Marco island - May 2020 Real Estate Stats and Commentary

The following stats compare May 2020 to May 2019. Sold Single Family Homes DOWN 48% (24 vs 57)  11 HOMES CLOSED THAT WERE EACH OVER $1,000,000.00 Sold Condominiums DOWN 52% (22 vs 46) Sold Single Family Vacant Lots DOWN 13% (13 vs 15) Pending Single Family Homes DOWN 2% (47 vs 48) Pending Condominiums DOWN 19% (35 vs 43) Pending Single Family Vacant Lots UP 157% (18 vs 7) (Pending means it went under contract but has not closed yet) Inventory: 244 Single Family Homes (DOWN 24% from 2019) 352 Condominiums (DOWN 16% from 2019) 216 Single Family Vacant Lots (DOWN 32% from 2019) 812 Total Homes, Condos, and Vacant Lots for sale. Summary: A total of 48 Million dollars worth of real estate closed on Marco Island in May 2020. $65 Million dollars last month and $80 Million in May 2019 (last year). We are knee-deep in the virus but the Real Estate Market is doing well. The stock market is BOOMING for whatever reason and that money is finding its way into Real Property. The high-end home market is doing very well with 11 of the 24 sales this month over $1 Million. The vacant lot market is on fire as people are land banking or getting ready to build the dream of their home now or in the future. l recently went up to the Jersey Shore and there isn't a vacant lot to be found. On Marco, you can still find a nice WATERFRONT lot for in the $300,000's. I'd be jumping on that if I were you. The condo market is doing okay and part of the weakness there is low inventory. If you are thinking of listing your property, now is a great time as not only is the condo inventory low, all of the inventory is low. Again, if you currently have a mortgage now is a great time for you to look at refinancing it as rates are at record lows. All in all the virus has not had a devastating effect on our Real Estate market and if anything our warm climate and a healthy lifestyle has opened many people's eyes as to another great reason why it is great to live here. Come on down and join in! As many of you know I have been living in the Port Marco Trailer Park next to the Snook Inn for a few months now and I am learning a lot about Trailer Park life from my neighbors. I would like to share some of this information with my 7.6 faithful readers because some of you may someday be living in a Trailer Park and you should know some ground rules. First, when living in a Trailer Park you don't refer to it as The Trailer Park, you simply say "The Park" and your neighbors are "Park People". Now, when I was a teenager we went to the town park to sneak beers, make out, and play basketball or baseball and we referred to that as going to "The Park", There are no courts in my new park, no making out, nor are there beers, there is however hard liquor because that is what big girls and boys do. In "The Park" you don't need a clock or a watch, except for when it's 4:30, because that is when Happy Hour starts. Now 4:30 does not mean 4:29 or 4:31, it means exactly 4:30 sharp. If for some reason our biological time clock is off, we use the Cesium Atomic Clock located in Boulder Colorado to synchronize ourselves to the start of Happy Hour. Next, Happy Hour does not in any way mean 1 hour in duration. It means you must be Happy for 1 Hour. Now, if it takes you 47 drinks and 6.5 hours to get Happy for 1 Hour, then that is how much time you must spend working on your happiness. Happiness does not come easy and sometimes you really have to work at it. This is serious business and nobody wants a grumpy Park Person so everyone helps everyone to be Happy. Also, in case someone chokes or has to activate the defibrillator (about 3 times per month) there is one Park Person that must drink half as much as everyone else and be the responsible party that day. If there are no volunteers, then each Park Person must sign a waiver stating they do not want to be resuscitated during Happy Hour. Special guests may be invited to Happy Hour, but there is a prerequisite that they previously lived in The Park or were related to someone that did. Next, never discuss politics, religion, current medications, and medical conditions, race, sex, spouses, (be they current, ex, living or deceased), favorite sports teams, physics, cuss, swear, talk about your home state, flip anyone the bird, tell dirty or clean jokes, or speak of anything controversial for that matter, UNLESS, of course, everyone is Happy at the same time. Now, being that your happiness is 100% guaranteed when living in The Park during Happy Hour, all of the aforementioned taboo items are discussed every day without fail. Next is clothing. As we live in close quarters and the trailers are like fish bowls with lots of glass, it is recommended that you at least wear underwear when cooking or cleaning. If it is laundry day and you are out of underwear, please shut your blinds or at least don't jump up and down like a contestant on The Price Is Right when a neighbor looks in.That leads me to cooking. Again, because we live in close quarters and the trailers are not airtight or bug tight, cooking bacon or curry is forbidden as everyone will smell it waft out and get hangry. Also, never