Kerry Stafford at Charles Rutenberg Realty

So, I was checking the MLS this morning for some lower priced homes for one of my first time home buyers and I came across this gem.

Super cute, 2 bedroom 1 and a half bath home just off Seminola Ave in Winter Springs. It's just over 1000 square foot and has a single car garage. Both Roof and AC were replaced in recent years and this is zoned for Winter Springs Elementary, Indian Trails Middle and Winter Springs High School. The price? $305,000. There are definitely some better first time homes out there if you look. This one will be gone super fast, I'm sure....

If you're looking to buy or sell in Central Florida, or anywhere in the US, let me know! If I can't help you, I've got a huge network of amazing agents I can refer you to.

Listing in WINTER SPRINGS at 231 DOGWOOD CT

Already pending, guys. Sorry, I posted this one too slowly for you!

So, can you even recognize this as the home from ‘Home Alone’?!!

Check out the basketball court in the basement!

671 Lincoln Ave, Winnetka, IL 60093 | MLS #12063078 | Zillow This 9126 square feet Single Family home has 5 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms. It is located at 671 Lincoln Ave, Winnetka, IL.

Okay…. So I’m searching for single family properties under $400K for a client and I stumble across this one.

It’s obviously a flip and you really can’t tell if it’s a good one or not without going to see it…. But halfway through the pictures I’m like… wait, what?!!!!

Go take a look and give me your feedback 😂 and enjoy!!!! lol

https://us-east.prospects.com/prospects/outside/inscription.do?tok=Z5kbYbSXOUncnHYEUW%2BcBmj6w2AIivIpWREn1Bd465E2SNuje1wQIdIXeOCaB0jQrHYNGyLWUjO7yWZGw6N7MVR8hgJo2Z8lX9G%2BIlAQKtdZM7mCK1PRqX4FQi7QF3jgkDRb2K9xFRsjnBdt550%2BVNymIlBab4kFZ%2BCQJFmC%2B2MdT32DB2vuw2ZGw6NxAkd3hBk5uIIrU9GpbQRSYYlWNPWCPlTcuncOUnyJBXfqw2ZGw6Z%2BDxt2jhd44ZolB48%3D …

Listing in WINTER PARK at 5118 LAKE HOWELL RD

Today I be Realtoring! If you’re looking to buy or sell in Central Florida, give me a call!!! I’ve been a Realtor now for 7 years and working with my fellow Agents on their contracts means I’ve seen almost everything a Real Estste transaction can throw at you!!

Eve. If you don’t choose to work with me (what! ….are you nuts?!) make sure you work with an Agent that knows what they’re doing. Time in business does not a competent agent make! I’ve seen Realtors who’ve been doing business for decades and are soooo bad (not in my FB! 😂) and others who have only been in business a few years and are incredible! (You know who you are!)

Interview your Realtor! Get references from people who have actually worked with them. Don’t hire an Agent just because they’re your neighbors sister or whatever. 😊

Anyway… Happy Saturday!!!

I do love something different. Check out this cute home in Longwood. It's from 1932 in the historic area of Longwood.

Listing in LONGWOOD at 137 E MAINE AVE

Check out this cute listing over in Edgewater! It’s so hard to find good, reasonably priced homes these days!

Listing in EDGEWATER at 915 LAKE AVE

What does this mean?

So, this infographic shows how the market has changed in the past month and the past year. It's actually pretty interesting!

2022 was a crazy summer in Real Estate with Multiple Offer Situations in the extreme. Then in the fall Interest rates went up and Real Estate came to a grinding halt, or at least it felt like that.

So, where are we now?

Whilst listings are down over this time last year, it's not actually down by all that much. The market is still moving, just slower than last year with properties sitting on market a little longer, with the average days on market (ADOM) being 41 this year, which is more than double this time last year. Hopes that prices would drop also do not appear to have come to any kind of fruition as prices are actually up 6% right now over last year from an average price of $434K to $458K.

What does that mean to you?

If you are looking to buy, and you can afford the monthly payments, it's a better time to buy than I think it will be this time next year. Once interest rates start to drop the buyers sitting on the sidelines waiting for just that are going to come back into the picture and I believe we will be back to where we were last year with the multiple offers over asking. Right now, I see Sellers willing to make concessions. I see FHA loans and VA loans being accepted. It's not exactly a Buyer's Market, but it's more evenly balanced than it's been for a while, although the scales are still very much tipped towards the side of the Seller.

If you can afford the payments now, if it were me, I would buy now with less competition and then refinance once the rates drop.

So, if you, or anyone you know, is looking to buy or sell, shoot me a DM. I'd love to chat!

The market has been up and down in the last year or so. I don’t recommend you put any stock in Zillow for your home value estimate, so please reach out if you’re curious as to what your home is worth today!

So, why should you care about an Appraisal Gap?

If you're a Seller in a hot market, you are potentially going to get offers over the asking price on your home, which is great, right? Yes. However, are things you need to do before you just accept the highest bidder.

