cape coral real estate: Planning for a Panic-Free ‘Relocating Moment’ - 04/10/13 11:51 PM
Most everyone with any relocating experience should recognize ‘the moment.’
No matter how much advance thought and elbow grease you've put in, that’s the moving day moment when everything seems to starts happening at once and there’s literally no time left to attend to the stray details you've been meaning to take care of … 
It’s all but inevitable: the yellow pad that you've organized with all the Southwest Florida contact information you need today more than any other day: why, it’s packed! and sealed! inside one of the cartons that’s already out there in the van! 
When you’re relocating from (or to) Southwest Florida the unplanned will always … (1 comments)

cape coral real estate: No Mind Reading Needed to Find the Right Home for Sale - 04/03/13 01:12 AM
 
It was fascinating reading: especially if you currently have, or are looking for, a Cape Coral home for sale. The New York Times' headline was “After You Read the Listings, Your Agent Reads You.”
I thought that sounded sort of hokey -- especially since I'm one of the agents who is supposed to be doing the 'reading.'
I had to agree with one of the signs for reading a client's reaction to a given home for sale. If their “progress from the hall…through the living room…through the dining room…to the kitchen takes 30 to 45 seconds…that's not so good.” I began to think … (0 comments)

cape coral real estate: Newest listings in Town Are There (Just Further Down!) - 02/24/13 10:55 PM
You are doing some serious house-hunting.
You've been Googling
'newest Cape Coral listings', but when you click on the most popular sites, somehow the 'newest listings' are the same ones you've seen before. Worse, some of them turn out to have been sold! Or the price was wrong! Or the agent isn't even the agent anymore!
What is going on? Doesn't Google (or Bing, or Yahoo!) promise to show you sites with the newest listings in Cape Coral? How can the most popular sites (at the top of their results page: Zillow, Realty.com, Trulia) be showing 'newest listings' that were sold last month? Or contact numbers that take … (1 comments)

cape coral real estate: Short Sale 101 for Cape Coral Real Estate - 12/09/12 10:34 PM
Today’s economy has been rough on most everyone’s pocketbooks, and when it comes to prioritizing payments, mortgage payments can take a hit. If you find yourself in a bind, owing more than your Cape Coral real estate is worth and you can’t afford your current mortgage, and then you might want to consider talking to your real estate agent and bank about the possibility of a short sale.
To help you prepare for those conversations, here are the basics about short sales:
• What is a short sale? A short sale is an agreement that your Cape Coral real estate agent … (0 comments)

cape coral real estate: A Look into Cape Coral Condos and Future Value - 12/04/12 08:57 PM
 
  Condominiums in Cape Coral continue to offer unique attractions for all kinds of homebuyers -- not least because of their often ultra-competitive price points. Nationally, condos continue to be real bargains -- statistics show them to continue to underperform the rest of the housing market, which translates into a tempting value proposition to home hunters with economy on their minds.
That local condos for sale may still offer top-notch value is, historically speaking, not a surprise. Often, condos are the first part of the market to register price drops (and slower than other segments to recover). The NAR confirms the … (1 comments)

cape coral real estate: Think Like a Real Estate Agent - 11/30/12 08:16 PM
 
Before you put your home on the market, you want to make certain that it’s in tip-top condition to ensure a quick sale. The key to listing your home at a competitive price and guaranteeing you have what buyers are looking for is to think like a Cape Coral real estate agent.
 
