Relocating can be a stressful thing.  People relocate to new parts of the country everyday for many different reasons.  Whether its for a new job, family or just a change in scenery your going to need help in your new town!

There are a lot of things to take into consideration when you make your move. The biggest of all is, you guessed it….where are you going to live?!?!

The number on thing that people want when they are looking to relocate is information.  As it should be.  So why is it that so many Real Estate Agents that are contacted, the agents who are supposed to be the community experts and there to help people arn’t even returning your phone calls or emails? It’s sad to say but many of them don’t respond because they either don’t care, or they don’t know the answers to your questions. (These are the people that give good agents a bad reputation!) 

It is important that when you are relocating you work with an agent/team that has your best interests in mind.  That knows the answers to you questions and is willing to help you make an informed decision.  Someone who won’t just show you the properties that they have listed, but will show you all properties that fit you criteria.

As Experts in the Jacksonville and Orange Park Florida Real Estate market we understand your frustrations.  It was less than five years ago that my husband and I moved here and were faced with the same problem. No one helped us, and we had a hard time relocating.  So we decided to help change this.  We decided that as part of our Real Estate Career we would focus on helping people relocate.  After all, Jacksonville is one of the quickest growing areas in Florida, and we have not one, but two military bases.  Talk about alot of people relocating!

We will provide you with everything that you need to relocate like community information, school reports, maps, local activities, traveling times/distances to new employer, and home searches customized to your needs. All FREE of charge.

Please visit our main website at http://www.thelandryteam.com/ for more information.  Also, feel free to contact us via email at lizlandry@kw.com or Toll Free by phone 1.877.886.0849 x 1.  We are here to help you.

Please remember that not all Real Estate agents are alike as well. You need someone who understands your needs and has your best interests in mind. You can also view some of our other articles through the links below.

Liz Landry-Keller Williams Realty First Coast

1.877.886.0849

• Orange Park Real Estate Market
• Oakleaf Town Center announces Kohls and Home Depot soon to arrive!!!
• Why Pre-Qualification is So Important…
• Six Selling Myths Uncovered!!
• Questions to ask BEFORE you hire a Real Estate Agent!
• Reasons Your Home may not have SOLD!!
• Tips On Homebuying….at a Below Market Price!!
• Oakleaf Town Center!!!

Oakleaf Plantation Activities

Boy is there a full schedule for Oakleaf Plantation activities lined up. Check them out below.

Relay for Life at OakLeaf Plantation - March 23rd & 24th
We are so excited to host the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life here at OakLeaf Plantation. If you’ve never been to a Relay, here’s what you can expect. Teams of 10 to 15 people join together to camp out overnight, have fun and walk around the track to raise funds and awareness for the fight against cancer. Everyone is invited to participate, young or old. The American Cancer Society will have games, activities, entertainment, food and more! Relay for Life at OakLeaf will commence at 6 p.m. with opening ceremonies. Then, the fun will continue for the next 18 hours, while each team member takes a turn walking the track.

The American Cancer Society is asking each team to have a goal of raising at least $1,000 and each team member a goal of raising at least $100. They’ll have team captain meetings in the winter and spring to help you out, plus newsletters, an event web site and lots of other tools. So, get a group of neighbors, friends, family, co-workers, anyone you want and get registered today. This is for OakLeaf residents and non-residents alike!

Visit http://www.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=192083 for more information, to register your team, send e-mails to family and friends and more. You can also connect with other team captains, learn about the advances in the fight against cancer, get fundraising ideas and more. Check it out.
Egg-Stravaganza
Break out your baskets, because on Saturday, April 7th, we’re hosting our third annual Egg-Stravaganza event at the Plantation Oaks Athletic Center. Join in the fun with a huge egg hunt, continental breakfast and other fun-filled activities. Children will participate in the egg hunt according to their age, so please plan on attending the event according to the following schedule. The three egg hunts will begin promptly at the time specified and children will be permitted to participate only in their respective age groups.

Hunt Times
Age 4 and Under - 9:00 a.m.
Age 5 to 8 - 10:00 a.m.
Age 9 to 12 - 11 a.m.

