There have been few times in my career that I could honestly say that I'd be willing to eat off the floors of a 10 year-old house (or any aged house, for that matter), but if I were, I'd bring my dinner here! Truly, the owners have impeccably maintained this property and preserved it from top to bottom! Next week, the property at 461 Quail Hill Drive in the golf community of DeBary Golf & Country Club in DeBary, Florida will be marketed for sale. Listed at only $268,000, this is an exceptional value for a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, nearly 2000 square foot home in this condition in this Country Club community. Here's a sneak peek at what the house looks like & a few features about the home and the neighborhood that are well worth sharing!
For those discriminating Buyers who seek an exceptionally well-maintained & cared for home that they can literally move right into, this property is it! Located in DeBary's well known Golf & Country Club community, this well-crafted home is nestled on a high & dry oversized cul-de-sac lot and features a lush, park-like backyard with ample room to add a pool if desired.
The interior layout features a split floor-plan with formal dining & living rooms, as well as a light & bright family room with an abundance of windows. The kitchen is quite spacious and offers oak cabinets, a tile backsplash and a breakfast bar that overlooks the dining nook, family room and oversized screened lanai, all which make entertaining an ease. Since purchase, the sellers have painted the exterior, improved the landscaping, replaced the carpet, installed a new microwave, upgraded the security system, installed gutters, purchased a preventative termite bond and cleaned & sealed the tile grout. The owners, who are non-smokers with no children or pets, have kept this property in pristine condition! Come see for yourself!
This home is not a short-sale and all offers will be considered and responded to within 24 hours. Call today to schedule your private tour of this fine home, you'll be glad you did! To view the virtual tour of this exceptional home, visit my website here. I'd love the opportunity to show this home to you. To schedule your private tour, please contact me by cell at (321) 377-0157 or by email at LaShawn@LaShawnNorden.com As a Central Florida resident for more than 30+ years, I'd be happy to help you find your Dream Home. For a private "Find My Dream Home" consultation, please contact me at (321) 377-0157.
Well, it's time to face my fears. In just two days, I'll be face-to-face with 160+ Lake Mary High School alumni from the Class of 1988. Yikes!! Do I have time to lose 15 pounds, workout so that my FLAB turns to "FAB" or better yet, how about a total body makeover? You know, the hair, the makeup, the clothes..you name it...I'd love it all right about now as my anxiety level is at an all time high knowing that I'll be seeing many of those classmates that I thought were "cooler" than I was or who were nominated "most likely to succeed" while I was in Spanish Club and on the newspaper staff...oh my...so many memories (worth forgetting) and now, I've actually PAID MONEY to have them all resurrected....what was I thinking??? Honestly, it's not like I didn't know this day was coming for the past 20 years...so I guess I'd better just suck it up and face the reality that I am 10 pounds heavier than I was in high school and that even though I wasn't nominated for any special awards, I have been greatly rewarded in my life since then! Fortunately, I married a wonderful man, have had two incredible boys and am known in Seminole County as a successful REALTOR who is in the "know" when it comes to residential properties and the luxury home market. As a result of living in Lake Mary for the past 30+ years, I have had the pleasure of remaining friends and working for many of my high school classmates...and this weekend...I hope to catch up with many more! Now, just so that I know what to expect from those only remember me from my high school graduation picture...which is better??
or.....This one, which is one of my "professional" shots that was taken this past December???
All kidding aside, I really am looking forward to catching up with old friends and meeting some new ones! Go RAMS!
I've got GREAT news to share! The first speculative home in Washington Estates, a custom home community in Lake Mary, Florida, has power as of today! It's been nearly a year since construction began, but the wait is finally over! Estate 3 was smartly designed to fit perfectly on the 19,457 square foot lot. This fine residence boasts 4,924 square feet of living area and includes;
A custom pool is included in the price of all estates and the Buyer has the option to select from several options which can be installed prior to closing.
You can be the first to own in this intimate community and build equity while enjoying your new home!
Washington Estates is zoned for one of the most sought after school districts in the County; Lake Mary Elementary, Greenwood Lakes Middle School and Lake Mary High School.
This home will be released to the general public in mid-October. To secure the best pricing, or to schedule your private showing prior to this release, please contact me at (321) 377-0157 or by email at LaShawn@LaShawnNorden.com. As a Accredited Luxury Home Specialist with 30+ years of knowledge of the Lake Mary market, I'd be happy to share with you more about this community and others known for quality custom homes in the Lake Mary area.
