tallahassee real estate: Tallahassee, FL - Market Report for Largest Selling Subdivision - 09/30/11 03:12 PM
Southwood, a planned community in Southeast (SE) Tallahassee, FL, had 115 sales in the last 12 months - the largest number of sales in any Tallahassee subdivision. This is a very well planned community that has something for everyone.  
In addition to many types of housing options (large estate homes, mid-size homes, townhomes), Southwood has many recreational opportunities, parks, state offices, schools, and shopping. 
Of the 115 sales, 24 were townhomes with an average sale price of $147,448; 91 were detached homes with an average sale price of 289,164.
  

Large estate homes in Southwood
 
Townhomes in Southwood
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tallahassee real estate: Tallahassee, FL Market Report by Quadrants Sep 2011 - 09/30/11 10:48 AM
For real estate purposes, Tallahassee is divided into geographical quadrants, (Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest) each with its own characteristics and market conditions.  The North-South dividing line is Meridian Rd that runs south into Monroe St; the east-west dividing line is Apalachee Pkwy which runs west into Pensacola St. 
Here is a breakdown of sales from Jan-Aug 2011:

The chart above shows that for 2011 YTD, the Northeast (NE) has almost half of all sales in Tallahassee.  
Northeast (NE) Tallahassee is in great demand by families since it has the most A-rated K-12 schools.  Homes are generally more expensive with … (0 comments)

tallahassee real estate: Make a Mat for the Homeless - 09/15/11 07:00 AM
A worthwhile project seems to be sweeping the nation - making mats out of recycled plastic grocery bags to give to homeless people and shelters who serve them. 
The mats are thick and soft and provide protection from the ground. If they get wet, they dry quickly and they provide a measure of warmth if they are wrapped around the shoulders. 
Some of them have a pocket that can hold toothpaste and other small toilet articles.
They are easy to make and the materials are free. There are several videos on Youtube that show how to make them. Here is … (9 comments)

tallahassee real estate: Tallahassee, FL Market report Sep 7, 2011 - 09/07/11 09:34 AM
Tallahassee, like most of FL, has been impacted by the poor US economy, but not hurt as much as south FL.  As the line shows on the chart below, sales have been steadily decreasing since 2005, although the chart also indicates that sales may have started to level off.  
 
The bars in the chart above show the average sale price in Tallahassee since 2003. By the end of last year, values had fallen to 2004 prices, with the average sale price in Tallahassee at $180K.  Prices are still falling and the current average sale price is $170K.  
The … (1 comments)

tallahassee real estate: Are You Thinking of Living in Tallahassee? - 09/01/11 07:47 AM
A conversation with Colleen McConnell, Advanced Realty Group, Tallahassee, Fl
Tallahassee is a multifaceted community rich in history, natural beauty, culture and arts, advanced education, and ongoing scientific pursuits. 
It’s the state capitol & home of the FL legislature, nine universities and colleges, historic landmarks, numerous museums, parks, and natural wonders, yet it maintains a small town atmosphere.
It’s not your typical Florida city – there are few palm trees and the beach is 45 minutes away,  but its rolling hills and live oak trees draped with Spanish moss give it a charm all its own … it’s a great place … (3 comments)

tallahassee real estate: Real Estate Recovery - Choose Tallahassee to Retire - 08/20/11 07:52 AM

A group of local businesses and community leaders have developed an idea to boost Tallahassee’s economy and housing market.  They have formed a Choose Tallahassee Action Committee that will launch a campaign in early 2012 to entice Baby Boomers across America to retire in Tallahassee. 
There are roughly 78 million Baby Boomers in the USA. If the campaign was able to attract as few as 2,000 boomers, it would have a big impact on Tallahassee.
There is much in Tallahassee to attract retirees. The climate is mild, there are many cultural events and activities, people are friendly, and excellent medical … (4 comments)

tallahassee real estate: I Love to Represent Family and Friends - 07/29/11 03:48 AM
A few Realtors have commented recently that they always refer family and friends to a different agent because they don’t want to risk the relationship.  I find that surprising when the Real Estate business is all about maintaining good relationships.
Furthermore,  I don’t know any Realtor who knows more or would take better care of my family and friends than I would. My family and friends already know that I’ll put their needs first and tell them the truth;   I have to work harder for new customers to realize that this is the way I operate.

