Port Orange News: Cheer Competition!

The Ocean Center will Play Host to the East Coast Conference Pop Warner Cheer Competition this Sunday, October 21, 2012. The event will feature competitors ages 8 to 15 from across the state.

The event will run from 8A.M. until 5P.M. Admission is $10 for adults and $6 for children age 5 to 17.

No logging in to use Our Site for searching for homes. Use our Subdivision Search and keep track of your neighborhood.

Port Orange Real Estate: Wings and Waves Air Show!!

The Forecast for this Weekend is for High Speed Passes and Clear Skies with the occassional Airplane!  Oct. 13-14 are the dates for Embry-Riddle’s Wings & Waves Air Show.
The show will be over the water in front of the Hilton Daytona Beach Resort. It is a free event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

The Air Show is host to three jet demonstration teams including the world-renowned U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, returning favorites The Canadian Forces Snowbirds and the only civilian-owned team in the U.S., the Black Diamond Jet Team. There are several other performers scheduled including Skydiver Cheryl Stearns ( the first female member of the U.S. Army’s elite parachuting team, the Golden Knights), The Plunkett WWI Aviation Collection, and more.


On the shore, Embry-Riddle will host the “Education Zone” in the Bandshell featuring student robotic and environmental group demonstrations, athletics, Alumni Relations and the Jet Dragster.

There is also a reserved seating area available on the board walk.

Use our Website to Search for Homes and keep up with what is current in your Subdivision.

Port Orange News : Lease Purchase !!

What is a Lease Purchase Option?
If a Seller has a home sitting vacant on the market, and they want to get a certain dollar amount out of a house, they have only a few options:
    1-- They can rent the home and wait for the market to improve. This can be risky. If they are paying two mortgages, and a renter walks away, they have a small deposit to cover them. If the renter quits paying, they have to follow rules for eviction. Then get another renter. If they fall behind on payments, foreclosure proceedings get started.
    2-- They can do a short sale. This can hurt their credit. If they are not already in another home, it could make it difficult to rent or buy.
    3-- They could let it go into foreclosure. This will really hurt their credit. ... For a long time.
    4-- They can do a Lease Purchase .

This is what a Lease Purchase entails:
    1-- They list their home on the market with Lease Option Available.
    2-- A potential Buyer puts in a contract to purchase a year later.
    3-- A lease option is drawn up by an attorney.
    4-- Usually a sizable NON-REFUNDABLE deposit is requested. The deposit is the only money applied towards purchase, monthly lease payment does not.
    5-- At the end of Lease period, the buyer should close on property.

During the Lease Purchase Term, the home owner must keep up with Mortgage payments , HOA if required, Taxes, and home insurance. The buyer now bears responsibility for the property itself and is required to get insurance for their contents.

If you hare considering a Lease Purchase, make sure you understand the lease and the responsibilities.

We have a beautiful Home in Summer Trees of Port Orange with a Lease Option Available!!
Feel free to use our Subdivision Search and keep track of the home prices in your neighborhood.

Port Orange News : Time on Market Down !!

According to the National Association of Realtors, the amount of time a home is on the market has been reduced. InJuly of 2011, the median time a home was listed for sale on the market was for an average of 98 days. In July of 2012, that time dropped to 69 days. This means we are in a more balanced market.

There is always a relationship between time on the market and demand. That is common sense. During a balanced market, a price increase of 1-2% above inflation is normal. During the hey-day of 2004-2005, the time listed for sale was down to 40 days or less.

We are in a good market where sellers are getting a fair market price. We just need the appraisers to keep up with the market.

Keep track of the active listings in your neighborhood by using Subdivision Search on our Website. You don't have to Log-In.

Information for this BLOG were taken from NAR NewsReleases

Daytona Area Real Estate News: Short Sale News!!

On August 21, 2012, FHFA ( Federal Housing Finance Authority ) issued new guidelines for loans where the investor is Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. The changes are intended to help homeowners hit by financial hardhip, moved by military, have a second mortgage, or have to move more than 50 miles for a job.

The FHFA News Release gives more details about how the changes are intended to help.

Use our SUBDIVISION SEARCH and keep track of the market in your Neighborhood. Or use our MLS Search to find the Home you want.

Ormond Beach Real Estate : Local inducted to Surfing Hall of Fame!

Photo by; Ken Blevins

On Wednesday Night, Mimi Munro became the first woman to be inducted into the Surfing Legends of the East Coast Surfing Champioships Hall of Fame.  This is the third induction for her as she is already in the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame and the Surfing Walk of Fame in Huntington Beach.

