Updated Video Tour - Lake City FL Real Estate

Lake City, FL Real Estate - Home for Sale in Callawy Subdivision. Very Nice. 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath. Upscale Interior, Quality Built, Huge Back Porch, large kitchen, 2,293 sq ft heated. 3698 sq ft under roof, plus workshop.

Upscale House & Real Estate for Sale in Lake City FL

Very nice house for sale in Callaway here in Lake City, FL. Well built with lots of features. 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, about 2,293 sq ft. Large enclosed back porch with disappearing sliding doors! Wow, Check this out today. Link to youtube here. Call to schedule your tour today.


Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Commercial Real Estate in Live Oak, FL - Suwannee County

55 +/- acre prime development tract located across the street from Wal-Mart on Hwy 129 in Live Oak, FL. This is in high commercial activity growth corridor ½ mile south of Interstate 10, in Suwannee County, FL.


http://www.commercialpropertyfla.com/

The Inland Port project in Lake City got good press in the Gainesville Sun today.

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100807/ARTICLES/8071009&tc=email_newsletter

The Psychology of Real Esate - Interesting

Here is an interesting article about how people think & see real estate choices & options.
http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/the-psychology-of-real-estate.html

I definetly would reccomend painting and recarpeting if your home is showing too many signs of aging or wear an tear. This will help the buyers get past the cost & hassle of having to redo it themselves after they purchase. Most buyers will over compensate about 2-3 times for these type of items.

Example: If a buyer walks into a moderate home that needs new paint & flooring, rather than see or estimate it till take $2,500 for paint & carpet, they will estimate $5,000 to $7,500 just to be safe & offer that much less. Its good for both buyers & sellers to understand this & think logically about it to make the best decisions.

Thanks. Check back again - Chad Stewart - Westfield Realty Group - Lake City FL Real Estate Broker Associate.

Homes are extremely affordable, Especially Lake City FL Homes & Real Estate

FAR affordability index. Still running at historic highs. The average buyer has nearly twice the income necessary to buy the median priced home financed with the average fixed rate mortgage loan.

Click Here

Columbia County - Lake City FL Regional Inustrial Development News

RePost from Columbia County FL Industrial Development Authority newsletter. Lake City, FL is definetly a up & coming place for regional development, and long term growth & stability for Florida.

The Columbia County Industrial Development Authority is busy working on several projects for the betterment of Columbia County, the region and the state. To keep you up to date with activities involving economic development in Columbia County, we have attached several articles for your perusal. If you missed previously released articles and columns, they can be viewed by visiting our link on the County’s website, http://www.columbiacountyfla.com/IDA.asp  or you may click on one of the links to previous articles provided below. We are working diligently to develop our own website and will notify you upon completion.

Recent links relevant to economic development in Columbia County:

IDA Column: Historic meeting marks unified effort to transforms area’s economy : http://www.lakecityjournal.com/main.asp?SectionID=15&SubSectionID=75&ArticleID=6172
Jacksonville Business Journal: http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2010/06/28/daily4.html?ana=e_du_pap
St. Leo University preparing students for International Trade: Here

Officials discuss major projects to prepare Columbia County as Inland Port: Article Here

Poole, Huddleston and Reynolds selected for Florida Chamber Foundation’s Caucus System: Link Here

Plum Creek and Columbia County Team Up for Job Creation: http://www.plumcreek.com/tabid/73/itemid/981/Plum-Creek-and-Columbia-County-Team-Up-for-Job-Cre.aspx

Foundation Grants Making Impact on Education: Read here
The Columbia County Industrial Development Authority Board meets the first Wednesday of every month at 8:30 a.m. at the Lake Shore Hospital Authority. The meetings are open to the public and we welcome your attendance.

Posted by Chad Stewart, Westfield Realty Group, Credit goes to article writers, and CCFLIda

Homebuyer Tax credit extension.

Repost of FL Realtors Information:
Congress extends homebuyer tax credit and flood insurance

The U.S. Senate passed two bills last evening previously passed by the House. Both bills still need President Obama's signature to become law, but that's expected to happen quickly.

Homebuyer tax credit:
The Senate passed HR 5623, which extends the mandatory closing date to qualify for the homebuyer tax credit. The contract deadline does not change - homebuyers must have a contract signed by April 30, 2010 (an exception for active duty military) - but the previous closing deadline of June 30, 2010, has been extended to Sept. 30, 2010. The National Association of Realtors estimates that the approved bill will benefit more than 14,000 deals in Florida.

Lake City FL Phone Book & Directories

If you are looking for a Phone Book for the Lake City, FL area. Here are a couple resources for you. Of course Google is what I use for searching for real estate or anything about a city like Lake City, FL, but sometimes it might be nice to just browse the phone book.

