Labor Day looms large for homeowners. The end of summer signals that many of us will soon be immersed in an accelerated work schedule plus soccer practices, homework and other realities of back-to-school season, but there's still time to tackle a few DIY home improvement projects. While your goal may simply be to freshen the appearance of your home, you also want to know that your hard work will increase your home's value.
Here are eight home improvements you can finish Labor Day weekend that will pay you back - each costs less than $1,000 and require less than a day’s work.
Read full story at kiplinger.com
Aug 26, 2010
Aug 22, 2010
How To Shop for a Mortgage
Finding a mortgage can be a strenuous process. Not only are there hundreds of institutions offering mortgages, it can seem as though there are dozens of different types of mortgages themselves. Different interest rates, different lengths and other features can be confusing. This article describes some of the different options you may encounter as you shop for a mortgage.
Aug 17, 2010
Shred Fest: Vista Lakes
Fairwinds Credit Union is partnering with Crown Shredding to bring you ‘Shred Fest’. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to protect yourself from identity theft by safely destroying your personal documents and papers in our shred truck courtesy of Crown Shredding. You can actually see the documents shred right before your eyes!
Vista Lakes
7037 Narcoossee Rd
Sat 8/28/2010
9am to 1pm
more info
Vista Lakes
7037 Narcoossee Rd
Sat 8/28/2010
9am to 1pm
more info
Aug 12, 2010
Free Homebuyer's Workshop
Sat 8/28/2010
9am to 12pm
FAIRWINDS Corporate Center
3087 N Alafaya Tr
Orlando, FL 32826
Thinking about purchasing a home? How can I best prepare for the homebuying process? Please join us at this special complimentary workshop designed especially for homebuyers. Area professionals will share their expertise on topics including: understanding your credit report, homeowners insurance, appraisal and home inspection process, what to expect at closing and much more. Plus, Fairwinds lending experts will provide you with techniques and strategies to help improve your credit score. more info
9am to 12pm
FAIRWINDS Corporate Center
3087 N Alafaya Tr
Orlando, FL 32826
Thinking about purchasing a home? How can I best prepare for the homebuying process? Please join us at this special complimentary workshop designed especially for homebuyers. Area professionals will share their expertise on topics including: understanding your credit report, homeowners insurance, appraisal and home inspection process, what to expect at closing and much more. Plus, Fairwinds lending experts will provide you with techniques and strategies to help improve your credit score. more info
Aug 7, 2010
Beachline Interchange No More
Chances are slim that the interchange providing a direct connection from S Alafaya Tr to the Beachline will be built any time soon - if at all.
Orange Co received notice from Suburban Land Reserve that the Beachline/528 Interchange is off the table ‘indefinitely’.
Orange Co received notice from Suburban Land Reserve that the Beachline/528 Interchange is off the table ‘indefinitely’.
Aug 4, 2010
What’s a TRIM Notice?
In mid-Aug of each year, the Orange Co Property Appraiser sends a Truth in Millage (TRIM) notice to all property owners as required by law. This notice is very important - look for it in the mail! You'll recognize it by prominent lettering "DO NOT PAY - this is not a bill."
The TRIM notice tells you the taxable value of your property. Taxable value is the just value less any exemptions.
The TRIM notice also gives you information on proposed millage rates and taxes as estimated by your community taxing authorities. It also tells you when and where these authorities will hold public meetings to discuss tentative budgets to set your millage tax rates.
Fees not related to your property value may also appear on your TRIM notice for garbage collection, roads, lighting and other government services. These fees are set by your taxing authority and are not affected by any change in the value of your property.
More info from Orange Co Property Appraiser.
The TRIM notice tells you the taxable value of your property. Taxable value is the just value less any exemptions.
The TRIM notice also gives you information on proposed millage rates and taxes as estimated by your community taxing authorities. It also tells you when and where these authorities will hold public meetings to discuss tentative budgets to set your millage tax rates.
Fees not related to your property value may also appear on your TRIM notice for garbage collection, roads, lighting and other government services. These fees are set by your taxing authority and are not affected by any change in the value of your property.
More info from Orange Co Property Appraiser.
Aug 1, 2010
Homes Commonly Selling Over List
Buyers beware! A strong indictor that the east Orlando buyer’s market is officially dead: 1/3 of all single family home sales in the past 30 days sold for over list. Add to that: 20% of these buyers were all cash buyers. Woh. Where have the deals gone? Aren’t homes selling for a song? Can I still get my dream home with a low ball offer?
Buyers of normal homes paid more for their home & closed faster. On average, these buyers paid a 4% premium on their purchase & closed 25% faster (compared to overall sales during same period).
