Existing Home Sales Go Up

According to the National Association of Realtors, existing homes sales went up in November. The local Jacksonville movers learned that about 5.04 million existing homes would be sold in 2012. The number represents a significant increase of 14.5% compared to last year. The Jacksonville moving specialists also learned that the average price went up 10.1% from a year ago to $186,600. The month of November has been really good for the real estate industry, marking the ninth month of year-over-year price increases. The All My Sons of Jacksonville figure since there have been more jobs out there, a decrease in the unemployment rate and rising rents, home purchases have been more popular. The inventory of homes is still dropping which is also contributing to the higher price tags of homes. In November, the local Jacksonville movers learned only 2.03 million homes were listed on the market. That's just enough to last 4.8 months instead of the healthy-balanced one of 6 months. All My Sons of Jacksonville learned that September 2005 was the last time the supply was lower. 

Are you looking to purchase an existing home? If so, you'll need professional movers to help you on moving day. Hire the Jacksonville movers for professional moving services at an affordable moving quote. 

Job Report in Real Estate

The latest monthly job report just came out for the month of November showing better job growth than expected overall, but the Jacksonville movers discovered, not so much for the real estate industry. The professional movers learned that construction was down affecting of course the real estate market. According to the U.S. Labor Department’s job report, there were 146,000 new jobs in November 2012 with the unemployment rate dropping to 7.7% compared to October’s 7.9%.

However, the Chief Economist at the popular real estate search engine Trulia noted the job report showed a decrease in construction jobs. Employment is looking better for 25-34 year olds (prime age to buy a house) but the national construction employment decrease by a significant 12.7%. The local Jacksonville moving specialists learned that over the past three months, construction jobs have decreased by 0.4%.

The local Jacksonville movers are wondering what your job situation is like? Has the economy been good to you? 

Sandy Victims Get Help

The local Jacksonvillemovers are happy to hear that Sandy victims are getting help getting their homes back in shape after the superstorm. All My Sons of Jacksonville learned the Federal Emergency Management Agency rolled out a pilot program to speed repairs in New Jersey. The Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power program (STEP) in New York is now extended to five counties in New Jersey, providing up to $10,000 for quick fixes allowing them to live int heir homes while waiting for bigger repairs. The Jacksonville moving specialists learned that over 2,600 New Jersey households were still living in hotels or temporary quarters paid for by FEMA. Countless others are staying with friends and family. So almost a month after the superstorm, many are still displaced due to lack of heat, hot water and electricity. STEP will make certain households habitable and help prevent additional damage during the cold season. The Federal government is paying for 75% of the work, while 25% is paid for by municipal governments.The local Jacksonville movers learned the program is paying for the repairs of electrical meters, heating, hot water systems and outdoor repairs. After getting the grant, residents have two months to complete the repair work.

All My Sons of Jacksonville found out that in New Jersey, the program is available to people living in Atlantic, Cape May, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties. In New York, it's available to residents of the five boroughs plus Nassau County.

Jacksonville Movers Learn Foreclosures Aren't Cheap Anymore

It used to be that buying a foreclosed home meant you got an amazing deal, saving a lot of money. Investors and first time homebuyers snatched those up fast for the last several years. But these days, a new Zillow study states that foreclosed homes are only discounted at about 7.7%. Zillow compared the average sale price of foreclosed homes versus non-foreclosed ones, but the type of homes that were compared weren't necessarily equal in size or location and amenities. The local Jacksonville movers learned that Detroit showed a 59% difference in foreclosure prices versus non-foreclosed prices, but the properties weren't equal. For example, the average foreclosed property was 1,200 square feet and the average non-foreclosed one was 1,700 square feet in size. 

Zillow found that the biggest foreclosure discounts were available in 2009, when foreclosed properties were selling at 23.9% below market value. The local Jacksonville moving specialists found out that the 7.7% difference between foreclosed properties and non-foreclosed is an average though, some places have no difference at all like Phoenix and Las Vegas properties. In Cleveland and Pittsburg, a foreclosed property goes for at least 25% less than a regular residence.

The Jacksonville Present Home Insurance

With what happened with hurricane Sandy last month, people across the nation were talking about home insurance. Homeowners and renters nationwide are getting more informed about what's covered within their policies and how it affects their homes. The local Jacksonville movers know there are many insurance companies out there with various types of coverage and eligibility requirements. For example, a fire insurance is different than a home insurance policy. The fire policies are typically less expensive but also offer a more limited coverage. The local Jacksonville moving specialists learned this type of coverage is generally more bought by landlords for their rental properties. There are various sections within home insurance, each with their own coverage. One section covers the roof, walls, plumbing and electrical systems. Another section covers other structures that are detached from the main one such as a detached garage or a shed. Homeowners can also insure their personal property for named perils like fire and lighting, theft, water escaping from plumbing, windstorm, rain and damage from vehicles or flying objects.

The All My Sons of Jacksonville suggest you review your insurance policy carefully so that you can make the best decision for you and your family as well as your property. Try to find that right balance between cost and coverage that's right for you.

Foreclosures Cost Neighbors $1.95 trillion

The All My Sons of Jacksonville know that home residential foreclosures affect not only the families that are evicted and the lenders, it also has an impact of neighborhoods. According to a new report from The Center for ResponsibleLending, Americans have lost almost 2 trillion in equity from nearby foreclosures. That's the equity that was lost by the neighbors from homes that were foreclosed on from 2007 and 2011, not the losses that the foreclosed homeowners themselves were subjected to or even the tax revenue the communities have lost. The local Jacksonville movers learned that Americans are estimated to have lost $7 trillion in equity during the foreclosure crisis. All My Sons of Jacksonville moving specialists found out more than half of the $1.95 trillion in lost equity came from minority homeowners with neighborhoods that suffered disproportionately from bad subprime loans.

Are you faced with a foreclosure? Do you have to move out of your home? Call the local Jacksonville movers for professional moving services at an affordable moving quote. The All My Sons of Jacksonville movers are backed by four generations of reliable movers with experience in commercial moves, long distance moves and auto moves. The local Jacksonville movers are part of the All My Sons Movingand Storage family with moving offices across the U.S. including All My Sons of Atlanta, All My Sons of Salt Lake City and All My Sons of Raleigh.

