Hernando County Realtor® Plays Watchful Role in Appraisals

What A Good Spring Hill Florida Realtor Should Do®  – Take Control At Appraisal Time

 Hernando County Realtors®  Should Keep Active During Appraisals

 

Hernando County Homes For Sale

Spring Hill Florida

It may be a fundamental element in nearly two-thirds of every residential real estate transaction, yet when you think about buying or selling a Hernando County home, it’s not likely to be your major focus. Important though it may be, for most people, the appraisal process seems like a mere formality. After all, haven’t the seller and buyer already agreed to the deal? What’s left to do, other than dot the I’s and cross the T’s?

Of course, if you are a cash buyer, you can choose to skip the appraisal altogether. If so, congrats – you are ready to buy as soon as you find the right property! But for the rest of us, if a loan is involved, so too is the lender’s appraisal – or appraisals.  Yet many real estate agents are not a part of this element.

The entire transaction hinges upon its success because the lender needs assurance that the property has at least the agreed value. If the home doesn’t comp out, the bank will not fund the loan.

When it comes to the appraisal, I will admit to being one Realtor who favors the proactive approach. One way to help assure the right outcome at appraisal time is for your Realtor to meet the appraiser at the property — armed with a package of comparables that support the agreed-upon price. Most appraisers may have uncovered the same comps already, but that’s not always the case. If my seller has completed upgrades or improvements, I also like to bring proof to help justify a higher price. Making the appraiser’s job easier is an important part of a Realtor’s job.

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As a trusted Realtor in Spring Hill Florida, I’ve found that taking an active role during appraisal is an important way to protect my client’s interests. It’s a commitment I make to help insure that each and every closing finishes as planned.

If this winter finds you looking for a Hernando County Realtor who will be by your side from start to finish — drop me an email, or give me a call!

 

 

Tina Fingerman Realtor

Looking For A Great Realtor In Spring Hill FL?  Call Tina Fingerman Today!

 

 

 

Tina Fingerman

Agent Trust Realty

727-946-2348 Cell

                                                  352-688-7022 Office

www.AgentTrustHernando.com

®Realtor is a trademark of the National Association of Realtors

Hernando County Real Estate 2013: The Year We Get Off Our Hands

Real Estate Forecasters See Home Loan Leap In The Real Estate Market Including Hernando County Real Estate Markets Like Spring Hill Florida

Hernando County Real Estate

Spring Hill Florida Real Estate

The holiday décor is down; neighborhood kids are back in school; January’s social calendar looks amazingly clear (compared with the previous two months, anyway)… so, what now?  One suggestion I might offer: put some serious thought into acting on those financial New Year’s resolutions – at least the ones dealing with your Hernando County real estate plans.

Doing so would dovetail nicely with my own New Year’s prediction, one I share with many credible real estate watchers:

2013 is the year buyers and sellers are going to really get serious about real estate.

According to Money Magazine on CNN’s website, the housing market rebound is here. Among other sources, they site the Mortgage Bankers Association forecast that “more and more house hunters will start coming off the sidelines.” They expect total dollars going to new home loans to jump a heart-thumping 55%!

Hernando County Homes For Sale

Spring Hill Florida Real Estate

For five years, Hernando County Real Estate owners have weathered the storm of the credit crisis as well as could be expected; then came marked improvement in 2012.  At last count, there were approximately 1.8 million homes for sale nationwide (half the number at the market’s deepest divot).

While no one expects real estate prices to see crazy red-hot double-digit increases in 2013, it is encouraging to see the worst in the rear-view mirror.  And with optimism about residential real estate now broadening into general public awareness, we seem to be looking at a fresh arena for homeowners who are finally able to consider selling again…and for buyers who are past waiting for ‘the bottom’.

The message to prospective Hernando County home buyers and sellers this January echoes the sentiment of Money magazine, which answered the question, “Why, as a prospective home seller or buyer, you need to stop sitting on your hands”!

Whether or not your own New Year’s resolutions involve Spring Hill Florida real estate, it is a propitious time to give me a call. We can start the conversation about your real estate goals and how current 2013 market opportunities fit them!

