Anna's Blog

Golf Community Beauty For Sale or Welcom to Pelican Bay

Anna Lukyanova (Century 21 Sundance Realty) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:21:19 -0500

Enjoy Maintenance Free Living in a Gated Golf/Tennis Community with 24/7 security at both gates! This one-story 3 Bedroom, 2 Baths, 2-Car Garage home is located in the Beautiful Pelican Bay Community of St. Andrews Highlands.

Pelican Bay Master Association Fee $575.00 Yearly, St. Andrews Assoc fee $275 quarterly, cable service $445.00 yearly (Sept 1-August 31) Maintenance fee covers the exterior painting as well as the yard care and security.

It features large master suite with walk in closet, recently remodeled baths, kitchen with newer stove, microwave, fridge and dishwasher, washer and dryer that are 2 months old, breakfast nook with tastefully finished built-in cabinets, newer tile, carpet, and light fixtures throughout the house, living room & sun room overlooking water canal and a golf course.

Property located near everything including Publix, Walgreens, Sam's and Wal-Mart among many other amenities and only one mile from the I-4 and I-95 interchange.

Call Anna Lukyanova for a showing at 386-405-7784 or see virtual tour at http://www.daytonabeachrealestateguide.com/Listing/VirtualTour.aspx?ListingID=1792895

To learn more about real estate in Daytona Beach area or view more listings please visit my website at www.DaytonaBeachRealEstateGuide.com

The Super 8 MEME..This Is It!

Anna Lukyanova (Century 21 Sundance Realty) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 07:21:37 -0500

I was tagged by Midori Miller. Thanks a bunch!!!!!!!!! Now I have to find 8 victims.......

1. Who is your favorite musical artist (post a YouTube Video). Hard to say, but from cotemporary artists, I like Yanni, James Blunt, and Josh Groban. Classics: Mozart, Vivaldi, Tchaikovsky, Pavarotti, and Rastrapovich. I could go on and on! But my most favorite are Gipsy Kings!

2. Who is your favorite artist? (Post a Flickr photo). I love art in all of its forms and styles through the ages from Michelangelo to Dali, from Rembrandt to Ivan Shishkin. It changes from time to time. My favorite for now is the artist from Seattle, Dale Chihuly.

3. Who is your favorite blogger? There are so many. One of my favorites is Maggie Dokic. Her writing is fun, entertaining and educational.

4. If you could meet anyone (dead or alive) who would it be and what is the most interesting thing about them? Albert Einstein... Do I really need to explain why? Exploring a mind of that caliber is always exciting.

5. What did you want to be when you grew up? I was one of those weird kids that when I was asked this question (probably up unit age of 7) by adults, I would look at them and say something like," Do I have to commit to something now? I have the whole life ahead of me to decide." After that, they kind of stopped asking........... So I don't remember anything specifically, although I used to love to put up a show for the guests of the house whether they liked it or not..........

6. What is the most interesting piece of trivia you know? For the nine months that we spend in our mother's uterus, we swallow the amniotic fluid regulating its amount. Once swallowed, the amniotic fluid passes through the baby's kidneys and excreted as urine, which then is swallowed again, recycling the full volume of amniotic fluid every few hours.(Yes, this means that most of the fluid is eventually your urine! You were swallowing your own pee for 9 months and have no recollection of it. Is it disgusting?)

7. If you could live in any point of history, what would it be and why? The 60's, since so much transformation took place then..........

8. What is the most interesting job you have ever held? Most of the places I've worked at were pretty normal, but once I applied aka faxed my resume to a place that only had the job description, but no location or the name of the company that I was applying to. The job required solid sales skill and administrative experience. "Well", I thought, "I have that." When my "future" boss called for an interview, I learned that I applied to a funeral home to sell caskets, flowers and all that other crap. Needless to say, once I learned about that, I had to decline that position. And let me tell you, there is no polite way of doing that. He caught me off guard. Awkward!!!!!!!!!!! Awkward !!!!!!!!!!!!! Obviously, somebody's got to do that job; I just did not want to do it!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok..the 8 victims are:

1. Luis Rivera

2. Rich Jacobson

3. Jeff Turner

4. Phillip Tsouridis

5. Linda Scanlan

6. Debra A. Brooks

7. Kara Casamassina

8. Fernando Herboso

Why I still enjoy attending training or TECH FAIR in Daytona Beach

Anna Lukyanova (Century 21 Sundance Realty) — Fri, 30 May 2008 14:59:07 -0500

So I haven't been so active on ActiveRain for number of reason. One of them is I am pregnant and soon will have an addition to our family. Between juggling family and marriage life, growing a baby inside of me, and taking care of real estate business, I haven't got many breaks. I also wanted to keep my pregnancy secret for a while since it's my first one and anything could go wrong, but now it's obvious. There is no denial there-- I got a baby bump, and now it looks more like a baby bump than a beer belly.........

However, some things are worth to be working on and kept up with and that includes Active Rain Blogging. I went to a TECH FAIR in Daytona Beach today and that got my creative juices flowing.

Our trainer-manager at CENTURY 21 Sundance, Midori Miller, being a member of the tech committee at the Daytona Beach board spent a lot of time helping to organize the event inviting vendors, sponsors and most importantly Realtors. She also was teaching a class today and has done an outstanding job doing all of those tasks.

