Tip line available to help fight dogfighting

Attorney General Bill McCollum today issued a press release announcing a tip line available to help fight dogfighting and animal fighting in Florida.

Reporting animal fighting by calling 877-TIP-HSUS (847-4787) can lead up to $5,000. in reward money.


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Top 10 Florida consumer complaints in 2008

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What were the top complaints by Florida's consumers? The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services released the top 10 consumer complaints for 2008.

Here they are:

1. Do not call/no sales solicitation
2. Travel/vacation plans complaints
3. Telemarketers ( not related to do not call complaints)
4. Credit/banking
5. Communications
6. Price gouging
7. Motor vehicle sales
8. Motor vehicle repairs
9. Landlord/tenant issues
10. Construction issues

Do you have a complaint? The number to call is 1-800-435-7352.

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100 acres for sale Florida

Search for land

Where can you find land of 100 acres of more for sale in Florida? I took a look at available properties listed for sale of 100 acres or more in the Central Florida area and found these results by county.

• Lake County 21 listings
• Orange County 2 listings
• Osceola County 3 listings
• Seminole County 2 listings
• Volusia County 2 listings
• Polk County 13 listings

Contact me to purchase land of all sizes in Florida.

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Florida real estate license

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We are offering an incredible opportunity for those who are interested in obtaining a Florida real estate license.

Our 2009 real estate school schedule is out. We are offering special rates to make it easy for everyone to afford. You can attend our Florida real estate license school for only $99.00 for the class + $50.00 for the new text book, material, supplies and class exam. That's it! Here is the perfect opportunity to attend a Florida real estate license school without having to invest a huge amount of money!

Schools will be held in Kissimmee, Longwood, Deland, Champions Gate and Port Orange. Contact me or call me at 407-304-0255 to receive your registration packet.

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Bank owned Florida condos for sale

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There are over 1000 bank owned Florida condos for sale in the Central Florida area. Buying a bank owned condo is a great way to make a good deal. contact me to view available bank owned condos in your area.

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Short sales orlando

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Short sales are a significant part of the listing inventory in Orlando with nearly 3000 homes currently listed for sale indicating that they are subject to third party approval or a short sale contingency. Selling short indicates that the home owner does not have enough equity to pay off their mortgage should they sell their home at fair market value.

Home buyers view short sales in Orlando as a chance to purchase a home and receive a good deal. The time frame for closing these transaction can be lengthy. Buyers must be prepared to wait for weeks often before finding out that their offer/contract has been approved by the seller's lender.

We are closing short sale transactions weekly. Contact me if you would like to buy or sell a home in Orlando subject to a short sale contingency.


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Acres for sale Lake County Florida

Search for Lake County land

Lake County Florida is a growing area, home to cities that include. Clermont, Eustis and Mount Dora. If you are looking for land for sale in Lake County, you are in luck.

Currently there are many different possibilities for your consideration including:

• 295 properties that are 1/2 acre to 1 acre
• 265 properties that are 1 to 2 acres
• 280 available pieces that are 2 to 5 acres
• 264 - 5 acre lots
• 117 - 10 acre lots
• 91 - 20 acre parcels
• 17 pieces with 50 acres or more
• 13 unique properties over 100 acres!

Contact me if you would like to receive additional information about available property with acres for sale in Lake County.

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Hunting land for sale

Search for land

Can you find hunting land for sale in Central Florida? Sure you can. Right now there are over 20 listings of land described as being suitable for hunting. Several are over 100 acres!

If you are interested in purchasing land for hunting, contact me to receive a free list.


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How do I apply for Florida unemployment check?

Sell your home

How do I apply for Florida unemployment check?

With unemployment on the rise many are wondering how they apply for an unemployment check. You can apply by visiting the website of the Agency for Workforce Innovation.

Those individuals who are out of work through no fault of their own and are actively looking for employment may qualify for this assistance.


