I was going to write about this but the Orlando Sentinel took the words right out of my mouth.  Read the full article here and get in touch with questions... I can explain why I have units in downtown Orlando buildings going under contract for clients now, and why things are picking up in our condo market.

Below is a link to an article from the Orlando Business  Journal.  Home sales rose 28% in June.  Not a surprise to me.

As I have been saying for a couple of months now, certain zip codes (32801, 32806) and neighborhoods (Lake Davis/Greenwood, Delaney Park, Thornton Park, ) remain very tight as far as inventory is concerned.  Areas downtown are bouncing back quicker than other areas- for example Winter Park. Yet many downtown Realtors are not doing their homework and continue to price homes BELOW market value...and they are selling fast. Maybe too fast for some sellers.  This really isn't very good for property values. Of course this has been a tremendous opportunity for the buyers I am working with.  But buyers beware, it is supply and demand.  As the inventory tightens in hot areas, your choices may become limited particularly with the low interest rates we have at the moment.
I have set u charts on the side of my blog that pin points specific neighborhoods so you can see the relationship between inventory and list price in your own backyard.  These charts update automatically.  If you are considering selling your home...make sure you know the value in today's market.  Make sure there is strategy to market it properly. Use a Realtor who is a specialist in your neighborhood and has a proven track record of buying and selling in your area. Do not sell yourself short!  Call me if you have questions or if you want to know the true value of your home....today.

Here is the article from the Orlando Business Journal

If you look at the right sidebar of this blog ORLANDO REAL ESTATE MATTERS you will see boxes that display listing inventory and pricing trends for most of the neighborhoods in Downtown Orlando as well as Winter Park.   If you have questions on how to interpret this information, or if there is a specific neighborhood that you would like information for that is not listed....just let me know and you shall have it   :)

If you are visiting us for spring break, if you are visiting us for the day, or if you are one of us living here in the "city beautiful" you might not realize what we have around us that is fun and FREE.

We are just  DISNEY here in Orlando you know.

These ideas courtesy of the "Traveling Mom".

Any other suggestions for free things to do in Orlando?

Do I show favoritism?  Well it is true that I live in the neighborhood, and I was the President of the Lake Davis/Greenwood Neighborhood Association.... 

So I was pleased to see this nice write up on 903 Mills Market in the online "Visit South" guide.  Bravo!

I figure the day after my 50th birthday would be the appropriate time to recognize that our very own Thornton Park has been  named one of the magazine's best "Old House" neighborhoods of 2010.
Old is in!
Full article from "This Old House" magazine below.


Thornton Park, Orlando, Florida | Best Old House Neighborhoods 2010: the South | Photos | Home & Real Estate | This Old House

Homes not selling unless they are foreclosures?

Not true.

I just sold a beautiful 2 bedroom home in Thornton Park for $515,000 that closed last Friday. I represented both sides of the transaction. The home was my listing, and I marketed and found the buyers who ultimately purchased the property. This was not a short sale or a foreclosure. The home was on the market over 600 days with a number of different Realtors prior to me....I listed the home and got it under contract in 69 days.

Why?

• Even considering significant price decreases in some markets over the past 18 months, a home purchased several years ago could very likely sell for a profit today.
• While your selling price might be less than anticipated, you very likely can compensate for that on the buying side of the equation in today's market. There are still great deals out there, and interest rates are still hovering around all time lows. Remember, when the market turns...and it will...you may be able to get an outstanding price for your home, but if you will be purchasing another home you will be on the other side of the transaction. You will be scrambling, and probably will be forced to pay a premium for property under those market conditions.
  
• I would remind you of this- While short-term market conditions can fluctuate, housing continues to represent a strong ling-term investment. Since the start of real estate record keeping in 1968, national median existing-home prices rose every year until 2006 - a period that included early recessions and sales decline.
• The market is experiencing a major decline in available home inventory- as short sales and foreclosed properties continue to disappear.
  

It all comes down to this. Homes are selling. The Realtors who are selling homes in this challenging market are doing more than just posting their listing on the MLS, putting a sign on a yard and hoping for the best.
I made this particular sale happen for both buyer and seller by working with the appraiser to explain the value of this property, by utilizing many different media to get the word out to everyone and targeting a very specific set of buyers that would be interested in a home like this. These are just a few of the reasons I was able to sell 27 James Avenue in such a short time, and to get accomplished what the Realtors who had this listing before me--- could not.

If you are considering putting your home on the market, I would welcome the opportunity to evaluate your home and give you my opinions, thoughts and suggestions.....all for free. Just get in touch and I will try to help you anyway I can.

Well if you love modern contemporary architectural style you may have been sitting on the fence waiting for something dramatic to happen with this property...and it has. My listing at 26 S. Lawsona Boulevard has been reduced $50000 to the unbelievable price of $499,000.  Click here to see more and call me soon to preview if you are interested.  This is a motivated seller and he wants it sold quickly.

As part of their "Cinema Art" program, the new Plaza Cinema Cafe features critically-acclaimed independent films, alternative productions, restored classics and first-run foreign movies.  On Wednesday and Thursdays only you can see their feature presentation for free...simply by clicking here and printing your free voucher.  Bring it to the theater and you are good to go for any of the show times on Wednesday and Thursday.  Your parking is free for 3 hours with validated ticket.


This week's featured movie is "Pandorum", and you can get showtimes and info here as well as a map to the theater.  For parking enter on S. Court Aveune from either Pine or Central.


Support the Downtown Arts District.  It's good for Orlando.