Why do I need a Permit?

Because it is a Florida law.

Building Code 2004 105.1,

Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct,enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by this code, or to cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit.

Source

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When do you need to pull a permit?


- Greg Staker 407-304-0255

Orlando ranks as top 20 city

While the Orlando/Kissimmee area did not rank as high as last year, The Milken Institute still reports Orlando as the 11th best city for the creation, retention and quality of jobs.

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- Greg Staker - 407-304-0255

Orlando pet owners FREE rabies vaccine

Pet Amnesty Day

Saturday, September 13th

9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Cypress Grove Park.

290 Holden Ave. Orlando, FL 32839

Orange County Animal Services is providing this free service. Call (407) 836-3111 for more info.

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- Greg Staker - Watson Realty Corp. - 407-304-0255

Orlando Florida. What is being searched? Who is doing the searching?

Who is searching for information about Orlando Florida and what are online searchers looking for? The following are results provided by Google Insights for Search BETA for the search term Orlando Florida over the last 90 days in all categories across the United States.

Top 10 States searching for Orlando Florida information

1. Florida
2. Georgia
3. Alabama
4. New Jersey
5. South Carolina
6. Tennessee
7. Ohio
8. Louisiana
9. Missouri
10. Kentucky

Top 10 search terms related to Orlando Florida

1. orlando fl
2. disney orlando florida
3. orlando florida county
4. universal orlando
5. orlando hotels
6. hotels orlando florida
7. orlando jobs
8. orlando florida weather
9. orange county florida
10. disney world florida

Searches on the rise

• orlando news
• orlando florida news
• orlando jobs
• jobs in orlando
• florida mall
• florida hospital orlando
• aquatica
• valencia community college
• orlando sentinal

This Google provided tool could be huge in helping Orlando area real estate and non real estate businesses target the specific areas and keywords that could attract visitors and customers.

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- Greg Staker - Watson Realty Corp. - 407-304-0255

Orlando investment opportunities for overseas buyers

Orlando Florida is considered to be a good investment for overseas buyers. The international property magazine, homes overseas, view Florida as a good long term investment for those looking to buy housing.

Lars Christiaanse, head of business development at Chesterton International says, "...Orlando is good for those wishing to rent to holidaying families..."

The article goes on to discuss the continued strength of Orlando's housing long term is due in part to the major tourist attraction areas.

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When buying a home with personal property, be specific.

Property for sale, zoned for short term rental.

- Greg Staker - Watson Realty Corp. - 407-304-0255

Real estate values in Orlando Florida

Real estate values in Orlando continued on a downward trend according to the latest trends report released by the Orlando Realtor Association.

July's median home price fell to $207,500 down from $216,000 for June. You have to go back to March/April of 2005 to find real estate values that compare to July's numbers. Reports indicated that in March/April the median price fell between $202,000-$215,000.


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I am not going to give my home away!

Why would anyone offer to buy a home at list price or above in this market?

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- Greg Staker - Watson Realty Corp. 407-304-0255

Need a job? Upcoming job fair in Orlando.

Workforce Central Florida will be presenting a job fair on July 30th from 12:30-4 p.m.

For those looking for work, this job fair will give you an opportunity to meet with area employers who have job openings.

The job fair will be held at 5166 E. Colonial Drive in Orlando.


View Larger Map


View the complete press release

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- Greg Staker Watson Realty Corp. 407-304-0255

Orange County Community Conference - Orlando Florida

This year's conference will take place on Saturday, July 19, 2008 from 8:00 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. at the Orange County Renaissance Center (3800 S. Econlockhatchee Trail, Orl, FL 32829)

The entire day will be filled with opportunities for citizens to learn more about Orange County services, to gather key information from educational workshops, and to share new ideas for preserving and enhancing the quality of life in Orange County neighborhoods.

Community Conference workshop highlights include:

• Animal Services 101
• Homeowner's Association Conflict Resolution
• Engaging Youth in the Neighborhood
• "For Sale" to Foreclosure
• Good Practices in Managing Money
• Crime Prevention
• Code Enforcement
• Transportation

For cost and additional information visit the news release.


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- Greg Staker, Watson Realty Corp., 407-304-0255

Need another reason to move to Orlando? How about badminton tournaments?

Orlando Florida offers something for everyone as proved yet again from this news release.

Central Florida Badminton Association announced their upcoming tournament to be held in Florida.

