Jeffrey's Blog

Vista Cay and Windsor Hills Reserve Promotion

Jeffrey Funk (Realty Executives Central Florida) — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 09:56:55 -0500

Experience the Orlando Resort Lifestyle!

We're so sure you'll fall in love that we'll reimburse your travel expenses up to $1,500* when you purchase at Vista Cay at Harbor Square, The Isles at Cay Commons or Windsor Hills Reserveby Pulte Homes. This offer is good through October 31 and includes Reimbursement for travel, food, accommodations and entertainment.

Join us for the Pulte Homes Resort Rental Experience and enjoy the world's #1 vacation destination! Indulge in upscale shopping and dining and entertainment as well as all the theme parks and attractions that Orlando has to offer!

To book a getaway at Vista Cay at Harbor Square or The Isles at Cay Commons, please call Jeff at 407-438-4028. This is in addition to the other great sales incentives that I offer my buyers just for using me as your buyers agent.

Related Information: Orlando Investment Properties

Vista Cay Orlando Sales Incentives

Jeffrey Funk (Realty Executives Central Florida) — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 17:12:35 -0500

Vista Cay at Harbor Square and The Isles at Cay commons by Pulte homes in Orlando has recently released the following buyers incentives. These are 2 great communities investment / vacation properties located next to the Orlando Convention Center. Vista Cay and The Isles at Cay commons offer 2 and 3 bedroom condominiums and town-homes in a gated community with resort amenities.

Vista Cay at Harbour Square - Bayshore: Price incentive $30,000

Vista Cay at Harbour Square - Monterey: Price incentive $60,000

The Isles at Cay Commons - Ventura: Price Incentive $30,000

For more information on the current incentives please visit: Vista Cay Buyers Incentives

For More information on these great Properties please visit: Vista Cay Orlando

Additional information: Orlando Investment Properties

Emerald Island Resort Orlando Foreclosure

Jeffrey Funk (Realty Executives Central Florida) — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 15:27:20 -0500

Emerald Island 7 Bedroom house in FORECLOSURE! Asking price $399,900. This is a great opportunity to purchase a 7 bedroom home at a 4 bedroom price.

7 BEDROOM POOL HOME IN A GREAT LOCATION IN HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER EMERALD ISLAND RESORT. THIS RESORT FEATURES A 24 HOUR MANNED GATED COMMUNITY JUST MINUTES FROM DISNEY, SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS. SUBJECT TO THIRD PARTY APPROVAL

Copy of Listing: 8512 Sunrise Key Emerald Island

Additional Information on: Emerald Island Resort Orlando

For more information on Orlando vacation homes please vist: Orlando Investment Properties

Building Green

Jeffrey Funk (Realty Executives Central Florida) — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 09:22:31 -0500

Building an energy-efficient home is a huge trend these days, with the prominence of global warming being just about everywhere we go. Energy efficiency is not only great for the environment it can lead to healthier living as well as cutting monthly bills drastically. In Orlando the savings can add up year after year. When thinking about building an energy-efficient home, there are a few things to keep in mind.

1. consider is the climate the house will be built in

2. Structural insulated panels

3. Doors and windows

4. Heating, cooling, and ventilation systems

5. Insulation

For the complete article please visit: Building an Energy Efficient Home

Jeff- Orlando Real Estate

August Market Update

Jeffrey Funk (Realty Executives Central Florida) — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:39:38 -0500

The Orlando Reigional Realtor Assoiation Just realeased the August 2007 market update. I thought I would share the numbers with everyone. Home sales were down in August from July as were the number of new contracts.

Orange & Seminole Counties
August 2006	6.20%	21,077	7,039	2,439	-	443	1,230	2,686	2,249*	62*
September 2006	6.09%	20,319	6,297	2,182	-	416	1,507	2,434	2,054*	67*
October 2006	6.05%	21,324	6,119	2,602	3,186	371	1,467	2,668	1,896*	73*
November 2006	6.10%	21,122	5,160	2,319	2,952	365	1,397	2,341	1,840*	74*
December 2006	5.74%	19,537	3,840	2,012	2,557	324	2,320	1,696	1,945*	78*
January 2007	5.91%	21,266	6,630	2,409	2,504	362	1,426	1,922	1,469*	90*
February 2007	5.92%	22,055	5,566	2,387	3,096	302	1,236	1,775	1,541*	91*
March 2007	5.83%	23,547	6,426	2,434	2,893	480	1,431	1,970	1,779*	90*
April 2007	5.93%	24,435	5,832	2,346	2,948	346	1,359	1,927	1,530*	97*
May 2007	5.94%	25,463	6,200	2,334	2,611	377	1,446	2,214	1,745*	94*
June 2007	6.40%	25,923	5,667	1,853	2,700	404	1,657	2,150	1,524*	98*
July 2007	6.50%	26,018	5,404	1,717	2,571	329	1,786	2,206	1,524*	96*
August 2007	6.60%	26,313	5,582	1,451	2,194	420	1,848	2,379	1,343	108

Additional Information: Orlando Real Estate

Windermere Market Update August 2007

Jeffrey Funk (Realty Executives Central Florida) — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 13:54:03 -0500

WINDERMERE, FLORIDA - SINGLE FAMILY HOMES MONTH OF AUGUST 2007 - Current as of 9/4/07*

635 single family homes for sale
42 single family homes Pending sale
Average asking price Homes Sold $991,750
Average Sold Price of Homes: $921,853
Average Price Per Square Foot: $292.71
Average number of days on the market Homes Sold: 174

SOLD HOMES - January - August 2007

304 Single Family Homes Sold this year

For the complete Market Update Including a list of individual homes sold in the Windermere area. Please visit: Windermere Market Update

*Based on information provided by Mid Florida Regional MLS. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Parties are advised to verify

Jeff: Orlando Real Estate

Thinking about building a new home?

