Rick's Brandon, Florida Real Estate Blog

Brandon FL Thanksgiving Wish

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:09:38 -0600

Thanksgiving is one of our most completely American holidays. It centers on family, friends, and giving thanks for the many blessings we enjoy as a free Nation and in our individual lives.

Thanksgiving traces its beginnings to the early days of the colonies, when almost four centuries ago, in Plymouth, Massachusetts, Pilgrims celebrated surviving their first winter on this new continent by sharing a harvest feast with Native Americans. In 1789, George Washington called for the first National Day of Thanksgiving, but it was not until 1863, during the Civil War, that Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday.

Everyone has a personal view of what Thanksgiving means-from the vision of Indians and Pilgrims sharing a meal...to the famous Norman Rockwell drawing of a family sitting down to eat...to the huge floats in Macy's parade in New York City and the many hotly contested football games around the country. Some see it as a time to give back by working in food banks and shelters to make sure those in need are fed. But, for many it may be a workday just like any other. Our military in harms way are some of those people away from family and friends on this traditional holiday. Our hope and prayers are with those folks and their families.

Whatever Thanksgiving means to you, when you sit down with family and friends this Thursday, please give thanks for this free country we live in and for the sacrifices that have been made over the centuries to preserve those freedoms. Remember too, our men and women in the military who are far away from home, and those who must work and forego being with their loved ones.

Florida's Beautiful Homes and staff wish the warmest of wishes to you and your family for a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

Brandon, FL YMCA's Corks & Forks Fundraiser

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:16:26 -0600

YMCA's Corks & Forks

Celebrates the tastes of Central and South America!

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Time: 7:00pm - 10:00pm

Location: Campo Family YMCA (poolside!)

Street: 3414 Culbreath Road

City/Town: Valrico, FL

Come together for good eats and good times while sampling wines and beers from our South and Central American neighbors! Celebrate the excitement of Carnivale with delicious tastes from a variety of local restaurants and vendors, pick up a great gift or two from our silent auction, and have a great time! All funds raised will stay right here in the Brandon Area, providing scholarships for local kids and families to participate in healthy, value-rich programming offered at the Brandon, FL YMCA.

Tickets now available online

Rick Frissell-~ Brandons Beautiful Homes

813-653-1241

Tampa Bay Area Real Estate Agent Gives Away New Foreclosure Book

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:29:36 -0600

By Rick Frissell, Realtor®

Author & Consultant

In the past, buying a foreclosed home was a very challenging process. This was because of the limited supply of foreclosures. In many cases, it took several weeks, if not months, to find a good foreclosure. Next, you had to win the bidding war to buy it. And finally, you had to have an armored car full of money to repair the home.

Well, this has all changed with the recent foreclosure crisis. Today, there is a large supply of great foreclosure opportunities. In fact, you can find these homes very quickly, banks are accepting lower offers because of the supply, you don't have much competition which means no bidding war and believe it or not, the homes are in much better shape.

For a limited time, you can receive a free copy of a new book titled "Foreclosure Home Buying Secrets" which normally sells for $19.95. This book includes 100 pages of secrets to buying a foreclosed home. In this new book, you'll learn:

How the foreclosure process works
How to avoid hidden costs
How to identify the best foreclosed homes
How to research foreclosed homes
What you need to know about current market trends
What you should do during a declining market

To receive the "Foreclosure Home Buying Secrets" book for free, visit:

www.TheFreeForeclosureBook.com or call the real estate information center at: 813-653-1241.

For additional information contact: Dave Tipton davetipton@brandonsbeautifulhomes.com

Florida's Beautiful Homes

Homebuyer Tax Credit Expansion Passed By Congress

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:37:04 -0600

The $8,000 homebuyer tax credit for first-time buyers, due to expire at the end of November, will be extended through April 30 of 2010 and buyers will have an additional two months, until the end of June, to close. First-time buyers who are in the process of making a purchase will no longer need to worry about qualifying for the $8,000 credit if they close after the November 30 deadline. The new legislation increases the income limit for couples with income up to $225,000, a nearly $55,000 increase above the level in existing law.

This new law will make buyers who already own a home eligible for a credit. A $6,500 maximum credit will be available to existing homeowners who have lived in their current residence for five of the prior eight years. The legislation limits eligibility for the existing homeowner credit to homes worth $800,000 or less.

Debate on the homebuyer credit was mostly positive and the legislation passed 403 to 12. The legislation is scheduled to take effect December 1st and is not retroactive. Both credits are available only for primary residences, not second homes or investment properties.

It is expected that the President will sign the legislative package, which contains an expansion of unemployment benefits as well as the tax changes.

If you have any questions on this new law, please stay tuned for additional information or send us an e-mail.

Rick Frissell~ Florida’s Beautiful Homes- Realtors®

813-340-6828

Rick Frissell is a Tampa Bay Area Realtor, Author and Consultant. Rick loves to bike and walk his Golden Retriever pup in the Brandon, FL area. He has worked with Tampa Bay Area real estate for almost a decade. His website has a free MLS search for Tampa Bay Area homes along with Brandon Florida's Beautiful Homes Blog that allows readers gain insight into the Tampa Bay Area real estate market.

Want a little promotion for your Brandon FL Area Business?

