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the Housing Market Breathes under Water

The housing market exited the trauma ward in 2013. Prices rose as much as 30 percent in some areas, bidding wars broke out and the foreclosure rate halved from its peak. But the patient is by no means fully recovered. In fact, five years after the housing bubble collapsed, a staggering one in five mortgage holders still owe more than their home is worth. At its worst in early 2012, almost 16 million Americans were under water on their mortgage. In some of the hardest hit neighborhoods, such as Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Detroit, 70 percent of homeowners owed more than the value of their home. Since then, rising home prices have pushed 5 million homeowners back into the black, but 11 million out of a total of 50 million mortgage holders remain in what financial folks call a negative equity position. “This is the new normal in the housing market,” said Svenja Gudell, director of economic research at Zillow, an online real estate database, “We will have high levels of negative equity for some time.” With mortgage rates rising and expected to hit 5 percent late next year, many economists predict a more subdued housing market in 2014. That means price gains should moderate and it could take a while longer for homeowners who are under water to recover. Out of the 75 million homeowners around the country, about one in seven stay trapped in their homes, unable to move or sell. Housing prices have gone up and down over the decades, but until the financial crisis of 2008, it was rare to owe a bank more than a home is worth. For all of the 19th century and even during the Great Depression, this was virtually unheard of. Until all the negative equity disappears, the housing market won’t be back to normal. It looks like we still have years to go.... @info from US NEWSWEEK

Record Sales activity for last 3 years....

Miami, FL – Following record breaking sales activity for nearly three years, the Miami real estate market saw unprecedented growth in the third quarter of 2013 as demand for local real estate and limited supply continue to fuel double-digit growth in prices, according to the 30,000-member MIAMI Association of REALTORS and the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) systems. Sales, Listings of Homes and Condos Grew There were 8,027 homes and condos sold in Miami-Dade County during the third quarter of 2013. This represented a significant 21.2% and 8.7% increase in the sales of homes and condos, respectively, compared with the same period in 2012. The growth in home sales was driven by a remarkable 89.5% increase in home sales $250,000 to $299,999 and a 67.7% growth in sales $600,000 to $999,999 when compared to the same time in 2012. Meanwhile, condo sales were driven by the 50.8% growth in condo sales $250,000 to $299,999 and a similar surge of 46.9% in condos $400,000 - $599,999 relative to the third quarter of last year. “The surge in sales of Miami homes and condos is driven by a robust demand for real estate from international buyers from worldwide markets – and large numbers of U. S. buyers from other states,” said 2013 Chairman of the Board of the MIAMI Association of REALTORS Natascha Tello. “The third quarter statistics reflect a significant strengthening of our local real estate market with more homes being sold faster than last year.” Nationally, total existing-home sales, including single-family and condos, rose 5.9 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.36 million in the third quarter from 5.06 million in the second quarter, and were 13 percent above the 4.74 million pace during the third quarter of 2012, according to the National Association of Realtors. Statewide closed sales of existing single-family homes totaled 60,661 in the third quarter, up 17.3 percent compared to the year-ago figure, according to the latest housing data release by Florida Realtors. Closed sales of condominiums totaled 27,200, up 11.3 percent compared to 2012. The Miami Association’s initiatives to increase inventory and focus on assisting members to get more listings has made progress along with some additional distressed properties coming on the market. Home and condo listings also grew by double digits in the third quarter. There were 5,937 new single-family home listings during Q3, a growth of 15.3% relative to the same period last year. Meanwhile, new condo listings were stronger with an increase of 20.5% from 6,872 in Q3 2012 to 8,282 this year. Median and Average Sales Prices Continue to Rise In the third quarter, the median sales price for homes in Miami-Dade County was $230,000, an increase of 21.3% compared to last year and 12% relative to the previous quarter. The median sales price for condos rose 26.6% to $183,600 in the third quarter compared to the second quarter of 2013. Third quarter price increases mark seven (7) quarters of increases for both single-family homes and condominiums. In addition, compared to last year, the average sales prices for single-family homes and condominiums increased 8.1% to $381,517 and 19.3% to $329,418, respectively. “Despite more new listings coming on the market, supply remains tight, particularly for properties in lower price points, for current level of demand for Miami properties,” said 2013 MIAMI Association of REALTORS Residential President Fernando I. Martinez. “Robust sales will continue to drive price appreciation in the Miami market.” Nationally, the median sales price of existing single-family homes was $207,300 in the third quarter, up 12.5 percent from the third quarter of 2012. The national median sales price for condominiums was $205,400, a 15.1 percent increase over the previous year. The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes in the third quarter was $175,000, up 18.6 percent from the same quarter a year ago. The median sales price for condominiums in Florida was up 23.8 percent compared to the same quarter last year at $130,000. Percentage of Cash Sales Declines In the third quarter, 59.3 percent of closed sales were all cash compared to 63.3 percent a year ago. All cash sales were 45 percent of single-family home closings and 71 percent of all condominium sales. Since nearly 90 percent of foreign buyers pay cash, this reflects Miami’s position as a top market for foreign buyers. Miami has a significant percentage of international buyers, generating many more cash transactions than the national average. Home Inventory Moving Rapidly Despite More New Listings Homes were sold much faster during the third quarter of 2013 compared to the previous year. The median duration of a home listing during the last quarter was 37 days compared to 43 days during the same period last year, a significant decrease of 14%. Meanwhile, condo listing durations were comparable to 2012 figures at a median of 46 days compared to 43 last year. Total third quarter active listings in Miami-Dade County totaled 14,273, representing an increase of 14.2 percent. At the current sales pace, this reflects 4.9 months of inventory for single-family homes and 6.3 for condominiums. Months supply of inventory declined 12.5 percent for single-family homes and increased 11 percent for condominiums compared to the third quarter of 2012. 3Q Miami-Dade Statistical Reports Single-Family Homes: http://goo.gl/b5bAI9 Condominiums: http://goo.gl/9ptrbt Note: Statistics in this news release may vary depending on reporting dates. MIAMI reports exact statistics directly from its MLS system. Note: The MIAMI Association of REALTORS and the Southeast Florida Multiple Listing Service are the sources for statistics reported by the National Association of Realtors and Florida Realtors. About the MIAMI Association of REALTORS The MIAMI Association of REALTORS was chartered by the National Association of Realtors in 1920 and is celebrating 93 years of service to Realtors, the buying and selling public, and the communities in South Florida. Comprised of four organizations, the Residential Association, the Realtors Commercial Alliance, the Broward County Board of Governors, and the International Council, it represents more than 30,000 real estate professionals in all aspects of real estate sales, marketing, and brokerage. It is the largest local association in the National Association of Realtors, and has partnerships with more than 100 international organizations worldwide. MIAMI’s official website is www.miamire.com.

