Good news!  The recent results of a large-scale survey strongly indicates that consumer optimism and the desire to own real estate continue to rise.

Additionally, Fannie Mae’s National Housing Survey polls 1,001 Americans each month to assess their attitudes toward homeownership, renting, mortgage rates, foreclosures, the economy, household finances, and overall consumer confidence. The results of June’s survey show Americans are increasingly optimistic about the housing market despite concerns about the broader economy and their personal finances.

• According to the survey, Americans expect home prices to increase 2.0 percent over the next year.
• Among participants, 35 percent said prices would rise over the next 12 months, which is the largest percentage in the survey’s two-year history.
• Also, the number of respondents who said they would buy their next home if they were going to move rose 6.0 percent to 69 percent, which is the highest level ever recorded.
• The number of Americans who said it was a good time to buy a home increased to 73 percent.

Lets take a look at July sales figures in our local markets.

Orange County Real Estate Sales Statistics – July 2012  

Orange County saw 68 more homes sold in July 2012 than 2011, a 4 percent increase. The average sales price increased by 6 percent and the median sales price increased by 8% from July 2011.  Market times decreased by 19 days or 20 percent.  

 Osceola County Real Estate Sales Statistics – July 2012

Osceola County homes saw home sales decreased by 27 homes, a 5 percent decrease. Prices increased with the average sales price up 11 percent and the median price increased by 15 percent.  Market Times decreased by 31 days compared to July 2011.

 Seminole County Real Estate Sales Statistics – July 2012

Seminole County residential sales increased by 2 percent with 9 more homes sold in July 2012. The averages sales price increased by 4 percent, and the median sales price increased by 6 percent compared to July 2011 levels. Market times decreased by 27 days or 25 percent.

Lake County Real Estate Sales Statistics – July 2012  

Residential sales in Lake County increased with 48 more home sold a 12 percent increase. The average sales price decreased by 4 percent, while the median sales price increased by 1 percent during the same time period.  Market times increased by 29 days.

 Polk County Real Estate Sales Statistics – July 2012

Polk County saw 111 more home sold in July 2012 compared to 2011.  The average sales price increased by 9 percent,and the median sales price increased by 8 percent.  Market times decreased by 14 days the same as July 2011.

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

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.

Summer is coming to a close in Orlando and that means school time for many.  The Orange County Regional History Center is hosting an Adult Retro Game Night.  Get ready to have fun like the big kid that you are playing video games, Battleship, clue, Twister and even Candy Land.  There will even be some life size games such as pick-sticks and Giant Jenga.  Challenge your friends to a game of cornhole toss, NCAA Football 12 or rock out at Rockband.

Make sure you wear your school logos and show your school spirit for a reduced admission!  While you play tunes from 105.9 Sunny FM will be playing in the back ground and you can enjoy nostalgic treats and a cash bar.  Spend a fun evening out in Orlando with friends on September 21th playing games!

Free mobile app to search all homes right from your phone!

This information is brought to you buy Teri Isner and the Orlando Avenue Top Team. Teri Isner has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando real estate market.

Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando homes for sale, having become the Best Listing Agent in Orlando. You can reach Teri by filling out the online contact form or give her a call.  

All the excitement of Star Wars is coming to Orlando for the Star Wars Celebration VI!  This year Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill from the original Star Wars movies will be among the guest stars coming to Orlando.  All the fun will take place on August 23-26 at the Orange County Convention Center.  The celebration will include panel events where you can ask questions about the movies and shows from the actors and directors.  There will also be screenings of your favorite Star Wars movies and shows.

Other things that will be going on during the celebration will be LEGO building area, work on a helmet and many different photo Ops around the convention center.  This is a must see for the Star Wars fan in your family.  There will be lots of different activities and discussions that covers all aspects of Star Wars right here in Orlando.

Free mobile app to search all homes right from your phone!

This information is brought to you buy Teri Isner and the Orlando Avenue Top Team. Teri Isner has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando real estate market.

Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando homes for sale, having become the Best Listing Agent in Orlando. You can reach Teri by filling out the online contact form or give her a call.  

Some of the best flowboarders in the world are coming to Orlando for the 2012 Carbon US FLOW Tour National Championships.  The riders will be competing on August 11 & 12 starting at 10 am each day for cash prizes and an invitation to represent the USA at the World FlowRider Championships.  You will enjoy watching the riders flip, twist, jump and splash along the FlowRider.