To get your home ready to sell, here are five easy and inexpensive home improvements this Cape Coral real estate agent recommends:
 
Layout – Take an objective look at your home and stage accordingly. Remove clutter and rearrange furniture so that potential buyers can envision each … (2 comments)

cape coral real estate: Emotional Mistakes Cape Coral Real Estate Sellers Make - 11/27/12 03:38 AM
More than likely, you’ve cooked dinners, you’ve played games and you’ve made thousands of memories within the personally decorated walls of your home — and now you think you’re ready to move on. No matter the reason for selling your Cape Coral real estate, getting emotional is normal. However, you need to keep those emotions in check, because they could be detrimental to closing the deal.Emotional calls constantly get sellers in troubling situations that make them regret their split decisions. A snide remark, too-low offer or fixer-up request from the buyer can push your buttons, but you need to set your … (0 comments)

cape coral real estate: Get Fired Up with Quick Fixes that Will Pay Off selling your Home - 07/07/11 03:20 AM
With people gathering for summer pool parties and barbecues, it's time to spruce up your Cape Coral home. Almost every house could use some remodeling here and there, but if you're thinking about putting your house on the market in the near future, you'll also need to consider investing in updates that will provide a return.
So, before you fire up your grill, below are a few quick repairs to spark motivation, kindle a good investment and put fire behind a speedy sale of your Cape Coral home.
 
· Flooring.  Consider refinishing hardwood floors, if they haven't been done in a … (1 comments)

cape coral real estate: 5 Myths of Becoming a Homeowner after a Foreclosure/Short Sale/Bankruptcy - 06/24/11 09:58 AM
Myth #1 - I HAVE TO WAIT 7 YEARS BEFORE I CAN GET A LOAN
You do not have to wait 7 years to qualify for a mortgage after going through a mortgage delinquency and/or a bankruptcy. If you went through a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, you only have to have completed 1 year of your repayment plan to qualify for an FHA Loan. FHA financing also allows you to qualify for a loan after 3 years from the date of a foreclosure on a previous home. If you completed a short sale on a previous home, you may qualify for a … (0 comments)

cape coral real estate: Rules for Rehabbing Real Estate, Part 1 - 02/15/10 01:24 AM
If you watch television home improvement shows, you've surely seen shows about rehabbing homes. When you buy Cape Coral 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 Cape Coral 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 … (1 comments)

cape coral real estate: Valentine's Day is just around the corner. - 02/12/10 02:08 AM
Valentine's Day is just around the corner.  Are you wondering what to get your loved one? Buying Cape Coral foreclosures may not be on the top of your list, but maybe it should be. Do you need some extra room? Is it time to spread out? Are you a repeat buyer?
You've probably heard the term "buyer's market" more often than you care to, but if you want to expand your living quarters, you might want to pay attention.
What is a buyer's market?The typical reply might be something like, "A buyer's market is where the supply is greater than the … (0 comments)

cape coral real estate: Is 2010 the Year to BUY a Home? - 02/10/10 01:22 AM
Is it possible? Is this the year to buy Cape Coral real estate? Why would 2010 be special? Well, let's look at the current house hunting conditions, which might give some insight:
• Home prices are lower than they've been since 2003. According to theNational Association of REALTORS® (NAR), the median price of homes in the U.S. was around $170,000 by November of last year.
• Fixed mortgage rates have almost reached record lows. Although they are subject to change from week to week, at the time of this writing, 15 year fixed and 30 year fixed mortgages were 4.45% and 5.06%, respectively.
(2 comments)

cape coral real estate: 10 Ideas to Save Money and Make Your Home Greener - 02/09/10 12:27 AM
Saving money and going green are both hot topics right now.  So, I'm sure you've already heard the tips to turn off water while brushing your teeth, turn off TVs and computers and swap out old light bulbs for the new energy-saving versions.  Here are 10 new ideas to help you save money and make your Cape Coral home greener.1. Swap stuff.  There are hundreds of online sites where you can get furniture, books, CDs, DVDs and even a place to stay for free by swapping stuff with other people.  And, I'm not just talking about Craigslist.  Two of the most popular … (2 comments)

cape coral real estate: FAQs on Tax Credits for Buying Homes - 02/08/10 12:31 AM
Thousands of potential buyers of homes for sale  are now homeowners, thanks to the first-time homebuyer tax credit. You could be eligible for a tax credit if you bought a home in 2009 or plan to buy one before April, 2010.  But which one are you eligible for?
 
