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Orange County, FL Real Estate News

By Walter DiLoreto, Real Estate Short Sale Specialist
(PHP Houses)
Some Highlights If you’re thinking of buying a home this year, be sure to factor in the long-term benefits of homeownership. On average, nationwide, home prices appreciated by 288.7% over the last 32 years. That means homeowners grow their net worth significantly in the long term. Homeownership wins over time. Let’s connect so you can start your homebuying journey today.  Contact us:PHP Houses142 W Lakeview AveUnit 1030Lake Mary, FL 32746Ph: (407) 641-1531Fax: (407) 205-1951email: info@phphouses.comLet’s Connect:FacebookLinkedinTwitterInstagramThe information contained, and the opinions expressed, in this article are not intended to be construed as investment advice. The author does not guarantee or warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information or opinions contained herein. No...
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By Walter DiLoreto, Real Estate Short Sale Specialist
(PHP Houses)
If you’re a homeowner ready to make a move, you may be thinking about using your current house as a short-term rental property instead of selling it. A short-term rental (STR) is typically offered as an alternative to a hotel, and they’re an investment that’s gained popularity in recent years. According to a Harris Poll survey, 28% of homeowners have considered using a rental service to temporarily rent out their home for additional income.Owning a short-term rental can be a tempting idea, but you may find the reality of being responsible for one difficult to take on. Here are some of the challenges you could face if you rent out your house instead of selling it.A Short-Term Rental Comes with ResponsibilitiesSuccessfully owning and renting a house takes work. Think through your ability ...
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By Walter DiLoreto, Real Estate Short Sale Specialist
(PHP Houses)
As mortgage rates rose last year, activity in the housing market slowed down. And as a result, homes started seeing fewer offers and stayed on the market longer. That meant some homeowners decided to press pause on selling. Now, however, rates are beginning to come down—and buyers are starting to reenter the market. In fact, the latest data from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) shows mortgage applications increased last week by 7% compared to the week before. So, if you’ve been planning to sell your house but you’re unsure if there will be anyone to buy it, this shift in the market could be your chance. Here’s what experts are saying about buyers returning to the market as we approach spring. Mike Fratantoni, SVP and Chief Economist, MBA: “Mortgage rates are now at their lowest l...
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By Walter DiLoreto, Real Estate Short Sale Specialist
(PHP Houses)
The housing market has gone through a lot of change recently, and much of that was a result of how quickly mortgage rates rose last year.Now, as we move through 2023, there are signs things are finally going to turn around. Home price appreciation is slowing from the recent frenzy, mortgage rates are coming down, inflation is easing, and overall market activity is starting to pick up. All of that’s great news for the housing market this year. Here’s what experts are saying.Cristian deRitis, Deputy Chief Economist, Moody’s Analytics:“The current state of the housing market is that it is certainly in transition.”Susan Wachter, Professor of Real Estate and Finance, University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School:“Housing is going to ease up. I think 2023 will be a turnaround year.”Lawrence Yun...
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By Walter DiLoreto, Real Estate Short Sale Specialist
(PHP Houses)
There are plenty of good reasons you might be ready to move. No matter your motivations, before you list your current house, you need to consider where you’ll go next.In today’s market, it makes sense to explore all your options. That includes both homes that have been lived in before as well as newly built ones. To help you decide which is right for you, let’s compare the benefits of each. Regardless of which option you choose to explore, working with a trusted real estate professional throughout the process is essential.The Benefits of Newly Built HomesFirst, let’s look at the benefits of purchasing a newly constructed home. With a brand-new house, you’ll be able to:1. Build your dream homeIf you build a home from the ground up, you’ll have the option to select the custom features you...
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By Walter DiLoreto, Real Estate Short Sale Specialist
(PHP Houses)
Spring is usually the busiest season in the housing market. Many buyers wait until then to make their move, believing it’s the best time to find a home. However, that isn’t always the case when you factor in the competition you could face with other buyers at that time of year. If you’re ready to buy a home, here’s why it makes sense to move before the spring market picks up. Spring Should Bring a Wave of Buyers to the Market In most years, the housing market goes through predictable seasonal trends in activity. Winter is typically a quiet point in the year, while spring sees a surge of buyers begin their search. And experts project that this year will be no exception. Right now, buyer demand is low due to a combination of normal seasonal trends and a reaction to last year’s rise in mo...
