Bradenton Florida Real Estate News

Visit My New Blog: The Real Estate Zoo

2008-03-08T11:49:00.003-05:00

I invite you to visit my new blog platform at The Real Estate ZOO Dan Forbes, PL is a licensed Broker-Associate and Certified Residential Specialist. He leads the Forbes Advantage Team at RE/MAX Alliance Group's Lakewood Ranch Office in Bradenton, Florida. He can be reached at 941-713-5760 or 800-756-3068. To learn more about buying a home or selling a home in the Bradenton - Sarasota Florida

Bradenton Florida Home Sales Outpace The Nation

2008-02-26T18:24:00.002-05:00

Existing home sales have fallen across the nations for six straight months. Yet, our Bradenton - Sarasota, FL sales are up again. In fact Bradenton - Sarasota was the fourth highest selling market in the whole state. Locally home sales are up 4% over last year and the median price seems to be stabilizing. What does this mean for those thinking of buying a home in Bradenton, FL? It means

Thinking of Buying a New Home in Bradenton Florida? Check Out These Big Incentives!

2008-01-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

If you are in the market for a new home, now may just be the best time ever to buy. New home builders in our Bradenton, Florida real estate market area are offering everything from free 42-inch flat screen televisions to free car leases to free pools. New homes can be found starting in the low $120,000's. Homes priced in the $2 million dollar range have been discounted $300,000 by one builder.

Bradenton Prices Moving Upward

2007-12-31T18:22:00.001-05:00

Although our Bradenton - Sarasota Florida real estate market was declared the seventh worst market in the nation, things are now looking up. Both home sales and home prices moved up for November compared to October. Although sales and prices are below what they were this time in 2006, they seem to be trending upward the last two to three months.Today's news on Bradenton.com reads,"While November

Bradenton Florida Short Sale Listings

2007-12-14T11:10:00.000-05:00

Please contact me, Dan Forbes, or call if you have questions about our Bradenton, Florida real estate market at 941-746-0505; toll free 877-646-8326. Visit my web site and blogs BradentonFloridaRealEstate.com ; TheRealEstateZoo.com ; The-Short-Sale-Expert.com

Bradenton Florida Real Estate Market Conditions Report

2007-12-10T14:26:00.000-05:00

PREMIER TEAM’s Market Conditions Report Summary November 2007(from our study of the Gulf Coast Regional Multiple Listing Service) Statistics for Single Family Homes Total Listings: 4354 - Up 2.7% over last year. DOWN 6.8% from last month Total Solds: 161 - Down 11.55% year to year, and Up 25.7% from last month . 96.25+% of homes for sale DID NOT SELL in November. Median Sales Price: $180,000

Good News: Our Bradenton Florida Real Estate Market is Only Down 6 Percent

2007-11-26T12:34:00.000-05:00

According to numbers just released by the Florida Association of Realtors the median price of a home in Bradenton - Sarasota was $283,800 in the third quater. That's just 6 percent below where it was in the same quarter of 2006. How can that be good news? Well, in the second quarter of this year home prices were 11.3 percent below what they were in 2006. That means the rate of decline is

Happy Thanksgiving From Premier Team

2007-11-19T16:21:00.000-05:00

We want to wish all of our customers and friends a Happy Thanksgiving! Without you our business would not exist. We are so grateful for your business, loyalty, referrals, and support over the years. This is a special time of the year and so want you to know that we are counting our blessings and you are one! - Dan Forbes, Marie Avery, Lee Forbes, and Jean Trousdale

Manatee County Sellers Are in Denial

2007-11-08T08:44:00.000-05:00

This is our Market Conditions Report for Manatee County Florida. Our local MLS is flooded with Pre-foreclosure listings, short sales, and foreclosed properties. This is driving our home prices down even further on a DAY BY DAY basis. Our market slide continues its downhill direction. You can almost hear the prices falling. Every week 10% of the homes on the market have reduced their price. That

Is Property Tax Reform on the Way?

2007-10-30T15:48:00.000-04:00

Is property tax relief on the way for Florida homeowners? Time will tell. Yesterday, the Florida Legislature passed a property tax reform proposed amendment that will appear on the ballot in January 2008. The amendment offers moderate relief for homeowners and slight relief for commercial property. To become law, the proposal must still receive 60 percent of the votes in the Jan. 29, 2008,

Florida Lawmakers Have Until Midnight to Solve Property Tax Problem

2007-10-29T16:48:00.001-04:00

I received this email message from the Florida Association of Realtors moments ago. "At mid-afternoon, the Florida House was still deliberating over a leaner property tax reform package passed out today by the Senate. The proposal would increase the homestead exemption for properties worth at least $75,000 – except for school taxes; would provide a 10 percent cap for non-homestead properties,

2007-10-26T14:05:00.000-04:00

Today at our meeting of the Bradenton Real Estate Club we talked the Emotional Cycles of the Real Estate Market.Where are we in our Bradenton - Sarasota real estate market? Somewhere just past "Frightened" was the consensus of the group. Please give me a call if you have questions abour our Bradenton real estate market. You can reach me, Dan Forbes, at 941-746-0505 or toll free 877-646-8326.

