Duncan Duo Tampa Real Estate Video Blog

Is our market headed for a crash?Looking to buy a home? Search All HomesLooking to sell your home? Get a Free Home Value ReportMany people have been speculating that because of our market’s 21% growth in home prices in the last year, we’re repeating a similar cycle that we went through over a decade ago during the last housing crash. People who have bought into conspiracy theories fear that prices are going to plummet, there will be a wave of foreclosures, and the economy will crash. Today, however, we’re here to talk to you about the facts.We can tell you unequivocally that our market isn’t about to crash anytime soon. Nothing that is happening in our current market mirrors what was going on back then.One factor that contributed to the crash of 2007 to 2008 was that almost anyone who applied could get a loan, and not just one loan, but multiple loans that many people weren’t able to pay off. Since then, the mortgage industry has tightened up; there are more hoops to jump through if you want to get a loan today. Now they know to make sure that applicants are able to qualify for a loan before they’ll issue one.“      The circumstances surrounding today’s market are vastly different than we experienced back then.”Simple processes that we take for granted today, like appraisals, weren’t required back during the crash. Today, appraisals are taken more seriously. Even though the market has appreciated, we in the industry are still dealing with many appraisal challenges.The biggest deciding factor that caused the crash was an overabundance of homes in the market. We had too many homes and not enough buyers. Today, as I’m sure you’re aware by now, we have the opposite problem—there aren’t enough homes on the market to meet the buyer demand. Right now, we have one month’s supply of homes, and each house that we list in the regular price ranges is receiving upwards of 10 offers. Not only that, but these buyers are owner-occupiers, not investors, meaning that they’re buying homes to live in. During the crash, many investors were buying up properties for speculative purposes.The only thing that seems like it would be capable of slowing our market down would be an increase in interest rates. That would slow demand, but it wouldn’t cause home prices to plummet.All in all, don’t believe the conspiracy theories about the market heading for a crash. The circumstances surrounding today’s market are vastly different than we experienced back then. If you have any questions about the market or real estate in general, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to speak with you.

Here are the benefits of choosing an experienced agent.Looking to buy a home? Search All HomesLooking to sell your home? Get a Free Home Value ReportGreat real estate agents understand how to negotiate and market homes, and they also know how to take advantage of a heated market like ours. Even though it’s now commonplace today, we’ve been generating bidding wars and selling homes for above asking price for over a decade. Our agents come from a place of abundance; they’re doing a ton of transactions and are well-compensated for it; they’ll never try moving things along just so that they can get a check. Being a buyer’s agent in this market is especially tough. It takes a lot of experience and effort to be able to secure a home for a buyer at all, given how low inventory has been. A good buyer’s agent needs to know how to navigate multiple-offer situations, and unfortunately, many newer agents don’t know how to do it.Be sure to compare and contrast your options for agents when seeking professional assistance. Don’t just work with your friend or family member because they’re there or you feel obligated—no matter how close to them you are, if they don’t have the right skill set, they may end up costing you by leaving money on the table or failing to negotiate the best deal.“      Now is not the time to hire an inexperienced agent.”No matter if you’re buying or selling, if you’re planning to act in this market, you’ll need an experienced professional who has the power of a team behind them. Transactions today are more complicated than they used to be, so it’s invaluable to be able to take advantage of multiple specialists to help yours move along swiftly and smoothly.Because we have such a large team, we’re able to collaborate in order to find properties that aren’t even on the market yet, as well as create strategies to secure properties for buyers and the best prices for sellers. We also have access to professional marketing resources like photography and videography, which can boost the appeal of a seller’s listing. Brand-new agents likely can’t afford the latest technology and tools to get you the best results.If you’ve been thinking about buying or selling a home, reach out to the Duncan Duo Team at RE/MAX. We’d be happy to speak in more detail about how our combined experience can help you find success no matter what you’re looking to do.