Local Edge - the Talking Phone Book - Lake City - Live Oak
http://www.localedge.com/laci

At&t - Bellsouth - Real Yellow Pages for Lake City
http://www.realpageslive.com/WebProject.asp?BookCode=lkf09htm&from=2


Google Local

Here is an encouraging report. We continue to build on the good news momentum.


http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=238713

More Keep up with Mortgage Payments

http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=237847
This is a good sign. Note the comment about strategic foreclosures. I think you will see this problem fade as the banks toughen up and the economy strengthens. I think we will look back at 2010 as the big washout year. It will carry into future year(s) but this may be the high water mark this year. - from: Charlie Sparks. Broker at Westfield Realty Group.

Open House - Come Visit Me in Lake City, FL

Come Visit me April 10-11. We are participating in a statewide Florida Open House even, April 10-11.

I will be at a house located at 205 SW Scott Place, Lake City, FL. This is in the Russwood subdivision. A brand new top quality home. Spacious Floor Plan, has 4 bedrooms plus an office. Two living areas, two dining areass, covered porch and a triple garage. All of this priced at only $298,900! Give me a call 386-867-1782. Directions, Take Branford Hwy (SR 247) south to Troy Rd, west to Russwood subdivision, go to back of development to house. Click Here for a Map.

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Florida Open House Event April 10-11

Statewide Open House Event April 10-11. Come visit me in Lake City, FL

Housing Tax Credits at a Glance

http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/glance.php

Short Sale Sellers - Read the Paperwork

Attention Short Sale Sellers... Read the Fine Print..

http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=233552

Flood Zone Mapping & Information

Finding FEMA flood zone maps for real estate properties has become easier & easier.

I wanted all to know that for the counties around there in North Florida its even easier than ever.

First get the parcel # of the property, land or home you are looking at.

Second, go to http://www.srwmdfloodreport.com/ Click the county are inquiring about, click go, and type in or past the parcel number you are interested in. This will map the property with a nice aerial map & highlited your parcel. I will show any flood zones in the are. You can also click the legend button to see what everythign means.

If the property is in a flood zone, this does not mean the end of it. Flood insurance is very affordable, usually costing only around $300 per year. Ask a Realtor for more details.

Here are the county property appraisers sites along with the corresponding flood zone site.

Columbia County - Lake City, FL - Fort White, FL

http://g2.columbia.floridapa.com/

http://www.srwmdfloodreport.com/

Suwannee County - Live Oak, FL - Branford, FL

http://www.suwanneepa.com/

http://www.srwmdfloodreport.com/

Hamilton County - Jasper, FL - Jennings, FL - White Springs, FL

http://www.hamiltonpa.com/

http://www.srwmdfloodreport.com/

Union County - Lake Butler, FL - Providence, FL

http://g2.union.floridapa.com/index.asp?

http://www.srwmdfloodreport.com/

The FEMA - Suwannee River map site also has the following counties: Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor, Union.

Lake City FL Real Estate Listing - New Video Tour Just Posted

Great property. This is a1,776 sq ft concrete block stucco house with some nice acreage. 4 acres is fenced for animals or horses, with small farm shelter. Nice trees on front part of property.

House is open style floor plan, upgraded Corian kitchen countertops. Big back room could be used for 3rd bedroom or den with access to back patio. Price has just been reduced. This place is well worth the visit.
.. Property is just over the border in Suwannee county, but has a Lake City, FL address.

Custom Home In Preserve at Laurel Lake - Great Value

We now have the Cambridge model available in the Preserve at Laurel Lakes. This is a great value at $194,900 customized to your preferences. 3 bedroom, 2 bath. This comes out to an amazing price of only $106.50 per sq ft. Quality home by Isaac Construction.



Download flyer..

testing 3456

Walk Away or Short Sale

NOW YOU KNOW
Banks pursuing payback from walkaways
Increasingly aggressive mortgage lenders seek money from former owners who had a short sale or walked away. Read more.

Short sales are no easy deal. Be sure you know what the terms are when you sell, many times there be not be many options. But so you know, many Banks are not looking too favorably on Short sales that are more walk aways than real hardship issues.

FHA incentive to buy Now!

If you were planning to go the FHA loan route when buying your house, you might want to move quickly...

The Federal Housing Administration is strenthening thier reserves... but what this means for the average homeowner is tighter criteria & higher PMI rates...

• MIP, mortgage insurance premium will increase.
• Higher Credit score required
• Seller concessions lowered from 6% to 3%

Just another reason for buyers to make their move NOW!
Here are some more details on it... or contact one of our preferred lenders now to get prequalified... For all other real estate questions for the Lake City area, feel free to call or email.
http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=230552

Best Month to Sell your House

Do you want to sell a home in 2010? You may want to think January instead of June.. With the new tax credit expiring in April, you will probably see more early year home buyers vs the May-June market.

New Listing! 944 acre regional development potential.

One of a kind property at the intersection of Interstate 10 and Interstate 75, here in Lake City, this 944 acre is prime long term development potential. With the expansion of the port in Jacksonville and distribution and overall development potential of north central Florida, this property is worth a serious look.

