Suprise! You spent all that money on a fance new PC or laptop hoping to speed up your user experiance only to see an agonizing start up time day after day. So  you would think it's just a bloated OS causing the long load times. Well I say nee, nee my friend. Nee nee... Seems that there is a fancy little setting that needs to be flipped on that is unchecked out of the box. I was happy when a friend passed on this windows secret and now it's time to share. As a default, Vista only boots using a single core processor. Most of us now have atleast a dual core centrino laptop or intel core two desk tops we are working with. So let's review the steps nessicary to boot using all available cores to get things really humming. 1. click the windows start button and type "msconfig" in the search box... 04/08/2009

Good afternoon! Ahhh, back to 80 degrees again and things are heating up at our weekly meeting as well. This week, attorney David Rosenberg will be sharing his vast knowledge on something we are very familiar with in the Sunshine State, “Dare to Share: The Truth About Fractional Ownerships and Timeshares.” If you, a parent, a friend, or a cousin are involved in one of these, you will definitely want to be at the meeting to hear David speak and ask him your questions. See you then! MIKE TULLIO, DIRECTOR (941)228-1020 CELL (866)415-7805 FAX WWW.MANAREIA.COM WHEN: Fridays from 11:45-1:15 PM WHERE: New China Buffet at 8341 Lockwood Ridge Rd. Sarasota, FL 34243 Click here for directions. We’ll gather in the meeting room to the right of the buffet. WHAT: A round table lunch and discussion of ... 01/28/2009

 In spite of the negatives in the media, the housing market has several positive conditions smart buyers are jumping on now... 1. Low prices. The fact home prices have dropped is unfortunate for sellers and the economy, but for buyers it presents a golden opportunity they may never see again. Today's low prices mean buyers can get MORE HOUSE and a BETTER NEIGHBORHOOD than they've been able to afford before. 2. Fantastic rates. Mortgage rates are at 37-year lows. We may not see rates like this for a long, long time. Each 1% drop in interest rates roughly translates into a 10% boost in purchasing power. Combined with today's low home prices, this adds up to real values that smart buyers don't want to miss. 3. Lots of choice. Today, buyers have lots of options to look at. This is great for... 01/23/2009

Embedded video from CNN Video 01/04/2009

Looking for a new home in fabulous planned community in Sarasota, Florida area? Take a stroll through Lakewood Ranch. This award winning planned community has a lot to offer. Here you can find numerous golf courses, gorgeous homes, plentiful shopping nearby on University Parkway, tons of social events, great schools, and a variety of residents from all walks of life. The Lakewood Ranch real estate market has 7 villages to meet every taste and desire. The villages are encircled by a wealth of natural lakes, from small fishing ponds to 160-acre Lake Uihlein. As of December 2008 price ranges vary from $100,000 to up over $8,000,000. Visit my Lakewood Ranch real estate page to view all homes and condos currently for sale. My website is updated daily with photos, addresses, descriptions and... 12/08/2008

  I sold this home recently in the Edgewater neighborhood of Lakewood Ranch. It was a foreclosure and had been taken back by the bank. The listing price was $249,500 and my client purchased it for $233,000. It previously sold 3 years ago for $450,000. Amazing difference between where we were and where we are now. This home had 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a den. The den could serve as a 3rd bedroom as well. Located conveniently in the Edgewater village of Lakewood Ranch. It is a gated community that sits comfortably on the 160 acre Lake Uihlein. It is only minutes to all of the shopping, restaurants and golf courses around Lakewood Ranch. Please call me at 941-812-6272 if I can help you with Lakewood Ranch real estate. 11/17/2008

Looking for a golf course community in southwest Florida? Take a trip to Lakewood Ranch. It is located on the Manatee/Sarasota county line. This is a very special planned community that has won numerous awards for the design of the community. The Lakewood Ranch real estate market has seven villages to meet just about every taste and budget. The villages are littered by numerous natural lakes, from small fishing ponds to 160-acre Lake Uihlein. All of the neighborhoods are within minutes to several golf courses including: The Country Club, Legacy, River Club, Tara, Rosedale, Concession, University Park and The Ritz Carlton member course. This really is a great place to live. The Country Club in Lakewood Ranch The County Club in Lakewood Ranch sit in the center of this master planned comm... 11/17/2008

