Florida Real Estate Blog

Beautiful Double-Wide Mobile For Sale in South Hill Park Near Zephyrhills, Florida

What more could you ask for? A beautiful spacious home on a corner lot in one of Zephyrhills' most popular mobile subdivisions, South Hill. This wonderful furnished 2 bedroom/2 bath home could be just the winter retreat you have been searching for. However, it is so roomy it could also be a comfortable year-round home! It has 1,144 of heated and cooled living space, which does not include the airy and bright Florida room or the long carport & huge utility room. Even the lot the home sits on seems larger since it is on a corner.

Throughout this residence you have soaring vaulted ceilings that create a light and open feeling. It is tastefully decorated in color tones that will match nearly any accessories you care to add when you make this home your own. An inventory of the furnishings that will stay is available.

The kitchen has a cute breakfast nook and all of the major appliances that you will need. The sale includes a disposal, range, refrigerator, microwave oven/hood, and dishwasher. Storage space here is not a concern. More than enough to go around!

The large master bedroom has its own full en-suite bath with shower and plenty of natural lighting. There is ample closet space with full-length mirrors on the closet doors. No lack of space here for furniture or your personal items.

The guest room is also larger than you would normally find in many mobile homes. When friends and family come to call, you will be able to accomodate them in style here. The sofa in the living room also converts into a bed if you need it for additional visitors.

The Florida room also has a vaulted ceiling and feels more like a "second living room". Since it faces the south, during the winter months, this will be a welcome and cozy spot to laze away a peaceful afternoon while the rest of the world is shivering back in the north!

The carport is long and should easily accomodate two cars. At its end is the large utility room with its washer and dryer hook-ups. Plenty of room for a workshop and storage too. You can never have too much of that.

In South Hill Mobile Home Park you own the land under the home. This is NOT a rental park. The current homeowners fee is only $25/month, and gains you access to the park's heated swimming pool, shuffleboard courts, and recreation building. Especially during the winter months this area is the hub of social activites in South Hill. With some restrictions, pets are welcome in this subdivision.

Conveniently located just to the west of Zephyrhills, Florida you will have only short drives to supermarkets, pharmacies, parks, restaurants, supercenters, home centers, libraries, and the City of Tampa. That is an important point when traffic and the price of gasoline are both increasing!

Priced at just $79,900 this home will garner a lot of attention from buyers. For more information or to arrange a tour, please contact John Elwell - REALTOR at CENTURY 21 Bill Nye Realty, Inc. Tel: 813-783-4444 or via e-mail at: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com

I also invite you to visit my other websites at the following locations on the internet:

My Webpage: www.jelwell.century21bnr.com

My Zephyrhills 55+ Bulletin Board: www.bulletinboards.com/zephyrhills55+bulletinboard/

To see a larger version of any image below, just click on it!

    

Average Mortgage Interest Rates Edge Upward Again and Closing in on 5% Again

Today, 12/17/09, Freddie Mac reported that the average mortgage interest rate for 30 year fixed-rate mortgages was 4.94% (4.94% in the southeast), up from 4.81% a week ago. The average interest rate for 15 year fixed-rate mortgages was 4.38%, up from 4.32% last week. A year ago the 30 year rate was 5.19%. Just a few weeks ago they were at 4.71%. How many of you took advantage of that low rate???

Interest rates on bonds went up this past week and mortgage interest rates did the same, just like they always do. Retail sales in November went up, as did industrial production. Perhaps even more signs that we are recovering little-by-little?

Interest rates on fixed-rate loans have stayed under the 5% for seven weeks now. Not too shabby for those who took the opportunity to buy new homes or to refinance. Even better if they got to use the available tax credit. I had a couple who just bought one of my large mobile homes and they got a 5.1% interest rate on their mortgage. That is almost unheard of for a mobile home mortgage loan!

Nearly 3 out of every 4 mortgage loan applications during the first 2 weeks of December were for refinancing. Not long ago we thought that 6% loans were low. Now people are using the even more incredible rates that are now available to lower their payments even more. Good news for buyers and for current homeowners alike.

Do keep in mind that we are a very large country. So data that comes 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 me at: 813-783-4444 or e-mail me at: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com  You are also welcome at my webpage:  www.jelwell.century21bnr.com

Mobile Home on Rental Lot For Sale in Thonotosassa, Florida

Mobile Home in Thonotosassa, Florida For Sale Immediately

Features:

• 55+ park

• 14 X 50 feet

• no pets

• 2 bedrooms and 1 bath

• screened porch

• remodelled

• furnished

• new shed 10 X 12

• roofover

• watersoftener

• central AC

• carport

• lot rent $270 month includes,water sewer, trash pick-up

• In move-in condition.

