Allison Stewart BROKER/ASSOC/REALTOR ®St. Cloud Florida

WHAT ARE THE WINNING STRATEGIES SUCCESSFUL BUYERS USE IN A MARKET OF COMPETING OFFERS? A question buyers pose when they have been less than successful in attempting to purchase a home. It really comes down to being able to adjust your way of thinking. Some buyers still feel it is a buyers market in their area. This is often not based on fact but rather on opinion.

HAVE YOU BEEN POUNDING THE PAVEMENT OR SURFING THE WEB WITHOUT...

HAVING A CLUE WHAT YOUR CAP IS?

Loan Pre-Approvals are important before you begin the process of looking for a home. Get with a local lender and determine how much home you can afford first.

Once you have that information, you will better prepared to make an offer.

Distressed properties may require you to be Pre-Qualified through one of their prefered lenders, having a pre-approval letter is helpful even if you are asked to get another one.

HOW MANY REALTORS DO I NEED TO FIND AND BUY A HOUSE?

Winning buyers work with ONE AGENT. You may have to interview several, but find ONE with whom you feel comfortable, and who is knowledgeable in the area they service and one whom you can respect as an expert.

Ask for a list of recently sold homes.

Pay attention to the Sale Price vs List Price comparison.

Previous sales impact current Market Value. If you see in a paricular area that homes sold over the past 60 days are increasing in price, you will have to adjust your offers to reflect that to win.

ARE MORE HOMES ROTATING OFF THE MARKET THAN ARE COMING ON?

If the answer is YES- you are in a Seller's Market. If the number of available homes is less than the number of buyers, you will have competition and likely the homes will be selling AT or ABOVE asking price.

HIGHEST AND BEST OFFER WILL PREVAIL

This means you will have little bargaining power particularly in the lower end homes. Making an inferior offer will fail. To win you must fortify your offer by making it strong and clean. The less you ask from the seller and more you are likely to succeed.

LASTLY- BE PREPARED TO ACT FAST

Buyers who win are making offers almost as fast as the homes hit the market.

In some cases they are buying the homes sight unseen from photos and videos their agents are providing for them.

In areas that are experiencing a high volume of sales, you will need to move quickly to win. The most common mistake homebuyers make is waiting too long before writing an offer. Only find out the house is already under contract.

Offers can be transmitted electronically.

As easy as opening your email.

For other tips on Buying a Home in Florida contact me

The Smell Of Autumn may be in the air for everyone in the Northeast and Mid-West, but here in Florida, we have basically one season. Summer. Regardless of what the calendar may say, it is always summer. It is the reason most people come here.

Labor Day to Northeast and Mid Western transplants signals nothing more than several more months of summer yet to be had. It is a big transition from the end of summer parties, last bash before the beginning of school (yes our schools start in August) and the end of warm weather.

Here, it is just another weekend mostly with the added bonus you get Monday off.

Transitioning to Central Florida was a unqiue experience. Had to get used to hearing Christmas songs in 84 degree humid, hot month of December, and watching jet skiiers while jingle bells blared on the radio while cruising down I-4 on the way to the mall.

It was an assault on the senses which seemed somewhat wrong at the time. Until watching the nightly news when the next winter storm just dumped four feet of snow on my relatives in the northeast and midwest. The tiniest hint of guilt, as I shopped for their gifts wearing a short sleeved shirt, shorts and the standard issued flip flops which are year round apparel for Floridians. Guilty maybe...regretful definately not.

So as you are putting away your pool toys and preparing for the onslaught of what will likely be another brutally cold winter, remember that you do have a choice. You can choose to remain where you are, or become a Floridian.

For what your home may cost you there, the choices are plentiful here for low cost affordable vacation homes. Then you too, can call your relatives when the temperatures fall below the freezing mark from your sparlkling pool, as you wait for the next round of hamburgers and hot dogs to come off the grill and hear all about how long it too them to shovel their cars out.

You will love the Florida winters. Ready to make a change? Contact Me

SIGHT UNSEEN OR LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE OF REAL ESTATE? In St. Cloud Florida, the answer may surprise you. Real Estate is local, but most of our buyers are not. Florida has for years been one of the migration meccas sun seekers yearn to relocate to. Your money will simply buy more home here than in other places. This is due in part to Over Supply and economic under development.

BUILDING WEALTH COMES FROM MAKING WELL TIMED INVESTMENTS

The lack of industry, manufacturing, and commercial growth has forced many local into low paying jobs, and negative economic growth. Communities like St. Cloud, Florida are residential. The emphasis has always been on service related or hospitality related employment. Which as the economy weakened, took many of those positions away with it.

This paves the way for buyers from out of the area, to capitalize on purchasing homes they will eventually retire to. These buyers know, that building wealth comes from making well timed investments. Buying a home now and holding it for a minimum of 5 years is likely to produce a respectable profit or annual gain in equity over time.

DEPRECIATION VS APPRECIATION

THE BEST TIME TO BUY IS WHEN HOMES HAVE FALLEN IN VALUE

Knowing that for over 30 years the average rate of home appreciation has been 6% compared to bonds and CD's which are now yielding their investors 2% or less.

The NEXT GENERATION OF SNOWBIRDS ARE FLOCKING TO FLORIDA

A byproduct of the building boom and sagging economy is that homes here in St. Cloud Florida and Osceola County, have once again become easily affordable and as such are very attractive investments as second homes to successful urban dwellers from the the Northeast and Mid West.

Most have visited at least once and have worked with me before. Once they and I have an idea of what they want, style, architecture, location,and features, many are making offers to buy homes sight unseen with the assistance of virtual reality in realty. Video presentations, photo arrays and detailed descriptions I prepare for them in a custom made presentation.

