No Comments

What Is Panama City Beach Like In November?

In November

In November, the hurricane season is winding down, the weather is still lovely, and the beaches are beautiful.

In November, What Is Panama City Beach Like?

Panama City Beach in November is spectacular!

The hurricane season is winding down, the weather is still lovely, and the beaches are beautiful.

One of the big attractions in Panama City Beach in November is Emerald Coast Cruizin Car Show. This year the event is scheduled for November 11 -14th…if you haven’t made your plans to attend the event yet, you really should. Or find a spot to pop a squat on Front Beach Rd, and watch the parade of classic cars driving by. And hey, on that note, you could pop a squat on the patio in front of our Life’s A Beach Real Estate office located in the Origin At Seahaven condominium building next to Saltwater Marketplace directly across the street from Sharkey’s. And if you do, stop in and say Hi! 

Renovation Update

Segueing from what’s happening in November in Panama City Beach, just a quick update on our RENOVATION project. The contractors are currently piecing back together after the condo’s complete gutting and incorporating the design upgrades. 

Check out the progress on the photo updates Progress photos 11.7.

When I have before and after pictures after the renovation are complete to share, I will.  And of course, I cannot wait for it to get done so I can share it!

 

More Events In November

Ok, back to what’s happening in Panama City Beach in November? This past weekend, Nov 7th, was the IRONMAN Florida event. While I envy the dedication of the athletes that attend this event every year…I can’t imagine how challenging it would be to go through those races! I mean, they start in the morning swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, followed by a bicycle course on the streets of Panama City Beach and surrounding areas. After that is the running event, which takes the athletes through St. Andrew’s State Park, a magnificent setting; the athletes could not ask for a better location than our beautiful city PCB to compete. 

Ok, Ok…I have to wonder if any of the athletes end up at the Grand Lagoon Bloody Mary & Music Fest when they finish competing…? Which was also this past weekend. My pick of the two events was the Music Fest…this This is the 5th year that they celebrated bloody marys and music in Panama City Beach.

Those are just some highlighted events, be there is so much more happening in November. Happy Hour, Low Country Boil, Off The Hook Comedy, Paint Parties, Scavenger Hunt…and much more. Check out Panama City Beach Events to learn more.

PCB Real Estate

With all of that, we haven’t even mentioned the state of the real estate market in Panama City Beach and surrounding areas. Even though the temps are cooling, the PCB real estate market is staying HOT! Our agents are receiving same-day offers on new listings, and the inventory remains tight, and prices continue to appreciate! 

To learn more, reach out to the Life’s A Beach Real Estate team. We are here to help you find your piece of paradise.  We have agents in Panama City Beach and surrounding areas.  As well as the Destin San Destin 30A area.

 

 

 

No Comments

Election 2020 Panama City Beach Real Estate Market Outlook

election 2020

Tomorrow is the day, election 2020.  Americans will decide our President for the next four years. That decision will have a major impact on many aspects of life in this country, but the residential real estate market in the Panama City Beach area and surrounding areas will not be one of them.

4 Reasons Why Election 2020 Won’t Dampen the Panama City Beach Housing Market

 

 

Analysts will try to measure the impact of election 2020 and possible changes in regulations.  The experts will be watching how the potential changes might have an impact on housing programs.  Despite potential changes,  the housing market overall and in Panama City Beach will remain strong for four reasons:

1. Demand Is Strong among Millennials

The nation’s largest generation began entering the housing market last year.  As they reached the age to marry and have children – two key drivers of homeownership. As the Wall Street Journal recently reported:

“Millennials, long viewed as perennial home renters who were reluctant or unable to buy, are now emerging as a driving force in the U.S. housing market’s recent recovery.”

2. Mortgage Rates Are Historically Low

All-time low-interest rates are also driving demand across all generations. Strong demand created by this rate drop has countered other economic disruptions (e.g., pandemic, recession, record unemployment).