If you have two or three hours to spend reading the information about the homebuyer tax credit, you'll be able to figure out if you're eligible.  But, most people don't have the time or patience. To shorten your learning curve, here are a few tips, pointers and frequently asked (and answered) questions … (2 comments)

cape coral real estate: Thinking About Buying a Cape Coral Condo? What You Need to Know - 02/06/10 04:58 AM
If you're thinking about buying a Cape Coral condo, it's imperative that you know what you're getting into, and how the past year has changed things. The rules and regulations for condominium mortgages have changed a lot in 2009...
In April, the two government-run mortgage companies, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, tightened their guidelines for those looking to own a Cape Coral condo or any multi-family home. The restrictions make it harder for potential buyers to get financed through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which makes a mortgage more expensive.
The April policy requires that the condominium association and operations be … (0 comments)

cape coral real estate: Yes - You CAN Invest in Cape Coral Real Estate - 02/01/10 12:10 AM
 With the ‘pop' of the housing bubble, many investors in Cape Coral real estate put a hold on expanding their portfolios. Risk, that four-letter word, was the topic of every conversation. However, smart investors know they can still buy real estate and make a profit.
Short-term vs. Long-term InvestmentsEven now, Cape Coral real estate can be a short-term or long-term investment. Let's take a moment to examine the market: 
· There is still at least a seven-month supply of homes. · More foreclosures are hitting the market, potentially driving down the prices of homes.
· Lenders have become stricter with their lending guidelines.
• Many … (0 comments)

cape coral real estate: Why FSBO Isn’t the Way to Go When Selling Condos and Homes - 01/29/10 01:32 AM
Whether for Cape Coral condos or single-family homes, For Sale by Owner (FSBO) sales aren't near as successful as those sold by real estate agents. In fact, by 2006, the average price for a FSBO home was at least $50,000 less than agent-run sales.
Why is that? Are real estate agents just naturally better at it? Although I'd love to say yes, the reality is that there are just some things FSBOs don't know. Because they don't know it, they make mistakes. Some of the most common are:
1. Incorrect pricing - The market can only bear so much. By pricing their … (1 comments)

cape coral real estate: Sprucing Up Your Home for Sale in Cape Coral? - 01/28/10 01:54 AM

Pay Attention to the Permits
A lot of owners who have their homes for sale in Cape Coral are taking advantage of the remodeling sales going on around the nation.  From tools and building supplies to the remodeling agencies themselves, they're finding they can save money.
Unfortunately, a lot of homeowners are also choosing to forego the legal building permit process, trying to further save money.
Every building, occupied or unoccupied, has a set of building codes. Any changes that you make to your home must comply with those building codes, which means most home improvements, whether done by you … (0 comments)

cape coral real estate: Getting your Home Ready To Sell - 01/27/10 12:43 AM
You would never dream of inviting guests to your house without making certain preparations, so don't invite potential buyers without first making the necessary updates by preparing your home to sell. If you are like most sellers, you want to get as much as possible for your home and you want to do it as quickly as possible.
Letting Go
 

 
After you've lived in a house, it becomes much more than four walls and a ceiling. It's a home and it has a lot of good memories. Your first step to preparing your home to sell is to … (0 comments)

cape coral real estate: Pricing Your Home To Sell - 01/26/10 01:02 AM
In addition to location and condition, the asking price of a home is at the top of the list of important considerations. When a potential buyer is looking for a property, they want to get the best possible value for their dollar. This doesn't mean that a home should be priced too low, but it does mean that knowing how to price your home is a must. Know The Value Regardless of whether you are in a buyer's market or seller's market, it's important for every seller to know the actual value of their home with the help of an appraisal. With this information, … (1 comments)

 
Lilo Clacher, LEE County Real Estate Expert (MVP Realty)

Lilo Clacher

LEE County Real Estate Expert

Cape Coral, FL

More about me…

MVP Realty

Address: 2326Del Prado Blvd. S, Cape Coral, FL, 33990

Office: 239-242-2028

Mobile: 239-699-0142

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