Monday, December 22, 2008

A look into the Miami Beach Economy

It seems clear that the Miami Beach economy, like that of the rest of the nation, will be slowing to a very slow pace in 2008. Much harder to discern is how bad ”bad” will be. Many economists and business leaders note that the region’s economy is holding up remarkably well in the face of multiple shocks: the housing downturn, the credit crunch and sky-high energy prices.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Miami Banks

Miami is a unique city which everybody knows and therefore among the best place to own a property. Miami bank owned properties offer buyers the chance to buy a great home or investment property for incredibly low prices.

Bank owned homes in Miami become available for purchase after a homeowner defaults on their bank sponsored mortgage loan. When a homeowner cannot keep up with payments, the bank will be forced to sell the property and use the proceeds of the sale to cover the outstanding debt owed. But, since bank owned properties in Miami must be sold, the lending bank often allows them to go for less than their actual value. Oftentimes, buyers can find bank owned homes in Miami for anywhere from 10 to 50% off their actual market value, creating a great chance for real estate investing.

For More information go to WWW.BUYMIAMI.NET

Monday, October 20, 2008

Tips For Home Sellers

For more information go to http://www.buymiami.net

If you are decided to sell your home in Miami real estate, you have to consider that there are things that you need to look up to and settle in order to gain great deal. This article will give you few tips that can make your home attractive and appealing to get potential buyers.
In order to attract buyers, you have to have tidy and clean homes. Indeed, clean and tidy homes are welcoming.

Once your home is listed for sale and open for visits and inspections, you have to make sure that your home is clean enough to attract buyers. You have to bear in mind that first impression matter, so make sure that buyers will see your home at its best.

Assure that furniture is placed properly in order to make the place a comfortable one. It is good to place some fresh flowers so to add extra vibrancy. Family photo may be great, but it is best to limit them. Remove clutter in every room of your home. Make the kitchen and bathroom spotless clean. Make sure to replace used towels into clean ones. Free your home for any unpleasing odors. Clean the curtains and carpets.
You do not have to spend too much in improving your home to be prepared for sale. But you have to fix and repairs things that need to be fixed. You have to check out your home such as door handles, windows, faucets, light switches, and so on.

You do not have to over capitalize on maintaining your home but it is good to plant flowers to make it attractive. Mow the lawn and water the plants. Clean your yard, remove the clutter. Clean the gutters.

When making schedule for inspections, make it during day time when each room is bright and there is sunlight that shines in your home. Open the curtains in order to the sunlight to come in. in case, your home will be inspected in a dull day, make sure to turn on all the lights.
When your home will be visited and inspected during winter time, you have to make sure that the heating is on and your home is warm and inviting. If your home will be visited at summer time, you have to make sure your air-conditioning is on.

When your home is open for visiting, you have to limit the number of people in your home since too many viewers can make your home look smaller and viewers are being hindered to see all your home has to offer.

If you have pets, make sure to put them in their proper places during any inspection. Not all people love pets, so you have to be careful.
These are few of the tips that can help you out in order to sell your home in Miami real estate quickly.


Source: http://miami-realestate.net/

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Homes in Trouble

WASHINGTON -- As the state's economy slipped further into the doldrums, the number of Florida home loans entering foreclosure continued to rise at a rapid clip in the second quarter, with more than 78,000 new homes in jeopardy of being repossessed by lenders, according to an industry report released Friday.

The Mortgage Bankers Association survey, which tracks only first mortgages, painted a dark cloud over Florida's housing market after a more than half-decade of overbuilding and heavy speculation.

The percentage of Florida homes in foreclosure was higher than any other state in the nation as of June 30, standing at 6 percent, nearly double the national average. Nevada ranked second with 4.92 percent.

In all, more than 213,000 Florida properties were mired in the lengthy legal process in which a lender takes back title to a home for nonpayment of debt.
An additional 273,000 homeowners stumbled behind mortgage payments by a month or more, signaling a rough road ahead.

