How much wood could a woodchuck chuck? - 07/28/06 07:07 AM
Or, just how many condos can we cram into one state?
Apparently there's room for at least one more development. The Vestcor Cos. just announced plans to break ground on a 2.5 acre develpment in the heart of Mayport village.
All you Navy guys can rub your eyes now... clear out … (1 comments)
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Being a Landlord - It's Not All Fun and Games - 07/26/06 02:54 PM
Okay, maybe that's a little silly. After all, most people probably never thought ANY of landlording was fun and games. That's mainly because we (people in general) tend to talk the longest and loudest about problems, not successes.
Having owned rental properties for a number of years, I'd have to say that … (1 comments)
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Get Top Dollar When You Sell - 07/22/06 04:07 PM
Sometimes it seems like I am always writing... while Susan is out selling homes (hey, somebody's got to bring home the bread, eh?) Anyway, what I'm trying to do is to put down in print as much of the information we've garnered through the years as possible so that our customers can … (0 comments)
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Did you make what you think was a bad investment? - 07/22/06 10:40 AM
Historically, real estate investments are probably the soundest investments anyone can make. I've read that more millionaires made their money in real estate than any other way. But, does that mean every investment is a good one? Are you guaranteed a 15%, 20%, 30% gain on your real estate each and … (0 comments)
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Investing in Office Condos - 07/22/06 06:13 AM
A "relatively new" concept in office space construction in our area is the office condo. The concept is simple and sensical, of course, being that it is better to own than to rent. And yet, still, many if not most businesses will continue to rent their space.
Therein lies a great opportunity … (1 comments)
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Don’t ignore red flags when evaluating a home’s pluses and minuses - 07/21/06 04:51 PM
With the large number of homes available on the market today, there is no reason to jump the gun on the wrong house. Learn all you can to make sure the home your buying doesn't have hidden defects that will end up costing you much more in the long run. When … (1 comments)
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Want To Avoid Paying Too Much For Your Home? - 07/21/06 04:48 PM
Whether you’re a first-time buyer or an old pro at the real estate game, buying a home can be a daunting process. It’s an emotional time filled with difficult choices—and each decision you make has money riding on it. Finding the right home to meet your needs is hard enough. But knowing … (0 comments)
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Home Owners Insurance - 07/21/06 06:23 AM
A recent topic of concern in our area (and probably throughout the Southeastern United States) is rising rates for home owners insurance. Due to the extensive damage caused by hurricanes the past few years, insurance companies have raised rates considerably.
In fact, just this week state regulators OK'd State Farm's 52.7 percent … (1 comments)
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Understanding Home Loans - 07/20/06 07:49 AM
There was a time in the not-so-distant past when financing the purchase of a home was relatively uncomplicated. You went to your local savings and loan and signed up for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage loan.
Those days are gone, probably forever. Today, you have what seems like an endless array of … (0 comments)
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Finding The Right Agent To Work With - 07/20/06 07:31 AM
Selling a home involves many critical and personal decisions. However, one of the most important decisions is the first decision you need to make -- a decision that impacts your entire home sale: Which real estate agent should you work with?
Unfortunately, many people make this decision based on the idea that … (1 comments)
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Our Role As Educators - 07/20/06 07:05 AM
So, I open my paper this morning (well, not exactly -- I visited the online site of the local paper) and was greeted with the following headline:
Blacks Likely to Pay More for Loans
Blacks and Hispanics are more than 30 percent more likely to receive higher-rate subprime loans than whites, study … (0 comments)
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Bernanke & Company May Be Slowing Down - 07/19/06 01:18 PM
Mr. Bernanke testified before the Senate this morning and said, "we must take account of the possible future effects of previous actions--that is, of policy effects still in the pipeline. The extent and timing of any additional firming that may be needed to address inflation risks will depend on the evolution … (1 comments)
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Hello Buyers... It's Your Market! - 07/17/06 03:57 PM
Well, it seems to be the same pretty much everywhere - it's definitely true in J-ville, FLA... It's a buyer's market. So it's time for you guys (buyers) to step up to the plate and do your thing.
