Celebration Spring Art Festival March 31 and April 1 in Celebration Florida 34747

This year more than 120 artists will display their painting, photography, jewelry, pottery, sculpture and ceramics in Celebration. This is a juried show with cash prizes totaling some $20,000.

Activities in the downtown area include entertainment as well as crafts and activities for children. The festival is open from 10 until 5 each day and everyone is welcome, including your well-behaved dogs.

If you want to really get involved there is even a patrons package available for $250!  So become a patron of the Arts.  Benefits include:

• 2 Tickets to the Patron’s Gala at Celebration Hotel 
• $200 voucher towards artwork of choice from the show.
• Keepsake poster and t-shirt
• Free rides for children of the Patron at the Young Artist’s Zone
• Recognition in the Festival Program

Celebration Florida was designed by the Disney Company and is a planned community. Celebration is organized into villages.

Celebration Florida was designed by the Disney Company and is a planned community.   Celebration is organized into villages.  The Villages are:

• Aquila Reserve – is the last village to be developed by The Celebration Company with 78 homes and is surrounded by wooded areas.
• Artisan Park – Developed by Arvida which has 300 single family homes, 50 townhomes and 300 condos.  Has a clubhouse that is exclusive to just Artisan Park residents.
• Celebration Village – Located in the downtown area was the original village consisting of 351 homes, mixutre of condos and shops. 
• East Village – Features 387 homes including townhomes and condos and is a 20-30 minute walk from downtown.
• Lake Evalyn – Third village with mostly garden homes in this 59 home area.
• North Village – Fourth village with 367 homes as well as townhomes and condos with a neighorhood pool with a pavillion area.
• South Village – Fifth Village with 552 homes with clubhouse, neighborhood pool and playground.
• West Village – Second village built boarded by Celebration Golf Course and elementary school with 95 homes.
• Roseville Corner – Small community of 99 homes mostly consisting of free-standing and attached Bungalow homes.
• One aspect of this planning is the acceptance of technology and the intergration into every day life.   Here are some helpful links in Celebration:

• Celebration Independent
• Community Announcements
• Community Events
• Groups
• Market Street
• March 2007 Newsletter
• Parks & Recreation
• Religious Institutions
• Schools
• Town Center Events
• Town Hall
• Wikipedia Description

Interested in purchasing a home or condo in Celebration?  Contact The Orlando Avenue Top Team today!

Now is a great time to purchase a home in the Orlando Area!

Yes it is!  There is a large selection of properties that are realistically priced in the Orlando Florida area and interest rates are still low.  Remember it is not if prices are going to go up, but more a matter of when!  So why wait to purchase a Orlando Florida area home?

1. How much you can afford?
2. What Kind of home do you want?  Single Family, Condominium? Townhouse?
3. What are the most important things you need in the community?
4. Do you have neighborhoods selected?  Or are you not sure where you want to live?  Working with your Orlando Florida expert can make the difference! 
5. Where do you want to live in the Orlando Florida area?
6. Do you have enough for a down payment and closing costs on your Orlando Florida home purchase?
7. Is your credit in order?  If not work with a professional to correct it.
8. Do you have pre-approval? 
9. Are you working with an experienced Orlando Florida Realtor? 

The Orlando Avenue Top Team is here to help you through the process of purchasing a home.   We have an extensive network of professionals to assist us in getting the job done.  Call us today to start the process of purchasing your Orlando Florida Area Home!

Public 18-hole Championship Golf Course

Celebration Florida was well planned to be a total experience for its residents.  Part of the expereince recreational opportunities.  Celebration Golf Club is open to the public and here are some basic facts:

• This public daily fee golf club (for rates, visit their website) was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Robert Trent Jones Jr.

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!