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Saint Cloud, FL Real Estate News

By Mark Horan, "The Resident Chef" - Resident Team Realty LLC &
(Resident Team Realty, LLC & Toni's Property Management LLC)
Fresh No Frills Good Eatin' Seafood. Crabby Bills in Saint Cloud, Florida 1104 Lakeshore Blvd. My wife and I have always enjoyed good seafood with a view. Saint Cloud, Florida for the past year and a half has that combination. Twenty five years ago we use to eat at The Original Crabby Bills in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida. A dozen oysters then were just $1.50. The price has gone up to $5.99, but the oysters are still just as fresh. Back then the specials were taped to the walls on simple sheets of paper. Today, there are a few chalk boards with just a few prices. Now there is an extensive menu with local favorites, and just about any seafood that you would desire.Yes, the prices have gone up and we are just a bit older, but Crabby Bills still has great fresh seafood. On our first visit w...
Comments 14
By Allison Stewart, St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904
(St.Cloud Homes )
DIVERSITY.  Isn't that we are all about?   Real Estate professionals are sales people.  We need to hone our skills to appeal to a wide variety of customers.  How adaptable are we ?  Do we blend in unnoticed or do we stand out?Customers are all basically the same.  They are people.  They come in all colors, shapes and sizes.  What differs are their housing needs and financial abilities-they too are individual. Every person has their own story to tell, and every situation is different.  Addressing those needs individually is what makes us "egg-cellent" examples of what being true professionals is all about.Treating every customer as if they were buying a million dollar property, earns their respect. In the long run generates referals.  ARE YOU JUST ONE OF MANY OR DO YOU STAND OUT?  Our bu...
Comments 24
By Allison Stewart, St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904
(St.Cloud Homes )
What do housing prices and parachutes have in common?  For both at some point, the laws of gravity will apply. We have seen prices skyrocket between 2004-2005, and as Isaac Newton discovered what goes up must come down.  The law of Gravity.  The question remains at what point do we pull the ripcord?FREEFALLING- A euphoric extreme sensation one experiences at high speed velocity from altitudes of 13,000 feet.  Allows the participant the freedom of movement, and the exhillaration of free flight, producing an intense  adrenaline rush. Much like the feeling many buyers are experiencing in the current housing market. Properties that were once so "high" priced there were untouchable have given in to the gravitation pull of the market and are suddenly well within reach.  Sellers forgot to pull...
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By Allison Stewart, St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904
(St.Cloud Homes )
Equestrian Communities. Not a new concept, but certainly a highly desireable one.  Osceola County, Florida at one time boasted its rich farmland heritage. Sprawling fields, perfect for raising horses and cattle. Up until two years ago, the high end housing plan included equestrian facilities. There were three major places in central Osceola County, less than twenty miles from Disney that were considered to be the Ultimate Equestrian combination.  Today, there are only two remaining.Reunion near Disney's back door and to the east Bay Lake Ranch.  Each has a very different feel to it. Reunion, features a golf community, community pool, and luxury housing within a planned unit development setting. Barn and stable facilities are on property and offer full boarding faciltiies for residents.B...
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By Allison Stewart, St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904
(St.Cloud Homes )
Sounds like it should be a fifth grade science project doesn't it?  The effects of heat on vacant, empty, and  foreclosed homes will be interesting.  Never before have so many, been so empty for so long. Much different than a snowbird preparing the house for a long absence, many of these properties are abandoned and  lacking power and preparation to endure a hot, humid Florida summer.As the temperatures rise, and sales fall the time a property will languish on the market will increase. In some areas of Central Florida, we are looking at a two year market. Most of these empty properties, have been sitting without power for quite sometime.  Unlike our neighbors to the north and west, Florida is hot and humid most of the year. In the summer temperatures reach high nineties.  Buyers Beware!...
Comments 2
By Allison Stewart, St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904
(St.Cloud Homes )
 Empty nesters, the term given when the children and grown and the house is finally all your own or is it?As the baby boomers population increases in age, trends in lifestyles have gradually adapted. It used to be waiting for the kids to go off to college left many women feeling purposeless, or finally free to pursue that second career. However, in the 80's the empty nesters began to return.  Disillusioned with the high prices of rent, mortgage interest (back then over 16%) a slow economy many college age students headed back for the comforts of home.Fast forward twenty something years and a new form of extended family is occurring. Sort of reverse empty nest syndrome complex. Caring for our aging parents.  Yes, the kids have moved on, and are established in their careers, and in homes ...
