SRMag - April 2013

APRIL 2013

The Official Monthly Publication of the Sarasota Association of Realtors®

Tomorrow’s

Technology

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SAR Opening New Headquarters On April 22nd! See Page 5

EA MF D R Se LI ML e P NE S ag M DU e 1 A ES 4 Y1 5

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Contents

Sarasota Realtor® Magazine Volume 10, Issue 4 APRIL 2013

Sarasota Association of Realtors®, Inc.

6

Technology That Works

What does the future hold for technology that impacts

2013 SAR Officers

the real estate industry? In 2013, many developments

will have incredible impact on our membership.

President Roger Piro Town & Country Realty

10 Priorities Revealed

Governmental Affairs Director Marc Mansfield examines

the priorities of Realtors® as they head to Tallahassee

in April to meet with local legislators.

Sarasota County Property Appraiser Bill Furst explains

what “separate” means in terms of Separate Family Unit,

and how this impacts residency-linked exemptions.

Volume 10 • Issue 4 •APRIL 2013

15 Sales Surge Continues

Property sales in February 2013 were 24 percent higher

than last year at this time, and pending sales were at the highest level in two years, as 2013 starts off strong.

CID President Linda Emery notes that the commercial arm

of SAR is off to a great start on the 2013 strategic plan,

and recently updated their web site.

Sarasota Realtor® is published monthly by the Sarasota Association of Realtors® Inc.

Editorial Staff Director of Communications Ray Porter

Director of Information Technology Jesse Sunday Director of Professional Development Catherine McCaskill

Sarasota Realtor® Advertising: For information on advertising rates and deadlines, contact Ray Porter at 941/328-1168 or ray@sarasotarealtors.com.

Visit SAR on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SarasotaRealtors See a few of the photos this month on Page 24!

Subscriptions: The annual dues of every member of the Sarasota Association of Realtors®, Inc., includes a one-year subscription to Sarasota Realtor ® magazine.

A yearly subscription for Sarasota Realtor ® magazine is available to non-members for $25, plus Florida sales tax.

Editorial ideas and manuscripts are welcome. Byline articles and columns express the opinions of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the policies or sentiments of the Sarasota Association of Realtors®, Inc. All submitted copy is subject to editing.

20- Education Programs 26- On the SAR Scene

2013 Copyright© by the Sarasota Association of Realtors®, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

30- Membership 32- Calendar of Events/Education APRIL 2013

We are committed to be the leading advocate of real estate in the communities we serve by protecting private property rights and expanding relationships with individuals and organizations both locally and worldwide.

Production Coastal Printing, Inc.

10- Governmental Affairs

18- Commercial Investment Division

Mission Statement The mission of the Sarasota Association of ® Realtors is to advance members’ professionalism through delivery of education and resources while upholding the Realtors® Code of Ethics.

Governmental Affairs Director Marc Mansfield

In every issue 15- Sales and Listing Statistics

Treasurer Stafford Starcher RE/MAX Alliance Group

Director of Membership and Administrative Services Dan Andrews

18 Great Start!

12- Property Appraiser

Secretary Xena Vallone Xena Vallone Realty

Chief Executive Officer Kathy Roberts

President-Elect Peter Crowley RE/MAX Alliance Group

Immediate Past President Laura Benson Michael Saunders & Company

12 What Is ‘Separate’?

4

3590 South Tuttle Avenue Sarasota, Florida 34239 Phone: 941/923-2315 FAX: 941/923-0191 www.sarasotarealtors.com www.facebook.com/SarasotaRealtors

Sarasota Realtor® Magazine

www.sarasotarealtors.com

SAR Moving April 19th; New Facility Open April 22nd

The Sarasota Association of Realtors® will relocate this month to our new, state-of-the-art headquarters facility. The building is located at 2320 Cattlemen Road, the northwest corner of Cattlemen Road and Colonial Oaks Boulevard. The dedication will be held on Tuesday, May 21st from 2 to 4 p.m. Watch for details in your emails and in next month’s magazine!

The Association has been at its current location at 3590 South Tuttle Ave. since 1980, and has been actively seeking a new location for the last few years.

The new facility is about 2,500 square feet larger, has more than double the parking space of the current facility, and is located in an accessible central spot.

The new, 15,000 square foot facility contains staff offices, a tech training center, meeting rooms, and a large auditorium that can be split into three sections.

The new headquarters was designed by Mark Sultana of DSDG, Inc., and Halfacre Construction handled the construction project.

The 90-year history of SAR includes several previous location moves, due to growth of the association membership and staff. SAR began in a 10 by 15 foot office in a commercial building near the current Five Points Park in 1923.

Dave Marvel: SAR Affiliate of Month

The April 2013 Affiliate of the Month is Dave Marvel of Peace of Mind Home Inspections, LLC. Dave relocated to Bradenton in 1989 after serving in the United States Marine Corps. He graduated with an Electrical Engineering degree and spent 10 years at Chris Craft Boats as the Plant Engineer and Environmental Manager. He opened a remodeling company in 1995 and then Peace of Mind Home Inspections, LLC in 2003.

Dave’s memberships Dave Marvel include: SAR, WCR, National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (N.A.C.H.I.). He is also a board member of Florida N.A.C.H.I. Dave is a licensed mold assessor, licensed home inspector and is certified through the state of Florida and EPA as Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting. Dave can be reached at 941-448-5096, or by email at dksjm_83@msn.com

KNOW YOUR OPTIONS

Short Sales Foreclosure Defense

Real Estate Closings

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Jefferson F. Riddell, Esq. Board Certified Real Estate Attorney

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Call 941-366-1300 For A FREE CONSULTATION The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements.

Before you decide, ask us to send you free, written information about our qualifications and experience.

Cover Story

Ahead of the Curve

Realtors® embrace the technology that helps their business

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Technology is a journey - not a destination.

Advancement, innovation, evolution and installation follow on each others heels in an endless, cyclical pattern. For those who depend to a large extent on technology to manage their business lives, like Realtors®, it’s really all about staying ahead of the curve.

In 2013, we have already witnessed some major changes in the technology that impacts the real estate profession.

And much more is on the way.

FUSION Released!

Perhaps the biggest change for local Realtors® has been the transition to FUSION - the new My Florida Regional MLS interface that will eventually replace MLXchange.

Fusion, by Corelogic MarketLinx, is a new MLS interface that provides a fast and easy MLS experience.

Fusion runs on most major computer operating systems and browsers, including Internet Explorer, Mac OS, Safari, Chrome, and Firefox.

Additionally on March 19th, MFR introduced Fusion Experience, an application for iPad and tablet users that offers full MLS functionality. Fusion now runs parallel to MLXchange in order for members to get up to speed with the new system. Once the initial learning curve has passed, MLXchange will be retired.

As with all our products and services, the MFR training team, in cooperation with SAR staff, has put together an extensive training schedule and resources.

(See Page 23) Members are encouraged to begin registering for training now - the new system should be an amazing improvement, particularly for mobile device users like iPad and the various smart phones.

For an Internet overview of the new interface, visit: www.mfrmls.com/member-benefits/fusion-mls-new What’s On the Horizon?

While the Fusion news is big, it isn’t the only thing happening in technology that impacts the real estate community. In fact, 2013 could shape into the biggest year ever for technological changes.

Here’s a quick rundown of the announcements, rumors, speculation and innuendo percolating in the technology realm: - Windows 8 is ramping up in 2013. Along with the new mobile-centric operating system, Microsoft is

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APRIL 2013

pushing the new Windows Phone, the Surface tablets, a new version of Internet Explorer - and what’s this we hear about the mysterious Windows Blue coming in the next six months?.

- Google is releasing Google Glass later in 2013.

Glass is a wearable computer with a head-mounted display (HMD) which displays information in a smartphone-like format hands-free, and can interact with the Internet via natural language voice commands. While the frames do not currently have lenses fitted to them, Google is considering partnering with sunglass retailers such as Ray-Ban or Warby Parker, and may also open retail stores to allow customers to try on the device. This sounds sort of like the Bluetooth earpieces, but for the eyes. Will Realtors® be early adopters?

- Samsung’s new Galaxy IVS - will this be the smartphone that dethrones the iPhone?

- iPhone 5S, a new iPad and an improved iPad Mini are predicted to be available by the summer from Apple, and the company might also introduce the rumored iWatch - which could turn real estate agents into Dick Tracy, with their watch converted to act like a smartphone. Apple is also rumored to be working on the iTV - an HDTV which connects to the iCloud and offers entertainment content in a new way. We’ll have to wait for the big announcement to find out what that will mean to the media industry.

- Blackberry 10 - will RIM regain its magic with a new smartphone that Realtors® embrace as they once did?

- Facebook evolution happens frequently, and social media remains a major, growing force in the real estate industry. They recently changed the News Feed section of individual pages, and new search software has been added. What will 2013 bring?

- Leap Motion has promised to market a device in May that could ultimately replace the mouse, the touchscreen, and any other interactive device by allowing users to use their computers by simply waving their hands and pinching their fingers together.

Search the web on the company name for the amazing details.

- Apps continue to be developed that help real estate professionals. Technology firms, like AgentAlarm, are releasing personal safety apps that convert an agent’s

Sarasota Realtor® Magazine

Continued on P. 29, See TECH

www.sarasotarealtors.com

SAR seeks prospective leaders for 2014 and beyond

In just a few months, SAR members will vote to elect the Officers and five new Directors to represent them in 2014, along with the Directors whose terms carry over. Through our new leadership program and other efforts, SAR has been striving to identify and train new leaders that reflect the diversity of the SAR membership. Our business model is constantly evolving, adapting to new paradigms and anticipating what we need to do next in order to not only survive, but thrive, and remain a strong, viable organization and the Board of Choice for our members.

Would you, or someone you know, consider a nomination to one of the elected positions? During the three-year term, beginning January 1, 2014, one of your most important

responsibilities as a Director would be to participate in the development of policy and major decision-making at monthly Board meetings. Service on a committee or task force as well as participation in Association events are also key to being an effective leader.

We have posted information on our website www. sarasotarealtors.com - 2014 Nominations under Hot Topics to help guide you in this process.

If you wish to be considered as a candidate for the Board of Directors, or an officer, please send in the nomination form, located on the site, by April 13th. If you have questions, contact Kathy Roberts, CEO, at 328-1170.

Tom Coler Inducted Into REBAC Hall of Fame

Tom Coler, BS, MBA, ABR, Broker/ Owner of The Buyer’s Broker of Southwest Florida since 1989, was recently inducted into the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council (REBAC) Hall of Fame.

Prospective Hall of Fame inductees are nominated by fellow REBAC members and are selected by an independent panel of real estate industry leaders. Only five people were inducted at the Hall of Fame ceremony.

Tom has been a Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker for over 31 years.

