Hi Folks. I went out last week and did a photo shoot for a property I sold back in late 2005. It sold for $170,000. Now it's a pre-foreclosure Short Sale and will be going on the market for around $50,000. When I first listed this property back in 2005 the owners were so proud of it. It was their little peice of paradise and it was in immaculate condition. It was purchased by an Investor in September of 2005 By early 2006 the market had crashed and this house has sat empty ever since. The difference between what it looked like then and what it looks like now is striking. Sad. What does it say about a real estate market when I won't even place my sign in the yard?                         Do NOT be foreclosed on! Avoid foreclosure. Short Sales DO close. Want to find out more? www.CentralF... 02/12/2010

  ....and you want it to be less than 7 years old with over 1500 sq ft of living area. Maybe this will help: Based on current market statistics, properties similar to the ones you are requesting are selling for $35 to $37 per sq ft living and 110% of the asking price. In order to stay under $60,000 you need to focus on properties with 1700 sq ft or less. 185 Conch and 1966 Michigan both fit.The stats that are below show that since 10/1/2009 there have been  29 sales. There are 21 pendings and only 9 actives in this price range. I eliminated the short sales and the properties that are priced too low (based on market data) and that left the 2 properties mentioned above. The average days on market are 23 and that of course includes the time it takes to get bank addenda signed. This tells ... 01/20/2010

Hi folks. Just when I think I have this Short Sale stuff figured out I run across another issue that has the potential to really place my sellers, the buyers and the agents in a difficult quandary. Yesterday I received a phone message from Chase in relation to a Short Sale we closed on almost two weeks ago. It went something like this "Hi this is Sarah from Chase calling on LN# 11324567. I am preparing the post closing package to send off to the Investor and noticed that I need the last 2 months bank statements from the Borrower. Please fax these over to me by the end of business today or I will return the check and close the file. Thank You." YIKES!!! This call came in at 1:00 in the afternoon while I was out of the office. So needless to say I had to scramble to reach the Seller and ... 12/18/2009

Short Sale for sale in Poinciana Florida. 4 bedrooms 2.5 baths with over 2200 sq ft of living area on a huge double lot (.91 acre). Ceramic tile roof, Atrium, screened and covered rear porch, garden off the master suite, lots of cabinets in the garage, gated entry, security system and much more. Located 1 mile from SoliVita and 2 Championship golf courses. An incredible price of $95,000 Do NOT be foreclosed on! Avoid foreclosure. Short Sales DO close. Want to find out more? www.CentralFloridaShortSales.com Copyright © 2009 http://www.brokerbryant.com/ | All Rights Reserved 12/05/2009

  Yep....7 months ago I submitted a complete Short Sale Package to Chase on April 27 2009. After many months of frustration I received another Chase Short Sale Approval yesterday. We are closing on 11 December. You know sometimes I am left just scratching my head. This one should have been a no brainer. The Sellers are both retired and disabled. They were able to purchase this home in late 2005 using a $100,000 cash settlement they received from a wrongful death suit for their son. Their son had always wanted to live in Florida so they took the $100,000 and put it down on a house that was selling for $183,000. Of course what they couldn't have predicted was that their daughter who was supposed to move in with them and help with the mortgage payment decided after living in Florida for 2... 12/01/2009

Hi folks, Depending on who you listen to the foreclosure rate in Polk County Poinciana Florida is any where from 15% to 20%. I have no problem believing this since roughly 85% of the sales in this area are either foreclosures or distressed sales. According to RealtyTrac there are 1,401 properties that are in foreclosure (Lis Pendens filed) on the Polk County side of Poinciana. There are 10,685 homes in this area. So let's call the foreclosure rate a minumum of 14% VIEW ALL DISTRESSED PROPERTIES FOR SALE IN POINCIANA FLORIDA Here's a little video I made yesterday that will show you what a 15% foreclosure rate looks like. The video was made going about half way down the road and only shows one side of the street. Do NOT be foreclosed on! Avoid foreclosure. Short Sales DO close. Want to fi... 11/12/2009

Avoid foreclosure. Another successful Short Sale Closing with Fifth Third Bank. Mortgage amount: $185,000.00 Sales price: $87,500.00 Lender agreed to 3% in closing costs and a 6% commission. Net to Lender: $77,078.00 (42% of amount owed) Fannie Mae was the Investor and there was Mortgage Insurance (MI). Challenges: The Mortgage Insurance company started out wanting $60,000 in any combination of cash and/or promissory note. We negotiated for 2 weeks. The Seller ended up bringing $1,000 to closing. No note. The first Buyer walked after keeping the property off the market for 60 days. The 2nd Buyer closed 38 days after going under contract. Total time from placing the property on the market until closing: 205 days. Seller testimonial: Dear Bryant "I want to personally thank you for your e... 11/09/2009

