Here are some things to watch for when shopping for homes or land online... I have designed my www.chadstewart.com website to be automatically updated dailey with accurate information, but still contacting a Realtor directly is the best way to get best info.
Thanks. Have a great day.

ONLINE SHOPPERS NEED YOU.
Home shopping alone - without the help of a professional even when online - can become a huge handicap for home buyers. Here are four reasons:

• Late information. Shoppers who limit themselves to only looking at real estate Web sites will overlook some very good properties, possibly one that is perfect for them, and they won't get up-to-the minute information.
• Fake listings. Web operators sometimes try to collect page views with fake listings to pump up their advertising returns, and that wastes the time of real home shoppers. It's also frustrating for shoppers to find an interesting home that's not available.
Questionable information. Home value Web sites only go so far. Sites like Zillow.com and Cyberhomes.com put prices out there that may or may not be an accurate reflection of neighborhood or housing value. Working with a professional means the buyer gets the benefit of a broader range of knowledgeable resources.
• Process help. Once a home shopper has found a property, working with a pro means they'll follow the right path to close the deal. For anyone except experienced investors, going it totally alone can be risky.

MORTGAGES
Don't believe everything you read, says NAR. As part of a housing story, a number of media outlets say buyers now need a 20 percent downpayment to get into a home, which is not true. FHA mortgages, for example, require only a 3.5 percent downpayment.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n3-010609.cfm

FLORIDA CONSUMER CONFIDENCE
Consumer confidence among Floridians rose five points to 67 in December, reflecting optimism about new presidential leadership in 2009, a University of Florida study finds. Housing prices continue to fall, although some areas of Florida appear to have turned the corner and may benefit from the spring real estate season, says Chris McCarty, director of UF's Survey Research Center.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n2-010509.cfm

Home Affordibility

Wow!! the National Association of Realtors just released the affordibility index for November 2008, it has reached 142...

On this index the higher the number the more affordable it is to buy a home based on interest rates, median home prices, and median income ...

This truly is one of the best times to purchase a home even in the past 20 to 30 years!!!

Great rates, Great prices, things are looking good for 2009.