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Archive for July, 2014

When SW Florida Virtual Tours Use Video, Naples, Ft. Myers, Bonita Springs, Marco Island, Estero

When SW Florida Virtual Tours Use Video, Naples, Ft. Myers, Bonita Springs, Marco Island, Estero. In today’s SW Florida, more and more often shopping of all kinds has become a virtual affair. Instant information is at everyone’s fingertips—nowhere truer than in SW Florida real estate. No sooner has today’s buyer made the decision to start looking than—boom!—the laptop/tablet/iPhone is out and SW Apartments, BEACHES Boating Bonita Springs Buying Buying A Home Cape Coral Captiva Island Children Condo CONDOS Estero Estero Homes Family Fishing FLORIDA Florida Homes Florida Real Estate Flying Fort Myers Fun G, Boating, Bonita Springs, Buying, Buying A Home, Captiva Island, CONDOS, condos in bonita springs florida, condos in fort myers florida, condos in naples florida, Estero, Family, Family Vacations, Fishing, FLORIDA, FLORIDA CONDOS, FLORIDA HOME LOANS, Florida Homes, Florida Real Estate, florida real estate agents, florida real estate market, Florida Real Estate News, florida realestate, Florida Realtors, Florida Sunsets, Florida Vacation Homes, Florida Vacation Rentals, Florida Vacations, Fort Myers, Golfing, Home Loans, Home Mortgages, HOME REFINANCING, home sales, HOMES, houses for sale in florida, houses for sale in southwest florida, Mortgages, NAPLES, naples fla real estate, Naples Florida, naples florida map, naples florida real estate, naples florida real estate agents, naples florida real estate taxes, naples florida weather, Naples Real Estate, old naples florida real estate, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, RE FINACE, real estate florida, real estate in florida, Realtor, Realtors, realtors in bonita springs, realtors in bonita springs florida, realtors in cape coral florida, realtors in estero florida, realtors in florida, realtors in fort myers florida, realtors in ft myers florida, realtors in lehigh acres florida, realtors in marco island florida, realtors in naples florida, REFINANCING, Selling, Selling A Home, south florida real estate, Southwest Florida, Southwest Florida Real Estate, Southwest Florida Realtors, Sunsets, SW FLORIDA, SW FLORIDA CONDOS, SW Florida Home Rentals, SW Florida Real Estate, SW Florida Real Estate News, SW Florida Realtors, SW Florida Vacation Homes, SW Florida Vacations, Swimming, Vacation Homes, WaterFlorida virtual tours are underway.
What’s most surprising is the key finding of the joint Google-NAR study of the growth of the web in home buying. “90% of home buyers searched online during their home buying process,” was the headline highlight. That’s 9 out of 10!
“What’s surprising about that?” you might be asking yourself. The answer: that data is more than two years old! And we know online searches and virtual tours have skyrocketed since then.
To capitalize on the online home search juggernaut, real estate agencies increasingly bring video to their SW Florida virtual tours. Many video formats are being used, but the even the most basic use zooms and pans that draw prospects into the picture in a way stills cannot.Apartments, BEACHES Boating Bonita Springs Buying Buying A Home Cape Coral Captiva Island Children Condo CONDOS Estero Estero Homes Family Fishing FLORIDA Florida Homes Florida Real Estate Flying Fort Myers Fun G, Boating, Bonita Springs, Buying, Buying A Home, Captiva Island, CONDOS, condos in bonita springs florida, condos in fort myers florida, condos in naples florida, Estero, Family, Family Vacations, Fishing, FLORIDA, FLORIDA CONDOS, FLORIDA HOME LOANS, Florida Homes, Florida Real Estate, florida real estate agents, florida real estate market, Florida Real Estate News, florida realestate, Florida Realtors, Florida Sunsets, Florida Vacation Homes, Florida Vacation Rentals, Florida Vacations, Fort Myers, Golfing, Home Loans, Home Mortgages, HOME REFINANCING, home sales, HOMES, houses for sale in florida, houses for sale in southwest florida, Mortgages, NAPLES, naples fla real estate, Naples Florida, naples florida map, naples florida real estate, naples florida real estate agents, naples florida real