The Independent News will be recognizing all of the Best of the Coast winners for 2009. A reception will be held this Thursday night Oct 15th, from 6-9pm on the deck area of the Fish House, Pensacola. CBUR is being recognized again this year as Best Residential Real Estate Company. CBUR Commercial is a runner up for Best Commercial Company.
I am the Corporate Relocation Coordinator here in the Coldwell Banker United Realtors Relocation Department. I am also a REALTOR licensed in Florida and Alabama. I specialize in relocation packages for transferees either moving out of our area or coming here for a job transfer. I manage a team of trained real estate professionals who have the experience of doing Broker Market Analysis (BMA) and BPOs. I work mainly with third party relocation companies and liasse between the agent, the customer and their relocation coordinators. I also oversee corporate inventory properties and REOs.
Moving from place to place? Then you need a friendly face! Let me place you with one of my team experts and get you moved to you new home.
Florida existing home sales: -26%
Florida existing condo sales: -19%
Florida existing home median price: $237,800
Florida existing condo median price: $215,500
Florida consumer confidence: 86
National existing home sales: -2.6%
National existing home median price $212,300
National (Freddie Mac) mortgage rate 6.74%
Being a Brit myself I came across this article on the BBC News website. I never imagined that Real Estate in England was so unregulated. I am appalled. Thank goodness I am a Florida REALTOR with integrity and a conscience.** The Secret Agent **Lying to customers, faked signatures, false passports and dodgy deals with developers. An undercover investigation reveals the secret world of estate agents' dirty tricks.< http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/magazine/4826444.stm >
My advice to you is always use a REALTOR. Ask your Real Estate Agent if they belong to the National Association of REALTORS.
What am I talking about? The Point2 NLS - The National Listing Service
112,117 Members... and growing.
2,131,564 Leads Generated..and increasing.
85 Countries Worldwide.
It allows agents to be in control.
Go to the FAQ to learn about how it works and what it offers to real estate professionals.
"Point2 Agent is Free Real estate websites, real estate lead generation programs, and real estate lead conversion programs – you know you probably need them all, but did you know that they’re all included with Point2 Agent? No extra fees means that you can start building your site, generating valuable online real estate leads, and actively converting those leads into clients – and you can get started absolutely free of charge"
It is not a trial either. The Standard membership is totally free. But you can upgrade to a Professional or a Premium membership later.
NO hosting fee
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Agents are doing it!
Brokers are doing it!
Builders are doing it!
Property Managers are doing it!
"The Point2 Agent Difference: Thanks to Handshake™ and the Exposure Engine™, any listings you enter in your Point2 Agent website will automatically be advertised all over the web, at no extra charge. While Handshake™ connects you to other local Point2 Agent members and lets you decide exactly where your listing is advertised and by whom, the real estate Exposure Engine™ automatically converts your listing information into several formats and exports it to major real estate marketplaces like Google Base, Yahoo! Classifieds, Oodle, Trulia, and many more without you taking any extra steps or paying anything extra. Point2’s Exposure Engine™ sends your listings to more places than any other syndication solution – and it does it all for nothing extra"
What Else Do You Get??
**Live Online Coaching and Mentoring with the Point2 Academy
**Get Domain Names for $8.95
**Discount coupons for your customers to help them with their home projects, moving and even the cost of new appliances.
CUSTOMERS: Where do you find your Real Estate Agent? Right here at Point2 Homes
Ask your agent if they are part of the NLS
Where do you find MEGAN FUNKE? Your Tiger Point Expert
Most people feel that renovation projects hold their value and that when they sell their home they should get their money back. Well, some projects do and some don't. Adding space and light is key to you but what about when you sell? Here are some ideas of projects that certainly do impact the value of the home.
FYI:- the highest ranking home improvement in terms of return on investment is....Replace Worn Out Siding. First impressions count!
"Showhomes provides a specialized service to real estate agents, homeowners and custom builders by professionally staging, marketing and managing vacant houses. Showhomes creates and maintains a dynamic first impression of the property, thereby enhancing the property's marketability and maximizing the sales effort. We help potential buyers to visualize furniture placement and room use while enhancing features in house construction, layout and design" Says Sherri Nichols, Franchise Owner. "A Vacant House to Valued Home" Showhomes, serving Pensacola and Destin. Office located on Gulf Breeze Pkwy, Gulf Breeze.
INTERIORS by Decorating Den
"Imagine the fun and convenience of having your own personal interior decorator come to your home to take care of your challenging project - with talent, creative ideas, and an incredible array of brand names you love, all to fit your taste, your style and your budget."
Staging, what is it?
Prepare home for sale by de-cluttering, de-personalizing, redesigning and organizing. Showcase key features by rearranging furniture and decor.
Talking about incentives to buy here's an article on how sellers are sweetening the deal by offering goodies to help sell their properties. It's still a buyers market so most buyers are trying to think of ways to make their home look more enticing than the next one.
