ReView March

I

am proud to report the Osceola County Association of REALTORS® is off to a great start and headed in a wonderful direction in 2011. The success of our organization has been, and will continue to be, built upon the hard work and dedication of our members, volunteer leaders and staff (newly named “REALTOR® Advocates”).

Throughout the upcoming months, our members will continue to receive the quality service, education, support and tools we have all relied upon in our businesses for many years.

Tim Weisheyer 2011 President

Osceola couNTy association of realtors®, inc.

Additionally, I am looking forward to interacting with, learning from and engaging our members in various ways. Watch for opportunities to learn about the incredible value you receive as a member of our association and ways to become more involved in the mutually beneficial work of our organization.

OSCAR will also be hosting numerous forums throughout the year in an effort to bring important and timely information to our members. Our association is fortunate to have members engaged in various aspects of our industry and serving on a local, regional, state and national level. These forums will serve as an excellent way for our members to receive the information being discussed at various levels that affect our customers and our ability to conduct our businesses.

I am also excited about the efforts being made by our association on a local level. We have established a Community Involvement Committee which will be seeking ways to fulfill our mission of adding value to our community. This committee will be reaching out to our members throughout the year and providing our members with opportunities to do what they do best - serve others and make a positive difference in our community. I ask that all of our members get behind this great initiative and volunteer your time, talent and resources.

In turn, I promise to continue to get the word out about all of the great things REALTORS® do and the important role you play in the life and success of Osceola County and Central Florida.

Members, I am convinced the best is ahead of us... I am equally convinced the strength of our association, community and nation will remain promising when we all roll up our sleeves and do our part to make a positive difference. I am proud to serve as your President and look forward to working alongside of each of you to make the most of the rich opportunities afforded to us.

Wishing you happiness, success and prosperity,

Tim Weisheyer 2011 President

“Leadership should be born out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by it.” — Marian Anderson

March 2011

Surround yourself with positive people!

by Carol K. Platt, CRB In preparation for our 2011 NAR grant proposals, I was perusing an issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education and directly beneath the “How to Fail at Grant Writing article” was a career planning article entitled “Knowing When to Defriend” and it asked the question, “You’ve attached yourself to people who do nothing but complain. Can you really just walk away from them?” Ok, they had my attention!

I couldn’t help but think of our association as I read about the importance of strong friendships in mentoring, coaching, collaborating, negotiating and (to coin a phrase from Nick Nichols) “sharing with your fellow REALTORS®” that is such a constructive part of our association activities. A successful REALTOR® has all types of friends. That diversity in human relationships is one of the positive byproducts of the industry. However, it’s important that relationships contribute to a positive work/life balance because personal happiness can contribute to real estate success! Negative acquaintances that offer bad advice and dispense doom and gloom can actually sabotage your best efforts.

Fellow REALTORS® will come and go from your daily sales activities, but over time you will build strong bonds with your colleagues. Seek business relationships that build you

up. Look for counselors, not enablers. The flatterer that’s buttering you up for business can be just as bad as the “negative Nellie”. Cultivate associations that provide you with honesty because they will help you avoid mistakes and faulty actions. Peers have influence so, grabbing opportunities to build business relationships across generational and cultural boundaries can provide you with good opportunities for advice and the ability to be challenged and grow in your skills.

Those good relationships built between fellow entrepreneurs are investments in your career and success. You will invest your time and energy in that relationship so, choose wisely.

OSCAR is fortunate to have great diversity generationally and culturally, plus a wide variety of industry focus groups with international alliances, property management, brokerage management and commercial and residential marketing sessions and low cost or free educational classes. Check our monthly calendars online and plan to meet a REALTOR® or Affiliate that you haven’t met yet – plan for success! ■

REALTOR® of the Year

Real Estate Office of the Year

Gerald Kelly

Goodwin Realty

Exemplary Service Award

Affiliate of the Year

William “Nick” Nichols

Shelly Kiker

Star of the Year

Affiliate Rising Star of the Year

Tim Weisheyer

Nancy Campiglia

REALTOR® Rising Star of the Year

Affiliate OFFICE of the Year

Daisy Cid

March 2011

PROMINENT TITLE, INC.

March 2011

OSCAR Toastmasters ClubClub Oscar Toastmasters Why Toastmasters?

Why Bother?

by Veronica Malolos

1. Icebreaker (4-6 minute speech about yourself) 2. Organize Your Speech (taking the time to put ideas together) 3. Get To The Point (having a purposeful speech)

VP Public Relations Oscar Toastmasters 4. How To Say It (an exercise in good word choice) Club 1877 5. Your Body Speaks (use of hand and body gestures) Just like most of you, I am a REALTOR® who is extremely busy balancing my personal life with the demands of my business. Why bother with Toastmasters?

The educational benefits you get from joining a Toastmasters club is worth every minute you spend attending the 1 hourlong meetings. It is also well worth the $32 dues every six months (books are $20 extra). Not only do you get to hone your public speaking skills, you learn to become a better listener. The camaraderie is priceless.

If you have always wanted to get over the “butterflies” and jitters when you are asked to address a group (sales presentations, office meetings, etc.), Toastmasters will give you the skills to do so with confidence. Here are the 10 speech projects that you will be tackling to achieve a Toastmasters Competent Communicator Award:

2011 Board Of Directors March 2011

6. Vocal Variety (a study in pitch and volume) 7. Research Your Topic (supporting speech with facts) 8. Get Comfortable With Visual Aids (using visual aids with a speech) 9. Persuade With Power (getting your audience to accept and act on your ideas) 10. Inspire Your Audience (motivate your audience) Good public speaking is essential in any profession. Whether you are looking for a promotion, leadership opportunity or personal growth, Toastmasters is right for you.

