Wesley Chapel Realtor Tampa Bay Florida Floride

Open House - Lansbrook Village in Palm Harbor, FL 34685 - Saturday 10/04/08 from noon to 4pm

2008-10-03T15:00:34Z

Hello everyone.

Just wanted to let you know that I will be hosting an open house in Lansbrook Village in Palm Harbor, Florida this coming Saturday from noon to 4pm.

This is a great condo community that is about 15 minutes from the Clearwater beaches.

The villa is located at 4967 Lambridge Court, Unit 102, Palm Harbor, FL, 34685-4123 . It is a 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath, 1 car garage, 1 story Villa, 1000 sqft, newer block construction.

Lansbrook Village is a development that includes swimming pools, parks, tennis, fitness center, etc. There is a Golf course across the street and a grocery store within walking distance. The HOA fees are $177 per month.

Photos: http://www.AdvantageAvenue.com/CondoBeach/

This home so it is in prestine condition. The villa is priced at $149,900 and will really make somebody very happy.

If you are out and about on Saturday, come by and see me or if you know of anyone looking to buy or sell, give me a call and I'll work as hard as I can to help them with all their real estate needs.

Thank you and have a great day.

Mario

Update to International Real Estate resource Web Page

2008-10-02T15:51:41Z

Dear International Real Estate Agents,

This is a short post to let you know the my International Page on Agent Freebies has been updated with several new links related to International Real Estate.

The additional info includes link on:

Spell checkers in several languages
using Google to convert your currencies and units
Trade shows around the world and
a few more links to display your listings on the International level.

Enjoy,

http://www.AgentFreebies.com/International/

Mario

4967 Lambridge Court, Unit 102, Palm Harbor, FLORIDE

2008-09-04T15:35:19Z

FLORIDE Condo - Meuble 15min des plages, 2 Chambres 2 Salles Bains

Voir plus bas pour les photos
Villa de luxe situee a : 4967 Lambridge Court, Unit 102, Palm Harbor, FL, 34685-4123
MLS T2276586

Fait parti des Condominium de Lansbrook Village a Palm Harbor en Floride pres de Clearwater.

Inclus:
2 Chambres a coucher,
2 salle de bains completes,
1 Garage attache,
Tout le decor et meubles sont disponible et negociable
Tuile a l'entree, cuisine et salle de bains,
Tapis de type "Frisay",
Tous les appareils electromenagers sont neufs ou en tres bon etat et inclus.
environ 1003 pieds carre sans inclure le garage et le lanai.

Autres services dans le development
- 3 piscines,
- cabana,
- Pavillons BBQ,
- Fontaines a jet d'eau pour enfants,
- 2 clubhouses,
- Centre d'exercises,
- enclos pour animaux de maisons,
- Tennis & volleyball,

Contactez-moi si vous avez des questions.

Mario

Mario Levesque, Engineer, Broker
International Real Estate Specialist
Advantage Avenue Real Estate,
PO Box 20451,
Tampa, Florida, 33622-0451
cell: 813-857-6918
fax: 866-252-9511
Web: http://www.AdvantageAvenue.com

Friendly, professional services

FloorPlan.jpg

sFront.jpg

Dinning Table

Living Room Kitchen

Living Room - From Kitchen

Living Room - Master Bedroom Door

Master Bedroom

Master Bath

Garden Tub Master Bath

Living Room - Bedroom 2 Door

Bedroom 2 - Blue Beddings

Bedroom 2

Bathroom 2

Toilet 2

Walk-in closet 2

Covered Screened Lanai

Pond View from Lanai

DSCN1044-650.jpg - Development Entrance

DSCN1047-650.jpg - Development Sign Fountain

DSCN1049-650.jpg - Windsor Entrance

DSCN1050-650.jpg - Small Pool

DSCN1051-650.jpg - Small Pool 2

DSCN1052-650.jpg - Laundry Place by Small Pool

DSCN1053-650.jpg - Fountain by Large Pool

DSCN1054-650.jpg - Community Club House

Large Swimming Pool - Club House

Large Swimming Pool 2- Club House

Exercise Room

DSCN1058-650.jpg - Kids Fountain Pool Club House

DSCN1059-650.jpg - Kids Fountain 2 Pool Club House

DSCN1060-650.jpg - Behind Club House

DSCN1061-650.jpg - Fountain Behind Club House

DSCN1062-650.jpg - Gazebo BBQ

DSCN1063-650.jpg - Fountain by Tennis Courts

Tennis Courts

Volleyball Courts

DSCN1071-650.jpg - Car Wash Bldg

DSCN1070-650.jpg - Car Wash and Hose

Mario Levesque, Engenieur, Courtier
Specialist en immobilier International
Advantage Avenue Real Estate,
PO Box 20451,
Tampa, Florida, 33622-0451
cell: 813-857-6918
fax: 866-252-9511
Web:http://www.AdvantageAvenue.com

4967 Lambridge Court, Unit 102, Palm Harbor, FL, 34685-4123

2008-09-04T15:22:55Z

Located at Lansbrook Village Condominiums in the sought after area of East Lake in Palm Harbor, Florida

This Condo features:
2 Bedroom,
2 Full Baths,
Attached 1 Car Garage,
All decor and Furniture available
Tile in wet areas,
Carpet,
All Appliances.
Vaulted Cathedral ceilings,
1003 Sq. Ft. of Living Area.

