“Home sales clearly recovered in the latter part of 2010, and are helping to absorb the inventory, including many distressed properties,” said Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of Realtors.

Let’s take a look our local real estate market for January.

Gainesville FL area single family home sales saw sold listings increase by 5% in January 2011, when compared against January 2010.  Pending sales increased by 16%, while new listings decreased by 19%.  The average sales price decreased by 14% to $162,448, while market times increased by 27 days.

The Gainesville FL area Condo/Townhome market saw sold listings increase by 33% in January 2011 when compared to January 2010.  Pending listings increased by 29%, and new listings decreased by 18% in January 2011.  The average sales price decreased by 19% to $69,121 when compared to January 2010, while the average market times increased by 9 days. 

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

Ode to Thanksgiving

To our national birds
The American Eagle
The Thanksgiving Turkey
May one give us peace in all our states
And the other a piece for all our plates

What did the Pilgrims eat on Thanksgiving?

It is commonly believed that the first actual celebration of the harvest and blessings from God took place in Plymouth in 1621. The festivities lasted three days and included feasting, entertainment, and competitions. For more about the holiday’s history!

Who Doesn’t Love a Parade?

The first annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade took place in 1924. That first year, it was known as the Macy’s Christmas Parade. It was created to launch the holiday shopping season. Today, the parade is attended by an estimated three million people each year. Approximately 44 million people around the country watch the parade on television.

Other large parades which commemorate the holiday are the IKEA Thanksgiving Parade in Philly, McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade in Chicago, and the UBS Parade Spectacular in Stamford.

Find holiday-themed wallpaper or screensavers here!

Want some holiday music to enhance your gathering? Get free, fast downloads of 30+ songs.

“If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness.”  …. Gerald Good

Thanksgiving Around the World

Thanksgiving is essentially a harvest related festival. It celebrates communal harmony.

Canada celebrates Thanksgiving on the second Monday in the month of October.

India also has a number of harvest related festivals in different regions.

Other Thanksgiving traditions around the world.

Money-saving tips for Thanksgiving–something we would all be thankful for!

1.      Have a BYOD (bring your own dish) celebration. Asking your guests to contribute to the meal is a great way to save on expenses–and on your own cooking time.

2.      Keep it simple. Cut down on the number of side dishes you have. A festive table doesn’t have to be extravagant.

3.      Serve boxed wine or large bottles of soda. Cans and individual bottles are far more expensive.

4.      Use natural items for decorations–leaves, fruit, squash, gourds, pumpkins, and dried flowers from your garden. A large candle and colorful fruit make a lovely centerpiece. Visit a dollar store for inexpensive holiday items.

5.      Check store ads for sales and coupons before you shop for Thanksgiving Day goodies.

6.      If time and your schedule allow, bake it yourself. Baking all your pies at one time will also save energy costs.

7.      Plan ahead for using the leftovers. In addition to the tradition soup and sandwiches, think about turkey chili, tacos, frittatas, enchiladas, salads, and even paella.  Note: price per pound of a turkey decreases with weight. The bigger the bird, the less the cost–and the more for leftovers!

8. Volunteer. Soup kitchens, church outreach programs, and ‘Meals On Wheels’ can certainly use help, so skip the shopping, share your time with others, and let your family members see how fortunate they really are.”

“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, “Thank you,” that would suffice.”         Meister Eckhart

Interesting facts:

More than 40 million green bean casseroles are consumed each Thanksgiving!

Tofurkey, a soy-and-wheat based turkey alternative, was created by Sam Tibbot in 1995 and continues to be a popular choice among vegetarians.

And speaking of vegetarians…there are lots of websites with fabulous vegetarian recipes and ideas for veggie stuffing, gravy, sides, and all foods Thanksgiving. Prefer organic? How about diabetic recipes for appetizers, sides, breads, and desserts?

Here’s a complete holiday planning guide. Menu ideas. Everything you wanted to know about turkey.

Videos on choosing, thawing, stuffing, roasting and carving the bird. Wines ideal for thanksgiving dinner. Don’t forget dessert!

Tired of the same old, same old? Here are alternatives to turkey.

Thawing, cooking, and serving the bird:

To calculate the amount of food you’ll need, follow this guide.

• Whole turkey–1 lb. per person
• Bone-in turkey breast–¾ lb. per person
• Boneless turkey breast–½ lb. person

Time required for thawing the bird: for each 4 ½ lbs. of frozen turkey, allow 24 hours of thaw time in the refrigerator. Once fully thawed, the turkey may be refrigerated for 1-2 days.

