Author name: developers

As you think about the year ahead, one of your big goals may be moving.
But, how do you know when to make your move? While spring is usually the
peak homebuying season, you don’t actually need to wait until spring to
sell. Here’s why.

Have you seen headlines talking about the increase in foreclosures in
today’s housing market? If so, they may leave you feeling a bit uneasy
about what’s ahead. But remember, these clickbait titles don’t always give
you the full story.

If you’re looking to buy a home, you’ve probably been paying close
attention to mortgage rates. Over the last couple of years, they hit record
lows, rose dramatically, and are now dropping back down a bit. Ever wonder
why?

In the ever-evolving world of interior design, the choice of furniture
plays a pivotal role in shaping the ambiance of your living spaces. Gone
are the days when furniture was merely functional; today, it’s a statement
of style and sophistication. If you’re contemplating a transformation for
your home or office in Ottawa, delve into the world of modern trendy
furniture to unlock a realm of possibilities.

Are you worried that it may be time to replace the insulation in your home
but are unsure? Check out this blog to discover ways to know it’s time.

Have you ever heard the term “Silver Tsunami” and wondered what it’s all
about? If so, that might be because there’s been lot of talk about it
online recently. Let’s dive into what it is and why it won’t drastically
impact the housing market.

It’s entirely possible to complete renovations during the winter. Here are
some top winter home improvements to install now so that you can prepare
for spring.

The decision on whether or not to sell your beloved home is already a
difficult thing to process. But knowing and understanding when to sell —
it’s another critical point that can affect your decision and would-be
profit, especially when the housing market feels unpredictable.

Aside from the housing market having a significant impact on the sale of
your home, it’s also important to evaluate your situation and reasons for
selling. To provide you with some guidance, we’ve laid out six factors that
you should consider before putting your house on the market.

