Cathy Starkweather's (cathy_starkweather) Blog

You may have heard that homes offered "For sale by owner" sell for 13% less than homes listed with a real estate brokerage. For years we've heard that it was simply a difference in the value of the homes. The feeling was that people with lower priced homes were more likely to want to save the cos...

When you're living in your Central Florida home while trying to keep it in "Show ready" condition it's easy to focus on the most obvious areas to clean while overlooking others that are equally important. Potential buyers "see" more than do those who live in a home, simply because they haven't se...

Do you need to sell your home in Central Florida before you can buy? If so, you naturally need to know what a new home will cost and whether you'll qualify for the payments. You don't want to let go of your present home only find that you can't purchase a new one!That said, you should do a little...

 A few days prior to closing it's time to put some things in motion:  Visit the post office for a change of address packet. Be sure to tell your mail delivery person that you're moving and ask that any mail that slips through be forwarded to you. While you're at it, thank him or her for past serv...

 Identity theft can wreak havoc with your credit scores – which will at the least cause you to be offered a higher interest rate and at the worst cause you to become completely ineligible to obtain a mortgage loan.  No one can be completely safe – Not unless you receive your income only in cash; ...

 Are you a Michael Jackson Fan? The news is out that you can own his home - Neverland Ranch, for only $100 Million!  This fairytale 12,598 square foot home comes complete with 6 bedrooms, 7 baths, and two half baths. It includes a 50-seat movie theater and a stage with trap doors for magic tricks...

If you're planning upgrades to your Central Florida home for your own pleasure and long-term use, then you should do exactly as you please.  If you're making changes with an eye toward selling in just a few years, here are 4 upgrades you should avoid:  Adding a pool - It's an expensive addition, ...

 You know you want your buyer pre-approved before taking your Orlando home off the market to await closing. But what if your house that won't qualify? Yes, that can happen – without your knowledge. And while most of the issues that prevent closing can be cured, they can cause enough delay to send...

 When you want to own a home here in Central Florida and know you are ready for that step, don't let a rejection from one lender dash your hopes.  Different lenders have different guidelines and interpretations of guidelines. Some are willing to make exceptions that others are not. So the fact is...

  Whether you're buying new appliances for the Orlando home you just purchased or buying to update your home before putting it on the market, heed this advice: Measure your space before you leave for the store. Then take both the measurements and the tape measure with you to the store. Measure th...