"They include everything from paying the first year's mortgage or homeowners insurance, to free carpeting, landscaping and bonuses for real estate agents" Sellers are also turning to staging companies, who advise you on the use of furniture and accessories to make your home look better. They also advise on how to use color correctly. These companies are run by interior designers and decorators who have the knowledge of what buyers are looking for and what appeals to the eye. Learn more here
"Is my coverage adequate to rebuild my house and replace personal possessions?"
"Do I enough coverage for living expenses if I have to live elsewhere while my home is being rebuilt?" i.e. hotel costs and meals.
"How much liability coverage do I have in case of damage or bodily injury to others while on my property?"
"Much of the country is experiencing a buyer's market right now, which is delightful news for buyers. Serious buyers are getting some terrific deals and making out like bandits. Sellers are falling all over themselves by paying buyers' closing costs and offering incentives like cars, vacations or prepaid association dues for a year. What I want to know is where are the front-row tickets for the Academy Awards? I might be tempted to buy just about anything if I could sit up front at the Oscars" From Elizabeth Weintraub, ABOUT Buying / Selling Houses
I love this website for up-to-date information about real estate. Tidbits of info that can be helpful in either buying or selling and choosing the right REALTOR to represent you. I signed up for their newsletter and I like its format. Always something new. But talking about incentives, the sellers are offering help with closing costs, home warranties, first mortgage payments etc. All sorts of monetary help. But agents are also looking for incentives to show houses and write contracts. A cash bonus on top of regular commission is good as long it's not more than the commission itself. Agents however, need to be careful that they are not steering other agents to show only their houses by dangling a "golden carrot" Offering too much like cars or vacations can make people greedy and their practices can be unethical. We have to do what we can to sell our customers house without alienating the competition. Lets be fair here.
Check out this website for tips for buying your next home.
Called the Dos and Don'ts Wish Lists of Homebuyers This Year
What buyers look for when they shop... What they want and what they don't want. So sellers take note if you are thinking of putting a bowl type sink over the countertop in your bathroom. Or maybe if you have clear glass cabinet doors in your kitchen.
Should You Fear a Property Bubble?
December 9, 2006
Aubie Smith, President of the Pensacola Association of Realtors
........."You don’t have to be Donald Trump to see that these past forecasts were not accurate. That is not to say that all deals are great in every market. To be assured you are getting the best deal, contact a professional real estate agent who will be able to provide you real-time comps for properties and can quote the current value of properties as opposed to that of 2005 when prices escalated.
History has proven that real estate generally goes up in value and rarely depreciates. If you buy in a promising area with a professional Realtor and lender on your team, how can you go wrong? Step outside the bubble!"
On the road Local News PensacolaNewsJournal.com http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061212/NEWS01/61212009
House Moving Along Cervantes
From staff reports motorists traveling along East Cervantes Street between 18th and 13th avenues this morning could find traffic a little slow. A two-story house is being moved from the corner of 18th Avenue and East Gadsden to the 1300 block of East La Rua, according to a spokesman for the city's Code Enforcement Department. The move was expected to get under way sometime after 9 a.m.
Oh Boy, you'd better homestead your property In FL or be kicked out of Citizens Insurance Co!! Pensacola News Journals Reported Dec 10th:
Carlton Proctor wrote: "Housing prices continue their steady decline in the Pensacola Bay Area, accompanied by huge drops in sales volumes for new and existing single-family residences. Escambia County's total single-family home sales volume plummeted 40 percent in November compared to the previous year, according to the latest figures from Metro Market Trends Inc. In Santa Rosa County, sales volume fell 46 percent"
Read the full story HERE
Make sure you read the comments section at the bottom. Here's what Rob thinks.." I find that if you're a buyer that has 20% to put down now, you can name your price. Do your research on sites such as www.zillow.com and start from there"
My answer to that is that you're being slightly uniformed by doing that. Consult a REALTOR, who can search the MLS plus the local County Appraisers Office records to find real and true comparisons. On zillow.com it all looks good and it does have great info for buyers and sellers, however, it pulls info only from the property appraisers website. It compares houses very generally not taking into consideration the condition of the home; was it sold "as is"; upgrades etc. You can plug in all the amenities, condition and upgrades of your home, but how on earth does it know about other homes. The MLS is a sure way of finding that out because it narrows it down and gives you are more in-depth report. So start at Zillow.com but get professional help. Please
FYI... as a Buyer you don't have to pay for a real estate agent. Their commission is usually paid by the seller. So it doesn't cost you a cent to have their professional services. So why not let them do all the leg work! A CMA will be provided for any house that you are interested in.
www.MySpace.com/GulfBreezeRealEstateAgent
Yes, I now have an account with MySpace. I though it was for teenagers, but I was wrong. Everybody is doing it!
Five Tips for Selling in a Shifting Market - The advantage in home sales is moving from seller to buyer. If you're selling, here's how to close the deal when others can't.
The Art of the Low Ball Offer - As housing sales slow, home buyers are in a better position to offer substantially less than the seller's asking.
Hope you didn't miss today's paper..Friday October 27th. A couple of good articles about how Floridians are having major problems getting homeowners insurance. So here todays articles taken from the Pensacola News Journal.
