Florida Mortgage Lender Blog & Real Estate News

The cost of home ownership is not simply your monthly mortgage payment. In order to calculate the true cost of Florida home ownership, you need to consider a variety of other expenses.

One of the additional expenses you need to consider is real estate taxes. Most state and local governments charge an annual tax on the value of real property. This is called a real estate tax. Not everyone is subject to real estate taxes but for those who are, it can make a big difference in how much home you can afford.

Real estate taxes are not the same for every property.

Real estate taxes vary from a couple of hundred dollars a year to thousands of dollars a year. This should be looked at seriously, because it could mean the difference between being able to afford your home and not being able to make your payments.

No one wants to be house poor or lose their home because they can't afford the real estate tax, but countless numbers of people have lost their homes for this very reason. If you don’t pay your real estate taxes, not only will your home be sold for back taxes, but the mortgage company will still expect full payment on your loan.

Higher taxes don’t necessarily mean better services.

Although neighborhoods with higher taxes can offer better schools, roads and hospitals, this is not always the case. Don't judge the neighborhood by the real estate tax, but do look at the services you're getting for the taxes being charged.

Real estate taxes must be paid to transfer ownership.

If you are selling your home, you must have your real estate taxes current. If you're buying a home, know that the real estate taxes are part of the closing costs you have to pay. The yearly real estate taxes and the status of those taxes are part of every real estate listing and should be taken into consideration just as you would consider the price of the home.

Knowing the costs associated with homeownership allows you to purchase your new Florida home with peace of mind.

If you’re thinking of buying a Florida home, let me help make the process a pleasant and profitable experience. Call us today at 407-876-5771.

Have you ever heard of the 203k rehab loans offered through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA)? If you’re rehabbing Florida homes, it might be just the loan you need.

What is a 203(k) Loan?

The FHA developed the 203(k) program to help revitalize homes throughout the country. This program provides insured loans that can be used to rehab, rebuild or modernize existing Florida homes.

What are the Benefits of a 203(k) Loan?

This is a one-stop loan, which means one loan finances both the purchase and rehabilitation of your property.

The mortgage amount is based on the projected value of the property after the work has been completed. The mortgage takes into account the cost of the rehab including labor charges, permits, drawings, etc. The mortgage can't exceed 110% of the "As Repaired Value."

FHA approved lenders can offer this program and it can be combined with other approved programs.

Who is Eligible for a 203(k) Loan?

This program is open to individuals as well as non-profit organizations.

What Properties are Eligible for 203(k) Loans?

The 203k loan can be used to purchase and rehab one- to four-family dwellings that have been completed for at least one year. For all the additional eligibility requirements, carefully review the “Eligible Property” section on the web page about 203(k) loans.

If you’re looking at Florida homes to buy, whether you’re using an FHA loan or not, we can help. Give us a call today at 407-876-5771.

If you’re searching for a new house, don’t get fooled into purchasing a Orlando home you can’t actually afford. Many new homeowners find themselves in a pickle when they fall in love with a property that has high monthly mortgage payments. Being house poor could lead to a confining quality of life, increased stress and possibly foreclosure.

Before buying a Orlando home, do your research to determine all the actual costs involved with purchasing and owning the home. Without the proper tools and budget, you could be biting off more than you can chew.

Here are four tips to help you get a manageable mortgage:

1. Save up – If you’ve saved and can provide a large down payment, you’ll be able take out a smaller loan, which will result in lower monthly payments.
   
2. Check on interest rates – Talk with several lenders to compare interest rates. Also, improve your credit score before purchasing property because your credit score partially determines your loan’s interest rate.
   
3. Decide on the length of the loan – The length of your loan impacts your monthly payments. The shorter the time, the larger your payments will be. Use a mortgage calculator to find out what your monthly payments will be if you go with a 30-year loan versus a 15-year loan.
   
4. Don’t forget the last-minute costs – Put some extra money aside for any additional expenses that come up during the actual purchase, such as closing costs, taxes and homeowner’s insurance.

Save up a down payment for your Orlando home, get pre-approved for a loan, know your limit for monthly mortgage payments and don’t get fooled by the real estate market. Doing the research before you start looking for a house will reduce your stress and help to ensure you have manageable mortgage payments.

