What Mike’s Customers Are Saying

Sarasota Realtor Mike Payne’s Customers Are Saying….

Mike was able to sell for us 3 homes in less than a year that were facing foreclosure….” Mike & Sandy Tuell, Port Charlotte, Florida

I earn my customers’ TRUST quickly because I’m competent, caring & concerned with results.

  • Do you or someone you know need to avoid foreclosure?
  • Do you or someone you know want (or need) to sell a house in (or around) Sarasota?
  • Do you live locally and want to buy your first home in (or around) Sarasota?
  • Do you live out of town, out-of-state or even out-of-country and want to buy in (or around) Sarasota and NEED to work with an agent who won’t “drop the ball?”

Here’s what I know: when you help someone with a real estate need/want, that person is more than happy to take time to share his/her thoughts…all I had to do was ASK them.

To customers who kindly took time to share their experience in writing and/or on camera, THANK YOU. Below, you see video and letters shared by customers (both buyers and sellers) who agreed to go on record for all to see/hear them share their story about working with me.

Please call or email me now with any questions you have. Thank you!

Testimonial #1 – 2 Investment Properties SOLD ~ Short Sales!


John & Mary Klenovic, Englewood, Florida
 

In the video above, John Klenovic of Englewood (FL) required my proven experience in short sales to short sell 3 investment properties: 2 in Kissimmee (FL) and one in Wesley Chapel (FL). I successfully short sold 2 of 3 properties: tenants in the 3rd property held the house hostage, causing bank foreclosure….

Why are investment properties so difficult to short sell? Banks do not make it easy for “investors” to short sell & walk away with no money out of pocket. In this case, I faced 2 investment properties with 2 mortgages (each), 2nd mortgages on both properties charged off & sold to “ugly” debt collectors & unpaid HOA fees turned over to attorneys who placed liens against the properties while adding additional $1,000s in legal fees, adding more difficulty to avoiding foreclosure. Please see John’s relief and satisfaction in the video below -

Details:

  • 2 investment properties
  • $480,000 in mortgage debt
  • Short sold both properties for $267,000 ($137,000 & $130,000).
  • Mr. & Mrs. Klenovic paid ~$5,000 total to walk away from $243,000 in deficiency.
  • RESULT: 3 Investment Properties  SOLD  on short sale – no foreclosure & no deficiency judgment on 2 properties.

Testimonial #2 – Sellers Walk Away From Over $433,000 Mortgage Debt!


Mike & Sandy Tuell, Port Charlotte, Florida
 

Mike & Sandy Tuell faced a similar situation causing sleepless nights. Mike & Sandy desperately needed to short sell THREE investment properties in Palmetto (FL), Riverview (FL) & Brandon (FL). In the video above, you can feel their relief in being DONE with 3 huge burdens weighing heavily on them.

Details:

  • 3 investment properties
  • 6 mortgages ~ 2 each /property
  • 3 charged off 2nd mortgages (that is, banks wrote off the debt as uncollected & sold mortgage debt to 3rd party debt collectors whose debt collection practices defy logic – ask me for more details if you’re interested)
  •  3 properties with delinquent HOA fees turned over to HOA’s attorneys, who proceeded to add $1,000s in legal fees. This one issue causes more short sales to fall into foreclosure because (SOME) greedy attorneys demand inflated fees.
  •  3 abandoned, unmaintained properties with ZERO curb appeal.
  • 3 properties ~ about $670,000 in mortgage debt
  • RESULT: 3 Investment Properties  SOLD  on short sale with banks forgiving over $433,000 in mortgage debt – no foreclosure & no deficiency judgment on over $433,000….

Testimonial #3 – Luxury Sarasota Condo SOLD ~ Short Sale


Jim & Margaret M, FLORIDA
 
schooner bay sells 520 What Mikes Customers Are Saying

Beautiful, move-in ready villa close to Siesta Key Beach with boat slip & direct access to Gulf of Mexico!

On March 13, 2008, this beautiful property, located near Siesta Key Beach with boat slips & direct access to Gulf of Mexico, appraised for  $522,000. Jim & Margaret Megiel (in video below) tell you how 2 “big-name” real estate agents @ “big-name” Sarasota real estate brokerages couldn’t sell their condo. At that point, Jim & Margaret found me from the Internet. Jim carefully interviewed me, skeptical at first of all these glowing testimonials about my abilities to help people avoid foreclosure.

