Part of the reason Condo Metropolis suggests using an agent to buy is because buyer agents usually have the inside scoop on the market. So even if you fancy yourself as a crack negotiator and are prepared to breeze into the developer's office and demand 3% off because you don't have an agent, you better know what you're buying. Otherwise, cutting the agent out of the deal might turn out to be a poor decision, costing a lot more than you ever saved. Case in point: Two years ago, a buyer [...]
According to the Orlando Business Journal, Winter Park's The Langford will become the subject of legally binding arbitration to settle complaints filed by the Langford Corporation against the developer and The Langford LLC. Apparently, the complaint alleges that The Langford LLC is refusing to provide access to project-related records. In addition, there is a complaint that the developer misappropriated revenue, submitted false information to the lender and, according to the OBJ "negligently [...]
Ok, this is quite possibly the most bizarre, random, age inappropriate, fawning over the condo lifestyle that has ever come to pass... I love it. It was posted by our friends at CondoDomain.com (Congrats on your new Web 2.0 guys). Anyway, I'm still not sure I get it... I mean, didn't even know what a "condo" was when I was at school - but you can't get more enthusiastic than this. Question is, should Condo Metropolis hire them for our next advertising campaign??
There are many reasons that Orlando has not fallen victim to the much hyped housing bubble. The influx of baby boomers is one. They just love condos. Even an over supply like the one we are experiencing can only last so long in the face of a thousand new wrinklies a week. But an equally strong explanation has to do with the availability of work to those who have are still in the workforce. For the second straight year, Forbes has listed the Orlando-Kissimmee metropolitan area the fourth-best [...]
I'm not the hugest Valentine's Day fan - in fact I was fairly sure I would mark this day with nothing but stern silence - a statement of my bitterness with Hallmark. But this is cute. Okay, so it might seem a little extravagant to buy her a Trevi condo for Valentine's Day, but when you figure in the investment value, you're not spending money, you're actually making money - and looking good while you do it. Hell, you don't even need a girlfriend. Just pick someone you'd like to have as a [...]
The Venetian Grand Resort, an Orlando condo hotel announced in 2005 is now back in the running after a significant delay caused by legal wranglings. Reincarnated as the San Marco Resort, the property will boast 472 units amid two 15 story towers. Construction is slated to begin this summer and should complete in 2009. One bedroom units start at around $375 and a three bedroom penthouse could set you back about $875. The Vista Club, another full service condo hotel had it's broker's open [...]
Investors: Land Bargain in Lady Lake! I don;t normally get into the whole land thing. We do condos, not land. But you can't have one without the other. Plus, with land increasingly hard to find - and with the housing market being somewhat soft of late - speculators often find land is a more profitable long term investment than bricks and mortar or the stock market. With that in mind, I've just got wind of a great land deal in Lady Lake, just northwest of Orlando in Lake County. The plots are[...]
I went. I saw. I conquered. Forget the "conquered" bit. I'm exhausted. If you've ever been to the Orlando convention center you'll know that it's larger than 93.5 football fields side by side. Okay, I just made that up - but I'm telling you, it's pretty darned big. The annual International Home Builders Show has been in Orlando for the last 4 days “ which is about half as long as you need if you want to see it all. But for those in the business, it's where you have to be if you want to [...]
The Orlando Business Journal has posted the results for its annual Best Real Estate Deals. The awards are a result of readers' nominations; the criteria for choosing winners is based on the project's community impact, difficulties overcome and success. And the award for overall best Real Estate Deal of 2006 goes to [clears throat]: The Blue Rose. Crowd goes wild. Step forward. Take a bow. One billion dollars... well spent. It's true. Orlando has never seen anything quite like the Blue [...]