• Just $15,500!

Phone: 813-982-9453 or email tlchamp@chilitech.net

This information is being posted as a courtesy for some friends of mine and came directly from them. I have no connection with this property whatsoever except for allowing it to be posted on my site. Nor am I being compensated for my assistance.

If you are interested in this comfortable home, contact the owners directly at the phone number or e-mail address above. I am sure they will be happy to answer all of your questions.  John Elwell - REALTOR

To see larger versions of any of the images below, just click on them:

 

 

State Farm Insurance to Stay in Florida and to "Limit" Number of Non-Renewals

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation today (12/16/09) announced that Commissioner Kevin McCarty has issued a Consent Order that resolves the pending litigation between State Farm Florida and the Office over State Farm Florida’s plan to leave the property insurance market.  By the terms of the Consent Order, State Farm Florida will remain a significant player in the Florida residential property insurance marketplace. 

 

"This agreement is the product of a long and arduous negotiation process,” remarked Commissioner McCarty. "The final result is beneficial to the people of the State of Florida, and beneficial to the Florida insurance marketplace. The consent order satisfies the Office’s requirements issued in our Order dated Feb. 13, 2009, and allows State Farm Florida to remain a viable insurer in the Florida market."

 

Under the terms of the Consent Order, State Farm Florida will non-renew no more than 125,000 policies of its 810,416 residenital property policies reported as of Oct. 2009. Even after these non-renewals, State Farm Florida will remain the largest private insurer of property insurance risk in the state of Florida. The Consent Order also grants State Farm Florida a 14.8 percent rate increase for all homeowners’ and condominium unit owners policies, which was based on information provided to the Office by State Farm Florida. 

 

The consent order concludes a series of events that began with the Office's denial of State Farm Florida's ultimate average rate request of 67.1 percent. The Consent Order signed today results in the withdrawal of State Farm Florida’s withdrawal plan filed Jan. 27, 2009 and the cancellation of the Jan. 25, 2010 hearing before the Division of Administrative Hearings.

 

About the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (Office) has primary responsibility for regulation, compliance and enforcement of statutes related to the business of insurance and the monitoring of industry markets. For more information about the Office, please visit www.floir.com. If you would like to review and compare homeowners insurance rates in Florida, go to www.shopandcomparerates.com

 

Source: Press Release from Florida Office of Insurance Regulation

December 16th Commerce Deparment Statement on New Housing Starts Increase

WASHINGTON—The Commerce Department’s U.S. Bureau of the Census today released data on new residential construction in November 2009. Permits rose 6.0 percent in November and starts increased 8.9 percent, in both cases exceeding market expectations. Permits have risen 17.3 percent above their low in April, and starts have advanced 19.8 percent above their April low point. These gains reflected increases in single-family activity, while multi-family starts have increased modestly.

“The upward trend in homebuilding is encouraging, and the outlook for further growth is promising,” U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said. “With mortgage rates low, bank lending for residential mortgages becoming less restrictive, and the Recovery Act tax incentive for homebuyers extended and expanded, both home buyers and builders will continue to have attractive opportunities in the coming months.”

Source: US Department of Commerce Press Release

Just Sold in the Casa del Sol Subdivision near Zephyrhills, Florida

My listing on Hermoso Lane located in the Casa del Sol mobile home subdivision just west of Zephyrhills, Florida was sold today. I am sure its new owners will enjoy meeting all of their new neighbors and the fine facilities that are available to them here. They will have their own little piece of paradise to be sure!

If you are thinking of selling your home or know of someone who would like to move to Zephyrhills or the East Pasco County are of Florida, do not hesitate to contact me.  John Elwell - REALTOR® at CENTURY 21 Bill Nye Realty, Inc.  813-783-4444 or e-mail me at:  jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com

I also invite you to stop by my webpage at: www.jelwell.century21bnr.com It will be a pleasure to assist you in any way that I can.

Click on any of the pictures below to see a larger version.

Mobile Homes for Sale in Zephyrhills, Florida as of December 14, 2009

If you are looking for your place under the Florida sun, Zephyrhills could be just the spot that you are searching for.