In addition, Freddie Mac just forecasted mortgage rates to remain low through next year:

“One of the main drivers of the strong housing recovery is historically low mortgage interest rates…Given weakness in the broader economy, the Federal Reserve’s signal that its policy rate will remain low until inflation picks up, and no signs of inflation, we forecast mortgage rates to remain flat over the next year. From the third quarter of 2020 through the end of 2021, we forecast mortgage rates to remain unchanged at 3%.”

3. Prices Continue to Appreciate

The continued lack of supply of existing homes for sale coupled with the surge in buyer demand has experts forecasting strong price appreciation over the next twelve months.

4. History Says So

Though it’s true that the market slows slightly in November when it’s a Presidential election year, the pace returns quickly. Here’s an explanation as to why from the Homebuilding Industry Report by BTIG:

“This may indicate that potential homebuyers may become more cautious in the face of national election uncertainty. This caution is temporary, and ultimately results in deferred sales, as the economy, jobs, interest rates and consumer confidence all have far more meaningful roles in the home purchase decision than a Presidential election result in the months that follow.”

Ali Wolf, Chief Economist for Meyers Research, also notes:

“History suggests that the slowdown is largely concentrated in the month of November. In fact, the year after a presidential election is the best of the four-year cycle. This suggests that demand for new housing is not lost because of election uncertainty, rather it gets pushed out to the following year as long as the economy stays on track.”

Bottom Line

No matter the timing, when you are ready to enter the real estate market in Panama City Beach or surrounding areas, reach out to the Life’s A Beach Real Estate team.  We are here to help you find your piece of paradise.

 

No Comments

Selling Real Estate In Panama City Beach

Selling Real Estate

PCB Real Estate Market Outlook: Selling Real Estate. When the demand for homes is higher than what is available for sale, it is a great time to be selling real estate.

Three Ways Low Inventory Is A Win For Sellers That Are Selling Real Estate In Panama City Beach

 

Now is a good time to be selling real estate in Panama City Beach.  The number of houses and condos that sellers are selling in PCB as well as nationally is significantly lower than the high buyer activity in the current housing market. According to Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist for the National Association of Realtors (NAR):

“There is no shortage of hopeful, potential buyers, but inventory is historically low.”

When the demand for homes is higher than what’s available for sale, it’s a great time for homeowners to sell their house. Here are three ways low inventory can help you win if you’re ready to make a move this fall.

1. Higher Prices

With so many more buyers in the Panama City Beach market as well as the national market than homes available for sale, homebuyers may enter into bidding wars for the houses or condo’s they want to purchase. This buyer competition drives home prices up. As a seller, this can definitely work to your advantage, potentially netting you more for your house when you close the deal.

2. Greater Return on Your Investment

Rising prices mean homes and condos are also gaining value, which drives an increase in the equity you have.  In the latest Homeowner Equity Insights ReportCoreLogic explains:

“In the second quarter of 2020, the average homeowner gained approximately $9,800 in equity.”

This year-over-year growth in equity gives you the ability to put that money toward a down payment on your next home or to keep it as extra savings.

3. Better Terms

When we’re in a sellers’ market like we are today, you’re in the driver’s seat if you sell your house. You have the power to sell on your terms, and buyers are more likely to work with you if it means they can finally move into their dream home.

So, is low housing inventory a big deal?

Yes, especially if you want to sell your house at the perfect time. Today’s market gives sellers immense negotiating power. However, it won’t last forever, especially as more sellers return to the housing market next year. If you’re considering selling your house, the best time to do so is now.

Bottom Line

If you’re interested in taking advantage of the current sellers’ market in Panama City Beach and the surrounding area’s, reach out to the Life’s A Beach Real Estate team, we would be happy to help!

No Comments

PCB Real Estate Market Outlook: Mortgage Lending, Who Is The Best?

Who Is The Best

We had decided that we are going to renovate our Panama City Beach Condo condo from top to bottom, and we want to know who is the best at renovations?

After all, who is the best is important, right?!?

Even though we have been through the process before on the real estate professional side advising our investors, it is different when it is your property investment!

It seemed overwhelming at first.

