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New flood insurance program
September 16, 2021 in buying Your Home, home buyer info, Home Seller Info, Insurance, Real Estate, Real Estate News, Seller Info, Selling Your Home | Tags: buying a home, home buyer info, Insurance, Real Estate News, Seller Info, Selling Your Home | Leave a comment
By the time the day is over, I will have attended 3 different presentations on the new National Flood Insurance Program that begins on Oct. 1st. This is extremely important for ALL homeowners throughout the country. I will NOT be an expert but I WORK with the insurance agents & lenders that are the experts. We are here for you.
Oceanfront Community Condo Prices Across the U.S. Surged 10 to 40 percent in Q2
September 10, 2021 in Beaches, Buyer info, buying Your Home, central west Florida, Clearwater Beach, Clearwater Florida, Florida, home buyer info, Market Statistics, Real Estate, Real Estate Trends, St Pete, St Pete Beach, St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Florida, Tampa Bay area, Waterfront Homes | Tags: Buyer info, Buying a condo, buying a home, Buying a waterfront home, Clearwater Beach, Clearwater Florida, Florida, home buyer info, Market Statistics, Real Estate, Real Estate Market, Real Estate Trends, St Pete, St Pete Beach, St Petersburg, St Petersburg Florida, Tampa Bay area, Waterfront properties | Leave a comment
Luckily, the St Pete-Tampa Bay-Clearwater Beach area is not listed in the highest price increase locations. We do have some gorgeous waterfront properties that could be your new home. I am a Accredited Buyers Representative & it would be my pleasure to help you. #realestate #realtor #newhome #waterfrontproperties #floridahomes #floridaliving #floridarealestate #stpeterealestate #stpetersburgflorida #clearwaterbeach #clearwaterflorida #tampabayrealestate #buyeragent
West Palm Beach Lead the U.S. in Condo Sales in Q2
According to ATTOM, median condo prices in 50 percent of oceanfront counties in the U.S. surpassed the typical $305,000 condo price nationwide, while 50 percent fell below.
It also revealed that median condominium prices increased during the second quarter of 2021 by at least 20 percent, measured year over year, in slightly more than half of oceanfront counties analyzed. Less-expensive oceanfront condo markets, concentrated in the South, generally showed bigger year-over-year gains, while the most expensive counties, located mainly in the West, showed the smallest.
The report looked at 86 counties around the U.S. that bordered the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico and had enough data to analyze, meaning that they had at least 25 condo sales in the second quarter of 2021, the first quarter of 2021 and the second quarter of last year. The report sought to analyze condo price trends in areas similar to the one where the building collapsed in Surfside, FL.
The second-quarter-of-2021 condo price gains in oceanfront counties came at a time when the national housing market boom was roaring into its 10th year, with median single-family home and condo prices rising annually by more than 15 percent across a majority of the U.S. Condo values have continued to rise in oceanfront areas amid a combination of historically low mortgage rates and the ongoing appeal of living along or near oceanside communities.
While the Coronavirus pandemic that hit last year remains a threat to the economy and the housing market, there are especially vulnerable areas, including the South, where fewer people are vaccinated and the latest virus variant has led to a new surge of cases. But second-quarter home sales data shows that oceanfront condo markets continue to ride the decade-long national housing market boom.
“Condos in oceanfront areas appear to be right in the middle of the pack when it comes to the ongoing market boom. Broadly speaking, they are worth close to what condos around the nation are worth and are gaining value at around the same pace as all homes in the U.S.,” said Todd Teta, chief product officer with ATTOM. “We will keep an eye on this trend to see if it changes following the Florida incident.”
He added that, “It’s important to note that this report is not, in any way, an attempt to show where condos may be vulnerable to the kind of disaster that hit in Florida. That’s not what our data can address. Rather, it’s a look at the markets for those kinds of homes, which look to be going strong.”
South has most condo sales in oceanfront counties during second quarter
The Southern region of the U.S. had 69,616, or 67 percent, of the 104,359 condo sales in the 86 counties with sufficient data to analyze during the second quarter of 2021. (The report included condos directly on the waterfront, as well as those inland, in each oceanfront county.)
Florida had the most sales in the second quarter (58,404), followed by California (20,042), Hawaii (4,686), South Carolina (4,617) and Massachusetts (4,198).