estate taxes, naples florida weather, Naples Real Estate, old naples florida real estate, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, RE FINACE, real estate florida, real estate in florida, Realtor, Realtors, realtors in bonita springs, realtors in bonita springs florida, realtors in cape coral florida, realtors in estero florida, realtors in florida, realtors in fort myers florida, realtors in ft myers florida, realtors in lehigh acres florida, realtors in marco island florida, realtors in naples florida, REFINANCING, Selling, Selling A Home, south florida real estate, Southwest Florida, Southwest Florida Real Estate, Southwest Florida Realtors, Sunsets, SW FLORIDA, SW FLORIDA CONDOS, SW Florida Home Rentals, SW Florida Real Estate, SW Florida Real Estate News, SW Florida Realtors, SW Florida Vacation Homes, SW Florida Vacations, Swimming, Vacation Homes, Water
First-rate SW Florida virtual tours, whether they include video or not, augment the buyer’s search experience. Motion makes it feel as if you’re right there, touring the house in person.
But…The negative aspects of some virtual tours using video are, unfortunately, just as clear. Slow download time and lagging video streams can lose otherwise interested prospects. In some cases the property itself forces awkward angles that make filming complicated and viewing uncomfortable. It’s simply true that virtual tours are not a good idea for every SW Florida property. They are, however, a great idea for some.
Apartments, BEACHES Boating Bonita Springs Buying Buying A Home Cape Coral Captiva Island Children Condo CONDOS Estero Estero Homes Family Fishing FLORIDA Florida Homes Florida Real Estate Flying Fort Myers Fun G, Boating, Bonita Springs, Buying, Buying A Home, Captiva Island, CONDOS, condos in bonita springs florida, condos in fort myers florida, condos in naples florida, Estero, Family, Family Vacations, Fishing, FLORIDA, FLORIDA CONDOS, FLORIDA HOME LOANS, Florida Homes, Florida Real Estate, florida real estate agents, florida real estate market, Florida Real Estate News, florida realestate, Florida Realtors, Florida Sunsets, Florida Vacation Homes, Florida Vacation Rentals, Florida Vacations, Fort Myers, Golfing, Home Loans, Home Mortgages, HOME REFINANCING, home sales, HOMES, houses for sale in florida, houses for sale in southwest florida, Mortgages, NAPLES, naples fla real estate, Naples Florida, naples florida map, naples florida real estate, naples florida real estate agents, naples florida real estate taxes, naples florida weather, Naples Real Estate, old naples florida real estate, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, RE FINACE, real estate florida, real estate in florida, Realtor, Realtors, realtors in bonita springs, realtors in bonita springs florida, realtors in cape coral florida, realtors in estero florida, realtors in florida, realtors in fort myers florida, realtors in ft myers florida, realtors in lehigh acres florida, realtors in marco island florida, realtors in naples florida, REFINANCING, Selling, Selling A Home, south florida real estate, Southwest Florida, Southwest Florida Real Estate, Southwest Florida Realtors, Sunsets, SW FLORIDA, SW FLORIDA CONDOS, SW Florida Home Rentals, SW Florida Real Estate, SW Florida Real Estate News, SW Florida Realtors, SW Florida Vacation Homes, SW Florida Vacations, Swimming, Vacation Homes, WaterHow can you tell the difference? It’s usually a question of the spaciousness of the property itself. Usually, the bigger the home, the easier it is to film a tour—and the better impression it will make on viewers. High-end REALTORS® gain from producing and sharing video virtual tours on their websites, but others get strong results by just sticking with high-quality photos. Sometimes the best impression of a small dwelling will be made by a talented still photographer. When selling your SW Florida home, in a well-rounded marketing plan it is the unique aspects of your property that should shape the media.
When SW Florida Virtual Tours Use Video, Naples, Ft. Myers, Bonita Springs, Marco Island, Estero. If you’re looking for an agent to represent your home in its best light, you’ve come to the right place. Call me today!

