Bank of America announced a new short-sale program – called enhanced relocation assistance – to help homeowners move debt free and get paid $2,500 to $30,000 for doing so. The actual cash payment depends on the appraised value of the home. Sellers get the payment at closing. While each agreement with Bank of America is… Read More
PENDING SALE! Beautiful Townhome!

Shortsale. Immaculate home that was Recently Updated, this home is a must-see! There is a long list of Upgrades and Features this home boasts, which include beautiful new tile floors; wood laminate floors in family area; recently remodeled kitchen with updated cabinets & countertops & newer appliances; UV light filtering system on a/c to eliminate… Read More
Will housing prices soar by 2014?
April 4, 2012 – Real estate economists and analysts are increasingly optimistic that the housing market will have a dramatic recovery in the next two years, according to results of a new semi-annual survey of 38 real estate economists and analysts conducted by the Urban Land Institute’s Center for Capital Markets and Real Estate. The… Read More
SOLD LISTING! Palmetto Parkside Home

What a great open floor plan, check out this “Sanibel Model” by Windward Homes in the Parkside Community! Notable features include Oversized Premium corner lot, hurricane screens provided for windows, sliders and garage door, kitchen island with breakfast bar, all appliances included. Open floor plan with a great pass-thru from the kitchen. Peek-a-boo views of… Read More
Just Listed Manatee County over $500,000

This “Just Listed” page provides you with only NEW LISTINGS to be placed the market in Manatee County priced over $500,000. Starting your Bradenton-area home search with Just Listed is the simple easy way to find your dream home. Good homes sell quickly! Only the newest listings are found here. Find your dream home before… Read More
Just Listed Sarasota County over $500,000

This “Just Listed” page provides you with only NEW LISTINGS to be placed on the market in Sarasota County that are priced over $500,000. Starting your Sarasota home search with Just Listed is the simple easy way to find your dream home. Good homes sell quickly! Only the newest listings are found here. Find your… Read More
Sarasota – Bradenton Best Home Search Site has New Features!

Search By Radius If you’ve ever searched for real estate on my MLS Home Search Page, you already know that we are offering the most powerful searching portal in the entire market. I engage a company called Diverse Solutions to oversee the project. Essentially they take the data feed from our local MLS and apply… Read More
Housing Trends Newsletter January 2012

The January 2012 Housing Trends eNewsletter is now ready to view here! This eNewsletter is specially designed for you, with national and local housing information that you may find useful whether you’re in the market for a home, thinking about selling your home, or just interested in homeowner issues in general. Please click on this… Read More
FHA Financing Approved Condominiums
The Condominiums page allows users to search for FHA-approved condominium projects by location, name, or status. These properties are not for sale by the FHA. The search can be configured to find specific types of projects through the use of the pull-down menus and entry fields. Click this link to verify availability: Condominiums.
Esplanade