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:38:22 -0600

Interested in a Shameless Self Promotion of your Business?

We don't have a million readers yet, but that's our goal. We are opening up our blog to local businesses to "Guest Blog" on Brandon's Beautiful Homes.Com

We are looking for local Tampa Bay Area businesses, especially those that specialize in products or services of interest to home owners, home sellers or home buyers. We are looking for a Synergy with our guest bloggers. There is no cost, but we are looking for informative posts that don't just promote, but rather educate the audience.

Please don't expect us to just run an ad, but rather write something informative about your industry or your company. Posts to Brandons Beautiful Homes Blog are also syndicated to ActiveRain Real Estate Blog, Riverhills Beautiful Homes and Tampa Bay Appraisal. There are no guarantees of new business, but if your interested in promoting your business, website or search engine optimization, this should be right up your alley.

If you are interested in learning more about this concept, contact Rick Frissell~ Florida's Beautiful Homes for more information, either by e-mail or give him a call.

813-653-1241

Brandon's Beautiful Homes

Related Blogs

So You Want to Buy A Foreclosure and Get A Steal

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:15:03 -0600

One of the hottest markets in Florida, particulary the Tampa Bay markets, is bank foreclosures. Foreclosures have steadily accounted for between 25% to 35% of the sales units in the four counties of Hillsborough, Pinellas, Hernando and Pasco. The purpose of this blog is to help understand what to expect regarding price when shopping for a foreclosed home.

In addition to the hot foreclosure market is the short sale homes which is another part of the distressed housing market. "Short Sale" is the term that identifies a home that is for sale by the owner for a list price that is less than the homeowner's current mortgage balance. Our blog today is focused on foreclosures and we will return with another blog on "How To Find A Good Short Sale."

Before we get into analyzing prices of foreclosed homes, we have have to understand a little about how a bank determines the price they will list the home.

Once a bank forecloses on a property, the bank now owns the property. The term the banks use is REO, short for Real Estate Owned. That term, in a way, is a misnomer since the bank really does not want to own real estate. Rather, they would like to sell the foreclosed home as quickly as possible and put the money they receive, from the sale, back to work in a new loan.

So, rather that sit on a foreclosed house and try to get top price or even market price, the bank will put a list price of 10% to !5% below the current market price. In order to determine that price, the bank will order a BPO or Broker Price Opinion and the house will then be discounted based on the condition of the house, sales activity in the neighborhood and a host of other variables.

Why is this important for you, the buyer to know? Because many buyers are quickly disappointed when they find a house for, say $150,000, and they expect to make an offer for $125,000 and think they are doing the bank a favor to take it off their hands.

Am I saying that REO's are not a good deal? Not at all! There are many good deals, some great deals and some notoriously terrible deals. So let's illustrate what we mean, taking the components of just two of the many variables. Let's look at price range and days on market as two significant variables that will effect the kind of good deal you can get.

Take a look at these two houses:

A B

Size: 1,225 Sq ft Size: 1,298 Sq Ft

3 Bedroom 2 Bath 3 Bedroom 2 Bath

List Price: $106,900. List Price: $105,000.

Sale Price:$109,000. Sale Price: $95,300.

Days on Market: 2 Days on Market: 38

Both of these houses are located in Riverview, FL. Both close in age, both had similar taxes. The only significant difference, without visiting the property and taking personal observation, is the days on the market. Once house "B" began to "sit" a while, the bank settled for less of a price. As a matter of fact, $13,700. less!

What significance does time on the market take? Apparently a lot. Each bank and house has a tipping point. But, generally a bank will drop the price between 30 and 40 days or will be more open to all offers.

We did a study for the month of September 2009 of foreclosures focusing on List Price versus Sale Price and here are some observation for you to digest:

Total of all sold single family homes during period: 975
Total of Foreclosed Homes: 228
Number of houses sold at or higher than list price: 123
Banks received on average 98.5% of the overall list price.

Did you catch that last item? Banks are getting their asking price.

So why is everyone clamoring for foreclosures if the banks are pretty much dictating the price? Because they are already pricing the homes at a bargain to begin with. Review a post by Florida Certified Residential Appraiser Jon Tipton on our site showing the actual numbers by listing classification of owner (traditional), Short Sale (3rd party approval) and REO. Here is what Jon reported in his blog. So you can see from the pricing per square foot, even at the banks asking price, they are priced the lowest.

So why wouldn't everybody just buy a foreclosed home? And that gets to the root of the blog. Supply and demand is why. There are not enough foreclosed properties to go to every buyer and as a result, the banks pretty much get their asking price.

So now that we have established that REO's are a great deal, can we still get a great bargain? YES!!

Take this next comparison:

A B

6 Bedroom 4 Bath 5 Bedroom 4 Bath

List Price: $309,700. List Price: $410,000.

Sale Price: $290,000. Sale Price: $395,000.

These two houses sold within a couple of months of each other. The house on the left, of course, is a foreclosure. The house on the right is an owner occupied home and these houses are on the same street. They both closed close to the same amount days on market.

So what does this tell us? Again, it is supply and demand. Where the previous examples were more influenced by first time home buyers, this last set of homes has a limited number of buyers. As a result, when the bank received and offer on an already depressed market price, the bank jumped on it. Likely there was some negotiation involved to arrive at the final price, but there is no question this buyer got a steal. Even if they would have paid full list price, they would have had a deal. But, their agent skillfully pulled another $20,000 off of the bank's list price.

