Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Business Happy Hour radio show with your host,
Frank Debankkodo, the owner of Lincoln Lending Group right here
in Tampa Bay for twenty three years, joined by his
incredible co host, Senia Akishana, rialtor with Mahara Associates.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Tampa's top real estate company.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Together they have helped finance and clothes nearly one billion
dollars of real estate every year.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
If you're looking for local mortgage or real estate advice.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
The Business Happy Hour team has been right here on
news radio WFLA for over a decade.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Listen right here, or find.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Us on the Business Happy Hour YouTube channel, or follow
us on Instagram at Frank Dbankkodo. Now, sit back, relax,
and get ready for some serious mortgage, real estate and
business talk with two of Tampa's top experts.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Here's Frank de Bank and Senia.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Good morning Tampa, and thank you for tuning in to
the Business Happy Hour on WFLA News Radio as well
as twelve fifty WHNZ as of recently, so we're everywhere,
also doing our Instagram live today and unfortunately, your favorite
radio voice of Frank the Bank CODO of Lincoln Lending
(01:09):
Group is not here he's doing some important workout in Washington, DC,
so Frank will miss you. But we have a great
show for you today, and my wonderful friend, the beautiful
Alex Romo is here to join me and keep our
listeners entertained.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Absolutely, we thank you so much for having me. I'm excited.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
I'm excited that you were able to come. This was
all like a last minute shift for us today, but
I'm so happy you made the time. So we're good friends.
But we've also been met Maharan Associates together for a while.
How long has it been for you?
Speaker 4 (01:41):
Actually, I've been with Mahara about I'd say about eight
years or so, okay, yeah, all.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Right, And I'm Sinia and I've been with Bahara and
Associates for I think we're about to celebrate our eleven years.
So needless to say, I love it, love our broker,
Raymond Ohara. I think we've got great agents, including you,
and I do think Maharan Associates for bringing us together
because now we're not only co agents, we're good friends.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
Absolutely. Yes, I can't believe it's been eight years already.
That's that's just wild. Time flies when you're having fun.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
It goes fast. It definitely does. So normally we do
our show with Frank here, and he asked me to
do the real estate stats, so I'll go ahead and
jump into those so we can get that covered. And
these are the numbers that are closing out our December
of twenty twenty four. Can't believe we're well into twenty
(02:36):
twenty five now, but for Hillsborough County, our closed sales
were up by seventeen percent and that was a total
of twelve hundred and forty five single family home units.
Our medium sales price is still at four hundred and
twenty five thousand, and our median time to contract has
been increasing, so it's at forty two days right now,
(02:57):
and I think we're all probably feeling it. You know,
in the COVID days, things were flying off the shelves.
Now things are, you know, a little bit more steady.
Where you know, you put your house on the market
and takes a little bit of time to get that offer,
but offers are coming in. Things are selling.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
Yes, absolutely, I would definitely say from twenty COVID to
now here we are from last year to this year,
things are definitely starting to pick up. People are getting
more comfortable, and you know it's taken a little bit,
but that's why you have a special realtors there to
help them.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
Absolutely, and I do I think we all have, you know,
high hopes for twenty twenty five. Nothing crazy, but I
think again, just you know, market normalizing, things getting just
to you know, a normal pace, not as many bidding wars.
They do still happen, but you know, buyers have more
options because inventory has also grown. And I think, yeah,
(03:50):
good things are to come in twenty twenty five. So
I'm not used to doing that's because this is usually
Frank's thing, but with Lincoln Lending Group, he is out
of town, and well I miss him because he's much
more fluid at this stuff. But I do want to
(04:12):
ask Alex kind of, you know, how did you get
into real estate? Your background, and so tell me a
little bit more.
Speaker 5 (04:22):
Yeah, sure, absolutely.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
So I was born in Ohio, came to Florida, started
in Orlando, made my way to s Arisota, and then
back to the Tampa area recently or not recently, graduated
from USF so go buls. After that, I was in
outside sales, didn't really love the IT world, and then
(04:44):
I got into real estate. Tampa just has so much energy,
the lifestyle here. What could you not love about the
Tampa area. So I've been in real estate a little
over a decade. It's definitely been a ride.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
I'd say, well, what made you like what made you
decide real estate? So you graduated USF was that always
kind of in the cards for you? Were you exploring
different options and ultimately settled on real estate?
Speaker 4 (05:10):
Actually I had no vision of real estate when I
was in college. I graduated with a marketing degree. So
always love people. I'm a people person. I feel, you know,
always really connected to them. So but after being a
stay at home mom for a year, I wanted a
different career. So I got into real estate, which I
(05:33):
absolutely loved because I've always loved the architects, the design.
I loved everything about a house. And a house isn't
just four walls. It's how people make memories and create
a home atmosphere. So, and everyone needs a place to live.
So I got my license and it has just been really, really,
really great. It's been a great opportunity to help people
(05:55):
navigate through the biggest financial and emotional decisions of their life.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
So I think, sure, really rewarding.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
But I think a marketing degree, I mean, that's a
that's a great degree to have when you go into
real estate because a lot of it is centered around marketing.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
Yes, so it's marketing. You know, it's part strategy, it's
part a little bit of therapy. All we all in
our clients on what they bring to the table. It's
a little bit of matchmaking. So it's all all those
rolled into one. But marketing definitely helps because that is
a big part of marketing yourself as an agent, marketing
the property, bringing all the material to the buyer's side, side,
(06:32):
showing them everything about it. So it's definitely you know,
my background really helps my real estate career.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Okay, all right, so you probably you started out before
you know, the COVID market craziness. Yes, so you kind
of got to feel, you know, what normal market feels like.
And then we went through that and now you know
it is cyclical, so you know, we're going through just
another part of the cycle. What did you I guess,
what have you found the most challenging about real estate?
Speaker 4 (07:03):
The most challenging, Well, I could say the market is
always shifting. That means a lot of emotions are always
running high. So that is definitely i'd say the most
overcoming part of it. But with that being said, you know,
I don't make the market. I work the market, so
it's my job to guide my clients through whatever's happening,
(07:26):
whether it's a seller's market, a hot seller's market, or
you know, if it's more balanced. No matter what, you know,
there's always going to be an opportunity, and I think
the way to navigate that is by you know, just
knowing your stats, knowing your market, being you know, always
in front of the next agent, so you can always
be the go to person and being that trusted advisor
(07:48):
is how I would definitely say overcoming. You know, the
most challenging part, which which would be the market for
our clients.
Speaker 3 (07:55):
Yes, I mean it is always a challenge, even during
COVID market. I mean the most challenging part was working
with buyers. Yes, you know, they fall in love with
the place, twenty other people love the same place, and
it was navigating you know, multiple offers, how do you
get to be the winning one and you know, ensure
that your clients get the home.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
That didn't I say closing, not just getting the property
because yeah, COVID was you had eighty offers, twenty offers.
People were just throwing offers.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
And that's not an exaggeration. I mean there were some
listings where it's like, okay, you know, how many offers
do you have on the table, and I mean sometimes
you'd hear such a crazy number, and you know, it's
very intimidating for a buyer to try to compete with that, right.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
I literally had a spreadsheet and going through and being like, okay,
all these are out, all these are in, Okay the
top five, like what can you bring back to the
table and how can we make this? But then getting
it closed because just because they were in the top
five doesn't mean you know, they had offers on every
other house too, So definitely, uh, navigating that from a
(08:54):
buyer's perspective was very challenging, you know, and they the
emotional roller coaster hoping you just have the opportunity to
be able to get to the inspection or there is
no inspection. Hey you got the house closed, and oh
my gosh, what is in this house? Because I haven't
even seen the house.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
For sure, Yeah, you had to remove contingencies, but even
on the cellar side, that was challenging too. You know,
listing agents would have their spreadsheets and you really had
to vet every buyer. You know, you have so many
to choose from, but how do you pick the best
one that you have the most confidence in actually getting
to the closing table?
Speaker 4 (09:29):
Agreed, And that would be coming down to your lender.
Trusting your team.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
Lenders were a huge thing. Yeah, And I mean that
was my first call. Okay, you know, we have okay
numbers or this, numbers are that, But ultimately you had
to have faith and the lender, you know, to be
able to follow through, you know, do what they say,
you know, and a for you know, quicker closing date
to make sure that the lender is going to be
able to meet that. And I can say for sure
that at the Lincoln Group they are able to do
(09:57):
that even now, Like Frank just recent did a closing
for one of our agents. It was like record time. Yeah,
like I think within two weeks they had it closed.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
I agree, And I'd say that's where the partnership comes in.
Trusting your partnership. And it's not always you know, ABC,
there's other avenues to.
Speaker 5 (10:15):
Get ways to close deals.
