Newly Built Homes Find Limited Sales

Even as the home buying season gets into full swing, newly built homes are facing limited, flat sales according to a news release published by the National Association of Home Builders. May numbers indicated little change in the number of new homes sold compared to the previous month.

To further exacerbate the problem, Associated Builders and Contractors is reporting that construction material costs rose in May. Citing numbers released by the U.S. Labor Department, the Association views the increase as a cause for concern.

For a buyer looking to purchase a newly constructed home or those who wish to build a home, this news translates to competitive prices, good values and many selections for them to choose from. Area builders are inviting potential customers to take a look at their product by holding sales events, offering to pay a buyers mortgage payment if the homeowner loses their job, and other incentives designed to catch the buyer’s eye. Future homeowners will want to do their homework and research comparable properties on the market, visit several builders in their area and be confident they have negotiated the very best deal possible before making their final decision.


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We ain’t getting no younger baby!

A report from the Census Bureau says that the number of people in the world 65 or over will triple by 2050. The projected numbers are 516 million in 2009 to 1.53 billion in 2050. From a REALTOR in Florida’s point of view, the increase of world citizens should equal a steady influx of retirees wanting to spend their golden years in active adult communities, condos and town homes.

Of course all these new senior citizens will require some additional adjustments and changes.

• The President in 2050 will need to ask congress for a bailout to keep businesses that offer senior citizens discount afloat.
• Environmentalists will push for the development of eco-friendly materials to be used in the manufacturing of walking canes citing concern over the disappearing forests.
• Network TV prime time programming will be from the hours of 4 a.m. until 7 a.m. in order to reach a larger portion of the population that are awake.
• 911 will be changed to just 1 to make it easier to dial and remember.
• Restaurants will display, “No shoes, no dentures, no service” signs.

There is a strong possibility that I will be a card-carrying member of that group in 2050. As fair warning to everyone reading this, I never plan on relinquishing my driver’s license.

Buyers are jumping through hoops to buy bank owned houses

Because it may be possible to buy a bank owned home at a good price, homebuyers are having to be patient and accepting of bank requirements in order to have an opportunity to own a previously foreclosed home of owning. Real estate agents on the other hand are often frustrated at the hoop jumping they and their buyer must do in order to get an offer accepted.

Buyers and agents are discovering when buying bank owned homes:

• Brand new bank owned listings are going under contract or have multiple offers within hours of hitting the market.
• In multiple offer situations banks are asking that buyers consider submitting a revised offer that is their “highest and best”.
• Buyers are often given a limited window in which they can conduct their inspections. Having a home inspected prior to buying is important and especially so given that most lenders make it clear the buyer is buying the home “as is”.
• In some cases listing agents are seemingly so busy that it becomes a frustrating chore for the buyer’s agent to contact the listing agent to discuss the offer or the home prior to making the offer or even after the offer has been submitted.
• Even when the lender indicates they may accept an offer submitted by a buyer, most lenders make it clear that there is no real acceptance until the bank has received all paperwork, reviewed and delivered the addendum and contract back to the buyer. There never seems to be a time frame in which the bank must accomplish this task that results in buyers waiting longer than customary before finding out if they bought the home.

Still, patient buyers who are well informed of the entire process at the beginning by their REALTOR, end up at the closing table purchasing what most believe to be good deals. Buyers can increase their chances of an offer being accepted on an REO property by using a real estate agent who understands the process from start to finish. To be introduced to such an agent, contact me.

Save on property taxes in Florida by paying early

Property taxes are due before April 1st of the year. A Florida homeowner can save on their property taxes by paying early. Tax statements start arriving in November and if you pay the tax in November will receive a 4% discount. If you pay your property taxes in December you will receive a 3% discount, 2% if paid in January and 1% if you pay your taxes in February.

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Q: We purchased a home in Florida and are unsure when property taxes are due?

Congratulations for buying a home! Owning a home comes with many responsibilities including paying Florida property taxes. You should receive your property tax statement around November 1st. You property taxes are not considered delinquent until April 1. There are discounts available for paying early.


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Online resources to help you find a Central Florida home

There are numerous online resources available to you as a homebuyer searching for a home in the Central Florida area. These resources allow you the homebuyer to get a detailed view of what is available. Unlike the ‘old days’ when agents used newspapers or home magazines to advertise their homes for sale, the customer can now be confident that the homes they are viewing online are the most recent available.

A huge benefit of searching online compared to searching for a home with print media is you can see nearly every home for sale instead of just seeing a small sample of homes that the Broker chose to advertise. The following are two of the better online sources for finding a home in Central Florida.

