Category: Orlando Realtors

English Style Gardens and Latin Amenities – Winter Park Village Is Going to Charm You This Year

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

The Winter Park Village is all set to gain a new Avatar this year and work on it has already begun. As part of the Winter Park Village revamping project, construction has begun on a new apartment complex in the Village.

The project

 

Set to have 204 units in total, the apartment complex will offer Class A apartments to renters. Within walking distance from the premium Winter Park Village, which is unanimously regarded as Orlando’s second-highest real estate submarket by Orlando real estate agents and short sale specialists, the apartment complex is expected to be a huge hit among well-to-do renters.

Many real estate agents have already begun receiving queries about the complex, which is estimated to cost around $30 million in its initial construction phase. Orlando realtors will have a good time looking for an area that boasts an occupancy rate of over 94 percent.

Winter Park’s own architect  ACi Inc. has designed the entire project except for the amenities which have been designed by Miami’s famed landscape architect, the Arquitectonica International Corp.

Put together by the best in the market

Several big players associated with the Orlando real estate market will be involved in the project. The Finfrock Construction Inc. has been roped in to finish the construction of the $2.8 million parking lot and reports suggest half of the work has already been completed.

The Castro Lifestyle Properties LP and Epoch Properties Inc. have ventured into the construction of the Winter Park Village apartment complex. Epoch Properties Inc. is a local favorite and has previously worked on several high-profile projects in Winter Park.

 

Major highlights

The $30 million projects is expected to create over 300 construction jobs while it lasts and industry insiders specializing in rentals have projected a median monthly rental of $1,174, per apartment.

Apart from the construction of 204 rental units, the Winter Park Village construction project entails the construction of a 325-space parking garage, for an estimated $2.8 million.

Developers Castro and Epoch have also signed an agreement with the city of Orlando to revamp existing parks and include a bridge at the water retention area. ACi Inc. has added further zing to the project by designing an area near Dennings Road that resembles an English-style garden. The pool area, as well as amenities designed by Arquitectonica International Corp., have a Caribbean/Latin vibe to them, increasing the property’s appeal.

Set to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2014, the Winter Park Village apartment complex is expected to reach estimated occupancy rates rather quickly.

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Is Your Home Sale-ready?

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

The Orlando real estate scene is looking up, but selling your home can be quite a tedious task. Right from finding a good realtor to getting the right value on your property, a series of things need to be taken care of while selling your house. An important aspect of the process is knowing how sell-able your house is. Considering you’ve lived in your current home for a while now, you need to estimate whether or not your house needs a makeover. Here’s what you need to know before listing your property with an Orlando realtor.

What do buyers want?

Most buyers prefer a house that in a good shape and doesn’t need any fixing, so they can move in immediately without having to bother about renovation concerns. Other buyers don’t mind fixing the house themselves as long as the fixes required are cosmetic repairs and it’s reflected in the price. This could be re-painting or replacing fixtures in the house, basically, repairs that won’t burn a hole in their pockets. It is highly unlikely you’ll find a buyer who is willing to tear down the whole house and renovate it altogether. But if the buyer needs to do major changes, like replace the roof, he will probably ask you for a significant discount on the property price. However most buyers will shy away from going through the trouble of replacing a roof, as it might bring in additional costs from having to change the sheathing or the rafters.

Home-modifications you cannot compromise on

Fix any faucets that tend to leak.

Re-paint walls if they are stained or the paint is chipping out.

 If the carpets are tattered, replace them.

Make sure the roof isn’t in a run-down condition.

If the fans or lighting fixtures are outdated, replace them.

Make sure you patch all holes, if any, in the walls or ceilings.

Replace curtains, linens if they are in a bad shape.

 Make sure that the HVAC systems and appliances are in working condition, and if not , get them fixed.

Broken windows need to be replaced.

A smart seller will estimate the return on investment on his home improvement before diving into it.

Making a note of the amenities in the neighborhood houses can also give you a hint on what prospective buyers might be looking for. A little bit of repairing can take you a long way rather than presenting your house in a dilapidated state.

 

 

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Choosing an Orlando Realtor, Technology Vs. Experience

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Choosing an Orlando Realtor

The younger generation is all about using the latest technology available to communicate socially as well as promote their career no matter what profession they are in. Young Orlando real estate agents especially rely on using the latest technology thinking that this will give them some kind of edge over more experienced Orlando Realtors. This couldn’t be further from the truth. I think it’s better to have a balance of both the old and new school way of doing things. But if I had to pick one way or another, I would go old school strictly because more experienced agents are just that…more experienced.

 

There’s just no substitute for good old-fashioned “been there, done that” experience. It’s kind of like the soldier that’s worked his way up the ranks through being on the battlefield as opposed to another soldier with the same rank spending all of his time inside of a classroom. Which one would you rather have at your side in a real situation? I don’t know about you, but I will pick the battle-tested soldier every time!

 

Lately, I see newer real estate agents that are really skilled at using the latest technology but they lack the basics of what it really means to be a really good real estate agent. I’m talking about what to do when you’re face to face with a seller or buyer on an appointment. Learning how to do a good old fashion presentation of what services they can offer as a real estate agent and not just how many real estate apps you have on your smartphone or how many likes you have on your Facebook Fan Page. At the end of the day, those aren’t the most important things that will enable someone to become a quality real estate agent.

