Sherry Armstrong Daytona Beach FL real estate

Three new RE/MAX TV ads reflecting the opportunities consumers have in today's market will debut in February, says David Rea, RE/MAX International Executive Creative Director. While other brokerages may be pulling back from TV and going more into online advertising, RE/MAX plans to continue promoting the brand and the Associates behind it.

"The economy has led a lot of our competitors to cut back on services to their franchisees and agents, but RE/MAX believes its Affiliates need all the support they can get in times like these," Rea says. "That's why we'll continue our industry-leading TV and radio advertising, as well as our ever-growing presence on the Internet.

"RE/MAX agents don't have to choose between media; they'll continue to get both. As RE/MAX TV advertising has increased, so has our name recognition - and we've become the undisputed leader."

RE/MAX has led in national TV share of voice for the past seven years, Rea adds. He also notes that the television campaign helps drive traffic to www.remax.com, which drives more leads to RE/MAX agents and offices through LeadStreet.

"We get more hits to the Web site when we're running TV commercials," Rea says. "Consumers spend more time watching TV (followed by radio and the Internet) than any other medium. Our media mix reflects consumer consumption. RE/MAX out-delivers other top brands on a regional basis, too, with more locally placed media than any of our competitors."

What does this mean for the sellers in our Daytona Beach Area? That I, along with RE/MAX, will continue to support your efforts to sell and market your property as widely as possible. Contact me when you are ready for a market update.

Sherry Armstrong, REALTOR
sherry@sherryarmstrong.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com
386-679-3191

An estimated 1.8 million families will face foreclosure this year, and a disproportionately large number of them will be in Florida. Foreclosures affect everyone in the community, not just the family who loses their home. Vacant, boarded-up properties with sale notices on the door bring values down for blocks around, sending the subdivision into a downward spiral so many families then lose equity. Crime often increases, schools suffer, and economic growth all but stops.

Visit my Point 2 Blog to read about steps you can take to avoid foreclosure and start on the road to Financial Wellness. And call 888-995-HOPE, an independent 3rd party non-profit group ready to offer advice and counseling.

Sherry Armstrong, REALTOR
386-679-3191
sherry@sherryarmstrong.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com

90,000 more homes went into foreclosure in the 3rd quarter in Florida, totalling 261,027 homes, reported the Mortgage Bankers Assn. Florida's rate was the highest in the nation, topping even Nevada's at 5.58%, at 1 out of every 6 homes.

For job loss, Florida also has the highest rate in the country, 156,000 so far this year. Obviously unemployment will have a major impact not yet felt throughout the entire loan industry. 9.11%, up from 7.86 percent the previous quarter, of all mortgage loans in Florida are 30 days or more past due.

Reported by the Florida Assn. of Realtors, "Foreclosure figures over the past two years show the dramatic crash of Florida's housing market. In the third quarter of 2006, the total percent of Florida homes in foreclosure was 0.6 percent. It rose to 2.19 percent in 2007. It's now 7.32 percent, the highest in the country. The figure does not include homes that have already been repossessed by lenders through the courts."

One last sobering statistic - Florida borrowers who fall behind on their payments by 30 days are more than twice as likely to enter foreclosure than borrowers in the rest of the country.

We all hope Pres-elect Obama can come to grips with the downward economic spiral sooner rather than later. But someone always profits from every real estate downturn. Think of it this way - there are great buys available for investors, and owner-occupants too. Financing is available. If our mortgage market is the worst in the country, then deals for buyers are the best.

Contact me to discuss your options and the diversity of possibilities in our Buyers Market.

Sherry Armstrong, REALTOR
sherry@sherryarmstrong.com
386-679-3191
sherry@sherryarmstrong.com

Florida's bankers and credit unions announced Monday that they'd suspend foreclosing on homeowners for the next 45 days.

Gov. Charlie Crist called a press conference to announce the halt in foreclosures, but neither he nor the president of the Florida Bankers Association, Alex Sanchez, could say how many people this could help.

The halt in foreclosures, however, wouldn't help the 444,000 property owners who are in the process of being foreclosed upon. Crist, who said last week that he would consider issuing an executive order halting foreclosures, said this moratorium would only cover homeowners with a homesteaded property who need the help.

"This is to help people in a time of need," Crist said. "This is not for somebody who went and bought a bunch of condos in South Florida on the spec market."

Sanchez thanked the governor for his "compassionate leadership at this time" but suggested that, with or without Crist, Florida banks planned to halt foreclosures anyway because they don't want to get saddled with too much property or too much bad debt.

Sanchez said those who need help should contact their banker, have had no involvement with mortgage fraud, and be willing to enter into a re-payment plan.

Crist also announced that the Department of Community Affairs will soon have $541 million for mortgage assistance and other financial aid for local governments that put together a plan to help homeowners in foreclosure. It includes $91 million for direct housing assistance. For more information, he urged people to go to www.floridahousing.org and http://www.floridahousing.org.

If you need mortgage help and live in the Daytona Beach area, contact me. I'll make sure you find the proper folks to work with you.

Sherry Armstrong, REALTOR
www.sherryarmstrong.com
sherry@sherryarmstrong.com
386-679-3191

I have just reviewed the monthly statistics for our area from the Daytona Beach Area Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service and I thought you'd like to review the current activity from November 1, 2008 to November 30, 2008.

There are currently 5903 active residential listings. There are 3476 listed houses as of today and 136 houses have sold between November 1, 2008 and November 30, 2008. There are 1608 listed condos as of today with 38 condos having sold between November 1, 2008 and November 30, 2008.

There are always some of these houses that are Short Sales and agents may have offers that the banks have not approved as yet. This month everyone is preparing for Christmas so shoppers and vacationers are out around town having a great time in the fall brisk air! For a breakdown by price ranges, please contact me directly.

There are still great buys available in all price ranges in this coastal county but you need a local market expert to help you. Sherry Armstrong is an experienced real estate professional who has over 22 years of home buying and selling experience. For true local knowledgeable service in the Daytona Beach FL real estate market, contact Sherry directly at 386-679-3191.