Need something out of the ordinary? Take a look at The Lake Club in Bradenton, Florida. This is the newest neighborhood to be added to the Lakewood Ranch community. What sets this community apart from the other villages of Lakewood Ranch are the diversity in homes. Each home's elevation (front exterior) needs to be different. This gives more character to the neighborhood and reduces the cookie cutter feel. This community features some of the most amazing homes available in Lakewood Ranch. The Lake Club is situated on fifteen hundred acres of gorgeous landscaping, overlooking several beautiful lakes. The home sites start at one quarter of an acre and go to one full acre. Most of the lots offer stunning views of the water and nature preserves. Buyers can choose from several highly rated ... 11/17/2008

Located east of Sarasota and just off I-75, Lakewood Ranch is a 7,000-acre master-planned community located on the Sarasota/Manatee county line on the southwest coast of Florida. Set on the 30,000-acre Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, the community is comprised of five residential villages divided into neighborhoods with a great deal to offer. Fifty percent of the land at Lakewood Ranch has been set aside for recreation and open space, including lakes, preserves, and nature and activity parks. Additional amenities include a private golf and country club, with two championship Palmer-designed golf courses; town center with shopping, restaurants, and hotels; state-of-the-art athletic center; medical facilities, complete with a 120-bed hospital; and three commercial employment centers, which are a... 08/20/2008

Located east of Sarasota and just off I-75, Lakewood Ranch is a 7,000-acre master-planned community located on the Sarasota/Manatee county line on the southwest coast of Florida. Set on the 30,000-acre Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, the community is comprised of five residential villages divided into neighborhoods with a great deal to offer. Fifty percent of the land at Lakewood Ranch has been set aside for recreation and open space, including lakes, preserves, and nature and activity parks. Additional amenities include a private golf and country club, with two championship Palmer-designed golf courses; town center with shopping, restaurants, and hotels; state-of-the-art athletic center; medical facilities, complete with a 120-bed hospital; and three commercial employment centers, which are a... 07/16/2008

I went to a monthly networking/marketing event on Friday sponsored by the company (Schroeder Manatee Ranch, or just SMR) that owns Lakewood Ranch and is building out that part of the two counties of Manatee and Sarasota. Over the years we have helped buy and sell both new construction and resale homes in Lakewood Ranch, but I learned Friday that there is so much more to know! What is Lakewood Ranch (LWR)? Well, to give you an idea, the cities in our region (Bradenton, Palmetto, Sarasota, Venice) are clustered within a 6-mile corridor between the coast and Interstate 75 -- generally, all built close to navigable salt water. LWR, on the other hand, occupies former farmland EAST of I-75 and straddling both counties -- a 30,000-acre parcel that is roughly 8 miles north-to-south and 6 miles ... 06/22/2008

If you live in the Bradenton - Sarasota, Florida area you are invited to attend and join the Bradenton Real Estate Club. This week's Speaker:Mike Tullio of Blue Skye Lending will speak on "Clearing Up the Crystal Ball". Ever wondered how to predict which way rates are going? Forget about flipping a coin, now you can prognosticate with confidence! Be sure to bring your non-functioning crystal ball Friday so we can tune it up. WHEN: Every FridayArrive: 11:45 - 12:15 Networking, Order and enjoy lunch from the Snook River Grill menuMeeting: 12:15 - 1:15 Discussion/PresentationWHERE: Snook River Grill 2505 Manatee Ave. E. 34208(I-75 Exit 220, go west on State Road 64 (M anatee Avenue) approximately 3.5 miles.Get DirectionsWHAT: This is a round-table luncheon and discussion of real estate top... 02/26/2008

Every Friday I am writing about objection handling.  These posts will reflect 13 years of experience in handling objections and reveal collected scripts that you can use.  Your comments and participation is welcome. Our Bradenton, Florida real estate market has seen more expired listings in the last 12 months than at any time since records have been kept.  Many markets across the country are experiencing the same thing.Both agents and consumers are frustrated. Agents WANT to be successful and sell their listing.  Consumers want an agent who gets the job done. You may want to read the introduction to this series: Objection Handling: New Series of Posts.  Both agents and consumers are invited to participate.Here are the most common objections posed by consumers that I'll be addressing:"We... 02/21/2008

