Welcome

If you are on this page you are probably strarting the journey into home ownership, either for the first time or this could be your tenth home, no matter what this is probably on of the most expensive purchases you will make.  As a result of this it is important to understand the process of purchasing a home.  It's more than looking at pictures and picking out a house.  It's the neighborhood, what your life style is and what you want to do - Are you upgrading or downsizing?  Are you bringing your present furniture or buying new? 

Above all be realistic as to what you can afford to pay each month.  How we got into the housing debacle was people just knew they could get a 1% interest only loan and re-finance in three years and all would be great because they would have that new job. Well reality hit when the market started to drop. mortgages started to climb and there was no equity left in the homes to refinance.  Voila -- foreclosures began.

Many people didn't realize that they not only had a mortgage on their home but a note on them.  So when they threw in the keys and walked away from their home that pesky note went right along with them.  In a few more years if not sooner there are going to be a lot of surprised people when the banks start coming after them.  If you know someone thinking of doing just that, please have them call me so we can talk about the options. 

Todays market is full of rumors about what a short sale is, what a REO product is (that's bank owned) and how the process should be done.  Believe me, most of what you have heard is not true, you can't make the banks do a job any faster by making a date of closing within 60 days when I will tell you we need to do a minimum of 120.  Don't believe "the banks want to get rid of the homes so they will take this low figure. "  The banks do the appraisal and they know what the home is worth in this market, so do yourself a favor and listen to your real estate agent if it isn't me.  Save yourself a lot of grief, and a lot of paper pushing to no avail.  Professional Real Estate Agents pretty much know what the property is worth today, so don't just dive for the bottom. 

As your real estate agent, I'll bring my years of experience successfully buying and selling homes in the local market. I know the neighborhoods, schools, market conditions, zoning regulations and what it takes to make the deal go through. I've lived on the West Coast of Florida since 1958 from Naples to St Petersburg.  Manatee County is where I call home but Sarasota County is my back yard. 

It takes a full-time commitment - anything less and you'd be short changed. As a full-time agent, I'm able to "work the market" for you, keeping up-to-date with new listings and conditions as they impact the market. I not only sell re-sales but am also an expert in the New Homes Market.  I keep up to date with the builders and where the new communities are going and where the best builder deals are located.

It would be my honor to serve as your real estate agent. Let's get together to talk about your home buying and/or selling plans. Call me at the office (941-727-7345) or on my cell phone (941-527-8669) or send me an e-mail (pat@patbakersellsflorida.com), we'll set-up a time to meet that is easy and convenient for you. Out of state?  Not a problem, many of my clients lived someplace else, we keep in touch via email, phone and of course during your Florida vacations. 

I look forward to working with you!

Pat Baker
941-727-7345
patsellingflorida@gmail.com

P.S. If you're not ready to meet in person, please tour my website. I'm sure you'll find the resources here useful and helpful. Enjoy!