Category: Selling a House Fast

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Selling a House Fast

Experts Predict a Strong Housing Market for the Rest of 2019

We’re in the back half of the year, and with a decline in interest rates as well as home price and wage appreciation, many are wondering what the predictions are for the remainder of 2019.

Here’s what some of the experts have to say:

Ralph McLaughlin, Deputy Chief Economist for CoreLogic

“We see the cooldown flattening or even reversing course in the coming months and expect the housing market to continue coming into balance. In the meantime, buyers are likely claiming some ground from what has been seller’s territory over the past few years. If mortgage rates stay low, wages continue to grow, and inventory picks up, we can expect the U.S. housing market to further stabilize throughout the remainder of the year.”

Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at NAR

“We expect the second half of year will be notably better than the first half in terms of home sales, mainly because of lower mortgage rates.”

Freddie Mac

“The drop in mortgage rates continues to stimulate the real estate market and the economy. Home purchase demand is up five percent from a year ago and has noticeably strengthened since the early summer months…The benefit of lower mortgage rates is not only shoring up home sales, but also providing support to homeowner balance sheets via higher monthly cash flow and steadily rising home equity.”

Bottom Line

The housing market will be strong for the rest of 2019. If you’d like to know more about our specific market, let’s get together to discuss what’s happening in our area.

PHP Houses
142 W Lake Mary Blvd
Ste 1030
Lake Mary FL 32746
Ph: (407) 519-0719
Fax: (407) 205-1951
email: info@phphouses.com

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American Confidence in Housing at an All-Time High

Fannie Mae just released the July edition of their Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI). The HPSI takes information regarding consumers’ confidence in the real estate market from Fannie Mae’s National Housing Survey and condenses it into a single number. Therefore, the HPSI reflects consumers’ current views and forward-looking expectations of housing market conditions.

Great News! The index reached its highest level since Fannie Mae began their survey. Breaking it down, the report revealed:

  • The share of Americans who say it is a good time to buy a home increased from the same time last year.
  • The share of those who say it is a good time to sell a home increased from the same time last year.
  • The share of Americans who say they are not concerned about losing their job over the next 12 months increased dramatically (16 percentage points) from the same time last year.
  • The share of Americans who say mortgage rates will go down over the next 12 months increased dramatically (24 percentage points) from the same time last year.

The day after the index was released, Freddie Mac also announced the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate fell to its lowest level in three years.

Doug Duncan, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist at Fannie Mae explained the uptick in the index:

“Consumer job confidence and favorable mortgage rate expectations lifted the HPSI to a new survey high in July, despite ongoing housing supply and affordability challenges. Consumers appear to have shaken off a winter slump in sentiment amid strong income gains. Therefore, sentiment is positioned to take advantage of any supply that comes to market, particularly in the affordable category.”

Bottom Line

Consumers are feeling good about the real estate market. Since Americans are not worried about their jobs, see mortgage rates near an all-time low, and believe it is a good time to buy, the housing market will remain strong for the rest of the year.

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Selling a House Fast

Appreciation Is Strong: It Might Be Time To Sell

There’s no doubt that today’s housing market is changing, and everything we see right now indicates it is time to sell. Here’s a look at why selling now is likely to drive the greatest return on your largest investment.

Home values have been appreciating for several years now, growing at a strong, steady, and impressive pace. In fact, the average annual appreciation rate since 2012 has nearly doubled the average rate from the more normal market of the 1990s (think: pre-bubble).

Appreciation, however, is projected to shift back toward normal, meaning home prices will likely keep climbing over the next few years, but they are not projected to continue to increase at such a high rate.

Here’s What That Means for Homeowners:

As noted in the latest Home Price Expectation Survey (HPES) powered by Pulsenomics, experts forecast an average annual appreciation rate closer to 3.2% over the next 5 years, which is more in line with a historically normal market (3.6%). The good news is, there’s still time to take advantage of the current strength of home prices by selling your house now.

Looking at the projections as they stand today, 2019 is slated to drive the strongest appreciation as compared to the upcoming few years. With average home prices still on the rise, the pace at which they are predicted to continue increasing will likely soften by 2020.

Bottom Line

If you’re thinking about selling your house, now is a great time to make your move. Don’t get stuck waiting until projected home price appreciation rates potentially re-accelerate again in 2023. You’ll likely earn the greatest return on your investment by selling now before the prices start to normalize next year.

