1-bedroom Condominiums starting from $160,000

• 9-foot ceilings throughout
• Direct access and detached grarages available
• Bright sunrooms, screened patios or balconies, depending on unit
• Ceramic tile in bath and kitchen
• Black on black appliances
• Garden tubs
• High-speed Internet connectivity
• Large closets
• In-unit, full-size washer and dryers

• Clubhouse
• 24-hour business & media centers
• Lighted tennis court
• Sand volleyball court
• Children’s playground
• Indoor basketball court
• Resort style swimming pool
• Full-circuit, 24-hour fitness center
• Golf putting green

• Interstate 4
• Orlando International Airport
• Sea World
• Walt Disney World
• Orange County Convention Center
• Downtown Disney & Pleasure Island
• Downtown Orlando
• Universal Studios
• 45 minutes to coastal beaches

Carriage Pointe by Morrison Homes in Winter Garden priced in the $400,000 range.

Directions to Carriage Pointe head south on SR 545 ( Avalon Road) traveling south the entrance to Carriage Pointe will be a 1/4 mile on the right.

• The Sheridan 2045 sq. ft. with 3 bedrooms 2 bathrooms from $402,990
• The Westin with 2401 sq. ft 4 bedrooms 3 bathrooms from $425,990
• The Callaway with 2526 sq. ft. 4 bedrooms 2 bathrooms from $433,990
• The Pinehurst with 2884 sq. ft a 3 bedroom 3 bath 2 story from $440,990.
• The Stanford with 2681 sq. ft a 4 bedroom 3 bath from $445,990.
• The Ravenswood with 2812 sq. ft. a 4 bedroom 3 bath from $458,990

A quick list of things you should do before you list your home….

This Market is very competitive in Orlando Florida and it is important that if you are thinking of selling your property at this time you will need to prepare your house to give you an advantage over others in the area.  First work with your Orlando Florida  expert to come up with a competitive listing price. 

The next, and probably most important thing, that you will need to do  is prepare your home for sale.  Here is our quick list of 10 things you can do to aide in the sale of your Orlando Florida Home:

*  Clear all Clutter – this sounds like a simple thing to do, but it can be difficult.  This means all surfaces should be clear and everything neat and tidy.  Kitchen counters, the fridge, the entry are areas that you need to keep clear of the clutter.  You want to remove any barriers from the buyer’s eyes.  Remember purchasing a home is an emotional process.

1. Do a good Spring Cleaning – that includes ceiling fans, baseboards and any silk plants you may have in the house.  But don’t just stop there, the inside of the fridge and stove, your laundry room and garage.   Blinds in every room should be dust free.  Rent a storage unit or pack things into your attic. Buyers purchasing an Orlando Florida home  need to see the potential of the space and it is packed full of stuff they cannot see the potential of the space for their own use if all they see is your stuff.
   
2. If it has eyes — pack it away.  Photographs, statues and the like are very personal and are what make your house a home.  The same goes for any religious items.  You want people to focus on the house not your wedding photos.  The less it is about your the more likely they will make it about them and visualize it in terms of a possible home for them.
   
3. First impressions matter.  Go stand outside at the street and look at your house.  Does it look inviting?  Clean up the yard, plant flowers, how does your mailbox look?   Stressed for time?  Hire a gardener to take care of the property during the sales process.
   
4. Same for the entry of the house.  Is there a pile of shoes at the door?  A stand full of unopened mail?  Or is it clean and well lit.  Do you have a warm feeling as you walk in, or are you immediately hit with a lot of colors and stuff?  Again, this is not a reflection on you and how you live, it is about being the most appealing house for sale and selling faster and for the best amount.
   
5. Change all your lightbulbs!  Make sure that each room has a lot of light coming in naturally or by lamps. 
   
6. Neutral paint throughout is a good idea, it aides in the potential buyer seeing the potential of your house.  So if you have a lot of wild colors, it might be a good investment to make sure that you appeal to the greatest number of buyers and be neutral.
   
