Lakeland Real Estate Blog by Petra

The Price is Right!

The article " In Downer Market, Home-Selling Savvy Is Needed" in The Ledger from Jonathan Clements, who writes for the Wall Street Journal, inspired me to write about to Price It Right.

First of all, before you are thinking about putting a price tag on your house, make sure your house is in tip top shape so you can get the most dollars for your priced possession. Do your research of homes that are For Sale in your neighborhood. Please keep in mind that tiles, paint, or laminate flooring in your house is not an upgrade - it is simply upkeep.  I also recommend doing your research on homes that were sold within the last 6-12 months.

I'm sure you can call a real estate agent and ask for their help and honest opinion, because that is what we here for to serve the public - at least I am, if you want my assistance.

Researching and pricing the home right is very tedious and time consuming because you would have to factor in several items, i.e. square feet, pool, fireplace, garage, etc. You get the point!

Put yourself in the buyer shoes and ask - would I want to buy this house for that price? Or have your friend look at your house and ask the same question - would you buy my house for that price? 

Folks, hiring a Realtor® would be the obvious choice - don't you agree? He or she has the resources and experience selling homes. In addition, Realtors® sell homes every day and are not personally attached to the home as you are.

Folks, bottom line is that in today's sluggish economy make sure your house is priced right, even if it means pricing the home 10-20% below comparable homes within your neighborhood. The longer you have your house on the market, the more it will cost you - financially and psychologically.

Copyright © 2008 http://www.petranorris.com| All Rights Reserved

Time is running out and so is your savings!

Monday, March 3^rd is fast approaching, if you are the one who bought or sold a homestead in 2007. It is the deadline to apply for homestead exemption and portability of Save Our Homes tax benefits, which is the difference between the assessed value and market value of a homestead due to the annual limit on increases in assessed value.

Homeowners, who already applied for a homestead exemption on their new homes, must complete a separate application by March 3, 2008.

To download an application form for portability, visit your local property appraiser's web site or Florida Department of Revenue web site.

It may not be a whole lot of savings, but every little bit helps in this difficult financial time. Time is of the essence!

As I bring to you my weekly market update for Lakeland, I must emphasize there are a currently over 2400 residential properties for sale in Lakeland. There are 234 homes currently pending to close, which is an increase of 20 homes from my last week's report, however there were 5 properties less sold. The average days on market increased from 117 to 156. The average sold price decreased by $7877 approximately 5% from my last week's report. If you are interested in a specific area or neighborhood, feel free to contact me at petra@petranorris.com

Harrison School for the Arts of Lakeland, FL presents:

   Pride and Prejudice

I want to talk about a High School that is near and dear to my heart. In 1989 Harrison Arts Center opened its doors to 154 students. It is the only High School in Polk County with a strong emphasis in the arts program. Students currently enrolled majoring in their field of Music, Dance, Theatre, Musical Theatre, and Visual Arts. These students take their General Education Classes at Lakeland High School.

Harrison School for the Arts proudly presents the east coast premiere of Marcus Goodwin's adaptation of Jane Austin's famous novel, Pride and Prejudice. The public performances will tale place on February 28^th, 29^th, and March 1^st at 7:30 p.m. and March 2^nd at 2:00 p.m. There is limited seating for this event. Tickets are $10.00 for adults and $8.00 for students and senior citizens. You may purchase your tickets on-line at Harrison School for the Arts web site.

One of the world's first romantic comedies casts its eye upon the society of the landed gentry in 19^th century England. The story revolves around the five marriageable daughters of the Bennett family. When Mr. Darcy arrives to live in the area, the Bennett family is quick to spot ideal husband material. Elizabeth, one of the five Bennett sisters, does not take kindly to Mr. Darcy until her opinion of him changes and she falls in love.

I hope, I will see you there as I will be selling tickets in the Box Office for Harrison School for the Arts. Enjoy the performance! 

While I think nobody posted any Real Estate Market Statistics for Lakeland, I believe it is my duty to inform my clients and the public interested about the current market condition in Lakeland, FL - "GOOD and BAD". Below you will find my weekly report that I will be posting every week to give you an inside on what is happening in the Residential Real Estate Market in Lakeland, FL.  My weekly report is obtained by the Mid-Florida Regional MLS, it is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. This report does not include "For Sale By Owner". Dont' you agree that your clients need to know about the current market condition in their area and not always hear it from the media?

Are you looking to buy Homeowners Insurance?

Since Hurricane Charley, Frances and Jeanne stormed through here in Polk County, FL in 2004, homeowners have seen their homeowners insurance rate skyrocket. My insurance rate tripled since that time and I'm sure we are all in the same boat.

Gov. Charlie Crist announced the launch of the "Shop and Compare Rates" Web site. This web site will serve as a valuable tool for homeowners and consumer who are trying to compare rates before they purchase their home.  "It serves as a starting point to help Floridians find the insurance policy best suited to their needs," says Gov. Crist.

www.shopandcomparerates.com lists standard yearly insurance premiums based on a structure of a 5-year old, Florida concrete block home, with a current replacement value of $150,000, a $500 non-hurricane
deductible, a 2% hurricane deductible, no claims, and no wind mitigation discounts.

The significant factor of this web site is, you have the ability to compare rates offered by competing companies working in that county. The list of insurers is sorted from the lowest to highest cost and provides a link to the company's contact information.

Radon  in Polk County, FL

Radon is a radioactive gas that you can't see, smell or taste, however it may be a problem at home. It cames from the soil and it moved up from the ground through cracks and other openings in the foundation. Any home, old and new may have a radon problem. According to the Florida Department of Health, elevated indoor levels are seen as the second leading cause of lung cancer.

Where would you find Radon in Polk County?

Uranium is mixed with the abundant deposits of phosphate in the ground, therefore it can be found on Land that has been mined for phosphate or land containing phosphate rock that was never mined.

It can also be found from land containing fill dirt brought in from the mined or mineralized areas.

How can you find out if Radon is in your home?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that all homes should be tested for radon. If you are considering buying a home, you should test it before making a decision. It is inexpensive and you can do it yourself.

The Polk County Health Department has Radon test kits available for approximately $15,00 at their office in Winter Haven, FL. If you would like someone else to do the testing, contact the Health Department for an additional cost.