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Make Your Home More Pet Friendly

March 15th, 2022 by tisner


Having pets can enrich your life in a number of ways and can even improve your overall mental health and wellbeing. Unfortunately, not every home is really set up for pets. By making some improvements to your home and its layout, you can make it much more pet friendly, and help keep your furry (or scaly or feathery) friends safe and happy as you spend your time together.

Exactly how do you go about making your home more pet friendly, though? There are a few things you’ll need to consider, including the type of pet you have, its indoor/outdoor habits, and its size. While many of these things are specific to your individual pet, there are some more general changes that you can make to help make your home more pet friendly as well.

Update Your Interiors

If you’ve got an older house, you might want to do a few interior updates to help ensure that your pets are safe from harm. Redoing the walls to remove old paint that could have lead or other unwanted compounds goes a long way toward this goal, while also giving you a way to significantly change the look of the inside of your home. Your floors may need an update as well, such as replacing old frayed carpet with new carpeting or installing new vinyl. This could also be a good idea if you’ve got old wood floors and are concerned about scratching or splinters as your pets go back and forth with heavy paws and claws.

There are other changes that you can make as well. Replace frayed curtains or broken blinds with something a bit more modern to not only keep your pets safe but also keep your home looking nice as well. Depending on your home, you might have additional projects in mind that will not only improve the look but also help to keep your pets much safer from day to day.

It’s All About Access

A big part of making a home pet friendly comes down to controlling access. The parts of the house (or outdoors) that your pet is allowed into should be easy for them to access. Areas where they aren’t allowed should be difficult for them to access, but ideally easy for you to get into. Home updates to accommodate this can include things like adding pet doors, installing new doors that latch easily, or hanging interior gates that you can use to block and unblock access to specific rooms or other areas with ease.

If you have pets that are allowed outside, these sorts of considerations apply out there as well. Installing a fence, adding a watering station, or making other exterior accommodations for your pets will help keep them safe while outside, even as they’re allowed more freedom than they would have gotten as an indoor-only pet. Just make sure that any exterior changes that you make don’t run afoul of local ordinances or HOA agreements before you start work, so you can avoid problems down the road.

It’s Their House Too

In some cases, you may find yourself wanting to make some bigger changes to your home in order to better accommodate pets. Perhaps you want to change out some of your windows with larger ones so that your pets can more easily look outside. Maybe you need to update your HVAC system to better remove pet dander from the air. You might even decide to add on a small room or other area that’s designed specifically for your pets’ use. Whatever the project you have in mind is, HomeKeepr can help.

Creating a HomeKeepr account is fast and easy. Even better, signup is free! Create an account today to match up with builders, installers, and more in your area who can help you to get your home just the way you want it. Your pets (and your wallet) will thank you!

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.

Get Orlando Daily News delivered to your inbox! Subscribe here!

By: Homekeepr, Rob Morelli

Home Loan Programs: 2022 Updates

February 28th, 2022 by tisner


Buying a home is a dream that’s shared by many people. Making that dream come true isn’t always as simple as just going out and applying for a mortgage loan, though. Some potential homeowners need a little bit of assistance in keeping loan requirements manageable, even though they are fully able to afford the loan itself. Fortunately, there are a number of home loan programs that can help make home ownership attainable even for first-time buyers and those who worry that they might not meet all of the requirements for a traditional mortgage loan.

It’s important to keep in mind that the rules and requirements for these loan programs are updated from time to time. Before starting out looking for the home of your dreams, you should make sure that you are up to date on the exact terms of the loan program you’re considering using. Here is some information on some of these updates to help you along your way.

FHA Loan Updates

Loans that are insured through the Federal Housing Administration are usually known as “FHA Loans,” and the programs offered by the FHA are some of the most commonly used by potential homeowners. The FHA doesn’t offer these loans directly, but instead creates an environment where loans can be more easily attained from FHA-approved lenders. Because this is a federal program, the terms of the loan programs are often tweaked to better match data from other federal agencies based on economic trends.

For 2022, there were a few updates made to FHA loan programs. There were some changes to things like the maximum amount that can be borrowed using an FHA loan, though this amount varies based on local factors, so it was not an across-the-board increase. For the most part, though, the changes mostly affected details on the lender side of things. FHA-approved lenders now have new requirements regarding things like loan reporting and how they handle verification of applicants, but this doesn’t affect the borrower’s experience very much. Requirements such as having a minimum credit score of 580 to qualify for maximum financing (and 500 to qualify for the program at all) and supplying income documentation such as bank statements, pay stubs, and tax returns remain the same from previous years.

