Central Florida & metro Orlando real estate services

In case you hadn't heard the news, President Bush just signed a major housing bill into law. You can read more detailed stories at USA Today and CNN Money .

This law will permit about 400,000 troubled homeowners to refinance into FHA loans.  I truly wonder how many will actually take advantage of this opportunity.  This part of the law has gotten the biggest hype, but will probably have few people take advantage of it.

Additionally the law makes some significant changes to Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and FHA. Here are some of the highlights:

It permanently raises the conforming loan limits of Fannie and Freddie to $625,500 (up from $417,000). It gives up to a $7,500 tax credit for new home buyers.  It puts a ban on seller-paid down payment assistance programs (i.e. Nehemiah and Ameridream).  It raises the down payment on FHA loans to 3.5% (up from 3%). It gives $4 billion in grants in state and local governments.  To me the new law has some positives and some negatives. 

Raising the conforming loan amounts for Fannie and Freddie is great for borrowers because it keeps their interest rates lower for these more expensive loans, but aren't Fannie and Freddie already in questionable financial condition?

The $7,500 tax credit is great, but making the tax code even more complex isn't great.

Banning the down payment assistance programs and raising the down payment amounts is actually a good thing for the overall economy long-term.  It forces homebuyers to have a reasonable down payment.  Many homebuyers in the past were really just renters who somehow stumbled into a loan because of creative dealings by themselves and the other parties and professionals in the transaction.  However, this change is bad for buyers, sellers, Realtors, lenders, and anyone in the real estate industry, because now there are that many fewer buyers that will qualify for a loan.  If the buyer doesn't have money for a down payment (which is most first time buyers), then they can't buy.  Sadly, this may really put a screeching halt to any attempt at a housing recovery we were having. What were Congress and the President thinking???

The $4 billion in grants.  Sounds to me like more government fat being spent during an election year.

And that is my take on this new law.

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(Copyright © 2008. Sand Dollar Realty Group, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Rob Arnold - Your full service and investor friendly Realtor in Orlando and Central Florida.

ABR, CPL, CRB, GRI, Managing real estate broker, Licensed mortgage broker, Notary Public

407-389-7318 / 1-877-389-7318    www.SDRhouses.com/   www.WeBuyHousesFlorida.com/

Learn to invest in Central Florida real estate and Orlando real estate. Investor mentoring and counseling available. We sell properties, list properties, and we buy houses cash throughout the Central Florida & metro Orlando area.  

I also provide flat fee MLS listings, For Sale By Owner, and menu-based services in most parts of Central & South Florida, the Space Coast, and the Treasure Coast including Orlando, Winter Park, Maitland, Ocoee, Winter Garden, Apopka, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Longwood, Winter Springs, Oviedo, Lake Mary, Sanford, Deltona, Debary, Deland, Mount Dora, Eustis, Clermont, Kissimmee, Winter Haven, Lakeland, Tampa, Sarasota, Bradenton, Miami-Dade, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Port Saint Lucie, Melbourne, Daytona Beach, Ocala, Gainesville, Volusia, Brevard, and more.

 

Besides loading onto the local MLS, your flat fee MLS listing loads onto over 100 other websites including most of the following:

Realtor.com - Florida Living Network - Moving.com - SDRhouses.com - Yahoo Real Estate - Homestore - Netscape - MSN Microsoft Network Real Estate - Excite Real Estate - AOL Real Estate - IWon Real Estate - Homegain - Compuserve - Sand Dollar Realty Group - Sand Dollar Realty of Orlando - Real Estate.com - Cyberhomes - Monster Moving - Tampa Bay.com - St. Pete Times.com - Orlando Sentinel.com - Tampa Tribune.com - Tampa Bay Online - Florida Today - Daytona Beach News Journal - Miami Herald - Sun-Sentinel - TCPalm Online News - Ocala Star Banner - Sarasota Herald Tribune - Bradenton Herald - Remax.com - Coldwell Banker.com - Keller Williams.com - Exit Realty.com - Assist 2 Sell.com - Century 21.com - Realty Executives.com - Weichert.com - HomeSeekers - Home Scape - Home Scout - Homes.com - Harmon Homes - Newsday.com - Chicago Tribune.com - LA Times.com - Washington Post.com - USA Today.com