Speaker 4 (10:17):
So it's really coming up That's what makes a great
agent and a great lender together is because you think
outside the box. And COVID you had to think outside
the box. You had to think, how am I going
to beat my competition? What is going to be the
next step? And you had to go above and beyond
them And that's what really makes great you know, agents
and lenders. And that's you know why we are still
(10:37):
in this business is because we've gone through all the
ups and downs and you know, we have given our clients,
you know, the extra level, the exter need. We've shown them,
you know what our value proposition is as realtors to
you know, we're not just here to buy and sell
a house, put a house up with there on the market. No,
we go above and beyond. We see the road maps,
we see where the blocks are. Ahead of time, we're
(11:00):
going to come up with answers. So when it gets
to hey, you know, we're two days out from closing,
but you know this came up, Well guess what I've
already had. I've already looked into it and I have
three different ways. So let's figure out which one you
know best suit your needs and let's get this done.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Yeah, I know for sure. And speaking of that, you know,
so yes, COVID market, but I want to talk to
you about, you know, our real estate market in twenty
twenty four the challenges we faced. But let's save that
for the next segment, okay, And well we'll be talking
a lot about the challenges and what we think is
going to happen in twenty twenty five. And I really
(11:37):
appreciate you being here to have this conversation with me.
And I'm Senya with Mahara and Associates. And I could
be reached at eight one three seven five five reel
or at the Tampa real Estate pro dot com.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
All the best mortgage or real estate advice from Tampa
Bay's top experts. It's the business Happy Hour with Frank,
Debank and Senia.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
So this is Senia with Maharran Associates. We are back
with my favorite agent and friend at Maharan Associates, a
beautiful Alex FROMO. Thank you again for coming to join
me today.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
Absolutely thanks for having me.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
Yeah, so we were talking about the real estate market
and we brought up, you know, how crazy things were
in the COVID years, you know, definitely a couple of
years of just craziness, lots of multiple offers, you know,
properties flying off the shelves, historically low inventory levels, which
I think contributed to all the craziness. Yes, but now,
you know, we just got through twenty twenty four and
(12:40):
I think the consensus is, I mean, it was a
challenging year. So I wanted to ask you and how
you felt about twenty twenty four, you know, any big takeaways, and.
Speaker 4 (12:52):
Wow, I would just say twenty twenty four was definitely.
Speaker 5 (12:58):
A roller coaster, you know, like I said, we thought.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
Twenty twenty was going to be one, and then twenty
twenty one was you know, good, and then twenty twenty three.
But twenty twenty four I would say definitely took you know,
took the icing off the cake.
Speaker 5 (13:13):
It was a rollercoaster.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
I would say, between the interest rates you know, just
spiking up, and then the shortage of the inventory, and
then the buyer hesitations, so that would be leading us
into you know, the houses are now sitting, So now
we're kind of figuring out, Okay, how are we selling
the houses that are sitting because the buyers you know,
it's an election year.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
Yes, well, you few like the big slow down, like
it really seemed like people were sitting on the fence. Yeah,
you know, buyers and sellers alike. And I think for
the sellers, you know, yeah, prices are still good, but
sellers have to go find a place to buy that
they can move into. So I think just all in all,
you know, our activity was definitely you know, lower than
(13:52):
it's been.
Speaker 4 (13:53):
I agree, yes, because even those sellers are capitalizing on
the sale of their home, if they didn't already have
a second property to go to or moving out of
state or having to actually make that move. Really what
they were you know, netted on the house, they're just
going to go ahead and turn it around onto a
home that's you know, kind of at a premium price
because the shortage of inventory and then or they found
(14:16):
that house, and then the buyers aren't coming because they're
hesitating because you know, with the election going on, no
one really knew what was going to happen.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
Yeah, and I definitely agree there was hesitation there too,
you know, and I think that happens every election year. Yeah,
you know, people just kind of want to see where
the economy is going to head.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
But I guess, yeah, I mean, I say it definitely
kept us all on our toes. But I would say,
you know, Tampa, Tampa has always made it through. You know,
Tampa has always been a solid place. You know, people
were luckily here in Tampa because people aren't just buying houses,
they're buying the lifestyle. You're moving from New York, Chicago, Atlanta,
(14:54):
California where a lot of the people came to and
they're coming for the lifestyle. They're coming for the sunshine,
are coming for the waterfront and all the great restaurants
that we have. So I would say that Tampa, even
though we felt it, but we still it kept rolling.
We still you know, got deals done.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Yeah, We're We're always still rolling. And I do think
the other part obviously interest rates. Yeah, you know that's
a big one, you know, and for sellers, so it's
not even just you know, paying a premium for a property.
It's hey, you know, am I gonna shift my three
percent that I have, you know to six percent? I mean,
you know, went up to us high as seven percent.
Speaker 5 (15:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (15:30):
And I'd also say, what caused you know some concerns too,
is you know, with a whole lawsuit that went on
with you know, the realtors and how that all passed
and how realtors were gonna get paid. And I know
for first time home buyers or VA buyers, they need agents,
they need that guidance, they need us to walk through
through the whole process. And my VA client was like,
(15:53):
how do I pay you? Like I don't have the money,
And I was like, don't worry. You know, we're gonna
We're gonna put into the contract. We've been doing this forever,
we know how to. You know, I'm here to work
on your behalf, but don't worry about that. We're going
to get it taken care of. So I definitely I
think raised a lot of concerns in twenty twenty four
as well, and that's where you know, we showed our
value and I think that the interest rates and everything
(16:16):
kind of just put some concerns into people.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Well, on that note, what Alex is talking about is
that whole big and our lawsuit that you know, finally
came to a head and they just shifted around how
buyers agents you know, functioned, and the way that we
have to handle things with our buyer consumers. We talked
a lot about it when it happened, but now that
(16:39):
it's been what you know six seven months, you know
of you know, the new legislature being in place, we
have to get the buyer's brokerage agreement signed prior to
showing any properties. Like, what effect have you seen with
both buyers and sellers and how have you been navigating it?
Speaker 4 (16:56):
I really have not seen. It has not impacted my
my career. Myself, I would say, it's just you have
to educate. It's all about educating the buyer. It's all
about educating the seller. You know, right now we need buyers.
Sellers need buyers agents. So if you want to get
(17:17):
your household, you're going to pay a buyer's agents. You know,
everything's been negotiating, negotiable through this whole process, So it's
really about just telling your hey, this you've always the
commissions always been negotiable, but this is how it's always
been paid. So if you want your household and you
want a job done without headaches, then you know you're
going to pay an agent. So for really, it's I
(17:38):
haven't had any pushback because I show my value to
my clients. I show you them what I bring to
the table, and so really, for me, it hasn't really
affected my.
Speaker 5 (17:49):
You know, myself at all.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
Okay, well, and you know what, that's what I'm hearing,
Like we weren't sure how we'd navigate it, but I mean,
all in all, like I think all the sellers that
I work with, you know, there's still of that mentality
that's been an accepted process that we've you know, always had,
you know, where the seller offers up the commission. The
difference is now it's just not offered up on the MLS.
It has always been negotiable, but now it's just you know,
(18:13):
that extra layer where we typically would write in to
our offers like, hey, you know, can you pay you know,
the broker buyers broker, you know, a certain commission right,
and that could still be negotiated, you know, on both sides.
But I really I don't see any pushback from sellers.
They're happy to do it, and it's just more of
(18:34):
a paperwork, you.
Speaker 4 (18:35):
Know, correct, I'd say it's more of a paper push.
That's more of the headache. But I also think it
brings opportunity for buyers agents to negotiate their commission because
what other career have you been in where you're saying
your money you make is depending on how well the
listing agent does a presentation if they're getting three percent,
(18:58):
if they're getting six percent, five percent, and you're supposedly
getting half of it or a percentage of that. Now,
your job that you do is already you know, you're
already told how much you're making. But now it's open ended.
So it's really the buyer's value of the buyer's agent
is do your job well, and then you write in
your percentage. I don't even ask my seller's agents, hey,
(19:21):
are you offering a commissioner? You know what I don't either, Right,
I'm writing in what I'm worth because I know what
I'm worth. And it's also negotiation. So the better agents
who have made it through are going to come out
on top because we are here to help and navigate
and at the end of the.
Speaker 5 (19:37):
Day, the goal is to get the deal closed.
Speaker 4 (19:41):
And so you are going to have agents that are
actually true agents, not just someone who puts a house
on the market and says, oh, I'm a really I.
Speaker 3 (19:50):
Think, yeah, there are so many real estate agents out there.
We are not all created equal, correct, And I think
it's the helps show buyers agent their value because you
have to have that conversation up front. You know, not
just somebody calling you off Zillo and telling you, you know, okay,
just show me this house or what nott. You lay
the expectations up front. But we'll continue on the next segment. Yes,
(20:14):
quick break and we'll be right back on the Business
Happy Hour.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
Welcome to the Business Happy Hour radio show with your host,
Frank Debankkodo, the owner of Lincoln Lending Group right here
in Tampa Bay for twenty three years, joined by his
incredible co host, Senia Akishna, rialtor with Mahara and Associates.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
Tampa's top real estate company.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
Together, they have helped finance and clothes nearly one billion
dollars of real estate every year.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
If you're looking for local mortgage or real estate advice.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
The Business Happy Hour team has been right here on
news radio WFLA for over a decade.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
Listen right here, or find.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
Us on the Business Happy Hour YouTube channel or follow
us on Instagram at Frank Debankkodo. Now, sit back, relax,
and get ready for some serious mortgage, real estate and
business talk with two of Tampa's top experts.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Here's Frank Thebang and Senia.
