Additions can be a good way to get more functionality out of your home. Your addition might be an extra bedroom for your expanding family, a home office to provide you with a space to work from home, or even a sunroom or hobby area. Your add-on might even be a way to add more space to existing rooms, removing or extending walls to let your current kitchen, bedroom, or other area flow seamlessly into your new addition. There are just so many possibilities.

Regardless of what you plan to use the room for, though, adding on to your house is a big undertaking and may be kind of a big investment as well. Even relatively small additions can be a big project, so it’s important that you know exactly what your plans will entail before you start work on expanding your home. To help with this, here are a few things to consider when making plans to add on to your home.

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.

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There are a number of trends in home decoration that you’ve likely seen come and go over the years. Some of them look pretty nice and create something of a timeless look, while others… well, it’s pretty easy to understand why they’re only temporary trends. Like them or hate them, though, following home trends can sometimes have a positive impact on the value of your home if you’re looking to sell. That is, of course, if you strike while the iron is hot.

But what if you’re not actually looking to sell at the moment and just like the way that a trend looks? Will going all-in on some big trend hurt your home’s value down the line if you do decide to sell later? This could be a legitimate concern depending on the trend. After all, even if you’re on the market and don’t manage to sell right away, you could find that going too far with certain trends will bite you before you find a buyer.

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.

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The tough housing market just keeps on getting tougher.

Realtor® Magazine’s definition of disclosures is “federal, state, county, and local requirements of disclosure that the seller provides, and the buyer acknowledges.”  In most states, this means that a seller must let a buyer know about known problems with the property they are selling.  Disclosing issues with a house is important for both buyer and seller. Understand more about property disclosures in this guide: 

Disclosures and the Seller 

• Every prospective property seller will receive a disclosures form from their listing agent.  This form should be filled out truthfully and to the best of the seller’s knowledge. 
• Most states want these items disclosed 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 roof condition/age. 

• The listing agent will be aware of all government disclosure requirements–federal, state, and local.  Transparency from the seller is a must at this point of the property sale. 
• “Better safe than sorry,” should be the homeowner’s motto when it comes to disclosures.  For instance, if there is a possibility that mold is an issue under the house, an inspector should have a look. 
• Disclose minor things that you have learned to live with.  Items a seller considers small–such as a rattling window on a windy day, or a repair made many years past–can be big things to the buyer. 
• The disclosure should be ready before the seller accepts an offer–for their protection. 

What the Buyer Needs to Know 

• Once a potential buyer receives the disclosure statement, they should read it over carefully and without distraction. Any questions should be marked or written down and questions presented before the disclosure form is signed. 
• The added expense of having a home inspection is vital to this part of the sale.  When the buyer meets the inspector, the disclosure form should be in hand so each item can be checked out thoroughly. 
• Check local government building permit and zoning information to make sure any additions were performed legally by licensed people. 
• If negotiations about any disclosure’s issues break down, it may be best for the buyer to walk away from the sale. 

• In the end, doing due diligence is the best way for a buyer to find problems that will be a major issue after the sale. 

Disclosures should be a seller’s protection plan, and smart sellers will be completely honest, and even disclose more than necessary.  Sellers should make sure that their state laws ask them to disclose things like traffic noise, undesirable neighbors, or even paranormal activity!  Choosing a Realtor® with experience will help sellers through the disclosures process so that buyers will have full confidence in the property they are purchasing, which makes for a quick and smooth sale! 

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

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Drainage problems can be a major issue for homeowners. Not only does poor drainage cause standing water in your yard, but it can also lead to leaks and foundation problems with your house depending on where the water collects. As if that wasn’t bad enough, landscaping and lawn upkeep become a lot harder when your yard doesn’t drain well. Is there anything that can be done for these problems?

Fortunately, yes. There are actually a few different ways to treat drainage issues in your yard, and this is a great time to undertake a project to correct them. By taking action now, you can avoid problems that might arise from heavy spring rains. The exact solution to your drainage issues will depend on the cause of your problem, so here are a few different options to consider.

