Your Orlando Realty

Author: Your Orlando Realty Admin

  • Are Foreclosure Homes Still a Good Bargain?

    Are Foreclosure Homes Still a Good Bargain?

    One of the most common questions that I get is whether foreclosure homes are still a good bargain. A foreclosure home, also known as an REO (Real Estate Owned) in legal terms, is a house that has been foreclosed on by a mortgage lender and that is now owned by the bank. Banks are not in the business of owning houses so they are motivated to sell them quickly if possible.

    In order to do this, they historically would try to sell them at a discount. Also, because homeowners did not usually take care of their homes in the months preceding the foreclosure sale, they had no incentives to take care of them or make repairs. In fact, in may instances, home owners would even intentionally damage the home out of spite to the lender.

    When the economy took a downturn and the real estate market crashed several years ago, there was a very high number of foreclosure homes available. Because of this high inventory, banks were selling them cheap in order to get rid of them. Many of these were also in bad shape, which further added to the cheap prices. They were a fixer-upper’s dream.

    But today, with the strong economy and low inventory of foreclosure homes, prices are not the bargains that they once were, and banks have less of an incentive to sell them for the big discounts. And in some instances, the banks are actually entering the house and doing some basic renovations to get the sale price back up.

    The bottom line is that foreclosures can still be a bargain if you look hard enough and have the desire or ability to do some repairs on the home. However, these homes are not the bargain they used to be. If you are looking to buy a home and don’t mind putting a little elbow grease into it to fix it up, then I would encourage you to find a list of foreclosure homes during your search.

    For a current list of foreclosure homes in the Orlando area click here. For any other questions on foreclosures, or the legal foreclosure process, you can call/text real estate broker and attorney at law David Dowell at (407) 864-2265, or by email at david@PanAmOrlando.com.

  • Condos and Townhomes in Windermere, Florida

    Condos and Townhomes in Windermere, Florida

    Looking for a condo or townhome in Windermere. Florida? You’re not alone. Not everyone is looking for the expensive estate sized home in the Windermere area. Despite being home to arguably the most expensive houses and gated communities in all of Florida, not everyone even wants a single family home.

    Condos and townhomes are becoming ever more popular in Windermere and the selection has increased significantly over just the past 3 years. Previously only having a couple of different townhome complexes to choose from, Windermere has seen a boom in this market over the past few years.

    Most people enjoy the quite, peaceful lifestyle that Windermere offers, nestled among the chain of lakes, the world class golf courses, and its proximity to Walt Disney World. Now people can call Windermere home without breaking the bank. And while the traditional Windermere activity surrounded the charming main street area and shops, the area known as west Windermere has exploded with not only new homes, townhomes and condos, but shopping, restaurants and other activities as well.

    Some of the choices you will have are:

    Carrington Townhomes

    Lakeside Village Townhomes

    Newbury Park Townhomes

    Lake Buden Townhomes

    Merrick Landing Townhomes

    Summerport Townhomes put my link here

    Oasis Cove Condominiums

    Lake Reams Townhomes
    If you would like to see which condos and townhomes are currently available in Windermere, please click here. For any further information please feel free to visit us at www.PanAmOrlando.com.

  • Homes for Sale in Dr. Phillips, Orlando

    Homes for Sale in Dr. Phillips, Orlando

    Why Do People Live in Dr. Phillips?
    Dr. Phillips is a beautiful neighborhood of single family homes that is conveniently located just 10 miles southwest of Downtown Orlando. It’s not uncommon to see neighborhood kids playing outside on a warm sunny day. It’s far enough from the main hustle and bustle of the city, and of the tourist sector, that residents don’t feel like the commotion is knocking on their door.

    Looking for a home in Dr. Phillips?
    Interested in finding homes for sale in the Dr. Phillips neighborhood of Orlando, FL? Click here to find all the currently available homes in this area of Orlando.