Speaker 3 (21:05):
We are back on the Business Happy Hour. The Sasenia
with Maharan Associates, the top real estate company in the area,
and I'm joined by one of my favorite agents at
Bahara and a good friend, Alex Romo.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
Yes, again, thank you so much for having me and guys.
You can follow me on Instagram at the real Alex
Romo or have any questions, you can give me a caller,
send me a text eight one three seven six five
eight two eight four.
Speaker 3 (21:35):
Yes, thank you for saying that. I was supposed to
put that in somewhere. But you know, one of the
things I was going to say is that there are
a lot of real estate agents, and I do think
that for the most part, people pick who they you know,
they mesh well with, you know, they got to like you,
you know, like for you, I'm like, oh, I can
only imagine it's probably pretty fun shopping for houses with you.
(21:57):
You make everything fun. So you know, there's different personalities
both Alex and I can you know, help you sell,
help you buy, but ultimately, yeah, it's that connection that
you have with someone. So by all means, you know,
I think Alex would be great and I would love
it if you'd reach out to her to help you
buy or sell your next home.
Speaker 4 (22:16):
Yes, absolutely, because you know it's more than just you know,
it's a partnership. When you're going into a contract with
your clients, it's a partnership. It is a roadmap. You
are together for a long time, so you definitely get
to know them. And I am a lot of fun
to work with, I must say.
Speaker 3 (22:36):
I definitely believe it. So yeah, on that note, how
how are you working with clients currently? What's your marketing strategy?
How are you finding your buyers and sellers?
Speaker 5 (22:54):
Yeah, so I would say that.
Speaker 4 (22:57):
Kind of coming off twenty twenty four closed all that
out and with when we were going into the different
lawsuits and everything, I was learning how.
Speaker 5 (23:06):
To get ahead of the curve.
Speaker 4 (23:08):
We are doing more things online, more technology, so we're
selling more using social media, using more internet access. The
internet is an amazing tool. Chat GPT, so I think
time saver is a huge thing. So working you know, smarter,
not harder, And so I think I've created my own
(23:30):
chatbox for myself to help me better be able to
communicate with my clients, to also schedule my like set
schedules and time you know, time blocking. I've learned time
blocking which has helped myself as well. So I think
now I am reaching out to my clients. I'm going
(23:51):
back to my sphere. I'm going back to the people who,
you know, my bread and butter and reaching out to
them and saying, hey, do you know anyone you know
anyone that needs to buy how anyone that needs to
sell a house, or anyone that just needs any information.
You know, we went through those two hurricanes, you know,
which within eleven days. Never in history. It was one
hundred and something in years that Tampa was supposed to
(24:12):
have a direct hit. Thank goodness, we didn't, and we're
still have a major cleanup. So I think really just
being a valuable tool and letting people know you're here
to be able to help them. And a lot of
people don't know about, you know, for flood insurance or
what do I do with sandbags or all the aftermath?
And now how do I sell my house? Now I'm
(24:32):
getting my checks back from my insurance company, but I
had a flood damage. Does this cover that flood damage?
Now I have to sell this house?
Speaker 5 (24:40):
Do I have to report the flood?
Speaker 4 (24:42):
So I think just really being a valuable asset is
where I'm picking up my buyers and sellers because they
know they can pick up the phone and I'm going
to find them the answer.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
And on that note, I mean, I think just going
back to the roots like that is the majority of
I think most real estate agent's business earls. You know,
it's your sphere, people that you know, and we become
an even more valuable asset when things like that happen.
You know, with a hurricane, it's like okay, well where
do I turn? What do I do about this? So
(25:12):
we're guides not just with real estate, but we can
help with resources.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
You know.
Speaker 3 (25:18):
Insurance agents obviously have been very very busy, you know,
processing the claims and helping out you know, with flood
coverage or you know, trying to figure out okay, well
I didn't have flood insurance and this happened. And you know,
we have resources for you know, contractors and you know, electricians, plumbers.
So I think just as a whole real estate agents,
it's not just us helping you sell or buy your home.
(25:42):
You know the goal is for us to become you know,
lifelong friends, and we want to be there as your
resource for you know, all things home related.
Speaker 4 (25:51):
Right. Yeah, I definitely say, you know, we are advisors.
People come to us and look for for answers, so
you know, for Also, there's different things that people don't
know about. Is you can get credits back for putting
in a hurricane impact windows.
Speaker 5 (26:09):
Now yeah, I think.
Speaker 3 (26:10):
James, you said that you just had your check come through.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
I did through the my Say Florida Home program.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
Yeah, that's amazing, So congratulations.
Speaker 5 (26:19):
Yes, that is amazing.
Speaker 4 (26:21):
So like that, so people half the people might not
even know that you can get money back for impact
windows and doors, and then that you can get roof
credits and that you know if you did and the
difference between now, okay, if you had flood damage from
the hurricane, or did it come in just because it
leads through the cracks or did it come through like
the soffits of your house. There's a lot of different
(26:43):
ways that you know, people were impacted, and then you
have to go to molder mediation and you have there's
a lot of boxes that need to be checked. So
I would definitely say that we're more than just we're
advisors where people were guides. We have to be in
you know, this industry.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
Yeah, and I think you're you're a good one.
Speaker 5 (27:02):
Huh. Thanks.
Speaker 3 (27:03):
So you're not your main area. I mean, I know
you work mostly like West Chase, but I think as
it goes for most of us. You know, if it's
you know, drivable, you know, I'll go to Wai Mama
or you know Rosco. Right, it's not you know, just
you know Tampa and Panela's County. But a lot of us,
do you know, veer out a little bit further.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
Absolutely, I go where my clients, where it makes sense,
where my client's needs are. So it's not just the
Tampa Bay, not just the Greater Tampa Bay. You know,
I've worked all the way down in Saraceta, Orlando, you know,
up the up the coast too, Tallahassee and everywhere in between.
So wherever my clients are looking to buy, sell, invest,
you know, I also have some other connections down in Miami.
(27:46):
I lived in Miami for some years.
Speaker 3 (27:48):
I didn't know that. Yeah, I guess I didn't know
that you were from Ohio. I'm thinking, you know what,
you just seem like a Florida native to me.
Speaker 5 (27:55):
Well, you know, oh I oh.
Speaker 4 (27:58):
Yeah, so I'm from Ohio, well, then Orlando, then Sarasota.
I pretty much was raised in Sarasota. But then my
parents we moved to Miami. So I went two years
down a high school to sal and then that's when
I came back up here to USF and graduated. But yeah,
so I even have connections down there from high school.
People are looking to buy and sell. There's a lot
(28:19):
of money down there, so a lot of investment opportunities,
and also being able to partner with the other agents
down there and say, hey, you know, because they have
a lot of assets, how do you turn one house
into another house? Show them how to make money in
real estate and use their assets and you know ten
thirty one exchange and roll this into the next you know,
(28:41):
land and development. So yeah, I go wherever my clients
take me.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
Okay, well, yeah, that's what we do well. To finish
out this segment, I do want to ask you, I
guess do you have some like top tips that you
would share with anybody that's looking to buy a home
or anyone that would like to sell a home.
Speaker 4 (29:04):
I would say, for twenty twenty five, we're going to
see a little bit more stability. I'm gonna say if
an I agree, yes, yeah, interest rates drop just even
the slightest you know, buyers are going to jump in fast,
so they and inventory is still tight. We still have
lower inventory, so sellers need to price their right, their
(29:25):
their house is right. And then you know, buyers need
to be prepared. So the strategy matters more than ever now.
The having the right person, the right agent, buyer or
selling matters buyers.
Speaker 5 (29:41):
I would say you need get to get pre proof
before you start.
Speaker 3 (29:43):
Absolutely, I was gonna say that's always our number one
working with buyers. Go get pre approved. Uh, Frank makes
it really easy. Just go to eight one to three mortgage,
get your pre approval letter. I do think that that's
the best step one because you know exactly what you
can afford. You're going to know what your month payment
is going to look like, and you know he can
run scenarios like, hey, okay, if you need an extra
(30:05):
you know, twenty thousand dollars this is you know how
much more it'll be a month yea. Or even if
you're just not quite ready, if they pull your credit
and maybe there's some things you need to improve to
be able to get you know, a better deal on
a mortgage, they can set you up for that. So
maybe you know your journey is not you're not quite
ready to buy tomorrow but six months down the road.
But I think because inventory, yes it's grown a lot,
(30:29):
but it's not quite there where there's like a ton
of options, correct. So I think if you're thinking about
buying a home, go ahead and get started. Yeah, you know,
start looking that way, you're well prepared, you know. To me,
location is always key, you know, that's the number one is. Hey,
you have to narrow down where you want to live.
And for most people it's not like, oh, you know,
(30:50):
anywhere in Tampa is fine. It usually comes down to,
you know, a certain part, whether you want to be
in South Tampa you know, or West Chase. You know,
each has its own, you know, good attributes. But I
think for most buyers that is the most important.
Speaker 4 (31:04):
Part, right, It comes down to that lifestyle. What are
their lifestyle needs? And once you find the lifestyle, once
you sell the buyer the lifestyle, the house will be there,
you know, definitely, Like I said, getting pre approved because
you don't want to fall in love of the house
that you can't compete for. And then you also need
to be flexible.
