Fall is here and what a beautiful season along the Florida Gulf Coast!
As the Real Estate market continues to change and flourish, our Team at
Pointe South Real Estate Sales will keep you informed.

Contact us for our September 2013 Monthly Market Reports for additional information on Sold properties:

Great things are happening . . . . .

Pictured above, Property Manager for Pointe South Vacation Rentals, Anne Carswell, enjoys the evening learning the life of cowboy and professional bull rider, Booger Brown.  Booger, along with Cody Harris and Bubba Thompson are premiering in the National Geographic show “Dukes of Cattle”.  These cowboys came to the gulf coast Friday, September 19^th for the Bulls on the Beach party at the Flora-Bama.

Flora-Bama hosted the Bulls on the Beach event with a Mechanical Bull Riding Bikini Contest, and a rodeo with professional bull riders from across the Southeast.  When planning your next Florida- Alabama vacation, contact Pointe South.  Anne’s team will let you know of upcoming events, local attractions, and the best places to dine all while finding you the perfect rental for your vacation!

On September 7^th, 2013, the Perdido Bay United Methodist Church (BPUMC) and Barberi Heating and Air held the 1^st Annual Perdido KEYmunity 5K Gumbo Run.  The 3.1 mile run/walk route was on Innerarity Point Road and brought together community members, athletes, families, and friends.  The run was set up to accommodate timing for athletes, while also inviting and fun for families.  And for a little extra excitement, a Krazy Kidz Run was setup to bring new adventure to the younger participants.

Operations Manager for Pointe South Residential Leasing, Tracy Jackson, completed the 5K.  Her two daughters, Kaylee (12) and Marissa (16) volunteered to help with the Krazy Kidz obstacles and youngest daughter, Kaylee, joined her mom at the 5K finish line (pictured below).  Tracy said the event was a success and she plans on attending in the years to come.

As the Real Estate market along the Florida Gulf Coast continues to change and flourish, our Team at Pointe South Real Estate Sales will keep you informed.

The metropolitan area has had an increase in listings while both Perdido Key and Pensacola Beach have decreased in listings and sales.

Contact us for our August 2013 Monthly Market Reports for additional information on Sold properties:

MLS Active Listing Count Market Report

Our door is always open to discuss property values, the current market and any questions you may have so stop by our office or contact us today.

Are you going to be in Perdido Key this weekend or looking for a reason to visit Perdido Key?

Come on out and enjoy the 1^st Annual Kayak, BBQ and Blues Festival this Saturday, August 31^st from 9am to 8:30pm.  Hub Stacey’s at The Point will be filled with boards, live music, vendors, BBQ, and fun for everyone.

For more information, visit Perdido Key area Chamber of Commerce.

As the summer months come to an end, school time begins.  And with the return of school means a lot of changes not only for students, but for their families also.  Every year, numerous families move in and out of our area and whether a student is returning to their same school or starting in a new one, excitement and nervousness always accompany the first few weeks.

With all of the responsibilities and tasks already in place, it is extremely important to maintain a schedule when the kids return to school and set aside family time each afternoon or evening.  During this time, remember to talk to your children about their day, work on homework, and then do something enjoyable for all of you.  A consistent family structure will ensure confidence and growth in everyone and help in overcoming any challenges.

If you are new to the Gulf Coast area, there are plenty of enjoyable activities for everyone.  Getting out of the house, meeting new people, trying new food, and exploring the area will help make your new house a home.  Just to name a few, visit 5 Fun Activities for Kids in Perdido Key.

If you are planning on moving to the area, our agents will help you find a home for rent or for sale in a specific school district.  For additional information on local school, please see the county school district links below.

Baldwin County, AL

Okaloosa County, FL

 Considering a short sale is never in the plans when it comes to owning your own home.  However sometimes things don’t work out just as planned and an owner may find themselves looking for a way out.  One thing for sure, during the short sale process an owner is going to need guidance and support and we understand that going to friends, neighbors, and acquaintances is not easy and most owners don’t want to share that they are facing hard times financially.

When an owner finds themselves facing these hard times, they need to know there are options.  The first thing we recommend is to make contact with the lending bank and see if a loan modification or another option is available. It is best to exhaust all efforts before deciding to sale, short sale or foreclosure on a home.  A foreclosure is a legal process in which the lender takes back the mortgaged property as a result of an owner not being able to keep current on the payments.  A short sale is when the bank agrees to accept less than the amount owed on the mortgage due to an owner not being able to keep current on the payments.

