Daytona Beach Real Estate & Community Events Blog. By Lisa C. Hill, "THE SMART CHOICE!" Daytona Beach residents and visitors will all enjoy this event. If you're a Daytona Beach resident, you're familiar with the Peabody Auditorium. If you're a visitor, you may be looking for something unique for your family to do, aside from the Beach, the Boardwalk, and the Daytona Beach Ocean Walk. On July 17 at the Peabody Auditorium, The Backyardigans will be performing Live! And you can win FREE tickets to the performance! Follow this link here: Peabody "Backyardigans Live!" Coloring Contest. The link name probably tells you what you need to know =) Practice your coloring skills on the Backyardigans pictures. Pick your favorite picture and start coloring. The Peabody Auditorium is conveniently lo... 07/12/2008

SEA DIP 1233 Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach. Built in 1972. Located just over half a mile south of International Speedway Blvd on Atlantic Ave. 134 units with city and ocean views. Choose from Oceanfront or Ocean View rooms which overlook the Atlantic. Amenities include two pools - outdoor and indoor pool. Other resort amenities include laundry,  kitchenettes available in most rooms, shuffleboard, and a variety of enjoyable beach activities. Sea Dip was the first condo-hotel, that had to go through a very serious concrete work on all balconies and walkways. That took over 2 years in my estimation, but still cost under $10K in Special assessment per unit, which though a big amount, it is only about 1/3 that it cost to owners of Pirates Cove just a few years later. Even with the all new con... 07/12/2008

Daytona Beach Real Estate & Community Events Blog. By Lisa C. Hill, "THE SMART CHOICE!" If you're a resident or visitor of the Daytona Beach area, and most especially those of our surfer crowd, here's an exciting event for you! Yesterday, I posted a blog about the Surf Exhibit at the Ormond Beach Memorial Art Museum. But here's something a little more upbeat. On July 12 and 13, 2008, come enjoy the first ever Boards and Waves Expo at the newly remodeled Daytona Beach Resort & Conference Center. This 2 day event will consist of more than 60 exhibits including surfboard-shaping demos, surfboard painting, a vintage surfboard collection, and information on the new styles, shapes, fins and functions of the next generation of surfboards. This venture is sponsored by Global Wave Ventures whos... 07/08/2008

I'm quite the social butterfly..I don't mean I am out partying til the wee hours of the night or I attend every Chamber Event but what I will tell you where ever I go there always seems to be real estate conversation involved. It seems lately when I talk real estate... consumer's get an interesting look on their face.  Then I hear, "How many jobs do you work right now?  Or I hoped you saved while the market was hot!  But my favorite is I used to be in the business, boy I feel sorry for you!"  That's when I jump in and tell them..the good... the bad..the ugly! Consumer's need to know..the whole truth!  Not the media's perception..not what is reported in the papers..and not half the stuff they read online. It's not the best time to sell!  Face it you are competing with more homes than eve... 07/07/2008

The big race, Pepsi 400 is over, crazy traffic disappeared, hotels' employees are swamped with cleaning all those vacated units, stores are counting change... Daytona is returning to normal summer vacation activities. The event was badly needed, it helped local businesses, local vendors. For a monent we thought people will not come because of the gas prices, but hotels were all booked and some overbooked. People called to make last minute reservations and there were no rooms available. This is very good news. The next big event is Biketoberfest coming in October, a 4 day event. The real estate market in Daytona Beach area is terrific for buyers and a disaster for sellers. We are seeing the prices for condos in Oceanfront buildings getting very close to a $200K mark for a 2 bdr/2 bath un... 07/06/2008

  Effective July 1st, 2008 a real estate licensee who wants to act as a transaction broker isn't required to provide a transaction broker notice to a customer before or at the time of entering into a listing agreement for representation or before showing property.  Florida Statute Section 475.278 (2)(b) was amended in 2003 to provide that this transaction broker disclosure requirements would expire July 1, 2008.  Expired..interesting words describing the law! The presumption of transaction brokerage itself is not changing.    The obligation to provide a transaction broker notice to a customer involved in a residential sale is no longer a requirement.  For CENTURY 21 Sundance Realty we will continue using until the information is made readily available to the consumer.  There has not be... 07/03/2008

