Robert Schott & Paula Hemani

Much anticipated numbers were reported for available homes for sale in Central Florida this month. After having seen the supply of homes trend downward the past few years from an all time high in 2007 of 26,000, Central Florida finally hit below 10,000 properties for sale. Southwest Orange County real estate has benefited greatly by not only having less homes for sale but also a reduction in distressed properties as well.

Real estate is still about supply and demand, how many homes for sale compared to how many buyers that are ready, willing and able to purchase. Let's start with the supply side and see how this greatly affects real estate markets.

Especially in sought after markets like Southwest Orange County that feature some of Central Florida's prime real estate like Dr Phillips, Windermere and Winter Garden, declining inventory levels create a real time incentive among buyers to purchase now before it's to late. It dosen't take buyers long after missing out on offers submitted in these sought after markets to understand you don't have to be a desperate buyer but you do have to be an aggressive one.

With only 27 bank owned single family homes for sale in Dr Phillips, Windermere and Winter Garden combined, it's no surprise buyers are purchasing these properties the fisrt few weeks on the market. Looking at the past 90 days in these communities there have been 53 bank owned homes sold at an astounding average purchaee price of 97 percent of list price.

And how about those ready, willing and able buyers? For willing buyers, with five years of declining home prices buyers are seeing value. Basic economics is gradual decreases in price until value returns and that's exactly what has happened. Willing? you bet they are willing to purchase, if there is one absolut about real estate, it always changes.

How about ready buyers? Consumers move every 5 to 7 years and the past 5 years have been the slowest movement in recent history. Consumers are ready but it brings us to the last equation, able buyers.

Make no mistake the worst of the worst is over, in first quarter of 2009 banks just were not lending. Everyone was holding on to cash and it didn't matter what list price you had on a property, no one was buying. Today banks have loosened their strings, don't get me wrong not to where we were in 2005 but headed toward a normal market and normal lending practices. A stronger economy and getting unemployment numbers under 7 percent will only help get more "able" buyers into the market place which will drive inventory levels down even further.

If you are a ready, willing and able buyer don't let this opportunity in a life time pass you up. Search the latest homes for sale in these sought after communities, updated daily!

• Dr Phillips Real Estate Orlando, Florida
• Windermere real estate and lake front homes
• Winter Garden real estate

Last week I talked about distressed Dr Phillips homes for sale and the great opportunities that are available. Dr Phillips home values have bottomed, it's no secret but I will show you how to dominate your competition and be an expert finding great deals in this sought after market of Orlando, Florida.

This is all about the Dr Phillips community and how to find under valued homes for sale before they are gone. There are buyers purchasing these homes the first few days on the market, maybe you know someone that recently purchased. The question is why isn’t it you? Why aren’t you finding these deals or why are you a day late dollar short calling on homes already under contract? Why aren’t you purchasing one of these homes in a great nitch market of Orlando that was in high demand at the peak, and of course would be one of the first communities to rebound.

The short answer is, likely, because no one ever showed you how. That's not your fault you're not in the real estate business. There isn’t a “for Dummies” book on finding distressed Dr Phillips homes and investors that already have the answer are not in a position to let you in on the secret. It just isn’t going to happen.

What can happen, and WILL happen, is I will reveal to you the latest homes to come on the market but then how to make an offer through terms of a contract to make it possible.

There is never a charge for the education you are about to get, but if you fail to take advantage you may lose out on a perfect real estate market that we will not see again for years to come.

From short sales to bank owned Dr Phillips properties to motivated sellers that MUST sell, the time is now. It really is that simple and the choice is totally up to you.

Sign up today and I'm confident I can find you the perfect home at a great price while they are still available. What I can't promise you is these deals will be around for long.

I will teach you how to seperate fact from fiction and how best to get the third party short sale approval. How best to write an offer that banks will accept, going after price by writing attractivly looking offers using terms of a contract banks are looking for.

Register today and get started finding a Dr Phillips home at a great price, I have your back!

