Since I began blogging 6 months ago on Active Rain, I have spent spare time searching and researching topics for my blog and posts to Localism.Com.  One of the links on my blog page is for Paynes Prairie State Park with information about this beautiful State Park right here in Alachua County.  I stumbled across one of the most beautiful photos I have seen in a very long time, and I wanted to share it here. I love this photo so much, that I contacted the photographer to ask for a higher resolution jpg file. And he sent me one.  His name is Dominick Martino and many of his wonderful photos can be found at another website called Friends of Paynes Prairie.  Thank you Mr. Martino for being there - at "just that moment" to take this awesome photo..... this photo takes my breath away, and proo... 12/03/2007

A good and informative article appeared in our Sunday Edition of  THE GAINESVILLE SUN - Homes & Real Estate Section.  With all the horrible, negative news about Real Estate and the Housing Industry throughout the U.S. it was a sign of good things about our local market here in Gainesville.The statistics used were compiled from The Florida Assocation of Realtors and  represent data from the "Gainesville Metropolitan Statistical Area of Alachua and Gilchrist Counties. (Gainesville MSA).  Statewide sales were down 38% for the year and the median Price dropped 9% $243,000 to $ 221,200Gainesville MSA sales were down ONLY 21% for the year, and median price down 1%  $206,400 to $205,300 Bob Stroh, director of the Shimberg Center for Affordable Housing at the University of Florida provided his ... 11/11/2007

Mark your calendars!!  I am so excited about this year's fund raiser for CMN and Shands Children Hospital. Come and be a part of "Art Through the Eyes of A Child".   All of us at REMAX are very proud to be a part of this event. Our sixth annual "Art Through the Eyes of a Child" Art Auction, presented by RE/MAX Professionals, to benefit Children's Miracle Network will be held Oct. 25 at the UF Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Institute. The VIP reception begins at 5:30 p.m., the art auction begins at 6:30 p.m. and consists of both a live and silent auction. An anticipated 300 guests will enjoy catering provided by Carrabba's Italian Grill.  Come Join Us! The unique artwork, all created by patients of Shands Children's Hospital, tells the story of hope and encouragement through the eyes o... 10/16/2007

Just 79 Days till December 31, 2007.  I know you were probably expecting that number of days till Christmas.  But let's not talk holiday shopping, we are talking about purchasing a HOME.  Whether you are a real estate investor or looking to purchase your primary residence, this is a significant date to be aware of in your financial affairs.  Most of us know that 12/31 is New Year Eve, but I like to remember it as the "IRS CUT OFF DATE".Real estate investors know that 12/31/07 is only date that the IRS cares about in terms of acquiring and owning property for their 2007 tax returns.  If you are looking for your primary residence, this date also effects you financially.  In Florida, in order to claim your Homestead Exemption, you must be able to prove that this home was your primary resid... 10/13/2007

Our local Board of Realtors has sent out this notice to all members keeping us all up-to-speed on the progress of the Florida Property Tax issue now being debated and formed in Tallahassee.   I wanted to share this excellent summary with everyone. This article is from The Gainesville-Alachua County Association of Realtors E-News. Florida Property Tax UpdateWith the removal of Amendment 1 from the ballot on January 29th, the Governor and Legislature are working to get a new proposal ready for the ballot during the Special Session that has been prolonged through October 22nd.  The phase-out of Save Our Homes and the Super-Homestead Exemption portion of that amendment appear dead.Proposals, ideas, and press conferences are at a breakneck pace on the property tax issue this week.  The Gover... 10/12/2007

UPCOMING EVENT!   Mark your Calendars! Bring the whole family to Haile Plantation Village Center on October 12th for the Oktoberfest 2007! The main street is shut down to traffic on SW 91st Terrace and all the local merchants & business owners of Haile Village Center celebrate this festive event.  Come and visit the shops and meet your neighbors. The time is 5:00pm to 10:00pm.  Come join in on the live music in the streets, dance performances and Great Food for the Oktoberfest 2007 Festivities.  There will be lots of fun & laughter for the whole family. The shops & businesses in Haile Village Center put on this great annual event to celebrate the community and great family atmosphere of our Great Gainesville! So Mark you Calendars, and come on out to the Oktoberfest 2007! It's a Great F... 09/25/2007

