Sing Loud to Spread Christmas Cheer-FA LA La La LA LA LA
“City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, all dressed in holiday style,” but amidst that festive look, the season often feels like we’re, “dashing through the snow,” or bravely driving because, “gee, the traffic is terrific.” Maybe you’re planning or dreaming, “I’ll be home for Christmas” or preparing everything for family to come to you so you can cheer, “run, run Rudolph” because “Santa’s gotta make it to town” with the kids and grandkids. The rush of the holidays is nothing new—after all, even the first Christmas was marked by hectic travel and the search for a place to stay. Yet, in the midst of the chaos, we all share the same desire: to make those we love feel cherished and celebrated this season.
Most years Ray and I head to Texas and Michigan to spend time with our kids and grandkids but we traveled quite a bit in the summer and fall and made the decision to stay home. Even though we are not traveling there are still cookies to bake, packages to wrap, boxes to mail, and a home to decorate for Christmas. Decorating at Christmas often brings back special memories,
traditions, and the retelling of stories. Some of the decorations will make us smile and laugh, others will touch our heart with bittersweet remembrance of a time gone by. The decorating has changed for us since our children are grown and we live in our tropical paradise just miles from the Gulf of Mexico. The big Christmas tree is now smaller, just a Norfolk pine tabletop tree, Charlie Brown-esque. We don’t decorate with a lot of “snow” themed decorations, nor do we have the fully tropical look. Our Christmas decorations are simple, treasured nods to where we came from and our life in Florida now.
I would love it if you shared with me one of your favorite Christmas decorations! For me, one of my favorites is a pair of ornaments. When my kids were young they would ask “Mommy what would you like for Christmas?” and I would say, “Peace on Earth.” Well, one year one of my daughters gave me two Christmas ornaments, one was a hand making a peace sign and the other was a globe. I knew immediately that she gave me “peace on Earth”. Every year they make me smile as I place them on the tree, the "peace-hand" is always above and touching the globe, making Peace on Earth. You can see them in the picture above.
December 2024 - Stats and Data
This December follows a very active hurricane season. Home mortgage rates are hoovering in the mid 6% to low 7%. Dare I bring it up, we went through an "interesting" Presential election season, too. How does all this impact the Florida real estate market? Click to read an article about Floridian consumer sentiment about the economy. On the National level this article shares home price growth is now more in-line with the growth rate in early 2020 before prices climbed upward. Notice the article doesn’t say prices are where they were in 2020 just the amount of growth is back to the more common annual 4’ish% increase year over year.
You know Ray and I can provide several ways to give you stats and data on a neighborhood or city, including the Market Report and even a basic MLS search subscription. NOW, we have a new tool that’s pretty cool. It’s called Altos. I want to give thanks to one of our affiliated title companies, Clear Title and one of my go-to title experts Chris Tobiasz for providing this cool tool. Below are clickable pictures of the Altos data sheets for several zip codes. When you click on them you will be taken to the full report. From there you can click on or hover over the graphs and see details of the timelines. This data is updated weekly, so if you keep the link (or keep my newsletter forever) your data will be updated. I know the data sheets look kinda boring but once you click in I know you will like the data presentation and find yourself playing with the graph data. Give it a try.
Click here for zip code data 34285 on the Island of Venice & just beyond.
Click here for zip code data 33948 in Port Charlotte including West Port
Click here for zip code data 34219 the growing area of Parrish.
Did you click the info? Sliding the graph lines to see where the market has been moving over the past couple years and even last week is pretty slick. Seems the real estate market is behaving in a more typical fashion. What the data shows is that the market is leveling off, also touching on a Buyers market, the inventory of homes is up, and Sellers are finding price adjustments are becoming part of selling again. Buyers are buying and Sellers are selling. A moving real estate market is a merry good thing.
If you would like this info for any zip code in Manatee, Charlotte or Sarasota county let me know. I will send you the link. The link can be for single family homes or condos. (townhouses and villas go in the category of single family homes). The data sheets above are for the single family home category not condos.
Ray and I would like to take this opportunity to highlight a couple of our newer listings. Click the the address to see the details.
8574 Starlight Loop, Parrish. a beautiful pool home listed for $434,900.
1072 Venetian Parkway, Venice - just 2 miles from Venice Beach!
404 Cerromar Circle N #315 renovated condo in Plantation Golf & CC
Ray and I want to thank you for taking a moment out of the crazy busy holiday season to read our market newsletter. We truly enjoy the feedback we receive. And we want to wish each of you and your family a Happy Christmas & may 2025 be the merriest of New Years!
Mary & Ray
of course I have to end with something to make you giggle...
We count it as great JOY working with all of you! When you have friends and family talking real estate please share our name and number with them.