Jeffrey Funk (Realty Executives Central Florida) — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 11:28:42 -0500

There really is nothing like moving into a new home where nothing has been used and there is no redecorating that needs to be done. A home that is one hundred percent, truly and only yours, brings about a feeling like no other. However, there is much more to building a home than some might think. Below are a few key things to keep in mind when building your dream home.

1. Choosing a builder

2. Research the Building Codes

3. Choosing the right Mortgage

4. Insurance and Property Tax Costs

5. Hidden fees

For the complete article please visit my weblog at: Considerations when building a new home

Can Uncle Sam Help Me Move?

Jeffrey Funk (Realty Executives Central Florida) — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 22:13:10 -0500

Did you know that moving residences can be written off as a tax-break when the move is work related? Once it's decided that the move is work related, a time and distance test must be determined. Once these requirements have been fulfilled, a relocation can be used to write off of taxes. To do this one must fill out a Form 1040 to claim moving costs but one doesn't have to claim any other deductions.

One of the biggest challenges in trying to deduct a move is the distance test. The new workplace must be located fifty miles farther away than the old workplace. This is to ensure that people are not just moving to cut back on their commute while at the same time getting a tax cut. That means if one used to live ten miles away from their job, the new job must be sixty miles away for the move to be tax deductible. The distance must also be calculated using the shortest possible route to get there.

There is also a time requirement that needs to be met in order for the move to be tax deductible. The first component to the requirement is that the move must be made within one year of starting the new job for it to be tax deductible. The person must also be working for thirty-nine weeks during the first twelve months of living in the new location. These weeks do not need to be consecutive and do not even need to be for the same employer. If the person is self-employed the only difference to these requirements would be that they must work for seventy-eight weeks during the first twenty-four months.

Once you have met these requirements, it's important to know what is considered tax deductible and what it not. Also, one must be able to prove that they made all purchases and have paid for everything in full so it's extremely important to keep all receipts that are made during the move. Deductions will usually be made for the cost to move household and personal items, some fees including storage and insurance, and utility connection and disconnection charges. Lodging and traveling expenses near the old or new home may also be covered as are the shipping charges of a vehicle usually. Even pet travel arrangements are sometimes covered for any fees associated with this.

If a couple is married and are filing their taxes jointly, only one of the partners needs to be able to fulfill the time and distance requirements. However, couples cannot combine the number of weeks worked to meet that requirement. It's also important to keep in mind that any moving expenses that will be paid for by the employer will not be tax deductible. If moving expenses are deducted but the time requirement is not fulfilled, the person must file an amended return or include any deductions with their income tax the following year.

Jeff - Orlando Real Estate

Fractional Real Estate Ownerships

Jeffrey Funk (Realty Executives Central Florida) — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 11:21:39 -0500

A Fractional ownership is a wonderful way to own part of something that would otherwise cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to own. This is being done today with anything from racehorses, to yachts, and luxury cars such as Ferraris and Lamborghinis. It is also becoming very popular to participate in fractional ownership when it comes to real estate. This provides those who are looking for a way to enjoy luxurious getaway accommodations at a fraction of the price of full ownership.

Although fractional ownership sounds much like a timeshare, there are differences between the two. The biggest difference is that when one buys a timeshare, there is no real ownership of anything except the right to use it for a certain period of time. With fractional ownership, the buyer is actually part owner and can leave the title or deed to someone in their will, they can sell it or even rent their ownership period out. With timeshares, the value goes down over time where with fractional ownership, when the property value increases, so does the value of the fractional ownership.

A great opportunity for fractional ownership is now available in Lighthouse Key Resort and Spa just outside Orlando in Kissimmee, Florida. This luxurious community is now selling fractional shares in 1/13 increments, which will entitle the buyer to enjoy their condominium for four weeks. A two-bedroom unit is approximately $40,000 and a four-bedroom unit is $80,000. If the part owner does not wish to use all four weeks, the remaining time can be placed into a rental program. To take part in fractional ownership at Lighthouse Key, one must pay annual dues that go toward the upkeep of their unit along with use of clubhouse, movie theatre, billiard and arcade rooms and fitness center.

Fractional ownerships are a great opportunity for people to enjoy all of the advantages of vacation home ownership while splitting the costs with other like minded individuals. This hassle free approach to owning a vacation home is an ideal opportunity for investors and vacation goers alike.

