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What Is a Non-Occupying Co-Borrower?

September 20th, 2019 by tisner


If you’re worried about whether you can get a loan on your own, having a co-borrower can take a lot of the stress off. Because there are two people applying for the loan, the lender has a lot more potential assets to consider and two different credit scores. In most cases, the co-borrower on a mortgage loan will live at the same address as the primary borrower (such as the residence being purchased.) Depending on circumstances, though, it is possible to have a co-borrower who doesn’t live at the same address.

Non-Occupying Co-Borrower

As the name implies, a non-occupying co-borrower (also called a non-occupant co-borrower, or NOCB) is another person who is willing to take responsibility for a mortgage loan but who won’t be living in the purchased house. In most cases this is a family member such as a parent, sibling or spouse, though the exact restrictions will depend on the loan program you use. The co-borrower’s income is added in with the primary borrower’s for the purpose of qualifying for the loan, allowing the primary borrower to get the loan even if they couldn’t qualify on their own.

Both the income and the liabilities of the co-borrower are considered along with the income and liabilities of the primary borrower. The total income and total liabilities of both are calculated and then used to determine the overall debt-to-income ratio of the two borrowers; provided that it’s favorable enough, they’ll then qualify for the loan. Because they are co-borrowers on the loan, both the primary borrower and the NOCB are equally responsible for the loan payments.

Advantages and Disadvantages

There are a few distinct advantages of using a non-occupying co-borrower for a mortgage:

  • Can qualify you for a loan that you might not get otherwise
  • May earn you a better interest rate or more favorable loan terms
  • Provides you with someone else to help ensure that payments are made on time
  • May be able to refinance without the NOCB later as your credit score improves

Unfortunately, there are a few disadvantages as well:

  • Can strain relationships between you and the NOCB
  • Both borrowers are held liable in case of loan default
  • Not all co-borrowers will help you qualify for a loan
  • Not all co-borrowers will be eligible under the terms of your lender
  • Some lenders don’t allow NOCBs on loans, especially with first-time borrowers

Because non-occupant co-borrower loans are not cut and dried, it can take a bit of research to figure out whether you can even make use of one of these loans.

Should You Use a NOCB?

Assuming that you and your non-occupant co-borrower qualify for an NOCB loan through your preferred lender, the question remains of whether you should even try to add a co-borrower to your loan. There isn’t necessarily an easy answer to this question. The answer relies so much on your specific situation that it’s difficult to give a definitive answer, though there are a few things you can consider to try to find the right answer for you.

Take a moment and ask yourself the following questions: What are the rules concerning non-occupying co-borrowers from your lender? If they’re allowed, how likely is it that the co-borrower you have in mind will actually help your application? Is the co-borrower someone you can trust with this, or will the experience likely be stressful? Consider how reliable your co-borrower is, how it will affect your loan terms and how much this will actually help your case. The more thought you put into it, the closer you’ll be to finding the right answer for you.

Get Some Professional Advice

If you’re still not sure, try discussing your situation with a loan specialist. Here at HomeKeepr, we can help you find the professional to answer all of your questions. Sign up for a free account today and start looking for the specialist that’s right for you and your needs.

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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By: Homekeepr

Understanding a Home Appraisal

June 18th, 2019 by tisner


During the selling/buying process, after the purchase agreement contract is signed, lenders order a home appraisal.  They want to be sure that the property 
is worth the mortgage they are getting ready to issue to the buyer, or in case of refinancing, the owner.  An appraisal is different from the home inspection, which should have already taken place.   

  • The lender typically schedules the appraisal with a licensed professional, who contacts the homeowner to schedule a time.  Some appraisers don’t mind the owner being present, but usually work alone. 
  • Sellers should have a few things readily available:  recent tax information, property survey, a list of what is being sold with the house, any addition construction information, including cost and construction date. 
  • The assessment can begin before the appraiser even steps onto the property, as they do market information about the house, as well as research comparable sales in the neighborhood, much like the listing agent did for setting the price for the house. 
  • Like someone viewing the house for purchase, the appraiser takes in the exterior appearance, curb appeal, looks for upgrades or additions, as well as the appearance of surrounding homes. 
  • The appraiser takes note of how many rooms are in the house, as well as size, building materials and finishes. 
  • Condition of everything is taken into consideration, including the foundation, exterior finishes, wear on flooring, what shape the windows are in, and all home systems. 
  • The appraiser will also access the basement, attic and crawlspace to check for water or insect damage. 
  • Most of the time, the appraisal fee is set in the loan agreement, but in case it is not, the buyer pays the fee in the closing costs. 

