Banks are becoming more experienced with Orlando short sales making things easier for realtors

Banks are getting much faster at the Orlando short sale process

Short sales have had a bad reputation in the Orlando real estate market for several years now. Realtors didn’t want to take on short sale properties either because they didn’t know what was involved and were afraid of getting in over their head or because they knew exactly what was involved and they didn’t want to commit to the hard work that’s involved in completing an Orlando short sale. Buyers didn’t like them because of the time that it would take to hear back from the bank about their offer that was submitted. Sometimes a potential buyer would submit a contract and have to wait three or four months just to find out that their offer wasn’t accepted, and all that time they spent waiting to hear back from the bank could have been utilized searching for other properties. This was extremely frustrating for everyone involved.

Lenders also must have felt frustrated because the truth is they just weren’t prepared to take on all these short sales. They weren’t prepared to handle short sales period… let alone hundreds of thousands of them coming at them at once. I believe that this is probably one of the reasons why loss mitigators would often tell agents that they didn’t receive certain documentation over and over again, or they would say things like we needed these docs in a certain order or a month later they would tell you to send everything again because it needs to be updated. Any experienced Orlando short sale realtors that are reading this post right know exactly what I’m talking about. In my opinion, these were stall tactics because lenders didn’t know how to get these short sales processed in an efficient manner.

Orlando short sales are being fast tracked thanks to experienced negotiators

Short sales are now being processed much faster than was the case just a year ago. Lenders have come a long way in putting systems in place to make things move more smoothly for the homeowner as well as the Orlando realtor processing the whole thing. I feel that the biggest change, however, is because of the short sale negotiators having much more experience in dealing with short sales now. At the end of the day, Big banks don’t run things, people do, and for some people, it’s easier to say that they didn’t receive something or come up with some other type of lame stalling tactic rather than to admit that they didn’t know what they doing.

Lately,  I’ve noticed a huge difference in the way that short sale negotiators handle short sale files. They’ve gotten better in every area; from ordering the BPO to negotiating with their investors and even getting extensions on payoff letters. I have about a dozen or so negotiators with several different lenders that I just love working with because “they get it”, they know how this business works and they will do whatever it takes to get the deal done.  Don’t get me wrong, I still have conversations with some short sale negotiators that frustrate me to no end because they are clueless about the Orlando real estate market or real estate in general yet they still try to tell me how much I should list an Orlando property for, but for the most part it’s gotten much much better.

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Orlando Real Estate remains strong, despite a dip in prices at the end of summer

 

Summer’s gone and Orlando Real estate takes a drop

Prices of Orlando real estate dropped slightly last month for the first in a year. Don’t panic Orlando homeowners, this happens every year at this time. The reason for the drop is mostly due to the end of the peak of the summer buying season. Two facts remain true, Orlando real estate inventory is low and demand for great Orlando properties remains high. As long as these factors remain a part of the Orlando real estate market, sellers will be able to get top dollar for their Orlando Home.

Other factors indicating a strong Orlando Real Estate market

Orlando homes are selling faster and for more than they did a year ago. Studies show that Orlando homes are spending less than 80 days on the market before coming under contract and selling for almost  97% of the listing price. A year ago, Orlando Realty was selling for less than 95% of the listing price, and these properties were listed on the MLS for over 100 days.

Great mortgage interest rates are still being offered by lenders. The average interest rate currently being offered for Orlando home buyers is at 3.78 percent as opposed to a year ago when homebuyers paid an average interest rate of 4.26 percent. This is a huge incentive right now for potential Orlando home buyers and anyone interested in buying real estate in Orlando should definitely take advantage of these historically low-interest rates.

There are more regular listings in the Orlando real estate market than has been in years. Although Orlando’s short sales and REO’s still rule Orlando’s real estate inventory right now, there is another quieter group that is not desperate to sell their Orlando properties.  Believe it or not, everyone one in three homeowners owns their house “free and clear”. This group as well as homeowners with very small mortgages on their home are able to ask for top dollar on their Orlando home and they don’t care if it sells or not. Their way of thinking is “I will sell for the right price and if not then I’m not selling”. I’ve had several clients like this over the years, and homeowners like these actually help to maintain property values up in their neighborhoods because their listing prices remain high and they really don’t care how long it takes to sell.

Right now is  a great tome to sell your Orlando Home

Considering all the factors in play right now with Orlando Real Estate, it’s a great time to sell your home. Whether you need an Orlando short Sale done or you’re o of the few and fortunate people that own your property Free and Clear. If you’re interested in seeing how much your Orlando property will sell… click on “How much is my Orlando property worth?” or you can come and see me for a free consultation and I would be happy to sit and talk with you.

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Buyers Beware of Scams on Orlando Short Sale Approvals

Orlando  Short Sales becoming a popular target for Scammers

 

There’s a scam out there for everything and the world of Orlando real estate is no exception. Recently there’s been an outbreak of people trying to pull scams with title companies and short sales, here’s how it works. Scammers are mimicking major lender’s approval letters, including similar language and the bank’s logo. The letters look soo real that they’ve actually gotten away with it several times.

In some cases these scammers or “scumbags” use short sale approval letters that they fabricated to carry out there schemes. The result is that Orlando homebuyers purchase homes that they thought they had clear title to when in reality these properties where not only devalued but had huge liens attached to the property.

In other instances these scammers go so far as to assume the identities of unsuspecting Orlando homeowners or sometimes pretend to represent short sale lenders issuing bogus payoff letters approving short sales for ridiculously low amounts. These scams allegedly have resulted in more than $10,000,000.00 in losses.

In a short sale, a seller has the lender’s permission to unload the home for less than what’s owed on the mortgage.

