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Orlando State of the Market September 2023

October 17th, 2023 by tisner

New Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association data shows rates reach highest level in over 20 years, contributing to market slowdown this fall.

State of the Market

  • September’s interest rate was recorded at 7.3%, up from 6.6% in August. This is the highest interest rate since March 2002.
  • Inventory for September was recorded at 6,758, up 10.5% from August when inventory was recorded at 6,115. This is the sixth month in a row inventory has risen.
  • Overall sales fell 8.4% from August to September. There were 2,558 sales in September, down from 2,792 sales in August. This is the fourth month in a row that home sales have fallen.
  • The median home price for September was recorded at $370,000, down from $375,000 in August. This is the third month in a row that median home price has fallen.
  • New listings fell 2.1% from August to September, with 3,545 new homes on the market in September, compared to 3,620 in August.
  • Homes spent an average of 41 days on the market (DOM) in September – the same as in August. This is 32.3% higher than September 2022 when homes spent an average of 31 days on the market.
  • “Rising rates in September contributed to continued rising inventory, falling sales and falling median home price,” said Lisa Hill, Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association President. “Home sales during the fall are typically slower than sales during the spring or summer, and this may be especially prevalent this season with rates reaching their highest level in over 20 years. High interest rates have been the No. 1 factor affecting buyers this year, and it’s evident this challenge will persist.”

Market Snapshot

  • Interest rates rose from 6.6% in August to 7.3% in September. This is 15.3% higher than September 2022 when interest rates were 6.3%.
  • Pending sales fell 8.9%, with 3,647 in August and 3,322 in September.
  • 16 distressed homes (bank-owned properties and short sales) accounted for 0.6% of all home sales in September. That represents a 23.8% decrease from August, when 21 distressed homes sold.

Inventory

  • Orlando area inventory increased 10.5% from August to September. Inventory in August was 6,115 and inventory in September was 6,758.
  • The supply of homes increased to 2.64 months in September, up 20.6% from 2.19 months in August. A balanced market is six months of supply.
  • The number of new listings decreased from August to September by 2.1% – from 3,620 homes to 3,545 homes.

ORRA’s full State of the Market Report for September can be found here.

This representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association and the Stellar Multiple Listing Service. Neither the association nor StellarMLS guarantees or is in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the association or by StellarMLS does not reflect all real estate activity in the market. Due to late closings, an adjustment is necessary to record those closings posted after our reporting date.

ORRA REALTOR® sales represent sales involving Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association members, who are primarily – but not exclusively – located in Orange and Seminole counties. Note that statistics released each month August be revised in the future as new data is received.

Orlando MSA numbers reflect sales of homes located in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and Lake counties by members of any REALTOR® association, not just members of ORRA.

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.

First Time Homebuyers Mortgage-Related Junk Mail

October 3rd, 2023 by tisner


The stress and excitement of buying your first home has subsided, the boxes are unpacked, and your mail is being forwarded to your new address–the house is yours! So why are you getting mail regarding your new home purchase? Our guide will help you discern between what is relevant, and what you should toss:
 

  • Why are you even getting all these unsolicited offers? Your home purchase is public record. All sorts of house- and mortgage-related “companies” are combing through those records daily, obtaining your information as soon as the deed is filed.
     
  • Many of these offers come with your lender’s logo or name in bold print. Comparing contact information on paperwork you already have will help discern if it is a legitimate offer from your mortgage lender.
     
  • Life insurance offers come in droves after purchasing a home, and you are the only one who can decide on what insurance company you choose. Contacting a reputable insurance agent in your local area is probably your best choice.
     
  • Mortgage protection insurance (MPI) offers are sent to you as well. Such insurance sounds great, as it will pay off your loan in case of death. However, while your loan amount decreases, your MPI premium stays the same, so it would be a better financial decision to have a life insurance policy that is large enough to pay off your mortgage and take care of any other expenses.
     
  • Many home warranty offers will inundate your mailbox as well. Do a little homework if you are interested, and your buyer agent can probably recommend a few companies.
     
  • Do not just toss or shred anything you suspect may not be legitimate. Read the entire mail contents, look for spelling errors, generic information, and disclaimers–read everything, especially the fine print. Call your lender if you are not sure about something that looks official.
     
