SI Real Estate Tampa and The Beaches

“Home sales will increase 15 percent to about 5.7 million units in 2010” stated the National Association of Realtors Chief Economist Lawrence Yun late last week during the 2009 NAR Conference and Expo. Yun credits the popular first-time home buyer tax credit for the surge of home sales in the market, with the expectation that the extension to the program will continue to drive an increase in real estate sales. NAR reported that this year’s first-time home buyer tax credit brought 400,000 first-time buyers into the national real estate market who may not have purchased a home otherwise. The incentive was successful in driving home sales throughout the U.S. The influx of buyers tightened the inventory of starter homes and helped reduce the fear shared by many current homeowners and sellers of continued price drops. According to the NAR, this positive cycle is expected to continue into 2010 with the extension and expansion of the tax credit, which includes a new credit for repeat buyers...

Congress announced yesterday that the first-time home buyer tax credit, originally set to expire at the end of this month, will be extended through June of 2010. In addition to an extension, the bill includes a $6,500 credit for “move-up” buyers interested in purchasing a new primary residence. The first-time home buyer tax credit has shown significant results in the Tampa Bay real estate market, with home sales soaring over the last three months. The Internal Revenue Services reported that more than 105,000 Floridians have applied for the credit so far. Now, under the new bill, an even larger base of potential buyers will be able to benefit and take advantage of the program. The new plan is designed to spark interest in the “move-up” market, with these potential home buyers previous excluded for tax credit program. This additional incentive is designed to make real estate purchases even more desirable for qualified repeat buyers. The tax credit, along with affordable home prices and ...

Excellent news - the U.S. real estate market is rebounding faster than expected. For the first time in five years, existing home sales have increased for four consecutive months., the National Association of Realtors announced today. Existing home sales, including single-family homes, townhouses, condos, and co-ops rose 7.2 percent to a total if 5.34 million in July. An NAR survey showed that 30 percent of the homes purchased in July were by first-time home buyers, as buyers have started to come off the fence to take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index reached 18 this month, its highest level since June 2008. The numbers show that confidence among home builders is continuing on a steady rise. This increase can be contributed to buyers taking advantage of the dramatically discounted home prices, with nationwide housing affordability continuing to hover near its highest level in more than 18 year and the $8,000 ...

June saw a rise in pending home sales for the fifth straight month, according to the National Association of Realtors. This increase of 3.6 percent to 94.6 is an encouraging sign for the U.S. housing market as it makes its way toward recovery. According to an article by Inman News , the increase in pending home sales marks the first five consecutive months of gains since July 2003. The largest jump was seen in the South, where pending home sales rose 7.1 percent. All regions saw at least a minimal increase with the smallest seen in the Northeast, at just .4 percent. Almost all regions were significantly higher than in June of 2008. "Historically low interest rates, affordable home prices and a large selection are encouraging buyers who've been on the sidelines. Activity has been consistently much stronger for lower prices homes." said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist. In addition to the increase in pending U.S. home sales, home resales have also risen for three months in...

While some U.S. buyers may still be uncertain whether or not it is time to step off the fence and buy their dream home or condo in Florida, international investors are showing increased confidence in an early Florida real estate market recovery and are quickly taking advantage of the deeply discounted prices. Foreign buyers continue to recognize the U.S. real estate market as a desirable, profitable and secure investment and the weak U.S. dollar partnered with the housing surplus has made the U.S., and particularly the Florida, real estate market even more attractive, according to an article by the Gerson Lehrman Group. According to a recent survey by the National Association of Realtors , in cooperation with the Florida Association of Realtors , half of the Florida Realtors surveyed indicated that more than 25% of their business now comes from international clients. These foreign investors come from all over the world and have shown a particular interest in the Tampa Bay, Sarasota-Bra...