Now is the perfect time for you to sell your Tampa home. Here’s why.Looking to buy a home? Search All HomesLooking to sell your home? Get a Free Home Value ReportWe’re still in one of the hottest real estate markets we’ve ever seen, and it’s created a lot of unique situations for buyers and sellers alike. In particular, there are many opportunities for sellers to make a fantastic profit.Few people expected that the pandemic would cause such an influx of homebuyers in Florida. People who would normally leave the state have chosen to stay instead, so supply and demand are heavily favoring the sellers. Additionally, record-low interest rates have continued.We have less than a month of inventory in many of our markets, so a lot of bidding wars are taking place and netting sellers top dollar on their sales. Really, there’s never been a better time for sellers to jump into real estate. Additionally, sellers haven’t needed to do the upgrades and renovations they normally would in the past. You can still get offers above asking price when you sell your home as is, which nets you an even bigger profit. Home prices have also appreciated 21% year over year.“      If you’re on the fence or waiting to sell, we recommend that you jump into the market sooner rather than later.”However, new laws may take effect next year that affect capital gains taxes. For example, people can currently avoid paying a capital gains tax if they live in their property for two of the last five years. There are talks of ending this within the next year, which is another reason why now is a good time to sell.If you’re on the fence or waiting to sell, we recommend that you jump into the market sooner rather than later. A lot of things are likely to change in the near future, and these changes can cause you to miss out on great profits in your home sale. If you have any questions, would like more information, or are ready to sell your home, feel free to reach out to us. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Here are four reasons why we’re not in a market bubble that’s soon to burst.Looking to buy a home? Search All HomesLooking to sell your home? Get a Free Home Value ReportAs we head into the second quarter of 2021, there’s a lot of fear out there regarding the real estate market. People see that prices are continuing to rise and they’re concerned—understandably so—about the potential for a bubble in the market leading to a crash. Will we see a collapse like we saw a decade ago? Are prices about to fall? The answer to all of these questions is unequivocally no; we are not in the midst of a bubble, and a crash isn’t on the horizon. Here’s why: 1. Limited supply. Leading up to the ‘08 crash, we had an abundance of homes on the market, and not many people were actually interested in buying them. Builders ramped up production and greatly outpaced natural demand. Currently, we have fewer than two months of inventory across most neighborhoods and price ranges in Tampa Bay, meaning that there’s more demand than supply; prices will rise organically. Our market isn’t unstable or unnatural—it’s being fueled by basic economic principles. We can’t say the same for the manipulated market that existed between 2005 and 2008. That leads me to my next point… 2. The housing demand is real. We don’t have all the faulty and fake loans out there. Nowadays, it’s much harder to qualify for a loan; you have to send in more documents to verify more components of your financial profile before receiving approval.“      In the early to mid-2000s, Americans were using their houses like ATMs.”3. Households in 2021 have plenty of equity. In the early to mid-2000s, Americans were using their houses like ATMs. There was almost an economic assumption that equity exists solely to help you buy things like a new car or splurge on a fun vacation. This type of thinking left many vulnerable to a market correction. Today’s homeowners are not overextending themselves; they’re using their equity more judiciously. If you look at the stats, you’ll see that the majority of homeowners today are in much, much stronger equity positions than homeowners last decade. 4. Real estate is hyperlocal. What happens in one market doesn’t necessarily indicate what will happen in another. Here in Tampa Bay, we have several factors that will help keep our market hot for the foreseeable future. First, there's the population growth; more people are moving here than are moving away. Our builders are still lagging behind demand! Fewer people are selling their homes (though I think that that’s a mistake, considering they might get hit with an unpleasant new tax bill soon). Additionally, we have low taxes and fantastic weather. Last but not least, we have winning sports teams! We won the Stanley Cup and the Super Bowl, and our MLB team contended in last year’s World Series.So there you have it—four reasons why you should put your market bubble fears to bed. Hopefully this helped put things into perspective. As always, reach out by phone or email if you have questions about this or any other real estate topic. I’m here to help, and it’d be my pleasure to have a more in-depth conversation with you.

Here’s how potential capital gains tax changes impact homeowners.Looking to buy a home? Search All HomesLooking to sell your home? Get a Free Home Value ReportPotential tax law changes on the horizon could impact home sellers’ capital gains rates and exclusions. Currently, sellers are allowed to sell their primary residence and not pay the capital gains tax if they’ve lived in that residence for at least two out of the past five years. Married couples can exclude up to $500,000 worth of capital gains, while single homeowners can exclude up to $250,000.Due to the run-up of our real estate market, many homeowners out there are sitting on a lot of equity. If they wait until next year or any year afterward to sell their properties, they could pay an enormous amount of capital gains. For our team’s savvy home sellers who don’t want to miss out on taking advantage of home appreciation, we recommend that they sell now, collect their capital gains tax-free, and buy a comparatively priced home in the same area or market. If you’re in the same situation, this simple lateral move protects you from the coming tax basis. Similarly, investors and landlords who own lots of properties could be looking to sell them because it’s a lock that capital gains rates are rising. If you’re an investor or landlord, you can look at this as an opportunity to take a greater gain as well. Of course, you can always buy back properties and take part in the appreciation that’s expected to happen in the next few years.“      This simple lateral move protects you from the coming tax basis.”However, because these tax changes haven’t been formally announced yet, people are waiting to see what happens. The problem here is that if you wait too long, you may not be able to sell your property within the same year. It’s not just about when you list your property—it’s about when you close on it. If you wait too long to list and your property closes next year, you won’t get the same benefit. Many of our smart, wealthy clients who own primary residences worth $500,000 to $1 million and have $200,000 to $500,000 worth of equity are selling now and buying comparable properties for this very reason. They also plan on staying in their new properties until the tax laws swing back the other way. If you’re afraid that home prices will keep rising, they may do so in the coming year, but that rise gets offset by what you’d have to pay in capital gains if you wait to sell. The longer you wait, the more you put yourself at risk, and there’s never been a better time to sell real estate in Tampa Bay. Inventory is low, we’re seeing high population growth, and there are tons of strong economic indicators. We’re seeing bidding wars across all price ranges and homes selling far above asking price, so talk to an agent and review your options. We’d be happy to give you a free consultation or determine what your home would sell for in this market, so give us a call or shoot us an email today. If you have any other real estate needs, feel free to reach out to us as well. Also, be sure to check out our weekly radio show every Sunday at 10 a.m. on 970 AM. We look forward to hearing from you!

