Irene skirted us but we not be so lucky the next time. Katia has already formed and heading this way.  I put together a checklist, which will help everyone who might be affected by another storm.

Home Preparation Checklist for Hurricanes

1. Get to the Bank early and take out extra CASH (credit card machines may not be working).

2. Extra gallon jugs of water, bottled water (put bottled water in freezer to thaw later if power outage.

3. Batteries for flashlights, radio, etc. – extra candles, matches, etc.

4. Stock up on canned and dry foods (PET foods if appropriate)

5. Get extra bags of Ice for your freezer, which can go into a cooler if necessary to evacuate.

6. Get a Power inverter for your car (plugs into cigarette lighter with elec. outlet at

7. Put plenty of gas for your grill which hopefully has a “side stove” to boil water.

8. Fill your bathtubs with water for flushing toilets or washing.

9. Wash all clothes beforehand.

10. Have a manual can opener for opening canned food. 

11. Have on hand water-purifying supplies such as chlorine or regular household bleach. 

12. Remove or secure everything in your yard, Deck and Screened Porch – flower pots, furniture, hose reels etc. (These things become missiles and can break through windows.

13. Keep all windows closed (Hurricane speed air entering a home can lift the roof).

14. If you have a cell phone or laptop computer, charge it fully.

15. Keep an “old fashioned” phone (not electronic) which can plug directly into the wall jack. They usually work well with power is out or cell towers fail.

16. If you have important info or photos on your computer that you want to keep, transfer files to a flash drive and keep the flash drive with you.

17. Prepare “evacuation bags” for all members of the family (including pets) which contain important papers, extra clothes, toiletries, pillows, blankets, first aid kit, medications, food, passports, etc., in case you need to evacuate.

18. Find a safe place in your house where there are no windows, and stay there during high winds.

19. Have an evacuation route planned out where you can go. Make hotel reservations early (they can always be cancelled).

20. If you have to evacuate, drive AWAY from the line of the hurricane (west, south, end) where you can charge your cell, radio, laptop, etc. or “Make coffee!”

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home shopping website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 17 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

If you’re a bit of a shopaholic or have just found your possessions piling up over time, then you’ve probably found yourself in a bit of a cramped bedroom closet situation. For those of us who aren’t fortunate enough to enjoy walk-in closets about the same size as a bedroom, we’ve had to cleverly attempt at organizing and fitting our clothes, shoes and accessories into our normal sized closets like a puzzle. Dressers and drawers are pretty straightforward when it comes to accommodating our belongings, but when it comes to closets, there is definitely room for flexibility. Whether you’re looking to make the most out of the space in your closet in your Orlando home, or making it look most presentable – here are some helpful tips regarding both those goals and more…

• PURGE. This can be extremely tough for most of us, but seriously consider getting rid of items that you haven’t used in a year. It is often that items at the back and sides of our closets have become completely forgotten. Just take a bit of time to sweep through your entire closet and really consider what is worth keeping or throwing out. And if throwing out belongings is a bit too extreme for you, opt for moving the item to a drawer or to a storage area for safekeeping.
• CATEGORIZE. An excellent way of keeping your closet mess free is to place like with like. This means, dresses with dresses, pants with pants, and shirts with shirts. This makes it so items are easy to find and easy to put back, so that you don’t end up making a tornado out of your closet when trying to find things. Plus, this saves you time.
• ADD MORE. By this I don’t mean more clothes, but more organizational units. Assess your closet to see if another rod can fit into your closet, or if the floor or back areas of your closet are vacant. We tend to forget about those areas, which can be perfect for smaller storage cubes and shelves. Sometimes making a trip to the home/furniture store can give us amazing storage ideas, and can offer closet organizer units you never even knew existed.
• UNIFORM. This is not a must, but if you want to make your closet look presentable, having it look uniform is key. Your storage and organizational units should be the same, meaning cubes/shelves should be relatively similar, as well as hangers. Refer to home catalogues or furniture store displays for examples.
• BE CRAFTY. Make the most out of your hangers by hanging smaller, similar items. Hang tops or even pants over the bar of the same hanger.

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It’s pretty rare to come across a homeowner who doesn’t want his or her Orlando home to come across as expensive or even possibly luxurious to some extent. Your home is most likely your largest investment, your pride and joy, and so why wouldn’t you want it to look its finest. It can be seen as a reflection of who you are, and especially when used to entertain guests it can be utilized to potentially “show off” just how hard you’ve been working. The tricky part in this whole expensive appearance scheme is the financial aspect. The cost of your Orlando home itself may have burned through your home budget alone, and so the money left over for its interior decorations may be limited. For those of us who aren’t fortunate enough to spend infinite amounts of money on interior designers and on the most lavish foreign furniture and paintings, we have to make some clever choices. Just like with clothing, an impeccably dressed person does not necessarily have to buy their garments from the top fashion designers to look good. And the same can be said for homes! The price tags of a couch or dining room table are not the only indicators of class and luxury. How you arrange your home, and how you choose specific things to compliment its layout can make a world of difference with just how pricey your abode appears. And even if your bank account does allow you to afford the more luxurious décor items, you too can make use of these tips to making your Orlando home appear more expensive:

