Gainesville Florida Single Family Homes Market Report – December  2011 Here are the statistics for Gainesville Florida single family homes real estate market for the months of October, November and December 2011. This chart below shows you the number of CLOSED SALES for the months of October, November and December 2011.  Also the relationship of (DOM) the average days on the market for those sales, and the current PENDING SALES.   This chart below provides a graph as the number of ACTIVE LISTINGS in the Gainesville Florida Multiple Listing Service for this same three month period.  You will see that our total inventory has declined.   The single family homes inventory(Active Listings) has fallen in December.  The number of closed sales has increased from November also.   This data & inv... 01/14/2012

Here is the (3) Month Statistics on the Gainesville Florida Condominium & Townhouse Market.   These charts reflect OCTOBER, NOVEMBER and DECEMBER  2011 data compiled from theGainesville Multiple Listing Service. This chart shows the total number of active listings in the MLS and how that compares to the number of pending sales, and the closed sales for each month. This chart shows the average days on the market for the Gainesville Condominium market and that numbers relationship to Closed Sales and Pending Sales. The Gainesville condominium market is good for buyers, the prices are down, and the inventory of active units is high.  The biggest obstacle for condominium sales is a buyer’s ability to obtain a mortgage.  Each condominium complex will be analyzed by the mortgage lender & unde... 01/14/2012

If you see two pipes sticking out of the ground in the yard that look like the picture above, then an abandoned fuel oil tank lurks in the ground below. There may still be a functional fuel oil fired furnace in the Gainesville area, but we haven’t seen one in a long time; natural gas and electricity provide heat nowadays.   The top pipe in the photo is the filler pipe, and sometimes a hinged cover flap sits on top of it, but here it has gone missing; and the bottom pipe (with the mushroom cap) is the vent. They are easy to miss, especially in an overgrown yard, and we once found the pipes the hard way--by tripping over one of them.   The bad news about an old in-ground fuel oil tank is that it may have been abandoned while still holding oil, and the subsequent rust-through of the tank ... 01/14/2012

Originally posted on 1/13/2012 on www.emmergroupblog.com:    Alachua County is known for the University of Florida, cultural diversity, a great local music scene… and air potatoes? Unfortunately, it’s true: we’re just one of the counties in Florida affected by this heavily invasive species of plant that can really get in the way of our beautiful, native breeds. So, like any good citizens of nature’s habitat, we have sought for ways to correct this intruding wrong, and one of those ways is coming up very soon. This year's Air Potato Roundup poster courtesy of Merald Clark!   That’s right! It’s time again for the Annual Air Potato Roundup!    While this might sound silly to some, this event that takes place at the end of January is a huge deal. With live music, food, and raffles, people o... 01/13/2012

Gainesville Short Sales – Do I have to pay for the Short Sale Real Estate Agents Commission? Question number 8 of the top 10 questions asked about Gainesville Short Sales is…Do I have to pay for the Short Sale Real Estate Agents Commission?Technically the listing agreement is between the Gainesville seller and Gainesville listing broker. The short sale bank does not sign the listing agreement because they do not own your property and do not retain title to the home. Florida is a judicial and deed state meaning the bank would have to go to court in order to force you to sign over title to them such as in a foreclosure. The listing agreement does make the seller responsible for the commission, however, there are short sale addendums that Anson Properties uses that state the seller is expe... 01/10/2012

We’ve found a new tool for home buyers in Gainesville.  This iPhone App will give YOU mobile access to homes for sale in Gainesville  Florida and all areas of Alachua County.  This app is free on iTunes!   The app is called “My Agent by IDX” and is available for your iPad and iPhone.  After installing the app, be sure to ENTER the agent code of 12034 This app gives you access to the current listings in Gainesville-Alachua County multiple listing service (MLS).  It’s current and right at your fingertips.  So when you are out previewing homes, or exploring neighborhoods this app provides you with instant information on a home that you just drove by.  Instant information is a very good thing. If you have QR reader, then just capture this QR code and it will take you directly to the app.   ... 01/09/2012

This Federal Building and Post Office was completed in 1964 under the designs of architect Reynolds, Smith & Lee. U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida and as the main post office for downtown Gainesville. Please visit this site if you are interested in other Historic Buildings & Structures in Gainesville. 01/08/2012

