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Many real estate agents say, “Stage your Orlando homes for sale!” If you have no idea what that means, you might Google it, read a few articles and get the idea that you throw a little rented furniture into your home and call it done. If you read a little bit more, you might add a mirror or potted plant here and there. However, if you really dig into it, you’ll find that staging Orlando homes for sale take a whole lot more than that.

Test Your Knowledge

Did you know…

• Smaller furniture in small areas makes the space appear bigger.
• Carefully arranged plants bring warmth to a living area.
• Rugs and artwork add depth and dimension to a room.
• Sunlight shining through a window makes a room feel warm and inviting.
• A staged bedroom is as important as the bathroom and kitchen.
• The colors you choose can make the difference between a sale and a flop. 

If you didn’t know any of the above, it’s time to do your learn how to stage or hire a professional stager. Why? Home staging has been proven time and again to be one of the best steps to take to sell a home quickly and for more money.

Find Home Staging Resources

There are tons of online resources available to help you stage your home, if you’d rather do it yourself. Here are just a few, in no particular order:

1. Field Guide to Preparing and Staging a House
2. Home-Staging Cheat Sheet
3. Staging to Sell: The Secret to Selling Homes in a Down Market 

Hire a Professional Stager

Does this mean you can’t do it yourself? Not at all. You just need to ask yourself two questions: 

1. Can you afford to wait to sell your house while you’re learning how to stage your home?
2. Even after researching and studying, will you be able to do a quality staging job? 

If you can’t afford to wait or you’ll never be great at staging, hire a professional.

What’s the moral of the story? If you have one of the Orlando homes for sale and you’ve been considering home staging, stop considering. Do it! 

Need help preparing your home for sale? We can help. Call us today at 407-876-5771 for more information.

It’s time for some tough love, here. Your home doesn’t fit in with other Orlando homes for sale. It doesn’t play well with others. When you put it on the market, you priced it more than 8% higher than the other Orlando homes for sale. Frankly, it’s a market bully.

Look, I understand that you want to make the most out of your investment. Maybe you’ve done some serious remodeling that you feel warrants the price hike. I’m not putting any of that down, but I’d be doing you a disservice if I let you ignore the facts.

• There is no longer a federal tax credit to entice buyers and get them interested.
• Your house is competing with several foreclosures – many of which are priced as low as the lender can handle.
• The longer your house sits on the market, waiting for a buyer, the harder it will be to actually attract a buyer.
• There is a very little incentive for buyers to go out and buy now, especially higher priced homes.
• Mortgage rates are low, but lender qualifications are much tighter now. 

Any seller hitting the market in today’s economy has two choices: wait or cut your losses. They aren’t pretty choices, but life is seldom convenient, no matter what commercials say.

If selling your home isn’t an absolute necessity, consider the fact that it might serve you better to hang in there. If you don’t have a compelling reason to put it on the chopping block, don’t.

If you must sell your house, don’t let it be a market bully. Price it according to the local market, not the price of a home across the country.  In this case, you want your house to be part of the “in” crowd.  Listen to your real estate agent’s advice and use the data he or she provides in the Comparative Market Analysis to set the best price.

With the way the economy is now, you can bet that owners of competing Orlando homes for sale are serious about selling.  The competition is tough, so, when pricing, be kind to your home and price it low enough to sell.

If you’re ready to sell your home, we can help get it sold. Call us at 407-876-5771 for information.

Have you ever seen a child right after a huge chewing gum bubble pops on his face? A mess everywhere, eyes wide, mouth in an “O” – rather reminiscent of the real estate industry when its own bubble popped. Homeowners panicked and began trying to sell their Orlando homes.

As more pushed to unload the instantly unwanted “step child” of homeownership, the real estate market became glutted, resulting in lower sales prices. Two years later, some owners are still trying to sell their Orlando homes, still panicking, and still worried about what the future will bring. However, you might be like some homeowners, who are indecisive about selling their homes or who realize they don’t really want to sell.

Stop.

Take a deep breath.

Quit worrying for a moment and ask yourself… Why am I selling?