My Website and Blog

If you are a potential homebuyer reading this blog I have a comprehensive home search feature just for you. This home search feature is free. You can access this feature by clicking on the Florida map located to the upper left of this post or by clicking here.

You will be able to search for homes for sale throughout Central Florida including the cities of, Orlando, Kissimmee, DeLand, Deltona, Windermere, Sanford, Winter Park, Clermont or Lake Mary. You will be able to search for residential/single family homes, condos, town homes, mobile homes, land, commercial property, multi-family/investment property and even rentals.

You can search for specific features including searching by price, square feet and number of bedrooms, the number of baths, waterfront homes and pool homes.

Once you have reviewed the search results you can contact me or call me to receive additional information or to schedule a time to view the home or homes. This search tool and home search feature is not only available here it is also accessible from gregstaker.com along with additional useful home buying and selling web pages.

HUD Acquired Homes for Sale

National Home Management Solutions manages the inventory of HUD homes for sale in Florida. Homebuyers can search for a house or place a bid on a HUD property with the assistance of a real estate broker.

This site will allow you to search for a HUD home by city, county or zip code and contains property details for homes throughout Florida not just Central Florida.

Detailed information is included with each individual property including financing options, photos, property condition reports and information on how to place a bid on a HUD home.

Not only will the home search sites mentioned above give the ability to find homes for sale but they also provide a wealth of information on how to buy or sell a home. Enjoy your searching; give me a call when you are ready to visit a few of the homes you find.

Turn in Ten Tires to Transfer Station

There is a tongue twister for you that you can have hours of enjoyment trying to say over and over really fast, or if you would rather, on July 18th you can turn in old tires to Seminole County for disposal and it won’t cost you anything. In order to take advantage of the FREE Tire Amnesty Day you will need to take the tires to Central Transfer Station. Call (407) 665-2260.


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Casselberry Community Cleanup Day

Residents of Casselberry on Saturday, July 18th from 8 a.m. until Noon, can drop off unwanted construction related materials to special dumpsters the City will have available at 200 N. Triplet Lake Dr. The trash and materials that can be dropped off include: steel, glass, brick, concrete, asphalt, roofing material, pipe, wallboard, lumber, and large tree stumps.

For a list of items that will not be accepted and additional information about the cleanup day, you can call the Public Works Department at (407) 262-7700, ext. 1225 or visit the online announcement.


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Free sample of foreclosed homes in Orlando

I have a lot of web pages and blog posts where I offer to send you a free list of foreclosed homes in your area. I am fully aware that there are websites that charge you to receive these types of lists so my offering something for free that others charge for may be hard for you to believe.

I offer these free lists because I want to sell you a home. Qualified buyers or investors can review these lists and when they find a home that interests them, I am available to not only show the home but I can also handle the transaction from start to finish.

The following is a sample of the free list of foreclosed homes for sale right now in Orlando. This is just 11 of the nearly 600 homes listed for sale. If you would like the complete list or a list of foreclosed homes in you area, contact me.

Just click on the image to enlarge.

Where do you want to live?

Where do you want to live?

Are you moving to Florida from far away or moving from just down the street? One of the first decisions when buying a home is deciding where you would like to live, where the home or condo that you will buy is located.

We can help you narrow down your search for a home. We can search for a home in a area as broad as a Florida county. We can narrow the search to only include homes in a specific city, zip code or town. We can drill down our search to show homes or condos for sale in a specific neighborhood or community in a city or town and yes we can even search for homes on a street of your choice.

Where do you want to live? We can help you find a home for sale that is located there.


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You do not have to repay the 2009 tax credit!

Are you searching for a home and qualify for the tax credit as a first time homebuyer? You will be pleased to know that unlike the first time homebuyer tax credit of up to $7500 being offered during 2008, the 2009 version, which increased the amount of the tax credit to up to $8000, does not have to be repaid!

The 2009 tax credit does not have to be repaid as long as the homebuyer lives in the home for three years or more. Less than three years then the entire amount of the credit is recaptured on the sale.

This homebuyer tax credit is only available for home purchases made from Jan. 1, 2009, through Nov. 30, 2009, and is equal to 10 percent of the cost of the home, up to a maximum credit of $8,000.


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Is it possible to get a short sale approval in an hour?

The buzz on working with short sales is that it seems to take forever to receive lender’s approval for the short sale when a contract is submitted. The process can take weeks or months with agents, sellers and buyers at the mercy of the lender.

Today an agent stepped into my office excited and amazed. She submitted a contract that was subject to a short sale to the lender and in ONE HOUR she received written approval. One hour!

