Lakeland FL Carillon Lakes Homes for Sale | Market Report for April 2013 The Carillon Lakes Community in Lakeland FL offer low monthly home owners association fee, provide 24 hr gated manned security, lawn mowing in open area on the properties, usage of tennis court, basket ball courts, swimming pool, fitness center, planned activities and much, much more.  Carillon Lakes in Lakeland Florida was developed over ten years ago and it is a deed restricted community. There are a variety of homes and condominiums situated throughout this lovely neighborhood that was developed in the early 2000. This community provides plenty of activities for its residents as well as for children. The community’s monthly calendar is filled with entertainment like, water aerobics, book buffs, game night, inves... 05/28/2013

Lakeland FL Sandpiper Homes - April 2013 Real Estate Market Update The Sandpiper Golf & Country Club in Lakeland Florida is a 55+ community offering the best for an active Florida lifestyle. This affordable community is located in North Lakeland minutes from Interstate 4 with easy access to shopping, churches and medical facilities. The Sandpiper Golf and County Club is open to the public. There are six entrances to the community giving visitors and buyers viewing Sandpiper Lakeland FL homes for sale with easy access from North Socrum Loop, Old Polk City Road, and Walt Williams Road. For its resident the community offers a variety of activities such as golfing, swimming, shuffle board, tennis, walking, fitness, dining and much more. The homes were built in the late 80’s through the late... 05/27/2013

Most Buyers Want Eco-Friendly Lakeland Fl Homes – But Willing To Pay For Them? Planning to remodel or update your home before selling it? Consider going for greener or eco-friendly alternatives.The trend is now shifting towards more eco-friendly homes. According to a survey, most people would prefer Energy Star appliances over a swimming pool. Along with the popularity of hybrid cars, recycling efforts, and biodegradable packaging, the desire for greener homes has also increased significantly in the past years. Eco-friendly homes are often made of green building materials, low VOC paint, and feature energy-efficient appliances like high-efficiency water heaters, energy-efficient lighting,  rainwater collection, energy-saving insulation, and solar panels. Just how important is living in ... 05/27/2013

Lakeland FL - Taking A Stroll Around Lake Morton Lake Morton is one of the 38 natural lakes in Lakeland FL. The immaculate spherical 40-acre Lake Morton is just a short distance away from downtown, a selection of its 1 mile shoreline was restored with rock material to prevent erosion and planting aquatic vegetation along the shoreline. Lake Morton is the home of the world-famous swans  and its history that involves a little girl and the Queen of England, along with birds, ducks, geese, white pelicans, and other species.  Remember, while driving around Lake Morton, keep in mind that swans, geese and ducks do have the right of way.    Recently Lakeland FL has been named a bicycle friendly community. You can use your bike and ride from lake-to-lake which not only includes Lake Morton, but ... 05/22/2013

Home Prices in Lakeland FL 33810 for May 2013 Home prices vary from zip code to zip code within Lakeland, FL. To give you a more concise report, I separate my analysis by zip code. Lakeland, FL 33810 is located located Northwest off Interstate 4,  between HWY 98 N and Hillsborough County line you will find communities such as the Grandview Landings, Bloomfield, Huntington Hills Golf & Country Club, Huntington Summit, Ashley Estates, Grand Pines, Copper Ridge Oaks, Pebblebrooke Estates and many more as well as rural country living. Easy access to shopping, dining, schools. The interstate to Orlando and Tampa or to the sandy white beaches and attractions is within a short commute of about 10-15 minutes to Interstate 4.   Real estate market data for Lakeland, FL 33810 is provided by Petra ... 05/22/2013

Deadline to Refinance Your Lakeland Fl Home With An FHA Loan Is On June 3, 2013 If you are looking to refinance your Lakeland Fl home with an FHA loan, then you should do all your paperwork before June 3, 2013. After June 3rd, homeowners with FHA loans can no longer cancel their mortgage insurance premiums once the outstanding principal balance of the loan reaches 78% of the original balance. For loans where the starting balance is higher than 90% of the appraised value, the owner will be required to pay the premiums for the life of the loan. If the loan to ratio value starts at 90% or lower, then the borrower must pay the premium payments for 11 years, even if the loan drops under 78% of the original balance. For most loans with a case number starting with April 1, the FHA has raised t... 05/21/2013

