If your home is on the market, you better make it easy for buyers to see!I was showing homes yesterday and I had problems showing 3 of the 7 homes I was to show my buyers. At the first home, the home owner was there and unaware of the showing. I guess the realtor never told them. (It's never a good idea to have the home owner at home when the buyers are there.) The whole situation was awkward and the buyers just rushed through the home.At the second home, there was a combination lock box on the home. When I opened it up, there was no key inside......how am I suppose to get into the house? I am sure the home owner removed the key. With combination lock boxes, home owners can open them......actually, in my opinion; they are completely unsafe because ANYONE can open them. With electronic l... 03/11/2008

I must admit that it is a challenging time to be selling your home. Improve your odds of selling your home in today's buyer's market with the following tips:1. Be motivated! There are many homes listed right now. If you don't need to sell, then don't. Ask yourself: Why am I selling?2. Condition. Gone is the day where the buyer wants to fix up a home. If it's broken, fix it. If it's not neutral, make it. Why should a buyer buy your home over another. Contact me for staging tips.3. Price it right! What does that mean...........be prepared to list your home 10% below other comparables. Next, be prepared to lower the price every couple of weeks. Contact me for a CMA. (Comparative Market Analysis)4. Hire a REALTOR! Call me at (407) 580-7011 to schedule your marketing consultation. 03/11/2008

Weak Economic Reports Drive Mortgage Rates Downward According to Freddie Mac's Weekly Survey Freddie Mac today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.03 percent with an average 0.5 point for the week ending March 6, 2008, down from last week when it averaged 6.24 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.14 percent.The 15-year FRM this week averaged 5.47 percent with an average 0.5 point, down from last week when it averaged 5.72 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.86 percent. Five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) averaged 5.34 percent this week, with an average 0.5 point, down from last week when it averaged 5.43 percent. A year ag... 03/07/2008

Don't Get Caught In Mortgage FraudIt's like a Train Wreck. Mortgage fraud is among the top concerns of those investing in real estate. If you get caught in a mortgage fraud scheme it can create a financially painful and emotionally distressing situation. While there are many reputable and trustworthy mortgage providers, the lengthy documents filled with legal jargon make conditions ripe for misunderstandings. So before you sign, consider the following:1. Read every page of every document. 2. Sign documents only after seeing that the original and the copy contain the same contents. Be sure to get your copy. 3. Make sure there is no false or even slightly fibbed information on your loan paperwork. 4. Check the license background of your broker. 5. Ask how much your mortgage broker is earn... 03/07/2008

Mortgage rates dropMortgage rates sank this week, reflecting investors' worries about the country's economic health.Freddie Mac, the mortgage company, reported Thursday that 30-year fixed rate mortgages averaged 6.03 percent for the week ending March 6. That was down from last week's 6.24 percent, which had been the highest in more than three months."Weak economic reports that indicated declines in the job market, slowing in manufacturing and low consumer confidence drove bond yields lower this week and mortgage rates followed," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac's chief economist. "Interest rates for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages are now at the same levels as they were two weeks ago, erasing last week's upward jump."Other mortgage rates also fell this week.Rates on 15-year, fixed-rate mort... 03/07/2008

Home foreclosures hit record highHome foreclosures soared to an all-time high in the final three months of 2007 and probably will keep rising, evidence of homeowners' suffering and the economic danger from the meltdown.The Mortgage Bankers Association said Thursday the proportion of all mortgages that slipped into foreclosure set a record, 0.83 percent, from October through December. The previous high, 0.78 percent, came in the July-through-September period."Clearly it's the worst it's been," At the same time, more homeowners fell behind on their monthly payments.The delinquency rate - when payments are at least 30 days past due - for all mortgages climbed to 5.82 percent, the higher since 1985. The rate was 5.59 percent in the third quarter last year.Homeowners with tarnished credit wh... 03/07/2008

Jerry LaRose | Keller Williams Classic Realty | jerry@jerrylarose.com | 407-580-7011 12873 Penshurst Ln., Windermere, FL FANTASTIC DEAL in highly sought after Windermere. Owner Re-Locating. Impressive kitchen - family room: 42" cherry cabinets w/ glass inserts, upg 3 Bdrm Single Family House offered at $289,900 Year Built 2004 Sq Footage 2,151 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 2 full, 0 partial Floors Unspecified Parking 2 Car garage Lot Size Unspecified HOA/Maint $75 per month DESCRIPTION FANTASTIC DEAL in highly sought after Windermere. Owner Re-Locating. Impressive kitchen - family room: 42" cherry cabinets w/ glass inserts, upgraded GE profile appliances. Formal Living and Formal Dining Rooms . Family room opens to kitchen & family dining area and has access to rear covered porch. Bonus Room, O... 03/06/2008

Washington Report: HUD Unveils Proposed Changes to Mortgage Process Published: March 3, 2008Within days, the federal department of Housing and Urban Development plans to unveil sweeping proposed changes to the American mortgage application process and real estate settlement system.The rule changes are the end-product of HUD's five-year effort to streamline mortgage disclosures, promote comparison shopping by loan applicants, and to stamp out eleventh-hour surprises at closings -- where fees come in hundreds or thousands of dollars higher than initial estimates.Realty Times obtained a point by point summary of the proposals in advance of their official release by HUD. The changes are designed to radically overhaul the current, much-criticized "Good Faith Estimates" (or GFE) disclosures a... 03/03/2008

