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        <title>Florida Real Estate Blog</title>
        <link>http://www.realtyexecutivesfl.com/blog/</link>
        <description>This is a Real Estate News Blog focusing on Central Florida Real Estate and and our local market. We cover national home and property news, but we more or less focus on the local housing market in Orlando, Florida and through Central Florida Homes.</description>
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            <guid>http://www.realtyexecutivesfl.com/blog/tips-on-how-to-choose-the-right-asking-price-when-selling-a-home.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.realtyexecutivesfl.com/blog/tips-on-how-to-choose-the-right-asking-price-when-selling-a-home.html</link>
            <author>jen@orlre.com (Jennifer Dollar)</author>
            <title>Tips On How To Choose The Right Asking Price When Selling A Home</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Choosing the right asking price for real estate for your sounds a lot easier than it is.  You would think that you could just figure out how much your home is worth, pick a price in that range, and be done with it but that's not how it works.  Here are some tips that will help you choose the right asking price so that you make the real estate sale and make some money too.


Check Prices In The Local Real Estate Market


The prices of houses fluctuate.  These days almost everyone is aware of this fact but not everyone realizes that the local real estate market is more important that the overall real estate market.  Check the prices of comparable homes in your local area to start getting an idea of how much you should be asking.  Don't forget to check if those homes are selling at their listed prices or if they're just sitting on the housing market.


Gauge Local Interest In Buying And Selling


Are people buying and selling homes in your area?  Are they buying more or selling more?  Also, who is buying and selling in your area?  This last question can tell you more about what potential buyers will be looking to pay.  People looking to buy homes may be looking to build lives in the area or they may be looking for cheap homes to sell later.  Answering these questions will help you to see if the housing market is flush with homes for sale to serve as your competition and if there are enough people buying for the right reasons so that you can aim for a slightly higher asking price.


Get A Professional Appraisal Of Your Home's Worth


You want to get a professional appraisal of your home's worth and you might even want to get more than one.  As much research as you do on your own, a professional appraiser will be able to tell you what professionals will think your home is worth on the current housing market and why.  This step will also help to make sure that your own efforts to come to a decision are on the right track.  Again, if you feel one appraiser gives you an inaccurate estimate of your home's worth then get another.  This is an important decision so you want to be sure.


Consider Delaying The Sale


Sometimes it is easier to get the right asking price if you delay selling your home.  This is not always an option but it is an option to be aware of.  It may be easier to get the amount that you want down the road if selling now isn't completely necessary.  Of course, if you have the time to spare then you can always go with the asking price that you like best knowing that you're not in any hurry to make the sale.


The right asking price is crucial when you are selling real estate.  You want the home to sell but at the same time you want to get the highest price you possibly can.  Use these tips to get a clearer idea of what the right asking price is so that you can get everything that you want out of selling your home.


Would you like to talk to an expert in Central Florida`s residential real estate? Interested in Florida real estate or Orlando office space? RealtyExecutivesFL.com specializes in the Central Florida real estate market. Contact us online or call us at 1.888.HOME.427 and let us help you with all of your real estate needs.
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            <pubDate>Wed, 18 Apr 2012 10:12:33 -0500</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.realtyexecutivesfl.com/blog/bank-of-america-streamlining-short-sale-procedures.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.realtyexecutivesfl.com/blog/bank-of-america-streamlining-short-sale-procedures.html</link>
            <author>jen@orlre.com (Realty Executives Representative)</author>
            <title>Bank of America streamlining short-sale procedures</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Decisions on offers may be trimmed to 20 days or less.


Bank of America says it's making changes to its short-sale procedures that will shorten decision times on short sale offers to 20 days, down from 45 days or longer.


The new task flow in Bank of America's short-sale management platform, Equator, will enable short-sale specialists to conduct tasks like document collection, valuations and underwriting simultaneously. When buyers walk, agents will have five days instead of 14 days to submit a backup offer.