He has been a REBAC member since1989, when he recognized the need, as well as the future market, for Exclusive Buyer Representation and embraced the concept and business model for Exclusive Buyer’s Agents in Florida.

“In those days, no one had even heard of exclusive buyer’s agents in residential real estate since they did not exist in Florida,” Coler recalled. “But after spending several days in the car looking at properties, buyers thought the agent worked for them and actually, in some cases, the agents did illegally assist the buyer to the detriment of their seller.”

A Licensed Florida Real Estate Law Instructor, with over 30 years

Tom Coler and 20,000+ hours in the classroom, Tom was an early advocate for Buyer representation in Florida and introduced thousands of new Florida licensees to the Exclusive Buyer’s Agent concept over the years.

He has always encouraged his students to increase their professionalism, their public image and their knowledge of Buyer’s Agents’ best practices.

A graduate of Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service and the Thunderbird Graduate School of International Management, Tom has a corporate, government, and entrepreneurial background, (Texaco in the Caribbean and on the Ivory Coast, IBM in Washington, D.C., and former Chief of Staff to a United States Congressman, Washington, D.C.).

Tom is a member of IBM’s “100% Club” and is listed in “Outstanding Young Men of America,” “Who’s Who in American Government” and “Who’s Who in Politics”.

Tom is a longtime member of NAR, the Real Estate Buyers Agent Council, (REBAC), Florida Realtors®, the Sarasota Association of Realtors, (SAR), the Naples Area Board of Realtors, (NABOR), and the National Association of Exclusive Buyer’s Agents, (NAEBA).

Tom lives on the Sarasota bayfront.

He is an avid open water swimmer, boater, diver and fisherman and recently summited Mt. Kilimanjaro, “The Roof of Africa,” at 19,340 feet.

Active in the Sarasota community, Tom is currently serving SCOPE helping to launch the Sarasota Institute for the Ages, SIA.

Great American Realtor® Days Start April 9th

Great American Realtor Days (GARD) are two days during Florida’s legislative session when Realtors® visit the Capitol to meet with and lobby legislators on pending real estate legislation.

2013 GARD Dates: The legislative session dates for 2013 are March 5 through May 3. Great American Realtor® Days are held Tuesday, April 9, and Wednesday, April 10.

A live web briefing will be conducted the week prior to Realtor® Days. This briefing will be taped and made available on the Florida Realtors® website - www.floridarealtors.org.

On Wednesday, April 10, Florida Realtors® will hold its first ever “Rally in Tally,” where Realtors® will converge on the Capitol Courtyard in Tallahassee to promote Realtor® issues and let their collective voices be heard. A historical turnout is expected. The rally is intended to promote homeownership,

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APRIL 2013

so join thousands of your fellow Realtors® as the united voice for Homeownership.

On Tuesday, April 9, don’t miss out on the the “Taste of Florida” Block Party. This annual food and networking fest is the must-attend GARD kick off event and will again be held on Adams Street.

Downtown parking can be challenging, so arrangements have been made for parking at the Leon County Civic Center.

Ride the Realtor® shuttle to the DoubleTree Hotel, Capitol or the Public Policy Headquarters Office at no charge. Shuttle hours are 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Tuesday and 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

If you have questions, or need assistance, please contact Suzanne Hughes in the Tallahassee Office of Public Policy at 850-224-1400, or suzanneh@floridarealtors.org.

Sarasota Realtor® Magazine

www.sarasotarealtors.com

ADVERTORIAL

Q&A

with Mark Wilson, President and CEO of London Bay Homes

What You Need to Know About The Founders Club

Mark Wilson

During a recent conversation with a group of Sarasota-area Realtors, I was asked to share an update on all the great news at The Founders Club. I’d like to take this opportunity to provide the same information to all area Realtors.

Q: What is the activity level at The Founders Club?

A: There is a good deal of sales and construction activity at The Founders Club. We just passed the halfway point in the community. More than 50 percent of the 262 homesites now have completed homes. And, in addition to the completed homes, there are 10 new homes in the permitting process or already under construction. Our customer traffic in the sales center for 2013 has doubled compared to last year. We are pleased with the growing momentum.

Q: What is the financial status of the club and the community association?

A: Both the club and the community association are stable and financially solid. They are professionally managed and governed by member and homeowner boards. Association and club staff deliver an outstanding experience while running efficient, customeroriented operations. Last year, the club added 70 new members.

I would add that London Bay is quite solid. We are a privately owned company in business for more than 25 years, and we have no debt on our Founders Club land holdings.

Bay officers serve on the boards of both the club and the community association. We are fully committed.

Q: What is most special about The Founders Club?

A: Our amazing views are quite unique. There are no back-to-back homes, and every homesite has golf, lake or preserve views that your customers will love. In many cases, the views are double or triple fairways.

They are simply incomparable.

Q: What is most surprising about The Founders Club?

A: Two things: The first is social and the second is financial.

At the social level, our owners and members enjoy a great level of friendliness and connectivity. It’s an open, active and friendly group! I think it relates to the intimacy of the community.

At the financial level, many customers are surprised to learn that there is no Community Development District (CDD) at The Founders Club. This means there is no additional layer of CDD debt service or operating assessment on the real estate tax bill.

Q: Why should I bring my clients to The Founders Club?

A: Our sales staff is very knowledgeable and will take exceptional care of both you and your clients. Plus – in addition to commissions – we are currently offering a $10,000 Realtor bonus for qualified sales.

We are less than three miles east of I-75, so we’re close to all that Sarasota has to offer, with a Sarasota address.

Our furnished models are open daily. I invite you to visit The Founders Club today.

Q: What is London Bay’s role in the community?

A: We own about one-third of the homesites in the community. We produce the community marketing and public relations programs, and we manage the on-site sales effort at The Founders Club Sales Gallery.

Our professional team is on-site every day. And London

For more information about London Bay Homes and our award-winning history of creating homes in Southwest Florida, visit LondonBay.com or call 866.711.3132.

ADVERTORIAL

Governmental Affairs

Florida Realtors® Announces 2013 Legislative Priorities

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By Marc Mansfield Governmental Affairs Director

This year, Realtors® from across the state will converge on Tallahassee in April for the annual Great American Realtor® Days, an opportunity to speak person-to-person with our elected representatives and promote Realtor® Party issues (see related article, Page 8).

But what are the hot topics this year, and what do they mean to the average Realtor®?

Commercial Rental Tax

Florida is the only state that taxes commercial rents. Commercial tenants pay a 6 percent sales tax on rent, and local governments may charge an additional discretionary sales surtax. The sales tax applies to the “total rent charged” which covers a wide range of lease related charges. Businesses often pay sales tax on insurance premiums, property taxes and common area maintenance fees. State sales tax revenues from commercial rents and related fees have ranged from $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion. Rescinding the entire tax this session is unlikely; however there is another proposal that would lower the sales tax rate to commercial leases over a number of years.

Affordable Housing Trust Funds

As in previous years, Florida Realtors® asks once again that all monies generated by documentary stamp taxes specifically for affordable housing programs be used for that purpose — not to make up for deficits in general revenue. The Sadowski Trust Funds are supported entirely by a portion of documentary stamp taxes.

In the next fiscal year, there will be $193.8 million available for Florida families.

Property Insurance

Florida’s largest property insurer — taxpayerowned Citizens Property Insurance Corporation — is financially unsound and growing by approximately 8,000 new policies each week. As a result, Governor Scott asked the Citizens Board of Directors to do anything and everything possible outside the legislative arena to reduce exposure to loss. Citizens responded with cuts to coverage and a plan to subsidize lowinterest loans for any private insurer that takes over a Citizens policy.

In this complicated and complex business environment, a reasonable next step is to review the manner in which Citizens eligibility requirements are enforced. Citizens may be able to reduce its explosive 10

APRIL 2013

growth by only writing policies for property owners who are truly eligible, as opposed to those who have other choices but choose Citizens to save money.

Florida Realtors® will also take a look at mitigation and incentives to help make properties stronger and better able to withstand storms.

Judicial Foreclosure

Foreclosing on a mortgage in Florida is a long process taking 853 days on average from the first foreclosure filing to bank repossession according to Realty Trac’s end of the year report. The national average is 414 days.

Florida Realtors® will be working with a sponsor of a bill that would reduce the time a lender may ask for a deficiency judgment from five years to one year, and impose strict paperwork requirements for lenders.

In addition this proposed legislation allows condo associations to expedite the foreclosure process when a lender is delaying the process.

Estoppel Fees

Legislators may be considering a bill this session that would cap Estoppel fees for condominium associations.

An Estoppel is a request for a payoff amounts. A title company will request an Estoppel prior to closing to determine if association fees are current, if there are any special assessments due and/or pending, violations against the property pending litigation etc. Florida law allows associations to charge a fee for Estoppel, but doesn’t specify amounts. In many parts of the state, these fees are high-upwards of $500. Florida Realtors® is seeking reforms on behalf of sellers.

Sarasota Realtor® Magazine

www.sarasotarealtors.com

What do 100 Ben Franklins and selling a home in The Founders Club have in common?

$10,000.

Cottages from $600’s

Fairway Homes from $700’s

Estate Homes from $1 Million

Join the Founders Club growing 10K Club.

Sell a London Bay home and get a $10,000 Bonus*. Plus a 3% commission.

Cottage, Fairway and Estate Homes starting from the $600s are new this year at The Founders Club. Sarasota’s premier golf and country club community. Magnificent golf, lakes or preserve views are afforded from every home in this intimate community.

Tour our clubhouse and our furnished models during our 2013 Showcase.

3001 Founders Club Drive, Sarasota, FL ◆ (941) 378-0900 ◆ FoundersLuxury.com Located nearly 3 miles east of I-75 on Fruitville Road (exit 210) *Offer valid through May 31, 2013. Prices, terms, and availability are subject to change without notice.

A London Bay Homes Development

Property Appraiser

What the ‘Separate’ in Separate Family Unit Really Means

What the “Separate” in Separate Family Unit Really Means

In recent months, when speaking before Homeowner and Condominium Associations, I’ve been informed by audience members that others have told them that they and their spouses could maintain separate residences and claim residency linked property tax credits or exemptions on both

By Bill Furst, GRI, CRS, CRB properties. The usual scenario, as described by my questioners, is that one Sarasota County Property Appraiser spouse makes her permanent residence in Sarasota County and the other In recent months, when speaking before Homeowner and Condominium Associations, I’ve been informed by audience spouse is a resident of another state and claiming a residency linked members that others have told them that they and their exemption there. spouses could maintain separate residences and claim residency

linked property tax credits or exemptions on both properties.

The information these taxpayers are receiving is simply incorrect. In The usual scenario, as described by my questioners, is that one Florida, by Constitutional provision and rule, only one exemption is allowed spouse makes her permanent residence in Sarasota County and to a family unit. Here is a summary of the facts for married persons the other spouse is a resident of another state and claiming a residency linked exemption there. attempting to claim multiple exemptions either in another state or in another Florida County.

