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Orlando, FL Real Estate News

By Lisa Spalding, REALTOR, CDPE
(Casa Latino Four Corners, REALTOR, CDPE)
My husband just forwarded me this pic of a cool idea for marketing/advertising.  I have seen a lot of REALTORs or mortgage people (and other service industries) do the car magnet advertising--but not like this.  While I DO have car magnets, I have not advertised on my car quite like this.  I also have a lot of business cards with magnetic backs that stick to magnetic things.  I've never tried both together quite like this.  Interesting concept.  What do you think?  Oh, forget the fact that REALTOR is a trademark and should either have the capital "R" circled OR the word should be all capitalized...Also, if you HAVE done this, what has been your return on your investment?  Or, if you don't keep track of those kind of things (and you SHOULD), what has been your experience in terms of gene...
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By Heather the Realtor Orlando, Lake Mary, First Time Home Buyers, Bank Owned Homes
(LemonTree Realty)
I know most first time home buyers have heard the rumors about tightening of the lending guidelines that no money down is gone, that if you go FHA you must have 3-5% down payment in addition to your closing costs. Well that is all true however there is a great program out there called Nehemiah. The good lenders, realtors and builders are using it every day to help first time home buyers purchase their first home and get around having to have excess funds for a down payment. So what is this Nehemiah you ask? Glad you asked. Nehemiah exists for one simple purpose: helping people become homeowners. The Nehemiah Program® provides gift funds for downpayment and closing costs to qualified buyers using any loan program that allows for downpayment assistance from a non-profit organization. Nehe...
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By Drew Peterson
(Keller Williams Advantage II Realty)
That's right, for the next few weeks we are going to be counting down the top ten myths about Realtors. It seems like every day that a comment made by a client, prospect, or friend reminds us how misunderstood our profession is as a whole. Some of these misperceptions are innocent and just make us smile. However, there are other misperceptions that can result in frustration and feelings of ill-will for both the Realtor and the client. It is our sincere hope that this blog series will both educate and prevent future misunderstandings. With that said, let's get to Realtor Myth #10.Myth: In Florida, the buyer pays a commission.Fact: Only in extremely rare circumstances does the buyer owe his Realtor a commission.The commission system in Florida is truly buyer friendly. Here's how it works....
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By Judy Chapman
(Referral Network of Illinois LLC)
“Want to live where the air is sweet, the water is pure and the streets are clean? Try the country. But what if you don't like the sticks? Then try Florida.” This is how the story opens in Forbes’s “America’s Cleanest Cities” article. The state of Florida took 4 of the top-10 metropolitan slots on the list. According to the magazine, clean water and air result from assertive steps taken by Florida’s cities as well as “the built-in advantage of weather patterns that blow out smog.” Miami took No. 1, followed by Jacksonville (No. 3), Orlando (No. 4), and Tampa/St. Petersburg (No. 8). On another bright note for Florida, air and water cleanliness apparently energizes economies, according to the survey. Nine of the 10 cleanest cities showed population increases between 2000 and 2006. Read th...
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By Judy Chapman
(Referral Network of Illinois LLC)
As the result of a 2006 case brought by homebuyers against the sellers of a home in Melbourne, Florida, the state of Florida and the Florida Association of Realtors® are wrestling with that very answer. The buyers are suing for a reversal of the sale on the grounds that the prior owners should have disclosed the presence of a sexual predator living next door. In Florida, Realtors® and sellers are not required to reveal facts about sexual offenders or predators, just as they are not required to reveal the circumstance of a murder or other heinous crime having taken place in a house, or even that the house is haunted. The only facts required are those pertaining to the physical condition of the house and land, or any zoning regulations that may affect the property or surrounding area. If ...
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By Heather the Realtor Orlando, Lake Mary, First Time Home Buyers, Bank Owned Homes
(LemonTree Realty)
Just recently Forbes published the top ten cleanest cities in America. Of the 10 cities 4 of them were located right here in the Sunshine state of Florida.Orlando ranked number 4 on the list, just behind Miami and Jacksonville.I guess Orlando isnt just about Disney or Tourism, we care about our enviroment and can boost some of the cleanest air in the country. Orlando scores big on ozone and air pollution levels. For information on buying or selling in Central Florida, Orange County and Seminole County, new construction or Relocation services contact your Lake Mary Real Estate Agent Heather Joubran @ 407-810-6304 or hjoubran@remax.net Seminole County consists of Lake Mary, Sanford, Heathrow, Longwood, Altamonte springs, Winter Springs, Oviedo. Orange County consists of Orlando, Downtown ...
