michael lee: Tallahassee Realtor Tips-Avoid the coming draft!
- 10/05/09 02:22 AM
Any fall home maintenance plan should include checking for leaky doors and windows. On of the simplest ways to do this is to hold a burning candle or lighter around the window or door frames to see if the flame moves. A flickering flame indicates a draft, which equals energy loss. Usually, applying some caulk will do the trick or you can use one of the may sealing kits available at your favorite home improvement store. Some of these are applied to the outside of a window. Some are heat shrunk with a hair dryer to create the seal.
Doors … (1 comments)
michael lee: Tips from a Tallahassee Realtor-Don't forget to obtain your homestead exemption!
- 10/02/09 08:46 AM
Homestead exemption. It is one of the things mentioned at every closing table here in Tallahassee and probably at nearly every closing table in the country. It is also one of those things that people forget to take care of causing them to pay higher taxes than necessary year in and year out. Most, if not all counties, like Leon County here in north Florida, which includes Tallahassee, provide some tax relief to all residential properties that are occupied by the owner or homesteaded. The homestead concept is on of the oldest concepts in privately owned real estate. Homeowners learn on … (1 comments)
Maintaining gutters is not difficult, but too often ignored. We can face the facts, cleaning gutters is not high on the fun task list. Not too sexy. It is, however, important to your home. One of the first things to do is to remove all debris that can slow the ability of water to drain effectively from the roof. Trapped water can be destructive not only to the gutters themselves but to the adjoining roof as well. Remember, water is a corrosive-think … (1 comments)
michael lee: Now is the time to buy as interest rates hold!
- 09/24/09 06:28 PM
In an announcement predicted to bolster the housing industry, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday, September 23, 2009 that it intended to keep key lending rates near zero "for an extended period" and continue to buy mortgage-backed securities and debt through March 2010.This is the second time the Fed has decided to stretch out its program to encourage spending and stimulate the economy. Economists predict that keeping the key lending rate near zero into the first quarter of next year will result in consumer loans, including mortgages, home-equity loans, and credit-card rates, remaining at the lowest point in decades.Greg McBride, senior financial analyst at … (1 comments)
michael lee: Tallahassee's Green Living Expo October 17, 2009
- 08/31/09 05:57 PM
Tallahassee's Green Building Council, a part of the Tallahassee Builder' Association is having a Green Living Expo on Saturday, October 17th at COSTCO. There will be tons of information for folks looking to build a new home and/or are wanting to educate themselves on local Green builders and available green products and materials. For more information check out the Tallahassee Builder's Association website.
***************************************** Looking for a Tallahassee Realtor? Are you searching for a seasoned real estate professional that knows homes in Tallahassee and the real estate market and can get the results you desire? Are you in the market to buy or sell … (0 comments)
michael lee: Piney Z Community Yard Sale October 17th
- 08/31/09 04:14 AM
As said many times in this spot before, Piney Z is a wonderful neighborhood in Tallahassee. One of the cool things that happens is that twice a year, spring and fall, the neighborhood has a community wide yard sale. On average about 70 homeowners participate each time. Piney Z starts hopping at about 6 a.m. as the "professionals" scour the area while people are setting up. The regular crowd shows up at about 6:45 a.m. and the day begins. Because Piney Z is such a nice neighborhood, the quality of items sold is quite high. Nice furniture, collectibles and even … (0 comments)
michael lee: When visiting the Tallahassee area, go to Wakulla Springs!
- 07/14/09 03:36 PM
Recently, great friends of ours from Illinois stopped to visit on the way to Central Florida. When friends visit from outside the area stay for a day or two we always try to make a trip down to Wakulla Springs. This fantastic state park is the home to an amazing fresh spring where still today, the source in unknown. The park features a wonderful boat ride on the river created by the spring with wildlife galore! Of course, this is Florida so this means alligators.
Pictured here with my wife Laurie are our great friends of almost 15 years, … (2 comments)
michael lee: Tuesdays at the Tallahassee Board of Realtors (TBR)
- 06/27/09 08:30 AM
Tuesday at the TBR is fun and informative meeting each week where some of the top Realtors in the market get together to promote their listings and their client needs. The meetings are sponsored by various entities, some from affiliated businesses like banks, law firms or title companies. Each week we also have a moderator, and on 6.8.09 the moderator was Lucretia Thomas of Thomas Acquisition and Property Specialists, Inc. I lived in southwest Missouri for over 20 years and up that way, they would say Lucretia is a hoot! She is very animated, humorous and does not suffer fools lightly. … (1 comments)
Sales continue to lag previous years and you can see how we are down. Sales are occurring, but still substantially below historical rates. Re-sales, which are non-new construction housing, are continuing the 4 year decline in volume. Pricing does seem to be stabilizing but, the market is still fragile and price sensitive. There are reports of bottlenecks forming in the local mortgage market as underwriting loans becomes more and more difficult. Loans are receiving a stringent review causing closing times to increase. Historically, closings … (0 comments)
michael lee: Tuesdays at the Tallahassee Board of Realtors (TBR)
- 06/22/09 03:12 PM
Every Tuesday, at the Tallahassee Board of Realtor's building there is a marketing meeting. Different Realtors lead the meeting, there are different featured speakers, but most importantly it is a about Realtors sharing with Realtors about their listings and needs of the buyers they are working with. Recently, Jay Ralstin, (pictured below) Sales Manager of Wells Fargo Mortgage here in Tally applied his best Kung foo to rates in the Tallahassee area.
