I'm meeting a couple this evening to write an offer on a property.  The listing agent tells me that she is in the midst of two verbal offers and if I want to just tell her the offer, she'll be happy to get us an answer.  What? 

She tells me that one of the prospective buyers was supposed to send her a written offer yesterday but she hasn't seen it.  I tell her that we will be meeting at 7PM for signatures and that I can have the contract faxed/emailed to her by 7:30... I don't do verbal offers.

A verbal offer is not binding!

I know that there have been plenty of posts written about verbal offers.  Once I have the terms of the contract I can fill in the blanks and print one up in less than 5 minutes.  Email it to the client for their signature - 15 seconds.  They sign and fax/email it back to me 3 minutes.  I fax/email it to the listing agent, I'll be conservative and say 10 minutes...  I can have the entire contract sent to the listing agent in less than 30 minutes.  Even worst case scenario that they don't have access to a fax machine or email, I have them come into the office and we are still looking at less than 30 minutes of my time. 

When I begin working with a buyer, I give them a copy of a real estate contract filled out to review and we usually talk about it while we are out driving around looking at property so that when we find "the house" they feel confident that they understand what they are signing.  I'm always thinking about moving forward, talking about the steps of the transaction, building confidence, building the relationship...  Thinking ahead.

As a buyer's agent:  Verbal offers are worth nothing, they are a fishing expedition.  If you have invested hours, days or weeks in a buyer showing them property... why wouldn't you take the extra time to write it up, get a signature, have a commitment? 

As a listing agent:  Verbal offers are worth nothing, you have an uncommitted buyer.  They don't have enough invested in the transaction to even put it in writing.  I talk about verbal offers with the sellers I represent when we sign the listing and we agree to only accept offers that are in writing. 

How do you feel about verbal offers?  

Contact Debbie Summers, REALTOR®, ALHS, e-PRO, RE/MAX Central Realty

Please contact Cas and Debbie for all of your real estate needs in Seminole County, Lake Mary, Sanford, Longwood, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Winter Springs, Oviedo, Winter Park, Maitland, Apopka and Orlando.

407-758-1020 or Debbie@CasAndDebbie.com  

My friend, Marta was visiting this past week from Washington State.  We had such a great time and the highlight of the weekend is a toss up between a day at the Canyon Ranch Spa and a helicopter ride we took in the heart of the tourist mecca of International Drive.  Since I can share my massage with you, buckle your seatbelt and let's go for a ride.

 I tried out my Flip Video camera during her visit and shot some footage of our ride...  I'm pretty happy with it for my first attempt.

Contact Debbie Summers, REALTOR®, ALHS, e-PRO, RE/MAX Central Realty

Please contact Cas and Debbie for all of your real estate needs in Seminole County, Lake Mary, Sanford, Longwood, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Winter Springs, Oviedo, Winter Park, Maitland, Apopka and Orlando.

407-758-1020 or Debbie@CasAndDebbie.com  

3 Bedroom / 2 Bath  Home in Wekiva Run Subdivision in Apopka...  This home has never been lived in and is ready for you to move in to today.  If you are looking for a great value in a neighborhood close to Wolf Lake Elementary & Wolf Lake Middle School, this is it.  Huge 3 car garage and 1/3 acre homesite are an added bonus.  Call me today for more information.

Considering a Move to Central Florida?

Do you want to  Buy or Sell a home?

Contact Debbie Summers, REALTOR®, ALHS, e-PRO, RE/MAX Central Realty

Please contact Cas and Debbie for all of your real estate needs in Seminole County, Lake Mary, Sanford, Longwood, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Winter Springs, Oviedo, Winter Park, Maitland, Apopka and Orlando.

407-758-1020 or Debbie@CasAndDebbie.com  

Sunday the Orlando Sentinel had front page news with the catchy title "Did Appraisers Juice The Florida Real Estate Market" and as an added bonus on the Sunday front page there was a negative article about the luxury community Bella Collina in Lake County, Florida just outside of Orlando.

Back to today's article...

