Gainesville FL Real Estate Blog

A buyer purchasing a typical American home at the prevailing average mortgage rate today would have a mortgage payment of  $698 a month. This figure is not much different from what a home buyer would have faced 30 years ago. In 1981, home prices were much lower but mortgage rates were reaching 18 percent. Today, home prices have come down by about 33 percent on average from the bubble years, but prices still remain comfortably higher than those of the 1980s. However, thanks to record low mortgage rates, the monthly payment obligations have been greatly reduced. This should be good news and bring new buyers into the market. However, very tight underwriting standards, unfortunately, are keeping some good, hard-working Americans from taking advantage of the super affordable conditions.

Now take a look at how the Gainesville FL real estate market performed in September.

The Gainesville FL area single family home sales saw pending sales decreased by 12% when compared with September 2010 numbers.  Sold listings increased by 2%, while new listings decrease by 23%.  The average sales price decreased by 1% to $166,503, while market times decreased by 3 days or 2%.

The Gainesville FL area Condo/Townhome market saw sold listings increase by 50% in September 2011 when compared to September 2010.  Pending sales increased by 9%, while new listings decreased by 27%.  The average sales price decreased by 7% to $76,273 when compared to September 2010, while the average market times increased by 76 days or 41%. 

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

Search all Gainesville FL real estate and Gainesville FL homes for sale.

Linda Luetjen assists buyers looking for Gainesville FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Gainesville FL homes for sale.

She understands the purchase of any Gainesville FL home represents not only one of the largest and most significant investment a person can make, but also a decision that affects the entire life of a family. It should be handled with all the care and attention such a significant transaction deserves. You may rest assured that Linda never forgets this. Her reputation depends on your satisfaction.

For more information about buying or selling your Gainesville FL home, please call Linda toll free at 888-424-8841 or via email with our convenient contact form.

You can enjoy a movie out under the stars in Gainesville this Friday.  Bring your family and friends out to the Bo Diddley Community Plaza for a screening of “Zookeeper.”  This family fun event is hosted by the Southern Peanut Growers and the City of Gainesville.  The fun starts at 6pm with the pre-movie cartoon starting at dark with the feature presentation starting at 8pm. 

Bring comfy seating, blankets, a picnic dinner and spend some time relaxing with your friends and family this Friday night in Gainesville.

Linda Luetjen assists buyers looking for Gainesville FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Gainesville FL homes for sale.

She understands the purchase of any Gainesville FL home represents not only one of the largest and most significant investment a person can make, but also a decision that affects the entire life of a family. It should be handled with all the care and attention such a significant transaction deserves. You may rest assured that Linda never forgets this. Her reputation depends on your satisfaction.

For more information about buying or selling your Gainesville FL home, please call Linda toll free at 888-424-8841 or via email with our convenient contact form.

The average homeowner has thousands of dollars invested in major appliances, so it makes good sense to operate and maintain them properly to protect your investment and ensure that they will provide many years of trouble-free service. As an added bonus, proper maintenance and use almost always results in a decreased consumption of electricity/gas in your  Gainesville FL home.

The following suggestions are helpful tips in appliance care:

REFRIGERATOR:

• Clean cooling coils which are located at floor level with a coil brush once or twice a year.
• Clean interior shelves and gaskets every three months
• Keep the temperature at 37 degrees
•  Check to see if the door(s) is sealing properly. If it won’t hold a dollar bill in place, it isn’t.
• Vacuum underneath and behind the unit every year or two.

DISHWASHER:

• Regularly check the filter and clean the inside of the unit.
• Occasionally run an empty cycle to clear inner workings and hoses. Other, run only with a full load.
• Run the garbage disposal in your Gainesville FL home before running the dishwasher.
• Let dishes air dry whenever possible.
• Make certain that the dishes do not obstruct the rotating arm sprays.
• Recoat rust spots with a rubber-like fluid found in hardware stores. In addition, replace broken rollers and insert replacement tips on damages vertical prongs.
• Reopen clogged holes in spray arms with hot vinegar and a safety pin.

WASHING MACHINE:

• Check resiliency of older rubber hoses and replace with metal ones if necessary.
• Add detergent before you load the washer.
• Make sure there is a clear path from the unit to the floor drain.

DRYER:
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Given the state of the economy, the housing “crisis,” and the volatility of the stock market, more and more folks with both extra cash and initiative are being drawn to the idea of property investment. Many real estate and financial gurus offer suggestions for you as a first-time investor in Gainesville FL real estate–both tips to follow and traps to avoid. First and foremost, all the experts stress the importance of your need to be realistic about the amount of time, money, energy, and commitment required in such a venture. Their second most common piece of advice is to educate yourself in as many areas of investment fundamentals as you can before you begin.