Speaker 5 (31:22):
I would say, you.
Speaker 4 (31:22):
Know, sometimes your dream home looks a little different than
what you expected. You know, you go into all these
houses and you're like, ah, you know what that's that's
really not right then, as also would say, is you know,
find the right agent, you know st That's.
Speaker 3 (31:35):
What we help with too, is that you know what
there's we know what your dream home looks like. But say,
you know this one checks almost all the boxes, but
not all of them. We can help kind of you know,
come up with ideas. Hey, well if you did this,
you know, this could very well become your dream home.
Speaker 2 (31:50):
Correct.
Speaker 4 (31:50):
Yeah, we set them up for success. You know three
if you're looking to buy a home, you know three
six months start planning now, you know, that's what it's
come up with the strategies. You know, strategy really makes
the difference in you know, buying a house and get
in a house.
Speaker 3 (32:04):
Alex. Not to cut you off, We've got one more
segment after this, but we do have to take a
quick short break, all right, and we'll be right back.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
Let's get back to the Business Happy Hour radio show
with your host Frank the Bank Kodo, owner of Lincoln Lending.
Speaker 2 (32:17):
Group, and his co host Senia Akishna realtar with Mahara
and associates.
Speaker 3 (32:23):
We are back on the Business Happy Hour. Thank you
for stan tuned into WFLA News Radio. We've got one
more segment left. Alex and I. Alex is also with
Maharan Associates, one of the top real estate companies in
our area, and I'm happy she was able to join me.
And yeah, we've just really been talking about real estate
(32:45):
because that's what we know best.
Speaker 4 (32:46):
Yes, thank you so much for having me. It's been
fun and real estate is definitely.
Speaker 5 (32:51):
Fun, you know what.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
It's fun. It keeps us on our toes. Things are
always changing, but I love it. Like I I've actually
always wanted to be in real estate since I was
little I first came to the States, Like this has
always been my dream job. Okay, and I still love it.
I wouldn't. I don't see myself doing anything else.
Speaker 4 (33:12):
Some days I wake up and I'm like, oh, but
you know what, I agree. It keeps us on its toes.
It keeps us, you know, forever learning, evolving, and it's changing,
just like you know, the market's changing. The way that
we sells changing, so you have to be ahead of
the game.
Speaker 3 (33:29):
Yeah, And I mean, like you mentioned before, with technology,
I mean, technology is changing. I think all industries correct,
but real estate especially, yes.
Speaker 4 (33:37):
We because you know, the buyers and the sellers have
access to the information that we have access to.
Speaker 5 (33:44):
So it's not like in the old days where you
have to pick up like a little book and flip
through the Yellow.
Speaker 4 (33:48):
Pages and the mls and you know, provide them this information.
Speaker 5 (33:52):
They have it, so they are educated.
Speaker 3 (33:55):
And I love that part of it. Like I actually,
I think that all the technology that we have is
increasing productivity and it is increasing you know, consumer knowledge,
which actually helps us correct.
Speaker 4 (34:07):
And that's where the partnership comes in because it's you know,
you hire me to help advise you, but you know
I want us to work together, and you know I'm
here as you know, concier service for you. So we
need to come to you know it's buying or selling you.
If we're gonna list your house, we need to come
to you know, pricing strategy. We need to make sure
(34:30):
we both see the vision because if our visions are
not together, then you know what, maybe I'm not the
right agent for you. Maybe there's someone else that's better
gonna suit your needs, which is okay, because there's so
many different people out there, there's so many great agents,
you know, but I think it's definitely has technology has
definitely helped everyone.
Speaker 3 (34:48):
Yeah, I agree. I mean in some cases where we
do actually have to educate them and maybe you know,
say some things like they really are because in the media,
I mean you'll see all kinds of different things. Well
we'll all come across something we're like, eh, well that's
not quite how it is or that's not really how
it works, and you do have to explain, you know,
and the actual world, and you.
Speaker 5 (35:09):
Know, don't see everything.
Speaker 4 (35:10):
Don't believe everything you see on TV or on the
radio because exactly that's not reality.
Speaker 5 (35:16):
They have a lot of fluff.
Speaker 3 (35:18):
Oh, a lot of fluff for sure. Yes, definitely, Yeah,
I agree with you there. Well, I guess anything else
that we want to say about real estate, because I
know it's been a full, full show with real estate talk,
maybe we could, you know, talk about some other fun
things just going on in Tampa. And I mean I'm
loving it. I've been in Tampa for over twenty years,
(35:40):
and I mean it's grown so much even now, Like
we just went out to dinner and you're always seeing
you know, new restaurants coming up, and I know that
you're a big foodie. You like to go out, yes,
so yeah, on the lighter, funner side of Tampa, Like,
what are some of your favorites.
Speaker 4 (36:01):
I think Water Street has you know, over the couple
of years from you know, because you have the lightning
down the Lightning Stadium. You have the wharf, so the
water Street has kind of become a hotspot. You have
some Michelin Star restaurants down there, you have the beautiful
different hotels, you have a lot of different restaurants, and
(36:21):
then you have the wharf where it's kid friendly. You
can watch the cruise ships come in and out. You
can sit there and have a couple cocktails or you know,
little bite sized tapas and the kids can play cornhole
or throw the football or live music. So it's definitely fun.
Then you have the lightning games and when the you know,
when the lightning's on, it's just a hot spot to
be because the energy, the vibe. Tampa is such a
(36:43):
great environment to be in and our weather is beautiful.
It literally is the perfect lifestyle. You know, you can
be out there and just the breeze from the ocean,
the salt of the air, it's just it's it's perfect
it's just really great. It's it has a piece for
everything for everyone.
Speaker 3 (37:01):
So I agree, and and I think that it keeps
getting better and better. Yes, Like I was looking at
a website the other day of just new projects coming
up and all the revitalization they're doing in certain areas.
I mean, it's exciting all.
Speaker 5 (37:15):
No, it's not. It keeps getting you know.
Speaker 4 (37:17):
I feel like we're gonna be the next Orlando without
you know, we have.
Speaker 3 (37:21):
I like Tampa's got its own vibe and I just
really love everything Tampa has to offer. And I wouldn't
live elsewhere.
Speaker 4 (37:28):
Yeah, I lived in Earland know, and too many people
they can stay in Orlando and go. Does it make tosty, Yes,
I think Tampa has the fast paced, the slow place,
the relaxing. We have a little bit of everything for everyone,
and all the new condos Skyrise developments that are coming up,
you know, it's it's great. And the golf courses, I mean,
(37:50):
we we can golf all year round. I know, my
brother comes from Canada and he's jealous because he comes
down here and Christmas time they golf literally twenty days.
Speaker 5 (37:59):
In a row.
Speaker 3 (38:00):
This is why I want to learn to play golf. Yes,
you are. That's about it, because I'm a little jealous
of the guys when they, you know, go out to
the golf course and I'm like, ah, even if I
don't know how to play, just to write around the
golf car, you know, enjoy the breeze because right now,
I mean, this is the perfect time of year for that.
Speaker 4 (38:17):
Oh yes, we don't have too much humidity. And then
you know, we can play tennis too. We've played tennis
or off. Also the new game that pickball.
Speaker 3 (38:25):
Yeah, yeah, pickleball is a big thing now, which actually
I haven't played yet.
Speaker 4 (38:30):
Oh okay, so we totally need a happy hour pickleball.
Speaker 5 (38:33):
Okay, because a lot of places.
Speaker 4 (38:35):
Are now changing some of the tennis courts to pickleball courts.
I've seen that, yes, because it's a great sports activity.
Speaker 3 (38:45):
You know, is it harder or easier than tennis?
Speaker 5 (38:48):
Easier?
Speaker 4 (38:48):
I would say down here, I feel like it is
tennis plus ping pong into one. And that's why, you know,
all ages you can play. Like my son's going out
and playing with his you know, nine year old friends.
And then I've seen ladies on the courts that are
in their eighties and having the best time of their
life playing it too. So I think it's a low impact,
(39:09):
it's fun, it's high energy, and you could be outdoors.
What's better than that than living in Sunshine, Florida.
Speaker 3 (39:14):
Okay, well we do have to wrap up here, I
guess on a quick note though, because I was going
to call and ask I just had my birthday and
you mentioned Michelin Star restaurants, which I think it's great
that we have that here. Do you have a favorite
or have you been to one? I haven't been to
one of those yet. All right, you can tell me
after the show. Yeah, and I can share that with
(39:35):
our listeners later, because yeah, I definitely need to know.
I was googling a couple of them. But we do
have to wrap up. So this is Sanio with Maharan Associates.
You can reach me at eight one three seven five
five reel or you can call Alex Yes.
Speaker 4 (39:49):
At the Real Alex Romo or eight one three seven
six five eight two eight four.
Speaker 3 (39:55):
And of course our favorite lender, Frank the bank Codo
at the Lincoln Lendy Group eight one three Mortgage. We
would love to help get your loans done, help you
buy a home, sell a home, we are your ultimate
real estate resource, and thank you again for tuning in.
See you next week.
