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Archive for the 'Avondale' Category

The Early Bird Gets the Worm in Avondale!

Categories: Avondale, Breaking News, Buyers, Deals, Deals, Deals!, Gone in a Day!
Posted on April 13th, 2012

1257 Edgewood Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32205

1257 Edgewood Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32205

When I saw this house pop up as a new listing for only $199,000 day before yesterday in Avondale, I knew it would be gone in a minute.  I was right, it’s already under contract.

I’ve got buyers coming in this weekend from South Carolina and I called the listing office to make an appointment for Sunday afternoon. They called back a few hours later to tell me they had two written offers in hand. The house is listed as a 3br/2.5 bath home with approx. 1,960 square feet and  offered by Doris Arnold of Watson Realty.

Why not hire us to be on the lookout so you don’t miss great opportunities like this one? We’ve got our eyes wide open, ears to the ground and notice great deals like this right away. But there is a catch……you have to be ready to act!

This is a short sale and banks require pre-approval letters with short sale offers so call your lender, get prequalified and then call us at 904-252-5181. You’ll be the next one in line for a great opportunity like this!

We specialize in Avondale, Ortega and Riverside and offer no pressure evaluations of how much your house is worth or can help you snag a great deal like this one on Edgewood Avenue.

Written by Allison Steilberg // Discussion: Please leave a comment.

Don’t Miss Your Window of Opportunity in Avondale or Ortega!

Categories: Avondale, Buyers, Gone in a Day!, New Listings!, Ortega, Riverside
Posted on April 12th, 2012

This is YOUR window of Opportunity

This is YOUR window of Opportunity

If you’ve been waiting and waiting and waiting for just the right house, just the right price or just the right interest rate, you’d better stop waiting!  23 percent (17 homes) of the 74 properties that have gone under contract in the Avondale, Ortega and Riverside neighborhoods in first quarter of 2012, sold within 30 days of being listed.

If you increase the days on market to  60, the number jumps from 17 to 29 homes sold and accounts for a shocking 40% of the sales! That’s a pretty high percentage!

As a buyer, you’ve had nothing but time on your hands. LOTS of houses to sniff around at, PLENTY of time to decide if you’re REALLY ready to buy and LOADS of time to drive your real estate agent crazy as you look at house after house after house!

I’m here to tell you (you heard it here first) that the time is NOW. Interest rates WILL NOT remain this low forever. INVENTORY is low in certain neighborhoods like Avondale. The good (renovated or dirt cheap) houses are going UNDER CONTRACT quickly. So, if you’re one of those buyers who’s been circling and circling and circling – it’s time to get off of the merry go round and put your money on the table.

Click here to see a list of homes that have recently been listed and give us a call at 904-252-5181 if you see something you like! But you better hurry — they might sell quickly!

Caroline and I specialize in Avondale, Ortega and Riverside and can guide you to getting a great deal in the neighborhood.

Written by Allison Steilberg // Discussion: Please leave a comment.

The Good Houses In Avondale Are Going Fast – Even in this Market!

Categories: Avondale, Gone in a Day!, Market Update, New Listings!, Sellers
Posted on April 4th, 2012

3576 Pine Street, Avondale

3576 Pine Street, Avondale

If you’ve got a turn key home that’s been renovated in Avondale and you price it right, you’re likely to have good luck in finding a buyer who’s ready to act. There are lots of buyers out there — just waiting pounce on something great when it pops up.

A great example of this is the house located at 3576 Pine Street in Avondale. It was listed last month by the Fred Miller Group for $399,000. It’s a 3 bedroom, 2 bath bungalow with a beautiful front porch, gorgeous brand new kitchen, renovated master bathroom, tall ceilings, screened porch in the back and has new landscaping — the perfect example of a “turn key” home.

The house came on the market, had two competing offers within weeks of being listed and is already under contract.

If you’re thinking of selling, there is a lot of pent up demand for houses in Avondale and lots of buyers out there looking for them. Please call us at 904-252-5181 for a market evaluation of your home if you’re considering selling – the time is now!

