Foreclosures
Are foreclosures a good investment?
A foreclosure property is a home that has been repossessed by the lender because the owners failed to pay the mortgage. Thousands of homes end up in foreclosure every year. Economic conditions affect the number of foreclosures, too. Many people lose their homes due to job loss, credit problems or unexpected expenses. It is wise to be cautious when considering a foreclosure. Many experts, in fact, advise inexperienced buyers to hire an expert to take them through the process. It is important to have the house thoroughly inspected and to be sure that any liens, undisclosed mortgages or court judgments are cleared or at least disclosed.
Are there different types of foreclosures?
Judicial foreclosure action is a proceeding in which a mortgage, a trustee or another lien holder on property requests a court-supervised sale of the property to cover the unpaid balance of a delinquent debt. Non-judicial foreclosure is the process of selling real property under a power of sale in a mortgage or deed of trust that is in default. In such a foreclosure, however, the lender is unable to obtain a deficiency judgment, which makes some title insurance companies reluctant to issue a policy.
How do I find a foreclosed property?
In most states, a foreclosure notice must be published in the legal notices section of a local newspaper where the property is located or in the nearest city. Also, foreclosure notices are usually posted on the property itself and somewhere in the city where the sale is to take place. When a homeowner is late on three payments, the bank will record a notice of default against the property. When the owner fails to pay up, a trustee sale is held, and the property is sold to the highest bidder. The financial institution that has initiated foreclosure proceedings usually will set the bid price at the loan amount. Despite these seemingly straightforward rules, buying foreclosures is not as easy as it may sound. Sophisticated investors use the technique so novices may find themselves among stiff competition.
Testimonials
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I was a For Sale by Owner when my offer fell through and I hired Debbie to list my property and get it sold. She was able to bring me an offer within 30 days of my listing date and we closed the deal the next month. She is a professional who can get the job done and now she is my friend. Thanks Debbie!
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- Bettie Ralston
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We would not work with any other realtor in the St.Pete area. She meets all of the requirements of a great, professional, knowledgeable agent.
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- Ron & Linda Thompson
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Deb is the best realtor! This is the second time we have worked together and I would recommend her to anyone especially if they don’t know the area. She gets it done! Happy client :)
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- Kimberly Maldonado
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My wife and I came to St Pete looking for a second home. We travelled from Boston and really hadn't a clue about the area other than what we were told by friends and relatives, one of whom suggested we contact Debbie. I'll make a long story short. If I were to make a list of my top ten people in my 62 years with whom I did business, not only would Debbie be on that list, she'd be near the top! If you want a bright, honest, patient, well-versed, real human being, who has your best interest......call her. 5 stars!!!!!! Thanks Debbie....really.
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- Jack & Judy Kezner
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Once in a while, someone comes along who just naturally makes everyone feel a little happier. Debbie Deeb has been that someone to me. Debbie has walked me through the maze of searching, finding, and ultimately purchasing my dream home. She has held my hand every step of the way and has continued to help me by referring very qualified individuals for minor repairs. I feel comfortable calling her at all hours. There is no one else I would ever consider for future real estate needs.. Thank you, Debbie, for all you have done and continue to do for me. .
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- Marie Monique Descent
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Excellent service and communication through the entire process!! Thank you Debbie Deeb!!
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Debbie possesses several very important qualities: First, she is extremely knowledgeable regarding her profession. Second, she has a passion for taking care of her Customer/Clients. Third, see #2. Thanks for all the wonderful help, Debbie!
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- Steve Garskof
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I’ve had a wonderful experience working Debbie Deeb. She is very professional and keeps to her word on what she tells you, unlike the experiences I have had with some realtors in the past. So I would highly recommend Debbie for all your real estate needs.
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- Jim Schmit
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In a word: Phenomenal. Debbie is an absolute gem and made what can be a pretty stressful experience into an easy going but extremely efficient process. She communicated through out the entire process, introduced us to her local pool of professionals and made me laugh on many occasions and she definitely understands and remembers that we are families moving into new homes and helped us feel welcomed. It is critical that you find a great real estate agent and we exceeded this by finding the best. Thank you Debbie! Lili and I are forever grateful.
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- Michael Barry Enos and Li Li
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Debbie works hard to find properties that will meet your criteria. She knows the area well and really knows what to look for in terms of potential deal-breakers.
