http://twitter.com/DebraStewart
Bio Link
I sell Houses www.RealEstateSeaSide.com
Media Player
Luxury 24/7
Florida Real Estate
Luxury homes on the rise
Real Estate Market is turning right side up???
Bad News
Florida is among the states hurt worst by the housing crisis. Since the third quarter of 2006, when home prices in the state peaked, they have fallen 44.8 percent -- the fourth-largest drop among all states since their respective peaks. The pain is not yet over for Floridians. From the third quarter of 2011 to the third quarter of 2012, home prices are projected to fall by another 8.6 percent -- the second-largest drop over this period. At the end of 2011, Florida had the highest rate of homes in foreclosure or that have been delinquent in mortgage payments for at least 90 days in the country at 17.4 percent.
Good News
We are seeing the market in Broward County pick up these last few months, buyers are eager to pay as little as they can. Sellers if you can sell now, then you should, if interest rates rise buyers will be forced to buy a less priced house so they can afford their monthly mortgage.
Happy Halloween
Where did trick or treat come from?????
The custom of 'trick or treat' probably has several origins. Again mostly Irish.An old Irish peasant practice called for going door to door to collect money, bread cake, cheese, eggs, butter, nuts, apples, etc., in preparation for the festival of St. Columbus Kill. Yet another custom was the begging for soul cakes, or offerings for one's self - particularly in exchange for promises of prosperity or protection against bad luck. It is with this custom the concept of the fairies came to be incorporated as people used to go door to door begging for treats. Failure to supply the treats would usually result in practical jokes being visited on the owner of the house.
Celebrants of Halloween used to dress themselves up to look like vampires, ghosts, devils and witches. To make such costumes two eyeholes were made on a sheet. People of Scotland and Ireland in 19th century believed that they could fool the spirits pretending that they are also the part of the other world. It could deceive and hoodwink the original spirits when they used to come with the intention of harming others.
But, traditions and beliefs changed a lot in the last decade. People have walked away from the belief of making costumes in the theme of horror. Recently it is seen that on Halloween people dress up as a well known character of a popular TV show or a politician. The theme is changed according to the eventful occurrences of a particular period.
Children in their early teenage years come out of these kind of trick-or-treat traditions and costumes. They grow up and get into the mood of celebrating the Halloween with costume parties and social gatherings.
Luxury Real Estate
Million-dollar-and-up homes are the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. foreclosure market, with banks seizing some 335% more such properties in 2010 than they did in 2007.
"We're seeing evidence in our data that the high-end market is starting to get hit more," said Daren Blomquist of foreclosure watcher RealtyTrac.com. "I think high-end homeowners have a little more 'padding' to get through tough times if they experience a job loss or other trouble. But as the tough times continue, more and more of these homeowners are succumbing to foreclosure."
True, RealtyTrac's latest figures show that homes with $1 million or higher mortgages represented just 2.3% of houses in foreclosure during the first 10 months of last year. But that's way up from the 1.2% percent of the market for which million-dollar houses accounted during the same period in 2007.
Blomquist says he suspects more and more rich people are falling into foreclosure because they had mortgages they could easily afford in good times but can no longer cover in today's tough economy.
"No matter how wealthy you are, there's always that potential that you'll lose your job," he said.
The expert also thinks some high-end foreclosures stem from "strategic defaults." That's where consumers simply walk away from homes and let banks foreclose because a property's value has dropped to less than the unpaid mortgage balance.
"Even if a rich person can still afford their home, they might say, 'We have negative equity, and it just doesn't make sense to keep making mortgage payments on this property,'" Blomquist said. "I would suspect that rich, financially savvy homeowners might consider [walking away] even more than owners of low-end homes would."
The good news: Well-heeled house hunters may find they can pick up million-dollar-and-up foreclosures on the cheap.
The latest available RealtyTrac figures show foreclosed homes sold for 27% less on average than non-foreclosed properties did during 2011's first quarter.
