Among the numerous reports I study each month is one published by my own association, the REALTORS® Confidence Index (RCI). The report combines market analysis with responses from surveyed agents in the field. If you’re interested in the dry details of the housing market you may find it interesting.
The RCI for May 2013 was recently released, and you can read it or download it below. Summary highlights Continue reading
I had lived in Florida for a few years and moved back to Ohio. I decided I wanted to buy a vacation condo in the St Pete Beach area; I contacted many agents who never responded to my left messages or they promised they would get back to me and never did. Luckily I finally found someone to show me 2 condos while I was on vacation and I bought one of them. I absolutely loved the area but …read more of this review →
To whom it may concern,
I have never had this happen before with a realtor so I want to share my extraordinary experience buying my property with the help of my realtor, Stephanie Passman.
It began around April of 2012 and she was on the listing of one of the properties I was interested in. Long story short, I was looking for a great deal and so I started looking at short sales and foreclosures. We must have looked at least 10 to 15 properties of all price ranges from 35000 to 350000. Through all this she never wavered on her dedication, never got tired of looking at properties, and would always give her opinion good or bad on what she thought of the property with sincerity and honesty. I have rarely in my many years of buying properties had a realtor tell me not to buy something I looked at. It was the first time I felt like …read more of this review →
I found Stephanie through realtor.com by chance. I am so glad that I did find her, because she helped us find the house of our dreams! Stephanie was always available even when she was on vacation with her husband. She organized a house showing for us while she was out of town. Stephanie helped us set the MLS search to narrow down the houses in the St. Petersburg area to our liking. When our house popped up I called her the next morning and she arranged a showing that …read more of this review →
I just received this testimonial from a highly satisfied client and wanted to share it.
I first met Stephanie Passman through her neighbor at a point in my life when I was in a big transition, both personally and professionally. I needed to find a house I could call home but was not really sure what I wanted or where I wanted to live. Stephanie helped answer those questions and I am deeply indebted to her for her help.
My first impression of Stephanie was she seemed like a good negotiator and someone who could handle …read more of this review →
Realtors across the country have an upbeat view for this year, expecting strong buyer demand and improving prices to continue, amid tight inventory and generally restrictive credit conditions, as well as unrealistically conservative appraisals. The national picture presented in the full RCI report …read more about the Florida housing market →
Here’s a glowing review from a client I recently helped. I love my profession but it truly makes the job worthwhile to get this kind of positive feedback.
I never write “testimonials” but I am compelled to write this one on behalf of Stephanie Passman because she truly is one in a million! Our paths crossed when I found a home on line that I was interested in. I was in Seminole visiting my daughter and was scheduled to return to Atlanta where I live the next day. Within hours …read more of this client’s happy story →
Clients have asked me if they should put their home on the market now or wait for values to rise. I wanted to share my answer with you. This year is probably the optimum year to sell, because of interest rates rising.
If you’re thinking of selling your home, be sure to ask me for a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), comparing your home with recently sold comparable properties. My complimentary CMA will help you decide where you stand in today’s market.
This year is the best time we’ve seen in the last five years to sell a home, but the window of favorable conditions prevailing now won’t last forever. If you’re in a position to sell your home or you’re thinking of doing so, this year seems the best window to do it.
Four factors make this time appealing to Continue reading
The FHA loan is often great for first-time buyers and others who can’t put 20% down on a transaction, but it has one great pitfall, which is the FHA inspection. FHA, and VA also, insist on a home being in sound repair in order to insure the financing.
Many homes offered for sale have some elements of deferred maintenance, and usually buyer and seller can negotiate in a relatively friendly way which of these each side will take on. Some repairs the seller will fix before closing, and some the buyer will agree to absorb, to be fixed down the road after move-in.
FHA, however, insists on Continue reading
Here’s a brand new listing appearing in the MLS today. Rarely does a 3-bedroom townhome in Bahia Del Mar appear on the market. This one has a spacious interior design with a huge deck overlooking the large tropical lake, as you can see:
Click here for the full listing and lots more pictures.