Orlando is home to Fantasy Surf, a great FlowRider facility that lets you actually ride the waves and do tricks in a controlled environment.  After you come out and watch the champions compete you will want to come back and give it a try for yourself.  This weekend the facility will only be open for viewing of the competitors.  Come out and cheer on your favorite flowboarder at the US Flow Tour National Champions

Free mobile app to search all homes right from your phone!

This information is brought to you buy Teri Isner and the Orlando Avenue Top Team. Teri Isner has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando real estate market.

Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando homes for sale, having become the Best Listing Agent in Orlando. You can reach Teri by filling out the online contact form or give her a call.  

Orlando is home to many wonderful musicians.  Listen to some of them compete in the first semi-final event of Evermore Battle of the Bands, 2012 on August 8^th at club 57 West in Orlando.  At the event on August 8^th you will enjoy Just Passing Through, Succulent Thing, Freshly Baked and Dirty Shannon.  They will be competing for a wide range of prizes tallying over $25,000.  Some of the items they could win include; studio work with producer Luke Beaulac, a custom guitar from Spawn Guitars, road cases, and 1,000 CD’s in Eco-Wallet sleeves from Bison Disc.

Evermore Battle will also be helping the Orlando community with this event which, with a Charitable donation being made to Mel’s Bad Girls, to help support B.A.S.E Camp for Children’s Cancer Foundation.  There will be 3 more events in Orlando in September, October and the finals in December.  So grab a friend and have a fun night out listening to some great bands.

Free mobile app to search all homes right from your phone!

This information is brought to you buy Teri Isner and the Orlando Avenue Top Team. Teri Isner has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando real estate market.

Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando homes for sale, having become the Best Listing Agent in Orlando. You can reach Teri by filling out the online contact form or give her a call.  

The Milk District is an Orlando, Florida enclave of fun shops, restaurans and bars on and around Robinson, just a drive from downtown. The name of the neighborhood comes from it’s being so close to the TG Lee Milk processing plant. The area is full of fun things to do.  Though it’s gone through a good deal of change over the years, the area around Bumby Avenue and Robinson Street east of downtown has retained much of its original character.

The area’s unique and quirky restaurants include the Beefy King with the best roast beef sandwiches for the past 40 years; the Bull n Bush, the oldest authentic pub in Orlando; PomPom’s Teahouse and Sandwicheria with cool artwork and a warm atmosphere; the Sandwich Bar where where vegan, herbivore and carnivore can dine together  and not eat each other; Spooky’s Black Cat…quirky doesn’t even begin to describe it; Sportstown Billiards, Orlando’s best known poolhall for many years; The Milk Bar, a cigar shop and lounge; and the Drunken Monkey, a coffee junkie’s paradise. There is also a Food Truck Pod on Tuesday evenings which is awesome. There are so many bars within walking distance of each other, the Milk district is is foodie’s heaven!

If shopping is your thing, check out: the Etolie Boutique for taking vintage to a new level; Kyle’s Bike Shop with its small shop atmosphere; Little Joe’s Primrose Tattoo Parlor; Liberty Barber Shop; The Book Worm, an independent bookseller; Vinyl Richie’s Wiggly World Of Records;  the Class Acts Salon for pamping from head to toe and to bringing out your individual, natural beauty; Day Paws Doggie DayCare providing owners the KidsVision Web Cam Service, allowing you to watch your dog from any computer with an Internet connection! 

Residential and commercial opportunity knocks with one of the most unique properties the area has to offer, 2431 E Jefferson Street.

 Beauty Warmth & Value in this exquisite 2 story pool home touched by tradition & charm.  Space for any family or business activity from an open kitchen family room to the wet bar in the party sized great room. Featuring hardwood floors, & the finest finishes incl. granite counters, stainless appliances, 2 fireplaces, double insulated windows, landscaped lighting & a gas generator that will power the entire home.  The central location is perfect for a home business use. Family & friends will delight in the fenced backyard with in ground pool & room for croquette, badminton, business & office opportunitys. Designed for hours of fun or relaxation enjoy all the benefits of the outdoor & indoor space.  The home was completely remodeled in 2004 with new plumbing, electric, A/C & roof. There is an outdoor shower to use before you make a splash in the pool.