I plan to get more details in the days ahead. Right now I would attribute the quick reply in part to this agent and her partners understanding of the short sale process and would imagine this understanding helped speed up the process. If you have a short sale situation and want to work with real estate professionals who understand how to get the transaction to the closing table, contact me.

I am buying a home and want to use FHA, how do I find a mortgage lender?

Using an FHA mortgage to purchase a home is a smart choice for many home buyers today. FHA mortgages do not require a huge down payment and typically offer favorable terms to borrowers. Finding an FHA approved lender is easy. Two ways that you can get in touch with an FHA approved lender are:

Allow me to introduce you

Watson Mortgage handles FHA mortgages. I can connect you with one of our loan consultants and they will explain the process and provide you with information that you will need to make an informed decision. Watson Mortgage provides the very best in customer service. You can trust in Watson Mortgage handling your loan with them utmost in confidence, in a timely manner and with the professionalism you expect and deserve.

Look up lenders using various selection criteria

HUD makes it convenient for a potential home buyer to look up lenders that are FHA approved. You can find an approved lender throughout the country by visiting HUD’s website and entering the appropriate search criteria. The search feature is located here.

Finding an FHA lender is easy and so is finding a REALTOR to help you

Now that we have set the wheels in motion to put you in contact with lenders who can provide you an FHA mortgage, the next step is to find a real estate agents who can assist you with finding and buying a house. That is where I come into play. I have complete access to thousands of homes for sale in a wide range of prices, locations and features. Call me at 407-304-0255 and I will get start searching for a home specifically for you.

Find Deals On REO, Bank Owned and Foreclosed Homes In Your Neighborhood!

STOP! Don’t spend a dime of your hard earned money in order to receive a list of REO, bank owned or foreclosed homes in your city, town or neighborhood. I can and will provide you this information for FREE! That’s right you can receive a current list of available homes without having to pay for the list.

What will the list of homes include?

I will build the list around your criteria. You tell me the maximum price, the size of the home, the exact location, the number of bedrooms, the number of baths, the size of the yard, you name it and the results you will receive will only include homes that match what you have asked for.

How will I receive this list?

I can email you the list, fax you the list, meet you in my office and hand you the list. I can throw you the list but you will need to be fairly close as my throwing arm ain’t what it use to be.

If there is a home on the list I would like to see, am I on my own or will you help?

That is the best part! If you find a home or homes on the list I will make the arrangements to show you these homes. I will also help you arrange financing if needed or help you push your wheel barrel full of cash into the office. But seriously, the goal will be to find you the very best deal, which meets your requirements, passes your inspections and ends up as your new home!

There you go. If you would like to find deals on REO, bank owned or foreclosed homes give me a call, Greg Staker. 407-304-0255.

Florida REALTORS first-time homebuyer tax credit video

The following video offers an explanation of the first-time homebuyer tax credit. This video was created by the Florida Association of Realtors®.

HUD looks to improve methods to detect and control housing hazards

HUD has announced that it is offering $4 million in grant money to “advance the recognition and control of residential health and safety hazards or improve our understanding of the link between housing and health.”

Real estate agents do their part

As real estate agents we help the consumer understand what they can do to make sure they are purchasing a healthy house. Potential housing health risks include pest/insect problems, radon gas, Chinese drywall, well and septic issues, lead base paint and mold.

Our help consists of identifying and disclosing any material facts that are readily visible to us, asking the seller to complete a comprehensive seller disclosure detailing the condition of the home, notifying the buyer and seller in writing of potential health risks with approved real estate addendums and written government notices and strongly encouraging the consumer to complete any and all home inspections they deem necessary to be completely satisfied with the overall condition of the home.

As a REALTOR I agree with HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan who is quoted in the press release as stating, “Anything HUD can do to continue to improve the methods for protecting our children from dangerous home hazards is crucial to American families, their children and their future,"


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The sweltering heat in Florida is here!

The sweltering heat in Florida is here! I took a look at the thermometer hanging outside by the pool and at noon it read 95! Wow that is hot. Fortunately I have a pool that I am able to jump into in order to cool down and beat the heat while having some fun.



If you live in Florida, how long will you go without buying a home with a pool? It would seem to me that now is the perfect time to purchase a pool home. Low prices coupled with a huge inventory of pool homes for sale, ( right now there are over 18,000 pool homes listed for sale), make this the right time.



