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Grace Hughes
REALTOR®
    Years of Experience: 6

    GRI: Graduate REALTOR® Institute
    e-Pro Certified
    Loss Mitigation Specialist

Direct: (904) 233-1341

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Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Partners
Jacksonville, FL

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Buying a Home

What Should One Look For The First Time Thru A Home? The First Time You View A Home In Jacksonville Florida or Home Shopping Anywhere?

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011

Maybe you have been considering a home purchase in the area; a place to go in Florida for the summer or winter.  Or you are a first time home buyer? Right now affordability is the key with many home buyers with Jacksonville Florida being one of the major cities where owning a home is more cost effective than renting a home.  This is due to all the repossessed homes hitting the market and a drop in the prices over the past few years in the Jacksonville Florida market making homes so affordable.

In fact home prices were down in the area for the 6th month in a row with all the foreclosures and short sales hitting the market.  However homes sales were up in January for the third month in a row as home buyers have begun to discover the values are here especially in the condo and single-family home markets.  Additionally there are rumblings from the market regarding an expected increase in the demand for multi-family housing which adds to the speculations for the area.

So What “DO” You Look For the First Time Through A Home? You might consider the following:  Is there enough room for you now and the near future?  A home can be an excellent investment but it should fit the way you live.  It should have the space and features that fit the entire family.  Pay close attention to the floor plan.  How many bedrooms? Bathrooms?  Smaller homes are in demand as space is at a premium.  However is there enough storage space for you?  How about the appliances?  Will you have to replace them?  The roof is not a major issue when purchasing a condo as they are maintained by the Home Owners Association.  However you must consider the costs of the home owners association in your budget and the quality of the maintenance in the complex.   You may at first glance think the condo fees are too high until you consider the added costs you would pay in a single family home that will be covered by the association dues that you don’t have to pay outside of these dues.

Maintenance is a major cost to consider in a home purchase.  How much maintenance will you have to do right away?  The next three years?  Will your present furniture work in the home? Pay particular attention to any areas that could be a problem like additions, defects or areas that have been repaired.

These are just a few basic suggestions for the first time through.  There are many considerations and feel free to review any and all articles I have posted over the last year regarding these additional considerations before purchasing a home or condo.  It all depends upon your situation, your family and your particular requirements.   Feel free to go to my web site at www.FindAPlaceWithStyleNGrace.com or click on Visit My Website to the left of this blog article to search for homes in the MLS area.  My direct contact number is 904-233-1341 or you can text me at this number.  Feel free to send your home search requests to: gracehughesjax@gmail.com and I’ll set-up a search for you.  Thank you for reading my blog.  I am always complimented when I receive comments from you.

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Posted in Buy a House, Buying a Home, First Time Home Buyer, Homes | 5 Comments »

Department of Housing and Urban Development Can Help You Purchase and Remodel a Home in Jacksonville, Atlantic, Neptune & Jacksonville Beaches of Florida

Saturday, February 5th, 2011

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has a loan to help you purchase a home AND pay for the remodeling.  This is a great financing program for all Americans.  A program that more people should consider.  It was originally set-up to revitalize run-down neighborhoods.  There are certain credit score guidelines that must be met in order to qualify for this type of loan however the HUD regulations are not quite as stringent as Conventional or other standard FHA loans.

This loan is called a 203-k loan and requires a minimum of $5,000 in home repair and should be completed within six months.  Some remodeling projects for consideration with this loan are: the repair of structural damage to a home, making an addition to the structure, the installation of additional bathrooms or the remodeling of the attic, kitchen or basement.  Additionally the loan can be used to replace the air conditioning or all the flooring or the roof; one could also move a wall, do major landscaping or site improvements and, of course, make improvements and improve accessibility for the disabled.

In addition to the typical home improvement loan projects, the FHA 203-k can be used to convert a one family dwelling to a two, three or four family dwelling or the reverse of this.   As with any projects, there are certain restrictions, like no new construction, and the contractor has to be an approved contractor.  One should consult a qualified mortgage professional or I can introduce you to a mortgage professional that handles these types of loans.

