Here is a “rant” about the.... hmmmm how do I phrase this.... "trick"? that some, not all, real estate agents pull that just peeve me to no end. I am of the opinion that unless “secret bonuses” are fully disclosed to the buyer in writing...they are unethical.  The risk for steering buyers for an agent’s personal gain is overwhelming. When you make contact with a Real Estate Agent about buying property, you give them your criteria. They go to their computer and plug into their local MLS to start pulling up properties that meet your criteria - price - square footage - location etc. What they also see is the percentage commission that they will make...also known as the co-broke. (This is the amount or percentage of comission that the listing broker has agreed to share with the selling agen... 11/13/2008

Palm Coast Gl and Flagler County (population 68,000) is located on the upper east coast of Florida between Daytona Beach and historic St. Augustine.  People have definitely discovered this formerly remote corner of Florida. Palm Coast, the only “city” of size in the county, is growing rapidly both east and west of I-95.  Real estate options here run mostly to new and newer, but at this time the county’s price index is still well belong the state average. Occupying 26 miles of Atlantic Ocean coastline, Flagler County has     unspoiled and uncrowded beaches, pristine lakes and waterways, grasslands and forests, good golf courses, and a lot of parklands. On the oceanside, the little town of Flagler Beach is still off the beaten track, and still charming in its own way. Its ocean pier is a ... 10/25/2008

One of the wonderful things about living in Florida, and particularly Palm Coast, is the wildlife that is here.  I particularly love the variety of birds you see here.  Below is a video that my husband shot of Sandhill Cranes that often visit our back yard.  These are beautiful birds.  Enjoy.   10/21/2008

  Matanzas Woods Market Update thru September 2009  Residential Houses # Active:                                  65Median Price:              $199,000Average Price:           $219,807# Foreclosures:                       4Median Price:              $145,700Average Price:           $152,800# Short Sales:                   25             Median Price:           $169,000Average Price:            $171,396# Sold (9/09):                     3Median Price:               $165,000Average Price:            $185,000Average Days On The Market:      112# Sold YTD:                               34         Median Price:                $178,000Average Price:             $192,850Average Days On The Market:       137# Pending to Close:                  9Median Price:                $142,000             ... 10/21/2008

From now until July 1, 2009 First-Time Home Buyers can enjoy a $7500 Tax Credit which is repayable over 15 years interest free !  Some Highlights of this great program are: The tax credit is available for first-time home buyers only (anyone who has not owned a home for the last 3 years). The maximum credit amount is $7,500. The credit is available for homes purchased on or after April 9, 2008 and beforeJuly 1, 2009. Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit. The tax credit works like an interest-free loan and must be repaid over a 15-year period. For detailed information regarding this great program visit The Federal Housing Tax Credit Website 10/21/2008

It is not uncommon to hear the assumption that property is not selling right now.  The news media leads us to believe that credit is not available.  Furthermore, there is the assumption that prices may drop further.  I wanted to take a moment to add some clarity to these misconceptions.  First, houses are still selling.  114 houses closed locally in September of this year with an average selling price of $186,790 and a median selling price of $170,000.  The lowest being $64,500 and the highest being $470,000.  Of those 114 houses closed, 37 were ‘Short Sales' and 21 were foreclosures.  The foreclosures had an average of 75 days on the market compared to 148 days on the market for all properties combined.  There are currently 232 houses pending close right now locally (all statistics ar... 10/20/2008

Please watch the above video...it is history.  I will make the statement that no one reading this knows what my political views are...so be careful about making assumptions :-)  I am putting this out for reference for anyone who cares to learn.... "I kept six honest serving men. They taught me all I knew. Their names are What and Why and When and How and Where and Who." ~Rudyard Kipling 10/07/2008

