In 2014, Florida overtook New York to become the third most populous state. Statistics showed an increase of 1.8% in Florida population from 2016, making this touristy state the fourth fastest growing state in the United States. This is a rapid movement for real estate investment market, especially for ones who look for a new vacation home investment in a highly dense tourist area like Florida.

Many homebuyers think they don't need to hire an agent when building a new home. After all, you're buying directly from the builder and they already have contractors, lenders and inspectors. Why should someone else be brought into the mix? 

The truth is, buying any home without an agent can be a costly mistake. It can mean paying more than you should, missed opportunities for upgrades, contract errors that aren't in your favor or a delayed closing.

Thinking of buying a new construction home? Here are three reasons to have an agent on your side before visiting the sales office:

1. Expert Negotiation: While their advertising would have you believe otherwise, builder's prices aren't always set in stone. Agents are skilled negotiators who can likely get the price dropped slightly or have a few upgrades thrown in.

2. Preferred Vendors: Your builder might have an affiliate mortgage lender or title company, but chances are they aren't going to offer the best deal. It's important to shop around, and what's better than a vendor your agent already knows and trusts?

3. Guidance and Support: The homebuying process can be complicated, with lots of twists, turns and steps along the way. When buying new construction, you also have design reviews, electrical work and other construction needs. An agent can guide you through all of these, making sure your purchase stays on track, on time and on budget from start to finish. 

It's important to note that while you may be working with an agent or representative from the builder, they may not have your best interests at heart. Enlisting your own trusted agent can give you an advocate from the very first meeting to closing day.

Are you interested in buying a new construction home? Get in touch today for more info about builders in the area.

Buying a home in the Greater Orlando area?

Buying a home is a big time in a person’s life. A home is not only a good investment, but also a place that is all your own. Although, the homebuying process can potentially seem intimidating and complex! Even second-time buyers can struggle with the process. However, buying a home should not be scary. Just follow these steps and don't forget, I'm always ready to help you!

Get Your Down Payment Together
The first step is saving your money for a down payment. There are lots of different financing options when purchasing a home, and different loan programs available for different situations. Ideally, you'd like to have a good amount to put towards a downpayment if possible. Of course, the most logical thing to do is discuss your options with a lender and ask any questions you can think of.

Get Pre-Qualified
Getting pre-qualified is the first step in the mortgage process. First you need to set up a meeting with a bank or lender to discuss your finances: debt, income, assets, and credit score. After a quick evaluation, which can be done over the phone or online, then the lender can give you an estimate of the mortgage amount you may receive. This first step in the mortgage process is easy, and usually free, but is just an estimate of what you might expect to get. Getting pre-qualified is important because you can also talk with a lender about your needs, questions, and goals.

Get Pre-Approved
After a pre-qualification, the next step is getting pre-approved. You will have to go through an official mortgage application which will have an application fee. Then, your lender goes through a detailed financial background check. Once this step is complete, you will have a much better idea of the interest rate you will be charged. Getting both pre-qualified and pre-approved is very important before you start looking for your home. You will save a lot of valuable time searching for a home in your known budget, rather than searching for houses you think you might be able to afford.

Decide on Location
When choosing a home, a lot goes into picking a location. What is it you're looking for? Closeness to your job? Do you want your kids to be in a certain school district? Maybe you want to be somewhere quieter as opposed to a big busy street. There are tons of things to think about, especially if you plan on being in this location for a good amount of time.

Pick a Type of Home
Depending on where you are exactly, there are many different types of houses out there: condo, town house, patio home, duplex, one story, two story, new construction, and much more. Deciding what you want before meeting with a real estate agent will speed up the process. Find out what exactly you need from your home. Are you raising a family? Just need a place to stay in-between travel? Then, learn about the different types of homes to find one that best fits your needs.

Find a Real Estate Agent
A good real estate agent will be an expert in the area and have experience in the Greater Orlando market. Once you explain what you're looking for and your budget, an agent will take you to the houses that fit your criteria. The right real estate agent will also be able to answer any questions and make the homebuying process more enjoyable. I'd love to be the agent you choose!

Find "The One"
The house search can sometimes be difficult, even with a great agent by your side. Most likely, the first house you see won't be your perfect dreamhouse with every feature you want, for a price lower than you expected. I'm not saying it never happens, it's just not common. Sometimes you'll have to make sacrifices (hopefully on small things) and remember that there's a lot you can do to really make a house your own.

Make an Offer
Once you find the home you've been looking for, we'll base your offer off what homes are selling for in that area. We'll then draft a contract, and the terms the buyer will need to meet to complete the transaction. We'll ensure all the contracts and legal matters are resolved.