In addition, she managed to bring aboard Bob Stewart of ActiveRain to the fair and he held a class as well. It was my please meeting him. His training was excellent and I got quite a few pointers out of it. He covered excellent topics and now I have a better understanding why and how ActiveRain works for me, your average Realtor looking to get web exposure.

I am almost 7 months pregnant now and can barely stand Florida heat, so I am pretty sure I'll be spending more time inside rather than outside prospecting, working on my website, blog and internet marketing in general.

Now, I have quite a bit of work cut out for me that is directly internet related that will improve my business. Needless to say, TECH FAIR was a success and I am glad I attended. Every time I go to these types of events I learn something new and that's exciting, plus I get the opportunity to network with others and learn about new tools. Today's Daytona Beach TECH FAIR was excellent and I look forward to more events like that.

Daytona Beach Bargain! This is it!

Anna Lukyanova (Century 21 Sundance Realty) — Thu, 15 May 2008 12:17:01 -0500

WELCOME TO: 1512 Edgewater Rd DB, 32114

Bedrooms: 2

Bathrooms: 2

Half Baths: 0

Living Area: 1109

Total Area: 1723

Lot Size: 80x109

Subdivision: Fairway Estates

Year Built: 1973

Bedroom 1: 14x12

Living Room: 20x12

Kitchen: 20x11

Bedroom 2: 14x12

Construction: Concrete Block

Parking: 1 Car , Garage , Workshop

Virtual Tour: http://www.daytonabeachrealestateguide.com/Listing/VirtualTour.aspx?ListingID=1717025

Remarks: Excellent Value! Nicely maintained home on a corner lot with a convenient Daytona Beach location in Fairway Estates is close to shopping, colleges, schools, restaurants, and airport. It features newer paint, carpet, tile, fridge and dishwasher. Fully fenced backyard that is nicely landscaped offers plenty of privacy and has storage shed. Property is currently zoned for Turie T. Small Elementary, Campbell Middle and Mainland High School. Super value for the money. Great for family or retirees. All this can be yours for only $144,900

Anna Lukyanova Century 21 Sundance Realty 1102 Pelican Bay Dr Daytona Beach, FL 32119-1381

Email: annaluk21@hotmail.com

Cell: (386) 405-7784

Stock Market is Up, and what it Means for Real Estate Industry

Anna Lukyanova (Century 21 Sundance Realty) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:43:49 -0500

On Monday, the Fed made a surprise announcement to increase the length of time banks can use funds through the "Fed Window". Keeping things simple, banks have longer time to "pay back" the Fed on borrowed funds. This should help banks increase the amount of money available for loans with less risk to their shareholders. The Dow Jones Average was up over 400 points on Tuesday as a result.

People have been afraid to make big ticket purchases in times of uncertainty including cars, houses, luxury items. Consumer confidence will need to be restored in order to begin to get America spending again.

There is a Fed Meeting March 18, and there are signs that point to yet another rate decrease. If you are rate watching, next Tuesday and Wednesday are key dates for price changes. Depending on the expectations of the market place, you may find a decrease on one of those days. Typically, the market will "price in" expected decrease the day before a Fed meeting. If the expected decrease takes place, markets the day of the meeting may remain flat or decrease a bit more. If the expectations are not met, and the Fed does not lower the rate as anticipated, you may find that rates actually go up from the day before the meeting's prices. It's a roll of the dice for rate watchers.

If you are even thinking of purchasing or refinancing, please contact me prior to the close of business on Monday March 17. If you are serious about locking in on Tuesday or Wednesday, we will need to get your numbers and information worked out in advance. It should be very busy 2 days for locking in loans. If you file is not fully complete, we may have challenges getting you locked in a low interest rate.

Anna Lukyanova
Century 21 Sundance Realty 1102 Pelican Bay Dr. Daytona Beach, FL 32119
Cell: 386-405-7784
Fax: 386-761-2713
P. S. We appreciate you as a client and a friend. We appreciate your business, your loyalty, trust and your referrals. It is our goal to provide the very best counsel, advice and service possible for your real estate needs. If we may be of assistance to you, a relative, friend or co-worker please do not hesitate to call us. We look forward to the opportunity to serve you. Visit us online at http://www.DaytonaBeachRealEstateGuide.com/ to get Free Tips and Advice on Buying and Selling Real Estate

One of the First Tricks of Trade: Never Loose your Cool!

Anna Lukyanova (Century 21 Sundance Realty) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:12:54 -0500

I watched something yesterday that prompted me to write about today. I rarely watch reality shows, not because I think I am above them, but because I rarely have time for them. Yesterday was one of those slow nights, as I was flipping through the channels, and came across "The Biggest Loser".

If some of you never watched it, it's about people competing to lose weight. The one who wins and loses the most weight is The Biggest Loser. So, one the contestants was having particularly hard week struggling to loose weight and getting frustrated, while her coach was trying to figure out what's the problem and how she could help her.

At the weight in, the coach got too emotional and started to yell at the host of the show because the host was asking the contestant some tough questions about the way she feels, what she is thinking, etc... Well, I know it is a reality show and sometimes it can be a bit theatrical, but when the coach lost her cool and started just yelling,"F..... this, and what kind of f...ing question is that, and why don't you f......ing back off that contestant, she is struggling, don't you see," it felt that the coach lost her marbles for a second. Everybody was stunned by her behavior including the other coach, the rest of the contestants, and the host.

