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.
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.
“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.
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 November 24th, 2024 – November 30th, 2024
Single-family existing homes
Sales of single-family homes decreased to 250 during the week of November 24, from 365 the week prior
The median price of single family homes increased to $435,000 a change of 1.2%
The number of single-family home foreclosure transactions increased to 3 from 1 the week prior
The number of single-family short-sale transactions remains constant at 0
Single-family inventory decreased by 152, and now sits at 7,694.
Condos, townhomes, and villas
Sales of condos, townhomes, and villas decreased to 70 during the week of November 24, from 102 the week prior
The median price of condos, townhomes, and villas remains constant at $263,000
The number of condo, townhome, and villa foreclosure transactions decreased to 0 from 1 the week prior
The number of condo, townhome and villa short-sale transactions remains constant at 0
Condo inventory decreased by 91, and now sits at 3,787.
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 November 17th, 2024 – November 23rd, 2024
Single-family existing homes
Sales of single-family homes increased to 365 during the week of November 17, from 305 the week prior
The median price of single family homes decreased to $430,000 a change of -6.0%
The number of single-family home foreclosure transactions decreased to 1 from 2 the week prior
The number of single-family short-sale transactions remains constant at 0
Single-family inventory increased by 3, and now sits at 7,846.
Condos, townhomes, and villas
Sales of condos, townhomes, and villas increased to 102 during the week of November 17, from 83 the week prior
The median price of condos, townhomes, and villas decreased to $263,000 a change of -7.7%
The number of condo, townhome, and villa foreclosure transactions remains constant at 1
The number of condo, townhome and villa short-sale transactions remains constant at 0
Condo inventory increased by 43, and now sits at 3,878.
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 November 10th, 2024 – November 16th, 2024
Single-family existing homes
Sales of single-family homes decreased to 305 during the week of November 10, from 329 the week prior
The median price of single family homes increased to $457,500 a change of 8.9%
The number of single-family home foreclosure transactions increased to 2 from 1 the week prior
The number of single-family short-sale transactions decreased to 0 from 1 the week prior
Single-family inventory increased by 24, and now sits at 7,843.
Condos, townhomes, and villas
Sales of condos, townhomes, and villas decreased to 83 during the week of November 10, from 98 the week prior
The median price of condos, townhomes, and villas increased to $285,000 a change of 9.6%
The number of condo, townhome, and villa foreclosure transactions remains constant at 1
The number of condo, townhome and villa short-sale transactions remains constant at 0
Condo inventory increased by 43, and now sits at 3,835.
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 people turn to the “Foreclosures” section of online house hunts or newspaper ads. Sure, the price is a bargain, but there is normally a different process when purchasing a home that is in foreclosure. Consider these tips before heading to the auction or making an offer:
If the property is on the auction block, the bidder will likely need the full purchase amount in cash. The lender is looking to recoup as much from the defaulted loan as possible, which does not allow time for the financing process.
Most foreclosures have been unoccupied and will be affected by that. The new owner will need to be ready to put in some work and cash to bring it up to code/living conditions.
Some states allow redemption to the homeowner, and HUD defines this as “…a period after [the] home has already been sold at a foreclosure sale when [a homeowner] can still reclaim [their] home.”
Because a foreclosed property is sold “as is,” the buyer will not receive any disclosures, meaning, a home inspection is a must! Depending on who owns the property will make a difference in how much time the buyer has to complete the inspection.
On the other hand, if the property is REO (real estate owned), the buyer will be able to go through the home-buying process in the usual way and have time to secure financing for the purchase.
An REO will be sold as-is just like an auctioned property, and all repairs will have to be done by the new owner–there are no repair requests or contingencies granted.
For buyers who are new to the foreclosure-purchase game, going through a bank to buy the property is their best bet versus bidding at an auction.
For distressed properties, it is recommended that the interested party have a title search performed. Buying a foreclosure takes long enough, and this will help remove any roadblocks.
For foreclosure-hunting convenience, realtor.com® has a search page specifically for foreclosures! Municipality offices also publish notices on tax foreclosures, and if the funding is available,pre-foreclosures and short sales are other great property bargains. Remember to contact a Realtor® that is experienced in distressed sales. Their knowledge and expertise can make a drawn-out process go smoothly!
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.