Secure a Mortgage
When your offer is approved you will need to secure your mortgage. If you have been pre-approved and pre-qualified then your mortgage application process should be pretty quick.

Get an Inspection
Arrange for a home inspector to look over the property. Your real estate agent works with many inspectors and will direct you to one to check over the property. An inspector will check for problems within the home including: foundation, plumbing, roof, and much more. Hiring an inspector is very important.

Obtain Insurance
Homeowners insurance will protect your property in the event of fire, thefts, and various liabilities. I would also suggest considering title insurance. This insurance will protect you from financial losses from defects in the property. Of course, this is something you'll want to discuss with an insurance professional.

Close the Deal
Your real estate agent will work with you to make sure all necessary documents have been signed. Overall, the closing consists of closing costs and fees, but once you have paid the fees you are officially a homeowner!

I have experience as a Greater Orlando area real estate agent and I'd love to help you purchase a home. I know my experience, knowledge, and expertise will be a huge help to you throughout the entire process.

Click here to search homes

Please feel free to reach out to me at (407) 832-4888 or e-mail me at alan@frontlinefloridarealty.com.

Thinking about selling a house in the Greater Orlando area? Here's how the process works.

Selling a house involves quite a few steps before you can make the sale. Here's an overview of the steps when you're ready to sell your house.

Step one - Make the decision to sell your house. This may seem obvious, but make sure you go over each option, like should you buy a home before selling your own? Is it the best time of year to sell? What does your timeline look like? Everyone’s situation is going to be unique, and it's important to find the best option for you.

Step two - Choosing the best real estate agent. A good real estate agent will work by your side to create the perfect plan for you to sell your home. They will make sure you go through the right steps to save time, get the best price, and even help you stay out of legal issues. A good agent will be able to work with you on determining the right price for your house. They will look at prices of homes in the market, and have an unbiased opinion of the market value of your house. As you'll see in step four, they'll be instrumental in the marketing of your home. Finding a reliable agent is easy, you're already on this website! Check out our contact page, and let us know how we can help. We'd love to be your guide through the process.

Step three - Officially putting your house on the market. Your real estate agent will schedule times for potential buyers to visit your house. There may even be times when your agent will hold an open house to allow walk-ins to see your home. Your responsibility is to make sure it's in the best condition possible. Clean up, light a candle, put the dog out, turn on all the lights, open blinds, etc.

Step four - Marketing your house. Your agent should be a big help on this one. They'll make sure your home is on the MLS, showcased online, on their website, etc. They should send e-mails to their contacts about your listing, an open house, and anything else along the way. The best plan is to get the maximum exposure possible.

Step five - Making the sale. You and your real estate agent will negotiate a price between the buyers. Once a price is mutually agreed upon you will start a series of legal requirements. Your real estate agent will work with you through the legal documents to ensure all proper paper work is accounted for.

Step six - Hand over the keys. Congratulations, you just sold your home! This may be both the easiest and most difficult step of all.

It's important to remember that even though the process can seem difficult or intimidating, a helpful agent will assist you through the whole process.

As an experienced real estate agent in the Greater Orlando area, I'd love to be the one that helps you through these steps! Please feel free to call me at (407) 832-4888 or e-mail me at alan@frontlinefloridarealty.com.

Find out what your house might be worth!

What's my house worth?

Click here to get more info about selling your home.

Selling a home in the Greater Orlando area? Make sure and avoid these common mistakes!

1. Picking the wrong real estate agent (or trying to do it without one) - I made this number one on the list because it truly affects everything else you might encounter. When sellers try and do FSBO or For Sale By Owner instead of using a licensed real estate agent, there are tons of potential pitfalls. But, when you have an experienced agent on your side, they will know exactly what to do, what to look for, and how to get through the process smoothly and quickly. They should be able to guide you through and help you avoid the rest of the seller mistakes you're about to read. Of course, that's assuming you choose the right agent. Often times, people just default to a friend or family member instead of picking an agent with the experience, success, or specialty that would be in their best interest.

2. Neglecting sales prep and curb appeal - Even when the decision to sell is well thought out, sometimes sellers ignore some of the most important things a potential buyer will see. Making sure your house looks good inside and out is often the first step in generating real interest with buyers. Having the inside professionally cleaned goes a long way. Make sure everything looks as organized and clean as possible before pictures are taken and before any open houses or showings. Anything could turn off a potential buyer - a bad pet smell, dirty floors or window treatments, or even just cluttered rooms. Of course, the outside of the home is extremely important as well. Make sure the landscaping is in good shape, any necessary repairs are completed, and the driveway/sidewalk/porch are cleaned off.

