Archives

January 2007

Single-Story Homes Back in Style

Posted at 4:07 AM, Jan. 30, 2007

  One-Story Homes Make Comeback

Over the past several years, ranch-style homes (single-story) have been making a comeback. After falling out of favor, last year over 50% of all homes sold were single-story homes. The population is getting older, and the over 55 market wants everything on one floor. Many homebuilders are now offering two-story homes with a master bedroom on the first floor. This can keep their costs down, while still drawing those that like two-story homes, but want the convenience of a master bedroom on the main level.

For buyers interested in selling the home in the future, this could be a sign that it would be smart to buy a single-story home for the greatest future resale value.

Vacant Homes for Sale

Posted at 4:01 AM, Jan. 25, 2007

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that 1.9 million homes for sale in the United States are vacant. This equals approximately half of all single-family homes that are for sale. Many of the owners are investors who bought the homes in the hot sellers market of 2005, planning to flip the homes. There are also many sellers who have purchased a new home and are having trouble selling the old one.

The biggest problem now is that many of these sellers have two or more mortgages. Many have reduced the asking prices drastically to try to get the homes sold, and for some to prevent foreclosure. Declining home prices are also causing foreclosure rates to increase since many cannot sell their homes for enough to cover the balance of their mortgage. This is especially true since so many of these homes were purchased using sub-prime loans.

So what can a seller do? If you own a vacant property, make sure your real estate professional (or you if selling as a For Sale by Owner) is creative with the marketing plan. Offer a larger than average incentive to make Realtors want to show your home first, and think about having your home staged. Proper home staging can decrease the amount of time on the market and can result in a higher price. To see firsthand the advantages of home staging view a vacant home, then go to a model home center and see what a few furnishings and simple items can make the home look warm and inviting. In the Tampa area, a great staging company is Tampa Bay Home Stagers. Their website is www.TampaBayHomeStagers.com.

For buyers it is a great time to buy a home as there are some great deals and on top of that some great incentives being offered. Many builders are decreasing the amount of incentives they are offering which is good sign that the bottom may have been reached. I am also offering all buyers an additional incentive. Purchase a new or resale home using me as your Real Estate Professional and I will give you 1% of the purchase price back at closing on virtually all homes. For details call Jeff Launiere, P.A. at 813-469-3163.

Women Pay Higher Interest Rates on Mortgages than Men

Posted at 3:34 PM, Jan. 23, 2007

A study by the Consumer Federation of America shows that women pay higher interest rates on mortgages than men, even though they had similar incomes, and even when women had higher credit scores. Why? The study found that women tend to take their mortgage with the first lender they talk to rather than shop around for rates, as men seemed to do.

It is always a good idea to shop around for a mortgage as the rates can vary by lender. Beside the interest rate, the lender fees can also vary, causing some to pay more than others.

Florida Homeowners Insurance Rates to Go Down

Posted at 2:05 PM, Jan. 23, 2007

On the night of January 22, 2007, the Florida Legislature passed a 167-page bill that is expected to lower homeowner insurance premiums from 5% to 40%. Governor Charlie Crist is expected to sign the legislation on January 23, 2007. This will not result in instant rate reductions, but instead could take several months.

Florida homeowners are having trouble with the high homeowner’s insurance rates, and homebuyers have been reluctant to purchase homes because of the insurance rates. This one bill could help revitalize the housing market. Once the state tackles the property tax issue, Florida residents and those looking to move here should breathe a sigh of relief.

This is a great start for the Florida Legislature and newly elected Governor Charlie Crist.

Florida Foreclosures Rise

Posted at 5:19 AM, Jan. 19, 2007

Westbrook Estates: 2006 Real Estate Activity

Posted at 5:16 AM, Jan. 19, 2007

New Home Search

Posted at 3:18 AM, Jan. 18, 2007

New Construction/New Home Search

Are you looking for a brand new home. You can now search available new construction in the Tampa area. Pricing is given along with the city in which the homes are located.

You will see a community number, which if you would like more information regarding the community, please contact Jeff Launiere, P.A. at 813-469-3163 with the community number and we can give you the full community information.

My service is FREE to you! Broker commissions are not added on the price of any given property. Our commission is paid by the builder!

Purchase a home using Jeff Launiere, P.A. as your real estate professional and you will receive 1% of the purchase price back at closing on virtually all homes. Contact me at 813-469-3163 for more information!

If you are interested in new homes in other cities throughout the country you can search for them here. We can always refer you to top real estate professionals anywhere in the country. Just call us and tell us where you want to move, and we will get you the names of the top agents at no cost to you.

Click the image below to start your search.