One additional item the borrower needs is enough cash reserve to pay for materials and labor until they are reimbursed through a draw, or an adequate credit card balance.  The contractor may also choose to cover these upfront costs.   If you would like to know more about it, please go to the Department of Housing and Urban development web site or call a qualified mortgage broker.  I will be glad to introduce you to one from my office at Keller Williams Realty, the third largest real estate company in the world.

To search the Greater Jacksonville Florida MLS for any home that might need remodeling or any home for sale, go to my web site at:  http://www.FindaPlaceWithStyleNgrace.com. Questions, call me at 904-233-1341 or email: gracehughesjax@gmail.com.   Thank you for reading my blog and please enter any comments below.

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Posted in Buying a Home, Home Improvement, Homes | 5 Comments »

Home Sales Have Improved in Jacksonville Florida and the State Across Several Consumer Segments And Inventories are Continuing to Dwindle

Saturday, January 29th, 2011

Home sales have improved in Jacksonville, Florida and the state across a number of consumer segments.  In Miami the lower prices have helped to fuel the market for working class families.  Additionally baby boomers have had less to spend due to the drop in the values of their investments so we are seeing retirees return to Florida due to the reduction in the cost of homes and the improved affordability index.   We are also seeing more South Americans, Canadians and Europeans come to Jacksonville Florida and other parts of the state to purchase homes.

Foreclosures and Short Sales have fueled the market in Jacksonville, Florida and other cities in the state.  They remain a big part of the state’s housing market today and will most likely stay that way for a while.   So if you or someone you know have been planning to purchase a single family home or condominium in the Florida area, now is the time to make that purchase before the opportunity slips away.  Condo inventories have dwindled to where there aren’t enough to go around and within a few short months will be even lower.

This has been the scenario every year since 2007.  The demand from year to year has increased because Jacksonville is not only a vacation market it is a beautiful, green, thriving, interesting city that has a lot to offer all segments of the population.  However there aren’t as many developers around this year with new projects coming out of the ground to supply the increased demand due to the depressed economy.

Find A Place With Style and Grace! My web site where you can find any home in the Northeast Florida MLS which is a five county area of homes including Jacksonville Florida and all the beach cities; Jax Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach.   www.FindAPlaceWithStyleNgrace.com.  Email: gracehughesjax@gmail.com

Any questions you can text or call me 904-233-1341.

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Posted in Buying a Home, Foreclosures, Homes, Short Sales | 1 Comment »

Jacksonville Florida One Of Top Ten Cities To Buy Property VS Rent

Thursday, January 27th, 2011

According To CNN MONEY on line, Jacksonville Florida is One of Top Twelve Cities To Buy Property

The Median home price is: $83,200

The buy-rent equation in this northern Florida city is heavily influenced by mortgage defaults, according to Trulia spokeswoman Tara-Nicholle Nelson.  Jacksonville has consistently been among the 30 hardest hit cities for foreclosures over the past two years, as compiled by RealtyTrac.

The flood of repossessed homes hitting the market has caused prices to fall by about 34% over the past four years, according to data from the National Association of Home Builders.

All those dispossessed households have also added to demand for rental properties, pushing the ratio of home prices to yearly rents down into single digits. That makes Jacksonville one of the best places to buy in the United States.

To find homes in The Greater Jacksonville Florida area including the Beaches and Downtown as well as all the condominiums in the five county area Multi-Listing Service, go to www.FindaPlaceWithStyleNgrace.com.   To make an appointment to see any of these homes, call or text me at 904-233-1341. Or my email address is as follows:   gracehughesjax@gmail.com.                      Questions?  Call 904-233-1341

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Posted in Buy Condominium, Buying a Home, Foreclosures, Homes, Housing Market | No Comments »

Affordable Single-Family Homes and Condos Have Returned to Jacksonville Florida and the Beaches of Florida

Monday, January 17th, 2011

Affordability in single-family homes and condos returned to Jacksonville Florida and the Beaches of Florida in 2010. A good indicator of this fact is more than 50% of all homes sold in the Jacksonville, Florida area in 2010 were purchased by First Time Home Buyers.  This was higher than the national average of 40%.  Last year first time home buyers could once again afford to purchase nice single-family homes in neighborhoods that were previously out of their reach financially.  This means it is a great time for “anyone” to purchase in the Jacksonville, Florida area markets!  This means it’s time to buy that second home or beach-front property you have been wanting to purchase!

