I recently had to take my son to an urgent care clinic and during our interminable wait, I picked up a “tourist magazine.”  I imagine that I am like most locals in that I don’t read the tourist publications, however, I was pleasantly surprised; it was a very good read with a lot of content regarding the Emerald Coast.  Well, that’s actually the publication’s name:  Emerald Coast Guide.  Here’s a link to their site so you can read one of the articles I found particularly interesting “Since You Were Last Here” page 34 www.emeraldcoastguide.net   The article speaks of changes in the area in the past year or so.  They really nailed it with this article because everyone wants to know what has changed since they were last in Bay, Okaloosa and Walton counties.

The Toronto real estate market has been one of the most resilient and dynamic markets in North America in recent years, with a steady influx of international buyers and investors. Despite pandemic-related disruptions, low inventory levels and high demand continue to drive prices up, making it a challenging market for first-time buyers.

I was able to get permission from them to share a couple of the changes with you:

• A zip line ride has been installed at Harborwalk.
• The townhomes by June Decker park have been razed.
• The Hampton Inn in Destin has been rebuilt.
• A new movie theater has opened in Grand Boulevard.

Reading their list got me thinking about the past year with Pelican, so I thought I’d make a list of the changes we’ve made in the past year.

What’s new with Pelican Real Estate?

• We have an online magazine! http://www.joomag.com/magazine/pelican-real-estate-e-magazine-march-2014/0893143001393012434
• We’ve added 18 new agents.
• We’re on www.Realtor.com
• We have two new offices:  Pensacola, off of Government Street; and  Okaloosa Island on the ground floor of the Breaker’s condominium.
• We have sponsored Building Homes for Heroes, www.BuildingHomesForHeroes.org by donating office space at the Summit in Miramar Beach.

The past year has been a nice year for growth at Pelican Real Estate.  Speaking of growth, when you find you are in need of a Realtor anywhere along the Emerald Coast, call Pelican.  We have offices in Pensacola, Crestview, Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa Island, Miramar Beach (Destin), 30A and Panama City Beach.  Toll free:  888.267.2494

I invite you to share your big changes or changes that you’ve noticed along the Emerald Coast in the comments section below.

Until next time,

– Mary Lurk, Pelican Real Estate

Pelican is proud to announce some major changes in our web site www.pelicanproperty.com Have look for yourself.

IRVINE, Calif. – Jan. 16, 2013 – RealtyTrac released its Year-End 2013 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, which shows foreclosure filings – default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions – down 26 percent in 2013 from 2012, and down 53 percent from the peak with foreclosure filings in 2010.

The 1.4 million total properties with foreclosure filings in 2013 was the lowest annual total since 2007, when there were 1.3 million properties with foreclosure filings.

The report also shows that 1.04 percent of U.S. housing units (one in every 96) had at least one foreclosure filing during the year, down from 1.39 percent of housing units in 2012 and down from a peak of 2.23 percent of housing units in 2010.

Florida

Florida accounted for the nation’s biggest share of U.S. foreclosure inventory, with 306,018 properties in some stage of foreclosure or bank owned – 25 percent of the national total. The number was virtually unchanged from a year ago, but it’s down 18 percent from its peak in November 2010.

The Sunshine State led the nation in the number of homes with a mortgage in the foreclosure process in 2013 – 3.01 percent. Other states rounding out the top five include Nevada (2.16 percent), Illinois (1.89 percent), Maryland (1.57 percent) and Ohio (1.53 percent).

Of judicial states where a foreclosure must go through the courts – a process that takes more time than non-judicial states – Florida ranked fourth, by percent, in the number of auctions scheduled in 2013. Maryland saw the biggest percent jump at 107 percent, followed by New Jersey (64 percent), Connecticut (up 55 percent), Florida (up 53 percent), Pennsylvania (up 24 percent) and New York (up 15 percent).

Florida also continues to rank high in the length of time it takes between a first foreclosure notice and a final auction. Overall, it took 944 days in the fourth quarter, ranking Florida third nationally. New York saw the longest time for the foreclosure process at 1,029 days followed by New Jersey (999 days.) Nationwide, the average time from filing to foreclosure auction was 564 days.