The Oscar Toastmasters Club 1877 is open to all. We meet every Monday at the OSCAR Headquarters, 1105 Shady Lane, Kissimmee, FL 34744 from 5:15-6:30 p.m. For information please call Veronica Malolos at 407-791-3772 or Angel Ortiz (VP of Membership) at 407-922-4332. ■

Standing, left to right Denise Sacks, Richard Knapp, Angel Ortiz, Karen Dierickx, William Nichols, Daisy Cid, Cheryl Grieb, Hemendra Thakkar, Arlene Conow.

Seated, left to right Veronica Malolos, Immediate Past President; Renee Clark, President-Elect; Tim Weisheyer, President; Susan Graves, Vice-President; Kim Goodwin, Secretary. Directors not shown: David DeLoach, Treasurer; Danny Villazon, Legal Counsel.

Just What Are Municipal Lien Letters and How Do They Affect My Closing Anyway???

By Betty M. Dobbie, President, Prominent Title Insurance Agency, Inc. Have you ever noticed in Section 1300 (the last section on Page 2) of the HUD an entry for Municipal Lien Letters (“MMLs”)? The charge is most-times charged to the Seller, since it is the Seller’s responsibility contractually to prove and provide clear title, but I have seen instances where the Buyer is charged. This one little item, though, is becoming a hot topic with potential ramifications for your closings.

MLLs are required by the title commitment in order for a title agency to issue a clear title policy to the buyer and lender. The information they generate includes, but is not limited to: 1. Status of real estate taxes.

2. Information relating to pending or proposed municipal liens (sidewalk installation/repair; sewer installation/ repair, etc.)

3. Status of water and sewer bills on the property.

4. Information relating to open permits from Building and Zoning.

Items 3 and 4 are the hot topics in today’s closings.

Here’s the issue with Item 3. Chapter 159 of the Florida Statutes provided municipalities issuing revenue bonds

Osceola County REALTOR® Advocates

with the vehicle that allows them to lien properties for the non-payment of water and sewer bills. While most electric providers are private companies, water and sewer is generally provided by the municipality. The lien rights afforded to them are “super” liens, which mean they have the same priority status as state, county and municipal taxes and that payment of their liens would preempt those of a mortgage. The underwriters of title insurance have added an exception for Chapter 159 lien rights to the title commitments. Lenders, of course, will not allow that exception in their policy, so we must obtain information to ensure that the water and sewer accounts are up-to-date.

What we are finding, mostly in the cases of REO and some investments properties, but have also found it in some short sales, is that the water and sewer accounts are past due-sometimes in the thousands of dollars. Those outstanding amounts must be paid, both to remove the exception for the lender, but also for the peace of mind of the buyer.

Which brings me to Number 4… Title Insurance Policies do not insure against any permitting or other Building and Zoning issues. Buyers generally do not know this. If there is an issue after closing and they make a claim against their title policy, the claim will be rejected. They will then look to their REALTOR® to ask why they weren’t aware of this.

You can readily see how these items could cause an issue with your closing if they are not caught soon enough in the process. It is really important to work closely with your title agent to ensure a smooth closing process.

This Article is written from a title insurance prospective and is for informational purposes only. The author is not an attorney and cannot provide legal advice. If you have any questions relating to this, you should seek the advice of an attorney.

REALTOR® of the Year Gerald Kelley.

March 2011

using that email address, multiple accounts that manage multiple licensees can now be accessed through a single profile.

DBPR improves online licensing process The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) rolled out a four-phase website improvement project to make licensing and renewals faster and more efficient.

While the change impacts all licensees that fall under DBPR, the upgraded real estate licensing system – part of Phase 4 – was rolled out in January. However, it had some problems, causing DBPR Secretary Charlie Liem to email each Florida real estate licensee in the DBPR system to explain what happened and how it has been fixed.

The improved process allows new and renewing applicants to submit all documentation online. DBPR says the online system reduces the amount of time it takes to review and approve applications compared to the old registration system. Liem called the upgrade “very necessary.”

According to Liem’s letter, the licensing system is not a problem, but DBPR’s online instructions failed to clearly explain the changes. The biggest problem: Real estate licensees already registered with the Internet site are no longer recognized. As a new system under a different vendor, all new and existing Florida licensees are considered firsttime visitors and must register as such.

In his letter, however, Liem apologizes for any confusion, saying since the steps associated with creating a new account were not clearly explained on the web page, many real estate licensees were confused. He says more information, including “step-by-step tutorials on how to create your new account and how to link your license to your account” have been added.

According to Liem, benefits under the new system include: • Registration confirmation via e-mail • Ability to retrieve a forgotten password • Answers eligibility questions that help applicants use the correct application • Ability to save an application and complete it later • Check an application’s status and get summaries • Make payments and receive payment summaries • Receive same-day service in many cases for new applications and changes to existing licenses For more information, visit MyFloridaLicense.com. Liem invites licensees to call, but also warns that wait times have increased following rollout of the new system. ■ © 2011 Florida REALTORS® http://www.floridarealtors.org

Part of the reason for the change, says Liem, is that the system replaces an old numeric value with an email address. And,

REALTOR® Advocates recognize Association Executive Carol Platt.