Home Prices Up for 5th Month

According to the S&P/Case-Shiller Price Indices reported that August prices were up in 19 out of the 20 cities since July ad up in 17 cities year-over-year. Home prices across the U.S these days are back to what they were back in the summer of 2003. The 20-city index is 2% above its level from 2011. The local Jacksonville movers learned that home prices did decrease in three cities since last year including Atlanta (by 6.1%), New York (by 2.3%) and Chicago (by 1.6%). Even though Atlanta had declines in home prices compared to last year, prices did go up from July to August. All My Sons of Jacksonville found out that even with this slow, steady recovery, three cities are still reporting home prices that are lower than 2000 levels. These cities include Atlanta, Las Vegas and Detroit. The real estate market in Phoenix did the best with increases of 18.8% in home prices. Detroit followed up with increases in 7.5%. Minneapolis was next and Miami followed up with home prices that increased by 6.7%.


Were you able to sell your home at a better price? Are you looking to move? For professional moving services, call the local Jacksonville moving specialists for an affordable moving quote and help finding quality moving boxes and moving kits for all types of home sizes.

Moving In Together

More and more unmarried couples are moving in together these days. The last statistics reported that over 7.5 million unmarried couples lived together in 2010. And due to the recession, some of these households only have one partner holding a job. If you're thinking of moving in together with your loved one, the local Jacksonville movers suggest you be strategic about your financials. By moving in together, you'll be saving on several expenses from your rent to utility bills to groceries and more. All My Sons of Jacksonville suggest you take that time to really make those savings work for the both of you. You both want to save separately, not only for the sake of the household but also so that you're prepared if you need to move out. Make sure to communicate at all times and understand that there will be compromises once you move in together. You'll have more flexibility with your income, allowing you to explore different activities or hobbies together, possibly even take a trip together. Use that time to get to know each other even more and check in with each other on how the both of you are adapting to moving in together.


If you need help with the actual residential move, call the local Jacksonville movers for professional moving services at an affordable moving quote.

Walking Away From a Mortgage?

After several years of struggles surrounding real estate, with foreclosures and short sales nationwide, many people these days consider it socially acceptable to strategically walk out on a mortgage. The local Jacksonville movers learned that 32% of people polled for ID Analytics, which represent 68 million people, say homeowners should be able to strategically default on their mortgages without facing any consequences. The All My Sons of Jacksonville learned that 13%, 28 million Americans, say hey would like to strategically default. And 17% know people who already have walked away from their mortgages. This mindset wasn't there when foreclosures and underwater mortgages first started popping up across America. But the real estate situation hasn't drastically changed for several years now and it seems like people have just gotten used to the environment.


It looks like the attitude towards credit scores have changed too, with 36% of people polled saying it's acceptable to have a poor credit score these days which represents 77 million people. And speaking about credit score, 35% of respondents felt they were more afraid these days about identity theft compared to five years ago which of course can damage a credit score.

What are your views regarding walking away on your mortgage?

Homeownership Rate in the U.S.

The local Jacksonville moving specialists learned that the national rate of homeownership is at 65.5%. This number represents the lowest rate since 1996 and becomes even lower when pending foreclosures are thrown in the mix. The homeownership rate was at about 68% during the real estate boom and started to deflate by 2008. When foreclosures and serious delinquencies are factored in, the rate is more lime 61.2% which in more like the rate the U.S. had in 1965. The All My Sons of Jacksonville learned the Midwest had the most homeowners with a rate of 69.9% compared with 67.4 in the South, 63.7% in the Northeast and 59.7% in the West. According to the Business Journals, in 98.5% of American counties there are more homeowners than renters. In 30 states, all the counties have more than 50% homeowners. The local Jacksonville moving specialists also learned that in 46 of the nations 3,141 counties that the majority of the residents rent their homes including New York, Kansas, Georgia and San Francisco.


In Florida, the All My Sons of Jacksonville discovered that Sumter County has one of the highest homeownership rate at 89.66% only topped by Keweenaw County in Michigan which is at 89.33%. The Bronx County in New York has the highest percentage of renters.

So what's your situation? Are you a renter or homeowner?

Mortgage Scams

With so many foreclosures nationwide, it's no surprise that people con artists are getting creative with mortgage scams. Nonprofit organizations and government agencies are now getting together to advertise some of these mortgage relief scams and teach homeowners how to avoid them. The local Jacksonville movers learned several Florida men were just arrested last year and charged with defrauding homeowners under the company name of Home Owners Protection Economics or H.O.P.E. This fraudulent company was trying to copy the public-private alliance of lenders, Hope Now, which is actually a group of nonprofit housing counselors and other mortgage industry participants. The H.O.P.E. scammers were telling desperate homeowners that they were approved for a loan modification and asked for upfront fees. These can be anywhere from $1000 to $5000, with an average of $3000.


The All My Sons of Jacksonville movers learned that many scammers use names that are very similar to the government programs and even add logos to their marketing material to give credibility to their fraudulent activity. If you're looking for mortgage relief help, you should try to contact the free Department of Housing and Urban Development approved housing counselors on Hud.gov. The local Jacksonville moving specialists remind you that any legal help will be free, you shouldn't pay any fees.

Fannie Mae Has New Guidelines

All My Sons of Jacksonville learned that Fannie Mae will be having tighter underwriting guidelines as of October 20th of this year. It will make it harder for people to refinance or even purchase a condo. These new guidelines are meant to reduce risk for Fannie Mae and encourage potential homeowners to shop around for their mortgages. One of the new guidelines suggests condominium unit buyers will have to fill out a 2-page condo when they're putting less than 20% down for their down payment. The old rule used to be documentation with 10% down. This questionnaire is in addition to other documents such as insurance policy and homeowner's association financials.


There will also be no more discretionary approvals except for Fannie Mae's Home Affordable Refinance Program. These used to help people with a less than perfect mix f loan to value or debt to income ratio, but with these new guidelines borrowers that are borderline so to speak are out of luck. The local Jacksonville movers learned that self-employed potential homeowners looking for a mortgage will have to provide two consecutive years of federal tax returns instead of just one. Borrowers also have to prove they're in the same business for at least two years. This means one bad year could derail the chance of getting a loan.

What do you think of the new guidelines? Would you be eligible if you were looking for condo mortgage?