If you need help calculating what your maximum mortgage payments should be or have any questions about purchasing a home, call us today at 407-876-5771.

Do you know how closing costs actually work? Or, how you’d use CMAs (comparative market analysis) to evaluate Florida real estate? And, can you decipher all of the abbreviations and acronyms, such as FDR, lo dues and MLS.

Purchasing a home is frustrating enough without having to go through the frustration of decoding all the complicated speak and legalese. If you brush up with a real estate dictionary before your home-buying search, you’ll gain valuable knowledge and save yourself a lot of time and headaches in the long run.

Basic lingo every Florida real estate buyer or seller should know …

· ARM – This stands for Adjustable-Rate Mortgage, which is a type of mortgage where the interest rate periodically adjusts.

· Closing costs – These are miscellaneous expenses buyers and sellers pay upon closing; they usually include brokerage commission, escrow taxes, recording fees, etc.

· CMA – This stands for Comparable Market Analysis, which is a report of recently sold, comparable homes in the same market as the home you’re selling.

· ERV – Estimated Rental Value· FDR – Formal Dining Room

· Fixture – Anything that is permanently attached to the home, such as door knobs, carpeting, light fixtures and landscaping

· FP – Fireplace

· HDW – Hard Wood Floors

· Lo dues – Dues paid to the homeowners association

· MLS – Multiple Listing Service, which is an organization that compiles multiple listings into one report and distributes it to all of their realty members.

· PSF – Per Square Foot

· Sale price – The actual price at which the property sells.

Don’t let the hectic housing market overwhelm you. If you understand Florida real estate lingo, you’ll be more knowledgeable and able to easily achieve your real estate goals.

If you have questions about any of these terms or want help achieving your real estate goals, call us at 407-876-5771 for more information.

Looking to buy a new house? Do you have a specified budget in place? Are you going to need to take out a loan? In such a tumultuous real estate market, there are many frustrating financial hurdles that you need to jump before you can purchase your Orlando home. However, with a pre-approved loan you could reduce stress and move in quicker.

A pre-approved loan is when a bank provides you with an amount they would be willing to lend you for a Orlando home and a period of time for which this offer is good. They determine this amount based on several criteria that you must provide and prove, such as your current income, bank statements, income tax returns and credit history.

Perks from pre-approval

• Know what you can afford –Using a mortgage calculator, you can see an estimate of the monthly mortgage payment to help you determine if it is within your budget. By obtaining a pre-approved loan, you’ll know exactly how much money you can spend on a house.

• Gain credibility – Real estate agents and sellers take you more seriously if they have proof that you can come up with the money to purchase the property.

• Save time – When you know exactly how much you can spend, you won’t waste your time looking at houses out of your price range. This allows you to spend more time scrutinizing the houses you can afford.

• Close quicker – With a pre-approved loan, you’ve already completed part of the time consuming work toward getting your mortgage. Without pre-approval, you might endure heartache if you find your dream Orlando home, but can’t find the funds.

If you’re searching for a Orlando home without a pre-approved loan, stop wasting time. Analyze your income, talk with a lender and get pre-approved before beginning the house hunt.

Shopping for a mortgage is as important as shopping for a Orlando home to buy. It’s the only way to get the best interest rate and terms with a lender you trust. Take your time, do your research, and you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you found the mortgage that meets your needs.

Here are six tips to help you find the best mortgage to use to purchase your Orlando home:

1. Find a lender you like and trust. Ask your friends, neighbors, co-workers, and most importantly, your real estate agent for names of lenders they admire and enjoy working with. You want to find one who is knowledgeable about the mortgage industry, will answer all your questions and can talk with you about loans in a way you understand.

2. Explore your options. There is a wide-variety of loans for Orlando homes. Talk with your lender to make sure you understand the pros and cons of the loans and which one works best for your circumstances.

3. Get a low interest rate. One-tenth of a point can make a big difference in a 30-year loan and save you thousands of dollars over the lifetime of the mortgage.

4. Identify fees and negotiate them down. The lender is required to give you a good-faith estimate which includes an itemized list of all costs associated with the loan. If there are any fees you don’t understand, ask your lender to explain them thoroughly. Ask for fees you believe are too high to be eliminated or reduced.