March 2011

We would like to congratulate our very own OSCAR member William “Nick” Nichols for winning first place in the 86th Annual Meeting for the Chamber of Commerce on January 29, 2011 at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.

Carol K. Platt, CRB

Association Executive ae@osceola-realtors.com

MLS Learn and Earn Marketing Session Speakers MLS Learn and Earn March 8, 2011

April 5, 2011

Communications/Technology Director communications@osceola-realtors.com

Tim St. Gordon HUD

Bob St. Gordon

March 22, 2011

April 12, 2011

Chris Florence

Controller accounts@osceola-realtors.com

Anneris Rivera

Membership and Educational Administrative Services memberservices@osceola-realtors.com

Yessica Colon

Membership and Event Services membership@osceola-realtors.com

Eli Perez

Osceola County Sheriff Hansell

Johnathon Reich with Shopsmart Property Insurance Issues

Charlie Phelps, IFREC Importance of Diversity

April 19, 2011

March 29, 2011

Turner Wallis Survey Issues

Trustco Bank, Qubty Financial, Benefit Advisors “Trusting in Your Future”

Leader and Member Services assistant@osceola-realtors.com

1105 Shady Lane Kissimmee, Florida 34744 www.osceolarealtors.org communications@osceola-realtors.com 407.846.0117 • 407.846.0217 fax In order to share the wealth of information contained in this newsletter in an efficient manner, please submit your articles via e-mail or fax by the 10th of the monthly. Please clearly indicate that submission is for the Osceola ReVIEW.

® REALTORS Federal Credit Realtors Federal Credit Union Union ®

Hello OSCAR Members!

By Yessica Colon

Articles: communications@osceola-realtors.com Advertising: accounts@osceola-realtors.com For advertising inquiries please contact Bob St. Gordon at the Association Office. Your advertising defrays the cost of publishing. Thank you for your support.

The Osceola ReVIEW is published exclusively for the Association by The Baker Press Orlando, Florida 407.290.5800 • 407.290.5977 fax www.thebakerpress.com Disclaimer: The Osceola ReVIEW is published for the member and affiliates of Osceola County Association of REALTORS®, Inc. by The Baker Press, Inc. as a courtesy.

The Baker Press, Inc. nor the Association assume any responsibility for article content or advertising message as submitted for inclusion in the newsletter. Advertising and articles are not endorsed by the Association, nor is there any implied warranty by the Association or its staff.

As the Ambassador of the REALTORS® Federal Credit Union for OSCAR, I wanted to share with you the report I received. We are in top 10 Associations in the Nation of credit union members! Thank you all for your support. If you have any questions on the benefits of this special Credit Union for REALTORS® please call me at the Association or call them directly at 866-295-6038 or visit their website at www.realtorsfcu.org.

Thank you!

Dear Ambassador, We hope you had a wonderful holiday season and that your 2011 has started off great.

REALTORS® Federal Credit Union has some exciting things planned for the new year that will be sure to enhance our members’ experience.

Here are the top 10 Associations with the greatest percentage of credit union members: 1. Jackson Association of REALTORS® 2. Northeast Atlanta Metro Association of REALTORS® 3. Southern Maryland Association 4. Pasadena-Foothills Association of REALTORS® 5. Greater Capital Area Association. of REALTORS® (MD) 6. Anne Arundel County Association of REALTORS® 7. Montgomery County Association of REALTORS® 8. Hunterdon/Somerset Association of REALTORS® 9. REALTORS® Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh 10. Osceola County Association of REALTORS®

March 2011

Dear Oscar;

Hey Con Cal:

I know…I know…that I only email you with bad news. Ha! Not this time buddy. I just have to talk to somebody about something that’s bothering me very badly. I’m concerned about the opportunities that some REALTORS® are missing when they don’t attend our Tuesday morning MLS Marketing “Learn and Earn” Sessions!

I know you to be a honest REALTOR® and I agree with your concern about “learning by talking” and your concern about your fellow REALTOR®. Cal, there is a big difference between learning in a classroom and learning by experience and from experienced professionals. In a classroom, most folks try to remember every thing the teacher says, but before long they don’t always remember some information that they don’t use everyday. But, if they “experience” the same lesson or hear it from real people in real life, they will never forget it. If a REALTOR® reads books, attends webinars, gets RSS feeds, scours websites it will help them advance their knowledge in the industry, but it won’t take the place of face-to-face relationship building and experiential learning. So, my advice is to do all of that, but also practice what you learn by talking and listening to your fellow REALTORS®. By the way Cal, sometimes just good sage advice on the best day of the month to have a closing can save you a great deal of time, money and stress!

We have grown from a small family to a large dynamic association over the years. Our meeting room holds over 50 people and every time that I see a vacant chair or a standing spot, I see a missed opportunity for one of our REALTOR® family members. I’m especially worried about our “new” REALTOR® friends and our “long-time” REALTOR® who has fallen behind on our fast changing real estate market due to other circumstances. They should come and “learn through REALTOR® language” by listening to both new perspectives and seasoned experience. There are valuable presentations from Affiliates and Community leaders and agencies, too.

Knowledge is Power!

Don’t make me worry about you! Come to Tuesday’s MLS Marketing “Learn and Earn” Sessions. I will see you there.

Thanks, Concerned Cal

March 2011

Always your friend, OSCAR

At Home with Diversity®

Are you ready for your next prospect?