Want to be Extremely, Wildly, Radically Successful?

"Whichever adjective you select for the success you’re seeking – extreme, wild, radical – is it really possible that a few tweaks could be all you need to reach these new heights? Last week I read a popular LinkedIn post in which the author, Alex Banayan, promised to disclose “The 5 Traits of Wildly Successful People”. This sounded like a bargain: just 5 steps to wild success. With such straightforward tips – be persistent, ignore convention, be a problem-solver, cut back on sleep, build good relationships – taking life to the next level sounded downright easy. Indeed, countless blog posts list success-ensuring traits, the kinds of virtues or habits everyone should cultivate. Some recipes for success include as few as five ingredients, as did Mr. Banayan’s, or as many as 50. (See the list at the end of this post if you need a “quick success” reading list.). But here’s the thing: Fun as it may be to peruse these lists, simply reading through grab bags of traits and attitudes won’t ensure success in work and life. The very reason success is elusive is that it still requires a lot of hard and often tedious work. Not just daily work at the office, but the constant work of making ourselves into more effective, more adaptable, more thoughtful people. That’s what it means to build character. No secrets here. Just hours, days, months, and years of persistence in doing what matters most, honoring commitments, and working well with others. For over twenty years, I worked closely with Stephen R. Covey, author of “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” – one of the best-selling business books of all time, with 15 million copies sold in 38 languages. Many of today’s list-like blog headlines are derivative of his famous title and insightful suggestions for building a principle-centered life. Stephen – who passed away last year – might have been distressed at how his approach to building habits for successful living has morphed into a cottage industry of those peddling lists of secrets to wild financial windfalls and potent influence. Stephen was not about these ‘ends.’ Instead, he was about being mindful of the person you become on the way there. He celebrated the idea of finding one’s “true north,” the guiding set of ethics and habits through which people develop character. He liked to quote Aristotle on the subject: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act – but a habit.” Covey wasn’t talking low-level habits like brushing your teeth, washing the dishes or showing up early for meetings. His “habits” were ones of character – the kind that take time and repetition to build. Some were about thinking, some were about doing, some were about treating others with respect – but they were all about building character, about doing the right things over and over until they become ingrained -- what Aristotle called the “stable equilibrium of the soul.” Aristotle's notion – the one Covey also espoused – is a profound one. Success in life is rooted in aligning our actions with our values, until our choices flow naturally, and without calculation, from our character. Like everything else worth doing, this is a matter of consistent, determined practice – as unromantic, familiar, and headline-unfriendly a secret as that may be. So, nothing against lists, and nothing against anything that can inspire or help you become more successful. But, in my experience, there are no shortcuts to success." By Joel Peterson Chairman, JetBlue Airways. Stanford Business School! (Article published in LinkedIn.)

About Credit Scores.....

