Thanks to the perfect storm of low prices, attractive inventory, and affordable interest rates, this continues to be a lucrative time to invest in a home, whether it be a first home, a move-up home, or a second home.

Choosing a home is no easy process, however, and many factors must be carefully weighed before making your selection. As a member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I advise my clients to pay careful attention to a few details in particular when considering a home—these important details will significantly impact your long-term happiness in the home as well as the home’s appreciation over time. So, as you begin to consider properties in our neighborhood, here are a few issues to think about that may help you find exactly the right home for you and your family:

Type of home: One-story or two, single-family, duplex or condo? How will paying homeowner dues affect your overall buying power? Will a swimming pool be a bonus or a hindrance? Making these decisions in advance will help you focus on the right types of home to look at.

New or existing: A new home is all shiny and clean, but will carry with it some hefty initial costs such as landscaping and window coverings. An existing home will have many of these things, but repairs or renovations that may need to be made will also impact your budget.

Features: Weigh the costs of gas vs. electric heating and cooling, and the possible need for fencing. How important is a fireplace? Does the home have enough bedrooms and bathrooms to support your family in the coming years?

Ease of maintenance: What is the condition of the roof? The appliances? Will you have to paint the interior or exterior and/or replace the carpeting? Be sure to factor in such costs in your budget and your negotiations.

Location: Do you want to be in the city or in the country? Nearer to libraries, parks and entertainment or set among tall trees and lakes? What about the need for public transportation? Nearby hospitals and schools?

Crime rate and public schools: Check with local enforcement and local residents to get a feeling for statistics and quality. I can also provide you with up-to-date statistics on this information.

Economic stability: Whether an area is growing or not can affect its future property value—as will the economic stability of the area.

Property tax: Examine the annual amount of real estate taxes and other assessments levied in the neighborhoods you are considering.

I can help find the answers to the above concerns as well as provide more suggestions on what to look for in a new home—just e-mail me. Also, please pass this article onto others who may benefit from this information

If your business has not been affected by the economy considered yourself fortunate.  The real estate market has certainly been challenging for a while now.  Recently I found myself staring at my cell phone certain it must not be working properly because it was not ringing…at all.

Rather than stare at my computer and curse my cell I decided to do something for myself.  Golf is my passion and has been since I was a child.  I have always wanted to get a professional club fitting and it was something I had never allowed myself to do.  I made the appointment, over came my self induced guilt trip and went for it. 

Being the conscientious realtor that I am I of course brought my cell with me just in case it started functioning again.  The club fitting was quite an experience.  I hit golf balls for two and one half hours with every brand of club on the planet.  Did I mention I live in Florida and it was really hot, too?  During the course of this exhausting yet exhilarating  exercise my phone wouldn’t sop ringing.  Before it was over I had a new listing, two buyer leads and a transaction that was going to close ahead of schedule.  I also got a great set of clubs.

The point is you don’t have to be sitting in a office to be productive and sometimes getting out is far more productive.  The next time you feel like you have hit the wall go do something you really enjoy.  You might be surprised just how beneficial that can be.  I have to go  my phone is ringing.

A smile, a friendly greeting, answering a call or returning one.  These may not seem all that important but you never know how they may affect a customer or a potential client.  Random acts of kindness can be very powerful lead generators.

Far too often when meeting with sellers and buyers I hear the same mantra; My Realtor never calls me or communicates with me.  I don’t know why after hearing this repeatedly that I am still surprised or I guess puzzled by this.  Success in real estate has far more to do the with the efforts of the individual realtor than the company he or she represents.  How hard is it to make a call or make the extra effort?

I make it a point to call my sellers once a week.  During that period of time when it felt like absolutely nothing was selling these calls were not enjoyable but I did it anyway and tried to be as upbeat as possible.  At the end of those conversations without fail they all said thank you so much for calling.  They simply appreciated being informed no matter what the news may have been.  It is so basic yet so many Realtors just don’t seem to get it.

I was recently involved in a transaction and I had the buyers. The sellers had a limited service listing which only paid the buyers rep and they were handling everything for themselves.  These people were not experienced in the business side of real estate and when I arrived to present the contract they had numerous questions regarding the entire process.  I spent a great deal of time with them and took them step by step through the process.  In the days that followed I called and kept them updated on our progress.  The next time we met they asked me for a supply of my business cards.  They said they were so impressed with my service they wanted to recommend me to their friends.  All I did was give of my time and communicated with them.

The little things really do matter and they can pay tremendous dividends.

I guess the folks down here aren’t buying all of the negativity that the media is selling regarding the real estate market.  What they are buying is property.  Pending sales were up 6.3% in January in our area.  I have noticed the surge in activity and yes, I have been busy and no, I am not complaining.  I am also not surprised.

Home prices are extremely attractive and mortgage rates are as well.  What a great combination and the result is sales are happening.  Owning a home has been and probably always will be the great American dream.  The current economic situation has put a damper on morale and spending but Americans are a resilient bunch and we will climb out of this and be better than ever.

Real estate…Uh oh, gotta go that pesky phone is ringing again.

Gilcrest Park is just an example of the soothing scenery that this waterfront paradise has to offer.

I was enjoying a relaxing walk along the harbor in Gilchrist Park recently with a friend of mine.  Gilchrist Park is a great escape in Punta Gorda.  It has it all: harbor view, tennis, walking path, picnic areas, just alike a mini vacation from the daily routine.

Work was the farthest thing from my mind when my friend asked me if this was the worst real estate market I had ever experienced.  Without hesitation I answered with an emphatic no.  My worst experience in the real estate market occurred when I tried to purchase my first home.  It was at the end of the Carter Administration and interest rates were at 18%.  I was a teacher at that time and I had a fifty percent down payment when I applied for my loan.  I was denied the mortgage because they said as a teacher I did not make enough money.  This one of the reasons I am now in real estate.  At that moment I was convinced that I would never own a home and I was also certain that interest rates would never get out of double digits.  I was wrong on both counts.

When markets are up we tend to believe that they will never come down and when they are down we think they will never go up.  This is exactly what markets do.  The media would like you believe that it is all doom and gloom but there are plenty of opportunities in our real estate market.  Home prices are lower than they have been in several years and there is a large inventory from which to choose.  Interest rates are attractive and there are affordable packages for first time buyers.  Ok, that is great for buyers but what about those poor sellers?  It is true that the seller will not make the big profits they enjoyed when the market was up but then again anything they purchase will cost less as well.

Moving to Punta Gorda should be your New Year's Resolution!

The point is you can choose to be negative or you can look for opportunities.   I am looking forward to a positive and prosperous market in 2009.  How about you?  Happy New Year.