3. Mispricing the home - Maybe the most important aspect (and most common mistake) of selling a home is pricing! It's often how buyers start their searches. If you shoot too high, you may not even show up on someone's radar. If overpriced, it can be the reason a home sits on the market forever. If underpriced, you could be missing out on money. However, if priced correctly, it can generate enough interest to sell quickly while also getting you as much as possible. But deciding on the perfect price can be difficult. A real estate agent is a serious asset in this area. Often times people have an emotional attachment to a house that can unjustifiably drive up what they're looking to get. A good real estate agent will understand the local market, be able to look at comparable sales in the area, and help you decide on the perfect price.

4. Withholding info from buyers - In real estate, honesty is the best policy. When it comes to giving information to potential buyers, it might sound enticing to leave out a few details, but in the long run it's not worth it. Crossing your fingers and hoping a buyer won't notice the leak underneath your kitchen sink or the fact that your back yard tends to flood can lead to serious issues. It can make for a really ugly negotiation period, or even potential lawsuits after a sale. Besides, a home inspection is usually going to reveal most everything anyway. It's best to be honest with a buyer and work things out in an open, fair, transparent way.

These are just four of the many mistakes sellers can make, especially if they aren't working with an experienced Greater Orlando area real estate agent. I'd love to be your agent and help you make the process of selling your home as smooth as possible!

Wondering what your house might be worth? Click the button to find out!

What's my house worth?

Have questions? Give me a call at (407) 832-4888, or shoot me an e-mail anytime at alan@frontlinefloridarealty.com.

Insulating your home can pay for itself, and then some.

First, Insulating can help you save money on costly repairs.

Second, the right project could save you money directly in the form of lower utility bills.

Third, the right Insulating project could significantly increase the resale value of your home.

Sounds good, right?

But here's the thing: Not all Insulating projects are equally valuable.

That's why I've collected the top three projects that stand out in terms of the return they will give on your investment. Here they are:

1. Fiberglass attic insulation

Each year, Remodeling magazine releases its Cost vs. Value Report for various home upgrades.

This year, only one project had an ROI of over 100%, and that was fiberglass attic insulation.

What does this mean exactly?

Well, if you add insulation to your attic tomorrow and decide to sell your home right after, you can expect that you will be able to sell for a premium, and that premium will be greater than what you paid for the insulation.

Of course, if you aren't selling your home just yet, then the improved attic insulation will accrue even more value, in terms of lower heating bills and increased comfort in your home.

2. Energy-efficient windows

A typical window replacement yields over a 70% return in terms of the resale value of your home.

Depending on the shape of your current windows, you could save an additional 15% or more off your heating bills.

Plus, new windows can add even more value to your home in terms of increased thermal and acoustic comfort, more light, and better design.

3. Gutters and downspouts

This last item won't save you money directly by cutting down your energy bills.

It could, however, save you tens of thousands of dollars in terms of avoided repairs.

You see, clogged gutters and downspouts can trap moisture. When the weather gets really cold, they can also help ice to form.

This can ruin your roof and sidings, causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage.

On the other hand, cleaning your gutters out will do more than just prevent this damage.

It will also impact the curb appeal of your home, which generates higher returns in terms of resale value than remodeling the inside of your home.

When you consider that 63% of prospective buyers will drive by your home before they ever decide to schedule a viewing, then clean and tidy gutters become even more important.

And those are 3 of the best Insulating projects you can undertake to maximize your investment.

Of course, there might well be other projects that make sense in your particular case.

Please think of me if you would like a recommendation for vendors to help with Insulating projects.  Call me 407 832 4888 

thanks

Alan

NEW YORK – April 25, 2016 – Americans ranked real estate as the best long-term investment, even over stocks and gold, according to a recent Gallup Poll of about 1,000 U.S. adults. Real estate has been the top investment choice for the past two years, and its lead is increasing over four other popular investment choices.

In the latest survey, 35 percent of Americans selected real estate as their top investment choice compared to 22 percent for stocks and mutual funds, 17 percent for gold, 15 percent for savings accounts/CDs and 7 percent for bonds.

By comparison, 34 percent of Americans said gold was their top long-term investment choice in 2011 and, at the time, only 19 percent said real estate.

"As the average sale price of new homes in the U.S. increased from $259,300 in August 2011 to $348,900 in February of this year, the percentage of Americans picking real estate as the best long-term investment almost doubled," according to Gallup. "During approximately the same time span – from August 2011 to April of this year – gold prices plunged from $1,910 to $1,254 per ounce, and the percentage thinking gold would be the best investment was cut in half."

