Florida Real Estate Blog

Excellent 2 Bedroom/2 Bath Double-Wide For Sale in Oaks Royal III Near Zephyrhills, Florida

Pride of ownership is very evident in this wonderful double-wide mobile home. Located in the Oaks Royal III subdivision just to the west of Zephyrhills, Florida it is conveniently located close to shopping, supermarkets, restaurants, parks, etc. This home has been loving updated in many ways. From floor-to-ceiling you will see that this home is not like the others. This home is clean, neat, updated, and comfortable.

Both bedrooms each have TWO closets! On the front of the home is a large covered screened patio that is perfect for enjoying our excellent Florida climate. There is a two-car carport with a huge attached utility room. Behind the home is a spacious green and shady area that creates the perfect separation from the neighbors to the rear. Sellers will be leaving many furnishings, and an inventory is available for prospective buyers.

This is not a rental lot. You own the land under the home here. The low homeowner association fees, currently just $389/year, gain you access to the subdivision's pool, clubhouse, whirlpool spa, and shuffleboard courts.

This home is definitely worth a look at just $82,900! For more information or to arrange a tour, call John Elwell at CENTURY 21 Bill Nye Realty 813-783-4444 or e-mail me at: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com I also invite you to visit my webpage at: http://www.jelwell.century21bnr.com

Click on any of the pictures to see a much larger view of this property.

Freddie Mac: Interest Rates Rise! Did You Get Caught?

Today 4/24/08 Freddie Mac reported that after several weeks of no upward movement of mortgage interest rates and with the average rate well under 6%, average mortgage interest rates for 30 and 15 year fixed-rate loans have moved upward once again. Nationally the average mortgage interest rate for 30 year fixed-rate mortgages was 6.03% (6.00% in the southeast), up from 5.88% a week ago. The average interest rate for 15 year fixed-rate mortgages was 5.62%, up from 5.40% last week. A year ago the 30 year rate was 6.16%.

How many of you were waiting to see if the rates had bottomed out? As many stock investors find out, knowing exactly when a market has bottomed out is a difficult thing to do. Sometimes you have to take a low market that looks good and make your move. Otherwise you risk having the market do an about-face on you and start back in the wrong direction. Some buyers are doing the same thing with house prices. They are betting that the home prices will drop further. Even though they are now often less than $100/square foot, a price that was common before the last hot market began, buyers wait on and on hoping they will go even lower. At some point, the prices will start back up again, and they will wish they had moved. Catching the market when it is at its absolute lowest is nearly impossible. Close to lowest is often good enough. In my area we are seeing inventories slowly drop and demand picking up a bit. At some point prices will follow interest rates and begin to climb again. If both interest and prices rise, that will truly be a double whammy.

The latest rise in interest rates is due to inflation fears. The Producer Price Index rose 1.1% in March. That was double what the experts had predicted.

It was also revealed that it now appears less likely that the Federal Reserve will drop interest rates substantially at its next meeting. Some of you that are waiting may want to speak with you lender or mortgage broker and find out what a half percentage point increase will cost you each month and over the life of your loan. You may be surprised.

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.

Where to Find Cheap Gas in Zephyrhills, Florida, and the United States

This is a little off the topic of this blog, but as a real estate agent I put a lot of miles on my car and a lot of gas in its tank. Many people who are house hunting do the same. If you would like to find where the cheapest gas is in your area, you can click on the following link: http://www.motortrend.com/gas_prices

You will be taken to the Motor Trend website where all you have to do is enter your zip code, and a list of gasoline vendors will appear with the prices that they are are charging. Hope this helps you out. Prices have just gone insane during the past two years haven't they??? Glad someone is getting rich!

Feel free to contact me if you have any real estate needs. You can call me 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

Little or No Movement in Interest Rates This Week: Freddie Mac

Today 4/17/08 Freddie Mac again reported that the average mortgage interest rates for 30 year fixed-rate loans have not changed a bit since last week's report and the rates for 15 year fixed-rate loans dropped just slightly. Nationally the average mortgage interest rate for 30 year fixed-rate mortgages was 5.88% (5.86% in the southeast). The average interest rate for 15 year fixed-rate mortgages was 5.40%, down from 5.42% a week ago. A year ago the 30 year rate was 6.17%.

