1) List and Sell “As-Is” with an investor.

We have a pool of investors to whom we can market your property and get you a very quick offer. This works a little like “eBay”, your property is listed on an investor portal with a “Buy-it-now” price. Investors then compete against themselves to bring the highest price. Bottom line – investors are paying 50% of the After Renovation Value “ARV” (which is similar to the pre-flood value). These investors sometimes “assign” the contract, meaning they are flipping to another buyer and making a profit before it even closes. The good news is that they pay cash, can arrange a quick closing, and they pay most of the seller-side closing costs. The bad news – you are selling at the bottom of the market. If this isn’t the bottom, it isn’t far from here! 

2) You can List and Sell “As-Is” on the Multiple Listing Service and allow us to market it to the public.

We have had good luck with this, meaning we have been able to sell for more money to private investors and personal rehabbers than to the “pros”. Listings sold on the MLS are selling for more than the industrial investors are willing to invest, however the closing costs are higher when selling to the public, as the seller-side closing costs are generally not covered on public sales. Even so, you can potentially make more with this strategy given the wider exposure to the market. 

3) You can renovate your house and then put it on the market.

This hasn’t happened much yet as people are still in the process of fixin'! However, a newly renovated home with permitted repairs should sell for somewhere close to its pre-storm value – maybe more? We do not know the future however there is precedent. According to the Tampa Times, the Ft. Meyers/Sanibel Island real estate market appreciated 9% over pre-storm values in just 2 years after Ian hit. 

4) You can stay and continue to live with dream with us in Gulf Harbors (Best choice, in Our opinion!). 

The bottom line is this, we are at the bottom of the market, it won’t get any lower than this, IMHO. The only good news is that some buyers are paying a lot of the closing costs, and sellers have been able to keep their FEMA or flood insurance money on top of the selling price of their home. And – there is little competition, there just isn’t much on the market right now. BUT – the future is bright for recovery! We do believe there will be a huge surge in renovated, gorgeously remodeled homes for sale in the spring and summer as homeowners finish their renos and decide to sell. This means a lot more competition with uncertain demand. My opinion on this is that buyers will come, that home values will rise and that even though they’ll be a lot more homes on the market, these homes will be very desirable and demand will be high. Buyers have shirt term memories and the desire for waterfront dream lifestyle lives on. They say lightning never strikes twice in the same place. Has to be true for hurricanes too, don’t you think? 

Brought to you by, Judi Pobst, Team Owner, The Judi Pobst Team with Keller Williams Real Estate