Wild Weather Mexico Beach Florida

Wow, looks as if everyone has been having some pretty wicked weather!

Friday and Saturday we were under tornado warnings. We had severe thunderstorms with winds up to about 50-60 mph!!!!


We really needed the rain, so I'm not complaining. The wind was a little much though.


Sunday was sunny but still windy and a little cool. There were some hardy souls laying out on the beach though!
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Not a lot of activity on MLS this past week.


A gulf front home with about 2,700 sq feet out on the cape went under contract. Listed at $799,000. Advertised as a short sale.


A mobile home on 2 lots in St. Joe Beach went under contract with a list price of $149,900.


A gulf front lot out on the cape went under contract with a list price of $450,000.


The only sale that closed last week was a small lot in Port St. Joe, 75 X 96, for $32,000.
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There have continued to be lots of showings though! We are finally showing some beach side townhouses and even a few condos. Most of the sales for the past year have been single family homes. Just recently have we had a renewed interest in beachside townhomes and condos.

Of course, we are just now entering our best selling season!

Investors are starting to enter the scene again, a sign that they feel we are at the bottom.
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Banks are only lending 80% on a 2nd home now. Your credit score has to be in the high 700's.


If you are buying a primary home lending is still at 90-95% though!!!
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If you have any interest in the Tranquil Harbor, Canal front condos in Mexico Beach, just let me know. This is a brand new condo complex that is now bank owned. The bank is auctioning off 10 units at an absolute auction May 2nd. They have 2,3, 4 bedroom units each comes with a boat slip.

Let me know if interested and I'll send you all the information I have.

They, of course, are vacant and I can show them to you anytime!!!


There will be some gulf front lots out on the cape auctioned off at the same time. I'll be glad to send you that information as well!
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In talking to an auction company (not the one auctioning off Tranquil Harbor) over the last week, I find it interesting that his company was no longer doing many "on-site" auctions. He said they rarely made any money because attendance was extremely low and buyers were only wanting to low ball!!!

His company has now gone almost exclusively to "on-line" auctions.


In a buyer's market, I think that you have to expect that buyers are only looking for a good deal!
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Spring breaks have started and our traffic has picked up! We are just now entering into our best selling season. With the amount of traffic we've already had + the increased email inquiries over the last couple of months and people making plans to look at properties, I really think we are going to have a good season.
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I'll be sending out my monthly newsletter toward the end of next week. I'll give you the monthly sales statistics as well as what I think are the best buys. If you are not on my email list, just send me a quick email and I'll add you. If you are on my list and have not received the newsletters, let me know. It may be I have to send it a different way!

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Lots of events, activities coming up so keep an eye on my calendar.

Please don't hesitate to call/email me with any questions about the area and/or real estate!


Thanks for reading my blog!



Have a great week and remember.........................

"Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."



Mary

http://www.maryblackburn.com/

Spring Break Mexico Beach Fl

We've got quite a few families in for spring break! And the weather has really cooperated! It's been absolutely gorgeous!









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There is a new upcoming auction! Tranquil Harbor, which is a canal front condo complex, is now bank owned and they are auctioning 10 units May 2nd. Each unit has a boat slip.

If you want more information or are interested in registering, let me know and I'll send you the information.

These is a brand new complex with pool, elevator, boat slip. They are auctioning off 2, 3, and 4 bedroom units.

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We have been busy this last week!!! Lots of showings!

Five properties were put under contract last week in Mexico Beach alone!

• An old double wide mobile home that needs a lot of work but is a straight shot to the beach only 2 blocks away. Listed at $109,900.
• A nice home with over 2300 sq feet across from dedicated beach. Listed at $565,000.
• A 1994 home in the 2nd blk to the beach, 1700 sq feet, 2 lots, garage. Bank owned. Listed at $285,000.
• A newer home in the first block to the beach, 1680 sq feet. Listed at $299,000.
• A large home across from dedicated beach that needs work. Bank owned. Listed $574,900

That's a lot of activity for a 1 mile square strip of beach AND we are just NOW getting into the most active selling season!!

All of these properties are being purchased by end-users, not investors. They are middle to upper class working people who are finally able to purchase a 2nd home at the beach!!!

