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There’s good news for buyers and sellers of Lakewood Ranch real estate: The U.S. Economic and Housing Market Outlook that came out the end of February is encouraging. According to this research done by Freddie Mac, both the economy and the housing market are showing cautious signs of recovery.
Here are some of the changes stimulating these improvements in both nationwide and Lakewood Ranch real estate markets:
• Loans that were seriously delinquent or going into foreclosure declined to the lowest quarterly share since the start of 2009, according to the latest Mortgage Bankers Association Mortgage Delinquency Survey.
• In January, existing home sales were at their highest since May 2010, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.
• Job gains have exceeded expectations for the past three months.
• In January, the unemployment rate fell to its lowest since 2009. In December, jobless claims were at their lowest level since 2008.
• Applications for weekly unemployment benefits decreased for the third consecutive week, to 348,000; the fewest since the first week of March 2008.
• Home builder confidence continues to grow.
• Households are paying off their debts and accessing credit more easily.
• Historically low mortgage rates continue. According to Freddie Mac, the national average rate for...
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In honor of Valentine’s Day, sellers should take this month to highlight what they love best about their homes for sale. Instead of just focusing on the square footage, buyers will get the chance to see what makes your Lakewood Ranch real estate surprisingly special.
As a seller, you constantly hear tips about de-cluttering and depersonalizing a home that’s on the market. However, when you’re taking pictures to post online, be sure you capture the details you love most about your home, because buyers are likely to love them too. Below are a few photography tips to get you started:
• Capture the heart of your home. Ensure that you get pictures of all the living spaces, from the kitchen and living room to the backyard. Any place that a family will spend most of its time together should be highlighted.
• Make sure you have good lighting. Photograph on a day when there is a lot of natural light coming through the windows. Also be sure to turn on all inside lights and lamps — this gives your home that cheery, glowing feeling.
• Highlight your home’s best features. Be sure to showcase each of those unique features in...
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Many people are downsizing these days, either because they're empty nesters and no longer need the room, they’re getting older and want a smaller space to maintain, or they’re reducing their financial burdens or environmental impact.
If you’ve made the decision to downsize to a smaller Lakewood Ranch home, here are five tips to help you make the transition:
1. Start early: Downsizing to a smaller home is much less stressful if you have plenty of time to sort through your belongings to figure out what you’re getting rid of and what you’re keeping. Plan to do this at least a month before you put your home up for sale. (Bonus benefit: it makes your house less cluttered and more desirable to buyers.)
2. Evaluate your needs: Take an honest look at your lifestyle and what you truly enjoy. Are you really going to learn to play that piano? If you haven’t used it or thought about it in over a year, the answer is probably no. Advertise it in your local newspaper and sell it! With anything you’re having a hard time letting go of, put it in storage for six months. If you don’t think...
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To sell Lakewood Ranch homes, you have to get buyers to want them. So, what do they want? Based on the data just in from the 2011 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, here are what buyers want in a neighborhood in order of importance:
1. 67 percent favor a quality neighborhood
2. 49 percent of buyers said they want convenience to jobs
3. 45 percent look at the overall affordability of homes in the neighborhood
4. 39 percent prefer to live close to family and friends
5. 28 percent of buyers are interested in having shopping close by
6. 27 percent want a quality school district
7. 22 percent ask for a neighborhood that is convenient to schools
8. 21 percent like to live close to entertainment or leisure activities
Assess your neighborhood. Which of the attributes most desired by buyers does your neighborhood have? Showcase those features in the marketing materials for your home:
• Mention the schools, shopping, entertainment and leisure activities that are close to your home.
• Give statistics on the quality of your school district.
Need help marketing your home? We specialize in selling Lakewood Ranch homes. If you’re ready to sell your home, let us market...
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You may have a few DIY renovation projects planned for your Lakewood Ranch home. Instead of plunging right into costly home renovations, you might want to take time to consider the following tips to gain insight before getting down to work.
• Talk to your parents. Give your elders a call to see what they think about your renovation plans. Those of the older generation have usually lived in many houses and did a lot more fixing up than most property owners do today.
• Consult a professional. Talk with a professional who specializes in the type of renovation that you’re planning, such as a carpenter, plumber or electrician. They might charge you for an hour of their time, but you’ll gain valuable insight and maybe even tips on which building materials to use and where you should purchase them.
• Plan for a permit. Check with your city, county and HOA before you do any major renovations or make additions to your
Lakewood Ranch home. You’ll want to get a permit if one’s needed; otherwise you might be required to undo your hard work and the repercussions could be severe when you eventually try to sell. They’re not out...
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Buying a Lakewood Ranch home is both easier and harder these days. Yes, it’s a buyer’s market, which implies that prices are lower, but there are a few things to do to before buying your home. Purchasing a home is a lot easier when you know how to be a savvy home buyer.
Follow these five tips to get the Lakewood Ranch home of your dreams with less hassle and at a great price:
1. List your home before looking for another home. Contracts contingent on selling your existing home complicate the buying process and reduce your chance of getting a great bargain. Sellers are often unwilling to give any concessions if they have to wait for you to sell your home.
2. Get pre-approved for a loan. Sellers prefer to negotiate with buyers who are pre-approved for a loan large enough to purchase their home. The pre-approval may save you money because you’ll have more leverage to negotiate a lower price. Additionally, you’ll save time by looking exclusively at homes within your price range.
3. Ignore easy-to-change design issues. If the shag carpeting isn’t your style, you can easily change it...
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As real estate agents, we spend a lot of time rushing in and out of Lakewood Ranch homes. It's easy for us to get caught up in the hustle-bustle of real estate transactions, and we forget to slow down to appreciate the pleasures of owning a home. So today, we want to take a moment to reflect on the home aspect of real estate.
Our job (one we love) is to help people just like you find a house that suits their lives. Once you move in, you make that house into a home.
Holiday Traditions
Your Lakewood Ranch home is where you and your loved ones celebrate holidays and where you create and continue family traditions. Whether you deck the halls with layers of tinsel and wreaths or have the whole family over to spin Hanukkah dreidels, the spirit of the season comes from the energy of the people gathering together in your home.
Season of Family Warmth
While you're making your famous sugar cookies or spiking your secret-recipe punch with extra holiday cheer, pause for a moment to enjoy the warmth and beauty of your Lakewood Ranch home....
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Today’s home buyers have a big advantage over buyers from a decade ago: the internet. You can search for homes for sale online as well as find pricing data and instructions on how to buy a home. So, why would you possibly want to hire a Lakewood Ranch real estate agent to help you buy a home?
Here are four surprising and not-so-surprising reasons why hiring a Lakewood Ranch real estate agent will save you time and money when buying a home:
1. Paperwork - Today's real estate contracts run more than 10 pages, and will take you hours to read, comprehend, process and file. Experienced agents handle the paperwork and legal issues for you, minimizing your hassles, headaches and anxiety.
2. House Hunting – It’s a jungle out there! Navigating through the short sales, foreclosures and thousands of homes for sale can be overwhelming. Your agent can streamline that process for you by sorting through many homes and finding the gem that meets all your needs and fits your budget.
3. Goal Achievement – When you have an expert working on your team and looking out for your best interests, you...
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Buying Lakewood Ranch homes when you live in another state or country can be challenging. Here are a few simple ideas to help make things a little less hectic.
• Investigate online. Most people know to search for Lakewood Ranch homes online, but what about searching for a neighborhood? Although you can’t search each and every neighborhood, you can research almost any county or city online. This gives you a pretty good idea of what the area has to offer in the way of schools, shopping and safety.
• Hire a Realtor®. While you’re searching online, your realtor can search the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for you. She or he can email newly listed properties to you daily.
• Share as much information with your agent as you can. The more you research the area, the more information you are going to have to give to your agent. Talk with your agent and let her or him know what you have found and any areas that you may have decided against. This will save you and your agent time.
• Visit to get a personal impression. If at all possible, after you’ve narrowed the properties down to the top two or...
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You want a new home in Lakewood Ranch, but you’re not sure whether it’s best to build a new one or buy an existing home. The first thing you should do is identify your priorities. Do you dream of a customized house built from the ground up or living in a house already built in an established neighborhood?
Before you make up your mind or put in an offer, take the time to prioritize the following:
• Location - Can you find a lot to build on in your desired location? If not, are you willing to consider a different area if it means you’ll get a house tailored to your specifications? If you’re extremely location focused, you might have to give up the idea of building your perfect house and concentrate on available homes in the area.
