Month: April 2017

Over the age of 50 and looking to downsize your home or relocate? These tips can help you determine your best option.

Upon retirement, many people choose to downsize to a smaller home or relocate to a favorite place like Florida. The challenge is determining whether to buy or move before or after you sell your current home. The following tips can help you make the best decision for you.

What are the benefits of buying before you sell?

If you’ve planned your retirement and you’re financially secure, there are benefits to buying a new home before you sell your current one. You won’t have to stress about rushing to pack and move into your new home by a deadline. When you still own your current home while choosing your new one, you have control over your move and can work at a comfortable pace. Staging a home for potential buyers is also much easier once all of your personal belongings have been moved out. Your home will be more enticing to potential home buyers when they know they can move in immediately after closing the sale.

What are the benefits of selling before you buy?

When you are retired, you may not be in a position to buy or commit to selling your home before. But you’ll have the peace of mind of how much money is available to you from the sale of your home. This will also put you in a good place to negotiate the cost of the house you want to purchase. You won’t have to endure the stress of waiting for your home to sell and how long you’ll have to pay taxes, make mortgage payments, or insure two residences.

There is no single financing option that is best for everyone over the age of 50 who are looking to purchase their retirement home. When you move, consider having an experienced Central Florida realtor on your side. Having a local realtor there for you means a much smoother process and all the information you need is only a phone call away. Click here to get in touch today.

It’s no secret that moving is both difficult and time-consuming. The trick is to feel comfortable in your new home quickly and get your routine back. These 10 tips are all you need to know when moving into your new home.

Connect your Internet

If you want to have Internet access as soon as you move into your new home, you need to plan for it ahead of time. Depending on your location and service provider, scheduling and set-up can take days or weeks. Make sure to schedule this prior to the move.

Set up your electricity

Some people forget that the energy is likely disconnected in their new home prior to move-in. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to unpack in a dark room. Just call your local energy provider and give them the necessary information they request, such as your new address and connection date.

 Contact movers or assistance weeks in advance

Once you have a tentative date in mind for your move, it is important you contact your movers as early as possible in advance. This way you aren’t rushing last-minute, or revising your personal schedule. If you are not hiring professional movers, it is still important to inform anyone who is helping you in advance so they can take time out of their schedule to help.

Give it a deep clean

If you have access to your home prior to moving day, take some time to give it a deep clean. This is actually fairly easy because the space is already empty. Scrub those cupboards, floors, baseboards, windows, and everything else before you bring furniture in.

Inspect your belongings

When the boxes are off the truck and sitting in your new living room, take a moment to inspect your belongings, especially if you hired movers. Make sure that everything has made the trip to your new place, and during this, you can place the boxes in the correct rooms.

Unpack with organization

If you already placed boxes in specific rooms, you’re already ahead in the unpacking game. One way to make the entire process easier is to start with essentials. Unpack the absolute necessities, such as bedding, clothes, toiletry, and towels, first.

Install window treatments

It’s time to turn your house into a home, and installing window treatments, such as blinds or curtains. This will also help you protect your possessions, as people outside won’t have a clear view of everything you own. If you haven’t decided on specific window treatments just yet, hang some linen in the meantime to keep your new home and possessions protected.

Change the locks

Another thing you may want to do for your new home is changing the locks. Unfortunately, you don’t know how many extra keys were made while the previous owners lived there. So, change the locks as soon as you can just to be sure that no outsiders have an open invitation inside.

Locate the circuit breaker

You might come across this while you’re unpacking, otherwise, this is something you want to find right from the beginning. Take a look and if there are no labels, make your own so you know what breaker controls each section of the house.

Meet the neighbors

After all the unpacking, you’ll need a break, and some fresh air will do you well. Take a walk around your neighborhood, and stop by, and introduce yourself to the new neighbors. You’ll begin the process of fitting into your new atmosphere and feeling at home right away.

Moving doesn’t have to be an undesirable experience, with these tips, you can make it all that much easier. For more expert advice from a local Orlando realtor or help buying/selling your home click here.

From kitchen updates to backyard decks, these are the features to consider if you’re hoping to sell to a first-time homebuyer.

If you own a mid-sized home (especially in a popular suburban real estate market like Longwood, FL, or Winter Park, FL), you may be selling to a younger demographic.  Millennials have begun entering the home-buying market, and if your house already includes these four features, you’re in luck. Read on to learn which four features will help you sell your home faster.

1. Backyard deck

If you don’t have one, or if you have a smaller deck, consider building or extending one. Besides pressure-treated pine, there are composite deck materials, which many homebuyers prefer and are also more affordable. Split-level decks and built-ins are also great features to consider when designing a back-deck addition.

2. Updated kitchen

Remodeling your kitchen can be a great way to see an ROI and will keep your home attractive to buyers in a competitive market. Stainless steel or stone countertops are good options, especially when paired with a subway tile backsplash. If those just aren’t in the budget, choose a laminate that mimics the look and remember to bevel the edges. Impress buyers with a big pantry and lots of cabinet room.

3. Open floor plan

If you have an open floor plan, you’re already ahead of the game. An open floor plan lets in more light, which makes your house show better. It also allows you to entertain guests while you cook, or keep an eye on the kids, plus it creates a more impressive space.

4. Balcony with a view

While you can’t create a view from scratch, you can make your balcony more inviting. Add flower boxes on the top railing for enhanced privacy. Create a welcoming area with bench seating or add outdoor tables and chairs to show potential buyers how they can enjoy dining outdoors.

All of these tips are helpful but the one true advantage you can have is a professional and experienced local realtor, to get in contact with one today, click here.

The time leading up to your closing day is going to be busy. You’ll be cleaning, packing, contacting movers, and a million other little details. A real estate closing can be a puzzling process for both home buyers and sellers. Here is a quick breakdown of the closing process to help clear up the confusion.

What is a Real Estate Closing?

A real estate closing is also called a settlement. The two terms are interchangeable, but “closing” is what is commonly used. This is the final step in a real estate purchase and it’s also when property ownership is transferred from the seller to the buyer.

What Happens on the Big Day?

There is a lot of paperwork that goes along with the closing process. The escrow company will have most of the documents ready to go – they will just need to be signed. If you’re the one selling your home, there is less paperwork involved than there is for the homebuyer. A buyer may sign their name anywhere from ten to thirty times during the closing process. You’ll have to sign mortgage documents, tax records, legal disclosures, and more.

Here are some specific things that happen on closing day:

• The buyer or the buyer’s lender will provide a check written out for the amount owed as the purchase price of the house.
• The seller afterward signs the deed to the buyer. This acts as the official transfer of ownership to the buyer. This is also when the seller turns over the keys to the buyer.
• The title company will register the new deed with the appropriate government office. This will show on the record the buyer as the new homeowner.
• The seller will receive any proceeds they earned from the sale, once their mortgage balance and closing costs have been paid off.

In summary, during closing, ownership of a property is transferred from the seller to the buyer. All funds are distributed by the escrow company, and the new deed is registered in the buyer’s name. The buyer also has to bring a check for all of the mortgage and title fees accumulated along the way. There is a lot that leads up to this point and you will definitely want an experienced realtor on your side to help you through the process. To get in contact with one today click here. You can also take a look at our FREE home buyer’s handbook here.