Written by Allison Steilberg // Discussion: Please leave a comment.

Two Houses in Avondale Sell for $490K (ish) – Who Got The Better Deal?

Categories: Avondale, Buyers, Market Update
Posted on April 2nd, 2012

3643 Pine Street, Jacksonville, FL 32205

3643 Pine Street, Jacksonville, FL 32205

3643 Pine Street sold last week for $490K ($222 per square foot). Built in 2006 with approximately 2,200 square feet, the house has 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, a nice kitchen open to the family room, a den, a large loft space, big laundry room, two car garage, large front porch and is within walking distance to the shoppes of Avondale. The house was listed and sold by Wade Griffin of Coldwell Banker.

1864 Challen Avenue

1864 Challen Avenue

1864 Challen Street sold for $495K ($200 per square foot) in October 2011 and also has 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths.  Originally built in 1926 but extensively renovated in 2011 with approximately 2,475 square feet the house has new everything, windows, plumbing, air conditioners, roof, water heater and kitchen — so basically not much different from the “new” house on Pine Street.

The lot on Challen Avenue was quite a bit bigger than the house on Pine Street and offered more of a traditional layout with a nice big backyard and location only one house in from the St. John’s river.  This house was listed by Brad Dermond of Manormor Sotheby’s and sold by Maria Raymer of ReMax.

The house on Challen sold for $22 less per square foot (which is why we caution our buyers not to get overly focused on this), it was in a better location and had a larger lot but lacked the front porch, loft space and garage that the house on Pine Street had.

As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder — what’s important to one buyer (more land, or a garage) may not be important to the next one!

So….who do you think got the better buy? Please send us  a comment with your vote!

We specialize in Avondale, Ortega and Riverside – and know the numbers in the area. Call us at 904-252-5181 for an honest evaluation of what your house is worth or what you might have to pay for the house of your dreams!

Written by Allison Steilberg // Discussion: Please leave a comment.

Cash is King If You’re Buying a Condo in Avondale

Categories: Avondale, Buyers, Condos, Market Update, Ortega, Riverside, The Real Estate Process-How Does this work?
Posted on April 1st, 2012

Cash is King with Condo Purchases

Cash is King with Condo Purchases

I did a quick study and found that 39 condos were sold over the last year in Avondale, Ortega and Riverside and when I dug a little deeper to see how they were financed, I was shocked to see that 9 out of the 10 units sold in Avondale were cash transactions.

There were four sales in Ortega and 50% of those were cash.

The bulk of the sales (25 of them) were in Riverside but Riverside also has the most condo buildings/inventory in the area. 11 of the 25 units were paid for with cash.

So out of the 39 total sales, 22 of them were paid for with cash. That represents nearly 56% – well over half.

Why the large number of cash transactions?

There are strict regulations for financing a condo. Most lenders require a 20% down payment on a condo and others have requirements about how many units are owner/occupied and how many are rentals. If there are a high number of rental units, then it can be hard to get financing.

Additionally, some of the units are very inexpensive – the lowest priced sale was for only $50K at the Avenues building in Riverside. In other cases, a “family” home has been sold which frees the seller to both downsize and pay cash.

When there are multiple offers on a condo, cash buyers often have an advantage over buyers seeking financing. This is because a lender may or may not approve the loan for a condo and since a cash offer is not contingent on the ability of the buyer to get financing, the seller could be more inclined to take the cash offer (even if it’s a little lower than the non-cash offer).

So if you want a condo in the Avondale, Ortega or Riverside areas, you might consider raiding your piggy bank and paying cash – particularly if you’re competing with another buyer.

To see a list of all available condos in the Avondale, Ortega or Riverside neighborhoods, click here. If you see something you like, please call us at 904-252-5181 and we’ll be happy to show it to you!

Written by Allison Steilberg // Discussion: Please leave a comment.

