Real Estate Information

     Well... Summer is in it's last few weeks. It does not seem to be cooling down temperature wise nor housing wise. I typically take some time off in July since my youngest daughter Stacey, my Daddy (dec.) & I all celebrate our birthdays with special fun of some sort. This has been the hottest & driest summer I recall. Winter was a bit out of kilter as well.

     The Housing Inventory is rising but most prices are not. However I have enjoyed several sales over the past 3 months as well as rentals placed. One was a cash buyer transferred in from Alabama who called me, asking for my help... since 3 other agents just coudn't find time to work with him! I found him a joy to work with and we found him a great Titusvillage home in wonderful condition for only $150,000.!! His sons are excited about starting school here soon!

     Rates are down! Financing is the most affordable I've seen since I started in 1973!  4.5% +/- In fact, I can remember one client jumping at a house some years ago simply because it was an area he liked, and the owner would finance it at 5%, back when rates were over 8%. Unfortunately for many lower end buyers, the foreclosed or short sale houses available just do not qualify for the FHA home loans without repairs and/or financial help. News from Realtor.com announces that rural financing is back this week! Thousands of Rural Home Buyers Aided by Passage of Housing Funding... Realtor.org This may help out for some of these houses. I do have a nice pre-approved couple looking for a home with 1+ acre, zoned for horses for $90,000 or less. Please let me know if you hear about one that might work!

     Enough for today and I promise to be more regular with my blogging. I do participate in several... plus I still need time to sell homes and enjoy life! Make it an awesome month!

     Earlier this year I attended the National SFR Course which deals with helping people who are in distress with their properties/home and/or loans. I have completed all the course work requirements for this designation. It was a great course that was extremely informative! This course was sponsored by the Florida Chapter of CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) a pprofessional group of Realtors devoted to education and professionalism, of which I am a former Florida State President as well as current District 2 Vice-President. They did a fantastic job of explaining some of the important facts.  

       I wanted to include a few of the links and sites, including my own, that we learned about an with anyone you know that may be getting into or currently are in distress with their home or loansto encourage them to not just ignore the situation. It will not just go away! It does not cost anything to explore their options. The materials there as well are really dynamic and the easy to understand videos are extremely helpful.

     Many times people do reach out for help but run into schemes that just consume their money and waste their time. Don't let your family and friends become a victim. 

Visit the Making Home Affordable Website at http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/.

It is a wealth of info for anyone you know that may be eligible for loan modification programs and Alternative programs.

 And how about a link to some of their great videos that can walk anyone that is in distress through the important steps and answer most questions!

 There are 9 YouTube videos that are extremely helpful.

My favorites are “Your Graceful Exit”, (Watch this one FIRST!),  

 “Your TO DO List for Permanent Loan Modification.”

 And “Avoid Foreclosure: Know your Options”

After you see one of them, it is easy to just click on the drop down link at the top to review any or all 9 of these links sponsored by the Making Home Affordable site including one in Spanish if needed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbPaLHFHL7A

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ0aCq6kaYg

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pqBtoh0Q6A&feature=channel

     I hope you find this information helpful. Feel free to tell anyone you would like to share it with! And I can offered my years of experience in helping anyone sell whether it is a normal sale, short sale or foreclosure, or even finding a good tenant while they are working in another area, or for investments they own or buy.

     I've been able to help 2 families purchase their first homes in the last 2 months for a bit under $100,000. One was told he could not buy over $50,000 and them waited many, many months for an agent to get back to him about a short sale offer he'd placed, before he called me from one of my ads.  (He still hasn't heard from that agent!)

     Where there is a will, there may be a way. It takes a bit of work and commitment on the part of all that are involved. But I rarely take "No" for an answer, until I have tried and tried again. My years of experience in all kinds of markets has taught me many times that we just may not have seen the right path! Many only see the easy, well marked trail to a successful purchase or sale. Please keep me in mind when you hear of someone with real estste problems or concerns. My best clients are sent to me by those who have used me before and their friends and families. 

Prices in Brevard as well as across the nation

are still all over the place.

 Here’s what that could mean for you! 

