Brenda Sells Florida Homes

Open House SAT AND SUN 10/1 & 10/2 1-4 pm 10310 St. Ives Court, 32817 4/2.5 with a POOL for $168,900!!

Brenda — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 10:08:50 +0000

Come on over and take a look. Bring your business card for a free gift!
This home is definitely a diamond in the rough and with a little TLC it could be YOUR DREAM HOME!! Qualifies for a Homepath Renovation Mortgage, as well as some down payment assistance programs. It’s in a mature neighborhood with no rear neighbors and offers a pool for the summer, a fireplace for the winter, and a 2 car garage for all year round. Easy access to highways, UCF and Valencia, downtown and the beaches. Make this house your home; call or stop by!

Florida List Prices Trending Upward

Brenda — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 18:58:13 +0000

Florida metro areas, including Orlando and central Florida, have had the largest year-over-year increases in list prices on average, according to Realtor.com. Based on data collected in August, of 2.2 million listings in 146 markets, Florida cities make up nine of the top 10 localities for highest year-over-year list price increases.Nationwide, the average list price is $320,325, up 2.36 percent year-over-year.If you’ve been thinking about buying real estate, the markers are pointing upward and your best deal may be out there right now. If you’ve been looking for the bottom, we have probably found it.

The following is a list of the top 15 cities. Notice that central Florida is third on the list.

1. Miami
Average list price: $640,332
Year-over-year increase: 27.4%

2. Fort Myers-Cape Coral, Fla.
Average list price: $443,570
Year-over-year increase: 26.27%

3. Central-Fla. rural service area
Average list price: $405,809
Year-over-year increase: 19.41%

4. Punta Gorda, Fla.
Average list price: $267,066
Year-over-year increase: 16.37%5. Macon, Ga.
Average list price: $193,520
Year-over-year increase: 15.98%

6. Sarasota-Bradenton, Fla.
Average list price: $466,785
Year-over-year increase: 15.86%

7. Naples, Fla.
Average list price: $713,087
Year-over-year increase: 15.13%

8. West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, Fla.
Average list price: $591,895
Year-over-year increase: 14.68%

9. Ocala, Fla.
Average list price: $193,360
Year-over-year increase: 12.07%

10. Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla.
Average list price: $181,409
Year-over-year increase: 11.48%

11. Orlando, Fla.
Average list price: $319,419
Year-over-year increase: 10.56%

12. Portland-Vancouver, Ore.-Wash.
Average list price: $314,537
Year-over-year increase: 10.52%

13. Boise City, Idaho
Average list price: $212,588
Year-over-year increase: 10.43%

14. Springfield, Illinois
Average list price: $174,537
Year-over-year increase: 9.12%

15. Shreveport-Bossier City, La.
Average list price: $211,414
Year-over-year increase: 8.34%

Prelisting Suggestions: 8 Ways to Perk Up Your Home For Nothing or Almost Nothing!

Brenda — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 18:50:54 +0000

Often the decor in homes is a lot like most people’s wardrobes: There are a few items that went out of style a decade ago, but they’re so comfortable that they just hang around for way too long.

“We grow accustomed to our space, and we stop seeing it,” says Melissa Birdsong, vice president of trend, design, and brand for Lowe’s, the home improvement giant. “People tend to become blind to their own things.”

But everything needs updating eventually. Birdsong suggests home owners pretend they’re just moving in and assessing the previous homeowner’s decor choices.

Betsy Westman, a broker-owner with Westman Realty in Grand Rapids, Mich., says real estate professionals can help clients come up with ideas to freshen their space, and by being straightforward about outdated design elements, they can really make a difference in the appeal of a home.

Keep in mind that the first minute or so that someone is in a home determines a positive or negative feeling. The following tips can help get a home up-to-date without breaking the bank.

1. Move it.

JUST rearranging the furniture can reenergize a room. Add and remove furniture, lamps, rugs, and accessories from other parts of the house may generate a whole new look and feel to a space. Mirrors can be a way not just to update a room, but to make it feel larger and brighter. Try one out in different rooms to see where it fits best. Even just moving a mirror to a different wall might give a room a more welcoming feel.

2. Plant it.

Houseplants can add texture, warmth, and color to any room and their value is often underestimated.Place plants in their original containers into decorative planters. Small plants can be moved easily and regrouped to change a room’s look, while larger ones make a statement on their own.

Create drama by grouping plants of differing heights, fullness, and color. Boot the scraggly ones, Westman says. “It’s important to have plants that are well maintained and in tip-top condition.”

3. Paint it.

You can’t beat a coat of paint for a substantial transformation at relatively low cost. Use dramatic colors in powder rooms and dining rooms, and more neutral colors in living spaces. When selecting colors, “be sure to ask, ‘What am I trying to do? How do I want this to feel?’” Birdsong says. “And always, always do a test before you paint the whole room.”

