Are Foreclosure a Thing of the Past?

Posted by R_yn5_@_ul on

 

Good Day All,

I hope everyone has had a great week and I’m sure you’re ready for the weekend!  I just wanted to take a moment and provide you a quick real estate update on foreclosures and housing inventory!

We are no longer in a housing recession and don’t maintain an overflow of inventory of homes on the market!  Inventory is so low right now and we need more homes for sale!  An article from Florida Realtors indicates that overall foreclosures are down 78% from the peak of the
foreclosures on the market in 2010. Also, foreclosures are down 15% from year to year.

Have you been telling yourself  “There are tons of foreclosures for sale in Marion County”  or “I want to find a foreclosure because they’re a better deal”? That is simply not the case; overall inventory is low and banks know this!  Therefore, banks want to sell their properties for the same market value of a traditional re-sale.

BUYERS! –  If you are in the market to purchase, call us today! My team checks new inventory everyday and we’re constantly getting new listings to sell!  Please call and give us an opportunity to help you!

SELLERS! – If you have given any consideration to selling your home or property, NOW is the time to do so!! I have buyers just waiting for new inventory to hit the market and I would welcome the opportunity to help you!

As always, if you have any questions or if there is anything we can do to help you, please  contact us today (352) 577-9171 or Info@Search352Homes.com

Is Your Home Smarter Than You?

Posted by R_yn5_@_ul on

 

Good Day All, 

Have you had the chance yet to tour a smart home? It’s crazy to think about all of the technology features that now makes up a home! Maybe you have thought about adding a few smart features to your home, but the cost scares you! Or you could be like me and wonder if a smart home is smarter than you! Here are a few affordable ways to turn your home into a smart home! 

  • Nest Hello Doorbell- Have you seen these yet? They’ve been out for quite a while and I love the idea behind them! If someone rings your doorbell you can download the Nest Hello Doorbell app on your phone and it will send you a picture of the person at your door. What a great feature for when you are not home! 

 

  • Ecobee 3 Smart Thermostat- Adding this smart feature to your home could save you a lot of money on your electric bill! Most of us are away from our homes during the day for work and errands. A lot of times you may think of turning off your A/C while away, but you forget. Now having the Ecobee 3 Smart Thermostat you can control your thermostat anywhere from your smartphone! 

 

  • Amazon Echo- Who doesn’t love speaking to Alexa?!?! Adding this smart feature to your home can help you in so many ways! Alexa can set reminders for you, turn on and off your tv, play music, arm/disarm your security system and so much more! 

 

  • Chamberlain Garage Door Opener- Who else constantly can’t remember if they shut the garage door when leaving their home? Well now you don’t have to worry anymore! This smart feature allows you to see your driveway and garage door from you smartphone. You can also control your garage door from the app! 

 

These are just a few ideas how you can turn your home into a smart home! Please check out more ideas online! As always, if you have any questions or if there is anything Rountree Realty can do to help you please contact us! 

(352) 577-9171 or Info@Search352Homes.com 

June-Closing Statistics

Posted by R_yn5_@_ul on

 

Good Day All, 

We hope everyone had a great 4th of July holiday! It was a great time celebrating with friends and family and hope you were able to enjoy it too! 

I’ve heard so many people recently saying “I’ve heard home sales are up”  “I can’t believe what my neighbor got for their home” “Is it a good time to sell?” If you have thought any of these thoughts the answer is…YES!!! Now is a great time to sell!!! Check out these June closing statistic for parts of Marion County!!! 

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If you’re interested in finding out what your home value is worth call/text me TODAY! June was a great month for real estate in Marion County and I would love to have the opportunity to help you!  

(352) 577-9171 or Info@Search352Homes.com 

 

All data is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed accurate by the Ocala MLS or Rountree Realty Corp. All material presented herein is intended for information purposes only. While this information is believed to be correct, it is represented subject to errors, omissions, changes or withdrawal without notice. All property information is deemed reliable, but should be verified by your own attorney, architect or zoning expert. We are an equal housing opportunity provider. 

 

 

Today’s Real Estate Topic-Flood Zones & Insurance

Posted by R_yn5_@_ul on

 

Good Afternoon All, 

I hope everyone is having a great day! Today, I wanted to discuss flood zones, insurance and why it’s so important to have coverage and do your research. 

Homeowners

-Do you have flood insurance coverage on your property?

-Are you aware that flood zones can change at any time? 

-If you aren’t sure, here is a link to check the flood zone. >>> http://bit.ly/FloodZoneCheck

 

Home Buyers 

-The #1 thing you can do while purchasing a property is to make sure you’re protected. DO YOUR RESEARCH! I cannot tell you how many Realtors do not check permits, foundation issues, flood zones, etc. for their buyers. 

-Like most people, you really aren’t familiar with this process and know how to do this. Make sure you ask your Realtor questions. Don’t be afraid to address potential issues. It’s better to ask before purchasing, then to close on a property and then find out. 

