Tag: orlando investment homes

Before Buying A Home In Orlando

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Things To Do Before You Buy A Home In Orlando

Do your homework before you buy a home. Buying a home will be one of the most important decisions that you will make in your lifetime. Most home buyers get a bit overwhelmed when they realize that they are about to be on the hook for an enormous debt for the next several decades.

In order to avoid these feelings of doubt and anxiety is to make sure that you’re buying a home that you can really afford. Here are some tips you can use that will help you to make good choices when it comes to buying a home.

 Figure out how much you can afford.

As a rule of thumb, you can generally afford a home between 2 to 3 times your annual gross income. It’s important to consider all costs involved with owning a home like property taxes, homeowners insurance, HOA fees if applicable, maintenance, utilities, etc.

In addition to costs associated with the home, you must also include your own personal expenses like food, health insurance, daycare, car insurance, etc. Make sure to include everything no matter how small the expense.

 What type of home suits your needs?

Wanting something and needing something are two very different things so be realistic when you’re making your home wish list.  Make a list of certain things that the home must have in order to meet your family’s needs then make another list of things would like but don’t really need. This will help you to focus on the things that are truly important when shopping for a home.

If you really want granite countertops and high-end appliances and it fits your budget, then go for it. Just make sure that you’re being realistic with yourself.

 Figure out where you want to live

 Then decide what your second and third choice would be for the neighborhood you choose to live in. Ask your Realtor for recommendations about neighborhoods based on your priorities. Don’t settle for a neighborhood that you really don’t want to live in. You will surely regret it.

 Save for the down payment 

Remember when your mom and dad told you to save for a rainy day? Well look up and you’ll see the clouds starting to form. Generally, to get the best terms on a loan, you should plan on coming to the table with at least 20% of the purchase price. If you go lower than 20% then your lender will require you to get PMI [private mortgage insurance] which will add between $200 to $300 to your monthly mortgage payment.

Also, keep in mind that the less you put down, the higher your loan amount will be and the higher your payment will be. If you’re a first-time homebuyer, It’s also a good idea to see if you qualify for any state or federal programs that help with down payment assistance.

 Be clear on the closing costs

Consult with your real estate agent about all the additional costs involved with a real estate transaction, especially the ones that you’ll be responsible for. Items like transfer fees, home inspections, attorney fees, etc. can add up to a substantial amount.

Consult with your realtor about negotiating the closing costs with the seller before committing to anything. Like my teacher said on the first day of real estate school…Everything in real estate is negotiable. Sometimes it comes down to the realtors involved in the transaction. If the listing agent is more experienced and a better negotiator, then chances are the buyer will get the short end of the stick.

Get pre-qualified for a loan

There’s a ton of paperwork involved with getting a loan, so be prepared. Lenders require proof of income, bank statements, w-2’s, etc. The smart move is to get pre-approved before you even start looking at homes. That way you know exactly how much you can afford to pay for a house and you’ll be ready to submit an offer right away. There’s nothing worse than finding your dream home only to find out that it’s out of your budget.

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Negotiating Price On Orlando Investment Homes

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Buying Orlando Investment homes with the intention of fixing them up and selling them for profit can be a very lucrative business but you have to know when to buy and when to walk away.

In addition to being an Orlando Realtor, I’m also a re-habber. As a matter of fact, I was rehabbing houses for 10 years before I ever became a real estate agent. In that time I’ve learned quite a lot about flipping houses both what to do and what not to do. 

The tough part is getting the homeowner to sell you the property for the right price based on the repairs you have to make and still have enough room to make a profit.  Following are some tips on buying investment homes at the right price.

Comparative Market Analysis- Whether you’re dealing with a lender or an individual there’s usually some negotiating involved before both buyer and seller come to terms. I use every tool available to me in order to convince the seller why I’m offering what I’m offering. In addition to preparing a CMA [comparative market analysis]

Contractors Estimate- It’s one thing to spew out numbers to a seller of what you think you’ll spend on repairs to the property, but putting it in writing carries a lot more weight. Bringing a professional contractor’s estimate to the negotiating table not only shows that you’re serious, but it also shows that you’re an authority on re-habbing homes. When people consider you to be an authority on something, they tend to be more inclined to believe you.

Create Rapport- People like to do business with people that are likable. I’ve had situations where I ended up getting a deal not because I was the highest bidder, but because I created rapport with the seller. Sometimes the reason people need to sell their homes is because of financial or personal hardship. And many times these people just want to tell their story to someone that is willing to listen and sympathize with them.