Exploring Loan Programs

If you’re looking at loan programs that aren’t offered through the FHA but are instead offered by private companies, there may be changes from previous years that you’ll need to consider as well. Many of these programs fall largely in line with the requirements of FHA-backed loans, though there may be some differences. While there weren’t many major updates to non-FHA programs announced last year, it’s possible that there were some changes that you weren’t expecting to the specific program you’re considering. Fortunately, finding updates about the requirements and functions of these programs isn’t difficult so long as you know what you’re looking for.

Most updates for loan programs are released in the fall, so check for any announcements regarding program changes that were made around October or November of last year. If you’re downloading information about the loan program, you should also be sure to download directly from the program’s homepage and select the latest available information if there are multiple documents listed. By taking the time to find out the latest information about the program you’re considering, you can avoid surprises when it comes time to apply.

Finding the Perfect Home Loan

FHA loans and similar programs from other providers can help make the dream of home ownership into a reality. And when it comes time to actually move into your home, HomeKeepr is here to help. Our app can help you match with contractors, plumbers, and other pros who can ensure that any issues with your new home are taken care of as quickly as possible without breaking the bank.

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.

Get Orlando Daily News delivered to your inbox! Subscribe here!

By: Homekeepr, Rob Morelli

Orlando State of the Market January 2022

February 24th, 2022 by tisner

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.

Get Orlando Daily News delivered to your inbox! Subscribe here!

Buyers: How to Put Your Best Foot Forward

February 23rd, 2022 by tisner


Housing prices continue to climb, inventories continue to remain low, demand for housing is intense, and there’s absolutely no relief in sight. It’s a hard time to be a homebuyer right now! Despite that, you can still find a house that you’ll love; it may just take a little extra polish and shine as you head into your home buying adventure. Cash is still king, but you can be more competitive by putting your best foot forward with your offers.

Here are our best tips for buyers trying to secure a home in this busy and tight market.

Bring a Pre-Approval Letter From Your Lender

It’s one thing to think you’ll be approved for a loan, and yet another to know it. In today’s competitive market, your seller doesn’t want to wonder; they want to be certain that the contract they sign is one that will be able to close. This is doubly a concern for sellers who are faced with multiple offers in a short period, since sometimes they all look pretty good on the surface.

Going to your bank and making it as far as your loan approval process can go without a house gives a seller confidence that they won’t be back in the same place in a month, trying to sell a house that already had a contract fall through on it. For them, that might mean delaying their own purchase, or even having to sell their home at a discount, since buyers are sometimes nervous when previous contracts didn’t close.

Go Conventional!

Although many buyers can get into a home faster with an FHA loan, especially with the sometimes lower down payment requirements, sellers know that FHA and other loan programs carry additional requirements for the house itself, too. Although these are usually items most houses will already have if someone is living in them (for example, heat in every room), sellers have often heard horror stories and simply don’t want to deal with the unknown.

Rather than using an FHA program, work on your credit and choose a conventional loan. Conventional loans have far fewer requirements on the property itself, making them an easy transaction for your home seller. There’s nothing wrong with using an FHA loan if you have the time and patience to house hunt using one, but nothing says “easy peasy” to a seller like a conventional loan.

Bring Your Best Offer

Your best offer is the highest amount you’re willing to pay for the property in question, not an ideal price that you’d like to pay. In a different market, where buyers get their picks of the litter, you can feel out a seller to see where the bottom is, but in a market like what we’re still facing in most of the country, you’re far more likely to be competing with several offers at once, so the seller will probably either accept or reject yours rather than try to negotiate.

In addition to bringing your best offer, keep your list of requests short. You can (and should) absolutely ask for repairs to major items you noted when you viewed the home, but now is not the time to sweat the little things. The longer that list is now, before you’ve even had your inspection, the less likely it is that the seller will want to work with you.

Go Forth Boldly Into Your Offer

Putting in an offer on a home in this breakneck speed real estate market can be extremely intimidating, but you never have to face the unknown alone. When it comes time to move into your new home, you’ve got an entire network of friends and partners to help you patch up, paint up, clean up, and even move in!

Remember to reach out to your HomeKeepr community when you need a hand with anything to do with your home. Your real estate agent can provide you with recommendations for some of the best mortgage professionals to work with, no matter where you live or what you need.

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.

Get Orlando Daily News delivered to your inbox! Subscribe here!

By: Homekeepr, Rob Morelli

Weekly Market Snapshot 2/3 – 2/9

February 10th, 2022 by tisner


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.

Get Orlando Daily News delivered to your inbox! Subscribe here!

Stats courtesy of StellarMLS

Is the Housing Market Stuck? Why Buyers Are in a Rush—and Sellers Just Won’t Budge

February 8th, 2022 by tisner


The tough housing market just keeps on getting tougher.