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By Walter DiLoreto, Real Estate Short Sale Specialist
(PHP Houses)
If you’ve seen recent headlines about foreclosures surging in the housing market, you’re certainly not alone. There’s no doubt, the stories in the media can be pretty confusing right now. They may even make you think twice about buying a home for fear that prices could crash. The reality is, the data shows a foreclosure crisis is not where the market is headed, and understanding what that really means is mission critical if you want to know the truth about what’s happening today. Here’s a deeper look.According to the Year-End 2022 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report from ATTOM, foreclosure filings are up 115% from 2021, but down 34% from 2019. As media headlines grab onto this 115% increase, it’s more important than ever to put that percentage into context.While the number of foreclosure fil...
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By Walter DiLoreto, Real Estate Short Sale Specialist
(PHP Houses)
If you’ve been following the housing market over the last couple of years, you’ve likely heard about growing affordability challenges. But according to experts, the key factors that determine housing affordability are projected to improve this year. Selma Hepp, Executive, Deputy Chief Economist at CoreLogic, shares:“. . . with slowly improving affordability and a more optimistic economic outlook than previously believed, the housing market could show resilience in 2023.”The three measures used to establish home affordability are home prices, mortgage rates, and wages. Here’s a closer look at each one.1. Mortgage RatesMortgage rates shot up to over 7% last year, causing many buyers to put their plans on hold. But things are looking different today as rates are starting to come down. Geor...
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By Walter DiLoreto, Real Estate Short Sale Specialist
(PHP Houses)
Last year, the housing market slowed down in response to higher mortgage rates, and that had an impact on home prices. If you’re thinking of selling your house soon, that means you’ll want to adjust your expectations accordingly. As realtor.com explains:“. . . some of the more prominent pandemic trends have changed, so sellers might wish to adjust accordingly to get the best deal possible.”In a more moderate market, how you price your house will make a big difference to not only your bottom line, but to how quickly your house could sell. And the reality is, homes priced right are still selling in today’s market.Why Pricing Your House Appropriately MattersEspecially today, your asking price sends a message to potential buyers.If it’s priced too low, you may leave money on the table or di...
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By Walter DiLoreto, Real Estate Short Sale Specialist
(PHP Houses)
One of the first steps in your homebuying journey is getting pre-approved. To understand why it’s such an important step, you need to understand what pre-approval is and what it does for you. Business Insider explains: “In a preapproval [sic], the lender tells you which types of loans you may be eligible to take out, how much you may be approved to borrow, and what your rate could be.” Basically, pre-approval gives you critical information about the homebuying process that’ll help you understand your options and what you may be able to borrow. How does it work? As part of the pre-approval process, a lender will look at your finances to determine what they’d be willing to loan you. From there, your lender will give you a pre-approval letter to help you understand how much money you can ...
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By Walter DiLoreto, Real Estate Short Sale Specialist
(PHP Houses)
Some Highlights If you’re thinking about selling your house, recent headlines about home prices falling month-over-month may have you second guessing your decision—but perspective matters. While home prices are down slightly month-over-month in some markets, home values are still up almost 10% nationally on a year-over-year basis. A nearly 10% gain is still dramatic compared to the more normal level of appreciation, which is 3-4%. Let’s connect to find out how much equity you have in your current home and how you can use it to fuel your next purchase.  Contact us:PHP Houses142 W Lakeview AveUnit 1030Lake Mary, FL 32746Ph: (407) 641-1531Fax: (407) 205-1951email: info@phphouses.comLet’s Connect:FacebookLinkedinTwitterInstagramThe information contained, and the opinions expressed, in this ...
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By Walter DiLoreto, Real Estate Short Sale Specialist
(PHP Houses)
Whether you’re already a homeowner or you’re looking to become one, the recent headlines about home prices may leave you with more questions than answers. News stories are talking about home prices falling, and that’s raising concerns about a repeat of what happened to prices in the crash in 2008.One of the questions that’s on many minds, based on those headlines, is: how much will home prices decline? But what you may not realize is expert forecasters aren’t calling for a free fall in prices. In fact, if you look at the latest data, there’s a case to be made that the biggest portion of month-over-month price depreciation nationally may already be behind us – and even those numbers weren’t significant declines on the national level. Instead of how far will they drop, the question become...
