Buyers and agents are somewhat transfixed lately in Hernando County with chasing Short Sales or Bank Owned Foreclosures. It's been said when any type of business opportunity becomes popular, watch out, for you may be too late to take advantage of that market.

I believe that to be true. In the case of short sales, the only ones to make out will be the one in five buyers who can wait it out for the bank final decision, and that can take months. As far as bank owned foreclosures are concerned, most of these homes are fairly beat up if they have been on the market for any longer than a month.

The irony is that for the straight seller, they must compete with the short sale or the bank owned foreclosure (REO) price wise in order to be considered by a smart shopper and agent. The straight sale is much more attractive for the home shows pride of ownership, and the most important side of a transaction: The willingness to negotiate. After all, one in five straight sale offerings are by owners who have been in the Spring Hill area of Florida for over 10 years. Even in today's depressed selling price market, this type of seller still finds enough profit to call it quits and offer a great home at a remarkable price. Does that make sense? The happiest buyers think so.