REAL ESTATE CHEESECAKE

Melissa Yardy St. Pete Beach REAL ESTATE CHEESECAKE

Just like my favorite dessert with the perfect ingredients, so is today’s real estate market.   The National Association of Realtors showed that a strong rise in home price from a year ago, in fact 9.4% higher for the median prices existing home sold.  Interestingly enough, while prices are up compared to only one year ago, mortgage rates are lower and incomes are up so homes are slightly more affordable to the median income family.

The sugar in this fabulous recipe is that the prices are still almost half of what they were in 2005 so that’s a 50% off sale.  Now, if you are an investor buying property to rent out, here’s the real icing on the cake, or cheesecake, rent’s for properties have not decreased, in fact in our area, rents have increased, making a great time to invest.  It’s the perfect ingredients to make it a great time to
buy.

For more information on the Pinellas County real estate market, visit www.melissayardy.com

Melissa Yardy: Top Return on Investment

Melissa Yardy St. Pete Beach TOP RETURN ON INVESTMENT DOLLAR.

It’s amazing how well an investor of real estate can do in real estate in our market today.  A client of ours just purchased a townhouse in Lake Forest Condominium in Pinellas Park.  It a fairly large complex of wooden construction and is located in mid Pinellas county.  The purchasers bought the property at $50,000 and put about $15,000 to update the kitchen, bath, carpet and paint and it’s beautiful condition.  Based on the rental market they are advertising it for rent for $1500 per month. 

Their taxes and insurance is about $100.00 per month and the maintenance fee is $385.00 leaving them a net of $1015.00 per month so their earning a whopping 18.7% on their investment, if the
property is rented the whole year and they have no repairs.  That’s an incredible return compared to leaving that money in the bank.  Now is a good time to buy real estate !! Visit my website
www.melissayardy.com

Here’s Your Money…Now Get Out!

Melissa Yardy St. Pete Beach  A Distressed homeowner assistance program rolled out by Bank of America this week is one of the new innovations to help the homeowner and our economy.  The new program offers relocation incentives–up to $20,000 to distressed homeowners who start the short sale process prior to November 30, 2011.  As a real estate professional I believe that this can help thousands of families and  homeowners who can demonstrate a verifiable hardship and provide proper paperwork to “unqualify” for the mortgage.  This is a great stride in mending our real estate market.  The next step is for Bank of America customers who are in default and suggest they contact a Realtor to get started.  It is almost required that a licensed real estate agent market the property to find a buyer in an “arm’s length transaction.”

The term “arm’s length” is used to describe a real estate transaction in which the buyers and sellers of property or a parcel of land act independently and are not related to each other. The idea of an arm’s length transaction ensures the buyers and sellers in the real estate transaction are acting in their own self interest and are not subject to any outside influence. In a ‘non-arm’s length transaction their could be other factors that influence the transaction and subsequently the value of the exchange. This concept is important as it is a common way to determine fair market value.

For those that qualify for the program and will give hundreds of homeowners a faur start when starting over.

For more information on short sales, visit www.melissayardy.com

Read more: Click here that the owners use a licensed Realtor to find a buyer in a “arm’s length transaction.”

Buyer’s Market? Seller’s Market?

Melissa Yardy St. Pete Beach

Buyer’s Market? Seller’s Market?

This seems to be the question I get on a regular basis about Real Estate, specifically “How is the real estate market?” This is a question that in 2009 evoked shutters from the responder who has been a real estate practitioner since very little was good about being in the real estate business. In 2010 we started to notice some improvement and at the end of the 2011 quarter we definitely started to notice a turn around in Pinellas County and the Gulf Beaches.

By the beginning of 2012 we noticed a significant decrease in listing inventory and fewer and fewer short sales and foreclosure were available. Now, seemingly overnight we have a significant shortage of homes from buyers to choose from and multiple offers on properties new on the market. This of course, means that there are suddenly multiple bidders and prices are going up. That’s great news for homeowners and that would typically mean it’s a Sellers Market.

Interestingly enough, and the first time in my 30 plus years in this business, it is also a Buyer’s Market. The housing price index’s show that homes have never been more affordable and with rates below 4% at this time, it is a great time to buy and with all indications buying real estate is a great
investment.

Melissa Yardy: A Commitment to Clients

Melissa Yardy has been in the real estate business for over 30 years. Clients know they can depend on her to provide outstanding service, whether they are buying or selling.

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For those who are looking to sell, Ms. Yardy creates a customized and comprehensive marketing plan, which includes Ms. Yardy’s personal and financial investment in the sale. This will ensure that the property is exposed to the greatest number of possible buyers.
For those looking to buy, Ms. Yardy knows what makes the St. Petersburg area special. She understands why people are anxious to move here, with spectacular Gulf beaches and beautiful water that is just right for boating and other water activities, shopping, restaurants, and an amazing cultural, arts, and sporting scene.

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She also knows that the area is home to an outstanding array of luxury homes, condominiums, and condo hotels. With her expertise in real estate and her knowledge of the area she has helped countless clients through the years to find the home of their dreams. Whether the client wants to live on the beach, in the heart of St. Petersburg, or in a secluded cottage where they can relax and watch the amazing Florida sunrises and sunsets everyday, Ms. Yardy can help!

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Melissa Yardy is a Florida-licensed broker with the experience and know-how to help clients buy their dream home or sell their property. She carries out her commitment to her clients by using innovative marketing strategies, superior contract negotiation skills, and her excellent professional understanding of the ever-changing marketplace. Once someone becomes a client of hers, she is determined to make them a client for life by exceeding their every expectation. She operates under the principles of integrity, dedication, honesty, and accountability, with the goal of doing what is right for the customer and helping each client to fulfill their needs.

Now is a good time to buy real estate !! Visit my website  www.melissayardy.com