Celebration Florida Golf Club

Celebration Florida Golf Club starts planting 30 mature palm trees as part of a $2 Million renovation.

Celebration Florida Golf Club now a 10 year old golf course in Celebration Florida the town Disney designed has begun planting 30 mature palm trees.  The Celebration Florida course was designed by the father and son team of Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and Jr.  The Celebration Florida Golf Club general manager Gene Garrote said in the Orlando Business Journal that the workers are landscaping the bulkheads on the 14th, 16th, and 17th greens.

The course as seen here from a Celebration Florida brochure has a park-like setting and winds like an outdoor sanctuary through a natural wetland with pristine lakes and clusters of native oak, pine and magnolia.  This beautification program will only enhance the serene golf experience.

Celebration Florida Golf Club has a 4.5 star rating out of 5 by Golf Digest and is also ranked as one of the top 25 family golf resorts and in the top 50 courses for women by Golf for Women Magazine in 2007. 

It won’t be long before the 5th star will be awarded.  For more information on Celebration Florida Golf Club call 407-566-1046. 

To book your dream golf vacation in Orlando Florida or around the world check out the luxury golf vacations on Teri’s Travel Store and get out there.

Golf news from around the world is available on Teri’s golf page.

Halloween Happenings in Orlando Florida.

Halloween Happenings in Orlando Florida. 

If you find yourself at home in Orlando Florida, Celebration, Kissimmee or anyother surrounding city don’t miss out on the Halloween Happenings.

Feel like an Orlando Florida ghost tour?  Two hour walking tours for anyone brave enough to join.  Tours depart from 129W. Church St. Orlando Florida

Monday-Sat. at 8pm $15-$25 and children under 7 free.  Call 407-247-0452 or email hauntedorlando@hotmail.com.

Disney Photo

Next is a favorite Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties held at  Orlando Florida’s Walt Disney world Resorts’s Magic Kingdom through Nov. 2 2007.  The party includes trick-or-treating, cahracters in costum, a fireworks spectacular and more.  7pm to midnight on select nights cost $32.95-$45.95 plus tax.  Visit www.disneyworld.com/halloween.

Picture from the Southwest Bulletin

My favorite is the Pumpkin Patch held at the Windermere Union Church Preschool 10710 Park Ridge Gotha Road, Windermere, Florida.  Monday to Friday  9am-7pm bring the children and pick out your pumpkins or Sat. and Sun 10-6. 

The adventure fan will love Orlando Florida’s Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort  Oct. 24-28 and Oct 31-Nov3rd from 6:30 to Midnight and some nights until 2am.  cost $64.95 plus tax.  You can visit the New Line cinema Freddy Krueger, Jason and the Leatherface for the first time.  or the Carnival of Carnage which includes 8 haunted houses, and 3 new shows. 

Halloween Golf Open Oct 26 at Mystic Dunes Golf Club 7850 Shadow Tree Lane, Celebration Florida.

Oct. 27th at Orlando Florida’s  Marketplace at Dr. Phillips a store to store trick or treating, karaoke, Halloween characts, face painting, balloon art, cotton candy, snowcones, a moonwalk and more.  11am -2 pm call 800-688-8865 x 6959 for more details.  So if you live in the Dr. Phillips community stop by.

Also on the 27th at Barnes and Noble booksellers at the Plaza Venezio 7900 Sand Lake Road Orlando ,Florida a Halloween Parade and storytime starts at 10:30 am for more information call 407-345-0900.  If you live or near the Sandlake or Dr.Phillips community come on down.

Do you like to run?  Orlando Florida’s  Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex presents the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 13K and 6.5K at Disney-MGM Studios at 9pm.  Cost $65 for the 13K and $40 for the 6.5.

Well we have all heard of Trick or Treat how about a Trunk or Treat.  Yes that is right a Trunk or Treat being held at St. Lukes Methodist Church at Windermere,  Florida 4851 Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando hosts its free Trunk or Treat at which children are able to safely trick- or- treat form 5:30- 7:30pm.