No need to worry about a power outage with the propane gas generator to keep you going in an emergency.  Swing on the hammock or relax under the gazebo there is also plenty of deck and porch area for outdoor gatherings.  .  The unique archways and art in around the home just add to the charm.  Check out the hurricane wall inside by the kitchen breakfast bar, or the butterfly tile mosaic and don’t miss the lighted stairs to the great room.   Two fireplaces and two ice makers, one up one down plus a breakfast bar or eat in kitchen nook to choose or just sip an ice tea on the porch or up high on the deck you decide.
  
The building features 4616 total square feet of which 3064 is under air.  This home is zoned 0-1 which means you have the opportunity for commercial use on this lot.  The three car garage provides tons of space for the cars or workshop.  In addition the lot provides boat, RV or motorcycle covered parking and beyond that is an 8×20 container for more storage.  Completely fenced with an electric gate the possibilities abound.  The unique archways and art in around the home just add to the charm. The cement siding is also an added benefit.
 
The addition in 2006 is currently a great room with wet bar, bath and balcony but would make a great office, with a downstairs foyer reception area.  Entrepreneurs you can work from home, bring your business there is plenty of space for another building and parking on the lot included with the sale.
 
Contact us today to experience this one of a kind property! 407-467-5155 or teri@teriisner.com. 

As Americans, we celebrated Independence Day this month flocking to places like Mount Vernon, Monticello and Peacefield to learn and understand more about our country’s history and the men and women who shaped its future. The homes of founding fathers like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were more than shelter; they were places of respite, reflection and inspiration.

“Homeownership is an investment in our future, but it’s also a gateway to our past,” said National Association of Realtors President Moe Veissi, broker-owner of Veissi & Associates Inc., in Miami. “The homes of our country’s founders offer insights into their characters and values, and reflect the spirits of their owners, just as our homes do for us today.”

In some ways, historic homeowners bear little resemblance to the homeowners of today. George Washington inherited Mount Vernon when he was 20; only 4 percent of recent home buyers were between the ages of 18-24, according to the 2011 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers. John Adams was born in the house that would remain in the Adams family for four generations. Today, fewer than 3 percent of families in this country have received their primary residence as an inheritance, according to a recent Survey of Consumer Finances published by the Federal Reserve Board.

Women’s rights to own property in America’s early days were often based on their relationships with men, so it’s not surprising that many women today view homeownership as its own form of independence, with single women representing more than one-fifth of all home buyers in the current market.

Homeowners across U.S. history do share some common ground, of course. Most of the founding families lived out their lives close to where they were born, and the same is true today. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that nearly 60 percent of Americans currently live in the state in which they were born, and NAR research shows that the typical buyer moves only 12 miles from his or her previous residence.

“I am as happy nowhere else and in no other society, and all my wishes end, where I hope my days will end, at Monticello,” said Thomas Jefferson of his home. Although today’s economic environment has postponed homeownership for some, numerous surveys show that most Americans still aspire to homeownership. In the NAR Profile, a full 60 percent of recent first-time home buyers cited the desire to own a home of their own as the primary reason for purchasing a home.

Lets take a look at June sales figures in our local Orlando FL real estate markets.

Orange County Real Estate Sales Statistics – June 2012  

Orange County saw 96 less homes sold in June 2012 than 2011, a 6 percent decrease. The average sales price increased by 9 percent and the median sales price increased by 10% from June 2011.  Market times decreased by 13 days or 8 percent.  

 Osceola County Real Estate Sales Statistics – June 2012

Osceola County homes saw home sales decreased by 119 homes, a 19 percent decrease. Prices increased with the average sales price up 7 percent and the median price increased by 17 percent.  Market Times decreased by 18 days compared to June 2011.

 Seminole County Real Estate Sales Statistics – June 2012

Seminole County residential sales increased by 14 percent with 90 more homes sold in June 2012. The averages sales price increased by 10 percent, and the median sales price increased by 8 percent compared to June 2011 levels. Market times decreased by 6 days or 4 percent.

 Lake County Real Estate Sales Statistics – June 2012  

Residential sales in Lake County decreased with 5 less home sold a 1 percent decrease. The average sales price increased by 4 percent, while the median sales price increased by 6 percent during the same time period.  Market times increased by 3 days.

