As a REALTOR®, when I list a house (also: condo, town house, manufactured home), I intend to sell it. Keeping this in mind, after making sure it's priced properly, I communicate with my sellers on the importance of keeping it "show ready". The beds should be made, dishes put away, toys picked up, everything clean and bright. If a particular seller has a lot of photos and knick-knacks sitting around, I advise them that they need to be removed. Experienced REALTORS® know that most home buyers are unable to see past the"stuff", to appreciate how desirable a house may be.

If you're selling a house, you need to ask yourself, "How badly do I want to sell?" Assuming you've hired a successful, knowledgeable REALTOR® to market and sell your house, if your REALTOR® has advised you of certain things that need to be done to make your house more desirable, you need to heed that advice. I don't mean to sound arrogant, but I am confident in my knowledge of what needs to be done, to make your house more desirable than the one up the street. It's my goal to have my listings blow away the competition! If I'm your REALTOR®, you and I are going to need to work together. I'll be doing the hard part in marketing, networking, researching, and keeping you abreast of changing market conditions as we go through the process of finding your buyer. You just have to keep the house ready and available for showings.

This brings me to the "available" part. Although you have a life and may not want your house to be shown at certain times, if you're anxious to sell, you might need to put some of your life on hold for a little while. It's an inconvenience, but if you go back to the question of "How badly do I want to sell?", you may find yourself reconsidering your position on when you'll let your house be shown. (Health problems not withstanding) In the Daytona Beach Multiple Listing System (MLS) we have 2.5 years of inventory right now! With that much inventory, both the buyer's agent and the buyer are going to be overwhelmed. And they're frequently looking for a way to narrow down the list of available properties in the buyer's price range and desired area. Properties that are hard to show will not make the short list of what will be shown. This also means that a lock box is necessary.

The last thing I'd like to mention is pricing. We all know we're in a buyers market. If you're the seller, I'm sure you're sick of hearing that. But it is a fact that our real estate values are in decline. Positive thinking is not going to change it, especially when the media is perpetuating the belief that all buyer's are going to get a steal right now. Declining prices mean that the longer your house is on the market, the lower the value will be. So if you're in a hurry to sell, or want to get back as much of your investment as possible, you need to be priced below your competition, right from the start! Remember, banks won't loan money on a house that doesn't appraise. An experienced REALTOR® will determine your market value in a manner that's similar to the banks' requirements and an appraisers' methods.

I have an in-depth system for determining the market value for my listings. Since this particular blog is getting long, I'll have to post that information at a later date. If you're interested in selling a house, condo, town house, etc., in the Daytona Beach or New Smyrna Beach area, make a Smart Choice and call me today. You can view my current listings on my web site on the Featured MLS Listings page. If you'd like to see some of my sales, go to My Sold Properties or you may want to start from the home page at www.DaytonaBeachHomeSales.com.

Lisa Hill is a member of both the Daytona Beach Area and the New Smyrna Beach Area MLS and Realtor Associations. Lisa has sold all types of real estate in Daytona Beach, Port Orange, Ponce Inlet, Wilbur-by-the-Sea, Ormond Beach, Ormond-by-the-Sea, Holly Hill, South Daytona, New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater and more.

If you live in the Daytona Beach Florida area, you probably know that we've had no lack of REALTORS® here. But did you know that many of them are dropping out of the business? The overall sales have been too slow to sustain the number of REALTORS® we had. Too many agents got their real estate licenses in hopes of getting rich quick, in the boom that prevailed for several years. And of the ones that remain, many more are working second jobs, leaving little time to effectively service their clients. 

Very quickly, let me point out a few important details about myself, then we'll move onto the educational portion of this post. 

• I am still a full-time REALTOR®.
  
• I am still selling houses and condos all over Volusia county.
  
• I'm not going anywhere.
  
• I'm in this for the long haul. 
  
• I've had business when other REALTORS® have had none.

How is it that I'm still successful, in the face of the worst real estate market we've seen in years? Because I didn't get a real estate license just to make a quick buck. This is my career. I've carefully prepared and educated myself with long-term goals in mind. This enables me to represent my clients in the most professional and advantageous manner.

