Rate On 30-Year Mortgage Falls To Record Low

On the heels of the congress debacle, which kept a decisive action in regards to raising the debt ceiling until the last possible moment, the United States lost its stellar AAA credit rating. The economy continues to flounder and record setting low interest rates are failing to stir the home market back to life. As a matter of fact, last Friday rates on a 30-year mortgage fell to its lowest level since 1971!

Rates moved from 4.32% during the prior week to a new low of 4.15% last Thursday. Rates have not been this low since the 1950's! Although rates have remained below 5% for all but 2 weeks of the past year, yet nationwide sales and prices remain lackluster.

One thing holding borrowers back from taking advantage of these exceptional rates is the difficulty in securing a new loan. Banks are requiring higher credit scores and larger down payments. Those who do qualify have flocked to refinance existing loans and refinanced loans are currently representing over 70% of new mortgages.

In the Tampa bay Beach area, we continue to see "Cash is King", with over 62% of our current sales as cash transactions. To see current rates on our website, Click Here.

July Market Statistics Are In - Tampa Bay Upswing!

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July 2011 Market Statistics for Pinellas County in Tampa Bay are in and now posted on our website. The chart at left tracks the Absorption Rate by month as it compares to 2008, 2009 and 2010. In the event you are not aware, this is determined by dividing the total number of units sold during the month by the number of listing in the MLS (Multiple Listing Service).

Take a look at the chart comparisons for inventory versus sales and it becomes very clear what is happening in our area. Inventory of both single family homes and condos are at a level not seen since 2005! Yet sales are accelerating. Even in the midst of national trends, there are location-specific areas on the rise. The waterfront Tampa Bay area with its beautiful beaches, temperate climate, and proximity to an international airport and seaport... plus location for 9 spring training National Baseball Leagues continues to draw new buyers, both foreign and domestic!

It is interesting to track the sales and listings by zip codes to uncover the desire and magic of owning waterfront property... and the possibility for dramatically reduced prices! Be prepared. Prices are starting to climb and some deals that hit the market are getting multiple offers on them within the first week.

The PURTEE Team is extremely knowledgeable about the Florida real estate market, and in particular the barrier islands of Tampa Bay. Contact us to learn how you can find your own piece of paradise at an affordable price today!

Debt Ceiling Raised But Impact On Mortgage Rates?

It has been quite the roller coaster ride to see how Washington has handled finding resolution to the pending Debt Ceiling Crisis. Although concessions were made on both sides, the government finally signed off on the agreement to slash $2.1 trillion in spending and raise the $14.29 trillion debt ceiling.

Yesterday, stocks tumbled over 2% even with the agreement and the financial environment appears to be far from stable. What will that mean to interest rates and the real estate market in the near future? What will make a huge difference is whether our debt worthiness is downgraded from our AAA status.

The immediate result from a downgraded rating would be an increase in consumer rates as a direct result of the government being forced to pay higher rates to bond investors. Mortgage rates are at record lows. The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage at the end of last week was 4.55%. If bonds issued by Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac lose their AAA status as a result of a downgraded credit rating, mortgage rates will rise as a result. Many investment funds are only allowed to invest in AAA-rated bonds... the lack of these investors would have a fairly immediate reaction to interest rates in the short term.

If you are considering a home purchase in the near future, it may very well be the time to lock in a rate now while these rates are so low. The PURTEE Team is here to help in the Tampa Bay area!

Luxury Living On The Beach - Focus On Sereno!

The PURTEE Team has been active in real estate along the barrier islands of Tampa Bay for a decade now. Through the years we have watched the area explode in buyer frenzy with new developments popping up on every street corner... to the point that the building crane was a constant picture on the horizon!

Then, in 2007, we saw the market begin to tumble and buyers take a drastic hit in their waterfront dream homes. 2008-2010 were hard years for the economy and the Florida beachfront was no exception. However, a quick look at the June 2011 Statistics shows a steady comeback that has been growing for the past 7 months. As buyers (and investors) come back into the market, there are certain complexes that capture our attention and stand out as exceptional.

Sereno, directly on the sand in Madeira Beach is certainly one of those special residences! It also has a special impact on The PURTEE Team as we were there from the beginning. In late 2003, Taylor Woodrow (a well know developer from the UK) was set to expand their presence in the Florida market. They had already built the Tides landmark complex in Redington Beach and had their eyes on the gem of a property where the Holiday Inn stood in Madeira Beach.
Mark Purtee was hired by Taylor Woodrow to oversee the sales team and set up the sales center once the Holiday Inn was no longer there. Architects were busy creating a look totally unique along the Tampa Bay coastline and the sales center reflected the enthusiasm! There was a waiting list for buyers to sign up and the 44 units that would be available were quickly sold out!