Races in Daytona over 4th of July Weekend Here they come, the boys of NASCAR are in town for the 4th of July race. 400 Miles of super speedway racing on Saturday night, followed by a sensational firewords display. The races can be exciting for fans, but a pain in the neck for others. If you don't need to be in Daytona Beach, especially around International Blvd., stay away. There are races on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. The races start around 8:00 pm, but traffic builds up hours earlier and after the race is a mess. Gates open at 9:00 am on Thursday, noon on Friday, and 2:00 pm on Saturday. There's qualifying or practice everyday, but the worst traffic will be four hours or so before the races on Friday and Saturday night. Don't get stuck with the track between you and your des... 07/01/2008

Plaza Resort & Spa in Daytona Beach. Condo-Hotel Market Snapshot 600 North Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach, FL 32118 One of the best condo-hotel Resorts in Daytona Beach. Recent conversion, started with very brisk sales, but the market died leaving the developer with about 100 unsold units, however, the developer is the hotel operator, and they run one of the best occupancies if not the best in the area. Prior to conversion, Plaza Resort underwent a multi million dollar renovations and is a real Daytona oceanfront gem. All 322 oversized guest rooms have been upgraded to include specially designed pillow top bedding for a most comfortable nights sleep. Each room offers a refrigerator/microwave/coffee maker with coffee/in-room safe/ironing board with iron/blow dryer/cable television with HBO... 06/28/2008

Oceans Jewels Club 935 South Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach, FL 32118 150-room oceanfront condo-hotel was built in the 70s. Operates under Travelodge flag. Three years ago the management company was sold. New management company is not enjoying high occupancy, and in a dwindling Daytona economy is affecting the performance of the resort. Recently one of the buildings underwent the upgrading. There are 2 Pools(1 heated) plus a Kiddie Pool. Fitness Center, Oceanfront BBQ Grill and Picnic Tables. Complimentary wireless access is available in the lobby. This hotel does not rent to area locals. No pets policy. No RV/Trailer/Semi parking available. Presently 39 units for sale from $49,900 for a studio with no vew to $179,500 for a one-bdr unit. The mere number of units for sale is indicative of ... 06/28/2008

Summer's here, and as every year, many people consider this the best time to buy real estate in Daytona Beach. The reason? To get the kids settled into their new schools in time for the next school year. But before I continue with the rest of this post, if you want to buy real estate in Daytona Beach, first of all check out my real estate MLS listings here. At this time, I have listings of houses, condos and townhouses, in Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, Holly Hill, Port Orange and Edgewater. You can then check the Volusia County School Zoning and Demographics for a particular house, condo, townhouse or apartment. Just type in the address of a particular piece of real estate, or general location, and the Volusia County School Board will provide you with all the information you need, and th... 06/21/2008

Harbour Beach Resort, 701 South Atlantic Ave, Daytona Beach, FL 32118 Built in 1975, the Resort had seen better days. Until 5 years ago we considered it a nicer property and liked to bring our customers there. Then the property started slowly deteriorating, management and maintenance going down the hill. They did not have luck with the management company, three companies within the last 4 years made a big dent in trust between the onwers and the management. The Board failed to set the goals to preserve the and increase the rentals. It is just mind boggling what can people do to diminish the value of the property for the owners. No decent rentals, the whole front desk is missing... Last year the resort started serious work on replacing concrete balconies. They also are replacing the wind... 06/09/2008

Daytona Inn 219 South Atlantic Ave, Daytona Beach, FL 32118 157-unit older condo-hotel right in the heart of Daytona Beachside on the corner of International Speedway Blvd and Atlantic Ave. Built in 1962, this 4 story condo-hotel has 157 rooms, half of them studios, and the other half are suites. 22 units on resale as of June 7, 2008. Prices range from $68,900 for a courtyard view studio and to 700 sf one-bedroom unit for $170,000. Since January 2008 2 studios sold. One for $87,000, the other one for $105,000. Looking for inexpensive alternative to vacation home or condo? Talk to condo-hotel gurus. 386-255-5355 Jon Zolsky, your Daytona Beach Connection www.DaytonaCondoHotel.com 06/08/2008

Midori Miller CENTURY 21 Sundance Realty Mobile: 386-453-3236 midorimiller@yahoo.com http://www.DaytonaRealEstateTrainer.com transforming lives one person at a time! Visit MyBlogLog and get a signature like this! Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by The Activerain Network and it's members and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of Midori Miller AKA Daytona Real Estate Trainer and CENTURY 21 Sundance Realty. Midori Miller and CENTURY 21 Sundance Realty are not responsible for the accuracy or content provided by The Community. 06/08/2008

