Florida Keys Press Releases
May 2007
Lack Of Buyers Forcing Realtors To Change Their Marketing
Key West , Fla./May 22nd, 2007 --- The current buyers market has created two major problems for real estate agents and how they get their customers.
The majority of agents have built their business around listings, while
only a smaller percentage have aggressively marketed to buyers, even though
the highest majority of buyers are online.
Only 11 percent of a typical Real estate agents advertising dollars has
been put to online use. The majority is still spent on expensive print
ads.
Key West REALTOR, Tina Masters remarked, "Real estate is one of the
most searched terms in Google and according to the National Association
of Realtors, over 74 percent of buyers go online, and of these, 78 percent
find their real estate agents on the internet. The statistics indicate
that agents need to shift priorities and actively go after online buyers."That
is exactly why; I have launched a Key West web site that answers all the
questions a Buyer would want to know about investing in Key West and the
lower Florida Keys.
When asked about how the site came about, Tina remarked, “It’s amazing
to me how many sites a person has to wade through to get information about
Key West and the lower Florida Keys. Most sites ask you to fill out forms
and wind up giving only a glossed over picture and provide very limited
content. In today’s market people want real information such as, cost of
living, employment, health, arts and culture, the weather and more.
June 2007
Florida Keys Housing Situation Benefiting Buyers
Due to limited growth laws,
seller concessions, pricing and availability, the Florida Keys are proving
themselves to be especially beneficial for Real Estate buyers.
Key West Florida June 29th, 2007 -- Florida Keys sales reported by the
regional Multiple Listing Services indicate that in spite of median home
prices in the Keys going from $237,000 in 1999 to $690,000 in 2006, this
years sales will be the third best year ever recorded.
When asked about how rising prices and increased availability could possibly
be a benefit, Tina Masters (REALTOR for Coldwell Banker Schmitt) remarked:
There are Four very important scenarios about the Keys market that are
attracting buyers right now.
1. The Florida Keys are one of the worlds most popular destinations and
our tourism market is growing.
2. Due to environmental and transportation concerns, the Keys are in a
restricted growth area. This means there are only so many properties and
when those are gone, that’s it! Limited housing means above average appreciation.
3. Due to increased prices and a larger for sale inventory, sellers are
making concessions such as holding paper back, lease options and creative
owner financing.
4. Although home prices are high, Investors realize that ten to fifteen
years from now, they’ll be the same in relation to the ridiculously low
prices of the 70s and 80s which makes most of us wish we’d gotten more
involved with Real Estate.
Tina also added: Even though our prices have gone up, we’re still less
expensive than other national and international tourist destinations plus
there’s the fact that waterfront, destination resort areas have always
proved to be one of the best Real Estate investments.
July 2007
Key West kayaking recreation is really taking off!
Key West and the lower Florida keys offer incredible year round kayaking
opportunities.Key West is the perfect starting point to begin a tropical
paddling adventure. Several Key West companies offer daily instruction
and kayak and canoe rentals.
Popular outings include the lower Keys backcountry, which encompasses hundreds
of square miles.
Key West Florida, July 30th, 2007. Per Key West REALTOR,
Tina Masters: Key West offers some of the most beautiful kayaking waters
in the Florida Keys. Kayakers can easily spend several days enjoying the
turquoise waters of either the Atlantic Ocean or Florida Bay (Gulf of Mexico).
When asked
about this form of recreation, Tina Masters remarked, One of the reasons
Kayaking here is so popular is that it’s both a mild physical exercise
and is not age restrictive.
Normal health is sufficient and many persons with physical handicaps can
also enjoy this great recreational form. In addition we are seeing that
fishing from kayaks is also increasing in popularity. Several of the local
outfitters specifically cater to this new sport.
This is just another reason our residents love the Key West area.
Sept 2007
International buyers for Key West property increasing
Despite the housing
slowdown, international clients accounted for a significant share of REALTORS®
business in the U.S from April 2006 to April 2007
According to the 2007 NAR Profile-International Home Buying Activity,
in the U.S. is still significant and growing. In addition, international
clients accounted for a significant share of REALTORS® business in the
U.S from April 2006 to April 2007.
Stats:
Almost one third of REALTORS® reported that they had some business with
international clients during that time period. And more than half of
those international clients actually purchased a home. For seven percent
of REALTORS®, over half of their transactions were with foreign buyers.
Eighteen percent of all REALTORS® who had international clients had successful
home sales transactions with those foreign buyers.
Key West Florida Sept 23rd, 2007 – Per Florida Keys and Islamorada REALTOR,
Tina Masters: We are seeing more interest from overseas investors in the
Key West area. Basically, Key West has always been a favorite vacation
spot for both Canadian and British families, and now with the advantage
of the British pound, there are some real bargains out there.
In addition,
Banks are willing to do financing for these buyers, especially with the
reduced market.
When asked if this would have any immediate effect
on Key West Real Estate, Tinaalso remarked: Well, it’s a fact that the
prices have come down, and there are some real deals out there, so yes,
this has to help.
