The excitement of finding your dream home makes it hard to resist the urge to start scrolling listings once you decide to buy. However, the first step in the home-buying process should be shopping for a mortgage lender and getting pre-approved. Here’s why:
The pre-approval process is more in-depth than a pre-qualification and will determine if there are any unexpected issues, such as inaccuracies on your credit report.
After pre-approval, the interest rate is locked in for a period of time, depending on the lender.
Knowing your budget will save time as you prospect available houses and give you flexibility when making an offer.
Having lender approval shows sellers that you are qualified and less likely to have to back out of the deal due to funding.
If a property has more than one offer, having pre-approval will give you a competitive edge over those who do not.
Once your offer has been accepted, the closing process can move faster, as the financing part has already been taken care of.
In areas where competition is fierce, getting pre-approved is essential for potential homebuyers. The security of knowing you have the backing of a lender to make an offer and purchase a home is worth its weight in gold. Start shopping for the best loan and interest rates and start house hunting!
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.
Every Monday, ORRA’s Monday Morning Quarterback Report gives you a snapshot of the previous week’s market activity, including sales, prices, days on market, and much, much more.
Monday Morning Quarterback for January 19th, 2025 – January 25th, 2025
Single-family existing homes
Sales of single-family homes decreased to 228 during the week of January 19, from 315 the week prior
The median price of single family homes decreased to $415,000 a change of -6.5%
The number of single-family home foreclosure transactions decreased to 2 from 4 the week prior
The number of single-family short-sale transactions remains constant at 2
Single-family inventory increased by 67, and now sits at 7,713
Condos, townhomes, and villas
Sales of condos, townhomes, and villas decreased to 77 during the week of January 19, from 81 the week prior
The median price of condos, townhomes, and villas increased to $278,000 a change of 4.9%
The number of condo, townhome, and villa foreclosure transactions increased to 2 from 1 the week prior
The number of condo, townhome and villa short-sale transactions remains constant at 0
Condo inventory increased by 47, and now sits at 3,997
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.
Working from home can be an amazing thing if you get the chance to do it. Working from home can open up an entirely new world to someone who has always had to work outside of them home. It can be extremely comfortable to work from home for many reasons; one being you can stay in your pajamas all day if you choose to do so. If you are someone who doesn’t mind spending the day alone away from other colleges then working from home might just be for you! Take a look at these few tips for working from home so that you will know more about whether or not you want to give it a try.
The best way to work from home is to make space in your home that is specifically for working. If you let work spill over into other parts of your home you are more likely to lose paperwork and turn your home sanctuary into a stress filled place that no one wants to spend time in. Your home (even if you work in it) should be a place of rest and relaxation where you go to get away from it all. Keep it that way by using this first tip.
Another tip for working from home is to set time boundaries for your work. If you work from a computer and you have a family that needs taking care of, it is best that you set your work schedule around your family time. This way you won’t end up losing out on quality family time by spending that time on your computer away from those you love. If it is possible spend only a certain designated time of the day working on your job. If you need to turn off work email notifications in order to accomplish this, so be it.
Use technology to stay in touch with those you work with. When you work in an office and you have a question about your job or something that needs to be discussed, all you have to do is pop in to another office and talk about it. Working from home can sometimes cause communication gaps between you and those you are working for or with. Keeping those lines of communication open through email and or video chat is most beneficial and many times can be crucial to your job.
Again, working from home can be the best thing since sliced bread, just do your part to make sure it doesn’t overtake your everyday life.
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.
New Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association data shows The median home price reached a new all-time high in 2024, increasing 3.9% from 2023.
State of the Market – “As interest rates rose throughout 2023 from historic lows during the pandemic, many buyers and sellers waited on the sidelines, hoping for a drop. In 2024, these buyers and sellers accepted the current rates and re-entered the market to secure a home,” said Lawrence Bellido, 2025 President of the Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association. “The market is now much more stable and balanced than in previous years. In 2025, I expect sales to increase. For anyone hoping to secure a home this year, now is the time to connect with a local REALTOR® and a loan officer to make these dreams a reality.”
– The overall median home price in 2024 was recorded at $385,000, an all-time high and increase of 3.9% compared to 2023 when the overall median home price was recorded at $370,500. 2023 previously held the record for highest overall median home price. For further comparison, the overall median home price in 2022 was $365,000.