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6 bedroom house

Search for 6 bedroom house

Recent statistics from Google keyword search indicates that there are on average 2400 searches for a 6 bedroom house. A 6 bedroom house would certainly be an unusual request for the typical home buyer I meet. The good news is there are over 800 - 6 bedroom houses for sale right now in my market area.

Contact me for more details.


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Walk in closet in master bedroom

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Commercial real estate forms

Search for commercial real estate

Are commercial real estate forms different than residential real estate forms?

Yes, if you are planning on buying or selling commercial real estate make sure that the proper commercial forms and disclosures are being used in the transaction.

Contact me if your are interested in purchasing commercial real estate.

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Foreclosures by zip code

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Foreclosures by zip code can be easily searched and found with detailed reports emailed to you if you would like. Once you have decided on a home or list of homes that are in the zip code area you are interested in, contact me and we will schedule a time for you to see these homes.


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Florida HUD homes

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Florida HUD homes will become increasingly popular as more buyers jump back into the Florida real estate market to take advantage of the lower prices. Buyers can contact me to view Florida HUD homes and I will assist them with placing their bid online.

HUD homes are available throughout Central Florida including:

• 11 currently for sale in Lake County
• 12 in Orange County
• 5 in Osceola County
• 1 in Seminole
• 10 in Volusia County

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Over half of the homes for sale have a ceiling fan

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Photo by satanoid
Ceiling fans are a common feature in homes for sale in Florida.

In Central Florida, over 51% of the homes listed for sale have at least 1 ceiling fan. Ceiling fans are so common place that when making an offer on a home the contract you use may already have ceiling fans pre-printed on the contract as a fixture the seller is leaving with the home.

Searching for even the smallest details like ceiling fans is part of the service I can provide to home buyers purchasing a home in Central Florida.

Contact me to begin your search.


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Florida youth showing early learning skills

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Florida’s kindergartners are showing showing early literacy skills according to a report released by the Florida Department of Education.

The rating system used to measure literacy skills involved the following categories:

• Demonstrating - the child demonstrated what he or she should know and be able to do at the beginning of kindergarten
• Emerging/Progressing - the child demonstrated some of the skills he or she needs to know or be able to do at the beginning of kindergarten
• Not Yet Demonstrating - appropriate skill development was not yet demonstrated during the screening

Florida kindergarten children rating results included; 48% Demonstrating, 40%Emerging/Progressing and 12% Not Yet Demonstrating.

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Commercial office space for lease

Commercial property search

Contact me to purchase or lease commercial property anywhere in Central Florida. The following is our featured commercial property for lease.

1515 Michigan Ave., Kissimmee, FL

• 1 office - $47 per sqft plus $2.00 CAM plus 7% sales tax
• 2 offices - $37 per sqft plus $2.00 CAM plus 7% sales tax
• 3 offices - $25 per sqft plus $2.00 CAM plus 7% sales tax
• 4 offices - $16 per sqft plus $2.00 CAM plus 7% sales tax
• 5+ offices - $15 per sqft plus $2.00 CAM plus 7% sales tax

Offices range in size from 85 to 1100 square foot. Electric, water and security alarm monitoring are included in CAM. Tenant is responsible for janitorial service, telephone/data lines and share of dumpster.

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Florida online learning programs are the best in the nation

Search for a Florida home

The Florida Department of Education recently announced that the Florida Virtual School received recognition as the nations top provider of virtual education.

Governor Crist was quoted "Online learning is a bright star for our state’s future, and I applaud Florida Virtual School for years of success in delivering high quality educational options to all students."

Read the full release


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Florida unemployment rate exceeds national rate

Florida's unemployment rate for November is reported as 7.3% which is higher than the National rate of 6.7%. The rising rate is primarily due to declines in construction throughout the State.

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Sweat equity grants help lower income first-time homebuyers

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HUD announced awarding $26.5 million is sweat equity grants. These grants will help lower income first time homebuyers purchase a home.

Habitat for Humanity International received a large portion of the grant.


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How can you avoid overpaying for a home in Florida?

Search for homes

How can you avoid overpaying for a home in Florida?

