Foto Friday - Ready to Go   It's easy to be ready to go boating - in this case kayaking - when you are living on the water.  Most Hernando Beach waterfront homes have at least one dock fastened to the seawall behind the home where residents can dock their boats and store their various water toys such as kayaks, paddle boats, or wave runners.  Whether you enjoy cruising the many canals of Hernando Beach or going out to the Gulf of Mexico, here you can have it all!        Are you interested in waterfront living?  Work with a local Hernando Beach Realtor for local insight into the community.  Call meat 352-584-7441  for more information about our area and homes for sale in Hernando Beach !   08/02/2013

Sunday Reflections:  Morning Has Broken       There is something very peaceful about early mornings, the time when the sun just begins to rise and everything is still and quiet.  I got up early this morning and sat outside by the water to drink my morning tea.  The sun was just coming up chasing away a bunch of fluffy clouds, the Osprey was still sitting on the rooftop across the way where he had been roosting for the night.  Slowly, the world was waking up, herons, egrets and ducks noisily flew across the water, and the smaller birds started chirping away.  As the sun rose higher and the young day got brighter, neighborhood dogs appeared in the back yards and some cars could be heard in the distance.  Morning has broken, hope you are enjoying a great Sunday!     07/27/2013

Homes for Sale in Hernando Beach, Florida - Coming Soon!   Inventory of homes for sale in Hernando Beach is down as it  in many other areas of Hernando County and buyers are waiting for new properties to come on the market.   This beautiful waterfront home in Hernando Beach will be coming on the market soon.  With four bedrooms, three full baths, a beautiful kitchen and lots of room on the first floor for games, parties, and hobbies, this home offers lots of space for everyone.  Oh, and don't forget the balconies, pool, dock and boatlift - this home is a great place to enjoy Hernando Beach waterfront living!   Waterfront living is a lifestyle.  If you are interested in living in a waterfront community like Hernando Beach, Florida, work with a local Realtor who knows how to navigate the ... 07/26/2013

Foto Friday:  Full Speed Ahead   Hernando Beach is a great waterfront community to live in.  Many people don't realize that there are a few fishermen making their living off the shore of Hernando Beach going out each evening to catch shrimp.  We were coming in the other day from a boat ride on the Gulf of Mexico when this Hernando Beach shrimp boat came toward us full speed ahead on the way to work!        Would you like to know more about living in Hernando Beach, Florida? Interested in buying or selling a home in Hernando Beach and want to work with a local Realtor who knows the area? Then call or email me for more information about homes for sale in Hernando Beach or how to market your Hernando Beach home for sale.      07/26/2013

Hernando Beach Florida Real Estate Market Comparison Jan - Jun 2012 to 2013   How did home sales in Hernando Beach Florida perform during the first half of 2013 compared to the same time period last year?   Hernando Beach home sales dropped in the first half of this year compared to the same time frame in 2012 by a good third.   At the same time, the inventory of homes for sale in Hernando Beach has also decreased by 25%.  Buyers have much less choices of homes and may be waiting for more waterfront homes to come on the market which could be a factor in the drop of sales.    On a positive note, overall average and median sold prices increased for Hernando Beach waterfront homes sold in the first half of this year.  Distressed sales in Hernando Beach have also significantly decreased thu... 07/25/2013

Florida Nature:  Cooper's Hawk Sighting   The Great Florida Birding Trail runs right through Hernando County in Florida, also known as the Nature Coast.  Not surprisingly, our area is a great place for bird watching wherever you may be.  It doesn't take any fancy equipment or special stake out to observe our wonderful bird life.  Today was just one of those occasions when I happened to look out of the bedroom window and saw this Cooper's Hawk perched on an old dead orange tree in our neighbor's yard.  It was pouring down rain this morning and I could hear some of the resident mockingbirds and neighborhood sparrows complain about this hawks presence.  I had just enough time to fetch the camera and take this photo before it took flight!       Cooper's Hawk has its range in our area of Flo... 07/24/2013

Waterfront Homes for Sale in Hernando Beach Florida -4502 Burmuda Just SOLD!  Search current inventory of Homes for Sale in Hernando Beach Property Details Waterfront Home for Sale in Hernando Beach 4502 Burmuda Drive,  Hernando Beach, FL 34607   Bedrooms:  3 Baths:  2 Square Footage:  1651 SF under heat and air Total Square Footage:  3726 SF under roof   Sold for $205,000 This Hernando Beach home has sold!  Please call Hernando Beach Realtor Silvia Dukes at 352-584-7441 for other available homes for sale in Hernando Beach!   This is Waterfront Living at an Affordable Price! This two-story stilt home was offered as a short sale and has successfully closed!  Short sales do take time, this one took five months from contract to closing but the buyers were patient and were rewarded with a ... 07/18/2013