Another Trunk or Treat will be held at the Windermere Community Church 8464 Winter Garden Vinelan Road Orlando Florida from 5pm.

Finally there is even a Halloween Dance for Seniors in Orlando Florida.  The Belles and Beaus Dance Club invites seniors to a Halloween dance including music by Soft Touch and refreshments at the Marks Street Senior Recreation Complex 99E. Marks St. Orlando, Florida.  Guest are encouraged to dress as a science fiction character and create costumes from aluminum foil, antennas, glue and tape.  Singles and couples are welcom.  Time 8-10:30 Cost $5.00  Call 407-277-7008 for more information. 

Art of Staging by Orlando Florida Best Duo

Art of Staging by Orlando Florida Best Duo

Last week in Orlando Florida at Isleworth’s newest area I once again saw the magic of Morris and Kalm staging designs.

Megan Morris and Kimberly Kalm have been staging in the Orlando Florida area for over 3 years now and offer a wide variety of services.  Check out the video at the end of the this blog for your chance to meet Megan and Kimberly.

It is not the service so much as the benefit to the seller I want to stress here. 

So just what are the benefits?

• Staged homes sell for more money in a hot market and quicker in a slow market.
•  
• 95% of buyers purchase on emotion and staged homes evoke an emotional love at first site” response
•  
• Most people can not visualize an empty home’s potential and staging offers people the ability to visualize their own belongings in a home.
•  
• Realtors and homeowners recieve a faster sale for the optimum price.
•  
• Buyers move into property that is is in move-in condition.
•  
• Staging provides subtle changes to accentuate the homes strengths and bring less attention to its weaknesses.
•  
• Staging dazzles buyers into fantasizing about entertaining, cooking, and living in the home.
•  
• Staging sets the mood by adding furnishing and other interior design improvements that match the homes style without changing architecture.
•  
• Staging provides “curb appeal” for the all important “first impression”.
•  
• Match made in real estate heaven that can result in multiple offers and short escrow.
•  
• Staging creates the lights, the buyers bring the camera which leads to action for the seller
•  

Another real benefit of Morris and Kalm is the purchaser can purchase any or all of the furnishings if they want. 

Video of Megan and Kimberly.

Halloween Online and in Orlando Florida

Here is more Halloween on the web and if it is  information you need the resources are endless.

If you are going to make your own costume the here is a good place to start.

You can also subscribe to an online Halloween magazine, and for props, makeup options and decoration tools this site has great stuff! 

Having a Halloween party and need a few extra recipes .

Fun food for kids at Halloween wouldn’t be the same without some goosebumps and kid friendly recipes.

Ok there is even Sugar free so what are you waiting for?

 

If we have to have sugar free to Halloween

Chocolate and what can we say about chocolate without mentioning  Hersheys.    

Here is a list of towns with fall colors which would you like to visit?

Do you know what causes the fall colors 

Here are few more Hot spots across the country.

Now you have seen a few why not book a trip and visit one of these areas,

it is simple at Teri’s travel store.

Ok kids do you need a few Jokes and riddles,

here is another pumpkin guide and some more tips.

 

 

If you want to Carve like a pro or need a pro template 

 

then there are the pumpkin Masters and for the children  

 

here is the fabulous food section with carving tips.

 

Is there a healthy side to Halloween…

 

Yes there is a health benefit to pumpkin peel.

 

 

 

Every year there is a Great pumpkin weigh off event here are last years results. 

 

 

And the winner is?

 

Halloween Zombie movies your thing

 

and If that is not enough there are more telling tales.  

 

If you need to keep  the scary boogieman away so what is the story

 

behind garlic and werewolfs?  

 

 

 

 

 

Riskgay to be sure but we must mention Elvira and the search is on.

 

 

 

Ok we wont leave out the techies even CNet enjoys getting in on the Halloween action.

