Art of Staging by Orlando Florida Best Duo

Art of Staging by Orlando Florida Best Duo

Last week in Orlando Florida at Isleworth’s newest area I once again saw the magic of Morris and Kalm staging designs.

Megan Morris and Kimberly Kalm have been staging in the Orlando Florida area for over 3 years now and offer a wide variety of services.  Check out the video at the end of the this blog for your chance to meet Megan and Kimberly.

It is not the service so much as the benefit to the seller I want to stress here. 

So just what are the benefits?

• Staged homes sell for more money in a hot market and quicker in a slow market.
•  
• 95% of buyers purchase on emotion and staged homes evoke an emotional love at first site” response
•  
• Most people can not visualize an empty home’s potential and staging offers people the ability to visualize their own belongings in a home.
•  
• Realtors and homeowners recieve a faster sale for the optimum price.
•  
• Buyers move into property that is is in move-in condition.
•  
• Staging provides subtle changes to accentuate the homes strengths and bring less attention to its weaknesses.
•  
• Staging dazzles buyers into fantasizing about entertaining, cooking, and living in the home.
•  
• Staging sets the mood by adding furnishing and other interior design improvements that match the homes style without changing architecture.
•  
• Staging provides “curb appeal” for the all important “first impression”.
•  
• Match made in real estate heaven that can result in multiple offers and short escrow.
•  
• Staging creates the lights, the buyers bring the camera which leads to action for the seller
•  

Another real benefit of Morris and Kalm is the purchaser can purchase any or all of the furnishings if they want. 

Video of Megan and Kimberly.

Halloween Online and in Orlando Florida

Here is more Halloween on the web and if it is  information you need the resources are endless.

If you are going to make your own costume the here is a good place to start.

You can also subscribe to an online Halloween magazine, and for props, makeup options and decoration tools this site has great stuff! 

Having a Halloween party and need a few extra recipes .

Fun food for kids at Halloween wouldn’t be the same without some goosebumps and kid friendly recipes.

Ok there is even Sugar free so what are you waiting for?

 

If we have to have sugar free to Halloween

Chocolate and what can we say about chocolate without mentioning  Hersheys.    

Here is a list of towns with fall colors which would you like to visit?

Do you know what causes the fall colors 

Here are few more Hot spots across the country.

Now you have seen a few why not book a trip and visit one of these areas,

it is simple at Teri’s travel store.

Ok kids do you need a few Jokes and riddles,

here is another pumpkin guide and some more tips.

 

 

If you want to Carve like a pro or need a pro template 

 

then there are the pumpkin Masters and for the children  

 

here is the fabulous food section with carving tips.

 

Is there a healthy side to Halloween…

 

Yes there is a health benefit to pumpkin peel.

 

 

 

Every year there is a Great pumpkin weigh off event here are last years results. 

 

 

And the winner is?

 

Halloween Zombie movies your thing

 

and If that is not enough there are more telling tales.  

 

If you need to keep  the scary boogieman away so what is the story

 

behind garlic and werewolfs?  

 

 

 

 

 

Riskgay to be sure but we must mention Elvira and the search is on.

 

 

 

Ok we wont leave out the techies even CNet enjoys getting in on the Halloween action.

 

 

 

Wed be remiss not to mention Halloween safety so here are some tips to share with your friends. 

 

Say Boo to the flu and other helpful Halloween links 

 

for Family fun and dont miss the readers digest halloween tips,

 

or what causes those crazy pumpkin shapes? 

 

Haunted Houses at Orlando’s Disney World are fun but how about the real thing.

 

 

 

Are you being followed don’t worry.

 

Here is a place to have some spooky fun and things that go bump in the night.

 

If that is not enough how about some more scary stories. 

 

Now for you practical jokers out there even scholastic magazine gets in on the action.

 

Like to dance well it is not dancing with the stars but for those of you closer to my age who can forget the

 

famous Monster Mash  You can always send  an email card and share scarry thoughts

 

 with friends.  If you need images or clip art and, halloween fonts, or sounds for your creations all this will help.

 

Some of the Free clip art from

 

Stay tuned next blog will be specific to everything you can do in the Orlando Halloween Scene.

 

 

For buyers who will need 100% financing, builders should make sure to keep an eye on the median home prices in the area

This is a little departure from my normal posts that are mainly informational – call it an Opinion Piece.

