Last November, when Congress approved an extension on the first-time homebuyer tax credit, potential homebuyers who missed the original deadline were excited. It was another chance to buy a Orlando home for sale and receive an often badly needed $8,000 on their tax return.
Real estate agents were excited as well, because the tax credit extension expanded to include “upgrade” buyers – those who wanted to replace their current home with a bigger one. The possibility of selling a home was higher than it’d been in a while. However, expansion to include upgrade buyers wasn’t the only change.
If you’re hoping to buy a Orlando home for sale and take advantage of the tax credit before the new 2010 deadlines, here are a few things to keep in mind:
• Two dates are crucial. You must sign a contract before April 30. The closings must be complete by June 30. One of the best ways to make sure things go smoothly is to get pre-approved for a mortgage before you go home shopping. Pre-approval tells you, as well as the seller, exactly how much home you can afford. This way, you don’t waste your time or the seller’s.
• Negotiate without emotion. Potential buyers have lost the home of their dreams because they became competitive. If you’re negotiating for closing costs, housing price or anything else, make sure that your requests are reasonable. Don’t change something “just because.”
• Taxes must be mailed in. Due to people trying to scam the system, you won’t be able to file your taxes electronically; you’ll have to mail them in. Make sure you’re using the right forms, and, if you need your tax refund by a specific time, you might want to file early.
• Documentation is truly priceless. Again, thanks to scammers, buyers will have to include a signed mortgage statement, proof of residency and a driver’s license with their taxes.
You still have until April 30 to sign a contract on a Orlando home for sale to get the tax credit. Today’s real estate market is beneficial for buyers. Put it to work for you!
If you’d like to take advantage of the homebuyer tax credit, we can help. Call us right away at 407-876-5771 so we can beat the deadlines.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Rules for Rehabbing Orlando Real Estate, Part 2
In Rules for Rehabbing Orlando Real Estate, Part 1, you received the first five rules for rehabbing. Now, let’s go more in depth about how to rehab a home with the final six rules:
1. Check out the neighborhood. Before you do any work to the property, walk through the neighborhood and take note of the property exteriors. What kind of landscaping do they have? Which colors do you see on the front doors? What type of siding do most of the homes have? There is no point in spending extra money for amenities the other homes don’t have.
2. Start with the exterior. If you begin your work on the outside, you will already create interest in people watching you work. This also tends to be relatively simple work. Trim the shrubs. Replace dead plants. Weed the flower beds. Paint the home’s exterior and window trim.
3. Tackle the interior. You have two options for working inside: complete specific tasks throughout the entire home or work in individual rooms. Some people like to see the progress of completing a room; others like to see entire tasks, like painting, done at one time. No matter what you choose to do, start by removing the carpet. Take down switch plates. Remove the interior doors. Repair the walls. Fill in nail holes. Paint everything in neutral earth tones.
4. Update kitchens and bathrooms. Check the plumbing. If you need to, install a new toilet, sink, or bathtub. Replace the fixtures and hardware. Replace or paint the cabinets. Go ahead and install new counter tops. They are worth the minor cost.
5. Replace or repair floors. After the painting and installation is finished, start working on the floors. Hire a professional to install new carpet and padding. Replace or repair any other floors that are in need of work.
6. Sell it. You can either move in to the home or put it on the market. If you sell the home, calculate your costs and check with a Orlando real estate agent about the home’s market value. Begin advertising it for sale. Hire a real estate agent to help bring buyers to the home.
Rehabbing a home is a great way to create the ideal home for you or to make money as a real
estate investor. Call us today at 407-876-5771 for more tips on rehabbing your Orlando real estate.
1. Check out the neighborhood. Before you do any work to the property, walk through the neighborhood and take note of the property exteriors. What kind of landscaping do they have? Which colors do you see on the front doors? What type of siding do most of the homes have? There is no point in spending extra money for amenities the other homes don’t have.
2. Start with the exterior. If you begin your work on the outside, you will already create interest in people watching you work. This also tends to be relatively simple work. Trim the shrubs. Replace dead plants. Weed the flower beds. Paint the home’s exterior and window trim.
3. Tackle the interior. You have two options for working inside: complete specific tasks throughout the entire home or work in individual rooms. Some people like to see the progress of completing a room; others like to see entire tasks, like painting, done at one time. No matter what you choose to do, start by removing the carpet. Take down switch plates. Remove the interior doors. Repair the walls. Fill in nail holes. Paint everything in neutral earth tones.
