According to a recent report from Zillow, more than 30% of the U.S.
home-owning population is underwater on their mortgages. This is a grim
outlook for the real estate market despite increasing property values,
which we can attribute only to the shortage of homes built within the
last 12 months. As 2013 looms, will these upside-down homeowners weather
the rough economic storm or will they list their properties and try to
move on?
The fed is desperately trying to come up with a solution to rescue
those individuals who are drowning in negative equity in hopes to free
up some of their finances. The logic is that those individuals will then
turn to the marketplace with their newly freed funds and bolster the
sluggish economy with it. But the fed may be in no position to bail
anyone else out with the looming fiscal cliff.
It’s
great that home prices are rising, but it will provide little relief to
the still-crippled real estate market as we move into 2013. Although some markets are seeing sales gains,
the current environment may not have enough of an effect on potential
buyers as they weigh the pros and cons of investing in a home.
Primarily, will the property’s value increase enough to outweigh any
potential for negative equity?
But as property values go up, even slightly, so do the ambitions of
property owners who may feel they can capitalize by asking for higher
selling prices or increasing monthly rents. As such, commercial and
residential renters should look to lock in low monthly payments by
securing long-term occupancy contracts before prices go any higher in
the upcoming year.
“That might be problematic for some rent-to-own properties,” says Brian McNerma, credit consultant with rent to own property listing service, HomeStarSearch.
“Sellers will try to make up for their financial losses by passing the
negative equity on to potential homeowners.” But not all property owners
are underwater on their mortgages, he insists, and he urges those
interested in lease-option to research the contract and the seller
carefully.
Renters unable to escape higher monthly rents, however, just might
consider making the long-awaited home purchase.Record-low interest rates
and affordable prices are definitely enticing to new home buyers, but
they do little to help those currently upside-down on their mortgages.
Therefore, the number of home sales in 2013 – while trending upward
slowly but surely – will be greatly limited by those who can’t afford
and cleanly walk away from negative equity and start anew.
In fact, those affected most by negative equity are young owners
who purchased homes with low down payments and didn’t have a chance to
see equity improve before the housing bubble burst. Now they’re left
with financial security enough to maintain the mortgage, but not enough
to get out from underneath it.
Despite rising property values, the market is far from healthy. Even
with seeming upward trends in major markets, it’s important to look at
the other factors that influence those trends prior to making the
assumption that things are going well.
The slow growth however, is good long-term as it allows potential buyers to establish down payments, build credit,
and take advantage of various financing options without housing
becoming too unaffordable. The market depends on this type of behavior,
which is much more stable than the easy credit days prior to the
recession.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Holiday Season = Perfect Time to Find Your Next Home
The Holiday Season is the Perfect Time to Find Your Next Home
Here are my top 12 reasons that the holiday season is the best time to find your perfect home:
- December is a great time to envision future family gatherings while visiting homes that are beautifully decorated and presented at their finest.
- Mortgage rates remain near historic lows.
- Selection is excellent. With more available properties on the market, finding just the right home has never been easier!
- Discovering the home of your dreams is a great way to relax and escape the crowded stores and malls.
- Fewer buyers are actively looking at homes during the holidays, making it the perfect time for you to buy with less competition.
- Keep that New Year's resolution by moving into your dream home and adding a fitness room.
- A new home is the gift that keeps on giving throughout the year.
- We're open for business every day in December, except Christmas, and our full-time sales professionals are dedicated to serving your real estate needs.
- Cooler weather makes home shopping a pleasurable experience.
- Change is good. Start the New Year off right, with a new home.
- Planning an open house tour via FloridaMoves.com has never been easier.
- The holidays are the perfect time to treat yourself!
Contact me today to find your dream home! Simply go to www.floridamoves.com/tim.shelton or visit timsheltonrealtor.com.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Tips to Avoid Common Home Buyer Mistakes
What's missing from your current home? Storage space? Decent
parking? Privacy? You might not have noticed these missing features when
you and your home were in the honeymoon phase, but sometime in the
first few months, they became obvious.
When you tour a home, it's normal to get caught up in the granite kitchen countertops that you might not notice there's insufficient square footage to butter your morning toast. And while that master bedroom looks stylish and neat, you don't realize it's small.
Sometimes, there's a fix. You can downsize the bedroom furniture. You can install shelving or buy bookcases to add storage. And for privacy, you can put up curtains or a fence. And sometimes you just have to learn to live with it. Or you vow next time around, you won't make the same mistake.
No one ever walked out of an open house thinking, "Nice place, but too many closets." On the other hand, a good staging job can disguise that a home has precious little storage.
This is where it pays to use your X-ray eyes. Visually strip away the furniture in a for-sale home and place your furniture and belongings there. Or simply measure - the rooms and the closets - and compare the square footage to what you have now, said Eric Tyson, author of "Home Buying for Dummies."
Ditto for kitchen cupboards, pantries and counter space, said Michael Corbett, author of "Before You Buy." Those countertops may look spacious until you get out your kitchen toys and discover there's not enough room, he said. Really look at a kitchen in terms of what you need when you cook to make sure the home offers the counter space you need.
You're only 15 miles from work. How long is that in traffic time? That daily commute factor is "a really big one that a surprising number of people don't properly research before they commit to a house," Tyson said. He advised trying the commute a few times, driving both ways, before you buy.
Some buyers shop for homes where "commute" doesn't automatically mean "car," said Ron Phipps, immediate past president of the National Association of Realtors and principal broker with Phipps Realty in Warwick, R.I.
"We're seeing a lot more urbanization and a lot more people moving toward public transportation links," he said.
One college professor wanted a home that was a comfortable walking distance from campus, he said. "Five years ago, that wouldn't have been a priority."
It could be the Saturday night party house, the guy who thinks Sundays were made for leaf blowing or the kid who practices the tuba 24/7.
Every neighborhood has its eccentrics, and you need to know if you can live with them.
One of the best ways to find out what's going on in the neighborhood is to chat up the neighbors, Corbett said.
"You must find out if there are any existing neighborhood problems."
From the minor issues (such as one neighbor's casual mechanic "shop") to the major (a string of crimes in the area), you want to know the concerns of the people who live there.
"It's really about asking questions up front," Corbett said. Ask the seller, and do your own research.
One smart move is to visit during morning rush hour, afternoon and evening rush hour, Corbett said.
Most people flip lights and faucets on and off when they tour a home to make sure they get the expected result.
But that's hardly the test of whether the water pipes or electric wiring will meet your needs, Corbett said. You'll need to determine if the plumbing and wiring can accommodate the way you live.
Flipping a bedroom light on and off doesn't compare to a busy morning with two blow-dryers and an electric shaver running while the microwave heats breakfast, the air conditioning clicks on and the TV blasts the traffic report.
If you are showering while someone does laundry and a third person flushes the toilet, will you feel a drop in pressure or a blast of cold water? With water, you can run a few things at one time and see how the home handles the pressure, Corbett said.
As for the electrical systems, you might want to talk to your home inspector, he said. Explain how many of people are in the household who may use electricity simultaneously, and ask if it will hold up, Corbett said.
It's a great home for you, but does it fit your car? Tyson said one home he owned came with street parking. It was great, but simple errands such as a trip to the market required a little more planning and a few extra steps.
"In retrospect, we wouldn't have done it differently," he said. "But you have to make sure you understand the ramifications of not having a garage in the city."
Some neighborhoods have rules about parking in the driveway or on the street. So if you have a preference or other plans for your new garage, it's smart to check any covenants before buying.
Privacy is a factor some buyers overlook until it's too late. Notice "if when you're in the bathroom, you're staring into your neighbor's shower," Corbett said. "You really have to be smart. Try to spend some time in the house."
The goal is to get the feeling of what it's like to really live in the house before you buy it, he said.
"I think the biggest mistake people make is they have to see not only do they fit," Corbett said, "but does their lifestyle fit (the home)?"
When you tour a home, it's normal to get caught up in the granite kitchen countertops that you might not notice there's insufficient square footage to butter your morning toast. And while that master bedroom looks stylish and neat, you don't realize it's small.
Sometimes, there's a fix. You can downsize the bedroom furniture. You can install shelving or buy bookcases to add storage. And for privacy, you can put up curtains or a fence. And sometimes you just have to learn to live with it. Or you vow next time around, you won't make the same mistake.
No one ever walked out of an open house thinking, "Nice place, but too many closets." On the other hand, a good staging job can disguise that a home has precious little storage.
This is where it pays to use your X-ray eyes. Visually strip away the furniture in a for-sale home and place your furniture and belongings there. Or simply measure - the rooms and the closets - and compare the square footage to what you have now, said Eric Tyson, author of "Home Buying for Dummies."
Ditto for kitchen cupboards, pantries and counter space, said Michael Corbett, author of "Before You Buy." Those countertops may look spacious until you get out your kitchen toys and discover there's not enough room, he said. Really look at a kitchen in terms of what you need when you cook to make sure the home offers the counter space you need.
You're only 15 miles from work. How long is that in traffic time? That daily commute factor is "a really big one that a surprising number of people don't properly research before they commit to a house," Tyson said. He advised trying the commute a few times, driving both ways, before you buy.
Some buyers shop for homes where "commute" doesn't automatically mean "car," said Ron Phipps, immediate past president of the National Association of Realtors and principal broker with Phipps Realty in Warwick, R.I.