According to Florida Realtor statistics five years ago affordability was one of the greatest challenges facing the Florida housing market.  Home prices were rising annually at a rate of 15 to 25 percent.  The state of Florida’s median sales price had reached $248,300 for single-family homes and $211,300 for condos.  However since the peak of 2006 sale prices have fallen more than 40%.  Now that sales have increased this year and prices have begun to stabilize in many areas listing inventories are shrinking as more buyers have taken advantage of the markets by purchasing homes in Jacksonville and surrounding communities.

Find A Place With Style and Grace! Call or contact Grace Hughes, Realtor, GRI,e-Pro, LMC at 904-233-1341

To Search Homes in North East Florida Realtors Multi-Listing market, go to www.FindaPlaceWithStyleNgrace.com.

You can send a text to Grace at 904-233-1341

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Posted in Buying a Home, Homes, Housing Affordable, Second home, Second home buyer, State of Florida Home Sales | No Comments »

Consider A Home Energy Rating With Your Next Home Purchase in Jacksonville Florida

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

When you buy your next home in Florida consider requesting a Florida Home Energy Rating.  Use this rating to figure how much the home will cost you like you would the miles-per-gallon sticker ratings on a new automobile.  The Florida Building Energy-Efficiency Rating Act was passed by the State Legislature in 1993 and amended in 1994.  This act established a voluntary statewide energy-efficiency rating system for homes.

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in Jacksonville the energy rating offers you a market-place yardstick that measures the benefits of energy-efficiency improvements.  You are probably planning to get a Home Inspection if you purchase a home.  Smart home buyers in Jacksonville are now asking for a home energy rating.  In addition to an overall estimate of energy use you get detailed breakdowns of the energy costs of the air conditioning, space heating, water heating, refrigerator, clothes dryer, cooking costs, lighting, pool pumping and other miscellaneous equipment.

Qualified Energy Gauge raters use a specially designed software program to input data about your home and obtain accurate information regarding what energy-efficiency features can be added to your home to maximize cost-savings and add more comfort.  The raters give your home an index that is based on the energy costs of your home compared with national guidelines.

As a real estate professional I am required  to give you information about getting an EnergyGauge Rating when you sign a home purchase contract with me.  I will be glad to give you additional information about this program.  Call me Direct at 904-233-1341 or information about this program is available at www.floridaenergycenter.org.  My email is: gracehughesjax@gmail.com.

My web site where you can find any home listed in the Northeast Florida MLS is located at the following link: www.FindaPlaceWithStyleNgrace.com.   Go to the Property Search Link on the Left Menu and c lick on Search for Property in Your Area.

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Posted in Buying a Home | 1 Comment »

Should You Own or Rent A Home In Jacksonville & Jacksonville Beach, Florida at This Time?

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Being an optimistic individual one would like to say owning may be the better choice as compared to renting right now.  So why is buying a home in Jacksonville Beach, Florida good now as opposed to last year 2009?  The market may be going up as opposed to going down.  One doesn’t want to buy in a sluggish market, if they can help it.  A buyer could loose money if the value drops after purchasing below that of the price originally paid.

According to Northeast Florida Association of Realtors the number of homes under contract rose for nice consecutive months in 2009 and the housing market in 2010 is virtually guaranteed to be better than that of 2009.   One of the reasons is the extension of the first time home buyer tax credit of $8,500 which was originally set to expire in late November of 2009.  Another reason is there was an addition of a move-up buyer tax credit of $6,500 for those buyers that have lived in their current homes longer than five years.