Fixed-rate interest rates held steady while Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) rates decreased due to the belief that the Federal Reserve will drop rates further at their next meeting. Some believe that the chance that rates will be lowered is nearly 100% certain!

March housing starts were the lowest in 7 years, and both consumer and homebuilder confidence remains low. More and more on the news the "R word" ie recession is being heard. But no one seems to be able to say with any certainty if we are beginning it, in the midst of it, or on our way to clawing our way out of it.

On the positive side, as I have said in the past, if you have good credit or cash reserves, prices and interest rates both are at historically low levels. Usually when one is up the other is down, thus diminishing the benefits. When both are low, that is a time to consider making a purchase if you can. In a few years there will be a lot of people kicking themselves when a normal market returns and the current opportunities are no longer available. Millionaire investors buy when prices are low and money is cheap. Something to at least consider.

Do keep in mind that we live in a very large and complex country. What happens in California is not necessarily what is happening in Florida. And what happens in Florida may be a far cry from what occurs in Michigan. Real estate is still very much a local issue.

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.

PRICE REDUCED! Spacious Double-Wide Mobile Home On 1 Acre Lot Near Zephyrhills, Florida

This home is located just to the south of Zephyrhills, Florida within commuting distance from Tampa, Lakeland, Plant City, and Dade City. So work in the city and then retreat to a bit of the country where you can relax and enjoy your own piece of Florida.

This 3 bedroom/2 bath double-wide was built in 1998 and features vaulted ceilings throughout. The great room can be used exclusively as living room, or it is large enough to have a formal living area at one end. The room spans the entire width of the home. All of your furniture will comfortable fit here. Even that big-screen plasma television!

The kitchen is equally spacious and has ample room for a perfect dining area. Cabinet and counter space are never in short supply here. All major appliances will stay with the home, as well as the washer and dryer that are in a utility area at the far end of the kitchen. Without a doubt many a wonderful meal will be prepared and enjoyed in this room.

This home is built on the split-plan concept, with the master bedroom at one end of the residence and the two other bedrooms at the opposite end. The master bedroom is 13 ft by 15 ft so you will not feel cramped here. It has a huge walk-in closet for your storage needs. Of course, there is an on-suite bathroom with a vanity and soaking tub that is separated from the shower and commode. Makes getting ready in the morning a lot easier.

The two other bedrooms have their own bathroom nearby and each of them has its own walk-in closet which is unusual for most homes. They are huge!

The lot is just over an acre in size with the area around the home being cleared and some wooded buffers on the sides and front. Little glens that would be perfect for an outdoor patio or gazebo. This is not a postage stamp lot like those in many of today's subdivisions. Behind the home is a utility shed tha will hold your gardening supplies and tools. The riding lawnmower is even included in the sale of this home!

This great home is now VERY modestly priced at just $124,948! Call 813-783-4444 today for more information or to arrange a tour. You can also e-mail me at: e-mail me at: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com

I also invite you to visit my webpage to see a slideshow of this property and other properties that are available for purchase. Just go to: www.jelwell.century21bnr.com

Freddie Mac: Average Mortgage Interest Rates Unchanged This Week

Today 4/10/08 Freddie Mac reported that the average mortgage interest rates for 30 and 15 year fixed-rate loans have not changed a bit since last week's report. Nationally the average mortgage interest rate for 30 year fixed-rate mortgages was 5.88% (5.84% in the southeast). The average interest rate for 15 year fixed-rate mortgages was 5.42%. A year ago the 30 year rate was 6.22%.

The economic data that was released this past week was lukewarm at best with no earth-shaking revelations to stir-up the mortgage market and send interest rates up or down. Existing home sales were the lowest since record-keeping began in January 2001, perhaps an omen of similarly poor performance in the months to come. In addition, 80,000 additional jobs were lost in March.

