Keys Real Estate Show/Podcast

The principal at Keys Financial Mortgage Corporation updates Barbara Bowers and Darla Guevremont on the role of underwriters,  why there are differing credit scores and how to ensure a good outcome for your mortgage.

President of the Key West Association of Realtors passes the gavel onto new president and wraps up the 2019 real estate year; forecasts the 2020 market for Key West and the Florida Keys. 

The ever popular Key West Home Tours celebrate their 60th Anniversary with events taking place November, 2019 thru March, 2020. Under the auspices of Old Island Restoration Foundation www.oirf.org events throughout the island focus on everything from tours to preservation to New Year's Eve costume galas in the Oldest House's garden. 

Rick Haskins, Vacasa's qualifying broker for the state of Florida, talks about the company's presence in the house-rental and management market. Haskins explains how he built then sold his Florida Keys rental and real estate business to Vacasa. And now, Vacasa has just purchased Wyndam Vacation rentals, upping its national and Florida rentals by the thousands.

Former talk-show host Jim Smith, with K Company, returns to banter ideas about real estate with host Barbara Bowers of Old Town Realty: frequently made DIY mistakes, problems with Right of First Refusals, agent commission rates and more.

Timeshare specialist Don Heisler loves vacationing in his Key West timeshare so much, in 2009 he decided to start Key West TimeShare Sales. Today, he is the go-to guy for everything timeshare, and he advised show hosts Barbara Bowers and Darla Guevremont to only buy a timeshare if it comes with a deed.This is real property, if only for a week. Don't buy if it only offers points.

Julie Wallace at Sanford Mortgage Corp reviews various mortgage programs for buyers and/or re-fi-ers. She anticipates interest rates will remain low through to national elections in 2020.

County Commissioner Heather Carruthers discusses some of the ways  the Keys are addressing the imminent challenges of sea level rise because, ouch, many of the keys homes are built below sea level. Insurance demands for homeowners are part of this conversation, too.

To the day, September 2, 2019 and September 2,1935, two hurricane 5s terrorize the Florida Keys and the Bahamas 84 years apart. Show hosts Barbara Bowers (Old Town Realty) and Darla Guevremont (Key West Association of Realtors) talk history and how weather impacts homeowners and household pets.

Want to stay in your own vacation house in Key West? Vanessa McCaffrey, CEO of Vacation Key West, shares the goodies on tourism, average rental costs, what kind of homes rent best and reviews licensing and rent rules for local homeowners.

Real estate is all about negotiation and Kristen Norman, principal of Key West mediators, discusses conflict resolution and strategies for buyers, sellers or agents. Show hosts Barbara Bowers, Darla Guevremont and Sue Puskedra make notes from the "difficult conversation checklist."

Julio Torrado explains to show hosts Barbara Bowers and Darla Guevremont how Keys Energy municipal utility ownership in the Florida Keys differs from coops and private ownership. He also notes that while average household costs are more here than in other parts of S. Florida, it's because of the county's unusual 130-mile island chain. 

Rick Davis of Key West Printing assures real estate agents that print materials are still highly important for cross marketing in the age of internet. People read. They save and store brochures, flyers, business cards so Rick puts new print products out there to showcase Keys real estate.

Chris Elwell, principal at Royal Furniture, discusses latest trends, many reintroduced from decades past: Terrazzo, Mamie pinks and grays. He explains to hosts Barbara Bowers, Sue Puskedra and Darla Guevremont how good design always stays in style.

Realtor Everett Watkins shares how his listings often feature fund-raising open houses for charities. Show host Barbara Bowers is on the board of Old Island Restoration Foundation, and talks about OIRFs upcoming 60th Anniversary home tours--one of the longest running home events in the US, and the grandmother of house fundraisers in Key West. 

Talk show hosts Barbara Bowers (Old Town Realty) and Sue Puskedra (Susie's KW Estate Sales) welcome back former host Jim Smith (LoKation Company) for a real estate round robin. Conversation touches on smart houses, interior design and much more.

Cindy Benson, a North Carolina broker for 14 years, talks about being a licensed real estate instructor--she teaches pre, post and continuing education. Host Darla Guevremont, CEO of Key West Association of Realtors notes differences in education between NC and FL. Hosts Barbara Bowers (Old Town Realty) and Sue Puskedra (Susie's Estate Sales) ask about Cindy's newly created real estate school in NC.

NOAA meteorologist John Rizzo explains how Atlantic hurricanes develop, while radio show hosts Barbara Bowers (www.bbowers.com), Sue Puskedra (Susieskeywestestatesales.com) and Darla Guevremont (KWAR) rehash some from the past and what homeowners need to do to prepare--just in case because, well, everyone who lives in the Florida Keys knows hurricanes happen. 

Bob Pabian, owner and developer of Pabian Properties, talks about how his modular homes are built out of state then transported to the Florida Keys. Keysmodular.com homes meet all state, county and Key West City building codes. Radio hosts Barbara Bowers (www.bbowers.com) and Darla Guevremont (KWAR) feature one of Bob's houses for sale on segment 3. 

Photographer, videographer, musician, he does it all with lots of techy tools: SLRs, 360-cameras, drones, and more. Giancarlo notes what cameras are best for shooting real estate and where phone-cameras have their place.

