My predictions for 2008 - 12/31/07 04:26 PM
I am going to give my stab at some predictions for what 2008 will bring.  I am not a fortune teller, but I do know a friend of my cousin's next door neighbor who played one on TV once.  Well here goes ...
  
1. The Florida real estate market will finally bottom out and then remain quite flat through the end of the year.
2. Mortgage interest rates will stay at or below the mid-6's through the November elections.  After the election all bets are off.
3. Conservative but aggressive investors who buy real estate during 2008 will make a fortune in years to come. I plan on … (7 comments)

Flip this house – Post # 4 - 12/29/07 03:39 PM
We are well into the rehab now and actually a little ahead of schedule.  Our crew has been working nearly every day except for Christmas, so we have gotten a lot done.  We had our regular plumber come out and make sure the house was free from leaks (bank REO houses have often been vacant for 6 to 12 months, so you never quite know what to expect).  Things are coming along.  The demolition work always makes the house look bad, but soon we will be putting it all back together.
---- I have learned to always put up no trespassing … (3 comments)

Investor mentoring and counseling services - 12/28/07 08:59 AM
One of the many services I offer to investors is mentoring and counseling.  I will be happy to sit down with you for a free initial consultation to discuss what you are looking to accomplish and ideas on how to get there.  If you like what you hear, we can work to design a specific game plan for you to get there.  I can help you find the deals, or if you have a potential deal and need help, I can walk you through the process from beginning to end.  Fees can be based either by the hour or by the deal depending on … (3 comments)

Property tax hearing update - 12/27/07 09:18 AM
I just wanted to post a quick update about my Seminole County property tax hearing in mid-November.  This is a link to my previous post.
I never received a written notice from the county, so I finally called over to the clerk's office.  They tell me that the assessed value was upheld by the special magistrate, so I won't be getting any further reductions on this property's value.  I don't plan on appealing it, because I don't feel like spending my time and energy on the remote chance of winning an appeal.  I feel that the hearing was fair, but I believe … (3 comments)

Turnkey 3 unit apartment building in Central Florida - 12/26/07 02:26 PM
LISTING INFO MOVED TO A DIFFERENT BLOG POST.   
Copyright © 2007. Sand Dollar Realty Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
Rob Arnold, ABR, CPL, GRI, Managing real estate broker, Licensed mortgage broker, Notary Public,             
407-389-7318 www.SDRhouses.com/ www.WeBuyHousesFlorida.com/
Your full service and investor friendly Realtor in Orlando. Contact me for more information on Central Florida real estate and Orlando real estate.  Florida Orlandoflat fee MLS listings and Florida Orlando For Sale By Owner services available. We buy houses cash in Central Florida including Orlando, Winter Park, Maitland, Ocoee, Apopka, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Longwood, Winter Springs, Lake Mary, Sanford, Deltona, and Debary.
… (0 comments)

Lakefront property available for sale- top Seminole County schools - MOVED INFO - 12/26/07 10:35 AM
LISTING INFO MOVED TO ANOTHER BLOG POST.
 
      
    
Newly remodeled interior. New kitchen and baths with granite counter tops, new AC, plumbing, doors, etc. Nearly 1/2 acre lot with boat dock on this ski lake. Seller will take trade of other property or house in exchange for this house.
 
Copyright © 2007. Sand Dollar Realty Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
Rob Arnold, ABR, CPL, GRI, Managing real estate broker, Licensed mortgage broker, Notary Public,             
407-389-7318 www.SDRhouses.com/ www.WeBuyHousesFlorida.com/
Your full service and investor friendly Realtor in Orlando. Contact me for more information on Central Florida real estate and … (1 comments)

Merry Christmas to all ! - 12/24/07 01:58 PM
I am not afraid to say it.  I don't get all this "Happy Holidays" nonsense.  Is anyone actually offended by Christmas?  Has Christmas become a politically incorrect holiday?  I sure hope not because life is way too short to get offended over something that silly.  It seems kind of weird, but I seriously can't recall one person this year whether in a store or just while I am out and about that said the phrase "Merry Christmas" to me.  All have said "Happy Holidays" or "Have a good holiday." But I digress ...
So to everyone I know including all my … (10 comments)

