Davidson Realty, Inc.

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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REAL ESTATE MARKET UPDATE

April 23, 2021

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Posted by in News, Northeast Florida Market Trends

“God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.” Rudyard Kipling

 

I wish every mother a Happy Mother’s Day!

 

The Northeast Florida Association of Realtors market stats for March shows 3,782 homes available for sale compared to 9,484 last March, a 60% reduction. It appears the low supply of homes for sale, high buyer demand and rising prices will be with us for several years.

 

The single-family home for sale inventory peaked in 2007 with about 3.7 million homes available nationally and has been dropping since then to 1.07 million homes currently.

 

A great article from The Mecklenburg Times cites the reason for continued buyer demand as low household formation rates following the Great Recession. If the historical household formation rate had continued after the recession, there would have been 5.7 million more households formed.

 

“The mid-2000s financial collapse began a domino effect. Roughly $6 trillion in real estate equity vanished during the housing crash, impacting the ability of many families to pass down wealth to their children. Young people who finished school around the late 2000s faced a soft job market, which can have long-lasting effects on a person’s finances and their ability to start a new household. Previous Zillow research has shown it takes about six years for homeownership rates of those who graduated college during a recession to catch up with those who graduated during better economic times.”

 

The last two years had shown that when the economy is good and most Americans have access to decent jobs, more of them are able to find a home of their own. More Millennials are turning 33 which has been the age most are marrying and starting families. This trend should continue rising for the next three to four years. Add to this the retiring Baby Boomers who are downsizing and the COVID-related moves where people can work from anywhere. The demand should continue for several more years at least.

 

The supply is tight and the demand is strong, so prices are rising. The median sales price is $274,900 up 12.7% over last March. The average sales price is $344,643, up 20.4%. Many buyers are offering to pay more than list price to get the offer accepted among multiple offers. The percent of properties sold over list price spiked 102.1%. In March 2020 14.2% of properties sold over list price and in March 2021 28.7% paid over list price.

 

It is a seller’s market, so if you are considering selling, we are happy to assist you. If you are interested in buying, we are finding ways to get offers accepted. Thank you for your continued trust and please let us know if we can help in any way. Happy Mother’s Day!

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4 EASY WAYS TO INCREASE THE VALUE OF YOUR HOME

April 14, 2021

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Posted by in News

Increasing the value of your home is ALWAYS a good idea. Staying on top of home maintenance and projects will ultimately allow you to get top dollar for your home when the time is right for you to sell. “Homebuyers will appreciate that you took good care of the home and will happily pay more for a home when they don’t have to make major changes themselves,” shares Davidson Realty President, Sherry Davidson. 

 

Curb Appeal

First impressions are important! Continually spending time on your landscaping and the outward appearance of your home will enhance your curb appeal. Luckily, yard care is relatively inexpensive and depending on the current state of your yard, could be tackled simply with fresh mulch or a few new flower beds. Walkway lighting is another easy and affordable way to elevate your curb appeal while providing a functional illuminated path to safely use your walkway at night. Additionally, routinely walk around the exterior of your home and look for any cracks or damage that needs repair. 

 

Fresh Paint

A fresh coat of paint can truly transform a home. Whether you are interested in selling your home this year or in ten years, routinely examining and updating the interior can make your home more attractive to potential buyers. When selecting a paint color that will appeal to an extensive audience, pale gray, oatmeal, and other cool, natural tones are current fan favorites because of their adaptable nature and ability to enlarge and brighten spaces. Some of our favorite paint colors include Snowbound and Passive from Sherwin Williams. 

 

Energy Savings 

Energy-efficient upgrades not only help the environment but save homeowners money and time by requiring less maintenance. Consider switching to energy-efficient light bulbs or installing a smart thermostat that will learn your preferences and automatically adjust the temperature to save energy. Adding more insulation is another way to improve energy efficiency in your home. Good insulation will keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer while using less energy. 

