Tips- Home Buying or Selling with Appie Alexander

01/07/2022

"The new reporting requirement will ensure that small businesses that receive payments through those apps are paying their fair share in taxes on them. "

The IRS is cracking down on payments made through third-party apps, requiring platforms like Venmo, PayPal and Cash App to report transactions if they exceed $600 in one year.

10/01/2020

BUYING A HOME?

HERE'S How you can save $$ money and eliminate PMI (Private Mortgage insurance at closing without putting down 20%.

WHAT IS PMI? Private Mortgage Insurance. Insurance that protects the lender if you default.

THERE ARE 4 TYPES:

1. Borrower-paid (BPMI)
2. Lender-paid (LPMI)
3. Single premium
4. Split premium

The one you would choose is #3 -to pay the premium as a single lump sum upfront called single-payment mortgage insurance. Read more....

https://themortgagereports.com/21286/which-type-of-pmi-is-best-bpmi-lpmi-single-premium-split-premium

07/30/2020

SAVING ON PROPERTY TAXES IN FLORIDA- If you, your parents or grandparents or siblings are 65 years and older, have owned your homestead property for 25 years or more, and your home isn't worth more than $250,000 and the household income is less than $30,125 a year, you would be eligible to have all your property taxes exempt (except for the ad valorem taxes). Contact your county Property Appraiser or check their website. Could be a big savings for those on fixed incomes.

06/14/2020

Septic Tank maintenance tips!

Don't Plant That! 5 Crucial Landscaping Rules for Your Septic System iStock/colematt/Vizerskaya/realtor.com If you own a septic system, there's a good chance you've been told that the area above it is a kind of no-man's ...

02/07/2020

HOME OWNERSHIP AND WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RENTING OUT WHERE YOU LIVE!

"Many homeowners seeking to make extra cash by renting all or part of their home through such online home-sharing portals as AirBnB or Craigslist are discovering that the homestead exemption they’ve been claiming on their taxes for years is no longer valid. Likewise, state and county governments all over the country are cracking down on illegitimate homestead exemptions in order to recover lost revenue, in some cases reclaiming millions of dollars in unpaid back-taxes and penalties"

Many homeowners seeking to make extra cash by renting all or part of their home through such online home-sharing portals as AirBnB or Craigslist are discovering that the homestead exemption they’ve been claiming on their taxes for years is no longer valid once they start renting out their homes.

04/08/2019

SHOULD YOU BUY HOME WARRANTY? Read the fine Print, compare several companies.

"Even though the warranty companies select the technicians, the contracts of at least four policy providers Checkbook examined say they’re not responsible for the negligence or other conduct of the workers they dispatch."

Home warranty companies promise to save you thousands of dollars when something goes wrong, but don't count on the peace of mind these plans promise.

03/05/2019

BUYERS OR SELLERS, WHY YOU NEED "KNOWLEDGEABLE AND EXPERIENCED" REALTORS! GOAL IS TO GET TO HOME!
1. Florida Realtors have to take 14 hours of continuing education on the State of Florida Laws involving Real Estate, and pay to renew our licenses every 2 years!
2. Realtors pay over $600 a year (some of us over $700) to be able to have access (in real time) to all the homes currently available, sold or under contract.
3. They spend thousands of $$$ on education, to make themselves better to serve you!
4. MOST IMPORTANT--Once you go agree to sell your home or buy a home (Go Under Contract), you still have to get through the inspection, appraisal, and loan commitment process before you get to the closing table.
There are critical things involved in each of these steps, which need great negotiating strategies, that if you or your realtor don't know what you're doing, a buyer can lose their earnest money deposit or have a seller selling their home for less than what its worth or both paying money out of pocket. This process can be stressful and frustrating! You need a calm Realtor, but one that will fight for you!
GET YOURSELF A "GOOD" REALTOR!

#954-8714-935

03/05/2019

ATTENTION HOME SELLERS....MAKE SURE YOUR REALTOR GIVE YOU A CMA (Comparable Market Analysis). KNOW WHAT YOUR HOME IS WORTH, BEFORE YOU ACCEPT AN OFFER. Don't let an inexperienced Realtor/Real Estate Agent let you accept an offer price that is above the market price that that homes in and around your community are/has been selling for) WHY... in the end unless it is a cash buyer, the appraisal is what is going to determine the final price, if the buyer is financing the purchase. The lender is not going to give the buyer a mortgage for more than what the home is worth. Example: If you and the buyer agree on a price of $350,000, but the appraisal comes in at $320,000. Either you better get ready to lower the price from $350,000 to $320,000 or the Buyer better be able and willing to cough up and additional $30,000 above what they are already paying in down payment and closing costs. Even if you split the difference, you both will have to cough up $15,000 each!. If the home has to go back on the market because the deal fell through, you put your home in position of agents and buyers asking what is wrong with your home after being off the market 30 days or more. Offering you even less! DON'T WASTE TIME AND MONEY! USE A KNOWLEDGABLE AND EXPERIENCED REALTOR!

03/01/2019

WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW CAN COST YOU! If you own a home in Florida and claim homestead exemption, DID YOU KNOW?

1. If you rent our your home or any portion of your home you lose part or all of your homestead exemption? Homestead exemption is only for the primary resident you live in. Your rental property or vacation home is not eligible for it. To claim exemption in these circumstances is considered fraud, and could result in criminal charges.
2. You could possibly be charged with insurance fraud if you claim homestead exemption but rent the home out or use it as a vacation home, but claim it as your primary residence through homestead exemption. How? Home insurance is cheaper if its your resident versus your investment property. If you're getting lower insurance
3. You can get additional homestead exemptions beyond the $50,000, up to several thousands of $$$$ for being a senior citizen, widow/widower, disabled or a veteran, grandparents assessment reduction?
4. That although all property owners with a homestead exemption are mailed an automatic Residential Renewal Receipt as a courtesy notice each year, you are responsible of notifying them if your address change or if it is no longer your primary residence? Florida Statutes 196.131 and 196.161
5. If you owned your home as of Jan 1st of any year and have not filed homestead exemption by March 1st. You loose homestead for that year and have to file the next year.