Lila Keim - Century 21 Miller Elite

Lila Keim - Century 21 Miller Elite Your real estate source for Amelia Island, Fernandina Beach, Yulee and Callahan Real Estate

Broker Associate | Century 21 Miller Elite
Serving Amelia Island, Fernandina Beach, Yulee & Callahan
21+ Years Real Estate Experience
Specializing in relocation, luxury, waterfront & golf-front homes

09/03/2026

Does home search now start with AI?

For a lot of buyers, it already does. Instead of setting filters and scrolling for hours, they're just asking: "Find me a home near a park, with room for my in-laws, under my budget." And they're getting real answers back.

It works better than most people expect — the early part of a search has never moved faster. But there are things these tools can't tell you about a home, and they're usually the things that matter most.

This month's post covers both sides.

Read the full article: https://lilakeim.com/how-ai-is-changing-the-home-search-and-how-to-make-it-work-for-you/

08/27/2026

Torn between renovating your current home and moving to a new one? 🏡🔨

It's one of the most common questions homeowners wrestle with, and the answer usually comes down to three things:

1️⃣ Does your home have a "ceiling"? Some layouts and lots can be improved endlessly; others cap out no matter how much you spend.
2️⃣ What would the renovation really cost — in money, time, and living through it? Be honest about all three.
3️⃣ Is it the house or the location you've outgrown? You can renovate a kitchen. You can't renovate a commute or a school zone.

There's no universal right answer — it depends on your home, your budget, and your goals. But walking through these three usually makes the decision a lot clearer.

Call, text, or email us at (904) 753-3944 or [email protected] — happy to be a sounding board, no pressure either way.

08/25/2026

🚫 Myth: "Once summer ends, buyers disappear — so it's a bad time to sell."

✅ Fact: The end-of-summer buyer is often the most serious one out there.

The casual browsers do thin out. But the people still looking as summer winds down usually have a real reason to move — a job change, a lease ending, a family that wants to be settled before the school year. Fewer tire-kickers, more motivated buyers, and less competition from other listings.

"Wait until spring" is common advice, but spring also means listing into the most crowded season of the year. Selling as summer ends can mean a smaller pool of buyers who are far more likely to actually make an offer.

Call, text, or email us at (904) 753-3944 or [email protected] and let's talk through what makes sense for your home.

The back-to-school stretch is one of the most underrated windows in real estate. 🎒Everyone talks about spring. But the w...
08/20/2026

The back-to-school stretch is one of the most underrated windows in real estate. 🎒

Everyone talks about spring. But the weeks around back-to-school have a quiet advantage for buyers: the summer rush has cooled, serious sellers are still on the market, and there's often more room to negotiate than there was a few months ago. Families who move now can get settled before the school-year routine takes over.

If a move has been on your mind, this is a genuinely good moment to look — more choice, less competition, and time to make a careful decision instead of a rushed one.

Call, text, or email us at (904) 753-3944 or [email protected] and we'll pull together a few options in your area.

Selling in this market? You can absolutely still win — but the approach matters more than it used to. 🏡Today's buyers ar...
08/18/2026

Selling in this market? You can absolutely still win — but the approach matters more than it used to. 🏡

Today's buyers are informed, and they're not in a hurry. The homes that sit are usually the ones chasing a price the market has already moved past. "Testing the market" with an ambitious number costs real time and real money.

The playbook now: price right on day one, present well, and expect some negotiation. Do those three things and well-prepared homes are still moving — and priced accurately from the start, you may never need a reduction at all.

Thinking about listing? The smartest first step is an honest read on what your home is worth today.

Read the full article: https://lilakeim.com/2026-mid-year-market-check-in-what-the-first-half-of-the-year-tells-us-about-your-next-move/

08/13/2026

A quick snapshot of where things stand nationally at the midpoint of 2026:

📊 The median home price is $440,600 — up just 1.8% from a year ago
🏠 Inventory has improved to about 4.6 months of supply
🤝 Nearly half of sellers are offering buyers concessions

Here's the thing, though: these are national averages, and real estate has never been more local. Your neighborhood, your price range, and your property type can look completely different from the headline — sometimes in the opposite direction.

The national numbers set the backdrop. What actually matters is what's happening on your street. Want a read on your specific area? Reach out anytime.

Read the full article: https://lilakeim.com/2026-mid-year-market-check-in-what-the-first-half-of-the-year-tells-us-about-your-next-move/

Mid-year rate update: the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 6.55% this week. That's up slightly from 6.49% last wee...
08/11/2026

Mid-year rate update: the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 6.55% this week. That's up slightly from 6.49% last week, but down from 6.75% a year ago.

This isn't a dramatic drop — and it doesn't need to be one to matter. A steadier rate environment makes it easier to plan around the payment, compare homes thoughtfully, and make a decision based on your real timeline instead of a guess about next week's headlines.

The useful question isn't whether rates are perfect. It's whether today's numbers make sense for your budget, your move, and the home you want.

Read the full article: https://lilakeim.com/2026-mid-year-market-check-in-what-the-first-half-of-the-year-tells-us-about-your-next-move/

Here's a shift worth noticing if you're buying: negotiation is a normal part of the process again.Nearly half of sellers...
08/06/2026

Here's a shift worth noticing if you're buying: negotiation is a normal part of the process again.

Nearly half of sellers — 46% in May — gave buyers some form of concession, a record for that month. Price reductions are far more common than they were during the frenzy.

For buyers, that's not a warning sign. A reduced price is often an invitation to look closer, not a reason to stay away. Inspections, repairs, closing costs, timing — these are conversations again, not sacrifices you make to win a bidding war.

One honest caveat: more negotiation doesn't mean buyers control every market. A well-priced home in a tight area can still move fast. But the list price is no longer the whole conversation.

Read the full article: https://lilakeim.com/2026-mid-year-market-check-in-what-the-first-half-of-the-year-tells-us-about-your-next-move/

For two years, the plan was basically the same for everyone: wait for rates to drop, then make a move. 🏡That dramatic dr...
08/04/2026

For two years, the plan was basically the same for everyone: wait for rates to drop, then make a move. 🏡

That dramatic drop never really came — but the market changed anyway.

Halfway through 2026, buyers in a lot of markets have more homes to choose from, more time to decide, and more room to negotiate than they've had in years. Sellers are adjusting to a slower, more selective market.

Whether you're buying, selling, or just staying put, here's the short version: this is finally a market you can plan in, not just react to.

Read the full article: https://lilakeim.com/2026-mid-year-market-check-in-what-the-first-half-of-the-year-tells-us-about-your-next-move/

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