BRADENTON, MANATEE COUNTY, EAST MANATEE COUNTY, PALMETTO, PARRISH, ELLENTON, - DISTRESSED PROPERTY, SHORT SALE, BANK-OWNED, - REPORT, STATISTICSIf you are a home owner who needs advice on selling your home for short sale, Please contact THE SERENA GROUP for a "free home seller consultation." We can help you determine what your best option would be for selling your home, and then guide you through the process. Our success rate for closing short sale transactions is more than triple the national average... CALL US TODAY!Bradenton, Manatee County, East Manatee County, Palmetto, Ellenton, Parrish, - Distressed property, bank-ow... 11/09/2009

It's finally really here.  Of course, this is a little old news, as people have been saying that the tax credit was approved fro the past week.  Nothing is in stone until the President signs the bill into law. It would have been nice if this could be extended to ALL home buyers.  This would cause the investors back in the market in droves, and snapping up all the investment homes.  Could you imagine buying a rental home for 50,000 and getting back 8,000 of your taxes?  Kind of like when everyone was driving HUMMERS because they could write off the full cost of the vehicle in the first year.  I am happy with this extension because personally I have four contracts pending with First time home buyers that were probably not going to close by the deadline.  It would have been ugly for all th... 11/06/2009

I just attended a Foreclosure rescue seminar this past weekend. One of the things that  I learned is their is another victim besides the homeowner, the INVESTOR.  These "mortgage backed securities" were supposed to be safe investments.  Triple AAA rated, SAFE, reasonable returns.  The kind of investments that were sold as low risk.  They too are being burned in this real estate bubble. The people in the middle: servicer(s), and the firms that sold these mortgages to the investors got their profits and no consequence.     The homeowner loses their home and credit, and the INVESTOR that actually put up real money, takes the loss.  No one that originated, or sold, and resold the mortgages had any loss.  In fact they are making money with fees from the foreclosures!  The pension fund that o... 11/03/2009

  Back during the Real Estate "Boom Time," between 1997 - 2006... scores of real estate investment "speculators" came out of the woodwork to try to "cash in" on the "hot market" with it's historical skyrocketing home values.  A lot of these people were not true "Real Estate Investors."  They simply saw an opportunity to make a lot of money....FAST... and wanted to get a piece of the action. Unfortunately, due to "market timing" and loose mortgage lending practices...  a lot of those people couldn't turn the property over fast enough to make their fortune.  Instead... they ended up "holding the bag" on properties who's values tanked along with the Real Estate market, leaving them owing more money than what the investment property was worth... and on top of that, their "creative financin... 11/02/2009

We hope you can get into the "spirit" of things and enjoy the Halloween Holiday! Here are a few famous "Halloween" quotes ... and a video staring all the members of our team... to get you in the mood!       "This Halloween the most popular mask is the Arnold Schwarzenegger mask. And the best part? With a mouth full of candy you will sound just like him." ~ Conan O'Brien "There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls." ~ George Carlin       "Eye of newt, and toe of frog, Wool of bat, and tongue of dog, Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting, Lizard's leg, and owlet's wing,For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and bubble." ~ William ShakespeareA grandmother pretends she doesn't know who you are on Halloween. ~ Erma BombeckForget love - I'd rather fall... 10/30/2009

I found this interesting document through searching for info on foreclosure defense, and loan modifications.  With the rise in mortgage defaults attorneys that specialize in foreclosure defense have plenty of work Most people that I meet with are interested in first a "principle reduction loan modification".  They are having a tough time keeping up with the mortgage because of lower income, interest rate resets, or they just realize that they are severely upside down in their home.  I do not see many instances where the homeowner has been successful in reducing the mortgage balance. It makes common sense that the current home owner is really the best person to own the home most of the time.  I am only there because they were denied a reasonable loan modification, or they really need to ... 10/29/2009

We have all had our share of tough short sales.  This one came to me a few months ago, and I did not give it much hope of it being accepted by the two lenders.  The Seller would not provide ANY financial info that is always requested by the lenders.   The normal "short sale package" 2 years tax returns-  NO 2 months most recent bank statements--NO 2 months' pay stubs--NO Monthly Income vs Expenses--NO Hardship letter-- YES Executed Contract-- YES The reasoning for not providing these documents was to protect the assets and keep this sensitive financial info private. A few years ago, I thought only short sales with a heavy-duty hardship would be approved.  Death, Divorce, Job Loss were the situations where lenders accepted a short sale. Hardship letters have since become much softer.  Us... 10/27/2009

Mill Creek is an East Manatee County neighborhood, not far from Lakewood Ranch, perfectly located close to fabulous shopping, great restaurants, A+ schools and with quick access to I-75 for commuting to Tampa / St. Petersburg or Sarasota. Living in Mill Creek feels like "country living" with it's large over-sized home sites and rustic, wooded back drop. Homes in Mill Creek each have their own architectural style and unique character and charm.... unlike many home communities where all the houses look alike! Mill Creek exudes a "healthy, open spaces" feeling that becons to families and professionals alike who want to "get away" from the hustle and bustle of congested city living... consider "Coming Home" to Mill Creek! 10/06/2009

Riverdale, in Bradenton, FL - in East Manatee County is a non deed restricted waterfront community with direct access, by canal, to the Manatee River. Flanked by the neighboring boating community of The Inlets, Riverdale shares the advantage of canal access to the river without the association restrictions and fees! If you need to commute... quick access to I75 is conveniently nearby. A+ schools, great restaurants, and great shopping in the area enhances the appeal of this wonderful community. If your dream is to own a home and have your boat docked in your backyard... this is the home for you! 10/02/2009

If you are not getting what you want or need from your office, consider ours. We are looking for agents to do Residential and Commercial Real Estate. We will make it work for you!! Call me at 941-580-0580 Email me at  judy@flrealestateworld.com 10/01/2009

