The great BLOG TOUR USA has made it to Columbus Ohio!

Annika Academy opens at Reunion Resort

Annika Sorestam  just opened in 2007, the 5,400-square-foot Annika’s Academy of Golf & Fitness at Ginn Reunion Resort.

Annika’s Academy will allow members and resort guests to participate in small classes – 7-9 students – and receive instruction from Henri Reis, Sorenstam’s longtime golf coach who will be lead instructor at the facility.

Popular community for vacation rentals, close to all that Orlando Florida has to offer!

Located in Osceola County, Kissimmee Florida is a 1,506-square mile area south of the Greater Metropolitan Orlando area.  Some facts about Kissimmee:

• The City of Kissimmee is 18 miles south of Orlando.
• 100,000+ acres of water and several recreational areas that are available to the public.
• The Kissimmee Chain of Lakes attracts people from all over the world with fishing and boating being very popular.
• There are two large lakes suitable for boating and several smaller lakes for fishing.
• Lake Tohopekaliga, the second largest lake in the Chain of Lakes, covering 22,700 acres in Osceola County, is the site of many fishing tournaments.
• Being the closest city to Walt Disney World Kissimmee attracts many vacation-goers seeking short term vacation rental homes and condominiums.

2007 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp

Orlando Florida residents will have an several opportunities to watch the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the practice field, get autographs and enjoy watching the process!

Catch the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ head coach Jon Gruden and your favorite Bucs player in action as the team takes the practice fields for a two-a-day workout during NFL Training Camp at Walt Disney World’s Wide World of Sports complex here in Orlando Florida.

You think you can do this job? Great!

Congratulations on wanting to join a really great group of people! There is not a more dedicated group of professionals!   Here are a few things they don’t tell you at the Pre-licensing course or you might choose not to hear from the brokers that you interview with:

• This is not a 9-5 Monday through Friday job with tons of holidays off, in fact you will find yourself working more than a traditional job (Don’t get me wrong, I am able to take time off, but only because I have systems in place…)
• Your broker doesn’t pay for your advertising, your dues, your training, your phone bill, your health insurance or retirement – if you haven’t figured it out — you are the company, you will be paying all these expenses.
• You will be called upon to assist your buyers/sellers at the most inconvenient of times, they believe you are the cleaning company, gardener, inspection company and the like — it is really a good idea to have a network of these type of people to refer when asked It takes time and effort to learn the market, and just has you think you have it all understood, the market shifts
• What worked today, might work tomorrow, but think twice You may be the boss, but you still have to follow a strict set of rules in this business Any marketing campaign you start, give it a year before you see results or think it is not working. Marketing is a long term investment, not a quick payoff!
• You will forever be learning and in training, some good, some bad What works for Mary Sue, will not always work for you You get what you put into it. Put quality in, get quality results…
• Expenses outside of your Board dues and obtaining your license that you will need to keep an open mind to: Realtor.com Enhanced Listings & Featured Listings Visual tours (do you buy them one at a time or invest in a particular product and which one?)
• Photography of properties Website, email and blogs (oh my! where to start) Lead generators — beware IVR systems Contact Management software Publishing software (flyers, brochures and pdf files to clients)
• You will need to take advantage of technology and be on the cutting edge. 
• Business Cards Head shot – a really good one of you used consistently postcards, newsletters and farming local Chamber of Commerce Advertising in print media (This list could go on for days – what should you choose?) marketing goodies (calendars, mugs, pens etc) closing gifts
• You will need to put together systems to manage your work flow. It is not a big deal when you have 1 listing and 1 buyer, but try managing 20 listings and 8 buyers? Systems will save your sanity and prepare you to hire help as you need it.

Hope this helps you with the start of your Real Estate Career!  Need a Realtor?  Call the Orlando Avenue Top Team at (407) 467-5155.  Our team would be happy to assist you buy or sell your Orlando Florida home.

What is going on in Real Estate?

• What Your Kitchen Cabinets Say About You  –  Read more >
• Late Payments Rise on Mortgages, Fall on Credit Cards  –  Read more >
• Michael Jackson Searching for Vacation Home  –  Read more >
• 3 Reasons to Be Happy About Housing Market  –  Read more >
• Americans Optimistic About Real Estate  –  Read more >

Casual Dining | 5355 E. Colonial Drive | Orlando Florida 32807

While you enjoy this time with your family, remember those that are overseas fighting to defend our freedoms!

• Soldiers overseas sometimes have down time and look for ways to fill that time.  Many military libraries are extreamly limited — Find out how you can help with Books for Soldiers
• Help our Troops Call Home with a prepaid calling card
• Let your kids take part – Kids Celebrate the Military or send a hand made card through Cards for Soldiers or Cards to Soldiers
• Take books, magaizines, playing cards, board games, puzzles to a local Veteran’s Hospital or better yet why not Volunteer at the Orlando Veteran’s Hospital or check out some of the other Volunteer Opportunities

Guest Author | David Podgursky

When buying a home, it is very important to be Pre-Approved for your mortgage in advance.  The reasons for this vary from calculating affordability to presenting a stronger contract.  The issue is that the definition of this Pre-Approval varies depending on the context in which it is used.  This guide should help you understand what Sellers are asking for when they advertised "Pre-Approved Buyers Only". 

Pre-Approval is a step PAST what you see above.  It is actually only available after your complete loan file is submitted to a lender.  At this point the lender will underwrite the loan file and come back with a Conditional Approval – a.k.a. a Pre-Approval.  This is only a Conditional Approval because there will be conditions that the lender places on the loan that must be met prior to closing.  After these conditions are reviewed and signed off on by the Underwriter, the loan should have Final Approval or Commitment and be Cleared to Close. 

When trying to satisfy this Seller requirement, a buyer should realize that the difference in a Letter of Pre-Qualification and a Letter of Pre-Approval is much more than just semantics.  It can take between a few days and a couple of weeks to get a pre-approval.  It all depends on the particulars of the loan file and the lender itself.  This is why it is important to get started on the loan application before shopping for the property

A Letter of Pre-Approval is the document that is proof that the lender has already approved the buyer for a loan and is just waiting on a property to put with the loan.  This is the "Golden Ticket" that you will need to have in hand to successfully move along the path to home ownership.

For More information on Loan Pre-approval, follow this link to Florida Mortgage Loans | Pre-Approval vs Pre-Qualification – a lesson in industry semantics

There has been much talk about the Florida Tax Cut, but how will this affect you the Orlando Florida homeowner?

There has been much talk about the Florida Tax Cut, but how will this affect you the Orlando Florida homeowner?  

The Orlando Avenue Top Team is here to help you with all your Real Estate needs in the Greater Orlando Florida area at (407) 467-5155.