The Orlando Condo Blog

On Thursday, the Florida Association of Realtors (F.A.R.) reported its first monthly sales jump in Orlando since late 2005.
F.A.R. reported a total of 1,641 homes sold in June, a nearly 3 percent increase when compared with 1,595 homes sales in the same month a year prior.
The existing median sales price was $219,500 in June, a [...]

Like many people across the country I got caught up in the euphoric real estate bull market in 2004 and 2005. A friend of mine from Sarasota was handling the sales for Solaire at the Plaza and told me about the project. I grew up in Orlando and thought it would be fun to own [...]

Police officers from Winter Park are investigating the death of Steve Walsh, a well-known developer whose company projects include the $250-million Tradition Towers project in downtown Orlando.
Walsh, 61, was found dead on his own property, according to Orlando Police who were called to Walsh’s $1.4-million home on Genius Drive around 1 p.m. today after a [...]

Sounds like Reunion is getting ready to move the remaining Villas at Reuion Square. These are the condominiums surrounding the waterpark and downtown area that they have been selling at prices ranging from $635,000 to $705,000 with an incentive package. It seems the company is going to eliminate the incentive package and slash the prices [...]

The headlining article at money.cnn.com yesterday was titled Did the Fed go too far?, asking whether or not the Fed was prudent in hacking our Fed Funds Rate all the way down to 2%. I’ll save you some time and skip to the end of the story: yes. Yes the Fed did go [...]

Sunday, June 29th: Harbor Vista lake front condos in Leesburg (just north west of Orlando) will host an absolute auction (no minimum bid). This property has been listed for $289k and up. Every unit comes with a deeded, covered boat slip on the Harris Chain of Lakes. The developer looks likely to move at least [...]

As most of you know, I’m not a rose-colored-glasses-Realtor, more of a tell-it-like-it-is-Realtor, and that makes some call me a “pessimist” - so here’s some good optimistic news - and big yellow, non-pessimistic, crack-smoking smiley face to boot.
It’s claimed that the single most accurate forecast tool for housing activity is the “Pending Home Sale Index” [...]

According to a recent (Star Tower) press release, their half-acre rooftop garden on Osceola St. in downtown Orlando is fast becoming the new “in” venue in downtown Orlando.
Albert Kodsi, president of Royal Palm who along with Historic Creations of Orlando developed the Star Tower condo, said recent rooftop events have included political rallies, charitable fundraisers [...]

This was a big week for economic data, especially concerning the fate of our ailing housing market. I try and avoid belaboring statistics because, well, they’re boring as heck. These numbers, however, are pretty staggering.
First, consumer confidence hit a 28 year low this month. [...]

Because of the potential housing market meltdown, Fannie Mae has adopted new underwriting guidelines in terms of individuals buying housing in condominium and community associations.  In the past, the major focus of lenders has been on the buying power of the purchaser, but in today’s volatile housing climate, the new rules also stress the financial [...]

I received this email recently and asked the sender if I might share it since her story isn’t unusual given all that has happened in the last couple of years. Names have been removed to protect the innocent, yada yada…

“I am a condo owner at …… Condominiums. I purchased my condo back in December of [...]

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty suspended auction sales of 28 luxury lakefront condominium units on Lake Conway Saturday after potential bidders overreacted to a week of bad economic news that included airline layoffs, record high gas price hikes, an increase in unemployment and a plunging stock market.
“We had very strong interest in [...]

A beautiful golf-front condo in exclusive Reunion Resort & Club has just been drastically reduced to $399,000 completely Furnished! Every other condo that has been purchased since 2007 in Heritage Crossing has sold from $569K- $452K, with the average purchase price being $481K. The owner of this privately owned condo wants to make a deal [...]

Short notice I know (I’ve been away) but there’s another opportunity to pick up good deals this weekend at the Conway Crest auction (between Sand Lake Road and S. Conway).
Condo Metropolis is working through the Newly formed Stirling Sotheby’s Concierge team to give our clients the highest level of professional service available. Benefits would [...]

This week was a mixed bag of encouraging economic news and dismal forecasts from everyone who matters. I’ll do my best to keep the statistics to a bare minimum, but there are a couple of pertinent numbers that deserve our attention.
First and foremost, our 1st quarter Gross Domestic Product growth was revised upwards from [...]