So What Have We Learned?

Foreclosures are a deal.
Some deals are steals.
There are some that are bad deals.
Homes in the first time home buyer price range have competition, but are still great deals.

Be sure to make a Realtor® a part of your team. Some buyers take this complicated and risky process on their own shoulders. Buyers NEVER pay for an agents services. The agent is paid by the bank. What it will cost you, is not getting an expert to help you find your property. Make sure you have an agent that knows the foreclosure market.

Would you like a copy of this study of the foreclosure market for the month of September? Click this link, Free Tampa FL Foreclosure Report, and we will email you the complete list of foreclosed homes sold in September with addresses, list price and sale price.

Rick Frissell~ Florida's Beautiful Homes

813.340.6828 Cell

Riverview Florida Bank Foreclosure

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:09:47 -0500

Bank Owned Property Report

This video was made for a client, who has now moved on with his foreclosed property search. This report may be helpful to you if you have any interest large foreclosed homes in the Riverview, Florida area. If you have any questions on this or any other home on the market, please give us a call at

Give us a call or send an e-mail. 813-653-1241

or e-mail me at Rick@DiamondDwellings.Com

In God We Trust?

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 05:30:06 -0500

MSNBC is taking a poll on how Americans feel about keeping "In God We Trust" as a part of our motto and on the face of our coins. You can cast your vote, as I have, at http://tinyurl.com/5q8eje

There has been a huge Christian response and it is believed that they will pull this poll soon, so please vote now.

Brandon Florida YMCA 2009 Fundraiser Announced

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:27:05 -0500

Corks & Forks YMCA Fundraiser

This years YMCA fundraiser has a theme of "Carnivale Flavors of South America" , The event will be held poolside at the Campo Family Center on November 21st 2009.

The event will feature wines from Chile, Argentina and other South American countries, as well as delicious food from a selection of local restaurants.

A variety of sponsorships and ticket packages are available for businesses and organizations interested in supporting Corks & Forks: Viva Carnivale!

All proceeds will benefit the YMCA's Building Strong Kids Campaign, which helps make YMCA participation possible for children and families in the Brandon area regardless of their financial circumstances.

For tickets or sponsorship information, call Mags Oldman at 813-684-1371, ext. 208.

About the Author: Rick Frissell is a licensed real estate agent with Diamond Dwellings Realty- Florida. Rick's office is in Brandon, Florida which serves eastern Hillborough County. Rick Frissell can be reached at rick@diamonddwellings.com or 813-653-1241.

If you are interested in a career in real estate or associating with Diamond Dwellings Realty, please contact Rick! All calls and inquiries will be held in the strictest confidence.

Wanna Be a Lifeguard at Lithia Springs Park?

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:18:23 -0600

Lifeguard Wanted....

Kevin Church of the Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation Department has announced that they are seeking applications for five Lifeguards spots at Lithia Springs Park located at 3932 Lithia Springs Road Lithia, FL.

Candidates must be at least 16 yoa and have a current Red Cross Lifeguard cetificate.The pay starts at $9 per hour and a background check must be performed.

The job will be between Memorial Day and Labor Day and possibly beyond.

If you haven't been to Lithia Springs Park, it is a real florida beauty. Even if you are not interested in the job, check it out during the summer months.

To learn more about the park and the position go to: www.hillsboroughcounty.org then click on Parks and Trails and then Regional Parks.

Rick Frissell- Diamond Dwellings Realty- Florida

813-653-1241

re-printed from: Brandon Florida Real Estate Blog

By TwitterButtons.com

Diamond Dwellings Realty- Florida Cubed

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:29:14 -0600

Ever been Caught between a Rock and a Hard Place?

Sun, 08 Feb 2009 15:20:40 -0600

A matter of the heart and the pocketbook

At times I feel torn between playing cupid (helping you find a house to fall in love with) and your accountant (finding a house that you can afford). Buying a home is both a matter of the heart and the pocketbook. One really does not outweigh the other. As your real estate agent, I'll help you find a happy balance between the two.

First, you'll benefit from the wealth of experience I bring successfully negotiating and closing deals in the Tampa Bay Area real estate market. I'll help you find the house and the neighborhood that will meet your emotional and financial needs for today and tomorrow.

Next, I'll do everything I can to take the stress out of your home buying experience. There are hundreds of details that go into each real estate transaction, let me handle those for you. And let me help you find a lender, inspector, appraiser and all the other service providers that make for a smooth and worry-free transaction.

Whether you are a first-time buyer or a "real estate veteran", I'm ready, willing and able to answer all your questions about the current real estate market and the home-buying experience. You'll get honest answers to all of your questions.

About the Author: Rick Frissell is a Florida licensed real estate agent with Diamond Dwellings Realty- Florida. Rick's office is in Brandon, Florida which serves eastern Hillborough County. Rick Frissell can be reached at rick@diamonddwellings.com or 813-653-1241.

We welcome referrals!

Now This is an Example of Social Internet Marketing!

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:24:03 -0600

Remember the times we would all sit in a stadium and somebody would start the WAVE?

