Mar 30, 2009
Orlando Golf Course - The best driving ranges
Another great reason for owning a home in the Orlando area are the great golf courses. The Golf Channel just released a report of the Top 5 driving ranges in Florida and 3 of the top 5 driving ranges were in the Orlando area.
1. Isleworth Golf & Country Club
2. Lake Nona Golf & Country Club
5. Bay Hill Club & Lodge
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Mar 29, 2009
Loans for first time home buyers
Q: How can I find more information about loans for first time home buyers?
As a first time home buyer choosing the right loan is an extremely important step in the home buying process. The best way to find out about loans for for first time home buyers is to research and ask questions. FHA, VA, SHIP, Rural Housing and a host of other loans designed with the first time home buyer in mind are available.
Watson Mortgage will freely provide you with helpful insight and answer your questions pertaining to the best loan program available. Contact me to get started.
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First time home owner money available
Q: If I become a first time home owner this year do I qualify for available money?
First time home owners who qualify and purchase a home in 2009 prior to December 1st will be able to receive up to $8000. Contact me to find out more and to see if you qualify.
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Mar 28, 2009
Florida High Court to Study Foreclosures
Circuit Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey will chair the task force.
Full press release
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Florida’s February 2009 unemployment rate is the highest since April 1976
Comment on the efforts to improve unemployment situation from the Agency for Workforce Innovation:
“To help reinvigorate Florida’s economy, Governor Charlie Crist recently announced the infusion of $165 million in federal economic stimulus funds to directly benefit both job seekers and businesses,” said Agency Interim Director Cynthia Lorenzo. “These funds will provide critically-needed training and job placement services including summer employment opportunities for young people and assistance for Floridians at One-Stop Career Centers around the state.”
Real press release
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Mar 26, 2009
Government HUD homes for sale
The link above will take you to the Government HUD home search page. If you are looking for homes that offer real value you should seriously consider purchasing a HUD home.
When making offers for HUD homes it is recommended that you;
"Make your best offer, given all the facts regarding the listing price, available comparables, the market trends, and the FHA appraisal price. The FHA appraised value is published on the listing as the “As Is” value."
HUD homes require that you use a real estate broker to show you the home, prepare and submit your offers. We are registered to sell HUD homes. Contact me to get started.
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Mar 25, 2009
Retirement homes Florida
Florida is a great place to enjoy for the young and old including those in their retirement years, with warm sunshine and plenty of activities for the young of heart.
For those looking to find retirement homes in Florida you will be pleased to learn the Central Florida offers many choices to select from. Osceola, Orange, Seminole, Volusia, Polk and Lake County all have housing inventory for sale described as being housing of older persons.
If you would like assistance in finding the right home and community, contact me.
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Sanford Recreation Department Easter Egg Hunt
The Sanford Recreation Department will present their Easter Egg Hunt on April 11, 2009 at 10 a.m to be held at Ft. Mellon Park.
You can read more about this fun filled event by checking out the event flyer.
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Magic 107.7 Easter Egg Hunt - Seminole County - UCF
The former Lake Mary/Seminole County Easter Egg hunt now know as the Magic 107.7 Easter Egg Hunt will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2009 in front of the UCF Arena.
Lots of eggs to be hunted plus booths, The Easter Bunny and many more fun activities are planned. You can read all about the day by visiting the event website.
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Multiple offers on a bank owned home
Q: Why do bank owned property receive multiple offers?
Not all bank owned property receive multiple offers. Just like any house for sale, if the home is priced for sale at or below market value, you can expect there to be many interested buyers wanting to purchase the property, which will lead to multiple offers.
We are finding an increasing number of Central Florida bank owned property receiving multiple offers which indicates the strong motivation of the lenders wishing to move these properties.
Contact me if you would like to receive a free list of bank owned properties for sale in your area.
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Mar 24, 2009
How do I find a good real estate agent?
Q: How do I find a good real estate agent to help me buy or sell a home?
The process of finding a real estate agent who you can count on to provide you with the customer service you desire involves asking the right questions.
These questions include asking for recommendations from your family and friends and then asking those real estate agents who you interview about their experience level, asking for references and asking questions centered around your specific needs and concerns.
If you ask the right questions you should be able to find a good or great real estate agent to assist you. Contact me today and start asking away.
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Mar 23, 2009
Kissimmee Easter Egg Eggstravaganza
Q: When is Kissimmee's Easter egg hunt?
