Chicago and Southern Illinois Real Estate Happenings

 

 

Here is WONDERFUL news for anyone looking to buy Orlando and central Florida real estate who are looking for good deals:

The Government is pumping literally hundreds of millions of dollars into federal grants for those looking to purchase foreclosures in central Florida.

All totalled, $541 MILLION dollars is going to various counties in the state of Florida for those wishing to purchase a stake in Florida real estate.

I post notice of many "special deals" in my market reports
and foreclosures are just one of those types of deals!

Here is a list of my most recent market reports:

• Central Florida Real Estate Happenings --- Baldwin Park!!
• Central Florida Real Estate Happenings..... Lake Nona Market Report and Information 9.3.2008
• Central Florida Real Estate Happenings..... Hunters Creek Market Report 8.29.2008

If you want to buy central Florida real estate and want to SAVE a BUNDLE of money, just ask for a list of foreclosures in any area you want to think of purchasing and we will get you the information FAST!!

HUD Secretary Steve Preston said, "States and communities hit hardest by the housing crisis will get the most money, based on a government formula, and local officials will be urged to prepare proposals for spending the money as quickly as possible."

Details of the grant programs will be fleshed out in meetings nationwide this October, he said, but recipients will have a host of basic options for using the money. You will be able to buy homes for affordable housing, demolishing abandoned homes, and counties will be offering down-payment assistance to low-income families and creating "land banks" for affordable housing.

This will be a GREAT opportunity to find homes valued at MUCH more than you will buy them for!

• Just think of having thousands of dollars of equity ALREADY in your home when you attend the closing of your property.
• Imagine your money working for you as a savings account each time you make a mortgage payment.... putting money away for the future.
• As time progresses over the long term, your homes value will GO UP, giving you even more income down the road!

 

Are YOU READY to take advantage of this OPPORTUNITY??!!??

Contact The Knights TEAM right away!!

This notice of Orlando and central Florida real estate
buying opportunities is brought to you by:

Alexander Harb PSEM®, E-Agent®
The Knights Team Sales Leader

Beach and Luxury Realty Inc.

 

Hello there in ActiveRain-land!!!

Guess what happend to me earlier this week......

A nationally recognized builder has contacted me
to help them market their inventory of homes in
central Florida. Being associated with a nationally recoginzed builder that prides itself on excellence
is quite an honor. All this will do is help potential clients out there see the Knights Team has a GOOD reputation with more than just past clients we have served.

Having good contacts with other real estate companies
that have been nationally recognized as excellent in
their feild of expertise is a way to help potential clients
choose the best real estate agent for their needs. When
they know a large nationally recognized company has
put their faith in an agent to help them sell their homes,
it just speaks TRUST to them.

Usually as real estate agents we have to contact
builders to ask THEM to work with us, but this
company has contacted me!! I was floored when I got a
phone call from them earlier this week. I had to wait a
couple of days for everything to be cleared and the
"office paperwork" to get done. Now I am just waiting
for more information on everything they have to offer.

If you have ever heard of this builder of central
Florida real estate, you would know they have a
fantastic reputation that preceeds them...
The above right graphic is an award they have
recently earned and they deserve it!

I will have a LOT more information available soon...

• The communities they are building
• The floorplans of properties available
• Amenities available in the communities
• A description of the DESIGN CENTER available to clients in helping them make their property a HOME.
• Landscaping options
• School information

I will let everyone know what company this is later...I am asking them for ALL the information they can give me so I can market everything they have for Orlando and central Florida real estate  in a comprehensive way.

 

What a shot in the arm of hope in this time of turmoil
of the financial markets for me!!

 

 

This bit of good news in my central Florida
real estate business is brought to you by:

Alexander Harb PSEM®, E-Agent®
The Knights Team Sales Leader

Beach and Luxury Realty Inc.

 

 

 

View Larger Map

The Orlando Florida real estate area statistics
for the past month show a LOT going on!

• The median home asking price declined to $200,000;
  that is 3.85% lower than last month!
• The current inventory of supply reflects a roughly
  20 month supply and this decline in inventory has
  gone down almost 36% since January of this year!
• There are 47% MORE homes under contract this month
  than were under contract last year at this time.
• There are currently just under 25,000 homes for sale in the
  Orlando Regional MLS.....down from last years 26,300;
  homes are selling!

Here are some market reports for the past month to let you see
what is going on in select areas:

• Central Florida Real Estate Happenings --- Baldwin Park!!
• Central Florida Real Estate Happenings..... Lake Nona Market Report and Information 9.3.2008
• Central Florida Real Estate Happenings..... Hunters Creek Market Report 8.29.2008

 

So, if you are ready to purchase or sell your home in
central Florida, NOW is the right time!

I have posted several market reports of the area. Just click on my tag "Central Florida real estate news" to see them!

