Newly Constructed Home in Marianna
on Category: Home & Lawn Care
on Property Deed Fraud Is Growing in Florida
on Across Florida, scammers are selling peoples’ land and even homes behind their backs. It’s called property deed fraud, and there’s been a big spike in cases here in Florida because the real estate market in the Sunshine State is hot right now. So hot in fact, that numbers suggest approximately 1,218 people move into Florida daily. Officials are urging property owners to protect themselves by signing up for property fraud alerts.
More than 54% of real estate professionals experienced it firsthand in just the second half of 2023. It happens when a scammer steals someone’s identity and title and then sells their property without them knowing. Mary Justino with the Clerk of Clay County Court says: “There are instances where a person filed a fraudulent deed, and simply changed the name by one letter, or to change some of the information in the address or the text of the document by just one letter or two.”
To protect yourself and your property, sign up for your local county’s property fraud alert program. It sends emails and texts if there’s activity on land you own. To be clear, this DOES NOT prevent fraud but it’s like an early warning system.
Florida has 67 counties with property fraud alert programs; only Jackson and Okaloosa are still working to create a functioning program. For more info or the signup for your county’s alerts, visit the Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers website.
The Borrower Myth
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Have you heard that mortgage borrowers need 2 years on the same job to qualify? It’s a popular myth that is completely untrue. Many borrowers have far less than a 2-year employment history; as long as there are no gaps, clients are likely to qualify. Even if there are job gaps, Paramount Residential Mortage Group – and some other mortgage companies – will simply go back before the job gap to get the required length of employment history. Thanks to Brian, their sales manager, for reaching out with this information!
Spring Listing Prep
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Are you planning to list your home this spring? March 21 isn’t that far away! For homeowners getting ready to sell, now is the time to start prepping. Check out the quick tips below:
- Straighten up your home! Put things away, organize the junk drawer, declutter the closets, and more.
- Complete any home repairs. Include everything, big or small. Do a walkthrough and make notes of what needs to be fixed; some things can be DIY but others will require a professional hire.
- Time to decide on a realtor! Research agents in your area, make a list of possible agents, and arrange meetings.
- Boost curb appeal! Clean up outside clutter, repaint the fence, add some native plants to the yard, fix the roof, power wash the driveway, clean your outdoor AND indoor windows, repaint doors, or consider upgrading the mailbox.
- Did you know native plants can increase curb appeal? Native plants require less maintenance and watering which makes seeking homeowners excited to enjoy the saving without the work!
New Homeowners: Inspection Checklist
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Are you getting ready to move into your new home? Here are a few things you should be sure to inspect during your walkthrough before moving in. This is typically the step after having a home inspection done. Completing a walkthrough is an important part of the purchasing process; it allows you to make sure any issues that came up during the home inspection were appropriately dealt with.
- Make sure any agreed-upon repairs were done.
- Check that any appliances that were supposed to be left or removed have been dealt with. Check that any remaining appliances are in working order.
- Test ALL outlets to be sure they are in working order.
- Additionally, test switches, light fixtures, smoke detectors, garage doors, and plumbing.
- Note any damage to floors, cabinets, ceilings, or walls.
- Check all caulking to make sure it’s sealed properly.
- Test any sliding doors or windows to be sure they open efficiently.
Cutting Your Energy Costs
on Today is National Cut Your Energy Costs Day! First established by the Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance, it’s an annual day of awareness designed to help homeowners conserve home energy and save money. Did you know that homes account for 22% of the energy usage in the United States (according to Energy.gov)? Yet there are a few simple changes that can be made to help you cut excess waste. 
- Take shorter showers
- Unplug unused appliances & chargers
- Do laundry in cold water
- Switch to LED lights
- Weatherize your house to optimize insulation
Fall-Winter Ceiling Fan Settings
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During the summer, the fan should be counterclockwise to help create a downdraft. This helps create a direct, cooling breeze. Now that the season is changing and the temperatures are cooling down, it’s time to consider changing the direction to clockwise. This helps create an updraft that will circulate warm air around the room. Recirculating the warm air and distributing it back into the living space helps keep the average room temperature up and your heater from overworking. Checking your ceiling fan settings is a good way to help cut down on unnecessary energy costs.
Graceville Announcement
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Graceville Public Works will be picking up vegetative debris next Thursday, June 22 AND Friday, June 23. They ask that you place your vegetative debris right next to the street right of way for easy pick up. These dates are for vegetative debris ONLY. If you have construction debris, it can be taken to Public Works from June 15-17th for Amnesty servicing.
National Homeownership Month
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June is National Homeownership Month! It celebrates the value that owning a home brings to families, communities, and neighborhoods across America. It helps spread the joys of being a homeowner and encourages others to achieve the same thing. Did you know that most Americans had no way of owning a home in the 1800s? Mortgages became common after the U.S. banking system came into being as a result of the 1860s National Bank Acts.
May (Veggie) Gardening Tips
on Here in the Florida Panhandle, May weather can be hard to pinpoint when attempting to work in the garden. Here are some tips for making the most of your veggie garden in May:
- Periodically harvest from your spring garden to keep it going for as long as possible.
- Plant tomatoes, okra, green beans, cucumbers, squash, eggplant, peppers, and melons.
- If you want lettuce, choose a heat-tolerant variety. This is the last chance to harvest lettuce for spring/summer.
- Water your crops regularly and adequately according to their needs; skip days with adequate rain.
- Plant okra, melons, squash, and green beans.