iHouseOrlando

Born To Be A Coupon Queen

kuklamu — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 03:33:39 +0000

The reason I am so good at saving money for the real estate clients that I work with is because I was born to save money, born to be a coupon Queen. My college career starting out in accounting – I just love money (in a good way). Even as a young girl I knew every president on all of the dollar bills, I sat and played with my coins for hours – who am I kidding, to this day I still pull out my box of pennies from different years. LOL

I like to tell people the reason my husband married me is because I wouldn’t let him take me on a date to any place that we didn’t have a coupon. No joke. I had my entertainment book and my Sunday paper ads and that determined where we would eat and the movie theater we went to.

So fast forward many years. I still love coupons. Here in Florida we don’t have double coupons (boohoo) however we do have buy 1, get 1 free sales (BOGO). My children know that if the snacks are not BOGOs they shouldn’t even ask for me to put them in the cart.

Why am I sharing all of this with you? Because I love saving money and I love helping other people save money. My couponing life has just been transformed and everyone in Florida needs to have my favorite new website. No more sitting on Sundays cutting out coupons, taking hours going through my old coupons one by one to see which has expired. No more standing in aisles at the grocery store looking through my pouch of coupons to see what is on sale that I have a coupon for. No more dropping my coupon pouch and having all of the coupons fall out then spending an hour organizing them in groups and getting them back in the proper slot. No more cutting coupons out, not getting them in my organizer like I’m supposed to, then I can’t find the coupon when the item goes on sale. You must be asking yourself, “How is this possible?” Due to a wonderful group of women that came to the FPEA conference in Orlando and shared the best information ever. The website is called truecouponing.com and it has changed my life.

Now on Sunday morning I take my time looking through the paper and the “wish books” as my mom always called them. Then I go through all of the papers that I’ve ordered (yes, I now order multiple Sunday papers for the coupons) and take out the booklet of coupons, file the booklet(s) in my filing box under the date and that’s it, I’m done! During the week I get an email from truecouping.com with the up and coming sale ads, the coupons that apply to the sale items and GET THIS, the date the ad was in the paper. I go to my file folder, pull out that stack of coupons and cut out the ONE that is on sale. It’s the old KISS theory put into action. Keep It Simple Stupid (Silly or any other S word you would like to give yourself).

God bless you ladies at truecouponing.com!

Market Update For Orlando/Central Florida

kuklamu — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 16:59:57 +0000

Orlando/Central Florida Area

Homes under $100,000 are flying off the shelf. Multiple offers are very common on the lower priced homes. We have many investors purchasing with cash targeting properties under 60k. Condos are the most popular type of home investors are looking for.

First Time Home Buyers: Ownership is less expensive then renting. Biggest issue has been qualifying for the mortgage.

Move Up Buyers: The largest challenge in this area is that if they choose to rent their home until prices begin to climb then the banks are not allowing the rental income to go toward their debt to income ratios. Banks want a two year rental history. What’s wrong with this picture?

Rental market: Strong due to those who’ve lost their homes due to foreclosure or short sale. Commom to find rentals on Craigslist versus mls. Homes in good areas and good condition are rented in the first few days. Short term or long term rentals, both are selling. They are getting a good ROI.

Luxury Homes: They are still taking a hit. Many of the million dollar buyers are watching the market closely. Prices are still dropping. More short sales popping up in the luxury home market. The good news is that there have been some amazing deals in this arena.

Foreclosures: Foreclosures are trickling back into the market. Since “robo signing” the banks are slowly adding the homes back into inventory.

Appraisers are appraising as low as possible. Not finding compensations for upgrades or condition of the home coming into play.

Median price range homes: Homes priced right are going under contract quickly.

As in most markets, the clients are fed up with the short sale process. However, here in Orlando short sales are the majority of the inventory. Hours are spent on the phone with clients unable to understand why the banks aren’t moving faster to get the home off the books and why the banks aren’t working with common sense. Same frustrations over and over.

Snow birds: Now those who have been watching and waiting for the past few years are calling and saying, “I’m hearing now is the time to buy.” Many are coming with cash. Everyone is looking for a great deal.

Financing: Big sigh! I say the banks are looking at the files like they are guilty until proven innocent.

So who do YOU know that wants to buy or sell in Orlando?

Property tax break for active duty military….

kuklamu — Tue, 17 May 2011 19:52:22 +0000

Property tax break for active duty military. This is a direct article from the Florida Realtors board:

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – May 17, 2011 – If you have clients who served in Iraq or Afghanistan during 2010, they’ll want to know about new legislation providing a tax break for homestead owners.

HB 1141 implements a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2010 and provides a new homestead exemption for military personnel on active duty overseas. The exemption is based on the amount of time the individual served overseas.

How to calculate the tax break
Taxable value of the property multiplied by the percentage of time spent overseas in 2010. (Calculate percentage of time spent overseas by taking the number of days overseas and dividing it by 365).

So, if someone spent six months overseas in 2010, he or she would get a 50 percent discount. If someone spent the entire year overseas (12 months), he or she would get a 100 percent discount.

The property tax discount applies to 2011 taxes, but applicants must apply to their county property appraiser by June 1. If applicants miss the June 1 deadline, they have a second chance, but must apply with 25 days of receiving their assessment notice (TRIM Notice) and demonstrate extenuating circumstances.

