lakeland real estate: HELOCs Unlocked: What is a HELOC All About?
- 06/09/10 08:45 AM
HELOC, in fact, stands for Home Equity Line of Credit. But what is a HELOC all about? For those living in the Lakeland real estate area, is it a good option? Obtaining a HELOC is similar to taking out a second mortgage on your home, but obtaining the funds themselves is more like using your credit card. Generally, a limit is set as to how much money the homeowner can get on their line of credit. This limit is determined by such things as your credit history, your income and debt, the value of your home, and the amount you still owe … (0 comments)
lakeland real estate: Florida's Liquid Sunshine a Big Winner
- 06/02/10 07:48 AM
In a recent taste test of orange juice, conducted by the Good Housekeeping Research Institute, Florida's liquid sunshine was the big winner. The top three winners of the taste test all have connections to the Lakeland real estate area. Just so you know, Americans drink over 1.6 billion gallons of orange juice every year. Much of this liquid sunshine is made from Florida oranges, best known for their juiciness, unlike California oranges, which are good "eating oranges". And the Winners Are: Natalie's Orchid Island Juice Company Gourmet Pasteurized Orange Juice easily took first place. Made of 100% Florida orange juice, Orchid Island juice … (2 comments)
lakeland real estate: Keller Williams Realty of Lakeland Takes Up the Cause of Treats for Troops
- 05/26/10 08:21 AM
Keller Williams Realty of Lakeland recently took up the cause of Treats for Troops in an effort to collect items to be sent to American troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Donations Pour in From Lakeland Association of Realtors Members Local realtors were eager to contribute to the cause, and over $5,000 worth of non-perishable food and personal hygiene items were collected. These were put into ziplock bags by members of the Keller Williams office including Eleni McLean, chair/coordinator of the event known as RED DAY, along with volunteers Evelyn Broxterman and Kristi Lawrence. Over 600 bags of goodies were prepared. … (0 comments)
lakeland real estate: New Signs of the Times Popping Up in Downtown Lakeland
- 05/19/10 01:31 PM
If you've been in or near downtown Lakeland real estate lately, you may be seeing some new signs of the times popping up in downtown Lakeland. The new signs are designed to help visitors find their way to and around downtown Lakeland a bit more easily. The price for the 50 new signs, including 20 in a "You Are Here" style with maps to downtown restaurants, cultural and educational spots and businesses, is $63,860, including installation. Bunting Graphics of Pennsylvania won the bid to create and install the signs. Most of the "You Are Here" signs will be installed on lampposts while six … (0 comments)
lakeland real estate: Home Buyers Tax Credit Now Extended for Qualified Military Personnel
- 05/12/10 03:35 AM
First-time home buyers in the Lakeland real estate area who are also qualified service members will be happy to learn they now have an extra year to use the Home Buyers Tax Credit. Even though the original credit expired at the end of April, 2010 for non-military personnel, the good news is that those serving in the United States armed services may still be able to get the tax credit till the end of April, 2011. For the purpose of this new tax credit, the government is defining "qualified service members" as those who are a "member of the uniformed services of … (0 comments)
lakeland real estate: MIDFLORIDA Mayfaire By-the-Lake - What's Not to Love?
- 05/05/10 02:47 PM
What happens every Mother's Day weekend in Lakeland? Well, of course, mothers all over the county are celebrating their happy day. But it's also the weekend for MIDFLORIDA Mayfaire By-the-Lake and 2010 is no exception. Mayfaire By-the-Lake, one of Central Florida's biggest and oldest outdoor art festivals, is scheduled for May 8th and 9th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day on the shores of Lake Morton in downtown Lakeland, Florida. Over 180 artists will be showing their wares which include everything from jewelery to paintings to sculptures. Food artists will also be there with a variety of goodies available … (0 comments)
lakeland real estate: Beware the Beautiful Flowers!
