Daytona Beach FL Real Estate (and surrounding areas)

Rule Enforcers vs Rule Breakers; and Florida Real Estate Contracts

2010-07-06T12:44:00.000-04:00

I was recently reading an article in a local magazine, that was written by a Little League Baseball Coach. He is a bonafide Rule Enforcer. He knows every rule of the game, and exactly how far they can or cannot be bent. He also knows a couple of common mistakes that are made by other coaches when they get 2 similar rules confused. As I read the article, my mind was comparing his nature, and his experiences, to my own nature and experiences, and how these can apply to the real estate industry as well.

I admit to being a Rule Enforcer. I have absolutely no problem singling out the Rule Breakers, which is probably obvious from my very rare "rant" posts. (Just be glad they're rare =P) But this post is about how as real estate professionals, we have MANY rules and laws that must be followed. And when representing my clients, I use my knowledge of the legalities, the rules, and the REALTOR® Code of Ethics, in a manner that best benefits my clients. (I imagine most of us work in a similar manner; within the means of our own strengths and personalities.)

Again, I'd be remiss if I didn't admit to my love of Rules! I like knowing exactly where the boundaries are. And I like knowing exactly how far a rule can or cannot be bent. (Blatant Honesty Moment: I DO NOT like gray areas, and I don't think much of people who live in the gray areas!) And I Use My Knowledge for the Benefit of My Clients! Yes, I admit to that too. I go out of my way to take the instructional classes at the Daytona Beach REALTOR® Association (available for REALTORS® only - not just real estate licensees) every time the FAR/BAR contracts are changed. I go out of my way to seek out the changes and differences in the Standard FAR/BAR contract vs the "As Is" FAR/BAR contract.

To clear up any confusion here, we have 2 separate contracts instead of just an AS-IS rider. This was changed several years ago, in order to clear up some common legal problems that were occurring due to mis-use, and mis-information when implementing the "As Is" clauses, formerly referred to as the "D' and "N" clauses. Also, so there's no confusion, in our area, the FAR/BAR contract is the one that is expected to be used when presenting an offer; so I'm only addressing the 2 FAR/BAR contracts, rather than the "FAR" contract(s).

I enjoy learning the legalities and reasoning for why certain changes have been made to our FAR/BAR contracts, and how we can protect our real estate clients. (Again, the contracts AND the training classes at the REALTOR® Association are only available to actual REALTORS®, not just those who hold a real estate license.)

I'm now going to show my hand a tiny bit here by pointing out the most common mistakes that I've personally seen, where other REALTORS® misstep on the FAR/BAR contract. And no, I do not point these mistakes out to them when they bring me an offer on one of my real estate listings. I just keep it under my hat, and pull it out if the offer becomes a contract, and the other agent starts dropping the ball on their end. My reasoning? From the very beginning of an offer, I'm focused on the big picture... the long haul... the "what if" of what could happen in the Worst Case Scenario. And I want my clients to be ahead of the ball! It's just good business and BEING a real estate professional.

Now for my tiny tips as I show my hand just a bit ;-)
In the Daytona Beach area, the most common places where mistakes are made in our FAR/BAR real estate contracts are...

The "money" section, and how what wording is used, and in what places it is used, when a deposit/good faith money is not collected at the time of the initial offer. Do you use verbiage like "Upon Acceptance" for when the good faith money will be provided by your buyers? Hmm. Maybe you should take that class at your local REALTOR® Association.
Writing any type of verbiage that reference clauses that are already detailed in the contract. Why would you do this? Isn't all the necessary verbiage already there? Wasn't that legal verbiage used, based on real estate history and past problems? Isn't that verbiage stated in a manner that's meant to prevent the problems we've had in the past? What are the potential problems that can happen when you add to that verbiage?

OK. So I've just posed 2 problem areas, and several questions. In reading this, do you know WHY the examples I've given might pose a problem? I know this post is open for the whole world to see, and I'm only addressing Florida real estate, but we can still learn from each other. So what are your experiences? How do you handle these areas? Or do you encounter other contractual areas that are a greater problem in your location?

So many questions. So many loopholes and potential pitfalls. What's your take on the rules, laws, and REALTOR® Code of Ethics? Have you been an "unintentional rule breaker"? I'm interested in the thoughts of all of you who work in ANY area of real estate, even if you're not a REALTOR®, and even if you're not in the "sales" part of the industry.

And yes, I'll answer some questions as you comment. I wouldn't want to just leave you all scratching your heads and wondering what the heck my point could be. Just consider this an educational blog post for everyone involved in real estate; even the individual buyers and sellers. =)

Looking forward to your comments!

www.LisaHillRealtor.com

**ALL CONTENT IS COPYRIGHTED. DO NOT COPY**

Buy Affordable House in Daytona Beach Area

2010-04-30T23:42:00.000-04:00

Rent 3 Bedroom Port Orange Condo! Pool, Clubhouse, Fitness Center

2010-04-30T23:37:00.000-04:00

Rent Penthouse Condo in Daytona Beach Shores. Ocean and River Views

2010-04-30T23:30:00.000-04:00

First Time Home Buyers in Daytona Beach, Port Orange, South Daytona areas...

2009-09-21T09:46:00.007-04:00

Daytona Beach, Port Orange, South Daytona Real Estate Blog by Lisa Hill, "The Smart Choice"

Atttention First Time Home Buyers: If there's even a chance that you'll be interested in buying a home in the Daytona Beach area; including Port Orange, South Daytona and all of east Volusia county, DO NOT WAIT any longer! Time is running out, to take advantage of the $8000 tax credit!

Although your mortage MIGHT take only 30 days for full financing, in today's real estate market it is highly unlikely! And to receive the $8000 tax credit, you MUST close on your home by November 30, 2009! If you don't close by the cutoff date, you will not receive the $8,000 tax credit.

If you have not yet started your search for your home, call me ASAP! I'll help you with your search, and work for you in finding just the right home for you, and negotiate to help you get the most house for your money.

If you want to view some houses from the Daytona Beach area Multiple Listing Service (MLS), <---follow this link.

If you'd like to view my Featured Real Estate Listings, <---follow this link.

If you'd like to know more about me, I'm a Daytona Beach Native, and REALTOR® with Adams Cameron & Co., REALTORS®, <---follow this link.

For all your real estate needs, make a Smart Choice and Contact Lisa Hill, Daytona Beach native and REALTOR® with Adams Cameron & Co., REALTORS®. <---Click here to contact Lisa Hill.

I look forward to helping you with all your real estate needs.

*All content is owned and copyright protected. (Except for the actual copyright logo at the beginning of this line.)

Daytona Beach House for Sale. Price Reduced!

2009-09-01T04:48:00.015-04:00

Walk to the ocean from this beautiful Daytona Beach house, or enjoy swimming in your own screened, sparkling pool, or enjoy the peaceful serenity of your private garden. This home has much to offer. A must see!

Buy your Daytona Beach house today!

Make a Smart Choice and contact Lisa Hill with Adams Cameron & Co., REALTORS®. <--- E-mail Lisa Hill

View this beautiful Daytona Beach house on my real estate web site <--- click here

Visit my primary real estate blog here <--- click here

2009-06-09T22:33:00.011-04:00

If you're interested in renting an affordable Daytona Beach area condo, in a great location, and beautiful community with fantastic amenities, then look no further! This fabulous 1 bedroom, 1 bath condo will be available by July 1st (possibly sooner). It has a brand new kitchen, large rooms, bright front eat-in kitchen and much more. Make no mistake; this is a quality community with a strong Condo Association!

This Condo Community has pool, clubhouse, tennis courts, laundry room, private park, assigned parking, located in Holly Hill just minutes from Daytona Beach. All tenants must be approved by the Condo Association! Fee is $50 for background and credit check. One small pet is allowed (under 30 lbs). Deposit is $500 per month and monthly rent is only $500 per month.

If quality, safety and amenities are what you want, this condo is for you!

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A Behind the Scenes Look at the Business of Real Estate (Pulling Back the Curtain)

2009-04-08T21:50:00.002-04:00

As a REALTOR®, it's easy to forget that the public doesn't always know how we get paid and/or how the real estate business works. They don't see what happens behind the curtain. So I'm pulling back the curtain. I believe the consumer might enjoy learning about the hidden part of the real estate transaction, and at times, just how much can be hanging by a thread. Hopefully, you'll enjoy learning about the process behind the process. To keep this as simple as possible, I'll start by stating that REALTORS® are not employees. We're Independent Contractors. We don't get a W-2, with our taxes partially paid by an employer. We get a 1099 and are responsible for ALL of our own taxes and expenses. Think of every REALTOR® as an individual small business owner. Therefore, we have to itemize our taxes, and write off whatever is eligible for claim as a business expense. But those small tax breaks don't add up to much when each and every expense is our own to pay! Now for some specifics... REALTORS® work strictly on a commission basis. We do not get paid until we actually close on a property. And out of each commission, we have to pay for...

All gas and vehicle mileage incurred by that transaction
Any "extras" we may have donated to help facilitate the transaction
The cost of postcards or paper, ink, envelopes, and postage that was needed to promote a listing, or send notification of a sale
Paper, ink, color copier, (or we can pay someone else for this service) and yard boxes for flyers, if we've provided this service for a real estate seller
Costs of all advertising for the duration of a listing, which in our current market, could take 2 years. (That's how much inventory we have in our MLS)
Lockbox, if the brokerage doesn't pay for it, or a different kind of lockbox, as is sometimes needed
Name riders or personalized signs, if for a listing
MANY hours of our time

In addition to the costs incurred for an individual sale, there are the things that are needed just to keep our business running smoothly and professionally (some of these are only what I personally consider necessary)...

REALTORS'® Personal Web Site
Multiple Blogs
Errors and Omissions Insurance
Computers: Desktop and Laptop
Portable Hard Drive/Memory Stick/Jump Drive
Cell/Smart Phone with Contact Manager, plenty of minutes, text messaging, and internet capability, so we can provide full-service for our clients
High Speed Internet Connection
Additional Phone Lines for fax or DSL
Cable Modem if DSL is not used
High Quality Camera for taking quality listing photos, or to take extra photos for buyers and insurance companies
Video Camera for filming listings
Photo Editing Software
Video Editing Software
Word Processing Software
Contact Management Software
Power Point Software for miscellaneous presentations
Personal Printer/Scanner/Copier/Fax
Personal Brochure, Business Cards, and other miscellaneous handouts
Extra Vehicle Insurance, since we use our vehicles for business
More Gas and Vehicle usage, as we travel to each appointment, even if we don't get the business!
Personalized Open House signs
Office Supplies
(We have to replace these items on our own, as they break or become outdated)
And let's not forget, a true real estate professional is going to be knowledgeable of any recent changes in real estate laws, and is proficient in the Social Networking of Web 2.0

In addition to all this, REALTORS® pay to be members of their local REALTOR® Association, and for access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Then they have to pay for ALL their own taxes, which are higher due to non-employee status. We also pay for our own health insurance and medical costs. And there are always additional marketing materials that are needed, to keep new business coming in. Let's also not forget that with everything I've listed, there are many, many, many hours of work that is done... all without knowing if the work we're currently doing is going to lead to an eventual sale. And some clients may take years before they buy. I recently sold a house to someone I've been working with for 3 years. In order to bring these types of clients to a successful closing, we have to maintain contact with them, and meet their needs for the entire time, until they buy.

With all that being said, I'll finish this post by stating what I thought would be obvious, but apparently is not. And I'll preface this by saying, the next section is not meant to be rude or offensive. It's just the reality of the situation. So here it is... When a REALTOR® works with a real estate buyer, the REALTOR® expects that buyer to be loyal, and not call other real estate agents. Many times, a buyer can unintentionally, with one phone call, or by stopping by one open house, land in the cross-hairs of another agent who is not ethical enough to ask if that buyer is working with another REALTOR®, and end up negating all of the costs, and hours, and dedication they've been given by the REALTOR® who has been working diligently to help them find that perfect home. Actually, when this happens, their former REALTOR® ends up with less than zero... it's worse than ending up with nothing. It's a deficit of the worst kind. That loss of time, income, and expenses paid, not only amounts to bad business, it also means that all this was taken away from our families who depend on us. It's a loss of our time and expenses that could have been better spent on a client who is loyal. This is why many REALTORS® will require a real estate buyer to sign a buyer/broker real estate agreement.

To elaborate just a bit more, if a real estate buyer is going to call other agents, that buyer's agent is not going to be able to do their best work. If we (REALTORS'®) know our real estate buyer(s) are working only with us to find their next property, we'll go out of our way to find the perfect property; we'll set aside extra time for that buyer; we'll always have the needs of that particular buyer in the back of our minds, even when we're on a non-related appointment. Also, with the Multiple Listing System (MLS), all REALTORS® have access to each others' listings. The agent who is working for a loyal real estate buyer, can setup a customized MLS search for that buyer, and keep them apprised of new listings as they come on the market. It's about going the extra mile for that loyal buyer, and doing what is necessary to meet their needs. It's a win/win relationship.

One last note: With all this information, I didn't even touch on all the details of the individual real estate transactions. I guess that will be a future post.

If you'd like to buy or sell real estate in the Daytona Beach, Port Orange, Ormond Beach and encompassing areas, make a Smart Choice and contact Lisa Hill with Adams Cameron&Co., REALTORS® for all your real estate needs.

REALTOR® Safety Awareness

2009-02-20T19:48:00.007-05:00

Daytona Beach Area Real Estate Market, Data and Updates. By Lisa Hill, "THE SMART CHOICE!"

