A few days ago, Marci Rossell—the former chief economist for CNBC—delivered an upbeat, long-term assessment of the U.S. economy to the annual meeting of Michael Saunders & Company.   Rossell is calling 2015 the “Year of Normalization” on three important fronts:

• Labor markets have stabilized and wages are beginning to rise as
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It was July 2007, almost eight years ago, when theSaundersBlog.com published its first post. Tom Heatherman, Communications Director at Michael Saunders & Company, was a recent addition to the team and recalls the initial formation of the online resource. At the time, the real estate downturn was showing signs in our local market (and [...]

Is the real estate market emitting mixed signals?  Or is the picture being blurred by conflicting accounts of its renewed strength?  Probably a little bit of each. Sales Activity over Six Months As real estate markets re-stabilize, it is not uncommon for upward spikes in monthly sales to be followed by a month or two of pared-down [...]

Record levels of buying have led to a persistent shortage of available properties in our lifestyle-rich region.  Thus the option to buy new is well worth considering—especially if you’ve ever pictured yourself living in a new home or condominium. The [...]

In April, combined home sales for Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte Counties hit its second highest mark in history.  In fact, closed transactions fell just shy of besting the region’s all-time record of 2,702 closed sales in a single month—set exactly ten years ago in April 2004. Pending sales were similarly robust, turning in the [...]

The cranes are back.  Not the feathered, two-legged variety that are ubiquitous throughout Southwest Florida; but the mammoth construction cranes whose presence on the skyline are highly visible displays of confidence in the region’s commercial real estate market.  Several of these cranes are already up and running.  More are on the way. [...]

Everywhere you look, spring has sprung throughout Southwest Florida.  From the vibrantly-colored Royal Poinciana and Jacaranda Trees—to the intoxicating fragrance of orange blossoms on the breeze—Mother Nature always seems to save her best handiwork for the Sunshine State. As everyone who lives in Florida full time knows, there are [...]

For devotees of virtually every major competitive sport—that doesn’t require snow for its playing surface—it’s a safe bet you will find plenty of activities throughout [...]

If children are our future, then the basic underpinning of a forward-thinking community is the depth of its commitment to maintaining superior public schools. Benefits to our Children and Community On Tuesday March 25^th, the voters of Sarasota County are being asked to reaffirm the proactive approach to better schools they resoundingly [...]

One of the most eagerly-awaited trends in the region’s real estate market appears to finally be taking hold.  For the past six months, the overall inventory of properties for sale throughout Sarasota and Manatee Counties has risen steadily; providing a good measure of relief from the acute shortage that has stymied buyers for nearly two years. [...]