The Enormous Divide Between the Headline and the Truth

“I have observed that not the man who hopes when others despair, but the man who despairs when others hope, is admired by a large class of persons as a sage.” – John Stuart Mill (1840s)

Even back in the mid-1800s, people knew that negative news sells. That is still true today. All forms of media realize that they will get more eyeballs, clicks, likes, and engagement by posting something negative. However, they must realize that negative headlines impact markets.

Just last week, the National Association of Home Builders released a survey revealing:

“Negative media reports making buyers cautious was a significant problem for 48% of builders in 2018, but 62% Continue reading…

10 Most Expensive Homes Sold In the Greater Daytona Beach Area 2018

Below are the top 10 most expensive homes SOLD in the Greater Daytona Beach area in 2018 ( Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, Port Orange, Ponce Inlet, and the surrounding areas. )

One of the greatest things about purchasing a home in the Daytona Beach Area is that the values of homes are still very affordable. What you would spend for a small home in many parts of New York or California, would buy you a Luxurious waterfront home here in sunny Florida. The most expensive home in the area sold for only $25,000 more than the most expensive in 2017. Our prices are holdings steady and buyers are getting great deals in Luxury!

Have a look at what best homes sold for in 2018 and check out the lists of luxury homes currently on the market! I am available to talk about real estate here in the Greater Daytona Beach area, Just give me a call 386-315-4744 anytime. Without further delay here are the homes that made the list for 2018.

10. 4932 S Peninsula Drive

Your Tax Refund Is The Key To Homeownership!

With Tax season here I have so many buyers asking me how they can take advantage of their IRS Tax refund. Below we are going to talk about how to take advantage of your tax refund and become a home owner! I will also include the most affordable homes in the greater Daytona Beach area at the end of the article.

According to data released by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Americans can expect an estimated average refund of $3,143 this year when filing their taxes. This is down slightly from the average refund of $3,436 last year.

Tax refunds are often thought of as ‘extra money’ that can be used toward larger goals. For anyone looking to buy a home in 2019, this can be a great jump start toward a down payment!

The map below shows the average tax refund Americans received last year by state.

Many first-time buyers believe that a 20% down payment is required to qualify for a mortgage. Programs from the Federal Housing Authority, Freddie Mac, and Fannie Mae all allow for down payments as low as 3%. Veterans Affairs Loans allow many veterans to purchase a home with 0% down. Continue reading…

20 Tips for Preparing Your House for Sale This Spring [INFOGRAPHIC]

Are you ready to put your house on the market? It’s Spring and buyers are looking as we move into the busiest sales season of the year! Please give me a call and lets discuss selling your home for the most money with the least amount of headache. Hire An Expert – Hire James Jestes 386-315-4744 🙂

Some Highlights:

When listing your house for sale, your top goal will be to get the home sold for the best price possible!
There are many small projects that you can do to ensure this happens!
Your real estate agent will have a list of specific suggestions for getting your house ready for market and is a great resource for finding local contractors who can help!

Do 46 Million Millennials Know They Are Mortgage Ready?

Many have written about the millennial generation and whether or not they, as a whole, believe in homeownership as part of attaining the American Dream.

Millennials have taken longer to obtain traditional milestones than the generations before them, such as getting married, having kids, and buying a home. However, that does not mean that they do not still aspire to achieve those things. Continue reading…

What Credit Score Do You Need To Buy A House?

There are many misconceptions about the credit score needed to buy a house. Recently, it was reported that 24% of renters believe they need a 780-800 credit score to be considered for a mortgage. The reality is they are misinformed!

Only 25% of the Americans have a FICO® Score between 740 and 800. Here is the breakdown according to Experian:

16% Very Poor (300-579)
18% Fair (580-669)
21% Good (670-739)
25% Very Good (740-799)
20% Exceptional (800-850)

Randy Hopper, Senior Vice President of Mortgage Lending for Navy Federal Credit Union said,

“Just because you have a low credit score doesn’t mean you can’t purchase a home. There are a lot of options out there for consumers with low FICO® scores,”

There are many programs available with low or no credit score requirement. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) now requires a minimum FICO® score of 580 if you want to qualify for the low down payment advantage. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) does not set a minimum credit score requirement, but most lenders require a score of at least 640. Veterans Affairs (VA) loans have no credit score requirement.

