Davidson Realty, Inc.

10 Reasons Boomers Like Me Choose to Live in North Florida

December 23, 2010

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There’s good reason that Florida’s population continues to grow, by as many as 800 each day. In fact here are 10 reasons Florida, and especially the North Florida region, is a great choice for retirement.

1. North Florida is less crowded and less congested than South Florida.

2. Cost of living:  Florida has no state income tax, and in general our cost of goods is on par or lower than many other metro areas, as is our property taxes. 

3. Real estate prices are at an all time low.  There are great “deals” to be had right now – our World Golf Village and surrounding St. Augustine and Jacksonville markets are “on sale” for now but probably not too much longer.

4. We are packed with recreational amenities, including numerous golf courses (my personal favorite is the King & Bear at World Golf Village, but the TPC at Sawgrass is another standout); boating and fishing opportunities thanks to one of the largest rivers in North America, the St. Johns River, several lakes, creeks and of course the Atlantic Ocean; and home to the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL team.

5. Our top-notch medical facilities include the Mayo Clinic as well as teaching hospitals at UF Shands.  Some of the best & brightest are involved in the healthcare system in and around Jacksonville & St Augustine.

6. Several 55+ communities offer an active retired lifestyle here, whether you’re looking for a condo or single family home.  One well-located and affordably priced option is The Cascades in World Golf Village. Read more

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Thinking About Real Estate Investing? Avoid These Top 3 Mistakes

December 8, 2010

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Posted by in Uncategorized

We’re seeing a lot of real estate investment activity in the St. Augustine area, and now’s a great time to take advantage of excellent deals and opportunities. But here’s some advice from someone who’s been active in the St. Augustine and Jacksonville FL real estate market for more than 20 years – the top 3 mistakes our real estate professionals see investors make:

1. They don’t understand the current market trends in a specific neighborhood.  I speak to many investors that know a lot about our general market area; however, every neighborhood has behaved a little differently during this market adjustment. You need to be ahead of everyone else in seeing when the prices are declining, becoming more stable and beginning to improve. An investor may avoid a neighborhood because there were so many distressed properties when the reality is that neighborhood has already adjusted and the inventory and prices have stabilized. It is very hard to know what is about to happen in a neighborhood if you don’t spend a lot of time actually seeing the inventory.

2. They don’t know details that aren’t public record. Many investors are interested in condos now because the prices have adjusted even more than single family homes in the Jacksonville area. While condos can be a great investment, your success is more dependent on the other owners and the Association. If you don’t know the rental policies, the potential lawsuits facing the Developer or Association or other issues currently brewing in the Community, your investment may not be as successful. Realtors that handle sales in that Community every day may give you the insights you need to make the best decision. Read more

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A New 100 Days to Greatness Class is Starting Soon!

December 6, 2010

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Posted by in News

100-days-to-greatness-product-lineThe New Year may bring a new career for go-getters! Davidson Realty is looking for new Agents to add to its ranks of real estate professionals. No experience is required, but determination, drive and a can-do spirit are the keys to success! To help both new and seasoned agents jump-start their business, we are offering Buffini & Company’s 100 Days to Greatness® program starting on January 31, 2011. The 100 Days to Greatness® program teaches the fundamentals of real estate lead generation by referral, helping agents produce a steady stream of high-quality leads and referrals. 

Says Davidson Realty President Sherry Davidson, “Real estate is an excellent career choice for those who want schedule flexibility and the advantages of being your own boss with less risk and more support.” Davidson, a Buffini & Company Certified Mentor™, leads the company’s sales team as well as its 100 Days to Greatness Program. She explains, “We invest a lot of time and resources to provide ongoing training and professional development opportunities to our new and seasoned Agents alike. The Buffini & Company 100 Days to Greatness® program is one of the best I’ve seen to generate leads and boost business.” Read more

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Top Jacksonville Realtors in November 2010!

December 2, 2010

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Posted by in Uncategorized

We had another great month with over $4 million in closings! Seventeen agents contributed to our closings and sixteen agents had sales. Our closings year to date for 2010 are up 8% over year to date closings for 2009. Congratulations to our top St. Augustine Realtors in November!

Mirtha BarzagaOur Top Listing Agent for November is Mirtha Barzaga with $775,000 in listings sold. Mirtha is on a roll! She was also our Top Listing Agent for October. Mirtha believes real estate is so fulfilling because she has the opportunity to meet and help so many people. She loves working with her customers!Jock Ochiltree

This month, Jock Ochiltree is our Top Sales Agent with $472,000 in buyer sales.  Jock specializes in golf course community living and would be happy to show you around our St. Augustine golf course community! If you would like more information on golf course communities, please view Jock’s Golf Course Communities Webinar.

dottieOur Top Producer for closings in November is Dottie Lay with over $930,000. Dottie was our Top Sales Agent in October, September, and for the 3rd Quarter! Dottie was recently named a 5 STAR AGENT for the fourth time by the Florida Homebuyer Jacksonville magazine, a very esteemed recognition. Congratulations on all your success, Dottie!

All three of these Realtors are Certified Distressed Property Experts, so they are more than qualified to help you buy or sell a Short Sale or Foreclosure. Please let any of them know if you have real estate questions or are looking for a reliable real estate agent.

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Jacksonville FL Real Estate Trends in October 2010

November 30, 2010

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Posted by in Uncategorized

“Every problem has in it the seeds of its own solution. If you don’t have any problems, you don’t get any seeds.” Norman Vincent Peale

This quote should give you a hint about the northeast Florida market for October. The numbers aren’t a surprise since many lenders halted foreclosure sales in October and 54.8% of the North Florida closings in September were lender mediated meaning a short sale or foreclosure. Only 48.7% of the closings in October were lender mediated.

• The number of closings in October reported by the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors (NEFAR) was 968 down from 1,263 in September.

I believe the foreclosure issues accounted for most of the drop in closings. On a positive note, the closings year to date through October 2010 are 13,393 up from 11,817 year to date through October 2009 and 10,686 year to date through October 2008.

• The number of pending sales in October were 1,280, which was down from 1,385 in September and 1,496 in August. Pending sales year to date through October 2010 like closings are up over 2008 and 2009.
• The median sales price and the average sales price are both higher than previous months. Again, I think this may be due to less foreclosure sales. The median sales price is $142,550 for October. It was only $130,000 for September which is a nice increase. The average sales price is $173,892 in October which is up from $166,504 in September. Read more

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