I used to blog on the The StAugBlog at SeanHess.com and StAugTeam.com, my brokerage, but mostly it was just the same post, so I focused on the StAugTeam.com version.  This was about a year ago.

Well, in the coming weeks and months I’ll be reestablishing this site as the Broker site, dealing more with real estate commentary for agents.  As well as to beta test the plug ins and version upgrades that might crash the StAugTeam.com blog!

Hope to see you soon!

I’ll be updating my personal website over the next few weeks, so until then, catch all my blog posts on my company site (I own the company so you won’t be missing anything), at http://www.staugustineteamrealty.com/thestaugblog/ .  For the week of Halloween we’re doing “St. Augustine’s Most Terrifying,” be sure to check it out!

In a short sale does the seller have to submit all offers?

In a short answer: no. 

On the company site this morning I cover WHY a Short Sale Seller Doesn’t Have to Submit Multiple Offers.  I hope you enjoy the post!

How will the recent foreclosure halts affect me?

The foreclosure halts caught us all a bit by surprise.  But from the standpoint of a buyer or seller I think the affect will be minimal.  Prices will actually rise a bit for buyers, and sellers may get the extra time they need to close a short sale.

If you’re looking to buy a foreclosure, the process in the near future may more resemble a short-sale.  Short sales are notoriously long and drawn out, and as the banks sort through their paperwork mess you’ll just have to wait it out.  If you don’t already have a contract on a foreclosure, and since many of the existing foreclosures have been pulled from the market, a short sale might make more sense.  To sell a short sale you have to have the consent of the seller, so this absolves the lender from being sued over a fraudulent foreclosure.  Plus everything that I’ve heard is that a foreclosure is much more expensive (on its face) than a short sale, so it should make sense for lenders to go this route (this is nonwithstanding the “shadow profit” banks get from insurance, government bailout/subsidies, and deficiency judgments on the back end when they foreclose). 

Want to know more?  Read the entire post, How Will the Foreclosure Halt Affect Me?, at the St. Augustine Team Realty main site.  I hope you enjoy it!

So you’re looking at houses and you want to find out what school your children will attend. 

St. Johns County has the #1 ranked schools in the state for the second straight year.  If you’re looking in St. Johns County just go to http://www.gis.bocc.co.st-johns.fl.us/schoolaz/ and punch in the address, and the elementary, middle and high school.

And for Duval?  Well Duval ain’t #1 for the second straight year.  This is not a crack on Duval teachers…who are excellent by the way…but it is a crack on its bloated administration.  They want you to call…how quaint…and good luck if you want to check multiple addresses, or have anyone accountable if they give you bad information, or talk to someone if you call after hours, or call on Columbus Day.  Duval County Public Schools Pupil Placement Department can be reached at 904-390-2144, when they want to be reached.

You are going to list your house, and the agents you are interviewing have a BIG difference in list price.  What do you do?

I don’t think there are any pat answers here, but I cover your options in a post I did for the company site this morning: I’m Interviewing Agents & They’re $50,000 Apart!  I hope you enjoy the post!

I am currently renting a home that has closing on it at the end of the month. I am not officially in a lease. Do I have any rights to stay longer?

The short answer is seek a good real estate attorney’s advice immediately.  Or read the article I wrote on Renters Staying on After Closing at the St. Augustine Team Realty Site.  I hope you enjoy it!

If I’m trying to buy a bank-owned home and I get my loan through the same bank, will it give me an advantage?

If you want the long answer, read this post I did on the company site that covers Getting a Loan from the Same Bank when Buying a Bank Owned Home.

If you want the short anwer: there is probably no advantage even if you can find the bank.

The best advice?  What helps your offer the most is offering the best price and more imnportant the best terms. Be ready to close in 30 days, limit or eliminate contingincies and include a preapproval letter with your offer.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. List with us during the month of October and St. Augustine Team Realty will donate 5% of its gross commission from the sale to breast cancer reasearch. Since I also make a personal donation with each sale we can do a “double donation” for cancer research if you’d like. Call me today to get started at (904) 386-8327 or email me at Sean@StAugTeam.com!