EVER burn popcorn, as it stinks out the neighbors and they will also know they were not invited over to watch Trailer Park Boys on Netflix with you. Next, we have Sharing is Caring. What's yours is mine, is a way of life in The Park, unless of course, you don't want to share, then this rule can be ignored. This one is tricky so re-read it as there will be a test on this tomorrow. Next, we have bragging. First and foremost, nobody cares about what you have or don't have in The Park (unless it is bacon that you don't want to share during Happy Hour, I've seen knife fights break out over this). People are not living in The Park because they have to, it is because they CHOOSE to. Everyone in The Park is a millionaire in more ways than one. To prove this point, there are 16 owners and The Park is for sale for $16 million dollars. The last time an offer came in for $16 million cash they turned it down for no good reason other than to have something good to talk about during Happy Hour. Lastly, I would like to talk about the zoo factor. People go to the zoo to stare at the animals locked up in cages. When you live in The Park there are 1,876 signs up at the entrance that say "Private Property", yet all day, every day, people drive through to point and stare at the "Park People". Like the lions and tigers in the zoo, you eventually become desensitized to this and wait for the day that the caretaker accidentally leaves the cage door open and you can attack one of the visitors. This is just the tip of the iceberg when learning about Park Life. In the future, I will be hosting a week-long live away camp in trailer number 14 (it's the white one) for those that want to experience it first hand. Email me your selected weeks and proof that you are COVID free and I will send you an application with the fee structure. Now, for the 1.6 of my 7.6 faithful readers who don't sign up for live away camp but want to know how the above applies to regular real estate, I will explain it. When living in a condominium building or neighborhood there are sometimes little idiosyncrasies that come with the community. Knowing these before you move in may help you acclimate quicker and be a better neighbor, or you may want to steer clear before you buy into that community. For Instance, it is widely known that the Bella Vista Condominium on Collier Boulevard is home to those with weak bladders. They keep their pool at precisely 98.6 degrees so there are no "warm spots" and they keep the chlorine content at 1,000%. Swimming with your mouth open is strictly forbidden and Happy Hour starts early at 10:00 A.M. Then we have the Rover Estates single-family home section of Marco. Most of the folks in that section have at least 3.4 free-range snowflake dogs. Reprimanding or controlling your dog is strictly forbidden and most of the residents there suffer from osteoporosis or sciatica which prohibits them from bending over and picking things up that have been left behind. For those anti-dogites, I would suggest the Kitty Hawk Condominium where the bylaws state you must have at least 12 or more house cats in your unit at all times. The Bird House Condominium used to be located next door, but due to escapism from the Kitty Hawk property, they now only allow owners to keep invasive iguanas or shotguns. But, in all seriousness, please know that condos have rules as does the City that must be adhered to. I know my 7.6 faithful readers want to be good neighbors and citizens so they abide by all the rules and if you are reading this you should too. Is it 4:30 yet? The inquiring 7.6 faithful readers demand to know The High and Low Sales for the month of March, and they are as follows: Single-family home, 1260 Marlin Court closed for $3,800,000 Cash. Condo, Madeira 1001 closed for $2,350,000 Cash by some Realtor that was shot in the belly 5 times. Vacant lot at 1311 Forrest Court Court closed for $2,225,000 Cash. For the bargain hunters, a 3 bedroom home at 216 Castaways Street closed for $450,000. A condo in Coquina Gardens closed for $125,000, and a vacant lot at 1780 Granda Drive closed for $60,000, YES, you can still get a great deal on Marco Island. If you want to invite out for dinner I will gladly take you up on the invitation. It's only half as fun now, but, it only costs you half as much too. I won't be out fought or out thought! Past boring newsletters can be viewed here: https://viewmarco.blogspot.com/ Gerry Rosenblum  Broker Associate Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty 2013, 2012 & 2007 President Marco Island Area Association of  Realtors 2008 Realtor of The Year - Marco Island  239-450-4770 (cell) 1-888-239-5131 (toll-free e-fax) 1-800-237-8817 (toll-free) To View the Entire Marco MLS go to: www.viewmarco.com Copyright © 2020 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty, All rights reserved. A fun way to follow the Real Estate Market on Marco Island. Our mailing address is: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty 900 North Collier Boulevard, Marco Island, FL Marco Island, FL 34145 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Marco Island Real Estate Stats and Commentary March 2020

