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        <title>Real Estate Blog</title>
        <link>http://www.searchhomesorlando.com/blog/real-estate-advice/</link>
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            <guid>http://www.searchhomesorlando.com/blog/three-ways-to-buy-a-foreclosed-property.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.searchhomesorlando.com/blog/three-ways-to-buy-a-foreclosed-property.html</link>
            <author>robert@realtyexecoffice.com (Robert Sabrkhani)</author>
            <title>Three Ways to Buy a Foreclosed Property </title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Today's real estate market is flooded with foreclosed
properties, and information suggests that there may be many more foreclosures
to come in the next few months. So, for many buyers, foreclosed properties
represent a way to get a really good deal on a new home.


Foreclosures can offer great value to home buyers, but they
can come with hassles, delays and hidden costs. It's really important to work
with a real estate professional whenever you're considering the purchase of a
foreclosure.


There are three primary ways to purchase foreclosures. Here's
a brief overview of how each works.


1. Presale- During a presale, you negotiate with the
homeowners who are facing foreclosure. In some cases, the bank may have agreed
to a short sale, which allows the homeowner to sell the property for less than
he owes on it. If you're considering a home that is an approved short sale,
it's likely that you'll get no discount off the current listing price. This
listing price usually reflects the amount the bank has agreed to take. This can
be a risky way to buy, because deals often fall through and title issues can be
sticky. 


2. Through Public Auction- Prior to the devastation of the
housing market, this was the most common way to buy a foreclosure. There are
some pitfalls with buying this way. The first is that you may not be able to
tour the inside of the home before the auction. If you can't tour the inside,
see if your real estate agent can at least get pictures. And, be sure to look
at the home from the outside in person before the auction. Beware: scheduled
auctions get postponed, and some banks may only take cash from buyers
purchasing at auction. 


3. REO Properties – When properties don't sell at auction,
they become known as "real estate owned" properties. In today's
market, this is one of the most popular ways to buy foreclosures. The bank is
usually trying very aggressively to sell these properties through agents. It is
often easier to get a traditional mortgage on properties like these, especially
if the bank has been holding onto them for a while. In fact, the bank may be
willing to offer the new buyer excellent financing terms, including low
interest rates and low down payments to get the buyer in the home with one of
their mortgages. The downside, however, is that they may be priced a little
higher, because the bank now has fees and other expenses they may be trying to
recoup. If you have an experienced agent, he or she may be able to negotiate a
very sweet deal for you on a property the bank has had on the books for a
while. 


 


Buying a foreclosure property is never an easy process, unless you go with an expert real estate agent that can guide you through the process. The rules also vary from state to state. That's why it's so important to work
with a real estate broker who is knowledgeable on the foreclosure process in
your particular area. If you're interested in buying an Orlando area foreclosed home or property, the SearchHomesOrlando.com team is very experienced and knowledgeable. Don't be afraid to contact us! If you're considering a Central Florida foreclosure property, start searching foreclosures right now.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:29:01 -0400</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.searchhomesorlando.com/blog/can-i-still-sell-a-home-quickly-in-this-market.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.searchhomesorlando.com/blog/can-i-still-sell-a-home-quickly-in-this-market.html</link>
            <author>robert@realtyexecoffice.com (Robert Sabrkhani)</author>
            <title>Can I Still Sell a Home Quickly in this Market?</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ The real estate market has been portayed in the media as pretty gloomy for sellers.
The truth though is that houses that would seem to take months to sell, with the competition from foreclosure
properties, doesn't exist anymore because there aren't as many properties flooding the market. Great price can still be had, but sellers aren't in quite the same hurry to drop prices as they were a year ago.

If you look at real estate statistics from any given
local market, you will see that there are quite a few homes out there that sell
relatively quickly – or at least under the "average days on market"
figure for the area. 