The expenses started adding up. So we had to figure out how to cut some costs. Going through the bid proposals from local Panama City Beach contractors, not only are we considering the price, but we also thought of who “is the best?”  Naturally, we want the best work for the best price!  We determined some of the work we could do ourselves to build a little sweat equity (some of that work included more demo, which my husband enjoyed…I think…). After doing our research, we are working with tradespeople we feel are the best.  The timeline and budget have been updated…which is ok, if something is worth doing, it is worth doing right!  And it is always better to do it right the first time!

Thinking about the renovation’s adventure has me thinking about the mortgage process experience of purchasing a new home or investment real estate in Panama City Beach.

When we closed on our investment property in Panama City Beach, I had stars in my eyes (ok, maybe more like Gulf sunsets).  Thinking we will quickly get new flooring and updated bathrooms, once that phase was complete, we would be ready to put our investment property on the vacation rental market.  Well, as you know, if you have been following our blog…the sands shifted a bit.

Now let’s compare.

You have decided that it is time to purchase your new home or investment property and have talked with a mortgage lender.  The mortgage lender has a prequalified letter for you.  Ready to go, right…? Not necessarily, let’s say the mortgage lending side of property purchase can be rough waters.  It is helpful if you are informed.

Here are some tips to help navigate between buoys, so to speak, to help you determine who is the best for you:
  1. First and foremost, shop mortgage lenders; you want to go with who is the best and make sure you are getting the best rate possible.  Mortgage lender information is where your real estate professional can help you. Not only do you want to try to get the best interest rate, but other factors need to be taken into consideration when financing, such as, is the property considered an acceptable risk by the lender, and will they finance?
  2. If possible (and I cannot stress this enough), get a pre-approval through underwriting with your mortgage lender. Once you receive that, in most cases, you should not have any issues with the final close (although there are exceptions to that as well, I know from personal experience).  There is a BIG difference between a prequalified letter and a pre-approval through underwriting. 
  3. Have ALL of your paperwork in order, the last two years of your finances…and keep it in order. Be ready for MULTIPLE requests to see the same document over and over. And be aware you may think you have provided your mortgage lender with every last piece of financial data they could need, and they will request something else.
  4. Do not procrastinate on any requests for more documents. That will only push back your closing or, worse, cause your transaction on your dream home or condo in Panama City Beach not to close at all. YIKES!
  5. Keep your real estate agent in the loop, are there steps to help regarding documentation needed for qualifying the property?
So, to answer the question, who is the best mortgage lender?

That will all depend on your circumstances.  Do not be afraid to reach out to mortgage lenders and ask questions to get the best mortgage lender for you! 

The mortgage process is stressful.

As you go through the mortgage process, remember to relax, trust the process, and try not to get too frustrated…(maybe you will enjoy that glass of the wine a bit more at the end of the day on your more frustrating days…). Keep your eye on the prize! You will be a brand new homeowner or condo owner in Panama City Beach!

We are here to help.

If you have more questions regarding the mortgage lending process or are interested in learning more about Panama City Beach real estate, reach out to our Life’s A Beach Real Estate team. We would be happy to help you navigate the emerald waters of the Panama City Beach market and give you the best advice we have.

No Comments

PCB Real Estate Market Outlook: Unprecedented Strength This Year

PCB Real Estate Market Outlook

The PCB real estate market outlook has surpassed all expectations and continues to drive the local economic recovery.  In addition, the 2020 national housing market has surpassed all expectations.

PCB Real Estate Market Outlook Continues to Show Unprecedented Strength This Year.

The biggest challenge for buyers in the Panama City Beach real estate market is the lack of inventory.  That challenge is good news for sellers.

It is not just the Panama City Beach real estate market that is booming; the 2020 housing market has surpassed all expectations and continues to drive the nation’s economic recovery. The question is, will this positive trend continue throughout the rest of the year?  Especially given the uncertainty around the current health crisis, the upcoming election, and more?

Here’s a look at what several industry-leading experts have to say.

Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist, National Association of Realtors

“Home sales continue to amaze, and there are plenty of buyers in the pipeline ready to enter the market…Further gains in sales are likely for the remainder of the year, with mortgage rates hovering around 3% and with continued job recovery.”