The information these taxpayers are receiving is simply incorrect. In Florida, by Constitutional provision and rule,

only one exemption is allowed to a family unit. Here is a Regardless, of whether the properties are owned as husband and wife or summary of the facts for married persons attempting to claim individually the spouses must decide which property is the family unit’s multiple exemptions either in another state or in another permanent residence if they are in what several Florida court decisions Florida County. have described as an “intact” or “congenial” marriage. If the couple is Regardless, of whether the properties are owned as husband “behav[ing] in a manner consistent with the common sense notion of what and wife or individually the spouses must decide which it means to be a family” they are not entitled to two residency linked property is the family unit’s permanent residence if they are property tax exemptions. If the spouses cancel the exemption in the other in what several Florida court decisions have described as an “intact” or “congenial” marriage. If the couple is “behav[ing] state or Florida County, then the otherwise qualified spouse may claim in a manner consistent with the common sense notion of homestead in Sarasota County. what it means to be a family” they are not entitled to two

residency linked property tax exemptions. If the spouses cancel In rare instances, a married couple may qualify for more than one the exemption in the other state or Florida County, then the homestead exemption but they must first demonstrate that they are not a otherwise qualified spouse may claim homestead in Sarasota family unit. The criteria used by the Sarasota County Property Appraiser’s County. office to determine their relationship are included in an affidavit that all In rare instances, a married couple may qualify for more than applicants for Separate Family Unit status must complete and sign. See the one homestead exemption but they must first demonstrate that they are not a family unit. The criteria used by the text box on the right for a list of those requirements, which include Sarasota County Property Appraiser’s office to determine their maintaining totally separate financial and physical lives. relationship is included in an affidavit that all applicants for

Separate Family Unit status must complete and sign. See the We regularly audit all approved Separate Family Unit homesteads and from text box on the right for a list of those requirements, which time to time we find evidence of a second “homestead” that was not include maintaining totally separate financial and physical declared by the applicant/s at the time they applied for Florida homestead lives. or was applied for in another state subsequent to qualifying for homestead We regularly audit all approved Separate Family Unit here. When that happens we are obligated by statute to recover the homesteads and from time to time we find evidence of a second “homestead” that was not declared by the applicant/s at improperly exempted taxes, a 50% penalty and 15% interest per year of the time they applied for Florida homestead or was applied for violation through the Homestead Lien process. If the violation goes back in another state subsequent to qualifying for homestead here. many years this can amount to thousands of dollars in taxes, penalties, and When that happens we are obligated by statute to recover the interest. improperly exempted taxes, a 50% penalty and 15% interest

per year of violation through the Homestead Lien process.

While many factors go into a couple’s decision to establish separate If the violation goes back many years this can amount to For more thousands of dollars in taxes, penalties, and interest. residences, the tax benefit of a Florida homestead exemption should not information, While many factors go into a couple’s decision to establish contact be one of them. Please encourage your customers and clients to contact the separate residences, the tax benefit of a Florida homestead Propertyour office for a fuller explanation of the requirements for Separate Family Appraiser’s Unit status. exemption should not be one of them. Please encourage your customers and clients to contact our office for a fuller office at explanation of the requirements for Separate Family Unit 941.861.8200.

I

Constitutional Provisions and Rules Governing Separate Family Units.

Florida Constitution, Article VII, Section 6(b): Not more than one exemption shall be allowed any individual or family unit or with respect to any residential unit.

Florida Administrative Code: Chapter 12D‐7.012(2): No family unit shall be entitled to more than one homestead tax exemption.

Chapter 12D‐7.012(5): Property held jointly will support multiple claims for homestead tax exemption; however, only one exemption will be allowed each residential unit and no family unit will be entitled to more than one exemption.

Requirements for Separate Family Unit Status

1. Is a divorce pending? We need to see the filed documents.

2. What was the date the couple separated? Florida does not have legal separation but paperwork from another state can be presented.

3. What is the spouse’s name and residence address?

4. Does the spouse claim any residency based tax exemption or credit in Florida or any other state? (Includes District of Columbia and Puerto Rico) 5. Does the couple spend time together in both homes or go back and forth between them?

6. Does the couple vacation or socialize together?

7. Does the couple have joint bank or financial accounts?

8. Is either spouse a mortgagor on the other’s residence?

9. Is either spouse a beneficiary on any insurance policy or financial account owned by the other?

10. Do the spouses file their IRS returns separately? We need to see the returns.

11. Does either spouse receive financial assistance from the other, including utility, car insurance, mortgage, or any other form of payments?

status.

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APRIL 2013

Sarasota Realtor® Magazine

www.sarasotarealtors.com

Cypress Falls, Vernon Hill II Great Room

get ready for new home designs that accommodate everything, even your client’s budget.

We think your clients should get everything they want when buying a new home. That means even newer, more flexible living spaces designed to fit their lifestyle at prices they can afford. Centex is offering new floor plans and more design options so your clients can definitely find the home they’ve been waiting for. It’s everything your clients want in the affordable comfort of a new Centex home.

VENETIAN FALLS VENICE FROM THE MID $100s

RIVERWOOD PORT CHARLOTTE FROM THE MID $100s

CypRESS FALLS NORTH PORT FROM THE MID $100s

• Final Closeout!

• 1,557-3,193 sq. ft.

• 1,641-1,911 sq. ft.

• 1,448-1,602 sq. ft.

• 2- 4 Bedroom Carriage Homes and Single Family Homes

• 2-3 Bedroom Single Family Homes

• 2 Bedroom + Den Villas • Clubhouse, Resort Pool, and Fitness Center

• Clubhouse, Golf Course and Beach Club

THE RESERVE AT CROSSING CREEK BRADENTON COMING SOON

• Clubhouse, Resistance Pool, Putting Green and More

Schedule a visit and register your clients today.

Call 866-290-9110 or visit centex.com to learn more.

Put yourself in a better place™

Prices shown are estimated base prices, do not include lot premiums or options and are subject to change without notice. Community Association fees required. Additional terms, conditions and restrictions apply. Photographs are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be an actual representation of a specific community, neighborhood or any completed improvements being offered. Please see a sales associate for details. This material shall not constitute a valid offer in any state where prior registration is required or if void by law. ©2012 PulteGroup, Inc. All rights reserved. 12/5/12. CBC057850.

NAR Nationwide Open House Weekend set April 20-21 Mark your calendars for Saturday and Sunday, April 20 and 21, 2013—and join SAR, fellow Realtors® and associations throughout the U.S. and internationally for a weekend open house.

Potential home buyers rely on open houses to help them find the home of their dreams. During National Open House weekend, buyers can have a greater chance of doing just that.

The weekend is organized by state and local Realtor® associations across the country and around the world, including SAR, uniting Realtors® as they host thousands of open houses while engaging consumers on the benefits of homeownership and bringing buyers and sellers together.

Realtor® Nationwide Open House is a fantastic opportunity for those interested in homeownership to connect with a Realtor® who can offer expert guidance and advice on the home buying process.

During the weekend Realtors® will be on hand to answer questions about the local housing market and provide insights into the social and financial benefits of

homeownership. Open houses are also a great way for potential buyers to get a feel for what is available in their local market.”

SAR offers scholarships for local students The 2013 Sarasota Association of Realtors® Scholarship applications are now being accepted, and the deadline is fast approaching.

Up to

100%

financing ConstruCtion to Perm FinanCing Call Melia Favorite Office: (941) 359-6820 ext. 3212 Cell: (941) 807-0303 3451 Cattlemen Road Sarasota, FL favoritem@ffsb.com NMLS ID#: 419443

www.ffsb.com equaL hOuSINg

LeNDeR

The application has been posted on our web site and distributed to the various local high schools. The application must be received at SAR no later than May 1, 2013.

Visit www.sarasotarealtors.com and look for the item under Hot Topicas at the right side of the page. Then click DOWNLOAD FILE below and print the nine-page application and submit by mail or in person to SAR. Each scholarship is in the amount of $2,000, and four scholarships will be awarded - two to members of SAR (or immediate family members); and two to the public (non-SAR members).

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the SAR move into our new headquarters on April 22nd, if you plan to mail your

application AFTER APRIL 19th, please send to SAR, Attn. Scholarship Committee, 2320 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota, FL 34232. Before April 19th, send to our current address, 3590 S. Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34239.

MLS Fees Due by May 15th My Florida Regional MLS and My Florida Commercial Real Estate fees will be posted to our members’ MFRMLS account in early April, and are due no later than May 15th.

The fee to subscribe to MFRMLS for 2013-2014 will be $363 (June 1, 2013 to May 31, 2014). The fee to subscribe to MFCRE/Catylist for 2013-2014 will be $414 (June 1, 2013 to May 31, 2014).

MFRMLS will send email invoices in early April. All fees must be paid by 5:00 pm on May 15, 2013. To view and pay your MLS invoice please log on to MFRMLS website www.mfrmls.com and select “Pay Your Bill”. Any questions concerning your invoice should be directed to MFRMLS/MFCRE at 1-800-6867451.

Subject to credit underwriting and approval. Please contact a mortgage originator for more details on available loan programs. 100% financing applies to VA and USDA loans only.

14

APRIL 2013

Sarasota Realtor® Magazine

www.sarasotarealtors.com

T

February 2013 Sales Up 24 Percent Over Last Year

T

The Sarasota real estate market saw sales leap by 24 percent in February 2013, compared to February 2012. This follows January’s 22 percent increase, and if the rest of the year continues to reflect 20 percent monthly sales increases, 2013 could be one for the record books.

Members of the Sarasota Association of Realtors® sold 733 properties in February, compared to only 591 sales last February, and 626 closings last month. The breakdown was 504 single family homes and 229 condominiums. That compared to 414 single family homes and 177 condos sold in February 2012. In 2012, sales increased markedly in February, March and April, climbing to 886 closed transactions in April before moderating in the summer months.

Pending sales, which predict future closings, were at 1,138 in February, up from January’s total of 1,047. The figure was the highest since March 2011, almost two years ago.

The statistic represents properties that went under contract during the month, and indicates sales in March and beyond could also be at high levels.

The available inventory remained near the lowest level in a decade, declining to 3,790 from the January 2013 total of 3,846 properties on the market. The figure is 17.4 percent lower than in February 2012.

“These statistics continue to demonstrate a healthy, energized real estate market,” said SAR President Roger Piro.

“We had the fourth highest sales year in history in 2012, and sales for the first two months of 2013 are already topping last year’s monthly levels by 23 percent. The pending sales figure also indicates strong sales continuing in the near term, so we could see yet another historic sales year.”