There are good reasons to sell:

• Your house has become hard to afford. 
• You’re getting older and need to move somewhere that doesn’t take as much maintenance.
• You need to relocate for your job. 

But there are a lot of not-so-good reasons to sell:

·         You’ve read so much about people who have been unable to sell their homes that you became alarmed and put yours on the market “just in case” you want to sell it later.

·         You’re simply tired of your home.  If that’s the case, all you actually need to do is update or redecorate your home to make it sparkle again.

·         You’d just like to see what you can get for your home.

It may seem strange for a real estate agent to speak against selling Orlando homes. However, my first motivation is always doing what’s best for my client, including giving them the best advice I can. So, I urge you to take a moment and think about it:  do you really need to sell your home now?

Even if your home has lost some of its value, there are many ways that your home is still very valuable:

• Building credit - Home ownership is still a good way to build credit. With good credit you can borrow for other major expenses, such as a new car. 

• Building equity – The average home equity for the U.S. is approximately $38,000. When you consider how much your home costs, that may not seem like much. However, when you are ready to sell, that equity will be there to put toward your next home purchase or your retirement savings.

• Saving money on taxes – Owning a home offers several tax benefits.  For most Americans, the biggest benefit is deducting the annual interest paid on a mortgage.

• Living well – There’s a reason why homeownership is still called the American Dream.  It simply feels good to live in a home you love.  That you can decorate any way you want.  A home that’s your very own.

Now think about why you bought your home in the first place. Do the things still exist that made you value the home enough to buy it?  If yes, maybe you should stay.

If you do need (or want) to sell your home, we can help. Call us today at 407-876-5771 for more information.

If you’ve ever been to a block party, you know it is a great way to gather your neighborhood friends together for some fun. You can easily throw a block party everyone who lives near your Orlando home will love. Here’s how:

1. Enlist the help of your neighbors. Throwing a block party at your Orlando home is a major undertaking, so you will need all the help you can get. Ask others in your community to help you plan, decorate, prepare food, and clean.
2. Get permission. You don’t want your party broken up by the police or fined by the homeowner’s association. Find out from your municipal government if you are required to get a permit for a block party. Follow up with your homeowner’s association and make sure they will allow the block party.
3. Select a theme. Themed parties are easier to plan and more fun for the guests. For example, if you choose a beach theme, you know what colors and accessories to use in the decorations: anything blue or tan, coconuts, beach balls, and Frisbees. You also know to serve beach foods like hamburgers and hotdogs.
4. Plan a menu and decorate. Keep the menu and decorations simple to prepare and easy to clean. Choose food that can be eaten without utensils, like finger foods and sandwiches. Don’t use elaborate decorations.
5. Have fun. The most important part of your block party is the party itself. Give yourself permission to enjoy the party and the company of your neighbors. Talk to people. Laugh with your neighbors. Participate in any games you play. This is your night to shine.
6. Clean up. If you planned properly and have enough help, clean up shouldn’t be too overwhelming. Make sure the area where you held the party is completely litter-free and looks better than it did before the party. Don’t give your homeowner’s association any reason to prohibit future block parties.

Getting to know neighbors makes life more enjoyable.  Throwing a block party is a great way to accomplish that while also having fun.

Let me help you find an Orlando home in a great neighborhood. Call us today at 407-876-5771.

If your Orlando home needs a face-lift, you can instantly brighten up the appearance of your house by staining your deck.  There are many different types of wood stain sold at home improvement stores.  You’ll need to keep a few things in mind when choosing wood stain:

·         What kind of wood are you staining?  Different types of stain are made for different kinds of wood.  Some stains are specifically made for pre-treated wood only.  Untreated wood requires special care and specific stain and sealant products.

·         What color deck do you want?  Most stains will look like natural wood when dried.  You can choose from oak to redwood and even cherry woods to match your Orlando home.

·         What are the weather conditions where you live?  Since the secondary purpose of most stains is to act as a sealant, you’ll need to pick the type that will be most beneficial to your deck.  Some stains protect against ultra-violet rays and others are made to protect against wood rot and mildew.

