September 2020

September Newsletter

Local Gulf Coast Real Estate News


Hello Friends and Happy September! Our local Gulf Coast real estate continues to be very active even during these unprecedented times. Michael Saunders herself recently commented on her employees stating ” this is truly the finest group of associates… even in the most uncertain of times, you have far exceeded my expectations”.

Year to date Michael Saunders & Company® stats as of 9/8/2020 are as follows:

  • Closed Volume: $2,121,741,620 up 9.06% over last year (same time period)
  • Closed Units: 4,075 up .05% over last year (same time period)
  • Avg. Sales Price: $520,667 up 8.26% over last year (same time period)

Inventory does remain low, so if you are considering selling your home, please reach out to me to begin that discussion!

August 2020 Statistics from Stellar MLS

8/20 MLS Stats by Stellar MLS

On a personal note… I wanted to touch upon loyalty and what it means to me. Loyalty means different things to each of us. It is most often a cherished value of an important, close relationship, one that has weathered the storm of time or trials. I can tell you, that YOUR loyalty is the reason my business has grown to the point it has. My loyal, repeat clients are multi-generational, spanning 20-90 years of age, first time home buyers to seasoned clients who have owned multiple homes, to investment buyers. When I reflect on what I regard as the most meaningful compliment any client can give me, it is when you entrust me to assist your children, parents or anyone in your circle, the very definition of loyalty in my eyes. Having recently completed a sight unseen purchase for a dear friend’s daughter, I was humbled by the trust in me to guide her through this purchase. It is an absolute joy when a client relationship, because of loyalty, comes full circle.

I am very thankful for all of you and count so many of you not only as clients, but dear friends.

Here’s to a continued partnership in real estate, friendship and loyalty.
Lenore

P.S. – on the subject of loyalty, I wanted to share with you that I recently marked my 20th year anniversary with Michael Saunders & Company®. So humbled to be part of such a wonderful company for so long.

Featured Listings

TESSERA
Tessera S Palm

500 S. PALM AVENUE, 10th floor, 102 | SARASOTA, FL 34236
3BR/3.5 BA | 3,315 SF | $2,795,000

Spectacular Bay, Gulf of Mexico, New Pass, City, and John Ringling Bridge views are yours in this sophisticated and exclusive Downtown Sarasota residence on the 10th floor. Refinished hardwood floors, a fresh color palette, beautiful limestone surfaces, modern LED Control 4 lighting/music/window treatments, and an updated kitchen package are just some of what makes this home better than new. The feeling of luxury is endless!

PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR YOUR PRIVATE SHOWING



MARK SARASOTA
Mark Sarasota S Pineapple

111 S. PINEAPPLE AVENUE, PH6, 1212 | SARASOTA, FL 34236
3BR+DEN/3.5BA | 2,612 SF | $1,945,000

Rarely available in Sarasota’s newest condominium building. Perched on the 12th floor, the three-bedroom plus den residence features over $100,000 in custom upgrades and a floorplan designed for easy living and effortless entertaining. Upon entering through 11′ solid core doors, blue skies, natural light and first-class Sarasota views become the backdrop to the main living space via floor-to-ceiling windows. Enjoy morning coffee while soaking in views from two terraces, one with summer kitchen with gas grill.

PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR YOUR PRIVATE SHOWING.



RENAISSANCE
Renaissance 750 N Tamiami

750 N. TAMIAMI TRAIL, 819 | SARASOTA, FL 34236
3BR/2BA | 1,460 SF | $660,000

New price and new look! Rarely available 3 bedroom Downtown condo with breathtaking bay and city views which create an extraordinary backdrop from this 8th floor end unit in the amenity-rich Renaissance. Just updated with complete interior painting, new kitchen tile floor, and new carpeting. The residence boasts a foyer/entrance hall that leads directly to the bright and open main living space featuring beautiful wood floors and a wealth of windows which flood the living and dining rooms with light and open to the waterside balcony. The spacious master suite with all wood floors offers an en-suite sitting area, large dual closets/dressing area and master bath with soaking tub and glass shower. Two guest suites are located on the opposite side of the unit, affording your guests privacy.

PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR YOUR PRIVATE SHOWING.

