No Better Time than the Present to Give Back!

Jim and his team feel that giving back to the community is an important part of our daily lives. Recently, Jim donated 75 Sarasota Reds baseball tickets to United Way for less privileged children to enjoy a day at the park! “There is nothing more rewarding than putting a smile on a child’s face” says Jim about his recent donation. 

For more information on how you can give back, visit the United Way web-site.

To contact the Jim Soda Group, visit their web-site or email them at info@jimsoda.com.

“If you haven’t any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble.” — Bob Hope

Sold in 45 Days in Lakewood Ranch Country Club!!

Luxury Foreclosure listed by the Jim Soda Group in Lakewood Ranch Country Club – Custom Pruett with over 5000 square feet was only listed by Jim Soda and his team for 45 days before an offer was received, accepted and closed!

Let us help you sell your home in the Lakewood Ranch Country Club and surrounding area! Contact us at info@jimsoda.com or 941/809.7759. You can also find us at www.JimSoda.com. We look forward to working with you!!

Some Green Living Ideas on Earth Day

What better day than Earth Day to start thinking green?

Seven great “Green Ideas” That will save energy, money and make for a healthier living environment.

1. Buy a programmable thermostat and reduce your energy consumption by planning your energy needs.

2. Avoid buying plastic bottled water. Try to reuse everything, especially plastics…and recycle.

3. Reduce your water use. Make sure you have low-flow faucets, showerheads, and toilets.

4. Buy locally made products and locally produced services. Healthy food, environment and economy.

5. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs. By using energy-efficient light bulbs you will save energy and money.

6. Turn off lights and electronics when you leave the room. Unplug your cell phone charger from the wall when not using it. Turn off energy strips and surge protectors when not in use (especially overnight).

7. Recycle your newspapers, plastics and other items that your local waste pick-up will take.

If you’re looking for a green certified home in Lakewood Ranch Florida, Sarasota Florida or Bradenton Florida, let our Green Certified team member help you! Randy Huartson has made it a point to understand the ins and outs of Green-Certified Communities and Homes in Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton and Sarasota Florida. He can be reached by email or phone 941-586-9635. You can also visit the Jim Soda Group web-site to start your own home search!

Lakewood Ranch Market Statistics

As a homeowner, seller or buyer it is imperative to understand the market around you. The Jim Soda Group is here to help! Please find market statistics for Lakewood Ranch, Manatee and Sarasota Counties. If you’re interested in getting more detail or looking at another micro-area, please don’t hesitate to email info@JimSoda.com or call us at 941.809.7759. To view homes available in your area, visit the Jim Soda Group Web-site. 

If you would like to receive our quarterly newsletters highlighting important market information, please email us at info@jimsoda.com.

 

 

Jim Soda and Zillow.com

Jim Soda has just returned from the International Prudential Real Estate conference in Las Vegas.   While in Vegas at the convention Jim announced a new “showcase” alliance with Zillow.com for the 34202 zip code. This working agreement will solidify both the Jim Soda Group and Zillow.com as an important starting place for buyers to search for new and resale homes in the 34202 area.  Jim is considered the key Real Estate professional and consultant for the Lakewood Ranch – Bradenton, Florida area.  Zillow.com’s  nearly 9 million monthly visitors and low mortgage rates ( at or below 5%),  Jim believes that this working relationship with Zillow will bring two respected organizations together to assist Real Estate buyers and sellers of southwest Florida together.

Cutting Corners when Purchasing a Short-Sale or Foreclosure Could end up More Costly!

 In today’s world of short sales and foreclosures there are more and more vacant homes that do not receive the TLC that homes require. While managing funds up front when purchasing a home is important, spend the money when it comes to home inspections! Make sure that your Realtor is providing you with a proven list of inspectors for:
                           1.    General Home Inspections from floor to roof
                           2.    Mold Inspections – this is especially important when a home hasn’t been lived in, A/C not run, etc …
                           3.    Termite Inspections

Also, if any of the utilities have been shut off in the home, have your Realtor ask to have them turned back on for the inspections. It’s worth a try and will eliminate any disappointing surprises!  Having all of these inspections done will run you anywhere from $650 - $850, but could pay off ten-fold in the years to come. The Jim Soda Group sold a home that had been vacant for about a year and had a small amount of water damage in the kitchen; as a precaution we had a mold inspection done and came to find that the mold count in the A/C handler was at a very high level! Had there not been anything visible, there would have been no red flag! We recommend a mold inspection for all of our clients; it’s still always your choice though.

Please don’t hesitate to contact the Jim Soda Group with any questions you have regarding purchasing a short sale of Foreclosure home! 

