Archive for the 'Keller Williams' Category

KW Cares, Wine & Salsamole

November 7th, 2007 categories: Keller Williams, Tampa Realtor

Keller Williams Realty has a public charity, known as KW Cares, created to support Keller Williams Realty associates and their families in times of extreme hardship as a result of a sudden emergency.

Last night our firm sponsored a KW Cares benefit, graciously hosted by one of our agents at her beautiful Beach Park home. It was a sort of wine tasting, or wine consumption get together if you will. The wine was procured from Vintage Wine Cellars, a great wine specialty shop down the street from our offices. The benefit was for one of our staff members who needs some help with medical bills. It was a great time for great cause.

I was asked to bring to along a food item for the gathering, and agreed that I would whip up a batch of my guacamole. My brother is a professional chef in Bridgehampton, N.Y., and he makes a killer guacamole, which I’ve tweaked to my liking over the years. It’s a little more involved than your average guacamole and I refer to it as Kicked-Up Salsamole.

The salsamole was well received and I was asked for the recipe by a few folks. So I figured I would plug it in here, where anyone can come and get it.

So here goes:

• 4 ripe Haas avocados, meat scooped out and mashed (leave it somewhat chunky)
• 1 small to medium red onion, diced.
• 2 large tomatoes, peeled, seeded, diced.
• 2 fresh jalapenos, seeded and diced.
• Juice of 2 medium limes or about 1.5–2 ounces.
• 2 tbs of freshly chopped cilantro.
• Salt to taste (lots of lime and salt make your mouth happy).

Mix it all together in a bowl and chill for at least an hour before serving with chips, etc.

Here’s an entertaining 5 minute video on how to peel, seed and dice a tomato. As a bonus, the recipe for ice-water is also included.

¡Disfrute!

Learn about KW Cares

Posted by Lenny Gurvich | No Comments »

The Title Company’s Role In a Tampa Real Estate Closing

May 29th, 2007 categories: Tampa Real Estate, Keller Williams, Tips for Sellers

Many of our clients don’t understand exactly what a title company brings to the table (literally) at closing.

Here we go:

The services a title company provides are best divided into two categories:

• Providing title insurance
• Providing services to close the transaction

Providing Title Insurance To Tampa Home buyers

What is title insurance? Title insurance is an insurance policy issued by an insurer that protects the home buyer from any defects or problems that may arise concerning title to the property after the purchase. Prior to closing, the title company will perform a “title search” to inspect the history of the property to make sure that no outstanding claims or liens exist, and that title was transferred properly to each new owner. TIP: If you are a seller, speak to a title company before listing your home for sale to avoid problems that may arise at or just before closing, and get an estimate on the cost (sellers usually pay for the new owner’s title policy).

If all is well, the insurer will issue a title commitment for the property. If the buyer is financing the purchase, the lender will need a policy to insure them for the same since they will hold a substantial interest in the property. This policy, know as the “lender’s policy” is purchased by the home buyer. Prices of title insurance can vary from one company to another, but are usually within a tight range.

Closing Services

The other service that the title company provides is the actual closing of the transaction. The closing agent works with both the buyer and seller parties, as well as the buyer’s lender if the home purchase is being financed. Once the closing is scheduled, the title company will usually provide space at the company’s offices for all parties to meet and sign all required documentation. Fees are charged to both buyer and seller for the services provided by the closing agent. The most common is the “settlement” or “closing” fee. The amount of this fee can vary from one company to the other and is usually a charge to both parties. There is usually a title search and/or title examination fee charged to the seller. Other fees that may be charged are document preparation fees, attorney or notary fees, courier or shipping fees, etc. After closing, the title company will pay off any seller mortgages, record the satisfaction of mortgage, pay the seller (if the seller comes out ahead) and any brokers, and have the deed (sale) recorded for public record.

Since the seller usually provides the owner’s title policy, the seller usually selects the title company to provide the insurance and the closing services.

Tip to sellers: While the cost of title insurance can vary somewhat, the fees charged to both parties can vary quite a bit. Shop it around. Quality of service is important.

Tip to buyers: Since the seller usually selects the title company, buyers do not have much say with regard to their title fees. Buyers are encouraged to ask questions about charges and to work closely with their Realtors to make sure they are not being over-charged.

Further Reading:

Why Title Insurance?

Title Insurance Success Stories

Settlement Costs

See “What’s Wrong With The Title Insurance Industry”

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Gurvich Realty Group of Keller Williams

Posted by Lenny Gurvich | No Comments »

Tampa MLS Real Estate Activity For Week Ending 3/2/07

March 2nd, 2007 categories: Tampa Real Estate, South Tampa, Keller Williams, Homes For Sale in Tampa, Tampa Florida Real Estate, Tampa Market Conditions, Tips for Sellers

One week’s activity doesn’t make a trend. But looking back at the last month or so, the state of residential real estate in Tampa has remained fairly stable with respect to supply and demand.