There are steps that you can take that can help you in avoiding paying to much for your next home.

1. Research. You can research the sold prices of homes in most any area by visiting the property appraiser's office or website or you can ask your real estate agent to conduct a market analysis for you by using the sold comparable available in the MLS. Compare recent sales to the asking price of the home you are thinking of buying to determine if the home is priced correctly.
2. Appraisal. Make sure you receive an appraisal of the property. Most lenders will require an appraisal to be completed prior to the lender loaning any money on the home.
3. Search for bargains. Short sale, HUD homes, pre-foreclosures, bank owned and foreclosed homes are being sold in Florida right now at incredible savings and prices. Make sure your real estate agent is showing you homes in these categories.

Taking your time and enlisting the services of a full time real estate professional can help you avoid paying to much for a home.

Contact me if you would like to take advantage of our services.

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Real estate agents offer free consultation to home buyers

Search for homes

Real estate agents offer free consultation to home buyers looking to purchase their first home or experienced buyers looking to move up or buy an investment or vacation home. This free consultation includes:

• Identifying your wants and needs
• Help in determining your price range
• Answering your questions ahead of time to eliminate your stress and uncertainty
• Providing you with the information you need to help you decide if you should move forward

If you are considering a home purchase in the near future and would like to arrange for a free consultation with one of our real estate professionals, contact me today.

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Where can you find HUD homes for sale in Florida?

If you are looking to purchase a HUD home in the Central Florida areas of Lake, Seminole, Orange, Osceola or Volusia, I can provide you with a free list of all HUD homes currently available. Right now there are several HUD homes listed for sale.

• Orange County currently has 12 HUD homes listed for sale
• Osceola has 6 HUD homes listed for sale
• Lake County has 10 HUD homes listed for sale
• Volusia has 10 HUD homes listed for sale
• Seminole County has 1 HUD home listed for sale

The listing inventory changes weekly. If you want to receive current updated lists for a specific area or would like to buy a HUD home, contact me.

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Suggestions to help make your holiday a safe one

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The State of Florida Agency for Enterprise Information Technology Office of Information Security offers Floridians the following suggestions that when put in use can help prevent us from being the victim of criminal activity.

· Shop during daylight hours whenever possible.
· Shop with friends and family, especially at night.
· Be extra careful if you carry a wallet or purse. They are the prime targets of criminals in crowded areas.
· Keep cash and credit cards in your front pocket.
· Avoid carrying large amounts of cash.
· Pay for purchases with a credit card or check when possible.
· Stay alert to your surroundings.
· Notify your credit card issuer immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen or misused.
· Keep a record of all of your credit card numbers in a safe place at home.
· Avoid overloading yourself with packages. It is important to have clear visibility and freedom of motion to avoid mishaps.
· Keep packages in your trunk.
· Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason. At this time of year, con-artists try various methods of distracting you with the intention of taking your money or belongings.
· If you're leaving town for the holidays, make sure your home appears occupied by using timer lights and having neighbors take care of your mail and newspapers.

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10 best cities in Central Florida to find a real estate deal

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By now buyers and investors have heard about the low, low prices of homes being offered for sale in Florida. What are the 10 best cities in Central Florida to find a real estate deal?

I searched the MLS records looking for homes that are at least 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, a minimum of 1200 square feet that have sold this year for $150,000 or less. Here are the top 10 cities with the number of units sold:

1. Kissimmee 537
2. Orlando 445
3. Deltona 358
4. Lakeland 279
5. Poinciana 180
6. Davenport 171
7. Clermont 98
8. DeLand 69
9. Apopka 59
10. Leesburg 50

Each of these cities continue to maintain a high inventory of homes priced for sale at $150,000 or lower.

Contact me to receive a list of homes in your area.

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Florida pool homes under $100,000

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Can you buy a Florida pool home and pay less that $100,000? Possibly. There are homes listed, mainly bank owned and homes subject to short sale approval, right now priced under $100,000 listed for sale.