The following stats compare March 2020 to March 2019. Sold Single Family Homes UP 66% (58 vs 35)  11 HOMES CLOSED THAT WERE EACH OVER $2,000,000.00 Sold Condominiums UP 27% (66 vs 52) Sold Single Family Vacant Lots UP 66% (22 vs 11) Pending Single Family Homes DOWN 53% (35 vs 74) Pending Condominiums DOWN 35% (40 vs 62) Pending Single Family Vacant Lots DOWN 64% (5 vs 14) (Pending means it went under contract but has not closed yet) Inventory: 290 Single Family Homes (DOWN 22% from 2019) 367 Condominiums (DOWN 19% from 2019) 251 Single Family Vacant Lots (DOWN 25% from 2019) 908 Total Homes, Condos and Vacant Lots for sale. Summary: A total of $128 Million dollars worth of real estate closed on Marco Island in the Month of March 2020. $72 Million dollars last month and $70 Million in March 2019 (last year).  Now I must point out that the virus was upon us and the closed sales we see in March were for properties that went under contract mostly in January and February. But, just like driving a car, we need to look out the windshield and not into the rearview mirror to see where we are going. As you have heard a thousand times already, these are unprecedented times. Nobody knows for sure what exactly will happen, but I have a great imagination and here is what I think. First, if you currently have a mortgage now is a great time for you to look at refinancing it. Rates are at record lows and if you emerge from the virus with a job and the ability to pay your mortgage it will most probably be lower if you act now. You have nothing else to do, so take advantage of the time you have to sit around and save yourself some big bucks. Second, if your property is on the market currently, leave it on the market. There are millions of people sitting home spending millions of hours looking at Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, and porn. You might as well let them look away at your properties because when the dust settles they may realize that being quarantined on Marco Island sure beats most other places in the world and they may decide to move here. Lastly, what does the old Lucky 8 Ball have to say? I shook it up and here is what I got, THIS TOO SHALL PASS! Be thankful that you did not catch the virus. If you or someone you know did, my thoughts and prayers are with you and them, but chances are you will make it out the other end of this healthy. Time will pass, the world will certainly never be exactly the same, but things will calm down and Marco, as I said before, is as good a place as any to be quarantined so why not live here?  The stock market has scared the daylights out of many and it was certainly soaring prior to the virus. That tells me that as the market returns and many of those gains are recouped, you are going to see people take some of that stock money off the table and use it to invest in Real Estate which was already happening as there were an inordinate of multi-million dollar sales happening. Life is short and sometimes more fragile than we imagine, use this time to reflect on making the most out of it. Now it is time for me to come clean and explain why you have not heard from me for a few months. This is going to be very difficult to tell you, but I need to get things off my chest, at least that is what my Shrink tells me to do. This is not going to be funny, but hopefully, there will be a happy ending someday. I love self-deprecating humor so here comes my story of woe with as much humor as I can currently muster. Many of you have heard me refer to my first wife and my current wife in past posts. Now 2.6 of my faithful 7.6 readers know that in fact, my current wife is, in fact, my first and only wife. In fact, I have only been married once and I was dumb enough to think I got it right the first time. I loved to write about Barbara as I adore and love her, and it always put a smile on my face knowing she was my proofreader and would see what I had to say first each month. Well, right after New Years she gave me the news that her feelings changed after 26 years and she wanted a divorce. Without giving you the gory details, I moved out and went on a tour of the local hotels in Naples while my head spun and heart ached. I learned a lot about hotels and now consider myself an expert in the field. The pancake maker machine at the Holiday Inn Express is spectacular and gives you a reason to awake in the morning when you have no other reason to. The Red Roof Inn has rooms that look at the pool and rooms that look at the parking lot. I chose the parking lot because nobody wants to see people having fun at the pool when they are miserable, it actually pisses you off. The Gulf Coast Inn is great for the money and they have a Sushi place attached if you can eat. The Hilton is new and expensive so I stayed away from that unless everyone else was booked. Keep in mind this is the busy season and I was forced to bounce around based on availability. I did sleep in my car one night, but that was out of desperation and frugality. Then, as this was getting expensive, I moved to the lower-tiered motels like the Glades Inn on 41.  Then, when I was at rock bottom emotionally, I went to Conty's on 41 as it is probably the rock bottom of hotels and in the peak of the season here the room was $100 per night. Normally, it is $100 for 100 nights. If you love bugs, mold, drugs, hookers, noise, traffic, things that go bump in the night, this is the place for you. I was never so glad to have a C.C.W. in my life and made sure all my neighbors knew I was not in any frame of mind to be messed with. Once those boundaries were established I fit right in with those that live there permanently as they came to understand I could be their worst nightmare instead of the other way around. While living there, the Collier County Sherrif's office raided the place for human trafficking, this is not a joke. However, it is sad to see some of your new best friends carted off to jail. One officer did enter my room to ask me a few questions. After I gave him my tale of woe, he shook my hand, patted me on the back to see that I was carrying my Glock, told me to enjoy my stay and left. Ironically, I can tell you that the guy in the dirty T-shirt at the front desk and the lady that owns Conty's could not have been any nicer or friendly. These folks have seen it all and can deal with any situation and still have a smile. There is a lesson to be learned there. Now, if that wasn't enough. In February I went for a routine colonoscopy. I have learned one thing about colonoscopies and that is when you wake up in the bullpen with everyone else you only want the nurse to be standing there. If the doctor is there, he's not there to say good morning sunshine. Well, I open one eye and spy the nurse so I'm feeling my luck is changing for the better. Nurse Ratchet utters "good morning sunshine" and I figure I'm good to go. She then said, "you lay there honey, I have to go get the doctor he has something he wants to talk to you about". I figure he's not asking for my credit card to pay the bill so this isn't going to go well. In my fog, he shows me a picture he took 48 feet up my colon and said: "that thing there in the picture is not supposed to be there". I am sending you for a Cat Scan, blah, blah, blah, surgeon, hospital, blah, blah, blah, "good luck" and he gives me a pat on my butt. I'm all alone as my buddy Bobby dropped me off for the procedure and is in the waiting room. All the other poor slobs getting bad news have their spouses or significant others in the bullpen for moral support and to get these instructions written down. The nurse said, "honey, I'll write it all down and you'll be fine, I think".  