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- Mr. & Mrs. Joseph G. Jordan
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Debbie Deeb knows the real estate business and did a great job pricing my condo. She did not hesitate to find answers to questions that came up during the process of selling. I would highly recommend her if you want to buy or sell.
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- Linda Wathen
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I selected Deb to help us find our current home 3 years ago based on her qualifications. We love the house more now than we did even when we bought it. Honest - that is Deb. Thanks again.
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- Sam Fraser
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This is the fourth home that Debbie Deeb has helped me list or sell and she never ceases to amaze me! She is so knowledgeable and thorough in every aspect of the home buying/selling process. She makes sure to explain the process, makes you aware of deadlines, and answers all questions very promptly. You can always trust her to tell you the truth, even if it isn't the answer you want. I have recommended her to family and friends and will continue to do so!!
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- Natasha Copeland, Seminole, FL
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I am a Senior Loan Originator with Vandyk Mortgage and I have 17 years of local lending knowledge. I have been working with Debbie for several years on many purchase transactions for her valued clients. Debbie is the most ethical and professional Realtor I have had the opportunity to work with. She always does the right thing for her clients, Always! Her communication skills and problem solving skills set her apart. I truly wish I could work with more realtors just like Debbie!
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- Sean Moore
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Debbie always seems to match seller and buyer for positive results.
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- David Kaufman
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Debbie Deeb not only assisted with the purchase of 2 of my parent's homes but she just recently assisted myself and my fiancé buying our first home together. Debbie is honest, patient and down to earth and will always do what's best for you as a buyer. She is someone my family has trusted over the years and that I wouldn't hesitate referring to any friends or family members needing assistance in either buying or selling. She is also someone who will not stop assisting you even after you close on a home. Anytime you need a referral, she will help you out with a contact. Thank you, Debbie!
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- Cathy Kwiatkowski
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Debbie Deeb is without a doubt the best realtor I have ever worked with. Alway on top of the transactions and very easy to get touch with, unlike some others I have used in the past. I would recommend Debbie and her group to anyone that's in need of her services.
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- JIM SCHMIT
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My wife and I have sold and purchased homes using Debbie Deeb as our REALTOR®. She is very knowledgeable, enthusiastic, helpful, hard working and friendly. She will leave no stone unturned in your search for a buyer or a property to buy. We highly recommend her, and we have referred her clients whenever we have the opportunity.
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- David Folkenflik
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We had to bring my mother to our home in another state due to health reasons. We decided to sell her home in Florida as we didn't want to rent it and we wanted to use the proceeds for her future care. I called Debbie Deeb, who sold our home for us five years prior. Trust is very important, and I trust Debbie Deeb and Berkshire Hathaway. After seeing the property, she gave us the best market plan and information we needed. We decided to sell the property "as is" rather than use up my mother's savings to upgrade it. Her knowledge of the market and area was spot-on, and she kept our best interests in line. We had an offer within 2 weeks of the house being on the market! Closing and getting paperwork done in a timely manner from another state was a concern of mine, but Debbie and Lori made it easy and kept me informed every step of the way. I can highly recommend Debbie Deeb and the team at Berkshire Hathaway in St. Petersburg for buying or selling your home and property.
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- Diana Hester, Barberton Ohio
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Deb was a great realtor. I can't recommend her enough. As an agent she is very sharp, astute. Knows a lot about the area, and has a large ecosystem of providers who can help you get things done, inspected, fixed, etc. She is personable and quickly becomes family.
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- Aidaliz Maldonado
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Debbie was the most knowledgeable, accommodating, detailed REALTOR® that helped us find the right place, at a fair price, all while meeting our criteria. Debbie was not a pushy person, understood our parameters, and when all said and done, we made a good choice. Debbie was masterful with assisting in closing, especially when we were miles away. Would recommend Debbie to anyone who is in need of housing.
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- Hank Dymerski
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Debbie Deeb made the whole buying and selling of our homes a pleasant experience all the way around.