The median sale prices for single family homes rose slightly in February to $184,500 from the January figure of $183,800. Last year at this time, the median was $167,500, reflecting a 10.2 percent increase this year. Condo median sale prices recovered to $173,000 in February 2013 after dropping markedly in January 2013 to $130,000. Last February the figure was $150,000, for a 15.3 percent yearto-year increase.

The February 2013 months of inventory were 5.0 months for single family and 5.6 months for condos, lower than the January 2013 figures of 5.4 months and 8.4 months, respectively. The February increase in sales in relation to the smaller inventory resulted in the lower months of inventory numbers. Months of inventory represents the time it would take to deplete the current inventory at the current sales rate.

Last February, there were 7.2 months of inventory for single family homes and 9.1 months of inventory for condos. At the worst point of our market in November 2008, there were 24 months of inventory for single family homes and 41.7 months for condos.

Currently, only 427 properties listed for sale in the MLS are short sales or foreclosures, down 43 from last www.sarasotarealtors.com

“These statistics continue to demonstrate a healthy, energized real estate market.”

- SAR President Roger Piro month’s figure. This represents about 11.3 percent of available properties, down from last month’s figure of 12.2 percent and a big drop from January 2012 when the figure represented 17 percent of the market.

Sales of distressed properties represented only 27.5 percent of the overall sales in February 2013, down significantly from January’s figure of 35.4 percent, and far below the 51 percent figure experienced in the fourth quarter of 2010.

The sales price differential between distressed and normal arm’s length sales continues to be high. Locally, the median sale price for a single family foreclosure sale was $96,000 in February, while the median for arm’s length sales was $220,000. Nationally, the price gap has narrowed to only 12 percent, according to Business Insider Magazine in an article headlined “Those Amazing Deals on Foreclosed Homes Are Disappearing.”

In February 2013, statistics continue to reflect a vibrant Sarasota real estate sales market, with many seasonal visitors and local residents purchasing homes or investment properties.

Sarasota Realtor® Magazine

APRIL 2013

15

Sarasota MLSSM Statistics - February 2013 Single Family

Unit Sales

Condo

700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Feb‐12

Mar‐12

Apr‐12

May‐12

Jun‐12

Jul‐12

Aug‐12

Sep‐12

Oct‐12

Nov‐12

Dec‐12

Jan‐13

Feb‐13

Single Family

Median Sale Price

Condo

$250,000 $200,000 $150,000 $100,000 $50,000 $0 Feb‐12

Mar‐12

Apr‐12

May‐12

Jun‐12

Jul‐12

Aug‐12

Sep‐12

Oct‐12

Nov‐12

Dec‐12

Jan‐13

Feb‐13

Single Family

#Active

#Sold

%Sold

Average DOM

Median Sale Prices

Median Last 12 Months

Months Inventory

Pending Reported

%Pending

# New Listings

# Off Market

This Month

2,504

504

20.1

144

$184,500

$177,157

5.0

793

31.7

866

148

This Month Last Year

2,972

414

13.9

171

$167,500

$160,000

7.2

793

26.7

795

154

2,500

466

18.6

137

$183,800

$175,000

5.4

758

30.3

988

158

‐

970

‐

141

$184,100

‐

‐

1,551

‐

1,854

‐

Oct 95.4 ‐

Nov 95.6 ‐

Dec 95.3 ‐

Last Month YTD

2012 2013

Jan 95.4 96.2

Single Family – Sale Price Vs. List Price % Rates Feb 94.2 96.4

Mar 94.6 ‐

Apr 94.7 ‐

May 95.1 ‐

Jun 95.2 ‐

Jul 94.2 ‐

Aug 95.3 ‐

Sept 95.2 ‐

Statistics were compiled on properties listed in the MLS by members of the Sarasota Association of Realtors® as of March 10th, 2013, including some listings in Manatee, Englewood, Venice, and other areas. Single-family statistics are tabulated using property styles of single-family and villa. Condo statistics include condo, co-op, and townhouse.

Source: Sarasota Association of Realtors® 16

APRIL 2013

Sarasota Realtor® Magazine

www.sarasotarealtors.com

Sarasota MLSSM Statistics - February 2013 Single Family Condo

Inventory 3,500 3,000 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 0 Feb‐12 Mar‐12 Apr‐12 May‐12 Jun‐12

Jul‐12

Aug‐12

Sep‐12

Oct‐12

Nov‐12 Dec‐12

Jan‐13

Feb‐13

Jan‐13

Feb‐13

Single Family Condo

Pending Sales 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Feb‐12

Mar‐12

Apr‐12

May‐12

Jun‐12

Jul‐12

Aug‐12

Sep‐12

Oct‐12

Nov‐12

Dec‐12

Condo

This Month This Month Last Year Last Month YTD

2012 2013

#Active

#Sold

%Sold

Average DOM

Median Sale Prices

Median Last 12 Months

Months of Inventory

Pending Reported

%Pending

# New Listings

# Off Market

1,286

229

17.8

171

$173,000

$174,900

5.6

345

26.8

325

106

1,616

177

10.9

212

$150,000

$160,000

9.1

337

20.8

323

166

1,346

160

11.9

171

$130,000

$172,250

8.4

289

21.5

398

112

‐

389

‐

170

$157,450

‐

‐

634

‐

723

‐

Jan 93.1 95.4

Condo – Sale Price Vs. List Price % Rates Feb 93.5 95.4

Mar 94.2 ‐

Apr 94.3 ‐

May 93.8 ‐

Jun 93.8 ‐

Jul 94.6 ‐

Aug 94.1 ‐

Sept 94.2 ‐

Oct 94.4 ‐

Nov 95.4 ‐

Dec 94.8 ‐

Median sales price is the middle value, where half of the homes sold for more, and half sold for less. Listings sold were closed transactions during the month. Pending sales are sales where an offer has been accepted during the month, but the sale has not yet closed. Even though some pending sales never close, pending sales are an indicator of current buyer activity. DOM indicates the average number of days that sold properties were on the market before a contract was executed.

Sarasota Association of Realtors® MLS www.sarasotarealtors.com

Sarasota Realtor® Magazine

APRIL 2013

17

Commercial Investment Division

CID Making Strides on Strategic Plan

I

By Linda Emery CID President In the February issue, we outlined the strategic plan the 2013 CID Board approved – a pretty aggressive plan for 12 very busy people. In the first quarter of this year, we’ve made great strides in reaching those goals.

We’ve had three very successful general meetings with great speakers. I just completed a lease with a commercial colleague who referred the tenant in this transaction to Chris Jaensch, an immigration attorney and our speaker at the January meeting, for help with her business visa.

The colleague knew about Chris because he was at the January meeting. What a great endorsement for the quality of the speakers the Program Committee is booking for our general meetings.

We have successfully added a fifth pitch session for CID members each month. In addition to the weekly Market Place sessions each Friday, we’ve set aside 15 minutes at the end of each general meeting for members to present Wants & Needs. Every member should take advantage of this free, easy marketing opportunity.

CID co-sponsored a CCIM Intro 101 Course held in March and we had 16 attendees for the two day course.

We are pleased with the success of this course and we expect to receive scholarship applications from two of our members who attended.

Finally, we are very excited to announce the launch of CID’s new website. We designed the site to provide useful information for our members as well as the general

WANTED: Committee Members Choose a committee and email the Chair. Your input and experience will enhance the value of CID Membership.

Committees

Education – Susan Goldstein: SusanGoldstein@TheCommercialSpecialist.com Program – Lori Hellstrom: LHellstrom@Ospreyres.com MFCRE/Technology - Kevin Robbins: Kevin@Robbinscommercial.com Public Policy – Pete Skokos: PSkokos@nhlslaw.com Membership – Dave Roth: DavidRoth@remax.com Public Relations –Roberta Kolton: RobertaKolton@MichaelSaunders.com

CID Monthly Meeting Schedule Commercial Marketplace Sessions Increase visibility for your properties, learn of new opportunities, and exchange information with commercial professionals. Deals are made at these sessions.

1st, 2nd & 4th Fridays at the SAR Auditorium 3rd Friday at the MAR offices NEW In 2013! The monthly general meeting (3rd Tuesday) will now include a Marketplace session, giving members five opportunities each month to promote their listings.

Officers:

APRIL 2013

Commercial Marketplace Sessions Friday, April 5, 9 a.m. – SAR Auditorium (Tuttle) Friday, April 12, 9 a.m. – SAR Auditorium (Tuttle) Friday, April 19th, 9 a.m. – MAR, 10920 Technology Terrace, Lakewood Ranch, FL Friday, April 26th, 9 a.m. – SAR Auditorium, 2320 Cattlemen Road CID General Membership Meeting Date: Tuesday, April 16th, 8:30 a.m.

Location: SAR Auditorium; Program: Mark Vitner, Senior Economist, Wells Fargo-CID Members Only

2013 CID Officers & Directors

President: Linda Emery, Sperry Van Ness President-Elect: Lori Hellstrom, Osprey Real Estate Services Vice-President: Tim Mapp, Mapp Realty Secretary: Dave Roth, RE/MAX Alliance Treasurer: Tony Veldkamp: Sperry Van Ness Past President: Brad Lindberg, Sperry Van Ness 18

public. We invite you to visit www.sarasotarealtors.com and click on our new logo in the top right hand corner.

We’ve included a link to MFCRE, a complete list of CID members with contact information, a calendar of upcoming events, and links to the National Association of Realtors® Commercial Site.

We will begin planning the annual CID Charity Golf Tournament Fund Raiser soon, so watch for upcoming announcements and opportunities to participate. Your input and suggestions are always welcome.

Directors: Rico Boeras: Preferred Commercial Inc.(1 year - 2013) Ron Struthers: Coldwell Banker Commercial NRT (1 year 2013) Peter Skokos: Norton Hammersley (2 years - 2014) Kevin Robbins - Harry Robbins Associates (2 years - 2014) Susan Goldstein: Michael Saunders & Company (3 years2015) Roberta Kolton: Michael Saunders & Company (3 years 2015)

Sarasota Realtor® Magazine

www.sarasotarealtors.com

ar -

4) -

Education Programs

Emerging Leaders Program welcomes walk-ins SAR members are cordially invited to sit in on any of understandable, clear language. And he suggests actions that organizations and individuals can take to become the Emerging Leaders seminars as a guest for no cost.

We have some excellent speakers that anybody currently part of the future – or to understand it – and to be comfortable. Jerry Matthews, recognized in a leadership position would nationally for interpreting future benefit from hearing. Register trends and concepts, is a consultant for online at www.sarasotarealtors.com. organizations all over the U.S. Here are the April seminars: April 17, 9 a.m. to Noon-- The April 3, 9 to 11 a.m.- The Way of Making of a Leader Tomorrow™ Presentation by Deborah Valledor, Presentation by Jerry Matthews, COO, Miami Association of Realtors®.

