daytona beach real estate: Most Rare Opportunity of a Unique Riverfront Home! - 11/15/10 12:59 PM
Almost an acre of land on the intracoastal riverfront with dock and boathouse. The panoramic views from this home are truly awesome! This 4647 sq ft home has 3 suite areas. The first suite has 2 bedrooms with a full bath and views of the river. The Master suite is on the second floor and boasts a huge bathroom with soaking tub, his and hers vanities, walk-in closet, sitting area, 21 X 10 office and a second story veranda overlooking the river. A front row seat for sunrises and full moons over the intracoastal river. The third suite area is the … (0 comments)

daytona beach real estate: Sinkholes swallowing Citizens - 09/14/10 03:20 PM
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Sept. 8, 2010 – Citizens Property Insurance Corp. asked state regulators Tuesday for a premium increase, in part because sinkhole costs are swallowing up more and more of the company’s money. The company is asking for premium increases averaging 10.9 percent in 2011 for its riskiest homeowner policies. While much of the attention around property insurance involves hurricane risk, Citizens officials say that the state-run company took in $19 million in premiums for sinkhole coverage last year, while paying out $97 million in sinkhole-related claims. The Office of Insurance Regulation panel did not take a vote on the … (0 comments)

daytona beach real estate: Daytona Beach, FL - Buyers, Don't Make These Mistakes - 08/06/10 02:33 PM
These seem like common sense ideas, but the stress of shopping for a new home and finding something you know deep down is probably beyond what you can afford, can make the decision process very stressful.  I can't emphasize enough that using a Realtor to help you through the process of buying a home in Daytona Beach will save you money and time.  The buyer in Florida does not pay for the Realtor - so why should you not use a professional to represent your interests?  If you commit to having a Buyer's Realtor on your side from the beginning, all of the decisions … (0 comments)

daytona beach real estate: Daytona Beach, FL - Florida Staggering from Foreclosures but Buyers See Bargains - 07/30/10 03:22 PM
RealtyTrac, the nation's foremost statistical keeper of foreclosure data, released its Midyear 2010 Metropolitan Foreclosure Market Report, which shows 154 of the 206 U.S. metropolitan areas with a population of 200,000 or more posted year-over-year increases in foreclosure activity even while foreclosure activity decreased in nine of the 10 metros with the highest foreclosure rates.
Four states-Florida, California, Nevada and Arizona-accounted for all top 20 metro foreclosure rates. Florida led the way, with nine of the top 20 metro foreclosure rates, followed by California with eight, Nevada with two and Arizona with one.
James J. Saccacio, chief executive officer of RealtyTrac, … (0 comments)

daytona beach real estate: Real Estate in Daytona Beach will Always Be about People - 07/10/10 01:12 PM
A recent article in RISMedia.com by Saul Klein, CEO of Point 2 Technologies, Inc., about the future of the MLS was thought-provoking, to say the least.  While we Realtors have embraced technology, in many ways it has replaced efforts once thought to be the sole province of the agent.  He makes the point that complacency will only find us sitting by a phone that doesn't ring.
For instance, "Social networking and artificial intelligence software packages that know more about the transaction process than many agents will transform the industry. Inventories are easily accessible online. Homes are easily and inexpensively advertised online … (0 comments)

daytona beach real estate: New Fannie Mae Guides will Help Daytona Beach Buyers - 06/19/10 02:20 PM
Fannie Mae has published the first three in a series of "Five-Step" guides, which offer useful information for buyers, and homeowners who may be struggling with their current mortgage. Each guide focuses on a different topic and provides five specific tips.
The new guides are:
1,  Actions to Take Before Buying a Home.  Fannie Mae offers five steps to help those thinking about buying a home select the right house for them and understand the affordable financing options that can help make homeownership a long-term success.
2.  How Housing Counselors Can Help.  Fannie Mae highlights five key ways housing counselors can help make homeownership successful … (0 comments)

daytona beach real estate: Daytona Beach, FL - Will a Short Sale Help the Credit of Daytona Beach Sellers - 06/12/10 02:35 PM
A recent article in RisMedia by Kara McGuire reaches the conclusion that either a short sale or foreclosure will wreck your credit score.  "Both short sales and foreclosures are considered negative by the score, because our data shows us it's very predictive of future credit risk," Tom Quinn, Minneapolis-based Fair Isaac Corp.'s vice president of FICO scores, said. "The claim that doing a short sale is not going to hurt your score is false. It's inaccurate."
McGuire stresses, "That's not to say that there aren't some instances where short sales are better. If a borrower is current at the point of … (0 comments)