People visit Florida every year to relax on the gorgeous beaches and enjoy the sunshine. Those are likely some of the top reasons you invested in a vacation house, but what happens when you’re not there between October and March? Protect your vacation home during the warm weather off-season by using these tips before your last visit for the year.1. Install Remote Monitoring CamerasSmart security cameras are easy to monitor from a distance. Install a few outside your property, and set up standing cameras on countertops, tables or dressers. You can check in on your vacation home whenever you’re not around with an instant view into any room.Some security systems even have live monitoring by professionals. When they get a motion alert after you’ve armed the system, the company’s team will call emergency responders in case you don’t get the notification right away. When you’re ready to spend time in your vacation home again, you can shut off the indoor cameras to regain privacy.2. Inspect Your PlumbingWater is always a concern when a home goes unattended for months. Before leaving for the off-season, inspect the plumbing underneath your sinks for leaks. You might also spot one in your water bill. If the monthly usage is above the average 12,000 gallons per month, you’ll know you have a major leak somewhere in your home.Turning off your main water valve is another good step to protect your home, unless you have a fire sprinkler system. If you do, only turn off the valves to your bathrooms, kitchen and laundry room. The piping won’t burst in the case of freezing weather and cause water damage that goes unnoticed until spring.Remember to close your drains as well. If bugs find their way into your plumbing through a sealant crack, they won’t be able to crawl up your drain and into your home. Add your sink, shower and tub drains to your to-do list to protect your vacation home.3. Check Your LocksDoor locks are a home’s first defense against intruders. Double-check your locks and handles to ensure they don’t wiggle. The tiny screws keeping them in place can loosen over time — tightening them with a Phillips-head screwdriver only takes a second and makes your home’s security more robust.You could also update your locks if they’re older. Rust and loose internal parts might make it easier to break under force. A different model — like a Mortise lock set — would embed a door’s lock in a deep-set metal casing within the frame that won’t shatter like a wooden borehole. You could even get a smart lock to check your home’s security while states away. It depends on your budget and how much time you have before leaving for the season.4. Banish Any Mold SporesMold sneaks into homes all the time. It can settle into fibers and grow in damp areas people overlook. Give your home a deep cleaning to prevent mold from taking over while you’re gone.You could run a dehumidifier for a day or two before you leave to stop any current growth. Place it near wet areas like your kitchen or bathrooms. After it runs for at least 24 hours, vacuum your carpets and wash your rugs. You’ll rest easy knowing your vacation house will stay clean while you’re handling things in your hometown.5. Consider Automatic LightingImagine driving through your neighborhood while returning to your home at night. You automatically know which neighbors are home based on the lit windows along your street. People with criminal intentions do the same thing to scout for future robberies. If they notice the lights off consistently in a house over a period of days, they’re more likely to consider breaking in.Update your indoor light fixtures with smart bulbs or Wi-Fi-enabled replacements. Automatic lighting will turn off and on according to your preset schedule. People passing your property will think you’re home, which could prevent a break-in.Smart lighting is also helpful when you return to your vacation house. You could schedule your bedside lamp to turn on an hour before going to bed so it charges your electronics via a USB cord. Make your kitchen lights fade on slowly as you wake up or turn your flood lights off automatically when you usually go to sleep. You might even schedule things like outdoor Edison bulbs so life is easier when you’re having fun hosting backyard barbecues.6. Unplug Major AppliancesCheck the electrical outlets around your home. Do they have two or three prongs? Three-prong outlets mean your house is grounded, so it directs lightning into the ground if it gets hit. Those without three-prong outlets absorb potential lightning strikes, frying anything plugged in during the storm.Taking the extra step to unplug your biggest appliances protects them from that damage. You could unplug your washing machine, dryer, stove and refrigerator before leaving. Use the opportunity to clean them too, like emptying your fridge and wiping it down so it’s ready to use when you return.7. Replace Smoke Alarm BatteriesYou don’t have to wait until your smoke alarms are beeping to change their batteries. Swapping them before going back to your hometown could prevent a fire from going undetected if the older batteries run out while you’re gone. Your house will also be safer when you return, preventing your loved ones from becoming one of the 2,200 people who die annually from house fires.8. Hire a Friend or Family MemberIf you have a few friends or family members around your vacation house, ask if they’ll stop by and check on your property. They can report back every few weeks on any landscaping damage from storms or if the lights are on during your predetermined schedules.It’s imperative to check your property after hurricanes or flooding. You’ll take care of damage quickly to prevent even more costly destruction caused by roof holes or broken windows. Your loved ones might also appreciate making a few extra dollars for the simple task if they live close to your vacation home.Secure Your House More EffectivelyThere’s more you can do to protect your Florida vacation home besides locking your windows, closing your blinds and stopping mail deliveries. Implement these strategies this year to make your property safer. Simple fixes and upgrades could be all you need to prevent theft or property damage.