-Of course, flood zones change with time, so use this link to keep checking your property.      >>> http://bit.ly/FloodZoneCheck

-Link to check permits in Marion County >>> http://bit.ly/MarionCountyPermitSearch

-For more information check out this article that Florida Realtors Association posted >>> http://bit.ly/FloodZonesandInsurance

As always if you have any questions, please email Info@Search352Homes.com or Call/Text (352) 577-9171 

Today’s Real Estate Topic – Sellers Property Disclosure

Posted by R_yn5_@_ul on

 

Good Afternoon All, 

I hope your day is off to a great start! After the past couple of days of non-stop rain, I’m sure everyone is ready to enjoy this sunny Florida weather! 

Today, I wanted to talk about the Sellers Property Disclosure form that you may have heard of. At first I thought that was more a topic of discussion for property owners or sellers, but really buyers need to know this topic for when they go to purchase a home. 

Do you think a Sellers Property Disclosure is required in the state of Florida? Meaning, do you think a seller has to provide a property disclosure to a potential buyer? This answer may shock you, but a sellers property disclosure is NOT required in the state of Florida. I will say this though, as Realtors and Real Estate Brokers, we try to do everything we can to protect all parties involved. I know when I’m representing a seller, I strongly encourage them to complete a Sellers Property Disclosure. Also, when I’m working with a buyer and I feel we’re getting to the point where an offer maybe submitted, I also ask the sellers Realtor for a property disclosure. 

Please keep in mind even though a seller is not legally required to complete a Sellers Property Disclosure, a homeowner does have to disclosure facts about the property that would affect the property value. (sinkhole activity, encroachments, systems not working, etc.) 

For more information and insight on Sellers Property Disclosures, please feel free to check out this article that Florida Realtors posted on their website. >>> http://bit.ly/FloridaRealtorsPropertyDisclosure

As always, if you have any questions please feel free to email me at Info@Search352Homes.com or Call/Text (352) 577-9171 

Make it an awesome day!  -Duke 

Get The Most of Your Tax Return-Buy a Home!

Posted by R_yn5_@_ul on

 

Good Afternoon All, 

I hope everyone is having a great start to your Monday! Who has filed their income taxes and is just waiting for your refund to hit their bank account? Have you given any consideration as to what you’re going to do with your tax refund? Here’s an idea for you…INVEST IN YOURSELF AND BUY A HOME!!! Buying a home is one of the best financial decisions you can make! Below are just a few reasons what you should invest in yourself and buy a home NOW! 

1.) Low Interest Rates, BUT on the Rise- The average 30 year fixed interest rate is about 4.5%. This is still incredibly low, but over the past 8 weeks we have been seeing an increase in rates. 

2.) Home Values- Sale prices and home values are on the rise! This is a good thing! We want values to go up gradually which means if you purchase now, hopefully within a year or so you will have positive equity in your home! 

3.) Home Inventory- Most home sellers think about listing their home in the spring. They know the hard Florida winters are behind us and home buyers are ready to purchase! 

4.) More Cash in Your Pocket- Did you know parts of Marion County and surrounding areas qualify for 100% USDA financing? Meaning no down payment for you! Let’s chat on how we can negotiate the seller paying some of your closing cost so at the end, you have keys in your hand with very little money out of pocket! 

5.) Tax Benefits- Have you thought of all of the tax benefits of purchasing a home? Tax write offs, mortgage insurance, homestead tax exemption, etc. I’m sure your accountant will have even more tax benefits for you! 

If you have any questions or want to get started today with your home purchase please contact us. We would love to have the opportunity to help assist you with ALL of your real estate needs. Thank you!

***Tax Season***

Posted by R_yn5_@_ul on

Good Afternoon All, 

I hope everyone is having a great week! We’re right around the corner from tax season. For most people this is a very dreaded time of the year. So much information and knowledge goes into taxes and for some people it can be a little overwhelming. 

Have you given any consideration as to what you’re going to do with your tax return? Maybe you could use your tax return to purchase a home or use it to improve your current home! Today, we’re going talk about Tax Deductions for homeowners and some benefits you may not know of. 

What are some homeowner tax deductions? 

There are several different tax related expenses and deductions for homeowners. Home Office Expenses, Energy Efficient Appliances and Windows, etc.

What are some tax deductions when purchasing a home?  

When you’re purchasing a home there are many different expenses that you can claim as a deduction. For an example, mortgage interest, mortgage points, real estate taxes, moving expenses, etc. 

What are some home owner related expenses that CANNOT be claimed as a deduction? 

Unfortunately here is a list of expenses that cannot be claimed as a tax deduction. Mortgage insurance, homeowners insurance including flood or fire), direct principal payments, remodeling, etc. 

As always I encourage you to consult with a local tax expert or accountant for all tax related questions. I hope everyone has a great rest of your day and weekend! 

-Duke 

 “This blog post is only for general information and Rountree Realty advises readers to contact their local tax expert for all tax questions and filing purposes.”

Ways to Refresh your Home!