I was recently reminded of an incident that happened to a REALTOR® friend of mine, a few years ago. This incident was the type of horror story we all fear.

My friend received a call from a potential buyer who had to catch a flight out of town later that morning and he needed to leave by 9:00 a.m. He was anxious to see a model in a development my REALTOR® friend was representing and the only time he was available was early in the morning. So my friend scheduled an appointment to meet this potential buyer at one of the models at 7:30 a.m.

When she arrived at the model, the buyer was waiting and they proceeded to go inside the house. A few minutes later, another vehicle arrived with a couple in it. The potential buyer told my REALTOR® friend that these were friends of his and they all proceeded to view the house.

Then they got to the master bedroom. At this point, the original potential buyer pulled a gun out of a briefcase, then used garbage bag ties on my REALTOR® friend, and put her in the closet of the master bedroom. Now while my friend was in the closet, she could hear the 3 people rummaging through the house and talking on what sounded like walkie talkies, but she couldn't understand what they were saying, nor could she understand what they wanted in a model home.

Meanwhile, she could see into the master bathroom from her position in the bedroom closet, through the space where the criminals had left the door open a crack. She kept an eye on the mirror in the master bathroom, which was reflecting the criminal's positions outside the master bedroom. She managed to get the ties off her feet, then summoned her courage and ran out the back sliding glass doors to a neighbors house and called the police.

The criminals left before the police arrived and they never could figure out what the overall plan was, but it was obvious that these criminals were professionals and there were others close by.

I titled this post that buyers needed to read this too, for an important reason. If you're a real estate buyer, you need to understand why your REALTOR® expects you to do things a certain way. For our safety we need you, as a real estate buyer to...

Meet us at our office, not at the house you want to see.
Take time to sit down with us to give us all time to get comfortable with each other, as well as to help us understand your real estate preferences.
Let us make a copy of your driver's license and leave copies with our office personnel.
Stick to a schedule, so we can leave a definitive itinerary with our office personnel.
Completely fill in all the fields on the forms at an open house. You may think looking at open houses is a fun afternoon outing, but we honestly need to be sensitive to the safety of the seller's possessions, and our lives.

Real estate buyers, we understand that you're anxious to start looking at the houses or condos you want to see. But I'm sure you'll agree with me that the safety of the agent is of utmost importance, and you can probably wait just one more hour. Please be understanding of this and cooperate with any requests your agent may make. The story I've just told had a happy ending, as this agent was able to return safely home to her family and continue a successful career, albeit more than a little bit reluctant to return to work. But there have been many others who were not so lucky. Just read Elizabeth Nieves' recent post about Sarah Anne Walker; a REALTOR® who was brutally murdered while holding open a model home in 2006.

Buy Daytona Beach Real Estate

View Daytona Beach Real Estate MLS Videos

Want to Sell Your House? Price it Right!

2009-02-18T22:48:00.006-05:00

Daytona Beach Area Real Estate Market, Data and Updates. By Lisa Hill, "THE SMART CHOICE!"

As a REALTOR®, I frequently have the unpleasant job of having to provide information to real estate buyers and/or sellers that is not what they want to hear. It seems that lately I've had this happen more than usual. Now I admit, I work primarily with real estate sellers. And of course I work with the buyers for my listings. I find these buyers through my marketing plan. But I don't generally work as a buyer's agent. Although, Florida law now instructs all real estate buyers and sellers to automatically assume that the agent they contact is operating as a Transaction Broker, unless the agent indicates otherwise. So Florida law allows for real estate agents to transition between real estate buyers and sellers with ease.

In the last couple of weeks, I've had a couple of listing appointments for houses owned by potential real estate sellers who want way too much money for their houses... in other words, listings I don't want in my inventory. I've turned down these listings.

Before I continue, I feel this must be said...

When a real estate professional does a CMA (Current Market Analysis), it's strictly professional. It's why REALTORS® serve a purpose. We're not emotional about the transaction, whereas buyers and sellers are usually pretty emotional about their "home". I bring this up because of a comment that was recently made on one of my listing appointments. After being presented with the facts (recent sales data), the home owners said "We're getting screwed". (Yes, one actually said that.) You can't be getting "screwed" (so eloquent) when it's just the current market value. You're being given facts... data... numbers. How can you take that personally? And real estate is cyclical. It always has been, and always will be. We have no control over the current market value. A REALTORS'® job is to facilitate the transaction by keeping it strictly business, and lessening the emotions. It's the only way to get the best "deal" for both parties. This brings me to my next point.
How is it that home owner(s) can reject the factual evidence of value, and start listing everything they've done to the house since the day they bought it... as if the other recent sales didn't have the same, or similar maintenance over the years. But let's proceed with addressing the way to properly price real estate in todays' buyers' market.

Now for the way I prepare for a listing appointment

It's impossible to provide an accurate market analysis for a house, condo, or townhouse without actually seeing the property with my own eyes. But I can get the basic data prepared by looking at what's currently on the market (most are priced too high), and checking what has recently sold (sales are the accurate depiction of the true market value for a particular property).

Once I've done my research (which usually takes a couple of hours, during which time I don't know if I'll even want the listing yet), I then meet with the potential sellers. Upon meeting the sellers, I first have them give me a full tour of the potential listing, and tell me about any upgrades they've made. When the tour is completed and I've documented all the details, I then present the home owner(s) with the recent sales that are comparable to their property, and are located either within the same subdivision, or within a 2 mile radius (keeping the process as similar as possible to the way an appraiser would work). Last but not least, we fine tune the additions and subtractions, based on the condition, location, and amenities of the subject property in relation to the comparable sales and the upgrades, or lack thereof. (Asking prices of active listings are mostly irrelevant, except to be sure the new listing is properly priced.)

But after all that, we're still not finished. Properly pricing a property for sale requires more than just facts and figures. It even requires more than comparing the subject property (potential listing) to the recently sold listings. And it even goes beyond the condition of the property. There are actually several more conditions to consider. But for the purposes of this blog post, we'll only address one more step, which is; determining the sellers' motivation level. If the seller(s) need to move fast, then obviously, they'll want to price their house/condo/townhouse below the competition so it will sell as quickly as possible. If the sellers are not in a big hurry, the listing still needs to be priced competitively (since we're still in a buyers' market), but it doesn't need to be at a rock bottom price (other special factors not withstanding). *Side note: Viewing the property, determining need, considering location, observing the condition, discussing all options, etc., takes another couple of hours during which time I/we still haven't decided if I'm going to list the property.

To go back to my recent listing appointment, I provided them with a range for what they could expect as their sale price. But these sellers wanted to net about $75,000 more than the market value of their home. It was a listing I could not sell, so I wasn't willing to list it. There were no comps to show a higher value, and even with a complete overhaul, the property would not be worth anything close to what the home owners wanted to net. That particular neighborhood just will not draw a price that high. If a potential buyer could pay what these sellers wanted, the buyer could find a nicer house, AND a nicer neighborhood. It's not an insult to this house or neighborhood. These are just the facts... the numbers... the data. Remember? Your REALTOR® is there to provide you with this information, and facilitate the transaction by lessening the emotion. This helps both parties get a better "deal" by keeping communication open.

Lastly, this is something all real estate sellers need to know. In the last couple of years, about 99% of all buyers I've worked with, have only been interested in getting the best house for the cheapest price. Nobody can afford to overpay. And the banks won't finance a property that THEY feel is over-valued. And until the market has completely stabilized, this will continue to be a legitimate concern for the banks and the real estate buyers. This is why over the last couple of years, when I have been able to get my buyers to take a look at an average priced property, they wouldn't even consider making an offer unless the seller(s) were willing to drastically reduce their asking price. Real estate buyers have not been willing to settle for anything less... or should I say, they won't settle for anything more?

So I'll finish this post the way I titled it. If you want to sell your house, price it right! When a professional REALTOR® presents you with factual data that indicates a lower value for your property, it's not personal. As a REALTOR®, I only get paid when I actually close on a transaction. I really want to sell your house. And it's my job to know the real estate climate, and to be honest with my potential clients. To do otherwise would not only be a disservice to you, it's also a violation of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics. So if you want to sell your house, make sure you work with a REALTOR® you can trust, and try not to take the data personally. They're probably doing their best to give you accurate information.

I just sold one of my listings. So if you need a REALTOR® with the knowledge and resources to sell your house, condo, townhouse, or vacant land, and would like a free market analysis, make a Smart Choice and contact Lisa Hill with Adams Cameron & Co., REALTORS®.

View Daytona Beach area MLS listings here.

Buy House with Full In-Law Apartment in Beautiful Port Orange FL

2009-02-10T01:50:00.014-05:00

Port Orange Real Estate Blog. MLS Listings and Sales by Lisa C. Hill, "THE SMART CHOICE!"

Port Orange FL is a great place to live. Now here's your chance, with this beautiful Johnson built, 4 bedroom, 3 bath, lakefront home with 3 car garage, safe room, and screened, solar heated pool.

I could post a multitude of photos, and try to describe every gorgeous aspect of this one-of-a-kind, unique home, and still not expose the tip of the iceberg of this spectacular home. So look closely at every photo, and read about every fabulous detail, but if this sounds like the home for you, then pick up your phone and call me right now, so you can see this home for yourself!

View more photos of this 4 bedroom, 3 bath Port Orange home with 3 car garage. Check back for video shortly.

If you want to buy real estate, or sell real estate in Port Orange, make a Smart Choice and contact Lisa Hill with Adams Cameron & Co., REALTORS®.

Daytona Beach House For Sale: Country Club Community: Open House!

2009-01-25T01:59:00.011-05:00

Daytona Beach Real Estate Blog. By Lisa C. Hill, "The Smart Choice"

If you're looking for a beautiful house in Daytona Beach, come to this open house this weekend! You'll love this 3 bedroom, 2 bath home on a corner lot and canal, with 2 car garage. Only $219,000. Look at all these offerings!

Home is immaculate
Furniture is negotiable
Rear screened porch has beautiful canal views
Huge, galley-style kitchen has abundance of cabinets and counter space
Entry has welcoming foyer
3rd bedroom has window seat and south facing front window. Makes a perfect office if 3rd bedroom is not needed
Indoor laundry room
Large living room with fireplace and built-in bookshelves
Roomy breakfast nook also has peaceful canal views
Also has formal dining area with plenty of room for all your dining furniture.

All this, in a secure, gated community with entry guards, clubhouse, restaurant, golf courses and fantastic location near I-4 and I-95.

Open House this Sunday, January 25, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

101 Morning Dove Ct., Daytona Beach, FL (Pelican Bay)

www.DaytonaBeachRealEstateSales.com

DESCRIPTION

Pelican Bay is a completely secure, country-club community, boasting 2 guarded entrances, 2 golf courses, clubhouse, restaurant, and much more, including fantastic location near shopping, and I-4 \ I-95 interchange.

This beautiful, immaculate home on corner, canal-front lot, has a comfortable flow with high, half-oval windows in several rooms, decorative moldings and shelving, recessed lighting, lighted niches, a fantastic great room with dining area, plus a fireplace with half-oval mirror over the top, canned spotlighting, built-in bookshelves, and sliding glass doors to the rear screen room with tinted windows, where you can relax and enjoy the view of your fruit trees, Crepe Myrtle, and the peaceful canal. The large galley-style kitchen has plenty of cabinet and counter space, extra-long breakfast bar, built-in microwave, new refrigerator, and all appliances included in the sale.

The lovely master suite boasts plenty of space, walk-in closet, and master bath has double sinks, garden tub and roomy step-in shower. Other notable features of this fabulous home include an indoor laundry room, tiled foyer, garage shelving, a more than adequate 40 gallon water heater, and many more desirable offerings. The 3rd bedroom with window seat can be used as a family room, bonus room, office or whatever meets your needs. The Islandia HOA dues are $748 per year and include lawn care. The Pelican Bay HOA dues are very reasonable at only $575 per year. This fee includes coverage by the security guards. This home is a must see! Pelican Bay offers the ultimate in amenities and if you check the recent comps, you’ll find this spotless home to be a great buy! Furniture is negotiable as well. Be sure to view all photos and the full video tour.

The REALTOR® Code of Ethics: An Expanded Perspective

2009-01-08T01:49:00.005-05:00

Daytona Beach Area Real Estate Blog. Information and Reports by Lisa Hill, "THE SMART CHOICE!"

Over a year ago, I wrote a blog post about the REALTOR® Code of Ethics. In real estate, our Code of Ethics is something that sets us apart from other industries, and even other arms of the real estate industry. There are so many misconceptions of REALTORS®, but the guidelines for every REALTORS®' actions are spelled out in our Code of Ethics. So I wanted to provide this information that will educate the public, and put some misconceptions to rest. You'll also find out how YOU (the consumer) can stand up for your rights!

Last week, I completed my recent CoE requirements. The best part is that with the progression of technology, we now have the option of taking the course online instead of having to sit through a classroom course, at the Daytona Beach Area Association of REALTORS®, during specific hours that have been pre-set by an instructor. (Why do they always want us there early in the morning!?!) The only negatives of taking the course online are that it takes a lot longer to complete than what you're told, and there is a test at the end of the online course that is not required when the course is taken in the classroom. (Maybe the test is actually a positive?)

Now for some public education.

