Christine Bohn, Gainesville, FL Residential Realtor®

Those of you who know me, have heard me say "don't use the phone book".

If you are needing a handyman, painter, or plumber....please ask me who I have used AND who I would recommend.

I have compiled MY BUSINESS REFERRAL DIRECTORY and want to share it with everyone in the Gainesville Area.

If you know someone that has done a great job and want to recommend them, let me know who they are and I will add them to this list!

If you go to my web site, there is a list of tabs on the left. The image on this post shows where to click and get to my Business Referral Directory.

This is a morphing, and changing list! And the directory may be changing regularly. I look forward to your comments!

Remember, we all appreciate referrals !!

Written and Posted By: Chris Bohn, GRI- ABR-ePro- The Gainesville FL Real Estate Blog. Copyright © 2009 Chris Bohn, RE/MAX Professionals, Inc., is a Florida Realtor® who specializes in Gainesville, FL and communities in Alachua County, FL. Your source for professional real estate service in Gainesville, FL. You are welcome to contact her by phone at 352-375-1002 or by email at chris@eHomesGainesville.com . You can click to view her listings or visit her website.

Get out your date book, and mark you calendars! This annual event at the University of Florida and the Florida Museum of Natural History is set for Thursday, March 19th, 2009 from 5pm to 9pm.

Some of my great clients keep me up to date on this event! (Thanks Jennifer)

It's fun for your whole family! Bring your science kids and ENJOY!! Fun for all Ages! Free Admission !

Posted By: Chris Bohn, GRI- ABR-ePro- The Gainesville FL Real Estate Blog. Copyright © 2009 Chris Bohn, RE/MAX Professionals, Inc., is a Florida Realtor® who specializes in Gainesville, FL and communities in Alachua County, FL . To find out more information about her real estate services please visit her profile . You are welcome to contact her by phone at 352-375-1002 or by email at chris@eHomesGainesville.com . You can click to view her listings or visit her website.

Here we are in March, which is the beginning of the condo season in Gainesville, Florida. Each year, new students come to the University of Florida. Some come here for their first 4 years of college education, but there are others coming for the various post-graduate programs at the University.

As a buyers agent, I like to provide information to students and their parents that help them make the right decisions for buying a condo in Gainesville. So let's take a look at many of the questions parents have about buying condos for their student. Some of these topics will make you think about what is best for you - as parents and/or as investors in real estate.

How to take "Title" to the property?

• Check with your CPA or tax adviser. How the property is titled will have different effects on your taxes. Some CPAs will advise you to hold the property as "investment" property. Only your tax adviser will know what is best for you.
• Some CPAs may advise you to put your student on the deed and the mortgage. This will help establish a credit rating for your student, and allow the student to claim Florida's Homestead Exemption for property taxes in Alachua County. If the condo here is your student's "primary" residence, then Homestead Exemption is available.
• Discuss the age of your student with your tax adviser also, as this will play an important part of how you take title and get a mortgage on the property.

What do the Condo/Association Fees Cover?

• Each community will be different in the dollar amount of the condo association fees or homeowner association fees. Make sure to know what those fees cover.
• Most communities do cover the Buildings Insurance. However, this does NOT cover any damage on the "inside" of your condo unit. It is best described as "from the studs of the walls and in-ward". Most condo owners can obtain "content insurance" to cover the inside of the unit in addition to the personal belongings in the home/condo.
• Exterior Maintenance may also be part of the association's fees. The annual budget of any association should have reserves set up to cover when the buildings need to be painted, or the roofs replaced, and even maintenance of the parking lot/asphalt. Some parking lots and roads may be privately owned by the association and not public roads.
• Some communities fees will include Water & Sewer also. Make sure you know if each unit has it's own meter for water & sewer.
• Make sure that there is no future "SPECIAL Assessment" on the calendar for the association. Over the last year some associations have had Non-Renewals from the Insurance carriers in Florida. Some associations may have had board meetings and/or annual membership meetings to decide how to deal with Insurance issues.

