Are you thinking of retiring soon? According to the US Census Bureau baby boomers (those born from 1946-1964) some 10,000 a day reach the age of 65. By the year 2030 all of the boomers will be at least 65 years old.

WalletHub states that Florida ranks as the number 1 state for retirees. Go ahead, hover over Florida with your mouse, follow the link to WalletHub and read the article. Don’t forget to come back!

Furthermore an article published by Florida Realtors on January 29, 2021 stated:

“The state has attracted new residents for years, and updated migration data by moving van lines show, once again, that in 2020 more people headed south in order to call Florida “home.”

So what does this mean? Well for one thing people who live in colder climates like New York, New Jersey as well as other northern states, are giving serious consideration to retiring here in Florida.

To be honest with you, I cannot blame you. I retired in Tallahassee Florida in 2011. Not only was I looking for a warmer climate, but I also wanted a place to live that allowed me to keep as much of my money as possible.

Other things to consider is good healthcare, housing, costs of food and so forth. So why Tallahassee Florida?? Let me explain.

Moving from one state to another is a big move. Now I had family here so the transition was a little easier for me. At least I had people I could trust to help me know the lay of the land so to speak.

I was not so concerned about employment because I was self-employed and semi-retired before my move. Aging parents was a big reason for our move.

For those moving to Tallahassee Florida that do not have family here, well you need to find someone you can trust to help you.

WHY LEON COUNTY?

In the state of Florida Leon county ranks #3 overall in the state as one of the best counties to live in because of a variety of reasons. For one it’s the lowest costs. For retirees that’s a good thing right?

Also, this county is one of the most educated counties so there’s a whole lot of smart people living here. More people have degrees from BA to Doctorate here, nearly half the population.

In addition to the above, we have a small city that thinks it’s a big city. So the people here know one another yet the town is big enough to give you plenty of choices for parks, restaurants and things to do.

Now I know you cannot get to know me or this town through an article like this or watching my weekly videos on YouTube about our great community so here’s the deal.

If you’re thinking of moving here, you need a real estate agent in Tallahassee Florida to help you find suitable housing. As the owner and broker of Friendly Real Estate Group LLC I would be happy to assist you.

We can do Zoom meetings to discuss your personal desires. Then I can go into select homes with a live stream tour so you can see the home before coming here in person.

We have a lot of new construction homes priced in the low 200’s to mid 300’s. The resale market has a very low inventory at the time of this writing (Feb 2021) but we can find some nice homes in the same price ranges.

Please call/text Jeff Ragan Owner/Broker at 850.273.2520 anytime of day or night to learn more.

Traditionally, spring is one of the busiest times of the year for real estate. However, the coronavirus outbreak—and subsequent stay-at-home orders—led many buyers and sellers to put their moving plans on hold. In April, new listings fell nearly 45%, and sales volume fell 15% compared to last year.¹

Fortunately, as restrictions have eased, we’ve seen an uptick in market activity. And economists at Realtor.com expect a rebound in July, August, and September, as fears about the pandemic subside, and buyers return to the market with pent-up demand from a lost spring season.²

But given safety concerns and the current economic climate, is it prudent to jump back into the real estate market?

Before you decide, it’s important to consider where the housing market is headed, how it could impact your timeline and ability to buy a home, and your own individual needs and circumstances.

WHAT’S AHEAD FOR THE HOUSING MARKET?

The economic aftermath of the coronavirus outbreak has been severe. We’ve seen record  unemployment numbers, and economists believe the country is headed toward a recession. But people still need a place to live. So what effect will these factors have on the housing market?

Home Values Projected to Remain Stable

Many Americans recall our last recession and assume we will see another drop in home values. But the 2008 real estate market crash was the cause—not the result—of that downturn. In fact, ATTOM Data Solutions analyzed real estate prices during the last five recessions and found that home prices actually went up in most cases. Only twice (in 1990 and 2008) did prices fall, and in 1990 it was by less than one percent.³

Many economists expect home values to remain relatively steady this time around. And so far, that’s been the case. As of mid-May, the median listing price in the U.S. was up 1.4% from the same period last year.⁴ 