In today’s housing market, where client profiles are changing rapidly, earning the confidence of a potential homebuyer is more complex than it used to be.

■ Shaking a client’s hand isn’t always the key to sealing a deal now.

■ An improper form of address can turn a business transaction sour.

■ Translating key phrases into your client’s language generates success.

At Home with Diversity® teaches you to transact business in culturally competent ways. Now the course offers more information than ever: ■ Updated statistics, demographics, exercises, and resources ■ Improved focus on the subtleties of fair housing ■ Greater emphasis on developing an inclusive business plan ■ More details on business etiquette for specific cultures ■ Additional attention to international clientele and real estate practice.

Participation in this six-hour session earns you credit toward the CIPS, CRS, and PMN designations, as well as fair housing continuing education and NAR At Home with Diversity® certification.

“There was a lot I didn’t understand about the diversity of the real estate market before taking this course. At Home with Diversity® has helped us tap a previously untapped market. Now about 25% of my business is with the Hispanic population—that’s $1.5 million in deals.”

Stanley Buckley, Burley, Idaho “I believed that I knew all I needed to know about diversity to do well in my marketplace.

I was wrong. I now have an awareness that gets transactions closed.”

Leigh York, Weatherford, Texas “I highly recommend this course to people in any business, but to real estate professionals in particular.”

Martha Valerio, Bronx, New York

Contact your local or state REALTOR® association for At Home with Diversity® courses near you, or log onto www.realtor.org/diversity to get a list of course schedules, sponsors, and instructors. Costs vary by location, and CE and GRI credit varies by state.

Ask your local sponsor for details.

Diversity is good business. Your next prospect is waiting.

Real Strength.

Real Advantages.

March 2011

At Home with Diversity® Course

2011 OSCAR - Kissimmee

At Home With Diversity® is an educational experience designed to present a picture of the changing face of the real estate industry. More importantly, the class teaches REALTORS® how to work effectively with — and within — a rapidly changing multicultural market.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011 A one-day training seminar with instructor Chuck Bonamer 9.00 - 4:00 pm at the Osceola County Association of REALTORS For members of OSCAR, NAHREP, WCR & CRS Florida Chapter the price will be $59 per person and $69 for general admission.

REGISTRATION Please type or print. Fax completed form to 407.846.0217 or email to memberservices@osceola-realtors.com

Name

______________________________________________________________________

Company

______________________________________________________________________

Co. Address

______________________________________________________________________

City

____________________________________ State ____________ Zip ____________

Phone

_______________________________ Fax ___________________________________

E-mail

______________________________________________________________________

NRDS

______________________________________________________________________

PAYMENT INFORMATION ❏ Check

❏ Visa

❏ MasterCard

❏

Check

______________________________________________________________________

Credit Card #

____________________________________________ Expiration Date ____________

How did you learn abou the course? ❏ Marketing from Broker - Please list Broker: ________________________________________________ ❏ Marketing from Association - Please list Association: ________________________________________ ❏ Marketing from NAR ❏ Other, please list: _____________________________________________________________________

March 2011

Technology Blues

by Chris Florence

I was sitting on my sofa at home the other night and heard my computer play that music you hear when you computer is booting up. I knew it was on just a few seconds prior to hearing that and went into my office to see what was up. Initially, I thought that some auto Windows updates were auto rebooting for the changes to take effect…nope that what not it. As soon as the computer rebooted it restarted automatically and before I knew it I realized that the computer was stuck in this loop of rebooting and restarting.

Now, if you have teens in the house or kids period I’m sure you know they download EVERYTHING no questions asked including viruses and malware. Side note: for those who don’t know what Malware or Spyware is it is the nasty stuff similar to a virus that you can pick up from anywhere without having to download anything.

If you find yourself in this predicament all you have to do is go to another computer and download 3 free programs. Ad-Aware, Spybot, and Hijack This. If you don’t have these programs and your computer is currently running fine you’ll want to download this as well and run frequent scans on your hard drive. The reason for 3 programs is they all catch different types of Spyware/Malware. Make sure you update them regularly as well as these nasty wares keep changing.

I’m sure you’re wondering about my situation were I can’t even open the program long enough to run a scan before my computer reboots on it’s own. If this is you then you need to do the following: Turn your computer on and when you see the Windows logo as it is booting keep pressing F8 until the screen takes you to an all black screen with white letters. You will see several choices and you will not be able to use your mouse on this screen only your up and down arrows on the keyboard. Arrow down or up to Starting your computer in “Safe Mode” and then press enter. Your computer desktop will look strange but it will say Safe Mode in all 4 corners of your screen.

Next step, you guessed it, run your 3 programs scanning for nasty wares. This may take up to a couple of hours and each program will ask you if you want to remove the Trojans or whatever the ware is screwing with your computer. Restart and the computer and things should be back to normal. I would run another set of scans just to be safe. When I did this on mine after the initial scan I picked up another 22 issues that needed to be removed. That’s all there is to it!

By the way, I don’t have one stitch of Anti-Virus software on my computer and haven’t for the last 3 years or so. That stuff only slows down your system and 9 times out of 10 it isn’t a virus it is Spyware or Malware of some type. ■

March 2011

March 2011

March 2011

March 2011

March 2011

Cyber Crime Protection: Keeping You Safe in Today’s World

by Andrew Wooten

We all do it, every day. We do it without thinking, without worry. We put ourselves in harm’s way. No, not physically, virtually. How many e-mails did you open today not knowing whom they were really from? How many websites did you visit today without checking their authenticity? How many bills did you pay without verifying the websites were secure?