ORLANDO OPEN 2008 BADMINTON TOURNAMENT

Net Proceeds will be donated to China Earthquake Relief and Myanmar Cyclone Relief

DATES: Saturday July 12th and Sunday July 13th

LOCATION: College Park Community Center, 2393 Elizabeth Avenue, Orlando
Phone #: 407 246 4361

DIRECTIONS: Take Exit 85 on I-4 (Princeton). Head west and make a right on Elizabeth avenue.

DIRECTOR: Krishna Balwalli
407 683 9162
kbalwalli@hotmail.com

EVENTS: Beginner, Junior, Open and Senior Categories
Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles

SCHEDULE: Sat July 12 9-10 am Registration for Beginner, Junior and Open events

Sat July 12 10-8 pm All matches including Finals
Sun July 13 1-2 pm Registration for Senior events
Sun July 13 2-6 pm All matches including Finals

FEES: Beginner and Junior $5 per event
Open and Senior $15 first event, $5 additional event

DEADLINE: July 1st 2008. Walk-ins on day of event will be allowed subject to discretion of Tournament Director and has late fee of $5.

PRIZES: Certificates and Prizes will be awarded to Winners

RULES:
➢ Events may be canceled due to lack of sufficient entries
➢ Fees paid will not be refunded unless Event canceled
➢ Prizes awarded to First and Second place winners
➢ All participants guaranteed at least two matches
➢ Play is according to USAB rules
➢ All matches are best of three rally style games of 21 points
➢ Tournament grade Shuttlecocks provided
➢ Showers and Lockers available
➢ Snacks and Beverages provided
➢ Be on time. 10 minute default rule will be enforced
➢ 3 minutes warm up allowed before match
➢ Tournament Director reserves the right to change any of the above
information

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Seeking photos of Lake Copeland neighborhood in Orlando


- Greg Staker - Watson Realty Corp. - 407-304-0255

Orlando senior citizens could use your old cell phones

The cell phones will be reconditioned for 911 service and distributed by the City of Orlando’s Senior Links program to seniors in our community who are needy, home bound or isolated.

Drop-off locations in January include:

City Hall rotunda
City Hall/CNL skywalk on 2nd floor from 7:15 a.m. until 8:15 a.m. (January 14-18 only)
Central Parking Garage, 53 W. Central Blvd.
Fleet/Facilities’ Service Writer’s Office, 1010 Westmoreland Ave.
Orlando Police Department Headquarters Supply Dept., Entrance on Bryan Ave.
Families, Parks and Recreation Primrose Building, 595 N Primrose Dr.
Streets and Stormwater Building, 1010 S. Woods Ave.
Amway Arena, 600 W. Amelia St.
Wasterwater, 5100 L.B. McLeon Rd.
All City of Orlando Fire Stations

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Few Florida single-family homes suitable for disabled or elderly

You are only as old as you feel.


- Greg Staker Watson Realty Corp. 407-304-0255

Orlando to host International Builders' Show®

February 13-16, 2008 are the dates for the 64th International Builders' Show®

Here is the promotional video




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- Greg Staker Watson Realty Corp. 407-304-0255

Huge jump in bank owned real estate sales in Orlando for 2007

2007 is setting a torrid pace in foreclosed or bank owned property selling over 2006 numbers. You can view Recent statistics of bank owned sales in Orlando on my Orlando real estate site.


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- Greg Staker - Watson Realty Corp. - 407-304-0255

Orlando real estate market report

The end of the year continues down the well-worn path we have experienced now for some 24 months. Recent reports indicate 33 homes have closed from December 1st – 5th as compared to 115 homes during the same period last year. This calculates to a 71% drop in sales in Orlando alone. At the current rate of homes coming on and leaving the market, the Orlando area should have nearly 30 months of inventory.

30 months of homes on the market would seem daunting were it not for the fact that the majority of these homes are not really priced to sell. The vast majority of the sellers and Realtors are not being realistic on their pricing. The real work for buyers and their Realtors is to weed through the thousands of homes unrealistically over priced to find those few homes that are priced correctly and truly marketable.

2008 will most likely be more of the same. The correcting market will continue to make news and leave many perplexed to the final outcome. Now is the time for buyers and sellers to view the current conditions as it only relates to them personally. It will always be a perfect real estate market to an individual buyer and an individual seller who meet, negotiate fairly and agree to mutually beneficial terms. Those types of transactions are still happening throughout Florida and will continue regardless of how the overall market performs.

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Real estate agents would be wise to pick short sales over long sales.

