Daytona Beach Real Estate Blog: July 2007

What a nice day I had today.

I started off by showing a condo I have listed for sale in Daytona Beach. It's a gorgeous, fully furnished unit with great ocean and river views. The buyer is a very nice gentleman who found this specific listing on another web site and had to see it! I'll be meeting him again tomorrow, to write up his offer. This is fantastic news, considering I've had it listed for less than a month!  Here's the info on this particular listing- Daytona Beach Oceanfront Condo- can you believe this view?

I then finally got the lettering changed on the back window of my car, to reflect the brokerage I joined 2 months ago. I know, I know. It's called "procrastination at it's finest". 

Somewhere along the way, I got a call from an investor who has 2 condo conversion projects. He wants to meet with me this week, to discuss having me list, market and sell both buildings for him. There are approximately 28 units available, all near the ocean, in an affordable price range. I drove by to get a feel for the buildings and they look like they'll be great for people who want to buy a nice, affordable condo with plenty of new upgrades. And they're right in the heart of Daytona Beach.

I then had an appointment to view the house of a friend, who is considering listing. It's a great 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2 story, Colonial style house in Ormond Beach. I still have to finalize the market analysis. If she can sell it for the amount she needs, I'll be listing her house tomorrow. I'll start calculating and averaging the price per square foot in a few minutes.

Now I just hope that tomorrow flows according to plan. You know how real estate is. But I'm not going to say anything negative. Tomorrow's going to be a great day! It's not allowed to have any other options.

If you're not familiar with the Daytona Beach area, you'd be surprised to know that there are actually several different cities, all within about 15 miles of each other, that make up the Daytona Beach area. For a better idea of the layout of these cities, view my post titled Daytona Beach Florida-A Comprehensive Distinction Between the Surrounding Cities. And for more information about Port Orange, read Picture Yourself in Port Orange.

Most people love to spend time outdoors during the warm summer months. And here's an inexpensive way to make the outdoors even more enjoyable. Add an outdoor sink! You can attach it directly to the side of your house and connect it to your water faucet. For less than $100 you can have a sink, 2 side extensions for workspace, and a garden-hose hanger. This is great for gardening or just cleaning up before you come inside.

You can find this sink, plus other models at www.yardiac.com.

For more deluxe models, try www.crownverity.com.

For a list of home improvements, and how much return you can expect on these investments when you decide to sell your house, go to Home Improvements That Pay. Just remember, these numbers can vary in different parts of the country.

If you're considering buying or selling real estate in the Daytona Beach, Florida area, visit my web site. 

To view my listing inventory, check out this section of my site buy real estate in Daytona Beach FL.

If you're interested in buying a condo in the Daytona Beach area, you may want to check out these new developments. You can also search for MLS listings on my web site Buy Condo in Daytona Beach FL.

• Beach Street Courtyard, 123 Beach Street, Daytona Beach FL - 12 units, 4 stories, being structured.
• Bella Vista, 2515 S. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach Shores, FL - 100 units, 11 stories, finishing interiors.
  
• Halifax Landing, 2801 S. Ridgewood Ave., South Daytona, FL - 186 units, 14 stories, topped out.
• Islamorada, 2071 S. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach Shores, FL - 54 units, 11 stories, site being prepared.
  
• Island Crowne, 1900 N. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach, FL - 67 units, 19 stories, finishing exterior.
• Malibu, 1705 S. Atlantic Ave., New Smyrna Beach, FL - 29 units, 9 stories, finishing interiors.
• Marina Grande, 231 Riverside Drive, Holly Hill, FL - 972 units, 25 stories, 4 buildings, under construction.
• Ocean Walk, 5300 S. Atlantic Ave., New Smyrna Beach, FL - 627 units, 6 stories, 14 buildings, under construction.
• Palma Bella, 3235 and 3245 S. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach Shores, FL - 80 units, 12 stories, finishing interiors.
• Sanibel, 3799 S. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach Shores, FL - 65 units, 11 stories, finishing interiors.
• The Wave, 2801 Hill Street, New Smyrna Beach, FL - 11 units, 8 stories, constructing foundation.

To buy your condo in Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach Shores, South Daytona or New Smyrna Beach FL, make a Smart Choice and choose Lisa Hill.