Comparing quotes difficult with more than 1,500 territories
Cordova Park residents Herman and Christine Allday are considering selling their home of more than 30 years after receiving their homeowners insurance bill for $5,400, an increase of more than $4,000 since last year.
'There is no safe place in Florida'
Milton and Pace now are considered coastal territories - and are paying for it
Homeowners not directly on the Florida coastline are also contending with massive insurance rate hikes. East Milton, miles from Pensacola Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, was ravaged by Hurricane Ivan in September 2004 and again by Dennis in July 2005.
Insurance Storm 2006
Florida Insurance Storm website
PNJ Storm Forum
Interactive Polls
House Hunting? Here's a Great Deal for You - Since the real estate market has cooled in some markets, developers and home sellers have been offering huge incentives, such as a free pool or luxury car, to move properties. Mercedes-Benz, anyone?
I've noticed that in our area agents are offering the usual incentive like a cash bonus to the selling agent anywhere from $500 to $2000. Home warranties are excellent to include too. Plus having the title search already prepared and ready for closing; and even a home inspection with a list of any repairs that have been made is good. But incentives are getting more popular and more interesting. Cars for one are a novelty. The seller paying closing costs and even paying the first years homeowners insurance. Wow! But how about the seller paying discount points on the buyers' mortgage loan to "buy down" the rate? So talk to your local lender and discuss how they can create some incentives to entice a buyer. It might not be as costly as you think and might just clinch the deal sooner and quicker.
4348 JUDGES BAYOU, MILTON FL
$275,950
To View This Listing Go To My Website at http://www.MeganFunke.com
Pensacola MLS # 313214
Five Easy Ways to Improve Your Credit - Your best ally in credit repair is time, but you can speed things along by following these five tips from Steve Bucci.
Any agents reading this that would like their own website, then I have the answer. Get a FREE website from Point2 Agent homes. A Standard membership is available by invitiation, and I have a limited amount of them available. Email me at Megan@MeganFunke.com to request the link to get you started. Check out my website out at http://www.MeganFunke.com
Point2 Agent will set you up based on your initial information. It will look quite generic at first, but it is then up to you to customize it they way you want it. They offer tutorials and online help and you can add your own photos and graphics and choose from different templates and color schemes. You add you own listings, which automatically get advertised on many reciprocating websites like Googlebase, Yahoo Classifieds, Point2Homes, Trulia, Oodle plus many more. By participating in the "handshake" agreement and advertising other Point2 Agents' listings you can get them to advertise your listings on their websites. Right now my listings can be viewed on over 89 websites throughout Pensacola, Navarre and Gulf Breeze. I upgraded to a professional membership and have the advantage of drip emails and other cool downloads.
So regardless of where you are in the world just contact me today.
What is market price?
It is not the seller's asking price.
It is not the price suggested by a real estate agent.
It is not even the value determined by a professional appraiser.
Market price for a home is simply what a buyer is willing to pay the seller for a home. When the buyer and seller both agree to the price at the end of the transaction, then true market value has been achieved.
12 Ways To Lower Your Homeowners Insurance
Number 1 being:- SHOP AROUND!
MORTAGE RATES DOWN SLIGHTLY THIS WEEK ON NEWS OF LOWER THAN EXPECTED JOB GROWTH.
Bad economic news helps to keep inflation low, which in turn eases the pressure on long term interest rates, including mortgages.
This week, the national average for the 30 year fixed rate mortgage is at 6.87 %, down from 6.9 1 % last week. The average 15 year fixed rate mortgage is at 6. 47 %, down from 6.5 4 % last week. The average 5/1 ARM is currently at 6.52 % , up from 6. 55 % . These average rates are determined by a weekly survey of the largest lenders and this weeks numbers include an average of .31 % in origination fees and points.
Information brought to you by Jason Weber, Mortgage Loan Officer at GMAC Mortgage on Scenic Hwy, Pensacola.
From WEAR TV
"Federal grant money promises to make Gulf Breeze less vulnerable the next time a hurricane hits. As Cynthia Reeves reports, the city will use the money for several projects including adding more sewer services.
Gordon Mackenzie supports the plan to reduce the number of septic tanks in Gulf Breeze. About half of the city's homeowners still use them, including him Mackenzie lives on Pensacola Bay and worries about septic tanks polluting the bay when hurricanes hits.
"I think since I was a kid the bay has sure has gone downhill dramatically as far as the number of fish and cleanliness of the water, so I would like to turn that around."
Unfortunately, Mackenzie recently invested in an expensive new septic tank because he had to completely rebuild his home after Hurricane Ivan.
Still, he's willing to convert to a sewer system and he may get his chance by the end of the year. Gulf Breeze is receiving a million dollar hurricane mitigation grant and will be able to offer sewer services to several areas at a discounted price. The goal is to reduce storm surge damage.
Buz Eddy/Gulf Breeze City Manager: "A central sewer would continue to operate where as a septic situation can be damaged by too much rainfall and storm inundation and that sort of thing."
The project includes new generators to run wasterwater pumps and the city will be able to purchase two new fuel tanks to store gas and diesel needed to keep the city running. During Hurricane Ivan, city leaders quickly found out one tank was not nearly enough.