Here is the ACTIVE LISTINGS Report for the Gainesville-Alachua County Multiple Listing Service. These are the Active Listings as of January 3, 2012 Happy New Year!  It’s a great time to buy real estate in Gainesville Florida! Our single family home inventory has fallen since December 2011. If you need additional information about real estate for sale in Gainesville, Florida -please contact us! Gainesville is A Great Place to Live, Work and Play!  Originally Posted at: Gainesville Real Estate Talk 01/06/2012

Gainesville Florida Single Family Homes Market Report – November 2011 Here are the statistics for Gainesville Florida single family homes real estate market for the months of November, October, and September 2011. This chart below shows you the number of CLOSED SALES for the months of September, October, and November 2011.  Also the relationship of (DOM) the average days on the market for those sales, and the current PENDING SALES. This chart below provides a graph as the number of ACTIVE LISTINGS in the Gainesville Florida Multiple Listing Service for this same three month period. The single family homes inventory is stable and this inventory amount covers all areas & communities in Alachua County as per the Gainesville-Alachua County MLS. These numbers to NOT include vacant land, cond... 01/06/2012

Here is the (3) Month Statistics on the Gainesville Florida Condominium & Townhouse Market.   These charts reflect SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, and NOVEMBER  2011 data compiled from theGainesville Multiple Listing Service. This chart shows the total number of active listings in the MLS and how that compares to the number of pending sales, and the closed sales for each month. This chart shows the average days on the market for the Gainesville Condominium market and that numbers relationship to Closed Sales and Pending Sales. The Gainesville condominium market is good for buyers, the prices are down, and the inventory of active units is high.  The biggest obstacle for condominium sales is a buyer’s ability to obtain a mortgage.  Each condominium complex will be analyzed by the mortgage lender & un... 01/06/2012

Gainesville Short Sale - Should I Stop Paying My HOA? If you are a Gainesville homeowner considering a Gainesville Short Sale or already in a Gainesville short sale you will want to ensure you continue to pay your HOA dues. For reference in this blog post we will refer to HOA neighborhood or condo association fees as HOA Fees. Based on our experience and based on all the sellers that we have worked with living in HOA communities you failure to pay your HOA fees may result in a foreclosure and/or lien placed on your Gainesville home. Even if the short sale bank told you to stop making your mortgage payments,you have stopped out of necessity or it is a strategic decision you; still need to continue to make those HOA payments. Failure of payment can cause the Gainesville short sale to fall... 01/05/2012

Gainesville Short Sale - What is the Difference between Note or Promissory Note and Mortgage or Deed of Trust? A note (promissory note) is – very simply – a contract whereby a party makes a promise to pay a sum of money to another party under specific terms. In real estate, it is typically a borrower agreeing to make monthly payments of principle and interest over a period of time to a lender. The note has nothing to do with the property itself, and can technically exist without any collateral at all. If the Gainesville borrower doesn’t pay, the LENDER or short sale bank can sue “under the note and obtain remedies for breaching that contract. A “servicer” aka “debt collector” cannot if they have no equitable interest. While there are differences between a mortgage and a deed of trust, l... 01/03/2012

I’d like to share what I do to prepare my home and yard for the weatherman’s forecast of a hard freeze in Gainesville FL and Alachua County. We consider a freeze warning that occurs when we have widespread temperatures at or below 32 °F for 3 hours or more during the growing season. A freeze may occur with or without frost. A hard freeze occurs with temperatures below 28 °F for 3 hours or more. Here is what I do to prepare: Disconnect all hoses from the hose bibs on the home & in the yard. Make sure all hoses are open at each end. All hose bibs are slightly open allowing a small, constant drip. Thoroughly water all beds and potted plants, as the moisture will preserve the heat, and reduce the cold-stress. Bring all orchids, ferns, and ultra-sensitive tropical plants inside. Cover plants... 01/03/2012

Gainesville Short Sales - What is a HOA Foreclosure? HOA foreclosures in Gainesville Florida and state wide have become a huge problem for homeowners that are delinquent on their HOA fees. HOA stands for “ Homeowners Association”. HOA foreclosures have been a growing problem for some time now. Most people do not know that their HOA is even legally capable of doing such a thing, however with these foreclosures on the rise many homeowners are finding out the hard way that this is a reality. Just about half of the states allow “non judicial foreclosures” meaning that HOA’s are legally able to foreclose on homes due to homeowners becoming delinquent on their fees. Even in the states that require approval for an HOA foreclosures, the HOA normally wins. Florida is a “Judicial” state. With how... 01/02/2012