Rather than repeat myself, I'm going to provide links to some of my other posts where I've compiled pertinent real estate information for the Daytona Beach area. Much of this is based on my own personal experience! I've sold all types of real estate in Ormond Beach, Ormond-by-the-Sea, Holly Hill, Daytona Beach, South Daytona,  Daytona Beach Shores, Wilbur-by-the-Sea, Ponce Inlet, Port Orange, New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater and some outside this area as well. Follow the links below, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I look forward to helping you with all your real estate needs.

The Long and Winding Road to A Real Estate Closing

New Home Owner's Association Laws

All Realtors Are Not Created Equally

Choosing A Good Listing Agent When Selling Real Estate

You'll find much more information on buying and selling real estate on my web site, which is updated frequently. Go to www.DaytonaBeachHomeSales.com. Make a SMART CHOICE today!

I know I'm a REALTOR® and not a food critic, but I can't help myself on this one. (BTW, there's some real estate info at the bottom of this post, if that's all you're looking for.)

Last weekend I wrote a post about the New Smyrna Beach Jazz Festival. In that post, I mentioned Chase's on the Beach, which is one of the local restaurants that was hosting one of the bands. Shortly after posting that information, I got a "thank you" e-mail from Anna, at Chase's. Apparently Anna uses Google Alerts and found my post immediately. Anna's on the ball!

This restaurant is a favorite of mine and my husband's. And here are some fantastic reasons why.

1. Great food!
2. Indoor dining for me.
3. Casual outdoor um, well, EVERYTHING for him. Just look at all these photos! (from the Chase's web site, used with Anna's permission)
4. Memories from when we were dating. (you'll have to create your own)

Now I had planned to write this post anyway, but it just got better with the e-mail I received from Anna letting me know that tonight's special is Prosciutto-wrapped Filet Mignon char-grilled and finished with olive oil, garlic and sun-dried tomatoes for only $19.99. And it gets better...

Every Sunday evening, from 5:00-8:00 p.m., there's a Low-Country Shrimp Boil with shrimp, crab, kielbasa sausage, corn on the cob and red potatoes. All you can eat for only $14.99! My mouth is watering.

And this coming week, on October 4th & 5th, enjoy the Oktoberfest German Buffet for $19.99. There are too many dishes to list here so I'll let you check out their web site for that information. 

If anyone's interested, my personal favorite dishes are the Key West Grouper and the Salmon with pineapple-mango salsa.

Now to add a little note for my client who has been looking at houses in New Smyrna, whose mother also lives in New Smyrna, who finally found the right house last weekend. Guess what your closing gift is going to be? We'll see you there!

Chases on the Beach

3401 S. Atlantic Ave., New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
Phone: (386) 423-8787 www.ChasesontheBeach.com 

 For information on real estate in New Smyrna Beach, visit my web site New Smyrna Beach real estate. And for more information on buying or selling real estate in the Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach areas, read The Long and Winding Road to a Real Estate Closing.

I was just updating my list of properties I've sold in the Daytona Beach area on my web site, and decided to share this idea with my fellow industry professionals, and the actual sales information with any interested buyers and sellers out there. 

I have a page on my web site where I keep a sampling of my sales. I update it periodically with new ones and remove some old ones. The sales are not in order since I like to break up the prices and cities a little bit.

I know this idea is popular with my clients because they tell me they've looked through it. I also know that it gets quite a few hits when I compare the different page statistics on my site.

I created a table and have a button on the side of my site that says My Sold Properties where you can access the chart below.

If you want to see my real estate site from the home page, it's at www.DaytonaDaytonaBeachHomeSales.com. 

Agents, this is a great way to provide sales information to interested customers. The chart is fairly simple to create. Then you just add it to your site content. 

Real Estate Buyers and Sellers: If you're looking to buy or sell real estate, you can see by this list that I'm experienced in many types of real estate. Make a Smart Choice & call me today!

I recently posted 2 condos for sale in Daytona Beach at 101 Peninsula Drive. These are completely remodeled units with top of the line upgrades including granite counters and Frigidaire stainless steel appliances. You can see those posts at

Daytona Beach condo for sale, Unit #305 and Daytona Beach condo for sale, Unit #113

Both of these units have now had 6% price reductions. Unit 305 is now $149,000 and unit 113 is now $120,000.