  • If the former homeowner continues to receive mail at their old address, mark it “Return to Sender,” place it back in the mailbox, and allow the USPS or the company sending the mail to locate the former residents address. 

One great and secure tool you can use to stop receiving anything related to your finances (refinancing offers, credit cards, etc.), is OptOutPreScreen.com. A joint effort of credit companies Equifax, Experian, Innovis, and TransUnion, this site is free to sign up for five years or permanently. 

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.

Credit Score Change Could Help Millions of Buyers

September 28th, 2023 by tisner

The nation’s consumer bureau took a first step to erase medical debt from credit reports and lending decisions because that type of debt “has little predictive value.”

WASHINGTON – The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) – the national agency focused on consumer issues – began a rulemaking process to remove medical bills from Americans’ credit reports.

The CFPB outlined proposals under consideration – moves that it says would help families recover from medical crises, stop debt collectors from coercing people into paying bills they may not owe, and ensure that creditors don’t rely on data that is often plagued with inaccuracies and mistakes.

“Research shows that medical bills have little predictive value in credit decisions, yet tens of millions of American households are dealing with medical debt on their credit reports,” says CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. “When someone gets sick, they should be able to focus on getting better rather than fighting debt collectors trying to extort them into paying bills they may not even owe.”

“Access to health care should be a right and not a privilege,” Vice President Kamala Harris told reporters as she helped CFPB make the announcement. “These measures will improve the credit scores of millions of Americans so that they will better be able to invest in their future.”

2022 CFPB report found that roughly 20% of Americans have medical debt, but, based on previous research, that type of debt isn’t a fair reflection on their future ability to repay a loan, unlike other more traditional credit obligations.

It’s not just the fact that medical debt isn’t important to analyzing a person’s credit, though. CFPB also claims that it also has a lot more mistakes and inaccuracies, compounded by problems such as disputes over insurance payments or complex billing practices.

The initial rule-making document released by CFPB is an outline of proposals and alternatives under consideration. If finalized without changes, it would:

  • Remove medical bills from consumers’ credit reports: Credit-score companies would be prohibited from including medical debts and collection information on credit reports used in underwriting decisions.
  • Stop creditors from relying on medical bills for underwriting decisions: It would narrow a 2005 exception and prohibit creditors from using medical collection information when evaluating borrowers’ credit applications.
  • Stop coercive collection practices: Debt collectors would no longer be able to use the credit reporting system as leverage to pressure consumers into paying questionable debts.

The proposal would not stop creditors from obtaining medical bill information for other purposes, though, such as verifying medical forbearances or evaluating loan applications for medical services. A complete overview of the proposal is posted on CFPB’s website.

CFPB says it started the rule change in July when it held public hearings and took comments. It says it also continues to receive complaints from the public about illegal debt collection and credit reporting practices related to medical billing.

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.

Source Floridarealtor.org© 2023 Florida Realtors®
By: Kerry Smith

Orlando State of the Market August 2023

September 22nd, 2023 by tisner

New Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association data shows market continues to cool as fall season approaches


State of the Market

  • Inventory for August was recorded at 6,115, up 6.9% from July when inventory was recorded at 5,720.
  • New listings rose 6.1% from July to August, with 3,620 new homes on the market in August, compared to 3,413 in July.
  • The median home price for August was recorded at $375,000, down from $380,000 in July. This is the second month in a row that median home price has fallen.
  • Median home price in August 2023 was extremely close to August 2022, when it was recorded at $377,750.
  • Overall sales fell slightly – 2.1% – from July to August. There were 2,792 sales in August, down from 2,852 sales in July. Sales in August 2023 were also 16.0% lower than August 2022, when there were 3,324 sales.
  • Homes spent an average of 41 days on the market (DOM) in August, up from 39 days in July. This is 51.9% higher than August 2022 when homes spent an average of just 27 days on the market.
  • August’s interest rate was recorded at 6.6%, down from 6.8% in July. Interest rates in August 2022 were 5.3%.
  • In a July survey of ORRA members, 48% said they are seeing signs of the market cooling off.
  • “As we near the fall season, we typically see a slowdown in sales, and we are beginning to witness this in the Central Florida market,” said Lisa Hill, Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association President. “Fall can have its benefits for buyers. With our market cooling off, fall homebuyers will face less competition, find more inventory, and see median home price pull back a bit.”

