Orlando Real Estate - Chantal Gakwaya

If you have bad credit, would like to improve your credit score or repair your credit - READ THIS...

Chantal Gakwaya — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:17:00 GMT

I am contacted on a daily basis by clients looking to purchase Orlando real estate with less than stellar credit. It's my personal belief that everyone can benefit from understanding how the credit reporting agencies rank you on your credit and what you can do to improve or repair your credit score. I'm not going to cover in any great detail the benefits of why it is good to improve your credit. I think we all understand the benefits of having a good credit score. There have been countless...(read more)

Lower your energy bill by 25% in 5 EASY STEPS...

Chantal Gakwaya — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:13:00 GMT

Did you know that the average American family spends over $1,600 a year on their electricity bill? Unfortunately, the majority of the energy consumed is wasted. Not only is that energy wasted the electricity that we generate by fossil fuels for the average family home puts more carbon dioxide into the air than that of two cars. I'm always looking for ways to save money wherever possible and do my small part for the environment. If you're like me, then you're most likely throwing away...(read more)

Vacation Homes - A Panacea For A Cold Real Estate Investment Market...

Chantal Gakwaya — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 15:05:00 GMT

I'm often amazed at how many people visit Florida and have never heard about the opportunities of renting a vacation home. If you've ever driven through the southern part of Orlando in areas such as Kissimmee or Davenport (just south of the theme parks), then you've been driving directly through the heart of a prime investment opportunity and a fantastic alternative to hotel rental that has been overlooked by the masses. And, regardless of the current depreciating market, this industry...(read more)

Time Magazine says, "Ignore the headlines." Now might be the time to buy...

Chantal Gakwaya — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 21:03:00 GMT

In a recent article released by time magazine, Chief economist Jim Svinth (Lending Tree) was quoted as saying: "The thing that will make home prices stop falling is the very same thing that will push mortgage rates higher." This statement makes a lot of sense when you take into consideration the slashing of interest rates that has recently occured to try and spur the economy back into an upswing. In otherwords, who is going to pay for the interest cuts? The money will have to come from...(read more)

Winter Garden Florida Real Estate

Chantal Gakwaya — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 16:56:00 GMT

A new feature with Google map search technology has been added to my website for those looking for Winter Garden Real Estate . Winter Garden is an up and coming area. With its close proximity to Windermere (an exclusive part of Orlando), new schools, shopping centers, restaurants and highways that put you downtown Orlando in ten to fifteen minutes or at the major attractions in under 20 minutes - there is no wonder Winter Garden is experiencing explosive growth in the real estate department. For...(read more)

What's the difference between a short sale and a bank foreclosure property?

Chantal Gakwaya — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 04:01:00 GMT

I get asked all the time, "What is the difference between a short sale and a bank foreclosure property?" Both terms are used rather loosely these days and are becoming a very common part of our daily speech in the real estate business. Basically, a bank foreclosure property (or REO - real estate owned property) is where a foreclosure ruling has been filed and approved by the courts and the bank is now the legal owner of the property. Unlike a short sale, bank foreclosures actually are quite...(read more)

The Future of Real Estate

Chantal Gakwaya — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 14:17:00 GMT

I have one word for the future of real estate, and that word is "Technology." Believe it or not, real estate agents and brokers are on the cutting edge of todays internet technology. Okay, so let me re-phrase that, the good real estate agents and brokers are on the cutting edge of internet technology. Why? Because real estate is the backbone of the economy (backbone + economy = $) and technology is what todays consumer wants. Just google 'real estate' and you'll come up with...(read more)

Florida Luxury Homes and Foreclosures

Chantal Gakwaya — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 19:38:00 GMT

Luxury home foreclosures Many people are unaware that luxury homes are also subject to foreclosures in Orlando. In fact, today I can across a 4,000 plus square foot home in the downtown area for just over 800k. This home is a lakefront home on a ski lake and has all the luxury upgrades - granite countertops, travertine floors, travertine backsplashes throughout the kitchen and much more. I had to ask myself why a home like this hasn't moved? The answer was easy, if you saw the way the landscaping...(read more)

Orlando MLS

Chantal Gakwaya — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:40:00 GMT

Orlando Florida MLS A new feature has been added to my site that allows you to search the Orlando MLS for free. MLS stands for Multiple Listing Service which is basically a massive database that allows other Orlando real estate agents to share information about the homes and properties they have for sale through one site. The original purpose of the mulitple listing service was to allow listing agents to sell their homes to other brokers or real estate agents that are operating as a buyers agent....(read more)

Orlando Real Estate Prices Hit 100% on the Affordability Index...

