| In this issue: |
• Tips for Investors
• Bye-Bye Credit Lines?
• Custom Tile Idea
• Become a BBB Agent
• Buyer Workshop
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| Interest Rate Watch |
Selected Rates as of
August 11, 2005:
• 30 yr fixed: 5.89%
• 15 yr. fixed: 5.47%
• 1 yr. adj: 4.57%
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| Free Buyer Workshop! |
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Every Thursday
Get a guided tour through the real estate buying process, learn about new and historic neighborhoods in Jacksonville, Daytona, and other Floriday cities, plus have financing questions answered by industry professionals.
Call:
904-358-3955 for Jacksonville information
877-693-4068 for
Daytona information
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| About the Weekly: |
The Real Estate Weekly is a free weekly bulletin published to keep clients and associates informed of happenings in the real estate market. If you would like to unsubscribe from the Weekly, please use the button at the bottom of the page.
The R.E.W. is published by:
Bo Bridgeport Brokers, Inc.
Located at:
1654 N Pearl Street
Jacksonville, FL 32206
Phone: 904.358.3955
and
127 Arlington Way
Ormond Beach, FL 32176
Phone: 877.693.4068 |
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| » Tips For Real Estate Investors |
Got the real estate investment bug? You aren't alone.
By the end of 2004, the National Real Estate Investors Association's 20,000 affiliated members were double the previous year's numbers, but even at 20,000 represented only about one fourth of all U.S. real estate investors in investment clubs, the association said.
Investors accounted for what's likely a record 23 percent of all home sales last year, according to the National Association of Realtors' "2005 National Association of Realtors Profile of Second-Home Buyers".
While the investor purchase portion is 23 percent, other second home buyers who become aware of the potential for a return on their property may very well take a more speculative approach. The second home market now accounts for 38 percent of the existing housing stock and 36 percent of all homes purchased last year, NAR said.
"These aren't second homes. You know where that down payment is coming from. People are leveraging one price asset against another on a pure momentum play," said Robert M. Campbell, a San Diego-based realty broker, investor and author of "Timing The Real Estate Market".
Residential real estate investors have become a driving force in the residential real estate market -- much as the dot com stock market did to create the New Economy and the longest economic expansion on record.
But just as the dot com bust littered Wall Street with lost shirts, a real estate down turn could leave blood red ink flowing down Main Street if rookie investors let the lure of green cloud their judgment.
We talked to individual investors, real estate agents who also invest, investment clubbers and others to help get you started with the dos and don'ts of real estate investments.
Here's what they suggest:
Read the rest of this article HERE.
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» NOAA grants $2.6M to Florida coastal protection |
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has made a $2.6 million grant to increase protection for Florida's coastal resources and revitalize coastal communities.
The money will go to the Florida Coastal Management Program, which works with businesses and local communities to revitalize beachfronts, improve water quality and safeguard coastal areas, said Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Colleen Castille.
Gov. Jeb Bush applauded the grant, saying, "These federal funds, coupled with the state's commitment, help preserve Florida's pristine coastlines and world-renowned beaches for residents and visitors. Our beaches and coastal communities draw millions of visitors and pump billions of dollars into our economy every year."
Florida Panhandle counties are still under a DEP emergency order covering repair by local government, businesses and property owners of coastal damage caused by Hurricane Dennis' landfall July 10.
Read the rest of this article HERE.
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» Customize Your Home with Personalized Tile |
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The next time you plan to tile an area in your home, instead of running to a tile store to pick out everyday squares, you might consider pulling out and thumbing through a box of your favorite photographs.
A San Diego company that specializes in visual legacies imbeds your artwork or photographs right into tiles, creating a customized look for kitchens, walkways, pools, bathrooms, fireplaces and other areas.
"I do everything from marble, tumble stone, glass, frosted glass on up to regular ceramics and then the ceramic tiles are in matte finish, satin finish and glossy," says Toni Renier of Square Meadows.
Whether it's photos you took of Yosemite waterfalls or a beautiful view of the Amalfi Coast that you captured and now want turn into tiles to put in your shower, in your kitchen for a backsplash, or simply to hang on your wall, tile photos can add a very personal touch to your décor.
Square Meadows can use your photos to create the desired look for a particular room. However, the actual photo is not put on the tile. Instead a special ink is used that turns into a gas when it is heated. The tile is treated with a special coating to allow the ink to become imbedded into the tile.
Renier says "What you do is scan the photo or create the artwork in Adobe Application, Illustrator, Photoshop or whatever. Then it gets printed out on a special paper that allows the ink to sit up on to the paper as opposed to being absorbed into the paper. Then you put it in a heat press and it depends on the tile how long and how you press it, but it gets placed in there at about 450 degrees. Once that pressure and the heat are happening, the gas then permeates the tile and the image then is permanently imbedded into the tile."
Read the rest of this article HERE. | |
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Want a Career in Real Estate? Then WE want YOU!
Bo Bridgeport Brokers is looking for motivated, ambitious people to join our growing team. Join our team and receive comprehensive training from successful agents while working in a positive workplace. Becoming a real estate professional is easier than you think!
Click Here for more information or call 904-358-3955. | | |