Ponte Vedra and Ponte Vedra Beach Real Estate Market Trends – Florida

Ponte Vedra Beach Real Estate, Buyers and Technology - June 14th, 2010 5:25pm
Technology has improved our lives over the last ten years, but it's also caused some problems along the way for Ponte Vedra real estate buyers.
As a buyer, you naturally want to take advantage of every tool and service available to make it easier to find the home of your dreams. However, the Internet, which is one of the most common places for people to shop for Ponte Vedra real estate nowadays, has also become a place where the unscrupulous hang out. You can't believe everything you read online, even when it comes to shopping for homes online.


If you're trying to find a home, here are two things you need to be aware of:
Home Valuation Sites


Many potential buyers find an interesting home and then research the home value. This is commendable and just plain good sense. You want to make sure you're not overpaying. Thanks to the Internet, we have sites like Zillow and Realtor.com that provide home valuations.
The problem is that these sites hardly ever agree on the home value. They can differ as much as 20% or more. While home valuation sites are an excellent place to get a ballpark estimate, you shouldn't base your buying price on their information alone. Hire a reputable Ponte Vedra Beach real estate agent who knows the surrounding area and recent sale prices.


Dream Home or Nightmare


One of the best things to happen for real estate agents and sellers alike is the ability to post digital photos and walk-through videos of the homes they're selling. This is also great for you, as the buyer, because you can view the homes without going anywhere.


Unfortunately, many buyers take those images and videos at face value. Thanks to some high-tech graphics programs, however, you can't guarantee that what you see is what you get. Videos and images can both be manipulated to show you the best face of any piece of property.


Any time you see a home online that you're interested in, it's a good idea to check Google Maps and use the Street View option. At the very least, you can usually see the front and sides of the home. If you're still interested, visit the home in person, or, if that's not possible for some reason, ask your Ponte Vedra Beach real estate agent to visit the home and take pictures for you.


If you're trying to find your dream home, I can help. Call me at 904.347.5447 or email me at Sevans@davidsonrealtyinc.com for more information.
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The Tax Credit Explained for Ponte Vedra and surrounding communities: - Wednesday January 13th, 2010
An $8,000 tax credit up to 10% of the value of the home is available to first time home buyers. Neither the purchaser nor the purchaser's spouse may have owned a principal residence in the 3 years prior to purchase in order to meet the definition of first time home buyer.

A $6,500 credit up to 10% of the value of the home is available to home buyers who have owned and lived in a home for 5 consecutive years of the last 8 years. It does not have to be the most recent 5 consecutive years but must be 5 consecutive years out of the last 8 years.

Any type of single family residence including condos, co-ops and townhouses that will be used as a primary residence qualify.

The tax credit will reduce or eliminate income tax liability for the year of the purchase. Any unused amount of tax credit will be refunded to the home buyer.

Full amount of the tax credit is available for individuals with an adjusted gross income of no more than $125,000 or couples with a joint adjusted gross income of no more than $225,000. The credit will phase out to lower amounts for individuals and couples with higher incomes.

The credit is only available for the purchase of principal residences with a purchase price of $800,000 or less.

It the home is sold within 3 years from the original purchase, the entire amount of the tax credit is recaptured upon sale. The recapture provision is waived for military personnel relocating due to orders.

The tax credit is extended for one year after expiration date for any military personnel that are serving outside of the United States for at least 90 days in either 2009 or 2010.

The purchaser must be at least 18 years of age or married to a person 18 years or older and the settlement statement must be attached to the tax return.

The effective date is immediately upon enactment (signing by President Obama) and the contract must be ratified on or before April 30, 2010 and the sale must close by June 30, 2010.

Some additional good news:

If you are either a St. Johns County first time home buyer who could not close by the previous deadline or whose income was higher than the previously allowed limit, you are now eligible for the tax credit based on the terms of the extended tax credit. If you are a qualifying existing home owner and you are already under contract to buy a home that closes after enactment, you will also qualify for the tax credit.

Disclaimer: I am not an attorney or accountant so please consult with your trusted financial advisers including your attorney and accountant for questions specific to your personal situation.

I can however happily help you with all of your Ponte Vedra area real estate needs, whether you are considering buying or selling.
If you're ready to buy a home in the Ponte Vedra area, I can help. Call me at 904.347.5447 or email me at sevans@davidsonrealtyinc.com for more information... [ + Read Full Article ]