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 a full-time professional Real Estate agent who is actively working with a dozen or more buyers at any given time, here's what IS a reality in our marketplace.

• YES, there are hundreds of thousands of homes listed for sale.
• YES, some of them are in pristine condition (but less than 5%).
• YES, even fewer of those that are in pristine condition are located in desirable neighborhoods or sought after school districts.
• YES, there are a handful that had every upgrade possible (if those upgrades haven't been removed by the seller or vandals...such as the light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, appliances, counter tops, window treatments, etc)
• YES, the listing price in the MLS might be in the range that you qualify for (that is, if that price has been approved by the seller's lender(s) in the case of a short sale) or isn't under valued to create a bidding war (as is the case with some foreclosures).
• And YES, you might be able to purchase and close within a reasonable time period...if you rule out non-approved short sales (and even some pre-approved short sales are taking months to close) and foreclosures (as some have "title issues" that need to be resolved before closing").

Once a Buyer determines their price range, where they want to live and what features they expect the home will have, many Buyers are coming to the conclusion that they need to be more realistic with their expectations as they aren't finding that exceptionally priced home with all the bells and whistles in a sought after community that is zoned for great schools...at least not at the significant discount that they thought they would.

Working with a REALTOR who knows the local inventory and can educate Buyers on what they can expect to find within their price range is a huge advantage for Buyers in today's market.

If you are a Buyer who is interested in purchasing a home in Central Florida, specifically in Seminole County, I'd welcome the opportunity to educate you on what you can realistically expect to find in your price range!

LaShawn Norden, PA, REALTOR, RE/MAX Central Realty (321) 377-0157, LaShawn@LaShawnNorden.com