Living and Working in Citrus Park

Check Out the Planet Green Channel from Discovery

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®, Green Designation, Tampa, FL (Coldwell Banker) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:06:31 -0600

Planet Green was launched in June 2008 but I only recently discovered it through Verizon cable. They have lots of informative shows and you can learn a lot about current green issues, new innovations, organic foods and cooking, and green homes and buildings.

Check with your cable provider to see if they offer it. Lots to learn!

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR, GREEN DESIGNATION Coldwell Banker Tampa, FL (813) 787-2923 www.PeggyEdwards.com

Low-Cost Ideas to Get You to Turn Green

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®, Green Designation, Tampa, FL (Coldwell Banker) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:19:09 -0600

The NAR's core course for the Green Designation includes many ways to address a property's "green" potential - many of them are high cost items such as installing energy efficient windows, purchasing ENERGY STAR appliances, and having solar photovoltaic panels installed on the roof.

But there are many low-cost ways to increase a property's green potential (including your own home):

Paint with low or no-VOC paint
Weatherstrip and caulk doors and windows
Insulate an older model hot water heater
Lower the hot water heater temperature to 120 degrees
Install low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators
Use CFC light bulbs - they last over 5 years!
Recycle aluminum
Collect rainwater to water your plants
Install a programmable thermostat (I'm embarrassed to say I had one and didn't even know it!)

I'd also recommend an energy assessment. My local utilities provider (Tampa Electric) came to my home and inspected everything from the attic to the weatherstripping and then recommended ways I can lower my energy bill -
and the assessment was free. Plus he gave me an 8-pack of CFC light bulbs!

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR, GREEN DESIGNATION
Coldwell Banker
Tampa, FL
(813) 787-2923
www.PeggyEdwards.com

What is "Walkability"?

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®, Green Designation, Tampa, FL (Coldwell Banker) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 00:58:07 -0600

As more and more people begin to think about and discuss "green" living, you will probably hear the term "walkability." Wikipedia defines "walkability" as...

"The extent to which the built environment is friendly to the presence of people living, shopping, visiting, enjoying or spending time in an area".

So what makes a neighborhood walkable? There are many components that are taken into consideration, such as:

A center of some type (shopping district, main street, or public space)
Density
Mixed income and mixed use
Parks and public space
Pedestrian-centric design
Nearby schools and workplaces

I was interested in checking on the walkability score of the Westchase area in northwestern Hillsborough County, Florida. There are thousands of homesites in Westchase along with business centers, sidewalks, ponds, bridges, and schools.

I visited http://www.walkscore.com and entered the address of my real estate office in the Westchase Town Center. The walkability score for this area was 58 out of a possible 100 - making the area "somewhat walkable."

You might want to check out the walkability scores of your listings or properties you plan to show your buyers.

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR, GREEN DESIGNATION
Coldwell Banker
Tampa, FL
(813) 787-2923
www.PeggyEdwards.com

Is Your Toilet Over 15 Years Old?

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®, Green Designation, Tampa, FL (Coldwell Banker) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 18:55:41 -0600

Is Your Toilet Over 15 Years Old?

If so, you are wasting precious water and money. The plumbing code changed in 1993 and specifies a maximum of 1.6 gallons per flush.

And Hillsborough County, Florida has an Ultra Low Flow Toilet Rebate Program going on right now that will pay you up to $270.00 for replacement of three toilets in a single-family home.

Call Water Resource Services at (813) 274-6800 to find out more details about this great rebate program. They'll also give you a list of approved plumbing contractors who are familiar with the program.

I replaced both toilets in my home and received $150 rebate on the first toilet and an $80 rebate on the second.

If you live in another county or state, check with your local water department to see if they have a similar rebate program.

Quit flushing your money down the drain. Replace your older high-volume toilet with a new ultra low flow model....save water....and save $$.

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR, GREEN DESIGNATION
Coldwell Banker
Tampa, FL
(813) 787-2923
www.PeggyEdwards.com

Won't You Look Smart!!

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®, Green Designation, Tampa, FL (Coldwell Banker) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:39:53 -0600

If you haven't been asked about rebates and incentives from your customers who are interested in green design, construction, and system installation, don't worry, you will be....

And when you are asked, direct your client to http://www.dsireusa.org, a searchable database to find rebates and incentives available for such things as new roofs, heat pumps, ductwork, and energy efficient windows, to name but a few.