The cost is $10 for adults and $6 for children ages 3 and up. RSVP with payment at the OakLeaf Village Athletic Center. Reservations will close when we reach capacity. For more information, please send an e-mail to manager@oakleafplantation.com.
Any Way You Can 5k
Sign up to participate in an innovative family focused 5k race event, sponsored by OakLeaf Christian Fellowship. The “ANY WAY YOU CAN” 5k will bring families together to compete in a family friendly fitness experience. The race will be held 8 am Saturday, April 28, 2007 at the OakLeaf Village Athletic Center.
Race Description
Three divisions: Running, Walking and Wheeled. The wheeled division is what sets our race apart from the typical 5k. The wheeled division allows participants/families to ride bikes, roller blade, skate board or any other “wheeled” way of transportation (no motors).
The reason: Most 5k races are running or walking only and do not allow jogging strollers or wheels of any type. Our race is “ANY WAY YOU CAN,” so children will be able to compete with their parents as a family. At the same time competitive runners will still have the opportunity to race to win or set a personal record.
If you have any questions please call 904.588.6267.
(Please click here to download race registration information, including fees.)

Cinqo de Mayo
Always a popular event at OakLeaf, our annual Cinco de Mayo party is back. Please join us at the OakLeaf Village Athletic Center on Saturday, May 5th, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for music, Mexican fare, margaritas and more! The cost is $10 for adults and $6 for children ages 3 & up. Please sign up and pay at the OakLeaf Village Athletic Center clubhouse.

Oakleaf Luau
Aloha! Hula on over to the OakLeaf Village Athletic Center for our second-annual Luau. On Saturday, June 9th, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., we’ll be serving up the fun and flavors of Hawaii, including island-style food, piña coladas and more. We will once again be joined by the entertainers from Prince Pele’s Polynesian Revue, who, through music and dance, will take us on a journey through the south Pacific islands. Who knows, you might even learn how to hula! For a finale, Prince Pele’s team will perform the acrobatic feats of a traditional sword and fire dance. The cost is $10 for adults and $6 for children age three and up. Space is limited at this special event, which was one of last year’s most popular. Sign up early at the OakLeaf Village Athletic Center clubhouse, as reservations will close when we reach capacity.

For those of you not familiar with Oakleaf Plantation has become one of the hottest destinations in North East Florida.  With over 6,400 acres of property, two multi-million dollar athletic centers, and now Oakleaf Town Center taking shape…..Oakleaf is definatly the best place to be.

For more information on Home-buying/selling Contact Me for a sit down consultation.  I will help inform you of what you may, or may not, be able to find on the market at that time. Also, feel free to use my website http://www.thelandryteam.com/ as a real estate resource.

As well, you can visit my website and get set up on Free Market Snapshots!! These can be customized for buyers and sellers. This will help you know your market, know whats going on, and know what your competition is looking at too.

Liz Landry-Keller Williams Realty First Coast

Oakleaf Plantation Specialist

1.877.886.0849 - www.TheLandryTeam.com

Welcome to the world of Orange Park Real Estate.  Many people right now, buyers and sellers alike, are wanting the scoop on the real estate market.  They have a lot of questions too. Like….How to Hire a Real Estate Agent, Why Didn’t My Home Sell, What is My House Worth, and Why Should I be Pre-qualified Before Starting My Search, and Where Can I Search The Web for Homes?

Now these are all very good questions, and the links by clicking on them give you some great answers.  But I really want to let you know the numbers of the Orange Park Real Estate Market.(Including all of Orange Park, Middleburg and Flemming Islad Area)

Homes Currently on The Market:

• 1,483

New Listings In March(todate)

• 221

Home Listings that Expired in March(todate)

• 110

Homes SOLD/Under Contract in March(todate)

• 337(60 closed, 277 Pending)

# of Homes By Price Range

• $0       -$150K- 59
• $150K-$200K-254
• $200K-$250K-315
• $250K-$300K-249
• $300K-$350K-174
• $350K-$400K-136
• $400K-$450K-64
• $450K-$500K-58
• $500K-     +    -136

So your probably asking yourself, “What does all of this mean?” It means simply this. YES, it is still a buyers market.  However, sellers are having a better leg to stand on, especially depending on what price range they are in.  Home sales are increasing and the sky is not falling.  Home sellers(and buyers) need to have realistic expectations about the homes value and know that the 15% appreciation that many experienced 2 years ago isn’t going to happen again any time soon.  Expectations for 2007 are a modest 2-3% appreciation.  Some markets it may be more, depending on its desirability.

It seems that after months of buyer doubts and seller frustrations the market is leveling out, consistantly.  Home showings have increased, which means that buyers are feeling comfortable with asking prices and moderate appreciation. (Which is great for everyone)

For more information on Home-buying or Selling Contact Me for a sit down consultation.  Also, feel free to use my website http://www.thelandryteam.com/ as a real estate resource.

