Great living, great prices, why haven’t you heard about Ormond by the Sea. Ormond by the Sea is located just north of Ormond Beach in central Florida on the Atlantic Coast. It is situated between the ocean and the Halifax River.

There are many Ormond by the Sea homes communities and many Ormond by the Sea Condos dot the west side of A1A just across from the beach.

You can find a home or condo in any price range in Ormond by the Sea. From small bungalows for under $100,000 to multi-million dollar mansions approaching $5,000,000.

The living is a less congested and more relaxed here. You can enjoy the ocean. You’re never more than a few blocks away in Ormond by the Sea.

Many people don’t know about this quaint community, so when looking at Daytona Beach Homes and condos and Ormond Beach condos and homes they’re never considered. If you’re looking for something a little quieter at great prices, now is the time to start looking north to Ormond by the Sea.

Daytona Beach Foreclosures continue to mount creating a tremendous glut of homes in Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach and Port Orange. There are close to 6,000 residential homes for sale listed in the Daytona Beach MLS. That’s 27 homes on the market for every homes that sold in October 2008. In other words, for every home that sold 27 did not.

Foreclosures will not be going away for some time. Adjustable Rate Mortages and balloon mortgages will continue to kick in through 2011 putting more homes on the market.

Great News for Buyers - Lousy News for Sellers

The good news is that foreclosures and pre-foreclosures can be great bargains if your looking to buy a primary home, second home, vacation or investment property. Nearly every property I’ve sold this year has been either a pre-foreclosure or bank owned foreclosed property (REO property). People are getting tremendous values.

Sellers are struggling. The only segment that has been consistently selling is in the under $200,000 price range, but even in that range there are 17 homes on the market for every one that sold in October. This is a bleak picture.

To say that we are in a buyer’s market is like saying Florida is hot in the summer - a definite statement of the obvious.

How Do I Purchase a Foreclosure or Short Sale Property

If you are going to purchase a foreclosure or short sale, you really should work with an experienced Realtor, but first, I always recommend to start with your reasons for buying:

• Why are you buying?
• What is your price range?
• How long will you hold the property?
• What communities and neighborhoods do you like?
• What do you want in the home? (Bedrooms, pool, waterfront, etc.)

Once you know what you want, it’s time to search for properties or contact a real estate agent to do it for you. The choice is yours. You can search all properties in the Daytona Beach MLS and more at www.lynnbyrne.com. Just go here ==> Search Daytona Beach Area Real Estate. There are several options for you there and you do not need to register. If you want me to conduct the search for you, give Lynn a call at 386-566-7503 or 888-519-9579.

The problem with searching the MLS is that it’s not apparent to you which homes are distress properties and which are not. I have the network and the tools to help you get to seeing properties that meet your criteria faster and more effectively, saving you time and frustration.

It’s better for you to have a pro in your corner during this process. Give me a call to get started.

There are a lot of properties for rent in Daytona Beach. So, as a renter, you are in the driver’s seat. What are the advantages of living in the different types of rental properties available? First, for total transparency, I manage house and condo rental units, I do not manage apartments.

A general rule you need to work with is that for the same level of rental unit, regardless of type, the closer you get to the ocean, the higher the rent. The same 800 sq. ft. unit on the mainland will cost more on the beachside. There are exceptions, but this is the general rule.

If you dream of renting on beachside, be prepared to accept less space and possibly poorer condition than a similar unit on the mainland.

Next, how much do you value your privacy? If you value your privacy, you are probably better off renting a house, duplex, or triplex unit. Condos and apartments, by design, are filled with people who are often coming and going at all hours.

If you want amenities like pools, workout centers, and tennis, you should be looking for those things and apartments and condos are better for you.

Will you pay more for a condo or apartment?

In the Datyona Beach real estate market there are so many properties on the market, that I think at this point that you can negotiate a better rate with condos, but you’re best bet is to find something you like and then negotiate. If you can’t get to a price you’re happy with, move on to the next unit.

On Site Maintenance

By far, the on-site maintenance at a large apartment complex is the easiest to deal with and will generally give you the faster turn-around. When you rent a house or condo, you are dealing the owner or a property management firm like CenterPointe. Now, we pride ourselves on getting repair people dispatched quickly, but we can’t compete with on-site maintenance teams. Generally though, this is something that you shouldn’t need to deal with very often.

Your Decision

We discussed a few of the factors involved in choosing aparments, houses, or condos in Daytona Beach. The choice will come down to your preferences. You will also need to consider how close you are to work, shopping, schools and so on.

If you are looking for a house or condo give me a call for our current availability.

If you are relocating to the Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, Port Orange area, and have decided to rent, and you are unfamiliar with the area, we are offering a new service for renters.

