From the Publisher

Traditionally, as a new year gets under way, Florida Homebuyer Jacksonville has convened a panel of industry experts to take a look ahead. What will the next 12 months bring in the real-estate market? The past several years have challenged even the savviest prognosticators. But looking back over those issues, I’m amazed at how generally accurate local pros have been in their forecasts.

For 2010, the people we interviewed predicted a year of gradual stabilization and slow but steady improvement Don Wilford of ICI Homes summarized the situation nicely: “Our industry has bottomed out because we’ve gone through all our inventory while short sales and foreclosures have been picked through. Gerry Boeneman of Ryland Homes said: “We’re finally seeing signs of improvement in the housing market and I expect continued improvement in 2010.”

Unanimously, our panelists said that 2010 would be a great time to buy a home, thanks to low interest rates, builder incentives and a now-expired federal tax credit.

The year went about as expected. But what about 2011? More of the same? A rebound? A double-dip decline? Something inbetween?

We’ve got answers – or at least educated guesses – in this issue of Florida Homebuyer Jacksonville.

Penelope Geismar
Publisher
penelopeg@florida-homebuyer.com