Short Sales and Tax Bills

More people these days are going through short sales thanks to better procedures and less hold up, however many aren't aware that they might be facing a deadline. Unless things change and Congress extends the tax exemptions that were in place currently, underwater homeowner will owe taxes after their short sale goes through. The local Jacksonville movers learned that, presently, if someone owes debt on their primary home and it's forgiven through a short sale they won't have to pay federal income tax on it. But if that debt is forgiven after December 31, 2012, borrowers will owe income tax on that amount. The All My Sons of Jacksonville found out that the same rule in some states regarding homeowners going through foreclosures and principal reductions that are part of mortgage modifications. So for example, a $100,000 can add up to over $20,000.


In 2007, Congress passed the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act, which temporarily exempted debt used to acquire and renovate a principal residence. The exemption doesn't apply to mortgage refinancing where cash is taken out and used for something other than buying, building or renovating a home. It doesn't apply to investment property. So if you're thinking of applying for a short sale, the local Jacksonville moving specialists suggest you try to beat the deadline.

Improving Real Estate Markets

According to the National Association of Home Builders//First American Improving Markets' analysis, the number of real estate markets that are improving went from 80 to 99 in September. The Jacksonville movers learned the study looked at improvements across home prices, building permits and unemployment. The All My Sons of Jacksonville movers were happy to learn that Jacksonville, Florida made it onto the September list among Tucson, Arizona, Des Moines, Iowa and Sacramento, California. 12 cities fell off the list and 69 maintained their past position. The markets is slowly improving, however there's an up and down pattern. That real estate market that are improving number was 101 back in April and 80 in June. The rising home prices the local Jacksonville moving specialists learned was more due to a shortage of homes for sale versus demand. The actual number of homes listed for sale decreased by one third since 2011, putting it at an eight year low.


If the real estate market is improving in your area and you're looking to move, call the Jacksonville moving company for professional moving services at a great moving quote. The Jacksonville movers are experiences in all types of moves from commercial moves to residential moves and long distance moves. The All My Sons of Jacksonville movers are part of the All My Sons Moving and Storage family of movers so you can expect quality service and a stress-free moving day.

Lessen the Moving Costs

Moving involves a lot of planning but it also involves a lot of costs, some directly related to the actual transferring of belongings and others are related like the cleaning crew you might bring to clean your house before you get settled, or the first supermarket trip that you'll make which will include many items you won't purchase again for a certain amount of time and so on. You might have to by paint and other supplies to spruce up your new place. The All My Sons of Jacksonville say you can reduce the cost of your residential move by making some changes in your plan. For example, before you start packing the moving boxes take an inventory of what you actually need to move. You might not want to move your old CD collection if all the music you hear is now on your handheld device.


When you're looking for moving boxes, the local Jacksonville movers suggest you save on boxes. Try to find recycled or used moving boxes. You can also suitcases or travel bags if you have any to pack some of your personal belongings. Hiring reliable movers who can offer you professional moving services really helps reduce the cost because you won't risk having your things damaged. You'll get an insurance and are sure that your new place won't get damaged during the process of the move.

Don't Turn Off Your Buyers

This real estate market is definitely a buyers' market so if you're looking to sell your home so you can move into a newer space, make sure you feature your home in the best light. You might think you have the situation under control, but cleaning up and getting rid of the clutter is not enough. The local Jacksonville moving specialists remind you that there are certain items that potential buyers don't want to see when their touring your house and envisioning it as their own.

For example, the All My Sons of Jacksonville movers say get rid of all the signs that you have pets. That means removing the litter boxes or the dirty chew toys laying around your home. You also want to make sure that your home doesn't have that dog smell. Not everyone loves pets and you want to make sure that your four-legged best friend doesn't ruin the sale for you.

If you have a baby, you certainly have your fair share of play areas around the house filled with kid stuff like extra diapers, toys and other items. Another way to turn off potential buyers is an unclean kitchen. The kitchen is the heart of any home, so make sure it's spotless. No dishes in the sink, no food laying around, and organize your storage because they might be inspected. Think about toiletries as well, no personal products, ointments or garbage in the trash cans.


With sellers offering great prices on their homes, it's definitely a competitive space out there. The local Jacksonville movers want you home to shine the brightest.

More Refinancing Thanks to HARP

According to a new report from the Federal Housing Finance Agency, there are 53,758 borrowers owing more than 125% of what their home is worth that refinanced in June. The local Jacksonville moving specialists learned that that number represents almost five times the number of people that took advantage of the HARP program in the first five months of the year. An extra 24,258 who were less several underwater also refinanced. The All My Sons of Jacksonville moving team found out that to be eligible for the HARP program, homeowners had to be current on their mortgage with loans backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Some lenders are also reducing principal on severely underwater mortgages. The local Jacksonville movers have refinanced about 422,969 loan through HARP this year, with over 400,024 in 2011. In Nevada, Arizona and Florida, over 80% of the loans refinanced through HARP in June were for homeowners who owed over 105% of the value of their home.

The Real Estate Market is 32% of the Way Back to Normal Levels

There's a lot of information out there regarding the real estate situation in America, as people try to figure out what their next step is. There's mixed messages at times regarding the recovery, some are saying we're doing better with more home sales and higher sales prices, while others are not quite so convinced. The local Jacksonville moving specialists found out that Trulia states that the market is 32% of the way back to normal. This data seems to be better than June 2011 when the market was said to be only about 22% on its way back. What Trulia means by on its way back to normal it means to pre-bubble levels, before the housing bubble burst. The All My Sons of Jacksonville learned Trulia took a close look at housing construction, existing home sales and the delinquency or foreclosure rate. In June of 2012, housing construction was up by 24%, making it 28% of the way back to normal. Existing home sales dropped during these past few months, and were at 49% of pre-bubble levels in May and 35% of pre-bubble levels. Delinquent mortgages and foreclosures increased in June to 11.23% from 11.08% in May, placing the rate at 34% of the way back to normal levels. The last time Trulia measured the overall real estate market in April, it was at 37% of the way back to pre-bubble levels compared to todays 32%.


What's your real estate reality? Are you buying? Selling? Moving? Call the Jacksonville movers for professional residential moving services. The All My Sons of Jacksonville movers are backed by four generations of reliable movers and are part of All My Sons Moving and Storage.

