Mortgage Rates on the Rise

For those of you interested in purchasing a home and still keeping your interest low, now is the time. The average mortgage rate has increased for the third consecutive week, amongst sold data on new home sales and home price appreciation, reported by a weekly report from Freddie Mac. Mortgage rates still remain at record lows since May 2013, nonetheless.

Freddie Mac reported the following this week:

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.80%, with an average 0.6 point, an increase from last week’s 3.76% average. A year ago, 30-year rates averaged 4.37%.
• 15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.07%, with an average 0.6 point, increasing from last week’s 3.05% average. Last year at this time, 15-year rates averaged 3.39%.
• 5-year hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 2.99%, with an average 0.5 point, an increase from last week’s 2.97% average. Last year at this time, 5-year ARMs averaged 3.05%.
• 1-year ARMs: averaged 2.44%, with an average 0.4 point, dropping from last week’s 2.45% average. A year ago, 1-year ARMs averaged 2.52 percent.

Click here, to view the full article by Freddie Mac.

Hot New Listing in Oakwater Resort!

He is no stranger to Oakwater Resort and he’s got a hot new listing  you need to see. Daniel Young, broker of Evergreen, has just listed an exclusive ground-floor condo right on the lake and within a minutes walking distance from the clubhouse. The three bedroom, two bathroom condominium has 1,255 square feet of heated living space, its own garage, and comes completely furnished! It is currently in a short term rental program with bookings to convey.

Oakwater is very popular amongst international travelers due to its prime location and peaceful environment. Located within a seven minutes drive from Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Oakwater is one of the closest resort-style community’s to Disney. While many guests step out during the day to visit theme parks and shoppings malls, others like to relax by the pool and hangout around the clubhouse. The clubhouse is a common area open to all guests an residents with amenities that include a game room, fitness center, conference room, play area, dancing fountain, tennis/basketball court, and sand volley ball court.

This condo ticks all the boxes when considering your proximity to highways, shops and attractions. Be in the middle of everything without hassle when sitting on your lanai to stare at the lake and beautiful conservation view in the backdrop. Located within a stones throw distance of the pool, be one of the lucky few in Oakwater to benefit from its close location to the clubhouse and amenities. Furnished and equipped for rentals, this condo can comfortably accommodate your family, friends and guests alike. Fill out the contact form below to schedule your viewing today!

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Why Attackers Choose You

“You will survive 100 percent of the attacks you are not involved in”, words told by Keith James who is a speaker and trainer on the topic of personal safety and self-defense. His focus when it comes to agents and those who prey on us is preventing the crime & understanding the mind of the attacker, as opposed to surviving an attack. It is important to know that these criminals do not randomly choose their victims, and just like animals, a predator will select prey that is easiest to bring down.

Here are 5 of the stages of an attacker:

1. Observation:  Criminals almost always select someone who is vulnerable. In the real estate industry, it is usually an agent who is alone and provides some sort of financial motive. Unfortunately, women are identified as weaker and less likely to defend themselves.

2. Testing: Also known as “target assessment.” Some attackers may engage their victim in conversation in person or by phone. They may ask questions like: Are you working alone today? Is it a vacant property? Are any other buyers expected to be there? The criminal may also choose to engage their victim in person and do things like stand or walk close to to a possible victim in order to gauge their reaction.

3. Selection: Criminals are likely to choose someone they feel may be easy to control intimidate, or overpower. Based on their observations, who appears to be weakest and most likely submit to their demands will be selected.

4. Isolation: Criminals will attempt to lure their victim into an isolated area. The more secluded the property, the better the opportunity for the attacker. Neighbors and pedestrian traffic can be a off-putting to a criminal’s plan, as well as daylight or communities that are well-lit.

5. Attack: This is the stage where the attacker will act on his/her plan- which may include robbery, sexual assault, murder, or other actions.

 

The chances of you being a victim of an assault are very slim, but there are certainly measurements we can all take in order to make these chances even less. ‘Crime happens where a criminal and opportunity meet.’ It helps to be aware of your surroundings & communicate confidence with your body language. This will help you to seem less vulnerable and remove the idea of opportunity to a potential criminal. ‘Looking at yourself through the eyes of a criminal can greatly improve your chances of never becoming a victim.’

 

Read the full article here.

Top Notch Bake Shop in the Milk District

Let me begin by telling you that I like to think of myself as a foodie. My boyfriend and I try at least one new restaurant a week, and if you’re anything like us, you prefer a savory homemade spread over a fancy shmancy five-course meal. After a good day of showing homes, I always look forward to a good meal. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy fine-dining on occasion, but nothing beats a satisfying meal that doesn’t break the bank. That’s just me!

