Summertime Spruce Up!

Posted by R_yn5_@_ul on

 

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!

Posted by R_yn5_@_ul on

 

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

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!

***List Your Home TODAY***

Posted by R_yn5_@_ul on

 

Good Afternoon Everyone, 

I hope everyone is having a great week! Today’s topic of discussion – SELLING Your Home NOW! 

Why do you think right now is a good time to sell your home? Maybe you’ve heard the real estate market is doing well? Or maybe you’ve had a friend or family member sell their home and have positive equity? Both of those are good reasons to sell, but here are 5 top reasons to SELL your home TODAY! 

1.) Low Mortgage Interest Rates! – Right now you can borrow money to purchase a home with record low interest rates! You may think well isn’t this a reason for a buyer to purchase a home? You’re correct, but this is a HUGE benefit for sellers. Right now Realtors like myself have buyers just waiting for homes to hit the market. Inventory is extremely low and the real estate market needs your home to be listed for sale TODAY! 

2.) Home Prices are on the Rise! – Home prices are continuing to rise throughout the United States. In 2017 we finished out the year with a 5.5% year to year increase with home values on the rise! 

3.) Millennials! – Millennials are ready to purchase a home! With an economy on the rise, millennials are in the position to purchase one of the best investments! They’re graduating college, starting careers and getting married! Perfect time in their life to invest in a home. 

4.) Money in Savings! – Not all, but some people are finally able to have money in savings!. They have made it through the hard times and feel stable with their finances. That being said, a lot of people are starting to look into purchasing a home. 

5.) Low Inventory- I discussed a little bit of this topic with # 1 and Low Interest Rates. Inventory is EXTREMELY low. I have a portfolio of buyers who are just waiting for the average family home to hit the market! They’re preapproved and ready to go! All we need is a home like yours to be listed for sale! 

If you have any questions about listing your home or purchasing a home, I would be more than happy to sit down with you and discuss your real estate needs. As always I’m here to help every step of the way! 

Duke Rountree – Info@HomesForSaleOcalaMarion.com – (352) 572-1739

***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.”

List Your Home TODAY!

Posted by R_yn5_@_ul on

Good Afternoon All, 

Have you given any consideration to listing your home for sale? Maybe you’ve heard the myth that listing your home in the Spring is the best time of year. I’m here to tell you that may not be the case! Right now we have a lot of snow birds in the area looking to purchase winter homes. Also with interest rates being extremely low, we have a busy real estate market in general for all stages of life. From first time home buyers to couples retiring and downsizing, there is a buyer right now for your home. 

In today’s real estate market inventory is EXTREMELY low. Myself, as well as several other Realtors, have portfolios of buyers just waiting for homes to hit the market! I would love to have the opportunity to sit down with you and provide a free comparative market analysis. We can also go over my marketing plan to get your home SOLD for top dollar and in a time frame that works best for you. Please give me a call today! I look forward to hearing from you.  

Duke Rountree 

It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!

Posted by R_yn5_@_ul on

Good Afternoon All, 

I hope everyone is having a great day! Did anyone do anything fun over the weekend to celebrate the upcoming holiday? Maybe attended a Christmas Party or the Ocala Christmas Parade? Since we’re now less than two week until Christmas, I thought I would share some of favorite holiday traditions and events here in Marion County. 

1.) Let’s Skate Ocala!- Ocala’s Ice-skating Rink is back! Located at Tuscawilla Park at 500 NE Sanchez Ave, Ocala.                Every weekend they’re having a special theme for the event. 

  • Friday, Dec. 15 – Santa’s Workshop with a special screening of the movie “Elf”
  • Friday, Dec. 22 – Superheroes Night 

Click here for more information and pricing. http://bit.ly/2BTLnWn

2.) Carriage Rides on the Square!- Every weekend between now and New Year’s Eve you can take a carriage ride and see all of the lights and holiday decorations around the square. Click here for more information and pricing. 

http://bit.ly/2B4DQqA

3.) Ocala Civic Theatre!- The Ocala Civic Theatre has several different performances going on for the holiday season. Make sure you check out their website for tickets, showtimes and more information!

http://bit.ly/2B55yn2

4.) Cotton Farm’s Christmas Village- This is a great event for the little kiddos. From Pancakes with Santa, to hayrides, lights and other Christmas activities this is the place to be! Here is a link to their FB page with more information. 

https://www.facebook.com/CottomFarmChristmasVillage/

5.) Cade Christmas Light Display- This Christmas light display is located in Orange Springs, just a few miles north of Fort McCoy. For years this has been one of the best Christmas light displays in the area. Check out their FB page for pictures and more info. 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cade-Christmas-Light-Display/1438266549721929

I hope you get the chance over the next couple of weeks to enjoy some of the holiday events here in Marion County! This is truly is the most wonderful time of year! 

Merry Christmas, 

Duke Rountree

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