Gainesville FL Real Estate Blog

The number of Gainesville and Alachua County foreclosure homes dropped dramatically in April compared to the previous March with 190 new foreclosure filings in April compared to 400 filings in March, according to RealtyTrac.com.

Gainesville and Alachua County Foreclosure Activity and Home Price Index

Foreclosure activity is based on the total number of properties that receive foreclosure filings – default notice, foreclosure auction notice or repossession notice – each month. Home price appreciation is based on month-over-month percentage change of the Home Price Index. The Home Price Index is calculated from home sales records.

Gainesville and Alachua County Foreclosure Geographical Comparison

Gainesville and Alachua County foreclosure rate is .57% less than the state of Florida statistics and .10% less than national figures.

There are currently 1,156 Gainesville and Alachua County foreclosure homes with an average salesa price of $104,106. The estimated median home value in Gainesville and Alachua County is $146,619.

Are you or someone you know behind on your mortgage payments and facing a Gainesville foreclosure? You do have options. A short sale may be the answer to saving you, your family and your home. I am a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) with extensive training in helping families in distress and facing possible foreclosure. Give me a call for a private consultation.

Pending home sales rose with many first-time buyers taking advantage of historically good housing affordability conditions, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

The Pending Home Sales Index,1 a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in March, increased 3.2 percent to 84.6 from a level of 82.0 in February, and is 1.1 percent higher than March 2008 when it was 83.7.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said it should take a few months for the market to gain momentum. “This increase could be the leading edge of first-time buyers responding to very favorable affordability conditions and an $8,000 tax credit, which increases buying power even more in areas where special programs allow buyers to use it as a downpayment,” he said. “We need several months of sustained growth to demonstrate a recovery in housing, which is necessary for the overall economy to turn around.”

Let’s take a look at the Gainesville FL real estate sales statistics for April to see how the market looks in our area:

The Gainesville FL area single family home sales experienced a 18% decline in new listings in April 2009, when compared against April 2008.  Pending listings were down 5%.  Sold listings decreased by 25% and the average sales price decreased by 7% to $211,819, while market times increased by 37 days. 

The Gainesville FL area Condo/TH market saw the average sales price decrease by 3% to $147,973 in April 2009 compared to April 2008.  Likewise, new listings were down 34% and sold listings were down by 60% in April 2009.  Pending sales decreased by 41%, while the average market times increased by 76 days.
 

For the latest Gainesville FL real estate market conditions in your area, please call me at 888-424-8841 or visit MyGatorCondo.com.

Gainesville Homes For Sale:

1008 NW 34 Terrace, Gainesville FL 32609
Listing# 304232

This House Has Been Renovated From Top To Bottom. This 4/3 Has Spacious Rooms And Two Fenced In Back Yards. Large Dining And Living Areas Of The Home Are Perfect For Gatherings With Family And Friends. Centrally Located To University Of Florida, Oaks Mall And I-75. The Neighborhood Sits Across The Street From Westside Tennis Courts Where There Is A Park, Skate Park And Water Park. The Owner Will Consider Owner Financing With 2% Down Or Rent To Own.

Learn more about 1008 NW 34 Terrace and other Gainesville homes by visiting GatorHomes.com and MyGatorCondo.com.

Search all Gainesville homes for sale.

2009 is a great time to buy Gainesville real estate. With moderate prices, and abundance of inventory, pre-foreclosures galore, near record low interest rates and the first-time home buyer tax credit, Gainesville real estate buyers are definitley in control! Below are 5 powerful Gaineville real estate buying strategies:

1. Don’t Get “Pre-Qualified!” Get “Pre-Approved” 

Do you want to get the best house you can for the least amount of money when buying Gainesville real estate? Then make sure you are in the strongest negotiating position possible. Price is only one bargaining chip in the negotiations, and not necessarily the most important one. Often other terms, such as the strength of the buyer or the length of escrow, are critical to a seller. In years past, we always recommended that buyers get “pre-qualified” by a lender. This means that you spend a few minutes on the phone with a lender who asks you a few questions. Based on the answers, the lender pronounces you “pre-qualified” and issues a certificate that you can show to a seller. Sellers are aware that such certificates are WORTHLESS, and here’s why! None of the information has been verified! Unknown problems can surface for example: recorded judgments, child support payments due, glitches on the credit report (due to any number of reasons both accurately and inaccurately), down payment funds that have not been in the clients’ bank account long enough, etc. So the way to make a strong offer today is to get “pre-approved”. This happens AFTER all information has been checked and verified. You are actually APPROVED for the loan and the only loose end is the appraisal on the property. This process takes anywhere from a few days to a few weeks depending on your situation. It’s VERY POWERFUL and a weapon we recommend all of our clients have in their negotiating arsenal. 

