Closing costs and Tallahassee real estate

Some things are a given in buying a home in Tallahassee, and elsewhere. There are always going to be fees, fees, and more fees in a real estate transaction.  However, we can minimize the fees significantly by shopping around when looking for a mortgage loan. When shopping for a lender, look for not just interest rates, and terms, but also look at lender fees.

There are three categories of fees that constitute a real estate closing in Tallahassee, and 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. There can also be one fee, covering all the fees, so when you are out comparing lenders, you can compare a total lender fee package with other lenders’ fees.

2. Third-party fees are fees that the lender does not control, however, may be able to negotiate the best deal on your behalf. These fees include appraisal, inspection, title, survey, and others.

3. Then, there are the prepaids, such as prepaid interest, and prepaid taxes.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

Oak Valley and Russell’s Pond subdivisions in northwest Tallahassee with nice homes

Off of N Monroe, or Hwy 27, in northwest Leon County, just outside ot Tallahassee, Florida, sit two single family home subdivisions: Oak Valley and Russell’s Pond. Most of the homes were build after 1990. The homes are very affordable, have three bedrooms and two baths, nice yards, front and back, and a pond in the community.

Most of the homes in these two subdivisions, are contemporary in style, with or without ranch style home features, but there are some small ranch style homes as well.  Some homes have brick exterior, some vinyl siding, and some wood, or hardie board. Although, the homes are relatively small, (most under 1500 square feet of heating and cooling space), they come with popular features that so many buyers like: walk-in closets, cathedral, or vaulted ceilings, open floor plans, ceiling fans, and some with fenced in back yards, not to mention all the many other characteristics.

Both neighborhoods are close to several parks, both with recreational facilities, and a playground. One of the parks is situated on Lake Jackson, which is one of the biggest lakes, among the many lakes in Leon County, Florida. This park has bike trails, hiking trails, a boardwalk along the lake, with a view of a lake ecosystem, and there are picnic pavilions with grills, for big groups, as well as small groups. One of Tallahassee’s and Leon County’s newest schools, Canopy Oaks Elementary School, with just down the road. There is a new athletic community park next to this school, with soccer, tennis, running, and baseball facilities. Canopy Oaks Elementary is a very good school, but I am partial, my son attends there, and is a happy Cardinal. The school’s website is, http://www.canopyoaks.leon.k12.fl.us/ 

Russell’s Pond subdivision has 141 homes.
There are 9 homes currently listed with real estate companies, with the average price of $149,633. Since January, 1 home sold, and the sold price was, $145,000.

Oak Valley subdivision has 159 single family homes. There are 5 homes currently on the market with real estate companies. The average home price is, $167,00. Since January, 1 home sold, and for the price of $145,000.

As a real estate agent, I always like talking homes and neighborhoods with people. If you would like to know about other neighborhoods in and around Tallahassee, Florida, please let me know. If you are from Tallahassee, Leon County, and have information about neighborhoods, that you would like me to post, please tell me. I am always looking to learn more about the many neighborhoods from people who have lived there man years, or from the birth of neighborhood.

Please read my other real estate blog posts on this site, and don’t forget to leave a comment. Blogging is sharing ideas, and learning from one another.

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

Each office is independently owned and operated.

Tallahassee Real Estate Growth in Every Direction

Remember the old saying in American history, “go west young man, go west?” In Tallahassee, Florida, you can go west, south, east, north, northwest, northeast, southwest, and southeast and find new home subdivisions, some single family homes, some condominiums, some townhome communities, some, upscale homes, but truly, Tallahassee’s real estate development is shooting forth all over, like the falling to the earth of many sparks from an explosion of fireworks in the night sky, and this, even when the markets are buyers’ markets at this time, some strong, and some weaker. The bulk of grown in Leon County and Tallahassee is towards the east, and southeast. There is a lot of land that is undeveloped, forest land.

Off of highway 90, and Bucklake Road in east Tallahassee, appears the busy activity of building a new commercial and residential development mixed, called Fallschase. There will be a new Walmart, Cosco, Books a Million and Dilliards. There will be several thousand single family homes, and apartments. Fallschase represents  a big piece of real estate that is just in the process of moving forward. Things are moving fast. Some of the structures have been built. This will be a very big community relative to other communities in Tallahassee, and Leon County.

