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via Top 5 Weekly Best Buys in Fort Lauderdale | Chris Berthelson | Real Living Real Estate.
‘Buying Naked’ on TLC latest entry into the nude reality TV trend
“Naked and Afraid” and “Naked Castaway” have been surprise hits for Discovery Channel; now it looks like TLC is getting in on the baring-all act with a new series, “Buying Naked.” However, instead of being oddly naked in the woods or stranded in some desperate situation, “Buying Naked” will feature a community where clothing-optional clients are shopping the real estate market with the help of expert realtor Jackie Youngblood.
Pasco County, FL, boasts the largest concentration of nudist communities in the nation, and happily holds the title, “Nudist Capital of America.” Now, TLC follows Jackie and her team as they help “in the buff” homebuyers find their dream house. Prospective homebuyers typically consider such factors as location, layout, and budget, to help influence their decisions. However, finding a home for a nudist goes well-beyond the concerns that come with typical house hunting.
Jackie and her team must keep in mind the hazards that are lurking for their clothing-optional clientele – everything from countertop height to sharp corners and flooring (rug burn hurts!). Routine tasks such as cooking, cleaning and even just walking can present safety risks for the unclothed occupants of the home. Fortunately, Jackie and her team take extra care to uncover the perfect property to accommodate their clients’ unique needs and lifestyles.
In the season premiere of “Buying Naked,” Jackie brings together the “textiles” or clothed conservatives of the Pasco County real estate industry and the nudists of the community for a very hands-on networking event. Meanwhile, the team’s newest recruit, Alex, is put to the test when she enters a nudist community for the first time, and has to prove she’s got what it takes to sell a home to an especially eclectic nudist pair.
The whole “naked” theme that seems to be developing with reality shows is mystifying, at best–are we really that interested in people in the buff, or are we (and networks) just running out of ideas? Whatever the reason, at least the people in this series have a legitimate reason to be naked, as they are, after all, nudists; being naked and testing one’s survival skills has never made any practical sense.
“Buying Naked” premieres on TLC on Saturday, June 28, at 10/9c, and is produced by Paper Route Productions for TLC.
Small businesses more optimistic about economy
WASHINGTON – May 15, 2014 – April’s Small Business Optimism Index rose 1.8 points to a post-recession high of 95.2 – the first time it crossed the 95 mark since 2007.
Seven index components improved, one was unchanged and two fell. The National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) compiles the monthly index.
“April’s index did pass the 95 mark that seemed to block any progress in optimism for the past five years,” says NFIB chief economist Bill Dunkelberg. “However, the index is still 5 points below the average reading from 1973 to 2008, and far from what is considered expansion levels.”
While the 95 level seemed to be a cap on optimism that has now been passed, Dunkelberg does not yet consider the recession fully over.
“This reading can only be characterized as a high end recession reading,” he says. “Small business confidence rising is always a good thing, but it’s tough to be excited by meager growth in an otherwise tepid economy. … So while the improvement is welcome, as long as small business owners continue to have negative views about the future, the 95 number may fade.”
Review of April indicators
© 2014 Florida Realtors®
Fla.’s housing market shows strength in 1Q 2014
ORLANDO, Fla. – May 12, 2014 – Florida’s housing market reported higher median prices, more new listings, fewer days on the market and a slight uptick in inventory during the first quarter of 2014, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®.
Closed sales of single-family homes statewide totaled 50,251 in 1Q 2014, up 2.3 percent over the 1Q 2013 figure.
“The first three months of 2014 show a strong housing market in Florida, with diminishing distressed property sales,” says 2014 Florida Realtors President Sherri Meadows, CEO and team leader, Keller Williams, with market centers in Gainesville, Ocala and The Villages. “More jobs are being created, putting more Florida residents back to work, and our population continues to increase. All of these factors are bolstering the state’s economy and providing a solid foundation for a strong housing market.
“Statewide, new listings for single-family homes over the three-month-period rose 12 percent year-over-year, while new townhouse-condo listings rose 8.2 percent. Home sellers, whether in the single-family home market or the townhouse-condo market, received more than 92 percent, on average, of their original listing price during the first quarter of this year.”
The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes in 1Q 2014 was $168,000, up 9.1 percent from the same time a year ago, according to data from Florida Realtors Industry Data and Analysis department in partnership with local Realtor boards/associations. The statewide median price for townhouse-condo properties during the quarter was $135,000, up 16.9 percent over the year-ago figure. The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less.
Looking at Florida’s townhome-condo market, statewide closed sales totaled 24,860 during 1Q 2014, down 0.8 percent compared to 1Q 2013. The closed sales data reflected fewer short sales last month: Short sales for condo-townhome properties declined 55.8 percent while short sales for single-family homes dropped 52 percent. Closed sales typically occur 30 to 90 days after sales contracts are written.
