Davidson Realty, Inc.

It’s Wedding Season! We Have Great Tips for Buying Your First Home

July 11, 2011

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Posted by in News, Videos

picFirst time home ownership can be as exciting and stressful as getting married. And often the two often go hand-in-hand, so to speak. So, we have six key tips for new couples embarking on their first home purchase below and we had some of our knowledgeable Jacksonville Realtors give you more tips in the video above!

1. Check your credit. It’s wise to get this one out of the way before the wedding so both partners are clear about each other’s financial health. Check at least two of the three major credit reporting agencies – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.  Address any issues or misreporting. A FICO score of 720 or above is the best range for loan approval and favorable rates.  You may still get approved for a loan with a credit score of say 680 but you’ll most likely have a higher interest rate.  If you’re in the 660 range, you may be able to qualify for a FHA loan.

2. Agree on what you can afford. This is where those communication skills are key!  Make sure you’re both comfortable with the budget. Generally a home purchase should not be more than 2 ½ times your combined annual salary but perhaps you have student loans to consider.  It’s ideal to have a 20% down payment, but you may be able to qualify with less down, although that’s tougher in today’s real estate market.

3. Agree on top needs. Talk, talk and talk some more. Be able to agree on at least your top three must-haves.  For example, maybe it’s good schools, three bedrooms and an easy commute to work.

4. Find an experienced Real Estate Agent.  An experienced real estate professional can help ease the home buying process in many ways – from helping identify lenders to providing current market stats and advising you about what to offer on house. Ask around. Word-of-mouth recommendations are often the best.

5. Get pre-approved. Getting pre-approved ensures you don’t waste time looking at houses you can’t afford.  It also puts you in a better position to make an offer when you find the right home. Pre-approval is a more in depth process than pre-qualified but it’s the smarter way to go.

6. Use a home inspector. Being a smart homebuyer means being informed. A home inspection will make you aware of any potential problems BEFORE you’ve signed on the dotted line.

For more information about first-time home buying, visit Davidson Realty’s First Time Homebuyers Webinar Library at http://www.davidsonrealtyinc.com/webinars/category/first-time-homebuyers.

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What You Can Get for Your $150,000 Real Estate Investment

June 23, 2011

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Posted by in investment property

Low interest rates + bargain home prices + high rental property demand = a renewed interest in real estate investing. Let’s take a look at some examples available here in the north St. Johns County area for around the $150,000 mark.  Our in-house property management experts, Elsie and John Evans, provided rental income potential based on comps in the respective neighborhoods.

Ponte Vedra Shores 2 bedroom/2 bath condo for $126,000
This condo is offered at $126,000, down over $19,000 from an original asking price of $145,900.  The 1,420-square-foot condo is expected to bring between $750 and $950 monthly in rental income. Take a look: http://pub.realtyweb.net/link.html?u9539t6w7st,,1”

Sevilla 5 bedroom/3 bath home at $152,000
Originally priced at $173,787, this 2,074-square-foot home is expected to rent for between $1,600 and $1,800 monthly.  Check it out: http://pub.realtyweb.net/link.html?u941cjqyvk1,,1”

Heritage Landing 3 bedroom/2.5 bath home for $153,000
This 2,394-square-foot home was originally offered for $169,900. Anticipated rental income would be between $1,300 and $1,500 monthly. See more: http://pub.realtyweb.net/link.html?u941l9yykit,,1”

Heritage Landing 3 bedroom/3 bath home at $143,000
This 2,213-square-foot home has been reduced nearly $30,000. Rental income estimates are between $1,400 and $1,600 monthly. Take a look: http://pub.realtyweb.net/link.html?u941lgqvgek,,1”
 
Curious about the St. Augustine homes, Ponte Vedra real estate or Jacksonville, Florida homes available in your price range?  Give us a call at 904-940-5000 or stop by our office in World Golf Village.

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT: A Unique Workshop about Healthy Eating Habits

June 17, 2011

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Posted by in Events, News

Sometimes the reason a diet doesn’t work has nothing to do with food. Even when we have the best intentions of eating healthy, we fall off the wagon. Why is it so hard to sustain healthy eating habits for an extended period of time? Why do we fall back into our old ways of eating?

Holes: A Food for Thought Workshop addresses the “holes” or gaps in our attempts to make healthy habits part of our permanent lifestyle. This four-part workshop series helps attendees find that ‘missing link’ that keeps us from reaching our goals.  It’s not a diet program and it can help no matter what your eating habits are.