Happy New Year to YOU and YOUR family!    I hope that you've had great fun family plans over the holiday!  I’ve got a nice dinner planned and we will be watching college football on TV most of the day.  Go Gators!!  It’s a beautiful day outside too, but we are expecting a hard freeze tonight.  So, I hope to have a really nice fire going in the fireplace tonight.   Plenty of TV/Football munchies too!   I’ve got a positive attitude about what the new year will bring.   I am hoping that my business will continue to prosper.   I’ve got my goals set, and look forward to helping my clients reach their goals too. My Gainesville Real estate business is my PASSION.   I’ve upgraded this site to a full WordPress site, and it’s new features in place and not all are complete yet.  But I am very exci... 01/02/2012

I often hear consistent remarks from clients who are interested in getting a great Gainesville homes for sale deal through short sale that short sales either do not close or take more than a year to short sale. There are Gainesville Real Estate Attorneys – who refuse to handle short sales – who back up these claims about short sales. Sadly, there are also agents who claim that they understand short sale fully and make demands about statements and timelines without really knowing the use of timeline and the whole process of short sale. The questions that need to be asked are: What are the reasons why my Gainesville homes for sale short sales do not close? Do I truly understand the whole process of short sale? ·         You should not be listing your Gainesville homes for sale short sale... 01/01/2012

As the 2011 year comes to an end, I want to sincerely thank the other professionals here in Gainesville that are part of my team for Gainesville real estate services. My primary goal to clients is provide total satisfaction and personalized service for their real estate needs in Gainesville Florida.  To accomplish success with each of our clients, we need a strong team for all the aspects of their real estate transaction.  Whether you are a buyer or a seller in Gainesville FL, my team is ready to be part of a smooth, successful real estate transaction. Thanks to Jacques Guitton at A+ Home Repair LLC.   His company has been my go-to-guy for home repair services.  I sincerely appreciate your hard work and excellent service to my clients.  You can find Jacque’s contact information on my pr... 12/22/2011

Gainesville short sale agents - choosing the right agent for you. Are you a homeowner in a very difficult situation and facing a possible foreclosure? Has your loan modification been turned down?  If you have tried to work with your bank but had no success and feel that you are out of options than we want you to know that you are not alone. Many homeowners nationwide and even a little closer to home, right here in Gainesville are losing their homes to foreclosure, and looking for alternative options. Gainesville Short Sales - Choosing a Qualified Gainesville Short Sale AgentShort Sales are becoming a more and more popular alternative to foreclosure for homeowners, However many people are unfamiliar with what a short sale actually is. A short sale is when you sell your home, and the bank... 12/20/2011

Gainesville Short Sales - Why Don't I Just Let the Bank Foreclose? If you are a homeowner in distress, foreclosure should be the last option you consider. If and have closed a successful short sale you will receive a 1099 in the mail. Everyone who has sold short their home receives a 1099 for the difference of what they owed on their mortgage and what it sold for. However, if you lived in your home for 2 out of 5 years you may qualify for The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act. This will allow for that debt to not be held against you for when you file your taxes. The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Actis currently in place through 2012, meaning your Gainesville short sale must close prior to the end of 2012. Visit www.irs.gov or speak to your CPA to find out additional information. ... 12/20/2011

Tis the season to be jolly!  And this Friday brings us one of our Biggest Christmas Lighting Traditions.  Make it a family event and the weather will be great. A crisp feel in the air and holiday music will kick off your holiday cheer. Photo Courtesy of Patti Haskins The North Florida Regional Medical Center Duckpond lighting is Friday, December 2nd, starting at 5:30pm.   There will be a “formal” flip of the switch to turn on the spectacular display at 6:10pm, and will be covered live on the TV 20 News broadcast. Don’t forget that Santa will arrive too, and be here to talk to your little ones if they like! There are over 50,000 lights, and the display changes every year.  This is the 22nd year of the decorating of the Duckpond area.  The displays are always beautiful, and all the lights... 12/01/2011