If you’re buying a home, avoid making these five disastrous mistakes.Looking to buy a home? Search All HomesLooking to sell your home? Get a Free Home Value ReportThere are five fatal mistakes that too many homebuyers make during the home-buying process:1. Hiring an inexperienced agent. This includes hiring people like your close friends and family because you’d feel guilty if you didn’t. Many people work in real estate part time and unfortunately can't always provide the resources, tools, and experience needed to help you navigate to a successful closing. Hiring an inexperienced agent to help you could cost you tens of thousands of dollars, a lot of heartache, and cause you to make further mistakes in the transaction. More experienced agents do more transactions, have more experience, and can therefore help you get to the closing table.2. Failing to get a home inspection. Home inspectors are trained to find things that are wrong with a house. Like when they hire agents, many people look to their friends and family to help, only to find out months after the transaction that something had been missed or poorly assessed. Hiring a professional home inspector is a must in every real estate transaction.“      Don’t go out and make major credit purchases until after you close on the home.”3. Changing jobs. Any change in your job environment during a home purchase can cause issues with your mortgage. It doesn’t matter if you’ll make more money at your new job; it’s a risk the bank doesn’t want to take. Keep your job during the process, and be sure to document any bonuses you receive. 4. Making credit purchases. We’ve helped countless people who, after qualifying for a home, have gone out and purchased new furniture at 0% interest. That throws their debt-to-income ratio out of whack, and they’ll find that they can’t qualify with their lender to buy the home. Don’t go out and make major credit purchases until after you close on the home.5. Choosing the cheapest insurance. Far too many people buy the cheapest insurance policies they can, pass on flood insurance, or fail to get the proper coverage for certain elements of the home. Later when they have a claim, their claim is denied, meaning that they’re out potentially tens of thousands of dollars all because they didn’t want to pay an extra $100 a month for good coverage. Shop around for insurance before you pick one because buying the cheapest insurance is a recipe for disaster.If you have any questions about what it takes to successfully buy a home in our current market, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to help you.

Here are a few things to consider before buying your first investment property.Looking to buy a home? Search All HomesLooking to sell your home? Get a Free Home Value ReportWhich tips do you need to remember to start off on the right foot as a first-time home investor?First, you’ll notice that I say “home investor” instead of “homebuyer” because I don’t think you should own your first investment property before you own your first home. Therein lies my first tip. Owning your own home before buying an investment property can teach you a lot about what can go wrong, how to fix things, what you are (and are not) capable of doing yourself, etc. Don’t put the cart before the horse and start buying up investment properties while you’re still paying someone else’s rent. Next, start small. Far too many people try hitting a home run with their first real estate investment and end up striking out. Continuing with our baseball parlance, just try hitting a single. Get a rental property you can manage yourself so you can learn how to screen tenants and identify ways you can increase rent. It’s a low-risk, high-reward opportunity. If you screw things up, you can probably correct the situation without it costing you too much. Additionally, the property can appreciate greatly over time and give you ample tax benefits.“      Once you buy your first rental property, you have to treat it like a business.”As time goes on, you can branch off into buying multifamily properties, commercial properties, more individual units, or start flipping homes. First, though, start small and build from there. Being a real estate investor is, in essence, its own separate business. As you gain more skills, you can grow your portfolio. Last but not least, hire a team of professionals. You need a team of property managers, real estate professionals, and contractors you trust to help you. Before buying any rental properties, you need to know who’ll be working on them, managing them (if you’re not), and offering you legal advice so you can successfully run your real estate investment business. Again, once you buy your first rental property, you have to treat it like a business. You have to give it its proper due by ensuring it’s properly managed by a group of professionals. If you’d like to know more about buying your first investment property or have any real estate needs I can assist you with, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to hear from you.