Problems in Florida and California, the two worst-hit states, drove up the national percentage of loans in foreclosure to 2.75, the highest rate in the survey's 39-year history. Only eight states topped the national rate.

Jay Brinkmann, chief economist for the MBA, said delinquencies in Florida and California were worsening and accounted for roughly three-fourths of the increase in foreclosures nationally between the first and second quarters of the year.

There is an indication that subprime foreclosures may have hit their peak in Florida. For the first time, the delinquency rate among borrowers with less than perfect credit in adjustable-rate loans dipped slightly between quarters from 19.71 to 19.31. However, about 29 percent of the state's subprime adjustable-rate loans were in foreclosure, representing about 92,000 properties.

Source: http://www.miamiherald.com/business/real-estate/story/673471.html

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Florida Property Values

For more information go to http://www.buymiami.net

The values of homes, businesses and other properties across Florida declined $153 billion during the last year, and the murky economic picture isn't expected to improve until sometime in 2009, state officials said.Total property values dropped an unprecedented 6 percent, double the figure economists had projected last year. The decline would have been worse if not for $55.6 billion spent on new construction.Next year, state property values are expected to drop another 4.92 percent. However, economists expect the situation to slowly improve after the slump. New construction that helps offset some of last year's decline is projected to decrease by almost 35 percent, or about $36.4 billion, for the 2009 tax rolls.


For more information go to http://www.buymiami.net
source: www.sun-sentinal .com

Monday, July 21, 2008

Reasons why to own a condo

Most people in Miami nowadays prefer to buy condos than a house. A testament to this is the countless condos that are sprouting like mushrooms all over Miami. It seems like almost everyday there's a new Miami condo being built.
Most people in Miami nowadays prefer to buy condos than a house. A testament to this is the countless condos that are sprouting like mushrooms all over Miami. It seems like almost everyday there's a new Miami condo being built.
So why do people in Miami prefer condos over houses? Well, this is mainly because of the numerous advantages of getting a Miami condo. For one, a condo is not as hard to maintain as a house. Most Miami condos include free maintenance as part of a package.
This means that if you own a condo you don't have to worry about repairs, minor or otherwise. If your faucet is leaking or if a tile suddenly came loose from your floor, all you have to do is call your building's administrator and they will immediately fix the problem.
Most condos also have their own cleaning and maintenance personnel. This means you wouldn't have to clean the place yourself or hire a cleaning lady if you have a Miami condo. It also means that you'll always be sure that you have a clean, orderly and comfortable living space. You can then use the time your have saved for the things that you actually love to do like going to the beach or shopping.
Most Miami condos also feature amenities such as a swimming pool and a fitness center or gym. This means that you don't have to leave the premises of your building if you want to workout or simply do a few laps. Other Miami condos even house a spa, boutiques and restaurants.
Peace of mind is another thing that you can get if you own a Miami condo. Most condominiums in the Miami area are secured 24 hours a day, 7 days a weeks which makes them very ideal for people who are constantly traveling and are away from their residence most of the time. Because of the tight security of a condo, you can be assured that your belongings are safe. This same level of peace of mind is hard to achieve if you own a house.
The best thing about owning a Miami condo though is probably the feeling that you're always on vacation every time you are in your home. With the beach nearby and the beautiful Florida sunset, living in a Miami condo is probably the next best thing to living in an exotic tropical paradise. No wonder, many people have acquired a Miami condo already and more and more individuals are interested in getting a Miami condo everyday.
With the many benefits that come with owning a Miami condo, there really is no reason why you should not invest in one. If you are ready to shop for a Miami condo, be aware that there are many condominiums in the area. You should choose one that will suite your lifestyle and budget well. One of the best places to look for a Miami condo is the Internet. All you have to do is search for one in any of the popular search engines such as Google and Yahoo.

For more information go to http://www.buymiami.net
source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Friday, July 11, 2008

Mortgages

If you’re a would-be homeowner, brace yourself for some bad news.

The Federal Reserve on Monday released a survey showing that “significant numbers” of lenders have tightened their standards for mortgage applicants.