According to their website, DSIRE is a "comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency."

Your clients will love you for it....and won't you look smart!

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR, GREEN DESIGNATION
Coldwell Banker
Tampa, FL
(813) 787-2923
www.PeggyEdwards.com

Helpful Green Websites

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®, Green Designation, Tampa, FL (Coldwell Banker) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 01:17:16 -0600

There are many well-done websites out there that can provide real estate professionals with the knowledge and awareness of green building principles.

We need to be able to list and market green residences, green commercial properties and green developments, as well as guide our buyers in purchasing these properties.

Here are a few to get you started:

http://www.thedailygreen.com

http://www.conservationfund.org

http://www.eco-chick.com

http://www.eartheasy.com

http://www.greenoptions.com

And you might want to check out your family's carbon footprint. A carbon footprint is a measurement of your environmental impact on our planet. It's a real eye-opener!

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR, GREEN DESIGNATION
Coldwell Banker
Tampa, FL
(813) 787-2923
www.PeggyEdwards.com

What You Need to Know About "Greenwashing"

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®, Green Designation, Tampa, FL (Coldwell Banker) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:31:45 -0600

"Greenwashing" is deceptive merchandising.

"Greenwashing" is false promotion.

"Greenwashing" is sometimes outright lies.

"Greenwashing" is when manufacturers exaggerate the "green-ness" of a service or product. And so-called green products are exploding onto the consumer scene.

Unfortunately, there is no centralized regulating authority of what is "green."

So we all need to use our brains and think about our purchases.

Say a product claims it is toxin-free...in small amounts, large amounts...how exactly is it toxin-free?
If a product claims it is "recyclable," what does that really mean? Is the manufacturer referring to the product inside the container, or the container itself?
If a product contains "20% more recyclable product"...is it 20% more as compared to its previous product or a competitor's product?

Don't be fooled by greenwashing. Read the fine print.

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR, GREEN DESIGNATION
Coldwell Banker
Tampa, FL
(813) 787-2923
www.PeggyEdwards.com

Kermit the Frog is Right!

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®, Green Designation, Tampa, FL (Coldwell Banker) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:10:09 -0600

Kermit the Frog knows it isn't easy being green. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy.

You can check out Kermit's performance here.

There is a new designation out there for REALTORS®, the Green Designation recognized by the National Association of REALTORS®. Offered by REBAC (Real Estate Buyer's Agent Council of the National Association of REALTORS®), a 2-day core course was created so REALTORS® can "adopt and implement green practices in their day-to-day businesses."

The core course covers the definition of "green," green communities, green homes and buildings, green buyers and sellers, and how to green your real estate practice

The very first course is being offered at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando on November 5^th and 6^th, coinciding with the NAR Conference & Expo 2008. And the really great news is that the introductory price is only $150.00 for the 2-day core course, discounted from $295.00.

As time goes on, we're going to see more people interested in purchasing homes and making upgrades to their homes that incorporate green appliances and reduce the harm to our environment. Why not get educated on the greening of America and see how we can further benefit our clients?

For more information, go to http://rebac.net. Hope to see you in Orlando!

A New Florida Millionaire - Alan Crotzer

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®, Green Designation, Tampa, FL (Coldwell Banker) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 22:30:25 -0500

Better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer." William Blackstone

In May of 2007, I wrote a blog about Alan Crotzer. Mr. Crotzer was wrongfully imprisoned for 24 years for a home invasion and the abduction and rape of two women...crimes he did not commit as proven by DNA evidence. He was released from prison in January of 2006 and has been waiting since then for compensation from the State of Florida.

You can read my original blog here for the back story.

Mr. Crotzer has finally received payment of $1.25 million from the State of Florida, equal to $50,000 per year, in exchange for the 24 years of his life spent in prison.

In addition to his millionaire status, Crotzer will also receive free tuition at any state college, university or career center.

Florida finally put to rights a most grievous wrong. Too bad it took them a couple of years to do it.

The Florida Legislature is currently considering a bill that would AUTOMATICALLY compensate some prisoners who have been proven innocent. We'll have to wait and see if that bill passes.

