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The Lakes At Harmony- A Fast Selling 55+ Community

The Lakes At Harmony- A Fast Selling 55+ Community

The Lakes At Harmony- A Fast Selling 55+ Community

The Lakes at Harmony is an amenities-rich community providing a paradise designed exclusively for active adults (55+).  

Harmony encompasses 11,000 acres of which 70% will remain lakes, conservation areas and green space.  The community was carefully planned so residents can walk, jog or ride a bicycle to the beautiful lakes, play golf at the Harmony Golf Preserve and much more. 

The Lakes at Harmony is the newest and highly sought-after addition to Harmony.   

The Recreation Center is a brand-new exclusive amenity that includes a resort style zero-entry pool, community and craft rooms, fitness center and a “sunset gazebo” overlooking the 14th green of the Harmony Golf Course.  

 

Popular activities such as: tennis, pickle ball, mahjong, canasta, zumba, tai chi, yoga/piyo, bocce, book club, game night, BBQ and special seasonal events are also hosted at the Recreation Center throughout the year. 

  

And when you want to get out and enjoy the many attractions of Central Florida, everything is nearby:  for example, Orlando International Airport: 25 minutes; Disney World Resort: 30 minutes; Atlantic Beaches: 40 minutes; Sea World and Universal Studios: 45 minutes. 

  

Lakes at Harmony is a special place where you can meet new friends and enjoy the good life.  

 

Make time and visit this community. With only a dozen lots remaining, the chances of securing a home-site along the fairway of the Johnny Miller course or backing up to conservation land or overlooking a nature filled lake are dwindling.  

 

The Lakes at Harmony was recently showcased as one of the 50 best master-planned communities in the US for retirees, so don’t delay, call us today to schedule your private tour. 

Ready to make a Move?

Bardell Real Estate are the experts in helping you with your selling, buying or renting needs near Orlando, Florida. Make your Disney area experience a forever memorable one. Call us now to speak to a real estate agent.

 

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Mount Dora- The Popular Choice With US Retirees

Mount Dora- The Popular Choice With US Retirees

Mount Dora- The Popular Choice With US Retirees

It is no secret that Florida’s year-round sunshine makes for an ideal retirement destination.  

The state tax laws make it affordable, too, including no state tax. And every corner of the state offers a variety of things to do. Historical sites, hiking, boating, sports, and festivals will keep you busy during retirement.  

 Ranked as Florida’s #1 small town to retire to by USA Today, Mount Dora is known for its charming water ambiance, gracious lifestyle and friendly community. Due to its central location, retirees from Jacksonville, Tampa and other areas throughout Florida and the U.S. come to Mount Dora for its great attractions and relaxed atmosphere.  

 Located on the shores of Lake Dora and only an hour away from Orlando, this picturesque town was founded in 1880 and still maintains an old-world charm. Many refer to Mount Dora as the “Festival City”, because of the numerous festivals and fairs held throughout the year. If you enjoy participating in events, shopping for antiques in a charming downtown area, dining on a balcony overlooking Main Street, you will love Mount Dora. Theater comes to life in two theaters, alongside the numerous art galleries. Mount Dora is also known as the Bass Capital of the World and is an excellent small town to bring your fishing pole. You can walk along the lake, take up birding, biking, hiking, boating, and any other outdoor adventure your heart desires. 

 One of the best parts of retiring in Mount Dora is having extra spending power, as housing is still affordable. 

Mount Dora will win you over in a heartbeat and we, at RE/MAX Heritage, can certainly help with information on existing and upcoming retirement communities, so you can find your ideal retirement home!   

Ready to make a Move?

Bardell Real Estate are the experts in helping you with your selling, buying or renting needs near Orlando, Florida. Make your Disney area experience a forever memorable one. Call us now to speak to a real estate agent.

 

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Hammock Reserve – The Perfect Home Within Reach

Hammock Reserve – The Perfect Home Within Reach

Hammock Reserve – The Perfect Home Within Reach

Hammock Reserve is a charming new community in thriving Haines City, Florida, one of the fastest growing areas of Polk County. 

Within minutes from the I-4 and US-27, Hammock Reserve provides easy access to major employment and entertainment centers. Shopping, dining, golf is also conveniently located nearby and it’s just 18-miles from world-famous Walt Disney World® Resort.  

The community of Hammock Reserve offers a spacious resort-style pool and sundeck, serene conservation views & recreation area, tot lot, as well as a dog park with separate areas for large and small dogs. 

With three builders offering a selection of over 20 models, including one and two story single family homes, Hammock Reserve is a must see. 

Open- concept floorplans, built in groundbreaking energy efficiency and smart home technology are just a few of the perks. Add to these the flexible space and customization options featured by the community builders and you can certainly have your new home as unique as you are.  