Home building  and real estate development does not stop in this region of canopy covered roads, forests, parks, many trees, and very friendly residents. Tallahassee real estate is a system that is moving, living and having its being, regardless of sellers market or buyers market. Real estates goes on. Government employees come and go in this capital city, new corporations take up roots here, people come to retire from elsewhere, even from foreign nations, parents comes to invest in housing for their university age students who will be studying at one of the two big universities here.  

Thinking and Dreaming Real Estate

There is not a day that goes by when the words, “real estate” does not lodge, and move around in my consciousness, specifically, Tallahassee real estate, and northwest Florida real estate.  

I like to think of real estate as a scientific system; an open system. I think a lot in terms of science and logic. Science explains the universe, and why things do what they do. I teach my son some things about science, and ecosystems. I was a school teacher prior to coming into real estate sales, so I always have an interest in learning, and so does my son. I think science is so important in understanding systems.

There is a science explaining the system of real estate, and although, we as practitioners of real estate may not think in terms of a science, or system of logic, we are certainly involved in a system bigger than us, that is moving the parts back and forth, here and there. We are some of the characters in the play. We are on the chess board. We are working the market. We are subjects in the system. We see ourselves in a specific role, working for a specific client, or customer, with a specific goal or outcome, but that specific is governed by the bigger power in the system, the general that moves the specific.
Now, we can also think of real estate as an ecosystem, in my case a northwest Florida, and specifically, a Tallahassee, Florida ecosystem, with its colors, architectural forms, identities of the land, players involved, such as agents, mortgage professionals, buyers, sellers, inspectors, title companies, appraisers, surveyors, inputs, processes, outputs, and feedback: the cybernetic model. Real estate incorporates many different processes, including technological processes.

I think real estate all the time. It is probably the most active word in my thoughts. I think of a science of real estate, an art of real estate, a practice of real estate, the game of real estate, the sport of real estate, the nature of real estate, kingdom of real estate, a family of real estate. Maybe, I am just obscessed with my career, and my love of houses, and land, and the desire to help buyers, sellers and interested others. People around me see my interest, intimacy, and love of real estate. I mean really LOVE.

Here we are, filling out real estate sales contracts, processing property data into the computer, and into listing sites, such as the Multiple Listing Service. Here we are, showing properties, taking photos, coordinating the transaction, answering questions, comparing properties, finding a value range for houses, condos, townhomes, and lot. So much goes into the process of buying and selling real estate. It all becomes clearer if we see that the entire process of creating the real estate transaction, and servicing the transaction is all one with a very big system, that even goes beyond the neighborhood, and city. It is an open door in which many factors impact the transaction.

Neighborhood Lifecycles

I wonder how many of us here in northwest Florida, specifically, Tallahassee, have lived in the same neighborhood for many years, or at least long enough to observe the process of growth that occurs in neighborhoods. When you plant a garden, it is a rewarding experience to observe the baby plants shoot up out of the soil, pass through the state of childhood, and become a full florishing plant, with fruits, vegetables, or and flowers. A neighborhood has its growth as well.

The developer moves in,  clears the land, flattens it, puts in infraestructure, such as  the roads, utilities, water system, drainage, and lighting. Next, the homes are built, perhaps spec homes, if builder is making a quantity of homes, with several models to choose from sometimes. Or, the neighborhood may consist of custom homes, in which the buyer can pick and choose what appearance and style is wanted for the home. Next, the home is lived in, the neighborhood grows, more people populate the area, trees grow, and over time, there is wear and tear of the structures, and the newness fades into history.

One neighborhood in particular here in Tallahassee, the Weems, was a forest a few years ago. I walked and explored that wooded area in east Tallahassee, which is the direction much real estate development is moving in. I was surprised when the Weems Subdivision was developed into a community of many single family homes. The trees were cut down, and new homes built. I then noticed over a few years that the landscaping in the community was developing, and trees planted or put in, were growing. The Weems is still a young neighborhood, but it is easy to notice that it is maturing, and is now established in the hearts and minds of folks here in Tallahassee.

It is fun to reflect on how neighborhoods grow, and change over time. I am always interested in hearing and reading about peoples’ experiences living for a period of time in a community, and the observations they have.

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 

Each office is independently owned and operated.