I don't understand why it comes to the surprise of anyone that mortgage companies are putting the brakes on homeowners and lowering their home equity credit lines.  Have these folks been asleep for the past year?  Even 5th graders know that the real estate market has been declining and housing sales are down.

How can banks continue to allow homeowners to tap into these lines of credit, when the market values are decreasing?   They can't and now we are seeing that they won't.

The bigger question for me, is when did we start seeing our homes as cash machines?  When did we start thinking that we could use the equity in our homes to buy boats, luxury cars and vacations?

My 86 year old mother-in law lived in her home for over 30 years and paid off her mortgage.  We encouraged her to take out a home equity line to update her home and re-surface her pool, but the money went back into the home, not on the dream vacation to Hawaii that she always wanted to take. 

Why do we see things so differently?  Are we all trying to live beyond our means or is the cost of living so high that using our home equity is your only choice?

Please contact Cas and Debbie for all of your real estate needs in Seminole County, Lake Mary, Sanford, Longwood, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Winter Springs, Oviedo, Winter Park, Maitland, Apopka and Orlando.

407-758-1020 or Debbie@CasAndDebbie.com  

We've been out hitting the parade route...

2008 Orlando Parade of Homes:  April 6 - 20, 2008

I've seen some amazing homes and as a self proclaimed "house junkie" it really helps me get my fix...  I saw something yesterday that I hadn't seen before.  Sharp has come out with a under counter microwave drawer.  Oh my...  I want that.  I have the Fisher Paykel double dishwasher drawer and I love it... 

The microwave drawer is so convenient and since I like the kitchen to be more streamlined and "clean" I believe that it is a new alternative to the above the range or "double" wall oven.

Do you want one too?

Considering a Move to Central Florida?

Do you want to  Buy or Sell a home?

Contact Debbie Summers, REALTOR®, ALHS, e-PRO, RE/MAX Central Realty

Please contact Cas and Debbie for all of your real estate needs in Seminole County, Lake Mary, Sanford, Longwood, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Winter Springs, Oviedo, Winter Park, Maitland, Apopka and Orlando.

407-758-1020 or Debbie@CasAndDebbie.com  

The ladies are back in Central Florida!  The tournament has begun at  The Ginn Reunion Resort in Reunion, Florida.  If you have never had a chance to visit Reunion, you have to see this golf course.  It is absolutely stunning and ready for another great tournament.

All of the top ladies are playing; Annika, Lorena, Natalie and defending champ Brittany Lincicome.

I received an email on Friday evening from the Palmer Invitational granting all ticket holders from that tournament free admission to the tournament at Reunion.  I'm working on setting some time aside this week to make a run to Kissimmee to catch some of the action.

If you enjoy your time in Reunion and are interested in purchasing a home in this spectacular resort community please contact me!

Good Luck Ladies! 

Contact Debbie Summers, REALTOR®, ALHS, e-PRO, RE/MAX Central Realty

Please contact Cas and Debbie for all of your real estate needs in Seminole County, Lake Mary, Sanford, Longwood, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Winter Springs, Oviedo, Winter Park, Maitland, Apopka and Orlando.

407-758-1020 or Debbie@CasAndDebbie.com  

A cup of coffee and the Sunday paper...  I used to enjoy my weekly ritual, not so much anymore.  I was faced with not one, but two negative articles this morning, 'Did Appraisers Juice The Market' was just the beginning.   I was also faced with 'LOT SALES ON POLLUTED LAKE APOPKA SKIRTED COMMON-SENSE DEPARTMENT'.  It must be a slow weekend, Real Estate Is Big News again.

Mike Thomas is talking about Bella Collina a very high end, luxury lakefront and golf course community in Monteverde, Florida about 45 minutes outside downtown Orlando.  I visited the community in 2006 for the Street of Dreams and its an amazing community with some of the most over-the-top homes I've seen in Central Florida.  The community is being developed by Bobby Ginn and the Ginn Company.  I find the timing of Thomas' commentary very interesting because inside of todays Orlando Sentinel is a pull-out for this weeks Ginn Open in Reunion.  I wonder how much that cost the Ginn Company?