If you want our Deluxe Listing Plan we will also get you loaded onto most of the following websites:

Google Base - Trulia - Zillow - Vast - Oodle - Postlets - Craigslist - Backpage - Dot Homes - Hot Pads - Properazzi - Sand Dollar Blog - Active Rain - Localism - Local.com - Lycos - Edgeio - CLR Search - Geebo - Realbird - Kijiji

So, what are you waiting for?  Properties are selling if you price them right and market them properly.  For more information on our for sale by owner and flat fee mls services visit our website at http://sdrhouses.com/flatfeemls.html .

The best thing of all, you can upgrade your flat fee mls listing to a full service listing at any time at a reasonable commission rate. Come experience the Sand Dollar difference.

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(Copyright © 2008. Sand Dollar Realty Group, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Rob Arnold - Your full service and investor friendly Realtor in Orlando and Central Florida.

ABR, CPL, CRB, GRI, Managing real estate broker, Licensed mortgage broker, Notary Public

407-389-7318 / 1-877-389-7318    www.SDRhouses.com/   www.WeBuyHousesFlorida.com/

Learn to invest in Central Florida real estate and Orlando real estate. Investor mentoring and counseling available. We sell properties, list properties, and we buy houses cash throughout the Central Florida & metro Orlando area.  

I also provide flat fee MLS listings, For Sale By Owner, and menu-based services in most parts of Central & South Florida, the Space Coast, and the Treasure Coast including Orlando, Winter Park, Maitland, Ocoee, Winter Garden, Apopka, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Longwood, Winter Springs, Oviedo, Lake Mary, Sanford, Deltona, Debary, Deland, Mount Dora, Eustis, Clermont, Kissimmee, Winter Haven, Lakeland, Tampa, Sarasota, Bradenton, Miami-Dade, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Port Saint Lucie, Melbourne, Daytona Beach, Ocala, Gainesville, Volusia, Brevard, and more.

With the real estate market struggling, revenues from property taxes are down.  Sales taxes are down, documentary stamp collections are down, assessed values have decreased on properties, Amendment 1 did some small cuts to property taxes too.  On top of this expenses have gone up due to inflation, fuel prices have increased, prices in general have gone way up. 

    So what is the logical thing for cities to do?  Cut the fat out of their budgets? No way.  Live within their means? I don't think so. Reduce unnecessary expenses? Give me a break.  The logical thing to do is raise your taxes.  How else can these politicians continue to feed like a bunch of hogs at the trough?? 

Well enough is enough.  Besides the City of Orlando, the millage increase disease is spreading.  Cities all over the state are talking about raising property taxes and fees in order to compensate.  This is despite the fact that most of their budgets are up 50 to 100% in the last few years.  The City of Orlando's is up over 35% in just 3 years, yet they fully plan on railroading a tax increase right through. Even the Orlando Sentinel said in their editorial that the City of Orlando is way out of line with this proposed tax increase.

Other cities are following Orlando's lead including:

Winter Park 

Ocoee

Winter Haven

Deltona 

Seminole County

 

I'm sure many more to come.

This may be the beginning of a tidal wave of city budget meetings where the wise commissioners want to raise your taxes to continue to bloat their budgets. You have to be proactive or the hogs will continue to feed at the trough even during a tough economy. This is an election year, so you can threaten to throw some of these people out of office in November if they step on your rights as a taxpayer. If you want my help or advice, please let me know. I am willing to help stand up against tax crazy politicians anywhere that I own properties.

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(Copyright © 2008. Sand Dollar Realty Group, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Rob Arnold - Your full service and investor friendly Realtor in Orlando and Central Florida.

ABR, CPL, CRB, GRI, Managing real estate broker, Licensed mortgage broker, Notary Public

407-389-7318 / 1-877-389-7318    www.SDRhouses.com/   www.WeBuyHousesFlorida.com/

Learn to invest in Central Florida real estate and Orlando real estate. Investor mentoring and counseling available. We sell properties, list properties, and we buy houses cash throughout the Central Florida & metro Orlando area.  