To assist you, I am attaching a PDF file to this post of the mobile homes that are currently available for purchase here as of December 14, 2009. All you have to do is click on the following link to download the pages that you can view and/or print: Download Mobile Homes For Sale as of December 14, 2009[ They are listed from lowest price to highest. If you just want to see them on your computer increase the view to 100% at the top of the screen. If you want to print them just hit PRINT and they should print up "full-page view" automatically.

Keep in mind these homes are from our own CENTURY 21 Bill Nye Realty, Inc. inventory and that I can also e-mail you listings from other companies via our Multiple Listing Service. Just let me know what your requirements are. I can even set up an auto-notification system so you will get immediate messages when a new listing comes on the market that meets your needs! Convenient, right??

Do keep in mind that some of these homes may be in registered 55+ Housing subdivisions. To check this out, you can visit the State of Florida's 55+ registry page. Just click here for information from the state: http://fchr.state.fl.us/housing_directory/search/Pasco/County

If you would like to contact me about these or any other homes, you can call me at: 813-783-4444 or e-mail me at: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com

You are also welcome to visit my main webpage at: www.jelwell.century21bnr.com

Foreclosure and Short Sale Properties Available in Zephyrhills, Florida

In this post you can download an Adobe Acrobat PDF file of the foreclosure and short sale properties we currently have in our inventory in Zephyrhills and the East Pasco County areas of Florida, as of December 14, 2009.

To see these listings, just click on the following link to download the pages, which you can then view and/or print: Download Foreclosures & Short Sales in Zephyrhills 12-14-09

For more information about these listings or any others, you can contact me anytime at: 813-783-4444 or e-mail me at: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com

I also invite you to visit my website at: www.jelwell.century21bnr.com

PRICE REDUCED AGAIN for Building Lot on Forbes Road, Zephyrhills, Florida

 

The price has been reduced again for this building lot on Forbes Road in Zephyrhills, Florida. It is located just to the south of Proud Mockingbird Road and north of the Lynbrook Drive turn-off. The county says it can be used for either a single-family home or a modular home. However, according to them, no mobile homes can be placed here. County says lot size is just over 3/4 of an acre, but owners have no survey so buyers should confirm this parcel size if it is important to them.

Due to its location just to the east of Zephyrhills and only a bit off of County Road 54 you can have easy paved access to Zephyrhills, Lakeland, Plant City, Tampa, and Dade City.

There is a Florida Power (Progress Energy) easement along the south side of the property. Buyers and agents should use a reasonable feasibility period to confirm to their satisfaction the lot's dimensions, area, size, easement placements, easement restrictions, zoning requirements, and any/all other matters of concern to them.

Now priced at only $39,900 this could be your place under the Florida sun. For more information or to speak with me, you can call John Elwell - REALTOR at CENTURY 21 Bill Nye Realty, Inc. at 813-783-4444 or e-mail me at: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com  I also invite you to visit my webpage at: www.jelwell.century21bnr.com

New Pasco County Home Buyer Education Workshop Schedule Available for Winter 2010

I just received information from the county about the new classes that will be available for home buyers who want to use the assistance programs available through Pasco County. These will begin after the new year has begun.

In an earlier post I reported that they had been suspended due to the looming expiration of the home buyers tax credit. Now that this credit has been extended into 2010 the classes are resuming. Also keep in mind that there are other forms of assistance available in the county that require that you attend these workshops. So here they are:

• Thursdays, January 7th and 14th, 2010 from 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM at the Alice Hall Community Center at 38116 5th Avenue, Zephyrhills next to Zephyr Park. You must attend BOTH sessions! 
• Thursdays, March 4th and 11th, 2010 from 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM at the American Legion Hall at 37745 Church Avenue, Dade City. You must attend BOTH sessions!
• Joining Hands Community Mission located at 3214 US Highway 19, Holiday. There are two separate full days, and you only are required to attend one of them. You do not have to attend both. The first will take place on Saturday, January 23, 2010 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Or you can attend the second one on Saturday, February 13, 2010 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Both of these are all-day session that is why you only have to go once instead of two evenings like the previous ones I mentioned.
• Pasco County Commissioners Offices at 7530 Little Road, New Port Richey. You have two pairs of evening sessions you can attend at this location.
  • Mondays, February 1st and 8th from 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM with attendance at BOTH sessions required OR
  • Thursdays, March 18th and 25th from 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM with attendance at BOTH sessions required.

Do note that there will not be childcare available while the workshops are taking place. 