These are all things we’ve come to take for granted. We just assume someone out in the Internet world is doing all that for us. With over 6,000 identity theft cases per year in the United States, we can no longer assume anything.

Here are some simple, easy to follow tips on how to help protect yourself and your personal information in our every changing technology driven world.

E-mails • Do not open e-mails from sources you do not recognize.

• Do not open attachments unless necessary.

• Check e-mail addresses. It may say it’s from a friend’s name but is it the e-mail address they normally send e-mail through?

Websites • Do not use websites from vendors you do not know or cannot verify. If you haven’t heard of the company, check the Better Business Bureau and do a Google search on them.

• When purchasing anything on a website, be sure the URL has https and that it has a lock somewhere on the site. When you click on the lock it should open up to a dialog box showing security information.

March 2011

• Do not transmit personal information over free WiFi sites.

In addition to the tips above, be sure to load anti-virus software on your desktop and laptops and update it frequently. Also, never leave your laptop unattended if you are in a public place, like the airport or a restaurant.

Today’s technology can be used safely if we implement safeguards. Use technology to run your life. Don’t let technology run your life.

From Membership

Supra Key Dues Reminder This message is for ActiveKey users only. (Not eKey users) The due date for your Supra key will be 04/17/11, therefore Supra will be pulling billing information and creating invoices on Saturday, 03/12. The date the data is pulled for billing is very important. All agents being issued an ActiveKEY after the billing information is pulled will be charged the full annual fee in addition to the prorated fee for the balance of the previous year.

In other words: • Anyone who has an ActiveKEY assigned to them in SupraNET as of close of business on the 12th will be receiving an annual invoice.

• Anyone who is assigned an ActiveKEY for the first time on 03/13 or later will not be invoiced, and therefore will be charged the new annual fee up front when they get their key.

If you no longer want to renew your ActiveKey lease please bring in your key and charger to the Association to return no later than March 11, 2011 to avoid getting an invoice!

If you have further questions please call Supra at 877-699-6787. Thank you very much!

Oscecola County Market Dynamics Oscecola County Market Dynamics Supply & Demand - # Units (FS) 2 Years (Monthly) 01/01/09 - 01/31/11

KEY INFORMATION

For Sale

Monthly Change

Monthly %

Total Change

Total % Change

-60.03

-1.29

-1,440.69

-30.86

MLS: MFRMLS

Period:

Property Types:

Residential: (Single Family Home)

2 Years (Monthly)

Counties:

Osceola

Price:

All

Construction Type:

FOR SALE -30.9% All

Bedrooms:

All

Bathrooms:

All

Lot Size: All Sq Ft:

All

Months Supply of Inventory (Sold Calculation) 2 Years (Monthly) 01/01/09 - 01/31/11

KEY INFORMATION

MSI-Sold

Monthly Change

Monthly %

Total Change

Total % Change

-0.27

-2.12

-6.56

-50.86

MLS: MFRMLS

Period:

Property Types:

Residential: (Single Family Home)

2 Years (Monthly)

Counties:

Osceola

Price:

All

Construction Type:

MSI SOLD -50.9% All

Bedrooms:

All

Bathrooms:

All

Lot Size: All Sq Ft:

All

March 2011

Oscecola County Market Dynamics Oscecola County Market Dynamics Median Price (Sold) 2 Years (Monthly) 01/01/09 - 01/31/11

KEY INFORMATION Monthly Change Monthly % Change Sold

-835.74

Total Change

-0.66

MLS: MFRMLS

Period:

Property Types:

Residential: (Single Family Home)

2 Years (Monthly)

Counties:

Osceola

-20,057.81

Price:

Total % Change

SOLD -15.9%

-15.88

All

Construction Type:

All

Bedrooms:

All

Bathrooms:

All

Lot Size: All Sq Ft:

All

Osceola SINGLE FAMILY HOME Distressed vs. Total Sales Units Sold-Dec ‘08 to Dec ‘10

This data is dependent upon timeliness of sales and totality of information reported by participants.

The data reflects only the sales published through the Mid-Florida Regional Multiple Listing Service (MFRMLS) and does not include all sales in reported areas.

Neither the Association nor the MFRMLS is in any way responsible for it’s accuracy.

Data: Total Sales = all MFRMLS Osceola Single Family Housing (SFH) & Planned Unit Development (PUD).

(SFH), (PUD)-REO/Bank Owned/Short Sale from Special Sale Provision.

Ave. Days on Mkt is: Days to Closed

March 2011

Advertising/Publication Osceola Shopper/Gazette

Paula Stark 108 Church St., Kissimmee, FL 34741 Office 407-846-7600 Fax 407-846-8516 Email pstark@osceolanewsgazette.com Website www.aroundosceola.com

The Real Estate Book

Tammy Birchler 2305 NewPoint Parkway, Lawrenceville, GA 30043 Office 407-581-1490 Fax 407-581-1491 Email tbirchler@nci.com

agent marketing services Concordia Film Studios Div. of Howland International, Inc.