4. Organize it.

“Clutter just happens,” Birdsong says. “So neaten up!” She advocates a variety of organizing tools to make a space feel polished while maintaining utility. Hooks and shelves inside the door give people a place to hang coats and keys, while canvas bins or natural baskets help contain magazines and mail. “Just a row of hooks preattached on a board is so easy to install,” she says. “And shelves are a great way to neatly display collectibles.”

5. Hide it.

Have a banged-up wall? It may be easy to camouflage. Paintable wallpaper (available for as little as $16/roll from Creative Wallcovering) will smooth out an uneven wall or hide minor dents and dings. Adventurous home owners can even try a simple two-step painting process for a more complex finish. Birdsong suggests applying a solid base coat, then a glaze.

“These days, it’s pretty user-friendly,” she says. Caution: Your intent should never be to mislead buyers; be sure to disclose flaws that would affect home value.

6. Replace it.

Cabinet handles, switch plates, and other small pieces of housing hardware can update a home for just a few dollars a piece. Westman suggests scanning each room to see what looks worn or outdated and then replacing it. Inexpensive quick-connect faucets can make upgrading the look of your bathroom a snap. Just be sure to measure before you go to the hardware store. Some sinks are drilled for an eight-inch spread. Others require just four inches.

“And don’t forget the toilet seat,” adds Westman. “Fresh towels and a new toilet seat go a long way toward making a bathroom feel clean and new.”

7. Light it.

Lighting can have a major impact on a home’s look and feel. Whether a room seems dark or too bright and harsh, try “layering” the lighting by adding accent pendants and lamps. Make sure they have independent controls, so that you can turn them on and off at will.

“Light is such a mood setter,” Westman says. “You can create a cozy feel just by turning down the lights.” Add dimmers in the dining room, bathrooms, kitchen, and even the hallways for less than $4 each. Then adjust the lighting to create the mood you want.

8. Clean it.

Turn a critical eye to the flooring to make sure it’s up to snuff. Scrub grout and seal natural stone. Rub out scratches and nicks on wood floors with scratch cover. “Get down on your hands and knees and detail the floors,” Birdsong says. “It takes a little elbow grease, but the results are well worth it.” Vinyl flooring is a bit harder to spruce up but usually can be replaced easily and inexpensively.

Even the small things might make a big difference in how long a home sits on the market and how much it eventually sells for. In many things, don’t sweat the small stuff is good advice; when selling your home, don’t sweat the small stuff, stage it!

Rental Vacancy Rates Trend Lower; Expected to Continue

Brenda — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 19:24:26 +0000

Shared by Brenda Lockamy Janssen

Here’s news from Rismedia: Rental vacancy rates are at their lowest since 2003 and still falling, which will drive up rents even faster than the 2-3 percent average annual increase predicted earlier this year. Moreover, with demand outpacing supply, the rent-to-buy equation is turning increasingly favorable in markets across the nation.

The Census Bureau reported that vacancies for rental housing were only 9.2 percent, 1.4 points lower than a year ago and .5 percent below the first quarter. We haven’t seen a 9.2 percent vacancy rate since 2003!

What’s the takeaway from this? BUY RENTAL PROPERTY if you can! Interest rates are still historically low and prices are extremely attractive. However, in Central Florida they are beginning to trend upward ever so slightly. I have some properties that you can get into for as little as 3.5% down plus they’re offering closing assistance! Buy yourself a great property and rent your current one until selling makes sense.

Contact me and we’ll strategize how you can take advantage of this market and build long term asset growth.

Every credit score isn’t created the same, even when you pay for it

Brenda — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 19:15:29 +0000

Shared by Brenda’s At Work For You!

If you spend any time on the Internet, you’ve probably seen ads for “free” credit scores. They usually appear alongside ads promising to make your belly fat disappear. There are two problems with these promotions. First, you usually have to sign up for credit monitoring, identity theft protection or some other service to get your credit score. These products cost anywhere from $15 to $18 a month.

But even more troubling, these scores could give you a distorted view of your credit standing, according to a report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. That’s because these credit scores usually aren’t the same scores lenders use when they consider your application for a loan, the CFPB said. Credit scores marketed to consumers who order their credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com could also mislead consumers, the report said.

While consumers are often reminded of the importance of a good credit score, there are lots of different credit scores circulating in the marketplace. Some credit scores sold to consumers by the big three credit bureaus – TransUnion, Equifax and Experian – are “educational” scores that aren’t used by lenders, the CFPB says. The score you buy may be based on different information than the one used to consider your application for a car loan or home mortgage. Another possibility: The information used to calculate your score could change between the time you buy a score and the time you apply for a loan.

The discrepancy isn’t a problem for consumers with stellar credit, says John Ulzheimer, president of consumer education for SmartCredit.com. “If you’ve got fantastic credit, you’re going to have a fantastic score regardless of what score is being used,” he says. Similarly, if your score is abysmal, there’s not going to be much difference between the score you buy and the one lenders see.