Content by Keeping Current Matters

PHP Houses
142 W Lakeview Ave Ste 1030
Lake Mary, FL 32746
Ph: (407) 519-0719
Fax: (407) 205-1951
email: info@phphouses.com

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5 Real Estate Reality TV Myths Explained

Have you ever been flipping through the channels, only to find yourself glued to the couch in an HGTV binge session? We’ve all been there, watching entire seasons of shows like “Property Brothers,” “Fixer Upper,”and “Love It or List It,” all in one sitting.

When you’re in the middle of your real estate-themed TV show marathon, you might start to think everything you see on the screen must be how it works in real life. However, you may need a reality check.

Reality TV Show Myths vs. Real Life:

Myth #1: Buyers look at 3 homes and decide to purchase one of them.
Truth: There may be buyers who fall in love and buy the first home they see, but according to the National Association of Realtors, the average homebuyer tours 10 homes as a part of their search.

Myth #2: The houses the buyers are touring are still for sale.
Truth: Everything is staged for TV. Many of the homes shown are already sold and are off the market.

Myth #3: The buyers haven’t made a purchase decision yet.
Truth: Since there is no way to show the entire buying process in a 30-minute show, TV producers often choose buyers who are further along in the process and have already chosen a home to buy.

Myth #4: If you list your home for sale, it will ALWAYS sell at the open house.
Truth: Of course, this would be great! Open houses are important to guarantee the most exposure to buyers in your area, but they are only one piece of the overall marketing of your home. Keep in mind, many homes are sold during regular showing appointments as well.

Myth #5: Homeowners decide to sell their homes after a 5-minute conversation.
Truth: Similar to the buyers portrayed on the shows, many of the sellers have already spent hours deliberating the decision to list their homes and move on with their lives and goals.

Bottom Line

Having an experienced professional on your side while navigating the real estate market is the best way to guarantee you can make the home of your dreams a true reality.

PHP Houses
142 W Lakeview Ave
Ste 1030
Lake Mary, FL 32746
Ph: (407) 519-0719
Fax: (407) 205-1951
email: info@phphouses.com

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10 Tips to Sell Your Home Fast!

1.    Get rid of clutter. Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and
magazines. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store
and out of season clothing to make closets seem roomier.
Clean out the garage.

2.    Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior.

3.    Keep everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light switch
plates. Mop and wax floors. Clean the stove and refrigerator. A
clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers that
the home has been well cared for.

4.   Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking
odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows.

5.    Put higher wattage bulbs in light sockets to make rooms seem
brighter, especially basements and other dark rooms. Replace any
burnt-out bulbs.

6.    Make minor repairs that can create a bad impression. Small problems,
such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping
faucet, may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression
that the house isn’t well maintained.

7.   Tidy your yard – cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes and edge
the walkways.  In the winter, keep the stairs and driveway snow free.

8.    Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.

9.    Clean out your gutters and polish your front door, doorknob and house numbers.

10.  Finally, list your home with Walter DiLoreto for maximum exposure and to ensure your home gets the attention it deserves.  Walter will be there to help you every step of the way and make sure your home gets sold in today’s competitive market.  Free Market Analysis

Contact Us:
Walter DiLoreto
142 W Lakeview Ave
Ste 1030
Lake Mary, FL 32746
Ph: (407) 519-0719
Fax: (407) 205-1951
email: info@phphouses.com

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Buying A Home Before Selling Your Existing Property

By Bill Gassett

Buying a home before selling an existing property you own is one of those real estate topics that I know gets debated quite a bit at the kitchen table all across America. It often happens unexpectedly.

You might be browsing the online housing ads, or you may just be driving in a neighborhood you like when you see it – a house you want, and for a great price to boot.

Unfortunately, you are still making payments on your current home.

You haven’t put it on the market yet, or you have, but it has yet to sell. Either way, you are in a tight position. Buying another home before selling your current property is a risky proposition for anyone without serious income. It is possible, but for most people, it is not recommended.

The question then becomes is buying a home before selling yours a smart move? Buying a house before selling your existing home is something only you can decide, but there are some things worth considering.

Benefits of Buying Before Selling

Even though most buyers are in no position to buy before selling their existing property, there are still a few benefits worth mentioning. There is a reason why you considered the idea in the first place, so it might be beneficial to review what you would have to gain.

You’re probably considering buying first because you found a property that is exactly what you want or one that is such a great deal that you feel like you cannot pass it up.

The reason could be more space is needed but just hadn’t gotten around to be a serious home buyer yet.