Washington Estates is an executive custom home community nestled on a quiet, tree-lined street in the premier city of Lake Mary. With only five estate homes available, living in Washington Estates is a rare opportunity for those seeking sophisticated elegance in one of the most sought after cities in Seminole County. Built by Mecca Builders LLC of Lake Mary, this exclusive community epitomizes quality craftsmanship and timeless design. Mecca Builders has more than 35 years of building experience and their commitment to superb building and service are second to none. Lots vary in size from 14,000 square feet to more than 22,000 square feet. Estates range from 4,100 to 6,300 square feet. Each estate has been professionally and thoughtfully designed to fit the lot it occupies. Much attention has been given to accentuate areas most utilized by those who enjoy entertaining, outdoor living and rich appointments throughout. Every home built will feature only the finest of materials and will be distinctive in not only design, but in finishes as well. For more information on luxury communities in Lake Mary, Florida, please contact me via email at LaShawn@LaShawnNorden.com or by email at (321) 377-0157. I look forward to earning your business!
Feeling guilty that I hadn't written a post since last Tuesday as I was mouring the loss of my grandmother and spending time with family as we rejoiced about her life (you can read the post here), I finally decided to jump back in... Much to my dismay though, my computer wasn't cooperating. I tried to start it up three days in a row, only to determine that it would only start in "safe mode," which prevented me from accessing the Internet. And so off I went...laptop in hand to Best Buy (since that is where I bought it 10 months ago). The Geek behind the counter (seriously, they are called the Geek Squad), told me that he thought my hard drive was about to crash. Great, I only had seven years of files, contacts, pictures, emails, etc. on that hard drive... And then, the little man in the white shirt, tie and glasses said the most profound thing: "Well miss, since I am sure you back up your computer every day, it shouldn't be a problem if we have to replace the hard drive, RIGHT??" He must have thought I was about to pass out right there in the middle of Best Buy (which I am sure can't be good for business) and as a result, immediately followed with "Maybe we can start it in "Safe Mode" again and you can copy all of your documents onto a Flash Drive." Whew, my fainting spell could be reserved for another day! :)
Problem is, now I feel as though my whole life has been reduced to a memory chip smaller than my actual mouse pad...wow, that can make a girl feel really good when she's trying to rebound from a traumatic family event, don't you think? All kidding aside, I still don't have my computer back and am borrowing my husbands just so that I can write this post so that you all don't think I jumped the Active Rain ship. I love it here and I know I am behind...I just need a few less crisis to deal with and I'll be back good as new. As far as the lesson to be learned here...I am considering signing up for the Geek Squad's $49 PER YEAR automated back-up plan, where you can have up to 25G of memory backed up and stored on three different secured servers nightly for the one annual fee. Any comments on this service or other ways to back-up my computer that are effective, automated and inexpensive would be greatly appreciated! I hope to be up and fully running again in another few days...thanks for sticking in there with me!
I've started writing this post at least three times over the last two days. Each time I start typing, I write a line and then hit the delete button...not all that sure of what I should write or how I can possibly say all that I want (or need to) about my grandmother, Ruth Estelle, who lost her battle to C.O.P.D. yesterday morning and passed away early in the morning surrounded by "her girls." As I write this, I have a box of Kleenex nearby. I was thinking I could get through this without using the whole box, but as the flood gates of memories open, I already know that's an impossible thing to expect of myself...so I won't even try. Let me first start by saying that although we were not genetically related, my grandmother and I had a deeper connection than most biological relatives share. Regardless of where she lived or how often we spoke, we could always relate to one another. Somehow, she always knew exactly what I was thinking or feeling, and wasn't afraid to talk about life and emotions with me. We lived thousands of miles apart from each other, but it never felt that way.
She owned several businesses, the most recent being a company called Harmonic Harvest (a tea shop) and was a true entrepreneur who I admired greatly. She was married more times than I have fingers, moved more times than most military families did (and no...she wasn't in the military) and had a certain presence about herself that I saw in her even in her last days. As I stated earlier, we don't share DNA (that I know of...at least not in this life), but we share so many personality traits that it's scary...or soothing...depending on how you look at it :) I find myself wanting to write in the present tense...I still find it hard to believe that she's gone. These last six months have been the hardest...for her and for my family. You see, my grandmother suffered from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (C.O.P.D.) and although she has lived with it for the last five or more years, her condition deteriorated over time. As a result of her illness she was hospitalized in San Antonio, Texas in January of this year after suffering from respiratory failure. My mom and I flew to Texas to see her. She spent a week in ICU and another week on a regular floor before being transferred to a rehabilitation facility. She was in the rehab facility for a month so that she could gain enough strength to make the trip to Florida so that she could be near family and so that my mom could help take care of her. In March, my mom and I made the trip back to Texas in hopes to fly her home to Florida. Unfortunately, the doctor said she wasn't strong enough, so my husband flew out to meet us and we all drove home...oxygen tank, mega doses of drugs and all...Needless to say, this two day adventure still has me smiling today when I am reminded of some of the "incidents" along the way...A few of my favorites were her oxygen tank almost exploding on a bridge in Baton Rouge, going to the bathroom at Sonic (the "Bates Motel" as she referred to it) and drinking wine while taking Oxycontin... (she was...we weren't). Thankfully, two days later...at 2:00am... we arrived safely in Lake Mary to the home my mom had prepared for her arrival. In just a few short weeks though, Grandma contracted pneumonia...which can be fatal for those with C.O.P.D.. She spent nearly three weeks in the hospital...her second visit in less than four months. After intense antibiotics and lots of snacks and coffee from Starbucks (she loved coffee and anything sweet!), she was home again. During those few months she was living in Lake Mary, I would visit as often as I could. Sometimes, I would bring my boys (whom she had met for the first time when she moved to Florida in March) and other times, it would be just she and I...talking about motherhood, business, relationships and life in general. Every time I left her, I took a new memory with me. 12 days ago what we all feared for her became a reality.