As the newest and only active lifestyle village in Lakewood Ranch, Esplanade offers maintenance-free living at an amazing value. Nestled on 207 acres just north of State Road 70, this gated enclave of 450 detached villas and single family homes brings a touch of the Mediterranean to Southwest Florida with its regional-inspired architecture, lush landscaping,… Read More
Arts & Culture
Please click links below to Search Arts & Culture Links in the Sarasota & Manatee areas: Van Wezel Performing Arts The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art Asolo Rep Theatre Sarasota Ballet Manatee Ballet The Sarasota Film Festival Manatee Art Center Sarasota Art Center The Players Theatre Musica Ringling College of Art + Design… Read More
55+ Communities in Manatee County
County Unit Name Address City Registration Next Renewal Manatee 5400 Gulf Drive Condominium Association, Inc 4301 32nd Street West, Suite A-20 Bradenton 03/24/2005 02/13/2012 Manatee Bayshore Gardens Condo, Unit #1 1600 Leisure Dr. Bradenton 11/04/2002 01/21/2013 Manatee Bayshore on the Lake Condo Apt. Owner 4301 32nd Street West, Suite A20 Bradenton 06/22/2010 06/22/2012 Manatee Bayshore… Read More
55+ Communities in Sarasota County
County Unit Name Address City Registration Next Renewal Sarasota Village at Riverwalk 150 Riverwalk Drive North Port 12/26/2001 07/10/2012 Sarasota Alameda Isles Homeowners Association #1 Alameda Grande Englewood 10/22/2001 07/07/2012 Sarasota Bahia Vista Estates 3901 Bahia Vista Street Sarasota 03/07/2002 03/03/2012 Sarasota Bay Indies 950 Ridgewood Avenue Venice 09/25/2001 08/28/2012 Sarasota Bay Lake Estates 1200… Read More
Why Use a REALTOR® When Buying a Home?
Why Use a REALTOR® When Buying a Home? A real estate agent can help you understand everything you need to know about the home buying process. Not all real estate licensees are the same; only those who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® are properly called REALTORS®. They proudly display the REALTOR ”… Read More
Property sales up 8.2 percent for full year 2011; prices stable
SAR Monthly Statistics Released for December 2011 For the full year 2011, property sales of members of the Sarasota Association of Realtors® jumped by 8.2 percent to 8,224, achieving the highest level since 2005. The surge in sales was accompanied by stabilization in the median sale prices, which now stand at $155,925 for single family… Read More
Buy a home for $100 downpayment in Florida!!!
HUD homes: $100 downpayment in Fla. WASHINGTON – Jan. 5, 2012 – In Florida and a handful of other states, the Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD will sell homes it owns for only a $100 downpayment, providing buyers meet certain conditions. Buyers must plan to live in the home and pay full list… Read More
Florida Title Insurance Rate, Title Insurance Cost in Florida
Florida Title Insurance/ Understanding Florida Real Estate Title Insurance and Rates What is the definition of title insurance? Florida title insurance is an important part of any Florida real estate purchase or refinance. Real estate title insurance, unlike most types of insurance, insures the property title for the time period extending backward from a point… Read More
An example of Closing Costs in Florida
Closing costs Example Loan amount: $200,000 Florida Origination, title and closing Loan amount $200,000 Points ($) $555 Administration fee $0 Application fee $413 Commitment fee $565 Document preparation $285 Funding fee $0 Broker, origination or lender fees $1,397 Processing $306 Tax service $89 Underwriting $394 Wire transfer $0 Appraisal $355 Attorney, closing or settlement fees… Read More
Closing Costs
After signing the paperwork to sell their home, sellers usually subtract their loan and commission from the sales price and figures that’s how much they will get. Few sellers give much thought to closing costs. But they are an important and usually unavoidable part of the transaction. Closing costs refer to all of the taxes,… Read More
Interactive map shows population changes
An interactive map makes it easier to track county-by-county population changes in Florida. It shows which sub-groups have grown and by how much between the 2000 and 2010 census. Only two Florida counties saw a population decrease over the period, for example, Monroe and Pinellas. However, the Jacksonville area, Central Florida, and few Panhandle counties… Read More
FAQ about Home Value & Improvements
Home Appraisal vs. Assessment: What is the Difference? An appraisal is something you pay for. An assessment is something the government does, whether you want them to or not. An appraisal typically is ordered by a home buyer’s mortgage company to confirm that the value of a home matches the value on the mortgage application…. Read More
5 Things to Do Now to Get Your Home Sold in 2012
By Tara-Nicholle Nelson | Broker in San Francisco, CA 5 Things to Do Now to Get Your Home Sold in 2012 December 6, 2011 6:17 PM It’s that time of year when most of us start to count our blessings, look back at what we’ve accomplished in 2011 and think about what we’ll get done… Read More
Leading U. S. economists: Fla.’s housing market bouncing back
Leading U. S. economists: Fla.’s housing market bouncing back ORLANDO, Fla. – Dec. 7, 2011 – Despite national and global headwinds, Florida’s real estate market is entering 2012 on an upward trend, according to three leading U.S. economists.“Our state is in a mini-recovery,” said Florida Realtors® Chief Economist Dr. John Tuccillo at the state association’s… Read More
The Sky’s the (Loan) Limit
By Gary Thomas, 2012 President-Elect, National Association of REALTORS® I have some great news to share with everyone! Last night Congress voted to restore loan limits and the maximum cap for Federal Housing Administration loans. Their action reinstates the loan limit at 125 percent of area median price up to $729,750 for two years and… Read More
Settlement reached in Chinese drywall case