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By David Welch, Real Estate Optimist - #OrlandoRealEstate
(Charles Rutenberg Realty)
I was pleasantly surprised to see that the median sales price has picked back up from what I have been seeing. So far, it looks like there were 41 closed sales on Friday. There may be more added today and tomorrow. That brought the total closed sales for the month up to 603 with a median price of $220,000. If you follow my blog, you may recall that number has been running about $216,900. Looking at the sales expected to close by month's end, I do not expect that to be much higher. The median list price of the pending sales is about $219,900. It does appear though, that homes in that price range are not negotiating on price so much. Many are actually getting the asking price. They are probably paying some buyer closing costs though.http://www.davidwelch.com/
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By Robert Schott & Paula Hemani, Your Link to Real Estate
(TeamConnect Realty)
View Larger MapDr Phillips is known for its prime location and one of the reasons is the beautiful lakes and ponds that make up the communities.  Popular Dr Phillips lakes are Big and Little Sand Lake, Lake Sheen, Tibet and Serene, Spring Lake and Pocket Lake.  Most of these lakes are great for boating, fishing and summer swimming and lucky waterfront residents enjoy the calming effects water views give.Working with many buyers over the years there always is a high demand for waterfront homes, of course not all of them can or want to spend the money for this luxury but many do.  Appraisal Experts Inc in their 2008 CMA Adjustment Guidelines (which are general guidelines for resales and may vary depending on area) have pond views going for $30,000 to $80,000 depending on the homes price. ...
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By Drew Peterson
(Keller Williams Advantage II Realty)
In "No Market For Unrealistic Buyers I, II, and III", we introduced and began discussing the topic of crafting and presenting offers in a buyer's market. So far, we've covered completing the pre-offer research and crafting the actual offer. That means we're on to presenting and negotiating the offer. In this phase, more than in any other, skill and experience can make all the difference in the world.Once you have completed your written offer, it needs to be presented to the seller's agent. Since this is typically done by your Realtor, we're going to focus on the items you can include with the offer to strengthen your case. First, you should absolutely include the comps you used to craft your offer. Making an offer and presenting evidence to support your reasoning is an incredibly powerf...
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By Tony Marino, Realtor, Broker, Owner
(Real Living Real Estate Solutions)
I still love Orlando... I can't imagine having to endure the challenging weather of the North and Midwest, as I did it for 36 years of my life...  With 260 days of sunshine combined with sharing our home with the #1 Mouse on the planet, Orlando is tops on my list.  Most original Orlando residents would think I was crazy to go to Downtown Disney at the height of spring break and the Friday before Easter but I went anyway... I drove around and around looking for a parking spot, eventually having to stalk vacationers as they made a move toward their rental car.   In my Real Living Golf Shirt and Carol in a light sweater, we caught the end of sunset (almost 8pm) as we became one of the cattle to herd our way through the Disney Stores and Shoppes.   Watching people, and soaking up the energy...
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By Robert Schott & Paula Hemani, Your Link to Real Estate
(TeamConnect Realty)
 TeamConnect Just Listed 9518 Castleford PT!Dr Phillips is known for its gated communities huge custom homes and lake front estates but there's also some other truly unique neighborhoods that helped make Dr Phillips what it is today.  Brentwood Club is one of those communities.  Built in the 1990's this subdivision off of Apopka Vineland south of Sand Lake Road is comprised of 110 homes on winding tree-lined roads, a picture Norman Rockwell would paint.  If you are looking for home sites on a half to an acre then take a look at Brentwood Club featuring many beautiful conservation views, Tile Roofs, excellent Schools and neighborhood Tennis Courts.  All this and only minutes to Famed Dr Phillips Restaurant Row and the new Dr P Phillips Park, Shopping, Disney and Universal Studios.       ...
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By Jerry LaRose, Orlando, Windermere FL. Real Estate, ABR, GRI, e-PRO, CLHMS
(Orlando Realty Partners)
I've read recently that Google Spreadsheets as part of the Google Docs suite added several new features; better revisions comparison through color highlights, change notifications, and a Google spreadsheet gadgets directory.I thought what google has a spreadsheet and word processor free. So I check it out and yes they do and pretty cool. It's worth a look. Here it is.http://www.google.com/google-d-s/intl/en/tour1.html About the author: Jerry LaRose is an Orlando Area Residential Real Estate Expert, who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden Florida or any place in the country. Jerry has created a team of professionals throughout Orlando and the country to ensure that you enjoy a smooth transition to your new area. Please visit ...
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By Jerry LaRose, Orlando, Windermere FL. Real Estate, ABR, GRI, e-PRO, CLHMS
(Orlando Realty Partners)
Found this new search engine. Is it the new search engine. I don't know, but I will say it's pretty cool. However, I am disappoint that it doesn't have my photo of my website when I do the search. I don't know why. Is it my website or is it managedQ? It's at least worth a look. enjoy! BY the way I think the name is terrible.http://beta1.managedq.com/ManagedQ: The Next Step In Search The field of Search is years behind where it should be, as it hasn't fundamentally changed in more than a decade. Results may have improved a bit, but people Search in literally the same way they did in 1995. Jerry LaRose is an Orlando Area Residential Real Estate Expert, who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden Florida or any place in the country....
