Scott Taylor, REALTOR

Beautifully nestled along the shores of pristine Lake Butler on the Windermere chain of lakes is one of Windermere's most exclusive communities, The Sanctuary at Lake Butler Sound. This 380-acre guard gated residential retreat is a community where luxury meets wildlife. Gorgeous and pristine lakefront lots and homes can be found, both existing and to-be-built by some of the area’s most prominent residential Orlando area luxury home builders including Stonebridge Homes, Southpoint Custom Homes, Ray Coudriet Builder, R.L. Vogel Homes, Jones Clayton Construction, J. Richard Watson Construction, Derrick Builders, Dave Konkol Homes, Castleworks, Brierhill Homes and Akers Custom Homes.

Time share mogal, David Segal's home currently under construction in Lake Butler Sound 88,000 sq. ft.

There are three distinct residential enclaves, The Reserve, The Estates and Mediterranea. The Reserve The features some of the largest and most scenic home sites found on the Butler Chain of Lakes and in Windermere. There are a total of forty eight home sites directly situated on the pristine shores of Lake Butler. Mediteranean and Olde World architecture abound in this absolutely gorgeous section of premier Central Florida real estate. Windermere and Central Florida’s largest residence is currently under construction in this phase. The total square footage of this home when finished will be over 88,000 square feet when completed!

The Estates section of Lake Butler Sound consists of sixty three home site lots which average ½ acre to over .7 acres with wonderful custom homes which range in size from approximately 4400sf to over 9300 square feet living area.This phase is adjacent to a natural preserve and some lots abut the preserve for privacy. There is a formal sculptured English Garden along a walkway there for the home owners to enjoy.

The third more economical phase, Mediterranea features classically styled residences built on 1/3 acre and larger home sites. There are 74 homes already completed in this phase. Homes here range in size from 3,200 to over 4,400 square feet.

Lake Butler Sound is conveniently located to Orlando International Airport, major business centers and medical facilities. The areas best schools can be found close by. You’ll love the proximity to great restaurants, art galleries and upscale shopping and sporting activities for all to enjoy.

For a list of all available homes for sale in Lake Butler Sound, Windermere, Contact me e-mail or phone me at (407)877-7627. I have been selling luxury homes in the Orlando, Florida area for over 17 years.

Isleworth is Central Florida's most prestigious address. A guard gated golf and water front enclave of luxury homes located just west of Orlando in Windermere, Florida. As of today, there are currently 40 active residential listings available to purchase in Isleworth which range in price from $12,500,000 to and entry level home listed at just $1,500.000. Aside from Tiger Woods, the wealthiest and most famous golfer in history, other homeowners have included NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neill, movie stars like Wesley Snipes and Planet Hollywood creator Robert Earl. Bette Midler and Ron Howard have or have owned a home here as well.

For a complete list of all available homes for sale in Isleworth click here

So You Think You Can Dance star Jakob Karr will be appearing live tomorrow at the Winter Garden Theater in Winter Garden, Florida tomorrow, Monday, December 21 at 3:30pm.

Jakob is a Windermere, Florida resident and runner up in the televised dance competition that concluded last week. Admission is free. He's be back in town and at the Garden Theatre in Winter Garden for a brief performance, Q&A session and autograph signing. Before the event there are two a shows called In His Name - We Dance! Those attending the 2pm (2nd) performance of In His Name- We Dance! receive preferential seating for this event.

In His Name We Dance is a Winter Garden tradition which continues with a holiday celebration. A tribute through dance and song.

The Winter Garden Theater is set in the sleepy and quaint downtown area of Winter Garden, Florida. Step back in time and transport yourself to a simpler time. This is a down town that you think of when you think of a down town. With restaurants, boutiques lining the brick paved streets and the West Orange Bike Trail going right through the medium. Many people who work in Orlando call Winter Garden their home with an easy commute via the East West Expressway and the new State Road 429 toll road that now connects as far south as Interstate 4 and as far north as Apopka. There is a new Western Beltway connecting the 429 along the Maitland Exhange's new extension which makes commuting to the Northeastern side of town so much quicker and easier.

A view during Winter Garden's many sidewalk festivals.

Buy In His Name Tickets on line here

For a complete list of homes for sale in the Winter Garden area log onto www.MyOrlandoAgent.com

Let's face it, there are many many people out there right now that are "won't be buyers". These folk aren't on the fence, they've fallen off the fence and have rolled down the hill and have landed faced down on the other side! They've watched what happened to some of their friends and relatives during the recent housing crisis, they not only flinch at the idea of buying a house, they are committed to not buy at all.

I guess it's our job as Realtors to educate these types of people. We have to tell them about the home buyer's tax credit, who else will? I haven't seen any television commercials aired on this subject. We've got to educate them on the mortgage interest deduction on their taxes and somehow paint a picture of their future appreciation all of which they won't get if they rent. So we'll have to try have to get these "won't be buyers" to at least get back on the fence, right? The "Would be buyer's are easier to convince, they just need to work on improving their credit, or maybe if there is a lack of funds for their down payment, educate them on available down payment assistance programs, certainly a much easier task.