Market Snapshot

  • Interest rates decreased from 6.8% in July to 6.6% in August. This is 24.5% higher than August 2022 when interest rates were 5.3%.
  • Pending sales fell 4.2%, with 3,808 in July and 3,647 in August.
  • 21 distressed homes (bank-owned properties and short sales) accounted for 0.8% of all home sales in August. That represents a 16.0% decrease from July, when 25 distressed homes sold.

Inventory

  • Orlando area inventory increased 6.9% from July to August. Inventory in July was 5,720 and inventory in August was 6,115.
  • The supply of homes increased to 2.19 months in August, up 9.2% from 2.01 months in July. A balanced market is six months of supply.
  • The number of new listings increased from July to August by 6.1% – from 3,413 homes to 3,620 homes.

ORRA’s full State of the Market Report for August can be found here.

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.

Real Estate Disclosures and You

September 19th, 2023 by tisner

Real Estate Disclosures and You

Zillow.com defines the term disclosure as “…the buyer’s opportunity to learn as much as they can about the property and the seller’s experience in it.”  In most states, this simply means that the seller must let the buyer know about problems that they are aware of.  Whether you’re selling or buying a house, disclosing issues with the house is an extremely important part of the process.  

What Disclosure Means for the Seller 

  • Your listing agent will provide a form for you to fill out, answering questions with either yes, no or I don’t know about different aspects of the house.  This form should be filled out truthfully and to the best of your knowledge. 
  • Items that most states ask you to disclose 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 if the roof is leaky. 
  • If you think there might be a problem, say possible mold in the crawlspace, have an inspector come and have a look.  It’s better to be safe than sorry here. 
  • While you’re going over the disclosure form, if you’re not sure if you should report something, report it anyway.  It’s best to err on the side of caution. 
  • Have the disclosure ready before you’ve accepted an offer for your own protection. 
  • Your listing agent will be aware of all government disclosure requirements–federal, state, and local–so be prepared to report all that these laws ask of you. 

Disclosure and the Buyer 

  • Once you receive the disclosure statement, go over it carefully and ask questions if you’re not sure about anything listed, because you must sign the disclosure. 
  • The extra expense of having an official inspection done on the house is vital to this part of the sale.  Have the disclosure form information with you when you meet the inspector at the house, so you can go over the problem places with a pro. 
  • In the case of any additions to the home, check the local government building permit and zoning information to make sure the addition was done the legal way by licensed people. 
  • If you have any issues with the seller’s answers on the disclosure statement, and don’t want to make the repairs, and can’t come to an agreement with the seller, it may be best to walk away and look for another house. 
  • Once you are satisfied with the disclosure and have the peace of mind that the sale should go through, sign off on the disclosure. 

A disclosure should be a seller’s protection plan, and smart sellers will be completely honest, and maybe even over-disclose.  Also, be aware that some states even ask sellers to disclose things like traffic noise, and even paranormal activity!  Your Realtor will know everything you need to provide to buyers, so the sale of your home goes smoothly.

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.

Photo credit: Nestiny.com

Fall Gardening Tips!

September 12th, 2023 by tisner

Summer is almost over, and for most gardeners and those who love to work in the yard, it is time to tidy things up to prepare for cooler weather. It’s the best time to prepare for next year, even though the next planting season is months away.  Get to work for a head start on Spring.  

Vegetable Garden 

  • If you still have tomatoes or peppers ripening, either take up the plants and hang in a cool place to let them ripen on the vine, or protect them from frost with burlap or row covering over their stakes. 
  • If you have cool weather plants, make sure they’re getting plenty of water, and leaving them to grow until after frost makes them taste better!  
  • Clean up all dead or dying plant debris, because it can cause diseases and help insects that like to overwinter in the rotting vegetation.  If you don’t have a compost pile, now is a good time to start one with healthy debris. If it looks diseased, discard it or burn it. 
  • Adding lime to the garden soil is best done in the Fall.  Take a soil sample to your local extension office for a free soil test so you’ll know how much you need to add. 
  • Cut back perennial herbs, and freeze or dry them for winter cooking. 
  • Think about adding a cover crop.  Cover crops add nutrients to the soil, and prevent soil erosion.  Find a list for your region at https://www.almanac.com/content/cover-crops-us 
  • Before storing garden tools, remove all dirt and debris, then spray with a 10:1 mix of water and bleach.  After they dry, oil tools that have moving parts, make any repairs that may be needed, and hang them out of traffic areas in your shed or garage. 