 

Alexander Harb PSEM®, E-Agent®
The Knights Team Sales Leader

Beach and Luxury Realty Inc.

Here is the Baldwin Park update for 9/16/2008!!

 

There are 163 single family homes, townhouses and condos
available for sale in Baldwin Park in the Orlando
and central Florida MLS as of the date of this posting.

• The low offering price is 225,000, which is DOWN from it's original offering price of $230,000!
• The high offering price is for a fantastic 7300 square foot estate -- $5,244,000 which is unchanged from when it first went on the market almost 2 years ago.
• 20 of these fine homes are in special circumstances: Either they are in pre-foreclosure, in foreclosure, bank owned, have an assumable mortgage, are fixer-uppers, or the owner will assist with financing and/or closing costs! There ARE GREAT DEALS to be found in Baldwin Park!
  

 

Baldwin Park has come a LONG way from when it was
a military installation. When the base was closed down in
1999, investors took over and the result is QUITE a transformation!

Downtown Orlando is just 2 minutes away and the Orlando
International Airport is 8 miles away. You will spend MINUTES,
not a half an hour or more driving to go dancing, shopping, out
to a picnic, the ballet or an Orlando Magic basketball game. There
is easy access to highway Interstate 4, Route 408 or Route 417
to get you anywhere you want to travel.

The Baldwin Park Community Network provides owners access to a
business directory, resident directory, calendar of Property Owners
Association events and parties, developer updates, club information,
current neighborhood news, classifieds, a photo gallery plus links to
recreation, shopping and others areas of interest.

Clubs in Baldwin Park currently include a Maj Jong & Canasta Club,
Sand Volleyball Team, Aviation Club, Book Club, Walking Club and more.
All clubs and organizations are sponsored by residents.

 

 

There are four major parks and recreational facilities in Baldwin Park:

• Cady Way Trail is a very well-known jogging and bike trail in central Florida that has over 50 miles of walking paths with benches and tranquil rest areas alongs its route.
• Blue Jacket Park, a 55-acre City of Orlando park, sports lighted baseball fields and concession stand, a track and field complex,tennis courts,  picnic areas with covered pavilions, two children's playgrounds, basketball courts, a great lawn for soccer and field games, fountain plaza and grand stairs. Reservations are made through the City.
• Enders Park is a recreation center for residents only that offers a state-of-the-art fitness room, a community gathering room, large pool and kiddie pool, playground and much, much more. Swimming lessons and fitness classes such as Pilates and yoga are available. This facility is access-controlled.
• Grace Hopper Hall is another beautiful residents-only recreational
  facility that offers many of the same features as Enders Park. Grace
  Hopper Hall is access-controlled and also home to the Property Owners
  Association office.

 

 

Not only are the community features excellent, but so are the schools!

• The Winter Park High School campus borders Baldwin Park.
• Audubon Park Elementary School is now located within the neighborhood.
• Glenridge Middle School borders Blue Jacket Park and is just a short walk for many residents.
  
• Excellent private schools are nearby, as are esteemed Rollins College in Winter Park and the University of Central Florida.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some recent news articles and press releases about Baldwin Park:

• TenUnited Wins Top National Award for Baldwin Park 
  
• Medical offices also call Baldwin Park home 
• Baldwin Park Home To Nine Parade of Homes Winners  
• Baldwin Park’s Landscape Architect Wins Award  
  
• Baldwin Park is #1 in the Top 10 Urban Areas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Baldwin Park Community information
and market update is brought to you by:

Alexander Harb PSEM®, E-Agent®
The Knights Team Sales Leader

Beach and Luxury Realty Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Information and photos are from
the Baldwin Park Community website
Legal Disclaimer & Privacy Policy)

 

I just had a very interesting time at an apartment
complex today in sunny central Florida. These are NICE apartments!

• A one bedroom, one bathroom with a den included has 1000 square feet and rents for $900 per month, including cable TV with HBO; NOT including water and electric.
• Two bedrooms, two baths and a den has 1400 square feet and rents for $1100 per month including cable TV; electric and water not included.
• A three bedroom and 2 baths apartment with a den has 1550 square feet and rents for $1270 per month including cable TV but not including water or electric.

Those numbers are pretty respectable considering everything.

The only thing is:

• All the money going toward rent is out the door to the property
  owner(s),the renter does NOT see any benefit monetarily.
• You CAN PURCHASE condos AND homes with the SAME numbers if
  you let a professional real estate agent help you find what
  you are looking for. (You will be putting money away in the form
  of paying down the mortgage note....... that is money YOU KEEP!!)
• Letting a licensed real estate agent help you find a condo or
  home to purchase so you can PUT AWAY MONEY for the future
  can cost you NOTHING for his/her services! (Did you know that??)
• If (WHEN) your rent goes up, you do NOT get a portion of that
  increase back...It ALL goes to the owner(s) pocket. (When the
  value of your home goes up, YOU POCKET the increase when
  you sell it!)