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SW Florida Rental Property Quandary—When to Sell! Naples, Ft. Myers, Marco Island, Bonita Springs, Estero, Cape Coral

SW Florida Rental Property Quandary—When to Sell! Naples, Ft. Myers, Marco Island, Bonita Springs, Estero, Cape Coral. It’s one of the skills a successful SW Florida rental property investor needs to cultivate: if or when to sell. With property prices on the rise, some SW Florida landlords may in fact be SW Florida Rental Property Quandary—When to Sell! Naples, Ft. Myers, Marco Island, Bonita Springs, Estero, Cape Coral.asking themselves whether now is the time to cash in. Especially for most everyone whose rental property investment was made during the last few years, it’s already been a profitable gambit. According to the Case Schiller Index, by last year’s close, property prices across the nation had risen at the fastest rate in the previous nine years.
But if—and then when—to sell a SW Florida rental property can be a tough call. As a relatively illiquid investment, it takes a great deal more commitment than the decision to sell a stock or cash in a bond. But sometimes there are circumstances that can make the decision a little easier. For instance:
-Cash flow
One clear reason why you might choose to sell is if the rental property is losing money. The rental may SW Florida Rental Property Quandary—When to Sell! Naples, Ft. Myers, Marco Island, Bonita Springs, Estero, Cape Coral.have been vacant for too long, or the rent level may not have been sufficient to cover expenses. In many cases, other real estate investors will be willing to lose money in the short term on a property they believe will appreciate in the future. It’s also possible that a full-time rental property professional may be able to tap economies of scale that are not possible for every individual investor.
-Greener pastures
Your SW Florida rental property may be doing fine—making money and showing substantial value growth—but now an SW Florida Rental Property Quandary—When to Sell! Naples, Ft. Myers, Marco Island, Bonita Springs, Estero, Cape Coral.unusually promising alternative investment has appeared. With the strong spring market, it may make sense to sell now to reinvest the profits elsewhere.
-Taxes
Everyone’s tax situation is different, and the tax environment is subject to change. Even if that weren’t the case, there are some years when personal finances mean that a sale would be a much better idea than others. As with any substantial financial decision, your accountant or other financial advisor will have the relevant input.
-“Landlorditis”
SW Florida Rental Property Quandary—When to Sell! Naples, Ft. Myers, Marco Island, Bonita Springs, SW Florida Rental Property Quandary—When to Sell! Naples, Ft. Myers, Marco Island, Bonita Springs, Estero, Cape Coral.Estero, Cape Coral. Being a landlord is not for everyone. Sometimes a professional property manager can alleviate nearly all the stress for an investor who doesn’t relish the vocation, but even then, there can be other chores: bookkeeping, manager management, a leak-through of tenant personality issues…that prompt a landlord to decide he or she would rather direct energy elsewhere. Opting for more passive forms of investment is always a possibility.
SW Florida has already benefitted from some of the fruits of the national real estate recovery – but that alone doesn’t answer whether this spring is an opportune time for you to consider selling your SW Florida rental property. Call me today for a comprehensive property evaluation—the key piece of information that will help you decide!

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Schedule Ample Time for Your SW Florida Home Inspection. Naples, Ft. Myers, Golden Gate, Bonita Springs, Estero

Schedule Ample Time for Your SW Florida Home Inspection. Naples, Ft. Myers, Golden Gate, Bonita Springs, Estero.  Congrats! Your offer has been accepted and you are officially in escrow. Now what? Usually the first order of business is to arrange your SW Florida home inspection. When you were Schedule Ample Time for Your SW Florida Home Inspection. Naples, Ft. Myers, Golden Gate, Bonita Springs, Estero. house hunting, you were weighing so many factors it was next to impossible to thoroughly examination of every nook and corner of every one of the serious contenders…in fact, it wasn’t necessary. But now that you’re moving forward to a purchase, you want to do more than kick the tires. It’s time to get under the hood!
Here is a taste of just some of the areas you and your inspector will be examining during your SW Florida home inspection:

Plumbing
You will be taking a close look at the tiles around the handles on the bath tub or shower. If they are a different color, it could indicate a plumbing problem. A look under the kitchen sink for stains beneath the pipes can also indicate leaks—something you’ll want to know more about from the seller.

Mold
HGTV’s home inspector Rick Yerger lists water as enemy #1. “Of the many homes I have inspected,” he says, “water damage to the structure has been the most damaging and costly, causing foundation problems, rot and the dreaded mold.” He recommends close examination of exterior grade for slopingSchedule Ample Time for Your SW Florida Home Inspection. Naples, Ft. Myers, Golden Gate, Bonita Springs, Estero. (or draining) back toward the home; stucco issues where they’re applicable, and roofing materials.

Inspect the Yard
If there is a yard on the property, take the time to do a thorough walkover. Look at the condition of the shrubs, grass and flowers. Check the irrigation, the lighting. You should also look closely at the fencing and gating: they can be expensive to repair.

Electricity
Exposed wires can result in a house fire or other devastating damage. Open splice wire (where wire is conjoined using only electrical tape and/or wire connectors) is a common do-it-yourself Schedule Ample Time for Your SW Florida Home Inspection. Naples, Ft. Myers, Golden Gate, Bonita Springs, Estero. mistake often seen in attics, garages, and crawl spaces. Any issues found with the wiring should be corrected ASAP.