Buz Eddy/Gulf Breeze City Manager:"It was real close to the edge a couple of times where we weren't sure we were going to be able to continue police response, fire response and operating the wastewater treatment plant on diesel generators because we didn't have enough fuel."
The city manager says the improvements should give people peace of mind that their city will soon be more self sufficient during hurricane season."
Joe Endry keeps on growing. Read here in the Pensacola News Journal how JME Realty is "leapfrogging" to the top.
Buying a home and wondering what the neighborhood is like and what kind of people live there? Do sex offenders live close by? Will my kids be safe? What is the crime like? Well sorry but your Real Estate professional can't tell you! That's because they are not allowed to. They are selling homes not neighborhoods. For them to comment on what kind of people live on the street or to engage in any discussions with regard to the racial or ethic mix of a neighborhood could be considered discriminatory. The Fair Housing Act of 1968 as amended prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap or familial status. So trying to steer you to or away from a neighborhood based on discriminatory reasons is against the law. An agent could be fined and lose their license!
To know what the neighborhood is like drive around and look and decide where you want to live. What amenities are important to you, do you need to be close to your job, shopping, schools, churches etc? Then an agent can start looking for you.
Check out http://www.city-data.com/ Plug in the zip code and "voila"! Here is Gulf Breeze info.
FCAT Scores for 2006 in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties or go to Florida Dept of Education
How about sex offenders? Go to FL Department of Law Enforcement
Call the local Sheriff for local crime data.
Quote: Larry Wheeler
News Journal Washington bureau
"More bad news for homeowners in hurricane zones and other flood-prone areas: The National Flood Insurance Program is broke and has little hope of recovery unless Congress authorizes big premium increases and other changes...
That gloomy assessment by the Congressional Budget Office was released Thursday, the first day of the 2006 hurricane season.
The letter likely will speed consideration of a bill pending in the Senate that would increase monthly flood insurance premiums for some by as much as 25 percent while forcing other property owners to join the national program to broaden the risk pool"
So if you haven't gotten flood insurance yet because you think you don't need it, think again. I watched a storm watch program on WEAR Channel 3 the other night, and an expert was asked "Who needs flood insurance?" Answer "EVERYBODY"
You may not be in a flood zone, but sewers can back up and flood the street, flood zones changed every year. Remember what happened last year in the Greenbriar subdivision in Gulf Breeze! I say get it now while it is relatively inexpensive before they hike the cost up.
I read in the Pensacola News Journal about a seminar on how to flip a house. The Flipping House seminar is to be at Pensacola Junior College on Saturday June 10th from 8.00 am to 12.00 noon. Also at the PJC Downtown Center on Monday July 31st from 5.30pm to 9.30pm. The cost is $70.00.
Flipping houses is the act of purchasing a property, quickly making improvements and reselling within 120 days to make a profit. These homes are usually "fixer uppers" in need of major and costly improvements.
Call PJC at 850-484 1374 for details. Sign up, it sounds good!
I Googled "flipping homes" and came up with many informational websites..
Try www.flippinghomes.com and www.lowestrate.com
Time Right for County to Target Poor Housing
"Escambia County commissioners are headed in the right direction in considering amending the nuisance ordinance to speed up the repair or demolition of dilapidated housing. They should approve the amendment. Complaints about substandard housing have accelerated since Hurricane Ivan. That's understandable. The damage done by that storm, and by Hurricane Dennis, has left many people grappling with repairs." Pensacola News Journal
Santa Rosa Open House Set For June 1st. Read Here..
An additional Hurricane Preparedness Workshop for South Santa Rosa County residents will be June 15 from 6.00 - 7:30 p.m., at Holley-Navarre Middle School Library, 1976 Williams Creek Drive. For details call Santa Rosa County Emergency Management at 850-983-5360.
County to get affordable homes
"Santa Rosa County is taking steps to bring more affordable housing to the county, including funds for 28 new homes, more funding for storm-damaged houses and, for the first time, money for mobile-home repairs. County commissioners on Thursday are expected to approve $1.5 million in contracts to subsidize home construction with:
18 modular homes out of a total of 28 approved new homes! Considering the hurricane damage that we have experienced here in Santa Rosa County with Ivan and Dennis, seems to me that money would be better spent constructing stronger type homes that can withstand major storm damage. Brick for instance. It is difficult enough as it is to get property and flood insurance without making it harder. Modular home is just a modern word for mobile home and nobody wants to be in a "trailer" when a storm rips through! The area they are building these homes must be in the north of the county away from the coast. They don't retain their value either as well as a brick home, if at all.
The Pensacola News Journal, the Life section, is offering one hurricane preparedness tip each day throughout May. 31 tips in all for you to consider as we near another hurricane season.
Read tip # 2 here Hurricane Insurance
I guess I missed #1 !!
According to this survey Pensacola properties are 25% overpriced.
CNN Real Estate Some improvement seen, but many coastal cities are still far more costly than they should be.
The 38th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act.
