Looking for a Good Deal NEW HOMES is the way to go!!! If you are looking to purchase a new home in any Central Florida New Home Community NOW is a excellent time to do so. New Home builders in the Orlando, Apopka and Central Florida area have dropped the prices and are offering great incentives. Do you need a REALTOR® when buying a brand new home from a builder? ABSOLUTELY!!! When you walk into a Model home and you're greeted by the salesperson, remember they work for the Builder and have the Builders best interest in mind NOT YOURS! Thinking of Buying a NEW home in the Orlando, Apopka and Central Florida area? Don't BUY WITHOUT Representation. Call Rick Belben BEFORE YOU VISIT the sales center as I must accompany you on your 1st visit. Let me represent you and Save thousands on new hom... 05/20/2008

On the shores of Lake Dora sits the majestic and historic Lakeside InnIn the early 1880's Mount Dora was known as Royellou. The town consisted of no more than a post office. The postmaster Ross Tremain named the lakeside outpost after his three children; Roy, Ella and Louis. The sixteen families who lived along the shore of Lake Dora decided the town needed a hotel. It was about this time Royellou was renamed Mount Dora. "Mount" for the uncommon attribute (for Florida) of being 184 feet above sea level.Town Father John Alexander entered into a partnership with Annie MacDonald Stone Donnelly, wife of John P. Donnelly, and Colonel John A. MacDonald to open the Alexander House in 1883. The Alexander Inn still stands as Lakeside Inn's most historic building.In 1893 the Alexander Inn was sol... 04/29/2008

One of the most recognizable homes in Mount Dora, Florida is the John P. Donnelly House.This home was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places on April 4, 1975.John P. Donnelly, a native of Pittsburgh, PA moved to Mount Dora in 1879. He married Annie McDonald Stone in 1881.He built the Queen Anne Style home in 1893.John P. Donnelly was one of the founders of the local yacht club and served as Mount Dora's first mayor in 1910.In 1924 he sold the land for the park named for his wife who had died in 1908.John P. Donnelly died in 1930. The home is now owned by Mount Dora Lodge no. 238 F. & A.M. 04/09/2008

The Time Has Come... Dust off the clubs, find your glove and get ready!                     Faith Lutheran School Parent Teacher League 5th Annual Golf Tournament is April 19, 2008This event is held at The Country Club of Mount Dora Mount Dora, FloridaThe Parent Teacher League of Faith Lutheran School, Eustis, Florida is working hard to make this year's event a tremendous success for the participants, sponsors and school. The funds raised by this year's tournament will be used for much needed playground equipment.The tournament is a four man scramble with shotgun start. The cost per player is $60 which includes greens fees, cart, awards luncheon and beverage service. There are awards for the top three teams, closest to the pin, longest drive and a special $20,000 hole-in-one prize.Shotg... 03/21/2008

The City of Mount Dora recently passed an ordinance requiring all owners of rental property to obtain "Rental Licenses".  This new license requires the property owner to have city inspections once every 3 years and every time a new tenant moves in.  It also requires the property owner to pay annual licensing fees. You can read more on this on the City of Mount Dora's website and in the Orlando Sentinel.         The intent of this ordinance besides to generate more revenue to the city is to keep slumlords in line.  I do not know if an ordinance like this will do that though.  The problem is not just with the slumlords, but also with the tenants that they rent to.  Even nasty people have to live somewhere.  It does not take into consideration that some landlords do a fine job of maintaini... 02/25/2008

It has been brought to my attention that the City of Mt. Dora (a Lake County Florida city) has a rental inspection ordinance. This ordinance is ridiculous and will just make the property owner spend more. As if the extremely high property taxes weren't enough... What is the Rental Inspection Ordinance? --requires rental properties located in the city of Mt.Dora to pay an annual license fee of $30.00---requires an inspection fee of $75.00Notice I didn't say that is was an annual inspection fee. That's because the inspection is performed every time there is a change in renter, if a renter requests an inspection, a renter has a complaint or just if an inspector decides the property needs to be inspected. This could result in a couple hundred dollars per year for rental owners.  This looks ... 02/20/2008

  How much is your time worth...Is sitting on the phone on hold, or burning up the fax lines to some lender who cna't find your faxes worth the effort..I have my doubts some days...As we acquire more and more short sale listings, it becomes more apparent that we will have to improve on our communication skills with the lenders.We need a hot-line after the tenth call to get the same person back. We need a way to charge the lenders for dropping our calls as they transfer us to India. For those of us doin short sales, I am here to tell you that having less than 20-30 listings is very similar to having tons of overpriced listings. You have a very high percentage of working your butt off and not selling a thing.I am seeing some surprising issues though...We are tracking over a hundred good e... 02/11/2008

  Born in Aruba, Antilles, West Indies in the Caribbean, I grew up on a tropical island paradise until I was 10 yearsold before my family moved to Maitland, Florida (Orlando). I have been in the Central Florida area since then except for a three year stint overseas in the U. S. Air Force. I currently reside in Mount Dora, Florida, which is about 30 minutes Northwest of Orlando, FL. Mount Dora is a quaint New England style town nestled on the shore of Lake Dora part of the Harris Chain of Lakes. It is located in Lake County, so named for having over 1400 named lakes here. That means a lot of lake front property. Mount Dora is also known as the Festival City where 285,000 people visit annually each February to attend the Annual Mount Dora Art Festival with 350 artists and crafters who set... 02/07/2008

