April coming to an end in Mexico Beach Florida

Quite a bit of real estate activity last week in the Mexico Beach to St. Joe Beach area.

Three properties (probably 4 by tomorrow) put under contract.

Five properties actually closed last week.

Out at the Cape, it wasn't quite as busy, as two properties were put under contract and zero closings.

In the town of Port St. Joe, four properties were put under contract and one closed.

Just to clarify:  When I say 'UNDER CONTRACT', that means there is an accepted offer on the property, 'CLOSED' means the property has sold and transferred ownership.  The typical time frame between putting a property under contract and closing is 30-45 days, unless its a short sale.  

Short sales can take anywhere from 2 months to a year to actually close out!!!
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I'll be putting out my newsletter next week to give specific stats but.....2010 so far has been booming!    Many more sales and now less inventory than a year ago----and of course sales prices down as well.    It's a matter of supply and demand that determines pricing.   With less inventory, sellers can hold out for a little more.  I'm talking residential right now.   As for vacant land--the inventory is still huge and prices are still dropping to attract attention from buyers. 

It is such a great time to build if you have the time/patience/ability to do so.  Land prices are down as well as construction costs!

If you are not yet receiving my newsletter, you can sign up on my website, www.maryblackburn.com or just send me an email.
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Please check out the calendar of events on my website---lots of great things to do!   If you know of any event that I neglected PLEASE, send me an email with the information and I'll be more than happy to add it!!

Mexico Beach just had its annual beach triathalon----I'll be posting some information and pictures when I get them!   Always a huge and much anticipated event here!   There will be another one this fall----so start training!
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The fishing report!  
The spanish are hit and miss!    There is a reported school of Cobia (ling) out there but their a little picky and are proving hard to catch!   

Of course, there are tons of snappers but you still can't keep them---the season opens in June!     You still need to go out pretty deep for grouper and good luck getting past the snapper!!!

If you want more detailed information call my husband (I really know very little, I just report what I overhear all the fisherman talking about.
www.charterboat-missmary.com
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Have a great week!   
Please don't hesitate to call me anytime as I pretty much work 24/7!!
Mary
850-896-5222
www.maryblackburn.com
Sundance Realty

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Posted via email from Mary Blackburn in Mexico Beach, FL

Tax Day in Mexico Beach Florida

The dreaded April 15th is coming---However, this year many people are not dreading it quite as much.  Many buyers, young and older, took advantage of the First time homebuyer credit ($8,000) as well as the repeat buyer credit ($6,500).  These are both set to expire at the end of this month.

In order to qualify for an $8,000 tax credit (full rebate if you don't owe any taxes) you must be fully contracted to purchase a home by April 30th--you have until the end of June to close on it.   A first time home buyer is someone who hasn't owned a home in the last 3 years.   You must be buying this house as your primary homestead.

Repeat buyers are folks who have owned their primary home for the last 5 years and are either moving and buying elsewhere, downsizing, upgrading.   They too must be buying the new home to use as their primary home.   They can qualify for up to $6,500. 

Pretty good incentives for someone who was on the fence about buying!   Add that in with the low interest rates and the plummeting home prices and it has been a great year for those able to buy!!

You still have a couple of weeks to find that house if you want to qualify for the tax credits!!
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The weather here has been absolutely beautiful!     We had tons of beach goers this past week.  The water must be warming up as I saw more and more families in the water!!

Our lazy little lifestyle here in Mexico Beach will now take on a slightly busier one as summer vacationers and weekend visitors take advantage of our beautiful and uncrowded beaches.   I know the businesses around town are ready for them! 

We have some great little places to shop---Beachwalk, Emerald Coast Jewelry, Tropical Breeze, and The Grove---For lunch try the Fish House Restaurant, Regan's Oyster Bar, Killer Seafood, and of course Toucan's for gulf front dining!
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As for real estate:  The hot real estate item in Mexico Beach has been the Waterside Village condos.  Selling in the mid 300's to 500's in the DAY, they are now at the affordable prices of $132,000-$185,000.    There are currently 10 under contract, all but 2 are short sales, the other 2 are foreclosures!!!

