Photos are critical to a sale

For the real money shot, hire a pro Excerpted from an article by ADRIANA BARTON, Vancouver Globe and Mail, Friday, Apr. 03, 2009 … The days of lacklustre photos snapped by realtors may be numbered. Despite digital cameras, a growing number of real-estate agents are hiring professional photographers to showcase properties online, according to Ann Bosley, a Toronto real-estate broker and president of the Canadian Real Estate Association. Blurry photos of dark rooms, open-lidded toilets and fridge doors littered with kids’ drawings and ladybug magnets just don’t cut it. “More and more, our clients are picture- rather than word-oriented,” Ms. Bosley says, adding that real-estate websites now accommodate many digital images. Professional shots make sense even for low-end properties, according to Richard Silver, a real-estate agent who sells homes at all price levels in the Toronto area. Since Mr. Silver began using professional photography two years ago, his sales have gone up by about 25 per cent, he says. “I don’t even put out a listing without the professional photos.” Lauretta Stewart, another Toronto real-estate agent, says she switched to professional photography two years ago after using a small condo unit as a marketing experiment. Drawn by the professional photos online, “the buyer made a special trip from Guelph to see it,” Ms. Stewart says. One of her clients, Peter Ballon, whose house she sold earlier this month, says the professional photos helped his family prepare their home for showings. “We noticed by looking at the photos what looked good and what didn’t,” he says, “and where there was a little more clutter.” Annette McMillan, a Calgary real-estate agent, says expert photos are as important as staging the home. “Even if the property doesn’t have good curb appeal, the pictures of the interior will get buyers in the door.” Many agents don’t know their way around a camera, she says, and some don’t bother to post photos online. “But it’s like a dating service,” Ms. McMillan says. “If there’s no photo, it’s not going to work.” Professional photography can be affordable, according to Mr. Silver. He buys photo packages in bulk… But others aren’t impressed with cut-rate photo services. “I think you get what you pay for,” says Sylvia Therrien, a real-estate agent who sells multi-million-dollar properties on Vancouver Island. “There’s a big difference between the $100 packages and professional photography,” she says. The technical skills of professional photography are light years away from the point-and-shoot approach, says Mr. Gough. “You have to be a Photoshop guru.” The idea is to make prospective buyers envision it as their own home, Ms. Brûlé says, “and not just a piece of property.” At the opposite end of the spectrum, ill-conceived photos still proliferate on many real-estate websites. But instead of being the norm, they are now objects of derision by bloggers such as Saskatchewan real-estate agent Norm Fisher, who posts his Unbelievably Bad Real Estate Photo Hall of Fame at Teamfisher.com. Real-estate agents have no excuse for using poor-quality photos of the properties they are paid to market, says Ms. Stewart. “I’m surprised that the sellers let them get away with it.” … ###

Copyright 2009. All Rights Reserved.

Real Estate Trends for October 2009

It appears things are starting to stabilize locally, statewide and nationally.

Happy Veterans Day

I’m so glad I served and that I am here to thank every veteran who has served. What a fantastic bunch of people. I also want to thank those who are still in harms way.

God Bless America and God Bless the Men and Women of our armed services.

Happy 234th Birthday USMC–Hoorah

Click here to watch a great video:  https://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/holiday/usmc2009/default.asp?isc=gdr1162c

ONE NATION UNDER GOD WITH HIS MARINES ON GUARD DUTY-HOORAH!

Here’s the Scoop on the Tax Program Extension by Congress

Obama signs bill: Homebuyer tax credit extended

Homebuyer tax credit program extended

Cynthia Shelton, 2009 Florida Realtors® president, shares the great news about the newly extended and expanded homebuyers tax-credit program.

• Watch the video now

WASHINGTON – Nov. 6, 2009 – President Obama signed H.R. 3548 this morning, enacting into law an extension, and adjustment, of the $8,000 tax credit for first-time buyers. Among other things, the extension adds money for certain move-up buyers; creates one deadline for signing a contract and a later deadline for closing; changes income requirements; and limits a purchased home’s cost to $800,000.

“Extending the homebuyer tax credit and expanding it to reach more homebuyers is the right thing to do,” says 2009 Florida Realtors® President Cynthia Shelton. “It is critical to maintaining the positive momentum we’ve been experiencing in the housing market and in the overall economy. Florida Realtors applaud congressional leaders for taking action to extend the homebuyer tax credit into 2010, which will help Florida families realize their dream of homeownership, improve our communities and strengthen our economy.”

Adds John Sebree, Florida Realtors vice president of public policy, “Florida residents enjoy two additional advantages. The Florida Homebuyer Opportunity Program (FHOP), created by the Florida Legislature earlier this year, still has approximately $28 million that first-time homebuyers can access and use toward their downpayment. And move-up buyers now have the ability to ‘port’ their current property tax savings to a new home.”

First-time homebuyers

Most details for first-time homebuyers mirror the rules currently in existence. The maximum tax credit remains $8,000 ($4,000 for married individuals filing separately), and anyone who has not owned a home within three years is considered a “first-time buyer.”

• A purchase must be under contract by April 30, 2010.

• A purchase under contract by April 30 must close no later than June 30, 2010.

