Real Estate Information

Jeff Haeger of RE/MAX Town Centre Awarded 

Real Estate’s Prestigious 203k Specialist™ Designation

Charlie Orden of Remax Town Centre is proud to announce that Jeff haeger has completed the real estate industry’s most comprehensive training in the use of the U.S. Government’s FHA 203k Home Purchase and Renovation Loan program. With this designation, Jeff Haeger becomes a member of

REbuildUSA, a nationwide organization of real estate, lending and home improvement professionals, working in partnership with Lowe’s, is dedicated to helping more Americans achieve the dream of home ownership, improving our communities and contributing to the health of our economy. 

“The FHA 203k Renovation Loan offers tremendous opportunities for many Americans to enjoy great prices on homes today,” explains Jeff haeger, “yet there is very little awareness of this program and the power it offers in our current economy.”

REbuildUSA was established with the mission of creating more awareness of the opportunities offered by the FHA 203k program, while at the same time, simplifying the process for all involved. As REbuildUSA’s home improvement partner, Lowe’s assists in identifying the scope of work and relative costs and then coordinates the actual renovation activities through its nationwide network of licensed installers. 

“My 203k Specialist™ designation training positions me to provide professional guidance to those who would like to locate a great home in a great neighborhood to be renovated to meet their needs. These are the homes offered at the most competitive prices. Additionally, as a member of REbuildUSA, I can help my buyers more easily navigate the process of planning, securing loan approval and completing the home improvements” says Jeff Haeger.

203k Specialists are also trained to bring a strong competitive advantage to home sellers by more effectively marketing their homes to a wider audience. The REbuildUSA List Assist program provides visualization tools and cost estimates allowing prospective buyers to better recognize the value of an available property, and the 203k Specialist can then help them put the power of the FHA 203k to work in purchasing and renovating the home. 

“I’m excited to have more of our associates earning this designation and supporting the mission of 

REbuildUSA,” explains Charlie Orden Broker Owner of Re/max Town Centre. “Knowledge is power, and I believe this program really sets our people apart when it comes to helping home buyers and sellers make the most of the excellent opportunities in today’s market.”

Jeff Haeger has been active in real estate sales for 9 years and works in the Downtown and surrounding  areas. He also holds designations as GRI,CDPE,CIAS and has won awards as Rising Star and REMAX Executive Award and is recognized as a  Multi Million dollar sales producer. He can be reached at 321-354-7267.

Re/max Town Centre 330 E. Central Blvd. Orlando, FL. 32801

REbuildUSA is based in Newport Beach, California. To learn more, visit  HYPERLINK "http://www.rebuildusa.com" www.rebuildusa.com or call 877.USA.203k.

For lovers of music, don’t miss the opportunity to experience an exciting festival in Orlando, Florida. The festival will take place at Citrus Bowl Park in downtown Orlando on November 12^th and 13^th. With various food and drink vendors along with a star-studded line up, Orlando Calling is a must.

This 2-day concert has a fantastic line-up including:

Saturday, November 12^th

• The Killers
• The Raconteurs
• Pixies
• The Avett Brothers
• The Roots
• Gogol Bordello
• … and many more!

Sunday, November 13^th

• Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band
• Kid Rock
• Blake Shelton
• Doobie Brothers
• Warren Haynes Band
• Hindu Cowboys
• … and many more!
•  

For a complete line up for each day, click here.

On top of providing unbeatable entertainment, this event will also be considered eco-friendly. There will be several measures taken to “ensure the least amount of harm to the environment as possible” including alternative transportation, recycling bins and more. 

Tickets are available online here. There are single-day tickets, weekend passes, and several packages including housing and other special offers for visitors to enjoy. Don’t miss out!

For more information, visit the website at www.orlandocalling.com or visit www.orlandocalling.com/contact.aspx.

 With low home prices and ultra-low interest rates, the housing market now offers “perhaps the best deals of a generation,” notes a recent article by Bloomberg Businessweek.

Since the housing boom of 2006, home prices have fallen about 31 percent. Also, mortgage rates have been hovering at record lows for the past few weeks  – in the 4 percent range or even lower on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages, according to Freddie Mac’s mortgage market survey.

It’s hard to see the possibility of losing on a home purchase right now, with these mortgage rates. Prices may go lower, but not by much.

The article notes the following scenario: Buying a $300,000 home with a 4 percent mortgage rate and a 20 percent down payment would mean a $1,145 monthly payment. The Mortgage Bankers Association recently predicted that home prices may fall another 3.5 percent by mid-2012, but mortgage rates will increase by a half-point. Under that same loan scenario, a home would sell for $289,000 while the monthly mortgage bill would be $1,171 – only a $26 difference.

For those who can qualify for a mortgage, “playing the waiting game” won’t result in much gain.
 

For different reasons at different times, home owners reach a point when it’s time to sell a home. However, no matter what stage of life you are in or what your reason for selling may be, you should expect professional service from your real estate agent.

At the forefront of your expectations is honesty. The relationship between you and your agent should be open and honest, both personally and professionally. Your agent has a fiduciary responsibility to you, meaning your agent has the "responsibility of care for the assets or rights of another person." With this responsibility, you can expect advice and guidance, not only regarding the listing price, but also straight talk and feedback on any and all issues affecting the sale of your property. When looking to engage the services of an agent, you want to ensure that you interests are paramount to the agent. Reputation speaks volumes in this aspect of your selection process.

You should expect and receive reasonable access to your agent so that you can have your questions and concerns answered in a timely manner. Having found an agent with an excellent reputation, you should expect that agent to be busy, but not so busy that they cannot provide you with the follow-up and feedback that you deserve. Balancing busy schedules is something every professional must do and they should know and recognize that every seller expects quality service.