5. Find out if there are any penalties. Ask if there are any penalties for anything on the loan you’re considering. Do not get a loan with a pre-payment penalty. A few loans have pre-payment penalties even if you pay it off early because you’re moving or refinancing.

6. Lock in your interest rate. Most interest rates lock in for 30 to 90 days. Make sure you have plenty of time to find your home, get the inspections done, and complete closing before the locked-in rate expires.

If you’re considering selling your home, you probably already know most of the questions you should ask Orlando real estate agents you’re thinking of hiring, such as:

• How long have you been a Orlando real estate agent?
• Are you a full-time REALTOR®?
• Do you specialize in my neighborhood?
• How would you market my home?

Unfortunately, most sellers forget one of the most important questions to ask Orlando real estate agents: How many of the homes you listed in the last 12 months actually sold?

The answer to this question gets to the heart of whether the agents are good at selling real estate. They’ll have very few sold homes in comparison to the number of homes they listed, if they:

• Over-price homes
• Under-market homes
• Don’t know how to negotiate
• Aren’t good at (or simply don’t do) the multitude of tasks knowledgeable real estate agents perform to get homes sold

If you discover that an agent has a higher percentage of listings that are withdrawn or expired and not renewed than other agents in the same area, keep looking.

Searching for an agent who gets homes sold? Congratulations, you’ve just found one! We would be honored if you’d give us a chance to interview for the job of selling your home. Please call us at 407-876-5771 to schedule an interview.

Reverse mortgages are a popular option for homeowners who are 62 years of age and older and need additional income. Credit scores and income are not part of the qualification process for a reverse mortgage, so they’re fairly easy to get.

But is a reverse mortgage right for you, your parents or grandparents? Here are some pros and cons to consider before making your decision:

Pros of getting a reverse mortgage on your Orlando real estate

When you get a reverse mortgage, you can:

• Use the money to supplement social security, pay for home improvements or meet unexpected medical bills.
• Choose the payment method you prefer: monthly payment, line of credit or lump sum.
• Make no payments on the loan (monthly or otherwise) unless you die, move or sell the home. If any of those events occur, the loan is due in full, plus interest and fees.

Cons of getting a reverse mortgage on your Orlando real estate

Unfortunately, there are several disadvantages to taking out a reverse mortgage:

• You pay origination fees that are almost twice as much as origination fees on conventional mortgages.
• There are a wide variety of reverse mortgages available from a lot of different sources. This makes an already complex loan even more confusing. Shop around, compare and attend an information session with an approved HUD counselor before deciding on a reverse mortgage.
• It may impact your eligibility for Medicaid and other state or federal programs. For example, if you currently receive any "need based" benefits such as Medicaid or Supplemental Social Security Income (SSI), reverse mortgage payments will have to be structured so that monthly payments will be spent within the month they are received. If not, such payments will be considered income, and may make you ineligible for public benefits. Contact your benefits provider to ask about how a reverse mortgage may affect your eligibility.

If getting a reverse mortgage on your Orlando, Florida real estate, or the home of your parents or grandparents, is the right thing to do, you might want to consider FHA’s reverse mortgage program called The Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM). According to HUD, the HECM is a safe plan that can give older Americans greater financial security.

You can receive additional free information about reverse mortgages by contacting the National Council on Aging at (800) 510-0301. We are also available to help you with this difficult decision. Give us a call today at 407-876-5771.

If you watch television, read magazines or surf the net, you’ve probably seen ads for reverse mortgages. Those ads don’t provide many details, so here are the basics you need to know about reverse mortgages.

Are you eligible for a reverse mortgage on your Orlando real estate?

To be eligible for a reverse mortgage, you must:

• Be at least 62 years old
• Own your home
• Live in the home and claim it as your primary residence

When does the reverse mortgage loan become due?

As the homeowner, you do not have to make any monthly payments on your reverse mortgage. The loan becomes due when you:

· Permanently move out of your home

· Sell the home or fail to fulfill other conditions like the continued payment of property taxes, homeowner’s insurance and repair and maintenance.

· Pass away

Should you get a reverse mortgage on your Orlando real estate?

The Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, suggests you consider all alternatives to a reverse mortgage before taking the plunge. Alternatives you may want to consider include less expensive programs offering financial assistance, other lower-cost loans or selling your home.

You may want to get a reverse mortgage if you:

• Need additional income and there is no less expensive way to get it. Use an online reverse mortgage calculator to estimate the amount of money you could get from a reverse mortgage.