Now, if you know me, I use that expression freely, since it is simply a word. However, I would never use it when I am angry or upset, directing it to a specific person because of something they did or asked me about. I would especially not use it when I am working with the public, when I am the professional. I guess that scene yesterday just reminded me to never loose my cool when dealing with people, even if they start screaming (and that doesn't include just the public, but also other associates, Realtors in town, maintenance people, etc). After all, it's you who ends up looking like a fool.

Then, the coach said something that topped all of that. She said, "Of course that contestant is feeling down. She is a woman, her metabolism is slower than men's, there is no way she can win or compete against other men in the group." Now I hate judging people, but as a coach, you have to keep it cool because you are the professional. To admit on national television that one of your teammates is worse than others is at the very least not nice if not rude.

It's like my broker coming to the office and telling me in front of all other associates that I am not as good/productive and never could catch up. It's like my real estate trainer coming up to me and saying you are never going to achieve what the rest of the Realtors are doing. I think the main objective of a coach, a trainer, or a broker is tell the person," YOU CAN!" even when it seems not feasible, since no one truly knows the full potential of another person. Doubting we can do on our own. No help needed there.

Now, perhaps I am exaggerating and went a little overboard with it, so if you watched the show last night and would like to share your opinion of what happened, please do. I'd like to hear others' perspective.

Xooxoxoxo

How to Get out of Rut or My Reasons to Get Out of Bed in the Morning...

Anna Lukyanova (Century 21 Sundance Realty) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 12:35:07 -0600

Anyone who has been in real estate industry or self-employed long enough, knows that every now and then you get in a rut, meaning you are not motivated and just don't feel like performing to your fullest potential. You don't feel creative and/or act productive, you are in a rut...I'll be the first one to admit I've been there myself before.

It's especially easy to get there when the market is down, when you don't make as much money as you used to or hoped for, when there are more obstacles on your way and it's harder and harder to close the deals.

So the question is what do you do? How you get out of a rut? How you change your mind set? The answer is easy: you surround yourself with people that inspire you.

It could be your real estate coach, aka your personal cheer leader, who keeps you motivated by telling you, "YOU CAN DO IT! GO FOR IT," who also provides you with new "tricks of trade" and helps you along the way.

It could be your manager or broker-owner, who is there for guidance, who inspires you because of her ethical core values, personal strength and diplomatic skills, no doubt developed over the years of dealing with people from all walks of life.

It could be your peers, family member, front desk person, but today, for me personally, it is one of my customers.

Every day it seems we are bombarded by life problems. How many people you personally know who are struggling, even getting depressed because life is not easy? This particular person is having a lot of health problems in addition to the daily life stuff...

She has been in and out of the hospitals every other week for the last 8 months. Two days ago she just had a surgery I didn't know about. I called her a few times about decisions that had to be made, but when I didn't have my phone calls returned, I stared to worry.

Finally, she called back and that's how I learned about the surgery. I learned that this person is currently on 5 different heart pills a day. And yet when I talked to her, she was the one who was trying to comfort me, saying, "Call me if you need me... We'll get it done... No worries..."

My God! What a mighty mental strength! Talk about mind over matter! What a will to live and make it through whatever comes your way! What a fighter! That type of an attitude is contagious and deserves respect! For this type of a person not only would I get out of bed, I'll fight with my nails!

Someone, who makes a priority someone else other then him/her while in a physical pain, is selfless and caring person.

Thank you for being in my life. All my prayers go to you! God loves you, so do I!

Own a Piece of Daytona Peninsula Today!

Anna Lukyanova (Century 21 Sundance Realty) — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:22:58 -0600

If you are looking for a large home located near the river and beach that has plenty of room, you found it. These over 2,500 sq. ft. of living space offer practical alternative to every day living. It's ready to move in with new paint, carpet, tile, and exterior door.

30x12 Master bedroom features wrap around widows that offer wonderful views of vegetation from outside and the ocean breeze. Living/Dining room combo presents a working wood burning fireplace with a brand new mantel. 18X9 Kitchen is large enough for a gourmet cook.

This home has 2 water heaters: one-in the 2-car, oversized garage, where washer and dryer hook up is; the other- inside the premises. There is a sky light for the stairs that increases energy efficiency of the house. The home is wired for high speed cable and has screens on all the gutters, so you don't have to clean them every spring and fall from the leaves and debris.

There are sprinklers on well, and enough room in the back yard for a pool. Also, beautifully landscaped front and back yards create wonderful ambiance and lots of privacy to enjoy outside.

The house has a termite bond through Massey Services. Seller financing available upon request, call listing agent for details.This one is not a drive by, call today for a private showing Anna Lukyanova of Century 21 Sundance Realty at 386-405-7784 or e-mail at annaluk21@hotmail.com

Click on the link below to see virtual tour:

http://www.daytonabeachrealestateguide.com/Listing/VirtualTour.aspx?ListingID=1573927

Race fans, here we come!

Anna Lukyanova (Century 21 Sundance Realty) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:50:53 -0600

This year we are celebrating 50th Daytona 500 race that will take place this Sunday, February, 17th 2008.

