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If you got a letter in the mail from a complete stranger asking you if they could bring their Mom over to see their house would you say okay?  What if they went on to explain that 35 years ago they sold that home but grew up in the house and that their mom was born there and lived in the home most of her life?  Would you start warming up to the idea?  How about if they also told you that the mom has alzhemier's disease and her memory is failing and a quick visit to the home would mean a lot to her?

This is the letter I sent out today.  We are going to Buffalo this summer for a visit to see our Mom.  Everytime we go up there, we take a drive past the old neighborhood and the old house that we all grew up in.  It looks so small to us, not how we remember it…

The Bay Arbor community of Oldsmar, FL couldn't be more well rounded and appealing to homebuyers today.  It's probably one of the most popular subdivisions in Oldsmar and for good reason too!  The beauty of Bay Arbor starts right at the gate where you are greated with a gazebo and a double iron entry gate.  Many people favor gated communities today for the extra sense of security they provide.  It's standard practice in the Tampa Bay area for gates to be closed at dusk and only those who have been granted access can enter.

Imagine, if you will, a subdivision where each and every home has a brick pavered driveway.  This is Bay Arbor!  Many of the two story homes have a split driveway with a two car garage on one side and a one car garage on the other…

The School Choice Program in Pinellas County has gained popularity over the last few years.  Parents have the opportunity to help choose which school their child will attend.  Schools are narrowed down by zoning into smaller categories and you can choose your schools from that selection.  In Pinellas County there are so many great schools to choose from parents often find themselves torn between multiple schools.

In northern Pinellas County in areas such as Palm Harbor, and East Lake there are many top rated schools to choose from.  These parents have a tough choice.  Brooker Creek, Cypress Woods, Leila Davis and Garrison Jones Elementary are some of the top choices in this area.  These schools excel in attendance, teacher retention, FCAT testing and… Read Full Post

Maintenance free living is getting more and more popular with all the busy lifestyles that many people lead today.  More and more people are working from home, starting their own businesses or working out of town and the need for condominiums, townhomes, and villas is becoming more evident.

Many maintenance free homes in the Westchase area are found within gated communities or even on the Westchase Golf Course.  One of the most popular and scenic is Saville Rowe.  With the striking red tile roof and white accents against the blue waters of the ponds and the lush green backdrop of Westchase Golf Course, these townhomes and villas can't be beat.

Glencliff is a little different.  It lives more live a single family neighborhood, geared more for the mature…

We have recently been trying our hand at home staging.  It's no secret that model homes that are professionally decorated help to sell out the subdivision quicker than spec homes or brochures and flyers.  People need to have a vision for a home before they buy it, and some people just cannot imagine what the home can look like with furnishings in it.

Selling vacated homes or newly constructed homes can be a challenge.  Aside from the home that is not tastefully decorated, most homes show better with furnishings.  Brand new homes can really be challenging to sell with their stark white walls and immature landscaping.

We have even gone so far as to paint a new home with decorator but neutral colors, such as the home in the picture below,  to help enhance…

At long last the Northfield subdivision of Lansbrook finally looks like it belongs!  The brand new sign from the street proudly displaying "Lansbrook" has been installed. Being the only subdivision in the Lansbrook community that is in Tarpon Springs and with a separate entrance to it, no wonder many people didn't know that Northfield was one of the 19 subdivisions of Lansbrook.

Northfield broke ground in the early 2000s with two builders:  David Weekley and Nohl Crest homes.  Construction starts were a little slow because it took the builders a little time to get the models finished and the sales flowing.  Northfield has ponds and conservation just like many of the other subdivisions in Lansbrook, but you can only get to the Northfield subdivision by…

Throughout the gorgeous cities of Pinellas County in Florida you will find tranquil parks that are nature preserves and a place to gather and relax at the end of the day.  Many feature fun children's playgrounds, boat ramps or lakefront settings, and have picnic pavilions for hosting a party or family gathering. Here’s a sampling of our favorites:
Seminole Park in the city of Seminole sits on a gorgeous lake that people enjoy water skiing, or just sitting by the water and having a picnic.  It's a great location for a party and has many trails throughout the park to observe wildlife, walk or rollerblade in a peaceful setting.  Also, in the city of Seminole you will find a playground at the Seminole Recreation Center that is covered so you can have shade… Read Full Post

Ozona, Florida is right on the Gulf side of central Florida, just west of Palm Harbor and not far from Clearwater in Pinellas County. With many surrounding communities, it has the privilege of being part of a growing larger community with many of the extra features nearby that make a community feel like a home.   Ozona, Florida remains a quiet and small town with an "Old Florida Feel" of about 1100 people, but enjoys the benefits of major highways and two international airports nearby - the Tampa International Airport and the St. Petersburg / Clearwater Airport. From Ozona, you could be in downtown Tampa within 35 minutes giving you access to all the shops, jobs, sightseeing, and other things that a larger city affords. There are plenty of schools to… Read Full Post