Posted by R_yn5_@_ul on

Good Morning All, 

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday! Hopefully you were able to spend a little extra time with friends, family the ones who mean most to you! Now that December is just a couple of days away, Christmas and the rest of the holiday season is on everyone’s mind. One thing homeowners really start to question this time of year is what can I do to refresh or make my home look better for the holidays? Or maybe you’re thinking of putting your home up for sale at the New Year and you want to make sure your home looks it’s best! Here are a few ideas you can use to refresh your home! 

1.) CLEAN OUT YOUR GARAGE!- Maybe you use your garage as an extra seating or entertainment space around the holidays. Or maybe you’re thinking of putting your home on the market at the new year? Cleaning out your garage is a great way to refresh your home! Instead of having a pile of yard tools in the corner of the garage, you can purchase an organizational system or rack for a reasonable price. This will help declutter the space and make it look tidy and clean. 

2.) CHANGE OUT LIGHT FIXTURES!- A very reasonable price idea that will spruce up your home is to change out old light fixtures. Changing out old fixtures will make a huge difference in the way your home looks! Keep an eye out at sidewalk sales and clearance sections at retail stores for great deals on light fixtures! 

3.) PAINT!- What a great way to spruce up your home! Paint is actually very affordable and not a hard weekend project! Maybe the exterior of your home is faded from the sun. Or maybe it has been years since the interior of your home has had a new coat of paint. Grab the paint brushes, get the family together and make a weekend of it! You will be surprised what a difference a new coat of paint will make to your home. 

4.) LANDSCAPING!- The first thing your family, friends or even possible home buyers sees is the entrance to your property and the yard. Whether your yard is completely shaded or in the sun, you can find plants at affordable prices to spruce up your flower beds. Also don’t forget to grab a few bags of mulch to make a bold statement! 

5.) KITCHEN- This is the one space that everyone seems to gather at around the holidays. This is also typically the most important room to homebuyers. A great and very affordable way to add a statement to your kitchen is to add or replace the backsplash! You can purchase backspace and very affordable prices and this will make a HUGE statement to your kitchen. 

I hope you all found these ideas helpful for refreshing your homes! As always if you have any questions or if there is anything I can do to help you with your real estate needs please let me know. 

King Regards, 

Duke Rountree

Home Inspection for Your Home Purchase!

Posted by R_yn5_@_ul on

Good Day All, 

I hope everyone is having a great week! This post is mostly for home buyers or people who might be planning on purchasing a home going into 2018! Once you have found the home you want to purchase and both the buyer and seller have agreed to the terms, your Realtor should give you the opportunity for a home inspection to be completed. 

I typically always recommend for my buyers to have a home inspection completed. This will allow them to evaluate the home inspection report and make sure the condition of the home is satisfactory to them. Shouldn’t you as a buyer have questions for the home inspector? For future home buyers, have you thought of a list of questions to ask your home inspector? Below are a few questions that you may find helpful.  

1.) Are you licensed and insured?

2.) How long have you been a licensed inspector? 

3.) Do you belong to the Better Business Bureau or any other organizations? 

4.) What is included with your home inspection package? (well, septic, gas lines, roof, swimming pools, etc.) 

5.) If repairs are needed, do you charge a re-inspection fee? 

6.) How long before I receive a copy of the home inspection report? (make sure your purchase contract has a enough time for a inspection to be completed) 

7.) How much do you charge for the home inspection? Are there any other fees I should be expecting? 

8.) How do I pay you for the services completed? (Apple Pay, Check, Credit Card, etc.) 

9.) Do you offer any other services? (termite, WDO Inspections, etc.) 

10.) Appx. how long does a home inspection take? (I always recommend my buyers to attend the inspection) 

I hope you find this information helpful. As always if you have any questions about the home buying process, please give me a call/text (352) 572-1739 or email me at Info@HomesForSaleOcalaMarion,com 

-Duke 

 

 

3 Things to Know about the Marion County, Florida Sales Tax Initiative

Posted by Duke Rountree on

 

Marion County Logo

1. Vote: March 15, 2016

2. Why: It’s on the ballot because the Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved putting this sales tax option before county voters. The county is faced with a backlog of projects (e.g., road maintenance and expansion) and equipment needs (e.g., public safety gear and vehicles). These investments were postponed to keep property taxes low during our community’s economic downturn.

3. What it covers: If passed, the 1-percent sales tax would fund specific public safety equipment needs for law enforcement, fire rescue and emergency medical services, as well as transportation capital road projects for Marion County and its municipalities (Belleview, Dunnellon, Ocala, Reddick and McIntosh). The temporary tax would be levied over a period of four years (Jan. 1, 2017-Dec. 31, 2020), and would generate an estimated $166 million over those years.

A sales tax means visitors would help pay for the roads and public safety services they use while in Marion County, since the 1% is levied on purchases, and not properties. 

To read full “Sales Tax Initiative” 

Source: http://marioncountyfl.org/about/board-of-county-commissioners/sales-tax-option