Short Sale on the Rise This Summer

Experts are saying there will be an uptick in the number of short sales for distressed properties throughout the next few months. The short sales market is expected to hit an all-time peak this year, because bankers are realizing short sales are better than foreclosures. The local Jacksonville moving specialists remind you that a short sale is underwater homeowners selling their houses despite owing more on the mortgage than the property is worth. Many banks are now choosing to forgive the remaining debt on the mortgage, which in the past was still owed to bank/lender/. The local Jacksonville moving specialists learned the Obama administration is really supporting this idea of short selling properties and has put in place a few programs to help make the transition. For example, in the past, a loan amount forgiven used to count as taxable income, but these days it's no longer the case. Due to new reports regarding the first quarter of 2012, the number of short sales increased 25% and was at the highest level in three years.


Are you going through a short sale yourself? Will you have to move to a new home? Consider the local Jacksonville moving specialists for an affordable moving quote and reliable movers. The All My Sons of Jacksonville are part of a huge network of professional movers with countless moving offices across the U.S. The Jacksonville movers deal with everything from commercial moves to long-distance moves as well as auto moves.

Less Home Sales in June

According to the National Association of Realtors' Pending Home Sales Index, the number of contracts signed to buy existing homes decreased in the month of June. Some say that's due to the smaller inventory of homes on the market, making it difficult for potential buyers to find what they're looking for. The local Jacksonville movers learned that there 1.4% less homes for sale in June compared to the previous month. However, the good news is that that number was up 9.5% compared to last year during the same time. Buyers are definitely interested to own, however less home listings, mean fewer contract signed. The inventory of houses on the market has been steadily declining, which is even more significant in the lower-priced homes learned the All My Sons of Jacksonville. Especially when it comes to first-time buyers and investors. Sales of new homes also declined in June, by 8.4%. The local Jacksonville moving specialists learned that a low inventory of homes is not the only thing that's affecting home sales. Even with historically-low mortgage rates, many potential buyers can't qualify for the mortgages because of credit.


Are you in the market for an existing home? Are you moving into a new residential area in and around Jacksonville, FL? If so, call the All My Sons of Jacksonville for professional moving services along with an affordable moving quote. You can expect excellent customer service, expert moving know-how and a stress-free moving day.

Jacksonville Movers Present Most Expensive Buildings

Sure real estate is not exactly at its prime, but land is still being bought and buildings are going up. Real estate is expensive in downtown Seoul Korea where construction on the Yongsan Landmark Tower started last year. The building, the local Jacksonville movers, is expected to cost a record-braking $3.43 million. The Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas also joins this list of expensive buildings, costing a whopping $950 million to build. The Bank of China in Central Hong Kong cost $1 billion to put up, Shanghai World Financial Center cost $1.2 billion and the Yankee Stadium in New York City cost $1.5 billion. Dubai, the local Jacksonville movers learned, has some of the most expensive real estate in the world. Its Palm Island is widely popular with major commercial and residential infrastructures, not to mention leisure and entertainment centers. Dubai's Burj Khalifa building cost $1.5 billion to complete.


Are you moving into an expensive building? Do you need professional movers to help you with every detail of your residential move? Call the local Jacksonville moving specialists for a hassle-free moving day!

Painting 101

Need to revamp certain rooms around the house, but don't want to spend too much money? The local Jacksonville movers say painting can solve the problem. It's easy enough that you can do it yourself and don't have to hire anyone. Plus, color can really change the mood of each room. First you have to make sure you have a smooth surface. So make sure you remove all the light fixtures, doorknobs, art, photos and even light switch that are in the way. You'll want to repair any hole that's in the wall before you start, so use spackle or sand them smooth. If there's old paint peeling, that should also be sanded off. The All My Sons of Jacksonville suggest you clean the walls before you apply new paint. Grab a bucket and a sponge and wash down the surfaces. A cleaner wall will make the paint adhere better resulting in a long-lasting finish so don't overlook that step. Then, use painter's tape to mask around the doors, windows, trims and others areas you don't want to paint over.

Figure out what type of paint you'd like to use. Latex paint is better than oil-based paint for indoor projects. The local Jacksonville moving specialists remind you to choose quality paint brushes so that you don't lose any bristles while your painting and avoid fibers from sticking to your wall. the only thing that should stick is the paint. Being strategic is always a good idea, paint cut-in areas first because you'll have to apply yourself more. These areas include baseboards, corners around doors or windows, then attack the large wall surfaces by using even strokes. The All My Sons of Jacksonville suggest you apply the same pressure, keeping the roller in one direction.


Happy painting!

Foreclosures Increase Again

According to foreclosure listing firm RealtyTrac, the number of U.S. homes entering the foreclosure process for the first time increased for the second consecutive month (in June) this year. The local Jacksonville moving specialists learned that California had a big hike in foreclosure starts, increasing 18% versus last year in June. This rise in foreclosure is happening as the banks are recovering from the robo-signing incidents and after they've reached $25 billion settlement. So now, all of the backlogged unpaid mortgages are floating to the surface. Lenders initiated foreclosure on 12% of the loans behind payment in June, which the All My Sons of Jacksonville moving team learned was the highest number since the first 6 months of 2009. Most likely, these people that are getting foreclosed on haven't been making their monthly payments for about a year and are just now starting the process. So this kind of new inventory doesn't really represent new homeowners in distress. The spike in foreclosures might mean more short sales are also underway as well.


The local Jacksonville movers learned that in the second quarter took about 378 days for a home to complete the foreclosure process, where the bank took over the property. Short sales took about 319 days to sell. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, there are 3 million U.S. homes behind their mortgages and an additional 629,000 homes were on banks' books but not sold yet. The local Jacksonville movers learned that that's a 15-month supply at current pace of sales. 13 million home loans are underwater which means they're also at a risk of going through the foreclosure process.

Cities Grow Faster Than Suburbs

The local Jacksonville movers learned that for the first time since the 1920s, cities in America are growing faster than their surrounding suburbs. According to new reports by the U.S. Census Bureau and analyzed by the Brookings Institution, urban areas grew faster than suburbs in 27 of the 51 largest U.S. cities between 2010 and 2011. This is a big change since the 20s where more and more people were buying cars. The cities that are showing the most growth include New Orleans, Atlanta, Denver, Charlotte, New York, Philadelphia, Ohio and Kansas City, MO. The All My Sons of Jacksonville learned that empty nesters and young people are choosing the cities over the suburbs sometimes for economic reasons, such as having to rent versus buying a home. Sometimes, it's more about lifestyle. People want to be next to cultural amenities, cafes and restaurants, even public transportation. Dallas however is one city that has the reverse trend. The suburban lifestyle is outgrowing residential moves to the city. People in Dallas seem to gravitate more towards the community life of the suburbs especially when newlyweds add children to the mix.


