About Orange County, FL

This afternoon I attended a block party. One of the ‘games’ was to estimate the number of M&M Chocolate-Covered Peanuts in a jar. Not jelly beans, I know. But I like M&M Chocolate-Covered Peanuts better, anyway.

I’ve played these games before and never came close.

This time, the ‘hostess’ held up the jar, and I immediately saw something I never saw before. Instead of getting lost in the whole jar, I saw only the rectangular area of M&M Chocolate-Covered Peanuts directly facing me.

I made a calculated guess of how many M&Ms were in that rectangle. Didn’t count each one, just eyeballed it and came up with ...

25

Then I guessed how many rectangles made up the circumference of the jar ...

6

Then I multiplied 25 x 6 =

150

Then I took a wild stab at the interior volume of the jar ... the part I couldn’t see. I guessed ...

½ of surface area = 75

Therefore total M&Ms in the jar should equal ...

150 + 75 = 225

Since my lucky number is 2, I made my official guess ...

222

The correct answer was ...

237

I didn’t win because someone else guessed 230.

Next time I’ll estimate that the center of the jar is halfway between 2/3 and ½ of the jar, or halfway between 75 and 100, which equals ...

87.5

Therefore, 150 + 87.5 equals ...

237.5

Think everybody, including me, will be freaked out?

What this has to do with real estate, I really don’t know, but one day I’ll figured that out, too!

These smart homeowners didn’t have to lose their house to foreclosure. Instead, they hired a real estate agent to help them sell their house as a Short Sale.

Properties have been listed and sold by various MLS members.

Data drawn from the My Florida Regional Multiple Listing Service.

Because the payoff of a loan will be ‘shorted’ by a significant amount, the mortgage lender must approve a Short Sale. Handled properly, the likelihood of successfully selling your house as a Short Sale is high. Once the Short Sale is behind you, you can often get on with your life with hardly a backward glance.

A Short Sale is nothing more than putting your house up for sale in the usual manner, waiting for a qualified buyer just like any other home seller would, facing a few extra hurdles, filling out additional paperwork, waiting a bit longer for the closing to take place, and finally moving out and moving on.

Real benefits come with selling your house as a Short Sale. Among them are: 1) substantially reducing or completely eliminating financial liability, 2) minimizing damage to your credit rating, 3) emerging from bad credit quicker than you would with a foreclosure, and 4) having a sense of satisfaction that you’re taking care of the problem proactively and responsibly.

These smart homeowners didn’t have to lose their house to foreclosure. Instead, they hired a real estate agent to help them sell their house as a Short Sale.

Properties have been listed and sold by various MLS members.

Data drawn from the My Florida Regional Multiple Listing Service.

Because the payoff of a loan will be ‘shorted’ by a significant amount, the mortgage lender must approve a Short Sale. Handled properly, the likelihood of successfully selling your house as a Short Sale is high. Once the Short Sale is behind you, you can often get on with your life with hardly a backward glance.

A Short Sale is nothing more than putting your house up for sale in the usual manner, waiting for a qualified buyer just like any other home seller would, facing a few extra hurdles, filling out additional paperwork, waiting a bit longer for the closing to take place, and finally moving out and moving on.

Real benefits come with selling your house as a Short Sale. Among them are: 1) substantially reducing or completely eliminating financial liability, 2) minimizing damage to your credit rating, 3) emerging from bad credit quicker than you would with a foreclosure, and 4) having a sense of satisfaction that you’re taking care of the problem proactively and responsibly.

Orlando & Lake Mary First Time Home Buyers have something to be happy about this morning. The First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit has passed the Senate last night with a majority vote of 98-0. Now the bill goes to the House where it could be voted on as early as today.

The passing of this bill is great news, but what's even better is this tax credit not only applies to first time home buyers but to home owners looking to purchase a move up home. I think this is the last little boost the housing sector needs to keep the ball rolling in the right direction and help it stabilize some. Lets take a look at what this Home Buying Tax Credit entails.

First Time & Move Up Buyer Tax Credit

$8000 for First Time Home Buyer*

$6500 for Move Up Buyers*

Homes must be under contract by April 30, 2010 and close by June 30, 2010

For Men/Women serving our country outside the US the tax credit is extended an additional year til April 30, 2011

* What makes you a first time home buyer - anyone who hasnt owned a home in the last three years and as a single filer makes less then $125,000/yr or joint $225,000

** What makes you a move up home buyer - Someone who has owned their current home at least five years and same income limits apply.

It's not a done deal yet but with the large support in the Senate it's said to pass the House quite easily. If you have been thinking about purchasing Lake Mary Real Estate or even Orlando Real Estate then now is the time. Leaders are saying this tax credit will not be extended again.

Real Estate in the Central Florida area is some of the lowest it has been in years, coupled with the tax incentive and very low interest rates you have the perfect home buying storm.

For more information on being a First Time Home Buyer and how to get started read my guide to Buying your First Home - You only get one First.

But if you're a more saavy and experienced Home Buyer looking to move up and tax advantage of the new tax credit read my site on Moving with Families & Relocation.

Get started on your search visit HEATHER THE REALTOR stop by the site to chat live, give me a call at 407-218-5099 or email me at Heather@HeatherTheRealtor.com