Landscaping 

  • Plant trees and shrubs in the Fall.  The cooler temps and onset of dormancy gives them the perfect opportunity to establish their root systems. They still need plenty of water, so make sure you keep them hydrated.  
  • Apply fertilizer to your lawn, and aerate it as well. Walking behind the fertilizer spreader in spike-soled shoes is a great way to do these two important things at once.   
  • The last time you mow, keep the level at 1¼”.  This will keep leaves from settling on your lawn, as well prevent disease and insect over-wintering. 
  • Cut back your perennials in the flower beds, mulch them well, and divide tuberous plants like daylilies and irises.  Hostas also benefit from a Fall division.   
  • If you have any young plants or trees, mulch well around them to protect them from freezing once the thermometer drops. 
  • Update container plantings with chrysanthemums, ornamental cabbages, pansies and interesting grasses.  These should take you through the Winter and provide interest and color for the drab days ahead. 
  • Plant flower bulbs for a beautiful, maintenance-free Spring flowerbed.  Daffodils, tulips, hyacinth, and crocuses will provide color for weeks. 

Getting your garden and yard ready for Winter not only makes things look better, but it will certainly help once Spring gets here. The weather can be unpredictable come March and April, so take advantage of the cool, long days of Fall to prepare for next year’s growing season. 

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.

Photo credit: Town ‘N Country Garden Center

Fla.’s July Housing: Prices Up, Inventory Improves

August 25th, 2023 by tisner

Florida Realtors: Higher mortgage rates still a factor; single-family home median price at $415K, 2.8 months’ supply. Condo median price at $319K, 3.6 months’ supply.

ORLANDO, Fla. – In July, Florida’s housing market reported improving inventory levels (active listings) and statewide median sales prices consistent with values of a year ago, according to Florida Realtors®’ latest housing data.

“Buyers and sellers in Florida continue be challenged by higher mortgage rates, which have been fluctuating around 7%,” says 2023 Florida Realtors® President G. Mike McGraw, a broker-associate with RE/MAX Central Realty in Orlando. “In recent months, we’ve seen active listings start to increase and inventory levels improving, though we’re still below what would be considered a balanced market.

“However, more active listings would mean a wider selection of homes and more options for buyers, which could help moderate the pace of rising prices and ease affordability issues.”

Last month, closed sales of existing single-family homes statewide totaled 22,198, down 6.4% year-over-year, while existing condo-townhouse sales totaled 8,463, down 9.4% from July 2022, according to data from Florida Realtors Research Department in partnership with local Realtor boards/associations. Closed sales may occur from 30- to 90-plus days after sales contracts are written.

“High mortgage rates this summer have continued to slow the annual rate of home price growth,” says Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. Brad O’Connor. “The median sale price for single-family homes in July was $415,000, a 0.7% percent increase over last July’s median of about $412,000. This price growth is slightly greater than what we’ve seen in recent months, but not by much. The median sale price for condos and townhouses, meanwhile, was up 4.6% to $319,000, which was its largest year-over-year gain since April.”

The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less.

Looking at the overall housing data, “Interest rates were on the rise throughout 2022, and as they increased, housing market activity declined,” says O’Connor. “So, the deeper we get into 2023, the more favorable the numbers will look compared to 12 months ago. The real story so far this year is the housing market hasn’t been in any big hurry to improve.”

On the supply side of the market, single-family existing homes were at a 2.8-months’ supply in July while condo-townhouse properties were at a 3.6-months’ supply.

Source: www.floridarealtors.orgBy Marla Martin

Wind Mitigation Inspections

August 22nd, 2023 by tisner

Florida is well known for all of the damage caused during our stormy seasons.  The power of wind can burst open windows, doors, split open walls, creating and increasing uplift forces on the roof.   Once the wind breaks open any part of the home, wind and water will enter and damage to the interior escalates dramatically.

