I'm Looking for a Home in a Resort Style Community.

Look no further! Encantada and Lake Berkley Resort are two wonderful, resort style communities.

Encantada Homes for Sale

Lake Berkley Homes for Sale

I've Heard Kisssimmee Bay is a Popular Gated, Golf Course Community. What's For Sale?

Kissimmee Bay is a much sought after gated, golf course, community in east Kissimmee.

Click here for a current list of homes for sale

I'm Interested in Purchasing a Townhome in a Resort Style Community.

Encantada is a beautiful, gated community of townhomes located in the heart of Kissimmee. This resort style community is zoned for short term renting and features an abundance of amenities along with a large, natural lake with fountain and fishing pier. Encantada is located:

• Walking distance to popular US 192
• 10 minutes from the gates of Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• 20 minutes from Sea World
• 25 minutes from Universal Studios    
• 30 minutes from Orlando International Airport
• 35 minutes from downtown Orlando

Encantada is a very unique subdivision of townhomes because many of the townhomes have their own private pools. Townhomes in Encantada start at $159,000 for 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and 1,295 heated square feet.

Homes for sale in Encantada

I've Seen a Couple of Homes For Sale In Remington. What Community Features Does Remington Have?

Remington is a wonderful community located in the east of Kissimmee, next to Saint Cloud. Remington is a beautifully maintained, golf course community that also boasts:

• Clubhouse 
• Swimming pool 
• Children's playground 
• Tennis courts  
• Basketball court
• Volleyball court

Walking trails can also be found throughout the community. Parts of Remington are also zoned for short term renting which offers potential home owners many options when purchasing a home here as an investment property or second home. Remington is located:

• 5 minutes from US 192
• 5 minutes from Turnpike
• 30 minutes from Disney, Universal, and Sea World
• 30 minutes from Orlando International Airport

Homes for sale in Remington

What's For Sale In Remington?

Remington is a golf course community located in east Kissimmee close to Saint Cloud. Looking for a home for sale in Remington? Click here for current listings.

Prices in Remington range from the $80,000s to the $200,000s.

Homes for sale in Remington

What Amenities Can Be Found In Brighton Lakes?

Brighton Lakes is a popular community located in central Kissimmee. This community boasts:

• Swimming pool
• Children's pool
• Playground
• Tennis Courts
• Basketball Courts
• Club House
• Fitness Center

Homes for sale in Brighton Lakes

The Prices In Poinciana Are Great! What's For Sale?

Poinciana is a large subdivision located in the south area of Kissimmee. Living in Poinciana offers nearby schools, along shopping, parks, lakes and recreation.

Looking for a bank owned home under $100,000 in Poinciana? Click here for current listings.

I Love The Brighton Lakes Community! What's For Sale?

Homes For Sale In Brighton Lakes

Brighton Lakes is a beautiful community with homes built from 2001 to 2006. The community is located just south of 17/92 off Pleasant Hill Road. Brighton Lakes is located:

 

• 30 minutes from Disney
• 30 minutes from Sea World
• 35 minutes from Universal Studios
• 35 minutes from Orlando International Airport

• 40 minutes from downtown Orlando

Homes for sale in Brighton Lakes start only $95,000 for 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and almost 1,800 heated square feet. Pool homes in Brighton Lakes start at $120,000. 

Need a lot of space? 

Homes with over 3000 heated square feet start at $212,000. 

Click here for a current list of homes for sale in Brighton Lakes

I've Found a Home That I Like, What Price Should I Offer?

"What should I offer?" is a question that Realtors are often asked by their buyers. Unfortunately, there is no easy answer and a number of factors play into the decision of what to offer. It is a good idea when offering, for the buyer to ask his or her agent to research the recent sold properties in the same community as the property to be offered on. This will give an idea of what similar properties are selling for and the value of the property in question. The listing price can be higher or lower than the fair market value and the comparable solds will allow a buyer to see the market value. Once the buyer has an idea of the value it is up to him or her to determine how much he or she wants the property. Often I ask my buyers: 

"If I were to call you tomorrow and tell you that your offer wasn't accepted and that the seller took someone else's, would you wish you had offered more?" 

