I am saddened this morning as at 5am I received a phone call from my friend's sister that her husband passed away this morning. This friend was and still is a good customer of mine. She, through another Realtor many years ago, bought one of my listings. We got to know each other and years later she listed 2 of her properties with me. In the interim, we became great friends. Like a sister that I never had, we shared secrets and laughed about funny things. We celebrated our children's successes and cried over their short comings. Last week her husband had to have a serious surgery, The Whipple Surgery, the same one that Steve Jobs had last year. He put this off for some time and enjoyed his 60th birthday before going into surgery on Wednesday. I spent 14 hours at the hospital with her whi... 09/27/2011

I truly believe that being all that you can be for a customer, buyer or seller, or even renter, is the way to go. But what happens when you do your job perfectly, find them that fantastic home, perfect location, great price and immaculate shape and then you begin to move to close and one of the many other professionals you must work with do not do their job??This should be the easy closing. The buyers are great, sellers are accomodating, escrow is in on time and the buyers are well healed financially. What could possibly go wrong. The sellers are even throwing in the washer and dryer and all the potted plants. Should be a breeze!  But now you have a loan officer or mortgage broker, surveyor, title company, home inspector, WDO company, appraiser and more to invite to the party! If you do... 09/26/2011

For all of you Realtors with Ocean Front Properties for sale here on the Atlantic Coast, did you know that our ocean is the saltiest Ocean in the world? It is true, our ocean has a greater salt content than any other. The Dead Sea is by far the saltiest body of water on Earth, but as far as Oceans go, the Atlantic takes the prize for being the most salty!What does that mean for our Ocean Front home owners???? Planting for one thing is different from the mainland property owners or people who own homes even a few blocks back from the beach. Waterfront properties are known for high winds and storms. We have salty soil and wind which makes it difficult for many things to grow. Here are a few tips for planting on Ocean Front properties.....Plant trees to protect your property. Not just for ... 09/24/2011

 You might expect that life along the fairways would cost you a pretty penny. But look again. The Greens of St. Augustine offers luxury golf course living right in the heart of St. Augustine, FL. The Greens of St. Augustine is a community of 170 elegant golf villas nestled around the St. Augustine Shores Golf Club. This Club offers an 18 hole course designed by Raymond Floyd. These beautiful, quality, concrete block constructed golf course villas are spacious and offer some awesome views.  Take a look at this former model, 1312 Royal Troon Ln, now on the market priced at only $134,900.  You’ll find The Green's of St. Augustine to be one of the best values in the St. Augustine area! Currently there are only 7 of the 170 units on the market.  Two of these are distressed sales.  There was ... 09/22/2011

1.)  LEAVE!  Homebuyers will feel like intruders if you remain home while it's being shown.  Don't hang around outside!  Go for a walk, a ride, for a cup of coffee, but GO! 2.)  You can't sell the home if you make it hard to show!  Avoid the urge to have a 24 hour notice given or worse!  No showings between certain hours is also a "kiss of death" when trying to sell.  Keep the home available and in showing condition at ALL times!  Buyers will move on to other properties, leaving your's behind because quite frankly, there's too much inventory out there! 3.)  Help us out!  If you know we are coming, before you leave turn on the lights and open the blinds and help us make the 1st impression a WOW!  Yes, agent will do this but buyers are usually walking into the home at the same time we are... 09/22/2011

Over the course of the last 12 years that I have been in the Real Estate Business I have had 3 different Accountants. I have never had any of them suggest that I incorporate. Recently while having a conversation with an Accountant, he was surprised to hear that I was not incorporated. I asked him why he thought that it was important and he gave me the following reasons: 1. Deductions...you can deduct mileage and business lunches and more. With the mileage credit alone, you can probably pay off the costs of incorporating.2. Credibility......showing that you are a business and that you know how to run a business is impressive to clients and shows that you are a professional.3. Liability.....separating yourself personally from the business is a good idea in a litigious society. Making your... 09/22/2011

An associate in my office has just started blogging on Active Rain. His name is Clay Seay and he is a first class Realtor. Honest, smart and willing to go that extra mile. I respect him as a co worker and enjoy him as a friend and I just wanted to say "Welcome Clay!". When you get a chance, look him up and say hello. Another Great Realtor to join our ActiveRain Family!     09/20/2011

