Jack's Blog

Beautiful Country 5 Acre Estate, Alachua, Florida

2008-11-10T22:01:33Z

Working To Reduce Taxes.

2008-11-10T21:56:29Z

Now that the election is over and the dust is clearing on a number of tax issues within a number of Counties of North Florida, I have started my journey to face the tax issue headon and start the journey of reducing my taxes for 2009 in a new county, a new year, and a new approach. In 2008 I moved just north of Alachua County into Columbia county to improve my tax situation. My new home was not homesteaded, so I am starting with the highest possible tax structure in Columbia county based on the new assessed price of $249,053(No homestead). For the porposed tax rate for 2009, the milage rate is listed as 18.1909. I plan on moving my homestead exemption to this new home. Since I have 10 acres, my plan is to try for an ag exemption. I called the tax office and found out that I could have 3 brood mares (horses) and claim the exemption. So off I went on a search for the required brood mares. I settled on 3 cute mini horses, all mares. I will include photos below. After a call again to the tax office I was told that it would be after the 1st of the year before I could go in a make all the applications for these exemptions. I plan on following this thread on this blog and report on my venture. Stay tuned.

Smell of the Economic Meltdown

2008-11-08T06:32:09Z

As I was walking through the kitchen of our modest small farm house I detected a unique smell coming from my wife's crock pot. Could it be? The smell of a large pot of pinto beans cooking slowly overnight in the crock. Haven't caught this smell in a while. This carried my mind back a number of years as to when I was growing up on the farm in other economic hard times. Except no crock pot, just an old wood stove. Could it be that buyers and sellers in today's market may have to go back to rice and beans or cooking at home instead of all the fancy dining places. I was talking to one lady of a local dining facility and she indicated that more and more folks are staying home from eating out and that she may have to close. This may be a good positive thing from the economic meltdown. Families cooking at home and eating supper tog2ther. Well I will eat good this weekend. A big bowl of pinto beans and cornbread. Life is good !

A Good Explanation of The Real Estate Bubble Bursting.

2008-11-07T19:39:00Z

This is an excellent video explaning many of the feelings some of my sellers are experiencing at this point in the market. This is an You Tube video. Turn your volume up.

Community Business Directories

2008-11-07T19:32:03Z

Helping Gainesville Area Buyers and Sellerss during this Real Estate and Financial Meltdown.

I have put together community websites for the purpose of promoting/expanding business to business relationships without spending a fortune. Additionally, this service provides all residents a chance to post their classifieds in my marketplace FREE without costs. Just click on the community of interest, join the site and start posting. Good luck.

Newberry and Jonesville Florida

Alachua, Florida

High Springs, Florida

Nice Country Home on 2+Acres

2008-11-07T12:51:38Z

Let Us Remember

2008-11-07T07:44:48Z

Now that the election is over and we have a New Comander & Chief, lets focus some attention on our troops who are fighting overseas to protect this right to vote that we have just had. Not only the ones who are alive but those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. We have veterans day coming, Nov 11. What does this mean? How will the people react? What will the New Commander & Chief do? Lets Not Forget.

Gold Course Community New Listing!

2008-07-13T20:20:02Z

Jack Patton | RE/MAX Professionals, Inc. | 352-222-5334

7575 White Oaks Road, Alachua, FL

Spacious Contemporary Home in much desired community of White Oaks

S/D in Turkey Creek.

4BR/3BA Single Family House

offered at $369,900

Year Built	2005
Sq Footage	2,514
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	3
Floors	1
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	12,760 sqft
HOA/Maint	$100 per month

DESCRIPTION

Impeccable custom built home! No expense has been spared in planning, building, and presenting this lavish home. Many added upgrades to include fireplace, formal dining, gourmet kitchen, screen lanai, fenced yard, no rear neighbors, and just across from the pool.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
High/Vaulted ceiling	Walk-in closet	Tile floor
Living room	Office/Den	Dining room
Breakfast nook	Dishwasher	Stove/Oven
Microwave	Stainless steel appliances	Laundry area - inside
Yard	Jacuzzi/Whirlpool

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Clubhouse	Swimming pool(s)	Tennis court(s)
Golf course	Playground	Gated property

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

Space for the Entire Family!

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Jack Patton

RE/MAX Professionals, Inc.