    What’s the Neighborhood Like?
    Many Dr. Phillips subdivisions are not gated, as this is such a safe and family-oriented community. Most homes you would expect to find for sale in the Dr. Phillips neighborhood are generally going to range between 2200 and 4000 square feet, with the majority of the homes built over the past 30 years. The most recent subdivision to be built, Parkside, is currently under construction. Many of the established homes have had updates and the smallest homes in the neighborhood typically start with 3 bedrooms, while the larger floor plans have a four bedroom layout with some models putting the master bedroom on the main floor.

    What’s Going on Nearby the Dr. Phillips Neighborhood?
    Dr. Phillips is located near the exciting entertainment areas of International Drive and Disney’s Lake Buena Vista. There is a major hospital located in the neighborhood as well as just about every kind of conceivable shopping in walking distance. Orlando’s famous Restaurant Row lies in the heart of Dr. Phillips and the upscale Mall at Millenia is just a few minutes away. Find out more information about Dr. Phillips, including descriptions of some of the better known subdivisions.

    What Schools will the Kids Attend?
    If you buy a home for sale in the Dr. Phillips neighborhood of Orlando, the local schools serving this area are Dr. Phillips, Bay Meadows and Sand Lake Elementary Schools, Southwest Middle School, and highly-rated Dr. Phillips High School. To get local school scores and more information about these schools check out the Orange County Public Schools website.

    Now You Really Want to Find a Home Here, Right?
    If you are looking to find a Dr. Phillips area real estate agent to help you buy or sell a Dr. Phillips area home, please contact Real Estate Broker and Attorney at Law David Dowell by phone/text at (407) 864-2265, by email at david@PanAmOrlando.com, or visit us online at www.PanAmOrlando.com.

  • Homes For Sale In Dr. Phillips’ BayHill, Orlando, Florida

    Homes For Sale In Dr. Phillips’ BayHill, Orlando, Florida

    Looking for a home for sale in Dr. Phillips’ Bay Hill, Orlando, Florida? Bay Hill is a beautiful community of luxury single-family homes in the Dr. Phillips area of Orlando, Florida. It is located about 11 miles southwest of downtown Orlando, off Apopka Vineland Road – about a half mile north of Sand Lake Road.

    Bay Hill is best known for it’s internationally-known golf course – The Bay Hill Club, home of the PGA’s annual Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament. Home to Arnold Palmer and other world renown golfers, Bay Hill is a beautiful and highly sought after neighborhood. With it’s perfectly manicured lawns and palm trees, Bay Hill also contains the luxurious Bay Hill Lodge and Spa. Bay Hill residents enjoy both lakefront and golf front luxury real estate.

    Complete with single family homes, condominiums, larger estate homes, and lakefront properties, as well as luxury homes in the gated communities of Isle of Osprey and Emerson Pointe. Bay Hill homes generally are priced from $400,000 to $10,000,000.

    Interested in homes for sale in Bay Hill?

    Click here to find all the currently available homes for sale in Dr. Phillips’ Bay Hill, Orlando, Florida.

    What’s to do near the Bay Hill neighborhood?

    The Dr. Phillips community of Bay Hill is located about 5 miles north of the Walt Disney World resort and is within close proximity to the Universal Studios and Sea World parks, world-class shopping at the Mall at Millenia, world famous International Drive, upscale dining in Dr. Phillips’ Restaurant Row, various parks and recreational activities, and Orlando area hospitals. Bay Hill residents don’t need to travel far to enjoy all of Central Florida’s finest boating, fishing, water sports, and golf activities.

    What schools will the kids attend?

    The Bay Hill community is served by the Orange County Public School System and has some of the best rated schools in the state.

    Dr. Phillips Elementary School
    6909 Dr. Phillips Blvd
    Orlando, FL 32819
    (407) 876-7500

    Southwest Middle School
    6450 Dr. Phillips Blvd
    Orlando, FL 32819
    (407) 370-7200

    Dr. Phillips High School
    6500 Turkey Lake Rd.
    Orlando, FL 32819
    (407) 355-3200

    Now you really want to find a home in Bay Hill, right?

    I hope you found this article about homes for sale in Dr. Phillips’ Bay Hill, Orlando, Florida, helpful. If you are interested in the current homes for sale in the Bay Hill neighborhood in Dr. Phillips, Orlando, click here to view all the available homes. Our property search engine is a direct feed from the local Orlando MLS and is updated daily.

