Vacation Rental Ownership - Is it for you?

Owning an Orlando Florida vacation rental property is not something to be done by those that are faint at heart. It isn't as simple as purchasing an Orlando FL home or condo, furnishing it and booking rentals... That is the fun part of the process.

There is the management of the property that can be the stumbling block to a successful Orlando Florida Vacation Rental. I know because my son's father does this on Marco Island. He has several homes that they manage and it a lot of work. They have it down to a science. Their website not only allows potential renters to see the houses they have for rent, but they can book on-line and the back end of the system manages the process for them.

They are the exception. Most people are not prepared for the realities of owning a vacation rental home in the Orlando area. Read More about the considerations of What it Takes to Manage a Vacation Rental over at my website.

My Generation Video

I saw this video and had to share it. These folks are in their 90's and they are singing a Rock Classic! It reminds me that there are many things that folks in their 90's still able to do. Working with older buyers and sellers brings their own challenges as they may not be as familiar with the changes in technology and the internet. This video reminds us to not count them out!

Looking for ways to save that downpayment?

Here is a great way to start saving for your Orlando Florida home - your coffee drinking habit could be eating away at money that you could be saving for that down payment.

Do you go out and get yourself Starbuck or Dunkin Donuts coffee everyday in the Orlando area instead of drinking the coffee in the office or from home?

Do you realize that if you are purchasing two or three cups of coffee a day that you could be saving a considerable amount of money if you make it yourself and just drink the office coffee instead of purchasing it at a local coffee shop.


See for yourself the savings based on your consumption at this helpful calculator Coffee Savings Calculator.

Call me today to start your home buying search!

Colleen Kulikowski, Realtor

(407) 288-0017

Welcome to Hurricane Season...

It is always important to be prepared. Now is the time to put together your Hurricanne Kit for the Orlando Florida area. The one that you hope that you never have to use.

I went through Hurricane Wilma, living on Marco Island I followed the evacuation orders and headed to Orlando. I came back right after the storm. I had food, I had bottled water and not only did I have three days worth, I had 5 days worth. Call me paranoid, but I would rather have too much! What we did not have and could not get our hands on was Ice. So I lost a fridge full of food. Guess that is why there is never more than a weeks worth now in my fridge.

So my great advice would be start empting out your freezer! If a storm does come, fill it full of ice before the storm. It is worth more than Gold after a storm.

Florida residents now have an opportunity to take advantage of stocking up on their hurricane supplies and save on the associated taxes with the Hurricane Preparededness Sales Tax Holiday.


Read More .... Take Advantage of Hurricane Tax Break

Getting Ready to Sell?

There are many things that you need to do to prepare for the sale of your Celebration Florida home. Things are changing in the Celebration market and there are several things that you should know to make this process as stress free as possible. They include understanding the current market absorption rate, competitive homes currently on the market, and things to do like Staging to make your home ready for sale. But first let's talk about why you are selling and what you plan on doing once you sell your property.

Are you going to purchase another home? Are you up-sizing or downsizing? Probably the most over looked thing a seller forgets to do when getting ready to sell is checking to make sure that they can purchase another property. Some important financial questions you should ask yourself:

• Can I qualify for Mortgage for my desired next home?
• Is my credit in order?
• Should I get pre-approved for my purchase before selling my home?

The Orlando Avenue Top Team has a wonderful network of financial experts that we can refer to you to start this process...

Attention Orlando Florida Buyers!

Buying an Orlando home can be a confusing time. I know I have been in that position more than once in my life. Now as an Orlando Realtor I find that it can be most confusing with the sheer volume of information that you are exposed to via the Internet.

That is why I am writing articles like Attention Celebration Florida Home Buyers!, or Is Now The Time To Purchase? and my personal favorite Is there really a Crystal Ball in Real Estate?
By taking the time to write, I find that I better understand the Florida Real Estate Market and can better advice buyers and sellers in their decisions. I compile the information and present it in an easier way to understand. I not only share my expertise with people I am working with, I share with other professionals and write on several other BLOGS. Paradise Report, Celebration Florida Homes and Marco Island Homes are just a few.

I have a unique view on the Florida Real Estate Market, after living and working in the Marco Island Market situated in Southwest Florida in Collier County, for 6 years and relocating to the Greater Orlando area in February I see so many opportunities in both.

The Marco Island market has normalized and swung back from the incredible gains in 2004 and 2005. There are some absolutely wonderful bargains on Marco Island if you are ready to buy and hold on long term. I still have ties to the community and would be happy to assist you in understanding the Marco Island Market and connecting you with the right professional to help you.