Although I am certain the United States has the very best and most fair criminal justice system in the world, it is not perfect and an alarming number of errors are made. For more information on this topic, check out the Innocence Project -or you can follow the link from my website at http://www.peggyedwards.com. To date, 215 people in the United States have been exonerated by DNA testing, thanks to the Innocence Project.

Mr. Crotzer, may God bless you and your family. I wish you well.

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR
Coldwell Banker - Westchase
(83) 787-2923
www.PeggyEdwards.com

Are You a News Hound Too?

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®, Green Designation, Tampa, FL (Coldwell Banker) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 05:02:59 -0600

The world has come a long way in communications, haven't we? I still remember the time when my Dad would come home from work and read the "evening" newspaper (I'm pretty sure it was the Washington Post) and watch one newscast on television.

Thanks to Al Gore's invention, we have the luxury of reading news from websites all over the world. Wow!

As members of the real estate industry, we obviously keep up daily with changes in interest rates and the market in general. We can get breaking news sent to our email, PDAs - whichever gadget we choose.

But what websites do you read every day? Which ones help you stay on top of current events? Every day I read the news from two local sites but I have about five national sites that I check out also. With information coming at us fast and furious, I don't want to miss something important and sound uninformed if my customers bring up a topic.

Are you a fan of Forbes? The Wall Street Journal? The Drudge Report? CNN? Fair and Balanced? Please share your favorite news sites with us and give us the URL if it's not obvious.

Inquiring minds want to know!

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR
Coldwell Banker - Westchase
9530 W. Linebaugh Avenue
Tampa, FL 33626
(813) 787-2923

www.PeggyEdwards.com

Name Badges

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®, Green Designation, Tampa, FL (Coldwell Banker) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 22:55:46 -0600

I am not a "hard sell" person. I'm seriously uncomfortable with that approach and I do not appreciate it when others try to "hard sell" me. Frankly, it's a turn off. Do you feel the same way?

But there are hundreds of opportunities to "gently" let people that you come into contact with every day know you are a REALTOR®...WEAR YOUR NAME BADGE AND REALTOR® PIN.

DO wear your badge/pin wherever you go during the day. This might include:

•1. Grocery shopping

•2. PTA meetings

•3. Car wash

•4. School athletic events

•5. Post office

•6. Mall shopping/browsing

•7. Hair salon

•8. Pedicure/Manicure salon

•9. Coffee shop

•10. Homeowners association meetings

The wearing of your name badge is soft sell all the way. You'd be surprised at the number of total strangers who will see it and strike up a conversation with you about the current market. Wearing your badge is a great segue leading into a comfortable conversation about real estate in general and, of course, it's another opportunity to get your business card into someone's hand.

I still don't know if this is true but I had a trainer tell me that your name badge should always be worn on your right side because most people will shake your right hand with their right hand - and there's your name/affiliation directly in their line of sight.

Stay open and alert to these opportunities - they are out there.

PS: I remember when I first began wearing my name badge outside of the office. I was standing in line at the post office and there was a handsome gentleman in front of me who actually kept turning around to look at me. I thought, "Hey, this badge thing really works. He's going to ask me a real estate question - I just know it!." I was SO excited. After three or four times of him turning around to me, he finally turned one final time and said to me, "I just have to ask you something." I said, "Sure, how can I help you?" He said, "Did you know your name badge is upside down?"

Geez...

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker - Westchase
9530 W. Linebaugh Avenue
Tampa, FL 33626
(813) 787-2923

http://www.peggyedwards.com/

Did You Rescue Your Pet?

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®, Green Designation, Tampa, FL (Coldwell Banker) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:33:06 -0600

We are trying to get the word out about a VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE. We urge you to turn up your nose at breeders and rescue your new best friend! There are lots of animals ALREADY BORN who are literally dying for a new home...with you and your family.

Send me an email at peggyedwards@msn.com with a small picture of your rescued animal and I will post it on my website for the world to admire!

My website is www.PeggyEdwards.com. I am a REALTOR who LOVES ANIMALS! Both of my Beagles were rescued - Baxter from the Humane Society of Pinellas and Cooper from Tampa Bay Beagle Rescue.

There is a rescue organization out there for every type of animal. Please give the rescue organizations a chance and adopt from them. Your new best friend will thank you for years to come!

