Heather the Realtor - Orlando Area's Top Real Estate News

Baldwin Park is the quintessential place to live, there are numerous parks, grocery stores, doctors, schools, shopping and restaurants located in the community but only minutes from the hustle and bustle of Downtown Orlando. 

I have a stunning Luxury home for sale in this great community located in Orlando, FL. This stunning property is a short sale and wont last long. This homes was built by Charles Clayton and has every exquisite finishing imaginable in this home. The countertops in the master bathroom won awards in 2007 and are truly a must see.

This luxury home offers:

• Plantation shutters throughout
• 3 Spacious bedrooms
• Office/Den - Beautiful Hardwood floors & built in, in warm rich tones
• 4 Luxurious bathrooms - each one more unique then the next
• Master bedroom - has a hydro tub room for 2+ people, walk in shower with rain shower head, well crafted custom closets
• Gourmet Kitchen to die for - Wolfe & Sub Zero appliances, insta hot at sink, walk in pantry, bulters prep area, computer/billing nook
• Stunning Gas fireplace in living room greets you at the entrance
• Numerous hand crafted built ins throughout
• Heated pool & Spa with waterfall feature
• Gas fireplace outside w/full out door kitchen
• Speakers throughout the home and outdoor area
• Enclosed back patio
• 3 Car Rear Entry Garage

So many upgrades too many to mention this home is a must see!!! Home is listed at $925,000

Contact me today for your private tour of this magnificent luxury home for sale in Orlando's finest community of Baldwin Park

Lake Mary Luxury Homes for Sale, our office has this amazing luxury estate for sale. You will truly be impressed when you step onsite to your passage to paradise! This is a "One of a Kind" Custom Master Piece! Optional This home is often referred to as a mini resort! Not just a Luxury Estate in Lake Mary, it's a life style! Built to please any waterfront lover! 

Home features:

• Paved Boat Ramp
• Offering 7,732 sq ft under roof
• Thousands of Sq ft of brick pavers including the new boat ramp, screened lanai with jacuzzi & wet bar
• Tons of outside patios
• Oversized 916 sq ft garage w/new floor coating & Extra storage
• Surround sound & Telephone
• This estate features a seperate room that can be used as a 4 person office or an in law suite, poolside media room or gaming area
• First Floor boasts a huge water front master suite tucked away by itself, everything a couple can image
• Full Guest suite
• Family Room opens to Texas sized Kitchen w/stacked stone fireplace & Yes another office or hobbie Room
• Store your favorite vintage wine in your wine closet
• Upstairs offers a massive flex room awaiting your imagination - currently used as play & work out room
• 2 Very Generous lakefront suites 17x15 w/nearby computer work stations & library
• Simply too much to mention

To schedule your private tour of this luxury lake mary estate or for more information contact us today!

REO or Bank Owned Properties as they are better known are very popular right now with investors and first time home buyers. However this market is a very specialized niche. It's not like writing a deal on a regular resale home and requires a few special skills that you want to make sure your Orlando Realtor has or it could cost you that house.

As an REO listing agent I see offers come across my desk all day long from other agents and their eager buyers. Sometimes I just have to shake my head. What was their agent thinking when they wrote their offer. Their are contingencies that some of them write in, the offer price, the terms are just not acceptable to a bank and often times causes their offer to get over looked.

If you are looking to purchase a bank owned home in the Orlando area, make sure you are working with a Realtor that specializes in the foreclosure market. It's ok to interview your Realtor. Ask them how many REO transactions they closed last year, ask them for proof. This is your financial future and it's ok to be selective in who you use. The person maybe very nice and you like them which is important but in the end will they get you the house you want and with the proper terms.

My team and I have extensive experience not only listing Bank owned properties in the Orlando area, but successfully helping home buyers purchase REO listings and the tricks to getting our offers in before most even notice the house is on the market. We welcome your questions and look forward to working with you!

New FHA guidelines were announced earlier this week. Over 30% of all new loans are FHA loans. One of the biggest rules I feel that will impact First Time Home Buyers is the reduction of seller contributions to buyers closing costs. Until recently a seller could give up to 6% the maximum amount of costs a buyer would every experience in closing costs. 

Under the new rules which will begin in late Spring or Early Summer is reducing that amount from 6% to 3%. Meaning that as a first time home buyer you would not only have to come up with the 3.5% for your down payment but also another 2-3% in closing costs for a total of up to 6.5% of the purchase price. Ouch!

Because you decide to wait a few months to purchase a home or to see what the market does that waiting could cost you an additional $3000 out of pocket on a $100,000 home. Plus by then the $8000 tax credit will have expired.

In a previous blog First Time Home Buyers are running out of time to collect the tax credit I talked about how there are now less then 100 days left in this program. What most people dont realize is that for many first time home buyers that make $50,000 or less a year receiving a free $8000 cold hard cash from Uncle Sam is like receiving a 15% increase in pay. 

I wanted to show you some of the First Time Home Buyers like yourself in the Orlando area that have recently closed on homes and received $8000 from the government not to mention all the other tax savings for being home owners. The 

This couple was looking for the perfect back yard for their 2 dogs to enjoy themselves, nice wood floors plus Danny wanted a space to use as a recording studio.

So I worked long and hard and found this couple the perfect home. A large lot that was fenced in plus guess what the house already had? A professional recording studio built in. The home was under $200,000 on the east side of Orlando and they have since enjoyed the $8000 tax credit.