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By Mark Horan, "The Resident Chef" - Resident Team Realty LLC &
(Resident Team Realty, LLC & Toni's Property Management LLC)
Saint Cloud, Florida Bank Owned The Resident Foreclosure Of The Week 3/1/20082950 ELBIB DR, SAINT CLOUD 34772    Bank owned property being sold in as-is condition. Home is on a nice corner lot, interior needs new carpet due to stains, and has a couple of small holes in living room wall where previous owner tried some do it himself wiring. Overall nice house with  view of a pond. community comes with a pool and playgroung. Bank wants offers, so let's make a deal. $159,900                                                                 MLS# O4808116 Authorization has been given to post this Listing.   To set an appointment, or to get more information contact The Resident Team  at 407-301-0312. 
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By Allison Stewart, St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904
(St.Cloud Homes )
Real Estate Professionals like successful politicians work very hard at establishing themselves. Getting the word out, farming, face to faces, photo signs, blogging, postcards and even door knocking.  Despite our best efforts to become a household word, often we fall into the abyss of public forgetfulness.  Andy Warhol once said everyone would received their fifteen minutes of fame. But is fame fleeting?Most certainly it is indeed.  What is news today is forgotten tomorrow.  For a little over two years now, I have been writing a Real estate column in our local newspaper. A lot of the inspiration for my blog comes from this activity. About three weeks ago, the paper began publishing my photo with my article. Putting a face to the name.Last week I attended a Chamber of Commerce luncheon. ...
Comments 8
By Allison Stewart, St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904
(St.Cloud Homes )
Home Owners Associations. You either love them or hate them.  Some are more restrictive than others.  The main purpose for establishing a homeowners association was to insure conformity much like deed restrictions. Some require filing the color codes for exterior paint colors on homes for instance, others require fences if permitted at all need to conform to a certain height, use only certain fencing materials, may or may not be wood and if they are only certain stain colors may be permitted.  These are all examples of conformity.In addition, there are other restrictions.  When the roof may need to be cleaned. How tall the grass can be, or what type of shrubs can be planted.  How many cars one can be parked and where parking is permitted. Boats most do not want them in driveways, they m...
Comments 18
By Allison Stewart, St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904
(St.Cloud Homes )
Global warming seems to be the least of our worries.  A good close look at the local economy is like an archeolical  expedition.  You don't have to wait millions of years however, new age archaeologists only have to look back less than two years to see what killed the dinosaurs.The "dinosaurs" in this case, were the large five bedroom mega homes, built in the "pre-recession period" ending in 2006.  Taking a closer look, one can see  how these people may have once lived.  Examining the ruins, there are tracing indicating these ancient peoples had a booming civilization at one time.  While the cause of the freeze which swept through their region annihilating all housing in its path are yet undetermined, there is much speculations as to which predator may have been responsible.  Some blame...
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By Allison Stewart, St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904
(St.Cloud Homes )
 It takes courage. It takes conviction. It takes an inner strength to overcome fear and apprehension. Most importantly, it takes a good layer of insulation. Insulating oneself financially as the market smokes with sizzling opportunities. Stoking the coals for Real Estate firewalking are favorable mortgage rates, cooperative lenders and the embers of investor homes reducing prices to ash.Rising from the ashes like the phoenix are the new buyers. First time home buyers who have been waiting. Cultivating their cash and waiting for the fire to die down.Achieving successful sales...one at a time.As a Real Estate professional, assessing the risk against the gain in evaluating what our market is doing is paramount to stoking the fire of successful offers and accepted offers.  Don't let fear ho...
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By Allison Stewart, St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904
(St.Cloud Homes )
 Your not very likely to find gold in a litter box are you? No, certainly not.  The actions may be the same dig, sift, sort but the results are very different.  Same with farming. One can spend countless hours farming with a result less than they may expected.  Perhaps it is where they are farming that matters.  While exploring territories, and where to market take into consideration who you are marketing to.  Not all niches work.  One must give careful thought to making a niche a little narrow in scope to be fruitful.  Same applies to inventory.  When representing a wide variety of housing styles, you have greater capture ability in a broader spectrum.  Different people have different budgets. If it possible to offer homes in varying price ranges you have a much greater chance of succe...
Comments 18
By Allison Stewart, St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904
(St.Cloud Homes )
Lately, the fear and concerns over the sagging Real Estate Market, Adjustable rates mortgages, and lathargic economy have many homeowners worried their equity is evaporating. While this is true is most areas, there are  still a few areas unimpacted by over development, and as a result the equity has held steadfast. Take for instance Bay Lake Ranch,located on the eastern side of St. Cloud, Florida  in Osceola County.  Nestled between Melbourne and Disney, in the shadow of Harmony, off the main east west artery (192)          Bay Lake Lake Ranch covers several miles. It is an equestrian estate community of custom built homes.  The homes ranging in size from 1200 sq ft to 7000+ square feet are  situated on lots varying in size from one to five acres. It borders Bay Lake.  There are natural...