Here’s why buying and selling during the holidays is still a great idea.Looking to buy a home? Search All HomesLooking to sell your home? Get a Free Home Value ReportObviously, 2020 is different from previous years, but excluding the week around Christmas and New Year’s, we are always very busy. In fact, December is one of our busiest months for closings. There are a myriad of factors that drive this trend. For example, people are looking for tax breaks or they’re looking to make a change before school resumes. Since our market doesn’t have a dead season, homes for sale are always going to look their best.If you were in the market to buy a home now, you’d probably be looking at a December closing as it is. Since our market is low on inventory, many people who didn’t find the home they wanted during the summer are now taking a step back and assessing how they could potentially move during their time off around the holidays.“      It’s pretty much always a good time to buy or sell in our market.”Aside from a busy, year-round market, we also have historically low interest rates, an appreciating real estate market, and many other good, local economic indicators. Furthermore, if you buy or sell during the holidays, there’s also the convenience of moving when the weather is cooler.The bottom line is that it’s pretty much always a good time to buy or sell in our market. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Need to buy sight unseen? Thank goodness we’re in the digital age!Looking to buy a home? Search All HomesLooking to sell your home? Get a Free Home Value ReportIn Tampa Bay, we almost always see a surge of people coming down in the summer, but this summer we’ll likely see even more people who want to move here to enjoy the affordability, low taxes, and the absence of a state income tax—not to mention to get out of their crowded city apartments after months of lockdown. So, if you’re moving out of state in today’s market, how do you buy a home sight unseen? In recent months, more people than ever have been doing this out of an abundance of caution amid the coronavirus pandemic.Buying sight unseen isn’t new, especially here in Florida where there are a lot of investors and folks buying vacation homes. Doing it effectively, however, requires some extra awareness.Cited below for your convenience are timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video. Feel free to watch the full message, or use these timestamps to skip to topics that interest you most:1:16 — The importance of working with an agent that truly understands your needs2:10 — You don’t have to be physically present at the closing table3:26 — Do as much digital research on the area (and the agent who will help you move there) as possible4:34 — Don’t give up a property that’s poorly listed; ask your agent to fill in the gaps5:20 — Wrapping things upAs always, if you have questions about anything that was discussed in this video or real estate in general, you know who to call or email! We’re available to address your concerns and listen to your unique home buying or selling situation. Don’t forget to follow us on social media as well! Have an awesome day.

Home sellers in our market will be very pleased with this update. Looking to buy a home? Search All HomesLooking to sell your home? Get a Free Home Value ReportA lot of people don’t realize that we’re in such a strong seller’s market here in Tampa Bay. Bidding wars are back, homes are selling above asking price, and even the luxury market is moving quickly.Although this sentiment sounds sales-y, it’s the truth. If you would have talked to me a few months ago I wouldn’t have believed it. However, the limited inventory we have right now when combined with the high demand we’re seeing from buyers is making our market very strong.“The No. 1 way to make sure your home sells fast in this market is to price it right.”Although sales were down for the last few months, inventory has decreased as well. The No. 1 way to make sure your home sells fast in this market is to price it right. Don't give the consumer any reason to believe that something is wrong with your property. If the home’s overpriced, the consumer will go down that road, whether it’s valid or not.We can help you sell your home for top dollar in the traditional way, but we can also buy it from you directly with our cash offer program.If you have questions for us or any real estate needs that we can assist with, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. We look forward to hearing from you.

Here’s what we expect to see this summer in the Tampa Bay housing market. Looking to buy a home? Search All HomesLooking to sell your home? Get a Free Home Value ReportEveryone thought that the Tampa market was only going to get worse due to everything happening with COVID-19. Granted, there hasn’t been as much inventory for buyers to choose from, but there have been plenty of buyers out looking because interest rates have dropped so low.In short, the pandemic helped generate pent-up demand, and now it seems like all those sellers who previously withdrew from the market are coming back in droves to put their homes up for sale.On top of that, as the country starts to reopen, there’s the fact that many people who have spent way more time at home than they ever planned to have decided that they want to move to the suburbs and other, less-crowded areas. People were already flocking from New York to Florida before the pandemic, but that’s a trend that we expect to continue as we move through the summer.“All in all, ours is still a robust market, and we anticipate it to remain that way for quite some time.”If you’re a homeowner who plans to sell this year, know that you’re in a great position to fetch a premium price for your property simply because there isn’t a lot of inventory from which to choose. Even if more sellers started putting their homes on the market, it would still take a while for the inventory to catch up to the demand.All in all, ours is still a robust market, and we anticipate it to remain that way for quite some time. Homes are selling quickly (many with multiple offers), interest rates are low, and demand is high.If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. In the meantime, be sure to catch “The Duncan Duo Real Estate Show” every Sunday morning at 10 a.m. on 970 AM WFLA. Hope to hear from you soon!

Why should you work with a local lender instead of a national lender? Today we’ll explain.Lots of online lenders that have a nationwide reach can be misleading when it comes to getting information about quotes, interest rates, and the fees and services they offer. This is especially problematic for first-time homebuyers in the market who are trying to figure out what their monthly payment would be if they bought a home.In places like Florida and the Bay Area, things like homeowners insurance rates, property taxes, and closing costs tend to be much higher. A local lender will be more familiar with the specific nuances of your area’s market than a national lender would be, so they’ll be able to use that information to give you a more accurate picture of what your monthly payment would be. They’ll also be able to tell you, for example, whether or not the home you’re purchasing is in a flood zone, which would mean you’d need to get a flood insurance policy with the home—this could also greatly affect your monthly payment.“A local lender will be more familiar with the specific nuances of your area’s market than a national lender would be. ”Additionally, national lenders sometimes send you an online calculator that allows you to punch in some information and then shoots out an estimate of your monthly payment. You might think that that’s a great service, but often that estimate is lower than everyone else’s because they use a standardized, fake number for taxes and insurance. They can’t know the taxes and insurance on the house until they actually have a house to assess. So, when it comes to using online calculators, be sure to only pay attention to the principal and interest.Another thing to consider is that a national lender may offer you a great interest rate, causing you to think you’ve struck gold, but once you look at the loan origination fees, closing costs, and the points that you pay in order to get that rate, you’ll learn that the overall costs may be substantially higher. Make sure that when you’re comparing different lenders, you’re comparing apples to apples.All in all, working with local lenders will help prevent you from making certain, potentially costly mistakes when it comes to purchasing a house, on top of saving you time and money.If you have any questions or would like recommendations regarding local lenders we know and trust, reach out to us. We’d love to speak with you.

