Super-Duper Home in Venice Florida Open Sunday, March 28, 1 to 3 PM!  Refreshments will pale in comparison to this fine home of 2454 Square feet under air.  3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths and a 2 Car Garage satisfy your basic criteria for a new home, but wait till you see the Pool with its almost new Diamond Quartz surfaces; the Pool Cage with its new Fiberglass Screen Fabric; the Hardwood Floors at entry and in the Living and Dining Rooms; the Ceramic Tile in the Kitchen and Family Rooms and the almost new carpets elsewhere!   This Super-Duper Home in Venice resides in the very (yes, very) popular Governor's Green Gated Community of Plantation Golf and Country Club, on the South side of Venice, the Historic Town and Beach in Sarasota County.  Everything seems in easy reach of PGCC and this supe... 03/25/2010

No, I was not on a trip to 'Good Old England' and stopped to marvel at mature residents playing what I used to think was a childs game that I couldn't spell...CROQUET! I was cruising by Wellfield Sports Park in Venice Florida, to watch my grandson play baseball, when "What Before My Wondering Eyes Would Appear" (to the tune of "T'was The Night Before Christmas as the Reindeer were Landing!) BUT tens of Earthlings/Aliens (?), all dressed in WHITE! Yes, I was as amazed as the Kids seeing Santa and Rudolph when I saw real people actually playing Croquet on a field especially made for the sport.  Have you ever seen such a marvelous thing in sports.  I have once in a while seen kids and an adult or two playing on a backyard of uncertain terrain and obstacles, but never anything approaching a... 03/17/2010

  Yes-Yes-Yes Venice Florida is having an EXTRAVAGANZA on Sunday, the 21st of March!  Over a HUNDRED OPEN HOUSES all over the town and area will be open during the 1:00 to 4:00 PM time slot.  Many will have refreshments and snacks, all will have cheerful REALTORS® or their enlightening assistants.  The Venice Area Board of REALTORS® is sponsoring this event along with the Venice Gondolier paper, so that the many seasonal visitors have easy access to the many fine homes on the market  See the BIG Advertisement on Saturday, the 20th of March, in the Venice Gondolier of Sun Coast Media.  Balloons will be all over the place to help everyone fine the property's (and the snacks). SEE YOU THERE!     03/16/2010

Venice/Englewood Real Estate Market Update The number of properties available for sale in the Venice/Englewood area real estate markets has decreased for the month of February, down 1.8% from January 2010; 3331 homes for sale to 3272 homes for sale.  Pending sales are up again, up 8.9% from January 2010; 514 properties pending to 560 properties pending.  Closed sales have increased from January 2010 by 24.5%, from 290 properties sold to 361 properties sold during the month of February 2010.  The increase in homes sold in the Venice FL area in February can be attributed to a variety of reasons; Buyers utilizing the First Time Homebuyers Tax Credit of $8000 and Move Up Homebuyers Tax Credit of up to $6500 or Buyers taking advantage of the most affordable Venice FL Home prices in decades. ... 03/13/2010

The Venice Area Board of Realtors (VABR) PR/Media Committee has been organizing a Regional Open House event to be held on Sunday, March 21st AND the Florida Realtors (FAR) announced a Statewide Open House Event for the weekend of April 10-11.  MARK YOUR CALENDARS! In addition to Press Releases and announcements posted to various community calendars, VABR will also be promoting the event in both papers the week previous to and the week of March 24.  The value and success of this event will hinge on the involvement of all our Realtor and affiliate members.  The goal is to have as many homes open on that day as is possible!  Would suggest that: Individual Realtors include their referral network in their Open House planning and use resources such as Home/Pest Inspectors, Mortgage Lenders, T... 03/05/2010

  Venice MainStreet, Inc.Wednesday  February 24,  2010    Gold Coast Eagle Distributing announces that the Budweiser Clydesdales are returning to Venice.  They will be at Downtown Venice on Thursday, March 4 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.   The staging will be at the Community Center beginning at 4:00 pm, where you can see the Clydesdales stepping out of their trailers.  At 5:00 pm, from the Center they will proceed down Nassau Avenue to Miami Avenue to Nokomis Avenue then on to Venice Avenue, then back to the Community Center.   This will be another great opportunity to see the Budweiser Clydesdales in action; thank you to Gulf Coast Eagle Distributing and Venice Chamber of Commerce.     Come and enjoy all that Downtown Venice has to offer! Venice MainStreet, Inc. Mission is:  Historic Pres... 02/26/2010