Frank Martell, President, and CEOCoreLogic

“Homeowners’ balance sheets continue to be bolstered by home price appreciation, which in turn mitigated foreclosure pressures…Although the exact contours of the economic recovery remain uncertain, we expect current equity gains, fueled by strong demand for available homes, will continue to support homeowners in the near term.”

Zillow

Zillow’s predictions for seasonally adjusted home prices and pending sales are more optimistic than previous forecasts because sales and prices have stayed strong through the summer months amid increasingly short inventory and high demand.

Back to the PCB real estate market outlook, in the past twenty-four months, the Panama City Beach Real Estate market has dealt with Hurricane Michael and COVID 19. While both were obstacles that caused a brief slowdown in the selling market, the market took off and not looked back. Hurricane Michael caused a lot of displacement that continues to be resolved, especially with the Hurricane Michael Recovery Loan Program. Panama City Beach continues to grow with more people moving to the area, partly due to how COVID 19 has changed the work-home life balance. Also, Panama City Beach rated one of the top five vacation destinations. With that, we can expect investors seeking investment property along the Emerald Coast to again on the rise.

Bottom Line

Many economists agree, indicating the housing market will continue to fuel the economy through the end of the year. Local Panama City Beach real estate market trends underscore that assessment.  If you would like to learn more about the state of the PCB real estate market oulook, reach out to the Life’s A Beach real estate team, we would be happy to help!

No Comments

PCB Real Estate Market: The #1 Reason Not To Wait To List Your House

Many industries have been devastated by the economic shutdown caused by the COVID-19 virus.  Panama City Beach real estate is NOT one of them.  Let’s review the PCB Real Estate selling market.

The #1 Reason Not to Wait to List Your House for Sale

The #1 Reason Not to Wait to List Your House for Sale | MyKCM

Many industries have been devastated by the economic shutdown caused by the COVID-19 virus. Panama City Beach Real Estate is not one of them.

Mark Fleming, Chief Economist for First American, just reported:

“Since hitting a low point during the initial stages of the pandemic, the only major industry to display immunity to the economic impacts of the coronavirus is the housing market. Housing has experienced a strong V-shaped recovery and is now exceeding pre-pandemic levels.”

Buyer demand in Panama City Beach is still strong heading into the fallShowingTime, which tracks the average number of buyer showings on residential properties, just announced that buyer showings are up 61.9% compared to the same time last year. They went on to say:

“Normally, real estate activity begins to slow down in the late summer, but this year it peaked in July, August and into September.”

There Is One Big Challenge

Purchaser demand is so high that the Panama City Beach Real Estate selling market is running out of available homes and condos for sale. Just last week, realtor.com reported:

“Since the beginning of the COVID pandemic in March, nearly 400,000 fewer homes have been listed compared to last year, leaving a gaping hole in the U.S. housing inventory.”

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) revealed that, while home sales are skyrocketing, the inventory of existing homes for sale is dropping dramatically. Below is a graph of existing inventory (September numbers are not yet available):The #1 Reason Not to Wait to List Your House for Sale | MyKCMHomebuilders are increasing construction, but they cannot keep up with the high demand. Bill McBride, founder of the Calculated Risk blog, in discussing inventory of newly constructed houses, notes:

“The months of supply decreased to 3.3 months…This is the all-time record low months of supply.”

What does this mean for sellers?

Anyone thinking of putting their home on the market should not wait. A seller will always negotiate the best deal when demand is high, and supply is limited. That’s exactly the situation in the Panama City Beach real estate market today.

Next year, when the pandemic is hopefully behind us, many more properties will be coming to the market. Don’t wait for that increase in competition in your neighborhood. Now is the time to sell.

Bottom Line

Reach out to the Life’s A Beach Real Estate team today to get your house or condo on the market at this optimal time to sell.

No Comments

Is this the PCB Beach Home for Me?

PCB beach home - is this the one for me

Before we talking about whether you’ve found the right PCB beach home, let’s recap…

We recently talked about PCB vacation rentals, purchasing a diamond in the rough, and investment property management options.