Home prices are starting as low as $297,990, making Hammock Reserve an exceptional value for the money.  

If you are new to the area, here is what you need to know. 

Polk County is the fourth-largest county in Florida by land area and it includes desirable locations such as Lakeland, Davenport, Winter Haven, Haines City. Residents and visitors alike are drawn to the unique character of its numerous heritage sites and cultural venues, stunning natural landscapes, and many outdoor activities.  

The early settlers of Haines City, in particular, planted citrus groves, and citrus is still part of the beautiful city today. Drive through fragrant groves on the Ridge Scenic Highway, pick an orange at Ridge Island Groves, and enjoy a slice of grapefruit pie from Taste of Florida Café; at Lang Sun Country Groves. You can also take a hike at the local State Park if you’re willing to tackle one of Central Florida’s most challenging trails. Located along the beautiful Lake Wales Ridge, Catfish Creek’s landscape is unlike any other with tall, steep ridges of sugar sand, and ascents and descents so steep you’d think you were traversing ski slopes.  

Haines City is now Polk’s third largest city. Residents and visitors enjoy the local beautiful lakes, championship golf courses, sports venues, and much more.  

In Haines City, you’ll be able to experience the small-town feel while still being close to world-class attraction and theme parks like Walt Disney World and Legoland. 

So, if you are relocating to Haines City or looking for affordable new construction, don’t miss out on Hammock Reserve. Call us today at (863)424-2309 and let us schedule your community tour. With three competing builders and pre-sale pricing, the perfect home is now within reach! 

Ready to make a Move?

Bardell Real Estate are the experts in helping you with your selling, buying or renting needs near Orlando, Florida. Make your Disney area experience a forever memorable one. Call us now to speak to a real estate agent.

 

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Vacation Rental Business Booming in Kissimmee

Vacation Rental Business Booming in Kissimmee

If you consider purchasing a vacation/investment home in the Disney area, take a moment to read the 2021 vacation rental performance overview below.  

 After losing tens of millions of tourism tax dollars due to the COVID- 19 pandemic in 2020, the vacation rental industry in Osceola County was able to quickly recover and thrive. Despite being down about 10,000 homes compared to the 2019 inventory, the vacation rentals in 2021 outperformed their 2019 pre-pandemic numbers.   For seven years Aowei Yin has been managing vacation rental home properties. Five of those most recent years have been in Kissimmee. Back in November of 2021 he was managing about 100 properties at the Villas at Seven Dwarfs in Kissimmee, which from Christmas week of 2021 to April of 2022 was nearly fully booked. 

“When people realized I could not travel anymore revenues went down,” Yin said. “It reduced down to $57 million, that’s about $80 millions lost.” 

Yin is analyzing data from AIR DNA, a web site that compiles statistics from Airbnb, VRBO and other major booking sites. According to Experience Kissimmee, vacation homes have out stayed and out paid hotels throughout 2021. Vacation homes were also generating more than 50% of the tourism tax dollars month after month through the entire year. “We were 90 to 95% booked for vacation home rentals, with most of those locations being sold out,” Experience Kissimmee Chief Marketing Officer Casey Leppanen said back in November. “We are seeing the same thing for Christmas and New Year’s, so all signs are pointing too, hate to say it, best year ever.” In 2020, Yin said people who owned a vacation home in his community lost about $10,000 to $20,000. But in 2021, everyone turned out to be a winner he said. 

“Depends on the design, how many days available but if you are talking about the revenue, it’s about $30,000 to $50,000 for a four bedroom,” Yin said. The 2021 Thanksgiving week hotels in Osceola County, according to Experience Kissimmee, were at 83% occupancy. Vacation rental homes were nearly fully booked at 95%.  

“Not back to normal, better than normal,” Yin said. It is no news that Central Florida has also seen a boom in the real estate market. Therefore, if you consider purchasing your very own vacation/investment home, talk to us today and let us guide you through the process. Act now, while interest rates are still historically low and save big on 2022 projected home price increase. 

Ready to make a Move?

Bardell Real Estate are the experts in helping you with your selling, buying or renting needs near Orlando, Florida. Make your Disney area experience a forever memorable one. Call us now to speak to a real estate agent.

 

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Landsea Homes Is Now The Seventh Largest Homebuilder In Central FL

Landsea Homes Is Now The Seventh Largest Homebuilder In Central FL

Landsea Homes Is Now The Seventh Largest Homebuilder In Central FL

On January 19, 2022 it was officially announced that Landsea Homes Corp. completed the acquisition of Orlando-based Hanover Family Builders for a purchase price of $179.3 million, subject to certain post-closing adjustments and assumption of debt, which was refinanced with the company’s unsecured revolving credit facility. 