As you can see, none of them are above 700!

It is true that the average FICO® score for all closed loans in January was 726, but there are plenty of people taking

Want To Increase Your Family’s Wealth? Here’s How!

Everyone should realize that unless you are living somewhere rent-free, you are paying a mortgage – either yours or your landlord’s. Buying your own home provides you with a form of ‘forced savings’ that allows you to use your monthly housing costs to increase your family’s wealth.

Every month that you pay your mortgage, you are paying off a portion of the debt that you took on to purchase your home. Therefore, you own a little bit more of your home every month in the form of home equity. As your home’s value increases, you also gain home equity.

Every quarter, Pulsenomics surveys a nationwide panel of over 100 economists, real estate experts, and investment and market strategists. They are asked to project how residential home prices will appreciate over the next five years for their Home Price Expectation Survey (HPES).

Don’t Let Your Luck Run Out! Buy A Home This Spring [INFOGRAPHIC]

Some Highlights:

Interest Rates for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage have dropped to 4.41% from near 5% in 2018.
Take advantage of more inventory coming to market in the spring to find your dream home!
Buying now will allow you to start earning equity today!

Here are some of the most popular home searches here at Daytona Beach Property Search

SEARCH ALL HOMES IN THE GREATER DAYTONA BEACH AREA HERE

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Homeownership is a Cornerstone of the American Dream

“The rumors of my death are greatly exaggerated.”

The famous quote attributed to Mark Twain can apply to homeownership in the United States today. During the housing bubble of the last decade, the homeownership rate soared to over sixty-nine percent. After the crash, that percentage continued to fall for the next ten years.

That led to speculation that homeownership was no longer seen as a major component of the American Dream. That belief became so widespread that the term “renters’ society” began to be used by some to define American consumers.

However, the latest report by the Census Bureau on homeownership shows that over the last two years, the percentage of homeowners has increased in each of the last eight quarters.

Going forward…

It appears the homeownership rate will continue to increase. Continue reading…

What’s Going On with Bidding Wars?

In a strong seller’s market, like the one we have experienced over the past few years, bidding wars are common and expected. This makes sense! A seller’s market is defined as a market in which the inventory of homes for sale cannot satisfy the number of buyers who want to purchase a home.

According to the Cambridge English Dictionary, bidding wars occur when two or more parties repeatedly outbid each other as they compete to purchase something- in this case, a home.

In some areas of the country, first-time buyers have been met with fierce competition throughout their experience. Some have been out-bid multiple times before finally winning a bid on a home to call their own.

According to the latest Existing Home Sales Report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), there is currently Continue reading…

The Enormous Divide Between the Headline and the Truth

10 Most Expensive Homes Sold In the Greater Daytona Beach Area 2018

Below are the top 10 most expensive homes SOLD in the Greater Daytona Beach area in 2018 ( Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, Port Orange, Ponce Inlet, and the surrounding areas. )

10. 4932 S Peninsula Drive

Your Tax Refund Is The Key To Homeownership!

20 Tips for Preparing Your House for Sale This Spring [INFOGRAPHIC]

Some Highlights:

Do 46 Million Millennials Know They Are Mortgage Ready?

What Credit Score Do You Need To Buy A House?

As you can see, none of them are above 700!

Want To Increase Your Family’s Wealth? Here’s How!

Don’t Let Your Luck Run Out! Buy A Home This Spring [INFOGRAPHIC]

Some Highlights:

Here are some of the most popular home searches here at Daytona Beach Property Search

SEARCH ALL HOMES IN THE GREATER DAYTONA BEACH AREA HERE

Homeownership is a Cornerstone of the American Dream

Going forward…

What’s Going On with Bidding Wars?

James Jestes, Your new favorite Realtor.

Daytona Beach Property Search By City

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