They are making strong offers and winning the war on competitive bidding.

LOOKING TO FORTIFY YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE?

WE NEED TO TALK!

ATTACKING THE SHACK WITH A PURPOSE IN MIND- AN EXCELLENT RETURN ON YOUR INVESTMENT. ST.CLOUD FLORIDA has more than it fair share of small bungalow style, turn of the century small historic homes. And certainly there are no shortage of short sale and bank owned opportunities out here.

What would turn a potential buyer off to purchasing as a primary residence will turn on anyone who has the means and ability to refurbish a tired property into a newly remodeled one and still make a profit even in this market.

TURNING TRASH INTO CASH

I know most of the homes for sale in my area of ST. CLOUD FLORIDA, working with investors, contractors, and Construction Company Owners to find them the best deals in homes that are candiadates for repair with a high rate of return on their initial investment (even in this market) is one of my specialities.

The key is not to over improve them to the point of becoming unaffordable. We are marketing to first time home buyers primarily looking for that freshly done smaller home.

The Historic District of St. Cloud, Florida was established in 1909- we have many homes dating back to the turn of the century- which have now fallen into receivership, or are in short sale status, waiting for someone to take advantage of the economic climate, and make a handsome return in a short period of time for renovating them.

HERE IS A SAMPLE LIST OF SOME OF THE FIXER UPPERS WITH A PROFIT POTENTIAL.

HOMES AS LOW AS $23,900 ARE AVAILABLE. THAT IS LESS THAN THE COST OF LUXURY CAR!

St. Cloud, Florida is situated minutes from the Lake Nona Medical School- a division of UCF. The 3rd most highly attended University in America.

Valencia College also has a campus just minutes west in Kissimmee, on 192 the main artery between Disney and Melbourne.

Demand for refurbished starter homes is HIGH

The most popular price range is 70-100K for first time home buyers.

As an area expert, serving St. Cloud Florida and all of Osceola County I would happy to assist you in finding the perfect remodeling candidate for the least amount of money and the most profit potential.

Contact Me and let's get started!

Allison Stewart has been featured in Remodeler Magazine

Click here: Downsizing the McMansion - Design-Build, Remodeling, Economic Conditions - Remodeling Magazine

Click here: Are We Experiencing a Suburban Slowdown and Urban Uptick? - Remodeling, Economic Conditions - Remodeling Magazine

BUYING A HOME IN ST. CLOUD FLORIDA- WHERE ARE THE BEST BARGAINS may surprise you. The McMansions are out, and there appears to be less demand for Planned Unit Development housing and the high costs of fees associated with them.

The so called CDD or Community District Developemnt fee which is basically a builder bond that is incoorporated into the tax base, has consumers looking twice at the taxes attached to large homes. The bond which helps pay for communities ancillary services like pools, playgrounds, sidewalks, and community fitness centers, combined with HOA (Home Owner Association Fees) has made selling some of these larger once very expensive homes a bit problematic. Consumers are scrutinizing the bottom line very closely. These fees are not tax deductible and can add substantially to the monthly mortgage payment.

Instead in the alternative to planned communties many buyers are rediscovering the quaint historic district and vintage homes which have been remodeled as a viable cost cutting alternative. Saving the added fees from HOA which in some areas equals several hundred dollars.

In Addition, the city provides FREE WIRELESS INTERNET to its residents. An Added perk for living within city limits, along with City Water and Sewer. The mil rate varies from 14-17 mils.

They are looking at smaller homes as a way to reduce mounting energy costs as well. Vaulted soaring celings are visually appealing, but are not efficiently cooled in Florida year round hot climate they waste energy compared to flatter ceiling counterparts.

WHAT IS HOT?

LOCATION -LOCATION -LOCATION

Lakefront properties are still in high demand. So are homes which are NOT SHORT SALE or BANK OWNED. Many are in a sorry state of disrepair, lacking appliances and appeal to consumers who are tired of long waits and answers from out of area lenders.

Some more than 3-4 months.

In the alternative they are seeking traditional sales. Good news for homeowners who have been holding property longer than five years and are now looking to sell.

BUYING SIGHT UNSEEN

Also a notible increase in buyers who are willing with the help of good local REALTOR, find and make offers on homes within their price range sight unseen. This leap of faith assisted with modern technology, video presentations and digital photography is one way long distance buyers can take advanntage of some of the spectular discounted offerings available and still be competitive even from afar.

"Ive written 4 successful offers thi smonth for buyers who have never actually seen the homes, but rather seen them through the lens of my camera"- said Allison Stewart, A local Broker Associate in St,. Cloud Florida. It is becoming more popular than traditional methods of showings.

Out of area buyers constitute the majority of the buyer I work with- as a result, they rely on my to give them an accurate "picture" of the homes, street, and surrounding areas.

Feeling comfortable with the photos, videos, and detailed descriptions most will make the offer.

I try to place them in the home so they see what I see. Good or bad. No surprises.

Being local gives me an advantage in being able to make several trips if need be on their behalf.

BUYING LONG DISTANCE IS AS SIMPLE AS ORDERING A PIZZA

Once we have located the home they want- emailing documents is as easy as ordering a pizza. They have easy access to the documents for downloading and can sign them and fax them back-

Once accepted and a deposit is made-holding the home they really want until such time as they can arrange a flight in to Inspect th Home for themselves. It really is the new way to buy a home at least in my area of St,. Cloud Florida

Sales re on the rise.. for the past 4 months in a row...exisiting homes sales are onthe rise (up 6% ove this time last month)

Want more information? Contact me.