These are all legitimate reasons to want to buy a home, and opportunities like this can pop up, even if you have yet to sell your current home.

Everyone intends to get a great deal, and everyone has a dream home whether they have thoroughly thought through the idea yet or not.

When you come upon a house that fits one or both of these criteria, it can trigger some emotions and desires. You can picture yourself perfectly living in this new place, or you can see how much money you will net once you do sell your home.

You can also look forward to a smooth transition once you sell your home because you will have already purchased your new one.

If you have the finances, you may even see the potential benefits of carrying both houses – the old one with renters paying the mortgage while you enjoy your new home.

This could especially be worthwhile to you if the Real Estate market is on the rise and you see the potential for selling your existing home somewhere down the line for a more substantial profit.

Doing Work Before You Move In

Another significant benefit to buying another home before selling the one you currently own is the ability to go in ahead of time and make the improvements you desire so it is a place you will want to call home.

Some of the improvements that are a heck of a lot easier to complete when a home is vacant are refinishing hardwood floors, painting, and even remodeling projects like kitchens and baths. Many would kill to be able to have all of these things done before the moving truck ever pulls into the driveway.

All of these benefits are things you might gain from buying before selling your property. However, it is worthwhile to look at the risks of such a proposition. There are reasons why so few people go this route.

Risks of Buying Before Selling Your Home

Finances

Buying a home before selling existing property can bring with it a lot of financial risks. The first thing to look at before you go buying the new house is your finances. Can you afford to pay both mortgages for an extended period?

This is something the bank is going to want to know, and something you should be clear on before you jump in. Selling a house is an uncertain business, and it could take months – possibly a year or more – before you can sell. If all things go well, this will not be the case. But you must be able to cover the payments on both mortgages for some time.

If you do not have this kind of money, you probably should not buy before selling. However, there are other ways that people have accomplished this, so they are worth mentioning. Whether they are an option in today’s market is another story, and will depend heavily on your particular money situation, the lending market and whether the housing market is currently for buyers or sellers.

Home Sale Contingencies

Few sellers are interested in home sale contingency clauses; the chances are very slim a prudent seller will be except one – especially in a seller’s market. By making a contingency offer, you tell a seller that you will buy his or her house for a certain price if and when your home sells.

You put your home up for sale as soon as you decide to do this, and you hope that it will sell quickly so you can buy the new house.

The problem with this arrangement and the reason why so few home sellers accept it is that they lose control of their transaction. A seller has no idea if you are going to do what it takes to sell your home.

They don’t know if you are going to price it correctly, market it right, or even have the best Realtor to sell it. The seller is virtually at your mercy to do what it takes to move onto the next phase of the transaction.

The seller on the other hand without accepting this type of contingency is still able to do what is necessary to get his or her place sold by dropping the price. They certainly know if you are truly serious when you put your home under contract you will be back anyways.

A right of First Refusal

Another typical arrangement you see in some Real Estate contracts is what’s called a right of first refusal. You establish agreed upon terms in a contract and give a specified amount of time that the seller has to provide you to exercise your right to proceed with the transaction should the seller receive another offer.

When the seller gets another offer, you have a short period (typically 24 -48 hours) to purchase the home before the deal dissolves – whether you have sold first or not. Most sellers today do not need to deal in contingency clauses, but it could be worth asking if you have no other choice.

What I need to make painfully clear about this is that the chances are incredibly remote the seller will accept either of these arrangements. When you submit, an offer on a property, a good listing agent representing the seller is going to want to know you can qualify to purchase without selling your existing home.

In fact, one of the requirements I will have any buyer who currently owns a home and puts an offer in on one of my client’s homes is to provide a pre-approval mortgage letter that states exactly that.

The language must be explicit – “the buyer does not need to close on their existing home to make this purchase.” This assures the seller that they do not need to worry about a customer completing a transaction before the acquisition. Otherwise, a buyer could use the mortgage contingency clause in most Real Estate contracts as an escape clause to get their deposits back.

In regards to the right of first refusal unless the seller knows you can qualify to buy his/her home without selling it does not make sense to accept this kind of contract. A ready, willing and able buyer has made an offer on his/her home – why would they want to turn around and wait for someone to say yes or no who doesn’t even qualify to complete the sale?

They would be losing a buyer in hand who has nothing to sell! A few years back while working with a buyer client in Central Florida, even though I had explained to them that the vast majority of home sellers would not accept a contingency sale and they needed to get their home sold first, they didn’t listen.

