Want to Know Where Interest Rates Are Heading?


Knowing whether to lock your rate or play the market is always a hard decision.  You should discuss this decision in depth with your mortgage lender or broker so that you can get all of your questions answered.  However, to get a jump start on your decision making this is a quick and dirty way to figure out if interest rates will be going up or down.

First, Don't Watch the Following Indicators:

 

  • Today's Headlines
  • Last Week's Data
  • Yesterday's Data
  • 10-Year Treasury Note
  • Talking Heads on the News


As the attached article details the 10 Year Treasury Note was up 81 basis points but mortgage rates rose .25%.  So if you were following the 10 Year Treasury…

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Some Sellers in Jacksonville are making decisions that may cost them thousands of dollars and the chance to sell their home.


"Consumers Are Idiots. Especially When it Comes to Real Estate" Quote from Real Estate Radio USA

Don't get mad at me.  He said it not me.  But I have to tell you that many Realtors do believe this statement.

Examples from Other Professions


Let's say you just inherited $300,000 and you wanted to invest it in the stock market.  Would you go with the new stock broker who just graduated college or the experienced stock guru like Warren Buffet who has a history of success?

Of course you would pick the experienced stock guru with the history of success.  If you saw someone going with a non-experience stock broker you would warn…

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Buyers can now buy a more expensive home in Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra Beach with less money down and lower credit score!

New rates are for loans obtained on July 1, 2008 or later and must close no later than Dec 31, 2008.

New FHA Maximum Loan Limits for Northeast Florida Counties:


Single-Family FHA Loan Limit is now $387,500 for Duval County Real Estate.


Single-Family FHA Loan Limit is now $387,500 for St. Johns County Real Estate.


Single-Family FHA Loan Limit is now $387,500 for Clay County Real Estate.


Single-Family FHA Loan Limit is now $387,500 for Nassau County Real Estate.


Single-Family FHA Loan Limit is now $387,500 for Baker County Real Estate.


This is an increase of $93,000 from the old FHA maximum loan limit of…

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Myths About Using a Realtor and Pricing Your Jacksonville Home

 

Myth #1  Your Realtor's skills will enable you to beat the market and sell above market value.

Your Realtors skills will enable you to sell at market value with best terms and conditions for your needs and situation.

Your Realtor can get you more than other homes that are selling in your neighborhood if the value of the features and benefits of your home justify it.  Your Realtor will create through their advertising and marketing an auction like atmosphere where the Buyer will see the traffic your home is getting, the value of your home and will be willing to offer more in order not to loose the house to another buyer.  But the higher price your Realtor will be getting you will be…

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3 Ways to Get Your Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra Beach Home Sold Faster & For More Money When Working With Your Realtor

If you’re selling your Florida home through a Realtor, you may think that your work is done. After all, you are going to be paying your Realtor at the time of closing for a successful sale. If you think this way, think again.

Selling a home with a realtor is a collaborative project. Yes, your Realtor will work hard. No, you can’t just sit back and let them do all of the work if you want a quick sale for the most money.

1.  Listen to Your Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra Beach Realtor's Advice

How can you help your Realtor sell your home? Trust their advice and cooperate. Realtors know the market and are on top of the latest trends.…

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“4 Additional Ways Buyers Sabotage Their Perfect Home Purchase”

This is a continuation of a recent post in Sandra Johnson's Columbus Real Estate Voice "4 Ways Buyers Sabotage Their Perfect Home Purchase"

1.  Not Getting Pre-Qualified

There is nothing like getting the perfect offer accepted then finding out that you can’t get the mortgage.  Don’t be out all that valuable time you spent searching for the perfect home!

 

2.  Telling Too Much To the Seller


 
Talking to the seller can be a great way to search for useful information to use in negotiations.  However, the seller can just as easily get information from you that would be harmful to your own negotiation position.  So never let the seller know that you need to make a decision in a…

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Note to Jacksonville Florida Home Sellers, Get Real On Pricing Your Home 

We have been brutally honest with 3 Jacksonville Florida home sellers this week about what their home is worth.  All of these home sellers wanted more than current market value for their home for various reasons. 

A majority of Realtors we know in Northeast Florida would have taken their homes at the price the seller thought their house was worth without bringing the sellers into reality.  We know this for a fact because the Home Sellers showed us the market analysis done by other agents for their home.  These analysis either didn’t show any detail on how the Realtor arrived at their listing price or used sold comparables that were from the time of the Sellers Market and not…

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