Settlement reached in Chinese drywall case NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Nov. 18, 2011 – A settlement outlined Wednesday between a major manufacturer of Chinese-made drywall and homebuilders who used the tainted product in Florida, Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi could affect anywhere from 800 to 1,500 homes, attorneys said. Lawyers called it a significant step toward… Read More
Home market sees a sliver of good news
Home market sees a sliver of good news WASHINGTON – Nov. 18, 2011 – The share of borrowers falling behind on home loans dropped in the third quarter, and building permits for single-family homes climbed in October to their highest level in 10 months, new data show. The reports bring “some of the most solid,… Read More
Florida on the rebound!
CHICAGO – Nov. 17, 2011 – Two national studies – one from Realtor.com and one from Trulia – suggest that some Florida markets are poised for a real estate rebound. “This is a positive trend for Florida,” says John Tuccillo, Florida Realtors chief economist. “While Trulia and Realtor.com aren’t completely accurate in home prices and… Read More
Refinance Calculator
Refinance Calculator Calculators provide a reasonable estimate of costs and proceeds based on the input provided. Please keep in mind actual costs may vary dependent upon the particular complexities of your transaction. For a official title quote or HUD Statement, please contact info@cornerstonetitle.biz or by calling 941-708-0300. You can use the active calculator here Enter… Read More
Buyer’s Good Faith Estimate Calculator
Buyer’s Good Faith Estimate Calculator Calculators provide a reasonable estimate of costs and proceeds based on the input provided. Please keep in mind actual costs may vary dependent upon the particular complexities of your transaction. For a official title quote or HUD Statement, please contact info@cornerstonetitle.biz or by calling 941-708-0300 to reach Cornerstone Title directly!… Read More
Title Premium Calculator
Title Premium Calculator Calculators provide a reasonable estimate of costs and proceeds based on the input provided. Please keep in mind actual costs may vary dependent upon the particular complexities of your transaction. For a official title quote or HUD Statement, please contact info@cornerstonetitle.biz or by calling 941-708-0300. You can use their active calculator here… Read More
Title Insurance Calculators
Title Insurance Calculators For your convenience, CornerStone Title provides a variety of custom calculators to assist homeowners in estimating the costs of their transaction. These calculators provide an estimate based on the input provided. You can print the calculators or you can print to adobe and send the .pdf file and as an email attachment…. Read More
Florida 3Q sales up again!
Florida’s existing home and existing condo sales continued to show gains in third quarter 2011 compared to the same period a year earlier, according to the latest housing statistics from Florida Realtors®. Existing home sales rose 12 percent in 3Q 2011 with a total of 46,759 homes sold statewide; during the same period the year… Read More
International buyers still find US great place to buy
In the past three months, nearly 2.6 million international visitors searched for U.S. real estate on Realtor.com, according to officials. The top five countries where searches originated from are Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia and India. NAR’s 2011 Profile of International Home Buying Activity reports the U.S. remains a top destination for foreign buyers… Read More
Florida Leads Nation in Home List Price Increases
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) came out recently with a list of the top 10 cities in the country with the highest percentage median list price change from September 2010 to September 2011. Seven out of the ten top cities are in Florida with Sarasota, Florida at #4! The median list price was $233,000… Read More
A Guide to the new HARP Program
Another new program to help struggling home owners? Could this be an answer to help underwater home owners save their homes? The plan sounds promising, you be the judge! This new Obama mortgage-refi program hopes that by easing eligibility rules, 1 million more homeowners will qualify for its refinancing program and lower their mortgage payments… Read More
5 Home Buying Myths
Survey: 5 home-buying myths SEATTLE – Oct. 31, 2011 – Overall, today’s homebuyers tend to be fairly knowledgeable about the real estate market, but there are still a few points of confusion in the process, especially for buyers just entering the market. Here are the five main areas of confusion found in a survey by… Read More
A guide to administration’s new mortgage-refi plan
WASHINGTON – Oct. 25, 2011 – Two big questions loom over the Obama administration’s latest bid to help troubled homeowners: Will it work? And who would benefit? By easing eligibility rules, the administration hopes 1 million more homeowners will qualify for its refinancing program and lower their mortgage payments – twice the number who have… Read More
7 Smart Strategies for Kitchen Remodeling
7 Smart Strategies for Kitchen Remodeling By: John Riha Published: March 25, 2011 Kitchen remodeling can turn a ho-hum room into your home’s pride and joy. Here are strategies to help your project run smoothly. A significant portion of kitchen remodeling costs may be recovered by the value the project brings to your home. Kitchen… Read More
Renters spend 5% more than homeowners
NEW YORK – Oct. 27, 2011 – Rising rents are forcing renters to outspend homeowners on housing costs, according to a new study.Since 2005, homeowners’ housing expenses have climbed from 31.9 percent of their household budget to 33.2 percent. In that same time period, renters’ expenses have jumped from 35.6 percent to 38.4 percent, according… Read More
How do you know you’ve found “The One”?
With so many homes on the market, many buyers house hunt for months, even years before hitting property pay-dirt. Even for the savvy buyers who have narrowed their house hunt to an affordable price range, the condition issues so common in distressed homes can make choosing a home difficult. And on the flip side, some… Read More
MAJOR PRICE REDUCTION!!!