Unfortunately for them, it took losing a home they wanted before coming to grips they needed to get their home listed and sold first.

After being in the Real Estate business for over 14 years, I find this is something that needs to be explained quite a bit. The are many buyers that think sellers are going to accept their contingency offer. Many have in the back of their mind that this is normal or that they have a very salable home – SORRY it does not work that way!

A seller could care less that YOU think your home is marketable.

Bridge Loan

You may have heard of a bridge loan, but do not bet on being able to get one. Bridge loans allow you to combine the payments of the old and the new home together, making it possible for you to transition from one residence to another. However, the catch with bridge loans is that you need to have considerable finances and excellent credit.

Mostly, you need to be one of the rare few that could afford the dual mortgage payments without the loan. A bridge loan was quite common many years ago, but this type of financing is far rarer nowadays.

Renters

Another avenue you can potentially look into when buying a home before you have sold the one you own is renting it out instead of selling. You may be thinking you can just rent out the old house to cover the mortgage while you move into your new home.

While this is an option, it does carry some risks. Renters can lead to severe wear and tear on your property and have little incentive to treat it with love and care you might.

If you are planning on keeping renters there just until you can sell it, you may run into even more problems. Your renters may want to continue living there and might make it unnecessarily difficult to show the house because of this.

Regarding finances, the lender is only going to count a portion of the rent you collect into the equation of whether or not you can qualify to carry both mortgages. Keep this in mind and make sure you do your due diligence before putting in the offer on your dream home.

Buying a Home Before Selling: Do So Only If Financially Wise

Not everyone sells his or her current home before buying a new one. However, the reality of buying a home makes such actions inadvisable for most. You may be able to do it, but make very certain that it is a smart financial move before doing so.

In my experience, most homeowners will opt to get their home sold first and then make an offer on their next place.

By doing so, you remove quite a bit of stress from the equation.

The next worry, of course, will be selling your home before you have found another home you really want to buy. This brings a whole different set of things to keep you up at night including finding temporary housing and a place to store all of your belongings.

These of course are legitimate concerns as nobody likes to think about making a “double move.”

In Real Estate we like to call the decision process for buying before selling or vice versa as the “chicken and egg question.” Essentially which option makes the most sense to do first based upon your life and financial position.

Only you can decide that, but these are the things you need to consider.  As you can see, there are risks and benefits of buying a new property before you have sold your current home. Hopefully, you are now better informed to make the right decision when buying and selling real estate.

PHP Houses
142 W Lakeview Ave
Ste 1030
Lake Mary, Florida 32746
Ph: (407) 519-0719
Fax: (407) 205-1951
email: info@phphouses.com
website: www.PHPHouses.com

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Best Ways To Find Homes For Rent Or Rent To Own

Numerous families are searching for elective lodging programs, things like lease to claim and proprietor financing. Much more families are searching for only a house to lease as contradict to a condo. Well in the event that you have ever attempted to discover a lease to possess house or a house offering proprietor financing, you may see that the undertaking is very testing. You don’t realize which organizations or merchants are legitimate and you don’t have the foggiest idea how to get the most determination to take a gander at. Here are a couple of tips on how you should direct your quest when searching for a decent, quality, lease to claim home or for leasing a house by and large.

Tip #1

Search for organizations that offer lease to claim lodging not proprietors willing to give you a lease to possess rent

Organizations that offer lease to possess lodging are substantially more liable to have assets that can enable you to buy the home you are leasing. Many lease to possess organizations have associations with bank moneylender and now and again have credit fix programs. An individual proprietor is progressively worried about simply selling their home and they might not have great working learning of what can assist you with purchasing the home. Proprietors are considerably more liable to leave the obtaining part to you and won’t offer any assistance.

Tip #2

Begin your hunt online before you drive through a territory

As though you didn’t know,you can look through regions a lot quicker on the web than driving and with the present gas costs, why trouble? Most lease to possess homes are recorded on the web and many don’t have signage on the real property. So you won’t realize that the houses are accessible. Notwithstanding, via looking through online you can qualify the property and ensure you meet all requirements for the property before consistently going out. It is certain to spare you some time.

Tip # 3

Quest the top locales for lease to claim, proprietor financing, or rent choices

The top locales that organizations and financial specialists post to are eBay Classifieds, Craigslist, Hot cushions, and lease bits. These locales have the most lease to claim, proprietor financing properties and will lead you to organizations that have some expertise in these kinds of exchanges.

