House Talk with Silvia Dukes

January 2010  Real Estate Market Report: Glen Lakes Golf and Country Club Community, Weeki Wachee, Spring Hill, Florida

Home sales activity in January 2010 in the in the Glen Lakes Golf and Country Club Community increased considerably with eight properties going under contract.  Compare this to November when there where no homes under contract.

Inventory of homes for sale in Glen Lakes has decreased to 74 homes total.  Currently only one of the homes offered for sale in the Glen Lakes community is offered as a foreclosure/REO home.  Average and median list prices remained stable with only slight adjustments.

January 2010 saw an increase in home sales in Glen Lakes with six closed transactions.  Only one of these was a foreclosure home, a 3 bedroom, 3 bath maintained courtyard villa, which was also the property that sold for the lowest price.  The highest price was achieved for a 4 bedroom, 3 bath, pool home.

Glen Lakes Golf and Country Club is an upscale gated community with 24-hour security located on the west coast of Central Florida with easy access to Tampa and Orlando. 

The community offers many amenities including an elegant club house with restaurant and banquet facilities, tennis courts, fitness facilities, community pool.  

Offered for Sale:  74

Price Range:  $119,900 - 535,000

Median:  $275,500

Average: $291,183

Under Contract:  7

Price Range:  $69,000 - $339,900

Median:  $164,933

Average: $201,948

Sold in January 2010: 6

Price Range:  $99,900 - $282,500

Median:  $147,464

Average: $166,288

Sales Data derived from Hernando County MLS as of 2/7/2010, believed to be accurate but not guaranteed.

Please also see the previous reports for the Glen Lakes Golf and Country Club community:

December 2009

November 2009

October 2009

September 2009

August 2009

July 2009

2008 in Review

January 2010 Real Estate Market Report: Timber Pines, Spring Hill, Florida

Inventory of Homes for sale in Timber Pines, Spring Hill, Florida has increase slightly.  There are 50 maintenance-free villas and 93 single family homes available for sale in the Timber Pines Country Club community.   Only two properties offered for sale are short sale properties, there are no REO/foreclosure properties offered for sale in the Timber Pines community.

The number of homes sold in January 2010 in the Timber Pines community decreased in January mirroring home sale numbers for Hernando County in general.  None of these sales were distressed sales.  

Number of homes under contract increased in Timber Pines.  Seven properties are pending and 10 properties are with contingency contracts.  Again, none of these are distressed sales.

Sales performance in the Timber Pines Country Club community continues on a steady path.  With prices only slightly fluctuating from month to month, home sellers values in the Timber Pines community are relatively stable. 

The Timber Pines community experiences much lower levels of distressed sales than in Hernando County in general.  Among the currently offered homes for sale in Timber Pines,  only two single family homes are short sales and there are no properties marked as REO.

Actively Listed Homes for Sale in Timber Pines:  143

Single Family Homes: 93

Price Range: $89,999 - $324,900

Average: $160,315

Median:  $148,800

Villas:  50

Price Range: $54,900 - $160,000

Average: $112,298

Median:  $119,900

Number Properties under Contract:  17

Pending Contracts: 7, Contingencies:  10

Total Transactions Closed January 2010: 9

Price Range:  $94,000 - $210,000

Average: $127,111

Median: $107,000

Single Family homes: 6:

Price Range:  $94,000 - $210,000

Average:  $141,500

Median:  $132,500

Villas:  3

Price Range: $95,000 - $100,000

Average:  $98,333

Median:  $100,000

Timber Pines is a 55+ Country Club community offering an active life style with several golf courses, two community pools, Activities Center, Clubhouse, Performing Arts Center, as well as many social clubs and events.  The community is a gated community with an park-like ambience and 24-hour security. 

Timber Pines is located off US 19 in Spring Hill, West Central Florida on the Gulf Coast of Florida, also called the "Nature Coast".  Tampa International Airport is just a 45 min drive via the new Suncoast Parkway.  

 Data derived from Hernando County MLS as of 2/7/2010 and believed to be accurate but not guaranteed.

Hernando County Real Estate Market Report:  January 2010

Homes sales in Hernando County got off to a slower start in January of 2010.  Closed transactions were lower than in December 2009, average and median prices also declined.  

However, on a positive note, inventory also is down slightly and the number of homes under contract, either with contingency or pending contracts, remained stable. 

The highest sales price was achieved for a Hernando Beach waterfront stilt home with pool and boatlift. The lowest priced sale was for a single-wide fixer-upper that was offered as a REO.