If the answer would be "no", then that's fine, you will have no regrets. If the answer would be "yes", then offer more today as generally you get one chance to make your highest and best offer.

Something to keep in mind is that as of July 2011 46% of bank owned homes in Kissimmee and Poinciana are selling above the listing price*. Up to as much as 130% of the list price! 

*Percentage was calculated on bank owned homes sold in the last 30 days in Kissimmee and Poinciana with a listing price of between $60,000 and $120,000.

Short Sale Cons:

So, youʼre a buyer interested in purchasing a home. With that you have a background

story. Are you selling a home in another city and need to find a new home quickly? Are

you leasing an apartment and the lease expires in two months and so you hope to

purchase prior to the expiration? Do you have any time frame in mind at all with regards

to purchasing your home? If the answer is “yes”, then a “short sale” is definitely not for

you. Any time frames at all go completely out the window with “shorts sales”. As

previously mentioned a “short sale” can take anywhere from 3-9 months to be approved

by the sellerʼs bank and I have known cases where a bank has taken over 12 months to

issue an approval. Would you wish to wait a typical 3-9 months to find out that the

sellerʼs bank thinks your offer is too low and counters your offer $15,000 higher? Would

you wish to wait 3-9 months to find out the seller doesnʼt qualify for a “short sale”

because he has too much cash in the bank? Would you like to wait 3-9 months to find

out that the “short sale” approval letter has been issued by the sellerʼs bank but the

sellers donʼt want to proceed with the sale as they are in disagreement with their bank

as to the conditions of the “short sale”? Lastly, is not knowing whether you will be

moving in 3 months or 12 months something that you can realistically contend with? If

you can, then great. If not, I would avoid “short sales” and stick to traditional sellers and

bank owned homes, even if this means limiting the options you have to choose from.

Okay, so Iʼm looking to buy, is a “short sale” right for me?

If you are looking to purchase a home you will need to consider the pros and cons

involved with purchasing a “short sale”.

Short Sale Pros:

With upwards of 40% of the homes for sale in some of central Floridaʼs cities being

“short sales”, this type of sale may be hard to avoid. Consider this, you find a

neighborhood that is perfect for you. The ideal distance from work, good schools for the

kids and homes at affordable prices. However, what if there are only 5 homes for sale in

that neighborhood? Looking at the previously mentioned statistics chances are 2 are

traditional sellers, 1 is a bank owned home and 2 are “short sales”. Not looking at “short

sales” will most definitely cut down on the homes you have to choose from.

Furthermore, short sales are less likely to have multiple other offers to compete with and

are generally priced lower than the traditional sellers.

However, before thinking short sales are a great way to go be sure to take a look at the

cons.

Once I Get An Offer On My Home, When Will I Close?

That's a great question and depending on whether you are selling as a traditional seller or as a short sale will make a big difference.

For Example:

Traditional Seller Time Frame:

Buyer and buyer's agent presents an offer to seller's agent
Seller accepts buyer's offer
Contract is considered executed
Now the time frames noted on the contract start ticking...
Typically the buyer has 5-15 days to have a licensed home inspector perform home and termite inspections.
Following the inspections the buyer's lender (if the buyer is financing the property) will order the appraisal.
If the appraisal is returned at a satisfactory value the buyer and seller will move towards the closing date, typically aware between 30-45 days from the executed contract date.

Short Sale Seller Time Frame:

Buyer and buyer's agent presents an offer to seller's agent

Seller accepts buyer's offer

Contract is considered executed

Sellers financial information along with the contract, disclosures and addenda will be sent to the seller's bank for review. 

Review can take aware from 1 month - 6 months

All things going well the seller's short sale application is approved

Following the approval the time frames on the contract for inspections, etc. start ticking

As above:

Typically the buyer has 5-15 days to have a licensed home inspector perform home and termite inspections.

Following the inspections the buyer's lender (if the buyer is financing the property) will order the appraisal.