For more information on Lighthouse Key Resort Orlando Please visit: Orlando Investment Properties

First Time HomeBuyers Considerations

Jeffrey Funk (Realty Executives Central Florida) — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 09:26:49 -0500

Buying a home for the first time is an exciting time for anybody. However, buying a home is a big responsibility and a huge financial decision. Because of this, there are a few key factors that people should keep in mind when thinking about buying a new home.

The homebuyers credit first needs to be analyzed. This is the first thing lenders look at and it will provide them the individual's FICO score. This score, or credit rating, determines to the lender whether the borrower is high or low risk. The higher the FICO score for the individual, the better the interest rates will be. Individuals with a score of 650 or higher will generally have no problem getting a loan. However, a score that is 600 or lower should be improved before a loan is even applied for. Lenders also consider borrowers that are spending more than thirty-six percent of their gross monthly income paying off debt as high risk.

Homebuyers also need to consider how much they want to borrow. While it's tempting to agree to as much as the lenders will provide, this is not often a good way to go. Most lenders will provide as much as thirty-three percent of the individual's gross income but it's often better to only accept around twenty-five percent to head off trouble down the road.

First time homebuyers also need to consider that owning a home requires maintenance and unlike renting, the homeowner is responsible for paying for any issues that might crop up such as a broken pipe or leaky roof. Things such as maintenance, home improvements, and property taxes need to be taken into consideration before buying a home.

The costs of buying a home should also be in the minds of first time homebuyers. Besides making an offer and signing the agreement, there are many things that go into buying a home and these things usually cost money. Homebuyers need to make certain that they have funds available to cover the costs of appraisals and home inspections before they start thinking about buying. Any home buyer should ask for a good faith estimate from their lender in order to understand what these costs may be.

Owning a home is the American dream and with research and careful consideration this dream can be yours.

Jeff - Orlando Real Estate

Do Your Listings Have Great Photos?

Jeffrey Funk (Realty Executives Central Florida) — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 09:48:45 -0500

One of the key tools used today to sell a home are photos of the property. These photos are usually the first impressions that potential buyers have of the property as more and more people are looking towards the Internet and online listings to help find the home of their dreams. Good quality photos can lure a buyer into going to see a property while a poor photo can have them quickly moving on to the next listing. This article will offer some tips on taking the best pictures possible to sell your home.

Lighting is very important when taking pictures. For shots of the outside of the home, take the pictures in the middle of a sunny, clear day. When taking pictures of the inside of the home, make sure all the lights in the room are on and that the camera's flash is also operating. The flash will pick up all of the colours as well as fill in the shadows. This will give the room the appearance of being brighter.

Taking numerous photos is also important. Homebuyers will be interested in the whole property, not just one or two angles of it. Take pictures of all the bedrooms, the bathrooms, the kitchen, as well as the backyard. If the home has a special feature, such as an exercise room or a pool, make sure that there are photos of these as well. When it comes to taking pictures of a condominium or apartment, don't only include shots of the inside and out but also of any amenities the building has to offer such as an exercise room or a lounge area. Also take pictures of any views that the property has to offer as this will also be an attractive feature to buyers.

Clearing out any clutter that is in the shot is very important. Put away anything that doesn't show the best features of the property such as appliances, children's toys, fridge magnets, and dirty dishes. Anything that will detract from the photo you are trying to take should not be in there. For shots of the exterior it's important to remember to put away garbage cans, not to get any utility wires in the photo and also not to include any other homes in the shot.

If using a real estate agent, ask to see their photography. Also ask if their company uses professional photographers. Some places will offer this service to their sellers free of charge. If you're not using a real estate agent and you can't take the pictures that your property deserves, hire a professional photographer to do the job for you. Before hiring one ask to see samples of their work and ask about the experience that they've had.

When taking pictures yourself, a camera with a wide angle lens will provide the best photo. Point and shoot cameras will work but cell phone cameras most certainly will not. When using digital cameras, place the camera on a tripod so it won't shake when the shutter goes off. Using the highest resolution for the camera. If the photos are going to be used for online purposes only, the resolution can always be decreased. Still, never use less than 72 dots per inch for photos.

If you don't take a good picture, it can always be edited with good photo software. This will give you a chance to take anything unwanted out of the picture such as ceilings, and wide angles that provide more photo than you need. With this software you can also make the photo brighter and edit in such things as sunny backgrounds.

Jeffrey Funk - Visit my Orlando Real Estate Site

Are You Moving with Children?

Jeffrey Funk (Realty Executives Central Florida) — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 19:32:55 -0500

Relocating to a new home is always a stressful time but it can be even more so for children. Younger children tend not to do well with big changes in their daily routine and older children may be upset about moving away from their friends and to a new unfamiliar neighbourhood. There are a few key factors to keep in mind when moving with children of any age.

Some of the anxiety related to moving for children is simply the fear of the unknown. Parents can help with this by telling the children as much as they can about the new house, the new schools, and the new neighbourhood. Including them in some of the decision making process can provide them with information about where they are going as well as give them a sense of control over the whole process. Parents should emphasize greatly the advantages that the new home and setting will provide and show how the new location could be better than the existing one. Children should feel as though they can openly talk about their worries and parents should help to alleviate them.

