School Is Back In Session - Take Greater Care When Driving! - 08/27/09 06:16 PM
School is back in session in Pasco County, Florida. And we are not alone. Most of the districts in Florida will be starting their school years if they have not already done so. No doubt the same is true around the United States.
This means there will be more buses on the roads and lots of students waiting to get on or off them. So keep alert and perhaps add a few minutes to the time you need to get to work.
Our children are our future, and we certainly do not want to have any accidents occur. So go … (0 comments)

Tropical Storm Danny Expected to Stay Off the East Coast of Florida - 08/27/09 05:00 PM
On August 27th the projected path of Tropical Storm Danny is going to stay to the east of Florida and go up the coast of the United States. At least that is what the National Hurricane Center's cone shows. We could use some nice soaking rains, and, in fact, one is falling even as I type this. But I think that is just one of our typical summer storms and has nothing to do with Danny.  If you click on the image to the left a larger version should open up in a new window for you.
However, do keep in mind that these storms … (2 comments)

Freddie Mac Says That Average Mortgage Interest Rates Hardly Budged This Week - 08/27/09 02:26 PM
Today, 8/27/09, Freddie Mac reported that the average mortgage interest rate for 30 year fixed-rate mortgages was 5.14% (5.10% in the southeast), up from 5.12% a week ago. The average interest rate for 15 year fixed-rate mortgages was 4.58%, up from 4.56% last week. A year ago the 30 year rate was 6.40%.
Mortgage interest rates hardly budged this week and remain at very low levels. This, coupled with low home prices and the "first-time" buyers tax credit have helped to make homes more affordable for a larger section of our population.
As I mentioned in previous posts, it would … (0 comments)

Free Florida State Park Admission to Celebrate Florida's Literacy Month - 08/26/09 07:21 PM
Florida's state parks are offering free admission from Friday, September 11th to Sunday, September 13th to anyone who shows a library card, brings a book checked out of a library, or donates a new or "gently used" family-friendly book. The state has 160 parks for you to enjoy and many of them have planned special activities in conjunction with Florida State Parks Literacy Month, so designated by Governor Crist.
To find events near you you can visit their site at: www.FloridaStateParks.org or you can call: 850-245-2157 Our late summer weather is usually quite pleasant so why not take advantage of this … (0 comments)

Check Out Internet Rental Offers Carefully - A Lot of Fraud is Out There - 08/25/09 06:29 PM
Last Saturday I was on duty at our CENTURY 21 Bill Nye Realty offices in Zephyrhills, Florida. While there I received a call from a lady who had spoken with one of our agents about a home that had been listed for sale recently. It turned out that the home was no longer for sale, but this caller told me she had seen a picture of the SAME home advertised for RENT on Craig's List. It was being "offered" by a Rev. Gabriel Kingston from outside of the United States.
According to this lady, she had e-mailed Rev. Kingston about the … (2 comments)

Disposing of Waste Items in East Pasco County, Florida - Guidelines Available - 08/25/09 02:25 PM
We are all accustomed to taking out the trash each week. However, a couple of weeks ago one of my sellers asked me to dispose of a bottle of acid that was in his utility shed. He was afraid that potential buyers who were touring the home might be injured by this caustic liquid. You cannot just dump this down the drain or put it in the trash can. So, my questions was: What do you do with this stuff? How was I supposed to get rid of this acid?
People who have just bought a home, residents returning for the … (1 comments)

John Elwell - Your Full-Time, Full-Service REALTOR in Zephyrhills, Florida - 08/22/09 08:35 AM
  You Deserve a Full-Service, Full-Time REALTOR®, NOT Reduced Results!
As a former teacher and school administrator I helped my students achieve their goals. Now as a REALTOR® I help my buyers and sellers achieve some of the most important goals of their lives, buying or selling their homes. If you are considering selling and/or buying a property, I would be happy to assist you.  I always place my customers' satisfaction very high on my list of priorities and work hard to help them in any way that I can. My hours are very flexible, so feel free to contact me at any time! Evenings and weekends … (1 comments)

Two Consumer Sites with Information Concerning Chinese Drywall - 08/20/09 03:27 PM
Many of you have been hearing about problems caused by some Chinese drywall. Part of its components are believed by some to cause corrosion of wiring/pipes, respiratory problems in humans and other issues in the homes where it was installed.
I am NOT a contractor or chemistry expert, so I am glad that the US Consumer Product Safety Commission has set up a site on the internet that homeowners can access for information about this issue. To access this new site, click on the following link: http://www.cpsc.gov/info/drywall
The problem with this defective drywall mostly affects homes built in recent years, … (0 comments)

