Sarah Szatmary's Blog

New High School to be Built in East Orlando

Debra Wingo — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 19:38:00 GMT

In an interview with Daryl Flynn, East Orlando's School Board Representative, Insight East Orlando highlights news on Orange County's upcoming school year. Flynn discusses the overcrowding issue the school board is facing and ways to tackle the dilemma. Timber Creek High School will be relieved of its overcrowding problems in 2009 with the construction of a new high school to be built on the old Columbia Elementary site off Columbia School Road in East Orange County. During this process the new tech center across the street will act as an overflow to hold certain ninth grade classes. For more information visit the Orange County School Board site at www.ocps.net

Source: Insight East Orlando

Mortgage Rates Fall for Two Weeks Straight

Debra Wingo — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 16:40:00 GMT

Mortgage Rates Fall for Second Straight Week

Each week Bankrate publishes a survey of large lenders in the top 10 markets to get a snapshot of where mortgage rates stand. This week marks the second week in a row that rates have declined (-0.02% for 30-year fixed rate).

The good news is mortgage rates fell for the second week in a row. The bad news is they're still almost half a percentage point higher than they were three months ago.

The benchmark 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell 2 basis points, to 6.74 percent, according to the Bankrate.com national survey of large lenders. A basis point is one-hundredth of 1 percentage point. The mortgages in this week's survey had an average total of 0.26 discount and origination points. One year ago, the mortgage index was 6.93 percent; four weeks ago, it was 6.47 percent.

Source: AOL Real Estate News

For more information on real estate visit http://www.NeighborhoodsOfEastOrlando.com

Preparing Your Home to Sell

Debra Wingo — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 20:03:00 GMT

The following is a helpful checklist to cover when deciding to sell your home:

Use "home wash" (a hose attachment that is available at any home improvement store) to clean the outside of the house.

Clean rain gutters as well as outside windows and screens.

Make sure the front door is inviting. Paint it if needed. Also, replace any outdated outdoor lighting fixtures.

Buy new house numbers if the old ones are dated or faded. Be sure buyers can see the new ones from the curb.

Buy a new Welcome mat.

Eliminate half of your belongings — clutter can cost in a sale. Rent a storage unit or portable pod for extraneous pieces of furniture or knickknacks. Another idea is to as a friend if you can borrow some space in his or her garage.

Organize all closets and drawers. Buyers might look there.

Make any necessary repairs so that buyers don't have to add that to their list of expenses.

Rearrange furniture to make room appear as large as possible.

Make every surface shine, from ceiling fans to baseboards. Don't forget interior windows, mirrors, and floors.

Scrub every inch of the kitchen and bathrooms.

Depersonalize each room, removing photo frames and posters or artwork.

Buy new linens and pillows if necessary. Be certain they are a neutral color.

Buy air neutralizer and spray it often.

Let go emotionally of your home, and get ready for an offer!

Source: HGTV

Call Sarah Szatmary at The Selby Group 407-482-8225

Florida Set to Tackle Property Tax Problems

Debra Wingo — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 18:47:00 GMT

When the nation's home prices were booming, Florida led the way. Now, with the housing market in a slump, the state is taking the lead in tackling one of the boom's more onerous legacies: sky-high property taxes.

In mid-June, the Florida legislature plans to convene a special session that could pave the way for more than $30 billion in property-tax relief over the next five years. That's by far the largest among the similar tax breaks some states are adopting amid a backlash by disgruntled property owners.

"This is the biggest tax break being considered anywhere since Proposition 13 in California," says Prof. Brunori, referring to the 1978 initiative that radically slashed property taxes in that state.

Florida's legislature is considering various plans that aim not only to cut taxes, but also to change a system that many regard as unfair. Much like California, Florida protects existing homeowners, effectively capping the amount that their property taxes can rise from year to year.

As house prices have more than doubled in Florida over the past five years, the system has shifted the tax burden onto people who don't enjoy the same protection: new homeowners, business owners, real-estate investors, people with second homes and "snowbirds," nonresidents who have vacation homes in the state.

As of 2006, such property owners accounted for about 68% of Florida's property-tax revenues. If all Florida property owners were taxed the same way, those who lack protection under the current system would account for less than 55%, according to data from the state legislature's Joint Select Committee on Property-Tax Reform.

The Wall Street Journal Online

Before Viewing a Rental Property

Debra Wingo — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 12:36:00 GMT

Before viewing a potential rental property, ask the most important questions over the phone to make sure the apartment is even a potential candidate. Here are some big questions for you to consider:

• How many bedrooms in the apartment/house?
• Where is the place located?
• What is the rent? How much are utilities per month?
• Does the landlord allow pets?
• Does the place offer X or Y that we absolutely must have?
• Is the apartment located close enough to work, or school?
• Is the apartment located near public transportation

If time permits, you should drive/walk by the place to get a feel for the neighborhood and see if you like the building before the actual viewing. Make sure you have a checklist of things to look for and a list of questions to ask about the apartment and management company. Feel free to ask as many questions necessary for you to feel comfortable about the decision.