The article reports about the speculative buying that went on in Bella Collina and how lots purchased at the initial release were resold for astronomical profits and are no longer worth what the owners paid for them due to the downturn in the market and the "over inflated prices" that they paid.  Several lot owners are suing the Ginn Company because they feel they were misled, interestingly enough most of these people did not buy directly from Ginn but from a resale owners. 

I'm also struck by the fact that the Lake Apopka is quoted as being polluted.  There is no mention of the clean-up efforts that have been underway to return Lake Apopka to a healthy sustainable lake.

I guess that it just wouldn't be as solicitous to write an article about the forward thinking of The Ginn Company to bring a world class resort style community to rural Monteverde and to talk about the efforts of The Friends of Lake Apopka and their continuing efforts to restore this damaged body of water to its rightful place.  No, that isn't news worthy at all.

Considering a Move to Central Florida?

Do you want to  Buy or Sell a home?

Contact Debbie Summers, REALTOR®, ALHS, e-PRO, RE/MAX Central Realty

Please contact Cas and Debbie for all of your real estate needs in Seminole County, Lake Mary, Sanford, Longwood, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Winter Springs, Oviedo, Winter Park, Maitland, Apopka and Orlando.

407-758-1020 or Debbie@CasAndDebbie.com  

Welcome to the party Appraisers!

I started my day like I always do, turned on the coffee maker and walked out to the driveway to retrieve my morning paper, grabbed my coffee and opened up the paper.  I could feel my body slump over as I read the headline 'Did Appraisers Juice The Market?'  and I got a bonus at the bottom of the front page 'Lot sales on polluted Lake Apopka skirted common-sense department' more on that article in my next post.  Real Estate bashing has become a full contact sport.

We've blamed the REALTORS®, so now it's time to go after the Appraisers and we'll throw in the builders and yes... the mortgage brokers, again... sorry guys.  From appraisers over estimating the square footage of properties to raise the values to mortgage brokers soliciting for the "best value" appraisal with the job going to the winning bidder, this article reports that all the "professional" players in the transaction wanted the appraisals to come in higher for their own benefit.  I have to disagree...  They forgot to say that the buyers and sellers wanted the appraisals to come in too.  The buyers wanted the homes and wanted the appraisals to get the mortgages and the sellers wanted to make top dollar at closing...  That's the truth.

I watched as a seller, who decided on a price $10,000 higher than my estimate of value receive multiple offers from buyers who WAIVED the appraisal and paid more than the appraised value because they had to have the home.  Only to see the same buyer become a seller a year and a half later and lose over $20,000.  Please don't blame me, the appraiser or the morgage broker for that... and there was plenty of it going on.  

Do we have to blame someone? 

When will we homeowners take responsibility for contributing to the "frenzy"?

Why does the media only want to report NEGATIVE news stories?

Considering a Move to Central Florida?

Do you want to  Buy or Sell a home?

Contact Debbie Summers, REALTOR®, ALHS, e-PRO, RE/MAX Central Realty

Please contact Cas and Debbie for all of your real estate needs in Seminole County, Lake Mary, Sanford, Longwood, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Winter Springs, Oviedo, Winter Park, Maitland, Apopka and Orlando.

407-758-1020 or Debbie@CasAndDebbie.com  

Lake Mary is home to several outstanding golf communities including Heathrow Golf & Country Club and Timacuan Golf & Country Club.  One of my favorites is Magnolia Plantation.  This guard gated community of 500 homes features natural surroundings and one of the areas most challenging golf courses.  This community is also home to a small heard of dear, who live in the Wekiva Reserve that boarder the property.  If you would like more information about Magnolia Plantation, please contact me.

The homes in Magnolia Plantation are situated on large wooded homesites that boarder the golf coarse and ponds.  Homes in Magnolia Plantation range from the the mid $400's to over $1.5 million...

