Whether you have become a first-time homebuyer a few months ago, with flowers blooming around the yard and the promise of an $8,000 tax credit OR whether you have owned your home for years- with winter approaching, you may find yourself dealing with frozen pipes and clogged gutters that once upon a time may have been someone else’s responsibility. This primer will help you pick out the tools you’ll need to prepare for the challenges of the colder months. Yes....even Floridians need to be prepared!
1. Outdoor ladder
Even if you don’t plan on cleaning your own roof and gutters it’s important that you have access to these higher places in case of an emergency
2. Gutter scooper
You should clean your gutters at least twice a year, and a pre-winter unclogging is crucial to prevent potential rain or snow damage. All you really need is that ladder you bought and a reliable pair of gardening gloves to scoop out the leaves and goop.
3. Pruning shears/saw
If you have any large trees near your house, Be sure to remove any dead branches that are near the house or where people spend time outdoors.
4. Snow shovel
you probably want to add a snow shovel to your list of wintertime necessities. And if you wait to buy until that first snowflake falls, snow removal equipment may be harder to find.
5. Rake
To dispose of dead leaves.
6. Duct tape
The practical uses for duct tape are boundless, so it should come as no surprise that it’s also a practical way to seal the insulation for your water pipes.
7. Outdoor faucet cover
You’ll want to make sure any water pipes that are exposed to the outdoors are insulated, including any faucets, which are also known as exterior hose bibs.
8. Wet-dry vacuum
A wet-dry vacuum is certainly useful beyond the winter months, but it may come in especially handy when precipitation is falling and pipes run the risk of bursting. It will give you the ability to quickly clean up any leaks or drainage issues until you’re able to fix the problem for good.
9. Plastic window insulation
If you feel a draft when you sit near a window, you’ll want to put storm windows high on your growing list of things to do. But until you’re financially ready to make that purchase, a suitable substitute is plastic window insulation.
10. Outlet and light switch gaskets
You may not think much cold air can leak into your house through outlets and light switches, but all the cracks and holes in your home can quickly add up in your winter heating bill. Every wall plug and every wall switch is a place where cold air can come in.Foam gaskets that fit inside your light switches and outlets are an easy and inexpensive way to block some of the cold air.
Have a great Holiday Season and stay warm.
Remember, Orlando Real Estate Matters!
Michael
Ok so the home is in Vancouver, maybe a bit pricey at first glance, but come on! Living in the Cullen house...simply priceless! Click here for the details and slideshow.
Homes not selling unless they are foreclosures?
Not true.
I just sold a beautiful 2 bedroom home in Thornton Park for $515,000 that closed last Friday. I represented both sides of the transaction. The home was my listing, and I marketed and found the buyers who ultimately purchased the property. This was not a short sale or a foreclosure. The home was on the market over 600 days with a number of different Realtors prior to me....I listed the home and got it under contract in 69 days.
Now May be the Best Time to Sell Your Home
Why?
- Even considering significant price decreases in some markets over the past 18 months, a home purchased several years ago could very likely sell for a profit today.
- While your selling price might be less than anticipated, you very likely can compensate for that on the buying side of the equation in today's market. There are still great deals out there, and interest rates are still hovering around all time lows. Remember, when the market turns...and it will...you may be able to get an outstanding price for your home, but if you will be purchasing another home you will be on the other side of the transaction. You will be scrambling, and probably will be forced to pay a premium for property under those market conditions.
- I would remind you of this- While short-term market conditions can fluctuate, housing continues to represent a strong ling-term investment. Since the start of real estate record keeping in 1968, national median existing-home prices rose every year until 2006 - a period that included early recessions and sales decline.
- The market is experiencing a major decline in available home inventory- as short sales and foreclosed properties continue to disappear.
It all comes down to this. Homes are selling. The Realtors who are selling homes in this challenging market are doing more than just posting their listing on the MLS, putting a sign on a yard and hoping for the best.