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR
Coldwell Banker
9530 W. Linebaugh Avenue
Tampa, FL 33626
Cell: (813) 787-2923
Website: www.PeggyEdwards.com

REALTORS Are Not Immune to This Market

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®, Green Designation, Tampa, FL (Coldwell Banker) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 09:59:37 -0600

I've noticed over the past couple of months that lots of REALTORS' homes are being listed on my MLS. Just in the area I watch daily, it seems there are always a couple more homes in the MLS that tell me "Seller is a Licensed Florida REALTOR."

I've also noticed that most of these homes go into the MLS overpriced. Have you seen this in your local market?

Peggy Edwards
COLDWELL BANKER
Tampa, FL
(813) 787-2923

3718 W. Dale Avenue, Tampa, FL 33609

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®, Green Designation, Tampa, FL (Coldwell Banker) — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 13:30:50 -0600

Prime South Tampa Lot - Almost 10,000 Square Feet!!

Location: Grey Gables/Pershing park

Drive slowly down this street and you'll see restored bungalows from the 1940's and gorgeous new two-story homes. This unique property has a 2-bedroom, 1-bath home that was built in 1949 and has never been updated. Plaster walls, wood floors, original kitchen and bath...lots of possibilities! The home is being sold as-is, it just depends on what you're looking for. The property is priced for the land alone. It is a PRIME South Tampa lot that is almost 10,000 square feet! There are lots of mature trees and PLENTY of room for a swimming pool. Or are you looking for a tear-down so you can build your new custom home? You too will want to take a look at this property. It is situated in an old established neighborhood in South Tampa. The schools are great and it is conveniently located to downtown (a 10-minute drive), fabulous shopping, and all area bridges. Come take a look - endless possibilities here!

Information

Contact Information

Peggy Edwards

(813) 787-2923

Pricing

Asking Price: $295,000.00

Flexibility: Negotiable

Property Location

3718 Dale Avenue
Tampa, Florida 33609

Links

Website

Features

Bedrooms: 2

Bathrooms: 1

Year Built: 1949

Subdivision: Grey Gables/Pershing Park

Lot Size: 75' x 131'

Garage Size: 1

School District: Plant HS

Square Footage: 1000

Agent Name: Peggy Edwards

Broker: Coldwell Banker

Attributes

Appliances

Range/Oven

Full Refrigerator

Washer/Dryer

Dishwasher

Interior Amenities

Hardwood Floors

Exterior Amenities

Fenced Yard

Grass Lawn

Tool Shed

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

VFLYER ID: 1072122

Finisterra Condominiums in Shalimar, Florida

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®, Green Designation, Tampa, FL (Coldwell Banker) — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 19:51:05 -0500

Instead of boring the world with a long story (with many bunny trails that meander off from the main subject), I will give you a short version of the travesty of justice going on in Shalimar, Florida.

Finisterra Condominiums were built in the 1970's. The property is prime, I mean really prime, near the Shalimar Yacht Basin. The property has three sides to the water.

In a nutshell, over 140 owners (many retired and on a fixed income) are about to be thrown out of their own condos due to nonpayment of construction liens. Finisterra was hit hard by Hurricane Ivan a couple of years ago. Finisterra's insurance company paid Finisterra for the damages, but the money never reached the contractor. All of the unit owners have been assessed a payment of over $20,000 due by September 4^th, or foreclosure proceedings will begin. I won't go into the details of pending lawsuits and theft and mismanagement of funds but all of these items play into this scenario.

QUESTION: Are any ActiveRainers familiar with what is going on at Finisterra? I am interested in speaking with REALTORS® , inspectors, mortgage experts, and attorneys.

Time is truly of the essence! Feel free to call me at (813) 787-2923 or email me at PeggyEdwards@msn.com. Anything you tell me will remain confidential unless you give me permission otherwise. Thank you!

Congratulations to Mark Blasi!

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®, Green Designation, Tampa, FL (Coldwell Banker) — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 20:13:42 -0500

ActiveRain's own Marc Blasi is one of the real estate "rookies" highlighted in the July 2007 Florida Realtor Magazine. The article, " Smart Starts: Rookie Success Stories", is written by Michele Lerner. Marc has already sold $1.3 million worth of real estate! (That doesn't sound like a rookie to me). He is both a Licensed Florida Mortgage Broker and REALTOR® in Palm Beach, Florida. Congratulations Marc. We're proud of you!

