Social Media for Real Estate Agents

The use of social media has become a daily

practice for many people. Websites like Facebook, Google+, Instagram and Twitter have helped us to connect with friends, family and customers.  Working as an instructor for Florida Luxury Realty, Inc. and the West paso Board of Realtors, I have the opportunity to meet many agents who attend my classes and Social Media is one topic that comes up often.

Here are some tips on how to use Social Media as a real estate agent:

Think before you post - is it positive, is it

 useful, is it informative?

Be Social - posting things that are only about your business is ok but remember to like and share posts by others and avoid being all "me, me, me, me"

Like & Follow - connect with local

businesses in your area as well as community organizations and share useful information that they post. Your the neighborhood expert and you will benefit from sharing their posts.

Keep Your Dirty Laundry in the Hamper - separate your "personal" and business personalities. This may mean you have separate accounts on the social media sites. I recommend that if you do this use an email address that is different from your business email.

The biggest thing to remember about social

media for business as a real estate agent is that social media is a support system to your daily lead generation. Social media will help support your online presence but it is no replacement for daily lead generation activities. Social media is a wonderful way to promote your blog and gain stronger SEO when done correctly. 

  

Market Report for SummerTree in New Port Richey - November 2014

November 2014 real estate market report for the

gated, golfing community of SummerTree located in New Port Richey, Florida. SummerTree offers home owners a variety of home styles from Villas to larger single family homes. This community is reserved for those age 55 and over complete with Tennis Courts, Heated Pool & Spa, Fitness Gym with Mens and Women's locker rooms, Billiard room and much more.

Market Report for November 2014

Active Properties For Sale: 6

Lowest Price: $139, 900

Highest Price: $197, 990

Average Price: $175, 589

Average Price/SqFt: $102.27

Active with Contract Properties: 3

Lowest Price: $129,000

Highest Price: 159,000

Average Price: $144,333

Average Price/SqFt: $91.50

Sold Properties: 4

Lowest Price: $75,500 (Arborwood 2/2)

Highest Price: $134,000 (Cross Creek 3/2)

Average Price: $129,000

Average Price/SqFt: $78.09

All Information was obtained through the local MLS and is deemed accurate but not guaranteed

This report includes all residences in SummerTree except the condominiums in Pointe West. Home sizes in this report vary from smaller 2 bedroom homes to larger 3&4 bedroom homes in the newer area of Cross Creek. The age of the homes is also varied. If you wish to know your homes current market value range, contact me. You can fill out my online form and ask me for a market analysis which I will provide you via email within 24 hours.

written by Michael J. Gallo

A Great First Impression Starts With your Home's Curb Appeal

We all know that you only have one chance to

make a great first impression.  Selling your home in New Port Richey Florida is no different. Your homes front exterior photo is required in the MLS as the first photo in your homes advertisement and photo gallery.  This means that when your homes MLS advertisement is syndicated out to all of those real estate websites like Realtor.com and Trulia and that also means person who purchases your home will have already seen these photos. Your homes "curb appeal" and landscaping  needs to be appealing and well groomed to attract as many home buyers to your property as possible.

There are easy ways to enhance your New Port Richey home's curb appeal. Keep your lawn neat and the edging sharp.
Weed your flower beds often. Trim shrubberies and install Florida friendly plants and shrubs. You may want to consult with a landscape professional about ways to make your homes landscaping more attractive.  Your homes "curb appeal" is your first impression on your buyers. You want your buyers excited to get out of the car and see the inside of your home.  Your landscaping is not something that you can look at as "the buyers can plant what they want" or "the inside of my home is so nice they won't care about the front porch". 

There has been more than one occasion when

working with home buyers that I was told to "move on the next house" or "I don't think I want to go inside" from the curb.  The same is true when buyers search homes online. Your photos must be quality but the subject of the photo must be quality as well. You have competition from the other homes for sale in your area. Let's look at it another way. If you went to the produce stand for an apple and found only 3 apples on the shelf and one was deep red and shiny and the next was red and pretty dull and the third was light red and bruised....which one would you pick? The shiny deep red one right? The same goes for your home when selling. You want your home to be the beautiful shine home that buyers want to pick.

I am happy to meet you at your home and discuss ways you can enhance your homes curb appeal no matter what your budget may be. You can contact me through my online contact form and request information or ask me any question regarding real estate.

  

The Importance of Mortgage Pre-Qualification When Buying a Home

Buying a home is the one of the biggest

decisions and investments you will make in your lifetime. Some people even say it is the most stressful thing they have ever done. Having a knowledgable real estate professional to assist you is very important. I make your home buying process as smooth as possible. My goal is to help you find the right home that you can afford and make the entire transaction as enjoyable as possible for you and your family. You deserve an experienced real estate professional to assist you in buying your home.