Tina Fingerman Realtor

Looking For A Great Realtor In Spring Hill FL

Tina FingermanAgent Trust Realty

727-946-2348 Cell352-688-7949 Office

Spring Hill Florida Home Listings Reflect 2013 Buying Trends

 

Hernando County Real Estate For Sale

Home Listings In Spring Hill FL Track Shift in Buyers’ Focus

2012 Spring Hill Florida Home Listings Tell a Tale

 

Homeowners who are puzzling over whether to add their property to the Spring Hill Florida home listings this winter (rather than hold back until spring) have more than just timing to factor into their decision. How their offering will stack up alongside the other home listings is a prime consideration.Sell A Home In Spring Hill Florida

The residential market has made good progress this year – and a strong majority of pundits expect more of the same for 2013. I deal with the home-buying public all the time, and so get an inside look and listen to what features and qualities wind up having the greatest impact on their buying decisions. Another way is to survey home listings across the nation to track buying trends: the features highlighted in home listings are just about the most market-sensitive indicator of all.

A look at those home listings throughout the past year can be summed up briefly: Homebuyers wanted relatively smaller homes, manageability, lower property taxes and utility bills — in short, they gravitated toward properties that looked as if they would minimize expenses after buying as well as in the purchase itself.

Associated prominent features dealt with location in a number of ways. “Within walking distance” was a frequently appearing phrase. “Walk Score” came into new prominence — to schools, coffee shops, grocery stores, or parks.  Importance of financial stability in the surrounding neighborhood can be implied from a number of popular phrases, and I can vouch for that in the attention I saw paid to various areas’ foreclosure rates.Hernando County Real Estate IPHONE

Practically every homebuyer will still be looking for a good deal, but in 2013, we can expect increasing attention to the intangible of future value.

If you are considering selling your Spring Hill Florida home any time in 2013, now is the time to begin putting the idea into action.  Understanding buyers’ needs is a sound first step toward placing your home in position to stand out in the Spring Hill Florida home listings — and I am standing by this year to help you do it!

 

 

Tina Fingerman Realtor

Tina Fingerman

Agent Trust Realty

4117 Mariner Blvd.

Spring Hill FL, 34609

Office 352-688-7022

Cell     727-946-2348

Search The MLS In Spring Hill FL – See The Trend In Hernando County Real Estate

Shift in Features Reveal Spring Hill FL  Homebuyer Trends

MLS Listings Tell Shift in Hernando County Homebuyer Values

Check Spring Hill FL MLS Listings To Discover Value Shift

 

ATR-Selling-Hernando-1725The latest indications that we have seen the end of the sagging real estate market have started some Hernando County homeowners thinking it may be time to sell. For those who are wondering if the long recession has altered how people look for homes – and if so, in what ways  – we’ve noticed a couple of new trends.

As before, the first stop for most potential buyers is the Spring Hill FL MLS listings. When you compare the language and features most prominent there, huge changes do not leap out. But a comparison with former language does reveal something of a shift in emphasis: many details that highlight opulence (to some, excess) are being replaced by features much more in tune with practicality and efficiency (to some, frugality). You would expect that, since consumer confidence is still less than robust.

The trend to open floor plans is nothing new: fewer walls; more living is an idea many buyers embrace. The more casual “great room” is almost always more desirable to today’s buyer than the formal living and dining rooms of 30 years ago. e-harp-family

As the baby-boomer generation grows older, issues of accessibility and mobility become more important.  Spring Hill FL  MLS listings that boast easy-access showers, baths, bedrooms and kitchens are highly desired and sought after by buyers in that populous group. Such listings signal a home already equipped for easy access — meaning no extra dollars will be needed for retrofitting the property. Even for those who have no immediate need for those features, eliminating a future expense (even if it seems a distant concern) can be attractive.

Prominence is growing for features that relate to extra living space. The demographic reasons are clear: in-law apartments or bachelor studios have added value for families whose children may have to move back in with them (the “boomerang” effect).  Since such units may be rented for extra income in tough times, they bring an added element of financial security.  Large garages fall into this category as well (but no longer for that brand-new Hummer!)  Today’s MLS listings featuring an extra large garage are viewed as desirable by Spring Hill FL  buyers looking to convert it into extra useable space: man-cave, gym, extra storage, or, increasingly, home office space.