As the 2006 Chairperson of the Fair Housing / Equal Housing Opportunity Committee for the Pensacola Association of Realtors I wanted to take the opportunity to remind everyone that April is Fair Housing month. Everybody should know about Equal Opportunity in Housing. It is our duty as Realtors® to promote the American Dream and educate homebuyers on the steps that it takes to achieve their dreams. The purpose of the Fair Housing Committee is to inform customers and clients about their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act. We also strive to bring awareness to our fellow Realtors®
To learn more about Fair Housing and Equal Housing Opportunity go to The US Department of Housing and Urban Development
Monthly Statistics.
The PAR office posted the monthly statistics with regard to sales:
March 2006
# For Sale : 5651
Sales For March: 488
Average Sold Price: $207,761
Average Days on Mkt: 94
COMPARED TO LAST YEAR:
March 2005
# For Sale: 1487
Sales: 649
Average Sold Price: $181,849
Average Days on Mkt: 74
Over 4000 more listings for sale in March 2006.
Less sales occuring this month compared to March 2005.
Listings on the market longer.
Sales prices are up though.
It's a BUYERS' Market: The supply of available properties exceeds the demand.
The new Gulf Breeze gas station at the entrance to the Paradise Bay subdivision goes bankrupt before completion. So don't get excited folks about the new Golden Rule BBQ and Grill because it aint coming just yet! Just when we needed a really good restaurant in Tiger Point!!! Read the story here in the Gulf Breeze News
City Of Gulf Breeze
Gulf Breeze, Florida is a waterfront community of 6,189 that prides itself on its fine small town character, quality education, excellent local government and a multitudes of waterfront activities.
There's no way to predict with accuracy whether home prices will rise or fall in over the next year. But there are some general rules you can follow to make sure that your housing decisions are smart ones. BusinessWeek magazine analyzed the behavior of buyers and sellers in the current housing market and recommends a few ways to traverse the rapids.
Source: BusinessWeek, (04/10/06)
Northwest Florida Daily News
I had to publish this photo of Navarre Beach. AWESOME!
"Negotiations to have Navarre Beach State Park donated back to Santa Rosa County continue, with the main sticking point being who will pay for the hurricane repairs."
This is a good one for all buyers and sellers. From a great website www.bankrate.com
10 Mistakes to Avoid in Real Estate in 2006 Learn from other people mistakes and learn from your own experiences. Read up on what is happening in todays markets and understand how it all works.
Quotes:
Here's a newly renovated condo complex in Pensacola, just off East Olive Road. West of Davis Hwy. All units have been stripped and redecorated. New appliances, new AC and heating, new kitchen & bathroom cabinets, new carpets, new ceiling fans. NEW NEW NEW. Luxury...yet affordable.
Prices run from $96,900 for a 1 bed unit, to $123,900 for a 2 bed and $136,900 for a 3 bed unit. The facilities include a pool, clubhouse, tennis court, fitness center etc.
Minutes from the malls, hospitals, airport and the interstate.
Read Demand Makes Affordable Housing Hard To Find
Open House Daily
Price, Price, Price!
A seller who wants to position their property in the most effective price window values it just above recent sales and just below other competing properties in the neighborhood. A home priced correctly should expect a reasonably quick sale at the best price. The Pensacola Association of Realtors stated that homes in January and February were on the market approximately 89-93 days, that's 3 months guys!! Homes on the market for 6 or more months must therefore, be overpriced?! Property values rise as demand increases. However, property values fall as supply increases. Like right now. It's a buyers market right now. So don't be put off by inflated prices, just come and make an offer. In this area all reasonable offers are considered.
Well it is almost April, which means it's Easter soon. However, it's almost hurricane season too! For those who don't know, hurricane season runs from June 1st to November 31st. 2005 had an active start to the season... and an active middle and end too. Phew, here we go again. So we have 2 months before June comes around, which means we all need to be smart and start thinking about preparations and hurricane awareness. Get flood insurance; even if your policies don't require it. You may not be in a flood zone right now but the lines keep changing and next year you may need it. Flood insurance is relatively cheap too. Stock up on batteries, flash lights and closer to June load up with water and canned goods. Trim overhanging branches away away from the home, which may pull down your power lines. There is a list of necessities but I will post that later. Common sense. Get some of that!! Good luck y'all.
Our battered beaches Storms threaten to wash away a coastline and an economy built on sand.
How about Navarre Beach? It's flat!
Daily News from Northwest Florida
According to Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser Greg Brown, the taxable property in the south represents 60 percent of the $6.6 billion worth of taxable property in the county. (read here)
Carmen Paige @ PensacolaNewsJournal. March 18th
The Blackwater River is the main attraction for a proposed 5½-story condominium complex just outside Milton that would become the tallest building in the city. Atlanta-based Core Development wants to build the 122-unit Granary Exchange Condominiums along the riverfront at the site of a former grain elevator at Henry Street and Taylor Road. Construction details and prices have not yet been finalized, but accompanying boat slips are key, said Richard Bell, a representative for the developers."We are looking at Milton because of the availability of waterfront," he said. "This property is beautiful."