She was of sound mind...but unfortunately, her body was not cooperating. Her right lung collapsed. Her blood pressure was doing crazy things and her heart rate was only controlled via medication. She was on an oxygen mask and was confined to her bed in ICU. It was obvious that she was in pain and that her body was failing her. It was so devastating to watch such a mentally vibrant woman who was suffering so much. After having many conversations with her over the course of the last 10 days, I knew that she was tired of fighting the battle and was going to leave us soon. She talked with me about her greatest accomplishments, her biggest regrets and even let me take a Flip Video of her with a message she recorded for anyone else who cared to listen. (I'd play it for you, but it's too personal to share). She approached death with the same attitude that she did life...she was a fighter and always left an impression. On Sunday afternoon, she was transported from Florida Hospital to Hospice of the Comforter in Altamonte Springs, Florida where she passed away at 1:08am yesterday morning. My mom, aunt, two sisters and I ("her girls") were all in the room with her when she slipped away from us. For some, it might seem morbid that we were in the room with her as she passed from this life to the next...but for me, it was a blessing. She was my grandmother...DNA or not...and I was honored to spend those last moments with her. Please join me as I rejoice in the life of Ruth Estelle, born on Valentines Day, 1938 and who was taken from us too early on September 15, 2008. She has touched the lives of many. May she rest in peace.
Even though Eden is open to the public for every day spa services such as manicures, pedicures, hair styling, makeup artistry and more, the focus of the spa is to provide service to those who have been or are actively going through cancer treatment. In 2000, my mother-in-law endured treatment for ovarian cancer. She lost her hair, her nails were brittle and she felt embarrassed to leave the house. As someone who knows all too well about how cancer can effect someone's self image as much as it can effect their health, I was eager to learn more when my friend Rhonda Kanan told me about the opening of Eden. Upon visiting, I was thoroughly impressed with the facility, which is outfitted with a private fitting room, a massage room, several manicure and pedicure stations, a wig fitting/make-up artistry room and consultation areas.
Services are provided by certified, licensed and experienced personnel who are knowledgeable in treating each patient's needs and often times, those services are covered by insurance.
By attending, you'll see for yourself why I am dedicated to raising money for this incredible facility and the services they offer. Eden Spa - Florida Hospital Cancer Institute 2501 North Orange Avenue, Suite 186, Orlando, FL 32804 Complimentary valet parking will be provided.
if you can't make the Open House event, I would encourage you to visit Eden the next time you are in need of spa services. For every service paid for, a portion of the proceeds is donated to those who are in need, but cannot afford them. To schedule your appointment, please call (407) 303-9727. For a list of services, you can visit their website here.
I believe that we must all give to receive. Whether it's time, talent, money or energy, find a cause and support it. Clearly, this is one cause worth all of the above and more!  Subscribe in a reader
Sometimes, when you love your house...the location, the floorplan, the lot, the neighborhood, the schools, etc, it's worth it to spend a few thousand dollars to remodel the kitchen, update the bathrooms or change up the flooring, paint, fixures and paint rather than buy a new home.
A few years ago, homes with dated kitchens and bathrooms sold for top dollar...It was all about supply and demand. Today, if your kitchen isn't updated or your bathrooms are still pink and blue, you'll be lucky if a Buyer makes an offer and when they do, it most likely won't be at the price you want (as they will deduct twice the cost of an upgrade when writing their offer). There are hundreds of homes on the market in most cities and in most cases, many of the sales are of those that have been updated. When the time is right for you to sell your home, you'll have one more objection handled! With that being said, it might just be worth it to roll up your sleeves, strap on the carpenter's belt and get busy with one or more improvements. A few of the most popular renovations are:
If you have a REALTOR, ask them to give you their opinion of what's most important to Buyers in your marketplace. If you don't have a local REALTOR, the representatives at your local home improvement store can help too! To help lighten the financial burden, if you shop at Lowe's, I'd be happy to give you a coupon for 10% off (up to a maximum of $500.00) off your next single purchase of any in-stock or special order merchandise. Give me a call at (321) 377-0157 or email me at LaShawn@LaShawnNorden.com to request your coupon. If your home is in Central Florida and you need a good Residential Contractor, my husband, Rick Norden owns his own renovation company, Priority One Homes, and would be happy to give you a FREE estimate. Rick can be reached at (321) 377-3661. In addition to being licensed and insured, he has 10 years of building and renovation experience. Happy Remodeling!
