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At this time of year, as thoughts turn to gobbling down turkey dinners and watching football, it's easy to get caught up in the details and lose the spirit. So today, we want to take a minute to say something important:
Thank you!
Because of you, we have a job we love: being a Lakewood Ranch real estate agent.
Thanksgiving is a holiday of gratitude, and yet too few of us remember that, when we're stuck in traffic going over the river and through the woods to grandma's house for her famous pumpkin pie.
So today, we would like to say again, thank you.
Thank you for contributing to this community, online and in the real world, by asking questions, adding your insights, and trusting us with your housing dreams.
If we've worked together in the past, please know that we are sincerely grateful for your business. We hope the experience of working together led you to your perfect home and fulfilled your real estate goals.
If you are new to this site and just beginning to investigate the sometimes confusing world of real estate, we would like...
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With home prices nearing their bottom, now might be a great time to buy real estate income property. Many more people will be looking to rent now that pre-approved mortgages are harder to come by. But, before you become a landlord, you’ll want to make sure your potential rental property won’t remain vacant for long.
Tips to help you evaluate your real estate investment:
1. Determine if your area has a strong rental market. See what kind of homes are for rent and track how long they remain vacant. If the same properties are listed week after week, it might not be the best area to purchase a rental.
2. Keep an eye on the local Classifieds. Track how many rentals are available at any given time, and get an idea of the size of houses most commonly listed.
3. Make sure your potential rental property is located near amenities that are of interest to renters. For example, supermarkets and schools.
4. Find a house that’s in good shape. Would you live there? If not, either move on to a different property or immediately fix it up.
Owning a rental home can be a great investment. Do your homework, and...
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Whether you’re preparing to sell or buy a Lakewood Ranch home, getting a home inspection is one of the most important steps you can take toward a successful real estate transaction. In order to get a thorough home inspection, you need to hire an experienced, professional inspector.
Here five things to ask before hiring a Lakewood Ranch home inspector:
1. Are you certified? The oldest and largest organization of home inspectors is the American Society of Home Inspectors. Another noteworthy organization is the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors. Both these groups provide training and certification. If a home inspector is certified by either of these organizations, you know you’re getting a qualified inspector.
2. May I see a sample report? Ask the inspector to send you a sample inspection report. If you receive a report that is 4 or 5 pages long, keep looking. This is not the inspector for you. A typical inspection report is 20 to 50 pages long and often includes color photos.
3. How long will the inspection take? You don't want someone who will be in and out in 90 minutes. A thorough inspection should take 2 hours or more depending on the size...
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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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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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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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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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