 

All in all, I spent over two hours there talking with the apartment sales person
and following her around as she "showed" the model I was interested in. In my head
I kept thinking..... "I can afford something like this AND BUY IT.... and I will have my
money growing in two different ways:"

• A "Savings Account" in the form of the equity build up in my property
  as I pay the mortgage off.
• An "Investment Account" as the value of the home increases over time.
  

 

 

Seeing as the Orlando and central Florida
real estate market is starting to bounce
back, NOW is the RIGHT TIME to invest
in YOUR future!

Don't wait till rates go up higher and
the asking prices start to rise again.

STRIKE WHILE THE IRON is HOT!

 

 

 

Here are some MORE numbers for you:

• There are about 18,300 homes for sale in the Orlando and central
  Florida MLS; this is about 1,000 LESS homes than were for sale this
  time last year. More people have jumped into the homeowners boat!
• MOST homes for sale that resulted in closed sales are in the $200,000 
  to $250,000 range. With the median Florida home income of $51,700 
  ALMOST ANYONE CAN (with good credit) buy a home in this price range,
  according to statistics for this month.
• Most condos that have changed hands are in the $100,000 - $140,000
  price range; WELL within the affordability of ANYONE with the median
  Florida family income. For the past five months, condos priced in this
  range made up the bulk of all condo sales. Just think of living in a
  nice apartment complex, BUT YOU OWN your unit -- now you can
  understand why these properties are selling!!

Just to let you know, I DID NOT sign a lease with the sales person.....
I am going to PURCHASE MY property, NOT RENT....and MAKE MY MONEY
WORK FOR ME (in TWO WAYS).

 

Are YOU ready to join the growing legion
of new Homeowners in central Florida?

 

If so, just contact us:

Alexander Harb PSEM®, E-Agent®
"The Knights Team" Sales Leader

Beach and Luxury Realty Inc.

(Information Gathered from Official
Orlando Realtors® Housing Statistics)

 

 

Here is the Lake Nona Market Report for 9/3/2008!!

There are 101 homes and estates for sale in Lake Nona.

• The LOW price for these homes is $187,600, which is DOWN about $5,000 from $192,700.
• The HIGH asking price in Lake Nona is $7,695,900 which unbelievably is UP from the properties original asking price of $7,295,000..... Can you believe it???
• 22 of these fine homes are in the following circumstances:
  They have assumable mortgages, are bank owned, are fixer-uppers, are in foreclosure, or pre-foreclosure, owner
  will consider financing AND / OR will assist with closing costs,
  
  THERE ARE GREAT DEALS OUT THERE IN LAKE NONA!!!
  

 

 

Lake Nona is known for its many amenities:

• Lake Nona Town Center -- An open air mall that is 1,000,000
  square feet of upscale retail shops, fashion boutiques, department
  stores, restaurants and a cineplex.
• The 600 acre Lake Nona Science and Technology Park -- which
  includes the University of Central Florida College of Medicine and
  Healthcare, Burnham Institute for Medical Research, University of
  Florida Reasearch Center, Orlando VA Medical Center, and the M.D.
  Anderson Cancer Research Center.
• The four communities of Lake Nona: The Waters Edge -- With a boat dock
  boat storage and more, this community has homes starting at $298,000.
  North Lake Park -- Includes a YMCA and "A" Rated Elementary School all
  under one roof. Village Walk  -- This community won the 2007 Parade of
  Homes Community Award. Quaint bridges to walk on connecting to the
  town center, a fitness center, cafes, and more are why! Lake Nona Golf
  and Country Club -- Featuring a Tom Fazio professionally acclaimed golf
  course, this community has a fitness center and much, MUCH more!!

 

Extensive care has been taken to include walking trails all through out the community. Nature is NOT something to be pushed aside in lake Nona, but something to be celebrated! 

Over 40 percent of Lake Nona is open space...which leaves You free to bike, ride horses, rollerblade, hike, jog, run or just observe nature in its unhurried setting.

Lake Nona has over 1000 acres of parks to enjoy family and freinds with. There are even two dog parks just for your four footed pets! There is an Aquatic Center and an Equestrian center....weather you want to swim or go for a brisk ride on a horse, Lake Nona has it all!!

To get FREE access to the Orlando and central Florida MLS to see current
homes for sale, just click on this link!

 

 

This Lake Nona Market Report
is brought to you by:

Alexander Harb PSEM®, E-Agent®
The Knights Team Sales leader

Beach and Luxury Realty Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Golf course picture courtesy
of keithmuth and www.flikr.com!!