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Simply put, the answer is YES!
According to an article in the Orlando Sentinel this morning, every year, more than 25% of the claims filed with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (which is the organization responsible for underwriting the nation's flood policies), are from policyholders who were not considered to own a property in an area that was classified as "high risk" for flooding. As proven by Tropical Storm Fay, just because a house isn't considered at high risk, doesn't mean that it will never flood or have water intrusion that will require a claim be filed. Even though adding a flood policy to your home may increase your annual premium by a few hundred dollars, it's well worth it! I know of homeowners in Central Florida that have thousands of dollars worth of damage to their homes...If they would have had flood insurance in place, it would all be covered.
I encourage you to call your insurance representative today! Hurricane season is proving to be active this year, and all it takes is one incident and you'll wish you would have made the call. You may also contact the National Flood Insurance Program at (800) 638-6620 or on their website here.
If you are a Seller who has a home to sell in Seminole County that has been flooded and are interested in temporary housing or a new home, please contact me at (321) 377-0157 or at LaShawn@LaShawnNorden.com to schedule a confidential appointment to share your needs. If you are a Buyer interested in purchasing a home in Seminole County and want to make sure that the Seller of the home you purchase has disclosed all water intrusion incidences, you should hire a REALTOR who knows what questions to ask, what insurance reports to request and which disclosures the Seller needs to complete. I'd welcome the opportunity to guide you through the process. Call me at (321) 377-0157 to schedule your "My Dream Home" appointment.
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LaShawn Norden Lake Mary, FL More about me… RE/MAX Central Realty Office Phone: (407) 804-4803 Cell Phone: (321) 377-0157 Email Me
As a 35 year Seminole County Native, I provide Real Estate services to those in Lake Mary, Sanford, Winter Springs, Altamonte, Longwood, Casselberry and Oviedo. Experienced in marketing & selling homes ranging from $100K to over $2M and advocating & representing Buyers to find a home that meets their personal and financial needs. Accredited Luxury Home Specialist & Relocation Specialist
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Central A/C
With it being a market ideal for Buyers, now is the time to purchase this competitively priced home so that you too can begin enjoying morning walks along the five-mile path within the community and taking just a short bike-ride to the "Quail Hill" neighborhood pool or Clubhouse for a round of golf, tennis or Sunday Brunch. Although non-gated, DeBary Golf and Country Club offers nighttime security.
........Remember, BIG hair was in!
In just a few short days, Estate 3 will be ready for new owners and is being offered at an 
Thankfully, Best Buy had 8 GB Flash Drives on sale for $30 (or maybe he just felt sorry for me since I failed to back my own stuff up and offered me a discount) and I sat there for nearly an hour copying everything to a tiny little thing about the size of my pinky finger.
My grandmother was an exceptionally intelligent woman. She was well versed in most religions, knew more about vitamins and herbal remedies than most people of her age, held positions that were typically reserved for men (car sales, advertising, business owner, and more) and was always "seeking" more from life than being a homemaker.
On Thursday, September 4th, she went into respiratory failure again. This time, her stay in the hospital wasn't enough. She was in and out of ICU during her stay at Florida Hospital...and this time, her doctor shared that her condition was terminal. 
Recently, I had the pleasure of taking a tour at the new 
In addition to having a calming atmosphere, Eden is also known for providing products that cancer patients can benefit from and purchase right there at the spa. It's evident by the shelves, which are lined with natural lotions, make-up products, scarves, jewelry and wigs, that the physicians and health care experts at Florida Hospital know how important self-image can be.
To find out more about Eden, please be my guest at their Open House Event on Wednesday, October 1st, 2008 from 9:00am-12:00pm.
Yes, you heard me. Even though I am a REALTOR and would love the opportunity to help you sell your exisiting home and buy a new one with all of the "bells and whistles" you want, I know that sometimes it is better for you to stay in your current home and remodel it before you sell. By taking this approach, you can enjoy the improvements AND improve the liklihood that you will sell when the time comes for you to list it for sale.
Even if you do not live in a "designated flood plain," you should strongly consider having flood insurance for your property. As a Seminole County resident for more than 35 years, after Tropical Storm Fay, I have witnessed flooding in areas that have never flooded before and I would bet that many of those homes weren't required to have flood insurance before now.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
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