“The first quarter statistics reflect the fact that Florida, in part a derivative market, has felt the sting of the northern winter.” said Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. John Tuccillo. “Yet, the market is showing some positive movement. Sales are up, particularly for non-distressed properties. Other data indicate that this is a market that is settling down and returning to more stabilized conditions.”
In 1Q 2014, the median days on market (the midpoint of the number of days it took for a property to sell during that time) was 58 days for single-family homes and 56 days for townhouse-condo properties.
Inventory was at a 5.7-months’ supply in the first quarter for single-family homes and at a 6-months’ supply for townhouse-condo properties, according to Florida Realtors.
According to Freddie Mac, the interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.36 percent for 1Q 2014, up from the 3.50 percent average recorded during the same quarter a year earlier.
To see the full statewide housing activity reports, go to Florida Realtors Media Center and look under Latest Releases, or download the 1Q 2014 data report PDFs under Market Data.
© 2014 Florida Realtors®
Correct grammar may help sell homes faster
SEATTLE – May 9, 2014 – Luxury-home listings that are written in full sentences – without spelling or grammatical errors – move off the market three days faster, and they’re 10 percent more likely to sell for above list price compared to listings in general.
On the other hand, listings riddled with technical errors like misspellings, incorrect homonyms and incomplete sentences sit on the market longest; they also have the lowest percentage of listings that command more than list price, according to a study conducted by online proofreading app Grammarly and Redfin.
For the study, Grammarly examined 106,850 luxury listings in 52 metro areas last year.
“Perfect” grammar listings may indicate the agent is attentive to other details as well, like pricing the home correctly and weighing offers, suggests Karen Krupsaw, vice president of real-estate operations at Redfin.
The analysis also looked at style preferences and found that phrases written in all-capital letters saw the least success in terms of sale price. Common abbreviations that tend to be recognized even by buyers outside the real estate industry, such as “bdrm” for “bedroom,” fared well by comparison.
Source: Wall Street Journal (05/09/14) P. M12; Tanaka, Sanette
© Copyright 2014 INFORMATION, INC. Bethesda, MD (301) 215-4688
RealtyTrac: All-cash sales reach new high in 1Q
IRVINE, Calif. – May 8, 2014 – RealtyTrac’s Q1 2014 U.S. Institutional Investor & Cash Sales Report finds that all-cash sales reached a new high in the first quarter, even though the share of institutional investors dropped to its lowest level in two years.
The report shows 42.7 percent of all U.S. residential property sales in the first quarter were all-cash purchases, up from 37.8 percent in the previous quarter and up from 19.1 percent in the first quarter of 2013. RealtyTrac says it’s the highest level since it began tracking all-cash purchases in the first quarter of 2011.
Institutional investors – entities that purchase at least 10 properties in a calendar year – accounted for 5.6 percent of all U.S. residential sales in the first quarter, down from 6.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2013 and down from 7.0 percent in the first quarter of 2013. It’s the lowest level of investors since the first quarter of 2012.
“Strict lending standards combined with low inventory continue to give the advantage to investors and other cash buyers,” says Daren Blomquist, vice president at RealtyTrac. “The good news is that as institutional investors pull back their purchasing in many markets across the country, there is still strong demand from other cash buyers – including individual investors, second-home buyers and even owner-occupant buyers.”
Blomquist says the transition from investors to occupants or small investors is running smoothly in most markets as home prices continue to rise. However, he notes some exceptions.
“There are a couple notable exceptions that could be cause for concern: Jacksonville, Fla., where the institutional investor share of purchases was down to 13.5 percent in the first quarter compared to 18 percent a year ago, and where median home prices decreased 1 percent from a year ago in March after 15 consecutive months of annual increases.” He also notes Greensboro, N.C.
Cash sales made up more than half of all sales in Miami, New York, Detroit, Atlanta and Las Vegas.
Among metropolitan statistical areas with a population of at least 500,000, those with the top five highest percentages of cash sales were all in Florida: Cape Coral-Fort Myers, (73.6 percent), Miami (67.1 percent), Sarasota, (65.1 percent), Palm Bay, (64.1 percent), and Lakeland, (61.8 percent).
Other major metro areas with more than 50 percent all-cash sales included New York (57.0 percent), Columbia, S.C., (56.1 percent), Memphis (54.9 percent), Detroit (53.5 percent), Atlanta (53.2 percent) and Las Vegas (52.2 percent).
Other 1Q report highlights
Institutional investors
The share of institutional investors was up in San Francisco, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta and Las Vegas. Among metropolitan statistical areas with a population of at least 500,000, those with the biggest annual increase in share of institutional investor purchases were Baton Rouge, La., (up 131 percent), San Francisco (up 92 percent), McAllen, Texas (up 62 percent), Allentown, Pa., (up 49 percent), and Omaha, Neb., (up 49 percent).
