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

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

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 buying a new home in Davenport, FL for example, you'll likely buy a home in a

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.

For sellers, they might find themselves asking, “What's my home worth?”. This can inform them of their listing price.

Buyers also want to know what a home is worth before buying it, which is why an appraisal is important.  Although it’s not theirs at the time of appraisal, if all goes well, it will be soon.

Here’s the rundown of the home buying process and what the appraisers do.

A Breakdown of the Homebuying Process

Deciding the right home for you is a big step, and it’s a complex project involving many tasks. Most buyers get connected to an agent to help them, and a majority of agent relationships begin through word-of-mouth referrals.

From there, the steps tend to follow this list:

1. Work with a Lender

Get connected to a lender and

There are lots of ways to make a mistake in selling a home. It’s a complex project and not one to be done by just anyone.

Of all the homes for sale in Davenport, FL, it’s inevitable that some homeowners have tried to price their own home. Here are some of the biggest mistakes, so you can avoid them when it’s time to sell your home.

1. Not getting professional advice

There are lots of ways to sell a house, but working with an agent ensures the smoothest process. However, today, some sellers are choosing For Sale by Owner (FSBO) or working an online “iBuyers” because they think it’ll get them the best price.

FSBO is something a few folks believe they can do to save some money but they’re forced to answer questions that only professionals can

Caveat emptor is Latin for ‘may he beware” and applies to the sale of real estate property in most states. It’s sometimes referred to as “buyer beware”. This is not legal advice, and you should consult an attorney if you have concerns after reading this. However, from a seller’s perspective this is what should be disclosed in the homes for sale in Winter Garden, FL.

If In Doubt, Share

As a general rule, if you ask “should this be disclosed?”, it probably should. While disclosure might put the sale of the property in question, it’s better than concealing the information and having it revealed in a lawsuit later. You never want to have a conversation that starts out “But, Your Honor”, do you?

Most buyers will hire a home inspector if they are concerned

If you want to sell your home over the coming year, it’s essential to find ways to get it looking its best, inside and out. In particular, pay attention to the heart of the home – the kitchen. This room is one of the key ones buyers notice, and if yours is in a state of disrepair or otherwise not up to scratch, it can make it challenging to sell your home quickly and for a reasonable price.

As such, it’s worth considering remodeling your kitchen sooner rather than later. While this isn’t the cheapest project, if you follow a few helpful steps, you’ll make the process easier and more affordable for yourself.

Come Up with a Budget

Before you start buying materials or booking contractors, come up with a budget for your kitchen renovation. Since

Two things can happen when you start house hunting: either you close on a property or find the perfect lot to build your dream house from scratch.

If you take the second route, be prepared for a relatively lengthy process.

According to a 2018 Survey of Construction by the Census Bureau, the average completion time for a single-family home is a little over six months. But this can reach 8 months or more depending on how custom it is and who is making the building decisions.

If you can’t find a home for sale in Winter Haven FL that you like, and choose to build your dream home from scratch, here are some things that you will have to deal with throughout the whole process.

Factors that will affect how long a new home takes to build 

Pre-Construction

When looking through the different houses for sale in Kissimmee, FL, you’ll quickly need information about the home you’re considering. Asking the right questions will give you a lot of insight about the home and the circumstances surrounding its sale. Prior to buying your next home, consider asking the seller some of the following questions about the house.

Best Questions to Ask About Houses for Sale in Kissimmee, FL

Why Is The Home For Sale Now?

The first question to consider is why the seller has decided now is the time to sell their house. Some people want to get a bigger or smaller house because of their specific circumstances. Others had a job transfer, or they want to move closer to family.

However, not all buyers are going to be honest