 

 

 

Wed be remiss not to mention Halloween safety so here are some tips to share with your friends. 

 

Say Boo to the flu and other helpful Halloween links 

 

for Family fun and dont miss the readers digest halloween tips,

 

or what causes those crazy pumpkin shapes? 

 

Haunted Houses at Orlando’s Disney World are fun but how about the real thing.

 

 

 

Are you being followed don’t worry.

 

Here is a place to have some spooky fun and things that go bump in the night.

 

If that is not enough how about some more scary stories. 

 

Now for you practical jokers out there even scholastic magazine gets in on the action.

 

Like to dance well it is not dancing with the stars but for those of you closer to my age who can forget the

 

famous Monster Mash  You can always send  an email card and share scarry thoughts

 

 with friends.  If you need images or clip art and, halloween fonts, or sounds for your creations all this will help.

 

Some of the Free clip art from

 

Stay tuned next blog will be specific to everything you can do in the Orlando Halloween Scene.

 

 

For buyers who will need 100% financing, builders should make sure to keep an eye on the median home prices in the area

This is a little departure from my normal posts that are mainly informational – call it an Opinion Piece.

The Real Estate Industry in Florida is hurting as evidenced in all the bad news being reported.  It isn’t all bad, as the reporters would like you to believe.  Houses are selling because there are people that need to buy and there are those that are finding bargains already.

Now builders are spending their time marketing value and affordability into their homes… the reverse of the trend when they were marketing luxury and amenities.  Honestly, they should have caught on sooner.

Affordability… Value… Attainable… Steven Webster at the Florida Workforce Housing Network discusses how these new buzzwords are showing up in builders’ marketing efforts.  He cites that Lennar challenged local builders to build affordably and Centex chose the path of becoming Florida‘s leading affordable housing builder. 

This article would not be complete without discussing the other side of the story… the Real Estate Industry has another industry that it works hand in hand with that needs to be a consideration of these builders – the Lending Industry.

You see… the big, production builders builders can control most of the costs related to the homes they are building.  What they can’t control is mortgages…. only the market itself can do that!

My recommendation to builders is to keep in mind what buyers need – affordable payments.  This means making sure that the larger homes stay within conforming lending limits so that the interest rates stay low.  It also means to quit blackballing lenders and mortgage brokers from projects.  The buyer should have free choice of who they use and all the enticements from the advertisements to buy.

For buyers who will need 100% financing, builders should make sure to keep an eye on the median home prices in the area – that will be the lending limit for FHA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac 100% loan programs.  Builders could offer to pay closing costs up to 3% of the loan amount as an enticement for $0 down homes.

For more information about this trend, please follow this link to visit my main site: Florida Mortgage | Builders Price your homes appropriately

More Florida Mortgage and Real Estate News You Can Use From
David A. Podgursky, MBA
TheMortgageGoToGuy.com
Your Source for Residential, Commercial, Investment and Relocation Mortgages in Florida

Seller Beware Just Another Scam that is happening not only in Orlando Florida.

Orlando Florida Buyers Ask How can we come up with down payment dollars?

there are 100% loans available both for purchase and refinance transactions.

Did I stutter?  I do mean it… there are 100% loans available both for purchase and refinance transactions.

No… I am not one of those scumbags trying to lure you into a dangerous loan!  If you’ve read my posts at all, you know I’m definitely not about bad loans for good people.

Here’s what I am about… helping people buy the home they want and need… and refinance the loan that is about to start hurting them financially…

These affordable mortgages are FHA and Fannie Mae loans – a.k.a. Government Backed.  They are safe loans with only a few options.

Here are the loan features:

• Full Documentation
• Seller Concessions 
• Reduced PMI
• Up to 100% financing
• 30 or 40 year Fixed Rates 
• and more

So whether you are a first time homebuyer or a homeowner looking to refinance.  The option is available to you to get a great rate – usually lower than you’d expect!

