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New Year’s Resolutions for Homeowners

January 2nd, 2024 by tisner


New year, new you, right? Oh, we all seem to resolve to eat healthier, lose weight, kick dirty habits and all kinds of other things, but by the end of February, we find ourselves just trying to remember what our resolutions were, much less actually stickin
g to them! Homeownership is the same way–we start out with big ideas of what we’ll be doing to maintain it, then life gets in the way, and we fall short.  Get started with this guide: 

  • Having an energy audit performed on your house will help you save not only energy but money, too. 
  • Your dryer’s lint trap should be cleaned routinely after each load, but your vent and vent tubing should be cleaned at least annually.  Removing as much lint as you can helps dry your laundry faster and reduce the risk of fire. 
  • Home security systems aren’t foolproof against hackers, and neither are smart home accessories.  Change passwords frequently, and don’t reuse passwords.  To make it even more difficult to hack, use two-factor authentication.  
  • The Family Handyman has several tips for keeping the yard and yard tools in tip-top shape. 
  • Resolve to cut the clutter in your house. While the temps are cool, and you’re spending more time inside anyway, take one room in your home per week to clean out and clean up. 
  • Repair the little things that you overlook because they’re not necessarily a safety issue:  doorknobs that aren’t working, dripping faucets, or squeaky floors. Fix now to save you from something bigger happening and costing you more later. 
  • Get your personal finances in order!  Commit to saving money, not only in the literal sense, but get the best rates on insurance, or consider refinancing your mortgage. NerdWallet has some great tips for building equity in your home. 
  • Print out this free home checklist, and you won’t miss a thing each season! 

Find a good balance of taking care of home and taking care of you and your family.  Don’t spend every spare minute maintaining your home. Some projects can combine family and work time, like a big cleaning job, or yard work.  As important as it is to keep up your home, it’s important to keep up with family as well.   

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently. You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Hacks for Holiday Decor Storage

December 26th, 2023 by tisner


It is an exciting day (or week, in some cases!) when the holiday decorations are brought out of storage, dusted and fluffed, then set up to make the darkest days of the year merry and bright. Reversing the process is not always as fun, especially if there were problems with light strings, broken ornaments, or flattened faux greenery. How can we store these items while keeping them safe from breakage and possible ruin? Maybe these ideas will help remedy that situation:

  • The very thought of storing strings of tiny lights can send us running away! Many stores carry plastic reels to wrap lights around as well as companion containers. It is also possible to store the lights in the exact way they shipped from the factory, and all that is needed is a zip tie. This video shows you this simple storage tip.
  • To keep decorations and greenery from being flattened, store artificial wreaths in a hanging position from hooks; just be sure to cover them with a plastic trash bag to keep them from getting dusty.
  • If the storage area has enough space, store artificial trees standing up. Rolls of shipping plastic can be wrapped around the tree from top to bottom to keep it dust-free or use contractor trash bags to cover the tree. Otherwise, keep the original container, and store it as close to the original packing as possible. Use zipper storage bags for any loose pieces.
  • Unused or old suitcases are perfect for ornaments or odd knick-knacks. If at all possible, keep the original packaging, and your treasured items will be safe and snug no matter what container they are in.
  • Bows are expensive and keeping them fluffy and new-looking can be a challenge. Use a coat hanger to attach them to, and store them hanging with a plastic garment or trash bag to cover. If you fear that heat will cause them to sag, stuff bow loops with balled-up wrapping paper that would have otherwise been tossed.
  • Artificial garlands do very well coiled up in 55-gallon garbage cans.
  • Precious ornaments–especially those made by the kids out of natural materials–should be placed in zipper storage bags, then stored in the unused cookie tins. That is a double storage win!
  • Visit your local grocery’s produce manager and ask for covered apple and orange shipping boxes, as they are quite sturdy. Many of them come with indented trays as well as moisture-wicking padding, making them perfect for storing treasured holiday items.

Sure, there are plenty of specialty storage containers for most of your holiday decorations, but they usually come with a specialty price tag. The safety of your stored treasures depends on how well you pack them and put them away, not on how much you paid for a specialized storage container.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Orlando State of the Market November 2023

December 21st, 2023 by tisner

New Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association data shows inventory spikes as interest rates reach new heights.

