Here's yet another brand new real estate network to join - 05/30/07 07:25 AM
Someone emailed me an invite to this real estate network, so I went to check it out.  Seems like it's along the lines of ActiveRain with instant chat added to it.  Also looks like it's brand new too.
This was part of the email sent to me explaining what it is: 
RealEstateRiches is the #1 Social Network for real estate investors! Signup for your FREE Profile and start networking with thousands of real estate professionals Today! RealEstateRiches enables you to: *Network with professionals in REAL TIME via instant messenger! *Post all your listings FREE or browse them for opportunities! *Build strategic networks in the real estate ecosystem! *Meet … (0 comments)

How do you guys keep up with everything here on ActiveRain? - 05/29/07 11:14 AM
I have been a member of ActiveRain for almost a year now, but wandered away for quite sometime before I came back here to start blogging again earlier this month.  I have to admit, when I came back....I was SHOCKED!  LOL...Shocked at how many members are here now compared to a year ago!  WOW!!!
My question is, how do you guys keep up with all the posts on here?  It's hard to read through them and keep up with the newer posts, as there are so many people blogging here now that the newer posts seem to fall quickly down the pages as … (5 comments)

Anna Maria Island makes the list of 5 hidden, affordable beach destinations - 05/29/07 06:38 AM
Smarter Travel reports that Anna Maria Island made the list for one of the top 5 affordable beach destinations in the U.S and Canada.
"Anna Maria Island has somehow managed to keep condo towers, all-fast-food chains, amusement parks, and glitzy mega-resorts off its shores. In fact, no construction on the this seven-mile long barrier island on Florida's Gulf Coast is more than three stories tall, Subway is the only franchise, and 60 percent of its land is open beach. And, it's affordable, especially in the summer. You can rent vacation homes with water views and pools for well under $1,000 per week … (2 comments)

Anna Maria Island Bridge getting facelift - 05/24/07 07:53 AM
The bridge that connects Bradenton to Anna Maria Island will be getting a facelift.  Bay News 9 reports "It's going to be a long and arduous inconvenience, particularly for those going back and forth to work on the mainland, Anna Maria Island resident Bob Gottschalk said.""Gottschalk said the year-long construction project is a necessary evil considering the bridge's condition."
"The project calls for a 75-day construction period when the bridge is closed entirely.
I hope they begin work on it soon.  Snow birds will be here again at the end of the year/beginning of next year, and traffic is bad enough when the bridge … (0 comments)

Florida drivers need to check your SunPass statements - 05/23/07 08:05 AM
A story reported on TampaBays10.com is a reminder to check your SunPass statements to verify if all of the charges are correct.  A Tampa Bay 10 photojournalist Kurt Beabes replenished his SunPass with $50 and then 2 days later it charged his card again with another $50.  Beabes went online, checked his account and saw several charges for axle adjustments.  He then called SunPass.
"SunPass said a lot of times when someone is riding through a toll plaza and somebody is riding the bumper, that person will get charged for both vehicles' tolls."
"10 News made a public records request to the SunPass agency and … (1 comments)

Allstate Floridan twists that knife just a little bit more - 05/23/07 07:12 AM
I was reading a story this morning in the Herald Tribune about how a Florida resident, Carl Taylor was contacted on a Saturday evening at dinner time from Allstate Floridian with a phone call letting him know that they were dropping him in November.
"I was so livid I could hardly stand it," said the Sarasota retiree. Why are they calling me on a Saturday to tell me that?  He cannot believe he learned about it with a phone call at dinner time on the weekend.  That's tactless, he said."
"The agents thought the clients would feel better if they got a call … (3 comments)

