Tag: Orlando real estate blog

Finding That Perfect Orlando Neighborhood

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Choosing an Orlando neighborhood to plant your roots and live out the rest of your life is a huge deal!  Choosing the actual home in which you want to live is equally important. This will be the place where you and your family will create memories for many years to come.

Homebuyers need to consider many things before when deciding on which home to buy; like becoming part of a new community, so you need to make sure it’s a good fit. So how do you know if the neighborhood’s a good fit for you and your family?

Here’s a 5 step list to help you decide what Orlando neighborhood is right for you.

1- Make your wishlist:

Make a list of the things that would make your ideal neighborhood and put the most important items on the list at the top and things you could live without towards the bottom. Things like the commute to work and good schools always seem to rank highly for most people.

Having a list of what you don’t want is also helpful like; being too close to a highway or living across the street from Walmart.

2- Online Research:

Like everything else these days, start your research online. Take the list that you just made and Google it! Start by typing in things that are on top of the list and work your way down, “Orlando Neighborhoods with the best Elementary schools” or “Orlando best neighborhoods for pets”, you get the picture. Once you get a feel for the neighborhoods that interest you, you can use our Florida home search tool to see a list of homes are for sale in the area just like a licensed realtor.

3- Time To Visit in Person!

So you’ve done as much research as any one person can do on a computer, now it’s time to check out the area in person. Check out the local schools, supermarkets, and restaurants, and drive around the surrounding neighborhoods at different times of the day. Talking with some local residents will also be helpful.

Are there enough parks? Is there a park for your dog? Is the homeowners association controlled by robots? Can you see yourself living here for the next five, or ten years!!?

All of these are valid questions that you should be asking yourself.

4-What’s the local crime rate?

Ok so you like the neighborhood that’s good but we’re not done yet. It’s time to find out about the local criminal activity, especially if you have children. Visit sites like https://www.crimereports.com/ which offer really cool interactive maps where you can view crime data in real-time. Concerned about sex offenders? You should be, visit http://www.familywatchdog.us/ to get a list of registered sex offenders in the area.

You can even take things a step further by visiting the local police dept. and having a chat with one of the boys in blue.

5-Check local school ratings:

Whether you have kids or not, you need to research schools. It’s a known fact that school districts are usually the biggest beneficiaries of property taxes. In addition, schools that are highly sought after will typically raise the value of the surrounding homes. Check sites like greatschools.org/is a great tool for finding the best-rated schools in the area.

Finding that perfect home goes much deeper than what’s between the walls of the house itself. Take the time to do your research to make sure that the neighborhood you choose would meet all or needs, or at least most of them.

If you need help finding your perfect Orlando neighborhood, I’m happy to help. Call 407-902-7750 or visit https://orlandorealtyconsultants.com/

 

 

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A Beautiful Day In Hunters Creek, FL. Come Join Me!

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

I wake up to a dense mist over the pond in my backyard, the only things I see moving are the deer grazing in the open field. It gives me the feeling of living deep in the forest as I notice the tops of the tall pines towering above. Throughout the day I get regular visits by a wide variety of native birds that swoop into the fish-filled pond to grab their meal for the day. This is a common sight to see in Hunters Creek, FL. my favorite neighborhood in the whole world. It’s a crisp and peaceful winter morning as bicyclists and joggers make their way through the many nature trails located throughout the neighborhood. 

When you live and work in a neighborhood where the quality of life can be seen just by peaking out the window or grabbing the morning paper, you have no choice but to feel fortunate and blessed. As my two boys [8 and 10] reluctantly wake up to eat breakfast, my wife and I get ready for our morning bike ride through Shingle Creek Trail. On the way to the trail, our 3rd and 5th graders join us for a few blocks until we arrive at their school, West Creek Elementary, an A school with an impeccable reputation.