Speaker 5 (40:13):
Thank you, Bye,
Welcome to the Business Happy Hour radio show with your host,
Frank Debankkodo, the owner of Lincoln Lending Group right here
in Tampa Bay for twenty three years, joined by his
incredible co host, Senia Akishana, rialtor with Mahara Associates.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Tampa's top real estate company.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Together they have helped finance and clothes nearly one billion
dollars of real estate every year.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
If you're looking for local mortgage or real estate advice.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
The Business Happy Hour team has been right here on
news radio WFLA for over a decade.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Listen right here, or find.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Us on the Business Happy Hour YouTube channel, or follow
us on Instagram at Frank Dbankkodo. Now, sit back, relax,
and get ready for some serious mortgage, real estate and
business talk with two of Tampa's top experts.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Here's Frank de Bank and Senia.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Good morning Tampa, and thank you for tuning in to
the Business Happy Hour on WFLA News Radio as well
as twelve fifty WHNZ as of recently, so we're everywhere,
also doing our Instagram live today and unfortunately, your favorite
radio voice of Frank the Bank CODO of Lincoln Lending
(01:09):
Group is not here he's doing some important workout in Washington, DC,
so Frank will miss you. But we have a great
show for you today, and my wonderful friend, the beautiful
Alex Romo is here to join me and keep our
listeners entertained.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Absolutely, we thank you so much for having me. I'm excited.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
I'm excited that you were able to come. This was
all like a last minute shift for us today, but
I'm so happy you made the time. So we're good friends.
But we've also been met Maharan Associates together for a while.
How long has it been for you?
Speaker 4 (01:41):
Actually, I've been with Mahara about I'd say about eight
years or so, okay, yeah, all.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Right, And I'm Sinia and I've been with Bahara and
Associates for I think we're about to celebrate our eleven years.
So needless to say, I love it, love our broker,
Raymond Ohara. I think we've got great agents, including you,
and I do think Maharan Associates for bringing us together
because now we're not only co agents, we're good friends.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
Absolutely. Yes, I can't believe it's been eight years already.
That's that's just wild. Time flies when you're having fun.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
It goes fast. It definitely does. So normally we do
our show with Frank here, and he asked me to
do the real estate stats, so I'll go ahead and
jump into those so we can get that covered. And
these are the numbers that are closing out our December
of twenty twenty four. Can't believe we're well into twenty
(02:36):
twenty five now, but for Hillsborough County, our closed sales
were up by seventeen percent and that was a total
of twelve hundred and forty five single family home units.
Our medium sales price is still at four hundred and
twenty five thousand, and our median time to contract has
been increasing, so it's at forty two days right now,
(02:57):
and I think we're all probably feeling it. You know,
in the COVID days, things were flying off the shelves.
Now things are, you know, a little bit more steady.
Where you know, you put your house on the market
and takes a little bit of time to get that offer,
but offers are coming in. Things are selling.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
Yes, absolutely, I would definitely say from twenty COVID to
now here we are from last year to this year,
things are definitely starting to pick up. People are getting
more comfortable, and you know it's taken a little bit,
but that's why you have a special realtors there to
help them.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
Absolutely, and I do I think we all have, you know,
high hopes for twenty twenty five. Nothing crazy, but I
think again, just you know, market normalizing, things getting just
to you know, a normal pace, not as many bidding wars.
They do still happen, but you know, buyers have more
options because inventory has also grown. And I think, yeah,
(03:50):
good things are to come in twenty twenty five. So
I'm not used to doing that's because this is usually
Frank's thing, but with Lincoln Lending Group, he is out
of town, and well I miss him because he's much
more fluid at this stuff. But I do want to
(04:12):
ask Alex kind of, you know, how did you get
into real estate? Your background, and so tell me a
little bit more.
Speaker 5 (04:22):
Yeah, sure, absolutely.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
So I was born in Ohio, came to Florida, started
in Orlando, made my way to s Arisota, and then
back to the Tampa area recently or not recently, graduated
from USF so go buls. After that, I was in
outside sales, didn't really love the IT world, and then
(04:44):
I got into real estate. Tampa just has so much energy,
the lifestyle here. What could you not love about the
Tampa area. So I've been in real estate a little
over a decade. It's definitely been a ride.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
I'd say, well, what made you like what made you
decide real estate? So you graduated USF was that always
kind of in the cards for you? Were you exploring
different options and ultimately settled on real estate?
Speaker 4 (05:10):
Actually I had no vision of real estate when I
was in college. I graduated with a marketing degree. So
always love people. I'm a people person. I feel, you know,
always really connected to them. So but after being a
stay at home mom for a year, I wanted a
different career. So I got into real estate, which I
(05:33):
absolutely loved because I've always loved the architects, the design.
I loved everything about a house. And a house isn't
just four walls. It's how people make memories and create
a home atmosphere. So, and everyone needs a place to live.
So I got my license and it has just been really, really,
really great. It's been a great opportunity to help people
(05:55):
navigate through the biggest financial and emotional decisions of their life.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
So I think, sure, really rewarding.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
But I think a marketing degree, I mean, that's a
that's a great degree to have when you go into
real estate because a lot of it is centered around marketing.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
Yes, so it's marketing. You know, it's part strategy, it's
part a little bit of therapy. All we all in
our clients on what they bring to the table. It's
a little bit of matchmaking. So it's all all those
rolled into one. But marketing definitely helps because that is
a big part of marketing yourself as an agent, marketing
the property, bringing all the material to the buyer's side, side,
(06:32):
showing them everything about it. So it's definitely you know,
my background really helps my real estate career.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Okay, all right, so you probably you started out before
you know, the COVID market craziness. Yes, so you kind
of got to feel, you know, what normal market feels like.
And then we went through that and now you know
it is cyclical, so you know, we're going through just
another part of the cycle. What did you I guess,
what have you found the most challenging about real estate?
Speaker 4 (07:03):
The most challenging, Well, I could say the market is
always shifting. That means a lot of emotions are always
running high. So that is definitely i'd say the most
overcoming part of it. But with that being said, you know,
I don't make the market. I work the market, so
it's my job to guide my clients through whatever's happening,
(07:26):
whether it's a seller's market, a hot seller's market, or
you know, if it's more balanced. No matter what, you know,
there's always going to be an opportunity, and I think
the way to navigate that is by you know, just
knowing your stats, knowing your market, being you know, always
in front of the next agent, so you can always
be the go to person and being that trusted advisor
(07:48):
is how I would definitely say overcoming. You know, the
most challenging part, which which would be the market for
our clients.
Speaker 3 (07:55):
Yes, I mean it is always a challenge, even during
COVID market. I mean the most challenging part was working
with buyers. Yes, you know, they fall in love with
the place, twenty other people love the same place, and
it was navigating you know, multiple offers, how do you
get to be the winning one and you know, ensure
that your clients get the home.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
That didn't I say closing, not just getting the property
because yeah, COVID was you had eighty offers, twenty offers.
People were just throwing offers.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
And that's not an exaggeration. I mean there were some
listings where it's like, okay, you know, how many offers
do you have on the table, and I mean sometimes
you'd hear such a crazy number, and you know, it's
very intimidating for a buyer to try to compete with that, right.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
I literally had a spreadsheet and going through and being like, okay,
all these are out, all these are in, Okay the
top five, like what can you bring back to the
table and how can we make this? But then getting
it closed because just because they were in the top
five doesn't mean you know, they had offers on every
other house too, So definitely, uh, navigating that from a
(08:54):
buyer's perspective was very challenging, you know, and they the
emotional roller coaster hoping you just have the opportunity to
be able to get to the inspection or there is
no inspection. Hey you got the house closed, and oh
my gosh, what is in this house? Because I haven't
even seen the house.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
For sure, Yeah, you had to remove contingencies, but even
on the cellar side, that was challenging too. You know,
listing agents would have their spreadsheets and you really had
to vet every buyer. You know, you have so many
to choose from, but how do you pick the best
one that you have the most confidence in actually getting
to the closing table?
Speaker 4 (09:29):
Agreed, And that would be coming down to your lender.
Trusting your team.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
Lenders were a huge thing. Yeah, And I mean that
was my first call. Okay, you know, we have okay
numbers or this, numbers are that, But ultimately you had
to have faith and the lender, you know, to be
able to follow through, you know, do what they say,
you know, and a for you know, quicker closing date
to make sure that the lender is going to be
able to meet that. And I can say for sure
that at the Lincoln Group they are able to do
(09:57):
that even now, Like Frank just recent did a closing
for one of our agents. It was like record time. Yeah,
like I think within two weeks they had it closed.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
I agree, And I'd say that's where the partnership comes in.
Trusting your partnership. And it's not always you know, ABC,
there's other avenues to.
Speaker 5 (10:15):
Get ways to close deals.