Misty was a great client to work with, she wanted the bells n whistles and more importantly in her price point. She wanted the best that money could buy and in a great area of Oviedo for under $150,000

I found her a brand new town home built by Ryland Homes in her price point and we got it at the right stage just a few months from completion where should could pick her options that went into her first home. I took her to the design center and helped her wisely spend her free $15,000 in designs. She ended up with amazing 42" cherry cabinets, granite counter tops and so much more, instead of spending unnecessary money on little things the builders charge alot of she worked with her vendors from her company to get them done for much cheaper after she closed. Now not only did she get to enjoy her 1st Christmas as a home owner but also the Free $8000. (we were soaking at the closing nice Florida rain storm in Nov)

Last but certainly not least is the first person to close on an Orange county NSP (Neighborhood Stabilization Program) Home, Jessica. Jessica is a moderate income family, she works hard and wanted to start investing in her own future instead of renting. She was pretty open to the different areas of Central Florida as long as I could find her a nice house, in a nice area and a yard for her dogs.

I did just that, but on top of that I worked hard with my lender Doreen Hargraves on getting Jessica in the NSP program which is purchasing homes, rehabbing them and selling them to families in moderate to low income brackets and giving them $30,000+ in down payment assistance. With perfect timing Doreen and I got Jessica in the first home available for Orange county not only did she get a great house for under $150,000, with a large 1/4 acre fenced lot for the dogs to run in play in but a completely rehabbed home with new appliances and all and since it was the first house it was a big to do with Mayor presenting her the keys. Plus Jessica will get to file for the $8000 tax credit this year.

These are just a few of the new home owners that decided to take the leap into home ownership. They are building their financial futures. They took advantage of low interest rates, low prices on homes and some great government programs from down payment assistance to free tax credit money.

If you are tired of renting and have thought about purchasing a home and taking advantage of the great incentives out there then give me a call and I will help discuss if home ownership is right for you and how you can get into your first home. I have a property now with Lake Mary Schools that a mortgage on it would only be $500 a month and it has a pool. Where can you rent a house like that for $500?

Your Running Out of Time on the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit. Did you know there are only 100 days left to get in on this great incentive? That's right at 11:59 pm of April 30, 2010 the tax credit will expire and the likelihood of it being extended is pretty grim.

Ok so maybe the money isnt missing, but might be left making more money for the IRS if you missed any tax deductions. Don't leave it up to chance and do your own 1040. With all the new tax laws and incentives out there for people who have recently purchased a home or sold a home, it makes sense to consult a CPA.

If you live in the Orlando or Lake Mary area call Gail Joubran, CPA. She has over 25+ Years of tax experience, estate planning and trust and worked for many years as an internal auditor. If you or your company is looking for a CPA (certified public accountant) or auditor make the call to 407-324-6181 the last number you call for all your tax needs.

Realtors we are notorious for thinking we can deduct more then we can and I know a few agents who have found themselves audited. She has proudly been serving the Lake Mary area Realtors and helping them find all their applicable deductions and avoid audits.

Experience, speed and low prices!

Gail Joubran, CPA  beancounter15@hotmail.com  407-324-6181

Tired of paying rent? Ready to own your own home? Then this property is for you.

Located in Longwood, FL this home sits right on the boarder of Lake Mary and is zoned for all of Lake Mary's Schools, rated A!

Where can you rent for less then $500/mo? With a standard FHA mortgage this home is only $497/mo

PLUS YOU QUALIFY FOR A FREE $8000!!

Built in 1980

1,455 Sq ft

2 Bedrooms

2 Bathrooms

1 Car Garage

Large lot

Inground Pool

Bonus Room

Wood Burning Fireplace!!!

What more can you ask for?

Or maybe your an investor and looking for that perfect rental property, then look no further then this home!

MORE PHOTOS COMING SOON - AR not playing nice right now. Contact me for more information

Calling Orlando Real Estate Investors as of January 15, 2010 FHA has come out with a new ruling that applies to the seasoning of title and flipping of properties. Before if an investor purchased a home, rehabbed it and wanted to resell it, an FHA buyer could not place an offer on the property til the 91st day that the investor had what's known as a seasoning of title ,this rule was called the anti-flipping rule.

Starting February 1, 2010 that rule will no longer apply. Meaning that first time home buyers maybe able to find more move in ready properties at a good price. This rule will apply for all of 2010. This is really great news for investors and first time home buyers in the Orlando area!

Seminole County's down payment assistance programs have always been more difficult then the other counties and more then it needs to be. They choose to go by a different drum. Orange county reaches out to their lenders and Realtors to ask advice when putting together their programs and probably why they go so smooth and help so many families and while unlike Seminole county still have SHIP funds.

I have a client that I have been working with trying to get her all the information and in touch with the right people so we can ensure she can afford a home and receives any down payment assistance that's available. I have worked with Seminole county many times and even just sold the first Orange county NSP home. I know how down payment assistance works. I was shocked with I called to get more details on the homes available through Seminole County NSP.

....No buyer representation w/ Seminole County NSP

After speaking with the person in charge Michelle I found out that my customer cannot choose her representation. She must work with the counties 4 chosen Contractors who have partnered up with a Realtor who could be their wife, brother and or Uncle joe and go through the whole process with that person. Now mind you the Realtor you are forced to use might not be that experienced and just got the luck of the draw, but yet you have to use them.

Seminole County what are you thinking? Not only do you dictate the lenders they use, but now the Realtor and the type of representation they receive on a deal? Where is your true intention to help these people, learn from your neighboring counties who are successful at helping first time home buyers and helping families.