·         How much stain do you need to buy?  You’ll need to calculate the square footage of your deck to know what quantity of paint to buy.  Check the labeling on the stain.  Some brands require more than one coat for the best results. 

After you’ve chosen the stain for your deck, pick up a few supplies to apply the stain:

• Buy work gloves to keep your hands from becoming discolored by the stain. 
• Most home improvement stores will have paint pans and brushes for sale near the stain.
• Because stain is very thin, it tends to drip easily.  You may find that a paint pad will apply the stain more efficiently than a paintbrush.

Want more tips on how to improve your Orlando home’s appearance?  Subscribe to my blog now.  It’s fast and free.

You’d like to remodel your kitchen, but like many Orlando real estate owners, you need to do it as inexpensively as possible.  Consider cutting costs by staining the kitchen cabinets yourself.

Here’s the basic 4-step process to staining kitchen cabinets for your Orlando real estate.

1.      Gather supplies:  120-grit and 220-grit sandpaper, wood conditioner, paintbrushes, tack cloths, rags, stain and polyurethane.  Some experts recommend water-based stain and sealer because they’re easier to work with, while others insist on oil-based products because of their durability.  Do some research to make the right choice for you.

2.      Prepare the wood:  Using 120-grit sandpaper, lightly sand the wood in the direction of the grain.  This prevents scratches.  Remove all of the loose dust with a tack cloth.  Then sand the cabinets again, this time using 220-grit sandpaper.  This creates a smooth finish.  Remove all the loose dust with a tack cloth and apply a coat of wood conditioner to the cabinets.  Let it dry completely.

3.      Stain the wood:  Brush on a coat of stain with a paintbrush following the grain of the wood.  Then take a rag and rub the stain into the wood using a circular motion. Finish the staining by wiping along the grain of the wood one final time to ensure an even finish.  Let the stain dry completely.

4.      Seal the wood:  Apply two coats of polyurethane following the manufacturer’s directions.  Once you’ve sealed the cabinets, make sure you give them ample time to cure.

Staining the cabinets for your Orlando real estate kitchen remodel can save you a lot of money.  Just be sure you take the time to do a quality job.  You’ll be living with the results for a long time, so make sure it looks good.

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Do you enjoy watching birds?  Would you like to attract more of them to the yard of your Orlando home?  Luckily, you can with the right setting.  Here are 3 steps to transform your landscape into a bird’s paradise:

Step 1:  Provide a food supply for your feathered friends.

One of the easiest ways to do so is through birdfeeders.  To ensure a throng of birds inhabits your landscape throughout most of the year, place birdfeeders in areas all over your Orlando home’s yard.

Step 2:  Supply a source of water for birds to drink and bathe in.

Birdbaths are an easy solution and wide varieties are available.  Shallow basins or troughs will also do the trick.  However, since birds enjoy moving water, you may want to include a feature in your landscape that circulates water. 

Step 3:  Offer a safe shelter to perch and rest.

Birds want a place safe from the elements and predators.  Evergreen trees like cedar, pine and spruce are a good choice, as they allow birds to crawl into them and keep predators out.  Ornamental trees are another good choice that will not only provide shelter but perhaps even some food in the form of berries or insects.  Trees that birds find attractive include crabapple trees, flowering dogwood trees and Japanese snowdrop trees.

In addition to trees, you may want to provide birdhouses.  These also serve as shelter, as long as they are deep enough to protect the nest and have a small hole near the top and a cleanout panel.  The size of the hole and orientation to your Orlando home determine what birds inhabit it.  To keep inhabitants comfortable and safe, place birdhouses in a quiet, shady spot and secure them firmly.

Turning your yard into a bird paradise takes some time and effort, but it’s all worth it when your landscape is flittering with feathered activity throughout most of the year.

Want to purchase a home with a yard that you can turn into a bird paradise?  We can help.  Call us now at 407-876-5771 for more information.

