My husband and I had a few hours to kill yesterday before the Bucs game, so we took a Sunday drive. We enjoy exploring the area of Florida that we moved to over a year ago, but it’s not often that we get to drive around aimlessly and see where the road takes us. After we did that for a bit, we ended up at a subdivision that was recently in the paper for selling homes at a huge loss, angering the home buyers who paid big bucks to live in the gated, golf course community. We drove by each house that sold at a loss and were amazed that the company saw fit to let the homes go for as little as $110K. I’m sure the homeowners there are upset, and rightfully so - the builder they paid big bucks to just made property values drop!

I’ve often thought about becoming a real estate agent. I even mentioned to Jim the other day that I’d consider taking the classes required to get a Florida real estate license now, and be ready to sell homes once we come out of the rotten real estate market we’re in. (Rotten for sellers, great for buyers!) However, the thought of sitting in a class for a few weeks, listening to an instructor drone on and on for hours - well, it’s not really my thing. I’d much rather be able to prepare online for my real estate exam, wouldn’t you? Thanks to CompuCram.com, you can get software for state specific real estate licensing tests, broker exams, and other certifications, and study online, at home. Prepare as much or as little as you need to, without sitting in a classroom setting, and then take the test when you’re ready! I checked out the Florida exam version, and the software provides you with over 750 practice questions, as well as practice exams. As only $59, it’s a great alternative for people like me!

Looking for a million dollar home to buy in St. Augustine, Florida? Look no further! Sure do wish I had that kind of cash - the home is spectacular inside and out. I absolutely love the facade and the porch, and that you’re in the heart of the St. Augustine historic district. Maybe I can buy it, and rent out the house, and live in the garage apartment. That’s the only way I can afford it, LOL!

I met an appraiser tonight at a party I attended, and asked her how business was. She said that her office is actually quite busy with a lot of REO (real estate owned) properties, which means that the properties are lender owner. With more and more owners defaulting on loans, the lenders will need some fantastic property management software to keep those properties managed. If the property isn’t cared for, and falls into disrepair, it’s going to be that much harder to sell it to a buyer. Anyone in charge of managing multiple properties should use software like Buildium. You can easily track maintenance issues, pay bills, generate work orders, and maintain accounting information for each property. A well maintained REO will sell much quicker than one falling apart!

Moving to Miami?

Sure, why not? All the cool kids are doing it. Hulk Hogan recently moved his family from my neck of the woods down to Miami, and they seem to be enjoying it. (Although we’ll have to see what this season of Hogan Knows Best holds for the family - the previews made things look a little shaky!) And of course, with the entire state of Florida in a real estate slump, that means that it’s a buyers market, and a great time to buy. You can search South Beach FL real estate and Miami Beach MLS listings online. Condos are big down in the South Beach area, and you can save even more by getting in at pre-construction prices.

Our former neighbors, who lived next to us in Tarpon Springs for about 18 or 20 years, just purchased a beautiful home outside of Orlando. Another friend, Pete, just stopped renting and bought a home in Orlando for less than he was paying in rent. And why not? Real estate Florida style is hot, hot, HOT! It’s an incredible buyers market right now, which means buyers are getting the most bang for their buck. Not only is it a great time to buy a residence, but it’s a good time to invest in a 2nd home or vacation villa too. Bardell Real Estate in Orlando specializes in Florida villas for sale and for rent, and business is booming!

Florida Legislators have come up with a tax plan that will drop the average homeowner’s tax bill by $174 per year.

Wow. Start the parade, set off the fireworks, and celebrate! Not.

$174? That’s a drop in the bucket. My taxes are over $3000. Am I complaining? No, we just bought our house, we knew what they would be going into it. We budgeted for it, and we’re prepared for them to go up. That said, I know there are plenty of folks out there who have had their taxes increase, and they were NOT prepared for a change. $174 is a drop in the bucket.

Keep trying, guys.

Homeowners all over Florida are feeling the burn…and I’m not talking about the heat caused by the wildfires all over the state. The burn I’m speaking of is caused by the housing market dropping daily! Homes in our neighborhood that were completed a year ago sit empty, and the builder just recently lowered the base price of the homes another $10K, and added in another floor plan to entice buyers. My model is priced $17K lower than when we signed the papers on this home in September of 2006. I know the market will bounce back, but I don’t like seeing prices fall like this. If any old investor can get a mortgage on a home to buy sight unseen, there’s a problem with the housing industry. Shame on our builder for even letting investors buy homes in here to begin with…because of that, I can’t even remortgage my home right now. I have no sympathy for the investors who lost their shirts when they attempted to flip these homes. They thought it was easy money - just get a few secured loans, buy a few houses, sell them in 6 months, and walk away with a lot of cash, huh? Ha!

South Beach is once of the nicest parts of South Florida, and those of you who have been to Miami will surely agree with me! With beautiful beaches, a hot nightlife, great dining, celebrity sightings, and some of the most beautiful people in the world, it’s no wonder that South Beach luxury condos are still selling, while the rest of the state ain’t doing so great. You can find great art deco architecture in the condos, and enjoy views of movies and models as you stroll the streets of South Beach. No need for a car, because you’ll be living right in the heart of all the South Beach action!

I was out with a group of friends the other night at dinner, and discussion turned to home construction. Of the 9 of us in the group, several had built a home, and some had built 2 or 3 homes. We all had horror stories to tell - unfortunately, there are a lot of shady contractors and builders out there giving the industry a bad name. That’s why it’s so important to know what you’re getting into when you decide to build a home. You can read up on construction loans and such online, and knowing what to expect in advance can save you a lot of heartache and headaches. The site I linked above even has tips on how to choose a contractor. Rule #1 - make sure he’s licensed! I can’t even begin to tell you how many crooks there are in Florida who are NOT licensed to do the work they’re doing. My mother hired someone who didn’t have a license - he actually pulled the permits under someone elses’ license, which is a big no-no. There was another local contractor who started work on 50+ homes and then left town.

Your home is probably one of your biggest investments, and even while you’re at the foundation stage, you need to protect your investment. Be informed!