Orlando Homes for Sale – Home Selling Questions Answered

Sometimes, thought provoking questions come in from readers with national or Orlando homes for sale. I thought I’d answer a few of the questions I’ve received recently. Maybe you have some of the same questions.

Is a mural considered a personal touch or a selling point?

This is a hard question to answer. It really depends on the mural, the room it’s in, and if it could be considered part of the décor. For instance, would a rooster painted on the wall of a country-style kitchen add or detract?

If you have a real estate agent, ask his or her opinion. If you don’t have an agent, I strongly suggest you hire one to walk through and give you suggestions. For most Orlando homes for sale, the answer will be “paint over it.” However, you never really know when an image might be that extra touch that makes the room special. So, get a professional opinion from someone who can actually go to your home and see it.

Some murals can add to the room, such as whimsical rabbit murals in a child’s bedroom. Others can severely detract from a room, such as a large mural of Elvis on the bathroom wall. Tons of people like Elvis, but I’m not so sure they’d all like an image of him in the bathroom.

On a side note, one of the good things about having an agent is that he or she just might know a really big Elvis fan who would love the home as is.

My budget is really tight. I read about home staging, but I can’t afford it. Is it absolutely necessary to sell a home?

No. Real estate agents often talk about that “extra touch.” Home staging is one of those extra touches. If your budget is severely limited, don’t break the bank to have a professional stage your home. Although I do suggest staging your home, a cheaper alternative is to borrow a book on home staging from your local library (free), or buying a book on home staging ($40 at the most). Much can be done by you once you have the right information. Or, hire a real estate agent, like me, who is a professional stager.

I’m getting ready to put my house on the market and am trying to make sure all the repairs are done. Should I hire a home inspector before or after I do the repairs?

Hire the home inspector first. The inspection report will include an overview of needed repairs, as well as an estimate of what those repairs will cost. This way, you can better prioritize the repairs rather than using a “hit and miss” approach.

Thank you all for your questions. I hope my answers are helpful. With Orlando homes for sale, the most important advice I can give is to remember that no home is exactly alike. Everything has a unique selling point and unique selling detractor. Finding out which is which can make all the difference.

Have questions of your own? You can add them as a comment here, email them to us at 407-876-5771. We promise to answer promptly!

Buying an Orlando Home for Sale versus Renting

Should you buy an Orlando home for sale? Maybe yes, maybe no. People don’t live in cookie cutter situations; everyone has a unique set of circumstances. For that matter, you may not even need a house. Maybe an apartment is a better fit.

Here are four factors to consider before deciding whether to buy or rent:

1. Maintenance: One factor you might use to decide whether or not you want to buy an Orlando home for sale is maintenance. As a homeowner, you’re responsible for the roof when it leaks and the plumbing when it’s clogged. As a renter, you have a landlord who takes care of all that.

2. Frequency of relocation: Another factor to consider is how long you plan to be in the area. For example, if you plan to move in less than five years and don’t fancy renting out the home after you move, buying may not be for you.

3. Tax deductions: The interest you pay on your mortgage is usually tax-deductible. As well, when you close on a home you have the option to pay “points” to reduce your interest over the life of your loan. The amount you pay to cover the points is also usually tax deductible for the year in which you buy the home. Now think about renting… none of your rent is tax deductible. You don’t get money back for living in a home; you get money back for buying a home. With that money, you could further pay down your loan, make repairs or any number of things you need to do.

4. Home decor: When you own, you can decorate any way you want. You can paint, hang pictures or even knock down walls. When you rent, you must live by the rules and regulations established by the landlord, which are usually very restrictive.

So, should you rent or buy? I could tell you buying is the best thing to do, but I could be wrong because I don’t know your particular situation. However, if you can afford an Orlando home for sale and want to buy one, don’t pass up the best mortgage rates the real estate industry has ever seen!

Still confused as to whether renting or buying is best for you? Give us a call at 407-876-5771, and we will personally help you figure it out.

