Florida Real Estate Blog

Florida: A Good Place for Business!

WASHINGTON – Jan. 26, 2012 – Wyoming, Florida and Texas rank among the 10 best states for taxes on business, while companies in states like New York, New Jersey and California have a far less pleasant tax climate, according to the Tax Foundation’s State Business Tax Climate Index, now in its 8th edition.

The Tax Foundation says it looks at dozens of state tax provisions to create the ranking –a single easy-to-use score that measures each state’s tax climate against every other state. While some similar studies focus on residents’ tax burden they pay each year, the Index focuses on how a tax system enhances or harms a state’s businesses.

“Even in our global economy, a state’s stiffest and most direct competition often comes from other states,” says Tax Foundation economist Mark Robyn. “State lawmakers need to be aware of how their states’ business climates match up to their immediate neighbors and to other states in their region.”

The 10 best states in this year’s Index
1. Wyoming
2. South Dakota
3. Nevada
4. Alaska
5. Florida
6. New Hampshire
7. Washington
8. Montana
9. Texas
10. Utah

The 10 lowest ranked states in this year’s Index
41. Iowa
42. Maryland
43. Wisconsin
44. North Carolina
45. Minnesota
46. Rhode Island
47. Vermont
48. California
49. New York
50. New Jersey

The Tax Foundation has monitored fiscal policy at the federal, state and local levels since 1937. A copy of the latest report is available on the Tax Foundation’s website.

© 2012 Florida Realtors®
Reprinted with permission. Florida Realtors®. All rights reserved.

Foreclosures in 2011 Were the Lowest in 4 Years! At Last a Good Sign!

IRVINE, Calif. – Jan. 26, 2012 – RealtyTrac released its Year-End 2011 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report today. It shows a total of 2,698,967 foreclosure filing actions – default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions – reported on 1,887,777 U.S. properties in 2011, a decrease of 34 percent in total properties from 2010. Foreclosure activity in 2011 was 33 percent below the 2009 total and 19 percent below the 2008 total.
 
In 2011, 1.45 percent of U.S. housing units (one in 69) had at least one foreclosure filing during the year, down from 2.23 percent in 2010, 2.21 percent in 2009, and 1.84 percent in 2008.

Total U.S. foreclosure activity and the U.S. foreclosure rate in 2011 were both at their lowest annual level since 2007. However, Brandon Moore, chief executive officer of RealtyTrac, says the decline in foreclosures can be blamed mainly on an inefficient foreclosure process.

“The lack of clarity regarding many of the documentation and legal issues … means that we are continuing to see a highly dysfunctional foreclosure process … particularly in states with a judicial foreclosure process,” Brandon says. “There were strong signs in the second half of 2011 that lenders are finally beginning to push through some of the delayed foreclosures in select local markets. We expect that trend to continue this year, boosting foreclosure activity for 2012 higher than it was in 2011 – though still below the peak of 2010.”
 
December activity hits 49-month low

Foreclosure filings were reported on 205,024 U.S. properties in December, a decrease of 9 percent from November and 20 percent from December 2010. December’s total was the lowest monthly total since November 2007.
 
December default notices decreased 19 percent from the previous month and were down 23 percent from December 2010; Scheduled foreclosure auctions decreased 12 percent from the previous month and were down 24 percent from December 2010; and bank repossessions (REO) increased 10 percent from the previous month but were still down 12 percent from December 2010.

Florida No. 7 in number of foreclosure actions

More than 6 percent of Nevada housing units (one in 16) had at least one foreclosure filing in 2011, giving it the nation’s highest state foreclosure rate for the fifth consecutive year despite a 31 percent decrease in foreclosure activity from 2010. Despite a 28 percent drop in foreclosure activity from November to December – caused largely by a 41 percent drop in scheduled foreclosure auctions – Arizona registered the nation’s second highest state foreclosure rate for the third year in a row, with 4.14 percent of its housing units (one in 24) with at least one foreclosure filing in 2011.
 
California logged the third-highest number of foreclosure actions in 2011 with 3.19 percent – one of every 31 housing units. Georgia ranked fourth with 2.71 percent of housing units (one in 37) in the foreclosure process; Utah ranked fifth with 2.32 percent of its housing units (one in 43) in the foreclosure process.

