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ATTENTION EXPERIENCED REALTORS     If you are a experienced  licensed Real Estate Associate or Broker Associate now is the time to take a look at your career and ask yourself "Am I where I need to be in my career?"  At ADVANTAGE REALTY FLORIDA we only hire experienced Real Estate professionals. Hiring just enough in any given area to handle the traffic in that area. By remaining relatively small in any given market area there are more leads per individual giving you a better earning opportunity. We are a NO FEES & HIGHER COMMISSIONS  Brokerage. We started our Brokerage in 2003 serving Lakeland & Polk County and then expanding to St. Pete Beach in 2015 and now are expanding to cover most of Central Florida. All areas within Stellar MLS If you are highly experienced and professional WE NEED YOU!  Want to be part of an elite group? Contact me Broker Richard Castret, Call 863-640-3127 or email me AdvantageRealtyFL...

Tips to Help Your Home Sell Faster

NAHB: Home Affordability at Highest Level in 3 Years : With low unemployment and mortgage rates that hit a three-year low in the third quarter, more average American workers can now afford the average American home.

10 Things Smart Realtors Do to Reach Next-Level Success : You can always be more successful, right? So what's holding you back? Follow this advice to break through barriers keeping you from reaching great things.

184 Ways Realtors Are Worth Every Penny of Their Commission : Here's a look at all the things — big and small — that a Realtor does to help clients when buying and selling a home.

Tech Helpline : Everyone has tech troubles from time to time. Florida Realtors' experts are here to free tech support you with everything from software upgrades to diagnosing computers.

Bankrate.com: 10 tips for Buying Rental Property : Should you take the plunge on a rental property? Experts offer a qualified yes, provided you do your homework. Here are some things to consider before diving in.

Q&A: Should Buyers Be Worried About Permit Code Violations? : Failing to obtain required permits can result in code violations. A seller should have already taken care of these details, but should a buyer be concerned anyway?

NAR: 76% of All Home Buyers Use Their Phones to Find Properties : Eighty-one percent of older millennials, 80% of younger millennials, and 78% of Generation X found their home on a mobile device compared

Report: Inventory and List Prices Drop Unexpectedly : According to realtor.com, its total number of listings declined 1.8% year-to-year in Aug., but median list prices also surprisingly dropped 1.8% month-to-month.

Fla.’s Closed and Pending Home Sales, Median Prices Up in July : Fla. Realtors Pres. Sain: “Like the weather, July was a hot month for Fla.’s housing market.” Statewide existing single-family sales up 10.4% year-over-year, median price up 5.1% to $268K; condo sales up 4.3%, median price up 4.4% to $188K.

National Flood Insurance Program Facts

For Consumers

Florida Housing Market: Median Prices, Inventory Up in 2Q : The state's population grows by about 906 new residents daily, which helps the economy and housing market, says Florida Realtors President Eric Sain.

Buyers Waiting for List Prices to Drop? They’ll Be Disappointed : Home prices plummeted during the recession, and some buyers are waiting for it to happen again. But investors who dream of easy money – sure they can make even more by flipping – aren’t driving the current market.

Today's Trendiest Home-Design Styles, According to Google : What do people search for on the internet when it comes to home design? Ranch-style homes, 1950s-inspired living rooms and blue hues are among the hot trends.

Unlocking Inventory : Real estate pros are seeking—and finding—solutions for persistent housing shortages across the nation.

May 2019 Florida Housing Report : May turned out to be one of the strongest months we’ve seen in a long time for single-family homes in the Sunshine State. We're talking a 9.6 percent increase in sales from May 2018 and our highest monthly total for *any* single month over at least the past 10 years.

Lenders must accept private flood insurance policies after July 1   WASHINGTON – June 18, 2019 – The threat to home closings during a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) shutdown may be muted or nonexistent should Congress fail to extend the program in the future. After July 1, a federal law forces mortgage lenders to accept private coverage if it satisfies criteria outlined in the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012. In February, five federal regulatory agencies – the FDIC, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, National Credit Union Administration and Farm Credit Administration – issued a joint final rule to implement provisions of the Act, which outlines the new private flood insurance mandate and the steps insurance companies and mortgage lenders must follow. The rule, which takes effect July 1, 2019: Implements the Biggert-Waters Act requirement that regulated lending institutions accept private ...