Many pictures shown below

Amenities
- 3 resort style pools,
- Poolside bar & cabana,
- BBQ Pavillions,
- Ground water fountain with jets for kids,
- 2 clubhouses,
- State of the art fitness center,
- Pet playground (enclosed),
- Tennis & volleyball,
- Scenic Nature Preserves.

Newly Furnished 2 Bedroom 2 full Baths Condo with attached 1 car garage in Palm Harbor, Florida. All new decor and contemporary furniture is available. Turn-key, ready to move in. This one story condo has walk-in closets for each bedroom. Light, bright and as new. First floor condo, Wheelchair friendly, screened porch overlooks a pond, very quiet. All the lawn and exterior maintenance is included. Lansbrook Village has many great amenities. Walking distance to large Publix grocery store, banks, strip shopping center and restaurants. East Lake has the best schools in the area, two closest elementary schools were given an A on the grading scale as well as the two local highschools. There is a great golf course, And large Sports complex with Olympic size pools right across the street. Easy access to Lake Tarpon for boating and fishing from the Pinellas Trail for biking, walking, rollerblading and jogging. Walk to restaurants & shopping. Florida beaches are only 15 minutes away from Lansbrook Village. Perfect for vacation home, starter home or even for those who are thinking about downsizing.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Mario

Mario Levesque, Engineer, Broker
International Real Estate Specialist
Advantage Avenue Real Estate,
PO Box 20451,
Tampa, Florida, 33622-0451
cell: 813-857-6918
fax: 866-252-9511
Web: http://www.AdvantageAvenue.com

Friendly, professional services

FloorPlan.jpg

sFront.jpg

Dinning Table

Living Room Kitchen

Living Room - From Kitchen

Living Room - Master Bedroom Door

Master Bedroom

Master Bath

Garden Tub Master Bath

Living Room - Bedroom 2 Door

Bedroom 2 - Blue Beddings

Bedroom 2

Bathroom 2

Toilet 2

Walk-in closet 2

Covered Screened Lanai

Pond View from Lanai

DSCN1044-650.jpg - Development Entrance

DSCN1047-650.jpg - Development Sign Fountain

DSCN1049-650.jpg - Windsor Entrance

DSCN1050-650.jpg - Small Pool

DSCN1051-650.jpg - Small Pool 2

DSCN1052-650.jpg - Laundry Place by Small Pool

DSCN1053-650.jpg - Fountain by Large Pool

DSCN1054-650.jpg - Community Club House

Large Swimming Pool - Club House

Large Swimming Pool 2- Club House

Exercise Room

DSCN1058-650.jpg - Kids Fountain Pool Club House

DSCN1059-650.jpg - Kids Fountain 2 Pool Club House

DSCN1060-650.jpg - Behind Club House

DSCN1061-650.jpg - Fountain Behind Club House

DSCN1062-650.jpg - Gazebo BBQ

DSCN1063-650.jpg - Fountain by Tennis Courts

Tennis Courts

Volleyball Courts

DSCN1071-650.jpg - Car Wash Bldg

DSCN1070-650.jpg - Car Wash and Hose

Mario Levesque, Engineer, Broker
International Real Estate Specialist
Advantage Avenue Real Estate,
PO Box 20451,
Tampa, Florida, 33622-0451
cell: 813-857-6918
fax: 866-252-9511
Web: http://www.AdvantageAvenue.com

Friendly, professional services

Homes Sold and REAL ESTATE MARKET UPDATE, Wesley Chapel Florida

2008-06-04T08:33:24Z

I just updated the monthly Real Estate sales statistics on my website for the following three neighborhoods in Wesley Chapel Florida:

Meadow Pointe, Seven Oaks,and Lexington Oaks

You can click on the following link to review which house sold, with what features and for how much.
I display the results on a few graphics to show the number of houses on the market and how many houses have sold on a monthly basis.
As always, do not hesitate to contact me if you have any Real Estate related question.

http://www.advantageavenue.com/WesleyChapel-HomeSales.asp

Regards,

Mario

-------------------------------------------- FRANCAIS ---------------------------------------

Visiter mon site Internet pour faire la recherche de maisons a vendre dans la region de Tampa en Floride.
Je publie des statistiques de vente a chaque mois indiquant l'information des maisons vendues a Wesley Chapel juste au Nord de Tampa.

http://www.advantageavenue.com/WesleyChapel-HomeSales.asp

N'hesitez pas a me rejoindre si vous avez des questions au sujet d'une propriete pres de Tampa.

Mario

Mario Levesque, Courtier Immobilier/Licensed Real Estate Broker
Specialiste en immobilier International/International Real Estate Specialist

Advantage Avenue Real Estate,
PO Box 20451,
Tampa, Florida, 33622-0451
cell: 813-857-6918
fax: 866-252-9511
Web: http://www.AdvantageAvenue.com
Web: http://www.AgentFreebies.com/International

Friendly, professional services

10122 Winsford Oak Blvd, Unit 408, Tampa, FL, 33624

2008-04-15T15:35:34Z

FOR RENT

$775 per month

CARROLLWOOD 1BR 1BA 850sf,

no pets,

1st floor,

Garden bath,

Clean,

W/D included.

Gated Comm.,

Clubhouse, Pool,

Fitness, Tennis,

Great Fountain View on Pond.

On Linebaugh near Veterans Hpwy, Dale Mabry, close to Airport.

