Sarasota Luxury Real Estate News

For Sellers: Maximizing the Value of Your Home

Knowing the factors that affect the value of your home is important when you’re getting ready to sell. Focus on the changes you can affect and work with your realtor to minimize or compensate for the things you can’t. 7 Things You Can Change to Add Value to Your Home An updated kitchen. Big kitchens […]

Spotlight on Local Housing Sales

Nationally, the sale of existing homes rose 9.4% in September. In Florida, sales rose by 34%. Local analysts say it’s a combination of falling prices and the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit that has made all the difference in South Florida. Housing activity in two counties, Broward County and Palm Beach County, reveal just how […]

Secure and Grow Your Property Investment Return

If you are a buyer with money to invest in today’s housing market, there are a number of strategies that have stood the test of time when it comes to property investment and realizing a return on those investments. Below are 8 tips from the authors of Investing In Real Estate (McLean and Eldred 2006) […]

5 Tips for Today’s Home Buyer

Price matters notwithstanding, buying a home in today’s economy is different than in years past. As a potential buyer, here are 5 important considerations before you purchase a home in the near future: 1. Flip at your own risk. The housing market is looking up, but if we’ve learned anything over the past two years, […]

Low Mortgage Rates Incentivize Refinancing

Mid-October rates for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.92%. This is 6.46% less than the rate a year ago. According to Freddie Mac chief economist Frank Nothaft, rates under 5% are enticing some homeowners to take advantage of low rates to refinance their current balances. Northaft says that three out of five mortgage applications in […]

Home Sales Up Everywhere in September

Bolstered by first time homebuyers taking advantage of the $8,000 tax credit, the sale of previously-owned homes was up 9.4% in September. “Much of the momentum is from people responding to the first-time buyer tax credit, which is freeing many sellers to make a trade and buy another home,” explains National Association of Realtors chief […]

Plan to Aid State and Local Housing Finance Agencies

Obama Administration officials have unveiled a plan to aid state and local housing finance agencies that provide mortgages to first-time and lower-income homebuyers and enable the development or rehabilitation of rental properties. The measure will enable housing agencies in all 50 states to provide lending directly to families and enable the development or rehabilitation of […]

Homebuyer Tax Credit Ending Soon (Or is it?)

While an extension of the November 30, 2009, deadline for the homebuyer tax credit is actively being considered, it’s not a done deal quite yet. In the meantime, it bears noting what the first time home buyer tax credit has done and continues to do for the real estate market. Almost 50% of all houses […]

Sarasota MLS Third Quarter Statistics

Sarasota MLS Third Quarter Statistics

I have been tracking the listing and sales volumes for years in our local market. While the statistics from the Sarasota Association of Realtors will show greater numbers, I track the data of the following zip codes 34201, 34202, 34228, 34229, 34231, 34232, 34233, 34234, 34235, 34236, 34237, 34238, 34239, 34240, 34241, 34242, 34243, 34275 […]

Sarasota MLS Third Quarter Statistics

2009 3rd Quarter Perspective

There were 22 homes sold this year in our neighborhood, Bird Key, compared to 34 in all of 2008, 32 in 2007 and 18 in 2006. The year to date sales volume is $19,700,000 compared to $46,000,000 in 2008. The main reason being that there has only been one sale this year of a substantial […]

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