All the details are at a new site launched called http://www.flahub.com/ Welcome to the new HUB of distribution & industrial growth in Florida.

Homebuyer and Home Buyers Tax Credit $8,000.

Greetings,

2010 is here!  As you may know the tax credit is back again with $8,000 for first time Home Buyers, and now also qualified REPEAT BUYERS can receive a credit of up to $6,500 for homes purchased between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010.

There are a few items that you need to make sure you qualify for, so I have attached some useful documents for you to print out & read, but this is very much real money. And its a tax credit not tax deduction. If you file your taxes individually, and you make over $125,000 per year the tax credit phases out. Anything less and you get the full credit.  Over $225,000 for married couples filing jointly it begins to phase out.

Downloads:

• $8,000 tax credit flyer.
• Save now with Tax Credit Details flyer.
• Tax Credit Changes FAQ
• Tax Credit Changes Comparison Chart.

US now renters' market.

U.S. now a renters' market


Reis Inc. says the apartment vacancy rate ended 2009 at 8%, and rents dipped 3%, led by cities that once had brisk growth. Read more. Click the title link.

Great Rates Today! Check this out from preferred lender

Columbia County FL School Zone Maps

Columbia County School Zone Maps!! Nice. Been looking for this. :)
You can check out the maps to find out what school your future home is located in here in Lake City, FL. Columbia County, FL School Zone....

http://www.columbia.k12.fl.us/schoolzones.html

Natonal Property Values Chart

This is pretty interesting, if you draw a average trend line from prior decades, it still equals a slow average value increase. These charts really show the abnormality of the recent boom & then crase...

Short sales: Playing by the new rules
The U.S. Treasury hopes to speed transactions under new rules, but details count. Realtors should understand the process. Read more.

Click here to view the file with all the details... lots of pages...

New Mapping Links - Lake City FL Real Estate Maps

Here are a few more of my mapping & data integration test today..

Check out the bing map here...
http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=30.163284737060415~-82.6371002196172&lvl=12&sty=r&cid=D08284CF0AD70187!1791

More Geocoding on some higher priced ranged homes in Lake City, FL area...
http://www.batchgeocode.com/map/?i=b79bff4f84e7f4095431ced95068b027

More Google mappping options for real estate by Chad Stewart...
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=30.190541,-82.65976&spn=0.208321,0.301094&z=12&msid=104192750246703441241.000479fd0a1c26b45d8b0

Here are some great houses!!
http://www.batchgeocode.com/map/?i=fd10240ef068cf35ba12d2e70393d960

Nice listings of Lake City FL properties on Google...
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&output=georss&msid=104192750246703441241.000479fd0a1c26b45d8b0

Mapping & Data Tools

There are some very cool tools for exporting your listings to google maps, google base, msn maps etc...

If you want to get all your listings, or even several hundred listings from your MLS on the maps & web for all to see., check out these steps.. (extensive knowlege of excel, tab delimited text files, google earth, general data management required)

First export all your data files, etc into an excel file & save as a tab delimted.

Using this website at http://www.batchgeocode.com/

It will automatically add a latitude & longitute to each listing... you can then save as a KML Google Earth file, or save as a webpage like this.. http://www.batchgeocode.com/map/?i=d583d2a021ed09c64ded46c4383dfd15

Then in Google maps you can import the KML file to create a cool page with all your listings mapped..

or save as another rss feed, webpage,etc... http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&output=georss&msid=104192750246703441241.000479fc0d5ef072a01c1

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=104192750246703441241.000479fc0d5ef072a01c1&z=10


View Lake City FL Homes & Real Estate in a larger map

Good Florida overview--website
http://www.fldashboard.com/

Take a look at the affordability index...it is off the charts at 166.

This means the average buyer has 166% of the necessary income to buy a median priced home.
http://bit.ly/91pRDL

http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=227866

this looks like it will make the short sale process much easier!

http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=227870

A good report from the "always optimistic" Lawrence Yun

Obama signs bill: Buyer tax credit extended
It's now law: Buyers get 5 more months to sign a contract, 7 more months to close; Fla. downpayment aid program extended; some move-up buyers get $6,500. Read more.

Realtors roll up sleeves to move property???
It takes a lot more work - home repairs, forms, time and money - to go from a listing to a closing these days. Read more.

From JAX business - Jacksonville Port Expansion

This is great news for the Lake City, FL area... As you may know, the port in Jacksonville has experience growth & could be experiencing even more... The Panama Canal is expanding as well allowing larger ships to come thru from Asia & other area...

Click for news story link.. all credit ito JaxBizJrn

Lake City, Florida is primed area for distrubution & light manufacturing growth for many reasons... 1st the obvisous connection to the article above... When frieght comes into Jax to get to most of Florida, will load onto trucks & then onto the Interstates..