Buy New Daytona Beach condo

For a re-sale condo I currently have listed view it here on my web site, Re-sale condo for sale or view it on my blog, here Daytona Beach Condo for sale-buy it now

Do you realize that the standard real estate contracts most Florida Realtors® use, are changed every couple of years? These changes reflect any legal actions that may have influenced the individual clauses in the contracts since the last release.

There are 2 contracts that are primarily used by Realtors® in Florida. These are the Florida Association of Realtors®  (FAR) contract, and the Florida Association of Realtors/Florida Bar (FAR/BAR) contract. These contracts can only be used by Realtors® or Attorneys.

In the Daytona Beach area (Volusia County), the FAR/BAR contract is used at least 95% of the time, and some listing agents will instruct all other agents to only submit offers on the FAR/BAR real estate contract. (I would like to point out that there are both pros and cons in different areas of each contract, and from city-to-city, across Florida, you'll find different predominant preferences.)

So, are you wondering why a listing agent would require all other agents to use only one contract? I’m glad you asked!

When a non-standard contract is used, the only way to safeguard the interests of the real estate buyer or seller would be for both the buyer and seller to include the added expense of hiring an attorney.  It’s always a real estate buyer or sellers prerogative to have an attorney if they want one and I would actually encourage my buyers and sellers to obtain one if they feel the need to have one. However, Florida is not a state where real estate buyers and sellers are required to have an attorney, and in the Daytona Beach area, most closing are handled entirely by a Title Company.

So back to my statements about Realtors® needing to educate themselves, in order to be proficient and serve the best interests of their clients. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen things that were hand-written into a contract, that caused the legal clauses to be nullified. In their attempts to help, local Realtors® who had not attended the classes that were offered through the Daytona Beach Realtor® Association, did not even realize that in their attempts to help, they had actually hindered their clients interests!

One major instruction that all real estate licensees are told when they’re still in real estate school is that they’re forbidden to act in any capacity that is not in the scope of a real estate agent or Realtor®; which includes but is not limited to, acting as an attorney. One very important point I learned years ago in one of the contract classes that was offered at the Daytona Beach Association of Realtors is, when an agent adds something to a contract that has already been addressed in the legal clauses, they have actually voided the related clauses that were already part of the contract. The added clause overrides the protection that the experts already included in the standard contract. And I still see agents doing this all the time.

In summary, use a Realtor® when buying or selling real estate, so you can utilize the provisions of the standard FAR and FAR/BAR real estate contracts. And when choosing a Realtor® make sure yours is knowledgeable on all the intricacies of these contracts.

You may also be interested in this article I just posted called The Long and Winding Road to a Real Estate Closing

And Contingencies in Real Estate Contracts-Florida Legalities 

If you’re considering buying or selling real estate in Volusia County, FL, I cover Port Orange, South Daytona, Daytona Beach Shores, Wilbur by the Sea, Ponce Inlet, Daytona Beach, Holly Hill, Ormond Beach, Ormond by the Sea, New Smyrna Beach and Edgewater. And Adams Cameron & Co. also has offices in DeLand and Palm Coast if you need me to refer you to one of our other experienced Realtors®.

Buy Daytona Beach Real Estate

Hello Mr. and Ms. Real Estate buyer or seller. So you've decided you want to buy or sell real estate in Florida?

Unless this is your first time buying or selling real estate, you probably think you’re pretty knowledgeable on this topic. But are you? Here’s a little questionnaire on the standard steps involved on the road to almost every real estate closing.

• Who is holding the deposit?
• If a buyer can’t obtain financing, who keeps the deposit?
• When a buyer makes an offer and provides a pre-qualification letter to the seller,  does it give the seller more confidence in that buyer? Should it?
• If a buyer is rejected for financing, how does a seller know for sure that the buyer can’t obtain financing? Did  the buyer really exhaust every avenue, or only try one lender? And is the buyer required to try more than one lender?
• How long does a buyer have to obtain inspections and notify the seller of anything they want remedied?
• If a buyer wants the seller to repair something that was found on the inspection reports, is the seller obligated to do so? What if the seller refuses? If no agreement can be reached, who keeps the deposit?
• What happens if termite damage is found? Can the buyer walk away? What if the seller is willing to repair the damages? If the buyer walks away, who gets the deposit?
• Who is responsible for paying the title insurance?
• Who is responsible for paying the doc stamps on the deed?
• Who is responsible for paying the doc stamps on the mortgage?
• Who pays for the survey? What happens if the survey shows encroachments on the property? Can the buyer cancel the contract? Who keeps the deposit?
• Who pays for the appraisal?
• What happens if the contracted real estate does not appraise for the contractual amount? Does the buyer get their deposit back?
• What happens if there’s a cloud on the title? Do you know what a cloud on the title means?
• What happens if the seller made additions to the contracted real estate and did not pull the proper permits? Do past permits still need to be applied for and paid? If so, who is responsible for payment?

