Selling Central Florida

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 Have you ever considered real estate investing?

In this episode of Selling Central Florida, we had the pleasure of sitting down with our friend

Reed Goossens to talk about all things real estate investing. Reed first got into this business

when he read “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” and realized there had to be more to life than trading your

time for dollars. We are so excited for him to be here sharing his experience with us today.

If you’re interested in something that you can own that can bring in some cash flow for you, this

is the episode for you. Reed gets into the nitty gritty of what syndication is and everything else

you need to know about real estate investing before you take the plunge.

There is a lot to know before you get involved in investing in syndication. It takes a few years

before you can see a return, but it might be the least risky investment you can make. You can’t

get discouraged when you don’t see the results right away. It takes time and patience, but Reed

has a clear strategy to make it worth it.

Reed has had amazing success with this investment option, and he’s sharing all of his tips on

how to make good investments and add value to the community you are investing in.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

● How Rich Dad Poor Dad impacted Reed’s life

● What syndication is

● How much you need to get involved in a syndication

● The importance of PPMs when investing

● How you can expect to get a return on this type of investment

● How Reed adds value in order to find success

● How he handles pricing for his properties

● The fear of unfulfilled potential

● How Reed stays on track with his daily goals

● The importance of betting on yourself

We hope you enjoyed this episode with Reed and learned a lot about real estate investing! This

is such a low-risk way to invest in real estate and we think it’s a great option for anyone that has

Are you wondering how you can have the cash ready for your down payment?

In this episode of Selling Central Florida, we’re sharing part 2 of our conversation with Greg

Tucker where we talked about down payments, the Landis Program, and how it helps people

buy their dream homes.

There are many amazing programs out there that can help you get the home you want by

assisting with the down payment depending on your circumstances and unique needs. Not

every program is right for every person, but it’s important to know your options.

In this episode, Greg goes through different programs that you could use to get the perfect

home for you under contract. He also shares what the Landis program is and how to know if you

qualify for this amazing program for home buyers.

If you’re tired of renting, Landis may be just the program for you. It purchases the home for you

and allows you to get a higher-paying job so you can purchase it back from Landis. It truly is a

unique and amazing opportunity for many home buyers.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

● Different types of loans and down payments

● Programs available for lower down payments

● The down payment you should aim for

● What Landis is

● Qualifications to utilize this program

● The process of pre-approval

There are so many programs available to you, don’t let the down payment hold you back from

pursuing your dream home! If you are interested in any of these programs or how Greg can help

What’s going on with mortgage rates?

In this episode of Selling Central Florida, we are chatting with Greg Tucker to talk about how

you can get that home under contract and the different ways we can help today that we may not

have been an option even six months ago.

The market is a little bit slower than we have been seeing but some houses still have multiple

offers on them and interest rates have gone up. Some people believe that buying power has

diminished but it is slowly turning into a buyer’s market so that means there’s less competition!

Greg shares his opinions on what is going on in the market right now and why you should marry

the home and date the rate. If you find the home you love, and you can afford the payment,

don’t worry about the interest rate! It’s more about the payment and how comfortable you are

with it.

Waiting is not the best course of action right now. You could end up paying the same amount on

a house that’s half the value of the one you want now if you wait a few years. Waiting it out is

just not going to help anyone. Don’t let the market dictate when you buy your home. You have to

buy it when it’s right for you.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

● What’s going on in the market

● How you can always refinance for a better rate

● Why waiting is not the best option for you

● The impact of inflation on rates

● Why the market shouldn’t dictate your decision

● What a 2-1 buydown is

● Disadvantages to the 2-1 buydown

When you don’t buy your home because of the rate, you’re really holding yourself back. There

are many ways you can get a lower rate after you purchase your dream home. To learn more

In this episode of Selling Central Florida, we are going to be sharing everything we love about

the up and coming: Watersong Phase II. This construction project aims to build luxury homes at a very

affordable price and we know you’re going to love it.

Watersong is in the heart of resort communities just a short 15-minute drive from Disney World.