    Once again the horses that made Budweiser famous (or vice-a-versa) will be in Venice Florida, so don't miss them this time.  Their size will amaze you, if you have never been up along side them.  And, even if you have experienced them before, you will love them once again!   This trip is sponsored by Venice's Outstanding "Main Street, Inc." and their announcement is posted here for all to see!     Gold Coast Eagle Distributing announces that the Budweiser Clydesdales are returning to Venice.  They will be at Downtown Venice on Thursday, March 4 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.   The staging will be at the Community Center beginning at 4:00 pm, where you can see the Clydesdales stepping out of their trailers.  At 5:00 pm, from the Center they will proceed down Nassau Avenue to Milan Avenue t... 02/24/2010

In Venice Florida, one of our largest and most beautiful trees is the Banyan Tree.  This tree is one of the many trees that line the main road to Venice Beach on Venice Avenue.  Contact Kari A. Battaglia, PA GRI SFR SRES® , licensed REALTOR® in Venice Florida at 941-270-1851 to list your home, answer general questions or to help you search for homes for sale in Venice Florida.  I currently serve customers in Venice Florida, Englewood Florida, Nokomis Florida, South Venice, Laurel, Osprey and Casey Key and Manasota Key communities.  As a private landowner, I also have Tennessee properties available in the Chattanooga area. Call or email me to receive a list of Tennessee properties available for sale. Contact me by email at Kari@DiscoverVeniceRealEstate.com.  Need information fast, call m... 02/24/2010

Recently a homeowner who was unhappy with their agent called me to preview their home and give them my suggestions.  I thought - great, an opportunity to pick up another listing.  When I arrived the homeowner showed me around but something just did not feel right and I was beginning to realize I was alone in the house with this guy.  While the homeowner was giving me the tour there was a power outage and there we were in the dark.  It was daylight but all the blinds were lowered.  This concerned me even more.  We continued to talk but there were several times he put his hand on my shoulder.  I instantly put distance between us and asked him to show me the canal in the backyard.  I just felt like I needed to get outside in the open.  This is the first time that I have ever felt concerned... 02/20/2010

Direct from our Coldwell Banker Home Loans rep, credit requirements for borrowers that have Bankruptcy, Foreclosure, Deed In Lieu of Foreclosure, and Short Sale at a glance: Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: 2 years from the discharge date or 4 years from the dismissal date. Bankruptcy (all except chapter 13): 4 years from either the discharge or the dismissal date of the bankruptcy action. Multiple Bankruptcy Filings: 5 years from the most recent dismissal or discharge date is required for borrowers with more than one bankruptcy filing within the past 7 years.   Foreclosure: 5 years from the completion date. Additional requirements that apply after 5 years up to 7 years following the completion date: Purchases must be a primary residence with a minimum 20% down payment (in the State of Florida) a... 02/19/2010

Even with the demand for quality homes, consumers expect more.  Ring in the New Year right by getting your home in shape.   Properties must be presented well and priced correctly if you want "top dollar" for your home.  What you do six months before you put your house on the market can make a difference of thousands of dollars more (or thousands of dollars less!) that you realize from the sale of your home. Most homeowners think their home will sell quickly, that their home is special and will bring a good price.  In fact, a lot of all new listings that go on the market eventually expire, with the home still unsold. As a homeowner, you have many important factors to consider when you're thinking about placing your home on the market.  Your home is your most valued possession.  You need ... 02/16/2010

  Property Update Report by Kari A. Battaglia For more information please call (941)-270-1851 The report summarizes listings sold, as well as active/pending listings for Pelican Pointe Golf & Country Club.  Listings summarized in the following table are based on information from the Mid Florida Regional MLS and/or other MLS Services.  Properties sold were not all listed by Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate and were listed by various MLS participating offices.  Please note that For Sale By Owner properties are excluded because they often do not represent the full value of what they could sell for when properly priced and exposed to a greater number of qualified buyers through a professional real estate agent.  The most recent listings sold are shown in more detail below as they rep... 02/15/2010

Property Update Report by Kari A. Battaglia For more information please call (941)-270-1851 The report summarizes listings sold, as well as active/pending listings for Sawgrass of Venice.  Listings summarized in the following table are based on information from the Mid Florida Regional MLS and/or other MLS Services.  Properties sold were not all listed by Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate and were listed by various MLS participating offices.  Please note that For Sale By Owner properties are excluded because they often do not represent the full value of what they could sell for when properly priced and exposed to a greater number of qualified buyers through a professional real estate agent.  The most recent listings sold are shown in more detail below as they represent the best in... 02/15/2010