Key West is compared to other expensive towns to live in--most notably Fisher Island in Florida--and how to stage your home for selling with what you have, when to sell as is and when to sell empty.

Don Heisler has cornered the market on timeshare resales in the Florida Keys. He describes the 7 resorts in Key West, what the point system is about, who is best suited to timeshares and what to do if you want to buy or sell.

Consulting attorney Marc Dubin addresses what businesses, as well as other property owners, need to know about how to prohibit discrimination based on disability. Even discussed some issues surrounding therapy animals in public places and in private rentals.

Susie doesn't sell real estate, but Susie's Estate Sales handles everything on the interiors of properties sold in the Keys. From Key West to Key Largo she organizes and sells furnishings, art and household items just before homeowners close on the sale of their homes.

Julie Wallace, Fla Keys mortgage broker, offers updates on loan programs, refinancing, delayed financing and more. 

Realtors Jim Smith and Everett Watkins share insights on their $5.8M and $6.9M properties in Key West and Key Haven: How the luxury market developed in the lower Keys and how they market their high-end houses.

Scott Fraser, FEMA coordinator for City of Key West, and Steve Russ, board member with Fair Insurance Rates in Monroe County, discuss how new flood maps will affect homeowners' insurance rates, and why everyone needs to get flood elevation certificates.

Key West attorney, Greg Oropeza talks about potential issues homeowners may have before closing, such as easements, and how to cure them.

Show hosts Barbara Bowers, Darla Guevremont and Krystal Thomas review the condominium market and discuss the trend to co-living rentals, and how that sounds much better than its predecessor, boarding houses.

Carolyn Frey, owner and broker at Mortgage Lending Solutions brings us latest in lending programs for first-time buyers, refi, pre-approval process and more.

The roles of healthcare and affordable housing play heavily on buying and selling property in Key West and the Florida Keys.

Art gallery owner and Key West native daughter, Nance Frank, regales us with her stories of world travel and Cuban culture, which she parlayed successfully into Key West's Gallery on Greene. 

Barbara and Darla look at the past year and discuss trends that will affect 2019 real estate.

Old Island Restoration Foundation hosts its Christmas house tour in December, 2018 then the January, February and March, 2019 open houses in private Key West homes.

Three real estate agents discuss renovation myths, myths related to real estate agents--like they're all the same, right?--and 2-word phrases (eponymous phenomena) that identify a person with an accepted concept, such as Murphy's Law, or Hanlon's Razor--a great one that says "never attribute to malice what can be adequately explained by stupidity."

Historic Preservationist Sharon Wells talks about some of the 3000+properties in Key West's historic district; about stewardship and what it takes to get awards for outstanding preservation. Wells' house histories document past activity for her clients.

Will Langley, managing broker at Berkshire Hathaway Knight & Gardner Realty and current president of Key West Association of Realtors, addresses the types of businesses--and their costs to rent real estate--on downtown Key West's prominent shopping district.

Long-time property manager and Realtor, Jaime Caballero shares what to look for in tenants and what to look for in property managers for both vacation rentals and residential rentals.

Special guest Robin Mitchell with Keller Williams lives at the Key West Golf Course and specializes in real estate sales fpr this gated community. Robin is also the president elect for the Key West Association of Realtors.

Danise Enriquez reviews property taxes and issues related to taxes in the Florida Keys. Of great interest is how to invest in tax certificates.

Kristen Eklund, a mortgage broker at American Mortgage Equity Consultants, walks listeners through the mortgage process. The complex process is made easy with a Florida Keys local business consultant.

Habitat for Humanity's executive director outlines programs that help you become a new homeowner in the hard-to-afford Florida Keys: Everything from zero-interest loans to sweat equity.

Spencer Lyon of RealDAX explains how his company is a blockchain platform for RE professionals. Talks about difference between cryptocurrency and its underlying technology, blockchain; how RE platforms like Bitland in Africa, Block R in Florida and others will lead to a shared decentralized digital ledger.

Kris at Keys Pool Service discusses do's and don'ts of maintaining swimming pools in the tropics. When pools are used year-round, there's more time and money invested.

John Page with Ellington AC offers tips and no-hassle ideas for keeping cool in Key West and the Keys: First step, maintain your systems for constant cool and high-quality indoor air.

On Memorial Day, attorney Chelsea Vanadia discusses real estate issues that affect the Florida Keys home ownership with Barbara Bowers, Jim Smith and Krystal Thomas.

Show hosts Barbara Bowers, Jim Smith and Krystal Thomas dish about real estate oddities--some national, most related to living in Key West.

Michael Behmke, owner and broker of KW KeyWest Compass Realty, discusses how digital disrupters are affecting the real estate industry and how Keller Williams is deflecting the onslaught.

KWAR CEO Darla talks about the realtors' association and other national real estate issues with Barb and Krystal.

Long-time Key West local, Elizabeth Devries, discusses the beauty of antique-cypress shutters, and how she restores them at her workshop and artist studio on Stock Island.

Barbara and Krystal discuss benefits of small town living and compare Key West to retirement communities in Florida and elsewhere. Tropical weather counts when you walk or bike daily around a 2-by-4 mile island.