10 Tips for Creating a Welcoming Front Entrance that Don’t Break the Bank!

So I came across an article put out by the National Association of Realtors, about creating a welcoming front entrance to your home for under $100 & I knew I had to share. Ever heard the saying “you will never get a second chance to make a first impression”? Well this applies to real estate too.

Whether you are selling your home or would just like to warmly welcome your guests, these tips are great to follow!

Here’s some improvements you can make while on a budget:

1. Clear the walkway. The path should be at least 3 feet wide and allow for two people to walk side by side without   running into overgrown bushes/plants.

2. Light the path. Landscape lighting makes it easier to see at night and can be very inexpensive. Soled-Powered LED lights that you just stick in the ground can be found at a hardware store for cheap.

3. Gloss up the front door. A neat & shiny coat of royal blue, dark green, or crimson on your front door can really make your house stand out from others on your block.

4. Let some light in. Doors with lots of glass create tons of natural lighting to an entryway. If you’d like the lighting, but want to avoid any peeping Toms, just invest in some inexpensive window film.

5. Replace door hardware. You can purchase a brand new brass lockset for about $60, or just polish up your old one!

6. Knock Please. Everyone may have a doorbell, but a door knocker will always remain a classic. You can find them in all shapes and sizes. Find one that suits you! I found some great custom door-knockers on Etsy.

7. Ever-green. As in Evergreen Real Estate Services? Not this time! If your front garden is a little barren, try looking into boxwoods. They are nice and tidy and look great. They go for about $25.

8. Numbers. Ever followed your GPS to someones house and couldn’t find the numbers?!? Ahh it drives me nuts. If your address number decals aren’t visible, please invest in some new decals. They are super cheap and come in all sorts of fonts.

9. Foot traffic. One of the most important to me is a hefty mat to wipe our muddy shoes on. You don’t want that icky stuff being tracked all through your house!

10. Front Porch Lighting. Waiting for someone to open their front door in the dark isn’t fun. Try some lanterns!

Post by: Alicea Salgado

Historic Home Near Downtown Kissimmee Sold!

Late last week, I (Alicea Salgado) closed on a home in Magnolia Park near Downtown Kissimmee. The home was built in 1956 and has been totally rebuilt since. I represented the first-time homebuyer, whom I had worked with for about a month or so.

The home is perfectly located just off of Irlo Bronson and less than 1.5 miles from Downtown Kissimmee. That’s just a four minute drive! With immediate family living in Poinciana and a job in Orlando, the new owner is ecstatic about the location.

After touring many other homes over the course of a month, once we walked in to Lavon, the new homeowner knew instantly that the home was meant to be hers. As I mentioned earlier, the entire home had been rebuilt. It included, but was not limited to, brand new stainless steel appliances, custom cabinetry, large ceramic tiles, and brand new roof. That’s like a brand new house!

The new 3.5% down FHA loan program made this all possible. If you or someone you know is looking to purchase their first home and is looking to do so with little money down, just give me a shout!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Post by: Alicea Salgado

Why You Should Use a Realtor When Searching for New Construction

If you are interested in purchasing a new home, whether it be a home that has been previously lived in or newly built, it’s always a good idea to bring a trusted Realtor. When purchasing a new home from a builder, the process may look easy, but it is certainly more intimidating and sometimes a little more complicated than purchasing a home that has been previously owned. This is why we recommend having a knowledgable and trustworthy agent who is familiar with the new construction process.

Some builders offer closing cost and design incentives, which can be a great bonus for you. An agent who is familiar with the builders in your area can help you find the builder with the best incentives and floor-plans to match your home-buying criteria. Your agent should also get everything that is offered to you by the builder in writing, to ensure you don’t miss out on any opportunities. An experienced real estate agent can also let you know when a good time to purchase from certain builders are. Believe it or not, builders do experience slow seasons and when they do, many will amp up the enticing incentives and sometimes even drop pricing.

It is important that you bring your agent with you on your first tour of the model homes. Most builders do have sales representatives on site who will do almost anything to get you to buy from them. Your agent can help explore your options and make the right decision.