Topics that will be covered are:

• Determining the price of the home that you can afford

• Down payment and closing cost assistance

• Pre-qualifying for financing VS Getting Pre-approved

• Shopping for interest rates

• Closing on a home loan

• Qualifying for a mortgage loan

• Financial Counselling

• Other Real Estate topics

  For more information you can view the actual newsletter by downloading the following document: Download Dec 10, 2009 Pasco County Community Dev. News

  You can call to reserve your spot at the above workshops or get more informaton at the following number: 1-877-854-1446

Average Mortgage Interest Rates Go Up a Bit, But Are Still Well Below 5%

Today, 12/10/09, Freddie Mac reported that the average mortgage interest rate for 30 year fixed-rate mortgages was 4.81% (4.80% in the southeast), up from 4.71% a week ago. The average interest rate for 15 year fixed-rate mortgages was 4.32%, up from 4.27% last week. A year ago the 30 year rate was 5.47%.

Due to a more favorable unemployment report, bond interest rates increased, and mortgage interest rates played "Follow-the-Leader". The US economy only lost 11,000 jobs last month and that was a lot fewer than had been predicted. Plus September and Octobers unemployment figures were revised in a more positive direction.

Even with the slight increase this week, the rates are still well below those of last year. That works out to $81 less per mortgage payment on a $200,000 30 year fixed-rate loan.

And do not forget that prices are also down and there are tax credits available now that can help both first-time home buyers, as well as many purchasers who already own a  home. These credits will expire at the end of the first quarter next year, so do not delay too long.

Again, here in Zephyrhills, Florida we are just beginning a peak period for the sale of vacation homes. Lots of out-of-state license plates around and I am getting many more calls about homes for sale. There are buyers out there RIGHT NOW. And after the holidays we will have an even bigger influx of "snowbirds". Many of whom will have the financial ability to make purchases. I say "Welcome to them all!"

Do keep in mind that we are a very large country. So data that comes 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 me at: 813-783-4444 or e-mail me at: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com  You are also welcome at my webpage:  www.jelwell.century21bnr.com

Internal Revenue Link for More Information Concerning the Home Buyer Tax Credit

As I reported earlier, the federal government has extended and expanded the popular tax credit that exists for many home buyers. Way back when, it was really just a no-interest second mortgage.

Then it was changed last year into a true tax credit where first-time home buyers could get up to an $8,500 tax credit. Sweet! Some states and counties even worked it out so you could use this as part of the down payment. For the purposes of the tax credit, "first-time" meant anyone who had not owned a home in the past 3 years. This credit was due to expire at the end of November 2009.

Now, not only has this credit been extended into 2010, but it now embraces many people who currently own a home and want to buy a different one. There are limitations of course, but it does make the money available to a much wider spectrum of Americans.

To read more about this you can visit the Internal Revenue Site by: CLICKING HERE

Or the National Association of REALTORs Site by: CLICKING HERE

If I can assist you further, call me at: 813-783-4444 or e-mail me at: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com

Residents of Some Florida Areas Still Insist on Over-Pricing Their Homes to Their Own Detriment

I see this every day. A homeowner will call me and want to know at what level their home should be priced in today's market. I review the recent sales in the country records, as well as those in the local multiple listing service (MLS). I then use my own knowledge of the area and the pricing out there, and often consult with colleagues to get their impressions. I then analyze the data I find.

With that information, I go out and present my results to the owner, and let him/her know withing which price range their home will fall. In most cases, the sellers trust my intelligence, training, and experience and go with my recommendations. However, for some reason, there are those that insist that their home is worth more, yet can provide little valid and tangible evidence to support their beliefs.

Apparently, this is not the case in other areas of the country. Unfortunately, Florida has 4 of the cities with the worst over-pricing in the country. This is according to Forbes Magazine. You can see their list of the "most bang for the buck" cities by clicking on the following link and go to their site: http://www.forbes.com/2009/11/30/cities-affordable-cheap-lifestyle-real-estate-housing-foreclosures_chart.html

You will find Orlando, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Tampa/St. Petersburg, and some others at the bottom of the list.

