Top 15 LGBT Gayborhoods in Orlando, FL

Orlando Area Top LGBT Gayborhoods

As I tell out of state clients looking to relocate to Orlando, we really don't have a concentrated "gay ghetto" here...we are pretty much everywhere, which really speaks volumes regarding overall acceptance in the immediate region.  

Excluding Kissimmee, Winter Park, Longwood, Apopka, Lake Mary & Belle Isle, which are long established cities, all the other neighborhoods on this list have Orlando ZIP codes; in the case of Dr. Phillips, Baldwin Park, Wedgefield and Lake Nona, which definitely feel suburban or rural, they still have Orlando addresses.  

1. Thornton Park & Lake Eola Heights.  Walking distance to DT Orlando, great little restaurants and bars, great mix of people, gentrified neighborhood with gorgeous bungalows and craftsman style homes on cobblestone streets. Predominantly built post WWI. Upscale and gentrified. Expensive.
2. Downtown Orlando. Professional, good looking, educated and active...endless things to do.  Ground zero for gay pride events. Many new condo towers since the 1990's. Moderate to expensive.
3. College Park.  Convenience...shopping, bars and restaurants & sleepy streets lined primarily with post WWII houses. Moderate to expensive.
4. Colonial Town & Conway. In my opinion, these areas are ripe for "up & coming" status! Primarily 50's & 60's houses...terrazzo floors found here! Value to expensive.
5. Winter Park. Check out Park Ave., then you'll see why it's on my list! Wide range mainly built from 1920's-60's. Moderate to expensive.
6. Delaney Park. Designing Women's own Delta Burke has a connection to the neighborhood.  This lovely part of town features cobblestone streets, big old houses and a super location to DT Orlando.  A bit east is an area called Lake Davis, AKA "Lake Betty Davis" by friends who live in the area. Homes mainly built between WWI & WWII. Moderate to expensive.
7. Baldwin Park. Formerly a military base, Baldwin Park is new urbanism at its finest! Easy commute to DT, nice restaurants and bars...very walkable neighborhood.  Homes built 1990's+ Moderate to expensive.
8. Kissimmee. Yep, our gal pal's and guy's enjoy the laid back atmosphere & affordable prices Kissimmee has to offer.  Excellent little ma & pa restaurants from all over, but particularly the islands and South America pepper the landscape. Lots of new but plenty from the 70's and earlier. Value to expensive.
9. Dr. Phillips. Many Disney and Universal executives call Dr. Phillips home, and for good reason: easy access to the attractions, airport, DT and Dr. Phillips restaurants, which are fabu! Primarily built in the 1960's-1980's. Moderate to expensive.
10. Lake Nona Area.  Who doesn't have a friend in the medical, bio-medicine and education fields?  From doctors, nurses and other specialties within medicine, to professors and teachers at the VA and UCF Medical School, which are all located here. Suburban, moderate to upscale, green and super convenient to DT, OIA, Atlantic Ocean, Disney and Universal. Some neighborhoods were built in the early to mid 2000's; the area is currently exploding with new construction.  If you like numerous small parks and easy access and many conservation/water lots, check out East Park. Moderate to expensive.
11. Sweetwater Area.  Straddling both Longwood & Apopka, which are both approx. 30 minutes N-NW of D.T. Orlando, this area is heavily forested (old growth) with fairly decent sized lots with homes primarily built in the 1970's & 1980's with some more recent and new construction peppered throughout.  If you want a less restrictive HOA with a well maintained aesthetic, check out the Deer Lake Run neighborhood in Apopka. Nearby is beautiful Wekiva Springs State Park, which is LOVELY! Moderate to Expensive
12. Lake Mary. Many tech companies are concentrated in this area, which is approximately 30 minutes north of D.T. Orlando, depending on I-4 traffic. Suburban and lovely...but not cheap. Like most areas on this list, Lake Mary is also considered Moderate to Expensive.
13. Parramore.  This is a recent addition to my list and it's for those who consider themselves pioneers.  The area has been troubled with crime and poverty for years, but with gentrification moving west from D.T. Orlando and big investments, like the Orlando Soccer Stadium and the announcement of a new UCF D.T. Campus being built, there's an energy that's percolating and pervasive.  My favorite gay bar is here, it's called Stonewall...the owners invested vast amounts of $$$ to expand their venue. Inexpensive.
14. Wedgefield.  Full disclosure. If I could get my partner to live here, we'd be here...in the Estates Section in the south near #528, not the northern area of the community which is sub-divisions.  I grew up in a rural setting, and Wedgefield offers it yet it's only 30 minutes from DT Orlando and 15 from OIA.  You'll find 1-10 acre parcels, some heavily forested parcels, well and septic, zoned for horses and deed restricted to prevent trailers and mobile homes.  Shopping is not conveniently nearby and it's fairly remote and quiet, which is why my partner won't budge. Moderate to Expensive
15. Belle Isle. Looking for a lake home with that "Old Florida" feel while towering Live Oaks & hanging Spanish Moss canopy over the winding roads? You'll find it here. The location is just minutes south of DT and 15 minutes from OIA.  Lovely and Expensive.

