Karlhaus Realty has implemented Realist ValueMap™ and is now available free to its customers through its Spruce Creek Real Estate web site. The ValueMap tool provides quick automated estimates of a property's worth according to recent sales and several statistics from public records and the MLS® databases.

The Karlhaus ValueMap provides you with 24/7 access to the complete spectrum of property information-covering 97% of U.S. real estate transactions. The system is much more than a simple valuation tool. With it you can:

• Enter a home address and ValueMap instantly provides the estimated value of the home
• Determine the estimated value of adjacent homes
• Allow users to adjust home facts and re-calculate a home’s value
• View nearby homes for sale
• View similar homes in the area that have recently sold and for how much

More than a home valuation site, Realist ValueMap brings all of this to life with highly interactive mapping features such as: up-to-date street maps, Bird’s Eye and Aerial imagery, and even parcel lot lines.

While a more precise value assessment can only be obtained by a professional, the Karlhaus ValueMap is a good first step in gauging the value of your property in comparison to your neighbor's. This tool in combination with the services of a Karlhaus Agent can be a valuable resource in estimating the value of a property, whether you are a Buyer or a Seller.

Karlhaus CEO, Carlos Bravo said that while the ValueMap tool is still new and can be somewhat inaccurate in estimating the value of unique properties such as those in the Spruce Creek Fly-in, it does have value in assessing relative worth when a property is compared to another. He added that "the ability to display nearby sales data and listings for sale as well as the virtual imagery makes it a very useful tool for our customers". "Today's Buyers do a lot of their real estate research through the internet thanks to the wide availability of information", Bravo said.

Karlhaus has access to the latest sales data and market trends, not only for properties sold through the MLS® but for all properties, including For Sale by Owner (FSBO), direct sales and trades in Spruce Creek, Port Orange, and anywhere else in Florida. This information is essential and, when combined with our expertise and negotiating advice, ensure the best possible deal for Karlhaus clients whether they are Buying or Selling.

According to Bravo, Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 technologies are disrupting the way real estate business is transacted. "Through the Karlhaus Realty sites, a Buyer might as easily be shopping for a home in Spruce Creek while drinking his afternoon coffee in Germany, and at the same time another Buyer in Spain is enjoying some virtual browsing as if he was driving down the streets of Port Orange, using the street view features of the Karlhaus Map-Based Property Search."

True to its mission at the forefront of internet technology to provide the best real estate marketing tools to its customers, Karlhaus moves forward yet another step in its Total Web Supremacy™ in the marketing of Spruce Creek Fly-In properties.

See the Karlhaus ValueMap in action: What is my Spruce Creek Home Worth?

Read full post >>

Property Taxes in Florida are an important consideration in estimating your total cost of ownership. In Volusia County there are several taxing districts; Municipalities such as Daytona Beach or Ormond Beach have their own millage rates. Properties in unincorporated areas of Volusia County usually have lower rates. The Spruce Creek Fly-in is located in unincorporated Volusia County.

Florida has a number of exemptions that you may be eligible for. There are several initiatives to reduce property taxes and that, if passed, will provide relief for many homeowners. Visit the Volusia County Property Appraisers Office for details.

Read full post >>

When banks quote loans, they often include several rates with various "points". The term points has multiple meanings in the mortgage world. Mortgage points can refer to loan origination fees (fees charged by the underwriter) or discount points (also known as loan discounts). A point is 1% of the loan amount. Paying discount points allows you to "buy down" your interest rate. Consider points as prepaid interest. The tricky part is trying to identify the best deal among different interest rates and different points.


Points are only a good option if you plan to keep the mortgage long enough to gain from the lower finance charges - as the cumulative savings will eventually cover the additional cost of paying the points upfront - and then some. Often you will find that getting a "zero-point" loan works best for those looking to refinance or sell in a few years.

As a rule of thumb, for a typical 30-year mortgage, each point you pay up front is worth about 1/8 of a percent off your interest rate. Since these points are interest payments, they're usually tax-deductible.

Generally speaking, it takes about five to seven years to recoup the cost of paying a point upfront. Here's the math. Let's say you take out a $100,000 30-year fixed mortgage, and you have the option of either paying 6% with no points or 5 3/4% with one point. With the 6% mortgage, your monthly payment will be $600. And with the 5 3/4% loan, it would be $584, a savings of $16 per month. After about 62 months, or a little over five years, you would have recouped the $1,000 point you paid upfront. And then you would start to benefit from the lower monthly payments.

But you must also consider how you might otherwise invest that $1,000. If you can beat the taxable equivalent of your mortgage rate (about 8% in the example above for those in the 25% tax bracket) then don't bother paying points. Invest the money instead.

This calculator can serve as a guide to compare different loan rates and point options to find the best alternative.

Read full post >>

Learn how the term of your mortgage can be reduced by even the smallest regular prepayments. The key is to be consistent every month...

Read full post >>

This financial calculator will help you decide whether or not you should refinance your current mortgage at a lower interest rate. The calculator will compute the monthly payment and net interest savings as well as how many months it will take to recoup the closing costs and break even.

Mortgage Refinancing Calculator
Mortgage Balance (Payoff Amount):
Current P&I Monthly Payment:
Current Interest Rate:
New Interest Rate:
Refinancing Period (# Years new Loan):
Closing Costs required for refinancing:
New P&I Monthly Payment
Monthly Savings:
Number of months to break even on closing costs:
Total Interest, Current Loan
Total Interest, New Loan
Interest Savings over Life of Loan
Net Refinancing Savings (interest savings less costs):

Read full post >>

This is a simple financial calculator that allows you to compute any of the four variables in a simple-interest loan (Loan Amount, Interest, Number of Years, Payment) by entering the other three. Just enter the known quantities and press "Compute" to calculate the missing variable. Once the computation is complete, the program can also display the amortization schedule.

LOAN CALCULATOR

Loan Amt.:
Interest (%):
# of Years:
Payment:

Read full post >>