Tips for Moving with Pets If the process of moving to a new home is stressful for you, imagine what it must be like for your pets. Follow these tips to make your move safer and less stressful for you and your furry friends.   Switching vets?Ask for extra prescription refills, gather vet records, an

  Transforming Your Attic into a Livable Space  If you’re like most people, your home’s attic probably collects dust and stores boxes. However, your attic could be an ideal location for a bonus room—an office, playroom, creative space, or a home theater—the possibilities are endless. If you’re re

Tips for Selling Your Home in the Fall Selling your home in the fall can be just as lucrative as selling it during the spring market. Before putting your home up for sale, think objectively about how buyers will perceive your home for its curb appeal and inside appearance. Upon reflection, you may n

Understanding Foreclosures  For most people, homeownership is part of the American dream. However, this desire is sometimes hindered by the inability to gather enough funds for a down payment and closing costs. In addition, the steep escalation in home prices, lack of inventory, and increasing int

What Affects Home Equity One of the first economic predictions that came out of the COVID-19 pandemic was that the economy—and in particular, the real estate market—would grind to a halt. However, as homeowners weathered widespread shutdowns, the resulting low inventory market played out in their

What is Newstalgic? Today’s kitchen trends are all about combining the durability and charm of the past with the convenience and style of the future, and no style encapsulates this better than newstalgia. Designer Brittany Hutt explains how this aesthetic came to be and ways you can make it work i

What to Consider When Downsizing For now, your job is done. You’ve given your kids the wings to fly the coop and begin building their own lives. Whether they’ve left for college, moved to another state for a job, or are ready to marry and start a family, you have graduated to the empty-nester phas

What is a Backup Offer? When a seller accepts an offer on their home, you may assume that they can no longer receive offers. However, other buyers can still make an offer, and the seller can accept what is known as a backup offer. Before you make or accept a backup offer, consult with your agent,

Is Homeownership Right for You? Whether you’re interested in buying a home or you’ve just made the switch to homeowner, there are a lot of added responsibilities to prepare for. Even if you’ve made it to closing day and the brunt of the process is over, you’ll want to be prepared for everything th

Buying a New Home? Evaluate Its Walk Score When looking for the ideal home, it’s crucial to consider more than just the house itself. Other factors, such as access to good schools and low crime rates, can play just as big a role in whether a home is right for you. One such important one is the Walk

Should you get a Pre-Approval Letter? Yes! Before you embark on your home shopping journey, I would strongly advise you to get a mortgage pre-approval letter. This step is crucial in the homebuying process as it helps establish your budget and gives you a clearer understanding of what you can affor

The Orlando Market Recap Orlando’s housing market, things are looking as stable as ever.  In contrast to other cities, the housing market in Orlando is experiencing stability rather than a decrease in home prices. At the same time, there is a limited supply of homes, high employment rates, and an u

Outlook - Fed Rate Increases Will we have another rate increase this year? It appears that Wall Street economists have a strong belief that the Federal Reserve will implement a 25 basis point increase to its benchmark interest rate on Wednesday. They view this as the last hike of this cycle. However

How to Save Thousands of Dollars when Buying a Home Paying half of the monthly payment every two weeks instead of the full monthly payment can help a buyer save money on interest and pay off their 30-year loan earlier. This works by making 26 half payments in a year, equivalent to 13 full monthly p

2023 Mid Year Outlook The prospects for the U.S. housing market in the second half of the year will heavily depend on mortgage rates. Throughout the first half, elevated rates have stagnated the housing market, discouraging potential buyers and causing homeowners with mortgage rates below 3% to hesi

Hometown Heroes Housing Program - 2023 The Hometown Heroes Housing Program (HHHP) was established in 2022 with the purpose of offering down payment and closing cost assistance to first-time homebuyers who qualify based on their income. The program aims to assist these individuals in purchasing a hom

Central Florida Real Estate Market – May 2023 According to Lisa Hill, the President of Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association, as we near the midpoint of the year, home prices are continuing to reach record highs, and properties are spending less time on the market. While the real estate market expe

Mortgage Rates - May 2023 Mortgage applications for purchasing a home saw a decline of 4.8%, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's seasonally adjusted index. Compared with the same time one year ago, volume is down by 26%. Experts are attributing this decrease to higher mortgage rates and

APRIL 2023   The Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association President, Lisa Hill, states that the April data shows a slight rise in inventory in Orlando as home sales slow down, reflecting that the spring selling period may be balancing out. Keep in mind, though, that median home prices are still increas