Source: AOL Real Estate

Orlando Median Existing Home Price Edges Up

Debra Wingo — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 12:48:00 GMT

The Orlando area's median sales price for existing homes and condominiums sold through Realtors edged up to $249,900 in May, nearly equal to the $250,000 median price a year earlier.

In April, the median had dipped year-over year by 2.77 percent, a relatively rare decline for home-sale prices in the area.

The monthly report released this morning by the Orlando Regional Realtor Association showed the sales price holding fairly steady despite an ongoing increase in the inventory of single-family homes and condos listed through Realtors -- up 1,028 to 25,463 properties, another record. That's 40 percent more than a year ago and a 16.43 month supply at the recent, sluggish sales pace.

Sales by Realtors of homes and condos in the group's core market -- mainly Orange and Seminole counties -- were down 45.46 percent to 1,550 compared with a revised 2,842 sales in May 2006, the report stated. Year to date, sales are off 36.4 percent from the same period last year.

But the month of May at least saw 20 more homes sold than in April, the trade association noted.

Source: Orlando Sentinel

Home Inspections Checklist

Debra Wingo — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 18:36:00 GMT

A proper home inspection is an important process when purchasing a home. Here are some items that are essential to inspect before purchasing a home:

1. Appliances: Check that the microwave, dishwasher, clothes washer and drier are all in working order. Have your home inspector document the brand names and year of all appliances to prevent a dishonest seller from swapping them out with broken equipment or older models.

2. Electrical: You home inspector should look inside the electrical panel at the gauge of the wiring and the condition of the box. Look for evidence of fire, melted wiring and wrong-size circuit breakers. Also test every outlet in house.

3. Fireplace: Fireplaces and chimneys should be inspected each year by a licensed chimney sweep. Your home inspector should refer the inspection to a professional if he feels it's beyond the scope of his expertise.

4. Heating and Air Conditioning: He checks for any problems with the heating and the air conditioning. The tests are done more easily on a seasonal basis, since it's difficult to check the air conditioning when it's cold outside and tough to sense the heat is working in August.

5. Exterior: Your home inspector looks for proper water drainage, grating and landscaping. Examine the condition of the home's outside, including paint, siding and trim, and he looks for any wood rot.

6. Roofing: The best way for your home inspector to examine your roof is to walk it. Looks for broken, missing or cracked shingles and for moss and rot. If a roof is aging, he will see mineral deposits collecting in the down spouts.

7. Interior: Your home inspector doesn't write up anything cosmetic, but he should check anything to do with safety, such as railings and smoke detectors. Look at the windows, doors, tiling and flooring. Also perform radon testing, since radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer

8. Plumbing: Your home inspector should look under the sinks and the main water valve into the house. Run every tap, and checks every pipe and tap for leaks. Also make sure the sump pump is in working order.

9. Structure: Examine the foundation for cracks. Some are meaningless, but some are signs of movement. A horizontal crack or a bowed wall can mean foundation movement, sometimes caused by clay soil. In that case, refer the case to a structural engineer.

10. Ventilation and Insulation: Your home inspector should inspect the insulation and vapor retarders in unfinished spaces. Check the ventilation of attics and foundation areas and test mechanical ventilation systems. Also check for absence of insulation in unfinished spaces.

Source: AOL Real Estate News

UCF Orientation Officially Underway!!

Debra Wingo — Thu, 24 May 2007 18:37:00 GMT

Orientation at the University of Central Florida is in full swing. Hundred of students will be gathering at the university's main campus each week for the next three months to begin their academic career at the 5th largest public university in the nation.

Many students are overwhelmed with information at orientation time, particularly information regarding where they will be living over the next year. Choosing where to reside for their first year at a large university is an enormous undertaking.

If you or someone you know is interested in UCF housing options contact Sarah Szatmary at The Selby Group at (407) 482-8225.

Obsession Without Discipline = Chaos

Debra Wingo — Fri, 11 May 2007 12:13:00 GMT

In an article featured in the Orlando Business Journal author Dave Rothfeld shares his theory on success in sales. His daily routine in sales is described as his "obsession". Obsession, he says, is the most crucial word in sales today. Close behind it are two supporting ideas: utilization, and implementation, According to Rothfeld "you have to be dedicated to the idea that you can satisfy a customer with our product or service that you move into a whole new work realm. You must make a commitment and build up a routine that is success-oriented. You must also utilize everything at your disposal and "be obsessive about getting the most from your environment"

To insure you incorporate the three crucial ideas Rothfeld suggests" making a to do list, identify important objectives of the day and be sure they are completed, keep your motivation up, and start early.

Rothfeld's bottom line: Be obsessive but disciplined. Utilize everything you have at your fingertips.