Florida Housing Market Bouncing Back….

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Florida Housing Market Bouncing Back….

Florida’s real estate market is entering 2012 on an upward trend, according to three leading U.S. economists. Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. John Tuccillo says, “Our sate is in a mini-recovery” and “sales are trending up, listing inventories have fallen, the supply of lender-related properties has stabalized, and we are seeing multiple offers on home in some local markets.”

In Fact…

Dr. Tuccillo says homes in Florida may be undervalued. “That may sound like a drastic statement,” he said. ” But a buyer who plans to own the home for 5-7 years can get some great bargains today.” Interesting statistic from South Florida I heard yesterday said at one point Miami had 9 years worth of inventory, now with decreased number of homes on the market and high buyer activity has dropped that number to less than one year. The South Florida economy is growing  based on relationships with Latin America and the Carribbean. Dr. Lawrence Yun says, “Don’t be surprised to see a gain in home prices in the Miami and Naples markets in the next 18 months.””From there, the recovery is likely to roll northward to Central Florida and then North Florida.”International buyers are driving the market in South Florida and other areas of the state.”

What about Ocala….

We are seeing positive signs locally including a drop in unemployment and reduced housing inventory. Banks are slowly releasing foreclosed/REO homes on the market and this is creating a negotiating competition between buyers. Many of the more inexpensive homes are only on the market for 1-2 weeks. We are still facing challenges getting buyers qualified for financing, however with the USDA loan programs and FHA there is great opportunity. Another key factor is the high price for rentals and availability. In todays market you can buy a home for the same or lower than you can rent. The benefits of buying to renting can create tax benefits, provide stability because there is no landlord who can ever raise your rent or sell the home without your approval.

If you are interested in receiving a monthly “Market Trend Report” please call, text, or email me anytime.

“Until Next Time”

Ocala, Florida Area Local Market Report 2011 – 3rd Quarter

Posted by Duke Rountree on

TODAYS MARKET…. Median Price and Existing home Sales

All real estate is local and every market is unique. Remember that when you hear reports from the major new networks. We are seeing some positive signs in the Ocala / Marion County Market with the Median Home Price now at $80,900 with 1-year Appreciation at -1.6% and a 3 year Appreciation of a whooping -40.1%. This relatively recent correction in local home prices wiped out most of the equity gained over the last 7 years. State Existing Home Sales(2011 Q3 vs 2010 Q3) is at +10.6% for Florida and Nationally 17%.

FORECLOSURE info by type…

The market share of Foreclosures by type is 88.3% are Prime Loans, 5.1% are Sub-Prime Loans and 6.6% are Alt-A Loans. There has been a decline of both 60 and 90 day delinquency rates over the most recent 6-month period suggests a decline in local foreclosure rates in the near future.

AFFORDABILITY….

Based on Ratio of Local Mortgage Servicing Cost to Income, Ocala has typically been more affordable than most markets. For example the Monthly Mortgage Payment to Income for Ocala is 6.6% compared to 15.5% in the United States for 2010 and 5.7% locally for 2011 and 13.9% nationally with the historical average at 11.3% locally and 22% nationally. The price to income ratio has fallen as well and is below the historical average.

So what does this all mean?

Well it could mean we are close to reaching the bottom of the housing value slide. But it will take a strong economy and more local jobs for the housing market to continue gaining traction. There is less inventory on the market with an increase in buyer activity, compared to the same time last year. We are a long way from seeing appreciation in our homes but hopefully close to reaching the bottom and no more depreciation of value.

“Until Next Time”

Homeowners Monthly Payments Down Almost 40%

Posted by Duke Rountree on

Monthly median-priced single family home today is $700

Inexpensive homes for sale in Florida and United States, plus historically low interest rates mean homeowners are paying less per month and that is great. Thats a 40% less than the $1,140 monthly average payed in 2006 according to Fiserv.

Here in Ocala, Florida homes sales prices have dropped a whooping 50% since the peaks in 2006. In rural areas such as Fort McCoy, Sparr, Anthony, Citra, Orange Spings, Williston, Belleview, Summerfield and many more the values have dropped even farther. In many other areas of the state and country values have only dropped around 35%. That means there is some great value in Marion County and we are poised to see a future rebound of the housing market. We are slowly starting to see home prices level off in the area but we are still not there yet.