  In the spring of 2009, as Vice President of Membership of the St. Augustine Regional Woman’s Council of REALTORS, (WCR) St. Augustine Regional Council, I helped develop a new fundraiser.  We wanted to support local women as well as raise money for the WCR Education fund.   Artbreakers, Artists for the fight against cancer, was our first choice.  Artbreakers is a non-profit organization based in St. Johns County and all of the money they raise stays right here in our county.  (Please learn more about this wonderful group at their website www/artbreakers.org.)   In our desire to do something different we created Bratini.  This event features a live auction of creatively decorated bras modeled by local male community leaders.  We combined it with Signature Martini’s in honor of the Spons... 09/20/2011

   Have you ever booked showings for your listings and then had a Realtor call to tell you that her customers were running late or that they pulled up and just did not want to see the home? I sometimes have this happen and am always so glad that the Realtor took the time to call me and give me an explanation. So many times when showing property, you run late, or early, or arrive at the home only to hear that they have now ruled it out. I always give the listing agent a heads up but many agents do not do this. It always is difficult when a Seller gets their home ready and hopes set high that this showing will be "the one", and a no show is very upsetting. However, if you know ahead of time or if you at least get the feedback during the day, you can soften the blow to the Sellers and at ... 09/20/2011

Have you ever wondered who or why home color trends come about?  I did on the day I showed this particular buyer homes from all decades, as St. Augustine has homes going back to the 1800’s!  Although we weren’t looking at historical homes, we were investigating homes from the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s on up!  You could see the trends that were popular during those decades still living in the bathrooms, kitchen and sometimes in the floor covering!  So I researched this and here’s what I learned... Color trends in homes reveal a response to social, cultural and economic factors.  The kaleidoscope of colors have meaning for each decade. Expressing optimism for America’s continuing prosperity, fashion and interior design led the way with a palette full of “pretty pastels” that were far removed from ... 09/20/2011

How many times in the past few years have you had a really great listing, clean, nice location, soft neutral colors, great curb appeal, wonderful neighborhood, and best of all, outstanding sellers who understand the market and price competitively to sell? Well, not often, but when you do have one of these listings isn't it just amazing that someone brings you an offer that is so ridiculously low that it is insulting? I got one of those yesterday, 70k below the asking price, and the ASKING price was the going rate for this type of unit. The agent justified this offer by comping it against a short sale where the description was, and I quote, "peeling wallpaper needs to be removed. carpets need to be taken out, entire unit needs paint and cleaning and there are no appliances".  This, compa... 09/16/2011

What a terrible headline this week about 101 year old Texana Hollis who was put out in the street because her son failed to let her know that he was not making her mortgage payments. Sorry, but in my opinion someone ought to shoot this man! It really makes me wonder who actually took the mortgage out and what funds were supposed to be paying for it. Sounds like someone was living off of his mother and took every last dime until she lost it all. Thank God for good neighbors who were willing to take her in. The elderly people of America are really in a bind. Social Security and Medicare are threatened, their children, many of them, certainly not all, have turned their backs on the people that raised them because they are just too busy with all of their own business and lives. Many have lo... 09/15/2011

Did you know that a review of our nation's history shows that eight of the last 10 recessions have ended as a result of robust housing markets?  Yeah... bring on that recovery!!! Our country has found itself in the midst of a lasting recession, mounting debt, wide-spread unemployment and a fragile housing market. in an article "Ensuring Home Ownership for Future Generations" Ronald Phipps, the 2011 President of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) believes that to restore the nation's economy, we must look toward home ownership. Locally, the St. Augustine and St. Johns County market seems to have stabilized.  Year to date: We have had 1,665 Sales compared to 1,487 during the same period last year The median Sales Price year to date is $165,000 up from last years $163,200. All sign... 09/14/2011

It is a shame that it has come to this, but agents, both men and women, should really think before they show a home or host an open house. We have not had any known incidents here in Saint Augustine Florida, but the crime is up here and everywhere and it is, I am sure, just a matter of time, before someone is hurt because of not being prepared. We have experienced in one of our upscale, GATED neighborhoods, 10 breakins last evening. Supposedly, a van got through and dropped off a number of persons wearing black who invaded 10 homes, while the people were home. Thank God, no one was hurt but it brings to mind how things are changing in our sleepy little town and all over the world. Agents are especially vulnerable. Think about it. Strangers call us up and we meet them in vacant homes. T... 09/14/2011