Today, 6 years after its completion in 2005, Sereno is still a complex that is praised for its uniqueness and an enviable place to live. The layout is particularly nice and each unit enjoys breathtaking beach views to the west, but many of the residences actually have intracoastal views as well! Resident parking is under the building in an open garage. Penthouses enjoy 2 spaces and other units have 1 each. Plus there is assigned parking as well as visitor parking outside. The building is divided into 3 sections with 3 separate elevator lobbies. That results in each resident floor having a fully decorated lobby area with only three residences... which helps make it feel private and exclusive.

The generous pool area offers residents easy access to the beach and miles of white sand ready for a long run or sunset strolls. There is also a hot tub and bbq grill area. Sereno has a first class club room and separate fitness center as well! In addition to those amenities, there is a full time property manager who is on hand to take care of the complex and residence needs. And inside these 2 and 3 bedroom units, the open floorplans and high end finishes greet each owner as they find out first hand what living on the beach really means!

The PURTEE Team is proud to offer both sales and rentals in Sereno. We just listed #604, a 3 bedroom/ 3 1/2 bath penthouse. You can learn more about this unit at http://www.sereno604penthouse.com/. In addition, we offer two other units for seasonal or corporate rentals. You can check these out at Corporate Rentals right on our website. If luxury living on the beach with easy access to an international airport (Tampa), shopping, restaurants and world class theme parks... don't miss an opportunity to consider Sereno, Madeira Beach!

Tampa Bay Housing Market Brighter!

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June 2011 continued the 7-month trend of decreasing inventory and increased sales in Tampa Bay... it actually was a stellar month for writing new contracts! 69% more contracts were writing in June 2011 than in June 2010!!! On the other hand, inventory is at its lowest point since December 2005. Active listings fell by 22% from June 2010 to June 2011. That is why tracking the Absorption Rate (at left) is so important.

As always, The PURTEE Team makes sure their website www.floridagulfproperty.com has the latest statistics posted. You can find the last 5 months of reports directly on the Home Page. To go specifically to the June 2011 stats, CLICK HERE.

The real activity worth noting was in condos. Condo sales from June 2010 to June 2011 showed a 26% gain! Yet, condo listings decreased from 5,344 to 4,584 or 14% over the same time period. We are among the agents noting there is no inventory out there as we approach the levels in 2005 during the boom market! Over 1/2 of the properties sold in June sold in the first 90 days.

Exactly WHY are you waiting? Call The PURTEE Team today! Or skip ahead... fill out your "Wish List" and click SUBMIT. One of us will be in touch with your shortly.

International Home Buyers Focus on Florida

International buyers are taking advantage of real estate bargains in the United States. Last year, international buyers reportedly $41 billion on purchasing homes in the U.S. Of those purchases, over $13 billion were in Florida, with Tampa Bay one of the top destinations!

The PURTEE Team is seeing this trend very active in their business. Currently, we are involved in transactions with clients from Prince Edward Island, Canada; Hergiswil, Switzerland; and Leigh-on-sea, UK. We understand the implications of a home purchased by foreign nationals and the United States makes home ownership relatively easy. With the real estate prices as low as they are, and the currency exchange rate definitely in the favor of the Euro or Canadian dollar, this is the perfect time to find the Florida home or condo here along the beaches of Tampa Bay.

With pristine white sandy beaches, nightly breathtaking sunsets, and a long list of outstanding things to do in the area... plus the international access to the Tampa airport, this is definitely an area to check out! The PURTEE Team is here to help... simply fill out this Questionnaire about what you would like in your dream home, and one of us will be in touch with you shortly!

Bargain Prices Reducing The Foreclosure Excess?

As the wave of foreclosures continues, prices are hitting record low numbers and reaching a level to generate huge interest among both consumers and investors. The Tampa area is definitely getting this attention.

According to the Associated Press, "For some buyers, the deals are now too good to pass up." As buyers snap up these foreclosed homes, the inventory of unsold foreclosures is shrinking... up to 13% over the past year!*

The PURTEE Team has recently formed a relationship with several of these bank owned property managers and have released over a dozen onto the marketplace. Our job is to help these managers price these properties correctly to get them off the books quickly! The reality is that the buyer frenzy taking place to get one of these 'super-deals' creates multiple offers and bidding wars to get them. When the bank calls for "Highest & Best Offer", this is the last chance for a buyer to be able to walk away with this property. 10% over asking price is not unheard of.

Many of these sales involve investors, private equity firms, foreign buyers taking advantage of the currency savings on top of the discounted prices, and out-of-state buyers looking for vacation homes. Cash is definitely king and March experienced 38% of all previously owned homes being purchased with all-cash.

As this activity heats up, these inventory is lessening which adds fuel to the frenzy. Although we can anticipated another wave of foreclosures (that have been hung up in the system) hitting the market, these devalued properties will eventually be gone. As that unfolds, prices will begin to stabilize. Home owners who had put off moving during the downturn become more confident of selling for a decent price... thereby generating more buying and selling.

*Associated Press, April 27, 2011