Tip #4

Think about utilizing a real estate agent

A few real estate agents work with lease to possess and proprietor financing, particularly in this tight market. Call a couple of real estate agents and see what they can discover for you.

Utilizing these tips, you should locate an extraordinary, moderate spot. Simply ensure you discover a program you feel works for you and the conditions of your buy are clear.

Walter DiLoreto is the proprietor of PHP Houses. They have offered many houses to meriting families that were not ready to get bank credits at the time.

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Closing Costs In Florida: What to Know

Florida’s population is in an upswing, growing by more than 322,000 new residents in 2018 alone.

Are you looking to join these ranks? 

Whether you’re moving into a new Florida home or you want to sell yours and look elsewhere, you’ll have to go through a real estate closing process, first. 

No matter which side you’re on, this can be an expensive part of the journey.

Today, we’re sharing a detailed overview of what both buyers and sellers can expect to pay to cover Florida closing costs. This way, you can understand your obligation and set your budget.

Ready to learn more? Let’s get started!

Typical Closing Costs for Florida Buyers

Ready to plant your roots deep in the heart of Orlando? Dream of settling down near South Beach?

Before you can drive away with a title in your name, you’ll pay for a few services, first. In most cases, closing costs for Florida home buyers equal between 1% and 3% of the home’s total purchase price. This helps cover the work that key stakeholders, including title companies, appraisers, lenders, and real estate agents must perform to finalize the transaction.

When you apply for a loan with your lender, you’ll receive an estimate of all of these charges, which will vary depending on your specific situation. Let’s take a look at some of the standard charges that most buyers in the state will incur. 

Title Insurance 

As the buyer, you’ll pay for title insurance, which protects you and ensures that there are no issues with the current title in place. This can run you more than $1,000 in some instances. 

Document Recording Costs

Next, you’ll have to pay to change all official documents related to the property from the current owner’s name to yours. You’ll pay these fees, which cover the cost of creating new land records, to the city or county. They are around $225.

Mortgage Fees

In addition, you’ll incur additional costs related to your mortgage. Some of the most common fees in this category include:

  • Origination fees (Vary)
  • Discount points (Vary)
  • Credit report processing ($25)
  • Appraisal fee ($375)
  • Processor fees
  • Survey fees ($300)
  • Flood certification ($15 to $17)

Escrow Fees

Many sellers will work it out with the buyers to split the escrow fees 50/50. You’ll verify this setup in your purchase agreement. Most buyers in Florida pay around $750 in escrow.

Three Types of Taxes Relating to Florida Real Estate

  • First, all properties in Florida are assessed a taxable value and owners pay an annual Florida property tax based on this value (except churches, schools, government entities). This tax is paid to the local municipality
  • Second, if you sell your home, there may be a capital gains tax on the profit realized from the sale. For this scenario, there are federal guidelines set forth for global buyers under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA).
  • The third tax category only applies to rental properties. If there is net profit on the rental income, there may be a federal tax on the profit generated from renting out a vacation home or other investment property. In addition, for short-term rentals there is a sales tax which is generally charged to the renter and submitted to the local government.

Seller Closing Costs to Expect

Think closing costs are only designated toward the buyer? Not quite. Before you can sell your property and start looking for your next piece of Florida real estate, you’ll sign a few forms and pay a few fees, first. 

While a seller closing cost calculator can give you a more exact estimate, let’s take a look at some of the most common fees you’ll incur.

Title Insurance

This fee covers the work required to ensure that you’re the actual owner of the property and that the title is clean and marketable. If the buyer is taking out a mortgage to buy the property, he’ll also pay a title insurance fee to his lender.

In most cases, this fee will be around 1/3 of 1%. If you sell your home for $180,000, for instance, the seller’s title insurance fee would be about $600.

This percentage increases as the price of your home go down and vice versa. This means the most expensive homes in Florida can see a title insurance fee of 1/5 of 1% or less. If you chose to bundle your policy with the buyer, you can often qualify for discounted rates.

Escrow Fees

You’ll also pay escrow fees as the seller. These will vary depending on which party you’re paying them to. In Florida, you may pay escrow to your title company, the closing service or your real estate attorney.

Real Estate Commission

If you work with a real estate agent to sell your home, you’ll pay that person a commission for the services rendered. This will usually be around 6% of the home’s purchase price. 

You’ll agree to a commission rate in writing before you partner with an agent. 

Recording Fees

You’ll pay for the title change to occur and for the real estate attorney to make the official update to the county record. Most sellers in Florida pay to record a reconveyance of the title, which runs around $150.

