Are housing prices going down yet? (Boca Raton: relocate, real estate, property taxes)

[clarabell]

Originally Posted by Dalt10

I think it has been steady for the last 6 months. Hasn't really gone up alot or gone down alot. I think most people are asking to much for their houses so that's why they take so long to sell. If you bought something in the last few years and try to resell of course your not going to make any money. Most people think they are going to walk away with some money. If you ask a reasonable price your houses will sell within a couple of months. 45 to 60 days used to be the norm. I paid $79,000 for my house 12 years ago. They sell in my neighborhood for $230,000 to $265,000 now. My house goes up for sale March 1st. $249,900.

What kind of house do you have? The price is in our price range?

[miamiboy54]

Clarabell-Our house is 1,791 sq. ft, $255,000. If you e-mail me, I will give you website info to view it.

[Jammie]

Dalt and MiamiBoy, just curious as to why you're selling. Are you among those who want out of Fla. or is it job transfers?

[Ash5705]

Clara,

I was in your same boat. I did not want to go over $275K but when I started looking I could not find the house I wanted in my price range in the area that I wanted to live in. I had to also tighten the belt and gave in to a sale that was near the 300K mark. The good news is that 6 months prior, my home was selling in the 350K range, so prices have come down 15% from last year (at least at the areas that I was looking).

With the interest as they are, I would seriously look into buying now while it is a buyers market.

Good luck.

[j in florida]

The market has not hit bottom. Realtors for the most part will tell you anything in an effort to secure a sale. There are countless neighborhoods around Orlando where current asking prices are below recent closed sales for highly similar homes. Remember, all owners who got in before the recent price run-up are still sitting on rather large gains, and can afford to drop their prices and still make a nice profit. Further, many builders are trying to unload inventory homes that they took back when investors bailed on their contracts.

If you are not extremely picky, you may be able to find some real bargains based on current price levels, but be aware that the bottom still may not have been reached.

[Dalt10]

I'm moving for two reasons. One is Orlando has changed too much for me. I've lived here for almost 37 years. It was a small town for a long time. It's getting to big for me. Alot has changed in the last 5 to 10 years. And I'm going to semi retire (47 years old). I have enough money put back and with the sale of my home I am going build my own house. My inlaws have 200 acres of land in Northeast Georgia that I can build on. The land has been in the family for over 80 years. I won't have hardly any bills (no mortgage, car payments, etc). Just taxes, insurance and to eat is all I have to worry about. Which is alot now days. I have 2 pensions I can start collecting at 55 years old.

[clarabell]

Wow, you will be having it real good dalt10! We really want a pool with our home which is what is stumbling us right now but we figure that we have time to look, and if we're gonna make a huge move cross-country we might as well try to get exactly what we want. But, bottom line is that if my husband gets the job he wants, our goals will change!

[Prichard]

I guess everyone has to own a house with a pool in it once in their lifetime. I have a pool and after spending $17000 to enclose it, and looking at having to spend another $3000 to heat it. Plus having to clean it, put tons of chemicals in it, etc. Then every 7 years or so resurfacing the pool.

All this so that I can swim in it a couple times a month for 7-8 months out of the year. I figure that to swim in my own money pit, it costs me no less than $340/month over the 15 years that I intend on owning the house. Oh, and that doesn't include the cost of the pool, or the electricity to run the pump and heater. That's about $113/swim, and the privilage to clean the thing every week myself!!

NEVER AGAIN.

[clarabell]

Originally Posted by Prichard

I guess everyone has to own a house with a pool in it once in their lifetime. I have a pool and after spending $17000 to enclose it, and looking at having to spend another $3000 to heat it. Plus having to clean it, put tons of chemicals in it, etc. Then every 7 years or so resurfacing the pool.

All this so that I can swim in it a couple times a month for 7-8 months out of the year. I figure that to swim in my own money pit, it costs me no less than $340/month over the 15 years that I intend on owning the house. Oh, and that doesn't include the cost of the pool, or the electricity to run the pump and heater. That's about $113/swim, and the privilage to clean the thing every week myself!!

NEVER AGAIN.

LOL...hahahahah....ok ok. But we would probably be swimming in it more often therefore making it more worth it. To us, it's not really a big deal considering how bad we want one...lol...

[pianogal]

Prichard,
Two Words.....
PebbleTec and Salt Water Chlorinator....

Best things we ever did when we built our current pool.....Last year we spent about $50.00 on chemicals and the finish has a lifetime warranty. Our pool cleaning system is so good - all we have to do is empty the basket once a week. I have been surprised at how effortless it is these days.

Also, DH washes out the DE filter once every 3 months or so...no big deal.