New to Orlando?  If you like attending theatre events, bowling, concerts, museums, happy hour, networking, restaurants, etc., check out 

Orlando LGBT Social & Professional Network .  

How To Flip A Property: Status Update Week 3 Article 5

In case you missed the first articles on how to flip a property.

We've been hard at it the past couple weeks...

Our initial timeline was 2 weeks to have everything completed, but when you are doing a majority of the work yourself it's important to be prepared for the unexpected!  Since our delay is due to work related matters, we gave ourselves a pass on the delay!

That said, time IS money!  Any further delays means our property will not be ready to rent until the first week of March, which is less than ideal because of the carrying costs: taxes, insurance, HOA dues, mortgage, etc.

Here is a quick status update

• flooring is being removed for new
• even the sub-floor by removing loose edges and re-screwing squeaky/raised areas (never nail)
• remove builder grade formica in both bathrooms and kitchen
• remove kitchen and bathroom(s) sinks and faucets
• patch holes in wall and re-spray texture for seamless look
• repair loose and cracked ceiling drywall joints
• re-texture ceiling repair

This shows the subfloor after removing the carpeting.  It's important to make this area as level as possible prior to wood flooring installation, otherwise you'll have lumps and humps causing un-evenness throughout.  We took a scraper and removed rough edges then re-screwed some of the OSB.  The black rubber pieces shown here are transitions from one flooring surface to another.

Installing the underlayment (used for floating floors) for the new flooring after the OSB has been leveled.

Kitchen counters without formica and sink.

Master bath vanities without formica counters and sinks.

Main bathroom without counter and sink.  You can also see from this photo where I began "cutting in" (painting) with the new color.

Questions about flipping?  I'm always available!

How To Flip A Property: Our Property

In case you missed the first 3 articles on how to flip a property.

Search Objectives

Stats:

• Purchase price at or below $150,000
• At least 2 bedrooms
• 2 bathrooms minimum
• Minimum of 1,000 sq. ft. under air
• Condo-Villa-Townhome (our budget did not allow single family homes as an option)
• Lake Nona area of Orlando
• Low HOA
• Must have upward pricing potential to flip
• The Cap. Rate must be 10% or above to hold
• $10,000 set aside for repairs, improvements and upgrades

Property purchased

Stats:

• $129,900
• 1,300+ under air
• 2 bedrooms
• 2 baths
• Villa
• 1 car garage
• Lake Nona area
• Sales price will be upper $160's after upgrades
• 11.45% Cap. Rate if we decide to hold instead of flip
• Rents will average $1,375 to $1,425 after upgrades
• REO (bank owned)
• Costs of upgrade $6,500

You can see the property is not in horrible condition for being bank owned.  We began filling holes in the walls and prepping for the project.  Everything works, including the stainless appliances (excluding the broken handle on microwave) washer/dryer, HVAC system and garage door opener.