She represents all the Locals who have ever paddled out after school, on the weekend, or in between jobs. The waters off our coast are special to us, and something that can't be taken away.

So Congratulations to a Local who still inspires others to do better for themselves and the people around them.

Mimi also operates a Surf Camp , for those that are interested.

If you are looking for a Home in the Area, you can Search by Subdivision in the city you prefer. We can also send you automatic updates for homes when new ones come on the market. Just Contact Us and we will help, and you don't have to Log-in. Just Search for Homes on Our Website.

Source : Daytona Beach News-Journal , Brian Linder, Aug 19, 2012 .

Port Orange Real Estate: Gluten Free Food !!

Celiac Disease, Gluten Intolerance, and links to Autism. These were the reasons why people tried to follow a Gluten Free Diet. Wheat is now required to be on the packaging Label for foods ( near the bottom for allergens), and it has become easier at the super market to find GF (gluten free) food.

Gluten Free Food has become a topic of interest in the Food World more recently, with a Gluten Free Diet for losing weight. People that had never thought of Gluten are now showing interest.

Finding restaurants that are able to provide GF without cross-contamination is still difficult. Most restaurants do have a seperate GF Menu, but it is mostly where some items are held back from the plate. (croutons from salad, crustini, etc.).

Here are a few Area Restaurants that do have GF food:

Alfredo's - located on Clyde Morris and Herbert (PO)- GF Pasta available , salads , etc.

Fresh Healthy Cafe -  located in the Pavilion (PO)- Have a GF Wrap , as well as Smoothies and Salads.

Red Brick Pizza - located at the Pavilion (PO)-  Have a GF Pizza , and salads, wings, Gelato , etc.

BJ's Brewhouse - located on International- have a GF Pizza, Pazooki , GF Ciders and Beer, and Menu.

Vanilla Bean Cupcake Bakery- Clyde Morris and Herbert (PO)- to order GF cupcakes , cakes , etc.

Olive Garden - located in the Pavilion - has GF pasta dishes available, Menu available .

There are several Restaurants that are GF friendly, meaning they will accomodate and try to make the dishes GF, but the chances for contamination are higher. Some Restaurants have not made GF Menus due to cross contamination possibility, although some of the dishes are naturally GF (ie: grilled fish and veggies with rice at La Fiesta  or similar dishes at Malibu Beach Grill)



Keep track of Homes in your neighborhood of interest by Searching by Subdivision. Or Contact Us for a daily E-mail of properties in your neighborhood. We can also E-mail a list of homes that have sold. You don't have to log-in to use Our Website, so feel free to peruse listings.

Port Orange Real Estate : Low Ball Offers are not GOOD !

Often, buyers test the market when they first start looking for a home. When the Market first started to fall and there was an explosion of Short Sales and Foreclosures, Low Ball offers made sense. There were so many homes on the market that you had the time and opportunity to make the Best Buy you could.

With the Market starting to claw its way back up, the time advantage is not there. Short Sales are closing much faster, making them much more attractive to all buyers and not just investors. Banks have started refurbishing some REO homes with paint, carpet and some appliances. The investors are starting to get pushed out of the market, and the serious buyers are stepping in.

Homes that have been priced correctly in the Market, are going under contract quickly. The contracts are coming in much closer to the asking price, often with more than one offer. Is there room to negotiate? Yes. If the seller has priced the house above the market, it will be on the market longer and the Low Ball offer will correct the difference.

Suggestions :
Buyers-
1- Make a serious offer if you are interested in a property.
2- Watch the community you are looking in and see what the other homes are going for.
3-  Be prepared, have a preapproval letter from a Lender and know what price home you can afford.
4- When a home goes on the market in your area of interest, make an appointment and go see it.
Sellers-
1- Speak to your Realtor about a fair price.
2- If you have not gotten an offer in 2 weeks, consider a Price Reduction.
3- Keep track of the sales in your neighborhood.
4- Keep track of new listings in your neighborhood.

Keep track of Homes in your neighborhood of interest by Searching by Subdivision. Or Contact Us for a daily E-mail of properties in your neighborhood. We can also E-mail a list of homes that have sold. You don't have to log-in to use Our Website, so feel free to peruse listings.

Port Orange Real Estate : REO "Gold Rush" in Florida ?!