Home prices in most urban areas continue to fall. However, in some isolated cases prices did rise. According to the National Association of REALTORs (NAR) over half of 150 major metropolitan areas experienced a drop in prices. Lansing, Michigan suffered the greatest drop, while Cumberland, Maryland bucked the trend and had the strongest growth.

Do keep in mind that we live in a very large and complex country. What happens in California is not necessarily what is happening in Florida. And what happens in Florida may be a far cry from what occurs in Michigan. Real estate is still very much a local issue.

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.

$12,000 PRICE REDUCTION! Double-Wide Mobile Home For Sale in South Hill Park Near Zephyrhills, Florida

  The owner of this home in the South Hill Mobile Home Park just to the west of Zephyrhills, Florida has reduced its price by $12,000! It has two bedrooms, two baths, and a two car carport. The home also features a screened covered patio, vaulted ceilings, and utility room. Range, refrigerator, microwave oven, washer and dryer are included in the sale.

This is not a rental park. You own the land. Deed restrictions do exist and this park does appear on Florida's list of 55+ parks. The subdivision amenities include a recreation building, community pool, and shuffleboard courts. Due to its location you have very easy access to parks, supermarkets, restaurants, supercenters, and medical facilities. Yet the fees in this park are just $25 per month!

This home will not last long now at just $64,900.

For more information or to arrange a tour please call me at: 813-783-4444 or e-mail me at: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com

I also invite you to visit my my website where I think you will find a lot of useful information. To get there just click on the following link: www.jelwell.century21bnr.com 

NAR: Existing-Home Sales to Stablize Before Upturn in Second Half of 2008

WASHINGTON, April 08, 2008 - Little change is expected in existing-home sales over the next few months, before improving notably during the second half of the year, according to the latest forecast by the National Association of Realtors®.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said the market will come into clearer focus this summer. “Existing home sales could start to show a sustained increase within a few months, unless there are some additional economic problems or excessive inflationary pressure,” he said. “We’re looking for essentially stable sales in the near term, before higher mortgage loan limits translate into more sales in high-cost markets. The wider access to affordable credit should increase sales activity notably this summer as pent-up demand begins to be met.”

The Pending Home Sales Index,* a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in February, slipped 1.9 percent to 84.6 from an upwardly revised reading of 86.2 in January, and was 21.4 percent lower than the February 2007 index of 107.6. “The slip in pending home sales implies we’re not out of the woods yet, though an era of successive deep sales declines appears to be over,” Yun said.

The PHSI in the Northeast rose 3.2 percent in February to 71.8 but remains 25.4 percent below a year ago. In the Midwest, the index declined 3.7 percent to 82.7 and is 17.4 percent lower than February 2007. The index in the South fell 5.5 percent in February to 85.0 and is 30.3 percent below a year ago. In the West, the index rose 2.1 percent in February to 95.8 but is 6.1 percent below February 2007.

Existing-home sales are likely to rise from an annual pace of 4.9 million in the first quarter to 5.9 million in the fourth quarter. With relatively weak activity in the first part of the year, existing-home sales for all of 2008 are forecast at 5.39 million, increasing 6.6 percent to 5.74 million in 2009.

“Exceptionally weak home sales related to jumbo loans problems will depress home prices in the first half of the year, but steady liquidity improvements in the conforming jumbo-loan market will help prices recover in the second half of the year,” Yun said. The aggregate existing-home price will probably ease by 1.4 percent to a median of $215,800 for all of 2008 before rising 3.7 percent to $223,800 next year.

Yun noted that there will continue to be wide variations in regional housing market conditions. “Some parts of the country that can expect improvement include the Northeastern region and the oil-patch states of Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas,” he said. With lower interest rates and flat home prices in many areas, NAR’s housing affordability index is forecast to rise 14 percentage points to 127.0 in 2008.

