The View From Here

My good friends:

As I am apt to do on any given weekend, I love making the rounds of open houses hosted by my agents. I love to see their techniques for staging open houses and have seen some truly unique and effective ones. More than that, I love meeting the people who attend these open houses and look forward to hearing their thoughts on today’s market. Lately I am not only amazed at how busy our open houses have been but am also happy to see buyers finally giving a confident thumbs-up to the best prices of the century.

I can’t say yet whether the market has turned. No one can, until months of statistical hindsight confirm it; but these crowds of enthusiastic and motivated buyers certainly join a chorus of other positive indicators of a market on the mend. In Sarasota County last month sales were up 12%, pending sales were up 55.4%, inventory was down 28% and the rate of foreclosures fell 15 % from the previous month. Everything is moving in the right direction.

The dark clouds that have pervaded our markets for lo these many months turn out to have a silver lining. Disciples of Warren Buffett and Sir John Templeton, two of the greatest minds to ever invest, believe that when the herd mentality flatlines and investors freeze in fear and despondency is exactly when the smart money should make its move. Find out why in this month’s article Bucking The Herd.

Then take a tour up Longboat Key’s gorgeous Gulf of Mexico Drive, where an excursion down any one of its side streets will reveal lifestyle opportunities that are totally missed by sticking to the main road. I grew up on Longboat Key’s idyllic north end and Longboat Key: Off The Beaten Track clues you in to what I found out from a very early age. There is much more to the island than meets the eye from Gulf of Mexico Drive.

Lastly, breeze out to the most beautiful beach in the continental U.S. where you can actually own a beachfront home or condominium; these days at the most amazing prices. Read Siesta Key: Where It’s All About The Beach to find out why nothing sells newcomers on Southwest Florida quite as surely as its award-winning beaches.

Meanwhile enjoy this most beautiful of Springs and take in a few open houses on your way out to the beach.

Cordially,

We would love to hear your comments and suggestions as to what you would like to read in the weeks and months ahead. Please email them to me, care of editor@michaelsaunders.com. Meanwhile enjoy our twelfth issue.

Did You Know? Our office in the lobby of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Sarasota is staffed by an elite team of real estate professionals with extensive knowledge and expertise in our area’s three Ritz-Carlton properties. Contact 941.364-8884 or visit michaelsaunders.com for more information.