Page 4 - Martin Downs Bulletin - March '21

Page 4, Martin Downs

Real estate

Treasure Coast Real Estate Is this trend here to stay? My bet is yes. Just as the change dramatically. It seems he was right, so I’m glad that I
Report big box retail industry is vacating shopping centers and took his advice and adapted. Others won’t.
Like the main character in Death of a Salesman, by
moving to online sales, the real estate industry seems to
be doing something similar. playwright Arthur Miller, there will be those that long
Real Estate Is Booming, But The Computer It was already heading that way, but the COVID-19 for the day when all a salesperson needed was “a smile
Is King situation just speeded things up. on their face and a shine on their shoes.”
I had lunch with a national real estate expert early last Jim Weix is a broker associate with The Keyes
By Jim Weix year, before COVID-19 became an issue. He told me that the Company. Jim has 24 years of experience selling real
COVID-19 changed a lot traditional way real estate is done was fast dying. He predicted estate full time. If you have questions or want the services
of things. There was a fear that everything from what sellers pay in commission, to how of an experienced expert, you can reach Jim at (772)
that it would put real estate properties are marketed, and the role a Realtor plays, would 341-2941 or jimweix@jimweix.com.
into a tailspin, but instead
it soared. Monthly sales
volume increases over the Kiwanis Club from page 1 at a ceremony attended by the canines and their handlers,
same month a year ago have Jensen Beach Key Club and its sponsor, Jeannette Utech,
become the norm. However, Foundation to add to the donation. Between grants and Kiwanis liaisons, Paulette and Marvin Crawford and
the pandemic has changed projects, $2,000 was raised – in spite of local schools that members of the Kiwanis Club of Martin County.
how things are done. had to be shut down before the project was completed, as To learn more about the Kiwanis Club of Martin County,
Gone are the Parade of a result of the pandemic. visit facebook.com/KiwanisClubofMartinCounty.
Homes type tours. One reason is that properly marketed On December 3, 2020, the Kiwanis Club of Martin
homes don’t stay on the market long enough to be on a tour. County presented a check for $2,000 to the MCSO K9 Unit Photos provided by Kiwanis Club of Martin County
The other is sellers don’t want a bunch of people marching
through their home.
The real estate industry has evolved into an industry where
computers and 3-D virtual tours play a dominate role. Instead
of an agent driving around in a clean car filled with a family
of buyers, that agent is spending their time showing homes
via the Internet.
One aspect of this new trend, and sometimes the most
frustrating, is that buyers prefer to first take a self-guided
virtual tour of a home, rather than actually going to it. This
can be a real timesaver for everyone, unless the listing agent
or seller doesn’t have such a tour of their property.
I hire a professional photographer to take photos, create a
3-D self-guided virtual tour, and aerials with a drone of all my
listings. However, if a buyer is interested in another property
that is not my listing or a For Sale by Owner, I often have to go
and do my own virtual tour. I do my best, but I often wonder
why a seller would settle for something less than professional.
A professional tour has also become even more important
now that people are less willing to hop on a plane. I’m selling
more and more homes where the buyer often never physically
sets foot in the home.
Instead, after the contract is signed, they rely on me to
meet with the home inspectors. Often, they have me take my
own close-up photos of certain areas. One recent event was
the buyer’s lender wanting pictures of a crawl space. As I
crawled into it, I was met with an opossum that didn’t want
to share its home with me.

Advertise in this Newspaper Members of MCSO K9 Unit, Key Club of Jensen Beach High School and Kiwanis of
Call (561) 746-3244 Martin County at check presentation

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Middle Districts of Florida . Local Honey . Local Fruits & afternoon

of holiday festivities.
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. Local Craft Beer . Summerlin SMAK childrens wishes and for

photo opportunities
(please be sure to bring your camera).

A local club will be selling
sweets & treats.
CARRIE LAVARGNA
CARRIE LAVARGNA
Accredited Estate Planner (AEP) "Farm'tastic fun will also
Board Certified Florida Turnpike
Real Estate Attorney SW CIitrus Blvd SW Martin Downs Blvd
REAL ESTATE PALM petting zoo, and obstacle
Cannot be combined with any
CITY

We provide quality, personal legal services to individuals and FARMS course for your children."

businesses in Martin and St. Lucie Counties and
throughout the Treasure Coast. SW Martin Hwy
1805 S. Kanner Highway, Stuart Financial Center, Stuart, FL 34994
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772 286 7521 3706 SW Citrus Blvd, Palm City
- REAL ESTATE PRACTICE TIP -

If you rent commercial o ce, retail, or warehouse space, Florida sales tax rate to use (772) 888-3103
commercial real property decreases to 5.7% on January 1, 2019. The local discretionary

sale surtax still applies. This decrease does not apply to parking or storage of motor Palm City Farms Produce and Market
vehicles, docking or storage of boats or tie-down or storage of aircraft.