If you're putting your home on the market, it's important
that you understand what sets these homes apart, so that you can make your
house one of the ones that attract interested buyers. Here are some tips to
help your home stand out:




We will price it right. One thing
     that really helps you by living in Central Florida right now is that
     inventory is at an all-time low. We live in a world of supply and demand,
     and even if demand isn’t quite like it was in the early 2000’s, the amount
     of inventory is drastically lower. This means that you have more leverage
     than you might think. That said, buyers are looking for a lot for their
     money. You're competing with foreclosures and short sales listed at rock
     bottom prices. If your home is overpriced, it won't get any
     attention.  Your realtor can help
     you set a realistic price for your home. After sixty days on the market,
     if you're not showing the house, you may need to consider lowering the
     price. It's important to stay on top of the trends, and continually ensure
     that your home is priced competitively. 


We’ll help make it look great. The
     big advantage that homes sold by individuals have over foreclosure
     properties is aesthetic appeal.  At
     best, foreclosure properties are empty and look barren. At worst, they
     have been damaged, the yard is overgrown and time spent abandoned has
     caused problems with plumbing and other systems. When your home is
     furnished, cleaned and beautifully decorated, buyers can really see
     themselves living there, which gives you a huge advantage. You don't have
     to spend a lot of money, but you should make your home and yard look
     clean, uncluttered and attractive. 


We will market your house aggressively.
     Today's real estate market has made some realtors a little bit lazy.
     They've come to expect that homes take a long time to sell and that they
     have little impact on moving them more quickly. As a seller, you must
     accept nothing less than aggressive marketing from your realtor, and you
     must market your home aggressively yourself. Let everyone you come in
     contact with know your house is for sale. Offer extra incentives to the
     realtor who brings a buyer. Have open houses and schedule events in your
     home that will bring people out. For example, if you belong to a book
     club, or your child plays on a sports team, host a party at your home for
     the group. Make sure as many people as possible see your home – you never
     know who they might know in the market to buy a house. 




With these three tips in mind, you can get ahead of the game
in terms of selling your home. Though the competition is a little lighter these days, it's not a garuantee that you sell your house. There are buyers out there who would be interested in buying your home, and if you do your homework your odds greatly increase of selling your Orlando area home quickly and painlessly. The trick is in
making your home attractive to these buyers and making sure that they know the
home is out there, which is our job that we do very well.


Don't hesitate to contact the Search Homes Orlando team to help you list your Central Florida area property.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Mon, 02 Apr 2012 18:43:55 -0400</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.searchhomesorlando.com/blog/school-districts-matter-when-shopping-for-a-home.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.searchhomesorlando.com/blog/school-districts-matter-when-shopping-for-a-home.html</link>
            <author>robert@realtyexecoffice.com (Robert Sabrkhani)</author>
            <title>School Districts Matter When Shopping for a Home</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
If you're not a parent, evaluating a potential home's school district may be the furthest thing from your mind when you begin house hunting. But, there are many good reasons why you should take a look at the neighborhood schools before you buy. And, there are some pretty good resources to help you make your evaluation, too. Never Say NeverEven if you don't plan to have children, it's a good idea to buy a home in a good school district…..just in case. No couple wants to have to choose between moving or settling for a poor school district if the day comes when you are a parent. Even older couples could be in the position of having a grandchild living with them and might want to ensure that the local schools would be acceptable. Consider Resale Value Even if you're certain that you'll never need to make use of the schools in your area, it's a good idea to buy a house in a good school district because it helps improve your property values. Homes in highly ranked districts are always priced higher than homes in lower ranked districts. In addition, homes in good school districts sell more quickly than those in lower ranked ones. Many potential home buyers with children will immediately weed out neighborhoods in poorly performing school districts. Check out the ResourcesGreat Schools is a great resource. This website ranks schools, both public and private,  based on their standardized test scores. In addition, the website gives schools a parent rating, based on parent impressions of the school, including extra curricular programs and other aspects. You can use this website to help check out the local schools after you've determined where you'd like to live, or to help you determine the area you'd like to live based on the schools. Some of the most popular real estate websites publish school data from this site on their listings, too. Talk to other parents, as well. Because the Great Schools rating is based on standardized test scores and subjective parent reviews, it cannot give a total picture of how well the school will work for your child. As you're house hunting, take the time to talk to parents in areas you're considering, so that you can get a better picture of the school. And, before you make an offer on a house, it's a good idea to tour the local schools, especially if you have children that will be attending right away. A school tour and meeting with the principal can be an eye opening experience. There are many things a homebuyer must consider when deciding on the perfect home for their family. And, in the midst of trying to decide between neighborhoods, amenities, homes prices and home styles, it's easy to forget the school systems nearby. But, the quality of the schools in the area may turn out to be one of your potential new home's best, or worst, features. 


