Safety Tips for Renters: Ensuring Your Smoke Detectors Are Ready

by Marketing | Jan 31, 2025 | Blog, Buyers, Homeowners, Homes, Villas and Condos, Investment Property in Florida, Just Sold, Local Events, Long Term Rental, Mortgages, New Construction, New Listing, New Rental Listings, News, Press Releases, Property for Sale, Property for Sale in Orlando, Property Management, Real Estate Components, Real Estate News, Renters, Retirement / 55+, Sellers, Theme Parks and Attractions, Things to Do in Orlando, Uncategorized, Vacant Lot

Safety Tips for Renters: Ensuring Your Smoke Detectors Are Ready

As renters, it’s important to stay proactive about fire safety. Smoke detectors are essential for protecting you and your home. Here are some key safety tips to keep in mind:

1. Test Monthly

Press the test button on each smoke detector once a month to ensure it’s working properly. Regular testing is a simple way to stay safe.

2. Replace Batteries Regulations

Replace the batteries in your smoke detectors at least once a year—or sooner if you hear the low-battery alert. Fresh batteries help ensure reliable operation.

3. Check Expiration Dates

Smoke detectors typically last around 10 years. Be sure to replace yours if it’s nearing the end of its lifespan, or if it shows signs of malfunction.

4. Report Issues Promptly

If you notice that a smoke detector is malfunctioning, missing, or making strange noises, inform your landlord right away. Quick action can prevent serious issues.

5. Familiarize Yourself with the Escape Plan

Know your building’s fire escape routes, exits, and designated meeting areas. This knowledge is crucial in an emergency situation.

6. Know Local Regulations

Different areas may have specific rules regarding smoke detector maintenance. Contact your local fire department or building office to stay informed about your area’s requirements.

By following these simple guidelines, you can help protect yourself and your home from fire hazards. Stay safe and take action today!

Central Florida Daily Mortgage Rates

by Elsa Soto | Mar 25, 2019 | Blog, Buyers, Homeowners, Mortgages, News, Real Estate Components, Real Estate News

Central Florida’s Daily Mortgage Rates

Welcome to this weeks snapshot of Central Florida Daily Mortgage Rates! Does your goal list include spending time to invest your hard earned money into something that will continue to reward you, especially with ownership? Well, it should!!

BREAKING DOWN ‘Mortgage Rates’

The mortgage rate is a primary consideration for homebuyers looking to finance a new home purchase with a mortgage loan. Other factors also involved include collateral, principal, interest, taxes and insurance. The collateral on a mortgage is the house itself, and the principal is the initial amount for the loan. Taxes and insurance vary according to the location of the home and are usually an estimated figure until the time of purchase.

Source: Investopedia.com

Each mortgage rate is determined by the lender and can be either fixed, staying the same for the term of the mortgage, or variable, fluctuating with a benchmark interest rate. A mortgage rate may vary for borrowers based on their credit profile. Here is a snap shot of the daily mortgage rates as of today, Monday, March 25, 2019. While the rates shown are not guaranteed for everyone, this gives the average buyer a good idea of what their rate should look like.

We always recommend you speak with your local realtor to find the best loan program for your Orlando Home purchase. Take advantage of these mortgage rates now before it changes, contact us today by clicking on the ‘contact us’ link or by filling out the form above!

Source: Bank Rate

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Dear Homebuyers: Learn About Your Down payment

by Elsa Soto | Feb 21, 2019 | Blog, Buyers, Homeowners, Mortgages, News, Real Estate News

Dear homebuyers: Please stop thinking you need 20% down payment

NEW YORK – Feb. 18, 2019 – First-time buyer surveys consistently show the top hurdle to homeownership is saving up for the down payment. But potential home shoppers may be misunderstanding the amount of money they really need to buy a home.

“Paying 20 percent down is, quite frankly, a myth,” Karen Hoskins, vice president at NeighborWorks, told HouseLogic. “Most buyers pay only 5 percent to 10 percent down – some even pay zero.”Several assistance programs can help buyers with down payment concerns break into homeownership. For example, 69 percent of about 2,500 homebuying programs tracked by Down payment Resource offer down payment assistance. The average amount of assistance from these programs tops $11,000.

HouseLogic offers several places where buyers can search for down payment assistance, including through national government programs. The Federal Housing Administration offers loans to first-time buyers with down payments as low as 3.5 percent. Programs like the USDA Rural Development Loans and VA Home Loans offer eligible buyers zero-down payment loans. Mortgage financing giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac offer eligible buyers loans where they can put down as little as 3 percent of the purchase price.

When buyers put down less than 20 percent, they pay private mortgage insurance (PMI) each month to protect the lender’s interest, though the PMI can often be cancelled once they build up 20 percent equity in the property. Many state and local homebuying programs offer assistance programs too. There are many different forms of assistance, such as forgivable loans and grants (gifts for some or all of the down payment and closing costs) to soft mortgages (down payment assistance loans that are deferred for some period of time based on the program’s requirements).

Mortgage brokers should also be able to supply buyers with information about programs in their area and help determine eligibility.

Central Florida’s Daily Mortgage Rates

by Elsa Soto | Jan 29, 2019 | Blog, Homes, Villas and Condos, Local Events, Mortgages, Real Estate Components, Real Estate News

Central Florida’s Daily Mortgage Rates

Welcome to this weeks snapshot of Central Florida Daily Mortgage Rates! Does your New Year’s Resolution include spending time to invest your hard earned money into something that will continue to reward you, especially with ownership? Well, it should!!

BREAKING DOWN ‘Mortgage Rates’

The mortgage rate is a primary consideration for homebuyers looking to finance a new home purchase with a mortgage loan. Other factors also involved include collateral, principal, interest, taxes and insurance. The collateral on a mortgage is the house itself, and the principal is the initial amount for the loan. Taxes and insurance vary according to the location of the home and are usually an estimated figure until the time of purchase.

Source: Investopedia.com

Each mortgage rate is determined by the lender and can be either fixed, staying the same for the term of the mortgage, or variable, fluctuating with a benchmark interest rate. A mortgage rate may vary for borrowers based on their credit profile. Here is a snap shot of the daily mortgage rates as of today, Tuesday, January 29, 2019. While the rates shown are not guaranteed for everyone, this gives the average buyer a good idea of what their rate should look like. We always recommend you speak with your local realtor to find the best loan program for your Orlando Home purchase. Take advantage of these mortgage rates now before it changes, contact us today by clicking on the ‘contact us’ link or by filling out the form above!

Source: Bank Rate

Orlandos Mortgage Rate Monday

by Elsa Soto | Jul 23, 2018 | Blog, Buyers, Homes, Villas and Condos, Mortgages, Property for Sale in Orlando

Daily Mortgage Rate

Welcome to this weeks snapshot of Orlando’s Mortgage Rate Monday! Take a look at the rates that have maintained over the last few weeks. Now has never been a better time to invest your hard earned money into something that will continue to reward you, especially with ownership!

Orlandos Mortgage Rate Monday
Mortgage rates are determined by the lender and can be either fixed, staying the same for the term of the mortgage, or variable, fluctuating with a benchmark interest rate. Mortgage rates vary for borrowers based on their credit profile. Here is a snap shot of the daily mortgages rates as of today, Monday, July 23rd, 2018. While the rates shown are not guaranteed for everyone, this gives the average buyer a good idea of what their rate should look like. We always recommend you speak with your local realtor to find the best loan program for you Orlando Home purchase. Take advantage of these mortgage rates now before it changes, contact us today!

Source: Bankrate.com