Well Lake City, FL sits at the intersection of 2 major interstates, I-10 running East West from Jacksonville, to Tallahassee, to Pensacola, and I-75 running down from Atlanta, GA thru Ocala and all the way thru Tampa to Naples...

2nd Lake City is a quality of life destination. The landscape, the people, the springs with fresh water & more make Columbia County a inviting place to live.

The size of our community is just the right size that we are aggressively looking for development opportunity to grow our town effectively.

Contact me, Chad Stewart at Westfield Realty for industrial, commercial, large land tracts & information on this area... http://www.chadstewart.com

Foreclosures slow as courts get bogged down
The process extends the pain for homeowners, banks and courts; Miami-Dade alone has 135,000 in the pipeline. Read more.

NOW YOU KNOW
Fewer short sales come up short
While obstacles remain, real estate agents say banks are more willing to negotiate prices upfront. Read more.

Buyers.. Make your move.. Home Prices Up Again in June as Housing Crisis Eases

Home Prices Up Again in June as Housing Crisis Eases
http://www.cnbc.com/id/32550485

Updated IDX search for Lake City FL Real Estate MLS.....
http://realestate.chadstewart.com/

Didn't really loose in housing free fall

From Florida Association of Realtors...

"You didn’t really lose in housing free fall..... ORLANDO – Aug. 11, 2009 – Stan Smith has some news for longtime homeowners having a pity party over falling house prices in Central Florida: New research shows that current home values are just about where they would have been if the real-estate bubble had never inflated and burst.

A long-term view of the market reveals that, even though prices rose and fell dramatically in recent years, they appear to have settled back into historic patterns, according to an analysis by Smith, a University of Central Florida finance professor."
http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=221351

Blogged by Chad Stewart - Westfield Realty Group in Lake City, FL

Foreclosures Short Sales - from Lake City FL

Foreclosure bargains are disappearing...Some houses go under contract less than 90 minutes after they're put on the market, says the founder of Foreclosure.com
http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=221235

Here in Lake City, FL similar case as well....

41 home listings in Columbia county, Lake City FL are Bank, Foreclosure, or Short Sales,
That is out of 433 total home listings... Only 10% of the listings...

164 homes sold this year in the county...
58 of those were Bank owned, Foreclosures, or Short Sales...
Again roughly 30% of the market is this...

Chad.

$8,000 tax credit for downpayment

They came out with the $8,000 tax credit that you can use for a downpayment, however the program is limited to SHIP qualifications only.

Contact me for more info, otherwise contact the local SHIP office.However, the $8,000 as a tax credit, not tax deduction, but a real tax credit has a much broader qualification range, first time home buyer, not owned a home in the last 3 years, and some income limitations, otherwise yea, get $8,000 credit. Now thats nice..

My website with all my contact info is http://www.chadstewart.com/ Check it out or contact me with any questions.

The Basics: 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit
From Realtor.org
Bringing the Dream of Homeownership Within Reach:

As part of its plan to stimulate the U.S. housing market and address the economic challenges facing our nation, Congress has passed legislation that grants a tax credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers.
Here is more information about how the 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit can help prospective home buyers become part of the American dream.
http://www.realtor.org/home_buyers_and_sellers/2009_first_time_home_buyer_tax_credit

8,000 reasons to get off the fence.

8,000 Reasons for you to get off the fence.
Check out $8,000 dollar bill & then click this to check out & print the flyer.
There's never been a better time to buy a home. Really.

Real Estate is awesome.

TODAY'S TOP STORIES
All credit goes to Early Bird News for these...
Citizens insurance approves rate changes
Florida's largest property insurer approved a 10% rate hike for many customers, but a 10% rate decrease for some. Read more.
Appeals court upholds 'Save Our Homes'
Alabama residents had filed a suit alleging that it discriminates against property owners who aren't full-time residents. Read more.
Lawsuit filed against growth management bill
Local governments asked a circuit court to reject the law, saying it's an unfunded mandate that Florida law bans. Read more.
Your home's worth: Who can tell these days?
Should home value calculations consider nearby distressed property? Appraisers, real-estate agents and owners disagree. Read more.
Poll: Would-be homebuyers still cautious. More than half say they're not prepared to jump into the market, with a fear of job loss their No. 1 reason. Read more.

From Florida Assoc of Realtors... Tips & Info sites for home loans...

• Bankrate.com: www.bankrate.com/brm/green/mtg/mort1a.asp Good primer on different types of mortgage borrowing.

• Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.: www.mortgageinfocenter.com/tips/default.asp Offers dozens of mortgage borrowing tips over five pages.

Study: Housing Market in Lake City, FL

This is an article that was published in the Lake City Reporter yesterday. Written by Jeff M. Hardison.. & all credit goes to him & the Lake City Reporter...

This explains how the trend of more sale & activity but lower prices is still moving up north in Florida, still reaching into the Lake City, FL area. Here is the article.