Jan 2008
Florida Keys Sanctuary seminar provides an above average environmental
educational opportunity
The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is providing Keys residents and visitors a unique opportunity to learn about marine research, conservation and undersea explorationKey West Florida Jan, 17th, 2008 -- The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Florida Keys Community College are providing Keys residents and visitors a unique opportunity to learn about marine research, conservation and undersea exploration from leading ocean experts during a six-week seminar.The seminar will offer a Keys perspective on the 2008 International Year of the Reef, a worldwide campaign to educate the public about the value and importance of coral reefs and threats to their sustainability.The seminar will also feature lectures from fishery research biologist Jim Bohnsack on the latest successes of marine protected areas and Kim Ritchie of Mote Marine Laboratory on new findings about corals' ability to fight disease.In addition Brenda Lanzendorf, archeologist and cultural resources manager for Biscayne National Park, will provide details about the latest underwater archaeological discoveries and techniques in the Florida Keys and Biscayne Bay.
Tina Masters (Key West specialist and REALTOR for Coldwell Banker Schmitt)
remarked: this is a great seminar and focuses the worlds environmental
experts on the Florida Keys.
Tina also added: This seminar also reinforces the dedication that the people
in the Keys have to promoting and saving our environment.When asked how this
could benefit Key West Real Estate Tina added-The environment is everything
to the Keys and our market.
It is extremely important for both our residents and future citizens, to
see and understand how serious we are about protecting this national treasure.
Feb 2008
Key West residents are turning green.
The past four months have shown the largest increase in Key West's recycling rates that some officials have ever seen.(PressMethod) Per MANDY BOLEN of the newspaper the Key West Citizen- The past four months have shown the largest increase in Key West's recycling rates that some officials have ever seen. The 7.6 percent rate was the highest Havens has seen in the seven years he has been managing the program, he said. City spokeswoman Christie Phillips said the increase is a result of the island's new environmental initiative that includes efforts from several groups to raise awareness and participation in environmental programs.
Environmental groups such as Green Living and Energy Education (GLEE)
are working to combat the public opinion that items placed curbside in
Waste Management's blue plastic containers are not being recycled. "One
of the complaints we always hear is that they're throwing recyclables into
the garbage truck," Deputy Assistant City Manager Annalist Mannix
said in November, referring to Waste Management's fleet of green trucks.
So we asked them to change the color of the recycling trucks to help promote
recycling. Apparently, efforts are working.
Key West Florida February, 27th,
2008,Tina Masters (Key West specialist and REALTOR for Coldwell Banker
Schmitt) remarked, this is great news and demonstrates to the worlds environmental
experts that people in the Keys are serious about this.
When asked how this could benefit Key West Real Estate Tina added-The environment
is everything to the Keys and our market. It is extremely important for
both our residents and future citizens, to see and understand how serious
we are about protecting this national treasure.
April 2008
Florida is growing green.
Florida is steering energy policy down a cleaner and greener path that
could reduce the states dependence on fossil fuels and curb greenhouse
gas emissions.
(PressMethod) - . Last year, among other significant shifts, Gov. Charlie
Crist set ambitious goals for reducing emissions. The state made unprecedented
investments in alternative-energy research and the Florida Public Service
Commission denied a pair of coal-fired plants proposed by Florida Power & Light
for Glades County, a decision that sent another major coal-plant proposal
in Taylor County back to the drawing board.
The Trends
1.Plans for three new nuclear plants in Florida
2.Stepped-up use of solar energy
3.Increasing concerns about energy's water use
4.Changes to Florida's energy policy Key West Florida April, 24th, 2008,
Tina Masters (Key West specialist and REALTOR for Coldwell Banker Schmitt) remarked, this is great news and demonstrates to the worlds environmental experts that The State of Florida is serious about this. When asked how this could benefit Key West Real Estate Tina added-The environment is everything to The State and of course is the main attraction for the Keys and our market.It is also extremely important for both our residents and future citizens, to see and understand how serious we are about protecting this national treasure.
MAY 2008
Florida Keys real estate group determined to fight negative press with
facts
The Key West real estate market is doing just fine, according to a professional
association of Realtors in Key West
Per the Key West assn of Realtors, The Key West real estate market is
doing just fine, according to a professional association of Realtors in
Key West.
They have had enough of negative news stories, and are mounting a campaign
to let people know that their market is beginning to recover, using the
slogan "Key West Real Estate — It's Doing Just Fine!"
Over the past year, the national news media continues to paint a grim picture
of real estate. The fact is that in Key West, while our market has changed,
we are doing much better than in other parts of Florida and are beginning
to see signs of recovery; indeed, we are doing just fine.
Jimmy Lane, president of the Key West Association of Realtors, says our
real estate market is beginning to recover. "Since January 2008 we
have sold 129 properties in 137 days just in Key West; that is almost one
property per day," Lane said. "This does not count the many properties
also sold in the Lower Florida Keys
Key West Florida May, 29th, 2008, Tina Masters (Key West residential sales specialist and REALTOR for Coldwell Banker Schmitt) remarked, Since Key West is such a unique place, our Real Estate trends are different from the rest of the country. The fact is, we are a destination resort area and as such people buying property here are looking for what the area has to offer. They are not just buying another home.
When asked how this affects Key West Real Estate Tina added-Well, everyone has a dream of sometime retiring to somewhere warm and sunny and enjoying a less stressfull environment. That is definitely what we have always offered-so there is only one Key West.
About Tina Masters. Tina is the owner of a Key West real Estate website located at www.yourkeywestagent.com designed specifically to help people relocating to Key West and the lower Florida Keys.
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