Hello everyone,

As always, I am happy to write to you in hopes that I will inspire you to think and possibly to move forward toward accomplishing your dreams. Whatever dreams you may have, “Everyday is a good day to buy and sell real estate”.

At the end of June 2024, I look back and reflect on the Navarre, Florida real estate market. If your not getting at least $200.00 per square foot, then you are leaving money on the table. This market is still and possibly will always be a sellers market. Even though home prices are still increasing instead of declining here in this local market, Sellers are offering concessions to Buyers as an incentive to purchase because of the mortgage interest rates, which are not 2 – 3% like they were a few short years ago. As I have said before, I really think that 6-7% is the new normal. Sellers who do not want to sell right now, are those who have the 2-3% interest rate mortgages but are they planning on living in their home for another ten years? It may take a decade for the mortgage rates to come back down to the lowest rates in history, so if you don’t want to stay living there, then you might aught to make your move asap, because those interest rates may increase to the highest point before coming back down to 2-3%. Don’t wait because it is costing you money.

On the other hand, Buyers are now facing another obstacle in their quest, which is the NAR Lawsuit Settlement with plaintiffs, whom I hear, are getting less than $20 monetary damages each, as a result in their class action judgement with the individual settlements paid out from the $418 million total settlement. Thanks to the people who wanted to mess up an entire industry, attorneys. Yes, attorneys, got the big payout from this deal. Buyers are ultimately responsible for paying their agent’s now, when before it was a mutual, normal course and manner for the Listing Broker to share the total commission from the Seller’s transaction, paid out of the sale proceeds to the Listing Broker who then pays the Buyer’s Broker. Both Brokers then, pay the corresponding agents their agreed share of the commission. It always seemed like the total commission was packed into the price which the price sometimes get negotiated up or down during the process. Coldwell Banker Realty’s commission in listing agreements were 7%, the total amount of commission I personally usually agreed to was 6% and it has always been negotiable, if you want to call it that. My negotiation of my listing commission is that I am worth 3.5% out of a total of 6% and I would share 2.5% to the Buyer’s Broker/Agent who finds the Buyer and helps move the deal to the closing table because there is always something standing in the way that we as Realtors handle, and sometimes even without the client knowing about it.

Every agent does things differently, because if we all did the same thing, we would all get the same results. I do things better and I can show you marketing plan when you are ready to sell. As a listing agent, I have expenses to pay up front to get the property on the market in a professional manner. Unfortunately, every business has to factor in their expenses in what they charge. If you do not want to agree to pay enough necessary to properly market your property to get you the most money in the least amount of time with the least amount of problems, then that is up to you. Otherwise, my business suffers and my family suffers and your property is in the hands of the market only. You need my help as a Realtor to conquer the market with the sale of your property, top dollar. Believe it or not, you actually save money by hiring a Realtor. According to the NAR, the typical FSBO home sold for $310,000 compared to $405,000 for agent-assisted home sales. Therefore, only 7% of home sellers were FSBO in 2023.

Attorneys, will most likely try to get into real estate agency agreements with Buyer’s or maybe even Sellers. Remember, attorneys will not do everything a Realtor does. The attorneys only work with the paperwork, contracts, etc. They will not be negotiating appraisal results if needed, or finding a fence guy or a roof guy to help bring the deal to the closing table. They won’t be trying to make the process smooth and easy by working behind the scenes doing what Realtors do best. We get it done. We handle the problems that come along because we are problem solvers. Attorneys, don’t know all the Realtors in the area and they don’t know how to make contact with all the area Realtors in an efficient manner. Realtors mobilize Realtors in the sale of your home. Realtors bring several other industries into the process as we go, such as, Banks or Mortgage Companies, Property Inspection Companies, WDO Termite Inspectors, Contractors, Plumbers, Roofers, Landscapers, Irrigation Companies, etc.. In reality, Realtors are good for the economy.

Do you know how much attorneys charge for their services? It is usually 33.33% of the total amount of money in the transaction. At least that is what injury attorneys receive as their fee. You do the math, 6% vs. 33.33%. I do not know what attorneys plan to charge for being your real estate agent, but I bet it is more than a Realtor and you will most likely get less service from the attorney than a Realtor. Why do you think the real estate transaction with real estate Brokers and Agents have been the same way since 1890? It is the best practice and it is in, and has always been in the best interest of the Seller and the Buyer and the Industry as a whole. Coldwell Banker was established in 1906.

Coldwell Banker Realty is not a discount Broker, we are a full service one stop shop. We have an affiliated lender, insurance company, home warranty company, and title companies who are more then experienced in closing real estate transactions. Realtors give personal service, attorneys, who knows.

All this so called “change” is going into effect the summer of 2024 for you the Seller and you the Buyer, and the NAR Settlement directly states it all has to be collaborated by August 2024. This will not hold me back. Don’t let it hold you back either.

Remember my moto, “work to live, don’t live to work”.

I wish you the best and I am always committed to helping you get what you want!

