How Do Florida Real Estate Agents Get Paid?

Real estate agents only get paid for the results they produce. The only thing that happens for a Kissimmee real estate agent at the closing table is the reward for the hard work that came before. Simply put - if it doesn’t close, real estate agents don’t get paid.

Let’s look at what factors contribute to a real estate agent’s pay.

Education, Training, and Licensing

Time is a big factor for real estate agents. To begin with, before they can even sell their first home for sale in Kissimmee FL, they invest in training and educating themselves to get there.

Every agent has to get a real estate license, which takes a lot of time, money and energy. But it doesn’t end there. It also takes time and money to maintain a license.

Agents are required to…

6805 Views, 0 Comments

Buyer Demand Growing in Every Region

Buyers are out in full force this fall, increasing the demand for homebuying in all four regions of the country.

Homes for Sale in Davenport FL

According to the latest ShowingTime Showing Index,

“Home showing activity was up again nationwide with a 4.6 percent rise in traffic, as the traditionally slow fall season began with a marked boost in buyer interest.”

Buyers clearly have the right idea, as mortgage rates have dropped over a full percentage point since the fall of 2018. They’ve hovered in a historically low range since this summer, making the overall cost of homeownership significantly more attractive and affordable.

Here’s the breakdown of how ShowingTime reports current buyer traffic patterns across the country:

…

3132 Views, 0 Comments

Central Florida Real Estate News - November 2019

ORLANDO MEDIAN PRICE RISES IN OCTOBER WHILE SALES AND INVENTORY DROP

October 2019 Recap

Orlando’s housing market in recorded a 6% year-over-year increase in median price and a small 1% decrease in sales in October. The inventory of homes available for purchase appears to be back on a declining trend, with a decrease (5%) for the third consecutive month.

“Low inventory translates into opportunity for sellers,” says Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association President Jeffrey M. Fagan, Watson Realty Corp. “Declining interest rates mean greater purchasing power, which is alluring to buyers, and our local demand is illustrated by an 8 percent increase in pending sales for October.”

“The holidays and wintertime are actually excellent times to list a…

3941 Views, 0 Comments

8 Fall Home Renovation Tips That ALL Buyers Love

If you’re looking to sell your home this year or early next, then you’ve probably started noticing all the things you think you need to change to get it ready to list. 

The kitchen you always wanted to renovate. The dated wallpaper in the bathroom. The laundry room that just didn’t function well. 

Well, before you start getting quotes from contractors and digging into your savings, it’s important to know that major renovations almost invariably have a much lower return on investment (ROI) than small- to mid-range ones. 

The reason? Buyers don’t actually need a fully remodeled kitchen or perfectly modern bathroom. Instead, buyers tend to focus on specific details when they’re looking at a home, and if you get these right, you’ll…

5753 Views, 0 Comments

What Are Real Estate Taxes?

Between property, real estate, sales, and capital gains taxes, you’re likely to run in to at least one of them if you’re in the market to buy or sell a home.

Property Taxes

People ask “What’s my home worth” when it’s tax time because property taxes are based on value. Fair market value is the key and the more the home is worth, the more property taxes you have to pay.  The median property tax in Florida is $1,773.00 per year for a home worth the median value of $182,400.00. That is slightly below the median tax in the United States but it’s not insignificant. It’s also something you can’t avoid by ignoring it.

The taxman shall be paid so make sure you take care of it. If you have a mortgage, it’s possible the lender is collecting taxes (and…

3830 Views, 0 Comments

How Much Does It Cost to Build a House from Scratch?

You’re ready to build your dream home from the ground up, but where do you start? For most buyers, it begins with a lender. If you’re not paying cash for the build, you need to know how this works.

Most of the lenders you find online, and some of them locally, won’t lend on new construction (if you're building from the ground up and not buying a "new home" in a subdivision). They want to loan money on a known, trusted entity, and building a house is fraught with unknowns.

Here’s everything you need to know about the costs associated with building a house from scratch.

Disclaimer:  This blog is about building a fully custom new construction home on the lot you own. If you're in search for new homes for sale in Davenport, FL for example, you'll likely…

15861 Views, 0 Comments

What Happens During Due Diligence?

If you’re in the process of buying a home, you may hear the term “due diligence period.” This is one of the most important parts of the home-buying process. It’s the time period where you can back out of the contract without losing your earnest money or incurring any other type of penalty.

While your Windermere, FL, real estate agent will be able to answer any of your questions about due diligence, it does help to have an idea of what this process is all about.

When Does Due Diligence Happen?

The due diligence period traditionally begins when all of the parties involved have signed the contract. This makes the contract binding and indicates that both the buyers and the sellers of homes for sale in Windermere, FL agree to its terms.

It is…

6409 Views, 0 Comments

Central Florida Real Estate News September 2019

ORLANDO MEDIAN PRICE GAINS WHILE INVENTORY DROPS AND SALES HOLD STEADY

Orlando’s housing market in August saw both its largest increase (+9%) in year-over-year median price and its first inventory decline (-2%) in 2019. Sales were up a tiny fraction (+0.1) compared to August 2018.

“Orlando’s ongoing challenge with the lower-price range categories, which have solid demand and insufficient supply, is consequently pushing up home prices,” says Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association President Jeffrey M. Fagan, Watson Realty Corp. “In addition, while our local economic indicators — particularly very favorable interest rates — point toward a housing strong market, low supply that leaves first-time homebuyers with few options is restraining sales up the…

3728 Views, 0 Comments

Should You Fix Your House or Should You Sell?

With the fall season upon us, change is in the air. For many families, children are growing up and moving out of the house, maybe leaving for college or taking a jump into the working world. Parents are finding themselves as empty nesters for the first time. The question inevitably arises: is it finally time to downsize?

If you’re pondering that thought, you may also be wondering if you should fix-up your house before you sell it, or go straight to the market as-is, allowing a potential buyer to do the updates and remodeling. If you’re one of the many homeowners this camp, here are a few tips to help you decide which way to go.

1. Analyze Your Market

A real estate professional can help you to understand your market and the potential level of…

3269 Views, 0 Comments

What Is an Open House?

Open houses have long been a traditional part of selling a home. If you look at many of the homes for sale in Clermont, FL, you’ll likely see that a number of them have open houses scheduled.

These open houses are traditionally a time for interested buyers to drop in, visit with your real estate agent, and view the house. It was a way of getting a good number of potential buyers into the house without scheduling multiple private viewings.

But considering how many other parts of the home-selling process have changed thanks to new technology, you may wonder if an open house is necessary or if it has changed any over the last decade or so.

Benefits of an Open House

Open houses may not be as prevalent as they once were, but they are still happening.…

5426 Views, 0 Comments