Who Says There’s Nothing To Do In Orlando? – Feeling Blue

This weekend is the 9^th Annual Blues B-Q in Downtown Orlando. It is a completely free, family friendly event with lots of live music and…you guessed it, BBQ!

It is held outside at the City Commons Plaza from 4-10pm on Saturday the 28th.   The R&B, Grammy Award winning, singer Betty Wright is performing as well as The Gerry Williams Band, The Silkee Smoove Band and CeCe Teneal.  BBQ is for purchase and your options include, Mister BBQ, Serena’s BBQ, Jay’s BBQ, Blaizin Bones BBQ, Carribean Sunshine Bakery and Johnny Henry’s BBQ.

You’ve got to love all of the free events that Downtown Orlando has to offer.  Just another reason to love where you live! 

#HeartOrlandoHome

Looking to buy or sell in the Downtown Orlando area, give us call or visit us on the web.  (407) 494-2820

 

Go Local Wednesdays – The Brass Tap

We finally had a chance to check out The Brass Tap at Mills Park and we are so glad we did!   If you haven’t been I highly suggest you go check it out, go thirsty and hungry because there are tons of food and drink options.  We went for a business happy hour and it was the perfect atmosphere, laid back, but grown up enough to actually be able to conduct a little business. It’s perfect for the Mills 50 district.

They have Happy Hour during the week, Monday – Friday from 4-7pm, Live Music on Saturdays and Trivia on Wednesdays (starting next week). Oh, and if you consider yourself serious beer drinker then you should take advantage of their Brew Crew membership, you drink beer, earn points, and get stuff.

May I suggest Cigar City Minaret Nitro and the Sriracha covered bacon.  Drool.

Interested in selling or buying in the area? Call us today, (407) 494-2820.

#HeartOrlandoHome

 

Tuesday Tour – Lake Como Neighborhood

Today on our Tuesday Tour we are taking you to the highly sought-after Lake Como Neighborhood.

The Lake Como neighborhood in Downtown Orlando is a charming tight knit community. With a beautiful mix of 1940s bungalows, mid-century ranch homes and newer Victorian inspired homes there is a style to appeal to every buyer.

Lake Como Park is at the neighborhood’s center and makes for the perfect location for all of Lake Como’s annual events and monthly meetings, which are held by the voluntary neighborhood association.  Because of it’s sense of community and close proximity to major roadways such as I-4 and 408 Lake Como is one of the most sough-after neighborhoods in Downtown Orlando. Homes sell fast here and it’s easy to see why!

I love Lake Como and the community that it has become, I’m so proud to be the top sales agent in this Downtown Orlando neighborhood!

Thinking about moving to Lake Como Orlando, Search Lake Como Homes for Sale.

Search Downtown Orlando Neighbhorhood Homes for Sale

Need to sell your Lake Como home, call us today, 407-494-2820

Do you love where you live?   #heartorlandohome

 

Monday Market Report – The highs and lows of the Orlando Real Estate Market

Lately a lot of people have been asking me “How is the market in Orlando?”.  I think the news of rising prices and overall positive real estate news in the national media has people wondering – are things better now?

Let’s take a look at the market now compared with the lowest point of the market crash.  Bear with me here, this isn’t super exciting sexy stuff, but it’s important to know where we have been to know where we are going in the real estate market!

The real estate boom is said to have taken place in 2005 and as you can see from the chart below the rising prices continued into 2006 and 2007.  The effects of the “hot” market drove the market behavior over the next few years.  When the market shifts, it takes a little time before things catch up with it.  From 2006-2008…within two years, the median sales prices in the Orlando real estate market had been cut in half!  By 2009 the market in Orlando had officially crashed and the absolute low was finally felt when the median sales price hit $94,900 in January of 2011.

What is important to note is the number of new listings that came on the market had a direct correlation to how the market performed.  I know, I know – supply and demand at work – it’s so simple and yet so many people missed the signs!  As word of the real estate market boom in Orlando spread, the prices rose in 2005-2006.  That led even more sellers to jump into the market to sell their homes for extraordinary prices!  By the end of 2006, there were almost 30,000 new listings on the market compared to the previous year!  That’s a lot of inventory.  So of course, with all of that new competition and no new demand the market tanked!  Over the next couple of years, the days on the market increased as all of these listings sat.

