Davidson Realty, Inc.

Cool Down Your Hot Summer Day with Jim’s Famous Pasta Salad!

July 26, 2011

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Posted by in Jim's Recipes

pasta saladJim Davidson has dozens of amazing recipes and this one is right up there with the best! It’s definitely Kristen Calhoun’s favorite. She is our Listing and Marketing Coordinator and also one of Jim’s daughters. Jim made a huge batch for a group of us that participated in Relay for Life this year. It was the perfect treat throughout a very hot day. We hope you love it as much as we do! 

JD’s FAMOUS PASTA SALAD

1  Green pepper (Bell) chopped
1  Red pepper chopped
1  Yellow pepper chopped
1  Bunch scallions (green onions) chopped
1  Cup chopped parsley
1  Cup sliced green olives
1  Cup sliced black olives
1  Cup sliced mushrooms (jar)
1  Tablespoon dried oregano
1  Teaspoon dried basil or optional 1 cup fresh chopped basil (which is better)
½  Teaspoon thyme
2  Teaspoon chopped or minced garlic (jar)
½  Cup olive oil
½  Cup Italian dressing
4  1 lb. packages of pasta (I use a mixture of 4 or 5 types of pasta but always include bow tie)

Put all ingredients in a bowl with olive oil and Italian dressing.  Mix well.  Cook pasta until done, but not mushy.  Run cold water over pasta until cool.  Drain pasta and add to mixture then stir.  Use additional Italian dressing to desired consistency.  Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.  Serve cold. I like to serve with my tuna salad.

Enjoy!

Jim

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How to Start Your New Career in Real Estate

July 19, 2011

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Posted by in Career Opportunity, Events, Videos

Many people are very intrigued by the idea of a career in real estate. Who wouldn’t want to be in charge of their own schedule? No one to tell you how long your vacation has to be or how much money you will make this year. Don’t get me wrong…a career in real estate is not for sissies, but what you put in you will get out! You have to work for what you earn, but the beauty is you decide what, when, where, how, etc.

Above is a video of Davidson Realty President, Sherry Davidson explaining how to get started in this new endeavor – how to get licensed and then how to be successful in this business. After all, it is YOUR OWN business! She even takes you through earning potential.

We have career opportunity events every month where you can find out what a career in real estate is really like. Sherry will go more in detail through the process and a new and seasoned agent will share their individual experiences with you. This is a very “no pressure” way to learn and ask questions.

July 21st: Wine & Cheese – 6:30 – 8:30 pm
August 11: Wine & Cheese – 6:30 – 8:30 pm
September 22: Wine & Cheese – 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Come join our team and see why Davidson Realty has been ranked the #1 Best Place to Work in Jacksonville twice! If you have any questions or cannot attend an event, but would love to speak with Sherry please call (904) 940-5000 or email her at SDavidson@DavidsonRealtyInc.Com.

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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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Jacksonville, FL Real Estate Trends in May 2011

June 29, 2011

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Posted by in Northeast Florida Market Trends

“Life is not about how fast you run or how high you climb but how well you bounce” Vivian Komori

If you own a business or are connected to the real estate industry in any way, you will enjoy the quote.

The most important trend I am seeing this month is the drop in inventory. The inventory of homes for sale in May 2011 is down 25.8% from May 2010. This inventory level translates into 8.9 months of supply versus a 11.7 months supply for the same period last year. This is a 23.7% drop in inventory. In many popular neighborhoods there are very few properties available for purchase that aren’t already under contract. We need to monitor this trend in inventory levels to better advise both our purchasers and sellers with regard to the pricing outlook.

Pending sales are up. The May 2011 pending sales of 1,756 transactions is 33.9% higher than May 2010. The year-to-date pending sales are 3.3% higher than the same period in 2010. The number of homes going under contract (pending sales) tends to bounce around each month but May 2011 is tied with March, 2011 for the highest amount of pending sales in the last 21 months. Another positive outlook.

Closings are down 10.6% from last May; however, the number of closings year-to-date are up slightly over the same period in 2010. Between lender, appraisal and title issues, it is always cause for celebration when we get a transaction to closing.

Pricing continues to be down compared to the previous year. The median sales price is down 7.9% and the average sales price is down 3%. If you look a little closer, the median sales price of traditional sales is up over 5% and the median sales price of lender-mediated sales is down over 14%. I would also point out that in the northern St. Johns County area the average price currently seems have stabilized around the same price as 6 months ago.

The lender-mediated sales in May 2011 were 49% of closings for the month. If you think this number is high, remember that short sales and foreclosures made up 60% of the closings in February. I believe this number is down because the banks are being more careful with their foreclosure process due to the recent bad publicity.

To sum it up: inventory is down, the transaction activity is up and the prices overall are down year-to-year.

If you have any questions or need any assistance with real estate issues, please give me a call 904-940-5000. I always enjoy talking about real estate.

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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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