WASHINGTON -- Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke Wednesday delivered an economic forecast fraught with risks from housing, labor and credit markets, suggesting policymakers remain on track to lower interest rates further next month. Meanwhile, Mr. Bernanke indicated that inflation risks are more two-sided, though skewed slightly to the high side -- a nod to the stagflationary mix of weak growth and rising price data of late.But Mr. Bernanke made it clear where the Fed's main worries lie. "It is important to recognize that downside risks to growth remain," Mr. Bernanke told members of the House Financial Services Committee.http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120412412525296845.html?mod=hpp_us_whats_newsAbout the author:  Jerry LaRose is an Orlando Area Residential Real Estate Expert, who ... 02/28/2008

Yes, Florida is on-sale. Orlando is one of the best cities for bargain hunters.According to Forbes magazine Orlando is one of the top ten markets for home bargain hunters. Here they are:1. Salt Lake City, UtahOf the major metros in the U.S., Salt Lake City is adding jobs faster than anywhere. The economic boom in SLC has drawn residents from all over the country, and more than a few home builders trying to make a profit in these otherwise woeful times. Housing supply has gone up quickly, and there hasn't been a high rate of foreclosure.2. Raleigh, N.C.Raleigh is another market that has been driven by job growth. Like much of the Southeast, the expanding economy here has kept people moneyed enough to make home payments. According to RealtyTrac, there is only one foreclosure per 319 house... 02/28/2008

There are some important deadlines approaching with regard to provisions of Amendment 1.What you should do to receive benefits of Amendment 1 To receive some of the benefits of the changes enacted January 29th, certain citizens must take action by March 1, 2008. The Constitutional amendment created four new opportunities for taxpayers to obtain tax relief: 1. Increased homestead exemption 2. Portability of "Save our Homes" benefit 3. $25,000 exemption for tangible personal property 4. 10% annual assessment limitation for non-homestead property What taxpayers must do to receive these new benefits: 1. Increased homestead exemption - Homeowners that are currently receiving the homestead exemption will automatically receive the increased homestead exemption. No action is necessary. 2. Porta... 02/27/2008

Though the national index figures reflect the illusion we most favor -- a steady and virtually guaranteed rise in home prices -- a very different picture emerges when you examine price indexes by state or metropolitan area. Here are some examples.In Houston, the first Texas city to fall in the oil bust, the home-price index peaked at 108.5 in 1983. It also bottomed early, hitting 81.5 in 1987. But it was a long bottom: The index didn't recover to its 1983 level until 1997. So recovery from the market top took a full 14 years. San Antonio peaked in 1984 at 109.7, didn't bottom out until it hit 82.5 in 1990 and didn't recover to its old high until 1995, a period of 11 years. Austin peaked in 1986 at 100.1, falling to 72.7 in 1991 and reaching recovery in 1994, about eight years. Dallas a... 02/26/2008

No one knows. What's clear, however, is that a seller's disaster may be a buyer's opportunity. A Florida retirement may now represent an opportunity to exchange a high-priced home elsewhere for a bargain-priced home in sunny Florida. However universal the decline, this isn't bad news for everyone. It means a half-empty glass for sellers. But it may also mean a half-full glass for buyers. An opportunity checklist Here is a precautionary list for bargain hunters.A bargain is about more than price. If the property is an ugly dog, it doesn't matter how low the price is, don't buy it. Remember, many of these houses and condos were built by brainless builders funded by nitwit lenders. Avoid developments that are not yet complete. You don't know how, when or if the project will be finished. E... 02/26/2008

How do you quickly and easily prepare a home to sell without breaking the bank? Let's jump see... 1. Remember the Masses - Rule # 1 and # 2, I consider the Golden Rules of home staging because this is what separates "home staging" from interior decorating. Interior decorating takes into consideration the personal tastes, personality and preferences of the home owner whereas "home staging" focuses on creating a valuable marketing commodity so that it appeals to the general home buyer who is trying to visualize themselves in the home. Unlike the home seller who is emotionally invested in the home, a Professional Home Stager is trained to see the home is an objective and critical buyer would so that they can position it to the best of it's ability by focusing on rule #2 2. Keep to the Cos... 02/26/2008

****YES**** SOLD Today Orlando, Lake Nona Area Home Jerry LaRose | Keller Williams Classic Realty | jerry@jerrylarose.com | 407-580-7011 5011 Coveview Dr., Saint Cloud, FL PRE-FORECLOSURE, PRICE REDUCED FOR QUICK SALE and/or SELLER WILL CONSIDER LEASE PURCHASE. Never occupied. Like-New in Gated community. Engle Home King 4 Bdrm Single Family House offered at $499,900 Year Built 2005 Sq Footage 3,310 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 3 full, 1 partial Floors 2 Parking 3 Car garage Lot Size Unspecified HOA/Maint $58 per month DESCRIPTION PRE-FORECLOSURE, PRICE REDUCED FOR QUICK SALE and/or SELLER WILL CONSIDER LEASE PURCHASE. Never occupied. Like-New in Gated community. Engle Home Kingston Plus Model. Granite counters, Stainless Steel upgraded appliances, 18x18 tile, downstairs Mastersuite, premium WA... 02/21/2008