Buyers of distressed homes (short sales & bank-owned) paid less for their home & closed faster. On average, these buyers saved 5% on their purchase & closed 20% faster (compared to overall sales during same period).
What does this mean? For buyers, it’s critical to understand the marketplace here & now (not 2009, not at the ‘boom’, not what your sister experienced in Chicago) & what to expect from the home buying process. A knowledgeable buyer armed with real-time sales info can be confident they are writing their strongest possible offer to get the best home for the best value – isn’t this ultimately what every buyer wants?
Buyers of normal homes paid more for their home & closed faster. On average, these buyers paid a 4% premium on their purchase & closed 25% faster (compared to overall sales during same period).
Buyers of distressed homes (short sales & bank-owned) paid less for their home & closed faster. On average, these buyers saved 5% on their purchase & closed 20% faster (compared to overall sales during same period).
What does this mean? For buyers, it’s critical to understand the marketplace here & now (not 2009, not at the ‘boom’, not what your sister experienced in Chicago) & what to expect from the home buying process. A knowledgeable buyer armed with real-time sales info can be confident they are writing their strongest possible offer to get the best home for the best value – isn’t this ultimately what every buyer wants?
Jul 29, 2010
‘Trapped’ in a Home?
Some intrepid homeowners are intentionally taking a loss on their current house - and writing a big check to retire their old mortgage - in order to buy twice the home for not much more money. Others, eschewing conventional personal-finance advice, are even opting for 'cash-in' refinancings, paying thousands of dollars out of pocket to settle old loans - and then taking out new mortgages with lower payments, shorter durations or both.
Read entire story at wsj.com.
Read entire story at wsj.com.
Jul 26, 2010
Jul 22, 2010
View From the Trenches: Single Family Homes
In the market for a single family home in east Orlando? Here is sales activity for the past 30 days, a likely indicator of what you will experience in your house hunt.
East Orlando has closed 138 single family home sales and 72% of these were distressed sales (short sale or bank-owned). Average sale price was $202 for a normal sale & $151 for a distressed sale.
21% were cash deals. A very significant detail – no buyer with a mortgage can compete with a cash buyer. An all cash offer trumps even your higher priced offer (with financing). If you’re financing your home purchase (and most of us do), expect your buying competition may likely be paying all cash.
Sellers got 98% of their asking price. Buyers who intend to gamble with low ball offers like in spring 2009 are wasting everyone’s time. Homes are priced right today & are selling. The strong buyer’s market has become a thing of the past with fresh, hot buying competition for affordable homes in move-in ready condition. These buyers are out bidding each other for these homes & commonly drive the selling price above list.
Top selling communities: Waterford Lakes (19), Avalon Park (16) and Waterford Trails (9). I’m loving seeing old home inventory getting sold/closed & seeing new families move in to these communities every day. After nearly of year of this hot activity, the surplus of distressed sales are going to be gone, gone, gone before we know it.
Normal sales went under contract after 64 days on average (plus another 42 days to close on average). Distressed sales went under contract after 93 days on average (plus another 83 days to close on average). Buyers considering taking on a short sale, do the math (93 days + 83 days = just under six mos). You’re needing & wanting a home yesterday – can you wait six months to move in to your new home?
East Orlando has closed 138 single family home sales and 72% of these were distressed sales (short sale or bank-owned). Average sale price was $202 for a normal sale & $151 for a distressed sale.
21% were cash deals. A very significant detail – no buyer with a mortgage can compete with a cash buyer. An all cash offer trumps even your higher priced offer (with financing). If you’re financing your home purchase (and most of us do), expect your buying competition may likely be paying all cash.
Sellers got 98% of their asking price. Buyers who intend to gamble with low ball offers like in spring 2009 are wasting everyone’s time. Homes are priced right today & are selling. The strong buyer’s market has become a thing of the past with fresh, hot buying competition for affordable homes in move-in ready condition. These buyers are out bidding each other for these homes & commonly drive the selling price above list.
Top selling communities: Waterford Lakes (19), Avalon Park (16) and Waterford Trails (9). I’m loving seeing old home inventory getting sold/closed & seeing new families move in to these communities every day. After nearly of year of this hot activity, the surplus of distressed sales are going to be gone, gone, gone before we know it.
Normal sales went under contract after 64 days on average (plus another 42 days to close on average). Distressed sales went under contract after 93 days on average (plus another 83 days to close on average). Buyers considering taking on a short sale, do the math (93 days + 83 days = just under six mos). You’re needing & wanting a home yesterday – can you wait six months to move in to your new home?
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