Other states in the top 10: 6) Michigan (2.21 percent), 7) Florida (2.06 percent), 8) Illinois (1.95 percent), 9) Colorado (1.78 percent) and 10) Idaho (1.77 percent).
 
Florida No. 3 in time it takes to process a foreclosure

Nationally, it took an average of 348 days to complete the foreclosure process in 2011 fourth quarter, up from 336 days in the third quarter and 305 days in the fourth quarter of 2010 – a 24 percent increase.
 
The average foreclosure process in New York has increased 37 percent during the time period and took an average of 1,019 days to complete. New Jersey documented the nation’s second longest average foreclosure process, at 964 days.

Florida documented the nation’s third longest average foreclosure process, at 806 days.

© 2012 Florida Realtors®
Reprinted with permission. Florida Realtors®. All rights reserved.

Average Mortgage Interest Rates Rise Due to Positive Housing Reports

Today, 1/26/2012, Freddie Mac reported that the average mortgage interest rate for 30 year fixed-rate mortgages was 3.98%, up sharply from 3.88% last week. The average interest rate for 15 year fixed-rate mortgages was 3.24%, up from 3.17% last week. A year ago the 30 year rate was 4.80%!

Even though rates did go up for both 30 year and 15 year fixed-rate mortgages, the fact is that the rates have stayed below 4% for quite a while. That is good for buyers who want to keep short-term and long-term costs down, and also for sellers who want motivated buyers.

 A Freddie Mac spokesperson said that the rates went up this week because the housing markets in the United States ended 2011 on a positive note compared to previous years. New construction rose in December 2011 by 4.4%, a 470,000 annualized rate. That was the best rate since April of 2010! Existing home sales have also been increasing on a regular basis. At the end of 2011 they had increased by 5.5% for a total of 4.61 million homes sold during last year! That is a lot of residences. Pending home sales were also up in November AND December averaging the highest levels since the spring of 2010.

All of this good news is what pushed the mortgage interest a bit higher. I always find it interesting that bad news makes rates go lower and good new pushes them higher. Oh well, they are still very low and there are some good deals to be had for those who are ready to buy.

Do keep in mind that we are a very large country, So figures that come out for the entire nation, may have little or no relevance for your particular area. In the end, it is best if you speak with a local REALTOR or financing expert to see what the situation is for your part of the United States. Florida is not Michigan, nor is Maine the same as California. Market conditions can be very different from place-to-place. Also, your own credit history, the property you want to buy, etc. will effect your specific loan options and interest rates. Your mortgage broker or bank loan officer can give you more specific information.

If you want to learn more about Freddie Mac or see the details of their survey, go to: www.freddiemac.com and click on the link for "Current Weekly Survey". They break down the survey by specific regions in the United States so you can see how your state compares to other parts of the country. They also explain the mission of Freddie Mac and offer a lot of useful information for consumers.

If you would like to speak with a lender you can find some at my website: www.jelwell.century21bnr.com . You can also speak with your own bank, credit union, or mortgage broker to see what your particular interest rate would be, should you decide to finance a home purchase.

I would also be happy to assist you in any way that I can. Just call JOHN ELWELL - REALTOR at CENTURY 21 Bill Nye Realty, Inc. : 813-783-4444 or e-mail me at: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com You are also welcome at my webpage: www.jelwell.century21bnr.com  Licensed in Florida.

Citizens Decides Not to Push Expensive Replacement Cost Determination Method

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Jan. 23, 2012 – An issue discussed at the recent Florida Realtors Mid-Winter Meetings appears resolved, at least for now. Citizen’s Property Insurance Corp. – the state-owned insurer of last resort – relied on a single vendor, 360Value, to estimate a building’s replacement costs that, in turn, impact the amount of property insurance an owner had to buy.

A number of Realtors and homeowners, however, felt that 360Value overestimated replacement costs, forcing owners to overpay for insurance. Consequently – and in response to criticism from Florida Realtors, homeowners, the media and others – Citizens says it will now consider other sources when calculating replacement cost, including other software firms, appraisers, contractors and more.

“Florida Realtors has followed Citizens’ actions closely, and we discussed replacement costs at the recent Mid-Winter Business Meetings,” says Florida Realtors Senior Vice President of Public Policy John Sebree. “This issue is important to Realtors, homeowners and buyers, and we’re pleased with Citizens’ decision to expand replacement cost appraisals.”

