Tag: Orlando Real Estate

SunRail Access Makes an Entry into the World of Orlando Real Estate Amenities

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

The brand new commuter line covering 31 miles, SunRail is all set to begin service in less than 6 months. However, a handful of Orlando realtors have already started to use SunRail along with their real estate listings in Orlando. Realtors in and around Orlando and other parts of Central Florida have started listing proximity to the SunRail station as one of the amenities to advertise their property.

Expectations from SunRail

 A large number of Orlando realtors are of the opinion that the billion-dollar rail line is likely to drive up the value of Orlando real estate prices in and around the areas where the SunRail stations are located. Many realtors are also expecting that the new commuter rail is also likely to increase sales in Orlando. However, market research has shown that the new transit line may not have a significant impact on real estate prices. But, the realtors are hoping for the best as earlier case studies and reports have suggested that commuter lines play a role in real estate prices. However, the rate of acknowledgment may depend greatly on the type of rail line.

Mixed reactions

 While the realtors seem to be highly optimistic about the SunRail commuter transit, the market researchers have been skeptical if the SunRail would lead to any rise in the cost of real estate. One of the researchers, Mike Duncan suggests that commuter rail stations that include spacious parking lots are generally meant for commuters that live farther away from the station. He also says that these type of Par and ride type of facilities generally have a tendency to have an impact on properties that are in close proximity to the stations.

However, he also suggests that prices of properties located in close proximity to other kinds of transit systems have a tendency to increase once the new system has been announced. As a result, once the transit system is in full function, the prices may experience a rise depending on the market conditions and the scope for further development. In concurrence with Duncan’s findings, real estate agents in and around Orlando have not yet observed any sales driven by the prospect of proximity to the SunRail station as of now. In addition to this, people are also concerned about the noise and other dangers involved in living in close proximity to a rail station.

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Choosing the right Orlando neighborhood for Re-habbing a House

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Which type of Orlando neighborhood is best for rehabbing a house?

When you’re looking for an investment home that you intend to flip for a profit you should know that choosing the right location is just as important as choosing the right home. Although it’s true that there are buyers for just about any area in Orlando, certain areas are more desirable than others making it easier on the investor.

Qualities to look for

When considering the neighborhood for a flip, there are some statistics that you should research about the area.

* Make sure that recent sales in the area are homes that sold quickly.

* Ensure that the neighborhood is mostly owner-occupied and not a mostly rental community.

* Homes in the area have maintained their values or even better, they are going up in value.

* Not many houses for sale in the area, too many houses for sale is never a good sign and creates competition for your house when it’s time to sell.

* Be aware that older homes will need much more work to get ready for the market.

 Try Keeping it Close to Home

When you make the commitment to re-hab a house you should know that even if you hire a general contractor to do all the work you will still be making frequent visits to the property. By rehabbing a property in your own area, not only will you have less driving time to get to the property but you’re probably already a bit about the area making your research easier.

However, the area must still be holding its value or going up or it just won’t make sense. A neighborhood that has falling property values because of crime, new highway construction, etc. is never a good choice no matter how close it is to your house.

 Hire an experienced Orlando Realtor

 By utilizing the skills and expertise of an experienced Orlando realtor to find your investment home, you can cut out a lot of the legwork. Realtors not only have access to the MLS but they are also able to provide you with the facts that you need about the area to make the right decision. A good realtor will be familiar with the area as well as the houses thus being able to give you valuable advice that will ultimately translate to more dollars in your pocket when it’s time to sell.

It’s also a good idea to list the property once you’ve finished the repairs. Listing the property with a realtor will give your property maximum exposure to buyers that are currently searching in the area. It’s always a good idea to interview several Orlando realtors before making your decision on which one is the best fit for you.

 

 

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Orlando Realtor Busts First Time Home Buying Myths

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Some first-time home buyers believe that they can go out and find themselves a house without utilizing the services of an  Orlando Realtor in their search. I’ve known many home buyers over the years that have struck out on their own to find a house only to realize that it’s not the way to go and wind up hiring a realtor anyway. Unfortunately, there are just some people that can only learn things the hard way.

Let’s say you found a house on your own, now what? Chances are that the house you found is listed by a real estate agent. Now, if you want to actually look inside the house, you’ll either need your own agent or you’ll have to contact the seller’s agent to show it to you. Here’s the kicker, if the seller’s agent shows you around the house and you decide that you want to make an offer on it then congratulations!…you’ve just hired the seller’s agent to represent you as well. And even though an agent representing both sides of a transaction has an obligation to look out for both buyer and seller equally, you just hired an agent without knowing anything about them. My advice is to drop any notion you have of going through the home buying process without a licensed Orlando realtor. If you are buying a home, the seller is the one that pays for your real estate agent out of their proceeds. That means that it’s not costing you a dime to have a licensed real estate professional help you to find as well as buy your new home for free!