What do you think the situation is with Jacksonville, FL? Are the suburbs growing faster or the cities?

Miami Mansion for Sale for $125 Million

The popular touristic spot and one of the most expensive properties in South Beach and the U.S. for that matter is for sale. The All My Sons of Jacksonville found out the mansion where fashion designer Gianni Versace lived and died in 1997 is for sale for a whopping $125 million. This property is right across from the beach on Ocean Drive and has been operated as a boutique hotel for a little while, operating as The Villa by Barton G since 2009. Rooms went for about $895 a night. This mansion has 10 bedrooms and 11 baths. It’s a three-story home with 23,462 square feet. Versace bought this Miami Beach property in 1992 for $2.95 million as well as the historic Revere Hotel next door which he demolished. Renovations are said to have cost $33 million, adding a 54-foot mosaic pool lined in 24 karat gold. After Versace’s murder the home was sold for $19 million to a corporation headed by a telecom entrepreneur who lived in it for several years. This South Beach mansion however is subject to several lawsuits.

So what do you think, will this mansion sell fast? Do you think it will sell for its asking price?

Increased Home Prices in Florida

The local Jacksonville moving specialists found out home prices are increasing in areas where plenty of homeowners are underwater on their mortgages because fewer homes are available for sale. This is probably contributing to the latest cities to join the “turnaround cities list” including towns in Florida and Phoenix. Homeowners who might want to sell aren’t doing so because they don’t want to have to pay the bank when they sell. However, this negative equity leads to more foreclosures, impedes refinances and restricts owners from listing their home. The All My Sons of Jacksonville team learned that cities with more than 50% of its borrowers owing more than their homes are worth, the market only had enough homes for sale to last 4.7 months at current sales rates. However, in markets with fewer than 10% of borrowers that were underwater, there was an inventory of 8.3 months. Nationwide, that number is at about 6.5% which is the lowest for the past five years. In the past 60 days, price tags for low-priced homes have increased by 4.5% compared to prices of more expensive homes that have risen only 0.6%. So what are the home prices like in your neighborhood?

Recasting Instead of Refinancing Your Home

The All My Sons of Jacksonville movers found out there’s a different way to lower your monthly house payments. Recasting, also known as reamortization, involves paying a lump sum toward your mortgage and then readjust the payment to reflect your new balance. Not every bank offers this service though but those that offer it to their homeowners do it for as little as $150. This fee is a huge difference compared to the closing costs involved with typical refinances that can go up to the thousands of dollars. However, the downside the local Jacksonville movers learned is that this lump sum for refinancing can be as much as $5000.


Besides not every lender offering recasting, not every loan is eligible either. Conventional loans as well as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac ones are the most common loans eligible for recasting. Loans through the Federal Housing Administration and Department of Veteran Affairs cannot be recast. The local Jacksonville moving specialist wonder what do you think about recasting. Can it help your lower your monthly mortgage payment? Is it a true alternative when refinancing a home is not possible?

Qualifying For a Mortgage

Being a professional moving company, you start hearing a lot about real estate. These industries kind of go hand in hand. And with the most recent real estate shift, it seems like everyone’s an expert. But then, not really, so the local Jacksonville movers are here to tell you how to qualify for a mortgage. Because besides finding the perfect home, you also need to be able to afford it and purchase it. Banks scrutinize what is called in the industry the big C’s. That’s credit history, capacity and collateral. The All My Sons of Jacksonville team remind you that lenders will dig deep into your debt repayment history and examine your credit score. Capacity is all about income, savings and investments while collateral stand for how much you’re putting as a down payment and the value of your property.


To get a loan, you’ll have to show proof of employment of two years, so that the banks can predict how likely it is that you will keep that same employment and income. So, before you get a mortgage, you might have to strengthen some of these areas, possibly repaying debts or having a larger down payment.

More remodeling, Less Moving

The local Jacksonville moving specialists found out that homeowners are still choosing to remodel their homes versus move into a new residence, with kitchen and bath remodels taking the top spot. According to the National Association of Home Builders, kitchen and bathrooms projects are up 17% compared to 2010. Fewer homeowners are saying they're remodeling because they want to increase the value of their home, it's mostly about not wanting to move. Over 60% of people taking on these projects hear more about repair and replacement of old parts of the house such as windows and doors. Over 50% of remodelers say that for their clients it's about upgraded amenities.

The local Jacksonville movers found out there are some trends surrounding these remodeling projects such as reworked spaces, more amenities in multi-family households, design efficiency and more. Seems like many potential sellers are still not confident in the real estate market of today and prefer to stay in and remodel than move out. If you're more interested in moving, don't forget to deal with a professional moving company that's reliable and affordable. When you're ready to move into a new neighborhood, make sure the All My Sons of Jacksonville team is by your side.

Foreclosures Still High in Florida

Even though Florida dominates the list of Top Turnaround Cities due to less homes for sales and higher home prices in general, the local Jacksonville moving specialists found out foreclosures are not over. The latest data shows that foreclosures still continue to be highest in the state of Florida. 8 out of 10 cities have the highest rate of serious loan delinquency and 9 out of 10 have the highest foreclosure rate. More specifically, Miami-Fort Lauderdale has an 18.9% foreclosure rate, Port St.Lucie has 16.7% and Orlando-Kissimmee has 15.6%.

The Center for Housing Policy, the Urban Institute and the Local Initiatives Support Corp. just reported that the serious delinquency rate increased from 9.2% (dating back to June 2011) to 9.7% (December 2011). These numbers affect the real estate market in 100 metro areas. The local Jacksonville moving specialists found out that these numbers are actualy down from 10.5% in December 2009. The foreclosure-Response.org says loans that the number of loans over three months past due is still stable, more specifically at 3.8%. Homes in foreclosure are still rising, with a 5.9% increase.

If you're purchasing a foreclosure, call the local Jacksonville moving specialists for professional moving services at an affordable price. We'll quilt pad wrap your furniture and safely transport all of your household items. Our reliable movers are part of the All My Sons moving team, with moving offices across the nation, so you have nothing to worry about.

