Orlando Real Estate Blog - Orlando Real Estate

Considerations When Building a New Orlando Home

There really is nothing like moving into a brand 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.

Consider very carefully where the home is going to be built. Check to make sure that any lots that you are considering building on are actually zoned for building. Although the real estate agent or the seller may tell you that this is not a building lot, this is not their responsibility so if you don’t check it out for yourself, you could end up with a lot that you can’t do…

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Questions to Ask When Purchasing an Orlando Condo

Once you have found the condo that you believe is perfect for your tastes and lifestyle, there are some questions that should be asked before any purchase is made. These key questions will prevent you from being stuck in a bad homeowner’s situation and will make you more prepared for what you are getting yourself into.

The first question that you should be asking is what the other owner’s complaints are. Remember that if you were to move in, there’s a good chance that these complaints could become your own. Reading the minutes of past association meetings will provide good insight as to what any problems are. Of course, the present owners may not have anything to complain about but reading the minutes is still a good idea. They may show that there are…

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The Condo Hotel - Orlando's Newest Vacation Property

One of the biggest trends in home ownership right now are condo hotels. These wonderful vacation spots can be used when the owner chooses and rented out when the homeowner is not using them. Condo hotels differ from other vacation homes in the way that they provide high end resort style amenities, are wonderfully furnished and sit on some of the best vacation spots in the country. They are generally owned and operated by some of the most well known names such as Hilton, Ritz Carlton, and Westin.

Offsetting the cost of ownership is very simple process with condo hotels. When the unit is empty, it is placed into the hotel’s rental program. The hotel also takes care of managing the renters, housekeeping and maintenance of the unit. Also, because the…

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Effective Selling Incentives

When trying to sell your home in today's Buyers Market, there are certain incentives that can attract buyers. However, these incentives don’t often include things such as large screen televisions or expensive cars in the driveway. Often homebuyers will assume that these gimmicks have been included in the price of the home and they could actually turn buyers off of your property. Instead, more practical incentives such as the actual cost of the home and the amount of their monthly payments are likely to be much more attractive. 

Incentives can be stated at the very beginning of the home selling process to make it stand out from the rest of the houses on the market or they can be added several months after the property has been listed to help it sell.…

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Should I Buy a Orlando Home in Today's Market

The only reason one should not a buy a home is if they don’t intend to live there for a very long time. Buying a home and then moving within two years of the purchase doesn’t make a whole lot of sense as there are many costs that come with selling a home. While a homeowner can usually rely on the appreciation of the home’s value to cover these costs as well as the costs that come with buying their new home, this may not be the case if the current home has only been occupied for a short period of time. 

That being said, a home is usually occupied for seven or more years, making it very practical to buy instead of rent. This is true at any time and for any market. Many homebuyers think that they need to wait until the time is exactly right before…

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Homeowners Don't Fall Victim of Mortgage Payment Shock

Many home owners who have had a fixed rate mortgage for the past few years followed by an adjustable rate are falling victim to mortgage payment shock when the adjustable rate kicks in and the mortgage payment suddenly soars. Many others have heard of the high number of recent foreclosures due to these types of loans and are fearing the worst when it comes time for their adjustable rate to start.

To deal with this problem the FTC has recently released a new publication to help consumers avoid foreclosure scams and save their homes. The publication “Mortgage Payments Sending You Realing? Here’s What To Do,” explains the different types of mortgages and proactive actions consumers can take in order to avoid predatory scams.

If you have this type of…

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Florida Homeowners Get Your Free Wind Inspection

Did you know that you can get a free wind inspection report on your home? With a free wind inspection from the MSFH program, Floridians can learn how safe their homes are, and what they can do to strengthen their homes against hurricanes. They can also found out if they are eligible for savings on their hurricane insurance premiums. Homeowners who receive an inspection through the MSFH program may also be eligible for matching grants up to $5,000 to help harden their homes.  Any Floridian who lives in a single-family site-built home is eligible. Homeowners who receive free wind inspections through the MSFH program will receive a detailed inspection report, complete with eligibility information on matching grants and estimated insurance premium discounts,…

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Voters Will Decide Sweeping Tax Overhaul After Bitter Vote

Voters will get to decide in January whether to phase out Save Our Homes in favor of a massive new homestead exemption, after the Republican-controlled Florida House muscled the sweeping ballot measure through on a party-line vote.

The 74-43 vote in the House follows similarly partisan approval in the Senate earlier this afternoon, and it marks the finale of a three-day special session on property taxes.

"This is the biggest tax cut in the history of the state, and it's aimed squarely at the middle class," said Rep. Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park.

Republicans billed the amendment as the centerpiece of an historic, $32 billion tax cut and a way to make Florida's property-tax structure fairer to all property owners. Democrats warned it could devastate…

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Tax-cut Letdown: Numbers May Not Add Up

On the first day of the special session to lower property taxes, here is what lawmakers started cutting: expectations for a huge tax cut this year and a January vote for even bigger savings.

The Republican-led Legislature didn't appear to have the votes Tuesday to push deeper cuts more quickly because Democrats oppose $7.2 billion in school cuts over five years in the $31.6 billion plan.

But the schools dispute belies the real trouble: It's almost impossible to fix the complicated tax system, protect local services and fulfill simple promises made by Gov. Charlie Crist and House Speaker Marco Rubio, who have raised public expectations of deep tax cuts.

The two Republicans have barnstormed the state separately for months. Rubio held out for bigger…

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Florida Lawmakers Agree to Cut Property Taxes

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. June 11, 2007

We have a deal. Senate President Ken Pruitt (R-Port St. Lucie) and House Speaker Marco Rubio (R-Miami) announced that they've reached an agreement to cut property taxes in Florida.

It's a complicated, two-step formula that would offer moderate relief this year and greater relief next year. Homesteaded owners win most, but commercial interests also benefit. Details will be discussed starting tomorrow, the first day of the Florida Legislature's special session, with a vote possible before the scheduled end on June 22.

Step 1

The two steps operate independently and cut taxes in different ways. Step one can be accomplished immediately if approved by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Charlie Crist. Under this step,…

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