State of the Market

  • Inventory for November was recorded at 8,202, up 5.0% from October when inventory was recorded at 7,813. This is the eighth month in a row inventory has risen.
  • Overall sales fell 17.8% from October to November. There were 1,996 sales in November, down from 2,429 sales in October. This is the sixth month in a row that home sales have fallen. A double-digit drop in sales from October to November is not out of the ordinary heading into the holiday season.
  • November’s interest rate was recorded at 7.3%, down from 7.8% in October, when rates reached their highest level in more than 22 years.
  • The median home price for November was recorded at $375,000, down slightly from $377,000 in October.
  • Homes spent an average of 46 days on the market (DOM) in November, up from 44 days in October.
  • New listings fell 7.8% from October to November, with 3,188 new homes on the market in November, compared to 3,456 in October.
  • “A balanced market is a six-month supply of homes. In November, for the first time since January 2019, we have more than four months of supply,” said Lisa Hill, Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association President. “With an increase in inventory and with interest rates showing signs of coming down, we have conditions for a strong, healthy market heading into 2024.”

Market Snapshot

  • Interest rates fell from 7.8% in October to 7.3% in November. This is 10.3% higher than November 2022 when interest rates were 6.6%.
  • Pending sales fell 3.6%, with 2,900 in October and 2,796 in November.
  • 21 distressed homes (bank-owned properties and short sales) accounted for 1.1% of all home sales in November. That represents a 16.0% decrease from October, when 25 distressed homes sold.

Inventory

  • Orlando area inventory increased 15.6% from September to October. Inventory in September was 6,758, and inventory in October was 7,813.
  • The supply of homes increased to 3.22 months in October, up 21.8% from 2.64 months in September. A balanced market is six months of supply.
  • The number of new listings decreased from September to October by 2.5% – from 3,545 homes to 3,456 homes.

ORRA’s full State of the Market Report for September can be found here.

This representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association and the Stellar Multiple Listing Service. Neither the association nor StellarMLS guarantees or is in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the association or by StellarMLS does not reflect all real estate activity in the market. Due to late closings, an adjustment is necessary to record those closings posted after our reporting date.

ORRA REALTOR® sales represent sales involving Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association members, who are primarily – but not exclusively – located in Orange and Seminole counties. Note that statistics released each month September be revised in the future as new data is received.

Orlando MSA numbers reflect sales of homes located in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and Lake counties by members of any REALTOR® association, not just members of ORRA.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Go Green this Holiday!

December 19th, 2023 by tisner


We don’t need an official statistic to tell us that trash in the US increases during the holidays, but some reports say that over 1 million
tons of extra waste are generated in the United States from Thanksgiving to the New Year!  How can we reduce that number?  It may take some effort on our part, but we can cut back on what we use and throw away during the holidays! 

  • Not only will ditching store-bought gift wrap save room in the trash bin, but it will also save money! Check out these alternatives from How Stuff Works. In case you must buy something, look for inexpensive reusable tins, boxes and gift bags. 
  • Besides gift cards, give presents that are about presence:  trips, a year’s pass to a museum or local amusement park, memberships to spas, or concert tickets. 
  • Thrift-shopping is one way to reuse items, and treasures can be found by visiting them often.  Don’t forget local social media “yard sale” groups, as well as websites that allow people to sell used items. 
  • Don’t forget the batteries but make them rechargeable! This type of battery is becoming more affordable, especially in the smaller battery sizes, and it keeps nasty battery waste from going to our landfills. 
  • It is irritating to get the lights up and half a strand dies as soon as they’re plugged in, but don’t throw them out!  Read about how to check them over,, as well as tools that are made specifically for repairing lights.  If they are truly burnt out, find a recycling center for them instead of sending them out with the garbage. 
  • Break out the “good” dishes instead of using disposables!  Ask everyone to pitch in once the meal is over, and clean-up will be a breeze. 
  • Food waste is something we don’t think about often, but we can cut back on what we throw away by planning well and thinking creatively with leftovers.  Find helpful tips and recipes, as well as the Guest-Imator tool at savethefood.com. 
  • Live trees are used in almost half of American homes, but they shouldn’t be sent to a landfill.  Learn about different ways to reuse the tree, or contact a conservation group to see if they can use it for wildlife. 