We've already closed out 8 of them!   

It's a nice development!  Well built, gated, the pool and grounds are well kept.   The 3 bedrooms are really well laid out with lots of room and closet space!

There are just a few left, so if interested, let me know!
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Other than Waterside, there were 4 residential properties put under contract this past week in Mexico Beach.  There were 2 residential closings.

The interesting thing this past week was the vacant land closings!   Two closings in Windmark beach and another lot put under contract just the other day.

Bay front lots in Windmark now selling at $150,000  (originally purchased at $850,000) with interior lots at $45,000---both foreclosures.
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No real activity out at the Cape this past week.

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Have a great week and if you are interested in buying or selling in Mexico Beach, St. Joe Beach, Port St Joe, or Cape San Blas----Give me a call, I'd love to help you!

Mary
850-896-5222
www.maryblackburn.com
Sunance Realty
Mexico Beach, Fl real estate on Facebook

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Posted via email from Mary Blackburn in Mexico Beach, FL

Happy April from the Beach!

Wow, what a gorgeous Resurrection Weekend we had at the beach!    The weather could not have been more beautiful!!

It was a little chilly and foggy for the Sunrise Easter Service held every year right on the beach by First Baptist Church in Mexico Beach.  However, there was a great crowd that brought beach chairs and blankets to listen to the preacher declare He has risen!!!
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Lots of people at the beach over the weekend---sunbathing, swimming, fishing, sailing-----it was great!

As I had a little bit of a chance to ride my bike around, it was also great to see lots of people working in their yards, cutting back all the dead stuff and planting flowers!!    I love this time of year!!!

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I'll begin the weekly fishing report today!!!   Chip's had several charters in the last couple weeks, unfortunately, its pretty much been catch and release of the ever abundant (yet government reported endangered) Snapper!!!       Snapper season doesn't begin this year until June, reportedly because there has been overfishing of this species and we must protect them----however, you can't catch anything else except snapper there are so many of them!!!!
Doesn't make any sense to me!!!

The spanish mackeral are starting to show up and there have been 1-2 reports of cobia sightings!!

I'll keep you updated as his calendar is filling up for the weekends. 

Chip has updated his website, check it out:   www.charterboat-missmary.com
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As I am 2 days late in posting this today and I'm running out of time again today, I'm just posting links to the properties that were put under contract in the last week as well as solds.   See links below.

I did want to point out a couple of interesting properties though.

A bank owned house right on Hwy 98, listed at $499,999 went under contract in less than a week.  Newer home, 2700 sq feet.  a little bit of an odd layout but beautiful finishes, with gulf view.    It all boils down to Pricing, Condition, Location!!!!     Good price, great condition, gulf view---this property had it all and under contract in less than a week.

Another property went under contract this past week:  4 vacant lots on Hwy 98 zoned commercial.  It is a short sale.  Listed at $636,000, at $159,000 a lot for commercial property--that is a deal and they may get it for less than that!
What is the most interesting thing is that commercial property has been selling in this down market!!!    Several businesses have changed hands in Mexico Beach, a commercial property at the Markets of Mexico Beach is under contract and now this vacant piece of commercial land.

I think this is the time to buy and open businesses here----the people that are buying properties now are end users--they are buying it to use.  They are the ones who come every weekend bringing family and friends.   I anticipate a great spring and summer for the businesses here at the beach!!!

If you are interested in starting a business here, let me know and I'll send you some great information---not only about buying but leasing commercial property!
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Mexico Beach to St. Joe Beach:  Properties under contract in the last week.  Properties Sold in the last week.

Cape San Blas:  Properties under contract in the last week.   Properties sold in the last week.

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Have a great week!!!   Please let me know if I can be of any service to you!!!

Mary
850-896-5222
www.maryblackburn.com
Sundance Realty
Facebook

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Posted via email from Mary Blackburn in Mexico Beach, FL