The Fed’s survey, which polled loan officers at 56 domestic banks and 23 foreign banking institutions, found that for a “prime” loan, 55 percent of domestic lenders, compared with 40 percent in October, have increased their scrutiny of potential borrowers. And if you are looking for a non-traditional loan like a subprime or an interest-only, 85 percent of the banks that issued these loans are making it harder to get one, up from 60 percent in October.

Looking for a home equity line of credit? That’s going to be tougher to get as well.

Banks are even tightening lending standards for loans other than credit cards.

And as banks make it harder to borrow, loan officers report that demand for loans has decreased consumers may realize it’s harder to get a loan and they may be worried about purchasing a big-ticket item like a home when the economy may be in or headed toward a recession.

The loan officers said lenders want to help homeowners struggling with their mortgages, but doing so could be difficult. Some homeowners may be hard to contact and others might not be interested in even staying as their homes drop in value. Also, a shortage of bank employees knowledgeable in completing this type of work could also prevent the bank from finalizing any work-outs with struggling homeowners.

A majority of lenders expect current mortgages, lines of credit, even credit card and other loans to “deteriorate” in 2008, meaning the lenders expect people to struggle to make their regular payments.

Lenders also reported that 80 percent of domestic banks have tightened standards for commercial real estate loans, the highest proportion on record since the question was first posed 18 years ago.

For more information check the website http://www.buymiami.net/
Source: http://abcnews.go.com/

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Real Estate 101 - What Is A Short Sale?

A short sale in real estate refers to a concept whereby a lender (mortgagee) agrees to discount the amount of money owed on the loan made to a borrower (mortgagor), due to hardship on the part of the borrower. It basically allows the homeowner (mortgagor) who owes money to the lender (mortgagee), to sell the home or condo for less than the amount owed to the lender.The benefit to the mortgagee is that the lender gets to cut losses, which would be much greater if the lender is forced to foreclose on the property. The advantage to the homeowner (mortgagor) is that he/she gets to sell the property for less than he/she owes, avoids foreclosure, and the balance of the debt is forgiven. The advantage to the buyer is that he/she gets to buy the property on the cheap, so to speak. It seems like a win, win, win situation for everyone.Ah, but we have often heard that all that glitters is not gold, so what is the problem? The problem is that the entire ordeal can be very frustrating, and often enough, an effort in futility. Why? The easiest part is making the deal between the buyer and the seller. The seller is eager to sell, thereby avoiding foreclosure, and the buyer is eager to buy the the home or condo at a great price.They may come to an agreement as to price and terms, and execute a legally binding contract, but then the problems begin, because the deal must be presented to the lender, and the lender must agree to the price before a sale is made. The mortgagee's required agreement to the sale is listed on the contract as a contingency. Without the fulfillment of the contingency, there is no sale.Long delays by the lender in responding to the contract for sale can be very frustrating for buyers and sellers. Buyers often walk away in frustration or even anger. Then there is the question of price. Banks and other lenders like to make money, but they can’t stomach losing it, so they often wont just agree to the price on the contract. Again a frustrated buyer may walk away, and the process has to begin anew. That is the long and short of a short sale.

source: http://www.streetdirectory.com/



Friday, April 11, 2008

Welcome to THE CRISCITOS GROUP web site

Welcome to THE CRISCITOS GROUP Blog. For most people, the purchase of a home represents the single largest financial investment they are likely to make. The home buying experience can range anywhere from pleasant and enjoyable to frustrating and disappointing. Deciding to sell or buy a home is a huge step. Everything you need to know about buying or selling Real Estate can be found right here on our website. We are dedicated to you, our client, and we are proud of our commitment to each and every individual with whom we do business, and are grateful for the trust of them all. The Real Estate world is ever evolving. We meet those challenges, staying abreast of the latest technology, and incorporating those advances into our business and our website. If you are looking for a Realtor who knows how to get results, look no further. THE CRISCITOS GROUP are recognized leaders in Miami Real Estate, offering an array of services, to ultimately exceed your expectations.