Orlando Real Estate >> East Orlando Real Estate and Homes For Sale

First, lets get some background  on what Innovation Way is according to Orange County, FL:
Innovation Way I
Background & Purpose The purpose of this project is to enhance the public transportation network and provide safe and efficient flow of vehicular traffic within the East Orange County area.
This project will include the construction of a 4-lane urban roadway on new alignment from a location approximately 1,000 feet north of the Beachline Expressway ( SR 528 ) to the intersection of Alafaya Trail and Avalon Park Boulevard.
This new urban road will also feature sidewalks, on-road bike paths and a closed drainage system.Project Limits
This project extends from north of the Beachline Expressway ( SR 528 ) to Avalon Park Boulevard, a distance of approximately 4.81 miles.
Estimated Project Costs
Roadway: $22,805,325.75
Utilities:    $7,293,627.50

Now that we have a bit of background… lets examine what this $30 million is going to do for us East Orlando Residents:
1. Enhance public transportation- What is this??? A bus that picks up no one and takes them to Waterford Lakes Town Center or a bus that picks up shoppers and takes them to a dead end?
2. Provide efficient flow of traffic- hmm… this is a dead end road that stops somewhere short of SR 528. Although this dead end road has bike lanes (I do love these!) and sidewalks, to my knowledge, drivers, bicyclists, and walkers are possibly going to get great views of power lines, a power plant, and perhaps even a jail.

Now you are probably saying- Dawn, that’s not fair of you. Of course, there is the interchange being built to connect Innovation Way/Alafaya Trail traffic onto SR 528- or at least a service road that will connect our new dead end to an existing interchange!
Or is there??? There is nothing of the sort within the Orange County Government site. So I decided to write to some officials.

1. District 4 Commissioner Linda Stewart- Remember the quote last year: “Orange County has spent $26 million to expand Alafaya Trail and we’re not going to have it go down the drain to a dead end.” “… soon after March or April of 2008, we will be able to drive down Alafaya to the Beachline.”  Well I remember that ( not that I particularly care to drive down a dead end to nowhere road by April 2008 ) and wrote to her anyway. She quickly deferred me to the transportation dept. (to whom I had already written and told her of that fact in my letter). Thanks for that help!

2. Several members of the Public Transportation Department- I found two of these officials to be quite helpful with my enquiry: Mr. Brian Sanders and Mr. Jim Harrison.

And now, drum roll please…   Version 2.4 Update is:
“The proposed completion date for the new interchange at Alafaya Trail/Innovation Way is May 2010.  Of course, it is a complex project, and the schedule may change over time.
We are currently working with the property owner to have a connection to the existing interchange at Dallas open sooner, but we haven’t completed negotiations on that so we can’t provide any proposed completion date.”

And there you have it.

Links to previous versions of Innovation Way Updates:
Innovation Way - East Orlando’s Longest Dead End Road
East Orlando’s Innovation Way (Alafaya Trail) Update
Alafaya Trail Extension Innovation Way Update January 2008
Have You Read the East Orlando Sun Today?

The grades for schools in East Orlando 32828 are as follows:

Elementary
Avalon   A
Camelot   A
Castle Creek   A
Stone Lakes   A
Sunrise   A
Waterford   A

Middle
Avalon   A
Discovery   A

High
Timber Creek   B

Way to go!!!
To search for school grades in other areas of Orlando, please visit the Florida Department of Education’s website at www.fldoe.org.

· $349,900
· Avalon Park
· 3435 sq. ft.
· 5 bedrooms/3 bathrooms
· pool

· $299,990
· Waterford Lakes
· 3072 sq. ft.
· 4 bedrooms/2.5 bathrooms
· pool

· $319,900
· Eastwood
· 3449 sq. ft.
· 5 bedrooms/4 bathrooms
· pool

For information about any of the properties above, please contact your
East Orlando Realtor today!

EAST ORLANDO BUYERS:

According to the data, we have over a years worth of inventory available in our market. Now is the time to buy in 32828! Although historically interest rates are still low, they are starting to rise AND the amount of inventory in our market is beginning to decline. This is a sign that home prices will begin to level off in the next few months. There are still plenty of homes currently listed at or below current market value. Now is the perfect time to buy in East Orlando. Give me a call at 407-761-2663 or email me at WaterfordLakes@yahoo.com and lets go over the figures to find you the most home for the least amount of money!