Thousands of potential buyers of homes for sale in Orlando 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 about the tax credit:

Three Kinds of Homebuyer Tax Credits

There are actually three kinds of tax credits:

1.  The original first-time homebuyer tax credit, enacted in 2008, covers the homes for sale Orlando that went off the market between April 9, 2008 and June 30, 2009. Rather than being a true credit, the money received is actually a 15-year, interest-free loan. In other words, it has to be paid back.
2. The second tax credit, raised from a maximum of $7,500 to $8,000, doesn’t have to be paid back. If you bought a home between January 1, 2009 and November 30, 2009, you may be eligible.
3. The third homebuyer tax credit, enacted in November 2009, is actually an expansion and extension of the second credit. It extends the deadline of November 30, 2009 to April 30, 2010 and expands the credit to include long-term homeowners who want to buy a new residence.

Tax Credit Qualifications

Just because you buy a home between April 9, 2008, and April 30, 2010, doesn’t mean you automatically qualify. Each homebuyer tax credit has its own eligibility requirements. For instance, the home has to cost less than $800,000, if bought after November 6, 2009. Long-term owners have to have lived in the same home for five consecutive years of the past eight. There are also income requirements, as well as other factors.

Automatic Ineligibility

To receive the homebuyer tax credit, there are a few things you absolutely cannot do. For example, the home you buy has to be a principle residence, which means it's the one you live in most of the time. You can’t buy it for business. As well, the home you buy has to be in the U.S.

Another “can’t do” is selling the home or converting it to rental property. You have to live in the home as your permanent residence for at least three years. If you don’t, Uncle Sam will want the money back.

There are many great homes for sale in Orlando, and one of them might just be your dream home. However, if you plan to purchase and claim the homebuyer tax credit, make sure you know the facts first.

Have questions about the homebuyer tax credits?  We can help. Call us at 407-876-5771 for more information.

Mortgage Financing Returns!

PURCHASE & REMORTGAGES NOW AVAILABLE

 After almost 18 months since a viable product has been made available we finally offer a product for foreigners! Purchase and remortgages up to 70% with minimal documentation required. Rates start at 6.5% and have no redemption penalties at all! Please e-mail me for more details soon as we do not know how long this product will be around.

Orlando Vacation Homes for Sale  -  Disney Area Vacation Homes

Even those with a steady job and sufficient income are cautious about signing their mortgages for Orlando homes for sale. They realize that signing mortgages set them up with payments for a significant amount of their lifetimes. Others worry, especially now, about losing their jobs in an unstable economy. The “what if” game begins, and potential homebuyers know that, if they lose their job, there’s a very real possibility they might lose their home.

Job-loss mortgage insurance gives homebuyers a “fallback plan” should they ever lose that stable income. It’s a definite relief to many who want to buy Orlando homes for sale, but can job-loss mortgage insurance really help homeowners? Or, is it just another way to swindle the innocent out of hard-earned money?

What is it?

Job-loss mortgage insurance is exactly what it sounds like. Some insurance companies offer an insurance plan to help you pay your monthly mortgage payment should you lose your job. Although it’s been around for years, the big companies, such as Bank of America and GE Casualty, have begun picking it up in the past 10 years,.

How does it work?

Job-loss policies pay all or part of your mortgage payment if your job loss is involuntary, and some pay if you become medically unable to work. Policies vary depending on the provider, but most go into action after a month of unemployment. Most also have a wait period which means they won’t pay out during the first six months after you've purchased the policy.

Maximum monthly benefits, what the policy covers and whether you have to be receiving unemployment benefits are just a few things to look over while researching providers. As usual with anything insurance, make sure you read the fine print.

Is it worth it?

A lot of financial advisors say not to bother with the job-loss mortgage insurance. Take the money you’d be spending on insurance and build a savings account to hold six months worth of payments. However, many first-time home buyers have depleted their reserve funds just to get the house, and may not have the money to put aside.

My advice to you…

If you’re interested in buying one of the Orlando homes for sale, but you're worried about your job stability, look into job-loss mortgage insurance. Once you have the facts, policy information and coverage costs, figure it into your finances (payments for coverage vs. building a six-month fallback account) and decide what’s best for you.

If you’re looking for a beautiful home at a price you can afford, we can help. Call us at 407-876-5771 for more information.