If the appraisal is returned at a satisfactory value the buyer and seller will move towards the closing date, typically aware between 30-45 days from the short sale approval date.

Have questions about selling your home or buying a short sale? Call me 321-443-7257, send me an e-mail or check out www.TheAistropTeam.com. 

I'm Selling My Home As a Short Sale, Do I Need to Pay For Repairs?

Most contracts written in the state of Florida by the buyer's agent and presented by the listing agent to the sellers are written on an "As Is" sale and purchase contract. This means that the seller is not obligated to pay for any repairs that show up on the buyer's inspection report. Minor things that show up on the repairs such as loose toilets or missing light bulbs will not be a big issue and will be taken care of the buyer once they take possession of the home. Major issues, such as a termite infestation or leaky roof, showing on the inspection report will be items that will often lead to contract re-negotiation.

For example: I had a situation where the buyer's inspection report showed some termite infestation and damage. Following the inspection report findings, the buyer obtained two quotes that showed the cost that would be needed to treat and repair the termites and damage. The quotes showed approximately $10,000 would be needed. What we were able to do was  send the inspection report and quotes to the seller's bank for their review. They then reissued a short sale approval letter that had lowered the purchase price of the home from $75,000 to $65,000. The seller was happy as he was still able to proceed with the sale, the buyer was happy as he loved the house and had now purchased it for less and the bank was happy to be able to sell the home as a short sale instead of proceeding with a costly foreclosure.

Interested in selling you home as a short sale? Call me today 321-443-7257 or check out www.TheAistropTeam.com

Are There Many “Short Sale” Properties for Sale?

Currently in the central Florida area there are a large amount of homes for sale that are “short sales”. The amount of traditional sellers with homes currently for sale are in many cities similar to the amount of short sales. Following “short sales” and traditional sellers the bank owned properties come in with around 10% of the homes for sale. Due to the large inventory of “short sale” properties you can see why a great deal of people consider purchasing a short sale. 

As of April 2011. Statistics for single family homes for sale:

Please check out www.TheAistropTeam.com for more information regarding "short sales". 

I'm Looking For a Home with a Pool Bathroom, What's Available For Sale?

Fresh on the market this property is priced at only $148,900! This is an exquisitely maintained, fully furnished, pool home situated on over a 1/4 of an acre. Plus it boasts not only one, but two pool bathrooms (a bathroom that has access leading out onto the pool deck).

 

2921 Evan's Drive, Kissimmee 34758

3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms 

0.28 acres

Call today to schedule a viewing! Plus, this home is not a short sale so you won't have to wait months for a bank approval! Irena: 321-443-7535.

Why Do Banks Approve Short Sales? Why Not Just Foreclose?

Simply, it’s usually better for the bank. Generally foreclosure homes take thousands of dollars in attorney fees to foreclose on, quite often are left neglected and left unattended for months on end and usually sell for less than a "short sale" would sell for. A “short sale” will usually have the home owner living in and taking care of the home up until the day of closing and because the home is often in better condition than a comparable bank owned property it will sell for more. Add that to the lack of foreclosure attorney fees and you can see why this would make financial sense for a bank left with limited options for a seller unable to pay their mortgage.

For more information on "short sales" please check out TheAistropTeam.com.

I'm Looking For a Home in a Community in Kissimmee with Tennis Courts. Where Should I Look?

For communities in Kissimmee with tennis courts definitely check out:

Kissimmee Bay

Remington

Lakeside

Indian Creek

Kissimmee Bay Tennis Courts

Click here to search for homes within these communities.

What does the bank do to research a seller’s wish to short sale?

Most banks go through a number of steps prior to approving a short sale for a seller. Firstly they will order a broker price opinion (or BPO) which is when a a third party real estate agent goes to the subject property, researches comparable sales and provides the bank with a current market value for the home. Based on the BPO the bank will be looking to net a certain amount from the sale. Offers that the bank receives for the home that are vastly under priced will not be approved.