Bank of America is requiring a new third-party authorization form for short sales initiated beginning April 14.


When the changes to Equator take effect Saturday, five documents will be required to process short sales initiated with an offer:




A purchase contract including buyer's acknowledgment and disclosure.


HUD-1.


IRS Form 4506-T.


Bank of America short-sale addendum.


Bank of America third-party authorization form.




The Equator platform will be offline the night of Friday, April 13, and into early Saturday, April 14, to implement changes.


Offer documents and supporting documents for all short sales submitted with an offer must be uploaded before Friday, April 13, or files may be declined.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:12:47 -0500</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.realtyexecutivesfl.com/blog/orlando-realtors-shine-with-realty-executives-diamond-awards-other-honors.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.realtyexecutivesfl.com/blog/orlando-realtors-shine-with-realty-executives-diamond-awards-other-honors.html</link>
            <author>jen@orlre.com (Realty Executives Representative)</author>
            <title>Orlando Realtors Shine with Realty Executives Diamond Awards, Other Honors</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Realty Executives Central Florida has once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to Orlando real estate by providing home buyers and sellers with the highest level of service and professionalism the industry has to offer.


Two of the agency’s Realtors®, in fact, were recently awarded top honors by Realty Executives International. Jeffrey Funk and Steve Amburgey both received the coveted Diamond Award for 2011. This award is bestowed upon those executives that have grossed more than $250,000 in commissions. Both men were also recognized as being in the Top 10 percent of Realty Executives International worldwide.


“It is a great honor for an office to have one Diamond Award winner,” said Jen Dollar, owner/broker of Realty Executives Central Florida. “To have two under the same roof speaks to the commitment our brokerage has to the home sellers and buyers here in the Central Florida market. Making sure our clients get the best representation and service around are our top priorities and that shows in the work Jeffery and Steve have been able to accomplish.”


While Dollar is thrilled with the accolades her Realtors® have brought home to Central Florida, their accomplishments come as little surprise.


“Realty Executives is a truly international company with the systems and tools designed for the productive real estate professional, maximizing their potential for success,” she said. “It’s where the experts are.”


Realty Executives’ dedication to delivering topnotch service and making sure clients are satisfied with transactions speaks to the experience of the agents within the company, she said.


“With the combined experience that includes many of the best and brightest minds in real estate we're able to help all types of buyers and sellers,” Dollar said. “We know how to locate the finest properties according to client needs and desires, and we strive to represent clients with passion by negotiating the best deal for them. It's our job to know about the latest market conditions, government regulations, and upcoming developments — so that they don't have to.”


Realty Executives Central Florida specializes in properties of all types throughout the Greater Orlando area and beyond. The company’s Realtors® are experts not only in real estate, but also in the communities they serve.


“Realty Executives is a brand to trust, and we are a group of Realtors® with a track record that speaks for itself,” Dollar said. “Many brokerages talk about representing customers in high volume situations. We can say the same, but our claim to fame is the way we treat EVERY customer, which is attested to by the honors recently bestowed on Steve and Jeff.”

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            <pubDate>Tue, 27 Mar 2012 13:11:12 -0500</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.realtyexecutivesfl.com/blog/home-repairs-you-have-to-do-before-you-sell-your-house.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.realtyexecutivesfl.com/blog/home-repairs-you-have-to-do-before-you-sell-your-house.html</link>
            <author>jen@orlre.com (Jennifer Dollar)</author>
            <title>Home Repairs You Have To Do Before You Sell Your House</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
There are some home repairs that you have to complete before you sell a house.  These are the repairs that will make a good impression on home buyers so that you will be able to sell your home at a good price.  That's why they are so important.  Getting these repairs done now can save you the hassle of trying to explain to potential customers why you put them off until later.


The Front Door


Your front door, and every door, needs to be in perfect condition.  If you have a screen door then count that in with this too.  Home buyers start deciding how they feel about the house before they even walk into it so you need their initial impression to be one of perfection if you want to sell a house.