For more information about this area, you might be interested in these posts

• Why should you buy real estate in Daytona Beach?
• Daytona Beach Florida, Vacation and Second Home Destination
• Driving on Daytona Beach
• Driving on Daytona Beach part 2

If you're interested in a new condo, I can help. Check out this link to new condo projects being built.

UPDATE! Seller will now rent as well. There are some great lease incentives! 

For all your real estate needs, make a Smart Choice and call Lisa Hill. Visit my web site for anything you need to know about Daytona Beach real estate. 

I've recently posted a couple of blogs about some local museums and art shows. Since I've received e-mails from people that were interested in more information on these venues, I decided to post a list of museums and galleries in this area, including their upcoming events.

In Daytona Beach we have...

• Art League, located at  433 S. Palmetto Ave., currently featuring Deenya Sorenson, Marilyn Catlow and Antoinette Slick through October 4.
• Halifax Historical Museum, located at 252 S. Beach Street, permanently featuring exhibits from Racing Zone, Timucuan Indians, Jackie Robinson & Mary McLeod Bethune.
• Museum of Arts and Sciences (This is a very cool museum!), located at 352 S. Nova Rd., in affiliation with the Smithsonian Institution. There are too many features to list here, including a planetarium.
• 
  

• Living Legends of Auto Racing Museum, located at 2400 S. Ridgewood Ave., permanently featuring NASCAR memorabilia.

In Ormond Beach...

• The Casements, located at 25 Riverside Drive. I have another post with details about this one, including the fact that it was the former winter home of John D. Rockefeller. 
• Fred Dana Marsh Museum, located at 2099 N. Beach Street, featuring works by a local sculptor and architect.
• Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens, located at 78 E. Granada Blvd., currently featuring "Birds with an Attitude". I have a blog about this currently running art show.

In Ponce Inlet...

• Ponce DeLeon Inlet Lighthouse and Museum, located at 4931 S. Peninsula Drive. I also have a post about the fabulous Ponce Inlet lighthouse.
  

In Port Orange...

• Arthaus Gallery, located at 3840 Ridgewood Ave., featuring "If" from Spruce Creek High School art teachers. (My daughter won an award from Arthaus when she was younger.)
  

I sell real estate in all of these cities, which are each part of the Daytona Beach Area Association of Realtors and Multiple Listing Service. 

From now until November 4, 2007, you might want to visit the Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens and view their "Birds With An Attitude" exhibit. There are several featured artists, each with their own unique style and a range of mediums consisting of wood, wire, tile and paint. 

There's something for everyone in this exhibit.

• If your tastes are cubist and geometric, you'll enjoy the works of Bernard Goldstein.

• If you like bold and tenacious, lithographs, drawings and oils in vivid color, Rick Raschke's pieces are a must-see.
  

• For more realistic work, you'll love David Monaco's wood-chiseled, life-size contribution.

• For the photography lovers, there's something for you. Harry Moulis has provided almost abstract, highly detailed prints.

• The contemporary acrylics by Sandra de Nijs have been described as "feather-like".

• Described as "freedom, lightness and constant energy" are the works of Lou Scaturro.
  

The Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens is located at 78 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach, FL.

Museum hours are Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 12:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. Seniors (60+), students and children are admitted to the Museum free of charge every day; a $2 donation is suggested for adult visitors.

Another fabulous attraction in Ormond Beach is the former winter home of John D. Rockefeller, called The Casements.

If you prefer a casual day with the family, visit Tomoka State Park where you can go swimming, hiking and learn a little bit of area history.

Or you may want to take a short drive (about 10-15 minutes) south to for cultural entertainment at the Seaside Music Theater in Daytona Beach.

If you'd like to buy or sell real estate in Ormond Beach Florida, make a Smart Choice and call me today. I currently have listed, a 4 bedroom 2/5 bath Colonial style house in this area which you can view, along with other Ormond Beach MLS listings for sale, on my web site.

If you like Jazz and live in Central Florida, today (Sunday, September 23, 2007) is the last day of the New Smyrna Beach Jazz Festival that's being held this weekend. Of course, there will probably another one in the recent future, but if you want to catch this one and spend a day at the beach, then pack your sunscreen and head for A1A.