I could probably continue for several pages, but by now, you probably get the idea. For a bigger picture along these same lines, read my other post about Changes in Florida Real Estate Contracts and Laws from the Florida Association of Realtors and the Florida Bar. While there are many highly intelligent people out there who would like to buy or sell a house without the help of a Realtor®, usually in hopes of saving money on a commission, consider these questions and decide if it’s worth the risk. 

And on a parting note, here are two thoughts to consider. 

• A seller will try to sell real estate on their own, without the help of a Realtor® because they believe they’ll make more money if they don’t have to pay a commission. 

• A buyer will try to buy real estate on their own, without the help of a Realtor® because they believe they’ll pay less than if they had purchased real estate that was not listed with a Realtor®.

Do you see the problem here? This is likely to be an emotionally charged interaction, with no objective mediator. 

Plus, neither party has gone through real estate school and taken a state-level test to obtain a real estate license; nor have they gone through continuing education courses and testing, in addition to other courses that many Realtors® take so they can better represent their clients.

If you’re considering buying or selling real estate in Volusia County and would like to be represented by an educated, proficient Realtor®, I’d love to help. I cover the following Florida cities...

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

Visit my web site for further information.  Buy Daytona Beach area real estate.

You may also want to read these related articles...

Florida Legalities on How Realtors Represent Their Clients.

Choosing a good real estate agent when listing your real estate.

One acre lot holds this custom-built brick house for sale in Port Orange FL. High elevation, no deed restrictions or HOA fees.

There are so many reasons to buy real estate in Port Orange FL, but this house is one of the best reasons!

Newly remodeled eat-in kitchen with maple cabinets and beautiful solid surface counters, includes all appliances plus new washer and dryer. Spacious family room with wood burning fireplace and French doors leading to screened patio. 15x14 formal dining room.

Large master suite. Master bath features garden tub and walk-in shower. Other extras include security system, central vacuum, newer roof, newer A/C with variable speed air handler and HEPA filter. Irrigation system is on reclaimed water. Private neighborhood, excellent school district. $379,900 

Move to beautiful Port Orange FL today!

View the video/virtual tour of this house.

Build your dream home here. 3.2 acres on corner lot in New Smyrna Beach, FL. Desirable area with convenient access to Orlando from Highway 44 or I-4.

Lot is not cleared, but only has small shrubs. Electric and water are at the street. Horses are permitted. $195,000

View the full details here - Buy vacant land in New Smyrna Beach FL

I just finished writing a post about Florida's "Sunshine Law" which grants public access to all meetings pertaining to anything even remotely governmental. You can read that post here, at Florida's Government and the Sunshine Law.

While I was writing that post, my mental wheels were turning about related real estate issues (of course).  And I accidentally ran across some information that addressed the fact that real estate sales prices are not public information in all states. Well consider me floored. I never knew that. Since Florida gives everyone access to everybody else's business, and I've only sold real estate in the area of Daytona Beach FL, it never occurred to me that real estate prices were not in the public records in every state. No wonder websites likes Zillow are becoming so popular, even though the data is often erroneous. In Florida, you can find the entire sales history on a house, condo, vacant land, etc, on the tax assessor's web site in each county.

According to my research, 37 states now have full disclosure of real estate sales prices, and 6 states (Arkansas, Delaware, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island and Tennessee) only have what they call "transfer-tax data". You have to estimate what you think the property sold for, based on the transfer tax data. The other states are assumedly non-disclosure states, meaning the sales prices are not made available to the public. But to complicate matters even more, in some states you can ask for the real estate sales prices and it's voluntary whether or not someone wants to give the information to you, while in still other states, the rules vary by county. Talk about confusing!

While I admit, it's sometimes frustrating when I'm working with a buyer who wants to move to Daytona Beach, who thinks that what they pay when they buy a house is somehow related to what the seller paid, (those are the days I beat my head on my desk), I still feel the buyer has a right to access that information. Again, I'd like to point out that I've been born and raised in a full-disclosure state, which makes it hard to break free from that line of thinking.