The “all business” type of investor that storms through the house and barely acknowledges the seller let alone listens to their story won’t make nearly as much money as the investor who takes his time with the seller and listens to what they have to say.

Taking a little extra time with people and trying to create a bit of rapport with them will not only make you a better negotiator, but you’ll feel better about yourself knowing that you helped someone out just by listening to them. If you make it not about the money, you make more money!

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Home Renovations That Draw the Highest Price

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

 

Investing your money into a property that you intend to resell can potentially earn you a nice profit. However, not all home improvements will guarantee you a profit. It’s crucial that you know where to invest your money so that it will increase the resale value of the home when you go to sell it. Throughout the years, I’ve rehabbed 300+ Orlando homes and through my own experiences both as an investor as well as an Orlando real estate agent,  I’ve compiled a list of home renovations which have given me the best return on my investment dollars.

 

Here are the top renovations that you can add to an investment property that will get you the highest return on your money.

The Kitchen- The kitchen is the most used room in the house and should be one of the main focal points of a re-model. Quality cabinetry, counter tops and appliances are a must in a kitchen. No home buyer will want to buy a home and have to remodel their kitchen when they move in so I suggest not cutting any corners when it comes to the kitchen. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean that you should get gold plated fixtures and top of the line appliances. However, you shouldn’t buy the cheapest materials either. Try to stay somewhere in the middle price range. I like to go to the large hardware chains and see what’s on clearance [usually at the front of the store]. By doing this, you should be able to get some high end materials for mid range prices.

The Bathrooms- Bathroom remodels come in at a close second to remodeling the kitchen. They are the second most used room in the house and should be updated on any remodel. A new vanity, toilet and fixtures are a must unless the existing ones are in “like new” condition. There’s no bigger turnoff to a potential buyer than a dirty and out dated bathroom. It doesn’t have to cost you a fortune especially if you do some shopping around just like you should do for the kitchen. Any money that you can save on a remodel means more money in your pocket when it’s time to sell.

The Floors- The floors of a home is usually the first thing a potential buyer will notice as soon as they walk in.  If the house has tiled floors and they look half way decent, then I will usually just have them cleaned by a tile cleaning company. A good tile cleaning company will clean the tile as well as the grout joints leaving the floor looking like new. However, if the tiles are in bad shape or they look tacky then you have no choice but to remove and replace them. If there’s carpeting, then 99% of the time it should be replaced with either new carpeting or tile. There’s a myth that tile is much more expensive than ceramic tile but this isn’t always the case. And even if it is a bit more expensive than carpeting, it might be worth the extra expense to have tile instead of carpeting. In my experience buyers will always prefer tile over carpet.

Paint- There’s nothing that will yield a higher return on your money than a fresh paint job. A new paint job will brighten the entire house as well as hide minor imperfections on the walls. It’s important to stick to neutral colors when painting a house that you intend to sell. Some investors make the mistake of using too many colors thinking that it will somehow impress a potential buyer but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Just because you think that you have great taste in interior design, it doesn’t mean that it’s true. Not only that, but if a potential buyer doesn’t like the colors on the walls this could be enough reason for them to not make an offer. My suggestion is to stick to one or 2 colors for the entire interior of the house. I like to paint the walls off white and the trim pure white. By using only one or two colors throughout the whole interior the house will look new, elegant and best of all… it’s much cheaper for labor as well as materials.

 

 

 

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Tips for Estimating Repairs on Orlando Investment Properties

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Have you ever bought a car without first finding out how much the monthly payment will be or how much it will cost to insure it? Of course not, that would be crazy and irresponsible. You would first find out how much everything will cost to determine if you can afford it or not.  The same thing holds true when you’re talking about buying Orlando investment properties. When you buy a house with the intention of selling it for a profit, it’s crucial that you get the numbers right from the very start or you could end up losing money.

Know the difference between Cosmetic Repairs and Structural Repairs

Just about anyone can recognize when a house needs a paint job, new carpet, or maybe even some minor carpentry repairs. These items are considered cosmetic repairs and can usually be completed with a few thousand bucks depending on the size of the house.  In some instances, you may even want to do some upgrading such as new kitchen cabinets or replacing fixtures, etc. I consider these items to be cosmetic repairs as well though they will be a bit more costly. However,  it’s very important to know if the house you’re about to purchase has any major structural issues with it.

Structural damages to a house can be a game-changer and most of the time will turn a deal into a non-deal depending on the extent of the damage and much it will be to make the necessary repairs. Unless you are a seasoned investor, I would highly recommend that you steer clear of any houses in need of major repairs.  

