A Look Back on 2009

It never fails that during the first few weeks of the new year, I’m asked how the previous year’s real estate market did.  Well, if you bought a home in 2009, congratulations.   This year was one of the best years in memory for homebuyers in Northeast Florida.  With low interest rates, affordable prices and motivated sellers and builders, 2009 was the year to buy.

Now for the sellers out there, you know you had to stay ahead of the competition in every arena in order to compete.  Short sales and foreclosures took a toll on our prices in 2009 and sadly it looks like that will continue into 2010.

So what if you haven’t bought a home yet?  Our market has, and will continue to out perform most of the markets in Florida with first time buyers getting some absolute fantastic deals.  And with the $8000 first time buyer tax credit extended through April 30th with an additional $6500 tax credit for repeat buyers, 2010 is looking up.  

So if buying a home is on your to do list for 2010 and you want the tax credit, your purchase contract needs to be ratified by April 30, 2010 with the closing before July 1, 2010 in addition to meeting the qualifying guidelines of the tax credit.

Merry Christmas

George Bailey worked for little money, helped people buy and stay and in their homes, and contributed to his community. Hurray for George Bailey…he must have been a Realtor!

Home Search

Working on new IDX public home search – what information do you want to see when searching for homes?  http://bit.ly/2XtFn2

And don’t worry, we still are one of the only real estate websites that lets you search for homes without registering!

 

Crush-It

Great read http://bit.ly/trWq1. If you a looking for a book to get you on track for 2010, check out Crush-It.   Author Gary Vaynerchuk will be in Jacksonville, FL on Saturday, October 17th  at the TU Center.

Interest Rates

Mortgage rates are at their lowest levels since spring according to Bankrate.com. Great way to start the week,  and a great time to buy a house.  $8000 tax credit expires December 1st, not much time left to find your first home. Check out www.westbeacheshomes.com, great home for first time buyer…and NOT a short sale!

List During the Holidays

Should you list your home during the holidays? Check out my column in the Florida Times Union http://bit.ly/TU-Oct3

Saturday Open House

Today’s open house is at 4582 Crystal Brook ($185,000) in Hunters Ridge from 12-2pm. Adorable 3BR, 2BA on the lake with new paint, new corian counters, fireplace and NOT a short sale!  Visit www.jaxopenhouses.com or call 904-476-7653.

Open House Saturday

Just a reminder that our next open house will be this Saturday, Sept 26th from 12 until 2pm at 4582 Crystal Brook Way in Hunters Ridge. This is a lakefront, three bedroom, two bath home on a culdesac for $185,000. And it is NOT a short sale – clos…e in time to qualify for the $8000 tax credit. For more information please visit www.jaxopenhouses.com.

Summer is Over – Happy Autumn

Now that summer is over, we are back to blogging on a regular basis.  We have exactly 100 days until the end of the year and will be looking to “crush it” (thank you Gary Vee) for the remainder of 2009.   Happy Autumn…now let’s go sell some real estate!

Open House Reminder

Just a reminder that our next open house will be this Saturday, July 11th from noon until 2pm at 213 Charlemagne Circle in Ponte Vedra Beach.   This home is a three bedroom, two bath updated full stucco home east of A1A listed for $249,000.  For more information please visit www.jaxopenhouses.com.