seminole county: Rent the Property: Option 4 for Central Florida sellers who are facing foreclosure - 08/04/09 08:49 AM
There are many options for Central Florida sellers who are in foreclosure. While some may seem simple and obvious, many others may be unknown to the consumer and their real estate professionals. It is my goal, through this series, to address the 9 Options for sellers who are facing foreclosure so that the public and real estate agents alike can determine which options may be worth pursuing. To get caught up, you may want to read the 9 Option Summary here. Option 1: reinstatement of your loan here, Option 2: Forbearance or Re-Payment Plan here and Option 3: Sell the Property! here. Much like the last option, (2 comments)
seminole county: Sell the Property!~Option 3 for Central Florida sellers facing foreclosure - 08/03/09 05:57 PM
There are many options for Central Florida sellers who are in foreclosure. While some may seem simple and obvious, many others may be unknown to the consumer and their real estate professionals. It is my goal, through this series, to address the 9 Options for sellers who are facing foreclosure so that the public and real estate agents alike can determine which options may be worth pursuing. To get caught up, you may want to read the 9 Option Summary here. Option 1: reinstatement of your loan here and Option 2: Forbearance or Re-Payment Plan here. This particular article is what one might refer to as (1 comments)
seminole county: Forbearance or a Re-Payment Plan: Option 2 for Central Florida Sellers facing foreclosure - 07/28/09 06:16 PM
There are many options for Central Florida sellers who are in foreclosure. As a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE), there are many options that I can (and do!) suggest to Central Florida Sellers who are facing economic hardships and who are concerned about losing their home to foreclosure. To find out about the 9 options for Sellers, you can read my blog post here. You can my blog post about Option 1, which is reinstatement of your loan, here. Today's post is about Option 2, which is Forbearance or Re-Payment Plan. Option 2 is somewhat like Option 1 in that if a borrower (3 comments)
seminole county: While Inventory May Be Plentiful, Buyers Need to Have Realistic Expectations - 05/26/09 02:40 PM
Having realistic expectations when purchasing a home is so important in today's market. Over the course of the last year or more, every media outlet across the globe has reported the collapse of the real estate market. And now, they suggest that there are hundreds of thousands of homes that Buyers can purchase that are in pristine condition, in desirable neighborhoods, with every upgrade possible, for a price that is not only attainable...but negotiable...and, that those homes can be purchased and closed on within a reasonable time period. As much as I wish that to be true, in Central Florida, that's just not the case. As (4 comments)
seminole county: Buying a Government Owned Home in Central Florida? If So, Be Prepared to Pay - 04/24/09 09:56 PM
If you are considering buying a home in Central Florida that is owned by a government entity such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, you need to be prepared to pay the documentary stamps on the deed as part of your closing costs at the time of settlement. In a traditional sale, the FAR/BAR contract (both the FAR/BAR8 and the FAR/BAR AS-IS contract) specify that the Seller pay the documentary stamps on the deed unless otherwise noted in an Addendum and agreed upon by both parties. With that being said, because Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (otherwise known as the Seller) are not permitted by law to (5 comments)
seminole county: Stats Every Central Floridian Needs to Know About What's Selling & Why - 03/16/09 11:50 PM
The Orlando Regional Realtor Association produces a trade publication for it's members that is often filled with statistics related to the local real estate market. Here are a few that every Central Floridian needs to know about Lake County, Orange County, Osceola County and Seminole County: Year over Year Decline of Median Sales Price by County~ (January 2008-January 2009) Osceola County experienced a decline of 35.99% Orange County experienced a decline of 34.70% Seminole County experienced a decline of 28.88% Lake County experienced a decline of 25.93% First Time Home Buyers In 2005, only 33% of the purchases were made by first time (5 comments)
seminole county: The Need for an Inspection Contingency when Purchasing Short Sales and Foreclosures - 03/15/09 09:30 PM