This is NOT a Short sale or a foreclosure. Just a good property priced to sell. There are 3 bedrooms and 2 baths with 1480 sq ft of living space in this never lived in home. Built in 2007. Owner will consider financing with 40% down or buy out right. The price is low enough at only $75,000. Would make a great primary residence or rental property. Would easily rent for $750 to $800 per month. Either way it's ready for occupancy. The AC and heating system was installed this week. Check it out....   Bryant TutasBroker/OwnerTutas Towne Realty, IncLicensed Florida Real Estate Brokerhttp://CentralFloridaShortSales.com http://ShortSaleSuperStars.com Are you a Florida REALTOR(R) looking for a change? Check it out. CENTRAL FLORIDA REALTOR(r) OPPORTUNITIES Copyright © 2009 http://www.brokerbryant... 10/27/2009

Tutas Towne Realty specializes in the listing and selling of Short Sales and foreclosures (REOs) in the Central Florida area.Since most of these properties are sold over the Internet sight unseen we try to capture the essence of the properties by use of numerous pictures and video tours. Touring foreclosures in Central Florida is always an adventure. You just never know what you will find. Folks facing foreclosure have a tendency of taking out their frustrations on the property. I’ll never understand why.Anyway…..here’s a little tour I did today on a Poinciana Foreclosure. Enjoy.   Need help buying or selling real estate in Central Florida? We can help. Bryant TutasBroker/OwnerTutas Towne Realty, IncLicensed Florida Real Estate Brokerhttp://CentralFloridaShortSales.com http://ShortSale... 10/24/2009

REALTORS(R) created the bubble and we are the reason the bubble burst. REALTORS(R) sold houses to anyone that could breathe because we are money grubing theives. REALTORS(R) give bad advise because all we care about is our commission. REALTOR(S) are the root of all evil!! Or so some would want you to believe. Especially the "bubble heads". They feel that we were out there setting prices higher and higher because the Buyers would pay it. There is some truth to that but the price was dictated by the market, not REALTORS®. I can remember, in 2005, going back and forth with Sellers on where to price their house. They would want to price $20,000 higher than the last sale and as hard as I tried, I couldn't talk them out of it, so we listed it. It would sell in a matter of days at their price!... 10/10/2009

Another successful Short Sale approval in Poinciana Florida. Property Value: $85,000 to $90,000 Amount owed: $185,000 Hardship: Loss of rental income on several rental properties (this one included) Loan details: Fannie Mae with Mortgage Insurance Property was placed on the market on May 8th for $109,000. The price was slowly dropped until it went pending on June 10th at $85,000. After about 6 weeks Fifth Third came back wanting the Seller to bring $35,000 to closing. The Seller offered $1,000. The transaction fell apart and the Buyer walked. The property was placed back on the market on August 20th. On August 27th it went pending again at $87,500. A complete Short Sale package was sent in again on September 2. Within days Fifth Third came back wanting $35,000. The Seller stood firm on... 09/19/2009

Hi folks. This current real estate market and economic climate is really taking it’s toll on people. We’ve recently heard of  “Strategic Defaults” and “Delaying your foreclosure” now we have the “Walk Away” or mailing your keys back to the lender. Jingle mail is what the lenders call it. And its spreading.Not only are people doing this with their houses but they are also doing it with their other debts. Stop paying. Walk away.If you want to get a better feel for people’s thought process just read through the comments on this article: The New Consumer Debt Strategy: Just Walk AwayPeople are fed up. They are getting fed up with their credit cards' interest rates going up even though they have never been late on a payment.People are fed up with corporations getting trillions of dollars in... 09/01/2009

IS IT A BUYERS MARKET OR A SELLERS MARKET?   Many buyers have latched onto the term "buyers market" as a snappy catch phrase. While they may be looking to buy indeed they are not alone.This concept is very confusing when attempting to arrive at fair offering price. But in reality, it is an Inventory Term used in Real Estate to define how inventory is shifting.  Numbers are powerful. They are also Persuasive.        They trump opinion, perceived value, or unintentional ignorance of what one may think the market is doing.  In fact, they are the  strongest  line of defensive reasoning we as professionals have.  There are a high number of low end buyers in Poinciana and St. Cloud, Florida.  As a result, they feel they can undercut REO/ and Short Sale  prices substantially and still be succe... 08/30/2009

POINCIANA, FL | The UCF incorporation study has apparently activated a number of Poinciana residents here in Central Florida to voice their opinions on the www. One of the many local examples includes the new blog, LetUsDecide.com blog, by WHO KNOWS? (Seriously, who does know?) Not to worry, LetUsDecide appears legitimate and extremely new; it was kicked off in early August 2009. The site promoter apparently supports incorporation and has been leaving flyers throughout the Greater Poinciana area including Crescent Lakes, Blackstone Landing, Doral Woods, Countryside Manor. Another such blog by Poinciana Residents for Smart Change represents an objective presentation of the incorporation study. 08/18/2009

