Please join me this coming Sunday from 2-4pm for an open house at 716 Mount Vernon Street in Downtown Orlando. AMAZING renovation and master bedroom addition. See you Sunday! $525,000
Category: For Sale
NEW ORLANDO LISTING
4716 Rosewood Drive, Orlando, FL 32806
$549,000
Enjoy resort living at home! Exceptional estate encompasses spectacular vistas, gardens, trees and sweeping lawns. Minutes to town, schools and public boat ramp, the sun-filled, residence has been completely and masterfully renovated to the highest standards. Characterized by beautifully proportioned rooms, high ceilings, magnificent architectural detail and extraordinary craftsmanship, this remarkable home offers amenities for a contemporary lifestyle while retaining the original ambiance and timeless elegance. Highlighted by one-inch wood floors, a foyer hall introduces nearly 3,000 sf of warmly welcoming interiors. Large windows flank the rear of the living room thereby ensuring a light-filled interior and sweeping views of the magnificent backyard pool. This home is the very definition of a place perfect for entertaining. An adjacent home office/den includes a floor to ceiling built in bookcases with trim and leads to the expansive backyard and rear patio with one of the prettiest pools I have witnessed. The stylish dining room is a showcase for the gourmet cook who has easy access to a charming kitchen and adjacent great room. The kitchen is open and inviting and cements the fact that this is a home for the kind of family or person who enjoys entertaining. The charming eat-in nook overlooks the front lawn and the kitchen features an amazing showcase pantry for your most exquisite china or pottery. The closets in this house will astound you with another pantry, two huge master closets and most rooms with walk in closets. The owners retreat offers HUGE closets and a sitting area along with a bathroom retreat featuring a soaking tub and a two-person shower. The fourth bedroom does not have an actual built in closet but has always been used as a working bedroom. This is truly a one-of-a-kind home and I promise you will not believe the amenities. While the home’s shell was built in the late 1950’s the entire house was gutted and reconfigured by former owners who were architects. The seller loves this home but a corporate transfer requires their move to Colorado so this is a great opportunity for the next buyer. Close walk to the public boat ramp for this neighborhood to the beautiful Conway chain of lakes. Finally, the new Pershing K-8 school will be completed in 2019 thus adding additional value to this home located on a private road. What an amazing value!
3206 Lee Shore Loop, Orlando, FL
Fabulous 4/4 estate home with pond view, DIRECT Corner Lake access in gated community. Affordably priced at $539,000 and you cans see it on REALTOR.com under MLS: O5567611. Check out the video at: https://youtu.be/1HjVkkBDsss
5 Reasons Why You Should Not For Sale By Owner!
In today’s market, with home prices rising and a lack of inventory, some homeowners may consider trying to sell their homes on their own, known in the industry as a For Sale by Owner (FSBO). There are several reasons why this might not be a good idea for the vast majority of sellers.
Here are the top five reasons:
1. Exposure to Prospective Buyers
Recent studies have shown that 94% of buyers search online for a home. That is in comparison to only 16% looking at print newspaper ads. Most real estate agents have an internet strategy to promote the sale of your home. Do you?
2. Results Come from the Internet
Where did buyers find the homes they actually purchased?
- 51% on the internet
- 34% from a Real Estate Agent
- 8% from a yard sign
- 1% from newspapers
The days of selling your house by just putting up a sign and putting it in the paper are long gone. Having a strong internet strategy is crucial.
3. There Are Too Many People to Negotiate With
Here is a list of some of the people with whom you must be prepared to negotiate if you decide to For Sale by Owner:
- The buyer who wants the best deal possible
- The buyer’s agent who solely represents the best interest of the buyer
- The buyer’s attorney (in some parts of the country)
- The home inspection companies, which work for the buyer and will almost always find some problems with the house
- The appraiser if there is a question of value
4. FSBOing Has Become More And More Difficult
The paperwork involved in selling and buying a home has increased dramatically as industry disclosures and regulations have become mandatory. This is one of the reasons that the percentage of people FSBOing has dropped from 19% to 8% over the last 20+ years.
The 8% share represents the lowest recorded figure since NAR began collecting data in 1981.