Although the actual property inspection may take a few hours, the appraisal itself is normally given to the lender in an average of seven business days. Appraisers commonly use the Uniform Residential Appraisal Report. If everyone has done their homework, literally and figuratively, the value of the home will meet the selling price, and the new buyers will soon be on their way to home ownership! 

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: blog.militarybyowner.com

For Sale By Owner for Sellers and Buyers

April 16th, 2019 by tisner

for sale by owner
Some homeowners think they’ll be saving a ton of money by choosing to sell their home themselves, and unless they’re a real estate agent, that may be so.  If you are interested in a house that is offered for sale by the owner (FSBO) what’s the risk for you
?  Read on to find out why it’s not a good idea for seller or buyer: 

Sellers 

  • According to realtor.comⓇ, the listing agent and buyer’s agent split about 6% of the home’s sale price.  You’ll need to calculate how much it costs you to stage and photograph your home, get an MLS number, market the house, take time from work to schedule showings as well as host the showings, do all of the paperwork involved, and contact and pay attorneys and others who are involved in a home sale, and compare it to the commission you believe you’ll give up to an agent.   
  • To be fair, the seller should offer a 3% commission to the buyer’s agent.  Otherwise, most agents won’t bring anyone who’s interested to your home for a showing. 
  • Sellers are responsible for any mistakes that have occurred once the transaction is in motion.  If you don’t purchase errors and omissions insurance, you may end up paying out of pocket in court or settle out of court for those mistakes. 
  • Pricing your home takes more than just an online search for sold homes in your area, and not only can you overprice your house, but you can lose thousands by underpricing. 
  • Scammers abound and can cost you in many ways.  These criminals target FSBO homeowners, because the scammers are savvy enough to make their offer look legitimate.   

Buyers 

  • Beware the owner’s asking price.  Since the majority of FSBO sellers don’t have the experience to set a good market value on their home, their quote will likely be too high. 
  • Be prepared to wait some time to see the home.  Most homeowners have full-time jobs, and you’ll have to view the home on their time, with them as your host. 
  • If a seller tells you their house is in perfect condition, and you can save money by not hiring an inspector, walk away.  Every house even brand-new houses should be inspected before changing hands. 
  • Ask the seller what fees they plan on paying, and in the case that they ask to share the costs with you, it’s time to find another house. 
  • Do your own research on the house, make sure the person you’ve talked with is the actual owner, and proceed with caution.  There are scams that involve an empty house, FSBO signs, and scammers who will take your money and run, because they aren’t the rightful owner. 

The best advice: hire a RealtorⓇ.  Not only are they the ones taking the risk in selling your home (or not), licensed real estate agents know everything you don’t know about selling and purchasing, devote all their working hours to home-buying, and can protect your investment as well as a buyer’s interests. 

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: KCM

Workshops for First-Time Homebuyers!

March 12th, 2019 by tisner

Workshops for First-Time Homebuyers
That’s right–classes for home buyers!  If you’re just starting out on your home-purchase process, you may get overwhelmed when you find out all that’s involved.  Sadly, it’s not as easy as finding a house, paying for it, then moving in.  It’s a great idea
 to learn all you can about the process as well as being a homeowner. 

  • Don’t wait until you’ve found a house you want to purchase before signing up!  Find a course that will help you learn the ropes from house-hunting to closing so you’ll feel confident when you contact a Realtor to begin your search. 
  • Credit counseling is best done about six months before you start looking at homes, so you can learn about improving your credit score, as well as creating a budget and sticking to it.  You want the highest credit score possible so you can receive pre-approval for a mortgage. 
  • Don’t have enough saved for a 20% down payment?  A workshop will help you find a program that will assist you with finding low down payment programs, as well as if there are any grants available in your community. 
  • HUD-approved counseling agencies usually offer one-on-one sessions so you can get a better understanding of your own personal financial situation, as well as answer any specific questions you may have. 
  • Many workshops have more than one “instructor;” you will hear from lenders, appraisers, inspectors, and insurance agents that will discuss their roles in the home-buying process. 

When dreaming of buying your own home, don’t let all of the information overwhelm you and keep you from even trying! If you are pressed for time with work and family, online course may be for you!  All it takes is this first step, and you’ll find that a home-buyer course will show you won’t be alone on the road to home ownership.   