Here's today's schedule...

• 2:00-5:00 Julie Lyon Quartet, South Atlantic Grille, 3406 S. Atlantic Ave. New Smyrna Beach, FL
• 2:30-5:30 Robert Harris Band, Chases on the Beach, 3401 S. Atlantic Ave., New Smyrna Beach, FL (BTW, Chases serves excellent food!)
• 3:30-6:30 Duplicity Duo with saxophonist Pat D'Aguanno, PJ's Sea Shack, 491 E. 3rd Ave., New Smyrna
• 4:00-7:00 Jeff Rupert & Dirty Martini featuring Michelle Amato, The Garlic, 556 E. 3rd Ave., New Smyrna
• 4:30-7:30 Kid Dutch and his New Orleans Music, Clancy's Cantina, 747 E. 3rd Ave., New Smyrna (BTW, Clancy's is another local favorite)
• 5:00-8:00 Bobby Mercer Jazz Quartet featuring Ashley Locheed, Norwoods, South Causeway (Norwoods is another good one... I'm starting to notice a pattern here)
• 5:30-8:30 The What Thing, Beachside Tavern, 690 E. 3rd Ave.

And there you have it. Make the circuit and hear them all while enjoying fabulous food and drink. Don't miss it!

If you're interested in buying real estate in New Smyrna Beach, go to www.NewSmyrnaHomeSales.com.

If you'd like to build your own home on acreage, view my post titled 3.2 Acres in New Smyrna Beach.

You may also be interested in my post about the luxurious community of Venetian Bay.

I just found out some alarming news. Yesterday, I was on my way to the home inspection for a house I sold over the weekend in Quiet Place in the Country, in Port Orange Florida. On my way, I was surprised to find that traffic was backed up for several miles on Dunlawton and Taylor Road. (It's the same road, but the name changes as you pass under I-95) This type of heavy traffic is very abnormal for this area, except during Race Weeks in Daytona Beach when the traffic overflows into the neighboring cities.

As I passed under the I-95 overpass, I realized there had been a vehicle accident and several emergency vehicles were on the scene. But I had missed the actual occurrence and couldn't see what had happened.

A little while ago, I found out a car ran a red light and slammed into the side of a school bus carrying children. I haven't been able to find anymore information and was told the children were seen disembarking from the school bus, so I believe they're OK. However, I'm still very concerned. We have both a Middle School and a brand new elementary school in this area. Given the time of day, and knowing what times the schools let out, I believe the bus was carrying the middle school children.

Does anyone have anymore information? This is all I could find. 

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 Ventian Bay or any area of New Smyrna Beach, contact Lisa Hill today! 

www.LisaHillRealtor.com  

I know you're all jealous. Because I'm really special. I was personally hand chosen by those generous Nigerians, to receive a prestigious e-mail, offering me millions of dollars, absolutely free! Don't you wish you were me? 

I can't help but wonder, "Where do these Nigerians get all this money?" They have so much that they need to give some of it away! But since I'd feel guilty if I took there money without giving something in return, I've decided to offer my professional services to them! Isn't this a fabulous idea?

Here's my response to their enormous gratuity...

First I need your "most strictest of confidence in this matter". It must be "completely confidential and top secret". I am a very important real estate agent, "trapped within the strict laws" of the U.S., and am interested in becoming a member of your secret alliance. I am responding to take you up on your offer to "transfer the funds that are presently floating in the Central Bank of Nigeria", from the "mole you have placed in your government's military regime".

In order to help you transfer your funds, without raising suspicion for any parties, I have located several luxury oceanfront homes that upon receipt of your funds, I will purchase and add your name to the title, along with my own. You have my "personal guarantee of the manner in which this transaction will take place". As you indicated in your electronic communication, I too can assure you of my "maximum confidence".

"By virtue of my position as your loyal servant, I have been delegated as a matter of trust, by my colleagues to look for an overseas partner" into whose name I can transfer these homes. All I need from you, in order to proceed with helping with your desperate situation of unwanted monies, is your full name, the names of all your family members, your address, all contact numbers, and of course, the millions of unwanted monies of which you need to rid yourself. As you guaranteed, my offer also is "100% safe". And I too "am looking forward to doing this business with you and solicit your confidentiality in this transaction".