Daytona Beach Resort 2700 N Atlantic Ave, Daytona Beach, FL 32118. Daytona Beach Resort is one of the largest condo-hotels in the area, if not the largest with its 322 studios and one-bedroom units. Property that took the longest to convert. If I remember correctly, they started converting in 1999, and they still have a few dozen units unsold. This is one of the nicest condo-hotels in appearance. Very nice and presentable. 35 units for sale on MLS as of June 8, 2008. Prices start from $65K for a city view studio, $89,500 for a nice ocean view studio, and all the way up to $279,000 for a 640 sf direct oceanfront true one bedroom. Since January 1 6 units were sold. This is the biggest number of sold units in the area, actually 33% of all condo-hotel units. 4 studios sold from $70K to $98K... 06/08/2008

On Thursday, I ran out of the office at 4:15 pm to attend a Broker's Open/Open House/Art Show in one of Joy Mitchell's luxury home listings located in Halifax Plantation listed below $460,000.     For further details of this home or any others, please contact Joy Mitchell, your luxury home specialist! Visit ThisIsDaytonaBeach.com to view the virtual tour! Art LaMay presented his artwork.  Just beautiful and top quality. Joy offered some delicious eats and the best cheesecake squares and pink champagne.  Joy had a great turnout and I among other's had a wonderful time. Mr. Lamay sold a few paintings! There were REALTORS, buyers and neighbors all together! Thanks Joy it was quite luxurious, perfect for this Ormond Beach Home!   Meet some of the Ladies of CENTURY 21. Joy Mitchell, Ormond B... 06/07/2008

Sales of Daytona Beach Condos Fall in May We just completed our Daytona Beach Real Estate Sales Report for May 2008. We see that sales have improved over the last two months. April sales were up 27% over March, and May sales came in at 2.9% of April. However, we did see one alarming thing in the data for May - condos sales dropped from 58 in April to 37 in May. Now this is a one month drop and doesn't indicate a trend, but it is against the recent historical trends. Daytona Beach condo sales have been averaging 19-20% of sales. Basically one condo sells for every four homes. It's been that way for over a year (19.2%). For this year condos sales are right at 20%. However, in May, under 13% of the total homes sold were condos. Like I said, I don't that this is a trend, but, I believe we s... 06/05/2008

People moving to Florida often complain that the taxes are high. At least the majority of them. Then there are always people who say it is low compared to their place, so we are not the cheapest, but not the most expensive. However, we need to keep in mind that the State needs money and they get it one way or another. So, if something is much cheaper in other places, the State has the way to get that money imposing some other fees or taxes. People, who come from the Carolinas brag about their very low property tax, but do they really pay less than in Florida? In both South and North Carolina if you make between $50,000 a year, your tax rate on every dollar on income earned is 7% and you will pay to the State $3,500. Add it to the low property tax, and you may notice that you can afford ... 05/30/2008

Each morning I have a routine..I turn the computer on, feed the cats and turn on the coffee maker.  Once the coffee is brewed..I get online and get into my brower.  I end up at all of my favorite places one of them being twitter!  Last month Sarah Cooper and I were reminiscing of how we all went pink last year..and how we needed to do it again. We talked about it..and tried to set a date.  Too many things happening..and we didn't have the time. A few days ago, Rose Roberts called our office.  I don't know Rose Roberts personally but many do.  Rose Roberts is a Real Estate Professional in Daytona Beach, unisured, unable to work not because she doesn't want to it's because she has breast cancer and she is recovering from surgery. She called Lysa to personally thank her for all that she di... 05/29/2008

05/26/2008

In Daytona Beach FL and the surrounding cities of east Volusia county, we have a wonderful charity that helps feed those who can't feed themselves. As a REALTOR®, I'm used to working with people who are interested in buying real estate, and have not only managed to feed themselves and their families, but have mangaged to save enough extra money for a down payment for the mortgage on a new home, or have built up enough equity in their current home, to use as a down payment on their next one. But according to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, and the Volusia Branch's Community Development Manager, 84% of the food they distribute does not go to the homeless! It actually goes to working families who just can't stretch their paychecks far enough. The worst part about this stor... 05/24/2008