Don't spend another Florida summer wishing you owned a pool home, give me a call and let's make that wish a reality. Give me a call, 407-304-0255





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Florida Environmental Protection Memo on Disposal of Chinese Drywall

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection released a memo concerning the disposal of Chinese Drywall found in Florida. The memo notes that it is estimated that 35,000 homes or more in Florida were constructed with Chinese drywall.


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Radon Inspection Clause of Purchase Contract

Are you waiting for someone to pay your asking price or are you asking what the market will pay?

There are two different directions you can go when you list your home for sale. Choosing the right direction will result in a successful sale, in the shortest amount of time and for the most profit. Which direction will you choose?

Waiting on someone to pay your asking price

Home owners will choose this direction when they do not have adequate information on real estate values in their area or are facing a situation that will not allow them to sell their home for a penny less than what they need. What they need becomes the driving force with no regard to what the market will actually deliver.

Their magical thinking belief is that if they wait long enough the right buyer will come along who will agree to overpay for the house. When this does not happen after several weeks or months, the sellers will look for other reasons the home has not sold that does not involve pricing. These reasons usually include something their REALTOR has done or is doing wrong in the mind of the seller. Ultimately without a price reduction or a price enhancement home owners who take this direction never make the transformation from owner to seller.

Asking what the market will pay

Taking this direction will provide the same result regardless of the market being one geared towards buyers or sellers, a successful sale. The key is determining what the correct market price should be. This can be accomplished in several ways including contacting two or more REALTORS and having them analyze your home’s position in the current market in order to offer an opinion of value or by hiring a professional to appraise your home. Once the correct pricing has been determined, then a professional marketing campaign can be started to help in finding a ready willing and able buyer for the home in the shortest amount of time.

It is your choice. Contact me to discuss the direction you would like to go.

I live in California and I am buying a home in the Orlando Florida area.

Q: I live in California and have signed a FAR-9 contract to purchase a home in the Orlando Florida area. Does the 5:00 P.M. deadline mean 5:00 P.M. California time or Florida time?

The FAR-9 purchase contract is a business day contact. All time periods are Monday – Friday and do not include weekends or National Holidays and the deadline is 5:00 P.M. The 5:00 P.M. deadline is the time in the County where the home is located.

If you are interested in buying a home in Florida and are not currently under contract or working with another real estate agent, search for a home and then contact me to see and make an offer.


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Will the increase in mortgage rates motivate you to buy a house?

Mortgage rates increased this week averaging 5.29%, highest of the year according to Freddie Mac. Will this increase in the interest rate be the motivation you were waiting for in order to jump into the real estate market?

Back in the Day

Back in the day we use to say rising mortgage rates acted as a stimulus that would move homebuyers off the fence. However few things we are experiencing in today’s real estate market resembles anything from “back in the day”. Concerned that a rise in interest rate would reduce the buying power of the home buyer or that in order to obtain a better rate the buyer may have to pay a point or two would result in the buyer signing on the dotted line.

Back to today

I guess we will see over the next few weeks/months if the rising interest rate has an impact on home buying. For rates to have a serious impact they may have to reach levels not seen in sometime. Maybe if start hitting 2000 levels of 8% we will see buyers jumping off the fence. Right now for someone wanting to buy a home there are plenty of reasons to do so that have nothing to do with interest rates. Banks owned & short sale transactions have attracted buyers & investors who could no longer sit back and watch these great deals come and go. Government help in the way of the first time homebuyer tax credit also works as a motivating factor to new buyers.

Perhaps none of the reasons mentioned are why you are thinking of buying a home. Whatever the reason, there are plenty of homes in all prices for you to choose from. Give me a call to discuss your situation. 407-304-0255

Now is not the time to be flushing money down the toilet

Here is a short video I found when visiting the Habitat for Humanity website. It is part of Kohler, Save Water America campaign. How much water are you using to flush your toilet? If you are using 3.5 gallons, you are using to much water according to the video.

20,000 lung cancer deaths each year are due to radon

According to a question and answer section on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website, 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year are due to radon. In Florida when purchasing a home you have the right to perform an inspection testing the radon level of the home.

Radon Inspection Clause of Purchase Contract

The FAR-9 purchase agreement offers information and addresses the home buyer's right under the section 'Real Property Disclosures" to test for radon before closing on the home. Calling radon a "naturally occurring radioactive gas" the clause warns home buyers that radon "may present health risks to persons who are exposed to it over time". Buyers are allowed to have a qualified person test for radon during the inspection period.

State Radon Information and Inspectors

The Florida Department of Health offers a detail, informative web page dealing with radon. The FAQ explains what radon is, how it gets into a building, it offers a list of those certified to measure and provide mitigation and has a tool where you can search for radon testing results in specific zip codes.