Details:

  • 2nd home – treated much like an investment property.
  • Owed $355,000
  • Successfully negotiated sales price – $240,000
  • Jim & Margaret paid *only* $2,500 to walk away with full payoff & loan satisfaction!

Testimonial #4 – Bradenton Woman Released From $100,000+ Mortgage Debt!

4557 31 humphrey SOLD+ What Mikes Customers Are SayingDetails:

Two mortgages = $247,000
Sales price = $143,000
Borrower paid $3,000 for full payoff & loan satisfaction ~ NO deficiency!

From property owner Erin Humphrey, I received the following letter:

“Mike, I can’t thank you enough. You’re the very best!”

I expected the short sale of my home to be tough and was lucky to have Mike Payne by my side throughout the way. Mike is professional and knowledgeable but most importantly compassionate and thoughtful. The short sale was an emotional experience and Mike served as real estate professional, counselor and overall shoulder to lean on.

I was upside down more than $100,000 on my home and was concerned about being saddled with that debt for the rest of my life. The circumstances that lead to the short sale wouldn’t allow me to manage that burden. With Mike’s guidance I was able to outline my reasons for proceeding with a short sale and appeal to my mortgage company to allow me to restart my life. I paid only $3,000 out of pocket, an enormous relief given the possibilities.

The process was challenging – it’s a lot to handle, but Mike kept me informed throughout the process communicating with title companies, the buyer’s agent and a real estate attorney. He stepped in to supply documents and answer questions for the title company so as to ease the burden on me. Hands down, Mike Payne is the real estate professional I would recommend for any real estate needs.” –Erin H.  – Bradenton, FL (September 2011)

Testimonial #5 – Sarasota Woman Released From $141,000 In Mortgage Debt!

5123 granicus sarasota real estate SOLD What Mikes Customers Are Saying

Sarasota woman walks away from over $141,000 in deficiency!

Details:

2006 Purchase Price: $235,900
2011 Sales Price: $95,000
% Loss of value: >60%

From the relieved and appreciative property owner Wendy Stambaugh, I received the following letter:

Dear Mike,

I just wanted to say thank you again for all of your help and hard work.  The very first day we met, you told me that you WILL sell my house and you were right!!  Even through the times I felt like to give up, you were there to support me. The knowledge and advice that you shared with me was priceless….I followed your advice and ended up with no money out of pocket and deficiency forgiveness. The constant communication was wonderful, you always emailed me back quickly with answers.

I love that you have a true passion for your work and helping people.  I will NEVER forget the words you used…”this is not just about selling a house”.  When you said that, it finally hit me about how emotional and life changing this experience was.

Thank you again and I will always recommend you to others in hopes that you can help them the way you helped my family.

Sincerely,

Wendy Stambaugh

 Additional Testimonials From More Happy Customers….

“He told us short was long!”

I am very happy to recommend Mike as a Realtor, especially with a difficult deal.  Mike worked with us, sight unseen, for nearly 8 months to close a “short sale” that he had correctly warned us would be a long process.  Whenever we had questions, Mike responded immediately.  In the end we got a great deal and we owe it to his professionalism, persistence in closing the deal and patience with us.  Thanks Mike!
Ivan & Paulette W. – Canada (received August 9, 2011)

“…Terrific Realtor‎‎”

Greetings Mike! We are very happy with our new home. We can’t thank enough for helping us get it. You sacrificed some commission to help us fight for a reduced sales price. Thank you. You will hear from us again. I’ll call you when the house is complete. BAH – Sarasota‎

“Thanks!‎‎”

Mike, Thanks for being patient with my wife and me. We never saw this coming, and we kinda didn’t react appropriately at first. I wanted to walk away. My wife pushed me to call you to explore our options. You didn’t try to sell us anything when we first met at Starbucks. You asked lots of questions and eventually sat in with us when we met with our attorney and accountant. Can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done for us. We’ll miss our beach house but at least we can move on with our lives. Expect a Christmas card. Let’s stay in touch, Chris‎

“You helped us. Thank you.‎‎”

