Avalon Park has always been a community for the ages - literally. With faciltities that range from daycare centers to tween boutiques and sports bars, Avalon appeals to a wide variety of age groups. But, next year, Avalon Park Group will begin to integrate another age group into the community even more than they already have by building a three-story elderly living facility that will be placed near Downtown Avalon Park. Next year will bring a senior-centered community to Downtown Avalon Park, courtesy of Avalon Park Group. “Avalon is, for a lack of a better term, a cradle to grave community; you can be born here, you can live here, you can... [Read more]

Home prices are still sitting at record lows around Central Florida. If you’ve got the extra cash and are looking for a good, profitable investment, then now may be the time to purchase your first property. That is, as long as you can remember one key thing: manage your expectations. “I would say now is a good time to buy a residential investment property, with some qualifiers,” says local expert Gail Moncla, broker and owner of Rental Home Management Services, Inc. “From the standpoint of the current value of investments homes, as far as purchasing them goes, it’s a good time because prices are down to where they... [Read more]

Spotlighted for their outstanding customer service satisfaction ratings, wide array of skills and local expertise, Insight Magazine once again presents the annual special section: Who’s Who in East Orlando Real Estate? The listings below are in alphabetical order by last name and are not intended to indicate any type of numerical rating. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Christopher Baker Growing up in a small town near Dayton, Ohio, Christopher Baker always knew he was interested in people. After graduating from The Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science,... [Read more]

Since the hard-hitting economic downfall, people have been doing what they can to recover, but in terms of real estate local residents still find themselves asking: well, now what? Is now the right time to buy a house? What trends are happening in the market? Should we ever expect a full turnaround? Is there some relief in sight? While most of these questions depend upon the circumstances of the buyer, there are certain situations that are emerging as trends. The biggest trend that appears to be dominating the market is short sales. A short sale is what the name suggests: it is a sale that is being sold short. The sale amount will be short of... [Read more]

How many shopping plazas do you drive by on an average day? And how many of those plazas have empty storefronts? Odds are the answer is “most.” It’s no secret that the commercial real estate market has seen a decline over the past 18 months or so in Central Florida, but are we past the worst of it? Commerical real estate properties like this one sit empty throughout East Orlando. Although interest in leasing and purchasing space is growing, the empty storefronts will persist for months. “The commercial real estate market is a lot like a lot of industries in the United States today in that the industry has experienced a... [Read more]