Located on a quiet cul del sac with with 5 spacious bedrooms, large kitchen for family gatherings, cathedral ceilings, screened porch & beautiful pool with fenced in yard for privacy.

Dr. Phillips Home | Hidden Springs

News and Information from the Your Guide to Central Florida and West Indies Caribbean real estate including Orlando and Kissimmee, Anguilla, Nevis, Margarita Island and Coche Island

Top Team News is a collection of news channels, each focused on a specific subject area and updated on a daily basis.  Each channel contains links to articles, news stories, weblog posting, company web sites, and other interesting resources found on the public Internet.

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The other day the Associated Press ran an article

The other day the Associated Press ran an article "Papers losing real estate ads to Web" and we think you need to understand this change and how we are changing in this market. 

In the article "Like the housing market itself, much of the up-and-down movement in newspaper real estate advertising can be viewed as cyclical, meaning it will be weak in down markets and bounce back in the upward part of the cycle, whenever that comes up.

But what’s worrying analysts this time around is that real estate could become the next category of classified advertising – after help-wanted ads – to mark a significant and permanent shift away onto the Internet. The stakes are big for newspapers since classifieds are highly lucrative and make up more than 35 percent of their revenues."

We see that Orlando buyers are starting their search on-line and finding an agent to work with based on their presence on-line and the service they provide to the on-line searcher. 

Print media is less and less important to sellers.   We have reason not to use print media as much — we know we don’t receive calls from it.  We know that it is a matter of making sure that your property is easily found on the web. 

But that is not all we do.  We have several websites with targeted information for buyers and sellers and we write targeted articles to be on the Internet for the Orlando Buyer to find when they need it.  That is why our BLOG is so important to us and you the Orlando Seller.

Need information about buying or selling in the Orlando area?  Feel free to search our site, we probably have written about it already.  If you don’t find it our team is here ready to take your call and get you the information that you need.  Call us today at (407) 467-5155.

Every once in awhile there is a nice little suprise in the skies of Davenport Florida!

Every once in awhile there is a nice little suprise in the skies of Davenport Florida! Sometimes you find Hot Air Balloons in the Air!   Want to enjoy a hot air balloon ride? 

Here are some of the Hot Air Balloon Companies in the Greater Orlando area:

• Blue Water Balloons
• Soaring Adventures of America Inc.  
• Bob’s Balloons
• Aerostat Adventures 
• SkyScapes Balloon Tours
• Painted Horizons
• Orlando Balloon Rides
• ThompsonAire
• Magic Sunrise Ballooning

Orlando Florida | Back To School

• Clothing and related items with a sales price of $50 or less
• Books with a sales price of $50 or less
• School supplies with a sales price of $10 or less

This is regardless of the number of items or amount of the sale on that sales receipt.  The caps apply for each ‘item’ individually.

Many of you floridians with ‘school aged’ children and grandchildren may be wondering when is the tax free week is.  Last year tax free shopping week started around July 22nd, but this year 2007 Tax Free shopping week won’t be until Saturday August 4th – Monday August 13th.

IF you would like more information regarding the 2007 sales tax Holiday visit the State of Florida’s website.

Don’t listen to the media, listen to your realtor, and purchase for the right reasons.

Is it? 

Not really, but it sure makes for excellent headlines!   Here is the latest article touting the bad side of what is happening in the Real Estate Market – The Riskiest Housing Markets. 

Florida is mentioned in this article.  The media is great resource for information, but many times these headlines and articles are written at a national level.  If there is one thing that I have learned is that Real Estate is LOCAL.  You need to work with a Local Real Estate Expert. 

So read the articles, watch the news, but find a local expert that you trust and listen to their experience.  Regretfully, many buyers will be dismayed they didn’t take advantage, especially this summer.  The pendulum is at the bottom for only a split second and then where does it go?

Should that stop you from purchasing a home in the Orlando Florida area or anywhere in Florida?  That depends on  your reasoning for purchasing an Orlando Florida home.  