Neighborhoods

We know neighborhoods and prices and based on what you’re looking for, we will assist you in finding a rental home or condo that meets your needs. One of the worst things that can happen when you move to a new area is to select a rental property in the wrong area. Unfortunately, you don’t discover these issues until you have signed a least and are “stuck with” for a year or more. How much is it worth to you to avoid these problems.

Negotiation and Prices

We needed to rent a home for my husband in Brooklyn while he was working in New York. We had no idea about neighborhoods that would meet our requirements. We had no idea about prices. We hire a local rental agent to find a place that met our criteria. We set the price we would pay and the requirements. He did find us a nice unit where my husband stayed for over a year.

Now, we paid one month of rent for this service, but Daytona Beach ain’t Brooklyn and we will not charge those rates to assist you. Here’s what we will do to help you find the right place:

• No Fee: if you rent a unit that we manage, there is no fee. We will refund the flat fee or any portion of the flat fee that you’ve already paid.
• Flat Fee: a flat fee of $595 to help you find a unit that meets you requirements. We will take your criteria and find properties that meet your requirements. We will also show you the units and negotiate for you if you request.
• By the Hour: We can meet for an hour or talk over the phone for a flat rate of $75.00 per hour.

Make It Easy

Our goal is to provide you the easiest experience possible in finding a rental property in the Daytona Beach area. Call Lynn at 386-566-7503 to discuss these options or to customize a plan for you.

Renting a home or condo for either short-term or longer term should be easy, but you need to take a few steps to protect yourself. First, like the Daytona Beach real estate market, there are more rental units on the market than renters to rent them long term. Because of that, people who can’t rent long term or renting for shorter terms and for event. All this tends to push prices down.

So now is a good time to rent. You should be able to get more space and amenities for the same money, or the same amount of space for less. Moving is a hassle, but you may be able to save a lot of money. Whatever you’re paying now, you should be able to reduce that rate.

Here are some useful tips if you are looking to rent:

1. Negotiate - look around and get a good sense of the market and then when you find a unit you like, negotiate the monthly rent lower.
2. Do an Inventory - Make sure that if any furniture, appliances, or other items are included in an inventory that both you and the landlord sign. This prevents problems in the future and makes it easier to get you full deposit back.
3. Damage or Wear - make sure that any damage or wear is documented. The best time to get things repaired or replaced before you move in.  So negotiate that too.
4. Credit Checks - Yes, a property manager, I will run a credit check on prospective tenants. Not everyone does. If your credit is fair or good, you are OK. If not, do what you can to improve your credit score before trying to rent.
5. Understand the Contract - all tenants and landlords are subject to Florida laws. Make sure you understand the contract that you’re signing. If you don’t, find someone who can help you or have a lawyer review it.
6. Lock in Rent Increases - you can include rent increase caps in the contract. Capping increases at the consumer price index or at a fixed rate like 3%. Doing this prevents big increases for the following years.
7. Include an Option - include the option to extend the lease. If you have the option in the contract, you can stay. If not, the landlord can decide not to extend the lease and you will need to move.

Some contracts will include some of these items, so read the contract. The most important things when renting are to get the best possible price for the property you want. After that, protect yourself by following these guidelines.

I have short-term and long term condo and homes in Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach and surrounding areas available. Give me a call when you’re in the market. If you’re renting for the winter season or for events, make your reservation early. We are often sold out for these times.

CenterPointe Realty Launches New Daytona Beach Real Estate Website

CenterPointe Realty has just launched a new website at www.cpdaytonabeachrealestate.com. The website will combine Daytona Beach area real estate news and information with a blog focusing on homes and condos for sale, property management and rentals.

Lynn Byrne, CenterPointe’s Broker, has been serving the area since 1997 and has sold hundreds of homes and condos in Daytona, Ormond Beach, Ponce Inlet, Port Orange, Daytona Beach Shores and Palm Coast. She offers full property seach and area information at her Daytona Beach Real Estate website at www.lynnbyrne.com.

CenterPointe also manages sales and rentals at the Vantage Pointe Condominiums on the beachside. The Vantage Pointe is a large complex with one, two and three bedroom condos. The complex is right across the road from the beach and offers beautiful tennis courts, a second floor pool, a fitness center and more. Call the office at 386-253-4600 for information on sales or rentals.

CenterPointe agents are experienced. There are no rookies learning on the job. Each is dedicated to old fashioned customer service. This is a low to no pressure company focus on customer satisfaction. We answer the phone and return calls - small things that add up to respect and dedication.

We are available to work with you to determine your needs and goals and then help you find the right property. We are happy to work with first time buyers to walk you through the process, or, with experienced buyers who demand great service. Call the office, or contact Lynn Byrne at 386-566-7503.