Recovering Cities in Real Estate

According to Realtor.com's newest list of Top Turnaaround Cities, Miami is in second place. Phoenix is leading the pack. The city has taken a 60% drop in real estate values during the housing crisis. For a while, there have been more investors in the area and a decline in property inventory, which lead to higher price tags. Last quarter, Phoenix ranked second, with Miami right behind it. The local Jacksonville movers learned the average list price in Phoenix went up almost 27% and inventory declining just over 48%. AllMy Sons of Jacksonville is proud to say Florida is kind of dominating the list, with 11 towns including Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Naples, Fort Myers-Cape Coral, Lakeland-Winter Haven, Sarasota-Bradentown, Tampa-St. Petersburg, Punta Gorda, Fort Lauderdale and Daytona Beach. In fact, the only area not in Florida but still ranking in the top 10 of the Top Turnaround Cities list is Boise, Idaho. Some experts are saying that Florida is recovering due to a slowdown in the foreclosure process and a interest in more investors.

If you're in the market to buy a house and are looking to move into a new residence soon, call the local Jacksonville movers for professional moving services at a great price. We're backed by four generations of movers and a reliable network of All My Sons Moving and Storage movers across the nation.

Lowest Homeownership Rate in 15 Years

The local Jacksonville movers learned homeownership in America dropped to its lowest rate in the past 15 years. The percentage of Americans who own their homes fell a full percentage point over the year to 65.4% during the first three months of 2012. That's the lowest rate since 1997 according to the Census Bureau. Homeownership has fallen across the board, for all age groups, races and regions since the housing boom. Home foreclosures increased over the past six years with many homeowners becoming renters. The local Jacksonville moving specialists learned that even the rental vacancy rate fell 8.8% during the first quarter, down from 9.7% in the last quarter last year. Because of the higher demand, rent payments are also higher by 5.6% compared to last year...to an average of $721.On the home front, prices of residential properties are going down, with the latest average price for a home at $133,700.

If you're becoming a homeowner in the near future, consider the local Jacksonville movers to help you with professional moving services at an affordable price. We're part of the All My Sons Moving and Storage network, with moving offices across the U.S. in areas such as West Palm Beach, Atlanta, Birmingham, Oklahoma City and many more. Plus, we can help you score professional grade moving boxes as well as moving kits to make the entire residential move hassle-free.

Moving In Together

Moving in together for the first time as a couple brings about many changes. You will be sharing a new space, getting use to each other’s habits and sharing personal things like toothpaste and kitchenware. Moving in together also means you’ll realize that you have many duplicates from extra toasters to television sets, and even furniture. How many couches do you really need? Duplicates become more of an issue when you’re living in a smaller space, maybe a one- or two-bedroom apartment versus a single-family home. So before you actually move residences, the local Jacksonville moving specialistssuggest you get rid of some of the stuff by donating some things to charity. For the tangible household items that you have in double, such as the toaster for example, figure out which one of you two has the better quality and keep that one. The other, you can always donate or even sell if you hold a garage sale before the move. The Jacksonville moving team suggests you both understand that this new space is a new home for both of you and you share equal ownership of it. So neither of you should be the decision maker… regarding décor, houseguests, pets or even how to best use various rooms.

If you’re looking for a professional moving company to move you in, look no further, All My Sons of Jacksonville is reliable and affordable.

Rents Has Gone Up 5%

Renting use to be cheaper than buying and owning a house, but these days, in many cities across the U.S. that is no longer the case. Rent payments keep going up and home prices are standing still. The asking prices for homes declines 0.7% in the past year through the month of March while rent has gone up 5%. The local Jacksonville movers learned that the average rental price is at $1,350, up from $1,285 a year ago. Some metro areas are reporting double digits increases in rents, such as Sarasota, Florida where the average rent jumped 12.9%, scoring the highest increase in 100 largest metro areas. Miami and San Francisco had the next highest rent hikes with 12.1% and 11.1%. The local Jacksonville moving specialists found out the national vacancy rate for apartments is now at its lowest since 2001. Due to all of the foreclosures, many people were forced to leave their homes and rent apartments. This raised demands for rentals as well as price. Some cities have also constraints on building new multi-family housing, limiting supply. Besides better price tags on homes, the low mortgage rates have also made home buying more affordable.

Are you buying or renting? Do you need help with moving? Call the local Jacksonville movers for professional moving services at an affordable price.

World's Tallest Tree House

The world's tallest tree house stands at 97 feet high in Crossville, Tennessee. And if that doesn’t impress you enough, know that it's supported by only six trees with a live, 80-foot white oak, 12 feet in diameter at its base. The Jacksonville movers found out the tree house is made entirely from wood and recycled materials and only 258,000 nails. This staggering piece of architecture even has a space for worship with pews, an altar and a choir loft. There's an indoor basketball court, spiral staircases and countless rooms, walkways and balconies. There's only one person living there, a builder, landscape architect and ordained minister. He says this eco-friendly home only cost him 12,000 to build. However, don't let that number fool you. The local Jacksonville moving specialists found out it took him 10 years to build this tree house and a lot of help from friends.
If you're moving to Jacksonville, know that the local All My Sons of Jacksonville will help you move into any type of house, single family home, apartment, even the occasional tree house... We’ll quilt pad wrap your furniture, help you with assembling and even reassemble some of your household items so you don’t have to do any heavy lifting. The All My Sons of Jacksonville are experienced in all types of moves including commercial moves and auto moves, and are backed by four generations of movers.

Thinking About Moving?

If you think you might be due for a change, it may be time to consider moving away. The move doesn't have to be drastic, just moving 30 minutes away can make a big difference in your life. It might just be the different scenery you’re longing for. But before you make such a major commitment, there are a few things you should consider, such as cost of living and your possible new work commute. The local Jacksonville moving specialists suggest you examine the big picture and pinpoint all of the areas of your life that might be affected. Think about your work, friends, family, even the distances to some of the regular services you use like your local bank or your favorite bakery. The local Jacksonville movers remind you that some of those services are strongly tied to the relationships you've built with people over the years, like your personal banker who's been advising you. When you're thinking about moving residences, the cost of living should also be top of mind. All My Sons of Jacksonville suggest you try to figure out if it will cost you more money, thus a greater living budget to move somewhere else.
Moving is not an easy decision, but at least you can easily hire professional movers like the All My Sons of Jacksonville moving team. We’ll quilt pad wrap your furniture and help you with assembling your household items. Our reliable moving services are also affordable, so you know we’ll fit into your moving budget.