Hot Deal Sold in July This home, with the Solivita-styled exterior, was sold in 10 days. 1,008 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. Listed By: Darhlene Zeanwick, All Star Properties of Central Florida. Sold By: Mary Jean Lantz, RE/MAX Paramount Properties. List Price: $44,900. Sold For: $50,150. How did we do it? We...' Wooded Residential Land for Sale Wooded lot in established suburban area located in the heart of Florida's Chain-of-Lakes region. This 0.17-acre, corner lot is located in Lake Marion Village, a community within a picturesque area in southwest Kissimmee, Florida, named Poinciana. Poinciana includes 18,000-acres of nature; outdoor...' Recently Sold Awesome home in POINCIANA; excellent location, very close to everything. This 3 bedroom & 2 bathroom became the perfect h... 08/18/2009

Hi folks. I’ve read a couple of posts this week that have left me scratching my head. Both were about listing agents and their “unethical” practice of not handling multiple offers according to the Buyer agent’s expectations.In the comments on these posts the listing agents were called lazy, unethical, unprofessional, bad, rude, unfair and greedy. The consensus was that “The listing agent was not looking out for the Seller‘s best interest.”Well my question is: “How do you know what’s in my Seller’s best interest”. The answer of course is “you don’t“. You have no clue what my Seller and I have discussed. As a listing Broker it is my job to counsel my sellers. My Sellers need to know that they do not have to…….…..disclose multiple offers.…..counter offer.…..ask for “highest and best”.…..e... 08/12/2009

  Don't Drain Yourself Ever wonder where chemicals end up after they've been dumped down the drain? Try answering, "Me." Former CEO of General Nutrition Centers (GNC), Greg Horn says, Collectively, we dump 32 million pounds of toxic chemistry down our drains each day, just from household cleaning chemicals. That doesn't...' Land Just Listed for Sale Wooded lot in established suburban area located in the heart of Florida's Chain-of-Lakes region. This 0.17-acre, corner lot is located in Lake Marion Village, a community within a picturesque area in southwest Kissimmee, Florida, named Poinciana. Poinciana includes 18,000-acres of nature; outdoor...' PBA's & Carbon Footprints in Real Estate We've kicked off... “In April 2009, a new white paper issued by the consulting firm WAV Group partner... 07/17/2009

 By now who has not heard of a Short Sale?  Homes being offered in the hottest price ranges are indeed attracting "multiple offers".  The "asking prices" are deliciously tempting and offer an opportunity for people of modest means to obtain a distressed property at a reasonable price...or does it? THE TASTE OF TEMPTATION      Wetting ones appetite for a bargain, has driven many buyers back into the Real Estate Market in hopes of purchasing a  property at a reduced price.  But more times than not, buyers are finding that the homes they see advertised for one price, already have Multiple Offers on them and the Highest and Best Price offer far exceeds the Asking Price. BUYERS FEEL "Duped"- BUT BY WHOM ?  There are often two sides to any Real Estate Transaction.  A seller's side, and a buye... 07/09/2009

The market has shifted over the past 3 months DRAMATICALLY and the supply is dwindling rapidly.  Prices are based on supply and demand.  Demand is high and supply is lower than previously reported. Good homes attract multiple offers as many buyers have experienced and unfortunately trying to come in low is proving repeatedly to not be effective.  It has been 3 years since the market peaked.  Markets go in cycles -The market bottomed in December 2008. Which means it is gradually rising. HOW ARE BUYERS DETERMINING WHAT TO OFFER? The days on market is not a good gage of what price to offer-  when a seller falls behind, the lender may tell them to sell the house. The private seller HAS to list it usually at a price much higher than the bank will (when they take control to liquid it as a tox... 07/07/2009

Richard Zaretsky’s recent post.......... "WALK AWAY FROM THE PROPERTY - STRATEGIC MORTGAGE DEFAULTS GROW TO 26%" got me thinking. His post is talking about the amount of people who are making the "Strategic” decision to default on their mortgages. TheTruthAboutMortgage.com site had this  to say about the topic.“A new survey conducted by the Kellogg School of Management in Chicago suggests that more than a quarter of mortgage defaults are strategic, especially when negative equity exceeds 15 percent.”Some of the comments on Richard’s post were calling this a moral issue. As in “It is morally wrong to strategically default on your mortgage”.So…….my question is…“Is deciding to default on your mortgage, or not, a moral issue?”Here are my thoughts: "Strategic Defaults" are rampant in my area... 07/05/2009