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: rethinkingdebt.org

Buying an Older Home

February 19th, 2019 by tisner

Buying an Older Home

Many people dream of living in an older home, whether it be a 100-year old farmhouse, or a vintage ranch from the 50’s.  There are certain things that should be taken into consideration, good and bad, when that dream starts to become a reality, and you’re on the hunt for an old new home.  

  • If the house was built before 1978, make sure the home inspector looks for lead paint and asbestos, as both can be health hazards. 
  • Have the foundation thoroughly checked if it is original to the house.  Even the most solidly-built houses can have settling, water damage or corrosion. 
  • Not only are older mechanical systems likely to fail since they’re at the end of their lifespan, they are less energy-efficient.   
  • Plumbing and electrical systems can be old enough that they need to be replaced; old pipes can affect water quality and worn out wiring can be a fire hazard. 
  • Unsafe features that may be charming may not be up to current code.  Check for steep stairs, non-working fireplaces, and laundry chutes, especially if you have younger children. 

While all those things are expensive solutions, there are some things that you can’t get with a newer home: 

  • Older homes are usually in established locations, and are in good school districts, as well as being close to shopping and restaurants. 
  • Houses built before the 1970’s are generally sturdier, simply because the lumber used to build them was made from old growth hardwoods, something that isn’t available today. 
  • The lots in areas where you find older homes are usually larger, and that may mean more maintenance, but it also means more room for playing, pet exercise, and outdoor entertaining. 
  • You just don’t get the charm and character in new construction like you do in an older home, even if the styles are similar. 
  • Prices of older homes are usually lower, unless there is historical significance to the house itself or to the area. 

Do your research, list the pros and cons as they pertain to your life.  No matter what age house you finally decide to buy, the choice should be made because it’s what is best for you and your family.

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: southernfriedmagazine.com

Terms First-Time Homebuyers Should Know

February 5th, 2019 by tisner

Terms First-Time Homebuyers Should Know
The time has come to begin the steps of buying your first home and looking around the internet and other real estate-related media, you’re finding there’s a lot more to know than finding a house, getting a loan, and signing papers.  There are some key words that can be unfamiliar to a first-time home buyer, so familiarize yourself with these lesser-known terms so you’ll have fewer questions and stumbles along the way: 

  • In order to be certain that the home is worth the amount of the loan, there will be a home appraisal performed by an unbiased inspector of the lender’s choosing. 
  • At the final paper-signing, the buyer is required to pay closing costs, which normally include attorney fees, surveyors, inspections, and title insurance, among other things.  Be prepared to have 2-5 percent of the purchase price for closing costs. 
  • If you’d like to pay less interest over the time of your loan, you can purchase discount or mortgage points.  To learn more about this option, check out these tips from the Nerd Wallet website. 
  • Earnest money is money that will be paid to the seller to show good faith of the buyer towards the home purchase.  It will be applied to your down payment. 
  • When you have funds in escrow, you will have given funds to a third party to hold until they have verified that inspections, disclosures or any disputes have been resolved.  Keeping it in escrow protects your deposit before you sign the final contract to buy your new home. 
  • Pre-approval is very important and differs from being pre-qualified.  If you’re pre-approved for a loan amount, you have a realistic expectation of what you can buy. 
  • If your down payment is less than twenty percent of the purchase price, you will pay private mortgage insurance typically until that amount reaches twenty percent of the loan or home value. 
  • Your lender will require the purchase of title insurance, which protects real estate owners and lenders against any property loss or damage for whatever reason.  Learn more about what title insurance is and what it covers from the CFPB. 

There are other terms and abbreviations you may find in your search for a house in their descriptions and about real estate in general that you won’t be familiar with.  Here’s a longer, more comprehensive list from realtor.comⓇ.  The more you know before you get started, the smoother the home-buying process will be!

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: stevendiadoo.com

Is it okay for a buyer to move in before closing?

December 19th, 2018 by tisner

Average homeowner gained $12K in equity in 3Q
Dec. 3, 2018 – Buyers often anxiously await closing so they can enter their new home. In some cases, however, they ask if they can move a few things in early so they can hit the ground running. In other cases, the buyers may have a time gap between closing on an old home and moving into their new one.

As a result, it’s not uncommon for a buyer to ask a seller if they can move a few things in early, either possessions or themselves.