State of the Market

“We witnessed an unprecedented real estate market in 2021 – with demand, and price, dramatically increasing. On the flipside, we saw buyers struggle in a market puncuated by low inventory month-after-month,” said Tansey

Soderstrom, 2022 Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association President. “We expect demand will remain strong in 2022. If sellers decide to take advantage of this market, we could be in for another fierce year.”

December’s median home price was recorded at $340,000, closing the year with the highest median home price ever recorded.

Overall sales in December increased by 4.26% over November, with 3,820 sales.

Inventory noticeably dropped in December, decreasing by 15.1% from November, for a total of 2,586 homes on the market. This is a historic low for inventory in Orlando.

Interest rates showed a slight increase, as the average interest rate in December 2021 was 3.07%. New listings continued to drop with just 2,797 new listings in December.

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.

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Complete stats and data may be found under Market Info at www.orlandorealtors.org. Comments or suggestions? Contact Mike Blinn, Statistician.

Market Pulse™ data represents all listings, taken or sold, by ORRA brokers, regardless of location, and is exclusive to residential property, which includes townhomes, duplexes, single-family homes, and condos. It does not include vacant land, or commercial transactions.

Finding out just what is involved in the home-buying process can take some first-time homebuyers by surprise. It is not just a process of finding the right house, but the financial end can be overwhelming. Keep these tips in mind to help you avoid common errors a home buyer can make: 

• The all-important first step: before going to a lender, make sure your credit is in good standing. 
• Being pre-approved for a mortgage does not impress many sellers, so it is important to be pre-qualified. Talk to different lenders to line up the best deal for you and your budget. 
• Do not overestimate how much you can afford. Avoid properties on your initial search that are truly dream homes. The pre-approval process will offer a reality check because your approved mortgage amount is set. 

• Applying for a loan for a new car, credit cards, or even new furniture to go in your home can hurt your credit score during the mortgage process. 
• Sometimes buyers assume that all costs of buying a house are included in the loan amount, which is not the case. Closing costs, on average, are 2-5% of the purchase price of the home, and there is earnest money and a down payment to be made. 
• Do not let your finances deter you from buying a home! While the process may take more time, there are several programs ready to assist first-time home buyers. Many require less than 20% down. Other programs provide financing for those who live in rural areas, as well as those with credit issues or lower income. Go to realtor.comⓇ for a  list of available programs. 

You might also believe that it will cost out of pocket to have a RealtorⓇ represent you as a buyer’s agent. Not true! Their fee is paid from the purchase of the home on the seller’s end of the transaction. Your agent will guide you along this winding path but will do all they can to lead you to the house at the end! 

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.

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As if the stress and grief after a relative passes away are not enough, there is sometimes the responsibility of the family to take care of personal belongings, investments, or, most often, the home.  Emotions can be very raw and that can make it difficult to think practically when the time comes to take care of a home and its contents. These practical tips should help the process go smoothly: 

• As soon as possible, secure the house:  check all doors and windows and be sure any valuables are safely stored away, preferably in a safe deposit box. Valuables now include anything that connects to the internet:  smartphones, tablets, and computers. 
• Security is a must, and that could simply mean adding timers to lamps in different parts of the house to make the home look inhabited. Cancel newspaper and other regular deliveries, and have mail forwarded or check the mailbox daily.  Make sure the neighbors are aware of the death and ask them to look out for the empty home.  
• Cleaning out the house may be difficult, and some want to start immediately after the funeral, while others may want to take their time.  In the case of larger families, set a date to begin, and have a plan in place so it is easier on everyone. 

• Many families decide to have an in-house sale for items they will not be keeping. Set everything up in categories, and mark prices clearly; price them to sell!  If there is any speculation of something being valuable, have it appraised before you make a sale.   
• If the house will need to be sold, contact a RealtorⓇ to help you get the house ready for the market.  Updates may be necessary for the best price, so be prepared to make changes to the home. 
• On the other hand, some people have lived in the same house for fifty years, and never changed so much as the carpeting.  If you decide to sell as-is, your agent will know how to set the asking price.  While there are buyers who are specifically searching for a time capsule, they are not as common as those who want a turnkey house.

Many real estate agents have already served families in the same situation and can offer advice on many aspects of the sale, so ask questions when the time comes. This last chore can be a labor of love if you allow it, so honor your loved one with a smooth sale and closing of their estate.  

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.

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