       As of late, there has been comparisons of the REO Market ( foreclosure homes ) to the "Gold Rush" of California. Florida is one of the particular comparisons as our market has shown signs of recovery compared to some of the other areas inundated with foreclosures.
       I don't think that is a fair comparison. Yes there is a lot of opportunity for investors to make money, but it isn't throwing everything you have into the opportunity. Typical "Gold Rush" entreprenours left everthing to make their money finding gold with no amount of certainty inn their investment. The opportunity provided by the REO market has a lot more security. There are investors that are : buying REO's, renovating them, renting them, and selling them as a package to other investors. There are Real Estate companies that are buying the foreclosed homes and flipping them for small profit, but in large quantity. Most investors are buying the foreclosures and using them as income properties ( rental ).
      This is not a market that will benefit foolish or impulsive actions. Abusing purchase power provided by Lenders is why we have so many foreclosures now. Informed investors, are going to make informed purchases and not make "rush" decisions.

Search for Forclosures on our Website. Contact us and we can also provide an automatic update of Foreclosure properties in Our Area. You can also compare homes by searching by subdivision .

Port Orange Real Estate : Foreclosure Settlement Approved !!

The $26B Foreclosure Settlement over Foreclosure Errors that was announced over a month ago, has finally been approved by a Federal Judge.
What does this mean for you?

The settlement includes: guidelines for banks in compensating homeowners who may have been wrongfully foreclosed upon, mortgage modifications for delinquent borrowers ( including principal reductions), refinancing mortgages for borrowers who are current on their payments, compensation to borrowers who lost their homes to foreclosure ( with errors in process ), paying federal and state fines, stricter standards in foreclosure processing.

The Banks that abide by the terms of the Settlement will also avoid future Fines related to Foreclosures from this time period.

If you think you may be eligible for any of these programs or compensations, contact your Bank.

For easy Subdivision Searchs in Port Orange and Foreclosure Searchs . No Signing in on our Website.

Source: “Court Approves $26 Billion Foreclosure Settlement,” CNNMoney

Port Orange Real Estate : Population increase in Florida !!

          Florida has long been known for Population Growth. This was not so the past few years. After the Real Estate Collapse, Florida was in a state of Contraction. As our economy has started to return to normal, so has our Population Growth. It may not be as dramatic as before, but growth is beneficial.

          Last Thursday , the Census Bureau reported that the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach area was the 6th largest increase in the Country with almost 92K residents (1.7% increase) moving into the area. Tampa-St. Pete was second in the State with an increase of almost 37K residents.
          Retirees seem to be returning as well with an increase of 4.6% in the Population of The Villages.

What does this mean for us? It means Home Prices start to increase. Gradually!! Rental Prices start to go up. Gradually!! New Construction, Jobs, Wages, and anything tied to our local economy starts to go up. Gradually!! A Controlled growth will be much more beneficial because our whole economy will grow together rather than one sector.

Parts of this were refernced from Florida Cities Rebounding .

If you would like to keep track of what other houses in your neighborhood are doing, Searching by Subdivision might help. For assistance, please contact us .

 Source: News Service of Florida, Michael Peltier

Port Orange Real Estate : "Freedom" Model at Waters Edge !!

This is the "Freedom" Model by ICI. This Model Features a Great Room and a Wall of Windows that lets the outside in. View this Freedom Model on our Website. You can also Search for Homes by Subdivision or by Style . Visit our Website for more Information and Homes. Don't miss your chance to Buy this Great Home.

Port Orange Real Estate: 4 Bed2-1/2 Bth IN-LAW Skylake Home!

This is a Beautiful Home in the SKYLAKE Subdivision in Port Orange. Features a Fenced Parklike Backyard , Formal Living Areas, Split Plan, Master Downstairs could be IN-LAW Suite, Bedroom2 upstairs is big enough to be 2nd Master,  and more... To get more Info and see more photos of this home, Follow THIS LINK . Feel free to use our Website to look for homes with NO SIGNING IN. Follow this link to Visit our PORT ORANGE HOME PAGE.

Port Orange Real Estate : 4 Car and RV Garages and Carport 4Bdrm 3Bth Pool Home !!

This is a Rare Find!  Located in the Estates of Town Park ! This Property features: Extra deep 4 Car Garage, RV Garage , Carport as big as the RV Garage, Pavers all around the House, Heated In Ground Pool, surrounded on all sides by Conservation and located on a Cul-de-sac,  and many more Features inside.  Follow THIS LINK to view the Virtual Tour of this property.  For more information , you can follow THIS LINK to view the listing on our Website. We also have the other available listings in the Subdivision on THIS LINK .   If you would like to schedule a Showing of this property, please contact us through our WEBSITE or call us.

