Answers by Nicole Parker

The most important piece of advice I would offer to you when selling your home is to price it correctly. Many sellers want to list over market value, which will only delay the inevitable sale of your home. There are still motivated buyers in the market, but they are not willing to pay more than the home is worth in most areas, so save yourself time sitting and price it accordingly. Good luck!

Some buyers do not wish to deal with a traditional lender or know they will have cash to pay off the home in a short period of time. The seller of a home may offer owner finance which is usually a shorter term, with a balloon payment for the balance after 3-5 years, with interest.

Your Realtor should be able to advise you on the current market conditions, and whether a lower offer is acceptable or not. That being said, some things to consider when putting in an offer are whether or not the items that you would need to pass a 4pt inspection are in good working order. Those items are the roof, plumbing, electrical and HVAC. If these items are older and would potentially prevent you from obtaining homeowners insurance, due to the age and/or condition of them I would consider putting an offer to offset those costs.

Generally speaking, yes you can! Ask your Realtor to state the terms of furnishings included in the MLS listing. A list would be helpful so as to eliminate any questions or issues at closing if there are some things you decide to take with you.

This information is available on the FEMA website, or you can call your insurance provider to ask them to find that information out for you.

How was the home listed MLS Listing? If it was included as a feature of the property, you may not be able to do that. However, if the shed was listed as an item not included in the sale of the home you can most likely sell it separately. Check with your Realtor for confirmation.

The entire state of Florida is prone to be affected in some way by hurricanes. It is part of life just as snow is a part of the NE way of life. Your best bet is to pick an area and research the hurricane history for that city.

This question is best handled by your tax professional. That being said there are options for investment properties to be used in a 1031 exchange program. Speak to your CPA about your options.

ARM loans can be risky as the interest rate can fluctuate. It may save you money temporarily, however is not an ideal option for the long term. You may be better off purchasing under a fixed rate and then refinancing when rates go down. That being said, speak to your lender about the options that will make the most sense for you and your financial situation.

It all comes down to the listing agreement you have with your Realtor. I would have a discussion with him/her and discuss terms. Some will allow you out of the contract for a fee to make up for marketing expenses.

In Florida, the market is very competitive, and basically boils down to supply and demand. We do not have enough inventory to meet the demand of buyers moving here. The low interest rates, coupled with Covid created a perfect storm of buyers looking to relocate to places they can work from home and enjoy the beach life as well. Even though that has slowed some we are still playing catch up trying to supply enough homes to meet the demand.

Definitely speak with a Realtor in your area. They will be able to advise you on the steps towards home ownership including recommendations for lenders you could work with. Then speak with a lender to see where you are at as far as credit score, and buying power. They can tell you what steps you will need to take to get to a position to buy, how much you should have in savings for a down payment and closing costs, and any other issues you may have to work through on your credit. Once you have taken care of all of that, and you are ready to go call your Realtor and they will help you find the perfect home for you! Good luck!

The best thing to do is get estimates on the cost of adding the sunroom. Once you have those in hand reach out to a local real estate professional to check the comparable properties and see if you will get a return on your investment.

This is something that your Realtor can guide you through. Usually it is a situation that you will negotiate with a potential buyer up front, prior to accepting an offer. Your realtor can also put a mention in the MLS stating the need for a lease back situation.

Usually an appraiser will not recognize unpermitted space as part of the value of your home. You can list it as additional living space when on the market, and will be seen as value added, however may/may not be reflected in the appraisal as dollars added to your value.

You can look up local appraisers in your area, give them a call and hire them to appraise your home for you. You should get results within a week or two, depending on the market in your area, and how busy your appraiser is.

When speaking with a Realtor, be sure to talk to them about the current market conditions. What are the comparable properties selling for in your area? What will they do to market your home? What are the ways they will overcome objections? What repairs/updates or recommendations do you have on getting my home ready for sale?