You might ask, why would a homeowner knowingly over-price their home when they know that similar homes are selling and have sold for less? Here are some of the reasons I have encountered, none of which are valid or reasonable in our current market (or any market for that matter):

• They have made improvements and are simply adding those costs on to the price they paid for the home. Almost no improvements will immediately get you 100% of your investment back. Baths and kitchens are the best, but in most cases even those will not recover all of your costs unless you wait a few years before you sell. And if by improving you "over-improve" your home for an area, you may never get the costs back. Note, I am speaking of remodeling/improvements here, not needed repairs. Repairs will help you get more for your home, as well has help it sell more quickly. 
• Sellers get emotional about their homes. It is "MY HOME" and that makes it better than the rest. Kind of like the mother who thinks her son is the smartest, cutest, best behaved, etc. A nice thought, but of no real value to a buyer. I had one seller who had a pile of rocks (she called it a rock garden, but that was stretching it) in her front  yard. To her it was valuable since each rock came from a place she and her husband had visited. But to a buyer it was just an ugly pile of rocks in the front yard and not worth the thousands of dollars the owner thought it was.
• Owners sometimes concentrate on what current ACTIVE listings are priced at. An appraiser from a bank will not even look at active listings. He/she will only consider SOLD properties since those are the proof of what people are willing to pay for similar homes in the area. Asking prices prove nothing. They could be way over or under the realistic price of the home.
• Sellers might be looking at sold properties, but from too far in the past. What an owner could get in 2005 is definitely not what they can get today. We should all know that by now. 
• Sellers say they "need" a certain amount to pay off a car loan, get their kids through college, pay off the mortgage, etc. This has nothing to do with what the home is worth at any point in time. What the buyers are willing to pay is what the home is worth. Buyers do not care what you NEED. They will buy the similar home next door if it is cheaper. A hard but timeless truth.
• Owners often listen to their neighbors who tell them that they sold their own homes for much more than they really did. Usually the county records can reveal the truth. I had one seller who said his neighbor sold an identical house next door for $234,000 less than a month in the past. My seller wanted to get that much too. When I checked in the public records, it turned out that the neighbor's home sold for over $40,000 less than he had said it did. 
• Sellers hate to lose money. I understand fully and sympathize with them. Many who bought in 2005 and 2006 are "upside-down" and owe more than their home is worth. Of course, the same thing happens all the time for anyone in the stock market. If you wait long enough, prices usually come back up if the company is sound. But if you are upside-down in your situation, sometimes you just have to: bite the bullet and wait it out, sell via a short sale if you can, or go into foreclosure.  Sad, but true. However, buyers will not over-pay and put themselves in the same situation to pull you out of the fire.
• A little like the last comment, but not nearly as bad are the sellers who bought back before the boom. Maybe 10 years ago, for example. They paid $75,000 for their home, which in 2009 is now worth $150,000. Not a bad profit. However, they cannot get it out of their heads that if they had sold back in 2005 they could have received $225,000! So now, they want to still get that much, even though that "train has now left the station". They could still sell now with a nice little profit, but refuse to put a reasonable price on their homes since they cannot accept the fact that they missed the peak.
• Some sellers do not play the game of pricing just under a benchmark. For example, instead of pricing their homes at $199,900 they insist on putting $202,000 on their property. So anyone searching for homes at 200K or under will never see the listing, even though it is only a few thousand off. Why do we see $4.99, $19.95, etc on prices in stores? It sounds better and looks cheaper even if it is almost the same. If it did not work, the stores would have stopped doing it years ago. Trust me! It does make a difference.
• Some sellers, hard to believe I know, are just greedy. They want to make a killing and insist that they will get it. Even though the very idea flies in the face of logical thinking. It almost never works out, and as the months and even years pass, their homes become "stale", and for all intents and purposes, disappear from the market. Agents forget them, and so do the buyers who might have made an offer if the price were within reasonable limits. When buyers do finally see them, they see that they have been on the market for 657 days, for example, and are much more likely to make a very low offer.

In most cases, agents (certainly I do) warn our customers to avoid these traps. But there are times when no amount of convincing will make a seller be reasonable. It is sad to have to refuse to take an over-priced listing, see another less experienced, ethical, etc agent take it, and then see it go unsold month-after-month. Or worse, see it go into foreclosure since the sellers ran out of time while it sat priced too high. That is truly sad! But I see it happen often.

So, examine the data your agent presents you with, and consider his or her advice very carefully and seriously. If you are not confident with his/her abilities, get a second opinion. But do not make the mistake of over-pricing your home. In the end, it almost never works out well.

If you would like to discuss this further, do not hesitate to call me at: 813-783-4444 or e-mail me at: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com  You can also visit my webpage at: www.jelwell.century21bnr.com

Profile of the Typical 2009 Florida Home Sellers and Home Buyers

The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) has released its yearly report on what this past year's home buyers and sellers were like. It can make for interesting reading for professionals, but also for laymen. It can give you some insight into how you match up with others.