If you have questions about this project, you can reach me by email, text or cell anytime.

How To Flip A Property: Identify Property

In case you missed the first two articles on How To Flip A Property.

OK, here we are so far.

WE...

1. decided on budget
2. determined type of property available with budget
3. reached consensus on size, bedrooms, baths, etc.
4. decided on a specific location

Now we need to identify a property.  This is the hard part, in my opinion, because we (Roberto and I) are looking for something with a dual purpose...being a profitable flip OR a profitable rental.  If you ask 10 agents, you'll probably get 3 good answers because most don't have real time experience dealing with their own flipping or rentals, but this is what we do.

• Is the property already discounted or at market price? This is what I mean.  If, for example, I am looking at a property that is already priced $20,000 below comp. properties, that is the sort of discount we look for in this specific price range.  Typically bank owned, short sale type listings offer the best deals, but not always!! Keep your options open and consider everything instead of assuming it's bank owned or nothing.
• This is for flipping.  What will it cost to get top dollar for this property?  What type of updates or upgrades are needed?  Consider your immediate market.  If you are doing a flip in an upscale area where it's generally expected that high value properties have wood floors, stainless appliances and granite, what does all of that cost?  Will these improvements increase the price to pay for itself + extra $$ for your efforts?  Are you going to have to hire most improvements?  This needs to be factored as well, because labor costs will consume your profits.  Each investor has different margins, some want to make $50,000 profit while others are content making $30,000 or even $10,000, so these numbers are investor specific.
• This is for rental.  Again, we do a similar assessment regarding repairs/upgrades for rentals because properties in upscale communities can get better returns and quicker turn around (time to lease) with bling.  But, now you have to determine if the improvements will pay for themselves.  For example, if a 2/2 property with 1,300 sq. ft. with no upgrades leases for $1,250 per month, will it lease for $1,400 with some upgrades?  Lastly, what type of returns do you want?  Are you looking just to make the mortgage payment plus a little extra OR do you expect specific performance?  We won't purchase anything without getting a 10% Cap. Rate.

As you can see, there are many variables to consider when dabbling in rentals OR flips, but it's not super difficult if you recognize what you don't know and ask questions along the way.

How To Flip A Property: Criteria

In case you missed the first part of the series How To Flip A Property.

Now it's time for us to identify the specific search criteria on MLS.  This screen shot shows our parameters and search criteria.  As you can see, we didn't specify a lot of things since this area is quite competitive with most properties exceeding $150,000 altogether.

We are not interested in 1 bedroom 1 bath properties since their overall appeal and upward pricing and rentability is much more limited and outside our scope of objectives.

1. Budget to $150,000
2. At least 2 bedrooms and bathrooms

3. Anything above 1,000 sq. ft. under air
4. The 32832 ZIP Code, which is in the Lake Nona area

Our budget does not get us into single family properties, but we are content to have a townhouse/condo/villa.

How To Flip A Property

If you're like me, "must see" TV is generally centered on one of the real estate "flipping" shows: Flip or Flop, Las Vegas Flip, Fixer Upper, etc., are some of my favorites.  None of them really show the process or offer viewers a logical place to begin if they have plans to enter the flipping business.

With that in mind, this blog series will follow our latest endeavor, which is to locate a flip/rental property in the Orlando area.

Our budget is $150,000.  

The objective is to identify a property in a solid/upcoming neighborhood that supports 

1. increased property pricing after improvements 

2. strong rental income...we want to have the option to hold or flip.

Now the fun part!  Looking for properties!

Privacy & Country Living Near DT Orlando and Lake Nona

If you are looking for acreage but don't want to be way out in the boonies, check out the southern part of Wedgefield southeast of DT Orlando.  It is fairly rural, but it's only 10 minutes east of OIA and Lake Nona off the Beachline #528 at Dallas Blvd.