When you and your Agent decide on what to price your property for, you take into consideration the neighborhood comparables, or 'comps', to make sure you're pricing the property correctly. In a hot market, a Buyer can come and offer over the asking price, but it's important to make sure that your Buyer has the funds to cover the difference between the asking price and the offer price in cash at closing. Why? Because if the Appraisal comes in under the offer price, which is possible if you priced according to comps, the Lender will not agree to finance that difference and you could find yourself in new negotiations with your Buyer.

What can you do about it? You can ask the Buyer to add to the contract that they will cover any difference between the appraised value or asking price and the offer price in cash. Get it in writing from the outset.

If you're a Buyer bidding over asking on a home, it will help if you have the cash to back that up and will help your offer beat other offers.

Questions? DM me!

Looking to buy or sell in Central Florida? DM me!

Happy Monday!

There really is - I am enjoying a relaxing day on the sofa with my dogs and my husband. What are you doing today?

(DM me if you’re interested in finding out more about homes in your area)

😊

So, I wanted to share some news with you: I'm diving back into the world of real estate!

I know, I know, I never stopped being a Realtor, although from the lack of Real Estate related posts on Facebook the past few years, it wouldn't be surprising if you didn't know that!

During COVID I focused on growing my Transaction Management Business, assisting Realtors with their transactions. It's been an incredible journey, and I'm proud to say that my business has flourished and hopefully will continue to do so! I love helping my Realtor clients (and friends!) and do not plan on stopping that.
However, through managing transactions for other Realtors, I've gained so much more experience in the Real Estate Industry and navigated with my clients its challenges and pitfalls (of which there are many!) and want to share this knowledge and expertise with clients of my own.

Now that both of my kids are out of school and technically "grown-ups", I am less restricted with my time, so if you or anyone you know is looking to buy or sell a property in Central Florida or the beautiful coastal areas of Brevard/Volusia County, please remember me! I'm here to guide you through the process, offering personalized attention, and leveraging my extensive experience. 🤝💪 Rawr!!!

First-time Homebuyers, Snowbirds searching for their dream vacation home, Investors considering an investment property, and Homeowners looking to downsize or upscale their current home; I'm committed to guiding you through the process and helping you achieve your Real Estate goals!

Feel free to reach out to me directly if you have any questions or if there's anything I can assist you with.

The one thing I have always been sure of is that I have such a wonderful and supportive group of friends. I look forward to your continued support and friendship as I jump back into this!!
🫡🏡

Here is a short list of things to look for when you are viewing a property you might buy. A seasoned real estate agent by your side helps too! Contact me today for a list of homes available in your area.

A seller’s net sheet is a document that carefully estimates how much cash you will receive once you subtract the expenses associated with selling your home. A qualified & knowledgeable agent will be able to run a comparative market analysis report and price your home just right for the market conditions.

A staged home will sell for 17% more on average than a non-staged home, and 95% of staged homes sell in 11 days or less. That is statistically 87% faster than non-staged homes! If you’ve been on the fence about staging to sell, here is your sign.

Tax season doesn't always have to be a bad thing! Are you thinking about buying a home? The best time to do it is when you get your tax refund. Keep that in mind as you begin filing your taxes. Not sure how much you need to put down? Message me and let's chat!

A title is a bundle of rights that encompasses all of the rights on a piece of property held by the homeowner. A home’s title tells us who legally owns it and who has a claim to the property.

When it comes to buying a home, keep in mind that a needs vs. wants checklist is only one aspect of the entire home buying plan. Many other steps are required - understanding the home buying timeline, financing, and finding an agent that suits your needs!

If you love it and can see yourself living there, don’t hesitate to put an offer on it, especially in this market! Have you ever missed out on a home you loved because you waited to put an offer on it?

If budget wasn’t a factor, what are you turning the spare room in your home into? Let us know what you would love to have in your home in the comments!

If an appraisal comes back low, a buyer can potentially go back to the seller and negotiate a lower sale price. If the seller refuses, the buyer could end up walking away from the home completely. Hire an agent who can help you through the process if this happens!

If you’re a homeowner, share in the comments when you bought your first home. If you purchased that same home in today’s market, how different do you think your purchase price would be?

Is sustainability a part of your New Year’s resolution? If you’ve started making changes, share in the comments how you are making your home and your lifestyle more sustainable!

One of the best ways to build wealth is through real estate. Understanding the different types of real estate investments and determining your comfort level with risk will help you decide if including real estate in your investment portfolio is the right fit for you.

According to the National Association of Realtors, 86% of buyers say that seeing a staged living room is very important, higher than any other room in the house. Thinking of selling? Contact me today!

Winter Park home for sale! - $16M - I've driven past this home many times.... now you have the chance to buy it!! I often see huge homes and think to myself, nice, but I couldn't see myself living there... or I wouldn't want to live there. This home, however, wow.... I would love this home. Spectacular!!

Take a look around!!

All of these fees are collectively called closing cost fees. These are separate from the down-payment. Usually around 1% of the cost of the home but can vary from sale to sale.

If you’re serious about buying a home and need to take action to save money, here are some quick tips that can help your savings account grow.

Can’t say I have psychic abilities, but something tells me you might need to make a move for a fresh start this year, and I’m here for you!

It’s all about the important things that turn those 4 walls into “home.”

There is a pretty big to-do list when it comes time to buying a house. So be sure to give me a call so I can help you organize the process.