Sincerely,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Keith Chambers, Realtor®

Realtor® is a Registered Trademark*

Hello everyone,

As always, I am happy to write to you in hopes that I will inspire you to think and possibly to move forward toward accomplishing your dreams. Whatever dreams you may have, “Everyday is a good day to buy and sell real estate”.

Today, I will be brief.

Remember when your realtor did not have you sign a Buyer’s Representation Agreement? Well, that is changing now due to the NAR Lawsuit Settlement, all Buyers Agents will require that you sign a Buyer’s Representation Agreement. Please read the entire agreement, it is my understanding that it will tell you, as the Buyer, you are responsible for the Buyer’s Agent commission. Most likely, realtors will be cooperating with each other as always. Therefore, if the Listing Agent’s Broker shares their commission with the Buyer’s Broker, then your Buyer’s Agent gets paid their commission from the Listing Agent’s Broker.

Remember my moto, “work to live, don’t live to work”.

I wish you the best and I am always committed to helping you get what you want!

Hello everyone,

As always, I am happy to write to you in hopes that I will inspire you to think and possibly to move forward toward accomplishing your dreams. Whatever dreams you may have, “Everyday is a good day to buy and sell real estate”.

Today, I will be giving statistics on four popular Emerald Coast destinations;

The April 2024 median estimated property values in Navarre, FL was $428,300. This is a slight change from last month upward by 0.6% and there is a 4.6% increase over the last 12 months.

The April 2024 median estimated property values in Pensacola, FL was $285,010. This is a slight change from last month downward by 0.1% but there is a 2.4% increase over the last 12 months.

The April 2024 median estimated property values in Ft Walton Beach, FL was $367,010. This is a slight change from last month upward by 1.2% but there is a 2.4% increase over the last 12 months.

The April 2024 median estimated property values in Destin, FL was $647,250. This is a slight change from last month downward by 1.6% and there is a 8.7% decrease over the last 12 months.

Remember my moto, “work to live, don’t live to work”.

I wish you the best and I am always committed to helping you get what you want!

Hello everyone,

As always, I am happy to write to you in hopes that I will inspire you to think and possibly to move forward toward accomplishing your dreams. Whatever dreams you may have, “Everyday is a good day to buy and sell real estate”.

Today, we are still in a Sellers Market and I will be reflecting on Price Per Square Foot for Single Family homes selling in Navarre, Pace, Pensacola, Ft. Walton Beach and Destin.

The following are Median Sold Prices and the Median Sold Price Per Square Foot;

1. Navarre…. $400,000 = $212.00 (new median listing prices are starting at $218 – $239 psf)
2. Pace…. $339,900 = $174.00 (new median listing prices are starting at $185 psf)
3. Pensacola…. $286,700 = $171.00 (new median listing prices are starting at $186 – $190 psf)
4. Ft Walton Beach…. $354,000 = $218.00 (new median listing prices are starting at $225 – $229 psf)
5. Destin…. $582,000 = $291.00 (new median listing prices are starting at $414 – $471 psf)

“Remember my moto, “work to live, don’t live to work”.

I wish you the best and I am always committed to helping you get what you want!

Hello everyone,

As always, I am happy to write to you in hopes that I will inspire you to think and possibly to move forward toward accomplishing your dreams. Whatever dreams you may have, “Everyday is a good day to buy and sell real estate”.

Today, I will be reflecting on February 2024 as a whole. I had predicted a build up of transactions in February 2024 for the real estate market for the Emerald Coast of the Florida Panhandle and my research of February shows Santa Rosa County closings increased by 30 transactions, and Escambia County closings also increased by 56 transactions, while Okaloosa County closings increased a modest 19, all in the first week of March compared to the last week of February. Listing built up in February and closings increased about 30 days later.

Mortgage interest rates are averaging around 6.5% across the board with average Conventional Mortgage rates around 7.0%. I still think that the new normal for interest rates will be around 6.0% for 2024, and who knows, it may stay around for a while longer. In my opinion, I do not see interest rates back around 3.0% – 4.0% which were abnormally low. FHA average rates are around 6.56% and VA average is 6.57% at the time I wrote this blog. 3-6-24 at 9.:41 am. My advice?….stop waiting to time the market, because most people are not that lucky. Although, I do wish you the best of luck always.

Remember my moto, “work to live, don’t live to work”.

I wish you the best and I am always committed to helping you get what you want!

Hello everyone,

As always, I am happy to write to you in hopes that I will inspire you to think and possibly to move forward toward accomplishing your dreams. Whatever dreams you may have, “Everyday is a good day to buy and sell real estate”.

Let us all start the year of 2024 with eyes wide open for possibilities. There are many days ahead of us all so you have to seize the moment of opportunity. Remember, there are twenty-four hours in one day and that is one thousand four hundred and forty minutes each and every day. Take risks but take calculated risks is even a better route to go on this journey through another year of one day at a time.

Slow down and smell the coffee, look at your surroundings without blinders on, color outside the lines and embrace the day. Everyday. You do not have to hurry so much that you get to Sunday and wonder what happened to Saturday.

Remember my moto, “work to live, don’t live to work”.

I wish you the best and I am always committed to helping you get what you want!