I made this particular sale happen for both buyer and seller by working with the appraiser to explain the value of this property, by utilizing many different media to get the word out to everyone and targeting a very specific set of buyers that would be interested in a home like this. These are just a few of the reasons I was able to sell 27 James Avenue in such a short time, and to get accomplished what the Realtors who had this listing before me--- could not.
If you are considering putting your home on the market, I would welcome the opportunity to evaluate your home and give you my opinions, thoughts and suggestions.....all for free. Just get in touch and I will try to help you anyway I can.
The words "first time home buyer" are missing- because the benefits go well beyond that particular group. Can you benefit? Take a look....more to come.
By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER, Associated Press Writer Stephen Ohlemacher, Associated Press Writer –
33 mins ago WASHINGTON – Buying a home is about to get cheaper for a whole new crop of homebuyers — $6,500 cheaper.
First-time homebuyers have been getting tax credits of up to $8,000 since January as part of the economic stimulus package enacted earlier this year. But with the program scheduled to expire at the end of November, the House voted 403-12 Thursday to extend and expand the tax credit to include many buyers who already own homes. The Senate approved the measure Wednesday, and the White House said President Barack Obama would sign it Friday.
Buyers who have owned their current homes at least five years would be eligible for tax credits of up to $6,500. First-time homebuyers — or anyone who hasn't owned a home in the last three years — would still get up to $8,000. To qualify, buyers in both groups have to sign a purchase agreement by April 30, 2010, and close by June 30.
"This is probably the last extension," said Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., a former real estate executive who championed the credits.
The homebuyers tax credit is one of two tax breaks totaling more than $21 billion that was included in a bill extending unemployment benefits for those without a job for more than a year. The other would let companies now losing money recoup taxes they paid on profits earned in the previous five years.
"We are still in a world of economic hurt, and Congress must continue to act boldly and creatively," said Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. "With the right mix of tax breaks and investments we will get through this recession and get folks working again."
The real estate industry has been pushing to extend and expand the housing tax credit. About 1.4 million first-time homebuyers have qualified for the credit through August. The National Association of Realtors estimates that 350,000 of them would not have purchased their homes without the credit.
Extending and expanding the tax credit for homebuyers is projected to cost the government about $10.8 billion in lost taxes. While the measure passed the Senate by a 98-0 vote, Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., questioned its efficiency in stimulating home sales.
"For the vast majority of cases, the homebuyer tax credit amounted to a free gift since it did not affect their decision to purchase a home," Bond said. "And for the small minority of buyers whose decision was directly caused by the credit, this raises the question of whether we are subsidizing buyers who may not have been able to afford buying a home in the first place."
The credit is available for the purchase of principal homes costing $800,000 or less, meaning vacation homes are ineligible. The credit would be phased out for individuals with annual incomes above $125,000 and for joint filers with incomes above $225,000.
The credit would be extended an additional year, until June 30, 2011, for members of the military serving outside the United States for at least 90 days.
Expanding the tax credit for money-losing companies is projected to cost $10.4 billion.
The business tax break would allow money-losing companies to use current losses to offset taxable profits earned in the previous five years, giving them refunds of taxes paid in those years. Under current law, businesses with annual gross receipts of more than $15 million can claim losses back only two years.
The tax break would help industries suffering losses in 2008 or 2009, including retailers, homebuilders and newspapers. Congress included a scaled-back version of the tax break — for companies with revenues of $15 million or less — in the economic recovery package enacted in February. The new tax break would be available to companies of any size, providing a quick source of cash.
The U.S Chamber of Commerce has been a big backer of the tax break for money-losing companies.
"It frees up capital that they can use to maintain jobs and potentially even hire new people as the economy returns," said Caroline Harris, senior tax counsel for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
The tax breaks would be paid for largely by delaying a tax break for multinational companies that pay foreign taxes. It was passed in 2004 and originally was to have taken effect this year, but would now be delayed until 2018.