• Timeline - How flexible is your timeline? If you absolutely need to be moved into your new home in Lakewood Ranch on a certain date, don’t even think about building. Building a house sometimes extends past the estimated completion date. If your timeline isn’t flexible, it might be time to start...
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You’ve been watching the news, reading blogs and you know this is the perfect time for you to buy a piece of Lakewood Ranch real estate. You want to do all the right things to get the best deal, and you know one of the first steps is to line up your financing.
To help you choose a mortgage that matches your goals and financial situation, here’s an overview of three of the most popular mortgages available today.
Fixed Rate Mortgage
If you plan on keeping your new Lakewood Ranch real estate for more than 10 years and you don’t expect your income to change, this is probably the loan for you. Although fixed rate loans charge a bit more interest, the rate will never change. This provides financial stability and the security of knowing what your monthly mortgage payment will be. By locking in the current low interest rates, you’ll save thousands of dollars over the life of your loan.
ARM (Adjustable Rate Mortgage)
With the ARM loan, the interest rate is usually very low at the beginning but can increase over time. If you plan on keeping your Lakewood Ranch real estate for only a few years (up to...
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When planning on moving from your current home, does it make the most sense to buy first or wait until your current property sells? There are a lot of factors that go into that decision. Listed below are some pros and cons of each, so that you can decide which factors are higher on your list of priorities.
Buy first if …
• It’s the Lakewood Ranch home you’ve always wanted. If you’ve absolutely found your dream house, you should consider buying it now — even if your current house hasn’t sold. You might regret it later if you let the opportunity pass you by. Just make sure the house is truly worth it.
• It’s too good of a deal to pass up. If you’ve researched the comparables and you know the home you want to buy is a great deal, then you should consider going ahead with the purchase. Waiting to sell might cost you more in the long run if you lose out on this bargain.
• There’s more demand than supply. In a seller’s market (not right now in most places), you won’t need to worry about selling your property.
• You have the money. Check with your real...
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If you’re preparing to buy a Lakewood Ranch home, you may already be thinking about the stress of interviewing real estate agents, searching for homes and getting a mortgage.
Here are 7 ways to reduce the stress often associated with buying a home:
1. Hire a real estate agent who fits your personality. Find someone who you trust, who communicates well with you, and who you feel comfortable being around.
2. Listen to your agent. Once you’ve hired an agent you trust, listen to their advice. Don’t stress yourself out by second guessing them. You hired them because they’re an expert, so relax and take their recommendations.
3. Have it your way. Make decisions based on your needs and desires, not those of your parents or friends.
4. Get early mortgage approval. The best time to shop for your mortgage is before you start shopping for a house. Get approved for your mortgage, and then start your house search.
5. Know when to give in. Are you really going to let that $500 the sellers refuse to give up keep you from owning the home you want? Successful negotiation depends on both parties doing some give and take.
6. Focus on the positive....
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Here are five tips to help you identify the best Lakewood Ranch real estate agent to get your home sold as fast as possible and for the most money.
1. Hire a full-time Lakewood Ranch real estate agent. Part-time agents typically have less experience and fewer sold properties under their belts than full-time agents. Because part-time agents usually have another job, they don’t have as much time to take care of your needs and market and show your home to potential buyers. Full-time agents have bigger networks they can enlist to help find a buyer for your home.
2. Find a skilled negotiator. A seasoned Lakewood Ranch real estate agent understands the psychological nature of selling a home. They advise you during the contract negotiations to ensure that you get the best deal while alleviating your stress.
3. Pick an aggressive marketer. Without a well-implemented, far-reaching marketing program, your house will sit on the market these days. You want an agent who promotes your home both online and offline, in order to reach the greatest number of potential buyers. Simply having your home listed on Realtor.com is no longer enough of an online presence. You want your home showcased...
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When you buy real estate in a subdivision or planned unit development, you may be subject to a host of rules and regulations as established by the Homeowner's Association (HOA) governing that development.
You’ve most likely heard of HOAs, but you may not know exactly how they operate and how they can impact you and your Lakewood Ranch real estate. In this article, you’ll get information on some of the broader issues that you should be aware of when moving into a community governed by an HOA.
What is a Homeowner's Association?
It is a corporation formed by real estate developers to market, manage and sell homes and lots within a development.
Does the real estate developer retain control of the HOA forever? No. After a predetermined number of homes or lots are sold, the control is turned over, first, to a group of homeowners. Later in the process, elections are held once a year within the development to choose board members.
Can anyone be a board member?
As long as you’re a property owner in the development governed by the HOA, you can campaign for the position. Elections are held once a year. It...
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Ideally, to make a room light and bright you want a lot of large windows that let in natural light. Unfortunately, most of us don’t have large windows in every room of our Lakewood Ranch homes. So, what do we do to brighten those dark rooms?
Increase Natural Light
If a room has one large window, make the most of this natural light by placing a mirror opposite that window. The mirror will scatter and reflect the ambient daylight throughout the room.
Add Artificial Light
Another great way to lighten window-challenged rooms in your home is to add artificial ambient lighting. Ambient lighting, whether natural or artificial, sets the tone and mood of each room. Here are several ways to add artificial ambient light to your rooms:
· Recessed fixtures: Recessed fixtures throw light downward in a cone shape, so place them in an evenly spaced grid pattern. This allows pools of light to overlap and provide consistent lighting.
· Chandeliers: A chandelier can overpower a room if it’s too big or seem out of proportion if it’s too small. To calculate the best size chandelier for your room, measure the width of...
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Buying a home is one of the few occasions in which some form of negotiation is the rule rather than the exception. Just because it is the norm, however, does not mean that most people are good at it.
Here are a few tips to help you negotiate the best deal when buying your next Lakewood Ranch home:
1. Know your bottom line. Determine your bottom line and stick to it. This sometimes means you have to be willing to walk away from a deal. It also means being realistic about what you’re asking from the seller. Many sellers are faced with the fact that their home may not be worth what they paid for it. This puts limits on the concessions a seller can offer.
2. Stay flexible. For example, what if the Lakewood Ranch home you'd like to buy needs a new heating system. The seller is unwilling to replace the unit but is willing to put $3,000 toward your closing costs. The $3,000 you're saving in closing costs...
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If you’re short on time, here’s a list that will take you one minute to read and will give you 9 tips to help get your Lakewood Ranch home sold faster:
1. Set the right price. A Lakewood Ranch home priced correctly from the start will sell faster.
2. Provide a thorough disclosure statement.
3. Add a one-year home warranty. They’re reasonably priced and provide peace of mind for the buyer.
4. Offer financial incentives. There are a variety of financial incentives you can offer depending on the needs of the home and the buyer. Here are a few to consider:
a. Cost to replace the carpet
b. Cost to paint the home
5. Make your home shine. Fix it. Paint it. Clean it. Polish it. If there’s anything you’ve put off, do it now. Your home has to be at its very best.
6. Get a pro’s opinion. Ask your Lakewood Ranch Realtor what they recommend you do to get your home in tip-top shape for marketing. Then do it!
7. Stage your home....
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The Internet has made researching real estate easy for anyone who knows how to surf online. Whether researching real estate to sell homes or to find a property for their next big investment, many property owners and home buyers think they’ll save a lot of money by doing all the work themselves.
However, statistics show that you’re more likely to sell your property quicker or find your dream house faster when you work with a professional Realtor® or real estate agent. Working with a Realtor provides you with an expanded housing database, years of property-purchasing knowledge and valuable contacts for everything from inspections to loans.
The trick is to find the right Lakewood Ranch real estate agent or Realtor to fit your needs. Here are 5 tips to help you find your perfect fit:
Knowledgeable – You’ll want to find an agent who is experienced and doesn’t always agree with you. If they’re constantly telling you yes, then they may not be working in your best interest.
Hard working – Agents who’ve been in the real estate business for decades could be burned out and new recruits might not be...
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While some people are hesitant to buy into a real estate market that seems to still be bottoming out, many studies have shown that owning a house is an investment in your future and that of your community. From tax breaks to property taxes, being a Lakewood Ranch home owner can put money in the bank. It also gives you a sense of pride in contributing to community institutions such as the police force, local government offices, fire stations and free medical services.
