market crash: Who do you report a revoked license to? - 12/22/10 07:51 AM
As I am completing so many reviews these days, for appraisals completed in 2006 and 2007 – it is a curious finding to come across a really poorly developed appraisal……only to find that the appraiser no longer has a valid license.

In one sense, it makes the job easier – as I don’t really have to report an appraiser who has already had their license revoked!   After reviewing the appraisal…it is clear to see WHY the appraisers (both registered trainee license and the supervisory certified appraiser) no longer have a valid license here in the state of Florida!

On … (11 comments)

market crash: Are prices increasing or recovering? - 11/29/10 07:30 AM
I downloaded the latest 3rd quarter report for Orlando today, from the National Association of Realtors and saw the very 1st graph which caught my eye: 
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I have been seeing of late, some increasing trends for home sales.  Yet when you look at the longer view - it is quickly apparent that the markets are really just getting back to ground zero! 
The report showed a lot of really good data, which I have been tracking ‘on the ground' in real estate appraisals here … (1 comments)

market crash: Walking away: Moral, Ethical, Just Business? - 05/12/10 02:48 AM
This is a great video from CBS' 60 Minutes about the growing trend of people walking away from their home and mortgage, even though they can afford to stay - meaning they have enough income to stay.
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A couple of things which caught my eye about this video, is the struggle of conscience people have and the steps they must take within themselves to embrace the "it's just a business decision" stance.
I myself struggle with the tension between personal responsibility for choices made in a market and contract situation and the business decisions to cut … (6 comments)

market crash: Do Sellers and Buyers Have The Same Perspective? - 11/03/08 05:27 AM
I have found recently that many neighborhoods in the Central Florida housing market, show significant differences between what a seller's expectations are and what is reality from the buyer.   One example of this, is in a community south of Clermont, FL known as Westchester.
 
There are presently 15 active listings in the Westchester community ranging in size from 1,176 sf to 2,200+ sf.  Listing prices are from $109,900 to $249,000.   In the last 12 months, the MLS reports 7 closed sales from $150,000 to $209,000 for homes of similar size range.  There are currently many short sale and REO/Bank owned … (1 comments)

market crash: When Builders Go Bad - 02/21/08 10:48 AM
As you can tell from my prior blog posts, I am not one to buy into the "sky is falling", "recession abounds" talk from the media.  I do, however, watch closely micro market areas in order to best serve my client's interest to know the smaller market areas as compared to larger regional areas.
I came across a small community the other day in Groveland, FL known as Westwood.  The reason this caught my attention was that I was asked to appraise a home which I appraised in November 2006. 
At that time, they were buying the home from the builder for … (2 comments)