Many people like to begin the home buying process by window-shopping for homes. But if you’re truly serious about purchasing, there are a few steps you need to take first. Robert Johnson, president of the Duncan Duo Team, is here to help mewith the preliminary steps to take before going out to view homes.1. Speak to a lender and get pre-approved first. Yes, this is a scary part of the process to many, but it’s also very important to do this before becoming attached to one home or another. If you get pre-approved before going to view homes, you’ll have an idea of how much you’ll be approved for, which will narrow down your choices. It will also give you an idea of what sort of monthly payment you’ll be looking at once you close on the home. Additionally, the home you’ve chosen may get taken before you even complete the approval process.Further still, many agents won’t work with buyers who haven’t been pre-approved. If you’re concerned about your credit getting in the way of your approval, at least you’ll know where you are, and most lenders can help you form a gameplan to get your credit to where it needs to be in order to qualify for a home loan. Imagine finding out that you don’t qualify for a loan after you’ve set your sights on a home!“Imagine finding out that you don’t qualify for loan after you’ve set your sights on a home! ”2. Instead of just looking for homes online, try driving around to see what’s out there. You might see homes you love online, but you may find that when you get there, they’re not what you thought they’d be. By driving around, you can see what the home looks like in person.When you find a home you like, it’s also a good idea to measure your commute times. You don’t want to move to a place that will add unnecessary amounts of time to your daily commute to work! Additionally, observe the surrounding neighborhood after dark; this will help you get a well-rounded perspective on the neighborhood so that you can be sure it’s a right fit for you.If you have any questions about buying a home or about real estate in general, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Duncan Duo. We’d love to help you navigate the process so you can find the home of your dreams.

To really know if an offer suits your needs as a home seller, there are three factors you need to look at: time, money, and terms.Once you start getting offers, how do you know which one is best for you?To determine the quality of an offer, there are three factors to consider: time, money, and terms. One offer might have the highest price, but its terms might require a longer closing. It’s like we always tell our clients—you can have two offers that are both worth $250,000, but each offer can vary in terms of risk once you analyze their terms.Typically, there are two types of sellers: those who prioritize time and those who prioritize money. Some sellers prioritize each equally, but you need to know who you are as a seller. Do you need your sale to happen in a timely manner because of outside circumstances (e.g., a job relocation) or do you just want to get the most money possible out of your sale? Once you figure that out, you’ll know what kind of offers to look for.“Always communicate with your agent what factors are most important to you so they can advise you on which offer best suits your needs. ”If time and convenience are more important to you, you should consider going with an instant offer program. These types of programs guarantee quick, convenient, all-cash purchases. However, you usually have to sacrifice something for that convenience. Companies that buy homes do so in order to resell them and make a profit, so you typically won’t sell yours to them for maximum value.Of course, if you prioritize making the most money possible from your home sale, you’re better off listing it the traditional way. You’re not required to accept an offer just because it’s the highest price, though. Highest doesn’t always mean best. It’s not unusual for a seller to accept a lower-priced offer from another buyer because they’re further along in the pre-qualification process and they’re working with a lender you and your agent trust.On that note, always communicate with your agent what factors are most important to you so they can advise you on which offer best suits your needs.If you have any questions about this or any other real estate topic, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to speak with you.