I read a lot of analysis by Lawrence Yun, the very sharp chief economist for the National Association of Realtors. So I found this 10-minute clip fascinating for a glimpse into his grasp of the economy, and also to be reminded of NAR’s tenacious lobbying for the best interests of homeowners and the housing market. It’s from a candid interview last month.
Yun talks about housing, jobs growth, the impact of the Continue reading
Here’s a brand new listing about to go into the MLS. It’s a sleek high-rise condo in one of St. Petersburgh’s most distinctive downtown addresses, in Signature Tower.
175 1st St. South, Unit 1703 • St. Petersburg • FL• 33701
Click here to see the listing with lots more pictures and some great balcony views.
2013 marks 100 years that Realtors® have conducted their practices according to a code of ethics, one of the first ever ethical codes for trade groups created in this country. I have always been proud of the ethical code of my profession and I wanted to share this with you.
The NAR Code of Ethics sets the bylaws that govern how I and my fellow professionals must perform in offering our services.
The first Code was written when most regulation and licensing for real estate didn’t exist. It was one of the first times that any business group set down in a code its ethical duties for the public to hold them to. Continue reading
[NOTE: Scroll to the bottom for the complete report]
The REALTORS® Confidence Index (RCI) for South Florida and the region is now available with data through November 5th. I want to give you some highlights here, and you can read or download the whole report below. All the points noted match my own direct experience this year. I hope you find this valuable.
In the region, housing starts are up along with purchase applications for mortgages. Confidence in the economy and the housing market is …read more about the latest RCI →
I love this review that a client just sent to me. She’s a very professional business woman, and I appreciate her judgment. This one is short, sweet and to the point:
Stephanie is a true advocate. She worked with us as a buyers agent and her real work started once the offer was accepted. She was there for us with sound counsel and felt like she was part of our family. The sellers agent was most often “missing in action” and Stephanie did the work of all without complaint. Over the years I have bought and sold many properties and want others to know that she comes out on top of all. She is a 11 out of 10. I appreciated her straight forward manner and terrific energy. She knows her markets and always had our best interest always in mind. We love our new home and adopted city. Thank you Stephanie. Mary L.
And thank you Mary!
Here’s an August 2012 recent review from a satisfied client!
I recently bought a home in St. Petersburg, Florida.
I started out doing my own research on line and called several realtors to help me. Stephanie was the only one that answered! she got my business. I flew into town from my home in Hawaii and we went through my list driving around looking and looking all the while she showed me areas and told me stories and tid-bits of knowledge to help me narrow down the search.The next day she picked me up at my hotel and she had a list…saying “now that I know your style I have …Read more about this happy homebuyer →
When I decided to accept an offer for an amazing job opportunity, but one that required me to move to the Tampa Bay area for a few years, I started scouring condos in Tampa. I focused on Harbour Island and arranged to come down for a two and a half day weekend. After an exhausting first day we decided to “relax” a bit more on Sunday and drive down to Petersburg not even thinking that downtown St Petersburg was an option. We arrived into the downtown area and were instantly impressed with its charm and I immediately took out my iPad (asking the waiter what zip code we were in) and started searching for condos that met my criteria. Stephanie’s name was on one listing and I called her right away. Bearing in mind this was a Sunday morning, I gave her a quick summary of wanted I needed and within two hours …read more of this review →
The lending market seems to be opening back up a little, certainly in our local area, according to my favorite loan officer, Luke Andrews. Luke’s company has recently partnered with a new wholesale lender with some excellent “out of the box” programs that will make it easier for many buyers to qualify for financing.
Relaxing the tight restraints on terms that we’ve seen in recent years can only help the local economic outlook as this evolves into a more realistic market to buy and sell property. This in turn generates new business investment and re-establishes the stability of home ownership that we continue to cherish as a nation.
Take a look at this menu of features available in these new programs. Be sure to ask me about anything you don’t …Read more about loan packages →