Quick” thawing method: Place turkey in its original wrapping in sink and cover with COLD water. Change the water every 1/2 hour to maintain the temperature. Allow 1/2 hour per pound to defrost the turkey. Most turkeys will take from 5 to 10 hours to thaw.

Share Thanksgiving greetings with friends via email or send a mobile greeting free of charge.

Don’t forget the kids!

There are so many Thanksgiving activities for the younger set to take part in, especially while they’re waiting for the turkey to cook.

Make memories with these turkeys made from tracings of your child’s hands and feet.

Use fresh and dried leaves for art projects like the creative ones at Squigly’s Playhouse.

Make a simple banner using coffee filters and printed letters looks more complicated than it is. Children will love folding the filters to look like turkey tails.

This Thanksgiving Feast is a fun arcade-style food game for kids to learn about nutrition.

Celebrate the Thanksgiving with holiday coloring pages.

Create your own log cabin on paper using Popsicle sticks.

Think you are smarter than a TURKEY? Go on a turkey hunt and find out!

Get games and puzzles that are too numerous to count and just plain fun!

Everyone will love the Thanksgiving word scramble, a fun word search and the color and print eye chart.

Holiday Humor for the young–and young at heart

• Can a turkey jump higher than the Empire State Building?
  Answer:  Yes – a building can’t jump at all
• Which side of the turkey has the most feathers?
  Answer:  The outside
• Why do Pilgrims have trouble keeping their pants up?
  Answer: Cause they wear their belts on their hats!
• What is the Turkey’s favorite black tie celebration?
  Answer:  The Butter Ball

• Want more?

Thanksgiving Traditions

Here you can download Over The River and Through the Woods.

Nothing says Thanksgiving more than traditional football rivalries.

Holiday Travel

If your ‘over the river and through the woods’ trip is not taking you to Grandma’s, you might want to visit Road Trip America to help plan.

Traveling with kids? Here are tips to help entertain them.

So there you have it–facts, tips, humor, recipes, quotes, and websites to guide you to everything you have ever wanted to know about Thanksgiving.

May your Thanksgiving be an enjoyable celebration shared with friends and family, and one filled with gratitude for all your blessings!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Pending home sales rose sharply in February, potentially signaling a second surge of home sales in response to the home buyer tax credit, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Contracts signed in February, rose 8.2 percent above February 2009. The data reflects contracts and not closings, which usually occur with a lag time of one or two months.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said the improvement is another hopeful sign. “The rise in pending sales may signal the early stages of a second surge of home sales this spring. The healthy gain hints home prices are continuing to flatten. We need a second surge to reduce inventory and stabilize home values.”

Lets look at March real estate sales to see how the housing recovery is progressing in Gainesville FL.

The Gainesville FL area single family home sales saw sold listings decrease by only 1% in March 2010, when compared against March 2009.  New listings saw an increase of 15%.  Pending sales saw a 28% increase and the average sales price decreased by 2% to $190,351, while market times increased by 23 days.

The Gainesville FL area Condo/Townhome market saw the average sales price decreased by 20% to $99,839 in March 2010 when compared to March 2009.  While new listings were up 24% and sold listings increased by 26% in March 2010.  Pending sales increased by 43% when compared to March 2009, while the average market times increased by 30 days. 

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

]]> http://blog.gatorhomes.com/gainesville-fl-real-estate-market-trends-march-2010/feed/ 0 http://blog.gatorhomes.com/tips-for-a-smart-purchase-of-your-first-gainesville-fl-home/ http://blog.gatorhomes.com/tips-for-a-smart-purchase-of-your-first-gainesville-fl-home/#comments Thu, 01 Apr 2010 21:54:53 +0000 North Central Florida Real Estate Agent http://blog.gatorhomes.com/?p=511 Low listing prices, reasonable interest rates, and an abundant variety of homes to choose from are among a few of the reasons now is the perfect time for buyers to make a move in today’s real estate market. Current market trends and other factors have made conditions even more favorable for first-time homebuyers. Though becoming a homeowner comes with huge responsibilities and financial commitments, first-time home buyers should take advantage of the market over flowing with opportunities. The following tips will help ease the mind when considering the smart purchase of your first Gainesville FL home.

1. Become familiar with the new first-time homebuyer federal tax credit.

People who are considering the purchase of their first home, or have not been home owners for at least the past three years can gain great benefits from the first-time homebuyer tax credit. According to FederalHousingTaxCredit.com, qualified first-time home buyers purchasing a principal residence on or after January 1, 2009 and before May 1, 2010 will receive a tax credit of up to $8,000. Unlike past tax credits from 2008, the money received does not have to be repaid, unless the homebuyer sells the property with in three years.