Side note elaboration: It is absolutely ridiculous that someone who wants to buy real estate would ever think that someone who wants to sell real estate, doesn't have a right to turn a profit, no matter how large that profit is. We all know that real estate is in constant fluctuation. History tells us we have to consider what the market was doing when the seller bought, and then look at what it's doing when the buyer is ready to purchase, which is why I do a formal market analysis for my sellers AND my buyers.

It seems to me that by not making the house/condo/townhouse/land  prices public knowledge, we're contributing to the accusations made by those who think our real estate commissions are somehow contingent on this type of information; As if the hours of work we put into learning and counseling and researching and coordinating and hand-holding and pre-qualifying and advertising, etc, were things that anyone could do and succeed. (If that were the case, then why isn't everyone doing it?) I don't know how the nay-sayers think they could stay abreast of the constant changes in the laws, the market fluctuations, and the latest fraud scams, if real estate was not their full-time job. But I'm digressing (and venting).

Back to the topic at hand, why would a particular state as a whole, not want the public to have access to the real estate sales prices? Active Rain is a great platform for this question, since we're congregating here from all over the country. So I'd like to know what the laws and/or rules are in your state, as well as your personal opinions on the subject of real estate sales prices being, or not being in the public records. I imagine we're going to have many differing opinions and points of view on this one. This should be interesting. 

We only have a couple of days left, of the annual London Symphony Orchestra's Florida International Festival, in the Daytona Beach area. To read my full blog about this much anticipated, annual event, read my post titled LSO-The London Symphony Orchestra-Another Great Reason to move to Daytona Beach.

Here's the schedule for the final 3 days.

July 26

1. LSO Family Concert, 11:00 a.m., Peabody Auditorium
   
2. LSO Classical IV, 8:00 p.m. at the Peabody Auditorium
3. Hiromi, 9:30 p.m., Bank & Blues Club

July 27

1. FIF Ladies Luncheon and Fashion Show, 11:30 a.m., Hilton Oceanfront Resort
2. LSO Sound Explorers, 3:00 p.m., Ormond Memorial Art Museum
3. LSO Classical V, 8:00 p.m., Peabody Auditorium

July 28

1. LSO Sound Explorers, 11:00 a.m., The Museum of Florida Art, DeLand
2. LSO POPS, 7:30 p.m., Daytona Beach Ocean Center
   

And that's it until next year. Enjoy the remaining few days. Click here to buy the LSO on CD, or to read blogs written by members of the orchestra.

And if you're considering buying real estate in the Daytona Beach area, I'd love to help.

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

The Daytona Beach Flea Market is now 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. 

www.DaytonaBeachRealEstateSales.com

For anyone who is considering buying real estate in Florida, this is usually an intriguing subject. The state of Florida has a long-held tradition for openness regarding the public's right to access governmental meetings and records. The emphasis on the public's right to know is not only upheld in the Florida statutes, but also in the Florida state Constitution. Here's a brief overview of how Florida's Sunshine Law came to where it is today.

• In 1909, Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes went into effect, in what is now known as the "Public Records Law". This law provided that any records made or received by any public agency, during the course of official business, would be available for inspection, unless it was specifically exempted by the Legislature. Over the years, the definition of what can be considered "public records" has come to include not only written documents, but also tapes, photographs, film, sound recordings and computer records.

• In 1967, the Florida's Government-in-the Sunshine Law was enacted. The Sunshine Law can now be found in Chapter 286 of the Florida Statutes. This law grants a basic, public right of access to most meetings of boards, commissions and other governing bodies of state and local governmental agencies and authorities.

• Then in 1990, a Constitutional Amendment was passed, by an overwhelming vote, for open meetings in the legislative branch of government. In 1991, a Florida Supreme Court decision threatened this state's long-held belief in the public's right to know. So in 1992, the Attorney General's Office extended the open government application to the judiciary branch, by making these laws part of the Constitution.

Being born and raised in Central Florida, this type of public access is the only way I've ever known. I like knowing that I can walk into the courthouse and ask for documentation of all the meetings, or related information pertaining to a certain subject, and they have to give them to me. There is no organization on earth that could remain "For the people" instead of "for those in control", without accountability.

