Protect your Tallahassee home from mold

Here in Tallahassee, Florida, we have high humidity, and humidity that settles in the home for long periods to time equals: MOLD.

Homes today are well insulated, and air cannot get in or out easily. Homes were not always so airtight. Think of the older homes before double pane glass, when air entered the home easily. Todays airtight home is good in some ways, relating to energy, and heating and air conditioning. However, moisture builds up in closed spaces, especially in the bathrooms. Over time, without any air movement, mold can develope to a danger point. Mold does not like air movement. In these airtight homes, ceiling fans, bathroom exhaust fans, and air conditioners need to be running, throughout the year. There is a mold danger in vacant homes sitting for a period of time without any air ventilation. Remember, we are in a high humidy zone.

I was speaking with a company that specializes in mold removal. The representative was saying that in this region, mold is everywhere, inside and outside, but is not dangerous unless it is or becomes a certain type of mold. I did not realize that there are thousands of different kinds of molds. He also stated that just opening windows to air out the rooms, does not help in Tallahassee, since there is little wind here, and the humidity in the air, just enters in the home, with mold pores.

If the home does get into an issue where mold removal is necessary, the cost will typically be $6,000 or more, much more. Let’s do what we can to protect our homes from the dangerous mold. Keep the air circulating, wipe up water from shower or bath walls, make sure there are no water leaks.

Kenneth Fach, REALTOR
Weichert, REALTORS-Anchor
1607 Village Square Boulevard, Suite B103
Blog: http://KennethFach.wordpress.com
Cell 850-339-5753

Each office is independently owned and operated.

Successfully buy a Tallahassee area home without liens

Homebuyers are out now, looking for homes, as this is spring, and spring brings out those looking to purchase Tallahassee real estate. Word of caution: Homebuyers need to be aware of potential issues when they see a home they like, and want to make an offer on. Watch out for a “cloud on title,” or what is called, a lien on the property.

Potential “clouds on title” are: construction lien, income tax lien, property tax lien. There could also be the issue of encroachment, easement infraction, zoning violation, incorrect name on deed, error in the legal description, and missing or incorrect signatures.

A good source to go to in order to make sure there are no issues like those stated above, is the title company, who will be researching the title on the property before you purchase it. Also, the real estate agent is a good source for information as well. You can also go online to the public records, such as the clerks office, to see if the names on the deed match with the names in the real estate transaction you are in or wanting to be in. You can check the legal description, and make sure it is correct on the Purchase Contract for the home. The tax collectors website is a good source to see if the owner has been paying property tax on time, and there are no issues there.

Here are some useful website to assist you with researching your Tallahassee, or Leon County home:

www.clerk.leon.fl.us
www.co.leon.fl.us/property.asp
www.tlcgis.org

Other useful sites:
www.maps.google.com
www.housefront.com
www.trulia.com
www.talgov.com

Kenneth Fach, REALTOR
Weichert, REALTORS-Anchor
1607 Village Square Boulevard, Suite B103
Blog: http://KennethFach.wordpress.com
Cell 850-339-5753

Each office is independently owned and operated.

Tallahassee real estate and new home builders

I have a list of all the residential home builders in Tallahassee, Florida, that I like to keep handy, just in case I have a buyer who is interested in a particular builder in Tallahassee, Leon County, and surrounding area.

Not all of course, but many homebuyers want to purchase a brand new home. Sometimes that is good, sometimes that is not good. It depends on many factures. For some folks, an older ranch style home is just fine, with its typically bigger, spacious yard, than what if often found with new homes. Tallahassee, Florida, and Leon County, has all kinds of home styles, new and established neighborhoods, and a vast variety of price ranges.

I can assist you with finding a new home builder, and getting you all prepared with working with a new home builder, in Tallahassee, and Leon County, Florida.  Just let me know, as there is a lot of differences between home builders. The two big builders in the Leon County, Florida area are Turner, and Premier.