In order for your home purchase to go smooth and be less stressful for you, I need you to do one small thing before we get started. You will need to contact a local mortgage professional and speak with them about your mortgage pre-qualification and pre-approval. Your mortgage professional will let you know how much home you can afford to purchase and which loan programs your qualify for as well as helping you choose the mortgage loan program that is right for you.  They can tell you based on how much you want to pay each month how much you can spend on your home. They will also tell you how much money you will need for down payment and an estimate of your closing costs that you will need to pay at the time of closing.

Working with many home buyers over the

years I will not show someone available homes on the market before they obtain a mortgage pre-qualification or mortgage pre-approval.  That would be putting the cart before the horse. Lets say we did it that way. You find a home you like and want. Then you contact a mortgage professional and depending on how much documentation they need it could take a few days before you get your pre-qualification and by then the home may be already under contract. We just wasted a lot of valuable time. It is very important you contact a mortgage professional prior to house hunting.

If you or someone you know is interested in buying or selling a home in the Trinity or New Port Richey Florida area, contact me online and you can request any information at any time of day and I will respond within 24 hours. You can also call me directly.

written by Michael J. Gallo

A Funny Thing Happened at The Closing Table That Was No Fun

The easiest part of my job is my customers

closing. There is usually a feeling of excitement in the room from both the buyers and the sellers. The closing is when it all comes to gather and both the buyer and seller are starting a new chapter in the book of their lives. Everyone exchanges pleasantries and house keys and quite often we share a few laughs.

Last week a funny thing happened at a closing that quickly turned from funny to annoying and by the time I was walking out the door I was down right peeved.  Was it the buyer? No. Was it the Seller? No. It was the agent on the other side.  The moment I sat down I was asked questions about my former franchise and how long I was with them. The other agent is currently with the same franchise that I was formerly with. Why did you leave? Not all offices are the same. We have great education (i know. i taught classes there) and on and on and on. It took about 30 seconds for me to realize this agent was trying to recruit me and all I could think was "he drank the kool-aid" 

All this took place while his customers were 

signing their paperwork. The agent didn't once let off me and give any attention to their customer. I made it very clear I was not interested in that franchise or moving my business. I made that clear multiple times. When the closing ended I stood to shake their hand and their final comment was "I'm going to go ahead and have my office contact you". I stopped in my tracks and replied. "Please don't. I'm happy where I am and will not be moving".  I didn't let it ruin my day but as you read this I think it's obvious that the whole recruiting at the closing table really annoyed me. Stop worrying about your profit sharing and focus on your customer.

written by Michael J. Gallo

Key Points to Know When a Home Buyer is Using VA Financing

We should first look at what a VA Loan is. The

Veterans Administration does not loan the money for the home purchase but they do guarantee the loan for the bank that provides the money to purchase the home.  VA borrowers must meet certain criteria in order to qualify for a VA guaranteed home loan through the VA and the borrower must meet home loan qualification guidelines with the bank that is finding the home purchase.  A VA loan may be a better way for home buyers to obtain their financing as opposed to FHA or Conventional loan products. If you are interested in knowing if you qualify for a VA loan or the comparison of a VA loan to FHA or conventional I suggest you contact a mortgage lender and discuss your options.

Some things to consider when selling your home to a VA buyer or as a real estate professional working with a VA buyer are:

The Veteran is exempt from paying for a Wood Destroying Organism Inspection. Either the seller or the real estate professional can pay for it, but not the veteran.

The Veteran is exempt from paying any real estate brokerage administrative fees associated with the real estate transaction. That fee will also need to be paid by the veterans agent or broker.

The veteran is required to meet service related requirements and have a DD214 discharge form to qualify.

These are just a few of points to consider when obtaining a VA loan or working with a VA home buyer.  I advise you to consult with a mortgage professional regarding the VA loan process and ask the mortgage professional any questions you may have. 

To all of the Military Veterans of all branches of service I thank you for your service and sacrifice to the people of our country.

   

Written by Michael J. Gallo

11836 Bayonet Ln. Condominium For Sale in New Port Richey

11836 Bayonet Ln. New Port Richey, FL. is a

1 bedroom condominium located in Pointe West Condominiums inside SummerTree in New Port Richey and is reserved for those age 55 and over.  This home offers a nicely updated kitchen with more cabinet space than most condominiums in the community.  The guest bath is a 2 piece bathroom with no tub or shower and has been nicely renovated.

Take the Virtual Tour Here

The master bedroom provides access to the rear room of the condominium where you can have an office or use it as a den.  The rear room has a door which leads to the outside of the home.  The floors of the home are laminate wood style in the main traffic areas and wall to wall carpeting in the bedroom.  The washer and dryer are included in the sale of this home and are conveniently located in the back room off of the bedroom.

You will enjoy the amenities of SummerTree as a Pointe West Condominium resident.  These include a heated pool, whirlpool spa, fitness gym, billiard room, card room, gated entry, public golf course, lawn maintenance, trash removal, roof repair or replacement, building exterior insurance and maintenance and basic digital cable. 

