In many cases, yes—if your purchase agreement explicitly includes an active appraisal contingency clause or an applicable financing contingency. Under standard Florida contracts (such as the FR/BAR Residential Contract), an appraisal contingency is not automatically included unless specifically added as a rider or part of a financing clause. If your contract waives this contingency, or if...
2026
Why the Mortgage Payment Is Only Part of the Equation One of the biggest mistakes buyers can make is evaluating affordability based almost entirely on the mortgage payment. Owning property in Florida involves several expenses that can change substantially from one property to another. Two homes with the same purchase price may have very different monthly ownership...
12 Questions You Should Ask Vacant land can look simple. There is no roof to inspect, no air conditioner to replace and no tenant to remove. But land transactions can contain some of the most complicated risks in real estate. A parcel listed at an attractive price may become extremely expensive—or impossible to develop—once the buyer investigates what can actually be built. 1....
When people think about what drives home values, they usually think about interest rates, inventory and comparable sales. Those factors matter. But over longer periods, one of the most important forces affecting a housing market is much simpler: Where are the jobs going? Central Florida continues to attract corporate offices, manufacturing facilities, technology companies, healthcare...
How Corporate Relocations Can Affect Central Florida Home Values Whenever a large company announces a new office or headquarters, it is easy to jump to a conclusion: “Home values nearby are going up.” Sometimes that eventually happens. Sometimes it doesn't. Understanding why requires looking at how economic development actually moves through a housing market. Step One: A...
For decades, outsiders have often described Orlando's economy primarily through one industry: Tourism. Tourism remains critically important to Central Florida, but that description increasingly tells only part of the story. Central Florida's economy now includes growing clusters in healthcare, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, defense, simulation, technology, financial services and...
Follow Business Investment, Infrastructure and Land Homebuyers often search for the “next hot area.” I look at the question differently. Instead of asking which neighborhood is becoming popular today, I want to know: Where are the ingredients for future growth being assembled? Those ingredients usually include three core factors: Employment, Infrastructure, and Developable land....
Why Correct Positioning Matters More Than Ever Many sellers believe pricing a home is primarily about finding recent comparable sales. Comparables matter, but today's buyer is not choosing between your property and homes that sold six months ago. The buyer is choosing between your home and the properties available right now. That distinction is extremely important. Buyers Compare...
Why Jobs, Infrastructure and Development Matter to Real Estate Real estate values are influenced by much more than interest rates. Over the long term, population growth, employment, infrastructure and development patterns can dramatically change a community. That is why serious real estate analysis should include more than home sales statistics. Follow Employment When...
Why Builder Incentives Do Not Always Equal Savings New construction builders frequently advertise substantial incentives. Buyers may see offers involving tens of thousands of dollars in closing-cost assistance, mortgage rate reductions or design upgrades. These incentives can be valuable, but they should be evaluated as part of the overall transaction. Start With the Total...