CAE. Robert’s Rules Made Easy; Exercises Amazing shifts are occurring. in Practical Problem Solving; What They impact all levels of society, Members Expect from Leaders; Leading business, and personal life. Enabled Effective Meetings; Your Pathway to by technology and empowered by Leadership; Anti-Trust and Conflict of deep human desires, these shifts Interest. both create and destroy. “The Way This dynamic speaker is the COO of of Tomorrow” is a presentation on the largest association of Realtors® in the a future that is literally exploding United States—the Miami Association— before us. Jerry reveals trends, with 27,000 members. concepts, and movements in Jerry Matthews

GRI courses top education news in 2013 SAR is pleased to announce the dates for the GRI 200 Series: Essential Real Estate Techniques.

The GRI Series 200 offers 30 hours of Broker Post-License education and 11 hours of CE for sales associates and brokers. Registration deadline: April 12, 2013. Register at www.sarasotarealtors.com

GRI 200 Series - Essential Real Estate Techniques - $249 GRI 201: It’s All About You! April 22-23 Location: SAR Auditorium, 2320 Cattlemen Rd. Topics covered include: Tax, Personal Promotion, Sales & Marketing GRI 202: Technology & Investments, April 29 & 30 Topics covered include: Taxes and the Real Estate Licensee, Technology, Tools and Resources, Investments GRI 300 Series: Real Estate Specialties - $249 GRI 301: It’s More Than Just Sales (other business specialties), June 3 & 4 Location: SAR Auditorium, 2320 Cattlemen Rd. Topics covered include: Appraisals, Property Management, Common Ownership, Exchanging GRI 302: Thinking Outside the Box, June 11 & 12 Topics covered include: Land, Environment & Private Property Rights, International, Residential Construction, Environment

20

APRIL 2013

GRI 100 Series—Standards of Practice - $349 Aug. 13-14, 19-20, 26-27, Location: SAR Auditorium, 2320 Cattlemen Rd. 45 Hours Sales Associate Post-License Credit & 14 Hours CE Credit Kill two birds with one stone—earn your GRI designation while earning your post-license or continuing education credit! As well as your Code of Ethics requirement for Cycle 4! Topics covered are: Law, Fair Housing & Diversity, Contact to Contracts, Business Planning & Goal Setting, Negotiating & Counseling, and Finance. At the end of each 2-day module, there will be a 50 question exam.

Sarasota Realtor® Magazine

www.sarasotarealtors.com

Choose the right COURSE with WCI Communities.

Whether you enjoy a day teeing it up on the golf course or charting a course in your boat, WCI has a community to suit your needs.

This masterpiece community features superb amenities, including an expertly sculpted 18-hole championship golf course and clubhouse, River Club with dining, fitness and tennis, a picturesque nature park and, of course, exquisite homes. Some may consider it a stroke of genius.

On the shores of the Manatee River in Bradenton, Tidewater Preserve is a private boating community with exceptional amenities including the The Lodge offering a fitness center, resort style pool, Port & Court Club tennis complex, marina and boat lift, canoe park, even a riverfront nature walk.

SM

Carriage Homes from the $180s. Grand Villa, Classic Homes from the low $200s.

102 Pesaro Drive | North Venice, FL 34275 941-485-5063 | 800-WCI-4486 | venetianwci.com

Directions: From I-75 take Exit 195, 2 miles East

Homes from the low $200s to the $700s.

4700 Tidewater Preserve Blvd. | Bradenton FL 34208 941-465-4001 | 888-WCI-3343 | tidewaterpreserve.com SM

Directions: I-75, Exit 220, West on FL-64 towards Bradenton, 1.5 miles, turn Right onto 48th St. Ct. Welcome Center 1 mile on left.

reAlTOrS! WCI introduces the 2013

Gimme 3 Steps Commission Program The more sales you make the higher commission rate you can earn!

On Any WCI New Home Sale Contracted January 1 – December 31, 2013.* LOGO B/W - includes reversed out logo in all white

The Experience Is Everything.

on fIrST sale!

on SeCOND sale!

on THree or more sales!

*Contract must be fully deposited (under the terms of the agreement), and if applicable, out of rescission with all contingences met and all required deposits shall have been paid in full and cleared. Offer expires December 31, 2013. All commissions shall be paid at closing to the applicable broker provided all terms & conditions of the co-broker commission agreement have been met. The commission shall be calculated and paid in accordance with WCI’s Co-Broker Commission Program Agreement. Contact WCI Sales Director at Community Sales Center for specific closing requirements. Pictures shown may not be actual homes listed, but a representation of home designs available. Pricing and availability subject to change without notice. Void where prohibited. Offers are subject to change or cancellation without notice. All references to clubs and membership opportunities and other amenities are subject to fees, dues and availability. ©2013 WCI Communities, Inc. All rights reserved.

Realtor®-Attorney Joint Committee sets programs

Do You Have What It Takes for Realtor® Boot Camp?

Kick your career up a notch! The Professional Development Committee has put together this basic training program for new agents as well as agents who need new energy infused into their business. The training will consist of four sessions led by dynamic, experienced real estate professionals.

Each session will cost $10 and you don’t have to sign up for the whole series up front. Continental breakfast will be provided.

The sessions will be held at SAR from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the following dates.

June 7: Become a Superstar without Spending a Fortune: prospecting and lead generation, communication skills, customer service, and many inexpensive ways to get more bang for your buck June 21: Learn How to Be an Information Digger: Listing contract, HOA restrictions, how to navigate the Clerk of Court, permitting and more July 5: Top Tips and Tricks: Simple ways of working more efficiently with the tools you already have July 19: Knowledge is Power, Navigate with Confidence: A primer on the sales contracts and their addenda.

Mark your calendar now!

SAR School of Real Estate Schedule

Seminars have been scheduled for April, May and June by the Realtor® Attorney Joint Committee, with all to be held at the new SAR headquarters, 2320 Cattlemen Road. These seminars are free to SAR members, but advance registration is required. Lunch is provided.

April 24, Noon to 1:30 p.m. - Property Management Panel: A panel of top area property managers will help you avoid getting into trouble with FREC. With more properties going into the rental market, more complaints about property management than any other issue are being received by FREC and state and local associations of Realtors®.

May 22, Noon to 1:30 p.m. - Risky Business: The speakers will be Margy Grant, Vice President of Law and Policy for Florida Realtors®, and Paul Espinosa, John Pearl Insurance, Corporate Training Manager and National Risk Control Manager for Professional Liability Insurance.

June 19, Noon to 1:30 p.m. - Capacities: LLCs, corporations, partnership and who is authorized to sign for those entities; what the Realtor® should ask the client for when they sign a listing agreement (i.e. articles, operating agreement, partnership agreement).

Come for the educational opportunities, and to check out the brand new SAR facility!

Award-winning printing and customer service Specializing in pocket portfolios, die-cutting and foil-stamping done in-house

Title: Sales Associate Pre-License (SA-6) Dates: April 9 to May 14, 2013 Class starts April 9 at 5 p.m.

Earlybird Tuition: $339 (includes manual, Florida Real Estate Principles, Practices and Law, 35th Edition) (register at least 10 days in advance of class to receive Earlybird price)Regular Tuition: $364 Instructor: Michael W. Davenport The Sales Associate Pre-License Classes are held onTuesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 10 p.m., and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at SAR. The End of Course Exam will be held on last day of course Each class is limited to 20 students, and you can register online at: www.sarasotarealtors.com/SARSchool

22

APRIL 2013

FSC and SFI certified to help you go green

Sarasota’s Premier Real Estate Printer 1730 Independence Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34234 (941) 351-1515 • (941) 351-8639 F • www.coastalprint.com sales@coastalprint.com

Sarasota Realtor® Magazine

www.sarasotarealtors.com

Fusion Training Continues in April

mode for Fusion. iPhone & iPad users will be able to use Fusion by downloading the Fusion Experience app from the App Store.

Android users will be able to download the Fusion Experience app from the Play Store. This class does not meet any MFR educational requirements. This class does not provide any CE credits. This is a lecture style class.

Pre-registration is required for all MLS classes at www.mfrmls.com.

Click on Resources, then Education & Training for the class registration link. All classes are hands-on in the SAR Technology Center (except for Entering and Updating). Registration is limited to 18. Please be sure that you will attend if you reserve a spot!

If you need to cancel, please call MFRMLS at 800.686.7451 (not SAR).

Introduction to FUSION Introduction to FUSION - April 1 or April 2 9 - 11 a.m., or; Noon to 2 p.m., or; 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

- April 8 or April 9 9 - 11 a.m., or; Noon to 2 p.m., or; 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

- April 15 9 - 11 a.m., or; Noon to 2 p.m., or; 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

- April 24 9 - 11 a.m., or; Noon to 2 p.m., or; 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Location: SAR Auditorium Registration is limited to 80 per session

www.sarasotarealtors.com

In this class, members will receive an overview of the new Fusion MLS system. Members will learn how to customize their home page, execute new searches, access saved searches, navigate search results and property details, explore mapping features, set up prospecting, hotsheets, add & modify listings, create CMAs, and so much more!

Fusion is compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems and will work in multiple browsers including Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, and Chrome.

For Internet Explorer 10, users will need to utilize the desktop Sarasota RealtorÂŽ Magazine

MLS Basic April 4 or April 17 (FUSION), 9 a.m. to Noon Mandatory session for all new users.

Learn the basic tools of MLS. It does the work for you, emailing the listings that match for client’s criteria automatically through auto notification. Learn the quick way to find a listing or view your inventory with one click from the Home Page.

MLS Compliance 101 April 4 or April 17, 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Mandatory session for all new users.

In this class you will learn about the My Florida Regional MLS Rules and Regulations and the compliance procedure for accuracy of Listing Data, along with additional educational materials available on MFRMLSUniversity.com Adding/Modifying Listings April 4 or April 17, 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Mandatory class if you will be entering/updating your own listings.

You will be taught how to input and modify listings, enter photos, and add attachments along with valuable tips and techniques.

APRIL 2013

23

SAR New Headquarters

SAR Headquarters to Open This Month!

The new, expansive auditorium is shown here in mid-March, nearly ready for the first meetings in the week of April 22nd, and the big dedication ceremony on May 21st from 2 to 4 p.m. (see Page 5 for more).

Visit SAR on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SarasotaRealtors

Photos by Jesse Sunday

This was the view in mid-March of the new SAR headquarters, expected to open for business on Monday, April 22nd.

Above left, work on the entrance foyer is nearly complete; and at right, complex phone and computer network wiring is completeed at the new SAR headquarters, located at 2320 Cattlemen Road.

