Surprising Shift Favors Homeowners: Buyers Now Prefer Existing Homes In April, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) posted an article, Home Buyers’ Preferences Shift Towards New Construction, which reported: “60% of people who were looking to buy a home in 2020 said they’d prefer new construction to an existing home.” However, it seems buyers are now shifting their…

With Rents on the Rise – Is Now the Time To Buy? According to recent data from realtor.com, median rental prices have reached their highest point ever recorded in many areas across the country. The report found rents rose by 8.1% from the same time last year. As it notes: “Beyond simply recovering to pre-pandemic levels, rents across the country are surging. Typically,…

Waiting To Buy a Home Could Cost You [INFOGRAPHIC] Some Highlights If you’re thinking of buying a home but wondering if waiting a few years will save you in the long run, think again. The longer the wait, the more you’ll pay, especially when mortgage rates and home prices rise. Even the slightest change in the mortgage rate can have a…

  The listings below are single family homes in Sarasota listed for sale between $300,000 – $500,000. This list is updated multiple times throughout the day. Save this link and visit often or contact Julie to set up your own search using your custom search criteria. We are currently in a strong “seller’s market” and…

Thinking about Building a New Home? Your Agent Is Critical. [INFOGRAPHIC] Some Highlights A real estate professional is an expert who can advocate on your behalf throughout the process when building a home. Agents help you understand key steps, like choosing upgrades and managing negotiations, while staying within your budget from start to finish. If…

Why Owning a Home Is a Powerful Financial Decision In today’s housing market, there are clear financial benefits to owning a home: increasing equity, the chance to build your net worth, and appreciating home values, just to name a few. If you’re a renter, it’s never too early to think about how homeownership can propel you toward a stronger…

Do I Really Need a 20% Down Payment to Buy a Home? Is the idea of saving for a down payment holding you back from buying a home right now? You may be eager to take advantage of today’s low mortgage rates, but the thought of needing a large down payment might make you want to pump…

Want to Build Wealth? Buy a Home This Year. Every year, households across the country make the decision to rent for another year or take the leap into homeownership. They look at their earnings and savings and then decide what makes the most financial sense. That equation will most likely take into consideration monthly housing…

Turn to an Expert for the Best Advice, Not Perfect Advice As we approach the anniversary of the hardships we’ve faced through this pandemic and the subsequent recession, it’s normal to reflect on everything that’s changed and wonder what’s ahead for 2021. While there are signs of economic recovery as vaccines are being issued, we…

Is Right Now the Right Time to Sell? [INFOGRAPHIC] Some Highlights If you’re on the fence about selling your house, now is a great time to take advantage of sky-high demand, low supply, and fierce buyer competition. With buyer demand rising and historically low inventory for sale, if you’re in a position to move, your house may really stand…

What Record-Low Housing Inventory Means for You The real estate market is expected to do very well in 2021, with mortgage rates that are hovering at historic lows and forecasted by experts to remain favorable throughout the year. One challenge to the housing industry, however, is the lack of homes available for sale today. Last week, the National Association of…

What Happens When Homeowners Leave Their Forbearance Plans? According to the latest report from Black Knight, Inc., a well-respected provider of data and analytics for mortgage companies, 6.48 million households have entered a forbearance plan as a result of financial concerns brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s where these homeowners stand right now: 2,543,000 (39%) are current…

What’s the Difference between an Appraisal and a Home Inspection? If you’re planning to buy a home, an appraisal is an important step in the process. It’s a professional evaluation of the market value of the home you’d like to buy. In most cases, an appraisal is ordered by the lender to confirm or verify the value of the…

Why Moving May Be Just the Boost You Need As we look back over the past year, we’ve certainly lived through one of the most stressful periods in recent history. After spending so much more time at home throughout the health crisis, some are wondering if they should move to improve their mental health and…

Financial Fundamentals for Homebuyers [INFOGRAPHIC] Some Highlights When you’re thinking about buying a home, there are a few key steps to take before you even start to look at houses. From saving for your down payment to getting pre-approved for a mortgage, you’ll want to make sure you keep your financial plan on track from…