New-home sales are projected to fall 25.7 percent to 576,000 in 2008 before rising 4.6 percent to 602,000 next year. Housing starts, including multifamily units, are estimated to drop 26.3 percent to 999,000 this year, and slip another 0.5 percent to 994,000 in 2009. The median new-home price will probably fall 3.6 percent to $238,400 in 2008, and then rise 4.0 percent next year to $247,800.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, which has fluctuated recently, should average 5.8 percent in the second and third quarters, but trend up to an average of 6.3 percent in 2009.

“The economy will not grow in first half of the year,” Yun said. “However, the combination of recent fiscal stimulus enactment and the lagged impact of monetary policy will help jump start the economy in the second half.” Growth in the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to be 1.4 percent in 2008 and 2.4 percent next year. The unemployment rate is forecast to average 5.4 percent this year and 5.6 percent in 2009.

Inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, is projected at 3.4 percent in 2008 and 2.2 percent next year. Inflation-adjusted disposable personal income is likely to grow 1.2 percent this year and 3.0 percent in 2009.

Source: National Association of REALTORs Press Release

State CAN Suspend Allstate From Writing New Policies - Florida Courts Say

As some of you may remember, a couple of months ago I reported that Allstate had refused to produce documentation that the State of Florida had requested. Therefore, the state told Allstate that it could no longer write any new insurance policies in Florida, including auto and life insurance coverage. Allstate appealed and a court temporarily stopped the state's move.

Now the courts have told the state Office of Insurance Regulation that it CAN prohibit Allstate and its subsidiaries in Florida from writing new policies until it produces the documents that the state has demanded of it. Allstate says it is doing all it can (yeah, right). If the company produces the requested documents, they can return to their business of issuing new policies.

Since insurance reform was legislated over a year ago, many companies have been either foot dragging, looking for loop-holes in the law, or just continuing to request huge rate increases. To many of my customers and me, it appears that the reform laws have had little effect on protecting the consumers here in Florida. Perhaps this latest round will make a few of them toe-the-line, at least a bit.

The suspension applies to Allstate Floridian Insurance Co., Allstate Indemnity Co., Allstate Property & Casualty Insurance Co., Allstate Insurance Co., Allstate Floridian Indemnity Co., Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Co., Encompass Insurance Co. of America Encompass Indemnity Co., Encompass Floridian Insurance Co., and Encompass Floridian Indemnity Co.

In a related topic, some state legislators are talking of taking $250,000,000 from Citizen's reserve fund to help encourage new insurance companies to start up in the state. This is a loan, not a permanent withdrawl from Citizen's coffers. At this point it is too soon to say if this proposed legislation will make its way into law, but we will keep a watch on it to see how it fares. More companies, and therefore more competition and consumer choices, might not be bad things for us to have here.

For more information or questions about this topic please call me at: 813-783-4444 or e-mail me at: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com

I also invite you to visit my my website where I think you will find a lot of useful information. To get there just click on the following link: www.jelwell.century21bnr.com

PRICE REDUCED!! Great 2 Bedroom/1.5 Bath Single-Wide Mobile For Sale Near Zephyrhills, Florida

This neat, clean, and furnished 2 bedroom/ 1.5 bath mobile home is located not far from the center of Zephyrhills, just to the west of Zephyr Park. It has a very large and bright Florida room with an attached workshop. The primary area of the Florida room is insulated. Just outside the Florida room you have a nice open covered patio and a long carport. The home is located on its own 6,000 square foot lot. Part of the lot is fenced in and the backyard has a small solar-heated above-ground pool. This could be your perfect place to spend time while the winter winds blow up north.

The home is not located on a rental lot. You own the land here. No homeowners or CDD fees here. Due to its location you have easy access to supermarkets, parks, supercenters, restaurants, and medical facilities. Now just $44,900. This home is attractively priced! For more information or to arrange a tour call John Elwell - REALTOR® at CENTURY 21 Bill Nye Realty 813-783-4444 or e-mail me at: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com

I also invite you to visit my my website where I think you will find a lot of useful information. To get there just click on the following link: www.jelwell.century21bnr.com

PRICE REDUCED!! Double-Wide Mobile For Sale in Florida Trailer Estates Near Zephyrhills, Florida