Florida has been synonymous with scoring real estate. Natural disasters and climate change have done little to make the Sunshine State a less desirable destination for practically everybody. Its enchanting appeal to students, retirees, entrepreneurs, workers, tourists and snowbirds has made its local real estate markets vibrant and profitable.Will Floridian locations and properties remain attractive in the coming months? Learn about the most noteworthy trends to set your expectations for the peninsula’s residential real estate sector.1. Fewer Homes Are Changing HandsThe Land of Flowers saw 26,363 homes sold in December 2023, representing a 5.4% dip year-over-year. Regarding single-family houses, the downtick was only 3.9%. However, the demand for townhouses and condominium units fell by 8.8% and 10.7%, respectively.The December figures may be bearish, but homebuyers were more bullish on Florida compared to the rest of the United States. Existing home sales dropped by 19% nationally in 2023 — the lowest in 30 years.The Florida residential real estate sector is showing signs of cooling off since home sales peaked at 52,147 in March 2021. It was a relatively steady decline. Monthly home sales in 2023 didn’t cross the 40,000 mark.2. Buyers Are Paying Top DollarThe Cirtrus Capital’s all-transactions house price index jumped 4.95% in Q3 2023 year-over-year. This data combines appraisal figures and sales prices, reflecting professional appraisers’ opinions and homebuyers’ sentiments.Although fewer homes are getting sold in Florida, it’s reassuring that buyers are ponying up more money to make the state their home. This figure suggests sellers still control the markets and bidding wars remain fierce.Historical data says this trend won’t run out of steam in the future. Only one quarter saw this metric drop since Q3 2012. Gaining a foothold in the Gulf State’s real estate market sooner rather than later is ideal. Barring housing bubbles, property appreciation is practically a foregone conclusion.3. Property Values Are SkyrocketingFlorida has overtaken New York as the second-most valuable residential real estate market. According to a September 2023 Zillow report, the Tropicana State’s total housing market value exceeded $3.8 trillion — up 4.3% since June 2022. Regarding the average home value, the figure is $383,063 — 8.2% higher year-over-year. Florida metropolitan areas are on a roll. The Miami–Fort Lauderdale real estate market is worth $1.2 trillion — the sixth-largest among metros nationwide. Four of the six housing markets with the highest gains in value since the pandemic are in the state. They’re Tampa, Miami, Jacksonville and Orlando, growing by 72.3%-88.9%.The Empire State is only $156.5 billion behind Florida. However, New York is trending downward. The Gateway to the West is losing people, while the Orange State has more in-movers than out-movers. Actually, Florida is the destination of those emigrating from the Knickerbocker State.4. More Energy-Efficiency Projects Are UnderwayResidential and commercial property owners in the Everglade State actively tackle green improvements, thanks to Florida PACE — Property Assessed Clean Energy. On average, the state’s energy conservation and hurricane protection funding agency helps finance 2,132 projects yearly, spending north of half a billion dollars from 2015 to the first half of 2023.The PACE program comes with a reasonable payment plan to make typically unaffordable repairs, upgrades and replacements more manageable. Hundreds of projects qualify for it, giving Floridians considerable latitude in making their properties more climate-resilient, code-compliant, sustainable, comfortable and valuable. Many prioritize window upgrades because about 30% of heat loss within the house occurs through leaky and thermally underperforming fenestration units. Getting a new exterior door, roof or generator is high on others’ agendas.Florida PACE also makes decarbonizing air conditioning by installing a heat pump budget-friendly. This electrification project costs about $18,000 in the South Atlantic. A funding source with no money down and no credit checks is desirable.5. New Foreign Players Are BiddingSouth Florida has been a magnet for international residential real estate buyers. In 2023, foreign nationals bought 6,200 homes worth $5.1 billion. It’s down 25% year-over-year, but the downturn spoke more of the overall housing market than of the interest from non-domestic players. International buyers retained 18% of the region’s total deal volume.The vast majority of South Florida residence hunters are from Latin America. The Columbians are well represented, accounting for 15%. The Argentines and Brazilians comprise 14% and 7% of investors, respectively. The rest are from Venezuela, Mexico, Peru, Chile and Ecuador.Canada is an outlier. Based on anecdotal evidence from real estate brokers, many buyers with deep pockets from the Great White North are shopping around South Florida while flying under the radar. These loaded Canadians are taking seven-figure properties off the market — a rare sight before the pandemic.The Canadian invasion of South Florida may just be getting started. Developers are taking notice and recalibrating their marketing strategies to generate more business from loaded buyers north of the border.6. Rent Prices Are StabilizingRents in some Florida metros are falling. In December 2023, Jacksonville and Cape Coral landlords charged 0.29% and 0.17% less year-over-year, respectively. These cuts were negligible but might be psychologically beneficial to aspiring tenants.Still, rents across the Flower State are at a premium. In the same month, Miami recorded the most inflated one, which was 6.23% more expensive than it should be. It translated to a 0.11% reduction month-over-month, though.On the bright side, five Florida metros in the Waller, Weeks and Johnson Rental Index were below the national rent premium average of 2.58%. Four were less than 2% away from matching their estimated reasonable rent prices. Jacksonville rents were even discounted by 0.10%. In other words, you could earn $68,548.09 and live in Jax without 30% of your annual income on rent.Unfortunately, rent prices in said metros may spike once more tenants simultaneously search for homes. Florida gives landlords the privilege to set rents without restrictions based on demand.Trends Come and GoSome Florida trends must be music to the ears of investors and home sellers, while others may sound terrible news to buyers and renters. That’s just the nature of the beast. For better or worse, real estate markets are cyclical and conditions will eventually be more favorable for the other parties.