Brand new never been lived in house built by Whiddon Construction on Two (2) acres!!! Priced at $239,900. Home is for sale in Lake City, FL.

Brand new house on two (2) acres !!!

Stone & hardy board house was built by Whiddon Construction. Great floor plan, great room wi vaulted ceiling, 18’4” x 12’8” master, his/her closets, wood floor in dining room, screened porch, sprinkler system, landscaping & sod, security system.

Must see this area with lots of room for kids to run, horses, ATV, gardening, etc. Tranquil rural area, but still short drive to town. Scattered oaks in the front of the lot & pasture land in the back. Call your Realtor for floor plan or tour.

THAR' SHE BLOWS. OR NOT.Government forecasters officially predict six to nine hurricanes in 2008, with up to five becoming major storms. However, forecasters say the chances for an above-average season are about 65 percent; the chances for a normal season about 25 percent; and the chances for a slow season about 10 percent, making the outlook sound almost like a guess. Coupled with two recent years of above-average forecasts and below-average storms, Floridians may be getting confused. Two major points must be made, however: One, it doesn't matter if there is only one major storm in 2008 should that one major storm hit your home. Two, less-than-accurate forecasts could make Floridians apathetic about hurricane preparations and forget that they live on a peninsula that sticks out into the ocean like a giant hurricane "Kick Me" sign. Every state homeowner should prepare for the worst even as they hope for the best. For more information, visit floridarealtor.org's "Hurricane Information and Resources" page at: http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/Before-disaster-strikes.cfm.

Florida existing home sales improve in April compared to March 2008ORLANDO, Fla. – May 23, 2008 – Florida Realtors® statewide reported an upswing in existing home and condominium sales from March to April 2008, according to the latest housing statistics released by the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR). A total of 11,200 existing single-family homes changed hands in April, a 20 percent increase over the previous month when 9,330 homes sold. Existing condo sales statewide rose 21.6 percent, with 3,900 units sold in April compared with 3,207 condos in March.

http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n1-052308.cfm

COMMERCIAL According to the latest NAR Commercial Member Profile, commercial members experienced a 7 percent jump in median sales volume for 2006, reaching a median of $2.249 million in sales. Selling land was the single largest commercial specialty for respondents, accounting for 19 percent.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n3-052108.cfm

CHARITY The foreclosure problem has given something good to the country's best-known housing charity: Cheap properties for sale. Some Habitat for Humanity chapters have seized the buying opportunities.Read the full story: http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n5-052208.cfm

From Florida Realtors.org HOME SALES Florida Realtors reported positive signs in their local housing markets during first quarter 2008, noting a slower rate of expansion for inventory levels and an increase in pending home sales in some areas. Another positive note: A total of 8,581 existing condos sold statewide during the quarter, up 8.3 percent over fourth quarter 2007. "If we look at what is happening month-over-month for 2008, it appears that the bottom may be here," says 2008 FAR President Chuck Bonfiglio. "We are now seeing more activity, more sales and even prices starting to rise in some markets."Read the full story:

http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n1-051308.cfm

GETTING BETTER ALL THE TIME
According to Realty Times, Florida real estate experts say the state's housing market is showing signs of recovery, despite falling residential prices and rising foreclosures and short sales. They note that inventory is expanding at slower rates, and home sales are on the rise in some markets. The Realtor Association of Greater Fort Myers, for instance, reports an 85-percent surge in pending single-family home sales in its area during the past 10 weeks. Meanwhile, pending sales jumped 65 percent in February from January in Fort Lauderdale, and 30 percent in March from the prior month in Palm Beach County.Source: Realty Times (05/09/08) Carr, M. Anthony © Copyright 2008 INFORMATION, INC. Bethesda, MD (301) 215-4688

HOMESELLERS
It's a challenge to sell a home in today's market, but the battle eases considerably with careful preparation. Sellers should focus on the top 10 issues. Curb appeal, kitchens, bathrooms and doors head the list.Read the full story:
http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n5-050508.cfm

Wow, billion dollar home in India...
Check out this article from Forbes

http://www.forbes.com/2008/04/30/home-india-billion-forbeslife-cx_mw_0430realestate.html

Daily Real Estate News May 1, 2008 The First $2-Billion Home Is Coming The world’s largest and most expensive home will be completed in January.The 27-story skyscraper in downtown Mumbai, India, will be the residence of Mukesh Ambani and his wife Nita. Ambani, head of Mumbai-based petrochemical company Reliance Industries, is the fifth richest man in the world.The couple who have three children, are custom designing their $2 billion property with help from architecture firms Perkins + Will and Hirsch Bedner Assoc., based in Dallas and Los Angeles respectively.The home will have 400,000 square feet of interior space, nine elevators, a ballroom and a section for security guards and assistants to relax.There will also be an ice room where residents and guests can escape the Mumbai heat and be dusted by man-made snow flurries.Source: Forbes, Matt Woolsey (04/30/2008)

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/10/billionaires08_Mukesh-Ambani_NY3A.html

MORTGAGE RATES Rates on 30-year mortgages remained above 6 percent and almost unchanged this week. Experts polled by Bankrate.com generally agree that rates will increase or remain steady in the short term.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n4-050208.cfm

HOMEBUYERSSome programs for first-time buyers still offer slightly more lenient underwriting standards that make it easier to get into a home, or discounted interest rates that make homeownership more affordable. But it's harder to find first-timer mortgages today.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n3-043008.cfm