Probably if someone told you they were going to give you a trip to America's largest city by land area, you would probably start packing your bags for Los Angeles or New York City, or even Chicago, Houston or Atlanta.  But guess what, that is not where you would be going. Instead, you would be on your way to Jacksonville Florida on the northeastern Atlantic coast of Florida.  You might also be surprised to know that after New York City and Philadelphia, Jacksonville is the most populated city on America's east coast.  Jacksonville is also the financial and insurance hub of Florida and home to two U.S. Navy bases, Mayport and the Naval Air Station.  Jacksonville has added a cruise port in the past few years and is developing its port to be a shipping giant. Jacksonville is located on the Atlantic Ocean which provides gorgeous beaches but also has the St Johns River and the Intracoastal  providing a variety of water activites.  The city hosts a professional football team, a professional golf tournament, a professional baseball team, and world class tennis .  The Cummer Art Gallery and Museum of Modern Art have new exhibitions regularly and the Jacksonville Symphony has multiple series for everyone to enjoy. 

Jacksonville is a great place to live!!!

Keller Williams has made the top 25 companies to boost your career - yeahh - I am so proud to be a part of them.  Check out the link...

http://www.businessinsider.com/best-company-advancing-career-2011-9#5-keller-williams-21

Let me know if you would like to know more!!!

A perfect time for sailing.  Fall is here and I can feel the north winds in Jacksonville - especially on the water.  It is a perfect time to go sailing!  The weather has cooled off a little and the wind is blowing.  I love sailing and go as often as I can.  There is so much water around Jacksonville with the St Johns River, the Intracoastal, and the Atlantic Ocean that is is easy to enjoy.  If you feel the same way, you may want to check out www.NowandZenSailingCharters.com.

I love living in Jacksonville because I love spending time on the water.  Check out www.JacksonvilleHomeconnection.com - you may find a home here so you can enjoy too!

If you are a homeowner trying to short sale your home, do not pay a negotiator upfront to negotiate for you.  There are many scams where the homeowner does not get any results and have already paid with money that is hard to come by.  The FTC has a new ruling to protect you from these scams.  Please go to this website to read the latest ruling. 

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2010/11/mars.shtm

The Air Show is going to be at NAS October 23 and 24. Gates open at 9 a.m. and the air show starts at 10 a.m. FREE parking, admission and Kid’s Zone! It is a very popular event and is a great event for the whole family with lots of fun for both young and old. You will see a wide selection of exciting aerobatic demonstrations from military to civilian. The Navy’s flight demonstration team The Blue Angels will perform as the grand finale to the air show and is always a treat. Here is the list of the flying acts: Military Acts Blue Angels – F/A-18 Hornet Fat Albert – Lockheed-Martin C-130T Hercules A-10 East Demonstration Team – A-10 Thunderbolt II F-4 Phantom II Heritage Flight – F-4 Phantom II F/A 18 Super Hornet Strike Fighter Red Devils Parachute Regiment Team USSOCOM Parachute Team Civilian Acts Frank Kingston Smith (announcer) Les Shockley’s – Jet Truck Patty Wagstaff – Extra 300 Skip Stewart – Pitts Rich’s Incredible Pyro Matt Chapman – Edge 58 0 Jon Mohr – Stearman Mike Goulian – Edge 400 Dan McCue – F4U Corsair Col. Bob Murphy – TBM Avenger Tim Weber – Extra 300 While you are at the show enjoy military and civilian aircraft displays, shop at novelty, food and beverage booths, or head to the free Kid’s Zone for games and activities for all ages. Another speed thrill you don’t want to miss is The world famous Super Shockwave Jet Truck whick will race down the runway at speeds more than 300 mph. I will be sailing in the St Johns on Now and Zen watching!! Always welcome to join us - check it out at Now and Zen Charters on facebook.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmoMzzdGM3Y

Oh my goodness!!! North Florida is underwater!  New data is showing that almost half of homeowners in the Jacksonville, FL area owe more on their loan than their house is worth in the current market. Zillow.com reported that about 48.9 percent of Jackonsonville single-family homes showed negative equity in the second quarter of 2010. Jacksonville homes have lost more than one-third of their value since the peak in August of 2006.  The current median price for a home is now at the 2004 levels. It is scary that Jacksonville's negative equity rate is more than twice the national average.What does this mean?  More short sales?  A longer period of time to recover?

3 Bedrooms, 2 baths, Great Room, New carpet, Updated Kitchen, Not a Short Sale!!!

It looks like home buyers who did not meet the June 30 deadline to close may gain more time to obtain a federal home-buyer tax credit of up to $8,000. President Obama is expected to sign off on legislation as early as today following approval in both congressional chambers earlier this week. It would extend the deadline for the home-buyer tax credit which would give buyers with purchase contracts in place three more months to close on the sale.