4. Update kitchens and bathrooms. Check the plumbing. If you need to, install a new toilet, sink, or bathtub. Replace the fixtures and hardware. Replace or paint the cabinets. Go ahead and install new counter tops. They are worth the minor cost.
5. Replace or repair floors. After the painting and installation is finished, start working on the floors. Hire a professional to install new carpet and padding. Replace or repair any other floors that are in need of work.
6. Sell it. You can either move in to the home or put it on the market. If you sell the home, calculate your costs and check with a Orlando real estate agent about the home’s market value. Begin advertising it for sale. Hire a real estate agent to help bring buyers to the home.
Rehabbing a home is a great way to create the ideal home for you or to make money as a real
estate investor. Call us today at 407-876-5771 for more tips on rehabbing your Orlando real estate.
Rules for Rehabbing Orlando Real Estate, Part 1
If you watch television home improvement shows, you’ve surely seen shows about rehabbing homes. When you buy Orlando real estate that needs repairs, you can get it for a great price and build instant equity once the work is complete. Whether you decide to live in the rehabbed home or sell it, you've gotten a good deal.
Here are the first five rules for rehabbing Orlando real estate:
1. Buy low. The good news is that homes needing work usually already have discounted prices. You want to buy the home for as little as possible because you are going to have to spend more money rehabbing the home.
2. Have a budget. You need to know before you begin the project exactly how much money you have to spend. Include the cost of the house, labor costs, permits, and the price of materials. Don’t leave out anything, and do everything in your power to stick to the budget you set.
3. Take good notes. Walk through the home with at least a flashlight and a way to write down notes. Count the number of windows, doors, and rooms. Write down anything you see that will need to be replaced or repaired, including flooring, walls and ceilings. Include anything that seems out of the ordinary to you. These notes will help you plan your rehab.
4. Be realistic. Many buyers underestimate the amount of time and money it will take to rehab a home. Round your expected costs up to the nearest $5000. Set aside part of your budget for problems that may arise during the rehab. You never know when a wall is hiding a structural defect that you will have to repair. Keep your timeline flexible.
5. Hire professionals. You will be able to do some of the work yourself, but you will need professional help for some of the work. Find a good plumber, electrician, carpenter, and roofer. Negotiate prices with them and never pay them for all the work until the job is completed.
Looking for homes to rehab? we can help. Call us today at 407-876-5771 for more information about rehabbing Orlando real estate.
Here are the first five rules for rehabbing Orlando real estate:
1. Buy low. The good news is that homes needing work usually already have discounted prices. You want to buy the home for as little as possible because you are going to have to spend more money rehabbing the home.
2. Have a budget. You need to know before you begin the project exactly how much money you have to spend. Include the cost of the house, labor costs, permits, and the price of materials. Don’t leave out anything, and do everything in your power to stick to the budget you set.
3. Take good notes. Walk through the home with at least a flashlight and a way to write down notes. Count the number of windows, doors, and rooms. Write down anything you see that will need to be replaced or repaired, including flooring, walls and ceilings. Include anything that seems out of the ordinary to you. These notes will help you plan your rehab.
4. Be realistic. Many buyers underestimate the amount of time and money it will take to rehab a home. Round your expected costs up to the nearest $5000. Set aside part of your budget for problems that may arise during the rehab. You never know when a wall is hiding a structural defect that you will have to repair. Keep your timeline flexible.
5. Hire professionals. You will be able to do some of the work yourself, but you will need professional help for some of the work. Find a good plumber, electrician, carpenter, and roofer. Negotiate prices with them and never pay them for all the work until the job is completed.
Looking for homes to rehab? we can help. Call us today at 407-876-5771 for more information about rehabbing Orlando real estate.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Introducing Web Ranking SEO
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"We Would Like to Share our Internet Marketing - Secret Weapon"
Web Ranking SEO is a professional search engine optimization (SEO), search engine marketing (SEM), Internet marketing company located in Orlando, Florida. We provide full website analysis & optimization services like paid search, local search, nationwide search, e-commerce, link building, lead conversion, social media, blog and video promotion.
Visit WebRankingSEO
FREE Proposal - If you want to see high PageRank for your website, high quality customers, lead conversions and a sound online presence, then you need our help.