Did you know that statistically you and your neighbors are more likely to properly maintain and update your Lakewood Ranch homes when you own them rather than rent them? Maintaining and updating your home boosts the real estate market around you, giving you the chance to increase the value of your property, your neighbors’ property and eventually your entire community.
4 more reasons why you should buy instead of rent:
Building financial security – While it may take many years for you to actually make a...
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Lakewood Ranch Country Club, MOVE IN READY! Neal St. Raphael model with European feel courtyard entry complete with lovely fountain leading to a solid wood raised panel door. This home is a great room plan with Brazilian hardwood floors throughout (except in the bathrooms), crown molding and volume ceilings.
Large Master Suite with luxurious tiled master bath, walk in shower, bathtub and double vanity. Also, there is a large second bedroom with adjacent bathroom and a den large enough for a floor to ceiling library on one wall. The kitchen has a granite topped island, granite counters, stainless steel appliances and 42" raised panel wood cabinets with under-cabinet lighting. A granite topped breakfast bar and a breakfast Cafe add more enjoyment to your morning meal.
Oversized laundry room leads to a 2 car garage. Spending time outdoors is peaceful on the brick pavered lanai, with three fans, overlooking the mature landscaping. The nearby...
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As a homeowner, one of the biggest traps you can fall into is over improving your Lakewood Ranch home.
Turn on any home improvement channel, and they will show you all the latest and greatest in must haves for your Lakewood Ranch home. What they don’t tell you is that even the best upgrades won’t guarantee an increase in your resale value. In fact, most remodel jobs only recoup 60% to 70% of their costs.
Here are some tips to help you avoid over improving your home:
Assess the value of homes in your neighborhood.
Unless you plan on staying in your Lakewood Ranch home forever, do some research on the home values in your neighborhood before you begin any home renovations. Ideally, you want to add improvements that increase the resale value of your home while staying within the average market price of homes in your neighborhood.
For example, if the homes in your area sell for an average of $250,000, with the highest priced home in the area going for $350,000, make home renovations that increase the value of your property to the average home price...
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As a society, it seems as if we no longer appreciate our homes for their emotional and sentimental worth. Instead, we focus solely on their monetary value.
An appraiser can estimate a Lakewood Ranch home's monetary value, but to gain a true concept of your home’s worth, you must also take into consideration:
1. Pride of ownership. You don’t buy a pair of Prada shoes because you’re going to be able to resell them and make a profit. You buy them because they make you look good and feel good.
2. Security and stability. Your home provides a roof over your head that’s in your control. You can decorate it the way you want. You don’t have to worry about a landlord selling the property or asking you to move out. In the “olden days” (or should I say “golden days”), we called our homes our castles because, as owners, we felt like the kings and queens of our homes. You can still feel that way! Claim your castle and crown yourself king or queen today.
...
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There are a few misconceptions about how to set the sales price for your Lakewood Ranch real estate. Here are five common pricing myths and the reality behind them.
Myth #1: It’s OK to test a high price on your Lakewood Ranch real estate just to see if anyone will buy it at that price.
Truth: If you’re serious about selling your home, don’t play games. In this buyer’s market you have a very small window of opportunity to pull in serious buyers when your home first enters the market. If you play games, like over pricing your home just to test the market, buyers will stay away in droves.
Myth #2: You should price your Lakewood Ranch real estate higher than the market value to allow for room to negotiate.
Truth: No matter what your reasoning or rationale, overpricing your home is never a good idea. When your home is overpriced, very few potential buyers inquire about it or visit it. If no one wants to buy your home, you won’t have anyone to negotiate with.
Myth #3: The appraisal value of your home has no impact on the sales price of your home.
Truth: Lenders consider the value...
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Here are a few tips to help your Lakewood Ranch home for sale show better and sell faster:
1. Get rid of the excess: Eliminate as much as possible, and then do it again. Remember when staging yourLakewood Ranch home for sale, less is best. Swap out personal photos for framed art. The main idea is to remove as much as possible and replace personal items with neutral objects so that people can imagine their things in the home.
2. Repair and paint: Before painting, fix all those minor dings that don't really bother you. Buyers notice everything. A missing piece of baseboard, an outlet that doesn't work, or a closet door that won’t stay on track all seem minor, but they can have a huge affect on how a buyer views your home. The next step is to apply a fresh coat of paint in a neutral color. Freshly painted walls make a room look cleaner and larger.
3. Improve the curb appeal: You have to get people in the door before they’ll buy your Lakewood Ranch home for sale. If your house looks bad on the...
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On first thought, selling your home by yourself seems to make perfect sense. It doesn't look all that hard, right? So you decide to sell your home the FSBO way (For Sale By Owner). You figure that you can put up a sign. Let people come to look at your house. Review all the offers you are sure to get and pick the best one and you're done. That's all there is to understanding the Lakewood Ranch real estate market—right?
Well, not quite. One of the most difficult things for a person to do in trying to sell their own home is to understand the real estate market in order to price their home correctly. All of the above steps will not result in a sale without setting a price that will make you happy and get a buyer to sign on the dotted line.
The Price is Right
In some ways selling your home as a FSBO will seem a little like the television game show "The Price Is Right." Some buyers will walk around your home and have no idea what local values are, but they will still do ...
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Everyone wants to save a buck and some think they can save a lot of money by selling their homes by themselves. But would you really save money by doing it yourself?
To start off with it should be said that there are indeed people who can sell their homes for sale by owner (FSBO), and even save a few dollars doing it. Those are the people who have five important skills:
1. They know how to market and advertise their Lakewood Ranch real estate both online and offline without spending a fortune.
2. They are excellent sales people.
3. They know how to pre-qualify buyers to be sure they’re actually able to afford the home.
4. They’re great at negotiating.
5. They know how to execute real estate contracts and all the other associated legal work necessary to sell a home.
Additionally, they need to have plenty of time to:
· Market and advertise their home. A lot of time can be spent writing ads, creating flyers, taking photos, and loading everything to a wide variety of real estate websites.
· Show their home to potential buyers at times that are best for the buyer.
· Negotiate with buyers.
·...
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Choosing a professional real estate agent can be a very imposing task. This person is responsible for finding your new home or selling your home, guiding you through the home inspection process and negotiating a good price and terms. These are important tasks that should be taken seriously. That’s why finding a skilled real estate agent is key to a successful real estate transaction.
Here are several tips for interviewing Lakewood Ranch real estate agents:
· Interview at least three agents. Even if you love the first or second agent you interview, promise yourself you’ll interview all three. You learn more from each interview, and you never know when that third agent is going to be the perfect match for you.
· Ask all three agents the same questions so you can compare their answers and ability to communicate. Write out your questions so you don’t forget any, and take notes during the interviews. You think you’ll remember what they say, but the specifics will begin to blur as you interview the second and third agent.
· Ask the Lakewood Ranch real estate agents how long they've been...
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Spring is here and there is no better time to give your yard a fresh look. Here are a few simple tips to make your Lakewood Ranch home sparkle this spring.
Tip #1: Everything is blooming; take advantage of it.
Clean out the flower beds and let them shine. Don't have a flower bed? Now is the perfect time to create one (or more). Visit your local nursery to purchase small starter plants, large mature plants and everything in between. Mix them to make your beds look their best.
Tip #2: Get a lush lawn.
Reseed your yard, or if you don't want to wait, purchase sod rolls. If your lawn is in good shape, take the time to edge the sidewalks and driveway. Mow in a pattern to give your lawn a manicured look. To keep your grass healthy, alternate the mowing pattern.
Tip #3: Take it up a notch.
Add little touches like decorative edging, mulch and walkway lights. Put edging around trees and shrubs then fill with mulch. Easy to install walkway lights along the driveway and sidewalk add style and security. Don't forget the entry light. A new ...
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Today’s turbulent real estate market means the days of selling Lakewood Ranch homes without planning or preparation are a distant memory for most people. Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket, because there is competition and buyers are not always in a hurry like they once were. To sell your house quickly, staging and well-thought-out marketing plans are now necessities — not luxuries.
Do you know how to best present your property? What are the most effective ways to get buyers in the door? Using the tips and techniques below, you can begin to emerge from your rabbit hole and quickly move on to your next home with as much money in your pocket as possible.
Selling techniques for Lakewood Ranch homes:
Price it Right – No amount of marketing or staging will help if your property is overpriced. For most people, it’s hard to look at their home objectively. Compare it to other properties for sale in your neighborhood, and take into account square footage, upgrades, location, and amenities, as well as, current market trends.