Whether you want to live in it yourself, rent it out long-term, or use it as a short-term vacation

rental, Watersong is perfect.

One of the best things about Watersong, aside from the baseline luxury of these homes, is that

they offer unique floor plans that are hard to find in other communities and they offer pools in

each one. They offer up to 12 or 15 room options for such a great price.

We’re especially excited about this episode because this is such an incredible opportunity both

for investors and other real estate agents. We are actually paying a 5% commission to buyer's

agents!

So if you are an agent and you think that this may be something that your clients are interested

in, make sure to contact us and let us know because it could be a great opportunity for both you

and your client.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

● What Watersong is

● Where this community is located

● What you can do with this property

● Phase 1 and phase 2

● The unique floor plans available

● The pricing structure

● The features of this neighborhood

● What you need to do to get started

Watersong is one of those communities where it’s an amazing early investment so if you’re

going to get in on it, you want to do it now. You’ll be price locked at the entry-level prices, so you

can save an amazing amount of money by taking advantage of it.

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Are you considering purchasing a short-term rental or vacation home from overseas?

If you’ve been tuning into the show, you know that we are in a season of short-term rentals and

investment properties. We love them and think that they are a great opportunity for anyone

looking to build wealth in the central Florida area.

In this episode, we sat down with our good friend and fellow realtor Alexis McKenzie. Alexis

works with a lot of overseas clients who are interested in purchasing vacation homes in central

Florida.

The great thing about purchasing a vacation home in central Florida is that you can rent it out

when it’s not in use, which means oftentimes it can pay for itself. It really is a great investment,

no matter what part of the world you are coming from.

It can be scary to purchase a house overseas. Naturally, many realtors find it difficult to gain the

trust of these clients because they don’t want to be taken advantage of. Alexis truly cares about

her international clients and goes out of her way to make sure they are truly taken care of.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

● How Alexis works with international clients

● Relationship building with potential clients

● The differences Alexis sees with her overseas clients

● Why vacation homes pay for themselves

● Exchange rates

● How foreign national investment properties differ from others

● How Alexis helps her international customers get their properties

● Alexis’s experience being in London around the queen’s passing

We hope you found this episode helpful! We decided to bring Alexis onto the show because she

is a realtor that really cares and she creates meaningful friendships with her overseas clients

and they become family to her.

If you are interested in learning more about Alexis or working with her, make sure to check out

her website here and follow her on Facebook. She would love to hear from you and help you

with your next vacation home purchase!

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Are you ready to dive into the wonderful and profitable world of short-term rentals but wondering how to know if you’re choosing the right property?

This is a question that everyone has when they are thinking of buying a property. The great news is that you don’t have to go in blind. There are ways that you can get all of the information you need on a potential investment before you buy so you can know if it’s the right choice for you.

Today on Selling Central Florida, we are joined by our special guest Alex from Air DNA. Alex is here to explain an amazing program that we have been talking about for the last month or so that’s all about short-term rentals. He is sharing all of the details on this amazing platform that you can use to see all of the numbers, revenue, and ROI information on your potential short-term rental.

Alex is a short-term rental owner himself so he knows a thing or two about what works and what doesn’t. Air DNA analyzes information on all existing properties so that you can get all of the information you need to know so that you can make the right decision.

The demand for short-term rentals in the central Florida area is through the roof. We aren’t caught up to where we were pre-pandemic, but demand is increasing all the time. There is no better time than now to use Air DNA to find the perfect investment property for wealth building.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

● What a short-term or vacation rental is

● How Air DNA tracks information on existing properties

● Who uses Air DNA

● How to use this platform

● Why short-term rentals aren’t completely passive income

● The features available on Air DNA

● The huge demand for short-term rentals

● The best seasons to buy short-term rentals

Short-term rentals are definitely where it’s at. We love the features that Air DNA offers to people thinking about investing in this type of property. It’s so important that you do your research when making this type of investment and Air DNA is the perfect tool to use to make an informed decision.

Have you ever thought of investing in a short-term rental property?