Speaker 4 (10:17):
So it's really coming up That's what makes a great
agent and a great lender together is because you think
outside the box. And COVID you had to think outside
the box. You had to think, how am I going
to beat my competition? What is going to be the
next step? And you had to go above and beyond
them And that's what really makes great you know, agents
and lenders. And that's you know why we are still
(10:37):
in this business is because we've gone through all the
ups and downs and you know, we have given our clients,
you know, the extra level, the exter need. We've shown them,
you know what our value proposition is as realtors to
you know, we're not just here to buy and sell
a house, put a house up with there on the market. No,
we go above and beyond. We see the road maps,
we see where the blocks are. Ahead of time, we're
(11:00):
going to come up with answers. So when it gets
to hey, you know, we're two days out from closing,
but you know this came up, Well guess what I've
already had. I've already looked into it and I have
three different ways. So let's figure out which one you
know best suit your needs and let's get this done.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Yeah, I know for sure. And speaking of that, you know,
so yes, COVID market, but I want to talk to
you about, you know, our real estate market in twenty
twenty four the challenges we faced. But let's save that
for the next segment, okay, And well we'll be talking
a lot about the challenges and what we think is
going to happen in twenty twenty five. And I really
(11:37):
appreciate you being here to have this conversation with me.
And I'm Senya with Mahara and Associates. And I could
be reached at eight one three seven five five reel
or at the Tampa real Estate pro dot com.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
All the best mortgage or real estate advice from Tampa
Bay's top experts. It's the business Happy Hour with Frank,
Debank and Senia.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
So this is Senia with Maharran Associates. We are back
with my favorite agent and friend at Maharan Associates, a
beautiful Alex FROMO. Thank you again for coming to join
me today.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
Absolutely thanks for having me.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
Yeah, so we were talking about the real estate market
and we brought up, you know, how crazy things were
in the COVID years, you know, definitely a couple of
years of just craziness, lots of multiple offers, you know,
properties flying off the shelves, historically low inventory levels, which
I think contributed to all the craziness. Yes, but now,
you know, we just got through twenty twenty four and
(12:40):
I think the consensus is, I mean, it was a
challenging year. So I wanted to ask you and how
you felt about twenty twenty four, you know, any big takeaways, and.
Speaker 4 (12:52):
Wow, I would just say twenty twenty four was definitely.
Speaker 5 (12:58):
A roller coaster, you know, like I said, we thought.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
Twenty twenty was going to be one, and then twenty
twenty one was you know, good, and then twenty twenty three.
But twenty twenty four I would say definitely took you know,
took the icing off the cake.
Speaker 5 (13:13):
It was a rollercoaster.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
I would say, between the interest rates you know, just
spiking up, and then the shortage of the inventory, and
then the buyer hesitations, so that would be leading us
into you know, the houses are now sitting, So now
we're kind of figuring out, Okay, how are we selling
the houses that are sitting because the buyers you know,
it's an election year.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
Yes, well, you few like the big slow down, like
it really seemed like people were sitting on the fence. Yeah,
you know, buyers and sellers alike. And I think for
the sellers, you know, yeah, prices are still good, but
sellers have to go find a place to buy that
they can move into. So I think just all in all,
you know, our activity was definitely you know, lower than
(13:52):
it's been.
Speaker 4 (13:53):
I agree, yes, because even those sellers are capitalizing on
the sale of their home, if they didn't already have
a second property to go to or moving out of
state or having to actually make that move. Really what
they were you know, netted on the house, they're just
going to go ahead and turn it around onto a
home that's you know, kind of at a premium price
because the shortage of inventory and then or they found
(14:16):
that house, and then the buyers aren't coming because they're
hesitating because you know, with the election going on, no
one really knew what was going to happen.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
Yeah, and I definitely agree there was hesitation there too,
you know, and I think that happens every election year. Yeah,
you know, people just kind of want to see where
the economy is going to head.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
But I guess, yeah, I mean, I say it definitely
kept us all on our toes. But I would say,
you know, Tampa, Tampa has always made it through. You know,
Tampa has always been a solid place. You know, people
were luckily here in Tampa because people aren't just buying houses,
they're buying the lifestyle. You're moving from New York, Chicago, Atlanta,
(14:54):
California where a lot of the people came to and
they're coming for the lifestyle. They're coming for the sunshine,
are coming for the waterfront and all the great restaurants
that we have. So I would say that Tampa, even
though we felt it, but we still it kept rolling.
We still you know, got deals done.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Yeah, We're We're always still rolling. And I do think
the other part obviously interest rates. Yeah, you know that's
a big one, you know, and for sellers, so it's
not even just you know, paying a premium for a property.
It's hey, you know, am I gonna shift my three
percent that I have, you know to six percent? I mean,
you know, went up to us high as seven percent.
Speaker 5 (15:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (15:30):
And I'd also say, what caused you know some concerns too,
is you know, with a whole lawsuit that went on
with you know, the realtors and how that all passed
and how realtors were gonna get paid. And I know
for first time home buyers or VA buyers, they need agents,
they need that guidance, they need us to walk through
through the whole process. And my VA client was like,
(15:53):
how do I pay you? Like I don't have the money,
And I was like, don't worry. You know, we're gonna
We're gonna put into the contract. We've been doing this forever,
we know how to. You know, I'm here to work
on your behalf, but don't worry about that. We're going
to get it taken care of. So I definitely I
think raised a lot of concerns in twenty twenty four
as well, and that's where you know, we showed our
value and I think that the interest rates and everything
(16:16):
kind of just put some concerns into people.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Well, on that note, what Alex is talking about is
that whole big and our lawsuit that you know, finally
came to a head and they just shifted around how
buyers agents you know, functioned, and the way that we
have to handle things with our buyer consumers. We talked
a lot about it when it happened, but now that
(16:39):
it's been what you know six seven months, you know
of you know, the new legislature being in place, we
have to get the buyer's brokerage agreement signed prior to
showing any properties. Like, what effect have you seen with
both buyers and sellers and how have you been navigating it?
Speaker 4 (16:56):
I really have not seen. It has not impacted my
my career. Myself, I would say, it's just you have
to educate. It's all about educating the buyer. It's all
about educating the seller. You know, right now we need buyers.
Sellers need buyers agents. So if you want to get
(17:17):
your household, you're going to pay a buyer's agents. You know,
everything's been negotiating, negotiable through this whole process, So it's
really about just telling your hey, this you've always the
commissions always been negotiable, but this is how it's always
been paid. So if you want your household and you
want a job done without headaches, then you know you're
going to pay an agent. So for really, it's I
(17:38):
haven't had any pushback because I show my value to
my clients. I show you them what I bring to
the table, and so really, for me, it hasn't really
affected my.
Speaker 5 (17:49):
You know, myself at all.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
Okay, well, and you know what, that's what I'm hearing,
Like we weren't sure how we'd navigate it, but I mean,
all in all, like I think all the sellers that
I work with, you know, there's still of that mentality
that's been an accepted process that we've you know, always had,
you know, where the seller offers up the commission. The
difference is now it's just not offered up on the MLS.
It has always been negotiable, but now it's just you know,
(18:13):
that extra layer where we typically would write in to
our offers like, hey, you know, can you pay you know,
the broker buyers broker, you know, a certain commission right,
and that could still be negotiated, you know, on both sides.
But I really I don't see any pushback from sellers.
They're happy to do it, and it's just more of
(18:34):
a paperwork, you.
Speaker 4 (18:35):
Know, correct, I'd say it's more of a paper push.
That's more of the headache. But I also think it
brings opportunity for buyers agents to negotiate their commission because
what other career have you been in where you're saying
your money you make is depending on how well the
listing agent does a presentation if they're getting three percent,
(18:58):
if they're getting six percent, five percent, and you're supposedly
getting half of it or a percentage of that. Now,
your job that you do is already you know, you're
already told how much you're making. But now it's open ended.
So it's really the buyer's value of the buyer's agent
is do your job well, and then you write in
your percentage. I don't even ask my seller's agents, hey,
(19:21):
are you offering a commissioner? You know what I don't either, Right,
I'm writing in what I'm worth because I know what
I'm worth. And it's also negotiation. So the better agents
who have made it through are going to come out
on top because we are here to help and navigate
and at the end of the.
Speaker 5 (19:37):
Day, the goal is to get the deal closed.
Speaker 4 (19:41):
And so you are going to have agents that are
actually true agents, not just someone who puts a house
on the market and says, oh, I'm a really I.
Speaker 3 (19:50):
Think, yeah, there are so many real estate agents out there.
We are not all created equal, correct, And I think
it's the helps show buyers agent their value because you
have to have that conversation up front. You know, not
just somebody calling you off Zillo and telling you, you know, okay,
just show me this house or what nott. You lay
the expectations up front. But we'll continue on the next segment. Yes,
(20:14):
quick break and we'll be right back on the Business
Happy Hour.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
Welcome to the Business Happy Hour radio show with your host,
Frank Debankkodo, the owner of Lincoln Lending Group right here
in Tampa Bay for twenty three years, joined by his
incredible co host, Senia Akishna, rialtor with Mahara and Associates.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
Tampa's top real estate company.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
Together, they have helped finance and clothes nearly one billion
dollars of real estate every year.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
If you're looking for local mortgage or real estate advice.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
The Business Happy Hour team has been right here on
news radio WFLA for over a decade.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
Listen right here, or find.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
Us on the Business Happy Hour YouTube channel or follow
us on Instagram at Frank Debankkodo. Now, sit back, relax,
and get ready for some serious mortgage, real estate and
business talk with two of Tampa's top experts.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Here's Frank Thebang and Senia.
