After almost 12 years of good times and wonderful memories, including bringing my newborn baby home to his precious nursery 5 years ago, I’ve come to realize it’s time for a change. So … I’m selling my wonderful townhome in Celebration, Florida and starting a new chapter in my life.

Below is the description and a link to pictures. If you, or someone you know, is interested in it, please contact me.

Overlooking beautiful Savannah Square and nestled amongst lush landscaping and gorgeous estates, this 3-story townhome is a gem. Located in the heart of Celebration, you can stroll downtown, walk your children to school or to Longmeadow Park, or play 18 holes at the nearby award-winning golf course.

With almost 3000 square feet, this home offers 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, formal living room with fireplace, a bay window in the dining room, a cozy family room and breakfast nook, an office, and a bright/cheery kitchen w/an oversized pantry. It boasts hardwood floors throughout the first floor, a fireplace in the formal living room, vaulted ceilings, crown molding throughout, classy built-ins in the elegant master bedroom plus a jacuzzi tub and double sinks in the master bath, and lots of storage space. French doors open to the sunny office and the spacious 4th bedroom encompasses the entire third floor, complete with a sitting area and private full bath with a garden tub, separate shower, and double sinks.

The plethora of windows throughout this end-unit townhome bring in the Florida sunshine. A private courtyard w/an outdoor grill, a fountain, and two gorgeous bougainvillea is situated between the townhome and the detached 2-car rear-entry garage.

This luxurious townhome is located in Celebration, Florida. Developed by Disney and located close to numerous theme parks, Orlando International Airport, and beaches on both coasts, Celebration is the perfect place to call home.

In addition to the awesome location, this townhome has an amazing price of $337,500.

To view photos, please go to http://bit.ly/uzWwUX.  To view the You Tube video, please go to http://bit.ly/unmb3n.

This property is listed w/ Century 21 Real Estate Professionals. I’m the seller and a licensed real estate agent. Contact me at 407.592.HOME (4663) or at Sandy@SandySellsFlorida.net to receive the complete information sheet or to preview this fabulous home.

The rush of new construction excitement came as I stood in Phase 1 of Laureate Park, a planned community reminiscent of Celebration and Baldwin Park. Old-world charm will mix with new-age style in this neo-traditional neighborhood, that’s in close proximity to the Orlando International Airport. Each home will be equipped with cutting edge technology and will be green-certified.  Options will include garage apartments and many of the sites will be large enough for a private pool and outdoor kitchen.

Residents of Laureate Park will enjoy community pools, hiking trails, an outdoor mall, waterfront restaurants, and easy access to Lake Nona’s Medical City.

Sanford|Burnham Medical Research Institute and the UCF College of Medicine are already operating in Medical City. In the near future, they’ll be joined by a 1.2 million square foot VA Hospital, Nemour’s Children Hospital, and a University of Florida research center.

Three builders have been chosen for Laureate Park — Ashton Woods, David Weekley Homes, and K. Hovnanian Homes.  Ashton Woods will offer single family homes and lofts, with prices starting at $229,900.  David Weekley Homes will offer single family homes, with prices starting at $206,000. And, K. Hovnanian Homes will offer single family homes and duplexes, with prices starting at $235,490.

Sales in this exciting community start on Saturday, October 29, 2011. As your Realtor, I can assist you every step of the way as you build your new home … from helping you pick the best floor plan and homesite for your needs to acting as your extra eyes and ears throughout the construction process. If you live away from the area, I’ll update you with photographs and progress reports of your new home during the entire construction phase.

For more information on Laureate Park and to reserve your new home today, contact me at Sandy@SandySellsFlorida.net or at 407.592.HOME (4663). To view photos of the model homes, go to http://bit.ly/LaureatePark.

Next on Disney’s agenda is the development of an exquisite, upscale community located inside Disney… nestled between The Magic Kingdom and Epcot!  This luxurious neighborhood is known as Golden Oak, named after a ranch in California where Walt Disney would retreat to continue working on his creation known as “the most magical place on Earth”.  As a young boy, Walt would sit under a large oak tree and dream.  Aren’t we glad he did?