First of all, REALTORS® are required to complete 14 hours of Continuing Education Credits every two years. And in addition to the 14 hours of CEC's, every 4 years we're required to take an additional course on the Code of Ethics. So as I spent my New Year's Eve finishing my Code of Ethics course (No, I don't procrastinate. Why would you ever think such a thing?) before I even got deep into the actual Code, as I was browsing through the Preamble, I underlined one section, and wrote "Blog" beside it. And as I continued with the course, there were several other sections that tied together in my mind.

If you're a real estate buyer, a real estate seller, or maybe you're a new REALTOR® who has not yet had to take your first Code of Ethics course, or maybe you're coming up on your 4th year and you've forgotten some of the Articles of the Code, or maybe you're just not aware of some potential changes that may have occurred since your last Code of Ethics course.

In just the Preamble to the Code you'll find a lot of information. Here are a few quotes...

"REALTORS® should recognize that the interests of the nation and it's citizens require the highest and best use of the land and the widest distribution of land ownership. They require the creation of adequate housing, the building of functioning cities, the development of productive industries and farms, and the preservation of a healthful environment."

...REALTORS® are expected to be "zealous to maintain and improve the standards of their calling and share with their fellow REALTORS® a common responsibility for it's integrity and honor."

"In recognition and appreciation of their obligations to clients, customers, the public, and each other, REALTORS® continuously strive to become and remain informed on issues affecting real estate and, as knowledgeable professionals, they willingly share the fruit of their experience and study with others. They identify and take steps, through enforcement of this Code of Ethics and by assisting appropriate regulatory bodies, to eliminate practices which may damage the public or which might discredit or bring dishonor to the real estate profession."

...REALTORS® are not to "attempt to gain any unfair advantage over their competitors" and "in instances where their opinion is sought, or where REALTORS® believe that comment is necessary, their opinion is offered in an objective, professional manner, uninfluenced by any personal motivation or potential advantage or gain."

REALTORS® are to embody "the Golden Rule. "'Whatsoever ye would that others should do to you, do ye even so to them.'"

"The term REALTOR® has come to connote competency, fairness, and high integrity resuting from adherence to a lofty ideal of moral conduct in business relations. No inducement of profit and no instruction from clients ever can justify departure from this ideal."

Regarding the Golden Rule, REALTORS® should "pledge to observe it's spirit in all of their activities whether conducted personally, through associates or others, or via technological means, and to conduct their business in accordance with the tenets set forth below."

(End of Preamble) Now for a tiny tidbit of the actual Code itself...

Article 1: ..."REALTORS® pledge themselves to protect and promote the interests of their client. This obligation to the client is primary, but it does not relieve REALTORS® of their obligation to treat all parties honestly."

Now for the reason I decided to write this post. As I was reading through the Preamble and the Code, and studying for the test, I noticed a theme running through it all. No, I don't mean just the theme of how The Code applies to the business practices of REALTORS® in general (which is the theme it's supposed to project), I saw a different theme. What I saw was how frequently we apply the Code, in so many mediums, without even knowing it. Let me demonstrate, using the portions I've provided ...

The end of my first example from the Preamble says "the preservation of a healthful environment".

This has been in the Preamble to our Code of Ethics for many years. But only in the last couple of years, has the construction end of the real estate industry starting "going green". So until now, REALTORS® hands have been tied on how much we could do about preserving a healthful environment, aside from encouraging buyers of commercial real estate and/or parcels of land to complete their due diligence by having a soil test. But with more and more "green" options available, REALTORS® are able to better uphold the Code of Ethics.

As our Code instructs REALTORS® to be "zealous to maintain and improve the standards of their calling and share with their fellow REALTORS® a common responsibility for it's integrity and honor", I immediately thought of our blogs, and the way we share experiences and information with each other through our posts and comments. Technology has opened up so many new ways to uphold the Code! And this same line of thinking applied even more to the next paragraph of the Preamble that I shared... "as knowledgeable professionals, they willingly share the fruit of their experience and study with others."

The next two segments of the Preamble that I chose to share, were for the education of the public, and to serve as a reminder to REALTORS®.

"REALTORS® are not to "attempt to gain any unfair advantage over their competitors" and in regards to that same line of thinking, we also have... "REALTORS® are to embody the Golden Rule; "Whatsoever ye would that others should do to you, do ye even so to them."

And lastly, in light of the opinions of a large number of Americans who have had the unfortunate displeasure of working with real estate agents who, not being REALTORS®, were not obligated to do business under the guidelines of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics, or even worse, actual REALTORS® who did not uphold the Code in their transactions, I believe Article 1 of the Code is of the utmost importance. So once again... (Article 1) "REALTORS® pledge themselves to protect and promote the interests of their client. This obligation to the client is primary, but it does not relieve REALTORS® of their obligation to treat all parties honestly."

Once again, for absolute clarification. REALTORS® are to protect and promote the interests of their clients.

And with that, the only thing left to add, is directed to real estate buyers and sellers. As a buyer or seller of real estate, if you the consumer, have been misrepresented by a REALTOR®, and/or believe your REALTOR® has violated the Code of Ethics while representing you, YOU can contact that REALTORS'® local REALTOR® Association and file a grievance. Not only REALTORS® can file grievances against other REALTORS®.

Regardless of what your personal experiences have been, one thing to always remember is, under NO circumstances can a REALTOR® or real estate agent, EVER violate the HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) laws regarding a protected class. These protected classes are... "race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, and national origin." So DO NOT request your REALTOR® or real estate agent to in any way discriminate against a protected class!

Now that you know more about the laws, and your rights, you (the consumer) know what to expect, and can rest assured that you CAN trust your REALTOR®. And if your REALTOR® does not uphold the Code of Ethics, you know your rights as well. To be more knowledgeable, feel free to fully educate yourself by reading the entire Code of Ethics. (Some changes have been made since the Code you'll find at this link. I believe the most recent changes were in 2004/2005.)

For all your real estate needs, make a Smart Choice and contact Lisa Hill with Adams Cameron & Co., REALTORS®.

www.DaytonaBeachRealEstateSales.com

Real Estate Listings and Sales Report for Volusia County, Central FL

2008-12-30T02:09:00.006-05:00

Volusia County Real Estate. Houses, condos and events. By Lisa C. Hill, "THE SMART CHOICE!"

If you're considering buying real estate in Daytona Beach FL, you probably want to know the current climate of our real estate industry. I'm happy to provide you with that information. I'm way behind on this post, but "better late than never" =)

First of all, click here to view the 1st Quarter 2008 Volusia County Real Estate Sales and Market Report.

Next, click here to view the 2nd Quarter 2008 Volusia County Real Estate Sales and Market Report.

Each of the preceding links also include a data chart to mirror the text, as well as a comparison chart, tracking the annual real estate sales since the year 2000.

Now for this year's 3rd quarter real estate sales and market data. My own real estate sales picked up quite a bit in the 3rd quarter, but I wasn't sure if it was just my own Web 2.0 marketing efforts and real estate listing videos (which got a LOT of views in this time period!), or if our entire are was showing signs of improvement. Well, the good news is, our entire area showed significant improvement. Much fewer real estate listings went on the market in the 3rd quarter, and much more real estate sales were closed in the 3rd quarter. It was an all-around win-win for real estate for Volusia County.

Now if you're not familiar with Volusia County, it is the Daytona Beach area. It also includes Ormond Beach, Port Orange, New Smyrna Beach and several other cities. Here is the text breakdown for our 3rd quarter real estate sales. We'll start with how many new real estate listings were placed on the market during the 3rd quarter (there will be some re-listed properties in this number as well) You'll see a slight separation of the last 2 cities because although the distance between the far north end of east Volusia County and the far south end of east Volusia County, the Daytona Beach area and the New Smyrna Beach are have seperate REALTOR® Associations and MLS's. I'm a member of both REALTOR® Associations and sell real estate in all of east Volusia County. Being a Daytona Beach Native is a huge benefit when it comes to selling real estate =)

Now for the East Volusia County 3rd Quarter 2008 Real Estate Listings Data...

Daytona Beach real estate listings 466
Daytona Beach Shores real estate listings 199
Holly Hill real estate listings 87
Ormond Beach real estate listings 437
Ormond-by-the-Sea real estate listings 54
Ponce Inlet real estate listings 78
Port Orange real estate listings 336
South Daytona real estate listings 73
Wilbur-by-the-Sea real estate listings 9

Edgewater/Florida Shores real estate listings 152
New Smyrna Beach 382

And now for the East Volusia County 3rd Quarter 2008 Real Estate Sales Data...

Daytona Beach real estate sales 122
Daytona Beach Shores real estate sales 51
Holly Hill real estate sales 28
Ormond Beach real estate sales 166
Ormond-by-the-Sea real estate sales 37
Ponce Inlet real estate sales 31
South Daytona real estate sales 34
Wilbur-by-the-Sea real estaet sales 2

Edgewater/Florida Shores real estate sales 12
New Smyrna Beach real estate sales 10

As usual, Port Orange fared pretty well, but all I can say for New Smyrna is "OUCH"!

Keep checking back as I isolate and post the updates for each individual city.

For all your real estate needs, make a Smart Choice and contact Lisa C. Hill with Adams Cameron & Co., REALTORS.

View real estate MLS listings - video tours here.

Buy Volusia County real estate MLS listings for sale.

Going Green. A FREE Way to Protect Endangered Habitats

2008-11-21T07:05:00.007-05:00

Daytona Beach Real Estate & Community Events. By Lisa C. Hill, "THE SMART CHOICE!"

It's called The Rainforest Site. I don't think I could come up with a more appropriate name for a site that offers an easy way to help endangered habitats. It's FREE, and all you have to do is click a button.

A couple of days ago, I posted a blog about my cat's recent life-or-death situation. Apparently, the real estate market is so bad that many people can't afford to keep their pets. And I provided a link to a site where you could just click a button, and provide help for animals who need it. While I was on the site, I clicked around and found there were several other attached sites that offered help for other causes. Protecting endangered habitats on The Rainforest Site was just one of those extraneous sites I found when I was clicking around.

It actually makes perfect sense. People who care about the environment, and people who are interested in helping animals, are usually well-rounded, caring people. So I hope you'll enjoy the site, and don't forget to Click the Button to provide help for Endangered Habitats; Take another step in Going Green.

Click here if you're interested in finding out how I got my kitty when I was showing a vacant house. The real estate sellers had moved out and abandoned their cat.

This information is provided by Lisa C. Hill, a REALTOR® with Adams Cameron & Co., REALTORS®. Click here to Contact Lisa Hill for all your real estate needs.

Lisa Hill is an eco-friendly, and pet-friendly real estate agent in the Daytona Beach area. Visit Lisa Hill's web site for all your Daytona Beach area real estate needs. View Lisa Hill's Daytona Beach area MLS real estate listings for sale here.

Senior Expo in Daytona Beach Florida

2008-09-30T06:35:00.021-04:00

For all our senior residents and anyone with elderly loved ones, here's something you'll enjoy. On Thursday, October 2, 2008 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., come enjoy the L ovin' Life Senior Expo at the Daytona Beach Volusia Mall on International Speedway Blvd.

Admission is FREE! And there will be...

Seminars
Giveaways
Screenings
Demonstrations
Much More

Also, the Daytona Beach Fire Department will be on-site, offering Flu Shots. Medicare is accepted!

The Seminar Schedule is as follows...

11:00 a.m. Physical Therapy with Spinal Decompressions, Daytona Apine & Rehab by Dr. Antos

11:15 a.m. Volunteer Opportunities, at the Talking Books Library

11:45 a.m. Introduction to Pranic Healing, by the Pranic Healing Center of DeLand.

12:00 p.m. Fire and Fall Prevention, by the Daytona Beach Fire Dept.

12:15 p.m. Senior Services, by Council on Aging

1:00 p.m. Belly Dancing Demonstration, by Dottie's Dance Troupe

1:30 p.m. Prostate Cancer, by Dr. B. Thomas Brown

1:45 p.m. Benefits of Acupuncture and Colon Hydrotherapy, by Acupuncture and Skin Care Clinic, Logical Wellness Center

2:00 p.m. Personal Emerbency Response Systems, by Devicon Security Services Corp.

The stage is located by Dillard's Dept. Store, Center Court. Exhibitors will be in the Food Court and Center Court Areas. For more information on the expo, call 386-681-2753.

This information has been provided by Lisa C. Hill, Daytona Beach Native, and area Real Estate Agent with Adams Cameron & Co., REALTORS®.

Real Estate: No More Buyer's Beware. Now it's "Sellers Be Prepared"

2008-09-17T18:00:00.004-04:00

THE Daytona Beach Real Estate & Community Events blog. By Lisa C. Hill, "THE SMART CHOICE!"

I was recently reading some interesting information about the last seller's market we experienced. The article mentioned a few things I had not previously given much thought. But the one thing that really jumped out at me was the fact that during the fastest and most-drastically peaking seller's market on record, many real estate buyers, upon finding the house they wanted; in their attempt to procure an advantage over other real estate buyers, chose to forego their inspections. They used this as a negotiating point.

Now for those of us who have been in the real estate business a while, we experienced some really crazy negotiations and transactions during the seller's market. I personally had many listings that sold within days, or even sold immediately, along with several other offers at the same time. And of course, many homes sold for well above the asking price. I also worked with buyers who knew they had to make their highest and best offer. So they made offers over the asking price, with a closing date that was as fast as the mortgage (or mortgages - we won't go there) could be completed. Yet sometimes this was still not the most appealing offer to the seller, so another offer would win and procure the sale. Things certainly have changed, haven't they? But I digress.