So what’s been driving up our prices in the last few years?  Well it is supply and demand of course!  If you take another look at the number of new listings in 2011 – 2012 you’ll notice that the number of homes for sale in Orlando and number of new listings hit a low.  That in turn caused a shortage in our market and drove the median price back up to where we are today.  New listings are on the rise, but we are still at a healthy level for now.

As you can see we are nowhere near the median home values that topped the market in 2006-2007, and the rising inventory will keep us in a nice happy balanced market for now.  Until it gets too high and can’t support the number of home-buyers in our area.  Where will we be in another year?   Check out my other post to see the top things to watch in 2015.

Do you need to make a move?  Love where you live and get started with your home search today.

 

Who Says There’s Nothing To Do In Orlando? – Food & Wine Festival

Downtown Food & Wine Fest is this weekend, two days of eating and drinking some of the best that Orlando has to offer!  But it isn’t just about food and wine, it’s about music, it’s about fun, it’s about an excuse to get out and enjoy this amazing weather!

There will be over 100 menu items from 30 of the area’s top restaurants and 10 wine stations serving over 50 wines.  And what is a festival without live entertainment?!  Saturday is the band Lifehouse and Sunday is Loverboy, along with plenty of other bands throughout the weekend. So bring your picnic blankets and lawn chairs and enjoy the show!

 

Downtown Food & Wine Fest

Lake Eola / Robinson St.

Saturday from 12-9pm

Sunday from 12-7pm

Tickets: $20 for 1 day general admission or $25 for 2 day general admission. (food/wine tickets are extra)

 

Everyone should love where they live. Do you?

 

 

Tuesday Tour – Lawsona/Fern Creek Neighborhood

Today on our Tuesday Tour we are taking you to the gorgeous Lawsona/Fern Creek Neighborhood.

Lawsona/Fern Creek is truly one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Downtown Orlando.  From the historic homes to the charming Washington St. bridge, you will not be disappointed.

The Lawsona/Fern Creek neighborhood is located between Thornton Park and the Milk District  so you will never run out of places to eat, drink or shop.  It is very well  known for one of the most beautiful parks in Downtown Orlando, Dickson-Azalea Park.  Located just beneath the historic Washington St. bridge, the park is shaded by sprawling oak trees, nature trails, and lined with azaleas in the Spring.  Across the street the park setting continues at Langford Park with more trails, playgrounds, and pavilions.  The Florida landscape is  picturesque in this neighborhood that is just blocks from Lake Eola and Downtown Orlando.   

Thinking about moving to Lawsona/Fern Creek Orlando, Search Lawsona/Fern Creek Homes for Sale

Search Downtown Orlando Neighbhorhood Homes for Sale

Need to sell your Lawsona/Fern Creek home, call us today, 407-494-2820

Do you love where you live?   #heartorlandohome

 

Monday Market Report – What is my house REALLY worth?

The Orlando real estate market median price is 4% higher than it was this time last year!  All of this positive real estate news may have you con considering selling your home in Orlando.  And the first thing you probably want to know is how much it is worth.  The main questions when selling a house are:

1. Does it make sense to sell now?
2. Will I make a profit or will I be under water?
3. Will I be able to use my proceeds to buy the next house that I need or want?

All of these are excellent questions and can be answered by truly understanding the value of your home.  The problem is that many of the computer generated home values are inaccurate and can really throw your plans off track if you need or want to sell.

If a third party site tells you your home is worth 30% more or less, that could mean you are either jumping into the market too soon or you are missing out on a great opportunity to sell.

So how does one avoid this? 

Get a valuation from me… someone who actually works in your market daily and understands the difference between original oak floors and laminate….someone who understands what value original molding adds in your 1920s Downtown Orlando bungalow.

The market is expected to improve another 3-5% according to all major real estate industry news across the country. This will likely be the case in the desirable Downtown Orlando neighborhoods as well; and that means more people will continue to list their homes as they realize they have equity to move on to the next house.  So do the right thing, hire a local real estate professional like myself to represent you and help you determine the proper price.

Do you love where you live?  If you don’t, learn more about how 3rd party sites get it wrong and how I can help at my website RealOrlandoHomeValue.com