Other major metro areas with an annual increase in the share of institutional investor purchases included Dallas-Fort Worth (up 45 percent), Miami (up 8 percent), Atlanta (up 38 percent), Minneapolis (up 8 percent), Tampa (up 17 percent), San Antonio (up 25 percent), and Las Vegas (up 24 percent).
Major metro areas with an annual decrease in the share of institutional investor purchases included New York (down 44 percent), Los Angeles (down 80 percent), Chicago (down 41 percent), Washington, D.C. (down 52 percent) and Phoenix (down 14 percent).
Other 1Q findings from institutional investor data
© 2014 Florida Realtors®
Review insurance polices: Storm season approaches
WASHINGTON – April 28, 2014 – Spring is usually a time of severe weather when many homes and other property are damaged.
Consumer Reports suggests that a property owner pick a top insurer that is known for top customer service. The magazine also said when there is severe weather damage to a home or other property, owners should be prepared for a fight to make sure their claims are fully paid.
Check your insurance policies now and make sure you know what is and isn’t covered, and, if there are exclusions or other perils, fill in those gaps with additional insurance, such as flood insurance. Make sure you know the limits of your policy in case one of your trees falls on a neighbor’s house.
The magazine also suggests getting to know a contractor to do some minor repairs, which could result in being able to call that person in an emergency.
Consumer Reports said there are some ways a person could save on their homeowner or other property insurance such as shopping periodically for a better deal; not under insuring or not having insufficient coverage; purchasing your home and auto insurance from the same company; increasing your deductible; and eliminating possible risks that could raise your premium.
Copyright © 2014 the Journal-News (Hamilton, Ohio), Ed Richter. Distributed by MCT Information Services.
March year-to-year sales up 1% in Fla., prices up 11%
IRVINE, Calif. – April 24, 2014 – RealtyTrac’s March Residential & Foreclosure Sales Report finds that U.S. residential properties – single family homes, condominiums and townhomes – sold at an estimated annual pace of 5,253,464 in March, an increase of 0.4 percent from February and up 8 percent from a year ago. The report has slightly different results than National Association of Realtors® (NAR) numbers issued Tuesday, which include only Realtor-assisted transactions.
RealtyTrac’s median sales price in March – including both distressed and non-distressed sales – was $164,500, up 1 percent from February and up 10 percent from March 2013. March was the 24th consecutive month where U.S. median home prices increased on an annual basis, and the 10 percent annual increase was the biggest annual percentage increase in that 24-month span.
“The housing market showed signs of coming out of hibernation in March after a sluggish fall and winter,” says Daren Blomquist, vice president at RealtyTrac. “Median home prices increased on a monthly basis following six consecutive months where they were flat or declining. Sales volume also increased slightly from March to February following four consecutive monthly decreases.”
Investors and second home buyers accounted for 34 percent of all sales in March based on a look at the number of buyers who listed a home address different than the sale property.
Furthermore, 7 percent of all sales in March were multi-parcel transactions where more than one property was sold on the same date and recorded on the same sales deed document. Multi-parcel transactions are not always reported buy a Multiple Listing Service (MLS).
Despite the annual increase in residential sales volume nationwide, sales volume in March decreased from a year ago in six states and 21 of the nation’s 50 largest metro areas.
Florida sales
RealtyTrac found a 1 percent increase in March home sales month-to-month and also a 1 percent increase year-to-year. It found a statewide price decline of 2 percent month-to-month, but an 11 percent price increase year-to-year.
In some cities, prices continue to rise but at a slower pace. RealtyTrac points to Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Fla., as one example, where median home prices are up 86 percent from their bottom in November 2010. But while Cape Coral-Fort Myers recorded a peak year-to-year price increase of 30 percent in January 2013, its year-to-year price increase in March was 14 percent.
According to RealtyTrac analysts, many of the cities that are seeing a slower price increase are the ones that also saw the biggest price bounce earlier in the rebound.
© 2014 Florida Realtors®
Fla.’s housing market shows rising prices in March
ORLANDO, Fla. – April 21, 2014 – Florida’s housing market reported higher median prices, more new listings and a stable level of inventory in March, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Closed sales of single-family homes statewide totaled 20,081 last month, up 2.8 percent over the March 2013 figure.
“March marked the 28th month in a row that statewide median sales prices rose year-over-year for both single-family homes and townhome-condo properties,” said 2014 Florida Realtors President Sherri Meadows, CEO and team leader, Keller Williams, with market centers in Gainesville, Ocala and The Villages. “Realtors across Florida are reporting fewer short sales of distressed properties and more interest from potential home sellers as they observe the return of more traditional market conditions. Statewide, new listings for single-family homes in March rose 16.5 percent year-over-year, while new townhouse-condo listings rose 10.3 percent.”