24

APRIL 2013

Sarasota Realtor速 Magazine

www.sarasotarealtors.com

Summer Seminars: Hot topics for newer agents SAR welcomes Kim Dickey, a sales trainer and motivational speaker for over 25 years with 12 years’ experience in the “For Sale By Owner” field. She is now Eastern Division Marketing Director for First American Title.

Title: The Power of Relationship Selling Instructor: Kim Dickey Date: June 5, 2013, 9 a.m. to Noon 3 Hours CE Credit--FL CE Course Number: 0009238 Cost: FREE to SAR Members This 3-hour Continuing Education Course will build the foundation for powerful Relationship Selling. Since so many real estate products are similar, the real difference is in the Real Estate Professional’s ability to build and maintain a compelling relationship, communicate and demonstrate value and guide the prospect or client through the buying and selling process. You will also learn that every response needed to be successful has already been written, you just have to make the commitment to know your next line. This training will empower, inspire and provide the tools to be successful in any market.

Bob

Chuck

Jim

George

Robert Burbeck, Owner 1342 N. Lime Ave., Sarasota, FL 34237 (941) 953-3773 • (941) 713-4348 www.sarasotalockandkey.com Bonded and Insured Safes • Locks • Keys • High-security Locks • Multi-lock • Medeco Largest selection of Key Blanks in Area Chamber Member since 1964 Associated Locksmiths of America Safe & Vault Techncians Association www.sarasotarealtors.com

Course Outline: • Rapport, Control and Set-Up Listing Presentation • Uncover emotional motivation and potential stalls. “We have a program for that!”

• Customize a marketing strategy, assume the sale and turn a “I want to try it on my own” into a sale • Overcome more difficult seller stalls • Introduction to Buyer Listing Presentation • Qualify, define and commit before showing property • Buyer prospecting and scripts • Prospecting for sellers • Communicating and demonstrating your value • Closing Motivation • Handout study material Title: The Art of Controlling the Sale Instructor: Kim Dickey Date: July 17, 2013, 9 a.m. to Noon 3 Hours CE Credit--FL CE Course Number: 0010293 Cost: FREE to SAR Members This 3-hour Continuing Education Course is about controlling the “sales process”. You will learn the language that makes a prospect right, smart and want to take action by doing business with you. You will learn how to create urgency, seamlessly embed powerful negotiating ground rules and techniques and understand what goes on in the head of a FSBO. Realtors don’t just help people buy and sell property, they absolutely help change their lives, and with that comes responsibility and the necessity to control the sales process.

This training will further build upon the Power of Relationship Selling and will transform an information giver into a leader.

Course Outline: • Defining Urgency • Building & Maintaining Urgency for Buyers • Building & Maintaining Urgency for Sellers • The technical side of negotiating • 9 Ground rules to negotiating • Deliberate negotiating techniques • Negotiating using the entire sales contract • Negotiating role-play • In the Head of a FSBO • What is a For Sale by Owner thinking?

• Educating past the seller’s Real Estate ignorance • Communicating and demonstrating value

Sarasota Realtor® Magazine

APRIL 2013

25

On the SAR Scene

Final Party on the Porch - A bitter-sweet event

The 33-year-old SAR facility has seen dozens of Realtor and Affiliate member events over the decades, and on March 13th, the final SAR Party on the Porch was held, a bitter-sweet farewell party for the old SAR headquarters as we prepare to pack up and move to the new headquarters at 2320 Cattlemen Road.

Farewell, 3590 South Tuttle Avenue! You have served us well through the many successful years serving the Sarasota real estate community!

Visit SAR on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SarasotaRealtors

Photos by Jesse Sunday

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APRIL 2013

Sarasota Realtor速 Magazine

www.sarasotarealtors.com

By Frederik Heller Realtor® Magazine Editor’s Note: This year, SAR’s focus is on “Raising the Bar” and improving the professionalism of our members. We will be providing monthly educational columns to promote the importance of NAR’s Code of Ethics to our members.

One hundred years have passed since a key document in the Realtor® organization’s history first made its debut. Written in 1913, the Code of Ethics was seen as a declaration of the real estate industry’s principles and beliefs, a “golden thread” uniting those devoted to raising the standards of professionalism and service in real estate.

The Code is a living document that undergoes regular revision to keep it updated and relevant as the real estate industry evolves, so today’s Code of Ethics looks much different from the one that was adopted in 1913. Even so, Realtors® are often surprised to see that the words “Under all is the land,” the familiar opening of the Code’s preamble, are nowhere to be found in the original version.

So where did the preamble come from, and who wrote it?

The Code of Ethics was over a decade old before the preamble was introduced. In 1924, the National Association’s committee assigned with revising and modernizing the Code decided that the rules should have an introduction, and prepared two versions of a preamble for consideration.

The first version, written by A. S. Adams, a Realtor® from Atlanta, GA, took the form of a straightforward personal pledge: “I, a member of the National Association of Real Estate Boards, accept as the primary requirement for engaging in the Real Estate Business that my first duty is to the public whom I propose to serve, and the protection of whose interests must always be my first consideration….”

Adams’ preamble was not nearly as poetic and visionary as the second version presented before the committee. Written by the committee’s chairman, a prominent Realtor® and Presbyterian minister from Tacoma, WA, named Arthur H. Barnhisel, this preamble took a different tack, “setting forth the social responsibility of the association and of the local real estate boards who make up its membership.”

With its inspirational portrayal of the nation’s land and the Realtor®’s role in ensuring its “highest use” and “widest distribution,” Barnhisel’s preamble easily won the committee’s vote. With little debate and only a few minor edits, the preamble was included

www.sarasotarealtors.com

along with several other revisions to the Code that were accepted by the National Association’s Board of Directors at its June 1924 meeting in Washington, DC. As far as we’ve been able to find in the NAR Archives, Barnhisel never explained how he came up with his version of the preamble or revealed his sources Arthur H. Barnhisel, 1924 chair of inspiration of the NAR Ethics Committee, for the language. and author of the Code’s Among Realtors®, preamble. though, the preamble quickly became the Code’s best-known feature and was proudly displayed on the walls and in the windows of real estate offices across the country. By 1943, NAR president Cyrus Crane Willmore declared in a speech before the association’s Board of Directors: “Property ownership is fundamental to our way of life. The first five words of our Code of Ethics should be impressed upon the minds of every man, woman and child in our country.

They are, ‘Under all is the Land.’”

The Code of Ethics was revised again in 1955, and it included, among other changes, a rewritten preamble.

The new preamble tried to preserve the ideals expressed in the original, using modernized language that was more in tune with the post-war 1950s.

Realtors® were largely unhappy with the changes made to their beloved preamble, though, and in 1961 the National Association took steps to return it to its original form as written by Arthur H. Barnhisel.

“A return to this wording is proposed because of its superior phrasing,” explained the report to the Board of Directors.

With the exception of those six years, the preamble remained exactly as Barnhisel wrote it for nearly seven decades. The preamble as we know it today took shape in 1994, when the first six Articles of the Code were incorporated into the preamble, adding paragraphs regarding the Realtor®’s obligation to share their professional knowledge and stressing the importance of maintaining a spirit of cooperation with other real estate professionals.

Sarasota Realtor® Magazine

APRIL 2013

Ethics In Action

What was origin of ‘Under All Is The Land’?

27

It’s Time to Choose Your Course

LEARN - *PMN Course “The Business of Your Business” Cost: $99 includes lunch. *Performance Management Network Designation Course LUNCH ONLY – Networking at noon Lunch served at 1:00pm Cost: 35 per person KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Amy WorthPaul WCR Florida State Chapter President Silent Auction - Chinese Auction Sponsorship Opportunities

By Mary Hellhake WCR President

Once a year, the Women’s Council of Realtors® hosts a District Conference to promote our mission, vision, goals and operating values of the Florida State Chapter of the Women’s Council of Realtors®.

We always invite the Florida State Chapter President to be the keynote speaker. This year, we are privileged to have our own Amy Worth-Paul as our keynote speaker at our huge event, set for Wednesday, May 8th, 2013 at the Visit Our Website: www.

Plantation Golf & Country Club WCRDistrictConference.com in Venice.

Mission of Women’s Council of Amy Worth-Paul We have combined two REALTORS® Districts or seven Chapters all We are a network of successful around the state to participate. It is open to the REALTORS®, empowering women to exercise their public, so don’t miss out. potential as entrepreneurs and industry leaders.

CHOOSE YOUR “COURSE” GOLF – 18 Hole Golf Scramble Cost: $79 per person includes lunch. The Foursome Special - only $300

Our Vision Through our influence as successful business professionals, women will effect positive change in the profession and in the broader community.

2013 Leadership Team

28

Mary Hellhake President Michael Saunders & Company Cell: 941-544-0763 maryhellhake@michaelsaunders.com

Peter Salefsky Membership Michael Saunders & Company Phone: 941-924-5107 petersalefsky@mihaelsaunders.com

Susan Phelps President-Elect Cristello and Company RE Cell: 941-726-2227 sarasotasuze@gmail.com

Carrie Starr-Rummery Treasurer Starr Title Insurance Phone: 941-365-7827 carrie@starrtitle.net

Catherine Lamphier Vice-President Membership Michael Saunders & Company Cell: 941-400-4219 catherinelamphier@michaelsaunders.com

Tim Calpin Recording Secretary BMO Harris Phone: 941-363-2237 tim.calpin@BMO.com

APRIL 2013

Sarasota Realtor® Magazine

Kristin Triolo Corresponding Secretary Florida Homes eBroker Phone: 941-725-2486 kristintriolo@floridahomesebroker.com

www.sarasotarealtors.com

om

SARgeant is new, unofficial mascot for Association Meet SARgeant, a 14-month-old puppy now in training to become a guide dog. SAR members contributed funds over the past few years to the Southeastern Guide Dogs organization to their Paws for Patriots Program.

The contributions recently reached the $3,500+ “Visionary” level, which allowed our organization to sponsor (and name) a new puppy for the program.

Sally Rackey, SAR member and agent with RE/MAX Platinum Realty, has spearheaded the fundraising effort, and brought the new puppy to SAR during a recent MLS Express meeting. Needless to say, SARgeant was the hit of the party!

The Paws for Patriots Program was created because generations of veterans have sacrificially served our country. They leave family, train tough, and survive extreme conditions. Some endure explosions and injuries, and many have lost their vision or suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress. This program serves active duty soldiers and retired servicemen and women with the respect and dignity they deserve. Veterans have served for freedom’s sake, and now they deserve the freedom to navigate with heads high and renewed confidence.

Guide dogs are trained and then paired with visually impaired veterans, those suffering from PTSD, and also placed in military hospitals as therapy dogs to spread cheer and encouragement. We wish SARgeant all the best in his future work!

TECHNOLOGY From Page 6 mobile phone into a personal safety device. The apps can give real estate agents an extra measure of protection when they show homes and apartments.