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- Susan Elliott, Bailey's Bluff
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Working with Debbie Deeb was truly one of the best decisions I made during the process of purchasing my first home. As a first-time homebuyer, I had a lot to learn, and Debbie guided me every step of the way with patience, professionalism, and exceptional communication. She was always responsive, honest, and genuinely had my best interests at heart. Debbie pointed out things I never would have thought to look for, including potential permitting issues and other costly problems that could have turned into major headaches after closing. Thanks to her attention to detail and expertise, I felt confident making informed decisions throughout the process. What has impressed me the most is that Debbie's support didn't end at closing. She continues to answer my questions promptly and kindly, offering guidance whenever I need it. It's clear that she truly cares about her clients and wants them to succeed long after the transaction is complete. I couldn't have asked for a better Realtor for my first home purchase. If you're looking for someone who is knowledgeable, trustworthy, communicative, and genuinely invested in her clients, I wholeheartedly recommend Debbie Deeb. She exceeded every expectation, and I am incredibly grateful for all of her help.
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- Jenna Jordan
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Debbie was just so capable in what she was doing. She had knowledge of all my needs especially where I was out of state.
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- Barbara Hagan
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We first met Debbie in March of 2012 when she brought prospective buyers to our home, which was for sale. When the buyers decided to buy our condo, Debbie quickly sprang into action. Not only did she take care of her client's needs to get the deal closed in record time, she was always there to answer questions we had about the sale (and she wasn't even our REALTOR®). We were very impressed with Debbie's upbeat attitude, professionalism, and her friendly way of dealing with ALL people, not just her clients. There was never a question of who we would use to help us find our current home. And that she did . . . we couldn't believe how hard she worked to get the deal done. She just doesn't stop until the "Fat Lady Sings". We would not dream of using any other REALTOR®. Trust us, Debbie knows her trade . . . she is the "best of the best".
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- Gail and Del Rau
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Debbie’s is a remarkable Realtor Very much aware of her clients needs,in all aspects aware of what needs to be done. Very lucky to have her to help me with the selling of my condo. Great job.Debbie. I have your business card. I will share it with other people.
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- Lina Medeiros Turano
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Debbie Deeb was fantastic in every respect. She truly went above and beyond in her services. She will be handling all of my real estate needs in the future. Thank you Debbie!
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- Anthony J Schweiger
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Debbie Deeb was looking out for our best interest when purchasing our home. She pointed out several items to take into consideration when buying a home and what we should be looking out for. We had been looking for over two years, trying not to get frustrated, the inventory was low and we were concentrating in only a few select areas. She had been patient with us and in the end really came through with her negotiating skills. I was impressed how she negotiated with the agent in having the seller fix inspection problems that would fail insurance coverage. We placed an offer and closed three weeks later, the process went very smooth. Thanks Debbie!
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- Bridget, Clearwater
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Debbie Deeb is a true professional REALTOR® and she is a dedicated individual who provides exceptional service to her satisfied customers.
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- Beth Hernandez
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Debbie was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. She covered all the details quickly and efficiently. I loved working with her
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- Linda N. Todd
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Debbie is excellent. We would never buy or sell a property without her again. Her knowledge, expertise, professionalism and dedication are second to no one. We are extremely fortunate to have Debbie as our agent. Thank you Debbie !
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- Joseph A. and Jennifer S. Daum
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Knew agent for years and saw the hours and work she put in to be successful with this agency.
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- Steven Stewart
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Debbie was amazing to work with! She was professional, personable and always there when we needed her. She found us our dream home in an insane market. We will forever be thankful for her guidance and ability to secure us this beautiful place!
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- Kimberly Maldonado
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Debbie Deeb, has been the only Realtor I have had the pleasure of working with. When I wanted to buy property. Debbie is dedicated to her profession, and always finds the property that you are looking for. I am always happy to call Debbie with all my property needs.
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- Eileen Hall
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This is the fourth home that Debbie Deeb has helped me list or sell and she never ceases to amaze me! She is so knowledgeable and thorough in every aspect of the home buying/selling process. She makes sure to explain the process, makes you aware of deadlines, and answers all questions very promptly. You can always trust her to tell you the truth, even if it isn't the answer you want. I have recommended her to family and friends and will continue to do so!!
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- Natasha L & Robert S Copeland
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Outstanding 5 Star realtor. There is no substitute.
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- Terence O'Malley
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We tried to sell our condo through another REALTOR® for two years. It became futile. We then got in touch with Debbie and she took us on with quite a few ideas and a lot of hard work on her part. This was in 2009 when the realty market started to fall. Debbie worked very hard and our place finally sold in 2010. We thank Debbie in many ways; her hard work her knowledge of real estate and her wonderful friendship. She is an asset to hold onto.
