Palm Bay, FL

RISMEDIA, November 24, 2009-Black Friday may kick-off the holiday shopping season, but not everybody's out to buy gifts. Of the half of Americans who plan on shopping in stores or online over the Black Friday weekend, 66% say they'll be shopping for themselves according to the latest Consumer Reports Holiday Shopping Poll.

The day after Thanksgiving, otherwise known as Black Friday, is not the only important shopping day of the holiday weekend. While 28% of adults plan to shop in-stores on Black Friday, just as many (29%) say they'll be shopping on Saturday or Sunday afterwards. Overall, half (53%) of adults expect the deals to be just as good in-stores as online this year.

The Black Friday weekend shopping list for consumers includes clothing (71%) and electronics (70%), with video games and accessories (46%) being the most popular electronic items. More than half of shoppers (56%) are planning to purchase toys and a little less than half (48%) are planning to purchase gift cards. Most of these items are intended to be purchased as gifts; however, the items where shoppers have the highest intent to self indulge are food or wine, electronics and clothing.

"The inner-shopper comes out in all of us around this time of year," said Tod Marks, Consumer Reports senior editor and resident shopping expert. "Retailers are doing everything they can to entice shoppers by offering not only Black Friday bargains but deals for the entire weekend."

The meaning of Black Friday has sure changed over the years. With all the stores leaking there best specials. It will be hard to know where to go first. I just hope the true meaning of GIVING is not forgotten.

Happy shopping to all we are going out!! Be careful

THIS IS FOR REAL. THERE WILL BE A SHORTAGE OF LIBBY'S CAN PUMPKIN. SO IF YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PUMPKIN PIE FOR THANKSGIVING YOU BEST GO OUT AND BUY YOUR PUMPKIN VERY SOON.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!!!!!

Pumpkin shortage could mean empty shelves after Thanksgiving -- latimes.com

Here is a list you can print and give to all your sellers

According to the HomeGain survey, the top five home improvements that Realtors recommend to home sellers based on cost and return on investment (from highest to lowest ROI) are:

1. Cleaning and de-cluttering ($200 cost / $1,700 price increase / 872% ROI)
2. Home staging ($300 cost / $1,780 price increase / 586% ROI)
3. Lightening and brightening ($230 cost / $1,300 price increase / 572% ROI)
4. Landscaping ($320 cost / $1,500 price increase / 473% ROI)
5. Repairing plumbing ($385 cost / $1,250 price increase / 327% ROI)

Read more: http://rismedia.com/2009-11-09/home-sellers-top-5-home-improvement-projects-based-on-cost-and-return-on-investment/#ixzz0WSsHfrUt

If you know of a Home owner with a Chase mortgage here is the website if they need help because they can no longer afforded there mortgage payments. You download the forms and follow the instructions.

https://www.chase.com/chf/mortgage/keeping-your-home

I am on my way out to show houses.

This first time home buyer has been actively looking for a house for over 2 months in a 5 mile radius of Palm Bay. She has realistic expectations. She and her husband aren't looking for a home that is out of the ordinary. She'd like a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 car garage about 1500 square feet of living. In the under $125K price range she should be able to find what she is looking for. She is an FHA buyer, so to stay within FHA guidelines the home she chooses must have a newer roof, newer A/C unit, some type of heat, a stove, no broken windows, and if it has a pool it can't look like a swamp monster lives in it.

Easy right?

Well, maybe not right now.

We have looked at every house in her price range in the area she would like to live. Many are short sales or foreclosures. Many of the foreclosures will not qualify for FHA because of their poor condition. We have checked and double checked the list of houses for sale and haven't yet found a property that works for them.

I remember not that long ago, we were in a buyer's market. There was an huge inventory of homes available for sale. Buyers had no problems finding a property to suit their wants and their needs. But, in some areas and price points in Brevard County today, that has changed. We are finding there is a shortage of good, clean affordable homes under $125K.

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate & Investing

I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.