    If you are looking to find a Dr. Phillips area real estate agent to help you buy or sell a Bay Hill home, please contact Realtor and Attorney at Law David Dowell by phone/text at (407) 864-2265, or email at david@PanAmOrlando.com

  • Schools in Dr. Phillips, Orlando, Florida

    Schools in Dr. Phillips, Orlando, Florida

    Looking for info on schools in Dr. Phillips, Orlando, Florida? If you have kids under age 18 this may be an important piece of information you will need before considering buying a home in Dr. Phillips.

    Dr. Phillips is in an unincorporated area on the southwest side of Orlando – just north of the Walt Disney World Resort. Although this upscale community is home to some of the most beautiful houses, neighborhoods, and restaurants in Central Florida, there are only 3 elementary schools within the Dr. Phillips area. But they are all excellent schools!

    The three elementary schools are Dr. Phillips Elementary School, Sand Lake Elementary School and Bay Meadows Elementary School – each part of the Orange County Public Schools system.

    Dr. Phillips Elementary School
    6909 Dr. Phillips Blvd.
    Orlando, FL 32819
    354-2600

    Sand Lake Elementary School
    8301 Buenavista Woods Blvd.
    Windermere, Florida 332836
    903-7400

    Bay Meadows Elementary School
    9150 S. Apopka Vineland Rd.
    Orlando, FL 32836
    (407) 876-7500

    For middle schools, Dr. Phillips residents attend Southwest Middle School. For high school, residents attend Dr. Phillips High School.

    If you need any further information about public schools in Dr. Phillips, Orlando, Florida, you should contact the Orange County Public Schools (https://www.ocps.net/Pages/default.aspx).

    If you are looking to find a Dr. Phillips area real estate agent to help you buy or sell a Dr. Phillips home, please contact Realtor and Attorney at Law David Dowell by phone/text at (407) 864-2551, or email at david@yourorlandorealty.com

  • What is a Vacation Home?

    What is a Vacation Home?

    Tourists around the Walt Disney World Resort area constantly see marketing for vacation homes. But what is a vacation home? Simply put, a vacation home is a privately-owned home that is rented out on a short term basis – often called a short term rental. It may be rented out by the night, or by the week. Typically, these homes are managed by professional property management companies who ensure the good working condition and cleanliness of the homes.

    Visitors flock to Orlando by the millions each year. Most will find accommodations in one of over 100,000 hotel rooms that the Orlando area has to offer. A Mickey themed room or an upscale contemporary suite provides satisfaction to most visitors. However, we are starting to see some families pass on the traditional hotel stay in favor of a large, beautiful home, with sufficient rooms for the entire family. In fact, another trend is to see multiple families or extended families, traveling together. These larger groups are seeking out resort homes with several bedrooms. This is what the vacation home can provide.

    Additional benefits of the vacation home typically include resort amenities like golf, tennis, private pools, as well as house advantages such as a full kitchen, washer and dryer, parking in your own garage, pool table, multiple flatscreen TVs, and more. Not to mention that the price of a house can often be cheaper than the cost of renting 3, 4 or more rooms in a nice hotel. Another distinct advantage for the home owner is the ability to stay in their own home while taking the family on vacation to Orlando.

    A very large area surrounding the Walt Disney World Resort is now dedicated to vacation home communities. To learn a little more about what is a vacation home, please visit us at www.YourOrlandoRealty.com or call us at 407-864-2551, so that we may answer any questions that you have.

  • Top 10 Things To Do in Reunion Resort

    Top 10 Things To Do in Reunion Resort

    What are the top 10 things to do in Reunion Resort? Central Florida’s Reunion Resort is a world class vacation destination located near the Walt Disney World Resort on the southwest side of Orlando, Florida. A complete vacation community, Reunion consists of single-family homes, townhomes and condominiums. A vacation destination of itself, guests are located within minutes of all of Orlando’s theme parks and activities. But if Mickey Mouse isn’t your ideal way of spending the day on your vacation, here are the top 10 things to do in  Reunion Resort.