Home Prices Are Down

According to the Standard & Poor's/Case Shiller home-price index, home prices in 16 out of the 19 cities tracked decreased in January 2012 compared to a month before in December 2011. The most dramatic declines, the local Jacksonville movers found out, were in Miami, Phoenix and Washington. The cities tracked represent a 34% decline since the housing bust and are now back to what they were around 2002. On the positive side, this past winter has been the best for home sales for the last five years. To add to the good news, eight cities including Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Las Vegas, New York, Portland, Seattle and Tampa have all had year-over-year increases in home sales. And on the more good news front….The local Jacksonville moving specialists found out that between December and February, there were about 245,000 jobs added, improving the unemployment rate which dropped to 8.3%. That's the lowest unemployment rate we've had in three years. Some real estate experts are attributing foreclosures as the reason for lower price tags on houses. Stay tuned to the local Jacksonville movers’ blog for future news regarding home prices.

Buying Is Cheaper than Renting?

Real estate is on everybody's mind these days. You don't have to be a realtor anymore to understand the effects of housing on our nation, employment rate, investments and everything in between. A new report from real estate search engine Trulia says that in 98 out of 100 largest metropolitan areas it's more cost effective to buy a house versus to rent one. The latest Rent vs Buy index reports that only San Francisco and Honolulu rank as "iffy bets."

The local Jacksonville movers learned that Detroit, Oklahoma City, Dayton and Ohio rank as the top American cities when it comes to owning versus renting, with a greater value for homeowners. Trulia bases these statistics on their price-to-rent ratio, which they do by multiplying average monthly rents by 12. As the rents go up, owning becomes more affordable for people. Low vacancy is also what is keeping the rents high up there. According to the latest research, only 5.3% of rental units were not rented to tenants. The Jacksonville moving specialists learned that what may be stopping some people from buying is affording that first down payment. Toledo, Grand Rapids, Cleveland, Atlanta and Memphis are also part of those metropolitan areas where owning a home is better than renting.

So do you own a home in Jacksonville or rent?

Orange Park, Florida

All My Sons of Jacksonville has professional movers working in various locations around Jacksonville, Florida including Ocala, St. Augustine and Orange Park. The local Jacksonville movers take care of all types of residential moves and commercial moves. Our movers serve customers in single family homes, apartment rentals and even private practice offices.

Orange Park is a suburb of Jacksonville, Florida that includes various communities from Fleming Island to Lakeside and Bellair-Meadowbrook Terrace. The name’s origin is due to the hope the founders of Orange Park had to become fruit growers. But, their crops were destroyed in the Great Freeze of 1894-1895. Orange Park was incorporated in 1879 by a special act of the Florida Legislature. Today this popular Jacksonville suburb has plenty of residential developments including Eagle Harbor, Loch Rane Estates, Orange Park Golf and Country Club, Eagle Landing Golf and Country Club, Laurel Grove Plantation, Stonebridge and more.

If you’re looking to move out of or into any of the communities and developments in Orange Park Florida, you can trust the reliable Jacksonville movers for professional moving services at an affordable price.

Judy Garland’s Old House On the Market

If you want a little bit of old Hollywood glamour along with your real estate, then you want Judy Garland’s old house in the Bel-Air neighborhood of Los Angeles. The 5,513 square feet home, designed by architect Wallace Neff, is being sold by a philanthropist who bought it last year and has made some updates to the famous actress’ home. It has five bedrooms and five baths as well as a pool and a writer’s cabin. All My Sons of Jacksonville found out that the listing price is now at $7.1 million.
The Wizard of Oz actress moved into this home with her mother, sister and grandmother and lived there until 1944. Rumor has it that Judy Garland is not the only celebrity that has called the Stone Canyon Drive her home sweet home. The local Jacksonville moving specialists found out that record producer Quincy Jones, singer Marvin Gaye and business executive Jerry Magnin also lived there.
If the million dollars mansion is a little too much, and a house in Jacksonville is more what you’re looking for, then hire the local Jacksonville movers to help you on moving day. Our local professional moving services will have you settled in no time.

Florida is Back on the Real Estate Track

According to the National Association of Home Builders, Miami, Boston, Detroit, Kansas City, Portland, Memphis and Salt Lake City are some of the cities that are improving in the real estate market thanks to more building permits, better employment and house prices. San Jose, Washington D.C., New Orleans, Kankakee, Worcester, Jackson, and Sherman however aren’t doing so good. The local Jacksonville moving specialists is happy to say Miami, Florida is getting a lot of good press lately, with Realtor.com naming it, along with other Florida cities, one of the top 10 turnarounds towns.

If you’re looking to move in the Jacksonville are, call the local Jacksonville movers for easy and stress-free moving services. The All My Sons of Jacksonville will quilt pad wrap your furniture and help you get settled in no time. The Jacksonville moving team is part of the All My Sons moving company network which has moving offices in countless cities including Nashville, Salt Lake City, Atlanta, Oklahoma City, Birmingham and many more. With four generations of expert movers behind them, the Jacksonville moving specialists are the very best movers to take care of your residential move.

Real Estate Predictions

Zillow, the mega real estate search engine, is reporting that home values will still drop this year, but not as much as they did in 2011. They foresee a 3.7% decline in home values, compared to 2011’s 4.7%. Zillow also predicts that our real estate market won’t hit bottom until 2013, with some markets doing better than others. The local Jacksonville movers learnt that 14 out of the 25 large metropolitan areas will do better. Washington D.C., Zillow predicts, will see a 1.3% increase in home value. Los Angeles, 1.2% increase. Phoenix, less than 1%, Riverside, California, 0.3% and Baltimore, 01%. Home values in Miami-Fort Lauderdale are expected to stay stable, with Pittsburg’s, San Francisco’s, San Diego’s and Dallas Fort-Worth’s dropping 1%. But Atlanta, Chicago, Seattle, Cleveland and Sacramento, California expected to have the biggest home values decreases.
If you’re home value has declined so much that you’ve had to go through the foreclosure process, rest assured that the local Jacksonville moving specialists can help you with professional moving services at an affordable price. We’ll quilt pad wrap your furniture and help you with assembling your household items in your new place so you can get settled fast. Call the All My sons of Jacksonville for stress-free moving services.

