LaShawn Norden, REALTOR, (321) 377-0157 Your Real Estate Advocate in Florida

The City of Lake Mary and Be a Trailblazer Inc., a non-profit 501c3 organization dedicated to improving the health and quality of life for area citizens, will be hosting a 5K in Lake Mary, Florida on Saturday, March 21, 2009 at 8:00AM.

The event will be held at the Timacuan Country Club and will end at Trailhead Park.

Proceeds from the event will be used to fund the latest Trailblazer project, which is a new off-leash dog park in Lake Mary that is scheduled for completion in late 2009.

For more information on the Trailblazer organization or the off-leash dog park project, you can visit their website here.

Additional information on the 5K including registration details can be found here.

LaShawn Norden, PA, REALTOR, RE/MAX Central Realty, Lake Mary, (321) 377-0157, LaShawn@LaShawnNorden.com, www.LaShawnNorden.com

Earlier this year, the Economic Stimulus Plan, that included a $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers, was approved.

Below is what Central Florida first-time home buyers who are considering purchasing a home need to know about the 2009 Tax Credit:

• The approved amount is $8,000, or 10% of the purchase price, up to a maximum of the $8,000
• It is available for home purchases made between January 1, 2009 thru November 30, 2009
• There is NO repayment requirement
• There is a 3-year recapture if the home is sold within that time period, unless exempt according to the rules
• The money is available for principal residences only (owner occupied)
• To qualify, the Buyer must be a first-time home buyer, which is defined as a purchaser (and purchaser's spouse) who has not owned a principal residence in the three years previous to purchase. Owning a second home(s) or an investment property(s) does not disqualify a person as long as the principal residence rule is intact
• There are income limits. To receive full credit, the maximum AGI (adjusted gross income) for individuals is $75,000 and for joint returns, it's $150,000
• The property is not the qualifier, the Buyer is. Simply put, the Buyer can purchase a new home, a resale, a short sale, a foreclosure, a condo, a townhome or a luxury estate in any neighborhood, city or state and still get the credit.
• It is an actual tax CREDIT~ NOT a tax DEDUCTION! As such, this is a dollar-for-dollar tax REDUCTION, which means that if the Buyer owes no taxes, they could actually get a refund check in the mail for the full $8,000
• The property must be purchased BEFORE the tax credit is taken. While it may be tempting to file for the credit before actually closing on the house, beware, doing so is considered tax fraud.
• Should the Buyer purchase a home after filing their taxes, they can simply amend their tax return once they close on the property.

If you are a first-time home buyer, stop thinking about purchasing a home and start acting!! Not only is inventory at an all time high, but interest rates are low, sellers are motivated and the government is GIVING YOU $8,000!!

As a full-time Real Estate agent in Seminole & Orange County, I have guided many first-time home buyers through the purchase process. If you have questions about the tax credit, getting qualified for a loan or how to find the right property for you and your budget call or text me at (321) 377-0157 or visit my website here.

LaShawn Norden, PA, REALTOR, RE/MAX Central Realty, (321) 377-0157, LaShawn@LaShawnNorden.com, www.LaShawnNorden.com

In the Fall of 2008, the Florida Association of REALTORS® published the Short Sale Addendum to Purchase and Sale Contract (aka SSA-2), which further clarifies the contingency for the approval by the seller's lender(s), the time period allowed for that approval and options for when all other time periods related to deposits, financing, inspections, etc. are to begin.

In addition to addressing the above, the SSA-2 also communicates the right of the Seller to continue to market their property and to secure multiple offers. Verbatim, that statement reads:

"Unless otherwise agreed upon by Buyer and Seller in writing, Seller may continue to market the Property for sale and accept other offers and submit those accepted offers to the Lender."

By design, the above clause should allow the property to remain active in the Mid-Florida Regional MLS (MFRMLS) and all other websites where the Broker markets their listings for sale; but according to the MFRMLS Rules Article 4.15, that is not the case.

According to the MFRMLS Rules, Article 4.15 states:

"All listings with an executed contract must be changed to "pending" status within two business days, with the exception of Right of First Refusal. Properties with any other contingencies are not allowed to remain in active status."

While there are arguments from Sellers, Buyers and their respective Real Estate agents as to the reasons why the above ruling is fair or unfair, the MFRMLS Rules are clearly trumping the statements in the SSA-2, as the MLS has been imposing fines against those brokers who fail to comply with changing the status from active to pending, even though the Short Sale Addendum allows for the continual marketing of a property that is a short sale awaiting acceptance from a Seller(s) lender.

