Cars for the Cure 2011 Do you feel the need… The need for speed? If so, you need to visit Lake Mary on Saturday for ‘Cars for the Cure’. Come see all the powerful and highly-tuned cars from around the world that will be on display at this charitable event for the American Lunch Association of Florida. 10am to 4pm Sports Cars, Luxury Cars, Foreign Exotics, Motorcycles and more Colonial TownPark in Lake Mary – Shopping, Restaurants & Entertainment Make any donation to the American Lung Association to receive a wristband for free beer, wine, soda, and merchant perks all day For more information and a map to the location, please visit the Move To Lake Mary Blog. If you are a care buff…  You don’t want to miss this event!     02/03/2011

Purchasing a home in Lake Mary, FL can be a daunting and stressful experience. Before putting pen on paper for a down payment, here are several important questions you should be asking. Questions To Ask Hear are some common questions you must always ask when you intend to buy real estate, though you should add your own questions and make your own list as well. As everyone will have their own needs and requirements when it comes to buying a home, you should create your own personal list of questions that you can ask your real estate agent. Remember, you are different from others and may have your own taste when it comes to owning a home. 1. Do not hurry into making any decisions. The very first question you should ask is about what you want. What is the kind of house you prefer? Do you w... 02/01/2011

Lake Mary real estate properties located in prime areas are often sold for more than the asking price. While since about 2007 this may not always shave been the case, in some areas like Notting Hill and Regency Park Condos it will be like this again in the future. This might look very unfair but there are good reasons for this trend. Some of the major reasons that have lead to this include: Value Lake Mary real estate properties located in prime areas always retain or increase in value, notwithstanding the past 3 years, but in such popular neighborhoods like Heathrow, Timacuan, Lake Mary Woods, The Crossings, Magnolia Plantation, Woodbridge Lakes, Notting Hill, Chase Groves, Egrets Land, Greenwood Lakes the chances are strong for the future. Most people do not mind paying more than the ... 01/30/2011

There are some common mistakes that homebuyers make and Lake Mary real estate agents see them time and time again. Read through these common mistakes so that you can avoid making them and have a smooth sale. 1. Lack of budgeting for insurance. In many instances homebuyers opt for insurance deals to save a few dollars. This can cost first time Lake Mary homebuyers thousands more than the proper insurance if something goes wrong. 2. Not including the proper escape clauses in the initial contract. If you are not careful you could lose your deposit if things go wrong. 3. Making a big purchase just before or during a mortgage application. This can be a big mistake since it may be reflected in your credit score. 4. Failure to have a proper inspection done prior to the purchase. Missing a seri... 01/30/2011

    Lake Mary Home Sales Report January 2011 Lake Mary is one of the top bedroom communities of Orlando, Florida...  Just 20 minutes North of downtown, 45 minutes to the Theme Parks and Beaches, Lake Mary is the choice of many families who live in Central Florida. Check out the latest home sales in these popular Lake Mary Neighborhoods...   Lake Mary, Florida Neighborhoods Heathrow Home Sales / Homes for sale in Heathrow Huntington Pointe Home Sales / Homes for sale in Huntington Pointe Chase Groves Home Sales / Homes for sale in Chase Groves The Crossings & Greenwood Lakes Home Sales / Homes for sale in The Crossings & Greenwood Lakes Woodbridge Lakes Home Sales / Homes for sale in Woodbridge Lakes Banyan Pointe Home Sales / Currently no homes for sale in Banyan Pointe Magnolia Planta... 01/30/2011

Lake Mary, FL – A home owner thinking of a short sale recently asked us why they should short sale versus just walking away and letting their lender foreclose on the home. We gave them the normal answer: “It’s much better for your credit.” That was the first thing that popped into our head. But, I knew there are more benefits to a home owner than simply better credit. So I put together the entire list and here they are. For Lake Mary Short Sale Homes click here 1. The upside down debt is erased in most cases. If you are selling because of a financial hardship, then the upside down debt will be automatically erased in most cases. Is your loan is owned or insured by the following agencies: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, and or VA? If you are short selling because of a financial hardship, ... 01/27/2011