NEW CONSTRUCTION - LAKEWOOD RANCH - NEW HOMES - COMMUNITIESLAKEWOOD RANCH- BRADENTON, BRADENTON NEW CONSTRUCTION HOMES, EAST MANATEE COUNTY NEW CONSTRUCTION- COMMUNIT... 09/25/2009

FOR SHORT SALE INFORMATION and ASSISTANCE... Call THE SERENA GROUP TODAY!Short Sale Navigation for Home Owners CLICK ON THE SQUARE IN THE UPPER RIGHT CORNER OF DOCUMENT FOR FULL SCREEN VIEW!*email address and website address are "hyperlinks" * 09/23/2009

River Strand Golf and Country Club at Heritage Harbour has "Everything you want. Everything you need." Located near I-75 in Bradenton Florida, in East Manatee County, is Heritage Harbour's River Strand Golf and Country Club. A new home community offering a scenic, serene, and classic life-style convenient to popular areas in Florida like Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, St Petersburg, Tampa and Bradenton. Truely a place you must experience in person. MEMBERSHIP INCLUDED WITH HOME OWNERSHIP! Membership includes: 27-hole championship golf course designed by Arthur Hills, 8 Har-Tru lighted tennis courts, Tuscan-inspired 39,000 sq ft clubhouse, State-of-the-art fitness center, Resort-style and resistance exercise pools, Fine dining, billiards and card rooms.Floor Plans for Heritage Harbour's Rive... 09/21/2009

THIS MONTH IN REAL ESTATE ~ BY KELLER WILLIAMS RESEARCH 09/20/2009

The first time home buyer tax credit will expire on November 30. With Thanksgiving that week it might as well be a week earlier. Typical F.T.H.B. are getting financing through FHA, VA, or USDA. These type of loans will usually take 45 days to close, if there is no major issues with the borrower. So we have a month to find a home, go to contract, and close it to get the cash for the buyer. Here in Manatee county First time home buyers, and their agents are scrambling. I get a few calls a day from buyer agents asking if one of my listings would be able to close in time for the deadline. My advice for a first time home buyer? 1. Avoid short sales, unless they are "pre-approved"- Short sales can take months to close. You do not have time for that, and betting that you found the "one" short ... 09/17/2009

  Sales are up in Manatee County. Inventory is down 35% down from last year.  The listing inventory in certain neighborhoods has dropped even more. Here's why...(my opinion of course....)   1.  Federal income tax credit  This is stimulating the entry level price ranges.  In my market this is 50,000-250,000.  This price range is getting fierce.  Two offers last week went into multiple offer situations.  Buyers who are trying to take advantage of the tax credit have really only 5 weeks to find, make an offer, qualify, and hopefully close within the 11/30 deadline.  These buyers are out in force, and are aggressive with homes that are well priced.   One home that came on the market last week had been bid up well over list price.  This is happening very often now with correctly priced home... 09/15/2009

FIVE GREAT REASONS TO BUY A HOME... NOW! HOME BUYER TAX CREDIT EXPIRES SOON! LOW MORTGAGE INTEREST RATES HISTORICALLY LOW AFFORDABLE PRICES! STILL GOOD INVENTORY... BUT THAT IS CHANGING FAST, ESPECIALLY IN SOME PRICE RANGES. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH "ROOTS", FOR YOUR FAMILY, IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND HAVE A VOICE IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS. 09/12/2009

I have now have closed a lot of short sales in the past three years. My words of wisdom for buyers, and sellers who are considering a short sale.  Short sales can be a great deal typically selling for 10-20% below current market value. BUT, they have a tendency to frustrate buyers, and sellers in the process. Patience, involvement and realistic goals are helpful to get a short sale closed. Either everyone wins, or everyone loses. The buyer gets a great home, for a fair price. The seller gets rid of a home that is under water, and can potentially wipe out a huge debt while avoiding a dreaded foreclosure. The market benefits because a short sale keeps one less home from becoming a foreclosure, or derelict. 1. There is nothing "short" about a short sale.. Only your patience. I have closed ... 09/09/2009

HOME BUYERS! Don't miss a "historical buyer's market opportunity!" Call THE SERENA GROUP today to get our "Best Buy" list for Lakewood Ranch in Bradenton, FL. Take advantage of the "HOME BUYER TAX CREDIT" before it expires on NOVEMBER 30TH, 2009. THE CLOCK IS TICKING... not much time to find a home, contract to buy, and go to the closing table... we know how to guide you to a successful "happy ending!" CONTACT US TODAY...   Lakewood Ranch in Bradenton consists of seven villages with both gourmet and casual restaurants, top notch schools, unique & bountiful shopping opportunities, a hospital and medical facility, 3 fantastic golf courses; an fitness center that includes 18 lighted tennis courts & Polo and Cricket clubs, sidewalks and trails, community parks, lakes and nature preserves...... 08/31/2009

Home buyers... The time is ripe for making YOUR move!  Home prices are rising... investors are grabbing the best deals... the home buyer tax credit expires on November 30, 2009!  WHAT ARE YOU WAITNG FOR?  Contact THE SERENA GROUP today to find out how you can get into the market... before this "HISTORICAL BUYER'S OPPORTUNITY" passes you by.... Heritage Harbour is a master-planned, gated golf course and river front community located in East Manatee County. Encompassing more than 2,500 acres of graceful beauty, including a 200 acre island in the Manatee River. Heritage Harbour offers it's residents enjoyment of a wealth of amenities including: championship golf courses, resort-style pools, fine dining, and lighted tennis. HERITAGE HARBOUR IN BRADENTON - REAL ESTATE, MARKET STATISTICS - 8/... 08/31/2009