Carey Frankel's Blog: All Categories

Storage space is something we all crave, but few of us have!  Adequate storage is an essential element in any Jacksonville home, yet many of us don’t know what we can do to maximize our current space and instantly create more space in the most unlikely of spaces throughout our home.

• Maximize your garage space. A garage can serve as a catchall for outdoor recreational items, off-season furniture and holiday decorations, just to name a few. These items, however, don’t have to take over the entire garage and force us to park our cars in the driveway! If you’re looking for convenient storage space in the garage, all you need to do is look up. Hanging racks overhead is a great way to store household supplies and keep…

You’ve dreamt of the day when you could own your very own St. Augustine historic property. You can only begin to imagine the satisfaction that restoring your dream home will bring, and revel when you begin to unveil the meticulous craftsmanship that only an historic home can offer.

There are some issues, however, that need to be addressed when purchasing an historic home in St. Augustine.

Hiring a Restoration Consultant

The first question you must address is: realistically, how much will the restoration of this home cost? A good first step is to employ the services of a restoration consultant to perform the inspection, or at least be present during the inspection process. A restoration consultant will be able to recognize which areas of the home can…

When the rest of the country is in a state of panic over the economy, the housing crisis and their portfolios, you are considering the purchase of a Jacksonville Beach property.

Your family, your boss and even the guy at the grocery store look at you with horror. What they don’t know – and thankfully, what you do know – is that now may be the very best time to find that perfect piece of Jacksonville Beach real estate.

The first order of business in the current market is to determine if you are financially able to purchase a home. The following questions should give you a good idea of your ability to purchase now:

You’ve cleared out, cleaned up and spruced up. The sale sign is in the front yard of your Jacksonville property and you are ready to go.

But are you?

You’ve heard it all before. The key to a quick sale is depersonalizing your Jacksonville real estate. That means removing photographs, memorabilia and knick knacks. And, like a good seller, you’ve followed these rules. But now, as you look around, your home begins to look – well, boring. Stale. Bland.

Now what?

You can – and you should – take steps to add warmth and personality to your home. The bottom line is that home buying is partially based in emotion and feeling. And if your home doesn’t evoke emotion, then you don’t stand a chance at selling a homebuyer on that “warm and cozy” feeling often felt…

Your Jacksonville Beach home should not only look great and suit your needs and wants, but it should also be environmentally friendly, or “green.”

You’ve heard the term “going green” a lot lately, but you are probably wondering how to adopt environmentally building and design practices into your next remodeling project.

First, let’s discuss what it means to “go green” when it comes to home remodeling projects for your Jacksonville Beach property:

The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) has developed a list of principles in which to adhere to. They include:

• Eliminate the use of any product or process known to pollute the air, the water or the Earth.
• Make use of natural resources, and protect vegetation, wildlife habitats,…

A short sale is often an alternative to bankruptcy or foreclosure for those homeowners who can no longer afford their home. In a short sale, the lender basically accepts less than the total amount due on the home.

Don't, however, expect a steal out of a short sale for a piece of Jacksonville Beach real estate, as the lender is under legal obligation to obtain fair market value for the home. There are other points to remember before diving into a short sale:

• Choose a realtor that has short sale experience. This is not the time to go it alone. A qualified, experienced real estate agent is essential when weaving your way through the short sale maze.


• Contact an accountant to learn about short sale tax ramifications.


• Obtain legal advice…

World Golf Village is a 6,300-acre, master planned complex in St. Augustine which is centered around 18 neighborhoods and two, championship golf courses.

The neighborhoods of World Golf Village consist of single-family, coach, patio and condominium homes which range in price from $200,000 to several million dollars. Many of the homes in World Golf Village boast golf, lake and preserve views.

Condominium homes start at $200,000, single-family, patio and active adult homes start at $300,000 and custom homes in The Estates start at $700,000.

Although the homes in World Golf Village offer exciting, exceptional living, it’s the amenities surrounding these homes that are causing such a sensation.

• The two, championship, 18-hole golf courses of…

Jacksonville is a progressive, ever-changing city which aggressively pursues new companies and industries and provides them with a strong home base and plenty of economic incentives. The economy prospers, as does the Jacksonville real estate industry. Some of the many industries thriving in Jacksonville’s business climate include:

• Finance and Insurance Services

Financial and insurance companies, which have an established base in Jacksonville, continue to experience healthy growth due to an available, educated workforce, a state-of-the-art telecommunications infrastructure, an excellent quality of life and a low cost of doing business.

Northeast Florida boasts many major, corporate expansions and business relocations, including Fidelity…