As a state-owned insurer, Citizens cannot raise rates beyond 10 percent per year; but critics of the replacement cost appraisals claimed Citizens found a way to raise rates by skirting the yearly cap – simply force policyholders to buy more coverage than needed.

In response, Citizens said that wasn’t true, and that replacement cost differs from market value. Buying a foreclosed home, for example, many times costs less than the money it would take to build that same home.

The problem started in late 2010 when Citizens started to use 360Value exclusively. Homeowners could not get alternative appraisals if they disagreed with the values released by the vendor. Effective now, however, Citizens will still use data from 360Value, but it will also accept the following to calculate replacement costs:

• Estimates from other vendors, such as MSB and e2Value

• An appraisal from someone licensed to estimate insurance reconstruction costs, which can be different than market value

• A general contractor, architect or engineer estimate, providing it includes a contract price for reconstruction and an itemized list of features in the home

• A property inspection report, providing it’s been conducted within the previous 12 months

Citizens officials have not said how they will deal with past problems, however. Some owners balked when their insurance premiums went up based on new and higher replacement cost estimates, but they continued to pay the higher premiums anyway. Under the updated rules, it’s not clear if Citizens will make a new estimate retroactive, and, if so, whether a property owner can expect reimbursement for premiums already paid.

© 2012 Florida Realtors®

Reprinted with permission. Florida Realtors®. All rights reserved.

FHA to Tighten Seller-Provided Assistance to Home Buyers/Borrowers

WASHINGTON – Jan. 23, 2012 – Acting Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Commissioner Carol J. Galante announced the latest in a series of steps designed to strengthen FHA’s Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund. FHA issued a final rule governing its lenders and announced a new rule, which it has not yet published, to “reduce the maximum allowable seller concession from its current level to one more in line with industry norms.”

Under current law, a seller may contribute 6 percent toward the buyer’s closing costs, which include prepaid expenses, discount points and other financing concessions. FHA previously proposed a lower rate in July 2010 and says its soon-to-be-released rule proposal will be based, in part, on comments received following that recommendation. The new proposal will also have a 30-day comment period once published in the Federal Register. FHA says a final rule will become effective after all comments are analyzed.

Any rule change remains controversial. If a seller cannot contribute more than 3 percent or 4 percent to closing costs, a buyer must bring more money to the table. The change could impact a housing market still finding its feet after the recent meltdown.

FHA, however, says the change is needed to keep FHA funding viable. According to FHA, the 6 percent cap creates “incentives to inflate appraised value.”

Lender requirements

The tighter lender rules call for FHA-approved banks, which insure more than 80 percent of all FHA forward mortgage loans, to meet stricter performance standards.

HUD may require indemnification for ‘serious and material’ violations of FHA origination requirements. A lender must also show a low delinquency rate. FHA says it will monitor lender performance on an ongoing basis.

The new lender rules have been published by HUD and are available online.

© 2012 Florida Realtors®

Reprinted with permission. Florida Realtors®. All rights reserved.

2012 Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City, FL from March 1st to the 11th! Come & Enjoy!

When I lived back in the Finger Lakes area of New York State, I had to wait until June for nice tasty strawberry shortcakes. Many of you who live in northern climes will also have to wait for these treats. However, here in Florida we will be way ahead of you. We get these delicious desserts in the winter while y'all are still shoveling that white stuff off your sidewalks.

In Plant City, Florida we have the yearly Strawberry Festival which will take place this year from March 1st to the 11th. This year will be the 77th Anniversary of this event. It is no small-town get-together. We are talking of about a major undertaking here, with numerous activities, top-notch entertainment, displays, thrill rides, food delights, etc for all to enjoy. Some of these include:

• Free entertainment like: Dennis Lee, Jay Taylor Band, Ron Diamond, The Gothard Sisters, the Kandu Magic Show and others.
• Star Headliners like: The Oakridge Boys, Crystal Gayle, The Gatlin Brothers, Air Supply, Hank Williams, Jr., and other well-known performers. Visit the festival's site link below for schedules and prices for the headline concerts.
• The Neighborhood Village which is dedicated to displaying the handicrafts and homemade items from our local craftsmen and women. Baking, cake decorating, food preservation, jewelry & beading, knitting, needlepoint, home decorations, etc.
• There is also a Kiddie Corral for the younger crowd. It includes: Kiddie Rides, Shoebox Float Contest, a Baby Parade, Kid Shows, Racing Pigs, a Baby Contest, and more.
• A great Midway full of attractions to delight you. 

