Like what you have been reading here? Subscribe now and receive email updates of our articles.

Menu

Syndicate this blog

Most Popular

Windermere Real Estate Market Report for November 2017

December 14th, 2017 by tisner

The Windermere Real Estate Market Trends Report shows the average sales price was $510,876 in November 2017 compared to $605,913 in November 2016. Homes were on the market for an average of 67 days compared to 96 days last year. Homes sold for 97% of the list price.

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!

Kissimmee Real Estate Market Report for November 2017

December 14th, 2017 by tisner

The Kissimmee Real Estate Market Trends Report for 34741 shows 41 homes sold in November 2017 up from 36 in November 2016. The average sales price was $205,841 compared to $150,900 in November 2016 and homes were on the market an average of 42 days, down from 61 days in November 2016.

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!

How To Make Your Living Spaces Appear Larger!

December 11th, 2017 by tisner

If the furniture in your living space looks like it’s just stuffed in the room, there are ways to make your space seem larger.  Check out these tips to create more space in your home: 

  • Use mirrors to fool the eye, because they reflect light and images. Hang one larger mirror on the main wall, several small ones, (gallery style), or even an oversized mirror leaned against the wall.   
  • Painting walls a light color automatically opens up the space to the eye, because it reflects light.  Going all one color is a great way to make the room appear larger, too. 
  • Get rid of clutter.  The more you have sitting around–mail, books, work, kids’ school things–the fuller your space looks.  Baskets, files or paper organizing gadgets, decorative storage containers, or furniture pieces that double as storage are the best way to hide necessary things.  Get rid of, (in other words, throw away or recycle), junk mail and unnecessary paper as soon as you look at it. 
  • Draw an imaginary diagonal line across your room and place your furniture at an angle.  You even get a bonus storage area behind anything that covers a corner! 
  • Pieces that are the same color as the walls blend in, making the room appear larger. 
  • Either skip window coverings, or use sheer drapery or curtains and blinds that are the same color as your walls.  If you have to use drapes, hang them either at ceiling height, or just inside the window so the framework is visible. 
  • If you want bookshelves, consider a wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling unit.  Draw the eyes horizontally and vertically. 
  • Speaking of bookshelves, the less you have on these open spaces, the roomier it looks.  Cramming every collection, book, or “trinket” just fills up the space in a similar way that clutter does. If you must display sentimental pieces, display a few at the time.  Switching them out on occasion will also give new appreciation for them. 
  • Choose sofas and chairs with exposed legs to allow to light to pass through underneath them.  The more light in your room, the better. 
  • On that note, light is your friend.  If you can’t get more natural light into the space, use a few lamps instead of an overhead light, as it draws the eye to look around the room. 
  • Keep patterns small.  Use a punch or two of larger patterns on pillows or throws, but not too many–remember–less is more. 
  • If you need an area rug, don’t settle for a small rug under the coffee table.  Purchase a rug that extends out from the furniture, as it will draw the eye out. 
  • Create a focal point with framed pieces on one wall, especially behind a sofa, and extend the arrangement to the ceiling, and it will make the space appear taller.  It will also add pop and take away from the room’s size.  
  • Drop-leaf tables or dining tables with the extra leaf removed work best in small areas, and if you need more tabletop space for guests or for workspace, simply add the leaf. 

Small spaces can still mean big living–we just have to make a few adjustments to maximize the space and create a few illusions for our minds to think big.  Better Homes and Gardens has multiple ideas for small spaces, from apartments to living areas, as well as those awkward spaces. 

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: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca

Don’t Pat Yourself on the Back Just Yet

December 8th, 2017 by tisner

You’ve got $500,000 in liquid assets for your retirement and you’re still 15 years away. All your bills are paid; you have a small mortgage on your home; cars are paid for and great credit. Don’t break your arm patting yourself on the back yet.31001231_s.jpg

People think more about what they’re going to do when they retire than whether they’ll have the funds to do them. Ask anyone who has retired, it takes more money than you thought it did. Let’s look at a hypothetical situation.

