Tag: Jenny Zamora RE Broker

Orlando Realty Sales being affected by Bad Appraisals

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Orlando Real Estate Sales are being affected by appraisers who fail to recognize appreciation

With the current Orlando Real Estate market on the rise, appreciation has become an actual factor again. It’s very common these days for an Orlando property to receive multiple offers on it thousands of dollars above the asking price, especially in the more desirable Orlando neighborhoods. One of the problems we are seeing here is that appraisers rather than taking into consideration the recent appreciation of a property, are just looking at the original listing price and are trying to get as close as they can to it.

The big problem with that is, if the house doesn’t appraise for the contract price, then the bank won’t finance the deal. At this point, there are three things that can happen.

1- The buyer can make up the difference by bringing cash to the transaction  [This hardly ever happens]

2- The buyer will want to change his or her offer to the “appraisal value”, however the seller now believes their property is worth more than the original listing price and will refuse to go down on the price.

3-The deal falls apart and the process starts all over again unless the buyer can get a different lender or appraiser or both to try and make the deal go through.

Any way you choose to look at it, bad appraisals are affecting Orlando Realty sales.

Are Orlando Appraisers afraid of history repeating itself?

Back in 2004 through 2006, many appraisers ended up in deep trouble because of overinflated appraisal values.  Things were soo crazy back then that it was common for Orlando Real Estate Investors to tell their appraisers what value they wanted the property to come in at and that’s what it would come in at. Everyone was making soo much money that nothing else seemed to matter.  Fast forward to 2007- The doo doo hits the fan. Appraisers among other people in the industry such as mortgage brokers, etc. ended up in serious legal trouble for fraud.  Inflated appraisal values, bad loans, illegal kickbacks, you name it, and any real estate professional with a license was getting in trouble for it.

I don’t blame appraisers for being extra cautious about not turning in inflated appraisals. That being said, I think that some appraisers are going to the opposite extreme now and are under appraising properties which are having a negative effect on Orlando Home sales.

Here’s a tip on dealing with the appraiser

Make sure the agents on both sides of your transaction have created a CMA [Current Market Analysis] that demonstrates how the market has changed in the past six months or less. Then make sure the appraiser gets a copy.

Your sale or purchase doesn’t have to be jeopardized simply because the appraiser doesn’t have — or chooses not to collect — all the relevant recent facts.

Jenny Zamora Lic Orlando RE Broker

Jenny Zamora Broker

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Is Now a Good Time to Sell your Orlando Property?

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Right now may be the best time to Sell your Orlando Real Estate

If you are an Orlando homeowner, you may be asking yourself, ” Should I put my house on the market now, or should I wait another six or eight months?

Here’s what I think, The inventory for Orlando Realty has decreased dramatically. This means that Orlando real estate values have increased and buyers are sometimes having to go through bidding wars with other home buyers to get the home that they want. The fact is that buyers just don’t have the power that they had 2 years ago and they know it.

Here’s what I suggest; Contact an Orlando realtor who is experienced in your neighborhood. The agent should be able to pull data showing you recent sales [within the past 2 or 3 months] and tell you how much your house should sell for within what time period. The best part is that  Consulting with  an Orlando Realtor doesn’t cost you anything and there’s no obligation. You can get a feel for what the market will give you before making a commitment. You have nothing to lose.

Make Sure You are selling your Orlando Property for the Right Reasons

If you know exactly why you are selling then it is easier for you to follow the right plan of action for getting what you want.
If you are a seller who needs to close a sale as quickly as possible, then you should know that getting the highest price possible is not one of your priorities. It does not mean that you won’t or cannot get the highest price, but it means that the price is not the deciding factor. A buyer who can give you a quick closing time will appeal much more to you than a buyer who can offer you more money but the negotiation and closing time drag on.

It’s always good to know how low you will go on your Orlando Property, in terms of selling price. This will help to eliminate some of the offers that you find simply offensive or ridiculous. Even though you should consider all offers seriously and take into consideration the terms of each offer, sometimes, if you know the bottom line and are strict about it, you can save yourself time.
Once you know what your limits and reasons are, discuss them with your Orlando agent so that they can help you set your goals realistically. If you decide to list your home on your own, make sure you do research on the current market, and you get the proper advice you need in terms of legal issues, etc. The key is to be realistic and to know what your goals are so they can be met.