Mr. Mike, thank you for being full of good help. We work hard. We fall behind and they want to take our home. Once we were confused, we didn’t know how to help ourselves. You answered our questions. You helped us find a good lawyer to help us. You can count on us to tell your name to people we hear need a realtor. Thank you, Mike‎

“Thank you is not enough‎‎”

Somehow, thank you is not enough. Mike Payne came to us when we most needed help. Boy, I can relate to what others in these reviews have said about Mike’s help. Like many others, we were staring in the face of foreclosure. And this scared us to death. Not such scared of losing our home and what we would or could do, we were embarrassed. I must admit, we were hesitant to do anything until the banks were calling every minute of every day (it sure seemed like it anyway). Mike was very easy to talk to. He showed genuine concern for us and wanted to know exactly what we wanted to see happen with our home. We had tried loan modification, throwing away $2928.00 at a company promising to get our loan modified to a payment we could afford. Didn’t happen. Our income was in worse shape now. We really hoped to avoid foreclosure. Mike answered our questions upfront and never made unrealistic promises. I think that is what impressed us the most. He didn’t try to sell himself. We knew he was right for us. We even kicked ourselves for not calling his sooner. I think we would’ve saved our selves $3000 and might have been able to save our home. oh well, you live and learn. Mike saved us from foreclosure. We are sincerely greatful. We get to move on with our lives and chalk this one up as a bad experience that didn’t turn out worse. First of all, Mike understands what it’s like to face foreclosure. He also is very knowledgeable. He doesn’t try to sell you on anything. He tells you if he doesn’t know the answer and then he gets the answer. He wants you to talk with an attorney and tax person. Most of all, you can trust Mike Payne. Even after getting burned, we quickly knew we could trust Mike. He didn’t let us down. I now can sleep at night.

A 1,000 THANKS!!!!‎‎

This review is for Mike Payne, the agent who helped us buy a house. I just wanted to take a moment to say thanks for all the help you have given us. From the beginning to the end, Mike showed that he realy cares about his job and those that he helps. Right off the bat, you made us feel comfortable and reassured us that you would help us find a new home and assist in repairing our credit. And you kept that promise. Sometimes I was hesitant to ask you a question, thinking it would be a “dumb or silly” question. But you took all my questions quite seriously and answered them in layman terms I could understand. Finding a new home can be quite stressful and frustrating. You made it happen by giving us helpful advice. And taking the time to help us search for these homes to view. You showed a true concern that we find a quality home that would appreciate in value. You didn’t rush us to buy so you could cash a quick commission check while waving goodbye. That was our chief concern when looking for a real estate agent. Fortunately for us, our friends steered us to the right agent. I take great pride in my job as well. My goal is to go “beyond the call of duty” for my customers and see them leave with a smile, just as you do. It is nice to meet someone such as yourself that matches my philosophy in life. You have good knowledge of real estate. That’s important. More than what you know about houses and how to determine there worth, you earned our trust. We looked to you as our trusted advisor. And for that…a thousand thanks. Take care, Ron

Good morning Mike‎‎

Sorry for the delay in responding, as you know I had pressing things to take care of. We appreciate so much everything you did for us and definitely feel as though we became friends during the this adventure. I couldn’t ask for a better, patient, understanding, honest, caring and professional person to hold my hand and go through this. John and I are so thankful for all that you have done to help us and look forward to enjoying our new home. This journey had been amazing. I ended up with the home of my dreams and made great frendships along the way. There are no words to accurately describe this experience. Mike, thank you so much for all that you do. You make huge impacts on people’s lives for the better and that is a trait unfortunately not found in our world these days. Well I am off to pack. Have a wonderful day. Call or email if there’s anything else I can do for you. B & J‎

