The One that Got Away!

While searching for pics to help convey the sense of loss we feel when we realize we missed a great opportunity, I cam across a sad blog posting from a would-be buyer in The Hudson Valley. She said in part "THIS is the one that got away. This is the heartbreaker, the one I can’t stop thinking about, measuring all others against. “Another house will come along,” said the same person who told me there wasn’t anything on the North Fork of Long Island for under 300K. Well, there was, and it was a beaut, but I didn’t get there fast enough." CLICK HERE to read her lament in full.

I had a reader call me on Saturday. She wanted to see a house I mentioned here a while back. I called to set up a showing. It had gone under contract the prior afternoon and was not yet in the mls. Noteworthy? No. But more and more houses in the most desirable Key West locations are going under contract.

When I thought of the title "The One that Got Away!" I was thinking about houses, of course. I've had my share of properties I missed and regret some of them to this day. But don't fishermen lament the "big one" that got away? Don't lovers rue the one that got away? Don't athletes and fans alike cringe at the win that was lost by a fleet second? The ones that got away can haunt us all forever because we know that if we had only acted differently, the outcome (and maybe the rest of our lives) would be different and possibly better.

I did a quick search of the real Key West Association of Realtors mls database and found these properties CLICK HERE that went under contract since April 1, 2009. I know there are a lot of very savvy buyers that keep real good track of the status of our real estate inventory. They know how old and stale some listings have become. They know when a new property hits the mls sometimes more often than some Realtors. And they should appreciate the fact that the inventory of available properties is dwindling.

Here's my take on a couple of the houses in the list CLICK HERE: 711 Elizabeth was on the market forever and priced to high. New Realtor, new photos,new price, and it went under contract immediately. 1229 Florida offered forever until bank foreclosed; then new Realtor, new price and under contract over-night. 531 Olivia has been for sale "forever" and as luck would have it I had a buyer who wanted it the day after it went under contract. 1 Pinder Lane on the other hand was barely on the market for a day before it went under contract. The same is true for 1020 Southard, the Gingerbread man House (offered at $1,975,000). Under contract in one day. 929 United Street is one heck of an asking price at only $1,295,000. Somebody is getting one of the biggest deals of this market downturn. 1020 Von Phister is another sweet deal for an excellent house in an excellent location. I wrote earlier about 1209 White Street, a bank owned house for only $329,000. That house had already been partially redone and it had a huge side and rear yard awaiting a pool and garden. Another missed opportunity. And then there is the cute property at 811 Fleming where you could operate a little business and live up above like in the olden days. The house had room for a pool to boot. 1021 Johnson Street is another house that was listed and went under contract within a couple of days, asking price $1,995,000. That house was a bank foreclosure last year. Search my blog for it. Bought, fixed up, and put back on the market. And under contract right away. I told you folks it was a good deal last year. The big house on Noah Lane ($2,750,000) went under contract as well. So did the cute little cottage at 1018 Thompson Lane, also in my blog.

If you don't want to miss the opportunity to buy your place in Paradise before the number of available properties shrinks even more and prices start to rise (and they will), CLICK HERE to search the real Key West Association of Realtors mls database. No one will track your internet activity and no one will send you unsolicited emails. But if you see something you like, please consider contacting me, Gary Thomas, to assist you in buying a place in Paradise. You can find me at 305.766.2642 or email at kw1101v@aol.com.