Going back to my initial thoughts; by choosing to have no inspections, in many ways, real estate reverted back to an industry that was detrimental to buyers. We had gone back to Caveat Emptor or "buyers beware". It was becoming an industry that our government long ago passed laws to change, with the intention of preventing it from happening again. This is why we now have property disclosures, mold disclosures, insurance disclosures, HOA and Condo disclosures, and contracts that are drafted by attorneys, with constant updates. In addition to these addendums and updates, our contracts are filled with clauses that explain every possible scenario and remedy, to help both buyers and sellers of real estate. These scenarios are mostly based on past problems that have been encountered. The knowledge of these problems is what causes our contracts and our industry to constantly evolve. And this constant evolution is why all real estate licensees are required to take continuing education classes and renew their real estate licenses every two years by either taking a test, or producing documentation of the required amount of continuing education credits to renew their real estate licenses.

So what we saw happening in the extreme seller's market, was a trend beginning to develop in which buyers decided to forego the inspections to which they are legally entitled; and where sellers began to assume that they did not have to disclose the known problems about the real estate they were selling; or those same sellers chose to reject any offers that were properly presented (and that might uncover something they had hidden) because they knew that eventually a less knowledgeable buyer or real estate agent would stumble across the real estate they were offering. The entire real estate industry and every party involved, would suffer if we did not have the legal requirements today, that we lacked in the past... back when Caveat Emptor ruled all real estate transactions.

So these changes we've been experiencing in the last few years, may not be all bad. No, I can't deny the negative impact that many people have experienced. Losing a home is one of the worst things I can think of. But from a strictly clinical standpoint, this time of real estate correction, may be more beneficial than we realize.

In some markets, real estate had become drastically overvalued. A correction was needed.
In the mortgage industry, many standards had become too lax. A correction was needed.
And in the real estate buying process, MANY things needed to change! For starters, too many people thought they could get a real estate license and "get rich quick". In doing so, these agents were not in it for the long haul, therefore they did not treat their clients in the manner which they deserved. As the market cooled, many unethical agents left the business. That is something for which we can all be thankful! (Unfortunately, many excellent, long-term agents have also suffered, so please don't think I'm making light of this real estate market.)
As my initial topic indicates, one of the benefits of this ongoing real estate market correction is the passing of the slippery slope of Caveat Emptor! Since buyers now have plenty of choices for their real estate investments, and are once again able to take their time in making their decision on how they want to invest, sellers must do whatever it takes to make their property stand out amongst all the competition. One example of pushing your real estate for sale, ahead of the competition is to have a home inspection aheada of time, and make all repairs BEFORE the house is placed on the market. And disclose, disclose, disclose!
Today's real estate buyer is savvy. And with the many choices that are available to them, they have no reason to tolerate anything less than perfection. Todays buyer wants a house that's in move-in condition. And if they see a house that's sub-par compared to the competition, then they expect to pay a lot less, if they're expected to even lift a finger.

It's ironic how everything goes in cycles. And what goes around, comes around. Today's real estate market is the exact opposite of the markets of just a couple of years ago.

So if you're a real estate buyer, be sure to have the inspections to which you're entitled. And if you're a real estate seller, be sure to fully disclose all known problems, both past and present, with any residential real estate you're selling. And for both real estate buyers and sellers, be aware that real estate agents are not allowed to give legal advice, or to act in any manner that is outside the scope of their real estate licensing. So if you ever have any questions about your home inspection, you'll need to ask your home inspector those questions. If you have questions about your termite inspection, you'll need to ask your termite inspector those questions. And if you have any legal questions, you'll need to consult with a real estate attorney.

Here in the Daytona Beach area, even though we always recommend our clients have legal representation, it's actually rare for real estate buyers and sellers to be represented by a real estate attorney, other than to hire one to handle their titlework instead of using a title company; or, if there are extenuating circumstances such as divorce, estate settlements, etc. But in some states, the law actually requires that all real estate buyers and sellers be represented by an attorney. Regardless of your personal opinions on the matter, if you have legal questions, you will need to consult with a real estate attorney. Your real estate agent can lose their license for "attempting to practice law".

Also be VERY aware that you cannot under any circumstances, violate the Fair Housing Laws which indicate that you cannot discriminate against anyone who is in a protected class. In real estate, the classes for which you cannot discriminate are race, color, nationality, sex, religion, familial status or handicap. Never, is any real estate buyer, seller or licensed real estate agent allowed to discriminate. And any conversation that ventures into the area of discrimination is banned as well! So DO NOT discuss anything that even remotely touches on any area of discrimination. And definitely do not discriminate!

In closing, Welcome back to a more balanced real estate market. One that is not an antiquated business of Caveat Emptor! So real estate sellers, make sure you're prepared, in THIS market! (Click the preceding link for information on how to prepare your house to sell.)

www.DaytonaBeachRealEstateSales.com

www.DaytonaBeachRealEstateVideos.com

To buy or sell real estate in the Daytona Beach area, make a Smart Choice and contact Lisa C. Hill with Adams Cameron & Co., REALTORS®.

Vacationing in the Daytona Beach Area? Here are some Unexpected and Fun Things to Do.

2008-08-27T09:52:00.002-04:00

THE Daytona Beach Real Estate & Community Event Blog. By Lisa C. Hill, "THE SMART CHOICE!"

If you're vacationing in the Daytona Beach area, there's a good possibility that you're considering buying real estate here. I know this because I've received many calls lately from real estate buyers who will be here within the next few weeks and months, to purchase their winter homes. Before I proceed with this post, I'd like to welcome our new crowd of snowbirds who join us every winter. And a big welcome to my 2 year buyers who have finally sold their 228 year house in CT! We have some great houses lined up for viewing tomorrow.

I wanted to write this post for our vacationers, our seasonal residents, and even our full-time residents who aren't aware of the cultural aspects of our area. Many people visit, or move to the Daytona Beach area with only the knowledge of our beaches and the fact that you can drive on them. To be honest, I was born right here in Daytona Beach, and wasn't aware of some of these activities and events. But that's because so much has been added in recent years. Here are some upcoming events. I've included things to do for people of all ages and preferences. Of course, these ideas are only a small portion of the many options you have to choose from. But it's a nice little sampling.

Southeast Museum of Photography, Daytona State College, 1200 International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach. Film Screening by Eric Breitenbach. Aug 26, "When Pigs Fly". Aug 28, "My Father's Son". 12:00 p.m. FREE. For more info call 386-506-4475 or visit www.smponline.org
Joan James Harris Theater, Atlantic Center for the Arts, 1414 Art Center Ave., New Smyrna Beach. InsideOUT - Visual artist Carsten Nicolai, Digital Media Artist John F. Simon, and Interactive Installation Artist Camille Utterback & Assoc., Aug. 22 at 7:00 p.m. Free to members, $10.00 for non-members. Reservations are requested. Call 386-427-6975.
All Saints Lutheran Church, 751 Dunlawton Ave., Port Orange. Music for Healing. Aug. 20 - Trall Heitzenrater. Aug. 27 - Vita Fortin. 12:15 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. Free for all ages. For more info call 386-761-9129.
Peninsula Women's Club, 415 South Peninsula Dr., Daytona Beach, Mondays at 11:00 a.m., Luncheon followed by Contract Bridge or Canasta. For more info call Pauline at 386-322-8548.
American Red Cross and Daytona State College, Swim Lessons, 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach. Swim lessons for all ages by American Red Cross Water Safety Instructors. Pre-Register at 386-506-4386.
Ponce Inlet Lighthouse Demonstrations, 4931 South Peninsula Drive, Ponce Inlet. For more information, call 386-761-1821.
Marine Science Center, Ponce Inlet, Educational Programs and Recreational Activities, 100 Lighthouse Drive, Ponce Inlet, FL. For information, call (386) 304-5545.
Former Home of John D. Rockefeller, The Casements in Ormond Beach, FL. Museum and Tours. 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach. For more information call (386) 676-3216.
Tomoka State Park, 2099 N Beach St, Ormond Beach, FL. Swimming, Camping, Hiking, Fishing and more. Call (386) 676-4050.
Riverfront Veterans Memorial Park, Palmetto Ave., South Daytona. Playground, picnic areas, boat ramp, kayak ramps, public dock, fishing and more.
Plan A Fun Outing in Port Orange, FL. Miscellaneous things to do in Port Orange, FL.

This list could go on forever, but this should be enough to keep you busy for at least the rest of the summer. If you're planning on buying real estate in any of the cities mentioned in the blog, and all the other surrounding cities, Lisa Hill is a native of the Daytona Beach area, with experience selling real estate all over east Volusia county. Make a Smart Choice today and contact Lisa Hill for all your real estate needs.

www.DaytonaBeachRealEstateSales.com

www.DaytonaBeachRealEstateVideos.com

Vacationing in the Daytona Beach Area? Here are some Unexpected and Fun Things to Do.

2008-08-25T15:02:00.006-04:00

Southeast Museum of Photography, Daytona State College, 1200 International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach. Film Screening by Eric Breitenbach. Aug 26, "When Pigs Fly". Aug 28, "My Father's Son". 12:00 p.m. FREE. For more info call 386-506-4475 or visit www.smponline.org
Joan James Harris Theater, Atlantic Center for the Arts, 1414 Art Center Ave., New Smyrna Beach. InsideOUT - Visual artist Carsten Nicolai, Digital Media Artist John F. Simon, and Interactive Installation Artist Camille Utterback & Assoc., Aug. 22 at 7:00 p.m. Free to members, $10.00 for non-members. Reservations are requested. Call 386-427-6975.
All Saints Lutheran Church, 751 Dunlawton Ave., Port Orange. Music for Healing. Aug. 20 - Trall Heitzenrater. Aug. 27 - Vita Fortin. 12:15 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. Free for all ages. For more info call 386-761-9129.
Peninsula Women's Club, 415 South Peninsula Dr., Daytona Beach, Mondays at 11:00 a.m., Luncheon followed by Contract Bridge or Canasta. For more info call Pauline at 386-322-8548.
American Red Cross and Daytona State College, Swim Lessons, 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach. Swim lessons for all ages by American Red Cross Water Safety Instructors. Pre-Register at 386-506-4386.
Ponce Inlet Lighthouse Demonstrations, 4931 South Peninsula Drive, Ponce Inlet. For more information, call 386-761-1821.
Marine Science Center, Ponce Inlet, Educational Programs and Recreational Activities, 100 Lighthouse Drive, Ponce Inlet, FL. For information, call (386) 304-5545.
Former Home of John D. Rockefeller, The Casements in Ormond Beach, FL. Museum and Tours. 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach. For more information call (386) 676-3216.
Tomoka State Park, 2099 N Beach St, Ormond Beach, FL. Swimming, Camping, Hiking, Fishing and more. Call (386) 676-4050.
Riverfront Veterans Memorial Park, Palmetto Ave., South Daytona. Playground, picnic areas, boat ramp, kayak ramps, public dock, fishing and more.
Plan A Fun Outing in Port Orange, FL. Miscellaneous things to do in Port Orange, FL.

www.DaytonaBeachRealEstateSales.com

www.DaytonaBeachRealEstateVideos.com

Avoid the Summer Heat. Buy Real Estate in Port Orange Florida!

2008-08-15T08:04:00.001-04:00

THE Port Orange Real Estate & Community Event Blog. By Lisa C. Hill, "THE SMART CHOICE!"

I've previously posted many blogs about the beautiful city of Port Orange, which is just south of Daytona Beach, FL. It's so close that many people don't realize it's not part of Daytona Beach. Click here to read about the closeness of the cities in the Daytona Beach area.

If you're not aware of this, August is by far, the hottest month of the year, every year! And trust me. It's HOT! When I have real estate buyers who need to buy real estate in July or August, I actually leave the car and air conditioner running, and bring my spare key in with me. Otherwise, even if we're only in a house or condo for 5 or 10 minutes, by the time we get back in the car, everyone is dripping with sweat. Sound pleasant doesn't it? The good news is, it's only this hot for a short period of time each year AND it usually rains every afternoon, which brings down the temperature. And to compensate for the sudden afternoon downpours, I keep 5 or 6 umbrellas in my car at all times. (I try to cover all the bases.) So if you're planning to buy real estate in the Daytona Beach/Port Orange area, I've got you covered while we're looking =)

On my last post, I announced the good news about a new public swimming pool and mini water park in Daytona Beach. That's fantastic if you buy a house that doesn't have a swimming pool. But there's another option too. Have you considered living in a neighborhood with a community swimming pool? We have MANY neighborhoods like this. In this post, I'm not going to list them all, but I thought I'd draw your attention back to a community I featured a while back. Well, actually it's a master community, with several mini communities within. It's called Countryside, and it's one of the most conveniently located communities in the city of Port Orange. I say it's conveniently located because you can walk to banks, restaurants, doctor's offices, dentists, gyms, lakes, the river, the beach, churches, even a hospital! And to tie it in with this post, Countryside has a community clubhouse, library, tennis courts, and swimming pool. It's an absolutely beautiful community. As a matter of fact, the entire city of Port Orange has a personal motto: "Unique by Choice, Not by Chance". I'll wrap this up by directing you to some of my previous posts about Port Orange. Within these posts, you you'll find links to other posts as well. So with a few extra clicks, you'll be able to learn all about Port Orange and more.

