The New Concession Clubhouse

The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing Specialist held its two day Luxury Seminar at the John Cannon Complex in Lakewood Ranch. It was hosted by the Tierney Foster Team and Keller Williams Lakewood Ranch Realty. The institute founder Laurie Moore-Moore was the guest instructor for the Luxury Seminar. There were forty-five agents which filled the board room at the complex. Some of the agents attending were from as far away as Littleton, Co and one even from Canada. After completing the course and meeting performance requirements you get your Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS) Designation.

Thursday night we had a reception at the Concession. It took place in John Cannon’s The Royal Melbourne at the Concession with 11,200 square feet of living space. This was put on by Ed Bertha, Executive Publisher of REAL Magazine and Tierney’s Team of Keller Williams. They even had the same caterer Doug Hitchings that prepared our breakfast and lunches at the Luxury Seminar do different stations around the home.

They had two guest speakers Anne Weintraub, Esquire with Syprett, Meshad, Resnick, Lieb, Dumbaugh, Jones, Krotec & Westheimer, P.A.. Ann spoke on “Tips: How To Handel Over The Top Clients” which was very interesting.

The other speaker was Pamela Hughes, President of Hughes Design Associates. Pamela spoke on the “Interior Design at The Concession Clubhouse, a Sneak Preview”. Pamela showed photos of the different rooms of the new clubhouse and told us about all the light fixtures being hand designed and built from antique fixtures, carpeting being made in Turkey and Axminster carpet from England in the locker rooms, and a lot of wood and fireplaces for accents.

The pro shop is the only room completed and it is even stocked with merchandise. The Concession is planning on having the Grand Opening in August of the new Clubhouse.

There are fourteen properties listed for sale in Mid-Florida Regional MLS they are priced from $1,495,000 to $8,400,000 and one property has sold this year.

If you would like to see any of the homes at The Concession please contact Nick Herron and Kathleen Herron, the Herron Group, RE/MAX Alliance Group 941.350.5035.

Beach, Bay or Back Nine…Live the Dream

Sarasota Golf Course Homes

Some of the finest golf courses in the US are located in Sarasota, Florida. Ample sunshine, southern breezes and temperate climate create the perfect backdrop for all types of outdoor recreation.

Sarasota, Florida boasts a variety of public and private golf courses; many associated with resort style amenities and gated communities. Home owners enjoy twelve months of tee times, award winning greens and relaxed play. It is truly a “Golfer’s Paradise” with magnificent courses, beautiful year round weather, tropical foliage and lush greens have created a perfect environment for the avid golfer.

Voted among “Best Places to Play” 2008-2009 Golf Digest by their readers selected the Legacy Golf Club at Lakewood Ranch offers service and greens you would find at private world-class facilities.

Also at Lakewood Ranch is the Lakewood Ranch Country Club course which is a gated single family development. There 82 homes on the market for sale, priced from $274,000 to $3,500,000. Eighteen homes have sold so far this year and there are eighteen sale pending.

If your interested in looking at golf course homes at Lakewood Ranch or at any of Sarasota’s other great golf courses please call Nick Herron and Kathleen Herron, the Herron Group, RE/MAX Alliance Group 941-350-5035.

Beach, Bay or Back Nine…Live the Dream

Summer Golf in Sarasota

Ask any golfer and they will tell you it is always a good time to play golf in Sarasota, Florida. Well summer is here and most of the snowbirds are leaving so the golf courses are not as busy.

This is the time of year when the Golf Courses and Country Clubs put together their list of reciprocal golf courses. This is where the different courses agree on discounted golf fees with each other. It is a great time for golfers who belong to one club to have the opportunity to play other clubs in the area.

This is also the time of year that most of the golf clubs will be doing maintenance on their course. So if the golfer’s home course is closed for the day or has just been aerated they can play another course on the reciprocal list.

A lot of the public golf courses and some of the private Country Clubs also honor what is called the “Big Summer Golf Card”. The “Big Summer Golf Card” cost around sixty dollars, but will entitle the golfer to play at discounted rates. Some clubs will have different rates in the morning than if you play in the afternoon; usually cheaper in the afternoon. The golf courses are hopping to entice more play for their course and more revenue for the club.

