Florida Bids Farewell to the 2010 Hurricane Season - It Was a Quiet One! - 11/30/10 07:46 PM
Today, November 30th, is the official "last day" of the 2010 Hurricane Season. Though possible, it is very unlikely that a hurricane will not cause us any harm since the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexicao are cooling off after the summer heat. We were again lucky this year and had no major storm come our way. That was good news for sure. Funny though how most of our insurance rates did not drop and the insurance companies continue to cry poverty.
Speaking of insurance, I always recommend that once the official storm season is over here in the Sunshine State, … (3 comments)

"Snowbirds" Flocking Back to Zephyrhills, Florida for the 2010-11 Winter Season - 11/27/10 08:26 PM
As regular as the sunrises in the east, a major wave of arrivals from the north has begun. This always happens just after Thanksgiving. Many "snowbirds" like to celebrate that holiday with their families up north.
But there is now "frost on the pumpkins" and the trees have dropped their leaves. That tells our winter residents it is time to  head south to warmer climes and sunnier days. We are ready for them!
People like to winter in Zephyrhills because here it is not like going to a resort with a lot of strangers, but it is more like "coming home … (2 comments)

Houses, Condos, Villas, Townhomes For Sale in Zephyrhills, Florida as of Nov. 25, 2010 - 11/25/10 05:41 PM
If you are looking for your place under the Florida sun, Zephyrhills could be just the spot that you are searching for. Remember, winter is coming!
To assist you, I am attaching an updated Adobe PDF file to this post that shows some of the single-family houses, villas, condos, and townhomes that are currently available for purchase here as of November 25, 2010. From that date until the day you see this list, some of these properties may have been sold (especially if it is a very old post.) If that happens, please let me know, and I can get you an up-to-the-minute list. No problem!
All … (0 comments)

Mobile Homes For Sale in and around Zephyrhills, Florida as of November 25, 2010 - 11/25/10 05:24 PM
Want to find a place where you can escape winter's icy blasts? Well, Zephyrhills, Florida might be just the perfect corner of the USA where you can find a refuge from the snowing and blowing.
To assist you, I am attaching an updated Adobe PDF file to this post of the mobile homes that are currently available for purchase here as of November 25, 2010. Keep in mind that, depending on when you see this page, some of the listed homes may have been sold. If that happens, call me at the numbers below and I can send you an updated list. No problem!
All you … (0 comments)

Local Places to Enjoy the Great Outdoors in the Pasco and Hernando County Areas of Western Florida - 11/25/10 12:25 PM
As I write this, we are in the autumn of the year, and winter will soon arrive in Florida. We love this time of year when the temperatures are mild, there is little rain to dampen spirits, and many migratory birds from up north are here to spend the winter.
This is perfect time for you to get outdoors and enjoy all of the opportunities that abound in the Zephyrhills, Florida area. There are many nature venues that you can make use of. Here are the contact numbers, etc. for just a few. See how many you can visit. Each is … (0 comments)

Freddie Mac: Average Mortgage Interest Rates Go Up, but Just 0.01% for Fixed-Rate Loans - 11/24/10 06:46 PM
Today, 11/24/10 (early due to the Thanksgiving holiday),  Freddie Mac reported that the average mortgage interest rate for 30 year fixed-rate mortgages was 4.40% (4.40% in the southeast), up from 4.39% a week ago. The average interest rate for 15 year fixed-rate mortgages was 3.77%, up from 3.76% last week. A year ago the 30 year rate was 4.78%. 
The week was shorter and Freddie Mac reported that the gross domestic product was revised upward based on stronger consumer spending and exports than had been expected.
The balance sheets of many homeowners have begun to slowly improve. And in the third quarter mortgage delinquency rate decreased to … (0 comments)

Happy Thanksgiving to all My Friends, Family, and Customers from John Elwell in 2010 - 11/24/10 03:00 PM
No, not many of us go out and get a wild turkey like the one in the picture. Some still do up north, but not many. Most of our "Butterballs" come out of the freezer case at the supermarket. When I was young we raised several thousand of these birds on our farm back in Western New York in the Finger Lakes.
Whether you have a huge family dinner, a small get-together with friends, meet with neighbors at a subdivision's clubhouse for a community meal, or just go out to a nice meal with someone, enjoy this day.
We have had … (2 comments)

Zephyrhills, Florida to Host Its 2010 Festival of Lights Event on Saturday, December 4th - 11/22/10 08:46 PM
No snow on the ground and no frost on the pumpkins, but the holiday season is rapidly approaching. Hard to believe another year has come and gone already. How time flies!
Our 2010 Festival of Lights will take place here in Zephyrhills, Florida on Saturday, December 4th. There will be activities during much of the afternoon and on into the evening.
One of the main events will take place at 6:00 PM when there will be a lighted parade just after the sun sets.
Then, at 8:30 PM the Lighting Contest Awards will be given out, as well has a great FREE … (0 comments)

