Wow, a chilly weekend! It was 43 degrees yesterday morning when going to church! Yikes! I was ready for FALL WEATHER not winter weather.
It much better today--gorgeous in fact. 71 degrees right now at 4:00, not a cloud in the sky and the water is slick calm! It could stay this way all winter and I'd think I was in heaven!!!
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As for Real estate: MLS (the Realtor database of listings) was extremely slow last week. Still lots of people looking just not a lot of new listings or properties going under contract.
I do know there were quite a few offers going back and forth last week, low offers, and the sellers were coming back at reasonable prices but the buyers were wanting even better deals!
There comes a point where sellers will not go any lower. Not every seller HAS to sell.
I certainly don't mind, in fact I encourage, buyers to start low. But everybody should expect that in this kind of market. Sellers shouldn't get their feelings hurt at these low offers and buyers shouldn't be offended when sellers don't accept their low offers.
AND PLEASE, DON'T BLAME ME! I can only advise, I CAN'T MAKE SOMEONE SELL!
Sometimes you might hit a seller just at the right time to get that screaming deal. You just never know until you try though!!!!!!
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If you are not familiar with Mexico Beach Florida. We are a small coastal town on the Gulf of Mexico with beautiful white sand beaches and relaxed living. We are often lovingly referred to as Mayberry on the Water. We have no traffic lights, no high rises, just fun in the sun. In Mexico Beach you have nothing to do but relax!!!!
We market to the folks who are tired of traffic and commercialism. People who just want to walk on the beach, clear their head and enjoy God's beauty. We have a deep water canal that leads out to the Gulf and some great fishing!
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I think there are some great deals out there: $200,000 for a 2,000 sq ft home in a residential neighborhood, $900,000 for a LARGER GORGEOUS move in ready home with a pool and water view, around $100,000 for a really nice double wide mobile just a few blocks to the beach, little ranch home in a great neighborhood a couple blocks to the beach for $170,000....need I go on?
If any of these properties sound interesting--let me know and I'll send details!!!
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Don't forget about the auction November 7th. Two larger homes (on one lot) that are classified as a duplex, beach side of Hwy 98. They need some work but are on the vacation rental market now so definitely livable. An unusual property--which always puts it at the top of my list!!
Also beachside vacant property. A gulf front lot (140 ft on the water)and 1st tier right behind it. I think you can get this for a really good price.
If you want details, just let me know. You can always make offers before the auction!!!
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The Art and Wine festival was last Saturday, a great turn out with awesome artists!!
This Friday will be the BOW WOW BASH at WINDMARK BEACH.
Food from the School of Fish restaurant, Both silent and live auctions with fantastic items. and lots of fun! $30 PER PERSON OR A TABLE OF 10 FOR $250. All proceeds will benefit the St. Joseph's humane society.
There's also a 5K run Saturday! Let me know if you want more info!!
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Have a great week, and please don't hesitate to call me with any questions. Remember, I literally work 24/7. It always tickles me when people ask me if I work on the weekends. YES, I WORK WEEKENDS, HOLIDAYS, WEEK DAYS, EVENINGS..............
My words of wisdom this week: There are three kinds of people in the world-those who don't know what's happening, those who watch what's happening, and those who make things happen.
Mary
850-896-5222
www.maryblackburn.com
sundance realty
Mary Blackburn on Facebook
Real Estate At The Beach
BRRRRRRR! We've had unusually cold weather last week-----okay, I can handle a day or two of chilly weather, I don't complain when I have to cover up my plants for a night once in awhile, But this is lasting tooooo long! It's supposed to be very cold every night this week!
When the high is only in the upper 40's ---its just too cold! However, I know its all relative. I showed property to a woman from Indiana over the weekend and although I thought it was COLD, she was in flip flops!
This morning, I saw two people walking on the beach, obviously from up north! It was in the mid 30's and the wind was really howling. So I guess I shouldn't complain. I've never had to scrape ice off my winshield!
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We are all showing quite a bit of property! This is encouraging. Not a lot of contracts but the first step is showing people around. There has been quite a surge of new customers finding out about the area and falling in love!
We've had 3 properties go under contract in January so far, all in Mexico Beach.
There are some negotiations going back and forth for some commercial property but no hard facts yet.
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Just to let you know, I've added a calendar to my website. The page is still under construction but you can access it. I am going to put all events scheduled for the area. I am going to include events in Port St. Joe, Cape San Blas, Apalachicola, St. George Island as well as Mexico Beach.
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Congratulations to President Obama. I pray that he makes wise decisions for our country!
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As always, have a fantastic week. Please feel free to contact me anytime if you have ANY questions about buying or selling in Mexico Beach, Port St. Joe, Cape San Blas, Windmark Beach!
Mary
850-896-5222
Sundance Realty
So far so good in 2009! We've been blessed with 70+ degree weather for the last couple of weeks! We certainly can't complain about this winter weather!
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For those of you who have asked---No, I haven't been whiting fishing yet! I've heard that you have to go when its sunny. They won't bite if overcast! So, of course, on the days where I have time to go, its been overcast!
Chip and I have also been suffering from this killer cold virus that's been going around the area.
A few days of low grade temperature, head congestion, chest congestion, tired........
We are about over it though! You sure appreciate feeling good after being sick for a while!!!
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I just sent out my monthly newsletter. If you didn't get it, its probably because its being blocked, so just let me know and I'll send it a different way!
I have some stats that compare prices from year to year in a pdf file. If you want that file, just let me know and I'll send it to you. I also have an updated list of foreclosures and short sales in the area---really only for the Mexico Beach/St. Joe Beach area. Not a lot of new foreclosures, but if you want that list, let me know!
It's really pretty interesting!
