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Labor Day weekend is behind us…wow hard to believe it’s September. Time is flying!
While many were at the beach, at a bar-be-que, shopping or just plain having fun, I was showing property. I’m not looking for the “let me play my small violin”, lol, because I’m so happy to do so! Several reasons…
One of my buyers, whom I showed property to this weekend, called me yesterday to ask a question. She started our conversation by saying “You are lucky to live at the beach. You don’t have to go back to reality”. When we hung up, her statement really hit me…more about the going back to reality part. Yes, I know I am lucky to live here, and I don’t take it for granted…hence the reason my husband and I work so hard…we want to stay here! It’s funny because whenever I leave the area, about 2 days later, I’m “home sick”. I just want to get back to paradise. So even when I “come back to my reality, Destin, Florida” I am glad to be here and ready to get back to selling real estate.
Check out the updated YTD-2010 spreadsheet in the “stats” box to the right. For those of you who believe nothing is selling…the numbers don’t lie.
What do you think?
Destin Florida Beaches, Destin Florida Real Estate, Destin Real Estate | 
Destin beaches, destin florida, Destin Florida Real Estate
By Debbie James, September 8, 2010
Labor Day weekend is behind us…wow hard to believe it’s September. Time is flying!
While many were at the beach, at a bar-be-que, shopping or just plain having fun, I was showing property. I’m not looking for the “let me play my small violin”, lol, because I’m so happy to do so! Several reasons…
One of my buyers, whom I showed property to this weekend, called me yesterday to ask a question. She started our conversation by saying “You are lucky to live at the beach. You don’t have to go back to reality”. When we hung up, her statement really hit me…more about the going back to reality part. Yes, I know I am lucky to live here, and I don’t take it for granted…hence the reason my husband and I work so hard…we want to stay here! It’s funny because whenever I leave the area, about 2 days later, I’m “home sick”. I just want to get back to paradise. So even when I “come back to my reality, Destin, Florida” I am glad to be here and ready to get back to selling real estate.
Check out the updated YTD-2010 spreadsheet in the “stats” box to the right. For those of you who believe nothing is selling…the numbers don’t lie.
What do you think?
Destin Florida Beaches, Destin Florida Real Estate, Destin Real Estate | Destin beaches, destin florida, Destin Florida Real Estate
By Debbie James, September 8, 2010
Labor Day weekend is behind us…wow hard to believe it’s September. Time is flying!
While many were at the beach, at a bar-be-que, shopping or just plain having fun, I was showing property. I’m not looking for the “let me play my small violin”, lol, because I’m so happy to do so! Several reasons…
One of my buyers, whom I showed property to this weekend, called me yesterday to ask a question. She started our conversation by saying “You are lucky to live at the beach. You don’t have to go back to reality”. When we hung up, her statement really hit me…more about the going back to reality part. Yes, I know I am lucky to live here, and I don’t take it for granted…hence the reason my husband and I work so hard…we want to stay here! It’s funny because whenever I leave the area, about 2 days later, I’m “home sick”. I just want to get back to paradise. So even when I “come back to my reality, Destin, Florida” I am glad to be here and ready to get back to selling real estate.
Check out the updated YTD-2010 spreadsheet in the “stats” box to the right. For those of you who believe nothing is selling…the numbers don’t lie.
What do you think?
Destin Florida Beaches, Destin Florida Real Estate, Destin Real Estate | Destin beaches, destin florida, Destin Florida Real Estate
Real Estate continues to be local in nature – consider the U.S. weather map; there is no relationship to the Destin weather map – this comparison is valid for real estate the conditions and trends of national markets have little to no similarities to the Destin market.
U.S. Weather Map
The concept of FIFO – is applicable here – the Destin Florida real estate market was arguably the first to crash (first in) – the fall began in September 2005 and it is showing signs that it is also going to be among the first out of this prolonged (3 1/2 years) downward market adjustment. During those great years of appreciation the Destin to Seagrove Beach to Rosemary Beach real estate markets appreciated faster and higher than most of the other U.S. real estate markets; we have also fallen faster and deeper. Continue reading →
Posted in Destin Florida Beaches, DEstin Florida Gulf Front Condo, Destin Florida Real Estate Foreclosure, Destin Florida Stimulus, Uncategorized Leave a commentWhy is it that after nearly 4years of a downward adjusting real estate market are there still so many over priced properties For Sale.
I am the broker of a boutique resort real estate brokerage in Destin Florida and frankly over the last couple of weeks, no make that months, better yet let’s say over the last three years the agents in my office have been struggling with REALTORS who continue to price properties based on competing Active (that is not SOLD) properties. For some reason they think their new listing needs to be added to the glut of the over priced – that is not SOLD properties.
Why is it these “Experienced”, “Seasoned”, Professional” REALTORS insist on listing over priced properties – why is it that they (the professionals) continue to let the property owners set the price – why are these properties even on the market For Sale – why is it that when presented with offers that represent today’s current Fair Market Value these agents continue to defend these over priced properties? Continue reading →
Posted in Destin Florida Beaches, DEstin Florida Gulf Front Condo, Destin Florida Real Estate Foreclosure, Destin Florida Stimulus, Foreclosure Tagged Destin, Destin Florida Foreclosure, Destin Florida Real Estate, Destin Florida Realtor, Destin Florida Short Sale Leave a commentReal Estate continues to be local in nature – if one was to look at a weather map – one would be more concerned about the local weather and less about the weather in areas 400 miles away – and so it is in real estate.
