8 Reasons Locals Love Living in Orlando, Florida

There are many places across America that have great reasons on why they are awesome places to live, but no matter what the reasons are Orlando has them all beat.  Here are eight reasons why locals love living in Orlando.

1. Theme Parks

Top of the list has to be theme parks.  Orlando has a long list of theme parks like SeaWorld, Disney World, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventures, Lego Land, Gator land, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Wet-‘n-Wild, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Move to OrlandoLagoon and Aquatica just to name a few.  These places have all kinds of options whether you are looking to walk around and see one of their many shows, grab lunch or feed some alligators.  Sure some folks see these and think of young kids running around and screaming but that’s not necessarily the case. For instance Epcot has a food and wine festival that consist of walking around while drinking and eating all the different countries finest cuisine.  And Universal Studios Mardis Gras is nothing but exceptional concerts and celebrations, not to mention these places are well known for their fantastic places to eat and enjoy your favorite movie themed rides! Just to top it all off, residents always get an excellent discounted rate for admission and being local makes it easy to come and go as you please.

2. The Great Outdoors

The second reason locals love it here would be the outdoors, trails, and state parks.  If you want to stay local, you will find it really easy to find a paved trail for both riding bikes or running but if you are looking for something more “off the beaten path” there is state parks like Wekiwa Springs or Blue Springs that are open year around and always very enjoyable for the day or an overnight camping trip.   The greatest thing is that so many locals love outdoor activities which makes it really easy to find a group of friends that ride mountain bikes or run for the sport of it.  Of course not having to worry about shoveling snow or freezing temperatures this stuff can be done almost anytime.

3. The Year Round Beautiful Weather

Just like Joe Nichols sings it, “Sunny and 75”, which brings me to my next point, Orlando’s beautiful weather.  With all of these great things to enjoy outside it always helps to have weather that supports it.  There aren’t too many places that you can wear flip flops and keep up your sun kissed skin almost year around.

4. Near By BeachesBeaches near orlando florida

With the great weather we are accustomed to, the beach is another reason why locals love Orlando.  With about a 45 minute drive Cocoa Beach, New Smyrna or Daytona beach are all highly recommended.  If you are looking for a day in the sun, people watching or a nice three day weekend these destinations are excellent candidates for relaxation and getaways.

5. Boating

Due to the popularity of Mickey Mouse many people don’t know about the number of boating destinations Orlando has.  The local fresh water is home of great fishing, relaxation and beautiful real estate.  Some of the larger lakes are the Butler chain of lakes, Lake Dora, Lake Brantley, Bear Lake, Lake Conway, Lake Ivanhoe and Lake Underhill.  The nice thing is that areas such as the Butler chain can offer an entire of day of cruising, tubing and skiing with small rivers and other bodies of water all interconnected.

6. World Class Golfing

Another unknown hidden gem of Orlando doesn’t require a boat or board shorts but is just as fun and relaxing and it only takes 18 holes if you are up for it.  Orlando has 50+ golf courses in the vicinity that range in all different prices and level of difficulty.  If you are a golfer and follow the PGA tour the course you would be interested in would be Bay Hill, one of the top rated public courses in the entire state.  No matter what your skill level is or how much you are looking to spend there is a course for you.

7. Sporting Events

Most states across America have multiple big sports teams but Orlando does it better.  I know what you are thinking and I know Orlando Does not have an NFL team but we still have 3 NFL teams just outside of Orlando (Miami Dolphins, Sports teams in Orlando FloridaJacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Bucks), 4 large colleges with football and basketball teams to support (UCF, Florida State University, University of Florida, University of Miami).  Not to mention the ECHL hockey team, The Solar Bears, the NBA team, Orlando Magic, the close by MLB team Tampa Bay Rays and the latest addition Orlando City Soccer.  If you have a sport you enjoy watching or just love to see it in person we have got you covered.

8. Live Concerts

Due to the size and popularity of Orlando, we have many great venues that attract very popular artist.  This brings me to my last point, live concerts.  No matter who is on tour there is a 99% chance they will be coming to Orlando. Whether you are looking to see Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Paul McCartney, Tom Petty, Rolling Stones, Brittany Spears, Lady Gaga, Jay-Z or any other genre of music the Amway Center or another great venue in Orlando will be hosting them at some point.

It’s kind of like I told you initially, whatever you think your town has to offer Orlando has it beat. If you want to learn more about what Orlando has to offer or if you are considering moving to Orlando then you should check out MoversAtlas.com!

If you enjoyed reading this post you will find the main Mover’s Atlas site even more Interesting! There you can discover important information about what surrounds your current or future Florida home, give it a look: Mover’s Atlas.