daytona beach real estate: Florida Real Estate Lenders Should Consider Equity Financing - 06/06/10 05:49 AM
Alex Perriello, President & CEO of the Realogy Franchise Group, whose world-renowned brands are leaders in the real estate industry, recently wrote a piece picked up by RisMedia with an idea to help distressed homeowners and, subsequently, the mortgage problems of the country.  Because Florida has been so hard hit with foreclosures, his proposal makes a lot of sense in my state.  I wonder if lenders have considered equity financing, at least as an alternative to short sales and foreclosures.  It might be time for all of us in the real estate industry to try some creative and innovative approaches to help … (1 comments)

daytona beach real estate: Florida Still a Home Destination - 04/03/10 07:28 AM
Although Florida has been one of the hardest hit states in the country during this economic recession, millions of Americans still want to stay here or move here, according to a survey by Relocation.com.  The top destination states this year are California, Florida, Texas, Georgia, Arizona and a tie between Illinois and North Carolina.
As reported by RisMedia, "The survey found that Americans are moving shorter distances than they were last year, but are doing so for different reasons. One in five respondents said they moved to a new location with a lower cost of living and, not surprisingly, there was a … (0 comments)

daytona beach real estate: Meet a new Five Star Professional - 03/29/10 09:42 AM
I am pleased to announce that I have earned a new designation, that of Five Star Professional, from the Five Star Institute for Default Servicing Professionals.
The industry-recognized Five Star Professional (FSP) Designation gives real estate professionals a competitive edge in today's crowded marketplace. This designation is becoming one of the most well-known and recognized in our industry. The designation is attained when participants have received a certificate of achievement in five or more courses from their extensive catalog of comprehensive educational curriculum.
Five Star Professionals are encouraged to continue in their education efforts and will be required to complete one additional Five Star … (0 comments)

daytona beach real estate: Volusia County Sellers - Try Making the Buyers an Offer - 03/15/10 09:24 AM
If you are a Florida seller, or want to be, but wonder how to compete with the bank-owned and short sale properties flooding the market, try a twist on the Buyer Makes the Offer pardigm.  Recently, I read an article in NewsGeni.us suggesting the seller make the buyer an offer.
Where does it say that the buyer must be the one to write the offer?  What if a seller wrote the offer?  It's perfectly legal.  Just not traditional...
Assume the inventory of homes like yours is huge.  You want to stand out from the competition.  With your Realtor's help (me), you … (0 comments)

daytona beach real estate: Daytona Beach, FL: Condo and Single Family Home Sales Up for 4th Quarter 2009 - 02/13/10 05:51 AM
Sales of existing single-family homes in Florida rose 44 percent in fourth quarter 2009 compared to the same period a year earlier, according to the latest housing statistics from Florida Realtors. A total of 43,926 existing homes sold statewide in 4Q 2009; during the same period the year before, a total of 30,610 existing homes sold. It marks the sixth consecutive quarter that Florida has seen higher existing year-to-year home sales, according to the state association.Statewide sales of existing condominiums in the fourth quarter rose 93 percent compared to the same time the previous year. This marks the fifth consecutive quarter … (0 comments)

daytona beach real estate: Retirement in Florida - Changes in Traditional Real Estate Concepts - 02/07/10 07:25 AM
The economic problems and challenges facing most US citizens are forcing changes in real estate buying habits, and one with a great impact is the trend away from the traditional view of retirement in a golf community.  Downsizing is taking hold among all housing consumers, but it is particularly evident among the 55-plus crowd that includes the older baby boomers. And that downsizing includes housing plans in retirement.
While "warmer climate" was the reigning factor in choosing where to retire in the first boomer survey Del Webb conducted in 1996, today "cost of living" is the most important consideration on where to locate.  As … (0 comments)

