Real Estate

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 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...

You Are Also Buying Into the Association A condominium purchase is fundamentally different from buying a detached single-family home. You are purchasing your unit, but you are also becoming financially connected to the building and the condominium association. That means the condition of the association can matter almost as much as the condition of the unit itself. Look...

What You Need to Know Before Closing Many buyers focus almost entirely on the house they are purchasing. In a deed-restricted community, however, you are buying more than the property. You are also agreeing to a set of private rules, financial obligations and community standards that may affect how you use your home. Those restrictions can have a meaningful impact on both your lifestyle and...

FWhy Buyers and Sellers Need to Look Beyond the Headlines When people ask whether the Florida real estate market is “good” or “bad,” the question is usually too broad to be useful. Florida is not one real estate market. Central Florida is not one market. Even within the same county, the conditions affecting a condominium, a new construction home, a luxury property, an investment...