EAST ORLANDO HOME SELLERS:

It is an unfortunate time for sellers in our market. Too many homes are listed by sellers who are not serious about selling their home. We are flooded with homes that are overpriced. If you are serious about selling, please contact me, Dawn Pratt, for a free comparative market analysis of your home. Let me sell your home at a discounted brokerage fee and a listing agreement of 90 days. Just mention that you are a www.EastOrlandoLife.com reader. If you are unsatisfied with my performance, you may cancel our listing agreement at any time- no charge to you whatsoever.
My promise to you is to provide you with personalized service, consistent contact, and to do what it takes to reach our ultimate goal- to get your home sold!

Below is a list of firework displays/4th of July Celebrations that I am aware of. If you are familiar with any other events around Orlando, please add them to the comment section below- thanks!

• 4th of July Celebration at Avalon Park (East Orlando):  Friday from 5-10pm - Fireworks at 9pm - Swampmaster’s gator show - Apple Pie Bake-Off - Hot Dog Eating Contest - Bike Parade - Wet/Dry Bounce Park - Live Music by Hayfire - Community Performances
• Fireworks at the Fountain at Lake Eola Park (Downtown Orlando):  Friday from 4-10pm - Fireworks at 9:15pm - NASCAR Driving Simulator - Bounce Houses - Orlando Concert Band
• Sanford Riverwalk 4th of July at Fort Mellon Park (Northwest of Orlando):  Friday from 3-10:30pm - Fireworks after sundown - All American Kid Zone - Live Music by Orleans and Friends

And ofcourse, there is always a bang at the Disney and Universal Parks!

East Orlando Life Readers

Hurry, offer is only good until Friday evening! Click on the link above, scroll down, and choose whether you would like her book in English or Spanish. Enjoy!

Are you aware that you are entitled to receive one free copy of your credit report each year?

Incorrect information in your credit report can be detrimental when it is time to purchase your new home. Incorrect information contained in your credit history can be removed by filing a dispute form provided by the credit bureau. Within 30 days, the credit bureau will correct or delete the information or report to you why the information is correct.

Contact one of the below credit reporting agencies to request your copy today. It is your right and responsibility to ensure the information in your credit report is accurate.

Equifax – Atlanta, GA
800-685-1111
www.equifax.com

Experian – Orange Co., CA
888-397-3742
www.experian.com

Trans Union – Chicago, IL
800-916-8800
www.transunion.com

Dawn Pratt, your East Orlando real estate agent, proudly serving the Waterford Lakes, Waterford Chase, Avalon Lakes, Avalon Park, Eastwood, Timber Springs, and Stoneybrook areas.

On a recent drive by Firkin & Kegler in East Orlando, my son and I were amazed by all the radio controlled boats in the pond. Upon further investigating, we learned that the Sunday Sloopers are behind this exciting and entertaining hobby. Please visit their website to learn more about their East Orlando organization and come watch them in action this Sunday at their new race location- Firkin & Kegler!

Many homeowners in East Orlando are facing this terrible predicament. The Hope Now Alliance was created in order to help prevent foreclosure and keep you in your home. Please visit www.hopenow.com or call 1-800-995-HOPE for more information.

Willing to leave your home? You may qualify for a short sale. With your lender’s approval, you may qualify for a hardship that will relieve you of your loan balance after your home sells.

First, you will want to hire a Realtor, Real Estate Attorney, or Title Company to determine if you qualify for a short sale. A CMA (comparative market analysis) will be done to give you an estimated market value of your home. From that estimate, you will deduct:
1. all outstanding liens, mortgages, lines of equity
2. seller closing costs
3. real estate broker commissions
4. estimated repairs
A HUD-1 (settlement statement) will be composed to give you your bottom line.

If you do qualify for a short sale of your home, you will need the following available when negotiating with your lender:
1. loan number and recent payment history
2. brief explanation of circumstances
3. recent income documentation including pay stubs or tax returns
4. a list of household expenses- utility bills, food, insurances, etc.
5. a list of other debt obligations- credit cards, car loans, etc.

For more information, please email Your East Orlando Realtor with any and all questions.