Speaker 3 (21:05):
We are back on the Business Happy Hour. The Sasenia
with Maharan Associates, the top real estate company in the area,
and I'm joined by one of my favorite agents at
Bahara and a good friend, Alex Romo.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
Yes, again, thank you so much for having me and guys.
You can follow me on Instagram at the real Alex
Romo or have any questions, you can give me a caller,
send me a text eight one three seven six five
eight two eight four.
Speaker 3 (21:35):
Yes, thank you for saying that. I was supposed to
put that in somewhere. But you know, one of the
things I was going to say is that there are
a lot of real estate agents, and I do think
that for the most part, people pick who they you know,
they mesh well with, you know, they got to like you,
you know, like for you, I'm like, oh, I can
only imagine it's probably pretty fun shopping for houses with you.
(21:57):
You make everything fun. So you know, there's different personalities
both Alex and I can you know, help you sell,
help you buy, but ultimately, yeah, it's that connection that
you have with someone. So by all means, you know,
I think Alex would be great and I would love
it if you'd reach out to her to help you
buy or sell your next home.
Speaker 4 (22:16):
Yes, absolutely, because you know it's more than just you know,
it's a partnership. When you're going into a contract with
your clients, it's a partnership. It is a roadmap. You
are together for a long time, so you definitely get
to know them. And I am a lot of fun
to work with, I must say.
Speaker 3 (22:36):
I definitely believe it. So yeah, on that note, how
how are you working with clients currently? What's your marketing strategy?
How are you finding your buyers and sellers?
Speaker 5 (22:54):
Yeah, so I would say that.
Speaker 4 (22:57):
Kind of coming off twenty twenty four closed all that
out and with when we were going into the different
lawsuits and everything, I was learning how.
Speaker 5 (23:06):
To get ahead of the curve.
Speaker 4 (23:08):
We are doing more things online, more technology, so we're
selling more using social media, using more internet access. The
internet is an amazing tool. Chat GPT, so I think
time saver is a huge thing. So working you know, smarter,
not harder, And so I think I've created my own
(23:30):
chatbox for myself to help me better be able to
communicate with my clients, to also schedule my like set
schedules and time you know, time blocking. I've learned time
blocking which has helped myself as well. So I think
now I am reaching out to my clients. I'm going
(23:51):
back to my sphere. I'm going back to the people who,
you know, my bread and butter and reaching out to
them and saying, hey, do you know anyone you know
anyone that needs to buy how anyone that needs to
sell a house, or anyone that just needs any information.
You know, we went through those two hurricanes, you know,
which within eleven days. Never in history. It was one
hundred and something in years that Tampa was supposed to
(24:12):
have a direct hit. Thank goodness, we didn't, and we're
still have a major cleanup. So I think really just
being a valuable tool and letting people know you're here
to be able to help them. And a lot of
people don't know about, you know, for flood insurance or
what do I do with sandbags or all the aftermath?
And now how do I sell my house? Now I'm
(24:32):
getting my checks back from my insurance company, but I
had a flood damage. Does this cover that flood damage?
Now I have to sell this house?
Speaker 5 (24:40):
Do I have to report the flood?
Speaker 4 (24:42):
So I think just really being a valuable asset is
where I'm picking up my buyers and sellers because they
know they can pick up the phone and I'm going
to find them the answer.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
And on that note, I mean, I think just going
back to the roots like that is the majority of
I think most real estate agent's business earls. You know,
it's your sphere, people that you know, and we become
an even more valuable asset when things like that happen.
You know, with a hurricane, it's like okay, well where
do I turn? What do I do about this? So
(25:12):
we're guides not just with real estate, but we can
help with resources.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
You know.
Speaker 3 (25:18):
Insurance agents obviously have been very very busy, you know,
processing the claims and helping out you know, with flood
coverage or you know, trying to figure out okay, well
I didn't have flood insurance and this happened. And you know,
we have resources for you know, contractors and you know, electricians, plumbers.
So I think just as a whole real estate agents,
it's not just us helping you sell or buy your home.
(25:42):
You know the goal is for us to become you know,
lifelong friends, and we want to be there as your
resource for you know, all things home related.
Speaker 4 (25:51):
Right. Yeah, I definitely say, you know, we are advisors.
People come to us and look for for answers, so
you know, for Also, there's different things that people don't
know about. Is you can get credits back for putting
in a hurricane impact windows.
Speaker 5 (26:09):
Now yeah, I think.
Speaker 3 (26:10):
James, you said that you just had your check come through.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
I did through the my Say Florida Home program.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
Yeah, that's amazing, So congratulations.
Speaker 5 (26:19):
Yes, that is amazing.
Speaker 4 (26:21):
So like that, so people half the people might not
even know that you can get money back for impact
windows and doors, and then that you can get roof
credits and that you know if you did and the
difference between now, okay, if you had flood damage from
the hurricane, or did it come in just because it
leads through the cracks or did it come through like
the soffits of your house. There's a lot of different
(26:43):
ways that you know, people were impacted, and then you
have to go to molder mediation and you have there's
a lot of boxes that need to be checked. So
I would definitely say that we're more than just we're
advisors where people were guides. We have to be in
you know, this industry.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
Yeah, and I think you're you're a good one.
Speaker 5 (27:02):
Huh. Thanks.
Speaker 3 (27:03):
So you're not your main area. I mean, I know
you work mostly like West Chase, but I think as
it goes for most of us. You know, if it's
you know, drivable, you know, I'll go to Wai Mama
or you know Rosco. Right, it's not you know, just
you know Tampa and Panela's County. But a lot of us,
do you know, veer out a little bit further.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
Absolutely, I go where my clients, where it makes sense,
where my client's needs are. So it's not just the
Tampa Bay, not just the Greater Tampa Bay. You know,
I've worked all the way down in Saraceta, Orlando, you know,
up the up the coast too, Tallahassee and everywhere in between.
So wherever my clients are looking to buy, sell, invest,
you know, I also have some other connections down in Miami.
(27:46):
I lived in Miami for some years.
Speaker 3 (27:48):
I didn't know that. Yeah, I guess I didn't know
that you were from Ohio. I'm thinking, you know what,
you just seem like a Florida native to me.
Speaker 5 (27:55):
Well, you know, oh I oh.
Speaker 4 (27:58):
Yeah, so I'm from Ohio, well, then Orlando, then Sarasota.
I pretty much was raised in Sarasota. But then my
parents we moved to Miami. So I went two years
down a high school to sal and then that's when
I came back up here to USF and graduated. But yeah,
so I even have connections down there from high school.
People are looking to buy and sell. There's a lot
(28:19):
of money down there, so a lot of investment opportunities,
and also being able to partner with the other agents
down there and say, hey, you know, because they have
a lot of assets, how do you turn one house
into another house? Show them how to make money in
real estate and use their assets and you know ten
thirty one exchange and roll this into the next you know,
(28:41):
land and development. So yeah, I go wherever my clients
take me.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
Okay, well, yeah, that's what we do well. To finish
out this segment, I do want to ask you, I
guess do you have some like top tips that you
would share with anybody that's looking to buy a home
or anyone that would like to sell a home.
Speaker 4 (29:04):
I would say, for twenty twenty five, we're going to
see a little bit more stability. I'm gonna say if
an I agree, yes, yeah, interest rates drop just even
the slightest you know, buyers are going to jump in fast,
so they and inventory is still tight. We still have
lower inventory, so sellers need to price their right, their
(29:25):
their house is right. And then you know, buyers need
to be prepared. So the strategy matters more than ever now.
The having the right person, the right agent, buyer or
selling matters buyers.
Speaker 5 (29:41):
I would say you need get to get pre proof
before you start.
Speaker 3 (29:43):
Absolutely, I was gonna say that's always our number one
working with buyers. Go get pre approved. Uh, Frank makes
it really easy. Just go to eight one to three mortgage,
get your pre approval letter. I do think that that's
the best step one because you know exactly what you
can afford. You're going to know what your month payment
is going to look like, and you know he can
run scenarios like, hey, okay, if you need an extra
(30:05):
you know, twenty thousand dollars this is you know how
much more it'll be a month yea. Or even if
you're just not quite ready, if they pull your credit
and maybe there's some things you need to improve to
be able to get you know, a better deal on
a mortgage, they can set you up for that. So
maybe you know your journey is not you're not quite
ready to buy tomorrow but six months down the road.
But I think because inventory, yes it's grown a lot,
(30:29):
but it's not quite there where there's like a ton
of options, correct. So I think if you're thinking about
buying a home, go ahead and get started. Yeah, you know,
start looking that way, you're well prepared, you know. To me,
location is always key, you know, that's the number one is. Hey,
you have to narrow down where you want to live.
And for most people it's not like, oh, you know,
(30:50):
anywhere in Tampa is fine. It usually comes down to,
you know, a certain part, whether you want to be
in South Tampa you know, or West Chase. You know,
each has its own, you know, good attributes. But I
think for most buyers that is the most important.
Speaker 4 (31:04):
Part, right, It comes down to that lifestyle. What are
their lifestyle needs? And once you find the lifestyle, once
you sell the buyer the lifestyle, the house will be there,
you know, definitely, Like I said, getting pre approved because
you don't want to fall in love of the house
that you can't compete for. And then you also need
to be flexible.
