Here are some free safety tips to protect you when traveling to Orlando Florida at home or traveling in the Caribbean.

Here are some free safety tips to protect you when traveling to Orlando Florida at home or traveling in the Caribbean.

•   Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID REQUIRED." 

•   When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card Accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, j ust put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won’t have access to it. 

•  Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home Phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address.  Never have your SS# printed on your checks. (DUH!) You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have It printed, anyone can get it.

•  Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will Know  what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to Call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. I also carry a Photocopy of my passport when I travel either h ere or abroad. We’ve all heard horror stories about fraud that’s committed on us in stealing a Name, address, Social Security number, credit cards. 

  Here’s some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:

•   We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll fr ee numbers and your card Numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.
•  
•  File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit Providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an Investigation (if there ever is one).

            

  But here’s what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even thought to do this.)

• Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations Immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over The Internet in my name. The alert means any company that checks your Credit knows your informati on was stolen, and they have to contact you by Phone to authorize new credit. 

            Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, etc., has been stolen:

           1.) Equifax: 800-525-6285

           2.) Experian (formerly TRW):   888-397-3742

           3.) Trans Union : 800-6807289

           4.) Social Security Administration    (fraud line):800-269-0271

•  
• Identity protection tips to be aware of at the theme parks in Orlando Florida or at home and online.
  

Lovely Kissimmee small gated community with pool and clubhouse zoned for short term rentals.

Lovely Kissimmee small gated community with pool and clubhouse zoned for short term rentals.   Use for your own personal pleasure and then have it pay for itself by renting out at other times!  Professionally Managed by the association so this is easy for the distant buyer to maintain!

Recently refurbished with new tile, furniture and paint. Retreat to the second floor upstairs "hideaway" which overlooks the living room. This could serve as a hobby room, guest room, play room or retreat for some quiet times.

Located minutes to shopping, dining and area attractions. If you rather play tennis and golf than painting and mowing, this townhouse is the answer! Life is more fun at the Villages at Mango Key.

Call the Orlando Avenue Top Team Today (407) 467-5155 for more inforamtionon this exciting Kissimmee Condo close to all that Oralndo has to offer!

So you’re finally purchasing that new home since the price is down or your ARM Loan’s Adjustable Rate is about to jump so you’re going to finally get a new mortgage.

So you’re finally purchasing that new home since the price is down or your ARM Loan’s Adjustable Rate is about to jump so you’re going to finally get a new mortgage.   Well, you are in luck if you are going to start your transaction right now! 

Why?  This is the ideal time of year to start the process of a Mortgage. 

In Florida, property taxes are paid in arrears.  This means you pay at the end of the year for the prior year.  (Insurance is paid in advance, you pay your policy to cover you for the upcoming year)  Also, you receive a 4% discount for paying your annual property taxes in November. 

So if you close on a mortgage in August, September or October, you end up paying an entire year of property taxes at the closing table!  With Florida property values and our crazy tax system, this can be a hefty sum.  On top of this, you have to "seed" your escrow accounts with approximately 2 months of payments for taxes and escrows. 

To learn how your mortgage broker can help you save money at the closing table, follow this link to my main website to read all about it:

Florida Mortgage | Refinance ~ Purchase ; Money Saving Tips

Associates in Dermatology is Orlando Florida Skin Cancer and Skin Care Specialists was founded by Dr. William A. Steele.

Last week our team attended the free gathering of BLOGGERS in Orlando at BLOGORLANDO. At this event we learned what is the latest in technology and how to untilize Social Media to better reach our community.

Hey Orlando Florida Do You Know What is Facebook?

Last week our team attended the free gathering of BLOGGERS in Orlando at BLOGORLANDO.  At this event we learned what is the latest in technology and how to untilize Social Media to better reach our community.   So to assist you in getting to know part of this Social Media Revolution, we thought we would introduce our Orlando Community to FACEBOOK…

We came away excited and ready to implement much of what we learned.  Teri Isner wrote earlier about her experiences here and I wrote about mine and the imporance of Realtors Blogging.  So what does social media have to do with buying and selling homes in Orlando Florida?  Social media is changing the way that we interact with people, and the more people that we can get your property in front of the better it is for you. 

Do I need to be on Facebook?

Where did it start and how did it come into being?  Facebook is growing in popularity and started with college kids and has quickly grown into a way that professionals connect… What exactly is it? It is another one of the growing Social Media Networks out there.

As a Social Network, you are able to network with new people and get involved with them on a totally different level. The real question is do you want to be on Facebook?

Check it out, and definitely watch the video… It has some interesting history behind Facebook. The real question is do you want to be on Facebook? Only you can decide that…

If you join facebook you can find us easily by our names, or in the Orlando Network!

The beauty of Social Media is that there are more than one way to connect with people.  For every type of Social Media that I know about, there are 10 that we are just learning about!  Check out some of the other forms of Social Media that we are aware of:

• Twitter
• Digg
• Linkedin
• YouTube
• Technorati
• ActiveRain
• Flickr
• Del.icio.us
• Mashable
• MySpace

Selling your Davenport Florida home by yourself there are many things that you have to think about.

