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Viewpoints: Nancy Batchelor, Realtor Associate, EWM Realty International, Miami Beach

by Doug Pitorak

Nancy-Batchelor-EWM-Miami-Beach-Realtor-Associate-Viewpoints

Nancy Batchelor is a Realtor Associate with EWM Realty International in Miami Beach.

Every week, we ask a Miami real estate professional for their thoughts on the top three stories from the week before. This week, we spoke with Nancy Batchelor, a Realtor Associate with EWM Realty International. Nancy is a member of the Chairman’s Club Diamond Level, a designation that recognizes the top 1 percent of Realtors in the country. She has been named Top Ten Realtor by Miami Monthly and Realtor Association of Miami and the Beaches. To stay relaxed, Nancy starts each day at East Wind Farms in Southwest Ranches, where she spends time with Euphoria and Clive, her two horses. Constantly looking to learn, Nancy frequently attends education classes, and she always keeps a CD of real estate coach Brian Buffani on hand.

Miami Agent (MA): A recent report claims Miami spent roughly $472 million on new residential construction in Feb. 2014, a year-over-year increase of 78 percent. Do you have any concerns that Miami’s residential construction is escalating too quickly or at too great a volume? Why or why not?

Nancy Batchelor (NB): When you consider that the demographers are reporting that Florida is once again growing by more than 700 “net” new permanent residents per day (255,000-plus per year), Miami-Dade is going to need new housing to keep up with our permanent population growth. In addition to these numbers of new primary residents, we will continue during these next few years to see thousands more international buyers purchasing second, third and fourth homes, as well as Americans (especially along the eastern seaboard), buying weekend retreats in South Florida.

Then, when you think about the fact that very few new homes or condos were delivered between 2007 and 2014, it’s easier to understand why we see so much new construction happening today. While we have heard of thousands of new condos planned, not all of these new developments will be built. With construction financing for new developments still difficult to obtain, only those planned buildings with strong pre-sales or investors with deep pockets will be built.

MA: We recently discussed ways for Realtors to stay motivated. How do you stay motivated to continue your success on a daily basis?

NB: The turn-around after the recession began five years ago this spring (March 2009), and we have been running at full speed since that time to help our buyers make their selections.  With the strong demand today for housing of all types, coupled with our balanced inventories, our buyers anxious to buy and our sellers ready to sell … our customers keep us motivated!  Ultimately, you have to enjoy helping people find the perfect home for themselves and their families. We are also fortunate to be surrounded by many positive and highly motivated fellow associates and management at EWM. Their high spirits and positive attitudes rub off on each other!

MA: Our recent Inside Edition highlights what’s on the horizon for the lending industry in 2014 and how real estate might be affected. What are you keeping an eye on in the lending industry this year, and how might it affect your business?

NB: 60 percent of our overall market business is purchased without a mortgage; therefore, only 40 percent of our business is dependent on mortgage financing. The new Qualified Mortgage (QM) processing guidelines have everyone’s attention this year, so EWM’s affiliated mortgage company is keeping a watchful eye on the impact of some of these new underwriting requirements. Interest rates are still low by historical measures, so we are encouraging our buyers who want or need a mortgage to buy during the remainder of 2014, in order to take advantage of these low rates.

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