Think it is nearly impossible to find a nice 1982 double-wide 2 bedroom/1.5 bath mobile home on its own lot for well under $50,000? Well, here is one for you to consider, and its owners have reduced its price even more! Whether as a year-round residence or a refuge from the north's wintry blasts, this home could be just what you are looking for. The home is being sold furnished and features a bright cheery east-facing Florida room. Located in Florida Trailer Estates, just to the east of Zephyrhills, the new owners of this property will have easy access to supermarkets, medical facilities, supercenters, restaurants, and more. The park offers a clubhouse and shuffleboard courts, yet its homeowners fees are just a very low $125/year. Home Warranty available. Price is now reduced to just $44,900 and this home may not last long. Call today to arrange a tour or for more information. CENTURY 21 Bill Nye Realty, Inc. John Elwell 813-783-4444. You can also get more information and see more pictures by visiting my webpage at:  www.jelwell.century21bnr.com

Mortgage Fraud Up 42% Last Year, But More Is Caught Before Transaction Is Completed

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network last week released a report that indicates that suspicious activity has been on the rise nationwide. There was a 44% increase in 2006. In 2006, there were 37,313 mortgage fraud SARs filed. The final total for mortgage fraud SARs filed in 2007 was 52,868, an increase of 42 percent.

Mortgage fraud is a continuing problem for lenders, and also consumers. Just as shoplifters at Walmart raise the prices for all of the honest shoppers. Those who commit mortgage fraud make it more expensive and difficult for the rest of us to get the loans we need.

The most common types of suspicious activties were: misrepresentation of income or assets followed by forged documents, misrepresentation of a borrowers' intent to occupy a property, and inflated appraisals.

So be vigilant when applying for financing. Make sure that your mortgage broker is not playing "fast and loose" with the rules. Report any of his or her actions that seem inappropriate or downright dishonest to you. Not only will you keep yourself out of legal and financial trouble, but you will be helping others who will be applying for loans in the future. Mortgage fraud is not victimless crime, nor is it a matter of little importance. The authorities take this type of illegal activity very seriously.

You can also find out more about home buying and mortgage fraud, etc at the Housing and Urban Development site: http://www.hud.gov/buying/index.cfm            English
http://espanol.hud.gov/buying/index.cfm        Español

For more information or questions about this topic please call me at: 813-783-4444 or e-mail me at: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com

I also invite you to visit my my website where I think you will find a lot of useful information. To get there just click on the following link: www.jelwell.century21bnr.com

Source: The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network Press Release

Very Nice Single-Wide Mobile Home For Sale in Zephyr Shores, Near Zephyrhills, FL

This home is located in Zephyr Shores which is one of the popular mobile home subdivisions that Zephyrhills, Florida has to offer. You own the land here. This is NOT a rental park. This 2 bedroom/1.5 bath home is perfect place to avoid the cold winter weather of the great frigid north. Could also serve as a comfortable full-time residence. It is being sold furnished so all you have to do is bring along your personal items and move right in.

The home has a bright Florida room, an eat-in kitchen, a screened patio, an open patio, a carport, and a large utility room/workshop with laundry hook-ups. Homeowner fees here are currently a low $275 a year and include trash pick. In addition, the fees gain you access to the park's clubhouse, community swimming pool, shuffleboard courts, and Six Mile Pond. What more could you ask for?

For more information 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 . You can also visit my webpage at: http://www.jelwell.century21bnr.com  This home is definitely worth a look at just $44,900!

Click on any of the pictures below to see a full-size view

Average Mortgage Interest Rates Creep Upward Says Freddie Mac

Today 4/3/08 Freddie Mac reported that the average mortgage interest rates for 30 and 15 year fixed-rate loans have begun to move upward once again. Nationally the average mortgage interest rate for 30 year fixed-rate mortgages was 5.88% (5.86% in the southeast), up from 5.85% a week ago. The average interest rate for 15 year fixed-rate mortgages was 5.42%, up from 5.34% last week. A year ago the 30 year rate was 6.17%.