Se7en Bites is the name of the bake-shop we decided to try for Sunday breakfast. My aunt recommended the place to me a few months back and quite honestly, my expectations weren’t that high… but boy was in for a surprise. We pulled up to the building located just outside of Downtown Orlando in the Milk District and saw a line out the door, and at that moment I knew I was about to enter heaven. As we parked, I couldn’t help but take a photo of the awesome mural on the side of the building with a caption that read “come on in & let us fill your pie hole.” My thoughts at that moment? “Please do.”

 

By the time we made it in, most of the line had been taken care of, with just two mall groups ahead of us. We looked over the menu and had the hardest time choosing. Everything sounded so good! As we waited in line, one of the friendly workers (they were all friendly) asked if we’d like any coffee or tea. I asked for a hazelnut coffee, which was oh so good. I ordered the ‘7th Trimester’ and Russell got the ‘Sausage Biscuit’, and don’t think we forgot about dessert. With a sweet lineup like theirs, there was no way I could resist. We got the ‘Limoncello Lemon Pound Cake’ and ‘Peanut Butter Brownie’ to-go. 

Shortly after we sat down, one of the lovely servers brought our food out to us. I took one bite of that homemade biscuit covered in delicious four-cheese pasta & asked my boyfriend “So when are we coming back?”. He downed his sausage biscuit with savory potatoes and said “Next Sunday.” It’s THAT good! As we enjoyed our breakfast, a woman who looked just like the one on the mural came and asked how our food was. Of course we told her it was amazing, and it turns out she WAS the lady on the mural and she owns the place and everything on the menu was her creations.

It didn’t take us long to finish what we had ordered when we told one of the servers that we were thinking of getting some more dessert to go. She recommended the ‘Signature’, which is a salted caramel dark chocolate pecan pie & apparently is what started Se7en Bites! Of course, getting the Signature pie was now mandatory for us. I think “explosion of flavors” is what describes it best. Sad to say, the pie did not make it home. It was demolished on the car ride back.

 

The overall experience was great, and the food was even better. The location is great and the staff is friendly. Trust me, you will not be disappointed. Go to Se7en Bites and let your tastebuds have some fun.

And one last thing…don’t forget the pie.

Post by: Alicea Salgado

Commercial Listing Sold!

Another one bites the dust! Evergreen moved two exclusive listings last week, one being a commercial sale at 1400 W Oak Street in Kissimmee. This office-condo (Suite F) is located in a well established commercial building just one and a half miles away from historic Downtown Kissimmee, and within walking distance from the US Post Office on Oak Street. The unit is ideal for its new owner, Attorney Alejandro Rivera, who will be relocating his firm from Downtown Kissimmee.

This 975 square foot office-condo was almost tailor made for Mr. Rivera and his team, with two private offices, reception area, conference room, and private restroom. Located on the second floor, this new law office has neighbors ranging from doctors to property managers. The unit itself was full of upgrades including modern light and fan fixtures, crown-molding, tiled floors and fresh paint.

I (Alicea, associate at Evergreen) had the pleasure of representing both sellers and buyer during the sale of 1400 W Oak Street, F. One of the sellers contacted me via my Zillow profile back in October of 2014, and he told me that he and his partner had been trying to sell the office-condo for nearly two years. I scheduled an appointment to see the space and was given the listing immediately. I took some some sharp photos and the listing went live on the MLS that same day, and after three short months on the market (and a 10K price reduction) I am proud to say that the office-condo has been sold!

Post & photos by: Alicea Salgado

5 Ways to Increase the Value of Your Home

Sellers may be able to increase the value of their home by 12 percent just by making a few inexpensive repairs, according to a survey of 300 real estate professional’s in the US by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. On an average priced single-family home of $205,000, this could mean an additional $24,600 gain. The best part about the suggested improvements? You don’t have to spend a ton of money!

Below are some of the minor fixes that the Consumer Reports survey discovered as being most important prior to selling your home:

1. Clear the Clutter!

Cost range: $0 (do-it-yourself) to $2,500 (professional)

Potential return: 3% to 5%

Do your best to depersonalize. This is once instance where less is more! Eliminating clutter makes it easier for potential buyers to envision their own belongings     in the home.