I’m always hearing about RE offices having training courses where newer agents that are tech-savvy teach older agents about technology. I think this is a great idea for older agents that want to get up to speed on the latest real estate tools and technology. However, I think it would also be beneficial to have the more experienced agents teach newbie agents about the basics. I would even go so far as to not allow any i phones or computers of any kind during the training to really get the point across that it’s not all about technology. Why not have new agents go out on a ride-along with the more experienced agents, then discuss what could’ve been done differently to make it a more successful appointment.

 

The Best Option is Hiring an Experienced Orlando Realtor That is Also Tech-Savvy

I’ve been an Orlando real estate agent since 2005, and when this whole wave of new technology hit the real estate profession, I learned very quickly that I would need to keep up with it or it would hurt my business. In our brokerage “Orlando Realty Consultants” technology is absolutely essential because of the number of clients that we have. We have systems in place to help us streamline our business as well as keep things organized and running smoothly.

Real estate buyers and sellers these days are very demanding and they have every right to be.  After all, buying or selling a house is one of the most important transactions that will occur in someone’s lifetime. The real estate software that we use in our company enables us to communicate often and easily with our clients keeping them in the loop with almost daily updates of what’s happening with their house. We also have a tool on our website that makes it extremely easy for buyers to search out homes that are for sale throughout the state of Florida from the comfort of their own homes…Just like a pro!

 

So I think that when you’re looking for a real estate to handle your home buying or selling needs, try to find one that is not only experienced but is also familiar with the technology. By doing this, you will have the best of what both worlds have to offer to make your experience far more pleasant while striving to achieve your real estate goals.

 

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Problems Faced by Orlando Home Buyers

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

It has occurred many times in the recent past that home buyers are not sure if the Orlando real estate agent truly represents them. Unless the agent puts it in writing, you can expect that you are not being represented on your real estate dealing. It means that if any problem arises, you will most probably be on your own. What many people don’t realize is that while there are many licensed real estate agents, there are only a small fraction of them who actually represent home buyers exclusively in Orlando. Like these, there are many other problems that homebuyers face in Orlando.

Typical transaction problems

 

During the process of transaction, there is a huge difference in the attitude of the agents who represent the buyers and those who just have the license to be called real estate agents. Given below are some of the problems faced by homebuyers when it comes to real estate transactions:

*  Contract dispute– The agent representing the buyer will surely be supporting the buyer in case of a dispute, but the other agents would act in a neutral way.

*  Inspection– During the inspection, you may find serious defects that were unknown, here a typical agent will try to downplay the issue, but the agent representing the buyer will try to renegotiate the contract.

*  Appraisals– When such appraisals come into the picture, a typical agent will tell you to raise the money needed to pay the difference, but the agent representing you will ask the seller to reduce the price.

Typical “natural” problems faced by home buyers in Orlando


There are various diverse Orlando real estate issues that buyers face these days. Some of these major issues facing home buyers here in Orlando are as follows:

 Sinkholes: These are naturally occurring geological features which can cause structural damage, but fortunately most insurance policies cover the damage caused by sinkholes.

Termites: Termites pose a huge problem in Orlando because of the warm weather. Most homeowners need to take proper precautions as termites can seriously damage wooden structures.

Flood-prone areas: Since Florida has a tropical climate, it is prone to floods throughout the year, so people planning to stay here must take the right precautions.

So, a typical buyer who is planning to buy a house in subtropical Orlando must keep the things mentioned above in mind before taking any decision.

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Orlando Realtors Look at Opportunities in 2014

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

The economic slump has affected many different sectors, including real estate. However, Orlando Realtors have used the recessionary trend to their advantage. Following basic economic models of continuous spending, even when money circulation in the markets is limited; short sale negotiators and realtors bought substantial land areas when the prices were at record lows.

Now, the prices of land in Florida are slowly climbing once again, giving hope to real estate agents. Statistics show an inflationary trend that is not as strong as it was before. This means that though prices are increasing, they are doing so at a slow rate. Agents think the New Year will bring with it higher sentiments among people, making it easier for them to close deals and gain returns on various investments made during the slump.

Consumers likely to make purchases

During the recent crisis, the economy was in shambles. People were unsure of whether they could recover from the slowdown, because of which they started saving or hoarding money. Accumulating most of the wealth in the economy did not allow for a free system or circulation of money. Due to unpredictable futures, people unintentionally hampered the system even further by tightening their expenditure.

Now with new hopes and regulations aimed at recovery, companies have drastically reduced the number of layoffs, and people feel more secure. As a direct result, there is likely to be additional investment in land, and citizens will be able to make larger investments in such sectors. Since Orlando Realtors have made purchases at the lowest going rate, there is sure to be much profitability even though growth is slow-paced.

A positive trend brings back the hope of a complete recovery

The changing trend is likely to accelerate very soon because most consumers have a sense of security when they view others making investments. When the price starts going up, people will make quick investments so that they do not miss out on making low-cost purchases that will benefit them in the future.

Real estate is a very safe option because it seldom depreciates for a long time. The land is a limited resource, and there is a constant demand for it

due to the increasing population and changing consumer preferences. Security is vital because people require places to lock their money down without it losing value over time against inflation and depreciation. For this reason, the land seems to be the safest bet.

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