I am addicted to NCAA Football. I have been addicted for years.  I am happy with this addiction & love to spend my Saturdays wearing Orange and Blue.  If I am showing properties to buyers, they are stuck listening to the radio for the play-by-play coverage. And that is assuming that they have gotten a hotel room in town if it's a home game.   I do a good job to avoid the traffic & stadium issues when travelling around Gainesville on game weekends.  It's a gift.I always apologize for this addiction.... just bear with me or join in!  We all have opinions on football.If I am not with clients, I can be a rowdy Gator fan that has "serious football food" planned & served in the living room while watching the boys on my Big Screen TV.  True addiction.   I am the football addict in our home....... 09/10/2007

Now that I have "officially" been blogging for almost 3 months, I figured it was time to put out a post directly to my clients.  All of you have gotten my monthly "snail mail" I sent out this week and I made a note in the cover letter that said "I am Now a Blogger!".  I am not an expert in blogging....but I am learning, and love it!  I welcome your comments and advise too.  Welcome to my Gainesville Real Estate Blog! I hope those of you who get my monthly "Snail mail" packages are enjoying the little "Items of Value" I send out.  It's my great way to share TONS & TONS of information I receive in the real estate industry.  I love sharing as much as I can - especially with the clients I truly appreciate.  You are a member of my Client Appreciation Program! I love to stay in touch with my ... 08/29/2007

Smart Buyers make the Happiest Homeowners!  Buying a home is one of the largest investments most people make.  Statically, it is one of the top 3 stressful events in anyone's life.  But, don't let that depress you - be excited about your decision to buy a home.  Gather as much information as possible to educate yourself about real estate in Gainesville, and Alachua County.  Knowledge is Power!  I give all my buying clients a pamphlet that is titled "10 Deadly Mistakes buyers make when purchasing a Home".  I want all my clients to avoid these 10 Deadly Mistakes. Here is my advice to anyone beginning their search for a home.  Make a connection with a Realtor that is committed to YOUR needs before, during, and after your home purchase. Use a Buyers' Agent to represent your interests. Shop ... 08/26/2007

We have all been so bombarded with national & local news about the real estate marketbeing down, down, down.   Indeed, it has been a slower than normal market here in Gainesville-Alachua County.  Yet, please know this means a slower market for the "sellers".  It's a great market for the "buyers"!   Why???? Interest Rates are still near record-low levels. The amount of homes for sale in our MLS is twice the amount as last year, so you have more to choose from. (Higher Home Inventory) Our home prices have "adjusted" and "stabilized". More sellers & builders are offering "buyer incentives". So don't miss this "Buyer's Market"!  It's a great time to buy.  The news media is finally reporting that the real estate market is showing an upswing.  A recent article in the Gainesville Sun shows tha... 08/25/2007

Did you GOOGLE real estate in Gainesville?  If you have found this article by searching online for real estate in Gainesville, Florida  - then this post will give you a wider view of "Gainesville".  Located in North Central Florida, Gainesville is the county seat of Alachua County.  There are many other areas surrounding Gainesville that may not turn up in your searches if you search on the word "Gainesville" only.  This is because many physical addresses do not have "Gainesville" as their city mailing name or certain zip code. There is so much more to Gainesville than just the City Limits! Other municipalities full of wonderful communities surround Gainesville. So if a home is located in one of those areas, they don't pop up in a search of Gainesville. Don't limit your research of Gain... 08/20/2007

                Your child has been accepted to college and now you have to decide the best way to provide a place for he or she to live.  When attending the University of Florida in Gainesville there are many possibilities to consider.  They include living on campus in a dormitory setting.  These arrangements are very comfortable and affordable and are located close to most classes.  Basically you will be paying rent to the university.                Another possibility is renting a room in a home or condo near campus or renting an entire condo or home close to campus.  These come in all sizes, ages, conditions, and prices.  Basically you will be paying rent to a private landlord.                  A third possibility is renting an apartment in either a small, medium, or large apartment... 08/19/2007

 According to Zillow, the value of single-family homes smaller than 1,200 square feet fell by just 1 percent.  Meanwhile, values of midsize homes between 1,200 and 1,900 square feet fell an average of 3.1 percent, and homes larger than 1,900 square feet declined 2.8 percent.Zillow.com also offers a comparison of 66 metropolitan statistical areas on Zillow.com. These findings are culled from that analysis:The highest-appreciating metropolitan areas (year-over-year):· Grand Junction, Colo. (18.6 percent)· Corvallis, Ore. (11.2 percent)· Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC (9.0 percent)· Eugene-Springfield, Ore. (6.9 percent)· Spokane, Wash. (6.1 percent)· Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, Wash. (5.3 percent)Most-depreciating metropolitan areas (year-over-year):· Sarasota-Bradenton, Fla. (-16.4 pe... 08/14/2007