Here's a handy Pocket Guide to help further define "open meetings" and "public records".

Make a "Smart Choice" and call Lisa Hill when you're ready to buy real estate in the Daytona Beach area.

I have to say, of the many events that are hosted in Daytona Beach, FL, the London Symphony Orchestra's annual Florida International Festival is a favorite among locals. For those of us who are natives to this area, or for those who have been here so long, they feel like natives, we're used to the many special events that are hosted in the Daytona Beach area every year. 

To find a multitude of Daytona Beach special events all in one place, view my post titled Daytona Beach Florida, Vacation and Second Home Destination, where I have links and information on Nascar, Bike Week, Biketoberfest, Destination Daytona and more.

But for a pleasant change of pace from the usual tourist trappings, the LSO is culturally exquisite. The concerts began this past Friday night (July 20) with a violin concerto at the Daytona Beach Peabody Auditorium and will continue through next weekend. The Saturday night concert (July 21) , which featured the world premier of an arrangement commissioned specifically for feature percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie, marked the 50th anniversary of "West Side Story" and was sold out.

For a full schedule of events, visit the LSO Calendar of Events. This is just one more reason to make Daytona Beach your home. Treat yourself this week and enjoy the many concerts that will be held around the area and you'll fall in love with this beautiful city and the many eclectic activities you'll find.

You may be interested in an oceanfront, fully furnished condo for only $339,900. Contact me today for your own private showing or to inquire about the many other  homes that you may find of interest.

One last tip: While you're here, if you're not used to the heat and direct sun, please be careful. Read my post about staying safe in the heat in Florida This information will keep you from getting sunburned and ruining your afternoon jazz session in a riverfront park. 

Enjoy the concerts! 

Good news for business women with entrepreneurial aspirations! 

I found this article in our local newspaper last weekend, and wanted to share some of it with savvy business women, and the men who know them. And as a Realtor, I thought it was useful information to share with my clients.

According to some recent studies, a growing number of financial institutions are interested in helping entrepreneurial business women. So which banks are spear-heading this new trend? Included in these banks are Wachovia, Wells Fargo and SunTrust. Apparently they're finding that female-owned businesses have been growing at twice the rate of all firms, for approximately 20 years. They believe it's a market worth capturing.

According to numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau, $1.7 trillion in annual sales can be found in businesses where women have at least a 50% ownership. And according to research done by the banks themselves, women tend to be more loyal customers.  (Now there's an interesting bit of information.)

To take matters a step further, Wachovia and SunTrust also offer help with networking, as well as comprehensive education on financial products and services. Both of these banks hold regular seminars so executives can meet each other, discuss business challenges, get ideas and talk with bankers about financial strategies.

No longer are women being forced into the traditional mold of how men have done things in the past (unless of course, you're a woman who prefers it that way). These banks say they're aware that many women aren't as likely to be interested in talking shop over a round of golf, and are more likely to be juggling their business with their personal lives. SunTrust even tries to hold it's networking seminars around activities female executives will enjoy, and at times that will allow these clients to spend time with their families. Now there's some great news for our children!

According to one Wachovia client, in years past she had found it difficult to get the financing she needed for some of her business ventures. But she noticed things were changing, when she was recently granted a substantial line of credit from Wachovia, plus a personal banker who was interested in helping her advance her business plan. This particular business woman is in her 11th year of business and has 650 employees, across 3 continents! Now there's a savvy business woman. She says "It's about people; it's not about a transaction". That statement really caught my attention, since that's how the real estate industry is; or at least it should be!

I personally thought this was good news for both men and women alike. It seems to me that this can be a great help to both sexes, since it will offer more income opportunities to the family, and help spouses find time for each other, and their children.

Looking for your next investment? I can help! www.BuyDaytonaBeachRealEstate.com

No, this is not a post that's written with the intention of scaring you. It is however, meant to inform and protect you and your children.

Once someone has been convicted as a sex offender or sexual predator, they're required to keep their current address listed in the National Sex Offender Registry, which is made available for  public viewing. You can enter your own address and find out who's living near you. Most people are alarmed to find how many sexual predators and unfortunately, child predators, are living near them. Unfortunately, many of these offenders and predators do not keep their current address registered, as they're obligated to do under the law.

