Fresh holiday trees are beautiful, smell great and really add to the spirit of the season. Following some proven safety tips might help you avoid a disaster and keep the Grinch away.
Select a tree with fresh green needles that don’t fall off when touched or when the trunk is tapped on the ground.
When trees are cut too early, they have a greater risk of drying out and can become more dangerous especially with electrical lights.
Cut 1” to 2” off the base of the tree before placing it in the stand to facilitate it drawing water to the limbs and quills.
Trees require water similar to cut flowers or they’ll dry out. Tree stands should hold at least one gallon of water and it should be checked every day. A six foot tree could use up to a gallon of water every two days.
Position the tree a minimum of three feet or further from heat source like fireplaces, space heaters, heat vents or candles. Do not allow the tree to block an exit.
Lights should be labeled from an independent testing laboratory and intended for indoor use.
Follow manufacturer’s recommendations for how many strings of lights can be connected to each other.
Turn off all tree lights when you go to bed or leave the home.
If the tree becomes dry and begins shedding needles, it can be a fire hazard and should be removed from the home. Even if the holidays are not over, it is not worth the risk to keep it in your home.
After the gifts have been opened, don’t return the paper and boxes under the tree.
Remove the tree as soon as possible after the holidays.
Trees should never be burned in a fireplace. The trees will burn very hot and quickly when they are dry and could spread outside of the fireplace which could cause an unfriendly fire.
Check to see if there is a recycling program for holiday trees in your community.
The National Fire Protection Association reports that “one of every three home Christmas tree fires are caused by electrical failures and a heat source too close to the tree causes roughly one in every six of the fires.”
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.
It’s time to gather around with friends and family to give thanks for all that has happened to us throughout the year and time to share in a feast fit for kings. If you want more out of your Thanksgiving this year, you might want to “give back” in one way or another. There are many ways that you can “give back” this Thanksgiving and I have listed a few of those for you below.
Shop for your Thanksgiving feast at your local farmers market. By shopping at your local farmers market you are helping to support local businesses and in turn that helps your local economy.
Use organic foods for your Thanksgiving meal. By choosing to use organic you are not only helping your family to be as healthy as they can be, you are also helping organic farmers as well.
Help out at a local food bank or soup kitchen a few hours on Thanksgiving Day. If you have children this is a great way to show your children how to help others who are less fortunate than they are.
There are many other ways you can give back this holiday season and a few more ideas:
Don’t forget that not everyone has as much as you do and that the holiday season is one of the best times of the year to help make a difference in someone else’s life. You may be tempted to forget about others and only think of yourself and your family during these busy holiday times but set aside a few hours each week for you and your family to help out those less fortunate and I promise that your holidays will be the best ever. A few ways you can do this are as follows.
Offer to buy your elderly neighbors Thanksgiving meal for him or her. You can also offer to cook their meal to help make the big day less stressful for them.
If you know that your elderly neighbor no longer has living family to spend the holidays with, invite them over to share in your families Thanksgiving feast.
Trust me when I say that your Thanksgiving holiday will be the best you ever had if you are only willing to open up your heart and home to others who don’t have as much to be thankful for this year. Perhaps you know of someone who has lost a loved one this past year that you can minister to in the ways mentioned above. If you don’t have a clue where to start in your venture of giving back this season, you can start at your local church or other organizations by asking where you can best be used.
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.
It won’t be long before the streets of your neighborhood are filled with children, and some parents, will be costumed and carrying bags and buckets for Halloween treats! Since many homeowners don’t regularly use the front entrance to their home, they may not think about all the little feet that will be tramping up the path to your door. Make sure everyone has a safe trip for their candy by following these tips before October 31!
Do your own walk-up to your front door, and examine everything, including the driveway and front steps. Make sure there are no loose pieces or large cracks that can cause anyone to take a tumble. Porch railings should be secure.
Yard decor should be fixed securely so the wind can’t blow it over, or curious little hands cannot pull it down.
Battery-operated LED tea lights are inexpensive and much safer to use in place of lighted candles. Many options are available for LED’s, including a flickering light that is perfect for your jack o’ lantern.
Speaking of lights, make sure that not only is your porch light switched on, but that the path you’ve created is well-lit.
Decor that hangs from the trees is scary and fun, so make certain they are hanging at least ten feet from the walkway, making certain they don’t obstruct anyone’s view.
Take an afternoon close to Halloween to be sure any shrubbery, trees or edging isn’t in the way of where trick-or-treaters mustwalk. Inspect for loose branches in nearby trees and remove them.
If you have room in the garage, consider parking the car there. The folks that are coming and going would likely appreciate the extra room to pass others.
A constantly-ringing doorbell or persistent knocking can cause your pets some distress and a lot of barking. Confine them to a room, or even better, to their crate. Check out these other great tips about your pets and Halloween from the ASPCA.
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 highest inventory in nearly ten years.
State of the Market
Inventory for September was recorded at 11,560, up 0.4% from August when inventory was recorded at 11,511. This is the ninth month in a row inventory has risen. The last time inventory was this high was September 2015.
Inventory in September 2024 was 71.1% higher than in September 2023.
September’s interest rate was recorded at 5.9%, down from 6.1% in August. This is the lowest interest rates have been since August 2022.
Homes spent an average of 58 days on the market (DOM) in September – up slightly from 57 in August.