Schedule Ample Time for Your SW Florida Home Inspection. Naples, Ft. Myers, Golden Gate, Bonita Springs, Estero.  These are only a few of the many areas your SW Florida home inspection will cover, so when you are scheduling the day, don’t make other appointments that might rush the process. Of course you hope that everything will be found to be flawless, and if only minor problems are uncovered, the seller may simply volunteer to correct them. But if the home inspection reveals that a significant amount of work will have to be done to bring it up to an acceptable standard, you and your agent will probably be submitting additional terms reflecting the requirements. As always, if you’re looking for that agent—the one you will want by your side throughout the entire home-buying process—I hope you’ll give me the call!

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SW Florida Homeowners Ponder Price Rises in the Coming Year. Naples, Ft. Myers, Isles Of Capri, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres

SW Florida Homeowners Ponder Price Rises in the Coming Year. Naples, Ft. Myers, Isles Of Capri, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres. 2014 has already given an encouraging start for SW Florida homeowners who consider national price movements as the best pointers for what we can expect for local real SW Florida Homeowners Ponder Price Rises in the Coming Year. Naples, Ft. Myers, Isles Of Capri, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres.estate. Already in February, median house prices were up 7.6% nationally year over year (that according to the US National Housing Trend Report). It followed a similar 8.3% increase in January. The question many SW Florida homeowners have is whether this upward movement can be sustained throughout 2014.

Two Years of Historically High Growth
If we look at the historical record, values normally rise somewhere in the area of 3% to 5% annually. But over the last couple of years, gains have been considerably higher. As measured by the Case-Schiller Index, property prices in the 20 largest U.S. cities have increased 21% since they bottomed out. Even considering the depth from which they started, that is still remarkable.SW Florida Homeowners Ponder Price Rises in the Coming Year. Naples, Ft. Myers, Isles Of Capri, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres.

Factors Likely To Influence Home Prices
Among factors which could influence performance in the year ahead, one of the most prominent is the continuing historically low interest rates. According to the leading financial website Bankrate, as of this writing, the average no-point, 30-year fixed mortgage was edging downward again to 4.32%. That may be up from a year ago, but, by way of contrast, the long-term average for a 30-year mortgage is estimated to be 8.56%!
Even considering Fed Chair Janet Yellen’s stated intention to continue the Fed’s expansive monetary policy, most observers consider it all but inevitable that as the economy improves, quantitative easing will be cut back…pressuring interest rates to rise (and last month the Federal Reserve made a $10 billion cut in SW Florida Homeowners Ponder Price Rises in the Coming Year. Naples, Ft. Myers, Isles Of Capri, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres.its economic stimulus program).
Two other factors likely to weigh heavily on future price moves are foreclosures and negative equity. As real estate prices increase, the number of SW Florida homeowners whose homes register negative equity will steadily decrease. An improving economy will also mean that foreclosure rates continue to decline.

Predictions for the Year Ahead
According to Zillow’s national Home Value Forecast, homeowners can expect residential real estate prices to rise 4.8% across the nation through December 2014. Economists also expects that inventory—the number of homes offered for sale—will SW Florida Homeowners Ponder Price Rises in the Coming Year. Naples, Ft. Myers, Isles Of Capri, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres.increase as more sellers are encouraged by higher prices and new home construction ramps up.
All in all, it’s easy to see why overall expectations are for this to be a solid year for residential home price increases—even taking into account expectations for rises in interest rates and housing inventory. Exactly when is, of course, something that’s impossible to predict. While this year isn’t expected to duplicate the spectacular gains of the past two years, all indications are that it will wind up being another good year for homeowners in SW Florida.
SW Florida Homeowners Ponder Price Rises in the Coming Year. Naples, Ft. Myers, Isles Of Capri, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres. In case the forecasts have you wondering what your home is now worth, why not contact me today to discuss your own home’s prospects in this spring’s active market?