• And a lot more.

Add to this the wonderful food that will be available like the mandatory Strawberry Shortcake, and you have many opportunities to enjoy yourself at this year's Strawberry Festival. With our excellent weather here in February, what better way is there to spend a day or evening.

Check under the ABOUT US menu item at the top lefthand side of the home page for special price days for kids, seniors, and others. You will also find information about directions, location, and contact numbers. They even have a map to help you find the festival easily. If you have questions, you can call the festival office at: 813-752-9194

For more information about the festival, visit its homepage by clicking on the following link: 77th Strawberry Festival

Have a Great Time!!

Posted by John Elwell - REALTOR at CENTURY 21 Bill Nye Realty, Inc., Zephyrhills, Florida Tel. 813-783-4444.

Licensed in Florida.

Photo Courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

New Record Low Levels for Average 30 Year Mortgage Interest Rates! Wow!

Today, 1/19/2012, Freddie Mac reported that the average mortgage interest rate for 30 year fixed-rate mortgages was 3.88%, down from 3.89% last week. The average interest rate for 15 year fixed-rate mortgages was 3.17%, up from 3.16% last week. A year ago the 30 year rate was 4.74%!

Even though the drop was minimal and the average rate for 15 year fixed-rate mortgages inched upward, the fact that the rates have stayed below 4% for so long is good for buyers who want to keep short-term and long-term costs down, and also for sellers who want motivated buyers.

 A Freddie Mac spokesperson said, "Mortgage rates were nearly unchanged this holiday week in lieu of a mixed bag of economic data reports. On the consumer front, retail sales edged up only 0.1 percent in December, but the Reuters/University of Michigan sentiment index continued to climb in January to the highest reading since February 2011. On the business side, industrial production rose 0.4 percent in December, slightly below the market consensus forecast, and the core producer price index rose faster than market expectations. Finally, on the home construction front, builder confidence rose for the fourth consecutive month in January to the highest level since June 2007."

Do keep in mind that we are a very large country, So figures that come out for the entire nation, may have little or no relevance for your particular area. In the end, it is best if you speak with a local REALTOR or financing expert to see what the situation is for your part of the United States. Florida is not Michigan, nor is Maine the same as California. Market conditions can be very different from place-to-place. Also, your own credit history, the property you want to buy, etc. will effect your specific loan options and interest rates. Your mortgage broker or bank loan officer can give you more specific information.

If you want to learn more about Freddie Mac or see the details of their survey, go to: www.freddiemac.com and click on the link for "Current Weekly Survey". They break down the survey by specific regions in the United States so you can see how your state compares to other parts of the country. They also explain the mission of Freddie Mac and offer a lot of useful information for consumers.

If you would like to speak with a lender you can find some at my website: www.jelwell.century21bnr.com . You can also speak with your own bank, credit union, or mortgage broker to see what your particular interest rate would be, should you decide to finance a home purchase.

I would also be happy to assist you in any way that I can. Just call JOHN ELWELL - REALTOR at CENTURY 21 Bill Nye Realty, Inc. : 813-783-4444 or e-mail me at: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com You are also welcome at my webpage: www.jelwell.century21bnr.com  Licensed in Florida.

For 4th Month, Builder Confidence Rises in January 2012

WASHINGTON – Jan. 18, 2012 – Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes continued to climb for a fourth consecutive month in January, rising four points to 25 on the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). It’s the HMI’s highest level since June 2007.

“Builder confidence has now risen four months in a row, with the latest uptick being universally represented across every index component and region,” says Bob Nielsen, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). “Policymakers must now take every precaution to avoid derailing this nascent recovery.”

Each of the HMI’s three component indexes registered a fourth consecutive month of improvement in January. The component gauging current sales conditions rose three points to 25, which was its highest point since June 2007. The component gauging sales expectations in the next six months also rose three points, to 29 – its highest point since September 2009. And the component gauging traffic of prospective buyers rose three points to 21, its highest point since June 2007.

The HMI also posted gains in all four regions in January, including a nine-point gain to 23 in the Northeast, a one-point gain to 24 in the Midwest, a two-point gain to 27 in the South and a five-point gain to 21 in the West.