Regardless of whether you purchase a brand new home from a builder, a re-sale home from a traditional seller, a short sale or a bank-owned property (a foreclosure), one of the most important steps in the buying process is to have the property inspected by a certified, licensed and insured Home/Building Inspector. While you may elect to hire a licensed roofer, plumber, electrician and HVAC contractor to individually inspect these four main components (considered a Four Point Inspection), there are many certified Home/Building Inspectors who can & do provide a comprehensive inspection of the property by evaluating the below componets & more: Roof (1 comments)
seminole county: First Time Home Buyers: Avoid Tax Fraud When Collecting $8,000 Stimulus Credit - 02/27/09 05:56 PM
Earlier this year, the Economic Stimulus Plan, that included a $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers, was approved. Below is what Central Florida first-time home buyers who are considering purchasing a home need to know about the 2009 Tax Credit: The approved amount is $8,000, or 10% of the purchase price, up to a maximum of the $8,000 It is available for home purchases made between January 1, 2009 thru November 30, 2009 There is NO repayment requirement There is a 3-year recapture if the home is sold within that time period, unless exempt according to the rules The money is available for principal residences only (owner (8 comments)
seminole county: Crucial Meeting for Central Florida/Wekiva River Homeowners~TOMORROW, Friday, February 27th @1:30PM - 02/26/09 10:28 PM
Earlier this week, I posted a Blog about this very same issue. You can read it here. If passed, this proposed change could SIGNIFICANTLY impact the value and desireablity of homes within the Wekiva River Basin Study Area. The Department of Government Affairs for the Orlando Regional Realtor Association sent out the below Call To Action today: WEKIVA RIVER BASIN SEPTIC TANK ISSUEA meeting of the Wekiva River Basin Commission is scheduled for Friday, February 27, at 1:30 p.m. at the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council's office, located at 631 N Wymore Road, phone is 407.326.1075.Last Thursday, the advisory committee (1 comments)
seminole county: City of Sanford Residential & Commercial Property Owners: Let Your Voice Be Heard @ Public Hearing on February 26th at 7:00PM - 02/25/09 11:31 PM
The City of Sanford will be holding a public hearing on Thursday, February 26th, from 7:00pm until 9:00pm at the Sanford City Hall building to hear from citizens and organizations about proposed changes to the City's code. Should the proposed ordinace changes be approved, it could cost homeowners and commerical property owners thousands of dollars. A detailed summary of the proposed changes can be found here. As you can see, these proposed changes could significantly impact thousands of properties and further impact property values. As a REALTOR who services Seminole County and City of Sanford residents, I plan to attend this hearing (1 comments)
seminole county: Arts, Crafts & Kisses from a Camel...All at the City of Lake Mary Festival of Arts & Crafts on March 7th - 02/24/09 10:22 AM
The City of Lake Mary is hosting a Festival of Arts & Crafts on Saturday, March 7th from 10:00am until 3:00pm and you are invited! The event is sponsored by the Lake Mary Historical Society and will be held at Lake Mary Central Park at City Hall, which is at the corner of Lake Mary Blvd. and Country Club Road. In addition to a featuring a variety of artists and select purveyors of goods & services, there will also be games for children of all ages, plenty of food, lots of entertainment and of course...Gus Jr, the Kissing Camel! Admission is (2 comments)
seminole county: If You Have a Home in Central Florida with a Septic Tank...READ THIS! - 02/20/09 10:18 PM
In an effort to limit potentially hazardous nitrogen seepage from septic systems, the Florida Department of Health could require homeowners who have properties within the Wekiva Study Area (WSA) to install a new septic system when they sell their home...at a cost estimated to be as high as $10,000 per property. On February 19, 2009, the Department of Health presented "rule language" to the Review Committee, who also heard from consumers, REALTORS®, and Florida Association of REALTORS® lobbyists who all suggested that a ruling of this type could impact more than 50,000 residents and negatively impact the already sensitive real estate (8 comments)
Make your offer today on the estate at 170 Rolex Point, listed at $650,000 or for $260,000 more ($65,000 per lot), you can have your own compound with this fine estate and four additional homesites, which can be sold and developed in the future! This is an excellent investment opportunity!
