Clearwater Homes For Sale

Awesome Tips To Price Your Clearwater Home Right In The Sweet Spot

November 11, 2021 By Deborah Ward

It’s time to sell your Clearwater home. Do you know how to price it to get right into the sweet spot? That sweet spot where the home sells quickly and for the price you ask? There is a way to find that spot and here are some tips to get you there.

First, find out what comparable sales have taken place

Keep in mind that the asking price of a home is a lot different from the sales price of the home. For comparables you need to look at sales price, not list price. Look at sales prices for homes sold within the last three months.

Specifics to take into consideration

Next thing to keep in mind is that just because a home is in your neighborhood doesn’t mean yours is worth the same. There are a lot of different specifics to take into consideration. Things like lot size, number of bedrooms, number of baths, square footage of living space, whether it has a garage or not, and so on. Other things that make a difference are home upgrades. Just remember that improvements depreciate over time. If you made a home upgrade to a bathroom 10 years ago, it won’t add as much as an update you made a month ago. Also keep in mind that super trendy updates can actually hurt your value. Why? Because they appeal to a smaller audience.

Price is always market dependent

In a seller’s market, which is a market where there is a lot of people wanting to buy but not as many homes on the market, you can get away with a higher price. But don’t let that make you greedy. Sometimes pricing just below market can work for you. It could generate enough interest that a bidding war happens and you get more than you expected. Of course that isn’t guaranteed, but it’s happening more these days in some places. In a buyer’s market, which is when there are more homes listed than there are buyers looking, you might need to price your home a bit lower than market value to attract a buyer.

Still not sure what to do? Call The Deb Ward Team for great advice 727-410-0336. No one knows the local market better.

How To Price Your Home Right From The Start | Clearwater Realtor Tips

November 11, 2021 By Deborah Ward

Selling your home is stressful, especially if you don’t like the number your Realtor suggests to you as a selling price. You think your home is worth more or just that the price should be higher for “wiggle room” down the line. Bad idea. You should price your home right from the start.

Don’t start high and expect to drop the price later

The first bad idea is starting off with the thought process that you can always drop the price later. Sure, you can do that, but don’t expect the buyers to come running. There is real research on this and guess what? Homes that drop prices later sit on the market longer and sell for less. In fact, the more you drop the price, the lower your selling price will be. That’s because home buyers have a mindset about homes that are reduced. That mindset is “something must be really wrong with that house to have to drop the price.” There might or might not be, but there is no overcoming that mindset.

Setting the price higher for “wiggle room”

A higher price for wiggle room to negotiate is also a bad idea. Why? Because it means the people who would be able to buy your home at the negotiated down price won’t see it. Home buyers look for homes by price range. If you price your home out of the range of your target buyer they won’t even see it. Those who will see it are looking for homes with more amenities for their dollar, and more than your home has. They won’t make an offer that you can negotiate down. What will happen is your home will sit… for months. Then it’s a stale listing and buyers will again wonder what is wrong with your home.

What about the appraisal?

Let’s say you do get a contract at an inflated price. Their mortgage company or bank will require an appraisal. That appraisal better come back at your inflated price or that contract will go away. What are the chances of that appraisal happening?

Price your home fairly

What you want is to price your home fairly, or even just below market value. Yes, it goes against your gut feeling about your home’s value, but what it will get you is a sold home.

If you would like to get some real data about how to price your home for sale from a Clearwater Realtor, give us a call today! The Deb Ward Team 727-410-0336

A History of Clearwater Florida

November 11, 2021 By Deborah Ward

Clearwater, Florida like many of its surrounding towns, has a storied history. Present day Clearwater sits on the west coast of A History of Clearwater Florida Florida along the Gulf of Mexico.

Hundreds of years ago Clearwater was the home of the Tocobaga Indians. When Spanish explorers discovered the area the Tocobaga were a well established in the area.

Fort Harrison constructed

Around 1835 Fort Harrison, which was named after William Henry Harrison, was constructed to be used as an outpost during the Seminole Wars. The fort was located in a spot that was overlooking Clearwater Harbor, where today Harbor Oaks is located. Archaeologists from the University of South Florida uncovered an underground ammunition bunker on the spot.

Occupation Act

The Federal Occupation Act of 1842 caused a population growth. The Act offered 160 acres to anyone who would farm the land and also bear arms. Early settlers included the Stevens, Stevenson and McMullen families. Each claimed and farmed large tracts of land.

Clear Water Harbor

Initially the area was known as Clear Water Harbor, the “Clear Water” is believed to have come from a fresh water spring found near the location of the current City Hall building.
During the Civil War, most of the residents fought for the Confederacy. Union gunboats repeatedly raided the community’s supplies since it was largely unprotected.