Finding the Best Orlando Realtor for You

I you’re in the market for an Orlando Real estate expert, check out 9 critical things you need to ask a realtor. 
By following what is outlined in the list, you will have a blueprint on hiring an Orlando agent that will work for you.

 

 

Jenny Zamora Lic Orlando RE Broker Since 2005.                                                                                             Ask me anything, I’m here to help.

 

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We are Currently Hiring Orlando Realtors!

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Orlando Realtors Wanted!

Due to the ever increasing amount of leads that we have coming into our office, it’s once again time to hire more Orlando Realtors so we can keep up with the demand. Have you ever wanted to work with and learn from a Top Orlando Broker?  Well, If you are a licensed Orlando Realtor, then now is your chance. Here are some of the things we take into consideration when hiring an Orlando Real Estate Agent.

Top 5 qualities we look for in when hiring an Orlando Real Estate Agent

1-  Be on time- Whether your coming into the office or headed to a meeting with a potential buyer or seller, nobody likes it when you make them wait. It’s unprofessional and It starts things of on the wrong foot. I’ve seen agents lose potential Orlando listings just because they showed up late for the appointment. The  seller will automatically think that you are always late for every thing you do.

2- Be a person of your word- If you say that you are going to do something, then follow through and do it. Being someone of your word will help to build your reputation as a trusted real estate professional in the community. It also helps to build trust with the people who work around you on a day to day basis. To be a successful Orlando agent you must have the  reputation of being a dependable agent and people will know that you won’t let them down.

3- Always be willing to learn- There are some agents out there that think they know everything because they’ve been doing real estate for a while, they get stuck in a certain way of doing things and resist change. With all the new laws and regulations that are happening in Orlando real estate, you have to be aware of them in order to serve the client to the best of your abilities. If you don’t know about the “New Law” that came out yesterday that will help your new client to achieve their goal, then you’re failing to do what’s best for your client.  I’ve been in real estate for 10 years and I feel like I learn something new everyday.

4- A good work ethic- This is something that is taught and instilled in you from when you’re a child. In my experience, It’s virtually impossible to teach an adult to have good work ethics if they don’t already have it in them. In the competitive world of Orlando Realty, you must be a hard worker if you’re going to survive solely as Realtor. We can provide an agent with a steady flow of leads for Orlando real estate, for both buyers and sellers. However, if those leads aren’t followed up on or worked on, then it’s a complete waste of time and marketing dollars.

5- Have a positive attitude- People that have a positive attitude tend to radiate positive energy or otherwise known as having a “Good Vibe”. These is really something that you either have or don’t have. I’ve met Orlando agents that absolutely hate being a realtor and it shows through. No matter how bad they try to hide it you just get the feeling that the don’t want to be there. This is negative energy aka having a “Bad Vibe”. Having a bad attitude will cripple you and ultimately destroy your career as a real estate agent. If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life. To be a successful Orlando realtor, you have to absolutely love what you do and submerge yourself in it.

So there you have it. If you have the qualities mentioned above and you want to join one of Orlando’s Top Real Estate Brokerages, then please contact me so we can have a chat.

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9 Critical Questions you Must ask your Orlando Realtor before Listing your Home

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Listing your home with the wrong agent could cost you Big Bucks

Most people will only sell a home a handful of times throughout their whole life. With limited or no experience in Orlando real estate it’s hard for someone to know how to maximize their profits from the sale of their home. Unfortunately, many homeowners make the mistake of thinking that all realtors are the same. They list with the first realtor that comes along without doing any research on that person and it ultimately ends up costing the seller thousands of dollars. The following information will help you to decide which Orlando realtor you should choose to sell your home for maximum profit.

Always Start with Google

Like pretty much anything you do these days, you start by typing your search term into Google and see what comes up. Most of the time you can find out anything you need to find out just by doing this. Once the list of Orlando realtors comes up, pick the top ten search engine results and write down their information. From these top ten agents, you should use the following questions to decide which is the right agent for you.

1.    Could You send me some information about yourself?   By asking this  question you can learn a lot about this realtor. Ask them to see some of their marketing materials such as; postcards, ads, internet ads, etc. Also, pay attention to how long the agent takes to get back at you. If it takes a Orlando realtor 24 hrs or more to get back to you after you’ve left them a message then you can expect them to take at least that long to follow up with a potential buyer for your house.