“Since many counties do not even have an application form yet, you might recommend (that applicants) send a letter to their county appraiser before June 1,” says
Vicki Weber, an attorney with Hopping Green & Sams in Tallahassee, Fla. “In the letter, they should say, ‘I know about HB 1141, and I was deployed overseas last year. I qualify, and I will submit an application as soon as you send me one. But in the meantime, consider this my application.’”

After 2011, the application deadline is March 1.

Questions? Call Florida Realtors Legal Hotline, an included member benefit for Realtors in Florida at (407) 438-1409.

Short Sale Help

kuklamu — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 16:04:02 +0000

Short Sale Help Is Here For You!!!

Did you know that out of over 700,000 foreclosures last year, 80% of those homes were never put up for sale with a real estate professional? Clients ask me all the time why should they put their home up for a short sale versus just walk away and let the bank foreclose.

If you would like to know the answer to that question then email info@iHouseOrlando.com today.

Check Out The 3500 Year Old Bald Cypress Tree

kuklamu — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 22:11:40 +0000

Looking for something to do in the Orlando area that doesn’t cost money? Head out to Big Tree Park in Longwood. The main attraction is the 3500 year old Bald Cypress tree nicknamed “The Senator” one of the oldest trees in America. Bring a picnic, walk on the boardwalk and enjoy nature. Park hours are park from 8:00 a.m. to sunset seven days a week 363 days a year. For more information call 407-655-2001.

Square Foot Gardening Class @ the library

kuklamu — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 02:03:35 +0000

Just got this email from my wonderful, healthy eating, organic gal pals:

The Lake County Library System will be hosting 4 Square Foot Gardening classes, each a one hour long introduction to All New Square Foot Gardening. The classes will include the foundations, fundamentals, and techniques of the Square Foot Gardening method created by Mel Bartholomew. Steve Earls of SFG Supply in Eustis is certified by the Square Foot Gardening Foundation to teach the Square Foot Gardening Method. Upon completion of the class, students will have the knowledge necessary to begin gardening the Square Foot Gardening way. Classes will be offered at the W.T. Bland Public Library, Friday, January 28th at noon; Marion Baysinger Memorial County Library, Tuesday, February 1 at 6:30 p.m.; Paisley County Library, Tuesday, February 15th at 11 a.m.; and Minneola Schoolhouse Library Saturday, March 5th at 10 a.m.

Square Foot Gardening is a simple, unique and versatile system that adapts to all levels of experience, physical ability, and geographical location. Grow all you want and need in only 20% of the space of a conventional row garden. This gardening method takes less space, less work, and less water and can be done on patios and decks.

Mel Bartholomew, a prominent engineer who retired early at the age of 42, took up gardening as a hobby, invented a new way to garden and became the author of “All New Square Foot Gardening”, the largest selling gardening book in America with over two million copies sold. His method has received worldwide recognition for its simplicity and uniqueness and has been written about in every major newspaper and gardening magazine in the country. For more information please call 352-253-6167 or visit our website at www.mylakelibrary.org.

Oprah’s OWN Network

kuklamu — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 14:30:24 +0000

Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network launches today. I’ve been watching the count down, as I type there is less than 3 hours to go. Noticed the channel finder on the website is not working. That’s ok, I’ll channel surf. After watching Oprah since she went national 25 years ago, like most of America, I feel like I know her. So bring it on Oprah! We are ready for some wholesome tv watching.

My girlfriends and I made many attempts to get tickets to the show. I couldn’t even bring myself to watch the favorite things show this year. BooHoo, glad for them, sad for me. Perhaps if I put out a plea to Oprah as David Letterman did I can manage to have lunch with Oprah and Gail. Just for good measure can Bill Cosby join us? He’s on my bucket list.

Let’s hear what you have to think about OWN!

Theme Parks Host Fireworks For New Years Eve

kuklamu — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 12:52:05 +0000

Fireworks Bring In 2011

The theme parks have been busy, busy, busy this holiday season. Disney has been filled to capacity this week. Once you’re in don’t leave or you may not get back in. Ok, who’s having fireworks????

Disney – Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios

Sea World – Bayside Stadium

Universal Studios – City Walk where Bret Michaels will be performing.

Family Fun In Celebration On New Years Day

kuklamu — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 12:17:09 +0000

Bounce houses (always a favorite for my kids, they expect there to be one at every party), ice rink (with as cold as it has been outside you may as well be ice skating), horse and carriage rides, The Celebration Express Train and live entertainment!

Justin Smith

Hosted By Justin Smith (as seen on The Vampire Diaries, Army Wives, Christmas Cupid, Meet the Spartans and more!)

11:00 a.m.-11:30 Grace McGee
12:00-1:00 p.m. Jordyn Kane
1:00-2:00 p.m. Bryan Malpass
2:00-3:00 p.m. Michael Petrovich
3:00 PM Event Ends

Third Annual 5k RUNNONA in Lake Nona

kuklamu — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 23:47:23 +0000

RUNNONA is the annual 5k run through the new developments in Lake Nona. This years course will wind through the fabulous Lake Nona Medical City. This is your chance to view the Sanford- Burnham Medical Research Institute, Orlando VA Medical Center, Nemours Children’s Hospital and UCF’s just-opened College of Medicine. The event will start and finish at Tavistock Green at the College of Medicine.

November 6th, 5k Walk and Run starts at 8:00am.

The Nemours Kids’ Run starts at 9:15am and is free for children. The first 150 registered kids receive a t-shirt and finisher’s medal.

To add to the fun the Radio Disney AM 990 Road Crew will be there bringing entertainment, music, prizes and fun games.

Click here for more information.