Tony Nicolas Realtor - Coldwell Banker Realty

Stunning Longwood 4 Bedroom Home Just by the I-4 Exit
Open Concept and great for Family & Entertaining.
Offered at $595,000
Listed by Tony Nicolas - Coldwell Banker Realty

454 Raymond Avenue Longwood, FL | ColdwellBankerHomes.com Tony Nicolas | 630.514.9342454 Raymond Avenue, Longwood, FLMap it at https://www.google.com/maps/place/454+Raymond+Avenue,+Longwood,+FLhttps://www.cbhometour...

Paying rent on time will improve your ability to get a mortgage. This and 6 more tips on being a responsible renter here.

Seven Tips for Being a Good Tenant Whether you rent an apartment, duplex or house, getting along well with your landlord and neighbors is vital. Unless you want to be packing up and moving, it pays to be a model tenant. Check out these basic guidelines and you’ll be well on your way to being a responsible and respectful renter. Rea...

Don’t neglect your garage door when trying to amp up your curb appeal.

Welcome to a Whole New World of Stylish Garage Doors It takes more than a snazzy front door to create curb appeal. These days, prospective buyers are looking for a stylish garage door that matches the architectural style of the house. Let’s take a look at what’s new and different. Door types and styles. The most widely used garage door is the roll...

Before you lower the asking price of your home, consider these important factors.

When Is It Time to Reduce your List Price? If your house has been up for sale for two months — or longer — without a nibble of interest, it’s probably time to ask yourself some tough questions. What causes a house to languish on the market and when should you lower the price? Pinpoint the problem. With a Comparative Market Analysis or ...

Once you've made an offer, here's what you need to know about the home inspection process.

Don’t Delay When It Comes to Home Inspections You’ve found a house you love, made an offer and have a signed contract in hand. Now the clock is ticking. Many states’ sales contracts give a limited period of time to get the house inspected. During this so-called “due diligence period,” is when you want to inspect the house and request an...

Are home warranties worth the money? Be sure to review the details noted here before purchasing.

Always Read the Fine Print When Buying a Home Warranty Home warranties often provide peace of mind to wary home buyers, but are they worth the cost? Let’s look at how home warranties work and weigh the pros and cons. Home warranty basics. Home warranties provide for the repair of certain systems in a house in exchange for an annual fee of between $300...

President's Day Trivia - Who was the first president to live in the White House?

Don’t get your feelings hurt when potential buyers criticize your house. Instead, use those ratings to make adjustments and land a sale.

How to Handle Negative Feedback on Your Home Not only has the internet made it possible for potential buyers to find your house online, they can post feedback after touring your home via online survey tools. How can you benefit from this? Almost instant feedback. Savvy agents know that ratings and comments provided by potential buyers help the...

As they say in real estate, location is key. Learn how to pick the right lot for the home of your dreams.

Choosing a Lot: It’s All About Location One of the first choices homeowners face when building from the ground up is choosing the location of their new house. How exactly do you go about picking a lot on which to build? Let’s examine the process of lot selection, whether you’re building a custom home or a tract home. Tract homes. When...

Are timeshares and vacation clubs worth the money? Read the fine print before you buy.

Timeshares and Vacation Clubs: Do Your Homework If you enjoy an annual trek to the mountains or beach, and enjoy the simplicity of staying at the same place, a timeshare purchase might be a good option for you. If you like a little more variety in your vacation, but hate the hassle of trip planning, a vacation club membership might fit your […]

Here's hoping that your heart and home are filled with love.

Power washing your home peels off layers of dirt and grime, giving older homes a definite face-lift, and is a must for all Home Sellers. But is it the perfect DIY job or would it be best handled by the professionals? Read on to learn more.

Tips for Pressure Washing Your House A good power washing can work wonders on the outside of a home, peeling off layers of dirt and grime. It’s also a great tool when sprucing up walkways, patios and decks. Here’s what you need to know before hiring the job out or attempting to do it yourself. Hiring a professional pressure washer ...

Don’t have the money to put 20 percent down on a house? Keep reading to see if you’ll be stuck paying private mortgage insurance (PMI).

Don’t Be Surprised By Private Mortgage Insurance Buyers who put less than 20 percent down on a home might find themselves with a higher-than-expected monthly payment. The extra money, which often takes first-time homebuyers by surprise, is for private mortgage insurance. What is PMI and why does the lender require it? Lender’s risk. When a borro...

Harvesting rainwater is a popular conservation measure. But will rain barrels save you money, too?

Rainwater Collection Systems: Are They Worthwhile? Harvesting rainwater for home gardens has become popular in many sections of the country — particularly in drought-prone areas. But is water collected in rain barrels safe to use and do you save enough money with lower municipal water usage to make them worthwhile? Rain barrel systems are simple, ...

Here's what to do if you discover mold in your home.