Speaker 5 (31:22):
I would say, you.
Speaker 4 (31:22):
Know, sometimes your dream home looks a little different than
what you expected. You know, you go into all these
houses and you're like, ah, you know what that's that's
really not right then, as also would say, is you know,
find the right agent, you know st That's.
Speaker 3 (31:35):
What we help with too, is that you know what
there's we know what your dream home looks like. But say,
you know this one checks almost all the boxes, but
not all of them. We can help kind of you know,
come up with ideas. Hey, well if you did this,
you know, this could very well become your dream home.
Speaker 2 (31:50):
Correct.
Speaker 4 (31:50):
Yeah, we set them up for success. You know three
if you're looking to buy a home, you know three
six months start planning now, you know, that's what it's
come up with the strategies. You know, strategy really makes
the difference in you know, buying a house and get
in a house.
Speaker 3 (32:04):
Alex. Not to cut you off, We've got one more
segment after this, but we do have to take a
quick short break, all right, and we'll be right back.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
Let's get back to the Business Happy Hour radio show
with your host Frank the Bank Kodo, owner of Lincoln Lending.
Speaker 2 (32:17):
Group, and his co host Senia Akishna realtar with Mahara
and associates.
Speaker 3 (32:23):
We are back on the Business Happy Hour. Thank you
for stan tuned into WFLA News Radio. We've got one
more segment left. Alex and I. Alex is also with
Maharan Associates, one of the top real estate companies in
our area, and I'm happy she was able to join me.
And yeah, we've just really been talking about real estate
(32:45):
because that's what we know best.
Speaker 4 (32:46):
Yes, thank you so much for having me. It's been
fun and real estate is definitely.
Speaker 5 (32:51):
Fun, you know what.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
It's fun. It keeps us on our toes. Things are
always changing, but I love it. Like I I've actually
always wanted to be in real estate since I was
little I first came to the States, Like this has
always been my dream job. Okay, and I still love it.
I wouldn't. I don't see myself doing anything else.
Speaker 4 (33:12):
Some days I wake up and I'm like, oh, but
you know what, I agree. It keeps us on its toes.
It keeps us, you know, forever learning, evolving, and it's changing,
just like you know, the market's changing. The way that
we sells changing, so you have to be ahead of
the game.
Speaker 3 (33:29):
Yeah, And I mean, like you mentioned before, with technology,
I mean, technology is changing. I think all industries correct,
but real estate especially, yes.
Speaker 4 (33:37):
We because you know, the buyers and the sellers have
access to the information that we have access to.
Speaker 5 (33:44):
So it's not like in the old days where you
have to pick up like a little book and flip
through the Yellow.
Speaker 4 (33:48):
Pages and the mls and you know, provide them this information.
Speaker 5 (33:52):
They have it, so they are educated.
Speaker 3 (33:55):
And I love that part of it. Like I actually,
I think that all the technology that we have is
increasing productivity and it is increasing you know, consumer knowledge,
which actually helps us correct.
Speaker 4 (34:07):
And that's where the partnership comes in because it's you know,
you hire me to help advise you, but you know
I want us to work together, and you know I'm
here as you know, concier service for you. So we
need to come to you know it's buying or selling you.
If we're gonna list your house, we need to come
to you know, pricing strategy. We need to make sure
(34:30):
we both see the vision because if our visions are
not together, then you know what, maybe I'm not the
right agent for you. Maybe there's someone else that's better
gonna suit your needs, which is okay, because there's so
many different people out there, there's so many great agents,
you know, but I think it's definitely has technology has
definitely helped everyone.
Speaker 3 (34:48):
Yeah, I agree. I mean in some cases where we
do actually have to educate them and maybe you know,
say some things like they really are because in the media,
I mean you'll see all kinds of different things. Well
we'll all come across something we're like, eh, well that's
not quite how it is or that's not really how
it works, and you do have to explain, you know,
and the actual world, and you.
Speaker 5 (35:09):
Know, don't see everything.
Speaker 4 (35:10):
Don't believe everything you see on TV or on the
radio because exactly that's not reality.
Speaker 5 (35:16):
They have a lot of fluff.
Speaker 3 (35:18):
Oh, a lot of fluff for sure. Yes, definitely, Yeah,
I agree with you there. Well, I guess anything else
that we want to say about real estate, because I
know it's been a full, full show with real estate talk,
maybe we could, you know, talk about some other fun
things just going on in Tampa. And I mean I'm
loving it. I've been in Tampa for over twenty years,
(35:40):
and I mean it's grown so much even now, Like
we just went out to dinner and you're always seeing
you know, new restaurants coming up, and I know that
you're a big foodie. You like to go out, yes,
so yeah, on the lighter, funner side of Tampa, Like,
what are some of your favorites.
Speaker 4 (36:01):
I think Water Street has you know, over the couple
of years from you know, because you have the lightning
down the Lightning Stadium. You have the wharf, so the
water Street has kind of become a hotspot. You have
some Michelin Star restaurants down there, you have the beautiful
different hotels, you have a lot of different restaurants, and
(36:21):
then you have the wharf where it's kid friendly. You
can watch the cruise ships come in and out. You
can sit there and have a couple cocktails or you know,
little bite sized tapas and the kids can play cornhole
or throw the football or live music. So it's definitely fun.
Then you have the lightning games and when the you know,
when the lightning's on, it's just a hot spot to
be because the energy, the vibe. Tampa is such a
(36:43):
great environment to be in and our weather is beautiful.
It literally is the perfect lifestyle. You know, you can
be out there and just the breeze from the ocean,
the salt of the air, it's just it's it's perfect
it's just really great. It's it has a piece for
everything for everyone.
Speaker 3 (37:01):
So I agree, and and I think that it keeps
getting better and better. Yes, Like I was looking at
a website the other day of just new projects coming
up and all the revitalization they're doing in certain areas.
I mean, it's exciting all.
Speaker 5 (37:15):
No, it's not. It keeps getting you know.
Speaker 4 (37:17):
I feel like we're gonna be the next Orlando without
you know, we have.
Speaker 3 (37:21):
I like Tampa's got its own vibe and I just
really love everything Tampa has to offer. And I wouldn't
live elsewhere.
Speaker 4 (37:28):
Yeah, I lived in Earland know, and too many people
they can stay in Orlando and go. Does it make tosty, Yes,
I think Tampa has the fast paced, the slow place,
the relaxing. We have a little bit of everything for everyone,
and all the new condos Skyrise developments that are coming up,
you know, it's it's great. And the golf courses, I mean,
(37:50):
we we can golf all year round. I know, my
brother comes from Canada and he's jealous because he comes
down here and Christmas time they golf literally twenty days.
Speaker 5 (37:59):
In a row.
Speaker 3 (38:00):
This is why I want to learn to play golf. Yes,
you are. That's about it, because I'm a little jealous
of the guys when they, you know, go out to
the golf course and I'm like, ah, even if I
don't know how to play, just to write around the
golf car, you know, enjoy the breeze because right now,
I mean, this is the perfect time of year for that.
Speaker 4 (38:17):
Oh yes, we don't have too much humidity. And then
you know, we can play tennis too. We've played tennis
or off. Also the new game that pickball.
Speaker 3 (38:25):
Yeah, yeah, pickleball is a big thing now, which actually
I haven't played yet.
Speaker 4 (38:30):
Oh okay, so we totally need a happy hour pickleball.
Speaker 5 (38:33):
Okay, because a lot of places.
Speaker 4 (38:35):
Are now changing some of the tennis courts to pickleball courts.
I've seen that, yes, because it's a great sports activity.
Speaker 3 (38:45):
You know, is it harder or easier than tennis?
Speaker 5 (38:48):
Easier?
Speaker 4 (38:48):
I would say down here, I feel like it is
tennis plus ping pong into one. And that's why, you know,
all ages you can play. Like my son's going out
and playing with his you know, nine year old friends.
And then I've seen ladies on the courts that are
in their eighties and having the best time of their
life playing it too. So I think it's a low impact,
(39:09):
it's fun, it's high energy, and you could be outdoors.
What's better than that than living in Sunshine, Florida.
Speaker 3 (39:14):
Okay, well we do have to wrap up here, I
guess on a quick note though, because I was going
to call and ask I just had my birthday and
you mentioned Michelin Star restaurants, which I think it's great
that we have that here. Do you have a favorite
or have you been to one? I haven't been to
one of those yet. All right, you can tell me
after the show. Yeah, and I can share that with
(39:35):
our listeners later, because yeah, I definitely need to know.
I was googling a couple of them. But we do
have to wrap up. So this is Sanio with Maharan Associates.
You can reach me at eight one three seven five
five reel or you can call Alex Yes.
Speaker 4 (39:49):
At the Real Alex Romo or eight one three seven
six five eight two eight four.
Speaker 3 (39:55):
And of course our favorite lender, Frank the bank Codo
at the Lincoln Lendy Group eight one three Mortgage. We
would love to help get your loans done, help you
buy a home, sell a home, we are your ultimate
real estate resource, and thank you again for tuning in.
See you next week.
Speaker 5 (40:13):
Thank you, Bye,
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