Sure the market has been a little whacky the past few years and home … (2 comments)
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Those pesky home maintenance issues! - 07/13/06 09:12 AM
Yesterday, I received a rather ugly reminder; A reminder regarding the importance of regular home maintenance. As I was mapping out my day, making sure all the little ‘fires’ from the day before had been extinguished and that I had my ducks in a row for ‘today’, I heard Susan call … (3 comments)
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Mortgage Tip #8 - 07/12/06 07:40 AM
BORROW ONLY THE AMOUNT YOU NEED AND CAN AFFORD TO REPAY - Just because you qualify for a certain amount of money doesn't mean you can afford to pay it back. Determine exactly how much money you need, borrow only that amount and find out exactly how much you will have … (2 comments)
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Mortgage Tip #7 - 07/12/06 07:34 AM
Well, today I'll finish up with the last two TIPS for consumers on avoiding predatory lending practices. As mentioned at the beginning of this series, most lenders are ethical and strive to match the best available loan with the individual borrower. However, there are some who just want to pad their … (0 comments)
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Mortgage Tip #6 - 07/11/06 01:26 PM
DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS - You have a legal right to know the total cost of the loan, the annual percentage rate (APR), the amount of the monthly payment and how long you have to pay back the loan. If you are unsure of any terms of the loan, … (0 comments)
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Mortgage Tip #5 - 07/11/06 07:07 AM
UNDERSTAND THE TERMS OF YOUR LOAN - Some loans may sound very attractive because the monthly payment is small. Ask about balloon payments at the end of the loan period. Make sure you know (and understand) the dollar amount of each monthly payment and ask if the monthly payment can change … (0 comments)
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Mortgage Tip #4 - 07/11/06 07:04 AM
NEVER ACT IMMEDIATELY - Be prepared to say no to lenders who ask for upfront fees allegedly to cover a first loan payment and other expenses as part of the application. Never, never ever, pay a lender cash for any fees, and always make the check payable to the lender, not to … (0 comments)
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Jacksonville - Top 10 For 8 Years Straight - 07/10/06 04:01 PM
Jacksonville is consistently rated as one of the top "Hottest Cities in America" for business expansions and relocations by site consultants in an annual poll for Expansion Management Magazine. In fact, Jacksonville has been in the top 10 for eight straight years and is the only city to be ranked #1 … (2 comments)
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Mortgage Tip #3 - 07/10/06 06:44 AM
BE CAUTIOUS (Be Very Cautious!) - Be wary of anyone who calls you on the phone, solicits you via mail or comes to your door offering bargain loans. Beware of claims that the offer is available for only a short period. Beware of lenders claiming "Bad credit? No problem." If the … (0 comments)
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Mortgage Tip #2 - 07/10/06 06:41 AM
NEGOTIATE - Don't let the promise of extra cash or lower monthly payments get in the way of your good judgment about whether or not the cost you will pay for the loan is really worth it. Don't agree to a loan that includes extra products you don't want. Negotiate the … (0 comments)
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Mortgage Tip #1 - 07/10/06 06:38 AM
Unfortunately there are some unscrupulous lenders out there (just as there are unscrupulous RE agents) who are more interested in their own pocketbook than in your best interests. The nonprofit Florida Associateion of Mortgage Brokers has requested that we (RE sales associates) pass along a few tips to help rid the … (0 comments)
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Met with a FSBO yesterday - 07/09/06 10:29 AM
As mentioned in a recent, FSBOs often price their homes too high. In completing a comparative market analysis for a FSBO yesterday, we found that they had their home overpriced by a minimum of $30K. In fact, the home should be priced about $40K less than they have it to be in … (1 comments)
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PRICING YOUR HOME RIGHT - 07/08/06 04:48 PM
Buyer’s Market - Seller's Market - Multiple Offers - Limited Inventory. If you are buying or selling property you’ve probably heard these terms and wondered what they all mean and how they might affect the pricing of a home. Or, does the price put on a property even matter? The fact … (0 comments)
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Realtors Need To Be Educators Too - 07/08/06 07:56 AM
I think that one of the areas we sometimes overlook is our value as educators. We sometimes forget that most people aren't keeping up with current trends in real estate and that there are many misconceptions that serve as roadblocks for us. One such roadblock is the misconception that 'renters' often have about mortgages … (8 comments)
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Affordability of Jacksonville, Florida Housing - 07/08/06 07:36 AM
As mentioned in my previous article, Jacksonville has earned the distinction of being one of the most affordable cities in America. And, when compared to the rest of Florida, real estate in Jacksonville is a downright bargain! In fact, according to a recent National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index, Jacksonville … (0 comments)
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Investing in Jacksonville, Florida - A Great Opportunity - 07/08/06 07:24 AM
It's kind of strange to talk about real estate "bargains" in a day and age where a $200K home is classified as "entry level". But the fact of the matter is that Jacksonville may well be one of the most desireable relocation and investment areas in the nation. Relatively speaking, it … (0 comments)
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FSBOs in Today's Market - 07/06/06 11:22 AM
In our Jacksonville market, we are beginning to get more and more inquiries from FSBOs. The reasons are pretty obvious, I suppose. Even homes listed in the MLS are taking MUCH longer to sell than they were just a few months ago so, without adequate marketing these homes aren't even being … (1 comments)
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My Pet Peave - 07/05/06 10:42 AM
First off, I need to acknowledge that the vast majority of REALTORS conduct their business ethically. I don't know statistically, but my guess is that we have as high a percentage of ethical members as any professional group in the USA. That said, a few bad apples can definitely spoil the … (0 comments)
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