Chantal Gakwaya — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 02:38:00 GMT

Orlando Real Estate Home Prices A new report was released today by the Orlando Regional Realtor Association. The report showed some great news for home prices in Orlando, showing that home prices in Orlando have now reached an affordable level for the average home buyer and first time home buyer. The decrease in the median sales price has allowed the area’s housing affordability index to reach 100 percent, which along with a reduction in inventory by nearly 2,000 homes indicates a swing toward...(read more)

What Real Estate Agents Don't Want You To Know...

Chantal Gakwaya — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 03:43:00 GMT

How to pick the right agent to market your home? The real estate market is changing on a daily basis. Not only with the economy but more so with new technology entering the marketplace. In today's real estate market, you may just want to consider choosing your real estate agent by the amount of web traffic that they receive. You need to start asking the agent you are interviewing for cold hard stats on how many visitors are coming to their site and how many turn into buyers? Consider these facts:...(read more)

Search Real Estate for Sale in Doctor Phillips FL

Chantal Gakwaya — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:48:00 GMT

Dr. Phillips FL Real Estate A new feature has been added to our website which allows you to search Doctor Phillips FL real estate by using google maps. For local residents that know the area well, the maps will serve as an easy reference guide to sort through dozens and dozens of properties quickly by eliminating areas that you do not want to live in. I hope you find this free search function as quick and user friendly as we do. Naturally, if you are not as familiar with the area as many local residents...(read more)

Predicting the Bottom of the Orlando Real Estate Market

Chantal Gakwaya — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 19:17:00 GMT

When will the Orlando real estate market hit its lowest price? I find it so interesting how everyone has an opinion regarding Orlando Real Estate and when the market is going to hit the bottom. It appears the media is evenly divided between the doomers and the cheerleaders. And BOTH sides are packing some serious street cred, including well respected financial analysts, big name media analysts, The National Association of Realtors and Major US Banks etc. etc. The point is that one side is saying...(read more)

How to Avoid Costly Mistakes Regarding a Divorce Home Sale

Chantal Gakwaya — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 04:03:00 GMT

Getting a divorce is never easy and means making a lot of difficult decisions. One of the most important decisions is what to do with the home you jointly own. In the midst of the heavy emotional turmoil, what you need most is some non-emotional, specific information and answers on how to deal with divorce and selling your home. Once you know how a divorce may affect your home, your mortgage and taxes, making the critical decisions are much easier. A Neutral, third party can help you make rational,...(read more)

Looking to invest? Do you have your team in place?

Chantal Gakwaya — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 17:54:00 GMT

It's no secret that right now is a great time to buy. It's becoming even more evident to me by the amount of investors and would be investors that are contacting me on a daily basis. In fact, in the last two days I've had 21 investors call me or email me looking for deals on foreclosure properties . Investors are always difficult to deal with, but I don't mind working with them right now because there are so many good deals on the market. The good investors or experienced ones at...(read more)

Having Trouble Selling Your Home in This Market?

Chantal Gakwaya — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 16:27:00 GMT

My advice: If you don't have to sell - don't! The market is going to take a little more time before it starts to turn around. According to an article published yesterday in the USA Today, "More than 1 million homeowners nationwide are expected to lose their homes through foreclosure." You will be competing against homes sold under foreclosure that are typically selling for 20% below the market price. In fact, if you look at the listings on my website, you'll see that roughly...(read more)

Orlando Foreclosure Homes - Foreclosure Glossary

Chantal Gakwaya — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 02:45:00 GMT