352-222-5334

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jul 13, 2008, 3:57pm PDT

Sellers News...Read and Take Action

2007-09-10T06:52:01Z

For those who have not been following the news, here are a few notes that I found interesting off the wire:

There were 4.6 million existing homes for sale in July 2007, up 19% from July 2006, according to the National Association of Realtors. And on Sept. 5, the Realtors said that the July Pending Home Sales Index-a forward-looking sales indicator-fell sharply. Inventories of homes for sale in July rose 5.1% to 4.59 million, or about 9.6 months of supply at the current sales pace. A six-month supply of homes for sale is generally the norm in a balanced market.
According to data provider RealtyTrac, foreclosure filings are up 93% in July from the previous year - or one foreclosure filing for every 693 households. Foreclosed homes are hitting many housing markets already saturated with unsold inventory.
Countrywide, the nation's largest and recently most-embattled mortgage lender, announced it was laying off as many as 12,000 people today, roughly one-fifth of its 61,000-strong workforce. In a letter to employees company founder and CEO Angelo Mozilo called the current slump "the most severe in the contemporary history of our industry." He said home price appreciation had "stopped dead in its tracks," that there had been increased delinquencies in "far too many borrowers" and that the secondary market for jumbo loans and those that don't qualify for government-sponsored insurance "has become nearly illiquid."
"If someone walks in today with an A-plus credit history and a $200,000 salary but no money for a down payment, I can't help them anymore," said Michael Menatian, president of Sanborn Mortgage Corp. in West Hartford, Conn. The company was notified by its lender earlier this month that the lender no longer will cover no-money-down loans.

If you need to sell your house, here is a winning formula: Price it in the bottom third of comparable listings. Make sure it shows better than 70% of the competition. Sellers following this formula are getting multiple offers in this market and closing the deal pretty much for the asking price.

Seems like at least one family member in the state of Florida has a real estate license. You can't swing a stick without hitting at least one. Find a few that work the business full time and ask them how many sellers are out there making the mistake of following the market down. Answer = if your house has been on the market for over 90 days and you have reduced the price at least once and nothing is happening - you are.

Regardless of market conditions, homes that are priced right sell. You may not be able or willing to price it according to the market, but if you do, it will sell in a timely fashion - especially in the Gainesville area of Florida.

Gainesville Area Home Prices

2007-08-14T15:06:12Z

According to Zillow, the value of single-family homes smaller than 1,200 square feet fell by just 1 percent. Meanwhile, values of midsize homes between 1,200 and 1,900 square feet fell an average of 3.1 percent, and homes larger than 1,900 square feet declined 2.8 percent.

Zillow.com also offers a comparison of 66 metropolitan statistical areas on Zillow.com. These findings are culled from that analysis:

The highest-appreciating metropolitan areas (year-over-year):

· Grand Junction, Colo. (18.6 percent)

· Corvallis, Ore. (11.2 percent)

· Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC (9.0 percent)

· Eugene-Springfield, Ore. (6.9 percent)

· Spokane, Wash. (6.1 percent)

· Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, Wash. (5.3 percent)

Most-depreciating metropolitan areas (year-over-year):

· Sarasota-Bradenton, Fla. (-16.4 percent)

· Melbourne-Titusville-Palm Bay, Fla. (-14.3 percent)

· Stockton-Lodi, Calif. (-13.5 percent)

· Charleston-North Charleston, SC (-12.8 percent)

· Daytona Beach, Fla. (-12.5 percent)

· Modesto, Calif. (-12.4 percent)

From Zillow's report, we can see why current home prices in the Gainesville area are depreciating as opposed to the last few years of appreciation. In some areas we see the price of homes adjusting downard just as fast as the price went up in the past few years. Although not as bad as we see in the three Florida areas above, I would guess that we are seeing some depreciating price adjustments in the 8-10% range. Hopefully this is now leveling out and we can begin to move some overbuilt inventory. Buyer's....now is the time to buy.

Live the Village Lifestyle!

2007-08-13T16:38:01Z

Gainesville (Haile Plantation)

"Reduced"

MLS® #282768 $188,000

"Excellent Value"

Address: 4941 SW 91st Terrace, Suite N-102 Size: 1122 sq. ft. Style: Single Story Type: Condo

Live the Village Lifestyle! This better than new condo located in the Haile Village Center is perfect for the student, retiree, or professional person. This is a ground floor end unit located just a short walk from the Haile Village Town Center where you can enjoy upscale shops, boutiques, offices, recreation, banking and restaurants. Additional amenities available within a short distance are golf, country club, tennis, pool and much more. The uniqueness of this first floor condo is that it has both a front and back door. Parking is extremely close and from the back door & there are no steps. The next door tenant is a small commercial office occupied during normal working hours. The bedrooms & baths are at either ends of the unit providing privacy. Both bedrooms have walk-in closets with mirrored doors. Large ceramic tile is used throughout the kitchen, foyer and both baths. Neutral shade, wall-to-wall carpeting is used throughout the rest of the home. Additional interior features include neutral paint, ceiling fans, crown molding and a very nice pass through kitchen. This unit has been rarely used and is in like-new condition. It has never been rented and is owned by an out of town professional who used the condo two days a week since new.