At first one, two or three people would take the risk of starting a small wave. Then foolishly they would turn to those behind them and encourage the others to join in. This would be repeated until the next section would join in. Then the next section and the next section and the next section. Until finally there would be one full revolution around the stadium. The next revolution more would join and the next reveloution even more. And soon you would have the WAVE.

Well, I am somewhat new to social internet marketing and for that matter web 2.0. I have hours and hours of Twittering, Facebook and web site tinkering. I often wonder ... "What will it look like when I get there?" Another question I ask is ... "How will I know?"

The video I have included is from the web site Born Again American. The site allows for song writers, mucisians and, well, Americans to contributute. You will see that you have the ability to remix the song and theme. Go to the web site link if you would like to see more on how this web site is a tremendous example of social interent marketing at work.

I viewed this video and saw the talent, creativity and love we have in America. It just made me feel good. I hope you do as well.

Rick Frissell~ Diamond Dwellings Realty- Florida

Reflections of the Super Bowl Chauffeur

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 09:20:10 -0600

If you were wondering, I was behind the wheel of the Lincoln Towncar for 57.5 hours over a span of 4 and a half days. The average time driving the client per day was 2 hours. The rest of the time is waiting.

The restrictions were greater than I thought they would be. You have to be 2 to 5 minutes within range of when you are called by the client. That gives them enough time to call down for their driver (me) and take the elevator to the lobby.

I had no surprises and if I had any disappointments it would only be that use of my lap top was more restricted than I thought it would be. WiFi was never available and so blogging as the day would pass was not realistic.

Looking Back

The city of Tampa should be proud of itself. I believe we really impressed our visitors. You could actually see people were enjoying themselves. Our downtown is fresh. Channel Side was wildly popular and Ybor City was a great draw. On one of my runs at midnight, we drove pass the exit for Hard Rock. There were cars lined up back to and on I 4.

If you were a visitor to Tampa this week and you did not have fun, it was your own fault.

The Super Bowl Committee put together venues for all ages and preferences. Concerts were very popular.

The security was prevalent and effective, but not restrictive. Unless you are a trouble maker, then I suspect you would not have liked the security. The police department showed more courtesy than I think I have ever seen. At times, while I was sitting in my car in front of the Marriott, I would see drivers do really dumb things. Not once did I see a police officer become belligerent.

If you are curious as to how I did ...

The team owner that I was dedicated to for the weekend treated me wonderfully. I don't know whether I had any expectations of what it would be like to be driving around our city with a billionaire, but it was no different than if I had just met somebody for the first time at a business meeting and after three days together you have relaxed and enjoyable conversations.

I was tipped $300 and my driver pay will end up somewhere around $1500. But, the experience will last a lot longer than the money quite frankly.

Would I do it again? Possibly. Next year is in Miami. I am thinking of asking the owner to request me for next year as well.

So could I get you to comment?

I would love to hear from you. Our blog visitor count went up 5 times normal for this series. I know that many of you followed along the way.

We have done blogs on special events and places to visit. We will continue to put relevant real estate blogs on here.

But, what would you like to see? Would you like to see more of these job impersonations such as the chauffeur? More restaurant reviews?

We are getting ready to launch foreclosure reviews of particular properties as they first come on the market. What questions would you like answered regarding those properties? What would you like to know most about a foreclosed property?

I want to thank all of my readers. I received phone calls from several of you expressing your interest in the blog. Thank you for those phone calls.

So this is the last blog of the Super Bowl Chauffeur driving you crazy.

Rick Frissell ~ 813 340 6828 Cell

rick@diamonddwellings.com

The Economics of a Super Bowl as seen by a Chaueffeur

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 09:12:59 -0600

There have been a lot of news and opinions about how the economy is effecting the Super Bowl.

One of my favorite radio programs is on at 7:55 AM on channel 970, Earl Pitts, great american hero.

Earl has a way of bringing complex issues to where I can understand them.

As Earl would say "Take the economy and how it is effecting the Super Bowl." Now I can't begin to espouse the wisdom of Earl Pitts as well as he does, but as the Super Bowl Chauffeur, I have some Earl Pitts views.

This mornings Tampa Tribune ran an article interviewing the "little people" and what they thought about all the rich and famous coming to Tampa to party and "spend their money."

Debate continues about income distribution and whether to increase taxes on the rich and pass it down to the middle class. Conservatives argue that it is the rich that provide jobs for the middle class.

Here is what I can tell you as the Super Bowl Chauffeur. As we were driving yesterday, my team owner's wife told a friend in the car that the NFL had canceled one of their two owner parties. The friend asked why, and the owner's wife speculated that they felt it would not be in good taste to have two parties with economic conditions as they are.

Add this Tribune article earlier to the mix. It reported that private air reservations for corporate planes were dramatically off. Corporations were coming, but on commercial flights instead.

Also reported were fewer employee award trips and dealer/distributor trips.

So we might say, oh poor souls, they can't party as much and they have to fly like the rest of us.

Here is what it has been like in the street with all of my fellow $7.50 hourly (my pay not including gratuity) wage earners.

By Wednesday of this week 50% of all of the drivers had been laid off. On Friday, another 50 drivers laid off. On Saturday, another 30 drivers laid off.