Plan to interview prospective agents before engaging their services and ask questions that concern you, your property and your upcoming transaction. You should expect to receive professional service including quality photographs of your property to show it at its best, descriptive and inviting advertising pieces, knowledge of and use of the current trends in social media marketing and honest feedback and follow-up. When it comes to selling your home – one of the biggest transactions, if not the biggest, of your life – you need to be confident that your listing agent can capably handle every aspect of the transaction. Don’t accept anything less!

Everyone knows and loves Orlando theme parks and their reputation is worldwide. However, wait… there is so much more to see and do!

For starters, experience dolphins first hand. Take the two-day tour south to the Florida Keys, with accommodations and evening meals included, and swim with the dolphins. This is something you and your children will never forget. Swimming of course is optional and you can choose to wade or observe, but experiencing the dorsal fin tow or the flipper handshake makes the first time nerves worthwhile. On day two, venture out in the Everglades on an exhilarating airboat ride to encounter alligators, raccoons, birdlife and more. With all that adventure, you will be ready to finish the tour off with a stop at Miami’s Bayside shopping complex. Here you will find dining, designer shops and boutiques. As an optional extra, the Star Island boat cruise will take you past the oceanfront homes of the rich and famous.

The Manatee Adventure tour is a two-hour bus trip from Orlando to the Crystal River and you will be able to dive and snorkel with the endangered manatee. These loveable giants, related to the elephant, will fascinate you. Although contact is not guaranteed, close encounters are common. After enjoying a BBQ lunch, the next stop is Homossasa State Park. Here you will learn more about the manatees during the feeding session and how important animal rehabilitation is in the park. Be sure to take your camera or iPhone, as you will definitely want to post these photos on Facebook.

Orlando theme parks have great rides, but nothing compares to flying across the water at speeds up to 45mph. Boggy Creek Airboats are loud, fast and exciting and the best way to see the spectacular scenery and wildlife. As you speed across Lake Toho, you will see eagles, snakes, birds and alligators. Hang on tight because this is one of the most breathtaking rides and something that you will be raving about for years to come. Just in case this is not enough excitement, you can book a night ride and track the alligators as their eyes glow red in the bright spotlights.

Another sellout (the tenth in a row!) is expected for this year’s A Taste of Thornton Park, on October 20th from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. This incredibly tasty and popular event features some of Orlando’s best restaurants and offers wines, beers, cocktails, entrees and sweets from Thornton Park vendors. A Taste of Thornton Park is a fundraiser for the Thornton Park Neighborhood Association and benefits various community events and projects like Four Rivers Fountain and the Thornton Park north entrance.

More than 40 local food and drink vendors will be on hand around the fountain at the intersection of Washington and Hyer, including 301 Lakeside Restaurant, Cityfish Restaurant, Shari Sushi Lounge, Nick’s Italian Kitchen, and HUE Restaurant. Also represented will be retailers, service businesses and professional firms.

Tickets to A Taste of Thornton Park are $30 in advance and $40 at the door. They can be purchased online or at Publix (400 E. Central Blvd), Marie France (716 E. Washington St.), or Mother Falcon (817 E. Washington St.). Delight your palate at this year’s 10^th annual A Taste of Thornton Park – it’ll be the place to be on October 20th from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.!

The American housing market over the last several years has undergone dramatic change. Rather than being rare occurrences, short sales and foreclosures have become the norm. One result of this situation is that many of the distressed properties entering the market are in less (sometimes far less) than optimal condition.

To help those on the receiving end of these situations, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has created a new program called the “203(k) Rehab loan.” The program is meant to encourage the preservation and restoration of America’s current homes. In short, the program is HUD’s central method for providing home repair assistance for single-family homes.

A 203(k) can be used in one of three different ways to improve your home:

1. Owners can purchase a dwelling and the land on which the dwelling is located and rehabilitate it.
2. Purchase a dwelling on another site, move it onto a new foundation on the mortgaged property and then rehabilitate it.
3. A 203(k) can be used to refinance existing liens secured against the subject property in order to rehabilitate a dwelling.

To have an eligible home, there are several criteria the house must meet:

• The property must be a one- to four-family dwelling that has been completed for at least one year.
• All newly constructed units must be attached to the existing dwelling.
• The number of units on the site must be acceptable according to the provisions of local zoning requirements.
• Cooperative units are not eligible.
• Homes that have been demolished, or will be razed as part of the rehabilitation work, are eligible provided some of the existing foundation system remains in place.

For more information on eligibility, eligible improvements and more, click here.

If you are thinking about buying or selling a home, give us a call at (321) 354-7267 or send us an email to explore your options and to find out when is the best time for you to make a move.

If you are going to be in the Orlando, Florida area this fall, be sure to visit Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival at the Walt Disney World Resort. The festival, to be held from September 30^th to November 13^th of this year, will provide visitors with a great experience and tasty foods and wines to boot!

There are 30 different booths slated for this year’s festival, each showcasing a different international cuisine.  This year, there are four new booths including the Caribbean Islands, Hawaii, Portugal, and Scandinavia. Along with the new booths, there are also many booths returning, including those representing France, Germany, Italy, and South Korea. Each has its own unique menu (including both food and drinks), which can be found here.

The festival also includes a wide variety of musical acts to compliment the delicious foods and wines. Acts include (but not limited to) Sugar Ray, Hanson, and Boys II Men. There are three shows daily (at 5:15 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 7:45 p.m.) at Epcot’s America Garden Theater.

On top of everything else, the festival also offers many special events including 3D Delicious Dessert Discovery, cheese seminars, Mexico Tequila Tastings, Chocolate Discoveries Seminars and more! Click here to view an entire list of the special events.

Don’t miss this opportunity to delight your taste buds with the unfamiliar!