Bi-Lo is coming! Sell your House in Avondale or Ortega to their employees!

Categories: Avondale, Breaking News, Market Update, Ortega, Sellers
Posted on March 28th, 2012

Bi - Lo is moving their headquarters to Jacksonville, FL

Bi - Lo is moving their headquarters to Jacksonville, FL

The Jacksonville Business Journal reported on March 12, 2012 that Bi-Lo is moving their headquarters to Jacksonville, FL. This will bring quite a few new people to town and guess what? They’re going to need houses.

Considering the fact that the offices aren’t too far from Avondale and Ortega, we will probably see quite a few new buyers looking for homes in our area.

So….if you’ve been thinking of putting your house on the market but just weren’t quite sure if you’re ready – NOW is the time! A word of caution – in today’s market, it’s critical that a house must be priced right in order to sell so please consult with us on where current market values are.

Caroline Powell and I are local area experts and were the top producers in the Avondale office last year. Please call us at 904-252-5181.

Written by Allison Steilberg // Discussion: Please leave a comment.

Another $700K + house goes under contract in Ortega

Categories: Avondale, Market Update, Sellers
Posted on March 23rd, 2012

Increasing sales in the $500K - $1M price Range in Avondale, Ortega and Riverside

Increasing sales in the $500K - $1M price Range in Avondale, Ortega and Riverside

The $500 – $1M price point for non-waterfront homes has been hit hard over the last few years in the Avondale, Ortega and Riverside neighborhoods of Jacksonville, FL but it looks like we’re seeing something of a recovery.

in 2009, there were only 8 sales in this price range.
In 2010, there were also only 8.
In 2011, the number more than doubled to a whopping 18.

A quick look at homes that have either sold this year (or are under contract) reveals that we’ve already hit 8 — and it’s only March 24th!

I did a search to see how many homes are currently still available for sale in this price range and find that there are only 14 — one of them is a townhouse and several others have “issues”. Our inventory of “good” homes (nicely renovated with good floorplans) is in short supply and the demand is increasing.

4973 Arapahoe Avenue, Ortega

Buyers are picky these days. They either want turn key, move-in condition homes or  ”fixer uppers” at a steeply discounted prices. Take a look at our fantastic listing located at 4973 Arapahoe Avenue in Ortega. This turn key home was built in 2006, has a great floor plan, is very energy efficient & has a beautiful sparkling pool – just in time for summer!

Our inventory of renovated turn key homes in Avondale, Ortega and Riverside is low and there are lots of buyers out there, so if you’ve been thinking of selling, please give us a call.

Written by Allison Steilberg // Discussion: Please leave a comment.

Why is Woodmere Street near Avondale so popular all of a sudden?

Categories: Avondale, Buyers, Market Update, Ortega
Posted on March 19th, 2012

1933 Woodmere

1933 Woodmere Street

In the last few weeks, a waterfront home located at 1933 Woodmere has sold and two more on the same street are under contract. Why the sudden interest in Woodmere? In my opinion, it’s because it’s one of the few places in Jacksonville, FL near the historic district of Avondale that you can buy riverfront real estate for under a million dollars.

What do you get for your money? The home that sold had approx 3,900 sf of living space with 4 bedrooms and 3.5 baths. The most compelling part of this house was the fact that it had dramatic downtown skyline views. Although it was newer construction with good “bones”, most people felt it needs substantial cosmetic updating.

1745 Woodmere Street

1745 Woodmere Street

The home at 1745 Woodmere went under contract in 45 days. A 3BR, 3BA home with approx. 3,300 square feet and a two car garage, the home had very nice water views but also needs substantial updating.

1697 Woodmere Street, Jacksonville, FL

1697 Woodmere Street, Jacksonville, FL

The home at 1697 Woodmere went under contract in only 12 days with the current listing but it was listed recently for 6 months at higher prices, then taken off the market and re-listed. Once it was re-listed, it went under contract almost immediately. This home, like the others, needs updating.

