Monday, October 31, 2011

The Perfect Sellers/ Mexico Beach Florida

In a market where the average days on the market is 271 days-----I have just had the pleasure of listing and selling a house that sat on the market a whopping 2 weeks before getting an offer of 96% of its list price.       This house was in a rural area, 30 minutes from the beach where very few houses are selling at all!  This young man (and his very smart girlfriend!) bought while the market was in decline.  It continued to decline since they bought it but........they sold for a profit!!!!! Not a lot of profit but....   They sold for a profit in a market where the majority of sellers in their situation lost lots of money!!!!

Why, you ask, did this house sell and sell quickly?   Because the sellers did everything right!!!
They got rid of all clutter---and yes they were still living there full time!  
They got rid of furniture that didn't fit and put in furniture that did.
The house was immaculate all the time.
They kept the house in tip top condition.
The garage was cleaned out as well.
THEY PRICED IT RIGHT!   They priced it at a point where we knew it would get interest.
They had the house ready to show at a moments notice.
They took the pets out with them when it was to be shown.
THEY WORKED WITH THE FIRST OFFER THAT CAME IN AND MADE IT WORK!

This young couple will be successful in life and I wish them all the very best!!!
Thanks Justin and Kimberly for being the perfect sellers!!!
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While things have certainly slowed down here at the beach, properties are still being shown and offers being made!
Below are the properties that went under contract in the last week.
Click here!

I just sold a house, primary home, 100% financing for 3.75%!   Holy Cow, 3.75%!!!!
Makes me want to borrow money!!!!
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Below is an unusual property.   Its actually 2 houses on one lot.   Now, this is a good thing and a bad thing-----Good, because you can use one house for yourself while you rent out the other, bad because financing is extremely difficult on such a property.   Cash is probably the best way to do on this one!
Both houses are nice though!!!     Call me for more information!   850-896-5222

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The Apalachicola Seafood Festival is coming up this weekend!   Always a good time!

Have a great week and please don't hesitate to call me anytime if you have any questions about real estate or the area in general!!

Mary
850-896-5222
sundance realty

A few more things to think about........continued from last week!!!

6·  Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.

7·  Have you noticed since everyone has a camcorder these days no one talks about seeing UFOs like they used to?

8·  Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

9·  All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.

10·  In the 60's, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.

11·  How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?

12·  Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, 'I think I'll squeeze these dangly things and drink whatever comes out'?

13·  If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a song about him?

14·  Why does your OB-GYN leave the room when you get undressed if they are going to look up there anyway?

15·  If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?





Monday, October 24, 2011

Great Weekend In Mexico Beach

We had a little cool snap this weekend---which was quite refreshing!   It's always nice to put on a sweatshirt after a hot summer!!!       It got down into the low 40's at night but was absolutely lovely in the middle of the day---mid to high 70's.

We are back to normal today...still EXTREMELY nice.....mid 50's at night, mid 70's in the day.   Of course, as November comes we'll get cooler and cooler!!!

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Rocktoberfest was Saturday night, outdoor concert to benefit the Covenant Hospice Program.

Good music, great food, and a good time, and a worthy cause!


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Mexico Beach is offering Flu Shots for anybody without insurance.  
$20   November 9th betwen 9-1 cst at the Civic Center.
Questions?  Call  the Welcome Center:   850-648-8196
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Three closings in the Mexico Beach/St. Joe Beach Area last week

It's definitely slowed down but we still have plenty of buyers...they are just not in a hurry, willing to wait until a great deal comes along!   It's all about the price!!!

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Listing Image Number: 1
Here is a little 3 bed/2 bath home about 1/2 mile or so from the beach.   Quiet little residential area.
It's a foreclosure, listed at $159,900, so I'm sure there is negotiating room.
It's been updated with a modern kitchen, wood flooring, has lots of living space.   The only 2 things I don't care for are, the bedrooms are a little small and there are lots of pine trees!!!!!