As a first time home buyer, How do I know if my REALTOR is doing a their job?
This is the reason: When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand. Ideas actually begin to grow within us and come to life. You know how if a person laughs at your jokes you become funnier and funnier, and if he does not, every tiny little joke in you weakens up and dies. Well, that is the principle of it. It makes people happy and free when they are listened to. And if you are a listener, it is the secret of having a good time in society (because everybody around you becomes lively and interesting), of comforting people, of doing them good.
Who are the people, for example, to whom you go for advice?
Not to the hard, practical ones who can tell you exactly
what to do, but to the listeners; that is, the kindest,
least censorious, least bossy people you know.
So if the buyers tell you what they want, listen and do what us as Real Estate Agents do best sell them what they want and need.
We should all know this: that listening, not talking,
is the gifted and great role, and the imaginative role.
And the true listener is much more beloved, magnetic
than the talker, and he is more effective and learns more and
does more good.
And to answer the question.... all agents are not equal find one that will help you. - Tue Feb 10 2009, 08:46
Fathers Day June 19, 2011
“He who knows not and knows not he knows not: he is a fool - shun him. He who knows not and knows he knows not: he is simple - teach him. He who knows and knows not he knows: he is asleep - wake him. He who knows and knows he knows: he is wise - follow him.”
5 REASONS TO SELL NOW
1.) This is when your house will get the most exposure
The spring, and particularly the month of May, is when most buyers enter the real estate market. This surge of buyers dramatically increases the exposure for your house. The best chance of getting quality offers (perhaps even multiple offers) is RIGHT NOW!
2.) Foreclosures and short sales will increase in about 90 days
The good news is that the number of people paying their mortgage on time is increasing. This will lead to less distressed property sales later this year and throughout 2012. The not-so-good news is that there is still a large inventory of existing foreclosures and short sales that will still be coming to market.
As an example, LPS reported in their latest Mortgage Monitor that:
- There are still twice as many loans going 90+ days delinquent as are starting foreclosure
- There are almost three times the number of foreclosure starts as there are foreclosure sales
- Distressed property inventory levels are almost 45 times the rate of monthly foreclosure sales
This means that there is a backlog of properties which will start coming to the market in about 90 days as banks clear up their paperwork challenges. These properties sell at dramatic discounts. They will be your competition. Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have recently discussed the magnitude of this challenge.
3.) Interest rates have risen over the last six months
Interest rates have stabilized recently. However, in the last six months, interest rates have climbed over 1/2%. Every time the rates increase 1/4%, approximately 250,000 buyers are eliminated from qualifying for a mortgage. In an environment of volatile rates, waiting could mean that there will be fewer buyers eligible to purchase your house. It also could mean that you will pay a higher rate on the next home you buy.
4.) Qualifying for a mortgage is about to get even more difficult
Besides increasing rates, there are other factors that will hinder a buyer’s ability to qualify for a mortgage as we move forward. Lending standards have been getting tighter over the last year. And as the government debates the new proposed guidelines (QRM), banks are gearing up for even more stringent standards.
Morgan Stanley recently stated:
“Recent developments in issues such as GSE reform, Dodd-Frank securitization rules, and foreclosure settlement issues suggest a tighter and more expensive environment for mortgage credit.”
This may impact any potential purchaser for your property and may also impact your next purchase.
5.) It’s time to get on with your life
Probably the most important reason to sell is so you can get on with your life. You placed your home on the market for a reason. Do not allow a less-than-stellar housing market prevent you from reaching your goals as an individual or as a family. Think about the reasons you decided to move in the first place. Are these reasons still important to you? If you have to take less than you were originally hoping to get for your house, your family has a question to ask each other: Is the dollar difference in sales price worth putting off our plans? Only you and your family know the answer to that question.
Bottom Line
If you plan to sell this year, the reasons above prove that selling now makes more sense than waiting to later in the year. Sit with a real estate professional in your area today to fully understand your best option.
Happy Easter Everyone
