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Issue # 101         
July 2016  
Dear (Contact First Name),  

Welcome to Summer!  We strive to keep you informed of the real estate market and trends that may affect your relocation, investment, or purchase decisions.  

You have expressed an interest in properties or rentals in either South Florida or Western North Carolina in the past and these periodic newsletters will help to keep you current of what is happening in the real estate industry nationwide and locally.   
 
Pending home sales continue to increase this month nationwide.  Mortgage rates continue to hover at the lower end making is very affordable to buy a home.

Retiring baby boomers who are looking to relocate are seekingsunnier weather and a lower cost of living ( no state income tax), according to the National Association of Realtors, which, in a recent study, turned up an interesting array of what it considers the most likely retirement destinations.

The trade group analyzed population trends, housing affordability and local economic conditions in metro areas around the country and came up with 15 spots most likely to see an influx of "leading-edge" boomers, ages 60-69. Florida claimed four of them and North Carolina had 2.

Please feel free to call me to discuss any and all matters relating to the real estate market in South Florida or Western North Carolina. 

Happy 4th of July,


Contact Kim N. Bregman, Optima Properties
4th of July


Lic. Real Estate Broker, FL & NC
REALTOR, MBA, ABR, NAEBA, FEBA 
 
In This Issue
Buyer's Guide  
 
Answers to common questions, resources, and tools.
 
 Finance Center

 

Articles, Calculators, Tools, and Advice  






 

MORTAGE RATES AS OF 6/30/16
30 YR FIXED
3.56
15 YEAR FIXED
2.83
1 YR FIXED
2.68
JUMBO 30 YR
FIXED
3.72
5/1 ARM
2.74



 

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2012 Head shot 
Kim N. Bregman    

Optima Properties 

 Lic. Real Estate Broker, FL & NC, REALTOR, MBA, ABR   

The greatest compliment that I can receive is a referral from clients, friends and co-workers.  Thank you for your trust.    

 

 

 

 

 Florida:
17914 Foxborough Lane
Boca Raton, FL 33496
561-251-7170 Cell
561-477-0676 Office
561-892-0937 Fax

North Carolina: 
581 Tsalagi Trail

Maggie Valley, NC 28751 
828-400-7953 Cell
828-400-7953 Office
561-892-0937 Fax

kim@optimaproperties.com
www.OptimaProperties.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
In The News!
 
 
Buy vs. Rent Index -U.S. Housing Moving Deeper into Buy Territory

The latest national index produced by Florida Atlantic University and Florida International University faculty indicates the United States housing market as a whole is moving deeper into buy territory, suggesting that, on average, residential housing markets around the country are sound.
 
Based on numbers from the end of the first quarter, the latest Beracha, Hardin & Johnson Buy vs. Rent (BH&J) Index comes on the heels of the latest S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index, which found home prices nationally climbed 5.4 percent since March 2015. "This appears to be driven by a steady but strengthening job market, rising rents relative to rising ownership costs and recent slower growth in traditional financial portfolios consisting of stocks and bonds," said Ken Johnson, Ph.D., a real estate economist who is one of the index's authors and an associate dean of graduate programs and professor in FAU's College of Business.
 
The BH&J Index measures the relationship between purchasing property and building wealth through a buildup in equity versus renting a comparable property and investing in a portfolio of stocks and bonds. It examines the entire housing market in the United States and isolates the markets of 23 major cities.
 
In terms of wealth creation, the U.S. housing market, when considered as a whole, has swung marginally more in favor of homeownership over renting a comparable property and investing monthly rent savings in a portfolio of stocks and bonds. Overall, 16 of the 23 metropolitan markets investigated moved in the direction of buy territory.
 
The metro areas of Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia and St. Louis remain solidly in buy territory.
 
"These cities should have room for price growth without much worry of overheating," said Eli Beracha, Ph.D., co-author of the index and assistant professor in the T&S Hollo School of Real Estate at FIU. "This is especially true for Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Detroit."
 
Cities such as Honolulu, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Pittsburgh, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle are hovering around what the index's authors refer to as the "indifference point" between buying versus renting.  In almost all of these metro markets, the BH&J Index score for the quarter moved in the direction of ownership. "This movement suggests that most consumers in these markets appear to have learned from the real estate crash and now understand that residential property prices can get too high," Beracha said. "This is a good sign for future housing price stability in these markets."
 
Meanwhile, two hot housing markets, Dallas and Denver, continued to move deeper into rent territory but at a slower rate than earlier quarters. "Strong economic support within these two markets should make for a soft landing in terms of slowing property price growth, increased marketing time for properties and lower probabilities that sellers will actually transact and close during a given marketing effort of their property," Johnson said.
  
 
 

Advice For Buyers!
What To Do After You Move  
  
After the last box is moved into your new home, you might think the hardest part of the move is over. And you're right. But that doesn't mean there aren't things you need to do after a move. In fact, there's a lot of stuff that needs to get done before you can relax completely.

