Prudential Coastal Properties

Existing home, condo sales rise

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Howard) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:27:00 +0000

If you’ve been sitting on the market sidelines, waiting to see when it “hits bottom,” better get ready to get in the game! According to data collected by the Florida Association of Realtors, existing home and condo sales continue to rise over last year:

Florida’s existing home sales rose in February, making it the sixth consecutive month that sales activity showed increases in the year-to-year comparison, according to the latest housing data released by the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR). February’s statewide sales also increased over January’s figures in both the existing home and existing condo markets.
Existing home sales rose 20 percent last month with a total of 9,858 homes sold statewide compared to 8,181 homes sold in February 2008, according to FAR. February’s statewide existing home sales were 16.7 percent higher than January’s statewide sales.Florida Realtors also reported a 15 percent gain in statewide sales of existing condominiums in February, continuing a trend in recent months for higher statewide sales of both the existing home and existing condo markets compared to year-ago levels. Statewide existing condo sales last month increased 25.1 percent over the total units sold in January.
Thirteen of Florida’s metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) reported increased existing-home sales in February while 11 MSAs also showed gains in condo sales. It marks the eighth month in a row that a number of markets have reported increased sales.

Here on the Emerald Coast, we are not yet seeing increases in prices but choice properties priced well do not stay on the market long. Don’t let opportunity pass you by!

Mortgage rates at record low

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Howard) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 17:31:00 +0000

Rates on 30-year mortgages plunged to a record low Thursday after the Federal Reserve launched a new effort to prop up the housing market. According to Bankrate.com, more than half of industry experts believe that mortgage rates will continue to drop.

The national average rate on 30-year, fixed mortgages was 4.94 percent on Thursday; the average rate on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped to 4.61 percent, down from 4.64 percent last week, Freddie Mac said.Rates on five-year, adjustable-rate mortgages fell to 4.98 percent, compared with 4.99 percent last week. Rates on one-year, adjustable-rate mortgages rose to 4.91 percent, from 4.8 percent last week.The rates do not include add-on fees known as points. The nationwide fee for fixed and adjustable rate mortgages averaged 0.7 point last week.

For borrowers with stable jobs and good credit, it represents an opportunity to refinance at the lowest rates in decades.

Questions? Comments? Respond to this Blog, or contact Jennifer Howard at 850-585-7334, Jennifer@MyDestin.info.

Destin, South Walton market is moving!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Howard) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:03:00 +0000

Here’s a brief but very significant market update with data compiled by our Broker Chip Jervis:
· Since January 1, 2009, Prudential Coastal Properties has taken 102 new listings, with a dollar volume of $82,548,998.
· Also since January 1, 2009, we have also posted 52 new pending and/or closings.
· Since Feb. 20, 2009, Prudential Coastal Properties has added 32 listings and 38 new pending/ closings.

Based on data collected since January 1, 2009, from our area-wide Emerald Coast Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service:
· Combined Residential (single family homes, attached units and condos): 386 Contingents, 1106 Pending.
· Residential Land: 24 Contingent, 87 Pending.
· Commercial: 10 Contingent, 20 Pending.
· Combined Residential: 626 Closed.
· Residential Land: 62 Closed.
· Commercial:17 Closed.

Bottom line: the real estate market is moving. Buyers and Sellers had best get moving, too.

Questions? Contact Jennifer Howard at 850-585-7334 or jennifer@MyDestin.info.

What's next: Inflation?

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Howard) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:31:00 +0000

Anybody out there remember Economics 101? After the government releases a lot of money into the economy, too many dollars begin chasing too few goods. That nasty economic situation is known as inflation. And it hurts!

Two days of the stock market managing to stay of the positive side is far too soon to say the long-awaited economic turn-around is here. Still, I can’t add fast enough to keep up with how many ba-zillion dollars the feds are dumping into the economy. Once enough money gets into the economy, it will take a very deft hand to make sure that ugly circa-late-1970s-style inflation doesn’t hit. I believe we’ll feel the effects of inflation, no matter how careful our global financial leadership might be.

When inflation hits, all the folks who are holding on to cash instead of investing in real property (like real estate) will watch their funds devalue. Sure, it’s not as obvious as watching your 401K statements plummet. The realization may hit only when they try to purchase something. On the other hand, people who have purchased real property (like real estate) will watch its value grow.

To all you folks sitting on the fence, hanging on to your cash, waiting for real estate to hit bottom before you buy: prices are low, you have a plethora of opportunities from which to choose, and financing is available with good interest rates. Beware of inflation!

Waiting For The Bottom?

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Howard) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 15:54:00 +0000

If only I had a dollar for every time I am asked, “When will the real estate market hit bottom?”

The real answer is: NOBODY KNOWS.

The second part of the answer is: By the time anyone is able to definitively pinpoint the bottom of this cycle, it will be long past.

So what’s a Buyer to do? Decide what property you want to buy. Gather good data about that local market. Then decide if you believe prices there will fall over the next year. If you do, then make an offer to buy the property based on the percentage you think the market will drop.

Does this strategy work? I’ve advised several customers based on this strategy and it has worked for them. Some 18 months ago, a waterfront buyer and I researched property that would fit their requirements. They believed the market would fall a little more than 20%, so we made our offer based on that belief. The buyers purchased their property at just below their 20% point, and the purchase price continues to hold as the market bottom for this particular kind of property – in spite of short sales, foreclosures and distress sales.

