Wow.... I count at least two puns in that headline:)

Seriously,  according to CNN, you really have to weigh all of your options before you turn in the keys and walk away from a loan commitment you have with a bank for a property you own.  It can be many years (more than you might think) before your credit score is restored and you have the opportunity to borrow money. So before you pull the plug, you should consult with someone who might offer some other suggestions and possible solutions.  Someone like your Realtor for starters.  In the past year I have worked with a number of homeowners thinking they had only two possible paths- short sale or foreclosure.  In every single case, I have sold their homes without having to resort to either of these options....and the sellers' credit was not impacted at all.

Here is the article from CNN

If I can be of any service, or if you have any questions...please do not hesitate to get in touch with me.


 

In a nutshell, from the first graph you will note that the amount of pending sales in Orange County increased significantly in April (in part to the deadline for the $8000 tax credit), homes on the market continue the declining trend, and actual sales remained basically flat though up significantly from last year.

In the second graph you will note that the "days on the market" number for homes in Orange County is the lowest in over a year, while sold price averages 96% of list price.

For more information about what these numbers might mean to you, or if you would like to see data on any other counties in Central Florida, please get in touch with me.

This article from this morning's Orlando Sentinel...... still sitting on the fence?

It is the combination of lowest pricing in years AND wages and earnings - which have remained stable.
Give us a call if you have any questions.

Earth day is one day of the year, but with just a little effort on your behalf, you will find that you can recycle just about everything that you use on a daily basis.  Help Mother Earth, set an example for your friends and family, and get started today!

Plastics

-
Refer to the "triangle" symbol usually on the bottom of the container

# 1s and 2s - go to your curbside recycling bin

#  5s - Whole Foods & Aveda Salons (items such as plastic tops like those found on shampoo bottles, water bottles, mayonnaise jars, etc. - and some sour cream and other containers - all of which are not supposed to be included in your recycling bin.  The plastic tops cause the death of millions of birds worldwide every year and there is now the Great Pacific Garbage Patch floating in the ocean and twice the size of the State of Texas.)
Whole Foods' recycling program for # 5s is called "Gimme 5"

Metal tops (beer bottles, soup cans, etc.)-
City of Orlando collection sites at Loch Haven Park, Barldwin Park, Lake Fairview Park, ... which also take paper products

Hazardous & Electronic Waste - (batteries, paint, pesticides, herbicides, chlorine, computers, microwave ovens, etc.)
Orange County Solid Waste sties - McLeod Road Transfer Station and Orange County Landfill on Young Pine Road

Junk mail, magazines, newspapers, copier paper, telephone books, & cardboard-  Orange County Public Schools recycle these as a means of raising funds.

Styrofoam (packing, egg cartons, to-go boxes, meat & vegetable trays, etc.)- Central Florida Zoo

Box Tops for Education, Labels For Education, Pop Tops For Education, and Printer Cartridges -
Most Public Schools

Aluminum tennis can tops (or similar)-
Ronald McDonald House

Packaging (bubble wrap, "peanuts", etc.)-
UPS Stores & Mailboxes Etc.

Mulch bags, -
reuse for yard waste

Cloth (sheets, clothes, etc.)-
reuse as a weed suppressant

Plastic (bags, wraps, covering, etc.)-
Publix Supermarkets

Brita Water Filters-
Whole Foods

Rubber or Plastic Corks-
ABC Fine Wines & Spirits

Athletic Shoes-
Nike's Reuse-A-Shoe Program

Tennis Balls-
United Cerebral Palsy OR leave keep them together and I can pick up from you and donate them to Jeff Horn's Genesis Community Program"

Used Postage Stamps- 
Habitat for Humanity of Lake County

Dry Cleaning-
The consensus seems to be that Acme Dry Cleaners is the most green.  You can read a review and get the link to their website to review their "green" credentials at Acme Dry Cleaners  They have locations Downtown and College Park, and you can arrange home pickup and delivery.


All of this great information is courtesy of my tennis pro and supreme "recycler"-  Jeff Horn.
Please check out his website at Jeff Horn
P.S....if you contact Acme, please use Jeff Horn's name!  They have a referral program and you can get started with it as well once you set up an account with them.


Earth Day is over...but is your commitment to recycling solid?  It really isn't that hard when you think about it.  A good idea is to just keep a different bag for each recycle destination and plan on doing a drop each quarter, or 1/2 year. It will probably take minimal time to do this and you will be helping "Mother Earth" in a big way..   Set an example for your friends, family, clients and business associates.

Have a great "green" day, and call me with any questions.

Michael Gonick Realtor
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate
407 383 2563
www.orlandorealestatematters.com

This article from CBS News does a great job at summarizing the pros and cons of why it may be the right time to buy a home.  CLICK HERE.

This article from Forbes Magazine.  Earth day is tomorrow, but why wait when you can get started today.
Going Green Cheaply and Easily

...you might want to take a look at the condominium complex I live in- Fairwind Shores in Ormond Beach, Florida.  Ormond is on the east coast of Florida just north of Daytona Beach, and an hour north of Cape Canaveral.   I had always dreamed of having a place at the beach so after I moved to Florida I started my search and decided on Ormond because of it's proximity to Orlando (70 minutes), the strict zoning restrictions preventing high rises in the part of the beach I live in, the beach itself which is pretty much isolated....and the town which I love.  Downtown is filled with quaint shops, and some of the best restaurants in the state.
After I decided that Ormond was right for me, I looked at every condominium building in town and there was no question that Fairwind Shores was the best for me.  Basically, every unit is a corner unit, our buidings have lobbies, we only allow long term renters (over 30 days),  and besides the pools and private access to the beach....we have our own tennis court!
I have yet to rent mine out, but those that do usually do not have problems finding renters.  Many have the same "snowbirds" each year, some rent out just for a couple of months, some for the majority of the year.  I would say more than 1/2 the residents live there full time.
The units themselves are each approximately 1200 square feet, 2 bedroom, 2 bath with separate laundry room in each.  Just about everyone has oceanfront views from the bedroom, living room and kitchen.
Anyway, I bring this up because we rarely have units available for sale, but now we have some great deals- some units below $200,000!  If you are interested let me know and I can tell you more and can be of service if you decide that Fairwind Shores is right for you.
Here is our website www,.fairwindshores.com.