A third factor that could support stronger sales in 2010 is better mortgage rates for jumbo loans.  There had been a disproportionate increase in the inventory of higher price range homes (over a million dollars) from 2007 and 2008.  The average rate for a 30-yr fixed rate jumbo and FHA  loan fell from 143 basis points in January 2009 to 71 basis points in December of 2009.

With improved FHA and jumbo rates and some absorption of the jumbo priced homes this could be the time to make that planned home purchase whether you are a First Time Home Buyer or a Million Dollar Home Buyer.   Now could be the bottom of the real estate market in Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach, Florida.  If you are considering entering the real estate market in this area, call or email me with your home buying criteria and you can make that decision based on Jacksonville, Florida real estate market data.  I will be glad to  forward this data to you.    My email is: gracehughesjax@gmail.com.  Homes For Sale and on the market listed with the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors can be assessed through my web site at: www.FindaPlaceWithStyleNgrace.com.  Go to the Property Search page.

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Posted in Buying a Home | 3 Comments »

Seven Reasons To Buy or Purchase That Home Right Now In Jacksonville and the Beaches of Florida

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

I  Affordability is better than ever- Since the 1970s homes have never been more affordable as measured by the affordability index.  The affordability index is a measure of the relationship between mortgage interest rates, home prices and family income.

II. There is a much larger inventory now than there will be later this year.  The tax credit is helping to drive the market right now and more sellers are trying to get their homes on the market in order to take advantage of the credit before it expires April 30th, 2010.  Not all areas of the country still have good inventory like we do in North Florida, the Beaches and the Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach and Ponte Vedra Beach Florida area.

III. You could possibly be competing with more buyers next year. Right now sellers with homes that didn’t sell last year are putting their homes on the market again and are anxious to sell.   You could get a better deal this year than last year.

IV. New homes builders are giving discounts that are unbelievable! Be sure to have your pre-approval letter for your mortgage in hand when you talk to the builders and by all means negotiate for anything you want before you buy.  If you don’t get what you want, walk away and give them a chance to call you back.  I recently found one builder that will pay the Home Owners Association dues for five years!

V. Mortgage rates are historically low! These are the best rates we’ve seen in thirty years.  For example, FHA and VA rates for a 30-year fixed rate loan on February 19, 2010 were at 4.875% per one mortgage company’s web site!

VI. The feds raised their interest rate on emergency funds for each other last week.  Although there was no increase in the interest rate charged to the public, one strategist said, “the market is taking this as a tightening.”  Additionally this was the Fed’s first rate move on anything since December 2008!

VII.  The First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit and Move UP Buyer Tax Credit will expire on April 30, 2010. To get this credit one must have a contract signed and set-up to close before June 30, 2010.  So give me a call right away at 904-233-1341 if you have been planning to buy a home or send me a quick email to get moving with your home purchase.

All residential and single family homes on the MLS can be accessed at my web site www.FindaPlaceWithStyleNgrace. com.  Go to the Property Search Page.

Let me know how I can help you get moving with your home purchase.  My email: gracehughesjax@gmail.com

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Posted in Buying a Home | No Comments »

You Could Loose Thousands If You Don’t Know What to Inspect When BUYING A HOME

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

WHAT DOES A HOME INSPECTOR DO? For your own safety, and to make sure you’re not going to have any surprise repair expenses when you buy a home, using a professional home inspector is highly recommended.

A home inspector will check a home’s plumbing, heating, cooling, and electrical systems, plus look for structural problems, check the basement and roof for water leakage, and look at the exterior and interior finishes throughout the property.

So before you sign any written offer to buy a home, make sure that it includes an inspection clause or other language that says that your offer is conditional upon having a satisfactory home inspection.  A seller may be willing to renegotiate a price to accommodate needed repairs, or you may decide that the home will take too much work and money.  A professional inspection will help you make a clear-headed decision before you buy a home.

