paul antonelli: The Dos & Don'ts of Buying a Second Home
- 06/27/18 05:45 AM
Now that you know your way around the basics, let's talk about a few dos and don'ts of buying a second home. Remember, you're not buying a house with the intention of moving there full-time; because of this, your priorities will be different.Do Evaluate Long-Term GoalsThe first question to ask yourself is what your goal is with the second property. Do you want to be able to go there for summer vacation every year? Do you want to rent it out full-time and retire there in 20 years? This will change where you purchase a house.
You also need to consider what … (5 comments)
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paul antonelli: Reasons to Buy a Second Home
- 06/27/18 05:42 AM
First, let's talk about why you should buy a second house. Why? Because it tells you something about what priorities you need to have in order.
You Can Afford ItThe first big one, for most people, is a question of finances. Most buyers of second homes are in their 40s and 50s, when their children may begin leaving the house. You're no longer tied to one place because of school, and since your kids are out of the house, you may be looking to establish traditions.
This is also the point in your life when you tend to be earning more, which grants you … (0 comments)
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paul antonelli: The Top 10 Second-Home Locations
- 06/27/18 05:36 AM
A new report by Point2Homes uses Google search data to determine where U.S. residents are looking to purchase their second homes, with Mexico coming out on top. The report analyzed keywords searched between January 2017 and 2018 for home sales abroad and in the U.S., and ranked them according to average monthly search volume.
Here are the top 10:
Mexico Canada Puerto Rico Costa Rica Belize U.S. Virgin Islands Panama Bahamas Dominican Republic Jamaica Most locations boast more spacious homes than what's available to be purchased at the national median price in the U.S.—$240,500. For example, in Mexico, homebuyers can purchase a two-bedroom detached home … (2 comments)
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paul antonelli: Creating a SHE Shed.
- 06/26/18 08:39 PM
Have you seen the insurance commercial witht eh woman who is on the phone asking whether her "she" shed is covered. I actually like the commerical. I think its funny. I saw an article by Better Homes and Gardens describing ways to build a she shed and thought I'd share it here. It is becoming a more popular concept. I hear it often from women, that if a man can have a man cave, then what can they have. I guess the answer is now... a 'She Shed'.
"She sheds—outdoor garden sheds designed with relaxation and creativity in mind—continue to grow in popularity, and the … (2 comments)
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paul antonelli: Maintenance Tricks That Save Money and Energy at Home.
- 06/25/18 08:15 PM
We all want to save money when it comes to our homes. Realtor.com gives us 7 tricks to not only save money, but to also save time. According to the government's Energy Star program, the average family spends $1,900 a year on utility bills.
Realtor.com provided the following 7 tips.
1. Dust and clean appliancesCleaning the debris out of the vents, grates, and coils of your appliances such as the dishwasher, exhaust vent, washing machine, and refrigeratorwill help their efficiency and performance. In fact, cleaning the coils of a refrigerator can reduce the amount of energy it uses by up to 30%, according to the Consumer Energy Center.
2. Give … (3 comments)
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paul antonelli: Sell Your Home by Using 8 Hotel Designs
- 06/25/18 08:11 PM
Many people love the idea of traveling and staying in the hotel to feel like they are on vacation. Others prefer hotels that make them feel at home. What if you could have both feelings; a home that feels like you are at a luxury hotel but still with the comforts of home. Well, you may not want to leave. This is exactly why some of the below design tips from realtor.com may be the secret to getting your home sold.
