Real Estate in Northeast Florida and Around the World

In the last few weeks, buyers are continuing to be out shopping for a new home.  This is great news for the Jacksonville housing market, where inventories are continuing to come down.  But what those buyers are seeing, is what agents all over town have known for sometime - quantity does not equal quality, and there is a lot of "junk" in the market and fewer homes of quality.

A good real estate agent will be able to help sift through the inventory to help buyers find the very best value for the dollar spent.  Day after day, I see buyers who have heard through the grapevine of "great deals out there",  see the reality of the market.  The truth of the matter is homes that have been well maintained, nicely updated to keep with the times and priced to reflect the current market conditions do not stay on the market long.  The houses that have been neglected are a dime a dozen, and will not necessarily be the best value.  If you get a house that is $30,000 under market, but have to put $30,000 back into it to "make it yours" is not necessarily a "great deal".  It can be - provided the house is in the condition that will meet the lender's guidelines.  A house in need of a new roof will not be eligible for FHA financing in most cases, and probably will also be difficult to insure.  This doesn't mean that the meticulously kept, well appointed house will command a greater dollar - but it will sell more quickly.

So, if you are a buyer looking for a great deal - be prepared to have lucrative financing available through nontraditional sources or pay cash, and have the wherewithall to do your own "fixing up".  If you are a seller of a great home, remember that emotion and personal pride cannot be added to the selling price.  If you are working with me as your agent, you will have access to my resources to help you "know your house" before you buy it, or to current market information to make sure your home is priced attractively and appropriately.  Make sure that your house is really a jewel that needs polishing or is gleaming to the heavens, and not lipstick on a pig that carries an expensive purse.

See you around the neighborhood!