We have a great art & cultural foundation here in Alachua County.  I wanted to share the autumn schedule so you can mark your calendars.  Every August, I start to get excited about our "Fall Festivals".  I want to remind everyone about these events.  So if you are a visitor, or one of our new homeowners....please check out this web site to learn about the great things to do in Gainesville.   You can view much information at the City of Gainesville Cultural Affairs site.  The events, locations, dates, times, venues and even maps...it's all there!       Our "Fall Festivals" are from September to November.  Gainesville is a vibrant city with an active arts & cultural calendar.   Here is a list and links of the events on tap here in Beautiful Alachua County for our autumn season!    Art in ... 08/12/2007

By now, you've probably heard that Gainesville was voted the #1 place to live in the United States. RE/MAX Professionals is proud to support our vibrant community as we all continue to make Gainesville a great place to call home. The RE/MAX Balloon can come to your location! Here it is at one of our local elementary schools.   Balloon Events - come check out our seven-story hot air balloon at these local community events!  It's free and it's fun!  Come see a real RE/MAX Balloon! September 2nd: Rocky's Firework Show in Newberry October 25th:  CMN Art Auction at the Orthopedic Sports & Medicine Institute on 34th St. (30 ft. cold air balloon) November 10th: The Best Doggone Car Show in Gainesville (at the Springhill Commons Publix on 39th Ave. and I-75)     Helpful Links Children's Miracle... 08/10/2007

Have you ever wondered is there a direct way to get answers to Tax questions related to Real Estate?  Other than hunting the hard way at http://www.irs.gov/ here are some great links that may answer your questions! Since I am a realtor here in Gainesville, I have clients buying and selling real estate in Gainesville that ask questions all the time.  I am hoping this is a great source of info & Tax Tips directly from the IRS! Tax Tips - Real Estate This section contains information on topics such as tax credits, rental income and expenses and the sale of your residence. http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/industries/content/0,,id=98947,00.html Avoiding Problems - Real Estate This section contains important information on recordkeeping and warns you of fraudulent real estate schemes. http... 08/09/2007

Did you know that Gainesville is now rated #1 in the newest edition of the 848 page book by Bert Sperling and Peter Sander? In 2004, Gainesville placed #56 and now in 2007 is proud to be #1 in the Second Edition of CITIES Ranked & Rated. The rankings are based on 10 categories ranging from economy to the arts!  The book is a comprehensive analysis of more than 400 Metropolitan Areas in USA and Canada.  The results are based upon public statistics on the municipalities and of judgements of the authors about physical attractiveness and the ease of living. We have such a diverse community!  It's NOT just "another college town".   Gainesville is a Great Place to Live! Gainesville benefits from a strong concentration of young people,  large medical & professional careers, and now is drawing ... 08/06/2007

 GAINESVILLE IS  A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE!   If you or friends & family are planning a move to Gainesville, FL - I want to be your realtor. I love working with buyers, and will take excellent care of you every step of the way.    I specialize in residential real estate here in the Gainesville area.  You will want a professional buyers agent who knows the real estate market here in Gainesville. There are so many different types of homes & condos in Gainesville and surrounding communities.  Homes can be very urban and yet within 10 minutes you can be on beautiful acreage with Grand Daddy Oaks.   So many different Florida lifestyles here! Our largest employers draw a large variety of clients coming to Gainesville.   Being a College Town, yes we have students coming each year. But, that can be... 07/28/2007

"To leave satisfied you must arrive prepared."Consider this your home buyer's toolkit. Open it up, take a look around, and if you like, start equipping yourself with the tools necessary to make your best purchase. In most businesses, knowledge equals power, and real estate is certainly no exception. I hope you enjoy the free reports I've provided, and I hope you learn a little more about what it takes to make your important purchase a great one. Be sure to take time and preview my flash presentation here: " What you need to Know before Buying Your Next Home". The real estate market in Gainesville is certainly volatile, and all of the information about buying a home can be overwhelming. I can help. 07/27/2007

 When it's time to sell, you must be confident that every element of negotiating the best terms and the highest price has been set before your home is even listed. Start with the resources I've provided. There is no charge for this information. These will help get you started in terms of assessing your real estate situation and planning for a stress-free and successful sale. Be sure to take time to preview my flash presention: "What Ever Seller Needs to Know Before Selling Their Home". The real estate market in Gainesville is volatile, especially lately, and it takes an experienced professional to move your house quickly, professionally, and profitably. When you've decided to sell, I will be your advocate, your guide, and your fierce negotiator. I will work hard to make yours a great sa... 07/17/2007