Nice sellers often try to accommodate nice buyers, but there are dangers to allowing someone to move in early. According to Cara Ameer, a broker associate with Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, who writes for Inman News, there are six good reasons for a seller to say, “No, I’m sorry you can’t,” when a buyer asks for early access to a home.

1. Who broke it?
A buyer moves in early, and the sink plumbing springs a leak. Will the buyer now fix it – should the buyer fix it? What if the buyer somehow thought the sink could support a grown adult and sat on it? Who pays?

2. Liability
If the buyer and seller have not signed any kind of pre-occupancy or lease agreement, what happens if something worse than leaky plumbing occurs, such as a major injury? The seller may be liable. In addition, what happens if wooden floors get scratched as movers drag new furniture across a room? What if a hurricane destroys everything the buyers stored in the garage?

Even with proof that the buyer caused damage, it could become a new negotiating point the buyers use to request further concessions from the seller.

3. “I didn’t notice this before …”
Most houses have a small chipped something or temperamental item. If buyers move in early, it’s like a “never-ending walkthrough,” Ameer writes. Buyers could discover minor problems and try to “renegotiate issues that were never raised as a result of inspections or repairs.”

4. Early repairs
Buyers who move into a new home often feel as if they own it, even if money has not yet switched hands, and start to think: “Why wait another week to start tearing out the kitchen cabinets?”

Ameer says the “list of what-if scenarios is endless.” Paint can spill, contractors can fall and lawn people can break sprinkler heads. Overall, there’s a great chance that the seller – or his insurance company – will be responsible for any pre-closing damages to both people and properties.

5. Buyer’s remorse
During a showing, a house can be the American Dream, but that feeling can fade once buyers realize it’s also a lot of work. Or perhaps the buyers continue to look at new homes that come onto the market, and one is a bit dreamier than the American Dream they’re preparing to buy.

If a situation arises where the seller can also lose a deposit, they’ve lost time and money pulling their home off the market while waiting for the buyers to change their mind.

6. A loan falls through

Perhaps a buyer, once inside “their” new home, buys furniture and dings their credit score – or maybe something else happens, including things like wire fraud that sends the buyers’ mortgage money to a criminal organization in Siberia.

Sellers want to get their home on the market quickly if a deal falls through, but this creates a whole set of other possible problems, especially if the buyer has no immediate place to go. In addition, a ready-to-show home that has been lived in for three weeks might need to be cleaned again.

While there may be a good reason to allow buyers access to a listing before closing, good-hearted sellers who say, “Sure, go ahead,” as soon as their buyer asks for early access should at least take a few minutes first to consider all the possibilities.

“In the event you have sellers willing to allow buyers in early, you should recommend, in writing, that the parties get a pre-occupancy agreement – preferably one drafted by an attorney – in place before moving forward,” recommends Meredith Caruso, Florida Realtors’ manager of member legal communications.

Source: Inman News, Cara Ameer, broker associate with Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

© 2018 Florida Realtors®

https://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=374444

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!

Study: Fla. top state for in-migration from other states

December 17th, 2018 by tisner

Average homeowner gained $12K in equity in 3Q
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Nov. 5, 2018 – LendingTree’s latest State Migration Study discovered that 12.1 percent of homebuyers across the country plan to change states and most plan to head south – and the largest number prefer Florida. It’s the top destination for residents of 15 out of 50 U.S. states, most of which are located up and down the East Coast.

To do the study, LendingTree reviewed more than 2 million new-purchase mortgage loan requests for primary residences in all 50 states in 2018 through mid-November to find what percentage of all requests were from residents looking to move outside of their current state and where their destination would be. The results details the most popular new locations for homeowners in each state, along with the states with the highest percentage of requests to move to other parts of the country.

Of all purchase mortgage requests during the study’s period, 9.1 percent were for Florida, LendingTree reports. For out-of-state movers, 12.4 percent of requests were for Florida. The Sunshine State has a long history of bringing in visitors and new residents, particularly retirees.

Texas residents love the Lone Star State. Texas had the fewest percentage of residents looking to move out of state – only 6.6 percent – but Florida was also the top destination for the few considering a longer ride in a moving van. Texas was also the top move-to state for residents of six other states.

However, Florida also had fewer residents looking to move away. After Texas, only 8.6% of Michigan residents are considering such a move – but again, their top choice is Florida.

For the 8.9 percent of Florida residents considering an out-of-state move, it won’t be a long drive: 13.8 percent listed their top preferred state as Georgia.