2.    How many Orlando properties have you listed and sold in the last six months?   You want an Orlando agent that has experience in selling homes in the area where your home is located. By knowing the number of houses they’ve listed and the number of houses that they’ve sold within the same time period, you can get a good idea of what kind of results to expect.

3.    What is the average length of time that it takes you to sell home?   See what they tell you, then verify it. An Expert in Orlando real estate will know exactly at what price to list your home at to sell quickly for the highest price that the market will allow. The agent that you choose should have a good record of selling homes, not just listing them.

4.    How long have you been in business?   Going by how long an agent has had their license is not a good way to find out how good of a home seller they are. There are many “part time” agents that have been licensed for ten years or more, but I will choose a “rookie” top producing agent any day over a realtor that has to do something other than  selling Orlando real estate to make a living.

5.   Do you have any employees or an assistant?    Top  Producing Orlando Agents will almost always have at least an assistant. A lot of things involved with selling real estate are tedious and very time consuming, especially when you’re negotiating a short sale. A realtor with an assistant is typically a sign of a successful realtor.

6.  What listing price would you recommend? And how did you come up with that number? Pricing a house right from  the beginning is absolutely critical. The price should be realistic and a Keep in mind the selling price should attract prospective buyers to your home, get you top dollar in the current market and reflect the condition of your home. Be realistic and avoid ‘yes agents’, who will say ‘yes’ to any request or price while your home languishes on the market. Lowball agents will try to talk you into an artificial price simply to sell as fast as possible.

7.   What does your listing agreement entail? ,  when does it expire and what fees will I have to pay if you are successful in selling my house? – Have your agent go over every detail in the listing agreement with you until you understand it completely. Make sure the beginning and ending dates are on the agreement; a good standard for length is three months. Know exactly what fees you will be paying and remember that less is not always better. If the agent stands to make very little commission you can bet it will be reflected in the amount of time and effort that is spent marketing your home. If the agent reduces their commission to get the listing it may mean they intend to spend very little money promoting the property. The normal commission is between 5 and 7 percent.

8.   How do you market your Orlando properties?  How much is your Orlando realtor going to spend on advertising this property? What are the different methods or strategies do they use for marketing their properties? Do they have a strong internet presence? Beware of agents that will do nothing more than list your property on the MLS…and that’s it. Agents who are aggressive and innovative with their marketing will always outperform agents who only rely on methods of the past.

9.   Can I see some testimonials from your past clients? Any top producing Realtor should have at least a dozen testimonials from past clients and should be happy to show them to you. If the agent can’t produce any, then you should end the interview right there and continue searching for the right agent.

I hope these questions will help you to find the right realtor for you. As always ask me anything, I’m here to help.

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Choosing the Right Orlando Short Sale Realtor, A Crucial Decision

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Choosing the Right Orlando Short Sale Agent is Serious Business

 

As short sale agents, we go through all the same emotions as the seller we are representing. Working with these lenders can definitely provoke some strong emotions such as anger and frustration at times. Battling it out with short sale negotiators is an everyday occurrance in our office. Whether we’re trying to get an offer approved on a particular property, or negotiate a “Cash for Keys” incentive for one of our clients, there is always some kind of negotiation involved, so you need to make sure that your Orlando Realtor is experienced on the battle field of  short sale negotiations.

One of the Most Important Decisions you’ll ever have to make

When you hire an Orlando Real Estate Agent to take on your short sale file, It’s just like hiring an attorney to represent you in some legal matter. [Except Realtors don’t charge you] The realtor you choose is going to be dealing with your lender on your behalf  which is a huge responsibility. To begin with they have to put together your entire file correctly to then move to the next steps of sending in offers, counter offers, scheduling inspections, arranging showings and the most important task of all, creating rapport and dealing with the short sale negotiator.  Sure, cash incentive programs are out there, but if you’re agent is unaware of what programs you may qualify for, than you could end up getting the short end of the stick.

 

Research your Potential Orlando Agent Before signing

Would hire an attorney if you knew that he or she had just passed the Bar exam and you were their first client. Of course you wouldn’t….Short selling a home is serious business. Fact, selling a house is one of the most important decisions a person will have to make in their life, so it’s very important that you hire an Orlando realtor that specializes in short sales. There are some key questions that you should always ask when interviewing a realtor  before you trust them with one of the most important negotiations of your life.

Still have a million questions about Orlando Short Sales?

Ask me Anything, I’m here to help…

 

 

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