From the Publisher

When construction stopped in some Central Florida communities, the mainstream media declared them dead and predicted they would become wastelands. However, the doom-and-gloom reports were, at best, inaccurate. Once again rooftops are rising and those once moribund communities are buzzing with activity. Join Florida Homebuyer Orlando as we visit these “born-again” projects, which attest to the resiliency of the area’s homebuilding industry.

Also in this issue we take a look at newhome upgrades. From granite countertops to stylish light fixtures to rich wood flooring, you can find them all at your builder’s design studio. But which ones will give the biggest bang for your buck? Florida Homebuyer Orlando talks to the experts to find out which upgrades are must haves, which ones offer the most value andwhich ones are simply pure indulgences.

It is not too early to mark your calendars for two of the spring’s must attend events. First the 58th annual Parade of Homes, sponsored by the Home Builders Association of Metro Orlando, will be held April 2–10. This year’s event has over 100 entries and features everything from condos and townhomes to single family homes and some remarkable remodeled homes. The Parade of Homes website will be live April 1 and you can check it out at www.paradeofhomesorlando.com.

The following weekend, April 15–17, the Central Florida Home and Garden Show will be held at the Orange County Convention Center. This year’s show promises to be packed full of useful information and seminars. Be sure to check out who’s exhibiting and order your tickets at www.centralflhomeandgardenshow.com.

THERESA SWANSON
Publisher
theresas@florida-homebuyer.com