Alaska has the most residents looking to move away – 24.8 percent. The top destination out of Alaska was Washington state.

Most people looking to move out of state don’t want to go far – more than half of them chose a state next door. But if they are looking to move cross-country, chances are it’s to Florida. Of the 20 states where the residents’ most popular new location doesn’t border their current state, 13 were Florida.

States that list Fla. as their No. 1 move-to destination

  1. New York: 21.3% want to move; 21.5% of them prefer Florida
  2. New Jersey: 17.5% want to move; 21.8% of them prefer Florida
  3. Connecticut: 17.3% want to move; 23.9% of them prefer Florida
  4. Vermont: 17.2% want to move; 19.6% of them prefer Florida
  5. Illinois: 14.2% want to move; 14.2% of them prefer Florida
  6. .Maine: 11.3% want to move; 21.0% of them prefer Florida
  7. Wisconsin: 10.6% want to move; 15.6% of them prefer Florida
  8. 8.Kentucky: 10.5% want to move; 15.4% of them prefer Florida
  9. Tennessee: 10.5% want to move; 15.8% of them prefer Florida
  10. Indiana: 10.0% want to move; 15.8% of them prefer Florida
  11. Alabama: 9.3% want to move; 22.4% of them prefer Florida
  12. Georgia: 9.2% want to move; 26.5% of them prefer Florida
  13. Ohio: 9.1% want to move; 20.7% of them prefer Florida
  14. Michigan: 8.6% want to move; 22.0% of them prefer Florida
  15. Texas: 6.6% want to move; 10.1% of them prefer Florida

© 2018 Florida Realtors®

https://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=374913

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!

When Not to Spend the Money

November 27th, 2018 by tisner

home-buying tips

Bigger is better almost all of the time, except when it comes to the amount you’re spending on a new home.  There are certain things that we should look for in a new house, but also things we shouldn’t.  If this is your first time buying a home, and you know the budget will be tight, plan well enough, and you’ll better manage the expense of being a homeowner.   

  • Decide before you start house hunting how much you can spend.  We can’t say it enough:  plan a budget and stick to it. 
  • Just because you are approved for a certain loan amount, it doesn’t have to be spent. If you can find a house that you love for less than the approval limit, then go with it.   
  • If you do find a house at a “great price,” find out why it’s priced to sell.  Talk to neighbors, do some internet sleuthing, and make sure you’re making the right decision to buy it when everyone says it’s a “steal.”   
  • Getting a house in a great school district is wonderful, but if you don’t have children, or will likely move once you do, don’t spend the extra to move into an area that is probably higher priced because of the quality of local education. 
  • When it comes to the kids, do they really need a play or media room?  If your children are involved in after-school activities and spending a lot of time at practices, rehearsals and lessons, then the extra space won’t be used often.  The extra cost in the purchase price–not to mention the utilities to heat and cool the rooms–will be money wasted. 
  • That same thinking goes hand-in-hand with living in a bigger house, period.  Larger houses will cost more in insurance, taxes, and utilities.  Even if your mortgage payments will likely be cheaper than your current rent, the extra costs can hurt your wallet once you move. 
  • If you’re not the type that likes to do yard work, or if you don’t want to spend your time off work mowing, raking, weeding and trimming, then a large beautiful yard isn’t worth the money.   
  • A house that needs simple cosmetic updates is great for those who have the time and money to perform these jobs themselves, but if you buy a house that’s within your budget with the intent to do extensive work, it may cost you much more in the end. 

The wisest thing to do during the home-buying process is take your time and think practically.  Have your needs at the top of your house-hunting list, and your wants further down. Falling in love with an amazing house can cloud our home-buying decision.  You don’t want to spend your days in an amazing house worrying about how you’ll pay for it.  Buy what you can afford, and what you’ll truly live in and enjoy.

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: daveramsey.com

Windermere Florida Real Estate Market Report for October 2018

November 15th, 2018 by tisner

The Windermere Real Estate Market Trends Report shows the average sales price was $557,315 in October 2018 compared to $691,795 in October 2017. Homes were on the market for an average of 74 days, down from 82 days last year. Homes sold for 97% of the list price.

Windermere Florida Real Estate Market Report for October 2018

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!

Teri Isner, CIPS, CRS, GRI
Keller Williams At-The-Lakes
700 Celebration Blvd
Suite 300
Celebration, Fl 34747

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