Christine's Blog

5023 Jenny Ln, Pensacola, Fl. 32526

2008-02-13T17:39:09Z

You'll Know you are home the minute you step into the tiled foyer of this sparkling customized home located in West Pensacola's most desired area. Minutes to National Seashore, Perdido Key beaches, boating, fishing, swimming & Blue Angel gate to Naval Air Station, Air Museum, and Fort Barrancas . Sky lights in kitchen/breakfast nook, great room and master bathroom bring natural light into this beauty. Set out your buffet on 7' bar separating kitchen from breakfast nook. Cooks will love gas stove+electric wall oven and built in microwave, pantry, tons of cabinets, custom tile back-splash for stove, french cleaning sink, tile floors & indirect lighting. Walk quietly on dining room wood veneer flooring, love double crown molding. Enjoy long, lazy days in 16x16 florida room repleat with solar screening to keep cool(seller had a grand piano and a stand alone piano in this room;1/2 bath here also), door to screened porch and half bath, built in computer/desk space&bookcases. 4th bedroom has been used as an office and has full wall of bookcase and cable outlet. Great room fireplace, raised hearth, mantle, gas or wood burning, glass doors. Master bedroom is large enough to accommodate a sitting area, ceiling fan tucked into trey ceiling, door to screened porch. Whirlpool tub, double lavatories, cultured marble vanities and split from secondary bedrooms, this 19x14 bedroom is difficult to find these days. You will love all the indirect lighting. Relax on large screened porch overlooking brick inlaid patio, cement sidewal meanders around both sides of house, storage room on North side, outside shower on South side. Mature plantings compliment this all brick sided home, gutters (screening), security system, sprinklers/well, oversized side entry two garage with electric opener. Owner says roof, garage door, opener unit, water heater, dishwasher, carpet in grea room, office/den master bedroom new in 2005. Termite bond in place for your peace of mind.

See entire mls information and pictures at www.pensacola5023jennyln.com

Offered at a bargain price of $249,900 by Christine Frazier, Broker Associate, ERA Old South Prop Inc. Pensacola, Fl. 32504 850-304-7773

We Have a New CRS Chapter in North Florida

2008-02-07T23:10:46Z

We are really excited in North Florida about the formation of a new Chapter of the Council of Residential Specialists. As most of you know, the Certified Residential Specialist is a professional designation nationally recognized as being awarded in recognition of residential sales excellence.

North Florida CRS Chapter is the name of this newly formed group which will work toward helping develop professionalism in the real estate field through education, networking, and referral opportunities. Your Pensacola Girl is working on the membership committee and will be glad to forward application forms for anyone interested in joining the new chapter. Membership in the national Council is a prerequisite for being a member of a local Chapter; the dues are usually $120/year but recently offered a discount for new members at the startlingly low price of $60/year. Any Realtor in good standing with NAR can apply to be a general member of the Council while working toward achieving the status of Designee in the Council with full rights of membership. As a general member the networking is there, the tools are there, and the education is there. What a terrific opportunity.

My experience has been that the classes offered through the CRS group are the best I have ever attended. The class schedule is offered on the national Council website at www.crs.com. Do yourself a favor and go there, look it over and then email me at cfraz13685@aol.com for membership forms for the new North Florida Chapter; the dues are $50/year. Need more information, email or call me at 850-304-7773.

By the way, a Realtor can join any Chapter anywhere in the United States and is not limited to his particular area of residency. The North Florida Chapter invites all Realtors to join us, with a special invitation to those in the area from Pensacola across the Panhandle to Jacksonville, down to Orlando and back again. See you there!

Your Pensacola Girl, Christine

War of the Worlds

2008-02-07T22:37:03Z

When I was a youngster, I was frightened by the idea of aliens, monsters, werewolfs, vampires and such. As a mature adult (some might question that) it seems to me that I have met most of the various types of personalities mentioned above at one time or another during my terrifically rewarding career as a REALTOR. Stop and think about it, I bet most of you have as well. I suppose our job is to keep all the various types on the straight and narrow and boy What A Ride!

Our Legislature continues to pass legislation, and we continue to paddle through it or maybe that should have been to muddle through it. I am so hoping that we will be able to continue to paddle/muddle through it as we move into the November election for our next President. Our careers are on the line, our lives are on the line, our fame and fortune are on the line as well as those of our children and grandchildren. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what an answer might be to this newest monster we face? I have been trying to remember a time when we had recession and inflation at the same time, it must have been sometime in the 70s. My market area has been hit with the monster mash of outlandish insurance rates and exhorbitant property taxes. But you know what? My clients are seemingly oblivious to this astonishingly complicated mess in which we find ourselves mired up to our monster eyeballs. I think they are beginning to see the big picture though.