Secondly the bank takes time to review the seller’s situation of hardship. Usually the bank collects tax returns, bank statements, pay stubs and complete financial worksheets from a seller along with a letter explaining the hardship. Hardship circumstances and reasons for an inability to pay include a reduction in borrower income, family sickness, unemployment, etc. Banks generally are reviewing files of sellers who are already a number of months behind in mortgage payments and would be destined for foreclosure should a short sale not be approved. A seller who shows tens of thousands of dollars in a bank account will most likely not be approved for a short sale as the bank will look for the seller to simply bring money to closing if they wish to proceed with the sale.

Check out TheAistropTeam.com for more information regarding "short sales".

I'm Looking For a Community on a Skiable Lake in Kissimmee. What Do You Suggest?

Look no further than sought after Kissimmee Bay!

Aerial View Private Boat Slip and Dock

Community amenities include:

• 700 Acre Skiable East Lake Toho
• Waterfront
• Private Boat Slip and Dock
• RV and Boat Parking
• Gated
• Golf Course
• Tennis Courts
• Basketball Courts
• Children’s Playground

Homes in Kissimmee Bay start at the high $200,000s. 

Contact us today for a FREE list of homes for sale in Kissimmee Bay.

Click here to search for your own list of homes for sale.

Why Does a Short Sale Take So Long To Buy?

As mentioned before the mortgage amount owed on the home for sale quite often far exceeds what the bank holding the mortgage will net from the sale. Because of this large discrepancy the bank often wishes to to take time to confirm that approving a sellers wish to short sale is the best option for the bank. Also, with so many sellers finding themselves in situations of hardship the short sale departments at the bank are often extremely backed up with files causing even longer times for approval.

I Have Dogs. Are There Homes For Sale With Dog Parks Nearby?

Absolutely! In fact the community of Remington in Kissimmee zip code 34744 has a dog park within the community! Homes in Remington were built in the late 1990s to mid 2000s and prices start just under $100,000.

Interested in homes close to this dog park? Click here and search for Remington subdivision homes.

How Long Will It Take To Close On a "Short Sale"?

There are many determining factors for the time it will take to close on a short sale. Basically a buyer should be comfortable waiting anywhere from 3-9 months. Short sales very rarely close within 30-60 days. 

What's a "Short Sale"? I've Heard The Term a Lot Recently.

Many sellers who bought their home in the mid 2000s, or bought earlier and re-financed during this time, will find themselves quite often owing, for example, $200,000 in a mortgage amount for a home that is now worth only $100,000. If a seller needs to sell they will most likely only be able to fetch around the  $100,000 that the home is worth leaving a $100,000 discrepancy between the mortgage amount and the sale amount. If the seller cannot bring the discrepant amount to the closing, is in a situation of hardship and needs to sell, this situation is what is termed a “short sale”. 

Specifically, a “short sale” is a real estate transaction where the proceeds realized from the sale will fall short of the mortgage balance owed on the property. That is where the “short” in “short sale” comes from as it is definitely not representative of the time it will take to close on one.

I'm Looking For a Home in a Gated, Short Term Rental Community. What's available?

There is a beautiful community by the name of Sunset Lakes located in west Kissimmee only minutes from Disney and popular US 192. This gated community boasts a community pool, playground and fishing pier. Fully furnished, pool homes start in the upper $100,000's.

Check out some photos:

Click here to search for homes for sale in Sunset Lakes.

Email us on iaistrop@aol.com to ask us to send you a free list of foreclosure properties for sale in Sunset Lakes.

How Quickly Can I Close on a Traditional Sale? I Don't Have Time To Wait For a Short Sale.

When offering on a traditional sale property a response time from the seller and seller’s agent is typically 1-3 days. Following that a closing can happen usually anywhere between 10-45 days depending on buying financing.

Traditional Sale

A traditional sale is what most people who have previously bought property are used to. Either the home is owned out-right (meaning there is no mortgage owed) or the seller owes less on the mortgage than fair market value. 

For more information check out TheAistropTeam.com

What's For Sale That Is A Golf Course Community with Lots of Amenities?