As realtors that are right around Disney and all of the theme parks in Florida, rentals are definitely our jam. We love talking about this topic and we love helping people purchase their dream investment properties.

We’ve seen so many investors dive into the world of short-term rentals and do really well, so in this week’s episode of Selling Central Florida, we are diving into the topic to tell you everything you need to know about these types of investments.

Short-term rentals are a tried and true way to make some passive income, and they have blown up in popularity in central Florida. They are an excellent way to generate wealth for your family.

This is truly something that we can all do to generate income. Even if you are just breaking even on your monthly expenses, you are still generating equity on your property just by owning it. Furthermore, you can invest in a property that is already set up as a short-term rental and you can start generating income the day you close.

The opportunities are endless when it comes to rental properties, which is why we love them so much!

In today’s episode, we discuss:

● What a short-term rental is

● Counties that are perfect for short-term rentals

● Occupancy rates on these types of properties

● Property management options

● What you need to know about HOAs

● The benefits of new construction rental properties

● Misconceptions people have when it comes to condos

If you can’t tell, we highly recommend short-term rentals as a way to build wealth, and if you’re looking to get started, we are here for you! No matter where you’re looking in the state of Florida, we have resources all over the state. So even if it’s not central Florida, make sure to reach out to us and we can put you into contact with somebody who specializes in short-term rentals in that particular area so you can get exactly what you’re looking for.

The one thing we can’t tell you is how certain properties perform. You’ll have to get that information from a property manager. There is a great company that does this and we are going to be interviewing them next week so stay tuned!

A Video Interview with Lafa at his $6.7 Million Listing in Bay Hill

Hurricane Venting

In today’s episode, we discuss:

There are so many amazing communities in central Florida.

One of our goals for this podcast is to introduce you all to some of the incredible communities in

the area. So on today’s episode of Selling Central Florida, we are doing a community spotlight

on none other than Winter Garden.

This location is hands down one of the top favorite communities in the area and it is loved by

many- for a good reason. This community is growing and it has so much to offer. You can get a

new construction, a lake home, or a historic home here. There really is something for

everybody!

Winter Garden is full of so much character and charm. It has a large selection of small

businesses and amazing restaurants to choose from. It really feels like a slice of historic Florida.

This allocation is perfect for families and pets. It even has America's number 1 farmers market!

Another great thing about Winter Garden is how active the community is! There are sports

leagues, facilities, and so much more.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

● Why Winter Garden is a great community

● The types of homes you can get in Winter Garden

● Where it is located and how to get there

● What we love about Winter Garden

● Attractions for families and pets in the area

Winter Garden has so much to offer. If you can’t tell from this episode, we absolutely love it and

recommend it to anyone looking to explore all that central Florida consists of. We really believe

that no matter what it is you are looking for in a community or home, Winter Garden has it.

Winter Garden is very popular but even if you buy here now, it is still going to be a great

investment in the future. It’s the perfect mix of homely and prestigious. It has that old Florida

charm and it is right on the lake. It’s just beautiful. We know you won’t regret it.

If you are interested in learning more about Winter Garden, make sure you check out our

YouTube tour!

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Do you know what a transaction coordinator is?

There is so much to know about the process of buying or selling a home and it can be seriously confusing. So in this episode of Selling Central Florida, we sat down with our good friend Haley to talk about what a transaction coordinator is, what they do, and why some real estate agents choose to use one.

You can think of the transaction coordinator as the master administrator. They deal with contracts and make sure everyone gets the right documents at the right time for things to move properly from open all the way to post-close.

We like to call them the secret superheroes in the background! They keep us real estate agents organized and make sure everyone in the process is on the same page and no one drops the ball on anything important.

Every transaction is different and it’s so easy to miss small mistakes, so the transaction coordinator is an extra set of eyes for everything and extra help for the clients.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

● What a transaction coordinator does

● How they help make sure the whole process goes smoothly

● The requirements to become a transaction coordinator

● How transaction coordinators are employed

● Why transaction coordinators are so beneficial to everyone involved

● How much do transaction coordinators get paid

No matter who it is or what they’re doing, we are just excited to get people excited about real estate. So whether you are here because you want to learn more about who is involved in the real estate process or you’re here because you are interested in becoming a transaction coordinator, we hope this episode was insightful!

