Understand Contingencies in the Florida Real Estate Market.

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ARONA MCGINLEY REAL ESTATE IN PINELLAS COUNTY

Contingencies are things that a buyer can request that must happen in a set period of time in order for the real estate deal to go through.

Some common contingencies are: Inspection Contingency, Appraisal Contingency, and Finance Contingency.

Inspection Contingency – A buyer can back out of the contract if an inspector finds too many problems or issues with the home.

Appraisal Contingency – This goes into effect if the house appraises for less than the offer contract amount. For example, the contract amount is $500,000 but the appraisal came back at $450,000.

Finance Contingency– The buyer has the option to back out if they cannot secure a mortgage.

4 Upgrades that can help you lower your homeowner’s insurance cost

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reduce your insurance premium

Homeowners’ insurance premiums continue to rise each year. Here are some simple ways to not only lower your insurance premium, but they can also increase your property value.

  1. Do you have a bad roof that’s been leaking, has rotting wood, and is as old as you are? Did you know that insurers offer discounts for roof upgrades? Talk to your insurance agent and see what discounts are available with a new roof.
  2. Storm-Safe Windows and Doors can increase the value of your home, but it can also help you reduce your insurance premiums. Talk with your insurance agent to see what discounts are available to you.
  3. Install a Home Security System. This is an upgrade that’s relatively cheap and can reduce your insurance premium. Talk to your insurance agent.
  4. A Water shutoff device is another easy device that you can install which can help reduce your insurance premium. This device will alert you of moisture or leaks in places that shouldn’t have water. Talk with your insurance agent to see what discounts are available.

These are just a few of the things that can help you lower your insurance premiums. Don’t forget to contact your insurance agent when you get these upgrades to update your policy.

Why Investing In Florida is a Good Idea!

Posted on by Arona A.
  • Is Buying in Florida a good investment?

Buying real estate in Florida is a great investment. Not only is it a place where everyone wants to vacation. Florida has beautiful weather, that low key lifestyle, lots of attractions for the whole family.

Another attraction is Florida has no income tax.

In Florida, we have had a lot of real estate development, and that’s great for investment buyers because the prices of homes are still reasonable.

We have a strong demand for rental properties, condos, single-family homes. We have vacationers looking for options to rent besides staying at hotels.

Finding homes for investors and second home buyers
  • What are some good places to buy investment properties in Florida?

Some great places to buy an investment property in Florida are Tampa, St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island, Madeira Beach, Kenneth City, Seminole, Largo, Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor, Belleair, Dunedin, and Orlando.

If you are looking to invest contact us for some great investment properties.

What is a 4 Point Inspection?

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4 POINT INSPECTION

Your offer has been accepted to purchase your dream home, and now you have to set up an inspection to make sure the home is in good condition.

When buying a home, you will have to get a home inspection if you’re getting a mortgage and even if you are purchasing with cash. You want to have a home inspection done no matter what the situation. By having a 4-point inspection done, it lets the bank or the homeowners know the quality of the home that they are purchasing.

A 4-point home inspection includes

  • Foundation
  • Roof
  • Electrical
  • Plumbing
  • HVAC systems
  • Damages caused by termites, flood, fire, and mold.

Any of the above can impact the value of your home. If a home inspection is not done, and later you find out that the foundation is cracked or the roof is rotted, this can be a costly fix for the buyer.

Once something is revealed in the home inspection you can negotiate with the seller for a lower asking price.

Who can do a 4-Point Home Inspection?

  • A Florida licensed general contractor
  • Architect
  • Building Inspector
  • Engineer
  • ASHI Home Inspectors
  • FABI Building Inspectors
  • NACHI Certified Home Inspectors

**A Home Owner cannot do a Home Inspection

Start Building Equity!

Posted on by Arona A.
FIRSTTIME HOME BUYERS
Buy a home and increase your wealth. Contact Arona McGinley-Realtor

Are you still renting? Why are you building your landlord’s equity and increasing their wealth?

With mortgage rates being low… this would be a great time to invest in a home. Most people think that they cannot qualify for a mortgage, but you will be surprised. Get with your local mortgage company today and see what options are available to you. Then call me to find you the perfect home that fits within your budget and your lifestyle.

Stop paying your landlord. Every month you pay your landlord, their bank account goes up because they are building equity in their home. Why are you still not a property owner? You could be building equity in your home and increasing your wealth. Don’t hesitate, take the plunge and call me to find your home today.