If you are interested in buying a newly constructed home and have questions, feel free to give us a call and we will be happy to answer!

Posted by: Alicea Salgado

Condo Near Loop Just Sold!

Early this month, Jyssette Vargas of Evergreen Real Estate Services brought a qualified buyer and successfully closed on 3001 Laurel Run Lane #303 in just ten days! Located in the picturesque condo-community known as Flora Ridge Condominiums, this condo is just a hop, skip and a jump away from everything!

When I say ‘centrally located’, I mean CENTRALLY LOCATED. Just a 3 minute drive and you’ve got tons of shopping, dining and entertainment at your fingertips at the Loop Shopping Center. The Loop consists of businesses such as Best Buy, JC Penney, Regal Cinemas, and my personal fav…Starbucks. This is just the tip of the iceberg, this Flora Ridge condo is just 15 minutes to Disney & Orlando Premium Outlet and less than 4 miles from ramps for the Florida Turnpike and Stateroad 417.

In addition to it’s fantastic location, the condo itself is spectacular and quite large in size. It includes three bedrooms, two bathrooms, 1,450 overall square feet of living space, with a spacious private balcony. This condo is sure to make its new owner very happy and quite comfortable.

As always, if you are anyone you know is interested in purchasing or selling in the Kissimmee area, feel free to give us a shout!

3% Closing Aid Program Announced by Fannie Mae

Fannie Mae announced yesterday the rollout of its HomePath Ready Buyer program for qualified first-time homebuyers, defined for the program as someone who hasn’t owned property in the past three years.

Under the program, buyers can receive up to three percent of a home’s purchase price in closing cost assistance when they buy a home through Fannie Mae’s HomePath program, providing they also complete a homebuyer education course.

On a $150,000 home, Fannie Mae says the program could save buyers up to $4,500. In addition, Fannie Mae will reimburse buyers for the $75 cost of the education course at closing.

Click here for the full article by Florida Realtors.

A cause for Celebration!

 Lovely single-family home in Celebration just sold! Howard McMahon, also known for ‘Homes with Howie’, represented the buyers in the purchase of 906 Waterside Dr in Celebration, FL. Former Celebration resident himself, Howie is no stranger to the area.  

The home was introduced to the market and was originally being offered at $599,990. After negotiations the 3,523 square foot home sold on April  30th for $577,500. Not bad, Howie! The home consists of five bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms WITH an attached studio apartment. The main kitchen included stainless steel appliances, designer cabinetry, exotic granite countertops, wine refrigeration and overlooks the living room. 

This Charleston Siderow is located just two blocks from Downtown Celebration- loaded with shops, restaurants, professional business and a whole lot more. Talk about location! With tons of enjoyable events held in Downtown Celebration, the new owners at Waterside can never get bored.

If you or someone you know is interested in a condo, townhouse, or single-family home in the Celebration area, Howie is your guy. He can be reached anytime on his cell at (407) 404-2308.

7 out of 25 best cities for real estate investment are in Florida!

A report by the JWB Group, a real estate analysis company, releases the top 25 cities in the U.S. for real estate investors for use as passive investments.

Seven Florida cities made it to the list, which we are happy to see! Two are cities that Evergreen Real Estate Services specializes in, one being Orlando which came in at #8 and the other, Kissimmee which came in at #12!

Here is the full list:

1. Jacksonville, Fla.
2. Ocala, Fla.
3. Palm Bay, Fla.
4. Memphis, Tenn.
5. Las Vegas, Nev.
6. Toledo, Ohio
7. Detroit, Mich.
8. Orlando, Fla.
9. Syracuse, New York
10. Atlanta, Ga.
11. Richmond, Va.
12. Kissimmee, Fla.
13. Homosassa Springs, Fla.
14. Muskegon, Mich.
15. Tampa, Fla.
16. Mobile, Ala.
17. East Stroudsburg, Penna.
18. Marietta, Ga.
19. Baltimore, Md.
20. Clarksville, Tenn.
21. New Orleans, La.
22. Cincinnati, Ohio
23. Indianapolis, Ind.
24. Tacoma, Wash.
25. Milwaukee, Wis.

For more on this topic, click here.