Monday, October 30, 2017

Safe Halloween

Tips for a Safe Halloween

When walking:

  • Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.
  • Before crossing look left, right and left again. Then keep looking as you cross. 
  • Put electronic devices down and keep heads up when crossing
  • Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
  • Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to
    the left as possible.
  • Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Make sure children know to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.

When driving:

  • Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and can be unpredictable 
  • Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.
  • Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.
  • Eliminate any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
  • Drive slowly, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic. You should turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances.
  • Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours.

Other tips: 

  • Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors.
  • Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.
  • Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers. 
  • Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, they should stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.



Thursday, October 26, 2017

Latitude Margaritaville Sales

Latitude Margaritaville Sales Starting Soon!
Daytona Beach Sales Center Rendering


Latitude Margartiaville Daytona Beach is coming soon. This 55+ community will be your retirement escape! Sales for this island-inspired living start November 13, 2017. Along with model homes opening in early 2018. 

For more information... Margaritaville

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Avoid Closing Traps

Closing Traps

No one wants to delay a closing, but recently nearly a quarter of real estate professionals  say they have been faced with a delay to settlement. Some delays are unavoidable, such as a job loss in the middle of a sale. However, there are three main causes of a delay: lender, appraiser, and inspector. With these three factors buyer's agents can play a critical role in avoiding delays. The following are tips to help buyers get to closing on time.

Financing 
   - Talk to the lender first. Urge buyers to get pre-approved before even looking at homes. Many don't realize their true credit.
   - Gather Documents. At the start of the process, give buyers a list of all the documents they will need to provide to a lender. This includes tax returns, bank statements, pay stubs, and even divorce decree, if applicable. Lenders ask for lots of information, so be sure your buyers are aware of this.
   - Keep your finances steady. Avoid behaviors that could jeopardize financing approval. Search "The 10 Commandments of Buying a Home" to more habits that can hurt financing.

Appraisal
   -Appraisals have become a increasing issue in real estate. Many delays related to appraisals are blamed on a shortage of qualified appraisers. Many valuations are not on par with the current market, or appraisers are not familiar with local market. There are just not enough appraisers in some markets to get the job done.
   - Be proficient in estimating fair prices. An agent needs to give a fair home price, and not just go along with what the seller or buyer wants. The appraisers' job is to ensure the price is fair and ensure the lender a solid investment; this is not for the buyers.

Home Inspections
   - Home inspection reports can sometimes lead to delay. When inspectors find issues, the sellers are not always responsible to take care of it. Who is responsible for the repairs is up for negotiation.




Even with these tips, still many issues can come up to threaten a sale, even after a contract is signed. You must be vigilant to keep the odds in your favor and surround yourself with an experienced team of professionals. If you're looking to make a move feel free to contact us at 386-566-8091.

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Price Reduction!

104 Double Eagle Reduced Price!


$349,900 

4 bed/3 bath home
3,655 total sq. feet
In gated Pelican Bay

104 Double Eagle Drive
Daytona Beach, FL 32119

Call for more information. 
(386)566-8091

1601 Big Tree Road 408 South Daytona, FL 32119

Property Site: http://tour.circlepix.com/home/E4MC6C/1601-Big-Tree-Road-408-South-Daytona-FL-1034848
NEW A/C and HOT WATER HEATER! This impeccably maintained END UNIT is ready for immediate sale. Kitchen has an eat-in area and the laundry room, with washer/dryer is conveniently located just beyond. The bedrooms are large and there is plenty of closet space as well. The extra you'll find handy is that this has an ASSIGNED, COVERED CARPORT along with a PRIVATE STORAGE AREA. Yorktowne has a COMMUNITY POOL and CLUBROOM area. THIS IS ONE YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS!
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Square feet: 1,224
Price: $83,000

For more information about this property, please contact Mark Card at (386) 566-8092 or markcardteam@aol.com. You can also text 4661766 to 67299.


See more listings at: http://www.MarkCardTeam.com


MLS ID: 1034848

Trendiest Features

Making a Return on Investment of Home Selling


Whether you’re thinking of selling soon or have an eye on remodeling with solid return-on-investment potential, think about which features make your home oh-so-desirable when it’s time to list. An analysis of the Realtor.com listings over the past five years found that the following items were listed most often, solidifying a venerable spot among buyers’ favorites:

  1. Fireplace
  2. Wood floor
  3. Carpet
  4. Granite counters
  5. Stainless steel appliances
  6. Open floor plan
  7. Walk-in closet
  8. Formal dinning room
  9. Vaulted ceiling
  10. Open kitchens 
When looking to make a move we can help prepare you and your home for the be resale, or we can help find a home that has the trends you want. Check us out at MarkCardTeam.com. Contact us at (386)566-8091.