For all your real estate needs, make a Smart Choice and contact Lisa C. Hill with Adams Camerron & Co., REALTORS®.

www.PortOrangeRealEstateSales.com

www.UltimateRealEstateBlog.com

Daytona Beach and Volusia County, Commercial Real Estate Changes

2008-07-26T06:55:00.004-04:00

THE Daytona Beach Real Estate & Community Event Blog. By Lisa C. Hill, "THE SMART CHOICE!"

If you're a commercial real estate owner in the Daytona Beach area, with real estate to sell, you may or may not be aware of the fact that up until now, the decline in the national real estate market has been primariy limited to the residential market; at least, that's been the case in Volusia county. But as of this year, mostly due to the lack of buyer's ability to get real estate financing, the commercial real estate market is now in decline as well. And with this impact on the commercial market, I believe we're going to see some big changes in the way commercial real estate is marketed and sold. As a side note to those of you who are not aware of it, commercial real estate in Volusia county, up until now, has been marketed very differently than residential real estate.

But for those of you who have commercial real estate to sell, here's a new option to help you with your sale. (Read the rest of this blog about Daytona Beach Commercial Real Estate at www.UltimateRealEstateBlog.com)

Volusia County Real Estate Update: 2nd Quarter 2008

2008-07-04T12:46:00.006-04:00

If you're a regular reader of my blogs, you know that for 2007, I did a city-by-city, 2000-2007 real estate report for Volusia County (Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach areas), including graphs of that data. Here are the links to those reports...

Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach Shores, Holly Hill, Ormond Beach, Ormond by the Sea, Ponce Inlet, Port Orange, South Daytona, Wilbur by the Sea, Edgewater, New Smyrna Beach.

I also did a combination city-by-city, all-in-one graph for this data. You can view this data in the graph at the right.

I also did a first quarter real estate report for the beginning of 2008.

We've now just ended the 2nd quarter of real estate for 2008, and I am once again preparing the data for the blogs for this time period. As you probably already know, creating the graph with each city's data is quite time consuming.

So this post is to let you know that the 2008 2nd Quarter Real Estate Graph & Details for Volusia County will be posted shortly. I know that blogs are pretty boring when you're just looking at numbers, with no comparison to previous data. But in order to at least provide some information, here is the short list of the 2008, 2nd quarter real estate data for each city in Volusia county. And over the next couple of weeks, I will be providing the in-depth data and personal market knowledge of each city, as I have done in the past. So keep checking back! And I hope this will tide you over in the interim =)

Without further ado, here is the city-by-city preliminary 2nd quarter real estate listing and sales data for Volusia County, 2008... Read the rest of this post and

view the real estate listings vs sales charts here.

If you're interested in buying or selling real estate in Volusia County, make a Smart Choice and contact Lisa Hill with Adams Cameron & Co., REALTORS®.

For full real estate listing data, you need the representation of a local REALTOR®. Lisa Hill is the Smart Choice for all of Volusia County.

Real Estate Video for Beautiful 3 bed, 2 bath pool home in Central Florida

2008-06-15T20:56:00.004-04:00

Most of you know that I create full video tours for my real estate listings if at all possible, and have been doing so for about two years now. I've never been a fan of virtual tours because of the distortion factor, and could never understand why REALTORS® weren't just video taping their listings. Two years ago, the only place to host the videos was on You Tube (hardly the most professional platform). But now, we have a plethora of choices of professional real estate video hosting sites.

I have to admit, this particular video should have been done weeks ago. But for starters, I had to install a new hard drive on my computer, then get my video editing software up and running again. (It didn't want to cooperate!) But I also added a couple of features to this video that I haven't used before... and no, I'm not talking about accidentally leaving my camera bag on a chair when I was filming. D'oh! (I hate when that happens!) The extras I added were some royalty free sound effects, and it took me a while to find what I wanted. And no, I can't take the credit for this idea. I actually noticed in another real estate video here on Active Rain.

But that's enough of my rambling. Without further ado here's the video for my listing at 1808 Umbrella Tree Drive in Edgewater, FL. I'd love to get your feedback on the sound effects during the outdoor footage. I think this is the longest real estate video I've ever created, but that's because of all the outdoor footage. I rarely have a real estate listing with such a fantastic pool, spa, lanai, tiki bar, and lush landscaping. All that just HAD to be included.

After watching the video, if you need more information, follow the links below the video to read a couple of my previous blogs of this beautiful house.

Ultimate Florida Dream Home

New Smyrna Beach/Edgewater 3/2/2 Pool House for Sale

Move to Central Florida. Look at all these Beautiful MLS Real Estate Listings!

Now, if you have a house or condo for sale or rent, I'd love to help! We're still in a strong buyer's market and the real estate sales are few and far between. The only properties that do sell are the ones that are priced WELL below the competition! Without exception, there have been no other sales in a long time. But there have been rentals. Of course, the rentals still have to be priced competitively, but lately I'm leasing a lot more houses and condos than I'm selling. So if you need the help of a professional REALTOR® to sell or lease your real estate, make a Smart Choice and call Lisa Hill with Adams Cameron & Co., REALTORS®.

Get all your real estate info at www.DaytonaBeachRealEstateSales.com

Are you Going Green or Wasting Energy? Do you even know?

2008-06-15T20:34:00.012-04:00

This post is going to address recycling, the ecosystem, saving energy, and associated "green" topics. Before I get started, I'd like to direct your attention to some of my previous posts of similar nature.

Side note and Segue: As of today, June 14, 2008, I have 115 Active Rain subscribers to my blog, in addition to my clients and future customers who may not be subscribed through Active Rain, but are reading my posts through their computers' bookmarks/favorites...although I only get an average of about 4-10 comments per post, unless it was featured... But I'll get to the point =)

As my regular readers know, I blog about MANY different topics. But what is probably the most important topic I have blogged about is Florida's ecosystem and the associated problems. (And of course, my clients' listings that need to be sold. That's extremely important!) But today I'm going to briefly touch on a subject that is rapidly growing in interest, and that is, "Going Green". I'm afraid that many people have heard the term thrown around quite a bit, but don't really know what it means. Well, the bottom line is, our planet is increasingly entering a more desperate status, and we all need to do our part to preserve it. So how do we do that? Keep reading.

Most of us have been recycling for years. But did you know that there are still parts of the country that have no means to recycle? I'm sorry, but that is completely unacceptable. Recycling is the most basic thing we can all do to keep our planet "green" and healthy.

I recently heard some amazing statistics on the subject of recycling. Did you know...

Every time you recycle ONE aluminum can, you save enough energy to run a TV or computer for 3 hours!
For every 4 foot stack of newspapers you recycle, you save a 40 foot fir tree.
By paying your bills online, you can help to save over 1.6 billion TONS of solid waste every year!

Do you find these statistics as amazing as I do? I think these numbers are almost unbelievable! But moving on... last month, our clothese dryer finally went to the home appliances graveyard. As usual with these types of things, it was unexpected. We had to make some quick decisions! I wanted to make sure we were doing our part to do more to go green, but we didn't have time to do any research. Thankfully, we found a helpful salesman at the Home Depot who was quite knowledgeable about his products. So we are now the proud owners of an high efficiency LG front-loading, Tromm washing machine (we went ahead and replaced the washing machine too), and an LG front-loading XL Load Capacity with NeveRust Stainless Steel Drum. Having our last washer and dryer for 10 years has given us an unbelievalbe comparison of how much quieter the new machines are! And our new LG washer and dryer more than comply with the new Federal Energy Efficiency Requirements. I could go on for quite a while, raving about my new washer and dryer, but I'll nip it in the bud right here and address my last points.

I don't sleep well, and have lately taken up walking in the middle of the night. As soon as I started my late night walking, I noticed how many home owners had left on their outdoor, decorative lighting. My first late-night walk was around midnight. I thought surely, these people weren't leaving their outdoor lighting on all night, but I figured they might be on timers that had not yet turned off. But my late night walking has continued. I have now walked at 2:00 and 3:00 a.m. (My husband says I'm a vampire.) Those same homes have still had their decorative lighting on. Considering I never run into anyone else out at these times, I think it's safe to assume that these decorative lights are not impressing anyone. And I don't work for Florida Power and Light, but exterior lighting that stays on all night, every night, MUST have an impact on the home owner's electric bills. Is it possible that this many people have not heard about "going green"? Or do they just not care? These are probably the same people that never change the temperature of their AC or heat, even when nobody's home. They must be leaving one heck of a carbon footprint!

If you've read or skimmed this post without knowing what the heck I'm talking about, try following the embedded links to learn more about going green, energy efficiency, carbon footprints, recycling, problems with our ecosystem, and what you can do to help save our planet.

Take this quiz to determine your carbon footprint.

If you're interested in buying real estate in the Daytona Beach area and want to buy a home that has been built with all the considerations of "going green", read my post about the beautiful community of Chelsea Place, located in fabulous Ormond Beach, just north of Daytona.

www.DaytonaBeachRealEstateSales.com

www.DaytonaBeachRealEstateVideos.com

Read many more blogs on my primary blog at www.RealEstateBlogConnect.com

2008-05-29T13:24:00.007-04:00

If you're looking to buy a house in the Daytona Beach area, but aren't happy with all the Home Owner's Associations (HOA's) and restrictions, then Edgewater is the place for you. Most houses in Edgewater are on large lots with plenty of room for your boat, RV, or whatever you'd like to do.

This house at 2110 Sabal Palm Drive in Edgewater is immaculate and priced to sell! If you're not familiar with Edgewater, it's just south of the Daytona Beach area (just past New Smyrna Beach).

Rent this Outstanding Condo in Daytona Beach-Pool Clubhouse, Tennis, Park

2008-05-29T12:42:00.004-04:00

This condominium complex in Holly Hill, just 1 mile from Daytona Beach, is absolutely beautiful and perfectly maintained. Where else can you rent a 1 bedroom condo for only $550 while also having access to the community pool, tennis, clubhouse and serene park right in the center?

Don't hesitate. Make a Smart Choice and call me today! Holly Square Condominiums is a wonderful place to call home!

www.DaytonaBeachRealEstateSales.com

Lisa Hill Daytona Beach real estate top producer

Blogging and Commenting Protocol: Know Your Netiquette!

2008-05-27T16:52:00.001-04:00

Lately I've read several blog posts from Active Rain bloggers who are receiving derogatory comments on their posts, and are seeing them on other posts as well. I knew this would eventually happen as the site continues to grow, but I was hoping it would be later, rather than sooner.

The scenario I'm about to share, is not one that I had planned on sharing. However, in light of what seems to be a rampant problem, I'm going to do my best to do it justice and not offend the parties involved... well, actually only one party is aware of this particular problem and that party is the one who consulted me.

Not long ago I had a conversation with a local REALTOR(r), who asked for my opinion on a situation that was brewing between himself and a REALTOR(r) here on Active Rain. (The other AR agent is someone I know only through blogging.) At that time, the agent I know personally, wanted to give this other Rainer a piece of his mind, in comment form. I discouraged him from doing so.

It seems that the agent who contacted me had very carefully worded a disagreeing comment on another agents' post. The local REALTOR(r) who contacted me, felt very strongly about this particular subject because he had just come be from a very specialized convention on the subject. So he disagreed, but he told me that he chose his words very carefully. He was now asking for my opinion because he knows I've been blogging for a long time and that I'm familiar with the "netiquette" in this arena. As it turns out, the other agent deleted his comment, which angered him and he now wanted to give her a piece of his mind.

First, let me explain his line of thinking, since if you only considered his side, sounds very logical and convincing. He felt that it was wrong to give the public the wrong impression of what was going on in the market. He was knowlegeable on this subject and wanted to make sure that consumers were not being misled. The public is already blaming everyone who has anything to do with the real estate industry, for all the problems that are happening in this time of crisis.

That seems pretty logical, doesn't it? Now I know that there are many unethical agents out there who will post anything to get business or points, and don't care if it's true or not. But in this case, I know enough about this other agent to know that was not the intention. It's my belief that the other agent was strictly sharing what was happening in their own neck of the woods. I don't believe there was any intentionally misleading information being given. But even if there was, here's the other side of the coin.

We each have our own blog that we use in hopes of gaining new business. I'd like to believe that most of us do our homework before we post to our blogs, and/or we speak from our own experience. So it's not about whether or not you intentionally hurt someone's feelings by deleting a comment from someone who disagreed with you. It's about being courteous to each other. You should do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Think of it this way. Would you want to spend an hour (or more) researching and writing a post, just to have another agent come along and possibly make you look bad, by posting a comment that told you you're wrong? I did not read the comment that was posted, so I can't say if there was a "tone" to it or not. I personally am sensitive to "tones". I don't think I'd delete a comment just because another agent disagreed with me. But I would expect them to be respectful of my turf. And I wouldn't take kindly to someone being disrespectful to me, or anyone else who had left a comment on one of my posts.

My mother raised us with the old adage "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all". Now, this is business, so it's not as simple as not gossiping or slandering someone. We really don't want the public to believe erroneous information. I'll refer to my mother once more, since she was big on communication. My mother told us that we could get away with saying almost anything, to anybody, if we said it in the right way.

So keeping in mind what I was taught growing up, if I felt very strongly about something, I might post a comment that disagreed, but unles the other person was a complete idiot (OK. I acknowedge that they do exist.) I would want to leave the person with their dignity intact. So somewhere in my comment, I would leave the other person an "out". Example: If I read a post that I disagreed with, and felt so strongly that I felt obligated to respond with a disagreeable comment, I would probably end the comment with something along the lines of,

"but you are in a different area, so maybe we're not seeing the same circumstances."

Or, I could leave a comment like this.

