What happens when you want $700,000 for the sale of your condo, but it's only worth $525,000 in the current market?  What do you do?  Well, that's going to be the topic of today's 'Real Life - Real Estate' story.

To listen while reading the transcript - CLICK HERE

Contact the Real Estate Agent Man at (941) 894-9800

Finally - here it is.  The entire song of Real Estate Agent Man.
I wrote this my first year in real estate. However, not a soul has heard any of it, accept the chorus, until this month when I performed the acoustic version at a local Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club. The response was so inspiring that I made time to create this recording in my home studio.   Hopefully you'll  find it enjoyable enough to share with others.

Here are the lyrics and chords if you would like to play along.

Title: Real Estate Agent  Man
Lyrics and additions to the arrangement: by Steve Martin Smith
Copyright 2015
Parody of Secret Agent Man as made famous by Johnny Rivers

Em                         Am                  Em                          

There’s a man who leads a life of danger

Em                                           B7

Showing houses day and night to strangers

       Em                             Am

with every call he takes - a chance that they are fakes

Em                   Am             Em

hoping they will buy a house tomorrow

Chorus

               Bm     Em                   Bm     Em

real estate agent man - real estate agent man

        C                            B7                                   Em  Intro x 2

Write down his cell phone number - do not forget his name

   Em                 Am               Em

beware of pretty pictures that you find

    Em                                             B7

deceitful sellers - make you lose your mind

    Em                              Am

and be careful what you say, or you may have to pay

Em                Am                        Em

unless your agent saves your cash/ass tomorrow

Repeat Chorus       Intro x 4

Em                 Am            Em

Hoping for the Riviera one day

     Em                                            B7

but first he must sell Sarasota today

      Em                                  Am

and that Nissan that he drives - it don't make him feel alive

      Em                Am              Em

that Lamborghini dream lives on tomorrow                  Repeat Chorus  2X

Katrina hosts this special edition podcast as she interviews the owner of an amazing property that we have listed for sale in Panther Ridge,  just outside of Lakewood Ranch Florida. 

It has almost 11,000 square feet of building space - that includes 2 houses, 2 garages with space for 10 cars that could also fit an RV, 7 bedrooms, 7 baths, large heated saltwater pool with spa, outdoor kitchen, private kayak-able pond, pickle ball courts, and many other amazing features.

Surprise!

In the first half of 2021, Over 2500 homes went back on the market in Sarasota County alone. This is according to Stellar MLS.

How is this happening in such a strong seller's market?

Why is this important?

What OTHER questions should you be asking?

Sunshine and freedom lovers are moving to Sarasota Florida from all over the world.  With such a vast variety of budgets and desired lifestyles, how will you know which part of Sarasota County is your best option? Nicole Smith from Steve Martin Homes Group has been working on that - just for you. Join us on this 1st episode of season 2 as we discuss the overview of her latest blog to help you with your relocation to Sarasota.

Click here to watch the video version 

I recorded this podcast last week and applied every piece of it two days ago.  Buyers flew in to Sarasota at noon on Friday. We met at our downtown office at 1:30. We were looking at neighborhoods and houses that afternoon. Wrote and emailed an offer at 10pm Friday night. Required a response by 2pm the next day. Took the same buyers out the next morning to see more homes in a different community that I had previously tried to get them to consider.  They loved this community way more than the other. While we were out, we received an automated email that a home in that community had just gone live on the MLS. We were inside that house within 1 hour of it being listed. We submitted a carefully crafted offer immediately and it was accepted Saturday evening.  Although other showings were being scheduled by other agents and other offers were being submitted, we were the only ones to physically visit the property the first day it was listed.

We've already received this review from the buyers mentioned above -  on REALTOR.com.
"I have to confess, I rarely take the time to write reviews. I am happy to make an exception for Steve. My husband & I just left spending the weekend with him. We all instantly hit it off. Steve and his supportive team/wife were such an answer to our prayers. He could not have been more thoughtful and accommodating. We are over the moon excited about our new home. He made a very arduous process fun and hassle free. We felt like we had concierge service. For those who may not feel you need a REALTOR in our age of information would be sorely mistaken. It was Steve who made this transaction happen for a buyer in a seller’s market."

Real Estate Agent Man - The podcast
 
Every episode will make you better prepared for your next home buying or selling adventure - as we discuss secrets of Florida real estate, that should not be secrets.

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app and learn more at SteveMartinHomes.com

Steve Martin Smith is a licensed Florida REALTOR® with RE/MAX Platinum Realty

Fully transcribed for the hearing impaired.
To listen while reading the full transcript - CLICK HERE

I have often said that getting the buyer and seller from contract to closing is the most challenging part of our job. Now, what do I mean by that? In the daily life of a Realtor™, a buyer may contact us and say, "We would like you to help us find a house." What they really mean, is that they want us to help them own a house. Finding a house is actually about the easiest part of the process. Once we bring them to a property that they fall in love with and want to own, well, then we have to draft up the documentation and negotiate a contract. It's not just about price, it's about price and terms. Part of the terms is the inspection period. Why is that inspection period in there?