Evening Boat Ride in Hernando Beach, Florida   It's summer time in Florida and we've been getting our share of regular thunderstorms in the late afternoons and early evenings - not a good idea to go on a boat ride in such weather.       Living on the water makes it easy to jump into the boat and ride into the sunset right from your own backyard!   Finally, earlier this evening it was clear for us to go out, although the clouds were still piling up at the horizon and in the distance, we could watch it rain.   The sunset took place behind the clouds tonight and quite impressive clouds as such!     We still enjoyed about an hour and a half on the boat watching the sun and the clouds while dangling our feet into the warm water of the Gulf of Mexico.   Several of the shrimp boats were going ... 07/15/2013

Home Sales in Hernando Beach Florida June 2013 Real estate market data for Hernando Beach, Florida provided by Silvia Dukes of Tropic Shores Realty.    Hernando Beach Home Sales Highlights:   All three of the homes that sold in the Hernando Beach waterfront community in June 2013, were located in areas with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico.  There were no sales in Hernando Beach South  or Hernando Beach Central.       There are currently 19 waterfront homes under contract in Hernando Beach, almost doubled from last month!  Eight of these homes are pending and eleven are waiting to resolve contingencies such as inspections, financing, or short sale approval letters.  Available waterfront homes for sale in Hernando Beach, Florida has again decreased by double digits since last month.  ... 07/10/2013

Hernando Beach - Waterfront Living in Hernando County, Florida Hernando Beach, Florida, is a residential waterfront community hugging the coast line of the Gulf of Mexico Hernando County, Florida.     Hernando Beach consists of three distinct neighborhoods,  each offering waterfront homes for sale in a range of styles, sizes, and price range.  These neighborhoods are Hernando Beach North including Gulf Coast Retreat, Hernando Beach Central, and Hernando Beach South.  Of these, only Hernando Beach North has direct gulf access whereas residents of Hernando Beach Central and South are in areas known as indirect gulf access.  Boaters in these areas will use a boatlift, similar to a small lock, to access the direct gulf access waters. Hernando Beach South is the only deed-restricted neighbor... 06/27/2013

Home Sales in Hernando Beach Florida May 2013 Real estate market data for Hernando Beach, Florida provided by Silvia Dukes of Tropic Shores Realty.    Hernando Beach Home Sales   Home Sales in Hernando Beach decreased in May 2013 by two sales over the previous month.  Of the Hernando Beach waterfront home sold, four homes were located in the direct access neighborhoods of Hernando Beach, and one was located in South Hernando Beach.  There were no closed home sales in the Central neighborhood of Hernando Beach.      Overall average and median sold prices have increased for May sales in Hernando Beach.  Only one property was sold as a distressed home.    How did Buyers pay?  Three of the homes sold in Hernando Beach in May were paid by cash, the remaining two were purchased with conventio... 06/18/2013

Get Ready for Scallop Season in Hernando Beach Florida It's that time again!  Scallop Season begins July 1, 2013 and lasts through September 24, 2013.   Every year, boaters start out from Hernando Beach, Florida to collect those tasty crustaceans from the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico.    There currently is no commercial harvest of bay scallops in Florida state waters making recreational scalloping a popular activity here in Hernando Beach each scalloping season.    Before you go out, make sure to familiarize yourself with the rules of the scallop harvest.       There is a catch limit of two gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or one pint of bay scallop meat per person per day.  If several people are going out on the same boat, the maximum catch limit is 10 gallons of whole scallo... 06/15/2013

Observe National Marina Day, June 8, 2013 in Hernando Beach, Florida   What:      National Marina Day - Shoreline Cleanup When:     June 8, 2013 from 9 am to 5 pm Where:    Blue Pelican Marina, 5000 Calienta Street, Hernando Beach, Florida Info:         352-610-9999   The Blue Pelican Marina, one of our marinas in Hernando Beach and located across from the public boat ramp is sponsoring a shoreline cleanup in observance of National Marina Day.   But it's not just any shoreline!  Hernando Beach has a few small barrier islands where the tide deposits much debris.  The Blue Pelican Marina will use their rental pontoon boats to shuttle volunteers to these barrier islands on an hourly schedule beginning at 12 pm until 3 pm.   Boaters who choose to use their own boats, can pick up trash bags ... 06/01/2013