RISMEDIA, Jan.16 — Pensacola native Mark Boyd had been a consultant to a number of Gulf Coast condo real estate developers when he realized that it wouldn't be long before there was no more prime waterfront property available anywhere in the state.
Plenty right here on Pensacola Beach and Gulf Breeze but I thought this was an exciting new project. Read HERE
RISMEDIA, Sept. 19, 2005 — (KRT) — Over the past year, home sales along Florida’s Emerald Coast have declined from their 2003-04 torrid pace, according to Metro Market Trends, a Pensacola-based real estate sales analyst. But don't tell Ben Anderson the bubble has burst. "That's not an appropriate term," said the president of the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors. "The market is rightsizing. "There's so much made about the bubble," he said. "People focus only on the bubble, like it bursts. It's really more like the air is slowly leaking. It will get back to normal size and the risk of bursting is lessened. "The market that we've had in '03, '04 and into '05 has been extraordinary," he said. "It could not sustain itself forever."
Read the article here..Housing Market Slows But Still Sizzles
Flooded Market - Dried Up Dreams by Lesley Conn, Pensacola News Journal. 3/19/2006
"Welcome to the housing glut. Last week, the Pensacola Association of Realtors listed 5,642 properties for sale -- a five-year high and nearly four times more than the 1,487 homes listed in March 2005.As surplus has mushroomed, selling prices slowly are beginning to drop, witnessed by the many "Reduced" signs that are being added to the "For Sale" signs throughout the two-county area."
TALLAHASSEE -- An end to the Panhandle's exemption from Florida's full hurricane building code passed its first political test Tuesday, getting past its first Senate committee. If approved by the full Legislature, it would require new homes throughout the Panhandle to meet the same standards against hurricane winds and blowing debris as the rest of the state. Opponents say it unnecessarily raises the price of construction in a region that has natural protections against the full force of storm winds. "They're in the corral," declared Sen. Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs, upon winning a unanimous vote before the Senate Committee on Community Affairs. Largely because of state Sen. Charlie Clary, R-Destin, state law exempts Panhandle builders from state codes that require wind-borne debris protection on doors and windows in high-wind areas beyond a mile from the coast. Constantine's bill to lift the exemption has Gov. Jeb Bush's support, who contends it makes no sense to allow any part of the hurricane-prone state to build to lesser standards. Clary defended the Panhandle as a special case with "a distinct contour and elevation." At the Senate committee meeting, he offered a handwritten amendment asking that any imposition of the code be delayed six months, at least until May 31, 2007. "It will give builders time to be educated," he said. The delay would be a disappointment for Florida's Secretary of Community Affairs Thaddeus Cohen. He said Tuesday he will continue to fight for speedy implementation of the code. But Constantine marked the vote as a victory against the Florida Home Builders Association, which has lobbied fiercely to keep the exemption. The trade group contends that impact-resistant glass and other features would make homes too expensive in the Panhandle. "At least we know it will be done with some certainty by the 2007 hurricane season," Constantine said. "I think it's inevitable. I think they've come to that conclusion and they will no longer fight it. Now it is just a matter of when."Rep. Dave Murzin, R-Pensacola, offers a House bill that would allow the Florida Building Commission to custom craft high-wind lines for the Panhandle, rather than use national standards. That would pave the way for the home builders to use a computer study to lobby the building commission to determine where hurricane shutters are mandatory. The home builders say laboratory research will show that trees and sloping land in the Panhandle sufficiently weaken hurricane winds and lessen damage. Hurricane Ivan in 2004 proved Panhandle homes are not immune to wind-borne debris damage, a federal study of the storm concluded. Florida's statewide building code is a model for other hurricane-prone states, said Jeff Burton with the insurance-funded Institute for Business and Home Safety. But he said: "We have our little area (where) it is not the gold standard. The homes built in the Panhandle are the weakest statewide."
Paige St. John
News Journal Capital Bureau
Article in The Pensacola News Journal, March 15, 2006
Top things to know about buying a home. Shape up your credit and determine your affordability range before starting the hunt.
MONEY 101: In Lesson 8 find out how much you can afford, learn from the real estate glossary and also take a test.
Go to the real estate section of CNN.money.com
They recommend buying a home in the winter when there is a reduced demand. Over the holidays is also a good time. During the winter though the appearance of the landscaping may land you a better deal.
Woohoo, a new restaurant coming: Moe's Southwest Grill. Plus an 8000 sq ft Boater's World. Just west of Walmart and Lowes in Gulf Breeze; inbetween Tiger Point and Sterling Point. WOW!!! Read the full story here...
The Tiger Point Village Homeowners Association (TPVHA) wants to clamp down on hurricane debris and abandoned homes. In the March 2006 edition of the Tiger Point Village Homeowners Newsletter, the association urged residents to "comply with the covenants in regard to their property or face legal action." Read here..