Homeowner’s insurance companies offer premium discounts based on a home’s level of wind resistance. These wind mitigation inspections are used to determine whether specific protective reinforcements are in place, therefore decreasing the amount of damage your home may receive during a hurricane or strong storm. A home with these features is less likely to incur costly repairs  during a “high wind event” which saves the insurance company money.

What is Wind Loss Mitigation? Mitigation is the act of making a condition less severe. Therefore wind loss mitigation is the act of minimizing loss that might be caused by wind damage to your home.

History Behind the Credits
After the devastating 2004 Hurricane season many Florida based insurance companies were forced to increase premiums due the substantial losses they occurred. The Florida Legislature saw the rising premiums as a problem for Floridians so they agreed that if homeowners made steps to make their homes more secure from wind loss, they should be rewarded by a reduction in insurance premium.

So How Do I Get the Credits?

In order to get credits you must have a Wind Mitigation report completed by a licensed inspector. Many people believe that their Homeowners carrier is responsible for paying for the report, but that is not the case. That being said, the mitigation report usually pays for itself within the first year, with prices ranging from $70 – $125. These prices are typically reduced if you purchase another report from the inspector, such as a 4-point inspection.

Make Sure You Request the 2012 Form!

Most carriers are now requiring that the Wind Mitigation Report to be on the 2012 form. If you have an older form, you will most likely have to get a new mitigation completed to apply for credits.

Premium Credits for Wind Mitigation Construction Features 

Roof Age: If your roof was replaced on or after March of 2002, it most likely is eligible for the Florida Building Code of 2001 credit. This code required contractors to use improved construction techniques, thus making roofs sounder.

Roof Covering: Common types include shingles, clay tiles, metal, and built-up-tar and gravel. The key factor in roof covering performance is the method of attachment of the roof covering to the roof deck.  This feature must meet or be equivalent to the Florida Building Code which has specific material and attachment specifications which are superior to building practices in the past.

Roof Deck Material & Attachments: The method used to connect the roof decking (plywood, metal panels, etc.) to the roof trusses or rafters. The performance of the roof deck is of critical importance in keeping hurricane losses to a minimum. This is usually achieved by nail fasteners. Nail size, type, spacing, and penetration depth into the truss or rafters determines the uplift resistance of the deck.  The difference in uplift capacity of 8d (2 ½”) nails at a typical nail spacing and 6d (2 ½”) nails at the same spacing is a factor of about two times stronger.

Roof-to-Wall: This is another critical connection that keeps the roof on the building and acts to transfer the uplift loads into the vertical walls.  This connection is KEY to the performance of the building due to the large negative pressures acting on the roof.

Secondary Water Resistance: Material applied to the roof covering to prevent water from intruding into the structure when the roof covering fails.  Roof coverings often begin to peel off in peak wind gusts ranging from 70 to 100 mph.

Roof Shape: Roof shape refers to the geometry of the roof.  There are many common roof shapes in residential construction, including gable, hip, and flat (and many possible combinations).  Some roof slopes and configurations perform better than others.   Moderate roof slopes don’t tend to uplift the roof and push the building sideways and hip roofs provides greater stability during high winds regardless of which direction the wind blows.  *A HIP shaped roof receives the largest insurance discount. This may help a protective home buyer consider which home to buy.

Opening Protection: Openings in the wall and roof include windows, doors, sliding glass doors, skylights, and garage doors.  Openings are vulnerable to wind-borne debris impacts in hurricanes and other windstorms. The protection of openings is perhaps the greatest single loss mitigation strategy for a building.  The reason for this is that once a window or door fails the pressure inside of the structure increases due to the breach in the building envelope.  Thus, putting all openings in an overload situation; resulting in additional failures.  The inspector is looking for glazed (glass) openings with specific ratings and or shutters protecting them.

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.