Of course, we are specifically interested in the profile of the Florida real estate customers since that will more closely reflect what is happening here in the Sunshine State. Conditions in California, Minnesota, New York, Kentucky, etc may be quite different. To read the entire report, you can download a complete copy by clicking on the following link: Download Florida2009 - Buyer&Seller Profile

Below I am going to list some of the items that caught my eye as I scanned the report.

- 41% of the buyers were first-timers, compared to 47% nationwide.

- First-time buyers were on average 31 years old. Repeat buyers 54.

- Single females made up 18% of first-time buyers and males 11%.

- Desire to own a home was the main motivator for 29% of buyers

- Nationwide NEW homes only made up 18% of sales, while in Florida they were 26%.

- Typical home bought here was 1,850 sqare feet and built in 2000

- 78% of buyers purchased single-family detached homes, as opposed to mobiles, condos, villas, etc.

- Median price of home in Florida was $176,500. Nationwide it was $185,000.

- 75% of buyers used the internet to help them search for homes. (Guess the time I spend on my internet ads is paying off!

- Buyers had a high opinion of REALTORS. 81% said that they had received extremely useful information.

- Average buyers in Florida spent 12 weeks home searching and viewed 15 homes before buying.
67% of buyers used an agent to help them make it through the purchasing process unscathed and in one piece.

- 16% of buyers here purchased a foreclosed property. Nationwide 10% purchased
this type of distressed property.

- 64% of buyers said they would use an agent again in the future. So we must
be doing something right.

- 81% of purchasers financed their properties while nationwide 92% did
that. So Florida had more cash buyers. I certainly see that here in Zephyrhills
with our many retiree buyers. They often pay cash.

- REALTORS assisted 85% of sellers in Florida. Nationwide the percentage was the same.

- Recent Florida sellers reported getting 93% of their listing price. And 65% reported having to reduce their prices at least once. Very close to the national norms.

- FSBO’s or For Sale By Owners made up just 10% of the sales here. Lower than the national average.

Those are just some of the points that came out in the profile. As I said, to see the complete document, download the PDF version of the entire report by clicking on the link above.

If you need more information about real estate matters in Zephyrhills, Pasco County, or Florida, do not hesitate to call me any time at: 813-783-4444 or e-mail me at: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com  You can also visit my webpage at: www.jelwell.century21bnr.com

Source of Information: National Association of REALTORS

Watch Out for Increased Police Vigilance in Zephyrhills and Pasco County, Florida

A few weeks ago I got ticketed for not having changed the address on my Florida drivers license within 10 days as the law demands. Oh well, guilty as charged and the State Trooper was very nice.

However, lately I have noticed that when I go to work (about a 10 minute drive) without fail I pass at least 3 police vehicles! Some are state troopers, some are county deputies, and others are officers from the City of Zephyrhills, Florida. They are either sitting along the road looking for speeders or other traffic law violators, or they already have someone stopped along the road waiting to receive a citation.

This presence appears, to me at least, to be much greater than in years past. Now, keep in mind that last year there was a big push to cut county and city property taxes. Add to this the fact that the assessed values of homes have fallen, as reflected on our tax bills. This has resulted in a loss of revenue for our local governments. So it may be that the officers no longer have the flexibility to let us off with a warning since the fines they collect could go to help keep them or their colleagues in their jobs. Something to consider. Also keep in mind that the state has increased the fine amounts. I was fined $111 just because I had not changed my address! That's a lot to me.

That said, if we are breaking the laws we cannot complain if we get caught and are fined. Ok, we can complain, but it will do no good. If we speed and a law enforcement officer gets us, we have to pay the price. It is just that nowadays, they have less leeway to give us a break. If they do, it could mean that someone in their unit could lose a job. In the end, they are just doing the job that we are paying them to do and are trying to keep our highways safer.

So, while you are out and about in Zephyrhills and Pasco County, Florida keep an eye on that speedometer. Especially in school zones or where there is a transition from one speed limit to another one. That does not mean to creep along. Sometimes that can be as bad as going too fast. However, be aware of the speed limits on the road where you are and stay within them. Otherwise you might just get a nasty surprise! Ouch!!

One more thing to keep in mind is that our winter residents are arriving and that means a lot more traffic, and hence, a lot more accidents. So be alert out there and have a safe ticket-free and accident-free winter!

I cannot help you with traffic tickets (wish I could), but if you need assistance with buying and/or selling a home, you can contact me at: 813-783-4444 or e-mail me at: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com  You can also visit my webpage at: www.jelwell.century21bnr.com anytime!