Southwest Florida Real Estate Archives - Page 63 of 87 - Fort Myers Real Estate and Homes For Sale

We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year with friends and family. While most of the other Holidays seem to be so commercialized, Thanksgiving is still one Holiday when we can all get together and be thankful for who and what we have and not be so concerned with the presents we just opened or lamenting at the missed objects we desired but didn’t receive. I tell my kids each year, Thanksgiving is a day to be thankful for what you have, not to worry about what you don’t. If we worry about what we didn’t receive, whatever we have will never be enough. It will always be about what could have been, not what is. This week is a special week.

Now, throw all that out the window on Black Friday. Of course they had to start Black Friday on Thanksgiving. I hope they don’t ruin that. I hope those that were out shopping early continued their Thanksgiving and ventured out with friends and family.

Here in SW Florida we have more to be thankful for this year than in years past. Prices rebounded nicely up to $134,000. As you can see by the graph, prices typically start going up this time of year, and this year was no exception. It’s nice to know our market is continuing a positive trend.

One of the other factors we like to look at is the mix of properties in various price ranges. For instance, in 2009 our median price bottomed because the low end firmed up, but that wasn’t the end of the story. The upper end had room to fall while the bottom was rising.

We are seeing positive signs across all price ranges. We need look no further than the over $500,000 price range. Last October there were 24 traditional sales and 3 short sales over 500k. This year there was 33 traditional sales and 4 short sales.

In the $200k-500k range there were 113 traditional sales and this year there were 187. Same goes for $100k-200k. The only price range that sales declined in was the under $100k range, but that’s because most of those properties increased in price and graduated into the over $100k range, another good sign. It’s getting very difficult to find anything under $100k, and one day we’ll be saying the same thing about $200k. This is all indicative of a recovering market.

A few years ago we mentioned the market was healing and that it was a process, not an end. We had a lot of making up to do and forgiveness wasn’t going to happen overnight. Main Street is a little bit like Wall Street. A few stocks can move a market, but if trading volume is light the full breadth and scope of the market can be missed.

We are beginning to see signs of strength with a wider breadth which indicates we are in full recovery. I’m not saying our market is completely healed. It is still a price sensitive market. There are some things that can still stall the market, both here and nationwide.

However, this week isn’t a week to focus on what we don’t have. Thanksgiving week is the time to be thankful for what we do have, and we do have a recovering market with tons of opportunity.

So let’s all sit back and savor. Inventory is rising a bit which is good, because we’re going to need it heading into season. Enjoy your leftovers this weekend. And with that I’ll leave a word of caution to buyers.

The early bird gets the worm. If you see something you like, grab it. If you miss the main meal, you might be stuck with the leftovers. Leftovers can be good, but I’d rather have a crack at my first and second choices before they’re picked over. It’s just not as much fun settling for your 5^th most favorite home when you could have had your #1. You’re not in competition with the seller; you’re in competition with others buyers.

Consider this season a Black Friday sale. The first one in the door gets the first crack. Those that wait take their chances the shelves may run empty.

Good luck and Happy House Hunting!!!!

I recently read an article in Florida Realtor Magazine which is a trade magazine for Realtors that showed 14% of Realtors are using video. The article focused on the fact that video is now the number one Internet activity even surpassing emailing. They recommended using YouTube Analytics to verify the reach of the video audience. Realtors Using Video!

Because the Ellis Team has used video for awhile I decided to look at the analytics and see if the results the magazine touted matched what we were seeing.

Realtors Using Video — Ellis Team YouTube Channel Video Statistics

In the past 30 days our channel www.Youtube.com/brettellisfl has received 4,471 video views. 71 came from a Google search about SW Florida. 33.9% came from mobile apps which may explain why Facebook is concentrating so much on the mobile platform.

The YouTube search pulled in 691 video looks so one could argue YouTube is a bigger search engine than Google is, at least for video.