- Greg Staker - Watson Realty Corp. - 407-304-0255

Orlando ranked as the 24th most walkable city

According to a MSNBC quoting a report by Brookings Institution, Orlando is the 24th best walkable city in the U.S. The top 30 cities by rank are:

1. Washington

2. Boston

3. San Francisco

4. Denver

5. Portland, Ore.

6. Seattle

7. Chicago

8. Miami

9. Pittsburgh

10. New York

11. San Diego

12. Los Angeles

13. Philadelphia

14. Atlanta

15. Baltimore

16. St. Louis

17. Minneapolis

18. Detroit

19. Columbus, Ohio

20. Las Vegas

21. Houston

22. San Antonio

23. Kansas City, Mo.

24. Orlando, Fla.

25. Dallas

26. Phoenix

27. Sacramento, Calif.

28. Cincinnati

29. Cleveland

30. Tampa, Fla.

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- Greg Staker - Watson Realty Corp. - 407-304-0255

Orlando Christmas Parade

The Orlando Christmas Parade will take place on December 15th. If you can’t make it in person, Local TV on WRDQ TV 27 will air the parade on Saturday, December 22nd,
from 8:00 – 9:00 pm. It will air on National TV on Superstation WGN on Sunday, December 23rd, from 9:00 – 10:00 pm.

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Ground Hog day tornado Deland Florida

- Greg Staker - Watson Realty Corp. - 407-304-0255

Downtown Orlando will be getting festive this year.

Orlando is hosting for the first time a holiday decorating contest for the downtown area to participate in. Here is information regarding this event posted on Orlando's city web site:

1. Contest includes businesses on Orange Avenue from Colonial/50 to South Street.
2. Displays must be up by December 1, 2007 to be considered.
3. Email your participation to the Downtown Development Board at michael.lawrence@cityoforlando.net.
4. Doors can be decorated in any holiday-type (for this time ofyear) theme. The more creative, the better! But, nothing offensive or inappropriate, please. Use good taste!
5. A celebrity panel of judges will determine the best display.
6. Doors will be judged on the following criteria:Uniqueness Amount of holiday spirit displayed Incorporating Downtown Orlando living into display
7. The Best Display will be announced at Mayor Dyer's Holiday Lights Orlando event on December 5th beginning at 5 p.m.


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- Greg Staker - Watson Realty Corp. - 407-304-0255

Orlando gas prices

Orlando residents looking to travel home this Thanksgiving holiday will face higher gas prices than they did last year. According to http://www.florida-agriculture.com/, Orlando gas prices today are averaging $3.05 as compared to $2.16 during last year at the same time.


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- Greg Staker - Watson Realty Corp. - 407-304-0255

Orlando population projected to increase.

Good news potentially for those involved in the Orlando real estate market. Fishkind & Associates an economic and financial consulting firm, expect the Orange County population to increase nearly 7% by 2010.

Orange County is projected to grow from 1,101,040 to 1,176,520.


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- Greg Staker - Watson Realty Corp. - 407-304-0255

ORRA President Steve Moriera to focus on education

According to the Orlando Regional Realtor Association web site, Steve Moriera intends to focus partly on education for the 12,000 +/- member Realtors in 2008.

Hopefully this education will include detailed courses on what constitutes mortgage fraud.

We have an obligation as individual companies, local, state and national associations to make sure our membership understands what mortgage fraud looks like, how it adversely impacts our economy and what we can do to protect consumers and ourselves from getting involved in this illegal activity.


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- Greg Staker - Watson Realty Corp. - 407-304-0255

Foreclosures becoming profitable?

No one likes the current real estate situation. Homes are not selling and lenders are not making loans. Foreclosures are rising at a record rate. It would appear no one is winning. Appearances may be misleading.

Gretchen Morgenson of the New York Times recently wrote a fascinating article on November 6th which can be read in it's entirety here.

A few of the interesting observations and opinions as I read the article are:

"Because there is little oversight of foreclosure practices and the fees
that are charged, bankruptcy specialists fear that some consumers may be losing
their homes unnecessarily or that mortgage servicers, who collect loan payments,
are profiting from foreclosures."

"Now that big lenders are originating fewer mortgages, servicing
revenues make up a greater percentage of earnings. Because servicers typically
keep late fees and certain other charges assessed on delinquent or defaulted
loans, ''a borrower's default can present a servicer with an opportunity for
additional profit,'' Ms. Porter said. "

"She also found that some creditors ask for fees, like fax charges and
payoff statement fees, that would probably be considered ''unreasonable'' by the
courts."

The New York Times article credits Katherine M. Porter, associate professor of law at the University of Iowa with providing much of the information used in the article.


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- Greg Staker - Watson Realty Corp. - 407-304-0255