Active Home Listings:  2197

Sold January 2010:  161

Price Range:  $12,000 - $330,000

Median:  $99,000

Average:  $106,653

Of the homes sold in January 2010, 26 were short sales and 53 were REO or bank-owned properties while the remaining 82 sales were "regular" market sales, an almost equal distribution between distressed and market sales.

Homes currently under Contract: 537

Of the homes currently under contract, 186 are with contingency contracts and 351 are pending.

Of the total homes under contract, 219 are short sales, 204 are foreclosure properties, and 264 are market sales.

Data derived from Hernando County MLS as of 2/7/10, believed to be accurate but not guaranteed.

VIP Distinguished Speakers Forum on World Affairs - Tampa Bay Council of World Affairs

"This time we got it right" 

Remark by General David H. Petraeus in reference of how the troops are treated at home in comparison to those who served in Vietnam further elaborating that people may or may not approve of the military engagement but they do support the troops in many ways. 

Yesterday evening, I had the opportunity to attend a great evening sponsored by the Tampa Bay Council of World Affairs in conjunction with the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition.  As part of their VIP International Distinguished Speakers series, General David A. Petraeus, Commander of US Central Command (US CENTCOM), was the keynote speaker. 

Entitled "A Conversation with General David Petraeus", the general spoke about The Role of our Civilian Tools in 21st Century Security.  The discussion was moderated by renowned CNN Special Correspondent Frank Sesno and concluded with the audience given an opportunity to ask questions.

The invitation-only event drew an impressive audience of approximately 600 attendees of political and business leaders, ambassadors and consul generals, as well as US Centcom members some who traveled from other States to attend this remarkable events.  Altogether, there were representatives of 48 nations in attendance.

The Tampa Bay Council of World Affairs provides "a forum for global dialogue" and conducts various speaker forums on world affairs, trade, socio-economic, cultural, and political issues and offers international networking events as well as a way to stay informed on global affairs.

Florida Realtors® Planning Mass Event Open House!

The Florida Association of Realtors just announced a state-wide plan for a Florida Open House event scheduled for April 10-11, 2010.

The plan is to get Realtors all across the State to conduct open houses that weekend to attract buyers.  Balloons and other promotional materials are in the works, downloadable logos for use in consumer and Realtor communication are already available at the Florida REALTORS website.

If you are planning on selling a home and you would like to know more about this initiative and how you can take advantage of it, please contact me.

If you are interested in buying a home in Spring Hill, Hernando Beach, or Weeki Wachee, Florida, and you like to know more about the homes available before you go on the open house tour, please contact me for more information.

Florida Realtors® Planning Mass Event Open House!

Rotary Club of Spring Hill Florida Celebrates 20th Anniversary

The Rotary Club of Spring Hill, Florida, celebrated its 20th Anniversary on Sunday, January 31, 2010 with an open house reception at the Boston Cooker Restaurant in Spring Hill.

The event had been planned for months ahead by the club and all current, former, and prospective members were invited.  Special guests in attendance were Past District Governor Robin Murray and his wife Dee who hailed from Pasco County. 

The Rotary Club of Spring Hill is part of Rotary International, a worldwide service club organization.  We are a breakfast club and meet every Thursday morning at 7:45 AM at IHOP, Commercial Way, in Spring Hill.  Guests are always welcome!  Please contact me for more information about the Rotary Club of Spring Hill!

4117 Camelia Drive Hernando Beach Florida Waterfront Home for Sale

Impeccably maintained, this custom-built waterfront home in Hernando Beach, Florida is located on a wide saltwater canal with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico within just minutes!

Relax in the sparkling self-cleaning saltwater pool while enjoying beautiful sunsets from your backyard with western exposure.

Three bedrooms plus an additional spacious room that can be used as office, study, or den; formal dining room, breakfast area off kitchen. 

Living room and master bedroom suite open to the screen-enclosed balcony that spans the entire backside of the home overlooking the canal, wetlands, and offering a view to the Gulf of Mexico beyond.

Boaters will love the floating dock and stationary dock with electric boatlift(20,000 lbs) providing safe harbour for your boats and watertoys.

The entire first floor of the home is well maintained garage space with epoxy coated flooring that will delight any car enthusiast or hobby worker, workshop with built-ins, several sliders leading to the pool deck, and also has a pool bath with shower.

This beautiful home offers many upgrades and extras including new interior and exterior paint, 3M window film, a central vaccuum system, recessed lighting and surround sound.