Leave It To The Professionals

Posted on by Arona A.
COMPARATIVE MARKET ANALYSIS HOMES IN TAMPA FL

Many of us may buy and sell a home maybe once or twice in our lifetime. This is one of the biggest investments that we will make so why leave it to chance. I know many of the DIYs are thinking I can do this job, this is a piece of cake. I can put my listing online and I can get a bunch of great offers. This is a common way of thinking for the average homeowner.

Don’t Make This Mistake

A homeowner may not know the value of their home. They either, undervalue it which they can potentially lose more than what they would have spent on hiring a Realtor who would have priced it correctly. On the flip side, we have the FSBOs that think their home is worth a lot more than it actually is.

Homes that are over-priced tend to sit on the market and get stale over time. Most people would not even call because they think that something is wrong with the home if it’s been on the market that long without a sale. It really isn’t an advantage, having your home sitting on Zillow for over 90 days. Don’t make the mistake of doing this.

Realtors know that homeowners are honest and hardworking people. We want to do our best to sell your home and get you as much as we can in the shortest period of time. We are there to be the buffer, to negotiate for you and your family, to do all the dirty work so you can get the benefit of a stress-free transaction. We strive to make your life remain as normal as possible during this whole process of selling your home.

Keep in mind

Your home will sell for what it is appraised at. It does not matter if you think your home is worth $20,000 more. It’s what the appraiser thinks it’s worth. Get a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). Some Realtors will do this for free for you, so ask for one.

Tip: If you know you don’t like

  • answering the phone, and talking to strangers
  • is not available to show your home during the day or evenings
  • cannot do open houses
  • hate to negotiate with people
  • already busy with family life (school, sports, work, kids)
  • not computer savvy
  • can’t take good photos

Don’t attempt to sell your own home. You are better off using a Realtor to help you sell your home. Call me if you are selling your home in the Tampa, Seminole, Largo, Clearwater, Pinellas Park, Tarpon Spring, Palm Harbor areas. I am an agent in Pinellas County Florida and can answer any questions you may have about selling your home.

Call/Text: 727-422-9340 Email: arona.mcginley@gmail.com

GET A COMPARATIVE MARKET ANALYSIS —IT’S FREE!



Things to Know about FHA Appraisals

Posted on by Arona A.
Arona Mcginley real estate agent seminole florida. FHA Appraisal

In order to use an FHA loan to purchase a home, the property will have to be appraised and inspected by a HUD-approved appraiser. This is to ensure that the property meets HUDS’s minimum property standards.

WHAT IS AN APPRAISAL?

Only an expert can assesses or determine the value of your home. You get an appraisal to determine the value of your home in today’s market. The appraiser usual has a check list of HUDs requirements for FHA.

Things You Should Know About FHA Home Appraisals

  • HAND RAILS – handrails should be installed along open staircases, and in accordance with FHA/HUD requirements.
  • RAILINGS – has to be installed around, decks, patios, porches and balconies.
  • PAINT – all interior and exterior paint should be in good condition. There should be no distressed paint eg. peeling paint.
  • WINDOWS – all windows should be fully operational and not broken. If it is, it has to be replaced.
  • DOORS – doors should be functional and hanging properly.
  • ROOF – If the roof has leaks it must be repaired or replaced.
  • UTILITIES -utilities must be on and functional at the time of the inspection.

These are just some of the things that will be addressed with an FHA Appraiser. To get more information visit FHA APPRAISAL

If you are looking for more information on selling or buying a home please call/text 727-422-9340 or email: arona.mcginley@gmail.com or fill out the contact form.

Buyers Handbook

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Mortgage application tampa bay florida


Preparing For Your Purchase

What is a Pre-Approval letter

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Why should home buyers have a pre-approval letter before they start searching for homes?

A pre-approval letter is basically a document from a lender that indicates how much the lender would be willing to lend you to buy a home.  By having this letter a seller will view you as being more of a serious buyer when you place an offer on their home.

 

Mortgage Application Tips

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Mortgage application tampa bay florida

You have made the decision that you are going to buy a home and you are ready to fill out your mortgage application. Here are some things that you will need when filling out your mortgage application

  • W-2s from the past 2 years.
  • Personal and Business tax returns for the past 2 years.
  • Pay stubs from the past 2 months.
  • Bank account statements from the past 2 months.
  • Proof of other income, example child support, alimony income if using for qualification.
  • Proof of other asserts and Income example collectibles, land, real estate.
  • Other investment statements from the past 2 months