For young children, a scary move can be turned into an exciting new adventure. Discuss with them what will happen on moving day so they will know what to expect. Also allow them to pack their own things but make sure to leave special toys or security objects such as blankets, out until the very end. If it's possible, take the children out to see the new home and neighbourhood. This will also help children make the adjustment as they will know where they are going and what to expect. If it's not possible to take them, bring along a video camera or take a lot of pictures so you can show them later. If the children are young, ask a baby-sitter to come to the house for moving day to make it easier on yourself. Don't send them away to be baby-sat though as this will only make them feel more excluded.

Try to make the move as fun as possible for the children. If the children are older, you can host a good-bye party before the move. Give the child an address book and have their friends fill in all their contact information at the party. Talk to your children about how easy it is to keep in touch via telephone and online. Older children can also be given a disposable camera and can be responsible of taking pictures of the move. This can be turned into a fun family project when you get to the new place by creating a "moving album" with the pictures. Getting children to draw pictures of how they will arrange their new room can also give them something to look forward to. If possible, try arranging the move at the same time as the new school year begins. This will make the child feel less like an outsider.

Once in the new home, try to get things back to normal as soon as possible. Keep any family rituals that were in place at the old home and maybe even create new ones that involve the new house and neighbourhood.

Children are still most likely to be upset about any move. They may even blame their parents and this is perfectly normal. Try to understand their feelings and talk them through it rather than taking it personally.

Jeff - Orlando Real Estate

1031 Tax Exchange - Investment Properties

Jeffrey Funk (Realty Executives Central Florida) — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 10:46:42 -0500

A tax deferred exchange makes it possible for an owner to sell a piece of investment property and buy a new property using the profits from the sale without having to pay taxes right away. Taxes are not due until the owner decides to sell the new piece of property. The reason for this is that when a property is sold or exchanged to buy a similar piece of property, the new property is seen as part of the initial investment.

These tax deferred exchanges are an opportunity that everyone can benefit from. This can be done by purchasing an investment property and selling it after a year of renting it out. Two more properties can then be purchased from the sale. It is important to keep in mind that the IRS is not specific on how long a property must be held or how often a 1031 exchange can be preformed. As a good rule of thumb a property should be held for at least 1 year so the IRS will view the owner as a long term investor. If practiced too often or if properties are not held for a long enough period of time the IRS may stop allowing for such exchanges to take place. It's essential to hire a lawyer or a company that specialized in 1031 tax exchanges when participating in these types of exchanges. These professionals will guide you and help you with issues that may come up in an exchange such as the time period in which the new property must be bought.

When performing a 1031 tax exchange. The property must be identified by the buyer in writing and brought to the professional that is helping with the exchange. This has to be done with forty-five days of the sale of the original rental property. More than one property can be used as the replacement property, as long as the total value does not exceed two hundred percent of the original property's value. Not all properties that are identified need to be closed either. If there are more properties on the identification document than allowed, they will be treated as regular sales and they will have tax owing on them.

After the properties have been properly identified, the buyer then has one hundred and eighty days to complete the sale of the exchange. If the original property is sold after this period or after the due date of the return, the properties will not be treated as similar property and tax will be owed.

Boot is something that needs to be avoided as it consists of money or any type of unlike kind property. This can include things such as a car being given as a down payment. This will be exchanged whether or not the exchange was carried out properly. The professional helping you with the exchange should also look at the deal to make sure that there was nothing received that could be considered boot.

Orlando Investment Properties

Design a Great Guest Room

Jeffrey Funk (Realty Executives Central Florida) — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 09:14:54 -0500

When you have a spare bedroom, it's very tempting to turn it into a suite that guests who come to visit you can spend their time in. Everyone wants their guests to be comfortable and live a life of luxury while they enjoy their stay. But how do you go about doing that? What's needed for a truly wonderful guest room?

The first thing any guest will notice while they stay anywhere, whether it be a hotel or a friend's guest room, is the bed. A bed must be comfortable or it won't matter what the rest of the room looks like. To make your guests feel more comfortable, it's a good idea to top the mattress with a foam topper so that it adds comfort to the bed. It's also a good idea to use double sheeting. This is when there is a sheet on top of the mattress, another sheet on top of that, a blanket, and then another sheet covered by a bedspread. This provides for simply stated luxury. Also make sure not to overdo it on the bedding. Many decorative pillows may look nice but they can become a nuisance for the guests occupying the room. Also try to provide synthetic and feather pillows.

Furnishings are also very important when considering a guest room. Place an easy chair in the room so that guests will have a comfortable place to sit and read and place a lamp nearby. Lamps should have different settings so the guest can adjust it to their liking. Some other important items to furnish a guest bedroom with are a desk, a mirror, radio, television, closet, empty drawers perhaps in a dresser, a phone and an outlet. All tables should be clear to allow for guests to place down small items such as jewellery or keys. The only thing that should appear on tables is a clock.

Don't overcrowd the bathroom either, if the guest room comes with an en-suite bathroom. Do leave a small basket of toiletries for them such as shampoo, conditioner, and soap. It's also a nice touch to leave your guests with small appliances such as a hair dryer and maybe a curling iron.

Temperature is important to guests. Just as an uncomfortable bed can ruin a person's stay so can trying to sleep in a very cold or very hot room. To help with this, provide windows that open and close, a fan, and a number of different blankets.