Valderrama at Country Club EastLakewood Ranch (Florida) was recently voted "Best Neighborhood" by the readers of Sarasota Magazine. This planned unite development is an 8,500 acre master-planned community.  There are presently seven villages offering condos, townhomes, and single family homes.  Prices range from the $200's to the multi-millions. Recreational facilities include an athletic center, golf courses, polo fields, and many commuity parks.Country Club East is a private gated community offering select neighborhoods with single family and multi-family homes developed around the beautiful Rick Robbins-designed golf course. As a part of the designated “Green” area of Lakewood Ranch, all homes will be built to Florida Green Building Coalition standards. Country Club East will feature... 02/17/2008

Lee Wetherington is a local builder whose homes are featured in La Cantera in the Country Club of Lakewood Ranch, Florida. This is an award winning master planned community.  This section features homes priced in the mid 600's to well over one million. Homesites range from 1/3 to 1 acre with gold course and/or preserve views.Two golf clubs are available for residents: The Lakewood Ranch Golf and County Club and the public Legacy Golf Course. Residents also enjoy the miles of sidewalks and trails for biking and walking. are built around the public Arnold Palmer designed Legacy Golf Course as well as the private Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club. Pictured here is the St. Andrews model with a base price of $1.6 million.Buyers represented by a REALTOR have advantages others do not have. ... 12/16/2007

It was confirmed on Wednesday by the U.S Post Office that Lakewood Ranch will now be recognized as a postal address.Read the full story here.Before, residents either had to select Bradenton or Sarasota, but now they are able to select Lakewood Ranch.  It has not been given it's own zip code yet, but I imagine that will be coming at some point.Building on the new 24,000 sq ft Lakewood Ranch post office is underway and is set to open as early as October 2008.Lakewood Ranch continues to grow in size and really is a city of it's own.  It is *huge*.  I will be writing a post about Lakewood Ranch soon, so stay tuned! 12/12/2007

Welcome to Neal Communities' Edenmore in The Country Club at Lakewood Ranch in Bradenton, Florida.  This beautiful gated community offers generous lot sizes with preserve and golf views. The builder's web site describes the community this way..."Edenmore is nestled within the exclusive new section of The Country Club at Lakewood Ranch, where stately trees draped with moss and green, open spaces are abundant."The French Country architectural flair of the homes imbues a sense of idyllic charm that complements the natural beauty of the landscape. Home sites offer spectacular views of lakes and preserves, as well as the private golf course." Today's Bradenton Herald newspaper featured the Chamonix model which is currently priced from the $400s.Click Here to see the Bradenton Herald's slide ... 12/02/2007

The Lake Club, a new community in Lakewood Ranch, Florida was featured in our local paper today. This new home community is situated on 1500 acres in east Manatee County.Home sites from one quarter of an acre to one full acre in The Lake Club enjoy either gorgeous views of the water, a nature preserve, or exquisite landscaping to enhance the sense of privacy. The 10 builders chosen for The Lake Club are the finest estate builders in the region and all homes are custom-built to suit each buyer. The 24-hour staffed, gated entrance accessed only by property owners and their pre-arranged guests, creates privacy and exclusivity. All homes meet or exceed Florida Green Building Coalition Standards.  Today's paper featured London Bay Home's Capriano model: $2.45 million fully furnished. See the... 11/25/2007

Today's newspaper ran a lead story about The Lake Club at Lakewood Ranch, Florida featuring a model by Pruett Builders.I gathered some info about this new community that I thought I would share.Lakewood Ranch is an award winning Master Planned community on the Southern edge of Manatee County, Florida and continuing into the Northern edge of Sarasota County.  At this point all of the residential portion of this community is in Manatee County with some commercial development in Sarasota County.The Lake Club is a luxury, gated neighborhood located on 1,500 beautiful acres.  Homesites range from 1/4 acre to 1 full acrea with beautiful lake views, or nature preserve views, There are 10 builders from which to choose when building.  All of these builders are award winning builders in their on ... 10/07/2007

Lakewood Ranch is starting to sell again...Last week, 29 homes sold, including 22 in Greenbrook. About a month ago things started to pick up. For two months now there has been a slide in the county's total inventory as pricing showed stability. I would say we are within about 8% of what buyers are willing to pay and what sellers are asking for homes. If we can adjust a little we can get this inventory worked through the system and return to normalcy.Lee Forbeswww.LeeForbes.com 07/25/2007