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Grace Hughes
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    Years of Experience: 6

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Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Partners
Jacksonville, FL

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Posts Tagged ‘Buying a Single-Family Home in Jacksonville Florida’

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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 »

Attention Home Sellers – Home Buyers Are Beginning To Buy Smaller Homes Again!

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

With baby boomers entering retirement, young adults delaying marriage, and the US economy in a state of flux, home buyers are beginning to purchase smaller homes again.  Home sellers, this means you may have a greater chance of selling your home than you  thought. Although home buyers still want luxury, they are beginning to put their stuff into smaller spaces.

According to the Census Bureau the square footage of new homes purchased in 2008 dropped to 2215 sq feet, down from 2277 sq feet.  This is the first drop in square footage of new homes purchased since the recession of the early eighties.

However, to sell your home you still need to make it look larger than it’s actual size.  Some ways to do this are:  fresh paint using neutral coloring, blending colors in medium to light shades; having carpet and walls done in similar color tones.  Also applying one continuous type of flooring throughout the home will make a home seem more spacious.

Additionally, move out all furniture except the bare essentials.  Even if  your china hutch is a family heirloom, it will serve you best in storage.  Daddy may also have to give up his big, over-stuffed recliner for a few months in order to clear a path for potential buyers to walk from the living room and dining area to the kitchen area, when they view your home.

One of my dear friends asked me what they would need to do to sell their home.  Theirs was one of the older homes in Jacksonville, Florida that had been maintained beautifully, and like some other older homes, had smaller, narrow rooms.  We discussed several ideas and they took my suggestions to heart.  He gave up his recliner, for one thing, and we had a sale within a short time.   I am proud to say, at closing, he was quick to point out, “They sold their home by using some of their realtor’s suggestions, and that stuff works!”

Creating the feeling of space is the key, and there are numerous ways to do this.  Stashing things away, for instance, lowering the ceiling in the hallway or raising the ceiling adjacent to it.  The good thing is you don’t have to be as concerned about those smaller rooms because buyers are beginning to love the smaller spaces.  However, as an article in Realtor.org magazine for February suggests,  ”You have to create the illusion of space.”

If you have a particularly challenging situation with a home, or just need to sell your home and need the advise of an experienced professional, I will be glad to discuss your home by phone.  My email is: gracehughesjax@gmail.com.  You can find all homes on the MLS and in the Greater Jacksonville area on my site, including those in Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra, Mandarin, and other cities of Duval, St Johns and Clay Counties: www. FindaPlaceWithStyleNgrace.com. Go to the Property Search Page.

My direct line is 904-233-1341.

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Posted in Home Sellers | No Comments »

How Can I Find Out What Homes Are Selling For In A Given Neighborhood?

Friday, February 5th, 2010

Home sales are a matter of public record. You can get all the information you want about recent sales, including prices and time on the market, by asking your Realtor.  This is valuable information when buying or selling a home.

If you’re interested in a particular home, we will be able to provide you with a list of comparable sale prices of homes in your area that are roughly the same size and age as the home you’re considering. If there are no homes FOR SALE in your neighborhood, the Realtor can give you advise regarding the way to determine the price.  .  .

Although there will certainly be some differences between the homes…the house next door may have an extra bedroom, or the one down the block may be older than the one you’re looking at…it’s a good way to evaluate the sellers asking price.

If you are considering buying or selling a home, call me Direct at 904-233-1341 and I’ll see how I can help, or send a quick email to: gracehughesjax@gmail.com. You can go to my web site where you can find any home listed in our five county Multi-Listing Service, including Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, Amelia Island, and Fernandina Beach at www.FindaPlaceWithStyleNgrace.com.  Go to the Property Search Page.

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Posted in Buy a House | 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 »

Buying A Home in Jacksonville or Beaches area of Florida? There Are A Lot of Questions You Need to Ask Before Making That Purchase…

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

Here are just a few I suggest to my clients…

What is the neighborhood (and your neighbors) like?