So while others struggle with the discomfort of sitting on the fence, these folks have been enjoying a great property for 18 months.

What are you waiting for?

How to base buy or sell decisions on the best data available

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Henderson) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 20:26:00 +0000

How to base buy or sell decisions on the best data available

These days, a Buyer or Seller can find plenty of facts and figures about real estate. Do a Google search for real estate in a particular area and you better have half a day to look through the results. You can find an almost infinite number of websites and blogs devoted to real estate. And if you don’t want to look online, just pick up a newspaper or magazine; turn on the TV; or open your “snail mail.”

Problem is, almost every single bit of this data is essentially HISTORY. That’s right, it’s all about what economists, statisticians, data collectors and number-crunchers can document that happened last week, last month or last year. I’m not saying we can’t learn from history, but making important real estate decisions based on yesterday’s news is risky at best.

So how do you get the absolute best, most up-to-date information on which you can confidently base buying and selling decisions? Work with a good Realtor®.

A Realtor knows where the market in their area is today, this hour, this minute. Why? Because your Realtor is on the street, meeting with Buyers and Sellers, and at the negotiating table working sales every day. They can pinpoint the market based on daily information.

Spotting historical trends is important. But working with a good Realtor allows you to make history rather than base one of your most financial decisions on stale data.

Contact Jennifer Howard at jennifer@mydestin.info or 850-585-7334 for the most up-to-date data available on Destin and South Walton County real estate.

Destin Real Estate and second homes for sale

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Henderson) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:20:00 +0000

USA Today has named The Emerald Coast
The sweet life on a stretch of Florida's 'sugar sand'

Read full article at

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/secondhomes/2009-01-15-south-walton-florida_N.htm?POE=click-refer

Destin real estate second home market on the rise. Homes for sale are amazing deals read area

info below Search all homes for sale here

The 14 communities are each distinct — some gated, some not; some planned, some evolved. The best known are Sandestin, Seaside, WaterSound and WaterColor. Among them, they contain an array of restaurants, art galleries, shops and recreational facilities. Most have a mix of houses, townhouses and condos. Prices also are diverse, from just over $100,000 to several million dollars.
"Compared to south or central Florida, we have a huge variety of product with a large number of affordable homes," says Joe Bracciale, director of real estate sales at Sandestin.
A look at three south Walton County neighborhoods
• WaterColor. This 500-acre mixed resort and residential development designed in traditional Southern style, includes a boutique hotel, spa, beach club, marina, shops and restaurants. Residents also have access to a nearby Tom Fazio golf course. Home sites range from $96,000 to $1.5 million and houses from $575,000 to $4.6 million. The master plan calls for 1,140 homes.
• Sandestin. This huge development contains 30 subcommunities on 2,400 acres with thousands of homes and condos, some in high-rises. It also has four golf courses, a tennis club, spa, marina, 7 miles of beach and coastline, a shopping center, pedestrian retail village, 20 restaurants and several hotels. Condos begin as low as $129,000, and houses run as high as $3 million to $4 million, but "the majority of our residences are in the $250,000-$600,000 range," says Joe Bracciale, director of real estate sales.
• Town of WaterSound. A sister property to WaterColor, this development includes three neighborhoods, all designed in an architectural style inspired by Nantucket. WaterSound Beach is a gated, 256-acre beachfront community with mostly private homes. It has lots from $275,000 and houses from $865,000. WaterSound West Beach is a 62-acre coastal community surrounded by protected land with fewer than 200 home sites. Lots begin at $159,000 and houses at $699,000. WaterSound, on 1,400 acres, has the most residences planned, more than 1,200, and the most amenities, including a golf course and extensive trails. Lots start at $59,000 and houses from $459,000.

Short sales Destin and Sandestin real estate

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Henderson) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 23:39:00 +0000

If you need help short selling your property or finding deals with short sales cont Joe Johnson for more Details

Call Joe Johnson at 850.502.0126 or

e-mail joe@prucoastal.com

Prudential Coastal Properties www.prucoastal.com

Destin and Sandestin sell now or sell later

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Henderson) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 21:59:00 +0000

Prudential Coastal Properties Destin and Sandestin Real Estate "Sell now? Sell later?"

by Joe Johnson

Joe Johnson began his real estate career in 1981, founded a real estate firm in 1984. Since then has gained extensive knowledge in residential and commercial development and sales. Joe and his full time assistant are committed to providing their clients the best in professional services.

To request the "sell now? sell later?" for free email:

joe@prucoastal.com
or call
Joe Johnson at 850.502.0126

Provided by Prudential Coastal Properties http://www.prucoastal.com/

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort market conditions

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Henderson) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:11:00 +0000

Prudential Coastal Properties
Sandestin Real Estate Market conditions by Brad Smith

Brad Smith has extensive experience and product knowledge of the Sandestin market, specializing in resort properties, pre-construction opportunities and investment properties.
Click on the video below to view Brad's Market conditions for Sandestin Real Estate and
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort info

If you have any questions about the report or would like it emailed to you
email Brad at brad@prucoastal.com
or call Brad at
850-598-6771

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Henderson) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 23:25:00 +0000

Welcome to the Prudentil Coastal Properties Blog please feel free to leave your comments or questions here.

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noreply@blogger.com (Mike Henderson) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 22:11:00 +0000

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noreply@blogger.com (CYber SYtes) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:37:00 +0000

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