Built:  2000 - Bedrooms:  3 - Baths: 3 - Living SF:  2130  - Total SF:  5036 - Lot Size: .17 acres - Waterfront:  74 feet

Offered at $525,000

Hernando Beach is an upscale waterfront community on Florida's Gulf Coast.  Hernando Beachis located just north of Tampa with an easy commute via the Suncoast Parkway.  Two international airports in Tampa and Orlando as well as Florida area attractions and Tampa's cruise ports are also within easy reach.

This  beautifully updated and remodeled golf course home in the Spring Hill Oak Hill Golf Course Community recently sold. 

List Price:  $249,900           Sold Price:  $235,000 Conventional Financing

4 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, 2 Car Garage, heated Pool

Living:  2392 sq ft     Total:  5404 sq ft

Lot size:  .49 acre backing up to Oak Hill Golf Course

Golf course views from rear and front of property!

For more information about this home or any other homes for sale in the Oak Hill Golf Course community, please contact me!

2009 in Review - Waterfront Home Sales Hernando Beach, Florida, Direct Gulf Access Areas

Attractive waterfront homes at low prices brought the buyers back to Hernando Beach in 2009. 

Home sales in the waterfront community of Hernando Beach more than doubled in 2009 over 2008 numbers. 

The neighborhoods with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico experienced a jump from only 17 closed transactions in 2008 to 42 home sales in 2009. 

On the flip side, short sales and foreclosure/bank-owned properties also increased adding downward pressure on home prices. 

Not surprisingly, both average and median sales prices decreased in 2009 by 19% and 22% respectively.

Total Closed:   42

Of these, 10 were short sales, 11 were bank-owned properties.

Price Range:  $48,000 - $550,000

Average Price:  $218,844

Median Price:  $190,000

The highest price was achieved for a 2007 3-story custom-built home with 3 bedrooms, 2 full and 2 half baths, 2649 sf living and 5273 sf total.  The home also featured two boatlifts and a freeform pool in a tropical setting.  List price at sale was $695,000, the home sold for $550,000 with conventional financing.

On the low end, a 2 bedroom, 1 bath cottage built in 1974 with 672 sf living sold for $48,000 cash.  This home is one of the few homes in the Hernando Beach waterfront community that is not located on a canal but is within short distance to the well maintained public boat ramp.  List price at sale was $55,500 

All data derived from Hernando County MLS system as of 1/21/2010, believed to be accurate but not guaranteed. 

Waterfront Vacant Land Sales in Hernando Beach, Florida - Year 2009 in Review

Waterfront Vacant land sales in Hernando Beach experienced an upswing over the previous year as a result of lower pricing. 

Waterfront building lots are available in the three neighborhoods of Hernando Beach, Hernando Beach Direct Gulf Access, Hernando Beach Central, and Hernando Beach South.  

Waterfront properties in Hernando Beach Central and South are located on freshwater canals and boaters use a boatlift to gain access to the saltwater canals of Hernando Beach Direct Access that lead to the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Hernando Beach South is the only Hernando Beach neighborhood that is deed-restricted.  

While prices in all three neighborhoods of Hernando Beach have decreased, direct access properties obtained higher prices on average than those located in the indirect access neighborhoods.  Lot size and features such as existing seawalls and boat docks also influenced sales prices. 

The highest prices were obtained by those waterfront properties that are located directly facing the Gulf of Mexico.

There are many good values in waterfront property to be found in Hernando Beach.  The lowest priced currently available waterfront building lot is listed for only $29,999. 

Total Waterfront Vacant Land Sales in Hernando Beach 2009:  24

Price Range:  $40,000 - $315,000

Average:  $97,150

Median:  $57,750

Hernando Beach Direct Gulf Access:  10

Price Range:  $54,500 - $315,000

Average:  $150,300

Median:  $100,500

Currently Under Contract:  1

List Price:  89,900 

Bank-owned property, 5596 sf with 56 ft seawall

Hernando Beach Central (indirect access):  3

Price Range:  $50,000 - $131,000

Average:  $93,667

Median:  $100,000

Currently Under Contract: None

Hernando Beach South (indirect access):  11

Price Range:  $40,000 - $69,800

Average:  $49,782

Median:  $49,900

Currently Under Contract:  1

List Price:  $40,000

7500 sf with 75 ft of waterfront

Currently Available Waterfront Properties:  135

Price Range:  $29,999 - $700,000

Average:  $146,365

Median:  $129,950

Waterfront Vacant Land Sales in Hernando Beach, Florida - Year 2009 in Review