Agent Trust Side 202-134-HernandoToday’s homebuyer seems considerably more environmentally conscious than heretofore. Homes that feature solar panels, green toilets or other water-efficient plumbing, and radiant light windows are increasingly desirable. This may be due to growing social responsibility — but I’d bet that reduced utility bills can’t be far behind. As a result, green technology features are working their way up in Spring Hill FL MLS listings.

If you are looking to buy or sell a home in Hernando County and would like to review where the latest trends point, do give me a call!  As always, I’m here for all your real estate needs,

Selling a Hernando County Home Starts with Some Basics

Profit from Early Decisions When Selling a House

Selling a House In Spring Hill Florida Means Nimble Decision-Making

 

According to a recent survey, nine out of ten REALTORS® believe that clients who make improvements before selling a house are more likely to secure a successful sale. Why, you may wonder, would anyone take the trouble to run a survey to discover anything that obvious? Possibly because of a follow-up question Realty Times came up with: 65.9% of real estate agents – virtually two out of three – agree that a common mistake among homeowners is not making “the right” home improvements for the Hernando County Real Estate Market.

Uh-oh! Remodeling in the wrong direction can cost you twice! If it’s such a common mistake, it’s safe to say it might be best to consult an agent before rolling up your sleeves (or opening your checkbook). Active Hernando County agents are constantly noting what features are popular with prospective buyers and which improvements are making a difference in today’s market. Knowing what sells — and why — is fundamental information when home improvement decisions are about to be made.

Also important is the changing nature of an effective marketing roll out. Yesterday’s sign on the front lawn and paragraph in the newspaper are no longer sufficient. Pocket listings, preview open houses, and social media promotion are all elements that now can be brought into a multi-tiered marketing plan geared to create awareness (“buzz”) around a property’s debut.

 

Yet, the new market retains at least one unchanging fundamental. To achieve the highest return when selling a house in Spring Hill Florida, it has to be priced right. Real estate commentator Barbara Corcoran puts it succinctly:You could spend all the money in the world fixing up and marketing your house,” she says, “but the wrong price on the right house guarantees no sale.”

If you are thinking of selling a house in Hernando County this winter, I’m here to help you meet that goal. Contact me to get started on a marketing plan that sets it in motion!

Tina Fingerman

Agent Trust Realty

4117 Mariner Blvd.

Spring Hill FL, 34609

352-688-7022

727-946-2348

Don’t Overdo Your Hernando County Open House

When It’s To Have An Open House In Spring Hill FL, Don’t Overdo!

Hernando County Open House Time is Teamwork Time

Spring Hill Florida Real Estate

According to the best estimate, something like 45% of home buyers use an open house viewing before making their purchase decision. I think that sounds about right – it might even be higher here in Spring Hill Florida. With such a high proportion of serious prospects choosing to drop by an open house, it’s important that we – client and agent — get it right. Under-preparing is seldom an issue: we all want to put our best foot forward when we invite the public into our home.

Yet while it may be tempting to go into overdrive for that preparation, overdoing it can be a problem, too – one that can actually turn off buyers. Some guidelines worth noting:

·         Avoid Information Overload.  It’s common practice to set out a few brochures or pamphlets that let potential buyers know something about the area. But if your flier presentation looks like it belongs in the Florida Tourist Welcome Center, or you’ve put together a local restaurant guide that comes off like a comprehensive college prospectus, your buyer may not have enough time to focus on the home while there.

·         Don’t Kill the Mood. Like many agents, I like to try to set a certain ambiance for potential buyers attending an open house. Yet I also know that when a potential buyer walks through a Spring Hill FL home, he or she needs to be able to project a personal image of the future onto it. In practice, this means that soft music is nice — top 40 is too much.  Subtle and neutral details are a plus: too much color or too many photos can be overkill.  To cater to all demographics, be sure the house is clean and uncluttered — as minimalistic as practical.

·         Keep Refreshments to a Minimum. Ensuring that potential buyers feel comfortable in your open house is the goal, so you and your agent need to draw a line between hosting a mini-buffet and being gracious but businesslike hosts.  You want to provide pleasant and positive refreshments, but an elaborate spread taking over the kitchen and wafting all variety of aromas through the house is distracting. I’ve always been a fan of the classic cheese and crackers display (though I’ve sometimes found it appropriate to add a cookbook propped open to bring to emphasize an especially well thought-out kitchen design).