Published - March, 7, 2006
Housing boom cools
No 'gloom or doom' expected in area
Carlton Proctor @PensacolaNewsJournal.com
The national housing boom may be grinding to a halt, but a collapse in sales and prices is not a serious threat to Pensacola Bay Area market, according to some local Realtors. In the last week, the Commerce Department reported that January sales of new single-family homes fell 5 percent -- the fourth decline in seven months -- and the backlog of unsold new homes hit a record. And the National Association of Realtors said used home sales slipped 2.8 percent in January, the fourth straight drop and 5 percent below January 2005. That prompted some who track the industry to declare that the five-year housing boom was over.
Auby Smith, president of the Pensacola Association of Realtors, said the local housing market is definitely showing signs of leveling off after a red-hot run following Hurricane Ivan. But Smith sees no indications that the housing bubble is about to burst.
"I would like to think we're having a leveling off in the Pensacola market," Smith said. "But I see no indication that there is any gloom and doom here or for the state of Florida." Smith said his latest data from the National Association of Realtors show sales are down 5 percent throughout the country, but sales are up 2 percent in the Sunbelt states. Locally, February 2006 sales are down slightly over the same period last year. Smith said there were 489 sales of residential homes in February last year, compared to 409 sales last month. One significant change that could impact the market is the number of homes for sale on the Multiple Listing Service for the Pensacola Bay Area. In February 2005, six months after Hurricane Ivan, there were 1,355 homes for sale in the MLS two-county area. In February of this year, that number had soared to 5,155.
Despite the spike in MLS numbers, Nan Harper, past president of the Association of Realtors, said the national predictions are "unnecessarily dire." She said in the Pensacola area, the market for homes $300,000 and below is "very, very active."
The local slowdown in sales is more of a "blip" in the market and not a "bust," she said. Moreover, the high number of homes on the MLS is due, in part, to overpriced waterfront homes not selling and the battles many homeowners are having with their insurance companies. Looking ahead, Smith said the residential housing market in Florida is strong and getting stronger because robust population growth is expected to boost the state's census to more than 20 million in 2010. One area of the local market that is experiencing a noticeable slowdown, said Smith, is the condominium market. "The higher end condo market may be a little overbuilt," he said.
New Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said last month housing would enter a moderate slowdown but not a crash.
William Mack, a housing analyst for Standard & Poor's, predicted "a soft landing. The overall market is just taking a step back."
Explanations for the recent cooling off vary. Many people bought homes during the past five years and are staying put. Some analysts blame a decline in consumer confidence. And interest rates have been rising, especially for adjustable mortgages that allowed people to buy more expensive homes than they could have afforded with a 30-year loan.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Gulf Breeze News
Gulf Breeze Chamber of Commerce
Relocating to Gulf Breeze? Check here
Area statistics and demographics, history, education. All you need to know about Gulf Breeze.
For the 6th year, the Florida Association of Realtors is sponsoring its Scholarship/Essay Contest for High School Seniors. This allows individual students the opportunity to win up to $6,500 in scholarships. Aaron Shoemaker, a Gulf Breeze High graduate, won the award last year. Read here in the Gulf Breeze News Community Newspaper
Moving or selling? Here's the ticket: Log onto Lowes Moving to get helpful hints and tips to make your move easier and smoother. It has a moving day checklist and tips on packing. Plus tips on calculating flooring, paint, wallpaper, and how to install blinds etc, etc. All you need to know for the big day. Also advise on how to make a home more child friendly and also energy efficient. Plus how to get a home inspection. Make sure there are no "deal killers". Once you have a contract on your home the closing day comes up really quickly and it's usually within 30 days. You need to be organised and ready. If you have your home on the market right now then start thinking about packing up and possibly putting things into storage. A cluttered home and even more untidy garage is not attractive to buyers. They can change their minds in a heartbeat if a home looks overcrowded. Rooms look bigger if you clear things away. Sign up for savings and get a 10% coupon.
For all of the Brits out there, this was Boxing Day 2005. December 26th to everyone else. It was an absolutely beautiful day; sunny but cool though. No wind at all. My husband and I were fishing on our johnboat under the Garcon Point Bridge. Mr. Funke calls it our playground. I call it our grocery store. We caught a redfish that day and ate it for dinner. What an awesome day and an awesome view looking towards Gulf Breeze. Wow I love it here!
Here's another photo looking towards Milton. Where is everybody? 
I actually have more shots of us fishing, but that's for another time eh!
Right now it is a buyers market in our area of Gulf Breeze and Pensacola:- There is more inventory for sale than there are buyers. However, it is not a bad time to put your home on the market. On the contrary. You just need to be smart about how it is presented and marketed. I enjoyed this article that I found on www.bankrate.com because it gives helpful tips to sellers to prepare their homes for sale. Tips on how to prepare yourself mentally and how to get ready for picky buyers. Also how to improve 'curb appeal'.
Quote: "Home sellers take note: Buyers are gaining more leverage" Holden Lewis.
Tips for selling a home in a buyers market.
My advise is to hire an experienced Real Estate Agent to list your home. Someone who can work hard for you every day. Going FSBO is okay but right now due to the large number of homes on the market there is so much competition. An agent can professionally market your home to a wider audience and have access to clients and investors who they can contact. There is more to selling your home than putting a sign out in the yard. Advertising in newspapers is good but internet is the key. Pricing your home correctly is also one of the most important points. Overpricing your home will cause it to sit on the market doing nothing. Therefore, it won't sell. Buyers are smart, they can get a CMA too.
