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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.
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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.
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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
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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.

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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.
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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.
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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.

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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