The five counties with the most second-quarter transactions accounted for 37 percent of all condo sales in the areas analyzed. They were Palm Beach County (West Palm Beach), FL (10,454 condo sales); Miami-Dade County, FL (9,396 sales); Los Angeles County, CA (7,228 sales); Broward County (Fort Lauderdale), FL (6,890 sales) and San Diego County, CA (4,740 sales).
Condo prices exceed national median in half of oceanfront counties
Median condo prices in 43 of the 86 oceanfront counties with enough data to analyze, or 50 percent, exceeded the national median condo value of $305,000 in the second quarter of 2021.
Among the 86 counties analyzed, the highest second-quarter median condo prices were in San Francisco County, CA ($1,175,000); San Mateo County, CA (outside San Francisco) ($915,500); Kings County (Brooklyn), NY ($876,250); Marin County, CA (outside San Francisco) ($723,000) and Santa Cruz County ($693,500).
In the South, the highest second-quarter median prices were in Walton County, FL (along the Florida panhandle) ($475,000); Monroe County (Key West), FL ($465,150); Nassau County, FL (north of Jacksonville) ($416,750); Baldwin County, AL (east of Mobile) ($351,563) and St. Johns County (St. Augustine), FL ($329,414).
The lowest median condo prices in the second quarter of 2021 among the 86 counties in the report were in Atlantic County (Atlantic City), NJ ($124,000); Jefferson Parish, LA (west of New Orleans) ($135,000); Citrus County, FL (north of Tampa) ($145,000); Mobile County, AL ($148,000) and Onslow County (Jacksonville), NC ($155,000).
Condo prices up more than 20 percent, rising in majority of oceanfront counties
Median condo prices increased by at least 20 percent from the second quarter of 2020 to the second quarter of 2021 in 47 of the 86 oceanfront counties with sufficient data to analyze, or 55 percent. Median values rose by at least 30 percent in 28 of the 86 counties (33 percent).
The largest increases in median home prices from the second quarter of 2020 to the second quarter of 2021 were in Pasco County, FL (north of Tampa) (median up 245 percent); Galveston County, TX (up 102 percent); Indian River County (Vero Beach), FL (up 68 percent); St. Lucie County (Port St. Lucie), FL (up 66 percent) and St. Johns County (St. Augustine), FL (up 61 percent).
Median condo prices decreased in seven of the 86 counties, let by Santa Rosa County, FL (east of Pensacola) (median down 22 percent); Onslow County (Jacksonville), NC (down 18 percent); Suffolk County (Boston), MA (down 11 percent); Juneau County, AK (down 10 percent) and Queens County, NY (down 8 percent).
Having trouble finding your happy place-your home?
January 30, 2020 in Buying a Home, Buying a vacation or second home, buying Your Home, first time home buying, Florida, home buyer info, International Buyers, Real Estate, St. Petersburg, Florida, Tampa Bay area, Vacation or Second Homes | Tags: Buying a second or vacation home, Buying a waterfront home, buying Your Home, first time home buying, Florida, home buyer info, International buyers, Real Estate, St Petersburg Florida, Tampa Bay area, Vacation or Second Homes | Leave a comment
Having trouble finding your happy place? Message me – I can help you find what you’re looking for! #happy #happyhome #houseexpert #home #realestate #TampaBayArea #waterfronthomebuyer #firsttimebuyer #listreports #realestateagent #realtor #mayaangelou
Home is where I want to be!
October 10, 2019 in Buyer info, Buying a Home, Buying a vacation or second home, buying Your Home, Clearwater Beach, first time home buying, Florida, International Buyers, International Clients, International investors, International Real Estate, Move Up Buyers, Quality of life, St Pete, St Pete Beach, St. Petersburg, Florida, Tampa Bay area, Vacation or Second Homes, Waterfront Homes | Tags: Buyer info, buying a home, Buying a second or vacation home, Buying a waterfront home, buying Your Home, Clearwater Beach, first time home buying, Florida, International buyers, International investors, International Real Estate, Move Up Buyers, Quality of Life, St Pete, St Pete Beach, St Petersburg Florida, Tampa Bay area, Vacation or Second Homes, Waterfront homes | Leave a comment
Ready to find your home? So am I! Whether it’s a single family home or condo, there’s no place like home. Send me a message now and let’s get started! #home #HouseExpert #RealEstate #realtor #HouseHunting #ListReports #RealEstateAgent #HomeOwner #StPete #TampaBay #Dubai
There’s No Place like Home
July 19, 2017 in Buying a Home, buying Your Home, home buyer info, Seller Info, Selling Your Home | Tags: buying a home, buying Your Home, home buyer info, Seller Info, Selling Your Home | Leave a comment
PROFARM Neighborhood Advocates
No Place Like Home (July 20, 2017)
Wherever you are in your real estate journey – dreaming, planning, remodeling, looking – a REALTOR® can help you along the way.
