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Giving Back!

December 5th, 2023 by tisner


With a little less than a month left in the year, many begin to think about charitable donations.  Once you’ve decided on an amount to give, there are a few things to keep in mind: 

  • Did you give last year?  Do a quick check of the organization’s website, or give them a call to see what sort of strides they’ve taken.  If you’re not satisfied, or don’t see progress, consider another charity. 
  • As difficult as it can be to narrow your donation to one organization, a larger gift can be more beneficial as one gift, instead of spreading your donations around. 
  • Keep in mind that there are thousands of charities who don’t have it in their budgets to advertise.  Consider giving to a local charity, or a national one that’s lesser known. 
  • Once you’ve narrowed down your list, call the charities if you can’t find their mission statements online, and ask questions.  It’s the best way to get the information you need. 
  • Although there’s nothing wrong with giving to your alma mater or the hospital that took such great care of a family member, find out if your local homeless or domestic violence shelter needs help.  These kinds of organizations usually struggle to make ends meet in providing services.   
  • Make sure your charity is legitimate, and it’s very important to check their finances. Charity Navigator’s website will let your search a charity’s name and get feedback. 
  • Because donations are tax-deductible, the IRS has a search tool that allows you to see what organizations are eligible for tax-deduction gifts. There are other handy options, such as seeing what organizations are no longer allowed to be considered exempt. 
  • Avoid scams–charitable giving is at a high at the year’s end, and crooks abound.  Use the above IRS search tool to make sure your charity is a legitimate charity. 
  • Keep receipts, check stubs or letters of thanks for when you’re filing taxes.  If your donation isn’t monetary, but something valued at over $5,000, the IRS requires an appraisal for your deduction. 
  • Do you volunteer? Any out-of-pocket directly related expenses–even mileage–are tax deductible.  
  • Keep in mind that last-minute online donations made December 30-31 are eligible for a tax write-off.  

Deciding who should benefit from your generosity can be a tough or easy decision, depending on what you already know. Just look for charities that depend on your generosity to keep their doors open, or who need your physical presence to be successful.  Giving isn’t always about money.  

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.

Fed’s Waller: Interest Rates to Remain Steady

November 30th, 2023 by tisner


Federal Reserve Gov. Christopher Waller signaled confidence in the slowing economy, saying inflation is slowly moving in the right direction.

WASHINGTON – A key Federal Reserve official raised the possibility Tuesday that the Fed could decide to cut its benchmark interest rate as early as spring if inflation keeps declining steadily.

The official, Christopher Waller, a member of the Fed’s Board of Governors, cautioned that inflation is still too high and that it’s not yet certain if a recent slowdown in price increases can be sustained. But he sounded the most optimistic notes of any Fed official since the central bank launched its aggressive streak of rate hikes in March 2022, and he signaled that the central bank is likely done raising rates.

Waller is regarded as a relatively “hawkish” official, meaning that he typically favors higher rates to combat inflation rather than low rates to boost job growth. But he has also become somewhat of a bellwether for the Fed’s overall rate-setting committee.

f inflation continues to cool “for several more months – I don’t know how long that might be – three months, four months, five months – that we feel confident that inflation is really down and, on its way, you could then start lowering the policy rate just because inflation is lower,” Waller said in remarks at the American Enterprise Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank. “It has nothing to do with trying to save the economy or recession.”

Fed officials have previously suggested that eventually, cooling inflation would lead the Fed to cut rates. That’s because, adjusted for inflation, the central bank’s benchmark rate effectively rises as inflation falls.

And because the Fed’s key rate affects rates on consumer and business loans, like mortgages and credit cards, it becomes more of a drag on the economy. That’s why as inflation slows, the Fed could reduce its benchmark rate just to keep its inflation-adjusted level stationary.

Still, Waller’s remarks were a more explicit suggestion that such a scenario could occur as early as spring. Waller also said he thought the Fed’s short-term rate, which is at 5.4%, the highest in 22 years, is likely high enough to keep inflation headed down to the central bank’s 2% target.

“I am increasingly confident,” he said, that the Fed’s interest rate policies are “currently well-positioned to slow the economy and get inflation back to 2%,” Waller said.

Waller’s remarks Tuesday suggested that the Fed’s outlook for interest rates may have decisively shifted in the past few months. In September, the Fed’s policymakers had signaled that they expected to raise their key short-term rate once more this year. At their most recent meeting, which ended Nov. 1, they kept the rate unchanged. Now, with signs that inflation is cooling, the officials are considered virtually certain to keep rates steady again at their final meeting of the year, Dec. 12-13.

Waller’s remarks follow Chair Jerome Powell’s more cautious comments earlier this month, when Powell said “we are not confident” that the Fed’s key short-term interest rate was high enough to fully defeat inflation. The Fed has raised its rate 11 times in the past year and a half.

Inflation, measured year over year, has plunged from a peak of 9.1% in June 2022 to 3.2% in October. Waller said October’s inflation report, which showed prices were flat from September to October, “was what I want to see.”

In a speech in October, Waller noted that inflation had cooled rapidly even as the economy continued to grow at a healthy pace. “Something’s got to give,” he said, meaning that either the economy would have to slow or inflation might re-accelerate.

“I am encouraged by what we have learned in the past few weeks – something appears to be giving, and it’s the pace of the economy,” he said Tuesday.

Still, Waller cautioned that, given the uncertainties surrounding the outlook for the economy, “I cannot say for sure whether” the Fed has done enough to conquer inflation.