 In 2021 Hanover Family Builders closed 632 homes at an average selling price of $328,323 and ended with more than 4,100 lots under control, 469 homes in backlog worth more than $200 million, and 18 active communities. 

 “In 2021, Landsea Homes surpassed the milestone of $1 billion in revenues and completed our first year as a public company. We believe our acquisition of Hanover Family Builders is another truly transformative event for the company,” says Landsea Homes CEO John Ho. “With the closing of this transaction, we have increased our lots under control to more than 12,800 and further accelerated our asset-light strategy by increasing our controlled lots to approximately 50% of our total lot inventory.” 

 Hanover Family Builders was established in 2017 by the brothers Matt, Steve, and Andrew Orosz in partnership with Colby Franks. It all began with nine communities in the Orlando region, Osceola, Lake and Polk counties. The Orosz family previously formed Cambridge Homes in the 1990s and Royal Oak Homes in 2011, which were sold in 2005 and 2014 respectively. Over the decades, the various companies have received the highest recognition for their growth, customer service and commitment to the community.  

 “Hanover Family Builders has established a great reputation for providing wonderful homes and outstanding customer service across central Florida,” Ho says. “Given their strong track record, local market knowledge, and long-standing relationships, we believe that Hanover will play an integral role as we expand in this region.” 

Landsea Homes first penetrated the Florida housing market in 2021 with the acquisition of Vintage Estate Homes, providing homes in the Orlando area, including Palm Bay, Ormond Beach, Palm Coast, Sorrento, Lake Helen, Merritt Island, and DeBary. 

 “We were very impressed with Landsea Homes’ strategic approach and commitment to building great homes with top-tier customer service—values that closely align with ours,” says Hanover Family Builders co-president Steve Orosz. “Their senior leadership team is experienced and thoughtful, and they have created a culture of integrity that is dedicated to ensuring they provide best-in-class homes in each of their markets.” 

Ho says that Hanover Family Builders’ focus on the more affordable segments of the market “aligns strongly with our broader product positioning goals.” The acquisition of Hanover Family Builders is expected to have an immediate impact on Landsea Homes’ earnings, and Ho says this acquisition will drive the company’s return “on beginning equity to exceed 20% in the fiscal year 2022 and beyond.” 

 “Our mission is to create a best-in-class home building company that focuses on delivering high-quality homes at a great value to our customers, while providing superior customer service,” Ho says. “Hanover Family Builders fits perfectly into that mission, and we are excited to welcome them into the Landsea Homes family.” 

 

In the course of eight years, Landsea Homes has has grown into one of the premier national homebuilders and established a footprint in each of its key markets, including Arizona, Northern and Southern California, Texas, and Florida. 

Ready to make a Move?

Bardell Real Estate are the experts in helping you with your selling, buying or renting needs near Orlando, Florida. Make your Disney area experience a forever memorable one. Call us now to speak to a real estate agent.

 

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New Single Family Short Term Rentals Near Champions Gate

New Single Family Short Term Rentals Near Champions Gate

New Single Family Short Term Rentals Near Champions Gate

Good news for all Disney area vacation home buyers! On January 5th 2022 the Polk County Planning Commission unanimously approved 457 residential units on 32 acres near ChampionsGate. The project will be developed by Jupiter based Stellar Communities, whose six out of eight neighborhoods have already been sold out. The new project will be located “east of US Highway 27, west of the Osceola County Line, north of the Ronald Reagan Parkway, south of the Santa Cruz subdivision, north of Haines City.” The development is said to consist of 300 apartment units on the northern side and 157 single-family units to the south: 103 detached units and 54 duplexes. The single-family portion of the development has been designated primarily for short-term rentals, defined as being made available for more than three times a year and for periods fewer than 30 days. Stellar representative confirmed that the units may also be used for long-term rentals. The single-family homes were referred to as “horizontal apartments” — essentially, the units are apartment-sized but have single-family amenities, like yards. The 300 apartment units will be spread among 10, three-story buildings and consist of one, two and three-bedroom units. Two of those buildings abut existing single-family development in the area, therefore a compromise was reached. The developer will need to construct a 15-foot landscape buffer that reaches 75% opacity within two years of being planted. Meeting this condition will allow keeping all building windows, as originally planned. In order to keep all planned balconies above the first floor, the apartment buildings need to be at least 30 feet from nearby single-family residential property lines. The current separation is 15 feet, but the developer could rearrange the location to achieve the desired separation, which the county originally intended to be 50 feet. Don’t delay! Sign up with RE/MAX Heritage to receive timely updates on this highly desirable project and secure your vacation property as soon as the developer starts pre-selling.

Ready to make a Move?

Bardell Real Estate are the experts in helping you with your selling, buying or renting needs near Orlando, Florida. Make your Disney area experience a forever memorable one. Call us now to speak to a real estate agent.

 

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