 

2. Give the Kitchen a Mini-Makeover

Cost range: $300 to $5,000

Potential return: 3% to 7%

We all know the kitchen is one of the most important rooms in any home. First off, make sure the kitchen is fully functional. Then move onto a few minor  enhancements, like updating the cabinet hardware, repainting the walls to a neutral tone, adding new curtains, replace light bulbs and/or fixtures. Most importantly, clear the countertops! Don’t worry, the Keurig can stay.

 

3. Freshen up the bathrooms

Cost range: $300 to $1,000

Potential return: 2% to 3%

Small bathroom improvements can go a long way, such as caulking a bathtub, re-grouting the tile, and replacing light fixtures to improve overall lighting.

 

4. Paint

Cost range: $100 (DIY) to $1,000 (pro)

Potential return: 1% to 3%

While most sellers may not need to repaint the whole house, it may be worth-wile to repaint common areas such as bathrooms and kitchen. Surveys recommend painting in whites, off-whites and neutral tones, like grays and beiges to help buyers focus on the homes features rather than be distracted by bright colors.

 

5. Enhance the Exterior

Cost range: $150 to $7,500

Potential return: 2% to 5%

Last, and certainly not least is curb appeal. First impression is key with many buyers. Survey suggests starting with basic maintenance like mowing the lawn, trimming overgrown shrubs, and applying a fresh layer of mulch to garden beds. 31% of the agents surveyed also said that the roof is one of the most important parts of the home to maintain. If you aren’t up to replace the entire roof, we suggest having your roof chemically cleaned by an experienced power washer. Other suggested improvements include replacing things like the entry door, garage door and siding if any.

 

Read more of about easy home improvements that will help sellers increase their home value in Consumer Report’s full report, “ Top 5 ways to boost the value of your home.”

 

Housing Boom equals…..more agents.

The Tampa Bay Times reports below that the recent housing boom in Central Florida has encouraged many people (24,183 to be precise) to take their license tests and become fully qualified in the field of Real Estate.

Click here to read how people of all ages and walks of life are making a new career change.

This of course got us thinking about own career choices and some advice that we can pass on to our fellow agents.

– Firstly, Real Estate is a very demanding profession, there are no two ways about it. To make a splash you have to invest and not only in terms of finance either. The time commitment is extensive too; a good agent will place phonecalls to their peers to check their facts, research the neighborhoods they are farming and often spend hours of their free time showing clients new properties. The bottom line? If you value your Saturdays and evenings too much then real estate may not be for you unless you are happy to coast along with the odd closing here and there. This is fine for some but for those looking to make it a staple in their career, you need to commit a bit more of yourself in the beginning. Don’t look at is as a case of “losing yourself”, think of it more as improving yourself.

– Advertising is key, don’t be a secret agent! From personal experience, we never understood why former brokers never encouraged advertising through mediums such as Zillow. These websites, coupled with proper nurturing are invaluable in terms of generating business. Remember – you are promoting yourself and many clients prefer a more personal experience dealing with a person as opposed to a brand,

– Plan for the long-term and do not ever think “I will be okay this month as I have one closing”. If you become complacent and do not continue to push for your next sale, you lose momentum and you may be slacking with other clients who are simply waiting for you to assist them. The potential to do well is great but it does not land in your lap.

– Improve your personal habits and always be punctual, on-time and professional. If you lack confidence, then pretend otherwise. It does not cost anything to be organized and even reading your MLS synopsis before you view a home or doing a drive-by if you have time puts you in a better position than before. In short, be the agent that you would expect someone else to be if they were representing you.

– Always fight for your client and never compromise your own integrity. Doing a good job will benefit everybody in the long run and sometimes, the route to a quick sale is not always the right one especially if you are breaking any laws or giving into any unreasonable requests when working on behalf of your principal.

– Lastly, respect your peers. Be courteous to other agents and only change your tune within reason. You will learn as time goes on which agents you need to put your arms around and which ones need a kick up the backside. The industry can be frustrating but learning this is key to not only forming good relationships but also improving efficiency. And from a personal point of view, if you are a new agent contacting a broker, don’t make your first question “What can you do for me?”. A good broker will teach you the ropes and help you learn the business but as you can see by the amount of licensed agents out in the field, there is plenty of competition. Only those with the most initiative and ability to carry themselves forward through thick and thin will more than likely thrive in what can be an unforgiving environment. Those who want it all done for them will not and as a broker, there is no bigger turn off then setting aside time and resources for someone who ultimately does not want to put the effort in.

Good luck and if anything, feel free to contact us here at Evergreen should you wish to join our clan.