If you have good credit and can qualify for a conforming loan (not subprime) your interest rates will still be on the low side, historically speaking. However, average rates did creep up a bit based on the belief that the economy might be a little stronger than had been predicted. Consumer spending was revised upward for the last quarter of 2007 and February's personal income growth was reasonably strong. A strong economy can fuel inflation fears and that helped push rates up a bit this past week.

According to a Freddie Mac spokesperson "Housing, however, still continues to be a drag on the economy. In 2007, residential fixed investment shaved nearly a full percentage point off of GDP, the most since 1980. In February, median existing house prices (excluding condominiums and co-ops) were 16.0 percent below the peak in June 2007 and median new home prices were 7.0 percent below the record set in March 2007. Moreover, new construction of one-family homes was 61.5 percent below its all-time recent peak in January 2006."

Do keep in mind that we live in a very large and complex country. What happens in California is not necessarily what is happening in Florida. And what happens in Florida may be a far cry from what occurs in Michigan. Real estate is still very much a local issue.

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.

Average Mortgage Interest Rates Creep Up,

Today 3/13/08, after a drop last week,  Freddie Mac reported that the average mortgage interest rates for 30 and 15 year fixed-rate loans moved upward again. Nationally the average mortgage interest rate for 30 year fixed-rate mortgages was 6.13% (6.08% in the southeast), up from 6.03% a week ago. The average interest rate for 15 year fixed-rate mortgages was 5.60%, up from 5.47% last week. A year ago the 30 year rate was almost exactly as it is today, 6.14%. Funny how we seem to go round-and-round sometimes.

Freddie Mac is reporting that interest rates are up for ALL mortgage products this week. However, the average 30 year mortgage interest rate over the past 11 weeks, was still the lowest it has been since 2005.

Lower interest rates and lower home prices combined to create a more affordable housing market. (Seems like I mentioned this once or twice in the past months). January 2008's pending home sales held steady, though it had been predicted that they would drop as much as 1%. Many believe that this "steady" trend will continue when February's figures are released.

Do keep in mind that we live in a very large and complex country. What happens in California is not necessarily what is happening in Florida. And what happens in Florida may be a far cry from what occurs in Michigan. Real estate is still very much a local issue.

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.

Flooring That You Should Be Wary Of

Yesterday was the day of the week when all of the area agents go on "tour" to see the new listings that have come on the market. Lately there have been fewer and fewer additions and this may be a good sign that the inventory is getting smaller rather than growing by leaps and bounds like it had been a year ago. Some good news for sellers, perhaps.

Anyway, I went in one home that looked very attractive from the outside. It had 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, a two-car garage, and was reasonably (though not cheaply) priced. As I entered the home it looked spacious and attractive from the front door. Not bad, I thought. However, when I stepped off the ceramic tile that was just inside the door and placed my foot on what appeared to be a wooden floor, I was disappointed. The surface of the floor had bulged nearly an inch and had a hollow feel. It felt funny to walk on it and did not have a solid feel to it.

I was sorry to see that the owners had put down a floor that most people would call a laminate floor. Some agents mistakenly call this a "wood laminate floor". However, there was no wood in it, but just a plastic picture of wood placed over a thin layer of a masonite material that was probably no more than 1/4 inches thick. Since it is a "floating floor" and is not glued down it expands and contracts, often causing high and low spots. When you walk on it it can feel very funny and sound even worse. Masonite is the material you often see in garages as pegboard. It is usually smooth on one side and kind of fuzzy on the other. I am not sure if this floor had masonite or something like it underneath, but it sure felt how masonite would feel if you were walking on it. Try walking on a piece of masonite, pegboard, wall panelling, or thin plywood that has not been glued down. You will get the idea of what I am talking about.

Also on concrete slab floors like we have here in Florida, I would worry that aside from the natural expansion and contraction caused by temperature, humidity coming from the slab would also cause swelling. The seams also seem to always be more apparent and could offer another route where spilled liquids could get underneath the floor and do damage.