Demand for Homes Will Exceed Available Supply

There’s been a shortage of affordable homes on the market for years, and the pandemic has further hindered supply. In addition to sellers pulling back, new home starts fell 22% in March.⁵ In fact, Fannie Mae doesn’t foresee a return to pre-pandemic construction levels before the end of 2021.⁶

This supply shortage is expected to prop up home prices, despite recessionary pressures. Fannie Mae and the National Association of Realtors predict housing prices will rise slightly this year⁷, while Zillow expects them to fall between 2-3%.⁸ Still, that would be a far cry from the double-digit declines that occurred during the last recession.⁹ 

Government Intervention Will Help Stabilize the Market 

Policymakers have been quick to pass legislation aimed at preventing a surge in foreclosures like we saw in 2008. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress gives government-backed mortgage holders who were impacted by the pandemic up to a year of reduced or delayed payments.¹⁰

The Federal Reserve has also taken measures to help stabilize the housing market, lower borrowing costs, and inject liquidity into the mortgage industry. These steps have led to record-low mortgage rates that should help drive buyer demand and make homeownership more affordable for millions of Americans.¹¹

HOW HAS THE REAL ESTATE PROCESS CHANGED?

As the pandemic hit, real estate and mortgage professionals across the country revised their processes to adapt to shifting safety standards and economic realities. While these new ways of conducting business may seem strange at first, keep in mind, military clients, international buyers, and others have utilized many of these methods to buy and sell homes for years.

New Safety Procedures

The safety of our clients and our team members is our top priority. That’s why we’ve developed a process for buyers and sellers that utilizes technology to minimize personal contact.

For our listings, we’re holding online open houses, offering virtual viewings, and conducting walk-through video tours. We’re also using video chat to qualify interested buyers before we book in-person showings. This enables us to promote your property to a broad audience while limiting physical foot traffic to only serious buyers.

Likewise, our buyer clients can view properties online and take virtual video tours to minimize the number of homes they step inside. Ready to visit a property in person? We can decrease surface contact by asking the seller to turn on all the lights and open doors and cabinets before your scheduled showing.

The majority of our “paperwork” is also digital. In fact, many of the legal and financial documents involved in buying and selling a home went online years ago. You can safely view and eSign contracts from your smartphone or computer. 

Longer Timelines and Higher Mortgage Standards

The real estate process is taking a little longer these days. Both buyers and sellers are more cautious when it comes to viewing and showing homes. And with fewer house hunters and less available inventory, it can take more time to match a buyer with the right property.

In a recent survey, 67% of Realtors also reported delays in the closing process. The top reasons were financing and buyer job loss, but appraisals and home inspections are also taking more time due to shifting safety protocol.¹²

Securing a mortgage may take longer, too. With forbearance requests rising, lenders are getting increasingly conservative when it comes to issuing new loans. Many are raising their standards—requiring higher credit scores and larger down payments. Prepare for greater scrutiny, and build in some extra time to shop around.¹³ 

IS IT THE RIGHT TIME FOR ME TO MAKE A MOVE?

The reality is, there’s no “one size fits all” answer as to whether it’s a good time to buy or sell a home because everyone’s circumstances are unique. But now that you know the state of the market and what you can expect as you shop for real estate, consider the following questions:

Why do you want or need to move?

It’s important to consider why you want to move and if your needs may shift over the next year. For example, if you need a larger home for your growing family, your space constraints aren’t likely to go away. In fact, they could be amplified as you spend more time at home.

However, if you’re planning a move to be closer to your office, consider whether your commute could change. Some companies are rethinking their office dynamics and may encourage their employees to work remotely on a permanent basis. 

How urgently do you need to complete your move? 

If you have a new baby on the way or want to be settled before schools open in the fall, we recommend that you begin aggressively searching as soon as possible. With fewer homes on the market and a lengthier closing process, it’s taking longer than usual for clients to find and purchase a home.

However, if your timeline is flexible, you may be well-positioned to score a deal. We’re seeing more highly-incentivized sellers who are willing to negotiate on terms and price. Talk to us about setting up a search so we can keep an eye out for any bargains that pop up. And get pre-qualified for a mortgage now so you’ll be ready to act quickly.

If you’re eager to sell this year, now is the time to begin prepping your home for the market. A second wave of infections is predicted for the winter, which could mean another lockdown.¹⁴ If you wait, you might miss your window of opportunity. 

How long do you plan to stay in your new home?