Pending Contracts and Recent Sales

401 S Palm Avenue

401 S Palm Avenue | 402
$1,895,000 | Under Contract


11 Sunset Drive

11 Sunset Drive | 307
$585,000 | Under Contract


5365 Landings Blvd

5365 Landings Blvd | 204
$389,000 | Under Contract



711 Mangrove Point

711 Mangrove Point
$3,665,000 | Represented Seller


1827 Grove Street

1827 Grove Street
$842,500 | Represented Seller


1661 Catalonia Lane

1661 Catalonia Lane
$800,000 | Represented Buyer


8906 Bloomfield Blvd

8906 Bloomfield Blvd
$799,000 | Represented Seller


4955 Landings Court

4955 Landings Court
$605,000 | Represented Seller


August Real Estate News

Florida Home Sales

Increased Home Sales, Demand and New Residents

Sarasota – Manatee Real Estate Market see increased home sales, demand

“The Sarasota and Manatee housing market showed renewed demand in July with a rise in sales, new listings, pending sales and pending inventory, according to reports compiled by Florida Realtors and provided by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee.”

Florida sees nearly 1,000 people move there daily as high-tax residents seek shelter: report

“Home sales have doubled in some parts of Florida, and the state is bringing 950 new residents in per day.”

August – 2020 Update

August Newsletter

Housing Market, July MLS Numbers, Around SRQ


Hello Friends – Buyers outnumber sellers in our housing market as inventory remains at a historical low, and all indications are that Florida will continue to see home sales surge through the end of the summer, with our biggest near-term issue being a severe lack of single-family inventory.

We have even seen a valuation increase in areas where prices had stabilized or even dropped a bit pre-COVID-19 – they have now jumped up again. The high demand from buyers and week-over-week sales continue to outpace even our early 2020 numbers. With sales exceeding new listings, inventory will stay low and prices will stay steady. Listing your home for sale now holds little downside with inventory at these number. Selling may be the best move to make this year.

July 2020 Statistics from Stellar MLS

7/20 MLS Stats by Stellar MLS

On a personal note… This has been an incredibly busy and successful first 9 months of 2020, with extra challenges due to global events as well as the customary challenges of many real estate transactions…while those who know me well know that I generally do not cook, I was recently inspired by the words of well-known restaurateur Danny Meyer regarding one of the greatest pieces of advice that he received from his late Grandfather which is applicable to any business:

“He heard me complaining one day… and he said stop complaining about problems… problems is the definition of business… the people who do best in business are not the ones with the least problems, they are the people who solve their problems better and have more fun doing it with better people… we are all solving problems all day… the question is who do you want to be solving your problems with… I was able to identify in my top performers that there were 6 emotional skills present at a very high level: kind optimism, curious intelligence, work ethic, empathy, self-awareness and integrity… now you have someone who is really good at what they do and who is motivated to do that thing because they are happier themselves when they are making you feel better.”

I hope that you find that I possess those characteristics that Danny looks for and that you know that I am happier when I make you feel better/successful.

Sincerely,
Lenore

News Briefs…

In and Around Sarasota

Farmers Market, Parks, Beaches, and More

Real estate has outranked stocks, savings accounts, and gold as the best long-term investment among Americans for the past 7 years. The belief in the stability of housing as a long-term investment remains strong, despite the many challenges our economy faces today. While the pandemic has been on the uptick in Florida, we in Sarasota are blessed to be living in an area that is seeing only a small increase. Our beautiful beaches, over 50,000 acres of parks and boundless boatable waterways lend us the opportunity to enjoy countless outdoor activities while social distancing. No wonder our real estate market has been so active – it’s a highly desirable place to live!

Saturdays got a little bit more normal with the Sarasota Farmers Market back in business. After a five-month shutdown, the market reopened Aug. 1 with a configuration to accommodate social distancing. More than 60 vendors are participating. A mask or face covering is required while walking through the market.


May – 2020

May Newsletter

Choices, Virtual Open House Event and Michael Saunders Moving Forward


As always, I hope this message finds you all healthy and well. I wanted to take a moment to share with you the most recent company update from Michael and Drayton Saunders. You will find the video below.

A few key takeaways are as follows:

Open for Business: Beginning Monday, May 18th, all Michael Saunders & Company locations will once again be open to the public. That said, protocols & guidelines will be closely adhered to in an effort to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being.

