Real estate blog entries tagged with destin by Kelly Klein, "Doing Great Things Today to Improve Tomorrow" (Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

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destin: Yellow Flies - 06/23/11 10:03 AM

In Florida in the months of May and June, we see a great number of yellow flies. Why am I writing about this today? Because in just two days, I have been biten twice. Yes, biten. It is hot and sunny here during these months so I take shelter in the shade. That is exactly where they hang out. They love the shade too. Little did I know. They also love forests, rivers, and creeks. I live by the State Forest and by numberous coastal dune lakes. No wonder I am getting biten.
Not only that, but they love humans. They … (5 comments)

destin: Walton County Sales Report May 2011 - 06/12/11 02:35 AM

Well, some say they think the market will drop even farther or there are another wave of foreclosures about to hit the market. In this area of Florida, I do not see any evidence of this. In fact, quite the opposite is occuring. New Home sales were up 14.56% for same period as last year and the prices for these new homes were up 24.98%.
In the resale category of homes, they were up 9.52% and prices up just slightly at 1.48%.
My market has a lot of townhomes and condos in it. We are considered a perfect resort destination and … (2 comments)

destin: Saving you Money - 06/02/11 01:40 AM

In my local market area, I am beginning to see some incredible price increases overnight. From prices like $860,000 up to $995,000 with agent notes that state that the seller is FIRM. What? They weren't FIRM just yesterday? This is nuts. This is why it is a very good reason to work with an Exclusive Buyer's Representative like myself. I will help you discover prices yesterday and today and disclose to you what you need to know to make a good buying decision that will help you save thousands of dollars.
Kelly Klein, Lifeguard Real Estate, Inc.
Broker / Owner / … (4 comments)

destin: Post Memorial Day - 05/31/11 02:12 AM

Well, the weather was hot, hot, hot this past weekend and there were no signs of people NOT having fun. The beaches were full and people in general seemed extremely happy. There were local sightings of Kenny Chesney at Bud and Alley's in Seaside as well as the RED BAR on the same evening. Other sightings were of the Manning boys who own a home in Watercolor. Eli Manning is frequentlyy seen at the Watercolor gym.
Walton County does an excellent job of informing beach visitors of surf conditions. This year added to this campaign was the ability to text. An … (4 comments)

destin: Photo Updated - 05/24/11 04:23 AM

How many times have you gone to a website, seen the Realtor's Photo and then you go to meet them and you don't recognize them?
it happens. You may have that one photo that just looks just right and you were afterall 10 years younger and slimmer in the photo too. So you hang on to it.
Well, I believe you should be able to at least recognize the Realtor you are about to do business with. I am not a glamourous Realtor. Oh I tried the a glamour shot photo once. Even went so far as sending it to my … (1 comments)

destin: Memorial Day Weekend Activities - 05/20/11 04:18 AM

There is plenty to do over Memorial Day Weekend in our local area. If you have not yet booked a reservation, you may be too late. The hotels, bed and breakfast's and even those who rent on www.vrbo.com websites are all reporting that they are already booked.
The weather should be perfect and you can take a bike ride along Hwy. 30A, enjoy a picnic along the way in one of the State Parks or just pull over to sit along one of the 13 coastal dune lakes.
If shopping is more your venue we have plenty. We have the Silver … (1 comments)

destin: Booking your Visit - 05/12/11 06:52 AM

You may not want to wait too long to book your visit to our area. According to the rental companies they are almost at 100% capacity from Memorial Day through Labor Day. I am being told it is hard to find a room right now.
Make sure you look at these sites for possible rentals while in the area and don't forget to use www.vrbo.com The Vacation by Owner Website sometimes can be your best source for a rental in the area.