TIPS:       

• Develop a plan. Determine your purpose in becoming an investor. Do you want to flip houses, or are you more comfortable with a long-term rental? What kind of property do you want? Single family? Condo? Multi-family? Will you be bidding at an auction? Buying a short sale or foreclosure? What kind of financing will you need?
• Identify your target area. Analyze the economic situation of the neighborhood, population levels, and potential employment prospects. Look at the availability of  stores, schools, hospitals, and local industry. Determine the median property values.
• Ask questions. Are prices in the area rising or falling? Is it a safe neighborhood? How long has the property been on the market? What is the condition of the interior and exterior structure?
• Consider financial circumstances. What is the going rate for rentals in the area? What are the yearly taxes? What will it cost to maintain the property? What kind of financing will be available to you?
• Avoid Gainesville FL real estate with HOA fees. Home Owner Association dues which pay for shared facilities and maintenance must be paid by you, the owner, and can be quite high, especially when major assessments are levied.
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There were 1,254 Alachua County and Gainesville FL foreclosure homes in August 2011 according to RealtyTrac.com. The average foreclosure sales price was $115,027 compared to an average sales price of $154,414, a $39,386 savings. 1 in every 921 housing units received a foreclosure filing in August.

Alachua County & Gainesville FL Foreclosure Activity and Home Price Index

Home price appreciation remained was 0.0% in August and the number of new foreclosures totaled  126.

Alachua County 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.

Alachua County & Gainesville FL Foreclosure Geographical Comparison

Alachua County and Gainesville FL foreclosures were 0.07% below national statistics and 0.18% below state figures in August 2011.

Alachua County & Gainesville FL Foreclosure Activity by Month

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A number of research studies have shown that home ownership provides social and societal benefits. Not only is home ownership one of the best ways to build long-term wealth, providing resources for a more comfortable retirement, but it also fosters an immeasurable sense of community and stability vital to growing families.  NAR’s “Social Benefits of Homeownership and Stable Housing” report reveals that home owners are happier and healthier. They tend to vote more, volunteer more and contribute more to their neighborhoods. Home owners do not move as frequently as renters, which encourages more neighborhood stability, and children of home owners are more likely to participate in organized activities and spend less time in front of the television.

Now take a look at how the Gainesville FL real estate market performed in August.

The Gainesville FL area single family home sales saw pending sales remain consistant with August 2010 numbers.  Sold listings increased by 9%, while new listings decrease by 11%.  The average sales price decreased by 12% to $168,150, while market times decreased by 3 days or 2%.

The Gainesville FL area Condo/Townhome market saw pending sales increase by 41% in August 2011 when compared to August 2010.  Sold listings increased by 9%, while new listings decreased by 31%.  The average sales price decreased by 16% to $80,837 when compared to August 2010, while the average market times increased by 35 days or 21%. 

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Let’s start with the why? The most common incentive to clear away clutter occurs when you’re selling your Gainesville FL real estate and want to stage it for prospective buyers. Real estate agents will tell you that clutter-filled, disorganized homes appear smaller, and every website offering tips for a fast sale includes–and stresses- the need to show a clutter-free home. Another strong reason for eliminating clutter is to lower the stress in your life by having everything in its place ((how nice it would be not to spend valuable time and energy looking through clutter for misplaced items!) and returning home to a serene and neatly organized setting. (Polls and studies have shown that physical surroundings do indeed affect one’s level of stress. ) Other mess-removing motivators include selling unused items to bring in extra money, donating still-good items to people who need them, and joining the green movement by recycling unwanted possessions.

How to begin such a daunting task?

All “experts” in the field strongly advise tackling the job in small steps. Begin with one room at a time, play soothing music, and allocate 20 to 30 minutes a day to the job. Bring to each room boxes or bins labeled keep, toss, donate, and recycle. Be ruthless!! If you haven’t used an item in the past year, remove it from your Gainesville FL real estate. (Hint: also check expiration dates on foodstuffs when you de-clutter the kitchen.) Assess your storage capacity and discard accordingly.

What should you dispose of?

The most obvious clutter creators seem to be mail, clothing, newspapers and magazines, documents, books, and home décor accessories. Think, too, about furniture, baby items, food, toiletries, appliances, bedding, electronics, and hardware. Have you heard about the “80/20 rule”? It is generally believed that you can safely let go of 80% of the papers you’ve kept.

Where should your unneeded/unwanted treasures go?

For many of them, the answer is, of course, the trash. (You can easily arrange for bulk pickup for large items.) Others may be candidates for recycling. Perhaps you can list some of them under the Free tab on Craig list or search nearly 5000 groups who use discarded materials.

Ask around your community for organizations which would welcome used books and toys–libraries, hospitals, nursery schools, churches. Give old magazines to doctors’ offices. Lions Club groups collect old eyeglasses, and many organizations eagerly accept working but unwanted cell phones. There are innumerable websites which suggest new homes for your discards. Try RecycleNow.com or Earth911.com (supplies locations of local charities by zip code). Many organizations such as Goodwill Industries, Salvation Army, and Disabled Veterans, have handy drop-off boxes or centers or will come to your Gainesville FL real estate location for pickup. (Extra bonus: in addition to the joy of giving to others, you may also receive a tax deduction for your contributions.)
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One of the many preparations you need to make before purchasing a Gainesville FL home is to research and assess the location of the property. It’s not a “perfect” home for you if the neighborhood doesn’t provide what you want in terms of schools, amenities, curb appeal, safety, transportation, personal values, and atmosphere.

