Real Estate Views from St Pete

We've been without power for about four hours - an unexpected squall came through. Both sides of our long street are without power, though across the canal the homes are unaffected. Most of that time I was out meeting an electrician to correct some problems on a house scheduled to close tomorrow morning. Just got back, 11 pm (great electrician to come out at 9 pm on short notice), and power is still out.

George is out cooking dinner on the gas grill - we have candles on the table and the counter, and my laptop is battery operated and doing fine. There is a cacophony of beeps coming from all the power backups around the house - after a while they sound like lots of treefrogs.

Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area. 

iLike my iPhone! My last Treo just didn't make it for me - the buttons are too small, and though it's compatible with our MLS, it just didn't earn my affection

The iPhone, on the other hand, I enjoy just looking at it. My clients and people around me like it.

So it only works on AT&T and I've used Verizon, and my team is all "IN". I still like my iPhone.

Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area.

I just started reading "The Measure of a Man", an autobiography of Sidney Poitier. I picked this up at an airport bookstore in my travels this spring, and just started reading it.

The first chapters begin with his life on Cat Island in the Bahamas. What poetic prose! He begins by comparing being poor in the Bahamas, with beautiful beaches and colorful sunsets, with being poor in today's concrete jungles.

Usually I wait to talk about a book until I finish it, but this one, I'll recomment just from the beginnings.

Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area.

Or should we say, No More Listings!?

Servicing listings takes time and energy. Margaret Rome has for a long time had a waiting list for listings. Now we have a waiting list, too. There are only so many listings that you can properly service. One alternative is to add more staff - we don't want to do that. So, the only alternative is to have a waiting list - when one listing sells, then we can add another. 

For several months we've had criteria - a listing must be in a restricted geographic area, it must be priced right, and it must fit into the price bracket we specialize in.  Now, we have to be even more restrictive: even if it meets all the criteria, we have to sell one before we can add another. 

If you can't wait for us, we understand. If you want us, then you need to wait until we have time to properly service your listing. 

Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area. 

None of us could be the successes we are without supporters. Sometimes that means that clients support us - and recommend us. Many times that means we have a spouse or significant other that supports us.

Do we have someone we can let off steam with? Is there someone we can talk to at the end of our day? Is there someone who takes care of the meals, the shopping, the laundry, the repairs on our home? Someone who listens to us? Someone who understands us?

Those of us who have a special someone are very lucky. We couldn't do what we do, be who we are, give what we give - without someone behind us who believes in us and takes care of us.

Thank You!

Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area.

You only have one chance to make a first impression. There is only one time when a listing is brand new and goes out to all those buyers who are looking and waiting. Photos coming later? Too bad - the buyers didn't find what they were looking for and deleted you. No visual tour? No web site? No photos? Ooops! The waiting buyers have deleted your listing. Far better to wait to enter the listing into the MLS until you've completed your research, prepared all the marketing, and everything is ready and available when you hit the MLS.

Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area.

Today's Wall St Journal had an interesting article on some US contenders for the next residential property to sell over $100 Million - they sent two reporters off to give the odds of each contender making it. Odds ranged from 60% chance to less than 1% chance. There are photos of the properties online with the article. The reporters spoke with agents, appraisers and others in each area, used at least four brokers to come up with their odds, and here are their handicaps - the odds of each setting a new record, surpassing the recent $103,000,000 sale. All of these properties came on the market in the last year:

Hala Ranch, Aspen, CO  -  $135 Million  -  60% chance of breaking the record

Fleur de Lys, Los Angeles, CA  -  $125 Million  -  55% chance of breaking the record

Maison de l'Aminitie, Palm Beach, FL  -  $125 Million  -  42% chance of breaking the record

Tranquility, Zephyr Cove, NV  -  $100 Million  -   $100 Million  -  1% chance (would have to sell over list)

Hearst Estate, Beverly Hills, LA  -  $165 Million  -  Less than 1% chance of breaking the record.

Tim Blixseth's $155 Million Montana estate isn't counted - probably because it isn't completed yet.

Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area. 

What's that? We have a few examples locally of homes selling for 33% less than the asking price -

one that started at $1,500,000 then went to $1,350,000 and sold for $900,000 ...

another that was listed at $1,250,000 and sold for $850,000 ...

while others sell at 98% or even 100% of asking price. It's all in how well the property is priced.

The Wall St Journal had an article today on the handful of most expensive homes being marketed in the US. One of them in Los Angeles, the Hearst estate, is offered at $165,000,000.  WSJ reported that "Los Angeles brokers are unanimous in their opinion that the Hearst estate is overpriced - by some accounts by as much as $100 million." If that's true - it's REALLY overpriced!

Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area. 

