Great News for Orlando Short Sales!

Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 has been Extended

The mortgage debt relief act has officially been extended for another year. This is a law that exempts those who are in a foreclosure or short sale situation [primary residences only] from having to pay federal income taxes on the deficiency balance of their mortgage after the transaction is complete.

This law was passed back in 2007 right when the Florida real estate market crashed. The main purpose of the law was to allow people to complete the short sale on their home and not be taxed on the deficiency as if it were income. This is a huge incentive for homeowners that are upside down to short sale their home.

I know many people have been holding their breath as the ending of the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 would have signaled a harmful blow to the real estate industry. Well now they can breath a sigh of relief, the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act is now set to expire on January 1, 2014 and only applies to only a primary residence. Most homeowners that were on the fence about doing a short sale on their home would have probably chosen to file for bankruptcy as opposed to working something out with the lender.

Here’s an example of exactly what this means; Let’s say that a struggling homeowner sells their home for $100,000 and they owe $175,000, they are not taxed on the $75,000 that the bank had to write off. This is great news for homeowners that are struggling. Prior to the Act, homeowners were taxed on the forgiven debt, known as debt discharge income. If this act wasn’t in place, even people that have lost their homes to foreclosure would be taxed on the deficiency balance between what the house owed and what it sold for.Unlike any other liens or judgments, I.R.S. liens will follow you for the rest of your life and if you try to avoid paying them off, the I.R.S. will garnish your wages.

 Orlando Realtors are Thrilled that “the Act” was extended

For realtors like myself that specialize in doing Orlando short sales, this great news. It means that short sales are still going to be the best way to go for struggling homeowners who can no longer afford to pay their mortgage. I would imagine that BK attorneys were hoping that the act wouldn’t be extended so that more homeowners would have opted for filing bankruptcy as opposed to short sale. at the end of the day, it’s a win win for all parties involved in the transaction.

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The Truth About How a Short Sale Will Affect Your Credit Score

So exactly how will a short sale impact your credit score?  The short answer is a short sale can have less of an effect on your credit score than a foreclosure. But, it must be done correctly.

Should I do a short sale?

Short sales can happen if a lender agrees to accept less than the amount owed against the home because there is not enough equity in it to pay all costs of the sale.

Firstly, it’s important to get legal and tax advice before making any decision. A real estate agent experienced in Orlando short sales can be of invaluable help to you as you negotiate with your lender. It’s important to note that not all lenders will agree to a short sale.

Although there are a few lenders that will agree to a short sale if the homeowner is current, most lenders won’t even consider a short sale unless the mortgage holder is at least 30 days behind on their payment.

What tips should I know for negotiating my short sale.

When negotiating a short sale it’s important to be aware that there is no guarantee that the lender will accept the short sale offer. You should also know that short sales can take several months to complete sometimes depending on who the lender is.

If the lender does not agree to a short sale there are other options available to the homeowner such as a “deed in lieu” which is basically a voluntary foreclosure in which you sign the property back over to the bank.

Other options include trying to negotiate a loan modification or filing for bankruptcy. If neither of these options work than the property will most likely be foreclosed on and sold at public auction to the highest bidder.

If your request is approved, ask your lender to report the short sale as “paid in full,” as part of the negotiation.

So what’s the impact on my credit score?

Many sources report that a short sale has about the same impact on your credit score as a foreclosure when the seller is in arrears; however, that’s not always the case.  With some short sales, sellers report that their credit score only dropped by 100 points.

The biggest advantage of a short sale is that you will be able to qualify to buy another home within two years as opposed to five to seven years after a foreclosure.

Talk to an Orlando real estate agent experienced in short sales to discuss the possibility of doing a short sale of your home.

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Tips for home buyers regarding Orlando short sales

Buying an Orlando short sale?  Don’t do it alone

Whenever you’re considering the purchase of Orlando real estate, you should always consult with an experienced and licensed real estate professional. This is especially true when you’re talking about buying an Orlando short sale because there are soo many things that can go wrong. It’s true that you can get a great deal on an Orlando property by purchasing a short sale but you need to be aware of what you’re getting into before committing to anything.

By consulting with an experienced short sale realtor, you will be able to eliminate all the guess work and be confident in your decision making.

Here are some informational tips that you may find helpful when purchasing a short sale

1- You have to be patient- If you need to get into a house quick, an Orlando short sale is probably not a good option for you. Short sales can sometimes take several months to complete. New guidelines that have been put in place by the U.S. Treasury Dept, now force lenders to respond much faster to short sale offers. However, it still takes much longer than a traditional sale.

2-Don’t put all your eggs into one basket– Just because you have an offer on a short sale, it doesn’t mean that you should stop looking at other houses. It’s not against the law to have offers on more than one property as long as you inform the other parties when one of your offers gets accepted.