"We're seeing a lot more urbanization and a lot more people moving toward public transportation links," he said.
One college professor wanted a home that was a comfortable walking distance from campus, he said. "Five years ago, that wouldn't have been a priority."
It could be the Saturday night party house, the guy who thinks Sundays were made for leaf blowing or the kid who practices the tuba 24/7.
Every neighborhood has its eccentrics, and you need to know if you can live with them.
One of the best ways to find out what's going on in the neighborhood is to chat up the neighbors, Corbett said.
"You must find out if there are any existing neighborhood problems."
From the minor issues (such as one neighbor's casual mechanic "shop") to the major (a string of crimes in the area), you want to know the concerns of the people who live there.
"It's really about asking questions up front," Corbett said. Ask the seller, and do your own research.
One smart move is to visit during morning rush hour, afternoon and evening rush hour, Corbett said.
Most people flip lights and faucets on and off when they tour a home to make sure they get the expected result.
But that's hardly the test of whether the water pipes or electric wiring will meet your needs, Corbett said. You'll need to determine if the plumbing and wiring can accommodate the way you live.
Flipping a bedroom light on and off doesn't compare to a busy morning with two blow-dryers and an electric shaver running while the microwave heats breakfast, the air conditioning clicks on and the TV blasts the traffic report.
If you are showering while someone does laundry and a third person flushes the toilet, will you feel a drop in pressure or a blast of cold water? With water, you can run a few things at one time and see how the home handles the pressure, Corbett said.
As for the electrical systems, you might want to talk to your home inspector, he said. Explain how many of people are in the household who may use electricity simultaneously, and ask if it will hold up, Corbett said.
It's a great home for you, but does it fit your car? Tyson said one home he owned came with street parking. It was great, but simple errands such as a trip to the market required a little more planning and a few extra steps.
"In retrospect, we wouldn't have done it differently," he said. "But you have to make sure you understand the ramifications of not having a garage in the city."
Some neighborhoods have rules about parking in the driveway or on the street. So if you have a preference or other plans for your new garage, it's smart to check any covenants before buying.
Privacy is a factor some buyers overlook until it's too late. Notice "if when you're in the bathroom, you're staring into your neighbor's shower," Corbett said. "You really have to be smart. Try to spend some time in the house."
The goal is to get the feeling of what it's like to really live in the house before you buy it, he said.
"I think the biggest mistake people make is they have to see not only do they fit," Corbett said, "but does their lifestyle fit (the home)?"
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Smartphone Apps Every New Homeowner Should Have
Smartphone Apps Every New Homeowner Should Have
Apps for moving:
Moving Van by Glimmer Design Limited. Get organized before your move and help make the moving process seamless with Moving Van. This application lets you take a picture of the contents of each box and assign that box to a room in the new house, allowing users to easily look up and locate each item they’re looking for after the move. This app works equally well for locating items in storage and well-packed closets or garages. Available for iOS only.
Home Maintenance by POJO Software puts all of your regular home maintenance items on a schedule and sends you reminders when maintenance is due. You can also keep track of the date and costs of purchases and repairs, including details about the purchase of your home. You can use this app to track the upkeep of second homes and rental units too. Available for iOS only. For Android try the similar Home Maintenance Scheduler by Cooloy.com.
Color Change by Indivigital is a great way to try different paint color samples without the work or mess. This app lets you see what a wall, room, or any surface would look like in a different color, simply by snapping a photo of the existing space.
About the author: Jennifer Riley Simone works at Case Remodeling Indy. She writes about home remodeling services to help homeowners follow trends and make sound decisions when it comes to planning their own home updates.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
4 Obstacles to Selling Your Home - Video
Here's a video giving you advice on things you should avoid when trying to sell your home.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Housing Market Uptrend Expected through 2014
The housing market recovery should continue through the coming years, assuming there are no further limitations on the availability of mortgage credit or a “fiscal cliff,” according to forecast presentations at a residential forum at the 2012 REALTORS® Conference and Expo.
Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of REALTORS®, said the housing market clearly turned around in 2012. “Existing-home sales, new-home sales and housing starts are all recording notable gains this year in contrast with suppressed activity in the previous four years, and all of the major home price measures are showing sustained increases,” he said.
“Disruption from Sandy likely will be temporary, notably in New Jersey and New York, but the market is likely to pick up speed within a few months with the need to build new homes in damaged areas,” Yun added.
Yun sees no threatening signs for inflation in 2013, but projects it to be in the range of 4 to 6 percent by 2015. “The huge federal budget deficit is likely to push up borrowing costs and raise inflation well above 2 percent,” he said.
Rising rents, qualitative easing (the printing of money), federal spending outpacing revenue, and a national debt equal to roughly 10 percent of Gross Domestic Product are all raising inflationary pressures.
Mortgage interest rates are forecast to gradually rise and to average 4.0 percent next year, and 4.6 percent in 2014 from the inflationary pressure.
With rising demand and an ongoing decline in housing inventory, Yun expects meaningfully higher home prices. The national median existing-home price should rise 6.0 percent to $176,100 for all of 2012, and increase another 5.1 percent next year to $185,200; comparable gains are seen in 2014.
“Real estate will be a hedge against inflation, with values rising 15 percent cumulatively over the next three years, also meaning there will be fewer upside-down home owners,” Yun said. “Today is a perfect opportunity for moderate-income renters to become successful home owners, but stringent mortgage credit conditions are holding them back.”
Existing-home sales this year are forecast to rise 9.0 percent to 4.64 million, followed by an 8.7 percent increase to 5.05 million in 2013; a total of about 5.3 million are seen in 2014.
New-home sales are expected to increase to 368,000 this year from a record low 301,000 in 2011, and grow strongly to 575,000 in 2013. Housing starts are forecast to rise to 776,000 in 2012 from 612,000 last year, and reach 1.13 million next year.
“The growth in new construction sounds very impressive, and it does mark a genuine recovery, but it must be kept in mind that the anticipated volume remains below long-term underlying demand,” Yun said. “Unless building activity returns to normal levels in the next couple years, housing shortages could cause home prices to accelerate, and the movement of home prices will be closely tied to the level of housing starts.”
“Home sales and construction activity depend on steady job growth, which we are seeing, but thus far we’ve only regained half of the jobs lost during the recession,” Yun said.
Yun projects growth in Gross Domestic Product to be 2.1 percent this year and 2.5 percent in 2013. The unemployment rate is showing slow, steady progress and is expected to decline to about 7.6 percent around the end of 2013. “Of course these projections assume Congress will largely avoid the ‘fiscal cliff’ scenario,” Yun said. “While we’re hopeful that something can be accomplished, the alternative would be a likely recession, so automatic spending cuts and tax increases need to be addressed quickly.”
Regardless, Yun said that four years from now there will be an even greater disparity in wealth distribution. “People who purchased homes at low prices in the past couple years, including many investors, can expect healthy growth in home equity over the next four years, while renters who were unable to get into the market will be in a weaker position because they are unable to accumulate wealth,” he said. “Not only will renters miss out on the price gains, but they’ll also face rents rising at faster rates.”
Also speaking was Mark Vitner, managing director and senior economist at Wells Fargo, who said the fiscal cliff is the biggest situation that needs to be addressed. “Beyond concerns about the fiscal cliff, the economic improvement seems to be broadening,” he said.
“Housing will strengthen in 2013 even if the economy weakens because there is a demand for more construction, and the demand for apartments is rising at a faster rate than the need for more single-family homes,” Vitner said. “Unfortunately, apartment construction is focused on about 15 submarkets, so additions to supply will be uneven.
Even with declining market shares of foreclosures and short sales, Vitner said they will continue. “Distressed homes right now are like an after-Christmas sale – most of the best stuff has been picked over, but make no mistake they’ll be with us for a while.”
Yun projects the market share of distressed sales will decline from about 25 percent in 2012 to 8 percent in 2014.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Thursday, November 8, 2012
4 Obstacles in the Way of Selling Your Home
Whether or not the market is in your favor, you may be self-sabotaging your home sale if you’re making some common mistakes. Simple errors can engage you in a real estate catch-22: wanting to sell your home, but making it difficult to do so. In order to save you from preventing the sale of your own home, here’s a list of four obstacles that may be in your way – and how to push them out of your path:
1. A Cluttered Home
Any potential home buyer wants to see his future space as a clean canvas, full of furniture and simple décor, but not muddled by all your worldly possessions piled on the floor. Make sure you do adequate cleaning, and to eliminate any extra clutter you want to keep, consider a self-storage unit. Companies, such as StorageMart, often have customers renting storage units to clear out clutter while their home is on the market.
2. Hanging Out at Home
Although you may be eager to see and hear the goings-on during showings and open houses at your own home – and simultaneously don’t want to have your regular at-home routine disrupted – you are standing in the way of your home’s sale if you stick around too much. It can be uncomfortable and awkward for potential buyers to view your space under your watchful eye. They won’t make honest comments about their feelings about your house, and their feelings themselves may be altered by your presence – and not in a good way. Take a step back and let your real estate agent do the work as you walk away for a short time.
3. Not Finding the Right Real Estate Agent
To ensure you feel safe walking away from your home while buyers browse, make sure you have a real estate agent you trust to do a good job for you. A huge mistake you can make in selling your home is to not spend enough time searching for, and researching, the right agent. Ask friends and family, conduct an online search, and see who already has listings in your area before you settle on an agent to sell your home. You might be surprised to find that the big-name agent you had your eye on has trouble selling homes in your area, or you may discover that another agent’s out-of-the-box thinking really appeals to you.