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- Ned & Jean Cosmo
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Debbie is an absolute professional. She guided us through the purchase of our house handling all the details. I would highly recommend Debbie Deeb and her group to handle any real estate needs. Thank you Deb!
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I want to thank you for your outstanding professional performance in executing the sale of our property in St. Petersburg. Both Nadezhda and myself would recommend you highly to any buyer or seller who want to get the job DONE! Unfortunately there are too many people out there claiming "lady luck" results......
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- Nadezhda & Stephan Phillips
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As a first time homebuyer, the process of buying a home felt completely daunting and esoteric to me. Deb truly parts clouds on a daily basis, and is equal parts affable and intelligent. She makes the process understandable, and is a zealous advocate for her clients. I could not be any happier/luckier to have Deb as my realtor.
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- Matthew Livesay
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Debbie helped my family to find our dream home! We were very picky buyers and her patience with us really went a long way. She found the answer to any question we had, she got an immediate appointment for any house we wanted to see, and drove out of her way to help us whenever we needed it. She always steered us in the right direction as she knows far more than we did about real estate. I will never use any other REALTOR®! She is the best in the business and knows how to get you what you want!
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- Kathryn Masvidal
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Fantastic experience
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- Todd Darrin Jaeblon
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Debbie Deeb did an outstanding job with the sale of our property. She knows the real-estate market and is an expert in all aspects of real-estate sales. She was always available when we had questions and kept us informed regarding all the details of the listing, showings, offers and closing. She understood our needs and was a pleasure to work with. She helped us with aspects of the closing we didn't understand and looked out for our best interests. I would definitely use her again and would highly recommend her to family, friends and anyone else in need of a realtor. DEBBIE DEEB IS THE BEST!
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- Len Faulkner, St. Petersburg
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Debbie clearly goes the extra mile. She was sending me listed houses based on my specific criteria months in advance of my house hunting trip that allowed me to educate myself on the area and variety of houses typically available. On that trip she organized the visit to maximize my time and while my objective on the trip was originally to get a better feel for the area and houses available I wound up putting in an offer that culminated in my purchasing one on that 5 day trip. Her knowledge, expertise and experience are a cut above the standard realtor.
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- James L. Wiesner
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Debbie Deeb really delivers anticipatory service. She promptly answered my many questions and took all the guess work out of my selling my home. She was a calming influence for me as well, seeing I was pretty anxious about the whole selling process. I am very grateful for her super professional demeanor and expert service.
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- Maria L. Meyers
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Debbie is extremely knowledgeable about the St. Petersburg real estate market and was able to help us find a very suitable property that met our needs. She's very contentious and worked hard to ensure that our highest priorities were met. It is with the utmost confidence that we recommend Debbie.
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- Hulmut Gfatter
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Debbie did a fantastic job helping me sell my home. There were many challenges and Debbie guided me through them all to get to closing.
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- Cheryl Lynn Royal
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Debbie Deeb is a consummate professional - and goes above and beyond with EVERY client - regardless of the size of the sale! She is a rare breed in any industry with a true commitment to exemplary service, to listening to her clients and working round the clock to make the clients' dreams become reality. She is amazing with both local clients and with out of state - AND OUT of COUNTRY clients - she wows them every time! You truly have a friend, an advocate and an expert with Debbie as your champion! No one better! Ten Thumbs Up!!!!
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- Laurie F
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Great, thank you. Debbie Deeb has done a fine job for me. I didn't know what to expect from a buyers agent other than representing me not the seller. Debbie has the experience and knowledge that I needed in unfamiliar surroundings. Debbie kept me up to date on what the next step in the process would be and watched out for me. No negative issues at all.
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- Peter Ilacqua
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Four years ago we were on holiday in St Pete and about 5pm just as the office was closing we went in and met the wonderful Debbie. Although it was closing time we felt it was not a problem for Debbie to stay on as long as we needed. We live overseas and wanted to find a condo within 3-4 days and close the deal before leaving. Needless, to say Debbie had the deal wrapped up within a week. We have since not only remained clients but we consider Debbie a friend. If we have a problem or need answers to any Real Estate issues we always call on Debbie she continues to look after you long after the sale is complete. She is the best in the business and we highly recommend her.
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- Laurel and Terry Palmer
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All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither listing broker(s) or information provider(s) shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless. Listing(s) information is provided for consumers personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing.
Updated on September 12, 2026 9:29 PM UTC