You would think that all this attention would have weeded out predatory practices in the mortgage industry, Not so. In the "new world" of loan modifications, refinancing, and short sales come a whole new batch of shady dealings. Of course many have thought of the mortgage industry as a whole has been the "whipping boy" for everything that has gone wrong with the economy. But just as there are good and bad Doctors, Accountants etc. the same goes for mortgage providers. If you have any questions regarding lenders, or need help finding an appropriate one for your needs...I can help you. In the meantime, be aware of what is going on. Take a look at this article. Michael
Top 3 Real Estate Mortgage Scams: What You Need to Know
RISMEDIA, November 2, 2009—Being a homeowner is one of the biggest dreams for the American people. Due to record numbers of homeownership and cheap mortgage rates, individuals who did not own a home previously are now looking for mortgages for financing their ambitions. On certain occasions, the dream of homeownership is associated with a cost that exceeds the mortgage.
For finding out how much your mortgage is going to cost you, a loan mortgage calculator often works as a user-friendly tool. Nevertheless, this tool can’t save you all the time. Similar to other forms of investment, real estate mortgage loans are also subject to scams. Mortgage frauds and scams can make you lose thousands of dollars on interest as a minimum because of excessive fees and other hidden costs. The worst that can happen is that you can lose your home to foreclosure.
According to industry professionals, there are three principal or familiar types of real estate fraud:
1. Identity theft via mortgage request
2. Bait and switch
3. Loan flipping
For preventing scams, it has been witnessed that offense is the best defense. Understand the truth and don’t hesitate to make queries.
Bait and switch is a fraudulent sales technique where a loan product is publicized at a lucrative rate (bait). However, the product or rate is subsequently changed for the gain of the lender (switch). This is an utterly illegitimate and deceitful practice. For instance, one interest rate is assured at the time of selling a loan, but a bigger rate is provided at the time of closing.
When you’re obtaining a pre-approval or mortgage quote, you believe that your question with the lender is secret, right? You’re wrong. On many occasions, important financial details about you and your mortgage requirements are hacked by vying lenders. This can happen within 24 hours of your credit bureau inquiry. Your loan officer is even unaware of this. Many firms provide countrywide accessibility to your financial details to the lenders and everybody in your city who requested for a mortgage within the last 24 hours. Any other lender can talk to these individuals the following day and give them a pre-approval for an improved mortgage loan.
One more dilemma is mortgage solicitation through telephone, the Internet or door to door. These scams involve filling in an application through fax, the Internet or over the telephone and often the rates are phony. However, it is not the largest issue to be bothered about–it is nothing but identity theft. Even though the rates are legitimate, the company would get all your important details such as your social security number that can result in mortgage scam or identity theft.
Another type of mortgage scam that is prevalent in the real estate industry is loan flipping. Loan flipping denotes frequent refinancing of a mortgage within a small time frame with very small gains to the borrower. It takes place when a borrower can’t keep up with the planned payments or constantly combines other unsecured loans into a new secured loan at the request of a lender. Lenders flipping loans ask for too much origination fee with every consecutive refinancing. They might ask for these fees on the basis of the whole loan amount, not only on the increased amount summed up with the loan principal through refinancing. In addition, every refinancing might attract prepayment penalties that can be funded as a portion of the overall loan amount, accumulating the debt of the borrower.
If you’re buying a home, looking for a home equity loan or considering a mortgage refinance, it is better to work with a trustworthy lender. You must shop around and do some homework to get the best offers. Try to stay away from furnishing any details until you’re confident that the company or individual you’re talking to is right for you.
I came across this article this morning that really does a good job of summarizing what I have been saying for the past couple of months. All in all, whether you are an investor from another state or a Floridian, waterfront property in Florida (whether it be on a lake in Orlando, beachfront, or riverfront) has held it's value better than many other real estate investments over the last few years. But still there are great deals out there. Give a read and let me know what you think. If you are looking for waterfront property (or any property throughout the state) I can help you.
