STRATEGIC OFFERS... WHEN TO HOLD, FOLD OR UP THE ANTE-ST.CLOUD HOMES & LAND, ST. CLOUD FLORIDA. You can't out negotiate the negotiator. Having the proper mind set prior to entering into negotiations one must have current market info in hand. Knowing what has sold, and at what price is invaluable as a tool to negotiating.  The biggest mistakes buyers make, is under estimating the true market value of a property. The biggest mistake sellers make is rejecting a good offer in hopes a better one will come. Often it never does. Traditional sales differ from distressed sales.  Bank owned properties, have no emotional attachment to the lien holder. They are in fact an asset which must be disposed of, at the best possible price, as quickly as possible. As a result the lenders will ask for what i... 06/09/2010

" I CAN'T GO FOR THAT" - A POPULAR SONG FROM HALL AND OATES while entertaining,  It is not a theme song Seller's should sing if they are really trying to sell their home.  Not in this market. In My market of St. CLoud Kissimmee Florida, we have many many options for buyers. And we still have more homes for sale than buyers to purchase them. This is true Nationwide. We are in a BUYER'S MARKET,(more homres for sale than buyers to purchase them) and a good offer should be music to your ears if you are trying to sell a home. Competing offers on well priced homes give credence to good pricing, market evaulation and motivation of lenders to slough off excess inventory. And they are. The majority of sales are distressed properties. So where does that leave you, a tradtional seller who no longe... 06/03/2010

DON'T BE AFRAID TO MAKE THAT OFFER. PURCHASING A HOME IN CENTRAL FLORIDA IS EASY AND AFFORDABLE.  Buyers are sometimes initimated to make an offer.  The goal of the seller, is to attract a buyer.  Market price has always been achieved by what a Buyer is willing to pay and what a seller is willing to accept.  With so many homes avalable, competition drives the market price. HOW TO KNOW WHAT MARKET VALUE IS IN MY MARKET OF KISSIMMEE  ST.CLOUD, in Central Florida homes are selling for a fraction of what they did in 2006-2007.  As a result, they are very affordable. Based on current sales (usually within 3-6 months) it is easy to compare the size, age, type of home and arrive at a fair market price. This information is extremely helpful to buyers when they are considering making an offer on... 05/31/2010

OSCEOLA COUNTY HOMES, ST.CLOUD, KISSIMMEE, HARMONY and more. Real Estate- Did you know that Osceola County is more than 1322 square miles of land and 184 square miles lakes? It was the 17th fastest growing county in the United States in 2006. The County seat and court house are located in Kissimmee Florida.   Located in Central Florida between Disney, and Melbourne, and adjacent to the International Airport is a corridor which runs East and West known as 192.  South of Orlando, and  Southeast the Space Coast its centralized location provides easy access to all the major attractions.  It is cultural diverse, and attracts over 2 Million vistors annually to the Parks. (Disney, Sea World and Universal Studios.  It is no wonder so many people choose Osceola County to call home. A Guide to Os... 05/31/2010

When people say you are one in a million, they may not be kidding.  According to the National Realtors® Association there are currently, 1,079,000 Realtors still active in Real Estate.  The market certainly has presented challenges and financially drained the resources of many licensees.  More professionals are allowing their licenses to lapse, or choosing not to renew them for personal reasons. In my market, of St. Cloud/Kissimmee Florida, pressure on the economy and the housing market has forced the closings of several large National Franchise chains. In St. Cloud, Florida they included, C-21, Coldwell Banker, and Remax. Most still maintain offices in Kissimmee. Many agents have left the business entirely. Seeking other forms of employment until the market improves. Boutique Brokerage... 05/18/2010

OUT OF AREA BROKERAGES- A SURE SIGN BUSINESS IS HURTING IN THEIR NECK OF THE WOODS.  We are seeing more and more "Out of area" Brokers taking listings and showing homes they normally would have referred out. A sign that cash deprivation has made them hungrier than they used to be.  Most Realtors will say they will take anything, anywhere. But Real Estate is local and most of the time despite their best efforts they will find themselves reducing the price because in reality, it is not their market.  REAL ESTATE IS LOCAL- What does that mean exactly?  It means a local expert from the same area or community is your best choice. They know their market.  What a home sells for 30 or 40 miles away, will not sell for exactly the same as it would say in my Market of St. Cloud, Florida.  St. Clou... 05/14/2010

COMPARING APPLES TO ORANGES IN OSCEOLA COUNTY FLORIDA-NEW HOUSING VERSUS SHORT SALE HOMES.  The buzzwords of the decade have been foreclosures and short sales.  Certainly there are no shortage of either.  What works for some people does not work for others. Stuck in the middle are the Pre-Short Sale Home Owners (Known as Traditional Sales) frustrated by the market's inability to bounce back to previous unrealistic value and apprasiers adjusting downward the value of property based on recent comparables which of course include short sales and foreclosures.  Seems like an endless cycle doesn't it? Cash buyers have many choices.  After spending several days vewing the entore inventory around our home office we drew an interesting conclusion.  Homes which may be only a few years old, built ... 05/10/2010