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Credit Score Review Pays Off for Frugal SW Florida Homeowners. Naples, Ft. Myers, Bonita Springs, Marco Island, Estero

Credit Score Review Pays Off for Frugal SW Florida Homeowners. Naples, Ft. Myers, Bonita Springs, Marco Island, Estero. Your credit score will have a major impact when it comes to the cost you wind up paying for a SW Florida mortgage. A buyer with a high credit score of 750 or above will qualify for Credit Score Review Pays Off for Frugal SW Florida Homeowners. Naples, Ft. Myers, Bonita Springs, Marco Island, Estero.the most competitive interest rates available; but today’s tightened lending standards mean that some borrowers with scores under 600 may not qualify for a mortgage at all. And no matter what, a low credit score can mean paying an extra 3%-4% interest charge on every payment.
There is nothing permanent about a credit score. SW Florida homebuyers who realize its importance—and who take early steps to improve their own—can save literally thousands of dollars.
1. You can’t improve your credit score until you know what you are working with. Your first step is to obtain your credit reports. They are available for free once a year from each of the three major reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.Credit Score Review Pays Off for Frugal SW Florida Homeowners. Naples, Ft. Myers, Bonita Springs, Marco Island, Estero.
2. The fastest way to improve your credit score is to correct any inaccuracies. Because this takes time – anywhere from 30 days to as long as six months, the earlier you begin the process, the better. To remove items that are incomplete or inaccurate, verify the correct information using the dispute procedure on the agency’s website. The creditor has 30 days in which to validate the debt; if the credit agency does not receive a response to your claim, they are required by law to remove the entry from your report. Remember that there are three major agencies, so an incorrect item may appear on all three— and all three need to be contacted.
Credit Score Review Pays Off for Frugal SW Florida Homeowners. Naples, Ft. Myers, Bonita Springs, Marco Island, Estero.3. If you have an older credit card that you haven’t been using for a while, it’s a good idea not to cancel it; even to use it now and again, paying the balance in full. This will mean that the issuer keeps reporting information to the credit bureau, which can be valuable. A longer credit history improves your credit score.
4. A low credit utilization ratio measures how much of your available credit you are using. In order to improve your credit score, keep your credit utilization ratio below 20%. One way to quickly improve a utilization score is to move credit card debt onto cards with higher limits. While this will not make a difference to the amount that you owe, it will alter individual cards’ credit utilization ratios.Credit Score Review Pays Off for Frugal SW Florida Homeowners. Naples, Ft. Myers, Bonita Springs, Marco Island, Estero.
5. Consider a Personal Loan. If you have a family member or friend that you can borrow from, consider taking out a loan in order to pay down a portion of existing debt. By removing some of that debt, you can give your credit score a boost.
6. Moving away from being measured as a poor credit risk has the biggest impact on whether a future mortgage is approved—and how much interest you wind up having to pay. Your credit score in SW Florida really matters! If you would like an introduction to a mortgage broker to begin the conversation about the home loan your current credit score qualifies you for, contact me today. Credit Score Review Pays Off for Frugal SW Florida Homeowners. Naples, Ft. Myers, Bonita Springs, Marco Island, Estero.

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Foreclosures in SW Florida Still Available for Careful Buyers. Naples, Ft. Myers, Bonita Springs, Cape Coral

Foreclosures in SW Florida Still Available for Careful Buyers. Naples, Ft. Myers, Bonita Springs, Cape Coral. Despite the winter’s chilling effect on all sorts of sales, February saw single family homes, condominiums and town homes selling nationwide at a full 7% increase over a year earlier. The Foreclosures in SW Florida Still Available for Careful Buyers. Naples, Ft. Myers, Bonita Springs, Cape Coral.opposite is true of foreclosures—no surprise, since the health of the market means fewer serious borrower delinquencies, hence fewer foreclosures.
Even so, SW Florida foreclosures are still available, possibly because some of the fiercest competition may be tailing off. Real estate watcher RealtyTrac finds that the institutional investor buying spree appears to be losing steam—which could be very good news for individuals interested in purchasing foreclosures.
Typically, SW Florida foreclosures are listed on an as-is basis — and that means exactly what it says. Whatever is wrong with the property will remain unfixed. Unlike a traditional home sale where you can negotiate with the seller to fix problems or provide credits to counterbalance the expense to have them fixed, when you buy a foreclosed home as-is, that option isn’t available.
When you are up against time pressure to submit an offer, you do have other strategies. One is to hireForeclosures in SW Florida Still Available for Careful Buyers. Naples, Ft. Myers, Bonita Springs, Cape Coral. a qualified home inspector to go over the property, then make your offer contingent on the results of the report. That allows you to know what you are getting into before you commit. If it turns out that the repairs needed are minor, you can choose to go forward with your purchase. If there are too many costly problems, or if there are an overabundance of unknowns, it might be in your best interest to pass. A contingency like this gives you the freedom to weigh your options carefully before you make your decision.
One other issue to keep in mind is the insurability factor. If you believe your offer represents good value even though Foreclosures in SW Florida Still Available for Careful Buyers. Naples, Ft. Myers, Bonita Springs, Cape Coral.the property has significant maintenance issues, remember that in most cases you will need to have a home insurance policy in place before you can close. Ask your insurance agent to check the property to determine whether it can be insured. If the first answer is no, you can still check with other companies—but keep in mind that in the world of foreclosures, this can become an insurmountable obstacle.
Foreclosures in SW Florida Still Available for Careful Buyers. Naples, Ft. Myers, Bonita Springs, Cape Coral. Buying foreclosures in SW Florida needn’t be overly risky when your approach includes careful evaluation of the target property. SW Florida foreclosures are still out there, and with care and patience, you should be able to find one that is right for you. Interested in discussing further? Contact me today!