There are all different golfing events that the golf clubs put on in the summer for their members. One event for couples is usually played on Thursday or Friday afternoon starting around four. It is usually a nine hole event with dinner following. It gets some interesting names, because you never know if it is going to get rained out or you are just going to get a little wet. One club that I know calls it “Thursday Thunder”. In Sarasota in the summer time we often get thunder storms in the afternoon. They may only last five minutes. It is the warm air currents crossing the state (land) and they come in contact with the cooler sea currents off the Gulf and we get our summer showers.

Summer in Sarasota is also a great time to buy in one of our many golf course communities. The Herron Group, Nick Herron and Kathleen Herron with RE/MAX Alliance Group (941-350-5035) would be glad to show you what great golf clubs we have to offer you in the Sarasota area.

You might even want to play a round or two with us.

Beach, Bay or Back Nine....Live the Dream

Sarasota Real Estate Market Saw Sales Rise in March

The Sarasota Association of Realtors has just released the March 2009 Sarasota MLS Statistics.


April 16, 2009
*The following press release was sent to local media on April 16

March 2009 sales up 33 percent over February;single family median sale price reboundsThe Sarasota real estate market saw sales rise to the highest level of the year in March 2009, besting the previous month by 33 percent. In addition, the median sales price for single family homes rose after steadily declining since late last year, indicating a potential sign of the bottoming of the local market.

The overall sales level of 481 was the highest since June 2008, and nearly equaled the level of 504 sales reported in March 2008. Of those sales, 353 were single family homes while 128 were condominiums.

The good news also extended to pending sales, which once again rose in March 2009 to 817. The last time pending sales climbed over 800 was in March 2006, when pending sales also were reported at 817. The total of 817 was 21 percent higher than the 679 pending sales reported in March 2008.

According to statistics from the Mid-Florida Regional MLS for members of the Sarasota Association of Realtors®, 645 single family homes and 175 condominiums went under contract in March 2009, compared to only 471 homes and 208 condos in March 2008.

Pending sales have now exceeded the 500 level for the 15th consecutive month, and the statistic bodes well for the next two or three months, when many of these pendings will become closed sales. Pending sales reflect contracts executed by buyers and sellers during the month. The report continues to reflect a steady, strong pattern, and indicates buyers are more active in the Sarasota market even in the face of difficult economic times.

"We believe the current climate of historically low interest rates, major incentives for first-time homebuyers, and the many other government programs designed to stabilize the economy and the housing industry is all having a very positive impact," said 2009 SAR President Bill Geller. "Every downturn is followed by an upturn - we know this to be true historically. We've been through a difficult time in the real estate industry, and hopefully we are seeing the beginnings of a new, dynamic era."

The recently enacted first-time homebuyers' tax credit of $8,000 will likely continue to boost sales this year, Geller said. Those who meet eligibility requirements and purchase a home this year prior to Dec. 1 are eligible for a tax credit of up to $8,000, and unlike the 2008 tax credit, this one does not have to be repaid.

The median sale price for single family homes rose to $152,125 in March 2009 from $142,000 in February 2009 - a 7 percent increase. The median sales price for condominiums fell to $166,750 in March 2009 from $198,000 in February 2009, for a 15 percent drop.

The median price of all single family homes sold in the last 12 months was $217,000, compared to a median of $299,900 for the 12 months ending in March 2008. For condominiums sold in the last 12 months, the median sales price was $256,000, compared to last year's figure of $295,000.

Another important market tracker - the absorption rate of properties on the market - continues to track lower than last year at this time for both single family homes and condominiums, as inventories have declined. Absorption rate is the number of months it would take to sell the entire remaining listed inventory in a particular category, based upon the sales for that particular month.

For March 2009, the absorption rate for single family homes stood at 17.1 months, compared to 24.1 months the previous month and 25.1 months in March 2008. For condominiums, the absorption rate was at 21.2 months, lower than the 28.5 months in the previous month, and much lower than the 34.1 months reported in March 2008.

*A 12-month rolling median price is not as susceptible to the volatility that can occur within any particular month, which sometimes results in drastic statistical swings up or down from one month to the next. Click HERE for a PDF of the press release and two pages of statistical charts.

Sarasota Association of REALTORS

A related article in The Herald Tribune business section April 17, 2009.