At the private airports that have no corporate jets arriving, the men and women that refuel the jets are out of work hours and tips. Extra staffing was not needed because of the low reservation count. Overtime hours for the air traffic controllers vaporized.

Waitresses and waiters assigned for the second owner's party were canceled.

I don't have a degree in economics, but I can see what is going on in the street, literally, because of the rich not spending money. It is not because they don't have it to spend. It is just considered "poor taste" to spend it.

As my friend Earl Pitts would say, "Wake up America!"

Follow me on Twitter @RickFrissell

Rick Frissell ~ 813-340-6828 Cell

Super Bowl Chauffeur Super Sunday update # 1

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 09:07:14 -0600

I will be submitting as many posts as I can today, but it is shaping up to be a busy day for the Super Bowl Chauffeur.

Let me first begin by digressing. Yesterday was my second day as the driver for the wife of one of the owner's for a NFL team.

So what is it like to be plugged in to a super rich person that has come to town for the Super Bowl? Well, it is just as if I were driving for any of you that read this if you were here on vacation. You may question that, but in my two days with this lady and her friends, I have seen nothing but down to earth people on vacation.

We went to the mall to buy a sweater because it was cooler in Tampa than expected. A birthday present for a friend was purchased while there. Friends going out to see the sites. Of all of the places that they could visit, Bush Gardens, Channel Side, Orlando mega monster mouse ... they chose Lowry Park Zoo. And, they were impressed.

Now, for today. It is now 2:18 PM as I am writing at this moment. The build up during the week is now about to erupt into what we usually expect on Super Sunday.

Earlier this morning I was asked to "stage" at the NFL HQ hotel Marriott Waterside. The valet and hotel traffic managers who have been working hard and long have a noticeable increase in seriousness as everything begins to move. Fans are milling about and buses that will carry the coaches and support staff to the stadium are in place for their cargo to be loaded.

The police have been surprisingly patient and courteous. But security, which has been in the background, is now very visible. Dogs are sniffing ... and not for a place for them to park their thoughts.

Downtown traffic is nearly non existent. I have spent two full days in downtown and the mob has been huge. This morning, you could hardly tell there was an event in town except for all of the Pittsburgh jerseys.

And to that point, I would bet (and I am being conservative) that for every obvious Arizona fan there are 100 Pittsburgh fans. And the bars are aware of it as well. Every food and beverage location I have seen have banners stretched across their building shouting "GO STEELERS!" I have yet to see a Cardinals banner.

So picture this. Pretend the Steelers were really the Redskins. Who would the other team mascot be? That mascot does not exist in the NFL. It would be Custer and his 198 soldiers.

I can almost imagine what it would be like, after seeing the Steeler fans in Tampa, for General Custer. The Cardinals are going to enter the stadium and they will look up as if they are in Little Big Horn. And surrounding them will be thousands and thousands of Steeler fans with their yellow/gold and black war paint all over their faces. Instead of tomahawks, their hands will be moving in a frenzy with Steeler towels.

Well, I won't be able to see that. Chauffeurs stay out in the parking lot. But, good news! They are putting on a tail gate party for the chauffeurs during the first half of the game. Food, ice tea (alcohol would not be looked upon favorably for chauffeurs) and a giant screen TV. We were told that we would need to be back at our cars following the half time show.

I hope to have another post before the game. The balance of my posts will be via Twitter. I will get as many Twitpics out to you as time permits. You can follow me @RickFrissell

Until then, this is the Super Bowl Chauffeur driving you crazy!

Rick Frissell ~ 813-340-6828 cell

Five Hours of Training and You're a Chauffeur

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:28:29 -0600

Day 1 as a chauffeur is all about training. Would you believe there are over a hundred Power Point cells for training. Thank goodness the real estate exam was easier. (Just kidding)

Some rules are obvious, such as, no smoking in the car. Now I have never smoked so that is no big deal. But, would you believe we are not to offer our hand for hand shake to greet our client? The reasoning: There is an increasing concern about the spreading of germs and we are to never put our clients in an embarrassing position of refusing or not wanting to shake our hand.

Dress attire. Now that was an interesting exercise we went through. Our email and phone communications made a big deal of bringing our black suit and white shirt (they provide the tie as part of the standard uniform.) Many of the people got the message to wear their suit. I couldn't believe how many different suits there could be that are black. The inspection consisted of making sure the suit was solid black. No pin stripes or patterns of any type were permitted. But that was it. I'm looking around the room and some of these suits look like they have been slept in for days. Maybe they're the professional chauffeurs. White is not always white either. There is gray white as in worn out. But, those were the exception for sure. There were hundreds of drivers and I would say 95% or more looked great.

There was one major snafu for the day. There were four sperate training classes for the day and I was in session 3. After an afternoon of training, they discover, suddenly , that there are not enough cars to assign to every driver. On the surface that would seem solvable and it is. But not until the next day. Well, they instructed us to be dropped off because there was not enough parking for our personal cars and we would be getting a car anyway. So now there are probably 50 people without transportation home and the day is over. I got a car! As I was leaving, quickly I might add, staff was on the phone making shuttle arrangements for the shorted drivers.