Florida's housing market reported more sales, higher median prices and increased inventory (active listings) in April compared to a year ago, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Sales of single-family homes statewide totaled 26,992 last month, up 6.2% over April 2018. Still-low mortgage interest rates and a strong jobs outlook are positive trends for Florida's housing market. Another strong sign: New pending sales for existing single-family homes in April rose 4.4% year-over-year, while pending sales for existing condo-townhouse properties remained at about the same level (-0.8%) as April 2018. In April, statewide median sales prices for both single-family homes and condo-townhouse properties rose year-over-year for the 88th consecutive month. The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes was $259,470, up 2.6% from the previous year, according to data from Florida Realtors Research Department in partnership with local Realto...

Another great week in Real Estate. Homes are selling at a phenomenal pace. If priced right they are selling within days of being listed. The key is in the pricing. It is imperative that the price is where it needs to be. That's why you need to use a highly experienced Realtor to list your property. Someone that knows the market and how to present your property at the best possible price. The first few days are critical to getting the home sold. If you price it to high you alienate the motivated buyers who are seriously looking to buy quickly and efficiently. You price it to low and you may lose a few thousand $$$'s that you could have received. Todays buyers are well advised and most are also working with someone that makes sure they are getting a good buy. The point is work with a professional experienced Realtor when pricing and selling your home. Here at ADVANTAGE REALTY FLORIDA  we are all experienced with many years selling homes i...

If you're a successful Realtor you have a very busy schedule. Most people don't understand the behind the scenes work that we do. When you work with a buyer you spend many hours screening available homes that fit their criteria. While there are many homes available you need to screen them so that you are showing them properties that "fit". Each and every day prior to doing showings I spend at least half a day in the selection process. I try to show no more than 6 properties in a days time. This obviously can vary depending on their proximity to each other. You then need to schedule the showings by reaching out to the listing agents and  that can take a few hours depending on how tangible they are. Once you have organized the showing I recommend that you print out 2 copies of the flyers keeping 1 for you and another for the customer to write notes on the back.  Case in point you normally will have a complete day in this process. Knowing the customer and bein...

I am truly amazed at how many times I've heard stories from other Realtor's about how disloyal their customer's are. Unfortunately they might be part of their own problem??    Please keep in mind that for most of your customers this is most likely a one time deal for them. They really have no clue how the system works and you can save a lot of grief by spending a little time in "educating" them across the board. Here are some talking points that I make sure and cover: If you are working with a buyer that you are working for them essentially for free and that you are compensated in most cases by the sellers. The sellers have a listing contract with their Realtor/Brokerage and the commission is already established within that agreement. So there is nothing to be gained by going around you directly to the listing agent. You need to establish a "relationship" with you're customer. This helps establish loyalty. Through working with them merely share...

Probably the most misunderstood concept about applying for a Mortgage is that by applying to multiple Institutions negatively affects your credit score. That is totally a misnomer. Shopping around is necessary to achieve the best possible rates for what most likely will be the biggest purchase of your lives and applying to multiple lenders is beneficial. One of my favorite "Go To" sites is BankRate.com. I find their information and articles to be very helpful in today's Real Estate market. Below is an article I copied from today's page view from BankRate.com: How do I get the best mortgage rate? To get the best mortgage rate , shop around with multiple lenders. Ideally, you want a rate that’s at least equal to, or better yet below, the current average rate for the loan product you’re interested in. Comparing rates from three, four or more lenders helps ensure you’re getting competitive offers on a new mortgage or a refinance. Inquire with large banks, credit un...

Spring Breaks are for the most part over and the Beach traffic is tolerable. Things are returning to normal. I currently have 3 Associates living and working on the beach (the "Beach Crew") They are the go to group for any of your Real Estate needs on St. Pete Beach & Pinellas County. While the "Beach Crew" is working the beach I myself am back in Lakeland (Polk County)rebuilding our market there. I am working with clients while I hire a new Broker Associate and a handful of Sales Associates to handle the booming Real Estate business in the area.      Schools will be out for the Summer before you know it and people will be moving during the Summer Moving Season. If you are looking to sell now is the time to get your home listed. We offer greatly discounted listing rates saving you in some cases thousands of $$$'s. Discounted rates without sacrificing service.   If your a buyer you need to start looking now so that you can get in be...