As we continue on our journey to the trail we cruise through the Vista parks which include: 3 soccer fields, 4 basketball courts, a volleyball court, 2 playgrounds, gazebos, and two dog parks… all within a distance of 1/2 mile! My boys both play competitive soccer for the Hunters Creek Soccer Club which is ranked one of the top clubs in Central Fl. However, if soccer isn’t your child’s sport of choice, Hunters Creek also offers youth basketball, baseball, football, tennis, and even a volleyball league.

The community center located in Osprey park which is less than a mile from my house has so many amenities including recreational activities, classes, and programs for residents of all ages. And when the weather is nice, they have movies in the park on Friday nights where you can bring chairs, blankets, and snacks to enjoy popular family movies under the stars.

HuntersCreek

On our way back to the house my wife and I who is also an Orlando realtor decide to ride through the new development of “Hunters Point” formerly known as “Kailey’s Ridge” to see how the construction of the highly anticipated new subdivision is coming along. The area will consist of 127 homes built by “Surrey” and “Ryan” home builders. So far, the streets and sidewalks have been paved but no sign of the first foundation being laid yet.

At the end of the day we all head over to the Alehouse located at the Hunters Creek Villages, to take advantage of the weekly BBQ rib special that they offer to residents. We are fortunate enough to have a wide variety of great restaurants, bakeries, delis, frozen yogurt, and pizza places all within walking distance. If shopping is your thing, “The Loop” just 2 miles away has everything you could wish for in a mall including a state-of-the-art movie theater.

Although Hunters Creek was voted the 21st best place to live in the whole United States, in my book it’s #1. It’s obvious that enjoy Hunters Creek, the place I call home and I would love the opportunity to show you any of the limited amounts of homes that are for sale now as well as in the new community of Hunters Point. I’m sure that you would love Hunters Creek as much as I do. let’s turn your dream into an address! Contact me at 407-902-7750 or visit.  https://orlandorealtyconsultants.com/

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Bidding in a Hot Market

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Buyers looking for that perfect home in Orlando are finding out that they need to prepare for a fight. Because of a hot market causing lower than normal inventory, hungry buyers are engaging in bidding wars every day. Bidding in a hot market can be a fight and lately, it’s been all about who’s quicker to the punch.  

In a seller’s market, homes sell super fast once they’re listed on the MLS. Getting your offer approved amidst all the competition can be a huge challenge. In this situation, many factors are just out of your control. However, there are certain steps that you can take to make your offer more attractive to the seller.    

When house hunting, you should enlist the help of an Orlando buyer’s agent as opposed to trying to go it alone. Weeding through dozens of homes by yourself that you find on the internet to find one that suits you just isn’t very fun at all. Once you’ve found one that you love, then it’s time to place an offer on it. Many buyers will already have a number in mind but if you’re not sure how much to offer, however, your realtor should be able to assist you in finding the magic number. Experienced realtors can prove to be extremely valuable in this situation by providing the buyer information about the area like recent comparables of other properties in the area.    

Tips on getting your offer accepted, Bidding in a hot market:

  • Get your financing in order. Speak to your mortgage broker or lender before you even start looking at homes. Knowing how much mortgage you can afford in addition to having a pre-approval letter will put you way ahead of the game. You should also know that being pre-approved and pre-qualified are two different things.

The difference between Pre-Approved and Pre-Qualified

  • Pre-qualifying for a loan basically means talking with your lender about your financial situation, income, etc. then the lender will give you an approximate amount of how much you SHOULD qualify for.
  • Pre-Approval includes submitting a loan application together with income statements, a list of assets, a list of expenses, etc. With a complete loan package in hand, your mortgage broker will be able to shop out a loan that would meet your specific needs. It also gives the seller peace of mind knowing that your contract is solid and won’t fall through because of financing.
  • Don’t submit a lowball offer! In a hot market, many properties sell above the listing price. Submitting too low of an offer is the best way to get your offer denied and you may not even get a chance to counter, especially if there’s another competitive offer on the table.
  • Give them a bigger deposit than they asked for. Putting down a larger deposit, allows the seller to see how committed you are to making the deal happen.
  • Eliminate as many contingencies as possible. If the seller has to worry about the buyer selling a home or appraisal value falling short, etc. Then the offer becomes less enticing to the seller. By keeping your contingencies to a minimum, the better your offer will look to the seller.
  • Pay cash. For most people, this isn’t even an option. However, if you’re able to submit a cash offer with a quick close then this will surely get your offer to the front of the line.