We did have a great, beautiful, sunny Florida winter day with temperatures in the high 60s though, and the old saying about when the going gets tough, the tough get going seems to be holding true. That's it for now my good friends and neighbors who are walking in the rain.

Your Pensacola Girl, Christine

Memorial Day and Pensacola Florida

2007-05-26T17:31:06Z

Memorial Day in Pensacola, Fl is bitter sweet as we commenorate our fallen military members on this special day. Veterans Groups will be out in full force with ceremonies, flying flags, reunion parties, and quite a few tears.

Pensacola is the home of naval aviation training; every pilot who has ever flown for the United States Navy or Marine Corp has fought their first battle in our town as they go through Aviation Officer Candidate School. Most aviators and their families hold sweet memories of Pensacola and thousands make a special effort to come back for reunions and special events.

Backed by private donations, as well as public support, Naval Air Station is home to one of the finest aviation museums in the world, I believe second only to the Smithsonian's air museum in Washington, D.C. My husband and I took house guests one day and before we knew it, we had spent six hours in the museum and did not realize it. Believe me, when I spend six hours somewhere, I usually know it very well. There are so many interesting displays, one gets lost in time. George W. Bush, Sr.s plane from his glory days is there as well as a mockup of the hootch where Senator John McCain spent his Viet Nam prisoner of war days; his clothes are there -- this part does not take long to see. Walk on replica of air craft carrier deck, test your flying skills in simulator (same machine training pilots use), enjoy IMAX movie, or belly up to the original bar from Phillipines' Cubie Point Officers Club where light lunches and drinks are served for lunch. Best chili in Pensacola area in my opinion.

On this Memorial Day weekend Pensacola will usher hundreds of visitors through the museum which has no admission fee.

I hope each and every active rain member will fly their flags with pride this weekend and every day.

Later,

Your Pensacola Girl

Taxes and Tribulations

2007-04-18T11:16:06Z

I hear it everyday, "boy your taxes in Florida are really high" compared to those in Mississippi or Alabama or whatever state comes to mind. I find in the deep recesses of my thinking that I have to agree that Florida's real property taxes are expensive. The tax rates here fluctuate a small amount each year ,as the tax assessor does his job,based on needs of the School Board, etc, for us hard working citizens of Escambia County. Our rate in the county most often runs between 17 and 18 mills and is based on point of sale pricing-if one lives inside Pensacola city limits, the millage will be closer to 23. We do have a "save our homes" cap for those who are fortunate to own homesteaded property in the state.

Insurance is another story which we can discuss at a later date. For today, I will cry into my checkbook after having just paid balance of 2006 taxes as well as first quarter for 2007.

Want to talk about these issues, call me at 850-304-7773. (Not after 8:30 PM please)

Your sunshine girl, Christine

Our azaleas are blooming, are yours?

2007-03-11T16:58:13Z

This is the kind of day when a person living on the Gulf Coast of Florida just has to jump for joy. The air is clear, the sun is dancing its way across our azure colored sky, the river oaks are pushing new leaves onto their barren limbs, and our azaleas are blooming.

The front sidewalk to my personal residence is lined with dwarf pink azaleas which bloom late February to early March every year. When those little pink buds start to come out, I know Spring will be sprung very shortly. Of course, a huge indicator of Spring is our time change which went into effect this morning. The cardinals and wrens are flocking to our birdfeeder (my husband refills the thing every other day), then they come dance around my little water fountain which sits just outside the breakfast room window.

This morning we took our fish/ski boat and dipped its toes into Bayou Texas, a tremendous little bubble of water which is fed by Escambia Bay. The water was flat, and diamonds sparkled and flowed as the captains lovingly put their toys into the water. I'm telling you, the boats were lined up around the parking lot waiting their turn at the ramp.

Yep, you just can't stand it, you've got to get outside! Love it! Come visit and see for yourself! Christine

Pensacola's New Escambia Bay Bridge on I-10.

2007-02-10T15:44:01Z

When Hurricane Ivan blew through Pensacola in September 2004, it took huge bites out of the middle sections of Interstate 10 Escambia Bay bridge on both the East and West corridors. Engineers quickly moved the remaining sections which were good to the West bound lanes, placing steel road sections on the East bound lane. Yes, I said lane, one lane for what seemd like millions of cars a day lined up to merge into one lane.

