Ocala Real Estate and Community News » Homeowner Tips

12 Tips to Make Your Move Simple and Stress-Free

shultz — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:03:10 +0000

I just read this article in RisMedia and wanted to share it with you. Here is the full article

Art & Brigitte Shultz
The Shultz Team
#1 Team at Re/Max Premier Realty
Ocala, FL
Toll Free: 800-243-4087
Direct: 352-291-1276
Info@OcalaVisualTours.com
www.OcalaVisualTours.com

Is California Leading The Way To Recovery?

shultz — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:08:06 +0000

California usually leads the way for the economic health of our nation. New research from the state with the biggest residential property market shows signs that the housing market could start to rebound very soon. View story here.

You can also review our last statistics update for Ocala Florida Real Estate for April 2009.

Having difficulty in these economic times? Facing foreclosure? If you are in need of help of saving your home from the foreclosure process, please give us a call. We are Short Sale Specialists and may be able to save your credit from the tarnish of a foreclosure. Don’t wait – the sooner we can help you, the better!

For more detailed statistics or a free market analysis, please call or e-mail us.
Info@TheShultzTeam.com or call us direct at 352-291-1276.

Art & Brigitte Shultz
The Shultz Team
#1 Team at Re/Max Premier Realty
Ocala, FL
Toll Free: 800-243-4087
Direct: 352-291-1276
Info@OcalaVisualTours.com
www.OcalaVisualTours.com
* FREE OCALA MOVING TRUCK WHEN YOU BUY OR SELL THROUGH THE SHULTZ TEAM! *

Here Are Some Ways To Increase Your Home’s Value

lheraty — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:55:18 +0000

Making the decision to hire a home inspector before you perform any major remodeling or updating could be one of the most cost-effective things you could do before adding value to your home. The inspector may find a small problem that could morph into something much bigger (and more serious) down the line, such as a termite infestation or a water leak.
Going green has been the latest buzz word lately – and it is not just for saving the environment, going green means you are also saving a lot of money on your household energy bills. Energy efficient homes that have upgraded items such as special windows and/or programmable thermostats, save you money and are a marketable asset. Even if you do not plan on placing your home on the market right away, the re-coup on your savings for the initial costs are usually recovered within a year – depending on what sort of systems you are installing.
Curb appeal is also a big factor in determining your home’s value – if your home looks worn and weather beaten it will look less desirable in this competitive market. Landscape improvements can range from lar shade trees (that also help to keep your home cooler and cut air conditioning costs up to 40%) to well manicured flower beds and programmable irrigation systems timed to the most efficient times of day for watering (and some even come equipped with “rain gauges” that keep your system off if there has been rain. You will not only be adding attractive features to your home, but it will help keep you energy efficient.
Surprisingly enough – your flooring may have a lot to do with your air quality. Many homes are now moving towards solid flooring such as hardwood, tile, laminate and the many updated versions of new vinyl flooring available. These items help keep dust and pet dander to a minimum that normally hides in carpeted floors. Previous water damage can also wreak havoc in your home (and to your body) by harboring mold and mildew spores. With so many different styles and types or flooring to choose from, any home can easily be upgraded to solid flooring. So not only will you be improving your home’s air quality, you will also be adding a feature that requires less maintenance than carpeting. Be sure to check under your old flooring in a test spot – you may just be lucky enough to have hardwood floors underneath!
Its all about the extras… By adding a small luxury item such as a water filtration system, you are adding value to your home and saving yourself money since you will no longer need bottled water. There are also tankless water heaters that require much less energy to keep than the ones that require over a hundred gallons of water to be hot 24 hours a day, you can also include instant hot water at water taps so you do not have to heat up plumbing pipes to put hot water out.
A bright idea – Replace old electrical fixtures such as an old ceiling fan for a newer, more updated-looking model. You may purchase a simple model or a wide range of styles and features to upgraded models such as dimming capabilities, remote controls and even outdoor ceiling fans to keep your covered porches cool in the warm Florida summers. Adding ceiling fans is a quick and inexpensive way to make your home more pleasant on hot days, and will appeal to buyers if you need to sell. Something as easy as turning on a fan and not having to run the air conditioning system to cool the entire house is a lot better option for a homeowner!

If you are thinking about selling your home, or would just like to know what a buyer would be willing to pay for it in today’s market, feel free to get in touch with us to request a free market analysis, we are more than happy to assist you.

You can email us at Info@TheShultzTeam.com or call us direct at 352-291-1276.