I also provide flat fee MLS listings, For Sale By Owner, and menu-based services in most parts of Central & South Florida, the Space Coast, and the Treasure Coast including Orlando, Winter Park, Maitland, Ocoee, Winter Garden, Apopka, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Longwood, Winter Springs, Oviedo, Lake Mary, Sanford, Deltona, Debary, Deland, Mount Dora, Eustis, Clermont, Kissimmee, Winter Haven, Lakeland, Tampa, Sarasota, Bradenton, Miami-Dade, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Port Saint Lucie, Melbourne, Daytona Beach, Ocala, Gainesville, Volusia, Brevard, and more.

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If you are not focusing on working the foreclosure and short sale market right now, you are missing out.  These properties are everywhere in Central Florida and metro Orlando.  The deals out there are absolutely incredible. So many properties are selling at absolutely bargain basement prices. 

Back in the late 1990's and early 2000's we could regularly purchase houses under $100,000.  In fact until about 2002 we didn't even want properties priced much more than the 100K mark.  Then about 2003-2004, the prices really started rising and 100K deals were harder and harder to find.  I slowed way down on buying properties because the prices were getting too high and properties would not cash flow if I ended up having to rent them out.

Now the prices of yester-year are back. Properties are actually selling at well under 100K even in the decent neighborhoods.  That means that now is the time to buy.  Building material costs are getting higher and higher every day. Fuel costs continue to soar.  These low house prices cannot maintain themselves forever.  There is just a short window of maybe a year or 2 right now that the vultures can feast on these low prices. 

With that being said, if you aren't taking advantage of these low prices, you are missing out big time. If you can't afford to buy something, bring in a money partner or do some creative financing.  Whatever you do, don't miss out on this buying frenzy.  Bank REOs and short sales are still selling with multiple offers.

Our firm has over 100 short sale and foreclosure properties for sale at this very moment.  We also are on a first name basis with many of the bank REO and other foreclosure agents in Central Florida.  We know how to get your offers accepted by the lenders. 

We just closed another pre-foreclosure deal today.  3 bedroom block house in a decent Seminole County neighborhood for only $68,500 - what a deal. Give me a call to discuss buying your next foreclosure deal.

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(Copyright © 2008. Sand Dollar Realty Group, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Rob Arnold - Your full service and investor friendly Realtor in Orlando and Central Florida.

ABR, CPL, CRB, GRI, Managing real estate broker, Licensed mortgage broker, Notary Public

407-389-7318 / 1-877-389-7318    www.SDRhouses.com/   www.WeBuyHousesFlorida.com/

Learn to invest in Central Florida real estate and Orlando real estate. Investor mentoring and counseling available. We sell properties, list properties, and we buy houses cash throughout the Central Florida & metro Orlando area.  

I also provide flat fee MLS listings, For Sale By Owner, and menu-based services in most parts of Central & South Florida, the Space Coast, and the Treasure Coast including Orlando, Winter Park, Maitland, Ocoee, Winter Garden, Apopka, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Longwood, Winter Springs, Oviedo, Lake Mary, Sanford, Deltona, Debary, Deland, Mount Dora, Eustis, Clermont, Kissimmee, Winter Haven, Lakeland, Tampa, Sarasota, Bradenton, Miami-Dade, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Port Saint Lucie, Melbourne, Daytona Beach, Ocala, Gainesville, Volusia, Brevard, and more.

 

I can provide to you a free list of foreclosures, REO bank owned, short sale, and great steals on homes and investment property. The Central Florida marketplace is full of incredible foreclosure deals right now.

If you are looking to receive a detailed list of the latest foreclosure properties in the Central Florida and metro Orlando area, you have found the right place. Our firm has been a Florida investor friendly real estate company for nearly 12 years now. We have sold thousands of properties throughout the Orlando area to buyers and investors looking for a fantastic deal. With the market the way it is right now, sellers and banks are extremely motivated to unload their inventory & sell you their property for a fraction of what they are really worth.

Whether it be a foreclosure, short sale house, bank reposession house, or just the great deal in your neighborhood, we can help you find a deal on the property you have been looking for.