• MAINTENANCE. It seems so logical, but often homes can go without a good cleaning for a lengthy period of time.  Keeping your home clean and tidy is most definitely the simplest way to looking more expensive. Clutter and mess absolutely degrades its worth.
• WALLS. The quality of your walls says a lot about the quality of your entire home. A fresh coat of paint is always refreshing to see, and be sure to cover chipped areas and to remove marks.
• FRAMES. Posters and pictures taped up on walls just looks sloppy. Buying frames for your posters and pictures that are worth displaying looks absolutely polished and presentable. Nice looking frames need not be expensive either. This also goes for people who have not displayed anything on their walls. Hanging framed posters and pictures and pieces of art always looks very appealing.
• TEXTURE & PATTERNS. From your pillows to your rug, opt for regal looking patterns, most likely in deep tones. Window drapes in one room, like your family or living room, just screams luxury, and if it’s not too daring for you, a faux fur rug can do wonders. Neither has to be pricey, but just be careful not to go crazy on the patterns. Stick to a few specific things to decide to pattern up.
• LITTLE THINGS. Focusing on small, cheaper house items can really spruce up your home. Opt for more expensive looking garbage bins, coasters and the like. For instance, choose a more visually pleasing material like glass or wood over plastic.

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Orlando FL real estate market trends for June 2011.

Orange County FL Real Estate Sales Statistics – June 2011  

Orange County FL saw 399 fewer homes sold in June 2011 than June 2010. A 19 percent decrease. The average sales price increased by 6 percent and the median sales price decreased by 2% from June 2010. 

Osceola County FL Real Estate Sales Statistics – June 2011

Osceola County FL homes saw home sales decrease by 80 homes, a 12 percent drop. Prices increased with the average sales price up 4 percent. The median price decreased 7 percent.

Seminole County FL Real Estate Sales Statistics – June 2011

Seminole County FL residential sales decreased by 24 percent with 165 fewer homes sold in June 2011. The averages sales decreased 4 percent and the median sales price dropped 3 percent from June 2010 levels. 

Lake County FL  Real Estate Sales Statistics – June 2011  

Residential sales in Lake County FL increased with 52 additional homes sold for a 3 percent iccrease. The average sales price decreased by 6 percent and the median sales price decreased by 11 percent during the same time period.

Polk County FL Real Estate Sales Statistics – June 2011  

Polk County FL followed the trend of the surrounding counties with 184 fewer homes selling, a 22 percent decrease.  The average sales price decreased by 6 percent and the median sales price decreased by 9 percent. 

Now is the time to get your best price on an Orlando home, before the prices move upward.

Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home shopping website.

It doesn’t matter if you are considering a permanent move to Orlando or if you wish to become a snow bird, there are many reason to buy Orlando real estate in today’s market.

Top Reasons to Buy Orlando Real Estate

1. Weather
As you know, our weather can’t be beat! Young and old alike relish in our warm weather year round. What is not to like? No more heavy coats, hats and mittens.

2. Competitive Prices
Florida has been among those states hit hardest buy the foreclosure crisis and prices are the most competitive they have been in years. Experienced investors will tell you to ‘ buy low and sell high’, making this a great time to jump into Orlando real estate. Orlando ranks among the 10 Best Performing Major Housing Markets.

3. Prices below replacement cost
Many homes are selling below replacement costs. For example, a home with a replacement value of $150,000 may sell for only $60,000.

4. Healthy job market
Orlando’s city government is working hard to bring additional companies and jobs to the area.

5. Recreation
The top amusement parks in the world, Disney World, Epcot, Sea World and Universal, are all located in Orlando, making this a great place to live and vacation. Other outdoor activities abound…fishing, boating, horseback riding, golf, hot air ballooning, and water sports galore, making Orlando the perfect location for rental property. Seasonal rentals are in demand either on a weekly or monthly basis. Orlando is among the 10 Best Cities To Buy Rental Property.

After you decide to buy Orlando real estate, you will need a top-notch Realtor! The Orlando Avenue Top Team can’t be beat!

You can expect professionalism with Teri. She is a member of the Graduate Realtor Institute, a Certified Residential Council Specialist, one of only a few hundred Certified International Property Specialist in the country, a member of the elite Cyber Professionals Group, holds the e-pro designation, is Internet Certified, a member of the Real Estate Cyberspace Society and an Allen Hainge Cyberstar.

You deserve professional real estate service! You will obtain the best results with Teri. You can relax as important decisions are made easily with the timely and accurate information she provides.  Teri and the Orlando Avenue Top Team will handle the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Despite the ups and downs of the housing market, home owners and non-owners alike consider owning a home essential to the American Dream according to a survey conducted on behalf of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) by Public Opinion Strategies of Alexandria, VA, and Lake Research Partners of Washington, D.C.

The survey results show that Americans see beyond the immediate housing market to the enduring value of homeownership. An overwhelming 75 percent of the people who were polled said that owning a home is worth the risk of the fluctuations in the market, and 95 percent of the home owners said they are happy with their decision to own a home.