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR
Citrus Park/Westchase, Florida
(813) 787-2923
www.PeggyEdwards.com

"Opening Doors for You in Citrus Park, Westchase, and Surrounding Communities"

Thunderstorm Voo-Doo?

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®, Green Designation, Tampa, FL (Coldwell Banker) — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 19:13:44 -0500

I was awakened this morning about 12:30 a.m. by an enormous flash of lightning that I could see through my closed and sleeping eyelids.

It was incredibly bright!

Beside me, my oldest Beagle, Baxter, was shaking like a leaf and panting horribly. He was not afraid of thunderstorms until Florida was hit by a succession of hurricanes a couple of years ago. Now he shakes, rattles and rolls every time it thunders (which is a LOT during a Florida summer!)

I called my daughter in Pacifica, California because she's worked around animals all her life - plus it was only 9:30 pm in California...

She told me to rub Baxter all over with a dryer sheet. Huh? Did I hear that right?

She repeated her instruction, I said OK, hung up the phone, and dutifully rubbed my shaking, shivering, scared-to-death dog with a dryer sheet. He loved it...

He immediately stopped shaking. He stopped whimpering. He stopped panting and drooling. He went back to sleep!

I know a miracle when I see one!

We slept right through the remainder of the storm.

I checked around on the Internet and the theory is that the static electricity produced by an oncoming thunderstorm makes animals VERY uncomfortable. All I know is...it works! If it's voo-doo...who cares?

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR
Citrus Park & Westchase, Florida
(813) 787-2923
www.PeggyEdwards.com

Blogging for Dummies (A Quick Review)

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®, Green Designation, Tampa, FL (Coldwell Banker) — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 20:01:40 -0500

I learned so much about the blogosphere from reading Blogging for Dummies by Brad Hill. This book stays true to the established form of the extremely popular "dummies" series published by Wiley Publishing Co. It is chock full of helpful information about everything you wanted to know about blogging....but were afraid to ask!

The first few chapters contain basic technical answers about blogging - entries, posts, indexes, archives, etc. After you get through the easy stuff, you progress to well thought out (and sometimes humorous) ideas about blogging options, finding your voice, TrackBacks explanations, and blog promotion, to name but a few of the topics covered.

If you get this far into the book, you'll then be treated to RSS Feeds, good citizenship in the blogosphere, pod casting, photoblogging (this is usually what we see in ActiveRain), audioblogging, and lots more great information.

While reading the Glossary, I found a few terms with which I was unfamiliar and wanted to share them with you.

Blogathy - when you become apathetic about posting in your blog (been there, done that)
Blogorrhea - too much insubstantial blogging (we've all certainly seen this particular disease)
Blogroach - a derogatory term denoting a blog reader who crawls through comment sections leaving unnecessary comments (yup)
Fisk - to viciously deconstruct a blog post written by somebody else (it is a common blogging style but definitely not for me)
Post - this was interesting. When used as a verb, bloggers post entries (your entry is not called a blog, it is called a post); used as a noun, bloggers put their posts in their blogs (get it?)
Vlog - a video blog

This book is a steal at $21.99. You'll keep this one in your professional library and will refer to it often. I guarantee it!

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®
Citrus Park/Westchase, Florida
(813) 787-2923
www.PeggyEdwards.com

"Opening Doors for You in Citrus Park, Westchase, and Surrounding Communities"

My Legacy: With All Its Sham, Drudgery, and Broken Dreams, It is Still a Beautiful World

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®, Green Designation, Tampa, FL (Coldwell Banker) — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 23:59:31 -0500

Merriam Webster defines LEGACY as follows: "anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor." So what intangible things am I going to hand down to my family, colleagues, and friends? What lasting images and thoughts will come to mind when people think of me? How will I be remembered?

With fondness? (Probably)
With love? (Hopefully)
With amusement? (Most definitely!)

I can only state what I HOPE they will remember when they think of me, based upon how I lived my life and how I treated others.

The first is that KINDNESS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. Not fake friendships or lip service, but real honest-to-goodness kindness and caring for other living creatures. Kindness goes a long way with me. So much so that I don't trust people who are not kind to children and animals. Period. Kindness is contagious and I taught my kids, Beki and Ryan, the importance of being kind to themselves and to others early on. A helping hand is never wasted. A pleasant smile, saying "please" and "thank you", sharing your time, a little boost up when needed...you never know what effect your kindness may have on others. I have been the recipient of pure kindness several times in my life...when I needed it the most. (It's amazing how you get what you need in this life...when you need it). Try a little kindness and it will be passed on!