View Details »

Where Can You Find a 3/2 CB Home Less Than $150K?

2007-07-28T05:46:54Z

Alachua (East Side)

"Below Market"

MLS® #278183 $149,900

"Affordable Starter Home"

Address: 13422 NW 145th Ave Size: 1202 sq. ft. Style: Ranch Type: Residential . New Paint, wood floors, Updated bathrooms & Much More. See more details by clicking below.

View Details »

A Real Deal....Below Value!

2007-07-28T05:42:29Z

Trenton (Trenton) (New Construction)

"Reduced Price"

MLS® #276084 $253,900

"New Improved Price!"

Address: 9910 S Santa Fe AVE Size: 1646 sq. ft. Style: Single Story Type: Residential

View Details »

Now That It's A Buyer's Market...

2007-07-28T05:39:07Z

"To leave satisfied you must arrive prepared."

Consider this your home buyer's toolkit. Open it up, take a look around, and if you like, start equipping yourself with the tools necessary to make your best purchase. In most businesses, knowledge equals power, and real estate is certainly no exception.

I hope you enjoy the free reports I've provided, and I hope you learn a little more about what it takes to make your important purchase a great one. Be sure to take time and preview my flash presentation here: " What you need to Know before Buying Your Next Home".

The real estate market in Gainesville is certainly volatile, and all of the information about buying a home can be overwhelming. I can help.

Profit Occurs When Preparation & Experience Meet Opportunity

2007-07-17T20:12:24Z

When it's time to sell, you must be confident that every element of negotiating the best terms and the highest price has been set before your home is even listed.

Start with the resources I've provided. There is no charge for this information. These will help get you started in terms of assessing your real estate situation and planning for a stress-free and successful sale. Be sure to take time to preview my flash presention: "What Ever Seller Needs to Know Before Selling Their Home". The real estate market in Gainesville is volatile, especially lately, and it takes an experienced professional to move your house quickly, professionally, and profitably.

When you've decided to sell, I will be your advocate, your guide, and your fierce negotiator. I will work hard to make yours a great sale.

Bizarre Driving Laws

2007-07-13T06:46:52Z

This is a portion of an article from the DMV.org site relating to a Bizarre Driving Law in the State of Florida. Now you know....... For other states go to: http://www.dmv.org/fun-stuff/bizarre-driving-laws.php

The Greek sage Aristotle once penned, "Even when the laws have been written down, they ought not always remain unchanged." Not only is this wise advice, but also prophetic. Especially when you focus on some of the driving laws that loiter on the pages of state statutes. Tennessee, for example, has a law that bans shooting game, other than whales, from moving vehicles. Apparently, this law was authored during an unusually high tide or after too many dizzying spins on a Tilt-a-Whirl at Dollyworld. Chances of any whale finding its way into Tennessee via the Cumberland River are about as likely as Tony Danza winning a lifetime achievement award at the Cannes Film Festival. Yet, it exists. So as to assure that your next cross-country vacation does not get pricked by the thorns of legality, we at DMV.ORG have organized a list of arcane state laws that you should be aware of. For nothing can be more embarrassing than having to phone your attorney from Kentucky for help in escaping a fine for trying to transport an ice cream cone in your back pocket.

Florida

If an elephant is tied to a parking meter, the owner or attendant must deposit money in the meter.

Department of Motor Vehicles

2007-07-13T06:37:24Z

Here is a helpful website for Florida residents who may be looking for information relating to driving their car in Florida. Here you can find your driving record, vehicle history and much, much more. You may want to bookmark this helpful site: http://www.dmv.org/fl-florida/department-motor-vehicles.php

Housing Market Indicators.

2007-07-13T06:25:48Z

The Florida numbers are out. Florida overall continues to be in a buyer's market with a stale market. The Gainesville area is no different. We are experiencing about 14 months of inventory and buyers continue to be affected with the tax issue. The homes that are selling are those of great value, in move in condition, and with great terms.

Florida existing home sales:

-34%

Florida existing condo sales:

-28%

Florida existing home median price:

$237,000

Florida existing condo median price:

$202,500

Florida consumer confidence:

National existing home sales:

-2.1%

National existing home median price

$223,700

National (Freddie Mac) mortgage rate

6.63%

Gainesville Florida Real Estate Activity.

2007-01-27T19:49:11Z

Now that the Holidays have passed and we are back to work and the numbers are in, it seems that all the experts have an opinion as to the past years activity and the pending 2007 activity. According to todays Gainesville Sun:

Sales of existing single-family homes in the Gainesville area plunged 21 percent in 2006, while the median price of homes locally jumped 19 percent - the largest increase in the state.