4. Incorrect Pricing
Although you want to put trust in your agent’s expertise, you still want to have an active role in the pricing of your home. Having an improperly priced home can be a huge hurdle standing in the way of a sale. Ensure you are given the latest information on what homes have sold for in the last few months, as well as what homes are likely to be sold for in the current market. You should also have a frank discussion about what constitutes a fair price for your home, given its condition (and the current market conditions). Things you consider a big deal might not be – and vice versa.
Although avoiding all these obstacles won’t guarantee your home will sell, it certainly can’t hurt to have your prized belongings stashed in self-storage, to get a break from your home, to find a good agent, and to price your home correctly. In fact, not doing these things will guarantee you won’t sell your home. So take a step back, be objective, and get out of your own way. Your wallet – and your agent – will thank you.
1. A Cluttered Home
Any potential home buyer wants to see his future space as a clean canvas, full of furniture and simple décor, but not muddled by all your worldly possessions piled on the floor. Make sure you do adequate cleaning, and to eliminate any extra clutter you want to keep, consider a self-storage unit. Companies, such as StorageMart, often have customers renting storage units to clear out clutter while their home is on the market.
2. Hanging Out at Home
Although you may be eager to see and hear the goings-on during showings and open houses at your own home – and simultaneously don’t want to have your regular at-home routine disrupted – you are standing in the way of your home’s sale if you stick around too much. It can be uncomfortable and awkward for potential buyers to view your space under your watchful eye. They won’t make honest comments about their feelings about your house, and their feelings themselves may be altered by your presence – and not in a good way. Take a step back and let your real estate agent do the work as you walk away for a short time.
3. Not Finding the Right Real Estate Agent
To ensure you feel safe walking away from your home while buyers browse, make sure you have a real estate agent you trust to do a good job for you. A huge mistake you can make in selling your home is to not spend enough time searching for, and researching, the right agent. Ask friends and family, conduct an online search, and see who already has listings in your area before you settle on an agent to sell your home. You might be surprised to find that the big-name agent you had your eye on has trouble selling homes in your area, or you may discover that another agent’s out-of-the-box thinking really appeals to you.
4. Incorrect Pricing
Although you want to put trust in your agent’s expertise, you still want to have an active role in the pricing of your home. Having an improperly priced home can be a huge hurdle standing in the way of a sale. Ensure you are given the latest information on what homes have sold for in the last few months, as well as what homes are likely to be sold for in the current market. You should also have a frank discussion about what constitutes a fair price for your home, given its condition (and the current market conditions). Things you consider a big deal might not be – and vice versa.
Although avoiding all these obstacles won’t guarantee your home will sell, it certainly can’t hurt to have your prized belongings stashed in self-storage, to get a break from your home, to find a good agent, and to price your home correctly. In fact, not doing these things will guarantee you won’t sell your home. So take a step back, be objective, and get out of your own way. Your wallet – and your agent – will thank you.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Come and Explore The Greens at Tuscawilla
Want to take a tour of The Greens at Tuscawilla and can't make it to Central Florida? Here's your chance!
The Greens At Tuscawilla from AMW on Vimeo.
Custom features accent the newest GATED COMMUNITY in Tuscawilla. THE GREENS AT TUSCAWILLA offers a distinctive & prestigious in town living experience, allowing buyers to enjoy the excitement and charm of Country Club living with the luxuries and comfort in a beautiful ELEVATOR READY townhome. The "RIVIERA" is a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath luxury townhome with a very LARGE LIVING ROOM, separate FORMAL DINING area. 2 CAR GARAGE. Finishes include: MARBLE, 20 x 20 PORCELAIN CERAMIC TILE, WOOD CABINETRY, HARDWOOD FLOORS, GRANITE KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS,CHROME FINISHED fixtures and faucets, CROWN MOLDING, walk in closets, PAVER driveways and BARREL TILE ROOF. LOW HOA OF $141 PER MONTH! The Greens at Tuscawilla residences take sophistication to a new level offering the convenience of a carefree lifestyle in the heart of Tuscawilla. THE GREENS offer an intimate setting adjacent to the Tuscawilla Country Club which delivers abundant amenities, including a challenging par 72 private golf course, 9 champion lighted tennis courts, a Jr. Olympic size swimming pool, a fitness center with state-of-the-art exercise machines and free weights, a golf pro-shop, member's grill and dining rooms which can accommodate 250 members. With a variety of price points, be one of the first buyers and get to choose the location of your new home on the golf course, tennis courts or private wooded lot area.Your new home COMES WITH PREPAID MEMBERSHIP FEE to the Country Club!
Find your Florida Dream Home here.
The Greens At Tuscawilla from AMW on Vimeo.
Custom features accent the newest GATED COMMUNITY in Tuscawilla. THE GREENS AT TUSCAWILLA offers a distinctive & prestigious in town living experience, allowing buyers to enjoy the excitement and charm of Country Club living with the luxuries and comfort in a beautiful ELEVATOR READY townhome. The "RIVIERA" is a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath luxury townhome with a very LARGE LIVING ROOM, separate FORMAL DINING area. 2 CAR GARAGE. Finishes include: MARBLE, 20 x 20 PORCELAIN CERAMIC TILE, WOOD CABINETRY, HARDWOOD FLOORS, GRANITE KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS,CHROME FINISHED fixtures and faucets, CROWN MOLDING, walk in closets, PAVER driveways and BARREL TILE ROOF. LOW HOA OF $141 PER MONTH! The Greens at Tuscawilla residences take sophistication to a new level offering the convenience of a carefree lifestyle in the heart of Tuscawilla. THE GREENS offer an intimate setting adjacent to the Tuscawilla Country Club which delivers abundant amenities, including a challenging par 72 private golf course, 9 champion lighted tennis courts, a Jr. Olympic size swimming pool, a fitness center with state-of-the-art exercise machines and free weights, a golf pro-shop, member's grill and dining rooms which can accommodate 250 members. With a variety of price points, be one of the first buyers and get to choose the location of your new home on the golf course, tennis courts or private wooded lot area.Your new home COMES WITH PREPAID MEMBERSHIP FEE to the Country Club!
Find your Florida Dream Home here.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Orlando's Foreclosure Inventory Winnows
More than one out of every 10 houses with mortgages in Metro Orlando
were in some stage of foreclosure in September, according to a report
released Wednesday by real estate research firm CoreLogic.
Of 21 cities analyzed, Orlando and Tampa led with more than 11 percent of their mortgaged houses facing some stage of foreclosure, the publicly traded analytics firm reported.
Even though those two Florida cities had highest rates of foreclosures in the survey, Orlando's supply of bank-owned properties had declined more since September 2011 than it had for all but one of the cities surveyed. Phoenix's foreclosure inventory dropped slightly more than Orlando's.
Orlando's pool of houses in foreclosure declined 1.3 percent from a year earlier. Nationally, the rate was down .7 percent. Tampa's inventory, meanwhile, shrunk by only .6 percent.
"The continuing downward trend in foreclosures along with a gradual clearing of the shadow inventory are signs of stabilization and improvement in the housing market," said Anand Nallathambi, president of CoreLogic.
Florida's foreclosure inventory rate was almost identical to Orlando's and it far exceeded that of any other state. In Florida, 11.5 percent of mortgaged houses were in the process of being reclaimed by lenders. Trailing behind Florida were: New Jersey, 7 percent; New York, Illinois and Nevada, all with 5 percent. Nationally, 3.3 percent of mortgaged houses were in foreclosure.
Florida saw a greater decline in foreclosure inventory than other states experienced during the reporting period.
Florida exceeded all other states, except California, for the number of houses that had completed the foreclosure process during the 12 months that ended in September. The state had 92,401 residential properties churn completely through the foreclosure legal process during those 12 months.
By Mary Shanklin, Orlando Sentinel
Of 21 cities analyzed, Orlando and Tampa led with more than 11 percent of their mortgaged houses facing some stage of foreclosure, the publicly traded analytics firm reported.
Even though those two Florida cities had highest rates of foreclosures in the survey, Orlando's supply of bank-owned properties had declined more since September 2011 than it had for all but one of the cities surveyed. Phoenix's foreclosure inventory dropped slightly more than Orlando's.
Orlando's pool of houses in foreclosure declined 1.3 percent from a year earlier. Nationally, the rate was down .7 percent. Tampa's inventory, meanwhile, shrunk by only .6 percent.
"The continuing downward trend in foreclosures along with a gradual clearing of the shadow inventory are signs of stabilization and improvement in the housing market," said Anand Nallathambi, president of CoreLogic.
Florida's foreclosure inventory rate was almost identical to Orlando's and it far exceeded that of any other state. In Florida, 11.5 percent of mortgaged houses were in the process of being reclaimed by lenders. Trailing behind Florida were: New Jersey, 7 percent; New York, Illinois and Nevada, all with 5 percent. Nationally, 3.3 percent of mortgaged houses were in foreclosure.
Florida saw a greater decline in foreclosure inventory than other states experienced during the reporting period.
Florida exceeded all other states, except California, for the number of houses that had completed the foreclosure process during the 12 months that ended in September. The state had 92,401 residential properties churn completely through the foreclosure legal process during those 12 months.