Dr Phillips is known for their ever popular "Restaurant Row" and vast variety of cuisine so this past weekend I ventured outside my norm and tried something a little different. I dinned at Dr Phillips' Saffron Indian Cusisine located in the heart of Dr Phillips and in the up-tempo Dr. Phillips Plaza.

The atmosphere was very relaxing with lights dimmed and aimed towards stone walls and eye pleasing decor, which was great after a long week.

For starters we had the Palak Bhajia, made with spinach leaves and a batter of chick peas which was delicious and priced very reasonable at $6.00. For dinner the Tandoori Shrimp was tender cubes of shrimp marinated in ginger and a light spicy sauce which I shared with a friend and her plate of Eggplant stuffed with roasted spices and coconut sauce. Both dishes were excellent and didn't add up to more than $35.00.

Over all the food was delicious served on time and hot by a friendly helpful waitstaff, best of all a three course meal could be had under $50.00, I will return.

It wasn't that long ago that Golf gated Stoneybrook West had an inventory of homes in the 90's. Today Stoneybrook West in Winter Garden only has 16 homes for sale, two bank owned, four short sales and look at that, ten regular sellers.

Real estate markets in Central Florida have been hitting the bottom this past 8 months in sought after communities like Dr Phillips, Windermere, Winter Park and Lake Mary. These communities were highly sought out at the peak of the market so it should be of no surprise they are coming back first.

Winter Garden real estate and especially gated Stoneybrook West homes for sale are the second tier of markets hitting bottom and stabilizing. This doesn't not mean we are going back to the hey days of 2005 but rather stopping the decline in home values and starting a journey of slow gradual increases in appreciation, back to a normal real estate market that Florida has not seen in years.

For buyers searching for great deals, guard gated community, Golf, swimming, club house, fitness and the newer Fullers Mall only minutes away, Stoneybrook West real estate should be on your tour of homes. There is still time but don't wait to long!

Stoneybrook West Homes For Sale:

A few years ago the market was so hot homes were flying off the market. Dr Phillips real estate was in hot demand. Sellers could make improvements to increase the value of their home, but minor improvements didn't get the home sold. That was then, this is now!

Inventory of homes is declinning but still high and there are plenty of homes at every price range. Sellers are under more pressure to make their home stand out against their neighbors. That means new mulch in the front yard, clean and declutter from top to bottom. No purple room, no laundary on the floor, no cracked walls or floors. These are a few of the items sellers need to take care of before putting their home on the market. We all have been in a builder model home, get as close to that as possible.

A lot of sellers don't want to spend money to fix up their home just to turn around and sell it and I agree. But there are so many other things that may cost a little time but well worth it. Spending under $500 to fix up your home isn't it worth it if yoiu could save one to two months of mortgage payments, by selling one or two months quicker or possibly net you $3000 to $8000 more at the closing table.

So what are some of the cost saving repairs you can do yourself?

1. Doors that stick or squeek
2. Dirty Windows (take window screens out that obstruct beautiful views)
3. Open and inviting floor plans. You may need to take out cluttered furniture to show larger rooms
4. Closets neat and orginaized, show prospective buyers they will have plenty of room.
5. Depersonalize, we don't know what taste a buyer will have so stay neutral.
6. Paint, cheap and quickest way to spruce up a home
7. Flooring, no don't change it just clean it. Clean grout, carpeting and shine hardwood, show those nice flooring by picking up rugs. now is the time to get your money for those beautiful floors not hid them.
8. Laundry rooms should be clean, no dirty close just a coulpe of fresh folded towels on the dryer.
9. Bathroom counter tops free from clutter, grout in tub and fresh towels
10. Clean sparkling kitchen
11. Outside curb appeal, sod dry patches, fresh multch (buy large chips) plant a few fresh flowers at the entrance.
12. Sparkling clean pool and deck, power wash walk, drive way and home where needed.

CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN!

Today's market is very competitive, so know your competition and stay a step a head. Look at your home from a buyers perspective and get your home "Show Ready" it will make all the difference in the world. We live one way and sell another, make that first impression your home's best!