***July Closing Statistics***

 

Good Morning All, 

Happy August Everyone! It’s hard to believe that summer is almost over and the kids will be heading back to school in a week or so! Don’t worry,  the sunshine and warm weather will be sticking around a little longer! 

Here are some July closing statistics for certain cities in NE Marion County. 

 

As always if you have any questions or if you’re interested in finding out what your property is worth please give me a call today! (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. 

Hurricane Season!

 

Good Day All, 

I hope everyone is having a great week! I’m sure with all of the storms we’ve had the past week or so, two words have come to mind. HURRICANE SEASON! It’s hard to believe, but hurricane season is upon us. Are you prepared for the 2018 hurricane season? Below are a few suggestions that may help you prepare! 

  • Cash – Make sure you have plenty of cash on you. Without electricity ATM’s will not work. 
  • Batteries- Go ahead and replace batteries in all of your flashlights. Purchase extra batteries for back up. 
  • Medications- Make sure prescriptions are up to date and you have at least a 7 day supply. 
  • Radio- Most use cell phones and tablets for their radio,  but make sure you have a battery powered radio so you can keep up to date with storm pattern changes, news, etc. 
  • Food/Water- Go ahead and get a head start on a supply of non-perishable food items and plenty of water. 
  • Hygiene Items- Baby wipes, hand sanitizer, etc. Now is a good time to start collecting these items as well. 
  • Sand Bags- Marion County offers several sites to pick up sand bags. Place these at your doors, garage, etc. in case of flooding. 

There are so many other things you need to do to prepare for a hurricane. For more information and safety tips please go to marion county fl weather emergency

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

Are Foreclosure a Thing of the Past?

 

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?

 

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

 

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!!! 

 

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. 

 

 

Happy 4th of July from Rountree Realty!

 

Good Day All, 

I came across this quote and thought it was too good not to share! 

“The strength of a nation lies in the homes of it’s people”

 

Rountree Realty wishes everyone a Happy 4th of July! We hope you get some time to enjoy this very important day with friends and family! We should be proud to live in the USA! 

Summertime Spruce Up!

 

Good Day All, 

It’s officially Summer in Florida which is great time to spruce up around your home! Whether you might have plans to sell your home, or just want to make some improvements, below is a list of some very important issues to be considered: 

Exterior

  • Pressure Washing- First impressions are made from exterior views and this is a great way to make your home appealing to the human eye.
  • Fresh Coat of Paint- Change the color of your front door and/or shutters to make a new statement! Remember, the front door is the main point of entry. 
  • Landscape- Keep grass and plants maintained regularly and add some color to your property with some affordable flowers.  
  • Light Fixtures- Change out old, rusty light fixtures with new updated fixtures! 

Interior

  • Air Vents- Clean out air vents and air returns for more efficient air flow! 
  • Filters- Change out A/C, water and any other filters you may have in your home!
  • Clean Baseboards and Trim- Clean baseboards and trim! Freshen up with a new coat of white paint if needed! 
  • Professional Floor Cleaning- Hire a professional and have hardwoods, carpet, tile and grout professionally cleaned! 

I hope you find these ideas helpful! As always, if you have any questions or if we can help in anyway, please reach out to Rountree Realty! (352) 577-9171 or info@search352homes.com 

Graduation Season – Let us help!

 

Good Afternoon All, 

I hope everyone is having a great week! As I’m sure most of you know, the school year is winding down to an end! Students are ready and excited to spend their summer break outside in the Florida sunshine!  What this also means for some is that Graduation season is upon us! It’s a time a celebrate your graduate and all of their education accomplishments since entering school. 

Are you using your home to host a graduation party? It’s a great time to have friends and family over to celebrate such a special occasion! What this also means is that you’re probably getting a little stressed about the planning and preparation involved. Use these simple steps to help guide you through the week ahead of your celebration. 

Day 1 – Plan! Get a plan together for your graduation party. What home projects need to be completed? Organize cleaning?  How many people will you have? What will you do food? Theme? etc. 

Day 2 – Brighten Up Windows and Entryway – Get out the soap and water and clean your windows. This will brighten up your home. For your entry way declutter as much as possible. Put away coats, hats or anything that would make the space cluttered. 

Day 3 – Bathrooms – Clean your bathrooms! Freshen up and make sure this space is ready for your guest. Put away used towels and make sure bathroom is stocked with soaps, etc. 

Day 4 – Guest Area – Make sure your living areas are ready for guest! Dust these rooms and put away anything that may clutter up space for guest (shoes, blankets, mail, etc.) 

Day 5 – Knock out the Kitchen! – This is the room that is used the most, where guest gather and it typically is the room in the home that gets the most abuse. Make sure all appliances are in working order for preparing food. Make sure any dirty dishes are cleaned and put away. Mop floors and clean surface areas. 

Day 6 – Decorate – Now is the time to hang banners, create photo collages, put out balloons and all the fun decorations to celebrate your graduate! 

Day 7 – Touch Up – Do a final walk through of your home and the areas you plan on entertaining in. Make sure everything is tidy and ready for your guest! It’s time to party! 

Rountree Realty wants to congratulate the Class of 2018!  We’re very proud of you and we wish you the best with the next chapter of your life! 

 

 

Today’s Real Estate Topic-Flood Zones & Insurance

 

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

 

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