Located at The Landings Condominium

Description -> http://www.advantageavenue.com/Featured/List08_16/HouseForSale.htm

Flyer -> http://www.advantageavenue.com/Featured/List08_16/listImages/Flyer.pdf

Pictures -> http://www.advantageavenue.com/Featured/List08_16/HousePictures.htm

$775 Advantage Avenue Real Estate 813-857-6918

Mario Levesque, Engineer
International Real Estate Specialist
CIPS candidate, TRC, e-PRO, Member of FIABCI
Advantage Avenue Real Estate,
Tampa, Florida
cell: 813-857-6918
fax: 866-252-9511
Web: http://www.AdvantageAvenue.com
Web: http://www.AgentFreebies.com/International

Friendly, professional services

8414 Lucuya Way, #305, Tampa, FL, 33637

2008-04-15T15:26:10Z

FOR RENT

$925 per month

NEW TAMPA/TEMPLE TERRACE 2BR, 2BA, 1197sf,

no pets,

Gated Comm,

3rd top floor,

Clean,

Newer Construction,

Garden bath,

W/D inside.

Storage Locker.

Clubhouse, Pool,

Fitness, Tennis,

Near I-75 exit on Fletcher. Within minutes of Progressive, Hidden River Corporate Park, Telecom Corporate Park, USF, Moffitt, USAA, Citigroup, Verizon and JP Morgan., Hospitals. Located at The Falls Condominium

$925 per month

Advantage Avenue Real Estate 813-857-6918

For more Pictures click or visit this link: http://www.AdvantageAvenue.com/

Real Estate Classes, Tampa Florida

2008-02-17T09:32:00Z

I would like to change this message to let people know that classes are being offered every month.

Please contact the appropriate staff mentioned below to inquire about a particular class or to register.

Regards,

Mario

---------------------

I will be teaching the pre-licensing Real Estate class in English in the evenings staring on Monday 18 Feb 2008 between 6pm and 10:30pm Mon, Tue, Wed, and Thu for 3 consecutive weeks.

Mario Levesque,
Real Estate Instructor
Broker, Advantage Avenue Real Estate

See registration information below:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Schedule:

Mon 18 Feb 6pm and 10:30pm
Tue 19 Feb 6pm and 10:30pm
Wed 20 Feb 6pm and 10:30pm
Thu 21 Feb 6pm and 10:30pm

Mon 25 Feb 6pm and 10:30pm
Tue 26 Feb 6pm and 10:30pm
Wed 27 Feb 6pm and 10:30pm
Thu 28 Feb 6pm and 10:30pm

Mon 03 Mar 6pm and 10:30pm
Tue 04 Mar 6pm and 10:30pm
Wed 05 Mar 6pm and 10:30pm
Thu 06 Mar 6pm and 10:30pm

Course location: Sonia Galarza Escuela de Real Estate
Real Estate classes in Spanish and English

6946 W. Linebaugh Avenue, Tampa, FL, 33625

Registration in Spanish:
813-426-7360 Sonia
813-900-8575

Registration in English
813-918-4635 Russ

Florida Real Estate Principles, Practices & Law ($259 + $40book, Total: $299)

Contents

Chapter 1: The Real Estate Business
Chapter 2: License Law and Qualifications for Licensure
Chapter 3: License Law and Administrations
Chapter 4: Brokerage Relationships and Ethics
Chapter 5: Real Estate Brokerage Operations
Chapter 6: Complaints, Violations and Penalties
Chapter 7: Federal and State Housing Laws
Chapter 8: Property Rights: Estates, Tenancies, and Multiple Ownership Interests
Chapter 9: Titles, Deeds and Ownership Restrictions
Chapter 10: Legal Descriptions
Chapter 11: Real Estate Contracts
Chapter 12: Real Estate Finance
Chapter 13: The Mortgage Market
Chapter 14: Computations and Title Closing
Chapter 15: Estimating Real Property Value
Chapter 16: Product Knowledge
Chapter 17: Real Estate Investment Analysis and Business Opportunity Brokerage
Chapter 18: Taxes Affecting Real Estate
Chapter 19: The Real Estate Market
Chapter 20: Planning Zoning
Chapter 21: Case Studies Estate

Mario Levesque,
Real Estate Instructor
Broker, Advantage Avenue Real Estate
813-857-6918

Low price per square foot list - Wesley Chapel, Tampa Florida - Bank owned, Short Sale, Fixer-upper, rehab, foreclosure, reo,

2008-01-02T14:58:03Z

Hello,

I created a button on my home page to give my visitors access to what they refer to as "bargains".

I have received the "let me know when you see something good" question fairly often in the past and decided to pull a list from the local MLS on a weekly basis to show a list of homes that have the following characteristics:
low price per square foot,
Bank Owned,
Foreclosure,
Lis Pendens,
rehab,
Fixer-upper,
probate,
short sale,
reo etc.
I only list properties that were built after 1990 around the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel area in Florida.

Look for this button on my home page. www.AdvantageAvenue.com

Any input is appreciated.

Regards,

Mario

--
Mario Levesque, Engineer
International Real Estate Specialist
CIPS candidate, TRC, e-PRO, Member of FIABCI
   Advantage Avenue Real Estate,
   Tampa, Florida
   cell: 813-857-6918
   fax: 866-252-9511
   Web: http://www.AdvantageAvenue.com

Web: http://www.AgentFreebies.com

Friendly, professional services

Real Estate Office - Notes on Broker and Real Estate Licensure in Florida

2007-10-30T22:10:23Z

Business Structure.
---------------------------------------
Sole proprietorship
A broker may operate a brokerage as a sole proprietorship and must register the sole proprietorship and any fictitious names if they exist with the Dept of State and the Division of Real Estate DRE.
If an owner uses a fictitious name that uses the owner's First Name and Last Name in the business name, the owner does not need to register the fictitious name with the Dpt of State BUT needs to register that fictitious name with the DRE.
Ex: Susan Brown's Real Estate Services.