I walked out to Bobby and we went for lunch, I think. Jumping ahead I meet the surgeon and he tells me there is a 2-inch tumor on my "appendiceal orifice" and he is going to remove at least the right side colon on April 1st a.k.a. April Fool's Day. (he tells me I don't really need it anyway, but I beg to differ) He doesn't think I'll be crapping in a bag when he is done because he has done 3 or 4 of these operations in the past with mostly good results. He tells me he is going to use a robot, and the robot has done thousands of them, so I feel better knowing about the robot's experience. I ask him what the robot's name is and he tells me "Davinci".  I asked if maybe he could find me a Jewish robot instead as I'd feel more comfortable. He didn't think that was funny since he was eye-talian, as they say in the mid-west. Because all the boob jobs, tummy tucks, and facelifts got canceled at the hospital because of the virus, they moved me up to March 16th for the operation.  Now I had the pleasure and honor of going into a hospital where they were already treating 2 confirmed cases of the virus, but they offered me a 37% discount off my bill if I acted now and I couldn't pass up a deal like that.  I had to go into the hospital alone as there were no visitors allowed and masks and gloves weren't yet the rage. I had the operation on a Monday and was supposed to stay for 5 days. On Wednesday, the doctor and Rosencrantz the robot came to see me and explained that because of the virus they suggest I pack my crap and get out that day. I agreed, grabbed my urinal which was my new best friend and then tried to figure out how to get out of the bed as I hadn't been up yet. They unhooked me from everything, the hospitalist told the nurse to "stick" me with something strong and send me on my way. I kid you not, they got me out of the bed, told me where the elevator was and I walked out. No wheelchair and high as a kite. It took me a few tries to find the lobby, which was deserted, but I finally found my way out. My guts and ass didn't spill on the floor so all was good. I returned to the trailer park where I am renting down by the Snook Inn and my younger son Willy is taking care of me. Willy isn't real excited about now being "Trailer Trash", but my new neighbors could not be nicer. Throw this whole virus thing on top of everything above and I can now identify with the Clint Eastwood line "A man's got to know his limitations". Now, if there is a dry eye reading this, I ask that you rub some pepper in your eyes as you are obviously heartless. I do know that the 7.6 faithful are wondering what this has to do with Real Estate and here goes. First, if you fall in love with a property, do your best to do your homework and make sure it is the right property for you. Ownership can be a long term commitment and you don't want to fall out of love with something that you thought was your forever home. Secondly, life is short and getting shorter every day. You can horde your money and make excuses for not buying that winter home, new car, or whatever, but realize that finding joy in material things is great if you have the money to do it. There is no shame in that. The house doesn't break your heart, the car won't crush your dreams, and there is some joy to be found there. Live life to it's fullest. Lastly, when buying a home there are people along the way to help you with your decision. Home inspectors, termite inspectors, dock and seawall inspectors, mortgage professionals, contractors and a host of others that are there to support you and guide you. Personally, I would only trust a Jewish Realtor (not a robotic one), but that's just my thought. The tie in here is that throughout all of my recent ordeals I have been humbled by the number of people that have stepped forward to help me in any way they could, particularly emotionally. There are some people that I really barely knew that have shown me compassion and support that I am brought to tears over. In real estate, there are folks that will step in as well to help you and have nothing but your best interests in mind.  For those that have helped me personally and professionally, I can't thank you enough. I am blessed more than I ever knew and that is the best thing that has come of all my recent adventures. I will be here for a long time to come (I think) and look forward to helping you with your real estate needs or anything for that matter. I am just a call, text, or email away. THANK YOU ALL! The inquiring 7.6 faithful readers demand to know The High and Low Sales for the month of March, and they are as follows: Single-family home, 4785 South Heathwood Drive closed for $4,785,000. Condo, Belize 2303 closed for $3,657,500 and a vacant lot at 1475 Caxambas Court closed for $3,250,000.   For the bargain hunters, a 2 bedroom home at 281 Second Ave. closed for $398,000. A condo in Estuary 2 closed for $162,500, and a vacant lot at 775 Whiskey Creek closed for 39,000, YES, you can still get a great deal on Marco Island. I used to ask for folks to take Barb and me out for dinner for a night of jocularity and smiles, but since that is off the table, I ask that you simply enjoy your family and friends until further notice.   And, if you are thinking of using me as your Realtor, keep in mind that I will never be out thought or out fought.  Rosenkrantz the robot popped 5 holes in my belly and then cut my belly button open to yank out the leftover parts. If you want to see a picture of it email me and I'll send it. However, if you see me walking around shirtless remember the story I am going to go with is that I was shot 5 times and then stabbed. I'm trying to toughen up my image.  Past boring newsletters can be viewed here: https://viewmarco.blogspot.com/ Gerry Rosenblum Broker Associate Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty 2013, 2012 & 2007 President Marco Island Area Association of Realtors 2008 Realtor of The Year - Marco Island 239-450-4770 (cell) 1-888-239-5131 (toll-free e-fax) 1-800-237-8817 (toll-free) To View the Entire Marco MLS go to: www.viewmarco.com   Copyright © 2020 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty, All rights reserved. A fun way to follow the Real Estate Market on Marco Island. Our mailing address is: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty 900 North Collier Boulevard, Marco Island, FL Marco Island, FL 34145 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Marco Island Real Estate - Stats and Commentary Sept 2019 Halloween Edition