Signature Place condominiums moves forward every week. It's one thing to hear that a building has 34 floors, and it's another when you see it in relation to the buildings around it. Construction is now up to Floor 15 - not yet half way. The sail shape of the building is evident. Check out the finished product at the Signature Place website. After you see the renderings, click on the floor you like and see the floor plans for that floor. 

You can still get a 1 bedroom unit in one of the lower "loft" buildings for under $400,000 - you don't have the great water view, but you share the wonderful amenities and location.

Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area.

Look at the theme repetitions

The curve goes from the wall to cabinets

This is a very harmonious as well as inviting and spectacular kitchen. The curves are comfortable - and good feng shui. Look at the repetitions: the circle of the island, the circle in the ceiling, and repeated again in the design in the center of the square windows, and the shape of the light globes over the island. Two shades of granite cover varying curved surfaces.  And look at the curve as the tumbled marble starts up the wall - the same line is continued on the face of the three wall cabinets.  These themes recur throughout the house.

Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area.

Just Go Sideways

Sometimes you don't want to build up, and sometimes you're prevented from doing that by the 50% rule (unless the floor level is at today's required elevation, you can't built up more than 50% of the value of the house without the land - so logically, you couldn't add a full floor above what you have!) so sometimes you're able to buy the house next door, tear it down, and then add on to the side of your house - at today's elevation, of course. More often we see two adjacent homes torn down and a new one built in the middle of the two lots. It's far more unusual to see one take the lot to expand sideways.

Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area.

You should be reviewing every aspect of your marketing. What used to work, but doesn't work any more? What used to not work, but might work now?

Historically, we've always had a Sign-In sheet for  agents showing a property. That was fine in a hot sellers' market. Now we're in a buyers' market. I think leaving a sign-in sheet that shows how many showings, and how recently, is giving the buyer an advantage in preparing his offer.

We're able to tell, through our electronic lockboxes, who has showed a property, when they've showed it, and their contact information. We can access this from our office or home - so why do we need a sign-in sheet?

To better represent our sellers, we do not have a sign-in sheet at the property.

What do YOU think?

Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area.  

"Naked Conversations" by Robert Scoble and Shel Israel is a very interesting book on blogging.

It's not a how-to book, at least not in the sense of giving you instructions 1-2-3 or a-b-c. He does talk about the significance of blogging, what it can do, what it reflects on the bloggers and their companies.

Some have been wonderfully good - others have been nefariously bad. Some of the book talks about corporate differences - Microsoft vs Google, for example.

Much of the book, though, is about how blogging brings connections, keeps you in touch with the world, evokes passion. Scoble even brings in the effects of national cultures on blogging.

For those looking for practical tips, Scoble does give 11 Tips for Effective Blogging ... and he tells you how to avoid getting "dooced".

This was my latest "treadmill book" and it had to be good because some days I kept walking more than my 30 minutes just because I was engrossed in the content.

Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area.   

Broadwater is a wonderful neighborhood of mostly waterfront homes on canals leading to Boca Ciega Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway. There's only one bridge between Broadwater and the Gulf of Mexico, and it's a drawbridge. Most of the homes were built in the 70s, though there were a few built in the 80s and 90s, and some are still being built on lots where the owners have torn down the original homes.

There are currently 16 waterfront homes availavle from $575,000 to $1,895,000 and 6 nonwaterfront homes from $324,900 to $699,000.  So far this year there have been 12 waterfront home sales ranging from $545,0900 to $980,000 and one non-waterfront home sold at $335,000.  

Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area.   

Private World on the Waterfront

Many of our homes here in St. Petersburg were built in the 70s, and there really isn't much you can do with the 8 ft ceilings - economically, that is.

The owner of this home is an architect, and he's done a wonderful blending of contemporary and Oriental, with a warm, serene, inviting feel.

His ceiling treatment in this second bath is typical of his creativity. It's certainly not Grandma's bathroom. 

For more examples of his creativity, check out our Visual Tour or look at the one the owner/architect created himself. 

 Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area.   

A new restaurant is coming to 400 Beach Drive, the newest luxury condo on Beach Drive in downtown St. Petersburg - which should be closing on the condo units above between December 2007 and February 2008.

Chef Robert Irvine is a popular British chef who has cooked for queens and presidents, worked on cruise lines and in the casino industry. He has the popular "Dinner Impossible" show on the Food Network. He has his own company now, The Irving Group.

He'll be an interesting addition to the downtown restaurant scene in St. Petersburg. His new location is within a block or two of some luxury condos, Vinoy Place and Parkshore Plaza, as well as 400 Beach, of which this retail is the ground level. Just around the corner is the Renaissance Resort, a luxury hotel in a renovated 1920s Mediterranean style building - just half a block walk.