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By Allison Stewart, St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904
(St.Cloud Homes )
Developers may have passed the first hurdle in getting the approval for the largest  "Mega Development" Building Project proposed to bring in an additional 36,000 people to Osceola County by 2025. The proposal includes  building an additional 13,000 homes near the new interchange by the Florida Turnpike along the east side of Lake Tohopekaliga known as (Lake Toho) For whom? IS the nagging question one should ponder.Developer Charles Pratt from New Jersey and Jupiter recently purchased ranchland from the Partin Family members for a reported sum of  $220 Million dollars for the project called Green Island.  This is the third Toho project to clear review by the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, which makes recommendations to local governments regarding large developments.  Fo...
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By Allison Stewart, St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904
(St.Cloud Homes )
   "Sure we can get you a Gazillion dollars for your house!"  "List it with me it will sell in two weeks"..."of course I will call you back".  If only noses grew like in Fairy Tales it would be so much easier to tell when someone is stretching the truth maybe just a little. But alas, we live in the real world, where real people are not infalible, they are only human.  We can teach, mentor, educate, and inform; but we can not change human nature.   Sellers who have had previous bad experiences have memories like elephants, usually with just cause.  It is  up us, as individuals to earn their respect based on our actions and not on our words.  We may successfully change the hearts of some, and fail in our attempts with others, but if at the end of the day you have done your best, been trut...
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By Allison Stewart, St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904
(St.Cloud Homes )
 Some Buyers seem befuddled,bewildered while others perhaps even boarder on belligerent; certainly most are confused.  The way Real Estate professionals show property has changed. Times have changed. The economy has changed.  As a result few REALTORS® fly out the door anymore.  Perhaps REALTORS® have just become more pragmatic.  REALTORS® are not used car salesman known for the eager aggressiveness in pouncing on a would be customer at a car lot.  The process for buying a used car and a pre-owned home are vastly different. So is the cost. In the past few years the supply of inventory was by far more limited than it is today. Lending practices have changed as well.  In order for a sale to be successful or have a hope of succeeding, a previewing interview will help fine tune a buyers abil...
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By Allison Stewart, St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904
(St.Cloud Homes )
 The question everyone seems to be asking in Real Estate is how low will prices go? There is no precise way to measure when the bottom will it or has hit until after it happens. What we are seeing is a return to value and in some areas the housing recession has hit harder than others. In Central Florida in Osceola County Florida, There are at present an estimated 4100 properties according Realty Trac in some form of foreclosure. This is not a local problem by any means.  It is however a welcome relief to buyers who had to wait out the Market Boom. The emergence of qualified first time buyers has triggered an acceleration in showings and subsequently offers.  Sellers who are comitted to selling their homes, have reduced prices to affordable levels and local banks are offering mortgages a...
Comments 0
By Allison Stewart, St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904
(St.Cloud Homes )
Do Talking Houses work?  The early models often had numerous technical difficulties. The reception on AM was riddled with white noise or improperly tuned in. There are several varieties available and some FM units as well, but do they really work? All houses have a story to tell, do consumers want to a house to talk to them literally?Have you tried a talking house?  Or do you have an opinion as to why they are a bad idea? Unit can be purchased for a little over $200 dollars.  The prerecorded message can be customized and as long as the house has power interested parties can tune in while driving by.  Could this be a better alternative to fliers?  An eco-friendly means of getting the "word" out? Or could it turn off potential buyers if it malfuunctions?  What is your word on the Talking ...
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By Allison Stewart, St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904
(St.Cloud Homes )
Are you a tease? Well are you?  Or are you more likely to just lift your skirt a little and try to entice the voyeur to want to see more?  I let it all hang out!  That's right I show as much as I possibly can because I want you to look. There I said it.  I am not shy.  I am of course talking about what you post on the MLS. Photos.  I want to let you see as much as I can, because the people I am marketing to, are most times not local. I want you to imagine yourself in the home. Sometimes I want you see what awaits you through the windows... And other times I want you to feel the heat.  I'd like you to imagine you can smell the coffee brewing... While everyone visiting has gone off to visit the parks.Or sometimes I want you to feel like you can relax.The point is, is we don't bare all, ho...
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By Allison Stewart, St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904
(St.Cloud Homes )
 The Rodeo a tradition since 1944 in Osecola County Florida.  To area newcomers many are unfamilar with the tradition called "Rodeo Day" when they arrive. It does not take long to realize that even though Osceola County has grown and flourished, the traditions established over half a century are still alive and thriving. Every February the Rodeo comes to town along with the Fair.  Located at the Silver Spurs Arena on Hwy 192 in Kissimmee, Florida.School children in Osceola County have the opportunity to show their farm animals and 4-H clubs throughout the area set up displays. There are several catagories including citrus, hogs, cattle, horses, goats, quilting, canning, sewing and more.  The displays are visually appealing and open to a wide variety of ages.In a world which seems to mov...
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