The poll also found the following:

• Men are more likely than women to say gold is the best long-term investment. Women tend to favor savings accounts more than men.
• Survey respondents younger than 30 years old were the least likely age group (26 percent) to think real estate is the top investing choice. They're most likely to choose savings as a top long-term investment choice.
• Renters (32 percent) and homeowners (34 percent) are almost equally likely to choose real estate as their top long-term investment choice.

Source: Gallup.com

© Copyright 2016 INFORMATION, INC. Bethesda, MD (301) 215-4688

Dear Alan

I have already spoken to Pam and told her of your realistic approach to selling and your no non-sense attitude and recommendations were greatly appreciated.  It's been a pleasure working with you. 

Thank you for helping us sell the house quickly and efficiently. We can hopefully relax a little bit now and put this behind us.

Anyway, wishing you all the best and please let us know when you're in the UK so we can meet and have a coffee.

Kind regards 

Lea

Sent from my iPhone

MCLEAN, Va. – Sept. 25, 2015 – Freddie Mac's latest Multi-Indicator Market Index (MiMi) finds that the Florida real estate market's rebound leads the nation. In a city-by-city comparison, Orlando leads the nation in both a month-to-month and year-to-year comparison, and only one non-Florida city makes the top five list for either timeframe.

Florida comparisons

Month-over-month, Florida's index score rose 2.0 percent. It was followed by Colorado (+1.99%), New Jersey (+1.83%), Connecticut (+1.80%) and Nevada (+1.48%).

Year-over-year, Florida's index grew by 14.35 percent. It was followed by Oregon (+13.45%), Nevada (12.18%), Colorado (+11.65%), and Washington (+10.18%).

Florida metro comparisons

Orlando topped all city lists from Freddie Mac. Month-to-month, Orlando improved 2.6 percent, followed by Greenville, S.C. (+2.55%), Cape Coral (+2.51%), Tampa (+2.19%) and Jacksonville (+2.12%).

Year-to-year, Orlando improved 18.27 percent, followed by Cape Coral (+17.75%), Tampa (+15.99%), Palm Bay (+14.98%) and North Port (+14.77%).

"Florida has some of the most improving housing markets in the country, largely a reflection of more borrowers becoming current on their mortgage payments as the local employment picture improves and house prices rebound," says Freddie Mac Deputy Chief Economist Len Kiefer. "Nationally, all MiMi indicators are heading in the right direction for the second consecutive month and improving more than 6 percent from the same time last year."

U.S. numbers

Nationally, Freddie Mac added one more name to its list of slowly stabilizing markets: Rhode Island. It also added four cities: Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Phoenix, Arizona; and Albany, New York.

The national MiMi value stands at 81, indicating a housing market that is on its outer range of stable housing activity. The number improved 0.93 percent month-to-month and 6.17 percent year-to-year. Since it's all-time low in October 2010, the MiMi has improved 37%.

© 2015 Florida Realtors®

>> Market Update 

It’s getting more expensive to buy a house. Prices rose 6% in the fourth quarter of 2014 as buyers competed for fewer and fewer available homes for sale, according to new data from the National Association of Realtors®.

The NAR report shows most cities (86%) are experiencing rising prices, with fewer available homes to choose from. Just 24 cities, or 14%, recorded lower median prices in 2014 than in 2013.

“Home prices in metro areas throughout the country continue to show solid price growth, up 25% over the past three years on average,” said Lawrence Yun, chief economist at NAR. “This is good news for current homeowners but remains a challenge for buyers who are seeing home prices continue to outpace their wages.”

Still, as more jobs are created, consumer confidence rises, driving the demand for housing. But with fewer sellers putting their homes on the market, the housing market just chugs along.

“This should signal existing home owners, who may have been slow to think of selling, to consider now a great time to list,” said Jonathan Smoke, chief economist at realtor.com®. With prices rising by double digits in 24 areas across the country, according to the report, many sellers would find a pool of buyers vying for their homes.

To be sure, Smoke scoured 200 of the largest metro areas across the country on realtor.com and found that the prices in 98 of them had increased by 6% or more. In 66 of those markets, houses are spending 8% less time on the market, he said.

Prices and inventory go hand in hand. The average supply of available homes for sale was 4.9 months’ worth, according to the report. In a normal market, there would be a six- to seven-month supply of available homes.

“This is a clear sign that demand is growing faster than supply,” said Smoke. Once more homes are listed, prices would moderate, he said.

The NAR wants more new construction. “Unless homebuilders significantly boost construction, housing supply shortages could develop and lead to further price acceleration this spring,” said Yun.