If you don't think its the bottom of the market, please let me know why!!!

If you are an end-user still sitting on the fence but have the desire and ability to buy now, please let me know what is stopping you-----and I really want to know, that's not a rhetoric question!!!

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Interest rates are now at a national average of 5.06% for a 30 year note. 4.76 % for a 15 year note!! Suntrust and Wachovia are both advertising 4.90 and 4.89% for 30 year notes!!!

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I'm working on updating the foreclosure list for all areas here. Let me know you want one and I'll email it to you!!

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Have a great week!

And remember......."Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does!!"

Don't hesitate to call me anytime!

Mary

http://www.maryblackburn.com

850-896-5222

Toucan's Restaurant Sold at Auction Mexico Beach Florida

Below is an interesting video I found on You tube. I'm not the only one saying its a great time to buy.




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The Toucan's Auction was last Thursday! Quite the crowd, but only 4 actual bidders!
The winning bid was $3,450,000 + a 10% buyers premium which the auction company adds on, bringing the total purchase price to $3,795,000!
I think that was a good buy!
The new owner has plans of continuing the restaurant!

The Harmon gulf front house and lot sold for $785,000 (It might have been $780K) + 10% buyers premium. A gulf front house + gulf front lot for $863,000 might seem like a steal but...........keep in mind the house sits on the edge of that canal---a constant source of erosion AND its right next to Toucan's (karoke every Friday and Saturday night?????)
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MLS has actually been a little slow this past week. Not a lot of new listings, not a lot of properties going under contract. There have been a lot of showings and some offers tossed out which is always the way it starts, so I'm not complaining!

You have to start somewhere and everybody knows this is the time to start low.



Sellers who really want to sell this year are just going to have to realize their property is not going to command the price that it did at the height of the market a couple of years ago. I have no problem with sellers sticking to a certain selling price, however, if the market will not bear that price right now, there really is no need to have it on the market. Values will appreciate again, we just have to get rid of some inventory first!



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A unit in a beachside triplex closed last Friday for $165,000!!! I think that was a great buy!
It was an older 2 bed/2bath unit with a stone's throw to the water!
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The beautiful weather has brought lots of visitors this past weekend! It really has been the first weekend we've seen sun bathers and swimmers in the water! It was great to finally put on sleeveless shirts/shorts and flip flops without wearing a jacket as well!!!!

I'm just praying we are over the cold spells!!!!



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Chip is getting his boat ready to start fishing! He's already booking trips for June and July so don't wait to long if you are thinking about planning a fishing expedition!

http://charterboat-missmary.com/



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There are real estate deals to be had, so let me know what you are looking for and I'll start the search!

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about real estate anywhere in the Mexico Beach, St. Joe Beach, Port St. Joe, Cape San Blas, or Windmark Beach area!



Have a great week!

And remember......"Life isn't fair, but it's still good!"



Mary

850-896-5222

http://www.maryblackburn.com/

Mexico Beach FL Real Estate

What a gorgeous weekend we had! Temps in the low 70's in the middle of the day, cool mornings, cool evenings!





Lots of beach goers this weekend!

I even saw some swimming--a little early for that for me but..............

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Despite the awful economic news and horrid unemployment rates last week we have had some action in the real estate front!

Three residential closings since March 1:

Gulf front home out on the cape for $475,000. This was bank owned and I think a Steal!

An older townhome in St. Joe Beach (Gulf Aire Subdivision) for $112,500.

A half duplex, gulf front for $399,000.

AND EVEN BETTER NEWS:

6 properties have been put under contract since March 1st.

2 homes in Port St. Joe!

4 home out in the Cape area!

There are other offers still negotiating.

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I do have an updated brochure of all foreclosures and short sales for those that request!!

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Interest rates can be as low as 4.75% now!!! Buyers with good credit and money down can get some pretty cheap money!!!

Buyers with cash are investing in real estate again, as long as you are in it for the long term, what a great opportunity to get some good deals!!

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Please don't hesitate to call and ask me any questions about any properties you see in the Mexico Beach, St. Joe Beach, Beacon Hill, Port St. Joe, Cape San Blas areas!

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Have a great week!

Mary

850-896-5222

http://www.maryblackburn.com