3 Bed 2 Bath w/ Parklike Backyard on Lake!!!

This is the Antigua Model by ICI at Waters Edge. It is a Beautiful Home with lots of upgrades. To view more Photos of this home and get more Info. , please follow THIS LINK .  For more Info on the Port Orange Area, please follow THIS LINK .   

If someone you know is looking for a home, have them call us at 386-767-0002.

Port Orange Real Estate : 5 Bedroom Home in Covendale Reduced !!!

Located in the Gated Waters Edge Community of Covendale, this is the Preakness II Model with a Bonus Room , on the Lake. For more information, please follow THIS LINK to view all the available information. Or if you would like to Search for homes in Specific Subdivisions,  follow THIS LINK to our Website.  This is a great Search Tool if there is an area that you have been waiting to find a home in.

Port Orange Real Estate : Homeowner Tips - Garbage Disposals !!

When you have something around that you have seen or used, you might take it for granted and not really know how to care for it. One item that falls into this category, is the Garbage Disposal. Here are a few tips in maintaining yours so that it functions well for many years.

Down the Drain: Garbage Disposal Dos & Don'ts


If your kitchen has a garbage disposal, you know how easy it makes mealtime clean up. But what you may not realize is that your disposal comes with some pretty important rules. Here are some of the most vital:

Do:
• Insert food slowly. Stuffing it all into your disposal at once can cause clogs and shorten the life of your system.
• Grind hard materials. Many people think food like chicken bones or small fruit pits are a no-no, but they can actually help clean the walls of the disposal.
• Use cold water for at least 20 seconds. This will solidify grease so that it can be ground up. Also, make sure that all food particles are washed completely down the drain.
• Keep it clean. One good way to eliminate drain smells is by grinding citrus fruit peels. You can also add a few drops of dish soap and let the disposal run for a few minutes.

Don't:
• Use hot water. This will make grease liquefy and build up, which can clog the drain.

• Grind fibrous or expandable foods. The former, like celery stalks and onionskins, can tangle up the disposal. The latter, like pasta and rice, can clog it.

• Turn off the motor too quickly. You'll want to make sure all food particles are completely ground. Once done, continue to run the water for at least 15 seconds to flush out particles.

• Wash coffee grounds down the drain. While they won't harm the disposal itself, they can clog pipes and drains.

• Forget to use it. Lack of use can cause rusting and corrosion, which can lead to premature system replacement.

Follow THIS LINK to our Website where you can search for homes by SUBDIVISION .  

Port Orange Real Estate : Subdivision Search

 
Sometimes you want to search for a home in a Subdivision or Neighborhood you are Familiar with or just like. Friends are near there, a Favorite School, nice Houses, etc. .  We thought so too. We wanted our Website to be easy and free with no logging in. If you would like to see something or have a Question, use our Contact Link and we will try to help.  For our Website, follow WEBSITE LINK. For Subdivision searches, Follow SUBDIVISION LINK . We also wanted to be able to search for Bank Owned Foreclosure Homes, no Short Sales. For that, follow FORECLOSURES LINK.

Port Orange Real Estate : Busy Season Ahead - Ten Steps to Selling Your Home!

We are heading into the Busy Season in Florida and it is time to get ready to Sell. With a strong winter behind them, we expect a lot of people from the colder states to migrate South after school is out. So if you have been thinking about Selling, then it is time to start getting your HOME ready to Sell. You have to consider a few important details when trying to get a buyer for your House: is it priced right on the market and does it show well. Trust your Realtor with pricing it Fairly in the Market; if the asking price is too High for the Market your Realtor will tell you your available options. Before listing your House , make it more marketable. A House that doesn’t show well will not Sell Well.     Visit our Website at  THIS LINK to look at other homes and see what they have done.



TEN STEPS TO SELLING YOUR HOME:

1. Disassociate Yourself With Your Home.

• Say to yourself, "This is no longer my home; it is a house -- a product to be sold much like a couch at a store. “

• Make the decision to "let go" of your emotions and focus on the fact that soon this house will be someone else’s HOME.

• Picture you handing over the keys and signing the House over to the new owners.

• Remember that comments, opinions, and offers are not personal.

• Don't look back -- look to your future.



2. De-Personalize.

Pack up the personal photographs and family heirlooms. Buyers can't see past personal artifacts, and you don't want them to be distracted. You want buyers to imagine this as their home with their Photos and personal items. You don't want the buyer thinking of this house as somebody else’s; you want the buyer to think that this could be their home.