Brief Glossary of Commonly Used Foreclosure Terms Absolute Auction - An auction with no minimum bid amount. The highest bidder gets the property no matter how low the bid. Abstract of Title - A summary of the conveyances and other facts relied on as evidence of title. Accrued Interest - Interest accumulated on the mortgage since the last payment. Action - The 'notice of' is the published legal beginning of the demand for payment in a foreclosure proceeding. Appraisal - An opinion of value....(read more)

Home Prices in Orlando

Chantal Gakwaya — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 15:09:00 GMT

At a recent seminar I attended by the Trump organization, the lecturer indicated that the nationwide average for home appreciation was 200% every 10.2 years. In otherwords, every 10.2 years the value of your home doubles. Looking at the recent trends for each month and over an 8 year period, you will see that the current appreciation percentage in Orlando for the the month of November is roughly 229% (again this is for only 8 years, not 10.2 as the national average represents). Please see below:...(read more)

Single Story For Sale in Saint Cloud

Chantal Gakwaya — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 19:53:00 GMT

Foreclosure Property

• 1,276 sq. ft., 2 bath, 3 bdrm single story - $165,000 - Bank Owned

Saint Cloud, St. Cloud - Nice corner lot bank owned property located close to Lake Taho. Lot size 50x150 with seperate 2 car garage. Nice fence yard. Close to turnpike. Large family room.

Property information

Learn 11 Secrets that Mortgage Lenders Don't Want You to Know...

Chantal Gakwaya — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 04:35:00 GMT

The right or wrong decision when signing your home mortgage can mean thousands of dollars difference in interest paid. There are very important considerations to evaluate before you commit to a 15 or 30 year note. For many of us, our mortgage payment is the most important financial decision we’ll ever make. Doesn’t it make sense to know as much as possible about the financing of our home? Do yourself a favor and take the time to thoroughly investigate all of your options. A FREE special...(read more)

6 Tips on Negotiating Your Home Price...

Chantal Gakwaya — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 04:29:00 GMT

Don't throw money in the trash, understanding how to negotiate the purchase price to get the best price for your new home purchase is of paramount importance. Understanding the key negotiating tips will put you in the driver’s seat when arbitrating the purchase of any property. A FREE report prepared by industry experts called, "6 Tips on Negotiating Your Home Price," will provide you with some key negotiating techniques to help you negotiate the best price possible on your new...(read more)

Thinking of hiring a real estate agent to sell your home?

Chantal Gakwaya — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 04:19:00 GMT

Are you thinking of hiring a real estate agent to sell your home? Don't do another thing before you read this special report entitled, "10 Questions to Ask Before You Hire an Agent." Avoid the costly mistakes of many home sellers before you, by reading this special report. Don't get locked into a six month contract with a non-performing real estate agent that thinks the best way to sell your home is to constantly reduce the price. In this special report you will learn how to pre-screen...(read more)

How to avoid real estate investing pitfalls...

Chantal Gakwaya — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 04:14:00 GMT

Make sure you aren’t creating a money pit instead of a goldmine. A free special report prepared by industry insiders gives you the sound tips that can make the difference in keeping your investment profitable. Imagine you have researched the local real estate market, put a plan of attack together, had an offer accepted, secured financing and finally purchased a property. How do you make sure your investment becomes profitable? To order your free report today, simply click on the link below...(read more)

Fixer Up Properties - How to Put Together a Winning Formula...

Chantal Gakwaya — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 04:05:00 GMT

Are you good with your hands? Are you the type of person that can recognize a good deal in a fixer up property? Have you considered doing this for a living? If you are looking to invest in Fixer Up Properties otherwise referred to as Handyman specials, then don't do another thing until you have read this special report which will give you the inside information into investing in Fixer Up Properties. Some of the topics include: Determining the repaired value Determining your closing costs on the...(read more)

Discover How to Find Hidden Investment Properties

Chantal Gakwaya — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 03:53:00 GMT

Where do the real investment bargains come from and how do you find them? Get this Special Report and find out where to look for your own real estate bargain for pennies on the dollar. There are some REALLY simple tricks to uncovering hidden deals in the market. Click on the following link and contact me to get your FREE copy of this special report today: http://www.orlando-real-estate.biz/Contact_Me/page_1752784.html *Please be precise about which report you are requesting. I get dozens of requests...(read more)