Everything fell into place….‎‎

Dear Mike, The move in date is FINALLY here and I can’t tell you how great it feels to be working towards my dream of home ownership. July of last year, I was pre-approved for a mortgage when I ran into financial trouble when my sister lost her job and I had to make choices between paying my bills on time and helping to support her and my niece, is it any wonder that I chose them instead. Well, this choice left me in a bind because I no longer qualifed for a traditional mortage and needed a way for me to move into my home while repairing my credit. By the grace of God, I found my way to you. I have always been leery of the rent-to-own or lease/option opportunities because I have heard many horry stories with familiers having the home sold out from under them or having their depisits taken with no home to show for it. I finally broke down and called you to learn about the program and ask some questions. After our first conversation, I felt secure in knowing that this was the program for me and I just needed to put together a template of the home that I wanted. Over the past three months, I have seen many homes and had a lot of questions which you answered with diligence and patience. You never rushed me, or you never made me feel like I needed to make a decision right now and always, always you offered advice when I asked it. In the end, our partnership paid off and I have a house that I love. Thank you for helping to make one of my dreams come true. JS

miracle comes true‎‎

This success story is overdue. Better late then never, I guess. I want to say Mike Payne was very instrumental in helping us get into our own home. We were at our wits end with real estate agents giving us the run around. Last August, I was looking online and I came across an article written by Mike It turned out that it was our solution to many years of looking and trying to own our own home. God finally heard our prayers and sent us Mike. He worked diligently with my husband and I in helping us find the perfect home in a perfect location. He was never too tired to assist and was available whenever we called for advice or help. The final miracle happened when we walked into our own home. We love our home and we are very thankful to God for sending us Mike to make our dream come true. Out of this whole exciting situation we found a friend and confidant in Mike. Sincere thanks, Mr. & Mrs. Hudson‎


We believe in Micheal‎‎”

Believe in Micheal Payne. He will help you. We earn 6 figure income. But it’s 1099 income. We couldn’t find a bank to finance our new home. That’s when we found Micheal and the right lease option opportunity for us. I had searched for weeks, calling many individuals and companies. All of them talked a good talk, but they didn’t pass my test. I knew enough to ask the right questions. Micheal was the only one to answer every question. He is the one who made it possible for us to buy our 620k home. When you work with Micheal, you don’t get pressured. He knows the creative side of real estate (I know, I used to be licensed) and I’ve worked with many RE investors. I only can imagine the amount of high income earners who can’t get financed. The lease-option and Micheal worked out for us.‎

“Great long-distance experience!‎‎”

Good morning. Pleased to recommend my realtor Mike Payne. I acquired several investment properties I had intended to flip. Market turned on me. Mike assisted me in considering my options.. I am out of state. Properties are in Orlando. Plan in motion, Mike took control of these properties and allowed me to concentrate on my business. I trust him. I don’t have to worry any longer. He makes sound decisions. He communicates well. My pleasure to recommend Mike Payne.‎

“Thank you”‎‎

Mike Payne helped me save my home. I would be homeless if not for Mike’s tireless effort. I did what many people apparently do. I refused to accept I was losing my home. I lost my job unexpectedly. Once upon a time, I made a good living and had no trouble paying my $3302 a month house payment. When I lost my job, I couldn’t function. Everything turned in to a snowball. I was ready to let the bank kick me out. I was scare but I just couldn’t face it any longer. A friend told me about Mike so I called. Miike clearly explained the process. He was very considerate from the first phone call. He didn’t judge me. He was upfront and answered all my questions. He promised he would do his best to sell my home so I didn’t experience foreclosure. He insisted I talk with an attorney and certified public accountant. He wanted me to know he couldn’t guarantee he could sell my home because I was 17 months into the process and the bank had recorded summary judgment. Mike Payne helped me save my home. I would be homeless if not for Mike’s tireless effort. I did what many people apparently do. I refused to accept I was losing my home. I lost my job unexpectedly. Once upon a time, I made a good living and had no trouble paying my $3302 a month house payment. When I lost my job, I couldn’t function. Everything turned in to a snowball. I was ready to let the bank kick me out. I was scare but I just couldn’t face it any longer. A friend told me about Mike so I called. Miike clearly explained the process. He was very considerate from the first phone call. He didn’t judge me. He was upfront and answered all my questions. He promised he would do his best to sell my home so I didn’t experience foreclosure. He insisted I talk with an attorney and certified public accountant. He wanted me to know he couldn’t guarantee he could sell my home because I was 17 months into the process and the bank had recorded summary judgment against me. I didn’t know what that meant, but Mike did. I didn’t want to see foreclosure. In just a few months, Mike came through. He sold my home with both banks forgiving the deficiency. Thank goodness Mike insisted on my attorney reviewing both banks’ short sale approval letters. One bank tried to sneak in innocent looking wording appearing to release me from the deficiency. They hadn’t and my attorney and Mike managed to get the bank to change the wording to release me completely. Now I can move on and try to put this bad experience behind me. I am grateful to Mike.