Choices: I’m grateful to work for a company that during these unprecedented times, is nimble enough to offer our clients a number of ways to effectively and safely meet your real estate goals. If you would like to schedule an in person showing or meeting, we can meet your needs. If you’d prefer to arrange a virtual walk through tour, we can accommodate that too. And lastly, several of my listings now feature 3-D Matterport tours that are accessible online under my Properties. We are here to assist and guide you in whatever capacity you are most comfortable with.

Company Wide Virtual Open House Event: With social distancing in mind, Michael Saunders & Company has moved fully digital to better serve our customers. On May 17th, my colleagues and I will be utilizing live streaming technology to bring buyers into homes for sale in our second-ever virtual open house event.

Details:
When: Sunday, May 17th 2:00pm-3:00pm
Where: Live on social media

Michael Saunders & Company Team

May Update, 5/15

Updates from Michael & Drayton


May – 2020

May Prospective

May Market Sense


All – As we close out the first week in May, I hope this communication finds you all safe and healthy. Given the current global circumstances, I can confidently say the real estate market, specific to Sarasota, remains steady with a slight upward trend. MLS is reporting for Sarasota/Manatee counties, 354 Active Listings, 411 Pending Listings and 406 Sold Listings. That’s up 95 Actives, 29 Pendings and 153 Solds from one week prior.

Regarding my own book of business, I have seen an uptick in showing requests as well as buyers interested in purchasing properties in many areas of Sarasota. In person as well as virtual showings are two options available if you are interested in seeing a particular residence. That said, several of my listings now have an added layer of functionality in the form of a Matterport 3-D virtual tour. This particular technology allows the user to essentially be “in” the residence without actually being on site. A big thanks to the www.hoverbureau.com for producing the tours for us. You can access the Matterports by going to my website, choose a specific property and then click the virtual tour icon.

Lastly, please take a moment to listen to the following weekly address from Michael and Drayton.

Michael Saunders & Company Team

Market Update 5/5 – Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte Counties

Michael & Drayton Saunders

I am always here to continue the conversation regarding your own personal real estate needs. Please feel free to reach out to me regarding real estate or to let me know how you are doing!


April – 2020

April Local Market Update

Keeping In Touch, Be Well


Clients and Friends,
I hope that this post finds each of you healthy and safe. For my colleagues and I, this time in which the market is understandably slower, affords us the opportunity to help guide and advise clients on a variety of potential next steps, and “what ifs” with regards to purchasing or selling a residence. For some, that will be a new home either by way of desire or necessity, and for others that may be determining whether to sell or remain. That said, real estate transactions are still happening throughout our area and the Sarasota/Manatee market is open for business.

Secondly, as you know, we live in a highly technical/digital world, and in these current times I have to say I’m so grateful! With the use of 3D walk-through video tours, virtual showings and Matterport/IGuide functionality, we have the ability to showcase any listing or home of interest while keeping everyone’s health and safety top of mind. Stay tuned for this enhancement on many of my listings.

Lastly, take a moment to listen to the latest market information and guidance from our Founder and CEO, Michael Saunders, and President, Drayton Saunders.

As always, please feel free to reach out to me directly to discuss any thoughts or concerns.
– Lenore

Michael Saunders & Company team

Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte Counties

Michael & Drayton Saunders


March – 2020 Special Edition

March Special Edition

Uplifting


Hope this newsletter finds everyone healthy and safe.

This month is a two-fold “Special Edition”…my On a Personal Note shares something uplifting and positive in a difficult and stressful time – some of my favorite photos from recent morning walks are below.


Inspiration, Sunrise to Sunset

View my most recent images below, see my morning walks, afternoon and evening inspiration from sunrise to sunset.

Midmorning Walk Along The Beach
Midmorning Walk Along The Beach
SRQ Sunset
Golf Course At Sunset
Golf Course Water
Golf Course At Dawn

Hope these put a smile on your face as we reach out to each other to gain strength from the important people in our lives.

Michael Saunders & Company team

The 2nd part of this Newsletter shares a video link to Michael and Drayton Saunders 3/30/20 message: A Look at the Local Real Estate Market. I am proud to be part of the Michael Saunders & Company team, with incredible leadership and guidance from our Founder and CEO, Michael Saunders, and President, Drayton Saunders.