By Mary Shanklin, Orlando Sentinel
3:19 p.m. EDT, October 31, 2012
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Home vacancy rate falls to pre-housing bubble levels
The home vacancy rate – based on the number of unoccupied properties and
those for sale – shrank to 1.9 percent in the third quarter from 2.1
percent in the prior three-month period.
The Commerce Department cited increased demand for housing and some economic improvements for driving the rate to the lowest point in seven years.
The share of empty U.S. homes for rent, meanwhile, was unchanged at 8.6 percent, matching the lowest level in more than a decade.
The nation’s rate of homeownership also held steady, according to Commerce, remaining at 65.5 percent in the second quarter. However, the number is a decline from 66.3 percent during the same three months of 2011, and from a peak homeownership rate of 69.2 percent in July 2004.
“Even with the housing recovery well under way, the share of Americans who own their own home remains more or less at a 16-year low,” noted Paul Diggle of Capital Economics.
Source: Reuters (10/30/12) Chadbourn, Margaret
© Copyright 2012 INFORMATION, INC. Bethesda, MD (301) 215-4688
The Commerce Department cited increased demand for housing and some economic improvements for driving the rate to the lowest point in seven years.
The share of empty U.S. homes for rent, meanwhile, was unchanged at 8.6 percent, matching the lowest level in more than a decade.
The nation’s rate of homeownership also held steady, according to Commerce, remaining at 65.5 percent in the second quarter. However, the number is a decline from 66.3 percent during the same three months of 2011, and from a peak homeownership rate of 69.2 percent in July 2004.
“Even with the housing recovery well under way, the share of Americans who own their own home remains more or less at a 16-year low,” noted Paul Diggle of Capital Economics.
Source: Reuters (10/30/12) Chadbourn, Margaret
© Copyright 2012 INFORMATION, INC. Bethesda, MD (301) 215-4688
Monday, October 29, 2012
Friday, October 26, 2012
September Pending Home Sales Show Slight Improvement
Pending home sales were little changed in September but remain well above a year ago, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
The Pending Home Sales Index,* a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, edged up 0.3 percent to 99.5 in September from 99.2 in August and is 14.5 percent above September 2011 when it was 86.9. The data reflect contracts but not closings.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said pending home sales continue to hold a higher ground. "Home contract activity remains at an elevated level in contrast with recent years, but currently appears to be bouncing around in a narrow range," Yun said. "This means only minor movement is likely in near-term existing-home sales, but with positive underlying market fundamentals they should continue on an uptrend in 2013."
Pending home sales have risen for 17 consecutive months on a year-over-year basis, leading to the solid recovery seen in closed existing-home sales this year. In September all regions were showing double-digit increases in contract activity from a year ago with the exception of the West, which is constrained by limited inventory.
The PHSI in the Northeast rose 1.4 percent to 79.3 in September and is 26.1 percent higher than a year ago. In the Midwest the index fell 5.8 percent to 89.5 in September but is 19.3 percent above September 2011. Pending home sales in the South increased 1.0 percent to an index of 111.5 in September and are 17.6 percent higher than a year ago. In the West the index rose 4.3 percent in September to 106.9, but is only 0.8 percent above September 2011.
Housing affordability conditions are forecast to remain favorable through next year, with the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage staying near record lows for the balance of this year but gradually rising to 4 percent in the second half of 2013.
Completed existing-home sales in 2012 will total close to 4.6 million, an increase of 9 percent, and are projected to rise about 9 percent next year to nearly 5.1 million. With notably lower housing inventory, the national median existing-home price is expected to increase 6 percent this year and 5 percent in 2013.
The National Association of Realtors®, "The Voice for Real Estate," is America's largest trade association, representing 1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.
# # #
* The Pending Home Sales Index is a leading indicator for
the housing sector, based on pending sales of existing homes. A sale is
listed as pending when the contract has been signed but the transaction
has not closed, though the sale usually is finalized within one or two
months of signing.The index is based on a large national sample, typically representing about 20 percent of transactions for existing-home sales. In developing the model for the index, it was demonstrated that the level of monthly sales-contract activity parallels the level of closed existing-home sales in the following two months.
An index of 100 is equal to the average level of contract activity during 2001, which was the first year to be examined as well as the first of five consecutive record years for existing-home sales; it coincides with a level that is historically healthy.
NOTE: Metropolitan area median existing-home prices for the third quarter will be published November 7, existing-home sales for October will be reported November 19 and the next Pending Home Sales Index will be on November 29; release times are 10:00 a.m. EST.
© 2012 Copyright. All Rights Reserved. National Association of REALTORS®.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Study: Homeownership benefits children
Three California professors conducted a study on how home ownership benefits of children. Working under the Research Institute for Housing America, an independent arm of the Mortgage Bankers Association, they found that the homeowners’ children stay in school longer and face a lower risk of teen pregnancy than renters’ children.
The study did not offer a reason why homeownership helps children, but one author has an opinion:
“Does buying a home make you a better person?” asks Richard K. Green, director of the University of Southern California’s Lusk Center for Real Estate. “No, but the discipline associated with saving for even a small downpayment and subsequently managing a house is, on average, associated with the discipline needed to promote better outcomes for children.”
To focus on the value of homeownership, the study attempted to back other influences out of the equation, such as the education level of parents or their marital status, income, race and age. Their goal was to look specifically at homeownership’s influence on a child’s development.
Major findings
• Children who live in owner-occupied homes have higher graduation rates. The dropout rate was 2.6 percent lower than renters’ children.
• The teen birth rate for homeowners’ children was 5 percent less than renters.
• The length of homeownership seemed unimportant. Some critics suggested that it wasn’t homeownership per se that influenced children, but instead, the length of time a family lives in a neighborhood. However, the study suggests that even relatively recent homebuyers’ kids had the same benefits as long-time owners.
• The size of the parent’s home downpayment made little difference, even if it was relatively low. All children benefited when their parents owned the home. However, the authors noted one exception: Parents who bought a home with no downpayment saw no advantage.
• For both renters and homeowners, a parent’s education level was a strong predictor of their child’s success.
• Buying a home has the strongest benefit for children 12 to 17 years old. While a home purchase helps younger children, the study found that it had the greatest benefit around the teen years.
© 2012 Florida Realtors®
The study did not offer a reason why homeownership helps children, but one author has an opinion:
“Does buying a home make you a better person?” asks Richard K. Green, director of the University of Southern California’s Lusk Center for Real Estate. “No, but the discipline associated with saving for even a small downpayment and subsequently managing a house is, on average, associated with the discipline needed to promote better outcomes for children.”
To focus on the value of homeownership, the study attempted to back other influences out of the equation, such as the education level of parents or their marital status, income, race and age. Their goal was to look specifically at homeownership’s influence on a child’s development.
Major findings
• Children who live in owner-occupied homes have higher graduation rates. The dropout rate was 2.6 percent lower than renters’ children.
• The teen birth rate for homeowners’ children was 5 percent less than renters.
• The length of homeownership seemed unimportant. Some critics suggested that it wasn’t homeownership per se that influenced children, but instead, the length of time a family lives in a neighborhood. However, the study suggests that even relatively recent homebuyers’ kids had the same benefits as long-time owners.
• The size of the parent’s home downpayment made little difference, even if it was relatively low. All children benefited when their parents owned the home. However, the authors noted one exception: Parents who bought a home with no downpayment saw no advantage.
• For both renters and homeowners, a parent’s education level was a strong predictor of their child’s success.
• Buying a home has the strongest benefit for children 12 to 17 years old. While a home purchase helps younger children, the study found that it had the greatest benefit around the teen years.
© 2012 Florida Realtors®
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
The Pushy Real Estate Agent
Have you ever dealt with a pushy Realtor? I can guarantee you that I will not use any of these tactics if you hire me to be your Realtor. I hope you laugh as much as I did. Enjoy!
Monday, October 15, 2012
The Fed Baits the Mortgage Hook
With the Federal Reserve buying billions of dollars worth of mortgage-backed securities, you might think that mortgage rates are poised to fall even lower than the current rock-bottom levels. Maybe you should wait on that refinancing, you wonder, or delay purchasing a house until the market is even more favorable.
Not so fast. The Fed’s purchase program certainly is expected to keep rates low for some time, but there’s no reason to think rates will fall much further, according to economists. In fact, looking at the past two Fed bond-buying programs, the market felt a stronger impact in the weeks immediately following the announcement – less so as time went by.
That’s not to say that the Fed’s actions are immaterial to current and potential homeowners. Three key factors that affect housing values and mortgage rates include why the Fed decided to act, current real estate market conditions and what the future could hold, both for the level of rates and the capacity of the financial system to handle demand for mortgage applications.
“The Fed wanted to give as much juice as possible to a piece of the economy that was starting to show some life,” said Liz Ann Sonders, chief investment strategist for San Francisco-based Charles Schwab & Co. “What is more important is the turn we’ve seen in prices.”
A nudge for housing investment
On Sept. 13, Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke announced that each month the Fed would buy as much as $40 billion of mortgage bonds to support the market and boost the economy, as well as $45 billion of Treasury securities. The central bank also promised to keep interest rates low through mid-2015, regardless of signs of economic recovery. That caused mortgage rates to fall to historic low levels.
“The Fed is saying, ‘We stand ready to do what we have to do to keep long-term rates down,’” said Bob Walters, chief economist at Quicken Loans in Detroit.