7. Purchase a new set of guest towels in each of the bathrooms, a new door mat for the front door and fresh flowers on your dining room table.
8. Less is More.  If a room is full of furniture, try removing a few peices to make the room feel larger.  Same goes for the artwork on the walls.  You want to create the illusion of space.
   
9. Make sure that at all times you house is ready to be shown.  This means beds made, dishes always away (or in dishwasher), and the house always neat and tidy.

We will do our part by marketing your Orlando Florida home and together we will get your home sold!  If you need more information about buying or selling a home in the Orlando Florida area, please call your Orlando Avenue Top Team today!  We are here to help you achieve your Real Estate Goals!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Did you get to see the parade in Winter Park? A customer-turned-friend who recently purchased a condo from me stopped by the office with some green bagels! They looked a little odd but they sure tasted good!

Here is some very good news and this is from an article in the Orlando-Sentinel: Florida is leading the nation in new jobs. New jobs are being added in Florida twice as fast as the national average and, at 3%, the unemployment rate in Florida is the lowest among the country’s ten most populated states. More good news is this: the Orlando-Kissimmee area is second in the state for fastest rate of job growth. Only the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale area in the southern part of Florida is ahead.

So this part of Central Florida is certainly a good place in which to live!

Now here’s a tip! Did you know…there’s a way to get directory information, business or residential, without being charged! I recently found this out and I’ll pass the information along to you! This is the number to call: 1-800-free411. This number connects you to a recorded voice which asks you what city and state, please. When I tried out the free number the recorded voice connected me to a live operator who then gave me the number I was looking for. It was simple and direct. It was free!

The free operator can also be accessed virtually. If you are at your computer the website is free411 dot com. Just follow the prompts. You can get all the free telephone numbers you want! More later, Teri

Daylight Savings Time begins March 11

Thanks to the Engery Policy Act of 2005 the dates that Daylight Savings Time that goes into effect has changed.  Daylight Savings Time will now starts the 2nd Sunday in March and runs until the 1st Sunday in November.

Just be aware that your electronic equipment might not adjust the time properly this year.  If you are having a problem with your computer, you might want to check out the patch on the Microsoft site.  You may have issues with your cell phone, blackberry, pagers and GPS systems as well.  Make sure you check with the manufacturer’s website for information to correct this issue.

For us in the Orlando Area Real Estate Market this is a great time!  Call us today for more information regarding buying or selling in the Orlando Area.

Southwest Florida’s Last Paradise

Marco Island is four hours southwest of Orlando Florida is an Island Paradise that you might want to explore.   Marco Island is a 4 x 6 mile Island just south of Naples Florida.  Modern Marco Island started in 1965 with the development by the Deltona Corporation.  Man-made canals were built to create this wonderful waterfront community with direct access to the Marco River and the Gulf of Mexico.  Marco Island may be a bustling city today, but just a little bit away from Marco Island is the isolated beauty of the Everglades.

The Island has something for everyone:

• Along with hundreds of Golf Courses in the area, there are two golf courses on Marco Island Island Island Country and Hideaway Beach Country Club
• This is a boater’s paradise with hundreds of miles of canals that lead to the Marco River and the Gulf of Mexico
• Island is the largest of the 10,000 Islands and a gateway to the Everglades.  There are several marinas and a public boat ramp.
• Miles of sugar sand beaches to walk along and explore, it is one of the best places in Florida to find Sand Dollars.  There are two public access points to Marco Island Beaches – Tigertail Beach & South Beach.
• The sun performs a magical dance each evening on Marco Island as it sets on the Gulf of Mexico, you might even see the Green Flash
• Cross the bridge to Marco Island and it takes your breath away — and not only the first time you cross the bridge.  So many have fallen in love with Marco Island as they cross the bridge
• Indian Hill is the highest point in Southwest Florida and is situated in the Estates Area of Marco Island
• Dining options are abundant with a mixture of choices casual to the most formal on Marco Island
• Situated minutes from Naples Florida and less than an hour from Fort Myers, Marco Island is close to everything that you could possibly want.