Most consumers, though, fall between those two extremes, Ulzheimer says. Here’s how differences between the score you have and the one your lenders use could cost you money:

If the score leads you to believe your credit is worse than it is, you could end up settling for higher interest rates than you’re eligible for, or decide not to apply for credit at all.

If the score causes you to feel overconfident about your credit, you could waste time and money applying for loans that won’t be approved. You could even end up in worse shape, because when you apply for a loan, inquiries from creditors show up on your credit report. Multiple inquiries could dent your score.

Knowing the score

Fortunately, starting this month, millions of consumers will get a look at the credit scores lenders use. A provision of the financial reform bill that took effect requires lenders to provide you with a free copy of your credit score whenever they turn you down for a loan or approve a loan with a higher interest rate than the one offered to their best customers.

Lenders must give you the score used to make a determination on your loan, not a generic or educational version. They’re also required to explain the factors that affected your score and show where it falls on the range of possible credit scores.

This is useful information, but it won’t help consumers who want to know where they stand before they apply for a loan. How to get a more accurate idea of what your lenders will see:

Order your free credit reports. While scores differ, they’re all based on information from your credit reports. So at the very least you should check your credit reports to make sure the information in them is accurate. You can get an annual copy of each of your credit reports from the three credit bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. Information on your credit report can affect everything from your car insurance premiums to whether you get a job. Only 38 percent of consumers have obtained a copy of their credit report, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research.

If you decide to buy a score, buy a FICO score. There are lots of credit scores out there, but the FICO score is the one the vast majority of lenders use. You can purchase a FICO score based on your TransUnion and Equifax credit reports for $19.95 each at MyFICO.com. FICO scores based on Experian credit reports are not available to consumers.

Use free scores to give you a general idea of where you stand. Websites Credit Karma, Quizzle, Credit Sesame and Credit.com provide free, no-obligation credit profiles. This isn’t the same as a FICO score, but you’ll get a general idea of whether you’re an excellent, average or poor credit risk.

Special thanks for Website Design…

Brenda — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 17:25:53 +0000

Special thanks to the GREAT PEOPLE at Firefly Tech Solutions for assisting with this website. Family owned and operated, they give such personal service and attention, it is a pleasure to work with them!

They can help you with

Website Design
Search Engine Optimization
Ecommerce
Webhosting
Email Marketing
…and much more!

Give them a click and give them a call! Tell them Brenda sent you!

Refinancing? Here are some tips for GREAT RATES!

admin — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 18:57:39 +0000

Five ways to get a lower rate:

1. Research your home’s value. Looking at your home’s tax value, checking online estimates at Zillow.com, or asking a real estate agent for a price opinion can help you determine how much your home might be worth. But those methods will be off 5 to 10 percent almost every time, experts say. “Off 5 to 10 percent is the difference between refinancing the house and not refinancing the house,” said mortgage banker Alex Stenback. The only way to know for sure if a refinance is in the cards is to order up a $400 appraisal.

2. Check your FICO credit score. It’s the most widely used score in the mortgage industry. If you are concerned about your credit, buy your FICO score from one of two credit bureaus for $19.95 ($39.95 for both) at myfico.com. You can also estimate your score at the site, or at www.creditkarma.com. (Link please.)

3. Call your current mortgage holder to see if they can offer a better deal without an appraisal and major paperwork. Compare any offer with at least one bank and credit union before ordering an appraisal. It may also pay to work with a mortgage banker who has access to multiple lenders.

4. Consider the term. Many families are switching from 30-year mortgages to shorter terms. Some are even throwing cash into the mortgage at the closing table. Considering a recent Bankrate.com survey that showed only 24 percent of Americans have at least six months of emergency savings, paying the mortgage faster may not be the best choice for many. My family refinanced to a 15-year mortgage in 2010. It’s working out so far, and I’m happy we’ll have the house paid off before our younger kids are college-bound. But I really like Stenback’s idea of starting a housing fund in a savings account that could be used for a downpayment when it’s time to move, a remodel or just a cash cushion.

5. Create a plan for the money freed up by a lower monthly payment. Will you take the savings and throw that money back into the mortgage to reduce principal faster? Will you start saving for college or retirement or finally pay off that credit card debt? Come up with a plan. Otherwise, you risk whittling that money away with nothing to show for it.

Loan Calculator

admin — Sat, 14 May 2011 04:43:05 +0000

An incredibly powerful Loan Calculator is included in this theme. Don’t want the calculator? No problem… just disable it in Theme Options.

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Advanced Custom Search

admin — Thu, 05 May 2011 15:25:16 +0000

You can search for a specific home using our advanced Search. No plugins are used in this search. You can search by Location (up to 2 location levels), number of beds, baths, minimum price, maximum price, and property type.