Indian Bluff Island (Palm Harbor, FL)
By Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional, Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor
(Charles Rutenberg Realty)
Indian Bluff Island, part of Palm Harbor Florida, is a small island of one family homes connected to land via a causeway. Surrounded on all sides by St Joseph's Sound, many of the homes on this island have boat docks and davits.  Indian Bluff Island was originally called Buchanan Island. In 1921 Mr Robert E Gause purchased the entire island (just under 22 acres) for the sum of $27.29 from Warren G Harding, US President. Yes, it is indeed the president's signature on the deed. Today this island is an oasis of up-scale homes. Naturally, there are no traffic lights on Indian Bluff Island. There are also no shops, the island is comprised of lovely single family homes and quiet winding streets.  Zoned for some of the best schools in the county, Indian Bluff Island is a much sought after comm...
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By Julia Horton, ASKjulia. REAL estate. REAL answers.
(Coldwell Banker Realty)
What are you afraid of?  Overpaying for your Pinellas home while being wham-blasted with negative news about the economy and the housing market?  Or perhaps secrets horrifically and seemingly worse?  OK.  I'll go first. I am dreadfully frightened of: Public Speaking Snakes Having to work for someone else (translation:  fear of failing with our real estate business - which, by the way, is the opposite of reality, but a fear nonetheless)  Slugs, snails and leeches (they belong in the same category, don't you think?) In these times, more than ever, it's easy to venture into the realm of being fearful.   Yet, I think we all now, more than ever, must encourage our friends and neighbors to not only to survive these times but to thrive within them.  We're fortunate, we have family (note: not c...
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By Julia Horton, ASKjulia. REAL estate. REAL answers.
(Coldwell Banker Realty)
Indian Bluff Island is Palm Harbor's best kept secret neighborhood.  Most Palm Harbor residents have never even heard of Indian Bluff (the residents refer to it as IBI), and that includes many folks that have lived in Palm Harbor for years.  Indian Bluff is a secluded neighborhood north of Alderman Road, West off of DeSoto Avenue and then West on Oceanview (the causeway to the island), just south of Wall Springs Park.  Most of the homes are either on the Gulf of Mexico or on canals with easy access to the gulf.  The more luxurious homes are well appointed and stunning in their own right, and feature luxurious finishes. Many classify IBI as prestigious and exclusive, as there are many $1M+ estates on the gulf.  Yet part of the charm of the island is that there are still many of the origi...
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By Julia Horton, ASKjulia. REAL estate. REAL answers.
(Coldwell Banker Realty)
Since HR3221 went into effect on July 30th, there's been enough nationwide analysis and debate to make even a Palm Harbor Real Estate professional's head spin!   Today, let's focus on one wonderful little piece of that legislation - the $7,500 tax credit!  Am I Eligible? The $7,500 tax credit is for first-time home buyers only for any home in the U.S.  If I haven't owned a home in the past 3 years, I qualify! I must be a U.S. Citizen and file my taxes. Will the Palm Harbor Home I'd Like to Buy Qualify? Any Tampa Bay home qualifies as long as it's my principle residence. Do I Earn to Much Money to Qualify? Dunedin home buyers filing as single or head-of-household can claim the full $7,500 if  my adjusted gross income (AGI) is less than $75,000. Married couples filing jointly can double t...
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By Julia Horton, ASKjulia. REAL estate. REAL answers.
(Coldwell Banker Realty)
So, what does a Palm Harbor Real Estate Consultant do with her few spare minutes of time?  Truth is, I was just breezing through ActiveRain, and then was off to Digg, which somehow lead me to this story. Apparently this divorced single mom, who happens to be ‘hot' (I'll let you decide) and her "agent", have HER included with the sale of the house on both eBay and Craigslist.  Yes, that's right, you get the house and the gal!  Aside from the Ewwwwww Gross factor, has this agent no professionalism?  Have we all lost our minds? Matt and I have seen some desperate measures from people in the wrong hands, but folks, if you're trying to sell your Dunedin home, find yourself an agent with a professional and PROVEN MARKETING STRATEGY to get your home sold!  If you're smarter than this gal, I b...
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Palm Harbor, FL Real Estate Professionals