When the race week comes to town, everyone gets excited... Well almost everyone, except for those who don't like extra noise and influxof tourists and therefore of traffic. Now truth to be told, you don't have to be at the races to see a real NAS-CAR. Here are some pics I took of a race car that was parked right outside of our local grocery store. How do you like that?

So don't be surprised when you see the NASCAR fans and famous people/ celebrities rolling into town to see the event. Welcome! And Enjoy!

"What is the survey for the house?" I was asked today...

Anna Lukyanova (Century 21 Sundance Realty) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:12:47 -0600

Believe it or not, but I've been real busy recently, and haven't done much blogging. Now that doesn't mean that I don't spend time on a computer. It seems to me that a good portion of my day devoted to just that. I get to address a lot of different questions. Some of them simple, others need a little more research.

Anyway, I've decided that I will try to write about everyday occurrences of my real estate life.

I hate repeating something that was already talked about on this sight. Although, it's almost impossible. So I did search on activerain.com for definition of property survey and none of the articles on the first page had that info.

Today I was asked in the e-mail: "What is the survey for the house?"

So, here was my quick explanation to the seller of what property survey means:

"A current survey is something that lender requires for the loan process, it outlines the boundaries of the property, including fencing, position of the house, etc. There is usually a time frame for the age of that survey, so if it's too old it's no longer useful. Also, if there was a change done to the property like a new fence put in, it's no longer useful as well.

As a seller, you don't have to do anything for this part of the transaction. The Surveyor usually comes and sticks in orange flags in the ground of your front and back yard that show property line, so when you see a strange man going around your house sticking orange flags in the ground, please do not be alerted."

I hope that helps. Now, if anybody has a more concise explanation, please share.

Looking to Exchange Deltona House for Daytona Beach House or Townhome

Anna Lukyanova (Century 21 Sundance Realty) — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:32:06 -0600

I have a dilemma this week.

A gentleman looking to relocate from Deltona, FL to Daytona Beach asked for my help.

He has:

Single family home built in 1996 and completely remodeled. New light fixtures, new paint, carpet, etc. It's a 3 bedroom, 2 bathrooms, and 2 car garage home with 1438 living sq. feet of living space near everything in Deltona. It's approximately worth $220,000-$200,000.

He would like:

A similar size/condition home in Daytona Beach area.

If you know anyone looking to relocate from Daytona Beach to Deltona,

please call me at 386-405-7784 or e-mail at annaluk21@hotmail.com, so we can make it happen.

Some interesting Stats for Volusia County

Anna Lukyanova (Century 21 Sundance Realty) — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 09:52:43 -0600

Anyone looking to move to Florida and specifically Daytona Beach area usually has the same questions.

Do people like coming to this area and how fast the population is growing?

What's the level of the income here?

Is it hard to get a job here?

Who are the major employers?

What are the average home prices and their trends?

Well to answer a few, here are a few stats from http://www.eflorida.com

Below are the Current population Growth projections for Florida and Volusia County

Per Capita Personal Income:

year	Volusia	Florida
2003	$25,286	$30,290
2004	$27,117	$32,534
2005	$28,347	$34,001
2006	$30,158	$35,438

Make your own conclusions if it will be easy for you to get a job here by looking at the Major Private Sector Employers in Volusia county:

Major Private Sector Employers:

Volusia County School Board	8998
Halifax Staffing	6330
Publix Supermarkets	2798
Wal-Mart	2206
Vision HR Inc.	1667
Embry-Riddle Aero University	1513
Florida Hospital Ormond Memorial	1403
Daytona Beach Community College	1334
Winn Dixie Stores Inc	1290

The following are the annual median sales price for existing houses sold by real estate agents in Volusia and Flagler counties. The price for June was $197,100, down from $219,900 in May 2006.

2007: $203,600
2006: $219,900
2005: $204,400
2004: $157,800
2003: $131,300
2002: $109,768
2001: $96,770
2000: $88,300
1999: $84,500
1998: $79,000
1997: $75,500
1996: $75,200

SOURCE: Daytona Beach News-Journal

I hope these stats will be helpful or at least be entraining when it come to making a decision to move to Daytona Beach area. You can interpret these stats any way you want. Here is my take on it:

Even thought the average income in Volusia county is lower than the average income in the whole state of Florida, it doesn't differ by much. Also, when you take into consideration our average home prices here and other areas like Jacksonville, Orlando and Miami, it's not too shabby living near the ocean in the beautiful Daytona Beach.

What's your take on it?

So Much Space for so Little Money! ( Daytona Beach home for sale)

Anna Lukyanova (Century 21 Sundance Realty) — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 14:56:37 -0600

If you are looking for a roomy home located on a quite cul-de-sac that can house comfortably a large family with the in-laws you found it. It's located in a bbeautiful Daytona Beach are near everything in Shangri-La Subdivision.

This 2318 sq. of living space offer practical alternative to every day living. It's ready to move in with new paint, new carpet, new hot water heater, new exterior door, and recently installed energy efficient windows in all the rooms.

Master bedroom features a large walk-in closet and family room has a working wood burning fireplace.

The roof was replaced in 2007 and still has a warranty on it. The house has a termite bond through Terminix. 2-car over-sized garage is large enough for all your toys, and just in case you want more, there is enough room in the back yard to place your boat AND built a pool.

