Foto Friday (for Fun): Online Conference! Did you think of Online Conferencing as a modern invention?  Well, think again and take a look at this view provided by Florida nature.  Perhaps the concept of "on line conferencing" is not that new after all!  These participants were spotted "on line" chatting away.  They certainly look like they have been using this "powerful technology" for ages with the skill and "training" passed down by generations before them. 09/25/2009

Another Home SOLD by Roy Barnhart & Gail McKay 9292 Oak Grove St. Spring Hill, FL. 34606 Spring Hill Unit 22 3/2/2 Pool Home Sales Price $100,000 Sale Date 05/20/2009 Spacious Pool Home on a Huge Corner Lot. Newer Timberline Roof, Cathedral Ceilings, Breakfast Bar, Split Floor Plan, Inside Utility Room, Master Suite with a Garden Tub and Water Closet, Private Pool Area, and a Huge Utility Shed. How Much is My Home Worth? Find My Dream Home! www.Barnhart-MckayHomeSellingTeam.com 09/14/2009

Marking the eigth anniversary of that fateful day in September 2001, the Retired New York Firefighters of Spring Hill, Florida dedicated a memorial to those that lost their lives and had their lives changed forever that day. A September 11, 2001 memorial has been constructed in front of the VFW Post 10209 off Anderson Snow Road that was officially dedicated today.  The program included ringing of the bells at the time each of the towers fell, presentation of wreaths, fly-overs by the Civil Air Patrol and the United States Coast Guard, bag pipes, 21 Gun Salute, and TAPS. Members of many different fire departments as well as law enforcement were represented in the audience proudly wearing their uniforms or department gear. Proclamations, speeches and the memory of loved ones and friends l... 09/11/2009

August 2009 Real Estate Market Report: Timber Pines, Spring Hill, Florida Timber Pines home sales continued to be strong in August with an 30% increase in closed transactions of single family homes and villas over July.  Only two of the homes sold in Timber Pines were corporate owned, foreclosure homes and all others were market sales.  The number of homes under contract in Timber Pines also increased over July to a total of 11. Overall, the Timber Pines homes sales statistics have remained stable.  Although prices have decreased as they have everywhere else, the Timber Pines community is experiencing far fewer distressed sales such as short sales or foreclosures, a big plus for the community and its residents! Timber Pines is a 55+ Country Club community offering an active life style w... 09/09/2009

"Riding the Green Wave" at the Florida Association of Realtors Conference and Expo 2009 Today was my last day to attend the Florida Association of REALTORs Conference and Expo in Orlando.  This morning, I attended  a four hour education session conducted by Sara Lamia appropriately entitled "Riding the Green Wave". That's right!  Green is hot!  Green is coming and will be here to stay! Some of the topics discussed included various green features of homes such as energy efficiency and healthier environments. Many issues concerned the actual aspects of building green in the first place such as building materials and systems in the home.  Surprisingly, building green does not have to be more costly than using more traditional building methods if planned and executed correctly.  However, th... 08/22/2009

Florida Association of Realtors Convention Orlando 2009 - International Day Today was International Day at the FAR Convention in Orlando!  I just returned from an eventful day packed with informative sessions back to back!  I started the day with a four hour session of "Fundamentals of Commercial Real Estate", an area of real estate that in my opinion provides a lot of synergy with International Real Estate. The International luncheon followed with wonderful food from around the world and great networking opportunities with other international Realtors from around Florida and as far away as the Bahamas!  I have a sweet tooth so with the English Trifle and the German Black Forest Cake I felt like I was in heaven.  There are some good news coming from FAR regarding International Real Esta... 08/21/2009

2009 Florida Association of Realtors Convention, Orlando I just spent the day at the Florida Association of Realtors Convention at the beautiful Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel and Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.  As expected, it was a eventful day packed with attending informative sessions, networking and  of course checking out the various vendors on the exhibitor floor.  As member of the International Council of the Greater Tampa Bay Association of Realtors, I worked the FAR booth for our allotted time slot, another great opportunity to meet other Realtors from around the State who also are interested in International Real Estate. Well, that's it for now, I'm off to "Arabian Nights"!  Tomorow will be another great day for sure!           08/20/2009

