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!
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:
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®
Working with Alan Martin was a great satisfaction for me, for the dedication, honesty and the ease with which we interact. Trulia sent me the record of a property in Orlando and I, at 7,000 miles away, I asked Alan to investigate that for me this without ever having known him before. He promptly visited the property, took several pictures, made all the comments about the property and from there the entire purchasing process began. He referred me all documentation related to the property and within a month, and also after more than 100 e-mails sent from both sides, I bought it without ever having seen such a degree of security Alan gave me. And to my surprise, the property was better than I had imagined. After purchasing Alan helped me a lot to indicate the energy companies, cable tv and internet, and also with the administration of the condominium. Thank you Alan for your help and loyalty to me. I will definitely point it out to those who need to buy a property in Orlando.
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: $201,500Click 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 BurkeCell: 407 201 1521Email: liesl@orlando4ever.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
WWW.FRONTLINEFLORIDAREALTY.COM/206LANCASTERDR
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/214MONROECIRPresented by:Shelley Freeman Phone: 407-392-4616Cell: 407-468-9538Fax: 877-833-7163Email: shelley@frontlinefloridarealty.comWeb: 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.
SHORT SALE Close to International Drive with Free Shuttle to Theme Parks With its terrific amenities and opportunities for recreation, located near Universal Studios, this hotel close to the best Orlando attractions is the perfect family destination. The features include a sports court, barbeque, game room, fitness center and outdoor pool and hot tub. We offer free hot breakfast buffet and a free USA Today, free Wi-Fi Internet access, meeting space, a business center with fax and copy services, guest laundry and dry cleaning service. Public transportation is just one block from the hotel in Orlando. This room overlooks the pool and has 2 queen beds.
For more information about this listing, please visit: www.frontlinefloridarealty.com/7601CANADAAVE112
Shelley Freeman
Phone: 407-392-4616
Cell: 407-468-9538
Fax: 877-833-7163
Email: shelley@frontlinefloridarealty.com
Web: www.frontlinefloridarealty.com
CONDO FOR SALE! ~LEGACY DUNES RESORT~ 8809 DUNES CT # 6-102, KISSIMMEE, FL 34747 - LIST PRICE: $130,000 Beautiful 4 bed/ 2 bath condo in a gated resort style community .Lots of Amenities including Community pools, Playgrounds, Clubhouse ,Tennis Courts, Fitness Center, BBQ area, volleyball and basketball courts, car wash area, walking path, conservation areas and much more. Minutes away from Disney Parks. This home has been upgraded with granite countertops throughout and designer sinks.It includes all appliances and is tastefully furnished. The screened balcony overlooks the pond. All bedrooms have walk in closets. Perfect for either a vacation rental or private residence. For more information about this listing, please visit: WWW.FRONTLINEFLORIDAREALTY.COM/8809DUNESCT6-10
FOR SALE! ~ HIGHGATE PARK~ 206 LANCASTER DR, DAVENPORT, FL, 33897 - LIST PRICE: $220,000Income generating property.This spacious home features four beautifully furnished bedrooms and three bathrooms with en-suite facilities and TVs/DVDs. The 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
CONDO FOR SALE! ~ VILLAGE AT TOWN CENTER~ 224 VILLAGE CT, DAVENPORT, FLORIDA 33896 - LIST PRICE: $85,000The condo is located in the Champions Gate area of Orlando, just 8 miles south of Walt Disney World, in an enchanting gated community that captures the magic that is tropical Orlando, Florida. The resort is surrounded by natural conservation area, and by magnificent lakes and features a tranquil and serene atmosphere boasting all the luxuries for a memorable family vacation or a place to call home. The community has a beautiful pool at the clubhouse. Other recreational amenities includes a lighted tennis court, sand volleyball court, basketball court, a fitness center, play area, car care center, lushly landscaped grounds and walking areas. The resort is ideally located within minutes to Disney and other Orlando theme parks. Shopping, Restaurants, Nail Salons, Pizzeria's, Gas stations, Liquor store, Pharmacy, Banks, Golf course are right next door at the Champions Gate and Reunion Resort Plaza's, parks and more. And it has a 1 car Garage and an assigned perking spaceFor more information about this listing, please visit:WWW.FRONTLINEFLORIDAREALTY.COM/224VILLAGECT
Presented by:Alan Martin - Broker, Owner & PresidentCell: 407-832-4888E-mail: alan@frontlinefloridarealty.com
Looking for an over 55’s community in the Central Florida area? Frontline Florida Realty can help! Take a look at our ‘Over 55’s Communities’ page: www.FrontlineFloridaRealty.com/Over55Communities Or contact Alan Martin, Frontline Florida Realty's Broker/Owner and Over 55's Specialist directly - Cell: 407-832-4888 or Email: Alan@FrontlineFloridaRealty.com
4 MORE CLOSINGS!
We have a team of highly knowledgeable and experienced agents who are ready to assist you in buying or selling a property.
Visit our 'Our Associates' page to meet our team, read bios and locate an agent’s contact information: www.frontlinefloridarealty.com/OurAssociates.
We hope everyone had a lovely Labor Day weekend! Let us know what you did. We kicked off our weekend with 2 closings! Thinking about selling your home? Contact Frontline Florida Realty and ask for your free home valuation. Contact Frontline's Broker/Owners directly: Alan Martin - email: Alan@FrontlineFloridaRealty.com or call: 407-832-4888 Shelley Freeman - email: Shelley@FrontlineFloridaRealty.com or call: 407-468-9538
JUST LISTED! ~LAKE BUENA VISTA RESORT~ 8112 POINCIANA BLVD # 1401, ORLANDO, FL 32821 – LIST PRICE: $240,000
This well-appointed vacation condo is located just minutes from all of Central Florida's main attractions. Lake Buena Vista outlet mall is close by from the resort with Downtown Disney just a few minutes’ drive. There is wide variety of restaurants locally. The Barbados living room includes a sleeper sofa and large screen TV adjacent to the private balcony. The Barbados living room includes a sleeper sofa and large screen TV adjacent to the private balcony. The dining area offers seating for 6 around an expansive glass topped table. The kitchen includes granite countertops, cherry wood cabinets and full size appliances, including refrigerator and freezer with icemaker, stove/oven and dishwasher. The kitchen is fully equipped with dishes, glasses, flatware and cookware. The master bedroom features a king size bed, TV and master bath with an oversized jetted tub. The second bedroom offers a king size bed and TV. The third bedroom offers two twin beds and TV. The second bath is located in the hall between the second and third bedrooms.
Resort facilities and amenities: Pirates Plunge pool, 24-hour fitness center, full service spa, Lani's Luau Poolside Bar & Grille, Frankie Farrell's Irish Pub & Grille, Pizza Hut Café Express, wireless & wired internet access, convenience store & gift shop 24-hour reception, meeting room, personalized housekeeping services, staySky Kids Club and scheduled shuttles to the major theme parks.
For more information, please visit: WWW.FRONTLINEFLORIDAREALTY.COM/8112POINCIANABLVD1401 Presented by: Shelley Freeman Phone: 407-392-4616 Cell: 407-468-9538 Fax: 877-833-7163 Email: shelley@frontlinefloridarealty.com Web: www.frontlinefloridarealty.com