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SW Florida Home for Sale or Not, Summer is Time for Simple Renovation. Naples, Ft. Myers, Lehigh Acres, Estero, Marco Island

 SW Florida Home for Sale or Not, Summer is Time for Simple Renovation. Naples, Ft. Myers, Lehigh Acres, Estero, Marco Island. With spring in the air, you don’t have to have your SW Florida home for sale to catch the spring cleaning bug. Whether or not you’ve been cooped up inside for a longer SW Florida Home for Sale or Not, Summer is Time for Simple Renovation. Naples, Ft. Myers, Lehigh Acres, Estero, Marco Island. than-usual siege of the wintertime blues, as soon as the weather turns the corner, there seems to be a natural urge to open the windows and start freshening your place up.
Spring also brings the traditional hot selling season, and if you’re among those getting ready to list your own home for sale to take advantage of it, you’ll want to add extra attention to the traditional cleanup. Home for sale or not, you can channel some of your annual sprucing-up energy with one of these light renovation ideas. Each can add new zest to your living areas without breaking the bank:
• If you want to liven up your kitchen or bathroom but don’t want to shell out for the full cost of replacing the cabinets or doors, consider what simply changing the hardware would do. Take a trip to the SW Florida Home for Sale or Not, Summer is Time for Simple Renovation. Naples, Ft. Myers, Lehigh Acres, Estero, Marco Island. hardware department, pick out a sample knob or pull, then test what the change would look like. Sometimes this simple transformation adds a surprising degree of sparkle!
• If your lighting fixtures are looking a bit dated and dingy, one simple fix is to buy new lampshades. Replacing a whole lamp is expensive and often unnecessary—and new shades can make a much more resounding impact, anyway. If you are planning to put your home for sale on the SW Florida market anytime soon, best opt for white or cream. Keeping the look bright yet neutral gives you a SW Florida Home for Sale or Not, Summer is Time for Simple Renovation. Naples, Ft. Myers, Lehigh Acres, Estero, Marco Island. proven selling advantage.
• In any room where years of wear and tear have created smudges that no amount of elbow grease can remove, think about painting with a change of color. It may be a bit more ambitious and costly, but whether you hire pros or do it yourself, the result can make you feel like you’re in a whole new home. As with the lampshade selection, resist the temptation to get overly exuberant and creative: choose neutral color combinations.
• If new furniture is not yet called for (or beyond this year’s budget), consider calling in the pros for some upholstery SW Florida Home for Sale or Not, Summer is Time for Simple Renovation. Naples, Ft. Myers, Lehigh Acres, Estero, Marco Island. cleaning; then adding new accent pillows. If your existing pillows are in good shape, sometimes just a few new pillow covers can freshen up a room’s whole look. Designers sometimes recommend picking just one bright color and keeping with it throughout the house.
 SW Florida Home for Sale or Not, Summer is Time for Simple Renovation. Naples, Ft. Myers, Lehigh Acres, Estero, Marco Island. You don’t have to be planning to list your home for sale in SW Florida to make 2014’s spring cleaning efforts a self-satisfying success. And if you’re planning to list, I have a host of other preparation tips…and a marketing plan designed to bring top results!