The Greater Orlando Market I have had to hit the ground running and start learning Celebration Listings and those in the Greater Orlando area. In my learning process I have had to drive the neighborhoods, study the trends and process a lot of information in a very short period of time and in a larger area than I worked on Marco Island. I had to learn a new MLS system and new tools at Orlando Avenue Top Team for buyers including our MLS Search Function. I decided to focus on Celebration in Osceola county because my office is here and if I need a break I can take a quick drive and learn something new in the process. By doing so, I absolutely fell in love with Celebration Florida.

But Celebration is not the only place here in the Greater Orlando area, and the Orlando Avenue Top Team is happy to assist in the Greater Orlando area. Orlando is a great place to visit, but I am quickly finding out just how wonderful it is to live here!

If I can be of assistance to you, please feel free to give me a call at (407) 288-0017 or visit my website at http://www.paradisereport.com/ for a comprehensive set of resources for you to use. Here is just a small sampling of what you will find there:

First Time Buyers Your Down payment Your Buying Power Writing the Offer

Heart of the Matter 9 Steps to Owning Why They Don't Sell Real Estate Glossary

Your FICO Score ARM vs Fixed Rate Calc Required Income Calc

Maximum Mortgage Calc Mortgage Payoff Calc Rent vs Buy Calc

Celebration Florida Featured Properties

I have a wonderful website full of resources to assist you with your Celebration Florida Real Estate purchase. Check out some of these resources:

• First Time Buyers
• Loan Application Checklist
• Rent vs. Buy Calculator
• Selline One, Buying Another
• Title Insurance

Here are some Real Estate Articles for you:

• Attention Buyers - now is the time...
• It's 11pm -- Do you know where your Realtor is?
• Attention Florida Home Purchasers
• How to Avoid The Dark Side of Real Estate
• Looking for that Reason To Move to Florida? Here are a Few....
• Time Magazine Just Named YOU Person of the Year
• Should I Purchase A Wood Frame Home In Florida?
• Florida Residents - Home Owner Web Resources
• Traditional Media vs. Blogging
• Attention Florida Home Buyers!
• There Back - Condo Comandos!
• What Part Of...
• For Sale By Owners - Something to Think About
• Mortgage Fraud Schemes
• Disaster Planning
• What Makes An Excellent Vacation Rental?
• Lesson in Customer Service -- Visit a few Hardware Stores!
• So you want to sell your property yourself....
• HELP!!! My Crystal Ball is Cloudy!
• Is there really a Crystal Ball in Real Estate?
• So You Want to Be A Realtor
• Owners - A Few Words on Showings...
• It is that time of the Year...

Call me and the Orlando Avenue Top Team to discuss your Real Estate goals and how we can assist you in achieving those goals! Visit our other BLOGs for more local information Colleen Kulikowski Active Rain, Teri Isner Active Rain and our OrlandoAvenue site. To search all Greater Orlando listings visit our Search Page.

Call me today for more information on the Celebration Florida Area!

Colleen Kulikowski, Realtor
Keller Williams - Celebration
email me
(407) 288-0017

Celebration Florida Absorption Rate

Here arethe Absorption Rate in Years according to the data collected and the Mid Florida Multiple Listing Service:

Market Segment Absorption Rate (in Years)
Celebration - Single Family Homes - All 2.14
Celebration - Single Family Homes - 3-4 Bedrooms 2.15
Celebration - Single Family Homes 5+ Bedrooms 2.06

Celebration - Single Family Artisan Park 1.08
Celebration - Single Family Roseville 0.42
Celebration - Single Family North Village 3.25
Celebration - Single Family South Village 3.25
Celebration - Single Family East Village 0.92

Celebration - Single Family No Pool 2.01
Celebration - Single Family Pool Home 2.54

Celebration - Single Family Homes Less than $500,000 3.25
Celebration - Single Family Homes $500,000 - $1,000,000 1.62
Celebration - Single Family Homes Greater than $1,000,000 2.67

Celebration - All Condos/Townhomes 3.50
Celebration - 3 Bedroom Condos 1.92
Celebration - 2 Bedroom Condos 3.83
Celebraion - Artisan Park 1.64
Celebration - Georgetown 4.08
Celebration - Terraces 3.17

Celebration - Condos Less than $350,000 2.23
Celebration - Condos $350,000 - $500,000 5.92

Call me and the Orlando Avenue Top Team to discuss your Real Estate goals and how we can assist you in achieving those goals! Visit our other BLOGs for more local information Colleen Kulikowski Active Rain, Teri Isner Active Rain and our OrlandoAvenue site. To search all Greater Orlando listings visit our Search Page.

Call me today for more information on the Celebration Florida Area!
Colleen Kulikowski, Realtor

Keller Williams - Celebration

email me
(407) 288-0017