2. Determine what is reasonably affordable.

Prior to beginning the hunt for the perfect home, it is important to find an affordable price range. Many factors such as money available for a down payment, eligibility for a loan, and monthly mortgage payments, all play a role in determining what the buyer can comfortably afford. Total monthly mortgage payments should be, on average, approximately 30 percent of one’s gross monthly income. Affordability or loan calculators found on the internet can give a good idea of what is affordable. Before seriously inquiring the purchase of your first Gainesville FL home it is important to have a consultation with a knowledgeable financial advisor.

3. Deciding where and what

Once an affordable price range is determined, it is time to decide where you want to live and what you are looking for in a home. Whether staying with in the same general area, or looking for a new location, it is crucial to do a fair amount of research on the area and its demographics. For example crime rates, school districts, shopping, medical facilities, and travel, are all important factors have to be considered since they could affect your everyday life. It is also essential to know what you are looking for in a home. Separate lists of essential needs and wants should be carefully thought out towards the beginning of the home search. The list of basic needs should include things such as minimum square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, location, and price. The want list should be compiled of things that would be nice to have, such as pools, big yards, and gated communities.

4. Find a knowledgeable Real Estate professional

Finding and purchasing a home is a complicated, overwhelming experience, which should be nothing but exciting. Working with an experienced real estate agent can make the process run smoothly and be more successful. The chances of finding the perfect Gainesville FL home are significantly increased when put in to the hands of the right real estate professional.

Learn more about how we can help you purchase a home by visiting GatorHomes.com or give us a call for more personal service.

Search all Gainesville FL homes for sale.

1. Consider loan modification first. If you are thinking of selling your Gainesville home because of financial difficulties and you anticipate a short sale, first contact your lender to see if it has any programs to help you stay in your home. Your lender may agree to a modification such as: 

• Refinancing your loan at a lower interest rate
• Providing a different payment plan to help you get caught up
• Providing a forbearance period if your situation is temporary 

When a loan modification still isn’t enough to relieve your financial problems, a short sale could be your best option if 

• Your property is worth less than the total mortgage you owe on it.
• You have a financial hardship, such as a job loss or major medical bills.
• You have contacted your lender and it is willing to entertain a short sale. 

2. Hire a qualified team. The first step to a short sale is to hire a qualified real estate professional* and a real estate attorney who specialize in short sales. Interview at least three candidates for each and look for prior short-sale experience. Short sales have proliferated only in the last few years, so it may be hard to find practitioners who have closed a lot of short sales. You want to work with those who demonstrate a thorough working knowledge of the short-sale process and who won’t try to take advantage of your situation or pressure you to do something that isn’t in your best interest. 

A qualified Gainesville real estate professional can: 

• Provide you with a comparative market analysis (CMA) or broker price opinion (BPO).
• Help you set an appropriate listing price for your home, market the home, and get it sold.
• Put special language in the MLS that indicates your home is a short sale and that lender approval is needed (all MLSs permit, and some now require, that the short-sale status be disclosed to potential buyers).
• Ease the process of working with your lender or lenders.
• Negotiate the contract with the buyers.
• Help you put together the short-sale package to send to your lender (or lenders, if you have more than one mortgage) for approval. You can’t sell your home without your lender and any other lien holders agreeing to the sale and releasing the lien so that the buyers can get clear title.  

3. Begin gathering documentation before any offers come in. Your lender will give you a list of documents it requires to consider a short sale. The short-sale “package” that accompanies any offer typically must include 

• A hardship letter detailing your financial situation and why you need the short sale
• A copy of the purchase contract and listing agreement
• Proof of your income and assets
• Copies of your federal income tax returns for the past two years 

4. Prepare buyers for a lengthy waiting period. Even if you’re well organized and have all the documents in place, be prepared for a long process. Waiting for your lender’s review of the short-sale package can take several weeks to months. Some experts say: 

• If you have only one mortgage, the review can take about two months.
• With a first and second mortgage with the same lender, the review can take about three months.
• With two or more mortgages with different lenders, it can take four months or longer.  

When the bank does respond, it can approve the short sale, make a counteroffer, or deny the short sale. The last two actions can lengthen the process or put you back at square one. (Your real estate attorney and real estate professional, with your authorization, can work your lender’s loss mitigation department on your behalf to prepare the proper documentation and speed the process along.) 