- 04/28/10 03:33 PM
Anyone who has ever lived in Florida or just been here for a visit, knows that it's full of lots of beautiful flowers and blooming shrubs. And Lakeland real estate is no exception. It has parks and playgrounds full of blooms, many people cultivate them in their personal yards and gardens, and they add a huge dimension to the tropical feel of Florida. But, there are some plants, that while beautiful to look at, are not something you should be touching and especially not eating. Here are some that are grown locally that you might want to beware of: Azaleas and Rhododendrons: … (0 comments)
lakeland real estate: How to Improve Your Credit Score
- 04/21/10 02:40 PM
If you're looking at Lakeland real estate and thinking of buying a new home and getting a mortgage to pay for it, the first step in this process may be getting your credit score to a better level. This will make it easier for you to get a mortgage and more likely that you can get a decent interest rate too. Here are a few tips you may want to use to build up your credit score. 1. Pay Your Bills on Time Lenders want to be reassured that you're a good risk and one way you can do this is … (3 comments)
lakeland real estate: Experience The Great Florida Birding Trail
- 04/13/10 12:38 AM
Florida is known for its many species of fabulous birds, from pink flamingos to the tall regal sand hill cranes to white ibises. In fact, Florida, including Lakeland real estate, is home to nearly 500 species of birds. To help Floridians get a look at these foul, the Great Florida Birding Trail was founded. It comprises over 2,000 miles of trails with 489 special birding sites throughout the state. Polk County is part of the East Florida Section of the Birding Trail which was opened in November of 2000. Polk has eleven birding sites which includes one of the three East Section "gateway" … (2 comments)
lakeland real estate: Mold, Mold, Go Away - And Don't Come Back Another Day!
- 04/07/10 09:37 AM
Anyone who has lived in Florida probably already knows that we can have mold problems in or on our homes. This is due in part to Florida's humidity levels. While most homes in northern states never have a problem with mold growing on their roofs or siding, of the Lakeland real estate suffers from this malady. Mold is found floating around in the air wherever you live, but when it lands on a host that can offer it moisture, it can quickly set up housekeeping. Dewy rooftops and siding, windows that have condensation build-up, air conditioning units and wet carpeting are all … (3 comments)
lakeland real estate: How the Home Affordable Modification Program Works to Avoid Foreclosures
- 03/31/10 12:37 AM
The Obama Administration has now made some changes to its $75 billion Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) to help homeowners in the Lakeland real estate area avoid foreclosure. Designed to help 3 to 4 million homeowners nationwide by 2012, the plan is currently falling short of this goal, with a total of only about 170,000 homeowners being helped thus far. While there is currently no specific time frame, the plan should be available in the next few months. The HAMP re-design is focusing on jobless homeowners and those who are "underwater", meaning that their mortgage is larger than the value of their home. … (3 comments)
lakeland real estate: Exploring Explorations V Children's Museum in Lakeland
- 03/24/10 06:55 AM
While living in Lakeland or visiting with your kids or grandkids, a wonderful learning opportunity awaits in downtown Lakeland at the Explorations V Children's Museum. While museum members and kids under 2 get in free, adults and kids up to age 65 will have to pay $5. Those over 65 get in for only $2.50, not a bad price for a whole lot of fun! Let's see what's going on! On the Lower Level: Learn about the life and times of an orange, one of Florida's best-known exports, with a hands-on exhibit showing you all the things an orange can do … (0 comments)
lakeland real estate: Home Inspection: A High Priority for Home Buyers
- 03/17/10 07:21 AM
We recently discussed the presence of termites in Lakeland real estate, and among other termite truths, I suggested that it was a good idea to have your home inspected for termites on a regular schedule. This advice goes for those purchasing a home for their family as well. Now I want to mention some other areas that should be closely inspected when purchasing a new or used home in Lakeland. 1. Swimming Pool Since Lakeland has good weather year-round, many homes have their own swimming pool. If buying a home with this great feature, be sure your inspector looks for cracks … (0 comments)
lakeland real estate: Creating a User-Friendly Home for Those with Disabilities
- 03/10/10 07:13 AM