At Coldwell Banker JME Realty we have a booklet that we give to our customers on how to get their homes ready to sell. Most of it is common sense: pull weeds, trim bushes, fresh paint. But some advise suggests moving furniture to open up spaces; take down personal items so that they don't distract buyers. etc etc. Title companies assure us that homes are selling. Buyers are out there buying homes every day. As a motivated seller in a buyers market, make sure that it is you that has the upper hand.
Since Hurricane Ivan and Dennis struck the coast of Northwest Florida in 2004 and 2005 residents have had a long hard struggle to rebuild their homes and their lives. All along the Gulf Coast of Florida homes were destroyed and lives devastated. And that’s not to mention the damage that Hurricane Katrina and Rita did to Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama: But that’s another story. Here in Florida many homeowners have had to wait a long time to even start rebuilding due to insurance companies taking so long to assess the damage and agree on compensation. Some are still waiting! But residents have more or less said goodbye to the FEMA blue roofs that we became so familiar with, and are finally saying hello to new construction and a brand new look to their coastal communities. Some residents were forced to tear down their homes, which were too damaged for repairs to be even considered. The only option was to rebuild and start from scratch or sell the lot and move off the beach. So now many vacant lots right on the water are available and ready for new buyers to come and build brand new homes. Once called Florida’s best-kept secret, Pensacola is making headlines and finally the “cat’s out of the bag”. Hurricanes or no hurricanes, people are buying up whatever is available so that they can have a little piece of paradise. Waterfront property is now in big demand all along the Gulf Coast. Since September of 2004 house prices shot up anywhere from 15% to 30%. At first prices increased approximately 3% month but now in 2006 prices are actually coming down. Is the bubble bursting? (Google that because there are conficting reports as to where it is or isn't bursting. I will keep you posted) The market is now flooded (for want of a better word) with homes fixed up and back on the market and vacant land ready for new construction. It’s a BUYERS MARKET! Buyers have tons of choices. According to the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR), favorable mortgage rates, a growing economy and an improving job market boosted Florida's housing market to a strong start in 2005 with a 10 percent increase in single-family existing home sales in January. The Pensacola Association of Realtors reported that listings were on the market for approx. 70 days. However, right after Hurricane Ivan if a house was priced right then they were snapped up within days - often within hours. Many residents put their homes up for sale and were shocked to get offers and be signing contracts before lunchtime. Buyers were also shocked that when they saw the perfect home that they were pushed into making quick snap decisions. Sellers had multiple contracts to consider. Buyers didn’t have the luxury of going home to talk to the family and sleep on it. You saw it, you liked it, and you bought it!
It is now March 2006 and we are fast approaching another busy summer season. So why do people want to live here so close to the Gulf? Is it the sparkling emerald green water, or the smooth white sand that crunches and squeaks as you walk on it? People are mesmerized by its allure and are transfixed by its awesome beauty. So for those people thinking about a dream home close to the beach, don’t wait too long. It is time to invest in paradise. For snowbirds looking for a retirement home, military personnel relocating, or out of state workers settling here due to booming job prospects, you deserve a piece of paradise too. Prices may have gone up but they are also leveling off. Some over-priced homes are finally coming down too. Come make an offer. Come visit and see the reconstruction and the rebuilding of our area. No hurricane can stop that. We are coming back with full force!
At http://www.meganfunke.com/ visitors can get access to the Pensacola / Gulf Breeze MLS to search for available properties for sale. My website offers a variety of helpful tools including mortgage calculators, reports for buyers and sellers, links to local services, and a very helpful home notification service. By linking to the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) you can quickly view a large database of available homes, condos and vacant lots for sale throughout the Gulf Coast and even personalize your search to fit your specific needs.
Megan Funke, Realtor
Coldwell Banker JME Realty
3688 Gulf Breeze Parkway
Gulf Breeze, FL 32563
Tel: 850-723-8801 cell
Tel: 850-932-1000 office
Tel: 800-543-9904 toll free
Fax: 850-932-5809
www.MeganFunke.com
MeganFunkeHomes@mchsi.com
www.JMERealty.com
Let me introduce myself: I am a full time Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker JME Realty in Gulf Breeze, Florida. For all of your real estate needs please contact me at (850) 723-8801. I can search all of the Pensacola MLS and the Navarre MLS for active listings and then email the information to you. Please come and visit me at my website at www.MeganFunke.com where you can also search for properties in our area. Whether buying or selling I am your local agent to help you search for your next home. I specialize in residential homes and beach condos plus I list and sell waterfront vacant land for new construction. I work with first time homebuyers and also investors.
For me to help you achieve your goal please call your lender and get pre-approved for a mortgage first so that I can best help you find a property that matches your finances. You can also find out in approx 20 mins how much you can afford by logging onto to Coldwell Banker Mortgage
I have created this blog to put my thoughts and ideas down about Florida real estate and also post helpful information about our local area of Gulf Breeze and Pensacola. Keep watching this space :)
