In the aftermath of the housing bubble

From Peter Goodman at the NY Times: Real Estate in Cape Coral, Fla., Is Far From a Recovery (ht Calculated Risk)

This is not the most uplifting article.Â Goodman joins a Foreclosure TourÂ and reports on the facets of the clean up of the messy real estate bubble burst.

The Story lost its magic amid the realization that speculators had simply been selling to other speculators, making the real estate market look like a Ponzi scheme. The ensuing crash was breathtaking. By the winter of 2007, median housing prices in Cape Coral and the rest of Lee County had fallen to about $215,000, down from a high of $278,000 in 2005. By October 2009, they had fallen to near $92,000.

Maybe I need to stop reading the national real estate news.Â Â Every day there are more an more of this type of story, as well as auctions, short sales, bulk sales, foreclosuresÂ – subjects we in the residential real estate business seldom, if ever, dealt with 5 years ago.

We were busy helping folks achieve the American Dream of home ownership.Â Â The last decade brought about remarkable changes in the real estate market and the real estate business.Â Â Â It is time that we pull ourselves out of this mess and reclaim the American Dream.Â Sure, there is room for the investors, who seem to be ubiquitious in the markets, but I am ready to help bring back the Dream – folks buying homes to live in!

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Joe Spake

Realtor at InCity Realty

Joe Spake is a Real Estate Broker and Consultant, specializing in Midtown, Downtown, and East Memphis residential properties. His interests include architecture, community activism, music, photography and cooking. Get more great real estate information on Joe's Facebook Page. Call 901-870-3440 or Email Joe@spake.com

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Joe Spake, InCity Realty

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sandy benson

21:29 01 Mar 20

My daughter recommended Joe Spake and I’m glad she did. Both the houses I had available sold. Joe was able to find good buyers for both houses and got the best price possible. I felt he was honest, fair and is very knowledgeable in real estate.

Bill Bailey

15:45 07 Nov 19

It was great working with Joe. He's extremely knowledgeable of the Memphis Midtown market as well as a knowledge of what makes an old home tick. He was extremely instrumental in getting a long list of inspection items cleared in order to have a quick closing. We would highly recommend Joe!

Chelsea Meenan

15:52 21 Jun 19

Great Realtor! Excellent knowledge of the Cooper Young and Midtown area! Would recommend!

CECELIA CHILTON

14:06 10 Apr 19

Joe was great to deal with...very efficient and to the point, as well as humorous, when appropriate. He knew exactly how to price the house and it sold very quickly. His help in getting the many details taken care of was amazing. Thanks, Joe

Zachary Webb

15:38 05 Apr 19

Joe was always available for any questions and viewings. Super informed, and knew midtown inside out. I always felt confident with his recommendations and advice. Thanks again!

Dwayne Butcher

05:00 02 Aug 18

Thanks, Joe for being such a great help in buying our condo!If you are considering buying or selling in Memphis, give Joe Spake a try. He knows what he is doing, knows all the people, knows all the tricks, and is very honest with you. Sometimes telling you things you may not want to hear. Joe makes the buying process easy, explains every detail along the way, so you know exactly where you are in the process. Thanks again, Joe!

Robert Elliott

21:43 16 Jul 18

You should definitely work with Joe! We decided to work with him after meeting him when he handled my sister's home purchase. I appreciated his experience, candor, and approach. He knows the Midtown area well and was both patient with us and insightful as we looked at a number of properties in the area.

Genevieve Hill-Thomas

00:07 04 May 18

Joe knows Midtown! We loved working with him from the start--he's truly a professional but breaks everything down for you. While preparing our house for the market, he was patient with us and worked out a strategy for us. Once we left town, he took care of everything--it was complete piece of mind. The result? Not only the easiest real estate transaction we've ever had, but also the quickest! The house sold for more that we thought it could in a flash. My only regret--our move halfway across the country means that Joe can't help us find a new home! Wish we could have taken him with us! :)

Cassie Gerken

03:40 11 Oct 17

Joe is extremely knowledgeable about the midtown area! I worked with him to begin looking for my first home and was impressed with how thorough he was on each showing. He helped me look for important details in the older homes I was drawn to and gave me helpful insights about the construction and potential setbacks of each property. I had a seamless closing and absolutely love my new home. Will definitely call Joe for future real estate needs.

Jan Stone

18:11 12 Apr 17

Joe is more than a realtor: he is a human encyclopedia of what you need to know about neighborhoods, houses, and quirks in construction or functions--all dispensed with candor and humor. He was an honest, patient, and delightful collaborator in ensuring my finding place I love to live. New to the state and slightly less than organized, I benefited greatly from Joe's knowledge of Memphis and tenacious attention to detail.

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