Searching for Homes Near MacDill AFB
March 7, 2007 | Leave a Comment
It used to be that searching for a home to purchase was difficult because a prospective buyer did not have access to the information that is so easily shared today via the internet. You had to scan the classified newspaper ads, scan the home magazines, etc. But the information was poorly organized and the searching was done in a very inefficient, time consuming manner.So many home buyers employed the services of a Realtor who had access to a database of homes for sale, and who could search more efficiently using the criteria supplied by their clients. But now the information in those databases, also know as the Multiple Listing Services or MLSs, is shared freely across thousands of public websites.
We have, for a long time, made this information freely available on our home search website, SearchTheTampaMLS.com
And now we have made it even easier to search for homes by adding a map search tool so that users can select a specific region on the map, and using additional criteria, the user sees a graphical display that shows where each of the resulting properties is located.
Users can also set up and save their own personal searches, and have new listings e-mailed to them as they become available on the MLS. A “Favorites” feature is also available whereby a user can tag their favorite properties to easily locate them when they next login to the home search site.
But as Realtors, finding the ideal neighborhood and home for our clients is what we do. The Realtor MLS is a much more detailed database with much more data on the homes listed for sale than is available on the public websites.
Looking for homes with a tile roof only? We can search for and find them. Are wood floors a must have? We can locate the homes with wood floors for you. Need a garden bath? We can search for that as well.
So the public home search websites are a great improvement for the consumer allowing the home buyer to search comfortably at home or work for their ideal home. But these sites are really just a starting point. Keep in mind that we have the capability to efficiently drill down through the data to help home buyers find their ideal Tampa home or condo. Is it a primary service that we offer home buyers. In the meantime, give the map search a try!
Las Vegas Homes - What You Get For $300,000
March 6, 2007 | Leave a Comment
In a March 4, 2007 story in the Las Vegas Review-Journal the Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS® reported that the median price for a single-family home in Las Vegas was $302,000 in January - more than double the 2002 median price of $145,000.
With over 16,000 homes available in the Las Vegas valley (which includes Las Vegas, Henderson and North Las Vegas) it’s definitely a buyer’s market. Nearly 3,500 of those homes are priced from $275,000 - $325.000. But what exactly do buyers get for their money? Here’s a sampling based on various home criteria:
There are 149 resale homes that match these specs. About a quarter of them are in the north and northeast part of the valley, close to Nellis Air Force Base. Las Vegas is a relatively new community, with an active homebuilding industry, so it’s easy to find ‘near new’ homes. The downside is that lot sizes can be tiny - in this case as small as 1,742 square feet! Need more space? Only ten homes in this category have lots over 6,000 square feet.
At this size there are 290 to choose from, with more than half in the north and northeast. The added square footage is usually a family room or great room rather than a formal dining room. Lots are small, with more than half under 3,500 square feet and only 38 greater than 6,000 sqare feet. Thinking about a pool to beat the summer heat? Sorry, none of these homes have one!
Only 53 homes fall in this range, most of them on the north side of the valley. All are 2-story homes except three - which are 3-story, a new floorplan for our area. Just four have lots greater than 6,000 square feet, reinforcing the theme that land is at a premium in Las Vegas.
If you’re willing to look at slightly older homes, you have 123 to pick from, with two thirds built in the 80’s and 90’s. Some may show a little more wear and tear, and kitchens and bathrooms may seem dated … but outdoors you have mature landscaping, room to roam, and 37 have pools!
Like homes with larger lots, you can find pools in the $275,000 - $325,000 range if you’re willing to live in an older home. Out of 242 homes with pools, 189 are at least ten years old. A thorough inspection is critical when buying an older pool home. The desert heat can wreak havoc on a poorly maintained pool, and repairs can be expensive. Still, there can be good values if you do your homework.
For the next 3-6 months, buyers in Las Vegas will have plenty to choose from. To avoid being overwhelmed by the inventory, make a list of your ‘must haves’ and work with a REALTOR® to guide you through the homebuying process.