Business is brisk, homes are selling in both our market areas! Both St. Pete Beach and Lakeland sales are good. With our personal listing inventory being depleted we are offering greatly discounted listing programs in both markets. This is resulting in massive savings for our sellers. Interest rates are stabilized and remaining relatively low hovering around 4% (on average) for 30 year fixed loans making this a great time to buy. Buyers are shopping now!  Don't miss out on the Spring Sales season! Go to AdvantageRealtyFL.com click on the desired market (Lakeland or St. Pete Beach) Then just click on the Realtor's picture you might want to work with. Let us evaluate your home and get it SOLD!  

Spring has definitely sprung here in Florida! The Beach's are reporting a record number of visitors this year, breaking previous years records. People are enjoying our beautiful Florida weather. Business is good with many of those visitors being from the cold Northern States considering moving South. This is peak selling season in Florida especially in the Beach markets. Just wrapped up the annual Fun-In-Sun Air Show here in Lakeland Florida. This is the 2nd largest air show in the nation and draws pilots and enthusiasts from all over the world. The Blue Angels headlined this year and put on quite a show. Advantage Realty Florida services St. Pete Beach & Pinellas County as well as Lakeland Florida & Polk County. We are here to make a move to Florida a reality for those many visitors. We know our market and our areas! GO TO AdvantageRealtyFL.com click on the desired market area and then just click on the Realtor's photo you'd like to work with. It's that s...

I have an article to share with you that was sent to me by a local lender: Are a home’s green features being properly valued during the sale process? A panel of industry experts attempted to answer this important question at the recent 2019 Builder Show in Las Vegas. 1 The key takeaways: Studies have shown that properties with green features fetch 2%–5% more than comparable homes without energy-saving components. Sellers who invest in certifications like Leadership in Energy and Environmental Designs (LEED) and the EPA’s WaterSense and Indoor airPLUS designations may benefit more than those who rely solely on an appraiser’s valuation. As owners continue to add green technologies, detailed training for real estate agents‚ lenders‚ and appraisers will lead to a better understanding of these features and their impact on a home’s value. 1 Melissa Dittmann Tracey‚ “Are green features being valued enough in list prices?”‚ REALTOR ® Magazine ‚ last updated February ...

Open Houses are a working part of selling a home. Buyers are more comfortable in most cases attending an Open House then booking a showing, especially in the early stages of the process. From a Realtor's prospective it is always a challenge to achieve attendance for these events. Most advertising venues are not cost effective and promoting them through the MLS limits your exposure to licensed professionals and really doesn't reach the public. With that being said I have started a Facebook page for our Lakeland market called  OPEN HOUSE LAKELAND & POLK COUNTY Anyone can post to the page however all posts are screened prior to posting to the page. The best part is that it can be viewed by anyone! I will be putting a 2nd Open House page into service for our St. Pete Beach Pinellas County market as well. Here at ADVANTAGE REALTY FLORIDA we pride ourselves in advancing the Real Estate business, providing the customer with a positive & professional experience!...

I am hearing from many of my colleagues that this is now considered to be a buyers market? I guess that really depends on your definition thereof. Simply stated it is when the market climate favors the buyer. The higher interest rates we are experiencing (in the 4.0% range) are making it tougher for some buyers to qualify especially with the inflated pricing structure in place. The theory is that prices will come down to improve the sales, with keeping more people in play. Since most of my friends are Realtors I am curious as to your opinion. As Realtor's we pride ourselves in being able to adapt to any market environment. Working together and sharing insights help us and our industry move ahead. Feel free to follow the Blog itself however I share it to Facebook & Twitter and try to publish something every Monday. Below is a table/link that I attached from one of my favorite sites, BankRate.com: Today’s Mortgage Interest Rates 3-month trend 30-year f...

SPRING BREAK IS HERE!!! The lodging rates at the beach hotels are through the roof! People are scrambling just to find a place to stay. Most rates exceed $300 a day. Spring break typically starts in February and runs into late April. Not only is spring break busy but the trend is Rents (long term) have skyrocketed across the board increasing 30 to 80% depending. It's become a mecca for an Investor who is willing to rent out their property when they are not using it. With all the different regulations in regards to vacation rentals I advise any investor to employ a savvy "beach expert" to quide you through the in's and outs so you don't get burnt. Our "Beach Crew" has you covered!   Go to AdvantageRealtyFL.com Select St. Pete and just click on one of the Realtor's pictures to get started!  Simple as that!  