Video Statistics by Country for Ellis Team at RE/MAX Fort Myers — YouTube Analytics by Country for Ellis Team YouTube Channel

Recently we’ve sold homes to buyers from Germany, Canada, and Dubai, so I wanted to see if video is helping us reach those markets. Sure enough, Germany and Canada scored very high at #2 and #3 right behind the United States. United Arab Emirates came in at #15 with 23 video views. The buyers said they were on our website and found us on the Internet, but I guess the next question should be where on the Internet?

Did these buyers find us on our MLS property search page www.AllswflRealestate.com or www.LeeCountyOnline.com ? Did they find us on video first which led them to other areas on our site? When a buyer says they found us on the Internet, maybe watching a video is the sum total of what they meant and they looked no further?

The International list goes on for pages so we just showed the top 25 this past month. I’m amazed that there were 13 views from Turkey, 14 from Kuwait, and 95 from Saudi Arabia. Could it be that we’ll sell a luxury home to a Prince from Saudi Arabia in the next month?

The answer is it’s possible. Buyers from all over the world are finding Realtors through video. These views we’ve provided don’t even count the virtual tours we use. Last month our virtual tour site link which can be found at www.Topagent.com received 4,125 views in addition to the YouTube video views. Throw in our MLS property search sites, our Topagent.com site as a whole and views, our Blog and the numbers grow substantially.

The point is, only 14% of Realtors are using video now and more should be. If Realtors knew the staggering number of people using video to find homes and research areas more would reach out and learn. The trouble is video is hard to do on your own. Sound quality is an issue and production costs are high. With today’s modern technology those costs are coming down.

For instance, we produce our shows in-house and add our jingle and graphics. While we have an advantage from doing TV shows and radio shows over the years, an agent without all this could hire a virtual assistant to create logos, music, and even edit videos. An agent can even do voice overs if the initial sound quality isn’t good.

Doing video poorly isn’t good, but doing nothing can cost as well. As you can see from the numbers, video is becoming one of the most important things. Reaching the mobile buyer is critical.

More tablets and smart phones will be sold this year than PC’s. More Internet traffic will occur over mobile than the office. The sands are shifting, and Realtors have to be at the forefront. The good news is, the real estate industry has always led, and will lead with video.

Good luck and Happy House Hunting!

This week we decided to focus on the local Southwest Florida real estate market and study how the distressed sales market is affecting the overall market. As we’ve been reporting median prices have been dropping the past few months which is typical this time of year. Many people will blame it on foreclosures and short sales dragging down the market but a closer look reveals it may not be.

Average days on the market has been slowly rising, however it did the same thing this time last year so we’re not too concerned. There is sometimes a brief lull before the season sales heat up beginning in January. Inventory is up slightly but hardly enough to keep up with demand in season. This upcoming season could be held back due to limited inventory. Depending on how election goes, prices could rise quickly or stagnate. We’re writing this article before the election so we have no idea what consumer sentiment about the national budget, the fiscal cliff in January, or anything else until more is known.

What is known is that distressed sales actually increased in the 3rd Qtr of 2012. This isn’t the end of the story however. People usually associate foreclosures and short sales with lower prices, and it’s true the distressed sales were at lower price points than traditional sales, but an in-depth look reveals something interesting.

Traditional sale median single family home prices actually fell $6,000 while short sale median prices rose $3,500 and foreclosure prices rose $1,775. We can’t blame the decrease in prices to distressed sales, so something else is going on.

It is seasonal. It can also be the economy. Employers have been on hold waiting to hear what the health care regulations will be, along with what will happen in January with the financial cliff. Several large employers nationwide were set to give pink slips to employees until the Obama administration said by law they don’t have to give the notice. He made an executive order to suspend that law during the election.

The thinking must be that whomever is elected will work with Congress in Nov and Dec to avoid severe cutbacks in defense spending and high tax increases in January. Once employers know what the true cost will be to hire employees they can make decisions. Our nation has been in a no-man’s land and it’s hurt the economy.

The economy drives the real estate market, and in turn real estate sales pays back the economy with spending on things like appliances, carpet, home improvement, etc.

Either way I think season will be good because we have low inventory.. The question is will it be great? The answer to that relies on the economy and the next president’s ability to work on solutions with Congress, for the benefit of us all.