Wordless Wednesday:  Stormy Sunset! The sun did set this cloudy evening at Bayport, Florida as heavy storm clouds took on ever changing shades of orange and greys as the hidden sun dipped into the sea.   For more information about Florida waterfront homes and land for sale in Hernando County including the communities of Weeki Wachee, Pine Island, Bayport, and Hernando Beach, as well as Hudson Beach, Pasco County, please visit my website! All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Silvia Dukes, P.A. and may not be used without expressed written permission of Silvia Dukes, P.A. Copyright 2009. 08/19/2009

Nature and Marketing Contest: Friends Don't Let Friends Go it Alone! For more information about buying and selling homes and land in Hernando County including Spring Hill, Brooksville, Hernando Beach, and the communities of Timber Pines, Glen Lakes Golf and Country Club, and Silverthorn please visit my website! --- All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Silvia Dukes, P.A. and may not be used without expressed written permission of Silvia Dukes, P.A. Copyright 2009. 08/13/2009

July 2009 Real Estate Market Report: Timber Pines, Spring Hill, FL Timber Pines sales for single family homes took an upswing in July with eight closed transactions. While sales price range for Timber Pines homes expanded in both directions, both average and median prices for sold homes decreased while they remained stable for those actively listed.  The number of Timber Pines homes under contract also increased.  The number of Timber Pines villas remained stable with increases in the sales price range and thus both in median and average prices.  The number of villas under contract decreased slightly.  While the number of active listings for villas as well as the listing price range remained stable, average and median prices decreased indicating price reductions in this property catego... 08/04/2009

Timber Pines Country Club Homes and Villas for Sale, Spring Hill, Florida Timber Pines Country Club homes and villas for sale range in size from smaller units to free standing homes with spacious floor plans offering golf course views, lake and preservation views.  The Timber Pines community located in Spring Hill, Florida, is a gated community with 24-hour security and has been rated one of America's top 20 best "over 55" communities in Country Club Living and Retirement communities.  Timber Pines Country Club consists of over 3500 privately owned homes and villas situated on 1400 acres in the heart of Spring Hill, Florida.  The development is a deed-restricted community surrounding homes and villas by sweeping golf courses, ponds, tall pines, and natural preserve areas for a park-like... 07/27/2009

Florida wildlife includes a variety of snake species, the majority of them harmless to humans.  Even living along the water, we do get the occasional snake passing through our yards.  I had just commented to my husband a few days ago that I hadn't really seen any snakes this year like we had in the previous years.  Lo and behold, within a couple of days, this black racer showed up on our back patio.  I guess he was trying to make friends with this rope laying around. I tried to get a littly closer but he didn't like that and took off in the grass. If you are thinking about buying a home or land for personal or investment use, or you are thinking about selling in Hernando County, Florida, including the communities and neighborhoods of Hernando Beach, Weeki Wachee, Pine Island, Brooksvill... 07/24/2009

Last weekend was the 9th Annual Bowling Extravaganza organized by the Hernando County Sheriff's office to benefit Youth Education Services (Y.E.S.)  For the third year in a row, members of the Spring Hill Rotary Club participated as one of the many teams in this non-competitive bowling fundraiser event.  After three years of "practice" - none of the team members bowl regularly and in fact, most bowl only once a year during this event - we did quite well!  Most of all, we had lots of fun!  The Spring Hill Rotary Club meets for breakfast every Thursday at I-Hop on US 19.  Meetings begin at 7:45 AM.  Guests and new members are welcome.  If you like more information about the club and our activities in the community, please call me!  --- If you are thinking about buying a home or land for p... 07/22/2009

Every Thursday:  Car Show in Spring Hill, Florida Whether you are a car enthusiast or just looking for something to do on a Thursday evening, this car show will fit the bill. Every Thursday beginning at 5:00 PM they start rolling in:  Antique cars, original or modified, muscle cars, hot rods, of all sorts of makes and models!  Carefully restored cars sit side-by-side with radically altered vehicles or even an unique one-of-a kind specimen. Car clubs like the English Car Club, the Spring Hill Corvette Club, or the Spring Hill Car Club cruise in.  Many car owners as well as spectators are regulars contributing for a familiar and friendly atmosphere. For years, Chic-Fil-et sponsored the show at their location and donated the one and only trophy "managers choice".  However, the weekly Thurs... 07/17/2009