US Coast Guard Auxiliary in Hernando Beach Offering Boating Classes Every year, the US Goast Guard responds to thousands of search and rescue calls saving many lives and preventing the loss of property.  In Hernando Beach, Florida, we are fortunate to have the US Coast Guard Auxiliary not only assisting boaters in distress but also offering many safe boating classes to help people be aware of potential dangers of boating and how to respond in any type of emergency situation. On May 28, 2013 at 7 PM, the Coast Guard Auxiliary in Hernando Beach is offering a class on "How to use your radio" for any interested residents and boaters.  Please call 352-397-5417 for more information and to sign up.  The Hernando Beach US Coast Guard Auxiliary is located at the corner of Shoal Line Blvd and Cal... 05/21/2013

Kayaking and Canoeing in Hernando County for Some Summer Fun   Kayaking and canoeing in Hernando County is great recreation year round but it is even more fun in the summer when the waters are warming up in the Gulf of Mexico and in the many other bodies of water in our area. Kayak and Canoe Launches There are several kayak and canoe launches in the area.  To kayak in the Gulf of Mexico and to explore the saltwater marshes, launch your kayak or canoe from Jenkins Creek in Hernando Beach, Bayport, the public boat ramp in Hernando Beach, or simply start out from the beach at Pine Island. If you like freshwater kayaking, try the boat launch at Roger's Park and paddle downstream the crystal clear waters of the Weeki Wachee river all the way to Bayport where the river enters the Gulf of Mexi... 05/21/2013

Wordless Wednesday - Baby Bird This year on Mother's Day, I became the adoptive" mom" of this little baby bird.  We found him on our dock which a good ten feet away from shore and how he got there is still a mystery.  The previous days had been somewhat windy so it's not impossible he fell out of the nest but the nearest tree is at least 30 feet from the location we found him. Too little to fly, here he is, tiny and a little weak.  What kind of bird is he and how does his adventure unfold?   Stay tuned for an update!       05/14/2013

Boating and Waterfront Living in Hernando Beach - Life is Good   Whether you own a small boat or a big boat like the one I watched drive by this afternoon in one of our Hernando Beach canals, there is room for all type of boaters in Hernando Beach, Florida.  People making their home in a waterfront community like Hernando Beach can enjoy a wide variety of water sports and vessels.  It is not unusual to see kayaks as well as speed boats and even airboats mingling among the many pontoon leisure boats and fishing vessels.  With quick access to the Gulf of Mexico and a newly dredged channel for easy navigation, life is good in Hernando Beach, Florida!       Interested in buying or selling a home in Hernando Beach, Florida?   Waterfront living is a lifestyle.  Working with a Hernando Beach R... 05/10/2013

Home Prices in Hernando Beach Florida April 2013 Real estate market data for Hernando Beach, Florida provided by Silvia Dukes of Tropic Shores Realty.    Hernando Beach Home Prices   Home Sales in Hernando Beach increased in April 2013 from the previous month.   Of the closed waterfront home sales, four homes were located in the direct access neighborhoods of Hernando Beach, and one each in Central and South Hernando Beach.        Homes under Contract in Hernando Beach, Florida   There are currently 12 homes under contract in Hernando Beach, a slight decreases from the previous month.  Five of these properties are pending and the remaining seven are under contract with various contingencies such as financing and awaiting short sale approvals.      Nine of the homes that are under contra... 05/06/2013

Hernando Beach Kayak and Canoe Poker Run! When:  Saturday, May 4, 2013 Time:  10 am to 4 pm Where:  Blue Pelican Marina, 5000 Calienta St, Hernando Beach, across from the public boat ramp Who:  Everyone Entry Fee:  $29 (includes T-Shirt and a pair of sunglasses) Information:  352-610-9999   It's not a Poker Run You've ever been on Before! The Blue Pelican Marina in Hernando Beach promises another fun summer event with the first Hernando Beach Kayak and Canoe Poker Run this weekend. Starting point is the marina by the Hernando Beach public boat ramp.  Enjoy paddling your way along the route to collect your best poker hand.  The event concludes with a BBQ and prizes at the marina tent at 4:00 pm. You can bring your own kayak or canoe or you can rent one on site at a discounted prize.  Mos... 05/02/2013

Blue Pelican Marina Sponsors Fishing Contest in Hernando Beach Florida   Summer starts early in Florida and just in time, the Blue Pelican Marina in Hernando Beach is sponsoring a fun summer event to kick off the season with a Memorial Day Fishing Contest beginning May 1 and ending May 27, 2013 at Noon.    Fishermen and women can bring their biggest catch for weigh-in every day from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm to the Blue Pelican Marina by the Hernando Beach public boat ramp, 5000 Calienta Street, Hernando Beach, Florida.   The waters around Hernando Beach, Weeki Wachee, and Bayport, provide many great fishing opportunities.  Of course, any true fisherman will not reveal his secret fishing spots but there are several fishing charter services in the local area as well that will take you to the be... 05/02/2013