Blog | Tampa Bay Homes for Sale | RE/MAX ACR Elite Group, Inc.

What is a Title Binder and What’s In It?

A title binder, or title insurance binder, is also called a title commitment. It is a document created by a title insurer that binds the insurer to issue a title insurance policy if certain conditions are met. It is a commitment to issue the policy. A title insurance policy protects the owner of real estate from certain threats to their legal ownership. Before a title binder is issued, the title insurance company does a thorough title search of documents recorded at the courthouse and … Continue reading...

What you need to know about HOA’s

Many communities, including condos, townhomes and single-family homes in master-planned communities, require residents to join a homeowners’ association. Gated communities and everyday subdivisions have them, as well, so you need to know what you’re getting into if you’re buying a house in Tampa or the surrounding suburbs that has a homeowners’ association, or HOA. Homeowners’ Association Dues When you live in a community with a homeowners’ association, you’ll be responsible for paying dues. … Continue reading...

How to Make Prospective Buyers Fall in Love With Your Home

If you've put your house or apartment up for sale and are waiting for the showings to start then it's time to make sure your home is ready to shine. This is the time to put away sentimental feelings and showcase your home to potential buyers in every way to make viewers fall in love with it. Here are some simple tricks to help you make prospective buyers fall in love with your home: Let in the Warmth & Sun If the weather is at all chilly, put the heat on, and if it's a winter's day, make … Continue reading...

SELLER TIP: How to Find a Good Listing Agent

If you're looking for a listing agent, you can find advertisements in many places. However, you have to find the right fit. While you can easily locate service rating websites about other sales professionals, it's harder to find feedback for real estate transactions. These tips can help you cut through the marketing hype, so you can find the right real estate professional to help sell your home. Services When looking for the right real estate agent, make sure to ask what services they provide … Continue reading...

Tax Deductions for Tampa Bay Homeowners (Part 2)

As a homeowner, you could be entitled to a number of tax deductions that renters don’t qualify for—but you may not even know what they are. In this three-part series, we’re exploring the most common (and not-so-common) homeowner tax deductions available. Part one, which deals with the most common deductions, is located here: Common Tax Deductions for Tampa Bay Homeowners. This isn’t tax advice. We’re not tax professionals; we’re Realtors®. If you have questions about your taxes as a … Continue reading...

How to Decide How Much to Put down on a Home

Before the foreclosure crisis, it wasn't uncommon for people to buy homes with no money down. The crash of 2008 changed that, however, and the pendulum swung the other way. You almost had to come up with 20 percent of the purchase price for a down payment on a home. While zero-down mortgages may never be as prevalent as they once were, there are low (and no) down-payment options out there. Government-backed loan programs offer zero-down and 3-percent programs, and even traditional lenders are … Continue reading...

7 Hacks to Make Holiday Decorations Easy!

Elevated stress levels are part and parcel of the holiday experience for the average person. Dealing with decorations accounts for a significant percentage of holiday hassles. Here are a few nifty hacks that make holiday decoration a far less stressful affair in any household. Stock Up on Light Bulbs in Advance Under the best of circumstances, holiday light bulbs have a high failure rate. Fortunately, those specialty light bulbs are usually cheap. The time you'll waste driving to the store … Continue reading...

Debunking Common Home Buying Myths

If you are a first-time home buyer, you understandably may have heard a million things about buying a home, and unfortunately some of the them may not be correct. While there may be many things that you need to learn along the way to get the full story on buying a house, there are some common myths that can be debunked for you right now to help you make a better overall decision about your home buying plans. You Need to Put 20 Percent Down One of the most common myths relates to how much money … Continue reading...

Pros and Cons of Over-55 Communities

As baby-boomers have aged, the development of more over-55 communities has proliferated. Where these active lifestyle neighborhoods were once seen only near resorts and golf courses, smaller-scale developments are springing up near large cities. If you are thinking about relocating to one of these communities, you need to understand the pros and cons. Downsizing While you can certainly downsize without moving to an over-55 community, the choice may be much easier in one. Often, it is difficult … Continue reading...

4 Steps to Ready Your Home for Sale

Your house is your home, but it is also your biggest investment. And like any investment, it's only worth what the market is willing to pay for it. You can increase that perceived value by looking at your home with the eyes of a buyer. You don't need to hire a professional stager, but you should follow these four steps before putting your house on the market. Get it Clean This isn't saying you are a sloppy housekeeper, but there is a big difference between everyday clean and "this house is … Continue reading...