Make sure everyone in your home knows how to use your fire extinguisher and where it is kept.

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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.

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By: PatZaby.com

Summer is waning, and very likely, your vegetable garden is yielding less, if it hasn’t stopped already. You may think that it’s time to put the soil to rest until Spring, but there is plenty that you can plant now that can be harvested through late fall!  Don’t hang up the shovel–get inspired to keep things growing with these Fall planting tips: 

• Greens love the cooler temps, so plant all that you love, and try something new!  Kale, lettuces, and spinach are easy to grow, as well as swiss chard.  Check out this article from Mother Earth News about growing greens and how to take care of them. 
• Beans of all kinds thrive despite the shortening days, and reportedly taste better when grown in Autumn.  Planting bush varieties are best, as they only take about 45 days until harvest.   
• Any veggie in the brassica family–cabbage, brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, and kohlrabi grow very well this time of year.  These are best grown from young plants, and if possible, start them in your garden on a cloudy day. 

• What’s a dinner in Winter without some delicious roasted root vegetables?  If you’re dreaming about yummy parsnips, turnips or carrots, find a planting guide for each of these and more from Territorial Seed. 
• If you’re busy with the kids’ extracurricular activities, and general activities this time of year, consider planting a cover crop.  Cover crops can organic matter and nitrogen to the soil for the next year’s planting.  Learn more about them and what to plant at eartheasy.com. 
• Plant onions and garlic now.  They will likely go dormant when the weather cools, but they’ll establish their root system and reward you come early Spring. 
• Leave it to the tried-and-true advice from Farmer’s Almanac to set up a handy Fall planting schedule!   

The temperatures can still soar in September, so have some light row covering available for hot days to provide some shade in the heat of the day.  Just like in the Summer months, keep a watch for pests, provide plenty of water and mulch, and don’t fertilize too much.  It won’t be long before you’ll be harvesting and storing plenty for your Winter dinnertime! 

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.

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Photo credit: Harvest to Table

Hopefully, you’ve made good use and great memories this Summer in your outdoor space.  Just because we’re getting closer to Fall doesn’t mean we have to wrap it all up and put it away!  There’s plenty we can do to transition our porches, decks and patios for cooler weather use.  Let’s look at some simple ideas that will keep us outdoors a little longer. 

• Change pillow and cushion covers from their bright colors to more neutral tones, with a splash of soft red or orange here and there. 
• Once your potted plants’ Summer blooms fade, repot your containers with ornamental grasses, decorative kale, pansies, marigolds and chrysanthemums. 
• Drape light blankets over the backs and arms of your seating to use on chilly evenings. 

• If you don’t already have one, buying or creating a firepit is a great way to warm up cool nights.  If you’re not sure of your style or if the budget is tight, morningchores.com has photos and links to 57 different DIY firepits!  
• The days are getting shorter and adding lighting to your porch is important.  With so many choices for inexpensive and energy-saving LED lighting, you can add torches, candles and lanterns to a table for soft, relaxing lighting without spending a ton. 
• Add a cozy area rug to ward off cold feet and add texture to the space. 
• The cool breezes we long for in the heat of July are a little less desirable on a cool Autumn night.  Add some no-sew outdoor curtains using drop cloths, of all things, to block the wind, and use strong adhesive like E6000 to add heavy washers at the bottom to weight the curtains down. 
• Making the outdoors more inviting in Fall means adding warmth–literally.  Outdoor heaters come in many styles and price ranges and use electricity as well as propane to keep you and your guests’ toes warm. 

• Finally, when the pumpkin patches open, get a variety of pumpkins, gourds and other fall produce, and tuck them into your container plantings, or create a centerpiece or to make the outdoors an even more inviting space to enjoy. 

There’s no need to stop going outside just because the days are shorter, and nights are cooler.  Being outside is proven to help alleviate stress, make us feel happier, and may help us sleep better, especially if we can catch the sunset.  So, don’t neglect your much-loved outdoor space this Fall; you created it to be used, and Fall is the perfect time to enjoy it. 

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.

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Photo credit: HGTV.com

These unwelcome guests may require some help to get rid of.

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.

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Between hot Summer winds blowing dirt and dust and drizzly rains, most windows need a bit of cleaning about this time of year.  If you have a second story, cleaning those windows can seem like a daunting task.  Since everyone can’t have the luxury of tip-in easy-to-clean windows, check out these tips for getting all your windows sparkling! 

• Grab a bucket and mix up some DIY window cleaner:  1-gallon water, 1/4 cup vinegar and a squirt of liquid dish detergent (but not a large squirt–too many suds can mean more rinsing and streaking). 
• Tools you’ll need:  a soft-bristled brush with a long handle (a car-washing brush would be perfect) or flat microfiber mop, water hose, a step ladder or stepping stool, microfiber cloth or newspapers. 

