orlando homes for sale: The Market & some fun information...
- 08/29/07 12:09 PM
Did you know that on this date in history....St. Augustine, Florida was established in 1565. It is the oldest surviving European settlement in the United States.Henry Hudson discovered the Delaware Bay in 1609.Germany declares war on Romania and Italy declares war on Germany in 1916.Today is Dream Day (Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech during civil rights rally at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. in 1963.)On another note, the mortgage debacle that we are all witnessing has definitely added to the real estate woes. Unfortunately, the number of available homes on the market is … (0 comments)
orlando homes for sale: Market Update
- 08/07/07 12:31 PM
OK, I know that I haven't blogged lately, but can't believe that it's already been one month. My goodness, how time flies. But, finally, I've noted what is hopefully a good note. As many of you are well aware, I like numbers & have been tracking the number of available homes listed in the Greater Orlando regional MLS. In mid June, I noted that the number of available properties slipped slightly one week, but then again continued to rise each week afterwards. Well, this week, it again went down some. Maybe not a lot, but more so than I've seen in … (0 comments)
orlando homes for sale: Buying and Selling in Today’s Market – Is It Right For Me?
- 07/05/07 03:26 AM
We are all aware of what's going on in today's real estate marketplace. There is no way that you can escape the news. It's all over on the radio, television and in print. So where do you stand? Firstly, the situation is not going to change anytime soon. There are too many factors that have contributed to our present market. One of the greatest, that most people are not aware of, is that of the mortgage lending business. This has greatly contributed the our present set of circumstances. A little history. A long time ago when someone took out a mortgage, … (0 comments)
orlando homes for sale: Property Taxes – The Saga Continues
- 06/06/07 05:37 AM
I've been very concerned about where we are going with the property tax reform, as I am sure most of you in Florida are as well. Last evening there was a Town Hall Meeting in Apopka with Rep. Bryan Nelson. The plan that was revealed was interesting, but I am still very skeptical. My first order of skeptism has to do with the implementation date. Previously it had been talked about by members of the Florida legislature that they would ask for a special election in August of this year. Both Mr. Nelson and an article in the Orlando Sentinel have … (0 comments)
orlando homes for sale: Property Taxes – Our Nemesis! – con’t
- 05/11/07 07:06 AM
I was actually planning on writing about our other nemesis - Homeowners Insurance, but today's Orlando Sentinel had much ado about property taxes and Marco Rubio's new plan. It seems that State Rep. Rubio's previous plan was too drastic for many in the Senate, if not the House, to swallow. As you may have read in my previous posts, I have been a strong opponent to his plan. His new plan just seems to be a rip off of the one I wrote about yesterday, the one that was proposed by David Simmons of Maitland. Unfortunately, Rubio's new plan again goes too … (0 comments)
orlando homes for sale: Property Taxes – Our Nemesis!
- 05/10/07 02:49 AM
Finally someone has come up with a tax-cut proposal that is somewhat realistic. David Simmons, a state representative from Maitland, has proposed a property tax plan that will offer big tax cuts, but asks homeowners of larger more expensive homes to get a lesser tax cut percentage. More in line with how income taxes work. Basically using a sliding scale approach. Here's how this would work. All homeowners would get a tax break of 65% on the first $100K of assessed value of their home. For homes valued $100-200K, these people would receive a 55% tax cut on the second $100K … (0 comments)
orlando homes for sale: The Southern Lawn
- 05/03/07 08:59 AM
OK, so I'm going to try to blog about something other than the market conditions, etc. I know that sometimes it may seem somewhat depressing to you. I still wanted to give you helpful information, nevertheless. Well, it's May, the A/C is on, we haven't had enough rain, it's already in the 90's almost every day. You got to love, but ‘oy' how does your lawn feel about it? Firstly, you should have already fed your lawn. This should be done at least twice a year. I usually do mine in March, July & again in October. There are some that also … (5 comments)
orlando homes for sale: Real Estate is Still a Good Investment – REALLY!!
- 04/13/07 07:28 AM
I feel that real estate has & will always be a good investment. Historically, this has pretty much always held to be true. Granted, there are many out there & especially some who were trying to be investors and bought at the wrong time, to say the least, that might feel differently. I think for the majority of us, our real estate purchases have done very well for us. Especially, in the past several years where we have seen so many either refinancing and cashing out or taking home-equity loans on their property. But now that the market is changing we … (1 comments)
orlando homes for sale: Home Prices Plunge – Stop the Hysteria!!
- 04/11/07 04:18 AM
Today, the front page headline in the Orlando Sentinel is "Seller Beware: Home Prices Plunge." We are seeing & hearing this from all types of media. The writer was discussing the Median Sales Price. The unfortunate problem is that many may be unfamiliar with the term and at the same time it is being used as an incorrect standard. Let's start with some clarification here. The Average Price is that of homes in any given period being determined by taking all of the prices of homes that have sold, adding them together & then dividing by the number of homes that … (1 comments)
orlando homes for sale: BEWARE – Deed Scam
- 04/09/07 07:47 AM
Recently, I received a letter in the mail. I was pretty sure it was junk mail immediately, but opened this one up. Inside, I was told that I needed a Certified Deed for my home. I knew right away that this was bs, but had to read on out of curiosity. I was being asked to spend an amount, which I can't remember. I'm pretty sure that the amount was enough for some unsuspecting people to think that this was legitimate need, yet not too much for them to question the validity. The letter went on to say that you need … (1 comments)
orlando homes for sale: Can YOU quantify success?