Part 1 June 21: What is Holes? (Intro to workshop and open discussion)

Part 2 June 28: What’s Eating Holes in Your Goals? (What is getting in the way of your success? What causes you to eat and act the way you do over time?)

Part 3 July 5: How to Stop the Holes from Growing (It is not about the “right” plan, the latest trend, or will power.)

Part 4 July 12: Heal the Holes (Learn about the support available so you can reach and sustain your goals!!!)

The 4-part workshop series costs $39.99 in advance or $49.99 at the door. The workshops will be held at Davidson Realty from 7:00 – 9:00 pm on June 21, June 28, July 5 and July 12. They will be presented by Robert Ferry LMHC, who specializes in addiction and personal coaching. Contact Dawn Barbarine at (904) 347-5301 or DawnBarbarine@gmail.com to reserve your spot or learn more.

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Jacksonville Business Journal Names Davidson Realty the Best Place to Work

June 14, 2011

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Posted by in Awards, News

IMG_5272It’s great to work at Davidson Realty. But don’t just take our word for it. Check out the Jacksonville Business Journal’s latest Best Places to Work report and you’ll find Davidson Realty at the top of the list.  That’s right. We’ve been named the Best Place to Work, Small Business category.  In fact, we’ve made the list for the last seven years and topped it twice. Says Davidson Realty President Sherry Davidson, “We put a lot of stock in this recognition which is awarded based on direct feedback from employees.  We value our team at Davidson Realty. They have helped us not just survive a tough real estate market, but thrive and expand the business. Without question, our people are our greatest asset.”IMG_5326

So just what makes Davidson Realty such a great place to work?  “There is a strong sense of camaraderie here because the company creates opportunities for us to connect socially like a Friday cook-out or an IMAX outing or a cruise down the St. Johns River,” said Dottie Lay.  “Davidson offers great support for its Agents, from marketing to professional development,” said Ana Speziale. “Giving back to the community is not just lip service.  We have monthly blood drives, free community educational events and we participate in a variety of fundraisers, from Relay for Life to March of Dimes,” said Sharon King. “Surprise visits from the ‘Wine Fairy’ on Friday afternoons,” said Vanessa Cunningham.

28571_10150222013935385_243700390384_12872063_1705805_nThe Jacksonville Business Journal conducts the Best Places to Work survey annually. The rankings for this list are done by Quantum Workplace, a third-party company that specializes in measuring workplace satisfaction. Nominations were submitted to The Business Journal by more than 100 companies, with most nominations coming from company employees. Results were announced in the Business Journal’s May 20th issue.  For more information about the Jacksonville Business Journal’s Best Places to Work, visit http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/blog/inside_the_lists/2011/05/jacksonvilles-best-places-to-work.html.

In the last three years, Davidson has doubled its number of Realtors and expanded its real estate territories to include Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra and Flagler County, in addition to St. Johns County.  The company actively recruits both experienced agents and those interested in a new career in real estate.  If you’re interested in learning more about working at Davidson Realty, contact Peyton Davidson at (904) 940-5000 or pdavidson@davidsonrealtyinc.com.

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Free Baptist Health Seminar Answers Questions About Osteoporosis

May 19, 2011

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Posted by in Events, Speaker Series

doctors-pics_78Join us on May 26 to Hear from Chief of Staff Elect Dr. Picerno

Dr. Picerno with Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute and chief of staff elect for Baptist – South, will be in World Golf Village on May 26th to present a free health seminar: Osteoporosis: Your Questions Answered.

Osteoporosis, the most common type of bone disease, is the thinning of bone tissue and loss of bone density over time. It’s estimated that about 1 in 5 American women over the age of 50 have osteoporosis.  About half of all women over the age of 50 will have a fracture of the hip, wrist or vertebra (bones of the spine).  Dr. Picerno will present the latest information and research about Osteoporosis and answer your questions.

Dr. Picerno is a board certified orthopaedic surgeon and a fellow of the AAOS. He completed his orthopaedic residency at the University of Florida, Health Science Center in Jacksonville where he served as chief resident and was the recipient of the Luis S. Russo award for professionalism in Medicine.

Dr. Picerno is integrally involved in leadership at Baptist Health at the Baptist – South campus, and serves as Chief of Orthopaedics at Baptist – South. He is currently chief of staff elect for Baptist – South and he will become Chief Of Staff in 2012.

Join us in the community room at Davidson Realty on Thursday, May 26th at 7:00 pm for this free women’s health seminar.

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