– Overall sales in 2024 decreased by 7.1% with a total of 28,321 sales. Overall sales in 2023 were recorded at 30,499. Single family home sales decreased in 2024 by 5.3% for a total of 22,216 sales compared to 23,464 sales in 2023. Condo sales decreased in 2024 by 17.9% for a total of 3,290 sales compared to 4,007 sales in 2023. Townhome sales decreased by 7.0% in 2024 for a total of 2,815 sales compared to 3,028 in 2023.
– At the start of the year, inventory was recorded at 8,217 – 4.78 months of supply. Supply continued to rise in the following months. In November 2024, inventory was recorded at 11,604 – 6.43 months of supply. This was the first time since February 2011 that the Orlando area witnessed a balanced market. (The real estate market is considered balanced when there is 6 months of supply.) Closing the year, inventory was recorded at 10,049 in December – 4.67 months of supply.
– Interest rates decreased from 6.7% in November to 6.5% in December.
– New listings dropped, with 2,510 new listings in December, compared to 3,185 new listings in November.
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.
Many seniors plan to live at home for as long as it is physically possible. Unless a major transformation needs to be made, most changes are simple. The following seven modifications are easy DIY jobs everyone in the family can take care of over a weekend:
Replace all doorknobs with lever-style handles so that those with arthritis or other motor skill problems can open doors easily.
Install anti-skid treads to ramps and steps to minimize slipping.
To reduce the danger of falls, area rugs can be secured with non-slip rug padding or double-sided carpet tape.
If a total bathroom remodel is not affordable, installing grab-bars to the shower, bath, and toilet area walls will offer security for moving around in a slippery bathroom.
Change faucets in the kitchen and bath to single lever handles or install motion-sensor or touch-activated units for ease of use.
Outdoor lighting is essential for everyone’s safety, and there are many options for adding low-voltage and solar-powered lights to posts along ramps and atop porch rails, as well as pathway lighting.
Electrical issues to consider – light switches that can be pressed for turning off and on, electrical outlets placed higher than the standard height and adding more interior lighting.
This handy publication from AARP contains great ideas to assist with setting your loved one up for independent living. Hopefully you and your much-loved senior will look at this stage of life not as a challenge, but rather as a way to keep a distant–but watchful–eye over them while they maintain their sense of independence and quality of life.
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.
Our resolutions for the new year normally focus on eating healthier, losing weight, kicking dirty habits–the list goes on. Sadly, by the end of February, we find ourselves just trying to remember what our resolutions were, much less sticking to them! Homeownership can be the same way; we start out with good intentions and fall short. While the next seven items are not everything a homeowner needs to keep up with, they are easy to do!
Keep the yard in tip-top shape year-round with these tips fromThe Family Handyman.
Repair the little things that are not necessarily safety issues: door knobs that are not working, dripping faucets, or squeaky floors. Letting the little things go can cause bigger problems and may cost more later.
Having anenergy audit performed on your house can save energy and money. Many power companies offer this service free; check with your provider for more information.
Home security systems are not foolproof against hackers, nor are smart home accessories. Change passwords frequently, and do not reuse passwords. Make it even more difficult to breach by using two-factor authentication.
Get those finances in order! Commit to saving money, not only in the literal sense, but get the best rates on insurance, or consider refinancing your mortgage.NerdWallet has some great tips for building equity in your home.
Print out thisfree home checklist so that season by season, nothing is overlooked!
Find a good balance between spending time on home maintenance and caring for yourself and your family. Some projects incorporate the whole family, such as a big cleaning job or yard work. As important as it is to keep up your home, it is important to keep up with family.
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.
Every Monday, ORRA’s Monday Morning Quarterback Report gives you a snapshot of the previous week’s market activity, including sales, prices, days on market, and much, much more.
Monday Morning Quarterback for December 29th, 2024 – January 4th, 2025
Single-family existing homes
Sales of single-family homes increased to 278 during the week of December 29, from 266 the week prior
The median price of single family homes decreased to $400,000 a change of -3.6%
The number of single-family home foreclosure transactions decreased to 1 from 4 the week prior
The number of single-family short-sale transactions remains constant at 0
Single-family inventory decreased by 143, and now sits at 7,337
Condos, townhomes, and villas
Sales of condos, townhomes, and villas decreased to 92 during the week of December 29, from 95 the week prior
The median price of condos, townhomes, and villas increased to $295,000 a change of 15.0%
The number of condo, townhome, and villa foreclosure transactions increased to 1 from 0 the week prior
The number of condo, townhome and villa short-sale transactions remains constant at 0
Condo inventory decreased by 117, and now sits at 3,691
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.