• 33 in the West Volusia area
• 20 in Osceola County
• 44 in Orange County

Contact me to schedule a time to view these homes.

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Enhance tax credit to help economy builders say

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The National Association of Home Builders are seeking enhancements to the current $7500 first time home buyer's tax credit.

In the news release asking Congress to fix housing first, the home building association offered the following suggestions:

• All primary home purchases between April 9, 2008 and Dec. 31, 2009 would be eligible.
• The credit amount would be increased to 10 percent of the price of the home, capped at 3.5 percent of FHA loan limits, bringing the credit to a range of roughly between $10,000 and $22,000.
• The current recapture provision would be eliminated. Repayment would only be required if the home were sold within three years.
• The credit would be available at the time of closing, making it easier to be used as a down payment.

According to the Association, "restoring demand for housing is the fastest and most effective way of reviving the economy."

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I am buying a house in Seminole County, how can I find out who the utility companies are?

Search for a home

If you are buying a home in Seminole county an important question is in finding out who will be your service and utility providers are.

Seminole County offers a guide to county services and has a residential information web page set up to assist you with searching for information that relates directly to your location in Seminole County. Here is the search page.

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Government will buy foreclosures

The Neighborhood Stabilization Program provides State and local governments with a source of funding to help them respond to rising foreclosures and declining property values.

How is the money to be spent?

• Buying foreclosed homes
• Buying land and property
• Demolishing or rehabilitating abandoned properties
• Offering downpayment and closing cost assistance to low- to moderate-income homebuyers
• Creating "land banks" to assemble, temporarily manage, and dispose of vacant land for the purpose of stabilizing neighborhoods and encouraging re-use or redevelopment of property

Local cities and counties receiving money are:

• Deltona $6.6 million
• Kissimmee $2.3 million
• Orange County $27.9 million
• Orlando $6.7 million
• Seminole County $7.0 million
• Volusia county $5.2 million

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Orlando can be your hometown too

The following is a video created by the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission titled Orlando - My Hometown.




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Where are Orlando mortgage foreclosure sales held?

Where do you go to bid on Orlando and Orange County mortgage foreclosure sales? The following information is from myorangeclerk.com.

Mortgage foreclosure sales are held on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of every week. The sales are held in Room 350 of the Orange County Courthouse, located at 425 North Orange Avenue, Orlando, Florida 32801. For sale cancellations and title information, call 407-836-2278.

You can also go here to search for all homes for sale in Central Florida.


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Holiday property for sale

Many who search for Florida real estate are searching for holiday property for sale. Holiday or vacation property can be found throughout Central Florida including the Orlando and Kissimmee area. Right now there are over 2500 holiday property listings for sale.

Google Trends report the top searchers for holiday property as being from Ireland, United Kingdom, Australia and of course the United States.

Contact me for a free report regarding holiday property for sale.

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Casselberry dog walk and animal parade

Secret Lake Park in Casselberry is hosting Paws for a Cause.

Sunday, December 7, 2008 11:00 AM—3:00 PM

Secret Lake Park
200 N. Triplet Lake Drive
Casselberry, FL 32707

PawsForACause@cfl.rr.com


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Altamonte Springs traditional holiday lighting of Cranes Roost Park

Traditional lighting of Cranes Roost Park in Altamonte Springs will be Saturday, December 6 -5:00 pm - 9:00 pm - Eddie Rose Amphitheater. You can visit the Altamonte Springs event page for more information.


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From the White House to a red brick house, President Bush buys a home

The Dallas Morning News reported on the home President Bush has purchased in the Dallas neighborhood of Preston Hollow.

The home is reported as being 8,500 square feet and sitting on 1.1 acres. Had President Bush decided to buy a home in Central Florida, he would have been able to select from 28 homes with similar living space and land size.

The homes President Bush could have viewed here in Central Florida have list prices starting just over $1 million up to over $9 million.

Visit my free home search page to find a home similar to the Presidents in Central Florida.