You can find 1 to 10 acre parcels and build what you want OR pre-owned homes are always available.  The area is deed restricted with these being the more important rules:

• Anything built on an acre must have at least 2,200 sq. ft. under air
• No mobile homes, doublewides, modular homes are allowed
• Optional HOA 
• Horses are allowed but you must have two contiguous acres for the first horse

Additionally, the acreage lots to the south (estates area) are well and septic, only the homes in the northern part of Wedgefield have public utilities...they are on small subdivision lots.  This is also in the USDA Financing zone where 100% financing is available.

For new construction in Wedgefield or Lake Nona, I recommend SPC Homes.  They build a nice home, they 100% welcome the LGBT community, which I can confirm since I've had numerous transactions with them over the years.  

East Orlando 100% Financing Available!

100% USDA Financing!

$199,900! 

This nice 3/2/2 home is eligible for 100% financing on the east side of Orlando!  Super convenient to UCF, Waterford Lakes, Space Coast & Central Florida Research Park.

Builder Basic or Upgrade? New Construction Upgrading Tips

What sort of things should be upgraded in a new home?  I recommend focusing on ROI (return on investment) at resale and stay away from things that cost you a lot now while adding no value to the home later.
Don't Upgrade. I wouldn't upgrade carpeting, plumbing fixtures, ceiling fans, flooring, lighting or appliances.

Most times, you will find a much better price sourcing these things yourself while getting the style and brand you want.  My suggestion. Go with whatever the builder offers as standard and if you don't like them, make changes incrementally, but over time.

Things to upgrade. I recommend upgrading things that actually add value and cost a lot once the house is completed. Things like extra recessed lights, built-in smart home system, pre-wire and pre-plumb for outside kitchen, upgraded cabinets, more sq.  footage, extra bedroom or bathroom, covered patio, metal/wood banister instead of half wall, 3rd stall garage, cabana apartment, etc.

Lastly, if you decide to purchase a new construction home, make sure you have your Realtor with you.  Why? The builders sales reps. are there to represent the builders interests, not yours, and since 99% of builders pay the Realtor's commission, you are getting full service and representation without paying for it.

Zero Down Financing Available In Greater Orlando

Saving for downpayment? Nope.

Saving for closing costs? Nope.

Money to purchase appliances or paint? Nope.

...you can purchase a home with 100% financing!!  

Is this you?  Or, are you and your partner trying to get ahead but find it impossible to save to buy a house? Then consider USDA financing.  It is income based, so if you/partner have a household income (combined) of $75,600 your income qualifies for the program. 

Since USDA is the old Rural Financing Program, the areas eligible for 100% loans are outside DT and the immediate areas. 

The current map of eligibility for USDA is quite large and includes the following communities: Areas of Kissimmee, extreme East Orlando, areas of Apopka, the area just south of Lake Nona in St. Cloud, Winter Garden, Davenport, Ocoee, Groveland, Orange City, Wedgefield (acre + lots), Geneva, Poinciana, Celebration & Haines City.

http://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibility/welcomeAction.do

Program requirements

• No Down Payment Required
• Seller paid closing costs OK up to 6% of purchase price
• No Pre-payment penalty
• Max. loan amount is $417,000
• 620 Credit Score required
• New and existing homes OK
• 30-year fixed rate loan

   Maximum adjusted gross household income:

    1-4 Person: $75,650

    5-8 Person: $99,850

Loan approval is fast...ask how & begin looking at houses!

Neighborhood Home Buying Tips & Hurricane Season in Orlando: Who Get's Power First?

We hired a seasoned electrician for several projects around the house the other day, and during one of our discussions, he opined on our Hurricane Season then offered some interesting observations that I never considered.

For example, following a major hurricane, older neighborhoods like Thornton Park will likely take longer to have power restored following a hurricane compared to a newer suburban area like Lake Nona.

