Amy's Orlando Real Estate Blog

I came across this interesting article in the Washington Post recently called “Anatomy of a Burglary,” which reveals some fascinating statistics about break-ins, including a few ways to protect your valuables and deter thieves.  Some interesting facts:

· Most burglaries occur between 10AM and 3PM.

· The typical house burglar is a male teenager who lives within a couple of miles of your home.

· Burglars spend on an average between 8 and 12 minutes inside your home.

Not only did the graphic detail the most common entry points for a burglar, but it also offered these helpful tips for protecting your home:

· A home with a security system is 3 times less likely to be broken into than a home without a security system. (Even if you don’t have one, buying the stickers for them can deter an amateur.)

· Consider alternatives to the master bedroom for hiding valuables. It’s the first place most burglars go.

· Burglars want to spend fewer than 60 seconds breaking in. Anything you can do to lengthen that time will increase the likelihood they’ll pass on your house.

· The appearance of an unoccupied home is what typically attracts burglars. Not bringing the garbage cans back up a few days after trash day can be a big sign you’re not around.

For a detailed look at the article, visit the Washington Post site here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/artsandliving/homeandgarden/features/2007/burglary-070507/graphic.html

Protect your home and your valuables. Common sense is often enough to keep you from becoming a victim. And remember to keep an inventory of your possessions for insurance purposes.

Quality of your neighborhood got you nervous? Looking to move to a nicer zip code? I’d be glad to help you find a safer home.   Call me today, Amy Hodges, at 407-252-7049.

Now is perhaps one of the best times in history to purchase a home. Low interest rates and unparalleled affordability have created a perfect storm for qualified buyers.

So does that mean the “flipping days” are here again? Probably not. While there may be shrewd investors out there who have the ability to squeeze out a profit on flipping properties in this market, the margins aren’t favorable and reselling is tough.

It is, however, an excellent time for buyers looking for a long term real estate investment, especially those who want to manage a rental property. There’s a good margin between true value and current prices. Additionally, there’s great potential for higher rental values as rental inventory decreases under the pressure of potential buyers who can’t yet qualify for a loan.

Do you have a college graduate or newlywed child? Another great investment is the purchase of a home for someone in the family that may occupy it as a tenant until such time they can afford their own home.

If you’re curious about which neighborhoods would make the purchase of an investment property a good move, feel free to contact me today. I’d be happy to help advise you on an investment purchase.  Call me today to discuss the possibilities,  Amy Hodges, at 407-252-7049.  Don't let the perfect storm pass you by!

Regardless of how you feel about bidding farewell to 2011 and anticipating the events of 2012, I thought now might be a good time to share a few wishes I have for you for the months ahead.

I sincerely hope this year brings health, happiness, and a renewed sense of connection to the people who surround you. May any uncertainty be replaced with confidence, and may you begin to feel the renewed strength that past adversity fosters in all of us.

I know that my life has been immeasurably improved by my connection to others in the community, and I appreciate all the wonderful experiences I’ve had in meeting new people and keeping in touch with old friends. If there’s any way I can bring a little light to you this year, know that I’m open to lending a hand.

If we don’t have a chance to connect soon, I hope this note conveys my hopes for you and yours until we do.

Best wishes for 2012,

Amy Hodges

Do you need to short sell your home?

Not sure what a short sale is? A short sale happens when the amount of the outstanding loans are greater than the value of the home. Short sales are often the result of values in a market rapidly declining.

For many homeowners, a short sale is an ideal way to avoid foreclosure or bankruptcy when they can negotiate with the lender to write off the difference.

What steps do I take in a short sale?

First, determine the true market value of your house. An experienced real estate professional, like Amy Hodges at RE/MAX 200 Realty, will be able to give you a reasonable idea of what your home should probably sell for based on prior sales of similar houses in the neighborhood. Be cautious of websites where a computer estimates your property's market value since they may not have complete information or know important things like neighborhood trends and current listings.

	To get top dollar for your distressed real estate in Winter Park, it takes the level of know-how and experience we posses to get to the closing table quickly. Contact Amy at RE/MAX 200 Realty today.

Next, I will help you with a list of information that your lender will require to qualify the short sale.  These documents will be sent to the lender to assist in their evaluation.   They may have a particular department that manages short sales.  I will ask about their specific procedures.  We will list your home for sale, and start working to find a buyer for your home.  Once we have an offer, I will submit it to your lender, along with other information they request.  Typically, all closing costs are paid by your lender.  Some lenders are more willing to work with you then others.  Your lender will have to give consent for the final sale.  After their review and approval of the short sale, we can work toward a closing date.  

In October, our local housing market continued to improve, with our median price increasing almost 19% since January of this year. There were 2,068 homes sold in our area, which was an increase of 6% over October 2010.  Our inventory of available homes for sale has remained below 10,000 for the second month, which is down over 35% from a year ago. This low level of homes for sale has not been seen in our area since 2005, and represents a supply of about 4.8 months.  A normal market supply is considered to be five to six months, so this is another favorable aspect. 

The housing market continues to improve, however, our road to recovery still needs more help from the job market.  High unemployment continues to hurt our recovery in the housing market, especially since the unemployment rate for those 25-34 years old rose to 9.8% last month.  This segment of the market would typically be strong housing consumers, where many of our first time buyers would come from.  Recent studies at UCF expect a level of local job growth to be 2.1% through 2014.  Jobs are the key to keeping our housing recovery on track.