The second is my belief that CONTINUOUS LEARNING IS KEY. And I don't necessarily mean formal education. Try to be the very best at whatever profession you have chosen. I believe that education and learning are the answers to many of society's current maladies. If you're having a specific problem and you seem "stuck" in life, get educated and learn everything there is to know about the issue, THEN make your best decision and move on. Education takes MANY forms and there is a lot of information out there for the asking. READ AND ASK QUESTIONS! CONTINUE TO LEARN no matter what your age! Don't be a victim!

Finally, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OURSELVES. We are responsible for our own actions and decisions. Each life takes its own twists and turns - some bad situations might have come about based on decisions made when we were young. Some might not have been of our own making. But our actions and decisions are our own. In a bad marriage? Take steps to get out of it. Kids out of control? Try tough love. Having trouble making ends meet? Get a second job. Hurt someone's feelings? Apologize. You alone are responsible for yourself. Taking responsibility shows that you respect yourself. How you solve life's problems tells a lot about you as a human being. And if you do it right, you'll be a great example and inspiration for your children.

We only have this one existence (that we know of). IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: But if we do happen to come back around again, I would like to make a special request that I come back as one of my pets. Sleep until noon, lounge by the pool, eat whenever I want, and be loved unconditionally no matter how chubby I get. Not a bad gig!

Life can be an up and down journey, but it's important to remember to make the most of it, appreciate it, be thankful for it and love it. How? By being true to ourselves and doing the right thing. Always.

P.S. Desiderata is my very favorite poem and encompasses my life philosophy completely. I want the tenets of Desiderata to be my legacy to my family and friends. Feel free to PASS IT ON! After researching, I believe this poem has been forfeited into the public domain.

Max Ehrmann's Desiderata
1927

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®
Citrus Park and Westchase, Florida
(813) 787-2923
www.PeggyEdwards.com

"Opening Doors for You in Citrus Park, Westchase, and Surrounding Communities"

Do You Love a Great Steak? Check Out Longhorn Steakhouse in Citrus Park!

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®, Green Designation, Tampa, FL (Coldwell Banker) — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 18:44:06 -0500

They're ALWAYS glad to see you at the Longhorn Steakhouse. This western-style steakhouse is directly across the street from the Westfield Citrus Park Town Center. We recently celebrated my husband Barry's 52^nd birthday here and we had a blast! Barry believes that Longhorn has the best steaks in town and always wants to dine here for special occasions.

The walls are COVERED with western paraphernalia but be warned....a vegetarian member of your party may be a little "put off" by the dead creatures mounted on the walls...but, hey, it's a western steakhouse!

Longhorn offers a full bar and tempting appetizers such as Firecracker Chicken Wraps, Wild West Shrimp (yummy!) and Longhorn Shrimp and Lobster Dip (you can make a meal out of any of these appetizers).

Our steaks were cooked to perfection, our server (Joel) was attentive and fun. The bread was fresh-baked from the oven, and the beer was ice cold! Joel also made sure that Barry ended his meal with an ice cream sundae and a (hopefully embarrassing - that was my intent anyway) rousing Happy Birthday tune performed Longhorn style. Yee-haw!

Address: 8212 Citrus Park Drive, Tampa, FL 33625

Phone: (813) 926-7803

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®
Citrus Park/Westchase, Florida
(813) 787-2923
www.PeggyEdwards.com

"Opening Doors for You in Citrus Park, Westchase, and Surrounding Communities"

Life's Little Pleasures

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®, Green Designation, Tampa, FL (Coldwell Banker) — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 10:24:40 -0500

I'll admit it from the get-go....I am a glass "full" kind of person. Sure I have my share of heartache and sadness, but I am always hopeful of better things just around the corner.

I am spending time today catching up on my paperwork (never ending!) and opened a drawer and found... an unopened bag of dark chocolate M & M's. They were a nice surprise!

Then I remembered yesterday evening as I was sitting on the patio and the sky was all pink and yellow - almost sepia toned (probably pollution but who cares?). My Mom used to call that "the gloaming", and it was a beautiful sight!