Just as an example, let’s say you are borrowing $85,000.00 for 30 years with an interest rate of 5.000%. If the value of your home is $300,000.00, your property taxes $1,500.00 per year and your insurance is $1,200.00 per year, you can expect to be making a total payment of $681.30. This is because you need to pay $456.30 toward the actual loan, plus $125.00 for real estate taxes and $100.00 toward insurance.

Source: “Monthly Mortgage Payment Almost 40% Cheaper Than 2006,” HousingWire (Nov. 9, 2011) and Fiserv

© Copyright 2011 INFORMATION, INC. Bethesda, MD (301) 215-4688

“Until Next Time”

 

Thinking About Buying A Foreclosure, Short Sale or Auction Property?

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Before Buying a Foreclosure, Short Sale, or Auction Property: 3 Things to Think About

There can be great bargains in buying a foreclosure, short sale, or auction property but buyers need to proceed with caution. Many of these types of homes can be purchased at 20-40% less than traditional reseller prices, however consider these tips before proceeding;

#1 First consider buying an REO(Real Estate Owned) bank owned property before considering a short sale or auction property. WHY? Because short sale can be lengthy to negotiate and auction properties often require an all cash purchase. REO/ bank owned properties do not have an emotional connection but simply want to recoup as much money as possible.

#2 HAVE AN INSPECTION DONE! Did you notice this is in caps w/ exclamation point. In my opinion you should have an inspection done on any home purchase. Over 12 years of experience and thousands of homes viewed has proven to me even new construction can have issues and buyers need to protect their largest investment and make sure the home is operational & most importantly safe.

#3 Don’t expect appreciation right away. I caution buyers who buy properties at big discounts from thinking they will see appreciation right away. We are still in a depressed market and probably not going to see appreciation in the near future. Finding a good REALTOR to educate you about the local market and trends .

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog post and I hope you will sign up for future post.

“Until Next Time”

 

 

What is a Short Sale & Some Things You Should Know

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What is a Short Sale & Some Things You Should Know

What is a Short Sale?

A short sale is a transaction where the net proceeds from the sale of a property are not enough to cover the sellers mortgage obligation and closing costs, such as property taxes, transfer taxes, and real estate commissions.

ONLY Real Hardships Get the HELP!

Purchasing or refinancing your house during the housing boom is not a legitimate hardship. Banks actually review and analyze short sale sellers hardships and most center of the economy. In short the banks are going to verify the short sale is in their best interest, not the sellers. What are acceptable hardships? medical issues, divorce, disability, significant loss of income, death, unemployment, and relocation.

Laws Are Local(State)

Foreclosure laws vary from state to state and it is important to remember there are currently no short sale laws on the books. Federal guidelines are in place, however the bank does not have to do anything they do not want too. If you decide to move forward in selling your home as a short sale there are a few things to keep in mind.

1) If the bank approves the short sale will there be a deficiency amount owed for the difference between your mortgage amount and sales price, minus fees?

2) Will the bank accept a “Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure”? With a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the property owner gives the property to the lender voluntarily in exchange for the lender canceling the loan. The lender may or may not agree to forgive any deficiency balance that results from the sale of the property.

3) Potential Tax liabilities- Under federal law, a creditor is required to file a 1099C whenever it forgives a loan balance greater than $600.00 which could create a tax liability  for you. However the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 provides tax relief for some loans forgiven in 2007 through 2012.

Lastly, please seek the advice and consult with an attorney, and possibly accountant, experienced in bankruptcy law to understand all of your options.

“Until Next Time”

Delays in Foreclosures Reach New Records!

Posted by Duke Rountree on

Delays in Foreclosures Reach New Records! Home owners are living in their homes, mortgage & rent free, on average for 20 months or 599 days which is a new record according to data collected by Lender Processing Services, LLP.

There are approximately 1.9 million homes loans that are 90 or more days late, but not yet in foreclosure and 42% of those home owners have not made a payment in more than one year, with average delinquency of 397 days.

Why so long? Well there are judicial states and non-judicial states and the time frame to complete the foreclosure process varies greatly. Florida is non-judicial state and could possible clear inventories within 32 months, compared to a judicial state, like Las Vegas, that would require up to 111months. OUCH!! Yes that is correct, 111 MONTHS to work through inventories that are more than 90 days late.

In my opinion we will be working through these issue for many years to come, maybe upwards of 5-10 years and who really knows. I do know if we do not start creating jobs and help small business owners, it will take even longer because there are not enough qualified people to purchase new or existing homes.