The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes last month was $173,000, up 7.1 percent from the previous year, according to data from Florida Realtors Industry Data and Analysis department in partnership with local Realtor boards/associations. The statewide median price for townhouse-condo properties in March was $140,000, up 16.7 percent over the year-ago figure. The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less
According to the National Association of Realtors®(NAR), thenational median sales price for existing single-family homes in February 2014 was $189,200, up 9 percent from the previous yearthe national median existing condo price was $187,900.In California, the statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes in February was $404,250; in Massachusetts, it was $294,950; Maryland, it was $241,097; and in New York, it was $232,000.
Looking at Florida’s townhome-condo market, statewide closed sales totaled 9,580 last month, down 5.2 percent compared to March 2013. The closed sales data reflected fewer short sales last month compared to the previous year: Short sales for condo-townhome properties declined 62.8 percent while short sales for single-family homes dropped 55.3 percent. Closed sales typically occur 30 to 90 days after sales contracts are written.
“What we’re seeing is a market we can live with,” said Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. John Tuccillo. “Sales are up, inventories are increasing moderately and days on the market are shrinking slightly. What’s of particular interest this month is how market activity has moved up the price ladder. We are seeing greater sales gains and inventory increases, and strong percentage decreases in days on the market, for homes priced above $250,000. This is a break from the trends we were seeing last year and bears watching for the future.
“A trend that is continuing is the rapid decline in short sales, as increasing prices reduce the incentive for homeowners to seek short sales.”
Inventory was at a 5.7-months’ supply last month for single-family homes and at a 6-months’ supply for townhouse-condo properties, according to Florida Realtors.
According to Freddie Mac, the interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.34 percent in March 2014, up from the 3.57 percent average recorded during the same month a year earlier.
To see the full statewide housing activity reports, go to Florida Realtors Media Center and look under Latest Releases, or download the March 2014 data report PDFs under Market Data.
National Iced Coffee Day: Five Places to Pick Up a Cold Brew
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| Kenny Louie via Wikimedia Commons |
Look, we’re all about eating and drinking all sorts of things over here, but in today’s fast-paced society — yes, we’re busy too — one consumable reigns supreme: coffee.
No, it’s not good for you; however, caffeine is an absolute necessity (and yes, we’re well aware that it’s an addiction).
Even so, we’re not about to stick just any caffeinated beverage down our gullets. No matter what, food and drinks should be savored; it needs to be enjoyable in the process.
Today is National Iced Coffee Day. And to celebrate the best morning (and midafternoon and evening) drink in the world, we compiled a list of the five best places to pick up a cool cup of brew in Broward and Palm Beach.
See Also: National Garlic Day is Tomorrow: Five Awesome Local Garlic Dishes to Try
Brew Urban Cafe, Fort Lauderdale
With two easy and laid-back Fort Lauderdale locations (one in Victoria Park and another inside Next Door at C&I Studios), this local coffee shop offers a number of iced options. We, however, prefer to stick to the cold brew, which is less acidic and more caffeinated than hot coffee drinks.
Green Bar + Kitchen, Fort Lauderdale
Panther coffee is one of South Floridians’ favorite local roasteries (it was one of the first to sprout up). And this Fort Lauderdale vegan/gluten-free hot spot sources its beans straight from the Wynwood shop. Here, you can get one of Panther’s famous cold brews without the nightmarish trek down I-95 to Miami.
Coastars Coffee Bar, Lake Worth
When it comes to anything of a high caliber, you need to start with ingredients of the highest quality. This Lake Worth shop offers an entire cold brew menu comprised of some of the best beans in the country. It sources from Counter Culture Coffee in Durham, North Carolina, and MadCap Coffee in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to ensure that every cup is the best it can be.
Subculture Coffee, West Palm Beach
Recently opened by nightclub and restaurant empresario Rodney Mayo and local coffee connoisseur Sean Scott, this Clematis Street roastery and hangout offers the ultimate locavore option for chilled coffee (the beans themselves are obviously sourced from overseas). The shop starts by roasting small batches of beans, then hot-brews and chills down the java for a unique-tasting blend of cool coffee.
Harold’s Coffee Lounge, West Palm Beach
We (that is, the proverbial we) are always in a rush nowadays — that’s why we need so much coffee. This West Palm Beach takes its time with its iced coffees (don’t worry; you don’t need to wait). It uses a “Kyoto” style brewing system that takes about 14 hours to make a smooth and sweet cup of chilled brew.
Follow Sara Ventiera on Twitter, @saraventiera.