 Though our market is shifting, there’s no need to worry about a downturn happening anytime soon. What’s the latest news from our Tampa Bay/Sarasota market?The statistics from the beginning of the year showed that home sales decreased year over year. However, the most recent numbers from the month of February saw year-over-year increases in both the average price and home sales. Along with these gains, inventory increased and interest rates remained low, which kept our market nice and balanced. Though supply is catching up with demand, it’s still a seller’s market in Tampa Bay, while Sarasota’s market is becoming more of a buyer’s market. We are seeing a shift in the market, but not in the way you might think. We’re shifting into more of a stabilizing, balanced market, and what consumers want is shifting as well. That being said, any fear that we’re about to roll into some kind of downturn is unfounded.“Any fear that we’re about to roll into some kind of downturn is unfounded. ”If you’re a seller and your home is priced well and looks good, it’s going to sell. If you’re a buyer, you might still have to compete against other offers, but not nearly as many as you previously would have. In general, the higher the price range you look in, the less competition you’ll have to deal with. In short, all things point to a solid 2019 for Tampa Bay and Sarasota. If you’d like to know more about what’s happening in our market or you’re thinking of buying or selling a home, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to help you.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are in the midst of a historic season. Help us celebrate them, and you, at our upcoming client appreciation event.RSVP to attend our Annual Client Appreciation Party at Amalie Arena on 3/10 As we head into the final quarter of the season, our Tampa Bay Lightning are in a familiar position: Atop the Atlantic Division. What’s not so familiar is the record-breaking season that we’ve been having. With a 17-point lead over the next closest Eastern Conference foe, we’re all but assured home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs. We’re so proud to be the Official Real Estate Agents of this team. The excellence they bring to the rink every night inspires us to bring our best for our clients, and it’s inspired us to throw our annual client appreciation party at Amalie Arena.“The excellence they bring to the rink inspires us to bring excellence to our clients. ”On Sunday, March 10, we would love for you to join us for an afternoon of fun for the whole family at the home of the Lightning. We’ll have visits from team personnel, giveaways, skating, kid-friendly games, and so much more. RSVP for the event here.If you have any questions for us about the event or about anything else related to real estate, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email today. We look forward to hearing from you and we can’t wait to see you on March 10!

 Our partnerships don’t just benefit us; they benefit you, as well. RSVP to attend our Annual Client Appreciation Party at Amalie Arena on 3/10 If you haven’t heard the great news, we’re happy to announce our continued partnership as the official agents of the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team. In addition, we’re now partners with the University of South Florida.USF is a huge employment center throughout the entirety of Tampa Bay, and the Lightning team is a winning organization that’s helping to revitalize the downtown area.“We can point faculty, staff, and players toward your listings, giving you an advantage over the competition. ”So, what does this mean for you? If you’re employed by USF or the Tampa Bay Lightning, you’ll receive a $500 credit to go toward your closing costs. Even if you’re not employed by either of these organizations, our partnerships give your property more exposure when you sell with us. We can point faculty, staff, and players toward your listing, giving you an advantage over the competition. If you’re looking to buy or sell a home, have any questions, or need more information, feel free to reach out to us. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

 Today I’m joined by Robert Johnson, president of The Duncan Duo Team and co-host of our 970 WFLA radio show, to talk to about what it’s like to buy a house out of state.If you’re looking to buy a home in a different state and you visit an area you’re interested in during a holiday, you might get a different impression of what that area is like than what it is normally. For example, there may be more or less traffic, so you need to rely on an area expert’s advice beyond just your initial impressions.Further still, people who buy homes out of state tend to operate on their preconceived notions about how real estate works in their area, but real estate is very local; what might work in Michigan or New York isn’t necessarily going to work in Tampa Bay. Rules, laws, and procedures can vary by state, and you’ll need a local expert to help you navigate the differences between your home state and the state you’re buying in. For example, Florida is a title state, not an attorney state, meaning that title companies oversee the closing process instead of an attorney.It’s also important to keep in mind the importance of flood insurance. You might be operating on your current understanding of insurance costs when thinking of purchasing in Florida, but some locations like Tampa Bay require you to be aware of factors like flooding and flood insurance.“Rules, laws, and procedures can vary by state, and you’ll need a local expert to help you navigate the differences between your home state and the state you’re buying in. ”If you plan to do anything with the home other than occupy it yourself, make sure you look into local laws regarding renting it out. Airbnb and VRBO are great resources for you to rent out a property or do short-term leasing, but some municipalities and homeowners associations are against them.Florida’s homestead exemption laws are something to keep an eye on, too. The tax applications that come from renting out the property full-time and occupying the home are different, so be sure to speak with an expert about those options, depending on your plans.Finally, it’s important for out-of-state buyers to understand that other areas may have different expectations regarding property condition. You might be from an area that doesn’t need gutters, that doesn’t have a lot of water retention, that doesn’t have the same pest issues as your new area, or that doesn’t have the same issues with mold growth due to climate. Understand how certain items on an inspection report may not be as big of a deal here (or may be even bigger) as they are where you’re from.If you have any questions about buying property out of state, especially if you’re considering buying in Florida, reach out to us. We’d love to help you.