Property Update Report by Kari A. Battaglia For more information please call (941)-270-1851 The report summarizes listings sold, as well as active/pending listings for Jacaranda West.  Listings summarized in the following table are based on information from the Mid Florida Regional MLS and/or other MLS Services.  Properties sold were not all listed by Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate and were listed by various MLS participating offices.  Please note that For Sale By Owner properties are excluded because they often do not represent the full value of what they could sell for when properly priced and exposed to a greater number of qualified buyers through a professional real estate agent.  The most recent listings sold are shown in more detail below as they represent the best indica... 02/08/2010

Venice Golf & Country Club Property Update Report by Kari A. Battaglia For more information please call (941)-270-1851 The report summarizes listings sold, as well as active/pending listings for Venice Golf & Country Club.  Listings summarized in the following table are based on information from the Mid Florida Regional MLS and/or other MLS Services.  Properties sold were not all listed by Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate and were listed by various MLS participating offices.  Please note that For Sale By Owner properties are excluded because they often do not represent the full value of what they could sell for when properly priced and exposed to a greater number of qualified buyers through a professional real estate agent.  The most recent listings sold are shown in more detail ... 02/05/2010

Guest Blogger - Lena Reid, BB&T Bank AVP, Mortgage Loan Officer FHA Property Flipping Rules -(Temporary Policy Change) HUD is taking action to expedite the sales of foreclosed properties to new homebuyers.  FHA currently prohibits insuring a mortgage on a home owned by the seller for less than 90 days. Effective with Purchase Contracts dated on and after February 1, 2010, the 90 day Property Flipping Rule will not apply. This policy is temporary ONLY and has very strict conditions (SEE BELOW) to assure against predatory practices.   (Change is effective for a 1 year period unless otherwise extended or withdrawn by the FHA Commissioner.) This policy change will permit homebuyers to use FHA-insured financing to: • Purchase HUD-Owned Properties • Bank Owned Properties • Properties Resold t... 02/04/2010

Guest Blogger - Lena Reid, BB&T Bank AVP, Mortgage Loan Officer FHA CURRENTLY HAS NO APPROVED CONDO PROJECTS - ALL PREVIOUS APPROVALS HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED! Due to recent announcements in the industry concerning condominiums, no previously approved FHA projects will be accepted for any loans! This change is effective with new applications on and after February 1, 2010. Discontinuance of FHA-Approved Condominium Projects It was announced by Fannie Mae and VA recently and by Freddie Mac today that the practice of accepting FHA-Approved condominiums on loans sent for purchase or guarantee is discontinued. As a consequence of the above - we must no longer accept FHA-Approved condominiums for ALL LENDING products, including but not limited to Conventional, all Government (except for FHA, of c... 02/03/2010

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       You may find this hard to believe and while it has a moral, of some sorts, I don't know what it might be?        Up in the top drawer of our Hi-Boy Chest of Drawers resided 5 of my favorite sweaters, the garments               that we use on about 10  occasions all winter long down here in Paradise.  Of the 5, I used 1 or 2 most years and never the others. DUH, it finally donned on me to donate 3 of them to the Goodwill folks, who do so much good in all of our communities, right?  What motivated me was the receipt of a really nice oversized one... 02/01/2010

A friendly reminder:  Please visit the Sarasota County Property Appraiser's Office in South Venice to file for your 2010 Homestead Exemption by Monday, March 1st. For homeowners who bought their home in 2009 and had a Homestead Exemption already in place when you bought your home, you need to file for your own exemption by Monday, March 1st or you will lose the exemption.  When applying for the Homestead Exemption, you will need to bring several items listed below that serve as evidence of property ownership and Florida residence.  Married couples are required to bring this information for both spouses.  By the time you come into their office to file an application, it is very likely that your name will already be in their records showing you as the property owner.  However, it is recom... 01/31/2010

Another exciting event that the Venice Area Board of Realtors "Green Committee" is sponsoring, along with Sarasota Florida's Natural Awakenings Magazine, Tri County Air Conditioning & Heating, and BB&T Bank, is the Venice Area Green Living Expo to be held at Centennial Park downtown Venice on Saturday, April 10th, 2010.  Vendors have an opportunity to educate the public on Energy Efficiency, sources of "Green" materials, speakers with topics that include rebates available for consumers who convert to "energy wise" appliances, etc. Admission is free for the public.  To participate as a vendor: Cost: $50.00 for a 16x10 space Space is limited, approximately 100 spaces available at Centennial Park, downtown Venice Participants must bring their own table, electric, etc. For information email... 01/30/2010