SOLD! Lakeland FL Condo For Sale - 1130 N Lake Parker Avenue C229 Would you believe when I tell you that luck struck twice with the same sellers.  It just so happen they had another property, a Lakeland FL condominium in a different community than the Sandpiper Golf home.  Same history - I was contacted by one of the executors of the estate for a market analysis of this home in January of 2013 after it as been listed by another real estate agent since 2010.  Although the home showed well and was kept clean, it was totally overpriced. After I presented my market analysis and my marketing plan, the executors realized that the home was overpriced. He was delighted what he saw about my marketing plan and the price range I suggested, he said he would talk with the other executors and make a ... 05/21/2013

SOLD! Lakeland FL Sandpiper Golf Homes for Sale - 5962 Chickadee Drive I was contacted by one of the executors of the estate for a market analysis of this home in January of 2013 after it as been listed by another real estate agent since 2010.  Although the home showed well and was kept clean, it was the talk of the community because it has been so long on the market and totally overpriced. After I presented my market analysis and my marketing plan, the executors realized that the home was overpriced. He was delighted what he saw about my marketing plan and the price range I suggested, he said he would talk with the other executors and make a decision.  Within a day they asked me to send them a listing agreement, which they signed electronically and the rest....well they say it's histor... 05/21/2013

How To Keep Your Privacy During a Lakeland Fl Home Showing   At one of my recent showings with a buyer, I could not believe what I saw when we toured this beautiful home in Lakeland. Credit cards and bank statements were laying open for everyone to see on the kitchen counter. We could see their mortgage statements, and other bills as well on that day. Idendity theft is on the rise and it is so important in today's time to remove such items.   If you are selling your Lakeland Fl home, make sure to take care of all your confidential information and keep it in a safe place before your open house. Don’t forget that you must guard you and your family’s privacy at these times, especially during open houses or showings.   Here are some tips on how to keep your privacy during a home showing:   ... 05/19/2013

Understanding Your Lakeland Fl Home Appraisal Arm yourself with knowledge and understand your appraisals Home Appraisal is a term every buyer or seller encounters during the Lakeland Fl home buying process. What is an appraisal and how does it affect the entire deal? Some sellers find themselves in this unfortunate predicament where they have some buyers lined up with an offer ready, only to find out that the buyer’s financing has fallen through. The reason: the asking price of the home is way beyond the appraised value. This scenario is an all too common cause of the high number of cancelled contracts for homes that are for sale in Lakeland as well as in other real estate markets. To avoid getting into this situation, make sure you know something about home appraisals: 1. Lenders will ... 05/18/2013

Considering Credit Repair After a Lakeland Fl Short Sale With the increasing number of short sales closing in Lakeland Fl in the past years, there is also a great backlog of homeowners who used to have great credit standing but now have to deal with poor credit scores due to incorrect reporting on their credit by the lenders. Some homebuyers who want to repair their below-than-average credit scores turn to credit repair companies for help to make it easier and faster. Choosing a good credit repair company can be a sound financial decision on your part since they can help you dramatically improve your credit score and clean up your credit file.   On the other hand, a bad credit repair company could leave you vulnerable and create more damage to your already poor credit score. Here are so... 05/15/2013

Summer Camp 2013 - Lakeland FL School ends June 5, 2013 in Lakeland Florida and the surrounding cities in Polk County and for most parents the search for summer camps is in high gear.  Let me provide you with a few examples of what is being offered.  There are many more programs available, but I find the selection right here are some of the best summer camps. City of Lakeland offers Camp Blast, which is an eight week session starting: June 17th - August 9th  Monday - Friday  7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Camp Blast offers recreational activities such as bowling, swimming, movies as well as arts and crafts, exercise challenges, talent shows and much more. The Polk Museum of Art is holding a Summer Art Camp for kids who completed 1st grade to 14 year olds.  There are 4 sessions: Session 1: June 1... 05/13/2013

Getting a Home Loan After A Lakeland Fl Short Sale With today’s strict lending policies, many homeowners think it would be almost impossible to qualify for a home loan after a Lakeland Fl short sale. If you dream of buying a new Lakeland Fl home but have just went through a short sale, you don’t need to worry. There’s light at the end of the tunnel since homeowners who have gone through a short sale can still qualify for another mortgage. Getting a second mortgage loan after a short sale doesn’t happen overnight though. There are two things a homeowner needs if he or she wants to get a new home loan: persistence and a discipline in their credit. What are the basic requirements for a homeowner to get a mortgage after a short sale? After a Lakeland Fl short sale, the homeowner must wait f... 05/12/2013