There are real wood laminate floors where there is actually a thin layer of real wood, whether it be maple, oak, teak, etc on top of a thicker slab of plywood or oriented strand board. These are much more stable, sound better, last longer, and just seem more like real wood. You readily note the difference when you step on them. Of course they cost more since instead of being covered with a material not unlike that of your plastic countertop, they are partly composed of real quality wood. But think of them as an investment. Just like ceramic tile will add more value to your home than a vinyl floor will, a good wood laminate or solid wood floor will do the same thing. Of course, if you really want to spend the big bucks you can have solid wood floors installed. But they are pricey.

So if you are thinking of putting down laminate flooring, check out the possibilities VERY carefully. Visit the homes of friends and get their recommendations. Your home is definitely a big investment and you do not want to add anything to it that would make people think you had used second class materials when making changes. Making a wrong decision here can really turn potential buyers off and send them running to the competition across the street.

Showing Your Own Home? - That Could Be a Dangerous Proposition!

A while ago I posted some questions that you should ask any potential listing agents you were considering employing. An event yesterday highlited something that I mentioned in that post, and I felt it was worth repeating here. It deals with your safety and that of your loved ones, especially if you are considering selling your own home or using a "reduced service" brokerage.

Yesterday, in Lakeland, Florida, about 15 miles from here, a real estate agent went to a home to meet with what she thought were potential customers. Upon entering the home she was overpowered and threatened with a utility knife. The robbers tied the agent up and then stole her credit cards and her 2006 Nissan. Needless to say, the agent was probably scared out of her wits and will be so for some time to come. Police are currently looking for the two men who accosted this poor woman. They are considered armed and dangerous.

I wish I could say this was an isolated incident. However, just this past March 7th, in St. Petersburg, FL (again, not all that far away from here) a man posed as a potential home buyer. After looking at several homes with the agent, he hit her on the head with a gun and threatened to kill her. Her ATM and credit cards were stolen.

In a way, these 2 agents were lucky. In the past many agents have been murdered while trying to assist their customers. These two incidents took place near here, but these crimes happen all over the country.

So if you are selling your own home, be aware that the person knocking at the door may or may not be a legitimate buyer. If you are alone in your home you could find yourself in a very uncomfortable position. Once the "buyer" is inside your home, you are at a distinct disadvantage.

If you are using a "reduced service" brokerage find out if someone from their agency will be accompanying all buyers that visit your home, or will YOU be expected to show the home by yourself? Some companies do have agents that come out to take potential buyers through homes. However, there are many others that receive calls at their phone centers and then call you to inform you that a Mr. XYZ is coming to see your home at 3:00 PM. Keep in mind that the call centers have no way of knowing who this person is. It may be a good man looking for a home. However, it could be a not-so-good guy (or group of not-so-good guys) with something else on his mind. This can be an especially dangerous situation if the seller is someone who is more vulnerable than most. In my area we have a high percentage of individuals who would find it very difficult to defend themselves if someone should try to take advantage of them.

As I mentioned earlier, sometimes the objective is just to steal from you. Though that can be traumatic enough. But there will be some evil individuals out there that could do something much much worse. So be on your toes at all times, and make your home marketing decisions carefully and thoughtfully.

When you use a full-service agent, you will never have to show your home by yourself. You do not even have to be there at all. Either I  or a licensed colleague from my office or a cooperating office will be there to show your home. A much safer alternative for you and those you love.

For more information or questions about this topic please call me at: 813-783-4444 or e-mail me at: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com

I also invite you to visit my my website where I think you will find a lot of useful information. To get there just click on the following link: www.jelwell.century21bnr.com

My April 2008 Real Estate Newsletter Is Now Available For Download

My April 2008 Real Estate Newsletter is now available for download as a PDF (Adobe Acrobat) file. Just click on the following link: Download April2008Newsletter.PDF

If you would like to receive these newsletters automatically in the future each month, just send me an e-mail and let me know. I would be glad to add you to my e-mailing list. You can e-mail me at: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com

I also invite you to visit my my website where I think you will find a lot of useful information. To get there just click on the following link: www.jelwell.century21bnr.com