If you are concerned about radon levels in a home you are buying, alert your real estate agent and contact a qualified inspector.


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Report price gouging this Florida hurricane season

Hurricane seasons delivers bad weather, flooding and price gouging to Florida. In the event of a Florida declared emergency it is illegal to raise prices of the basic needs a person would have including gas, food, water and lumber. If you feel you have been a victim of price gouging you can report it by calling the Attorney General 1-866-966-7226.


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Protect yourself against unlicensed activity in Florida

You should never hire an unlicensed individual including those whose business is construction or real estate related. Protect yourself against unlicensed activity in Florida by following the suggestions offered by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation of Florida.

• Ask to see the State of Florida license.
• Verify that the license is current and in good standing. To check a license, call 850-487-1395 or visit MyFloridaLicense.com.
• Ask for references.
• Do not pay cash and be cautious of writing checks made payable to individuals, especially when dealing with a company.
• Get everything in writing, including a detailed description of the work to be completed, a completion date and the total cost.
• Report suspected unlicensed activity at MyFloridaLicense.com or toll-free at 1-866-532-1440.

For more information on how to fight or avoid unlicensed activity in Florida visit DBPR.

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Flood damage is not covered by homeowner insurance policies

Many Floridians are unaware that flood damage is not covered by homeowner insurance policies. With hurricane season upon us and with the recent flooding in Central Florida, home owners may want to consider purchasing flood insurance. To determine your risk of flooding and to compare rates you can visit www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/.


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Children and teens can sign up for Seminole County free reading program

Children and teens looking for something to do this summer may wish to sign up for Seminole County free reading program that starts today, June 6th and runs through Monday, August 10.
You can participate in the program at any Seminole County Public Library. Visit this press release for more information on how to sign up and locations.


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250,000 Floridians eligible for extended unemployment benefits

250,000 Floridians are eligible for extended unemployment benefits as a result of legislation signed by Governor Crist according to the Agency for Workforce Innovation. Floridians can apply online at http://www.floridajobs.org/


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Maybe MLS rules are made to be broken?

The MLS has rules and regulations that pertain to the listing information entered by the membership. Now that bank owned and short sale transactions make up the biggest percentage of the business being conducted throughout much of the area, these rules in my opinion are often ignored by agents who are either unaware, or are trying to game the system or just flat out do not agree with a particular rule or regulation.

For example I found in the public comments section of a listing recently comments from the agent that there are multiple offers and that the bank says no more are needed. This advisory was part of a listing that is clearly marked as being a short sale and is still showing as active or available for sale. Forget for the moment that the seller should be the one who decides if any other offers are necessary, this comment is opposite of what the rules state.

If there are to be no more offers submitted then this property either must be marked as pending or removed from the MLS. The rule that addresses this is Article 6: Refusal to Sell which states;

If the seller of any listed property filed with MFRMLS refuses to accept a written offer satisfying the
terms and conditions stated in the listing, such fact should be transmitted
immediately to MFRMLS and to all Participants by withdrawing the listing.

(bolding mine)

The bottom line in order to provide the best customer service to buyers and sellers, real estate agents need to be unison in how we regulate the information. If the property is still available then every buyer should have the right to make an offer. It is why we have the rule.


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In the last 3 days over 100 foreclosed homes have been listed for sale in Central Florida

Since June 1st over 1o0 homes that are REO or bank owned have been listed in the MLS. These homes were foreclosed on by the lender and are now being offered for sale and competitive prices. If you are shopping for a foreclosed home and do not want to miss out on the latest listings for your area, you really need to give me a call at 407-304-0255 or contact me to be kept updated.


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Buyers using FHA financing will be able to use tax credit money to assist with closing

First time home buyers who are using FHA as their means of financing have the opportunity to use the up to $8,000 tax credit money to assist with closing costs and/or additional down payment money. This may just be the extra push potentially new home owners have been waiting for in order to buy a home.

Give me a call at 407-304-0255 to see if you qualify and to speak with a lender regarding FHA home loans.


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Does anyone know of a good FHA lender in Orlando and Central Florida?

Q: Does anyone know of a good FHA lender in Orlando and Central Florida?

FHA financing is quickly becoming an attractive option for buyers needing to finance their home purchase. It is even more appealing now that HUD is allowing first time buyers to take advantage of the tax credit money before closing. This extra cash will help with closing costs or to increase the down payment.

Watson Mortgage is a very good source for buyers looking to finance a home with FHA. Call me at 407-304-0255 to be put in contact with one of our representatives.


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