A short golf cart ride will get you to the beach!!!!   I think a buyer is going to get a good deal with this one!!!
Give me a call/email and I'll send you details!!
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Interest rates are still super duper low!!   (4-5%)

The ultimate question is.........are prices going to fall even more?     My crystal ball is broken but my answer has always been........if you have to finance, I don't think interest rates are going any lower....they only have to go up!!!     Even if sales prices fall a little bit more and that is going to be property specific, I don't think its going to be significant.   If you plan on holding on for 5-10 years...is 5-10K grand going to make a difference?   
Our inventory is low.....I don't think that means we are going to see any kind of appreciation but.....supply and demand has to kick in.....which is really why we can keep the values we have!

GOD ISN'T MAKING ANY MORE MEXICO BEACH!
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Please don't hesitate to call/email me anytime.    And yes, I work weekends!!!!
Have a great week.
Mary:  850-896-5222

Just a few thoughts to ponder:

1·  I used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned that most people die of natural causes.

2·  There are two kinds of pedestrians: the quick and the dead.

3·  Life is sexually transmitted.

4·  Healthy is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.

5·  The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

I want to invite everyone to join the fun this Saturday night, the 22nd, in Port St. Joe
http://www.psjrocktoberfest.com/index.html

Great music, great people, great food and all for a great cause!!!

Don't hesitate to call me for directions!!

I have tickets at my office if you want them....$5 suggested donation!

Please come and enjoy and donate to a worthy cause!!! 

See you there!!

Mary
850-896-5222

Monday, October 17, 2011

Great Turnout for the Art and Wine Festival in Mexico Beach

It was unusually WARM for the festival but we still had a great turnout!!!    I felt like a proud mama....I had 3 of my customers enter their art!!!

Below is Cindy and David Kiser.    Cindy is an awesome photographer who will take some amazing photos of you and your family!!!
David and Cindy live in Mexico Beach.   I sold them a lot so they can build their 2nd dream home!!!



Marie Stephens is owner/operator of Emerald Coast Jewelry in Mexico Beach and she also is an AWESOME photographer......she's been photographing lots of the weddings on the beach lately!!!
Marie and Jimmy now live in St. Joe Beach....




Marjorie Schoelles is not only an artist but a writer as well!   She's written a children's book about a mermaid that lives off the beach in Mexico Beach---she throws in some geography and history as well!!!   http://mermaidsand.com/




Marjorie's 2 crazy sisters----Dianne and Joni!!   


Monday, October 03, 2011

Fall Has Arrived in Mexico Beach

A chilly 59 degrees this morning at the beach!!!    It feels great!!  Cool in the mornings, warming up to the mid 80's, cool in the evenings, gotta love it!!

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The Art and Wine festival is coming up next weekend!    This is always a good time!   It's hosted at the Driftwood Inn, right on the beach.   Artists, mostly local, display and sell their artwork.   There is a silent and live auction,  Food booths, and of course, wine booths!!!    Tickets this year are only 5$!  
Definitely worth it!!!
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There is a new event coming up----1st Annual ROCKTOBERFEST!!!    October 22nd starting at 5:00 est.  Located behind Emerson Cooling and Heating in the Industrial park.   Food, music, friends......donations are appreciated and all proceeds go to Covenant Hospice, so please be generous!!!!     
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It's been a great summer for real estate sales this year!!!!      There have been 169 sales, Mexico Beach to St. Joe Beach this year----compared to 124 last year for the same time frame!    Buyers finally came to the conclusion that if they want a property at the beach, this is the time to buy!!!

Click here to see all the closings in September.

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I expect it to slow down a little now.  That being said, buyers do not have to be here to buy!   Buyers do most of their shopping on line now, even in real estate!    They "window" shop on line, then make plans to come for a week, week-end, to finalize their decision.   So, just because the folks aren't here, doesn't mean real estate comes to a standstill.    I predict we'll continue to have a great fall and winter season!!     

Properties priced right are definitely not staying on the market long, 30-60 days at the most!
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It's really great to see all the new construction in the area!    Vacant lots are a great deal now and make it an affordable choice for buyers who want a home here but haven't been able to find one that suits them!!!     Click here to see just a few of the lots now available.

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Have a great week!   Please don't hesitate to contact me anytime.    I always have to smile when people ask me if I work on the weekends-----just ask my customers who have already bought from me----they'll tell you.....YES!!

Mary
850-896-5222
www.maryblackburn.com
sundance realty
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