One of the more striking aspects of the survey results is the intensity of sentiment among potential voters, according to Celinda Lake, president of Lake Research Partners. “People believe overwhelmingly that owning a home is an anchor to the American Dream,” she says. “It’s an anchor to your retirement, and it’s an anchor to your personal economic well-being.”

Among the other survey results:

• 73 percent said owning a home is one of their goals
• Homeownership and a retirement savings program are considered by voters to be their best investments.
• 80 percent of home owners would advise a close friend or family member just starting out to buy a home.
• Saving for a down payment and closing costs is the biggest barrier to homeownership.
• Americans believe that owning their own home is as important as being successful at their job or being able to pay for a family member’s education.

Owning a home is not just a commodity to people. It is a core value.

Now take a look at how the Orlando real estate market performed in May.  

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Ten of the highest performing major market metros are expected to improve their performance over the first half of the year, with five of the top 10 even expected to see modest gains, reports Clear Capital in its latest monthly Home Data Index.

While housing prices in the first half of the year were mostly negative among the metro areas, Clear Capital says the market is showing signs of stabilizing.

Top Performers
The following are the highest performing major markets based on first half 2011 data (January through June) and second half forecast, according to Clear Capital.

1. Washington, D.C.-Arlington, Va.
2. New York-Long Island, N.Y.-No. New Jersey, N.J.
3. Orlando
4. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas
5. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif.
6. Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, Mass.
7. Honolulu
8. San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, Calif.
9. Rochester, N.Y.
10. Memphis, Tenn.

Yet, only five of these markets are expected to boast home price gains in the second half of 2011: Washington, D.C., New York, Orlando, Dallas, and San Francisco, according to Clear Capital.

While most individual markets are also projected to post losses for the year, it is clear prices have begun to level off and are not exhibiting as much volatility as we’ve seen since the downturn began,” says Alex Villacorta, director of research and analytics at Clear Capital.

Orlando is ranked as one of the 10 Best Cities To Buy Rental Property according to Local Market Monitor. Here’s what they have to say about our fair city…

Average home price (2011): $165,200

The real estate market in Orlando — home to Disney and a slew of other theme parks — has been anything but magical lately. Prices have plummeted 43% since 2006, according to Local Market Monitor.

Winzer projects little in the way home price gains Orlando over the next three years. Rents, on the other hand, are expected to climb by a healthy 17% clip, he said.

The area’s ties to tourism should help as the economic recovery gains traction, he said. Visitors keep coming to the theme parks here, despite the lukewarm national job picture. If employment ever heats up, the area will attract even more visitors and that means more jobs for local residents.

He expects that real estate investors will net about 3% above the national average.

Orlando Real Estate For Sale: 2607 Carter Grove Circle Windermere, FL 34786
MLS#05052013

Your home should rise up and greet you and this home is paradise found! Beauty warmth and value can be found in every exquisite detail. Conveniently located only minutes from town! Your family will enjoy strolling to all the Windermere benefits including private access to the Butler Chain of Lakes, three docks, parks, and playgrounds. Totally remodeled with new roof in 2011, new energy efficient windows, A/C handler and compressor means all you have to do is pack your bags and come on over. Three luxurious baths with sophisticated vanities and clear view frameless glass enclosures were also added in 2009. There is no telling what you’ll cook up in your dream kitchen with granite counters, walk-in pantry, stainless appliances, and high quality 42″ craft made solid wood cabinets some with decorative display glass doors. No need to buy any appliances these all stay. The Bruce hardwood floors create show house perfection. The master bedroom is situated for privacy & every bedroom in this split plan home has a walk-in closet. The beautiful grounds have a quiet country feeling meant to be enjoyed. The salt water pool, spa and BBQ are designed for entertaining family and friends in the spacious backyard. Do not worry about water bills as the irrigation system is on a well and the home also has a Kinetico water softening system. The landscape LED lighting creates a special romantic ambiance from front to back. Call for a personal tour today. This home is worth every dollar.

Learn more about 2607 Carter Grove Circle and other Orlando Real Estate by visiting OrlandoAvenue.com
 
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Homebuyers have been gradually chipping away at Orlandoreal estate’s once-towering inventory and have reduced it down to 11,480 homes available for purchase, reports the Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association. That’s an inventory level not seen since the end of the red-hot housing market in 2005.

Orlando real estate sales in April of 2011 are down by 9.68 percent compared to April of 2010, with 2,388 homes changing hands last month. To date, sales in 2011 are 1.82 percent above sales in 2010.

Orlando’s median price experienced its third month-over-month gain, with area homes selling for a median of $105,000. That median price is 8.70 percent lower than April 2010’s median price of $115,000.

The lower median price of foreclosures and short sales — which at 65.49 percent of all sales in April actually represents a 5 percent drop from last month — continues to drag down the overall median price.The median price for bank-owned sales in April is $80,000 and the median price for short sales is $91,000. The median price for “normal” existing homes sold in April is $160,000.

Teri Isner has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home shopping website.