There are 39 homes on the market, with the least expensive home listed at $459,900 with 4 bedrooms / 2 baths, 2,251 square feet and a pool.

There are 3 homes under contract and 2 homes sold in March, the sales have been very consistent in this neighborhood and the homes continue to hold there value in this price range.

March Sales:

807 Oakstream Court:   5 Bedrooms / 3 Baths/ 2,771 Square Feet /In-ground Pool / Conservation Lot

Listed:  $595,000    Sold:  $535,000      189 Days on the market

1057 Walnut woods Place:  4 Bedrooms / 3 Baths / 3,038 Square Feet / In-ground Pool / Golf Course Frontage

Listed:  $645,000    Sold:  $615,000      37 Days on the market

Please click here for past Magnolia Plantation Market Updates:

March 6, 2008

February 7, 2008

(All sales information and data compiled from the Mid Florida Regional Multiple Listing Service)

If you have questions regarding the market report or would like to talk to us about buying or selling property, please feel free to call, email or instant message us through our website.  We are here to help you with all of your real estate needs.

Considering a Move to Central Florida?

Do you want to  Buy or Sell a home?

Contact Debbie Summers, REALTOR®, ALHS, e-PRO, RE/MAX Central Realty

Please contact Cas and Debbie for all of your real estate needs in Seminole County, Lake Mary, Sanford, Longwood, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Winter Springs, Oviedo, Winter Park, Maitland, Apopka and Orlando.

407-758-1020 or Debbie@CasAndDebbie.com  

What's up with the photo?

This timeless neighborhood could have been built 60 years ago when black and white photography was all that there was, but these homes are brand new. 

We've just returned from our first look at Oakland Park in West Orange County in Winter Garden, Florida.

I have to tell you that it takes a lot to impress me, I've visited some of the best master planned communities in Florida including WaterColor, Seaside, and Celebration.  I was really impressed by the thought and time that has gone into developing this community on the shores of Lake Apopka.

Please check back for additional and new information about this Green Community.

Considering a Move to Central Florida?

Do you want to  Buy or Sell a home?

Contact Debbie Summers, REALTOR®, ALHS, e-PRO, RE/MAX Central Realty

Please contact Cas and Debbie for all of your real estate needs in Seminole County, Lake Mary, Sanford, Longwood, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Winter Springs, Oviedo, Winter Park, Maitland, Apopka and Orlando.

407-758-1020 or Debbie@CasAndDebbie.com  

2008 Orlando Parade of Homes

April 6 - 20, 2008

There are over 140 homes on the tour this year, but the highlight for me is the new development of Oakland Park in West Orange County.  Castle & Cooke Florida is developing the first community in Central Florida to be certified by the Florida Green Building Coalition.  There are 10 Orlando-area homes that have a green stamp of approval from the Florida Green Building Coalition.

I can't wait to get to Oakland Park to check out the new Green Homes...  Please let me know if you have a chance to see them.

Considering a Move to Central Florida?

Do you want to  Buy or Sell a home?

Contact Debbie Summers, REALTOR®, ALHS, e-PRO, RE/MAX Central Realty

Please contact Cas and Debbie for all of your real estate needs in Seminole County, Lake Mary, Sanford, Longwood, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Winter Springs, Oviedo, Winter Park, Maitland, Apopka and Orlando.

407-758-1020 or Debbie@CasAndDebbie.com  

What's Selling in Lake Mary...  Homes that are priced right! 

I've been working with buyers in Lake Mary for the past 2 months and both currently have contracts on homes and we are working towards closing.  While working so closely with them and looking at the best homes in their price ranges I noticed something really interesting.  If your home is priced competitively, it will sell.  One home that my clients loved that was on the market for a mere 8 days went under contract so quickly they have been kicking themselves for a couple of weeks.  It didn't happen again... 

If you want to sell in this market, contact me to discuss your options

If you are looking for the latest stats, please visit my Lake Mary Market Update (by clicking here).

Considering a Move to Central Florida?

Do you want to  Buy or Sell a home?