Even if you do everything on the list above, it still may not get your offer approved. But by doing as many things as you can to make your offer more attractive to the seller, you’ll know that you did everything in your power to get that offer approved. If it was meant to be then you’ll be living in your dream home real soon. If you find yourself in a bidding war with other buyers, it’s good to know that you have an experienced realtor in your corner.

If you’re searching for a “never say die” type realtor to help you find your Orlando dream house, contact us at https://orlandorealtyconsultants.com/contact/

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Orlando Short Sale Client Testimonial VIDEO

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Orlando Short Sale Client Testimonial VIDEO

“Jenny Zamora worked very hard to get our Orlando property sold through a short sale. She is obviously an expert in the process and is familiar with the requirements and regulations that need to be followed.

 

Unlike other realtors I have used in the past, Jenny responded immediately every time I had a question or wanted an update. I never had to wait for an answer.

Jenny and her team got my short sale done and I was able to move to another house immediately.

Jenny and her team come with my highest recommendation. You will not be disappointed. Thanks, Jenny!”

Need a short sale done on your home? Contact us at 407-902-7750 or visit https://orlandorealtyconsultants.com/short-sales/

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Top Low-Cost Improvements For Selling Your Orlando Home

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Top Improvements For Selling Your Orlando Home

These days there’s more competition for home sellers than ever. To stay ahead of the competition sellers would be wise to utilize the most cost-effective ways to improve their homes making them more attractive to potential buyers.

Typically, there are 2 categories that home improvements fall into. There is the kind of improvements that you do because it’s something personal to you that doesn’t necessarily increase your home’s value, and there are the improvements that you do with the sole purpose of increasing your return on investment.

There are other factors that affect property value that you can’t control like the state of the current housing market in relation to the timing of your sale. Following are some suggestions that will be helpful to you when getting your Orlando home ready for sale.

Clean and De-Clutter

As an Orlando Listing Agent, it’s routine for me to ask my sellers to clean, de-clutter, and organize their homes prior to putting them on the market. This is also the absolute best home improvement you can do for the highest return on your investment. It doesn’t cost much to get some cleaning supplies and get to work.

Move any pieces of furniture that can make the room feel smaller and get rid of as many personal items as possible. Potential buyers want to picture what it will feel like when they live in the home so show them a clutter-free and clean space and let their imagination do the rest.

 Fresh Paint

Coming in at number 2 on my list is new paint. This is hands down the most cost-effective way that a homeowner can make the biggest impact on the appearance of their home without breaking the bank. I advise all listing my clients to fill in any cracks or dents on the walls as well as any minor drywall repairs that need attention before hitting the walls and ceiling with a fresh coat or two of paint.

It’s also a good idea to stick with neutral colors whenever possible. Just because you like super bright and flashy colors, it doesn’t mean the rest of us to do. By using wites and off whites, you can’t go wrong with any buyer. These colors are not offensive and can easily be painted over without too much work.

Landscaping

The first thing a potential home buyer sees when driving up to your house is the landscaping. I’ve had times when I go to show clients a house and when we pulled up to the property, they decide they don’t want to go in just based on what they see outside.

Most of the time, all it takes is a bit of trimming, mowing, and weed pulling to give the home a landscaping facelift. Trim the bushes below window height, prune overgrown trees and shrubs, plant a few annuals for color, and mulch in the beds. You’ll be surprised at what a huge difference this can have on your home’s curb appeal.

We can easily continue on with other home improvements like kitchen and bathroom remodels, new flooring, etc. However, these improvements can be very costly and this article is about “low-cost” improvements so I will end it here.

For more tips on how to get your home ready for the Orlando real estate market, feel free to visit our site at https://orlandorealtyconsultants.com/ or contact us at 407-902-7750.

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