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Mortgage fraud continues in 2008

Amazingly mortgage fraud not only continues but increased during the second quarter of 2008 according to a report conducted by Mortgage Asset Research Institute (MARISM). Sadly, Florida led the way.


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How important is curb appeal?

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With thousands of homes for sale in Florida, home sellers are only going to get one chance to make a good first impression. Curb appeal is the first chance a seller's home has to make a good impression. What is curb appeal? It might be described as what the buyer first sees when they pull up in front of a home. How the home appears from the driveway or curb will often get the buyer excited about seeing the inside of the home or if the home lacks curb appeal it might cause the buyer to immediately lose interest in the home.

What can a seller do to make sure their home has great curb appeal?

• Make sure you move the broken down vehicles off the front yard. OK, that is an extreme example but the point is you should make sure your lawn is tidy and well manicured.
• Become an artist. Even if you can't draw a stick figure you should be able to paint the house where needed.
• Doors and windows. Close the garage door, replace the cracked glass, fix the broken hinges or torn screens.

Unless your home is a fixer upper and priced accordingly, you need to make sure your home shows as well as it possibly can and that starts with the curb appeal.

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Governor Crist announces an agreement that will allow many Floridians to be home for the holidays.

Press Release:

"Governor Charlie Crist joined representatives of the banking and mortgage lending industry to announce a voluntary agreement to provide foreclosure relief to Florida homestead property owners for the next 45 days. Governor Crist encouraged lenders to continue their efforts to actively negotiate with struggling homeowners during the coming months to help people stay in their homes."

This act may temporarily ease the stress of some homeowners who were facing the possibility of losing their home during the holiday season. Any long term benefit might only be realized if the lenders involved follow Governor Crist's encouragement to negotiate with distressed homeowners in an effort to keep them in their homes.

If he keeps one child in their home for Christmas, can that be bad?


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Were you aware that you could purchase holiday ornaments that are unique to Florida? These ornaments are created as reminders of Florida's distinctive history, landscape and culture.

You can visit the Florida's History Shop to view this years ornaments.

You can also visit my free home search page to find a new home to display your new ornaments.


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Find money for the holidays. Unclaimed property.

The holidays are upon us and everyone would like to have a little more money to buy those extra gifts and surprises for their friends and family. Where might you find extra money? Try the State of Florida Unclaimed Property website.

According to the State of Florida "The most common types of unclaimed property are dormant bank accounts,unclaimed insurance proceeds, stocks, dividends, uncashed checks, deposits, credit balances and refunds."

You can search to see if you have unclaimed property by visiting the Bureau of Unclaimed Property.

If you find you have lots of money and would like to purchase a home, you can search for a home here.


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Q: I own a home I purchased before I was married, the home is a non-homestead property, does my spouse have to sign the listing paperwork?

A: No. Since the title to the property is vested in your name only and the property is NON-HOMESTEAD property you are the only one that needs to sign the listing paperwork.


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Where are the cheapest houses for sale?

Real estate prices in Florida are falling to levels we have not seen in years. First time home buyers and repeat buyers and investors are now able to buy homes at incredible prices.

Where are the cheapest houses for sale in Central Florida? The following is the active inventory list by county of homes priced under $100,000.

• Lake County which includes Eustis, Mt. Dora, Groveland, Clermont and Leesburg have 245 homes listed under $100,000.
• Orange County home to Orlando and Winter Park report 664 listings under $100,000.
• Osceola County includes Kissimmee and St. Cloud is showing 306 homes under $100K
• Seminole County with cities that include Altamonte Springs and Sanford are reporting 120 homes for sale under $100,000.

The facts are houses are being sold at the cheapest prices in some time. If you would like a list of homes in your area, contact me. You can conduct your own home search by using this home search page.

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When is the Orlando Christmas tree lighting ceremony?

The When is the Orlando Christmas tree lighting ceremony will be held on December 2 at 5:00 p.m. at the City Hall Plaza.

You can view complete information about this annual event by visiting here.