Golden Oak will be a gated community situated on 980 acres, with almost half of the acreage consisting of conservation land.  It will ultimately be filled with 450 luxury residences, ranging in price from $1.5 to $8 Million.  It will consist of gorgeous, custom single family homes and lovely, Tuscan-style courtyard homes.

The folks who purchase in Golden Oak will choose a homesite and then plan their dream home, to either reside in or enjoy as a vacation home.  The first release of these desirable homesites is taking place now, with less than 30 being offered at this time.  I’ve had the privilege of working with the sales staff and builders who are in place at Golden Oak as they were involved in the development of Celebration.  You can rest assured they will bring professionalism and perfection to the Golden Oak experience.

Residents of Golden Oak will enjoy many amenities including private VIP transportation, theme park benefits, special event tickets, exclusive community activities, concierge services, a private clubhouse featuring fine dining and upscale fitness facilities, and access to the largest Four Seasons Resort in North America.  The Four Seasons Resort planned for this brilliant community will boast an 18-hole golf course, restaurants, and a relaxing spa.

As a real estate broker in Florida, it would be my pleasure to send you more information on this extravagant piece of the most magical place on earth, to accompany you on a private tour of the area, and to act as your “eyes and ears” while your Disney dream home is under creation.  Please feel free to contact me at Sandy@SandySellsFlorida.net or at 407.592.HOME (4663).

*First-Time Homebuyers (FTHBs): First-time homebuyers (that is, people who have not owned a home within the last three years) may be eligible for the tax credit. The credit for FTHBs is 10% of the purchase price of the home, with a maximum available credit of $8,000.

Single taxpayers and married couples filing a joint return may qualify for the full tax credit amount.

*Current Owners: The tax credit program now gives those who already own a residence some additional reasons to move to a new home. This incentive comes in the form of a tax credit of up to $6,500 for qualified purchasers who have owned and occupied a primary residence for a period of five consecutive years during the last eight years.

Single taxpayers and married couples filing a joint return may qualify for the full tax credit amount.

*What are the New Deadlines?

In order to qualify for the credit, all contracts need to be in effect no later than April 30, 2010 and close no later than June 30, 2010.

*Tax Credit Versus Tax Deduction

It’s important to remember that the tax credit is just that… a tax credit. The benefit of a tax credit is that it’s a dollar-for-dollar tax reduction, rather than a reduction in a tax liability that would only save you $1,000 to $1,500 when all was said and done. So, if a first-time homebuyer were to owe $8,000 in income taxes and would qualify for a tax credit of $8,000, she would owe nothing.

Better still, the tax credit is refundable, which means the homebuyer can receive a check for the credit if he or she has little income tax liability. For example, if a first-time homebuyer is eligible for a tax credit of $8,000 but is liable for $4,000 in income tax, she can still receive a check for the remaining $4,000!

*Higher Income Caps

The amount of income someone can earn and qualify for the full amount of the credit has been increased.

Single tax filers who earn up to $125,000 are eligible for the total credit amount. Those who earn more than this cap can receive a partial credit. However, single filers who earn $145,000 and above are ineligible

Joint filers who earn up to  $225,000 are eligible for the total credit amount. Those who earn more than this cap can receive a partial credit. However, joint filers who earn $245,000 and above are ineligible.

*Maximum Purchase Price

Qualifying buyers may purchase a property with a maximum sale price of $800,000.

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Remember, the new tax credit program includes a number of details and qualifications. For more information or answers to specific questions, please call or email Steve today.

In addition, you may be able to benefit from additional housing related provisions, including the following:

*Tax Incentives to Spur Energy Savings and Green Jobs

This provision is designed to help promote energy-efficient investments in homes by extending and expanding tax credits through 2010 for purchases such as new furnaces, energy-efficient windows and doors, or insulation.

*Landmark Energy Savings

This provision provides $5 Billion for energy efficient improvements for more than one million modest-income homes through weatherization. According to some estimates, this can help modest-income families save an average of $350 a year on heating and air conditioning bills.