2. Sell First, Then Buy 

If you have a house to sell, sell it before selecting a house to buy! Let’s pretend that we go out looking for the perfect house for you. We find it and you love it! Now you have to go make an offer to the seller. You want the seller to reduce the price and wait until you sell your house. The seller figures that’s a risky deal, since he might pass up a buyer who DOESN’T have to sell a house while he’s waiting for you. So he says OK, he’ll do the contingency but it has to be a full price offer! So you see, you paid more for the house than you could have because of the contingency. Now you have to sell your existing house, and in a hurry! Otherwise you lose the dream house! So to sell quickly you might take an offer that’s lower than if you had more time. The bottom line is that buying before selling might cost you TENS OF THOUSANDS of dollars. We always recommend that you sell first, then buy. If you’re concerned that there is not a house on the market for you, then go on a window-shopping trip. You can identify possible houses and locations without falling in love with a specific house. If you feel confident after that then put your house on the market. Another tactic is to make the sale “subject to seller finding suitable housing”. Adding this phrase to the listing means that WHEN YOU DO FIND A BUYER, you will have some time to find the new place. If you don’t find anything to your liking, you don’t have to sell your present home. 

3. Play the Game of Nines 

Before house hunting for Gainesville real estate, make a list of nine things you want in the new place. Then make a list of the nine things you don’t want. We call this “NINE OF THIS AND NONE OF THAT”. You can use this list as a scorecard to rate each property that you see. The one with the biggest score wins! This helps avoid confusion and keeps things in perspective when you’re comparing dozens of homes. When house hunting, keep in mind the difference between “SKIN AND BONES”. The BONES are things that cannot be changed such as the location, view, size of lot, noise in the area, school district, and floor plan. The SKIN represents easily changed surface finishes like carpet, wallpaper, color, and window coverings. Buy the house with good BONES, because the SKIN can always be changed to match your tastes. I always recommend that you imagine each house as if it were vacant. Consider each house on its underlying merits, not the seller’s decorating skills. 

4. Don’t Be Pushed Into Any House 

Your agent should show you everything available that meets your requirements. Don’t make a decision on a house until you feel that you’ve seen enough to pick the best one. Review the Multiple Listing printout with your agent to make sure that you are getting a COMPLETE list. In the late 1980’s, homes were selling quickly, usually a few days after listing. In that kind of market, agents advised their clients to make an offer ON THE SPOT if they liked the house. That was good advice at the time. Today there isn’t always this urgency, unless a home is drastically under priced, and you’ll know if it is. Don’t forget to check into the SCHOOL DISTRICTS of the area you’re considering. Information is available on every school; such as class sizes, % of students that go on to college, SAT scores, etc. You can get this information from your agent or directly from the school. 

5. Stop Calling Ads! 

A word of caution – agents create ads solely to make the phone ring! Many of the homes have some drawback that’s not mentioned in the ad, such as traffic noise, power lines, or litigation in the community. What’s not mentioned in the ad is usually more important than what is. For this reason, we want you to be very careful when reading ads. Remember that the person writing the ad is representing the seller and not you! The most important thing you can do is have someone on your side looking out for your best interests. Your own agent will critique the property with an eye towards how well it meets your needs and will point out any drawbacks you should know about. So whether you decide to work with us or not, pick an agent you feel comfortable with and enlist the services of that agent as a buyer’s broker. Then you become a client with all the rights, benefits, and privileges created by this agency relationship, and you’re no longer just a shopper. Did you know that many homes are sold WITHOUT A SIGN ever going up or an AD EVER BEING PUT IN THE PAPER? These “great deals” go to those people who are committed to working with one agent. When an agent hears of a great buy, who do you think he’s going to call? His client, who he has a legal obligation to work hard for, or someone who just called on the phone and said “keep your eyes open”? So, to get the best buy on a property, we always recommend that you hire your own agent and stick with him.