The average price of a home in the Gainesville Metropolitan Statistical Area - which consists of Alachua and Gilchrist counties - rose from $179,200 to $213,200.

The dip in home sales locally, agents say, came despite the fact that sales were still riding the crest of the 2004-05 nationwide investment wave through the first seven months of 2006. For the rest of '06, however, sales slowed to a near standstill.

If you are a buyer in the Gainesville Florida market, now is the time to make your move. The interest rates are still favorable and we have lots of inventory to choose from.

Early 2007 Housing Market Indicators

2007-01-24T17:26:11Z

Florida existing home sales:

-30%

Florida existing condo sales:

-36%

Florida existing home median price:

$242,500

Florida existing condo median price:

$206,000

Florida consumer confidence:

National existing home sales:

-0.6%

National existing home median price

$218,000

Will My Home Sell During The Holidays?

2006-12-22T06:48:06Z

Wondering if its worth while to put or keep your home on the market during these holidays? Well here are some ideas that may help you decide. Buyers shop for homes all year round, including the holiday season. In fact, I was hoping to coast during this month and just take some time to catch up for the upcoming 2007. Over the years I have found that sellers who put their homes on the market during the holiday season (roughly between November and January) may have an advantage because there are fewer houses on the market so there's less competition. There are several other reasons to consider putting your home on the market during the holidays:

A. Many home buyers have extra time off during the holiday season so they have more time to look for their new home. Additionally, in Florida, we have many visitors visiting relatives who might want to consider moving close to their folks or into warmer weather.

B. Because of the limited supply of homes for sale, sellers may be able to receive a higher purchase offer than expected.

C. Buyers looking for homes during the holidays are usually highly motivated to buy before the end of the year so they can get extra itemized income-tax deductions for mortgage loan fees, interest and pro-rated property taxes.

D. Festive lights and holiday decorations can help a home "show better."

E. Because January is traditionally the month for transfers, having a home on the market at the end of the year can capture the transferees who may not be able to wait until the Spring to buy a home.

Experience Gainesville Florida by Video

2006-12-17T19:13:16Z

Tired of reading boring promotional borchures about our beautiful city, Gainesville. Now you can experience it by a relaxing video. Watch & Enjoy!

For all your Gainesville area real estate needs, call or email me. For realtors, I'm happy to work with all your referrals.

Falling Mortgage Rates Add Up to Big Savings!

2006-12-12T19:32:00Z

: Enlarge

"Mortage rates have fallen for 10 of the last 13 weeks and are now averaging 6.11%, the lowest since January" says Knox.

Forget what you've been reading and hearing about the "bad" real estate market. It's not true! This is the very best time to buy a home. Not only are interest rates at historic lows, but home prices are value-priced with some great buys out there. Home prices will not drop much further, if at all. And, interest rates will probably not drop any further, if at all. Now is the time to buy. A slight rise in mortgage interest rates will wipe away any cost savings you would hope to get by waiting for home prices to fall further. Smart buyers are buying now!

One great website to start you on your search for homes in the Gainesville Florida area is http://www.Move2Gainesville.com . It's easy, automatic and has every home listed for sale in the tri county area, Alachua, Gilchrist, Levy county areas. You won't miss anything.

Looking to make Home Improvements? Cost vs. Value

2006-12-08T07:24:45Z

If you are going to spend your hard earned money on remodeling before you sell your home, what projects will bring you the highest return on your investment? An important fact to keep in mind is that the value of your remodeling project is dependent on what area of the country you live in. Get the facts from the Cost vs. Value report before you get started.

View Cost vs. Value Report

Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to read this PDF.
Download it here

Topping the list are midrange kitchen and bath remodeling projects:
-Kitchen 91%
-Bath 102.2%

You can also expect a solid return on your investment when you make exterior enhancements:
-Siding 95.5%
-Deck 90.3%
-Windows 89.6%
-Roof 84.7%

Now is a Good Time To Position Your Home in the Marketplace!

2006-12-08T07:20:51Z

The local mall may not be the only place shoppers are looking this season in the Gainesville area.

RISMEDIA, December 8, 2006-When clients have decided to sell their home, they are hesitant to place it on the market as the hectic holiday season quickly approaches. Don't let them be. A common misconception is that listing a home during the winter months is a bad idea. Homes showcased during the holidays provide a warm, inviting listing environment that welcomes sellers and buyers alike.

"Most...markets do not hibernate in the winter," said Rozanne Kurman, president of the Realtor® Association of NorthWest Chicagoland. "With fewer homes on the market and buyers who are motivated to buy, the holiday months provide an ideal time to list and get ahead of the spring influx." Call me today for my free consultation of how and when to get your Gainesville area home on the market to beat the spring rush. Happy Holidays.