How to Get a Copy of the Condo Docs & Annual Budget?

• Your Realtor can get copies of these Association's Documents.
• When you make an offer on a unit, the seller must provide access to those documents for your review and approval.

How to Pick the Best Condo ?

• In my opinion, this is all about "Life Style". Some post graduate students do not want room mates. They prefer peace & quiet, and privacy. This is why a one bedroom/one bath unit is preferred.
• Some parents will choose a condo that will allow their student to have room mates. I always advise my buyers to make sure they have the same number of bathrooms as bedrooms. Most tenants will want a private bathroom.
• With so many different communities to choose from, it's good to visit the complexes in the evening, or on a football weekend - just to get a feel for the community.
• Some communities will offer superior amenities, such as a 24 Hour Gym, Community Pool, Club House. Some with tennis courts, basketball courts, cable TV, Internet and more. It's all about the life style your student will want.
• Some communities will qualify for FHA Financing, others won't. Your Realtor and Your Lender will know.

What about Location?

• Some students may want to be "close" to where they will be on campus.
• The medical students prefer the south side of the University, just because of Location.
• Gainesville has the Regional Transit System (RTS) which is designed with students in mind. All students ride FREE. If bus transportation is a key factor for your student, make sure your condo purchase is on or near a regular bus line.
• Most students have the opportunity for "Parking Passes" for their cars on Campus.

Here are some questions I always have for my Condo buyers.

• Do you want your condo to be on the ground floor?
• Do you prefer a 2-level unit or a Flat one-level floor plan?
• Do you want to climb stairs while carrying groceries?
• Do you want a complex with a community pool?
• Do you need a garage?
• Does your student want to "walk" or "bike" to UF?
• Will you want to be located near a regular bus line?
• How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you want?
• Do you want a condo/town home where the association dues covers "exterior maintenance"?
• What is your target price range?
• How many years to you expect to own the unit?
• When do you need to Move In?

Let's get started on your search! Please call me or email me. I welcome the opportunity to help you and your student find a great home here while they are at the University of Florida.

Go Gators!!

Written and Posted By: Chris Bohn, GRI- ABR-ePro- Gainesville FL Real Estate Copyright © 2009 Chris Bohn, RE/MAX Professionals, Inc., is a Florida Realtor® who specializes in Gainesville, FL and communities in Alachua County, FL . To find out more information about her real estate services please visit her profile . You are welcome to contact her by phone at 352-375-1002 or by email at chris@eHomesGainesville.com . You can click to view her listings or visit her website.

Here is the Gainesville-Alachua County Real Estate Market Update for FEBRUARY 2009.  

The stats for this report are pulled directly from the Gainesville-Alachua County Association of Realtors database.  

These statistics are for Residential Sales only and do not include commercial properties or vacant land sales.

Selling Price Range	Closed Single-Family Units Number of Bedrooms	Condos / Townhomes
From	Through	-2	3	4+	All	Total	Avg DOM
0	19999	1				1	20
20000	29999	3	1			4	242
30000	39999	2				2	42
40000	49999	6	2	2		10	184
50000	59999		2	1	1	4	137
60000	69999	1	4		1	6	125
70000	79999	2	1			3	154
80000	89999	2	3			5	159
90000	99999	2	1		1	4	195
100000	119999		8	1	1	10	122
120000	139999	4	11		5	20	133
140000	159999	4	4	3	2	13	154
160000	179999		4	3		7	110
180000	199999		10	3		13	138
200000	249999		6	5	1	12	217
250000	299999		1	2	1	4	62
300000	399999	1	3	2		6	128
400000	499999		1	2		3	145
500000	999999999			2		2	49
	Total=	28	62	26	13	129	146