By and photo credit: Tracy Sihle,  Sihle Insurance Group

Orlando State of the Market July 2023

August 18th, 2023 by tisner


State of the Market

  • July’s interest rate was recorded at 6.8%, up slightly from 6.7% in June. This is the second-highest interest rate in Central Florida in 20 years. October 2022 had the highest interest rate in 20 years at 7.0%
    • In ORRA’s new survey of Orlando REALTORS, 43% of respondents said that rising interest rates are the biggest challenge facing buyers, causing some buyers to wait out purchasing homes right now or look at lower price points.
  • Overall sales fell 8.7% from June to July. There were 2,852 sales in July, down from 3,124 sales in June. Sales in July 2023 were also 13.8% lower than July 2022, when there were 3,309 sales.
  • Inventory for July was recorded at 5,720, up 5.0% from June when inventory was recorded at 5,450.
    • Low inventory was cited as the second biggest issue facing buyers in ORRA’s new survey.
  • The median home price for July was recorded at $380,000, down from $385,000 in June. This is the first month this year that median home price has fallen.
  • Median home price in July 2023 was extremely close to July 2022, when it was recorded at $380,900.
  • New listings fell 7.8% from June to July, with 3,413 new homes on the market in July, compared to 3,703 in June.
  • Homes spent an average of 39 days on the market (DOM) in July, down from 41 days in June. This is still 85.7% higher than July 2022 when homes spent an average of just 21 days on the market.
    • Last year, 63% of Orlando REALTORS said clients were selling their homes in 10 days or less. This year, only 34% said clients are selling their homes in 10 days or less.
  • “Approaching the end of summer with interest rates at nearly their highest level in 20 years, we are seeing an impact on both buyers and sellers,” said Lisa Hill, Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association President. “More homeowners are being locked into ‘golden handcuffs’ – where they’re choosing to stay in their current homes to keep their low mortgage rates, which could be 3% or lower – and more buyers are choosing to wait in hopes that rates go down.”


Market Snapshot

  • Interest rates increased from 6.7% in June to 6.8% in July. This is 27.7% higher than July 2022 when interest rates were 5.4%.
  • Pending sales fell, with 3,964 in June and 3,808 in July.
  • 25 distressed homes (bank-owned properties and short sales) accounted for 0.9% of all home sales in July. That represents a 10.7% decrease from June, when 28 distressed homes sold.

Inventory

  • Orlando area inventory increased 5.0% from June to July. Inventory in June was 5,450 and inventory in July was 5,720.
  • The supply of homes increased to 2.01 months in July, up 15.0% from 1.74 months in June. A balanced market is six months of supply.
  • The number of new listings decreased from June to July by 7.8% – from 3,703 homes to 3,413 homes.

ORRA’s full State of the Market Report for July can be found here.

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.

By: www.orlandorealtors.org

Can You Time the Housing Market?

August 10th, 2023 by tisner

A Fannie Mae survey found that a record number of buyers think it’s a bad time to buy a home. But is it? Even experts stumble with market predictions.

WASHINGTON – “It’s a bad time to buy a home.” This summer, more Americans held that view than any time since 2002, the first year that mortgage agency Fannie Mae started its “Home Purchase Sentiment Index.”

High prices and rates are souring many would-be buyers. But in April, home prices nationally posted their first year-over-year price decline in 11 years, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case Shiller National Home Price Index.

And some metros, like Seattle and San Francisco, are seeing double-digit drops.

A downward price progression, though, begs the question: “If I buy now, will my home price slide later?”

“Timing the market can be very difficult,” says Selma Hepp, chief economist for CoreLogic, a real estate data firm.

Personal Timetable Financial planners routinely advise buyers to consider timing – not when to jump in the market, but their own personal plans of how long they think they’ll be staying in the home.

“Even if prices continue to go down in the short term, if you can afford the home at the current price and plan on being there for a few years, I think you’ll be just fine,” says DJ Hunt, a certified financial planner with the Melbourne, Florida, firm Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo, LLC.

Ultimately, prices in a market depend on what buyers can pay. That’s why “it is important to pay attention to economic conditions of an area, such as job creation, population growth and income growth,” explains Hepp.

In Bastrop, Texas, about 30 minutes east of Austin, real estate agent Judah Ross says, “we’ve seen about a 10-15% drop in prices which can be directly correlated with interest rates.”

He has buyers, especially first-timers, who were knocked out of the market during the earlier boon. Continued business expansion, from firms like SpaceX give buyers confidence that values will reverse course, he adds.

Still, not everyone with a down payment and a home buying wish should buy, cautions Hunt. “Especially if you are moving to a new city where home prices are declining, I would advise renting for at least a few months … people shouldn’t feel rushed into buying.”

© Copyright 2023, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Richmond, VA

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.

Source: www.floridarealtors.orgBy Marilyn Kennedy Melia

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