Flip this house - Post #3 - 12/22/07 05:21 PM
A few people have emailed me wanting more information about the numbers on this deal.  I was meaning to post them yesterday, but the post ran a little long. 
I did a quick MLS search for the actives and solds in the last 4 months within 1 mile of this property.  Here is what I came up with.
Solds range from a low of 160K to a high of 187K.  Actives range from a low of 169K to a high of 229K.  We will probably end up listing it for sale at around 170K or so.  Price is the main thing that is selling … (2 comments)

Flip this house - Post # 2 - 12/21/07 11:23 AM
Well we closed on the house yesterday.  The house is a 3 bed / 2 bath / 2-car garage block house in the Northwesterly Pine Hills area. (For those not in Orlando, Pine Hills is an infamous area of town often tagged as "Crime Hills" but the area covers nearly 20 square miles - some parts are war zones while other parts are actually nice.)  This subdivision is a decent 1980s (and late 70s) working class neighborhood. 
This house was listed in the MLS in November as bank-owned for $149,000.  Another investor actually called me about this one.  He had just closed on it for $85,000 … (4 comments)

Properties available in Central Florida - 12/20/07 10:56 AM
Here are our featured properties for sale this week.  Some are full service listings and some are flat fee MLS listings. Please call us for a private showing or to make an offer. 
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1. 1010 Winderley Place #133, Maitland, FL 32751.  3 bed/2.5 bath/1-car garage 2-story townhouse.  Great location close to Maitland Center and easy access to Interstate-4. Walking distance to restaurants, offices, and RDV Sportsplex.  Shows beautifully.  Gated community with lake access.  Bring your ski boat. Best price in the area. MLS# o4808403. -- OFF THE MARKET
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2. 862 Kensington Drive, Orlando, FL 32808. 3 bed/1 bath block house. Ready for you … (0 comments)

Flip this house - Or the art of being a rehabber - Post #1 - 12/18/07 08:25 PM
Hopefully in the next few days I will be purchasing a Central Florida house that I intend to buy, fix up, and then put back on the market and re-sell to an owner-occupant buyer.  I haven't done much of this in the last 18 months because of poor market conditions, but now that in my opinion the market is close to bottoming out I plan on getting back into it.  As I have stated in several previous blogs, good deals abound right now.  Investors need to be taking advantage of this time and not sitting on the sidelines watching and waiting.
I am … (11 comments)

New challenge to proposed property tax amendment - 12/18/07 09:21 AM
The first of several threatened lawsuits has been filed to challenge the new proposed property tax amendment.  A detailed article was in yesterday's Sun Sentinel.  Basically this is much of the same group that filed a similar lawsuit earlier in the year representing vacation homeowners from Alabama & Georgia who owned property in the Florida panhandle.  The previous lawsuit was thrown out by the courts and the dismissal was affirmed on appeal.  This is a new challenge.
The Florida League of Cities has also contemplated filing another suit to overturn this proposed amendment. 
House Speaker Marco Rubio, Governor Charlie Crist, the Florida Association of Realtors, and the … (0 comments)

The Governor comes to town. Is property tax relief in sight? - 12/17/07 04:40 PM
Last Friday, Governor Crist conducted a press conference in Orlando regarding the upcoming property tax amendment vote on January 29, 2008. I was fortunate enough to be invited and got a chance to meet briefly with the Governor.  He comes across as a very stand up guy even though in my opinion he hasn't been as tough a bulldog with things as his predecessor.  He appears to be as dis-satisfied with the Florida Senate and the local governments as most of us Realtors and property owners are.  I don't know if this amendment will be as big a spark to the real estate market as … (11 comments)

More opportunities abound - deals are everywhere - 12/15/07 06:28 PM
I talk to so many people that just aren't sure where this market is headed.  I don't have a crystal ball, so I don't know either.  However I do know a deal when I see it.  And there are deals everywhere to be had.  I have never seen so many good deals in the last 11 years of being a broker as I am seeing right now.
We just picked up another deal for one of our customers in South Orlando.  This bank foreclosure is a 3/2/2 block house for $109,000.  The lowest retail sale in the neighborhood in the last year was for 175K.  There … (7 comments)