When interviewing a new home builder, be sure to ask about what buyer incentives the builder is offering, and if builder pays closing costs. I would probably not buy from a builder who does not pay closing costs. I have bought two new homes and the builder paid closing costs for me. That made it easier for me when I was out purchasing a new home. You will want to know the time frame, when the home is expected to be completed. To protect yourself, get all inspection copies from the builder, including the WDO, or what is called the, Wood Destroying Organism inspection report. This is Florida, and we have WDO issues, so inspections, and remedies are important. Builders are good about taking care of this, but never asume, and always get documents in writing. Real estate is so much about documentation. We document everything.

Kenneth Fach, REALTOR
Weichert, REALTORS-Anchor
1607 Village Square Boulevard, Suite B103
Blog: http://KennethFach.wordpress.com
Cell 850-339-5753

Each office is independently owned and operated.

Why This Tallahassee REALTOR Likes Ranch Style Homes

There are a number of reasons why I am attracted to ranch style homes. Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida, is filled with these ranch homes. They come in many individual forms, all sizes, and are either u-shaped, L-shaped, or just a rectangle. All over the United States there are many differents types of ranch style homes to choose from. They are a dominant feature in American real estate.

Ranch style homes were built in abundance during the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s and lost  popularity in the 80’s and 90’s due to buyers tired of seeing them everywhere, and also because of the easy money available to buy the verticle McMansions, which home builders were building all over. Now, ranch homes are back in demand, and have always been an important part of the real estate market, in Tallahassee and elsewhere, since those early days of the 50’s. There are a number of reasons why:

Ranch style homes were typically, and still are, more affordable than the other architectural types, such as, colonials, traditionals, and contemporaries. Ranch homes are basically simple, rectangular structures, easier to build, lower to the earth, with the focus on horizontal space, not verticle space, and traditionally, use local building materials. They made the open floor plan popular, and many of todays new homes, that are not characterized as ranch style homes, incorporate elements of ranch homes, such as the open floor plan, that buyers usually want in a home. Also, the homes are functional, and make good use of horizontal space. Some come with built in book shelves, and built in window seating areas, as well as other built-ins. These are features that Frank Lloyde Wright made popular in his homes. Many ranch homes come with front and back yards that are bigger than yards in many new home developments. The traditional ranch style homes were made for families: master bedroom on one end, and the childrens’ rooms down the hall. There was a since of order in the homes. Hallway leading to bedrooms and baths start at the Foyer.  You knew where the dwellers sleep, and where they visit, and eat. A patio is tied to the back of the home, with door leading to the patio, or deck, so the family can get together outdoors and visit, or invite neighbors over. New technology of the time was tried out in these ranch homes. Dishwashers, dryers, refrigerators, first came into ranch style homes. The television era began with the ranch homes.

Too me, ranch styles homes are more than a type of architecture. They represent an important part of American history, a time when the technological age was emerging, and American society became mobile, thanks to the car culture. These homes were the first to have attached garages. Today, we all seem to want a home with a garage. Our whole way of life it seems, was made in the ranch homes. I remember those neighborhood barbecues, friends, neighbors and relatives coming over. The smell of hamburgers, steaks, chicken on the grill. People lived more in their backyards. People experimented more with gardening. Many of the garden magazines were born, or made popular in that period of time. There was greater community spirit. People had more time for each other and for family. Only one spouse had to work. Children were free to roam the community without parental worries. Yes, those were the days that characterize the era of ranch style homes. Ranch represents the unity, uniqueness, and simplicity of American lifestyle.

I can help you fit your lifestyle to a ranch style home. I am in the business of studying ranch homes, and where the best real estate deals are.

Kenneth Fach, REALTOR
Weichert, REALTORS-Anchor
1607 Village Square Boulevard, Suite B103
Blog: http://KennethFach.wordpress.com
Cell 850-339-5753

Each office is independently owned and operated.

Where to buy Tallahassee Real Estate

Buying a home in Tallahassee is a comfortable experience since there are so many beautiful parks, many trees all over this community, such as the evergreen pines, oaks, and others, and hills. Yes, Tallahassee, Florida has hills, which is something not typical in much of Florida. There are many new and older established neighborhoods in Tallahassee, and Leon County, with many ranch styles homes.