General Partnership.
A broker may operate a brokerage under a General Partnership. Each Partners must be registerd with the DRE however none of the General Partners can be Sales associates or Broker associate.
If the Broker of records dies, leaves or is removed the General Partnership must find a replacement within 14 days. the Brokerage cannot operate during the 14 days. If no replacement is found the brokerage license is cancelled and all the related Sales Associates' licenses become involuntary inactive. (Unless they leave and register with another Broker from a different brokerage).
Trade names/Fictitious Names must be registered with the DRE.

Ostensible Partnership exists when there is no real partnership between two or more parties but these unrelated entities conduct business together in such a manner that the public may assume that they are related.
Ostensible Partnerships are considered fraudulent and deceitful and Licensees who operate this way are subject to discipline.
Brokers who operate in the same building should be careful to advertize properly and use different phones and company letter head and Office Signs.

Limited Partnership
General Partners ARE liable beyound their initial investments, Limited Partners have limited liability which is limited to their contributions and do not participate in the management.
This entity must be registered with the Dpt of State and submit reports on an annual basis.
Ltd or Limited must be part of the entities' name.
Trade names/Fictitious Names must be registered with the DRE.
All general partners who conduct real estate activities with the public must have a valid active Broker License.
All general partners must register with the DRE. None of the General Partners can be Sales associates or Broker associate.
Limited partners need NOT register with the DRE. Sales associates or Broker associate may be limited partners.

Limited Liability Partnership
General Partners are NOT liable. The initials LLP or the words Limited Liability Partnership must be used with their official name.
Real estate rules similar to the Limited Partnership apply to the Limited Liability Partnership as well.

Corporations
Advantage: Limited liabilty, perpetual existance, centralized management, transferability.
The owners (stock holders) elect a board of directors that, in turn, elects a team of officers. The Officers/Principals are responsible for the management of the company.
A Real Estate Brokerage can be a non-profit company however a corporation sole cannot be registered as a Real Estate Brokerage.
At least one officer must be qualified as a Real Estate Broker.
All officers must be registered with the DRE.
Trade names/Fictitious Names if used must be registered with the Dpt of State and the DRE.
The initials Corp., Inc., or Co. or the words Corporation or Incorporated must be used with the official entity name.
If the Broker of records dies, leaves or is removed the Company must find a replacement within 14 days. the Brokerage cannot operate during the 14 days. If no replacement is found the brokerage license is cancelled and all the related Sales Associates' licenses become involuntary inactive. (Unless they leave and register with another Broker from a different brokerage).
None of the officers can be Sales associates or Broker associate.

S corporation
Same as a C Corporation Real Estate wise, except that it is treated differently by the IRS.

Limited Liability Company, LLC
This entity can be Member managed or Manager managed.
In a member managed LLC, none of the members can be Sales associates or Broker associate.
In a manager managed LLC, none of the managers can be Sales associates or Broker associate.

Joint Venture
Temporary form of business arrangment between two or more Real Estate brokerage entities.

Business Trust.
A business Trust holds property title in the name of the Trustee or group of Trustees.
A Business Trust cannot cannot be registered as a Real Estate Brokerage.
However anyone who conduct Real Estate activity in the name of the Trust must hold a Real Estate License.

Associations
An cooperative association may perform real estate activities for its own real property however,
a cooperative association cannot be registered as a Real Estate Brokerage.

Offices
------------------

Each brokerage company must have a DRE registered office with a physical stationary location with at least one enclosed room to conduct business.
This location is referred to as the Principal Office and must meet the proper signage requirements.

If the broker conducts business from additional locations, each location must be registered as Branch Offices.

The Office Broker sign may be located outside or inside the building and must be easily observable by people entering the office.
The Office Broker sign must show:
    The Broker's name,
    Corporation's Name or the Trade Name if used,
    The words "Licensed Real Estate Broker" or "Lic. Real Estate Broker"

If the sales associates name show on the sign, they must appear below the Broker's name and their status must be shown as being "Sales Associate" or "Broker Associate".

ADA
-----------------
Brokers must make their offices comply with the regulations of the American with Disabilities Act
Compliance include: remving barriers to walkways, parking lots, entrances, stairs, washrooms, water fountains, public telephones, elevators, electrical controls, and warning signals.
Tax incentives are available to eligible businesses for helping persons with disabilities.

Advertizing
------------------
FREC rules require that advertisements include the brokerage firm's licensed name.
When a licensee's own name appears in an advertisement, the licensee's last name must also appear as registered with the commission.

On the Internet, the brokerage firm's licensed name must appear adjacent to, or immediately above or below the point of contact.

Fair Housing
---------------------
Advertizing should not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.

The poster from HUD must be displayed at real estate brokerage offices.

Rental Lists
-------------------
100% refund if error found in list if request made within 30 days of contract to obtain list.
75% refundable if could not find a rental place and request made within 30 days of contract to obtain list.

Telemarketing
--------------------
Florida maintains a no sales call registry. Violators of the Florida's Telemarketing Act may be fined $10,000 per call.

In Florida, Real Estate agents have exemption when calling FSBO but this exemption does not exist with the Federal law.
The Federal law has exemption when agent has a buyer interested in the property or if the owner had a business relationship agent for up to 18 months after the transaction.
Agent may contact customer up to 3 months after business inquiry such as meeting at an open house.