Mortgage Interest Rates Drop After a Rise Last Week: Freddie Mac - 08/20/09 03:04 PM
Today 8/20/09 Freddie Mac reported that the average mortgage interest rate for 30 year fixed-rate mortgages was 5.12% (5.11% in the southeast), down from 5.29% a week ago. The average interest rate for 15 year fixed-rate mortgages was 4.47%, down from 4.68% last week. A year ago the 30 year rate was 6.47%.
Interest rates fell to the lowest they have been since last May due to a corresponding fall in Treasury Bond interest rates. Some Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARM's) fell to levels we have not seen in nearly 5 years!
These low rates, probably coupled with government tax credits and … (0 comments)

Monthly Alzheimer's Support Groups Forming in Eastern Pasco County Starting in Sept. 2009 - 08/19/09 06:04 PM
Alzheimer's Support Groups will take place on a monthly basis starting in September 2009 according to the following schedules: 1st Thursdays at 10 AM at Westbrooke Manor, 6701 Dairy Road, Zephyrhills, FL 33542 Tel: 813-782-4417 2nd Tuesdays at 6:30 PM at Dynamic Seniors Adult Care, 4729 Allen Road, Zephyrhills, 33542 Tel: 813-782-5508 2nd Wednesdays at 10:30 AM at Royal Oak Nursing Home, 37300 Royal Oak Lane, Dade City, FL 33525 Tel: 352-567-3122 4th Fridays at Edwinola ALF at 4:00 PM at 14235 Edwinola Way, Dade City, Fl Tel: 352-567-6500 4th Mondays at 3:00 PM at Zephyr Haven Health & Rehab Center, … (0 comments)

Florida's 2009 Proposed Property Tax Notices Are Arriving Now! Keep an Eye Out for Yours! - 08/19/09 04:27 PM
I opened my mailbox this afternoon and found a letter from Mike Wells, the Pasco County Property Appraiser where I live telling me what my proposed property taxes for 2009 would be. Probably most of Florida's residents are also receiving these notices, also called Truth in Millage notices (TRIM). It is worth your while to closely examine the one that pertains to the property(s) that you own.
The notice will show you 3 main things:
What your property taxes were last year. What they will be this year if proposed budget changes are made. What they will be if proposed budget … (0 comments)

Zephyrhills to host 25th Fall AutoFest at Festival Park on November 12th to 15th, 2009 - 08/19/09 12:04 PM
From Thursday, November 12th to Sunday, November 15th, 2009 Zephyrhills, Florida will host its 25th Annual Fall AutoFest. It will take place at Festival Park which is located just to the south of Zephyrhills on the east side of US 301. The next scheduled event of this type will take place in February of 2010.
    Some of the scheduled activities are:
Car show Automotive & Antique Swap Meet Collector Car Auction Car corral Vintage Auto Exhibition Racing Camping Facilities Available. For more information each activity's dates/times you can download the event brochure in PDF format by clicking here: Download Zephyrhills Auto Fest Brochure
You … (0 comments)

Hurricane Bill Appears to Stay East of Florida as of August 18th - 08/18/09 08:10 PM
It now appears on August 18th that the projected path of Hurricane Bill is going to stay well east of Florida and go up the coast of the United States. Hopefully its effects will be nothing more than a light breeze and some nice soaking rains which we need. If you click on the image to the left a larger version should open up in a new window for you.
However, do keep in mind that these storms can often modify their paths and do strange things. I have even seen them do loops out in the ocean and come back … (2 comments)

Watch Out for FaceBook Hackers! They Are Here! - 08/18/09 05:54 PM
Just saw a report on NBC that said hackers are getting into sites like FaceBook and impersonating us. For example it may appear that I am saying "I was robbed outside my hotel while in New Orleans and have no cash or credit cards to get home. Can any of you help me?" Then of course, the crook will probably give anyone that responds a Western Union office where the money can be sent. Of course, your real friend is probably sitting in his living room watching TV. So watch out.
Common sense should tell you that your FaceBook friends would … (8 comments)

