The Federal Government envisions a secure and stable marketplace for national and Orlando homes for sale, thus their involvement. We may or may not like the politics, but the fact remains that the marketplace has stabilized somewhat, and prices are leveling in anticipation of an upward turn.
No matter the actual state of the market, the simple fact is that motivated buyers and sellers for Orlando homes for sale do still exist. If not, a lot less people would visit this site.
If you market your home correctly, the opportunity to sell is still promising. After all, interest rates are favorable, prices are realistic and the government has thrown some interesting incentives to buyers, sellers and lenders alike.
You and your real estate agent have the ability to induce buyers to act. If your agent is experienced, he or she will work with you to develop incentives and add appeal to the transaction.
Step 1: Provide Factual Information
Facts outweigh rumor, and having provable information helps get rid of the buyer’s reservations. Here are some of the main facts you and your agent need to have at your fingertips in order to induce buyers to act:
• Knowledge of all local, state and federal tax incentives available to residents of your area
• Knowledge of all projected closing costs
• An understanding of the buyer’s financial and domestic qualifications
• Complete knowledge of the school system and all community services and costs
• Expertise concerning the history and composition of the home
• Knowledge of any planned growth in the area
Step 2: Provide Incentives
The "incentivizing" (no, that’s not a real word) of your home involves several factors. Some incentives may be more creative than others. Here are a few ideas:
• Offer a one-year home warranty program through a third party provider. This is a popular way to relieve buyers of some of their reservations. The idea is based on getting rid of unexpected expenses and the possibility of hidden costs.
• Have the seller pay part of the closing costs.
• Combine the above two incentives with a flexible closing date to make Orlando homes for sale that much more attractive.
Want help "incentivizing" your home to get it sold? Give us a call today at 407-876-5771 to find out how I can help sell your home.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Buying an Orlando Home: Free Credit Reports Not All They Seem
You’ve finally decided that, yes, you can afford to buy a Orlando home. After years of frugal saving, hard work and patient waiting, the timing is great. You don’t want to wait anymore, so you rush out and start looking for homes. It is, after all, a buyer’s market, and you’re a buyer.
Now, if you read about real estate, you’ve probably considered your credit. Is my credit strong enough? Is my score high enough? Some go to lenders and request preapproval. A few request prequalification. Many, however, go to the “free” credit score searches.
Of those who use the credit score searches, some find an Orlando home they want to buy. They then confidently take their credit reports to the lenders and find out the lenders don’t care about the reports. Others find out that the “free” doesn’t really mean free.
Generally, these credit reporting services are helpful, but most aren’t free. You sign up to get your report and, in the fine print, you’re agreeing to enroll in services that require a monthly fee. The services you end up paying for can be somewhat helpful. But many people sign up not knowing what they’re getting into. If you want those types of monthly services, research the companies and don’t fall for scam sites, because they’re out there.
Why won’t leaders use the credit reports you take to them?
They can’t use the credit scores you bring to them. In fact, they’re required to request credit scores on their own. And, the credit reports lenders get may not reflect what you receive from the reporting services you hired.
Typically, lenders use the median FICO Scores from three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Those FICO Scores may not be the same from bureau to bureau. Some of the “free” credit places provide these scores, but usually from only one bureau rather than all three.
So what should you do?
Talk to the lender. Get preapproved, not prequalified. Not only will you find out how good your credit really is, but you’ll also be more attractive to sellers. And, preapproval tells you exactly how much you can reasonably afford to spend on your new Orlando home.
If you’re looking for a beautiful home to call your own, we can help. Call us at 407-876-5771 for more information.
Now, if you read about real estate, you’ve probably considered your credit. Is my credit strong enough? Is my score high enough? Some go to lenders and request preapproval. A few request prequalification. Many, however, go to the “free” credit score searches.
Of those who use the credit score searches, some find an Orlando home they want to buy. They then confidently take their credit reports to the lenders and find out the lenders don’t care about the reports. Others find out that the “free” doesn’t really mean free.
Generally, these credit reporting services are helpful, but most aren’t free. You sign up to get your report and, in the fine print, you’re agreeing to enroll in services that require a monthly fee. The services you end up paying for can be somewhat helpful. But many people sign up not knowing what they’re getting into. If you want those types of monthly services, research the companies and don’t fall for scam sites, because they’re out there.
Why won’t leaders use the credit reports you take to them?