But it occurs to me that I may have jumped ahead a bit and that we need to roll back to the purchasing steps of a PCB investment property.

Oh, and speaking of “rollback…” I feel like we are on a condo renovation rollback.

As I mentioned last week, we decided to completely gut our condo and finish it out with a top to bottom condo renovation. However, we are now in the “bidding” process with the tradesmen who will help us complete the top to bottom renovation work.

Based on how the condo renovation bids turn out and what we determine we can we do ourselves, we may have to make some adjustments. However, hopefully, work will resume soon on our investment PCB Beach home and we will be closer to our dream investment vacation home on the beach.

Okay, so you have decided you want to a PCB beach home and live the Panama City Beach beach life…

Whether you are a full-time resident of Panama City Beach or a part-time resident, let’s dive into that question.

Let’s chat about the first steps in purchasing a PCB beach home (assuming you are ready to make either a cash offer or have your pre-qualified letter from your financial institution).

Quite a bit of our PCB real estate market is condos, so we will focus on that in this post.

Most of our PCB condominiums are beachfront; the handful of buildings that are not directly beachfront, usually still condos for sale with view of the beautiful Gulf Coast.

Many of the real estate investors we work with have visited our beaches and resorts. Thus giving them an idea of what area, if not what building, in which they would like to own real estate.

Once you have picked out the building or buildings you have interest in, you must have a good understanding of the COA (condo owner association) and what their rules and regulations are. Navigating the nuances of a COA is where your real estate professional is critical.

What can they tell you about the management of the building? Have you received their budget, and how are the reserves? Has your agent provided the condominium documents with rules and regulations required? All of this information is incredibly important when considering a financial investment in your future PCB beach home and you should review before making an offer.

I mentioned earlier in this post that having your pre-qualification letter from a PCB financial institution is important. Some condo buildings present some guideline challenges to financial institutions regarding financing in our current real estate market. Next week, I will address that topic.

It is also essential to have your complete funding lined out for your PCB home purchase.

You do not want to miss out on your beach home in Panama City Beach because you chose the wrong lender!

In the meantime, as always, if you are interested in learning more about Panama City Beach real estate, reach out to our Life’s A Beach Real Estate team, and we would be happy to help you navigate the emerald waters of our market.

No Comments

Woody Junot Publishes “Want to buy a Panama City Beach Condo?” on PCBBeachesDirect.com

buy a condo on Panama City Beach

Summary of “Want to buy a Panama City Beach Condo?”

Woody Junot, Broker/Owner of Life’s a Beach Real Estate recently published a new article on PCBBeachesDirect.com.

In the article, Woody provides information and tips on what you need to know if you want to buy a condo on Panama City Beach.

One quote from Woody states:

Beach condos are a great way to own your own piece of paradise with virtually no physical maintenance or lawn care. Just sit back and enjoy the Gulf views and the beautiful evening sunsets. What a great way to spend time with the entire family in Panama City Beach!

Check out the full article here: https://pcbeachesdirect.com/panama-city-beach-news-tips-events/want-to-buy-a-panama-city-beach-condo/.

buy a condo on PCB
No Comments

Should You Buy Your PCB Beach Retirement Home Sooner Rather Than Later?

Many of today’s workers who are nearing the end of their professional careers, but maybe aren’t quite ready to retire, have a new choice to makeshould I move to the PCB beach before I retire? 

Should You Buy a Retirement Home In PCB Beach Sooner Rather than Later?

 

Every day in the U.S., roughly 10,000 people turn 65. Before the health crisis that swept the nation in 2020, most people had to wait until they retired to make a move to PCB Beach.  This year, however, the game changed.

Many of today’s workers who are nearing the end of their professional careers, but maybe aren’t quite ready to retire, have a new choice to make: should I move to the beach before I retire? If the sand and sun are calling your name and you have the opportunity to work remotely for the foreseeable future, now may be a great time to purchase that beach condo you’ve always dreamed of or the single-story home.  Whether it’s a second home or a future retirement home, spending the next few years on the beach looking out at the emerald waters of the Gulf Coast that truly makes you smile every day might be the best way to round out a long and meaningful career.

Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), explains:

“The pandemic was unexpected, working from home was unexpected, but nonetheless many companies realized that workers can be just as productive working from home…We may begin to see a boost in people buying retirement homes before their retirement.”

According to the 20th Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey, 3 out of 4 retirees (75%) own their homes, and only 23% have mortgage debt (including any equity loans or lines of credit). Since entering retirement, almost 4 in 10 retirees (38%) have moved into a new home. They’re making a profit by selling their current homes in today’s low inventory market and using their equity to purchase their future retirement homes. It’s a win-win.

Why These Homeowners Are Making Moves Now

The health crisis made us all more aware of the importance of our family and friends, and many of us have not seen our extended families since the pandemic started. It’s no surprise, therefore, to see in the same report that 32% of those surveyed cited the top reason they’re making a move is that they want to be closer to family and friends (See graph below):Should You Buy a Retirement Home Sooner Rather than Later? | MyKCM The survey also revealed that 73% percent of retirees currently live in single-family homes. With the overall number of homes for sale in Panama City Beach, today hitting a historic low, and with the buyer demand for single-family homes and condo’s, skyrocketing, there’s never been a more ideal time to sell a single-family home and make a move toward retirement. Today’s market has the perfect combination of driving forces to make selling optimal, especially while buyers are looking to take advantage of low-interest rates.

If you’re one of the 73% of retirees with a single-family home and want to move closer to the beach, now is the time to put your house on the market. With the pace homes are selling today, you could essentially wrap up your move – start to finish – before the holidays.

Bottom Line 

Whether you’re looking to retire fully or to buy a second home with the intent to use it as your retirement home in the future, the 2020 fall housing market may very well work in your favor.  If you are ready to start working towards your dream of moving to Panama City Beach, reach out to the Life’s A Beach Real Estate team, we are more than ready to help you fulfill your dream!

No Comments

Emerald Coast Real Estate – Buyers Are Finding More Space In The Luxury Home Market

A year ago, additional space and extra amenities had a very different feel for homebuyers. Today, the health crisis has brought to light how valuable more square footage and carefully designed floorplans can be. Home offices, multi-purpose rooms, gyms, and theaters are becoming more popular, and some families are finding the space they need for these upgrades in the luxury market.

Buyers Are Finding More Space in the Luxury Home Market

Buyers Are Finding More Space in the Luxury Home Market | MyKCM

 

The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing (ILHM) explains:

“With quarantine concerns still top of mind for many luxury buyers, we see large, sprawling estates making their comeback.

For instance, the last six months have seen a resurgence in the buying of mega mansions and estate-size homes – specifically properties that offer space (both inside and outside), separate home offices, gyms, and private amenities such as swimming pools, yoga studios, and recreation rooms.”

This was not the case at this time last year, as the most recent Luxury Market Report from ILHM emphasizes:

“Exactly one year ago, we reported that demand for large properties, mega mansions, private estates, and luxury ranches had reduced significantly over the previous few years; especially from the younger generation of luxury property buyers.”

For today’s buyers looking for larger homes, steady increases in equity might be what makes a move possible. Leveraging home equity makes it easier to afford the down payment on a luxury home, and current low-interest rates are making mortgage payments more affordable than they have been in years. The report from ILHM also notes:

“Luxury real estate prices may continue to strengthen further into the third quarter, as the affluent continue to see large investment returns from the currently strong stock market.

Coupled with the low interest rates, the policies granting (and insisting) on working from home implemented by many employers, and the concerns of the pandemic, all translate to the affluent increasingly trading in their city lifestyle for a home that has it all.”

Clearly, today’s strong gains in home equity paired with record-low interest rates make fall a great time to move up into the Emerald Coast luxury market to meet those changing needs.

Bottom Line

If you’re ready to gain some breathing room in a larger home, reach out to the Life’s A Beach Real Estate Team so you have the guidance you need to find more space in the luxury home market.