When you plan your own Spring Hill FL open house, you and your agent should make the most of the strong points of your offering – being careful not to upstage them. Call me anytime if you are looking for one of those kinds of agents. I am one who will be your strong partner from the moment you list until the last closing doc is signed!

Hernando County Real Estate

Tina Fingerman

Agent Trust Realty

4117 Mariner Blvd

Spring Hill FL, 34609

352-688-7022 Office

727-946-2348 Direct

Need A Good Realtor In Hernando County- Here Is How To Find One

How To Spot a Great Hernando CountyRealtor®

Three Characteristics Great Hernando County Realtors® Share

When you want to sell your house, you want it to bring in top dollar. That means you want to find a Realtor in Spring Hill Florida who has the characteristics of a top performer. He or she may or may not have last month’s highest sales volume, may or may not have page after page of onscreen MLS listings. However, there are characteristics you can look for that are bound to point to the best candidate to represent your home in your neighborhood.

1) Understanding You: the Client

I agree withRealtor Magazine:

“One of the strongest ways to increase likability and foster a connection is to demonstrate that [the Realtor] understands someone else’s needs, and is happy to help fulfill them.”

A great Realtor in Spring Hill Florida is inherently a great salesperson, and as such, automatically adapts his or her selling skills to each client. The evidence comes through demonstrating that if the need arises to step back, he or she will do so. Likewise, when a client needs a push, he or she knows how to give them that push — gracefully.

You can test this. When you are interviewing to find a Realtor, don’t just quietly nod and agree with everything you hear. Offer a few objections, even if they are only theoretical. See how seamlessly the candidate handles the change of direction. The ability to discern and adapt to various types of clients is the same ability that will help a skilled Realtor present a positive impression of your property.

2) Selling Advice

It is essential to find a Realtor in Spring Hillwho is a true professional – one who has the ability to approach your home from an unbiased perspective. Being able to provide analytical, accurate and fact-based market information is vital. It is this ability that is the basis for establishing a market position that helps sell your house for its maximum value…and in the shortest timeframe.

3) Negotiation

A great Realtor is able to successfully negotiate price and terms between you and your buyer. No matter what, there is likely to be an emotional component involved, so maximum success takes not only keen business acumen, but strong intrapersonal skills, too.

When you are ready to find a Realtor for your Hernando County property, look for experience, a full skill set, and confidence. Add in a touch of panache, and together you will make up a team that is fully armed to come to market. I hope you will consider me for your candidate list: I work tirelessly to help every one of my clients meet their own selling goals. Give us a call to hear what my marketing plan can do for you.

Agent Trust Realty

4117 Mariner Blvd.

Spring Hill FL, 34609

352-688-7022

727-946-2348

Short Sales Becoming Easier For Hernando County Home Owners Who Are Underwater

Looking For Short Sale Help In Manatee County, Thinking About Doing A Short Sale In Hernando County?

Agent Trust Realty in Manatee County and Hernando County can help you with your Short Sale. Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Have Made Short Sales Easier.

This Is Good News For Folks In Bradenton Thinking About A Short Sale, Its Also Great News For People In Spring Hill Florida Who Have Tried A Short Sale In The Past And Found It Too Difficult As That Is No Longer The Case. Need Exper Advise About The Short Sale Process In Sarasota, Manatee Or Hernando County.

Call The Short Sale Experts At Agent Trust Realty At:

352-688-7022 Or 941-907-9444.

For More Information Please Also Visit:

www.AgentTrustLakewoodRanch.com or www.AgentTrustHernando.com

 

Traps a Hernando County Real Estate First Time Buyer Should Look For

Looking Out For Common First Time Buyer Missteps

 

No matter how broad your previous life experiences may have been, buying a home is a very big deal. For a first time buyer, whether here in Spring Hill FL or anywhere else, the impact of that life-changing purchase is doubly impactful. It affects different people in different ways, but after the dust clears, there is one emotion I never want my Hernando County first-time buyer clients to feel: remorse.