· Develop a Marketing Plan – You have to decide the...
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A survey conducted by “Money” magazine and Lowe’s found that out of 21 common projects, energy updates gave DIYers the most satisfaction, given the time and money. Get some satisfaction this week by implementing one or two of these easy energy savers at your Lakewood Ranch home:
1. Add dimmers: If every home in the U.S replaced two standard light switches with a dimmer, we could save $1.5 billion in electricity.
2. Recycle rechargeable batteries, plastic bags and compact fluorescent lights (CFLs): It’s as easy as taking them to your local Lowe’s Recycling Center. Simply drop the items in the bins near the store’s entrance.
3. Stop energy leaks: Seal all holes and cracks in your Lakewood Ranch home. Add weather stripping or caulk to leaky doors and windows. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates these changes can save you up to 20% on heating and cooling costs.
4. Wrap up your water heater: Cover your water heater with an insulating jacket.
5. Install a programmable...
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It’s a war out there. If you’re still sitting in your robe and slippers, sipping a cup o’ joe while you casually read the Sunday comics – with the absolute knowledge that your house is going to sell – you haven’t been paying attention. The percentage of Lakewood Ranch homes for sale versus qualified potential buyers has made this a buyer’s market.
It’s time for some tough love, sellers – some straight talk.
If you’re not ready to do more than spruce up your lawn a little, you won’t win the battle. You won’t even win a skirmish. In short, if you’re not doing everything you can to get your home taken off the list of Lakewood Ranch homes for sale, you’re not a motivated seller.
Motivated sellers use all the knowledge they can squeeze from their agent. Unless it’s a matter of money, sellers don’t argue when the agent mentions such things as home staging. They ask, “What are my options?”
Motivated sellers don’t think “negotiation” is a bad word. They consider it common business sense. If a potential buyer offers you less than your list price,...
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Whether you’re planning on selling soon or just want a comfortable home to live in now, here are five projects that increase your Lakewood Ranch home’s comfort and value:
1. Uncover hardwood floors. Is there a hardwood floor lurking under your Lakewood Ranch home’s carpet? If you're not sure, pull up the carpet in an unnoticeable corner and investigate. If you find wood floors, you’ll probably need to refinish them, but that’s a lot less expensive than installing new hardwood flooring.
2. Add ceiling fans. Everyone likes to save money, and adding ceiling fans can reduce your electric bill considerably. Central air conditioning costs about 70 times more to run than a ceiling fan. In the summer, fans can make you feel 3 to 8 degrees cooler, allowing you to reduce the use of your A/C and still feel cool.
3. Install a new bathroom floor. Installation is typically the most expensive part of this home improvement, so if you can do it yourself, you’ll save quite a bit of money. Choosing a neutral-colored tile adds the most value.
4. Update bathroom and kitchen fixtures. Replacing outdated or unattractive...
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One of the more frustrating aspects of buying real estate is qualifying for a mortgage that will allow you to buy the home of your dreams. Lenders use terms to describe your loan status that may be confusing.
For example, what is the difference between being pre-qualified, pre-approved or approved for a mortgage on your Lakewood Ranch real estate?
· Pre-Qualified – This just means that the lender may approve you for a loan if everything checks out. Pre-qualification is based solely on information you give the lender about your income and debts. This is no guarantee that you will get a loan.
· Pre-Approved – Once your lender pulls your credit report, they can give you an idea of what kind of loan you may get. When you’re pre-approved, you still have no guarantee that you will get a loan, but you have a better idea of your price range. Sellers like working with people who are pre-approved because it shows that their credit has been verified, and they are more likely to qualify for a loan.
· Approved – When you are approved for...
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You know it’s a buyer’s market. But you really need to sell your home now. Here are 6 tips to get Lakewood Ranch homes sold even in today’s real estate market:
1. Price your home competitively from the start. Ask your agent to find out what similar homes in your neighborhood sold for in the last 6 months. Don’t bother looking at pricing prior to that. And don’t base your decision on listing prices. Some homeowners price their Lakewood Ranch homes high to start with but end up drastically reducing the price in order to get them sold.
2. Offer incentives. There are a lot of similar properties on the market, so in addition to competitively pricing your home, you should consider including incentives. You could offer a home warranty, pay part of the closing costs or leave the big screen television that fits perfectly over your fireplace.
3. Choose the right agent. Look for local agents who are listing, marketing, and selling in your neighborhood even though the market is slow. Interview several of them and ask what price they recommend and how they’ll market your property.
4. Get your home in tip-top shape....
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Picking up the phone book and letting it fall open to the real estate agency page is not the best way to find a great Lakewood Ranch real estate agent.
Here are several other pitfalls to avoid when looking for a real estate agent:
· Impulse: Just because you walk into a busy, bright, and productive looking office doesn't mean all the agents who work there are also busy, bright and productive. Take the time to get to know the agents you’re considering. Interview them, like you would any other professional you hire, to determine their abilities and knowledge of the community in which you want to live.
· Easy Agreement: If you finally find an agent who instantly agrees with everything you have to say about the selling price of your home without question, beware. This is especially true if you've been to others who disagreed with your price. Consider why this one agent is so agreeable. As in any industry, there are people out there who will tell you anything you want to hear to get your business.
· Lowest Commission: Don't go with a real...
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Trends for national and Lakewood Ranch homes come and go depending on many factors including the needs and desires of buyers, changes in technology and economic issues.
Here are some 2011 design trends predicted for national and Lakewood Ranch homes.
Kitchens Continue to be the Heart of the Home
People still love kitchens that are open and airy. Popular kitchen countertops will embrace the green movement switching from granite to crushed recyclable glass under a solid, smooth surface.
Energy Efficiency Remains Important
According to The Joint Center for Housing Studies, homeowners and builders alike continue to make homes more energy efficient. This is led by regional certification programs as well as national green building standards.
Vintage is Hot
Reproductions from the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s will be a hot design trend in home furnishings. Think of the furniture in the hit TV show “Mad Men.”
Bold Lighting Touches are Added
In addition to functional lighting, bathrooms will boast chandeliers.
Ceilings Become a Focal Point
Ceilings will no longer fade into the background with the addition of architectural enhancements...
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Considering deflated real estate values, you might wonder if buying Lakewood Ranch real estate makes good financial sense. According to the National Association of REALTORS® eighth annual Housing Opportunity Pulse Survey, nearly 8 out of 10 respondents believe buying a home does make good financial sense.
Surprised? Let’s examine three reasons Americans believe buying real estate remains a good financial choice:
1. Lower home prices and low mortgage interest rates are making homes more affordable.
2. Almost 7 out of 10 believe that home values have stabilized in their area; the same number expect home sales to remain about the same through the end of the year.
3. The rate of foreclosures is also seen as stabilizing; 51 percent say the rate is about the same as last year.
Another big advantage for you may be the tax benefits of home ownership. You will, as always, be able to deduct the interest you pay, as well as other real estate related items on your income tax return. For...
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Are you a first-time home buyer? There are a lot of things you’ll want to learn before making that first purchase. Here are 9 tips to help you get a Lakewood Ranch home you’ll love and be prepared for additional costs you may not have considered:
1. Ask yourself if you're ready. Are you financially ready to buy a Lakewood Ranch home? Do you have a steady job and income? Do you have money for the down payment?
2. Get pre-approved. When you get pre-approved for a mortgage loan, your lender checks your credit and lets you know the amount of mortgage for which you qualify. Having a pre-approved loan will speed up the process.
3. Identify closing costs. The cost of closing on the sale of your Lakewood Ranch home should be considered. Closing costs may include origination fees, title and settlement fees, taxes and prepaid items such as homeowner’s insurance or homeowner’s association fees.
4. Calculate your total monthly housing cost. Include taxes and homeowners insurance.
5. Include home maintenance expenses in your budget. Consider the expense of maintaining your investment.
6. Find a Lakewood Ranch home. Identify the community you want to...
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According to a recent study, buyers prefer to work with real estate agents who live in the neighborhood in which they want to buy a home, such as Lakewood Ranch. Buyers are happier when they work with local agents because they believe the agents are:
1. Familiar with the neighborhood. They know the schools and zoning laws.They can tell you the best places to shop and give you referrals to the best mechanics and home contractors.
2. Knowledgeable about the Lakewood Ranch real estate market. Local agents know all the neighborhoods, the homes and the amenities.