If you would like to view homes for sale in the Orlando area, you can visit this free home search page.

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Builders are cutting prices to help the real estate market

The National Association of home Builders in a recent press release say that builders are doing what they can to help the real estate market get moving in a positive direction. Cutting prices along with offering incentives and reducing production are big steps towards recovery but the National Association of Home Builders acknowledge that more must be done and are calling on congress to help by:

• expanding the first-time home buyer tax credit
• government buy-down of mortgage interest rates

You can take advantage of the special incentives and reduced new home pricing by contacting me to receive a list of new homes available in your area. Or you can search from thousands of new homes that are currently listed for sale today.

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Will the winner of Florida's Powerball lottery buy a house?

The Florida Lottery will be offering the multi-state Powerball lottery game starting in January 2009.

Governor Christ Charlie Crist said; "I applaud the Florida Lottery for continuing its mission of maximizing sales for the state's education system - benefiting Florida students in all grade levels,"... "Joining Powerball will help ensure that the promise made to Floridians 22 years ago continues to be fulfilled."

Leave the luck for lottery games. If you don't want to leave your successful real estate transaction to luck contact me to buy or sell a home.


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Florida Attorney General offers suggestions to help consumers avoid holiday shopping stress, potential scams and overspending.

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum issued a news release this week that offers advise to Floridians. The Attorney General encourages consumers to plan ahead in or to avoid stress, potential scams and overspending this holiday season. His suggestions included:

• Read sale ads carefully. Some ads may say “quantities limited,” “no rain checks,” or “not available at all stores.” Call to make sure the item is available.
• Look for price-matching policies. Some merchants will match, or even beat, a competitor’s price.
• Ask about sales adjustments. If you buy an item that goes on sale the next week, can you get a credit or refund?

The news release also suggested shoppers shop locally and spend their money with merchants they know and trust. Additionally the news release covered how to protect yourself when purchasing holiday gift cards.

Be sure to review the helpful tips to holiday shoppers. If you are considering purchasing real estate this holiday season, Watson Realty has been a trusted name for over 40 years in Florida. You can visit this search for a home page or contact me to talk with a real estate professional.

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What time does Florida and Florida State play?

The Florida-Florida State football match up will be played tomorrow, Saturday November 29 at 3:30. The game will be shown on ABC.


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University of Florida reports housing prices hit bottom in July

10 acres for sale in Osceola Florida

Osceola County Florida is home to cities that include Kissimmee and St. Cloud. Right now in Osceola there are 10 homes for sale listed with 10 acres of more. Additionally there are over 50 parcels of ground listed for sale that are 10 acres plus.

To find out more about these available properties, contact me or search for your home here.


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I know I can buy a list of foreclosures on the internet, is there a way to search the MLS for foreclosures?

I know I can buy a list of foreclosures on the internet, is there a way to search the MLS for foreclosures?

Yes. Most people interested in buying foreclosures should contact their local real estate agent before they purchase lists of foreclosures being offered online or in trade magazines. I can provide any qualified buyer with information and a list of available foreclosed homes in the area and price they are interested in. The MLS I have access to allows me to search for bank owned, in-foreclosure and pre-foreclosure listings.

If you would like to have me help you contact me today to get started. You can also take advantage of this home search tool to look for homes in your area.


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Can a buyer using FHA financing make an offer on a short sale or foreclosure?

Can a buyer using FHA financing make an offer on a short sale or foreclosure?

Yes, a buyer who is obtaining FHA financing can make offers on short sales or foreclosure property.

The problems the buyer might encounter could revolve around the FHA minimum required property standards. Minimum required property standards may result in items needing to be repaired or replaced in the home before the buyer will receive full loan approval. The short sale seller or REO lender may not be able or willing to make these repairs.

Make sure your buyer is aware that short sale and REO homes are often listed for sale in as is condition which could prevent the buyer from obtaining financing.

Contact me to discuss your real estate financing questions or use my new home search feature to find the right house for you.


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What is the best interior layout for a house?