Reduce Mortgage Payments – Loan Modification and Refinancing Program

shultz — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:48:54 +0000

After the feds cut interest rates earlier in 2008, our federal government recently launched a new website designed to help homeowners to determine if they are eligible to qualify in the “Making Home Affordable” and loan modification and refinancing program.

Just go to www.MakingHomeAffordable.gov and follow the simple instructions. You may have heard of the $75 billion program designed to help homeowners make their mortgages more affordable or help them refinance if their home is worth less than their current mortgage.

To determine if you qualify, a homeowner should have the following information available.

1. Info about your 1st mortgage (monthly mortgage statement)

2. Info about a 2nd mortgage or home equity line of credit.

3. Credit Card account information (balances and monthly payments)

4. Monthly payments on all other debts like student loans, car loans, etc.

5. Your most recent income tax return.

6. Savings accounts and other assets.

7. Your monthly gross household income (include recent pay stubs or 1099′s).

8. A hardship letter explaining your circumstances that caused your reduced income (like job loss, illness, etc.)

For more information about what is going on in the Ocala/Marion County area, please feel free to review our Ocala Real Estate Statistics for January 2009. If you are looking to sell your home or possibly need a Short Sale Specialist to help you through the short sale process, please fill out our Ocala Real Estate contact form, we are more than happy to assist you.

Water Conservation Is So Important For The Environment – How Can You Help?

lheraty — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 16:00:59 +0000

Want to do something for the environment and just not sure how you can help? People can make small changes in everyday life to reap the benefits of huge water savings. The Environmental Protection Agency’s experts say that not only are our drought-prone states in big trouble with water shortages, but that sooner or later the rest of the country will be affected by shortages as well. Shocking but true: the average American citizen uses 1,600 cups of water per day. To do your part to help conserve this precious resource, here are some tips.

To see if your toilet is leaking water, simply place a drop of food coloring into the tank. If this color shows up in your toilet without flushing, unfortunately you’ve got a leak. Fixing this leak will save you 200 gallons of water per day.
Installing an aerator on kitchen or bathroom faucets cuts water use all the while keeping a smooth and high-pressure flow. Or, go for the gusto and install a high-efficiency shower head.
Install a high-efficiency toilet. They use anywhere between 20% and 60% less water than regular toilets.
Install a water re-circulating pump or even a tankless water heater.
Upgrading to an ENERGY STAR washing machine will save you 7,000 gallons of water per year. This is enough water to fill three backyard swimming pools!
When doing your spring planting, choose low-water use plants as well as drought-tolerant grass, ground covers, shrubs and trees.
Mulching also cuts down on the need to water by keeping that moisture locked in for your plants.
Install timers and rain switches/sensors on your sprinklers.
Consider a drip irrigation system for your garden.

If everyone in the United States installed water-efficient appliances, our country would SAVE 3 trillion gallons of water, which equates to 18 billion dollars per year!

Obama’s Foreclosure-Prevention Plan – Points Of Interest

lheraty — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:00:20 +0000

Some key points on Obama’s foreclosure-prevention plan:

Loan terms may be modified by reducing payments for distressed borrowers
Refinancing for those current on payments, but have little or no equity in their home
Plan starts right away and is strictly for primary residences that are not vacant or condemned.

Call your loan servicer for help to see if you qualify
There are no fees for this type of loan modification
To be eligible, your loan must be owned or guaranteed by a government-backed mortgage company such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac
Modification plan ends on December 31st of 2012
Loans can be modified one time only

More information is available at financialstability.gov

For additional information, please refer to our recent article in regards to reducing your mortgage payments and information on loan modification.

If you are a new buyer and looking to take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit, feel free to fill out our Mortgage Application Form so you can know where you stand in today’s market and what deals you may be able to take advantage of. You can also review Ocala Florida Real Estate Statistic for January 2009.

Ocala FL Pet Owners – A Must Read For Selling A Home With Pets

lheraty — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:08:49 +0000

Here in Ocala, FL we love our pets – and so do you! Living with a pet can be very rewarding, and we know how much pets have become a cherished part of our family. We wanted to offer some pet-friendly homeowner tips for those thinking about putting their property on the market. Any homeowner who shares space with a pet knows that not everyone may be as receptive to them as you are. (They are our babies after all, right?) The following tips are provided to keep your house as clean and fresh-smelling as possible.