 Should you sell your home in the winter? Today I’ll give you some points to consider.Why might you want to sell your home during the winter? Here are a few reasons:1. Buyers are motivated. Buyers on the market during the winter have a sense of urgency to purchase a home, and as such, they may overpay for the sake of time and convenience.2. Homestead exemptions. Many people want to purchase their home by the end of the year so they can take advantage of the homestead exemption. If they wait until January 1, they’ll pay their taxes a year later. As we’ve seen, home values have been rising, which in turn means that property taxes will be higher for them.“By selling during the winter, you have less of a chance of attracting tire-kickers and looky-loos. ”3. There’s less competition from other sellers. Since most people tend to list their home in the spring and summer, it creates a mass entry of inventory; buyer demand can’t always keep up. Selling in the winter means that there will be fewer sellers on the market, which means that buyers will notice your listing more than they might in the spring.4. There’s less of a flurry of activity. By selling during the winter, you have less of a chance of attracting tire-kickers and looky-loos, which means you’ll waste less time on entertaining non-serious buyers. It also means you’ll spend less time on home showings; since winter buyers are more serious, it may only take one showing to one person to get your home sold.5. Title companies and mortgage lenders are often overbooked with business during the summer. Because of this, they sometimes rush through the process and provide lower-quality service. In the winter, they don’t have as many transactions to deal with, so the service quality tends to be higher. When certain details are missed or overlooked by mortgage and title companies, it can cost you money, time, and convenience.I hope this information was insightful and impactful to you. It is, however, important to keep in mind that we will not universally recommend selling your home during the winter; each market and home seller situation is different, and our guidance will be influenced by your neighborhood and market.If you have any questions about selling your home during the winter or were already considering doing so, we would love the opportunity to help you. Feel free to reach out to us anytime.

 Today, we’ll be letting you in on the truth about all-cash, hedge fund offers. You’ve probably heard already about the Wall Street hedge fund buyers that have come into Tampa Bay to purchase property directly from investors. While this may be a convenient option, it isn’t right for everyone. In fact, the convenience of these all-cash offers can be very costly. Advertisements for these national hedge fund buyers tend to make it seem as if they don’t carry a commission fee, but this isn’t the case. Oftentimes, the commission rate for a hedge fund buyer is higher than what you’d pay to a traditional agent. Essentially, you’re paying more to earn less. If you care about netting top dollar for your home while extracting the most possible equity from your current home, you’re likely better off pursuing the traditional listing route. Specifically, we recommend you work with us: the Duncan Duo.“When you work with all-cash hedge fund buyers, you’re generally paying more to earn less. ”We can sell your home quickly and for top dollar, but you don’t have to just take our word for it. We have hundreds, if not thousands, of reviews and testimonials from satisfied clients who have seen the power of what we can do. Not only do we offer a more lucrative experience,but we are also very upfront about what you can expect. We won’t nickel-and-dime you. The bottom line is this: There are instances where an all-cash offer from an investor is a better choice, such as in the case of a distressed sale, but this is very seldom the case. When you hire the right team, a traditional real estate experience isn’t nearly as complex as these hedge fund investors might make it seem. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

If you only follow the national real estate statistics, you might have a skewed perspective of what’s happening on a local level. Here’s what’s really going on in our market.The RE/MAX National Housing Report comes out every month, and it discusses national statistics for home sales. These statistics can be misleading; you might see a number that suggests sales are down for the year on a national scale, but that doesn’t mean sales are down locally.It’s important to remember that when you’re looking at national real estate trends, it’s a little like hearing a weather report that says the average high temperature in the United States is 82 degrees. That’s simply an overall look at the national average, and it shouldn’t be used to determine the weather (or market activity) on a local scale.Local market statistics may be doing much better or worse than what the National Housing Report says. The most recent report from September noted that real estate values were up 5.6% year over year, but sales were down 11%.This is interesting because if you look at Tampa, for example, sales are actually up 8.2% year over year; that means we’re outperforming the national market trend as a whole.“Overall, I think this softening of the market will do us some good. ”If you watch the news about real estate, you’ve probably heard that a market shift is imminent. I think that it will impact Tampa, stabilizing and flattening out the market. Because there are so many home sellers who are having trouble selling, there is more inventory on the market for buyers. Many of these sellers are concerned that they won’t be able to find or buy a home to replace their listing.Overall, I think this softening of the market will do us some good. It’s creating more inventory for buyers, and it will eventually make sellers comfortable enough to sell. Prices are at historic highs, but the number of sales hasn't decreased here as it has nationally. Further to that, we’re experiencing a lot of job growth via corporations relocated here, in addition to our booming local economy. We’re still seeing a lot of great things here in Tampa Bay.This shift we’re expecting is not the same thing as a recession—we’ll simply be moving from having three months of inventory to having around four, five, or six months’ worth. The shift means the market is balancing, which in turn means that there won’t be as much pressure on either buyers or sellers.For any questions you have about buying, selling, or moving to a new home, please reach out to us. We’d be happy to help you partake in that adventure.

Today I’m here with team president Robert Johnson to talk to you about home inspections. What should buyers, in particular, expect during that process?Many first-time homebuyers make it to the point of home inspections in the home buying process and have a breakdown, as though the world were going to end. But the inspection report is written in a way that’s meant to spook you, so we’re here to impart some knowledge onto you so that you can be prepared.There’s no such thing as a pass or a fail during a home inspection. It’s simply a report with a list of things that are wrong with the house—and every house typically has something on that list. You just need to go through the home inspection report and work with the inspector, and your agent can help you establish which are the main issues to focus on. Not everything listed on a home inspection report needs to be addressed immediately.“There’s no such thing as a pass or a fail during a home inspection ”Think of the inspection report as a blueprint for what needs fixing during the first few years of homeownership. It doesn’t mean that you can’t live in the home, just that you need to pay attention to those items.When you become a homeowner, you’ll naturally have to spend some money fixing things over time, but the trade-off is that you get the benefits of tax write-offs, equity, and creative control over the home.The inspection period is also sometimes an opportunity to renegotiate. Depending on what’s in the contract, you can sometimes have the seller pay for some or all of those items, or you can get a credit on the sale so that you can pay to have them addressed.Ultimately, don’t let the home inspection process freak you out. There will always be items on the report to be fixed, but those shouldn’t usually be bad enough to cause you to move on to a different home.If you have any questions about the home inspection process or are looking for a home to buy, feel free to reach out to us. We’d be glad to advise you.