The following statistics compare September 2019 to 2018 Sold Single Family Homes UP 20% (24 vs 20) Sold Condominiums DOWN 26% (29 vs 39) Sold Single Family Vacant Lots DOWN 20% (8 vs 10) Pending Single Family Homes UP 85% (32 vs 24) Pending Condominiums UP 62% (34 vs 21) Pending Single Family Vacant Lots UP 250% (14 vs 4) (Pending means it went under contract but has not closed yet) Inventory: 253 Single Family Homes (DOWN 7% from 2018) 328 Condominiums (DOWN 2% from 2018) 269 Single Family Vacant Lots DOWN 6% from 2018) 850 Total - Very Low! Summary: A total of $45 Million dollars worth of real estate closed on Marco Island in the Month of September 2019. $61 Million dollars last month and $40 Million in September 2018 (last year). For the first three quarters of 2019, we are at $551 Million sold compared to $563 Million for the same time period last year which is a 2% decrease in total sales volume, no biggie. The average sale price was $716,000 and the median sale price was $555,000. My interpretation of everything above is that the market is holding steady. Not a ton of activity, but decent, and part of that is due to the low inventory, some of which is priced well above comps. As always, the new tax bills are going out and that will always cause some more properties to come on the market. We also have the "season' creeping up on us and that builds inventory and Buyers love inventory. The crystal ball looks pretty clear that the market is even-keeled with no big shifts up or down on the horizon.  It is just a nice time to buy or sell. 28 years ago tonight I met my first wife at a Halloween Party.  My costume was very elaborate, I put a garbage bag over my head and cut out a hole so I could breathe. Hence, I went as "white trash"; being that I was living in a van down by the river at the time, it wasn't really a stretch. My first wife was a Goddess Pirate, complete with a peg leg, eye patch, long flowing golden hair, and a porcelain face. She looked simply stunning and I was smitten. Being that she could not see me behind my plastic bag I followed her around the whole night. Aside from the couple times, she tried to drop some of her empties into my air hole cut in the bag, things were going well. My skinny little chicken legs (which I sued once for lack of support) were hidden so I looked pretty good to Stevie Wonder. As the night wore on and the drinks she had took effect, I decided to make my move and invite her back to the van.  We ubered over and she went into the bathroom to slip into something more comfortable, while I ditched my bag. When she came hopping out of the bathroom my jaw dropped and I would have run out of the van, but she had a shiv and was blocking the door. It turned out the peg leg was real (she lost the leg wrestling a gator, apparently she shoved it down his throat to choke him out), the golden locks were a wig and she was sporting a Sinead O'conner crew cut, the Porcelain Skin really was a Porceline mask, and let's just say I've seen better heads on a glass of beer. The lazy eye didn't bother me too much but the tattoos of the 87 men's names that were individually crossed out on her arm were a bit concerning. Well, we ended up getting married, had two stout young boys that we dressed up as cute little girls for Halloween, and now my faithful 7.6 readers know how it all began. Now, on this Halloween, you ask is this a trick or a treat? Only you can answer that, but I can tell you what the Gerry Fable is. Don't buy a home or condo without having an inspection done! Not every Seller is totally honest, especially those from New Jersey. Instead of taking their word for things they put on the Seller's Disclosure, hire a competent inspector like Brett from Python Home Inspections, and let him peel off the wig, mask, or whatever and see what is really lurking in the dark crawl spaces of the property. I've got a couple of friends that are doctors and had they given wife #1 a brief looking over they would have told me to move on. Hey, she may have been right for someone that wanted to invest a few hundred thousand in plastic surgery or whatnot to get the end result they wanted, but I didn't have deep pockets. Same for a home or condo, you might want that fixer-upper, but it's still good to know if there is anything seriously hidden like if it's built on an Indian burial ground. The other lesson is that the inspector is really looking for big-ticket items that could be very expensive fix like the A/C, appliances, leaks, termites, and maybe mold. You can't worry about little things like a cracked floor tile or a torn window screen, if you're not buying a brand new property you can't expect things to be perfect, but again, you want to be aware of any big issues. Like wife number 1, the fact that she had no teeth really wasn't an issue and I could look past that as I hate whistling. (we did save a lot of money not having to buy toothpaste so it was a minor blessing). So, get things checked out before you take the plunge and then find out later you made a big mistake. Here is a link to put you in the mood to trick or treat tonight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2PoSljk8cE For the faithful 7.6 readers who beg to know each month's high and low sale, here you go: The highs for the month are... a Single-Family Home for $4.05M at 1071 S. Barfield Drive. For Condos, Princess 802 closed for $1,493,000. For Vacant Lots, 1150 Vernon Ct. closed for $415,000. For you bargain hunters out there, a 3 bed/3 bath Single Family Home at 420 North Collier closed for $439,000. In Condos, we have Seabreeze West G-3 closing at  $110,000 and a Vacant Lot at 374 East Wild Coffee in Hideaway closed for $140,000. ( A clubhouse lot?) As always, please reach out and contact me if you have any real estate questions. And, if you are thinking of using me as your Realtor, keep in mind that I will never be out thought or out fought. Barb and I look forward to your dinner invites and you paying for the privilege. Barb opened her own Yoga Studio and will include a free yoga class to anyone that takes us out. Now, how can you pass that up? Gerry Rosenblum Broker Associate Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty 2013, 2012 & 2007 President Marco Island Area Association of Realtors 2008 Realtor of The Year - Marco Island 239-450-4770 (cell) 1-888-239-5131 (toll-free e-fax) 1-800-237-8817 (toll-free) To View the Entire Marco MLS go to: www.viewmarco.com