See you at the Beach!
Kelly Klein, Lifeguard Real Estate
Broker/Owner -- Buyer's Representative
850-420-2480
Kelly@KellyKleinSoldMine.com
Vacation Rentals, … (1 comments)

destin: Walton County Sales Report -- April 2011 - 05/10/11 08:15 AM

How can you not love this area?
Emerald Green Waters and Coastal Dune Lakes. Lake above is Oyster Lake. I love Oysters! You can find them for .25 cents a piece during happy hour at the Hurricane Oyster Bar. $2 Beers. Love it, Love it, Love it.
Well this past month in Walton County there were 142 homes that sold during the month of April. This was a year to date increase of 10.22 percent.
There were 105 condos that sold and that was a year to date increase of 21.40%.
182 Residential Lots sold and signs of building is … (0 comments)

destin: Tornado Preparedness - 04/28/11 08:21 AM

Tornadoes
The recent tornado outbreak has affected a lot of lives. People in the hardest hit states are still in a search and rescue plan. Power outages and homes and business have been destroyed. May and June are normally the peak months for tornadoes. This most recent activity may very well exceed the 1974 outbreak when we had 148 tornadoes with 300 lives lost in a 13 state wide path.
Tornado Facts are below:
Average number of tornadoes per year (1950-2004): 910State with highest number of tornadoes per year (1950-1994): Texas (avg. 125) Top 5 states with highest incidence of tornadoes … (1 comments)

destin: Come Preapproved - 04/19/11 03:14 AM

Many buyers are uncomfortable with their buyer's representative asking them to become preapproved or show proof of cash funds for a home purchase. As a buyer's representative this is the first step I take with my new clients. I find if someone is unwilling to take this first step, then it is a red flag to a difficult transaction later down the road. I certainly can't buy a car without first applying for a loan or walking in with the cash in my hand. A home is the most amount of money you will probably ever spend in your life, so it should … (3 comments)

destin: Walton County Trends Report March 2011 - 04/16/11 06:25 AM

Ahhhhhhhhhh, Walton County. Sales are climbing.
Let's take a look.
Single Family Homes
Year to date 354 home sales. Up 6.95% over same period last year. Homes sell for 91.37% of list price on average.
Condos/Townhomes
Year to date 258 sales. Up 17.27% over same period last year. Condos are selling for 88.21% of list price on average for the year.
Lots
429 Lots have sold year to date. Up 16.89%. Lots are selling for 79.92% of list price on average for the year.
Lis Pendens or Notices of Foreclosures are down for the year by 67%. I think we have … (0 comments)

destin: FREE iPhone APP - 04/14/11 02:36 AM

Introducing to users is my newest tool of the trade. If you are an iPhone owner, please download my free APP by doing a search using my name. Kelly Klein
Enjoy looking at properties along the Panhandle while still being mobile.
The Android OS system will soon be out. I will announce this as well as soon as it is ready.
Enjoy your day!
Below is a photo from our State's Capitol in Tallahassee, FL. Dolphins represent our area well.
Warmly yours,
Kelly Klein, Lifeguard Real Estate, Inc.
850-420-2480
Destin, Sandestin, Miramar Beach, Santa Rosa Beach, Blue Mountain Beach, Dune Allen … (4 comments)

destin: March Sales Report for Okaloosa County - 04/08/11 06:06 AM

Okaloosa County -- 24 Miles of White Sugar Shoreline. Destin, Florida considered the luckiest fishing village in Florida. Award winning beaches.
263 Homes sold in Okaloossa County in the month of March. This is an increase of 15% over same period last year. Year to date totals show that there have been 646 home sales in the county which is a year to date increase of 21%. Home sales are brisk with the increased presence of our military men and woman relocating to our area at Eglin Airforce Base and Hurlburt Field.
92 Condos/Townhomes sold in the month of March compared … (0 comments)

destin: Activity at the Emerald Coast - 03/21/11 07:21 AM

There are currently 6,595 properties available for sale in the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors MLS system.
There are 1,692 properties currently under contract waiting for a closing.
There have been 2,743 sales in the last six months. 21 of these sales were foreclosures which is less than 1% of all sales. 582 of the total sales were short sales or 21% of all sales were short sales that successfully closed. The majority of the sales were well priced properties with a motivated seller and a qualified buyer.
There is still plenty of inventory and buyers are flooding the market again … (0 comments)