Are there certain area features that would affect the value of this property in the future?

What are the realty taxes on the home?   What are the utilities?

What home repairs have been made in the past three years?

How far do I have to travel for schools, public transit, and shopping?

What major repair expenses do I have to look forward to within the next three to five years?

What is the traffic flow in front of or near the property…any main roads, bus routes, etc.?

Are there any utility easements or encroachments over the property?

Is there a fairly recent survey that shows all the buildings and additions on the property?

There are so many things one should check before making a home purchase.  I can send you my complete list if you would like.  Or, if there are any of the above questions that you don’t have a clear answer to – call me, and I will see what I can do to find the answers for you.

All my services come with a satisfaction guarantee – and are completely free of charge to you.  My job is to have you fully informed before you make a costly buying decision!  My #904-233-1341 or my web site where you can go to find all listings in the five county Northeast Florida area which includes Jacksonville Beach and the other beaches.  Go to www.FindaPlaceWithStyleNgrace.com.  Then to the Property Search Page.

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Posted in Buy a House, Homes | No Comments »

First Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit For Military Personnel, Foreign Service. Intelligence Officers Extended

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

The House of Representatives voted unanimously to extend the deadline for the First Time Home Buyers’ tax credit for one group of Americans so far.   HR 3590 will allow eligible military personnel and foreign service and intelligence officers to apply for the $8,000 tax credit for one year beyond its current November 30 deadline. Those meeting the underlying requirements for the credit must also be serving overseas or have spent at least 90 days deployed outside of the country during the current calendar year.  It is expected that about 350,000 military personnel and an unknown number of federal employees may be affected by the new law.

The bill was introduced by Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY) because it was thought that families serving overseas were being passed over for this one-time opportunity to  purchase a home.  It passed the House with 416 votes and 16 abstentions.

So if you are military personnel, foreign service or an intelligence officer on your way to Jacksonville Beach or Jacksonville, Florida area, the Atlantic, Neptune or Ponte Vedra Beach areas, after having been deployed,  and are planning to purchase your first home (or you haven’t purchased within the last three years) between now and November 30, 2010;  give me a call,  or send a quick email.  I’ll be honoured to work with you, and I can give you information about how to claim up to 10% of the cost of your home, up to $8,000,  as a First Time Home Buyer tax credit.

My web site where you can find homes in the area is www.FindaPlaceWithStyleNgrace.com.  Go to the Property Search Page.  It will take you to a map of Jacksonville where you can choose the area you prefer.  To send me an email: gracehughesjax@gmail.com.

My blog is: http://inside-real-estate.com/jacksonville-beach-fl.  I cover most areas of Jacksonville and the beaches and will make recommendations about all six counties.  Call with questions Direct at 904-233-1341.

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Posted in First Time Home Buyer | 2 Comments »

There is No Bell at the Bottom! However Jacksonville & Jacksonville Beach, Florida Home Sales Could Be There!

Monday, September 7th, 2009

I have used this phrase to emphasize a point. The point being how often someone tells me about the one home they didn’t purchase when they had a chance; the home they wished they had purchased due to it’s current “much higher” value!  Unfortunately we will not hear a bell and the government can not say, or know,  when we reach the bottom of the real estate market in Jacksonville, Florida, Jacksonville Beach, or anywhere else.  However,  if you have been considering purchasing that single-family home, condominium, second home, or, you are a first time home buyer, and you are interested in this data for this very reason, please find it below.  This area and the State of Florida data is compelling, and so makes me think the bell should possibly be shined up a bit…so here you are:

State of Florida Home Sales 7/09  Compared to 7/08  + 28% Jacksonville Florida Home Sales +16% Same Period

Other areas and cities:     Daytona Beach+20%   Ft Lauderdale+35%   Ft Myers+137%   Ft Pierce+27%   Ft Walton Beach+15%   Lakewood+14%   Melbourne+14%   Miami+54%   Ocala+63%   Orlando+38%   Panama City+15%   Tampa+21%