"You know, I haven't experienced anything like this in my area. In our area we're experiencing the exact opposite. Isn't it strange how drastically different things can be in different areas?"

Or...

"Yours is the first post I've read that has this information. Where did you find out about it?"

I hope you get the idea. It's about being respectful of another person's "space". And for the record, the agent who contacted me, eventually decided to just write his own post on the subject, after he had cooled down ;)

People, let's keep a professional face on our industry. We're not always going to agree. There are now more business models than ever, and there's the ongoing debate of "national vs local brokerages", and then there's the "virtual office vs actual office" debate. And so on, and so on. But unless we want the public to have an even lower opinion of our industry, we need to behave in a professional manner. The key word in my last sentence is actually not "professional". It's "manner". As in, use good "manners". Some people have no class and that's unfortunate. But anyone with enough determination, can at least keep their mouth (or keyboard in this case) shut when necessary. Or we can always agree to disagree. That's usually the best course of action.

If you're a new blogger and are unsure about how to get started with blog writing and commenting, here's some good writing advice... Write better blogs!

Happy Blogging!

Buy Real Estate in Port Orange FL? I've Found Another Great Reason!

2008-05-27T16:47:00.003-04:00

I never have to look very far to find something great about Port Orange, which is why so many people choose to buy real estate here. But yesterday, we gained another fantastic reason for people to move to Port Orange FL.

This weekend was graduation weekend for high school seniors all over Volusia county. My daughter was one of those graduating seniors.

Oblige me with a brief history of my daughter's school years in Port Orange. If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know that I'm a Daytona Beach native. You probably also know that the Daytona Beach area actually includes 8 cities... Ormond Beach, Ormond by the Sea, Daytona Beach, Holly Hill, Daytona Beach Shores, Wilbur by the Sea, Ponce Inlet, South Daytona and Port Orange. I've lived in 5 of these cities at one time or another during my life.

Fast forward to 10 years ago. At that time, our family moved from South Daytona to Port Orange and my daughter Brittany began attending Sweetwater Elementary School. Sweetwater Elementary is a fabulous school with many specialized programs for the children, including a computer lab, music lessons and an art program. Brittany even won an award from Art Haus while she was there. She then had the privilege of attending Creekside Middle School in the first year it was built, making her among the first class to attend all of their middle school years at Creekside, beginning at it's inception. She then, after years of anticipation, began high school at the enviable Spruce Creek High School.

At the Spruce Creek High School graduation ceremony, held at the Daytona Beach Ocean Center on Sunday morning, I heard some spectacular news and statistics...

Of this year's graduating class, 51% graduated with honors! I thought that was an incredible number! (My daughter graduated Magna Cum Laude- of course I'm bragging!) =D Click here to read about the recent Spruce Creek High School Honor's Banquet.
SCHS is once again, among the top 100 schools in the nation, by Newsweek.
SCHS has the highest attendance rate in Volusia county, averaging over 96%.
It's once again, an A rated school!
It's ranked 2nd in the state by the Florida High School Athletic Association in the All Sports Category.

I could continue to tout the Spruce Creek High School accolades, but I think you get the idea. Port Orange has fantastic schools, which is a great incentive to buy real estate here.

If you're interested in buying or selling real estate in Port Orange FL, make a Smart Choice and contact Lisa Hill for all your real estate needs.

For more information about Port Orange, try some of my previous posts.

Buy real estate in Port Orange FL. It's a smart decision!

Another Great Reason to Buy Real Estate in Port Orange, FL

2008-05-20T01:53:00.006-04:00

Home buyers who are thinking about moving to Daytona Beach, make sure you don't overlook the beautiful city of Port Orange, just 7 miles south of Daytona. I'm a Daytona Beach native, I've sold real estate in every city in Volusia county, and I personally live in Port Orange. One of the best things about Port Orange is the City Center. I've written several posts about events happening at the Port Orange City Center. The event that most locals are familiar with doesn't happen until October, called Port Orange Family Days. So you'll have to wait a few more months to attend that event. But this weekend, May 18 and again on June 8, there will be Concerts in the Park, at the Kenneth Parker Amphitheater. Both concerts will feature "G and the Boomers" and start at 6:00 p.m. Aside from the great music, one of the best features of the concerts is that they're FREE! If you have questions, or need more information, you can call 386-506-5963.

Read more on: Another Reason to Buy Real Estate in Port Orange, FL

www.PortOrangeRealEstateSales.com

Daytona Beach 2 bedroom Riverfton Condo

2008-04-19T21:07:00.002-04:00

This direct riverfront condo with 2 bedrooms, 2 baths has just been reduced to the same price as the other units that are NOT on the river! This is a superb opportunity to live on the Intracoastal for less than $200,000!. Asking price is now $194,900. Don't hesitate! I just sold another unit in this same complex for almost this same price and it had no river view at all, unless you went all the way to the edge of the porch!

Daytona Beach Real Estate Buyers and Sellers, here's another reason to live here!

2008-03-18T23:27:00.004-04:00

A few days ago, during the course of one of my typical real estate days: show houses, go to condo project office, run errands, eat, etc., (I had to type "eat". Now I'm hungry!) ... I decided to stop by the Riverfront Veterans Memorial Park in South Daytona to call a few clients and enjoy the view while doing so. That's one of the perks of being a real estate agent. I can work from wherever I want to work =) And this gorgeous park is located directly on the Halifax River/Intracoastal Waterway.

As I made my phone calls, I got out of the car and started wandering around the park and noticed quite a few things have changed since the last time I visited there. Some of the updates, I was already aware of, like the new bathroom facilities and children's play area. But those are the things I noticed just from driving by. But as I was walking around I noticed a new boat ramp! Awesome! And there are plenty of extra long parking spaces, to accommodate your vehicle and boat trailer too!

Then I decided to take some pictures of the river, from the dock, where you'll always find people fishing. There was only one couple there on that day, and since I was on the phone, I didn't get a chance to ask if the fish were biting. Although I doubt it, since just a few yards away, several young girls were excitedly screaming and frolicking in the shallow water. I asked them what the were finding and was informed that there were tiny baby crabs under all the rocks. I wanted to kick off my shoes and join them! No, I'm not kidding. That is totally something I would do! As a matter of fact, when my daughter was much younger, we had one of her birthday parties in this riverfront, South Daytona park. They have picnic areas and pavilions for cookouts and parties.

And then I found something really cool! They now have a canoe and kayak launch! I'm sure there are more in the area, but this is the first one I've seen.

So if you're interested in buying or selling real estate in South Daytona, FL, make a Smart Choice and call me today. I'm a Daytona Beach native, selling real estate all over Volusia County. And if you already live here, the Riverfront Veterans Memorial Park in South Daytona is a great place to spend some time!

All about Lisa Hill.

View Daytona area MLS real estate listings.

On the 50th Anniversary of the Daytona 500: Remembering NASCAR's 1st Woman Driver

2008-02-18T02:28:00.001-05:00

NASCAR’s First Woman Driver: In doing my research for this blog, I was surprised to discover that women had been competing in Daytona Beach racing since the 1940's, when it was held ON Daytona Beach.

But one woman stands out from all the rest; Janet Guthrie. Talk about an overachiever! Janet was a pilot, a flight instructor, an aerospace engineer, a technical editor, passed the first round of eliminations for NASA's Scientist-Astronaut program, and had 13 years of experience on sports car road racing circuits, while building and maintaining her own cars, all before 1976, when she was invited to test a car for the Indianapolis 500.

Janet Guthrie was the first woman to win a starting spot in the Daytona 500, in 1977, once it had moved to it's new, official race track. She was in 8th place, when 10 laps from the end, her engine went bad. She finished in 12th place, and won Top Rookie. That same year, she won the North Atlantic Road Racing Champion title. In 1978, she finished in 9th place in the Indianapolis 500. But sponsorships and funding were hard to find for a woman at that time, even after placing in the top 10 in a number of races.

According to Janet, as can be expected, many of the men from the “good ole boys” club were not willing to accept a woman on their turf. But as Janet accumulated years of experience under her belt and gained experience on major tracks, including the Brickyard at Indianapolis she felt that most of the tension between her and the men eventually abated. But, Janet always felt that one driver never accepted her; Richard Petty. However, she actually qualified ahead of Richard at Talladega one time. In Janet’s words, “I thought that was just delicious. I really enjoyed it.” On the flip side, some of the men were more welcoming. Janet says that Donnie Allison was very kind and helpful. And Buddy Baker offered some helpful advice.

Janet continued to look for funding, and continued racing, and placing well. But was never able to make it to victory lane, primarily because she didn’t have a fast enough car. Janet raced in the Daytona 500 one more time, but did not have nice things to say about her crew chief that year.

According to the Daytona Beach News Journal, Janet raced a total of 4 years in NASCAR. She started 33 races and finished in the top 10, 5 times and earned $78,309 over those 4 years. Her helmet and driver’s suit are now on display in the Smithsonian Institution and she was one of the first woman athletes inducted into the Women’s Sports Hall of Fame.

Since Janet, only one other woman, Shawna Robinson has driven in the 500, which is NASCAR’s premier event. And Guthrie’s record still holds.

Janet is now living in Aspen, CO and says she only follows NASCAR races now, if a woman is competing.

(Sources for this post are The Daytona Beach News Journal, Janet Guthrie's web site, Wikipedia and Nascar.com. I'm citing all references because I ran into quite a few contradictory dates and statistics.) But you can buy Janet's autobiography, "Janet Guthrie: A Life at Full Throttle" and get the facts straight from her!

If you're in Daytona Beach for NASCAR, Bike Week, or any other special event. You should consider buying real estate for the time you spend here, I'm a Daytona Beach native and would love to help! Make a Smart Choice and contact Lisa Hill today!

Volusia County Real Estate Sales: 2007 year in review

2008-02-07T23:26:00.000-05:00

I finally finished every city in east Volusia county for my 2007 real estate sales, year in review. Whew! So here is the final compilation of all that data and the charts.To read the first post in the series, which was for Daytona Beach, and contains the most physical information about our market, read Daytona Beach Real Estate: 2007 year in review.

To view each individual real estate chart for Daytona Beach Shores, South Daytona, Ormond Beach, Ormond by the Sea, Port Orange, Ponce Inlet, Wilbur by the Sea, Holly Hill, New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater and Oak Hill, click anywhere in the afore-mentioned cities. It will take you to the Edgewater post, which was the last in the series, so it contains links to all the previous posts.

Now for the combination of the data for all of east Volusia County.

And there you have it. This post concludes my 2007 real estate year-in-review series.

If you’re interested in buying or selling real estate in any of these cities, make a Smart Choice and contact Lisa Hill for all your real estate needs!

Adams Cameron & Co., Realtors - 1100 Dunlawton Ave., Port Orange, FL 32127 386-761-6100

All charts in this series were created and are copyrighted by Lisa Hill

Being Sensitive to your client’s needs: A REALTORS® Perspective

2008-01-23T01:03:00.000-05:00

Many years ago, when I first started selling houses, I was working with a lady who told me she was deathly afraid of cats. Since one of the houses we were going to see was my own listing, I knew the owner had cats. So I told my buyer that I would go inside first and check to see if they were inside or not. (They had a kitty door.)So I went in and looked around and didn’t see either of the cats, anywhere. I even looked under the beds, in the closets and on top of the refrigerator. I covered the entire house… No cats.

I then opened the front door and told the buyer that the cats must be outside because I didn’t see either one of them anywhere in the house, and the buyer apprehensively came inside. She started going from room to room and was slowly relaxing.

She then entered the master bedroom ahead of me and 2 seconds later came running past me and ran straight out the front door and refused to come back in. I was standing there looking perplexed until I spotted, calm as can be, one of the cats, sitting on the master bathroom counter, contentedly licking his paw. *sigh*

Click here to read the rest of this real estate post.

Real Estate is Great in 2008!

2008-01-17T00:50:00.000-05:00

Read this entire post at Real Estate is Great in 2008!

On January 2, I received a call from one of my real estate sellers, who has a house for sale in Port Orange. He was just wishing me a happy new year (don't you just love nice sellers?) and letting me know they may be reducing the price in a couple of weeks. I'll keep you posted on that one!

And today I got a call from a client who I sold an ocean front house in Ponce Inlet several years ago. He had received the Christmas card I had sent, so he too, was just wishing me a happy new year and touching base. He was also letting me know that he had filed the company info of my 2007 brokerage change in his contact manager for whenever they're ready to sell in the future.

I'm hoping these are all signs of many more good things to come in 2008. I've worked with some really great clients over the years (obviously) and hopefully, this year I'll work with many more.

Make a Smart Choice today and call Lisa Hill for all your real estate needs!

Subscribe to this blog, or check back frequently so you don't miss the next installment of my series on Florida's Vanishing Wetlands.

AND more importantly, I'll be blogging an annual update for EVERY city in East Volusia County over the next 2 weeks. Stay tuned!

(All photos taken and copyrighted by Lisa Hill)

Real Estate for Sale - Daytona-Beach, FL 32114 - Real Estate Video Tour

REALTOR Safety Awareness-Real Estate Buyers, You Should Read This Too!

2008-01-05T02:38:00.000-05:00

I was recently reminded of an incident that happened to a REALTOR® friend of mine, a few years ago. This incident was the type of horror story we all fear.

Take a Real Estate Survey

2007-12-25T21:31:00.000-05:00

Take a survey about your views on real estate, or past real estate experiences. Just follow this link.