Cutting back during the holidays goes against what our society tells us about how we should spend these next few weeks, but even little things like using unconventional gift wrapping for just three gifts adds up, according to Visual.ly.  Commit to making three changes this year, and next year, add three more to your list.  Consider it a gift to the environment. 

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Fun December Activities!

December 12th, 2023 by tisner


The best thing about the holidays in December is getting together with family and friends.  Adults and children alike can enjoy most of these activities: 

  • Cookie swap:  This is a gathering that benefits everyone.  Invite several friends who will choose a cookie recipe to pre-bake, and bring the batch to a central location.  Sample the treats, with cocoa or coffee, and have packaging available so attendees can take home small batches of their favorites.  
  • Ugly Sweater Crafts:  Instead of wearing an ugly Christmas sweater, use it to make a stocking, pillow, or small ornaments.  Have invitees bring one snack or drink each so you won’t have to worry about a lot of food prep. Get inspiration from these ideas from Better Homes and Garden’s website.  
  • Hanukkah Cupcake party:  Each party goer bakes a dozen cupcakes, and brings them unfrosted to the party.  Have frosting, frosting bags and tips, sprinkles and candies available, and everyone gets to dress up their cupcakes themselves.  Swap them out so they can take home a variety.  
  • Kids Christmas ornament party:  purchase clear shatterproof ornaments specifically for filling and have artificial snow, small toys, artificial greenery–anything small enough to fit in the ornament– along with ribbon, craft paints, and stickers, and have them create their own ornament.  Use adult supervision with very small children, or if using adhesives, especially hot glue. 
  • Gingerbread house decorating:  Lucky guests get to make and take their own cookie house!  This can be a simple venture with a gingerbread house kit, or using graham crackers, candies and royal icing, or more advanced with home-baked gingerbread cookies and decorations. This is another fun activity for the children as well as the adults. 
  • Dreidel craft:  Have the kids come over and make dreidels from craft kits or from modeling clay, skewers cut into 2” lengths and blue markers.  There are also many  inexpensive paper kits available on etsy. After the dreidels are finished, have some gelt ready, and host a spin-off tournament with prizes! 
  • Kalah game for Kwanzaa:  This is something kids will enjoy.  Cut the lid off an egg carton, then cut the lid in half.  Tape each half to the end of the bottom of the egg carton to form a tray.  Using 36 pebbles, dry beans, or pasta, play the game of kalah. 

For these casual get-togethers, send invitations via email, create an event on social media and invite friends, or use an online website to help–evite can help you design a free e-invitation, and can help you track RSVP’s. Add snacks, a cocoa or coffee bar, and make it merry! 

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Giving Back!

December 5th, 2023 by tisner


With a little less than a month left in the year, many begin to think about charitable donations.  Once you’ve decided on an amount to give, there are a few things to keep in mind: 

  • Did you give last year?  Do a quick check of the organization’s website, or give them a call to see what sort of strides they’ve taken.  If you’re not satisfied, or don’t see progress, consider another charity. 
  • As difficult as it can be to narrow your donation to one organization, a larger gift can be more beneficial as one gift, instead of spreading your donations around. 
  • Keep in mind that there are thousands of charities who don’t have it in their budgets to advertise.  Consider giving to a local charity, or a national one that’s lesser known. 
  • Once you’ve narrowed down your list, call the charities if you can’t find their mission statements online, and ask questions.  It’s the best way to get the information you need. 
  • Although there’s nothing wrong with giving to your alma mater or the hospital that took such great care of a family member, find out if your local homeless or domestic violence shelter needs help.  These kinds of organizations usually struggle to make ends meet in providing services.   
  • Make sure your charity is legitimate, and it’s very important to check their finances. Charity Navigator’s website will let your search a charity’s name and get feedback. 
  • Because donations are tax-deductible, the IRS has a search tool that allows you to see what organizations are eligible for tax-deduction gifts. There are other handy options, such as seeing what organizations are no longer allowed to be considered exempt. 
  • Avoid scams–charitable giving is at a high at the year’s end, and crooks abound.  Use the above IRS search tool to make sure your charity is a legitimate charity. 
  • Keep receipts, check stubs or letters of thanks for when you’re filing taxes.  If your donation isn’t monetary, but something valued at over $5,000, the IRS requires an appraisal for your deduction. 
  • Do you volunteer? Any out-of-pocket directly related expenses–even mileage–are tax deductible.  
  • Keep in mind that last-minute online donations made December 30-31 are eligible for a tax write-off.  