Day 2, today as I write this, is a little confusing. We are supposed to be ready for airport shuttle runs, but there was conflicting information as to whether we will actually be dispatched today. So, I will let you know. Remember, you can follow me on Twitter @RickFrissell

Rick Frissell ~ Diamond Dwellings Realty

Re-printed from: Brandon Florida Real Estate Blog

Day 2 of the Super Bowl Chauffeur

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:19:57 -0600

I guess I mentioned that everything was a little unorganized during the Training Day. Well it spilled over to me.

At the training class we were told we needed a long sleeve white shirt. I don't own a long sleeve white shirt. I prefer light blue for my dress shirts. So I run to the local department store to buy a shirt, five minutes before closing.

"Good evening shoppers, thank you for shopping at Steinmart. We will be closing in 5 minutes. Please bring your purchases to check out." Yipes, I just arrived.

Okay okay, let's find the size and get out of here. Rush rush, white shirt - check, 17 inch collar - check, 34 inch length - check ... go, go, go, let's get to check out. All done in less than 3 minutes!!

So I get up yesterday morning with a full schedule. I have to write a blog, answer my real estate emails, check new listings for my clients and iron my white "long sleeve" shirt.

So why do they fold new shirts with a hundred straight pins? It must mean something when you can buy a shirt faster than you can open the package. But, I am running behind so I have to get going. The steam iron is now cooking, sending a spiral of steam from it's nose and hissing at me as a cobra ready to go. I always follow the same order. Press the collar, nice and crisp. Now the sleeves. The sleeves. The sleeves ... oh no! The sleeves have french cuffs! I can't use this shirt!

Thinking fast, I remember about the commercials of how Men's Warehouse saves people that are in a jam. I bought my black suit (also required and also something I did not own) from Men's Warehouse. I will take my new Men's Warehouse black suit still wrapped by them and buy a white shirt there. I can also have them press it (after all this is an emergency and it's their advertisement, not mine) and I can get dressed right there in the changing room. Well, that plan worked and the day is back on track.

Except. Except that my Nextel phone they gave me does not have a signal. Now Nextel is no Men's Warehouse. My family has been down that route when we bought two Nextel phones for my wife and son. Same problem, no service coverage. No sympathy. No help. No refund.

Let's Get This Show on the Road

I get to "Command Center." No kidding, this is set up military style. We even use military time and we have a field van called "Mobile Operations Center" or MOC. I let Command Center know that my Nextel won't work in Valrico (and likely a lot of the rest of the area) and they take it to check it out. Well, it wasn't the usual Nextel signal problem. It was a "not working" Nextel phone. Now how is one able to tell the difference? Anyway, the "not working" part is fixed. The signal part is a problem related to where my house is located and I am not going to move.

At 1:30 PM I get a contact from dispatch for a pick up at the airport, at 1950. That is 7:50 PM. "Stand by and we will be contacting you with instructions."

Six hours of stand by? That's okay, I wanted this gig.

Another part of the training the day before is that we be "in the cell phone parking lot 20 minutes ahead of arrival." I am there an hour ahead. Thirty minutes to go and my personal cell phone rings. It is dispatch. They had called my home and my wife gave them my cell phone number. This time the Nextel problem was the operator, me ! They had told us to keep the volume down so as not to disturb our clients. But, they did not tell us to mute it. They had been trying to reach me for an hour and were not getting a response from me. Okay, un-mute.

Well my client arrives on time and I am taking one of the broadcast booth announcers from NBC. Now I am not allowed to mention names, but there are only three, so you guess.

VERY nice people! We are driving to the Harbour Island Westin. I grew up in Tampa. Been to downtown Tampa probably thousands of times and in thousands and thousands of times I have only gone the wrong way on a one way street once. Now let's make that two.

What a headline: "NBC Super Bowl announcer did not make the game and is in the hospital after a head on collision by a local Realtor pretending to be a chauffeur at the Super Bowl."

Well, thankfully there was no oncoming traffic, no accident and no tip. I would not have accepted one after I could feel the death grip on the back of my Lincoln Towncar luxury leather seat by the announcers wife. What does it mean when you stop the car and your clients run? They did not teach us THAT in chauffeur school.

So my second day as a chauffeur and my first day of driving was over. Tired, embarrassed and down, I went home and thought of the less stressful days of real estate.

Rick Frissell~ Realtor

About the Author: Rick Frissell is a licensed real estate agent with Diamond Dwellings Realty- Florida. Rick's office is in Brandon, Florida which serves eastern Hillborough County. Rick Frissell can be reached at rick@diamonddwellings.com or 813-653-1241.

If you are interested in a career in real estate or associating with Diamond Dwellings Realty, please contact Rick! All calls and inquiries will be held in the strictest confidence.

May I Show You The City of Tampa?

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:13:15 -0600

The idea for this blog began when I got an email from our local association of Realtors® (GTAR) announcing that there was a need for chauffeurs for Super Bowl week.

"Drivers are needed as chauffeurs for VIP, entertainers, NFL players/Cheerleaders and celebrities." Wow! What a blog I thought. I sent a communication of my interest in working that week. After all, who would I possibly meet and why not make some needed money at the same time.

I submited my paper work and was invited to an orientation. Paperwork, background check (FBI) and drug test and you're hired. So they tell you to come back for training, which will be on January 26th and at that time you have a car assigned to you, a dispatch radio, a gas card and notification that you are on call 24x7 for the next week.

