Robert H. Gidel, formerly a Managing Director of Liberty Partners, LP, has joined The Ginn Company as President. Bobby Ginn will continue his role as Chairman and CEO. An internal announcement is being developed and a formal press release is forthcoming. Mr. Gidel is already residing in Orlando. I spoke today with Bobby Masters, Executive Vice President of The Ginn Company and with Ginn spokesperson, Ryan Julison. They described how the company has been looking for nearly five years for the right person to take over much of the day-to-day operations of the company, to free up Bobby Ginn to do the things he has done so well. Gidel will watch over things like operations, financial systems, human resources, while Bobby will continue to be the face of the company, the visionary, the markete... 07/17/2007

They build houses in just a few days on television. Of course everything is pre-staged and non-traditional methods are used, but why does it take 6 to 18 months in real life?   Home construction is not a simple task. Most have no idea how many steps and how many different skills or trades are required. Building codes, materials used, construction methods, weather, and architectural styles vary from region to region, but this article's message is fundamentally valid anywhere. My reference is Palm Coast, in Flagler County, on Florida's northeast coast between Daytona Beach and St. Augustine. Here, we don't dig big holes for basements. Due to the flat terrain and high water table, we would have to call them indoor swimming pools so homes are built "at grade," on concrete slabs. We also don... 07/13/2007

Current Active Residential Properties for Sale: 14Average List Price: $777,776Lowest List Price: $385,000Highest List Price: $1,149,990Current Active Residential Vacant Homesites for Sale: 111Average List Price: $256,028Lowest List Price: $115,000Highest List Price: $529,900Year-to-Date Resdential Home Sales: 2Average Number of Days on the Market: 170Average Sales Price: $562,500Lowest Sales Price: $500,000Highest Sales Price: $625,000Year-to-Date Resdential Vacant Homesite  Sales: 8Average Number of Days on the Market: 186Average Sales Price: $228,875Lowest Sales Price: $120,000Highest Sales Price: $379,000An overall Palm Coast Market Report can be found on my website at http://www.kathywestrealtor.com/Local_Real_Estate_Report/page_1740413.htmlDisclaimer: All information provided is ta... 07/11/2007

Current Active Residential Houses for Sale: 104Average List Price: $259,730Lowest List Price: $159,900Highest List Price: $609,000Current Active Residential Vacant Homesites for Sale: 102Average List Price: $86,019Lowest List Price: $25,000Highest List Price: $219,000Year-to-Date Resdential Home Sales: 18Average Number of Days on the Market: 151Average Sales Price: $219,732Lowest Sales Price: $160,000Highest Sales Price: $355,00The Following Residential Properties Closed During the Month of June:96LYNBROOK DRIVE5LEWISDALE PL22LOUISIANA DRIVE62LONDON DRIVE60LUTHER DRIVE30LAKE SUCCESS DRIVE9LAMOUR LANE73LONDON DRIVEJune showed a great increase for the area in activity when 8 properties sold whereas a total of 10 had sold for the entire year at the close of the previous month.  We are seei... 07/11/2007

Palm Coast, one of the fatest growth communities in the US, will see much longed for additions and enhancements to the community over the next year.  Fall of 2007 we are scheduled to see the Grand Opening of The Cobblestone Village on the southwest corner of I-95 and Palm Coast Parkway.  This outdoor shopping center will be hosted by Lowes and Belk's as the two anchor stores.  The center will also have a variety and other speciality shopping and restaurants.   Click Here For the Site Plan  Click Here for the Aerial Plan Click Here for the Construction Aerial At the April Grand-Opening of the renovated Pine Lakes Country Club, LandMar eluded to a grand-opening of a renovated Matanzas Woods Golf Course to happen in late Fall 2007.  Matanzas Woods has been closed at this point and renovati... 06/24/2007

GATED cOMMUNITIES IN AND AROUND FLAGLER COUNTY SUCH AS  Grand haven, Palm Coast Plantation, Oean Hammock, Hammock Dunes, island Estates, Plantation Bay, Tidelands, Centex Destination Properties, Cinnamon Beach.Can we add more gated communities to this 06/11/2007