Are you thinking about acquiring a fixer-upper for investment purposes? Perhaps you are thinking of getting one that you can fix, refurbish and then put up for sale. Perhaps you would like to make it your place of residence? If you can uncover a good fixer-upper in Lake Mary, you can really make some good money from it. You do need to know, however, what you should be searching for. Let's discuss some vital things you need to look for when you are trying to find a fixer-upper as a form of investment. 1. No structural damage If you are searching for a fixer-upper as an investment, do not look too closely at one that has any kind of structural damage since they tend to have a high repair cost. You may have to hire a professional to evaluate the condition of the house before you buy it so ... 01/25/2011

  Lake Mary, FL – If you are selling your home, then ask the buyer to write a letter about why they want to purchase the home. If you are a buyer, then write that letter. Discover my list of Lake Mary luxury homes by clicking here. The listing agent will submit that letter along with the short sale paperwork. With a little luck that letter will help “grease the wheels” and cause the short sale to be approved faster. Short Sale negotiators are human beings. They have emotions that can be touched by a good story. These letters might sound like a joke, but they can make a huge difference. I’ve even seen home owners lose money on their sale because the liked a certain buyer over another one. In that case, the seller sold their home for several thousand dollars less to a buyer that they lik... 01/25/2011

If you end up buying a Lake Mary home with a termite damage problem, chances are you will be biting off more than you can chew. Termite damage is unnoticeable in most cases, and having a home with this type of damage will usually be too difficult and challenging to handle. The damage caused by termites can be disastrous, and you may wish to find out more prior to purchasing a home in Lake Mary with termite issues. Look at the amount of damage. Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at gitta@gitta.com. I will contact you for a free consultation. You will be unable to determine the amount of damage in a termite-infested home in Lake Mary unless you start looking at the underside of the carpets if it has ... 01/20/2011

Lake Mary, Fl condo prices seem to be on the mend again especially in Notting Hill condo complex. Notting Hill is a great condo development, close to I-4 and in a great school district. Walking distance to some of the superb restaurants are at The Lake Mary Hyatt Hotel and many other conveniences. Notting Hill offers a gated and non gated area with community pool, tennis and a club house. It is located right on the Seminole County trail for walking, jogging, biking and what have you. The gated side of the development offers a 2 car garage and some of the units have a fireplace. There are 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom and 3 bedroom units available. Best of all, the sales in the development have been red hot for this year, sales increased from 92 units in 2009 to 117 units in 2010 and we have seen... 01/16/2011

5 Reasons to Move To Lake Mary, Florida They say a picture says a thousand words, this one tells you five reasons why you should move to the Orlando area. We're going to have possibly five of the best days coming up this week in Lake Mary, perfect temperatures and a so many ways to enjoy them. My personal favorite is to catch a nap poolside. Want to get in on the Florida Lifestyle? Contact Debbie Summers, REALTOR to find your place in sunny Florida. 01/01/2011

Home sales in Timacuan have continued in November at a slow pace and real estate values have seen another slight decline. 2 none golf course homes have sold during the month of November. One sale was on 793 Musago Run, Solid Rock Realty sold it as a none distressed sale, and it closed on 11/19/2010 for $307,500. Built in 1996, it was a 4 bedroom 3.1 bath home 2586 sq. ft. with a screened in pool and a 2 car garage. It sold within 35 days at 95% of asking price, at $118.91 per sq. ft. The other home sold at 522 Alokee Ct, by Watson Realty and it sold in 45 days for 94.1 % of asking price for $402,500 or $130.89 per sq. ft. This also was a none distressed sale. The home had 3037 sq. ft. 5 bedrooms 4 bath and a screened in pool located on a cul-de-sac and conservation lot. As of December 2... 12/29/2010

Record Cold in Central Florida - You're friends are waiting for you at the beach... Record cold weather couldn't keep one brave soul from parking on the beach. While they were out for a walk, their car made a lot of new friends.  I hope when they came back that their car wasn't covered with more than just birds. If you want to escape the great white North and spend some time at the beach this Winter... Come on down, new friends are waiting for you. 12/28/2010

WOW I can't believe my eyes there is a like new unit for sale in the Grande Oaks at Heathrow, FL community. This stunning HUD home does not appear to have ever been lived in and is upgraded to the 9s. Just a few of the upgrades include Marble in the master bathroom, garden tub, wood paneled 42" cabinets, 9ft ceilings, 8 ft doors, crown molding, tray ceilings, butlers pantry, 2 balconies, double and trip french doors and a gated garden terrace at the entry. Granite countertops, stainless steel appliances. Plus Solid concrete under each floor!    If you're looking for a new home in the Lake Mary area then check out this stunning unit. Grande Oaks at Heathrow appeals to the most discerning homebuyers with a gated entry, spacious townhome floorplans, two-car garages, fitness center, pool a... 12/28/2010