El Departamento de Servicios Financieros de Florida Les Ofrece Nueva Página del Web - 08/18/09 04:36 PM
La Tesorera Alex Sink le da la bienvenida a la página de inicio del sitio Web del Departamento de Servicios Financieros. Con sus 13 divisiones y gran cantidad de programas a disposición de los floridanos, tenemos mucho para aprender sobre servicios financieros en estas páginas.
¡Y ahora en Español!
Para ir directamente a la página principal, toque aquí: http://fldfs.convertlanguage.com/fldfs/enes/24/_www_fldfs_com
Si,  le puedo ayudar, no dude en llamarme al: 813-783-4444 o mandeme un mensaje a: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com 
… (0 comments)

East Pasco Habitat for Humanity Celebrates Its 4th Year - 08/17/09 10:03 PM
Some of you may not be aware that we have a local Habitat for Humanity ReStore located on the northside of Dade City along US 301 where the old Lykes Pasco juice processing plant was. Now it is a business center and the Habitat ReStore is a part of the complex. Physical address is: 15000 Citrus Country Drive, Suite 420, Dade City, Florida.   You can find a lot of great bargains on building materials and also make donations to help Habitat do its good work in our local communities.   To find out more, you can click on the following … (1 comments)

Fair Housing Law Workshop in Zephyrhills, Florida on August 24, 2009 - 08/16/09 01:21 PM
The public is invited to attend a Fair Housing Workship that will take place about 6:15 PM on August 24th in the Zephyrhills City Hall located at 5335 8th Street, Zephyrhills.   They will explain the "ins and outs" of this law that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, familial status, handicap, national origin, religion and sex.   You would think that today this would not be an issue, but every now and then it still raises its ugly head. Sad to say, but true. Perhaps you have even been a victim of it.   For more information or to make … (0 comments)

Event to Honor Local Servicemen/Women on September 11, 2009 in Dade City, Florida - 08/15/09 12:19 PM
On September 11th from 7:30 PM to 11 PM at the Dan Cannon Auditorium  located  at the Pasco County Fairgrounds  on the outskirts of Dade City on State Road 52, there will be a night of family  fun and entertainment to honor  local soldiers who are due to be deployed for active service.   This event is being  supported by Dade City, Zephyrhills, San Antonio, Wesley Chapel and their surrounding areas.   Those 13 years old or above are asked to donate $5 to defray the costs of the events. Kids under 12  get in free. Activities for kids will include  face-painting, … (0 comments)

PRICE REDUCED - Forbes Road Building Lot For Sale East of Zephyrhills, Florida - 08/14/09 08:44 PM
 
Price has been reduced on this building lot on Forbes Road in Zephyrhills, Florida. It is located just to the south of Proud Mockingbird Road and north of the Lynbrook Drive turn-off. The county says it can be used for either a single-family home or a modular home. However, according to them, no mobile homes can be placed here. County says lot size is just over 3/4 of an acre, but owners have no survey so buyers should confirm this parcel size if it is important to them.
Due to its location just to the east of Zephyrhills and only a bit … (0 comments)

Freddie Mac Says Mortgage Interest Rates on Fixed-Rate Loans Go Up a Little - 08/13/09 09:01 PM
Today, 8/13/09, Freddie Mac reported that the average mortgage interest rate for 30 year fixed-rate mortgages was 5.29% (5.22% in the southeast), up from 5.22% a week ago. The average interest rate for 15 year fixed-rate mortgages was 4.68%, up from 4.63% last week. A year ago the 30 year rate was 6.52%.
Freddie Mac reported that the rates for adjustable rate mortgages (ARM's) stayed pretty much unchanged while the rates for fixed rate loans rose a bit. I heard this morning that the Fed was also going to try some moves to get interest even lower. Who knows? That $8,000 tax … (2 comments)

Pasco County, Florida's Storm Evacuation Sites - 08/10/09 07:56 PM
We are well into the 2009 hurricane season and so far we have seen no major storms brewing. A little more rain than usual, but that is a good thing. Trust me. Our underground aquifers are very very low.
However, in the event that a hurricane does approach our area, it is wise for you to know which evacuation center is nearest to you. The last thing you want to do is to search for it at the  last minute. This is especially crucial if you live in a mobile home or RV. Even those that are solidly tied down … (0 comments)

Pasco County, Florida is Making the $8,000 Tax Credit More Effective - 08/10/09 12:50 PM
This morning we attended a meeting at the Pasco County Courthouse conducted by the Pasco County Community Development Division. It concerned the county and state program that will allow first time home buyers (anyone who has not owned an interest in a home in the past 3 years) to get up to an $8,000 tax credit when they buy a home.
The county and state have worked it out so that it appears that buyers who qualify can get the money up front and use it for their down payment. At that point it is treated as a second mortgage. Then … (0 comments)