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We've had a lot of showings in the last couple of weeks. A lot of new people to the area as well as a few investors ! That is encouraging! Those falling interest rates are very attractive and
considering God isn't making any more coastline...............................................
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Lots are down to about 60-70K, mobile homes down to around 100K, single family's just under $200K.
Gulf front single family homes start at the list price of $750K ( but about 10% negotiable!!!!!).
Unobstructed gulf view homes are now starting at $329,000---compared to $420K a few years ago!!!
We can pretty much accomodate any price range now!!!
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Interest rates are right around 5% now. Gas prices are about $1.65-1.75!
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February 14 is our annual Gumbo cook off in Mexico Beach. If you THINK you cook a good gumbo, this is the competition to enter!! Always a fun and delicious day in Mexico Beach.
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Our local Express lane in Mexico Beach sold a winning Fantasy Five this weekend. I heard the payoff was $180,000. We don't know if the winner was a local or not! Will let you know when I find out!
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As always, have a fantastic week and don't forget to pass my name out to anybody who might be interested in buying or selling in the area!
Mary
850-896-5222
www.maryblackburn.com
Brrrr.....supposed to be chilly all week, with it dipping REALLY low at night. Freeze warning Tuesday night! I really, really, really dislike the cold. It does get cold here, the only saving grace is that it doesn't last long! We'll have a few days of really cold weather, and as long as the sun is shining, its bearable. But it will really only last a few days and then it's not so bad!
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On the fishing front---snapper are out but you can still catch grouper. We've had some exceptionally calm water out there lately! You will probably have to go out a ways to catch most of the grouper, but what a better way to spend a day!!!!!
If interested, of course----www.charterboat-missmary.com
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On the real estate front: My newsletter with specific stats will be out the first week of December, but not a lot going on! A couple of gulf front townhouses, short sales, are now under contract, as well as a townhouse off the beach and a single family home-----so there is activity, just not a lot! I'm in negotiations with a couple myself.
Florida is #2 in Foreclosure filings for October. The information is from Realtytrac.com. I've watched this website quite a bit and I don't think its real accurate, but it does give a ball park.
According to Realtytrac 1 out of 157 housing units have filed foreclosure. That is up a whopping 80% over October of 2007. That's pretty staggering!!!!
Nevada is #1 and Arizona is #3 in foreclosures.
On an encouraging note, the Mortgage Bankers Association said applications for new mortgages are up 11.9% for the week of November 7th.
Which is certainly understandable-----the foreclosures are up, which means the prices are down, so the buyers are buying!!!!
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I know in our little area here, the foreclosures are not primary homesteads, they are investment properties gone awry!
There are deals out there!
Not a great time to sell-------UNLESS--you've owned the property a long time, in which case you still have great equity! If that is the case and you want to sell, then it must be listed at a realistic price and it will sell!!!!!
Great time to buy as some prices are back down to 2001-2002 pricing!
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Well, I pray everyone has a great week. I know that there are a lot of people who are worried about their jobs and the economy in general. I certainly pray for all Americans and the President, especially in these times. Please keep the faith!
Mary
Mexico Beach has been blessed once again and has avoided nature's fury!
Amazingly Hurricane Gustav brought us very little rain, perhaps some 30 mph gusts, and a little storm surge!
The surfers are out in full force today enjoying some wave action! We have surfers come from everywhere, Georgia, Alabama, Texas to catch a wave! Check out the video I took this morning on my website!!!
I pray that Louisiana fares okay and am grateful that most residents evacuated. It is times like these that possessions seem trivial. It is family and friends that are "priceless" and although it is frustrating and difficult to evacuate, one must remember what is important!!! Always better to err on the side of safety!
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My email has been filled with websites that advertise "make millions buying foreclosures". The companies that sell the books and videos and classes teaching people how to buy foreclosures are the ones making millions!!! I do think that people can and do make good money buying and fixing up and reselling foreclosures! However, it is not as easy as these companies make it out to be! You have to do your homework first and foremost! You have to know the area, you have to have money (no matter what the videos and books say) and you have to know what you are doing!
In this market, and I am talking our local market not the national market, even if you buy a foreclosure or any property at a really good price, please be prepared to hang on to it for at least a year or two.
I truly believe this is where a lot of people go wrong. They buy and believe and count on "flipping" it in a few weeks. You need to have the ability to carry the property's expenses for a year---you may not have to----but at least be prepared to. This will make your life and flipping experience much less stressful and productive!!!!
My husband and I have purchased several properties for investment always with the intent of hanging on to it for several years. Several times we have sold those properties much quicker than we had anticipated just because we were presented with an offer we could not turn down!!!
That is always a nice turn of events, but my point being, we had planned and were able to carry the property for several years!
I have gotten onto a tangent though. My focus was the websites that promote foreclosures.
There are several websites, of which I will not name specifically, that give you information about properties that are in pre-foreclosure or already foreclosed on. Please be aware these websites are not always accurate! For example: They still list a property as a pre-foreclosure when the property has already been foreclosed on AND re-sold! They have a property listed as a pre-foreclosure when THERE IS NO MORTGAGE on the property. They have an incorrect address for a pre-foreclosure. They also give just the first mortgage as the loan amount, there may be a 2nd mortgage or tax liens on the property.
I'm certainly not saying that all information is incorrect, just please be aware that you must still do your homework and do not rely solely on these public foreclosure websites.
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I will be sending out my newsletter with August's real estate stats by the end of the week. If you are not on my email database for the newsletter, please sign up and I'll send it to you.
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Don't forget to check out my website for past blogs, my new buttons of FAQ's and VIDEOS!!!!
You can search just my listings or all properties on the market as well!
Have a great week!
Mary
Mexico Beach, Fl is a coastal community in the Panhandle of Florida. No traffic lights, no high rises, just beautiful sunsets, white sand beaches and good fishing!
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