7 Reasons to List Your Home During the Holidays

Don’t buy into the myth … that no business happens in December.

The holidays are the perfect time to set yourself apart from your competition and set yourself up for success in the new year.

Here are 7 reasons to list your home during the holidays:

1.) While there may be less buyers out there, people who look for a home during the holidays are serious … they are ready to buy!

2.) There are fewer homes for buyers to look at during the holidays which means less competition for you … less competition equals more money!

3.) After the holidays the supply of listings increases substantially which lowers the demand for your home … more competition equals less money!

4.) Your home shows better when decorated for the holidays!

5.) Many buyers have more time to look for property during the holidays as opposed to a normal work week.

6.) We will restrict the showings on your home to the times you want it shown. You remain in control.

7.) You can sell now for more money and not have to physically move until January or February … as opposed to just starting the whole process at that time.

As always, feel free to contact me whenever you are ready to buy or sell your next home!

All my best,

Kelly Foster, Licensed Realtor
Blue Water Realty
321-946-1004 – Direct
Kelly@OrlandoMetroRealty.com
Serving: Orange, Osceola, Lake, Polk and Seminole County

Encore Resort Homes at Reunion

What could be better than staying at Reunion? What about coming home to it? The Encore Club at Reunion is the last (and best) community of new vacation homes coming to Orlando’s most celebrated resort community, and just minutes from its most popular theme park attractions. As a homeowner, you can access Reunion’s ten resort pools. Six delicious restaurants. Enjoy the great outdoors with 10.5 miles of trails, bicycle rentals, two playgrounds and beach volleyball courts. Indulge in serenity at the full-service spa. And, in addition to the amenities at Reunion, The Encore Club at Reunion will offer exclusive amenities available just to its owners, it will include a 3 story clubhouse and grand lawn offering an upscale restaurant, lounge and bar. In addition, it will have its own private water park, sand volleyball, tennis, basketball courts, kids arcade, fitness center, and tiered over-sized swimming pool & deck. The clubhouse will have an onsite general manager, offering 24 hour concierge and check in for owners and guests alike.

The Encore Club at Reunion is being developed by Encore Residences & Resorts, a national recognized development company that invests in and manages residential real estate communities.

Just minutes from Disney’s front door, this vacation home community is ideal for multi-generational vacationing families, who as owners, are also looking for short term rental opportunity. 750 home sites will be available for immediate build out offering 4 – 13 bedroom vacation homes offering short term rental capabilities.

5 Bedroom Homes

Ranging from 2,500 to 3,500 square feet, the two-story, 5-bedroom residences feature a first-floor bedroom, a gourmet kitchen, dining room, spacious great room, up to 5-½ baths, covered lanai and game room. All five bedroom homes feature striking, Florida-inspired architecture with open floor plans, a private in-ground pool, a two-car garage and plenty of outdoor spaces.

6 Bedroom Homes

Ranging from 2,800 to 3,310 square feet, the two-story, 6-bedroom residences feature a first-floor bedroom, multiple master suites, a gourmet kitchen, dining room, spacious great room, 5-½ baths and covered lanai. All six bedroom homes feature striking, Florida-inspired architecture with open floor plans, a private in-ground pool, a two-car garage and plenty of outdoor spaces.

8 Bedroom Homes

Ranging from 3,437 to 4,057 square feet, the two-story, 8-bedroom residences feature multiple first-floor bedrooms, multiple master suites, a gourmet kitchen, dining room, spacious great room, up to 8 baths, covered lanai and media room. All eight bedroom homes feature striking, Florida-inspired architecture with open floor plans, a private in-ground pool, a two-car garage and plenty of outdoor spaces.

9 Bedroom Homes

With 4,669 square feet, the two-story, 9-bedroom residence features a first-floor master suite, a gourmet kitchen, dining room, spacious great room, 8 baths, loft and covered lanai. All nine bedroom homes feature striking, Florida-inspired architecture with open floor plans, a private in-ground pool, a two-car garage and plenty of outdoor spaces.

 

10 Bedroom Homes

With 4,724 square feet, the two-story, 10-bedroom residence features three master suites (two on the first level), a gourmet kitchen, dining room, spacious great room, 10 baths, media room and covered lanai. All ten bedroom homes feature striking, Florida-inspired architecture with open floor plans, a private in-ground pool, a two-car garage and plenty of outdoor spaces.

11 Bedroom Homes

With more than 5,500 square feet of living space, the 11-bedroom Biltmore features a gourmet kitchen, dining room, spacious great room, 10 full baths and three half baths, a media room and covered lanai. All eleven bedroom homes feature striking, Florida-inspired architecture with open floor plans, a private in-ground pool, a two-car garage and plenty of outdoor spaces.