There’s no place like home… until a better house hits the market! You thought you were settled, until a “For Sale” sign showed up in front of that house you’ve been eyeing for years. Even when you are settled, there are always shifting priorities and scenarios that may prompt you to consider moving.
The kids are gone and you want to downsize, or maybe a parent is moving in with you. Perhaps you’ve just gotten married or are having a baby and need more room. Housing and family needs combined account for 72.7% of the reasons people move, according to the 2015-2016 U.S. Census Bureau.
Or you’ve got outdated appliances and have new kitchen envy. Many of the homes in Pinellas County are older housing stock, and need not only cosmetic, but in many cases safety or efficiency upgrades.
The next generation of home buyers are looking for updated interiors, well-equipped kitchens and outdoor living rooms.
According to the National Association of REALTORS®, for-sale-by-owner homes stay on the market longer and sell for $39,000 less than those sold with the help of a real estate professional.
Finding the right agent matters! An experienced agent, who knows the market and has a network of potential buyers, can help sell a home 32% faster than an inexperienced agent (study by Dr. Bennie D. Waller, Longwood University).
Whatever your life stage or wherever you are in your real estate journey, you have a partner in me to help guide and support you.
I’m ready when you are! Contact me to set up a personalized plan for your real estate goals. Thank you, Annalisa Weller
© 2017 Pinellas Realtor® Organization
Buying a Home? Do you know the Lingo?
May 3, 2017 in Buyer info, Buying a Home, buying Your Home, first time home buying, home buyer info, Real Estate News | Tags: Buyer info, buying a home, buying Your Home, first time home buying, home buyer info | Leave a comment
Buying a home can be intimidating if you are not familiar with the terms used during the process. To start you on your path with confidence, we have compiled a list of some of the most common terms used when buying a home.
Freddie Mac has compiled a more exhaustive glossary of terms in their “My Home” section of their website.
Annual Percentage Rate (APR) – This is a broader measure of your cost for borrowing money. The APR includes the interest rate, points, broker fees and certain other credit charges a borrower is required to pay. Because these costs are rolled in, the APR is usually higher than your interest rate.
Appraisal – A professional analysis used to estimate the value of the property. This includes examples of sales of similar properties. This is a necessary step in getting your financing secured as it validates the home’s worth to you and your lender.
Closing Costs – The costs to complete the real estate transaction. These costs are in addition to the price of the home and are paid at closing. They include points, taxes, title insurance, financing costs, items that must be prepaid or escrowed and other costs. Ask your lender for a complete list of closing cost items.
Credit Score – A number ranging from 300-850, that is based on an analysis of your credit history. Your credit score plays a significant role when securing a mortgage as it helps lenders determine the likelihood that you’ll repay future debts. The higher your score, the better, but many buyers believe they need at least a 780 score to qualify when, in actuality, over 55% of approved loans had a score below 750.
Discount Points – A point equals 1% of your loan (1 point on a $200,000 loan = $2,000). You can pay points to buy down your mortgage interest rate. It’s essentially an upfront interest payment to lock in a lower rate for your mortgage.
Down Payment – This is a portion of the cost of your home that you pay upfront to secure the purchase of the property. Down payments are typically 3 to 20% of the purchase price of the home. There are zero-down programs available through VA loans for Veterans, as well as USDA loans for rural areas of the country. Eighty percent of first-time buyers put less than 20% down last month.
Escrow – The holding of money or documents by a neutral third party before closing. It can also be an account held by the lender (or servicer) into which a homeowner pays money for taxes and insurance.