Take the real estate survey

Daytona Beach River Front Condo For Sale

2007-12-21T17:10:00.000-05:00

Daytona Beach Real Estate- Direct Intracoastal River Front Condo For Sale

The Glamorous Real Estate Life

2007-12-18T23:27:00.000-05:00

Realtors live such glamorous lives. At least that's what many people think. How about a reality check?

Buy House in Ormond Beach Forida

2007-11-28T16:26:00.000-05:00

Port Orange Real Estate Market Update

2007-11-16T03:21:00.000-05:00

I've had so few real estate calls lately that I'd be checking to make sure my phone is working if it weren't for the calls I was getting from parties who were interested in renting my condo conversion project listing. So I decided to do a little research. I gleaned the usual revealing information from the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for the Daytona Beach Area Association of REALTORS® and decided to share it with you.

As of November 15, 2007 there are 972 active MLS listings for Port Orange Florida. Here's the breakdown of the active listings.

Houses 685
Single Family Attached (IE Duplexes) 134
Condos 87
Manufactured Homes with land 60
Condotels 4
Homes selling for land value only 2

For the month of October there were only 40 sales. Here's the breakdown.

Houses 28
Manufactured Homes with land 7
Single Family Attached 5

I guess this isn't showing me anything I didn't already know. So to further depress myself I decided to compare sales for the month of October each year for the last few years. Here's a graph of the data.

Read my other post about real estate listings and sales in Daytona Beach Shores.

To buy real estate in Port Orange FL, make a Smart Choice and contact Lisa Hill.

Daytona Beach FL Condos to Buy or Rent

2007-11-15T04:05:00.000-05:00

I have a condo-conversion project listed, with 42 units available for sale. There are studios, 1 bedroom and 2 bedrooms units available, priced from $114,900 to $148,900.

Before I get to the point, I'll insert a side not here and thank Rick Garcia for his assistance when I started working with this particular seller. You see, the seller lives and works in south Florida and kept bringing up methods of doing business there. Knowing I had seen quite a few condos listed on their Miamism and Active Rain blogs, I gave Rick and Inez Garcia a call. Inez was out in the field so Rick graciously answered all my rambling questions. Thanks Rick!

Now to get to the point of this post. With the Daytona Beach area's real estate sales becoming increasingly more slow, my seller decided he would rent or sell the units in Surfside Villas. Now Adams Cameron & Company does not do any property management, and the local property management companies I called did not even want anymore properties in their inventory. It seems the rental market, especially for beachside condos, is just as slow as the real estate market. But my seller decided he didn't need property management. He just needed someone to actually rent out the units. So with my brokers permission, I said I'd give it a shot.

We agreed on a commission (a percentage of the lease) for me to have potential tenants fill out the personal information documents, applications and background check authorization, and collect their deposits. My seller is preparing the actual leases. So the week before last, I took my first rental application, collected their money and now have to move our sales office. (I rented out my office. D'oh!) I was off to a great start!

And then the flakes started calling *sigh*. Since it's about a 20 minute drive from Port Orange, where I live and where my office is, to the condos located on the beachside/peninsula in Daytona Beach, I scheduled 3 appointments at 30 minute intervals so I wouldn't have to drive back and forth. Of my 3 appointments, only 1 showed up. I just spoke with all of them yesterday! Thank God I didn't have to drive back and forth 3 times!

Thankfully the one that did show up is very interested, has a steady job, was very nice, and looks like a quality tenant. But a word to the wise, be glad you work with real estate buyers instead of renters! So far, this whole rental adventure has shown me a much flakier clientel than I'm accustomed to. I can't imagine being in property management! Oh wait. Yes I can. I'm subscribed to Rich Kruse. I'm particularly fond of his post called Tenant Did What? or how about Robbed and Kidnapped at Gunpoint.

I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings...

Condominium for Sale - Daytona-Beach, FL 32118 - Real Estate Video Tour

Moving to Daytona Beach? There are Plenty of Things to Do.

2007-10-27T23:46:00.000-04:00

If you're planning to buy real estate in Daytona Beach Florida, or any of the surrounding cities, you'll be interested in some of the great things you'll find to do here.

Aside from the obvious tourist attractions such as NASCAR at the Daytona International Speedway, Bike Week and Biketoberfest, and the World's Most Famous Beach, there are many other interesting activities. How about watching a baseball game with the Daytona Cubs at Jackie Robinson Ball Park? Or maybe you'd like to tour the local museums and galleries.

If you're the outdoorsy type, you'll enjoy a day, or a camping trip at Tomoka State Park in Ormond Beach. Or you can spend a day in Ponce Inlet at the park and lighthouse, then walk down to the beach and enjoy watching the boats come and go in the inlet. You can even rent jet skis or take tour boat rides. Or there's always the Daytona Beach Flea and Farmers Market which has been voted as one of the top 5 flea markets in the country!

If your tastes lean toward the arts, we have Seaside Music Theater. All of these are places about which I've previously written. You can follow each link to find more information.

For this remainder of this post, I thought I'd let you know about another fun activity that's short but very sweet. Located in the heart of old Daytona Beach, in the newly renovated Historic District on Beach Street, overlooking the riverfront park is Angell and Phelps Chocolate Factory. They offer FREE tours of the factory every hour, and hand out FREE samples! How great is that? I can tell you from first-hand experience that Angell and Phelps chocolates are heavenly! My car seems to go on auto pilot every time I attempt to drive by. I say "attempt" because I always seem to find myself parked in front of the store. When that happens, what else can I do but go inside?

To be perfectly honest, Angell and Phelps Chocolate Factory is such a mainstay in this area that I never knew it wasn't a nation-wide chocolate company. I only recently discovered it to be a local company that began in 1925 by two women; Riddell Angell and Cora Phelps. Apparently, they had a shop in Michigan at the beginning of WWII, but had to close their doors there. Since they had wintered in Daytona Beach, to our great fortune, they then moved here permanently and opened the chocolate factory we all love. How amazing is that? Think about it. Two women in the 1920's were able to open and operate a successful business that is still alive and growing, over 80 years later. Visit the Angell and Phelps Chocolate Factory web site to read all about this inspiring heritage and history.

Also part of the Angell and Phelps experience is the Angell and Phelps cafe. This is wonderful dining, and includes the area's finest musicians playing jazz, pop and blues music. Each delicious dish is made with fresh, quality ingredients; there's a fabulous dessert menu; and a full bar featuring specialty martinis.

If you're a local resident, I'm sure you can attest to the mouth-watering goodness of Angell and Phelps fine chocolates and "Casual Gourmet" Cafe.

For those of you who have not yet moved here, visit my web site and view my featured mls listings for the Daytona Beach area. You'll find video and virtual tours as well as plenty of local information.

Make a SMART CHOICE today and contact Lisa Hill for all your real estate needs.

2007-10-21T20:54:00.001-04:00

This beautiful 4 bedroom 2.5 bath home in Ormond Beach FL has just been reduced to $292,000. You'll love the charm and homey feeling as soon as you step into the front foyer.

This fabulous buy has 1 bedroom and a powder room downstairs, and 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms upstairs. All the rooms are large enough to accommodate full-sized furnishings.

One of the best kept secrets of this neighborhood is the hidden community pool and basketball court. Each of these homes backs up to this community area. Just open the gate from your back yard and take a dip in the pool. There's even a separate pool for this children.

If you don't want to walk the short distance from your private backyard, to this community area, you can enjoy the warm Florida evenings on your rear screen room, or throw some burgers on the grill and relax on your patio. Doesn't that tiki hut look inviting?

Be sure to view the video below, and check out my Daytona Beach area MLS listings.

If you have kids who are ready for college, the Daytona Beach area has plenty of them. We even have 2 of the top rated universities in the nation, close at hand.

If you're not familiar with how the different cities all link together in the Daytona Beach area, read my post titled Daytona Beach Florida-A Comprehensive Distinction Between the Surrounding Cities.

You may also be interested in some interesting facts about this area. If so, follow these links...

House for Sale - Ormond-Beach, FL 32174 - Real Estate Video Tour

The Code of Ethics, REALTORS® and plain old real estate agents

2007-10-19T00:19:00.001-04:00

I just read a post on another blog site, and felt the need to address a few things.

The post I read was about the trademarked word "REALTOR®" and that writer's overall disagreement with the definition of the word, as well as some other personal grievances. That person appeared to be basing their opinions on the fact that the public doesn't realize that all real estate licensees are not REALTORS®. This individual was also stating that not all REALTORS® abide by the Code of Ethics. Now for my strong beliefs on this subject.

Let me start by saying, I am proud to be a REALTOR®! For anyone reading this post who is not aware of this, the word REALTOR® is trademarked and there are specific rules on how the word can and cannot be used. For starters, the word REALTOR® must be written or typed all in capitalized letters, and must be immediately followed by the "®" symbol that indicates it's a trademarked word. Click this link for more information on the specifics of the laws regarding the use of the word REALTOR®.

As for how I feel about being a REALTOR®... the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and local REALTOR® Associations were created to separate those who subscribe to a Code of Ethics from those who do not.

One of the points made in the other blog I read, was that not all REALTORS® abide by the Code of Ethics as they're supposed to. This person thought that since all the REALTORS® were not following this code, then it should be done away with, because there were too many rules to follow anyway. I wanted to beat my head on my desk when I read that. Those rules are there for quality control, and to protect the client. They're also there to maintain professional standards in our industry.

Unfortunately, that writer was correct that there are a few REALTORS® who are not abiding by our Code of Ethics. But when a REALTOR® is found in violation, they can be penalized. This leads me to a comparison here.

Our country has laws that must be obeyed. We don't decide to do away with our laws because some people are breaking them. Those laws are there to protect the people. When people break the law, they're at the mercy of our judicial system. We expect the police and courts to uphold our laws and fight for them at all costs, in order to maintain the high standards that were originally intended. Just because some people don't understand, or they disagree, or they break these laws for whatever reason, it does not excuse their behavior. It's the same with the REALTOR® Code of Ethics.

To me, being a REALTOR® is something of which I can be proud. I like knowing we are being held to a higher standard than those who do not subscribe to our Code of Ethics.

I'm not bashing anyone who is not a REALTOR®. I realize that the costs of joining a REALTOR® Association and Multiple Listing Service (MLS) can be a large expense for someone who is just starting out, or has had personal hardships that have affected their business, etc. I am however, defending my membership and loyalty to this institution. I don't believe that anyone can say it's not in the best interests of our clients, for them to be represented by an actual REALTOR®. How else can the client be assured...

That their offer will be submitted as quickly as possible?
Or that they will not be misled about the market value of a property?
Or that their interests will be promoted and protected?
And that if these guidelines are not followed by their REALTOR®, there are legal avenues that can be pursued?
(I could go on, but I'll let you follow the link above, to read the entire Code of Ethics)

Now, to address the copyrighted word "REALTOR®" and why it should continue to be protected, here are other examples pertaining to copyright laws:

When I make a video, I can't use copyrighted songs as background music.
I can't use clips from other people's videos within mine without their expressed permission.
In my blogs, I can't use copyrighted photos I find on the internet to spice them up.
I can't use someone else's articles, without their expressed permission.
When I register a domain name, I can't register a copyrighted name.

These examples all fall under copyright laws. Violators leave themselves open to law suits. The word REALTOR® is also protected under these laws. Just because some of the people in the public are not aware of this is no excuse. Let me give a simple example....

If you commit a traffic violation and a police officer pulls you over and gives you a ticket, but you had not been aware that you were breaking any laws, do you think the officer cares? You're not likely to get out of paying a ticket just because you weren't paying attention, or weren't familiar with the laws of that area.

I recently posted a blog with links to public domain photos, since the copyright laws were nowhere to be found, regarding photos on the internet. I had to spend 2 hours researching this subject, just to find a clear answer. But if I have photos in my posts that are copyright protected, and I get sued by the owner of the photos, I'm not likely to be let off the hook because I didn't know the law. It's my responsibility to do the work and know the law.

In summary, the word REALTOR® means we're held to a higher standard. I like that. The word REALTOR® is copyright protected. I like that too. If it were to become interchangeable with all real estate licensees, then how would we differentiate between those who subscribe to a Code of Ethics and those who just have a license?

A Daytona Beach Fun Fact

2007-10-05T14:41:00.000-04:00

If you're planning to buy real estate in Daytona Beach FL, you'll have something unique to brag about, to all your out-of-town friends.

The Daytona Beach Flea Market is one of America's Top 5 Flea Markets, according to USA Weekend.

That's quite an achievement, considering the size of this town, compared to the other top 4, which are the Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena, CA, the Kane County Flea Market in St. Charles IL, the Austin County Flea Market in Texas, and the greatest American flea market, in Brimfield, MA.

The Daytona Flea and Farmer's Market boasts 3.5 miles of aisles packed with clothes, jewelry, electronics, antiques, collectibles and more. You'll even find a dollar store in the air-conditioned, indoor section.

And don't forget about the funnel cakes, ice cream, hot dogs and giant pretzels. Or you can sit down and eat in 2 different air-conditioned restaurants.

The Daytona Flea and Farmer's Market is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, year-round and has several acres of parking. Whatever you're looking for, you'll probably find it here!

Whenever you're ready to move to Daytona Beach, just give me a call. I'd love to help. Visit my web site to view Daytona Beach MLS Listings.

2 Bedroom Daytona Beach Condo For Sale

2007-10-01T16:12:00.001-04:00

For everyone who's interested in investing in real estate in Daytona Beach Florida, here's another available condo in Surfside Villas. This one has 2 bedrooms and a great view from the private 3rd floor balcony. Click here to view a studio unit.