Florida 55+ Homeowner Associations - Don't Forget to Renew Your 55+ Status Before it Expires - 11/20/10 06:52 PM
I was recently listing a property and checked on its 55+ status at the state's Florida Commision of Human Relations website. I saw that their designation as a 55+ park was due to expire on December 28, 2010! I spoke with the park's secretary and she was unaware of this fact. This often happens as new board members get voted in. It is easy to overlook deadlines and I am told that Florida does not send out warnings that your registration is about to expire.   I was happy to download the instructions and forms she needed so that they could … (2 comments)

Zephyrhills, Florida to Offer its 2010 Holiday Lighting Contest in December - 11/20/10 05:03 PM
Residents, businesses, organizations, and homeowner associations are invited to take part in the 2010 Zephyrhills Holiday Lighting Contest.
The limits of the area where residents can take part in this event are as far as: Morris Bridge Road to the west, Kossik Road & Otis Allen Road to the north, Forest Lakes Estates Mobile Home Park to the east on County Road 54, and Chancey Road to the south. Most residents of Zephyrhills will be able to identify those boundaries easily. Do note that these limits include areas that are OUTSIDE of the city limits of Zephyrhills. So some county residents can also take part in the … (0 comments)

Modest Price on Great Zephyr Shores Furnished Mobile Home in Zephyrhills, Florida - 11/19/10 02:28 PM
 THIS HOME HAS NOW BEEN SOLD. CALL ME ABOUT SIMILAR HOMES THAT MIGHT BE OF INTEREST TO YOU. IT WILL BE A PLEASURE TO ASSIST YOU!
Looking for a nice, comfortable and furnished refuge from winter or a place to hang your hat all year round? This home on Zephyr Shores Drive in the popular Zephyr Shores Subdivision could be just what you have been looking for. It is located on its own land. This is not a rental park and you own the lots here.
This 2 bedroom/1 bath residence has more space than it appears. The addition on the side … (0 comments)

After Historic Low Point, Average Mortgage Interest Rates Increase This Week - 11/18/10 06:58 PM
Today, 11/18/10,  Freddie Mac reported that the average mortgage interest rate for 30 year fixed-rate mortgages was 4.39% (4.42% in the southeast), up from 4.17% a week ago. The average interest rate for 15 year fixed-rate mortgages was 3.76%,up from 3.57% last week. A year ago the 30 year rate was 4,83%. Rates were very low last week and I hope some of you were able to lock them in. If not, they still are not bad, historically speaking.
Freddie Mac reported that this week's rates were the highest since August of this year. Their spokesperson also commented on the fact that consumer sentiment was also … (0 comments)

It Pays to Shop Around For the Best Prescription Drug Prices in Zephyrhills, Florida - 11/13/10 10:54 PM
Recently I had to get a prescription filled. I checked at the pharmacy I normally go to and was shocked to find out that the price of it was going to be $55! And that was with the store discount!   So I took my paper and decided to do something I seldom do. I called the 4 major pharmacies in town to check their prices. Here is what I discovered I would pay at each for the exact same medication:   Publix $ 42 CVS $ 55 Walmart $ 30 Walgreens $ 27   That is a pretty wide range, … (4 comments)

Average Mortgage Interest Rates Drop Nicely says Freddie Mac - 11/11/10 06:33 PM
Today, 11/11/10,  Freddie Mac reported that the average mortgage interest rate for 30 year fixed-rate mortgages was 4.17% (4.18% in the southeast), down from 4.24% a week ago. The average interest rate for 15 year fixed-rate mortgages was 3.57%, down from 3.63% last week. A year ago the 30 year rate was 4.91%. 
The Federal Reserve announced on November 2rd that it planned to buy up $600 billion of government securities which would pump more money into the market. I had heard on the TV that this was going to happen. It is hoped that this money will be more likely to make it … (0 comments)

Zephyrhills, Florida's Annual Tree Decorating and Lighting Event to Celebrate its 20th Year on December 5, 2010 - 11/11/10 05:24 PM
Again this year in Zephyrhills, Florida we will be lucky enough to have lots of events to get the holiday season off to a good start. One of these is the lighting and decorating of Christmas trees near the Florida Hospital Zephyrhills along US 301 on Sunday, December 5, 2010. Activities will take place throughout the day. The hospital is very visible to everyone traveling up and down US 301 so it is a nice focal point for the holidays.
This year there will be 53 trees. One for each state in the union, one International tree, one tree dedicated to our … (0 comments)

