Orlando Real Estate

A showing of fine art, 6pm-10pm Friday, 10am -10pm Saturday and 10am – 5pm Sunday, surrounding beautiful Lake Lily in Maitland, Florida.

One of Florida’s finest art festivals.  Only 150 artists vying for $20,000 in awards.  New for 2008 The Maitland Rotary Art Festival joins the elite group of festivals around the country offering night-time hours.  With subtle live background music and sparkling lights the evening hours are certain to make for a memorable experience for artists and customers alike.

Garage sales can be a great way to get rid of clutter – and earn a little extra cash – before you sell your Orlando Real Estate Invetsment. But make sure the timing is right. Garage sales can take on a life of their own, and it might not be the best use of your energy right before putting your home on the Orlando Real Estate Market. Follow these tips for a successful sale. 

1. Don’t wait until the last minute. You don’t want to be scrambling to hold a garage sale the week before an open house. Depending on how long you’ve lived in the home and how much stuff you have to sell, planning a garage sale can demand a lot of time and energy. 

2. Get a permit. Most municipalities will require you to obtain a special permit or license in order to hold a garage sale. The permits are often free or very inexpensive, but still require you to register with the city. 

3. See if neighbors want to join in. You can turn your garage sale into a block-wide event and lure more shoppers if you team up with neighbors. However, a permit may be necessary for each home owner, even if it’s a group event.  

4. Schedule the sale. Sales on Saturdays and Sundays will generate the most traffic, especially if the weather cooperates. Start the sale early, 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. is best, and be prepared for early birds.  

5. Advertise. Place an ad in Orlando free classified papers and Web sites, and in your local newspapers. Include the dates, time, and address. Let the public know if certain types of items will be sold, such as baby clothes, furniture, or weightlifting equipment. On the day of the sale, balloons and signs with prominent arrows will help to grab the attention of passersby.  

6. Price your goods. Lay out everything that you plan to sell, and attach prices with removable stickers. Remember, garage sales are supposed to be bargains, so try to be objective as you set prices. Assign simple prices to your goods: 50 cents, 3 for $1, $5, $10, etc.  

7. If it’s really junk, don’t sell it. Decide what’s worth selling and what’s not. If it’s really garbage, then throw it away. Broken appliances, for example, should be tossed. (Know where a nearby electrical outlet is, in case a customer wants to make sure something works.) 

8. Check for mistakes. Make sure that items you want to keep don’t accidentally end up in the garage sale pile.   

9. Create an organized display. Lay out your items by category, and display neatly so customers don’t have to dig through boxes.  

10. Stock up on bags and newspapers. People who buy many small items will appreciate a bag to carry their goods. Newspapers are handy for wrapping fragile items.  

11. Manage your money. Make a trip to the bank to get ample change for your cashbox. Throughout the sale, keep a close eye on your cash; never leave the cashbox unattended. It’s smart to have one person who manages the money throughout the day, keeping a tally of what was purchased and for how much. Keep a calculator nearby. 

12. Prepare for your Orlando Real Estate Investemet Home sale. Donate the remaining stuff or sell it to a resale shop. Now that all of your clutter is cleared out, it’s time to focus on preparing your house for a successful sale! Garage sales can be a great way to get rid of clutter – and earn a little extra cash – before you sell your home. But make sure the timing is right. Garage sales can take on a life of their own, and it might not be the best use of your energy right before putting your home on the market. Follow these tips for a successful sale. 

The Orlando Real Estate market is very lucrative for International buyers.  The devalued dollar gives foreigners more for their money than their own native lands.  This means luxury homes are on the top of their list.  A report based on a survey of 986 respondents who closed 1,844 home sales transactions to non-U.S. residents from May 2004 to May 2005 stated that 22% of homes purchased by foreigners is over $500,000.  The Euro for instance, is worth twice as much as the US Dollar.   How does this bode for Orlando?

Traditionally, foreign buyers have favored South Florida, particularly Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Naples.  The tide has turned to Orlando due to more affordable home prices.  

What does this mean for Sellers?

When sellers are looking to market their properties they should consider Real Estate Agents that work with international buyers and advertise to international markets.  The doors would be open to millions of additional buyers.

According to a new study by SMR Research Corp, specializing in mortgage and home equity loan industry research, the housing market may have hit bottom, setting the stage for a mild housing recovery to begin prior to year-end 2008. The market’s recovery is likely to be gradual, rather than returning to the strong growth seen from 2002 to mid-2006, with house prices merely firming or increasing slightly, the firm said. An SMR study was among the first to declare (in 2002) that a housing price bubble existed, defined as prices rising faster than consumer incomes. In a 2004 study, SMR forecast that a “perfect storm” in credit quality would cause an explosion in foreclosures within two years. “Our prior forecasts were accurate but widely disbelieved when issued,” says SMR President Stuart A. Feldstein. “We similarly expect a skeptical reaction now to a recovery forecast, which is not the common view. But the numbers are what they are.” The new recovery forecast was published within SMR’s annual spring study. “Homes are now affordable again,” Feldstein says. “Consumer psychology is the biggest remaining hurdle to recovery.”