As a full-time professional Real Estate agent, I believe that the MFRMLS should consider creating a new "Under Review" status for short sales that have received an offer, but are awaiting approval from the Seller's lender(s). During the "Under Review" period, the property would remain "Active-Under Review" in the MLS and could continue to be marketed as such, in hopes to create interest from additional Buyers who may consider submitting back up offers that can quickly be submitted if the "Under Review" offer falls through.

What are your thoughts on the conflicts between the SSA-2 and the MFRMLS Rules?

Would you agree that a new "status" might be worthwhile to consider? Why?

LaShawn Norden, PA, REALTOR, RE/MAX Central Realty, (321) 377-0157, LaShawn@LaShawnNorden.com, www.LaShawnNorden.com

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Earlier this week, I posted a Blog about this very same issue. You can read it here.

If passed, this proposed change could SIGNIFICANTLY impact the value and desireablity of homes within the Wekiva River Basin Study Area.

The Department of Government Affairs for the Orlando Regional Realtor Association sent out the below Call To Action today:

WEKIVA RIVER BASIN SEPTIC TANK ISSUE
A meeting of the Wekiva River Basin Commission is scheduled for Friday, February 27, at 1:30 p.m. at the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council's office, located at 631 N Wymore Road, phone is 407.326.1075.

Last Thursday, the advisory committee established by the state to review rules and regulations regarding septic systems voted unanimously to postpone consideration of implementation of rules which would require homeowners in the Wekiva River basin to purchase a much more expensive septic system at the point of major repair or replacement. Unfortunately, the Department of Health does not have to follow the recommendations of the advisory committee.

The State Surgeon General of the Florida Department of Health, Dr. Ana M. Viamonte Ros, has directed her staff to issue new rules for septic systems. These Department of Health rules would require Performance Based Treatment Systems in the Wekiva Study Area upon the sale of a home.

Such a rule is without legislative direction. Senate Bill 1214 of the 2004 legislative session clearly requires that any rule implementation by the Department be appropriate. There is no indication that the proposed rule is appropriate or required.

Such a rule is without scientific support. The report by Department of Health required by SB 1214 has not withstood peer review for adequacy, appropriateness, nor scientific method.

Such a rule is without economic reason. Performance Based Treatment Systems have substantial additional capital cost over a standard system. Performance Based Treatment Systems have substantial annual maintenance costs. The small or non-existent additional benefit to the environment of these Performance Based Treatment Systems compared to standard onsite wastewater treatment systems makes imposition of such a rule incomprehensible.

Such a rule is without economic justice. A portion of the Wekiva Study Area has some of the greatest concentrations of foreclosures that exist in Orange County . Homeowners all throughout the Wekiva Study Area are concerned about job loss and their ability to continue to live in their current residence.

Link here for a copy of the rule and a map outlining the area affected! PLEASE, PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS!

http://www.orlrealtor.com/files/pdf/proposed.doh.rule.pdf

http://www.orlrealtor.com/files/pdf/study.area.map.pdf

As you will see in the rule, a determination of replacement will have to be made at point of SALE!

Again, the Wekiva River Basin Commission meeting will be held on Friday, February 27th at 1:30 p.m. at the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council's office, located at 631 N Wymore Road, phone is 407.326.1075. The Department of Health will be outlining the advisory committee's recommendation. It is important that Realtors and homeowners show their support for the advisory panel's recommendation.

For more information on these issues, please contact Frankie Callen Elliott at 407.513.7276 or vpga@orlrealtor.com.

As a Real Estate agent who represents homeowners in Orange and Seminole County, I plan to attend and hope you will too!

LaShawn Norden, PA, REALTOR & Advocate, servicing Orange & Seminole County, RE/MAX Central Realty(321) 377-0157, LaShawn@LaShawnNorden.com, www.LaShawnNorden.com

The City of Sanford will be holding a public hearing on Thursday, February 26th, from 7:00pm until 9:00pm at the Sanford City Hall building to hear from citizens and organizations about proposed changes to the City's code.

Should the proposed ordinace changes be approved, it could cost homeowners and commerical property owners thousands of dollars.

A detailed summary of the proposed changes can be found here.

As you can see, these proposed changes could significantly impact thousands of properties and further impact property values.

As a REALTOR who services Seminole County and City of Sanford residents, I plan to attend this hearing so that my voice can be heard.

If you can't attend and would like me to share your concerns as well, call or text me at (321) 377-0157 or email me at LaShawn@LaShawnNorden.com and I'll voice your opinion for you.

Please subcribe below to get updates on the outcome, as I'll be posting progress reports here.

For additional information, please contact the City's Information Desk at (407)688-5000.

Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow night!

LaShawn Norden, PA, REALTOR & Advocate for Seminole County and City of Sanford residents, RE/MAX Central Realty, (321) 377-0157, LaShawnNorden.com, www.LaShawnNorden.com

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