The 2009 Kissimmee Easter egg hunt will be held on April 11 from 12 p.m. till 3 p.m. For more information about the City of Kissimmee Parks Department event view this flyer.
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DeBary's annual “Egg-stravaganza” Easter egg hunt will be from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Saturday, April 4. For more information, please contact Garrett Veirs at (386) 736-5953, ext. 6702, or visit the Volusia County news site.
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Some Florida home owners will be receiving lower electric bills
Some Florida home owners will be receiving lower electric bills starting in April thanks to a decision by Progress Energy to decrease consumer bills by $15.08 per month per 1,000 kilowatt-hours. Full report
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Mar 22, 2009
What are the income limits to qualify for the 2009 home buying tax credit?
Q: What are the income limits to qualify for the 2009 home buying tax credit?
In order to qualify for the first time home buyer tax credit being offered to purchases made in 2009 the limits are individual taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married taxpayers with earnings up to $150,000.
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If I buy a house do I get $8,000?
Q: I have heard if I buy a house I will get $8,000, is this true?
If you are a first time home buyer, someone who has not owned a home within the past 3 years and you buy a home this year and prior to December 1, 2009, you are eligible for a tax credit
equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.
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Mar 19, 2009
Orlando-Kissimmee population increases
The Orlando-Kissimmee metro area was the fastest growing metro area of populations by more than 100,000 people from 2007 to 2008 in Florida and the 25th fastest in the Country.
Affordable home prices will continue to make the Orlando-Kissimmee area a great place to not only visit but also live.
Census Bureau Report
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If you moved to Osceola County in 2008, you were not alone
Osceola County home to Kissimmee and St. Cloud was the 87th fastest growing county in the US.
The Census Bureau released a report that included the top 100 counties with a population of 10,000 or more and Osceola reported a 3.1% increase from 2007 - 2008.
If you would like more information about moving to Osceola County Florida, contact me.
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Mar 16, 2009
Hundreds of buyers have found the best real estate deals in Central Florida
Hundreds of buyers have found the best real estate deals in Central Florida.
Over 700 real estate closings have taken place in my Central Florida market area since the first of the year through today. The number is actually closer to 800 according to information pulled from the multiple listing service when searching sold sales from Jan 1, 2009 - March 16, 2009.
Hundreds of buyers have found real estate deals good enough to contact real estate agents to view and make offers on. In many cases these good deals have received offers from multiple buyers wanting one of these "best deals".
Bank owned, foreclosed and pre-foreclosure homes make up a huge portion of the sales happening right now in Central Florida. You are in luck if you are a buyer looking for these great deals because I have complete access to all of those types of homes currently for sale. Contact me to receive your list of the best deals available.
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Mar 12, 2009
Search for librarian jobs in Florida
Are you interested in working in a Florida library? You can search for available librarian and library jobs by visiting this State of Florida website.
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Florida Bar cautions lawyers about working with non lawyers on behalf of distressed homeowners
The Florida Bar News by Elizabeth Tarbert report deals with the ethics of lawyers working with non lawyers dealing with distressed home owners.
The report cautions lawyers against working with non lawyers "...involved in loan modifications, short sales, and other foreclosure-related rescue services on behalf of distressed homeowners."
Full news release
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Is it difficult to buy a bank owned home or condo in Florida?
Q: Is it difficult to buy a bank owned home or condo in Florida?
In most cases it is no more difficult to buy a bank owned home or condo than it is to buy a home or condo from a traditional home owner. There are a few differences you will need to be aware of when buying a bank owned home. Using a professional real estate agent can help you navigate successfully through the process, explaining each step along the way.
Differences you need to be aware of when buying a bank owned as compared to a non bank owned include;
- Banks often taken longer than normal to respond to offers
- Bank owned homes are often sold as is
- Bank owned homes usually receive multiple offers
If you would like help with purchasing a bank owned home or condo, contact me today.
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Mar 11, 2009
Florida Offender Alert System
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Florida short sales market report
Florida short sales, selling the home for less than owed on the mortgage, continue to make up a large portion of the Central Florida real estate business. Home owners who find themselves upside down with their mortgage/home value and need to sell their home are finding that the short sale contingency is an available avenue.
Records indicate that nearly 10% of the total sold homes over the past 3 months in Polk, Lake, Volusia, Orange and Osceola were sold with a 3rd party approval contingency which usually indicates a short sale.