Right now the state of Florida is looking for several sexual offenders and predators that have gone missing from the system. To see the list of missing offenders for the state of Florida, go to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's site. And yes, this site specifies who is an Offender and who is a Predator.

Each state has it's own site, but the owners of the privately operated site called Family Watchdog, have compiled an up-to-date, national list of offenders and predators, since they found a sexual predator was living right behind them and was not found in their local registry.

To check the laws on sexual offenders and predators for your particular state on the Family Watchdog site, click here.  You can also find information on how to protect your family by going to Tips to Stay Safe.

You may want to visit our the U.S. White House web site for details of The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, which addresses Creating a New National Child Abuse Registry.

If you live in Volusia County, Florida, you may want to view this list of Sexual Predators.

I apologize if this causes alarm for you. But if you're like me, you'd rather know than not know; for the safety of yourself and your family. As a Realtor, I believe I have an obligation to provide this type of information to all home owners, both current and future.

This post is not about real estate. It's about attitude! 

If I asked you if you know people who are always negative, someone would probably come to mind immediately. And if I asked you if you knew someone who always made you feel good about yourself, whenever you're around them, someone would probably come to mind (at least I hope so on this one).

Have you ever thought about what happens when you squeeze the juice from a piece of fruit? Depending on the fruit, you may squeeze out seeds; some large and some small, or you may squeeze out a very sour juice that requires a large dose of sugar to make it palatable. But when you squeeze the juice from a good fruit, you get a delicious, nutritious liquid that makes your mouth water, just thinking about it.

Now let's think about fruit from a different perspective.

• If you pick a fruit too soon, it has a bitter taste. That doesn't mean it's a bad fruit. It's just not fully matured. It needs to stay connected to the vine or tree for a while longer before it's edible. 
  
• Or perhaps what appears on the surface to be a good fruit, has actually become infested with worms or insects. It's unfortunate, but the proper care was not taken to protect it during growth.

Now how about these. Think of how a good harvest of grapes can be used to make the best wines. Or how olives are used to create olive oil. What is the common denominator in retrieving the juice from any fruit? They have to be squeezed, stomped or crushed. (Sound like life?) I once heard it said...."The true nature of a person is revealed under pressure".

I'm sorry to say, I'm not always full of only the good stuff. I certainly have my sour days. But I'm a person, not a fruit. I can always get reconnected to the "vine". ( John 15:5 NIV "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.")

And then there's the old adage "One bad apple can spoil the whole bunch". Most of us have seen what happens when bad fruit and good fruit are placed in the same basket. The bad fruit will slowly spoil the entire basket.

So what kind of fruit do you want to be? It's never too late to change! You can CHOOSE your attitude each day. Nobody can ruin your day without your permission.

Are you thinking about moving to Florida? If you're interested in buying real estate in Florida, I can help. But this blog is just some fun facts that you might find interesting.

• Florida covers 53,927 square miles.
• Florida has over 31 state forests, covering more than 890,000 acres.
• Florida has over 159 state parks, covering more than 723,000 acres.
• The state flower, since 1909, is the Orange Blossom.
• The state bird, since 1927, is the Mockingbird.
• The state song, since 1935, is Suwanee River.
• Florida's nickname is The Sunshine State.
• Florida's state capitol is Tallahassee.
• The largest city in Florida is Jacksonville.
• Florida is the 4th largest populated state in the U.S.
• Florida's state tree is the Palmetto or Sabal Palm.
• Florida's largest lake is Lake Okeechobee.

Hope you enjoyed these fun Florida facts. To buy real estate in Florida, make a Smart Choice and call or e-mail me today. Just click on one of these links to visit my web site.

I am proud to be posting this information about Volusia County, Florida.

For anyone who's concerned about our atmosphere, which should be everyone, I have some great news for those who live in Volusia County, Florida. Until now, residents of unincorporated areas of Volusia County were only able to recycle items coded 1 and 2. Now, they'll be able to recycle items coded 1 through 7.

This may sound strange to residents who live within the incorporated areas, but prior to July 1, 2007, the unincorporated areas were unable to recycle their margarine tubs, cottage cheese tubs, sour cream containers, yogurt cups, hot drink tops, deli containers, CD cases, prescription bottles and syrup bottles. But now they can!

So don't forget to recycle these items. Our planet depends on it. Follow this link for more information from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Buy house or condo in Volusia County Florida 

Daytona Beach Florida has lured tourists from all over the country over the last 100 years. One of the biggest draws to this sunny Central Florida city is Daytona International Speedway, and the appeal of NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Automobile Racing, Inc).