Have you ever wondered why the two of us love central Florida so much?

There’s a reason we specialize in real estate in this area! We are so lucky that we get to live where people vacation. It’s a dream. So today on Selling Central Florida, we are going to be sharing our favorite areas in central Florida.

People are moving here in droves and for a good reason! This area just has so much to offer. Whether you love beaches, theme parks, islands, or delicious eats, central Florida has it. There really is something for everyone here.

Many tourists think of Central Florida and think of the theme parks and nothing else. They get the impression that we don’t have much else, but that is not the case! We have so many locations that are perfect for adventures.

So if you are new to the area because you just bought your dream home or you’re just wondering why we love it so much, make sure you tune in. We are diving into the must-see beaches for families, the restaurants that have the best eats, nearby places you can’t miss, the best lakes for boating, and so much more.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

● The best beaches in the area

● Our top restaurant picks

● Best lakes for boating

● Farmer's markets you’ll want to visit

● Our favorite nature locations

● The best things at Disney Springs

● Where to get the best coffee

Are you wanting to buy a home but feeling intimidated to do so because of interest rates?

We have all probably heard about the interest rate hikes, and when you’re purchasing a home, this is definitely something you want to pay attention to. Three things drive interest rates. Inflation, federal reserve, and the bond market.

We know that can be a little confusing. So, on today's episode of Selling Central Florida, we brought back Greg Tucker with Amerifirst Home Mortgage to talk about interest rates and what is going on in the housing market right now during these crazy times.

Mortgage rates rise when moving towards fast growth in our economy, so higher inflation and lower employment will make them rise. Since the purchasing power of the dollar is lower, it increases the risk. So they have to raise those rates.

In 2020 and 2021, interest rates were historically low, and people got used to those rates and came to expect them. So while the rates are higher than they were during the pandemic, they aren’t that high now, they are just returning to normal. This is great because buyers are getting their power back in the housing market.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

● What determines interest rates

● Why the federal reserve affects interest rates

● How the bond market impacts interest rates

● The multiple factors that influence your individual rate

● What a discount point is and how it works

● The benefits of refinancing later on if you don’t like your rate

● What to know about new construction projects

The moral of the story is? Don’t let the interest rate of your dream home scare you away from buying a home you love! We always say “Marry the house. Date the rate”. If you find a home you love and can afford the interest rate for now, lock it down. You can always refinance later for a better interest rate.

Let’s talk about selling your home!

We have been sharing a lot about what it is like to buy a home in central Florida, but for this episode of Selling Central Florida, we are shifting the focus to selling. There’s a lot that you need to know about the process including what questions to ask your agent, what to expect when your property is on the market, and so much more.

As many of you know, it is a seller's market right now. But what is a seller’s market? This can be best described as when the number of buyers supersedes the amount of inventory of homes on the market. While other factors go into it, like interest rates, it is essentially just a matter of supply and demand.

So what does the home selling process look like when you’re actually ready to pull the trigger? Your seller's agent is going to be a huge help to you when it comes to getting everything ready so that you can get the best possible deal for your home.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

● The factors that determine whether it is a seller’s market

● When you should sell your home

● The first steps to selling your home

● Tips for pricing your home

● The negative impact of pricing your home too high

● Marketing tools for selling your home

● Why your home photos matter so much

● How to choose the right buyer

● What happens when you’re under contract

There’s a lot that goes into selling your home but if you get the right seller’s agent, you will be in good hands, trust us! If you are getting ready to sell your home, make sure you check out the Seller’s Guide here!

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Do you know what a contingency is?

This is something that is a huge part of the buying and selling process and a lot of people don’t

quite understand it. You’ll hear this word thrown around plenty when trying to buy or sell a home,

but what does it really mean, and how does it affect your ability to buy or sell your home?

In this week’s episode of Selling Central Florida, we are explaining what the word “contingency”

means and how these affect your offer in today’s seller's market. It’s very important for you to

know what your contingencies are when buying or selling a home so that you can be prepared

for whatever happens.

