If you’re a bit of a shopaholic or have just found your possessions piling up over time, then you’ve probably found yourself in a bit of a cramped bedroom closet situation. For those of us who aren’t fortunate enough to enjoy walk-in closets about the same size as a bedroom, we’ve had to cleverly attempt at organizing and fitting our clothes, shoes and accessories into our normal sized closets like a puzzle. Dressers and drawers are pretty straightforward when it comes to accommodating our belongings, but when it comes to closets, there is definitely room for flexibility. Whether you’re looking to make the most out of the space in your closet in your Orlando home, or making it look most presentable – here are some helpful tips regarding both those goals and more…

• PURGE. This can be extremely tough for most of us, but seriously consider getting rid of items that you haven’t used in a year. It is often that items at the back and sides of our closets have become completely forgotten. Just take a bit of time to sweep through your entire closet and really consider what is worth keeping or throwing out. And if throwing out belongings is a bit too extreme for you, opt for moving the item to a drawer or to a storage area for safekeeping.
• CATEGORIZE. An excellent way of keeping your closet mess free is to place like with like. This means, dresses with dresses, pants with pants, and shirts with shirts. This makes it so items are easy to find and easy to put back, so that you don’t end up making a tornado out of your closet when trying to find things. Plus, this saves you time.
• ADD MORE. By this I don’t mean more clothes, but more organizational units. Assess your closet to see if another rod can fit into your closet, or if the floor or back areas of your closet are vacant. We tend to forget about those areas, which can be perfect for smaller storage cubes and shelves. Sometimes making a trip to the home/furniture store can give us amazing storage ideas, and can offer closet organizer units you never even knew existed.
• UNIFORM. This is not a must, but if you want to make your closet look presentable, having it look uniform is key. Your storage and organizational units should be the same, meaning cubes/shelves should be relatively similar, as well as hangers. Refer to home catalogues or furniture store displays for examples.
• BE CRAFTY. Make the most out of your hangers by hanging smaller, similar items. Hang tops or even pants over the bar of the same hanger.

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It doesn’t matter if you are considering a permanent move to Orlando or if you wish to become a snow bird, there are many reason to buy Orlando real estate in today’s market.

Top Reasons to Buy Orlando Real Estate

1. Weather
As you know, our weather can’t be beat! Young and old alike relish in our warm weather year round. What is not to like? No more heavy coats, hats and mittens.

2. Competitive Prices
Florida has been among those states hit hardest buy the foreclosure crisis and prices are the most competitive they have been in years. Experienced investors will tell you to ‘ buy low and sell high’, making this a great time to jump into Orlando real estate. Orlando ranks among the 10 Best Performing Major Housing Markets.

3. Prices below replacement cost
Many homes are selling below replacement costs. For example, a home with a replacement value of $150,000 may sell for only $60,000.

4. Healthy job market
Orlando’s city government is working hard to bring additional companies and jobs to the area.

5. Recreation
The top amusement parks in the world, Disney World, Epcot, Sea World and Universal, are all located in Orlando, making this a great place to live and vacation. Other outdoor activities abound…fishing, boating, horseback riding, golf, hot air ballooning, and water sports galore, making Orlando the perfect location for rental property. Seasonal rentals are in demand either on a weekly or monthly basis. Orlando is among the 10 Best Cities To Buy Rental Property.

After you decide to buy Orlando real estate, you will need a top-notch Realtor! The Orlando Avenue Top Team can’t be beat!

You can expect professionalism with Teri. She is a member of the Graduate Realtor Institute, a Certified Residential Council Specialist, one of only a few hundred Certified International Property Specialist in the country, a member of the elite Cyber Professionals Group, holds the e-pro designation, is Internet Certified, a member of the Real Estate Cyberspace Society and an Allen Hainge Cyberstar.

You deserve professional real estate service! You will obtain the best results with Teri. You can relax as important decisions are made easily with the timely and accurate information she provides.  Teri and the Orlando Avenue Top Team will handle the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Orlando is ranked as one of the 10 Best Cities To Buy Rental Property according to Local Market Monitor. Here’s what they have to say about our fair city…

Average home price (2011): $165,200

The real estate market in Orlando — home to Disney and a slew of other theme parks — has been anything but magical lately. Prices have plummeted 43% since 2006, according to Local Market Monitor.

Winzer projects little in the way home price gains Orlando over the next three years. Rents, on the other hand, are expected to climb by a healthy 17% clip, he said.

The area’s ties to tourism should help as the economic recovery gains traction, he said. Visitors keep coming to the theme parks here, despite the lukewarm national job picture. If employment ever heats up, the area will attract even more visitors and that means more jobs for local residents.

He expects that real estate investors will net about 3% above the national average.

It’s Saturday afternoon and you are cruising neighborhoods looking at Orlando Florida homes for sale. You drive up to a home that looks interesting. You go to pull a property flyer out of the brochure box that is in the front yard near the For Sale sign to get the details. BUT the brochure box is empty, so no details are available. It’s so frustrating!

Frustration no more!! There is new mobile technology allowing you to search all Orlando Florida homes for sale right from your phone. Any phone!!

• You can view all Orlando Florida MLS listings anytime, anywhere from the convenience of any standard cell phone or smart phone including the iPhone, BlackBerry, Android and Palm.