The Real Estate Industry in Florida is hurting as evidenced in all the bad news being reported.  It isn’t all bad, as the reporters would like you to believe.  Houses are selling because there are people that need to buy and there are those that are finding bargains already.

Now builders are spending their time marketing value and affordability into their homes… the reverse of the trend when they were marketing luxury and amenities.  Honestly, they should have caught on sooner.

Affordability… Value… Attainable… Steven Webster at the Florida Workforce Housing Network discusses how these new buzzwords are showing up in builders’ marketing efforts.  He cites that Lennar challenged local builders to build affordably and Centex chose the path of becoming Florida‘s leading affordable housing builder. 

This article would not be complete without discussing the other side of the story… the Real Estate Industry has another industry that it works hand in hand with that needs to be a consideration of these builders – the Lending Industry.

You see… the big, production builders builders can control most of the costs related to the homes they are building.  What they can’t control is mortgages…. only the market itself can do that!

My recommendation to builders is to keep in mind what buyers need – affordable payments.  This means making sure that the larger homes stay within conforming lending limits so that the interest rates stay low.  It also means to quit blackballing lenders and mortgage brokers from projects.  The buyer should have free choice of who they use and all the enticements from the advertisements to buy.

For buyers who will need 100% financing, builders should make sure to keep an eye on the median home prices in the area – that will be the lending limit for FHA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac 100% loan programs.  Builders could offer to pay closing costs up to 3% of the loan amount as an enticement for $0 down homes.

For more information about this trend, please follow this link to visit my main site: Florida Mortgage | Builders Price your homes appropriately

More Florida Mortgage and Real Estate News You Can Use From
David A. Podgursky, MBA
TheMortgageGoToGuy.com
Your Source for Residential, Commercial, Investment and Relocation Mortgages in Florida

Seller Beware Just Another Scam that is happening not only in Orlando Florida.

Orlando Florida Buyers Ask How can we come up with down payment dollars?

There are some general rules that if you follow when making a decision to buy or sell Real Estate in the Orlando Florida that you use to ensure that you make a sound decision.

• "I am not going to take a $x,000 loss on my Orlando Florida home!"
• "I am not giving my Orlando Florida home away!"
• "I don’t want to buy until the absolute bottom of the market"

These are things to think about when you are trying to decide if now is a good time to purchase an Orlando Florida home or sell your Orlando Florida home:

• We understand that you want your home to net the highest amount but sometimes you need to look at what is really going on in the market.  That amount in your head is just that.  Look at what has sold recently and what is on the market.  Make sure that you are the best property in the bottom 25% of those listed. 
• Seller’s tend to be 6 months behind what is going on in the market.  So make sure that you always look at where the Orlando Florida market is headed, not where it has been.  
• Been on the market for 3 months with no activity?  Our best advice ~ Cut your asking price and get your Orlando Florida home SOLD!
•  It doesn’t matter if you are buying or selling Real Estate in the Orlando Florida area, make sure that you plan for the worst case scenario.  Can you afford it? Are you stretching beyond your means? 
• Buyers afraid of purchasing before the market "hits bottom"?  Well think about the possibility that you could end up having to purchase less of a house because interest rates go up when you perceive that the market has hit the bottom.

Each time I hear it, I immediately think back to the popular TV game show

Orlando Florida Buyers Want a Deal!

I hear it daily from Orlando Florida Buyers:  "I want a Real Estate deal!"

Each time I hear it, I immediately think back to the popular TV game show "Let’s Make A Deal" There sometimes you left with a flashy sports car, and sometimes you left with his and her bicycles or worse.    Much like the For Sale by Owners, Orlando Buyers that try to go it alone without the assistance of a Realtor have a difficult time.

It isn’t just in Orlando Florida!  Across the country Realtors are reading it in their emails from buyers, hearing it while we are at Open Houses, and just about every phone call they receive.  "Can you get me a deal?"  Orlando Buyers and those around the country are telling their neighbors and friends.   It is what everyone is talking about.

Realtors hear it over and over. "I want a deal!"  Ok!  We get it!   You want a deal!  But I have something for you to think about…

Do you deserve a Deal?

If there is a buyer out there not demanding they get a deal I would be very surprised!  

And why not?  

The Orlando Real Estate Market favors the Orlando buyers right now.  Inventory is up and many Orlando sellers are anxious.  Now with the increase in foreclosure or short sale opportunities Orlando Buyers seem to think they are entitled to the BEST DEAL!