The founder of NASCAR is William France Sr., who moved to Daytona in 1935 to escape the Great Depression. Mr. France founded NASCAR in 1948 and now has headquarters in Daytona Beach, FL, Charlotte, NC and Manhattan, NY. Not many people realize that Daytona International Speedway holds races of one type or another, almost every month.

Of course, NASCAR is only one of many reasons that tourists are drawn to Daytona Beach. We are the official Bike Week headquarters, and have the world’s largest Harley Davidson dealership, which is like a city unto itself, called Destination Daytona. Just between Bike Week and Biketoberfest tens of thousands of enthusiastic fans are drawn here each year.

And then there are our fabulous beaches, where you are able to drive and park your car, directly on the beach. How many beaches allow that?

Let’s also not forget Daytona’s close proximity to Orlando Florida as well. In about an hour to the South-West, you can be at Walt Disney World, Epcot Center, MGM Studios, Universal Studios, Wet ‘n Wild, Islands of Adventure, and much more. Or take a 45 minute drive north and visit St. Augustine, the oldest city in the U.S. and play at the World Golf Village or visit the old Castillo de San Marcos fort, which is a National Monument.

These are just a few of the many reasons that people choose to make buy real estate in Daytona Beach and make it their second home.  If you plan to frequent any of these attractions, or just want to relax on the beach, Daytona Beach is a wonderful location for your own vacation home. Why stay in a hotel, when you can have the comfort of being surrounded by own belongings. And if you’d like to offset your taxes, insurance, or mortgage if you need one, you can rent it out to the many families who vacation here and would prefer a home over a hotel room.

For a list of houses from the Daytona Beach area MLS, visit my web site. View my Featured Listings, or search for your own specifications.

Buy your Daytona Beach house or condo today!

View Daytona Beach area Real Estate MLS Listing Video Tours.

I thought I'd share some of my personal research about the Daytona Beach area real estate market. (For the record, the Daytona Beach area MLS covers not only Daytona Beach, but also South Daytona, Ponce Inlet, Daytona Beach Shores, Ormond Beach, Ormond by the Sea, Wilbur by the Sea, Holly Hill, and a few other entries from neighboring cities)

I've been compiling data since the beginning of 2005, reflecting how many residential listings went into the Daytona Beach area MLS each month, and how many residential sales closed each month. The results are very revealing!

Bear in mind though, that the listings coming on the market each month are not all first-time listings. Many of them have expired and been re-listed, so we're seeing a combination of new listings and re-listed homes in the monthly listing results.

Now for the good news. The beginning of 2007 saw record highs for the TOTAL residential listings (condos, townhouses, single family houses) of just over 7,000, in the Daytona Beach MLS. BUT, that number has been slowly dropping over the past couple of months. And at the same time, the sales seem to be holding steady. Our total residential inventory is now around 6,800.

View the 2 charts below to see the data I've compiled. And for more information, visit my web site.

Daytona Beach Real Estate Sales

You need to buy a condo in Daytona Beach! A what better than to live on the ocean?  Many people buy real estate in Daytona Beach as either their first or second home. Either way, it's a fabulous place to live!

This fully furnished unit is completely remodeled, on the 9th floor, in secure, oceanfront building.

Enjoy the breathtaking views! Buy this fabulous 2BR/2BA condo and enjoy ocean AND city views. You can even see the Intracoastal Waterway.

The kitchen and bathrooms have new cabinets, tile and counters. Kitchen has Corian counters and new appliances.

When you live on the ocean in this elite condominium, you can open the sliding glass doors from your dining room, living room and both bedrooms and step out onto your 75 foot wrap-around balcony to get the most enjoyment of the panoramic scenery.

This upscale building has secure entrances, sparkling pool, workout room and this unit comes with an assigned, underground parking space. And when you buy in this perfect location, you're within walking distance of the Bellair Plaza. Living here offers the best of both worlds- a Daytona Beach address, but without being in the middle of the special event traffic. 

Why should you buy this condo? Because it's the lowest priced unit in the building! And you don't have to do any updating. It's in move-in condition!

For more information and to view more photos visit my web site today!

Buy Daytona Beach oceanfront condo

Virtual Tour - Full Video Tour coming soon!