To better understand how to look for Tallahassee real estate to buy, consider
the four Leon County, Florida, real estate zones:

Northeast Tallahassee and Leon County,  is where the majority of residents live, and is the biggest zone
geographically, and the zone with many lakes. Leon County has over 60 lakes, many
located in neighborhoods. Northwest Tallahassee is where you find many established
single family home neighborhoods with ranche styles homes, as well as traditional style
contemporary, and some colonials here and there. Also, in this zone, homes tend to have
more square footage, typically over 2000 square feet of heating and cooling area.
Most single family homes in this zone are over $230,000.
Some of the attractions in northeast Tallahassee, Leon County include golf courses,
Maclay botanical gardens with a lake for summer swimming and boating, and
Tallahassee Little Theater. There is also Governors Square Mall, the largest shopping
mall in Tallahasse.

Northwest Tallahassee and Leon County
is a smaller geographic area that includes lower price ranges versus the northeast, a big mix of single family homes, townhomes, duplexes, and apartment communities. This is
ideal for the many Florida State University students that ocupy this zone, as well as many
first time homebuyers. There is beautiful Lake Ella park, kind of a central point in
Tallahassee close to Tallahassee Mall, and the many shopping establishments in the area.
Lake Ella is a popular place to walk, run, picnic, feed the ducks, and attend festivals.
At the northern end of northwest Leon County, is Lake Jackson, one of the two largest
lakes in Leon County, Florida, with fishing, boating, parks, and picnic facilities. There are
newer neighborhoods of single family homes in the area with three bedrooms, and two
baths and many homes under $200,000.

Southeast Tallahassee, and Leon County, 
Includes older Tallahassee homes, built in the 50’s, and include the traditional ranch style
homes.  There are also new single family home subdivisions with contemporary home
styles, and good price ranges for first-time homebuyers. There is also the enormous
Southwood planned urban development offering its own town center with eating
establishments, a coffee shop, a brand new YMCA, and more businesses to come. This is
a newer community in progress of further growth. There are many tradtional home styles here, but it is not a ranch style home community. Many of the homes are two-story, and the price ranges in Southwood tend to be higher than many other areas of
Leon County, but, you get a lot for your money: community recreation center, with
swimming pools, parks, walking trails, lakes, many community events, and festivals. You
will want to see Southwood to get a feel for all that is offers.

Southwest Tallahassee, and Leon County,
Here you have many apartments, and townhomes for the big student population for
Florida State Univerity, and Florida A&M University. This is where the bulk of the area’s industrial complexes are located, and there is a lot of commercial locations. There are fewer single family homes and parks in this zone. However, the big attraction, besides the
two universities, is the Tallahassee Natural History Museum, which has a zoo focussed on
local wildlife in the natural environments. There is a lot of walking at this vast park. The
area’s airport is also in this zone.

I can tell you a lot more about Tallahassee and Leon County as well as its real estate market. Just let me know.

Kenneth Fach, REALTOR
Weichert, REALTORS-Anchor
1607 Village Square Boulevard, Suite B103
Blog: http://KennethFach.wordpress.com
Cell 850-339-5753

Each office is independently owned and operated.

Springtime Tallahassee has arrived

Today is the big springtime celebration in Tallahassee, Florida. It comes every year to welcome the community to my favorite time of the year, Spring. There will be a big parade downtown, and many vendors’ booths, music,
and food, food, food.

The Tallahassee sky is blue, the flowers are coming in, green is everywhere, and it
is a beautiful day here in Leon County, northwest Florida.

I have been working in the yard doing what I do every year: planting tomatos,
peppers, peas, and cleaning around the blueberries which have green on them.
They are looking good.

This is also a good time for buyers to look at homes, and sellers to put their homes
on the market. Tallahassee real estate estate is more stable than other areas of Florida.
The weather is   perfect for house hunting as it is not too hot or too   cold, just a lovely spring  day.

This weekend
there are many open houses in all price ranges to view. There are many
great opportunties out there for buyers to choose from, many homes between
$150,000 to $250,000 with at least three bedrooms and two baths.

