Tag: Orlando Real Estate

Big Improvements to Orlando Realty Consultants’ Website

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Mobile devices are changing the way people do business today and this is especially true for Orlando Realty consumers. Analytical research clearly shows that the majority of online home searches are now done from smartphones and tablets instead of home computers and laptops.

http://OrlandoRealtyConsultants.com, our company’s main website has recently been upgraded with a responsive theme and highly advanced IDX home search technology in order to enhance the performance and new capabilities of the site.

These exciting new changes have also greatly increased the speed and functionality of the site for all mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. Now, it’s just as easy to navigate the site from mobile devices as it is from traditional laptops and desktop computers.

Now, more than ever people are using smartphones and tablets instead of their home computers for their real estate needs, and these improvements are dedicated to them. We live our lives on the move these days and mobile devices are the future. It’s our job to keep up with the changing times.

The new site is equipped with the latest state-of-the-art IDX search software allowing users to search Florida homes for sale on the MLS just like a pro from the comfort of their own home. Our goal as Orlando realtors is to provide our clients with a pleasurable user experience from any device.

The new website even offers users an option to sign up for new home listing alerts as well as current market condition reports. These days it’s extremely important that real estate agents are familiar with the latest technology related to the real estate business. Orlando real estate agents have to be tech-savvy or their clients will suffer for it.

Our team of high-energy real estate professionals prides themselves on providing professional real estate services with a personal touch. This is why we provide them with the most advanced and up-to-date real estate tools available today.

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6 Questions To Ask Your Orlando Realtor

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home in Orlando, you probably have a ton of questions about the Orlando real estate market and how much your house will sell for. In addition to these questions, there are other questions you should be asking an Orlando realtor before you commit to working with them. 

1- Are you a realtor or just a real estate agent?

It’s important to know that a “REALTOR” is more than just a licensed real estate agent. A realtor belongs to an organization known as the National Association of Realtors [NAR]. Realtors operate under a code of ethics that exceeds what might be demanded of other real estate professionals. You should also ask your realtor about any other industry certifications they may have.

2- How much commission do you charge?

Realtors have the power to negotiate their commission. Find out how much they usually charge and ask if they will be willing to give you a better rate than usual. Although some realtors are given strict guidelines by the brokers that they work for, it never hurts to ask.

3- What makes you different than other realtors?

This question will really put the realtor on the spot and provide you with the opportunity to see how they react to it.  You’ll also see what kind of personality they have and if it meshes well with yours. Remember, this is someone that you’ll be dealing with on an everyday basis so it’s important that you feel comfortable with them.

4- How will you market my house?

Unfortunately, some realtors rely solely on the Multiple Listing Service [MLS] to sell their homes. But the truth is that there are several other things that a realtor can do to get a house sold quickly for top dollar. You want to hire a realtor that uses every tool in their toolbox like social media, videos, direct mail, blogging, etc. The more exposure your property gets, the better your chances will be of getting it sold for the highest amount possible. 

5- Do your listings typically sell for the asking price?

Ask your realtor to show you some of their more recent home sales. Then compare what the original listing price was to the sold price. This is a good indicator of how good the realtor is at pricing homes correctly from the start.

It’s the agent’s job to help you to come up with the listing price. Therefore if the home was priced correctly, there should be no reason why it wouldn’t sell for the asking price or at least very close to it.

6- What’s the best way to reach you?

Let your realtor know that you will be in contact with them often and that you expect them to be easily accessible to you. Find out the most convenient way to keep in touch for both of you is by email or text and make sure that they understand that you would like to be updated on what’s going on with your property regularly.

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Tips On Re-Habbing Homes In Orlando

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Buying Homes In Orlando

When you buy an Orlando investment property that you intend to fix and flip, there are three different ways it can go. You either make a nice profit, you break even or you lose money.

Obviously, no one wants to lose money or break even because breaking even is also a loss when you consider the time and effort you spent on the project that you didn’t get compensated for.

Being an Orlando real estate agent as well as a seasoned investor, I’ve made every mistake you can possibly make by flipping homes in Orlando while learning some very valuable information along the way.  I’ve come up with some guidelines designed to help you decide if rehabbing houses is for you.

Buying The Right Property

It’s crucial that you start by buying the investment property at the right price. If you get this part wrong everything else will go wrong and you will lose money.

1st-time investors are sometimes soo excited about starting a project, that they end up paying too much money for a house or trying to turn a “non-deal” into a deal. I don’t care how much you wish and pray, there’s no arguing with the numbers.

I highly recommend enlisting the help of an experienced Orlando Realtor to help you acquire the right house.

Be Realistic With Yourself

For the do-it-yourselfers… make sure that you have the time, the skills, and the burning desire to get it done ASAP. People get pretty fired up watching these house flipping shows on TV, especially when they make it look soo fast and easy.  The truth is… it’s not that easy, it takes a lot longer than you think, and believing that it’s easy can get you in some serious hot water.

I’ve learned over the years that when you try to cut corners or go too cheap, it always ends up costing more money…ALWAYS!

 Even if you do intend to fix the property on your own, you should still get a few contractor estimates as a backup plan so that you know how much the repair will cost in case you happen to fall short with your own efforts.

 Time Is Money

Many newbie investors fail to calculate how much time a project will take correctly. The old saying “time is money” applies to rehabbing houses more than anything else I can think of. Your goal should be to get that property back on the market ASAP. If not, carrying costs alone will drain your profits dry and you’ll be lucky if you break even.

 Cost Of Repairs Or Materials

If you plan on having a professional contractor do the work, make sure that you meet and get estimates from at least 3 different contractors. Make sure they are licensed and insured [don’t take their word for it, research yourself] and ask them to provide you with references from some of their other clients.

If you’re still hell-bent on doing the work your self then your homework [no pun intended] is to seek out and price the material you will need to complete the project.

Whether you’ve decided on using a GC or doing the work yourself, add 15% to whatever you came up with for unforeseen problems.

Note: There are ALWAYS unforeseen problems!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Orlando Realtor- Seller Series part 5

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Let Your Orlando Realtor Do The Negotiating

In this week’s edition of our six-part seller series, we will be talking about how your Orlando Realtor can help you with the negotiation process when you start receiving offers on your home.

Negotiating offers

It’s part of a realtor’s job to negotiate the price on a listing, which is why it’s important to allow your listing agent to negotiate offers on your behalf instead of you dealing directly with the buyer or buyer’s agent. Your agent should already be well aware of what your bottom line is upon finalizing the listing details. The house should also be priced correctly for the market and look its best for showings.

Sometimes buyers will submit low ball offers and these buyers are usually investors looking for the deal of a lifetime so that they can turn a quick profit. You should never take this personally, it’s just business and you really can’t blame them for trying. 

Your realtor should also make sure potential buyers are pre-approved for a mortgage loan before proceeding with any negotiations.

If you receive an offer that’s close to the listing price, your agent should continue with the negotiations. Chances are that if they really want the home, then a few thousand dollars won’t deter them from coming up to your asking price.

There’s a lot more to the negotiation process than just agreeing on the sales price. Items like repairs, personal property, financing, inspection periods, and the closing date are all things that can either make a deal go through or kill it. Usually, if it’s something minor, a small concession is all that’s needed to make everybody happy.

If you have any questions or comments about this article submit them below or if you need immediate assistance visit https://orlandorealtyconsultants.com/

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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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