__________________

Statewide numbers for Realtor sales of single-family existing homes looked good in May of 2009, according to the North Florida Forecaster newsletter. The newsletter is a publication of the Lake City Board of Realtors. People who are in the house-buying mode as end users will find Lake City to be a good market now, said Lake City Board of Realtors Executive Vice President Dan Gherna.

A trend of property prices being drastically reduced is moving northward, Gherna said, as reflected by Ocala showing a 1 percent increase in the number of Realtor sales of single-family existing homes in May 2009 over May 2008.

In Ocala, there was a 22 percent decrease in median prices of homes sold in May of 2008 compared with May of 2009 — dropping from $143,100 to $111,600.

“It’s encouraging to see Ocala’s results,” he said.Gherna said the Lake City-Live Oak market reflects low sales from May in comparison with the same month in 2008.“The bad markets are Gainesville, Lake City and Tallahassee,” he said.Gherna said a 13 percent reduced median sales price from $150,000 in May of 2008 to $130,000 in May of 2009 for the Lake City-Live Oak market is not significant enough to expect a dramatic increase in sales.

The Lake City-Live Oak market showed a 22 percent decrease in the number of sales, dropping from 41 houses sold in May of 2008 to 32 homes sold in May of 2009, Gherna said.

“Our distress property sales were only 30 percent,” he said. This compares to South Florida, where they are upwards of 80 percent.”

The Fort Myers-Cape Coral market showed the most significant positive sales increase by going up 72 percent when comparing figures from May 2008 and May 2009. There were 823 houses sold in that market in May of 2008 and that jumped to 1,417 houses sold in May of 2009.The median price of houses in Fort Myers-Cape Coral dropped by 58 percent, from $212,400 in May of 2008 to $88,500 in May of 2009.“In Fort Myers and Cape Coral,” Gherna said, “it looks like a war zone. There are new subdivisions where people are not mowing and windows are broken. Banks see these homes as a liability.”

Gainesville, Tallahassee, Lake City-Live Oak and Sarasota-Bradenton markets are the only double-digit negative Realtor sales figures for May of 2009 compared with May of 2008.Of the 21 markets reviewed by a survey of Multiple Listing Services sales levels from Florida’s Realtors, only Panama City showed a single digit 7 percent drop in median prices from $190,000 in May of 2008 to $167,500 in May of 2008. All other areas dropped prices from 58 percent to 10 percent.

Youtube, Old campsites, & Real Estate

Chad Stewart is now on Youtube as well... Check out videos & home tours & keep checking back.... If you are a Realtor & are not yet using Youtube or many of these online marketing & networking sites, you might as well get started. You need to keep your listing exposed to absolutly as many people as you possibly can.

Here is my Youtube channel if you want to check it out. http://www.youtube.com/user/chadrealestate101

You can even post the videos right in your blog like this... Check out some of these "homes" ... You definetly want to make sure you have an agent on the ground to check out sites, so you don't end up buying a place like this not knowing what you are getting into... wow, quite the place to drive thru....

Chad Stewart - Westfield Realty is on Twitter

Follow me on Twitter

http://twitter.com/ChadRealEstate

South Florida market looking better Threats still exist, however, says NAR Economist Lawrence Yun, who spoke at Miami's International Real Estate Congress. Read more

Short Sale & Foreclosure Report for Lake City, FL

Lake City, FL is definitely experiencing more short sales, foreclosures, & over REO or Bank owned properties & home sales than even just 1 year ago. Although we still do not seem to be even close to south Florida in terms of a REO dominated market to the levels of a 80-90% range. Locally we are at about 30% of our home sale business is Foreclosures & Short Sales.

152 residential properties sold YTD Jan thru June 13th 2009 in my north FL county (Columbia Count) "rural FL" 49 of those were REO, Foreclosure, Shortsales or approximatly 30% of the Market. Median sales price for all 152 sales YTD was $114,450 or about 80% of original list price for 2009 YTD.

Last Year, 2008 YTD thru 6-13-2008, by comparison there were 186 sales YTD with only maybe 15 or so REO,Foreclosure, or Short Sales being only about 8% of the market. Median sales price for these were $145,000. Selling at 89% of original list price.

Information pulled by Chad Stewart with Westfield Realty Group out of the Lake City North FL MLS. Lake City FL Board of Realtors.

Chad Stewart - Real Estate Blogger author.

http://www.chadstewart.com

Pending Home Sales Up 6.7%, Biggest Gain in Over 7 Years http://www.cnbc.com/id/31063170

1099-c Cancellation of Debt on Foreclosure or short Sale

Wondering about a 1099-c regarding cancellation of debt on a foreclosure or short sale. You may qualify for NOT paying taxex on that "income"
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=174034,00.html

Homebuyers credit!!! :)

Governor signs $8K homebuyer credit into law
On July 1, first-time Florida buyers who quality for the federal $8,000 tax credit can use it toward a downpayment. Read more.
http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n3-052709.cfm

Lake City, FL Real Estate Sale

Home sold in Eastside Village. Only on the Market for 4 days!! But really only 1 business day. Wow. This goes to show price it right & still you can sell quickly in Lake City, FL. This was not a short sale or foreclosure.