This is what information we need from you in order to provide you a free foreclosure list meeting your individual needs:
(1) The location where you are looking to buy - city, county, or zip code.  (We serve all Central FL.) 
(2) The price ranges you are looking to spend.
(3) The type of property you want - single-family, condo, multi-family, commerical, vacant land, etc.
(4) Your contact info - name, phone number, and email address.

That's it. Then we are ready to get you started. Our office has been focusing on investment properties and great deals since 1996 when we started the business. Find out more about our investor friendly realty services here.

We would love to have you call or email us, so we can get you started on your next great deal. It is a buyer's market.  The time to buy is now.  

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(Copyright © 2008. Sand Dollar Realty Group, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Rob Arnold - Your full service and investor friendly Realtor in Orlando and Central Florida.

ABR, CPL, CRB, GRI, Managing real estate broker, Licensed mortgage broker, Notary Public

407-389-7318 / 1-877-389-7318    www.SDRhouses.com/   www.WeBuyHousesFlorida.com/

Learn to invest in Central Florida real estate and Orlando real estate. Investor mentoring and counseling available. We sell properties, list properties, and we buy houses cash throughout the Central Florida & metro Orlando area.  

I also provide flat fee MLS listings, For Sale By Owner, and menu-based services in most parts of Central & South Florida, the Space Coast, and the Treasure Coast including Orlando, Winter Park, Maitland, Ocoee, Winter Garden, Apopka, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Longwood, Winter Springs, Oviedo, Lake Mary, Sanford, Deltona, Debary, Deland, Mount Dora, Eustis, Clermont, Kissimmee, Winter Haven, Lakeland, Tampa, Sarasota, Bradenton, Miami-Dade, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Port Saint Lucie, Melbourne, Daytona Beach, Ocala, Gainesville, Volusia, Brevard, and more.

I have blogged extensively regarding the property tax issue and quite recently about the City of Orlando and its proposal to raise property taxes.  So I won't bore you to death with another rant on the issue.  I will let you know where you can rant for yourself though.

The City of Orlando may be making some decisions at the next council meeting this Monday 7/21/08 at 2:00 p.m. at City Hall.  The proposal is to raise the millage rate by one whole point.  That is $100 in additional taxes for every $100,000 in value. 

If you are a property owner in the City of Orlando and are concerned about them raising your taxes yet again, you need to either attend this meeting to show / voice your concern or at least contact the mayor and the city council and let them know how you feel.  Here is some more info on the meeting and the issue:

City of Orlando's meeting calendar - it is at 2pm this Monday 7/21

Coalition for Property Rights 

Stoptaxation.com grassroots initiative

American's for Prosperity grassroots initiative

I've already emailed them my concerns on this issue because I own property in the city limits of Orlando.  Make sure to voice yours too.

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(Copyright © 2008. Sand Dollar Realty Group, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Rob Arnold - Your full service and investor friendly Realtor in Orlando and Central Florida.

ABR, CPL, CRB, GRI, Managing real estate broker, Licensed mortgage broker, Notary Public

407-389-7318 / 1-877-389-7318    www.SDRhouses.com/   www.WeBuyHousesFlorida.com/

Learn to invest in Central Florida real estate and Orlando real estate. Investor mentoring and counseling available. We sell properties, list properties, and we buy houses cash throughout the Central Florida & metro Orlando area.  

I also provide flat fee MLS listings, For Sale By Owner, and menu-based services in most parts of Central & South Florida, the Space Coast, and the Treasure Coast including Orlando, Winter Park, Maitland, Ocoee, Winter Garden, Apopka, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Longwood, Winter Springs, Oviedo, Lake Mary, Sanford, Deltona, Debary, Deland, Mount Dora, Eustis, Clermont, Kissimmee, Winter Haven, Lakeland, Tampa, Sarasota, Bradenton, Miami-Dade, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Port Saint Lucie, Melbourne, Daytona Beach, Ocala, Gainesville, Volusia, Brevard, and more.

City of Orlando to raise property taxes - property tax bills to rise in City of Orlando