*Repairing Public Housing and Making Key Energy Efficiency Retrofits To HUD-Assisted Housing

This provision provides a total of $6.3 Billion for increasing energy efficiency in federally supported housing programs. Specifically, it establishes a new program to upgrade HUD-sponsored low-income housing (for elderly, disabled, and Section 8) to increase energy efficiency, including new insulation, windows, and frames.

*Expanding Housing Assistance

This provision increases support for several critical housing programs. It includes $2 Billion for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program to help communities purchase and rehabilitate foreclosed, vacant properties.

If you have any questions about your specific situation or would like to discuss how you may benefit from this program, please call or email Steve and he will meet with you to discuss your needs.  Again, Steve can be reaced at SBirk@ElementFunding.com or at 407.367.5573.

If you would like to receive a list of homes that have your desired criteria or have any questions about purchasing a new home, please feel free to contact me at 407.592.HOME (4663) or at Sandy@SandySellsFlorida.net.  It would be a pleasure to serve your real estate needs.

Every time I am out with a buyer, they are clearly confused about today’s market…it is as if they are traveling down a yellow brick road with a flying monkey or bad witch waiting around the next bend!

Since I aspire to be The Good Witch for those that feel that they are searching for the Land of Oz, I am offering an explanation of the 3 types of sellers in today’s market….

Like the Lion, you must find your courage to purchase a short/sale property.  A short/sale is when the current owner of a property is “upside down”…owing more on their mortgage than what their property is worth today.  In lieu of foreclosure, their lender(s) has agreed to accept less than the balance that is due.  There are numerous challenges when dealing with a short/sale property.  First of all, the bank does not reveal how much less they will take at the time that the property is placed on the market.  Therefore, the list price of the property can be very misleading to buyers.  Some real estate agents will price the property based on what similar properties are selling for, but many will place a very low price on the property (even though they know that the bank will, in all probability, not go that low) to entice the buyers into their listing.  It is an unfair practice, in my opinion, but a common one nonetheless.  Secondly, the lenders are so over-whelmed with the massive paperwork that is required on a short/sale, that it often takes months & months & months just to get an answer on your offer.  And…during the time that you are waiting, there is a chance that another offer could come in that is higher than yours and, if the lender has not signed off on the one that you submitted, knock yours out of first position.  Thirdly, there are so many short/sale properties to choose from that it is sometimes difficult to view every one.  If you have the courage to take on the risk and if you have the luxury of time on your side (and are blessed with the patience of Job), you have the opportunity to purchase a home at a very good price.

To purchase a bank-owned property, it helps to have a heart like the Tin Man.  Some of the properties are in bad repair and you are,of course, reminded that someone “lost” the home completely.  But…you can typically get an answer on your offer from the lender within a few days or weeks and the closing typically takes place within one to two months after that.  And…oftentimes the banks are ready to move the inventory out of their possession, so buyers are getting bank-owned properties at really great prices also.  And…it does your heart good to know that you are going to bring love & laughter into a lost property!

When the Scarecrow realized that he had a brain, he was amazed at how he viewed things differently!  What a lot of people are not realizing in today’s market is that they can also get some really great buys from an individual who is selling their property and from a builder who has an overstock of inventory or who is wanting to move on to a different project.  And…the big plus of dealing with an individual owner and builder is that you can typically get an offer accepted and an executed contract back within a few days ( meaning that no-one can take the home by out-bidding you) and you can generally close and be enjoying your home within 30 to 60 days.  And…many builders (and lots of individual sellers) are offering incentives to buyers in this market.

There are instances in all three selling situations, where you must pay cash for your new property.  So…if you are wanting to purchase a condominium or other attached dwelling, be sure and verify that you can obtain a mortgage for a particular area before you spend your time looking there, if you plan to take out a mortgage.

As you can see, there are great deals in every selling situation in today’s market and it’s a great time to buy because interest rates are still low (I will discuss mortgage options in another blog).  So, grab your ruby red slippers and let’s go house hunting…so you can say those famous and fabulous words ~ “There is No Place Like Home”!!!