"Yours Faithfully"  Lisa Hill, Multi-Million Dollar Producer (which of course means that I too am worth millions of dollars; this should make you feel that much more secure if our mutual assurances)

P.S. This offer will also be honored to those with access to the secret floating funds in the banks of Sierra Leone and the Ivory Coast.

I'M GONNA GET RICH QUICK!

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/apartment 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 now reduced to $149,500!  And the seller has now decided he will rent /lease  as well! If you're in the rental market, their are some great incentives available. For more information on renting or leasing, follow this link Daytona Beach Condos/Apartments for Sale or Rent/Lease

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 

Yes, I know my title is grammatically incorrect but it gets to the point and you are reading this post, sooo....

My business has been pretty steady for the last few months, in spite of the declining market. This is pretty good considering the fact that in this area, the Multiple Listings Service (MLS) for the Daytona Beach Area Association of REALTORS® has 7,000 residential listings, and we're only averaging 235 closings per month. Basically, we have 2.5 years of inventory. 

Now I'm not going to tell you that I'm doing anywhere near the volume I was 2 and 3 years ago. But I'm also not hurting for business, so I thought I'd share my marketing strategy, and where I've been finding buyers for my real estate listings.

First, I've always been a huge believer in the necessity of placing my listings in as many places as possible. I don't depend on just one source. What happens when that source loses it's effectiveness? We all know it's inevitabe. That's a huge factor in this industry. Every aspect of it is in constant fluctuation. As REALTORS®, we have to be constantly looking for new ways to promote our inventory. Here are some of the ways I market my listings.

1. My personal web site at www.LisaHillRealtor.com; also found at www.DaytonaBeachHomeSales.com, as well as several other domains.
   
2. Right here on Active Rain. Just last week I received an excellent lead from some great people who are interested in buying a house near the beach in Ponce Inlet. If you're not familiar with Ponce Inlet, read my post about the Ponce Inlet lighthouse, park, beach and jetty.
3. Craig'sList. It's an old school system, but it still works. This coming Friday I'll be closing on a Daytona Beach condo I have listed. The buyer came from an ad I placed for that condo, on www.CraigsList.com. And as a side note: the listing was a referral from an agent in St. Augustine. He has referred listings to me in the past, and continues to do so because I sell them.
4. Trulia. I post my listings and answer questions on www.trulia.com. It's just one more way to improve my SEO. Of course, I'm nowhere near the level of being a top voice on Trulia, but it hasn't really taken off yet in this area, so I don't currently have any competition there. I'll have to step it up a notch, if and when it expands more in this area. I'm keeping a close eye on it, and I do have my listings there.
5. Homes and Land. I advertise in Homes and Land Magazine and have gotten many qualified buyers as a result. As a matter of fact, I have a closing next month for a buyer that came from my Homes and Land ad. I believe this particular magazine works in the Daytona Beach area is because this is a tourist destination with a lot of special events. There are many people who want to buy real estate here, strictly as a vacation or second home during special events. Homes and Land is a nationwide publication with a good internet presence, and advertisers get a page on their site, under their own names. My page there is at www.lisahill.homesandland.com. I upload listings there even if they're not in my ad. That way, anyone browsing the site can find those listings and contact me from there, or click through to my primary site.
6. WellcomeMat.com. I don't have videos for all of my listings since unfortunately, not all listings are going to look good in a video. It takes a lot of preparation to completely de-clutter a house or condo before a video can be made. Not all sellers are willing or able to do this extensive preparation. And many sellers are happy with plenty of good photos and a slide-show, which my web site provides. But for the listings that do have videos, I have links and a widget on my web site.
7. Our company web site. Adams Cameron provides a web site for every agent in the company. They even upload the content for you. Admittedly, the biggest appeal for this is going to be among agents who don't have another site since we don't have creative control, but our company has a good internet presence, so obviously that means that buyers are going to find my listings and site there, and will be able to contact me through several different avenues. I assigned a domain name to this site. It's www.lisahillonline.com.
   
8. My secondary real estate blog, located at Blogger.com. Now before you click there, I'll let you know that this is a new one. I deleted my old one for reasons that are too lengthy to add to this post. And I usually just double post content from this blog anyway. But if you want to check it out, you can find my Daytona Beach real estate blog at www.beachsidenews.com. I have a couple of other domain names assigned to that one as well.