If there are other forms that your attorney must process before the sale is complete, such as a road maintenance agreement or quit claim deed, you’ll pay extra for that service, as well. 

Sell Smart and Skip Florida Closing Costs

For both buyers and sellers, Florida closing costs can add up. Whether you’re getting new keys or giving yours up, you don’t want to lose a ton of valuable money in the process.

Want to sell you Florida property and avoid this costly hassle?

That’s where we come in.

We buy houses for cash, and we’re looking for homes in Florida. We’ll help you skip the expensive and time-consuming closing process in a few quick steps.

Contact us today to learn more and see how simple real estate can be.

PHP Houses
142 W Lakeview Ave #1030
Lake Mary, FL 32746
P: (407) 519-0719
Fax: (407) 205-81951
info@phphouses.com

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Selling Your Home to a Real Estate Investor

You only have to drive around your town for a little while to come upon “We Buy Houses” type signs plastered all around on telephone poles or street signs. The signs let you know that there is a company out there that will buy your home, no matter what state it’s in. These Investors who are looking to flip your house for a profit. House flipping has become a lucrative business model for a number of real estate investors.

By definition, house flipping is where a real estate investor purchases a property for less than its value, makes any necessary repairs and updates, and then sells the home for a profit typically within a short period of time.

House Flipping Companies – Pros And Cons

Pros of selling to a house flipping company

1. It’s easy.

Selling a home that needs work can be challenging if you want to get the best possible price. With a house flipping company, you avoid the difficulty of trying to sell for a good price. Instead, you sell to a company that will buy your house for the lowest price it can get away with. In exchange for taking a low price, you can quickly free yourself of the burden of owning the home. If you are in desperation mode this is often times your best bet. Selling to a real estate investor can get you out from under a problem very quickly.

2. You only have to make one decision.

Your only decision when selling to a house flipping company is to sell, or not to sell. You won’t have to decide what repairs to make or who you want to sell to. You will get an offer and make a single decision. After that, you are free of the home. Most often a house flipping company will be paying cash and there can be a quick closing if this is what you are after.


3. You don’t have to find a real estate agent.

Finding a good real estate agent can take a little bit of effort. You may have to interview several to find someone you are really comfortable with. You also don’t have to worry about disagreeing with your real estate agent once you hire one, which can happen. You are going solo.

4. You don’t have to waste your time going for sale by owner.

Trying to sell your home as a for sale by owner can be extremely challenging, to say the least. While the goal for most owners is to save on paying a real estate commission, it is a lot of work to accomplish this. For sale by owners need to keep in mind the following:

  • You need to have some good marketing skills to make sure your home is found online. This is where the vast majority of buyers will be searching for a home.
  • The photography on your home needs to be excellent.
  • You must make yourself available for showings which may mean times of the day where it is not convenient for you.
  • The buyer needs to be qualified for a mortgage so it will be your job to make sure this is the case. Make sure you understand the difference between pre-qualified vs pre-approved.
  • There will be nobody there to represent you at vital stages of the home selling process such as the buyers home inspection.

When you sell to we buy houses company all of the headaches associated with selling as a for sale by owner are avoided.

5. You can probably sell no matter what shape your home is in.

A home can deteriorate considerably over a long time period, especially if regular maintenance is not conducted and repairs are not made as necessary to keep all components of the house in good working order. You may have a home that you want to sell that is virtually uninhabitable. But even in this state, there is probably a company that will still buy it. Not for very much money, but someone will still purchase it if just to obtain the lot that the house sits on.

Cons of selling to a house flipping company


1. You will probably make less on the sale.

When you hire a real estate agent, he or she is working to make you as much money as possible from your sale but it will take longer and requires more work and time from your side. Hiring a Realtor since it takes longer means that seller would have to pay for all the house related expenses while is sold. It is true that the Realtor takes a percentage of the sale price as financial compensation, so he or she is motivated to fetch the best price but at the end you could be getting less money. 

2. You don’t have the option of improving the home to improve the selling price.

Even homes that are in relatively bad shape can often be improved to attract better quality buyers. In fact, that is probably what the house flipping company is planning on doing with your home.

They will buy it, fix it up, sell it and make a profit. When you sell with a real estate agent, you get to make the improvements and reap the rewards. However we must make the distinction between fixing or repairing and improvements. When the property needs things to be fixed that takes time and money and maybe it will payoff. On the other hand and depending on what types of improvements the house needs usually seller would never recover the amount of time and money invested on improving the house. 