Fixed-Rate Mortgages – A mortgage with an interest rate that does not change for the entire term of the loan. Fixed-rate mortgages are typically 15 or 30 years.
Home Inspection – A professional inspection of a home to determine the condition of the property. The inspection should include an evaluation of the plumbing, heating and cooling systems, roof, wiring, foundation and pest infestation.
Mortgage Rate – The interest rate you pay to borrow money to buy your house. The lower the rate, the better. Interest rates for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage have hovered between 4 and 4.25% for most of 2017.
Pre-Approval Letter – A letter from a mortgage lender indicating that you qualify for a mortgage of a specific amount. It also shows a home seller that you’re a serious buyer. Having a pre-approval letter in hand while shopping for homes can help you move faster, and with greater confidence, in competitive markets.
Primary Mortgage Insurance (PMI) – If you make a down payment lower than 20% on your conventional loan, your lender will require PMI, typically at a rate of .51%. PMI serves as an added insurance policy that protects the lender if you are unable to pay your mortgage and can be cancelled from your payment once you reach 20% equity in your home.
Real Estate Professional – An individual who provides services in buying and selling homes. Real estate professionals are there to help you through the confusing paperwork, to help you find your dream home, to negotiate any of the details that come up, and to help make sure that you know exactly what’s going on in the housing market. Real estate professionals can refer you to local lenders or mortgage brokers along with other specialists that you will need throughout the home-buying process.
The best way to ensure that your home-buying process is a confident one is to find a real estate professional who will guide you through every aspect of the transaction with ‘the heart of a teacher,’ and who puts your family’s needs first.
re-posted from:
Why it is still Important to use a professional Realtor when buying or selling your home
April 10, 2017 in Buying a Home, buying Your Home, first time home buying, home buyer info, Market Statistics, Real Estate, Real Estate News, Seller Info, Selling Your Home | Tags: buying a home, first time home buying, home buyer info, Market Statistics, Real Estate, Seller Info, Selling Your Home | Leave a comment
When a homeowner decides to sell their house, the number one thing that they want is, of course, the best possible price!! Right? Next, is that they want the least amount of problems to receive this price. Most sellers don’t realize all of the steps required to reach their goal. Marketing is more than sticking a sign in the yard, placing an add on Craig’s list or posting some photos on Facebook. Does the seller know how to stage the house to show it’s best appeal to the most buyers? Is the seller willing to answer phone calls 24/7, literally? Yes, at 2 in the morning when a buyer is searching the Internet! Does the seller know if the buyer is a serious buyer with their mortgage in place or are they pre-approved? In order to know all of these things & much more, a seller really needs to hire a real estate professional.
Technology has changed the buyer’s behavior during the home buying process. According to the National Association of Realtors’ 2016 Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers, the percentage of buyers who used the internet in their home search increased to 94%. However, the report also shows that 96% of buyers who used the internet when searching for homes purchased their homes through either a real estate agent/broker or from a builder or builder’s agent. Only 2% bought their homes directly from a seller that they didn’t know. Most of the buyers who bought homes directly from sellers (For Sale By Owner) still used a Realtor to represent them. Buyers start their search for a home online but then depend on an agent to find the home they will buy (50%), to negotiate the terms of the sale (47%) & price (36%), or to help understand the process (61%). There is so much information out there, either through the Internet or family & friends that more buyers are now reaching out to real estate professionals to help them through the very complicated process. The percentage of buyers who have used agents to buy their homes has steadily increased from 69% in 2001.
Sooooo, if you are thinking of selling your home, don’t underestimate the role a real estate professional can play in the process. The vast majority of buyers have realized that they actually need a Realtor in order to purchase their new home correctly. The laws regarding real estate change constantly & a professional Realtor will know the latest requirements & forms, as well as have a much larger audience with which to present your home in the best light.
Give your sweetheart a home for Valentine’s Day!
February 14, 2017 in Buying a Home, buying Your Home, first time home buying, Florida, Holidays, Home for Sale, Quality of life, St Pete, St. Petersburg, Florida | Tags: buying a home, buying Your Home, first time home buying, Florida, Holidays, Homes for sale, Quality of Life, St Pete, St Petersburg Florida | Leave a comment
On Valentine’s Day,
You’ve given roses, flowers, balloons, candy & jewelry. Why not not give your sweetheart a diamond of a house for Valentine’s Day?