Kemp Howland 355 Falling Waters Drive, Kissimmee, FL 34759 Office 407-222-4847 Email kemp.howland@gmail.com Website www.concordiastudios.com

Attorneys Charles P. Castellon, PA Law Firm

Charles Castellon 12934 Deertrace Ave., Suite A, Orlando, FL 32837 Office 407-851-0201 Fax 407-847-5618 Email ccastellon@centralflattorney.com

Keating/Schlitt, PA

Nancy Campiglia 250 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32024 Office 407-425-2907 Fax 407-425-6345 Email ncampiglia@keatlaw.com Website www.keatlaw.com

Law Office of Daniel Villazon

Daniel Villazon, P.A. 1420 Celebration Blvd., Celebration, FL 34747 Office 407-483-0041 Email dvillazon@yahoo.com Website www.frecattorney.com

Construction/Repair/Renovations A Better Choice Pools

Michael Evans 3213 13th Street, Saint Cloud, FL 34769 Office 407-414-7379 Fax 407-870-9978 Email m_abcpools@yahoo.com Website www.abetterchoicepools.com

All Seasons Pool Service, Inc.

Qubty Financial Group

Metro Door Service

Trustco Bank

James Watts 185 E. Airport Blvd., Sanford, FL 32773 Office 407-871-2020 Fax 407-407-3215 Email admin@allseasonspools.com Website www.allseasonspools.com

Joe De Lorie 2182 Cypress Bay Blvd., Kissimmee, FL 34743 Office 407-414-4756 Email metrodoors8@aol.com

Servpro of Osceola County

Dan Hougaard 1710 Kelley Avenue, Kissimmee, FL 34744 Office 407-933-0707 Fax 407-933-5014 Email dhougaard@servprooc.com Website www.servprooc.com

ENGINEERING/SURVEYING/PLANNING Johnston’s Surveying, Inc.

W. Turner Wallis 900 Shady Lane, Kissimmee, FL 34744 Office 407-847-2179 Fax 407-847-6140 Email turner@jsurveying.com Website www.jsurveying.com

Financial Services/Institutions Butler Mortgage

Harry Urban 1012 W. Emmett St., Ste. B, Kissimmee, FL 34741 Office 407-931-3800 Fax 407-931-3801 Email hurban@butlermortgage.com Website www.butlermortgage.com

Farm Credit

Brad Rhoden P.O. Box 8009, Lakeland, FL 33802 Office 863-682-4117 Fax 863-688-9364 Email brhoden@farmcreditcfl.com Website www.farmcreditcfl.com

Qubty Financial Group

David Qubty 7680 Universal Blvd., Orlando, FL 32819-8998 Office 407-370-3030 Fax 407-370-2040 Email dqubty@qubtyfinancialgroup.com Website www.qubtyfinancialgroup.com

Sami D. Qubty 7680 Universal Blvd., Ste 405, Orlando, FL 32819-8998 Office 407-370-3030 Fax 407-370-2040 Email squbty@qubtyfinancialgroup.com Website www.qubtyfinancialgroup.com

Sarah Near 1525 East Osceola Parkway, Kissimmee, FL 34746 Office 407-932-0398 Fax 407-932-0719 Email snear@branch.trustcobank.com Website www.trustcobank.com

HEALTH & BEAUTY Benefit Advisors

Judy Taylor 111 E. Monument Avenue, Kissimmee, FL 34741 Office 407-931-2872 Fax 407-933-2176 Email jtaylor@benefit-advisors.com

Home Builders/Developers KB Home

Amanda Parah 9102 South Park Center Loop, Orlando, FL 32819 Office 407-587-3403 Fax 407-587-2386 Email aparah@kbhome.com Website www.kbhome.com

Harmon Homes

Pamela Cameron 4501 Hills & Dales Rd. NW, Canton, OH 44708 Office 813-681-5117 Fax 813-661-9036 Email Pamela.cameron@harmonhomes.com Website www.harmonhomes.com

Harmony Development

Tim Hultgren 3500 Harmony Square Drive West, Harmony, FL 34773 Office 407-891-2605 Fax 407-891-0459 Email thultgren@harmonyfl.com

Maronda Homes

Olga Ortega 955 Keller Rd., #1500, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714 Office 407-846-4397 Fax 407-846-4398 Email oortega@maronda.com Website www.maronda.com

March 2011

Standard Pacific Homes

Mason Title & Escrow Company

Stewart Approved Title, Inc.

Inspection Services

Old Republic Home Protection

Total Title Solutions

Premiere Title Agency, LLC

REALTOR速 SERVICES

Jesus Alvarez 200 S. Orange Avenue, Suite 124, Orlando, FL 32801 Office 407-304-2803 Fax 407-304-2835 Email sbower@stanpac.com Website www.standardpacifichomes.com

Budget Services, Inc.