So if you are looking for a weekend getaway we have our own expert here in Orlando, who can help you find just the right property on this Island paradise for you!

         

Is This The Time to Purchase Real Estate?

Realtors can’t easily answer these questions for you.  What we can do is give you the information you need to make the most informed decision.  We can help you move away from the Analysis Paralysis to home ownership.

The media does not assist in this confusion.  The Media’s goal is to get the consumer to purchase their papers and watch their shows.  They do this by reporting the negative.  The consumer is bombarded with information by the press and with the internet information is readily available.  Articles that report on national trends, may not apply to the area you desire. 

Remember that Real Estate is LOCAL and your Orlando Area Realtor is an expert on the areas that you desire.  If you don’t speak with a local expert you might just miss out on a wonderful opportunity.  If you are interested in purchasing a property, remember to work with an Orlando Area expert in your search for your Real Estate.

Real Estate decisions are very personal decisions, and to answer these questions generically is impossible.  What is happening in Real Estate is change, and change is the one thing that we can depend on.  Donald Trump best said it with regards to those that are successful in Real Estate "What separates winners from the losers is how a person reacts to each new twist of fate."   Real Estate is a long term investment and that you should take many things into consideration when purchasing Real Estate not limited to:

• What is your reason for purchasing? 
  • Is it to live in the property long term? 
  • Are you looking for a quick return?
  • Is this a primary purchase or an investment property?
• Why are you purchasing the particular property?
  • Do you love the property?  One of the best reasons to purchase is because you will live in it and enjoy it.
  • Is this an investment purchase?  Will you be able to carry the property if you do not have renters?
• Are you waiting for the perfect time to purchase?
  • Remember that if you are waiting for lower prices, you run the risk of higher interest rates
  • Only very few people have the good luck to purchase at the absolute bottom of a market, and once you see trending back upwards, you have missed the bottom of the market
  • Remember that the "setback" of purchasing at a slightly higher price over the long term is rather minimal

Right now is an excellent time to purchase, there is a large selection of well priced properties on the market.  Interest rates are historically low.  There are a lot of wonderful opportunities out there!  Contact your Orlando Avenue Top Team today for more information on how you can take advantage of the changes in the Real Estate market in the Orlando area.

Nevis in the West Indies is an island just a few minutes from St. Kitts via ferry. You can purchase a luxury condo or estate villa in the gated community of Hamilton Estates.

Invest in a Caribbean Paradise Hamilton Estate, Nevis.  Imagine the exclusive seclusion of an ocean view condominium or an island estate villa on the island of Nevis.

Hamilton Estate offers a luxury resort atmosphere with a spa, clubhouse, restaurant and reception. Enjoy beautiful views and cooling breezes 500 feet above the sea.

Hamilton Estate has four 2-bedroom, 2-bath floorplans to choose from starting at $450,000 and two villa plans starting at $1,320,000. Rental management is available. Hamilton Estate is located both a few minutes by car from Charleston, the capital of Nevis and from the popular Pinney’s Beach. think

New Routes from Orlando International Airport Announced by AirTran and JetBlue

How to manage your credit score.

You know, how you manage your money is very important. If you’re a home buyer, having a good credit score can get you a lower interest rate and save you thousands of dollars in mortgage payments each year.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act allows us to get a free credit report every 12 months from the three reporting companies – Equifax, TransUnion and Experian. These are reports which are used in underwriting mortgage loans. It’s a good idea to get these reports because this way you can monitor your credit scores and check them for accuracy.

Your credit rating is based on your FICO score. That score, in turn, is based on the following: 1/3 on your payment history, 1/3 on the amount of money you owe, and 1/3 on factors such as your amount of new credit and the type of credit in use.

Usually scores fall in the 600s-700s range. The higher your score, the more mortgage options are open to you, and, usually the lower your interest rate. My advice to home buyers is: make sure you order your free credit reports every year, keep current on all your bills, keep your balances low on revolving credit card accounts and connect with your agents’ preferred mortgage lender. That person can help prepare the best loan package for you. Remember, a good report makes borrowing easier! Stay on top of your money! More later, Teri