… (2 comments)

tallahassee real estate: Real Estate Recovery: Tallahassee New StarMetro System Rocks - 07/28/11 03:55 AM
Tallahassee’s previous transit system required passengers who needed to change buses to travel downtown to the central bus station to get their connection. This was a hassle and time-waster for everyone.
On July 1, 2011, the system was replaced with a decentralized one that makes a lot more sense and saves everyone time. There are now 12 connecting points on the route and you no longer have to go to the central facility.
The change has resulted in a 12% increase in riders.  Like any new system, there are a few kinks to work out and feedback from customers has helped … (3 comments)

tallahassee real estate: Real Estate Recovery – House Sharing Instead of Downsizing - 07/27/11 11:55 AM
Remember the Waltons? They were a close-knit family going through hard economic times.  The custom in those days was for several generations to live in the same house – grandparents, parents, and children.  They had their problems, but they shared the workload and supported each other through their hardships.
Well, tough economic times are back and more families are electing to share a house with parents and/or their grown children. I’ve met several  retirees in the last year who lived alone in a big house for one reason or another and found the upkeep was too much for them to handle … (10 comments)

tallahassee real estate: Tell Congress How You Want Them to Solve the Debt Crisis - 07/26/11 02:56 AM
Last night, President Obama suggested we call our Congressmen/women to let them know how we want them to settle the debt crisis.  Before you do, be sure you understand what’s at stake:
We currently have a national debt of  $14+ trillion and growing.  For a visual of the US national debt click here. Every year, the government spends more than it receives in tax revenues. In the last two years, $1.5 trillion has been added to the national debt each year. In order to pay our country's bills, we have to borrow money every month, but we’ve almost reached our credit limit again … (13 comments)

tallahassee real estate: There’s No Such Thing as The Perfect House - 07/23/11 11:00 PM
Some buyers aren’t satisfied unless a house meets their every requirement – and they often have a long list.  It might be the right neighborhood, size, price, floor plan, yard, and pool, and they really love the kitchen,  but they can’t sit in the LR and look out at the back yard, so it won’t work.  Or it didn’t have a closet in the home office,  so it’s off the list even though it meets their other needs.  Their expectations are unrealistic. There are probably many houses that they could live in happily, but they demand perfection, down to the last … (125 comments)

tallahassee real estate: I’m Going to Miss Borders - 07/23/11 03:40 AM
I love bookstores and Borders has always been my favorite. I’ve spent many an hour curled up in one of their comfy chairs with a stack of books beside me, taking my time to make selections.  The staff was always courteous and helpful and encouraged my loitering.  It was the perfect place for a lazy afternoon or a great spot to meet friends for a cup of coffee and a chat.  It wasn’t just about the books, it was a place to go.

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tallahassee real estate: How Many Internet Search Sites are Necessary for an Effective Marketing Plan? - 07/19/11 03:28 AM
Most of us agree that the internet is an important selling vehicle and houses should be presented at their best on the most used web sites.  This includes lots of great pictures, visual tours, and plenty of supplemental information to help buyers see the home's best features. 
There are several good syndication tools available (Point2, Postlets, Realbird, etc.) that will automatically distribute your listings to various and sundry search sites. Some of them are free.
Once your listing is on MLS, it may automatically be fed to various public sites, like Realtor.com, which is touted to be the most used search site, and … (4 comments)