Zephyrhills Real Estate Agent in Florida - Full-Service & Full-Time - 08/07/09 08:44 PM
If you are considering buying and/or selling a home in the Zephyrhills or East Pasco County areas of Florida, I would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you and show you what CENTURY 21 Bill  Nye Realty, Inc. and I can do for you.
My name is John Elwell and I arrived in this area in 1982 and taught school for 20 years before making a career change and becoming a REALTOR. As you can imagine, after so many years, I know this area pretty well. I also lived and worked in Spain for 12 years so I am quite familiar with the … (0 comments)

Zephyrhills Hosts Saturday Nite Cruise for Classic Cars on August 22, 2009 - 08/07/09 07:07 PM
Main Street Zephyrhills, Inc. is offering another Zephyrhills Saturday Nite Cruise on August 22nd from 4 PM to 8 PM. It will take place downtown near the intersection of US 301 and State Road 54 (5th Avenue).  
There will be: No entry fee Food Music 50/50 Raffle Door Prizes Cars, Cars, and more Cars! You can download a flyer for this event by clicking on the following link: Download Cruise Flyer - Aug 22,2009

Sounds like a nice way to spend a summer evening in Florida. For more information call: 813-780-1414 or e-mail: mszi@verizon.net   You can also visit Main … (0 comments)

Slight Drop in Average Mortgage Interest Rates says Freddie Mac - 08/06/09 04:51 PM
Today 8/6/09 Freddie Mac reported that the average mortgage interest rate for 30 year fixed-rate mortgages was 5.22% (5.15% in the southeast), down from 5.25% a week ago. The average interest rate for 15 year fixed-rate mortgages was 4.63%, down from 4.69% last week. A year ago the 30 year rate was 6.52%.
A Freddie Mac spokesperson said that last week's economic reports were better than most had thought they would be. And this had helped hold interest rates down. It was also reported that demand for homes had increased.
Affordability of housing, something we have heard mentioned many times, continues to … (0 comments)

Music & Motorcycles Event in Zephyrhills, Florida on September 12, 2009 - 08/06/09 12:23 PM
Main Street Zephyrhills, Inc. is offering another Music and Motorcycles event on Saturday, September 12, 2009 from 4 PM to 9 PM. This will take place in downtown Zephyrhills, Florida on 5th Avenue. There will be a casino, merchandise vendors, live music, a food court, and entertainment.   You can download a full-color hand-out for this event by clicking on the following link: Download Music&Motorcycles Sept 2009   For more information you can visit Main Street's webpage at: www.mainstreetzephyrhills.org, e-mail them at: mszi@verizon.net or call them at: 813-780-1414   The next Music and Motorcycles will take place on November 14, 2009. … (0 comments)

Florida Pioneer Days this Labor Day Weekend in Dade City, Florida - 08/05/09 02:46 PM
The Dade City Pioneer Museum will be offering very special Labor Day festivities that may be of interest to many visitors and residents of Pasco County, Florida. The dates will be Sunday, September 6th and Monday, September 7th   Some of their activities will include: Civil War Re-Enactments 1860's Fashion Show Living History Exhibits Traditional Craft Demonstrations Arts & Crafts Shows Florida Native Plant Sale Community Exhibits Live Entertainment Trash & Treasures Rummage Sale Good Food And More! Admission is $8 for Adults, $4 for children 10 - 17 years of age, $2 for children 5 - 9 years old, and … (0 comments)

Get My August 2009 Real Estate Newsletter Here Now! - 08/02/09 02:23 PM
My August 2009 Real Estate Newsletter is now available for download as a PDF (Adobe Acrobat) file. Just click on the following link: Download August 2009 Newsletter I hope that you will find this month's articles interesting and helpful.
If you would like to receive these newsletters automatically in the future each month, just send me an e-mail and let me know. I would be glad to add you to my e-mailing list. You can e-mail me at: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com or call me at: 813-783-4444
I also invite you to visit my my website where I think you will find a lot of useful information. To … (0 comments)

 
John_cropped Rainmaker_large

John Elwell

Zephyrhills, FL

More about me…

CENTURY 21 Bill Nye Realty, Inc.

Address: 34619 State Road 54, Zephyrhills, FL, 33541

Office Phone: (813) 715-6810

Cell Phone: (813) 783-4444

Email Me

Real estate news, opinions, and listings from Zephyrhills, Pasco County, Florida and the west central region of Florida in general. Licensed in Florida.


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