The Roof


The roof is another spot that home buyers look to for an indication of how well you take care of your house.  You want to make sure there aren't any loose, broken, or missing shingles or any other signs of disrepair.  You want your roof to be immaculate because thoughts of potentially expensive roof repairs will poison any home buyer's experience of the rest of the house.


Scratches On Cabinets


Scratches on cabinets look bad on their own and again make it look like you might not take good care of the rest of your home.  Luckily, they are easy to fix with any number of products designed for this very purpose and you can find these products at any hardware store.  Fix them before you sell.


Holes From Nails


Nail holes in your walls from pictures and other decorations need to be patched up before you sell your home.  Lightweight putty makes patching up small holes like these easy.  After this is done these walls need to be repainted.  The flawless painting job that you want will often require that the entire wall be repainted and not just the section you patched up.


Leaky Faucets


Leaky faucets are another red flag for buyers.  If you will let a faucet leak even when you plan to show off and sell a house then home buyers will wonder what other home repairs would you let slide.  You can try to fix the problem yourself if you know enough about plumbing or you can call a plumber if it is a more serious problem.  One way or another, take care of your leaky faucets.


Suspicious Smells


You may not notice the various smells lurking around your home but potential home buyers will notice them immediately.  For this reason you want to ban smoking in or even around your house for the duration of the home selling process.  If you can get someone else to take pets in the meantime that might be a good idea too.  The key is to remove smells by thoroughly cleaning every surface and tailoring the cleaning efforts to the type of smell.  A home that looks great but that smells suspicious is not likely to sell soon or for as much as you want to get.


These are the home repairs that you absolutely have to do before you sell a house.  They will raise your home's perceived value and make selling it so much easier.  And they are a small price to pay for how much more appealing your home will be after they are done.


Would you like to talk to an expert in Central Florida`s commercial real estate? Interested in Florida real estate or Orlando office space? RealtyExecutivesFL.com specializes in the Central Florida real estate market. Contact us online or call us at 1.888.HOME.427 and let us help you with all of your real estate needs.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:14:55 -0500</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.realtyexecutivesfl.com/blog/building-has-started-at-acuera.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.realtyexecutivesfl.com/blog/building-has-started-at-acuera.html</link>
            <author>sally@sallycorrick.com (Acuera Community)</author>
            <title>Building has started at Acuera!</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ The slab is poured for the model and there are now 6 other homeowners who have contracts in place and their homes will be starting soon!  Visit www.Acuera.com today to find out more about the community. ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:02:03 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.realtyexecutivesfl.com/blog/bidding-on-an-overpriced-home.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.realtyexecutivesfl.com/blog/bidding-on-an-overpriced-home.html</link>
            <author>jen@orlre.com (Realty Executives Representative)</author>
            <title>Bidding on an Overpriced Home</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Today's real estate market is saturated, and there are plenty of homes in foreclosure. These statistics make the market one of the best for buyers in a long while.


Still, it's very possible for you to find a home that's over priced and be unsure how to handle the situation. Don't write off the home that's over priced. There are a few legitimate reasons that the price might be a bit high.




The homeowner (and their realtor) has not kept up with the comparable sales in the market. Home prices have fallen very rapidly very quickly in some areas. If the seller and his or her realtor haven't kept pace, they may not realize that their price is out of the ballpark.


The homeowner is under water on their mortgage. If the homeowner purchased the home recently, or if they simply paid too much, or over mortgaged, the home may not be worth what the homeowner owes. This homeowner is simply trying to get out without losing his or her shirt.


The home has features that can't be duplicated. Before you write off a home as "over priced" because it is priced higher than others around it; go and see the home for yourself. If it has features that are very rare, such as a private lake, the home may legitimately be worth more than others in its area. This doesn't mean that you are personally willing to pay extra for those features, but they do explain the price difference.




