The Artist Formerly Known As Prince now has a run for his money. If you've purchased a pre-construction deal at Winter Park's "The Langford", hopefully you haven't already had your stationery made up - because the Condominium Formerly Known As The Langford is about to change it's name to "The Trovillion", after the developer Doug Trovillion. The name change comes in the wake of a cleanup operation that's still taking place after the six month long legal dispute with former partner Langford [...]
I saw a rather pathetic site this morning. He was supposed to be the Statue of Liberty: A middle aged man with facial hair wandering around the intersection of Kirkman and Colonial wearing a green dress and a pointy star thing on his head. He was carrying a sign for Liberty Insurance. It was pathetic because not only did he make a really unattractive Statue of Liberty, but he clearly wasn't enjoying his work. It makes one wonder about the value of such advertising. "Human directionals" as they [...]
In his new book Condominium Living, Robert Meisner shares a lifetime of condo experience as a condominium owner and attorney. The book is divided into two sections: Part 1: discusses the factors to be considered when selecting, buying, and selling a condominium. Part 2: explains the management and operation of the condominium association. The book closes with a section called Meisner's Maxims where the author sheds a more humorous light on the subject of condo living. This book will help you [...]
Dear Sherry: I'm purchasing a new condo and I'm really having a hard time comparing the different good faith estimates that I've received from various lenders. Why isn't there an identical form every lender fills out with charges, similar to tax paperwork? Signed: Confused and Frustrated. Dear Confused and Frustrated: It's true, it can be confusing. But every potential charge you see on those estimates has a number assigned to the charge. That's how these estimates are put together. However [...]
Do you know what your Condominium Bylaws contain? One of the major rewards to living in a condominium community is the lack of personal responsibility that an owner must take in certain areas such as lawn maintenance and snow removal. However, there are trade-offs to consider, such as the personal responsibility one must take in keeping up-to-date on the association bylaws and bylaw amendments. For instance, what if you enjoyed "lighting up" every-now-and-then but one day discovered that [...]
Most expensive condo: Listed for: $179,500 Sold for: $185,000 (days on market = 51) Least expensive condo: Listed for: $99,000 Sold for: $75,000 (days on market = 129) Median sales price: $153,000 Average days on market = 127 Source: Orlando Sentinel
Growing Bolder - not Older: strategies for transition living -- is the title of this Thursday's seminar being held at the Trevi condominium sales center. With so many retirees looking for a brand new "lock and leave" lifestyle in Orlando, upscale condos are becoming increasingly popular. However, for many, downsizing from a 5,000 square foot house into a 1,000-3,000 foot condo can be a challenge to say the least. There are some things that will need to disappear in order to squeeze in. But most[...]
Most people don't really know what condo hotels are. And of those that do, many have been wondering whether the concept of the condotel will work here in Orlando. Orlando's condo hotels encompass both conversion and pre-construction and currently include (deep breath): Club Venetian, the Lexington, the Blue Rose, Villa del Lago, Pallazo del Lago, Imagine at The Westin, WorldQuest Resort, Floridays Resort, the Mona Lisa, Vista Club, the Point, San Marco Resort and Lake Buena Vista Resort and [...]
A South Florida company has received Orlando City Commission approval to build a $300,000, two-tower, mixed use building to be called SkyCity. "They're crazy!" I hear you scream. "More downtown condos? Those developers are out of their tiny, concrete-ridden minds!" Take a chill pill. It's gonna be okay. Construction is not expected to start until 2009 and they probably won't be finished until 2011. By then the current condo glut should be pretty much used up - just in time for the baby boomer [...]
Mother's Day will be a lot more fun than usual this year. Flowers, cards, a restaurant diner perhaps - followed by a nice slice of 60 Minutes before bed time. If you're a real estate agent, this should probably be followed by a handful of Tylenol and a couple of Lunesta, because the famous TV show will be airing the results of a nine-month investigation into the real estate industry this Sunday, May 13. According to Inman News, the television network has been on the snoop, interviewing [...]