 
Take photos: Photographer the empty home before you move one box in If you're renting, these are essential when the time comes to get your security deposit back. Photos are also important if you bought a new home; if any damage occurs to the walls and floors when the movers come you have documentation to file a claim.
 
Clean Everything: Another great way to take advantage of your still-empty abode is to give it a deep clean. Cleaning the floors, baseboards and windows will never be this easy again -- you'll have unhindered access to everything. Think about it: no curtains to take down, no rugs or furniture to move. And don't stop there. You can wipe down all the counter tops, shelves and drawers -- replacing shelf paper if necessary. Run a phantom load in the dishwasher and washing machine, clean out the oven if it needs it, and don't forget the refrigerator and freezer. If possible, hire a cleaning service to help you get it all done. If you aren't able to do the cleaning prior to unloading the moving van, hiring a cleaning service will be even more helpful.
 
Check your belongings for breakage -
If you hired movers to either pack or move your belongings, "you have a limited amount of time to report any suspected damage or missing items. Make sure that if a major appliance was moved"-such as a refrigerator, washer or dryer-"they still function as they should. Review your contract to determine liability coverage if you discover a problem."
 
Figure out when and where to leave your trash
As you unpack, you'll be eager to get rid of the trash, so finding out from your landlord, homeowners association or neighbors when and where you can do that is key. 
 
Change the locks
It's your home now, but who else had the keys when the previous residents lived there? No one wants even the slightest question about safety lingering over a new home. This makes swapping out locks as soon as you can "one of the most important things homeowners can do when they are settling into a new property
 
Register your car
If you've moved states, provinces or countries, register your car and get a new driver's license, tags and/or plates for your vehicles. Check your local DMV , http://www.dmv.org/relocation/, for more information.

If so, you'll need to register your car within about 60 days. Each state's requirements are slightly different, but penalties range from fines to impounding your vehicle if you fail to comply in a timely manner. You'll also need to get a new driver's license, usually within 30 days of your move.
 
Check your credit reports:
Your credit reports are usually accessed during a move, as everyone from new employers and landlords need to reference them for background checks. That's why it's important to "request a copy of your credit report within six months of your relocation. Besides ensuring that your address change was recorded accurately, you should also watch for inconsistencies that might indicate you've been a victim of fraud. During a move, a great deal of personal financial information is exchanged and forwarded via mail and email. It's important to make sure your personal information wasn't compromised.
 
Update your voting address
If you've moved cities, it's important to make sure you're on the voter's registration for your local area. You should also make sure you've updated all important files and documents with your new address. Most states allow a 60-day grace period during which time you can use an old address at your new polling place. For elections beyond that,register (http://www.eac.gov/voter_resources/ive_moved_recently_can_i_still_vote.aspx) at least two weeks prior so you don't miss out on swaying any important issues.
 
Get connected to your new neighborhood.
Buy a subscription to the local newspaper or community magazine. This will quickly get you up to speed on what's happening in your neighborhood.
 
Are you getting your mail?
Check with the post office or your old residence to make sure you're mail is being forwarded and that you've registered your new address
 
Find new health professionals...
Including doctors, a dentist and vet.  While this task can be put off for a bit, you'll be glad you know who to call when an emergency hits.
 
 
Create an emergency contact list.
Take the time to create an emergency contact list of all the local information I'll need should something happen.
 
Take care of your finances
 
Set up new accounts, have money transferred or order new checks with your new address.
 
Contact insurance companies, including household, auto and health. Find out if you're currently covered or if you need to create new policies with a new company. This is important to check especially if you're moving to a new state or province.
 
 
 
Vacation Rental
Come Visit Smoky Mountain National Park in the Western North Carolina Mountains This Summer -
100th Anniversary!

NC House Summer View 2011
Come to the Mountains this Spring and enjoy all the mountains have to offer!  

NC House Exterior
Horseback riding at Cataloochee Ranch & Ski Resort, visit eclectic Asheville,  hike in Smoky Mountain National Park and Pisgah Forest, see the Cataloochee Elk, gamble at Harrah's Casino, drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway and visit Cherokee.
 
Soaring Eagle Retreat, Luxury Log Home in
firepit
Waynesville/Maggie Valley available for rental. Just 15 minutes from the Cataloochee Ski Resort and Ranch 30 minutes from the National Parks and 30 minutes from Asheville and Cherokee.
 
 
Kim's Blog
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Optima Properties has beeen working as Exclusive Buyer Agents for 25 years. 

We service customers specifically looking for properties in South Florida and Western North Carolina. 

We act as consultants, advisors, advocates and negotiators for our clients rather than as a salesperson.

I look forward to speaking with you and representing YOUR INTERESTS in future real estate transactions.

Sincerely,
Kim N. Bregman Lic. Real Estate Broker
FL & NC, REALTOR, MBA, ABR, NAEBA  

 

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