If all efforts have been made and the circumstances haven’t improved, this is the time to reach out to a licensed real estate agent for guidance.  A Realtor will not only look at your situation and guide you accordingly, but will explain the different processes to you in advance, support you through the process, and represent you along the way, taking as much weight as they can off of your shoulders.  Your Realtor will need your authorization to represent you and to allow the bank to disclose information on your account.  Maintaining constant contact between you and your lender, the Realtor will find out if you qualify for any assistance and what documents will need to be completed, compiled and submitted for review.

The lender may approve the short sale during the time the home is on the market and if not, the lender will review it at the time an offer is submitted.  At this time an offer may be accepted, countered, or denied.  It is important to know that even if the bank approves a short sale, they may or may not choose to waive the deficient balance.  In some cases, lenders require an agreement of payments to pay the remaining balance.  It is also important to know that lenders of second mortgages and HELOC may also need to approve the short sale.  While most short sales are closing in under 6 months, second mortgages, negotiations and other delays may postpone closing for numerous months.

Know that short sales are happening across the country and you are not alone.  A Realtor with experience and expertise in short sales will streamline the process for you and be there for any questions or concerns that arise during or after the sale.

Contact Broker, Susan Carleton, to refer you to a Pointe South Short Sale Expert.

If you are in the process of a short sale and are looking for a long term rental, please contact Pointe South Residential Leasing.

As the Real Estate market along the Florida Gulf Coast continues to change and flourish, our Team at Pointe South Real Estate Sales will keep you informed.

Contact us for our July 2013 Monthly Market Reports for additional information on Sold properties:

MLS Active Listing Count Monthly Market Report

Our door is always open to discuss property values, the current market and any questions you may have so stop by our office or contact us today.

At Pointe South, we absolutely cherish and appreciate our real estate agents so we are always coming up with fun ways to show them.  Throughout the year we have various competitions and events, and rewards and prizes are always new and in the making.

This August we are celebrating our Realtors and showing them our appreciation with luxurious Pointe South Beach Towels!   To each of our Pointe South Realtors, Thank you for helping make us a Great Team!

Meet Our Team or Contact Pointe South for real estate opportunities in Orange Beach, AL, Perdido Key, Pensacola, and Pensacola Beach, FL.

Clients in the process of selling or buying real estate often misunderstand the meaning and process of earnest money deposits.  An earnest money deposit (EMD) is a good faith deposit to show the seller that the buyer is serious and has all intentions of fulfilling the purchase contract.

The area and the local market conditions will guide the Realtor in advising the buyer on how much the earnest money deposit should be.  There is no set amount but instead a general expectation of 2% of the purchase price.  Once a contract is fully executed by both parties, the buyer will provide their EMD to their Realtor, who in turn has it deposited into an escrow account for safekeeping.  Escrow Accounts can be maintained by banks, title companies, brokers, and many other businesses.  At the time the deposit is made, the money now is in holding and does not belong to the buyer or the seller.  The deposit will be applied to the purchase price however it is important to know that this is not a down payment.

In rare instances, a purchase will fall through and the contract between the seller and the buyer will be terminated.  Some sellers think that if a buyer backs out, the EMD is automatically theirs and some buyers think that if they don’t purchase the property, they are entitled; neither is correct.  Each and every contract and circumstance is different so there is no right way to disburse the EMD.  One thing for sure, the sellers and the buyers will need to mutually agree on the release and disbursement of the deposit.  This is the best resolution for everyone.  If an agreement cannot be reached between the parties on the disbursement, the deposit will remain in the escrow account and further action will be taken, up to and possible including legal action until a Disbursement Order is issued.  It is important to remember that once the earnest money is deposited, the real estate agents, the brokers, and the brokerages do not have any control over the deposit and are held to state laws on the handling of the deposit.

So whether you are interested in homes for sale in Pensacola or condos in Perdido Key, an earnest money deposit will be expected.  The amount of your EMD may also be a deciding factor if a seller is reviewing multiple offers.   This is an anticipated time for both parties and whether you are writing the check or accepting the offer, the earnest money deposit is the sign that your contract is official and you can start looking forward to closing.