To retire with $125,000 income in today’s dollars with a life expectancy of 25 years after retirement, you’ll need to have a net worth of $1.5 million at retirement including what Social Security may provide. Your $500,000 will grow to $1,045,420 in 15 years which will leave you about a half million short. You’ll need to save $24,149 each year for the next 15 years to reach your goal.

Retirement Projection3.png

Is this surprising? Did you imagine that this example would be that far from its goal? It might seem staggering to save $24,000 each year but there is another way…investing in rentals.

Real estate over the long term has proven to be a solid, predictable investment.  Cash flows, appreciation, equity buildup and tax advantages are the components that contribute to the rate of return. Increasing rents, available financing and solid appreciation make rentals particularly attractive in today’s environment.

Call me at 407-566-1800 to find out more about how rental homes can help you reach your retirement goals.

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: PatZaby.com
Photo credit: Dreamstime 

Lighting Conversion Plan

November 24th, 2017 by tisner

In 2007, Congress passed an energy act that required new energy-efficient standards for basic light bulbs. Standard incandescent bulbs are being phased out and eventually will be unavailable.

The alternative bulbs differ considerably in price. LED bulbs are the most efficient but they also cost the most. CFLs are a less expensive alternative.  Interestingly, the more expensive replacements offer lower operating costs and longer economic life.

One approach will be to inventory the different types and quantities of light bulbs you need in your home. Then, research either online or a big box store to find out what each type of bulb costs. This information will give you a total budget for converting your lighting.

It could be a significant expense to replace all the bulbs in a home at one time, especially when most of the bulbs still work. That’s where a plan might make sense.

Replace the bulbs in the rooms where the lights are used the most such as kitchen, family rooms and bathrooms. There may be other “rooms” where the lights are used frequently like certain hallways or stairs. Outside flood lights for security purposes may be a large energy consumption.

Bulbs can vary in light output measured in lumens as well as color of light from warm white to bright white and daylight. The lighting label required by the Federal Trade Commission on all packaging will help you determine which will give you the most bang for your buck.

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!

What You Should Know About the KRACK WiFi Breach!

November 22nd, 2017 by tisner

In October, a breach was found in the most commonly used WiFi security, WAP2, used by homes and businesses worldwide. The breach was given the acronym KRACK, for Key Reinstallation ATTACK. It affects smartphones, laptops, pc’s, smart house devices–anything that connects to a WiFi router. Your personal information can be stolen, including credit cards, social security numbers, bank accounts as well as any other personal information you may have stored on your devices.  There are several things you can now do to keep your information safe. 

  • Smartphone users should update their operating systems as soon as possible.  iPhone users should be updated to iOS 11.1, and Android’s update from the 2017-11-06 update release should patch the problem. 
  • The MacOS 10.13.1 update issued October 31, 2017 for iMac, MacBook, and Mac Pro corrects the vulnerability for those devices.  If you’re unsure about your device’s operating system, check for updates from Apple here. 
  • Your home’s smart devices are vulnerable as well.  Individual manufacturers are supposed to be providing protection in their own updates.  To make certain, call your device’s customer service number in the owner’s guide, or look on their website. 
  • If you use a Windows PC or laptop, your KRACK protection should have come in the update on October 10, 2017.   
  • WiFi routers should be updated by their makers as well. Check this list if you would like to make sure if your home or office router has been protected. If you can’t find your router maker, call your internet service provider, and they can tell you whether your protected or not. 

The good thing about whether your home is safe from attack or not is that the hacker has to be in range of your WiFi service.  If you see any strange behavior near your home or even in your neighborhood, call for help, and shut down your WiFi until you know no one is trying to steal your personal information.  Take care in public WiFi hotspots, and if a business cannot tell you whether they have patched this breach or not, turn off your smartphone/device’s WiFi connection, and use data.   

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: Popular Mechanics 

DIY Home Staging

November 20th, 2017 by tisner

You’ve taken the plunge, and put your home on the market.  How do you stage it for potential buyers, and keep it looking great while living your day-to-day? Follow this guide for some practical ideas. 

