As the temperature rises, buyers are coming out ready to purchase their dream homes. The summer is a great time to list your home for sale. Here are five reasons why:

1. Demand Is Strong

The latest Buyer Traffic Report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that buyer demand remains very strong throughout the vast majority of the country. These buyers are ready, willing and able to purchase… and are in the market right now!

Take advantage of the buyer activity currently in the market.

2. There Is Less Competition Now

According to NAR’s latest Existing Home Sales Report, the supply of homes for sale is still under the 6-month supply that is needed for a normal housing market at 4.7-months.

This means, in most areas, there are not enough homes for sale to satisfy the number of buyers in that market. This is good news for home prices. However, additional inventory is about to come to market. 

There is a pent-up desire for many homeowners to move, as they were unable to sell over the last few years because of a negative equity situation. Homeowners are now seeing a return to positive equity as real estate values have increased over the last two years. Many of these homes will be coming to the market this summer. 

Also, as builders regain confidence in the market, new construction of single-family homes is projected to continue to increase over the next two years, reaching historic levels by 2017.

The choices buyers have will continue to increase. Don’t wait until all this other inventory of homes comes to market before you sell.

3. The Process Will Be Quicker

Fannie Mae just announced that they anticipate an acceleration in home sales that will surpass 2007's pace by late summer. As the market heats up, banks will be inundated with loan inquiries causing closing-time lines to lengthen. Selling now will make the process quicker & simpler.

4. There Will Never Be a Better Time to Move Up

If you are moving up to a larger, more expensive home, consider doing it now. Prices are projected to appreciate by 5.3% over the next year, according to CoreLogic. If you are moving to a higher-priced home, it will wind up costing you more in raw dollars (both in down payment and mortgage payment) if you wait.

You can also lock-in your 30-year housing expense with an interest rate below 4% right now. Rates are projected to increase by nearly a full percentage point in the next 12 months.

5. It’s Time to Move On with Your Life

Look at the reason you decided to sell in the first place and determine whether it is worth waiting. Is money more important than being with family? Is money more important than your health? Is money more important than having the freedom to go on with your life the way you think you should?

Only you know the answers to the questions above. You have the power to take control of the situation by putting your home on the market. Perhaps the time has come for you and your family to move on and start living the life you desire.

That is what is truly important.

U.S. Existing-Home Sales

at Highest Pace in 9 Years

See how Flagler County compares to the U.S. and Florida May home sales. As usual, we are the most affordable; 5.0% below the state median and 12.9% below the national median.

PALM COAST, FL – May home sales were released this week both by Florida Realtors® and National Association of Realtors®. April home sales were also released by Flagler County Association of Realtors®. As in the past, the median price of a single-family home in Flagler County is less than in Florida overall (-5.0%) and in the U.S. (-12.9%).

Here is how Flagler County stacks up:

Homes sold May 2016 vs. May 2015 (percentage change)

• Flagler – 4.1%

• Florida – 4.5%

• U.S. – 4.5%

Median selling price for single-family homes

• Flagler – $210,000

• Florida – $221,050

• U.S. – $241,000

Percent paid in cash

• Flagler – 41.1%

• Florida – 29.1%

• U.S. – 22.0%

Short Sale percentage

• Flagler – 0.9%

• Florida – 2.3%

• U.S. – 1.0%

Foreclosure sales

• Flagler – 4.8%

• Florida – 9.4%

• U.S. – 5.0%

Regional Snapshot

Here’s how existing-home sales fared across the country in May:

• Northeast: existing-home sales rose 4.1 percent to an annual rate of 770,000, and are now 11.6 percent above a year ago. Median price: $268,600, which is 0.1 percent below May 2015.
• Midwest: existing-home sales fell 6.5 percent to an annual rate of 1.3 million in May but are still 3.2 percent higher than a year ago. Median price: $190,000, up 4.8 percent from a year ago.
• South: existing-home sales rose 4.6 percent to an annual rate of 2.28 million in May and are now 6.5 percent above a year ago. Median price: $211,500, up 5.9 percent from a year ago.
• West: existing-home sales climbed 5.4 percent to an annual rate of 1.18 million in May but are still 1.7 percent lower than a year ago. Median price: $346,900, which is 7.7 percent above a year ago.

Note: U.S. "existing home sales" in the regional analysis includes single-family homes, town-homes, condominiums and co-oops.

U.S. Home Sales Infographic

Original article provided by http://gotoby.com/

Randall Doyle - Biography 

 #‎FlaglerBeach, Florida makes it into #‎SouthernLiving magazine! Congratulations - beautiful photos and awesome article!

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A Day to Remember:

Honoring the Meaning of

Memorial Day

Memorial Day marks the beginning of the summer season. People make vacation plans, put boats in the water and head to campgrounds to celebrate the arrival of the warm weather.

But the real purpose of Memorial Day is to remember the sacrifices of the men and women and their families who gave their lives in service to our country. The origins of this holiday stretch back to the years following the Civil War, when local townspeople would plant flowers and decorate the graves of soldiers who had died in those battles. Ultimately, the U.S. government standardized the date and, over the years, the tradition expanded to honor soldiers lost in subsequent wars.

Our focus on the start of summer, the joy of a long weekend and the opening of the backyard grill means we often lose sight of the purpose and origins of the holiday. Memorial Day represents something very different. It’s a day for reflecting on sacrifice and service, a day for placing flags and flowers in front of headstones. It is also a day to be proud to be American, a reminder to be openly thankful for those men and women who not only volunteered to join the one percent of Americans that fight for our country and our freedom, but who gave their lives for it.

So this year on Memorial Day, honor their memory by celebrating the America they loved. Cherish the opportunity to spend time with loved ones, enjoy the freedom to swim or hike or cookout with friends. But don’t forget to pause for a moment to reflect on the sacrifices that our brothers and sisters in arms have made for all of us. Let’s teach our children & grandchildren that our freedom was bought and paid for by generations of service members they will never meet; while we can never repay our debt to them, it is our responsibility to remember them.

And when the sun sets on Memorial Day, continue to remember their sacrifices. Find some small way to carry that spirit of appreciation and remembrance with you throughout the year. They’ve earned it.

At Realty Executives Oceanside, we serve locally and freely. We're able to do so because of those who have served so valiantly to protect us all. This weekend, and every time we salute the flag, we salute the men and women who so bravely serve our country and we thank you for your service and sacrifices.