Sandestin & Surrounds....

NOW is the time to buy!

calvin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:01:44 +0000

read on....

Definitive Purchase Agreement Signed for Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort

calvin — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:06:01 +0000

You might have heard all of the rumors over the past many months, but the potential purchase of the Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort took a major step forward with the signing of a definitive agreement....

Southwest Airlines Announces Non-Stop Flights to the new NW Florida International Airport (ECP)

calvin — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 20:24:39 +0000

By now you've heard that Southwest Airlines will be flying into the new International Airport on the west side of Panama City Beach. The airlines just recently announced....

Is NOW the Time to Buy?

calvin — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:11:14 +0000

Every local market moves at a different pace and I rarely talk about national numbers because they may or may not reflect the local market. Here is a link that provides insight to an interesting movement in the market.

The Sweet Life on Stretches of ‘Sugar Sand’

calvin — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:40:47 +0000

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. – Jan. 16, 2009 – Unlike densely populated South Florida or theme-park epicenter Orlando, the western panhandle of Florida has no big cities, and trendy nightclubs are few and far between. The region is not exactly sleepy, with plenty of golf courses and resort developments......

Homeowners make dash for low interest rates – Sun Sentinel

calvin — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 22:14:40 +0000

MIAMI – Dec. 19, 2008 – Homeowners in South Florida and across the nation rushed to contact their mortgage brokers on Wednesday to take advantage of the Federal Reserve’s decision the day before to cut its key interest rate to nearly zero.

Home Sales See Biggest Gain Since July 2003 – Reuters

calvin — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 21:12:34 +0000

Fri Oct 24, 2008 1:09pm EDT By Patrick Rucker WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sales of previously owned U.S. homes rose 5.5 percent last month, the biggest gain since July 2003 ......

Has the Emerald Coast real estate market leveled off ?

calvin — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:57:08 +0000

"Foreclosure Filings Starting To Level Off..." read what Thomas J. Monigan, the Business Editor of the Northwest Daily News, has to say about our real estate market......

Sandestin Owners Get Discounts…..

calvin — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 22:31:16 +0000

Do you know that many places offer discounts just to Sandestin homeowners? Click on this article to see the list of participating business' that the SOA has put together.

If all else fails, just ask, you might be surprised!

What questions should a buyer ask in a short sale?

calvin — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 22:29:15 +0000

Short sales seem to be all the rage....or maybe all the fury. In all honesty, the various companies are still trying to figure out a process that will work, but unfortunately, the unknowns can cause much pain for all of the parties. Buyers are feeling perhaps the majority of the pain with extended response times and frankly, more often than not, it is unclear who the real decision maker is on an offer; is it the owner that's in financial trouble, his/her attorney, the mortgage holder (often more than one) or someone else???? One might think that in this "slower" market, all parties would be able to focus on the key person that might be able to help the situation out, the prospective buyer. Instead, it can be difficult to find out who really holds the paper, who is the right person at this lender who can make a decision (often by committee) and does this bank, most likely not locally based, have any idea of what the current market value is of the home. One of the key documents banks are using in their decision of value is called a BPO (Broker's Price Opinion). It's kind of an "appraisal light" and is most likely completed by a local real estate brokerage. In the vast majority of the cases, this evaluation is simply a "drive-by" look and is mostly based on the numbers without anyone knowing the true condition of the inside of the house. Certainly, if you are a buyer who is considering making an offer on a short sale property, try to find out in the beginning (1) if the person that can make the decision is identified (a good listing agent should know the players), (2) inquire if a BPO has been submitted to the bank, (3) ask if there have been any prior offers and (4) find out how the process worked in that case. There are some great buying opportunities in this market, just be aware of the timing issues with short sales, it could easily be 30-60 days before you hear anything about your offer. Also, ensure that you see the inside of the home, document the current condition with photographs, and ask about mortgages/liens from all parties including their homeowners association. All of these elements are key to making the best case of why your offer is a reasonable one. Although many people believe that time doesn't matter because there is tons of inventory, often, when you really drill down to a buyers true wants and needs, there are only a couple of properties that are best and you don't want them to miss out on other properties, while you're caught up in the short sale do-loop. Certainly there are some great opportunities in short sales. Just make sure your Realtor has their eyes and ears wide open for your best interests and to make the sale as pain free as possible.