Central Florida home sales fell because of coronavirus, but buying and selling continues As the aftershocks of the coronavirus pandemic permeate into nearly every part of life in Orlando and beyond, there is one thing that, surprisingly, has so far continued on just about the same as before: buying and selling homes. Even during government mandates to stay inside, houses are being put on the market, tours...
Should you buy an investment property right now? Here's how low rates can help investors increase their buying power With all the upheaval caused by the coronavirus pandemic, now might not seem like the best time to buy any type of real estate, much less buy an investment property or second home. But don't rule out the idea completely. With historic low rates, it is a good time to consider investing in...
Don't let your home improvement projects downgrade your home's market value You spent the holidays binging on HGTV, and now visions of shiplap accent walls and freestanding soaking tubs are dancing through your head. Don't let your desire to upgrade your home downgrade your home's market value. Before you make a renovation fantasy a reality, consider whether the project will pay off when you're ready to...
Don't make any more excuses buying a home is within your reach Owning a home means you can build equity, take advantage of tax deductions, and partake in a little something called the American dream. For the past couple of years, the U.S. homeownership rate has hovered around 64%. But there's also a considerably large pool of renters in the country who have plenty of reasons for not buying a home. And some...
Here are the most common myths a newbie landlord finds themselves believing If you're lucky enough to own more than one property, or have an in-law unit just sitting empty behind your house, the thought has surely occurred to you: Why not just make back some cash by renting out your place? After all, in a hot rental market, that should be easy enough all you have to do is find a tenant and watch the...
Here's why renting your home may be the best option for you come moving time There are countless reasons that you may have decided to move out of your home buying a larger home, downsizing to a smaller home, moving to a new city for a job, tired of the traffic in your area of town, etc. Regardless of the reason that you are moving, you are now faced with the decision of what to do with your current...
Here's some tips for preparing your budget before buying your next home It's virtually impossible to know what size home you can afford if you aren't fully aware of how much money you are earning and how much you are spending each month. Start with your income: How much do you bring home after taxes and retirement plan contributions? Next, look at your expenses: What are your necessary expenses? How much...
Think you're ready to buy a house? Am I ready to buy a house, or should I just keep renting? It's one of the questions that we hear most often and something to which first-time homebuyers often spend months, if not years, trying to figure out the answer. Below is a list of four tell-tale signs that you're ready to bite the bullet and take the leap into home ownership: Sign #1: You're ready to settle...
Want to save energy & money? Here's some easy home maintenance tricks to do just that! The electricity you use to power your home can cost a pretty penny. The average family spends $1,900 a year on utility bills, according to the government's Energy Star program. But did you know that performing simple home maintenance tasks can substantially bring down the cost of your energy bills and increase your...