13 Bedroom Homes

With more than 6,400 square feet of living space, the 13-bedroom Essex is our largest home, and features a gourmet kitchen, dining room, spacious great room, 12 full baths and one half bath, a media room and covered lanai. All thirteen bedroom homes feature striking, Florida-inspired architecture with open floor plans, a private in-ground pool, a two-car garage and plenty of outdoor spaces.

Many home-buyers plan to open their homes to vacationing groups who will enjoy all the conveniences of staying together in one home but with the added luxury services of a great hotel.

AMENITIES

• 24 HOUR FRONT DESK SERVICE
• CONCIERGE SERVICES
• COMPLIMENTARY TRANSPORTATION
  • WITHIN ENCORE CLUB
  • WITHIN REUNION
  • PARKS AND ATTRACTIONS
  • SHOPPING VENUES
• AQUA PARK / POOLS
• CABANAS
• FITNESS CENTER
• KIDS ROOM / ACTIVITIES ROOM
• CONVENIENCE MARKETPLACE
• CABANA BAR AND GRILL / POOLSIDE DINING
• FULL SERVICE BAR AND LOUNGE
• CASUAL CLUBHOUSE ALL-DAY DINING
• BELL SERVICE
• WIFI THROUGHOUT RESORT

CLUB SERVICES

• FITNESS CLASSES
• LOCAL ATTRACTION TICKETING
• BICYCLE RENTALS
• FULL ACTIVITIES PROGRAM FOR ALL AGES

IN-HOME SERVICES

• SPA SERVICES
  • FACIALS
  • MANICURES
  • MASSAGE
  • PEDICURE

If buying a home at the Encore Club at Reunion is of interest to you, please let me know and I can provide you with more information and help you in selecting your next vacation / rental home!

As always, if you have questions, please let me know! Also, feel free to contact me whenever you are ready to buy or sell your next home!

All my best,

Kelly Foster, Licensed Realtor
Blue Water Realty
321-946-1004 – Direct
Kelly@OrlandoMetroRealty.com
Serving: Orange, Osceola, Lake, Polk and Seminole County

Harmony, a small town, with a big town lifestyle

Harmony, is by far one of my favorite communities in Central Florida. There’s no other community quite like Harmony in Florida. . .or just about anywhere for that matter. Harmony offers the best of small town living, in a convenient location where you can take advantage of Orlando’s big town lifestyle. Highlights of the community include:

• A-rated Harmony High School and a K-8 Community School within walking distance of every home.
• Two natural lakes – Buck Lake (511 acres) and Cat Lake (430 acres).
• Harmony Golf Preserve, a Johnny Miller Signature course.
• Homes within walking distance of parks, schools, stores and friends.
• 12.5 miles of walking, hiking and bicycle trails through some of the 7,700 acres of conservation areas.
• A Town Square with restaurants, grocery store, shops, and swim club.
• Just 20 minutes from Medical City, 25 minutes to the airport, 30 minutes to Disney World and 40 minutes to the Atlantic beaches.

Lennar has a new phase with beautiful new floor plans.

If buying a home in Harmony is of interest to you, please let me know and I can provide you with more information and help you in selecting your next home!

As always, if you have questions about these statistics or trends, let me know! Also, feel free to contact me whenever you are ready to buy or sell your next home!

All my best,

Kelly Foster, Licensed Realtor
Blue Water Realty
321-946-1004 – Direct
Kelly@OrlandoMetroRealty.com
Serving: Orange, Osceola, Lake, Polk and Seminole County

USDA Loans – What are they?

So, you may have heard about USDA loans but may not be sure what they are and what they entail. As a Realtor in Central Florida, I often get asked about the different loan options available. I’ve recently helped several buyers in Saint Cloud find properties that are USDA eligible; therefore, I thought it would be helpful to do a series on the different loan (mortgage options available). Since, the USDA loans have been the most popular this month, I thought I would start with this option.

So, let’s talk about what USDA loans are and how they work.

The Benefits of a USDA Home Loan

A USDA loan (also called a Rural Development Loan) is a government insured home loan that allows you purchase a home with NO Money Down. USDA Home Loans offer 100% financing to qualified buyers, and allow for all closing costs to be either paid for by the seller or financed into the loan. USDA offers some the lowest rates of any loan, and you will always have a fixed interest rate.

In addition, you may even qualify if your credit is less than perfect. You don’t have to have amazing credit to get approved; however, you should have at least a 620 to 640 credit score, but you may be able to use credit references like cell phone, insurance and utility bills to build out your credit if you don’t have very much of it.

Am I Eligible for a USDA Loan?

USDA Loan Eligibility will be determined by three factors:

Credit Worthiness: When an underwriter reviews your credit history on a USDA Loan the major thing they will be looking for is a history of paying your bills on time. If you have had blemishes in the past they may be overlooked as long as you have reestablished your credit over the past 12 months. Generally, any open judgments or collections will need to be paid off before you close on your new home.

