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        <title>Kara Homes &amp; Associates - Orlando, Florida</title>
        <link>http://www.orlandopropertyfinder.com/blog/</link>
        <description> Kara Homes &amp; Associates, which successfully closed more pro-consumer short sales in Central Florida last year than any other single agent, can help make your short sale process quick, efficient and stress-free.</description>
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            <guid>http://www.orlandopropertyfinder.com/blog/july-4thindependence-day-activities-in-and-around-orlando-2011.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.orlandopropertyfinder.com/blog/july-4thindependence-day-activities-in-and-around-orlando-2011.html</link>
            <author>michaelkara@kara-homes.com (Michael Kara)</author>
            <title>July 4th/Independence Day Activities in and Around Orlando - 2011</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
It's that time of year again!&nbsp; The heat, the beautiful foliage, the out-of-state tags...it can only mean one thing:&nbsp; SUMMERTIME in Central Florida!

If you're looking for some fun festivities, activities or events in our area for this year's Fourth of July, you're in luck!&nbsp; I've compiled a list of them here.&nbsp; I hope that this helps you and your family decide where to spend your Independence Day.

Celebration Town Center July 4th Celebration:This 80's themed event kicks off a... ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:41:08 -0500</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.orlandopropertyfinder.com/blog/full-deficiency-release-after-a-short-sale.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.orlandopropertyfinder.com/blog/full-deficiency-release-after-a-short-sale.html</link>
            <author>michaelkara@kara-homes.com (Michael Kara)</author>
            <title>Full Deficiency Release After a Short Sale?</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ I get asked a lot of questions from homeowners, but one that I am hearing more and more is, &ldquo;What happens if I short sale, but the lender doesn&rsquo;t issue a full release of deficiency?&rdquo;&nbsp; I am hoping that I can shed some light on this question, and then expound on the answer a little.&nbsp; It&rsquo;s a bit of a gray area so hopefully this will help you be informed about these possibilities.Basically, we always seek a full deficiency release when we negotiate short sales and t... ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Fri, 20 May 2011 13:09:16 -0500</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.orlandopropertyfinder.com/blog/orlandos-home-inventory-shrinking.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.orlandopropertyfinder.com/blog/orlandos-home-inventory-shrinking.html</link>
            <author>michaelkara@kara-homes.com (Michael Kara)</author>
            <title>Orlando's Home Inventory Shrinking</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
I recently read some excellent news regarding the Orlando real estate market, so I thought I'd pass it along.

According to the Orlando Regional Realtors Association, the housing inventory hit a recent LOW of only 11,480 homes for sale on the market, which is a number that hasn't been seen since the incredible booming housing market of 2005.

The downside is that April closings were mostly foreclosures and short sales, over 65% of them in fact.&nbsp; But, that's a lower percentage than it was i... ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Wed, 18 May 2011 10:08:15 -0500</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.orlandopropertyfinder.com/blog/approved-a-short-sale-blog-series-1.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.orlandopropertyfinder.com/blog/approved-a-short-sale-blog-series-1.html</link>
            <author>michaelkara@kara-homes.com (Michael Kara)</author>
            <title>APPROVED!  A Short Sale Blog Series - #1</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
As part of an ongoing blog series that I would like to start doing regularly, I wanted to share with readers a previous closing.&nbsp; In 2006, a client (we'll call him Frank) purchased a home for just under $1.5 Million.&nbsp; Naturally, the market shifted downward in 2008, and Frank owed significantly more on this home than it was worth at the current market value.

When Frank came to me, I gathered his short sale documents and listed his home on the MLS immediately.&nbsp; Happily, I was able... ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Tue, 17 May 2011 14:50:46 -0500</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.orlandopropertyfinder.com/blog/why-dont-all-short-sales-close.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.orlandopropertyfinder.com/blog/why-dont-all-short-sales-close.html</link>
            <author>michaelkara@kara-homes.com (Michael Kara)</author>
            <title>Why Don't ALL Short Sales Close?</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
It's a safe bet to blame the lender when a short sale falls through or doesn't close during an expected timeframe.&nbsp; The lenders are often slow, troublesome to work with and require the same documents sent multiple times, along with persistent follow-up (this is why having a team of 5 people dedicated to your short sale is a worthwhile idea, btw).&nbsp; But there are times when a short sale doesn't close and it had nothing to do with the lender at all.&nbsp; To expand your familiarity with ... ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Tue, 10 May 2011 15:03:54 -0500</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.orlandopropertyfinder.com/blog/approved-a-short-sale-blog-series-introduction.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.orlandopropertyfinder.com/blog/approved-a-short-sale-blog-series-introduction.html</link>
            <author>michaelkara@kara-homes.com (Michael Kara)</author>
            <title>APPROVED!  A Short Sale Blog Series - Introduction</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
I was having lunch with a close&nbsp;friend and frequent business collegue over the weekend.&nbsp; Our relationship is one that allows for weaving conversation patterns, from family and sports back to our businesses and the economy.&nbsp; We began discussing a deal I had done last year that he had a connection to and together started recalling all of the great people we've worked with and our successes and trials with the short sale learning curve.&nbsp; All at once I decided that it would be a... ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:39:54 -0500</pubDate>
                    </item>
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            <guid>http://www.orlandopropertyfinder.com/blog/why-short-sale.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.orlandopropertyfinder.com/blog/why-short-sale.html</link>
            <author>michaelkara@kara-homes.com (Michael Kara)</author>
            <title>Why Short Sale?</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
If you have negative equity, a short sale is the ONLY way to sell your home without bringing thousands of dollars to the closing table to make up the different between what the home sells for and what the lender is owed.&nbsp; If done correctly, a short sale can provide financial relief and stability to you and your family with minimal damage to your credit.&nbsp; With virtually no drawbacks, the real question is why NOT short sale?


I've been working with short sales since before the market t... ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:03:26 -0500</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.orlandopropertyfinder.com/blog/welcome.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.orlandopropertyfinder.com/blog/welcome.html</link>
            <author>michaelkara@kara-homes.com (Michael Kara)</author>
            <title>Welcome!</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Welcome to the Kara Homes &amp; Associates blog!

We will be using the blog to relay timely market statistics and share helpful consumer real estate tips.&nbsp; We hope you'll check back in with us periodically.
... ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Fri, 30 Apr 2010 11:45:04 -0500</pubDate>
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