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FREE SEO E-Book - Webrankingseo offers a comprehensive e-book that will simplify your quest for knowledge on the various aspects of SEO and Internet Marketing. Also included are many valuable tips, common mistakes, insider secrets and a wealth of information all FREE of charge
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Get Rid of Clutter in Your Orlando Homes
Getting rid of clutter in your Orlando homes can be a challenge for anyone. We are overwhelmed with junk mail, paper from our children’s school, bills, magazines, trinkets, toys and clothes. It can be difficult to sort through the mess to determine what we really need. Even when the clutter is all sorted, new clutter seems to replace it overnight. There are several ways that you can get rid of the mess in your home.
• Start in one room and finish it. It can be overwhelming to try to organize a whole house. Start in one room and go through it. Discard things that you have not used in the last six months. If you have not worn it or used it in that time, then you don’t need it. Discard all broken or stained items. You aren’t going to fix them, or you would already have done it.
• Throw things away. Don’t set things aside to sort later, just in case you may need it. When sorting, make a bin of items to keep and a bin of things to throw away. Getting in the habit of discarding unneeded items can be difficult at first, but it will drastically cut down on clutter in your Orlando homes.
• Give things away. Get rid of clutter and help those in need by donating items that you're no longer using.
• Label your storage bins. Many times clutter develops because there is no set place to put things. For instance, in the toy room, have individual storage bins for toy cars, railroad tracks, dolls and crayons. Each bin should be clearly labeled so that all family members can participate in putting things where they’re supposed to go. With young children, it may be helpful to take a picture of the items that go in the bin, and tape it to the front of the container.
It’s easy to have clutter free Orlando homes using these organizing tips.
If your home is already organized, but you still don't have enough room, it may be time to buy a larger home. we can help. Call us today at 407-876-5771 for more information.
• Start in one room and finish it. It can be overwhelming to try to organize a whole house. Start in one room and go through it. Discard things that you have not used in the last six months. If you have not worn it or used it in that time, then you don’t need it. Discard all broken or stained items. You aren’t going to fix them, or you would already have done it.
• Throw things away. Don’t set things aside to sort later, just in case you may need it. When sorting, make a bin of items to keep and a bin of things to throw away. Getting in the habit of discarding unneeded items can be difficult at first, but it will drastically cut down on clutter in your Orlando homes.
• Give things away. Get rid of clutter and help those in need by donating items that you're no longer using.
• Label your storage bins. Many times clutter develops because there is no set place to put things. For instance, in the toy room, have individual storage bins for toy cars, railroad tracks, dolls and crayons. Each bin should be clearly labeled so that all family members can participate in putting things where they’re supposed to go. With young children, it may be helpful to take a picture of the items that go in the bin, and tape it to the front of the container.
It’s easy to have clutter free Orlando homes using these organizing tips.
If your home is already organized, but you still don't have enough room, it may be time to buy a larger home. we can help. Call us today at 407-876-5771 for more information.
Stay Safe When Working With Electricity In Your Orlando Home
Chances are you’ll have to work with electricity in your Orlando home at least once. You might have to replace a broken ceiling fan or install a garbage disposal. Always keep these things in mind when with working with electricity:
• Turn off the power at the main panel box. If you only flip off the switch, you’re in danger of receiving an electrical shock that could prove fatal.
• Use a voltmeter to test the wires after you shut off the power.
• Thoroughly read all the instructions, including the safety information, that come with the item you’re going to install.
• Wear protective equipment like goggles and use only materials intended specifically for that purpose.
• Have an inspector out to look at your work. It’s better to err on the side of caution with electricity. For some projects, you may need to hire a licensed electrician.
After you finish the project, it’s a good time to inspect the electrical system in your Orlando home for safety. You’ll want to look it over each time the seasons change to ensure that the system is in good working order.
• Look for any frayed or discolored wiring on the cords to your electrical appliances. If you see anything unusual, you may need to call an electrician to further evaluate the situation.
• Inspect your home’s power outlets for cracks or loose plates.
• Make sure that extension cords and other plug-ins aren’t overloading the outlet.
• Always run extension cords along the side of the wall, taking care not to place the cord across a doorway, causing a walking hazard.
• Keep all heat-producing appliances, like lamps, away from combustible materials like drapes.
You can work with electricity safely by following these guidelines.
Get more home maintenance tips like this delivered free to your email inbox by subscribing to this blog.
• Turn off the power at the main panel box. If you only flip off the switch, you’re in danger of receiving an electrical shock that could prove fatal.
• Use a voltmeter to test the wires after you shut off the power.
• Thoroughly read all the instructions, including the safety information, that come with the item you’re going to install.
• Wear protective equipment like goggles and use only materials intended specifically for that purpose.