“Builders are seeing greater interest among potential buyers as employment and consumer confidence slowly improve in a growing number of markets,” says NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. “That said, caution remains the word of the day as many builders continue to voice concerns about potential clients being unable to qualify for an affordable mortgage, appraisals coming through below construction cost, and the continuing flow of foreclosed properties hitting the market.”

Derived from a monthly survey NAHB has conducted for more than 20 years, the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index gauges builder perceptions of current single-family home sales and sales expectations for the next six months as “good,” “fair” or “poor.” The survey also asks builders to rate traffic of prospective buyers as “high to very high,” “average” or “low to very low.” Scores from each component are then used to calculate a seasonally adjusted index where any number over 50 indicates that more builders view conditions as good than poor.

© 2012 Florida Realtors®

Reprinted with permission. Florida Realtors®. All rights reserved.

HUD Approved Agencies Can Help Those in Danger of Foreclosure!

WASHINGTON – Jan. 17, 2012 – In recent years, many people have turned to individual agencies, housing counselors and lenders to avoid foreclosure – but many found themselves paying scammers who took money and failed to protect them.

In a new information campaign, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is telling homeowners that anyone at risk of foreclosure can receive free counseling from HUD’s nationwide network of approved counseling agencies.

Available services

Although each agency offers specific services, each generally offers the following types of help:

• General counseling in matters related to housing
• An evaluation of a homeowner’s specific situation
• Counseling on ways to avoid foreclosure
• Help with refinancing through HUD’s various programs or with lender negotiations

HUD-approved agencies cannot charge for their foreclosure counseling services. However, they can charge a reasonable fee for other services, such as general housing education, pre- and post-sale counseling, and other services.

Preparing for a first meeting

A homeowner does not have to be in the foreclosure process to seek counseling. In fact, HUD advises anyone who thinks he might have problems in the future to contact a mortgage counselor sooner rather than later. Before a first meeting, HUD suggests having the following information ready:

• Household monthly income and expenses
• Current monthly mortgage payment amount
• Latest mortgage account statement
• Any relevant communication with your lender regarding late mortgage payments

“It is also a good idea to have a sense of what you want to accomplish with the help of the approved counseling agency – keeping your home, selling it, refinancing, etc.,” HUD says in a release.

Working with a non-approved agency

To avoid a scam, HUD advises homeowners to take the following steps if working with an agency no approved by HUD:

• Avoid paying for foreclosure counseling services. HUD-approved agencies provide these services at no cost.
• Resist any tactics that pressure you into signing documents without enough time to go over them carefully.
• Do not sign over the deed of your house to any other person or organization.
• Make your mortgage payments only to your lender or an institution approved by your lender.

To find a HUD-approved agency in Florida, visit HUD’s website.

© 2012 Florida Realtors®

Reprinted with permission. Florida Realtors®. All rights reserved.

2012 Florida State Fair to be held February 9th to the 20th! Come Have Some Fun in the Sun!

 

When I lived back in New York, our state fair always took place in August when the weather was hot and the kids were all out of school. Here, our Florida State Fair occurs in February when our weather is pleasantly mild and during the week the kids are in school leaving the fairgrounds less crowded. Students get their chance to enjoy in the evenings and on the weekends.

This year the fair will be held from February 9th to the 20th at the fairgrounds located just east of the City of Tampa, Florida along US 301.

This year promises to be just as fun-packed as those of the past. Some of the scheduled activities and performers are:

• Cracker Country
• The Leroy Van Dyke Country Gold Tour
• Circus Hollywood
• Strolling Entertainment
• Motorcycle Training
• Home & Garden Show
• Golf Show
• Racing Pigs
• Petting Zoo
• Lumberjack
• Rodeo
• Lots of Thrill Rides
• A great midway
• Competitions for: Photography, Baking, Preserves, China Painting, Sewing, Needlework, Crafts, Wood Carving, Horticulture, and many MORE!
• And lots of tasty fair food that we all remember from when we were kids.
• Too many other fun activities to list here. Visit the official website to see them all.