Altamonte Springs Florida pool home for sale - listing withdrawn for refinance - 12/13/07 03:44 PM
 LISTING WITHDRAWN WHILE REFINANCING
3 bed / 2 bath / 2-car garage / 1900sf block house.  MLS # o4818372 .
324 Oakhurst Street, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701. DOUBLE LOT. NEW FENCE, LAWN IN BACKYARD, ROOF, A/C., KITCHEN CABINETS & MARBLE TILE COUNTERTOPS, BAMBOO WOOD FLOORING, LARGE POOL IN BACK YARD, WOODBURNING FIREPLACE, LIGHTING, FANS, FRESH PAINT INSIDE AND OUT.    
   
   
Copyright © 2007. Sand Dollar Realty Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
Rob Arnold, ABR, CPL, GRI, Full service and investor friendly Realtor, Managing real estate broker, Licensed mortgage broker, Notary Public
407-389-7318 www.SDRhouses.com/ www.WeBuyHousesFlorida.com/
… (0 comments)

November Statistics for Orange & Seminole County Florida - 12/12/07 03:27 PM
The latest sales figures are out for November 2007 Orange & Seminole Counties.  It looks like more of the same. 
The inventory of homes for sale was 26,172 for month ending November 30, 2007.  Inventory has been floating around the 26,000 mark since June, so that is 6 months in a row at that 26K number.  New listings dropped to 3,160 for November and sales also dropped to 963.  There is nearly always a seasonal slowdown from mid-November through mid-January because of the holidays, so December's numbers might be slightly worse than these.  I don't see how the inventory could get … (2 comments)

Commercial property Orlando - price drastically reduced -- INFO MOVED - 12/10/07 03:27 PM
listing moved to another blog post.  This property is still available though if you know a commercial land buyers.  Property has C-1 zoning in Orange County, Florida and is located along a busy 4-lane road. Possible seller financing.
 
   
                       Parcel #030                                                           Parcel #045
Copyright © 2007. Sand Dollar Realty Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
Rob Arnold, ABR, CPL, GRI, Full service and investor friendly Realtor, Managing real estate broker, Licensed mortgage broker, Notary Public
407-389-7318 www.SDRhouses.com/ www.WeBuyHousesFlorida.com/
… (0 comments)

Lighthouse Landlords - this Monday is game night - 12/09/07 10:14 AM
This month's Lighthouse Landlord meeting is Monday 12/10 from 6:30pm-9:00pm at the RDV Sportsplex in Maitland, FL. This month in addition to the Christmas celebration we will be playing various games including Robert Kiyosaki's Cashflow game and a new challenge, The Millionaire Maker. 
Here is the December Newsletter.  The Lighthouse is a non-profit landlord association serving Central Florida. Everybody please come out and join us Monday night.
Copyright © 2007. Sand Dollar Realty Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
Rob Arnold, ABR, CPL, GRI, Full service and investor friendly Realtor, Managing real estate broker, Licensed mortgage broker, Notary Public
407-389-7318 www.SDRhouses.com/ www.WeBuyHousesFlorida.com/
… (0 comments)

New property for sale Winter Garden Florida -- INFO MOVED - 12/08/07 10:30 AM
Here is the latest property we have for sale.  If you want to see inside or schedule a showing, please contact me.
LISTING INFO MOVED TO ANOTHER BLOG POST.
    
 
    
Copyright © 2007. Sand Dollar Realty Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
Rob Arnold, ABR, CPL, GRI, Full service and investor friendly Realtor, Managing real estate broker, Licensed mortgage broker, Notary Public
407-389-7318 www.SDRhouses.com/ www.WeBuyHousesFlorida.com/
… (5 comments)

Brief market update - 12/07/07 03:36 PM
I attended the View From the Trenches luncheon this afternoon put on by the Orlando Regional Realtor Association.  The official November market numbers won't be out until next week, but we did get a few of the numbers revealed to us at the luncheon.  I am not going to post them until they become official, however the numbers were a little better than those in October.
Inventory was down just a little bit, # of solds was about the same as the previous month, and the median price stayed the same.  This is some good news.  The apparent consensus is that the … (0 comments)

