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1. Bradenton has a wonderful, desirable location.
Bradenton is located in Manatee County which is between Sarasota and
Tampa on Florida's West coast. The largest city in the county is
Bradenton, but the name Bradenton is used for most of the
unincorporated area of the county as well. Other cites include
Palmetto, Ellenton, Parrish, Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach, and Anna
Maria. Bradenton offers easy access all of central Florida, including
Orlando.
The Manatee River runs through the county and provides easy access to
the Gulf of Mexico. Boating, fishing, and water sports is a great area
attraction. Or maybe, you'd prefer relaxing on some of the best beaches
in Florida.
2. Bradenton has a huge supply of inventory, but it
seems to have topped out. Excess inventory is what drives prices down,
but just as importantly it gives you plenty of choices. Just two years
ago if you could find five homes in your price range, you were lucky.
Now you can select from among hundreds of homes. Better selection
equals better purchase.
Now that our inventory is beginning to shrink, it may signal that the
bottom has already occurred. Buy now before the seller's market
returns.
3. Bradenton prices are down. Our residential prices are
down over 20 percent from the high of 2005. This is unprecedented and
represents a great buying opportunity. If you were tell someone that
you could buy real estate at a 20 percent discount, they would call you
a genius. Opportunities like this don't last for long.
4. Interest rates are still near historical lows. Ask
anyone in the business where interest rates are going to go over the
next few years. Everyone believes that rates will go up. For every
increase in interest rate thousands of buyers are shut out of the
market. Your dollars will go father today than they will a year from
now. Taking advantage of today's rates is like buying your house on
sale. Financing guidelines are tightening on a daily basis. This is a
sure sign that rate hikes are coming.
5. In Bradenton it is still possible to buy with little
to zero down. 100% has all but disappeared. However, it is still
possible for many. Then there are other options like 97% percent, or
95% financing. On top of that, today's sellers are willing to pay some
or all of the buyer's closing costs. We have seen many buyers get into
the home of their dreams with virtually no money out of pocket.
6. The baby boomers are coming to Bradenton. A few short
years ago Money magazine named Bradenton, Florida as one of the top
five places to retire. Well, it's an even better area today than it was
five years ago. Our proximity to the white, sandy beaches of the Gulf
of Mexico is quite attractive, since we are a coastal county. We are
also located near two major airports (Tampa and Sarasota). Also, the
Interstate highway system provides great access to Manatee, Sarasota,
Pinellas, and Hillsborough Counties. As long as it keeps snowing up
North the baby boomers will keep coming here. Our area is just a
fantastic place to live, work, and play.
7. Bradenton sellers are motivated to sell. Some homes
have been on the market for over a year. They have reduced their price
again, again, and again. Some are desperate and most are quite
motivated. Having practiced real estate thirteen years in Bradenton, I
have never seen sellers so motivated. Now is the time to get a great
deal!
8. Bradenton's foreclosure and short
sale market is an
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Since many speculators overextended themselves in 2005 our foreclosure
and short sale rate has skyrocketed. If you are an investor this
represents a tremendous buying opportunity. Your strategy should be to
buy at a discount, hold for a few years, and then sell for a big
profit. Put a tenant in the property and allow them to pay down your
mortgage for an even greater profit. If you are buying a home to live
in, the advantage is even greater.
9. New home builders in Bradenton are offering
unprecedented incentives. Buy a new home, get a free pool. Need help
with financing? No problem. One builder is offering to hold a 15
percent second mortgage for five years, no interest, no payments.
Others are offering $10,000 or more toward closing costs. All of this
is on top of $50,000 to $100,000 price reductions. Your Realtor will
know where the best deals are.
10. The Bradenton real estate market is poised for a
quick rebound. It is predicted that our market will experience what's
called a "V" recovery. It was quick to go down and it will be quick to
recover. If you are the type of buyer waiting to find the bottom you
have probably already missed it. Even if you believe the bottom is
still to come, buying today locks in your discount at a historical
opportunity. Waiting may only mean paying more in the future.
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