Orlando Homes Sell Faster With Tech-Smart Upgrades

There are always two sides to Orlando Real Estate. Home sellers want to get the highest dollar amount for their property, and buyers looking for a deal of a lifetime on their dream home.

There are numerous ways a homeowner can add value to their homes to to justify a higher selling price. Simple upgrades like a fresh coat of paint or fencing in the backyard can justify a small increase and make a home more attractive to potential buyers.

These days however, homeowners would be wise to also look into technology upgrades to their home. By installing functional and efficient home technology to a home, it will definitely fetch a higher selling price and sell faster than a similar home without these tech-savvy improvements.

There was a recent study done among 500 real estate agents in Orlando to get a better understanding of what buyers were interested in when it came to smart home technology. The study revealed that home buyers are now much more interested in smart homes than they were just 2 years ago.

Over 60% of parents with children under the age of eighteen claimed that they would be willing to pay more for a home that already has smart home technology installed just for the added safety features. Even 51% of people without children would pay more for a smart home because of the energy efficiency features that will save them thousands in utilities over the long haul. Real estate agents in Orlando are seeing smart homes sell much faster than homes without this technology.

By far the biggest attraction for buyers when it came to smart home technology was for the security features that it provides. The second most attractive features were climate control, lighting, entertainment, and last but not least, appliances. Overall, buyers reported that they like being able to control all the features in there home from their smartphone or tablet.

The study clearly showed that smart home technology is steadily rising, especially with Generation X and millennial homebuyers.

Marketing Smart-Homes

Smart homes are great for buyers who value home security, energy efficiency, comfort and entertainment features. That’s why sellers would be wise to list all the features that their smart home has to offer.

There isn’t one “silver bullet” feature that will justify are huge price increase. However, by listing every single feature in the home, it gives the buyer a view of the bigger picture of added convenience and overall safety of the home which translates to increased value.

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Include These Contingencies In Your Home Offer

 

There are so many unknowns when buying a house which is why you should enlist the help of an Orlando Realtor.  Because once you’ve bought it then that’s it! You’re in it for the long haul.

Using contingency clauses in your home contract to purchase will eliminate some of the uncertainty of buying a house by outlining the conditions that have to be met before closing the transaction.

Mortgage Contingencies Protect The Buyer

The most common contingency in residential real estate contracts is a mortgage contingency. In a nutshell, it states that if the buyer can’t secure the financing he can back out of the contract.

You can keep the verbiage simple or get very specific with all the details like; stating the type of loan [traditional, VA loan, FHA loan, etc.] You can even state what interest rate you’d be willing to go up to.

A mortgage contingency in a contract is an absolute must when buying a home unless you’re paying cash for the home.

Mortgage Contingencies Also Protect Sellers

 

In the previous paragraph, we learned how a mortgage contingency can help a buyer. However, sellers are also protected by mortgage contingencies. Here’s how… If a buyer goes past the predetermined amount of time as stated in the purchase contract to obtain financing, the buyer is still obligated to buy the home or they will have to forfeit their earnest money deposit to the seller.

Sellers can also demand that the buyer must have their financing in place several weeks before the closing in order to prevent the buyers from backing out at the last minute.

Appraisal Contingency

Mortgage contingencies and appraisal contingencies go hand-in-hand. There are a couple of different ways appraisal contingencies are implemented. In one version it states that if the buyer is unable to get an appraisal that is at least as high as the selling price, the buyer can then back out of the deal if they wish. The other option they have is to ask the seller to lower the sale price of the home. At this point, the seller can either agree to the price reduction or back out of the deal.

Inspection Contingency

Inspection contingencies provide the buyer with a pre-determined amount of time to take care of all the inspections they want to be performed on the house [usually 3 to fourteen days] prior to the closing. If the inspections uncover any issues or problems with the home, then the buyer can either back out of the deal or try to get the seller to fix whatever issues are in question prior to the closing.

Depending on what state you’re in, there are many other possible contingencies you can add to the purchase contract such as home insurance and mold inspection contingencies.

Put Your Orlando Realtor To Work!

The main thing is to pay attention to the fine print. The way a contingency is worded is crucial, it’s not there for decoration. If you’re not careful, you could overlook deadlines, end up losing money, and even get sued.

You should never enter into a real estate transaction without hiring an experienced Orlando Realtor in your corner. An experienced realtor will walk you through the entire home buying process and will make sure that you are protected in every way possible.

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Avoiding Buyer’s Paralysis

You’ve been searching for homes with your Orlando Realtor for the past year and for one reason or another, you haven’t been able to pull the trigger on any of them. You just let one great home after another slip away from you always find a reason why it’s not the one for you.

So why can’t you make the decision to buy?

Believe it or not, your subconscious mind could be sabotaging you. Buying a home is a huge financial decision and the stress that comes along with it can overwhelm you to the point where you’re constantly second-guessing yourself which can lead to paralysis in decision making.

Making the wrong decision here can result in serious financial consequences for you and your family. With all these things weighing on you, it’s easy to see why it’s so difficult to commit to buying a new home.

Do you really need to buy a home?

It’s important to consider why you’re wanting to buy a new home in the first place. Do you need a new home because of a growing family or maybe you’re downsizing to a smaller one?

Are you transferring to a new job in another state? Are the payments too high? All of these are legitimate reasons for buying a new home.

However, if you’re house shopping because you’re bored of the home you live in or you really have no reason to move at all, then you may want to think about if it’s really worth the stress of going through the home buying process just because you think you need a change. Maybe a kitchen remodels or a paint job will do the trick for you.