Real Estate Things Are Turning Around for FL

Florida has multiples cities in the top 10 turnaround towns according to Realtor.com. Florida takes eight of the ten spots on the fourth quarter list of 2011, with Miami ranking first. The other two spots belong to Phoenix and Boise. The homes inventory is decreasing in the sunny state and people just generally have more faith in buying and owning. According to MSN, inventory is so low in some neighborhoods in Florida that good properties get a lot of offers. One reason for the lower number of homes in the market is that Florida has had the robo-signing scandal, slowing down the process of foreclosures ending up in court, so the entire journey can take up to two years. Some of Florida’s home prices will decrease 12% in 2012 and about 4% more the next year.

If you’re caught in the foreclosure game, call the local Jacksonville movers for affordable moving service. All My Sons of Jacksonville movers are part of All My Sons Moving and Storage and are backed by four generations of professional movers. For a stress-free moving experience, call the local Jacksonville moving team.

Home Financing Made Easy for Some

President Barak Obama is pushing a new home refinancing plan, but it’s still waiting for Congressional approval. This chance to refinance though won’t be available to people who are not current on their mortgage payments and those that are very close to foreclosures. “It won’t help those who bought multiple homes just to speculate and make a quick buck,” he said. The Jacksonville local movers found out that this plan is to help homeowners who are underwater on their mortgages a chance to refinance their loans to today’s lower rates without going through a lot of red tape. This new plan would be open to loans that aren’t backed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or the Federal Housing Administration. Only owners of single-family homes would be eligible for this plan, and the homeowners have to be residing in that home. Participants in this new program will have to have a credit score of at least 580 and with a loan between $271,050 and $729,750. According to MSN, this new home refinancing plan will cost between $5 and $10 billion.

If you’re not eligible for this refinancing plan and will have to evict your home due to a foreclosure, you can count on the local Jacksonville movers for professional moving services. The Jacksonville moving specialists will quilt pad wrap your fragile furniture and help you assemble your household items in your new place. So for a stress-free moving day, call the All My Sons of Jacksonville moving team.

Easy Steps to the Mortgage Application

Applying for a mortgage doesn’t have to be complicated, there are small, easy steps you can take to make the entire process simple. First, you’ll want to talk to a loan officer at your preferred bank. When you meet with them for the first time, they’ll probably just want to gather some information about you to see if you even qualify for a loan. This is where you’ll give them your name and reveal your income and outstanding debts. The next step is actually filling up the mortgage application. Just enter all of data that’s asked form you. Then you hand it back to your loan officer and three days from then, he or she will give you a packet of disclosures including a good faith estimate and a truth in lending form. This information will give you the details about the loan you can get and its terms as well as its annual percentage rate. All of that though is conditional, you’re not in the clear yet. It has to go through the operations department and processors where everything is double checked including your credit. The final step is called underwriting. That’s when the risk of lending you money is studied. Lenders verify is it is in their best interest to offer you a loan.

If you’re able to get a loan and get your mortgage, don’t forget to call the local Jacksonville movers for a professional move at an affordable price.

Trading Homes Might Be the Latest Trend in Real Estate

In today’s economy, the way we use to do things doesn’t always work. Lately, people are getting more creative in finding ways to move out of their homes, taking a cue from how vacation homes are dealt with. Some homeowners are frustrated with not being able to sell their homes and so
they’re going for a more untraditional route: house swapping. There are many reasons for which people tend to move and in the last several years, many of those highlight the need for people to downsize or relocate for a job. Because of the large home inventory across the nation and smaller price tags on homes, the competition for the potential buyer is fierce. House trading is gaining
traction on websites such as Goswap.com that also helps members swap other types of properties such as cars for example, and Craigslist. The way it works is that both parties interested in the home trading sign separate purchase and sale agreements for each home that’s being swapped.
If you think house trading can work for you, visit some of the websites listed above to get more information. You can also talk to a real estate professional to find out more details about house swapping. When you find your dream home, call the Jacksonville local movers for professional
moving services at an affordable price. All My Sons of Jacksonville will help you with all of the small details that go into a residential move for a stress-free moving day for you.

Finding a Home Online

With plenty of internet sites devoted to shopping for a home online, you would think the experience would be a walk in the park. While it’s still easier to click and view online versus walking form home to home, there’s still work behind the browsing, especially if you’re serious about finding your dream home. There’s researching the best location and school districts, viewing pictures, taking virtual tours and everything in between. The good news is that the big real estate brokerage firms also have a great presence online. Firms like Coldwell Banker, Sotheby’s RE/MAX and Keller Williams Realty are all online. They encourage future homebuyers to search by location, price range and other variables while also possibly finding a great realtor to help you continue your quest for your dream home. Some companies even have their very own Youtube channels featuring tours making the viewer feel like they’re actually walking through the property. When you actually find your dream home, at least you can take comfort in knowing that the moving part is a piece of cake. For professional moving services, just call the reputable movers of All My Sons of Jacksonville. We’re part of the expert moving network of All My Sons Moving and Storage that has countless moving offices in the U.S. So when you’re ready for
your moving boxes and personal belongings to be transferred in a simple and careful manner, call the Jacksonville moving specialists.

Real Estate Year-End News

According to the latest research done by Zillow, the U.S. are expected to lose over $681 billion in value this year which is actually less than the $1.1 trillion that was lost in 2010. That’s a 35% difference. Zillow also reported that only 9 out of the 128 markets actually gained value this year including New Orleans and Pittsburgh. Big cities such a Los Angeles, New York and Chicago lost in housing value, in billions of dollars…$75.5 billion, $44.8 billion and $41.7 billion respectively. The silver lining is that at least the homes’ value is lost at a much slower pace than it used to in the last previous years, there are less sharp declines. Job growth continues to be what’s repairing the housing market. For example, just in the past couple of weeks ago New Orleans added 684 new jobs within seven days and 10,000 jobs in the last year.
Don’t forget, if you’re moving residences this new year, call the Jacksonville movers for professional moving services at an affordable price. All My Sons of Jacksonville is part of the reputable moving company All My Sons Moving and Storage so you know your moving day will be good in hands.