Finally, after two years and 3 months, in December 2006 the new bridge spanning the entire Bay was opened. Eventually, the old bridges running both directions will be demolished leaving three lanes each going East and West. The truckers of the world, along with the Realtors of the area, rejoiced at this huge event. What a Christmas present!

I hope you enjoy seeing our progress along with a shot of the beautiful Escambia Bay. Christine

How are we going to sell this thing?

2007-02-07T20:19:31Z

Every day i hear, how are we going to sell this thing? How is the market anyway? Do you think the market will improve soon? Wow, how many times do we need to say this?

Price it right and it will sell. Of course, the seller can do some things to help this process along such as ........

Clean the house and get rid of the pets. I know, I know you can clean the house, but you cannot get rid of the pets. I tell you, people do not live in a house the same as when they are trying to sell one.

You sellers need to start at the curb, mow the grass, edge the curb, rake the leaves, clean winter plant materials, trim the shrubs, and discard all the above on a regular basis during the listing period. This lawn needs to be immaculate during the showing time and maintained through the escrow.

Take a good look at the house itself as to paint condition, dirt on windows, leaves/pine straw in the gutters, paying particular attention to the front door. Clean the door at the very least, most need a fresh coat of paint, check the condition of the entry door knobs and replace if they look shop worn. Remove the screens so that the windows sparkle (do not discard them though, store in attic or storage garage, preferably off premises). House washing services abound who will clean mildew and dirt from cement for a very reasonable price, a cost that you will recover because the home will sell faster for a better price. Remember to clean the garage floor while you are thinking about it.

Once inside, look around with fresh eyes toward removing clutter and opening spaces in mind. Pack family pictures and small groupings, replacing with one large stunning piece--a large mirror works well also. A $50 investment will open that space. Keep table decorations out of the space, keep low, low in mind. Pack magazines and books (you must pack them to move anyway, you might see you want to discard some), neat and straight is the word of the day.

Particularly pay attention to the kitchen, it needs to sparkle and smell good. Pack superfluous items from the countertops that you do not use reguarly such as Aunt Tillie's waffle maker. Here less is more. Polish the wood and all the silver so that it gleams, love those "magic erasers" for white work. Remember the ceiling fans, lights, tile grout and windows which includes cleaning the window tracks and hosing the screens.

Ditto for the bathrooms. Hang fluffy new towels, if possible, that match the decor. You can use the old ones and hide them in the hamper :}} Make the floors shine.

Once these areas are ready, be sure and turn on all those lights when the buyer finally makes the appointment to see your treasure. ALL the lights: overhead, lamps, over the stove, fan lights, bathroom, etc. You know best where all the switches are and having the lights on makes the home seem so inviting when the door opens. I actually go so far as to turn the lights beside the front door on as well. I have had buyers come into open houses because they liked the front lamps! Soft music is very appealing also (no, not rock or hip hop).

Be sure all valuables such as jewelry, gold, etc are out of sight. Small children might be tempted by the sparkles. Some big ones might be tempted too.

So, now we are ready to show, let's go get that buyer. Have fun. Christine

Home early today in Pensacola!

2007-02-05T16:23:06Z

Yep, I'm home early today, still cold out there, but I bet it would not seem so cold to those Chicago Bears after being in Miami's mess.

Aren't fax machines and emails GREAT? Today I have been able to get all my work done using both along, of course, with my cell phone which I could not, not, not live without! Seems our market might be waking up just a tad as buyers struggle out of the woodwork to see property. My great waterfront listing, 85' of gorgeous sparkling diamonds dancing under a blue sky was shown two times on Saturday. Whoopee, bet it is sold soon. Listed at only $399,900 and almost half an acre of land, it should be sold now, but it seems our buyers are still skittish about the storms here in Florida.

Bought a new laptop yesterday running Vista-took me half the night to get my DSL working on it, but get it on I did! I knew it loaded because the info was showing in the programs installed section. The silling thing kept asking for the security code, and when I put in what I thought was the security code, it still would not work. The problem, as it turns out, was that the correct service provider was not listed in the internet options area. Once I got that straight, the cruizin' began. Not sure I am going to like this Vista though, looks like a ton of things are "hidden" and being no technofile, I need things to SHOW.

More later. Christine