Are you For Sale by yourself in Davenport Florida?

Selling your Davenport Florida home by yourself there are many things that you have to think about.

 Your home isn’t selling but you don’t know why?

Many of these things that the Orlando Avenue Top Team takes care of for our sellers in Davenport Florida:

• Effective pricing of your Davenport Florida property. The market changes rapidly, a good Realtor is abreast of the changes and what will affect your listing price. These things can change daily in Davenport Florida.
• Home Buyers in the Davenport Florida are well educated with access to public records. They do a considerable amount of research and will pass over an over priced listing.
• Are you prepared to do the negotiating with the buyers? Sometimes there are personal emotions that get in the way – a good realtor is an excellent buffer for you.
• Do you know where to advertise in Davenport? What advertising is most effective?
• Are you prepared to miss potential Davenport Florida buyers by not being listed in the Multiple Listing Service.
• Are you providing lots of photos and visual tours on your website for your Davenport Florida listing? What is the page rank of your website? In Google Searches is your website coming up on page one? 80% of buyers start their search on the Internet
• What about your personal security? Strangers coming to your home going through and you have no idea who they are or if they are just looking for an easy target?
• How are you going to handle showings? Especially those last moment. If you use a Realtor we have systems in place to ensure you won’t miss a showing!

• Qualifying potential Davenport buyers, handling paperwork, ensuring that deadlines are kept.

   

New to Oseola County? Sometimes we understand that it is hard to find information that you need in Osceola County.

New to Oseola County?   Sometimes we understand that it is hard to find information that you need in Osceola County.   In this post you will find all the information regarding Oscoela County.

Communites that are in Oseola County include: Buenaventura Lakes, Campbell, Celebration, Deer Park, Harmony, Holopaw, Kenansville, Kissimmee, Poinciana, St. Cloud and Yeehaw Junction.

 Here are some resources that you may find useful:

General Information

407-343-2200
http://www.oseola.com/

• Property Appraiser Office
• Tax Collector’s Office
• Oseola General Information
• Orlando Regional Chamber 
• Regional Information
• Orlando Downtown Development
• Convention & Visitors Bureau 
• County Health Department
• Clerk of Courts
• Oseola Library System

School Board
407-870-46000
www.oseola.k12.fl.us

Electric

Kissimmee Utility Authority 407-933-7777

Orlando Utilities Commission 407-423-9018

Cable Service

Bright House Networks 407-847-8001

Telephone
Sprint/United 407-339-1811

Automobile Registration
407-343-4000

Voter Registration
407-343-3900
Supervisor of Elections

United States Department of Education

I would like to share with you the following good news from one of our local Orlando Florida schools and a video that promises to bring a smile to your face!

Connie Reece last week at BlogOrlando in Orlando Florida a reminder to include humor in our writing.  So for those of you as old as me who remember The Lone Ranger you will appreciate the music by Rossini  in the  video.   Ok I used to be a music teacher for years before selling real estate in Orlando Florida and couldn’t resist the reference.

First the good news and report card for one of our local schools right here in Orlando Florida.

St.Charles Borromeo Catholic School has been awarded the United States Department of Education "No Child Left Behind" Blue Ribbon Schools Award 2007!  The children and parents are thrilled!   The school board and Fr.Tom are very proud of faculty, staff, students and families who all worked together to make this happen for their community.  St. Charles was the only school in Central Florida this year.  The next closest one is in Melbourne., and only one other Catholic School in Florida was announced.  (The Cathedral School in St. Augustine).  

If your school or neighborhood has a press release or important annoucement please share it with me in our comments section.  The Orlando Top Team in Orlando Florida will be happy to write about it for you too!  Your school or event can be in any of the five surrounding counties including Orange, Polk, Lake, Osceola and Seminole county.

Now for that bit of humor I promised take a look at this youtube video does it sound like your mom? 

We not only write about Orlando Florida Homes, Orlando Florida Condos or Orlando Florida real estate. We also cover vacation rental real estate and help people who are relocating to the Orlando Florida area.

We need your comments on Orlando Real Estate.  Please let us know if you would like to see your neighborhood stats, and specific topics you would like to learn more about in the Orlando Florida area.

We not only write about Orlando Florida Homes, Orlando Florida Condos or Orlando Florida real estate.  We also cover vacation rental real estate and help people who are relocating to the Orlando Florida area. 

Perhaps New Construction in Orlando Florida is what you want to see more about?  Let us know!  We will write about the topics you our Orlando Community wants to know!

We are open to all suggestions!

Our Keller Williams office is conviently located in Celebration Florida.  Our last market update was on Celebration Florida Homes and Celebration Florida condo sales.   Home or condo options in all price ranges can be emailed to you once we know the criteria.

Last month we had a request for Kissimmee Florida homes and Windermere Florida homes.  Yours request could be next or just answering a question about one of our topics is easy.  

We even represent Real Estate transactions outside the United States in the Caribbean on Nevis, Margarita, Coche, and Anguila for those that venture farther from home.

Real estate around the corner in Orlando Florida or around the world leave a comment and let us know what you are looking for or want to hear more about.

BlogOrlando the UnConference held in Orlando Florida at Rollins College