3. Involved in the community. Agents who are involved in community projects are doing much more than just selling houses. They’re contributing to their community. Wouldn’t you prefer to work with an agent like that?
4. More attentive. When an agent knows they’re going to bump into you in the supermarket or hardware store, he or she is going to give you the very best service possible. He or she wants to ensure that you have no complaints and will give neighbors a glowing review about ...
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Buyers look at more than just kitchen appliances and room sizes when deciding what home to purchase. Curb appeal, view of your home from the street, is extremely important.
If you want your home to sell quickly, you need to put in some extra effort to make your home’s exterior look especially attractive. You can easily do this by improving your landscaping. Here are some tips for choosing plants for your Lakewood Ranch home for a fast sale.
· Stay close to home. Plants that are native to your area are always a safe choice for landscaping. They are adapted to your region, so you know they can survive there. They are also easier to take care of and better for the environment because they don’t require as much watering. This can be an important consideration if you are selling a vacant home.
· Older is better. You can buy plants at varying stages of growth. Newer, smaller plants cost less and are easier to transplant; mature plants tend to have more foliage. Think about how they will look immediately after planting. You want to sell your home...
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Before you put your Lakewood Ranch home up for sale, you want to make sure it looks as attractive and modern as possible. Even if you lack the budget and space to turn your bathroom into a spa-like retreat, you can still give this room a quick facelift.
1. Get creative with color. If you don’t have the time or budget to replace dated ceramic tile, try camouflaging it with towels, rugs, and other accessories for a more modern color scheme. For example, you can pair pink with brown or bright blue with light green.
2. Replace your fixtures. Brushed aluminum and pewter bathroom fixtures are more modern than the shiny chrome fixtures. They are also easier to clean because they don’t show water marks as easily.
3. Find new lighting. A bathroom light can do more than just illuminate the space; it can create an atmosphere. Sconces placed on either side of a mirror tend to look better than harsh overhead light. Track lighting can be arranged to provide light in dark corners of the room.
4. Accessorize. Put your personal touch on your bathroom with shower...
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Those who have never had Lakewood Ranch homes for sale before often think selling is as simple as hiring an agent and putting a sign in the yard. It’s not, however, as you’ll soon discover.
The Inside of Your Home
The exterior of Lakewood Ranch homes for sale is te first up-close impression buyers get. So, when buyers make it inside, they’re one step closer to actually buying. However, if the interior is a mess, it could blow the whole deal.
Here’s a checklist to make your home’s interior buyer ready:
Make sure the front door doesn’t stick
Test windows to ensure they open and close easily
Wash windows inside and out
Move pets and pet supplies to a temporary home if possible
Fix leaky faucets
Update fixtures on your cabinet hardware and door knobs
De-clutter closets and cabinets (yes, people open them!)
Replace or repair cabinet doors
Clean grout
Wash the walls if not repainting
Repair cracks or holes in the wall
Paint walls a neutral color
Remove personal items, such as knick-knacks and personal mementos
Clean the fireplace
Have...
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Some home buyers have an advantage that others don’t in today’s housing market. They can qualify for an FHA loan.
Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans help home buyers who would otherwise have trouble being approved for a mortgage. You can qualify for a loan if you have less than perfect credit. FHA loans are available even after bankruptcy and foreclosure, if you have maintained good credit for the following two to three years.
What are the requirements for FHA loans?
FHA loans have strict home appraisal guidelines. The appraisal value helps determine the FHA mortgage limit. Each state has its own rules regarding maximum loan limits.
What are the advantages to FHA loans?
One advantage of an FHA loan is lower down payment requirements. You may qualify for a down payment as low as 3.5 percent of the purchase price of the property. Additionally, most of your closing costs can be included in the loan, so you’ll have less out of pocket expenses.
An FHA loan can also be used to buy a house that needs improvement. If you need cash to make the repairs, you can apply for a loan to cover the cost...
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Searching for the right home takes time and patience. Before you start looking at Lakewood Ranch homes on the market, you need to know exactly what you want in your new home.
Create a list of the features you want in your new home, so you make the most of your time by looking only at Lakewood Ranch homes that meet your criteria. Here is a quick guide to help you create a checklist:
1. Must Have. These are deal breakers; features that you cannot live without. Do you need a certain number of bedrooms? Do you work from home and need an office or maybe even an outside entrance to your home office? Perhaps you have small children or large dogs and need a fenced yard. Decide now what you must have in your new home.
2. Like to Have. Features you would “like to have” are those you prefer but are willing to sacrifice if the home is perfect otherwise. Maybe you’ve always dreamed of having your own...
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If you’re looking for a Lakewood Ranch area home for sale and you’ve never bought a home before, you might think, “This won’t take much time.” Typically, just the opposite is true. Buying a home frequently takes quite a bit of time.
Of course, the whole home buying process will go much faster (and smoother) if you do things the right way. If you’re a first time buyer looking for a Lakewood Ranch area home for sale, take some lessons from the pros. The following tips will help make the buying process fly:
Weigh the Benefits - Before you actually go house hunting, weigh the pros and cons of buying a home. Can you really afford this home? Is it a good idea, or are you caving under pressure from family and friends.
Make sure that you’ve actually considered the alternatives and decided home ownership is the best move for you. In our experience, homebuyers who are sure they’re ready to buy not only enjoy the process ...
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The national and Lakewood Ranch real estate markets are constantly fluctuating, falling somewhere between more inventory and lower prices and less inventory and higher prices. People are often frightened when the home inventory rises, but a declining real estate market may just be the perfect time to find your next home.
Here are 4 reasons why you should consider buying Lakewood Ranch real estate in a down market.1. Inventory. When the market is down, more homes are for sale. This means you have more homes to choose from, which makes it easier to find a home in your dream neighborhood or closer to work or school.
2. Negotiation. There’s a reason down markets are called “buyer's markets.” Sellers want to sell their homes. This means that you have the advantage and can buy a home for a great price. You can also ask the seller for other incentives.
3. Mortgage Rates. When the real estate market begins falling, interest rates get cut. This can mean considerable savings for you over the course of your mortgage. You can even buy a larger home within your price range...
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Selling your home takes more effort than simply listing your Lakewood Ranch home for sale on the MLS and placing a For Sale sign in the front yard. You have to showcase your home in a way that makes potential buyers desire it.
One of the best ways to create this desire is to stage your home so that buyers can see themselves living in it. Here are 10 important things to do when staging your Lakewood Ranch home for sale.
1. Remove personal touches. Buyers want to picture themselves in your home, not you and your family. Remove family photos, memorabilia and collections.
2. De-clutter. Clear the bathroom and kitchen counters. Take knickknacks off the shelves. Pack away half of the kids’ toys.
3. Organize your cabinets and closets. Take the time to neatly stack dishes and fold towels. Arrange your spices and canned goods. Interested buyers will look in all your cabinets and closets.
4. Make minor repairs. Go through your home and take care of issues like stuck drawers, missing cabinet hardware, and leaky faucets. This shows potential buyers that you meticulously care for your home.
5. Clean. Scrub every inch of your home....
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Should you buy a Lakewood Ranch home for sale? Maybe yes, maybe no. People don’t live in cookie cutter situations; everyone has a unique set of circumstances. For that matter, you may not even need a house. Maybe an apartment is a better fit.
Here are four factors to consider before deciding whether to buy or rent:
1. Maintenance: One factor you might use to decide whether or not you want to buy a Lakewood Ranch home for sale is maintenance. As a homeowner, you’re responsible for the roof when it leaks and the plumbing when it’s clogged. As a renter, you have a landlord who takes care of all that.
2. Frequency of relocation: Another factor to consider is how long you plan to be in the area. For example, if you plan to move in less than five years and don’t fancy renting out the home after you move, buying may not be for you.
3. Tax deductions: The interest you pay on your mortgage is usually tax-deductible. In addition, when you close on a home you have the option to pay “points” to reduce your interest over the life of your...
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When you have a home for sale in Lakewood Ranch or elsewhere in the nation, you have to know the competition is fierce. Many home sellers think they have all their ducks in a row when a potential buyer comes to view the house, only to have a minor, forgotten issue blow the deal.
The Outside of Your Home
Your home’s exterior is the first thing potential buyers see up close. Online, you may have images of the front yard, back yard, kitchen and other rooms, but pictures can’t do justice to your home for sale in Lakewood Ranch.