Want to know more about Tallahassee real estate, just contact me.

Kenneth Fach, REALTOR, ePRO
Weichert, REALTORS-Anchor
1607 Village Square Blvd, Suite B103
Tallahassee, FL 32309
Cell 850-339-5753  Blog  http://KennethFach.wordpress.com
Web  http://KennethFach.com

Each office is independently owned and operated.

How to shop for a mortgage lender for your Tallahassee home

Some things are a given in buying a home in Tallahassee, Florida, and elsewhere. There are usually going to be fees, fees, and more fees associated with a real estate transaction. However, we can minimize the fees significantly by shopping around when looking for a mortgage loan.

Lenders can offer a one-bundled fee guarantee, or can offer many confusing, irritating fees. When shopping for a lender, I look not just at interest rates, and terms, but also at lender fees. The fees can be significant or minor, but typically, the buyer will need some money to cover the closing costs associated with getting a mortgage loan to buy a home. I would look at an online lender more than an established lender in an offline building structure,  since the costs will probably be less to you, the consumer, and less to the lender. After all,  brick and mortar has a high cost, and the cost passes down to you the buyer.  In fact, I have seen a great deal on a home, but the buyer went with a lender that offered  a not-so-great-a-deal on the mortgage end of the Tallahassee real estate transaction. The lender fees would be so unnecessary if the lender had been an online lender, without an elaborate network of office buildings and overhead.

There are three categories of fees in a real estate closing, whether in Tallahassee, Florida, or elsewhere:

1. Lender fees are the fees that a lender has control over. They can be presented as multiple fees, such as origination fees, administrative fees, transaction fees, processing fee, tax service fee, loan setup fee, funding fee, and others.  Lender fees can also be presented as one bundled fee, a guaranteed fee that will not increase ever. That is the
kind of lender I would use. Just like I would prefer a fixed rate mortgage over the potential risk of an adjustible rate mortgage, with the uncertainty of interest rate fluctuations. I like price guarantees in real estate transactions since real estate
presents big money.

We are often confused by the many different things we have to pay for when getting a
mortgage loan.   When you are out comparing lenders, you will find it much easier to compare lenders with one bundled fee instead of comparing many fees from one lender with many fees from another lender, which of course, take so much precious time.

2. Third-party fees are fees that the mortgage lender does not control, but however, may be able to negotiate the best deal on your behalf. I would ask the lender about this. The buyer does have input into many of the third party fees, and who does the work to charge them.  These fees include appraisal, inspection, title, survey, and others. These third parties are necessary to a real estate transaction to protect all parties to the deal, and are often required by law as well.

3. Then, there are the prepaids, such as prepaid interest, and prepaid taxes. Although you can compare lenders by interest rates and lender fees, it is not reasonable
to compare lenders by escrow items, or since these are fluctuating costs, and are undetermined by the lender.  Lenders can sometimes estimate third-party fees, however. Property taxes, and title insurance can vary by location, and timeframe.

Closing is easy to understand when the fees are apparent, and identified, and I find it much easier to think in terms of lender fees, third- party fees, including government fees, and escrow items and prepaids. I know what the lender can and cannot guarantee. I look for as many guarantees as possible  when searching for a mortgage lender. There are great guarantees out
there in the mortgage world.

Kenneth Fach, REALTOR, ePRO
Weichert, REALTORS-Anchor
1607 Village Square Blvd, Suite B103
Tallahassee, FL 32303
Cell 850-339-5753   Blog http://KennethFach.wordpress.com 
Web http://KennethFach.com

Each office is independently owned and operated.

A Fierce Tallahassee Real Estate Agent

I have a history of taking things to the top, to the limit, in the course of my activities. I believe that customer service is an aggressive pursuit to get what the customer wants. I don’t do it alone since a team is always the best way to work, and in a team, everyone achieves more. I am a fierce real estate agent.

My military experience taught me how to get things done, how to work on a team, and aim for the goal. It taught me loyalty, teamwork, goal setting, and bravery.