Deciding who should benefit from your generosity can be a tough or easy decision, depending on what you already know. Just look for charities that depend on your generosity to keep their doors open, or who need your physical presence to be successful.  Giving isn’t always about money.  

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Fed’s Waller: Interest Rates to Remain Steady

November 30th, 2023 by tisner


Federal Reserve Gov. Christopher Waller signaled confidence in the slowing economy, saying inflation is slowly moving in the right direction.

WASHINGTON – A key Federal Reserve official raised the possibility Tuesday that the Fed could decide to cut its benchmark interest rate as early as spring if inflation keeps declining steadily.

The official, Christopher Waller, a member of the Fed’s Board of Governors, cautioned that inflation is still too high and that it’s not yet certain if a recent slowdown in price increases can be sustained. But he sounded the most optimistic notes of any Fed official since the central bank launched its aggressive streak of rate hikes in March 2022, and he signaled that the central bank is likely done raising rates.

Waller is regarded as a relatively “hawkish” official, meaning that he typically favors higher rates to combat inflation rather than low rates to boost job growth. But he has also become somewhat of a bellwether for the Fed’s overall rate-setting committee.

f inflation continues to cool “for several more months – I don’t know how long that might be – three months, four months, five months – that we feel confident that inflation is really down and, on its way, you could then start lowering the policy rate just because inflation is lower,” Waller said in remarks at the American Enterprise Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank. “It has nothing to do with trying to save the economy or recession.”

Fed officials have previously suggested that eventually, cooling inflation would lead the Fed to cut rates. That’s because, adjusted for inflation, the central bank’s benchmark rate effectively rises as inflation falls.

And because the Fed’s key rate affects rates on consumer and business loans, like mortgages and credit cards, it becomes more of a drag on the economy. That’s why as inflation slows, the Fed could reduce its benchmark rate just to keep its inflation-adjusted level stationary.

Still, Waller’s remarks were a more explicit suggestion that such a scenario could occur as early as spring. Waller also said he thought the Fed’s short-term rate, which is at 5.4%, the highest in 22 years, is likely high enough to keep inflation headed down to the central bank’s 2% target.

“I am increasingly confident,” he said, that the Fed’s interest rate policies are “currently well-positioned to slow the economy and get inflation back to 2%,” Waller said.

Waller’s remarks Tuesday suggested that the Fed’s outlook for interest rates may have decisively shifted in the past few months. In September, the Fed’s policymakers had signaled that they expected to raise their key short-term rate once more this year. At their most recent meeting, which ended Nov. 1, they kept the rate unchanged. Now, with signs that inflation is cooling, the officials are considered virtually certain to keep rates steady again at their final meeting of the year, Dec. 12-13.

Waller’s remarks follow Chair Jerome Powell’s more cautious comments earlier this month, when Powell said “we are not confident” that the Fed’s key short-term interest rate was high enough to fully defeat inflation. The Fed has raised its rate 11 times in the past year and a half.

Inflation, measured year over year, has plunged from a peak of 9.1% in June 2022 to 3.2% in October. Waller said October’s inflation report, which showed prices were flat from September to October, “was what I want to see.”

In a speech in October, Waller noted that inflation had cooled rapidly even as the economy continued to grow at a healthy pace. “Something’s got to give,” he said, meaning that either the economy would have to slow or inflation might re-accelerate.

“I am encouraged by what we have learned in the past few weeks – something appears to be giving, and it’s the pace of the economy,” he said Tuesday.

Still, Waller cautioned that, given the uncertainties surrounding the outlook for the economy, “I cannot say for sure whether” the Fed has done enough to conquer inflation.