Average Interest Rate Ending period Sept 3, 2009:  30 yr Fixed - 5.08% Freddie Mae

Low mortgage rates are helping to keep housing affordable, according to government housing VP and chief economist, Frank Mothaft.   Seven of the top eight most affordable months for purchasing a home have occurred during the last twelve months, with the Most Affordable months being tracked since 1971!  As a result, pending sales of existing homes rose for the sixth straight month in July of this year, and July sales were the strongest since June 2007.   Call me with any questions about property, homes or financing.

All Single-Family Homes and Condominiums Available in the MLS, as well as Short Sales and Foreclosures are available on my web site at: http://FindaPlaceWithStyleNgrace.com.  My email is: gracehughesjax@gmail.com.  My Direct contact number is 904-233-1341 with questions.

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Posted in Bottom of Real Estate Market, Buy Condominium, Buy a House, Condos, First Time, First Time Home Buyer, Homes, Housing Affordable, Low mortgage rates, Pending Home sales in Jacksonville Florida, Property Investment, Real Estate, Real Estate Agent, State of Florida Home Sales | No Comments »

Before You Purchase That Dream Home In Jacksonville Florida There Are A Few Things You Should Know

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009

Actually there are many things you need to know about a home before you make a purchase, and here are “just a few” of the questions you need to have answered before moving forward with that purchase of a home:

  • What is the neighborhood (and your neighbors) like?  Are there certain area features that would affect the value of this property after you buy or in the future?
  • What are the realty taxes on the home and what are the costs of utilities?
  • What home repairs have been made in the past three years?
  • How far do I have to travel for schools, public transit, and shopping?
  • What major repair expenses do I have to look forward to after the purchase or within two years after purchase?
  • Are there any utility easements or encroachments over the property?
  • Is there a fairly recent survey that shows all the buildings and additions on the property?
  • Has the property had a Home Inspection done when the present owners bought that you could check to see what minor and major problems there were?  Have your Realtor ask for a list of these problems, if there were any.
  • Has the homeowner signed a Property Disclosure statement?

My goal is to have you fully informed before you make a costly home buying decision! If there are any of the above questions that you don’t have a clear answer to for any home in Jacksonville you are considering purchasing – call me, and I will see what I can do to find the answers for you.  All of my services come with a satisfaction guarantee – and are completely free of charge to you.  If you would like a “Complete” list of questions to ask, please respond by email to gracehughesjax@gmail.com or call direct to 904-233-1341 and leave a message, or send a message with a blog entry.  My web site: http://FindaPlaceWithStyleNgrace.com.  (more…)

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Posted in Buy Condominium, Buy a House, First Time Home Buyer, Homes, Homes for Sale, Real Estate, Real Estate Agent | 5 Comments »

Jacksonville Beaches Living – Ocean Views – Spacious “Florida” Terrace Home With Awesome Views!

Tuesday, September 1st, 2009
NEW CONSTRUCTION, RED OAK FLOORS, GRANITE & MANY UPGRADES!

NEW CONSTRUCTION, RED OAK FLOORS, GRANITE & MANY UPGRADES!

BEAUTIFUL TOWNHOME!  -  3 bedroom  -  3 baths                              $ 590,000
2300+ SQ FT   Granite – Wood Floors - Open Flr Plan
Florida Terrace – Stucco – Garage
NORTH BEACH  in Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250
mls #463698
New construction town home in the heart of the beaches with ocean and beach views.  Real gourmet island kitchen w/ custom cabinets, granite counters & lots of high end finishes through out. Red oak wood flooring & stairs.  Spacious ”Florida” terrace with great ocean views. This is not your typical town home, open floor plan w/ unique features & upgrades!

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Posted in Homes, Homes for Sale, Luxury Homes, MLS, MLS Service | No Comments »

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