Mike Payne Cares….‎‎

I am a mortgage professional. I’ve known Mike for years. Without question, Mike cares about helping people. He constantly peppers me with mortgage questions. He talks with many attorneys, trying to stay up with all that’s happening in the foreclosure defense arena. I am pleased to know Mike. I am proud of him for helping people avoid foreclosure. Sincerely, Carl‎

Great house-buying experience‎‎

Mike Payne listens well and provides forthright opinions about market conditions. Read his blog for your own proof. We’ve purchased houses before, and my husband and I have not previously enjoyed the process. My schedule prevents me from spending hours, days & months house hunting. Mike maximizes time allocated in finding our “just-right” house. For once, I actually almost enjoyed buying a house thanks to Mike’s ability to work with and respect my time. I highly recommend Mike, our Sarasota realtor.‎

thank you‎‎

thank you for selling our house for us. we stayed out of foreclosure thanks to you. the thought of foreclosure scared us. we appreciated the regular conference calls, emails and texts updating us. finally it’s over and we can move on. you will always be in our prayers, Mike. please call or email us if ever we can anything for you. blessed are you, jenny‎

Thanks for your help, Mike‎‎

On account of Mike Payne, my wife and I were able to buy a home. I make good income- over $200k a year. I had credit issues. I also didn’t know about my VA benefit. Mike did know and put me in touch with a good mortgage officer. Mike helped me improve my credit, and he helped my wife and me find our new home. We didn’t even think we could buy yet. Goes to show you what happens when you meet a great real estate agent. What I like best about Mike is he’s not pushy. The guy was a teacher for years — he likes to help people and it shows. He’s knowledgeable. He’s quick to trust. He’s down to earth. Truth be told, I was willing to pay more for the house just to get it under contract. Mike managed to help us get the same home $22000 LESS than we were willing to pay. How could my wife and I not love this guy? lol He’s a good agent and a great guy. We’re know we were lucky to find him off his fixmyuglycredit.com website.‎

We Recommend Mr. Payne!‎‎

Mr. Payne is a wonderful real estate agent in Sarasota, Florida. We have bought and sold many properties. When we chose to purchase a vacation home in Florida, we discovered Mr. Payne’s Internet website. At the time, we had not considered Sarasota. We absolutely needed to be on the water, though we thought we’d buy near Palm Beach. My husband, nonetheless, called Mr. Payne, whose articles, videos & knowledge intrigued us. My husband delighted in Mr. Payne, finding him a welcomed resource for promoting Sarasota. Perhaps most of all, we found Mr. Payne not pushy. From Canada, we were familiar with Florida’s property troubles. Mr. Payne spoke candidly, unlike the other real estate agents with whom my husband and I spoke. They chirped the entire time about their listed properties that they just knew were right for us. We didn’t even tell them what we wanted besides wanting to purchase on the water. Mr. Payne’s candor and ability to listen delighted us. Once we chose Mr. Payne to assist us, he exceeded our expectations. Marvelous young man. Very conscientious and knowledgeable. We expected to buy site unseen from outside the country. We favoured Mr. Payne’s photographs and videos promptly made available to us on each property we considered. Mr. Payne worked tirelessly on our behalf. I’m afraid Mr. Payne understands computers far better than my husband and I. Not to worry, Mr. Payne walked us through accessing videos and photographs he made available to us on every property. Very patient. What a pleasure working with such a caring, competent professional. Indeed, we highly recommend Mr. Payne to you, as we have already to our friends who wish to accompany us to Sarasota. Oh dear, Sarasota is a delightful community with wonderful restaurants and theater. Cordially submitted, Mrs. SJ

thanks!!!!‎‎

hi mike, it was good to talk with you. thank you again for the rent to own chance. we love our home. me and my husband had heard scary stories about rent 2 own, so we were concerned. you answered all our questions and never pushed us. everything you said has turned out true. we are fixing our credit just like your website shows us btw your blog at fixmyuglycredit.com/blog is fabulous! i can’t believe it. we got your dvd and newsletter too. we’re glad you asked us to share our experience with you. anyone who wants to talk with us, have them call us. icon smile What Mikes Customers Are Saying ))) sincerely, leesa‎

