Reese Stewart, P.A., ABR

Orlando FL is one of the world's fastest-growing cities, which may be a contributing factor to its having one of the lowest unemployment rates in the United States.  Located in Central Florida, it is the county seat of Orange County and has a population of just over 220,000. Orlando is a center for digital media and bio medicine and is home to the University of Central Florida. The climate in Orlando is sunny and warm year round.

Orlando is probably best known for local tourist attractions, particularly the nearby Walt Disney World Resort, which is located about 20 miles south of the city. Other notable area attractions include SeaWorld and Universal Studios, the Kennedy Space Center, and nearby Daytona Beach and Cocoa Beach. The area sees an estimated 52 million tourists a year.

Currently, downtown Orlando is undergoing some major redevelopment with a number of residential and commercial towers being built. And, according to a recent Orlando Regional Realtor Association article (January 10, 2008), a decrease in the median real estate sales price has “spurred 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 stabilization of Orlando’s current buyer-favoring housing market.”

In February 2008 there were 922 homes sold in Orlando, a 13.4 percent increase over January, but a 40.17 percent decrease from February of last year.  The median price of a single-family home in the area increased to $223,000.  The majority of homes that changed hands in February 2008 were sold for between $200,000 and $250,000.

There are many real estate deals to be found in Orlando, but you need a local market expert to help you. Having been born and raised in Orlando Reese knows Orlando FL and the current market. He is an experienced real estate professional who is well versed in the home buying and selling experience.