Hurricane Preparedness 2007 Sales Tax Holiday is coming up!!! - 05/21/07 08:13 AM
The sales tax holiday starts at 12:01 am on June 1, 2007 and ends at midnight June 12, 2007.
Below are just a few of the items that are tax free:
Flashlights and other portable, self-powered light sources - $20 or less Portable radios, two-way radios and weather-band radios - $75 or less Tarps - $50 or less Gas or diesel fuel containers - $25 or less Batteries - $30 or less (AAA, AA, C and D cell, and 6 and 9 volt batteries) Non-electrical food storage coolers - $30 or less Portable generators - $1,000 or less Carbon monoxide detectors - $75 … (0 comments)

I need a GOOD Mortgage Broker in the Manatee County area - 05/19/07 06:40 AM
I still have yet to be able to find a really good Mortgage Broker in my area (Manatee County, Florida) that I have wanted to stick with or recommend to more buyer's.
I prefer to work with local Mortgage Broker's, but at this point if I can't find a GOOD one to stick with, then I'm going to start looking outside of the area.
For whatever reasons the one's I have run into do not return my phone calls, don't return my buyer's phone calls, you can never reach them, they are rude, had one I liked on one deal I did with him … (10 comments)

The downturn in the residential real estate market is over in Manatee County - 05/18/07 09:57 AM
An article in today's Herald Tribune confirmed what I have been arguing for the last few months.  Things ARE getting better in Manatee County!!
I have been saying these very same words to everyone that asks me for the past several months.  I started taking note of the MLS activity every day starting on January 1 of this year and the numbers don't lie!  Things have slowly been getting better.
"Hank Fishkind, Florida's premier economist, believes that the downturn in the residential real estate market is over.""I argue that housing has stopped going down," Fishkind said. "It is weak. It is painful, but … (0 comments)

FoxBrook, Parrish Florida - 05/18/07 09:04 AM
FoxBrook is located on CR 675 in Parrish, just 5 miles east of Hwy 301.  It is a community being built on 945 acres and will be home to 298 families once completed. 
FoxBrook has one, two and five acre home sites to choose from.  On many of the two and five acre home sites, horses are welcome.  When completed, FoxBrook will have riding trails, over 7 miles of bike paths throughout the community, a park/picnic area, nature wooded preserves, quiet country setting, county water, underground utilities, Florida Power & Light, Time Warner Cable TV, RaodRunner High Speed Internet and builder … (1 comments)

Harrison Ranch, Parrish Florida - 05/15/07 11:26 AM
Harrison Ranch is located on US Hwy 301 just north of Erie/Old Tampa Road in Parrish.  It is just one of several new communities that are being built in the area.
Harrison Ranch is a large community being built on more than 998 acres.  The community is planned to have 965 single family homes and 112 villas.  Nearly 75% of the homes will border a lake or preserve.
Harrison Ranch villas are 1,709 sq ft which are 2 bed, 2 bath and a den.  The single family homes range in size from 1,678 sq ft to 3,032 sq ft and are 3-4 bed … (0 comments)

The Palms of Manasota, Palmetto Florida - 05/15/07 08:57 AM
The Palms of Manasota is located on 49th St E (Experimental Farm Rd) between Hwy 19 and Hwy 41 in Palmetto.
The Palms of Manasota is a 55+ Alternative Lifestyle community.  This was America's first 55+ Alternative Lifestyle community that was ever built.  This community is tucked away just off the main roads.  It is a small beautiful community that when you drive through and the residents are out, they extend a hand to waive and a smile to the passerby's.
The homes and villas are Spanish style with tile roofs.  You can choose from a stand alone home or a duplex like … (0 comments)

Bank of America offers No Fee Mortgage - 05/15/07 06:54 AM
Bank of America says it is offering a No fee mortgage.  No application fee, no closing fees and no PMI (private mortgage insurance).
They also say they will guarantee to close your loan within 25 calendar days after the date you submit your completed loan application to them, or your first month's mortgage payment (principal & interest) is on them! 
They also offer that if you can find a better deal somewhere else and close, they will give you $250.
Sounds like a deal to me!  Wonder if anyone else out there is offering anything like this?
… (5 comments)