If you are able to buy, especially if you qualify for the Tax Incentives, you really need to get serious about looking for the right home while the selection is good.

If you are considering selling vs leasing, weigh your options carefully. It may take longer than you are thinking for market recovery.

If you are an Investor, even a first timer, the choices could be outstanding. Figure out your financing options before you make the offer. Cash talks, particularly in condos and lender owned properties. And be prepared to be a bit more liberal with your new tenant prospects because their credit may be bruised.

If you really want or have to sell now, for whatever reason, remember that curb appeal is still important, but pricing right is absolutely King! Be sure to use internet price points to your advantage when you enter the market. (Call me to explain what that means for you!) Be prepared to help the first time buyers with closing costs since they are prime buyers now.

If you or a family member/friend is a Snowbird, empty nester, or retiring soon, now could be an excellent time to find the next nest before the best ones get picked over. Did you know you can buy a home with a Reverse Mortgage and your credit does not matter?

 Regardless of all of the above, there is an important fact I learned back in 1973 when I first started in real estate. “UNDER ALL IS THE LAND.”  Buying, selling or leasing, the one thing you cannot change is a property’s location. That’s in Gods hands. You are better off with a smaller place in a nicer area than the best place in a less desirable one. The only thing that “fixes” a poor location is dropped price and owner terms. 

If there is anything I’ve said that you would like to discuss, please contact me. I am always pleased to be able to share my knowledge and experiences as well to help you understand the market or decide about your next move.   Pat Argo, CRS  321-267-5025

OPEN HOUSEs in Mims FL This Weekend!

I will be participating in the National & State Open Houses this weekend. 

  Stop by to see the great buys available, goodies or just to say "Hi!"

Here is my schedule - the Same for Saturday & Sunday!

3872 Arlington Ave. Mims    4B/2.5b/2G+RV on 1.12 acre Open 11 to 12:30

3755 Kloss Street, Mims      3B/2b/2G on 4.58 acres        Open 1-2:30 

I look forward to seeing you there!

I ran across this story from an old email I received a few years ago. I felt it might be pretty relevant to today and decided to share it! Enjoy!

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling.

It seemed that, as one problem was solved, a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled 3 pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In the 1st, she placed carrots, in the 2nd she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans.

She let them sit and boil, without saying a word. In about 20 minutes, she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me, what do you see?"

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," the young woman replied. The mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, Mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity - boiling water - but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened!

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" the mother asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?"

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong but, with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit but, after a death, a breakup, or a financial hardship, does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavour.

If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?

This is an old story with over 431K references on Google as far back as 2001!. Several claim authorship but since I cannot read all the posts, and I love the story I am sharing it today anyway! Enjoy! And thanks again to the author - unknown!

Can I Find A Home I would Live In

& Still Afford The Payments + Closing Costs?

     The one constant in real estate is financing questions... affordability! The standard still is "How much down and how much per month?" Many times people do not ask until it is too late and they may have missed out on some great opportunities!

     Let me share an example. For several months this nice couple and I would look at homes in Merritt Island. Most were built in 1950's, with small rooms and would not qualify for FHA financing without extensive repairs. When there was a great one, there were multiple offers almost before we could even get in to see it. I enjoyed meeting with them but we were all feeling frustrated at what was available.

     We decided to expand the areas we were looking in and moved to the mainland. After a couple of weeks we discovered a foreclosed home that was just  "Back on the Market". I check them daily with my real estate Tool Box! The prior contract did not close so they also reduced the asking price which was now in our price range!

     This was the one! Another agent came by to show it while we were still inside. Professional courtesy suggests the agent should have waited...but didn't.

     We closed on their new home in Cocoa this week. They bought a great home at a terrific price in a nice area: 3 Bedrooms, 2 baths, a BIG 2 car garage, utilityroom, workshop & screen porch on a lovely wooded acre.

     Here are the  money facts:We entered into a contract on a foreclosed property for $95,900. in mid-February. We were able to get locked in at 5% 30 year FHA with a deposit of $1000. (Great lender, by the way!)

