Realty Times Feature Article by Blanche Evans
Orlando, the home of Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World and numerous other family-style attractions, is as delightful a place to live as to visit, as a rising sellers' market attests. Located in central Florida, just one hour from the coast and boasting excellent air service, Orlando is also a popular relocation and retirement destination.
Not surprisingly, tourism is the leading industry. While knocked back by continuing terrorist threats after September 11th (Disney World was reported to be a target for trouble), Florida residents and businesses are looking to the future.
In addition to mild weather and plenty to do, Orlando also boasts a wide range of housing, which is coming out of a temporary slump.
"From trendy downtown Thornton Park (with it's refurbished old homes looking like something out of Thomas Kincade's studio), to big waterfront mansions sitting right next to I-4, to starter homes funded by the City, it's all right here," says Realtor Wallace M. Wilson.
"The city itself covers quite a bit of territory," explains Wilson. "Start in the southern end at the junction of Hwy 436 and Airport Blvd (which, by the way, enters the absolutely best and most modern airport in the United States) and run 10 miles east to the University of Central Florida and it's rapidly growing Research Park. Then go North towards Maitland up the I-4 corridor where it seems like every office for every business in the world is located, and then another 10 miles to the Southwest to Windermere -- home to movie stars, world famous athletes, and lottery winners that couldn't take the Northern weather anymore."
April, 2002 closed sales for the Metro Orlando area are up 5.57% over the same month of the previous year, with the average list price in the Metro Orlando area at $167,071 and the average sale price at $161,898, offers Realtor Jean White. "The average home was on the market for 57 days and sold for 96.9% of list price."
Says Realtor Luis J. Garcia, "The Central Florida market is continuing to be very active, primarily helped by the low interest rates of the moment.
"First-time buyers are among the most active as well as the relocation market. In some areas it has been noticed that buyers looking for a second home have slowed down. At the same time some investors have been interested in selling some of their property due to the economy, and this will bring the stock of listings up a bit. There are still enough buyers to continue to make the area a seller's market," he says.
Blanche Evans is the publisher of Agent News and the associate editor of Realty Times, the Internet's largest independent real estate news service. She is the author of two best-selling real estate books: The Hottest e-Careers In Real Estate, Real Estate Education Company, an Internet marketing primer for real estate professionals, and homesurfing.net: The Insider's Guide To Buying And Selling Your Home Using The Internet, Dearborn, a consumer homebuying and selling guide. In 2000, she was recognized by the editors of REALTOR(r) Magazines as one of the 25 Most Influential People In Real Estate.
Published: May 29, 2002
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