April Market Stats for Manatee county - 05/15/07 06:29 AM
Well folks the numbers are in for April.  Below is what has SOLD and closed compared to this time last year.  As you will see, the numbers are the same as/or a little better this year than last year!
April 2007# of Single Family Homes that SOLD = 221Average Sales price = $367,482# of Condos that SOLD = 83Average Sales price = $233,131
April 2006# of Single Family Homes that SOLD = 221Average Sales price = $385,589
# of Condos that SOLD = 80Average Sales price = $247,335
Now is a great time to buy a home!  Interest rates are still low and there is … (0 comments)

Creekside Preserve, Parrish Florida - 05/14/07 06:07 PM

Creekside Preserve is located in Parrish on Us Hwy 301 just north of Erie/Old Tampa Road.  Creekside Preserve is a brand new community being built by Smith Family Homes and Standard Pacific Homes.  This gated community is easily accessible from Bradenton or Tampa.  It is close to the Ellenton Prime Outlet Mall and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge for easy access to St. Petersburg. 
Smith Family Homes features homes from 1,781 sq ft up to 2,760 sq ft.  Standard lot sizes are aprox. 60x120.  The homes feature fully landscaped home sites, covered lanai, volume ceilings, 6-panel colonial doors in the first floor, … (0 comments)

Forest Creek, Parrish Florida - 05/14/07 01:14 PM
Forest Creek is another beautiful new community being built by Neal Communities located on Hwy 301 between Chin Rd and Red Rooster Road in Parrish.  It is just south of the town of Parrish and about 5 miles from I-75.
Forest Creek consists of 135 acres.  They have gone to great lengths to preserve much of the beautiful land and trees throughout the community.  Many of the old grand oak trees and sabal palms were left untouched as a reminder of Old Florida as well as to help preserve the land.  There are 11 tree parks and 13 lakes scattered throughout the … (0 comments)

River's Reach, Parrish Florida - 05/13/07 05:14 PM
While out for a drive today, I discovered one of the neatest subdivisions that I have ever been in.  River's Reach is a brand new subdivision being built by Neal Communities and is located on Rye Road between Golf Course Road and Upper Manatee River Road in Parrish.  It's about 12 miles from SR 64. 
River's Ranch is a masterfully-planned community that is located alongside of the Manatee River which consists of 250 acres that contain over 58% of green space for lakes, river and nature preserves.  That's over 105 acres of green space that was left to preserve many of … (0 comments)

Postage is going up....AGAIN! - 05/10/07 01:13 PM
In case you haven't heard, postage is going up again on Monday May 14, 2007 to .41 cents a stamp!
http://www.usps.com/prices/
… (4 comments)

Manatee Hurricane Expo - 05/10/07 07:01 AM
Join meteorologist Mike Clay at the Manatee Civic Center for the 2007 Hurricane Expo. The expo takes place Saturday, June 16 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and is free to the public. The first 500 attendees receive a pocket-size first aid kit & free lunch!
There will be preparedness seminars.
The Manatee Civic Center is located at:1 Haben BlvdPalmetto, FL 34221
… (0 comments)

Manatee County Market Stats - 05/09/07 01:29 PM
Here are the stats for Jan-March 2007 of what SOLD in Manatee County.
Properties that SOLD in January 2007: Single Family Homes = 128 Condos = 34 Average Sales price for SFH = $347,200 Average Sales price for Condos = $326,697Properties that SOLD in February 2007: Single Family Homes = 179 Condos = 44 Average Sales price for SFH = $354,732Average sales price for Condos = $255,672Properties that SOLD in March 2007:Single Family Homes = 209Condos = 61Average Sales price for SFH = $399,378Average Sales price for Condos = $224,339
I will have the April stats up in about a week.  I want … (2 comments)

 
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Becky Troutt

Bradenton, FL

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Reynolds Realty of Manatee Inc

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