Transcribed for the hearing impaired.
To read the full transcript while you watch the video - CLICK HERE

For the next 5 minutes I’ll be sharing important information regarding septic tanks and how they can affect the purchase and sale of a home. Even if you do not own a septic tank, this podcast will help you look like the smart one in the group the next time this topic comes up with your friends or family. 

TRANSCRIBED FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED
CLICK HERE to read the transcript while you listen.

My goal today is to offer some possible Christmas cheer to buyers while simultaneously throwing out a friendly reminder to sellers.

As 2020 is just about over, and there are probably very few who will be sad to wave bye bye, one of those groups will likely be Sarasota area home shoppers, because frankly we’ve had way more buyers in 2020 than available properties. I can tell you - that has been very frustrating for buyers.

To listen while reading the transcript - CLICK HERE

Welcome to the last of three episodes with Tony and Michelle Moore from Gulfside Mortgage Services. We've been discussing secrets of real estate that should not be secrets.

As we continue our conversation...  we will unravel the mysteries of interest rates, and get the truth about first time homebuyer programs.

For assistance call (941) 894-9800

Transcribed for the hearing impaired.
To read the full transcript while you watch the video - CLICK HERE
Video also available on Rumble


Well it's 11:03pm and I'm tired. It's been a very busy day, but I do need to get this video done because I've been wanting to do it for days. I'm gonna get straight to the point. This has to do with what I consider deceptive advertising and I want to make sure that everybody that takes the time to watch my videos, listen to my podcasts, read my newsletters, I want to make sure that you have this information. You know that we try and put stuff out there to seriously help you. Whether you're going to end up using us or not is irrelevant. In the first week of my real estate course that I took in December of 2014, they taught me that my job is to protect the public. That is actually the job of all Realtors. That's why they have all these rules and laws in place. That's why we get fined so much if we do the wrong thing or could lose our license. Because we're supposed to be protecting the public. Well, I'm about to let you know about an advertising process that I feel is deceptive, because although the reader doesn't have to take it the way they take it, many of them do. So here we go.

Transcribed for the hearing impaired.
To read the full transcript while you watch the video - CLICK HERE
Video also available on Rumble

You don't know what you don't know. I'm Steve Martin Smith, and I'm here to help you know it - at least when it comes to real estate. Now, if you find this information helpful, you may want to explore more of our videos and podcasts at SteveMartin HomesGroup.com. Now on with today's topic...

At what point could I have changed my lender? That's a question that was just asked to me last week. I realized the importance of having this discussion, because this particular buyer should have asked me this question about a month ago. Instead, he went through the entire process, ended up paying $200 more a month than he was told he was going to have to pay, had to deal with a lender who spoke to him in a condescending manner, had to go through an extension that was completely not necessary had the lender asked for this particular thing to be done three weeks earlier and they should have known that they were going to have to do this. So I'm saying all this to paint the picture that this was not a great experience for this buyer.

To listen while reading the transcript - CLICK HERE

As we continue our conversation... we will discuss how private mortgage insurance affects your interest rate, how jumbo loans have been affected by covid, and current scams that could cost you dearly.

For assistance call (941) 894-9800

To listen while reading the transcript - CLICK HERE

Your host and Florida Realtor, Steve Martin Smith, interviews Tony and Michelle Moore with Gulfside Mortgage Services. In this episode we discuss the benefits of using a correspondent lender, when you should contact a lender, the most important questions to ask in preparation to make a purchase and how interest rates affect your buying power.

For assistance call (941) 894-9800

To listen while reading the transcript - CLICK HERE

For assistance call (941) 894-9800

Your host and Florida Realtor, Steve Martin Smith, interviews first time home buyers who recently purchased a move in ready home in Sarasota County for $220,000 with less than $2,000.00 total cash out of pocket. No extra expenses. This couple is living proof that we know how to use the USDA loan program to make this happen.  Visit www.SteveMartinHomesGroup.com

Steve Martin Smith has sold more Sarasota County homes than 99% of the area’s REALTORS from January 2015 through August 2020. Selling $1,000,000+ estates from Panther Ridge in Manatee County to condos in Punta Gorda, he is truly a tri-county REALTOR. Originally from the Detroit area, Steve discovered Sarasota County in 1983 and then moved his young family here in 1998. In his life before real estate, Steve worked corporate business management positions for 25 years while simultaneously volunteering in youth and family ministry roles with his wife Katrina. Today, along with their adult children, they enjoy helping families to realize their goals and dreams. Steve also fancies himself a song writer and plays guitar whenever he gets the chance.

*as recorded by Stellar MLS for the period of 1/1/2015 through 8/19/2020