10/04/2008

Last year I brought you photos of a 9/11 Memorial I attended in Palm Coast that was sponsored by the Palm Coast Red Knights Chapter 11. It was incredible! 400 bikes, a beautiful service, and a picture perfect day who could ask for more? Getting to do again! Over the past year I was fortunate to get to know the people who are from Chapter 11 of the Red Knights through other charity events, I asked if they were doing the 9/11 Memorial Ride again? When I was told yes, I was elated. I told their president Joe Vece that I would like to photograph it for them. We figured out the best spot along their 87 mile route for me to shoot them as they go by, however I didn't know how they were going to arrive there. 1 week before the Memorial/Ride I emailed them and within minutes I received a map and... 09/11/2008

Last year I attended the Red Knights 9/11 Memorial Run For The Fallen Hero's and what an experience it was. (Click the link to see the photos and read about it.) A lot has happened in the past year and I have gotten to know members of the Palm Coast Red Knights while attending charity events around the area, what a super group of people! These firefighters on bikes, active and retired do so much for folks in our area, you have no idea! They attend charity events for folks with cancer, folks who lost their homes to fires, they were huge supporters of our Annual Bikes And Blues With Mickey Jones   benefiting St. Jude Children's Hospital, just to name a few. Once a year The Red Knights organize a beautiful service for those we lost on 9/11/01 held at Hero's Memorial Park in Palm Coast, FL.... 09/04/2008

Make sure to check back for updates on the Palm Coast - Flagler County Real Estate Market and Trends. I believe that information is power and am an advocate for customer empowerment.   Gated, Intracoastal Front, Golf Community of Grand Haven *I feel it is very important to disclose that I personally own property in this community.*  Please read more about this unique and wonderful community here    Here is a Market Update for August 2008 for Grand Haven       Total Active Grand Haven Homes: 124 in August vs 130 in July  Median List Price: $452,579 in August vs $409,000 in July Average Sale Price: $335,318 in August vs $437,000 in July Sold Homes: 4 Homes in August vs 7 Homes in July Pending Homes: 11 Homes in August vs 11 Homes in July Vacancies 49% Average Days on Market: 222 List Pri... 09/03/2008

  Make sure to check back in for updates on the Palm Coast - Flagler County Real Estate Market and Trends. I believe that information is power and am an advocate for customer empowerment.   Market update for August 2008 Let the numbers talk. Total Active Palm Coast Homes:  General Palm Coast, Florida Homes update Non-Gated Communities   1344 Homes in August vs 1360 Homes for sale in July ****Inventory is continuing to decline in Palm Coast, Florida*****   Average List Price:  $242,581 in August vs $248,352 in July Average Sale Price: $184,702 in August vs$168,483 in July ****Please be careful when analyzing these numbers...in addition to Real Estate being local to State, County & City...it is very, very important to know that Real Estate is also very HYPER - LOCAL within a community....... 09/02/2008

Make sure to check back in for updates on the Palm Coast - Flagler County Real Estate Market and Trends. I believe that information is power and am an advocate for customer empowerment.   Market update for August 2008   The following Palm Harbor Stats do not include Saltwater Frontage Homes     Palm Harbor Neighborhood (East of I-95) 122 Homes for Sale (Inventories decreased by 8 %  between July & August)   Search Homes for sale in Palm Harbor - Palm Coast, Florida   There are currently 3 Bank Owned Homes in the Palm Harbor Neighborhood There are currently 20 Short Sale Homes in the Palm Harbor Neighborhood     Average List Price: $226,569 in August vs $231,934 in July Average Sale Price: $186,416 in August vs $153,563 in July Total Pending Homes:   21 Pending Bank Owned:   3 Pending Sh... 09/02/2008

  Make sure to check back in for updates on the Palm Coast - Flagler County Real Estate Market and Trends. I believe that information is power and am an advocate for customer empowerment.     Market update for August 2008   Indian Trails is one of the most built out communities in Palm Coast, so it is not a surprise that it has high inventory levels of homes on the market.  Indian Trails has always been a desired area due to its proximity to schools, the Library, restaurants, grocery stores etc.  Located just to the North of Palm Coast Parkway - West of I-95 and to the south of Matanzas Woods...it is in close proximity to the new Palm Coast Park development. India Trails is continuing to feel pressure on pricing as Average Ales price continues to decline and inventory levels are rising.... 09/02/2008