Email us

Call us at 941-809-7759

Or Visit our Web-site

Know The “Fine Print” When Buying a Foreclosure

More and more we are seeing buyers making offers on foreclosure properties. Typically, these properties are sold “as is”, but what does that really mean? It doesn’t have to be a take it or leave it scenario, but it’s important to have someone on your side that knows how to navigate these situations. Most importantly, you AND your Realtor need to understand the fine print!

Typically, when you come to a “verbal” agreement on a foreclosure property the bank will issue their own version of the contract with an extensive amount of legal jargon, time frames and limitations. In between all of this are some things that you need to understand:

1. What is your time frame for completing and reporting on inspections?
2. Is it from verbal agreement or executed contract?
3. Is that in calendar or business days?
4. What is the process for negotiating repairs? 

• Note – just because it’s being sold “as is” doesn’t mean that there will be nothing that the bank will resolve. It’s not guaranteed, but sometimes worth a try if there is extensive damage or an underlying issue.

The Jim Soda Group has recently contracted and closed some foreclosure properties and in most situations found ourselves in a position where we had to order and execute inspections prior to a fully executed contract. Save yourself some anguish and decide up front if this is a risk you’re willing to take, knowing that the deal could fall through after you’ve put the money in to inspections.

If you’re currently looking at foreclosure properties and need the assistance of a Real Estate Professional, we’re here to help. You can reach us at 941-809-7759 or  info@jimsoda.com .

 

To Search Homes for Sale in Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota or Bradenton, FL visit Jim Soda’s Web-site.

 

Prudential Announces Chairman’s Circle Platinum Honors to Jim Soda

Sarasota, FL –Prudential Corporation and Prudential Palms Realty recently announced Jim Soda and the Jim Soda Group as the TOP Prudential Real Estate producers in Sarasota and Manatee County at a recent ceremony at the Asolo Theater. This year Jim Soda and his team were awarded with the prestigious Chairman’s Circle Platinum honor which is earned exclusively by rating in the top two percent of all Prudential Realtors® Nationwide. Helen Sosso Owner/Broker of Prudential Palms Realty recently presented the award.  Jim Soda was the only agent achieving this level of sales in the greater Sarasota –Bradenton-Lakewood Ranch area for 2008.

 

Prudential Real Estate Awards are presented annually and recognize outstanding listing and sales achievements by Prudential Real Estate Sales Associates. Jim Soda personally thanked team members Donna Soda, Toni and Randy Huartson, Kelly Zoller and Judy Dumas. 

 

Jim began his career in 2002 as Rookie of the Year and since then has held the Chairman’s Circle Honors and Legend Award as well.  “My team goes to work everyday” expressed Jim, “we work hard to achieve these results.”  You can contact Jim or members of his team at www.jimsoda.com or at 941-809-7759.

 

FREE Green Homes Expo OPEN TO PUBLIC, March 27th, 2009

 Join the Green Realtors Alliance of Sarasota for their second annual Green Homes Expo March 27, 2009. The expo with be held at the Chelsea Center (2506 Gulf Gate Drive) from 2-7 PM in Sarasota, FL. Service and Product Exhibitors as well as Industry Experts will be discussing the importance of living in an eco-friendly community and the direct benefits to today’s home owners and home buyers. So whether you are interested in sustainable living, saving money on energy or simply living in a healthier environment at home, the Green Expo promises to educate us on exciting ways to GREEN UP our homes and the community we live in. Exhibitors and discussion topics are as follows:

  Indoor air and water quality

 Green home construction

 Solar products

 Water conservation techniques

 Florida-friendly landscaping

 Green home cleaning products

 Natural pest control

 Energy efficient products

 Energy efficient mortgages

This event will showcase the best GREEN ideas and products available to our community. Come and enjoy this must see event. Please give Jim Soda Group’s Randy Huartson a call at #941.586.9635 if you have any questions.

How will the Stimulus Package affect Home Buyers?

Here are some bullet points and explanation on how the stimulus package (The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) will affect home buyers. President  Obama is expected to sign this bill into law today  in Denver, CO.  An important area of the bill that was reduced was the proposed $15,000 home buyer tax credit.  The credit was cut down from $15,000 to $8,000, but is an improvement over last year’s $7,500 tax credit.  If  you are looking for a house or would like to contact me about the “Stimulus Package” please feel free to give me a call or e-mail me your question.

 Here are some bullet points of the HOME BUYER TAX CREDIT:

•         Lesser of 10 percent of purchase price of home or $8,000
•       Applies to purchases after 1/1/09 and before 12/1/09
•       Primary Residences
•       Available to individuals making up to $75,000 or $150,000 for joint returns
•       First Time Home buyer (may not have owned a primary residence in the past 3 years)
•       No repayment required, unless home is sold within 3 years
•       Can utilize credit if using state/local bond financing