• After Dec. 1, 2009, income limits rise to $125,000 for singles and $225,000 for married couples; up from limits effective through Nov. 30 of $75,000 for singles and $150,000 for married couples. The tax credit phases out incrementally at each $20,000 increase in income.

• Effective immediately: The maximum home value purchased cannot exceed $800,000. Prior to the law being signed, first-time homebuyers had no limitation on a home’s cost.

Current homeowner tax credit

An existing homeowner who purchases a home may now claim a tax credit of up to $6,500. To qualify, that owner must have owned and used the same residence as a principal residence for any consecutive five-year period in the previous eight years.

• This new tax credit is effective immediately. Eligible homebuyers do not have to wait until Dec. 1 to close in order to qualify.

• Personal income limits, maximum home value, and contract/closing deadlines are the same as those for first-time homebuyers.

Long-time Florida homeowners who enjoy discounted property taxes resulting from the state’s Save Our Homes amendment qualify for property tax portability, notes Sebree. For more information or to calculate how much tax savings can be transferred to a new home, visit floridarealtors.org at: http://www.floridarealtors.org/LegislativeCenter/TopInitiatives/index.cfm

Florida Homebuyer Opportunity Program

Under FHOP, first-time Florida homebuyers can obtain interest-free bridge loans to access their federal tax credit before they complete a home purchase, enabling them to use that money upfront for downpayment and closing costs. Once buyers submit their returns to the IRS and receive their tax credit money, they repay their loans to the state.

The Florida Realtors-backed program came out of the 2009 session of the Florida Legislature. However, as part of the 2009-2010 budget year, did not become effective immediately. They tax credit extension will allow many first-time buyers to tap into the approximately $28 million in the program’s remaining funds.

While funded by the state, the money is distributed through the city and county housing offices that operate the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program. There is no standardized program, and each local agency may operate under different rules for distribution. For more information, buyers should contact their local SHIP office.

To find a local SHIP office, go to: http://apps.floridahousing.org/StandAlone/FHFC_ECM/AppPage_SHIPLGContacts.aspx.

Additional changes

The tax credit extension includes other new rules, such as:

• The new law also impacts dependent purchases of homes, which weren’t addressed under the old rules.

• The new law requires a buyer to attach documentation about the home purchase to his or her income tax return. An audit found that some buyers are claiming the tax credit when they don’t deserve it, and investigators continue to seek out fraud. To minimize tax abuse going forward, buyers won’t receive the credit without submitting proof to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The homebuyer tax credit is collected as part of the normal income tax process. As a credit, it’s calculated separately from an individual’s income tax, and paid regardless of taxes owed or withheld from income. As always, however, only a tax planner can render specific advice to anyone seeking the credit. For more information on the credit, contact a tax planner or visit the IRS website at: http://www.irs.gov.

Florida Realtors will update tax credit information and clarify details when available on the Homebuyer Center, part of floridarealtors.org at: http://www.floridarealtors.org/AboutFar/homebuyercenter/index.cfm.

© 2009 Florida Realtors®

Regarding Lot #20 Royster Drive

Soil boring tests were completed for the pilings, and the results were acceptable for construction.

Frank Feliciano, Realtor
Keller Williams Town and Country Realty, Inc.
1520 Killearn Center Blvd.
Tallahassee, FL 32309
850.251.4912
frankfeliciano@kw.com
http://www.tallahasseeliving.com

Need infomation regarding $8000 tax break

Go to this site:

http://www.kw.com/kw/2009TaxCredit.html

This Keller Williams page will give you documentation and a video explaining how this law applies to first home buyers.

In case you didn’t know, CONGRESS HAS EXTENDED THE LAW UNTIL APRIL 30, 2010. You must be under contract by that date. But don’t wait.

Frank Feliciano, Realtor
Keller Williams Town and Country Realty, Inc.
1520 Killearn Center Blvd.
Tallahassee, FL 32317
frankfeliciano@kw.com
http://www.tallahasseeliving.com

Lot #20 Royster Drive, Shell Point, FL

Boat lift and floating dock viewed from Yacht Club

Lot viewed from Royster Drive toward the Yacht Club

Team Feliciano is announcing the reduction in price of a deep water canal front lot on Royster Drive, Shell Point, FL.  This lot has been reduced to $350,000.00 and features a 30 ft floating dock, a 10,000 pound aluminum boat lift, electricity and water are already operational.  The canal side of the lot faces the Yacht Club.  Royster Drive is also a gated community with friendly neighbors.

This property is offered for sale by:

 Team Feliciano of Keller Williams Town and Country Realty, Inc.

1520 Killearn Center Blvd.

Tallahassee, FL 32309. 

For more information Contact:

 Ada Feliciano @ 850.545.3870

 Chad Feliciano @ 850.251.4920 or

Frank Feliciano@ 850.251.4912

As always we at Team Feliciano are never too busy for any of your referrals.  Referrals are our best source of business contacts, please keep them coming.

Sincerely,

Frank Feliciano, Realtor

Keller Williams Town and Country Realty, Inc.

1520 Killearn Center Blvd.

Tallahassee, FL 32309

850.251.4912

frankfeliciano@kw.com

http://www.tallahasseeliving.com