Essentially, a contingency is an event or condition that comes into play when closing. For

example, a buyer wants to buy your home contingent on the sale of their own house first. There

are also contingencies in your offer that may impact your ability to buy or sell your home. There

are many things about contingencies that you need to know and the more educated you are on

the topic, the better your experience will be.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

● What a contingency is

● How your deposit ties into contingencies

● The first two contingencies in your offer

● Finance contingencies that you can waive

● The loan approval period

● Contingencies that you need to pay attention to

● The similarities between deadlines and contingencies

Contingencies are important but your understanding of them can make or break your buying or

selling experience. We hope this episode helped you better understand what contingencies are

and why you need to pay extra close attention to them. They can have a big impact on your

experience in the housing market!

If you like the show, please subscribe and leave a review. This helps us get more listeners and

Last week we dove into the ways that you can use Ribbon to compete with cash buyers.

This week on Selling Central Florida, we brought in Greg Tucker from Amerifirst Home

Mortgage to talk about how he is a preferred lender with Ribbon and how he could get some of

those fees waived as well as another similar program you could go with called Landis.

There has been a huge increase in the number of people wanting to move to the sunshine state

lately, and with that, there has been an increase in the number of cash buyers on the market.

The problem with that is, that most everyday buyers don’t have cash on hand to compete with

that. The companies we are sharing with you today will help you become a cash buyer so you

stand a decent chance of getting that home.

Ribbon and Landis both prioritize getting everyday Americans into homes. It really helps people

who rely on government loans like FHA and VA loans who struggle to get their offers accepted

because it’s easier for the buyer to just go with a cash offer.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

● What Offer Boost is

● Why these deals are great for loan officers

● Who Landis helps

● How to get started with Ribbon or Landis

● The difference between the two programs

● The benefits of using these programs

● Why the lender you choose matters so much

Given that 1% of closing costs is covered with these programs, there really is no reason not to

use them. They stop you from having to go over the asking price and it allows you to be

competitive with the other people with cash offers. These programs are truly amazing.

If you are interested in Ribbon or Landis, Greg is your guy! Get pre-approved here or reach out

to Greg and he can answer any of your questions and get you started so that you can finally buy

your home. You can also send him an email at GTucker@AmeriFirst.com or give him a call

at 321-229-7485.

If you like the show, please subscribe and leave a review. This helps us get more listeners and

Buying a home hasn’t been easy lately.

With all of the cash buyers and investment companies going for the same homes as everyone

else, it can feel impossible to compete when they are offering thousands above asking price in

cash. This can be very discouraging for the everyday buyers who just want a home to call their

own. So on today’s episode of Selling Central Florida, we spoke with Jen Yosef from Ribbon.

Ribbon is an amazing company. They help local buyers compete with the cash investors and

level the playing field. We have had nothing but wonderful experiences with this company so we

knew we wanted to share more about them in case they can help you on your home buying

journey as well.

Ribbon empowers buyers, sellers, agents, and loan officers. They do this with cash-backed

solutions that enable homeownership for everyone. They offer contingency-free certainty to the

sellers which makes it easier for them to work with buyers who are getting mortgages.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

● Who Ribbon is and what they do

● How this company started

● Who Ribbon is for

● The programs that Ribbon offers

● Why some sellers prefer Ribbon buyers

● The fees associated with Ribbon

● What lenders need to know about working with Ribbon

Using Ribbon increases your chance of getting your offer accepted by 3x! They really give you

the peace of mind that you are actually going to stand a chance of getting a house without all of

the stress of trying to compete with impossible offers. Some people think it sounds too good to

be true, but we promise it isn’t! It is worth the small fee- trust us! It’s amazing to see how they

help people finally get their homes.

In this episode, we are going to be talking about title companies! 

Title companies play a very important role in your house buying/selling experience. The title company helps transfer the property from the seller to the buyer with a clean chain of title. In simple terms, they make sure that you own exactly what you’re buying. 