    1. Play golf. Reunion has three world-class championship golf courses and is the only resort in the world to have courses designed by Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson.
    1. Practice golf, at the Annika Academy. Founded by pro golfer Annika Sorenstam.
    1. Play tennis, at the award-winning tennis complex and pro shop.
    1. Spend the day at the water park. Float down the lazy river, ride the twisting water slides, or take a stroll on the wooden boardwalk.
    1. Spend the day at your private pool. Most homes in Reunion resort have their own private pool.
    1. Enjoy the spa. The boutique spa offers the pinnacle in serenity and ultimate luxury with massage therapy, skin and body treatments and nail services, all with the warmth of home.
    1. Dine in one of many restaurants. No matter what you crave, there’s a restaurant that will satisfy. From Caribbean fare served poolside at The Cove, to fine wine and Italian flavors at Forte.
    1. Kids playgrounds. Sometimes you just want a good playground to let the kids      expend all that youthful energy.
    1. Bicycle and walking trails. Let your adventurous side run wild, through all of Reunion Resort’s trails!
    1. Stroll through the shops, restaurants and bars of the Reunion Grande Hotel.

    To learn more about all that the Reunion Resort offers, or to learn about vacation homes for sale, please contact us at (407) 864-2551, david@DowellRealty.com or visit us online at www.YourOrlandoRealty.com.

     

  • Summerport – Windermere, Florida

    Summerport – Windermere, Florida

    Summerport is a desirable new community in Windermere, Florida. It is located on the western side of Windermere just off of State Road 535, about 4 miles north of the Walt Disney World Resort. The Summerport community is a charming reminder of years gone by, and offers its residents wonderful amenities including a very large community pool, beautiful clubhouse, fitness center, bike and walking trails, ball courts and kids’ playground.

    A balanced mixture of single family residences and townhomes, the very large community of Summerport offers something for everyone. The single family homes range from the low $200s to the $600s and the townhomes range from the high $100s to the mid $300s.

    The owner-run HOA currently has single family home dues of about $1004 per year, paid in quarterly installments of $251. These dues are partly used to maintain the beautiful landscaping found throughout the community. The entrance to Summerport is anchored by a beautiful stone sign that welcomes all who drive by.

    Summerport is served by the Orange County School District and has some of the finest schools in the district. The schools are:

    Keene’s Crossing Elementary, 5240 Keene’s Pheasant Drive, Windermere, FL 34786, Phone: 407-654-1351

    Bridgewater Middle School, 5600 Tiny Road, Winter Garden, FL 34787, Phone: 407-905-3710

    West Orange High School, 1625 S Beulah Road, Winter Garden, FL 34787, Phone: (407) 905-2400

    Summerport’s location provides easy access to Highway 429 and the Florida Turnpike, giving you quick access to downtown Orlando, the Orlando International Airport and the theme parks. The Summerport Village shops have a Publix grocery store, Subway, UPS Store, Woof Gang Bakery, Suntrust Bank, and ………………… And just 5 minutes away is the Winter Garden Village, an open-air mall with shops, fast food and upscale restaurants.

    Summerport is truly a wonderful, friendly old-style American community. If you are thinking about buying a home or townhome in Summerport, or anywhere in the Windermere area, please visit us at www.YourOrlandoRealty.com or call us at 407-864-2551, so that we may answer any questions that you have.

  • Orlando Real Estate MLS

    Orlando Real Estate MLS

    If you are looking to buy a home in Orlando or the Central Florida area, you will want to start with a search on the Orlando real estate MLS. MLS means Multiple Listing Service. The MLS is a service provided by all Realtors who are members of the Orlando Regional Realtor Association and the Mid Florida Regional MLS. Not all licensed real estate agents are Realtors. The term Realtor is reserved for those agents who are members of these two organizations and who adhere to a strict code of ethics. When dealing with a licensed Orlando real estate agent, be sure to inquire whether he or she is also a Realtor.

    The Orlando real estate MLS contains every house listed for sale in Orlando and the Central Florida area. If you are looking to buy a home in Orlando then the Orlando real estate MLS is where you need to start. It is a powerful search engine that will allow you to search properties based on any parameters you desire. By zip code, community, house size, price, amenities, number of bedrooms, etc. You can combine as many of these parameters as you wish in order to find the perfect Orlando area home for sale.