Ed Hogan 3617 Crosley Ave., Saint Claud, FL 34772 Office 407-892-8811 Fax 407-892-8516 Email budgettermite@earthlink.net Website www.budgetservicesfl.com

Wayne Home Inspections

Wayne E. Glover 1533 Trumbull Street, Kissimmee, FL 34744 Office 407-935-1127 Fax 407-935-1483 Email wayne.glover@netzero.net Website www.wayneshomeinspections.com

Real Estate Schools/Education IFREC Real Estate Schools

Richard Fryer 5029 Edgewater Drive, Orlando, FL 32810 Office 407-644-7277 Fax 407-647-5227 Email robin@ifrec.com Website www.ifrec.com

Title/Escrow/Insurance Services A-Z Team Title, LLC

Shelly Kiker 1101 Miranda Lane, Suite 113, Kissimmee, FL 34741 Office 321-443-6901 Fax 866-326-2097 Email skiker@masontitle.com Website www.masontitle.com

Jeffrey Saindon PO Box 5017, San Ramon, CA 94583 Office 800-445-6999 Email jeff@orhp.com Website www.orhp.com

Vickie Deaton 113 E. Monument Avenue, Kissimmee, FL 34741 Office 407- 350-4401 Fax 407- 350-4414 Email vdeaton@premieretitleagency.com

Prominent Title Insurance Agency, Inc. Betty M. Dobbie 827 Cypress Parkway, Kissimmee, FL 34759 Office 407-343-1560 Fax 407-343-1561 Email bdobbie@prominenttitle.com Website www.prominenttitle.com

Heidi Foster 7575 Dr. Phillips Blvd., Suite 140, Orlando, FL 32819 Office 407-615-8550 Fax 407-615-8555 Email hfoster@recsfl.com Website www.recsfl.com

Shopsmart Insurance, Inc.

First American Title

Stewart Approved Title, Inc.

Cara Brown 1101 Miranda Lane, Suite 101, Kissimmee, FL 34741 Office 877-833-1731 Fax 866-722-5957 Email carbrown@firstam.com Website www.firstam.com

Becky Sheive 1201 Emmett St., Kissimmee, FL 34741 Office 407-846-7477 Fax 407-846-6573 Email bsheive@stewart.com Website www.stewart.com

First American Title

Stewart Approved Title, Inc.

March 2011

Tina Johnson 8 Broadway St, Ste 225, Kissimmee, FL 34741 Office 407-847-0412 Fax 407-847-0429 Email tinamjohnson@embarqmail.com

Final Negotiation, LLC

Rhonda Owen 1201 Emmett Street, Kissimmee, FL 34741 Office 407-846-0978 Fax 407-846-6573 Email rowen@stewart.com Website www.stewart.com

Real Estate Closing Solutions

Bernard S. Edwards 102 Park Place Blvd., Suite A-3, Kissimmee, FL 34743 Office 407-932-0529 Fax 407-932-1587 Email bernie@azteamtitle.com Website www.azteamtitle.com

Deborah Dudley 1101 Miranda Lane, Kissimmee, FL 34741 Office 877-833-1731 Fax 866-722-5957 Email ddudley@firstam.com Website www.firstam.com

Rayelynne Ketchum 1401 Budinger Ave., Saint Cloud, FL 34769 Office 407-957-9000 Fax 407-957-8055 Email rwoeste@stewart.com Website www.stewart.com

Jonathan Reich 1201 Emmett Street, Kissimmee, FL 34741 Office 407-933-7866 Fax 407-931-0083 Email jdreich2@msn.com

Jolene Sheive 1201 Emmett St., Kissimmee, FL 34741 Office 407-846-7477 Fax 407-846-6573 Email jdreich2@msn.com Website www.stewart.com

Executive Committee Friday, March 25, 2011 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Friday, March 25, 2011 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

ADvanced

Communication

Education

A refresher “must” for Real Estate professionals! Nearly every aspect of a Realtors® day involves communication;

Communication

Conversations with buyers, sellers, brokers, and other agents is at the core of Realtors® interactions. Poor communication with contacts could mean a longer sales cycle, tension with customers and colleagues, and possibly the loss of a contract. This course provides students with the ability to not only learn, but to practice techniques that are research based and field tested. The material has been designed for fostering enhanced interpersonal relationships at all levels of the Realtor® experience. Highly relevant for agents at all stages in their

Don’t wait until the last minute to update your continuing education requirements.

When: Wednesday, March 16, 2011 9.00-12.00p Where: Osceola County Association Classroom Cost: FREE for Members To Register: 407.846.0117 Or for more information visit www.osceolarealtors.org

March 2011

Happy St. Patrick’s Day 6

13

Daylight Saving Begins

NAR RPAC

March 2011

9

8

Public Policy Meeting 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

IMAPP - MLS iMAPP 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

OSCAR Toastmasters Club 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Affiliate Council Meeting 9:45 am - 10:45 am

Creating Custom Reports 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Bylaws & Policies Committee Meetings 1:00pm - 4:00 pm

14

15

Property Mgmt Cmte Mtg, 9:45am - 10:45 am

OSCAR Toastmasters Club Grievance Committee 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Meeting, 1 pm - 5 pm

21

Florida REALTORS® Welcome Home Week

International Alliance

28

MLS Learn and Earn Marketing Session 8:30 am - 9:30 am

5

NAR RPAC

10

11

12

NAR RPAC Prop. Mgmt for the RE Practitioner, 8:30am-12:30pm How to make the most out of your Property Mmgt., 1 - 5pm

16

Young Professionals Network Kick-Off Event, 5 - 8pm

St. Patrick’s Day

OSCAR Toastmasters Club Bylaws & Policies Cmte 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Meetings, 1 pm - 4 pm

NAR RPAC

18

19

Florida REALTORS® Welcome Home Week

25

FL REALTORS® Open House Weekend

Executive Committee 8:00 am - 9:30 am

FL REALTORS® Welcome Home Week

MFCRE Presentation, 10-11 am NAR National Policy Luncheon Presentation, 12:00 - 1:00 pm

23

Sinking or Syncing 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

MLS Learn and Earn Committee Meeting 9:45 am - 10:45 am

MFRMLS BOD 10:00 am -12:00 pm

Commercial Mktg Session 8:30 am - 10:00 am

Emerging Technology Committee 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