Contact Debbie Summers, REALTOR®, ALHS, e-PRO, RE/MAX Central Realty

Please contact Cas and Debbie for all of your real estate needs in Seminole County, Lake Mary, Sanford, Longwood, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Winter Springs, Oviedo, Winter Park, Maitland, Apopka and Orlando.

407-758-1020 or Debbie@CasAndDebbie.com  

I use an Alamode - Agent XSite for my real estate website. It is a really functional, user friendly website made specifically for real estate agents.  They have an awesome new feature that allows you to download an online chat function that enables website visitors to contact you and chat directly through your website in real time. 

I have already had a prospective buyer from Australia who linked to my personal website through an Active Rain post about Lake Mary, Florida and chatted me up for 20 minutes and will be meeting me in a few weeks when they get into town.

The websites are really economical, if you are interested... please visit www.alamode.com and please tell them that I sent you.

Considering a Move to Central Florida?

Do you want to  Buy or Sell a home?

Contact Debbie Summers, REALTOR®, ALHS, e-PRO, RE/MAX Central Realty

Please contact Cas and Debbie for all of your real estate needs in Seminole County, Lake Mary, Sanford, Longwood, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Winter Springs, Oviedo, Winter Park, Maitland, Apopka and Orlando.

407-758-1020 or Debbie@CasAndDebbie.com  

Please read this updated information...

The 2008 Orlando Street of Dreams At Lake Club will begin on May 10, 2008 and conclude on June 22, 2008.  Closed Monday and Tusdays, except for Memorial Day.  The homes are open from 10 AM to 6 PM daily.

The Street of Dreams is the nation's premier luxury home show, where attendees can view upcoming trends in interior and home design.  The homes range from 10,000 to 17,000 square feet and ar priced up to $8 million.

Lake Club is a private, exclusive enclave of large estate lots that is located a half mile south of Lake Mary Blvd. on Markham Woods Road across from Alaqua Lakes.

Please contact me if you have any questions about the homes for sale or if you are interested in attending.

Considering a Move to Central Florida?

Do you want to  Buy or Sell a home?

Contact Debbie Summers, REALTOR®, ALHS, e-PRO, RE/MAX Central Realty

Please contact Cas and Debbie for all of your real estate needs in Seminole County, Lake Mary, Sanford, Longwood, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Winter Springs, Oviedo, Winter Park, Maitland, Apopka and Orlando.

407-758-1020 or Debbie@CasAndDebbie.com  

Do you stop commenting at 10 Posts?

Is it all about the points?

I think that we all agree that we love points.  We want to rank the highest in our  area and we all want to be #1, or at least I do (and yes I know I have a long way to go).

I try to read posts everyday and comment on 10.  I have a pretty good idea how many posts I have commented on at any given time and  I have even continued to read posts and comment after my ten were used up, imagine that. 

Do you think that we would have a stronger network if we were awarded points for continuing to read and comment (even at a much small ratio)?

With the amount of membership growing, there are so many great posts out there to read and interact with that I think  a diminishing scale of points would continue to encourage members to read and write and build a stronger network. 

What do you think? 

It's a tough decision this year, with Zach Johnson (Sanford Resident and member of Lake Mary's Heathrow Country Club) defending his title at the Masters... but I have to go with my favorite - Tiger Woods.  Tiger is also a Central Florida resident, so I'm rooting for a home town guy too.  I wish I could be on the course watching, but rest assured the DVR is already programmed and ready for hours of HD viewing pleasure.

I know what you're thinking, but golf is very entertaining and I like to watch the best at their craft.

Go Tiger! and Zach too.

Considering a Move to Central Florida?

Do you want to  Buy or Sell a home?

Contact Debbie Summers, REALTOR®, ALHS, e-PRO, RE/MAX Central Realty

Please contact Cas and Debbie for all of your real estate needs in Seminole County, Lake Mary, Sanford, Longwood, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Winter Springs, Oviedo, Winter Park, Maitland, Apopka and Orlando.

407-758-1020 or Debbie@CasAndDebbie.com