10 Tips In Writing An Offer Letter For A Lakeland Fl Home For Sale (Part 2) Even if you have established a good impression with the seller in person, your offer letter could either make or break the deal. Not sure what I'm talking about, then please read my article by clicking right here Let’s continue with the other 5 tips for writing the perfect offer letter for that Lakeland Fl home you wish to buy: 6. Be Humble Ask for the seller’s blessing on your offer. How you say it means a lot because the seller might interpret it in a different way. Saying “We will be honored to live in your beautiful home” will bring you further than “we are confident that you will accept our offer for your home.” Remember, the ball is in the sellers hands, and you should acknowledge that in your letter. 7. D... 05/08/2013

10 Tips In Writing An Offer Letter For Lakeland Fl Home For Sale (Part 1) If you already have your eye on a Lakeland Fl home and are ready to make an offer, you should know how to make the offer letter in a way that will make it appealing to the seller and will give you an edge over other buyers aiming at the same target. 1.  Compliment the Seller Your letter should have an emotional pitch to make it stand out and appeal to the seller. Remember, you are trying to tell the seller to like you and ignore all the other buyers. You can start out by saying what a great taste in color the seller has, or how you would love to live their kind of lifestyle, or what an amazing collection of paintings they have on their wall. But make sure to keep it sincere. There’s a fine line between complimenti... 05/08/2013

Lakeland FL Mayfaire By-The-Lake 2013 - A Mother's Day Treat! Saturday, May 11th, 2013 The Lakeland FL Mayfaire starts out with a bang on Saturday Night May 11th from 5:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Bring your lawn chair or blankets for a free party on the shores of Lake Mirror. The Mayfaire Classic 5K Race kicks off this event along with fireworks after the sun sets of beautiful Lake Mirror.  There are vendors for you to buy food and drinks or you can bring your own and have a family picnic. What started out as a simple craft fair 40 years ago in front of the Lakeland Public Library, Mayfaire By-The-Lake, held every year on Mother's Day weekend is considered among the Top 100 outdoor art festival in the nation.  Lakeland FL Mayfaire By-The-Lake is also the oldest outdoor art festival in Central... 05/06/2013

6 Ways To Know If You’re Ready To Buy A Home In Lakeland FL   If you have been renting for some time now and are thinking about buying your own home or if you’re thinking of moving up, read these six ways to know if you are ready to buy your a home.   1.You are familiar with the market. You know you’re ready to buy when you have been paying attention to how much the average prices of homes are in the area you want to buy in. But if you are dreaming of owning a big home in Lakeland Fl without having an idea how much homes in the area are going for, then you might want to spend some time researching about the market first.   2. Have available money to pay for down payment and closing costs. Down payments usually range from 3-20% of the home’s value. This percentage will be determined by t... 05/06/2013

Lakeland FL Carillon Lakes Homes for Sale | Market Report for March 2013 The Carillon Lakes Community in Lakeland FL offer low monthly home owners association fee, provide 24 hr gated manned security, lawn mowing in open area on the properties, usage of tennis court, basket ball courts, swimming pool, fitness center, planned activities and much, much more.  Carillon Lakes in Lakeland Florida was developed over ten years ago and it is a deed restricted community. There are a variety of homes and condominiums situated throughout this lovely neighborhood that was developed in the early 2000. This community provides plenty of activities for its residents as well as for children. The community’s monthly calendar is filled with entertainment like, water aerobics, book buffs, game night, inves... 05/02/2013

Lakeland FL Sandpiper Homes - March 2013 Real Estate Market Update The Sandpiper Golf & Country Club in Lakeland Florida is a 55+ community offering the best for an active Florida lifestyle. This affordable community is located in North Lakeland minutes from Interstate 4 with easy access to shopping, churches and medical facilities. The Sandpiper Golf and County Club is open to the public. There are six entrances to the community giving visitors and buyers viewing Sandpiper Lakeland FL homes for sale with easy access from North Socrum Loop, Old Polk City Road, and Walt Williams Road. For its resident the community offers a variety of activities such as golfing, swimming, shuffle board, tennis, walking, fitness, dining and much more. The homes were built in the late 80’s through the late... 05/02/2013

Contingencies That Your Lakeland Fl Home Should Include There is a lot of uncertainty involved once you buy a Lakeland Fl home. You must understand and be careful about these risks because once you buy a home, you will be committed to it for years. One thing that will help lessen the risk and uncertainty in buying a home is the contingency clause in your Lakeland Fl home's purchase contract. This contingency clause will detail specific conditions that must be met before closing the sale. 1. Mortgage Contingency The Mortgage contingency protects buyers. One of  most common types of contingencies is the mortgage contingency. It protects the buyer during the home-buying process. The mortgage contingency states that the buyer will try to acquire a certain type of mortgage at or below a part... 04/29/2013