Copyright © 2019 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty, All rights reserved. A fun way to follow the Real Estate Market on Marco Island. Our mailing address is: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty 900 North Collier Boulevard, Marco Island, FL Marco Island, FL 34145

Marco Island Real Estate Stats and Commentary - June 2019

The following stats compare June 2019 to June 2018 Sold Single Family Homes DOWN 18% (32 vs 39) Sold Condominiums DOWN 23% (41 vs 53) Sold Single Family Vacant Lots DOWN 40% (5 vs 8) Pending Single Family Homes UP 14%  (33 vs 29) Pending Condominiums  DOWN 5%  (40 vs 42) Pending Single Family Vacant Lots  UP 67% (15 vs 9) (Pending means it went under contract but has not closed yet) Inventory: 291 Single Family Homes (UP .3%)  from 2018) 383 Condominiums (UP 6%  from 2018) 294 Single Family Vacant Lots (Down 1% from 2018) 1,068 Total Summary: A total of $51 Million dollars worth of real estate closed on Marco Island in the month of June 2019. $78 Million dollars last month and $74 Million in June 2018 (last year). Through the first 6 months of 2019 total sales were $390 Million compared to $417 Million for 2018, a decrease of 6.3%. A pretty crazy stat is that the average sale price year to date is $722,745 compared to last years $722,882 a difference of only $137 which shows the market is certainly active, but flat. Earlier this year the market was like a running horse, and a horse can't run forever without resting. The reins were pulled in during June and things are easing up except for lots; people are listening to me and buying them. Waterfront lots are a commodity and the prices here are still cheap compared to other places. The stock market is at a record high and maybe some of the money that would normally go into the Real Estate market is in Apple stock. What I do know is that historically the stock market profits will be taken and redirected into our Real Estate as people like terra firma in their portfolio. I firmly believe as Marco takes this little breather over the summer, the market will begin to strengthen again in the fall and winter. My other boy child Willy and I were sitting around the other day talking about all kinds of things. Willy is a deep thinker and announces that going to college is no longer the plan, becoming a long haul trucker is his new plan for the future. He said stuff will always need to get from point A to point B and that spells job security. I explained that Elon Musk/Tesla has trucks that will eventually be autonomous and there will be no need for a driver. Willy smiled wryly and said, "someone still needs to unload the stuff". I explained that they have robotic machines that will remove the freight without human intervention. Willy said, "someone needs to open the boxes when the robot unloads them". I said, "how much do you think a box opener makes?" Willy thought hard and said, "you better send in that tuition check ASAP, that'll give me at least 6 more years before I have to worry about getting a job". I said, "your brother Andy figured that out 5 years ago too, Good For You!"  As an aside, many years ago before I went to college I was a truck driver. While heading down the road I stopped into a liquor store in South Carolina to load up on provisions. The guy in front of me said to the clerk in a thick South Carolina drawl, "I'd like ta grab sum ass". The clerk had a name tag that said "Dan" and he replied with the same drawl and said, "Ain't no problem, how much dat ass you need?" - " We got plenty and it's all fresh ass, except for the old ones way in the back". My fellow trucker said, "I only got 2 hands to grab that ass with, so I guess I'll take 2 of the old stinky ones you got in the back if they're any cheaper". My mouth is agape by this point and I'm not sure what I have stumbled into and I'm really getting nervous as Dan heads to the back of the store. (Ever seen the movie Pulp Fiction?) Suddenly Dan appears with two 10 pound bags of ICE and now we all can translate at least one Southern word. I only wish I could hear all of you that are now going to re-read the last paragraph out loud with your best drawl. My faithful 7.6 readers may already know what the moral of the above story is and how it pertains to Real Estate, and for those of you that don't know how this works, here it is. First, technology is changing the face of Real Estate. Amazon recently made a huge move into the Real Estate market and some people (mostly Realtors) fear this will cause people to turn solely to on-line resources to buy or sell a property. Think of what Amazon has done to the retail market and how they have changed how people shop for pretty much everything. One of the pivotal moments in the retail transformation that led to a leap in use was the advent of the return policy. Sure, I'll order 10 pairs of pants on-line, keep one, and mail the rest back FOR FREE, easy peasy. But how will this translate to Real Estate? I don't know how you can create a return policy for that, so there will need to be a new dynamic. Now I'm sure Jeff Bezos and his brain trust have been working on something and we will all find out in the future how they plan to do this. Jeff and I have the same divorce attorney on speed dial so next time we run into each other I will ask. The other moral woven here is terminology and how people communicate. Descriptive words often mean different things to different people depending on where they are from. It is often said that all Real Estate knowledge is local and that is why you need a professional. And remember, If you are on-line and buying a house in South Carolina, don't worry if there is an ass maker in the freezer.  The way I see it play out is, the on-line method of Real Estate will work for some people, but not everyone. There are those that still go to a tailor, use a real-life stockbroker, and go to Publix to buy their food. There will always be people that will turn to a local Professional Realtor for advice and guidance to protect their investment. Either that or I'm going to work for Amazon real soon as a box opener. Bezos and I were talking about our first wives a few months back. He said, "I hear you write songs and have them recorded by others". I said "yup". Jeff said, "ever write one about your first wife?" I said, "Yup, I've got it right here on my phone, wanna hear it?" I then played it for him and told him "If I had to pay my first wife $38 Billion as you did, I would have had different lyrics". He just started to cry. So, for all of you with that special someone out there, click here to hear my tribute to #1.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXBHCQYxwr0 The inquiring 7.6 faithful readers demand to know The High and Low Sales for the month of Jue, and they are as follows: Single-family home, 1569 Heights Court closed for $4,700,000  Condo, Veracruz 805 closed for $2,000,000 and a vacant lot at 510 Barfield Drive closed for $975,000.   For the bargain hunters, a 3 bedroom home at 351 Yellowbird closed for $362,000. A 1 bedroom condo in Wexford Place closed for $109,000 and a vacant lot at 1769 Granada Drive closed for $32,000, yes, you can still get a great deal on Marco Island. As always, I strongly encourage you to invite my current wife and me out for dinner as soon/often as possible. She has a poor sense of direction and can't find the kitchen. By taking us out, we may stay together. So, you can be part of the problem or part of the solution.  *** I broke my rule of not using swear words this month and I do apologize to anyone I may have offended with the word ass, or those that may be from South Carolina. There was just no other way to make my point. And, if you are thinking of using me as your Realtor, keep in mind that I will never be out-thought or out-fought.    Gerry Rosenblum Broker Associate Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty 2013, 2012 & 2007 President Marco Island Area Association of Realtors 2008 Realtor of The Year - Marco Island 239-450-4770 (cell) 1-888-239-5131 (toll-free e-fax) 1-800-237-8817 (toll-free) To View the Entire Marco MLS go to: www.viewmarco.com

Copyright © 2019 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty, All rights reserved. A fun way to follow the Real Estate Market on Marco Island. Our mailing address is: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty 900 North Collier Boulevard, Marco Island, FL Marco Island, FL 34145 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Marco Island Real Estate Stats and Commentary - April 2019