Good luck, and Happy House Hunting!!

We’ll attempt to answer a few questions we hear things buyers say:

1. What did the seller pay for the home? What the sellers paid back in time really has no bearing on its value today. If a seller paid $300,000 5 years ago and it’s only worth $200,000 today you’re not going to offer $300,000 because that’s what the seller paid. Conversely if the seller paid $62,000 back in 1975 and it’s worth $300,000 today their not going to sell it for $90,000. Sellers should expect to sell at today’s current value and buyers should expect to pay that as well. What a seller paid or how much they owe has nothing to do with value.

2. If it’s meant to be it will happen- When a buyer says these words it’s typically out of fear of making a decision, so they sit back and let someone else make the decision for them. Let’s say more than one buyer is interested in a home. Buyer A doesn’t know what to counter offer in light of the news another buyer is interested, so they freeze. They essentially let another buyer make the decision for them. I’ve found in life that when you let others make decisions for you, you might not like the outcome. You are in control of your own destiny. If it’s a home that suits your needs and you really like it you have a chance to control your fate. Step up or you may be forced to offer on your 3rd or 4th best favorite. In this market there is limited inventory, so finding 4 homes you really like might be tough.

3. Is the Seller motivated? If I am the listing agent I simply answer the buyer agent with yes, they are interested in selling or they wouldn’t have put it on the market. It’s in the buyers interest to find out what they can if a seller or seller’s agent will tell, but it’s not in the sellers best interest to do so. You can always ask the question, but don’t be offended if you don’t receive an answer. The buyer doesn’t get to know the seller’s private business just as the seller doesn’t need to know the buyer’s private business, other than if the buyer is qualified at the agreed upon price.

4. I heard you always offer 10% less on a home. We’ve had buyers say this is a rule where they came from. First off, there is no rule. Secondly, all real estate is local and certain areas may have customs, but I highly doubt asking 10% less in any market is a good idea unless sellers typically overprice homes in a certain area. Most homes in SW Florida sell for about 96-97% of asking price, so if you’re offering 10% less you’re probably losing out to other buyers who are more realistic. If a home is overpriced by 10% or more that’s another story, but those homes typically aren’t getting offers because they are so over-priced.

5. Will the seller do a lease-option? Most sellers wish to sell outright. Occasionally a seller wouldn’t mind leasing first, but they hate to lock in a price today at today’s prices in a rising market. Buyers typically have misconceptions about how the lender will finance the home at the end of the option. Rent money cannot be used for down payment money unless buyer pays over fair market rent as determined by the appraiser and then only that portion above fair market can be credited as down payment. Also, the buyer loses the option money if they don’t close for any reason. Many buyers ask this question because they don’t have good credit today and they may not have 1st month, last month’s rent and security deposit. Both buyer and seller should sit down with an agent and discuss their options first or a situation like this could turn out badly for both later.

Sales volume has slipped this year primarily because inventory levels are down. However, we have noticed a slight trend in the past few months worth noting.

Inventory levels actually rose in September for single family homes, albeit only 5 homes which is rather insignificant. Because sales are less, it did raise the standing inventory to a 3.5 month supply, up from 3.4 months the previous month. Both numbers are low.

Another trend we are watching is the median sales price, which has fallen for 2 consecutive months. This is a seasonal trend we see this time of year so we are not alarmed. Heading into season we’re going to need all the inventory this market can muster, and right now it may not be enough. Prices are still much higher than last year.

We would have liked to see home prices rise the past few months, but not for the reasons you might think. Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, and all of SW Florida is considered a declining market by FNMA and Freddie Mac. The appraiser usually notates this on the appraisal report to the lender. According to guidelines, and area must have 3 consecutive quarters of rising prices to break a declining market tag.

Lee County had a strong 4th qtr 2011 and 1st qtr 2012 but came up short in 2nd qtr. This contradicts our data so I’m not sure how they calculate this. I’m hearing whispers that the tag may come off Collier County Florida in January, but we’ll wait and see if that actually happens.