5. You Net More Money When Using an Agent
Many homeowners believe that they will save the real estate commission by selling on their own. Realize that the main reason buyers look at FSBOs is because they also believe they can save the real estate agent’s commission. The seller and buyer can’t both save the commission.
Studies have shown that the typical house sold by the homeowner sells for $185,000, while the typical house sold by an agent sells for $245,000. This doesn’t mean that an agent can get $60,000 more for your home, as studies have shown that people are more likely to FSBO in markets with lower price points. However, it does show that selling on your own might not make sense.
Bottom Line
Before you decide to take on the challenges of selling your house on your own, let’s get together and discuss the options available in your market today.
7 Reasons Fall Might Just Be the Best Time to Buy a Home
Spring and summer usually get all the real estate glory with lofty accolades as the best time to buy a home—and, of course, the busiest. Meanwhile, their seasonal sibling, fall, often gets tossed to the leaf pile by potential buyers who might think autumn is just about haunted houses and turkey dinners rather than house hunting.
But surprise! Fall is not only a great time to buy a home, it might also be the best season to find the perfect property (and not just because you can browse the listings while cupping a pumpkin latte).
Read on to discover the many reasons.
Reason No. 1: Lower home prices
The best month to snag a deal when buying a home? October. This isn’t just some random guess; it’s based on RealtyTrac’s analysis of more than 32 million home sales over 15 years. The resulting data showed that on average, October buyers paid 2.6% below estimated market value at the time for their homes.
For a house that would normally be $300,000, 2.6% translates into a $7,800 discount. Those savings are nothing to sneeze at, so bargain hunters should get hopping once autumn rolls around. (For an even better deal, aim for Oct. 8, when buyers get a home, on average, at 10.8% below estimated market value.)
“For buyers looking for a better deal, fall is a great time to make offers,” says New York City Realtor® Joanne R. Douglas. (In case you’re wondering, the worst month for buyers is April, when homes sell for 1.2% above estimated market value. The worst single day is Jan. 19, with an average 9.6% premium.)
Reason No. 2: Less competition
Like a beach after Labor Day, the realty market clears out as the days turn crisp. Most summer buyers have already found a home, meaning a fall buyer will have way less competition for the available houses on the market, says Bill Golden of Re/Max Metro Atlanta Cityside. And don’t worry about those buyers who didn’t close before August, either.
“Many folks will drop out of the market until after the new year,” says Golden, giving a fall buyer even greater room to roam at open houses. There may not be as many properties to choose from, but as Golden says, “a little patience and perseverance could reap big rewards.”
Reason No. 3: Worn-out home sellers
Say hello to your little friend, leverage. Sellers who have their homes on the market in the fall “are generally people who need to sell, which can make for better negotiations for the buyer,” says Golden. And if a home you have your eye on has been on the market all summer, you’re really in the driver’s seat as far as making an offer the seller can’t refuse. The longer a home sits on the market, the more negotiating power the buyer wields.
Reason No. 4: The holidays are around the corner
Not only are most home sellers worn out after the summer selling season, they’re also caught between a real estate rock and a hard place in that the holidays are barreling down on them. If they want to move and settle down in time to host Thanksgiving and put up their Christmas lights, they’ll have to close, fast. So use this preholiday window to your advantage by offering to help them vacate fast if they cut you a deal.
Reason No. 5: Year-end tax credits
No one wants to buy a home purely to make their accountant happy. But there’s a sweet added incentive to closing on a home at the end of the fiscal year. Come the following April 15, you might be able to take some nice tax deductions, including closing costs, property tax, and mortgage interest, to offset your taxable earnings.
Reason No. 6: More quality time with your real estate team
As the year comes to an end, fewer buyers also means you should have the full attention of your real estate agent, mortgage broker, real estate lawyer, and everyone else on your house hunting team. You can take your time to ask all those questions you have about earnest money, due diligence, title transfers, and more without feeling like you’re horning in their busiest season to turn a buck.
Reason No. 7: Home improvement bargains
Once you close on that home you found in the fall, you may want to upgrade your appliances. Luckily, December is when major appliances—refrigerators, stoves, washers, and dryers—are at their very cheapest, according to Consumer Reports. It’s also the best time of year to buy cookware and TVs.