Sarasota Real Estate Investor

Marc here. It’s my pleasure to offer a testimonial for Mike Payne. Mike brings me deals. Most agents don’t understand investors. Mike knows how to work with real estate investors. Last deal he sent me netted me $43k — that’s what I mean. Now, where’s the next one icon wink What Mikes Customers Are Saying Keep ‘em coming bud, MJ‎

To A Knowledgeable & Caring Agent‎‎

You are the #1 real estate agent… On account of us being out of the country, we were very concerned about buying a house at all. My wife found your website and loved all the information you make available. Your videos helped show you a real person who knows real estate. I called you with a couple questions and you took time to help me. You assured me you could help us, irregardless of us being outside the country. Indeed, my friend, you did just that. You went to houses we liked from pictures and shot videos of the houses and neighborhoods. Our friends became our eyes in our absence. We love our new winter home and couldn’t be more happy with your marvelous service. Thank you, my friend. Best to you!‎

:You saved our home!”‎‎

Thank you, Mr. Payne, for helping us stay out of foreclosure. Scary time for my family and me. The attorneys you recommended gave us the leverage we needed to get BOA to approve our permanent loan modification – after they had turned us down previously. We don’t know what we would have done without your help. Wonderful strategy! This is the least I can to help you. For any real estate or credit repair, everyone I know will get a hold of you. Thanks!!!!! DonnaK‎

“Thanks a million!‎‎”

I was scared to death going into foreclosure. I couldn’t afford my two rentals no longer. A good friend you helped out of a similar situation referred me to you. She said you know what you’re doing. That was evident from the first call. Before you, I had talked with other realtors, they didn’t know squat about short sales. They told me I probably couldn’t get short sales, I didn’t have enough hardship. You came on board & removed two heavy weights from my shoulders. I know now I should’ve called you sooner, but I was damned depressed and frustated. Finally, I now can get back to sleeping at night. Bill Florida‎

Home Sweet Home!‎‎

Dear Mike, Stuart and I appreciate how hard you worked for us, Mike. We are overjoyed with our new home and can’t possibly thank you enough. As you know, many mortgage officers rejected our credit. We thought we would remain renters. Your credit repair knowledge helped us improve our scores 80 points! MARVELOUS…. Sincerely, Marva & Stuart B.‎

Your the best realtor‎‎

Hey Mike, We love our new home! Thanks for your patience with us 1st-timers. I know Sheri hit you with a ton of questions every day. You never got impatient with us. We never realized what we didn’t know about buying a house. After spending time with you, we feel like experts…or something like that. icon smile What Mikes Customers Are Saying All kidding aside, dude we couldn’t have asked for a better realtor. You now are more to us than our realtor. You are a good friend. Love your website btw. Your blog alone is killer. Sheri’s been reading it every night. Don’t be a stranger, ok? Let’s get a time to get the families together. Oh, you should have gotten a couple calls recently. I passed your name and good rep. to some friends, Jim & Carla. The 2nd one is my uncle who wants to buy near the water…deep dock ability. His name is Robert. Thanks again, Mike. We’re happy, man. Dave P.S. Sorry bud, couldn’t give you a 5-star rating cuz you’re a Cornhusker fan. Shouldn’t you know better by now? LOL

Thank you, Mike!‎‎

Hello Mike, this is Ann-Marie. I must thank you again for saving my home. I know I would’ve lost it without your help. You made the bank’s troubling phone calls go away. You answered all my questions and explained what was happening. When I first talked with you on the phone, I felt at peace. You deeply care about helping others. I am blessed I found you. No longer am I embarrassed to talk about almost losing my home. As long as I’m still breathing, I will tell people about your wonderful help. You deserve life’s blessings. To you, my deepest appreciation, Ann-Marie B.‎

Please call, email or complete the Contact Mike form below with any questions, comments or suggestions.

Thank you!

mikesigpic What Mikes Customers Are Saying.

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632950633 What Mikes Customers Are Saying

Terrific Realtor‎‎Greetings Mike! We are very happy with our