Violators of the Federal no-call law may be fined $11,000 per call.

Includes no transmission of unwanted material to fax machines.

Mario

--
Mario Levesque,
Engineer, Licensed Real Estate Broker
Advantage Avenue Real Estate,
Tampa, Florida
cell: 813-857-6918
fax: 866-252-9511
Web: http://www.advantageavenue.com/
Web: http://www.agentfreebies.com/

Friendly, professional services

Notes on Broker and Real Estate Licensure in Florida

2007-10-20T19:53:08Z

I took the following notes while reading the Real Estate Broker Guide and thought I could share them with you for discussion.

Fines
--------
If Broker or Associate Practiced Real Estate without renewing license (without a valid license)

-> 3 yr suspension to license revocation

If Broker employed an associate who does not have a valid active license

-> broker pays penalty of $1000 and 90 day suspension up to 2 years.

If licensee renewed his/her license without completing 14 hour course:
   if licensee notifies DRE within 30 days then take 14 hour course,   -> may get a notice of non-compliance
   if licensee notifies DRE after 30 days then take 14 hour course,    -> a citation is issued, there is an example of a broker who was fined $1000 and harsher penalties for repeat offences
   if licensee does not notify DRE and is found at fault during an audit -> license revocation

If the license is issued in error by the DBPR, the license will be revoked.

Renewal requirements does not apply to US service person during duty and 6 months after his/her return if not practicing real estate. For this rule to apply to a spouse, the service must be outside the US.

Voluntary inactive licensee still have to pay the renewal fee every 2 years and still have to take the 14 hour class.

If a license is not renewed then it goes into involuntary inactive for up to 2 years then it becomes null and void.
to re-activate within 12 months, take 14 hour class and pay renewal fee and late fee.
to re-activate within 12 and 24 months, take 2X14 hour class and pay renewal fee and late fee.

If a brokerage corporation and its officers are not registered properly a citation is issued with a $200 fine.

If a licensee does not notify the DRE of a change in mailing address with 10 days after a change, a citation with a $100 fine is issued.

If a Licensee is disciplined outside Florida they may still be imposed an administrative fine of $1000 and may be imposed a 6-year suspension to revocation.

Courses and requirements

------------------------------

Lawyers in good standing with the Florida BAR who is otherwise qualified is exempt from FREC course I (Sales Associate Pre-Licensing) and do not have to take the subsequent 14 hour courses. They are not exempt however from FREC course II (Sales Associate Post-Licensing).
Lawyers active with the BAR however DO have to take the Broker and Post licensing Broker course.

Person who hold a 4 year degree in Real Estate from an accredited institution do not have to take the pre-licensing or the post-licensing courses.
Person who hold a 4 year degree in Real Estate from an accredited institution do not have to take the BROKER pre-licensing and post-licensing courses.

They all have to take the appropriate state exams for the respective licenses.

Business brokers must also hold a real estate license because business enterprise is included in the definition of Real Property. Except for federally regulated banks and dealers registered with the SEC selling business enterprises to accredited investors.

Mutual recognition applies to the real estate license and not the broker license.
Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee.

Applicants from these states are exempt from the FREC course I (Sales Associate Pre-Licensing) but do have to take a 40 question exam and pass with a grade of 75%.

Mario
Advantage Avenue Real Estate

Resources for International Real Estate

2007-09-19T11:53:00Z

Bonjour a tous!

Just a quick post to let you know that you can visit the following website that has a list of websites related to International Real Estate.

The section on Asia should be finished soon. Feel free to send me some comments on how to make it better.

http://www.agentfreebies.com/International/

Ce message est pour vous faire part du site internet que je viens tout juste de terminer. Vous trouverez plusieurs liens a des sites sur le Web relies a l'immobilier international. J'espere recevoir vos commentaires pour ameliorer le contenu.

A bientot,

Mario Levesque

Ingenieur, Courtier Immobilier,

Tampa, Floride
cell: 813-857-6918
fax: 866-252-9511
Web: Tampa Real Estate
Web: Free Real Estate Resources

10% tax withholding rule on sale of Real Estate in the US by Foreign owner.

2007-08-24T16:22:06Z

Many real estate agents do not realize that tax withholding must sometimes occur when a transaction involves the sale of real property interest by a foreign person in the US. As much as 10 % of the sale price has to be sent to the IRS following the closing and the Buyer and the Professionals involved in the transaction are responsible for making sure that this occurs. If the Seller is a foreign person, the property sale price is higher than 300K, the buyer is not purchasing as a principal residence and you fail to withhold, the buyer and the related professional in the transaction may be held liable for the tax.

For more info on Tax withholding with foreign owners in the US visit the following website.

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/international/article/0,,id=105000,00.html

Having a good partner CPA with international experience is important in these transactions. In many instances, exemptions can be requested by the international accounting specialist to lower the withholding amount and to make sure that the appropriate income tax return is filed with IRS.

Regards,

List of Certifications and Accreditations for Real Estate Professional

2007-08-24T15:30:11Z

Hello,

I compiled on list of different certifications and accreditations available to Real Estate professionals on my website.

If you can thing of anything that would be missing please let me know. Look under the middle column under Certification.

