The Cloisters of Beach Drive
The Cloisters of Beach Drive was the first of the “new” condos along Beach Drive, a 14 story building with 32 residential condominiums. A group of local businessmen developed the project, which was completed in 1999. The first floor is retail and includes Market Express, a market/deli/coffee shop with inside and outside dining. The second floor is common area, with a lap pool on the terrace overlooking the Museum of Fine Arts, Straub Park, the Vinoy Basin and Tampa Bay. In addition to a small fitness center and the common rooms, there is a guest apartment which owners can reserve. Each unit has a balcony, but the balconies are small. Floors 3-12 have 3 condo residences per floor, all with a common lobby foyer, and each of the top two floors is a penthouse unit. Secured covered parking for two cars is provided for each unit. Typical condo sales would be in the $600,000 - $1,000,000 range.
Evaluating real estate opportunities in Costa Rica
August 20th, 2008 Categories: Costa Rica
del Pacifico at Esterillos Este, Costa Rica
Tami and I just returned from a long weekend Gathering at del Pacifico on the central Pacific coast of Costa Rica in Esterillo Este. Click on the photo to see a larger version. It’s hard to tell from the photo, but there’s a nice water view of the Pacific from our balcony. We found real estate to recommend to our clients for a vacation and/or for an investment, whether it’s a condominium, a home, or a lot.
del Pacifico offers a quality product in a quality development. Whether you’re looking to relax away from it all, enjoy horseback riding, sport fishing or golf, there’s something here for you. We liked the people we met at the Gathering, the del Pacifico founders and staff, and found the Ticos (the people of Costa Rica) pleasant, caring, and with a peaceful spirit for their land and for each other.
Contact us with your questions about del Pacifico and Costa Rica real estate.
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Teardown Chronicle - Day 36 (51)
August 19th, 2008 Categories: Real Estate News
Teardown Chronicle - Day 36 (51) 2nd floor is taking shape
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Day 35
August 18th, 2008 Categories: Teardown Chronicle
Sharon is away, but the project continues.
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Teardown Chronicle - Day 30 (43)
August 13th, 2008 Categories: Teardown Chronicle
Teardown Chronicle - Day 30 (43). From the rainy street it didn’t look like much framing had been done today, but it looks as if the next floor joists/trusses have been delivered and are ready for the next stage.
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Teardown Chronicle - Day 29 (42)
August 12th, 2008 Categories: Teardown Chronicle
Teardown Chronicle - Day 29 (42) Most of the second floor framing is done.
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Scheduling Showings
August 12th, 2008 Categories: Buyer Tips
It is interesting how much more time it takes today for me to schedule showings. It used to be, I just printed out the MLS, mapped out the day, and called the listing agents to schedule my showings. Today it takes me considerably more time to do the same thing. I still start with the exact same procedures, but then I have to take care of all of my buyer information.
Is it a short sale or in pre-foreclosure status. That might be listed in the MLS, but then I ask the listing agent and check the tax records. Are their any liens on the property? Count up all of the mortgages listed on the property, do they add up to more than the list price, if so, sounds like a short sale. I look through the old MLS listings to find out how long the property has really been listed…I’m showing 8 properties tomorrow and they have been on the market 56, 80, 429, 727, 764, 811, 934 days respectively, oh and the last one has been on the market since December 2002! What was the original list price, versus the list price today, versus what they paid for the property. Did they buy the house at the height of the market or do they actually have equity in the house that they might be able to negotiate with. It used to be I only researched all of this information after my buyer picked a house to help them make the right offer. But to make myself more useful to my clients, I come prepared with all of this information so we can discuss it as we walk through the house. In many cases this can help rule out a house or put it higher on the list. I then put all of this information into a spreadsheet to carry with me as I show the property, then afterwards write down as much information about each property as I can and put it into the database. This allows me a quick reference to any property I have previously shown, but also is very helpful for agent feedback that anyone on my team can give out.
That is what is involved when I show property these days!
Rob Johnson, The Simms Team
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Camouflage … or what?
August 11th, 2008 Categories: Real Estate News
What’s going on here? Is this camouflage for an attack or is it just testing a new paint color for this home? Actually, it’s the latter. Can you tell which is which? It’s actually the darker color that is new. Strange that they’ve painted the areas that they have rather than finishing one wall at a time, isn’t it? This home is in Dolphin Cay in St. Petersburg, on the main channel going from Boca Ciega Bay to Maximo Marina.
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Teardown Chronicle - Day 28 (41)
August 11th, 2008 Categories: Teardown Chronicle
August 11, 2008. Day 28 (41). Framing on 2nd floor.
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Simms-Simms teach CLHMS class in Atlanta
August 8th, 2008 Categories: Team News
Sharon and Tami spent Monday and Tuesday in Atlanta teaching the CLHMS class. Completion of this class is one of the requirements for the Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist designation offered by the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing. Real estate agents attending this class came from California, New York, South Carolina and North Carolina as well as Georgia.
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Teardown Chronicle - Day 32 (45) - Second Level
August 8th, 2008 Categories: Teardown Chronicle
In the last week the floor trusses were completed, the plywood decking was attached, and framing has begun on the second level. You can already tell that this home won’t be a plain box.
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