  • Look at your front entry closely. Paint porch rails and columns, and your front door, if necessary. Replace the door, if necessary.  
  • Landscaping is extremely important for first impressions–clean out the flowerbeds, put down some new mulch and fresh plants, if the time of year is right. 
  • Get rid of clutter and anything that isn’t necessary.  Go ahead and pack these things for your potential move so you’ll have one less thing to do when the time comes. 
  • Clean out closets, and throw away, give away or store anything that you’re not using or haven’t used in six months. Buyers will look in closets and cabinets to see how much storage is available. 
  • Clean, clean, clean.  Your home needs to be spotless, but once it’s done, it’s easy to keep clean for realtor showings.  If you don’t have time, consider hiring a cleaning agency. 
  • Using decorative containers to store things that you need while living in your staged home is a great way to hide extra clutter. Totes, benches with storage, and inexpensive shelving with baskets are great ways to hide your can’t-live-without things. 
  • Rearranging furniture to make rooms appear larger is a huge plus–even taking out lesser-used pieces makes a big difference in how open your rooms will look.  If you’re unsure of this step, ask your realtor for the name of a decorator who specializes in rearrangement and using what you have to improve the space. 
  • If your decor is bold and bright, go ahead and give the walls a fresh coat of neutral paint colors.   
  • You don’t need to purchase new furniture once you’ve toned down the wall paint–slipcovers are an inexpensive way to make your pieces look like new. 
  • Remove personal artwork/photos from your walls and replace with mirrors, inexpensive prints of landscapes or animals.  

Once you’re ready for your realtor to schedule showings, give everyone in the house a responsibility schedule, and stick to it.  Be diligent about keeping furniture dusted, floors vacuumed, countertops wiped off, and dishes stashed in the dishwasher. If you just take out an extra twenty minutes every evening or morning, your home will impress your potential buyers. 

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: pinterest.com

Holiday Travels

November 16th, 2017 by tisner

The last thing you want if you’re traveling these holidays is to worry about someone burglarizing your home. Use this check list to add some peace of mind while you’re out of town.

  • Ask a trusted friend – to pick up mail, newspaper and keep yard picked up to avoid an appearance of being empty.
  • Consider discontinuing your mail (USPS Hold Mail Service)
  • Don’t post about your trip on Facebook and other social media until you return – some burglars actually 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 – use several sets for different times to better simulate someone being at home.
  • 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

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.

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

 

Smart Technology For Your Home

November 15th, 2017 by tisner

Not only does it seem like we have new gadgets for communication being released on a daily basis, but smart home technology is advancing by leaps and bounds. Don’t let all of the available devices overwhelm you when you’re shopping around.  Follow this guide for tips to help you get started on your smart home journey. 

  • Smart thermostats are the perfect way to get your feet wet for advanced technology in your home.  They control your heat and air more efficiently by using presence sensors, and can save 10-15% on your power bill. Nest has two versions available, and prices vary $179-$250. Check with your power company to see if they offer a rebate on your new smart thermostat purchase. 
  • Keyless entry isn’t just for your car anymore.  Smart locks are available for your entryways with mobile and desktop apps, so you can control them, and using fingerprint and voice recognition for opening doors.  Prices vary greatly, and the choices are numerous. PCMag has made a list of the best smart locks of 2017 that can help you comparison shop. 
  • Home security systems have been around for eons, and the older brands have someone monitoring your system for you, and you pay a subscription fee.  Today there are DIY security kits that will connect to your home smart system, and will alert your mobile phone app if there is a breach, but it’s your responsibility to contact authorities.  
  • Sometimes a simple security camera can give you peace of mind, and cameras are now available with motion and heat sensors so that they only turn on when you have chosen those sensor settings.  These cameras have WIFI connectability, and you can use your PC or laptop to check the daily camera video. 
  • If you don’t care for a whole-house lighting control system, there are smart light bulbs controllable via Bluetooth, but that means they cannot be controlled from outside the home, or if you’re out of range.  These bulbs can cost $50, but will last for twenty years. 
  • Home voice-activated assistants are becoming more popular, as well as less expensive. Apple’s Siri, Google Home, and Amazon’s Echo all have different features, but perform the same way by with voice activation. Get advice from friends and the internet before you decide which assistant is right for you and your family. 
  • Water leak and mold sensors are a very important gadget to add to your smart system.  They sense water leaks, and humidity and temperature changes in your home and can save you a bundle on water or mold damage repair. 
  • No more checking smoke alarm batteries every six months–smart smoke alarms are hardwired, have built in carbon monoxide detectors, and can be controlled from your mobile phone.  Some detectors even have sensibility settings, so they know the difference in a lot of smoke and your bacon getting a bit too done. 
  • Turn practically anything into a smart object with a smart plug. Once it’s plugged in to the object and connected to WIFI, you can control that object with your phone, or a home assistant.   

