Saturday, June 6, 2009

Washington and Bloomberg Report Home Sales Up 6.7%

JUST OUT - Tuesday June 3 on fast Money CNBC from Washington….pending home sales increase 6.7% in April month-to-month. That is the 3rd straight month of rises in the pending homes sales index. Buyers are responding to favorable market conditions such as: 1) Increased affordability, 2) The first time home buyer tax credit and 3) Low, low mortgage rates.
This is backed up by Bloomberg's News Article dated May 27 which stated the following:
Home resales in the US rose for the second time in 3 months in April as foreclosure auctions and cheaper prices spurred bargain hunters, supporting the case for an end to the industry's slump this year. "The housing market is beginning to stabilize," Fed Chairman Ben S Bernanke said in congressional testimony on May 5. "We continue to expect economic activity to bottom out, then turn up later this year."

Locally, a pick up in sales has helped trim the glut of unsold homes, with the most desirable homes being the first to sell. This decrease in inventory leaves the buyers who are waiting for "the bottom" (who knows when that will be, but it's close) finding that the less-than-desirable properties remain. Compound that with the risk of mortgage rates increasing and you have even more reason to BUY NOW. For first time homebuyers, the $8,000 tax credit applies to purchases completed before Dec 1, 2009. Short sales (a large part of our current market) can take 90 to 120 days or more to close, so first time homebuyers need to BUY NOW. Multiple bids are now common on foreclosure sales and even short sales, so you may have to make several offers before getting a contract, so BUY NOW to get the best deal on a great home!
Apollo Beach has 335 active listings, and 140 sold from Jan - May. At this rate we have less than 12 months inventory.
Search all Tampa Bay properties at www.TampaCoastalHomes.com or better yet, call me for a FREE boat tour!

Bonnie
(813) 390-7606

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Fantastic June Fishing on Tampa Bay

Hello anglers,

Summer is here and there are plenty of memories waiting for you on the water. May was great and I can't wait to get some fishing done in June. June should have a strong Spanish Mackerel, Mangrove Snapper and Trout bite if you want something for the plate, but if you want a challenge then Tarpon are your destiny. If Tarpon are not big enough, June should offer some great Shark action. There are also some pretty good Grouper out there waiting for a hook. If anyone is interested in a Grouper charter I have a single that is looking for 1 or 2 guys to share a trip. If your interested in sharing a Grouper trip or any other type charter just email me and I'll try to set it up. I can't leave out my favorites Mr. Snook and Mr. Redfish. If this June is like last June, hang on. The Bite should be good for these guys either early in the morning or later in the afternoon into night. Regardless of your fishing interest, the Tampa Bay area has something to offer. Until next time, good luck and be safe on the water. Remember: don't let your kid be the one that got away.

I'm excited to announce that I'm back in the radio business. I will be starting a new show this Saturday from 6am-7am on CBS radio 1010-am WQYK. It's a live call in show and I would love to you listen and call in. The only downside to this is all Saturday charters will have to start at 8am.

Take care and Thank you,
Capt. Ric Liles
REEL SIMPLE FISHING ADVENTURES
www.reelsimplecharters.com
www.reelsimplefishing.com
(813)601-2900

Monday, June 1, 2009

June 1, 2009

June 2009 Volume 19 No. 6

Home buying today - focus on value

With home prices down and the number of properties for sales high in many parts of the country there have been a lot of articles and blog posts about now being a great time to buy. While the consensus is that it is indeed a great time to buy a home, it is important to maximize value when making the purchase.

While many articles focus on price, pointing to an example home used to be priced at $200,000 and now can be purchased for $180,000, they are missing the point of finding value. While saving $20,000 on the purchase is great, consider whether that $20,000 could be used more effectively another way. Would spending that money allow the purchase of a similar home in a "better" neighborhood, a larger home, or a home with better amenities like a 2+ car garage, walk in closets, or central air conditioning?

Remember that buying a home in a down market should be about getting the best value for your money, not necessarily the lowest price. After all, home prices will go up again, and the homes that will appreciate the quickest, and have the highest values are the ones that are in the most desirable neighborhoods, with the most sought-after features. Purchasing a home in this buyers market provides an opportunity not only to enjoy a new home today, but to reap the rewards of appreciating values in the years to come.