For more on formation on the topic of Orlando homes for sale, and relocation advice, don't hesitate to contact the Search Homes Orlando real estate team with your questions. We'd love to talk about your situation and help you plan the next move!
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Wed, 21 Mar 2012 18:12:24 -0400</pubDate>
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        <item>
            <guid>http://www.searchhomesorlando.com/blog/what-you-should-know-about-buying-a-short-sale.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.searchhomesorlando.com/blog/what-you-should-know-about-buying-a-short-sale.html</link>
            <author>robert@realtyexecoffice.com (Robert Sabrkhani)</author>
            <title>What You Should Know About Buying a Short Sale</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ In today's real estate market, short sales are very common.
Simply put, a short sale is when a homeowner owes more on a property than the
home's current market value. In today's market, many homes are worth less than
their mortgage. When these homeowners fall behind on payments, or must sell the
home because they are forced to move, the bank may agree to take a lesser
amount than is actually owned, to prevent the home from going into foreclosure.

Short sales can be good for all the parties involved.
However, as a buyer there are a few things you should know before you begin the
short sale process. 




Many approvals
     may be required. If the homeowner has a second mortgage on the home, the
     second lender must also approve the short sale. In addition, if the
     homeowner has mortgage insurance, the insurance company will also need to
     approve the short sale. With so many approvals required, short sales
     sometimes take a long time, and sometimes fall through. 


You may not be
     able to get repairs done. Because the bank is taking a loss on the house,
     they may not be willing to perform any needed repairs. You may have to
     agree to buy the house "as is". 


The process is
     lengthy. The short sale process is not for every buyer, because it can
     take months to complete. You can make an offer and not hear back from the
     homeowner and their lender for months. And,  many real estate agencies won't allow
     you pending offers on more than one home at a time. So, this process is
     not for the family who needs to get into a new home fast. 


You have to be
     ready. Banks may make you wait for months, but when they finally approve
     your short sale offer, they'll expect you to be ready to close in a hurry.
     It's a good idea to have your loan preapproved before you ever make an
     offer, so that you can move quickly if your offer is approved. In some
     circumstances, the lender will require this preapproval before you even
     place your offer. 


The seller has
     to jump through hoops, too. Sellers may have to do a lot of convincing to
     get their lenders to agree to a short sale. They usually have to
     demonstrate financial hardship. The lender will likely require that they
     prepare a "hardship package" which is a set of documentation
     that demonstrates the fact that they cannot afford their current home.
     Though the hardship package is not your responsibility, it's a good idea
     to ask if the seller has prepared one for the lender, so that you can have
     a good idea of how long the approval process will take. 