The number of homes listed for sale took a nosedive in January, falling 28.4% compared with a year earlier, according to a recent Realtor.com® report. And if that sounds bad, consider that two years ago—in pre-COVID-19 times—the number of active listings was a whopping 60% higher than it is today.

Granted, December and January are traditionally slow months, with many sellers waiting for spring’s warmer weather to put their property on the market. But so far, early 2022 is looking significantly worse than the usual winter slump, with the number of new listings dipping 9.1% from a year earlier and down a full 16.8% compared with pre-pandemic years spanning 2017 to 2020.

Why home sellers aren’t selling

So why aren’t home sellers selling, given those that do stand to make a tidy profit today? Nationwide, the median home price has climbed to an eye-watering $375,000, a price hike of 25% from a year earlier.

Nonetheless, the fact that home sellers today can make a killing isn’t persuading many to budge, perhaps because once they sell, the question remains: Where will they live? Most sellers, after all, are also buyers.

“In a recent survey we conducted, more than 1 in 4 potential sellers who were choosing not to sell in the near term said it was because they couldn’t find a home they wanted in their price range,” says Realtor.com Chief Economist Danielle Hale. “With housing costs rising, as home prices and mortgage rates both increase, affordability is more important than ever to households. Data suggests that this may be as true for sellers, many of whom will also purchase a new home, as it is for homebuyers.”

Why homebuyers are rushing to close the deal

Despite a limited selection, homebuyers are snapping up whatever they can find—and they’re doing it fast. In January, homes sold in an average of 61 days, down 10 days from last year and 24 days from January 2020.

One reason home shoppers are closing deals nearly an entire month faster may be the rush to take advantage of record-low mortgage rates before the Federal Reserve raises interest rates, which could happen as early as March. Rates for a 30-year fixed-rate loan were 3.55% on Friday, according to Freddie Mac.

Facing a shortage of available homes for sale, some homebuyers are also resorting to paying more money for less house. In January, the median listing price per square foot shot up by 13.5% year over year, with the median cost of a 2,000-square-foot, single-family home rising 18.6%.

Cities where homes are selling fast

Some cities and their surrounding suburbs are feeling the housing crunch more than others. Florida led the charge, with homes getting snapped up in 29 fewer days in Miami and 24 fewer days in Orlando, both compared with a year earlier. Raleigh, NC, came in third, with homes spending 17 fewer days on the market.

“In Raleigh, all signs point to a growing market where the supply of housing isn’t keeping up with demand,” says Hale. “Data suggests that Raleigh has attracted a lot of interest from big-city households looking for affordability who are able to relocate … thanks to workplace flexibility that has outlasted the pandemic.”

Indeed, a growing number of homebuyers are on the move. In the fourth quarter of 2021, more than 50% of the views on homes for sale in Raleigh; Nashville, TN; and Virginia Beach, VA, came from people living somewhere else, says Hale.

“Each of these areas is growing and seeing a lot of interest from incoming home shoppers,” adds Hale. “All of this interest can lead to fast-growing prices that sometimes paradoxically cause existing owners to hesitate to sell.”

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.

Get Orlando Daily News delivered to your inbox! Subscribe here!

By: Realtor.com, Margaret Heidenry 

Weekly Market Snapshot 1/27 – 2/2

February 3rd, 2022 by tisner


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.

Get Orlando Daily News delivered to your inbox! Subscribe here!

Stats courtesy of StellarMLS

A Sellers and Buyers Guide to Property Disclosures

February 2nd, 2022 by tisner


Realtor® Magazine’s
 definition of disclosures is “federal, state, county, and local requirements of disclosure that the seller provides, and the buyer acknowledges.”  In most states, this means that a seller must let a buyer know about known problems with the property they are selling.  Disclosing issues with a house is important for both buyer and seller. Understand more about property disclosures in this guide: 

Disclosures and the Seller 

  • Every prospective property seller will receive a disclosures form from their listing agent.  This form should be filled out truthfully and to the best of the seller’s knowledge. 
  • Most states want these items disclosed to the buyer:  lead paint or asbestos, previous repairs or additions, mold or water damage, pest issues, drainage problems, foundation cracks, problems with HVAC and other appliances, and roof condition/age. 
  • The listing agent will be aware of all government disclosure requirements–federal, state, and local.  Transparency from the seller is a must at this point of the property sale. 
  • “Better safe than sorry,” should be the homeowner’s motto when it comes to disclosures.  For instance, if there is a possibility that mold is an issue under the house, an inspector should have a look. 
  • Disclose minor things that you have learned to live with.  Items a seller considers small–such as a rattling window on a windy day, or a repair made many years past–can be big things to the buyer. 
  • The disclosure should be ready before the seller accepts an offer–for their protection. 