• Want to stay in your home and retain ownership
• Do not plan to leave your home to your children or others who will inherit from you.

You may NOT want to get a reverse mortgage if you:

· Want to leave your home, free and clear, to your children or heirs

· Have a less costly means to reach your financial goal

· Become ineligible to receive public benefits such as Medicaid or SSI (Social Security Income) by taking out a reverse mortgage.

· Will have trouble paying your property taxes and homeowner’s insurance. A 2010 report from the Department of Housing and Urban Development estimated that more than 20,000 reverse mortgages were in default for nonpayment of taxes and insurance. You do not want to get a reverse mortgage only to lose your home to foreclosure and eviction because you’re unable to pay your taxes and insurance.

As always, when you consider taking out a loan of any type, do your homework to make sure this is the right move for you, be sure to read all of the fine print and understand exactly what it is you’re signing.

If you’d like some help determining if selling your home, getting a reverse mortgage or some other lower-cost loan is best for you, give us a call today at 407-876-5771.

These gray, dreary winter days can really sap your energy and dull your enjoyment of life. To survive the winter doldrums, brighten your Florida home using these easy tips:

1. Open your Florida home’s window treatments during the day to let the light brighten and warm your room. Close them again as soon as night falls to retain heat.
2. Brighten dark rooms with few windows by placing spotlights on the floor behind furniture.
3. Add a mirror. Wherever a mirror reflects light in a room, it visually doubles that light. Place a mirror opposite a window to immediately brighten your space. No window? Hang a large mirror above a console table and place a pair of lamps in front of the mirror.
4. Install higher watt bulbs in rooms that tend to be dark.
5. Eliminate dark corners by adding recessed lighting.
6. Use full spectrum lighting in areas where you read, knit or do other up-close work.
7. Lighten living areas with colorful throws and pillows.
8. Lift the winter blues by adding flowers and plants to your decor. Colorful indoor blooming plants include the African violet, Cyclamen, Orchid and desert cactus. Use tropical flowers to transport yourself mentally to climates where the sun always shines.
9. Do a little winter cleaning:
1. Wash the inside of your windows. Fireplace and candle soot coats windows with a dingy film that blocks the sun.
2. Polish your furniture. Shiny furniture reflects ambient light.
3. Wash ceiling light fixtures in soapy water. Light is muted when filtered through dirty light fixtures.

Lighting can change how you (and potential buyers) feel about your Florida home. It’s one of the easiest and least expensive ways to quickly improve the ambiance of your home.

If you’d like to sell your home, we can help. Give us a call today at407-876-5771.

Some Florida home buyers have an advantage that others don’t in today’s housing market. They can qualify for an FHA loan.

Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans help Florida home buyers who would otherwise have trouble being approved for a mortgage. You can qualify for a loan if you have less than perfect credit. FHA loans are available even after bankruptcy and foreclosure, if you have maintained good credit for the following two to three years.

What are the requirements for FHA loans?

FHA loans have strict home appraisal guidelines. The appraisal value helps determine the FHA mortgage limit. Each state has its own rules regarding maximum loan limits.

What are the advantages to FHA loans?

One advantage of an FHA loan is lower down payment requirements. You may qualify for a down payment as low as 3.5 percent of the purchase price of the property. Additionally, most of your closing costs can be included in the loan, so you’ll have less out of pocket expenses.

An FHA loan can also be used to buy a house that needs improvements. If you need cash to make the repairs, you can apply for a loan to cover the cost of the expected repairs. The FHA also has energy efficient mortgages which include the costs of energy improvements.

What are the terms of FHA loans?

An FHA loan can take many forms: it may be a fixed-rate loan, an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) or a reverse mortgage.

· A fixed-rate mortgage has a set interest rate for a set amount of time. Typically, it will be a 15 or 30-year loan.

· An ARM has a variable interest rate for 15 to 30 years.

· The reverse mortgage pays a set amount of money to the homeowner for the entire time they live in the home.

Whether you’d like to finance a Florida home using an FHA loan or a non-FHA loan, we can help. Give us a call today at 407-876-5771.

Your kids are grown and gone and without them your Florida home was simply too big and too much work. So you sold it. Now you’re asking yourself, “Should I buy a new Florida home in a retirement community?”