Here's more about him. 

Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area.  

2/20/08  -  Important update. See today's post.   

1)  You should check out this blogsite

•  http://www.dailyblogtips.com/
  

to get lots of tips every day for making your blogs better. When we look at the postings of Chris Elizabeth Griffith and Laurie Manny, we see great examples of them linking to their other posts. How do they do it? Check out this blogpost to find out:

•   http://www.dailyblogtips.com/review-what-youve-written-regularly/

This blog is edited by Daniel Scocco, born in Brazil, educated in Italy, and man of the world. It would also be good to read about the blog.

* * * * *  * * * * * * *  * * * * *   * * * * * *   * * * * * *   * * * * *   * * * * *    * * * * *  * * * *

 2)  You should also check out this blogsite

•  http://www.changethis.com/

and after reading about the blog, in particular, read this post from Rajesh Setty, author of "Beyond Code"

•  http://www.changethis.com/37.02.MakingMost

Titled "Making the Most of Your Time: Going Beyond To-Do-Lists" it does talk about time, but also covers things like:

How to Find 4 extra days a month

How to Unlearn Things

Making a Difference in the World

Teach People to become Better

Connect People that are Opportunities for Each Other

Making a Difference in the World

actually the blog posting has a link to a free .pdf that has all this information in it.

* * * * * * * * * * * *   * * * * *  * * * * * *        * * * * * * *     * * * * * * *** * * * * *        * * **

3)   You should definitely bookmark this treasure

•  http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/

and look at this particular blog:

• http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2007/08/what-to-do-when.html

This post, What To Do When You're Wrong, discusses Johnson & Johnson now suing the Red Cross for misuse of a symbol, specifically the Red Cross. Apparently J&J has had the symbol since the 1800s and allowed the Red Cross to use it, with some restrictions. Recently the Red Cross began licensing the symbol to products, which brought on this suit. The blog, however, isn't about the suit as much as it's about What To Do When You're Wrong. 

* * * *  * * * * *     * * * * *    * * * * * *     * * * * *    * * * * *    * * * *    * * * *   * * * *

******  * * * * * *  * * * * *    * * * * *  ** * * * **        * * * * * * * **    * * * * *        * * * * * * * 

So, that's my three, and that's my entry.

I want to give you something extra, though - in line with Underpromise and Overdeliver.

One of my favorite blogs is Robert Frank's Wealth Blog at the Wall St Journal (he just wrote Richistan, if you recall, 

a great book). It's at:

•  http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/

and a particular post to read (before August 2nd since Frank is on vacation, but since this a bonus and not an entry, it should be ok) is

•  http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2007/07/30/why-rich-kids-dont-stay-rich/

Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area.  

Enough of the marina has been completed that the last two weekends had boat shows at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort in downtown St. Petersburg. The sound of pile drivers still echoes in the quiet morning air and the outlines of the docks are evident. Residents of the Vinoy Place condominiums are waiting for this to be done so that the ones who are Vinoy Cloub members can bring back their yachts to docks in front of their condos. Others are waiting for the visiting docks to be finished so they can boat over for lunch, dinner, or a weekend stay at the Vinoy.

Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area.  

On August 15th the Kessler Group wired $1,500,000 to the City of St. Petersburg and closed on the purchase of land on the northeast corner of 1st Ave N and 2nd St N, where they will be building the Grand Bohemian Hotel and Residences, a luxury magnet in downtown St.Petersburg. The 52 condos will start on the 21st floor and will share the hotel's amenities.  By 2009 you could be having room service deliver your morning Eggs Benedict, then have the masseuse arrive for your morning massage - take a dip in the pool, do some shopping nearby, and have the chef prepare the food for your party this evening. Construction should start this fall and completion should be in fall-winter 2009. Pre-construction prices are still available.

Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area.  

If you have to evacuate your home when a hurricane's coming because you're in an evacuation zone, let me tell you: 

• Public shelters are the pits (but better than nothing/nowhere)
• You may not get to the nearest "safe" city because roads are crowded and/or flooded
• You had better get out, because you may not be able to later
• Fill your cars with gas because you may not be able to get any later.
  

There's comfort - and sometimes fun - in numbers. In your circle of friends or relatives, who lives on high ground,l in a non-evacuation zone? Sure would be nice if they offer shelter in their home to friends who have to evacuate. If you're a guest, think of bringing foods that don't need refrigeration or heating; beverages (adult type would be nice); pillows and blankets; propane for the barbecue grill; lots of water; extra clothes; cell phones and extra batteries; portable radio for weather reports; 

a sense of cooperation, and most of all, a sense of humor! It will be appreciated.

Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area.