 I picked this graphic to represent our market. Beautiful but slow.. The listing agreement just came off the  laser printer. Its still hot, feels good in my hands. Its an agreement to do a retail listing of a foreclosure home for 90 days and if not sold, we will agree to buy it for a set price. I cannot believe this deal is coming to us. I am bidding, according to our formula, quite a few homes a week. Today the long distance voice said the send the package, get it done today.I know this subdivision. There are no signs in here. Its all big time Attorneys and Cardiologists in this place. Even in this palisade of homes, there is trouble in Paradise. The research shows the home was sold in foreclosure in 2005 and was picked up for 150,000 under market at that time... The home was never mov... 12/07/2007

Me and my wife have visited the Crafts Fair in 2005. On Saturday on the way to our frined in Ocala we decided to visit Mount Dora on our way. We did not check the schedule, just drove there and ... bingo, we got right at the Fair. This was a very nice and welcome surprise. We enjoy the architecture, the lake, nice quaint streets lined with mature trees, rolling hills. Dora Craft Fair took place Ocober 27-28 in downtown Mount Dora on the backdrop of a beautiful Lake Dora. The weather was on a cooler side with no sunshine, but this didn;t deter huge crowds coming to this annual event. This was te biggest event ever with 350 booths with crafts form all across the nation. I have uploaded quite a number of phots from tis year event on Localism, which can give you the idea of this must see ev... 10/28/2007

This past weekend, I got the chance to step back in time and enjoy a pleasant day at the lakeside.  You see Mt. Dora held its 20th Annual Antique Boat Festival at Lake Dora.  With over 300 antique boats, there was plenty to see and enjoy.  This year's feature boats were the Garr Woods... enjoy the showHitching up a boat not your thing... then just drive right on in.For a couple bucks, the captains of these fine vessels will take you for a cruise on the lake.  But, if your sea legs aren't up for the affair, then you could spend some time in historic downtown Mt. Dora.  The atiques spilled over into the main street offering vintage items for antique collectors of all types.I know you will enjoy it.  Madison did! 03/27/2007

    Buying or Selling?  One Call Does it ALL!!        Rick Belben       Direct (407) 341-1706                        Are you looking for an experienced real estate professional who knows the Orlando Real Estate market and can get the results you desire? Let me put my knowledge, experience, and dedication to work for you. Give me a call today, and I will immediately get to work for you - satisfying your real estate needs.  Buying a Home? I'll take the time to listen to your needs and desires, and find your dream home. Your total satisfaction is my number one priority. Selling a Home? I will get your home sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. My online and offline marketing programs will give you the edge you need to sell your home. I don't want to just list your home, I want to sel... 03/18/2007

Last month, I wrote a post about how to use Localism to get a free round of golf and free publicity.Well, as they say the proof is in the pudding.  Two weeks ago, I met an editor-in-chief at one of my networking groups that expressed interest in my concept.  After expressing interest about the paper she works for, she asked me to forward one of my reviews.  The paper that she works for is called the "Homesteader".  It is a direct mail newsletter that is sent out monthly to all new homeowners in the Lake County area.Perfect plug for me... especially if someone just got their home and went to the closing with a bait and switch broker/lender.  In fact, I am also the only one in the mortgage industry in the newsletter.  Just because they bought a house and have a new mortgage does not make ... 02/03/2007

This weekend in Mt. Dora, Florida, located in Lake County not too far away from where Friday's deadly tornadoes ravaged parts of Lake County, life goes on with a couple festivities.  Turn out to these events may be at an all time low because of Friday's events, but people are still expected to turn out.In historic downtown Mt. Dora, art is the talk of the town.  The 32nd annual, nationally ranked Art Festival has yet again arrived.  This year with over 285 artists from all over the world are expected to converge into the narrow streets of old town Mt. Dora to show off their newest works of art.  People from all across the state of Florida are expected to show up in the thousands to enjoy this treasured event by the community.While you are meandering through the tents, you may hear the o... 02/03/2007

Sullivan Ranch Estate Homes is located at Sullivan Ranch in northwest Orlando, in Mount Dora Florida.  These are single family estate homes with lots for the homes starting at $99,000 up to $200,000.  Most lots are 95' x 130' and some are a half acre. There will be stunning oak vista views, a Jr. olympic size pool, a large childrens park and interactive water fountains.If you are interested in this development details upon request. 01/29/2007

This is the second installment of 2 Average Joes trying out a golf course.  Unfortunately, Mr. Blasi had more important things to do today, than to drive up to Lake County (3 hour drive) to play a round of golf.  (Don't worry, I found a substitute to cover for you, Marc.  Oh, and Madison will forgive you for not coming to her Birthday party.  But she did say you better be there for her 2 year party.)Well, I would start this off with all the technical stuff like course par, yardage, slope, grass types, and such, but I am not a pro and neither is Rob (Marc's stand in.)  We are just 2 Average Joes wanting to spend a little time on the golf course and have fun doing so.  What was the course par, though? 70 if you are hitting from the back or middle tees (front tees were 72.)  Don't ask the ... 01/13/2007