The reason this is important is because it removes additional restrictions and paperwork requirements when the tag is lifted. FNMA is already making loans tougher this November with new guidelines. For instance, self employed borrowers will find it more difficult and cumbersome to receive a mortgage. They will require personal and corporate tax returns for last 2 yrs no matter what. Lenders are just now receiving the new guidelines and sifting through the changes.

September is seasonal, and it’s not uncommon for sales to lighten this time of year. It does feel on the street as though there’s a dichotomy to the market. Agent listings seem to either get a ton of activity and offers or very little. This may change in the next few months as snowbirds tend to scoop up higher priced inventory for second homes and investment.

The upcoming election may have also stifled buyers who are afraid to make a big purchase until the see which leadership will guide the country and what the new economic landscape may look like. We’ve seen on TV many company CEO’s waiting to make hiring and firing decisions until after the election, and it’s quite possible buyers will do the same. If you’re worried about your job, chances are you’re not in the market to change your housing.

Once the election is over, the direction the nation and economy goes in may become clearer, and consumer confidence could rise. If and when that happens we believe SW Florida is poised to take advantage with lots of potential for price appreciation. All signs point to higher once the job outlook improves, and help may be just around the corner.

Good luck and Happy House Hunting!!!

The other day a seller was asking me the typical things I hear buyers and sellers say. That question sounds like good material for an article, so this week we’ll focus on the seller side. Things Sellers Say!

That house was a short sale– Sellers really don’t understand how other sales in area affect their value. A short sale is a compromise by the bank to allow a seller to sell their property at today’s current value. Banks aren’t in the business of taking a larger loss than they should, so the bank typically does its own evaluation to determine the seller has accepted a contract at or close to fair market value. If not, the bank typically counters what they’re willing to accept. Short sales became the new market. Some foreclosures sold too low, and some are in terrible condition. It’s important to compare condition to any sale, and a skilled Realtor or appraiser should take this into account.
It’s only been on the market a week– We hear this when an offer comes in soon after it hits the market and it’s not quite full price. There’s an old saying that your first offer is usually the best offer. Believe me, this saying is not always true, but I could tell dozens of stories where a seller wish they had that first offer back months after its passing.
We can always price it high and take less-Sellers think they’ll get more money by asking more, but this is rarely the case. In fact, they typically get less by overpricing it. The overpriced listing sits on the market and becomes stale. Buyers wonder why it’s been on the market so long and they become fearful. When they do eventually offer after several price reductions, they typically offer much less. It’s always best to price it at the market and hopefully attract one or more buyers. This way you avoid becoming stale and having that stigma that something is wrong with the home because nobody wants it.
I don’t want a sign up because I don’t want my neighbors to know-Your neighbor is going to find out anyway. In fact, your neighbor might be glad to see you go and may know a friend who’s looking in the area. A sign call is always a good call because unlike an ad, a passing buyer knows exactly where it’s located and cared enough to call. The sign is an additional tool that sometimes pays dividends.
We don’t need to sell– Very few people absolutely need to sell. Many make the choice to sell because a change better suits their needs. I think sellers say this to slow down the process. They are fearful and don’t want anyone taking advantage of them. They want to sell, but want some control over the process. Selling is a process no one party controls. It takes a buyer and seller, and the seller typically is not looking forward to that whole process. This is where a good Realtor can help alleviate that stress and counsel the seller. Sellers feel much better going forward once they understand the process and the true market value.
If it’s meant to be it will happen– Actually buyers and sellers use this one a lot. To my way of thinking, this is a way of shielding the seller from the tough decisions, a defense mechanism so to speak. I’ve learned in life if you really want something you tend to get what you go for. If it’s to be it’s up to me. If you sit back and let someone else decide your fate, you might not like the outcome. It’s always best to look at all the facts and make a decision. This way you control your own destiny instead of relying on fate. This market is littered with people who put their head in the sand because they felt powerless.