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By David Welch, Real Estate Optimist - #OrlandoRealEstate
(Remax 200 Realty)
Since the Federal Reserve started raising rates last year, we have seen the inventory of available homes increase and sales decrease when compared to the prior year. This continued in December. Inventory was up 146% compared with December 2021, and sales declined 42% over the same period. The rate hikes have also slowed the rise in prices with the median sales price last month increasing just 4% compared to a year earlier.However, compared with November we did see fewer new listings and higher sales last month, so the inventory of homes for sale actually declined nearly 12% month over month. The months supply of inventory is 2.85 months down from 3.61 months in November, but still way up from 0.68 months in December of 2021. In my opinion, there is nothing to indicate a sharp decline in...
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By Walter DiLoreto, Real Estate Short Sale Specialist
(PHP Houses)
Last year, the Federal Reserve took action to try to bring down inflation. In response to those efforts, mortgage rates jumped up rapidly from the record lows we saw in 2021, peaking at just over 7% last October. Hopeful buyers experienced a hit to their purchasing power as a result, and some decided to press pause on their plans.Today, the rate of inflation is starting to drop. And as a result, mortgage rates have dipped below last year’s peak. Sam Khater, Chief Economist at Freddie Mac, shares:“While mortgage market activity has significantly shrunk over the last year, inflationary pressures are easing and should lead to lower mortgage rates in 2023.”That’s potentially great news if you’re a buyer aiming to jump back into the housing market. Any drop in mortgage rates helps boost your...
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By Walter DiLoreto, Real Estate Short Sale Specialist
(PHP Houses)
It doesn’t matter if you’re someone who closely follows the economy or not, chances are you’ve heard whispers of an upcoming recession. Economic conditions are determined by a broad range of factors, so rather than explaining them each in depth, let’s lean on the experts and what history tells us to see what could lie ahead. As Greg McBride, Chief Financial Analyst at Bankrate, says:“Two-in-three economists are forecasting a recession in 2023 . . .”As talk about a potential recession grows, you may be wondering what a recession could mean for the housing market. Here’s a look at the historical data to show what happened in real estate during previous recessions to help prove why you shouldn’t be afraid of what a recession could mean for the housing market today.A Recession Doesn’t Mean ...
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By Florida Tolbert Team Keller Williams Advantage, Keller Williams Land Luxury Division Specialist
(Keller Williams Advantage III Realty in Lake Nona)
Gorgeous waterfront on wide canal with over 1.22 acres of amazing land. This property is located in the community of Wedgefield also known as Rocket City or Cape Orlando for it's close proximity to the Kennedy Space Center and close enough to witness the launches. This lot is 1.22 acres with only .05 acres of wetlands conservation which is the canal in the rear and no mitigation required to build your home. This lot backs up to a drainage ditch for additional privacy between neighbors. And with the help of An Accredited Land Consultant and the right planner and builder, you can navigate the complete process from land selection to for those that want to save money and have the privacy, here is your perfect oasis. Per Orange County and HOA Restrictions, all lots on the East of Dallas Blv...
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By Walter DiLoreto, Real Estate Short Sale Specialist
(PHP Houses)
Some Highlights Buying a home is a major transaction that can seem even more complex when you don’t understand the terms used throughout the process. If you’re looking to become a homeowner this year, it’s important to know these housing terms and how they relate to the current market so you feel confident throughout the homebuying process. Let’s connect so you have expert answers for any questions as they come up.  Contact us:PHP Houses142 W Lakeview AveUnit 1030Lake Mary, FL 32746Ph: (407) 641-1531Fax: (407) 205-1951email: info@phphouses.comLet’s Connect:FacebookLinkedinTwitterInstagramThe information contained, and the opinions expressed, in this article are not intended to be construed as investment advice. The author does not guarantee or warrant the accuracy or completeness of the...
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By Walter DiLoreto, Real Estate Short Sale Specialist
(PHP Houses)
During the pandemic, second homes became popular because of the rise in work-from-home flexibility. That’s because owning a second home, especially in the luxury market, allowed those homeowners to spend more time in their favorite places or with different home features. Keep in mind, a luxury home isn’t only defined by price. In a recent article, Investopedia shares additional factors that push a home into this category: location, such as a home on the water or in a desirable city, and features, the things that make the home itself feel luxurious.A recent report from the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing (ILHM) explains just how much remote work impacted the demand for second and luxury homes:“The unprecedented ten-fold increase towards remote work since the pandemic is an historic d...
