Fall Is Coming to Orlando: Here’s What Locals Actually Look Forward To
Somewhere around late August, something quietly shifts in Orlando. The heat is still there, let’s not pretend it isn’t. But the light looks different in the evenings. The afternoon storms start to ease up. The farmers markets get a little fuller. And locals start getting that look in their eyes. We call it “Augtober” around […]
Florida’s Tax-Free Month Is Here!
If you haven’t heard yet, Florida’s tax-free month is already underway! Florida’s 2026 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday began Monday, July 20 and runs through Thursday, August 20. That’s a full 31 days to buy qualifying items without paying Florida’s 6% state sales tax, plus whatever your county’s local surtax adds on top of that. In […]
The Orlando Farmers Market Calendar: Where to Go Every Weekend
Every weekend in Central Florida there’s a farmers market worth going to. The trick is knowing which one runs on which day, and which ones are worth the drive. Here’s the complete calendar! Save it. You’ll use it every week. THE ORLANDO FARMERS MARKET CALENDAR All markets run weekly unless noted. Always verify hours before […]
Should You Wait for Rates to Drop Before Buying in Orlando? Here’s the Honest Answer.
It’s the question I get more than any other right now. “Ray, should I just wait until rates come down?” I understand why people are asking it. As of today, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is sitting at 6.85% according to Mortgage News Daily, up 8 basis points just today, with the 15-year fixed […]
Where to Cool Off in Orlando This Summer (Beyond the Theme Parks)
The heat index in Orlando hits 110 degrees in July. Sometimes higher. You already know that if you’ve spent a summer here. And you’ve figured out pretty quickly that there are only two real responses: stay inside or find water. The theme parks have water parks, but they also have $150 tickets, two-hour lines, and […]
Fun Things to Do in Orlando When It Rains
You know the feeling. It’s 2:30 in the afternoon. The sky goes dark in about four minutes. The thunder rolls in. And suddenly your entire plan for the day is gone. This is just Tuesday in Orlando from June through September. The storms are fast, and you need a plan B that doesn’t involve sitting […]
How Families Are Navigating Aging Parents and Grown Kids at the Same Time
There’s a conversation I’ve been having more and more over the past couple of years. It usually starts something like this: “Ray, I need more space. My mom is moving in. And my son just graduated college and can’t afford rent.” Sometimes it’s the other direction, parents who are trying to figure out how to […]
Surviving Your First Orlando Summer (What Nobody Warns You About)
Nobody tells you the truth about Orlando summer until you’re already here. You’ve heard it’s hot, you knew that going in. What you didn’t know, what nobody really explains until you’ve lived through it, is that it’s a specific kind of hot. A hot that requires a different relationship with time, with plans, and with […]
The Best Happy Hour Spots in East Orlando
It’s five o’clock in East Orlando! This side of town has its own happy hour scene, and it’s a good one. From Waterford Lakes to Oviedo to Avalon Park, here’s where locals actually go when the workday wraps up! Waterford Lakes Area Social House Orlando 12521 Collegiate Way, Orlando Social House runs happy hour Monday […]
How Do I Know What My Orlando Home Is Worth?
This is one of the most common questions I get. Someone drives by a house down the street that just sold. Or they pull up their address online and see a number pop up. And then they call me and say, “Ray, is that actually what my home is worth?” Sometimes yes. Often no. Always […]
