots
• Clean walls and wax woodwork
• Clean, wax and polish all hard surface floors
• Clean windows inside and out – glass, frames and ledges
• Clean draperies and open to maximize natural light
• Clean bathrooms thoroughly – floors, walls, fixtures and tiles
• Clean kitchen ceiling, cabinets, appliances and fixtures. Wax and polish kitchen floor
• Clean attic, garage and other storage areas
• Clean closets and hang clothes neatly. Store shoes, luggage and other articles neatly

CURB APPEAL IS KEY!!

• Mow and edge your lawn regularly
• Prune and trim trees and shrubs
• Rake leaves - pick up fallen limbs
• Replace dead or diseased plants and shrubs
• Cover beds with 1-4 inches of mulch to reduce weeds
• Clean out flower beds and plant seasonal flowers
• Re-paint or re-stain lawn furniture
• Repair and re-paint fences, decks and screen doors
• Discard old or broken lawn furniture & flower pots
• Sweep walkways, patio, deck, steps and porch
• Water lawn and landscaping regularly & consider fertilization
• Clean your swimming pool until it sparkles

 

CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR HOME COMPETING WITH SHORT SALES,

FORECLOSURES,  DISTRESSED PROPERTIES?

Here are "6 tips for Home Sellers, Competing With Short Sales, Foreclosures, and Distressed Properties" 

 

ARE YOU A HOME OWNER WITH PLANS TO SELL YOUR HOME IN 2010 AND NEED A REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL or TEAM WITH AN AGGRESSIVE & COMPREHENSIVE MARKETING STRATEGY AND A RESPONSIVE TEAM ATTITUDE? 

THE SERENA GROUP MARKETING PLAN

 

Hope you've enjoyed these home selling tips for home owners!

*lists provided by AHS Home Warranty - www.AHSWarranty.com

 

 

Lighthouse Cove at Heritage Harbour is located only a block away from Heritage Harbour's "Central Park" which offers baseball and soccer fields, playgrounds, a 70 acre fishing lake, and running / bike path that circles the lake.

Lighthouse Cove at Heritage Harbour, is a great community for active families! If golfing is your sport, Lighthouse Cove at Heritage Harbour offers access to an open "fee daily" golf course at Stoneybrook Golf & Country Club or residents can purchase an exclusive membership for River Strand Golf & Country Club's semi-private course. Both championship golf courses were designed by top course designer, Arthur Hills. If tennis is your game a tennis membership is also an option.

Heritage Harbour is conveniently located close to shopping, restaurants and with quick access to I-75 for commuting to Tampa / St. Pete or Sarasota.

The home, at Lighthouse Cove in Heritage Harbour, below is a "short sale opportunity" for a family looking for an entry level home in a great community or for the snowbird who needs a "winter nest!"

 

 

 

 

It was announced today that "Google" will now include "real time updates" from FACEBOOK FAN OR BUSINESS PAGES in their "Real Time" search results!  Read more from "THE WASHINGTON POST here....

 

and from the "Google Search Event" held today...

 

 

 

 

What does this mean for a REALTOR or Real Estate professional?

 

• FACEBOOK is considered one of the most important sources of "real time" data on the web!  That means that anything you do on a "fan page" or "business page" will get indexed for content, relevancy, and keywords!  Just imagine the opportunity for showcasing your website, blogs, business profiles, products, services, events... mind boggling, isn't it?!

 

• Your notes, photos, videos, discussions... anything you add to your "fan" or "business" pages will point directly back to you and your business and will validate your expertise for your niche area or community for your area of specialized service.

 

• This will be another "high profile" way to showcase your listings on the web!  Several applications will allow you to pull your listings to your "fan" or "business" pages.

 

• You will draw more attention from other Real Estate professionals leading to collaborations and business referrals... your referral network has potential for deepening and expanding to a wider audience of professionals globally!

 

 

To be quite honest... I still haven't had time to wrap my mind around all the possibilities of not only growing our business with the "Google / FACEBOOK Real Time" connection... but also am amazed at the short amount of time, compared to other Internet lead generation tools, that it will take to accomplish these goals of ranking for relevant real time data and information.

 

STILL not convinced?  OK... take a minute and "Google" :

• Bradenton Home Buyer Information
  

• Manatee County New Construction Experts
  

• Bradenton Short Sale Information

• Free Bradenton Home Search

 

All of these "Google" page 1 results for these keyword phrases point towards one of 4 of THE SERENA GROUP'S FACEBOOK "Fan Pages!"  AND FACEBOOK is in the top ten referring sites (#7 so far this month!) for our website analytics report... consistently... month after month!  AND... what better way to promote your "Fan Pages" than by "organic ranking" on page 1 of "Google!"

 

 

 

VAARRROOOOOMMMMM!!! 

Lighthouse Cove is the only town home community within Heritage Harbour in Bradenton, Florida.  A number of Lighthouse Cove town homes include lake views and amenities include a cabana and community pool.  Located only a block away from Heritage Harbour's "Central Park" which offers baseball and soccer fields, playgrounds, a 70 acre fishing lake, and running / bike path that circles the lake... makes Lighthouse Cove a great community for active families! 

If golfing is your sport, Lighthouse Cove at Heritage Harbour offers access to an open "fee daily" golf course at Stoneybrook Golf & Country Club or residents can purchase an exclusive membership for River Strand Golf & Country Club's semi-private course.  Both championship golf courses were designed by top course designer, Arthur Hills.

Heritage Harbour is conveniently located close to shopping, restaurants and with quick access to I-75 for commuting to Tampa / St. Pete or Sarasota.