What Experts Are Saying about the 2021 Job Market Earlier this month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released their most recent Jobs Report. The report revealed that the economy lost 140,000 jobs in December. That’s a devastating number and dramatically impacts those households that lost a source of income. However, we need to give it some context.…

Owning a Home Is Still More Affordable Than Renting One If spending more time at home over the past year is making you really think hard about buying a home instead of renting one, you’re not alone. You may be wondering, however, if the dollars and cents add up in your favor as home prices continue to rise.…

Should I Wait for Lower Mortgage Interest Rates? Historically low mortgage rates are a big motivator for homebuyers right now. In 2020 alone, rates hit new record-lows 16 times, and the trend continued into the early part of this year. Many hopeful homebuyers are now wondering if they should put their plans on hold and wait for…

How to Make the Dream of Homeownership a Reality This Year In 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. inspired a powerful movement with his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Through his passion and determination, he sparked interest, ambition, and courage in his audience. Today, reflecting on his message encourages many of us to think about…

Things to Avoid after Applying for a Mortgage [INFOGRAPHIC] Some Highlights There are a few key things to make sure you avoid after applying for a mortgage to help make sure you still qualify for your loan at the closing table. Along the way, be sure to discuss any changes in income, assets, or credit with your…

Why Right Now May Be the Time to Sell Your House The housing market made an incredible recovery in 2020 and is now positioned for an even stronger year in 2021. Record-low mortgage interest rates are a driving factor in this continued momentum, with average rates hovering at historic all-time lows. According to the latest Realtors Confidence Index Survey from…

Will Forbearance Plans Lead to a Tsunami of Foreclosures? At the onset of the economic disruptions caused by the COVID pandemic, the government quickly put into place forbearance plans to allow homeowners to remain in their homes without making their monthly mortgage payments. Today, almost three million households are actively in a forbearance plan. Though 29.4% of…

4 Reasons People Are Buying Homes in 2021 According to many experts, the real estate market is expected to continue growing in 2021, and it’s largely driven by the lasting impact the pandemic is having on our lifestyles. As many of us spend extra time at home, we’re reevaluating what “home” means and what we may…

What Does 2021 Have in Store for Home Values? According to the latest CoreLogic Home Price Insights Report, nationwide home values increased by 8.2% over the last twelve months. The dramatic rise was brought about as the inventory of homes for sale reached historic lows at the same time buyer demand was buoyed by record-low mortgage rates. As CoreLogic explained: “Home…

Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Professional [INFOGRAPHIC] Some Highlights Choosing the right real estate professional to work with is one of the most important decisions you can make in your homebuying or selling process. The right agent can explain current market conditions and break down exactly what they mean for you. If you’re considering…

Is This the Year to Sell My House? If one of the questions you’re asking yourself is, “Should I sell my house this year?” consumer sentiment about selling today should boost your confidence in the right direction. Even with the current health crisis that continues to challenge our nation, Americans still feel good about selling a house.…

The Importance of Home Equity in Building Wealth Homeownership has always been the first rung on the ladder leading to household wealth. As Freddie Mac recently posted: “Homeownership has cemented its role as part of the American Dream, providing families with a place that is their own and an avenue for building wealth over time. This ‘wealth’ is…

3 Must-Do’s When Selling Your House This Year It’s exciting to put a house on the market and to think about making new memories in new spaces. However, despite the anticipation of what’s to come, we can still have deep sentimental attachments to the home we’re leaving behind. Growing emotions can help or hinder a…

5139 Flag St Sarasota FL 34239 2 Bedroom 2 Bath Plus Den Villa ~ $400,000 ELEGANT END UNIT VILLA IN THE ENCLAVE AT FOREST LAKES!!! Built in 2018 by Mattamy Homes, this beautiful 2 Bed 2 Bath Plus Den One-Story End Unit Villa is MOVE-IN READY and is loaded with upgrades including 9’ ceilings, tile…

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