    Once you narrow your search to a few homes that you have an interest in, you will be able to see all details regarding those homes, such as location, size of rooms, amenities, year built, price, school district, and so on. Once you know what you are looking for, then you should contact a Realtor who can do a more thorough search and who can use his expertise to advise you on how to proceed and how to negotiate and prepare an offer that is right for you.

    The Orlando real estate MLS is a great tool to use to get started on your search for homes in Orlando and Central Florida. You can access the Orlando real estate MLS on our website at YourOrlandoRealty.com. If you have any question on the Orlando real estate MLS please contact us for help.

  • Moving to Orlando

    Moving to Orlando

    So you are ready to move to the City Beautiful? Welcome to Orlando! People have many reasons for moving to Orlando, including the sunny skies, the golf courses, the outdoor activities, the dining and entertainment choices, diverse culture and interesting employment opportunities. No matter what the reason is behind the move, everyone runs into the same logistical challenges. This article pulls together a variety of resources to help you bypass the red tape and get your new life off to a smooth start.

    Neighborhood

    Most likely, your first priority is choosing a place to live. Whether you plan to rent an apartment or purchase a home, your search for a home is probably best started by selecting a neighborhood.

    Where you live may depend on where you are going to work. Otherwise, you may just be drawn to a specific part of Orlando. Windermere is known for the upscale mansions and homes to celebrities. Dr. Phillips is known as an upscale residential and entertainment area, close to the tourist corridor. Celebration is Disney’s planned community with a combination of homes, business and entertainment. Lake Nona is the newest of Orlando’s upscale neighborhoods which is now the new home of Medical City, an enormous complex of medical facilities which will bring in thousands of high paying jobs and residents. Please visit the communities section at our website www.YourOrlandoRealty.com to get a better idea of the communities and neighborhoods in the Orlando area.

    Housing

    Once you’ve selected an area or two, take a look at our MLS search engine to locate homes with the specific details that interest you. This will give you a great idea as to what homes in your preferred neighborhoods, with your specific criteria, are selling for. You then can contact Orlando’s premier real estate and legal team to help you view and purchase the Orlando home of your dreams. Moving to Orlando does not have to be difficult and we at YourOrlandoRealty.com try to make it as enjoyable and stress-free as possible.

    Utilities

    In Orlando, your electric power will be provided by either Orlando Utilities Commission (407-423-9018), Kissimmee Utility Authority (407-933-9800) or Progress Energy (407-629-1010). Water service is normally provided by your local city. Because of so many people using cell phones these days, along with phone service provided by cable providers, there are not a lot of big companies providing home phone service any more. However, AT&T is still probably the largest provider in Orlando. The primary cable company in Orlando is Brighthouse cable (866-309-EASY). DIRECTV and Dish Network are also popular satellite TV companies.

    Employment

    Unless you moved to Orlando with a job offer in hand, your next concern will probably be finding gainful employment in our beautiful city. For this, we would encourage you to visit sites such as www.orlandojobs.com, www.orlandosentinel.com and www.craigslist.com.

    Transportation

    Once you’ve selected a job or school, you’re going to need a way to get there. Orlando is a city widely spread out so you will definitely need a car. It is not a city where you typically can walk from your home to work and play. However, Orlando offers a wonderful city-wide bus service called Lynx. If you’re going to drive, you’ll need to obtain a Florida Driver’s License and register your vehicle with Florida tags.Florida law requires that you get a Florida drivers license within 30 days of becoming a resident of Florida. You are a resident if you do one of the following:

    1.  Accept employment
    2. Enroll your children in a Florida public school
    3.  Register to Vote
    4.  File for a homestead exemption
    5.  Reside in Florida for more than six consecutive months

    We hope this information will help as you move to Orlando. For any further questions or help in your moving to Orlando adventure, feel free to call us at 407-864-2551, or visit us at www.YourOrlandoRealty.com and we will try to put you in touch with the appropriate information sources.

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