Florida metro areas

A 6 percent annual increase in total foreclosure activity helped push the foreclosure rate in Miami to No. 1 for metropolitan statistical areas with a population of 200,000 or more in 2013 – a total of 96,710 properties with foreclosure filings in the three-county metro area, or 3.93 percent of housing units (one in every 25). Miami foreclosure activity for the year was up 44 percent compared to 2011 but 44 percent below its peak in 2009.

Seven other Florida metro areas posted 2013 foreclosure rates among the 10 highest in the country: Jacksonville at No. 2 (3.32 percent of housing units with a foreclosure filing); Orlando at No. 3 (3.20 percent); Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville at No. 4 (3.16 percent); Port St. Lucie at No. 5 (3.06 percent); Tampa at No. 6 (3.06 percent); Ocala at No. 7 (2.96 percent); and Sarasota at No. 10 (2.42 percent).

Other findings

More than 3 percent of Florida housing units (3.01 percent, or one in 33) had at least one foreclosure filing in 2013, the nation’s highest state foreclosure rate for the year. A total of 269,649 Florida properties had a foreclosure filing during the year, a 3 percent decrease from 2012 but still up 48 percent from 2011. Florida foreclosure activity in 2013 was down 48 percent from the peak of 516,711 Florida properties with foreclosure filings in 2009.

• Total national foreclosure activity in 2013 increased in 10 states compared to 2012, including Maryland (up 117 percent), New Jersey (up 44 percent), New York (up 34 percent), Connecticut (up 20 percent), Washington (up 13 percent) and Pennsylvania (up 13 percent).

• Scheduled judicial foreclosure auctions increased 13 percent in 2013 compared to 2012 to their highest level since 2010.

• The average estimated value of a property receiving a foreclosure filing in 2013 was $191,693 at the time of the foreclosure filing, up 1 percent from the average value in 2012. But the average estimated market value of properties that received foreclosure filings in 2013 increased 10 percent since the foreclosure notice was filed.

• Including the 2013 numbers, over the past eight years 10.9 million U.S. properties have started the foreclosure process and 5.6 million have been repossessed by lenders through foreclosure.

• Foreclosure starts decreased in 2013 compared to 2012 in 37 states. States with the most significant decreases in foreclosure starts included California (down 60 percent from 2012), Arizona (down 59 percent from 2012), Colorado (down 58 percent from 2012), Georgia (down 47 percent from 2012) and Michigan (down 42 percent from 2012) – all non-judicial states.

Destin is waiting for your family are you ready for the best beaches in Florida Panhandle. The choice is yours, the time is now.

2013 is shaping up to become a seller friendly in residential real estate, especially if you’re looking to find land for sale in Fort Lauderdale. A recent poll by Fannie Mae indicated a bullish market for housing. Polls concluded that many American’s had a more positive outlook on the job market than in recent times past. This coincides with data that shows an increase of 157,000 jobs in January, 196,000 in December, and 247,000 jobs in November. More jobs created means more interest in home ownership. This rising demand will lead to higher prices in homes that will in turn draw more inventories into the market. Housing prices rose 8.3% year-over-year in December 2012, marking the biggest year-over-year increase since May 06’. Things are looking up for the housing and mortgage market that has seen lending rates rise almost every week since late November.

Panama City Beach Mardi Gras is a two day festival and parade as the Krewe of Dominique Youx celebrates the season. Come out and jopin the fun Friday & Saturday in the heart of Pier Park for one of the most fabulous Mardi Gras events around!

Housing inventory continues to decline.
At the end of November, 2.03 million existing homes were available for sale―a 4.8 month supply at the current sales pace. There haven’t been this few homes on the market since September 2005, when the supply would have lasted 4.6 months.

Asking prices of homes listed for sale on real estate portal Trulia.com in January were up from a year ago in 86 of the 100 largest U.S. metros, according to a monthly report released today.

The report, which covers roughly 4.5 million for-sale and for-rent properties listed on Trulia through Jan. 31, showed asking prices up 5.9 percent from a year ago, and growing by a seasonally adjusted 0.9 percent from December to January — the biggest month-over-month gain since March 2012.