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…

Virtual Tour…

A Trip Down Memory Lane… Coming from someone who grew up in Venice Florida and for those who love the Venice area, please enjoy this video documenting the history of Venice. Posted with special thanks to Mike Swain for sharing it on YouTube A documentary about the history of Venice, Florida created in 1976 by…

Home Buyers Guide for Spring 2019 Click Here or on the image below to access your Spring Home Buyers Guide for 2019 now…  

Holiday Christmas Tree Lighting in Venice Florida December 2018 Video courtesy of Nick Kearns and Venice Aerial Photography Considering a Move to Venice? Call, Text or Email Julie Larson!  

According to the latest Existing Home Sales Report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the inventory of homes for sale this year compared to last year has increased for the last four months, all while sales of existing homes have slowed compared to last year’s numbers. For over three years leading up to this point, the exact opposite…

Are We Heading Towards Another Housing Bubble?     No! We are not heading towards another housing bubble! A normal market equals a 6 month supply of homes for sale. In the time leading up to the housing bubble in 2006-2008, we had a 10-12 month supply. Our current supply of inventory is at 4.4…

Factors to Watch in Today’s Real Estate Market Whether Buying or Selling When it comes to buying or selling a home there are many factors you should consider. Where you want to live, why you want to buy or sell, and who will help you along your journey are just some of those factors. When…

Should I Buy Now? Or Wait Until Next Year? [INFOGRAPHIC] Some Highlights: The cost of waiting to buy is defined as the additional funds it would take to buy a home if prices & interest rates were to increase over a period of time. Freddie Mac predicts interest rates to rise to 5.2% by the third…

$168 a Month: The Cost of Waiting One Year                                   A recent study reported by Realtor.com states that “Homebuyers can expect to pay about $168 extra per month for their mortgage this year, according to a realtor.com study that…

Home Prices: The Difference 5 Years Makes CoreLogic recently released their Home Price Index Report. One of the key indicators used in the report to determine the health of the housing market was home price appreciation. CoreLogic focused on appreciation from July 2013 to July 2018 to show how prices over the last five years have fared. The graph below…

If You Are Thinking of Selling, You Must Act NOW! If you thought about selling your house this year, now more than ever may be the time to do it! The inventory of homes for sale is well below historic norms and buyer demand is skyrocketing. We were still in high school when we learned about the concept of…

Is Buying a Home or Planning a Wedding More Stressful? Some Highlights: According to a new survey from Open Listings, 62% of Americans ages 25-54 believe that buying a home is more stressful than planning a wedding. Many young couples are saving for a wedding and a home at the same time. The average US wedding now…

How Supply and Demand Impacts Real Estate Prices If you’re thinking about buying or selling, let’s talk about prices and inventory in our area! Call Julie Larson 941-882-0322 or click here to email me.

Projected vs Actual Home Prices in 2018 Home Prices Have Appreciated 6.9% in 2018 Between 1987 and 1999, which is often referred to as the ‘Pre-Bubble Period,’ home prices grew at an average of 3.6% according to the Home Price Expectation Survey. Every month, the economists at CoreLogic release the results of their Home Price Insights Report, which includes the…

NAR Reports Show It’s A Great Time to Sell! We all realize that the best time to sell anything is when the demand for that item is high and the supply of that item is limited. The last two major reports issued by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) revealed information that suggests that right now continues…