It has nothing to do with one area having more clout over the other; it has everything to do with buried power lines VS utility pole supplied power and making $$$.  In his view, money is the ultimate prioritizer following hurricanes.

In newer areas where utility lines are buried, like Lake Nona, homes are connected to transformers and sub-stations which feed neighborhoods with electricity.  If a transformer or sub-station goes down, you could have hundreds of consumers affected...consumers who are not consuming (purchasing) power from the utility company.

In Thornton Park, if the beautiful Live Oak tumbles to the ground and takes out your power line in the process, is the utility company going to send its crew to an individual consumer first or take care of a sub-station supplying (selling) power to hundreds?

Let's hope we never have to experience it first hand to see if he's right.

Do You Qualify For Down Payment Assistance? Find Out Now!

                                                    

 Do you qualify for down payment assistance?  

What's Stopping You? 3 Reasons Buyers Have Trouble Saving For A Downpayment

What's preventing you from buying your first property?  A recent study found that most people defer their long term goals, including purchasing their first home, due to outstanding debt.  What are the biggest culprits?

1. Credit Card Debt: 50% of us sweat the billing statement each month, knowing the outstanding balance grew despite making more than the minimum payment.

2. Student Loans: 46% of us are strapped into unholy agreements with Sallie Mae, Navient, etc., for loans WHICH  WILL  NEVER  GO  AWAY!!!!!!

3. Car Payments: 38% of us have a car loan.

I was stuck with "all the above" when my partner and I looked for our first place 23 years ago.  My debt to income ratios were so high (which disqualified us for traditional financing) we decided to search for someone willing to sell with seller financing instead of traditional bank financing.  The plan worked!

We purchased our first home with seller financing, a side by side duplex, and a couple years later we refinanced into traditional bank financing using the rental income to qualify for the loan.

That's how we got our start.

Buying VS Renting: Which Type Of Financial Benefits Do Homebuyers Get That Renters Don't? Part 3.

Buying VS Renting: Part 3 of Series.

Discount Points Deduction

I am guessing most people don't know about discount point(s) and how they work. What, exactly, is a discount point and why should you even consider it?

A Discount Point(s) can be used to lower the interest rate on your home loan.   

Generally speaking, each point costs 1% of the loan amount, so if you have a $200,000 mortgage and purchase one discount point for $2,000 (1% of loan amount), you’d get a one-time $500 tax savings assuming you’re in the 25% tax bracket ($2,000 x 0.25 = $500).

If you plan on holding the property for 5+ years and want to lower your mortgage interest rate, consider paying point(s).

Pt. 1 Mortgage Interest Tax Deduction Article May 6, 2015.


Pt. 2. Property Tax Deduction Article May 18, 2015.


Pt. 4. Mortgage Insurance Deduction.


Pt. 5. Going "Green" Deduction..

Buying VS Renting: Which Type Of Financial Benefits Do Homebuyers Get That Renters Don't? Part 2.

Buying VS Renting: Part 2 of Series.

Property Tax Deduction

Did you know that homeowners pay taxes to their local jurisdictions, such as 

the county, city, or school district?  Did you know those property taxes are fully deductible? 

Whether it's a $750,000 owner occupied home in Thornton Park, Orlando, or a $300,000 rental condo in Boys Town, Chicago, all property owners (landlords and regular homeowners alike) take advantage of this important deduction.  

Unfortunately, renters aren’t eligible for this property tax deduction since it's only offered to property owners, not renters.

Landlords don't own rental properties because they enjoy late night phone calls about the over flowing toilet or broken AC, they own rentals because YOU, the RENTER, through your monthly rent payments, indirectly pay the landlords taxes and mortgage payment...while he/she gets all of the deductions!

PT. 1 Mortgage Interest Tax Deduction Article May 6, 2015.


Pt. 3. Points Deduction.