Plus, you can get answers to many questions and tips for maintenance and a lot of general information that will help you after you buy the home.   Most important, you’ll see the home through the eyes of an objective third party before you buy.

Items on your inspection report should include…

- FOUNDATIONS, BASEMENTS, AND STRUCTURES
Basement floor and walls, proper drainage and ventilation, evidence of water seepage.

- EXTERIOR SIDING, WINDOWS, DOORS
Exterior walls, windows, and doors; porches, decks, and balconies; garage.

- ROOF
Roof type and material, condition of gutters and downspouts.

- INTERIOR PLUMBING SYSTEM
Hot and cold water systems; the waste system and sewage disposal; water pressure and flow; and hot water equipment.

- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Type of service, the number of circuits, type of protection, outlet grounding, and the load balance.

- CENTRAL HEATING & COOLING SYSTEM
Energy sources, heating equipment, age, capacity, and distribution.

- INTERIOR WALLS, CEILINGS, FLOORS, WINDOWS, AND DOORS
Wall, floors, ceilings, stairways, cabinets, and countertops

- STRUCTURAL, INSULATION, AND VENTILATION INFORMATION

- FIREPLACE
Notes about the chimney, damper, and masonry and cleaning.

- GARAGE
Doors, walls, floor, opener.

- APPLIANCES
Including a wide range of built-in and other home appliances, smoke detectors and television/cable hookups.

- LOT AND LANDSCAPING
Ground slope away from foundation, condition of walks, steps, driveway.

Are there any other inspections I need to have done before buying a home? In addition to the overall inspection, depending upon the neighborhood where you’re buying, you may wish to have a separate test conducted to check for termites and radon gas.

If you need the assistance of someone that has experience working with Inspectors and home owners, feel free to email me at gracehughesjax@gmail.com for assistance, or my direct line is 904-233-1341.  Or if there is other critical information you need to know, feel free to give me a call for a free consultation.

My web site where you can find any home listed in the Northeast Florida MLS is located at the following link: www.FindaPlaceWithStyleNgrace.com.  Go to the Property Search page.

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Posted in Buying a Home | 1 Comment »

Advantages of Using A Real Estate Agent to Help You Buy A Home?

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

Buying a home is certainly one of the most rewarding experiences most of us ever have;  it’s also one of the most challenging.

1. One clear advantage of enlisting the help of an agent is simply that you don’t have to “go it alone.”  A good agent has the training, the know-how, and the experience to help you through each step of the process and to make the process of finding, buying, and moving into your new home as smooth, quick, and enjoyable as it can be.

2. Another advantage is that real estate agents are a valuable source of information about market trends, neighborhoods and especially information about homes for sale throughout the areas in which you’re interested.   The agent may know about a home for sale that is not listed.

3. Another advantage is that, in general, all of these services come to you free of any charge or obligation.  It used to be thought that, legally, all real estate agents involved in a given transaction worked for the seller.  Now, with proper disclosure, the agent, salesperson or broker works for the buyer that they choose to represent.   The buyer’s agent is then paid at closing by the seller.

In order get the process moving you need to have a Buyer Consultation Interview.   Why?  Simple – because no one likes to waste time,  but that’s what many purchasers do.  They don’t take the time to sit down with their Realtor to let the Realtor know, in great detail, what their house needs are.  That’s what a Buyer Consultation is all about.

Through the experience of working with many buyers over several years, I have become skilled in (and enjoy) teaching you about the whole process and listening to your needs.  Even if you have purchased a property in the recent past, a quick review might be in order to refresh everything in your mind!

All of my services come with a satisfaction guarantee – and are completely free of charge  – so take full advantage of my FREE BUYER CONSULTATION today by calling at 904-233-1341 or email me at: gracehughesjax@gmail.com with a specific time and date.

Find your dream home on my web site which is linked to the MLS at: www:FindaPlaceWithStyleNgrace.com.

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Posted in Buy a House, Buying a Home, Homes, Real Estate Agent | 1 Comment »

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