Skanda Amarnath, executive director at Employ America, an advocacy group, and a former Fed economist, said the Fed will be particularly attentive to inflation data at the beginning of 2024, because prices spiked in the first couple of months of the year in 2022 and 2023.

“If we get through the (first quarter) of this upcoming calendar year and inflation has not reared its head in quite the same ugly way we saw the previous few ones, I think the Fed will have a lot more confidence,” Amarnath said, which could “also mean the Fed is interested in possibly lowering interest rates.”

Waller noted that recent data on hiring, consumer spending, and business activity suggested that economic growth was cooling from its torrid 4.9% annual pace in the July-September quarter. Slower spending and hiring, he said, should help further cool inflation.

Last month’s figures “are consistent with the kind of moderating demand and easing price pressure that will help move inflation back to 2%, and I will be looking to see that confirmed in upcoming data releases,” Waller said.

Also Tuesday, another member of the Fed’s board, Michelle Bowman, who has long taken a more hawkish stance on inflation, said there were still too many uncertainties surrounding inflation and the economy to be sure that the Fed is done hiking rates.

“My baseline economic outlook continues to expect that we will need to increase (the Fed’s key) rate further,” Bowman said in a speech in Salt Lake City to the Utah Banker’s Association. “We should keep in mind the historical lessons and risks associated with prematurely declaring victory in the fight against inflation, including the risk that inflation may settle at a level above our 2% target.”

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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.

Safely Decorating with Outdoor Lights!

November 28th, 2023 by tisner


It’s time to get the holiday house decorating in high gear, and you may have bought new light strands, but plan on mixing them with ones you have, or adding LED lights.  Safety is important this time of year, and making the days merry and the nights bright means taking a few precautions. 

  • Check your old lights for frayed wires, nicks or cuts along the outer cord, and broken bulbs. Broken bulbs can be replaced, but toss the frayed strands, or those with cuts. 
  • Decorating the exterior of your house means the lights you use must be made for outdoors.  Check the packaging or tag on the string to make certain. 
  • Use clips or hangers that are UL-approved–do NOT nail, tack, or staple lights to any fixture. 
  • If you’d like to light a tree in your yard, make absolute certain no power lines run through the branches, and keep any lighting at least ten feet from power lines. 
  • Make sure your extension cords are specifically made for outdoor use, and have a three-pronged ground plug.  Your receptacle should be a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet in case of electrical overload, it will shut off power.  Portable outdoor GFCI’s are available for very little cost at Amazon. 
  • Read and heed all labels when it comes to connecting strings of lights.  If the label says only three can be connected to one another, start a new chain of lights after the third strand is in place.  Also keep in mind that only strands with the same number of bulbs should be connected–in other words, don’t connect a 100-strand with two 25-strands. 
  • Keep extension cords away from high-traffic areas, and out from under welcome mats or pavers. 
  • Many people start decorating long before Christmas, but be aware that most non-commercial light strands are only safely exposed to the elements for 90 days.  Any longer, and deterioration to the insulation will begin.   
  • Avoid using a metal ladder if you’re having to get up high with your lights–use wooden or fiberglass instead. 
  • Never leave lights on when you’re not at home, or asleep.   
  • If you’re considering adding LED’s to your holiday display, make sure you don’t mix connecting with incandescent.  Going all-LED will be costlier upon start-up, but will save money on your power bill, as well as in replacement costs–LED’s can last up to twenty years. 

You don’t want a friendly neighborhood competition to turn into disaster, nor do you want a classic Clark Griswold power outage at home.  Know your home’s electrical limits, and use common sense and care while you’re decorating. 

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.

Orlando State of the Market October 2023

November 16th, 2023 by tisner

New Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association data shows inventory spikes as interest rates reach new heights.

State of the Market

  • October’s interest rate was recorded at 7.8%, up from 7.3% in September. This is the highest interest rate in the Orlando area since April 2001.
  • Inventory for October was recorded at 7,813, up 15.6% from September when inventory was recorded at 6,758. This is the seventh month in a row inventory has risen and the largest monthly percentage increase in 2023 so far.
  • Overall sales fell 5.0% from September to October. There were 2,429 sales in October, down from 2,558 sales in September. This is the fifth month in a row that home sales have fallen.
  • The median home price for October was recorded at $377,000, up from $370,000 in September. This breaks a three-month streak of the median home price falling.
  • New listings fell 2.5% from September to October, with 3,456 new homes on the market in October, compared to 3,545 in September.
  • Homes spent an average of 44 days on the market (DOM) in October, up from 41 days in September. This is 15.8% higher than October 2022 when homes spent an average of 38 days on the market.
  • “Sales were down and inventory was up in October as interest rates reached their highest level in more than 22 years,” said Lisa Hill, Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association President. “Even as rates climb, demand is keeping home prices high, creating challenges for buyers this fall. Early reports from November show rates falling, so we will have to wait and see if this offers buyers some reprieve.”

Market Snapshot

  • October 2022 when interest rates were 7.0%.
  • Pending sales fell 12.7%, with 3,322 in September and 2,900 in October.
  • 25 distressed homes (bank-owned properties and short sales) accounted for 1.0% of all home sales in October. That represents a 56.3% increase from September, when 16 distressed homes sold.

Inventory

  • Orlando area inventory increased 15.6% from September to October. Inventory in September was 6,758, and inventory in October was 7,813.
  • The supply of homes increased to 3.22 months in October, up 21.8% from 2.64 months in September. A balanced market is six months of supply.
  • The number of new listings decreased from September to October by 2.5% – from 3,545 homes to 3,456 homes.

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

his 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 September 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.

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

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