If you want to make your guests feel like they have truly landed in the lap of luxury, supply a small basket of treats. These can include some wrapped candy, bottled water, fruit and granola bars. While you are preparing meals for your guests, try to keep dietary considerations in mind such as allergies or if the guest is a vegetarian.

With these tips, you can be assured that you are now ready to have guests visit your little piece of paradise! Now is the time to relax and enjoy the time you have with them!

Additional information on: Designing the prefect Guest Room

Jeff - Orlando Real Estate

Orlando Regional Market Pulse

Jeffrey Funk (Realty Executives Central Florida) — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 09:07:01 -0500

The Orlando Regional Market Update came out today. I thought I would share the data with everyone. The data shows that we are still experiencing a buyers market with an inventory of over 26,000 homes currently on the market. Sales were also down almost 50% from July 06. With this many homes on the market buyers are sure to be able to find some great dfeals out there.

Orlando Real Estate

Designing the perfect closet

Jeffrey Funk (Realty Executives Central Florida) — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 07:14:34 -0500

Closets are becoming a huge part of homes today. The designs of closets are being taken just as seriously as any other part of the house. There is so much focus being placed on closets today that the results combine gorgeous design with a space that is fully functional and practical. A well designed closet is also a great feature when it comes time to sell your home.

Closets need to be designed for the people that will use it. If the closet is for a child's room or for a woman, rods placed at different heights are a good idea to ensure that items will be able to be found easily. For a woman, a great idea is to have plenty of room for shoes. A closet for a teen-ager may require space for a computer area.

When planning a closet's layout, it's important to keep in mind priorities and organization. First it's important to organize items from the huge items to the tiny pieces. Clothes can begin to be sorted by formal and casual wear. There can be many sub-categories within these two from blouses, pants, shirts, and jackets.

Rods should be placed at different heights to help organize closets. Long-hanging items should be placed on a rod that is sixty-six inches from the floor. For items that may be just a little shorter than this the rod should be placed fifty-four inches from the floor. The shorter items such as blouses should be placed on a rod that is forty inches from the floor. Everything possible should be hung to allow for the most accessibility. This includes ties and belts. This will help with the functional aspect of the closet.

As well as a number of different rods, there should be a number of shelves for items that cannot be hung. These include items such as heavy sweaters, which can easily be ruined by hanging for too long. The shelves should be easy to reach and should not overcrowd each other. Good shelves will have approximately twelve inches between them and fourteen inches for bulkier items such as sweaters.

Items that neither hang nor stack very well should be stowed away neatly in baskets. The baskets can be placed on a shelf that is dedicated to just baskets. Drawers should be used for more personal items such as underwear and pyjamas. It's a nice touch to place shoes on a slanted rack. Twelve to fourteen inches is a good amount of space to leave for one pair of shoes and they should be placed about two inches apart.

Homeowners will need to work closely with the contractor to design the perfect closet space for them. Closets can also be fairly easily designed by picking up materials at a local home improvement store. The cost will greatly depend on the size of the closet and the materials that will be used.

Jeff - Orlando Real Estate

Celebration Florida New Urbanism

Jeffrey Funk (Realty Executives Central Florida) — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 10:31:59 -0500

Celebration is a master planned community in Florida, which was developed by The Walt Disney Company, is in an unincorporated area of Osceola County that is near Walt Disney World. In fact, this development is connected to the park at both the north and south ends of the subdivision. This makes it possible for residents of Celebration to attend the park without dealing with the usual traffic congestion. Even though residents do not receive free or discounted passes to Disney World, the proximity alone can make it more attractive for families with children.

This unique town was founded in 1994, and went through a series of annexations and restructuring of borders before it became Celebration as we know it today. It was based on the movement called new urbanism--many of the town's features show this philosophy. The dwellings are all close together and also near the sidewalk, which helps create a sense of community and tightly-knit neighborhoods. Residential and commercial zoning is mixed, and most homes are close to the suburban downtown as well as on the waterfront and golf course.

To support the ideals of tomorrow's progressive communities, there are numerous NEV cars, which stands for Neighborhood Electric Vehicles, as well as scooters and other kinds of environmentally-friendly vehicles. There are lots of community events throughout the year in Celebration, Florida, including a spectacular Fourth of July fireworks show and a Christmas celebration complete with nightly snowfalls. These events also help continue Celebrations new urbanism movement creating a family-friendly atmosphere that the city is known for.

Because the town was built with a vision in mind, there are covenants and a homeowner's association. Residents have to maintain their properties and maintain the urbanist feel of the community and areas. The feel of the town appeals to many people who don't like the suburban look anymore, and are more than happy to go along with the restrictions to avoid the "sea of beige houses" look of most modern subdivisions. Celebration has succeeded in that goal and more.

The town is divided into eight separate developments, and sizes of home range from bungalows to large expensive homes. These are mixed in each neighborhood, and often you can see a block of larger homes near a block with smaller homes. This has given Celebration a friendlier atmosphere and better sense of community and togetherness. Each area has its own look and feel through carefully selected design components. These elements give each of the eight communities distinct appearances.