AgentAlarm sends text messages and emails to emergency contacts, and it calls 911 within 10 seconds of the alert being activated. A PIN number chosen by the user can be entered to cancel a false alarm or acknowledge that an agent is safe if she schedules a regular safety check-in. The user controls safety check-ins, scheduling them for a specific time, date and frequency. The app is free for both iPhone and Android devices.

- AgentsArmor is another free download available for iPhone, Android and iPads. It also features a customized PIN and regular check-in times, from every 15 minutes to every two hours. If a user fails to check in or hits the alert, the GPS feature can track a location and deliver it to emergency contacts, law enforcement officials or an agent’s colleagues.

- Samsung is rumored to be testing “flexible screens” for tablets, phones and other devices for 2014 release. The technology, first shown at the 2013 International CES gadget show is considered by many to be a gamechanger, and might allow users to actually fold up their phone or tablet and carry it in their pocket or purse.

- In addition to the new stuff, existing technology is always being revamped and revised, with the goal of helping Realtors® achieve more efficiency and productivity. Check www.realtor.org for the latest, greatest tools and tips. Also, check out the new Realtor.com - it’s where many of your www.sarasotarealtors.com

SARgeant

clients will be seeking real estate, so you should see where they start in order to help stay ahead of the curve.

Clearly, the next few months hold many exciting and interesting advances for real estate professionals, and the average technology consumers.

What will become the next revolutionary product? What will be the operating system of choice? Is something else about to be revealed that will overtake the industry and force everyone to reinvent their business yet again? The future is unwritten, so we’ll have to wait and see what’s around the corner.

Free Tech Support

Whatever the future holds, you can be certain of one thing. Florida Realtors® continues to provide the Tech Helpline, available to answer members’ questions Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Just call 407.587.1450 and have your membership information handy (either your FREC license number or NRDS number). Or you can access this free service via email for computer support questions or chat for live computer support.

Also, ensure the Technology Helpline is just a click away: Download the new desktop widget for computer support and tech help. Just visit www.floridarealtors.org Realtors® are always on the leading edge of each technological revolution, and with so much innovation and change on the way, the future looks bright.

Sarasota Realtor® Magazine

APRIL 2013

29

Membership News

The Association is pleased to welcome new members!

Designated Realtors®

Jonas, Michael: Gulf Coast Executive Realty Kukie, Wade: Sarasota Realty Ormsby, Philip: Cabana Real Estate, LLC Schafer, Janette: Florida Elite Homes Inc. Wharton, Jeremy: Revolution Real Estate LLC

New Members

Abrams, Jonathan: Michael Saunders & Company Andrews, Robert: Keller Williams Lakewood Ranch Andrews, Kerry: Keller Williams Lakewood Ranch Applegate, Diane: Keller Williams Lakewood Ranch Blumberg Cohn, Laura: Exit King Realty Bonaccorso, Grace: Horizon Realty International Booker, James “Tony”: RE/MAX Platinum Realty Calderaro, Diane: RE/MAX Alliance Group Cole, Susan: Charles Rutenberg Realty Cooper, Lisa: Exit King Realty Cordial, Kathleen: ERA Waterside Realty Corr, Howard: Coldwell Banker Commercial NRT Curry, Edward: Atchley International Realty Curtin, Mark: Prudential Elite Realty Svcs Curtis, Jessica: Kelly Gettel & Company PLLC Davis, Karen: Sarasota Premier Properties Deacon, Robert: Coldwell Banker Res R E Delaney-Quillen, Mary: Michael Saunders & Company Franzetti, Paul: Lemon Bay Realty Geldbart, Barbara: Partners Realty of Sarasota Hampton, Derin: ELITE Properties LLC Hanson, Peter: RE/MAX Alliance Group Harding, Ian: Keller Williams Lakewood Ranch Hartmann, Gabriel: RE/MAX Platinum Realty Hawkinberry, Kristin: Market America Realty & Invest Hirsch, Robin: Keller Williams Lakewood Ranch Janz-Wecke, Marianna: Harry Robbins Assoc Inc. Jean, Cindy: Ian Black Real Estate LLC Kaszuba, Austin: Generous Property Kleppinger, Keith: Coldwell Banker Res R E Kleppinger, Jacqueline: Michael Saunders & Company Lyons, Diane: Michael Saunders & Company Mascolino, Debra: Deluca Realty Inc. McDonald, Luz: Keller Williams Lakewood Ranch McMillan, Robert: RE/MAX Platinum Realty Mei, Nicole: Michael Saunders & Company Mickey, Juliet: Horizon Realty International Munchel, Richard: Sunset Realty Nidetz, Rose: Atchley International Realty Olmsted, John: Hook & Ladder Realty Inc. Papineau, Lois: Sunset Realty Rainone Gabriel, Cherylann: Horizon Realty International Renta, Tina: Coldwell Banker Res R E Rosen, Leni: TownCenter Realty Roy, Marta: Michael Saunders & Company Schwabe, Camille: Michael Saunders & Company Snider, Mark: Keller Williams Lakewood Ranch Sokol, Robert: RE/MAX Platinum Realty Stepien, Rafal: Coldwell Banker Res R E Weny, Majda: Charity & Weiss Int’l Realty

Now With ...

Alley, Peta: Keller Williams on the Water Carver, E Rian: Coldwell Banker Res R E Coppinger, Daniel: Blakeley & Associates Realty Couch, Theresa: Cabana Real Estate, LLC

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APRIL 2013

Dean, Paige: Sandals Realty of Sarasota Donnelly, Kandace: Michael Saunders & Company Emmett, Patricia: Prudential Elite Realty Svcs Fulwider, Laura Chasey: Allison James Estates & Homes Garrabrant, Susan: JT Properties of Sarasota Inc George, Rozalia: Florida Elite Homes Inc Hales, Cynthia: Michael Saunders & Company Hertel, Michael: Allison James Estates & Homes Hilding, Lori: Exit King Realty Jones, Timothy: Charles Rutenberg Realty Jones, Sheila: Charles Rutenberg Realty Kessler, Erin: Keller Williams On The Water Lord, Diana: Keller Williams Lakewood Ranch Merrill, Dawn: Neal Communities Realty Inc Paquette, Bruce: Charles Rutenberg Realty Pekarek, Benjamin: Rock-N-Realty Peterson, Paula: Johnston Realty of Sarasota Robinson, Tonna: Kelly Gettel & Company PLLC Scherden, John: Sandals Realty of Sarasota Schultz, Ruth: Atchley International Realty Sharp, Lemuel: Banzhaf & Associates Inc Shaw, Stephanie: Premier Sothebys Internat’l Silverman, Joshua: Caballero Realty Services Trevino, Kathleen: Eslinger Realty Inc Weiss, Douglas: Charles Rutenberg Realty Whalen, Stephen: Sandals Realty of Sarasota White, John: Charles Rutenberg Realty Williams, Barbara: Keller Williams On The Water

New Affiliates

Atlantic Relocation Systems

6314 31st Street East Sarasota, FL 34243 Phone Number: 941-758-3844 Representative: John Savage Specialty: Sarasota Movers – Commercial and Residential Moving Company Serving the Sarasota Area: Atlantic Relocation Systems is the Sarasota mover that has been recognized as Small Business of the Year by the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. We earned this distinction through our unwavering dedication to exceeding our customers’ expectations for moving and storage services. Since 1984, we have been the Sarasota movers who have provided area residents and businesses with moving crews that are highly trained in the proper and secure packing, transporting, and unpacking of furniture, specialized equipment, and belongings of any kind. In addition, our 33,000-square-foot storage facility has some of the most advanced features, like 24-hour surveillance equipment and computerized inventory management systems, to ensure your belongings are accounted for and protected.

Email: sarasota-moving@atlanticrelocation.com

Daniel Graue Inc

1056 Citrus Avenue Sarasota, FL 34236 Phone Number: 941-374-0389 Representative: Daniel Graue Specialty: When you work with Daniel Graue Inc, you’ll have a world of options from which to choose. From smaller renovations to complete overhauls, we’re equipped to handle it all. Choose us for your home remodeling project, and we’ll take the time to understand your needs and goals. From there, we’ll work to come up with

Sarasota Realtor® Magazine

www.sarasotarealtors.com

creative, cost-effective solutions for transforming your home into the space you’ve always wanted it to be. Daniel Graue Inc. has been a general contractor in Sarasota, FL since 1999.

Licenses include Certified Building Contractor specializing in remodeling.

Email: dangraue@comcast.net

Heritage Properties

8374 Market Street #476 Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 Phone Number: 701-741-5244 Representative: Brian T Briggs Specialty: Real estate investment company specializing in multifamily and commercial development and operation. New to the Sarasota area after operating in North Dakota for the last 25 years - now loving the sunshine and warm weather!

Email: debbie.briggs@comcast.net

Homewood Suites

3470 Fruitville Road Sarasota, FL 34237 Phone Number: 941-365-7300 Representative: Sharon Byrwa Specialty: A warm welcome to Sarasota awaits at Homewood Suites by Hilton® Sarasota. Located close to I-75 and a short drive from downtown Sarasota, Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport and world-class beaches, this all-suite hotel is the perfect base for short vacations and extended stay trips to Sarasota, Florida. Enjoy complimentary high-speed internet access at this all-suite Sarasota, FL hotel, and a choice of spacious studios and one-bedroom apartment-style suites, each with its own separate living and sleeping areas, a fully equipped kitchen and two TVs with premium cable channels.

Relax by the outdoor pool after a long day, or unwind in the hot tub. Enjoy a morning workout or invigorate at the end of a day’s work or sightseeing in the fitness center. Enjoy four holes of golf with friends and colleagues at this all-suite hotel in Sarasota, FL. At our hotel, you’ll enjoy a range of inclusive perks to help you feel right at home. Indulge in a hot full breakfast each morning and evening dinner and drinks* Monday through Thursday. We offer a complimentary grocery shopping service—and if you forget something, there’s a 24-hour onsite convenience store. Other benefits include newspaper delivery every weekday. It’s all you need to make yourself at home.

Email: Sharon.byrwa@hilton.com

Jackson, DeJongh & Associates

238 E. Davis Blvd. Suite 215 Tampa, FL 33606 Phone Number: 813-250-2888 Representative: Jeff DeJongh Specialty: Jackson, DeJongh & Associates is a property and casualty insurance agency committed to providing quality coverage to our clients, focusing on Homeowners and Professional Liability (E&O) insurance. The single most important aspect of our agency is client satisfaction.

We are dedicated to our clients to provide superior service by demonstrating the utmost professionalism, integrity and responsiveness. Our agency represents many reputable insurance providers so that our clients can count on us to guide them in selecting the best possible insurance coverage to meet their needs. Our agency is committed to being a trusted advisor to our clients by providing insurance solutions to families and small businesses in our community.