Price Reduced AGAIN for Large Single-Family Home in Zephyrhills, Florida - 11/10/10 06:19 PM
Not a short sale or foreclosure! And now with a further reduced price! Where are you going to find so much house for such a small price?? This home has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and a two-car garage. It features a formal living room, a formal dining room PLUS an informal eating area and a family room with a wood-burning fireplace! 1,868 of heated and cooled living space!
Based on a split bedroom plan, the master bedroom is at one end of the home with its own complete en-suite bath while the 2 other bedrooms are at the opposite end of the home … (0 comments)

No More Discriminating by REALTORS Based on Sexual Orientation says NAR Vote! - 11/10/10 04:34 PM
NEW ORLEANS – Nov. 10, 2010 – A change to Article 10 of the Realtors® Code of Ethics passed in a roll-call vote by a greater than 9-to-1 margin at the recent National Association of Realtors (NAR) convention in New Orleans to ban discrimination by Realtors based on sexual orientation.NAR’s Professional Standards Committee and the Board of Directors previously approved the Code of Ethics change during the 2010 Midyear Meetings in Washington D.C.Here is the amended language of Article 10 (additions are underlined):Realtors shall not deny equal professional services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial … (5 comments)

Let Your Smart Phone Make Your Home Search a Bit Easier in Florida - 11/09/10 06:13 PM
Nearly all adults in the United States have a cell phone. In fact, a lot (like me) have had their home phones disconnected permanently and only use their cell phones 24/7.
Now, many are getting so-called "smart phones" which almost function like mini-computers. Their abilities are added to daily. You can listen to music, watch TV shows, send text messages to friends, and, of course, talk to other people. You can also cruise the internet and access information just like that available on your home computers or laptops.
If you drive by a home that has a FOR SALE sign in … (2 comments)

We Don't Need an Agent . . . We're Paying CA$H - 11/07/10 03:47 PM
In the past year I have had three buyers who were buying mobile homes and the lots they are on. Here that makes them real estate. But in all 3 cases, they did not get the titles to the mobile  homes, on did not get a good deed since it was prepared in Indiana and did not conform to Florida law, and one also had NO title insurance. If I have been working with them this never would have happened. Their excuses, "We had no idea that these steps were necessary" Well, duh!!!! That is why you should have an agent … (3 comments)

Average Mortgage Interest Rates Change Very Little This Week - Remain Low! - 11/05/10 07:38 PM
Yesterday, 11/4/10,  Freddie Mac reported that the average mortgage interest rate for 30 year fixed-rate mortgages was 4.24% (4.32% in the southeast), up from 4.23% a week ago. The average interest rate for 15 year fixed-rate mortgages was 3.63%, down from 3.66% last week. A year ago the 30 year rate was 4.98%. 
One rate up, and the other down. Still, both are historically low. Freddie Mac says that since there are no signs of inflation apparently lurking around the corner, there is no pressure to push interest rates higher. Other than that, Freddie Mac's spokespersons had very little to say this week. The … (0 comments)

Floridians Now Are Receiving Their 2010 Property Tax Bills - 11/05/10 02:39 PM
As many Floridians know, we receive our property tax bills here on the 1st of November each year. Mine arrived on Monday. Here we pay for the year that has just gone by. Our bills come out before the end of the year, but are not truly due until after 2011 has begun, and are not overdue until a few months after that.
The good news is that if you pay your bill early, you get a discount. Depending on how large your tax bill is, that can be a nice little savings for you. So I encourage you to pay … (4 comments)

Music & Motorcycles Converge in Zephyrhills, Florida on November 13, 2020 - 11/02/10 08:47 PM
 These monthly events, hosted by Main Street Zephyrhills, are always popular and unique to our area. The weather is getting very pleasant in the evenings now, not too hot, not too cool. So why not come out and enjoy the festive atmosphere that exists on these occasions? Zephyrhills is NOT just a place to retire. There's a lot going on here!
If you like it so much you would like to live here, then give me a call. I would be happy to assist you. John Elwell - REALTOR at CENTURY 21 Bill Nye Realty, Inc.  813-783-4444 or e-mail me at: … (0 comments)

John Elwell's November 2010 Florida Real Estate Newsletter Ready for You! - 11/01/10 07:06 PM
My November 2010 Real Estate Newsletter is now available for download as a PDF (Adobe Acrobat) file that all computers should be able to open. Just click on the following link: Download November 2010 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 … (0 comments)

 
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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

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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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