Celebration Real Estate Homes start at around $370k and go up to several million dollars for the highest-end homes. These are comparative to other higher end communities in North America, and are expected to maintain and rise in value due to the protective covenants and the sense of community that Celebration offers residents. There were a total of 9,500 residents in Celebration in 2004, and they resided in 3,745 households, including single family homes, townhomes and apartments.

Visit my website for additional information on Orlando Real Estate and Celebration Florida

Dr Phillips - Orlando Market Update

Jeffrey Funk (Realty Executives Central Florida) — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 09:53:02 -0500

Home sales in the Dr. Phillips area of Orlando were up in July 2007. There were 32 Single family homes sold in July as compared to 20 in June. For a complete market update please visit: Dr Phillips Market Update. Here is a summary of the July Market update.

SINGLE FAMILY HOMES SALES FOR July 2007*
Zip Codes 32819, 32836

503 Single family homes for sale
37 Single family homes Pending Sale
Average Asking Price Homes Sold $697,210.00
Average Selling Price $660,645.00
Average Price Per Square Foot $218.74
Average Days on Market 82

Visit our Dr. Phillips Real Estate page for more information on the Dr. Phillips area of Orlando Florida.

Orlando Real Estate

*Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Parties are advised to verify - Current as of August 1, 2007

Windermere, Florida July Market Update

Jeffrey Funk (Realty Executives Central Florida) — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 15:12:37 -0500

I just finished my monthly market update for Windermere, FL. It looks like the average home price was up from $914,300.00 in June to $1,111,123 in July. Here is a summary of the market update.

WINDERMERE, FLORIDA - SINGLE FAMILY HOMES SALES JULY 07

634 single family homes for sale
50 single family homes Pending sale
Average asking price Homes Sold $1,258,732
Average Sold Price of Homes: $1,111,123
Average Price Per Square Foot: $292.71
Average number of days on the market Homes Sold: 120
271 Single Family Homes Sold this year

View the complete July 2007 Windermere Market Update

Additional information on Windermere FL

*Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Parties are advised to verify

Visit my Orlando Real Estate Website

Orlando, Florida - More than just the Mouse

Jeffrey Funk (Realty Executives Central Florida) — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 12:03:27 -0500

Orlando, Florida is much more than Mickey Mouse floating balloons and the world's most recognizable castle - it is home to thousands of residents and is currently experiencing enormous growth due to factors beyond Walt Disney World. The city has many attractions other than the theme parks and amusements. The Orlando area is undergoing a great deal of development and urban renewal that will benefit current residents and those who are soon to relocate there for years to come.

For the younger set as well as the professional, the downtown area holds a great deal of appeal. There are new and modern mixed use complexes like Thornton Park Central which lies amidst of brick lined streets in one of the city's most stylish districts, and there are many new housing areas going up all over the city. Many new jobs are coming to Orlando, and it is rapidly attracting all kinds of professionals and employable people.

The area also has an excellent education system, and is home to many universities, colleges, and other higher education centers. The health care system is also very good, and many of the area's hospitals are currently undergoing expansion and improvement.

For those who love the outdoors, the area around Orlando is a perfect outdoor getaway, with the city surrounded by many lakes and ponds--hundreds, as a matter of fact. As Orlando has expanded over the years, it has drawn in towns and cities into its suburban region, which makes the Orlando suburbs more unique than most places. With cities like Winter Park as a suburb, the whole area has become a unique and highly attractive place to live.

Orlando has been careful to maintain a good infrastructure system over the years, paying special attention to roadways and connections. This is very important to Orlando as a tourist-centered city, and helps draw in the thousands and thousands of tourists to amusement parks, nature activities, and the general entertainment scene in Orlando. This also contributes to Orlando's reputation for being one of the best places to live in the U.S.

Even without the amusement parks there is plenty to do in Orlando. Whether it's a museum, a night of professional sports, performing arts, galleries, or a festival, residents and tourists can always find an activity. If you get tired of the Orlando scene, Tampa-St. Petersburg is just a short drive away and offers its own eclectic mix of entertainment and activities.

In addition to the city, there are great areas outside for outdoor activities and family outings. Recreation outside Orlando ranges from boating on the many lakes and waterways to fishing, swimming, canoeing, and other water sports. You can also find wildlife refuges and hiking/backpacking through some of the most beautiful land in the United States. There is plenty for the hunter as well, with abundant deer, fox squirrels, and wild turkeys.

You would think that the cost of living would be high in such a desirable place that has a reputation for a great infrastructure and more. But the cost of living is actually lower than average for the nation, and is just about the last holdout for affordable property in Florida. So if you are looking for a beautiful city that has a great price tag, now is the time to come to Orlando--the accessibility won't last forever.

For more information on Orlando please visit Orlando Real Estate

Hunter's Creek Larry Scott Memorial Golf Tournament

Jeffrey Funk (Realty Executives Central Florida) — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 11:14:23 -0500

I just wanted to share this information on the annual Hunter's Creek Larry Scott Memorial Golf Tournament. This is a great event and all of the proceeds are donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Join us for this fun filled day of golf. The event is a 4 person scramble / Best Ball format. Participation and /or donations for this great cause are appreciated.