The answer depends on what's important to you. Do you crave the company of others? Would you use many of the amenities provided at the community? If yes, then you might prefer the convenience of a retirement community.

Many communities offer amenities to attract buyers, such as:

· Golf courses

· Swimming pools

· On-site exercise facilities

· Trails for hikes and biking

· Clubs, associations, and various interest groups.

Other things you need to consider before making your decision are:

• Do you meet the age requirements? Most senior living communities have a minimum age restriction of 55 for at least one of the residents. Sometimes the age minimum is 60 or 62. If it is 62, then all occupants must be at least that age. Check resident restrictions before purchasing.
• Do you have enough money in your budget? Like condo ownership, there are usually Community Association fees that must be paid. These fees pay for the shared facilities and community maintenance costs. Make sure your budget covers all housing expenses including the mortgage payment, utilities and all community fees.
• Which type of retirement community best fits your needs?
• Active Adult Communities. These are for those who live independently and have an active lifestyle.
• Independent Living Retirement Communities. If you can live at home, but still need some help, this type of community may be for you.
• Continuing Care Communities. These communities have professionals that are able to care for your health needs.

If you’re looking for a new Florida home, whether in a retirement community or not, we can help you find a home that fits your lifestyle and budget. Call us today at 407-876-5771.

Picking up the phone book and letting it fall open to the real estate agency page is not the best way to find a great Orlando real estate agent. Here are several other pitfalls to avoid when looking for a real estate agent:

· Impulse: Just because you walk into a busy, bright, and productive looking office doesn't mean all the agents who work there are also busy, bright and productive. Take the time to get to know the agents you’re considering working with. Interview them, like you would any other professional you hire, to determine their abilities and knowledge of the community in which you want to live.

· Easy Agreement: If you finally find an agent who instantly agrees with everything you have to say about the selling price of your home without question, beware. This is especially true if you've been to others who disagreed with your price. Consider why this one agent is so agreeable. As in any industry, there are people out there who will tell you anything you want to hear to get your business.

· Trusting Your Judgment: While you may very well be a great judge of character, make sure you get at least three references from all the Orlando real estate agents you’re considering. Then, take the most crucial step and contact those references.

· Lowest Commission: Don't go with a real estate agent just because they have the lowest commission on the block. Remember the old adage "you get what you pay for."

These are just a few of the considerations when choosing a Orlando real estate agent, but they will get you started on firm footing.

If you’re looking for a knowledgeable Orlando real estate agent, we would be honored if you’d interview us. To schedule an interview, call us today at 407-876-5771.

On first thought, selling your home by yourself seems to make perfect sense. It doesn't look all that hard, right? So you decide to sell your home the FSBO way (For Sale By Owner). You figure that you can put up a sign. Let people come to look at your house. Review all the offers you are sure to get and pick the best one and you're done. That's all there is to understanding the Florida real estate market—right?

Well, not quite. One of the most difficult things for a person trying to sell their own home to do is understand the Florida real estate market in order to price their home correctly. All of the above steps will stall without setting a price that will make you happy and get a buyer to sign on the dotted line.

The Price is Right

In some ways selling your home as a FSBO will seem a little like the television game show "The Price Is Right." Some buyers will walk around your home and have no idea what local values are, but they will still do their best to talk down your price.

Others that come to view your FSBO will have a very firm grasp on local real estate values and how your home stacks up against the competition.

In either case, you must know what comparable homes in your area are selling for so that you can argue your own case and know when you are being under bid.

Overpricing is Costly

The temptation to want more than true market value for your home is common but counterproductive to selling your home. It’ll set on the market so long that people will begin to wonder what’s wrong with your home. Then, when you drop your price, you’ll appear desperate. Potential buyers will devalue your house in their own minds, which decreases the chance of you getting a fair market price for your home.

If you have questions about the current Florida real estate market, give us a call today at 407-876-5771.

Unless elaborate decorations, gourmet food and mountains of mess are your idea of fun, we have some suggestions for you on how to make your holidays simpler and less stressful this year.