Skanda Amarnath, executive director at Employ America, an advocacy group, and a former Fed economist, said the Fed will be particularly attentive to inflation data at the beginning of 2024, because prices spiked in the first couple of months of the year in 2022 and 2023.

“If we get through the (first quarter) of this upcoming calendar year and inflation has not reared its head in quite the same ugly way we saw the previous few ones, I think the Fed will have a lot more confidence,” Amarnath said, which could “also mean the Fed is interested in possibly lowering interest rates.”

Waller noted that recent data on hiring, consumer spending, and business activity suggested that economic growth was cooling from its torrid 4.9% annual pace in the July-September quarter. Slower spending and hiring, he said, should help further cool inflation.

Last month’s figures “are consistent with the kind of moderating demand and easing price pressure that will help move inflation back to 2%, and I will be looking to see that confirmed in upcoming data releases,” Waller said.

Also Tuesday, another member of the Fed’s board, Michelle Bowman, who has long taken a more hawkish stance on inflation, said there were still too many uncertainties surrounding inflation and the economy to be sure that the Fed is done hiking rates.

“My baseline economic outlook continues to expect that we will need to increase (the Fed’s key) rate further,” Bowman said in a speech in Salt Lake City to the Utah Banker’s Association. “We should keep in mind the historical lessons and risks associated with prematurely declaring victory in the fight against inflation, including the risk that inflation may settle at a level above our 2% target.”

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Safely Decorating with Outdoor Lights!

November 28th, 2023 by tisner


It’s time to get the holiday house decorating in high gear, and you may have bought new light strands, but plan on mixing them with ones you have, or adding LED lights.  Safety is important this time of year, and making the days merry and the nights bright means taking a few precautions. 

  • Check your old lights for frayed wires, nicks or cuts along the outer cord, and broken bulbs. Broken bulbs can be replaced, but toss the frayed strands, or those with cuts. 
  • Decorating the exterior of your house means the lights you use must be made for outdoors.  Check the packaging or tag on the string to make certain. 
  • Use clips or hangers that are UL-approved–do NOT nail, tack, or staple lights to any fixture. 
  • If you’d like to light a tree in your yard, make absolute certain no power lines run through the branches, and keep any lighting at least ten feet from power lines. 
  • Make sure your extension cords are specifically made for outdoor use, and have a three-pronged ground plug.  Your receptacle should be a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet in case of electrical overload, it will shut off power.  Portable outdoor GFCI’s are available for very little cost at Amazon. 
  • Read and heed all labels when it comes to connecting strings of lights.  If the label says only three can be connected to one another, start a new chain of lights after the third strand is in place.  Also keep in mind that only strands with the same number of bulbs should be connected–in other words, don’t connect a 100-strand with two 25-strands. 
  • Keep extension cords away from high-traffic areas, and out from under welcome mats or pavers. 
  • Many people start decorating long before Christmas, but be aware that most non-commercial light strands are only safely exposed to the elements for 90 days.  Any longer, and deterioration to the insulation will begin.   
  • Avoid using a metal ladder if you’re having to get up high with your lights–use wooden or fiberglass instead. 
  • Never leave lights on when you’re not at home, or asleep.   
  • If you’re considering adding LED’s to your holiday display, make sure you don’t mix connecting with incandescent.  Going all-LED will be costlier upon start-up, but will save money on your power bill, as well as in replacement costs–LED’s can last up to twenty years. 

You don’t want a friendly neighborhood competition to turn into disaster, nor do you want a classic Clark Griswold power outage at home.  Know your home’s electrical limits, and use common sense and care while you’re decorating. 

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Minimize Holiday Waste

November 21st, 2023 by tisner


From Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, over 1 million
tons of extra waste are generated in the United States! How can we reduce that number? It may take some effort on our part, but we can definitely cut back on what we use and throw away during the holidays! 