     They brought a check to closing for $1824. Total Settlement charges were $6848. with Seller paying appx. $5000 of this. The Buyers paid for their Home Inspection, Septic Inspection & WDO Report out of closing. Their total payment with Insurance and Taxes (without homestead) is $810. per month! With less than $4000 total invested! Now they will be able to take advantage of the Tax Credit which will reduce their out of pocket even more. They rented for more than their new payment! The payment may go down with homestead exemption!

     Affordable? I think so! They got an excellent buy! What do you think?

Consider Going Green & Gardening in Pots

My Mother's family name is Greene. Her Dad was a preacher and my Grandma was a gardener. Momma was one of 7 kids. My Dad also loved to garden and friends always enjoyed taking produce home and even some of his Hot Pepper Sauce. (Sonny worked in our restaurant as a teen!) So I really grew up with gardens but did very little real gardening due to time constraints until recent years as I raised my family and worked.

In the Spring, many homeowner’s thoughts turn to the garden. Given the beauty and convenience of a container garden, it’ should be no surprise that an estimated 90% of America's 67 million gardeners grow plants in containers. Here are a few tips for creating a cheerful container garden of your own.

Plants: Expand your imagination beyond flowers: a wide variety of plants and evergreen shrubs do very well in containers. Some vegetables do quite well in containers. Be sure to buy your plants at a dependable nursery or specialty store, selecting only high quality plants that are free of disease and pests. For more visual interest in each pot, use 3 or 4 plant varieties that harmonize with one another.

Sun & Soil: When growing plants in containers, rotate them a quarter turn each day to help them grow straight and full. Potted plants usually require a bit more water and fertilizer than plants growing in the ground> Using the proper kind of soil is very important. I keep a compost container for fruit and veggie scraps, coffee grounds, trimming materials, etc. I also add earthworms to my beds and pots. 

Containers: Your imagination is the limit when it comes to containers for your garden. Most plant containers are made out of wood, plastic, ceramics or clay. But you might try non-traditional containers, such as buckets, wooden crates, or an old watering can. An unusual container can make for a striking garden arrangement.

Get your kids or Grands involved! I noticed a label on a frozen food entree I cooked this week that indicates the paper based tray in recyclable and suggests using it for planting seeds! I am all for this. It cleaned up nicely. I will put it to the test this weekend!

Your container garden will make your home appear more welcoming and even more attractive to potential buyers. And whatever type of garden you create, remember to take time to enjoy it. They can also move with you if you are not going far!

I planted a late Fall Garden in a couple of raised beds I have last year. We enjoyed a wonderful harvest of assorted tomatoes for several months. Later I picked all the green ones ( 2 trays full!) right before the first big frost before Christmas. Then I removed another half dozen of ripe Grape Tomatoes last week as I was getting the beds ready for spring! The fresh green beans, parsley, basil and lettuce starts I got from Lowe's really made my Fall season and also some great meals! Please feel free to share some of your own tips!

Who Says Open Houses are Time Wasters??? 

     A great event will be taking place across the state and nation in just 2 weeks! For the First Time that I can remember since I began my career in 1973, Realtor's across the state are having a weekend of Open Houses simultaneously across our great state of Florida! This will be the weekend after Easter.

      The clock is ticking on the opportunity for "First Time Buyers" to go to contract before the end of April and still be able to capitalize on the Tax Incentives. All the Realtor's and their Lenders are gearing up to be ready. This will be a great opportunity to see many homes in an area in one or two days. We want to be sure everyone has their chance to participate!

     Barring an Act of God, I plan to hold 2 great Listings in Mims with acreage Open House 11-12:30 & Open House 1-2:30 More info and photos under my Featured Homes

     Out of the Blue, I got a call at home on Tuesday evening. It was an "800" number so I almost didn't answer. Then I remembered that I'd had a discussion with my insurance carrier about a missing delivery... so maybe it was them?

     No... It was a recorded message from Suzanne Kosmos asking me "to participate in an important call on Wednesday evening where I could even ask personal questions about the issues at hand"! You betcha!!! ;-)  I had already been rolling over my disappointment in her changed vote on the Health Care after all the earlier publicity she put out against it, in my mind for several days! I was also upset about a lack of care from some about "our" cuts to the Space Program and semi-forgotten promises made earlier by others. I thought seriously all evening and the next day about what I would ask.