The U.S. real estate market has enjoyed steady appreciation since 2012, which made it fairly easy for owners and investors to buy and sell properties for a profit in a short period of time. However, with home values expected to remain relatively flat over the next year, your best bet is to buy a home you can envision yourself keeping for several years. Fortunately, at today’s rock-bottom mortgage rates, you can lock in a low interest rate and start building equity right away.

Can you meet today’s higher standards for securing a mortgage?

Mortgage lenders are tightening their standards in response to the growing number of mortgage forbearance requests. Many have raised their minimum credit score and downpayment requirements for applicants. Even if you’ve been pre-qualified in the past, you should contact your lender to find out if you meet their new, more stringent standards.

Is your income stable?

If there’s a good chance you could lose your job, you may be better off waiting to buy a home. The exception would be if you’re planning to downsize. Moving to a less expensive home could allow you to tap into your home equity or cut down on your monthly expenses.

WHEN YOU’RE READY TO MOVE
WE’RE READY TO HELP

While uncertain market conditions may give pause to some buyers and sellers, they can actually present an opportunity for those who are willing, able, and motivated to make a move.

Your average spring season would be flooded with real estate activity. But right now, only motivated players are out in the market. That means that if you’re looking to buy, you’re in a better position to negotiate a great price. And today’s record-low mortgage rates could give a big boost to your purchasing power. In fact, if you’ve been priced out of the market before, this may be the perfect time to look.

If you’re hoping to sell this year, you’ll have fewer listings to compete against in your neighborhood and price range. But you’ll want to act quickly. Economists expect a surge of eager buyers to enter the market in July—so you should start prepping your home now. And keep in mind, a second wave of coronavirus cases could be coming in this winter. Ask yourself how you will feel if you have to face another lockdown in your current home.

Let’s schedule a free virtual consultation to discuss your individual needs and circumstances. We can help you assess your options and create a plan that makes you feel both comfortable and confident during these unprecedented times. 

If you want to have a FREE Consultation click here and visit our home page to fill out our contact form. Or call/text anytime Jeff Ragan (mobile) 850.273.2520 Broker/Owner Friendly Real Estate Group LLC.

by Jeff Ragan 6/4/2020

The above references an opinion and is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be financial advice. Consult a financial professional for advice regarding your individual needs.

Sources:

1. Forbes – https://www.forbes.com/sites/ellenparis/2020/05/08/latest-housing-market-update-from-realtorcom/#20bf7829113e
2. HousingWire – https://www.housingwire.com/articles/realtor-com-housing-market-will-bounce-back-this-year-but-the-rebound-will-be-short-lived/
3. Curbed – https://www.curbed.com/2019/1/10/18139601/recession-impact-housing-market-interest-rates
4. com – https://www.realtor.com/research/weekly-housing-trends-view-data-week-may-9-2020/
5. com – https://money.com/coronavirus-real-estate-home-prices/
6. Fannie Mae – https://www.fanniemae.com/resources/file/research/emma/pdf/Housing_Forecast_051320.pdf
7. HousingWire – https://www.housingwire.com/articles/pending-home-sales-tumble-on-covid-19-shock/
8. HousingWire – https://www.housingwire.com/articles/zillow-predicts-small-home-price-drop-through-rest-of-2020/
9. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis – https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CSUSHPINSA
10. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – https://www.consumerfinance.gov/coronavirus/cares-act-mortgage-forbearance-what-you-need-know/
11. Bankrate – https://www.bankrate.com/mortgages/federal-reserve-and-mortgage-rates
12. National Association of Realtors – https://www.nar.realtor/sites/default/files/documents/2020-05-11-nar-flash-survey-economic-pulse-05-14-2020.pdf
13. Forbes – https://www.forbes.com/sites/alyyale/2020/04/17/buying-a-home-during-the-pandemic-dont-expect-your-everyday-home-purchase/#fadad3d33b0c
14. Washington Post – https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/04/21/coronavirus-secondwave-cdcdirector/

You’re ready to put your home or land (house, townhouse, condo, apartment, farm, ranch, finished lot, raw land, etc.) on the market as a FSBO (for sale by owner). You’ve priced your property appropriately and gotten it ready to show. How are you going to market it so that it gets exposure to enough potential buyers to actually sell?