Ground Floor Windows 

• Make sure the windows are out of direct sunlight, not only for your own comfort, but so the heat won’t dry the cleaning solution before you can rinse it. 
• Remove the screen panels, lay them flat, and give them a good shower with the hose, then gently scrub with the cleaning solution.  After rinsing, allow them to dry while you tackle the windows. 
• Much like washing a car, rinse off as much dirt as you can, starting at the top of the window.  Use the brush to give the glass a gentle scrubbing, paying extra attention to bug or bird droppings or anything else stuck to the window. 
• Rinse with the hose, and use a squeegee, microfiber cloth or newspaper to wipe off excess water. If you use a squeegee, make sure you work in rows, top to bottom, wiping the blade dry in between swipes. 

Upper Floor Windows 

You don’t need a ladder to get a clean finish on the windows that are too high to reach.  Here’s how: 

• Remix the above cleaning ingredients, and add 1-2 tablespoons of dishwasher rinsing aid to the mix.   
• A very handy tool to have would be a hose-end sprayer made especially for window spraying that you can pour your new batch of cleaning solution in, much like a liquid fertilizer hose-end sprayer that gardeners use.  Check your favorite home store for one of these–most cost less than $20. 

• Just like downstairs, rinse the screens and windows with a jet of plain water to remove dust and grime. 
• Spray the solution on the windows, out of direct sunlight. 
• Rinse with plain water, and the rinsing aid should allow your window to dry without streaks, no wiping or squeegee required! 

Another tip if you’re using old rags or a microfiber cloth to wipe dry:  using cloth that have added fabric softener can cause the windows to streak.  Keep cleaning cloths absorbent by keeping the fabric softener out. The Family Handyman has a great tutorial for cleaning the stuck-on stuff, as well as how to get the best use of a squeegee for window cleaning.  Go ahead and get started on this much-dreaded chore.  Once you’re finished, you’ll clearly see how satisfying the results are. 

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.

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Photo credit: greatdayimprovements.com

Accepting a new job, moving closer to aging parents, or looking for a fresh start, you’ve decided to relocate. You haven’t chosen a real estate agent to get your house sold, because you’re considering using your house for extra income as a rental.  There are pros and cons to becoming a landlord, so look through these tips to get you started on making the decision. 

• You need to first look at the financial aspect of renting your house. 

• Landlord’s insurance premiums may cost more than your homeowner’s insurance. Talk to your insurance agent about the differences in these policies. 
• Do the math–if you have a loss after all your expenses (insurance, repairs, property taxes, etc.) are deducted from the rental payments, it’s a better idea to sell. 

• If the money that a home sale would generate will help you buy a new place, by all means, sell. 

• One factor to consider is that if your move is temporary–you know you’ll be returning in a few years, and it may be a good idea to lease while you’re away, so you won’t have to house hunt upon your return. 
• Take into consideration that in larger areas, there may be times of a vacancy.  Can you handle the old mortgage and the new?  If not, put the house on the market. 
• If there are improvements that need to be done to the home before you can sell it, and you’re not financially able to make them, then renting may be a good option.   
• Keep in mind that most tenants will not care for your house like you, and, after moving, it could be at a great cost when you have to make the repairs.   

• Things can happen, and you may get tenants that can’t pay the rent on time, or stop paying rent, and you’re stuck with the mortgage payment, as well as having to go through the eviction process.  
• Do you really want to become a landlord?  Talk to a few people who are experienced in renting and leasing property, writing down questions to ask, and get their thoughts on the process. Experience is the best teacher. 

Renting or leasing your home is a big decision to make, especially if you know you may be coming back.  The stress of renting just might be greater than house-hunting when you move back.  Talk to other property managers in your area and look at your financial information before you make the final choice. When you decide to sell, call a trusted RealtorⓇ. 

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.

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Photo credit: sterlingpropertysolutions.com

Along with all the planning of what you’re going to do and where you’re going to stay, consider this checklist to make you feel more comfortable while you’re away from home.

• Ask a trusted friend to pick up your mail, newspaper and keep yard picked up to avoid an appearance of not being at home.
• Stop your mail (USPS Hold Mail Service) and your newspaper.
• Don’t post about your trip on Facebook and other social media until you return; some burglars look for this type of announcement to schedule their activities.
• Do notify police or neighborhood watch – especially if you’re going to be gone for more than just a few days. Let your monitoring service know when you’ll be gone and if someone will be checking on your home for you.
• Light timers make it look like someone is home. Set multiple timers for various times to better simulate someone at home. There are plug-in modules for lights and appliances that would allow you to control them from your phone while your out of town.
• Do unplug certain appliances – TV, computers, toaster ovens that use electricity even when they’re off and to protect them from power surges.
• Don’t hide a key; burglars know exactly where to look for your key and it only takes them a moment to check under the mat, above the door, in the flower pot or in a fake rock.