Timacuan home sales during the month of October were active. 2 homes sold in Timacuan and both sales were non distressed properties. One home, 734 Powderhorn Circle, Lake Mary was a 3 bedroom 2.1 baths, 2399 sq. ft. pool home located on the golf course and it was sold by Keller Williams Advantage Realty for $315,000 or 90% of asking price. Of course golf course properties achieve a higher per sq. ft. asking price compared to non golf course properties, and this property sold for $131.30 per sq. ft. The other property located at 421 Thomez Ct., Lake Mary sold by Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, a 4 bedroom, 3 bath, 2665 sq. ft. home and it sold at 92% of asking price at $370,000 and it was listed at $400,000 reduced from the initial list price of $425,000. The per sq. ft. price w... 12/27/2010

Greenwood Lakes & The Crossings Home Sales in Lake Mary, FL Information and see photos of the neighborhood of  The Crossings See all the homes for sale in The Crossings Homes Selling in The Crossings 508 Queensbridge Dr., Lake Mary, Florida 3 Bed/ 2.5 Bath – 1,772 sf Original list price:  $175,000 List price at time of sale: $169,000 Sales price:  $156,500 Price Per Square Foot:  $88.32 Days on the market:  109 349 Buttonwood Way, Lake Mary, Florida 3 Bed/ 2 Bath – 1,758 sf Original list price:  $155,000 List price at time of sale: $155,000 Sales price:  $155,000 Price Per Square Foot:  $88.17 Days on the market:  102 499 N. Sundance Dr., Lake Mary, Florida Short Sale 3 Bed/ 2.5 Bath – 1,556 sf Pool Original list price:  $179,400 List price at time of sale: $155,000 Sales price:  $150,... 12/17/2010

Home Sales in Huntington Pointe – Lake Mary, Florida Huntington Pointe has homes starting in the high 100’s Information, interactive area map and photos of the neighborhood of Huntington Pointe. 1793 Pine Bay Drive, Lake Mary, Florida BANK OWNED / FORECLOSURE 3 Bed/2.5 Bath – 1,825 sf Original list price:  $190,080 List price at time of sale: $171,548 Sales price:  $160,000 Price Per Square Foot:  $87.67 Days on the market: 104 Huntington Pointe Related Posts: Huntington Pointe Home Sales: October 1 – 31, 2010 What’s your home worth? Get your FREE Huntington Pointe Home Evaluation   12/17/2010

The Weather Outside is Frightful... I love living in Central Florida... I wouldn't live anywhere else.  But, when I sometimes complain mention during the summer I'm tired of the heat and I can't wait until it cools off, this isn't what I had in mind. Our average temperature this time of year is 73 degrees, we're not even going to break into the 50's today... THE 50'S!!!! Note to self... Enjoy the hot Florida Summer! Stay Warm out there!   Is anyone else experiencing unseasonably cold weather?   12/14/2010

Danny's Broasted Chicken - Lake Mary, FLorida Since Opening in September, there hasn't been a week go by that we haven't visited Danny's Broasted Chicken. Dan grew up in the Orlando area and graduated from Lake Howell High School, but moved to New Jersey 20 years ago. We're so glad he's back and opened his new restaurant in Lake Mary. If you are in Lake Mary and find yourself hungry, stop by and see Dan... He also serves up some scrumpsious wings [anyway you like them] and his 'Disco Fries' - cheese fries with a side of gravy for dipping are really a treat. Danny's Broasted Chicken is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner. Location: 3002 Lake Mary Blvd., Lake Mary, FL 32746 [by Planet Fitness] Phone: 407-878-6655 If you have questions about Broasted Chicken, visit the Official Broasti... 12/14/2010

Home Sales in Timacuan – Lake Mary, Florida Why do Lake Mary homebuyers choose Timacuan? Desirable location off Rinehart Road Minutes to Lake Mary Boulevard and Interstate 4 5 Minutes to Colonial TownPark 18 Hole Golf Cours The Bender Golf School Neighborhood Publix and Restaurants Seminole County Schools The Timacuan townhouses starting in the high 100’s & homes starting in the 200’s Visit the Move To Lake Mary Blog for details about the homes sold in Magnolia Plantation last month.    12/10/2010