There is an additional storage room in the back for all your gardening tools and an outside shower. This home has much to offer with its central vacuum, 3 attic accesses, 1-2 cable hook-ups in each room, and sprinklers on well. And if that's not enough, beautifully landscaped front and back yard with fruit producing trees create wonderful ambiance to enjoy outside or from your screened in Florida room.

Click on the link below to view virtual tour TO SEE ALL THE PICTURES

http://www.productionteamofdaytona.com/Listing/VirtualTour.aspx?ListingID=1458658

All that can be yours for only $179,900.

Anna Lukyanova at 386-405-7784 for more info or email at annaluk21@hotmail.com

Cool Cars in Daytona Beach

Anna Lukyanova (Century 21 Sundance Realty) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 12:00:43 -0500

Ok, so I pull in the office today, and guess what I see on the parking lot?

A vintage car/ weird-looking golf cart/ cool-mobile/ oversized toy/ fabulous work of art

Here are the pictures.

See, here in Daytona Beach you never know what kind of a car you are going to see since we do have a lot of car buffs. In November we have Turkey Rod Run right around Thanksgiving weekend. That is a fabulous event, so next time you are in town, don't miss it. It's great!

1st Time home Buyer Opportunity or Investment Awaits

Anna Lukyanova (Century 21 Sundance Realty) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 10:57:28 -0500

If Lock N' Go carefree living is what you desire, look no further. Recently remodeled 2 bed 2 bath condo in Yorktwone Villas with a pool is in a heart of Daytona Beach. This unit has a good size kitchen and great layout. Close to shopping, schools, churches, recreation, ERAU, Palmer College, DBCC, major highways, airport, restaurants, golf courses, parks, medical facilities & minutes from the World's Most Famous Beach. Why rent when you can own?

Click on the link or copy and paste it to see Virtual Tour:

http://www.productionteamofdaytona.com/Listing/VirtualTour.aspx?ListingID=1289847

Currently is Tenant Occupied and can an excellent investment opportunity call for details. Call Anna Lukyanova at 386-405-7784 for more info.

"Oh... Can't We Just Try?" It's like I am back in high school...

Anna Lukyanova (Century 21 Sundance Realty) — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 13:20:52 -0500

"I don't want be a jerk, but, NO, I don't wanna TRY, I wanna SELL" is what I told a potential seller this morning.

Midori Miller just wrote a blog yesterday, as if she was reading my mind The Same Mistakes..Why...Customer's Deserve Better!

The bottom line is this. Even if the property is overpriced by 5%, in this market it won't sell. It won't even get a bite. Why? The competition is severe.

Now you are probably wondering what it means to be over-priced.

In my mind, it's simple. Look at the comparables in the immediate neighborhood of the property that were sold within the last 6 months.

If there are none, which happens in this market more often than you think, you need to look at expired and withdrawn properties within the last 6 months.

And we do have plenty of those... They are indicators of today's market-nobody wanted to buy those properties at that price.

Now, you can argue that maybe the marketing was lacking, or the showing times were restricted.

Yes... It is a possibility, but if many of them are in the same price range, isn't a little bit too coincidental that all of those listings expired in the same price range?

Example:

The last condo sold in a community was back in September 2006 for $142,000

There are 3 for sale now (identical sq. footage-wise and number of beds& baths) ranging from $143,900 to $175,000

There are 6 that expired ranging from $149,900 to $158,000 since the beginning of 2007.

The verdict for the unit to price in our current market (where we have over 7,000 residential listing for sale) is no more than $142,000(so that we have some room to negtioate on the price).

Why? The market dropped at least 5% since the beginning of 2007.

So, NO, I don't wanna TRY to sell it at $158,000, because it won't sell.

I don't want to try, because it's not a high school.

It's a real life where actions and decisions have consequences:

" A for an effort, F you know for what..."

It's a great Time to Buy Now.... Interest Rates discussion continued...

Anna Lukyanova (Century 21 Sundance Realty) — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 12:18:08 -0500

My Monday's blog about this week's interest rate reduction Tomorrow's Fed Discount Rate Reduction... What It Means To You? was rated as little too technical.

Honestly, it wasn't my intention to confuse my audience or make it too wordy. I just tried to convey the info closest to the original content since there has been a lot of speculation about the topic.

So, here is the update:

We have great news! The Fed has lowered short term rates by a half point. Hopefully this will be the first step to the improvement in the housing industry.
Keep a watchful eye on long term rates, as the lowering of short term rates does necessarily mean that rates such as the 30 year fixed rate will go down.

Loan programs are changing on a daily basis, and a borrower that is hoping to use a reduced doc, stated income, no ratio, or no doc loan should strongly consider locking in that type of loan while these programs are STILL AVAILABLE!

You know what they say...A bird in the hand...

Also, take a look at this great buy in Shangri-La subdivision in the heart of Daytona Beach (Corner of Beville Rd and Clyde Morris Blvd.)

Asking Price: $165,000
3 Bedrooms, 2 baths
2-story
3 year-old roof and AC

Not What you looking for? See more listings at www.ProductionTeamofDaytona.com

Tomorrow's Fed Discount Rate Reduction... What It Means To You?