So….if you’re looking for waterfront under a million, you’d better look somewhere other than Woodmere — it’s all GONE!

For a list of other waterfront homes in historic Avondale and Ortega under $1M, click here. Several of these would most likely be considered tear downs and are priced at lot value. If you’d like to see any of these, call me or Caroline today!

Written by Allison Steilberg // Discussion: Please leave a comment.

The Avondale & Ortega “Little Black Book of Real Estate” Join today – for FREE!

Categories: Avondale, Buyers, Ortega, Riverside, Sellers
Posted on March 17th, 2012

LittleBlackBook

Ever think about selling your house but not sure you’re quite ready? There’s lots of unfinished business to attend to – update the kitchen, spruce up the landscaping, switch out a few appliances, get dated wallpaper taken down….the list could go on and on. You’re stuck in the analysis/paralysis stage of wondering what your house is worth, feeling daunted by all the things you should do….

What if we told you we’ve got someone looking for a house just like yours! And…….you don’t have to endure keeping it picked up every day, costly updates AND you get to remain in control — and show your house only when you want to?

What if we can bring a qualified buyer directly to your door and voila – you’re ready to move on – no scurrying around and no stress. Sounds pretty good – right?

Let us add you to our little black book of real estate for Avondale and Ortega and we’ll be on the lookout. No pressure, no stress — just quietly let us know you’re out there.

Buyers…..we want you too — casually looking for something but not ready to go “all out” in your search? If just the right house came on the market, you’d certainly be interested but not quite ready to start the search? Tell us what your dream house is and we’ll get to work trying to find it! We know a LOT of people in the neighborhood and are often privy to things that aren’t public just yet.

So….take advantage of our insider’s edge – for buyers AND sellers – send us an email (or text us) and join our Litttle Black Book of Real Estate for Avondale, Ortega and Riverside. PRIVACY GUARANTEED — one of the cornerstone’s of our business is confidentiality. We’ll schedule a private consultation where we’ll take down the details about your home (or what you hope to find), talk about what we think a fair market value might be (or what we think you might have to pay) and when we have someone in the market looking for a house like yours (or someone thinking of selling) – we’ll make the connection!

Written by Allison Steilberg // Discussion: Please leave a comment.

Two Major Riverfront Estates in Jacksonville, FL Go Under Contract

Categories: Avondale, Buyers, Market Update, Ortega
Posted on March 16th, 2012

With about 30 major riverfront estates available for sale in the combined neighborhoods of Avondale and Ortega, it’s with relief that two of them have gone under contract.

Tudor Riverfront Estate in Avondale

Tudor Riverfront Estate in Avondale

The first one, the Mason estate in Avondale, is a property with historical significance. Built in 1928 in the Tudor style of architecture for a prominent local banker, the house sits on an incredible 2.2 acres and has approximately 200 linear feet of riverfront footage. Originally listed for $6,500,000 in June of 2008, the sellers have taken numerous price reductions and changed real estate brokers. The final list price was $2,900,000 (over a $3 million dollar reduction) and we won’t know what the final sales price is until the home sells.

Riverfront estate on "the point" in Ortega

Riverfront estate on "the point" in Ortega

The second home, located at 3737 Ortega Blvd. is situated on one of the most prime spots in Ortega on “the point”. High on a bluff with amazing downtown views, over 6,400 square feet of living space and a guest house, this home was originally listed at $4,700,000 in May 2011. At the time it went under contract, the asking price had been reduced to $2,870,000 which placed the home into short sale status.

As soon as these two homes sell, we’ll be sure to write about the final sales prices.  They will be very good comps and provide much needed data for the remaining riverfront homes on the market.

Written by Allison Steilberg // Discussion: Please leave a comment.

Allison Steilberg & Caroline Powell

Realtors®
Prudential Network Realty 3627 St. Johns Avenue Jacksonville, FL 32205 904-252-5181 (Allison) 904-463-1898 (Caroline)