Davidson Realty, Inc.

4 Neighborhoods in Northeast Florida You Need to Explore

June 24, 2022

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Posted by in Featured Neighborhood, Neighborhoods, News

Every neighborhood in Northeast Florida has something unique and special to share with its visitors. “Northeast Florida has something for everyone! With so many things to see and do, you are bound to make lasting memories while exploring the First Coast,” shares Davidson Realty President, Sherry Davidson. We’re sharing a few of our favorite neighborhoods that are worth visiting and exploring for yourself. 

 

 

Murray Hill

Nestled between trendy Riverside and historic Avondale, you’ll find Murray Hill – an old neighborhood with new treasures to discover. Take a drive down Edgewood Avenue to truly get a sense of the good vibes of Murray Hill. A few of our favorite spots to visit in Murray Hill are Bold Birds Nashville Hot Chicken, Moon River Pizza, and the iconic Dreamette! 

 

Atlantic Beach 

Relax and unwind in Atlantic Beach! From the breathtaking beaches and parks to the quaint town, you’ll be entertained for days. Check out local favorites Poe’s Tavern or Sub Cultured for a bite before hanging out at Jack Russell Park. Of course, you can’t pass up the opportunity to enjoy the sights and sounds of the ocean while you’re in the area. 

 

Ortega

The small and historic community of Ortega offers a quiet neighborhood with waterfront views, while still being miles away from the urban core. Sitting just across the St. Johns River from Downtown Jacksonville makes Ortega one of the best places to view the skyline and watch the sunset. Stockton Park is a promising location to take in the best views… and try catching a fish or two. 

 

Downtown

Where do you even begin with Downtown Jacksonville? A place where you can watch a Jacksonville Jaguar game at EverBank Field, catch a show at the Florida Theatre, or eat and drink at some of the best establishments in town, all within a few miles. Some of our favorite places to sit down for a bite are Indochine, Cowford Chophouse, and Intuition Ale Works. 

 

While all of these neighborhoods have their own unique personality, one thing is for sure, Northeast Florida is the PERFECT place to live!

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Best Strategies to Win a Bidding War

June 2, 2022

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Posted by in News, Northeast Florida Market Trends

When buying a home in today’s real estate market, be prepared to pull out every weapon in your arsenal. Most agents are dusting off strategies and techniques they haven’t used since the early 2000s to compete in this competitive seller’s market. “Homes are selling fast and for thousands over list price. Homebuyers need to be ready to move quickly and aggressively when they find a home they love,” shares Davidson Realty President, Sherry Davidson. 

 

Putting together an offer to sellers? Make it strong! With only a month’s worth of inventory up for sale, more and more buyers are making all-cash offers. Cash sales are attractive because the seller has seemingly no risk of financing problems and they save time with the elimination of the underwriting process. 

 

Opt for a shorter inspection period or no inspection. Make an estimate of how much necessary improvements will cost and consider them in your offer. For newer homes, waiving the inspection could be a valid tactic, but the buyer must truly understand and be comfortable with it as it could be extremely risky. 

 

Allowing the seller to rent back the home for a short time is another way to appeal to the seller’s needs. If the seller needs time to find or move into their next home, the buyer can allow the seller to stay for a set period of time and pay rent, usually the mortgage payment, or stay rent-free as the buyer would begin paying the mortgage. Being flexible could be what helps you win a bidding war!

 

Waive the appraisal contingency. The appraisal contingency allows a buyer to get out of a pending sale if the appraised market value of the home is less than the agreed upon contract price. If the contingency is waived, the buyer agrees to pay the difference between what the bank is willing to lend on the appraised value and the contract price. Waiving the appraisal contingency is clearly an attractive strategy, however, the buyer needs to be aware of the risk. 

 

A tool many agents are recommending to buyers to win bidding wars is an escalation or escalator clause which states the buyer will pay a certain amount above the highest bid. This clause makes the offer more attractive because it guarantees it will beat the highest bid. Usually, a limit is set on the clause to avoid the buyer overspending.

 

Footing the bill for closing costs and paying the commission for both sides of the transaction is another way to sweeten the deal for the seller. Additionally, writing a “love” letter could appeal to the emotions of the seller. Trusting your agent to help you select the strategies that work best for your situation is key. 

 

In this real estate market, be ready and act fast! For expert advice on strategies to catch the seller’s attention and put your offer at the top of the list, contact Davidson Realty today at (904) 940-5000. 

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4 Ways to Sweeten the Deal When Buying a Home

May 5, 2021

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Posted by in News, Northeast Florida Market Trends

The real estate market is unlike anything we’ve seen before. Inventory is low, demand is high, and homes are flying off the market! “With the current market conditions, listings are receiving multiple offers and buyers need to be ready to act fast with their best offer when they see a listing they love,” shares Davidson Realty President, Sherry Davidson. In such an intensely competitive market, trust the real estate experts at Davidson Realty to help you put your best foot forward with these strategies. 

 

Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage

The first thing you should do when you decide to purchase a home is obtain a pre-approval letter. A pre-approval letter not only states what a lender is willing to lend to you but shows the seller you are serious and prepared to purchase a home. A pre-approval letter shows legitimacy and a sign of good faith that they can afford to buy the home. Sellers are more likely to select an offer that is pre-approved than one that is not. 

 

Eliminate Contingencies

A clean offer is extremely attractive to sellers. “Any contingencies you have in your offer could be a negative to the seller. Sellers want a low risk and speedy closing,” shares Sherry. Appraisals are often a major cause of home sales falling through. Eliminating this step allows for a smooth sale process with minimal chance of things going wrong. As the buyer, you are effectively taking the risk off the home seller and putting it on to yourself. 

 

Make an All-Cash Offer

All-Cash offers provide the unique opportunity of keeping the sale primarily between the buyer and the seller. Cash offers tend to be stronger than offers utilizing traditional financing because they are less risky for the seller. With a cash sale, no appraisal is necessary since there is no mortgage lender involved. The absence of a mortgage lender also allows for a quicker closing. A fast timeline is advantageous for sellers because the sooner they close, the sooner they get paid.  

 

Be Flexible

Including a flexible timeline in your offer can go a long way with sellers. Depending on the sellers’ situation they may need more or less time in the home than the traditional 30-day closing period. If you are not in a hurry to move, being as adaptable as possible will be to your advantage as the sellers will then be able to decide what works best for them. This can go a long way, especially if competing offers come with strict deadlines. 

 

If you are ready to begin the search for your next home, call Davidson Realty today to help you get started. 

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Davidson Realty welcomes life-long Jacksonvillian Kevin Karn

June 8, 2017

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Posted by in Agent Feature, News

Kevin Karn has joined our expanding sales team! Kevin comes to Davidson with a recent communications degree and experience in the auto parts industry.

“Having strong knowledge of the local market is vital in real estate as well as an eagerness to produce happy customers. I’m happy to say Kevin offers both of these qualities,” said Sherry Davidson, President of Davidson Realty. Read more

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