How to Find the Best Real Estate Agent for You

Finding a realtor can be confusing, disheartening, and frustrating among other things. Here are a few simple rules to help you find the absolute best real estate agent for you and your housing needs:

Real Estate professional in florida

1.       Interview Several Agents

First, make sure you interview several agents. Depending on whether you are looking for a buyers agent or a sellers agent, there are different sets of questions you may want to ask. If you are looking for a buyers agent, be sure not to rush into signing the Buyer’s agreement form without first looking at properties together. The more agents you interview, the better your ultimate choice will be.

2.       Make sure they are Licensed

Make sure your agent has all the right certifications and licenses. Bear in mind that not all real estate agents are actually realtors (which requires a license). It can often be difficult to know what you’re looking for but look online for the state in which your agent/realtor is located and check the required licenses; these may include CRS (Certified Residential Specialist), ABR (Accredited Buyers Representative), and SRES (Senior Real Estate Specialist). Reviewing the license will also let you know how long your real estate professional has been in business.

3.       Obtain references

While references do not necessarily guarantee the best realtor for you specifically, they do create some familiarity with the realtor and their previous works and successes. If you have a friend, colleague, or family member that has recently dealt with a realtor, it does not hurt to ask them a few questions to learn more before making your decision. Real Estate Agents when asked should also be able to provide their own list of references that you can call to ask about the reliability of the agent.

4.       They should be online

A good agent must be online. Most home buyers in today’s market see their homes and prospective communities online for the first time. Your agent’s profile should include pictures with each house listed. Checking the online listings will give you a better idea of how busy your realtor is, whether or not they have been successful in the past, and will also let you know that you can contact your agent via email or other online methods. It also reassures you that your agent is up-to-date.

5.       Ensure your agent in Knowledgeable

Ask your agent questions about the neighborhood in which the house of interest is located. He/she should be able to tell you about the best schools, places of interest, and the potential negatives of the area. They should also be able to provide information about other homes for sale in the area off the top of their heads. This means that they really know the area and are good at their job. Another good trick is to ask where your agent lives. If they live and work in the same general location, they have an added advantage of having personal experience and will be more knowledgeable than someone from the outside.

6.       Experienced Agents

Find out if your agent is part-time or full-time. Do they have another job to concentrate on or is this their main livelihood? If they do work full-time, ask them how long they have been working full-time. This can give you an idea of how experienced your agent is. Newcomers will not be as seasoned as someone with years in the industry.

There are many other important factors when looking for a real estate agent to help you buy or sell a house and we have just covered a few of the most important points. Please bear in mind that ultimately, you want someone who you feel you will work well with, will be available to take your questions, and will fight to make you happy. No matter who you pick, you will be taking a risk but doing the research is a good way to make the best decision possible. Good Luck!

If you enjoyed reading this post you will find the main Mover’s Atlas site even more Interesting! There you can discover important information about what surrounds your current or future Florida home, give it a look: Mover’s Atlas.

3255 Buffalo Run – One of Florida’s Most Extravagant Homes

Here’s a great story of not judging a book by its cover.  Ironically Florida has many little towns with some of the LARGEST houses, much like Tarpon Springs where one of the biggest houses ever built (in Florida) stands at 3255 Buffalo Run, Tarpon Springs, FL 34688.

3225 Buffalo Run Tarpon Springs Fl

Tarpon Springs is located on the west coast of Florida in Pinellas County with a population of around 24,000 and a total area of 17 square miles where only 9.1 square miles land, the rest is only fit for a boat.  There lies one of the largest homes in the state.

Built in 2006 by a former NBA player (no it’s not Michael Jordan, his place is bigger), the estate includes 11 acres, a six car garage, and 21,000 square feet of Spanish Mediterranean style home along with a shrunken 6,200 square foot guest house within the property grounds. The primary house has 9 bedrooms, 13 full bathrooms and 4 half bathrooms each with its own distinct styling and features.

3255 Buffalo run spanish mediteranian style home

The house contains features such as a 1200 bottle wine cellar:

3255 buffalo run 1200 bottle wine cellar

A miniature village that is comprised of a movie house, a pub, a poker and cigar room, loft style music lounge, an ice-cream shop and a book store/library:

3255 buffalo run miniature village in house

If that isn’t enough the house has its own full circuit gym, attached spa with both a sauna and steam room:

3255 buffalo run full gym

3255 buffalo run steam room and sauna

Behind the house is one of the largest residential pools in the state equipped with 14 tumbling waterfalls and a lazy river:

3255 buffalo run pool and lazy river

The guest house sized at just over six thousand square feet adopts the similar styling and exquisite design to mock the main house which includes 4 bedrooms, 4 full bathrooms, a great room, kitchen and a guest room with a kitchenette.  Of course this all does come with a price, if the $110,000 a year for the property taxes scare you off then the $14.3 million dollar list price would really send you running.  Maybe they would consider renting out one of the bathrooms for a good price?

If you enjoyed reading this post you will find the main Mover’s Atlas site even more Interesting! There you can discover important information about what surrounds your current or future Florida home, give it a look: Mover’s Atlas.