I recently ran into an aquaintance and the real estate crisis subject came up in our conversation. He stated that he would never buy because of what is happening to some of his family members and close friends. They had lost their equity, paid way too much and his brother had to short sale his home recently in order to accept a job transfer in another part of the country. Now to most people this comment may seem a bit abrupt at first, even uneducated and closed minded. I sympathized with him that this had hit so close to home for him yet I wondered after hearing this, how many other people in this country feel the same as him right now?

Are there more "won't be buyers" than "would be buyers" out there?

I was shocked that he felt this way. Instead of looking at these reduced prices and the intensely competitive over supply of homes here in the Orlando housing market as an opportunity, he's simply resigned to never buy a home, he's just plain afraid to. Of course I did what any good natured Realtor would do, I did try to calm his fears and talked to him about the all benefits of home-ownership. To someone who's never owned a home he might not have even thought how this could be an opportunity. This acquaintance is in his 30's, married and to me seems otherwise extremely intelligent. I believe after I spent the time outlining how much rent he'd pay in the next 30 years that he'd beg me to let him see some homes right away...

The cost of rent vs. owning

$2,000/month X 12 months X 30 years =$720,000

He currently rents his home for $2,000 a month, so I did a little quick math in my head for him. I also pointed out that he will save a lot of money at the end of the year on his taxes. Uncle Sam let's you write off your interest on your mortgage. So far, he hasn't changed his hind. I'm worried for him because some fences are taller than others are are harder to climb back over. Surely time will heal this man's wounds and he'll peaceably want to hop back over the fence to the other side, but by then he'll be paying too much, possibly a victim of the next real estate crisis. (They happen about every 15 years or so, timing is everything, sell high and buy low). It's clear to me that timing is everything and to me, it would seem like a perfect time to buy. All the investors are buying up all the best priced homes here in Orlando, where I sell real estate. Buyer's here are constantly getting outbid by cash investors! For his sake, I hope my talk did some good. Owning a home is so rewarding. To me, life wouldn't be full if I didn't own my own home.

There are some very enticing changes in the newly revised tax credits for home buyers. I read a newspaper post today distributed by the Washing Post and printed in the LA Times regarding the outlines for the home buyer tax credits. Finally some answers to many buyer's questions... See the whole story here . Very interesting reading for buyers and Realtors alike. This is a very exiting time to buy a home indeed!

Some of the revisions are to include an increase in income limits. There is also a cap on the amount of the purchase price, changes on claims by dependents and some additional documentation requirements. Later this month the IRS will publish a revised Form 5405 with detailed instructions so they you can get a check from the government. All home purchases made after November 6 must use the new form, ( Form 5405 ) in order to claim the credit. If you send the older form your request may not be answered, according to Kenneth R. Harney. You will be able to see the new form posted on www.IRS.govlater this month.

The tax credit is known as the Worker Home ownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009. The credit for up to 8,000 for first time home buyers which originally expired on Nov. 30 this year was extended until the end of April.

The updated law also created a new tax credit of up to $6,500 for repeat buyers, (home buyers who have owned their principal residence for a consecutive five of the previous either years). You must purchase a replacement principal residence with an executed contract by April 30, 2010 and you must close on the transaction no later than June 30. This is a great incentive for move up buyers. The tax incentive for first time home buyers worked quite well so they're thinking that this new inscentive will be popular as well and should stimulate the housing market. I think the government is not doing all they can to get the word out, however. I am surprised how many buyer prospects that I talk to who have never heard of it.

Armed forces members and intelligence and diplomatic personnel who serve in foreign countries will get another year to buy a principal residence.

Sorry to say for you Orlando, Florida luxury home buyers, the purchase price can not exceed $800,000. Furthermore, the new income limits after November 6th rand from 125,000 in gross income if you're unmarried, and up to $225,000 for joint filers. If you're single and have an income between $125,000 to $145,000 you may still be eligible for a reduced credit amount. also joint filers with a combined income between $225,000 and $245,000 can also be eligible for a reduced credit. Previously, the old limits were only $75,000 for single filers and $150,000 for joint.

Another interesting change is that when unmarried individuals co-purchase a house and only one is eligible for the tax credit, then the eligible buyer is entitled to the full $8,000.

If you're a first time home buyer or a repeat buyer, it's certainly not a bad idea to buy a home right now. For you repeat home buyers that tax inscentive may lessen shock of your recently equity loss incurred by this market. Certainly, today's prices are surely a good inscentive. Interest rates are as low as they've ever been. Visit my Orlando Real Estate website at http://www.MyOrlandoAgent.com to see what homes are currently on the market. That money sure will come in handy when your refund comes in next year.