5. Don’t expect a short sale to solve your financial problems. Even if your lender does approve the short sale, it may not be the end of all your financial woes. Here are some things to keep in mind: 

• You may be asked by your lender to sign a promissory note agreeing to pay back the amount of your loan not paid off by the short sale. If your financial hardship is permanent and you can’t pay back the balance, talk with your real estate attorney about your options. 
• Any amount of your mortgage that is forgiven by your lender is typically considered income, and you may have to pay taxes on that amount. Under a temporary measure passed in 2007, the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act and Debt Cancellation Act, homeowners can exclude debt forgiveness on their federal tax returns from income for loans discharged in calendar years 2007 through 2012. Be sure to consult your real estate attorney and your accountant to see whether you qualify. 
• Having a portion of your debt forgiven may have an adverse effect on your credit score. However, a short sale will impact your credit score less than foreclosure and bankruptcy.

Reprinted from Realtor Magazine with permission from National Associaiton of Realtors. 

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.

Gainesville

The rankings are determined by a series of metrics established by Forbes ranking factors including local colleges, educational attainment of residents, and quality of life offerings.

Gainesville came in #77 for ‘Job Growth Projection’, #63 for ‘Cost of Doing Business’, and #13 for ‘Educational Attainment.’

Once again we are proud of live in Gainesville!

It looks as if our legislators in Washington are finally making positive steps toward fixing the house mess and helping Gainesville home buyers by including housing legislation in the Economic Stimulus Bill.

Yesterday, the Lieberman/Isakson Amendment was included in the senate version of the Economic Stimulus Bill by a unanimous voice vote. This amendment would provide a Tax Credit to all home buyers at the rate of 10% of the sales price up to a limit of $15,000. The credit would be available for a one year period to all purchasers of primary residences.

Now, the senate expects to debate Amendment 353, a proposal by Senator John Ensign (R-NV) that would provide 30 year fixed financing at a rate of about 4%, for anyone purchasing a primary residence.

If these two provisions are included in the final passage of a stimulus bill they could have a positive impact on Gainesville real estate.

This legislation has passed the Senate, but the entire bill does need to go back to the House, and be signed by the President. There could be many changes before this happens, or not pass at all.

But is it light at the end of the tunnel for Gainesville home buyers and would help the housing crisis immensely as you can imagine.

Visit GatorHomes.com to learn more about Gainesville real estate.

Search all Gainesville real estate and homes for sale.

Cities were ranked according to how well they are creating and sustaining jobs and economic growth. The ranking depicts those U.S. metropolitan areas that are recording the top economic performance for wage and salary growth.

Nationally, Ginesville ranked #34 in wage and salary growth for 2008, moving up from the #52 ranking in 2007. In other rankings, Gainesville is # 79 for 5-year job growth, and #63 for 1-year job growth. In Florida, Gainesville ranked fourth behind Orlando, Ocala and Pensacola.

If you are a skeptic, this story may turn you into a believer. The author is unknown.

I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb: “There is no Santa Claus,” she jeered. Even dummies know that!” My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her “world-famous” cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true. Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me.

“No Santa Claus?” she snorted….”Ridiculous! Don’t believe it.
That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad!! Now, put on your coat, and let’s go.” “Go where Grandma?” I hadn’t even finished with my second cinnamon bun yet.

“Where” turned out to be Kerby’s General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars.

That was a bundle in those days. “Take this money,” she said, “and buy something for someone who needs it. I’ll wait for you in the car.” Then she turned and walked out of Kerby’s. I was only eight years old. I’d often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself.

The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for. I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, and the people who went to my church.

I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock’s grade-two class. Bobby Decker didn’t have a coat. I knew that because he never went out to recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn’t have a cough; he didn’t have a good coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat!

I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that. “Is this a Christmas present for someone?” the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down. “Yes, ma’am,” I replied shyly. “It’s for Bobby.” The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really needed a good winter coat.

I didn’t get any change, but she put the coat in a bag, smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas.

That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) in Christmas paper and ribbons and wrote, “To Bobby, From Santa Claus” on it. Grandma drove to Bobby Decker’s house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one of Santa’s helpers. Grandma parked down the street from Bobby’s house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. “All right, Santa Claus,” she whispered, “get going.”

I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his door and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma.

Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open.

Finally it did, and there stood Bobby.

Fifty years haven’t dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker’s bushes.

That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were: ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team. I still have the Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside: $19.95.

Think about doing something this holiday season that will make you one of Santa’s helpers!