Make sure to check back in for updates on the Palm Coast - Flagler County Real Estate Market and Trends. I believe that information is power and am an advocate for customer empowerment.   Market update for August 2008   Pine Lakes has long been a very popular community due to the close proximity to shopping, dining, and of course is the home of the Pine Lakes Golf Course and Club house. During August we witnessed a decrease in inventories in Pine Lakes by about 6%, but that coincides with a decrease in the average list and average sale prices.  Again showing weakness in the market and customers looking for the best value and waiting for prices to continue to come down.  Average days on market also increased in Pine Lakes and the absorption rate in Pine Lakes show that we are in a strong... 09/02/2008

Make sure to check back in for updates on the Palm Coast - Flagler County Real Estate Market and Trends. I believe that information is power and am an advocate for customer empowerment.   Market update for August 2008   There was only 1 sale in July in the community of Matanzas Woods...the good news...it was not a distressed sales and the home sold for $365,000.  The bad news, is that was on rare home and the average sale price fell significantly when sales were recorded for the month of August. Matanzas Woods has also held onto property values much better than most of the other non-gated communities in general Palm Coast, Florida.  Again, I think it is very important to point out LOCATION.  Matanzas Woods is located west of I-95 and is the furthest Palm Coast community to the North.  T... 09/02/2008

Make sure to check back in for updates on the Palm Coast - Flagler County Real Estate Market and Trends. I believe that information is power and am an advocate for customer empowerment.   Market update for August 2008   The Belle Terre/Pine Grove Area is currently showing an extremely high absorption rate and it looks to be about 12 months of inventory currently on the market for sale. This is generally a indicator of a buyers market. The positives are that the average days on market from when a house is listed to when it sales has decreased to only 73 days.  This area is a prime example as is Lehigh Woods of the heavy impact of high levels of inventories, numerous short sales and bank owned properties really effecting the value and salability of neighboring homes.  It is unfortunate, b... 09/02/2008

Make sure to check back in for updates on the Palm Coast - Flagler County Real Estate Market and Trends. I believe that information is power and am an advocate for customer empowerment. Market update for August 2008 Quail Hollow did see a drop from July to August in both Average list price and average Sale price.  Although there are currently 14 short sales in the community of Quail Hollow,,,all of the bank owned properties have sold or are currently pending sale. the list to sale price ratio was the lowest of any neighborhood in Palm Coast for the month of August with houses on average selling for about 22% less than there last list price.  That is a very significant number considering most of the list to price ratio are in the mid to high 90% range. Quail Hollow Neighborhood (south of... 09/02/2008

For the month of August some positives occurred in the Seminole Woods neighborhood of Palm Coast, FL The Average List Price did decline slightly...but the Average Sales price increased while inventory levels decreased by 4%. Also, there are currently zero bank owned homes available in Seminole Woods for sale.  There are however 39 short sale homes currently available.  Short sales have the potential of becoming bank owned and foreclosure properties in the future so this is an important number to pay attention to. Seminole Woods located in the south end of Flagler County and Palm Coast.  Located in excellent proximity to the new Town Center Project , The Florida Hospital/Flagler, The Flagler County Airport and is very popular for those that commute and work in Daytona, Ormond Beach, New ... 09/02/2008

Make sure to check back in for updates on the Palm Coast - Flagler County Real Estate Market and Trends. I believe that information is power and am an advocate for customer empowerment.   Market update for August 2008   Inventories of homes for sale in Lehigh Woods increased 5.8% after an 8% decrease the previous month.  Once again showing us a fickle market.  Price again is the determining factor on if or when a house sells in Palm Coast, FL. Prices both on the listing and selling side continue to decline in Lehigh Woods.  Lehigh Woods has been one of the hardest hit areas of Palm Coast, FL Posting the highest number of bank owned properties and short sale properties month over month.   There are currently 2 Bank Owned Homes listed in Lehigh Woods There are currently 79Short Sale Homes... 09/02/2008