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Private Mortgage Insurance in SW Florida Bridges Risk Gap. Naples, Ft. Myers, Cape Coral, Captiva Island

Private Mortgage Insurance in SW Florida Bridges Risk Gap. Naples, Ft. Myers, Cape Coral, Captiva Island. Many of SW Florida’s would-be first time home buyers are stopped short when they come up Private Mortgage Insurance in SW Florida Bridges Risk Gap. Naples, Ft. Myers, Cape Coral, Captiva Island.against the need to raise the initial deposit. But just because you don’t have a hefty down payment, it needn’t mean you can’t own your own home. You can still purchase a house with less than a 20% down payment if you are otherwise qualified—that is, if you take advantage of something called private mortgage insurance (“PMI”).
The reason there is a market for private mortgage insurance in SW Florida is because lenders face an increased risk when they issue a loan with a low down payment. The simple fact is that the less money a home buyer invests in a property, the greater the possibility that he or she will choose to simply walk away. Someone with 5% equity in a home has a lot less invested than had they plunked down 20%—so if anything goes wrong, it’s proportionately easier for them to just hand the keys to the bank. Mortgage insurance covers the lender in such a default.
Private Mortgage Insurance in SW Florida Bridges Risk Gap. Naples, Ft. Myers, Cape Coral, Captiva Island. The cost of private mortgage insurance in SW Florida comes in the form of monthly premiums in an amount set by the PMI issuer. The amount charged depends upon the loan-to-valuePrivate Mortgage Insurance in SW Florida Bridges Risk Gap. Naples, Ft. Myers, Cape Coral, Captiva Island. ratio of the property, factored in with the borrower’s credit score. The insurer guarantees the difference between a 20% down payment and the amount put down by the borrower. For instance, if the borrower puts a 15% deposit on a $200,000 home, but then defaults, the PMI provider would cover the lender for $10,000—the difference between a standard 20% down payment (here that would have been $40,000) and the amount actually made as a down payment ($30,000).
The obligation to continue making PMI policy payments ends once the principal balance on the mortgage falls below 78%, since the borrower’s stake in the property will have risen to 22%—a touch above the 20% Private Mortgage Insurance in SW Florida Bridges Risk Gap. Naples, Ft. Myers, Cape Coral, Captiva Island.threshold. Borrowers can reach this benchmark early by choosing pay extra on their home’s principal balance or by making improvements that result in raising the value of the property: another way to improve the LTV. That route requires a request for PMI cancellation and borrower’s payment for an updated property appraisal (the appraiser will be named by the insurer).
Private Mortgage Insurance in SW Florida Bridges Risk Gap. Naples, Ft. Myers, Cape Coral, Captiva Island. For prospective buyers who are otherwise fully qualified — but for one reason or another can’t supply a 20% down payment — private mortgage insurance makes home ownership possible. No matter what your financial profile, starting the pre-qualification process is your first step. Contact me to get the ball rolling this spring!

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Keeping SW Florida Real Estate Sales on Track. Naples, Ft. Myers, Bonita Springs, Isles Of Capri, Estero

Keeping SW Florida Real Estate Sales on Track. Naples, Ft. Myers, Bonita Springs, Isles Of Capri, Estero. The slick, entertaining formats of HGTV’s many buying and selling programs makes for great Keeping SW Florida Real Estate Sales on Track. Naples, Ft. Myers, Bonita Springs, Isles Of Capri, Estero.entertainment – but, as anyone who has ever actually bought or sold a house knows, they tend to leave some key information on the cutting room floor. Sure, real estate sales in SW Florida can in fact involve elements of creativity, presentation, personality, all of which make for interesting television viewing. But in real reality, successful real estate sales are largely based on contracts, disclosures, inspections, contingencies, and time. They may be less telegenic, but can be dramatic, especially when you’ve done everything in your power to make sure that a deal works out smoothly, only to be faced with last-minute surprises that threaten to prevent you from closing (or cost you a bundle!).
Here are some of the major issues that can impede SW Florida real estate sales—and how to prevent them from happening:
Not Weighing the Comps
When you are in the process of making a major decision, it’s natural to seek the opinions of the people who are closest to you. When it comes to real estate sales, however, personal opinions from Keeping SW Florida Real Estate Sales on Track. Naples, Ft. Myers, Bonita Springs, Isles Of Capri, Estero.well-intentioned non-professionals can create distractions that wind up doing more harm than good. In the realm of contracts and negotiations, it’s important to give weight to the opinions of experienced real estate pros. They know how to provide unbiased guidance based on comps and statistics rather than emotion.
Verbal Agreements
Keeping SW Florida Real Estate Sales on Track. Naples, Ft. Myers, Bonita Springs, Isles Of Capri, Estero. Whether you are selling or buying, it’s essential to get any agreements about repairs or updates in writing. Parties will often discuss repairs or credits and assume that a verbal agreement will suffice. Not true. Not only can a repair come back to haunt you later, but certain repairs left uncompleted can delay the close of escrow.
Keeping SW Florida Real Estate Sales on Track. Naples, Ft. Myers, Bonita Springs, Isles Of Capri, Estero.Last Minute Changes
Whether it’s taking out a loan on a new car or holding one final goodbye party at the house, last-minute actions by buyers and sellers have an uncanny ability to hold up a deal. When you are in contract for a property, keep your eye on the prize: if you’re the seller, don’t do anything that increases the risk of damage to the house. If you’re the buyer, don’t make sudden changes in your financial life until you are the legal owner of that property.
Keeping SW Florida Real Estate Sales on Track. Naples, Ft. Myers, Bonita Springs, Isles Of Capri, Estero. Buying and selling property is more intricate than a 30-minute TV show, but the end of the episode should feature the same broad smiles and satisfied handshakes—particularly if you don’t let an innocent move derail the purchase. Real estate sales in SW Florida are my business; call me anytime!