Earlier this morning, I found both of my Beagles AND the cat lying at the food of my bed sound asleep, all lined up like sausages with their sides touching. My kitty was in the middle and it brought a smile to my face.

I had to make a quick trip to my office this morning and when I started up the car I noticed that someone (my husband) had filled up my gas tank. It was almost empty yesterday and I did not ask him to do that. What a great way to start the day!

I've learned through the years that if I just stay mindful and "in the moment", life provides lots of small pleasures each day that serve to fill that glass to the rim.

Look around you and pay attention. What are some of your small but important daily pleasures?

Peggy Edwards
Citrus Park and Westchase REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker
Tampa, Florida
(813) 787-2923
www.PeggyEdwards.com

"Opening Doors For You In Citrus Park, Westchase, and Surrounding Communities"

Handy Hillsborough County Phone Numbers and Website Addresses

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®, Green Designation, Tampa, FL (Coldwell Banker) — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 22:07:09 -0500

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA
HELPFUL PHONE NUMBERS/WEBSITE ADDRESSES

Are you making a move to Hillsborough County in Tampa, Florida? Here is a quick list of important phone numbers to make life a little easier for you. Keep this list handy!

Hillsborough County
(813) 272-5900
www.hillsboroughcounty.org
Driver's License/Car Registration
(813) 635-5200
www.hillstax.org
Pet Licenses
(813) 744-5660
www.hillsboroughcounty.org

Voter Registration
(813) 272-5850
www.votehillsborough.org

Public Schools
(813) 272-4000
www.sdhc.k12.fl.us
UTILITIES:
Bright House Networks, Cable TV
(813) 684-6400
www.tampabay.mybrighthouse.com
GAS & ELECTRICITY:
Florida Power
(800) 700-8744
www.progress-energy.com
Peace River Electric Cooperative (PRECO)
(800) 282-3824
www.preco.org
Tampa Electric (TECO)
(888) 223-0800
www.tampaelectric.com

TECO Peoples Gas
(813) 275-3700
www.peoplesgas.com

Verizon (Telephone)
(800) 483-4000
www.verizon.com
Waste Removal/Recycling
(813) 272-5680
www.hillsboroughcounty.org

Please contact me if I can assist you with your move to beautiful Tampa Bay. I focus on the areas in Citrus Park, Westchase, and the surrounding communities.

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker
(813) 787-2923
Website: www.PeggyEdwards.com
Email: PeggyEdwards@msn.com

9628 Charlesberg Drive, Tampa, FL 33635

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®, Green Designation, Tampa, FL (Coldwell Banker) — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 12:27:37 -0500

Charleston Place Townhomes is a 2 year old Lennar-built community snuggled right up to Westchase. The good news is you can live near and take advantage of all the Westchase amenities but you don’t have the added hassle of community development fees…how great is that? Charleston Place Townhomes is a small community that is big on VALUE! There are lush conservation areas surrounding the property so the feeling is one of security and seclusion. Your own private oasis amid all of the hustle and bustle of northwest Hillsborough County.

This town home boasts 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms on the second floor and there is a bonus room that can be used as a den, library, third bedroom, or it would make a perfect spot for your home office. The first floor has a half bath for the convenience of your visitors.

The modern kitchen has beautiful dark granite countertops, real wood cabinets, all black appliances, and upgraded tile flooring. There is also a nice sized separate dining room with a convenient pass-through to the kitchen. Amenities for this community include a clubhouse, lighted tennis courts, playground with picnic tables and a sparkling blue community pool. This is a deed-restricted area so the lawns and landscaping are always in perfect condition.

Being next to Westchase, fine dining, grocery shopping, the public library, bars, and quaint shops are just seconds away. And this area has excellent public schools! This gorgeous town home at 9628 Charlesberg Drive is being offered at $215,000. Please give me a call if you would like a private tour. I look forward to meeting you!

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®
Citrus Park/Westchase, Florida
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate
www.PeggyEdwards.com
(813) 787-2923

Afraid to Dive Into The Real Estate Pool?

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®, Green Designation, Tampa, FL (Coldwell Banker) — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 22:11:00 -0500

Don't Be!

It would be unwise to take too much to heart the many naysayers' laments that real estate has tanked in Hillsborough County, Florida. Sure, it's a Buyers' Market, and, yes, it will take 1-1/2 years to sell off all of the existing inventory. But the good news is we have strong job growth in our area, mortgage rates are low, and the investors are all but gone.