Any analysis is meant to give a guage of "market conditions" or as some like to say, "the temperature" of the market and draw some conclusions based upon trends.  This analysis is meant to give an overview of the Palm Coast, FL Real Estate market.  The numbers used are from statistical data obtained through our MLS system and are meant only to serve as a guide and are not guaranteed.  The period from January to May (with preliminary numbers for May) of this year show signs of change, but also show signs of a positive future.  The statistics used for this analysis are rounded to the nearest thousand and are strictly for the Palm Coast, FL area not including Commercial sales.  Let's take a look at some of these categories and figures:Residential House Sales contribute to 85% of all sales.... 06/07/2007

Matanzas Woods Market Report - June 2, 2007 Current Active Residential Houses for Sale: 117Average List Price: $272,750Lowest List Price: $165,900Highest List Price: $642,000Current Active Residential Vacant Homesites for Sale: 108Average List Price: $89,008Lowest List Price: $39,900Highest List Price: $219,000Year-to-Date Resdential Home Sales: 10Average Number of Days on the Market: 137Average Sales Price: $228,540Lowest Sales Price: $165,000Highest Sales Price: $355,000An overall Palm Coast Market Report can be found on my website at http://www.kathywestrealtor.com/Local_Real_Estate_Report/page_1740413.htmlDisclaimer: All information provided is taken from the Flagler County Association of Realtors MLS system as of 6/2/2007.  The information does not include For-Sale-By-Owner propert... 06/02/2007

Palm Coast Plantation Market Report June 2, 2007 Current Active Residential Properties for Sale: 13Average List Price: $791,060Lowest List Price: $399,000Highest List Price: $1,149,990Current Active Residential Vacant Homesites for Sale: 112Average List Price: $258,525Lowest List Price: $115,000Highest List Price: $529,900Year-to-Date Resdential Home Sales: 2Average Number of Days on the Market: 170Average Sales Price: $562,500Lowest Sales Price: $500,000Highest Sales Price: $625,000Year-to-Date Resdential Vacant Homesite  Sales: 7Average Number of Days on the Market: 202Average Sales Price: $244,429Lowest Sales Price: $120,000Highest Sales Price: $379,000An overall Palm Coast Market Report can be found on my website at http://www.kathywestrealtor.com/Local_Real_Estate_Report/page_17404... 06/02/2007

Palm Coast Located south of St Augustine Florida and North of Daytona Beach Florida offer some of the best deals in Northern Florida.  Currently Building a new town center Homes priced from $198,000 offering 1563 of living plus some major IncentivesSingle Family homes from $206,000 Offering 1927 SQFt under air Plus IncentivesBeach AccessGolf  is this a great price? If you would like some additional Information Please contactYour Trusted Real Estate team "Producers" Keller Williams Realty St Augustine Florida 05/23/2007

It's that time of year when we begin taking vacations.  Many of us go away with some reservations about the security of our homes.  Here's some tips from www.USAonWatch.org:Ask a neighbor to check in on your property from time to time.  Don't let mail or newspapers pile up.  Stop both services or ask someone to pick these things up for you.  Newspaper laying in a driveway are an indicator no one is there.Lock away valuables.Make arrangements to have the grass cut while you are awayClick Here to download a Vacation ChecklistRember, Neighborhood Watch is all about looking out for one another.  Report any suspicious activity to your local law enforcement. 05/16/2007

Property Tax is a "hot point" of discussion in Florida right now.  The Legislature has post-poned another session until the end of June to discuss the matter.  The Florida Association of Realtors has been actively voicing its concerns in this matter to help protect homeowners and businesses and place a fair tax system in place current and future property owners.  The following are the points being made by the Association:• Portability of Save Our Homes is one of the proposed solutions in response to the lock-in effect.Realtors® support a one-time or limited statewide portability if coupled with comprehensive propertytax reform. Ideally, counties would set the level of tax portability.• Realtors® oppose an immediate doubling of the homestead exemption but would supportexempting a higher ... 05/04/2007

Current Active Residential Properties for Sale: 15Average List Price: $819,978Lowest List Price: $399,000Highest List Price: $1,399,999Current Active Residential Vacant Homesites for Sale: 110Average List Price: $259,161Lowest List Price: $129,900Highest List Price: $529,900Year-to-Date Resdential Home Sales: 2Average Number of Days on the Market: 170Average Sales Price: $562,500Lowest Sales Price: $500,000Highest Sales Price: $625,000Year-to-Date Resdential Vacant Homesite  Sales: 5Average Number of Days on the Market: 197Average Sales Price: $242,200Lowest Sales Price: $120,000Highest Sales Price: $379,000An overall Palm Coast Market Report can be found on my website at http://www.kathywestrealtor.com/Local_Real_Estate_Report/page_1740413.htmlDisclaimer: All information provided is ta... 05/02/2007