List of Real Estate Certifications and related websites

Regards,

Mario

Mario Levesque,
Engineer, Realtor, Broker
cell: 813-857-6918
fax: 866-252-9511
Web: http://www.AdvantageAvenue.com
Web: http://www.AgentFreebies.com
Friendly, professional services always

Using the Treo and your email account - Tutorial - how-to

2007-08-24T10:58:52Z

Hello everyone,

I created a new tutorial to show Treo Users how to setup the Treo to receive and send email using any POP account.

I start with instructions on how to set up an email address if you have a goddady account, but this is not necessary.

You can use your Google or Yahoo email address if you want. Personally, I like to use a new email account dedicated for the Treo that noone knows about. This way there is a minimum amount of emails synching to it.

Visit this website and look for the link titled "Email on the Treo with Versamail - Tutorial"
visible on the home page.

AgentFreebies.com Free resources for Real Estate Agents

Happy emailing.

Mario

office space around the world or downtown Tampa - World Trade Center

2007-08-22T13:42:17Z

I recently talked with Jeff Knott of the World Trade Center in Tampa. He mentioned that they still have executive suites available for small businesses. They also have a virtual office program that offers mail, conference room space, phone and faxes services for small businesses. They are located downtown Tampa near the business district, close to the Airport and are easily accessible with parking spaces. If you know anyone looking for space for their business on a monthly basis, business services or use of the World Trade Center as their business address, please let me know and I will put you in touch with Jeff.

Regards,

Mario Levesque,
Engineer, Realtor, Broker
cell: 813-857-6918
fax: 866-252-9511

http://www.AdvantageAvenue.com

http://www.AJmasters.com

http://www.AgentFreebies.com

Friendly, professional services always

Short Sale and the IRS

2007-08-21T21:49:07Z

Hello everyone,

I read an article recently that gave an example of someone who were contemplating going through a short sale. The author of the article (Ilyce Glink) went on to give some specific numbers such as if the owner owed $350,000 on his mortgage and the bank was willing to accept $330,000 for the loan upon the sale on the property than the owner would subsequently have to pay tax on the $20,000 that makes up the difference since the IRS considered the $20,000 as a "Phantom" income in other words as a gift from the bank.

As anyone witnessed this scenario? If yes does the bank issue a special statement after the transaction to the IRS and the seller?

Thank you for your input.

Mario

Q91-96 Learning about the US governmental structure

2007-08-21T14:30:08Z

Want to become a US citizen? or just curious to see how much you know about your own country?
The following questions are meant for US immigrants applying to become US citizens to help study in preparation for their interview.
This is meant for your never ending pursuit of education only. :-)

Question 91: Name one benefit of being a citizen of the United States.
Question 92: Can the Constitution be changed?
Question 93: What is the most important right granted to United States citizens?
Question 94: What is the White House?
Question 95: What is the United States Capitol?
Question 96: How many branches are there in the United States government?

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Answer 91: To obtain Federal government jobs, to travel with a U.S. passport, or to petition for close relatives to come to the United States to live
Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Earl Warren once said citizenship is "nothing less than the right to have rights." Some of the most important of these are the rights to choose your job, speak freely about your beliefs, and even disagree with government policies, if you so desire. At the same time, citizen responsibilities include obeying the law, voting, and serving on juries. Responsible citizens also take part in their communities. This can mean joining the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) of your child's school, running for a position on the local school board, or volunteering to help at a polling station.

Answer 92: Yes, the Constitution can be changed.
One of the great things about the U.S. Constitution is that it is flexible, and can be changed. It is changed through an addition called an Amendment. This is why we often refer to it as the "living Constitution." The Constitution's writers wisely decided that Amendments should be rare. Because of this, the Amendment process is difficult. Still, the Constitution has been changed 27 times, with the most recent Amendment added in 1992.

Answer 93: The right to vote
No American is required by law to vote, but exercising your right to vote is a very important part of citizenship. This is the case in any democracy. Only by voting can your voice be heard. By voting, you actively commit yourself to the democratic process. Citizens vote to be represented by leaders who share their ideas and stand up for their interests. Constitutional Amendments such as the 15th (former slaves can vote) and 19th (women can vote) greatly improved our democracy. They did this by allowing more groups of citizens to vote.

Answer 94: The President's official home
The building was not officially known as the White House until 1901, when Theodore Roosevelt was President. Before then, it was also called the "President's Palace," the "President's House," and the "Executive Mansion." The current look of the White House comes from a renovation that happened when Harry Truman was President.

Answer 95: The place where Congress meets
When Congress moved into the Capitol in 1800, much of the construction of interior rooms had not been finished. It took two more years before Congress set aside funding to complete the construction. Soon after, when British troops invaded Washington during the War of 1812, they set fire to the Capitol. Luckily, a heavy rainstorm saved the building from being burnt all the way down. Rebuilding of the massive Capitol was not completed until 1829.

Answer 96: There are 3 branches
The writers of the Constitution believed that no one group in government should have total power. They thought that any person or group that has total power over government normally abuses it. In creating the U.S. system, they followed the idea of separation of powers. Along with checks and balances among the parts of government, the separation of powers into three branches prevents concentration of power. This means that the rights of citizens are better protected. The powers to make laws, to execute laws, and to interpret the laws are given to different branches. These are the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

For more questions visit the Table of Contents to see the entire list of questions that have been posted so far.

Mario

Q86-90 Learning about the US governmental structure

2007-08-21T14:26:26Z

Question 86: What is the executive branch of our government?
Question 87: Where does freedom of speech come from?
Question 88: What U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services form is used to apply for naturalized citizenship?
Question 89: What kind of government does the United States have?
Question 90: Name one of the purposes of the United Nations.