Sold Single Family Homes UP 21% (57 vs 47) Sold Condominiums UP 4% (58 vs 56) Sold Single Family Vacant Lots UP 10% (11 vs 10) Pending Single Family Homes DOWN 16%  (54 vs 64) Pending Condominiums  DOWN 15%  (55 vs 65) Pending Single Family Vacant Lots  UP 13% (17 vs 15) (Pending means it went under contract but has not closed yet) Inventory: 336 Single Family Homes (UP 7%)  from 2018) 418 Condominiums ( UP 9%  from 2018) 330 Single Family Vacant Lots (UP 11% from 2018) 1,084 Total Summary: A total of $94 Million dollars worth of real estate closed on Marco Island in the Month of April 2019. $70 Million dollars last month and $90 Million in April 2018 (last year).  April was a strong sales month with 129 total property sales. Even more interesting is the fact that the overall average sales price DECREASED by 4.8%. What happened? I'll tell you what happened, the super high-end buyers took a little hiatus and the $1,000,000 and under buyer's really started to move into the market. I think there are ebbs and flows and that is all we are seeing here. I've also been talking a lot the last few months about the ongoing price reductions and I think that took hold and we are seeing real-life effects as the sales increased. This just proves that most of what I tell you is true and you need to pay careful attention if you want to be in the know. I was following a Honey Wagon truck the other day. For those of you that don't know what that means, the Honey Wagon is the truck used to vacuum up the pee/poop/other in a Porta-potty or a Septic Tank. The gentleman that drives the truck, is commonly referred to as The Honey Dipper or Mr. Bob, as he is on the job. Anyway, on the back of the truck, it said: "We are #1 in the #2 business". Back when they were building Pier 81 we had a trailer and Bill The Honey Dipper used to come once a week to empty the holding tank. He would put on his gloves, grab the business end of the vacuum and stick it down into the tank. After a few minutes, he would take the dripping end of the hose out of the tank and put it back on the truck. We would always have a conversation about business and he taught me some tricks of the trade. Such as you never want to get called in to pump out at the county fair after the Red Hot Chili Bean and Corn eating contest. But most memorable to me was how he would light up a cigarette and hold it up to his mouth right after a fresh pump out. I nonchalantly mentioned to him once that this may not be good for his health. He shrugged his shoulders and said he knew smoking was bad for him. I said, "well, besides that you could get sick from putting your hand near your mouth". He laughed and said, "nah, that's why they give me blue gloves to wear". When I pointed out that he was wearing his blue gloves while he smoked the butt, he said: "I never inhale". Well right then and there, I knew what it took to be #1 in the #2 business, and this is it, you can't worry about little crap. Now my 7.6 faithful readers are daring me to translate Gerry's fable above into something to do with Real Estate. Well, that's easy and I'll give you two examples. First, just like the Honeydipper, pretty much every Realtor states they are #1. Now, in reality, everyone can't be #1, but if we bend the truth a little, I guess everyone can be #1 of something. I know a Realtor that is #1 in Buford, Wyoming. Now, for those of you that are not familiar with Buford, they are booming metropolis and have a population of 1, that's right, just one. I know a Realtor that was the #1 sales agent in 1962 for the Deltona Corporation here on Marco Island. To this day when they run a newspaper ad, it simply states #1 Realtor on Marco Island. Ultimately, I'm not sure there is a real #1 and I wouldn't worry too much about it. The other thing I want to relate to Real Estate is the "don't worry about the little crap theory". If you are a Seller, don't worry so much about the house being immaculate for every showing. I have Seller's that will sometimes deny a showing because they have guests in town and there are suitcases or towels laying around and they don't want anyone to see it. Trust me, the Buyer is more interested in your asking price than if your dishes are in the sink. For the Buyer's out there don't try to think for the Seller. If you see the property and like it, don't worry so much about "why are they selling?", "why are they asking that much?" and the ever popular, "how much will they take?". Listen, nobody knows what anyone will take on any given day, and sometimes the Seller is included in that group. If you like a property, it is reasonable to the comps, and you can afford it, we will all find out simultaneously how much they willing to take as they find out how much you are willing to pay! And always remember that famous children's book by Taro Gomi titled "Everyone Poops".  Me? I'm happy being #2. Andy and Willy suggest you click here to better understand the subject matter as this is how they learned all about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgGlS4jgeys The inquiring 7.6 faithful readers demand to know The High and Low Sales for the month of February, and they are as follows: Single family home, 1615 Ludlow closed for $4,550,000  Condo, Belize 607 closed for $1,950,000 and a vacant lot at 1408 Butterfield Court closed for $1,150,000.   For the bargain hunters, a 3 bedroom home at 1224 Bluebird closed for $280,000. A condo in Coquina Gardens Unit 207 closed for $92,000 and a vacant lot at 670 Amber closed for $205,000, yes you can still get a great deal on Marco Island. As always, I strongly encourage you to invite my current wife and me out for dinner as often as possible. She hates to cook and I hate her cooking. We are a match made in heaven, with your help by taking us out, we may stay together. So, you can be part of the problem or part of the solution.  And, if you are thinking of using me as your Realtor, keep in mind that I will never be out-thought or out-fought.    Gerry Rosenblum Broker Associate Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty 2013, 2012 & 2007 President Marco Island Area Association of Realtors 2008 Realtor of The Year - Marco Island 239-450-4770 (cell) 1-888-239-5131 (toll-free e-fax) 1-800-237-8817 (toll-free) To View the Entire Marco MLS go to: www.viewmarco.com

Copyright © 2019 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty, All rights reserved. A fun way to follow the Real Estate Market on Marco Island. Our mailing address is: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty 900 North Collier Boulevard, Marco Island, FL Marco Island, FL 34145

Marco Island Real Estate Stats and Commentary - March 2019 Inbox

The following stats compare March 2019 to March 2018.