Big Improvement to First-Time Buyer Tax Credit
Under a new FHA rule, lenders can allow first-time home buyers to use the $8,000 tax credit as a down payment. Otherwise, buyers wouldn't get the money until they receive their tax return.
http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2009051202?OpenDocument

Florida Real Estate Market.

FLORIDA REAL ESTATE

A monthly UF survey finds an increase in confidence for the Florida real estate market. "Positive responses ... lead us to believe there is light at the end of the tunnel," says Timothy Becker, director of UF's Bergstrom Center for Real Estate Studies. According to Becker, many respondents believe that government stimulus efforts are working.

Read the full story:
http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n2-051309.cfm

Latest Listing & Youtube Video Test.
Maple Ln for $99,900. Lake City, FL Real Estate.

Short Sales & Foreclosures,

This article has important things to keep in mind when dealing with sellers that wish to walk the path of a short sale, foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure.

http://www.brokeragentsocial.com/article.php?article_id=308

Tax Credit

Limited time to partake in the $8000 tax credit!

http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n1-042409.cfm

Florida Real Estate Market

Here is some great news..., yes buyers get in there & start making your move. Well priced properties are selling quick. - Chad Stewart - Lake City, FL

RECOVERY ON THE WAY?
Housing Predictor - which monitors over 250 residential property markets nationwide - says Florida appears to be emerging from the realty slump before any other state, including California. The Sunshine State is seeing population growth, and single-family home and condominium sales have been on the rise for more than six months. Foreclosures and short sales presently account for approximately 67 percent of all sales and often are not included in real estate agents' tallies. Additionally, banks in many Florida housing markets are cranking out more home loans, and sellers finance almost 20 percent of all sales.
Source: First???EmailWire.com (04/21/09) © Copyright 2009 INFORMATION, INC. Bethesda, MD (301) 215-4688

OPEN HOUSES
Despite a changing market, many real estate professionals say open houses still effectively showcase a home. "Anything you can do helps," says Trudy Severa, a sales associate in Reston, Va. "It's a numbers game, and there is no way to know the residual effects [that an open house can have]."Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n4-041409.cfm

RENTERS
Renters who have never missed a payment sometimes find themselves on the street because a landlord lost their house to foreclosure. But for $25 per year, a new program, RealtyTrac Renter Alerts, will monitor the home and inform renters about any foreclosure activity.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n4-040609.cfm

Look at this. NAR housing affordability index at 173. This is the best index since they started keeping records.

http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n2-040109.cfm

GOOD TIME TO BUY
There are signs that the housing market is starting to look healthier as many people realize it's a good time to buy a home. One of the best reasons: Uncle Sam is there to help first-time buyers, who are entitled to a maximum $8,000 tax credit on the purchase of their home.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n3-033109.cfm

HOME SALES
Florida's existing home sales rose 24 percent in January, making it the fifth month in a row that sales activity increased year-to-year, according to the latest housing data from FAR. Florida Realtors also reported a 13 percent gain in statewide sales of existing condos last month. NAR reported that nationwide sales of existing homes - all housing types - fell 5.3 percent last month; at the same time, inventories fell to a two-year low.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n1-022509.cfm

HOMEBUYER TAX CREDIT
The current version of the economic stimulus contains a tax credit of up to $8,000 for first-time homebuyers only, though it does not have to be paid back if the house is owned for three years or more. The amount is far less than the $15,000 initially expected, and analysts say it will provide only a modest boost to the U.S. housing market.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n1-021309.cfm

"The Day the Market got better"

I was working hard in my office on new listings on Feb 9th, 2009, when my phone range.

...It was a investment prospect I had last talked to in August of 2007!!!! He was interested in making a purchase again after not have done anything in the past.., well should we say long time...
...A short time before that a land seller called that had not relisted his property, he was now ready to "do something"
...While getting my oil change, the attendant say my real estate name tage & said "I want to buy a home now!"
...a before that I had a development prospect interested again in developing a new retail center...He had been waiting things out for 9 months to a year.

It felt like that on Feb 9th, there was a surge of new activity, especially these "out of the blue" calls of people ready to get things moving again.

So I have officially labled Feb 9th as the day I reached the bottom of the market in terms of activity levels, no where left but up from here... Really throughout he start of the year, buyer, seller, prospect activity has really picked up, and I think it picked up even more in Feb of 2009.
I actually got pretty excited, I love the real estate business (even in a softer market) so I get really excited to see some activity levels coming back again.

So I am officially labeling Feb 9th, 2009 the day the market got better.