Well that isn't really true. He did, however, speak to those attending the TBR marketing meeting about what trends we are seeing with mortgages. This is the kind … (0 comments)
michael lee: Piney Z a neighborhood in Tallahassee you should know
- 05/23/09 12:43 PM
If you are interested in relocating to Tallahassee, one of my favorite neighborhoods is Piney Z Plantation. Located with strategically easy access to downtown via the Apalachee Parkway, Piney Z is a neighborhood not on everyone's radar when the look at Tallahassee, but it should. The neighborhood has only 3 entry points, a community pool, lodge, fitness center, city park, lake and eagle habitat. The housing is mixed with one section of duplex town homes, smaller single family residences to larger homes approaching 3,000 square feet. Piney Z is a real community with a spring and fall community yard sale, … (1 comments)
michael lee: Have A Wonderful Memorial Day Weekend, but Please Remember to Remember
- 05/21/09 07:25 AM
Historically more paint is sold this weekend than any other time of the year. Many Realtors will be quite busy showing homes and writing contracts. Others take the time to relax. Most importantly all us should remember what the weekend is really about-and it is not to kick off the summer season. For some ideas of what to do this weekend you might want to check out Memorial Day. Org where they remind us how to properly observe this day. Among the thoughts there are some things we all could do: by visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of … (2 comments)
michael lee: Wow! Tax Credit Announcement is Outstanding!!
- 05/12/09 10:12 AM
Daily Real Estate News | May 12, 2009 | Tax Credit Can Be Used for Down Payment Shaun Donovan, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, on Tuesday said that the Federal Housing Administration is going to permit its lenders to allow home buyers to use the $8,000 tax credit as a down payment.Previously, most buyers wouldn't receive the funds until after they filed their tax return, and that deterred some people from using the credit. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® has been calling for the change. "We all want to enable FHA consumers to access the home buyer tax … (1 comments)
michael lee: Wolverine is outstanding!
- 05/01/09 10:59 AM
Just finished seeing Hugh Jackman in X-men Origins: Wolverine at the Tallahassee Governor's Square Theaters and it was outstanding! I enjoyed it more that any of the X-men movies to date. While it of course had the requisite action, the story was actually interesting and believable as well. Jackman does a terrific job of acting, his Wolverine character is so different from the guy who hosted the Oscars or dances on broadway.
No plot points or spoilers here. Just a recommendation to see a highly entertaining movie. So, there you have a REALTORS review of the new X-Men movie. Reduce … (2 comments)
michael lee: Ask builder about Chinese drywall
- 04/21/09 07:26 AM
Things are heating up about the use of a particular Chinese produced drywall. Reports are everywhere that the product produces a rotten egg smell and may in fact release a toxic gas. Have you heard about this? Many have not. The reported use of this drywall is limited and the simplest thing to do is not panic, but if you are buying a home, ask. As of yet I have not heard of a test, or other way to tell if this product might be in your home. Home inspectors out there...any answer to this? Ingreid Lehrfeld of the Wall Street … (1 comments)
michael lee: Tallahassee's Film Festival starts today
- 04/15/09 06:38 AM
One of the great things about living in a community like Tallahassee with Florida State University, Florida A & M and Tallahassee Community College is the quality of life provided. For the second year, Tallahassee is hosting a film festival. What a fantastic community event. For more information go to: http://tallahasseefilmfestival.com
Just another reason why Tallahassee is such a great place to live, work and play! Check out other Tallahassee events at my website. ************************************ Looking for a Tallahassee Realtor? Are you searching for a seasoned real estate professional that knows homes in Tallahassee and the real estate market and can get … (1 comments)
michael lee: Anyone else have a busted bracket?
- 03/28/09 03:01 PM
Each year, our complete family plus our children's current boyfriends and girlfriends, participate in an ESPN bracket. Well, I was smart enough to pick Pittsburgh to win. Oh well. My three real teams that I am a fan of: Florida State, Illinois and Mississippi State did not last long. Maybe there is some bailout I can apply for?
Anyway, now more time can be spent on being a Tallahassee real estate agent, helping people buy and sell homes in the Tallahassee area. March Madness is such a great diversion! So, if you are looking for a Tallahassee Realtor who is a … (2 comments)
michael lee: Have you been to a Fork & Screen?
- 03/23/09 03:27 PM
My wife and I were visiting our 3 children in Atlanta this past weekend. They came from all over. Our youngest is a Jr. at Western Illinois University and he flew in with his girlfriend from Macomb, Illinois. Our older son is doing med school rotations in Atlanta and our daughter, the oldest flew in from med school in NYC with her boyfriend, We had quite a weekend. Anyway, one of the things we did was go to AMC's Fork & Screen in Buckhead to see Knowing. I had heard of this dining/theater experience and was pleased to give it a … (2 comments)
Neighborhood: Piney ZType: Single FamilyFloor Plan: splitBeds: 3Baths: 2Square Feet: 2,315Lot Size: 76x146Floors: 1Garage Size: 2.5Year Built: 2000mls: 186023 Full Description: Immaculately cared for 3/2 on corner lot. Huge master suite with double doors to master bath. Architectural and artistic upgrades galore. Extra deep kitchen drawers. Spacious enclosed porch.Large family/living room. Dining area next to kitchen plus separate, ornate dining room. Arches, columns, decorative ledges abound. 2.5 car garage. Home Warranty available. One of the best … (1 comments)
Any fall home maintenance plan should include checking for leaky doors and windows. On of the simplest ways to do this is to hold a burning candle or lighter around the window or door frames to see if the flame moves. A flickering flame indicates a draft, which equals energy loss.
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