Pt. 4. Mortgage Insurance Deduction.


Pt. 5. Going "Green" Deduction.

Buying VS Renting: Which Type Of Financial Benefits Do Homebuyers Get That Renters Don't? Part 1.

Mortgage Interest Deduction

Do you know the mortgage interest deduction lets homeowners deduct the interest on their home mortgage up to $1 million ($500,000 if you’re married filing separately)?

In fact, because a greater share of the house payment during the first few years of the loan goes toward interest, roughly two-thirds of the monthly mortgage payment is deductible interest.

That can translate to a hefty tax deduction! 

For example, a $200,000, 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 4% will result in $8,000 interest the first year you own your home. Deducting that interest will save you $2,000 if you’re in a 25% income tax bracket ($8,000 x 0.25 = $2,000) and even more if you are in the 15% bracket.

In addition to the mortgage interest deduction, homeowners (and landlords) take advantage of other deductions that renters don't.  The landlord and apartment complex owner gets all the tax benefits associated with property ownership while the renter typically pays the cost.

Buying VS Renting: Upcoming Articles

PT. 2 Property Tax Deduction.


Pt. 3. Points Deduction.


Pt. 4. Mortgage Insurance Deduction.


Pt. 5. Going "Green" Deduction.

Seller's Estimate Closing Costs

This simple link will help you estimate the costs to sell your house/townhome/condo.  Remember, seller pays doc. stamp for existing sales and buyers title insurance policy IF you are choosing the title company...if buyer chooses the title company they can pay their own title insurance.

Why Challenge Exceptions on Title Insurance Owner's Policy?

Can you imagine purchasing auto insurance where the policy has an exception page that looks something like this.

1. excludes collision
2. excludes vandalism
3. excludes hail
4. excludes theft

If you saw this, wouldn't you wonder the point of having auto insurance?  Then keep reading...

Let me ask you this, have you ever looked at the Title Insurance Owners Policy sent to your Realtor prior to closing?  If not, you may be getting a policy that excludes coverage on major "risks" homeowners face each day.

For example, I was reviewing the policy for clients who are going to be closing next month, and I was surprised to see these exceptions on the property they are purchasing. 

 1. Defects, liens, encumbrances, adverse claims or other matters, if any created, first appearing in the Public Records or attaching subsequent to the Effective Date but prior to the date the proposed Insured acquires for value of record the estate or interest or mortgage thereon covered by this Commitment.

2. Any encroachment, encumbrance, violation, variation, or adverse circumstance affecting the Title that would be disclosed by an accurate and complete land survey of the Land. The term "encroachment" includes encroachments of existing improvements located on the Land onto adjoining land, and encroachments on the Land of existing improvements located on adjoining land.

3. Rights or claims of parties in possession.

4. Construction, Mechanic's, Contractors' or Materialmen's lien claims, if any, where no notice thereof appears of record.

5. Easements or claims of easements not shown by the public records.

6. General or special taxes and assessments required to be paid in the year 2015 and subsequent years.

I challenged these 6 on behalf of my clients because we, as homeowners, want insurance coverage against these things, we certainly don't need them listed as exceptions to the owner's policy.  

Even if you (and or partner) find all of this extremely boring, please get a friend or family member to review some of this stuff!  Buying a house is a big deal, don't approach it like it's not.

Realtor Home Inspection Tips

I can't count how many home inspections I've attended since 2001.  Following each one, even after discussing what to expect during the inspection, my clients will still look somewhat dumbfounded and confused on how to sift through the big and small stuff.  What's critical and what's simply FYI notes and comments?  

Prep Yourself Ahead of Time...Your House Won't Be Perfect!

1. Always something:  It seems that most properties have something to address, even new construction homes usually require one or two things following completion, so don't be alarmed. Ask questions and don't be afraid to ask the inspector if you are purchasing a money pit.