HUGE PRICE REDUCTION!!!! OVER $50,000!!! Cozy nights await you in this move-in ready, impeccable home. The enormous Master Suite includes vaulted ceilings, a wood burning fire place, and beautiful custom-built organizers in the Walk-in Closets! This Master Bedroom also has great views of the lakes! The home really has it all. Boasting 3 spacious bedrooms,… Read More
Mediterranean Villa

SOLD!! I brought the Buyer too! Mediterranean Villa! This is the ONLY plan of its kind currently available in Bougainvillea Place! This highly sought-after, single story villa has 2 very large bedrooms PLUS a large Den. Sit inside your screened lanai with stone pavers and enjoy lake views! There are no CDD fees here!! Beautiful… Read More
Can you Rent out a Short Sale Home?
Can you Rent out a Short Sale Home?? Short sales are transactions which require third-party lender approval to sell the home for less than is owed on the mortgage. The home listed for sale still belongs to the homeowner, therefore they may rent the home out, but renters and sellers in this situation should proceed… Read More
What is Foreclosure? How does this work?
What is Foreclosure? REO? How does this work? Foreclosure is a process that allows a lender to recover the amount owed on a defaulted loan by selling or taking ownership (repossession) of the property securing the loan. The foreclosure process begins when a borrower/owner defaults on loan payments (usually mortgage payments) and the lender files… Read More
Common definitions and terms used throughout the foreclosure process
Common definitions and terms used throughout the foreclosure process Notice of Default (NOD): The initial document (non-judicial) filed by a trustee that starts the foreclosure process, usually after the occurrence of a default under the deed of trust, or mortgage. Both LIS and NOD are part of the PRE-foreclosure process. Lis Pendens (LIS): Notification of… Read More
Do you want to buy a home WITH ZERO MONEY DOWN?? WITH 100% FINANCING???
Do you want to buy a home WITH ZERO MONEY DOWN?? WITH 100% FINANCING??? Well then, a USDA loan may be of interest to you! What is a USDA loan you ask?? Rural Housing Direct Loans are loans that are directly funded by the Government. These loans are available for low- and very low-income households… Read More
Florida bouncing back, and recession not likely, report says
Florida bouncing back, and recession not likely, report says MIAMI – Sept. 16, 2011 – Florida’s improving economy should avoid recession, even as the recovery fights significant headwinds from a devastated real estate industry. That’s the conclusion from the latest outlook for the Sunshine State by Wells Fargo, which sees South Florida and Tampa leading… Read More
Feds release final guide for toxic Chinese drywall