So once you’re settled in (and provided you have any money left), get ready to renovate!
Margaret Heidenry is a writer living in Brooklyn, NY. Her work has also appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Vanity Fair, and Boston Magazine.
3 Questions to Ask Before Buying Your Dream Home
If you are debating purchasing a home right now, you are probably getting a lot of advice. Though your friends and family will have your best interest at heart, they may not be fully aware of your needs and what is currently happening in the real estate market.
Ask yourself the following 3 questions to help determine if now is actually a good time for you to buy in today’s market.
1. Why am I buying a home in the first place?
This truly is the most important question to answer. Forget the finances for a minute. Why did you even begin to consider purchasing a home? For most, the reason has nothing to do with money.
For example, a recent survey by Braun showed that over 75% of parents say “their child’s education is an important part of the search for a new home.”
This survey supports a study by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University which revealed that the four major reasons people buy a home have nothing to do with money. They are:
- A good place to raise children and for them to get a good education
- A place where you and your family feel safe
- More space for you and your family
- Control of that space
What does owning a home mean to you? What non-financial benefits will you and your family gain from owning a home? The answer to that question should be the biggest reason you decide to purchase or not.
2. Where are home values headed?
According to the latest Home Price Index from CoreLogic, home values are projected to increase by 5.3% over the next 12 months.
What does that mean to you?
Simply put, if you are planning on buying a home that costs $250,000 today, that same home will cost you an additional $13,250 if you wait until next year. Your down payment will need to be higher as well to account for the higher home price.
3. Where are mortgage interest rates headed?
A buyer must be concerned about more than just prices. The ‘long term cost’ of a home can be dramatically impacted by even a small increase in mortgage rates.
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), the National Association of Realtors, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have all projected that mortgage interest rates will increase over the next twelve months as you can see in the chart below:
Bottom Line
Only you and your family will know for certain if now is the right time to purchase a home. Answering these questions will help you make that decision then call me if you are ready to buy!
First Impressions
It really is true when they say first impressions make a difference.
When you are selling a home make sure that you have spent significant time creating a welcoming look to the front of your house. An American flag, potted plants, and manicured yard are just a few things that say “welcome” to the person looking to buy a home.
Don’t let your entrance turn off potential homeowners. It should be the inviting part of your home that makes them want to see more.
Unparalleled Trust Necessary Before Listing Your House
You and your family have decided to sell your house. It is now time to choose a real estate professional to help with the process. One of the major attributes this agent must possess is trustworthiness. To what degree do you need to trust them?
You must have enough trust in them that you feel comfortable they will accomplish all four things below:
1. Sell possibly the largest asset your family owns
In many cases, a home is the largest asset a family has. Studies have shown that the equity many families have in their home is the largest percentage of that family’s overall wealth.
2. Set the correct market value on that asset
Pricing is crucial even in the best of markets. You want to get the best price for your home without putting your house at a value that buyers will have little interest in.
3. Set the time schedule for the liquidation of that asset
Your family probably has a certain timetable for the sale of your house and the move into your next home. Coordinating the home selling process to meet certain schedules can be tricky.
4. Set a fair fee for the services required to liquidate that asset
You will need to pay a commission to an agent for selling the home and coordinating all elements of the selling transaction, including possible future negotiations (ex. with a home inspector or appraiser).
That’s a lot of trust. Let’s get together to discuss the difference hiring a true professional can make in the sale of your home.
2450 Via Sienna, Winter Park, FL 32789
For Sale at $775,000 or For Rent at $3,300. Beautiful country-style estate home in the heart of Winter Park. The best of everything in Central Florida.
Kitchens sell homes!
When it comes to home sales, I have watched as a buyer’s eyes glaze over when they feast (get the pun) their eyes on a beautiful kitchen. Kitchens really do sell homes.
Light is in and dark is out. But as long as it is lovely and the counters are clean, it will help a home sell.
If the beds aren’t made…it’s not great. But if the kitchen is a disaster, prepare to lower your price. PS: Have some good smells in your kitchen too.
Linda Parvin Hutchinson, REALTOR 