Spring brings with it exciting times for gardeners who anticipate floral beauty and healthy plants for the grounds of their Orlando real estate. To fulfill your gardening hopes, however, you need to prioritize your time in order to tend to all the tasks necessary for blooms and blossoms.

• Prune

For early blooming shrubs such as forsythia and viburnum, prune them as soon as blooms have passed. Early spring is also an ideal time to prune your roses.

• Deadhead

Remove spent flowers from bulbs, but leave the rest of the plant as is for the time being.

• Weed

Pull weeds from your beds and borders before they have a chance to take hold and spread.

• Compost

Tend to your compost if it has been neglected over the winter. If you do not have a compost bin, spring is a great time to start one.

• Prepare tools

Spring is a good time to prepare your tools for the oncoming gardening season and to make any necessary repairs or new purchases. You will be happy you have done so when summer sets in.

• Plant

Spring is a great time to add new plants to your garden. Be sure, however, that all threat of frost has past. Plant such things as trees, shrubs, hardy annuals, and summer blooming bulbs.

• Fertilize & Mulch

Fertilize and mulch beds and borders. Spring is also a good time to fertilize fruit trees. If you applied heavy winter mulch for protection from the cold, you will need to clear it away.

• Stake

Stake plants that may be prone to wind damage during the unpredictable spring weather.

One type of gardening which appeals to many environmentalists is organic gardening, the incorporation of the entire landscape design and environment to improve the soil and maximize plant production without using synthetic materials.

Another gardening philosophy which is gaining in popularity is “no till” planting. Proponents of this system insist that not tilling the soil of your Orlando real estate improves the quality of the dirt by not disturbing it and thus not bringing buried weeds, bacteria, and carbon to the surface. Layers of mulch and other organic materials not only “feed” the soil, but also control weed growth.

Whatever method you select, may your gardening days be happy and your blooms rewarding!

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.

Spring has officially sprung and that means most of us are starting to get the itch to clean our homes.   Below are a few spring cleaning tips for those of you who might be interested in doing it the natural way!  These items are such that you likely already have them in your house so there will be no need to go out and purchase anything.

The number one item you likely already have in your house and that is perfect for spring cleaning  is baking soda!  Yes you read that right, baking soda!  It has many uses such as the following:

• Clean the toilet using a bit of baking soda and a scrub brush
• Clean the inside of your oven using some baking soda mixed with vinegar and a rag
• To brighten up your laundry use half a cup of baking soda mixed with each load
• 1 cup baking soda with 1 cup vinegar will help to unclog a clogged up drain in your sinks
• Sprinkle some baking soda on your rugs and carpets, wait 15 min, then vacuum to freshen them

Another item that you likely already have on hand at home that can help make spring cleaning  easy is vinegar.  There are many uses for cleaning with vinegar such as the following:

• Mix vinegar with salt to get those pesky coffee stains out of your coffee mugs
• Spray vinegar in your bathroom for a good sanitization of each surface
• Believe it or not, let your socks soak in vinegar to freshen them.  This is done by adding 1 cup vinegar to a pot of water and letting them soak overnight
• Use a bit of distilled white vinegar on our toothbrush to make your smile brighter.
• If you want your windows to shine and you don’t want to use regular window cleaner, use white vinegar mixed with water in a spray bottle then wipe clean with a paper towel.

Liquid dish soap is another great help in spring cleaning and my guess is you already have some of this too!  Here are a few uses for liquid dish soap:

• Mop your floors with it!  Mix a couple drops with a gallon of water
• Clean your granite countertops with some liquid dish soap mixed with warm water then dry with a towel.

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.

While preparing to move to a new home, the thought of packing your belongings can be overwhelming. The first step is to purge anything you no longer want or use, including clothing, decor, and kitchen items. Once you have gotten rid of unwanted items, it is time to start packing! Here are eight hacks to make this more convenient, before and after the move:

• Your local grocery’s produce department is a great place to get free boxes, especially fruit cartons. The packaging is heavy-duty and includes covers.
• Use luggage to pack practically anything, and wheeled pieces are perfect for transporting heavy items.
• Cover hanging clothes with trash bags for easy packing. Another way to move clothing is to spread a flat sheet on the bed, lay the clothes on it, and tie the sheet hems around the hanger tops.
• Pack an “open first” box with necessities such as toiletries, sleepwear, and a clean outfit for the next day.
• Instead of buying bubble wrap or other protective wrap, use linens to wrap fragile items.
• While unassembling anything, place hardware or cords in clear storage bags, label them, and attach them to their appropriate item with sturdy tape.
• Protect fragile items using stuffed animals or throw blankets to keep them from shifting in their boxes.
• Label packed boxes on their sides for easy viewing.

A most important tip: keep the weight of items in mind while packing. Place heavier items–books, for instance–in small boxes, and lightweight items in large boxes. Moving is difficult enough, and the easier you make it on your back and your energy, the better!

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.

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!

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.

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

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: orlandorealtors.org

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.

1. 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.
   
2. 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.
   
3. 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.

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.

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.

ORRA’s full State of the Market Report for December can be found at https://www.orlandorealtors.org/statemarket

¡El informe completo sobre el estado del mercado de ORRA se encuentra en https://www.orlandorealtors.org/statemarket

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.

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.

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.

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 from The Family Handyman.
  
• Resolve to cut the clutter in your house one room per week.
  
• 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 an energy 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 this free 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.

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.

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

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: orlandorealtors.org