There are SPECIAL PRICEs for students and seniors. To see pricing: CLICK HERE

To find out more about prices, dates, hours of operation, all scheduled events, a map of the fair's location, driving instructions, and contact information, just click on the following link: FLORIDA STATE FAIR INFORMATION  You can also call: 813-621-7821 or toll free 1-800-345-FAIR (3247)

The fairgrounds are located at: 4800 Highway 301 North, Tampa, FL 33610

Posted by John Elwell - REALTOR at CENTURY 21 Bill Nye Realty, Inc. 813-783-4444. Licensed in Florida.

Watch Out for Scams that Prey on Victims of Foreclosures! Crooks are Out There!

WASHINGTON – Jan. 16, 2012 – According to Loan Modification Scam Alert, a program backed by NeighborWorks America and supported by the U.S. Congress, there is a new foreclosure filing every 15 seconds in America.

NeighborWorks is working with 235 community-based affiliates to educate and protect homeowners from unethical practices. The program says it has three goals: First, alert homeowners about scams. Second, help them spot a scam before it’s too late. Third, encourage them to report scammers to the authorities. The campaign hopes to educate owners at higher risk of scams by telling real-life scam stories in fliers, postcards, door hangers, e-cards, posters, print advertising, local PSAs, events, word of mouth and social media.

Three signs of a scam

According to Loan Modification Scam Alert, foreclosure scams generally have three possible red flags:
• The company asks for a fee in advance.
• The offer comes with a guarantee that a foreclosure can be stopped or a loan modified.
• The homeowner is told to stop paying the mortgage and, in some cases, told to pay the foreclosure relief company instead.

Since the U.S. has a new foreclosure filing every 15 seconds – more than 6,100 per day –  and more than 4.5 million households at risk, scam artists see an opportunity, and Florida remains the top state for foreclosure-related scams.

“Loan modification scams are proliferating at a rapid pace,” the program claims on its website. “Every day, more homeowners are falling prey to the slick advertising and sales pitches that guarantee to keep them in their homes. Many scam artists are openly taking advantage of people in difficult circumstances – online, on the telephone, and sometimes audaciously knocking on doors.”

For more information, to read stories of harmed homeowners or to report a scam, visit the Loan Modification Scam Alert website.

© 2012 Florida Realtors®

Reprinted with permission. Florida Realtors®. All rights reserved.

John Elwell is Now Using Quick Response (QR) Codes to Help Market His Listings

Some of you may have seen the image on the right around your town. Here in Zephyrhills, Florida I have seen them at Subways, on movie posters, at the tire store, and in other places of business. Perhaps you do not know what they are or what they are there for.

They are called Quick Response Codes or QR Codes. They work a lot like the barcodes you find on every item you buy at the supermarket. Only in this case, instead of the skinny lines, fat lines and spaces telling a computer what product the scanner is seeing at the checkout stand, the QR code is made up of small squares that are configured in special way. But they do not tell you what the price of a bar of soap is. These QR codes will give your Smart Phone an internet website address. That way, when you are out looking at homes and you want more information about a home, if a QR code is displayed, your Smart Phone can scan it and take you to the website where you can find more information about that home and others. A whole lot easier than trying to type in letters on a tiny keyboard.

To be able to do this, you need to do the following. If you have a Smart Phone, it will have a screen where you can find and download Apps or Applications (usually found under a "Market" icon) that let your phone do lots of neat things. One of these is a scanning app. On mine it is called RedLaser. Not only will RedLaser let you scan QR Codes, but it will also let you read most barcodes on products at Walmart, your supermarket, or any other retail outlet. Your phone may have other scanning apps. If you have problems finding the right app, the place where you bought your phone can help you, I am sure.

Once your Smart Phone has the scanner app installed, all you have to do is open it and then point your phone's camera at the the code symbol. Almost immediately, the phone will either open your browser and show you the website, or it will ask you if you want to open the website. Just tell it "YES". At that point, you can see lots more information that could be useful.

The QR Code in this post is for one of the pages that hosts my listings. If your Smart Phone is ready now, you can even scan that image right now to see how it works. Give it a try for practice! On my webpage you will not only see my listings, but also the following interesting links to help you when you are looking for property:

• Video tours of my homes
• Lots of still pictures
• Community information
• And lots more!

So, if you see one of these QR Codes when you are out and about, try scanning it into your Smart Phone and see what you can learn. You might be pleasantly surprised. I am sure that my sellers like having the latest innovations utilized when I am marketing their homes.