The concept of FIFO – is applicable here as well – the Destin Florida real estate market was arguably the first to crash – the fall began in September 2005 and it is showing signs that it is also going to be among the first out of this prolonged (3 1/2 years) downward market adjustment. The Destin to Seagrove Beach to Rosemary Beach real estate markets appreciated faster and higher than most U.S. real estate markets; we have also fallen faster and deeper. Continue reading →
Posted in Destin Florida Beaches, DEstin Florida Gulf Front Condo, Destin Florida Real Estate Foreclosure, Destin Florida Stimulus, Real Estate Stinulus, Short Sale Florida Tagged Condo, Destin Florida Foreclosure, Destin Florida Real Estate Stimulus Plan, Destin Florida Short Sale, Florida Gulf Front Leave a commentIt’s has begun – sellers are sellingtheir properties and are coming to Destin Florida with the plan to buy. As an example we have a customer who has been online looking at Destin Florida properties for the last 9 months – put his condo in the Caymen Islands for sale and it sold in 3 days; closed in two weeks. I’d be willingto be the buyers of his Cayman Island condo sold something to buy it. This seller turned buyer will be in Destin Florida to buy a $350,000 – $400,000 home in April.
Another Seller turned buyer sold his commercial property in Tennessee after being on the market for nearly a year – sold it and closed a few weeks ago. Coming to Destinto buy his new vacation home at the beach in April – price range around $750,000. You have to know the people that bought his commercial real estate sold something first.
The snowball begins to roll slowly – properties sell and close and the snowball picks up speed. The traditional philosophy of real estate investing is in play, you still make your money on the buy – buy low – keep 5-7 years – remember this is a cyclical business and then 1031 into another property. Interest rates are at an all time low, property values are at the same levels they were at in early 2003 – we’ve got all the makings of a new economy.
Posted in Destin Florida Beaches, DEstin Florida Gulf Front Condo, Destin Florida Real Estate Foreclosure, Destin Florida Stimulus, Real Estate Stinulus Tagged Condo, Destin, Destin Florida Foreclosure, Destin Florida Real Estate Stimulus Plan, Destin Florida Short Sale, Florida Gulf Front Leave a commentI am a real estate broker of a boutique resort brokerage in Destin Florida. I am fortunate in that in addition to having great agents working for me I also have two personal licensed assistants and Lucy Normann my New Contact Care Manager working for me; Amanda Bonne’ is my Buyers Assistant and Brittany Bryson my Listing Assistant. Between the three of them we have conversations with about 75 potential buyers per day. Why is it that some recognize that now is the time to buy and others that that time is somewhere in our future? Then there are those who say they are going to wait another year to 18 months – does anyone have any idea what the market will be doing then?
I have discussions with all three of these valued assistants throughout the day and the one recurring comment by both although mostly from buyers is “I am waiting for the BOTTOM”. The allusive proverbial Bottom, what is it, where is it and how will I recognize it?
What is the “Bottom” Continue reading →
Posted in Destin Florida Beaches, Destin Florida Real Estate Foreclosure, Destin Florida Stimulus, Real Estate Stinulus, Short Sale Florida Tagged Condo, Destin, Destin Florida Foreclosure, Destin Florida Real Estate Stimulus Plan, Destin Florida Short Sale, Florida Gulf Front Leave a comment
I am a real estate broker in Destin Fl and I hear each of these sentences at least 10 times a week;
For the record there are no deals – there is only FAIR MARKET VALUE. The days of “the DEALS” for now are a thing of the past – deals existed when mortgages were substantially below FAIR MARKET VALUE – when a property owner fell on unfortunate times, could not afford to pay their mortgage and the property went up for auction and was sold at was considered to be a deal, because the selling price was below fair market value and closer to liquidated value or the remaining mortgage value.
Today the mortgage amounts are far greater than market value – the lenders are taking great losses with the Short and Foreclosure sales – these selling prices are based on Continue reading →
Posted in Destin Florida Beaches, Destin Florida Real Estate Foreclosure, Destin Florida Stimulus, Real Estate Stinulus, Short Sale Florida, Uncategorized Tagged Destin Florida Foreclosure, Destin Florida Real Estate Stimulus Plan, Destin Florida Short Sale, Gulf Front Leave a comment
Buyers Returning to Destin Florida
Buyers are returning to the Destin Florida real estate market – because believe it or not – today’s buyers are also the smart successful sellers of real property yesterday. Want to know why they are so smart? Because financially they are secure, they’ve got the 20% & 25% down payments, their credit scores are good and they know that by selling their property at today’s fair market value it can be replaced by property bought at today’s fair market value. These buyers were sellers that sold and closed on their real estate either here in Destin Fl or they sold their properties in our feeder markets like – Memphis Tennessee – Atlanta Georgia – Little Rock Arkansas & Birmingham Alabama. They are also coming from many of our southeast’s drive to neighbors who have also sold real property in their small towns, villages and cities real estate markets; they drive to Destin Florida because they love enjoying our beaches, fishing and golf – they are selling and closing their properties to cash in at today’s Continue reading →
Posted in Destin Florida Beaches, DEstin Florida Gulf Front Condo Tagged Condo, Destin, Destin Florida Foreclosure, Florida Gulf Front, Gulf Front Leave a comment