Signs

In some parts of the county, the real estate market is so hot that you need do little more than buy a “for sale by owner” sign at the nearest hardware store. Simply put it in a prominent position on the front of your house and stand back.

In other areas, a great deal more marketing is needed, but a “for sale by owner” sign is a good place to start. Directional signs (“home for sale” with an arrow) at intersections leading the way to your property are useful, too, if your location lends itself to that.

Classified Ads

A classified ad in your local newspaper is a good idea and is generally not expensive. A short ad repeated a number of times is apt to be more effective than a long ad run once, or only a few, times.

Bulletin Boards/Posters

Are there bulletin boards where you work? In neighborhood shops and restaurants? At your church? Any place you, or members of your family, frequent that has something like a bulletin board is a good place to post notices of your property’s availability. If you have the use of a digital camera and a computer, you might want to do a one-page poster with several photos of your house, a description and contact information. Consider having tear-off strips at the bottom with your phone number repeated on each strip.

Magazines & Community Publications

You may want to check the cost of putting an ad in “For Sale By Owner” type magazines. Most communities have such magazines and you don’t have to be a realtor to buy an ad.

Brochures

Brochures or one-page flyers can also be a useful method for marketing your home. You can use the same one you made for bulletin boards or you can expand on it a bit. Use more photos, have captions under them identifying the rooms, garden areas, tennis court, community club, pool and other benefits to buying your home.

There are several things you can do to get your brochures in front of the public. You can buy a brochure holder (typically, a plastic box with a hinged lid on a stick which gets “planted” in the ground near the curb in front of your home) from the hardware store. Plant it in a prominent place in front of your home and keep it stocked with brochures.

Don’t get annoyed when “noisy neighbors” pick up your brochures. Your neighbors can afford homes priced similarly to yours. They probably have family and friends whom they’d enjoy as neighbors who can afford this price range, too. Smile when you see a neighbor picking up a brochure; another marketing ambassador is on its way.

Also keep a supply of brochures in your home to give to prospective buyers who come to look at it. People looking for a new home usually look at a more than one property, and can get overwhelmed with too many properties. “Is this the one with the built-in book cases or was it the one across town?” The house whose best features go with them via a brochure with color photos and salient information is memorable. Buyers tend to write contract offers on properties they remember and can visualize.

Consider taking your brochures to your peers at work. After all, you find it convenient to live in your home and work there; might your associates know someone who’d find it a similarly pleasant arrangement? Ask them.

Internet

There are several Internet sites on which FSBOs may list their properties for sale. Some of these permit sellers to include photos, information about “Open Houses” they’re holding, etc. Prices for this service varies. Try fsboamerica.org or go to your favorite search engine and check out a few.

Open Houses

That brings up the notion of “Open Houses.” In many areas, sales frequently take place because of an Open House attended by potential buyers. If you are in a location with good traffic, an open house can be an excellent tool. You can promote your Open House in any, or all, of the venues we’ve discussed above. It’s also often effective to install an Open House sign with helium balloons tied on with bright ribbons on the day of the Open House.

Whether you use a realtor or sell your home on your own, marketing it is going to be the key to getting a quick sale. It takes some time and access to a few tools, but most sellers can put together a successful marketing program.

We hope you find this information helpful, if you would like to use professional services, I would be happy to help you. Call Jeff Ragan Owner/Broker at Friendly Real Estate Group, 850-273-2520 for a FREE home analysis. Or simply fill out our contact form below.

(1) Watch those credit card balances

One major factor in your credit score is how much revolving credit you have versus how much you’re actually using. The smaller that percentage is, the better it is for your credit rating.

The optimum: 30 percent or lower.

To boost your score, pay down your balances, and keep those balances low.

If you have multiple credit card balances, consolidating them with a personal loan could help your score.

What you might not know: Even if you pay balances in full every month, you still could have a higher utilization ratio than you’d expect. That’s because some issuers use the balance on your statement as the one reported to the bureau. Even if you’re paying balances in full every month, your credit score will still weigh your monthly balances.

One strategy: See if the credit card issuer will accept multiple payments throughout the month.

(2)  Eliminate credit card balances

“A good way to improve your credit score is to eliminate nuisance balances. Those are the small balances you have on a number of credit cards.