To prepare you home for that first up-close viewing, here are 16 outside tasks:
Power wash your siding and windows
Fix broken siding
Give the exterior a fresh coat of paint if it needs it
Paint the door and trim
Mow the lawn
Trim bushes
Remove oil spots from the driveway
Pick up all tools, toys or trash in the yard
Remove lawn ornaments
Clear weeds from the walkway and driveway
Plant seasonal flowers
Remove leaves
Clean roof and gutters
Sweep the porch, lanai, walkway and driveway
Clean fences
Add tasteful landscape lighting if possible
Of course, not knowing what your specific home looks like, I can’t give a complete...
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The “Home for Sale" sign in your yard in Lakewood Ranch has been up for quite awhile. Are you somehow missing Morse code signals floating through the air that might give you the magic equation? Are you afraid the house won’t sell?
Well, even with the ever-pervasive issues currently making a mess of the economy in general and the real estate industry specifically, it’s still possible to replace that “Home for Sale in Lakewood Ranch” sign with a “SOLD” sign. You just have to figure out why it’s not selling, and fix it.
I know it’s easier said than done. If you knew what the problem was you would already have fixed it. Here are the top three reasons a house won’t sell:
1. Price is the number one deal breaker.
Price and value are the two things you need to wrap your thoughts around. It’s not about what you consider good price and value for a home, but what the buyer considers a good deal.
You can’t beat the competition by simply lowering the price. You have to compel the buyer with the “Goldilocks” price. This price says, It’s not cheap, so you aren’t getting a fixer-upper. It’s not expensive, because...
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The “Home for Sale" sign in your yard in Lakewood Ranch has been up for quite awhile. Are you somehow missing Morse code signals floating through the air that might give you the magic equation? Are you afraid the house won’t sell?
Well, even with the ever-pervasive issues currently making a mess of the economy in general and the real estate industry specifically, it’s still possible to replace that “Home for Sale in Lakewood Ranch” sign with a “SOLD” sign. You just have to figure out why it’s not selling, and fix it.
I know it’s easier said than done. If you knew what the problem was you would already have fixed it. Here are the top three reasons a house won’t sell:
1. Price is the number one deal breaker.
Price and value are the two things you need to wrap your thoughts around. It’s not about what you consider good price and value for a home, but what the buyer considers a good deal.
You can’t beat the competition by simply lowering the price. You have to compel the buyer with the “Goldilocks” price. This price says, It’s not cheap, so you aren’t...
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If you’ve thought about buying a Lakewood Ranch home for sale, you have to be wondering, “Is it ever going to be a good idea?” We understand. There’s an endless stream of media pouring out bad housing news. It’s discouraging to say the least if you’re a homebuyer or a home seller.
Yet, the problem with the news from the home buying standpoint is that it focuses on profit. The media says, “You can’t make a profit from buying a home.” They talk about prices dropping and more homes hitting the market, among other things. What they miss, however, are the real reasons most people buy a Lakewood Ranch home for sale.
It’s your home.
You can do what you want with it. You don’t have to worry about whether painting a mural on the wall will get you an increase in rent. You don’t have to deal with the noisy people who just moved into the apartment above you. You can paint the walls black and nobody can say “Boo” about it, because it’s your home.
Fixed-rate mortgages stay put.
Unlike rent, which can go up...
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If you’re hoping to sell your Lakewood Ranch real estate in 2011, make some New Year’s resolutions to help the process along. Resolve to:
1. Interview and get a comparative marketing analysis (CMA) from at least three agents from three different Lakewood Ranch real estate agencies. Each agent has a different opinion about the value of your home and how to best market your home. Learn from each agent and then sign a contract with the agent you decide to hire.
2. Research the number of foreclosures and short sales in your neighborhood. To sell your home, find out how many foreclosures and short sales you’re competing against. This impacts the value of your property as well as the length of time it takes you to sell. Your Lakewood Ranch real estate agent can help you with this research.
3. Be realistic about price. After reviewing your three CMAs, talk with the agent you hired and come to an agreement on the price that can get your home sold. Ideally, that price should be at or just below the selling price of similar houses in your neighborhood that...
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If the thought of buying a Lakewood Ranch home or any home in 2011 has even so much as flitted through your mind, here are six New Year’s Resolutions you should consider making:
1. Review your credit reports. To determine the interest rate and terms of your mortgage, lenders pull credit scores from each of the three credit reporting bureaus: Equifax, Experian and Trans-Union. You need to go through all three credit reports and dispute any credit report errors.
2. Establish a good credit rating. To take advantage of today's low interest rates, your credit score should be as high as possible. To improve your credit rating, fix all errors in your credit reports and practice good credit behavior by paying your bills on time and in full each month.
3. Find out how much Lakewood Ranch home you can afford to buy. To determine this, you need to know how much money you have for a down payment and how much money you can borrow. The best way to know how much you can borrow is to get pre-approved for a loan.
4. Shop around for a mortgage....
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Frequently, there are news stories that impact our Lakewood Ranch real estate market. Here are two I want to share with you this month:
Rising Interest Rates Could Get Buyers Moving
Rising interest rates may finally push Lakewood Ranch real estate buyers off the fence and into the market.
In December, after President Obama agreed to extend tax cuts for two years, the financial markets indicated this event would most likely push mortgage interest rates higher.
Analysts predict that buyers will move quickly when it looks like rates are going up and are unlikely to come down. "Once people see this might actually be the bottom, they’ll go for it," says Paul Dales, U.S. economist at Capital Economics Ltd.
For an example of interest rate increases, note what happened in December, 2010.
· On December 2, the 30-year fixed interest rate hovered around 4.46 percent.
· One week later, on December 9, it was up to 4.61 percent.
· When I checked on December 26, the 30-year fixed interest rate was up again to 4.875 percent.
National Foreclosure Rates Fall
Has the real estate market hit bottom? One sign that it has is RealtyTrac’s report that foreclosures...
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Setting the asking price for your Lakewood Ranch home for sale is one of the most important decisions a homeowner has to make in the selling process. Why is it so important?
· You only get one chance to make a good first impression. With so many competing Lakewood Ranch homes for sale, yours has to pop out immediately as a good value or buyers will move on, unlikely to return.
· Set the price too high and you could hurt your chances of selling your home. The amount of traffic a home gets in the first week on the market is usually greater than what it gets in the following weeks. The traffic continues to decrease every week. You might say, “Well, I’ll just lower my price.” This hurts almost as much as it helps. It conveys to buyers (the few who are still considering your home) that your home was overpriced and may still be overpriced.
· Setting the price too low can be almost as harmful. Buyers who are looking in a specific price range may not consider your home because of the low price tag. They assume it will...
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Trying to sell your Lakewood Ranch real estate in a slow market can be frustrating. You may find that it takes longer to sell and you can’t get as much money as you could during a booming market. However, you can’t believe all the hype about a sluggish real estate market. Do your research and separate the facts from the fiction.
Here are 3 myths and the facts behind the fiction:
1. You won’t get a decent price. Your Lakewood Ranch real estate will sell for whatever a buyer is willing to pay. A comparative market analysis
(CMA) shows you what other buyers spent on property like yours. Of course, if you bought your home when values were up, you may not get the return on your investment you’d hoped for. However, most sellers get a fair price and some make a profit in a slow market.
2. Your Lakewood Ranch real estate will stay on the market too long. While it’s true that real estate tends to take longer to sell during a slow market, it’s not impossible to sell. People still buy in slower markets. If your home is ...
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De-cluttering your Lakewood Ranch home is an important part of preparing it for sale. Buyers want to be able to imagine themselves and their belongings inside your home. However, this idea isn’t limited to the inside of your home. It also applies to your garage.
Cluttered, over-crowded garages turn buyers away. Fortunately, sprucing up your garage is easier than you think. Here are some tips to get you started.
1. Start with a list. If you’re like most people, you probably don’t even know what’s inside your garage. Take a pencil and paper and walk through your garage, writing down everything you see. You don’t need a detailed list. For example, screws, bolts, and nails can be listed together as hardware.
2. Reduce the list. Cleaning your garage means getting rid of anything you no longer need or want. The general rule is that you can toss any item that you haven’t used in 1 year. If you don’t use it, it’s only taking up space. Give it away, trash it, or recycle it.
3. Group related items. It just makes sense to store items together. If all your camping supplies...
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You have a for sale sign in front of your Lakewood Ranch home. Even though the real estate market is slow, you still see other houses being bought. What’s the matter with yours? Why is your home still sitting on the market? Is it you? Is it your home? Is it your agent? It may just be your online marketing (or lack of it).