What the Buyer Needs to Know 

  • Once a potential buyer receives the disclosure statement, they should read it over carefully and without distraction. Any questions should be marked or written down and questions presented before the disclosure form is signed. 
  • The added expense of having a home inspection is vital to this part of the sale.  When the buyer meets the inspector, the disclosure form should be in hand so each item can be checked out thoroughly. 
  • Check local government building permit and zoning information to make sure any additions were performed legally by licensed people. 
  • If negotiations about any disclosure’s issues break down, it may be best for the buyer to walk away from the sale. 
  • In the end, doing due diligence is the best way for a buyer to find problems that will be a major issue after the sale. 

Disclosures should be a seller’s protection plan, and smart sellers will be completely honest, and even disclose more than necessary.  Sellers should make sure that their state laws ask them to disclose things like traffic noise, undesirable neighbors, or even paranormal activity!  Choosing a Realtor® with experience will help sellers through the disclosures process so that buyers will have full confidence in the property they are purchasing, which makes for a quick and smooth sale! 

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.

Get Orlando Daily News delivered to your inbox! Subscribe here!

Photo credit: Realtor.com

Fix Your Yard’s Drainage Now

January 31st, 2022 by tisner


Drainage problems can be a major issue for homeowners. Not only does poor drainage cause standing water in your yard, but it can also lead to leaks and foundation problems with your house depending on where the water collects. As if that wasn’t bad enough, landscaping and lawn upkeep become a lot harder when your yard doesn’t drain well. Is there anything that can be done for these problems?

Fortunately, yes. There are actually a few different ways to treat drainage issues in your yard, and this is a great time to undertake a project to correct them. By taking action now, you can avoid problems that might arise from heavy spring rains. The exact solution to your drainage issues will depend on the cause of your problem, so here are a few different options to consider.

Grading Issues

One common cause of problems with drainage is inconsistent grading in your yard. This can cause problems if your home is at the bottom of a big slope across your yard, but it can also be an issue if the grading is inconsistent and as a result has one or more low spots in the yard. Water flows along the soil wherever the grade leads, so this can cause it to collect around your home or in low areas which can then become swampy and overgrown.

Regrading your yard can be done either with specialized tools that scrape soil from higher areas into lower ones, or by bringing in additional soil to completely change the grade. Each method has its advantages, with redistribution being favored when there are both high and low areas in your yard, and the addition of new soil being best when you need to change an otherwise mostly good grade. Once the regrading is finished you can seed the graded area and have grass growing by the time spring arrives.

Soil Penetration

Another big problem with drainage comes when water simply can’t penetrate down into the soil in time to be absorbed. This is especially problematic because you end up with way too much water in the areas where water collects but the soil in other areas might not get enough. Sometimes this is because the soil has too much clay in its composition so it’s difficult for water to penetrate, and sometimes it’s a result of other issues such as thick thatch. In some cases, it’s even just a matter of the soil being too compacted by traffic and time. Regardless of the cause, though, there are solutions.

Clay-heavy soil is the most work-intensive to correct, but the solution is also pretty simple. You simply need to break up the clay and add soil or sand into the mix to make it easier to drain. Sometimes this is as easy as adding a few holes in the clay-heavy area and mixing it together, especially if the clay is in a relatively small area. In some instances, though, you may need to do some tilling or other heavy mixing to break up larger clay beds.

Other issues can be fixed by using a dethatcher on your lawn to break up the thatch buildup or running tools over the ground that punch small holes to break up overly compacted topsoil. Dethatching and aerating the soil like this are often done together, as the loosening of soil is good for the growing grass as well even if it wasn’t excessively compacted.

Fix Your Drainage Problems

Correcting drainage issues can be a big job, but your yard and your home’s foundation will thank you. If you’re in need of a landscaping pro to get the job done, HomeKeepr can help with that. Creating a HomeKeepr account is free, and once you’re a member you can connect with a wide range of pros in your area to help with this and other tasks around the house. Sign up today and let’s get those drainage issues solved!

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.

Get Orlando Daily News delivered to your inbox! Subscribe here!

By: Homekeepr, Rob Morelli

Say It Ain’t Snow!

January 28th, 2022 by tisner

A Quick Note for Homeowners

Brrrr, the weather forecast for this weekend (January 29-31) shows likely freezing temperatures.

Please make sure that your property is protected:

  • Pool pumps running.

  • Heat ON inside house at 50-55 degrees.

  • Outside water spigot on to a very slow drip.

  • Any tropical plants covered if possible.

Stay safe and warm!

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.

Get Orlando Daily News delivered to your inbox! Subscribe here!

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