Sold Single Family Homes  UP 21%  (35 vs 29)
Sold Condominiums DOWN 7%  (52 vs 56)
Sold Single Family Vacant Lots DOWN 31%  (11 vs 16)

Pending Single Family Homes UP 10%  (74 vs 67)
Pending Condominiums DOWN 10% (62 vs 69)
Pending Single Family Vacant Lots  DOWN 13% (14 vs 16)
(Pending means it went under contract but has not closed yet)

Inventory:
361 Single Family Homes ( UP 6%  from 2018)
443 Condominiums (UP 13%  from 2018)
336 Single Family Vacant Lots (UP 9%  from 2018)
1,140 Total (Total Inventory is really going up and that can cause more competitive pricing)


Summary:

A total of $70 Million dollars worth of real estate closed on Marco Island in the Month of March 2019. $52 Million dollars last month and $69 Million in March 2018 (last year). For the first quarter total sales stand at $164,000,000 for 2019 vs $160,000,000 in 2018 which is pretty dang even. HOWEVER, the average sale price went from $673,000 to $782,000 (up 16%) which backs up what I have been harping on all year, that the high-end market is where the strength lies. (the median is up 4.4%)  Furthermore, to date, there were just 210 total sales compared to 238 last year, which is a 12% decrease. So, as this is sinking in and filtering down to the, let's say, under 1 million dollar Seller, they are appropriately responding by lowering their asking prices. In March there were 115 single family home price reductions, 5 increases. Condos saw 134 reductions and 8 increases. Lots had 42 reductions and 3 increases. Unfortunately for Mr. and Mrs. Seller, until a good chunk of this inventory is sold off, which we don't know when that will happen, you will need to lower your price until you can find a comfortable Mr. and Mrs. Buyer.  And to you Buyer's out there, now is the best time for you to jump in and try to buy something before the inventory diminishes and prices start to go up. Prices will only go so low, so don't think you can wait forever.

I was with a future customer recently who is a proctologist. He is shorter than I am and has little stubby fingers with very short nails; from biting them.  I casually made a comment, where I said, as a layman, I thought to be a good proctologist you would have to have longer thinner fingers to be efficient and/or effective. He looked at me and politely said "that is because you are prejudiced" I said, "no I'm not, I like people of all colors, religions, most political affiliations, meat, drinks besides Manhattans, and sailboats". He said "that's not what I mean, you expressed physical prejudice because you think someone's skills or abilities are linked to their physical attributes. I said, "well sometimes it is true, look at basketball players, they're all tall". He said, "what about Spud Webb, he was only 5' 7' and could dunk". I said, "What about actors, they're all handsome". He said "Steve Buscemi". I said, "sons are better than daughters" to which he replied, "how are things working out with your two, Andy and Willy?" I said "witches, they all ride brooms and have black pointy hats," he said, "how about your first wife, she rode in a Bentley and wore a dew rag, and besides that has nothing to do with a physical prejudice, stick to the point". I said, "I can't because she put a spell on me which makes me stewpit, that's how she got me to marry her in the first place". He said "now, there is a prejudice that may be true for all Realtors", to which I replied, "huh?"....


Again, my 7.6 Faithful Readers already are sensing the meaning of all this and what it has to do with Real Estate here on Marco, and here it is for those that have not figured it out yet. Don't judge a property by its size, shape, age, or whatever physical prejudice you may have in your mind.  I recently met with some folks that swore they needed a waterfront home with 3 bedrooms, a den/office, and 3 bathrooms (one needed to have a tub for soaking a bad back) for them to be happy because they had a 2 little dogs, one grown married son with two young children that visited 1 week per year.  We looked at some places in their price range that met that criteria and they all had icky views. Being stewpit, I suggested we look at one condo that allowed 2 pets, had 2 bedrooms, a den, and 2 bathrooms, but no tub. But this condo had a view that would not quit and was breathtaking. They stood on the lanai looking out at the beauty that Marco offers and said: "where will the grandkids sleep when they are here for the week?" I said, "check out the full size pull out couch, or the Murphy Bed in the den". The husband said, "there's no tub, how is Monica going to soak the Bursitis in her Coccyx bone?" I laughed and showed them the 104-degree hot tub next to the pool. Slowly but surely all of their prejudices were dispelled and here we are 6 months later with them living in a condo with a beautiful view and they could not be any happier.  And when their son showed up and saw it and realized he would inherit it one day, he too was ecstatic. Sometimes you need to think a little bit outside the box, realize you really don't need that tall supermodel wife, and try out the short and stout like a teapot reliable one, and put some trust in your stewpit Realtor.

The inquiring 7.6 faithful readers demand to know The High and Low Sales for the month of March, and they are as follows:


Single family home, 1475 Butterfield Court closed for $2,250,000 (this is an old home built in 1966 that will be torn down). Condo, Madeira 908 closed for $3,050,000 (sold by the stewpitist Realtor on Marco)  and a vacant lot at 507 Tigertail closed for $2,250,000.
 
For the bargain hunters, a 3 bedroom home at 2054 Sheffield Ave. closed for $365,000. A condo in Seabreeze West E-8 closed for $110,000, and a vacant lot at 1432 Leland Way closed for $120,000, YES, you can still get a great deal on Marco Island.

Keep the dinner invites coming, HP, Shirl, and Suz took me and the Yogi to C.J.'s for a fantastic fun-filled dinner. You too could have the pleasure of our company.

And, if you are thinking of using me as your Realtor, keep in mind that I will never be out thought or out fought.   

I wrote a song in honor of my first wife and the band Iration recorded it. If you would like to hear it, click here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNCTssB9eeM

Past boring newsletters can be viewed here: https://viewmarco.blogspot.com/

Gerry Rosenblum

Broker Associate

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty

2013, 2012 & 2007 President Marco Island Area Association of 

Realtors

2008 Realtor of The Year - Marco Island 

239-450-4770 (cell)
1-888-239-5131 (toll-free e-fax)
1-800-237-8817 (toll-free)
To View the Entire Marco MLS go to: www.viewmarco.com