BRITISH BUYERS AND INVESTORS ARE REDISCOVERING AMERICA AS THE LAND OF PROPERTY OPPORUNITY.  The sluggish American economy and stalled housing market, has triggered a new look by Brits across the pond at how much their £ will buy.  Lots and Custom builds may be a viable alternative to getting the most value for their money.  In my Market of St. Cloud Florida, which closely resembles more a village than a city,and the countryside back home, the location is convenient and countrified concurrently. A short thirty (30) minutes drive time to Orlando International Airport, Orlando and the beaches, 45 minutes drive time to the Attractions Disney, Universal, and SeaWorld, one hour to Kennedy Space Center and lauches are visable from St. Cloud, Florida  without having to drive anywhere.  The City... 05/07/2010

UK BUYERS LOOKING TO MAKE A MOVE INTO THE AMERICAN REAL ESTATE MARKET, FEAR GETTING RIPPED OFF.  The process of buying Real Estate in America is different than it is in England.  While the value is tempting, many are uncertain when it comes to trusting their Real Estate professional. After hearing this buyers story, when he came to me to help him find a property within his budget, He was very pleased to find that professional courteous service does exist. We viewed several short sales in Bay Lake Ranch, some better than others but the one that ticked off all the right boxes was already under contract. We spend a few hours evaluating the remaining choices in his rice range, before I made a life changing suggestion.  After looking at what was available in the $200,000 range I suggested we... 05/05/2010

BAY LAKE RANCH ST, CLOUD FLORIDA- ONE ACRE TWO ACRE THREE ACRE FOUR-HOT POTATOES IN HOUSING HERE.  My Market of St. Cloud has been hopping lately. It could be in part,due  to some well below market value priced properties which seem to have wet the appetites of buyers biting at the bit in this equestrian community. Or it could be due to the fact that there are very few equestrian zoned properties left in Osceola County. Perhaps it is the absence of an imposing HOA and nusiance fees?  Maybe it is a refuge from crowded developments. and zero lot lines.  Could it be buyers want to have a Custom Built Estate home without the price tag?  The features which make Bay Lake Ranch in St. Cloud Florida unique, seem to be creating a faster market turn around. In fact, there are only 13 homes availa... 05/04/2010

BAY LAKE RANCH-HOMES & LAND, LLC   Estate Homes, horses and Land. Three things many people find appealing.  Bay Lake Ranch in St. Cloud Florida is a unique community.  It pans over five miles east of Hwy 192 tucked away off Old Melbourne Hwy, in St. Cloud Florida.  The area was once owned by David Seigel the developer of Westgate Resorts, and was designed to be an Estate Home Devlopment with Equestrian Zoning. That was in 1981, when the original sales office opened. The office is still there and it is the headquarters of St. Cloud Homes & Land LLC, today.   The unique zoning in Bay Lake Ranch which allows horses has attracted buyers for nearly three decades.  The homesite average one to two acres some larger and are close to Bay Lake which is a freshwater fishing lake situated on the ea... 04/19/2010

CENTRAL FLORIDA,OSCEOLA COUNTY,ST.CLOUD MARKET RESULT HOUSING MARKET  SHOWS AN INTERESTING TWIST.  Forget the nightly news, they seem fixated on reporting on the foreclosures which have been in the works for months- The big news they are ignoring for the most part is the equalization of homes pending and sold vs homes for sale.  The other big news is that the average price in St. Cloud, Florida is healthier than first suspected.    * Graph Source: MLS  In the past 90 days, 193 homes sold, 420 went pending and 688 are currently for sale within the zip codes of St. Cloud Florida, 34769, 34771,34772,34773.  The equalization of homes on the market, vs the ones rotating off the market is really good news.  Granted the days on market appears to be prolonged in comparison to the rapid fire sal... 04/15/2010

 HIATUS HALTS FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM    Congress has adjourned for Spring Recess until April 12, however the National Flood Insurance Program expired March 28, 2010 putting buyers in a state of limbo until Congress reconvenes.   The program lapsed before it could be renewed. The renewal was attached to a more comprehensive bill which extended other Federal Programs, and was approved by the House in March. It currently sits in the Senate, where it expired. Closing it to new policies covering flood insurance.  The lapse does not affect existing policies.  The hiatus means new policies cannot be written, FEMA which also works with the secondary loan market writes policies and backs them. Which means properties under purchase contract, in low lying flood prone areas including those in St. ... 04/06/2010