This 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom Shore Acres home in St Petersburg is all remodeled and ready for you to move in. I’ll even add a big red bow! Happy Valentine’s Day!!
https://www.trulia.com/property/3223754998-1766-Maryland-Ave-NE-Saint-Petersburg-FL-33703
Home Buyer demand remains very strong
November 22, 2016 in Buying a Home, buying Your Home, home buyer info, Mortgage info, Real Estate News, Selling a home, Selling Your Home, Uncategorized | Tags: Buyer info, buying a home, Mortgage info, Real Estate News, Selling Your Home | Leave a comment
With inventory below historic numbers and demand still strong, you could be missing out on a great opportunity for your family.
1. Demand Is StrongThe latest Realtors’ Confidence Index from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that buyer demand remains very strong throughout the vast majority of the country. These buyers are ready, willing and able to purchase… and are in the market right now!
Take advantage of the buyer activity currently in the market.
2. There Is Less Competition NowAccording to NAR’s latest Existing Home Sales Report, the supply of homes for sale is still under the 6-month supply that is needed for a normal housing market at 4.7-months.
This means, in most areas, there are not enough homes for sale to satisfy the number of buyers in that market. This is good news for home prices. However, additional inventory is about to come to market.
There is a pent-up desire for many homeowners to move, as they were unable to sell over the last few years because of a negative equity situation. Homeowners are now seeing a return to positive equity as real estate values have increased over the last two years. Many of these homes will be coming to the market this fall.
Also, as builders regain confidence in the market, new construction of single-family homes is projected to continue to increase over the next two years, reaching historic levels by 2017. Last month’s new home sales numbers show that many buyers who have not been able to find their dream home within the existing inventory have turned to new construction to fulfill their needs.
The choices buyers have will continue to increase. Don’t wait until all this other inventory of homes comes to market before you sell.
3. The Process Will Be QuickerFannie Mae announced that they anticipate an acceleration in home sales that will surpass 2007’s pace. As the market heats up, banks will be inundated with loan inquiries causing closing-time lines to lengthen. Selling now will make the process quicker & simpler.
4. There Will Never Be a Better Time to Move UpIf you are moving up to a larger, more expensive home, consider doing it now. Prices are projected to appreciate by 5.3% over the next year, according to CoreLogic. If you are moving to a higher-priced home, it will wind up costing you more (both in down payment and mortgage payment) if you wait.
According to Freddie Mac’s latest report, you can also lock-in your 30-year housing expense with an interest rate around 3.46% right now. Interest rates are projected to increase moderately over the next 12 months. Even a small increase in rate will have a big impact on your housing cost.
for more info: http://www.realtor.org/reports/realtors-confidence-index |
Why do tech-savvy millennials still use a Realtor?
November 17, 2016 in Buying a Home, buying Your Home, first time home buying, home buyer info, Real Estate News, Selling a home, Selling Your Home | Tags: Buyer info, buying a home, Real Estate News, Seller Info, Selling Your Home | Leave a comment
SAN FRANCISCO – Nov. 1, 2016 – Technological advances have made real estate agents especially important to millennials, according to a study by Coldwell Banker, “Wealth, real estate and the high-net-worth investor.”
http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents
The study found that over 70 percent of respondents believe agents are more important than ever, with nearly two-thirds saying they would never buy or sell a home without an agent’s help. More than half of those polled said agents are more important to the home-selection process than friends, family or digital resources.
The main reason millennials value Realtors? They recognized their own lack of experience in the sometimes complicated homebuying process.
However, technology remains important to young adults. A Realtor’s role has diminished in some areas thanks to online tools, such as mortgage calculators; easy access to taxes and other government-related information; and general background info on cities and neighborhoods.
Moreover, technology has changed the process by making it easier to respond quickly to contacts, which is a must for millennials. This demographic also takes into consideration an agent’s reputation on social networks
As a result, a Realtor’s role may not have diminished, but the study suggests that successful agents must adapt to the changing demands and expectations of today’s younger buyers.
Source: Tech.Co (10/27/16) Costa, Diogo
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