Shutting down the Real Estate Office.

[aviator]

That's it for me. I'm half what I used to be, so after 27 years in the business I've had it, too many rules and regulations have changed and make it harder to make money, JUst closed the website, told all the salespeople to look for another broker and it should all be finalized in two, three weeks. Fuck it, it was a good ride though. I will keep my Broker's license active in case one of my old clients need me or for myself. Arrivderci.

[Sanders]

Leaves more time for Sanibel.

[mrkalashnikov]

I closed the business I started in May of 2000 and retired in March of 2024. I love the retired life and not dealing with all the tribulations of being self-employed. Just got back from a two week cruise down the Danube River through Central & Eastern Europe, an incredible experience to say the least. I've worked my ass off in one W-2 job or another since I was 17. Let somebody younger pick up the torch.

[44044]

I have basically turned my business over

to my daughter…Hell I don’t know what is

going on there anymore…she calls and asks

for advice, but I think that she is just trying

to make me feel useful

[4thIDvet]

That's it for me. I'm half what I used to be, so after 27 years in the business I've had it, too many rules and regulations have changed and make it harder to make money, JUst closed the website, told all the salespeople to look for another broker and it should all be finalized in two, three weeks. Fuck it, it was a good ride though. I will keep my Broker's license active in case one of my old clients need me or for myself. Arrivderci.

Florida Housing Market Crash Warning Issued for Three Cities
As unsold inventory piles up across the state, three Florida metropolitan areas are now at high risk of facing a housing market crash this year, according to a new study by information services provider CoreLogic.

Researchers at the company estimated that, based on January data, Florida's Winter Haven, Tampa, and West Palm Beach are among the top five U.S. markets to watch in 2025 because they are at "very high" risk—over a 70 percent chance—to face price declines.

Florida Housing Market Crash Warning Issued for Three Cities - Newsweek

Its all over the business news Fred are they correct?? Home owner fees for condos are forcing people to walk out the door and not even close it.
Soon as people hear the prices for homeowners insurance their saying good bye. They wanted around $2,700 for my homeowner ins. I told them my mortgage is $3,900 and that is all I will pay insurance on. What a frigging fight I had but with my agents help I am paying around $400.
Lot of people don't know you do NOT have to buy insurance on the value of the home and property just buy on the mortgage due. I knew I was correct and the insurance company was pissed off. F$%K them...

ADD: You worked hard to build a good business why are you just closing and not selling it? Hell sell it to one of your sales people?..

[aviator]

Housing crash?...not down here, my neighborhood is in the $1M price for a remodeled 3/2 and they don't last long in the market. Go to the Florida Keys, my son bought a foreclosure for $790K 3/2 and he took it apart and rebuilt it new, yes on an ocean front canal, when he's done it will be worth $1.4M which is what they are selling for,I got a deal on Sanibel for several reasons, owner had died, daughter could not afford the house and I waived my company's commission, also paid cash and closed in 15 days with no contingencies, but the average going price for my type of property is about 800K-900K, more as you get closer to the water, I'm about 1/2 mile, I paid $625K for a 3/2 remodeled, hurricane proof house. The townhome I gave my daughter is a 2/2 one story in a private neighborhood, 1300 sq feet yes, I spent a pretty penny fixing it up for her, valued at over $500K. Florida is HOT.everybody wants to come here.

Matt, how did it go? I'm tempted to get one of those cruises, my right knee hurts and wife's right knee also so a lot of walking is out at the moment but I really want to go somewhere n the near future, I may have to wait for my dog to go to the rainbow bridge, I can't leave her to anyone on her condition.

I've been my own boss for too long, previous business for 20 years until things changed and I was forced to close, made a lot of money though, then in 1998 I went into real estate, we survived the crash, we made a lot on foreclosures and short sales, company grew to about 14-15 salespeople, the best ones become brokers and open their own company but we always had an influx of new salespeople, I got three new ones so far this year, just told everyone to go find another broker, I'm done.

[Johnny]

Congratulations on your upcoming retirement. You're gonna love it.

I retired at age 56, about 3 years before my Army pension kicked in. I'm 61 now. My only regret is not doing it sooner. I get up every day and stay crazy busy doing the things I like to do. I'm still healthy... just a tad slower.