A Look At The Local Real Estate Market

Michael & Drayton Saunders

Please reach out to me to discuss any of your real estate questions, or just to say hello…I would love to hear from you!

Wishing everyone good health now and in the coming years!

Sincerely,
Lenore


February – 2020

Real Estate ROI: The Value of Real Estate Property Staging

Value of Property Staging

On a personal note, I think (and hope) that anyone who knows me professionally and/or personally knows that I try to think outside of the box.

It’s well known that the internet revolutionized the way real estate is sold with over 50% of buyers first finding their home on the internet. Beautiful photography and well-written copy go a long way to engage buyers in your home online. The value of Property Staging.

So is that enough? I am very proud of 2 initiatives that I employ in my marketing toolbox regularly to elevate your listing that have already shown their value in 2020. Staging is a proven way to create a beautifully decorated home and broaden your property’s appeal​ to the largest percentage of our current buyer pool. Thank you to my sellers of 1744 Fortuna, 1522 Lakeshore, and 7501 Midnight Pass Road who agreed to re-stage this year. Success! 1744 Fortuna went under contract within 10 days of the new photography hitting the MLS. Lakeshore and Midnight Pass are in the process of being re-introduced and I anticipate positive results for those properties as well.

Big thanks to Doshia Wagner of Non-Stop Staging and Diana Cloud of Design Refinement Group.

Staging in Sarasota

Non-Stop Staging
Value of Property Staging
Design Refinement Group
Value of Property Staging - Design Refinement Group

Events are another way to bring extra attention to your property. I am proudly participating in the Junior League Tour which will be held on 2/28 and 2/29. Three of the five properties on the Tour are my listings, including 2 that have been re-staged. All are fantastic properties that I hope you come to see.

Here’s the link: Sarasota Tour of Homes

I appreciate that my clients will collaborate with me on important initiatives that are beyond the norm. Thank you!


October – 2019

October Newsletter

Siesta Key Property & Bash On The Bayou


Celebrate Sarasota Property. You’re Invited. Siesta Key Property; a celebration of local giving and exceptional island homes.

First, spend an evening cruising on Cocoanut Bayou courtesy of Marine Max exploring $12 million worth of Siesta Key real estate, including my beautiful listing on Mangrove Point Road. Second, learn about the latest initiatives of Captains for Cleean Water, cocktails from Siesta Key Rum, live music and lite bites. In conclusion, view additional Sarasota and Siesta Key properties and listings.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2019
5:00P.M. TO 7:00P.m.

Downtown Sarasota – Siesta Key: Exclusive Listings

711 Mangrove Point Road | Sarasota, FL 34242
Siesta Key Island Property - 711 Mangrove Point

Coastal traditional estate poised on one-and-a-half acres of botanical beauty. Within secluded South Cocoanut Bayou, the four-bedroom home creates warm environments of seaside elegance coupled with spectacular outdoor areas and a lifestyle dedicated to boating and nautical enjoyment.

$3,997,000 | Siesta Key | Single Family | 5,752 Sq. Ft.


September – 2019

September Social Media Update

Be Social – Connect via Instagram, Facebook or Linkedin.

Social Media is a powerful marketing and communications tool.

The ways in which a property can be viewed by a potentially limitless number of people with a simple tap, swipe, click or hashtag search is undeniably impactful. For instance, the ability to allow a buyer to take a glimpse at your property without ever stepping foot inside has transformed our industry.

Find Me On Instagram

Social Media - Lenore on Instagram
Featured Social Media Accounts

Because of that game-changing impact, we are featuring properties on both my personal Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn pages as well as working closely with the Michael Saunders & Company® communications team to gain more visibility for your listings. Short video clips which incorporate photos along with a brief fact set of the residence is a simple yet effective way to peak interest from a buyer, broker, or agent. It’s just enough, it grabs attention, it’s immediate, and it works.

In keeping with my regular “On a personal note”, I always remember that real estate is still very personal. The impact of the one-on-one meeting, direct eye contact once an important decision has been made, warmth of a smile after a contract has been signed, or the power of a handshake once the final signature has been penned are paramount to a successful transaction. My staff and I will continue to strive to provide you with the best of both worlds, bridging the gap of powerful data driven social media tools, while never losing sight of the importance of the human connection.

Sincerely,
Lenore