Development really took off after Peter Demens completed the first passenger railroad line to Clearwater. It became a popular vacation destination and it’s reputation grew after railroad magnate Henry Plant built the Belleview Biltmore in 1897.

During World War II, Clearwater was a major training base for US troops destined for Europe and the Pacific. All of the hotels in the area, including the Belleview Biltmore and the Fort Harrison Hotel, were used as barracks for new recruits. Sand Key, then known as Dan’s Island, was used by the Army Air Corps for strafing and bombing practice.

Today, Clearwater is still a beacon for vacationers, but also a great place to live and soak up the history.

Who Is Going To Be Buying Your Next Listing?

November 11, 2021 By Deborah Ward

Did you know that knowing who your average prospective buyer is can help you sell your home? Makes sense. If you know that your average person looking at your home is a certain age range, income level, etc., you can target your efforts in marketing your home, and even in choosing a Realtor.

Know your target buyer

Let’s say that you have a condo in a 55+ community. You know that your target buyer is 55 years old or over, and probably has a certain income range. This will tell you to find a Realtor that specializes more in older clientele, who can bring them to you, but who also knows how to market to them.

So who is the average American home buyer? Depends on whether it’s a first or second home. So let’s look at both.

Average home buyer

The average home buyer in the US for a primary home is 33 years old and has an average income of $86,500.00. They mortgage 93% of the sale. If they are second home buyers the average age is 56 years old and has an average income of $112,500.00. They mortgage 83% of their purchase. This is probably because they have more savings, but also because a second home mortgage requires more down money.

So how is this useful? Well, a 33 year old is most likely settled in a career, possibly married and has a family, or is starting one. Your Realtor will know how to market your home to meet their criteria.

If you would like find out more about selling your home in the Tampa Bay area, give Deb Ward, The Irish Realtor a call today! 727-410-0336

Are We Looking At Another Real Estate Bubble?

November 11, 2021 By Deborah Ward

You’ve probably heard it on the mainstream news. Stories about how improving real estate markets are a sign that we are in another real estate bubble. Don’t believe it. Improving markets don’t mean a bubble.

Inventory

The stories often talk about homes being sold after a ton of traffic and bidding wars. It has to mean a bubble, right? Wrong. In most cases higher traffic and multiple offers are because of inventory levels.

Inventory in many markets are still at low levels. A healthy real estate market should have about a six month supply of homes. That’s not the case. The national average is 2,4 months supply of homes.

Mortgage underwriting standards

Last sign we aren’t in a bubble is mortgage underwriting standards are still quite high. In order to qualify for most mortgages, applicants need to have a FICO credit score of above 740, and have a decent amount in savings for not only a down payment, but also for living expenses for several months.

At the height of the bubble, getting a mortgage was exceedingly easy. So much so that those who really couldn’t afford to buy a home did, causing the burst.

All markets are different

There are markets where homes are overvalued, and others where they aren’t. Every market is different. When all markets start to see the loan-to-value ratio of real estate creeping back to pre-bubble burst levels, then panic. Until then, relax.

If you would like to find out more about the Clearwater Real Estate Market, give Deb a call today! 727-410-0336

Realtor Funnies | What Those Real Estate Descriptions Really Mean

November 11, 2021 By Deborah Ward

Realtor Funnies | What Those Real Estate Descriptions Really Mean If you’ve ever been on a house hunt you know that those descriptions that Realtors use say one thing but can mean entirely another. It may not seem funny at the time, but later it can seem rather hilarious. Forewarned is forearmed, so knowing about them can save you time and money.

Here is a fun list!!!

What it says:

What it means:

Lots of potential

This home is a total money pit!

Unique urban home

The building used to be an industrial location

One of a kind

Beyond ugly

Must see to believe

You won’t believe how awful it is

Starter home

Needs a ton of work so bid low

Sprawling ranch

Crazy floorplan that probably isn’t “open”

Spacious

Probably smaller than you would like

Charming

Definitely smaller than you want

Cozy

Have you heard of the tiny house movement?

Walking distance to shopping

No parking available so you have to walk

Natural setting

Deer and rabbits will eat your landscaping

Park like setting

You will have a tree, no matter how small

Secluded setting

Don’t count on your GPS actually finding it

Executive neighborhood

Taxes are through the roof

Upper bracket

If you have to ask you can’t afford it

Bright and sunny

The window coverings are not included

Lots of natural light

Light bulbs count as “natural”

You won’t believe the size of the closets

Because they are the size of a shoe box!

Original hardwood floors

Probably aren’t salvageable shape

Open floorplan

Doors are optional

Great home office space

The nook under the stairs is the office space

Needs some TLC

Run, run far away!

Waterfront location

The birdbath in the front yard has water in

Obviously not all Realtors subscribe to those descriptions, but it happens! Just remember when house hunting to keep your sense of humor and you’ll be fine!