Anna Lukyanova (Century 21 Sundance Realty) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 11:05:29 -0500

Many predict that the Fed will lower the discount rate on Tuesday September 18. The question that remains to be answered is how much of a reduction will be made. It has been 4 years since the discount rate has been lowered, and the existing market conditions demand corrective action. A quarter point (.25%) may be all that Ben Bernanke is willing to allow at this point. He seems reluctant to allow the "tail to wag the dog", and there is some sentiment that he has held firm in his position that the Fed makes the monetary policy without regard to reactionary pressures from the business sector. Some see a .25% reduction on 9/18/2007, and a second reduction of .25% at the next meeting on 10/30/2007. The final meeting of the year on 12/11/2007 is unlikely to provide for a third reduction, unless crucial holiday sales are lagging.

These reductions alone are not enough to jump start the housing industry. We face a long, protracted period of recovery that will require a restoration in consumer confidence in the housing and financial sectors.

What does a quarter point mean to consumers? Let's suppose that you have a home equity line of credit for $25,000 that is maxed out. If your interest rate is prime, 8.25% today, your monthly payment is about $171.88. Lowering prime .25% will reduce your payment to $166.67 for a savings of $5.21. A savings indeed, but not the sort of impact, at least on the surface, that many are looking for. The real effect is the accumulation of reduction in areas that we do not readily see.

The lower rate will help buyers qualify for home loans, and give some life to the housing industry. Lower short term rates will reduce the costs to builders on their lines of credit. Small business owners may find lower finance charges for personally underwritten loans for business expenses. The ripple effect of lower costs on short term rates will be a general lowering of consumer prices across the board, and ultimately lower the costs of many durable goods that we purchase each month. While I realize that the $5.21 home equity savings is indeed small, I would imagine that number may increase many fold when calculating household savings based on the upcoming reduction.

Looking at costs extended annually you can see the larger picture. If consumers were to reduce costs $83 per month, they would save $1000 in the next year.
Approaching $83 can be easier than you think. Drinking more water, and bringing beverages to work could do more for your budget than the Fed can by lowering rates. Consider that many people purchase a coffee each morning for about $1.50 and perhaps a soda later in the day for $1.25. This $2.75 multiplied by an average of 20 work days per month would equal $55. Even after allowing for the cost of purchasing the drinks, you would realize a substantially larger savings than the $5.21 from the Fed's lower rate. This is not to suggest that we all brown bag it every day, and cripple the food service industry ;-). It merely underscores that fiscal responsibility starts at home.

The greatest reduction to our monthly outflow of cash is most closely associated to our ability to make good financial decisions at home.

What do you think? Are other ways to save some money? Are you willing cut back on extras to save your house from foreclosure and be able to pay your mortgage?

Paris, Why You Should Purchase Your Next Home in Daytona Beach, FL

Anna Lukyanova (Century 21 Sundance Realty) — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:40:19 -0500

After meeting you at the New York Fashion show last week, I understand that your celebrity status draws a lot of attention and you need some time for privacy.

Since you've been forced to sell your Hollywood Hills home and currently looking to buy a house in a gated community, you may want to consider Daytona Beach, Florida. It just may be your answer.

You said (about Hollywood Hills home)"I'm so sad I have to sell it because I've completely made it my own, and it's decorated perfectly for me.

"It's hard to move, but there are too many people who know where I live.

There's 20 tour buses coming a day. Random guys from all around the world just showing up and leaving things. I'm scared."

Daytona Beach is a low profile city on the Atlantic Coast, and yet it's near everything.

Daytona Beach International Airport is just 15 minutes away from the properties you could consider for your next purchase. Some other airports in the Daytona Beach vicinity are

Hilton Daytona Beach Resort is just minutes away from the beach-side homes that I found for you.

When you want to go out and have fun it can easily arranged. Below are the links to night clubs in the area:

http://www.visitdaytona.com/nightclubs.html

http://cityguide.aol.com/orlando/bars/

http://www.clubvibes.com/index.asp?city=41

You requirements for a new home are:

looking to purchase a single family home (will consider a posh penthouse)
4 Bedroom/2 baths at least
4,000 sf or greater
Gated Community or enough land to create a zone of privacy
needs decent access to airport as she travels a lot
Must have a pool
Cash buyer, no limits!

Here are a few of your choices:

#1. 890 John Anderson Dr. Asking Price: 4.5 mil

NO EXPENSE WAS SPARED IN THIS 5 BEDROOMS, 5.5 BATHS ESTATE WHICH WAS BUILT IN 2001 WITH OVER 7100 SQ. FEET OF LIVING SPACE. IT FEATURES DEEP-WATER DOCK WITH ELECTRIC LIFT. HOME BOASTS OF 2 MASTER SUITES, (1 UP & 1 DOWN,) 3 MORE BED ROOMS PLUS 1 OFFICE, A LIBRARY. LARGE DESIGNER KITCHEN WITH GRANITE COUNTER-TOPS AND TIN BACK-SPLASH, LG KIT PANTRY. TOP OF LINE APPLIANCES WITH SUB ZERO FRIDGE & 3 SINKS. BUTLER'S PANTRY WITH ICE-MAKER AND BAR AREA INCLUDES WINE COOLER, SINK AND MINIFRIdGE, BUILT-IN SURROUND SOUND AND 3RD FLOOR GAME ROOM WITH MINI FRIDGE & BAR IS 11X29. USE THE ELEVATOR AND DUMB WAITER FOR CONVENIENCE. 3 SECURITY CAMERAS. 4 CAR GARAGEIS CLIMATE CONTROLLED. CIRCULAR DRIVEWAY WITH 2 ELECTRIC GATES. 2ND FLOOR MASTER HAS HUGE CLOSETS, BUILT-IN ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, MINI-FRIDGE, JACUZZI TUB & STEAM SHOWER. 2ND FLOOR HAS. LARGE IN-GROUND POOL WITH JACUZZI, LARGE LANAI & SUMMER KITCHEN AND OTHER-HEAD SPEAKERS FOR OFF THE HOOK PARTIES. FOR EFFICIENCY THERE ARE 5 SEPARATE AC/HEAT ZONES.