They can’t use the credit scores you bring to them. In fact, they’re required to request credit scores on their own. And, the credit reports lenders get may not reflect what you receive from the reporting services you hired.
Typically, lenders use the median FICO Scores from three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Those FICO Scores may not be the same from bureau to bureau. Some of the “free” credit places provide these scores, but usually from only one bureau rather than all three.
So what should you do?
Talk to the lender. Get preapproved, not prequalified. Not only will you find out how good your credit really is, but you’ll also be more attractive to sellers. And, preapproval tells you exactly how much you can reasonably afford to spend on your new Orlando home.
If you’re looking for a beautiful home to call your own, we can help. Call us at 407-876-5771 for more information.
Orlando Real Estate: Fight Mold Before Buyers Run
Spring is the rainy season for many parts of the nation and, for those areas where spring doesn’t bring rain, summer does. Rain brings mold, mold grows on your Orlando real estate and buyers run. Of course, if it doesn’t rain, there’s always humidity, which can also cause mold and mildew in the home.
How do I know if I have mold?
Well, for example, if you get up in the morning, walk into your living room and find a swimming pool where your couch used to be, you might have mold once the water dries up. Of course, if you have swimming pool in your living room every spring, you can always use it as a selling point… “Living room boasts natural, seasonal pool!”
On the serious side, mold is often indicated by a musty, often sharp smell in the home. You also might see dark smudges and/or blotches on surfaces. While excessive humidity can cause mold, those whose homes have had some form of water damage should be the most concerned. Types of water damage can include anything from a leaking roof to a toilet overflowing.
What’s the problem with mold and mildew?
The problem with mold and mildew is once it creeps into your Orlando real estate, it takes a brigade to kick it out. Also, mold and mildew problems fall under many states’ disclosure laws, so you may not be able to legally keep it from the buyer.
If you find out you have mold, you have two choices:
1. Tell the buyer and either lose them or take a hefty chunk out of your sales price.
2. Pay a hefty price to a mold removal company. The real kicker is even if you pay to have the mold removed, you may still be required to disclose that the home had a mold problem.
What should you do about mold?
The best way to deal with this smelly invader of the home front is to destroy it as soon as you first smell the musty, earthy odor. Track it down and kill it. Plenty of mold-killing products out there do the job nicely on small patches.
If you think you might have mold and can’t seem to track it down, check with your health department. They may have recommendations of where to go, who to talk to or other ways to find the mold that you haven’t used.
If you’re trying to sell your Orlando real estate, you can’t let something as annoying as mold ruin the deal. Even if the property is sitting vacant, keep your eyes, ears and – most importantly – nose sharp!
If you’re trying to sell your home and need an experienced guide, we can help. Call us at 407-876-5771 for more information.
How do I know if I have mold?
Well, for example, if you get up in the morning, walk into your living room and find a swimming pool where your couch used to be, you might have mold once the water dries up. Of course, if you have swimming pool in your living room every spring, you can always use it as a selling point… “Living room boasts natural, seasonal pool!”
On the serious side, mold is often indicated by a musty, often sharp smell in the home. You also might see dark smudges and/or blotches on surfaces. While excessive humidity can cause mold, those whose homes have had some form of water damage should be the most concerned. Types of water damage can include anything from a leaking roof to a toilet overflowing.
What’s the problem with mold and mildew?
The problem with mold and mildew is once it creeps into your Orlando real estate, it takes a brigade to kick it out. Also, mold and mildew problems fall under many states’ disclosure laws, so you may not be able to legally keep it from the buyer.
If you find out you have mold, you have two choices:
1. Tell the buyer and either lose them or take a hefty chunk out of your sales price.
2. Pay a hefty price to a mold removal company. The real kicker is even if you pay to have the mold removed, you may still be required to disclose that the home had a mold problem.
What should you do about mold?
The best way to deal with this smelly invader of the home front is to destroy it as soon as you first smell the musty, earthy odor. Track it down and kill it. Plenty of mold-killing products out there do the job nicely on small patches.
If you think you might have mold and can’t seem to track it down, check with your health department. They may have recommendations of where to go, who to talk to or other ways to find the mold that you haven’t used.
If you’re trying to sell your Orlando real estate, you can’t let something as annoying as mold ruin the deal. Even if the property is sitting vacant, keep your eyes, ears and – most importantly – nose sharp!
If you’re trying to sell your home and need an experienced guide, we can help. Call us at 407-876-5771 for more information.
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