"Your credit score is the single most important factor in determining your mortgage interest rate and monthly payment," said Erin Lantz, director of mortgages at Zillow. "To avoid any surprises when buying a home, check your credit score and report at least six months before you intend to buy to see if there are any costly inaccuracies, pay down high-balance lines of credit and make sure your bills are always paid on time." After doing, all that, try to save more every month to make a bigger down payment. The smaller your loan compared with the home's value, the better your chances of approval. Of course, you can look for a less expensive home as well. But what if you can get approval, but for now would be stuck with a higher rate? Would it make sense to postpone your purchase or refinance until you can nudge your credit score higher? That could be risky. It would be annoying to pay 5% instead of 4.5%, but if you wait six months or a year you might find that those bottom-level rates have gone up. You might end up paying 5% or more even with a score over 740. No one knows for sure, but most experts agree rates will drift up. They're already up quite substantially since spring, when you could get a 30-year fixed loan for 3.5%. Also, home prices will probably continue to rise, though perhaps not as fast as during the past year or so. So even if waiting did get you a lower rate than you'd pay today, that saving might be wiped out by a higher purchase price". Ready to Sell or Purchase? Contact a Real Estate Professional ! Call US ! We are Selling Miami Estates 305-283-5868 Espie Franky

2-5-million-homes-gained-positive-equity-Q2

The number of mortgaged homes where homeowners owed more on their loan than the home was worth dropped by 2.5 million in the second quarter from the the first quarter, to 7.1 million, according to a second-quarter home equity report from CoreLogic. As of the second quarter, 14.5 percent of all residential properties with a loan were underwater — the homeowners owed more on it than it’s worth – down from 19.7 percent in the first quarter. Negative equity nationwide also dropped $148 billion from the first quarter to $428 billion. Of the 41.5 million properties that now have positive equity at the end of the second quarter, 10.3 million were “under-equitied” — had less than 20 percent equity. Some 1.7 million homes had less than 5 percent equity. “Price appreciation obviously had a positive impact on home equity over the first half of 2013, especially the second quarter,” said Anand Nallathambi, president and CEO of CoreLogic, in a statement. The states that had the highest percentage of homes with negative equity in the second quarter were: Nevada (36.4 percent), Florida (31.5 percent), Arizona (24.7 percent), Michigan (22.5 percent) and Georgia (20.7 percent). **Source: CoreLogic Thinking on Buying or Selling Real Estate in South Florida? Contact us, we are Your Best source with confidentiality and professionalism at your service!

How to rebuild loyalty ...in Business!

"If you aspire to be successful as an entrepreneur, manager, business owner, or any kind of leader, others must feel loyal to you. Although money is often seen as a prime motivator, ultimately the bonds that hold an enterprise together are psychological. Important data gathered by the indicate that loyalty is one of the top three things that make workers feel satisfied. Loyalty balances self-interest. It is the willingness to look out for "us" and not just "me." It's no secret that the bond of loyalty has frayed at a time of layoffs and the loss of pensions and benefits in the economy. A public image has been built of opposition between management and labor - there is nothing new here - where the advantage has shifted overwhelmingly to management. As long as profits continue to roll in, loyalty is ignored. The assumption is that workers are too desperate for a job to complain or protest. You have a choice to make in the face of this sad situation. Are you going to join the trend and forget loyalty or are you going to try and rebuild it? The question doesn't apply simply to managers. Companies develop an atmosphere and a culture. No one works in a vacuum, and your attitude affects the environment you work in, no matter where you fit into the overall scheme. If you choose to help rebuild loyalty, here are some suggestions: 1. Abstain from disloyalty, which shows up in small but telling ways. Office gossip, back-biting, and spreading rumors show disloyalty, because they degrade the sense of bonding and cooperation. 2. Work on bonding and cooperation. Be sympathetic and open to the people you work with. Support projects that are good for everyone, even if you don't gain immediate material rewards. 3. Honor the difference between rivals and competitors. The fact that you are competing against others at work doesn't make them your rivals. Rivalry is hostile; it implies that only one person can win. Competition raises the bar for everyone, so that the whole team can win. 4. Pay attention to personal details. Loyalty runs deep when a person feels cared for and understood. Be alert to these needs. Make an effort to include everyone. When ideas and suggestions are being discussed, make it clear that every suggestion is welcome. If someone's pet idea is rejected, take time to go to them afterwards and listen respectfully to what lies behind the idea. 5. Share your success. Include your team in the praise and appreciation that comes your way. If possible, make a tangible gesture, as appropriate - throw a party, or other form of celebration, offer bonuses, present a gift as a token of recognition. 6. Don't keep secrets. As much as possible, make the decision-making process transparent. Open up financial details. In the economic downturn of 2008, some small businesses shared their finances with their workers and thereby won real loyalty. Seeing that the company was strapped, the workers felt an incentive to be part of the solution. This is just one way to close the gap that makes management and workers adversaries, a stance that severely erodes loyalty. 7. Remind yourself every day that there is no "I" without "we." This allows you to be humble in your successes and provides a community to get through crises." **taken from Debak Chopra notes