Are you a seller wondering if now is the right time to place your home on the market?
Are you ready to move up....or downsize?
Are you living in a cramped apartment and want to experience the pride of owning your very own home?

I believe that it is nearly impossible to "time the market." And I'm here to advise you that a FLAT or SLOW market does not matter (very much) and should not be causing you to lose sleep at night wondering when to dive into the real estate pool.

Here's why...

It was reported in the GTAR News, July 2007, (article by Bill Hunt), that Dr. Lawrence Yun, Managing Director and Senior Economist for the National Association of Realtors recently stated in a local presentation that "the strong job growth in the local market, stable mortgage rates, and the departure of investors and speculators from the market as strong factors that will continue to fuel local real estate." Dr. Yun is certainly correct about job growth, mortgage rates, and the demise of investors/speculators in the Tampa Bay market.

If you are a first time homebuyer, you will be able to obtain more house than you thought you could afford at a reasonable price. Remember that interest rates are still at historic lows!

If you have found your dream home but need to sell your present property, any amount you may "lose" on the sale of your home will be recouped by the amount of money you "save" on your new purchase.The same idea follows for those empty nesters who want to sell the "big house" and move to a condominium or smaller home.

In my opinion, the only "swimmers" who should not dip their toes in the water just yet are sellers who are moving into rentals - and really, how many of you are there? I would advise you to wait until 2008 to list your home. Any loss you might take on your sale at the present time cannot be recouped.

Westchase is located approximately 12 miles northwest of Tampa. It is divided into separate and distinct neighborhoods - all price ranges are represented and each neighborhood is simply lovely:

Abbotsford
Arlington Park
Bennington
Berkeley Square
Brentford
Bridges
Castleford
Chelmsford
Classic Townhomes of West Park Village
Enclave
Glencliff
Glenfield
Greens
Harbor Links/Estates
Keswick Forest
Kingsford
Radcliffe
Saville Rowe
Shires
West Park Village- Single Family
Stamford
Townhomes of West Park Village
Traditional Townhomes of West Park Village
Tree Tops
Village Green
Villas of West Park Village
Vineyards
Woodbay
Worthington
Wycliff

The Westchase area of Hillsborough County, Florida offers many beautiful homes and communities from which to choose. As a buyer, the possibilities are almost endless. You owe it to yourself to see what properties are available right now. Westchase offers tons of amenities and its location in northwest Hillsborough County is ideally situated. Westchase gives you easy access to the white sandy beaches of Pinellas County, downtown Tampa (via the Veterans Expressway), Tampa International Airport, Westfield Citrus Park Mall, International Plaza, and all area bridges.

Westchase offers:

Golfcourse

Swim Club

Shopping

Dining

Playgrounds

Community Pools

Many gated communities

Parks, lakes, and gorgeous conservation areas

Public schools located within the Westchase community

Hillsborough County Public Library

Westchase has it all!

So what are you waiting for? Dive in......the water's fine!

Please contact me if you are interested in the Westchase/Citrus Park area of Hillsborough County. It would be my pleasure to assist you and your family!

Peggy Edwards
Coldwell Banker Residential Services
Citrus Park/Westchase, Florida
"Opening Doors For You in Citrus Park, Westchase, and Surrounding Communities"
www.PeggyEdwards.com
(813) 787-2923

If You're Over 50....Read This.....AND ROCK ON!!!!!!!!!!!

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®, Green Designation, Tampa, FL (Coldwell Banker) — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 05:48:33 -0500

We're Having a Heatwave!!!!!!

The Weather Channel reported that July 6, 2007, was a day for breaking records:

Missoula, Montana recorded a new all-time record high of 107
Death Valley, California reached a new daily record high of 129
Salt Lake City, Utah recorded a new high of 103
Las Vegas, Nevada also recorded a new daily record high of 115

And I thought Florida was hot in the mere 90 degrees range!

I was born and raised in Washington, D.C. and have always been partial to Motown music (can you say DC Stomp?) Check out this video from Martha and the Vandellas from 1965! Turn up your speakers and STAY COOL!

Peggy Edwards, Realtor
Citrus Park/Westchase, Florida
www.PeggyEdwards.com
(813) 787-2923