Today we’re here to talk about something you’ve probably heard about from us before: our immediate cash-offer program. We’re going to discuss the benefits of this program and who might be a good candidate for it.We’ve always made home sale guarantees in the past. But, we started rolling out this new idea to give clients more convenience because a lot of people don’t want to deal with the process of listing the home.In addition to everything else we do as a team, we can give you an immediate cash offer for your home. You’ll have a quick close, few conditions, and we’re not looking to beat you up on inspections. You don’t have to lift a finger to sell your home with this program.“This is a great option for anyone who needs to move quickly. ”This is a great option for anyone who needs to move quickly, is worn out with the home selling process, or if you’ve inherited a property. In addition to providing you with this cash offer, we’ll also show you what you’ll leave on the table. If you’re weighing the options of having a traditional sale or taking the cash offer, we’ll show you what you’ll get from both options. We can help you decide what the right option is for you.If you’re interested in our immediate cash-offer program or if you have any other questions for us, don’t hesitate to reach out by phone, email, or on our website. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Being in the real estate business means being intricately involved in people’s lives when they decide to buy or sell a home.With that in mind, several years ago we established an approved vendors list. Our goal in creating this list is to provide you with referrals to companies that align with our core values and our mission statement, which is to give great service to our customers. No matter what your needs are as a homeowner, we have the resources you can lean on. The vendors on our list are companies we’ve referred thousands of people to, so we know they’ll take care of you. Working with someone you trust is especially important for anyone who’s moving to a new area or buying or selling a home for the first time. People come to us looking to see who we trust, and we can put them in touch with the people who are most important to us. For most of our providers, we prefer to have one company per niche. This way, we know that if there’s a problem, it can be more easily solved because of the exclusive relationship we’ve established with that company. Our customers always have the option of getting quotes from other people, but the vendors on our list are the ones we know and trust. The vendors on our list are the ones we know and trust. We’ve spent years building our brand and selling thousands of homes, and we’ve worked with some companies for many years. Not only does this kind of relationship allow for problems to get resolved more easily, but it also allows us to work better together to hit certain goals. We’ve been in working relationships with these companies for so long that our own agents use them. Once you’ve worked with these companies on your own and have had great experiences doing so, it’s easier to recommend them. If you’d like to see our full list of approved vendors, you can check it out on our website. If you’re a vendor and you’d like to join that list, you can apply on our website as well. As always, if you have any real estate questions or you’re looking to buy or sell a home, don’t hesitate to give us a call or shoot us an email. We’d love to help you.

Robert Johnson, the president of The Duncan Duo Team, joins me today to talk to you about something that may surprise you. If you had a short sale or foreclosure a few years ago, you may think that you cannot buy a home or you may hesitate to buy a new home because you are concerned about your credit.Well, we have some news for you: You may be able to buy again!Different mortgage lenders have different time frames, and every investor is a little bit different in terms of how that process works and when those events fall off. In fact, we are helping people every single week get into a home that had a short sale, foreclosure, or delinquency situation.So, if you are someone who bought and sold and then had a problem, do not be discouraged because there is an option out there for you.Also, since the economic crash happened so long ago, we started helping more and more people through those issues over the years. With the short sale they had to wait two or three years and three to four years for foreclosures, and that time has passed. Now we are seeing people who have foreclosures buying and selling.Even if enough time has passed since your foreclosure or short sale, you can have someone purchase the home you want and rent it from them until you are ready to purchase. There are a lot of programs out there that can help you, and oftentimes lenders will know about those programs that can help you buy. Many people are now considered first-time homebuyers again and are unaware of this because they have not talked to a real estate professional. Our team knows all about these opportunities and programs that are out there. We can educate and guide you the right way.If you're a buyer and not enough time has passed or your credit still isn't high enough, there are programs out there that allow you to pick the home you want, we have somebody else buy it, and then you rent it until your credit is where it needs to be for you to purchase it yourself. You can start buying it now without an actual mortgage.No matter what, you need a second opinion. There are companies out there that may be able to give you a loan in a great industry and if that is not possible, we can introduce you to one of the lease-to-own programs.Too often we see people who think that they cannot look at homes for sale when they can. It is about knowing your options and talking to a professional. If you are one of these many people who needs to know the options, feel free to reach out to us. We would love to help you make your owning goals a reality.