It pays to sit down, look at all the facts, and weigh your options. Analysis paralysis isn’t good either, so after evaluation take action. If you need assistance weighing your options, we’re here to help. Always call the Ellis Team 239-489-4042

You can’t sell what you don’t have, and the SW Florida real estate market has much less inventory than it did a few years ago. We’ve been reporting for a few years how demand has outpaced supply and that is one reason why prices have gone up in the past few years. Keep in mind too that the year end numbers are an average of the year, so numbers at end of a year could be higher than the year’s average, which is especially true in a rising market.

Inventory Leading the Market

Another phenomenon we predicted a few years ago was the “No-Man’s Land” market. We knew that one day we would exhaust much of the distressed inventory and traditional sales would once again have to fill the demand. Prices would have to rise, but they couldn’t rise enough to make certain sellers whole as so many are still underwater on their mortgages. They’re not in risk of default, but they’re riding out the market until prices rise enough to payoff the mortgage. Sellers would like to sell but don’t wish to harm their credit by doing a short sale, so they wait.

Prices are surely rising, but there is a limit. The economy isn’t good, so that caps the rise. Prices have to rise, but they can’t rise to 2005 levels because the job market and the economy won’t sustain those levels. We could argue that the 2005 economy couldn’t either and that’s why it collapsed.

The economy was running on borrowed money. Consumer spending was fueled by equity lines and other borrowed money. Everyone knew the clock would run out, and it did.

Southwest Florida Months Supply of Real Estate Inventory — Months Supply of Inventory

Going forward, most people view the market as a supply and demand market, and that theory works as long as economic conditions are the same or similar, but with a tremendous downturn in the economy, prices cannot rise quickly enough to make many sellers above water, so they will sit on sidelines unless something happens to their employment.

We see incremental listings hitting the market as prices rise. It probably won’t be enough to satisfy demand, so buyers should be prepared for multiple offer situations as soon as good properties enter the market.

As you can see we only have about 3.4 months supply of inventory on the market and current single family inventory is only about 3,730 heading into season. Interest rates are artificially low due to Fed policy of buying down interest rates trying to stimulate the economy.

Buyers who can purchase now will be crazy to wait as prices years from now should be higher, and borrowing costs will be higher when the Fed action is completed, but competition for homes is expected to be great this season.

If I were a buyer I would get on an email notification list from an agent that emails you the day new properties enter the market that match your criteria. The Ellis Team has such a system as do many agents. You’ve heard the saying, “The Early Bird Gets the Worm” and it’s true now and will be blatantly evident this season.

Hopefully after November we’ll have clarity as to which way the politicians are going which may give businesses clarity so they can begin hiring. Our nation has been in an economic freeze. Our local market is set to take off once the economy returns, and that will sure be a welcome sign so we can escape the No Man’s Land.

If you’re a buyer and need help, feel free to call us at 239-489-4042 or visit our website www.Topagent.com If you’re a seller, we can guide you through the selling maze whether you’re a traditional seller or a short sale.

Good luck and Happy House Hunting!

Last week we showed statistics about the Lee County Florida distressed market and compared today’s numbers to each month dating back to August of 2011. This week we’d like to illustrate how prices have fared and compare them dating back to 2009 for some perspective.

Sale Prices 2009-2012 — SW Florida Median Home Prices

Median prices rose to $127,000 this year versus last August when they were at $103,200. That’s a healthy 23.06% rise in prices from last year. As you can see from the graph that shows the last 4 years of data, about this time of year we can have some seasonal price adjustments to the downside before they start heading back up around November.

Prices actually fell slightly from July 2012 to August 2012, down 2.23% from the previous month. We don’t get too concerned about monthly swings as we like to look at overall trends. The reason is certain properties may be scheduled to close one month and fall into the next month due to delays by the lender or title. If 100 properties are delayed it just depends on the mix of properties and their prices as to how it affects the median price for the previous month.

This all works itself out over time. As you can tell from the long term trend we’re riding high in 2012. Foreclosure filings are close to the same levels in 2012 as they were in 2011 so it doesn’t look like there is a huge wave of foreclosure heading to the market.

