Some days it feels like the islands exist in their own world, set apart from the rest country. Still, it’s always a good idea to check national trends every once in a while for a clue as to how the climate of the Captiva and Sanibel real estate market might be Continue Reading
Survey: Buyers increasingly want smart home features
Smart appliances and home technology are no longer high-end perks in many homes. Some products and features once reserved for only high-priced properties can now be found in homes at various price points. The proliferation of technology is not only changing the way Americans Continue Reading
REITs – A good bet in a strong economy
NEW YORK – March 16, 2015 – With the economy gaining strength, this is a good time to consider investing in commercial real estate. You can do that via real estate investment trusts (REITs). REITs trade like regular stocks, but they don't pay U.S. federal income taxes as Continue Reading
NAR: Pending sales hit highest level in 18 months
WASHINGTON – Feb. 27, 2015 – Improved buyer demand at the beginning of 2015 pushed pending home sales in January to their highest level since August 2013, according to the National Association of Realtors®(NAR). All major regions except for the Midwest saw gains. The Continue Reading
5 reasons U.S. economy stronger than stats suggest
WASHINGTON (AP) – March 2, 2015 – The U.S. economy grew at a modest annual rate of 2.2 percent in the fourth quarter, less than half the third quarter's torrid 5 percent rate and weaker than the government first reported. While the sharp slowdown seems troubling on the Continue Reading
Small, Exterior Home Improvements Offer the Best Value Investments in 2015, Say Realtors®
WASHINGTON (January 12, 2015) – Homeowners often consider various remodeling and replacement projects as a way to add value to their homes. Some projects add more value and better recoup their costs than others, according to Realtors® who rated small and exterior projects as Continue Reading
Homebuyers need to act now – Sanibel Captiva Island Real Estate
CHICAGO – Feb. 4, 2015 – Homebuyers need to move fast if they want to spend less, according to Jonathan Smoke, chief economist at realtor.com. "Delayed purchases will only result in higher monthly mortgage payments as prices and rates rise," Smoke writes. Realtor.com Continue Reading
Consumer Reports: Sellers can increase value by 12%
NEW YORK – Feb. 4, 2015 – A seller may be able to boost the value of their home by an additional 12 percent, with just a few smart pre-listing repairs, according to a new survey of 300 residential real estate professionals by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. On Continue Reading
Does home staging help? Most Realtors say ‘yes’
WASHINGTON – Jan. 28, 2015 – Most homeowners know it's important to keep a home clean and free from clutter while it's on the market, but does staging the home increase the final selling price or offer other benefits, such as more interest buyers willing to tour the Continue Reading
55-plus housing market ‘one of healthiest segments’
LAS VEGAS – Jan. 23, 2015 – The 55+ housing market fared quite well in 2014, and 2015 should be no different, according to industry experts at a press conference held today at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) International Builders' Show (IBS) in Las Continue Reading
U.S. home prices coast upward in Nov.
U.S. home values rose at a measured pace in November, a sign that demand remains weak as many buyers have been priced out of the market. Prices increased 5.5 percent in November compared with 12 months earlier, real estate provider CoreLogic said Tuesday. That was up Continue Reading
End-of-year mortgage rates remain below 4%
Average U.S. mortgage rates rose slightly last week, but the benchmark 30-year rate stayed near a 19-month low. Mortgage giant Freddie Mac says the nationwide average for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage increased to 3.87 percent last week, up from 3.83 percent one week Continue Reading
How is the Real Estate Market?
It is doing fantastic! Sales are up and listings are down yielding price gains. Customers are now able to sell their homes up north and move down. The amazing aspect of the sales is how well our office is doing! The Board of Realtors in our area had a 3% increase in the Continue Reading
Consumer confidence rises again in July
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which improved in June, increased again in July. The Index now stands at 90.9, up from 86.4 the month before. The Present Situation Index increased to 88.3 from 86.3, while the Expectations Index that gauges attitudes about Continue Reading
NAR: International homebuyers continue to invest in profitable U.S. market
http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=310591 WASHINGTON – July 9, 2014 – Favorable exchange rates, affordable home prices and rising affluence abroad continue to drive international buyers to the U.S. to purchase properties and make real estate Continue Reading