As well, you can visit my website and get set up on Free Market Snapshots!! These can be customized for buyers or sellers. This will help you know your market, know whats going on, and know what your competition is looking at too. For sellers, this is a great tool to help price your home, and check out the competition.

Liz Landry-Keller Williams Realty First Coast

1.877.886.0849

Reasons Your Home may not have SOLD!!

So you listed your home, and now it didn’t sell.  Thats a predicament for anyone, especially those who already bought a new home or need to relocate for work or family reasons…..quickly. In Real Estate terminoligy we call this an “Expired Listing”. Why? Because it’s time simply ran out, and it is now Expired/no longer on the market. There are just a few main reasons why a home may not have sold.

Facts About Expired Listings

Nearly 15% to 25% of all listings do not sell. The market rejects them.

In other words, the market did not accept the Marketing Effort, the Price, the Condition, the Location, or a combination of these areas-perhaps all four of them!

The good thing is that you control two of these areas: Price and Condition.  We(as Real Estate Agents) control one: Marketing Efforts.

Marketing Efforts- Here are a few examples that should ALWAYS be used to market a home

Condition: A hundred dollar bill is a great metaphor: they all look good, but people will always choose the nice, clean, crisp one over a dirty wrinkled one. How does your house look to others?  This is the crucial important difference between Showing condition and Living condition.

Price: Being overpriced is usually the reason a home did not sell, but condition will help determine what the market is willing to pay. Remember that YOU control price and condition. The wrong price attracts the wrong buyers. It creates a bad reputation for the house in the market place and makes properly priced homes look even better.  Would anyone intentionally put their home on the market to help sell the competition?

Location: Nobody can do a thing about their location except to accent the positives and minimize the negatives.

Lets say you havn’t yet listed your house, or you did and it already expired. What should you do? Well, if you need to sell, especially if you need to sell in a timely manner….Contact an agent.  Be sure to interview your agent, NOT ALL AGENTS ARE ALIKE.  Yes, I said interview.  Ask them what they are going to do to get your house sold, and ask them why they think it didn’t sell the first time.  If your home didn’t sell the first time, be ready for some tough love.  Often the price is just too high…the other most common reason is that it isn’t in selling condition for the price being asked. Your agent should advise you on how to prepare your home. Visit our Post Questions To Ask Your Agent BEFORE You Hire Them for more information.

For more information on Home-buying or Selling Contact Me for a sit down consultation.  Also, feel free to use my website http://www.thelandryteam.com/ as a real estate resource.

As well, you can visit my website and get set up on Free Market Snapshots!! These can be customized for buyers or sellers. This will help you know your market, know whats going on, and know what your competition is looking at too. For sellers, this is a great tool to help price your home, and scope out the competition.

Liz Landry-Keller Williams Realty First Coast

1.877.886.0849

Questions to ask BEFORE you hire a Real Estate Agent!

Questions to Ask Your Realtor about Buying a House

1. Are you a full-time professional Realtor®? Knowing whether or not your agent practices full time can help you determine potential scheduling conflicts and his or her commitment to your transaction. A full time agent is more likely to get the job done more efficiently.  HOWEVER, this is not to say that a Part-Time agent in incapable of doing the job just as well.  This is why the interview process is so important

2. Do you have a personal assistant, team or staff to handle different parts of the purchase? What are their names and how will each of them help me in my transaction? How do I communicate with them?
It is not uncommon for agents who sell a lot of houses to hire people to work with them. They typically work on a referral basis, and, as their businesses grow, they must be able to deliver the same or higher quality service to more people.

You may want to know who on the team will take part in your transaction, and what role each person will play. If you have a question about fees on your closing statement, who would handle that? Who will show up to your closing?

3. Do you have a Website that will provide me with useful information? Can I have your URL address? Who responds to emails and how quickly? What’s your email address?
Many homebuyers prefer to search online for homes because it’s available 24 hours a day and you can do it in the privacy of your own home. By searching your real estate agent’s Website you will get a clear picture of how much work you would be able to accomplish online.

4. Will you show me properties from other companies’ listings?
Some real estate companies do offer their buyers’ agents a higher commission if they are able to sell “in-house” listings. In such circumstances, there can be added incentive to limit the range of homes you are shown. This may impact your home search and how much your buyer agent’s fee will be. Be sure to ask to see ALL listings that fit your criteria.(Hint: look at the sign in the yard when you visit a home, if its the same company over and over, you may want to questions your agent about that.)

