Recently, The Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc. Announced Third Quarter 2009 Winners For The State Of Florida.  The Jim Soda Group, sales professionals in Prudential Palms Lakewood Ranch office, placed 2nd in the state.

"We are so proud of these award winners who placed in the top 3 for the state of Florida, it is a terrific honor. We are especially excited that this is a strong indication that Sarasota is bouncing back in the real estate marketplace, says Helen Sosso, CEO of Prudential Palms Realty."

On the Today Show, Barbara Corcoran named Sarasota the number one place in the nation to buy a home right now.

It looks like Lakewood Ranch Home Sales are on an upward trend. These latest home sales in Lakewood Ranch are an indication of the recovery of the real estate market here and in most of Western Florida.

But remember that Real Estate is a very local phenomena and improvement and sales can differ from street to street. Recent sales include: 257 homes sold in the Lakewood Ranch zip code 34202 from Jan. 1, 2009 through Aug. 31, 2009. Interestingly, of those homes, 15% were sold at or above their listing price.  Suggesting current home prices are at or below market value.

If you're looking to purchase a home in Lakewood Ranch please use my search feature. Click here to start. It's easy and even has an advanced feature if you need more specific search categories.

Jim Soda of Prudential Palms Realty was honored with the prestigious Legend Award by Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services, Inc., a Prudential Financial, Inc. [NYSE:PRU] company.

The award goes to top producers who have won the Chairman's Circle Award, which represents the top two percent of the Prudential Network, (five/10/15/20) times during their association with Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services, Inc.

"Achieving record sales year after year is not an easy feat; Jim Soda and The Jim Soda Group has repeatedly been a top producer within the Sarasota- Bradenton (Lakewood Ranch) Florida area and has been a Chairman Circle Award winner every year. Jim has been able to build a successful business because of his strong work ethic, high ethical standards, and exemplary customer service. We are thrilled that Jim and The Jim Soda Group are part of our team," said Helen Sosso, CEO of Prudential Palms Realty.

Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services is Prudential's integrated real estate brokerage franchise and relocation services business. Prudential Real Estate franchises are independently owned and operated. Companies are selected based upon outstanding performance records, high levels of customer service and shared business values with those of Prudential. Prudential Real Estate provides franchises with business strategies using Operation Reviews as well as numerous benefits, including access to the Online Seller AdvantageSM program designed to provide real-time information to sellers with the touch of a keystroke. Prudential Real Estate is one of the largest real estate brokerage franchise networks in North America, with nearly 1,940 franchise offices and approximately 62,000 sales professionals in the franchise Network as of December 31, 2008.

One question I have been asked over and over is "What is a CDD or Community Development District"?  Having lived and sold real estate in Lakewood Ranch, Florida since this area was first developed I can certainly see the benefits.  Here is an explanation that may help you if you are looking to buy a home in Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, Sarasota or anywhere in Western Florida that has this type of tax district.

 
A Community Development District or CDD is a special tax district that has been established (Chapter 190 of Florida Statutes)  to create a community with a higher level of amenities within an area/district and to maintain them to a level or standard of a specific developer had established. It help pays for design, construction, aquisition, operation and/or to maintain facilities and systems such as storm drainage, road improvements, management of wetlands areas, water mains and sewers, common areas and buffer zones, non potable/reclaimed water irrigation systems, gates and guard stations, and public parks/recreational areas.

These bonded improvements of a certain CDD are usually amortized over a 30 year period and can be paid off at any time.  An ongoing aspect of these CDD's is an Operations and Maintenance fee that will be an aplide and voted on by District Govenors with input by the voting members of your Community Development District.

If you have any more specific questions please give me a call or email me at 941.809.7759 or contact us via e-mail.

In affiliation with the Suncoast Super Boat Grand Prix Festival, join Main Street at Lakewood Ranch in welcoming Captain Keith Colburn of the fishing vessel Wizard, as featured on Discovery Channel's No. 1 television series, "Deadliest Catch," Wednesday, July 1, 2009, 6 - 9 p.m. The street event is free. Race boats will be on display, and there will be live entertainment by Rye Road Band and activities for the entire family on Main Street.

In every crisis there is opportunity. For first-time home buyers, retirees, investors and anyone looking for a bargain, the foreclosure crisis presents a rare opportunity.

Despite the recent drop in foreclosure activity, Florida still had the fourth highest foreclosure rate in the United States in the first quarter of 2009 and second highest rate for foreclosure filings, according to RealtyTrac. Another wave of foreclosures is expected to start in May, when many adjustable-rate mortgages on homes purchased during the boom will see their first rate adjustments.

Buying a foreclosured property requires patience, tenacity and a lot of homework. If you're game, it's important to find a Realtor who has experience with foreclosures. The Jim Soda Group can help you locate foreclosed properties, determine their market value and guide you through this complicated process.

When buying a foreclosure, inspections are critical. Spend extra money for inspections, including mold, air conditioning systems, pools and spas. Review with property inspectors and get estimates for repairs. Be very pro-active because the lender's addendum takes precedence over the contract once the price is accepted.

You can buy a foreclosure during any of the three stages of the foreclosure process - pre-foreclosure, auction and bank-owned.

Pre-Foreclosure. More experienced buyers may consider buying the house during the pre-foreclosure period after the owner has defaulted but before the bank has taken ownership of the house. The owner has the right to sell the property during this time as long as the loan is paid off at closing. If the seller is upside down on the mortgage, the lender may agree to a "short sale." That means the lender will accept less than the balance owed on the mortgage.

Auction. If the foreclosure does go through, the property is publicly auctioned on the county courthouse steps in what is often a crazy, zoo-like atmosphere. If you win the bid, you should be prepared to make a substantial deposit or pay the entire amount on the spot. Due diligence is required because the property is sold "as is." You may have to deal with a family that is still living there, or the house may be in serious disrepair, not to mention that second mortgage no one told you about. You may also have trouble obtaining clear title because tax liens are not wiped out by foreclosure. Buying at auction is risky and not for the faint of heart.

Bank-Owned Property. If the property fails to sell at auction, the lender may try to sell it on the open market, sometimes listing the property with a Realtor. This is by far the safest way to buy a foreclosure. There are no back taxes or liens to pay off, and no tenants to evict. Homes purchased this way also typically include title insurance.

New Construction. Did you know that some foreclosures are newly built homes? If a builder defaults on his construction loan, the lender may take possession of the homes and sell them on the open market. Because these homes rarely appear on lists of foreclosed properties, and because no one refers to these homes as foreclosures, finding them is not easy. But with lots of research and the right Realtor, this could be a great opportunity for you.

Click here for a property listings which are designated as either "bank-owned" or "in foreclosure" for Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota in the Mid-Florida Regional MLS.

This article is intended to inform readers, but does not constitute any financial or legal advice.

With an integrated blog and enhanced community and home search capabilities, the new JimSoda.com is ready to help you find your dream home in the Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, and Longboat Key area. We are your gateway to the Southwest Florida Lifestyle! Thank you for visiting!

We're under construction and working hard to improve and add to the user experience, so please check back often in the coming weeks as our new home on the internet takes shape.