     As promised, I got the call and was connected on Wednesday evening... along with about 7000(?) other people! That's OK. Others points of view and ways of expressing them were very interesting. By the time I had a chance, my question had been answered so I passed. Aren't we blessed to have a system to be able to express ourselves freely about the actions our "representatives take in our behalf? Think of so many other countries that have no real  voice!

     Okay, so I still am not one bit happy with the Health "stuff" or the diminishing space role of our country. I am happy to be living in a country that lets me express my views and where acceptable changes may still come about if we pull together. I have always been so proud to live in this area, where so many fantastic accomplishments have come to pass, where most people are proud of their jobs and careers and so much good has come to all the world from the "discoveries" that developed from this very industry!

     Happy tears well up and I get goose bumps with every successful launch and shuttle return. Some locals have long taken all of this for granted. Not me.

     We all need to speak up and be heard. It is a privilege and a responsibility. Do your part to improve our area and nation. Talk to your neighbors, family and friends. Ask questions when you don't understand. Act like a citizen!

Pat’s Mid-Year Residential Report for North Brevard

Everywhere I go, people are always asking me “Pat, How’s the real estate market doing around here now?”  I decided it’s time for a real report vs. my humble opinion, but of course I will share some of that with you as well!  These stats are gathered from the Brevard MLS system. areas 101-210.  Private & builder non-mls sales are.excluded.

In 2008: 1^st 6 months: 411 closings with average of 125 Days on Market

High $899.000.         Low $32,000.         Average: $150,000    Median: $135,000.

In 2009: 1^st 6 months: 533 closings with  average 119 Days on Market

High: $745,000.        Low:$10,500.         Average: $108,000    Median: $92,000.

So what everyone is saying IS partly right. It is taking longer to sell… the ones that closed and the final prices are even lower. To put this into perspective, I did the numbers by price range as well for the same 6 months.

Under $100K      $100K>     $150K>     200K>     300K>      $400K>     $500K>

2008:     109         142           80             56            14              3                 3

2009:     260         155           56             38              9              1                 1

Inventory today is 902 residences priced from $9,900. to $2.5million, average 193 DOM  

Actually we have 5 Million $+ listings, all but 1 were on in 2008!

Important in the 2009 numbers is that there were less than 50 closed sales priced at $150,000. or more, about a 50% drop! And those closed under $100,000 were more than doubled!  (2.38 times).

Here’s what that could mean for you! 

If you are able to buy, especially if you qualify for the Tax Incentives, you really need to get serious about looking for the right home while the selection is good.

If you are considering selling vs leasing, weigh your options carefully. It may take longer than you are thinking for market recovery.

If you are an Investor, even a first timer, the choices could be outstanding. Figure out your financing options before you make the offer. Cash talks, particularly in condos and lender owned properties. And be prepared to be a bit more liberal with your new tenant prospects because their credit may be bruised.

If you really want or have to sell now, for whatever reason... remember that curb appeal is still important, but pricing right is absolutely King! Be sure to use "internet price points" to your advantage when you enter the market. Be prepared to help the first time buyers with closing costs since they are prime buyers now.

If you or a family member/friend is a Snowbird, empty nester, or retiring soon, now could be an excellent time to find the next nest before the best ones get picked over. You can even use a reverse mortgage to BUY!

Regardless of all of the above, there is an important fact I learned back in 1973 when I first started in real estate. “UNDER ALL IS THE LAND.”  Buying, selling or leasing, the one thing you cannot change is a property’s location. That’s in Gods hands. You are better off with a smaller place in a nicer area than the best place in a less desirable one. The only thing that “fixes” a poor location is dropped price and owner terms!

If there is anything I’ve said that you would like to discuss, please fel free to contact me. I am always pleased to be able to share my knowledge and experiences as well to help you understand the market or explore your next move.  

 Pat Argo, CRS, SRES  321-267-5025