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sept. 16, 2011 – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released their final remediation guidance for homeowners with toxic Chinese drywall. The guidance calls for the replacement of all problem drywall; smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms; electrical distribution components, including… Read More
Radinka Ilsink joins global client referral network on Worldproperties.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Radinka Ilsink joins global client referral network on Worldproperties.com November 2011 Radinka Ilsink has successfully completed the Transnational Referral Certification Course and has added an important skill set to her resume and can distinguish herself in her local market as an agent who can serve both the domestic and global… Read More
Financing Your New Home

Basic Home Mortgage Categories Among the most popular home financing options is the traditional fixed rate mortgage, or FRM. This is the loan of choice in nearly 70 percent of home purchase transactions. The characteristic of fixed rate mortgages that makes them most appealing to many consumers is stability. The interest rate of this loan… Read More
Selling a Home? Look here….

Selling a Home? Here is just some of what you can expect from me when I list your Home for Sale: Selling This process generally begins with a determination of a reasonable asking price. I can give you up-to-date information on what is happening in the marketplace and the price, financing, terms, and condition of… Read More
Tips for Sellers on Preparing the Home

How can you ensure that your home will make the best impression possible? Here are six tips for savvy home sellers: 1. Focus on curb appeal. The outside of your house can be the source of a very good first impression. Keep the grass well-watered and mowed. Have your trees trimmed. Cut back overgrowth. Plant… Read More
Repairs that sellers should and should not do

A house that “sparkles” on the surface will sell faster than its shabby neighbor From experience, REALTORS® know that a “well-polished” house appeals to more buyers and will sell faster and for a higher price. Additionally, buyers feel more comfortable purchasing a well-cared for home because if what they can see is maintained, what they… Read More
Golf Courses Alphabetically

Florida’s Sarasota & Manatee Counties Golf Courses Click here to view Golf Course Real Estate Below is a list of Public, Semi-Private and Private Golf Clubs in the area BIRD BAY EXECUTIVE GOLF CLUB (Public) 18 holes over 2,423 yards with a par of 56 602 Bird Bay Dr. West Venice, FL 941-485-9333… Read More
Just Listed Manatee County under $500,000

This “Just Listed” page provides you with only NEW LISTINGS to be placed the market in Manatee County under $500,000. Starting your Bradenton-area home search with Just Listed is the simple easy way to find your dream home. Good homes sell quickly! Only the newest listings are found here. Find your dream home before someone… Read More
Just Listed Sarasota County under $500,000

This “Just Listed” page provides you with only NEW LISTINGS to be placed on the market in Sarasota County that are priced under $500,000. Starting your Sarasota home search with Just Listed is the simple easy way to find your dream home. Good homes sell quickly! Only the newest listings are found here. Find your… Read More
Gated Golf Community for 55+

Welcome to 1746 SW 155th Place Rd Wow, what a beauty! This truly stunning home shows like a model. Never been lived in and in pristine condition, this Extended Venice Model is a bright and sunny place to enjoy the Florida lifestyle. Flowing floor plan with a lovely family room, great room, breakfast nook, luxurious… Read More
Stunning Lake Views

POCKET LISTING: Former Model Home LOADED WITH UPGRADES!! Enjoy all the beauty this impeccable home offers: from the Double French Doors taking you out to the oversized lanai, where you will find a sparkling heated saltwater pool & spa, to the open flowing layout with designer upgrades everywhere you look! Boasting 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths… Read More
Features & Tips of my MLS Home Search

Welcome to the Best Real Estate Website for searching homes in Florida! Below you will see the many features that my website offers you in your search for a new home in the Sarasota and Bradenton areas of Florida’s sunny Gulf Coast. I personally created this website based on years of experience of working with… Read More




















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