So what will the blog look like? Well, I'm afraid that part of the paperwork was an affidavit that we will not disclose any client names, events or conversations. Well, that sounds like a boring blog.

So, here is the alternative. I will be sending pictures of sights and destinations that the partiers will be attending. Which bars, dance clubs, parties, restaurants and attractions will be captured is yet to be known.

The pictures will be delivered from my cell phone through TwitPic and on my Twitter account. You can follow me @RickFrissell. The first three days were explained to be between the airport and hotels and everything else is beginning Friday. We will at least record the day of a chauffeur through our Twitter blog. I hope to see you following me!

Rick Frissell~ Diamond Dwellings Realty

813-340-6828 Cell

Super Bowl XLIII is being played in sunny Tampa Florida

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:15:22 -0600

The Tampa Bay area, hosting its fourth Super Bowl on Feb. 1st, has something for everyone. This huge event is unique in all the sports world. This years Super Bowl is being played at the Raymond James Stadium, better known to the locals as the "Ray Jay".

Tampa has its skyline, port, museums, world-class aquarium and Busch Gardens plus a hockey arena and outdoor amphitheater that draw the concert calendar's biggest acts. Some of the hottest game week parties open to the public will happen in the clubs and restaurants of Ybor City, the former Tampa Latin Quarter that was redeveloped as an entertainment district before the city's last Super Bowl in 2001.

Around 150,000 people are descending on the Tampa Bay area for Super Bowl XLIII. Here's a little more about what they can expect:

New in Tampa since the last Super Bowl is the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, which is not only full of brand new slot machines and black jack tables, but also some top-notch restaurants. In fact, NFL legend Mike Ditka will make the hotel his home base for a dazzling event put on by the Gridiron Greats charity.

Music: There is something for everyone the week leading up to the game: Celine Dion (Jan. 28th), The Eagles, Jan. 29th, Rihana, Fall Out Boy and Lifehouse, Jan. 29th, and the Latin-flavored Pepsi Musica concert, Jan 30th are among the shows scheduled. Also showing up for the festivities will be comedian Dane Cook, Jan. 31st. The annual Super Bowl Gospel Celebration is Jan. 30th, and the SuperLX Live! jazz concert in Ybor City, Jan31st.

Parties, Parties everywhere: Although the economy may put a small dent in Super Bowl partying this year, celebrities ranging from rappers to TV celebrities putting on their must attend events. Big-time sports agent Leigh Steinberg is holding his own exclusive Super Bowl party at the Lowery Park Zoo in Tampa.

Food: The Taste of the NFL sponsored by the NFL, features 32 top chefs, one from each NFL city, paired with a current or former NFL player for an event Jan 31st at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. Attendees can sample some awesome food and wine, and meet the players/chefs.

Floating Hotels: Tampa is a year around cruise port and several large cruise ships will make Tampa their port of call for the Super Bowl, including the very exclusive The World cruise ship. They will provide both entertainment and coveted rooms with a view in Downtown Tampa.

And then there is the football game it's self, almost an after thought after all that's going on the week leading up to the game. Steelers Vs Cardinals should be a great match up.

Rick Frissell, Agent- Diamond Dwellings Realty

813-653-1241

How to Negotiate the Purchase of a Tampa Area Bank Owned Property

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:36:23 -0600

The first thing you should know about buying a Tampa Bay Area bank owned property is that you have greater negotiating leverage if the property has been on the market for a while. When a foreclosure first goes on the market, the bank may be unwilling to negotiate down on its asking price as it wants to get as much of what was owed on the original loan back as possible. However, once a home or condo has sat too long on the market with few bites, a bank becomes more willing to take what it can get since its primary goal is to get the asset off the books and increase shareholder value. Banks have no desire to be in the real estate business. So, here are some tips on how to negotiate with a bank when buying a property that they own.

1. Make offers on Tampa Bay Area foreclosures only if they have been on the market for more than 30 days.

2. If the bank rejects your offer, wait another 30 days and re-submit it. Over time banks become more willing to negotiate with buyers and will be willing to take less.

3. Hire your own attorney to review the bank's Purchase Contract. Since most banks use their own attorney to write the Purchase Contract, it will not favor the buyer so you need a good real estate attorney to review it.

4. You are not obligated to obtain your loan through the bank offering the property for sale. They may ask you to submit a loan application to pre-qualify you for the purchase, you can still seek a loan from another bank with a better rate or terms.

5. Make sure you have an approval letter from your lender before you submit an offer that assures you your loan will not run into unexpected delays because the selling bank may charge additional fees if the closing date is delayed.

6. Since most bank owned homes are sold "As Is," make sure your offer is contingent upon having a home inspection done. Some times sellers damage the property or strip assets from the home before they leave.

Please allow us to assist you in your search for that perfect property and represent your interests in the negotiation process.

Rick Frissell, Agent- Diamond Dwellings Realty 813-653-1241

5 Foreclosure Laws You Should Be Familiar With

Want The Best Pizza You've Ever Had?