Winter is a great time to binge-watch our favorite streaming series, read books we haven’t had time to read, gather with friends for dinner and game night, but it’s also a great time for letting our health regimine go by the wayside. This opens the door for illness, and no one has time for that. Keep yourself feeling and doing your best with this guideline!
You and Your Home
If you didn’t get exercise equipment or a gym membership over the holidays, it doesn’t give you an excuse not to exercise. Walking is really an easy yet important way to burn off those holiday calories. The cooler temps help you burn more because it takes more energy to stay warm, even while hitting the sidewalk. A win-win exercise!
We may not be doing a lot of perspiring, but water is still essential to our good health. Eight 8 ounce glasses a day will keep you hydrated, and your skin will thank you, too, as water helps battle the dry, itchy skin we get in Winter.
Keep surfaces in your home wiped down with all-purpose cleaner and warm water. This is better than using disinfectants, as viruses and bacteria can become resistant to these ingredients, as noted with the FDA banning triclosan, a popular antibacterial additive in hand soaps.
If you do get sick–stay home and rest! The more you are out and about not only makes you feel worse and lengthens your recovery, the more you spread what you have!
Your Mother Was Right!
Wash your hands! Using plain soap for forty-five seconds and a warm water rinse is all you need to fight germs.
Cover sneezes and coughs preferable with a disposable tissue, and if that isn’t available, cover your mouth and nose in the crook of your arm.
Avoid shaking hands, especially if someone is sick or has been around someone who is sick.
Take your vitamins! A daily multivitamin at mealtime is a great way to keep you healthy and getting the nutrients you need, especially vitamin D, which goes lacking somewhat in the colder months when we aren’t spending as much time in the sunshine.
Go to bed! Rest is so important to your overall health, and with the longer nighttime hours, it may be easier for you to get a full 7-8 hours a night. Your immune system works better when you’re rested up.
Eat your vegetables–this is a no-brainer, anyway, but leafy greens, beans, and citrus are the best for the antioxidants you need to keep your immune system strong.
Even in Winter, our fast-paced lives can keep us from being diligent about staying healthy when it’s more important than the warm months. The get-togethers in close quarters, die-hards that come to work with a cold, and viruses our kids bring home from school are all standards of germ-sharing this time of year. Taking care of yourself and your family may take a little extra effort, but you’ll be healthier and happier in the long run.
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.
It’s easy to get carried away with spending during the most wonderful time of the year — AKA holiday shopping season — but that doesn’t mean you should!
Frugal, savvy spenders will want to check out this list of apps to help you compare prices and find the best deals for all the gifts on your list!
ShopSavvy Check the price at over 70,000 retailers instantly, so you get the best deal every time! Works automatically when you visit product pages at any retailer. Prices and availability are checked automatically, in real time. Coupon codes and deals are shown as well, so you can save *even more* on top of already finding the cheapest price! Enter a postal code in Options to see prices at nearby “brick and mortar” stores, including if they have the item in stock right now.
Price.com Let the Price.com app search through billions of products across thousands of stores in seconds. See all your new, used, local, rental, refurbished, and more shopping options in the product comparison engine. Use Price.com to search photos, scan barcodes, and compare prices while you browse your favorite online stores.
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.
“We have watched our market slowly settle over the last 12 months, and we now have what we consider a ‘balanced market’ for the first time in many years,” said Rose Kemp, president of the Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association. “As we near the end of 2024, I expect sales to cool as families focus on the holiday season, then ramp back up as we move toward springtime. Now is the perfect time to connect with your local REALTOR® to discuss your real estate goals for 2025. Start planning to take advantage of this balanced market’s exciting opportunities for buying or selling in the year ahead.”
The median home price for November was recorded at $380,000, down from $388,990 in October.
Overall sales decreased by 13.4% from October to November. There were 2,085 sales in October and 1,805 sales in November.
Inventory for November was recorded at 11,604, up 2.2% from October when inventory was recorded at 11,357.
November’s interest rate was recorded at 6.7%, up from 6.4% in October
16 distressed homes (bank-owned properties and short sales) accounted for 0.9% of all home sales in November. This is a 5.9% decrease from October, when 17 distressed homes sold.
New listings fell 2.3% from October to November, with 3,185 new homes on the market in November, compared to 3,260 in October.
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.