Some examples of major repairs are as follows:

Updating the Electrical system– Houses that are older [30+] will sometimes need to have the electrical system brought up to code. This can sometimes mean that the whole electrical system will need replacing or rewiring.

Rotten Plumbing – Having corroded or rotted plumbing has the potential to be a rehabber’s nightmare. Plumbing runs through the walls as well as the foundation and leaky pipes can easily cause severe damage over time.

Dry rot and termites-  This can be another major problem to the structure of a house, especially if it’s an older home. There are rafters in the attic as well as studs in the walls that are made of wood and if there is evidence of termites or dry rot, you may be looking at replacing most of it which mean a lot of demolition in addition to replacing the rotted wood.

All of the above-mentioned repairs can cost a lot of money. Also, it can be risky because most of the time you won’t know the extent of the repairs until you start the project and know exactly what you’re dealing with. As an experienced rehabber myself, I’ve seen what I thought was going to be a $5,000.00 repair turn into a $15,000.00.

Keep it Simple

Remember that your goal is to resell the house for a profit. That means that you need to get a good enough deal so that you can do all the repairs and get it sold quickly. My advice to any investor experienced or not is to stay away from homes in need of major repairs. If you have to repair to many things, not only will you end up spending too much money, but it will also take longer to get the house ready to put on the market. Like that old saying goes “Time is money” and another month or 2 of carrying costs while your house gets repaired can mean thousands out of your pocket.

Follow this simple formula when looking at investment properties

1-Enlist the help of an experienced Orlando Realtor in the area you wish to buy-in.

2- Determine the value of the home after repairs. Always expect your house to sell for less than the lowest comp in the area.

3- Determine how much you will spend on making repairs then add on another few thousand to it to be safe.  You should also add your projected carrying costs to the budget.

4- Price the house correctly from the start, too many people make the mistake of pricing the house too high and it ends up sitting in the market for several months and they ultimately end up lowering the price anyway.  This is where a good Orlando realtor can help you tremendously.

By following these basic guidelines, you will have a much better chance of making a profit once the house is ready to be put on the Orlando real estate market.

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Is your Orlando Realtor a part time Real Estate Agent?

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Many Orlando Realtors have second jobs

The Income and business of Orlando Realtors is said to be growing after many years of decline, according to the 2012 national association of realtors member profile the median income of a realtor rose 2.3% to $34,000.00 in 2011, which is the first overall gain in over nine years. Licensed brokers typically earned $48,400.00 in 2011, while the median for a sales agent was $27,200.00.

My first reaction when I read this was shock and disbelief. Then I realized that many Orlando realtors only work part time as realtors. Agents that earn such a low income from buying and selling Orlando real estate have other obligations and other employment that has nothing to do with being an Orlando Real estate agent.

In my opinion, there is no way that you can be an Orlando Real Estate Broker part of the time and be successful. To be a successful Orlando realtor you have to absolutely love what you do. And if you don’t love it, guess what, your clients will know.

Personally, I can’t see myself doing anything else but being an Orlando Real Estate professional. I love Orlando and I love helping the people of Orlando with all their housing needs both Sellers and Buyers, especially distressed sellers that need are in need of an Orlando Short Sale Expert. There’s no greater satisfaction in this world than to know that you’ve helped someone to get out of a huge problem and get on with their life.

If you love being an Orlando Realtor, you’ll never work a Day in your Life

NAR [National Association of Realtors] members that have been in business for 16 years or more are averaging $50,200.00 per year…[16 years!!?]. To be a broker for 16 years and only making $50,200.00 doesn’t make much sense to me either. If you put all all of your effort into being a great Orlando realtor for that many years you should be making a much larger yearly income.

I think what happens to some agents is that they start losing their love for being a top realtor and they just stop trying their best. Once this happens in any occupation it starts getting to the point that you actually start hating your job and just kind of go through the motions as opposed to doing your job with passion and enthusiasm.

I personally have had agents working for me that I’ve seen this happen to. It doesn’t mean that they were bad people, it just means that they weren’t cut out to be a top Orlando real estate agent. Life is just too darn short to do something that you really don’t like to do.

Top Orlando Brokers and Agents

Orlando real estate Brokers and agents putting in over 60 hours per week earned around $81,000.00 per year with only 17% of realtors earning over $100,000.00 per year. These are the go-getters that put 100% of themselves into what they do and love every minute of it.

Being a super successful Orlando Realtor means living your life at a frantic pace and it seems you are being pulled in a hundred different directions because everyone wants a piece of you… It truly is a Great feeling!

 

Jenny Zamora, Lic Orlando RE Broker

 

 

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