“Until Next Time”

Florida Still Highest Among Foreclosures

Posted by Duke Rountree on

Florida Still Highest Among Foreclosures

Almost 1 in 4 mortgages are either past due or already in foreclosure during the second quarter, according to Mortgage Bankers Association. We also have the highest inventory of homes in foreclosure currently at 14.4%. The national average delinquency rate was 8.44% in the second quarter and up slightly from the first quarter.

Foreclosures continue to be found in just a few states, with ONLY five states accounting for 52 percent of the foreclosure inventory in second quarter.

1. Florida (14.4%)

2. Nevada (8.2%)

3. New Jersey (8%)

4. Illinois (7%)

5. Maine and New York (5.5%)

 

Source: Realtor Magazine August 23, 2011 http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2011/08/23/which-state-has-highest-foreclosure-inventory

What Happens After Foreclosure? How Long Before You Can Qualify For Mortgage?

Posted by Duke Rountree on

Can You Say Tricky Question?

With so many people struggling to find work and therefore, keeping their mortgages current. Foreclosure and Short Sales are at an all time high for our country. The question posed above is not really tricky, but has many variables. The New York Times notes that a past foreclosure will result in the longest wait before you can buy again. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac properties have a 3 year waiting period after filing foreclosure and 2 year waiting period following a short sale, deed in lieu of foreclosure & discharge or dismissal of bankruptcy. However, there may be certain circumstances, job loss or transfer from job, that may reduce the wait period to qualify for mortgage.

FHA loans also have 3 year waiting period for foreclosure / short sale and 2 years for bankruptcy as well, but note there are plenty of exceptions. Based on New York Time article and example would be, if a borrower was current on payments for year prior to short sale there may be not waiting period and might even qualify for FHA loan immediately.

In conclusion, none of these rules are steadfast or set in stone. With such a large number of people struggling and facing loss of their homes(at the time of this post there are over approximately 1,000,000 properties foreclosed or in the process), poor credit ratings and lack of jobs, lenders will need to take into account circumstances that may have lead to default. I firmly believe these standards will change in years to come. Fannie Mae spokesman says, ” The key is to avoid foreclosure”  and “That is what will help you be eligible for the shorter period.”

“Until Next Time”

 

 

Source: “The Post-Foreclosure Wait,” The New York Times (June 23, 2011)

What is REO? What Effect Will REO Have on Housing Recovery?

Posted by Duke Rountree on

Real estate owned or REO…is a class of property owned by a lender typically a bank, government agency, or government loan insurer, after an unsuccessful sale at a foreclosure auction[1]. When a lender/ beneficiary finishes the foreclosure process the property can then be listed as an REO property.That is the technical definition, however most people know them as foreclosures. Most of the larger banks and government institutions have REO/Asset Management companies who handle departments that field bids and offers, oversee upkeep, and handle sales. Most REO properties are listed with local MLS(Multiple Listing Services by REALTORS for marketing properties.) Bank properties are typically in need of repair and/or maintenance and the cost of these items is the responsibility of the mortgage servicer(bank or government agency.)

What Effect Will REO Have on Housing Recovery?…The nation’s largest banks and mortgage holders currently own over 872,000 homes which were repossessed through foreclosure or other means. That is nearly 2x the amount foreclosed on in 2007, when the financial crisis began. Unfortunately, that may not be the worst news because the same lenders are ready to repossess over 1,000,000 more homes according to RealtyTrac reports. The huge number of currently banked owned foreclosures and the large pending amount are causing economist to fear a double dip in the real estate market. According to Treep, a leading real estate research firm, will force the lender-owned homes to sell for deep discounts over the next 2 years and at a cost of almost $40 billion in losses. The opinion of REALTORS is that lenders are overwhelmed with the huge inventory which many times the homes are outdated, often overpriced by 10% or more and lenders take to long to accept or reject the offer. The largest problem is it takes over 400 days to foreclose and on average 176 days to sell.

My personal opinion is we are a long way from a housing recovery being done and it will continue to be a buyers market for some time to come. Marion County has some of the best prices in the state. Many can buy a home for less than the cost to rent in the area. Want to learn more or have questions, please call, text, chat or email me.

“Until Next Time”


[1] William Roark (2006), Concise Encyclopedia of Real Estate Business Terms ISBN 0-7890-2341-5

Source; “As Lenders Hold Homes in Foreclosure, Sales Are Hurt, New York Times May 23,2011