Are you purchasing an Orlando Florida home to live and enjoy for several years to come?  Then now might be the right time to purchase your ideal Orlando Florida home!  With the large inventory and price correction in the Orlando Market you may find a home you couldn’t afford a year ago!

Sellers — the most important thing you can do is not panic, price your home in today’s terms and listen to your Realtor as to what it will take to sell your home.  This might be incentives to buyers, staging your home or pricing it far less than what you want to.  Remember the goal is to sell your home!

Buyers — Set your goals for your housing, be willing to be in the home for two or more years.  Most importantly be very aware of your financing and don’t use your Orlando Florida home as an ATM Machine.

There are many wonderful opportunities here in Orlando Florida to own your own home.  Call the Orlando Avenue Top Team today at (407) 467-5155 to see how we can make your dreams of an Orlando Florida home a reality!

Now that you staged your home for sale, you now have a task of keep it in

Orlando Florida Buyers have numerous choices to purchase an Orlando Florida home.  Staging your Orlando home is the first step.  Keeping it staged is the more difficult task when you are still living in your Orlando Florida home that is for sale! 

• Ensure sink is left empty and clean
• Ensure counter-tops are kept clean and are wiped down
• Place liquid soap, scrubber, etc… in plastic bin and place underneath sink
• Kitchen table – Ensure the only item left is the centerpiece and wipe table down

• Purchase plastic bins for each member of the household (6" x 8" with holes) and use to house your personal items (i.e., shampoo, conditioners, etc…).  Place them under the sink when done.
• Use pre-moistened wipes and each morning, before leaving the bathroom, do a quick wipe down in the sink(s) and faucet.
• Hang towels
• Ensure toilet seat lids are down.

• Make beds each morning
• Place clothes in laundry basket

• Each night, put the toys to bed in the child’s closet or in their room.  Make it a game with small children.  Keep it up after you sell your house.  This is a ba
• If it is a flat surface — it should be clear of everything other than the accessories
• Get a basket of some sort (could be wicker or wire) and place all remote controls inside
• Use pre-moistened wipes – they’re easy and convenient to use.  A quick wipe down of your accent tables (i.e., coffee and end tables) will make them look beautiful.

Celebration Florida is a wonderful community designed by the Walt Disney Company.

Celebration Florida is a wonderful community designed by the Walt Disney Company.   Celebration Florida is broken up into Villages.  One of the many villages is Artisan Park that was developed by the St. Joe Company.  Artisan Park is unique in Celebration because it has a private club in addition to all the amenties available to you in Celebration!

• 40 Active Condos for Sale ranging from $299,000 – $574,000
• 11 Active Townhomes for Sale ranging from $ 424,000 – $612,723
• 21 Active Single Family Homes for sale ranging from $496,950 – $2,200,000