Investors face a long stretch ahead of low returns from such traditional financial instruments as bank deposits and bonds. The Fed’s hope is that they’ll be pushed into buying real estate and that this will further lift home prices, said Joseph Kalish, chief global macro strategist for Ned Davis Research, based in Venice, Fla.
“You’re really coercing investors who are holding cash to get into something else,” Kalish said. “What Bernanke is hoping for is that some of that money ends up in real estate. … People are fed up with earning zero percent at the bank. They’re buying up these foreclosed properties.”
About 11 million U.S. homeowners owe more on their mortgages than the home is worth, known as being “underwater.” For every 5 percent increase in home prices, another 2 million properties rise “above water.” So policymakers can be most effective in helping homeowners if they’re able to encourage prices to climb, Kalish said.
The CoreLogic Home Price Index is up 2.5 percent from a year ago and the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s purchase-only index reached its highest level in nearly two years, after growing 3.7 percent from last year – the fastest pace since September 2006, according to Kalish.
Prices start to rebound
Indeed, the factor of home prices is key in understanding the Fed’s action. As much as the Fed has done to keep rates low during the past few years, it couldn’t overcome the fact that home prices were falling at double-digit rates. Now that National Association of Realtors data show home prices beginning to appreciate again, by as much as 10 percent, it’s finally profitable to buy a house again, Sonders said.
“That is why housing is really starting to ramp,” she said. “Stocks and homes are the two biggest components of net worth, and they both are firing.”
The Fed wanted to jump on the momentum of this new energy for the economy, in hopes of building on the new confidence that will need to continue if unemployment is to fall and healthy growth is to be restored. Residential investment has contributed to economic growth in each of the past five quarters, after six years of the economy getting little or nothing from housing, Kalish said.
“We think the housing market has hit bottom in terms of activity and pricing, and we’re looking for these trends to continue for several years,” he said. “It’s about even between buyers and sellers; nobody has an advantage. This tighter market is helping to drive up prices. You hear (real estate agents) talking about a shortage of supply, even in Florida.”
As prices rise and more homeowners have positive equity, it could make it easier for banks to loosen credit standards and solve some of the problems borrowers have had with credit approval, too-low appraisals and difficulty with short sales, Walters said.
“A rising housing market starts to heal a lot of those things,” he said. “We’re seeing pretty significant evidence that housing has bottomed and is doing better than ever. It’s going to start to resolve a lot of the challenges in the marketplace.”
A refinancing backlog
Already, the Fed’s bond purchase program has boosted the number of refinancing applications to the highest level since April 2009, adding to an existing backlog. For homeowners who have been waiting months for a refinancing to process, that delay is unlikely to change substantially until after the election. There’s simply too much undecided about federal mortgage policy and the future of the budget and deficit debate, Kalish said.
“The banks can see this increase in demand, and it may warrant some additional hiring, but they’re really reluctant to staff back up. They’re under tremendous pressure with leverage and costs,” he said. “They’re going to be pretty cautious.”
Mortgage lending for home purchases is constrained even more, by a combination of borrowers’ difficulty obtaining mortgage insurance, higher servicing costs, more conservative appraisals, smaller lender staffing and the macroeconomic uncertainty. Even borrowers who obtain a new mortgage should expect continued lengthy approval timelines, extensive documentation and higher costs.
“The real estate market is not a quick-fix market. It takes months to see changes,” Kalish said. “The banks went through a horrific time the last few years so they don’t want to take another risk with people with low FICO scores.”
That said, lenders will probably resume hiring in force after a sustained period of rising prices and solid demand. The Fed’s support through its mortgage bond-buying program takes a big step in that direction.
“The Fed has proven it’s going to do what it can, and what it wants is to keep long-term rates down,” Sonders said.
But Sonders, Walters and Kalish cautioned that individual homeowners shouldn’t procrastinate on refinancing or purchase decisions just because rates should stay low for some time. Other factors, both personal finances and life stage, should be given greater weight.
“When rates move, they can move rapidly and they don’t ring a bell when they’re about to move,” Walters said.
Copyright washingtonpost.com. Katherine Reynolds Lewis is a freelance writer.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
The Greens at Tuscawilla - 2nd Video
Upscale Country Club living. The Greens at Tuscawilla. Luxury townhomes starting in the mid 200s. Contact me at www.floridamoves.com/tim.shelton for more info. Follow me on Twitter: @TopOrlCBRealtor
What Home Sellers Want
In today's post, I'm going to discuss my approach to finding and defining what home sellers want. As a seller of your home, the hiring of your Realtor is the most important decision that you will make in the process. When I meet with a prospective home seller I have a short period of time to learn what their needs are, advise them why they should hire me as their Realtor, and develop a marketing and sales plan that will meet their needs. Sound like a lot of pressure to you? It is.
Prior to meeting with a potential customer, I will arrange to preview their home on another date. There are many of my competitors that preview the home on the same date and time that they make their presentation to the seller. This is a bad move. At some point in their presentation, they will give the seller a Competitive Market Analysis (CMA) describing what they believe their home is worth. How can they do a reliable CMA if they've never seen the home before? Would you agree with me that every home is different? This is why I do my preview prior to the presentation date.
To discover the sellers' needs and their motivation to sell their home, I use effective questioning and disciplined listening skills. Once I have determined what their needs are and their motivation for selling, I can begin to develop a plan in my head. A common question from a potential seller is, "Why should I list with you?". That's a great question! To answer that question, I start by telling the seller of the advantages of listing their home for sale with Coldwell Banker. I will include information regarding our network strength, our international connections, and the advantages of our HomeBase Transaction Management system that updates sellers with various statistics on their listing (showings, views on websites, pertinent documents, etc). I will present them with flyers that highlight notable company achievements and statistics, market share, annual sales volume, company comparisons, etc. Next, I will advise them of my personal achievements, awards and recognition, and letters of recommendation. I will present them with my annual sales volume, a recent sales list, current listing inventory, and an average list-to-sale price ratio. The most important thing for me to remember is that this presentation is about the sellers and their property, not about me. I have to be very careful not to overdo the presentation of my credentials.
As the seller prepares to sell their home, I know that they have two important decisions to make: the company and sales associate that can best represent them in the sale of their home and the marketing plan and pricing strategy needed to achieve their home sales objectives. Sellers will frequently hear me refer to the phrase "full service". At Coldwell Banker, we take great pride in our full service approach to real estate sales. I am convinced that in today's market, you need a full service real estate professional and company following a full service marketing system to achieve your home sale goals.
In order for me to demonstrate how I can meet the seller's needs, it is important that I understand their specific needs and objectives. In my experience, I have learned from sellers what is most important to them when selling their home. Most sellers share the same four priorities:
They want....
In closing, I believe that the most important decision that a seller makes when selling their home is choosing the correct Realtor to list their home with. If they choose wrong, the process will be even more stressful than it should be.
I hope that you have enjoyed this post. Please keep an eye out for my next post to this blog. You can follow me on Twitter: @TopOrlCBRealtor or "friend me" on facebook (Tim Shelton). Find your dream home on my website. Thanks for reading!
Tim Shelton, Realtor
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate
Winter Springs, Florida
Prior to meeting with a potential customer, I will arrange to preview their home on another date. There are many of my competitors that preview the home on the same date and time that they make their presentation to the seller. This is a bad move. At some point in their presentation, they will give the seller a Competitive Market Analysis (CMA) describing what they believe their home is worth. How can they do a reliable CMA if they've never seen the home before? Would you agree with me that every home is different? This is why I do my preview prior to the presentation date.
To discover the sellers' needs and their motivation to sell their home, I use effective questioning and disciplined listening skills. Once I have determined what their needs are and their motivation for selling, I can begin to develop a plan in my head. A common question from a potential seller is, "Why should I list with you?". That's a great question! To answer that question, I start by telling the seller of the advantages of listing their home for sale with Coldwell Banker. I will include information regarding our network strength, our international connections, and the advantages of our HomeBase Transaction Management system that updates sellers with various statistics on their listing (showings, views on websites, pertinent documents, etc). I will present them with flyers that highlight notable company achievements and statistics, market share, annual sales volume, company comparisons, etc. Next, I will advise them of my personal achievements, awards and recognition, and letters of recommendation. I will present them with my annual sales volume, a recent sales list, current listing inventory, and an average list-to-sale price ratio. The most important thing for me to remember is that this presentation is about the sellers and their property, not about me. I have to be very careful not to overdo the presentation of my credentials.
As the seller prepares to sell their home, I know that they have two important decisions to make: the company and sales associate that can best represent them in the sale of their home and the marketing plan and pricing strategy needed to achieve their home sales objectives. Sellers will frequently hear me refer to the phrase "full service". At Coldwell Banker, we take great pride in our full service approach to real estate sales. I am convinced that in today's market, you need a full service real estate professional and company following a full service marketing system to achieve your home sale goals.
In order for me to demonstrate how I can meet the seller's needs, it is important that I understand their specific needs and objectives. In my experience, I have learned from sellers what is most important to them when selling their home. Most sellers share the same four priorities:
They want....
- The best price and terms attainable for their property.
- The shortest possible time on the market.
- The least inconvenience, with management of the details.
- And frequent communication to keep them informed throughout the home sale process.
In closing, I believe that the most important decision that a seller makes when selling their home is choosing the correct Realtor to list their home with. If they choose wrong, the process will be even more stressful than it should be.