If you need to sell your home and would like to find out more about the short sale contingency, contact me for a private consultation.
Sold data Based on information from MFRMLS for the period 12-11-2008 – 03-11-2009.
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Million dollar view includes shuttle launch
Everyone would love to own a home with a million dollar view. For thousands of Central Florida residents tonight, their million dollar view will include watching the space shuttle Discovery fly through the night sky heading towards the International Space Station. The launch is scheduled for 9:20 p.m ET.
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Windermere real estate searches increasing
People interested in Orlando real estate are also interested in Windermere real estate according to related search term trends reported by Google Trends.
Windermere is located southwest of downtown Orlando. Home to communities and neighborhoods that often have homes priced in the multi-million dollar range, Windermere is a top choice for the luxury home buyer.
At the present time you can find over 600 homes for sale in Windermere with over 60% priced at $500K or higher. Over the past 3 months, over 90 homes have sold in Windermere.
If you would like specific information regarding a neighborhood or community in Windermere, contact me and I will be happy to assist.
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Mar 7, 2009
Florida fruit
Here is another great reason to move to or live in Florida. You can find the following fruit being grown in Florida according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Asian pear, atemoya, avocado, bananas, blackberries, canistel, cantaloupe, carambola, grapes, guava, honeydew, longan, lychee, mango, mamey sapote, monstera, papaya, passion fruit, peaches, persimmons, strawberries and watermelon.
To be honest there are several fruits listed that I have not heard of, mostera, mamey sapote or canistel to name a few. Time to Google it.
Department of Agriculture source
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Mar 5, 2009
Florida home owners may be able to modify mortgage and reduce monthly payments
There are requirements you must meet before qualifying for a loan modification.
- The loan you wish to modify must be on your primary home.
- You first mortgage must not exceed $729,750.
- You are having problems paying your mortgage because of an increase in payment, loss of income or other hardship.
- Your loan was originated prior to January 1, 2009.
If you have answered yes to all of the above you will need to contact your current loan service provider and ask about the loan modification program. You will need to provide your lender information that includes:
- Documentation or pay stubs that provide information about your gross monthly income.
- Recent income tax return
- Information about what you own, your assets
- Do you have a second mortgage? They will need to know.
- Account information of all of your additional debt.
- A detailed letter addressing what has happened to cause you to struggle with your home loan.
If you are having troubles and believe you qualify for this government program, contact your lender immediately. You can find more information of the President's plan by visiting here.
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Mar 4, 2009
When does the time change?
Don't forget about Daylight savings time. The time will change on Sunday, March 8th at 2:00 a.m. You will need to set your clocks ahead 1 hour.
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Mar 2, 2009
Fraudulent foreclosure rescue services & loan modification services lead to complaints
As part of the National Consumer Protection Week (March 1-7), Florida's Attorney General cautioned Florida consumers to avoid scams and con artists. The top complaint of Florida consumers in 2008 concerned fraudulent foreclosure rescue services & loan modification services. Be sure to check any company out thoroughly before getting involved.
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Mar 1, 2009
What is the best way to find Florida foreclosures?
What is the best way to find foreclosures in Florida? There are a number of sites that offer to provide lists of foreclosures for sale in Florida and across the country but the simplest way to find foreclosures in Florida is to contact a real estate agent located in the area you are primarily interested in.
For example I have access to foreclosures, pre-foreclosures, REO and distressed property for sale throughout Central Florida. I can narrow down your search for foreclosures to a specific area, a listing price range and condition. I am able to alert you to new foreclosure listings as they hit the market.
The best way to find Florida foreclosures is by using the services of a real estate agent.
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Which Florida counties have sold the most houses in 2009?
Q: Which Florida counties have sold the most houses so far in 2009?
Looking at Central Florida housing sales as reported in the MLS, the following 5 counties have reported the most home sales through the end of February 2009. Home sales reported include home and condos combined.
- Orange - 1389 - compared to 938 sold during the same time in 2008.
- Hillsborough - 1333 - compared to 1146 sold during the same time in 2008.
- Sarasota - 947 - compared to 834 sold during the same time in 2008.
- Polk - 733 - compared to 605 sold during the same time in 2008.
- Osceola 523 - compared to 258 sold during the same time in 2008.
The number of home sales have increased for the 5 counties listed over last year due in part to the lower home prices, REO and short sale properties that make up the current listing inventory.
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