Have you decided owning a home is right for you? Let us help you find and buy a great home at a great price. Call us at 407-876-5771 for more information.

4 Reasons You Should Buy Orlando Real Estate in a Down Market

The national and Orlando real estate markets are constantly fluctuating, falling somewhere between more inventory and lower prices and less inventory and higher prices. People are often frightened when the home inventory rises, but a declining real estate market may just be the perfect time to find your next home.

Here are 4 reasons why you should consider buying Orlando real estate in a down market.

1. Inventory. When the market is down, more homes are for sale. This means you have more homes to choose from, which makes it easier to find a home in your dream neighborhood or closer to work or school.

2. Negotiation. There’s a reason down markets are called “buyers’ markets.” Sellers want to sell their homes, and they are often willing to do whatever it takes. This means you have the advantage and can buy a home for a great price. You can also ask the seller for other incentives like paying all or a portion of your closing costs.

3. Mortgage Rates. When the real estate market begins falling, interest rates get cut. This can mean considerable savings for you over the course of your mortgage. You can even buy a larger home within your price range than you can when the market is booming.

4. Investment. Even though doom and gloom is forecasted in a down market, your home will still most likely go up in value or at least retain its value. Keep in mind that your home is your most personal investment. It’s a place where you will create memories and maybe even raise a family.

If you’re considering buying a home, let us help you find a wonderful home at a great price. Call us today at 407-876-5771.

Is Buying an Orlando Home for Sale Ever Going to Be a Good Move?

If you’ve thought about buying an Orlando home for sale, you have to be wondering, “Is it ever going to be a good idea?” I understand; there’s an endless stream of media pouring out bad housing news. It’s discouraging to say the least if you’re a homebuyer or a home seller.

Yet, the problem with the news from the home buying standpoint is that it focuses on profit. The media says, “You can’t make a profit from buying a home.” They talk about prices dropping and more homes hitting the market, among other things. What they miss, however, are the real reasons most people buy an Orlando home for sale.

It’s your home. Period.
You can do what you want with it. You don’t have to worry about whether painting a mural on the wall will get you an increase in rent. You don’t have to deal with the noisy people who just moved into the apartment above you, who obviously brought a zoo because something’s pounding on your ceiling all the time. You can paint the walls black and nobody can say “Boo” about it, because it’s your home.

Fixed-rate mortgages stay put.
Unlike rent, which can go up and up and up, fixed-rate mortgage loans stay the same. They work exactly like they sound; the rate you start at when you buy your Orlando home for sale is the rate you end at when you finish paying off your mortgage.

You can eventually stop paying out.
Rent will always be owed. At no time in the future will your landlord say, “You’ve paid enough rent. You don’t have to pay anymore.” Mortgages, however, will eventually be paid off. Therefore, while renters pay for 15 years and then must continue to pay, homeowners, who have a 15-year mortgage, can pay for 15 years and then stop.

It’s your castle.
Nobody owns it but you. There’s a certain pride to owning a home that far outweighs profit. The excitement from making a profit, however small or large, is a fleeting, momentary thing. When you buy an home for sale, you’re buying a castle – a safe haven where you can get away from the world; a place where you can relax and be comfortable.

If you’re ready to find your castle, we can help. Call us at 407-876-5771 for more information.

Myths about Selling Your Orlando Real Estate

Trying to sell your Orlando real estate in a slow market can be frustrating. You may find that it takes longer to sell and you can’t get as much money as you could during a booming market. However, you can’t believe all the hype about a sluggish real estate market. Do your research and separate the facts from the fiction.

Here are 3 myths and the facts behind the fiction:

1. You won’t get a decent price. Your Orlando real estate will sell for whatever a buyer is willing to pay. A comparative market analysis shows you what other buyers spent on property like yours. Of course, if you bought your home when values were up, you may not get the return on your investment you’d hoped for. However, most sellers get a fair price and even make a profit in a slow market.