Do Upload Photos
The internet is one of most popular places for homebuyers to do their initial shopping. If your Lakewood Ranch home isn’t online, it needs to be there. If it is online, it needs pictures. If it has pictures, pay attention to the following issues:
Dark or grainy pictures
Images with closed windows, drapes and/or blinds
Photos of rooms with clutter
Only one photo, and it’s of the front of the house
Images that haven’t been adjusted to look their best online
Finally, ask yourself, if a picture says a thousand words, what are the photos of my home saying? If your pictures don’t look friendly and inviting, and if they don’t make your home look it’s very best, you might as well take your home off the market.
Do Add Data
Don’t forget to...
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Is a home warranty necessary when you buy a home? Isn’t it just an extra expense added on to an already expensive purchase? Not exactly. There are a few things to consider before deciding yes or no.
Type of Home
For example, the type of home you plan to buy makes a difference:
Are you buying a newly constructed Lakewood Ranch home? Any newly built home should already be covered by the builder warranty, at least for a specific timeframe.
Are you buying an older home? If so, a warranty might be the right thing to have.
Are you buying a foreclosure? In this case, a home warranty is an excellent idea.
Homeowners Insurance vs. Home Warranty
Homeowners insurance is different from a home warranty. Insurance covers the home if there’s a natural disaster, fire or theft. On the other hand, a home warranty typically covers:
Air conditioning
Plumbing
Heating
Wiring
Dishwashers
Stoves
As with most contracts, it’s important to read the fine print of any home warranty before buying. Some may only cover an appliance if you pay an extra premium. As well, things like air conditioners may be pro-rated, where the payable amount is based on how...
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Are you tired of looking for a home for sale in Lakewood Ranch? Have you found any that had everything you wanted, but cost too much? Are you dissatisfied with the selection?
A while back, I had a buyer tell me he didn’t want to spend more than $100,000 on a Lakewood Ranch home for sale. He gave me a long list of features he felt the house must have - a pool, a big kitchen, four bedrooms, etc. With it being his market (a buyer’s market), he said, I should have no problems finding a home with those qualifications and that price. He refused to budge on any of it.
You May Have to Compromise
The buyer had read tons of material about it being a buyer’s market. Prices, while not particularly great for the sellers, are great for the buyers. “Thar’s gold in them thar hills.” In other words, there are deals to be had.
It’s all true, but there are limitations to what your money can buy, even now. If you’re getting frustrated, it’s time to ask yourself, “Do I really need a pool, or four bedrooms?”
The legitimate question in all this. Can you compromise? If you want a pool,...
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You’ve repaired, de-cluttered, deep cleaned and polished your Lakewood Ranch home for sale until it shines. But how do you keep it that way when you and your family have to live in it every day?
Here are 5 tips to keep your Lakewood Ranch home for sale ready to show (without driving yourself crazy):
1. Decree some rooms off limits. There are a few obvious rooms that can easily be declared off limits such as the formal dining room and living room. But there are others you may not have considered. If you have 3 bathrooms, proclaim 1 or 2 of those bathrooms off limits. Have a guest room but no guest? Shut the door and forget it.
2. Hire a maid service. You may not be able to afford a cleaning crew on a regular basis, but to reduce your stress while your Lakewood Ranch home is for sale, consider hiring a housecleaner to come in once or twice a month.
3. Leave your shoes at the door. Sure, it’s inconvenient, but it really does keep your floors clean much longer which means less vacuuming, sweeping and mopping.
4. Clean as you go. Anytime you get something out, put it away when you’re...
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Buyers are becoming more concerned about their personal environment, from eco-friendly carpeting to energy efficient appliances. If you’re looking for an eco-friendly home for sale in Lakewood Ranch, but aren’t sure how to find it, here are a few tips on what to look for:
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) – More builders are employing eco-friendly practices during construction. Those that do can qualify for the EPA Indoor airPlus designation. These homes are designed for better IAQ, which means a healthier home for you. Rest assured, if a builder meets this designation they’ll tell you about it. However, just in case – ask!
Energy Efficient – If it qualifies for the EPA Indoor airPlus designation, the home for sale in Lakewood Ranch will also be energy efficient. However, if you’re not looking at a newly built home, look for those homes that are Energy Star efficient. According to the Energy Star website, “These homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC), and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20–30% more efficient than standard homes.”
Eco-friendly...
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The home buying process isn’t complete without a home inspection. Your real estate agent will mention it. The lender will ask about it. Even your closer will make sure the Lakewood Ranch home you’re purchasing had an inspection.
Home inspections are important. No matter how much you trust the seller, there are some things you need to know about your Lakewood Ranch home before you purchase it. While you’re not required to attend the inspection, it’s an excellent idea to do so.
So you’ll know what to expect, here are the basics that a typical home inspection covers:
· Appliances. You will know if the appliances are in working order.
· Electrical. The inspector makes sure the main panel, circuit breakers, lights, and outlets are working.
· Exterior. An inspector looks for defects on the outside of the home, such as problems with the wall covering, landscaping, trim, and exterior electrical outlets.
· Garage. You don’t have to worry about what the garage is hiding. You will know if the slab, walls, vents, and entries have any problems that need to be addressed.
· Home structure. The inspector checks the foundation, ceilings, floors, roof, and wall construction for any possible structural...
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Rejection is a hard thing to face in life, whether it’s from a potential client, a potential boss or a potential home seller. As a Lakewood Ranch area home buyer, your stress level might be reduced if you’re aware of some of the reasons a seller may reject your offer.
Before I give you the list of reasons, I’d like to mention that even if you and your buyer’s agent do everything right, the seller may still reject your offer. It frequently has nothing to do with you.
Here are 5 common reasons sellers reject offers on their homes:
1. The offer wasn’t enough for them to pay off their mortgage. For most sellers, the bottom line is paying off their mortgage. If your offer won’t cover the mortgage, they cannot accept it.
2. They may have just been testing the waters to see what they can get for their home.
3. Their plans may have changed. People put their homes on the market because they need to move, they want to upgrade their home, or they can no longer afford their home. If the circumstances change, they may not need to sell their home.
4....
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When you first set out to sell your home, you are probably excited by all the possibilities, maybe a little scared, and often thinking about the best ways to save money. Many times saving money when selling Lakewood Ranch real estate means trying to sell it as a FSBO (For Sale By Owner). If you have the conviction, the salesmanship, and the knowhow you might be able to sell your home yourself and keep the commission in your pocket. There are, however, a few key elements you should be aware of when attempting to sell your own home.
Your House—Not Your Home
The first trick of selling your own home is to immediately stop thinking about it as your home. It may seem like an insignificant change and purely a matter of semantics but as your 'home' you will have far less ability to coldly assess its value than simply as a piece of Lakewood Ranch real estate—a house.
As a 'home' it will be harder to handle rejection, off-handed comments by prospective buyers, and a feeling of general violation as strangers traipse through your rooms at all...
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Sometimes the simplest solution is right under your nose. Sure, renovations, additions, upgrades and updates are great—and should not be overlooked. But common sense says buyers make their first judgment of homes for sale based on the exterior of the home.
Buyers Are More Discerning In Today’s Real Estate Market
Today’s real estate market is challenging for sellers, all the more reason why every little detail matters. Buyers know they are in a strong buyer’s market and literally won’t put up with any rubbish, when window shopping for homes.
Before a potential buyer even considers stepping foot inside your home, they want to see curb appeal—and not just any curb appeal, mind you. The discerning home buyer of today wants everything “just so.”
GOOD CURB APPEAL
Here’s what buyers are looking for:
• Precision lawn care: That means weekly mowing and edging in the warm months. The perfect lawn features mowing done in precise straight lines resulting in a very symmetrical, uniform look. Don’t forget to trim around the driveway, stones, garden, trees, and especially the sidewalk....
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For homeowners getting ready to put their Lakewood Ranch homes on the market, here are a few stunningly-easy tips to help get your home sold faster and maybe even for more money.
Keep in mind that your prospective buyers will most likely be viewing several Lakewood Ranch homes on the same day as your showing. The emotional elements you include will have a profound impact on their memory, and will make your home standout when they review what they’ve seen with their agents at day’s end.
Preparing your home for the perfect showing is essential and comprises three basic elements that will make your home sparkle.