For more ways to reach real estate buyers, as I've mentioned in other posts, I have a personal real estate brochure and a real estate buyers presentation. 

I've also written lots of Localism posts! I've been writing posts about changes in real estate laws, closing steps, a list of local colleges, information on different subdivisions, distinctions between the different cities, NASCAR and Bike Week, etc. After writing so many posts about things to do in the Daytona Beach area, I finally wrote one with reasons why people should buy real estate here, and inserted those links into that one.

These are some of my ways to reach buyers for my real estate listings. Did I miss anything?

Are you looking to invest in real estate in Daytona Beach Florida? Or are you interesting in renting or leasing? Look at these great condos/apartments!

Completely remodeled condominium/apartment project within walking distance to beach, boardwalk and river. This 3rd floor studio has peaceful views and a private rear balcony. (View a 2 bedroom unit here)

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. Buy yours today! $127,900 Rent for $650 per month plus 1 month free with a 1 year lease!

View this listing at www.DaytonaBeachHomeSales.com 

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

Daytona Beach Investors-Why Should You Buy in Daytona Beach? 

Daytona Beach Florida-Vacation and Second Home Destination 

There are many great reasons to buy real estate in Daytona Beach and I've written many articles extolling the virtues of living in Daytona Beach Florida. I thought I'd write this post from the perspective of someone (me) who has lived here their whole life. 

Daytona Beach holds many things for children and families to do. Of course, one of the most popular areas for fun activity is the beach. You can build sand castles on our white sandy beaches, or play in the surf of our warm ocean water. And don't forget you can drive on Daytona Beach as long as you don't venture into any of the conservation areas.

Another fun family outing would be a trip to Jackie Robinson Ball Park. Or perhaps you'd enjoy a day at the Daytona Beach Flea and Farmer's Market which had been named one of the Top 5 Flea Markets in America by USA Weekend.

NASCAR fans already know that Daytona Beach is NASCAR headquarters. And motorcycle fans enjoy Bike Week, Biketoberfest and the world's largest Harley Davidson dealership. Millions of fans come every year to attend the many different racing and motorcycle events. We're also in close proximity to Orlando Florida, where you can take a day trip to Walt Disney World, Epcot Center, MGM Studios, Wet n Wild and more.

If you're interested in cultural events, we have the London Symphony Orchestra's annual Florida International Festival. And we have Seaside Music Theater for year-round theatrical entertanment.

For outdoor fun, you can visit Tomoka State Park, which is just 15 minutes north of Daytona Beach, located in Ormond Beach Florida. As a child, I spent a lot of time there with my family. Also located in Ormond Beach is The Casements. The Casements is now a museum, but it is a fabulous piece of history as the former winter home of John D. Rockefeller.

If you drive just a few miles south of Daytona Beach, you'll find the city of Port Orange. At the Port Orange City Center, many fun family events are held. Each year in October, we have Port Orange Family Days where children and adults can ride the midway rides, have their faces painted and enjoy outdoor concerts. There are also some fantastic seafood restaurants in Port Orange, located on the beachside (peninsula), right under the Dunlawton Bridge. You can choose to eat indoors or out, while you relax along the Intracoastal Waterway.

While you're on the beachside, if you drive a few more minutes south, you'll find Ponce Inlet. For a unique experience, visit Lighthouse Park and walk over to the jetty at the inlet. Or just let the children play in the park. There are some more fabulous seafood restaurants in this area as well. 

Daytona Beach is a great place to call home. If you'd like to buy a house or condo in Daytona Beach Florida, make a Smart Choice and call Lisa Hill for all your real estate needs. 

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...

• Picture Yourself in Port Orange
• Plan A Fun Outing in Port Orange
• Port Orange City Center and Family Days

If you're considering buying real estate in Port Orange Florida, make sure you don't overlook Port Orange City Center when making your decision! As a REALTOR®, I make sure my clients have the opportunity to see the beautiful lake with 3 fountains that anchors our Police Department, Library, YMCA, Utilities Department, Ball Fields and Amphitheater.