Current Active Residential Houses for Sale: 113Average List Price: $279,818Lowest List Price: $167,900Highest List Price: $642,000Current Active Residential Vacant Homesites for Sale: 114Average List Price: $88,588Lowest List Price: $39,900Highest List Price: $219,000Year-to-Date Resdential Home Sales: 8Average Number of Days on the Market: 169Average Sales Price: $207,800Lowest Sales Price: $165,000Highest Sales Price: $260,000An overall Palm Coast Market Report can be found on my website at http://www.kathywestrealtor.com/Local_Real_Estate_Report/page_1740413.htmlDisclaimer: All information provided is taken from the Flagler County Association of Realtors MLS system as of 5/2/2007.  The information does not include For-Sale-By-Owner properties.  All information is deemed reliable but ... 05/02/2007

Every town has a history.  A recet article in our town's newsletter, The PalmCoaster, and the book Images of America: Palm Coast by Arthur Dycke do a wonderful job detailing the rapid growth and the richness that is Palm Coast over the short time of just about 38 years.  Palm Coast began as a vision in the corporate offices of ITT Corporation in New York in 1969 to transform almost 100,000 acres of mostly forests into what we now know as Palm Coast.  I thought it would be interesting to take a look at what things began as and what they are today:Real EstateThen - In 1970 "The Welcome Center at Palm Coast" welcomed visitors by boat.  Visitors and prospective buyers were escorted up a 64-foot tower that provided a panaramic view of the area to see views of the golf course model homes and ... 04/28/2007

Lately, all we seem to hear in regards to houses is the price.  So is your house simply an investment?  Yes and no.  Your house is what you see it as.  For most homeowners (including myself), it is my home.  Where I am living and enjoying life with my family.  So what about the investment piece?  Yes, a house is one of the biggest purchases many of us make in our lifetimes and it is an investment.  It is an investment who's value most often times appreciates over time and can have that value impacted by many factors just like any investment.  Unlike, say stocks and investments of those sort, a house is unique as an investment type.  Recently, I read an article where the person was analyzing housing investments and "timing" of the market similar to the stock market.  I will admit, I do n... 04/20/2007

This year's Parade of Homes (April 21st through May 6th) will feature Palm Coast Plantation and Eagle Lakes.  The Showcase home, The Villa Della Dolce Vita by Olsen Custom Homes, is also featured in Palm Coast Plantation.  If you have never experienced a Parade of Homes, I highly suggest planning a day to take the tour.  The Parade allows you to not only get a glimpse of these beautiful communities, you get a chnace to tour through spectacular homes from our local builders.  It is a time of not only shopping but also discovery of some of the wonderful things about Palm Coast that we don't see each day.  You can get a list of where you can pick up a Parade of Homes Magazine by clicking hereIf you have any questions about the event, feel free to give me a call. 04/19/2007

Although Palm Coast and Matanzas Woods remains significantly low for crime statistics, it is always a good idea to keep safety and security in mind.  A few months ago we began talking to neighbors about our Neighborhood Watch Program, and would like to continue to develop and grow both the organization and education of that program within our community.  Our first meeting in December with Deputy Mike from the Sherriff's office was very informative and I wanted to revisit some of that discussion:#1 Purpose of a Neighborhood Watch Program - Neighborhood Watch establishes communication and awareness within a community as group effort to insure the safety and security of our neighborhood.  It is a partnership with the local law enforcement by communicating any suspicious activity.  It is al... 04/19/2007

Visit: http://PalmCoastUnplugged.blogspot.com  for a "backstage peek" at Palm Coast, FL. 04/18/2007

Many of us who have moved from other parts of the country have had some difficulty adjusting to lawn care with the hot, and some times dry, Florida environment.  There are different types of grass and the care can be different for each obviously.  St. Augustine grass is one of the most durable sod-laid grasses for this environment.  Rather than rooting single blades, this grass grows the blades from vines which which grow along the surface.  It is an extremely durable grass and is easier to repair dead areas by raking them up and allowing time for it to grow back over without the need for seeding.  Rake up those dead areas and let them breathe.  The dead grass will stop new growth and can even begin to spread to the healthy parts surrounding it With the rain beginning to come down and t... 04/14/2007