Use Fewer Decorations in Your Orlando Home

While National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is a fun holiday movie to watch, keeping up with the Griswolds isn’t something you should aspire to. If you’re not sure what to eliminate from your heap of holiday decorations, here are a few tips:

• If it flashes or makes a noise, just say no. Decorations like that increase stress.
• Display only your most treasured items.
• This year’s mantra should be “less is more.”
• Decorate only those rooms in your Orlando home that are used during celebrations.
• Instead of filling every inch of a room with decorations, use fewer items and group them in noticeable spots around the room.

Spending less time decorating your Orlando home gives you more time for your friends and family. It also means wasting less time after the holidays putting away all those decorations.

Entertain Simply

It’s not necessary to spend a lot of money on food or entertainment in order to have a good time. Some of my most enjoyable gatherings were spent listening to holiday music, playing games and eating a bowl of popcorn with friends and family.

Here are few more ideas to make entertaining easier:

• Don’t cook all the food yourself. Host a potluck party or pick up already prepared food from your local grocery store.
• Reduce the number of guests. Do you really need to invite the entire neighborhood? Invite only those few who you sincerely want to spend some time visiting with.
• Send electronic invitations. It’s free, fast, easy and fun.

The holidays aren’t about your house, food or furniture. They’re about your heart. Open your heart, relax and truly enjoy your loved ones this holiday season. Happy Holidays!

Unfortunately, the winter holidays are peak times for thieves and burglars. Not only are burglaries of Florida homes at their highest during the darkest months of the year, there’s also the added temptation of unoccupied Florida homes full of expensive gifts.

A recent survey found that 39% of homeowners leave presents under the tree long before Christmas Day, with only 7% of respondents waiting until Christmas Day itself to put the presents on display in their Florida homes. If gifts are in full view of passers-by who can see them through the windows, they could provide an incentive for thieves to target the house.

Take greater security measures during the holidays to keep yourself and your property safe.

1. Don’t hide presents in obvious locations such as closets, under the bed or in the garage. Instead, hide gifts in an attic. The average burglar doesn’t have time to climb into your attic.
2. Keep window shades drawn. If your gifts are easily visible from the street, burglars will be tempted to smash the window and grab the wrapped packages.
3. Don’t discard whole boxes in your trash. This gives thieves easy clues about what they can steal from your home. Instead, break the boxes up into small pieces and place them in your recycling bin or at the bottom of a sealed garbage bag.
4. Create a lived in look and feel. Before leaving your home, turn on lights and a radio or television.
5. Ask a neighbor or close friend to pick up your mail and newspapers if you go out of town for the holidays.
6. Lock up. Make sure all doors and windows are locked. Consider replacing your locks if they’re worn. Use deadbolts in entry doors.
7. Keep the garage, gates, driveway, and sides of your home well lit. Motion sensor lights work well for this.

If you’re looking for a home already equipped with an alarm system or other security features, we can help you find one. Call us at 407-876-5771.

One of the most important maintenance procedures for the exterior of your home is cleaning the rain gutters. Cleaning the gutters can be a tedious task, especially in Florida homes that have trees hanging over the roof.

Cleaning the Gutters

1. Gather your gutter cleaning tools. You’ll need a good pair of gloves to remove the gunk from the gutters, as well as a steady ladder tall enough to put you at a comfortable working height to the gutter. If you have the type of gutters that won’t snag and tear your gloves, you may prefer rubber gloves to keep water from seeping through. If you don’t like using gloves, consider using a trowel or other tool to scoop the gunk out.
   
2. Remove all debris from the gutter. Anything removed from the gutter can be placed in a garbage bag, bucket or other receptacle for disposal or mulching. Leave as little gunk as possible in the trough as any little bit may provide an anchor for leaves and other debris.
   
3. Remove any obstructions from downspouts. This may require “snaking” clogged spouts with wire or a plumber’s snake tool. Pull any overgrown plants near the mouth of the spout that may grow roots into it, as these can prevent debris from washing out.
   
4. Repeat at least twice a year. The best time of year varies according to climate, but it’s typically in the fall. It’s best done before heavy rainfall and after leaves have fallen from the trees. Many owners of Florida homes with trees above the roof choose to clean the gutters several times a year.

When the entire gutter and all of the downspouts have been freed of large debris, take a garden hose and run water through the entire system. This washes out any remaining dirt and smaller debris. Keep an eye open for any leaks in the system and watch to make sure water flows properly away from the house. Improper gutter maintenance causes unbelievable damage to Florida homes that could easily be prevented.