170 Rolex Point is spacious and well appointed, featuring: 5 bedrooms 3 full bathrooms 2 (2 comments)
seminole county: Part III: How Loss Mitigation Companies Can Impact a Buyer's Offer on a Short Sale - 02/10/09 09:58 AM
This series is related to Loss Mitigation companies and how they impact Sellers and Buyers in a short sale transaction. You can read Part I here and Part II here. Now that you've had a moment to get caught up with the first two segments, it's worthwhile to think about the impact Loss Mitigation companies have on a Buyer and their offer on a short sale property. While some Sellers and their real estate agents believe that having a Loss Mitigation company involved in the transaction is a benefit, if you are a Buyer or a Buyer's Agent, I would caution (0 comments)
seminole county: Part II: 11 Questions Sellers Should Ask If Considering Hiring a Loss Mitigation Company - 02/08/09 06:01 PM
If you are reading this post, I'd recommend that you read Part I of this series here. OK, now that you are caught up on the purpose of this series, you are probably wondering if I have it "out" for Loss Mitigation companies. To answer, no, I don't have it "out" for Loss Mitigation companies...or any other company for that matter. On the contrary, there are times when I think engaging the services of a Loss Mitigation company will benefit all parties involved. However, I do strongly believe that when one is considering hiring a company or individual for a particular service (such as negotiating the loss (4 comments)
seminole county: Determining the Value of Homes in Seminole County, Florida - 01/30/09 10:06 PM
According to recent statistics shared by David Johnson, Property Appraiser for Seminole County, Florida, Sellers need to know that their property may no longer be worth what they were hoping. After reviewing values for all residential properties within the County, Mr. Johnson has revealed that home prices in Seminole County are now valued at the same price they were in 2004, plus a moderate 3-4% per year appreciation increase. While many Sellers might have a hard time accepting this fact, below is a six year history of the median sales price for single family homes in Seminole County including the number of closed sales:
Regardless of (2 comments)
seminole county: Buyers: Consider a Title Search BEFORE Writing An Offer to Purchase a Bank-Owned Property - 12/19/08 10:39 PM
With the ever changing real estate market and the number of foreclosures growing minute by minute, Buyers and their agents should be aware that there have been several instances in Central Florida where the lender has not filed the foreclosure properly; and as a result, are not truly able to sell the house you may want to buy. According to the FAR/BAR contract in Florida, title companies must have the title policy to the Buyer's lender at least five days prior to closing...which is normally an ample amount of time to clear up anything minor...but, often times, title searches for homes that (36 comments)
seminole county: Read the HOA Docs Before Buying: You May Change Your Mind - 12/14/08 08:52 PM
Not all communities in Seminole County have Home Owner Associations, but, there are a good portion that do. When I work with a client who is ready to buy a home, it's important to know if they want to live in a "deed" restricted community or not. If they want a community with a Home Owners Association, I then suggest that they be prepared to read a copy of the deed restrictions and covenants for the community in which they hope to buy in. Often times, it's more efficient if the Buyer reviews the restrictions BEFORE writing an offer on a property...especially if they have specific questions...such as the number of (3 comments)
seminole county: Buyers: My Advice To You is "Don't Get Too Cozy on That Couch!" - 12/12/08 08:12 PM
OK, I'll admit it. I'm a freak for details. As a Buyer's Agent, I find that I often spend endless hours educating Buyers on what they SHOULD DO to insure that their home buying process is a success, as well as what they should AVOID DOING so that it doesn't blow up somewhere along the way. One of the most common educational sessions I have with Buyers is in regards to the need for them to maintain the same or better credit score that they had when they received their loan approval letter (which is typically obtained weeks before they even saw their first house). (14 comments)
Selling or purchasing a home can be exciting and scary at the same time! The goal of my blog is to educate Central Florida Buyers & Sellers about the Good, the Bad & the Ugly things that can happen in a real estate transaction! As an advocate for consumers in Orange, Seminole and Volusia County, I especially enjoy working with first-time home buyers, relocation buyers, sellers of distressed property and luxury home sellers. Native to Central Florida, I'd welcome the opportunity to be your advocate too!
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.