tallahassee real estate: Washington’s Double-Talk about Spending Cuts - 07/18/11 06:08 AM
National Review Online writer, Michael Tanner, in his recent article, The Intransigent Meet the Unserious, describes for the uninitiated what Washington really means when it talks about spending cuts.  For most of us, when we talk about cutting back on our spending, we mean that we'll spend less than we did before. 
Washington, however, uses a baseline budget, which means that if it was planning on spending 2 billion more on a program next year and decides to spend only 1 billion more, that's a spending cut of 1 billion.  So even if Congress can agree on a package of "spending … (3 comments)

tallahassee real estate: Housing for Homeless Veterans - 07/11/11 10:29 AM
Approximately 275,000 American vets are homeless, with mental health problems (including post-traumatic stress syndrome),  substance abuse problems and other problems that require treatment. While the VA is prepared to provide medical services, they do not address homelessness. 
Soldier On is a non-profit organization that provides housing and support for veterans.  According to their website, "Our mission at Solider On is to offer a continuum of care that includes immediate and long-term housing, treatment and recovery for addiction, food, and clothing, as well as medical, counseling and job-related services."
Soldier On runs a 165 bed shelter in Leeds, MA and a transitional … (6 comments)

tallahassee real estate: What Can You Do if the Odds Are Against You? - 07/08/11 12:07 AM
Selling a home in today's market is a challenge.  In Leon County, FL,  both Sales and prices for single detached homes are lower this year than last.  Experts are now saying that prices may bottom out in 2011 (heard that one before?), then show small increases until 2015, when prices may increase 3.47 % (one wonders how they can be so exact).   Source Realtor.Org: Real Estate is at a Turning Point


With our many national issues, complicated with international crises, it's anyone's guess what will happen in the next four years and what life will be like in 2015.
… (9 comments)

tallahassee real estate: Are the Big Banks Overwhelmed, Incompetent, or Dishonest? - 07/05/11 09:54 AM
Any Realtor who has worked short sales can attest to the frustrating delays, lost documents, and mistakes made by the largest banks.  Many buyers' agents warn off their buyers if the lien holder is BOA, WF, or Chase and many agents won't list  a short sale if one of those three is a lien holder.  The problems aren't limited to short sales, however, and the situation is far worse for the mortgagors who took out a loan with one of these giants.  The Associated Press posted an article this morning about continued incompetence in these banks relating to loan modifications.
The … (7 comments)

tallahassee real estate: Happy Independence Day! Tell Your Favorite Student why We’re Celebrating - 07/03/11 11:40 PM
The United States of America is an exceptional country and we're proud of our heritage. The principles set forth in the Declaration of Independence inspire and give hope to the entire world.
Here's the essence:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it … (11 comments)

tallahassee real estate: Why has Obama Changed His Mind about the Corporate Jet Tax Credit? - 07/03/11 12:47 AM
National Review and The Hill recently posted articles (see below) about the President's bashing of the corporate jet tax credit, noting his negative focus on it during a recent press conference.  During the conference, he made six (sarcastic) references to the corporate jet tax credit, which McLaughlin panelists  on their July 2 TV broadcast, say is inconsequential in its contribution to the budget and national debt.
This is the same tax credit that was part of the 2009 Stimulus program and was intended to boost the economy and employment.   Since Obama has lately urged the country to focus on manufacturing to … (2 comments)

tallahassee real estate: Tom Anderson, founder of MySpace, gives Google+ a Thumbs Up - 07/02/11 02:29 PM
A Mashable.com article quotes Tom Anderson, founder of MySpace, as saying "... Google+ really seems to be primed to make good on that original premise-that everything gets better when it's social. And unlike FB, Twitter, or anyone else, Google already has the most advanced set of products. And if I can clearly see where this is headed, then I think what we are getting is a much better Google."  Anderson has some other complimentary remarks about Google+ and appears to be a fan even before it's been released. 
BTW, Google+ is a new social media program that will give Facebook stiff … (6 comments)