destin: Okaloosa Real Estate Sales Activity - February 2011 - 03/06/11 01:21 AM

Single Family Home Sales
Single Family Home Sales were up 25.57% over same year-to-date period as compared to 2010
Condos and Townhomes
Condo and Townhomes were up 32.46% over same year-to-date period as compared to 2010
Mobile and Manufactured Homes were down 53.85% over same year-to-date period as compared to 2010.
Residential Lots
Residential lot sales were up 138.46% over same year-to-date period as compared to 2010.
Total sales are up in Okaloosa County by 37.87% in all categories
Okaloosa County is home to the following cities:
Cinco BayouCrestviewDestinFort Walton BeachMary EstherNicevilleShalimarValparaiso

… (2 comments)

destin: What's in your FICO Score? - 03/03/11 03:31 AM

Where do the numbers come from to create my FICO score? What is the highest FICO score possible?
The numbers are pulled from the following sources:
Payment History makes up 35% of your FICO score.
Amounts Owed makes up 30% of your FICO score.
Length of Credit History makes up 15% of your score.
New Credit makes up 10% of your FICO Score.
Types of Credit Use makes up 10% of your FICO Score.
So what is a perfect score? 850 points.
You can get a FREE credit report once a year at http://www.annualcreditreport.com
Kelly Klein
Lifeguard Real Estate, Inc.
850-420-2480
… (3 comments)

destin: Website Links - 02/28/11 08:57 AM

In Real Estate we are always coming across different websites of interest. Here are a few of interest that I ran across recently.
http://www.lifehacker.com
http://www.platinumhd.tv
www.relax.com
Hope you enjoy this month's selectioins.
Kelly Klein
Lifeguard Real Estate, Inc.
Make the most exciting investment in Real Estate In Destin FL, Santa Rosa Beach FL, Waterfront Properties, and Panama City Beach FL Real Estate or purchase a Niceville FL Home For Sale, it will be a satisfactory and rewarding experience for you. Feel free to browse through our listings of the finest Panama City Beach FL Homes For Sale today!
Lifeguard Real Estate, Inc. … (2 comments)

destin: Accredited Buyer's Representative - 02/19/11 02:11 AM

I believe that an educated buyer is an empowered buyer. I love to show the tools to my buyers to make them more empowered. I provide to them the links, information, and resources that they need to make an educated decision. I am committed to making them understand the local market and negotiate a favorable term. I personally want to earn their business and in the State of Florida it is NOT mandatory that a buyer sign an Exclusive Buyer Agreement with me. I prefer that they want to work with me and no one else simply because I have provided … (3 comments)

destin: Who can I complain to? - 02/11/11 08:07 AM

We as Realtors take a Code of Ethics course and swear to certain types of behavior as Realtors, but who can we complain to when we are abused by the general public? Whose with me? Good Lord, I am running into the most RUDE people lately who have no R E S P E C T for my time. You know the ones who call in the middle of the night, during your dinner or even after 8 p.m. How about those that call you the day they arrive and want you to stop everything you are doing to assist them. … (6 comments)

destin: Tax Benefits of Buying a Home - 02/09/11 06:47 AM

Homeownership offers lots of tax benefits
WASHINGTON - Feb. 9, 2011 - Renting offers zero tax breaks, while buying a home has several tax benefits that make ownership more affordable. Real estate professionals, however, must be careful when providing detailed tax advice to clients to avoid lawsuits - but it's okay to make sure clients have the information they need to understand all the tax benefits of homeownership.The following list outlines a few tax benefits of homeownership, according to Stephen Fishman, an author and lawyer who specializes in small business, tax and intellectual property law.▪ Home mortgage interest deduction: Homeowners can … (0 comments)

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