Today, The Hometown Heroes Program has been funded. The program is offering $100 Million Dollars to qualified First Time Home Buyer's.

On today's Podcast, "SoFlo Real Estate Show | Ask Athena and Julie Anything", Athena and Julie break down the Hometown Heroes Program.

The funds are provided as a 0% second non-amortizing mortgage, due once the home is sold or refinanced. The program is available to all first-time home buyers with some restrictions. Another huge benefits is an automatic lower interest rate so no need to shop a rate.

If you are thinking of buying a home, don't procrastinate. The funds are limited. Questions, reach out to Athena or Julie.

Building wealth in real estate offers unique tax savings, and owning property can significantly increase net worth. In today's episode, Athena and Julie discuss the top 10 secrets to slash real estate taxes, focusing on South Florida. They cover topics such as depreciation deductions, 1031 exchanges, mortgage interest deductions, property tax deductions, homestead exemptions, home office deductions, cost segregation, homestead portability, and energy efficient tax credits. These strategies can help investors reduce taxable income and build wealth. It is important to consult with tax professionals and assessors for personalized advice.

In today's episode "Did the Housing Market Just Hit "Pause" in it's Groove?" Athena and Julie discuss the current state of the housing market and the three biggest mistakes buyers are making today.

Athena and Julie emphasize the importance of understanding market trends and getting pre-approved before starting the homebuying process. They also advise buyers to be realistic about their expectations and not overextend their budgets. The hosts stress the need for professional guidance from realtors and lenders to navigate the market effectively.

Interested in learning more about today's housing market, remember to subscribe to the SoFlo Real Estate Podcast.

On today's podcast, SoFlo Real Estate | Ask Athena and Julie Anything, we dive into a topic that is forgotten. That topic is the cost of owning a home and how to properly budget so you won't have to burden your asset with additional loans or, even worse, sell your home.

Owning a home requires constant monitoring and budgeting for maintenance and insurance costs. Home inspections are crucial for both buyers and homeowners to identify potential issues and budget for repairs. Key items to inspect include the roof, plumbing, AC, exterior, and trees. Annual or regular inspections can prevent costly repairs. Insurance premiums are increasing, so homeowners should budget for higher costs and consider getting multiple quotes. Creating a budget and saving for unexpected expenses is essential for homeownership.

If you would like to learn more about the cost of homeownership, book an appointment

https://calendly.com/athenachilicasbarrocas-realtor/30min

Athena Chilicas Barrocas, Realtor, LPS

Coldwell Banker Realty

Julie Dinda ☎️ 954-290-7960

Loan Officer, Radius Financial Group

Buyer Agent Agreements are becoming an Industry Standard for Real Estate.

In this episode of the SoFlo Real Estate Show | Ask Athena and Julie Anything, the paradigm shift of hiring a Buyer's Agent to represent you in the home buying process.

Athena discusses what is a Buyer Agent Agreement, the importance of understanding the contract, the benefits, compensation to the Buyer's Agent and what you need to know to negotiate the right contract to hire the best Realtor.

Buyers MUST be ready for this shift.

If you would like more information or would like to schedule a call with Athena Barrocas, Coldwell Banker Realty or Julie Dinda, Radius Financial Group, click the link below:

https://calendly.com/athenachilicasbarrocas-realtor/30min

Ready to begin the search for your dream home? Click the link below:

Home prices continue are appreciating and are expected to continue to appreciate annually for the foreseeable future.

Are you a home buyer seeing that home prices are not decreasing? That Interest rates are not falling? And asking yourself how are you going to buy a home without overpaying?

In today's podcast, SoFlo Real Estate Show | Ask Athena and Julie Anything, Athena explore home prices trends and the 3 ways a home buyer can avoid overpaying in today's market.

If you know someone interested in buying a home and would like answers to their questions, book an appointment.

https://calendly.com/athenachilicasbarrocas-realtor/30min

If you would like to reach out directly, call or text us.

☎️954-317-0463, Athena Barrocas, Coldwell Banker

☎️954-290-7960, Julie Dinda, Radius Group Financial

@athenarealestate954 @coldwellbanker #homebuyer #firsttimehomebuyer #realestate #realestatetips #marketdate #housingmarket

In today's Podcast, SoFlo Real Estate Show | Ask Athena and Julie Anything, the NAR Settlement and the Impact on Home Prices is discussed. The discussion helps to bust the myth that home prices are affected by any cost of sale and how home prices are determined in todays market of low inventory.

Today, there are only two known outcomes of the NAR Settlement that has yet to be sanctioned by the DOJ. Neither affect the home prices.

If you are thinking of buying a home, this is a great podcast.

If you or someone you know is thinking of buying a home and is unsure of how the NAR settlement may affect the real; estate goals, this is a great podcast to share.

In Today's Podcast, Athena and Julie begin cutting through the noise regarding the misinformation of the NAR Settlement. In addition to the 5 possible impact to the lending industry, both Athena and Julie are optimistic as to the final outcome of the new regulations in July 2024.

On this Podcast of Ask Athena and Julie Anything, Athena deeps dive into the mind of the Underwriter and how they determine if you have the income to support a loan.

The job of the underwriter is to scrutinize your returns and verify that your income and debt meet the requirements to fund your loan for your new home.

This week, it's about W2 employees, Next week tune in as we discuss how Underwriters review taxes for the Self-Employed.

In today's podcast, Athena Chilicas Barrocas, Top Producer Realtor at Coldwell Banker in Weston Florida and Julie Dinda, Loan Officer at Radius Financial Group discuss Appraisals and why they are being returned with an appraised value less than the contracted price. Also, they share 8 simple ways as a Seller you can impact the appraised value to help you get the highest price for your home.