Curb Appeal
• A buyer is first introduced to your home from the outside. Make sure all shrubs, grass and lawn ornaments are looking their best. This gives the buyer a more positive outlook before they enter your home.
Atmosphere
• Soft classical music
• Simmering potpourri
• If you feel ambitious, bake an apple pie or some cookies in the oven.
• Well-lit rooms and inviting indirect lighting
• Air conditioning or heating set at a comfortable temperature
Decorations
• Garden-fresh bouquet of flowers...
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Going it alone and listing your home as a for sale by owner can be exciting at first, but there is a turning point where the prospect of losing money makes it necessary to bring in help. Here are four reasons to change your plan and list your home with a Lakewood Ranch Area Realtor® in order to facilitate a sale.
1. Speed: If your property has been languishing on the market for more than three months, it is no longer fresh. People will avoid it simply because it hasn't sold. A Realtor can give your home wider exposure and get traffic moving through it again.
2. Knowledge: Fresh eyes on a project are helpful in any business endeavor. You can be too close to your home. You love it and see it in a positive light that can often overlook minor items that could prevent a sale. Your Realtor® can help you see the problems you didn't even know existed.
3. National Exposure: As a FSBO (for sale by owner) seller, you are not able to list your home on the official MLS (multiple listing service). This exposure alone can get...
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Both Sellers and Buyers are worried about the real estate market. There are plenty of people on both sides of the market with a case of cold feet.
For instance, some with Lakewood Ranch homes for sale took them off the market. Others, who’ve thought of selling, haven’t.
The same can be said for buyers. Many potential homebuyers change their minds or still worry over that age-old question of, “Should I or shouldn’t I?”
Two Cases of Cold Feet
A 26-year old with a steady job, good paycheck and good credit, sums it up for many potential buyers. “My job’s steady and my credit is good. I keep watching the houses that go up for sale, thinking I could go ahead and buy, but then the ‘what if’s’ pop into my head. I don’t want to miss this opportunity to get a great deal and lock in a low interest rate, but there are so many unknowns…”
A former seller shares why he took his home off the market. “My wife and I decided to sell and went through the process of hiring an agent. The agent suggested having someone come in and redecorate the...
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In today’s real estate market, it’s helpful when homeowners add incentives to sell their Lakewood Ranch homes. Incentives may include paying a portion of the buyer’s closing costs, reducing the sale price or offering a home warranty.
Many sellers and buyers are unaware of the advantages of home warranties, so below are answers to some frequently asked questions about home warranties:
· What is a home warranty? A home warranty is a policy that covers the repair or replacement of home systems and appliances. They are typically annual policies that can be renewed and usually cost between $250 and $500.
· Who pays for a home warranty? Either the seller or the buyer can pay for the home warranty, but sellers usually cover the cost as an incentive for selling their home. Sometimes real estate agents offer home warranties as a closing gift.
· What is covered? This will depend on the terms of your warranty. Most warranties cover the air conditioner, dishwasher, furnace or heating system, water heater, ductwork, garbage disposal, inside plumbing, electrical systems, range and oven, to name a few. Check...
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It’s time for some tough love, here. Your home doesn’t fit in with other Lakewood Ranch 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 Lakewood Ranch homes for sale. Frankly, it’s a market bully.
We 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. We understand, but we’d be doing you a disservice if we 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.
If your house sits on the market too long, waiting for a buyer, the harder it will be to actually attract a buyer.
There is 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...
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Situated on Florida's Gulf Coast, just minutes away from Siesta Key's celebrated beaches, you will find one of the most successful Master Planned Communities in the United States. That community is Lakewood Ranch Florida. Lakewood Ranch Florida encompasses a 28,000 acre Master Planned Community, where you will find a variety of residential and commercial real estate ranging from single family homes, estate homes, condos and townhomes, a town center with shopping, dining, entertaining, medical facilities, hotels and great schools.
With 50 percent of the land set aside for recreation and open areas, Lakewood Ranch Florida has established the perfect balance between people and nature. Golf courses, tennis, fitness center, boating, walking trails and parks make up only some of Lakewood Ranch's recreational options.
Main Street at Lakewood Ranch is located across from the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. This outdoor venue offers more than 30 stylish boutiques, 7 international restaurants, and the Lakewood Ranch Cinemas. Main Street combines elements of the...
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As I’m sure you know, the real estate industry is in a down market, and the last thing you want to do is pay commission to a real estate agent. Not to mention that you’re almost positive you can sell your home just fine on your own. Before sticking a “For Sale by Owner” sign up, however, make sure you’re ready for the work and headaches.
Time. Yes, you can sell your Lakewood Ranch real estate on your own without the help of an agent, but it takes a lot of preparation and time. How much is your time worth and how much time do you have? Before you step out on your own, make sure you can afford the time and energy investment.
Extra services for better value. You’ll lose out on a wide variety of services offered by real estate agents. For example, many agents provide home staging services as well as extensive advertising and marketing services both online and off.
Dealing with the legalities. Selling a home involves contracts, closings and a multitude of legal issues that can make or break a sale. Real estate transactions...
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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 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 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...
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We, meaning the real estate industry, say, “It’s a buyer’s market!” Buyers think that means that deals are available out in the big wide world of Lakewood Ranch area homes for sale. Although that’s true, it’s not the whole truth. The whole truth is that money pits, bad deals and half-hearted sellers still exist. Without careful consideration, you may not get the deal you expected.
If you’re in the market for one of the Lakewood Ranch Area homes for sale, follow these tips to help you get a great deal:
Go back to school. In other words, do your homework. Yes, due to the buyer’s market, you have an advantage, but you still need to do your research. Talk with a real estate agent who specializes in the area and look at the prices of homes sold within the past year. The main point of the research is to find out how much homes are actually selling for in the area in which you want to live, and determine if you can afford to buy there.
Line up the home team. Be prepared to jump on a deal as...
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Lakewood Ranch Condos or Houses: that is the question!
You may be thinking of buying a home but wondering how much space you really need. If you opt to look at houses, your choices are vast. Houses, both large and small, are abundant in today’s real estate market.
Even though Lakewood Ranch Condos are typically smaller than most houses, there are large condos available (even condos larger than houses). And, just like traditional houses, there are a lot of condos available in this buyer’s market.
So, how do you choose? Your selection should be based on your current and near-future needs.
Let’s demystify the differences and clarify your selection:
• Space: Is your family large? Are you planning to add many more? Do you work from home? Consider your plans for the next 5 to 7 years, and buy the size that fits those needs.
• Price: Condos can be more affordable, especially the smaller ones. But, with condos you have to pay condo association fees and other fees associated with the community.
• Location: If you want a condo with a great view, close to work, for example, prepare for a premium. Conversely, many homes with great...
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If you have never purchased a home before, you may not yet recognize how crucial it is to acquire the services of a professional real estate agent.
Buying a home will probably be the most expensive purchase you ever make. Therefore, you undoubtedly should consider enlisting the help of a REALTOR® who has experience, extensive knowledge of the area and integrity.
Benefits of using a professional real estate agent
Having your own buyer’s agent to walk you through the entire home buying process saves you a lot of time and stress, as well as money.
You decide:
• Size of home desired
• Style preferred
• Location
• Price range
That’s easy! With this basic information, your agent begins the hard part: searching for the perfect home for you and successfully guiding you through the purchase process.
Your agent helps with:
• Generating a small defined list of good choices
• Forming a realistic budget
• Financing
• Determining what a home is really worth
• Making offers for you
• Negotiating with the seller
• Alleviating stress that’s a part of any transaction of this magnitude
• Overseeing your home inspection
• Explaining and demystifying taxes, interest, and other particulars
• Finalizing all the paperwork and details with the lender, seller and title company
• Closing on the sale
All the hours your agent invests assisting you...
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According to the Associated Press, Jim Suhr, Associated Press writer (May 21, 2010) property owners nationwide, fearing expensive flood insurance in the face of new floodplain maps, will be offered coverage at sharply lower rates for two years.
In the article, Jim Suhr states that FEMA’s decision to offer two years eligibility was to soften the financial blow that could result from the change in the flood hazard maps. The insurance will come from the National Flood Insurance Programs Preferred Risk Policy, the program’s lowest cost option. This will be offered to small businesses and homeowners on any land the new maps show are in the newly designated special flood hazard areas. The new rates will be available after the redrawn maps take effect, in many cases this fall or early next year....
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