2. Your Orlando real estate will stay on the market too long. While it’s true that real estate tends to take longer to sell during a slow market, it’s not impossible to sell. People still buy in slower markets. If your home is priced right, prepared for sale and marketed professionally, it will sell.

3. Buyers only want foreclosures and short sales. The truth is that buyers want good deals, and this can be in the form of money or time. The price of a foreclosure or short sale may certainly be attractive, but they can take a considerable amount of time to close while the banks negotiate their terms. Paying slightly more for a traditional sale is sometimes well worth the time they can save.

Using my proven marketing plan, we can help you sell your home whether it's a slow market or a booming market. Call us today at 407-876-5771.

New Demands for Orlando Homes for Sale

A trend is slowly spreading through the nation, starting in cities such as Rockville, Maryland and Sacramento, California. This trend may bring hope for Orlando homes for sale. These cities are reviving, after seeing years of decline. Why? Because of a shift toward urban-style living.

The trend, if it persists (and many expect it will), is moving towards compact, walkable neighborhoods. In fact, walkability, as it’s called, is one of the fastest growing demands in real estate. Buyers want the ability to travel around a neighborhood without ever getting in their cars. Bike paths, walking paths and beautiful, tree-lined sidewalks are some of today’s high selling points.

Take Rockville, for example. A town square was built in Rockville. As a result, the dying town of Rockville is now a bustling place lined with shops, apartments, restaurants and vibrant street life. The same has happened in Sacramento, where neighbors feel comfortable going over to one another’s house to sit on the porch and chat.

What’s driving this trend? Among other things, it’s green living. Many homebuyers, including buyers of Orlando homes for sale, don’t seem to mind paying a little extra for a home that’s close to work with shops within walking distance.

So what’s the lesson in all this? As real estate agents have been warning for a few years now, green is in. Location, comfort and economical savings are also in. While money was good and spending was easy, we wanted to be far away from the city and the rat race.

Now that money’s tight, however, the Orlando homes for sale with convenient, walkable locations, green appliances and economical utilities seem to have the handle on the market. If you have any of these selling points, make sure you’re marketing them!

If you’re looking for a green home or a home in a convenient neighborhood, we can help. Call us at 407-928-2857.

Economy Bringing Families Closer Together in Orlando Homes

Although the economy has been a catalyst for many issues, some of the trickle-down effects have had positive effects on Orlando homes. One of the most notable is that families are drawing closer together.

Over the past thirty to forty years, the “steps” to take for growing up were always one, grow up and two, move out. Few parents ever considered that their now adult children might be moving back in to their quiet, empty Orlando homes. However, with the economic problems hitting millions of Americans, the number of multi-generational households is growing.

During the Great Recession and more specifically in 1940, approximately 25% of households were multi-generational. Homes often held children, grandchildren, and sometimes even great grandchildren – four familial generations. However, as the U.S. economy began to prosper and the baby boomer generation grew into adults, more homes became single family households. By 1980, only 12.1% of homes held more than one generation.

Now, the percentages are once again beginning to climb. Loss of jobs, foreclosed homes and lack of security has contributed to approximately 49 million Americans, or 16.1%, living in multi-generational homes. While this is far from ideal for those in a hurry to leave the nest, the benefits are many.

I once asked a single mother what it was like moving back in with her parents. She said, “It was hard at first, redefining the boundaries, but having my parents around has been a blessing in disguise. My kids have a stabilizing influence and extra attention, while I get occasional breaks that I normally wouldn’t get. We eat dinner together too, which helps build the family atmosphere for my kids. It’s not all smiles and roses, there’s a lot of compromise, but it works.”

For those who have been thinking about letting your family move in to your Orlando home, try to consider more than just the negatives. Look at the positives as well. And what could be more positive than closer family ties?

Whether you need to upgrade to a bigger family home or downgrade to a smaller one, we can help. Call us at 407-876-5771 for more information.