You might think that the size of the transaction makes it wildly unlikely that even a first time buyer would overlook any major missteps. After all, when you are new to such an important purchase, you are bound to be extra cautious. Yet when you consider the challenging distractions along the way (going through your first mortgage approval process; scraping together a down payment; learning how inspections proceed, etc.) it’s easy to see how they can trip up a first time buyer. Getting any one of them dealt with can become a main preoccupation…so much so, that seemingly minor issues get overlooked. It’s part of my job to do my best to see that my Hernando County first time buyer clients stay vigilant on all fronts.

Common concerns to watch for:

Foundation Problems Related To SinkHole Activity – The true frustration of dealing with a home with foundation problems is something a first time buyer may not fully appreciate. They aren’t for the faint of heart (or the faint of pocket book).  Foundation problems can cost $50,000 for even a simple fix — but a first time home buyer usually doesn’t have that expectation. If an inspection reveals any sort of foundation issue, it’s an absolute ‘must’ to call in the experts to assess the severity of the problem – no matter what the time pressures may be. A search through public record and permiting records can help quickly identify any previous settlement issues which may have been recorded in the county. Keep in mind however, if a home has been remediated, the seller must be able to provide a full engineering completion report. In those cases, assuming the documentation is proper, its a pretty safe bet that the issue has been resolved and there will not be a future worry. Expert advise and reviews are also the proper course of action, the Team at Agent Trust has extensive knowledge in this area so dont hesitate to ask any questions you may be thinking.

Faulty Siding –  Expensive to fix and ugly to look at, improperly-installed siding was a big problem in the 1980s and 1990s. While many of those issues have been addressed by now, bad siding can still plague a new homeowner.  Believe it or not, it can cost as much as $25,000 to $150,000 to replace. Anyone considering a home built in the 80’s or 90’s should be sure to pay extra attention to the siding during inspections.

Special Assessments – Real Estate Agents in Hernando County and all areas for that matter dread seeing the words “special assessment” on a listing: these are additional costs to a homeowner in a condo or homeowners association that any project, repair or unexpected cost can trigger.  The cost to re-side a condominium complex, for example, can easily run into the $100,000 range, typically divided among the homeowners.

Rental Homes In Hernando County- Hot Market After Foreclosure Uptick

 

Rental Homes Uptick Follows Foreclosure Glut

Foreclosures Draw Hernando County Real Estate Investors’ Attention

The housing market’s new signs of recovery are accompanied by continued life in the rental homes investment market. Alert investors picked up on the earlier foreclosure epidemic – especially this year’s income stream-producing variety. ‘Buy low, sell high’ had largely become ‘buy low, rent high’ as rising rental rates met swooning residential prices. Although housing’s bottom appears to have been reached and newly reversed, Hernando County Real Estate rental homes rates are still subject to the general uptick. In short, opportunities for investors remain.

We’ve talked about the topic earlier, but for those who missed it, here’s a thumbnail review:

The foreclosure market draws attention.

This spring, newspapers like the L.A. Times widely trumpeted the investment rush that was underway due to the raft of nationwide foreclosures. Data tracker CoreLogic predicted a market that could be “worth $100 billion in terms of rental investments” for 2012. The idea was to “get your hands on a great foreclosure deal” with the long term in mind. Many investors did take them up on it, usually realizing the intended results. For most investors who continue to keep tabs on Spring Hill Florida rental homes market, the most common strategy remains buying low, then making the repairs necessary to rent high.

Rental home rental rates climb.

Although you’d usually expect an inverse relationship between home prices and rental rates, the signs of an apparent turnaround in the Hernando County Real Estate homes market doesn’t seem to have had much of an impact on the rate of rental increases. If that holds, it means that buying rental homes in Spring Hill FL as an investment could continue to produce for the foreseeable future – depending, of course, on keeping them occupied by quality tenants. Which finally leads us to….

Increase in renters

As part of the fallout from the financial crisis and maddeningly slow recovery we are still experiencing, a continuing stream of those forced to default on their mortgage payments have joined the ranks of renters – many of them high quality tenants. That’s an added incentive to Hernando County rental homes investors, allowing them to feel more comfortable spending on the repairs often needed to turn foreclosures into a desirable rental homes.