We’ve had much uncertainty in the market due to the upcoming presidential elections as well as the tax increases headed our way in January. Not only will we have tax increases but we’ll have certain job cuts which will ripple through the economy. This has created uncertainty and made businesses reluctant to hire until these issues are sorted out.

We may start to see price increases about December, or the hangover from the elections may carry over into Main Street and help keep the status quo for awhile.

Ordinarily you would think we’d be poised for price jumps as inventory is down but we don’t think we’ll see the big price increases until jobs and the economy picks up. We have several factors in play right now. The old supply/demand theory is still in play, and we have to add jobs, income, and consumer confidence into the equation as well.

Assuming we get an actual plan to deal with our budget, and that’s a big if, businesses can start planning again. If new taxes aren’t too onerous hopefully we can get a balanced budget and a plan that allows the economy to add jobs. If and when this happens real estate is poised to take off in SW Florida.

If this d doesn’t happen real estate should hold its own and have modest gains over time. Our prices are still pretty low even though they’re higher than the bottom in 2009.

The Ellis Team is selling homes. We just opened a new Free MLS property search site people may find easier to use at http://www.AllSWFLrealestate.com/ Let us know how you like it.

Watch our October 2012 SW Florida Real Estate Update

If you have a home to sell you should talk to us. 239-489-4042. If you’re looking to buy your piece of paradise, let one of our knowledgeable and friendly buyer specialists guide you through the maze. Give us a call; you’ll be glad you did.

Good luck and Happy House Hunting!

Everyone always asks how prices are doing in SW Florida. The next question is usually along the lines of how are distressed sales such as foreclosures and short sales affecting the market.

Short Sales, Foreclosure Sales, Traditional sales SW Florida — Traditional Sales Vs Distressed Sales

We have new numbers just released that will help answer these two questions. Sales have been falling the past several months as they usually do this time of year. This is also influenced by fewer listings on the market. We have demand but limited supply. Traditional sales are down as well as short sales and foreclosures.

As you can see from the attached chart, we had 158 foreclosure sales for single family homes in Lee County in August. This is down from the peak in March of 209 this year. Short sales are also down from their peak in March. It seems March was the peak for all three types of sales.

SW Florida is in that no-man’s land we predicted several years ago. Our prediction was inventory will be less and prices will rise, but not enough to encourage many homeowners who are underwater but hanging on. Our market is set to take off on the price-wise to the upside, but one thing is holding it back.

In a word, it’s the Economy. All signs point to upward price pressure. We have demand and limited supply, but incomes are not rising and we don’t have jobs to support enough full time end users with good enough credit.

SW Florida is littered with people who would like to purchase but have suffered a foreclosure or short sale themselves, so they are precluded from getting a mortgage for awhile. Even if they have regained full employment it’s difficult to get financing.

Many people are still hurting in SW Florida, and many more moved away perhaps never to return. When Florida’s economy returns we have the potential for some nice price appreciation.

Mind you, we think inventory will increase as prices rise. People who are barely underwater may not be with future price increases. So many are locked into a home that no longer meets their needs, but they can’t sell right now without facing difficult decisions. As prices rise options will open up for some. Others are so far underwater it may be some time before they’ll be able to sell.

Florida still has sunshine, the beaches, year round golf, and provides for an active lifestyle year round that is attractive to baby boomers who wish to retire or spend time in a nice climate as a second home. As the national economy improves more service sector jobs will be required. Along with those jobs typically comes construction jobs, and with that the cycle develops. We’ve seen the beginnings of construction jobs here in SW Florida, but they’re peanuts to what they were.

The good news is Florida is a desirable place to spend time or live, and SW Florida is amongst the best places in Florida. We live in paradise, and the future looks bright. Our market is still healing while all signs look to positive gains. The gains are when, not if. Time will answer how fast the market improves, and we believe the economy will dictate the pace.

If you’re looking for your piece of paradise, you could wait, but why? Prices are going down. They will rise, and the investment alternatives in stocks, bonds, and even precious metals are dicey. Returns are just hard to come by without taking huge risks, and the paltry returns usually aren’t worth the risk. Real estate may be the least risky and offer more to the upside. At least you can rent out or live in a house. It’s hard to rent out or live in a commodity.

