Real Estate in Northeast Florida and Around the World

The newest data is available from Northeast Florida Association of Realtors, and the news is positive - again.  The trend of increased sales volume continues, and the average sale price increased slightly.  This is all great news, and factual data that supports what I along with other real estate professionals in our market have been saying - things are looking up in NE Florida, activity and interest is increasing and there has never been a better time to be investing in real estate in our corner of the world than now. 

Affordability is also at record numbers - couple that with low interest rates and yes, there is financing for those who have managed their credit and debt in a responsible manner. 

 April 2009 NEFAR Market Data

You can find previous reports on our market by clicking on the "Market Data" tab on the right.

I'll be out of the office for a couple of weeks, but there's plenty around the website to keep you busy for a while.  Let me know what you would like to see if you don't see it, and I'll see about adding it.

Ya'll take care, and I'll see you around the neighborhood.

June 1 marks the beginning of Hurricane Season for the Atlantic and Gulf States coastal areas.  Are you ready?  How do you know if you are ready?

I remember my first summer in Jacksonville.  Having spent all of my life living in West Virginia, I knew how to prepare for an upcoming snow or ice storm, but an entire season of being prepared for hurricanes was another thing.  And what about these tropical storms?  Should I also have a plan for those?

What I've learned is that every season you learn a little bit more, and you never become an expert, unless you work for NOAA.  Even the weather reporters who stand in 75+ MPH winds talking about how the rain hurts when it hits them evidently have things to learn (like get out of the rain, and it won't hurt!).

So - what I have learned is to have food and water/liquids enough 3 days on hand, flashlights and batteries for everyone, something to cook on (I am counting on my grill but I also have a Sterno cook stove), something to make coffee in - can't do without it - and some first aid supplies.  We also have an evacuation plan, and out of town contacts to keep other family members posted on our activities in case we have to bolt out of town.  My husband - a native Floridian - and I have differing opinions as to what level of storm demands our departure, but everyone needs to have their own plan of action BEFORE a storm heads your way. 

To help others find information on Hurricane Season, named storms and emergency and evacuation plans, I've added a page to my website where you can find a lot of information in one common place.  Feel free to bookmark this to refer to it as the season develops.  You can get to the page from the "Hurricane Info" button on the right-side menu bar.

See ya around the neighborhood!

I have been an active volunteer in the communities in which I have lived for as long as I can remember.  Probably my earliest memories were when I would go door to door with my mother collecting money for the local Cystic Fibrosis organization - I was maybe 6.  From church youth group car washes, to selling candy and dishcloths for the band boosters when I was in Junior High and High School, to helping with my childrens' school, sports and band programs,to now being a member of the University of North Florida Parent Advisory Council and the Johns Creek Home Owners Association, it seems that I have always felt the need to give back.

Enough about me.  How about you?  Have you volunteered lately?  "What can I do?" you may ask yourself.  Well, the possibilities are endless!  What will you gain from the experience?  How about a wonderful feeling of accomplishment?  Not enough?  What about meeting new people, learning new skills, learning about something you didn't know about before?  Or maybe creating new opportunities for yourself that you never knew existed?

I recently was asked by a friend who had been laid-off from their job, what I thought they might do to gain more visibility and network for a new job.  My response - go volunteer.  Everyday.  Because I've learned, the more we give of ourselves, the more our lives are enriched.

So - go find a new adventure in volunteering and get a little more back than you gave.  I've added a new tab on the right side - "Volunteering in NEFL".  There are some links there to get you started on your new adventure - just keep me posted on your adventures and let me know how your life was enriched!

See ya 'round the neighborhood!

As my friends and customers begin remodeling projects on their homes, I am often asked whether they will get their money back if they sell.  The answer to this is not a simple one.

Typically, owners will not get a dollar for dollar return on home improvements.  However, simple projects such as painting, minor landscaping, providing more organizational features in a home will yield a close a nice return.  The downside to not doing these things is that the competition down the street did - and they will get their house sold faster.

As to major improvement projects, my first question is how long do they intend to stay.  First and foremost, if an improvement is being done that will result in greater satisfaction of the current owners, there is an unrealized gain right there.  The gain holds more value to the current owners the longer it is enjoyed.  However, if you have a modest home, in a modest neighborhood, and improvements are done that would rival the high-dollar, gated and all custom-built community a mile away - don't count on getting much in return for your dollar - although your house will probably sell much quicker than most in the neighborhood!  It gets back to the saying, don't have the least expensive nor the most expensive house in the neighborhood. 

To get a better understanding of what improvements can be done vs. the anticipated return on your investment, see the Cost vs. Value Report in the "Market Data" tab on the right side menu bar.  This information is provided not only for the Northeast Florida area, but for areas all around the country.  But remember, a home improvement project should first satisfy the members of your family, and meet your needs - before anyone else's needs are considered.  Quality of life does not have a price tag.

Drop me a line if you have any questions or need additional information - or just to say hi!  I'd love to hear from you!

Everyday I hear some talking head on the TV or radio, discussing the state of the real estate market.  Have you noticed that the conjecture is becoming more and more opposing?  One side says we are near a bottom and the other says it will drop another 20%.  The truth lies in both - because all markets are different, and there is not a national real estate market.  Even with our Northeast Florida market we see this.  Some areas will continue to see a bit more in price drop, while other areas are already seeing flattening or even a blip up. 

What has become almost comical is to listen to someone 5 states away discuss the nature of Florida's real estate market.  Doom and Gloom, oh my!  Anyone with an 8th grade education can look at numbers and formulate opinions.  The question of whether the opinions are correct is quite a different story.  What the spewer of information sitting 5 states away cannot do, is hear the increased frequency of the phone calls, see how quickly homes that are in non-duress situations and are well-maintained and well-priced are sold, or how many buyers have gone from sitting on the fence to being in active buying mode.  They will see this in about 3 months - when that data is available. 

Unfortunately for many people still listening to this retoric rather than listening to the local professional real estate agent, is that very likely by the time the guy 5 states away calls the bottom - it has already passed and on the way up in the local market.  What they see is an "oversupply" of housing - a good majority of which are either owned by lenders or about to be owned by lenders - and are not in good condition.  Guess what?  Over 50% of the buyers in today's market are first time home buyers, and they do not want to buy something they have to put money into to make it habitable - especially when there is so much available at a price near what the "junk" is priced at, with fresh paint, new flooring and new appliances in the newly updated kitchen.

So when you want accurate and timely information - go to the source, sitting in the market in which you are interested.  Call your local Realtor® for the facts - not yesterday's news and opinions from far away.