Hurricane Season starts today.
Are you ready?
School is out and the weather is heating up. June 1st officially marks the beginning of the 6 month long Hurricane Season here in Florida which runs all the way through November 30th. According to the state’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research, an estimated 329, 717 new residents moved to our state between April of 2020 and April of 2021. That is a lot of folks who have potentially never experienced hurricane season. And this year The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted a 60% chance of 13 to 20 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), with six to ten reaching hurricane strength (winds of 74 mph or higher) and three to five considered major hurricanes (winds of 111 mph or higher).
What can you do to prepare?
Step one…start now and create a disaster supply kit. The Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday runs from Friday, May 28 through Sunday, June 6, 2021. If you purchase storm supplies such as batteries, generators, flashlights, and tarps you will not pay state sales tax on these supplies. Also keep in mind that we are still seeing shortages on items such as plywood due to the pandemic so items you need to build a kit may be in short supply, especially after a storm is named and everyone is looking to by these items all at once. Consult this checklist for more ideas on what to put in your Disaster Supply Kit.
Step two…check your insurance policy. Take a moment and review your homeowners or renters policies to make sure you have the right coverage in the event you have damage from a storm. Another thing most homeowners don’t realize is that insurers will not allow homeowners to buy new or additional insurance if there is already a hurricane watch. Instead, make sure you have the right insurance protection now.
Step three…prepare your home. Once we enter hurricane watch it is best to start what I like to call outside preparations. Anything that could fly away and become a projectile like pots, patio furniture, toys, or trashcans all need to come inside. Your gutters should be cleaned out to prevent flooding and roof damage. It is a good idea to trim up trees so that the wind can pass through easily, but make sure this is done with enough time for the trimmings to be taken to the recycling center or picked up on yard waste day. Check for any leaks or openings that could allow for water to seep in. And lastly, if you haven’t invested in hurricane shutters, consider securing plywood over your windows and sliding doors to prevent the glass from shattering from flying debris.
If you live in a mobile or manufactured home you may feel safer evacuating. Many schools in our area turn into hurricane shelters for local residents. The key to surviving hurricane season is having a plan. And remember, just like unpredictable storms, plans are things that change.
Weather Report:
Here in Central Florida during the month of June the weather really starts warming up, the humidity returns, and it is the start of Hurricane Season.
- Average High Temperature: 90 Degrees
- Average Low Temperature: 71 Degrees
- Average Heat Index: 107.6 Degrees
- Average Rainfall: 4.92 Inches
- Average Humidity: 77%
- Average Amount of Daylight: 13.9 Hours
Coming soon
We are lucky enough here in the Four Corners area to be home to DonutNV’s new corporate headquarters. The one of a kind retail location located in between Arby’s and Chipotle will serve up tasty donuts and will also serve as a training facility and support center for mobile franchisee owners. Follow them on Facebook to track the progress of their grand opening which should be very soon!
Another new business is slated to open very soon here in the Four Corners Area. I noticed this one as I picked up dinner from my favorite place, China Gourmet in the Glenbrook Commons Plaza. It is called the Cat Garden and it appears to be a family owned cat exclusive grooming salon. It looks like they will also sell cat supplies.
As someone who owns two cats and has fostered many, I am definitely excited to see what this new Four Corners business is all about. You can follow them on Instagram and Facebook.
Dates to Remember:
- Every Friday in June-Cagan’s Crossings Farmers Market
- Every Sunday in June-Clermont Farmer’s Market
- June 4th First Friday Food Trucks in Downtown Clermont
- June 8th Board of Lake County Commissioners Meeting
- June 12th Pups in the Park
- June 14th Lake County School Board Meeting
- June 19th Wine Stroll
- June 22nd Board of Lake County Commissioners Meeting
- June 28th Lake County School Board Meeting
Did you know?
Did you know that Lake County is offering a new, low cost, trap-neuter-vaccinate-return program? I’ve read quite a few complaints on social media recently about stray cat populations on the rise here in our community so this program couldn’t have come at a better time.
In order to participate you can make an appointment Monday-Friday and the cost of the program is only $10 per cat. Cats must arrive to the shelter in a humane trap that is covered to reduce stress. The cats will be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, dewormed, and ear tipped. Residents can also earn 3 free coupons for a future spay or neuter by attending a class on June 20th that teaches best practices for trapping and future stray cat care.
For more information or to sign up for the class check out the Lake County Animal Services Website here.
34714 Sales Stats
Sizzling-hot sales are continuing to push prices higher. In April we saw 51 houses close and 50 new listings. The average sales price was $311,440 (up from $289,054 this time last year!) and on average it took 6 days to get a new listing under contract!
Tips for buying a home in this crazy market
There is no denying it. The real estate market is hot right now. There aren’t enough houses on the market to keep up with the current demand. I’ve heard story after story from frustrated home buyers about how they can’t compete with the cash offers from investors who don’t even step foot on the property, and houses that go under contract within hours of receiving multiple, above asking price offers. Trying to buy a house right now isn’t for the faint of heart.
Not everyone can wait until the market cools off. So, what can you do?
1. Determine the difference between your “wants” and needs”. The longer your list of requirements, the more it will restrict your search and the chances of buying a house in a limited market.
2. Get your finances in order. Take necessary steps like paying down debt to get your credit score as high as possible. Save up money for a down payment, usually around 20% of the purchase price and get preapproved for a mortgage before starting your search. Just because you are preapproved for a specific amount doesn’t mean you should spend that much on a home. If you only look at houses at the top of your budget, you won’t have room to “bid up” in multiple offer situations.
3. Take action and watch closely for new listings. Your agent will most likely sign you up for email updates based off of your wants and needs. Check for those emails daily and if a property interests you say something right away. And be ready to put in an offer immediately if you’re interested.
4. Put in a strong, clean offer. In a seller’s market with a multiple offer situations you will need to submit a full price offer or even consider a little above asking price. Offers with a sizable deposit and fewer contingencies can also help you get a home under contract.
5. Write a letter to the owner. You may think that sellers only care about accepting the highest bid, but adding a personal touch to a strong bid may be enough to create an emotional connection with someone selling their home.
6. Be Patient. In today’s market you may enter into a bidding war. Don’t be tempted to go over your budget and overspend. Consider revisiting your “needs” vs. “wants” list and possibly expand your search area.
Remember, the right house will come around soon enough. Don’t let the stress of buying a home get you down.