There are a lot of wonderful Real Estate Opportunities in the Orlando area.  The problem is even though EVERYONE wants a deal, not everyone can get the BEST deals.

• Best Deals are Short Sales and Foreclosures! – think again. There always seem to be many competing offers because everyone wants the same great deal

• Just Make Low Ball Offers! – A better strategy is to make solid offers on properties that are priced correctly.
• Value of a Property is a Personal Factor – Are you getting an Orlando Florida home you love or just dealing with?
• Pre-Qualification is Key! – If you aren’t, no deal. Loan programs are changing daily, with so much competition in looking for deals you will need to be looking good on paper!
• There is lots of competition – Surprise!  You are not the only one sitting on the fence waiting for a great deal!    Well priced Orlando homes in great condition are going to disappear quickly.  Do you really want to be in the position saying "I should have acted faster?"
• Be Ready to Act Quickly With:

So "Let’s make A Deal" Orlando Florida!   Call the Orlando Avenue Top Team today at (407) 467-5155 to start the process of finding your Orlando Florida Deal so you can start calling it home! 

Here are some free safety tips to protect you when traveling to Orlando Florida at home or traveling in the Caribbean.

Here are some free safety tips to protect you when traveling to Orlando Florida at home or traveling in the Caribbean.

•   Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID REQUIRED." 

•   When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card Accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, j ust put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won’t have access to it. 

•  Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home Phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address.  Never have your SS# printed on your checks. (DUH!) You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have It printed, anyone can get it.

•  Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will Know  what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to Call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. I also carry a Photocopy of my passport when I travel either h ere or abroad. We’ve all heard horror stories about fraud that’s committed on us in stealing a Name, address, Social Security number, credit cards. 

  Here’s some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:

•   We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll fr ee numbers and your card Numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.
•  
•  File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit Providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an Investigation (if there ever is one).

            

  But here’s what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even thought to do this.)

• Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations Immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over The Internet in my name. The alert means any company that checks your Credit knows your informati on was stolen, and they have to contact you by Phone to authorize new credit. 

            Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, etc., has been stolen:

           1.) Equifax: 800-525-6285

           2.) Experian (formerly TRW):   888-397-3742

           3.) Trans Union : 800-6807289

           4.) Social Security Administration    (fraud line):800-269-0271

•  
• Identity protection tips to be aware of at the theme parks in Orlando Florida or at home and online.
  

Lovely Kissimmee small gated community with pool and clubhouse zoned for short term rentals.

Lovely Kissimmee small gated community with pool and clubhouse zoned for short term rentals.   Use for your own personal pleasure and then have it pay for itself by renting out at other times!  Professionally Managed by the association so this is easy for the distant buyer to maintain!

Recently refurbished with new tile, furniture and paint. Retreat to the second floor upstairs "hideaway" which overlooks the living room. This could serve as a hobby room, guest room, play room or retreat for some quiet times.

Located minutes to shopping, dining and area attractions. If you rather play tennis and golf than painting and mowing, this townhouse is the answer! Life is more fun at the Villages at Mango Key.

Call the Orlando Avenue Top Team Today (407) 467-5155 for more inforamtionon this exciting Kissimmee Condo close to all that Oralndo has to offer!

So you’re finally purchasing that new home since the price is down or your ARM Loan’s Adjustable Rate is about to jump so you’re going to finally get a new mortgage.

So you’re finally purchasing that new home since the price is down or your ARM Loan’s Adjustable Rate is about to jump so you’re going to finally get a new mortgage.   Well, you are in luck if you are going to start your transaction right now! 

Why?  This is the ideal time of year to start the process of a Mortgage. 

In Florida, property taxes are paid in arrears.  This means you pay at the end of the year for the prior year.  (Insurance is paid in advance, you pay your policy to cover you for the upcoming year)  Also, you receive a 4% discount for paying your annual property taxes in November. 

So if you close on a mortgage in August, September or October, you end up paying an entire year of property taxes at the closing table!  With Florida property values and our crazy tax system, this can be a hefty sum.  On top of this, you have to "seed" your escrow accounts with approximately 2 months of payments for taxes and escrows. 

To learn how your mortgage broker can help you save money at the closing table, follow this link to my main website to read all about it:

Florida Mortgage | Refinance ~ Purchase ; Money Saving Tips