Years ago, after I completed my university studies, I lived in Paraguay, South America, for a couple years. It was a very interesting experience. I was the only English speaker in the community, everything was so different, but beautiful. I was a fierce visitor in a strange but fascinating land. I was fierce in defending my beliefs. I was fierce in my mission, which was to work on my Spanish, and learn about another culture, or cultures. I was fierce in taking challenges: walking across Paraguay, alone, not knowing what I would come across in the route to where I aimed for. I was fierce is learning the Spanish language.

Since 2004, I have been fierce in learning all I can about Tallahassee real estate and real estate markets. Prior to 2004, I was a fierce investor of a couple investment homes, but now, I am a fierce real estate agent getting what you, the buyer, or you, the seller want. My work weeks is way over 40 hours, and on top of my other obligations, including the enormous amount of time I spend marketing and networking online, I am a fierce marketeer. In fact, writing and preparing advertising is my strong point.

My dad was a fierce entrepreneur in the art, picture frame business, and insurance business. He knew how to balance his work and family cares, but was a fierce warrior in business. You have to be strong in business to succeed. Dad proved that by having the most successful, picture frame business for a few years that he had that business in Pensacola, Florida.

I encourage you to call me with your real estate needs today. I will be your warrior.

Kenneth Fach, REALTOR, ePRO
Weichert, REALTORS-Anchor
1607 Village Square Blvd, Suite B103
Tallahassee, FL 32303
Cell 850-339-5753   Blog http://KennethFach.wordpress.com 
Web http://KennethFach.com

Each office is independently owned and operated.

Tallahassee Ranch Style Home Basics

The ranch style home, with its low pitch, gable roof, typically fits in very well with the environment, and in its pure form, uses natural, and local materials. Tallahassee, Florida, has many ranch styles homes, and many of these are currently for sale. Ranch style homes are inside Tallahassee, and outside the city. In fact, ranch style homes are all over America, and have been since the 1940’s.

What is a ranch style home? This is a genuinely all-American architectural home style which was popular with the jet set generation of the post World War Two era. Soldiers came home from the war needing homes. Ranch style homes were built in great quantity and filled up suburbia as communities started to grow outward. With the automobile boom, people could live further from the town center, and commute long distances. Many ranch homes were built on big yards, at least big, relative to the yards offered by many of today’s new subdivisions. The ranch home was the perfect answer to a growing young family, and the need for a decent place to live. They were easy to build, and very affordable, and typically still are.

A ranch style home is a horizontal, low-lying, rectangular structure, which can be U shape, or L shape rectangular. The garage is an important part of the design, although, not all ranch style homes have garages. Later, split level, or raised ranch style homes became popular, allowing for more space within the home. However, there were always more one story ranches.

With a typical ranch style home, getting onto the roof to rake the leaves is no difficult task, since the roof is close to the earth, and the roof’s gable is low-pitched. I know it is easy to get on and off the roof. I did plenty of that when I was a teen growing up in a ranch style home. I just needed a small ladded, with just a few steps, and I was on the roof doing my regular task of sweeping, and raking the pine needles from the many pine trees that circled our Milton, Florida ranch style home.

The exterior of a ranch style home is simple. Here in Tallahassee, I see much creativity to bring interest to the facade of these kind of homes. People decorate the front with flowers, well kept shrubs, planters, mini waterfalls, sitting area, and rock garden. It is amazing what color and beauty you can bring to a simple, unadorned exterior.

The interior of ranch styles homes had open floor plans. In fact, the ranches made popular the open floor plan, and teh abundance of incoming light. The kitchen, dining, and living room were an open unit, with the master bedroom on one side of the open floor plan, and the smaller bedrooms off the hallway on the other end of the rectangular structure. These homes usually had a hallway.

Many of the features that homebuyers like today, open floor plan, spacious yard, big windows, or a lot of windows, brick or stone fireplace hearth, backyard patio or deck, separation of master bedroom from other bedrooms, built-in shelves, or cabinets, and natural materials, wood, brick, stone, all were made popular by the ranch style homes.