There are a lot of players involved in the sale of a property, and the title company really facilitates the transfer of the property. In today’s episode of Selling Central Florida Podcast, we sat down with Scott Bevan from Celebration Title Group to teach you everything you need to know. 

The sale process isn’t simple. There are so many moving parts! So many people don’t even realize how much goes on behind the scenes. The title company is more involved in the process than people think, and that’s a good thing! The title company has your best interests in mind and they are there to help make sure everyone gets what they are entitled to. 

In today’s episode, we discuss: 

● What a title company is

● How the title company helps in the sale of a property 

● Title insurance 

● Where your earnest money goes

● What you need to know about liens

● The difference between ALTA and HUD

● Closing disclosures

● Title fees

● How Celebration Title Group does things differently

The more educated you are when going into the buying or selling process, the better the whole experience will be. Not many people understand how integral the title company is so we hope this episode gave you lots of good information so that you can go into your experience with all the information you need. 

Let’s talk about contracts!

The topic of purchasing contracts is not the most exciting because it can be a little dry- we know. But stay with us! This is an important part of the buying or selling process so this information is crucial to know. You’ll definitely want to save this episode for reference in the future.

In this episode of Selling Central Florida, we want to go through some of the most important parts of your contract that you need to keep in mind when writing those offers. You don’t want to end up in a sticky situation by going into it blind! The market moves quickly so preparing yourself for this part ahead of time will be extremely beneficial to you.

We want you to know what you’re doing and signing so you can understand what areas of a contract you can change to make your offer stronger. Going into this process unprepared could be what gets your offer passed on. You and your realtor need to be at the top of your game to make it happen so you don’t miss out on your dream home.

During this read-through of the contract, we will share with you everything you need to know, what they mean, and things to be aware of so that you can make an offer that gets accepted.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

● What can happen if you aren’t prepared

● What “as is” means

● How escrow payments work

● Dates included and what they mean

● What you need to understand about the financing section

● Closing costs, fees, charges

● Home warranties

● Property inspections

We hope you found this episode helpful! We tried to pack it with all of the most important information so that you can make your offers and sign your contracts with confidence. The process of buying a house can be pretty confusing for people who haven’t done it before so educating yourself is the first step to a great home-buying experience.

Make sure to check out the contract sample linked below. We highly recommend that you read through it yourself so that when it is time to sign that offer, you don’t need to waste any time getting it out there.

The first step in purchasing a house is getting pre-approved. This part can be a little daunting but don’t worry, we are here to help. 

In today’s episode of Selling Central Florida, we have Patrick Srichaiyan from Waterstone Mortgage here to talk about what steps you need to take to get approved for your new home. Buying a home can be confusing especially for someone who has never done it before. Patrick is amazing at explaining the process in an easy-to-understand way so we are very happy to have him on the podcast today to help you understand the process too. As a Senior Mortgage Advisor with over seven years of experience, Patrick is the perfect blend of formal expertise and warm hospitality. Patrick began his professional career as a real estate agent before switching over to the world of lending. Between his experience in real estate, his degree in Business Administration, and his Certified Mortgage Advisor™ accreditation, Patrick has learned the ins and outs of the mortgage industry allowing him to be able to anticipate and meet the needs of all parties involved. Patrick views himself not just as your lender, but also as an advisor who wants the best for you and will ensure you thrive in your new home. His embodiment of the Golden Rule is what really sets Patrick apart from other lenders. He truly strives to treat each client like they are his best friend ensuring they are making knowledgeable, informed decisions that are best for their unique situation so they can get into their dream home! 

When Patrick isn’t working – which is rare – you can find him lifting heavyweights in his garage, playing video games, eating way too much sushi, and hanging out with his two kiddos. 

In today’s episode, we discuss: 

Why having a good relationship with your lender is so important 

Important factors to consider when choosing a lender 

The biggest misconceptions about getting a loan for a house 

What you need to know about PMI 

How to make the most of the market and current interest rates 

What delayed financing is 

What to expect when it comes to closing costs 

The benefits of getting preapproved to buy a house