Friday, October 13, 2017

4626 Harbour Village Boulevard 3204 Ponce Inlet, FL 32127

Property Site: http://tour.circlepix.com/home/9GX6C7/4626-Harbour-Village-Boulevard-3204-Ponce-Inlet-FL-1034696
GATED RIVERS EDGE at HARBOUR VILLAGE condo! Beautifully maintained and decorated, you'll find this to be a lovely spot to escape the ordinary. It offers a greater level of privacy because there is no facing building next to it. Eat-in kitchen and dining area overlook the family room and OVERSIZED BALCONY beyond. Each of the bedrooms is situated is en suit and has a French too leading to the balcony as well. The master has an additional sitting area, and large walk in closet while the bath area has a separate tub and shower along with a raised, double vanity. HARBOUR VILLAGE offers private POOL, BEACH CLUB, FITNESS AREAS, GOLF, TENNIS and MARINA.
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Square feet: 1,482
Price: $259,500

For more information about this property, please contact Mark Card at (386) 566-8092 or markcardteam@aol.com. You can also text 4655464 to 67299.


See more listings at: http://www.MarkCardTeam.com


MLS ID: 1034696

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

20 Questions for Buying a Condo

20 Questions to Ask When Buying a Condo

   according to FloridREALTORS®





  1. Condition? What is the condition of the unit-the building- the entire complex?
  2. Common Areas? Are common areas well maintained?
  3. For sale? How many condos are for sale (a large percentage could be a sign of issues)?
  4. Owner Occupied? What percentage of the units are owner-occupied? Some lenders may dislike large majorities being rented.
  5. Condo fees? How much are the condo/association fees, and what all do they cover?
  6. Reserves? Does the association have adequate reserves for emergencies and renovations?
  7. Board Temperament? What is the temperament of the board? Looking at board minutes could reveal tensions or controversies.
  8. Lawsuits? Are there any pending lawsuits against the association or judgements you may have to help pay?
  9. Insurance? What does the association's insurance cover? You may need supplemental insurance to cover everything else.
  10. Debt? How much outstanding debt does the association have?
  11. Arrears? What percentage of the units are in the arrears on their dues?
  12. Assessments? Does the seller owe back fees or assessments that may become your responsibility after you close?
  13. Neighborhood? What is the neighborhood like? Ask neighbor and walk the area at night to check it out and see when residents are home.
  14. Parking? Does the unit come with guaranteed parking?
  15. Guest Parking? Is there adequate parking for guests as well?
  16. Storage? Will you have extra storage for bikes, equipment, tools and the like?
  17. Management? Is the association managed by a qualified professional company?
  18. Complaints? Does management handle owners' requests and complaints quickly?
  19. Rent? Do association rules limit your ability to rent the unit?
  20. Restrictions? Will restrictions prevent you from changing visible elements such as the color of your front door or window coverings?

Thursday, October 5, 2017

Atlantic High School Career Expo 2017

Atlantic High School Career Expo

The Mark Card Team at Realty Pros Assured recently participated in the Atlantic High School Career Expo.  Principal Stephen Hinson and Counselor Jan Turp, as well as their staff, worked tirelessly to gain community participation in the event and it was a success for all.

Hundreds of students filed in to learn more about careers they can work toward once completing high school and we are grateful to have had the opportunity to answer questions and hopefully inspire this generation to explore careers related to real estate, as well as home and business ownership.

Jennifer Card with Counselor Jan Turp

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

New Home Buyers' Stresses

Need Help Finding the Proper Financing?

Recently it was found that Florida is the state with the most frustrated borrowers. This is according to a new Home Buyer Reality Report. This report assessed the satisfaction of successful buyers and those who did not make it to closing. Florida showed to have high stress for buyers trying for mortgage approval. Also 1 in 5 mortgage applications are turned down in Florida.

It was also found that 41% of the applicants felt they did not know all of their options throughout the process. On top of that 42% said that the home-buying process was stressful, along with 32% believing it was complicated.

Seeing this data is worrisome for us as agents. We believe that as an agent we should help minimize the stresses of the home-buying process. For those looking to buy/sell make sure to go with an agent that does this for you.
At Mark Card Team we are here to ease the home-buying process. For more information check us out at MarkCardTeam.com or call (386)566-809.