I hope that you have enjoyed this post. Please keep an eye out for my next post to this blog. You can follow me on Twitter: @TopOrlCBRealtor or "friend me" on facebook (Tim Shelton). Find your dream home on my website. Thanks for reading!
Tim Shelton, Realtor
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate
Winter Springs, Florida
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
The Greens at Tuscawilla
I have had a lot of requests for a video tour of The Greens at Tuscawilla. Here is the first amateur video. Enjoy!
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Orlando Real Estate Market Snaphot
Here is a video that I did on the Orlando Real Estate Market. Please feel free to share with your friends!
Managing the Sale of Your Home - Position Your Home to Sell
In this series of posts, we will discuss the different stages that we take in order to manage the sale of your home. There are three main components of a Realtor's job description: Acquisition of buyers and sellers, creation of highly satisfied customers, and long-term maintenance of the real estate relationship.
What do people that are speaking to you about listing their home for sale really want to do? They want to sell their home of course. When you are meeting with a potential seller, what is the most important factor that will influence whether or not you are able to sell their home? The correct price. Today, people that are considered buyers are not dumb. As a matter of fact, there are really three subcategories of buyers: Experienced buyers (those that have been studying the market for a time), Semi-experienced buyers (those that are not brand new to the market, but not yet considered experienced), and New buyers (those that have just entered the market). Studies show that the most critical time for a home that has just been listed is the first 14 days.This is when buyers are most likely to make an offer on a newly listed home. After this time period, interest falls off dramatically. The experienced buyers that have been studying the market know when a newly listed home is priced right, or if it is overpriced. If it is priced right in the market, they will take a bite. Think of them as sharks in a feeding tank. If you throw chum (home priced correctly) into the tank, they will bite. If you throw rubber tires into the tank (homes that are overpriced, even by as little as 5%) they will not take a bite.
In today's market, it is so important to offer an initial price positioning that will get your seller's home sold quickly. You need to develop a competitive listing price to attract home buyer's interest and inquiries and to generate attention and support from other Realtors. Remember that the largest pool of potential home buyers wants to see your property within the first 14 days on the market. The number of qualified buyers decreases as the number of days on the market increases, so your home must create energy and excitement immediately. Aggressive property pricing from the start will generate the most Realtor and home buyer activity. With a competitive market analysis, you receive details about what current home buyers are willing to pay for properties similar to your seller's home in the local market. This recent sales data takes into consideration the prices paid for recently sold properties, properties currently on the market that are not selling, and homes that did not sell which shows the properties/prices that home buyers have not been willing to pay in today's market.
The next step in positioning a home to sell is to discuss any home enhancement recommendations for making the home look its best for showing and open houses. This may include removing clutter from rooms, having the carpets professionally cleaned, or painting the walls a neutral color to make it more appealing to potential buyers. Buyers need to be able to envision themselves living in the home. Another great enhancement that can be made is to remove all family photos from the walls/house and removing all items from the refrigerator doors.
The final step in positioning a home to sell is to implement a full-service marketing plan. This will provide maximum property exposure and generate both online and in-person showings. You will want to utilize the marketing tactics that your broker has in place for you. You may also find it useful to promote your new listing via other channels that you may need to pay for out of your own pocket.
When all is said and done, selling a home really boils down to one thing...price. I cannot emphasize the importance of pricing a home correctly from the very beginning. It is your job to stress the significance of this decision to your seller. If a home does not sell, it does not do your seller any good, nor does it benefit you. If a seller does not agree with your professional opinion on where the market currently is and what their home should be priced at to bring them the greatest profit in today's market, then you will need to decide if you really want to take the listing. Remember that having your sign in their yard is great advertising...if the home sells. If it does not, then you could be doing more harm to your future business and reputation. Ultimately, you have a business to run. If you are dealing with a seller that is unwilling to take your advice, you will need to decide if you want to take the risk of having a home sitting on the market and not selling on your record.
Please keep your eyes out for the next post in the Managing the Sale of Your Home series. I hope that you have enjoyed this post. Please keep an eye out for my next post to this blog. You can follow me on Twitter: @TopOrlCBRealtor or "friend me" on facebook (Tim Shelton). Checkout my website: Thanks for reading!
Tim Shelton, Realtor
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate
Winter Springs, Florida
What do people that are speaking to you about listing their home for sale really want to do? They want to sell their home of course. When you are meeting with a potential seller, what is the most important factor that will influence whether or not you are able to sell their home? The correct price. Today, people that are considered buyers are not dumb. As a matter of fact, there are really three subcategories of buyers: Experienced buyers (those that have been studying the market for a time), Semi-experienced buyers (those that are not brand new to the market, but not yet considered experienced), and New buyers (those that have just entered the market). Studies show that the most critical time for a home that has just been listed is the first 14 days.This is when buyers are most likely to make an offer on a newly listed home. After this time period, interest falls off dramatically. The experienced buyers that have been studying the market know when a newly listed home is priced right, or if it is overpriced. If it is priced right in the market, they will take a bite. Think of them as sharks in a feeding tank. If you throw chum (home priced correctly) into the tank, they will bite. If you throw rubber tires into the tank (homes that are overpriced, even by as little as 5%) they will not take a bite.
In today's market, it is so important to offer an initial price positioning that will get your seller's home sold quickly. You need to develop a competitive listing price to attract home buyer's interest and inquiries and to generate attention and support from other Realtors. Remember that the largest pool of potential home buyers wants to see your property within the first 14 days on the market. The number of qualified buyers decreases as the number of days on the market increases, so your home must create energy and excitement immediately. Aggressive property pricing from the start will generate the most Realtor and home buyer activity. With a competitive market analysis, you receive details about what current home buyers are willing to pay for properties similar to your seller's home in the local market. This recent sales data takes into consideration the prices paid for recently sold properties, properties currently on the market that are not selling, and homes that did not sell which shows the properties/prices that home buyers have not been willing to pay in today's market.
The next step in positioning a home to sell is to discuss any home enhancement recommendations for making the home look its best for showing and open houses. This may include removing clutter from rooms, having the carpets professionally cleaned, or painting the walls a neutral color to make it more appealing to potential buyers. Buyers need to be able to envision themselves living in the home. Another great enhancement that can be made is to remove all family photos from the walls/house and removing all items from the refrigerator doors.
The final step in positioning a home to sell is to implement a full-service marketing plan. This will provide maximum property exposure and generate both online and in-person showings. You will want to utilize the marketing tactics that your broker has in place for you. You may also find it useful to promote your new listing via other channels that you may need to pay for out of your own pocket.
When all is said and done, selling a home really boils down to one thing...price. I cannot emphasize the importance of pricing a home correctly from the very beginning. It is your job to stress the significance of this decision to your seller. If a home does not sell, it does not do your seller any good, nor does it benefit you. If a seller does not agree with your professional opinion on where the market currently is and what their home should be priced at to bring them the greatest profit in today's market, then you will need to decide if you really want to take the listing. Remember that having your sign in their yard is great advertising...if the home sells. If it does not, then you could be doing more harm to your future business and reputation. Ultimately, you have a business to run. If you are dealing with a seller that is unwilling to take your advice, you will need to decide if you want to take the risk of having a home sitting on the market and not selling on your record.
Please keep your eyes out for the next post in the Managing the Sale of Your Home series. I hope that you have enjoyed this post. Please keep an eye out for my next post to this blog. You can follow me on Twitter: @TopOrlCBRealtor or "friend me" on facebook (Tim Shelton). Checkout my website: Thanks for reading!
Tim Shelton, Realtor
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate
Winter Springs, Florida
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Goals That Work - Part IV
This post will complete my series on goals. So far we have discussed that there are four components to setting goals and we've discussed three of them: Goals Must be Specific and Measurable, Goals Must Have a Time Limit and Goals Must be YOUR Goals.The fourth and last component to achieving your goals is that goals must be in writing.
Goals Must be in Writing
For some reason, this last component is the one where everyone drops the ball. It sounds good to put your goal in writing, but almost no one does. And the correlation is clear: almost no one wins. Winners are so strange that we admire them deeply. With very few exceptions winners have written goals. It is almost impossible to accomplish something big without a written blueprint.
You may have heard of the 1953 Goal Setting Study by Yale University. If you haven't, then let me bring you up to speed. The study found that the 3% of 1953 Yale graduates who had set clear, written goals had amassed more wealth than the other 97% of graduates combined. Is that enough to convince you that your goals must be in writing? Read that again: 3% of 1953 Yale graduates who had set clear, written goals had amassed more wealth than the other 97% of graduates combined. That's huge!
Now, let me also share with you this little tidbit of information. According to Yale University and their website, this claim is false. That's correct, I said false. Here's a statement from their website:
The secretary of the Class of 1953, who
had served in that capacity for many years, did not know of [the study],
nor did any of the fellow class members he questioned. In addition, a
number of Yale administrators were consulted and the records of various
offices were examined in an effort to document the reported study. There
was no relevant record, nor did anyone recall the purported study of
the Class of 1953, or any other class.
So you are probably wondering why the fourth component to goals is Goals Must be in Writing. Just because there is no proven study from Yale University does not mean that it does not exist. There is a study by Professor Gail Matthews at Dominican University, not Yale University which looked at goal-setting and achievement over a much shorter period of four to six weeks. Her study had three main findings, according to the summary she posted:
1.) Accountability is important: those who committed to and followed through on sending progress reports to a friend achieved significantly more than those who did not.
