Nearly 6 of 10 homes sold in Osceola during March were bank owned homes

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Nearly 6 of 10 homes sold in Osceola during March, 2009 were bank owned homes. Statistics indicate that 248 of the reported 418 homes or 59.3% of the homes sold during March were homes owned by lenders.


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Selling real estate is not very prestigious

According to the most recent Harris Poll that looked at the public view of 23 professions and jobs, Realtors were at the bottom of the list with 34% of those polled saying that real estate agents hardly have any prestige at all.

Our profession shared the bottom with stockbrokers and bankers. Firefighters were considered to have the most prestigious job of the occupations listed.


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- Greg Staker - Watson Realty Corp - 407-304-0255

Homebuyers and sellers in Florida may have fewer Realtors to choose from

Speculation is that as high as 40% of the membership in Central Florida will not be paying their MLS subscription dues this month. This will result in their suspension from the MLS and their exit from the real estate business.

Market conditions over the past 2 years have all but eliminated the easy business that drew so many into real estate sales. In order to be successful and survive in this market, agents have had to use the skills and techniques that will always be the backbone of this or any sales business; excellent communication, marketing and sale skills.

For this reason the real estate buyer or seller, while having fewer Realtors to choose from, should benefit from the fact that the group of agents who remain are most likely the best and brightest.

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Realtor and seller obligations under a listing agreement.


- Greg Staker - Watson Realty Corp. - 407-304-0255

Success school: Contracts and Addendums

I spent the day instructing 10 new agents of Watson Realty on the ins and outs of the Florida purchase agreement. This is part of our 8 day success school which is geared towards giving new agents a running start.

This market may require cutbacks but one thing Watson Realty will not cut back is the training and education we provide to our agents.

We believe our agents and customers deserve no less.


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- Greg Staker Watson Realty Corp. 407-304-0255

Florida home sales remain healthy

While the country experiences a sharp decline in home sales and even the Central Florida market adjusted sharply in 2006, the sellers who contracted associates from Watson Maitland to sell their property, have not felt the full brunt of the changing market.

As an office we have avoided the double digit drop in closed and written business volume that our competitors and sister offices have experienced. Part of the staying power has been the increase of listings and the ability to close new business we have opened.

Besides the increase in listings and limiting "fall-thrus", the associates of Maitland have been diligent in their marketing, dusting off old stand bys of days gone by. Open houses on nearly every day of the week, Broker opens, creative flyers and post cards to targeted neighborhoods, phone calls to their center of influences to ask for referrals. Sign riders, associate paid advertisement and neighborhood walking all have had a part to the success of this year.

Maitland associates have also embraced the new. Virtual tours, virtual caravans during sales meetings and personal and real estate related website positioning all work to give our sellers the maximum exposure. Targeting the limited supply of buyers is the goal that each and every associate takes seriously.

No better example of how noticeable their efforts have been than noting a call our floor agent received last week. As relayed to me, our associate received a call from a seller who has their home listed with a nationally known company. The seller, through their own research, found that Watson Realty Maitland lists their homes on several different classified websites. They were curious if we would tell them how we get such exposure, so they could relay it on to their listing associate. Amazing.

The back to basics theme appears to have worked. The experience level, business minded nature and professionalism that the Watson Maitland associates have insured their continued success this year.

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Real estate agent flying high

Advertise your home where it will do the most good


- Greg Staker Watson Realty Corp. 407-304-0255

Our buyers and sellers are the true winners. Instead of gimmicks and negative results, we have been able to provide to them a service that is made up of positive attitudes and fundamental practices.