Thats all for now..I'm off to market another property, get that happy buyer & happy seller together for a wonderful deal.
Has anybody else had one of these "moments"?? I would love to hear about it. Leave me a comment.
Chad.
www.chadstewart.com

COMMERCIAL
The commercial real estate industry applauded the government's move to include commercial mortgages in a key lending program Tuesday, but experts said the plan's lack of details is disconcerting.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n2-021109.cfm

MARKETING
Many potential buyers think they won't qualify for a mortgage, and that they must have a substantial downpayment first. But some Realtors are using that information to their advantage, hosting "Why Rent Events" that instruct shoppers on how to buy a home right now.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n2-020409.cfm

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.

Fannie Mae said Monday it's finalizing a plan to help renters stay in their homes even if their landlord enters foreclosure. The mortgage giant says renters who can make their monthly payments could be offered a new lease or given cash to help move to a new home.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n2-121608.cfm

REAL ESTATE TRENDS
When the economy shrinks, so does the size of housing, sending the popularity of tiny apartments and condos soaring as construction costs rise and financial markets fall. Developers are also responding to buyers' penchant for urban living and their environmental awareness.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n3-120808.cfm

HOME SALES
For the second month in a row, Florida's existing home sales rose in October: Florida Realtors reported a 15 percent increase in activity in the year-to-year comparison; last month's sales of existing condos statewide increased 5 percent in the year-to-year comparison. Meanwhile, NAR reports that existing-home sales fell 3.1 percent from the strong gain seen in September.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n1-112408.cfm

Right now, yes in the year 2008, is the most affordable time to purchase a house in the last 35 years...
Based info from the NAR (National Association of Realtors), every year, the combination of median single family home price, family income, qualifying income, interest rates = the Housing affordibility index.
Here is how it works, a score of 100 means a family has the exact amount of income to qualify for a home, a score of 120 means a family has 120% of the income needed, therefore making it actually more affordable & the home mortgage payment a smaller portion of their bills.. http://www.realtor.org/research/research/hameth
So, we need to spread the word!!, there is no technical, financial, or analytical reason not to buy a home..
Not only is it the classic rallying cray of a "Great time to Buy" but its actually the "BEST time to Buy in out of the past 35 years"!!!!
Wow!! That is something to write home about... or at least to write to customers about homes about...
US HOUSING AFFORDABILITY INDEX is NOW 135

RESPA REFORM
Good Faith Estimates will be standardized effective Jan. 1, 2010, under rules issued by HUD yesterday. The change, HUD says, will save consumers $700 at the closing table by making it easier to compare mortgage offers from competing banks.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n1-111308.cfm

FHA LOANS
Starting Jan. 1, 2009, FHA will insure single-family home mortgages up to $271,050 in low-cost areas, and up to $625,500 in high-cost areas. While the February stimulus package temporarily raised the FHA maximum higher, $625,500 still represents a significant increase over the original $362,790 limit.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n2-111208.cfm

Clippings from Lake City Reporter... all credit goes to Lake City Reporter and/or Forbes.

http://www.lakecityreporter.com/articles/2008/11/09/news/doc49166a61004de174884352.txt

In the most recent issue of Forbes, the magazine lists the most and least vulnerable towns in the United States. Using criteria that focuses on 141 micropolitan areas in the nation, Lake City ranks 95th out of the 141 — the higher the ranking, the better, Forbes explained.

Of the Florida cities listed, only one — Key West, which is labeled the second least vulnerable town in the U.S. — ranks higher than Lake City.

Obama Will Support Housing, Says NARPresident-elect Barack Obama is likely to make a housing market recovery a central part of his economic revival plan, NAR leaders said Thursday.

COMMERCIAL
Citizens Property Insurance Corp. announced that it will begin offering a Commercial Nonresidential Multi-peril (CNR-M) policy on Nov. 17, 2008. This new policy will be available to eligible nonresidential entities statewide.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n2-110408.cfm

Good article. It looks like we have turned the corner and are on our way!
http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n2-103008.cfm

FORECLOSURES
The number of homeowners ensnared in the foreclosure crisis grew by more than 70 percent in the third quarter of 2008 compared with the same period in 2007, according to data released Thursday. One bright spot: Filings in September were actually down 12 percent from August.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n1-102308.cfm

NEW HOMES
To compensate for a drop in sales, many new home builders switched to the construction of smaller houses. That worked for a while, but to attract buyers now, they're cutting square footage even more.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n5-101308.cfm

PENDING HOME SALES
Pending home sales surged 7.4 percent, according to NAR's latest Pending Home Sales Index, and the number is 8.8 percent higher year-over-year. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, says homebuyers were responding to improved affordability, especially in states such as Florida, California, Nevada, Arizona and Rhode Island.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n1-100808.cfm

FORECLOSURES
Florida will receive $541 million in new federal foreclosure funds that must be used to buy property, rehabilitate abandoned homes and offer downpayment assistance to low-to-middle-income home buyers.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n2-092908.cfm

Lake City FL Real Estate - Land Liquidation Sale

I wanted to take a minute & let you know about a sale we are having. This is our Land Liquidation Sale!!!. I have a list of listings that the sellers are very motivated & have authorized me to liquidate their properties at unheard of prices. These are all priced below market value for Columbia County, FL / Lake City, FL area. Check out the list below & regardless if this is the exact type of property you are looking for, these are incredible deals to check out. Otherwise forward these to anybody that you may know that may be interested. NOW is the time to get a deal.