Price by Bedrooms
			-2	3	4+	Condos / Townhomes	Total
Sell Price Volume			$2,427,200	$9,270,581	$6,266,318	$1,756,039	$19,720,138
List Price Volume			$2,761,399	$9,940,077	$6,496,028	$1,803,627	$21,001,131
Avg Sell Price			$86,685	$149,525	$241,012	$135,079	$152,869
Avg List Price			$98,621	$160,323	$249,847	$138,740	$162,799
List/Sell/Ratio			87%	93%	96%	97%	94%
Median List Price			$87,000	$149,900	$212,000	$130,000	$140,000
Median Sell Price			$78,500	$135,500	$203,250	$125,000	$132,000

***  All data is from Gainesville-Alachua County MLS Database.

Gainesville is holding strong when compared to other depressed areas in Florida.  
I am a firm believer that it is a "Great time to be a Buyer" in Gainesville.

It's truly a buyers' market !!

Posted By: Chris Bohn, GRI- ABR-ePro- Gainesville FL Real Estate
Copyright © 2009 Chris Bohn, RE/MAX Professionals, Inc., is a Florida Realtor® who specializes in Gainesville, FL and communities in Alachua County, FL . To find out more information about her real estate services please visit her profile . You are welcome to contact her by phone at 352-375-1002  or by email at chris@eHomesGainesville.com  . You can click to view her listings or visit her website.

Here is the Gainesville-Alachua County Real Estate Market Update for JANUARY 2009.  

The stats for this report are pulled directly from the Gainesville-Alachua County Association of Realtors database.  

These statistics are for Residential Sales only and do not include commercial properties or vacant land sales.

Selling Price Range	Closed Single-Family Units Number of Bedrooms	Condos / Townhomes
From	Through	-2	3	4+	All	Total	Avg DOM
0	19999
20000	29999	2				2	33
30000	39999		1		1	2	11
40000	49999		2		1	3	49
50000	59999	1	1			2	201
60000	69999				1	1	154
70000	79999		1			1	239
80000	89999		4			4	87
90000	99999	3	2			5	140
100000	119999	1	5		2	8	193
120000	139999		4		1	5	201
140000	159999	1	5	1	1	8	177
160000	179999		6		1	7	130
180000	199999		3			3	112
200000	249999		7	6	2	15	200
250000	299999		3	3		6	174
300000	399999		2	6		8	106
400000	499999		1	4		5	148
500000	999999999		1	2		3	142
	Total=	8	48	22	10	88	152

Price by Bedrooms
	-2	3	4+	Condos / Townhomes	Total
Sell Price Volume	$620,008	$8,170,968	$7,727,285	$1,274,250	$17,792,511
List Price Volume	$689,100	$8,766,872	$8,347,415	$1,353,100	$19,156,487
Avg Sell Price	$77,501	$170,228	$351,240	$127,425	$202,187
Avg List Price	$86,137	$182,643	$379,427	$135,310	$217,687
List/Sell/Ratio	89%	93%	92%	94%	93%
Median List Price	$104,900	$166,700	$372,390	$159,500	$177,900
Median Sell Price	$93,500	$158,200	$337,000	$143,250	$175,450

Days on Market for Units Closed	Types of Financing for Units Closed
From	Thru	Units	Type Financing	Units	Type Financing	Units
0	30	16	Cash	26	VA	4
31	60	14	Conventional	36	FHA	21
61	90	4	Seller	1
91	120	11
121	180	14
181	365	23
366	720	5
721	99999	1
Total =	88

***  All data is from Gainesville-Alachua County MLS Database.

Gainesville is holding strong when compared to other depressed areas in Florida.  
I am a firm believer that it is a "Great time to be a Buyer" in Gainesville.

It's truly a buyers' market !!

Posted By: Chris Bohn, GRI- ABR-ePro- Gainesville FL Real Estate
Copyright © 2009 Chris Bohn, RE/MAX Professionals, Inc., is a Florida Realtor® who specializes in Gainesville, FL and communities in Alachua County, FL . To find out more information about her real estate services please visit her profile . You are welcome to contact her by phone at 352-375-1002  or by email at chris@eHomesGainesville.com  . You can click to view her listings or visit her website.