This Daytona Beach condomium project has been completely remodeled. All units have sliding glass doors, 16 inch tile, beautiful kitchens and bathrooms with maple cabinets and granite counters. Appliances are Frigidaire stainless steel.

Enjoy cool ocean breezes from your personal Daytona Beach condo, just 2 blocks from the ocean. Buy this one for $158,900

View this listing at www.DaytonaBeachHomeSales.com

For other information about the Daytona Beach area, follow these links...

Why should you buy Daytona Beach real estate?

Daytona Beach Colleges-Real Estate Investor Alert!

Nascar, Bike Week, Biketoberfest- A few more reasons to buy your second home in Daytona Beach FL

Beautiful New Smyrna Beach Community

2007-09-25T20:35:00.000-04:00

For anyone who's been considering buying real estate in New Smyrna Beach Florida, you should know about the beautifully upscale Venetian Bay Town & Country Club. This elegant development has a distinctive Italian feel and several different subdivisions.

The Venetian Bay master community is like a self-contained city unto itself, featuring a downtown shopping center and restaurants, a fitness center, community pool, nature trails, a golf course, country club and more. Featured builders are Paytas Homes, Johnson Group Homes, Engle Homes, KB Homes, & Tiffany Homes. Prices range from the $200,000s to over $1,000,000.

This weekend I found some very interesting and unexpected surprises while doing a market analysis for a home owner who is considering selling their house in Venetian Bay.
Aren't they adorable?
If you're interested in buying real estate in Venetian Bay or any area of New Smyrna Beach, contact Lisa Hill today!

www.NewSmyrnaHomeSales.com

These Prices Just Keep Getting Better

2007-09-14T23:09:00.000-04:00

If you're looking to buy a house in the Daytona Beach area, here are a couple of great possibilities.

4 bedroom, 2 bath house in South Daytona. Was priced at $195,000, drastically reduced to $187,000. Make this your new home. For complete details, read the post here 1678 Louisiana Rd., South Daytona, FL

Or how about this 3 bedroom, 2 bath home on 1 acre in Port Orange? Previous asking price was $379,900. Drastically reduced to $349,000. For more information on this house, read the post found in this link: 822 Bayridge Lane, Port Orange, FL

For more information about living in the city of Port Orange, try these articles...

Memories of Ponce Inlet Florida-The Grand Old Lighthouse

2007-09-11T15:32:00.000-04:00

As I've stated in previous posts, I'm a native of the Daytona Beach area, and am knowledgeable about many fascinating historical facts. But I still enjoy researching and sharing the new things I learn.

In a recent post, I was sharing some childhood memories of the time my family spent in Tomoka State Park, in Ormond Beach. As I let my mind wander to other pleasant memories of my childhood, I found fond memories of the lighthouse and park at Ponce Inlet. The best part about these memories are not just of my own childhood, but from a parental perspective as well. You haven't truly enjoyed life until you've witnessed something through the eyes of a child.

While I have fond memories of my own childhood days; of my grandmother buying me trinkets in the gift shop, and of running as fast as I could across the park, to stand and look up in awe, at the towering red lighthouse; then the wonder of looking down and across several cities, after climbing the 194 steps of the circular stairway all the way to the top, those memories pale in comparison to the memories of swinging on the swings with my own daughter when she was younger, and buying trinkets for her in the gift shop, then gasping for breath as I once again climbed 194 steps to the top of the lighthouse, and seeing the terrifying joy in her face and she stood in the open air and looked down over several cities, and out across the inlet toward the Atlantic Ocean.

If you've never been to the lighthouse park at Ponce Inlet, I highly recommend you do so, no matter what your age. It is a gorgeous tower, built in 1886 in what was once called Mosquito Cove. (I think Ponce Inlet is a much better name!) The Ponce Inlet lighthouse is the second-tallest in the United States and can be seen from 19 miles away. It was decommissioned in 1970, but in 1982 it was fitted with a new navigational beacon and is once again active.

You can also take a walking tour of the grounds, or walk down to the beach and climb out on the jetty rocks, picnic at the covered picnic tables and play in the dunes. (Only the ones that are allowed. See my post about beach conservation)

If you're considering investing in real estate in Ponce Inlet, Florida, visit my web site or call me for MLS listings. It's a great place to call your first or second home.

You may also be interested in my blog about the distinction between the different cities in the Daytona Beach area. or about the city of Port Orange which is just over the bridge, on the mainland side of the Intracoastal Waterway.

New Home Owner's Association Laws

2007-09-07T18:42:00.000-04:00

This is important information for anyone who owns real estate that is governed by deed restrictions and/or covenants and restrictions.

As of July 1 2007, during the Legislative Session, amendments were passed that changed the procedures that Home Owner's Associations must follow when collecting delinquent assessments. These changes are to the benefit of the home owners.

The new law states that before a claim of lien can be filed against a parcel owner for unpaid assessments, the real estate owner must be given written notice of the past due assessments, plus, the HOA must give another 45 day notice of it's intention of foreclosure before they can file a foreclosure lawsuit.

There is additional language in this act that says a parcel owner is liable for all unpaid assessments that came due, up until the closing, along with the previous owner.

More language of this act says that payments made will be applied

to any interest accrued
to any late fees
to any any reasonable attorney's fees
to the delinquent assessment

However, the Lender's Lobby is planning to appeal this amendment because of one more bit of verbiage. Mortgagees are also now liable to pay HOA's for all unpaid assessments due at the time of the title transfer.

This is good news for owner's of real estate in HOA governed communities, if they need additional time to get caught up on any unpaid assessments. It will be interesting to see if this amendment stands, once the Lender's Lobby makes their appeal.

Picture Yourself Living in Port Orange Florida

2007-08-29T01:24:00.001-04:00

As a native of the Daytona Beach & Port Orange areas, I feel especially qualified and privileged to blog about all of Volusia County. But I have chosen to make my home in Port Orange, and most of my business comes from people who want to buy or sell real estate in Port Orange. The motto for Port Orange, FL is "Unique by choice, not by chance". That's the perfect theme for this beautiful, friendly city.

Port Orange is a great place to live, since it's located just 5 miles south of Daytona Beach, FL. We have the perfect proximity to special events, but are not in the thick of things when we're ready to get away.

If you're considering buying real estate in Port Orange, we have the beautiful Intracoastal Waterway, the Atlantic Ocean and many new housing developments, as well as older homes if you like something more traditional. For real estate info, go here Move to Port Orange Florida

The schools in Port Orange are top notch. My daughter is now a senior at Spruce High School and has excelled there over the last 3 years. Prior to that she was a member of the first class to graduate from Creekside Middle School since it's doors opened in 2001.

Port Orange is a popular place to live for all ages, since we have theaters, restaurants, doctor's offices, pharmacies, banks, a hospital, churches, shopping, and even a Go-Cart track, all within close proximity to our homes. And let's not forget, unless you buy a house or condo directly on the beach, the Atlantic Ocean and I-95 are still just minutes away.

I would highly recommend Port Orange to anyone seeking Florida's warm, sunny climate and a friendly, small-town community. Visit my web site to search for local listings MLS Listings Port Orange FL

Click here if you're considering selling real estate in Port Orange

Countryside Community in Port Orange FL

2007-08-28T11:34:00.000-04:00

This blog is about the fabulous Countryside community in Port Orange Florida. Countryside is an upscale community with a pool, clubhouse and tennis courts. I've previously blogged about the smaller communities of The Hunt Club and Steeplechase within Countryside, and I'll be blogging about the others in the future.

I've been selling houses and general real estate in this area for years and Countryside in Port Orange is one of my favorite communities. It has several lakes, it's a great location and with the different mini-communities, you have a variety of choices in the style of house you prefer.

Port Orange is located 5 miles south of Daytona Beach FL. Dunlawton Avenue is the main road that runs through Port Orange, and has direct access to I-95. The Dunlawton bridge runs to the beachside/peninsula and is a direct access point to the beach. You can enjoy a fun outing at a casual seafood restaurant under the Port Orange/Dunlawton bridge. There are several restaurants from which you can choose.

If you can picture yourself living in Port Orange Florida, visit my web site at www.PortOrangeHomeSales.com.

Driving on the beach, Daytona Beach Florida

2007-08-27T17:32:00.000-04:00

In Daytona Beach FL, we have the privilege of driving on our beaches. How many places can boast of that? And here's an interesting bit of history: In the early years of Nascar, drag races were actually held directly on the beach. For more information on Nascar and other interesting Daytona Beach facts, read my post titled Daytona Beach Florida-Vacation and Second Home Destination. This post is also great if you're considering investing in real estate in the Daytona Beach area.

Since the early days of Nascar are long gone, and Daytona Beach has become a hot spot for family vacations, the beach speed limit on Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, and Daytona Beach Shores is now 5-10 mph, for the safety of the beach goers. Also for public safety, beach ramps are closed when the tide gets too high, or the weather too extreme. If rising tides reduce the driving lanes to less than 30 feet, the Beach Patrol will temporarily close the beach to all driving and parking, until conditions improve.

While most people recognize that driving on our beaches is a privilege, and are respectful of the rules, there are always those who don't like to abide by the rules. And for these people the Beach Patrol will issue citations. But I'm sure you're not one of these people.

If you're not familiar with the Daytona Beach area, you'll be surprised to know that Daytona Beach itself is relatively small. What most people consider to be Daytona Beach is actually several small cities in close proximity to each other. For more information on these different cities, read my post titled Daytona Beach Florida-A Comprehensive Distinction Between the Surrounding Cities.

If you're interested in moving to Daytona Beach FL, or any of the surrounding cities, visit my web site. Still need more information? Try these posts too...

A New Daytona Beach Fun Fact

Florida Fun Facts

Feel free to e-mail me with any questions you may have.

Welcome to Daytona Beach and enjoy driving on our fabulous beaches! Just be careful not to get stuck in the sand! But if you do, there's usually a friendly "local" nearby to help you out.

Daytona Beach Florida-Home of Great Colleges. Real Estate Investors, Pay Close Attention!

2007-08-17T14:55:00.000-04:00

Real Estate Investors, this information will apply to you! And college seekers will definitely love this topic.

Did you know that Daytona Beach Florida has some great colleges? I’m not talking about your standard, every day, run-of-the-mill colleges. I’m talking about really great colleges!

I’ll start with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. This university’s aerospace engineering program is number 13 on U.S. News & World Report’s list of America’s Best Colleges for 2007. Embry-Riddle offers over 30 bachelor and master degrees in aviation, aerospace, engineering, business and other fields, and is the only accredited, aviation-oriented university in the world.

Also according to U.S. News & World Report, coming in at number 5 on their list of America’s Best Colleges for 2007, is Stetson University. Stetson is located in DeLand FL, which is just 15 miles west of Daytona Beach. Stetson University holds Florida’s oldest private, liberal arts college on a 165 acre campus. Stetson’s student-faculty ratio is one to 21 and their 4 colleges and schools have all been ranked among the best in national college guides for various special programs and accreditations.

In the heart of Daytona Beach, you’ll find Bethune-Cookman University. Bethune-Cookman has a fascinating history as a predominantly black school that has been continuously growing and evolving since 1904, when it was founded by Mary McLeod Bethune. Bethune Cookman University offers 37 different majors, plus 6 degree-granting academic schools. But you haven't seen anything until you've seen their marching band!

Next we’ll look at Daytona Beach Community College, which is now a four-year degree granting institution. This year marked the first graduating class with Bachelor of Science degrees. DBCC also got a $26 million addition this year in the Mori Hosseini Center, a state-of-the-art hospitality and culinary training facility. The Mori Hosseini Center also houses the Southeast Museum of Photography.

I personally have taken miscellaneous classes at DBCC over the years, as different subjects sparked my interest. And last year, my daughter, as a junior in high school, participated in the Dual-Enrollment program that allowed her to take college courses while still in high school for FREE! The credits from these classes went to both her high school and her college degrees.

As a branch on the campus adjacent to DBCC, is the University of Central Florida. This UCF branch offers a variety of graduate and postgraduate degrees. It also offers several undergraduate and graduate degrees, in partnership with DBCC.

Also offering post-graduate studies in Daytona Beach, is a satellite site for Nova Southeastern University. Nova Southeastern offers masters degrees in Business Administration (MBA) and Doctorates in Business Administration (DBA).

In recent years, we saw the new addition of Palmer College of Chiropractic-Florida, located in Port Orange Florida. Port Orange is part of the greater Daytona Beach area, located just 4 miles south of Daytona. Palmer Chiropractic saw it’s first graduating class in 2003. By 2006 the school had reached capacity for enrollment.

And last but not least, we have Keiser College, a career-oriented institution with 9 campuses in Florida. The Daytona Beach campus offers 11 associate and 2 bachelor degrees.

So how is this information relevant to real estate investors? The great thing about having so many colleges in one area is the opportunity to rental income on any investment properties you own. This is crucial in a down-market, when real estate is sitting on the market for long periods of time.

If you’re considering investing, now is the perfect time to buy real estate, when prices have dropped and real estate buyers are scarce. Many sellers are in need of the a sale, and smart buyers will look for ways to make extra income on their investment.

In this area, a Smart Choice would be to list your investment properties with a local agent who will not only use traditional marketing techniques, but will look beyond the obvious and target their marketing to where your next tenant may be.

Are you ready to make a Smart Choice?