Stopping Mold In Its Tracks If you discover mold in your home, don’t panic. While it may seem disgusting, not all mold is life-threatening. It’s important to call in a pro to access.

You’ve signed a contract on the sale of your home, then a higher bid comes in. What can a seller legally do?

When You Get a Better Offer on Your House Congratulations, you’ve gotten a contract on your house! But wait, someone else makes an even better offer. Can you accept it? Once you sign a contract and earnest money has been paid by the buyer, an enforceable contract is in place. You cannot break it without penalties. The buyer can sue for en...

You found a home you love, but your inspector uncovers expensive problems. Does this mean the deal is a bust? Here’s how to handle a dicey situation.

Home Inspection: A Buyer’s Perspective After weeks of home shopping, you’ve found a house and signed a contract to purchase. Then the inspector finds problems that need repair — expensive repairs. How should you handle them? You thought negotiating the selling price was all there was to the haggling. Now you have to make decisions on...

The verdict is in! What were you hoping for?

In the home improvement arena, there’s no doubt men and women see things differently. Here’s how to find common ground in your battle of the sexes.

He Said, She Said: Men and Women Differ on Home Improvement If you’ve got a full-fledged battle of the sexes going on at your house regarding home improvement priorities, it’s time to call a timeout. Finding common ground is the key to deciding which projects to tackle first and which can wait. You’ll both be happier and your home-improvement efforts w...

An open house is your home’s chance to shine. Here are seven ways to get ready for the big day.

Prepping for an Open House You’ve decided to hold an open house to help sell your home. Think of it as your chance to showcase it. Here are several crucial steps to take in preparation for the big day. Acquire the buyer’s perspective. Set aside your emotional attachment to your home and think about it as a potential buyer...

Here is a quick review of qualification guidelines for government-assisted mortgages.

Find Out If You Qualify for Government Help with a Mortgage When searching out home-financing opportunities, it’s worthwhile to see if you qualify for government programs that offer attractive terms. The loans are usually administered through a private mortgage lender, but are insured by the federal government against loss due to borrower default. Here’s...

Are you smarter than your thermostat? After reading this, you’ll probably wonder.

Save Energy and Money With a Digital Thermostat A programmable thermostat is a great investment for homeowners — a multitasking tool that keeps you comfortable and helps you save money. While basic thermostat technology, using liquid mercury and an electrical switch, has been around for a long time, it’s the digital advances that have elevate...

Want to know the secret to creating a home you love? Use this article to help you discover your personal preferences for a dream decor.

What is Your Design Style? If your new home is a blank canvas and you aren’t sure how to decorate, or you have rooms that you don’t like and no idea how to fix them, you may need some help identifying your design style. Before you do anything else, it’s crucial to know what kind of style you prefer. Use …

Plumbing problems can be one of the worst nightmares for a homeowner, especially when trying to prep a house for sale. How do you find a reputable plumber?

Hiring a Plumber You’ve decided to sell your home, which means it’s time to fix that slow drip in the upstairs hall bathroom. Or perhaps you’ve been setting aside the cash to do a major renovation, including a new sink, tub and shower. Or maybe your home is in desperate need of a replacement hot water tank. Al...

The house you fell in love with is in a flood zone. Should you automatically walk away? Here’s what to consider.

Proceed With Caution: Buying a Home in a Flood Zone You’ve been shopping for a home and believe you’ve found it, the home of your dreams. It’s the perfect size, the style of architecture you love and a place to raise your family. Then you find out it’s in a flood zone. What does that mean in terms of risk, insurance and resale? Should you …

The care and keeping of a fireplace and chimney are critical maintenance concerns. Learn these important facts to prevent a catastrophic event in your home.

What Every Homeowner Needs to Know About Fireplaces and Chimneys What could be more idyllic than sitting before a crackling fireplace with your children. The chimney stands as a silent sentry, making it all happen.

In honor of the life and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Are you thinking about hiring an inspector before you list? Here are the pros and cons.

Should Sellers ‘Pre-Inspect’ Their Homes? While inspections are commonplace when buying a home, should you, as the seller, consider having your home “pre-inspected” before listing it? Here are the pros and cons. Knowledge is power. Having your home professionally inspected gives you a clear understanding of its needs before you price it...

In the market for a construction loan? Here are your loan and closing options.

Construction Loans: The Difference Is In the Closing When planning to build a custom home, buyers have their choice of two types of construction loans. The traditional type involves two closings, one for the construction phase and one for the permanent mortgage. The newer, more popular version is the so-called one-time close, also called a constructio...

Don’t take your home heat source for granted. Here are the basics of how these important systems work.

Home Heating Systems: What Every Homeowner Needs to Know Nothing beats a warm evening at home when the winter wind is howling. You might not give your heater a second thought…until it stops working. Here’s a quick tutorial on how they operate so you can stay warm this winter. Types of heaters. The main difference among most heaters is the fuel source....