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By Walter DiLoreto, Real Estate Short Sale Specialist
(PHP Houses)
There’s no doubt today’s housing market is very different than the frenzied one from the past couple of years. In the second half of 2022, there was a dramatic shift in real estate, and it caused many people to make comparisons to the 2008 housing crisis. While there may be a few similarities, when looking at key variables now compared to the last housing cycle, there are significant differences.In the latest Real Estate Forecast Summit, Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), drew the comparisons below between today’s housing market and the previous cycle: Looking at the facts, it’s clear: today is very different than the housing market of 15 years ago. There’s Opportunity in Real Estate Today And in today’s market, with inventory rising and less co...
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By Walter DiLoreto, Real Estate Short Sale Specialist
(PHP Houses)
Home equity has been a hot topic in real estate news lately. And if you’ve been following along, you may have heard there’s a growing number of homeowners with negative equity. But don’t let those headlines scare you.In truth, the headlines don’t give you all the information you really need to understand what’s happening and at what scale. Let’s break down one of the big equity stories you may be seeing in the news, and what’s actually taking place. That way, you’ll have the context you need to understand the big picture.Headlines Focus on Short-Term Equity Numbers and Fail To Convey the Long-Term ViewOne piece of news circulating focuses on the percentage of homes purchased in 2022 that are currently underwater. The term underwater refers to a scenario where the homeowner owes more on ...
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By Walter DiLoreto, Real Estate Short Sale Specialist
(PHP Houses)
If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home soon, you probably want to know what you can expect from the housing market this year. In 2022, the market underwent a major shift as economic uncertainty and higher mortgage rates reduced buyer demand, slowed the pace of home sales, and moderated home prices. But what about 2023?An article from HousingWire offers this perspective:“The red-hot housing market of the past 2 ½ years was characterized by sub-three percent mortgage rates, fast-paced bidding wars and record-low inventory. But more recently, market conditions have done an about-face. . . . now is the opportunity for everyone to become re-educated about what a ‘typical’ housing market looks like.”This year, experts agree we may see the return of greater stability and predictabil...
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By Walter DiLoreto, Real Estate Short Sale Specialist
(PHP Houses)
Some Highlights If you’re planning to buy a home in 2023, here are a few things to focus on. Work on your credit and save for a down payment. If saving feels like a challenge, there’s help available. Then, get pre-approved, create a list of desired features, and prioritize them. Let’s connect so you have expert advice on how to reach your homebuying goals this year.   Contact us:PHP Houses142 W Lakeview AveUnit 1030Lake Mary, FL 32746Ph: (407) 641-1531Fax: (407) 205-1951email: info@phphouses.comLet’s Connect:FacebookLinkedinTwitterInstagramThe information contained, and the opinions expressed, in this article are not intended to be construed as investment advice. The author does not guarantee or warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information or opinions contained herein. Nothin...
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By Walter DiLoreto, Real Estate Short Sale Specialist
(PHP Houses)
If you’re getting ready to buy your first home, you’re likely focused on saving up for everything that purchase involves. One cost that’s likely top of mind is your down payment. But don’t let a common misconception about how much you need to save make the process harder than it could be.Understand 20% Isn’t Always the Typical Down PaymentFreddie Mac explains:“. . . nearly a third of prospective homebuyers think they need a down payment of 20% or more to buy a home. This myth remains one of the largest perceived barriers to achieving homeownership.”Unless specified by your loan type or lender, it’s typically not required to put 20% down. This means you could be closer to your homebuying dream than you realize. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the median down paym...
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By Walter DiLoreto, Real Estate Short Sale Specialist
(PHP Houses)
If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home, you probably want to know what’s really happening with home prices, mortgage rates, housing supply, and more. That’s not an easy task considering how sensationalized headlines are today. Jay Thompson, Real Estate Industry Consultant, explains: “Housing market headlines are everywhere. Many are quite sensational, ending with exclamation points or predicting impending doom for the industry. Clickbait, the sensationalizing of headlines and content, has been an issue since the dawn of the internet, and housing news is not immune to it.” Unfortunately, when information in the media isn’t clear, it can generate a lot of fear and uncertainty in the market. As Jason Lewris, Cofounder and Chief Data Officer at Parcl Labs, says: “In the absence ...
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