 Polk County Real Estate Sales Statistics – June 2012

Polk County saw 24 more home sold in June 2012 compared to 2011.  The average sales price increased by 16 percent,and the median sales price increased by 15 percent.  Market times decreased by 14 days the same as June 2011.

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

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.

The city of Orlando is getting excited as he count down to the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics 2012 in London comes closer!   Today at 7:30 p.m. tune in to watch as the teams are presented in the Opening Ceremony.  The theme this year is ‘Inspire a generation’.  The host country creates the Opening Ceremony to celebrate their country and show the world why the love their land.  This years show will be called the ‘Isles of Wonder’ and kick off with the sounding of the largest harmonically tuned bell in Europe.  You will then be introduced to the green country side of the UK complete with farmyard animals.

There are certain things that occur in every opening ceremony which is outlined by the International Olympic Committee, which include receiving of the Head of State, Parade of Athletes, Speeches, Olympic Anthem and Flag, Oaths and the Torch lighting.  The Olympic flame will light the Cauldron which will symbolize the beginning of the Olympic Games.  The Flame will burn until the Closing Ceremony.

Here is a list of the athletes in the games that have ties to Central Florida and you will not want to miss seeing them race for Olympic Gold.  Watch for Elizabeth Beisel in swimming, Phil Dalhausser in beach volleyball, Tyson Gay in track & field, Jenny Barring Simpson in track, Jake Kaminski in archery, Hunter Kemper in the triathlon, Heather Mitts on the US soccer team, and  Abby Wambach on the US soccer team Brittany Viola in Diving, and Ryan Lochte in swimming.  They will all be going for the gold.

Orlando will be cheering for the Olympians who have ties to Central Florida.  On Saturday tune in to watch as UF’s Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps race in the 400m individual medley.  For a complete list of this weekend events click here.

Free mobile app to search all homes right from your phone!

This information is brought to you buy Teri Isner and the Orlando Avenue Top Team. Teri Isner has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando real estate market.

Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando homes for sale, having become the Best Listing Agent in Orlando. You can reach Teri by filling out the online contact form or give her a call.  

Do you know how to protect your Orlando area home from Wildfires?  With as much as 56 percent of the county in a drought right now, knowing how to protect your most valuable asset is the first step in protecting your investment.   With more and more homes being build just outside of forest and wildland which is increasing the risk of homes being impacted by a wildfire event.  There are things that you can do that can increase your homes chance of survival in a wildfire. 

Tips for Homeowners to help protect your home from a wildfire:

•  Create a “defensible space” around your home that is at least 30 feet around where you mow the grass regularly and plant moisture rich plants. 
• Prune tree limbs at least 15 feet high, to keep the fire from racing up the tree to reach your roof.
• Clean your gutters and roof
• Keep a shovel, rake and ladder in a readily accessible location along with 50-100 feet of garden hose attached to an outside faucet.
• Replace wood shingle or wood shake roofs with fire-retardant shingles, metal or tile roofs.
• Develop a family preparedness plan

*tips provided by the Florida Forest Service

Take the Wildfire Hazard Assessment to find out if your Orlando area home is at risk for wildfires.  Some of the things you want to look at:

• Do you live near a Wildland/Urban interface
• Is your home accessible for emergency equipment?
• Do you have vegetation that is flammable close to your home?
• Is your home near a fire station?

Conditions in Florida for wildfires have decreased in recent months due to the heavy rains from Debby.  Since we still have our wet season to come the Florida Forest Service is saying that we are currently near to below normal wildfire risk.  These conditions are ever changing based on rain fall totals. 

Learn how to make wonderful gifts or a little something for yourself at the Re:Design book binding workshop in Orlando at Urban ReThink.  Some of the types of books you can make would be a sketchbook, journal or a custom portfolio.  Greg Leibowitz and Adrian Gonzalez will teach you how to make eastern, western and alternative bindings.  You will need to a bring a few supplies to help you create your unique book like paper, thumbtacks, x-actos, and a needle and thread.

Come out ad learn how to do something new in Orlando at Urban ReThink and take home a unique book on July 25^th at 7:00pm.

Free mobile app to search all homes right from your phone!

This information is brought to you buy Teri Isner and the Orlando Avenue Top Team. Teri Isner has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando real estate market.

Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando homes for sale, having become the Best Listing Agent in Orlando. You can reach Teri by filling out the online contact form or give her a call.