CHRIS GRIFFITH

• Chris Griffith: Don’t fear ‘as-is’ when purchasing distressed real estate Published 05/23/2012 at 3:04 p.m.

  There’s a nifty little fail safe when writing an offer on real estate, the as-is with the right to inspect contract or the as-is with the right to inspect addendum. Depending upon what side of the fence you’re on, it’s ...

• Chris Griffith: ‘I’m thinking of getting a real estate license so I can sell my house’ Published 05/16/2012 at 3:34 p.m.

  So I’m up at the dog park trying to burn some energy off of “hell on four legs” and one of the regular dog park attendees strikes up a conversation with me and says, “I’m thinking of getting a real ...

• Chris Griffith: Expect to get bucked off the horse at the first time home buyer rodeo Published 05/09/2012 at 3:26 p.m.

  There’s never been a better time to buy a home…unless the buyer is financing the purchase. It’s not because it is difficult to finance real estate or that the banks aren’t lending, it’s because the entry level real estate market ...

• Chris Griffith: Get a comparative market analysis before negotiating sale price Published 05/02/2012 at 1:31 p.m.

  Chances are you probably had a CMA, a comparative market analysis, when you listed your real estate for sale. If you didn’t, you should have. What many home sellers do not realize is that there probably should be more than ...

• Chris Griffith: Is selling real estate off-season worth the hassle Published 04/25/2012 at 3:08 p.m.

  There’s no doubt we have a seasonal resident population in Southwest Florida. The other day, I pulled up to an intersection on a busy street and there were no cars coming, either direction. It had been months of bumper to ...

• Chris Griffith: The truth about the projected 10 percent value increase Published 04/18/2012 at 3:20 p.m.

  Did you know that the second Tuesday of every month, all of the real estate agents of Southwest Florida show up at a secret location, one minute before midnight, to formulate a plan to manipulate the entire real estate industry? ...

• Chris Griffith: Negotiating the “X factor” in real estate Published 04/04/2012 at 3:41 p.m.

  The last ditch grasp … “as long as they pay closing costs.” It never fails, sooner or later there is a negotiation for real estate volleying back and forth and one party will agree with the condition of “as long ...

• Chris Griffith: What happens to your offer after you sign it? Published 03/28/2012 at 3:20 p.m.

  What happens to an offer after signing it? It’s a fair question to ask of whomever is helping you write the offer, whether it’s your attorney or your real estate agent. If your attorney is involved they’re generally concerned with ...

• Chris Griffith: Buyer’s remorse is going to happen, but don’t drag it out forever Published 03/21/2012 at 11:15 a.m.

  Sometimes it’s just the quiet, the way too quiet that is the first sign. Calls aren’t being returned or some type of required, follow up documentation isn’t being produced in a timely fashion.

• Chris Griffith: You’ll never know unless you ask Published 03/14/2012 at 3:40 p.m.

  It doesn’t matter what side of the transaction you’re on, sooner or later the question, “What can we ask for,” is going to come up. It’s the nature of the game, human nature even, to question, to negotiate or renegotiate ...

• Chris Griffith: The winter real estate and bee season Published 10/20/2011 at 4 a.m.

  Typically, I get an email or a phone call from potential buyers who are beginning the search for a home in Southwest Florida. They’ve been “educated” by whatever news sources they watched or read about the Florida real estate market.

• Chris Griffith: What real estate agents can’t tell you about your neighbor Published 06/29/2011 at 3:20 p.m.

  Prior to ushering buyers around in my car I’ve occasionally recommended buyers drive around a little to familiarize themselves with the area. If, for example, there is a cute little cottage that buyers think they just have to see but ...

• Chris Griffith: Real estate agents sell their real estate for free? Published 01/05/2011 at 10:33 a.m.

  Most consumers only buy and sell real estate as a necessity. Often times there are great periods of time between transactions so there isn’t exactly common familiarity with the procedures and protocols of how things work. Revise that: how things ...

• Chris Griffith: Nepotism in real estate never a good idea Published 09/22/2010 at 12:22 p.m.

  Who doesn’t have a friend or family member with a real estate license? I think there is an old joke about driving across the Georgia-Florida state line and having one handed to everyone in the car.

• Chris Griffith: Selling short is a legal and tax issue Published 06/30/2010 at 1:49 p.m.

  Sometimes I really get scared for the circumstances that homeowners are in. People live through the toughest of times, foreclosures, bankruptcy, job loss, accidents. Without minimizing how traumatic losing a home can be, it is a loss that will eventually ...

• Chris Griffith: Short sales fan the flames of market infidelity Published 04/07/2010 at 9:55 a.m.

  The short sale phenomenon in the market has fanned the flames of real estate infidelity. With months of impatient waiting for a “maybe” purchase with so much time to kill, eyes start wandering and before you know it the pre-approved ...

• Chris Griffith: New doesn’t mean perfect Published 03/31/2010 at 10:13 a.m.

  Many buyers don’t understand that it’s usually an illusion that a new home is perfect. It doesn’t matter who built it, it was still built by human beings who can make mistakes.

• Chris Griffith: Banks are short minded about short sales Published 07/10/2009 at 8:56 a.m.

  Here we are years into this housing and economic crisis and everything is still the same as far as dealing with lenders and short sales. There has been absolutely no evolution to the process. I don’t know about you but ...

• Chris Griffith: When does selling personal property become theft? Published 04/24/2009 at 2:03 p.m.

  If you’ve recently been shopping or working in the local, fun filled real estate market, you’ve witnessed what’s going on out there with the bank involved properties. It’s hardly a secret that some homeowners take their emotions out on the ...

• Chris Griffith: Investing in rentals for college students can be profitable but tricky Updated 04/17/2009 at 9:52 a.m.

  Since Florida Gulf Coast University opened its doors parents have been investing in real estate in the Estero and Bonita Springs area to house their students.

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