Hunter's Creek Larry Scott Memorial Golf Tournament
Saturday, August 25, 2007 8:00 a.m.
Hunter's Creek Golf Club
$70 per player*
*Includes: Lunch, greens fee, golf cart, range balls, and gratuities.

Prizes will be awarded to first, second and third place teams, and a silent auction will be held throughout the tournament. Prizes include golf outings and weekend getaways to some of Florida's world-class golf resorts.

Register by Friday, August 17th at Hunter's Creek Town Hall or print the registration form off www.hunterscreek.net and mail it in.

Jeffrey Funk - Orlando Real Estate

Haines City: Real Estate in the “Heart of Florida”

Jeffrey Funk (Realty Executives Central Florida) — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 09:38:56 -0500

Haines City conveniently is located at the northern edge of the Lake Wales Ridge in Polk County, Florida. Haines City is situated within easy reach of Orlando, which is only thirty minutes south, and Tampa, which is less than an hour's drive away. A growing number of people who are interested in buying and owing prime real estate in Central Florida are taking a good, long look at what is available in Haines City.

With less than 20,000 residents, Haines City is enjoying well paced real estate development but is avoiding the negative aspects of becoming overgrown. Even with the well coordinated real estate development that has taken hold in Haines City over the course of the past fifteen years, the community continues to maintain the pleasant feel of a home town community.

Because of its magnificent location on rolling hills, Haines City is the place to find some extremely lovely, upper end residential real estate. As a general rule, throughout Haines City, when it comes to real estate development and the construction of residential properties, a keen effort is made to harmonize the homes with natural surroundings. In other words, the real estate is developed with an eye to maintaining the gorgeous natural surroundings that have made Haines City noteworthy for generations.

In addition to being conveniently located to two major metropolitan areas, Haines City is also strategically located to major Florida tourists destinations, including Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World and even the Kennedy Space Center. Also nearby is Greenleaf, a popular vacation rental property venue with world class golf and tennis.

Recreational activities abound in and around Haines City. For example, there are golf courses, tennis facilities and other athletic venues located throughout the community. Both of the Florida seashores are within an easy ninety minute drive of Haines City.

Many of the prime pieces of residential real estate in Haines City are lake front properties. An amazing sixteen lakes are in the greater Haines City area. In fact, early settlers to the area in the mid-19^th century established communities because of the prime fishing. Today's owners of these prime real estate locations continue to enjoy fishing and other water sports and activities on these crystal lakes.

Beyond the lakes, there are spectacular pine forests that encompass a great deal of the land that surrounds Haines City proper. Some real estate development has started to occur in these areas. However, as has been mentioned, this real estate development is undertaken with a keen eye towards maintaining and incorporating the natural beauty of these pine forests into the overall scheme.

Finally, Haines City has maintained a quaint, historic downtown district. In the downtown sector a resident of or visitor to Haines City can find the very best in shopping and in dining. Stores, restaurants and bistros of all types line the lovely streets that make up the immaculately maintained historic district that is downtown Haines City.

Jeff - Orlando Real Estate

Apopka: An Exclusive Orange County Address

Jeffrey Funk (Realty Executives Central Florida) — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 08:29:02 -0500

Over 160 years ago, the community of Apopka, FL took on the name the survives as the moniker for the city to this very day. Apopka roughly translates to "Big Potato" or "Potato Eating Place." In truth, reference to a spud wholly fails to appropriately descrive the luminous community that Apopka has become in the 21^st century. Indeed, in all of Orange County - indeed, in all of Central Florida - a person would be hard pressed to find more prime real estate and more exclusive addresses than what exists in Apopka.

Apopka has become one of the fastest growing communities the region, with approximately 40,000 residents today. Individuals and families have been drawn to Apopka in recent years because of the high end real estate development that has been undertaken throughout and around the city. Real estate developers have created neighborhoods and individual residences that bespeak style and elegance across the board.

Beyond the incomparable residential real estate developments that have taken root in Apopka, people are also drawn to this Orange County community because of its easy proximity to other points in Central Florida. For example, it is a short and easy drive to travel from Apopka to Orlando.

In another contradiction to its potato based christening, Apopka actually is known as the "Indoor Foliage Capital of the World." A significant portion of the commercial activity of Apopka centers around the cultivation of flowers, ferns and other types of plants. Apopka's plant based industry nets millions of dollars annually.

Noted as "The Indoor Foliage Capital of the World," Apopka's foliage industry is a multimillion-dollar business. Consequently, downtown boasts a stainless steel sculpture of a Boston fern instead of the expected war hero or early pioneer. Cut flowers, blooming plants, roses and bulbs are also grown in abundance.

The civic leaders of Apopka are unified in their dedication to keep the community a most livable city. To that end, parks and green spaces abound in and around Apopka. This conscious effort to control growth and maintain a sense of balance to the city has added even more value to the real estate of the area.

Since the growth in higher end real estate development in recent years, commercial real estate development in Apopka has also kept pace. Stores, shops, restaurants and bistros all contribute to making Apopka a pleasantly livable community for people of all ages.

In addition to being a community that is making a name for itself when it comes to exclusive real estate offerings and a literally blooming foliage industry, Apopka has one of the most interesting and rich histories of any locale in Central Florida. Many experts believe that what is now Apopka originally may have been settled as early as 7500 B.C. Indians were believed to have taken up residence, to have lodged, on the shores of Lake Apopka at that time. Indeed, the settlement of that and later time periods was known as The Lodge.