Florida is not only known for beaches and sunshine but also for some really big bugs!  Well, this one is actually a grasshopper and home grown for that matter as it's been feasting on the plants in my very own yard all its life.  I just figure, I deserved I a great photo for this hospitality.  This guy actually started out with hundreds of its brothers as tiny little specks of something clinging to some Muhly grass back in the Spring.  You might guess, I can't kill nothing and it didn't seem to hurt the grass, so I kept watching as these things started growing into small grasshoppers.  As they did so, their numbers decreased considerably. Still, at one point, some of my lilies looked a bit sad because they were literally eaten up by these critters.  By time, this one reached about three... 07/09/2009

Timber Pines sales for single family homes and villas decreased again in June over those for the previous month.  Sales price range for single family homes increased but decreased for villas.  Median and average price levels responded accordingly with those for single family homes increasing and those for the villas decreasing.  However, as in the previous month, the total number of homes under contract remained stable and marketing time for sold properties decreased. Overall inventory also slightly decreased with a total of 167 active listings.  Timber Pines is a 55+ Country Club community offering an active life style with several golf courses, two community pools, Activities Center, Clubhouse, Performing Arts Center, as well as many social clubs and events.  The community is a gated ... 07/05/2009

There is much talk and even more questions about the first time homebuyers tax credit program.  As part of the stimulus plan, Congress passed legislation earlier this year to grant tax credits up to $8000 to first-time homebuyers:  10% tax credit on the purchase price of a home not to exceed $8000. For example, a homebuyer who purchased a home for $69,000 will receive a $6,900 refund, a buyer who purchased a home for $100,000 will receive a $8,000 refund. Any type of home will qualify, i.e. single family, condos, townhomes, as long as they are being used as a primary residence. The home has to be purchased and ownership has to be transferred by December 1, 2009! To qualify as "first-time homebuyer" the buyer or his/her spouse may not have owned a home during the three years prior to pur... 07/05/2009

Here is a community that has the spirit and knows how to put on a Independence Day celebration!  For the third year in a row, I was able to participate in the High Point 4th of July parade - this year as a driver.  The posting of the colors was conducted by members of the American Legion.  The crowd gathered in the community center for good old fashioned hot dogs, cookies, cupcakes, and the singing of patriot songs! Happy 4th of July!    --- High Point is an active, age-restricted, gated community offering affordable living.  Amenities include a private golf course, club house, pool and tennis facilities.  If you would like to find out more about High Point or other communities in Spring Hill, Florida, please contact me. Let me help you find your Place in the Sun!   07/04/2009

Timber Pines sales for single family homes and villas saw another decline in May over those for the previous month.  Sales price ranges, median and average sales prices all decreased across the board.  However, as a silver lining for the coming weeks, the total number of homes under contract remained stable. With a total of 171 active listings, available homes decreased again over those from April.  Timber Pines is located off US 19 in Spring Hill, West Central Florida on the Gulf Coast of Florida, also called the "Nature Coast".  Tampa International Airport is just a 45 min drive via the new Suncoast Parkway.   The community is a 55+ Country Club community offering several golf courses, two community pools, Activities Center, Clubhouse, Performing Arts Center, as well as many social cl... 06/04/2009

Toady I went to inspect a property that I took as a new listing and to take the listing photos.  Just doing my job. I removed a few dead bugs from the vacant home whose owners live out-of-state, I swept a little dirt away from the front door.  I took my photos, put up the lockbox and the sign.  As I proceeded around the house, a sound got my attention and caused me to look up.  To my big surprise, there is someone who is calling this house a home already!  Should I call him a tenant? Should I call him a squatter?  A little owl had made his home in the exterior molding which consists of some sort of foam and in absence of hollow trees or caves is apparently quite suitable for nest building! He peaked at me, I peaked at him, we didn't seem too threatening to each other.  But wait.. the ho... 05/14/2009