SIGNS OF THE TIMES

There’s no better time than right now to make your move. 

By Theresa Swanson

As I drive across Florida visiting builders and model centers, I see irrefutable evidence that the state is experiencing a full economic recovery. And of the areas I visit, nowhere is the evidence stronger than right here in Central Florida. 

Oh, I could bore you with numbers; unemployment is down and is continuing to fall, real personal income is up and is continuing to climb and home values are up and still going up. 

But it’s when driving through existing neighborhoods that I see the best news. I see “For Sale” signs everywhere.

I almost get giddy counting them, because it tells me the folks living in those homes believe they have recouped the equity they lost during the recession. They want to make a move because they feel secure in their jobs and the economy in general. 

If you’re still skeptical, visit a local builder’s new-home model center. These places are bustling beehives of activity. And all those rooftops dotting the landscape represent families who’ve recognized that now is the time to buy — and have made the decision to buy new.

Whether you’re a first-time buyer, snapping up that beautiful new home you’ve always dreamed about, or you’re getting ready to downsize into something more manageable, there’s no better time than right now to make your move. 

This special issue of Florida Homebuyer Orlando updates the state of the market and offers tips for buyers. I hope you’ll find some useful information — and a home just right for you — between these covers.