#2 704 John Anderson Dr. Asking Price 4.995 mil

THE FINEST MEDITERRANEAN STYLE HOME FEATURES 7 BEDROOM 5.5 BATHS AND WAS BUILT 2001. EXCEPTIONAL HOME-SITE AFFORDING INCREDIBLE WATER-VIEWS. THE ULTIMATE IN AUDIO MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS CONTROLLED BY LCD PANELS IN EVERY ROOM IN HOUSE. MEDIA ROOM (6TH BR) WITH DWIN OVERHEAD THEATRE AND SURROUND SOUND - FULL ALARM SYSTEM - 4 CAR GARAGE + MOTOR COURT- WINE CELLAR - BUTLERS PANTRY - WRAP AROUND WATERFRONT BALCONIES- LIBRARY/OFFICE CAN BE 7TH BEDROOM. EXTENSIVE USE OF STONE, GRANITE, & MARBLE-STONE ON ALL SURFACES; MULTIPLE WET BARS; MARVIN INSULATED WINDOWS - MONIER TILE ROOF; 8 DOORS THROUGHOUT; HEATED SPA, WATER FOUNTAINS, SWIM-UP BAR WITH UNDERWATER STOOLS - WATERFRONT POOL; GATED & WALLED FOR PRIVACY & SECURITY WITH TELE-ENTRY AND 9 CAMERA VIDEO MONITORING (LCD SCREENS AND CONTROLS LOCATED IN MULTIPLE PLACES IN HOME). LUSH TROPICAL LANDSCAPING. BRAND NEW BOAT HOUSE & DOCK.

#3 1810 Indian River Rd. Asking Price: 5.2 mil

This Unparalleled Tropical Island Beauty was designed by Architect, Will Miller, that takes in natures most beautiful vistas, from every room of this direct INTRA-COASTAL property with almost 5,700 of living space. Located between the Intra-coastal & the Atlantic Ocean, a secluded home awaits you behind a retracting piece of art made of patina copper showing the sun & ocean waves. The granite kitchen has a sweeping bar & all the amenities the gourmet chef could ask for. This stunning home rises before you when you enter the 12 foot glass entry where you will be speechless at the views presented. The walls are glass & buffed keystone & sweep up 3 levels. Looking closer, you see shells, coral & hidden ocean crustaceans. The floors are Travertine Stone. Each of the 5 private bedrooms has its own private bath & 3 with a private balcony. The spiral staircase leads to the third level private guest suite. The luxurious Master Suite has his & hers water closets, showers, sinks, dressing tables & large designer closets. At the end of the bath hall is a private elevator from the garage & an office, secluded art studio. Massive hanging balconies overlook the marsh with views as far as the eye can see. The infinity pool area has a sunning shelf with fountain, in-pool pedestal table/bar, swim outs & spa. Summer kitchen & fire pit complete the lanai area. There is a dock, a boathouse with lift, & a helicopter pad! Minutes to Ponce Inlet or world class fishing in the famous Mosquito Lagoon.

Farewell Maestro! You will be missed…

Anna Lukyanova (Century 21 Sundance Realty) — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 09:35:07 -0500

I got home yesterday and learned that Luciano Pavarotti died at age 71 last night of pancreatic cancer at his home in Modena, Italy. He combined a lustrous lyric tenor voice with a radiant and expansive personal charm to win the largest and most diversified audience.

Pavarotti made his opera début in the role of Rodolfo in La bohème on April 29, 1961 in the town of Reggio Emilia. One of his last performances was during the Torino Winter Olympic Games of 2006. He received the longest and loudest ovation of the night from the international crowd.

He worked hard improving upon his talent for 45 years. And that alone desrvers a lot of respect. I am not a big music fan, but he was a special performer that I always love to listen to. He has my respect and admiration because every day he worked on improving his skill, something that everyone in our industry has to work on.

Pavarotti also was a well-known humanitarian. He annually hosted the "Pavarotti and Friends" charity concerts in his home town of Modena in Italy, joining with singers from all parts of the music industry to raise money for several UN causes including Bosnia, Guatemala, Kosovo and Iraq.

He was a man of enourmous talent, and even bigger heart and generocity. He will be missed tramedosly by his family, friends, and fans.

Farewell, Mestro. See you Up there.

My favorite beach spots in Florida or well guarded secret revealed...

Anna Lukyanova (Century 21 Sundance Realty) — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 14:24:04 -0500

In case you did not know Florida has about 663 Miles of Beaches. To me it's a broad spectrum to pick from if you are considering spending a day/ weekend at the beach. Daytona Beach is frequently called the World's Most Famous Beach and a part of Volusia County beaches that stretch 48 miles from Flagler to Broward counties.