The invisible pet. Sometimes owning a pet can put a bad stigmatism on the property for buyers – they may think that the property will smell, carry covered-up pet stains, harbor allergy-inducing dander, chewing/claw damage on floors and baseboards, etc… Sometimes the best remedy for a pet owner is to make the buyers feel as if there was no pet at all. A daily chore to pick up pet bedding, food bowls, hide litter boxes and dispose of “outdoor doggie debris” will appear as if your home never had a pet at all. This will nip those stigmatisms in the bud and allow the buyer to view the home with an open mind.
Pet odors. All types of pet hair has an aroma, most of which homeowners can become desensitized to over time, but are immediately noticeable to those with more finely tuned olfactory senses. Vacuum on a regular basis (at least weekly), even if the pet hair in question matches your furniture and you cannot see it. We promise you, your potential buyers can detect it. There are vacuums on the market made especially for picking up animal hair.
Regular baths. Sorry Fido. This is obvious, but a regularly bathed pet makes for a clean house. Stopping odors at their source is one of the best preventative measures you could possibly take. One pet tip we have found is using a coal-tar shampoo, the shampoo strips hair clean of dirt and oil build-up, the clean scent is long lasting and it is great for keeping their skin healthy. If you would like to do a little extra, you may also opt to condition the pet’s coat – this will prolong those good-smelling aromas.
Nail care. Keeping your pet’s nails trimmed also cuts down on scratched floors and fabrics. It also allows for less dirt to be picked up outside and brought into your home.
Fighting stains. Look into a product known as Crypton. It is a stain-resistant fabric that includes suedes and twills. As always, leather and Ultrasuede are great choices for pet owners as they are less likely to harbor odors. Carpets must be deep-cleaned as opposed to spot-treated. Most marketed carpet cleaners do not get deep into the carpet and/or padding. This means that the stains will lift up from deep within the carpet only to haunt you by returning later. We have had great results with Stanley Steamer carpet cleaners, their commercial shampooing vacuums have the ability to jet in high-powered hot soapy water to blast out the dirt and enzymes, then uses high-power suction to take the dirty wash water away. Spot removers usually just move the dirt around on the carpet and do not actually lift the problem away, thus causing an on-going issue.
Flooring alternatives. If you are deciding on new flooring or an upgrade, nix the wall-to-wall carpeting. Carpet and padding absorb odors, trap pet hair and soak up stains. Hardwood, tile and laminate floors make for easy maintenance and help reduce allergies and are seen as a “plus” over vinyl flooring.
Appropriate toys. Rubber toys are a great alternative to pig’s ears and rawhide bones, especially if you have a mad chewer. Chew toys such as Kongs and Nylabone not only keep your pet busy for long periods of time, have different densities of rubber for different chew power but are better for your pet’s health with no fat and little to no calories. Pig’s ears and certain types of chew bones will most certainly stain your carpet (be sure to read the labels of your pet products).
Pet-sitter. Sometimes the best remedy is to perhaps have a friend or family member “baby-sit” your pet while your home is on the market, this will allow you to clean up pet dander and the odor will be greatly reduced. Remember, not all people are “pet people” and you want the home to show as neutral as possible.

To learn about more interesting things for your home with pets go to www.everydaystudio.com and www.animalhousestyle.com. For more tips on selling your home, feel free to visit our Just For Ocala FL Sellers portion of our website. You will find more information on home selling secrets, free seller reports and request a comparative market analysis to see what your home is worth in today’s Marion County Real Estate Market. Check out our latest Ocala Florida Real Estate Market Statistics as well!

For more detailed statistics or a free market analysis, please call or e-mail us.
Info@TheShultzTeam.com or call us direct at 352-291-1276.

Most Common Mistakes Home Sellers Make

shultz — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 21:23:00 +0000

The Ocala Marion County Real Estate Market may be in the dumpster, but that does not mean houses are not selling. Sellers just have to follow a few simple rules to get the job done.

1. Asking Price too high

A lot of sellers are still stuck in 2005 and 2006 prices and are chasing the market on the way down. In a “down market” you need to price your home “ahead” of the market (which means lower than the last home sold and lower or at least the same where your neighbor’s home is offered for sale) or you risk losing potential buyers. If you price your home according to a sale 6 months or a year ago, you will be overpriced. A good Realtor who is in tune with the current market should be able to help you price your home accordingly.

2. Turning down the Fist Offer

Many Sellers reject their first offer holding out for more money. In a time when credit is tight and loan underwriting guidelines are extremely tough, buyers experience less purchasing power. Remember, your FIRST OFFER may very likely be your BEST OFFER. Most buyers today are very educated and with a record high inventory of homes on the market (especially here in our Ocala/Marion County), they are relentless in getting the best deal and lowest price. Of course sellers should expect to get some low ball offers, but even those, if negotiated properly, may get you moving in the right direction. The faster you sell your home in a declining market, the more money you will realize in the sale.