This gorgeous setting is meant to entice people of all ages to walk, jog and enjoy the outdoors.

Every year in October, thousands of people come to the City Center for the weekend of Port Orange Family Days where you can enjoy concerts, a midway, and obtain information from the local businesses that help host this much-anticipated annual event. This year, Port Orange Family Days will be held on the weekend of of October 4th-7th. I can't wait! Stay tuned for more information as the time of this special event draws nearer.

For all your real estate needs, make a Smart Choice and call Lisa Hill.

www.PortOrangeRealEstateSales.com  

*Don't forget Lakeside Jazz Fest, also at the Port Orange City Center, in the Kenneth W. Parker Amphitheater.

Want to know a secret? Daytona Beach Florida is not what you think! Really, it’s not. If you’ve read some of my previous posts, you’ll know that Daytona Beach only makes up a very small portion of the Daytona Beach Area. What many people think is Daytona Beach is really 9 different cities that are each only a few miles wide. The borders even wrap around each other in some areas.

So what are these cities? Well I’m glad you asked. We’ll start at the northern end and work our way to the southern end of the area that is covered by REALTORS®  who live and work in this area, and are members of the Daytona Beach Area Association of Realtors. We have Ormond by-the-Sea, Ormond Beach, Holly Hill, Daytona Beach, South Daytona, Daytona Beach Shores, Port Orange, Wilbur-by-the-Sea and Ponce Inlet.

Most people who think they want to buy real estate in Daytona Beach, may or may not end of buying in Daytona Beach. I've sold houses in all of these cities.

I currently have listings in Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, Port Orange, South Daytona and New Smyrna Beach, which is just 10 miles south of Port Orange.

Today I was showing houses to buyers that had specifications for the type of house they wanted to buy, that could only be found in Port Orange. They looked at a couple of houses in Ponce Inlet, but the prices are significantly higher in Ponce Inlet, due to the layout of that city, and the privacy it offers, not to mention the fabulous Ponce Inlet lighthouse and no-drive beach. Because don’t forget, you can drive on the beach in Daytona.

The photos you see in this post, were all taken around the Port Orange City Center. This is a unique area where you’ll find the Port Orange Police Department, Library, YMCA, Utilities Department, Ball Fields and an Amphitheater, all built around a peaceful lake that is enjoyed by many different species. And the beautiful lake is bordered by a path that was created to entice people of all ages to walk, jog and enjoy the outdoors. And every year in October, thousands of people come for the weekend of Port Orange Family Days where you can enjoy concerts, a midway, and obtain information from the local businesses that help host this much-anticipated annual event.

If you’re interested in buying a house or condo in the Daytona Beach Area in any of the cities I’ve mentioned, make a Smart Choice and call me today. Or visit my web site to find information on each of these cities. I was born and raised in this area and I’m the expert for all your real estate needs!

Click here for a wealth of information about the city of Port Orange, all in one place.

I'm going to post this as both information and a question. Is anyone familiar with Ajax13? Maximum PC magazine says it's a great alternative to Microsoft Outlook.

I've been using Microsoft Office Professional for my real estate business for many years now. But Ajax13 is free! You heard me. It's FREE! So instead of paying $500 or so to upgrade next time, I'm interested in this alternative. 

According to Maximum PC, Ajax13 has a word processor, an Excel-compatible spreadsheet program, a drawing application, a Power Point compatible presentation program, plus ajax Tunes, which is a mini music player that has internet radio stations. You can play and work at the same time.

So have any of you used Ajax13?

Check this out. You can spice up your blogs with just about any widget you can think of, with Widgetbox for the blogosphere. Want a mortgage calculator? Check!

How about a vFlyer listing widget, or Recipes or World Clocks? Check, check and check!

There's even a fund-raising widget for up-to-date contribution progress.

And how about an alien pet clock?

They're all free so have fun picking and playing with your own widgets!

If you don't already know, you have to enter your text and save your post as a Draft. I marked the places where I would later insert my widgets with <>.

After you've saved your draft, click Edit, then click on the HTML button and insert the code from your widget, in the spot where you want it. If you used my example, just insert it between the brackets. Then save your draft again.

You should now see your widget. If you want to remove the brackets, you can edit one more time and click back on the WYSIWYG button and delete the brackets.