• ML#	List Price	Sold Price	Bed/Bath	HTD	Built	CDOM	Sold Date	LP/SqFt	SP/SqFt	LP/SP Ratio
  S4620219	$       638,950	$       638,950	3 / 2.5	3,140	2007	52	7/17/2007	$ 203.49	$ 203.49	100
  O4761812	$       789,000	$       770,000	5 / 4.5	3,724	2004	33	7/3/2007	$ 211.87	$ 206.77	97.5919
  S4615684	$       533,665	$       528,000	3 / 2.5	2,337	2006	84	6/20/2007	$ 228.35	$ 225.93	98.9385
  S4615245	$       558,000	$       558,000	4 / 2.5	&nbs p;     2,654	2006	63	6/11/2007	$ 210.25	$ 210.25	100
  S4615125	$       804,580	$       800,000	4 / 3.5	3,494	2006	107	5/16/2007	$ 230.27	$ 228.96	99.4308
  S4620014	$       359,950	$       352,900	3 / 3	1,736	2005	8	5/14/2007	$ 207.34	$ 203.28	98.0414
  S4615195	$       569,500	$       564,000	2 / 2.5	2,460	2006	64	4/27/2007	$ 231.50	$ 229.27	99.0342
  S4609287	$       440,000	$       401,000	3 / 2.5	1,925	2006	189	4/18/2007	$ 228.57	$ 208.31	91.1364
  S4615682	$       508,070	$       508,070	3 / 2.5	2,337	2007	53	4/17/2007	$ 217.40	$ 217.40	100
  S4615515	$       786,600	$       775,000	4 / 3.5	3,070	2006	34	4/10/2007	$ 256.22	$ 252.44	98.5253
  S4615321	$       725,480	$       720,000	3 / 2.5	2,546	2006	36	4/2/2007	$ 284.95	$ 282.80	99.2446
  S4615721	$       618,400	$       610,000	3 / 2.5	3,140	2006	30	3/29/2007	$ 196.94	$ 194.27	98.6417
  S4615719	$       618,030	$       610,000	3 / 2.5	3,140	2006	41	3/28/2007	$ 196.82	$ 194.27	98.7007
  S4615416	$       736,250	$       740,004	3 / 3.5	3,070	2006	63	3/21/2007	$ 239.82	$ 241.04	100.5099
  S4615370	$       719,410	$       712,000	3 / 2.5	2,546	2006	30	3/21/2007	$ 282.56	$ 279.65	98.97
  S4615151	$       520,490	$       515,490	2 / 3	2,073	2006	221	3/21/2007	$ 251.08	$ 248.67	99.0394
  S4615170	$       623 ,300	$       612,000	3 / 2	2,233	2006	16	3/15/2007	$ 279.13	$ 274.07	98.1871
  S4615248	$       634,340	$       624,000	3 / 2.5	2,599	2006	8	2/15/2007	$ 244.07	$ 240.09	98.37
  S4608552	$       965,000	$       965,000	5 / 4.5	3,896	2005	141	2/2/2007	$ 247.69	$ 247.69	100
  O4669631	$       499,000	$       464,500	3 / 2.5	2,109	2005	259	1/5/2007	$ 236.60	$ 220.25	93.0862

The market has been challenging here in Orlando Florida.

Absolutely not!  It just means we need to do our best from the very beginning.  There are homes selling in the Orlando Florida area.  What are Orlando Florida successful sellers doing?   Is it staging to make your Orlando Florida home appeal to more people? 

• Painting the home? 
• Clearing out the clutter? 
• Perhaps it is burring a St. Joseph in the yard? 
• Flowers in yard? 
• Buyer Incentives?

The answer is simple to successfully selling your Orlando Florida home.  And you might not like the answer we have.  We think it has everything to do with being priced properly.  What do we mean by this? 

• It is not what you paid for your Orlando Florida home/condo
• it or what your appraisal last year said
• It is not what you want to net from the property
• It is not what your neighbor got last week, last month or last year

Plain and simple ~ it is what the buyers are willing to pay for the property right now.  And with the large number of choices available to potential buyers you must be competitively priced in order to achieve a successful sale here in Orlando Florida.

Call the Orlando Avenue Top Team at Keller Williams today at (407) 467-5155 for a complete analysis of your property and find out the difference that our team can give you to place that SOLD sign on your yard!

Celebrations of Citizenship on the 4th of July at Walt Disney World

The 4th of July was a very special day for over a 1000 people from more than a 100 countries.  Why you ask?  That was the day they became Citizens of the USA.

Yes it is a priviledge and what a site Main Street USA was in the Magic Kingdom on that day.  In conjunction with dreams come true the USCIS or United States Citizenship and Imigrations Services held the swearing in ceremony.  Gloria Estafan sang the national anthem  the new citizens took the oat of allegiance and said the pledge  of Allegiance during the ceremony. 

Senator Mel Martinez was the guest speaker and Lee Greenwood concluded the cermony with his renowned song God Bless the USA.  A great way to commemorate our Independence Day!