• Lot 3 - Sylvi Cir - Star Lake Subdivision. This is a .58 acre LakeFront Lot. Originally priced at $84,000. This has been reduced to $39,900. You simply will not find another quality Lake front lot at this price. Seller needs quick cash closing. This is a deal!!MLS 66648.
  
• Olivia Court. This is a construction development opportunity. 1.66 acres. Priced at $29,900, and bring any offer. Zoned RSF-3, 8 units per acre zoning, preliminary plat NOT filed shows 8 possible building lots, or build off existing road. MLS 63259.
  
• Explorer Glen - Plenty of room to raise horses or a few other animals.. 16.17 acres priced at only $6178 per acre. $99,900 list price. NEW Listing. MLS 67962. Well, Septic on property per owner. Ft. White, FL area. One of the best prices in the county for acreage this size. Massive price reduction from original listing.
  
• Happy Jack Dr. - Several 10 acre lots available. BEST PRICE in THE COUNTY!!! for 10 acre tracts. Priced at only $53,000 for Lots 6 & 8, and $58,000 for Lot 7. MLS 64578. Only about 10-15 minutes from Lake City. Great Value.
  
• Lot 5 - Gideon Pl. This is a 10 acre parcel with 2 homesites already setup.. 2 wells, 2 power poles, 2 sceptics, Reduced by over $45,000 for buyer to take advantage of this. Priced at $69,900. MLS 65364.
  
• Haygood Loop. Multi-Family Development opportunity. Priced at $89,900, this is a 1.4 acre parcel. It is zoned & land use for 8 units per acre. Good locations, very close to schools, High & Dry. Multi-Family is great for Lake City, FL. Good demand MLS 61057.
  
  
• Horse Way. 5 acres close to Lake City, Mostly pasture. New Listing. Priced at only $49,900. MLS 67926. Great value, Great location in north central Florida.

Email me back for a map & a flyer on any property you are interested in. I will be personally coordinating all offers for the above properties, so contact me right away with questions, and about putting in your offer.
More Good Deals on Land & Homes Available at: http://www.chadstewart.com/

FANNIE MAE AND FREDDIE MAC
What does the federal government bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mean to home buyers and sellers? Generally, it's a good thing, and brings stability to the mortgage market. Most experts even expect mortgage rates to drop some over the short term, though qualifying for a mortgage will remain a challenge unless the feds tinker with fees or rules.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n1-090808.cfm

HURRICANES
With most closings shut down by property insurers when a storm is "in the box," some sales may have to be scheduled between bouts of bad weather. Hurricane Gustav is departing only to see new threats from Hanna, a strengthening Ike and newcomer Josephine.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n4-090308.cfm

RENTERS INSURANCE
Renters insurance isn't a burning issue to most renters. It's often only after a robbery that a policy suddenly seems like a no-brainer.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n5-082808.cfm

REAL ESTATE ECONOMYI
s this the real estate turnaround? On the heels of an increase in Florida home sales, a spike in new home sales and an upswing in consumer confidence, traffic to Realtor.com went up significantly in July, with traffic 29 percent higher and time spent on the Web site up 26 percent compared to one month earlier.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n1-082808.cfm

HOME SALES
Single-family existing home sales rose in Florida for the first time in more than two years: While only six more homes sold in July 2008 than in July 2007, it could indicate stabilization in Florida's housing sector, according to FAR's latest housing statistics. NAR also reported that national existing-home sales rose in July to the highest level in five months.Read the full story:
http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n1-082508.cfm

PROPERTY INSURANCE
How will homeowners fare with property insurers when seeking repairs for damage from Tropical Storm Fay? There's good news/bad news. Since Fay never became a hurricane, the higher deductibles don't apply. But flood damage is not covered under most policies, and less than half of homesteaded owners have a supplementary flood insurance policy.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n1-082208.cfm

IN THE BOX
With Tropical Storm Fay bearing down on Florida, most property insurers have stopped writing new policies, which could stall closings scheduled early this week if a mortgage lender demands coverage before releasing money. Florida's property insurer, Citizens Property Insurance, stopped writing new policies on Sunday morning, for example. Most insurers resume writing new policies once tropical storm or hurricane watches and/or warnings have been lifted. "The box" - the geographic area in which policies will not be written - varies among insurers, so it's worth a phone call for any closings scheduled during a storm. For more hurricane info, visit the floridarealtors.org hurricane page at: http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/Before-disaster-strikes.cfm.