Call now to find out what you need to do to get in on one of these loans. 

If your ARM’s adjustable rate is about to reset, there’s no time like the present!

If you are buying a home, there are some great deals out there with all this inventory!

To read more about these programs and more please follow this link:

Florida Mortgage | 100% Loans are Available

There are some general rules that if you follow when making a decision to buy or sell Real Estate in the Orlando Florida that you use to ensure that you make a sound decision.

• "I am not going to take a $x,000 loss on my Orlando Florida home!"
• "I am not giving my Orlando Florida home away!"
• "I don’t want to buy until the absolute bottom of the market"

These are things to think about when you are trying to decide if now is a good time to purchase an Orlando Florida home or sell your Orlando Florida home:

• We understand that you want your home to net the highest amount but sometimes you need to look at what is really going on in the market.  That amount in your head is just that.  Look at what has sold recently and what is on the market.  Make sure that you are the best property in the bottom 25% of those listed. 
• Seller’s tend to be 6 months behind what is going on in the market.  So make sure that you always look at where the Orlando Florida market is headed, not where it has been.  
• Been on the market for 3 months with no activity?  Our best advice ~ Cut your asking price and get your Orlando Florida home SOLD!
•  It doesn’t matter if you are buying or selling Real Estate in the Orlando Florida area, make sure that you plan for the worst case scenario.  Can you afford it? Are you stretching beyond your means? 
• Buyers afraid of purchasing before the market "hits bottom"?  Well think about the possibility that you could end up having to purchase less of a house because interest rates go up when you perceive that the market has hit the bottom.

Each time I hear it, I immediately think back to the popular TV game show

Orlando Florida Buyers Want a Deal!

I hear it daily from Orlando Florida Buyers:  "I want a Real Estate deal!"

Each time I hear it, I immediately think back to the popular TV game show "Let’s Make A Deal" There sometimes you left with a flashy sports car, and sometimes you left with his and her bicycles or worse.    Much like the For Sale by Owners, Orlando Buyers that try to go it alone without the assistance of a Realtor have a difficult time.

It isn’t just in Orlando Florida!  Across the country Realtors are reading it in their emails from buyers, hearing it while we are at Open Houses, and just about every phone call they receive.  "Can you get me a deal?"  Orlando Buyers and those around the country are telling their neighbors and friends.   It is what everyone is talking about.

Realtors hear it over and over. "I want a deal!"  Ok!  We get it!   You want a deal!  But I have something for you to think about…

Do you deserve a Deal?

If there is a buyer out there not demanding they get a deal I would be very surprised!  

And why not?  

The Orlando Real Estate Market favors the Orlando buyers right now.  Inventory is up and many Orlando sellers are anxious.  Now with the increase in foreclosure or short sale opportunities Orlando Buyers seem to think they are entitled to the BEST DEAL!

There are a lot of wonderful Real Estate Opportunities in the Orlando area.  The problem is even though EVERYONE wants a deal, not everyone can get the BEST deals.

• Best Deals are Short Sales and Foreclosures! – think again. There always seem to be many competing offers because everyone wants the same great deal

• Just Make Low Ball Offers! – A better strategy is to make solid offers on properties that are priced correctly.
• Value of a Property is a Personal Factor – Are you getting an Orlando Florida home you love or just dealing with?
• Pre-Qualification is Key! – If you aren’t, no deal. Loan programs are changing daily, with so much competition in looking for deals you will need to be looking good on paper!
• There is lots of competition – Surprise!  You are not the only one sitting on the fence waiting for a great deal!    Well priced Orlando homes in great condition are going to disappear quickly.  Do you really want to be in the position saying "I should have acted faster?"
• Be Ready to Act Quickly With:

So "Let’s make A Deal" Orlando Florida!   Call the Orlando Avenue Top Team today at (407) 467-5155 to start the process of finding your Orlando Florida Deal so you can start calling it home!