What is the best interior layout for a house? This ultimately will be based on an individuals personal taste, likes and dislikes. One of the more popular interior layout designs ask for by buyers is a home with a split plan or split bedroom. A split plan places the master bedroom at the opposite end of the house from the remaining bedrooms.

There are over 30,000 split plan homes for sale in Central Florida right now. Contact me for more information or search for your home here.


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Once under contract can a seller decide not to sell their home?

I received a visitor to my blog who arrived here by typing the following question into Google looking for an answer.


"Once under contract can a seller decide not to sell their home?"

From an executed contract point of view a seller cannot simply decide not to sell. As long as all terms of the contract, attached addendum's and clauses have or are being met the seller is under contractual obligation to complete the sale. You should always seek legal advice if you have questions regarding your real estate transaction.


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Orlando area short sales real estate agents

The short sale process should not be handled by a real estate beginner. The very best Orlando short sales real estate agents are those who have received ongoing training, have a complete understanding of the process and have hands on experience closing short sales.

All of the above describe the short sale experts in my office. With many closed deals under their belt you will not find a more experienced dedicated group of Orlando area agents to help you with your short sale transaction.

Contact me or give me a call 407-304-0255.


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Magical thinking and Florida real estate

Magical thinking: The inaccurate belief that one's thoughts, words, or actions will cause or prevent a specific outcome that does not demonstrate a realistic relationship between cause and effect. (Dr. Ted Sarbin and Dr. Leissa Nelson of the Defense Personnel Security Research Center)

Magical thinking as it relates to Florida real estate include:

• Sellers who believe that it does not matter how high they price their home, buyers can always make an offer.
• Real estate agents who believe that someone will call them to buy or sell a house if they wait at their desks long enough, wishing real hard.
• Buyers who believe banks are going to respond quickly to their offers and counter those offers that are ridiculously low.
• Real estate agents who believe their fellow real estate agents will call them within 24 hours of showing their listing with helpful feedback.
• Sellers who believe their homes are worth the same as they were 2 years ago.
• Buyers who believe they can simply walk away from an executed contract without just reason and suffer no penalty.
• Real estate agents who believe that additional training and education is a waste of time.

Magical thinking has a hold on many of the participants related to Florida real estate. Only those who break free from that type of thinking will have the opportunity to succeed in this market.

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Maybe I Should Move To Florida

Maybe I Should Move To Florida is a post written on Michele Neylon :: Pensieri. The author mentions reading advertisements for homes for sale for a "few thousand dollars".

While those "few thousand dollar" may or may not be inhabitable, the fact remains that the declining home prices in Florida could have many people thinking it might be time to move here. REO and short sale properties are being offered for sale well under $100K and with interest rates low, bargain hunters are starting to pay attention.

If you think that you should move to Florida, here is a website to search for Florida homes or you could just contact me and I will search for you.


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The environmental dangers of moving firewood

I must admit I was not aware of the environmental dangers of moving firewood. Here is a short video that discusses the problem.





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Where can you find information about Florida schools?

The Florida Department of Education provides information about Florida schools including school grades and accountability reporting. If you are considering moving to a new home and schools are important you should independently verify school information by all means available including visiting the FDOE website.

The Florida Department of Education provides answers to the education system in Florida. To find Florida homes for sale you will want to visit my Florida home search page or contact me and I will search for homes for you.


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Buy a home with hardwood floors

Is it important that the next home you buy in Florida have hardwood floors? If so you may be please to learn that I can set up a specific search for you that only includes available homes for sale with hardwood floors.

Right now there are over 14,000 homes listed for sale with wood flooring. Contact me to receive the latest list of homes in your area and price range. If you would like to search for homes on your own prior to contacting me you can use this home search feature.

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In law suites offer advantages to home buyers

In law suites, attached apartments, or other living quarters that are available in addition to the main home offer some home buyers the perfect solution to living arrangement or budget issues. Florida has many of these types of properties for sale in a wide range of prices. Current inventory shows listings that are:

• in law suites - 1238 listings
• detached in law apartment - 1,031
• available rental apartment - 607 listings

There are many affordable homes that match every home buyers need. Contact me to start your home search or you can shop for your home by visiting this home search page.