FHA Secure mortgage program starts in January - 12/05/07 02:22 PM
FHA Secure is a brand new program sponsored by HUD and FHA to help borrowers refinance out of adjustable rate mortgages and similar products that will force their monthly payments to escalate.  In order to qualify borrowers must must:
(1) Have a non-FHA adjustable rate mortgage that has increased its rate.
(2) Sufficient income to afford the monthly payments on the new note. And
(3) A history of making their monthly payments on time before their rate increased.
Borrowers do not need to be in default on their current ARM in order to apply for an FHA Secure loan. Hopefully this will help … (5 comments)

Option One Mortgage closing its doors - 12/05/07 01:51 PM
I have been quite hopeful that the market was close to bottoming out and at least flattening off for 2008.  I read the news yesterday that Option One Mortgage is closing its doors and going out of business.  It will still be finishing up the current loans that it is in the process of funding, but no more new loans.  They are laying off about 620 staff members.
When Countrywide announced its problems a few months ago that sent big ripples through the marketplace.  Option One is a smaller player but still a big company.  Hopefully there will not be any more … (4 comments)

Casselberry FL property for sale -- sold - 12/03/07 02:15 PM
This is the latest listing that we have for the last week.  If you are interested in showing it or seeing inside, please contact me directly. **** UPDATE: This property is Sold.  Call us for all your real estate needs. ****

2901 Amroth Place, Casselberry, FL 32707.
3 bed / 2 bath / 2-car garage, 1160sf single-family home. New Roof, new heat/AC, totally new kitchen and stainless steel appliances, new baths, new flooring, new doors, new lights. New landscaping and sprinkler system. Fireplace, screened porch, spr & fence. Renovation includes, roof, heat/ac, totally new kitchen and baths,flooring, interior and exterior doors, … (0 comments)

Central Florida houses for sale - 12/02/07 04:53 PM
These are some of our featured properties that we have for sale.  If you are interested in showing or seeing the inside of any of these properties, please contact me.   Both of these are flat fee mls, for sale by owner listings.
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1. 1153 Northcrest Drive, Apopka 32703. 4 bed/2 bath block house, 1785sf, newly remodeled throughout, possible lease purchase or trade for the down payment. MLS# o4802378. *** HOUSE WAS SOLD.  THIS SELLER SAVED OVER $4000 BY USING OUR SERVICES. ***
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2. 905 N. Boston Avenue, Deland 32724. 2 bed/1 bath/1-car garage frame house. 3-lots on over 1/2 … (0 comments)

Statistical Comparison of Limited Service Listing vs. Full Service Listing - 12/01/07 06:02 PM
I've been wanting to do a statistical analysis of limited service listings compared to full-service listings for a while now.  I wanted to compare the 2 for listed vs. sold ratio, days on market, and sold price.  So today I did a very "unscientific" analysis by performing searches in our local MLS.
I did a search of 6 Florida counties surrounding Orlando - Lake, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole, and W. Volusia Counties for the last 6 months (6/1/07 - 12/1/07). 
Honestly, the results shocked me.  I was expecting that with a full service listing you have a full-time Realtor trying to market and negotiate the … (10 comments)

 
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Rob Arnold, metro Orlando full service, investor friendly & foreclosure Realtor

Altamonte Springs, FL

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Sand Dollar Realty Group, Inc.

Address: Apopka, FL, Longwood, FL, Winter Springs, FL, Casselberry, FL, Orlando, FL, Deltona, FL, Debary, FL, , Altamonte Springs, FL, 32714

Office Phone: (407) 389-7318

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My thoughts on the real estate industry, real estate investing, rental properties, mortgages, listing houses in the MLS, government and legislative issues affecting real estate brokers and investors. Serving metro Orlando & most of Florida.

Rob Arnold - ABR, CPL, CRB, CSP, GRI, PHP - Managing real estate broker, Notary Public














Disclaimer: This blog is for educational, entertainment, and yes blatant advertising purposes. Read it at your own risk and enjoyment :-) It is not meant to be construed as legal or financial advice. These are my personal views and opinions only. Regarding any properties advertised on this blog site - all information is deemed reliable but is not warranted nor guaranteed - price, terms, and availability are subject to change without notice.

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