However, if you’ve been home searching for a while, then it’s probably because you really need to buy a home for a good reason. There are many benefits to owning a home like providing your family with a stable and safe environment, tax breaks, rising real estate value, etc.

Fear of Spending More Thank You Can Afford

The leading cause that keeps people from committing to a home purchase comes down to money. Ever since the market crash of 2007 many people worry that the same thing will happen again…real estate prices will be cut in half and they’ll be stuck paying much more than they should be on a home.

No one can predict what the Orlando real estate market is going to do in the future. However, there several things that you can do to minimize your risk of purchasing a home.

First of all, don’t let other people tell you how much you can afford to pay for a home. Lenders will try to get you approved for the highest dollar amount based on your income. Real estate agents will try to convince you to buy a bigger and better home now so that you don’t have to upgrade in a few years. Only you know what your financial situation really is and only you should be the one to decide on how much you can afford to pay for a home.

Make sure that your employment situation is stable enough for homeownership. Also, be sure that you can handle any major repair that comes along with owning a home without emptying your savings account like replacing an AC unit or a roof which can easily end up costing tens of thousands.

If you’ve already been pre-qualified for a mortgage, it means that you’re already looking at homes at the top of your affordability range. Just because you’re already approved for a certain amount, it doesn’t mean that you need to find a home to match the most you can afford. If at all possible, you should stay lower than what you are approved for. If you’re able to scale it back just a bit, I can almost guarantee that your stress level will also decrease.

Tell Your Orlando Realtor How You Feel

Make sure to let your realtor know how you’re feeling and want to decrease your house buying budget a bit. BTW, If they get upset or try talking you out of it then it’s time to find a new realtor. Remember, your real estate agent works for you, not the other way around

Don’t Fear The Future

Fear is one of the most powerful human emotions and its primary purpose is to keep us out of trouble. However, unreasonable fears are exactly that…unreasonable and they have no place in the real world. Common sense, research, and professional advice will help you to overcome legitimate fears like committing to a payment you can barely afford.

A good way to combat fear is to think about the very worst-case scenario in a situation. If you can still handle dealing with the worst thing that could happen [in your mind], then you’re probably ok to proceed. Chances are that whatever happened in your mind will probably never happen in real life.

No one can predict the future. So you have to be prepared to handle whatever may happen. If you’re still feeling paralyzed about buying a home, take some time to really evaluate your situation. Use the suggestions provided in this article to help you figure out what your next move should be.

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ORC Launches New Site For Investors!

The wait is over! The time has come to unveil our long-anticipated new website BuyRentalHomesOrlando.com which was designed specifically for real estate investors to buy and sell short-term luxury rental homes in Central Florida.

Now more than ever is a great time to invest in the short-term luxury rentals in Central Florida. The way the short-term rental market is booming we had no choice but to create a separate website that enables buyers to explore all of these amazing resort communities and helps consumers to make smart buying decisions.

With so many new developments under construction, builders are offering tons of buyer incentives as well as free upgrades. Savvy real estate investors from around the world are taking full advantage of this unique opportunity.

With over 65 million visitors a year, Central Florida is the best place in the world to invest in a short-term rental property. Families today prefer to stay in a luxury resort-style home over a costly and cramped hotel room.

All of these amazing resort communities are located on beautiful properties offering first-class amenities. In fact, there are soo many things to do in these communities that some guests don’t even bother visiting the World Class Theme Parks and attractions located just minutes away.

On-site property management companies make it super easy for homeowners to get their homes rented out because it’s all done for them. With central Florida being one of the world’s top vacation spots, there’s never a shortage of families looking for a luxury vacation rental with all the comforts of home.

If you’re interested in seeing some model homes of these fantastic resorts, call or text 407-902-7750 or just visit  http://buyrentalhomesorlando.com/

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3 Reasons Why It’s A Great Time To Sell Your Orlando Home

With Orlando home prices on the rise and increasing demand, Orlando Real Estate has experienced a stellar 2015 in home sales and it’s not over yet. Projections for 2016 are expected to continue on the same track and may even be better according to many top Orlando real estate agents.

There are 3 major factors that are currently creating this “Perfect Storm” in the world of Orlando real estate.

1- It’s A buyer’s Frenzy! Between Investors, first-time homebuyers, boomerang buyers [people who have lost their previous home to short sale or foreclosure], and traditional buyers, Orlando homes are not lasting very long on the market after the listing hits the MLS.

The amount of people applying for FHA loans, [loans that are backed by the Federal Government] is at an all-time high. These loans are mostly favored by first-time homebuyers because of the down payment assistance. Record low mortgage rates also contribute largely to the record numbers of people applying for home loans in Orlando.

2- Skyrocketing Home Prices. Single-family homes in Orlando as well as condos sold for an average of 11% over the original purchase price in the 1st half of 2015.

We are now seeing the biggest gains in Orlando’s real estate appreciation since 2007. These days it’s not uncommon for a home to sell above the asking price in some Orlando neighborhoods. According to the NAR median sales of existing homes surpassed the previous peak we experienced in 2006 just before the bottom fell out.

3- Limited Inventory. Sellers have a lot less competition right now which forces homebuyers to compete for a limited supply of Orlando homes. Recent distressed property sales [short sales and REO properties] only accounted for less than 7% of all real estate sales in Central Florida. This is the lowest since 2011. Back in 2011, the overall distressed property sales in Central Florida made up almost 50% of the market.

Looking to sell your Orlando Home For Top Dollar?  call or text Jenny Zamora at 407-902-7750 to find out how much your home will sell for.

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