5. How will you get paid? How are your fees structured? In many areas, the seller pays all agent commissions. Sometimes, agents will have other small fees, such as administrative or special service fees, that are charged to clients, regardless of whether they are buying or selling. Be aware of the big picture before you sign any agreements. Ask for an estimate of buyer costs from any agent you contemplate employing.

6. What distinguishes you from other real estate agents? What is your negotiating style and how does it differ from others? What geographic areas do you specialize in?
Each agent has unique methods of overcoming obstacles and negotiating deals. The most important thing is to make sure your agent is an effective advocate for you.

7. Will you give me names of past clients?
Interviewing an agent can be similar to interviewing someone to work in your office. Contacting references can be a reliable way for you to understand how he or she works, and whether or not this style is compatible with your own. Many agents will put a few testimonials up on their website, these work just as well. If their are no testimonials ask why, and ask to contact past clients.

8. Do you have a performance guarantee? If I am not satisfied with your performance, can I terminate our Buyer Agency Agreement?
In the heavily regulated world of real estate, it can be difficult for an agent to offer a performance guarantee. If your agent does not have a guarantee, it does not mean they are not committed to high standards. Typically, he or she will verbally outline what you can expect from their performance. Keller Williams® Realty understands the importance of win-win business relationships: the agent does not benefit if the client does not also benefit.

9. How will you keep in contact with me during the buying process?
Some agents may email, fax or call you daily to tell you about properties that meet your criteria, while others will keep in touch weekly. Asking this question can help you to reconcile your needs with your agent’s systems.  

For more information on Home-buying or Selling Contact Me for a sit down consultation.  Also, feel free to use my website http://www.thelandryteam.com/ as a real estate resource.

As well, you can visit my website and get set up on Free Market Snapshots!! These can be customized for buyers or sellers. This will help you know your market, know whats going on, and know what your competition is looking at too. For sellers, this is a great tool to help price your home, and scope out the competition.

Liz Landry-Keller Williams Realty First Coast

1.877.886.0849

Hi Everyone.  I’ve got a lot of requests for tips on homebuying. So here are some important things to remember. 

First and Foremost—YES…It is a Buyers Market

**What that means:There is more inventory on the market then their are buyers to buy it.  Average days on the market for a home is running just under 100.

**How his benefits you as a buyer: You have lots of choices, and room to negotiate.  Many homeowners have already moved on to thier new home by month number 4, or they may need to move very soon.  Something common in the Jax area with that is Military Moves.  They need to sell sooner than later, and may be more willing to bargain.

**How to smell out the deal: Use a Real Estate Proffessional(Realtor) to help you find deals. Let them know what you want, and let them know, you prefer to get something under market value.  Many homes that are on the market more than 150 days, started priced way to high, thus taking small(but often) price reductions. This means that by month five, they are usually below market value.  However, no one buys them because they become “Shopworn”…..this is your chance to come in and scoop up a great house at a bargain price.  Investors do this every day. Its the easiest way to get a bargain.

Lastly..Act Decisively When You Find the Right Home

Before you begin the home buying process, resolve to act promptly when you do find the right house. Every REALTOR® has stories to tell about a couple who looked far and wide for their dream home, finally found it, and then said, “We always promised my Dad we’d sleep on it, so we’ll make an offer tomorrow.” Many times the story had a sad ending - someone else came in that evening with an offer that was accepted.

To get this blog started…….ask a question…….we’ll answer.

Homeowners rushed to refinance last week as interest rates continued to decline, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported today.

The market composite index, a measure of total home loan application volume, gained 7.3 percent last week, rising to 671.6 on a seasonally adjusted basis from 626.1 one week earlier.

The index that tracks refinancings climbed 15 percent, boosting the refi share of mortgage activity to 46.1 percent from 43.2 percent the previous week. Loan applications to purchase homes were up 1 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from the end of February.

Borrowing costs across all loan types dropped last week, with the average rate on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages sinking to 6.04 percent, the 15-year fixed rate falling to 5.73 percent, and the rate on the 1-year ARM down at 5.79 percent.

Points, which are loan-processing fees expressed as a percent of the total loan amount, averaged 1.27 on the 30-year loans, 1.24 on the 15-year, and 0.8 on one-year ARMs. Statistics are based on loan-to-value ratios of 80 percent.

The Mortgage Bankers Association survey covers approximately 50 percent of all U.S. retail residential mortgage originations, and has been conducted weekly since 1990. Respondents include mortgage bankers, commercial banks and thrifts. (Inman News-March 7, 2007, http://www.inman.com/inmanstories.aspx?ID=62418)