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By Jerry LaRose, Orlando, Windermere FL. Real Estate, ABR, GRI, e-PRO, CLHMS
(Orlando Realty Partners)
If I pay mortgage insurance and default on my loan, why wouldn't that cover the deficiency amount?The mortgage insurance is not there for your protection, just the lender's. If you are paying PMI (private mortgage insurance) it is there to protect the lender in case you default on your loan. You can usually get the PMI removed after you have enough equity in the home. The lenders will not remove this for you. It is your responsibility to get this removed. Afterall, why do you want to be paying PMI if you don't have to. It doesn't protect you, it protects the lender.For more information on PMI, contact me. If you are a first time buyer, please contact me and we'll set up a buyers consultation to discuss buying a home. About the author: Jerry LaRose is an Orlando Area Residential Real Est...
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By Jerry LaRose, Orlando, Windermere FL. Real Estate, ABR, GRI, e-PRO, CLHMS
(Orlando Realty Partners)
I owe more than my home is worth. Am I eligible for short sale or is my only option foreclosure or bankruptcy?Always consult your lender as to what your options are. The options usually are: a short sale, deed-in-lieu of foreclosure (basically an accelerated voluntary surrender), and foreclosure. The banks like to prevent foreclosure when at all possible. They've even been known to lower people's rates and/or payments because of all the new defaults in the past few years. Either way, your first stop should be to get information from you lender on what options they provide.Contact me for an assessment of your costs. We can go through the fees involved in selling your home. About the author: Jerry LaRose is an Orlando Area Residential Real Estate Expert, who can assist you with the purcha...
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By David Welch, Real Estate Optimist - #OrlandoRealEstate
(Charles Rutenberg Realty)
Happy Spring! It does appear as if the spring buying season is off and running in Orlando. The run up in pending sales has slowed a bit, but that's a good thing. It looks like closings may be starting to catch up. I am not positive, but it appears quite a few contracts have closed in just the last few days. So far between yesterday and today there have been 50 closings, and most of today's won't get entered into the MLS before Monday. This month there have been 1,064 new contract written compared with 1,537 for all of February. From what I can tell during the first three weeks of February about 971 contracts were written. If this pace holds, we could see close to 1,700 new contracts. It should lead to just over 1,000 closings for March. The downside to this is that the median price of t...
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By Alexander Harb, Dallas, Texas Real Estate Investing
(Knights Investing)
 Here is another community I am doing a market report on:This community is called Sky Lake, and it is just north of the Florida Mall in southern Orange County.Florida Mall has long been a tourist mecca, drawing thousands of visitors every year and they compete directly with The new Festival Bay Mall and the Prime Outlets Mall at the end of International Drive in the tourist corridor.This area has LONG been misunderstood as a low wage, high crime area, BUT it is NOT that way at all.Sky Lake has not just the distinction of being a stones throw away from the Florida Mall, BUT it is right near the Florida Turnpike and Route 528... you can get ANYWHERE FAST from this area of central Florida.There are 104 homes for sale in Sky LakeThe LOW asking price for these homes is $120,000 which is a ST...
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By Alexander Harb, Dallas, Texas Real Estate Investing
(Knights Investing)
 Here are two NEW communities I will be doing market reports on:The Ginger Mill and Pepper Mill subdivisions. These two subdivisions are right next to each other bordering on South Orange Blossom Trail in Southern Orange County, Florida... they are not far from Hunters Creek. They are both west of Southchase, and together these four communities (Southchase, Pepper Mill, Ginger Mill and Hunters Creek) make for GREAT living in southern Orange County.There are 31 homes for sale in Ginger Mill and Pepper Mill.The low asking price is $188,900 and the high asking price is $344,000.These are nicely built homes and most of them are block construction with stucco exteriors.Ginger Mill and Pepper Mill are very established subdivisions, that is the reason for the lack of homes for sale. People who...
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By Drew Peterson
(Keller Williams Advantage II Realty)
In "No Market For Unrealistic Buyers I & II" we introduced and began discussing the topic of crafting and presenting offers in a buyer's market. So far, we've covered the first, and most important phase, the pre-offer research (if you missed it, click here to get caught up). That means it's time to make our way to the second phase, actually crafting the offer.Before we get into the meat and potatoes of writing up an offer, we should note that this blog is written assuming you are working with a Realtor. If you are going it alone, please seek the counsel of an attorney prior to submitting your offer. There are some landmines in the standard contracts you'll want to avoid, and seeking the advice of a competent real estate lawyer is a great way to steer clear of them.With that disclaimer o...
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By David Welch, Real Estate Optimist - #OrlandoRealEstate
(Charles Rutenberg Realty)
According to Metrostudy the inventory of new single family homes under construction and completed inventory totaled 8,732 units which is down considerably from a year ago. That number represents a 6.5 month supply based upon current sales. The 4th quarter is usually the slowest of the year, so hopefully things will pick up. If builders can get that inventory down to half that number by summer, we should see a real pick up in resales. Much of the feedback I am getting from agents showing my listings is the buyers are going for new homes because of the incentives. I have customers under contract with a builder that came off his price 10% to get the deal done. My customers are purchasing a brand new home for less than some of the re-sales on the market right now.www.davidwelch.com
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