There are things you can do to a home that does not cost a lot of money that many owners don’t realize. Here is a how to make your home more appealing when on a budget.

3. You give up control.

A house flipping company is focused on finding sellers who are desperate or just don’t care anymore. If you do care and you are not desperate – you just want to sell the house – there is no reason to work with a flipping company. You wind up working with a company that does not have your best interests in mind.

House flipping companies are not necessarily bad. They fill a niche and are capable of helping homeowners who have no other options. For those with no options, getting paid to get out from under the home is an opportunity worth taking. But if you think that maybe you could get more for the home, a house flipping company is not the partner you want.

As you can see there are many pros and cons of we buy houses flipping companies. What you really need to be concerned about are the scammers!

House Flipping Risks

While many “We Buy Houses” flipping companies are completely legit, there are some that are not. Selling to a real estate investor is something that requires some due diligence on your part. It is imperative that you do careful research when dealing with a house flipping company.

There are some common house flipping scams that all sellers should be aware of. The preceding link does an excellent job of summarizing many of the known scams out there. Just be careful and make sure none of these things mentioned are happening to you!

One thing you should know is that there are a few legit ones “We Buy Houses” companies out there and one of them is PHP Houses. 

You should put extra scrutiny into any of these companies. Calling a house flipping company from a sign on a telephone pole and establishing a relationship with them without any research could end up being financial suicide.

Find a company where the investors are also Real Estate Agents and/or Brokers Before Choosing A House Flipping Company. Real Estate Agents and Brokers are liable to the State Professional Regulation Departments and the local Realtors Association for every transaction they make and usually know the legalities and markets better.

Depending on your circumstances, a house flipping company may be the best option for you. However, it is worth speaking to a Realtor first. As long as you are talking to a reputable real estate agent, he or she can give you quality advice on your options for selling the home.

The Investor/Real Estate Agent can come by and take a look, analyze your local market and give you a clear picture of what you can make off of your home – with or without repairs.

Talk to a trusted investor/real estate agent, then decides how to move forward. Maybe a house flipping company will serve your needs. Or, you may discover that you can make a lot more money by hiring an agent and selling your home.

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Selling a House Fast

Sell A House Fast in Orange Seminole Volusia Lake Osceola Counties: 5 Tips For Success

5 tips to sell a house fast

Considering selling your house and want to do it as quickly as possible? Of course! Most people want that. We buy and sell houses all the time and have some proven tips on how to sell a house fast in Orange Seminole Volusia Lake Osceola Counties… or any other town or city.

We use these tips every time we sell a house we’ve fixed up. Most were learned when the real estate market tanked back around 2008.

With foreclosures up 81% back then, there were a lot of houses on the market clamoring for the attention of the reduced amount of buyers looking to buy a home.

We were forced to find ways to compete and get houses sold. In this article we are passing those hard-earned lessons on to you so that you can better be able to sell your house fast in Orange Seminole Volusia Lake Osceola Counties or anywhere.

sell a house fast

Selling a House Fast Requires the Right Price

We quickly noticed that the single biggest factor in getting a house to sell fast in any market is the price.

Yes, how much you are asking for your home plays a huge role in being able to get offers right out of the gate.

Consider this from the point of view of buyers looking to buy a house in your neighborhood or area. They are likely going through dozens or even hundreds of listings that are most likely sorted by price.

Everybody wants a bargain. They are judging your house and its price against what your neighbors are asking for a similar house.

Pricing a house is not the easiest thing to do in the world so we wanted to provide some quick tips to help you determine a great price:

  • Check compsFind out what other similar houses are selling for and how fast they are selling. Take the closest matches that sold quickly and average the selling prices.
  • How does your home compare?If you are working with an agent, you can have them show you pictures of the houses that sold. If you aren’t working with an agent, many times you can see pictures of houses that sold on Zillow.com or Realtor.com. Compare the fixtures and finishes to what you have in your house and adjust your price up or down based on what you find. Always be considering this from the buyers’ perspective. What would you think when you saw the houses that sold and then came and saw your house? It’s very important to be objective here.
  • Have friends give their opinionsSometimes we as homeowners are seeing things through a different lens. We need to get unbiased opinions from friends or family that are completely objective.

For more great tips on pricing your house for sale, check out this article on Zillow.

cash offer from a house buying company

Get an Offer from a Cash Home Buyer

Not everybody is aware there are people who buy houses cash that will make you an offer to buy your house quickly.