These easy-to-handle suggestions may protect your belongings while you’re gone while adding a level of serenity to your trip.

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.

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When comparing the cost of owning a home to renting, there is more than the difference in house payment against the rent currently being paid. It very well could be lower than the rent but when you consider the other benefits, owning could be much lower than renting.

Each mortgage payment has an amount that is used to pay down the principal which is building equity for the owner. Similarly, the home appreciates over time which also benefits the owner by increasing their equity.

There are additional expenses for owning a home that renters don’t have like repairs and possibly, a homeowner’s association. To get a clear picture, look at the following example of a $300,000 home with a 3.5% down payment on a 4.5%, 30-year mortgage.

The total payment is $2,264 including principal, interest, property taxes, property and mortgage insurance. However, when you consider the monthly principal reduction, appreciation, maintenance and HOA, the net cost of housing is $1,218. It costs $1,282 more to rent at $2,500 a month than to own. In a year’s time, it would cost $15,000 more to rent than to own which is more than the down payment and closing costs to buy the home.

With normal amortization and 3% annual appreciation, the $10,500 down payment in this example turns into $112,00 in equity in seven years. Check out your own numbers using the Rent vs. Own or call me at (407) 467-5155. Owning a home makes sense and can be one of the best investments a person will ever make.

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.

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Acquisition Debt is the amount of money borrowed used to buy, build or improve a principal residence or second home. Under the new tax law, mortgages taken after 12/14/17 are limited to a combination of $750,000 on the first and second homes. The mortgage interest on this debt is tax deductible when itemizing deductions.

It is a dynamic number that is reduced with each payment as the unpaid balance goes down. The only way to increase acquisition debt is to borrow money to make capital improvements.

Prior to the new law, homeowners could additionally borrow up to $100,000 of home equity debt for any purpose and deduct the interest when itemizing deductions. Mortgage interest on home equity debt is no longer deductible unless it is for capital improvements.

Acquisition debt cannot be increased by refinancing. Some confusion occurs because mortgage lenders are concerned in making home loans that will be repaid according to the terms of the note and using the home as collateral. That does not include making a tax-deductible mortgage.

Another thing that adds confusion to the issue is that the lenders will annually report how much interest was paid in a year but only the amount that is attributable to acquisition debt is deductible.

Even if the interest on the cash-out refinance is not deductible, it may be advantageous to pay off higher interest debt such as credit card debt and replacing it with lower mortgage debt.

It is the responsibility of the taxpayer to know what part of their mortgage debt is deductible. The challenge becomes more difficult after a cash-out refinance. Homeowners should keep records of all financing and capital improvements and consult with their tax professional.

By: PatZaby.com

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.

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With Summer here, and the kids out of school, some families are wishing they had a more functional catch-all space for the “stuff” of Summer break.  Not every home has a mudroom, and not every homeowner has the budget to add a mudroom onto their most-used entryway. Here are some ideas to turn any entry space into an organized “mudroom.” 

• There are some must-haves for a mudroom space:  a place to hang coats and bags, storage for the small stuff, and seating is nice for shoe removal.  You can DIY, hire a carpenter, or repurpose items for your drop off spot. 
• Toy boxes with a closing lid makes a perfect bench and storage area for removing and storing shoes.  Add family member-specific baskets inside so everyone’s things stay together. 
• With some inexpensive crates, stained boards and double hangers, you can easily create a pretty space for coats and footwear.  See this simple and functional corner space from A Beautiful Mess for inspiration. 

• Pick up a sturdy old piano bench at a tag or yard sale, dress it up with paint to match your decor, add cushions, put a couple of storage bins or baskets underneath, and you have instant mudroom.  The seat even lifts to store keys, gloves, or the family’s flip flops! 
• If there’s a large enough wall space, create a board-and-batten wall, add coat hooks, and you have an almost instant vertical storage area, and it looks great, too!  Learn how to do this inexpensive project from The DIY Mommy. 
• Mount some inexpensive shelving, add hooks, and you have a place to hang your coats as you come inside, and a shelf for stashing the other stuff.  Add a lower shelf with hooks for the kids’ belongings. 
• There are many clever ways to remake a closet into a mini mudroom, and even make it pretty! Find inspiration from these ideas at Farmhouse Blooms. 
• Who said that your mudroom space has to be inside?  If your family goes inside via the garage, just use the above tips to create your mudroom space.  Add plastic storage containers by the door for shoes, boots and other awkward items, and the mess stays out of the house! 

Sometimes we have to re-think our spaces, and carving out an area in our homes for a makeshift mudroom may take some thought, depending on your home’s layout.  Just focus on the area that most of the coming and going is happening, and what your family needs most for a drop-off area.  You’ll soon be a little more organized, and have a cleaner home as a bonus! 

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.

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Photo credit: rafaelmartinez.me