If you’d like help securing your piece of paradise, feel free to call the Ellis Team at RE/MAX Realty Group 239-489-4042. We present you with your options and help you make a good decision for you.

Good luck and Happy House Hunting!

We’re testing a New MLS Search Site. Click to view properties throughout SW Florida and let us know if you like it better than our Leecountyonline.com Search Site.

We hear a lot of talk and rumors about ObamaCare and what its effects will really be on business and real estate. Perhaps it’s a mystery because the new tax in the legislation was never introduced, debated, or reviewed until just hours before its passage. Remember when Nancy Pelosi said “We must pass this legislation to find out what’s in it”? She wasn’t kidding. Nowhere was a new tax on real estate or capital gains talked about before its passage, so of course people are asking questions now that the new tax is set to take effect after the election. Does ObamaCare Raise Taxes on Real Estate?

ObamaCare and Taxes

With that said, it’s a new tax that isn’t going to affect everyone, so that’s the only silver lining. They needed this revenue because Medicare is set to run dry in a few years, so this new tax will supply $210 Billion over 10 years and will help to extend the life of Medicare a few years.

Here is the breakdown as we understand it. There are 2 new taxes. One is a 3.8% tax on unearned income like interest, dividend, rents, capital gains and the second tax is a .9% tax on income such as salary, wages, commissions, etc.

The 3.8% tax will apply to individuals with an adjusted gross income above $200,000 and couples filing a joint return with more than $250,000 adjusted gross income. Once you meet those criteria, there are complicated formulas we won’t go into here. It’s probably best to consult with your accountant on that.

Will the Fed’s New Stimulus Help Housing? The Fed has promised to pump money into mortgage backed securities as a way to buy down interest rates, also knows as the QE3 Stimulus. Nobody knows what effect it will have on real estate. All we can say is it couldn’t hurt. However, rates have been low and the market is still relying on the overall economy to improve. This action by the Fed will reduce borrowing costs, but it will also reduce rates paid to savers like senior citizens. Seniors today cannot be happy. We may see real inflation creep up and rates stay low, so seniors will actually lose money on the deal.

Real estate accounts for about 32% of GDP, so anything that gets real estate going may help the economy. We believe that real estate and the economy need each other. Having a balanced budget, lower taxes, and leadership in Washington where business could plan would best stimulate the economy and help real estate. A rising tide lifts all boats, and we think real estate would take off if Washington tried this approach.

It’s a rather simple equation and yet our government is so divided we’re not sure that will get done. So for now all we can do is report the effect the ObamaCare taxes will have on real estate transactions. Last time I checked we had about a 4 Year + supply of $1 million homes on the market. Taxing those transactions further won’t do anything to help housing. I’d really like to know whose bright idea this was to sneak this tax in at midnight. What happened to Obama’s promise of transparency and all bills would be viewable to the public for 3 days before a vote? Was that just an empty campaign promise?

4 years later these things matter. Taxes are set to rise in 2013; some from ObamaCare and some from Congress’ inability to pass a budget. Did you know the Senate hasn’t passed a budget in 3 ½ years? They just keep passing continuing resolutions and raising the debt ceiling.

Keep your eyes open. If we find any other new taxes they try to sneak in on us we’ll be sure to point them out.

Fort Myers Real Estate and Homes For Sale

SW Florida Real Estate Market Updates & News

Category Archives: Southwest Florida Real Estate

Thank You From SW Florida

Like this:

Realtors Using Video

Like this:

November 2012 SW Florida Real Estate Market Update

Like this:

Things Buyers Say

Like this:

2012 Shaping Up to Be 5th Best Year on Record

Like this:

Things Sellers Say

Like this:

Inventory Leading the Market

Inventory Leading the Market

Like this:

SW Florida October Real Estate Update

Like this:

SW Florida Short Sale & Foreclosure Update

Like this:

Does ObamaCare Raise Taxes on Real Estate?

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Inventory Leading the Market

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this: