If you were attending an outdoor event and needed to know how warmly to dress, would your first thought be to consult last month’s weather forecast? Of course not. Yet that’s not unlike what many home buyers do, thinking they’re obtaining the most “up-to-date” assessment of today’s local real estate market. Regrettably the data they’re fed in the mainstream media is often as much as two months old by the time it is compiled, released publicly and positioned as indicative of current market conditions.
Unfortunately, if you rely on the best available housing statistics for Florida—as culled monthly by the Florida Association of Realtors and reported to the media—you are, in fact, using stale data to inform fresh decisions. Sales that occurred in October won’t be reported officially until late November. By the same token, a definitive glimpse at November sales won’t be released until late December. By then, the market—with all its day-to-day volatility—could easily reveal a whole new reality.
Find a number of gorgeous homes available throughout Panther Ridge. Pictured: 22426 Panther Loop.
A deed-restricted, multi-acreage home site community, Panther Ridge offers properties varying in size from one-half acre and up to 10 acres. This wonderful neighborhood is located just east of I-75 and offers a laidback country feel within moments from the city. While this community offers deed restrictions, horses are allowed, as are other agricultural amenities. Trails for horseback riding or nature walking are woven throughout.
Market Activity – Panther Ridge
There are currently 32 properties for sale in Panther Ridge, with a median asking price of $422,450 and an average of four bedrooms, three bathrooms and approximately 3,171 square feet. The homes available in Panther Ridge range from an asking price of $247,900 to $2,477,000.
In the past 60 days there have been four properties in Panther Ridge that have sold. The median selling price was $337,500 for a home that had four bedrooms, three bathrooms and approximately 2,754 square feet of living area.
Cheryl Roberts from the Bradenton office recently sold a stunning 4,032-square-foot home in Panther Ridge for $611,925. This residence is situated on 5+ acres with a pool, four bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, two built-in entertainment centers and a magnificent owner’s suite and luxury spa bathroom.
The Bottom Line – Panther Ridge
Buyers in enjoy this equestrian community located only minutes to I-75 and shopping. Here, home sites are large and boast an eclectic mix of styles to fit everyone’s taste and needs. Whether you enjoy horseback riding, walking the nature trails or just living among the Florida wildlife in an exquisite community, Panther Ridge has something for everyone.
Now is the best time to make the "American Dream" a reality.
For those considering whether or not to purchase a home, there are number of factors indicating that now is a great time to buy. Despite the media chatter declaring real estate a risky endeavor, we are actually experiencing what could be one of the best buyers’ markets in recent history. So, for means of investment or residency, property searchers are taking note and experiencing the advantages of favorable conditions.
Still on the fence about taking the plunge? Here are the top 10 reasons why now is a good time to buy that home:
1. Low Interest Rates – Mortgage rates are historically low for conforming loans. With lower rates, a buyer’s financial power is significantly increased. Even half of a percent can make a noticeable difference. For example, on a $200,000 home, half of 1 percent could save the homeowner about $815 a year. Buyers can get more home for the money, which is a perfect scenario for families looking to upsize.
2. Choices, Choices – There is a tremendous selection of properties currently available and more and more buyers are seeing the opportunities that exist. Remember, as more purchasers enter the market, many of the best values will be gobbled up first. This is an opportunity for you to purchase that dream house your family has always relished. You can find it HERE.
3. Rent vs. Buy – Think it may be a better idea to rent instead? When you rent a home, all of the money you pay in rent goes to your landlord to pay their mortgage. It does not allow you to accumulate any type of asset for yourself. However, when you buy a home, the money for the mortgage payment actually goes toward something that is tangible and belongs to you.
4. Negotiation Room – Due to the large number of homes on the market, sellers are far more willing to negotiate in terms of price as well as many other concessions. Some sellers are even willing to pay a portion of the buyer’s closing costs; a real boon to first-time home buyers.
5. Prices Scraping Bottom – It’s difficult to know whether prices are as low as they’ll go, but the housing market is showing signs of life. This is your opportunity to find the areas best values. For help, check out our Best Opportunities section for the most aggressively priced homes in the area.
6. Tax savings – Renting a home does not provide you with any opportunities to save on your taxes, but owning a home certainly does. The interest you pay on your mortgage payment every month is tax deductible.
7. Equity Forthcoming – Sure, prices are scraping bottom right now, which means when prices come back up, you’ll have instant equity. In parts of the country where foreclosures have driven down prices, better times will mean the price of the home you buy will rise rapidly.
8. More Space – You may very well find that in today’s buyer-friendly market you can afford a larger home for the same—or less—as what you are currently paying every month in rent. If you dream of having a home office, starting a family soon or expanding your family, now could be the best time to get the additional space that you need for the right amount of money.
9. Move-in Condition – Homeowners have continued to spend on maintenance and repair, according to the Harvard Joint Center on Housing. Homeowners who have been holding back kept their houses in good shape while they waited. As those houses enter the market, they are in marked contrast to tattered foreclosures.
10. Home Pride – Home ownership gives you and your family a sense of stability and security. It’s making an investment in your future.
Discover a number of gorgeous homes in Stoneybrook at Venice. Pictured: 11355 Dancing River Dr.
A Lennar community that opened in 2004, Stoneybrook at Venice is one of the newest family-oriented neighborhoods in Sarasota County. A master-planned, gated community, Stoneybrook at Venice is nestled within 640 acres with 55 percent of the area being preserve and lakes, with an array of amenities for everyone to enjoy. There are a variety of home floor plans available for retirees to growing families. Located off Center Road or River Road in Venice, it is minutes from I-75, shopping, medical facilities, schools, golf courses, downtown Venice, and, of course, our fabulous beaches.
