Archive for Lakeside Landings
Special Incentives Throughout May for Heroes Month
Posted by on May 10, 2011 | Comments
You may have noticed on your calendars that May is home to many holidays that honor our heroes. From healthcare and education workers to the police and armed forces, we’re definitely in for a full month of celebrating our heroes with Nurses Week, National Nurses Day, International Nurses Day, School Nurses Day, Emergency Medical Services Week, World Red Cross Day, Police Week, Police Officer’s Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day, Military Spouses Day, Memorial Day and National Teacher’s Day all happening in May. Phew; that’s a lot of holidays!
That’s why we decided to honor our heroes all month long with a special incentive to all professionals, retirees and veterans of the healthcare and education industries and the police and armed forces: Those who purchase Orlando, Tampa or Lakeland homes throughout May will receive $3,000 in FREE upgrades. Read More→
Take it from someone who has learned – make sure your home choice is the right choice!
Posted by on April 18, 2011 | Comments
Written by Sunny Glynn Crockett-Fullhart, Highland Homes’ Admin Assistant
*Photo by Hayley Anderson
Everyone will tell you to not worry about bad decisions, because you learn from every mistake. I wouldn’t call buying a fixer upper that I fell in love with, instead of new Florida real estate, a mistake, just something that I should have never tried to tackle.
My husband and I bought our first house together a few months before we got married. After a month of looking we found what we thought was the PERFECT house. It was over 2,000 square feet, on a third of an acre, close to everything, had a HUGE kitchen, and was built in 1954 with plenty of character. There were a few things that needed to be done to make it what we wanted, but we knew it “wasn’t going to be that hard” to fix it. That statement would come back to bite us in places we didn’t want to be bitten. Read More→
Spring Cleaning Tips
Posted by on April 15, 2011 | Comments
It is that time of year again. No, not tax season. Wait, OK it is, but that is not the point we are trying to make. It’s time for…… SPRING CLEANING!!!
Let’s face it, you’re either the type of person who loves spring cleaning, or who hates it. Either way, it has to be done. If you aren’t one of the lucky ones who can hire professional, RightAtHome.com has some great tips to help you along including downloadable checklists for each room of your Tampa new homes, AND outside.
Some suggestions for an organized spring cleaning experience are:
1. Have a plan… It is hard enough getting started cleaning, but you should map it out and know where you will be cleaning and when. Having a plan allows you more freedom to do what you want with whatever room you are cleaning. It helps you stay on track, and can sometimes speed up the process. Let us not forget that planning also includes delegating who does what. Whether there are two or six people living in your home, delegating tasks helps expedite the process. Read More→
Good News: It’s Time to Buy Again
Posted by on April 13, 2011 | Comments
If you’ve been wondering whether or not to invest in Florida real estate again, then it may be time to stop wondering and start buying according to a recent Fortune Finance article titled, “Real Estate: It’s Time to Buy Again.” Why? Put simply, housing is back and the time to buy is now to get the best deals.
The article explains that there are two factors that are driving the recovery of the residential real estate market: First, the historic drop in new construction; and second, the decline in prices (about 30 percent nationwide since 2006). Initially, this led many Americans to flee the housing market and turn to rentals. However, the declining prices will make homes more affordable and lure buyers back to the market. The new influx of homebuyers to the housing market will inevitably lead to a rise in home prices as soon as this year. Read More→
Will the Housing Market Recover? Americans Remain Confident
Posted by on April 8, 2011 | Comments
As the housing market continues to recover, perceptions about its future remain a hot topic. While the talking heads continue to discuss the ups and downs of the current housing market situation, it seems that most Americans are remaining optimistic. In fact, 68 percent of America’s potential homebuyers expect the real estate market to recover in the next year or so according to a new survey by Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services, Inc.
The Prudential Real Estate Outlook Survey also reported that 58 percent of respondents are interested in purchasing real estate and 45 percent are thinking of trading up, suggesting that Central Florida new homes will remain in high demand. Read More→
Florida Real Estate Without Compromise
Posted by on April 5, 2011 | Comments
Recently, it has been debated whether first-time buyers are too picky when it comes to choosing a home, or if they’re just mirroring the current market situation. With low interests rates, great prices on new Florida real estate and a good selection of homes on the market, first-time buyers are looking past the “fixer-upers” and choosing to search for homes that match their preferences completely.
The Washington Post decided to investigate this topic in a piece titled, “Picky First-Time Buyers Losing Out on Great Housing Deals.” The article noted that a Coldwell Banker Real Estate survey found that 87 percent of the 300 first-time buyers questioned said that a move-in ready home (one without the need for remodeling or upgrading) is important. The article goes on to mention that some real estate agents suggest that it is unlikely to find a move-in ready starter home free of imperfections. Read More→
Don’t Be So Quick to Say No to an ARM Loan. Still a Great Option For Many Buyers
Posted by on March 28, 2011 | Comments
With memories of the housing crisis and the negative perception many people have of the words “Adjustable Rate Mortgage,” buyers of Central Florida new homes have been afraid to consider adjustable rate mortgages, with many opting for the predictable 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.
Indeed, when the housing market started its down turn, using an ARM didn’t make much sense since the adjustable rates weren’t much lower than the fixed-rate options. But today, the rate spread between the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage and the 5-year ARM has widened to historic levels, some say.
As rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages began increasing in October, “ARMs have not moved nearly as much,” said Leif Thomsen, CEO of Mortgage Master Inc., a mortgage lender based in Walpole, Mass.
Assuming a $160,000 loan amount, a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 4.875% means a monthly payment of $846.73. Interest paid after five years: $37,468.
Compare that to a 5/1 hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage at 3.125%. For the first five years, the monthly payment would be $685.40, and you’d pay $23,697 in interest over those five years.
So, for a borrower who plans on moving within five years anyway, they’d save as much as $13,771 by financing with an ARM. Read More→