• You can search for properties based on their GPS location, address, city or zip code.
  
• Get property information, including price, beds/baths, taxes, estimated mortgage, features, maps, photos and more!

• When you are ready to see a property, the “Call to See” feature connects you directly to an agent.
  

Here’s how it works…

Even better: Text FLHOME to 87778.

It is true; the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit of up to $8,000 has been extended until April 30, 2010. This grant is for people purchasing a home for the first time. An additional grant of up to $6,500 is available to current homeowners purchasing a home between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010.

First time homeowners must purchase a home between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010. Current homeowners purchasing a home in this same period must have lived in the home they are selling for five consecutive years.

A first time home buyer is qualified if he/she or his/her spouse have not owned a home three years prior the purchase of a new home.

The Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit applies to residences including single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, and co-ops.  The credit is based on the price of the home being purchased ($800,000 or under) and the buyer’s income (up to $125,000 for singles, and $225,000 for married couples to receive the full tax credit).

Give me a call today for more information on the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit and learn how it can help your buy your Orlando home

You can check out the latest HUD home repair and rehabilitation programs available. You might qualify a mortgage to cover the cost of rehabbing a property as well as buying it. Talk to me or call your City Community Development Block Grant Program Coordinator.

There is no better Orlando Valentine than a new home. You will want to check out this lakefront home in Ocoee on an acre with its own dock and sandy beach. It is a great price and perfect for a rehabilitation loan.

Search other Orlando homes for sale for your Orlando Valentine.

Orlando Real Estate For Sale: 511 E Lakeshore Drive, Ocoee, Florida 34761MLS#04926183

SHORT SALE APPROVED PRICE $260,000. Enjoy many hours of fun on Lake Prima Vista that connects to Lake Starke, both are ski and fishing lakes with seawall, dock and sandy beach. Lakeside Living at an incredible price! Approximately 1 acre with mature oak trees. Master Suite upstairs. The home needs some TLC but at this price for a home on the Lake with a dock it is a great opportunity. Inside add your personal touches a lot of the updates inside are complete. The previous owner added a huge family room all permitted correctly. The exterior needs work but at this price you could create your own elevation and dress it up. Lakeshore is a beautiful treed street with access to Starke Lake from Lake Prima Vista too for your watersport enjoyment. Seawall is grandfathered in and the dock is waiting for your boat! Great deck out back to enjoy evening sunsets and there is a room off the master with windows that could also be changed to doors if you ever wanted to add an upstairs deck. So what are you waiting for come look inside today!

Learn more about 511 E Lakeshore Drive and other Orlando Real Estate by visiting OrlandoAvenue.com.

Search all Orlando Real Estate and homes for sale.

Now the people

Florida has long been a winter haven for people from the "North".   The definition of North has expanded quite noticeably recently beyond the typical Chicago, New England, & New York retiree to include people looking to Florida for proximity to the beach and the tropical warm weather that we get year round. 

1. First of all… Location, Location, Location. 
2. Second of all…  Notice Ski Lodge, Hamptons, Getaway, Beach… Those are descriptives that help qualify the property as Significantly Superior. 
3. Third of all… and this is the tricky one… it isn’t an investment property!!!
4. Fourth… you’re really committed to the property being a place that you will use for part of the year and set it up to use it like a second residence. 

Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARM) are not very unpopular right now thanks to the media bashing them.

Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARM) are not very unpopular right now thanks to the media bashing them.  To make things worse, they currently (August 31, 2007) have higher rates than Fixed Rate Mortgages.   This poses a problem for people that want a lower payment but now are demanding the secure rate of a Fixed Rate Mortgage.  

• Lower payments than traditional 30yr Fixed
• Longer Interest Only period than most people remain in the same property
• Pairs great with any Mortgage Pay-off Program

Purchasing a home in the Orlando Florida area can be overwhelming. There are many things you must take into consideration before purchasing your Orlando Florida home, including where, how much you can afford and what type of Orlando Florida home you will purchase.

Purchasing a home in the Orlando Florida area can be overwhelming.  There are many things you must take into consideration before purchasing your Orlando Florida home, including where, how much you can afford and what type of Orlando Florida home you will purchase.

To provide unsurpassed service to help you buy your home at a fair market price, in the shortest time, with the least inconvenience to you, we will:

• Explain real estate agency relationships.Maintain communication during the term of the agreement.
• Analyze your property needs and desires.
• Orient you to current market conditions.
• Provide helpful community data.
• Explain local real estate practices and procedures.
• Provide information on lenders and financing alternatives.
• Search the local Multiple Listing Service for suitable properties.
• Coordinate appointments and show all properties of interest, whether the properties are our listings or not.
• Provide relevant market data as to fair market value of homes.
• Disclose all material defects of the property known.
• Explain the offer-presentation process.
• Deliver any state required Property Disclosure form.
• Carefully explain and prepare Offer to Purchase forms.
• Arrange to present all offers to seller in a timely manner.
• Strive to obtain the best possible price and terms for you.
• Explain post-purchase activities and responsibilities.
• Follow up on all post-purchase activities.
• Keep confidential any information that you designate in writing as confidential.