• Have an inspector out to look at your work. It’s better to err on the side of caution with electricity. For some projects, you may need to hire a licensed electrician.
After you finish the project, it’s a good time to inspect the electrical system in your Orlando home for safety. You’ll want to look it over each time the seasons change to ensure that the system is in good working order.
• Look for any frayed or discolored wiring on the cords to your electrical appliances. If you see anything unusual, you may need to call an electrician to further evaluate the situation.
• Inspect your home’s power outlets for cracks or loose plates.
• Make sure that extension cords and other plug-ins aren’t overloading the outlet.
• Always run extension cords along the side of the wall, taking care not to place the cord across a doorway, causing a walking hazard.
• Keep all heat-producing appliances, like lamps, away from combustible materials like drapes.
You can work with electricity safely by following these guidelines.
Get more home maintenance tips like this delivered free to your email inbox by subscribing to this blog.
The Clock is Ticking on that Home for Sale in Orlando – Again
Once again, the clock is ticking for first-time home buyers to get a home for sale in Orlando before the tax credit runs out. Extended in November, 2009, the first-time buyers’ tax credit is set to expire in April, 2010, and there are no plans for another extension.
What does this mean for you? If you’re a home seller, it’s time to look over your home for sale in Orlando, make sure all your t’s are crossed, i’s are dotted and that you’ve done everything you can to put your home at the front of the buying line. If you’re a first-time or repeat buyer hoping to take advantage of the credit, it’s time to start looking for your new home; the binding sales contract has to be signed by April 30, 2010.
Making the Buying Process Easier
Many times, the buying process can take forever. Red tape, failing negotiations and more has caused several possible sales to fall through. So, what can you do to make the buying process easier? Here are a few tips:
1. Find out if you qualify for the first-time or repeat buyer tax credit. The home buyer requirements are many. If you can’t afford to buy a home without the tax credit, make sure you qualify.
2. Shop for lenders before hand. Choosing a mortgage lender can be a lengthy process, so finding one you want to use before you start looking for a home will cut down on the time it takes to buy the house.
3. Get pre-approved. Getting pre-qualified is the first step in the loan process, but it’s based on an estimate, not verified facts. By getting pre-approved for a mortgage, you know exactly how much you qualify for, and how much house you can afford. Because this is a large part of the buying process, once you’re pre-approved, the lender can expedite the rest of the deal for a quicker closing.
4. Negotiate wisely. Remember that you’re on a time-line and try not to let negotiations with the seller turn into a contest of wills. Yes, negotiate, but make sure your counteroffer on the home is realistic.
Buying a great home for sale in Orlando before the tax credit expires is definitely possible, even with only four months to go. Following the tips outlined above can make the sale go as smoothly and quickly as possible.
Have questions about the home buyer tax credit? We can help. Call us now at 407-876-5771.
What does this mean for you? If you’re a home seller, it’s time to look over your home for sale in Orlando, make sure all your t’s are crossed, i’s are dotted and that you’ve done everything you can to put your home at the front of the buying line. If you’re a first-time or repeat buyer hoping to take advantage of the credit, it’s time to start looking for your new home; the binding sales contract has to be signed by April 30, 2010.
Making the Buying Process Easier
Many times, the buying process can take forever. Red tape, failing negotiations and more has caused several possible sales to fall through. So, what can you do to make the buying process easier? Here are a few tips:
1. Find out if you qualify for the first-time or repeat buyer tax credit. The home buyer requirements are many. If you can’t afford to buy a home without the tax credit, make sure you qualify.
2. Shop for lenders before hand. Choosing a mortgage lender can be a lengthy process, so finding one you want to use before you start looking for a home will cut down on the time it takes to buy the house.
3. Get pre-approved. Getting pre-qualified is the first step in the loan process, but it’s based on an estimate, not verified facts. By getting pre-approved for a mortgage, you know exactly how much you qualify for, and how much house you can afford. Because this is a large part of the buying process, once you’re pre-approved, the lender can expedite the rest of the deal for a quicker closing.
4. Negotiate wisely. Remember that you’re on a time-line and try not to let negotiations with the seller turn into a contest of wills. Yes, negotiate, but make sure your counteroffer on the home is realistic.
Buying a great home for sale in Orlando before the tax credit expires is definitely possible, even with only four months to go. Following the tips outlined above can make the sale go as smoothly and quickly as possible.
Have questions about the home buyer tax credit? We can help. Call us now at 407-876-5771.
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