Pending Home Sales And Prices Are Up!

-
The National Association of Realtors reports that existing home sales have hit a 21 month high in January 2012. A total of 8% more contracts were signed by agents during that 21 month period. NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun says job growth and rental rates are somewhat of a cause for this recent spike. He also suggests that once credit availability becomes more regular, home sales will see a significant increase, and home prices will as well. This will in turn reduce the amount of people who are currently upside down on their mortgages. Rising rental rates may be boosting home sales as well. With the cost or renting being so close to the cost of a monthly mortgage, many prospective tenants are being asked, or asking themselves, if they have ever considered buying to save money. Here in Florida, partly due to the attraction of warm weather and comfortable retirement options, rental prices have remained high. If rental options hold their value and mortgage rates remain at an all time low, we could definitely be in store for a boost in home sales and prices. Clear Capital research reports that home sale prices are up in the Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater metro areas compared to this time last year. Not only is our immediate surrounding area seeing a price increase, but for this quarter, it is one of the highest ranking recovering cities in the U.S., only behind Pittsburg and Rochester N.Y. Now that home prices are scooting upward and home inventory is at an eight year low, and volume of sales are up double digits, we can begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel getting bigger. Don’t let the time to buy pass you by.. SI Real Estate offers highly personalized, multilingual, full-spectrum real estate purchase and sales services. We are a boutique for sophisticated investors, select owners or renters who may be upgrading locally, or those making traditional relocations. We also provide turnkey landlord and tenant management. Blending comprehensive insight into the Tampa Bay area with international perspectives for a worldwide clientele, we like to think that “SI Real Estate is Global Real Estate in Every Way!”

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Featured Community of the Week – Beso Del Sol in Dunedin, Florida

-
Image
Can you imagine waking up each morning to a majestic view of the sparkling Gulf of Mexico waters? This all-inclusive resort condo community in Dunedin, Florida provides a perfect waterfront retreat. Situated directly on the Gulf, panoramic waterfront views overlook the St. Josephs Sound and Honeymoon Island, creating a tranquil setting that is far from the ordinary. Condo and community features include: · Fully furnished, all-inclusive studio, one and two bedroom units · Flat panel TV’s, stainless steel appliances, and granite countertops · Two waterfront heated swimming pools and hot tub · Fully-equipped fitness center and bicycle rentals · Onsite property management and housekeeping · Boat slips · All utilities included in HOA fees · Castaway Tiki Bar onsite with weekly entertainment Beso Del Sol Resort offers three wonderful floor plans to choose from with prices starting in the mid $100,000’s. Whether you are looking for a real estate investment, weekend retreat, vacation property...
Read more

Real Life Real Estate...New Construction vs. Foreclosure

-
Image
A hot topic for potential homebuyers is, should I look Foreclosures, existing older homes, or New Construction? The hype lately seems to be on Short sales and Foreclosures. Bank owned properties are being snatched up by cash investors and we hear of bidding wars everyday in Tampa over bank owned properties. Investors have money to spend, and no desire to occupy the property personally, they can fix any issues that arise with no problems. It is very enticing for a buyer to see large discounts foreclosed and short sales but what else does a buyer need to consider when deciding on purchasing a home? SI Real Estate has helped three clients purchase a new Construction home in the last two weeks. What made these buyers decide purchasing a new home was better than foreclosure and existing home options? There is a great website being advertised by Lennar homes, “Buying a New Home vs. a Foreclosed Home” . This website highlights advantages of purchasing new construction. Buyers need to cons...
Read more

Tampa Real Estate Hot Topic: Mortgage Rate Predictions for 2013

-
Image
Last week we discussed the importance of understanding the effects that rising home prices have on mortgage rates and the buying power of consumers in the market to both buy and sell.   The recent mortgage rate activity has caught the attention of the nation, and of course our local Florida real estate market.     Since May 2013, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage rose from approximately 3.3% to 4.87% according to Freddie Mac.   Executive vice president of McCue Mortgage, Kim Neilson, states that the market hasn’t seen an increase of this magnitude in years.   Despite the recent jump, however, rates are expected to remain steady between 4-5% throughout the remainder of 2013.   There are two main reasons for this situation on the market. Firstly, the Federal Reserve chairman Fred Bernanke indicated in mid-June that he might slow down the purchase of mortgage-backed bonds. These were designed to strengthen the secondary market for lenders and ...
Read more