24

Florida REALTORS® Welcome Home Week

30

29

WCR Board Meeting 8:00 am - 9:30 am

17

Florida REALTORS® Welcome Home Week

OSCAR Toastmasters Club Committee Meeting 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm 9:45 am - 10:45 am

27

Advanced Communications 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

22

MLS Learn and Earn Marketing Session 8:30 am - 9:30 am

Florida REALTORS® Welcome Home Week

4

Code Of Ethics 3 CE 1:00 pm- 4:00 pm

MLS Learn and Earn Marketing Session 8:30 am - 9:30 am

Florida REALTORS® Open House Weekend Florida REALTORS® Welcome Home Week

MLS Learn and Earn Marketing Session 8:30 am - 9:30 am

MLS Learn and Earn Marketing Session 8:30 am - 9:30 am

3 Core Law 3 CE 9:00 am -12:00 pm

7

20 Florida REALTORS® Welcome Home Week

2

1

BOD Meeting 9:30 am - 11:00 am

WCR Fishing Tournament

31

NAR Leadership Academy 2012 Deadline 8:00 am - 9:00 am

Accredited Buyer Representative Designation March 30 & 31, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

1

2

8

9

15

16

Happy Easter 3

4

April 2011

17

11

Great American REALTOR® Days

March 2011

24

MLS Learn and Earn Marketing Session, 8:30 am - 9:30 am

OSCAR Toastmasters Club 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Affiliate Council Meetings 9:45 am - 10:45 am

18

19

14

MFRMLS BOD Meeting 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Great American REALTOR® Days

20

Administrative Professionals Day

Commercial Marketing Session 8:30 am - 10:00 am

21

International Alliance Luncheon Forum 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

At Home With Diversity Certification 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

26

NAR Green Designation April 7 & 8, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

13

12

Creating a Professional CMA Spanish, 1pm - 4pm

25

WCR Board Meeting 8:00 am - 9:30 am

MLS Listing Maintenance 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

MLS Learn and Earn OSCAR Toastmasters Club Marketing Session 8:30 am - 9:30 am 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Easter Sunday

7

MLXchange Basic 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

MLS Learn and Earn OSCAR Toastmasters Club Marketing Session 8:30 am - 9:30 am 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm MLS iMAPP Spanish 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

6

5

New Member Welcome 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

10

27

Good Friday

22

23

29

30

(OSCAR Closed)

28

BOD Meeting 9:30 am - 11:00 am OSCAR Toastmasters Club 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

26

Executive Committee 8:00 am - 9:30 am

Conflict Resolution 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

GRI 2 (ORRA)

GRI 2 (ORRA)

GRI 2 (ORRA)

PRSRT STD U S POSTAGE PAID MID-FL FL PERMIT NO. 581

new real estate offices

MARCH 2011 How To Make The Most Out Of Your Property Managment Thursday, March 10 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm Instructor: Charli Phelps Location: OSCAR CE Credits: 4 Advanced Communications Wednesday, March 16 9:00 am to 12:00 pm Instructor: Sue Collins Location: OSCAR CE Credits: 3 Accredited Buyer Representative Designation Wednesday, March 30 & Thursday, March 31 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, both days Location: OSCAR CE Credits: 4

APRIL 2011 NAR Green Designation Thursday, April 7 & Friday, April 8 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, both days

Cindy Tanada Realty................. Cynthia R. Tanada 1644 Witney Isle Drive, Windermere, FL 34786 Office: 407-407-9731 Email: ctanada@cfl.rr.com EMC World Realty LLC................. Evett M. Cadogan 6380 Raleigh Street, Apt. # 2103, Orlando, FL 32835 Office: 407-287-7573 Email: emcwrealty@yahoo.com Florida Scandi Realty LLC..............................Hans Tank 8701 W Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, Suite 136 Kissimmee, FL 34747 Office: 407-982-7224 • Fax: 407-982-7226 Email: hanstank@hotmail.com

welcome new members Adil Najim..............................Keller Williams at The Lakes Alejandro S. Sierra..................... Central Florida Realty Co Alicia M. Casal............................ Invest Realty Group, LLC Andrew Michael Hjortaas............................... PACT Realty Arles Orlando Hernandez..............Orlando Reo Group Inc. Cynthia R. Tanada.............................Cindy Tanada Realty Eduardus J. Mak.........Homes of America Realty Group, LLC Elizabeth Cruz............... Weichert REALTORS® Hallmark Pro Emma J Gibbs.................... Century 21 Premium Properties Eric Robinson....................................... La Rosa Realty LLC Evett M. Cadogan........................... EMC World Realty LLC Geomary Bengochea................................. Remax Pioneer Hans Tank.................................. Florida Scandi Realty LLC Jesse Carriedo............................. Hunters Creek Realty LLC Lauren Solomon........................Bustamante Real Estate Inc, Nelson Cabrera........................................ DGL Realty, LLC Nicholas P. Beveridge........... Orlando Kissimmee Realty LLC Ricardo C. Batini................................ Vitoria Realty Corp.

Sean Lindsey............................Bustamante Real Estate Inc, Shamira Del Carmen Brown.......Bustamante Real Estate Inc, Steven Diaz................................. Magic Homes Realty LLC Virginia Rodriguez..................................... Lisa Davis LLC

March 2011