Hello everyone,

As always, I am happy to write to you in hopes that I will inspire you to think and possibly to move forward toward accomplishing your dreams. Whatever dreams you may have, “Everyday is a good day to buy and sell real estate”. Transactions happen everyday, regardless of what we hear is going on in the world. We all should continue to live our life without fear of what might happen in the future. Don’t hold yourself back. Mortgage companies and banks will decide whether you own real estate, so if you sell your existing property and move into a newly bought home, just take it one step at a time. Call a realtor. It’s a process. I always say, you never know unless you try. I am here to help you walk through that journey.

A little story about our family blessing to move to Florida:

The real estate bubble actually burst in 2009, which is when my wife and I decided to move to Florida in five years. “The Five Year Plan”. Unfortunately, my employer downsized the company office in Memphis, TN, just three years after we made that decision. Over 100 people received severance packages at lay off time. Now, this lay off was a tragedy for our family. We realized that hiring a realtor was the best idea for what we had to do, which was to list our house as a short sale. Long story short, we also realized that the LORD was turning our five year plan to move to Florida into a three year plan, because we were actually able to move to Florida in only three years instead.

Isn’t GOD amazing…. We were blessed again with two brand new vehicles which we leased with one trade-in vehicle and zero down payments on each. A couple months before, my wife and I had decided to quit smoking, yes both of us decided. Guess what, the money we use to spend on tobacco was now paying for our two new cars.  If you were to ask me at the time, if it were possible, I would say it was unbelievable, but we stepped out on faith, moved to Florida with two new cars and the rest remains to be told. But hey, just remember, I am here to help you also.

Conclusion, a few words to sum up the year of 2023:

There is a lot of talk about things all around us being so bad that we all should just wait and see what happens next, right? Is there a bubble? Is the bubble going to burst? It’s going to get worse before it gets better. Inflation, gas prices, grocery prices, etc. The negativity just went on and on while most people waited to see what was going to happen next, but some people actually sold their starter home and upsized to a bigger and better home in a better neighborhood for their family to grow and prosper.

My opinion for 2024:

The more you wait, the more you wait, that’s all. February 2024 will be a real estate boomer, so let’s get this party started. If you buy a home with solar panels, the only way they will benefit you, is that the seller pay them off at the time of closing with the proceeds from the sale.

Remember my moto, “work to live, don’t live to work”…….I think I was the first to say this, maybe or maybe not, who knows.

I wish you the best and I am always committed to helping you get what you want!

Happy New Year!

Hello everyone,

As always, I am happy to write to you in hopes that I will inspire you to think and possibly to move forward toward accomplishing your dreams. Let me just say this, “Everyday is a good day to buy and sell real estate”. If you are like me, when you move forward with something of importance, you want a sure thing, right? Some have said that the only thing that is for sure is death and taxes. Not too inspiring, but think about this….. I may not have been the first to say this but I SURE think it is a good moto to follow in a worldly scene “Work to Live, don’t Live to Work”. You have got to stop and smell the roses and the coffee that is brewing, and look at what is around you and try to see the good in it. My point is, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”, a quote from the movie “The Shining”.

I wish you the best and I am always committed to helping you get what you want!

Hello everyone,

As always, I am happy to write to you in hopes that I will inspire you to think and possibly to move forward toward accomplishing your dreams. October 2023 was a month of more interest rate increases which seemed to be the leading challenge in the market of the Florida Panhandle. Interest rates climbed to 8% along with rising home values as well. Most people think that something major is going to relieve the anxiety that has built up in buyers hopes, while everything just keeps going up in cost and those same buyers are getting priced out the market……..

“Ongoing high housing costs and the scarcity of available homes continue to present budget challenges for many prospective buyers, and it’s likely keeping some buyers in the rental market or on the sidelines and delaying their purchase until conditions improve,” says Realtor.com Chief Economist Danielle Hale. “Those who are able to overcome affordability constraints may be increasingly drawn to newly constructed homes or to the suburbs and beyond, both of which may offer buyers more realistic opportunities for homeownership in the near term.” Written by RICHARD WESTLUND who is a Miami-based freelance writer, published in the most recent Florida Realtors Magazine.

There were a lot of outside variables fueling the market anxiety while the sidelines got even more crowded. The economy, inflation, job security and then there was more war and new wars and rumors of war. I believe, eventually the buyers priced out of home ownership may be in the position to purchase their dream home in the distant future. Although, there are some concerns that I have for the real estate market and it does not have anything to do with a bubble bursting to make a home more affordable. It has to do with small minded, negative people out there who will continue to try to hold you back. You have to fight to get your dream home and then fight to keep it. I can guarantee you this, no one has ever purchased real estate by just talking about it. You have to take action and there is no better time than now because every day is a good day to buy and sell real estate. Transactions happen everyday, regardless of what is going on in the world.

Okay, let me get off my soap box. Did I get your emotions going? I hope that I inspired you and motived you to move forward. If there is a will, there is a way. Check out the new construction homes because there are some low rates offered and up to $20,000 towards buyers closing costs for a limited time.

I wish you the best and I am always committed to helping you get what you want!