 To learn more about buying Gainesville real estate, visit our websites, GatorHomes.com and MyGatorCondo.com, or give us a call for more personal service.

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Gainesville FL Homes For Sale:

13200 W Newberry Road P-87, Gainesville FL 32669
Listing Number: 274925  

Beautiful And Spacious 2/2.5 Townhome With One Car Garage And Screened Lanai. Gated Community W/convenient Location And Many Amenities Including Clubhouse With Exercise Room. Tennis Courts, Pool And Basketball. Walk In Closets, Double Sinks In Master Bath, Security System, Laundry Room Upstairs And Computer Lab. Very Motivated Seller!

Learn more about 13200 W Newberry Road and other Gainesville FL homes for sale by visiting GatorHomes.com and MyGatorCondo.com.

Should I move up to a larger home is a question many Gainesville FL home owners are asking.  The questions below will help you decide whether you’re ready for a home that’s larger or in a more desirable location. 

1. Have you built substantial equity in your current home? 

If you have owned your Gainesville FL home for a number of years you might have built up some equity. Look at your annual mortgage statement or call your lender to determine your loan balance. Then give me a call to determine your home’s market value. The difference between your loan amount and market value is your equity. You can also get your market value by clicking here. 

2. Has your income or financial situation improved? 

If your income has increased, you may be able to afford a higher mortgage payment. 

3. Have you outgrown your neighborhood? 

Often, the neighborhood or location you buy your first home in may no longer suit your needs. You may want to be closer to work, be in a better school district or have a home on a lake rather than close to it. 

4. Are there reasons why you can’t remodel or add on? 

Sometimes adding on to your current home is the answer. If you will end over-improving for the neighborhood, moving may be a better option. 

5. Are you comfortable moving in the current housing market? 

In the current  real estate market, your Gainesville FL home may not sell quickly for what it would have a few years ago, but the home you buy also less expensive expensive. 

6. Are interest rates attractive?

A low rate not only helps you buy a larger home, but also makes it easier to find a buyer and interest rates are currently at record lows. 

If you answer yes to most of the questions, it’s a sign that you may be ready to move. If so, please visit GatorHomes.com to learn more about the local real estate market or give me a call. I’m glad to help!

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Gainesville Real Estate For Sale:

2801 SW 298th Street, Newberry FL 32669
Listing Number: 302915   

 Nice bedroom, 2 bath ranch situated on 7.5 Acres. This Property Has A Fireplace, Stainless Appliances, Open Floor Plan And A Huge Barn. It Needs Minor Cosmetic Work But Will Make A Beautiful Home When Cleaned Up.

Learn more about Gainesville real estate by visiting GatorHomes.com.

Search all Gainesville real estate and homes for sale.

I found a great website, Energy Savers, with energy saving tips for Gainesville home owners. This site provides homeowners with tips for saving energy and money at home and on the road. 

By following just a few of the simple tips found on this Energy Savers Web site, you can make your home more comfortable and easier to heat and cool-while you save money. The site also helps you beat the high cost of fuel, with driving and car maintenance tips to save you money on the road.

Some easy low-cost and no-cost ways to save energy include: 

• Install a programmable thermostat to keep your house comfortably warm in the winter and comfortably cool in the summer.
• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs with the ENERGY STAR® label.
• Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher’s drying cycle.
• Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.
• Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips; turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use (TVs and DVDs in standby mode still use several watts of power).
• Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120°F.
• Take short showers instead of baths.
• Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
• Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gasoline.
• Look for the ENERGY STAR label on home appliances and products. ENERGY STAR products meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. 

If you are a Gainesville home owner, I encourage you to check out Energy Savers. Following a few of their suggestions will not only put more money in your pocket, but make our planet healthier and greener. 

Thinking about buying a Gainesville home, visit GatorHomes.com. It’s a great place to learn about Gainesville real estate and view Gainesville homes for sale.