Good News - Mortgage Applications Up 1%

2007-10-19T14:46:00.000-04:00

The mortgage business was up slightly last week, after an adjustment to reflect the Columbus Day holiday, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association weekly Mortgage Applications Survey. Application volume was up almost 1%. Mortgage interest rates were mostly flat: 30-year fixed-rate mortgages remained unchanged at 6.4 percent; 15-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 6.09 from 6.03 percent;

Bradenton Housing Decline Continues

2007-10-17T16:20:00.000-04:00

Bradenton's median sale price of homes sold in September 2007 is 32% below the high of 2005. Sales are down 42.4% from a year ago. Our Manatee County, Florida real estate market continues to reflect a strong Buyer’s Market with a total 36.8 month absorption rate. This is how long it would take to sell all the homes currently on the market at the rate they are selling today. The chart above shows

10 Cities Where it's a Great Time to Buy

2007-10-12T15:49:00.000-04:00

Forbes magazine just released it's list of the 10 Most Attractive Real Etate Markets. They studied 40 of the largest housing markets looking at home sales trends and projects. Forbes believes these markets represent a good buy for home buyers. These areas have experienced price declines but are expected to see increases in the near future:Here are Forbes' and Moody's 10 most attractive

Self-Employed? It's Harder to Get A Mortgage

2007-10-05T16:02:00.000-04:00

USA Today ran a story on how it's more difficult for self-employed people to get a home loan today. Many lenders have closed their doors entirely. And many lenders that still offer such loans have tightened their standards, making it harder for self-employed borrowers to qualify. Here’s what self-employed borrowers need to qualify for a mortgage in this new environment: More documentation.

What does the Feds rate cut mean?

2007-09-19T08:23:00.000-04:00

On Tuesday the Feds lowered the Federal Funds rate by half a point. What does it mean? For Consumers: (who are not buying or selling right now.) Now may be a good time to refinance. ARM (Adjustable Rate Mortgages) rates may become somewhat lower. Home equity credit lines will drop a half point at beginning of next month. For Buyers: Now is an excellent time to buy. There are deals

Stop Foreclosure With a Short Sale

2007-09-12T14:20:00.001-04:00

If you or someone you know is facing foreclosure we can help. Lenders are ready to accept short sales rather than taking a home back in foreclosure. A short sale occurs when a lender is willing to accept less than what is actually owed on the mortgage. Why would they do this? A 2002 study revealed that the average foreclosure costs a lender over $58,000. They would rather accept a short-pay on

Manatee County Housing Starting to Recover

2007-08-30T16:33:00.000-04:00

This was just released today from the Florida Association of Realtors: "Popular perceptions about the housing market are wrong, says noted economist Hank Fishkind, who believes the market reached bottom a few months ago. Fishkind looks for trends in real estate statistical releases, and says that things may not be great but there's also no indication that they're getting worse." In his weekly

Local Home Sales Third in State

2007-08-28T18:15:00.000-04:00

Good news! Our local home sales are on the way up. For the month of July we were THIRD among the state's 20 metro markets. Inventory is down for the third straight month. I am quoted in an article by the Bradenton Herald today, " 'That really is the first sign that we are bottoming out, when the inventory evens out,' said Dan Forbes, co-owner and broker of Premier Team Inc. in Bradenton." Read

Property Tax Reform Falls Short

2007-08-25T09:16:00.000-04:00

Today's Bradenton Herald carries an article about the so-called property tax reform bill. You can read it by clicking here. Also read the comments to the article to which I added my own thoughts. Landlords need relief. ======================= I'm Dan Forbes and I want to be your Realtor and resource for all your Bradenton Real Estate needs.

Real Estate Roller Coaster --You Gotta See This!

2007-08-21T14:48:00.000-04:00

This Roller Coaster Graph is an actual graph showing the Real Estate Market Prices from 1890 to PRESENT! Take a ride through history on this clever creation, and see what kind of breath taking experience we have experienced over the years! Be sure to watch the lower right corner under the youtube logo to see what year you're actually in. At the end of the video, it shows the graph from which this

Bradenton - Sarasota, Florida in "Top 100 Places to Live"

2007-08-21T14:06:00.000-04:00

Our Bradenton - Sarasota, Florida area continues to attract new residents from around the county and around the world. A recent article in a local paper pointed out some of the buzz... 2007 (to date) “Top 10 Places To Start A New Business,” according to American City Business Journals “Top 10 Places to Retire Young,” by Money Magazine “Top 10 Boomtowns For Entrepreneurs,” from INC Magazine

Do Open Houses Work?

2007-08-17T16:43:00.000-04:00

Quite often when being interview by a seller, we are asked...."What about open houses??? Do you do them??" Our answer to most people is...While we are willing to do open houses they are not as effective as most people think. Statistic show that 1 out of every 100 people that come thru an open house actually buy the house that is being held open. Even with internet advertising and newspaper adds

Summer Maintenance Suggestions

2007-08-16T09:28:00.000-04:00

You know all of those little things that you have been meaning to do this Summer but haven't gotten to? Now is the time. As the end of Summer approaches, we will post tips and suggestions to spruce up your home before the Fall Market starts. Remember, with Buyers, first impressions count. Today's post is about General Maintenance: Oil squeaky doors Tighten doorknobs Replace burned out