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SW Florida Areas

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No Longer Scorned, SW Florida Piggyback Loans Find New Favor. Naples, Ft. Myers, Cape Coral, Golden Gate, Estero

No Longer Scorned, SW Florida Piggyback Loans Find New Favor. Naples, Ft. Myers, Cape Coral, Golden Gate, Estero. It’s another after effects of the rise in housing prices: piggyback loans in SW Florida are making a comeback. According to a recent American Bankers Associations Report, the No Longer Scorned, SW Florida Piggyback Loans Find New Favor. Naples, Ft. Myers, Cape Coral, Golden Gate, Estero.number of piggyback loans originated across the nation more than doubled within the past year.
A piggyback loan involves taking out two mortgages simultaneously, with a home equity loan (aka “second mortgage”) ‘piggybacking’ on a first mortgage. In SW Florida home purchases, piggyback loans typically come into play when the buyer is unable to provide a full 20% deposit. Normally this would necessitate the buyer having to take out private mortgage insurance (PMI), which can be pricey. By going with the piggyback loan alternative, the Loan to Value (LTV) ratio can be reduced to less than 80%, the threshold below which PMI requirements vanish.
A standard piggy back loan is structured as a “80-10-10”—meaning that 80% of the purchase price comes from the No Longer Scorned, SW Florida Piggyback Loans Find New Favor. Naples, Ft. Myers, Cape Coral, Golden Gate, Estero.first mortgage, the next 10% from the second loan, and the final 10%, the deposit.
No Longer Scorned, SW Florida Piggyback Loans Find New Favor. Naples, Ft. Myers, Cape Coral, Golden Gate, Estero. One major downside to piggybacking is cost. The interest rates charged on piggyback loans are significantly higher than those for first mortgages, so it may prove less expensive to pay for PMI for a short period of time. This is more likely in a rising market, since the Loan to Value can shrink below 80% before long. Another problem can crop up when it comes time to refinance. In order to refinance, the second mortgage lender has to agree to remain in a subordinate position. This agreement (known as re-subordination) may, in some cases, be hard to reach. Lastly, homeowners with a piggyback loan are unlikely to be able to take out a third loan should they want to access their home equity. Nowadays, thirds are rarely granted.
No Longer Scorned, SW Florida Piggyback Loans Find New Favor. Naples, Ft. Myers, Cape Coral, Golden Gate, Estero.Between 2000 and 2006, it made a lot of sense to take out a piggyback loan. The interest on piggyback loans was tax-deductible, while mortgage insurance premiums were not. When property prices were rising as sharply as they were between 2000 and 2006, lenders also considered piggyback loans a good bet because the growth provided ample equity ‘cushion.’ But when real estate prices dropped in 2007, piggyback loans fell out of favor. By 2010, the percentage of piggyback loans fell to just 1.7%.
Today, with house prices on the rise, lenders are again growing more comfortable granting SW Florida piggyback loans—but with a bit more caution. Lenders usually ask forNo Longer Scorned, SW Florida Piggyback Loans Find New Favor. Naples, Ft. Myers, Cape Coral, Golden Gate, Estero. a FICO score of at least 700 and a debt-to-income ratio that’s below 43%. Increasingly, they want to see that a borrower has cash reserves in case of unforeseen circumstances.
No Longer Scorned, SW Florida Piggyback Loans Find New Favor. Naples, Ft. Myers, Cape Coral, Golden Gate, Estero. If you are considering a piggyback loan in SW Florida this spring, you will want to run the numbers to see if it’s the solution that makes the most sense. In some circumstances, it can be the best way to get into a home you can afford even though you can’t furnish a full 20% deposit. Call me today to discuss how today’s market meshes with your needs!

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Mortgages

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