With these five pieces of information, and a good real
estate representative such as the SearchHomesOrlando Team, you should be prepared to make an offer on a short sale home if
you desire. Just remember that you have to be flexible and patient to make most
short sale purchases work. 
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Mon, 27 Feb 2012 12:24:40 -0500</pubDate>
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        <item>
            <guid>http://www.searchhomesorlando.com/blog/are-you-ready-to-buy-a-home.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.searchhomesorlando.com/blog/are-you-ready-to-buy-a-home.html</link>
            <author>robert@realtyexecoffice.com (Robert Sabrkhani)</author>
            <title>Are You Ready to Buy a Home?</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
I’ve been there before when you've outgrown your rental. When it’s time to
move because your lease went up 30% and it's not worth it. I’ve blessed
a sneezing neighbor when we were both in our appartments, and I’ve been welcomed with a thank you for my
consideration. I’ve been there when the neighbor above you vacuums their entire
apartment while blaring the weather channel at the crack of dawn. I even been
there when the kids next-door play video games all night while you stare wildly
at the alarm clock in disbelief that it’s four hours before you’re due at work.
I’ve walked my groceries upstairs hoping the bags don’t break while waiting on others to move out of your way. 


I’ve been there before. I know the feeling when it's time to move.


It didn’t take me long to, well,
long for a home. The final push was my growing family, and wanting a safe
neighborhood with a steady home payment that I could budget. I wanted good
schools for my children, and I wanted a yard that gave me more distance from my
neighbors than paper-thin walls I was used to. 


So put away your new lease
offer, and stop building equity for someone else. It might be your time for a
home.


I hope your story isn’t the same as
mine - but if it is – you have hope. You can find a home on your budget, and
you can find the right neighborhood, because Central Florida has a market of
available homes at all price ranges and needs. I love helping people find the
right home. We’ll look at schools your children will attend, or we’ll talk
about the night spots you’ll party at just 10 minutes away. We’ll look at the
Home Owner’s Association (HOA) rules so you know if anything is a deal breaker,
and you should go to a property your considering on different times and days if you’re really considering
a neighborhood. Limit your suprises.


You can find what you’re looking
for, and in a down market it can be profitable for you if you don’t mind
staying put in your new home for a little while. The equity you gain can open
up a whole slew of options for you that don’t exist now because you’ll have an
asset. Be smart about taking out loans against your new property though if plan
on it, these types of loans are becoming less plentiful now anyway, and even
though at the end of the day it’s an asset on the balance sheet – don’t just
buy an investment – buy a home. This will be your home to great memories, and
it’s a huge decision to make when picking your home.


So,
How Do I Start The Process of Buying My Home?


So where do you start? First of all,
you have to know your financial picture first and foremost. You have to start planning early
because the first step toward buying your home surely isn't picking them home, it's getting pre-approved. Because the credit market are tightening up, you’ll need solid credit.
Because of all the somewhat recent foreclosure problems, getting that home loan
is becoming harder, so I have to emphasize that we need to plan your home early
if you’re not sure about your credit history and your scores. Talking to a loan officer is key,
and I’m happy to refer a professional. You can also go directly to your bank,
or look online (definitely check the rates online for multiple lenders so you're educated), but often times
your realtor can be your best asset when it comes to planning. I'm happy to
tell you what the average rate I'm seeing people close at, and my team closes a
lot of deals to have a good picture on what's reasonable and what isn't. Even though the industry is cracking down on fees, we'll take a look at these as well and I can help explain. I'll do an article on that as well, so check back later. 


You can arrange your finances into a sensible plan and
secure a mortgage that’s right for your income, and if you plan it well – it’s
an incredibly rewarding experience. 


Your mortgage application will
involve a deep look in to your credit history. If you know issues exist, start
working toward them early. If you don’t know your credit history or your score,
you should take advantage of your free yearly credit score. Sometimes if a
problem exists, it can be the result of filling out a form improperly (a simple
mistake), or as serious as identity theft. The more involved the issues are the
harder your application is to push through quickly, and it will be impossible
until the matters are resolved. Once the process is complete you’ll get a
pre-qualification (or pre-qaul as it’s called in “the business”), you’ll be
able to seriously make an offer on a home. This is when we can seriously show
you homes and start working on the decisions that will change your life.


There is no stronger tool when
planning your home purchase, than to understand your finances and where a home
fits in. It’s not easily done from start to finish, but it’s worth it. 
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jun 2011 22:05:54 -0400</pubDate>
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