Let's face it, lots of people who move to Lakeland real estate are older, or as we say, mature people. This means that they may need more handicap accessibility in their homes, now or in the years ahead. If you or someone you know needs a home that is handicap accessible, here are some tips for creating a user-friendly for those with disabilities. 1. Not all improvements need to cost a lot. Moving clutter out of the way of an individual in a wheelchair or navigating the house with a walker can go a long way to making their life easier and the … (0 comments)
lakeland real estate: Lakeland, Florida, Home to the "Child of the Sun" Collection of Frank Lloyd Wright Architecture
- 03/03/10 12:31 PM
One of the best-known points of interest in the Lakeland real estate area may be Florida Southern College (FSC). Lakeland is home to the "Child of the Sun" collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, the largest collection on one site in the world. The futuristic architect was first contacted in 1938 by Dr. Ludd Spivey, then president of FSC, to design a campus in Lakeland, Florida. Although FSC had no money to spend on special architecture, Spivey assured Wright that if he were to design the buildings, the money would be raised. Wright first visited Lakeland at the age of 67 in 1938 … (2 comments)
lakeland real estate: Winter Pool Maintenance, Florida Style
- 02/24/10 04:19 AM
With the cooler-than-normal winter weather we've had this year in the Lakeland real estate area, pool owners may be wondering if they really need to run the pool pump as much as in the heat of a Florida summer. Wouldn't it be just as good to put a floater of chlorine tablets in the pool and allow the pool pump to be off while the weather remains cool? Here are a few thoughts on winter pool maintenance, Florida style: Purpose of Your Pool's Pump Paul Roth, a member of the Florida Swimming Pool Association, an industry trade group, explains that the … (0 comments)
lakeland real estate: Five Features Lakeland Home Shoppers Want
- 02/17/10 12:23 PM
Home shoppers everywhere have certain things they want in a home. And Lakeland real estate shoppers are no exception. With the economy in a downturn, home shoppers everywhere are looking for somewhat smaller, more energy efficient houses. But there are still certain things that they feel are must-haves and they're willing to cut down somewhere else to have them. Take a look: 1. The number one must-have is a large kitchen, preferably with an island. Most people feel that the kitchen is the heart of their home. Of course, it's where meals are prepared, but it's also often the gathering place for the … (0 comments)
lakeland real estate: Historic Dixieland in Downtown Lakeland
- 02/10/10 03:13 PM
Lakeland, Florida's downtown area, known as Dixieland even to this day, was started by Lakeland real estate developers Henry B. Carter and C.W. Deen over a century ago, in 1907. They had purchased 160 acres between Lake Morton and Lake Hollingsworth and decided to call it Dixieland. It is believed that the name was in reference to the fact that this was the first subdivision to be developed south of downtown Lakeland. Dixieland's streets were in place and a water system installed by the time Carter and Deen inserted ads in local newspapers touting Dixieland as a "fashionable suburb" of Lakeland … (0 comments)
lakeland real estate: Everyone Loves a Party - But Not This Kind!
- 02/02/10 11:26 PM
You may love to entertain and throw lavish parties in your Lakeland home, but there are some visitors that you really don't want wandering in. These visitors prefer to become permanent residents on your Lakeland real estate. They're called termites! And they can literally "eat you out of house and home" as the saying goes. We all know Florida is a wonderful place to reside, with it's year-round warm weather. Termites like it too! They enjoy the moisture that accumulates when higher humidity and summer rains show up. They love all the beautiful landscaping we do since it often involves mulch … (1 comments)
lakeland real estate: Lakeland: Life in Paradise
- 01/27/10 04:57 AM
With 38 named lakes and lots more that are unnamed, it's easy to see how Lakeland got its name. The smallest of Lakeland's named lakes is the 2.5 acre Lake Blanton while Lake Parker in downtown Lakeland is the largest, coming in at a whopping 2,272 acres. The population of Lakeland is about 90,000 people, making it Florida's 19th most populated city. 171,000 more people live in a 7-mile radius of the city proper. Money Magazine recently rated Lakeland as its 10th "Best Place to Live in America." Those planning a move from the north will be happy to hear that … (0 comments)
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HELOC, in fact, stands for Home Equity Line of Credit. But what is a HELOC all about? For those living in the Lakeland real estate area, is it a good option?
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