Jeffrey Funk - Orlando Real Estate & Orlando Investment Properties

Winter Garden: The Rebirth of a Classic Florida Community

Jeffrey Funk (Realty Executives Central Florida) — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 11:56:22 -0500

Over the course of many generations, Winter Garden garnered a reputation as being the quintessential "small town," idyllic "home town" living at its very, very best. Since its founding in the middle part of the 1800s, Winter Garden was a Floridian citrus community like many of the other small towns that came to life in Orange and in surrounding Central Florida counties.

All of this came to a seemingly shocking end in the 1980s when devastating frosts destroyed thousands of acres of citrus. A good deal of the once vital citrus industry that provided the lifeblood for Winter Garden never recovered. Indeed, towards the end of the decade, the Winter Garden city center - which once teamed with excitement - was all but abandoned. But ... all was not lost.

Farsighted real estate developers began purchasing tracts of what was once citrus land and began creating fantastic new subdivisions - seemingly overnight. In literally no time at all, Winter Garden was reborn and became a community synonymous with great expectations and gracious living. Prime real estate was being developed in and around Winter Garden at an amazing and yet controlled and responsible pace.

An amazing forty real estate developments currently are being constructed at the present time in Winter Green. Many of these developments include prime residential properties, magnificent homes that favorably compare with what is available in other area communities. In addition, there are many mid-level and more affordable real estate developments also underway in Winter Garden at the present time.

Even with the residential and commercial real estate development that sparked a new era in Winter Garden, the civic leaders of the community continued to pay heed to the town's history. At the turn of the 21^st century, real estate developers joined together to give the downtown Winter Garden district a complete rehabilitation.

The beautiful, historic buildings that made up the city center were renovated in grand style. The charming brick streets were restored throughout the area. These efforts created a refurbished city center that is the pride of the residents of Winter Green and which now greets over 50,000 downtown shoppers and visitors each and every month. Real estate analysts predict that Winter Garden will be home to about 30,00 residents by the end of the decade.

Beyond the downtown district, retail development abounds in Winter Garden. Truly, those people who are investing in residential Winter Garden real estate are finding that Winter Garden now has everything necessary for easy living. In addition, Winter Garden conveniently is located only a short drive from Orlando and many of the top entertainment venues and recreational areas of Central Florida.

Please visit Jeffrey's website for more information on Winter Garden and Orlando Real Estate.

A New Bloom in Ocoee

Jeffrey Funk (Realty Executives Central Florida) — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 09:07:33 -0500

Ocoee, Florida, finds its roots in the citrus industry. What became the city of Ocoee was founded by a physician named J.D. Starke and a group of slaves in the mid-19^th century. For generations, Ocoee was a slumbering citrus community. All of this changed when the vicious frosts destroyed thousands of acres of citrus trees in Orange and Lake counties. Devastating those these freezes were, they opened the door to real estate development in Ocoee.

Within the past twenty years, Ocoee blossomed into the third largest community in Orange County, moving past Winter Park. Ocoee is the fastest growing of the thirteen cities that make up Orange County. Moreover, real estate development in Ocoee has led to tremendous residential options for people from all walks of life. This has included magnificent real estate options that include lovely lake front states and beautiful custom homes that have been built in a number of new developments in the city.

Despite the building boom in Ocoee, there remains prime property available for the construction of new, custom residences. Moreover, the pace of the residential real estate market, including more luxurious properties, remains very brisk. There is universal agreement amongst real estate analysts that purchasing beautiful residential real estate in Ocoee today will prove to be an outstanding investment into the future. Real estate values in Ocoee are on an incline that is not expected to recede any time soon.

Along with the prime residential real estate development in Ocoee, other construction has kept pace. For example, to ensure that the expanding number of individuals and families settling in Ocoee have access to all of the amenities of the good life, over 1,000,000 square feet of retail space has been developed in recent times, including the highly regarded West Oaks Mall.

In addition to the new residential and commercial real estate development that is sweeping through Ocoee, great care is taken to maintain the historic venues that have made this community unique through the years. Progress and tradition have blended perfectly to make Ocoee unique in all of Orange County.

In addition to the incomparable real estate opportunities available today, Ocoee offers other great benefits to people who elect to call this thriving community "home." For example, a resident of Ocoee can reach Orlando by car in a matter of minutes. Depending on where a person actually resides in Ocoee, he or she actually can be well into Orlando in a matter of less than ten minutes. Despite its very close proximity to Orlando, and despite its growth, life in Ocoee feels (and is) far removed from the hustle and bustle of major city living. Presently, Ocoee has a population of about 30,000 residents.

A long time catch phrase that has been associated with Ocoee is "The Center of Good Living." In today's world, more than at any other time in the history of Ocoee, that phrase -- "The Center of Good Living" -- is more accurate than ever before. Indeed, to say that the future looks bright for Ocoee is an understatement. The freeze that gave birth to the latest incarnation of this fantastic community is a fading memory.

Follow these links for additional information on Ocoee and Orlando Real Estate