Want more home maintenance tips like this? Subscribe to this blog. It’s free and easy.

Fish On Outfitters 

Fish-On-Outfitters.com is Myrtle Beach's premier bait and tackle fishing outfitter, catering to the needs of inshore and offshore fishermen across the Myrtle Beach, SC area. In addition to our extensive bait and tackle line we offer complete fishing boat rental packages. For those looking for an added thrill, we also offer inshore and offshore fishing charters! Our retail inventory caters to the competitive side of professional anglers and the whimsical side of vacationing families. Fish On Outfitters is operated by a fully-licensed boat Captain and experienced fishermen. As natives to the Atlantic Ocean waters, we will provide you with the most up-to-date fishing reports, patterns, and strategies to aid you in your fishing excursions.

Thanksgiving is coming soon to Florida homes near you. It may even be coming to your home, bringing friends, family, good food and happy memories. In the midst of all the activity, take time to think about what you’re thankful for this year.

The last year has been hard for hundreds of thousands of individuals and families. Some who, at the beginning of the year, had a good job, nice house they could afford, 2.5 kids – you know, living the American dream – are now trying to figure out where their next meal is coming from. Some are trying to figure out where to sleep tonight.

Many homeowners - those with Florida homes and homes elsewhere across the nation - seem to think these people must have “done something” to be in their current situation. They believe that as long as they don’t “do something,” they won’t experience similar problems.

This belief is far from the truth. Not all, but most, Americans struggling today paid their bills on time, went to work every day and were just regular, responsible people. Their place of employment closed or their jobs were cut and, with hiring freezes, they couldn’t find new jobs. They could no longer afford their mortgages. The banks foreclosed. This is the true story of all too many people across the U.S.

Did they really do anything? Could they have stopped the companies from letting them go or closing? Could they have forced someone else to hire them?

As Thanksgiving draws near, I urge you to take a look at your own situation. Whether you hate or love your job, be thankful you still have one, when thousands don’t. Look around your warm, safe home and be thankful you can still afford it – even if it’s underwater and/or losing equity. You know where your next meal is coming from - even if you can’t decide whether it’s chicken or burgers tonight.

Be thankful for your Florida homes, your jobs, your families and your good, full life. I know I am. This Thanksgiving, take time to let go of the cares of the world; just enjoy what you have and with whom you have to share it.

Finally, we would love to hear what you’re especially thankful for this year, so please feel free to add your comments below. We wish you a Happy Thanksgiving for many years to come!

If you’re buying an Orlando home, you probably know you need to have the property inspected to make sure the home is in good condition before buying it. But do you know the types of inspections you want done?

One of the inspections you want to include is a radon inspection. (Be sure to also include a radon contingency in your offer to purchase.) It sounds fairly harmless, doesn’t it? However, you might not want to pass this option up, especially if your potential new Orlando home has a basement or sump pump.

What is Radon?

Colorless, tasteless and odorless, radon is easy to miss. It’s a natural gas that’s found all over the U.S. When we all breathe it in the air, it’s highly diluted. The problem isn’t when radon is outside; the problem is when it builds up in enclosed spaces. In high enough concentration, radon can cause health issues. Radon has caused over 21,000 deaths from lung cancer, according to the EPA.

Because no home can be completely sealed, radon can enter any home through gaps around pipes, inside wall cavities, cracks in the wall, construction joints and other areas. It can even be found in the water supply. In fact, almost 1 in 15 homes have elevated radon levels.

Getting the home tested…

While certain parts of the country are at higher risk than others, living in a low risk area doesn’t make your particular home safe. When you set up your property inspections, I strongly urge you to request a radon inspection.

If there is radon in the home…

Radon is measured by the quantity in a specified amount of air. According to the EPA, if the radon level is more than 4.0 pCi/l, there’s a problem that needs to be rectified with a radon mitigation system. Simply put, the gas needs to be vented to the outside.

Fortunately, the fix won’t take a lot of time or money, but it does need to be done by a trained radon mitigation system professional. For example, if the home has a sump pump, it generally costs less than $1,000 to have the system installed. This virtually eliminates the problem and prevents it from reoccurring.

If you’re trying to find a great Orlando home to buy, we can help. Call us at 407-876-5771 for more information.