You might wonder,”why do they buy a lot of houses?” They buy for investment purposes and usually have the cash to close faster. This allows you to sell your house without even putting it on the market.

What’s the catch with these house buying companies? They usually don’t pay full market value. That might be an issue if you need to sell for top dollar.

Of course, this option doesn’t make sense for all home sellers. It makes the most sense for people that don’t have the time or energy to deal with getting their house fixed up and put on the market. This is also a good solution for sellers that don’t like the idea of having dozens of complete strangers going through their house, looking at all of their stuff.

We buy homes in Orange Seminole Volusia Lake Osceola Counties and would love to talk with you about what we can pay for your house.

market your house for sale everywhere

Market Your House Everywhere

The quickest way to sell a house you put up for sale is to get as many eyes on it as possible. You need to make sure everybody knows the home is for sale.

 

Get an ad in the local newspaper

If you want to sell a house fast in Orange Seminole Volusia Lake Osceola Counties, you might consider putting an ad in the local newspaper or their website.

 

Use a Listing Agent

Real estate agents can list your house on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) which will help you get maximum exposure.

If you decide to sell your house without an agent, you can get a ‘For Sale By Owner’ sign from HomeDepot or Lowe’s and stick it in your front yard. I highly recommend you get the directional signs as well. This will allow you to point people driving around your area to your house that is for sale.

 

Use Social Media

Take lots of pictures and do a video walk through. You can post these on Facebook and Youtube.

One social media platform is perfect for pictures: Instagram. Give it a try.

 

Tell everybody you know

Tell everybody you know that your house is for sale. Ask everybody you talk to if they know of anyone looking to buy a house in the area. You never know who might be looking for a house just like yours. This will certainly help you sell a house fast.

gives concessions to sell a house fast

Give Concessions to Sell Quickly

There are lots of ways to entice buyers to give your house a little extra attention.

Here are some of our favorite ways to sell a house fast by giving concessions:

 

Agent bonus

Reward agents for finding you a buyer. We’ve given bonuses of $1,000 or more for buyers’ agents that sold their buyers on our houses. You can do the same.

There are agents that look for listings of houses for sale where these bonuses are available and start showing their clients these houses first. Get yourself on the top of potential buyers’ must-see lists with this tip.

When buyers see your house first, they may just fall in love with it and make you an offer. Offering an agent bonus has allowed us to sell a lot of houses faster over the years.

Try it!

 

Closing cost assistance

Not all buyers need assistance with their closing costs…but most do!

If you offer to help pay closing costs for your buyers, they will much more likely to buy your house over others on the market.

In order to sell a house fast, you should consider offering this assistance. Be sure to write into the description of your listing your willingness to pay some closing cost assistance. It really goes a long way in persuading buyers to give your house more consideration.

 

Home warranty

This tip for selling a house fast is not mentioned often. Providing a home warranty gives buyers a peace of mind.

They might be nervous that they are overextending themselves when buying your house. They will likely feel better knowing that if something goes wrong, they have a warranty that will cover it.

American Home Shield offers a great home warranty that is pretty comprehensive. It’s great because it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg either. We’ve offered their warranty dozens, if not hundreds of times.

Offering a home warranty gives your home a competitive advantage that will allow you to sell your house quicker.

If you want to shop around and find the perfect home warranty, check out these reviews.

stand out when selling your house

Be Different

This piece of advice is one that I hope my competitors that sell houses don’t catch wind of. We make it a point to find economical ways of setting our houses apart so that they sell much faster.

The secret is spending some time to see what houses are for sale that your home will be competing with. Then, make note of the similarities between the houses.

  • Do they all have beige walls with white trim?
  • Do they all have formica counters?
  • Do they all have oak cabinets?
  • Do they all have brown exterior paint?

What you want to do now is find some things to do that will make your house stand out because it doesn’t just match all the others that are for sale.

You sell a house fast by making it unforgettable.

Great websites to get cheap design tips are Houzz.com and Pinterest.

Final Thoughts About How to Sell A House Fast in Orange Seminole Volusia Lake Osceola Counties

Whether you situation dictates you sell a house fast in Orange Seminole Volusia Lake Osceola Counties or somewhere else, you can follow these 5 tips we’ve outlined to pretty much guarantee a quick sale.

If you feel you’ve benefited from this article, please share it!

We’d love to hear any tips you might have for selling a house fast. If you have some tips, please don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments below.

The information presented in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, or as any other type of advice.