Just as you identify house features that are important to you before looking for a new home, you should also do the same in regards to a neighborhood. Make a list of favorable community attributes and prioritize the items so that you can focus on those aspects when evaluating the location of a potential Gainesville FL home. Determine what is really important to you and your family, what amenities are part of your everyday life, and what would constitute a “deal breaker.” Remember that you will most likely be part of the neighborhood for a long time and will want to be happy there.

Tips for gathering information vital to your search and assessment include the following:

1. Utilize word of mouth

• Ask family and friends for recommendations.
• Talk directly to potential neighbors.
• Visit the school principal, police precinct captain, and hospital director to help evaluate the quality of those institutions.
• Talk to your real estate agent about the status of property values, traffic congestion, and crime statistics.

2. Use the internet and local newspaper

• Check out the HOA rules for the development.
• Look up ratings for nearby medical facilities and schools.
• Investigate house prices, current number of foreclosures, and units presently for sale.
• Look at the demographics of the neighborhood. Is there a variety of age groups? Other children? Families?
• Go to www.GreatSchools.org/ for valuable information about nearby schools.

3. Visit the neighborhood often–in a car and on foot

• Drive/walk there at different times of the day.
• Make note of the traffic situation–not only on the street of “your” Gainesville FL home but on nearby streets as well.
• Look at the number, type, and condition of vehicles belonging to homeowners. Is the parking adequate to handle both owners and guests?
• Check out the curb appeal of the community. Are homes well-maintained and yards well- tended to and clutter free? Are streets well-lighted, and are sidewalks available?
• Listen for noises which could become real irritants over time. Note barking dogs, train whistles, heavy traffic sounds, bar/restaurant congestion with loud voices. Where are the potentially noisy bus stops, the school playgrounds, the parks? Also pinpoint the proximity of fire and police stations if you’re not a fan of sirens.
• Measure distances to places of importance to you. Think about getting to work, availability of public transportation, accessibility of medical and emergency services, and the convenience of schools and shopping centers.

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There were 1,335 Alachua County and Gainesville FL foreclosure homes in July 2011 according to RealtyTrac.com. The average foreclosure sales price was $119,635 compared to an average sales price of $160,226, a $40,592 savings. 1 in every 586 housing units received a foreclosure filing in July.

Alachua County & Gainesville FL Foreclosure Activity and Home Price Index

Home price appreciation remained was 0.0% in April and the number of new foreclosures totaled  198.

Alachua County 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.

Alachua County & Gainesville FL Foreclosure Geographical Comparison

Alachua County and Gainesville FL foreclosures were 0.01% above national statistics and 0.18% below state figures in July 2011.

Alachua County & Gainesville FL Foreclosure Activity by Month

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At least one fear was not realized amid last week’s stock market meltdown according to CNNMoney.com: the concern that mortgage rates would immediately shoot higher in response to Standard & Poor’s downgrade of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored entities that are the 800-pound gorillas of the mortgage market. In fact, the initial response to Fannie and Freddie getting cut to AA+ from AAA was precisely the opposite. Mortgage rates were poised to continue declining.

Mortgage rates are set off of the interest rates on U.S. Treasury notes and bonds. Even though Standard & Poor’s pulled its AAA rating of the United States, investors still rushed into U.S. Treasury securities as a safe haven, believing more in the “full faith and credit of the United States” than in the opinion of Standard & Poor’s credit analysts. As investors snapped up Treasury notes and bonds they pushed down interest rates on those securities, which move inversely to prices.

Analysts warn the drop in interest rates may not last. If investment flows were to move back into stocks and out of bonds, interest rates on Treasury securities, and consequently mortgages, would rise. “Over the long-term, if the U.S. has to pay more in interest rates, consumer rates will likely go up,” said Greg McBride, senior financial analyst for Bankrate.com.

For now, lower mortgage rates may offer only limited benefits to American consumers. Banks’ lending standards have been tough recently, and consumers need the wherewithal to qualify for loans. That appears increasingly difficult as the economy continues to sputter.

Now take a look at how the Gainesville FL real estate market performed in July.

The Gainesville FL area single family home sales saw pending sales decrease 7% in July.  Sold listings increased by 14%, and new listings decrease by 22%.  The average sales price decreased by 19% to $164,860, while market times increased by 20 days or 11%.

The Gainesville FL area Condo/Townhome market saw pending sales increase by 26% in July 2011 when compared to July 2010.  Sold listings increased by 15%, and new listings decreased by 25%.  The average sales price decreased by 20% to $79,416 when compared to July 2010, while the average market times increased by 53 days or 29%. 

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

Search all Gainesville FL real estate and Gainesville FL homes for sale.

Linda Luetjen assists buyers looking for Gainesville FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Gainesville FL homes for sale.

She understands the purchase of any Gainesville FL home represents not only one of the largest and most significant investment a person can make, but also a decision that affects the entire life of a family. It should be handled with all the care and attention such a significant transaction deserves. You may rest assured that Linda never forgets this. Her reputation depends on your satisfaction.

For more information about buying or selling your Gainesville FL home, please call Linda toll free at 888-424-8841 or via email with our convenient contact form.