3. De-Clutter!

People collect an amazing quantity of things. A lot of these items are personal and buyers relate to current owners. Consider this: if you haven't used it in over a year, you probably don't need it.

• If you don't need it, why not donate it or throw it away?

• Remove excess books and organize bookcases.

• Pack up the knickknacks and collectibles.

• Clean everything off of kitchen counters.

• Put essential items used daily in a small box that can be stored in a closet or cabinet when not in use. This includes the Bathroom.

• Think of this process as a head-start on the packing you will eventually need to do anyway.



4. Rearrange Bedroom Closets and Kitchen Cabinets.

Buyers love to snoop and will open closet and cabinet doors. Think of the message it sends if items fall out! Now imagine what a buyer believes about you if she sees everything organized. It says you probably take good care of the rest of the house as well. This means:

• Organize pantry shelves.

• Neatly stack dishes.

• Turn coffee cup handles facing the same way.

• Hang shirts together, buttoned and facing the same direction.

• Line up shoes.



5. Rent a Storage Unit.

Almost every home shows better with less furniture. Remove pieces of furniture that block or hamper paths and walkways and put them in storage. Remove extra leaves from your dining room table to make the room appear larger. Leave just enough furniture in each room to showcase the room's purpose and plenty of room to move around. You don't want buyers scratching their heads and saying, "What is this room used for?"

6. Remove/Replace Favorite Items.

If you want to take window coverings, built-in appliances or fixtures with you, remove them now. If the chandelier in the dining room once belonged to your great grandmother, take it down. If a buyer never sees it, she won't want it. Once you tell a buyer she can't have an item, she will covet it, and it could blow your deal. Pack those items and replace them, if necessary.

7. Make Minor Repairs.

The buyer should feel like they don’t have to do anything to move in. Once they find a little item, they may feel like there are a lot more than they want.

• Replace cracked floor or counter tiles.

• Patch holes in walls.

• Fix leaky faucets.

• Fix doors that don't close properly and kitchen drawers that jam.

• Consider painting your walls neutral colors; you may like your colors, but you are trying to make it marketable to as many buyers as possible.

(Don't give buyers any reason to remember your home as "the house with the purple bathroom.")

• Replace burned-out light bulbs.

• If you've considered replacing a worn bedspread, do so now!



8. Make the House Sparkle!

The house should feel clean, and ready to move in.

• Wash windows inside and out.

• Rent a pressure washer and spray down sidewalks and exterior.

• Clean out cobwebs and dust furniture , ceiling fans , and light fixtures.

• Re-caulk tubs, showers and sinks.

• Polish chrome faucets and mirrors.

• Clean out the refrigerator.

• Vacuum daily.

• Make-up bedrooms and pick-up loose items.

• Bleach dingy grout.

• Replace worn rugs and carpets if Steam cleaning doesn’t help.

• Put out clean Bathroom towels.

• Clean and air out any musty smelling areas. Odors are a no-no.



9. Scrutinize.

• Go outside and open your front door. Stand there. Do you want to go inside? Does the house welcome you?

• Linger in the doorway of every room and imagine how it will look to a buyer.

• Examine carefully how furniture is arranged and move pieces around until it makes sense.

• Make sure window coverings hang level.

• Is the room inviting? Does it have a Negative Feel?

• Does it look like a model home? You're almost finished.



10. Check Curb Appeal.

If a buyer won't get out of their agent's car because they don't like the exterior of your home, you'll never get them inside.

• Keep the sidewalks cleared.

• Mow the lawn.

• Paint faded window trim.

• Plant yellow flowers or group flower pots together. Yellow evokes a buying emotion. Marigolds are inexpensive.

• Trim your bushes.

• Make sure visitors can clearly read your house number.



These are just suggestions and do not Guarantee a Speedy Sale of your Home. Hopefully it will make your home a more Marketable House that will help get it Sold. Different Market Areas have different Sell times for homes, if it isn’t getting showings or contracts you need to talk to your Realtor.

Port Orange Real Estate : 5 Bedroom Home in Covendale!

Located in the Gated Waters Edge Community of Covendale, this is the Preakness II Model with a Bonus Room , on the Lake. For more information, please follow THIS LINK to view all the available information. Or if you would like to Search for homes in Specific Subdivisions,  follow THIS LINK to our Website.  This is a great Search Tool if there is an area that you have been waiting to find a home in.