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Answer 86: The President, the Cabinet, and departments under the cabinet members
The job of the executive branch is to carry out, or execute, the laws of the nation. While the Constitution does discuss the Cabinet, it does not say what each federal department or agency should do. Throughout U.S. history, Congress has established the specific functions of these organizations. The State Department, Department of Homeland Security, and Environmental Protection Agency are three examples.

Answer 87: The Bill of Rights
Freedom of speech is a very important civil liberty. The very first section of the Bill of Rights, the 1st Amendment, guarantees this freedom. "Speech" can mean writing, performing, or other ways of expressing yourself. Americans have the basic right to express their views on any subject. This is true even if the government disagrees with these views. However, in certain very specific situations, freedom of expression is limited. For example, no one can shout "fire!" in a theater and cause panic.

Answer 88: Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization)
The Constitution did not clearly set up a naturalization process. It gave Congress the power to create "a uniform Rule of Naturalization." Beginning in 1790, Congress passed laws to govern naturalization. Since then, Congress has changed this process many times. The naturalization exam is a very important part of the current process.

Answer 89: A Republic
In a republic, the power that the government exercises comes from the people themselves. Government is therefore responsible for protecting the rights of all persons, not just a few special people. The way this happens in the United States is through a system of representative democracy. The people freely choose who will lead them and represent their interests. President Abraham Lincoln said our republican government is "of the people, by the people, and for the people."

Answer 90: For countries to discuss and try to resolve world problems or to provide economic aid to many countries
The United Nations, often called the U.N., was established in 1945, soon after World War II ended. The Charter of the United Nations names the main functions of the U.N.: "to maintain international peace and security...to develop friendly relations among nations...(and) to achieve international cooperation in solving international problems." The two best-known parts of the U.N. are the General Assembly, made up of over 190 countries, and the Security Council, with only ten countries. The United States is one of five countries that is a permanent member of the Security Council. The President has the power to choose the Ambassador of the United States to the United Nations. The Senate must then confirm this choice.

For more questions visit the Table of Contents to see the entire list of questions that have been posted so far.

Mario

Q81-85 Learning about the US governmental structure

2007-08-21T14:23:47Z

Question 81: Who is Commander-in-Chief of the United States military?
Question 82: In what month do we vote for the President?
Question 83: In what month is the new President inaugurated?
Question 84: How many times may a Senator or Congressman be re-elected?
Question 85: What are the two major political parties in the United States today?

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Answer 81: The President
Making the President the Commander-in-Chief shows the Founding Fathers' commitment to democratic ideals. This is because the head of the armed forces is a civilian chosen by the people, rather than a professional military leader. By 1973, many in Congress felt that the President was using his power as Commander-in-Chief wrongly. They thought that the legislative branch was being ignored, which harmed checks and balances. So Congress passed the War Powers Act, which strengthens the role of Congress in the use of U.S. troops. President Richard Nixon vetoed this bill, but Congress overrode his veto.

Answer 82: November
The Constitution did not set a standard national election day. There was no specified day until 1845. Even then, Congress did not set an exact date for elections. Rather, Congress set the Tuesday after the first Monday in November as Election Day. They chose Tuesday so that voters had a full day after Sunday to travel to the polls. At that time, for religious reasons, many Americans considered Sunday to be a strict day of rest. Travel on this day was not allowed.

Answer 83: January
Before 1933, Presidents were inaugurated on March 4th. This meant that there were four months between when new Presidents were elected and when they took office. This gave the new President enough time to make the long journey to Washington, DC. By the 1930s, with the invention of automobiles and speedy trains, it was much faster to travel. The 20th Amendment officially changed the date of inauguration to January 20th. Franklin Roosevelt was the first President inaugurated on this date.

Answer 84: There is no limit.
Several states, such as California, have term limits for members of their state legislature. Also, several states have considered limiting the number of terms that their U.S. Senators and Representatives can serve. In 1995, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that no state can do this. The Court stated that such a practice would weaken the national character of A session of the Senate Congress. The only way that Congressional terms could be limited is through an Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Answer 85: The Democratic and Republican parties
The Constitution did not establish political parties, and President George Washington specifically warned against them. Still, a split between two political groups, the Democratic-Republicans and the Federalists, appeared early in U.S. history. The current Democratic Party was created from the old Democratic-Republicans by President Andrew Jackson. The Republican Party took over from the Whigs as a major party in the 1860s. Abraham Lincoln, who was first elected in 1860, was the first Republican President. Throughout U.S. history, other parties, such as the KnowNothing, Bull-Moose (also called "Progressive"), Reform, and Green Parties, have played various roles in American politics.

For more questions visit the Table of Contents to see the entire list of questions that have been posted so far.

Mario

22528 Laureldale Dr. Lutz, FL, 33549

2007-08-21T10:04:24Z

4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 2 Car Garage

MLS #: T2265309

Home Description and 60 pictures
http://www.ajmasters.com/Featured/List07_14/HouseForSale.htm

Home Flyer
http://www.ajmasters.com/Featured/List07_14/listImages/Flyer.pdf

Virtual Tour
http://www.realestateshows.com/199281

4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 2 Car Garage, 2574 Sqft $368,000

This home is better than a model. When you enter the home you feel like you have entered a spa. The home office is ready & every rm is beautifully decorated. All decor and furniture is available and negotiable and most appliances are included.

