real estate trends: Real Estate Expectations for 2017 - 02/20/17 08:15 AM
After a turbulent but generally positive year for real estate in 2016, many potential home buyers, sellers, and investors look forward to 2017 with anticipation. What should we expect for South Florida in the coming year? In general, a more toned-down version of 2016 is likely, but with a few caveats.
Across the country, home values are expected to increase again in 2017. However, experts suggest the gains will be smaller, in the 3.5% range rather than the nearly 5% we saw last year. No single factor determines the overall market, but here are some trends to watch for as the next year unfolds.
Higher … (0 comments)

real estate trends: Why Rising Interest Rates Could Lower Home Values - 12/26/16 04:11 PM
The last couple of years have been great for the Florida real estate market. Homeowners have seen huge gains in property values, with many areas experiencing double-digit increases. But is this growth sustainable? If not, how much longer will it last?
Some industry experts suggest that home value appreciation may slow down in the near future. Other forecasters say we may be faced with lower home values in some communities. And something agreed upon by almost all of these experts is that rising interest rates will be to blame for falling home values.
What’s Going on with Interest Rates?
Over the past few years … (1 comments)

real estate trends: Boca Raton Houses for Sale and Mortgage Rate Increases - 01/24/16 10:11 PM

If you’ve been looking at Boca Raton houses for sale, you’re watching gradual price increases. Despite a stock market slowdown, prices of homes in Boca have not yet noticed a downturn.
One reason is, as in every town where the school system is highly rated, Boca Raton home prices tend to maintain a better value.
Lack of supply and too much demand keeps prices upThe second and more important reason is lack of supply and excessive demand, especially in homes that are priced in the under $450,000 range. While these homes are always at a premium, the continued lack of inventory helps to keep owners … (0 comments)

real estate trends: Buying a Home Today: the Dream Versus the Reality - 12/13/15 10:14 PM

We all have a dream house, a place where we’d like to live if we had enough money to buy it and enough time to really enjoy it. But then there are the realities of house hunting, where we discover that the chances of finding the 100% house of our dreams is much harder than we thought it would be.
So where do you start so that you can get most of the way there? Well, stop one is your lender, where you find out exactly how much house you can afford. This is where you give out all the financial information about … (0 comments)

real estate trends: Prices up and homes for sale down in South Florida - 12/01/15 12:03 AM

It’s still a seller’s market, with prices up and homes for sale down in South Florida.
According to the Realtors Association of the Palm Beaches (RAPB), the number of single family homes listed for sale in Palm Beach County is lower than it was last October. Listings are also down in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
What this means for the majority of  buyers - those in the $150,000 - $350,000 range -  is that competition remains very tight. There are bidding wars in some areas, as buyers struggle to find homes that give them the home of their dreams with no extra work to be done.
Get … (0 comments)