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MFRMLS website appears to be down

I attempted to reach the MFRMLS site and found an error message, "Account for domain www.mfrmls.com has been suspended". From messages I receive when accessing the MLS it appears that MFRMLS is aware and are working on the problem.

For those trying to reach MFRMLS, here are the phone numbers I have:

Technical assistance: 407-218-8607
Toll free: 800-686-7451


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Hope for Homeowners program changes will help Florida residents

HUD recently announced changes to the Hope for Homeowners program which is designed to help distressed homeowners refinance their existing mortgages.

The new changes which can be found on the FHA press release, were created to help lower consumer cost and drive down the homeowners monthly mortgage obligation.

To qualify borrowers must show a long term ability to pay and the program is for owner occupants only.

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Realtors need to be sure the good real estate deals, really are.

Unfortunately it appears homes are being listed in the MLS at prices that may not be what the seller will actually accept.

My guess is the thought process of the listing real estate agent is by listing the home at a price is low enough the home will attract more buyers which increases the chance of receiving offers. Once offers start coming in the seller and agent no doubt are counting on multiple offers to compete against each other thereby raising the price the home sells for.

Recent information received from FAR should give those agents engaging in this type of listing manipulation pause for concern.

The FAR article asks the question:

Q: If a real estate licensee lists a property at a below market price he knows the seller probably won’t accept, is the licensee in violation of Florida real estate license law?

FAR’s General Counsel Randy Schwartz responds, "While a violation of the Florida real estate license law is a matter to be determined by the Florida Real Estate Commission, in my opinion, if a licensee lists a property for a price the licensee and the seller know is not acceptable, a case of misrepresentation and false advertisement can be made under Chapter 475.25(1)(c) Florida Statutes. It would not make any difference if the listing indicated that the selling price was subject to a third party lender or not; it is more a matter of advertising something that is known to not be acceptable."

If you are interested in finding legitimate good real estate deals, contact me or search for homes on this web page.

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What is the effective date of a real estate contract?

The effective date is the date on which the last party signed or initialed and delivered the final offer or counteroffer.

Contact me if you would like assistance with selling or buying real estate or search for real estate in your area here.


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First time home buyer, this market is for you!

During the Central Florida real estate boom-years the first time home buyer quite often found themselves out in the cold unable to purchase a home because of the unparalleled rising home prices. Purchasing a home during the boom was a luxury for those who already owned a home that could be sold for huge profits or for those in the business to flip houses.

Well, guess what? They are baaaack! Home prices throughout Central Florida have fallen back to levels where first time home buyers can now jump into the home ownership game. The Central Florida market would include Lake, Osceola, Orange, Seminole and West Volusia Counties and they now offer the following to first time home buyers:

• 706 homes for sale in Central Florida are 3 bedroom, 2 bath homes and are priced at $100,000 or less
• 2,242 homes for sale in Central Florida are 3 bedroom, 2 bath homes are priced between $101,000 and $150,000

This is a huge opportunity for those who have never owned a home, to buy a quality affordable home in their area at prices that have not been seen for years. Reports suggest that median income levels in Central Florida are more than enough to purchase a median priced home.

The time is now to invest in your first home. Contact me to start the process or take advantage of my free home search tool to view homes for sale in your area.

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People are turning to Florida Realtors

Increase activity during the 3rd quarter was cause for 2008 FAR President Chuck Bonfiglio to comment that "people are turning to Florida Realtors more than ever". President Bonfiglio cited the following reasons for his comment:

• Realtor's professional expertise
• Knowledge
• Friendly guidance

All of the above according to the FAR President helps the seller and buyer in making the "complex process of buying or selling their home go more easily and smoothly.”

If you are interested in buying or selling a home and would like to use the services of a Florida Realtor, contact me.

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