FOR SALE: ~ Windsor Hills ~ 2590 Maneshaw Lane, Kissimmee, FL 34747 - List Price: $201,500

Click here to view tour!

Property Description:

This is a wonderful 3 bedroom 3 bathroom townhome situated in the exclusive gated community of Windsor Hills. With a large bedroom and bathroom with walk in shower on the ground floor and a spacious and bright kitchen /living area that leads out onto the sunny pool deck. The paved pool deck faces west and is very private. It is a wonderful spot to sip your pre dinner drinks and watch the amazing Florida sunsets. The master bedroom has a great walk in closet and bathroom with a wonderful soaking tub. The 3rd bedroom is bright and spacious with an ensuite bathroom. The washer and dryer are upstairs for your convenience. This townhome is at the end of a quiet cul de sac and is one of the closest homes to the clubhouse, the walk way to the clubhouse is just across the street. Windsor Hills is one of the closest resorts to Disney and is a highly sought after location for vacationeers. With the wonderful community amenities including games room, wonderful community pool, movie theater, cyber café, sundry shop, volleyball, tennis, basketball to name but a few. 

Presented by:
Liesl Butler Burke
Cell: 407 201 1521
Email: liesl@orlando4ever.com

3 properties LEASED! 

Thinking about renting your home in the Greater Orlando areas? Contact the team at Frontline Florida Realty - we can get you RESULTS! 

Contact our office today - Call (407) 392-4616.

Or contact Frontline Florida Realty's rental team direct: 

Alan Martin - Cell: (407) 832-4888, Email: Alan@frontlinefloridarealty.com

Virginia Silberstein - Cell: (321) 274-6991, Email: Virginia@virginiatherealtor.com

For more information about this listing, please visit:

WWW.FRONTLINEFLORIDAREALTY.COM/7514BLISSWAY7514

Presented by:

Alan Martin - Broker, Owner and President

Cell: 407-832-4888

E-mail: alan@frontlinefloridarealty.comThe spacious living room is complete with comfortable sofas and entertainment center with large TV (cable), DVD and VCR. Open living room and dining area offers ample space for family/friends gathering. Fully equipped kitchen has refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, coffee maker, toaster. The lovely heated private pool (15 by 30 foot) and raised SPA are fully-screened with a huge covered lanai, sun loungers and a patio set for outside dining. Perfect for relaxing after a day at the parks, on the golf course or at the beach being strategically located for quick and easy access to Disney World (10-12 minutes), Seaworld and Universal as well as travel to the beaches and attractions of Tampa, Busch Gardens and Kennedy Space Center.

For more information about this listing, please visit:
WWW.FRONTLINEFLORIDAREALTY.COM/206LANCASTERDR

Presented by:
Alan Martin - Broker, Owner and President
Cell: 407-832-4888407-832-4888
E-mail: alan@frontlinefloridarealty.com

#frontlinefloridarealty #alanmartinrealtor #highgatepark #davenport

For more information about this listing, please visit:

WWW.FRONTLINEFLORIDAREALTY.COM/206LANCASTERDR

 Presented by:

 Alan Martin - Broker, Owner and President

 Cell: 407-832-4888

Short Sale: This Key West inspired condo community features luxurious accommodations and on site property amenities beyond your expectations. Located only minutes from major attractions this community has onsite management and guest check in, housekeeping, and maintenance services on top of being a secured gated community. This fabulous unit features granite counter tops, ceramic tile in the kitchen and bathrooms, TV's in living room and both bedrooms. Vaulted ceilings with crown molding compliment the interior décor. All appliances included along with a full size washer and dryer.

For more information about this listing, please visit: www.frontlinefloridarealty.com/3006BONFIREBEACHDR103

This short term rental zoned townhouse is in a gated community with a community pool. The unit was the builder model home and is located close to the pool. The patio over look conservation and the front overlooks the community pond. Located close to Champions Gate for easy access to the theme parks, I-4 and many shops restaurants and golf.

For more information about this listing, please visit: www.frontlinefloridarealty.com/214MONROECIR

Presented by:
Shelley Freeman 
Phone: 407-392-4616
Cell: 407-468-9538
Fax: 877-833-7163
Email: shelley@frontlinefloridarealty.com
Web: www.frontlinefloridarealty.com

Thinking about selling your home? Contact Frontline Florida Realty and ask for your free home valuation.

Contact Frontline's Broker/Owners direct:

Alan Martin - Alan@FrontlineFloridaRealty.com or call: 407-832-4888

Shelley Freeman - Shelley@FrontlineFloridaRealty.com or call: 407-468-9538

Orlando home sales declined in August while the area’s median price continued its upward trend, albeit at a slower pace, reports the Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association.