3-Get the house inspected– Most Orlando short sale properties are sold as-is. For this reason it’s important to get a home inspection done by a professional home inspector especially when it’s an older home. If issues come up in the inspection you may be able to negotiate the price down even further.

4-Make sure your financing is ready– As an Orlando short sale realtor, I will not submit an offer to a lender unless the buyer shows me either proof of funds or a pre-approval letter that can be verified. Be sure that you have your financing in order even before you go house shopping. This way you know what price range you can afford and you will avoid any surprises.

 

 If you still have questions about buying an Orlando short sale feel free to contact us for a free consultation. We are Orlando short sale specialists and have been helping people buy and sell Orlando real estate since 2005.

 

 

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Florida short sale | Luxurious Winter Park home for sale

Great deal on a Luxury Winter Park Home- 1760 ELIZABETHS WALK, WINTER PARK

 

Orlando Realty Consultants is proud to add 1760 Elizabeths Walk  Winter Park, Fl. to it’s list of breathtaking luxury homes. Built in 2002, this 3,710 sq ft. two story single family home is located in one of Winter Park’s premier neighborhoods, Windsong!

Being an Orlando short sale, this property will be sold at a huge discount and will be a great deal for anyone wanting to live in this area.

With 5 bed rooms and 4 full bathrooms and large common areas the layout has a seemingly effortless flow to it. Exquisite solid wood cabinetry, exotic granite counter tops, and top of the line appliances all come together with an amazing attention to detail throughout this gorgeous house.

 

Just a few of the home’s features

* Huge master’s retreat with sitting area

* Wide open Kitchen

* Vaulted Ceilings

* Granite counter tops throughout

* Solid wood cabinetry throughout

* High end appliances and fixtures throughout

* Dining and great room designed for family gatherings and entertainment.

* Wood burning Fireplace in the living Room

* Covered back patio

* 2-car garage

* Located in a Cul-De-Sac

* Community club house, 2 Community pools, and playground

 

 

Easy access to schools, first rate shops and restaurants, and close to Orlando’s top medical facilities

So much more a definite must see!

Call to make your appointment, You DO NOT want to miss out on this Great opportunity! BANK APPROVED PRICE!!

 

Are you currently searching for your Central Florida dream home?  Look no further just click on;  search Orlando Luxury real estate and you”ll have access to all the properties listed on the Florida MLS. Within just a few clicks of your mouse, you’ll be searching out Florida real estate like a pro.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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5 tips on flipping Orlando real estate

Orlando Re-habbers are back in business

 

The days of flipping houses in Orlando are back in a big way. Investors have their ears to the ground just waiting for the next good deal to hit the market so they can snatch it up and make a nice profit. The increasing amount of Orlando short sales and REO properties on the market are attracting house flippers like blood in shark-infested waters.

Many rehabbers took a beating when the market turned in 2007. Some were caught with their pants down holding several properties that were freshly renovated and instead of flipping them for a large profit, most of them ended up as Orlando short sales or REO properties.

Rehabbing can be tricky if you don’t know what you’re doing and there are a million things that can go wrong.  You really need to know your numbers and give yourself a huge cushion as far as how much you price it for.

5 tips to keep in mind when re-habbing a house

1- Buy your investment property at the right price- It’s crucial that you buy your investment property for the right price or you could end up losing a lot of money in the end. Be realistic with your numbers and always, always give yourself a cushion.

2- Keep away from funky floor plans– Nobody wants to live in a house with a weird layout. Even if you think you’re getting a deal of a lifetime it can be very hard to get top dollar for a house that doesn’t have an appealing floor plan.

3- Don’t take on too big of a project- Keep it simple, choose an investment property that doesn’t need any major structural repairs. Kitchen and bath remodels are OK but major repairs should be left to experienced investors.

4-Hiring contractors– Make a list of the work that needs to be completed and get at least 3 estimates. Make sure to ask for references from any contractors you hire and be sure to get everything in writing. It’s crucial that you get the work done as quickly as possible, come up with a realistic time frame for the work to be completed and make sure your contractors commit to it. If not you could end up shrinking your profit margin substantially.

  5- Price it correctly from the start– This is where your Orlando realtor comes into play. Pricing your investment property is key and should be done by an experienced real estate agent that specializes in the area of where your property is located. You don’t want to price it too high because it will take longer to sell. Remember, each day the property sits on the market is costing you money.

The Orlando Real Estate Market is ripe for re-habbing properties right now

Even though you should never rely on appreciation when buying an investment property, the Orlando real estate market provides the perfect conditions for flipping houses right now. Property values are steadily going up in most parts of Orlando and if you’re able to find an Orlando investment property at the right price, you could turn it into a nice profit. Orlando realty is hot right now and smart investors are taking full advantage of the current market conditions.

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