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 15:57:00 -0600

All Pizzas are not the same! For years I have heard pizza joints claim they have the best pizza. “Chicago style pizza here!” or “New York Pizza, eat in or take out!” Until I went to The Pizza Zone right on the border of the cities of Tampa and Brandon, I did not know the difference. Me, I’m a guy that picks up the phone and “get it done” guy. So I call closest "we deliver fast," national franchise brand pizza house. I have been doing that for years. But, apparently a lot of people do because every church function, every kids party or you name the occasion, orders the same brand name pizzas. Well my wife came home and said they had a pizza at their school that was really good and that I should try them out.

So I grabbed the trusty Flip camera and went to The Pizza Zone to give it a try. Well there's no sense me going on. Watch The Pizza Zone video to see and hear for yourself why all pizzas are not the same.

The Pizza Zone is located at 9017 Adamo Drive, Suite 111Brandon, FL. Phone number (813) 621 3434 By the way, Ben says that when you call or come by to mention this blog for a 10% discount off your order.

Content originally posted on personal web site below.

Rick Frissell Diamond Dwellings Realty (813) 340-6828

Free Florida MLS Search: Click Here

Is your Brandon Area home getting ready to expire in the MLS?

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:02:32 -0600

If your home has been listed in the MLS, and it is getting ready to expire, I would like to make a few suggestions...

Get a new agent... May I suggest me...
Set up the new listing to begin the day after the current listing expires...
Go on a nice vacation for a few days...
Don't forward your home phone to your cell phone... and you might consider NOT sending it to voice mail...

Why you ask?

Because it is going to get ugly. Seriously. It is kind of funny, I talk with agents all over... not just Tampa, but all over the US... and they often say the same thing. "I'm not really looking for sellers, I am looking for buyers." And it is an odd thing to hear since as a newly expired listing you will recieve...

93 phone calls... these will start at about 6:00 AM the day your house expires...
165 letters... ok, some will be postcards, others will be letters... and then...
3 packages... like FedEx, DHL or UPS. These will be touting the senders super hero like abilities...
8 door knocks from agents... these may also start pretty early on the day of expiration...

There is a madness to the method...

The reason that you will be inundated is that it works. It doesn't work a lot, but if they contact a couple hundred people, there will be a couple that might fly. For these agents, this is their job. It is referred to as prospecting. You and your home have been reduced to being a prospect... a number...

I've been through the sales coaching. I know the drill... Make 35 calls a day, 5 days a week. From that, expect to get 10 appointments and from that, 4 listings, "it's a numbers game".

But here is the problem...

Somewhere in the process, you became a number. Instead of spending time putting together marketing packages for homes, they are only putting together marketing packages for themselves... If they list enough properties, something will sell. Your property is a number, not a priority.

It doesn't have to be that way!

Your not just a number to me, you won't likely get a phone call from me... and certainly not at 6:00am. You might see a newsletter. If you contact me, you certainly WILL get a package regarding listing information. But, instead of dreaming up ways to market ME... I am dreaming up ways to market YOUR HOME. I am building web sites that are just for and about your home. I am looking for ways to better connect with the buyers that are in the market now. I am looking at market data and trends to see what is working. I am looking at the analytics of the marketing I have done so that I can better see what has worked.

It isn't about me. I don't want to be famous. I don't want 1000 listings. I don't need to market for my ego.

It IS about making YOUR home sell.

I do have to spend a little bit of time promoting myself... I do need some listings. But I try not to be annoying about it. I have dealt with pushy agents. The can do really well... but I think that an agent that concentrates on getting homes sold can do better than an agent that concentrates on getting themselves sold.

I look forward to hearing from you and discussing our marketing plan for your home.

Rick Frissell, Agent- Diamond Dwellings Realty

Re-printed from LiliburnDwellings.Com

Salute to the Marine Corp

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 14:19:51 -0600

Happy 233rd Birthday U.S. Marine Corp.

This past week we celebrated Veterans Day and The U.S. Marine Corp's 233rd Birthday. I ran across this very nicely done salute to the Marine's done by GoDaddy.Com and I had to share. I salute all Veterans and all of my family. friends and clients who are/where veterans and or Marines. God Bless all of our service men and women.

Click here: Happy 233rd Birthday to the United States Marine Corps!

Rick Frissell- Diamond Dwellings Realty

The Palmetto Club at FishHawk Ranch - Lithia Florida

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:29:27 -0600

FishHawk Ranch, an award-winning, master-planned community in southeast Hillsborough County, has a reception hall perfect for weddings, anniversary parties, company functions and special events. The facility features a 5,200 square foot ballroom that can be divided into three smaller rooms for more intimate gatherings. Spacious outdoor veranda and garden areas, a conference room, pre-function area, and catering kitchen all add to the versatility of the club. The facility is located conveniently, right in the heart of the community.

I have attended two functions at the Palmetto Club and they have both been awesome and first class in every way. If you have a wedding, reception or other function coming up, check this place out. I think you will like it.

The Palmetto Club is located at 17004 Dorman Road Lithia, FL 33547 and can be reached at 813-657-0062

View Map

Rick Frissell- Diamond Dwellings Realty

Palmetto Club Website

Saturday, November 21, 2009
Time:	7:00pm - 10:00pm
Location:	Campo Family YMCA (poolside!)
Street:	3414 Culbreath Road
City/Town:	Valrico, FL