2.) Public commitment matters: those who sent their commitments to a friend accomplished significantly more than those who just wrote action commitments or did not write their goals.
3.) Writing your goals is important: those who wrote down their goals accomplished significantly more than those who did not.
In closing, it has been proven that people whom write their goals are more successful than those that do not. Folks, you need to write your goals down. You need to review them frequently if you want to be successful. It is a proven fact.
I hope that you have enjoyed these posts on goals. Please keep an eye out for my next post to this blog. You can follow me on Twitter: @TopOrlCBRealtor or "friend me" on facebook (Tim Shelton). Checkout my website: Thanks for reading!
Tim Shelton, Realtor
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate
Winter Springs, Florida
Goals Must be in Writing
For some reason, this last component is the one where everyone drops the ball. It sounds good to put your goal in writing, but almost no one does. And the correlation is clear: almost no one wins. Winners are so strange that we admire them deeply. With very few exceptions winners have written goals. It is almost impossible to accomplish something big without a written blueprint.
You may have heard of the 1953 Goal Setting Study by Yale University. If you haven't, then let me bring you up to speed. The study found that the 3% of 1953 Yale graduates who had set clear, written goals had amassed more wealth than the other 97% of graduates combined. Is that enough to convince you that your goals must be in writing? Read that again: 3% of 1953 Yale graduates who had set clear, written goals had amassed more wealth than the other 97% of graduates combined. That's huge!
Now, let me also share with you this little tidbit of information. According to Yale University and their website, this claim is false. That's correct, I said false. Here's a statement from their website:
It has been determined that no “goals
study” of the Class of 1953 actually occurred. In recent years, we have
received a number of requests for information on a reported study based
on a survey administered to the Class of 1953 in their senior year and a
follow-up study conducted ten years later. This study has been
described as how one’s goals at graduation related to success and annual
incomes achieved during the period.
So you are probably wondering why the fourth component to goals is Goals Must be in Writing. Just because there is no proven study from Yale University does not mean that it does not exist. There is a study by Professor Gail Matthews at Dominican University, not Yale University which looked at goal-setting and achievement over a much shorter period of four to six weeks. Her study had three main findings, according to the summary she posted:
1.) Accountability is important: those who committed to and followed through on sending progress reports to a friend achieved significantly more than those who did not.
2.) Public commitment matters: those who sent their commitments to a friend accomplished significantly more than those who just wrote action commitments or did not write their goals.
3.) Writing your goals is important: those who wrote down their goals accomplished significantly more than those who did not.
In closing, it has been proven that people whom write their goals are more successful than those that do not. Folks, you need to write your goals down. You need to review them frequently if you want to be successful. It is a proven fact.
I hope that you have enjoyed these posts on goals. Please keep an eye out for my next post to this blog. You can follow me on Twitter: @TopOrlCBRealtor or "friend me" on facebook (Tim Shelton). Checkout my website: Thanks for reading!
Tim Shelton, Realtor
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate
Winter Springs, Florida
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Goals That Work - Part III
This post is Part III of my series of posts on "Goals". If you haven't read the previous two posts on this subject, I recommend reading them before continuing with this post.
So far we've learned that there are four components to setting and achieving goals. We've gone over the first two components: Goals must be specific and measurable. Goals must have a time limit. This post will discuss the third component: The Goals Must be Your Goals.
The Goals Must be Your Goals
"My wife wants me to lose thirty pounds." That will never happen. "My father wanted me to be a surgeon." I don't want to be your patient. "My father wanted me to be a preacher." I want a preacher called by the Father, not by his dad. If you don't own the goal and it doesn't come from your dream, then you won't have the toughness to persevere when the going gets tough. There is never an exception - everyone who wins must push through obstacles, lots of them. You simply will not get up at dawn for your three-mile run because your wife wants you thinner. Big goals require big backbone - wimps need not apply. You have to have courage and you can't import that; it comes from you caring deeply about the result. When you care about the end of the story, you will work your way through it.
The fourth and final component will be revealed soon! Keep checking this blog for updates.
I certainly hope that you are enjoying these posts. Please be sure to follow me on Twitter @TopOrlCBRealtor and "friend me" on Facebook (Tim Shelton).
Are you looking to buy or sell a home? Click here and contact me through my website and I'll be more than happy to help!
So far we've learned that there are four components to setting and achieving goals. We've gone over the first two components: Goals must be specific and measurable. Goals must have a time limit. This post will discuss the third component: The Goals Must be Your Goals.
The Goals Must be Your Goals
"My wife wants me to lose thirty pounds." That will never happen. "My father wanted me to be a surgeon." I don't want to be your patient. "My father wanted me to be a preacher." I want a preacher called by the Father, not by his dad. If you don't own the goal and it doesn't come from your dream, then you won't have the toughness to persevere when the going gets tough. There is never an exception - everyone who wins must push through obstacles, lots of them. You simply will not get up at dawn for your three-mile run because your wife wants you thinner. Big goals require big backbone - wimps need not apply. You have to have courage and you can't import that; it comes from you caring deeply about the result. When you care about the end of the story, you will work your way through it.
The fourth and final component will be revealed soon! Keep checking this blog for updates.
I certainly hope that you are enjoying these posts. Please be sure to follow me on Twitter @TopOrlCBRealtor and "friend me" on Facebook (Tim Shelton).
Are you looking to buy or sell a home? Click here and contact me through my website and I'll be more than happy to help!
Monday, September 10, 2012
Goals That Work - Part II
In my last post, we discussed that goals must be specific and that goals must also be measurable. I told you that there are four components to goals. Here is the second component:
Goals Must Have a Time Limit
Goals that do not have a time limit are unable to be broken down into "micro" goals to measure your progress. You might say, "I want to write a book." Great, when? In twenty years? In twenty months? If you don't put a deadline on the goal it will never happen and you will get to eat the bitter fruit of regret. You will say, "I always wanted to write a book, but I just never got around to it." I am not a very good writer in the literary sense, but a blog like this is a great way to teach and convey ideas. When I decided to write this blog, I decided on deadlines for updating my blog with different posts. So here I sit today finishing this post to stay on pace to hit my goal. See how powerful goal setting is?
If you say you want to make $100,000, that is not good enough. If you say you want to make $100,000 in this year, now we have something to work with. You will need to work backwards from that number. Figure out how much income you need to average each month to make $100,000 per year. Next, figure out how much you need to make each week on average to earn $100,000 per year. You need to learn what the average sales price is for your sales and how many quality relational contacts have to be made to result in one sale. So, now you have some easy math that you can do to get an idea of how much work will need to be done to accomplish your goal of $100,000.
If you want to lose thirty pounds you cannot just say, "I want to lose thirty pounds." Not good enough. When? I want to lose thirty pounds in three months. Now we have something we can build on. Are you already doing the math? That is ten pounds a month and therefore two and a half pounds a week. So we are going to exercise more and eat less to hit the two and half pounds per week. If you hit the chocolate cake or the second helping, the scales will yell at you that you are off the mark for your goal.
So if you want to be more social, lose weight, own your own business, increase revenues, write a book, or have a better marriage, your goals need to be specific and measurable and have a time limit.
Stay tuned for my next post where I will share with you the third component to setting goals.
Goals Must Have a Time Limit
Goals that do not have a time limit are unable to be broken down into "micro" goals to measure your progress. You might say, "I want to write a book." Great, when? In twenty years? In twenty months? If you don't put a deadline on the goal it will never happen and you will get to eat the bitter fruit of regret. You will say, "I always wanted to write a book, but I just never got around to it." I am not a very good writer in the literary sense, but a blog like this is a great way to teach and convey ideas. When I decided to write this blog, I decided on deadlines for updating my blog with different posts. So here I sit today finishing this post to stay on pace to hit my goal. See how powerful goal setting is?
If you say you want to make $100,000, that is not good enough. If you say you want to make $100,000 in this year, now we have something to work with. You will need to work backwards from that number. Figure out how much income you need to average each month to make $100,000 per year. Next, figure out how much you need to make each week on average to earn $100,000 per year. You need to learn what the average sales price is for your sales and how many quality relational contacts have to be made to result in one sale. So, now you have some easy math that you can do to get an idea of how much work will need to be done to accomplish your goal of $100,000.
If you want to lose thirty pounds you cannot just say, "I want to lose thirty pounds." Not good enough. When? I want to lose thirty pounds in three months. Now we have something we can build on. Are you already doing the math? That is ten pounds a month and therefore two and a half pounds a week. So we are going to exercise more and eat less to hit the two and half pounds per week. If you hit the chocolate cake or the second helping, the scales will yell at you that you are off the mark for your goal.
So if you want to be more social, lose weight, own your own business, increase revenues, write a book, or have a better marriage, your goals need to be specific and measurable and have a time limit.
Stay tuned for my next post where I will share with you the third component to setting goals.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Goals That Work
Anyone that is looking to start their own business must set goals. Goals are a very important piece of the puzzle to your success. I believe goals that work have four components to them. Each component must be addressed in order to have a real goal that will work. It is important to remember that goals are not dreams, visions, or wishes. In a sense, goals are bringing those things down to earth. This allows us to take actual steps to make our dreams come true. If you follow these four components when setting your goals for your new business, you will be setup for success!
