Highlands County Talk

With foreclosures and financially distressed homeowners on the rise, we couldn't help but notice the recent increase in soon to be divorced spouses calling us about rentals or needing to sell their marital home. There is no doubt that the overall economic situation puts a tremendous amount of stress on couples and their families. Times are hard for almost everyone.

I'm wondering though how and why a declining economy can alter what two people have once promised each other - to stick it out through good times and bad times. It doesn't seem logical to me to add more stress and more cost to an already distressed situation only to end up alone instead of having the support of a spouse to make it through the tough times.

Is financial distress causing divorce or is it rather the inability to deal with problems and therefore the inability to communicate with each other? I believe the reason for an increase in divorces is not the down economy but rather the fact that spouses are not getting the point of being married!

I've been married for almost 14 years, to the same wonderful man. Yes, times are tough for us as well. We struggle the same as everyone else. It's frustrating, it's depressing and it can wear you down. We have differences just like everyone else, we are not perfect, we have flaws, the sun doesn't shine on us every single day. We have no marriage manual, we've been winging it since day one. The same applies to parenting btw. but that's another post.

My point is, making it through tough times is twice as hard if one has to do it alone. Isn't it much better to have your spouse to lean on and lend your spouse your own shoulder if they need it (and they do!)? Isn't that what marriage is about?

My husband is my better half. I need him to be there for me and he needs me to be there for him. We promised that to each other on a gloomy day in Denmark, and the time to call in that promise is NOW, when times are not so rosy. How else are we going to make it through the tough times if not together?

Wow! I'm very excited about our real estate market in Highlands County. We have been busy, busy, busy working with buyers. Our phones are ringing off the hook, in the office as well. There's plenty of walk ins to go around too. Yes, we do have an increase in residents this time of the year but there is far more activity compared to last winter.

The big question is, have we bottomed out? We are watching closely!

SFH - Single Family Home
MH - Mobile Home on owned land
TH - Townhouse

Data per MLS for Highlands County Florida. Data is deemed accurate but not guaranteed.

With 132 sales pending and 25 closed so far there is not really a reason to complain. Sales remain the strongest in the lower prices ranges. Distress sales at bargain prices continue to keep prices down and we expect Short Sales and Foreclosure Sales to dictate prices throughout 2009.

NOW is the time to buy!

Greetings,

Andrea Mills
www.millsrealestate.net

First off, NO, it's not happening to me and/or our firm.

The word is that a local CREDIT UNION in my area is buying up brokerages. They've done it in the neighboring county and according to an article from Dec 2008 it's the best thing that could ever happen to those agents. They now get a huge commission split, no desk fees, no franchise fees. I've heard the agents in my MLS were offered a $1,500 sign up bonus. It doesn't get any better than that, does it?

.....The Realtors, Hernandez said, will make more money as a result of working for MidFlorida."The compensation for the Realtors is like no one has ever seen in the area. The Realtors will make money," he said....

Now how can a real estate firm afford to only take a minimal split and not charge for desk fees and franchise fees? Hm......

Maybe train your agents to sell sellers and buyers on your in-house title company, insurance company, mortgage broker and if that's not enough talk them into financing a new car; color coordinated to go with the new home. Real estate professional or used car salesman?

One stop shopping! Buying, selling, title company, home owner's insurance, mortgage - all under one roof and btw. how about a car loan or opening a checking account?

It's like WalMart - do your weekly shopping and get the oil changed and tires rotated at the same time. Everyone and their brother loves WalMart because WalMart sells convenience. For the vast majority of people buying or selling a home is the biggest financial decision they will ever make and it shouldn't be about convenience, it should be about professionalism.

Sure, it would be convenient to have your open heart surgery at WalMart while you get your nails done at the same time. But I bet most people would rather put their life in the hands of a surgeon that specializes in open heart surgery and does not try to sell them a face lift as well.

Greetings,

Andrea Mills, who doesn't sell insurance and car loans - just real estate.

It seems that with the drop of the ball on Time Square the market activity in Highlands County has been picking up tremendously. Sellers want to sell and for reasonable prices, buyers want to buy (also for reasonable prices). With the interest rates still that low and all the inventory on the market, it's no wonder buyers are eager to scoop up the bargains available - buyers are finally "getting" it.

I can't wait to do my "Halftime" report this month (due tomorrow) and I'm beginning to get very excited about our market. Our average sale price in December was back to 2004 levels, but with a longer DOM and also a much greater absorption rate.

How about your market? Is your phone ringing off the hood yet? Do you see an increase in activity?

Greetings,

Andrea Mills, who's busy!!!!

www.millsrealestate.net