2. Peeling paint: This is important for FHA financed buyers and Investors alike,but for      different reasons. 

◦ Lead was added to paints and stains prior to 1978, so somewhere beneath layers of paint or stain, you'll likely find lead.

◦ FHA appraisals are tough when dealing with peeling paint, particularly if the property was built prior to 1978...and lead is the issue. 

◦ Investors, you need to be concerned because dealing with non-owner occupied property and peeling paint means you have to follow strict EPA repainting and disposal rules when it's time to paint.

  

3. Concrete: In Orlando, most properties are sheathed in stucco, and if you notice, you'll typically find hairline cracks...this is normal. Cracks need to be sealed and painted to prevent water penetration.  Larger cracks will most likely prompt the inspector to comment or voice concern. The same is true for garage floors and concrete slab foundations; they will both crack over time.  Years ago, an inspector friend, who was not trying to be flippant, said this. "concrete does two things:"

◦ get's hard

◦ cracks

4. Mold: I have horrible allergies, so the minute I walk into a house, if mold is present somewhere, my body quickly reacts. It's best to rely on an inspector to assess this instead of a Realtor with mold allergies, but if mold is found or suspected, be sure to ask your inspector some ideas on what it will cost to repair.  Remember, mildew on shower tiles is not the same as black mold covering the attic or an entire wall.

5. Electrical & Plumbing: These are both well documented on the inspection report, such as a broken fixures, switches, faucets, etc.  You will want to listen to the inspector regarding the electrical panels and plumbing lines, specifically Federal Pacific Electric & polybutylene.

6. Chinese Drywall, Yep, believe it or not, this is a concern.  The most common years are 2004-2007 in Orlando.  Unless the seller is prepared to deal with this massive expense, I advise my clients to move on if Chinese Drywall is discovered…

7. HVAC System: Air handlers are known for getting clogged condensation discharge lines, and when the lines back up, you get water damage and mold.  This is somewhat common, so don't freak if you see this.  I advise my clients to ask the seller to hire (at their expense) a licensed HVAC tech to repair and tune up the system and repair the damage.
 

8. Roofs:  Some homeowner insurance companies are requiring roof replacement prior to covering the property even if the roof appears to have several years of life remaining.  You don't want to be surprised by this at closing...ask your inspector, Realtor and seller how old the roof is.

9. Drainage & Gutters: Most people think gutters, in Florida, aren't important since we don't have basements.  Whether you have a slab or full basement, the purpose of gutters is rainwater management.  Having daily rainfall, which is common during the summer months in Orlando, terminating at the foundation of the house will weaken the footing.  Drainage away from the foundation is equally important for the very same reason.

10. Termites and WDO: Wood Destroying Organisms and termites are real issues in Orlando, even with block construction homes you need to keep a watchful eye.  Many homeowners have something called a Termite Bond, which is essentially an insurance policy against termites.  Always hire a WDO inspector when buying a house in Orlando!!

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Lipstick On A Pig...? Don't Be Fooled!

It's amazing how a fresh coat of paint, granite, stainless appliances, new tile, etc., neutralizes our instincts to question the general condition of a property.

Don't let that happen.

When looking at properties, I suggest the following to my clients:

1. Take notes. After looking at 6, 7 or 8 homes in a given day, they all start blending together and it becomes difficult to remember critical details.
2. Question Remodeling Decisions.  Why did the flipper replace cabinets but not the old electrical panel or roof? 
3. Value of Remodeling.  Always have your agent do a Market Analysis to determine if the asking price is justified.  If the flipper bought the house 4 months earlier for $100,000 and is now asking $199,900, are the upgrades and remodeling worth it?
4. Over Improvement.  Beware purchasing the most expensive house on the block.  If you are looking at a tract house surrounded by other tract houses, even with all of the "Bells and Whistles", the price should be within the prevailing range of neighboring properties.
5. Inspections!  If you ignore the 4 others steps, please remember to get a General Inspection and WDO (wood destroying organism) Inspection.