If the home you're looking at is over priced for one of these reasons, it doesn’t mean you necessarily have to pay the higher price. The homeowner may still be willing to negotiate if he or she realizes that they must come down in price to close a deal. However, it does mean that you shouldn't have your heart set on that particular house and a rock bottom price.


Determine what you're really willing to pay for the house. Start by looking at comps in the neighborhood to determine a starting point. If you're not willing to pay the area's comparable price, then the house is not for you.  But, if the comps fall into your price range, try making an offer on the house that is slightly lower than the area's comparable prices. This gives you a bit of room to negotiate upward and still get a fair deal.


Be Prepared for the "No"


Some homeowners are simply not willing to negotiate very much off the price they have set. They may not be in a hurry to sell, only looking to make a move if they can get the price they want. Making an offer is the only way you can really determine if the homeowner is serious about selling. Don't be badgered into paying more than you have budgeted. Make sure the process is a business transaction. When you get emotionally involved in a house, you fail to remember that there are plenty of other houses available.


If this homeowner won't negotiate with you, there's one right down the street who will. In today's market, there may be a few homeowners who take a hardline on the price of their home, but for every one of those, there are at least two who can offer you a deal that is more than fair to you as a buyer.
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            <pubDate>Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:46:14 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.realtyexecutivesfl.com/blog/new-activity-at-acuera.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.realtyexecutivesfl.com/blog/new-activity-at-acuera.html</link>
            <author>sally@sallycorrick.com (Acuera Community)</author>
            <title>New Activity at Acuera!</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ Building is starting!  Surrey Homes has started clearing Lot 11, ready for the model home to be built!  Visit Acuera today to find out more about this beautiful Community situated between the Wekiva River and State Park.  Realtors on site 7 days a week to answer your questions and to help you buy a new home! Visit www.Acuera.com for directions. ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:29:44 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.realtyexecutivesfl.com/blog/happy-new-year.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.realtyexecutivesfl.com/blog/happy-new-year.html</link>
            <author>sally@sallycorrick.com (Acuera Community)</author>
            <title>Happy New Year!</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Welcome 2012!  As the new year arrives, now is a great time to think about a new home.  Contact the Realty Executives team at Acuera to find out more about this community and how we can help your dreams become a reality! www.Acuera.com or (407) 878 7707.
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            <pubDate>Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:11:06 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.realtyexecutivesfl.com/blog/visit-acuera-today.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.realtyexecutivesfl.com/blog/visit-acuera-today.html</link>
            <author>sally@sallycorrick.com (Acuera Community)</author>
            <title>Visit Acuera today!</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
If you would like to know more about the Acuera community, please drop by the GuardHouse to meet the sales team.  We will be closed on 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th Dec and on 31st Dec, 1st Jan and 2nd Jan to observe the Holidays, but please visit our website (www.Acuera.com) to find out more about the community during those days.


We look forward to welcoming more visitors to this fabulous Community, ideally located in the Markham Woods corridor, close to all amenities but bordered by conservation, State Park land and the Wekiva River for maximum privacy.  This truly is the best of both worlds!
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            <pubDate>Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:31:04 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.realtyexecutivesfl.com/blog/acuera-update-more-sales-activity.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.realtyexecutivesfl.com/blog/acuera-update-more-sales-activity.html</link>
            <author>sally@sallycorrick.com (Acuera Community)</author>
            <title>Acuera Update!  More Sales activity!</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
THINGS ARE HAPPENING AT ACUERA!


Lot 17 has just been sold and Lot 18 is Pending. 


Visit Acuera today to discover this hidden gem!  Acuera is ideally located in a quiet corner of Seminole County, bordered by State Parks and the Wekiva River.  No busy traffic and yet still easy access to I-4, SR46 and SR417.  Construction will be starting within weeks.  The Realty Executives Acuera Team is available on-site to answer questions, 7 days/wk.  Call (407) 878-7707 for more information or visit www.Acuera.com for a location map.
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            <pubDate>Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:15:55 -0600</pubDate>
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