The Herron Group, RE/MAX Alliance Group, Nick Herron and Kathleen Herron 941-350-5035 will be glad to show you some excellent Real Estate opprotunities in many of the Sarasota's golf course and country club communities.

“Sarasota Golf Course” Stoneybrook Golf and Country Club Member Guest Tournament

The Stoneybrook Men’s Golf Association put on their “Seventh Annual Stoneybrook SMGA The First Tee Member-Guest Tournament April 2, 2009”. They had good participation with 54 golfers. The Stoneybrook Men’s Golf Association contributes and supports each year The First Tee Sarasota/ Manatee.

The First Tee is an initiative of the World Golf Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in St Augustine, FL at World Golf Village, home of the World Golf Hall of Fame. Its mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and education programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee has introduced the game of golf and its value to over 2.2 million participants and students in 48 states and five international locations- Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and Singapore.

This is the third year that I have participated as a guest in this great golfing event.

If you would like more information on Stoneybrook Golf & Country Club or any of the other Sarasota golf course communities e-mail Nick Herron, the Herron Group, RE/MAX Alliance Group or call 941.350.5035.

Back in the game

The latest news in the golfing world is Tiger Woods’ return to the course. Woods returned to competition play at the Accenture Match Play Championship two weeks ago. Now Woods is in Florida preparing for more match play and ready to get back in the game.

On Tuesday, fans gathered at Doral before the break of day to watch Woods tee off at a practice round. Woods is certain to play four rounds this week at the CA Championship, which starts today on Doral’s Blue Monster. It will be his first tournament since he won the U.S. Open in June, a week before reconstructive surgery on his left knee.

In talking with reporters, Woods said “for me, I just need rounds under my belt, and this week will obviously be a very positive week for me — four rounds and no cuts, which is exactly what I need.” Woods went on to say “It was a big shot of confidence for me to get out there and play again and feel physically sound.”

Is it time for you to get back to your golf game and start playing more regularly?

The perfect opportunity to get back to your golf game and play as often as you like is to live in a golf course home. Finding your perfect home in or near a Sarasota golf course community is easy with the assistance of Nick and Kathleen Herron of The Herron Group, RE/MAX Alliance.

As knowledgeable and established Realtors® in the Sarasota real estate market, Nick and Kathleen Herron can help you find a dream home that matches your preferences for golfing and other amenities in Sarasota, Nokomis, Osprey, and the surrounding barrier islands of Casey Key, Siesta Key, and Longboat Key.

To find a home within a Sarasota golf course neighborhood or with nearby access to the links, contact Nick by phone at 800-789-6580 or email him for more information on golf course living in Sarasota.

Like Tiger Woods, start getting on the course more often and get back in the game. It will take your mind off the economy!

Beach, Bay or Back Nine...Live the Dream

Our Mother’s House event at The Plantation Golf and Country Club

The Herron Group would be glad to show you any of the Golf Course and Country Club communities or water front areas such as Casey Key, Siesta Key, Manasota Key and Longboat Key.

The Herron Group attended the 2009 Wine Tasting, Dinner and Auction which was the eight annual event last night at the Plantation Golf & Country Club. In spite of the economy it was one of the best attended with over 400 participants. There was a Chinese Auction, a Silent Auction followed by a Live Auction to raise money for Our Mother’s House.

Our Mother’s House is a program of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice. Their Mission is to provide single mothers and their pre-school children a safe and secure environment in which to achieve increased self-sufficiency through education, vocational training and personal growth.

The Plantation Golf & Country Club is located in South Venice, Florida. The large development runs from Center Road over to US41. There are single family homes, villas, and condos available. Ron Garl designed 36-holes of championship golf, feature two distinctively different layouts on the Bobcat and Panther courses for both the amateur and professional. I personally find them to be great courses and real challenging. Impeccably maintained year-round, Plantation’s courses continuously attract those who demand the finest playing conditions. Plantation Golf & Country Club is home to the LPGA's annual Tour Qualifier.

The Herron Group also donates as part of every closing to the local Children’s Miracle Network hospital.

If you would like to see any homes in any of the golf course areas, Plantation Golf & Country Club, The Oaks, Venetian Golf & River Club, Laurel Oaks, The Concession, Founders Club, Heritage Oaks Golf & Country Club, and Stoneybrook Golf & Country Club please e-mail Nick Herron or Kathleen Herron or call 941-350-5035.