- 04/04/07 06:57 AM
This blog was originally going to be about ‘What is a Realtor®?' with this as a second part, but I realize that it would just be too long. I try to keep upbeat & you have to in this industry otherwise you'll just sink, but sometimes you just find yourself at a loss. Take me for instance, many would consider me successful. But what is successful to one person may not be to another. Some may quantify in monetary terms (granted, that doesn't hurt). Others may in the amount of closings you've had. Some may feel it is what you give … (1 comments)
orlando homes for sale: Where are the Buyers?
- 03/30/07 09:09 AM
I'm sure that many are asking the same question. I continually keep on hearing that the buyers are waiting for the market to settle down. Buyers are waiting for that killer deal. Buyers are waiting.... OK, so we've had a reality lesson for sellers. It's time for a reality check for buyers. In the Central Florida area, as I am sure with many parts of the country, the real estate housing market has settled down. Yes, there is a great deal of inventory out there, but homes are being sold. Granted, not at as fast a clip as the past few years. … (0 comments)
orlando homes for sale: What type of busines are you in?
- 03/24/07 08:52 AM
Most realtors when asked, will say that they are in the business of selling real estate. If this is your answer, than you may not be working up to your full potential. Personally, the selling of real estate is a by-product of what we do & that is being in the 'People Business.' We help bring buyers & sellers together & for people to achieve a certain goal. Too many realtors, lose sight of this. Sometimes just getting caught up in your own business. As with any business plan, you should have a Mission Statement as well as a Vision Statement. The later will … (2 comments)
orlando homes for sale: Do I Really Need That Listing?
- 03/23/07 05:31 AM
There was a blog a few days ago authored by Judy Cicalese entitled, How do you know when it's time to give up a listing? soliciting comments from us as to when is the time. In too many instances, the time is before you even take the listing, especially in our present market. I'm located in the Greater Orlando market and we have a much healthier market than most areas of the country. We all want listings, but I don't understand why someone would take an overpriced listing just to have it languish on the market with your name rider on the yardarm. … (26 comments)
orlando homes for sale: Why do people think we are Stupid?!?
- 03/16/07 02:13 AM
It's just absolutely amazing to me that people must think we are stupid. Here are two things in particular that I've just come across. My last post had to do with the Florida property tax issue. This morning I received an email from a realtor in Miami that must be a supporter of Marco Rubio, the House Speaker. Let me just give you a brief history here. He is proposing that we eliminate the property tax on primary residences & reduce the property tax on other properties by 20%. To offset this revenue loss he is wishing to increase the state … (0 comments)
orlando homes for sale: Florida’s Property Tax Fiasco!!
- 03/14/07 07:31 AM
I obviously haven't written in a couple of months. It is not that I had not wanted, but did not wish to write about the same topic that has been so prevalent, the local market. I was firstly concerned about the negativity that some may derive from this, even though we are in a quite healthy market in Central Florida. I also needed some more inspiration to write.
A client of mine had suggested that I write about the property tax issue that we are experiencing. My first thought & reply was ‘no'. I did not want to write about such … (0 comments)
orlando homes for sale: WOW - 2007 - con't
- 01/05/07 01:32 AM
This started as just a comment, but has obviously ended up as much more. Just give me an inch... Anyway, thanks for all the comments. In regard to the appreciation that Jennifer commented in from the last post, I agree with her. The reason for my stating a higher rate is because this has been typically true in the Greater Orlando market. Orlando is a destination city & has continually bucked the national trend. Generally, while the nation has normally seen a 6-8% appreciation level, we in Orlando have encountered a typically 10-13% rate. To make this a little clearer, Orlando was definitely behind … (0 comments)
orlando homes for sale: WOW! – 2007 – What Will This Year Bring Us In Real Estate?
- 01/04/07 05:14 AM
Most of my posts are geared towards the consumer, but the thoughts that are coming to my mind make this agent-oriented. Well, let's start out with the fact that the market has ‘corrected' itself in many locales, but surely in the Orlando area. We are still in a very healthy market. Inventory is on a downward trend and will hopefully continue so. Rates are still very good in the low 6's. I've even noted in my personal business that what is usually a very slow week (the week between Christmas & New Year's) has turned into a quite busy one. Three … (14 comments)
orlando homes for sale: Tax measure goes easy on the rich
- 12/21/06 11:55 PM
In 1992 in Florida, a property tax break measure entitled, "Save Our Homes," was passed. What this does is take the Tax Assessed Value of your home at the time of purchase and limit this from being increased more than 3% per year for the current owner until the home is sold. The intention of this was to be of assistance mainly to the elderly from being taxed out of their homes. Unfortunately, the wealthy have received a proportionately greater property tax benefits than those intended. Read the complete article at http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-sohday206oct30,0,6678504.storyUntil Next Time - MARC IT SOLD! … (1 comments)
orlando homes for sale: Deducting Interest When You Are Not on Title
- 12/21/06 11:40 PM
The following is an interesting article entitled, "Housing Counsel: Deducting Interest When You Are Not on Title," written by Benny L. Kass & published on Realty Times. I did not know that it was possible to deduct the interest on your taxes if you were not on the title. But read the follow case in point to understand the parameters of which this may occur."Question: I want to buy a condominium unit for my son. Although he makes a decent living, his credit is not good. Accordingly, the lender has advised that title must be in my name only. My son … (0 comments)
This blog is an avenue to relate information and sites that may be of interest to you in regard to real estate. There will be miscellaneous meanderings about me and opinions in regard to Central Florida and Orlando homes for sale and real estate in particular.
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Did you know that on this date in history....St. Augustine, Florida was established in 1565. It is the oldest surviving European settlement in the United States.Henry Hudson discovered the Delaware Bay in 1609.Germany declares war on Romania and Italy declares war on Germany in 1916.Today is Dream Day (Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech during civil rights rally at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. in 1963.)On another note, the mortgage debacle that we are all witnessing has definitely added to the real estate woes. Unfortunately, the number of available homes on the market is … (0 comments)
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