USDA Loan Income Restrictions: You will need to be able to document your income on a USDA Loan. USDA will generally want to see a two year history of employment or consistent income. Exceptions on the two year requirement can be made for applicants such as students. On a USDA Loan Assets are not required for approval, but can help overcome any possible blemishes on credit.

Where you Live: In order to qualify for a USDA Loan your home must be located in a designated USDA rural area. You can check the USDA eligibility of your county. It might surprise you just how many areas of the United States do qualify for these no money down home loans. The goal of the USDA loan program is to help our nation’s smaller, rural communities thrive by making land and property more affordable.

Owning Additional Property:  The USDA does not currently allow buyers to own another “adequate” property and buy another home by utilizing the USDA Loan program.  The USDA loan is designed for those buyers who do not qualify for other financing and do not have adequate housing.  However, there are certain circumstances when the USDA will allow you to keep the other home.  For example, the USDA does not view mobile (manufactured) homes as adequate property.  Other circumstances include if you have to move or if your current home is not adequately large enough for the size of your family.

So, as I discussed earlier, Saint Cloud, FL (along with many other areas) is an area that’s eligible for the no money down USDA mortgage; however, you’re still going to need some money for an earnest money deposit, a home inspection & the appraisal.

For more information, you can visit the USDA’s Rural Development website at:http://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibility/welcomeAction.do.

As always, if you have questions about the process, let me know! Also, feel free to contact me whenever you are ready to buy or sell your next home!

All my best,

Kelly Foster, Licensed Realtor
Blue Water Realty
321-946-1004 – Direct
Kelly@OrlandoMetroRealty.com
Serving: Orange, Osceola, Lake, Polk and Seminole County

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Why You Should Work With a REALTOR®

Not all real estate practitioners are REALTORS®. The term REALTOR® is a registered trademark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. Here are five reasons why it pays to work with a REALTOR®.

1. You’ll have an expert to guide you through the process. Buying or selling a home usually requires disclosure forms, inspection reports, mortgage documents, insurance policies, deeds, and multi-page settlement statements. A knowledgeable expert will help you prepare the best deal, and avoid delays or costly mistakes.

2. Get objective information and opinions. REALTORS® can provide local community information on utilities, zoning, schools, and more. They’ll also be able to provide objective information about each property. A professional will be able to help you answer these two important questions: Will the property provide the environment I want for a home or investment? Second, will the property have resale value when I am ready to sell?

3. Find the best property out there. Sometimes the property you are seeking is available but not actively advertised in the market, and it will take some investigation by your REALTOR® to find all available properties.

4. Benefit from their negotiating experience. There are many negotiating factors, including but not limited to price, financing, terms, date of possession, and inclusion or exclusion of repairs, furnishings, or equipment. In addition, the purchase agreement should provide a period of time for you to complete appropriate inspections and investigations of the property before you are bound to complete the purchase. Your agent can advise you as to which investigations and inspections are recommended or required.

5. Property marketing power. Real estate doesn’t sell due to advertising alone. In fact, a large share of real estate sales comes as the result of a practitioner’s contacts through previous clients, referrals, friends, and family. When a property is marketed with the help of a REALTOR®, you do not have to allow strangers into your home. Your REALTOR® will generally prescreen and accompany qualified prospects through your property.

6. Real estate has its own language. If you don’t know a CMA from a PUD, you can understand why it’s important to work with a professional who is immersed in the industry and knows the real estate language.

7. REALTORS® have done it before. Most people buy and sell only a few homes in a lifetime, usually with quite a few years in between each purchase. And even if you’ve done it before, laws and regulations change. REALTORS®, on the other hand, handle hundreds of real estate transactions over the course of their career. Having an expert on your side is critical.

8. Buying and selling is emotional. A home often symbolizes family, rest, and security — it’s not just four walls and a roof. Because of this, home buying and selling can be an emotional undertaking. And for most people, a home is the biggest purchase they’ll ever make. Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you stay focused on both the emotional and financial issues most important to you.

9. Ethical treatment. Every member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® makes a commitment to adhere to a strict Code of Ethics, which is based on professionalism and protection of the public. As a customer of a REALTOR®, you can expect honest and ethical treatment in all transaction-related matters. It is mandatory for REALTORS® to take the Code of Ethics orientation and they are also required to complete a refresher course every four years.

As always, if you have questions about the process, let me know! Also, feel free to contact me whenever you are ready to buy or sell your next home!

All my best,

Kelly Foster, Licensed Realtor
Blue Water Realty
321-946-1004 – Direct
Kelly@OrlandoMetroRealty.com
Serving: Orange, Osceola, Lake, Polk and Seminole County

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