Association approval and application is required and there is a maximum pet weight of 20 pounds at maturity and a maximum number of 2 pets allowed.  Deed restrictions also apply for renting and multiple unit ownership.

Contact me to schedule your showing of this adorable condominium in Pointe West.

SummerTree in New Port Richey Florida Real Estate Sales

SummerTree in New Port Richey Florida is a

gated community reserved for those age 55 and over.  The community of SummerTree offers it's residents a community pool which is heated, tennis courts, shuffleboard, a fitness gym, billiard room and golf course.  SummerTree is a lower maintenance community where your landscaping is provided by the community so you never have a need to mow your lawn or trim your shrubs yourself. 

I have been assisting people to sell and buy real estate in SummerTree and all of it's villages for years.  The villages inside SummerTree include Arborwood, which is a section of the community that has mostly smaller 2 bedroom single family homes with attached garages and Arborwood has it's own community pool that is for the Arborwood residents only.

The villages of "The Greens", "The Villas" and

"Tournament View" are sections of SummerTree that offer villa style homes that are built in pairs and that are attached but each villa has it's own garage.  The villas in Tournament View are located on the golf course and close to the community clubhouse. The villa style homes located in "The Villas" are located on the back side of the golf course and some homes are close to the course with views of the greens while others are on conservation home sites with wooded views.

Another section of homes in SummerTree is "Cross Creek" at SummerTree. Cross Creek consists of larger style homes of newer construction. Cross Creek at SummerTree has it's landscaping maintained by the association and some of the homes are on larger lot sizes and many home sites are on wooded conservation lots and many homes are located on cul-de-sac roads or well maintained homes.  Assisting the residents of SummerTree to sell their homes is one aspect of my business that I love.  I have met some great people and it has been a pleasure to assist the residents of SummerTree to sell or buy their homes.  Pointe West in SummerTree is a section of the community that consists of condominium homes. The condominiums in Pointe West range in size from 1 bedroom to 2 bedroom homes and some have attached garages while others do not.

If you or someone you know is in need of a real estate professional in SummerTree in New Port Richey, contact me.  You can contact me online and fill out my online contact form to request information or ask a question and I will respond within 24 hours.

  

Trinity Florida Real Estate Market is Moving - It's Time to Sell

The Trinity Florida real estate market is moving and homesare selling at a quicker rate (less time on market) than in years past.  We are also seeing home sales with higher sale prices than before.  These indicators are positive signs that the Trinity Florida housing market is recovering and with constant improvement to the time a home for sale is on the market and sales prices, we are confident that the trend will continue for the 4th quarter of 2014. 

Selling your home in Trinity does mean that you have some

competition from other homes for sale and fewer of them are distressed properties which means that your homes market analysis is very important and you should rely on that information being provided by an experienced and knowledgable Realtor(R).

There are many real estate agents who advertise in Trinity Florida and want your business and many of them have their office in other areas of New Port Richey which is fine but as a Realtor(R) with Florida Luxury Realty I have an office in the Trinity community and we have been helping the homeowners of Trinity sell their homes for over 15 years. You can rely on my experience and knowledge to work for you as I am not only a Realtor(R) but I teach real estate both at Florida Luxury Realty and the West Pasco Board of Realtors(R) where I am the 2014 Education Committee Chairperson.  You should expect that the real estate professional you hire to sell your home is a dedicated Realtor(R) and who makes helping people sell their homes a career and full time commitment. 

Should you or someone you know require the services of an

experienced Realtor(R) in Trinity, please contact me. You can use my online contact form and request information or ask any questions you may have even after normal business hours and I will respond within 24 hours.  My customers satisfaction is my motivation and helping you reach your goals is my overall goal. 

written by Michael J. Gallo

Florida Luxury Realty Certified Luxury Home Sales Professional

  

Southern Oaks in New Port Richey Florida Market Report September 2014

Southern Oaks in New Port Richey Florida is

a wonderful community located off of Alico pass and Starkey Boulevard in the New Port Richey and Trinity area of Pasco county. Located a short distance from J.B. Starkey Park and Wilderness Preserve allows you to enjoy family fun in the park as well as hiking along the large hiking trail and nature trails this tremendous park has to offer.

Living in Southern Oaks in New Port Richey you have no shortage off shopping and dining nearby.  When you are ready to sell your home in Southern Oaks, contact me. Let my knowledge and experience work for you and help you reach your real estate goals.

5 Homes Sold in September ranging in size from 1,928 - 3,037 square feet and Sold for $187,500 - $237,000

2 Homes were Active with Contract and 1 was Pending

we can expect those Active with Contract and Pending homes in September to Close sometime in October

This Southern Oaks market report data is

from September 1st through September 30th 2014. All information was provided through the Realtor MLS system and all information is deemed accurate but not guaranteed.