3. Beware of the Wrong Buyer

Especially now, be selective to whom you agree to sell your home to. As I mentioned before, due to the many loan defaults in the sub prime market, lenders have tightened their guidelines, thus making it more difficult for buyers to obtain a mortgage. A recent pre-qualification letter is imperative.

If possible work with a buyer who has not added any contingencies, like a home to sell.
It is better to look for a first time home buyer with some of their own cash to put down or someone who has already sold their home or at least their home is under contract ready to close.

4. Failing to Respond to Low Ball Offers

So you received an offer that is simply too low? Don’t take it as a personal attack, but rather as a starting point for negotiations. You should not blame the buyer for testing the market. If you were buying, wouldn’t you do the same? And who knows, while negotiating with one party, another offer may come in, which will help you to gain leverage. Now you can tell the brokers, to be competitive to bring you their buyer’s best offer.

It is best at this time not to get too self confident. Sellers need to set a realistic bottom price they are willing to take, even if it is below their expectations.

5. Staging your Home

Show your home off in its best light. Especially in a slow market take a critical look at your home and look at it from a buyer’s perspective. Does the outside of the house need attention like pressure washing or a fresh coat of paint, sprucing up the landscaping? Do the walls need to be painted? Pack up most family knickknacks and store extra furnishings to make the rooms give the feeling of more space. Finally, make necessary repairs before putting your home on the market. If you take care of the small things, buyers feel confident the big things (like roof, AC and Heater) are in good repair.

If you would like any more assistance with selling your home, please feel free to browse our dedicated “Just for Sellers” page created just for you! We look forward to hearing from you! Click to browse our last blog post in regards to Ocala Florida Real Estate Statistics for September 2008 to let you know where you stand in today’s market or our 5 Selling Secrets every seller should know!

We also offer many Home Selling Articles & Advice as well. If you have any questions about your material, or how we may help you sell your home, please feel free to contact our office at any time!

Marion County Florida Tax Relief Information

shultz — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:58:00 +0000

Here is some more information for you about the upcoming tax changes for Marion County, FL:

On January 29, Florida voters approved Amendment 1 that provides additional tax relief to property owners. The Amendment has four provisions. Below is the information you need to know about each provision:

1. Doubling the Homestead – this allows an additional exemption of $25,000 to apply to the value between $50,000 and $75,000. For instance: for a home valued at $72,000, the first $25,000 is tax exempt; taxes are due on the second $25,000. Then, $22,000 would be tax exempt as that’s the amount that’s more than $50,000. The additional $25,000 exemption would be applied to all levies with the exception of school districts.Filing Information – NoneAction Required – No action required by the property owner.

2. Portability – this allows homestead property owners to transfer up to $500,000 of their Save-Our-Homes benefits within 1 year and not more than 2 years after relinquishing their previous homestead. If the homestead is more valuable than the old homestead, a taxpayer can transfer the entire old CAP dollar amount (up to $500,000 CAP transfer). If a taxpayer downsizes, the percentage of protection will transfer to the new homestead. In other words, if they had 50% protection before, they will have 50% protection in the new downsized home (up to $500,000 CAP transfer).Filing Information – To qualify for this benefit for 2008 you must have received homestead exemption on your previous Florida property for 2007 and be claiming homestead exemption on your new property for 2008.Action Required – Complete steps 1 through 5 on DR501T form and return it to the property appraiser’s office by March 1, 2008. Click here for Form DR501T.pdf

3. TPP $25,000 Exemption – this grants a new $25,000 exemption for tangible personal property. Filing Information – To qualify for the exemption a 2008 Tangible Personal Property Tax Return is required to be filed. The filing deadline is April 1, 2008. Action Required – Taxpayer must file a Tangible Personal Property Return DR405 or if they filed a 2007 Tangible Personal Property Return they can file a DR-405EZ Return instead. Once you file the DR-405EZ Return you will not be required to file a Tangible Personal Property Return in future years unless your value exceeds $25,000.Click here for form DR-405EZ.pdf.

4. Non-Homestead 10% CAP – this limits assessment increases for specified non-homestead real property except for school district taxes. Non-homestead properties will be capped at 10%. This non-homestead CAP would have a based year of 2008 and the CAP would apply in 2009. Properties may be assessed at Just Value following a change in ownership. The 10% CAP on non-homesteads would be applied to all levies with the exception of school districts. Filing Information – NoneAction Required – No action required by the property owner.

Information Provied By Marion County Property Appraisers

DIRECT LINK:

http://www.pa.marion.fl.us/