daytona beach real estate: Florida Homeowners may Benefit from new Federal Short Sale Guidelines - 01/16/10 05:23 AM
Florida is one of the hardest hit states in the country for number of foreclosures.  Many of these could have been avoided if the homeowners were able to sell their properties as short sales, but the process has been very lengthy and many sellers ended up in foreclosure.  Now, new federal guidelines will give lenders a 10-day limit in which to respond to purchase offers.
In addition, the new rules call for sellers to receive $1,500 moving allowances-and for the sellers to not have to repay any of the debt. Also, lenders will get $1,000 to cover administrative and processing costs, while … (1 comments)

daytona beach real estate: Daytona Beach FL: Best Remodeling Projects - 01/02/10 03:37 AM
The annual 2009 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report has been releaased by the National Assn. of Realtors, and shows that exterior remodeling projects definitely bring the best return.  Small-scale exterior projects are the most profitable at resale, according to estimates by Realtors who completed a recent survey.
As reported by RISMedia, "On a national level, eight out of the top 10 projects in terms of costs recouped were exterior replacement projects that cost less than $14,000. Certain types of door and siding replacements, as well as wood deck additions all returned more than 80% of project costs upon resale. A steel … (0 comments)

daytona beach real estate: Daytona Beach, FL: Great Real Estate News for November - 12/26/09 10:26 AM
November was a very positive month for real estate sales in November:  area home resales rose 84%, reflecting the strong statewide trend upward, and beating national sales figures, as reported by the Florida Assn. of Realtors.  November marked the 15th month that statewide sales activity has increased in the year-to-year comparison.
Realtors sold 773 homes in Volusia and Flagler counties last month, compared with 420 during the same period last year. The median price: the midpoint at which half the homes sold for more and half sold for less, was $130,500, down 11 percent from the median price in November 2008.
… (1 comments)

daytona beach real estate: Will Realtors be Leaders in 2010 - 12/06/09 11:23 AM
Recently I read an excellent commentary in RisMedia by Tami Bonnell, president of the U.S. Organization for EXIT Realty Corp, on the Real Estate of the Future.  She said, "As I see it, there are three words that come to mind as we move into the future of real estate."  These were Lean, Clean, and Green.
She challenged me to look at my own real estate practice and - while it's a bit early - make my new year's resolutions to insure I do business as she suggests.
1.  Lean - this isn't just about the belt-tightening most of us have … (2 comments)

daytona beach real estate: Daytona Beach, FL: Florida Home and Condo Sales Continue Rise - 11/28/09 03:45 AM
The Florida Assn. of Realtors has announced that existing home sales rose in October, marking 14 months that sales activity has increased in their year-to-year comparison. October's statewide sales also increased over sales activity in September in both the home and condominium resale markets.
Existing home sales rose 45 percent last month with a total of 15,160 homes sold statewide compared to 10,444 homes sold in October 2008.  Statewide existing home sales last month increased 5.1 percent over statewide sales activity in September.  Condo sales rose 82 percent in statewide sales in October compared to the previous year's sales figure; statewide … (1 comments)

daytona beach real estate: Seniors Florida-bound for Winter? Enjoy our Daytona Beach Lifestyle - 11/21/09 08:32 AM
Our local paper does a great job of publishing events and happenings around our Ormond Beach and Daytona Beach areas.  I was properly impressed by the range of activities scheduled under the "Senior Lifestyles" heading, just for the week of Nov. 15:
'HUG-A-BEARS' HEADING TO SOLDIERS OVERSEAS Members of Florida Chapter 39 of the AT&T Pioneers are making "Hug-a-Bears" as the group's annual Christmas project. Soon the bears will travel all over the world in packages sent to American service personnel.
"POKER RUN BENEFITS FAMILIES For the fourth year, a bike run sponsored by the AT&T Pioneers and the Communications Workers … (0 comments)

daytona beach real estate: Consider an Investment in Daytona Beach Rental Property - 11/07/09 09:00 AM
Florida has had one of the highest rates of foreclosures in the country, but do we have deals and bargains on homes, condos, apartments!  Don't rush into becoming an investor, and do your homework - when you decide this is the right place for your money, consider Daytona or Ormond Beach.
The most important considerations to investing in Florida real estate for rental income are*Location*Condition*Price*Financing
Location1.  Areas with homes priced in the middle ranges are usually well-maintained, and command reasonable rents2.  Run-down neighborhoods, with boarded up homes and lots of foreclosure signs, can represent opportunities, especially if you see new construction, and if the … (0 comments)