I will reveal these components to you one at a time and each will have their own post. We will start with the following:
Goals Must Be Specific and Goals Must Be Measurable
You cannot have vague goals. A vague goal is not a goal at all. A vague goals is nothing more than a dream or wish and you do not want to end up being one of those people that ends up dreaming and doesn't do anything. You cannot simply say that I want to lose weight; that is not specific enough. You cannot say that you want to be better educated; that is not specific or measurable. Saying that you want to make more money is just a dream and will not happen; because while "more money" is measurable, it is not specific. Instead, you should set goals by saying things such as:
Please check back for the next post when I will reveal the second component to accomplishing your goals! Thanks for reading!
If we're not already friends, please friend me on Facebook. You can follow me on Twitter @TopORLCBRealtor and be sure to connect with me on FourSquare!
I will reveal these components to you one at a time and each will have their own post. We will start with the following:
Goals Must Be Specific and Goals Must Be Measurable
You cannot have vague goals. A vague goal is not a goal at all. A vague goals is nothing more than a dream or wish and you do not want to end up being one of those people that ends up dreaming and doesn't do anything. You cannot simply say that I want to lose weight; that is not specific enough. You cannot say that you want to be better educated; that is not specific or measurable. Saying that you want to make more money is just a dream and will not happen; because while "more money" is measurable, it is not specific. Instead, you should set goals by saying things such as:
- I want to lose thirty pounds.
- I want a waist that is four inches smaller.
- I want to make $100,000 per year.
- I want a college degree in _________.
- I want to have diner with six couples.
Please check back for the next post when I will reveal the second component to accomplishing your goals! Thanks for reading!
If we're not already friends, please friend me on Facebook. You can follow me on Twitter @TopORLCBRealtor and be sure to connect with me on FourSquare!
Thursday, September 6, 2012
What is Your Motivation?
Remember the very first day that you
walked into the office of your new career as a Real Estate Agent? The
butterflies in your stomach. The unknown of what lies ahead of you. All
of the questions that you had running through your mind at a rapid pace.
Will I be successful? How will I get my first client? Am I crazy for
thinking that I can do this?
It's funny to me how we can prepare for a career by taking classes, reading books and writing our business plan and then when it's time for the rubber to meet the road...we doubt our decisions. I believe that these are all common things that all Realtors go through, especially when they first start their careers.
When I decided to become a Realtor in
Orlando and the greater Central Florida area, I made a commitment to
myself that I was going to be successful. I decided that I was not only
going to be a good Realtor, but that I was going to be the #1 Realtor in
Orlando and the greater Central Florida area. That's right, with no
experience, I was going to be the best Orlando Realtor.
I got into the Orlando Real Estate market for many reasons. I had been successful at many things in my past and knew that if I could apply lessons that I'd learned from my past to the Orlando Real Estate market, that I could very well become the top Orlando Realtor. I asked myself, what motivates me? Motivation is one of the most powerful forces in our lives. Well, the obvious answer would be money, right? Isn't that why we all get into the Real Estate business? I'm not so sure. We all have different "drivers" as to why we go into business for ourselves. I believe that there are four major drivers that propel us into this business: Independence, Wealth, Recognition/Fame, and Contribution.
Independence. This is a common driver for many of us. We are motivated by the day when we can tell our boss what we really think of them and walk out the door with confidence. If you like the idea of setting your own hours and standards, then independence could very well be your main driver. Being a Realtor can give you the independence that you are looking for in your career.
Wealth. Unless you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth (a picture of Ricky Schroeder in Silver Spoons comes to mind for some strange reason) then you most likely have to work for a living. We all have different definitions of what wealh means to us. Some of us would say that wealth is having a jet in the hangar, a Ferrari in the garage and the large estate on the lake. Others might define wealth as not having any debt or just being able to put food on the table. Unfortunately, a lot of people are afraid to state that wealth is what motivates or drives them. There is nothing to be ashamed of if this is your main motivation. In today's world, the word profit tends to be seen as a dirty word to many people and being in business for yourself somehow makes you greedy. I'm here to tell you that nothing is further from the truth. When you create your own wealth you are able to provide for you and your family's needs. You are also most likely providing employment to others (by hiring assistants, or utiizing the services of others such as mortgage brokers, underwriters, insurance agents, website developers, marketing associates, etc.). Wealth is not something to be ashamed of. Remember, profit is not a dirty word. Wealth can be obtained by becoming a successful Realtor.
Recognition/Fame. These are also some great reasons why people become Realtors. As a Realtor in Orlando, we all have our pictures on our business cards and on our websites. Why? We are building our brand. You are your own brand in this market. If you provide outstanding service to your clients, then you should take great pride in that. By having your face and name associated with your business shows the public that you have great confidence in yourself, your company, and your abilities. There's nothing wrong with wanting fame as well. Fame is sometimes a motivator for someone that is tired of just being another face in the sea of faces in a place of employment. Just being a number in the eyes of their employer. I think it's fair to say that everyone wants their "15 minutes of fame". Besides, fame can make you money. Fame can make life much easier for us such as always being able to get a seat at our favorite restaurant or receiving "comps" for different products. Remember though that it can also be a double-edged sword. I once heard a saying about recognitiion and fame...."Babies cry for it, grown men die for it."
Contribution. This can be an important motivator/driver. There are some of us out there that desire to give back to others. Some of us are compelled to help meet a basic need for people, animals or the environment. We just want to help others and leave the world a better place. There is nothing, absolutely nothing wrong with you if this is your main driver. You need to recognize that your goals are going to be very different from other Realtors in your area though. The motivation of contribution can be just as financially rewarding as any of the other drivers/motivators. Your profits can be invested back into your community and allowing for even more good works to be done.
So, what is your main motivation? I have different motivators at different times. Sometimes in my business I'm more motivated by wealth while at other times I'm more driven by contribution. As you may have noticed, by having and sharing this blog, I am utilizing my driver of recognition/fame. In the end. all of these drivers will propel me to become the best Orlando Realtor.
It's funny to me how we can prepare for a career by taking classes, reading books and writing our business plan and then when it's time for the rubber to meet the road...we doubt our decisions. I believe that these are all common things that all Realtors go through, especially when they first start their careers.
I got into the Orlando Real Estate market for many reasons. I had been successful at many things in my past and knew that if I could apply lessons that I'd learned from my past to the Orlando Real Estate market, that I could very well become the top Orlando Realtor. I asked myself, what motivates me? Motivation is one of the most powerful forces in our lives. Well, the obvious answer would be money, right? Isn't that why we all get into the Real Estate business? I'm not so sure. We all have different "drivers" as to why we go into business for ourselves. I believe that there are four major drivers that propel us into this business: Independence, Wealth, Recognition/Fame, and Contribution.
Independence. This is a common driver for many of us. We are motivated by the day when we can tell our boss what we really think of them and walk out the door with confidence. If you like the idea of setting your own hours and standards, then independence could very well be your main driver. Being a Realtor can give you the independence that you are looking for in your career.
Wealth. Unless you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth (a picture of Ricky Schroeder in Silver Spoons comes to mind for some strange reason) then you most likely have to work for a living. We all have different definitions of what wealh means to us. Some of us would say that wealth is having a jet in the hangar, a Ferrari in the garage and the large estate on the lake. Others might define wealth as not having any debt or just being able to put food on the table. Unfortunately, a lot of people are afraid to state that wealth is what motivates or drives them. There is nothing to be ashamed of if this is your main motivation. In today's world, the word profit tends to be seen as a dirty word to many people and being in business for yourself somehow makes you greedy. I'm here to tell you that nothing is further from the truth. When you create your own wealth you are able to provide for you and your family's needs. You are also most likely providing employment to others (by hiring assistants, or utiizing the services of others such as mortgage brokers, underwriters, insurance agents, website developers, marketing associates, etc.). Wealth is not something to be ashamed of. Remember, profit is not a dirty word. Wealth can be obtained by becoming a successful Realtor.
Recognition/Fame. These are also some great reasons why people become Realtors. As a Realtor in Orlando, we all have our pictures on our business cards and on our websites. Why? We are building our brand. You are your own brand in this market. If you provide outstanding service to your clients, then you should take great pride in that. By having your face and name associated with your business shows the public that you have great confidence in yourself, your company, and your abilities. There's nothing wrong with wanting fame as well. Fame is sometimes a motivator for someone that is tired of just being another face in the sea of faces in a place of employment. Just being a number in the eyes of their employer. I think it's fair to say that everyone wants their "15 minutes of fame". Besides, fame can make you money. Fame can make life much easier for us such as always being able to get a seat at our favorite restaurant or receiving "comps" for different products. Remember though that it can also be a double-edged sword. I once heard a saying about recognitiion and fame...."Babies cry for it, grown men die for it."
Contribution. This can be an important motivator/driver. There are some of us out there that desire to give back to others. Some of us are compelled to help meet a basic need for people, animals or the environment. We just want to help others and leave the world a better place. There is nothing, absolutely nothing wrong with you if this is your main driver. You need to recognize that your goals are going to be very different from other Realtors in your area though. The motivation of contribution can be just as financially rewarding as any of the other drivers/motivators. Your profits can be invested back into your community and allowing for even more good works to be done.
So, what is your main motivation? I have different motivators at different times. Sometimes in my business I'm more motivated by wealth while at other times I'm more driven by contribution. As you may have noticed, by having and sharing this blog, I am utilizing my driver of recognition/fame. In the end. all of these drivers will propel me to become the best Orlando Realtor.
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