It seems that luxury Orlando homes are the biggest target for these types of swindlers because they get bigger payoffs… when it actually works.

The reason these scams work is because of a huge lack in communication between title companies and short sale lenders

According to Mortgage Daily.com., Florida tops the nation in mortgage fraud,  The Dallas-based trade publication said more than $260 million worth of fraud was being investigated in the Sunshine State at the end of the first quarter of the year.

If you or someone you know are involved in any kind of Orlando real estate transaction, make sure that you’re working with a proven Orlando realtor.

 

 

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6 Reasons why you should invest in Orlando real estate

“The City Beautiful” a great place to invest in real estate

Orlando is undoubtedly one of the most frequently visited places in the United States. The demand for real estate in Orlando is constantly on the rise. In fact, in recent times Orlando has witnessed an immense growth in the world of real estate. Moreover, the instability of the stock markets has made people turn to real estates for investment as well as a mode of income.

Though Orlando real estate provides a vast avenue for fruitful investment opportunities, Orlando foreclosures have also been on the rise. You’ve got to keep in mind the mortgage refinance rates as well when considering going for real estate investment.

However, in spite of everything else it remains a fact that Orlando isn’t known as ‘The City Beautiful’ not for nothing. Read along to find out the reasons why you should invest in Orlando realty.

1. Orlando’s scenic beauty – It’s a known fact that Orlando is a place that boasts of breathtaking sceneries, natural beauty, lush green surroundings, and blue lakes. This opportunity of nestling into the depths of such natural beauty is a major temptation.

2. Conducive climate conditions – Orlando is a place known for its warm and humid subtropical climate. This is a huge factor behind the real estate boom. If you’re coming from up north, then this is a major reason why you’d want to consider buying a home here in Orlando. Its weather will provide a welcome change for you.

3. Housing inventory provides you with more choices – There’s been a steady increase in the real estate housing inventory as well. As a potential investor, you’d find the luxury villas and condos as interesting real estate developments that provide attractive investment opportunities.

4. High demand for luxury homes – Real estate has seen a rise in demand with more and more luxury homes in Orlando being constructed. These are rented out as long-term or short-term vacation properties. Since tourism is high in this area, hence these luxury homes actually render a profitable option for the investors. Due to the rising demand for vacation homes, many investors are keen to buy them. Then they lease this property out to the tourists for a certain span of time.

5. Orlando has some major tourist attractionsSeaWorld,  Walt Disney World  and Universal Studios are some major tourist attractions. These attractions contribute to the curent real estate boom big time. Proximity of a property to these tourist attraction spots also add to the investment value of it.

6. New constructions are on the rise– There’s been a spurt in the growth of apartment complexes and condominiums. Moreover, resort properties are being renovated and fitted with extra amenities. These provide you with an added incentive for you to invest in property out here.

As a home buyer you have a lot of reasons to actually invest in Orlando real estate. With the help of our website you can Search Orlando properties like a pro in the comfort of your own home. Within seconds you’ll have a list of great Orlando properties for sale complete with listing price, photos and every other detail you want to know about the property.

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Orlando Real Estate, the new 401k for retirees

Orlando real estate is once again a good investment for retirees

After the huge real estate bubble, we experienced between 2000 thru 2006, we all learned a painful lesson in 2007 when the market tanked. It’s just not normal for Orlando real estate prices to double over the course f only seven years. When the market crashed, Orlando’s real estate prices dropped to 50% of where they were and in some areas of Orlando, it was even more than that.

What I have been seeing more of recently, however,  is that people are considering Orlando realty as a good investment for retirement once again. Here in Orlando, the bottoming process has already happened and prices have been on a steady rise. There is still a long way to go before we see a normal housing market, however, historically low mortgage rates are helping the market by making the cost of ownership more affordable, assuming that the potential buyer can qualify.

Sensing this opportunity, many are jumping into the rental market to boost retirement savings and income. There are however several important factors to consider when buying an Orlando property for the purpose of receiving a steady stream of income.

 5 Tips for potential Orlando Landlords

1- Make sure that you buy at the right price- This is where working with an experienced Orlando realtor will pay off big. Make sure your agent shows you the recent comparables in the area. Chances are that you won’t find anything at 30% market value unless it needs work done, but you should be able to buy something at fair market value, which is OK if you’re thinking long term.

2- Forget about flipping- The days of flipping houses for a huge profit are gone for the most part and you shouldn’t go into this thinking that you will be able to sell your investment property for twice what you paid for it in six months, it’s just not going to happen.

3- Take advantage of Historically low mortgage rates- Even if a potential home buyer is able to purchase an Orlando Investment property, I always suggest to them that they should consider getting a mortgage. With historically low rates right now, it’s a great opportunity for potential investors if they can qualify.

4-Consider hiring a property management company- Being a landlord can be a great source of income if you’re up to the task. However,  I must warn you that it’s not for everyone. Landlords have to deal with not only the maintaining of the property, but they have to be available to tenants at a moment’s notice in case of emergencies. This is why you should consider hiring a property management company right from the start. You should work this expense into your budget before even buying your investment property so that you will know if the numbers make sense.

5-Get familiar with Orange county eviction laws- If you become a landlord for any amount of time you can expect to have a deal with an eviction or two [at least]. It’s very important that your rental agreements are solid and that you do background checks on ALL of your tenants no matter how nice you think they are. It may cost you a few extra bucks to get a quality tenant into your house but I can tell you from experience that paying a bit more upfront to do things correctly will save you time, money, and headaches in the long run.

It’s important for people considering Orlando real estate as retirement income to remember what the goal is. The goal is for the owner to be mortgage-free and to collect a steady stream of income on a house that’s free and clear.

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