Naples Florida Real Estate: What's Your Idea Of A Deal?

By the show of hands (as I scan across the cyber room of the 71,030 people who have joined Active Rain) how many of you are currently working with someone looking for a "deal"?  Please put your hands down now and hold back the throw up that is now in your mouth. 

"I'm looking for a deal" has now replaced every other form of salutation including:

• Hi my name is...
• May I speak with...
• How are you today...
• Would you like fries with that...

and if it's not the first thing we hear, it's the next thing we hear:

• Paper or plastic and "I'm looking for a deal"
• I could've had a V8 and "I'm looking for a deal"
• It's been 16 days since I last used and "I'm looking for a deal"
• Will you be traveling with small children and "I'm looking for a deal"

Hey, it could be worse!  It could be last year when there was nobody looking for anything...not even a deal!  So with that said, let's explore what a deal is because we all know, you're idea of a deal and my idea of a deal is just simply....not the same deal.

We're not going to discuss the obvious as nobody really has time for that so let's start with my idea of a deal:

1.  Properly Priced Properties In Great Locations - (Now I know you're thinking...didn't you just type something about obvious...)  Here's what I mean: If there's a great priced property in a neighborhood that is giving away everything but the kitchen sink...do you think that's a deal?  Sounds like a great meeting place for a bunch of people who might not keep their properties long for lots of reasons and...reselling there might become an issue when you and all of your new found friends find themselves not happy with what the development has done to discount their remaining inventory. 

Afterall, there's nothing more fun than trying to sell your condo along with everyone else who bought their condo at a lower price and also the developer who has undercut what you owe by thousands to get rid of their remaining inventory....right? Deal...or no deal...you decide.  My decision...uh no.

2.  Properly Priced Properties In Areas Free (Or Near Free) Of Foreclosures-  I remember when my mom used to say, "Birds of a Feather...Flock Together".  I know I'm back on the location thing again but there's something very interesting about portions of our market.  For example the odds of you seeing a foreclosure in Port Royal or Bay Colony are very, very, very rare (not impossible) but happen less often than someone getting a picture of Big Foot.  That's why perhaps purchasing properties in those areas have an element of security only because people who can't get their price when they decide to sell have more options. 

Many choose to take their place off the market and wait for the market to turn around...simply...because they can.  Others realize it may be years (seriously) before they sell and they're prepared to wait.  The other side of it is many fire sales in those locations happen privately.  Many (not all) but many have better networks of folks who can pull the trigger on undeniable deals and are more willing to do so in secure locations such as those. 

I was once asked by another agent's buyer once if the seller would consider taking an offer for (about half of list price).  I said, You will never know.  He replied, Why?  I said, Because if they were willing to go that low, I would buy it.   Ooops! The next book on my list to read is, "How To Win Friends And Influence People"....again.

3.  Properly Priced Properties Offering Good Or Better Amenities-  What I mean by amenities in this sense is:  If the property is located in a great neighborhood but backs up to a busy road, make sure it's price accordingly.  Lowest priced in the neighborhood may not be enough.  I know an agent in town who bit on a home with that same scenario.  On paper it looked like a really great deal.  In fact, I scoped it out for one of my clients but after previewing the property, I knew the road noise would be a kiss of death on the resale side.  She unfortunately cut the deal a couple of years ago and the bleeding hasn't ended for her yet.

4.  If Everyone's Doing It...RUN! -  Back in "pre-construction...the market's so great" time we had so much paper flying nobody knew their own name for awhile.  It was hard not to get caught up in the euphoria of "everyone's making a million".  I'll even admit that I looked at a couple of places and after reviewing the developer's contract that read something like "regardless of what we do or don't do, you still owe us money" I was never comfortable pulling the trigger.  Whew....this went on right as the music was about to stop so it turned out to be a good thing for me.  Of course if you're first in on a sure bet...then that's a whole different "deal".

Someone once told me most real estate agents love to gamble.  I guess I'm an oddball because I don't like taking foolish risks.  I have a hard time gambling with my money and I actually don't have any fun doing it unless it's something I know inside and out...like Naples real estate.  If I'm not gambling with my money, I'm not gambling with yours and quite frankly if those are the odds you like then you'll like working with me.  My husband knows...if I'm betting, I'm winning that's why we don't do much betting against each other anymore and why he giggles under his breath when someone else takes me on.

If you're more of a risk taker who gambles carelessly without thought or an opportunist who is seeking unrealistic deals, I may not be the girl for you but I know someone who would be happy to assist you.