I can be reached at 407-592-HOME (4663) or at Sandy@SandySellsFlorida.net.

Celebration is the town that Disney developed and was founded in 1995 with five cornerstones in mind.  These cornerstones are community, education, health, technology, & a sense of place. Each of these are evident as you make your way through this special town.

The homes in Celebration are a mix of Traditional, Coastal, Classical, French & Mediterranean…all with pre-1940′s architectural design.  The town offers condominiums, villas, townhomes, and six types of single family homes…Bungalows, Garden Homes, Cottage Homes, Village Homes, Manor Homes, and Estate Homes.

The prices for condominiums range from $94,900 to $599,000.  Some of the condos are located above the shops/restaurants in downtown Celebration while others are located in condo communities that offer pools & fitness centers.  The prices for villas & townhomes range from $149,000 to $749,000.  Most of the townhomes offer private courtyards.  The prices for the single family homes range from $249,900 to $3,450,000.  Most garages are placed behind the home, accessible by an alleyway and many of the homes have apartments above the garages.  (prices are as of 4/23/09)

The various residences are located in Villages…Celebration Village; North Village; West Village; Lake Evalyn; South Village; East Village; Roseville Corner; Aquila Reserve; and Artisan Park (which is the last residential phase to date and which boasts a fabulous, exclusive clubhouse with a fitness center, restaurant, & resort-type pool).

Celebration’s charming downtown area boasts unique shops, a variety of restaurants, a game room next to an ice cream shop, a movie theatre, and a beautiful hotel overlooking water & woods.  All year long, residents and visitors enjoy an assortment of events…from a 4th of July parade & fireworks to “snow” throughout the month of December and lots of other enjoyable functions throughout the year…an exotic car show; a Posch Pooch celebration; a spring art festival; Oktoberfest; and many more including The Great American Pie Festival!  And…on Sundays you can enjoy a stroll down to Market Street to find an array of fresh fruits/vegetables and a variety of home-made goods.

Throughout the town, you will find a hospital, a K-8 grade school, a high school, a center for Stetson University, a fire department, churches, numerous parks, playing fields, tennis & basketball courts, nature trails, and four community pools.

I have a special spot in my heart for Celebration because it has been my hometown for the past nine years and I still enjoy living there.  The community is filled with friendly, fun, & fascinating people that have come from all over the world!  I have enjoyed meeting people over the forums on “The Front Porch”, our town’s community website.  And…I’ve had fun meeting friends, neighbors, and clients for a cup of coffee at Starbucks, a great hamburger at The Town Tavern (where everybody knows your name), or to sit by the lake in an old-fashioned rocking chair!

In 2006, I gave birth to my son, Jake Ryan, at The Celebration Hospital.  At the time, the maternity ward was only a few weeks old.  The staff was so great…they made my experience even more special by allowing me to have five girlfriends in the room with me since I was having my baby as a single Mom. 

Jake loves playing at the tot lots in the parks; splashing at the fountain downtown; or just going for a walk through town!  I am really excited about having the opportunity to raise him in a place that is so beautiful, peaceful, and fun!

If you would like to live in or have a vacation home in the great community of Celebration, please contact me at Sandy@SandySellsFlorida.net or at 407-592-HOME (4663) or (toll free) at 877-495-HOME (4663).  It would be my pleasure to send you more information and to meet with you when you are in the area and give you a tour of the community and the properties that we offer.

There are some really great prices on property in Celebration at the moment.  And…with the low interest rates and home-buyer incentives, now would be a great time to buy a home, townhome, or condo in the town that Walt Disney envisioned.

This is my new real estate blog.  I also blog at www.SandySpeaks.com.

I am passionate about helping people with all of their real estate needs and, in this ever-changing and challenging market, I realize that buyers and sellers need guidance and up-to-date information.  So, please visit my blog often for current and helpful information.  You can also visit my website at www.SandySellsFlorida.net and contact me at Sandy@SandySellsFlorida.net or at 407-592-HOME (4663) with any real estate questions you may have!

Thanks so much for visiting!