 

Cosmetic Touch-Ups 

If you make repairs and improvements as needed, you will avoid bigger, more expensive projects and ensure your home is well maintained. “Your home is one of your most expensive assets. When buyers see items that need to be repaired or maintained, they question if the home has been well cared for. Buyers will pay retail versus wholesale prices for an updated and well-maintained home,” shares Sherry.  Patching up holes and dents in walls or moldings, fixing a squeaky door, or repairing a running toilet are easy DIY repairs that will refresh your home.  Replacing the hardware in your kitchen or updating ceiling fans or light fixtures are small updates that will make a HUGE impact. 

 

If you are interested in learning more about the value of your home or are interested in selling your home, trust the real estate experts at Davidson Realty.

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CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR TOP PRODUCERS FOR MARCH & THE FIRST QUARTER!

April 13, 2021

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Posted by in News, Top Agents

As we wrap up the first quarter of 2021, we see strong demand for Northeast Florida real estate. There are more buyers than supply of homes so we are seeing price increases. It was an awesome month of March and 1st quarter for Davidson Realty and I would like to recognize our Top Producers.

 

Candy Gil was our March Top Producer with the most closings. Candy was also our Top Sales agent for the Jax Beach Team for March and the 1st quarter. Candy raised her family in the beach area and is a great resource for anyone thinking of living the beach lifestyle.

 

 

 

 

Mirtha Bazaga was our 1st quarter Top Producer with the most closings. Mirtha was also our top lister and overall sales for the quarter and the month of March. Mirtha had $5 Million in sales for the 1st quarter. Her experience and professionalism make her a great choice to help you buy or sell.

 

 

 

Read more

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DOING GOOD – WATSON CIVIL SUPPORTS DAVIDSON CARES CLAY DAY

March 29, 2021

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Posted by in Community Involvement, Events, News

Davidson Cares Clay Day is not only an event that supports worthy causes, but unites people and organizations that believe that doing good makes a big difference. For the last four years, Watson Civil has generously supported Davidson Cares Clay Day as a sponsor and brought their enthusiasm to the event that helps so many. 

 

John Watson, President and CEO of Watson Civil, first met the Davidsons in 1996 when construction began on World Golf Village. “Whenever I was driving customers around the dirt roads to show off the development, John would always make sure I could get around the equipment and not get stuck. That was the beginning of a wonderful friendship!,” shares Davidson Realty President, Sherry Davidson. 

 

Watson Civil is a horizontal contractor that specializes in large site infrastructure, underground, and road and bridgework. Equipped with experienced staff, Watson Civil ensures projects are safe, run on time, and remain on budget. Watson Civil’s clients range from state and local governments to private developers and national home builders. 

 

Watson Civil is currently working on several projects in Florida. Most notably, Watson Civil is constructing Northeast Florida’s first diverging diamond at the intersection of J. Turner Butler Boulevard and San Pablo Road in Jacksonville, Florida. The project, which is expected to be complete in the spring of 2022, will cost $12 million dollars and is predicted to cut the number of collisions in the area by half. 

 

“Watson Civil has a remarkable reputation. John Watson has a vibrant energy and tackles everything that comes his way head-on,” shares Sherry. “John Watson always supports us as a sponsor and purchases raffle tickets. This year, John was the winner of the Cooler and Cocktail raffle prize.”

 

Davidson Cares Clay Day is proud to have the support and sponsorship from Watson Civil as they continue to give back in Northeast Florida. To learn more about Watson Civil Construction visit their website at www.watsoncivil.com or call (904) 297-1800.

 

Davidson Cares Clay Day

 

The 5th Annual Davidson Cares Clay Day was held on October 29, 2020, at Jacksonville Clay Target Sports. Davidson Cares Clay Day included two-sport shooting events, beginner skeet, and sporting clay. Individuals and teams from beginner to expert levels were invited to participate and enjoy a safe shooting experience with no group gatherings. 

 

In association with the event, there was also a raffle contest. Prizes included a 65-quart YETI cooler with 13 full-size liquors.

 

The $40,500 raised from the event and raffles went directly to Builders Care, St. Augustine Youth Services (SAYS), and Investing in Kids (INK!) in equal sums.

 

Visit DavidsonCares.com to learn more about these organizations and donate to support their causes.

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