AS A CUSTOMER: Experience & Focus are very important! You need a highly experienced Realtor who knows what they are doing and really cares about you the customer. Here at Advantage I hand pick my Associates and only recruit people who reflect those credentials. We are a small "boutique" firm that has been around for over 14 years and has a great track history of sales. AS A REALTOR: Being a part of a small "boutique" firm has it's advantages!  We only hire enough full-time Associates to handle the traffic for that market. This equates to more leads per agent. We keep our overhead low so we can pay our Associates top commissions as well as advertise & promote them. We don't charge any fees to our people so that they keep more of their hard earned commissions. By being small the Broker is able to work one on one with anyone that needs advice. We definitely aren't a good fit for "new Realtor's" but we are a great fit for experien...

The Real Estate Market is booming! Anytime business is good the market becomes saturated with people who get their Real Estate license thinking they are going to make big $$'s. This tends to crowd the industry with inexperienced and in some cases unethical performers. In the 17+ years I've been doing this I've seen many come and many go. My point is that a Real Estate transaction in most cases is a one time deal for most people and will be their biggest and most crucial purchase of their lives. It is very important that they choose well as to who they have assist them in the endeavor. My firm Advantage Realty Florida only employs experienced  Associates and if I do enlist someone who is new I do one on one mentoring to make sure our customer's are benefiting from many years of past experience. I purposely keep our groups small and focused. Most firms crowd their ranks with anyone who can achieve a license, charge them a fee for belonging and just turn them loose o...

I am still amazed at the number of people who fail to work with a specific Realtor going it on their own. A Real Estate transaction is probably the biggest thing they will ever do and yet they go at it haphazardly. As a buyer your selected Realtor does not get paid by you so essentially they are free to you. Granted they do receive compensation from the sellers but that rate is normally predefined within a listing agreement structured by the seller's representation. Nothing to be gained by approaching the listing agent directly looking to save some $$$'s. Most of us are transaction brokers which means we work with buyers and sellers alike executing our services equally and fairly. We know the area and the current market and share our knowledge with you our "customer". Right now inventories are low and we are highly motivated to acquire listings. I myself am offering a 1.5% listing rate to my customers. This can save the customer thousands of $$$'s in what may be...

Starting a new week in Lakeland. Still unpacking and settling in but I'm ready to hit the ground running. Plan on setting up meetings with prospective clients as well as area Realtor's. I am excited to be back in the community and anxious to get started building back up our market share in Lakeland / Polk County. If you are considering selling your home or Commercial building feel free to reach out to me, Broker Richard Castret 863-640-3127 or email me AdvantageRealtyFL@outlook.com   Also if you are looking to purchase I have over 14 years living and working here so I know where the deals and values are! ALSO AREA REALTORS! I am actively recruiting Associates. We are a NO FEES & HIGH COMMISSIONS BROKERAGE Want to learn more???   Contact me: 863-640-3127. All inquiries are kept strictly confidential. If you want to earn more and pay out less we are worth the look.    AdvantageRealtyFL.com      

If you are contemplating selling or buying Real Estate is 2019 you will need to be well educated on the market and where it's heading for the year. There is no better way to do that then incorporate a very experienced Realtor in your plan. We study, live, breathe and eat Real Estate. I myself have been doing this for 17+ years. If you are buying you don't pay us anything, we are compensated by the seller and that figure has been already locked in by their listing agreement with their Realtor. Not using an outside Realtor to represent you and make sure you get the best deal just doesn't make good sense. Nothing to be gained there. If you are selling we are offering deeply discounted listing programs that can in some cases save you the seller thousands of $$$$'s IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON BEING INVOLVED IN A REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!!!! Go to: AdvantageRealtyFL.com select your area and then click on the Realtor's picture you would like to work wi...

If you are in need of Real Estate Services in Lakeland / Polk County and or St. Pete Beach / Pinellas County we are your go to Realtor's. If you are selling your current home our highly experienced professionals are totally familiar with their area's and they are up to date on the pricing trends. They spend a great deal of time "producing" your property for marketing. They make sure your property stands out from the crowd both visually and in description. We not only list your home but we work one on with you the client to make sure you are kept apprised of our efforts. We offer many different listing programs that are designed to save you $$$'s and still get the job done. If you are a buyer it's very important that your Realtor has experience & knowledge and our Associates all have years of working in their areas.  ST. PETE BEACH / PINELLAS COUNTY : LAKELAND / POLK COUNTY:   GO TO AdvantageRealtyFL.com select your area of interest and t...