Below is a guide that provides clarity in regard to the new tax reform laws compared to the old laws. I hope you find it helpful, and remember, you can contact me with real estate questions, even if you are not buying or selling at this time. If you prefer to save it as a letter-sized PDF copy, click here.
Once you hear my English accent, you will know why I get so many questions about my background. I have put together the most frequently asked questions and my answers. Though a piece of my heart will always be in London, my home and my life is here in Sarasota. Through all my travels, I can't imagine living anywhere else.
When did you move to the United States?
In July 2005, I moved here with my husband and two children. Daniel was 6 years old and Elizabeth was just 18 months at the time.
Why America?
As a child, my family would visit Florida once or twice a year. Our time was split between Orlando and Longboat Key. Even after I moved out of my parent’s home, I still would visit America as often as I could.
Why Florida?
I think the obvious answer is…
For years, home sellers have been advised not to list their homes over the holidays, but I've learned that if people are buying during this time, they are serious and looking to start their new adventure with the New Year. When visiting homes in the area with the colorful lights, twinkling trees, and stockings hung in a row, one can't help feeling the warmth of a holiday embrace. Even if you don't break into Jingle Bells, or don a Santa hat, the emotions tied to the holidays always feels like home and buyers can envisage their family enjoying Christmas right there in your living room. Listed below are a few more reasons why you should contact me now if you are considering selling your home:
With all this activity, are home prices increasing? The answer is no. Buyers still have a lot to choose from and are taking their time before they make a decision. So it may take a little longer on the market before the right buyer finds your home.
Mortgage rates continue to decrease as the Federal Reserve continues to raise rates? While interest rates were increased twice this year by…
This time of year is nice because it's predictable - cooler in the mornings, rain in the afternoon, muggy in the evening......... Real estate activity levels during the year use to be predictable too. Busy season was October through April and then we would slow down during the summer months. We talk about "Season" and "Off Season" a lot particularly with sellers regarding when it's a good time to sell vs when it's not. Over the past 3 years or so, I have noticed the "off season" not really being off anymore. Its not unusual to see record dollar sales in the high end market happen in the so called "off season" period. Year over year we are seeing an increase in Closed sales in June, July and August. According to the United States Census Bureau the… 
Waterside Place - the latest of the 16 villages within Lakewood Ranch has broken ground and moving forward with an organized and well thought out plan. Pulte Homes and Arthur Rutenberg are the builders in this new development. Today I visited the site to see how things are progressing - the Pulte Homes model home is currently undergoing a construction clean ready for the sales agent to move in. No date as yet as to when they will be releasing the lots but given the fact that the models are almost completed, it won't be long!
Waterside Place is the newest village in the 30,000 acre Lakewood Ranch which covers both Manatee county and Sarasota County. Waterside Place is South of University Parkway in Sarasota County nestled…
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We head into the summer with a 9% increase in active listings from this time in 2016. However, inventory continues to be very tight especially in lower price ranges which is certainly driving prices up in the under $300,000 range. In Sarasota Country the inventory of single family homes and condos increased by 12%. Singer family homes in Manatee County increased by 3%, while condos increased by 9%.
I am always asked "do you think we are heading for a boom" and "are we heading for a crash". First, I don't have a crystal ball, so we focus on other factors which effect the real estate market and the economy. The main place is the S&P Corelogic Case-Shiller National Index. This provides insight into the market performance. According to… 
As I take a breath from the busy season just passed, I look at how the market is performing going into the summer months. January thru April, we witnessed a large increase in inventory, confirming the fact that sellers felt motivated and confident in the market regardless of the increase in interest rates and buyers definitely made the most of the buyers market by negotiating aggressively. I also witnessed an increase in awareness of both the seller and buyer with regards to the selling/buying process i.e.. Sellers realized their home needs to be in its best condition if they wanted the maximum dollar and buyers came prequalified before submitting an offer.
Sarasota is well known for “design” during the 1950’s and 1960’s. Properties designed by architects like Paul Rudolph and Tim Seibert are sort after homes. Another prestigious pioneer in Sarasota was Ruth Richmond, she was one of the first females in Florida to obtain a GC license which got her attention from many, including the first lady Jackie Kennedy at the White House. Ruth was most well known for her sensational doorknobs! There were circular in shape and classic examples of the 1960s elegance. Some are milky, with bubbly inclusions, others are solid all the way through. These can often be found on eBay, but be ready to write a large check! Normally sell for $100 upwards for a pair in mint condition.
Originally from Brooklyn New York,…
