The new Multiple Listing Service, or MLS, search is now live.  It's taken some time with the upgraded service provider but we finally got it up and running.  Still a few kinks to work out in the code, but for the most part it is producing our desired results.

This search will let you:  Search the MLS and Map search the MLS for homes for sale in Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra, St Johns County and the surrounding areas.  With our focus being waterfront homes in Jacksonville and Jacksonville waterfront property, we have several predefined searches set up like Waterfront homes on the St Johns River and intracoastal homes for sale in Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra, Oceanfront homes Jacksonville, and oceanfront condos, etc.

We are also adding specific…

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YES!  Absolutely

Most agents will tell you no, but they absolutely work!

Even the Wall Street Journal agrees.

Top 4 Reasons Open Houses Work in Jacksonville:

  1. Statistics: National Association of Realtors survey of 2008 home buyers.  Get ready for this, 48% of all home buyers in 2008 attended Open Houses while searching for a new home.  If you don't read 2, 3, or 4, this 1 point should convince you the need for Open Houses.
  2. National Home Builders: The nations largest home builders use Open Houses.  In fact, that is one of their first goals in opening a new community:  How fast can we get the model home open. Potential buyers need to visualize the home in person and not on paper.
  3. My Results: I've seen nice homes, priced right, and in…

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More positive signs for the Jacksonville Housing Market

Ranked #19, Jacksonville made the Forbes list of best cities to buy a home!

Add the positive news to record low mortgage rates, plenty of homes to choose from on the open market, the $8000 first time buyer tax credit, and you have a great opportunity to buy a new home in Jacksonville.  If you are considering a home search, time is of the essence.  The $8000 Tax Credit is only available until December, so get out there and find yourself a home!

This Forbes list was put together using a couple of key factors:

  • The number of ZIP codes within the city with 25% of the area’s sales to determine those in which activity is most evenly distributed.  (even distribution is good)
  • Increase…

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I'm getting more and more inquiries from investors in Jacksonville.  Many are asking for help finding a short sale, foreclosed, or bank owned REO home.

Real Estate Agent for Investors in Jacksonville

I've been a real estate investor in Jacksonville since 2005.  I've purchased some bad deals and some really good deals.  Finding the right deal is the hardest part - by far!

To find the right deal, know your exit strategy.  Do you intend to rent out for positive cash flow, flip for profit, or a combination of the two?  In today's market, a buy and hold strategy is dominant as you have a very good chance of having positive cash flow.

How to find the deal? You must know the rent rates of the area and the home you are considering.  If the monthly…

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Looking for a professional Real Estate Agent in Jacksonville, FL to sell your home?

In today's home market, selling a home requires a competitive nature and a professional real estate agent.

You must have  a competitive nature in that your home for sale in Jacksonville or Ponte Vedra needs to be more attractive than your neighbors home for sale - you are competing.  Better curb appeal (good curb appeal tips here), cleaner, updated, and priced right are a requirement if you are serious about selling.  Think of it this way, there is someone looking to buy a home in your neighborhood, maybe even on your street, right now.  You want them to buy your home over your neighbors!  Check out these Sell a home in Jacksonville Tips.

Your professional real…

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Cramer, with his crazy attitude, is declaring the housing bottom is here.  He specifically addresses some of the hardest hit areas like Florida.  He talks about banks holding mortgages, new home builders, foreclosures, and the $8000 first time home buyers program.

A good video with a lot of good info.  Main take away: He believes, for the most part, depreciation of homes is coming to an end in most places.  He isn't calling for appreciation, however I think all Jacksonville home owners will be glad to get away from the value free fall.

How does this affect waterfront homes in Jacksonville?  Every area of the housing market has been hit hard.  Waterfront homes have dropped in value, but many times the drop has been necessary to bring the price back…

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If you have been shopping for a home in Jacksonville and are working with a mortgage broker or bank for a home mortgage, rates are bouncing all over the place.

Rates have moved a little and sometimes a lot.  Sometimes up as much as a half point a day. WSJ reported on the rising rates here.

How does this affect you?  If you are purchasing a home and you intend to have a $200,000 mortgage, and your rate went from 5.5% to 6.125% , your payment just went up $80 per month.

Will this trend continue?  Well, check out The Daily Mortgage Reports.  Dan has an article that talks about summer trends.  Just about every summer, rates go up.  (Kind of like gas going up just in time for summer travel).

Is it Time to Buy a Home in Jacksonville?

Yes! Rates…

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Stumbled across this site on the web this week:  Metro Jacksonville. These  guys are covering stories and news on many issues in and around Jacksonville, FL.

Topics include:  News, Urban Issues, Transit, Neighborhoods, Learning From, History, Opinion, Development, and Culture.  Great information, articles, and full of good photos in all of these sections.  Best of all, the site is what I consider "fresh".  Definition:  Not old school Stale!

They even cover different Jacksonville real estate issues and real estate developments being built in and around the city.  Great site, check them out.

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Positive economic news is starting to float around the news channels more frequently.

This article from the Jacksonville Business Journal,  is calling for the end of the recession in the third quarter and even a stabilization of the housing market.  The article goes on to state that they expect a slight increase in housing values in 2010!

Additional positive news, Jacksonville is seeing some signs of a drop in the unemployment rate.   This graph from Google shows the unemployment rate for Jacksonville compared to Florida and the US overall.  Interesting to see the last high point in the 90's and the 8 years of falling unemployment that followed.  Will history repeat?

Jacksonville.com reports this story, as many economic indicators are…

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There are many graphs and charts showing the housing market, but I like this one.  This one is different in that it shows the actual emotions of what we feel as homeowners going through a major real estate cyle like we have all just experienced.

We are currently seeing the "Point of Maximum Financial Opportunity".  How long will it continue has been argued by many economist.  Doesn't matter.  The main point is that now is a great time to buy a home in Jacksonville, FL......especially waterfront homes!

If you are already a home owner, notice the graph goes up and goes down.  We are always somewhere on this cycle as the cycle will keep going on forever.  Amazingly, home prices always go up over the long term.  Proof:  Not many people will agree to…

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