Brandon Florida Real Estate

Over the past year, the Manatee County housing inventory has slowly been declining.  Excess inventory is starting to get burned off and we are moving in the direction of more "normal" numbers and a "normal" market.  We still have a lot of inventory on hand, but we don't have as many new listings coming on the market each day as we once did.

In June 2007, there were 4,341 Single Family Homes on the market.  Today there are 3,859.  That's about an 11% decline over the past year.

In June 2007, there were 2,047 Condos on the market.  Today there are 1,682.  That's about a 17.5% decline over the past year.

*Information is deemed to be accurate, but is not guaranteed

With the rise in gas prices and in trying to find anyway possible to save money at the pump, I just discovered a way to say 3 cents a gallon at Wal-Mart gas stations.  It's not a big discount, but 3 cents per gallon is better than nothing!

If you use a Wal-Mart gift card or a Wal-Mart Credit card at any Wal-Mart gas stations, you automatically save 3 cents per gallon.  Now, I surely didn't need anymore credit cards, so I didn't apply for one of those, but the gift cards don't cost you anything at all to get and they can be reloaded over and over again and save you money at the pump.  These are just the regular Wal-Mart gift cards that can be used in the Wal-Mart stores.

All you have to do, is select a gift card, load the money onto it, take it to the gas station and use it just like you would your credit or debit cards.  The pumps recognize that it's a Wal-Mart gift card and give you the 3 cent per gallon discount.  Be sure to save that card and reload more money onto it over and over again!  I have one specifically I keep in my car just for gas.

Of course if you don't live near a Wal-Mart gas station, this won't do you a bit of good.  However, since it seems like there is one in every town now-a-days, this little bit of info will help lots of people out.  There just happens to be one close to me and it is already usually cheaper than the regular gas stations, plus I save the 3 cents per gallon on top of it.

Hope that helps you out saving $$ at the pump!

If you have any other tips on how to save money at the pump, please feel free to share.

I was reading the Tampa Tribune paper online this morning and an article caught my attention. Condo Company Plans Clothing-Optional Pool.  This is a ploy to help move units in a down market in Temple Terrace (near Tampa).  My first thought is, it might have the opposite affect of what they are hoping for. 

Even though only one of the pools with be clothing optional and will be 18 and older, I still would bet a lot of people would not want their kids in a community where some people are outside nude even if it is behind gates, shrubs or whatever.

In an online advertisement, the following statement was used:  "You're going to be very comfortable with our dress code," it says. "Our residents are welcome to shed more than their inhibitions as they enter the gates of Eden. Because when our residents come home after a busy day in the working world, they want to completely unburden themselves, shed the trappings of the outside world ... and be totally free."

After some residents read that statement, they were up in arms because it made it sound as if the entire complex was going to be clothing optional.  Not true they say.  Only one of the private pools with me made clothing optional!

I'll be curious to see what happens if it gets passed and if it helps the sales!

Instead of "The right to bear arms" maybe it should read, "The right to bear butts"!

It's been a while since I've posted here.  About 4 months really.  Truth is, I had to take a break.  I was stressed out, burned out and just plain tired.

Over the past couple months I have been waking up everyday in pain.  Pain that right now for the most part is still bareable, but is leaving me very frustrated because parts of my body aren't doing what I want them to do.  Right now the pain is only in my right hand.  Occasionaly, I've had pain in my left hand, but everyday I wake up, the right hand is throbbing with pain and sometimes swollen.  It's frustrating because I am also right handed and some mornings I can't do simple things like hold an ink pen, write, open doors, open a bottle of water or brush my hair. 

My mom says my dad was diagnosed in his early twenties with rheumatoid arthritis as well.  Well at least I had 10 years on him before it creeped up on me!  The thing is, I don't have health insurance.  I've been using some over the counter medication that for the most part works.  However, some days it doesn't seem to do anything.  The pain is always the worst in the morning, but usually gone by the afternoon.

So my question is, has anyone found any homeopathic remedies that seem to work for rheumatoid arthritis?

Below are the stats for properties that SOLD and closed in April & May for Manatee County:

May 2007
# of single family homes SOLD = 248
Avg SOLD price for SFR = $368,228
Median price for SFR = $309,500
Average Days On Market = 106

# of condos SOLD = 81
Avg SOLD price for condos = $243,872
Median price for condos = $185,000
Average Days On Market = 104

May 2008
# of single family homes SOLD = 207
Avg SOLD price for SFR = $318,821
Median price for SFR = $245,000
Average Days On Market = 113

# of condos SOLD = 86
Avg SOLD price for condos = $205,662
Median price for condos = $152,000
Average Days On Market = 146

April 2007
# of single family homes SOLD = 235
Avg SOLD price for SFR = $365,430
Median price for SFR = $290,000
Average Days On Market = 98

# of condos SOLD = 88
Avg SOLD price for condos = $228,691
Median price for condos = $176,250
Average Days On Market = 113

April 2008
# of single family homes SOLD = 223
Avg SOLD price for SFR = $352,745
Median price for SFR = $255,000
Average Days On Market = 101

# of condos SOLD = 79
Avg SOLD price for condos = $212,856
Median price for condos = $165,000
Average Days On Market = 147

As of today, there are:  3,859 SFR Active on the market and 1,682 Condos Active on the market for sale.

To check previous months stats, click here.

*Information is deemed to be accurate, but is not guaranteed.

I am so irritated with agents that don't return phone calls!  I had a buyer from the UK email me 2 days ago wanting room measurements for a listing I sent him from the MLS.  Of course the agent didn't take the time to add them in the MLS, so I called the agent to see if I could get them. 

I called yesterday and no answer.  So I left a voicemail asking the agent to please call me and let me know if they had the room measurements.  Yesterday passed and no phone call back.  So I called again this morning first thing.  Don't you know it's 9:03 pm here and still NO PHONE CALL!!!

I just emailed my buyer to let them know this and to also let them know that I will go there tomorrow MYSELF and get the measurements for them!

I challenge anyone that has a listing with an agent to have a friend or someone you know call and request some info about your home as if you were an interested person and see if they even bother to call you back.  You might also want to ask your agent for a copy of the MLS printout to see if they even bothered adding in all the info about your home!

And a note to agents....if you have a cell phone....USE IT!  Return people's calls for pete's sake!  There is this little thingy-ma-bob on your phone known as an "icon" that shows you have voicemails you have yet to pick up!  It's there for a reason!!  Pick them up and then return the calls!