The reason this strategy can boost your score: One of the items your score considers is just how many of your cards have balances. That’s why charging $50 on one card and $30 on another instead of using the same card (preferably one with a good interest rate), can hurt your credit score.

The solution to improve your credit score is to gather up all those credit cards on which you have small balances and pay them off. Then select one or two go-to cards that you can use for everything.

That way, you’re not polluting your credit report with a lot of balances.

If you can’t afford to pay these small balances off at once, moving them to a balance transfer credit card might help.

(3) Leave old debt on your report

Some people erroneously believe that old debt on their credit report is bad,

The minute they get their home or car paid off, they’re on the phone trying to get it removed from their credit report.

Negative items are bad for your credit score, and most of them will disappear from your report after seven years. However, arguing to get old accounts off your credit report just because they’re paid is a bad idea.

Good debt — debt that you’ve handled well and paid as agreed — is good for your credit. The longer your history of good debt is, the better it is for your score.

One of the ways to improve your credit score: Leave old debt and good accounts on as long as possible. This is also a good reason not to close old accounts where you’ve had a solid repayment record.

Trying to get rid of old good debt “is like making straight A’s in high school and trying to expunge the record 20 years later,” “You never want that stuff to come off your history.”

(4) Use your calendar

If you’re shopping for a home, car or student loan, it pays to do your rate shopping within a short time period.

Every time you apply for credit, it can cause a small dip in your credit score that lasts a year. That’s because if someone is making multiple applications for credit, it usually means he or she wants to use more credit.

However, with three kinds of loans — mortgage, auto and more recently, student loans — scoring formulas allow for the fact that you’ll make multiple applications but take out only one loan.

The FICO score, a credit score commonly used by lenders, ignores any such inquiries made in the 30 days prior to scoring. If it finds some that are older than 30 days, it will count those made within a typical shopping period as just one inquiry.

The length of that shopping period depends on the credit score used.

If lenders are using the newest forms of scoring software, then you have 45 days. With older forms, you need to keep it to 14 days.

Older forms of the software won’t count multiple student loan inquiries as one, no matter how close together you make applications.

The takeaway is, don’t dillydally.

(5) Pay bills on time

If you’re planning a major purchase (like a home or a car), you might be scrambling to assemble one big chunk of cash.

While you’re juggling bills, you don’t want to start paying bills late. Even if you’re sitting on a pile of savings, a drop in your score could scuttle that dream deal.

One of the biggest ingredients in a good credit score is simply month after month of plain-vanilla, on-time payments.

Credit scores are determined by what’s in your credit report, If you’re bad about paying your bills — or paying them on time — it damages your credit and hurts your credit score.

That can even extend to items that aren’t normally associated with credit reporting, such as library books. That’s because even if the original “creditor,” such as the library, doesn’t report to the bureaus, they may eventually call in a collections agency for an unpaid bill. That agency could very well list the item on your credit report.

Putting cash into a for a major purchase is smart. Just don’t slight the regular bills to do it.

(6) Don’t hint at risk

Sometimes, one of the best ways to improve your credit score is to not do something that could sink it.

Two of the biggies are missing payments and suddenly paying less (or charging more) than you normally do.

Other changes that could scare your card issuer (but not necessarily hurt your credit score): taking cash advances or even using your cards at businesses that could indicate current or future money stress, such as a pawnshop or a divorce attorney.

You just don’t want to do anything that would indicate risk.

(7) Don’t obsess

You should be laser-focused on your credit score when you know you’ll soon need credit. In the interim, pay your bills and use credit responsibly. Your score will reflect these smart spending behaviors.

Are you getting ready to make a big purchase, such as a home or car? At least a few months in advance, have a look at your credit score.

While the score that you get through your bank or a service may not be the exact same one your lender uses, it will grade you on many of the same criteria and give you a good indication of how well you’re managing your credit. It will provide you with specific ways to improve your credit score — in the form of several codes or factors that kept your score from being higher.

If you are denied credit (or don’t qualify for the lender’s best rate), the lender has to show you the credit score it used, thanks to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

Another smart move is to regularly check your credit reports.

You’re entitled to one of each of your three credit bureau reports (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) for free every 12 months through AnnualCreditReport.com.

It’s smart to stagger them. Send for one every four months, and you can monitor your credit for free.