Email: jdejongh@jacksondejongh.com

www.sarasotarealtors.com

Pillar To Post

2970 Siesta Drive Venice, FL 34293 Phone Number: 941-716-0261 Representative: Steve Williamson Specialty: As a premier local home inspector service in the Sarasota area we assist home buyers, home sellers, and real estate professionals in numerous ways. Pillar To Post offers a high quality home inspection by Steve Williamson. We offer a home inspection that is both thorough and comprehensive and service that is highly personable. For your convenience, we offer flexible scheduling service. Every home inspection that we perform includes an unbiased and extremely detailed report which includes color photos. This report is printed on site before the inspector leaves-a unique service in the industry. Home Inspection Specialists In The Community.

We have the knowledge needed to inspect all types of homes and residential structures in the Sarasota area. This includes: Condominiums, Single family homes, Townhomes, Mansions, Estates, Manufactured homes in every size and price range, Older homes and Historic residences.

Email: swilliamson@pillartopost.com

RMS-Residential Maintenance Solutions

3737 Mundy Ridge Drive Sarasota, FL 34233 Phone Number: 941-584-4545 Representative: John Pollock Specialty: Residential Maintenance Solutions (RMS) proudly continues to offer our 20+ years of trusted service in minor repairs, remodeling, and home service programs. Our proven record in customer satisfaction and business processes has made us the number one choice for repair services in the Fort Myers, Naples, Marco Island, and Sarasota areas. At Residential Maintenance Solutions, we respond to your needs quickly. Call us, and we will call you back within 24 hours with answers to your questions. We will provide a fast and accurate estimate based on our many years of experience. We consistently monitor the quality of work as well as customer satisfaction so that we can continue to improve our processes, passing cost savings to our customers. At Residential Maintenance Solutions, you get the best quality at the best price! We not only offer competitive pricing, but back up our work with a satisfaction guarantee from start to finish. We’re not happy until you are happy!

Email: JPollock@rms-florida.com www.rms-florida.com

Ted Todd Insurance

5262 University Parkway #107 Sarasota, FL 34201 Phone Number: 941-371-6600 Representative: Tonya Atchison Specialty: Allstate independent agency. We sell a wide variety of insurance products from property and casualty, business and commercial, and life and retirement policies, covering homes, businesses, condos, renters, autos, motorcycles, boats, ATVs, right on through personal policies for life and health, as well as investment vehicles. Every single person at Ted Todd Insurance is focused squarely on the customer. Client conversations are needs based and consultative. More than 50% of our business comes from referrals from satisfied customers. We hire exceptional, college educated people and compensate them 25-35% more than other agencies to get top talent and keep them. Every employee is salaried (not commissioned), licensed to sell insurance, and empowered to do the right thing for the client. Managers work collaboratively as a cohesive team, as though it was their own business.

Email: TonyaAtchison@allstate.com

Sarasota Realtor® Magazine

APRIL 2013

31

E DUCATION & E VENTS C ALENDAR Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

April 1

2

3

4

5

8

9

10

11

12

9 a.m.

Fusion Training 12 p.m.

Fusion Training 2:30 p.m.

Fusion Training

9 a.m.

Fusion Training 12 p.m.

Fusion Training 2:30 p.m.

Fusion Training

9 a.m. Orientation 9 a.m. Fusion Training 12 p.m. Fusion Training 1 p.m. Code of Ethics 2:30 p.m. Fusion Training

9 a.m. Fusion Training 12 p.m. Fusion Training 2:30 p.m. Fusion Training 5 p.m. Sales Associate Pre-License Class

7:30 a.m.

Toastmasters 9 a.m.

Emerging Leaders

8 a.m.

MLS Express (UPCC) 9 a.m. MLS Basic 1 p.m. Compliance 101 3 p.m. Adding & Modifying Listings 8 a.m.

MLS Express (SAR) 5 p.m. Sales Associate Pre-License Class

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID MANASOTA, FL PERMIT NO. 451

APRIL 2013

9 a.m.

CID Commercial Marketplace

9 a.m.

CID Commercial Marketplace

Great American Realtor® Days—Tallahassee

15

16

17

18

19

22 SAR Moved !

2320 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota FL 34232 8 a.m.

GRI 200 Series

23

24

25

26

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30 8 a.m.

GRI 200 Series 5:00 p.m. Sales Associate PreLicense Class

May 1

2

3

8 a.m.

GRI 200 Series

9 a.m.

CID General Membership 5:00 p.m. Sales Associate PreLicense Class

7:30 a.m. Toastmasters 9 a.m. Emerging Leaders 9 a.m. MLXchange Basic 1 p.m. Compliance 2 p.m. Global Seminar 3:30 p.m. Adding & Modifying Listings

8 a.m.

GRI 200 Series 5 p.m. Affiliates After Hours Networking (Gecko’s on Hillview) 5:00 p.m. Sales Associate PreLicense Class

8 a.m.

MLS Express (SAR) 5:00 p.m. Sales Associate PreLicense Class

9 a.m.

CID Commercial Marketplace (MAR) SAR Closed for Moving Day

8 a.m.

9 a.m.

MLS Express CID Commercial (SAR) Marketplace 5:00 p.m. Sales Associate PreLicense Class

7:30 a.m. Toastmasters 9 a.m. Emerging Leaders 9 a.m. MLXchange Basic 1 p.m. Compliance 2 p.m. Global Seminar 3:30 p.m. Adding & Modify-

8 a.m. MLS Express (UPCC) 9 a.m. Fusion Training 12 p.m. Fusion Training 2:30 p.m. Fusion Training 5:00 p.m. Sales Associate Pre-License Class

9 a.m.

CID Commercial Marketplace

Note: All events/classes are at SAR, except where noted

My Florida Regional MLS Training

The My Florida Regional MLS training classes are offered at no cost to MLS participants. Classes are HANDS-ON in the SAR Tech Center. Please register for all MLS classes at the MFRMLS website: http://mfrmls.com.

Click on “Register for Class” on the home page under the heading “Membership Director.”

Sarasota Association of Realtors®, Inc. 3590 S. Tuttle Ave. Sarasota, FL 34239

9 a.m.

Fusion Training 12 p.m.

Fusion Training 2:30 p.m.

Fusion Training

10.0 9.0 8.0 7.0 6.0 5.0 4.0 3.0 2.0 1.0 0.0 Feb‐12

Mar‐12

Apr‐12 May‐12

Jun‐12

Jul‐12

Aug‐12

Sep‐12

Days on Market 250

Oct‐12

Nov‐12

Dec‐12

Jan‐13

Feb‐13

Single Family Condo

200 150 100 50 0 Feb‐12

Mar‐12

Apr‐12

May‐12

Jun‐12

Jul‐12

Aug‐12

Sep‐12

Oct‐12

Nov‐12

Dec‐12

Jan‐13

Feb‐13

Single Family

Sales Volume

Condo

$250,000,000 $200,000,000 $150,000,000 $100,000,000 $50,000,000 $0 Feb‐12 Mar‐12 Apr‐12 May‐12 Jun‐12

Jul‐12 Aug‐12 Sep‐12 Oct‐12 Nov‐12 Dec‐12 Jan‐13 Feb‐13

New Listings

Single Family Condo

1,200 1,000 800 600

Sarasota Association of Realtors® MLS

400 200 0 Feb‐12

Mar‐12

Apr‐12

May‐12

Jun‐12

Jul‐12

Aug‐12

Sep‐12

Oct‐12

Nov‐12

Dec‐12

Jan‐13

Feb‐13

The Xtra Pages - Digital Version Only

Single Family Condo

Months of Inventory

Fourth Quarter 2012 Report Single Family Sales ‐ By Quarter

REO

Short

Market

1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 2010‐Q2*

2010‐Q3

2010‐Q4

2011‐Q1

2011‐Q2

2011‐Q3

2011‐Q4

2012‐Q1

Condo Sales ‐ By Quarter

2012‐Q2

REO

2012‐Q3

Short

2012‐Q4

Market

700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 2010‐Q2*

2010‐Q3

2010‐Q4

2011‐Q1

2011‐Q2

2011‐Q3

2011‐Q4

Single Family Median Sale Price

2012‐Q1

2012‐Q2

2012‐Q3

REO

Short

Market

2012‐Q4

$300,000 $250,000 $200,000 $150,000 $100,000 $50,000 $0 2010‐Q2

2010‐Q3

2010‐Q4

2011‐Q1

2011‐Q2

2011‐Q3

2011‐Q4

Condo Median Sale Price

2012‐Q1

REO

2012‐Q2

Short

2012‐Q3

2012‐Q4

Market

$300,000 $250,000

Source: Sarasota Association of Realtors®

$200,000 $150,000 $100,000 $50,000 $0 2010‐Q2

2010‐Q3

2010‐Q4

2011‐Q1

2011‐Q2

2011‐Q3

2011‐Q4

2012‐Q1

2012‐Q2

2012‐Q3

2012‐Q4

Single Family Condo

REO Sales ‐ By Quarter 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 2010‐Q2*

2010‐Q3

2010‐Q4

2011‐Q1

2011‐Q2

2011‐Q3

2011‐Q4

2012‐Q1

2012‐Q2

2012‐Q3

2012‐Q4

Single Family

Short Sales ‐ By Quarter

Condo

400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 2010‐Q2* 2010‐Q3

2010‐Q4

2011‐Q1

2011‐Q2

2011‐Q3

2011‐Q4

2012‐Q1

2012‐Q2

2012‐Q3

2012‐Q4

Single Family Condo

Market Sales ‐ By Quarter 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 2010‐Q2* 2010‐Q3

2010‐Q4

2011‐Q1

2011‐Q2

2011‐Q3

2011‐Q4

2012‐Q1

2012‐Q2

2012‐Q3

2012‐Q4

Source: Sarasota Association of Realtors®

Annual Sales ‐ 2000 to 2012 Single Family

Condo

Total

11267 10562 9697 8224

8167 7036

6533

9,179 7603

7,596 6,841

6,504

6358

5,603 4,940

4,349

4,353 3,193

2,184

2,096

3,671

3,721

2,564

2,005

6739 6042

5820 4,626

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

5,466

5,938

3,922

2,120 1,194

2000

5,183

6,570

2007

2008

1,556

2009

2,137

2,286

2010

2011

2,599

2012

Annual Median Sale Price ‐ 2000 to 2012 $400,000 $350,000 $300,000 $250,000 $200,000 $150,000 $100,000 $50,000 $0

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Single Family $132,300 $172,500 $191,000 $226,000 $272,500 $351,000 $342,000 $303,000 $230,000 $160,000 $163,000 $155,925 $175,000 Condo

$142,000 $145,000 $173,000 $191,000 $225,000 $305,000 $301,225 $336,250 $320,000 $210,000 $163,000 $156,800 $175,000