1. Glam up your entranceway“At most fine hotels, you walk into an area with a beautiful, round, elegant table with a … (1 comments)
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paul antonelli: Isles of Bellalago Home Back on the Market
- 06/25/18 05:16 AM
Three bed 2.5 bath 2 car garage on a larger corner lot just half block away from the Isles amenity center. The large family room is ample size for entertaining and is pre-wired for surround sound. Just add your favorite ceiling speakers. The kitchen features wood front cabinets, closet pantry, Utility room and the breakfast bar overlooking the family room
Isles of Bellalago
Year Built: 2006
Beds: 3
Baths: 2/1
List Price: $185,900
Originally under contract in 24 hours with multiple offers - Back on MarketThis went on the market last week of May. Had multiple offers and went under contract in 24 hours. Home Inspection … (4 comments)
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paul antonelli: Osceola County Road Closure
- 06/19/18 07:58 AM
A portion of Partin Settlement from Red Jasper Rd up to 192 will be closed for road widening for the next 6 weeks. The closure began on Monday, June 18.
The purpose of the road closure is to allow the contractor to complete all drainage activities and roadway widening in that area.
U.S. 192 traffic needing to access Partin Settlement Road will be detoured via Simmons Road (see map).
Electronic message boards have been installed to inform motorists about the road closure, and detour signs will guide traffic.
… (1 comments)
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paul antonelli: Osceola county summer pet adoption event.
- 06/19/18 07:54 AM
Osceola county is hosting a summer adoption event!
If you have been thinking of adding a new furry member to your family, you should come check out this event. Plus they will help you prepare for the upcoming hurricane season. Osceola County Emergency Management and St Cloud Emergency will be in the lobby with information on preparedness for hurricanes.
Free Pet Evacuation Bags for the first 100 guests!
… (0 comments)
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paul antonelli: SeaWorld offers Free admission for vets.
- 06/19/18 07:41 AM
According to an article from Around Osceola Sea World is offereing free admission to veterans until July 4th 2018 (aroundosceola.com/free-seaworld-admission-for-vets). The free admission is for qualifying veterans and upto 3 direct dependants. It will be honored at SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, plus other SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment properties across the U.S. Qualifying veterans are U.S. active duty military, activated or drilling reservist, or National Guardsman once per year.
“The men and women who serve this country in the U.S. Armed Services are incredibly important, and we’re proud to extend our gratitude to these brave men and women and their families,” John Reilly, interim … (1 comments)
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paul antonelli: 4 Steps to Win a Bidding War
- 06/18/18 11:21 AM
From a buyer’s standpoint, getting into a bidding war for a house they want is never fun. They can offer more money than they ever planned to spend and still end up without the home of their dreams. A real estate agent should be able to tell you ahead of time if bidding wars are likely in your desired neighborhood. Here are four real estate tips to win a bidding war, if it comes to that:
Make a high offer. Instead of making a low offer with the expectation that you’ll increase it if you have to, offer as much as you … (4 comments)
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paul antonelli: Get a Handle on Safety Valves
- 06/18/18 11:14 AM
Few things are more important to a homeowner than knowing how to quickly and safely shut off utilities, says Paul K. Improta, president and CEO of Connecticut's Underwriters, Inc.Improta says all of the adults in your home should know how to immediately locate and shut off any gas, electricity and water systems in case of an emergency. Not knowing where to immediately find these shut-offs could put a homeowner and anyone inside the residence at risk.Improta suggests sharing a few utility shut-off procedures from Ready.gov with everyone in your household to help prevent property damage or personal injury.
Shutting off the Gas … (0 comments)
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paul antonelli: How to Make Pets More Affordable
- 06/18/18 11:12 AM
While nothing completes the feeling of home more than a furry, four-legged family member, becoming a pet parent can come with a steep price tag. According to the ASPCA, in fact, the first year of pet ownership often exceeds $1,000, which is a lot to fit into your household budget, especially if you just moved into a new home.
If your family just isn’t complete without a pooch or a feline, however, there are some ways to curb the costs of pet ownership:Consider adoption - While you may have your eye on a purebred, take a trip to a local animal shelter or … (3 comments)
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paul antonelli: What Should I Do to Prepare my Home for Sale?
- 06/18/18 11:07 AM
Start by finding out its worth. Contact an agent for a comparative market analysis, an informal estimate of value based on the recent selling price of similar neighborhood properties. Or get a certified appraiser to provide an appraisal.