What if it’s a FSBO [for sale by owner]?

One scenario where a buyer and seller can complete a real estate transaction without the use of a real estate agent representing either party is when it’s a FSBO property. In this situation, you would be dealing directly with the seller on your own with no representation from either side. This means that the seller wouldn’t be governed by any of your state’s rules or regulations that a licensed real estate agent would have to abide by. If this doesn’t make you nervous, then it should!

I would never recommend to anyone to enter into a real estate transaction without representation, FSBO or otherwise. Think of it this way…  Would you want to represent yourself in a court of law if the other party involved had a lawyer? Of course not, that would be suicide! A buyer’s agent is obligated to look out for the best interest of a buyer from showing properties to negotiating the best price all the way to the closing of the transaction.  Unless you are trained on the ins and outs of residential real estate, you could actually end up losing more money than you set out to save by not using an agent. A buyer’s agent will not only ensure that you get the best deal possible on the property but they will stick with you throughout the whole process from reviewing the contract, setting up inspections, dealing with the title company, etc.

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Top Schools to blame for higher priced Orlando homes

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

We find ourselves in the age of Super Moms and Dads trying to raise the world’s smartest kids. Getting a great education has become an obsession for most Floridian parents. Being a parent myself, I know first-hand how expensive it can be to send your kids to a good school. And I’m not even talking about college or private schools. I’m talking about top-rated public schools. In order to send your child to a top-rated elementary school, you have to live in that particular school zone which also means that you’re more than likely paying higher than normal housing costs. It’s been proven in Orlando real estate, that the price of Orlando homes found in the zones of higher-ranked public schools are much higher than other neighborhoods that are served by schools that are ranked lower.

As an Orlando realtor, one of the first questions that I get from home buyers with children is “How are the schools around here?” If you’re a good parent then a good education for your children should be at the very top of your list when looking for a place to live. I’ve seen people pay up to $50 more per square foot for a house in an excellent zone as opposed to a house in an average school zone.  

Good News for Home-Buyers with no kids

There’s always a silver lining to every situation and this one happens to be dedicated to the home buyer without children. As parents of tomorrow’s presidents and scientists are paying more than top dollar to live close the best schools, home buyers without kids couldn’t care less how highly ranked the elementary school down the street is.

Homebuyers that aren’t concerned about school systems can get a lot more house for their buck while still living in a nice area. Just because the school systems aren’t the best in certain neighborhoods it doesn’t mean that it’s a bad place to live. Everyone just assumes that a better school district will automatically have bigger houses of much higher quality with larger lots, or a more prime location with views and quiet streets.  

There are plenty of great Orlando neighborhoods where you can still get a nice home at a fair price. We’ve found homes just a short distance apart with nearly identical attributes that are selling for drastically different prices. And when you compare the difference in price per square foot at $50 less, that can easily translate into tens of thousands of dollars on the purchase of a house.

 If you’re looking for a home to buy in Orlando, hire an Orlando Realtor to help you with your search.

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Orlando Realtor’s income up by 25%

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Recent studies by the National Association of Realtors show signs of promise for today’s real estate professionals. For the second year in a row, business activity rose for real estate agents since 2011. The gross median income for an Orlando realtor in 2011 was $34,900.00 and in 2012 it shows that realtors made an average of $43,500.00. The numbers aren’t in for 2013 yet but you can bet that the average Orlando realtor’s income is even more than it was in 2012. This is great for the industry because more agents will be able to continue working as agents instead of having to find another job because of market conditions, as was the case in 2007-2008 when soo many agents just weren’t making enough money to survive.

Real estate agents that have been at it for a while of course make considerably more. Agents that have been in the business for more than 8 years showed an average income of $58,300.00 for 2012. It’s like anything else in life, the more work you put into it, the more reward you will get from it. On the opposite end of the scale are newbie realtors [2 years or less] who only averaged $$9,700.00. For these agents, they are facing an uphill battle and more than half of these newer agents will get frustrated and eventually seek employment elsewhere.

Realtors Working twice as Hard for the Same Money

Studies also show that a realtor back in the most recent peak of the Orlando real estate market in 2006 was making twice the amount of money for the same amount of work. Now the tables have turned. A realtor these days has to work double-time in order to make the same income they were making 7 years ago. With all the new laws and regulations in place, realtors have to really know what they’re doing. Not too many transactions are easy to get closed, there seems to always be an obstacle or two or three, especially when you’re trying to close on a short sale. Real estate transactions these days require skill, competence as well as patience to get them closed.

 

Orlando short sale expert

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