If you have any questions about QR Codes or other real estate issues, do not hesitate to contact me. John Elwell - REALTOR at CENTURY 21 Bill Nye Realty, Inc.  813-783-4444 or e-mail me at: jelwell@tampabay.rr.com

2012's First SATURDAY NIGHT CRUISE in Zephyrhills, Florida on January 28th

The first Saturday Night Cruise of 2012 will take place in Zephyrhills, Florida on January 28th from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the downtown area of the city. The intersection of 5th Avenue and US 301.

These events are always popular and are even more so, now that our weather is temperate and we have alll of our winter visitors in residence. Why not stop by and enjoy yourselves with family, friends, and neighbors. Zephyrhills is a very friendly city and this is a perfect time to take advantage of that atmosphere. So please come jon in!

If you would like to see a complete schedule of Main Street Zephyrhills' 2012 events, click on the following link: 2012 EVENTS

Posted by JOHN ELWELL - REALTOR at CENTURY 21 Bill Nye Realty, Inc.  813-783-4444. Your "full-time, full-service" real estate professional in Zephyrhills, Florida. Licensed in Florida.

Winter 2012 Home Remodeling Tips and Ideas

Show Your Home Pride: 7 Home Improvement Projects for $1,000 (or Less)

Americans still think buying a home is one of the best decisions they’ve ever made. Here are some ways to increase your home’s value and comfort for less than $1,000. Read more

Granny Flat or In-Law Suite? Which is More Prudent?

If you need to house aging parents or adult children, or if your family is multi-generational, what’s better — an in-law suite or a little granny cottage in the back yard? Read more

7 Smart Strategies for Kitchen Remodeling

Kitchen remodeling can turn a ho-hum room into your home’s pride and joy. Here are strategies to help your project run smoothly. Read more

What Your Remodeling Contract Should Say

Review your remodeling contract carefully and adjust it to make sure it protects you in terms of payments, work schedules, and project specifications. Read more

7 Smart Strategies for Bathroom Remodeling

Here’s how to get the bathroom of your dreams without making your budget a nightmare. Read more

 

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

© Copyright 2012 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

 

Posted by John Elwell - REALTOR at CENTURY 21 Bill Nye Realty, Inc. 813-783-4444. Licensed in Florida. Website: www.jelwell.century21bnr.com

New Record Low for Average Mortgage Interest Rates says Freddie Mac Survey

Today, 1/12/2012, Freddie Mac reported that the average mortgage interest rate for 30 year fixed-rate mortgages was 3.89%, down from 3.91% last week. The average interest rate for 15 year fixed-rate mortgages was 3.16%, down from 3.23% last week. A year ago the 30 year rate was 4.71%!

Mixed signs were coming from labor market statistics. Apparently the unemployment rate went down, but still remains historically high. A worry to many. And some experts say that the increase in jobs was partly due to added employees needed during the holiday season, and that these jobs could disappear in weeks to come. The US Federal Reserve reported that the number of permanent jobs that were created was limited.

Let's hope that the other positive signs will mean that in the months to come things will get significantly better. Hard to say in an election year when often things go a little "crazy". But low rates and low prices are big inducements for buyers. Not necessarily a bad thing.

Do keep in mind that we are a very large country, So figures that come out for the entire nation, may have little or no relevance for your particular area. In the end, it is best if you speak with a local REALTOR or financing expert to see what the situation is for your part of the United States. Florida is not Michigan, nor is Maine the same as California. Market conditions can be very different from place-to-place. Also, your own credit history, the property you want to buy, etc. will effect your specific loan options and interest rates. Your mortgage broker or bank loan officer can give you more specific information.

If you want to learn more about Freddie Mac or see the details of their survey, go to: www.freddiemac.com and click on the link for "Current Weekly Survey". They break down the survey by specific regions in the United States so you can see how your state compares to other parts of the country. They also explain the mission of Freddie Mac and offer a lot of useful information for consumers.

If you would like to speak with a lender you can find some at my website: www.jelwell.century21bnr.com . You can also speak with your own bank, credit union, or mortgage broker to see what your particular interest rate would be, should you decide to finance a home purchase.

I would also be happy to assist you in any way that I can. Just call JOHN ELWELL - REALTOR at CENTURY 21 Bill Nye Realty, Inc. : 813-783-4444 or e-mail me at: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com You are also welcome at my webpage: www.jelwell.century21bnr.com  Licensed in Florida.