Will It Ever Get Better?

Our economy seems to be sinking faster and faster. Is there any hope of recovery? South West Florida is down 12% in the housing market with the nation being 7% down. Being above the national average brings even more stress to our local economy. So when and how will there be a change upward?

There are signs to show that by the end of 2008 we should be seeing a sign of the turn. Excess building accounts for a lot of the local problem here in Lee county as well as of course the banking mess. With the interest rates dropping that will create a demand in the market that will help the turn around. So if this is the case, what can we do to survive for the next 12 months or so?

For us Real Estate Professionals, we need to "get back to the basics". Now more than ever is the time to focus on customer service like no other time. Additionally we need to downsize our operations and stay in the game. Real Estate professionals are dropping out like flys. If we remain steadfast, we will be here to accept the business as it comes in first in the dribbles and then the flow will come back and we need to be ready and know the market trends as they change.

I personally look at this time as a time of challange and refuse to give up or in and will be here to help those looking for homes to buy and sell now and for many years to come.

How Many Homes for Sale in Lehigh Today

Snapshot of Lehigh Acres for today:

2714 homes/condos for sale in Lehigh Acres through the MLS system.

Average Days on Market: 117

Average sale price: $213,645

Average sq ft: 1592

Average breakdown is: 3 bedroom, 2 bath

Remember this does not include the "for sale by owners". If you are in the market to buy, this certainly is the place with an approx .067 of the homes in Lehigh Acres are on the market through the MLS service.

This is a lot to sort through. Now more than ever, you really need a Realtor to help you weed out the really great homes that meet all your needs, wants and desires. Call us today or check out our website at www.aaarealtyllc.com

Police try to save a Mannaquin

I just read about an incident in Auburn WA that left me laughing this morning so I thought I would share it with you.

A police officer saw what he thought was an ill person as a passenger in a vehicle traveling in an HOV lane. Because of his concern, he pulled the car over and the person driving as a passenger was not a person at all but instead was a mannequin. The driver was using this unsuspecting retired from Macy's doll as his passenger so he could drive on the HOV lane. Well the driver got what the officer thought he had coming- a ticket for driving in the HOV lane. I personally thought the guy should get off with a warning just for being so creative but who am I.

So for any of you thinking about trying something like this, don't do it or maybe just use make-up so the mannequin doesn't look ill.

Are you facing Foreclosure?

We have seen a huge increase of foreclosures in our market here in South West Florida. Cape Coral being the number 1 and Lehigh Acres close behind. What is the cause of all these foreclosures. In most cases people owe more than the house is worth now that prices have dropped. These people most likely financed with 100% loans with a 3/1 arm. The prices have gone up because of the arm and now they can't afford the new payments. When originally getting these loans the thought was; I will refinance before the rate goes up. It was a great thought but no one knew that prices would drop and it would be impossible to refinance when you owe more than the house is worth. Very sad situation.

Is there any help? There are some avenues that you can try if you find yourself in this situation. We will cover them breifly here but we encourage you to contact us for more information to see if your situation could be handled within the terms we discuss.

1. You can talk to your lender and explain the situation to them and show them how you cannot afford the payment but would like to see if they can reduce the interest rate. This has been done but in most cases, don't count on it. It is a long shot.
2. You can hire a specialist in dealing with these situations (some real estate brokers or realtors may handle these) and let them work out a plan to try and get your lender to either do as #1 suggests or a short sale or deed in leu of foreclosure. Please understand that there is no guarantees with trying this method but your chances are much greater when you use these specialists. They know what the lenders want to know and how to present it to them. The only drawback is this is not done for free. You are already in a negative financial situation and you have to spend money here ( usually from $500-1,500) and there is no guarantee it will work. You have the most chance using these specialists but you have to be able to pay the fees that go along with it.

If you feel like you want to pursue one on these avenues with us, you can contact us for a free phone consultation. Call us at 239-368-8520 for more information. Also check us out at our website at www.aaarealtyllc.com

School Scores In

I was surprised by the 2007 rankings of of schools in Lehigh Acres. I have listed them below for your convenience.

Lehigh Elementary School - B
Sunshine Elementary- A
Veteran's Park Elementary- A
Mirror Lakes Elementary - B
Gateway Elementary - A
Gateway Charter School - A

We are pretty impressed with the scores for Lehigh's Elementary schools. I think that it shows a great improvement in some schools and a continued greatness in others. You really can't go wrong in any of these schools as even a B is a good school. Way To Go Lehigh. Keep up the good work!

Schools almost back in session

If you have school aged children, now is the time to start preparing for the August 20th starting date. If uniforms are needed, Walmart is a great choice to buy them. They stock a huge inventory of the generic uniforms needed in Lehigh Acres Schools. Also if you go to Walmart you can get the list of your schools supply list for your child's school and grade. Then you can get those supplies right there. One stop shop for all your back to school needs.

The kids look forward to summer vacation but after the long weeks of "nothing to do" they are excited to get back in most cases. Each school has an open house prior to school start date and this is usually announced through an invitation in the mail. If you forgot or did not get one, you can google their school name and find their web site. It will be listed there.

My only advice is to shop early and don't stress yourselves by waiting until the last minute for back to school uniforms and supplies. You and your body will be happy not to put that extra stress on yourself.

Happy Shopping

Foreclosure on the Forefront?

If you are facing a Foreclosure, you are not alone. Statistics show that another 2.5 millions homeowners will default over the next two years. So if this is where you find yourself or may be heading towards, we want to try and help. AAA Realty LLC is conducting a first time homeowner monthly seminar and we have rearranged it to include how you might be able to save your home and what options may be available to try and save it and if you feel there is no other option, what you can do to try and salvage your credit.

Get in on our next seminar by going to our website at www.aaarealtyllc.com and click on monthly seminar and sign up. It's free and if nothing else you will be able to be more informed of your options.

It's always important to be proactive.