All my friends are still working. It's the same old story. "I'm just gonna work ONE more year." Then they buy a new vehicle, go on a big vacation or buy a larger house and they're on the hook for a few more years.

The trick is to balance financial needs with life expectancy and comfort level. Not everyone could do what I do. I'm completely content living in a small house on large acreage in the middle of the woods and driving beater cars. It's not for everyone, that's for sure. But it's for me.

Wife is completely on board as well.

[4thIDvet]

Thanks Fred for the input yeah this frigging FAKE news as our PT keeps saying. But? The key is near the water $$ they want to look out the frigging window and see sea gulls. Hey that rhymes... 😁
Yup location location location. Here the lots in my hood are a hundred $$ grand and they fight for it if one comes up for sale. The rich don't care about no stinking big insurance bill I think the articles are talking about poor folks like me balking at a $3,000 insurance bill. Good man retire then you can go nuts like me looking for something to do. 😁😁

ADD: As they say in the military 'Your a cut above taking care of that dog.' 👍👍

[Klauss]

Hell I’ll never retire 😂

[mrkalashnikov]

Fred, it was an incredible experience being in Eastern Europe. We sailed on a cruise line called Amadeus (Austrian based). Spent 3 nights in Prague, Czech Republic at the old Imperial Hotel. Then on to Passau, Bavaria for a day trip. After Passau we actually boarded the ship and traveled down the Danube. Vienna, Melk/Durnstein, Bratislava Slovakia, several small towns in Croatia, and Belgrade Serbia. Then on to Buda-Pest Hungary & finally Sofia Bulgaria. My 3 favorite cities were Prague, Bratislava (no gas-powered vehicles allowed in the town, only foot & bicycle) and Belgrade. The Serbs were all very friendly, contrary to the propaganda that came out of the Yugoslav war. Most people we encountered spoke English, some better than others. In most of the cities we saw beautiful Old-World architecture, palaces, churches & Cathedrals.

These tours are very walking intensive, much of it over old bumpy cobblestone streets & sidewalks. Quite a few of the streets are steep with a lot of stairs encountered. Some members of our tour group used canes but managed to keep up. You have to be in decent physical shape to manage it. At the end of each day pretty much everybody was exhausted and slept great. Great Eastern cuisine, local wines & beers. Not cheap to do though, kind of $$$. My wife & I are both of the opinion it's now or never went it comes to this kind of traveling, I doubt we could manage it 10 years from now.

I would highly recommend the Amadeus Cruise Line. Great meals, river scenery, and very friendly staff and crew.

[Sanders]

Everyone I know who has been to Prague has loved it there. My daughter and her husband sure liked that city.

[aviator]

Yeah in Europe you need to walk a lot and I don't k now if I'll ever be able to do it again. years ago we took a guided tour with a tour company, 24 days and started in London, Paris, most of Italy, Austria, Germany spent a night in Monaco, and a few cities in Spain ending in Madrid. but it was intense, I can't do it again. We have friends who are very adventurous and go on their own to alll sort of places and manage to come back everytime, one time their car broke in Turkey in the middle of the night and they just started walking until they found a house with a light on, knocked on the door, an old man lived there, somehow they understood each other, the guy took them to the hotel in town. Another day they got stranded in a remote region of Spain due to poor communication and there was no more bus service, again, they found someone who helped them get to the next terminal. The husband just had one knee replaced and they are already planning a trip to China after their daughter gives birth.

[mrkalashnikov]

Traveling certainly opens up your eyes to how the rest of the world looks & lives. I think every vacation I've ever taken has been a great learning experience & fun. Never been to any 3rd-World countries and have no plans to do so.

[4thIDvet]

Traveling certainly opens up your eyes to how the rest of the world looks & lives. I think every vacation I've ever taken has been a great learning experience & fun. Never been to any 3rd-World countries and have no plans to do so.

Yes sir traveling. Europe a few times the Orient many times Canada Mehico Greenland and our most beautiful of all our America. Lots and lots of others we would sip the devils brew put a map on the wall and where the dart hit we went to the airport bought tickets and went. Caymans good shot saddle up. 😄
To old and trouble walking now so traveling days are over. But if you have kids please take them with you. Best education they can get. Good school and travel I guarantee they will be some dang smart kids.

[Pogo]

Good decision Fred. You earned it. Enjoy retirement while you are still healthy.