Gift-Giving 

  • Besides gift cards, give presents that are about presence: a weekend getaway reservation, a year’s pass to a museum or local amusement park, memberships to spas, or concert tickets. 
  • Thrift shopping is one way to reuse items, and treasures can be found by visiting thrift stores often. Other places to shop for bargains are social media marketplace groups as well as websites that specialize in resale. 
  • Stop using store-bought gift wrap! Check out these alternatives from How Stuff Works. If you must by anything, look for inexpensive reusable tins, boxes, and gift bags. 
  • If a gift you have purchased needs batteries, include a set of rechargeable batteries and charger. Rechargeable batteries are becoming more affordable, especially in the smaller battery sizes, and they keep nasty battery waste from going to our landfills. 

Holiday Decorations 

  • Do not throw out a set of lights just because one-half of the strand is not working. Learn about how to check them over, as well as inexpensive tools that are made specifically for repairing lights. If they are truly burnt out, find a recycling center for them instead of sending them out with the garbage. 
  • Live trees are used in almost half of American homes, but they should not be sent to a landfill.  Learn about different ways to reuse the tree, or contact a conservation group to see if they can use it for wildlife. 

Getting Together 

  • Instead of disposable dinnerware, why not break out the “good” dishes?! Ask everyone to pitch in once the meal is over, and clean-up will be a breeze. 
  • Recently, many are becoming more aware of food waste. We can cut back on what we throw away by planning well for our meals and party menus and thinking creatively with leftovers. Try using the “Guest-Imator” tool and other helpful ideas at savethefood.com. 

Cutting back during the holidays goes against what our society tells us about how we should spend these next few weeks, but even little things like using unconventional gift wrapping for just three gifts can add up. This year, commit to making three changes to reduce holiday waste, and next year, add three more to your list. Consider it a gift to the environment! 

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Orlando State of the Market October 2023

November 16th, 2023 by tisner

New Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association data shows inventory spikes as interest rates reach new heights.

State of the Market

  • October’s interest rate was recorded at 7.8%, up from 7.3% in September. This is the highest interest rate in the Orlando area since April 2001.
  • Inventory for October was recorded at 7,813, up 15.6% from September when inventory was recorded at 6,758. This is the seventh month in a row inventory has risen and the largest monthly percentage increase in 2023 so far.
  • Overall sales fell 5.0% from September to October. There were 2,429 sales in October, down from 2,558 sales in September. This is the fifth month in a row that home sales have fallen.
  • The median home price for October was recorded at $377,000, up from $370,000 in September. This breaks a three-month streak of the median home price falling.
  • New listings fell 2.5% from September to October, with 3,456 new homes on the market in October, compared to 3,545 in September.
  • Homes spent an average of 44 days on the market (DOM) in October, up from 41 days in September. This is 15.8% higher than October 2022 when homes spent an average of 38 days on the market.
  • “Sales were down and inventory was up in October as interest rates reached their highest level in more than 22 years,” said Lisa Hill, Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association President. “Even as rates climb, demand is keeping home prices high, creating challenges for buyers this fall. Early reports from November show rates falling, so we will have to wait and see if this offers buyers some reprieve.”

Market Snapshot

  • October 2022 when interest rates were 7.0%.
  • Pending sales fell 12.7%, with 3,322 in September and 2,900 in October.
  • 25 distressed homes (bank-owned properties and short sales) accounted for 1.0% of all home sales in October. That represents a 56.3% increase from September, when 16 distressed homes sold.

Inventory

  • Orlando area inventory increased 15.6% from September to October. Inventory in September was 6,758, and inventory in October was 7,813.
  • The supply of homes increased to 3.22 months in October, up 21.8% from 2.64 months in September. A balanced market is six months of supply.
  • The number of new listings decreased from September to October by 2.5% – from 3,545 homes to 3,456 homes.

ORRA’s full State of the Market Report for September can be found here.

his representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association and the Stellar Multiple Listing Service. Neither the association nor StellarMLS guarantees or is in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the association or by StellarMLS does not reflect all real estate activity in the market. Due to late closings, an adjustment is necessary to record those closings posted after our reporting date.

ORRA REALTOR® sales represent sales involving Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association members, who are primarily – but not exclusively – located in Orange and Seminole counties. Note that statistics released each month September be revised in the future as new data is received.

Orlando MSA numbers reflect sales of homes located in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and Lake counties by members of any REALTOR® association, not just members of ORRA.

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