If you have technical or more specific questions about smart products, see this article from the National Association of REALTORS’® Center for REALTOR® Technology group.  It is a wealth of smart home information, as well as data issues, and ownership of devices in case of a home 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: techfruit.com

Gas or Electric Fireplace – Which Is Right For You?

November 13th, 2017 by tisner

Wintertime will soon be upon us, and if we want to save money and energy consumption, we turn the thermostat down a few degrees.  What better way to take the chill off while in the family room than a fireplace? Gone are the days of strictly using wood to warm us up–check out this comparison of gas and electric fireplaces, and see what’s right for you and your family. 

  • Installation should be your first thought if you don’t have a wood fireplace to convert to gas or electric. When choosing gas, you need a gas line installed, as well as a propane tank.  With electric, inserts and free-standing units are available, and you simply need the equipment and a nearby power outlet. 

Gas 

  • Gas fireplaces come vented, or unvented.  Vented gas logs must be used in a wood burning fireplace with a chimney and damper. Ventless logs can be used in an existing fireplace, or as a stand-alone unit. 
  • Vented logs look very realistic, but a large portion of the heat goes up the chimney.  You’ll get less “real” with a ventless set of logs, but they are much warmer, and use less gas than vented. 
  • There’s a great deal of ongoing debate about the safety of ventless gas fireplace units, and you have to be extremely cautious of how long you burn them, because of oxygen depletion.  Discuss these and other safety matters with the salesperson or gas company representative.   
  • Gas fireplaces get very hot, because they use an actual flame to produce heat.  Children, the elderly, and pets shouldn’t get close to the fireplace while in use. 
  • Prices for gas fireplaces run the gamut, as they can be constructed to look like a real fireplace, with a mantel and hearth.  Lots of options are available, depending on where you make your purchase. Cost of use varies, depending on whether propane or natural gas is being used. Gel-burning fireplaces are on the market as well, and could be a good option for your home. 
  • Safety should be first and foremost with gas fireplaces.  Talk with your gas provider, read the instruction manuals carefully, and follow all guidelines.  If you have a problem, call customer service or a repair company immediately. 

Electric 

  • Electric fireplace units don’t need to be vented, because they don’t put off any gasses. 
  • The only heat you have to be concerned with is the heat that keeps your toes warm–electric fireplaces are constructed from materials that don’t transmit heat, so you don’t have to worry about anyone getting burned if they touch it. 
  • Installation is easy.  Choose your unit, decide where it’s going to be a focal point in the room, set it up and plug it in. 
  • Thermostats are available on electric units, making it much easier to control the room temperature.   
  • No fuel means no gases being emitted, and it can be a safer choice if you want to keep it burning for longer than a few hours. 
  • Costs for electric units are about the same, but the extra cost associated with operation will be on your electric bill.   

Adding a new heat source is not something to be taken lightly, and when it comes to gas and electric fireplaces, there are pros and cons with each.  Talk with knowledgeable people, search the internet, and talk to your family before you make the final purchase.  Whatever you choose, it will be nice to have a fireplace to cozy up to on a chilly night. 

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: www.bowdensfireside.com

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

This site is proudly sponsored by Orlando FL Real Estate Kissimmee and Celebration
Copyright © 2025 Orlando FL Real Estate Kissimmee and Celebration | All Rights Reserved. Sitemap