It used to be that you could be a good agent and do a good job and that was enough. It was all that it took. Today is a totally different world. With the financial chaos, political problems and national debt in the trillions, our buyers and sellers need us more than ever. They are afraid to buy, afraid not to buy. Want to sell, have to sell, need to sell, They are all over the place and need someone strong, smart and level headed to help them sort through all of it and assist them in making good decisions. If you are a good agent, well, that's nice, but in our world today, you need to be more than that. Today's buyers and sellers need outstanding agents. Agents that add value to what they are bringing to the table. They need to be educated, informed, reasonable, patient, strong, tirele... 09/12/2011

It happens once a year, the reenactment of the landing of St. Augustine's Founder, Don Pedro Mendez de Aviles this Saturday, September 10, 2011.  He will land along the same shoreline where Spanish colonists came ashore in 1565. After the reenactment of the Spanish settler’s arrival there will be a presentation about St. Augustine and America’s Spanish history, then a celebration of Mass at the Mission’s outdoor altar. After the Celebration of Mass, there will be informative presentations guest speakers. Following the formal ceremonies, Menendez and his men will lead a procession from the Mission grounds to the historic encampment at the Fountain of Youth Park. Call 904.824.2809 for more information or visit the website. 09/08/2011

Davis Shores, St. Augustine Florida, is a quiet neighborhood on a point of land at the east side of the Bridge of Lions which is in between the Matanzas River and Salt Run. Walk or bike to the historic district of St. Augustine.  Davis Shores is a much desired home for about 6,000 people.  It is definitely NOT a cookie cutter community, if you are looking for a beautiful and unique home, Davis Shores is the neighborhood to start your search.  There are waterfront homes with docks, and hotels and restaurants along State Road A1A and Anastasia Boulevard. Looking at the market for homes for sale in Davis Shores, we see that there are 27 active homes on the market, NO bank-owned and just one short sale.  2 Closed sales in August and 4 homes went under contingent contract.     THREE WAYS TO... 09/08/2011

Marsh Creek Country Club is located on Anastasia Island just 5 miles south of historic St. Augustine, Florida. Nestled just off A1A you will find this gated community filled with lovely homes, wonderful people and a lifestyle you will want to call your own.Within the community you will find an 18-hole golf course designed by Mark McCumber, tennis and fitness facility and clubhouse and pool. Relax and enjoy the newly activities or enjoy dinner and an intracoastal view sunset in the Dining room.Looking at the market for homes for sale in Marsh Creek Country Club, we see that there are 26 active homes on the market, NO bank-owned and just one short sale.  5 Closed sales in August and 2 homes went under contingent contract.       TWO WAYS TO SEARCH HOMES FOR SALE IN Marsh Creek Country Clu... 09/08/2011

As Realtors, we hear it all the time. Buyers continue to wait for "the bottom" before they buy. After seeing so many homes and a few that they really really loved, I gave this example to buyers that I was working with. You know, every year Macys has  great sale. The first day offers the best selection even though the items are only marked down to 50%. At 50% off it is still a great deal and with so many things to chose from the first day, it is the best time to shop! Weeks later, the left over items are marked down to 75%! Can you even imagine!!! The deals are extraordinary.....save for one thing. They don't have your size, or the color you wanted, or the style that fits you the best. So, do you buy a left over? Something that does not fit right, or do you just have to take a pass, beca... 09/07/2011

For many years Saint Augustine has been known as a sleepy little town, quaint, nice and virtually undiscovered by most. More recently things have begun to change. Saint Augustine is in the news and beginning to get noticed! The US World and News Report rated Saint Augustine as one of the top 10 places to live.  Coastal Living Magazine wrote a lovely article about us, naming Saint Augustine as one of the best places to enjoy the Christmas lights. Flagler College was ranked one of the top 10 most beautiful campuses! Wow! Someone is paying attention!  All of a sudden people are noticing all of the things about Saint Augustine that those of us who are lucky enough to live here, love and enjoy about our beautiful little city! However, because we are such a small town, the question always ari... 09/06/2011