Looking for a home that's on a golf course and has an abundance of community amenities? Look no further than Remington subdivision in Kissimmee. Homes in Remington start right around $100,000 and for the mid to high $100,000's you can purchase a home with a pool! Some of the amenities include:

Swimming Pool
Tennis Courts
Basketball Courts
Volleyball Court
Children's Playground
Dog Park
Walking Trails
Fitness Center

Click here to search for current homes for sale in Remington!

Can I Make a Lower Offer on a Bank Owned Property?

Typically with bank owned properties the price is extremely attractive and sometimes considerably below market value. This allows banks to receive a numerous offers for them to be able to review. Because there are often multiple offers on bank owned homes, the home can often end up selling for higher than the asking price. 

I'm Looking For A Lake Front Property with Acreage In Kissimmee. What's For Sale?

How about almost an acre of lake front property with 75 feet of lake frontage! This property boasts a boat lift and a boat dock and is in the heart of Kissimmee.

4911 Lake Cecile Drive, Kissimmee, 34746

$239,500

3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms

Circular driveway

Built 1991

2,473 heated square feet

Please text "7774911" to 79564 for directions, details and more photos!

Call 321 443 7535 to schedule an appointment to view inside! 

So I Won’t Have Previous Liens on my Property?

Before purchasing any home the title company involved in the purchase will complete a title search of the property. This title search will reveal any and all liens against the property. These liens could include HOA arrears, delinquent utility bills or unpaid taxes. All of these liens will be cleared off the title before your purchase is complete. Additionally to put your mind even more at ease title insurance is issued by the title company that protects you against financial loss from defects in the title.

There Seem to Be a Lot of Bank Owned Properties in Bad Condition, Are There Any Move-In Ready Homes For Sale These Days?

It is true, there are a great deal of distressed properties on the market these days. Currently in Kissimmee about 46% of the homes for sale are short sales with another 10% being foreclosure properties. Often these distressed sales can be neglected and need work before a new owner is able to move in. Check out below for a beautiful home in central Kissimmee that is so move in ready it comes with all the furniture!

2115 Emperor Drive, Kissimmee, 34744

$225,000

4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms 

2,069 htd sq ft

1/2 acre lot

Text "7772115" to 79564 for directions, details and more photos! Call/text 321-443-7535 to arrange a showing.

How Long Does it Take to Purchase a Bank Owned Home?

The time frame for response from the seller (bank) once you have submitted an offer on a bank owned property is typically between 2-7 business days. During this time the bank could be reviewing your offer along with other offers to determine the offer with the best terms and conditions. The offer price is not the only thing considered. Additional considerations will be cash vs. financing, the down payment amount, time needed to close, stipulations for inspections and any request for closing cost assistance, just to name a few.  

If your offer is chosen as the best offer you will then most likely be able to close within two weeks if you are purchasing using cash and 30-45 days if you are financing the purchase. Please bare in mind that because you are purchasing a home that was acquired through means of foreclosure there can sometimes be outstanding liens that may take longer than the 30 days to clear off the title. This has, on occasion, caused delays to the closing.

Click here to search for bank owned properties

Are There Homes For Under $150,000 with a Large Kitchen?

The answer is yes!


Lovely 3248 Lorimar Lane is priced at $140,000, is located in Saint Cloud and has a HUGE kitchen! Check out the photos below.

Call or email us for an appointment today! Irena: 321-443-7535.

Are All Properties Only Feet Away From Each Other Or Are There Some Properties Out There with Acreage?

Looking for a home with 1/2 an acre of property? Look no further. Beautiful home in Saint Cloud with a 1/2 acre lot!

1985 Jan Lan, Saint Cloud, 34772

$215,000

3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms

1/2 acre lot

Text "7771985" to 79564 for directions, details and more photos!

Call 321 443 7535 to schedule a showing!

What’s a Bank Owned Property?

A bank owned property is a property owned by a lending institution, typically a bank, government agency, or government loan insurer, after an unsuccessful sale at a foreclosure auction. It is a property that has been obtained by means of foreclosure, also known as repossession, and is also known as a repossessed home, REO property or foreclosed home. A property is repossessed because the mortgage payer has ceased to pay the mortgage payments on the property.