It appears that the Federal gocvernment has succeeded in outting a muzzle ont he bite of the banks. Home sellers trying to recap some of losses turned to renting their homes (particularly late coming investors as the bubble burst from overinflation) Renters have found themselves innocent victims to the mortgage fiasco as collateral damage. Banks moving forward the foreclosure process, after waiting as long as six months to decline a short sale offer; have given renters 24 hours notice to vacate the property after the drop of the gavel.  Renters often were blind sided, not knowing their landlord/homeowner had stopped making mortgage payments months prior.  Even though they were current on their rent, they were the ones being evicted.  Their rent payment, gives them no voice in a system d... 04/06/2010

REALTORS® ARE NOTORIOUS FOR NOT RETURNING PHONE CALLS- It is probably the number one complaints clients have. This customer presented an interesting challenge, she was prepared, had her letter of credit, and was ready willing and able to buy a home. Her problem was...her last REALTOR® wasn't.  The value Real Estate Professionals represent to our customers, is an ability to match them with properties which meet their checklist of wants and needs. Not ones that miss the mark, or might fit, but hitting the bulleyes straight on. In their own words- they are frustrated and fed up and were looking for the window of opportunity.   04/03/2010

ST.CLOUD FLORIDA, SO MUCH TO DO AND WHY IT IS GREAT TO LIVE HERE. If you are new to Central Florida, one of the most overlooked places in St. Cloud  Homes & Land, dating back to the early 1900's this community began as a sugar plantation.  The pristine 11,000 acre fresh water lake,known to the locals as Lake Toho, is rich with bass was an naitive american hunting ground.  Located on the East West corridor between Melbourne (Beaches) and Disney to the west, it is the jewel of Osceola County.  Cattle and horse ranches once painted the landscape reminiscent of the old west-today it is a thriving bedroom community to Disney, yet enjoys a less tourist atmosphere.  Veteran's who helped established this City in 1909, as a retirement community for returning Civil War Veterans, have continued to... 03/26/2010

ST.CLOUD FLORIDA- THE BATTLE OF NARCOOSSEE CIVIL WAR RE-ENACTMENT is an annual event held the last weekend in March.  March 26-28 A small park off Narcoossee (SR15) will be transformed into a Civil War encampment.  Actors dressed in period clothing will set up a field camp, cook on open fires, giving a 3 days long demonstration of what life was like on and off the battlefield. The Battle of Narcoossee actually never happended. As most Civil War buffs will be able to tell you, the battle lines never came extended to central Florida where St. Cloud is located.   However, it is a well attended annual event, and educational experience for children of all ages to enjoy.   St. Cloud, Florida however was established in the early 1900's and incorporated into a City in 1909 as a retirement commu... 03/23/2010

I am going to use Lance Armstrong as an example..simply because clearly he is an example of someone who lead a very healthy life...more than likely he ate properly...its clear he exercises...and still was diagnosed with cancer.  Ever wonder how this happened?  Recently I sat and listened to my doctor talk about disease...living a healthy lifestyle..as he talked about Lance Armstrong...it made perfect sense...consider the natural alignment of your body...and Lance Armstrong spent hours upon hours riding a bike...is that the natural alignment of the body? NO Pain Medication For Me! Approximately 14 years ago..I was under tremendous stress...working hard...and raising boys alone...dealing with everyday life...a strange thing happened to me...I started to feel lightheaded...lower back pain.... 03/23/2010

Short Sales, REO, Foreclosures, are everywhere.  Every client who calls all seem to think these types of properties is what they want.  But there is more that lies beneath the surface than they or their Real Estate Professional may realize.   The under current has a strong pull, and as buyers choose opportunity properties, they need to be mindful of the undertow which can easily pull them into deep water if they are not careful.  SEEKING PROFESSIONAL ADVICE  Now more than ever, seeking the services of a PROFESSIONAL REALTOR® is important. Interview several, and find one with whom you feel comfortable. They need to be knowledgeable about their market, their local area, and also with the terms and conditions of distress sales. The National Association of REALTORS® has a special designatio... 03/13/2010

A Foreclosure is terminology for a legal process. A borrower has defaulted on the terms and conditions of their loan repayment, and has received a notice from their lender. The lender has hired an attorney, who files the summons with the court and has begun the LEGAL PROCESS of foreclosure. These properties typically are in of repair. Home owners who have fallen behind on their mortgage payments often do not have the funds available for making repairs. There are however programs available suchas HOMEPATH,  HELPNOW  Home owners who are falling behind need to be communicating with their lenders.  REALTORS® are NOT attorneys. They cannot give you legal advise.  They can however assist you in finding the resources that may be helpful to you depending upon your individual needs. The National... 03/11/2010