Sherry Armstrong Daytona Beach FL real estate

Yesterday I posted a price reduction on one of my listings, a 3/2 close to Ormond Beach now listed at $209,900.

I thought the best way to show buyers and the sellers the competition, was to run a search of like homes.  RealBird lets you use zip code, or city, or neighborhood - it's an open menu box, and then you limit by distance from there, price range, bed/bath, type of property, and key words.

So here's my widget showing 34 matching properties.  Limits were zip code, distance 3 miles, single family, $175,000-$275,000, 3 bedrooms/2 baths.  These aren't solely MLS listings but may be - the data source is Google Base. It gives you one more tool to provide property information to your clients and provide more service. RealBird has a free version (with ads) but I chose the $99/year ad-free. See what you think:

According to NAHB, National Assn. of Home Builders, builder confidence rose 5 points in April, the largest one-month increase since May, 2003. So what you ask?

"If you're a potential buyer who's been sitting on the fence waiting for a sign that now is the time to act, this is it," said NAHB Chairman Joe Robson, a home builder from Tulsa, Okla. "Some of the most favorable buying conditions in a lifetime are now in place, and they are drawing more consumers back to the market."

NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe added, "With the prime home buying season now underway, builders report that more buyers are responding to the pull of much-improved affordability measures, including low home prices, extremely favorable mortgage rates and the introduction of the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit."

The NAHB Wells Fargo Housing Market Index rose in every region in April, with an eight-point gain to 16 in the Northeast, a six-point gain to 14 in the Midwest, a five-point gain to 17 in the South and a 4-point gain to 9 in the West.

There is plenty of new construction inventory in the Daytona Beach area for you to consider, and new homes in prestigious communities like Breakaway Trails, and the beautiful LPGA golf community, are just waiting for you.

Contact me for details.

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

(resource: http://rismedia.com/2009-04-16/home-builder-confidence-posts-biggest-gain-in-5-years/)

Daytona Beach is a pretty energetic and forward-thinking place to live. Now the city commissioners want to revitalize an area around the Ocean Center, bordered on the east by the beach. The idea is to create more year-round activity in the area and attract new hotels, retail businesses, restaurants, entertainment establishments -- and tourists.

Wednesday they voted to interview professional urban design teams with successful records of waterfront development. The plan for the 60-acre area is to hire the team by August, hold public meetings in late summer, and have a plan in place by November.

According to News-Journal Online, "A master plan would also allow the city to create a pedestrian-friendly hub that connects the new developments to Main Street, the Ocean Center, the Daytona Beach Pier, the Peabody Auditorium and Daytona Lagoon. Efforts would be made to buffer residential areas within the zone, city officials said.

"'We are looking for a way to show our commitment to improve this area and show what we want to happen there,' said Reed Berger, the city's redevelopment director."

Real estate in Daytona Beach would most certainly become more attractive as the city provides entertainment and shopping areas for residents and tourists alike. It's a buyers market here, that's for sure - think about the future and give me a call.

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

Lesa France Kennedy will take over in June as CEO of International Speedway Corp., succeeding her uncle, James C. France, who announced Tuesday he is stepping aside.

Kennedy, 47, is the daughter of the late Bill France, a son of NASCAR's founder and ISC chief executive until 2003. Kennedy was the company's first female president.

According to News-journal Onlne, "Kennedy said she plans no major changes as CEO. 'My plans moving forward are to continue executing on our proven long-term business plan that at its core is to provide our guests with superior, innovative and thrilling experiences.'"

The speedway is a big part of living in Daytona Beach, and certainly contributes substantially to our economy. We wish Ms. Kennedy congratulations and best of luck in her new position.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
www.sherryarmstrong.com

Intertwined with all the economic problems of Florida are growth laws enacted a few years ago. When lawmakers made major changes to Florida's growth-management system in 2005, the state was awash in development. The state was falling behind in keeping infrastructure in pace with development.

But now, growth in Florida is minimal and lawmakers are debating a change in the growth laws. The potential changes could affect cities and counties across the state, including parts of Volusia and Flagler counties. As examples, lawmakers might ease transportation restrictions in many areas, give developers more time to move forward with projects and make it harder for local governments to raise impact fees.

Not all citizens are in favor of changing the laws. Environmental groups have tried to block proposals they fear would go too far in loosening regulations.

As reported in News-Journal Online, "The Senate this month already approved one high-profile measure. A key part of that bill would allow many cities and some counties to be exempt from a requirement known as transportation 'concurrency.' That requirement is designed to ensure that enough roads are in place to handle additional traffic from new development.

"The Senate bill and a similar House measure would exempt many areas of the state from the transportation-concurrency requirements based on the densities of their populations. Among the areas that likely would qualify are Daytona Beach, Deltona, DeLand, Ormond Beach, Port Orange, Daytona Beach Shores, South Daytona, Holly Hill, Edgewater, DeBary, Orange City, Palm Coast and Flagler Beach.

"Supporters hope the exemptions would help lead to growth in urban areas, instead of in undeveloped rural areas. But Port Orange City Manager Ken Parker said questions remain, including how the proposal would affect agreements that cities have already reached with developers to help pay for transportation projects. Also, if the concurrency requirements are eliminated, questions remain about how local transportation needs will be met in the future."

More directly related to real estate development, a bill already introduced would extend development-related permits for two or three years. The extension would allow them to avoid having to go through the permitting process again, which could help with financing projects.

There are only 3 weeks left in this annual legislative session. Let your elected representatives know how you feel.

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

(resource: News-Journal Online)