The number of active listings in the City of Tampa has not changed much over the last 7 days, nor has the number of pending listings, or listings under contract to be sold.

With respect to buyer activity, 157 listings have gone under contract in the last week alone. Here are some statistics on what the happy sellers have to offer:

They are selling homes that average:

• A list price of $280,000
• About 3 beds and 2 baths
• About 1600sqft of heated/cooled living area
• A year built of 1975

The highest priced home to find a buyer this week is listed at $1.895m and is on Davis Islands in South Tampa.

This Davis Islands waterfront home found a buyer in 22 days.

Data used is from the Mid-Florida Regional MLS (City=Tampa) and does not include non-brokered homes for sale.

Posted by Lenny Gurvich | No Comments »

Why Would Someone Sign A No Brokerage Relationship?

February 19th, 2007 categories: Tampa Real Estate, Keller Williams, Tampa Florida Real Estate, Tampa FSBOs, Tips for Sellers

One of the great things about web marketing is that you can see what search phrases your visitors use to find your site. The title of this post was an actual search phrase that someone used on a search engine. They then found this site because I had previously mentioned the “no brokerage relationship” agreement. So I figured I’d answer the question for them and anyone else who may someday get here via the same query.

As Realtors we have a fiduciary responsibility to those whom we represent. Florida law allows for Realtors to represent their clients in one of two ways. In a “single agency” representation, the buyer’s or seller’s real estate brokerage represents the interests of their client alone. The brokerage cannot represent the seller and buyer of a property in a single agency form of representation. In single agency, the agent is looking out for the client’s interest alone and has no fiduciary responsibility to the other party in the transaction.

But what if you as a buyer want to use the agent who represents the seller to write an offer for you and assist you through the process? You must then agree to the second type of representation, a “transaction brokerage” relationship. This means that you agree to let one agent/broker assist both the seller and buyer in facilitating the transaction. You’ll have to give up the right to undivided loyalty from any agent. The agent has to become the middle-man and just assist with the transaction instead of singularly representing either side.

The “No Brokerage Relationship” form is simply a disclosure that says “We don’t represent you, but here are our duties to you nevertheless.” As Florida Realtors, we have to provide this disclosure to buyers and sellers whom we do not represent before dicussing certain things with them.

Here’s an example:

Let’s say that you are a buyer of residential real estate and you drive-by a home for sale that sparks some interest. You call the number on the sign in the yard and the agent who represents the seller agrees to come over quickly and show you the home. That agent should provide the disclosure before showing you the home. This lets you know that the agent does not represent your interests in any way. That agent is representing the seller of the home. And if you verbally go ga-ga over the home in front of the agent, that agent may now have an advantage in any negotiations with you and/or the agent you may eventually bring in.

If you are provided the “No Brokerage Relationship” disclosure by an agent, just realize that that agent is saying “I don’t represent you and your interests”. Whether you are a buyer or seller of Florida real estate, be careful of what you say to an agent who does not represent you. You may be giving up valuable information that could give that agent and his/her client a distinct advantage over you in any negotiations. Better yet, get your own agent and have them represent you as a single agent. Why not have someone on your side?

Posted by Lenny Gurvich | 2 Comments »

About

May 19th, 2006 categories: Uncategorized, Tampa Florida, Tampa Real Estate, Tampa Homes, Tampa Condos, South Tampa, Tampa Waterfront Homes, Keller Williams, Tampa MLS, Homes For Sale in Tampa

Lenny specializes in representing home buyers and sellers in South Tampa, downtown Tampa/Channelside, and the Seminole Heights/Tampa Heights/Riverside Heights areas of the City of Tampa in Hillsborough County, Florida. These areas are the homes of Tampa’s most centrally located neighborhoods. These areas are in demand because of their proximity to downtown Tampa and the Westshore CBD, Tampa International Airport, sports venues, major area shopping malls, fine restaurants, etc. Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Lenny attended Louisiana State University and graduated in 1986 with a degree in Economics. He then moved to the mountains of Colorado and fulfilled a childhood dream to live in ski country and enjoy the outdoors. Lenny taught snow skiing professionally at Beaver Creek and Vail resorts for 10 winter seasons and was one of the most requested private lesson instructors. During the summer seasons Lenny operated a fly-fishing school and guide service in the Vail, Colorado area.

Long winters finally took took their toll so Lenny and his wife Janice moved to Tampa in 1995 and Lenny continued working in the outdoor sports industry managing the fishing tackle department at Bill Jackson’s Shop for Adventure in Pinellas Park, Florida.

Lenny next helped launch one of the more successful retailers of fishing tackle on the internet, eAngler.com, as merchandising manager and customer service manager.

Lenny was licensed as a real estate sales associate in October of 2003 and is now helping home buyers and sellers through the processes involved in real estate sales and marketing, and making those processes enjoyable and stress-free events.

Lenny and his wife Janice have a son, Zachary, and have lived in South Tampa since June of 1995.

Posted by Lenny Gurvich | No Comments »

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