I suppose I love the ranch style home because I grew up in this kind of home. My friends lived in this style of architecture. I have more experience with ranchers. In fact, I am the self-designated, ranch style home specialist of Tallahassee, Florida. If you want to know more about ranch homes, or how to buy one, please contact me. Just remember one thing, there is always an abundance of ranch homes in northwest Florida, and in most places in America. The ranch remains an important home style, and most homes built today, in other architectural styles, traditional, contemporary, and other styles, contain elements characterizing ranch style homes.

Contact me for assitance with getting you into a Tallahassee ranch home. I can tell you where the best deals for ranch style home are in the neighborhoods of Tallahassee, and Leon County, Florida.

Kenneth Fach, REALTOR, ePRO
Weichert, REALTORS-Anchor
1607 Village Square Blvd, Suite B103
Tallahassee, FL 32303
Cell 850-339-5753   Blog http://KennethFach.wordpress.com 
Web http://KennethFach.com

Each office is independently owned and operated.

What Tallahassee homebuyers want

HomeBuyers have their real estate needs, desires and abilities. When homebuyers are interested in looking to buy a home, it is  lifestyle they are wanting to buy. Homebuyers want a lifestyle with a certain amount of space, in a certain geographic area, and with certain lifestyle home features.

I like to speak with buyers, first, about their needs, both lifestyle and financial, before even showing them the merchandise: the homes. We all have needs, specific to our lifestyle, and finances. My job as a Tallahassee real estate agent, is to determine what kind of lifestyle will best fit my buyers, reflected in a home that matches that Tallahassee lifestyle.

Once I can determine what the homebuyer has to have in a home, to fit their lifestyle,  the next focus is on what would be desirable. However, needs and desires, don’t amount to much without ability, that is, the financial ability to put desires and needs into a home. Buying a home is a big expense, and for most people, the biggest expense they will ever have.

 I ask basic questions, and I base my whole homebuying strategy around those answers. I ask what the needs are:

How much home is needed? How many bedrooms, and baths? How many square feet? Are handicap facilities needed? How far from work is the buyer willing to live? How much is buyer willing to put down as a down payment? What is the timeframe for buyer to have be in a home? Are walk-in closets needed? You can see why these are the needs.

Next, I ask what the desires are: These are features, usually.  After determining how much space and number of bedrooms and baths are absolutely necessary, we can work down to the desires; what is  strongly liked, and longed for. These are things that buyer can live without, but maybe would not be happy without them.  Many features can always be added later on too, provided the spacial dimensions, are adequate.
What home features are necessary?  fireplace, open floor plan, loft, built-in entertainment center, spacious kitchen, hardwood floors, a florida room, a big yard with a fence, a pool, an office, built-in bookshelves, kitchen counter, granite counter tops.

Basically, anything related to space is a necessity: space to store boxes, clothes, collectibles. Space for each member of the family, space for an office, space to put the books. Space to entertain, space for cooking, space to play outside, space for a garden. Space is alway a popular issue. It is the necessity it seems, for our Tallahassee buyers. So many buyers ask about walk-in closests, I find. That really is important. I have seen so many closets stuffed full of everything imaginable. Closets today are crucial elements: the must-haves.

Now, the issue of where is the money coming from? We need to consider mortgage loan, or how buyer will get the home. We need to discuss the best options, and in the case of first-time homebuyers, we need to discuss down payment assistance programs. Some good ones are the Tallahassee Lendors Consortium, Nehemiah, and FHA.

My job is to fit your lifestyle to a home. Please call me, or post a comment about what kind of lifestyle home you want, and what you are looking for. Write down your needs, and desires in a home based on the above. There is homework involved in buying a home. I do most of the work for you, however, in the process of buying your Tallahassee home.

Kenneth Fach, REALTOR, ePRO
Weichert, REALTORS-Anchor
1607 Village Square Blvd, Suite B103
Tallahassee, FL 32309
Cell 850-339-5753  Blog http://KennethFach.wordpress.com
Web http://KennethFach.com

Each office is independently owned and operated.