This home is offered below appraised value. On a premium conservation lot. Entry way w/ leaded double glass doors, Designer hardware & special locksets. Volume 20' ceilings in the gourmet kitchen, equipped w/ All Frigidaire professional Series SS Appl., Stainless Steel deep sink w/ deluxe faucet. Custom beveled Granite counter tops & granite backsplash including Island & side bar w/ granite. Oak cabinets w/ crown molding. Tiles in bathrooms & laminate floors in most areas. Oversized Master Bedroom w/ Garden tub and his and hers vanity. Guest ste in the rear of the home has own bathroom leading to the pool, Large living area w/ 4x8 HDMI Screen Home Theatre. Tanning room w/ commercial tanning bed (negotiable).

10,000 gallon Pool. Hayward vacuum System and heated Spa and Jacuzzi with fountain. 700 square foot multi level deck, with shower, barbque area and 7x12 all weather outside storage. All rooms are cable ready, have custom ordered Ceiling Fans and simulated wood blinds.

Regards,

Selma Santos
Your Personal Real Estate Consultant!
Tropical Breeze Home Group, a team with
Weichert Realtors-Yates & Associates
Office:813.926.1200
Cell: 813.766.7668

Mario Levesque,
Engineer, Realtor, Broker,
Tampa, Florida
cell: 813-857-6918
fax: 866-252-9511
Web: http://www.AdvantageAvenue.com/

Web: http://www.AgentFreebies.com/

Friendly, professional services always

2715 Walton Way, Augusta, Georgia

2007-07-28T17:58:06Z

Beautiful Luxury home in Augusta, Georgia.

Click here or on the picture to read more about this home

This home is located in the prestigious neighborhood of Summerville which is a Historic District close to the famous Masters Golf course.

The home has 5 bedrooms, 4.5 Bathrooms and has approximately 4,549 sqft. The lot is 0.59 Acres or approximately 25,700 Sqre Feet

Regards,

Mario

--
Mario Levesque,
Engineer, Realtor, Broker,
Advantage Avenue Real Estate,
Tampa, Florida
cell: 813-857-6918
fax: 866-252-9511
Web: http://www.advantageavenue.com/
Web: http://www.ajmasters.com/
Web: http://www.agentfreebies.com/

Friendly, professional services always

Happy Fourth of July everyone ! click for Music and Fireworks :-)

2007-07-03T21:28:49Z

I would like to wish a happy 4th of July to everyone.

Enjoy the celebrations and the nice shows around the country and on TV.

Mario and Family.

 
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JGS

Past the 100 blog posts

2007-05-25T09:00:27Z

I checked my stats the other day and realized that I had just past the 100 blog post mark. For those just stating to blog, this may seem like a lot of posts but for me it still feels like I am new at this. Compared to some other who have been contributing on this site for a long time this is not a huge accomplishment but something I am a little happy about anyways. I am very glad I discovered this site, it has become an incredible source of information for me.

Cheers,

Mario

Q71-75 Learning about the US government structure

2007-05-21T21:46:36Z

Question 71: What group has the power to declare war?
Question 72: Name the amendments that guarantee or address voting rights.
Question 73: In what year was the Constitution written?
Question 74: What are the first 10 amendments to the Constitution called?
Question 75: Whose rights are guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights?

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Answer 71: Congress has the power to declare war.
Congress has formally declared war eleven times. The Senate vote for war was very close two of these times. These close votes took place before the War of 1812 and the Spanish American War. Congress has not declared war since the United States entered World War II, in 1941. However, seven times since then Congress has authorized military action. This step reflects the democratic tradition of the legislative branch approving the President's use of troops.

Answer 72: The 15th, 19th, and 24th amendments
The 19th Amendment gave women the ability to vote. It was a result of decades of hard work by the women's rights movement. This was also known as the women's suffrage movement. The 15th Amendment was written after the Civil War and the end of slavery. It allowed all American men of all races to vote. Some leaders of southern states were upset that the 15th Amendment allowed African-Americans to vote. These leaders designed fees called "poll taxes" to stop them from voting. The 24th Amendment made it illegal to stop someone from voting because he or she did not pay a poll tax.

Answer 73: The Constitution was written in 1787.
Before the U.S. Constitution, the Articles of Confederation was the document that established the U.S. system of government. The Articles were ratified in 1783. By 1786, many American leaders had become unhappy with this document. The national government it set up was simply too weak. In 1787, Congress decided that a convention would meet in Philadelphia to revise the Articles. At this meeting, the leaders quickly decided to go beyond revising the Articles. Instead, they wrote a whole new governing document-the Constitution.

Answer 74: The Bill of Rights
The first ten Amendments to the Constitution, ratified in 1791, became known as the Bill of Rights. The Bill, using principles from the Declaration of Independence, guarantees the rights of individuals and limits government power. The first eight Amendments set out individual rights, such as the freedom of expression, the right to bear arms, freedom from search without warrant, freedom to not be tried twice for the same crime, the right to not testify against yourself, the right to trial by jury of peers, right to an attorney, and protection against excessive fines and unusual punishments. The last two Amendments in the Bill of Rights are concerned with the rights of the people in their relationship with the state and federal governments.

Answer 75: All people living in the United States
One reason that millions of immigrants have come to America is this guarantee of rights. By the 5th Amendment, everyone in the United States is guaranteed equal protection under the law. This is true no matter what color your skin is, what language you speak, or what religion you practice. The 14th Amendment, ratified after the Civil War, expanded this guarantee of rights. No state would be able to abridge, or block, the rights of any of its citizens.

For more questions visit the Table of Contents to see the entire list of questions that have been posted so far.

Mario