Now, I've visited a lot of beaches and have to admit that Daytona beaches indeed have something special going for them. Whether it's the smooth white sand, picturesque scenery, comfortable water temperatures through out the year or the presence of lifeguards makes it so special/comforting, hard to say. Mostly it's a combination of all those factors.

Now, if you are a "local", you could probably admit that during weekends and holidays the beaches can get crowded, especially "the touristy places". I am sure people that have lived here for many years have their special spots to go to that only they know.

Now, personally, I like two spots. First is the access from Heron St. & A1A (see on the Map below). It's right by the sign that you pass by in Wilbur- by- the-Sea that says Ponce Inlet 4 Miles / No mainland access. I like it for a few reasons. First this access doesn't allow cars on the beach, less pollution and traffic, but more privacy. Second, it's not too far out.

Second spot I like is the Winter Haven Park that you can also see on the Map below. It's got more parking spaces, restrooms/ changing rooms, barbeque and sitting areas. The access also doesn't allow cars on the beach, but requires a little further driving.

When you go to these spots it's not uncommon to see pelicans, small crabs and other marine nature. It's beautiful and peaceful even during 4th July and Labor Day weekends.

So next time you are visiting Daytona Beach checkout these two spots and enjoy.

Any special beach spots in your area that you would like to share?

Have a Safe Labor Day weekend or Life guards in Florida

Anna Lukyanova (Century 21 Sundance Realty) — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 13:54:57 -0500

We are approaching a long Labor Day weekend. Lot's of people already made their plans. Some will go shopping. Others will take their family to the zoo or a local park. Other will go to the beach.

Here is something interesting I learned this week from the news about beach life guards in Florida. Believe it or not, but Broward County has only 13 full time life guards and during week days there are none present at the beaches, including the Coco Beach, just east of Orlando.

On the other hand, Volusia County currently employs 68 full time life guards and they are there to rescue you Monday through Sunday. County Lifeguards make about 3,000 ocean rescues each year. Lifeguard responsibilities include water rescue of swimmers and surfers, boater rescue up to three miles offshore, missing persons and related emergencies. They also handle enforcement of beach laws and regulations related to beach and water use.

I don't know about you, but this information offers me some comfort. At least, I know where my tax payer's money goes. So if you are planning to take your family to the beach this weekend and concerned about safety, you know what your choices are.

Have a great weekend, everybody and if you have a minute stop by and share your weekend plans here.

Your Rare Opportunity Awaits!

Anna Lukyanova (Century 21 Sundance Realty) — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 14:33:44 -0500

If Quiet Sounds of Nature and Privacy are your desires

Look no further...The home is being sold by the original owner. This well maintained and recently remodeled concrete block home has much to offer: new carpet, new paint inside and out, new light fixtures and fans.

Newer range and dishwasher make it joyful to prepare your meals in this rustic roomy kitchen with an island in the middle. Polished wood floors in the dining and family rooms add beauty and practicality to every day living. You will enjoy a wood burning fireplace in family room during cold winter evenings.

In addition, there is a bonus room that can be an office, a nursery, or a sewing projects room. Perfect floor plan and community to raise a family. This home is currently assigned to Port Orange Elementary, Creekside Middle and Spruce Creek High schools districts.

Oversized side-entry 2 car garage offers enough of space for all your "toys".

The home is situated on large corner lot that is beautifully landscaped with trees and flowering plants. It has NEVER been flooded or suffered any insurance loss and comes with a 1 Year Home Warranty.

Click on the link below to view Visual Tour

http://www.productionteamofdaytona.com/Listing/VirtualTour.aspx?ListingID=1243208

Why I live in Daytona Beach...

Anna Lukyanova (Century 21 Sundance Realty) — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 10:50:33 -0500

...Would be the title of the essay if I was in the 4^th grade. Yet, it's straight to the point of how I feel and think today. Some of you may not know, but recently here in Central Florida we have been experiencing higher than usual temperatures for this time of the year. IT'S HOT OUT...BURN BABY, BURN....

Here is what I did yesterday... I finished at work a little early, so I was home by 5:10 pm. The temperature was 96F, it felt like 106F. "The best thing to do now is to go swimming," I thought. I opted out for a pool. As I was swimming Space Shuttle Endeavour took off from Cape Canaveral, and here are the pictures from my back yard. As the rocket was penetrating the layers of atmosphere I could hear sonic booms. It's really something...

After cooling off in the pool by our clubhouse and witnessing the shuttle launch with teacher-turned-astronaut Barbara Morgan aboard, I went back home. The moral of the story is that even the most uneventful day in Florida could be concluded by something as grandiose as a rocket launch.

To read more about the launch please visite wesh 2 news.

Seller is serious to Sell: Deal you can't Pass Up

Anna Lukyanova (Century 21 Sundance Realty) — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 11:10:57 -0500

3 Bedroom concrete block home in the heart of Daytona Beach. New energy efficient windows, newer AC, paint, and bathroom vanity are just a few of many upgrades.

Remodeled kitchen with a spacious dining area, formal living room, family room, and a great storage space is what make this home a desirable buy for anyone who wants a back yard to have family gatherings and barbeques. Can be yours at $117,000.

Complete Virtual Tour:

http://annalukyanova.point2agent.com/Listing/VirtualTour.aspx?ListingID=1202295

call Anna Lukyanova at 386-405-7784 for more information