This is a 41.5% increase compared to September 2023 when homes spent an average of 41 days on the market.
The median home price for September was recorded at $380,000, down from $384,500 in August.
Overall sales decreased by 15.3% from August to September. There were 2,655 sales in August and 2,249 sales in September.
Pending sales fell by 1.9%, with 3,556 in August and 3,490 in September.
New listings fell 8.5% from August to September, with 3,530 new homes on the market in September, compared to 3,856 in August.
“Lower interest rates and rising inventory levels are setting the stage for a balanced Orlando housing market as we enter Q4,” said Rose Kemp, President of the Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association. “With the Federal Reserve’s recent interest rate cuts and a significant increase in available homes, many buyers who have been waiting on the sidelines are now finding opportunities to achieve the American dream of homeownership.”
Market Snapshot
Interest rates fell from 6.1% in August to 5.9% in September.
Pending sales fell 1.9%, with 3,556 in August and 3,490 in September.
17 distressed homes (bank-owned properties and short sales) accounted for 0.8% of all home sales in September. This is a 54.5% increase from August, when 11 distressed homes sold.
Inventory
Orlando area inventory rose 0.4% from August to September. Inventory in August was 11,511, and inventory in September was 11,560.
The supply of homes rose to 5.14 months in September, up 18.6% from 4.34 months in August. A balanced market is six months of supply.
This is the highest supply of homes has been since January 2015.
The number of new listings decreased from August to September by 8.5% – from 3.856 homes to 3,530 homes.
ORRA’s full State of the Market Report for September can be found here.
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.
When you have started considering buying a new home, the first thing you will need to work on is a down payment. While many lenders offer different programs with variable down payment amounts, saving as much as you can is necessary. Check out these tips and start saving now!
It is important to know, realistically, how much house you can afford, and start shooting for a 20% down payment of that amount.
Turn your $4.50-per-day cup of coffee into $90/month in the piggy bank. Add up similar purchases, decide what you can live without, and move that money (set up automatic transfers) every day from your checking to a hands-off savings account.
Sign up with your employer to deposit a portion of your pay into a down payment savings account. Most of the time, if you do not see it, you do not miss it.
If a pay raise comes your way, save that unexpected pay: stay on your old budget, and have the difference in old and new pay direct deposited into your down payment account.
When non-salary payments such as bonuses or even a tax refund come in, sock them away and give your savings a boost.
Did you know that family members can gift money towards your down payment? Make certain you document these gifts correctly for your lender and the IRS. Mortgage Reports shares more information about down payment gifts.
A part-time job may provide enough each week to add to your down payment savings. Your well-being is important, however, so do not go into a second job unless you are certain it will be a benefit.
If you have investments in stocks or bonds, plan on liquidating those assets when the time comes to purchase your house. Make sure you document these sales.
You can always borrow from your 401k or IRA, but make sure you will not have to pay penalties. Talk with your account holder before making any withdrawals.
Do not let that 20% ideal down payment stop you before you even get started. However, if it seems impossible for you, do your research. There are many first-time buyer programs available, as well as lower-than-20% down payment options through the USDA, the VA, and state-specific programs. Learn more about low down payment guidelines and opportunities to help you get started. Planning will help you keep your eyes on the prize of homeownership!
Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.
You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently. You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.
It’s the time of year to check not only your battery-operated smoke alarm, but anything you have in your home that could start a fire if not properly used and maintained. This is also the time to talk with your family about your emergency plan in case of a fire. These tips will get you started:
Every kitchen should have an easily-accessed fire extinguisher. If you don’t have one, purchase one, and if your old one hasn’t been serviced recently, call an official inspector to make sure yours is in good working order.
Smoke alarms are a must! Older smoke detectors can be sensitive and go off while someone is cooking, and we inadvertently disconnect the battery to stop that, and forget to reconnect them. More recently-produced types have a sensitivity button that can reduce that problem for a set period of time and return to normal after the time is up.
Homes with more than one story should have an escape ladder close to an easily-accessed window on the upper floor. Safewise.com has a list of their best-rated ladders, and offers tips for choosing the right ladder for your home.
Don’t overload electrical outlets, and use extension cords only on a temporary basis. If you need more outlets, call an electrician to install them. The cost of this greatly outweighs the cost of a fire.
A visit from an electrician is also warranted if you have outlets that spark when you use them, lights that flicker, or a circuit breaker that trips regularly.
Clean your dryer’s lint screen after each load, and keep the vent and back of the dryer clean from lint build-up.
Have chimneys and furnaces checked out before you use them to make sure they’re clean and in good working order. If you use a wood fireplace, make sure the screen protector has no holes, and use only a flame-retardant rug in front of the hearth.
While cooking, don’t leave the kitchen, and even though your children may like to help, have their station set up far from any hot items. Keep towels and paper products away from anything hot, and don’t leave cooking oil unattended.
Although it isn’t very common, lightning can cause a house fire. Lightning rods may seem like an outdated tool, but they are not only helpful for redirecting lightning and prohibiting a fire, they can save your electronics from lightning damage.
Most importantly, you need a family fire plan, and everyone should be familiar with this plan. For tips and a guideline to setting up your own fire escape plan, consult this page from the National Fire Protection Association, where you can find free printable tools to make your planning process go smoothly. No amount of time taken to put a plan into place and practice is too much when it comes to protecting your home and family from a fire.
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.