Market Activity – Stoneybrook at Venice
Stoneybrook at Venice is enjoying robust activity in this challenging real estate market with 620 homes currently built out of an estimated 900 total. Lennar posted six new home sales in the first three weeks of June and are in the process of beginning their next phase of new construction homes. There were nine closed re-sales in the last 30+ days, and there are 12 pending re-sales. Homes prices range from the mid $100s to $300s for new and re-sale homes with square footage ranging from 1,300 to 3,000+.
Agent Kudos – Stoneybrook at Venice
Michael Saunders & Company agents have worked together to list and sell homes in Stoneybrook at Venice with a recent collaborative by Theresa Brown, listing agent from the Venice office, and selling agent Jody Skapyak of the Palmer Ranch office. The home was a lovely three-bedroom, two-bath with den, and was sited with a preserve in the back and green space on one side offering privacy and a lush setting. This home went under contract in less than 30 days and sold for an affordable $162,000. (more…)
Your dream home is out there. Be sure to take the right steps to get it. Courtesy of positiverealestateprofessionals.com
With any significant purchase, it is always important to have everything in order to ensure a smooth, stress-free transaction. From planning to payment, the smallest discretion can lead to a nightmare of results and regret. Buying your next—or first—home deserves the same close attention and scrutiny.
As anyone who has ever bought a home or property can attest, the process involves many decisions to be made and even more documents to be signed before the purchase is complete. Along the way, you want to be confident that you took the right steps to protect your best interests. So, if you are about to take the plunge, here are some mistakes to avoid that could mean the difference between a satisfied new homeowner and an unhappy climber on a mountain of debt:
1. Not checking your credit report and score - Review your credit report a few months before you begin your house hunt, and you’ll have time to ensure the facts are correct and dispute mistakes before a mortgage lender checks your credit. You can access a free copy of your credit report HERE once every 12 months. Remember, the cleaner your credit report and the higher your credit score, the more likely you are to be preapproved for a mortgage at a low interest rate. (more…)
Our office on south Longboat Key specializes in communties throughout the area.
Located near the north end of Longboat Key, Emerald Harbor captures the essence of the Florida lifestyle as a quiet bayfront community. The neighborhood’s 72 homes are all set on deep boating water along extra wide canals that offer direct access to the Intracoastal Waterway with no bridges to Sarasota Bay. Owners in this desirable community enjoy deeded beach access to Longboat Key’s sandy white beaches just across Gulf of Mexico Drive for shelling, strolling and watching beautiful sunsets.
Market Activity – Emerald Harbor
There are currently four active listings in Emerald Harbor, but activity in Emerald Harbor has been brisk recently with four of the five sales in 2009 occurring in the last four months of the year. One of those sales took place within the last 30 days. Selling prices in this community have ranged from $610,000 to a high of $1.375 million. (more…)
2010: Your year to get the most from the real estate market.
As the page on our calendars turned to the fresh slate of 2010, Americans are starting to plan what will be a priority for them when it comes to real estate. Exciting things are happening in the market, and the next few months will bring an unprecedented number of opportunities and possibilities for the heads-up buyer or seller.
While existing homeowners and potential homebuyers experience different situations and needs in regards to their future goals and expectations, we present the top 10 possible New Year resolutions to help point some in the right direction for a successful 2010 in real estate:
1. Get in the Game – Join the nearly 18 percent of Americans who say they’ve resolved to become a first-time homebuyer in 2010, according to a new survey HERE. With the homebuyer tax credit extension running until April 2010, this is an exceptional time to get in the game and become a homeowner. (more…)
Across virtually every segment of the economy, 2009 sputtered-in as miserably as 2008 sputtered-out. Yet in spite of its many challenges, the past year showed that it’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness. For if the experiences of 2009 taught us nothing else, we learned that true professionals united in common cause can truly make good things happen.
That’s how agents from Michael Saunders & Company helped re-awaken the region’s comatose housing market in 2009. United in purpose and armed with statistics to prove the point—they were able to educate sellers to the new realities of a market in which competitive pricing is key. Of course, it never hurts that ours remains Florida’s top destination for a lifestyle rich in world-class cultural and recreational amenities.
With corrected prices now the accepted norm and the popular first-time homebuyer tax credit renewed for another six months, buyers have rushed in and put the market on the fast track to stability. They’ve driven up year-over-year the number of home sales by as much as 63 percent, according to the most recent monthly MLS sales recap for November. As a company, Michael Saunders & Company is proud to announce that our agents finished 2009 with over $1 Billion in closed dollar volume and exceeded our 2008 production. It took 30 percent more transactions to accomplish this uphill feat, but lowered prices proved the catalyst by which buyers were finally heartened to return to the market.
Even as the S&P 500 gained over 69% from its annual low, holiday sales rose and the consumer confidence index improved over 40% in 2009, economists are dubbing 2010 a “Tabletop” year for the real estate industry. This means that having clawed its way back to a sustained level of sales activity, our market will continue in something of a horizontal recovery; without any major setbacks or much in the way of noticeable price appreciation, until the job market picks up and the inventory of properties—especially foreclosures—drops off. With unemployment showing signs of slowing, we are beginning to see the impact of our stimulus dollars at work.
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talk to one of our private mortgage bankers today.
If you were attending an outdoor event and needed to know how warmly to dress, would your first thought be to consult last month’s weather forecast? Of course not. Yet that’s not unlike what many home buyers do, thinking they’re obtaining the most “up-to-date” assessment of today’s local real estate market. Regrettably the data they’re fed in the mainstream media is often as much as two months old by the time it is compiled, released publicly and positioned as indicative of current market conditions.