Next, get busy working on the home’s appearance. You want to make sure it is in the best condition possible for showing to prospective buyers so that you can get top dollar. This means fixing or sprucing up any trouble spots that could deter a buyer, such as squeaky doors, a leaky roof, dirty carpet and walls, and broken windows.
The “curb appeal” of your … (1 comments)
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paul antonelli: Listing Contracts 101: How to Determine Which Is Right for You
- 06/18/18 11:01 AM
Choosing a real estate professional you’re comfortable with is an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to putting your home on the market, but anyone going through the buying or selling process needs to be aware of the different types of listing contracts available—and which suits them best.
Exclusive Right to Sell
Most commonly used, this type of listing gives the listing agent complete control of the transaction, no matter who finds the buyer. In this type of situation, even if you have a friend who wants to purchase the home, the listing agent will earn the sales commission. If a … (0 comments)
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paul antonelli: What Homebuyers Really Want
- 06/18/18 10:57 AM
When looking for a home, buyers often narrow their choices by determining wants vs. needs. As your local real estate professional, I thought you'd be interested in this breakdown of what homebuyers really want. The infographic shows some of the features that matter most to homebuyers, according to research from the National Association of REALTORS®-and the ones they're willing to pay more for.
… (0 comments)
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paul antonelli: Opening the Door to a Successful Sale
- 06/18/18 10:54 AM
We use doors all the time. But how often do we really look at them? From entering a home to walking through rooms and into closets, we use doors in every step of the buying and selling process. If overlooked, doors can easily lessen a home’s appeal.
Here’s how you can entice buyers by improving the appearance of your doors:
Entrance: If you have a storm door, make sure the glass is clean. Or if a screen is installed, make sure it doesn’t have any rips or tears. Also, inspect the main doors leading to the house. There’s a good chance they could use … (0 comments)
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paul antonelli: Save for a Home with a Dollar-for-Dollar Match Program
- 06/14/18 02:56 PM
A federal program helps low-income families buy a home with a unique method meant to encourage saving: It matches dollar-for-dollar what they save to buy their first home.
The Individual Development Account, or IDA, doesn’t offer a lot of money to help with a down payment — up to $2,000 in federal matching funds with more contributions possible from local IDA programs — but it’s a start.
Participants can start by saving as little as $25 — matched to as much as eight to one, depending on the program, though most offer one-to-one matches. Income levels must be 200 percent below their state’s … (1 comments)
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paul antonelli: Flag Day
- 06/14/18 02:52 PM
In the United States, Flag Day is celebrated on June 14.
It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777
Below are some interesting facts about our national flag according to Fox News. www.foxnews.com/real-estate/flag-day-facts
#1. Betsy Ross is widely credited with designing the first American flag, but there is almost no evidence to support that claim. The only records of Ross' involvement came from her own grandson in 1870, when he presented the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia with affidavits from his own family members as evidence. Instead, many historians believe that Francis Hopkinson deserves the credit, because early journals … (1 comments)
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paul antonelli: 5 Tips for That Garage Clean-Out
- 06/06/18 02:21 PM
For many of us, cleaning out our garage is no simple afternoon task. Most garages hold years of accumulated and forgotten items, and clearing them out is a serious job. Below are five tips to help you make the most of the big clean-out.
Pick a date. To avoid procrastination, choose a hard date on your calendar for your clean-out. Depending on the size of your garage, a full weekend may be in order. Tell your family members about the date to make sure they will be around to pitch in.
Gather your resources. Stock up on large trash bags, visit your local grocer’s for … (3 comments)
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Now that you know your way around the basics, let's talk about a few dos and don'ts of buying a second home. Remember, you're not buying a house with the intention of moving there full-time; because of this, your priorities will be different.Do Evaluate Long-Term GoalsThe first question to ask yourself is what your goal is with the second property. Do you want to be able to go there for summer vacation every year? Do you want to rent it out full-time and retire there in 20 years? This will change where you purchase a house.
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