Blog Northwest Florida

A front page article in today's Wall Street Journal (Real Estate Woes of Banks Mount) laments the fact that we continue to see turmoil in the banking industry on the heels of mounting bad loans the industry made to finance home and condo construction.

The same article includes the sentiment that there are signs of improvement: "At the same time, regulators praised the banking industry for raising capital and for building up reserves against losses. They added that some pockets of the credit markets were showing signs of improvement."

With all the signs pointing in different directions, even according to the Wall Street Journal, what's the poor consumer to do? 

As I've said before, the time to buy and the time to sell if "When you need to." It's not always dictated by the top - or bottom - of the market. That being said, we are seeing signs of a bottom in our market as investors and home owners with good credit and money for downpayments are making purchases based on the perception of VALUE.

This week I put three Pensacola Bay Area properties under contract. All three are listings that had been on the market for some time and all appropriately priced for the current market. As one of my real estate conterparts once said, "There's no problem with a property that price won't cure." 

Wall Street Journal Front Page - Real Estate Woes Mixed Bag

Volunteer, Pensacola Needs You! One of the best things about Northwest Florida is all the things we have going on! We are blessed to have beautiful beaches to walk and rivers to canoe, then there are the great shopping venues, sports events, concerts and festivals. Wheewww . . . like I said, lot's to do.

Now while that's all tons of fun, at some point most of us want to give back to our commuity as well. Pensacola is doubly blessed . . . in addition to our beautiful setting and so many activities to participate in, we also have so many opportunities to volunteer.

Why volunteer? Here are my three favorite reasons:

1. It'll keep you young. I don't have any proof, but my grandmother said so. She lived to 92, doing lots of volunteer work and she was young to the end so I take it as a fact!
2. It's a great example for the kids. I started getting my son to help with the pancake breakfast at the senior center when he was four. It was one of his favorite things to do and I believe it laid a great foundation of volunteerism in him.
3. You'll just feel better. I promise!

Well, what are some of the HOT opportunities for volunteers? Here are just a few:

Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida - This nonprofit center cares for injured or orphaned indigeneous wildlife. I was recently at the Garden Gate Earth Day Celebration and the volunteers from the Wildlife Sanctuary were there with two owls and a falcon. One of the owls was just a baby, fluffy instead of feathery and as round as a baseball!

The Wildlife Sanctuary accepts these injured or orphaned wild animals, provides medical care, rehabilitation and fostering. They also provide community education, like the program I - and dozens of others - attended at the Garden Gate. This program focused on providing a habitat for wildlife and why it is so important to do so.

Think you'd like to help with their efforts? To learn more about how you can volunteer, contact Leticia Grove, at lfreeland22@yahoo.com. You can also visit their website: Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida 

Habitat for Humanity - We have a very active group in the Pensacola area. A total of 71 homes were built in 2007 alone! They have a great website: Habitat for Humanity that's well organized and gives a great overview of their program and all the volunteer opportunities available.

Want to work on a construction crew? How about volunteer in the home store? Or is office work or fundraising more to your liking? There's something for everyone and an awesome way to get involved, meet new friends and help the comunity.

West Florida Hospital - Now, hospitals are obvious places in need of volunteers. And with so many programs at West Florida Hospital the volunteer opportunities are tremendous. Did you know that West Florida Hospital provides free memory screening? They also have numerous support groups and a healthy living membership organization. All of these programs need volunteer help.  To learn more about the volunteer opportunities at the West Florida Hospital call 494-4188.

So, get to it! Volunteer, Pensacola Needs You!

Robin Sherman Realtors, Coldwell Banker United Realtors, We're Meeting Real Estate Needs in Northwest Florida. Contact us at www.PensacolaForYou.com

Environmental Concerns in the Real Estate Transaction, from air pollution to the safety of the drinking water to traffic counts, today's savvy buyers demand answers. And Realtors calling themselves experts need to be prepared to provide added value by understanding the issues, and by knowing where to find additional information and expert advice.

Most of us sell throughout our market areas which, in less populated parts of the country, can cover several counties. Knowing every aspect of the neighborhood, from price points to industrial density can be a stretch, but in order to remain competitive and give consumers what they demand we MUST know where to get the answers to the exceedingly diverse questions coming our way.

Due diligence, particularly concerning potential environmental issues, has always been a part of the commercial real estate arena. But residential real estate has been slow to follow. It was only in 1992, that the federal government began requiring lead-based paint disclosure on all sales of homes built prior to 1978. Today most states have numerous recommended and required disclosures relating to environmental issues and potential issues. However, it is usually up to the buyer to determine what is important to them and to seek out additional information.

While it is beyond the scope of an agent's responsibility to conduct environmental investigations, it is crucial that we know where to direct clients for information. My growing interest in energy efficiency and general environmental awareness led me to complete the EcoBroker designation. Through the course work I realized the value of the unique perspective on energy, environment and green market issues that the designation affords agents. This, along with a strong focus on on-going education to keep up with the changing technology, allows EcoBroker designated agents the ability to provide clients with the real benefit of professional guidance during the real estate transaction.

For more information on the EcoBroker designation visit EcoBroker International

Related Articles and Resources on Environmental Concerns and the Real Estate Transaction:

"A Citizen's Guide to Radon: The Guide to Protecting Yourself and Your Family from Radon" 

"Testing Your Home for Lead: In Paint, Dust, and Soil."

Your Drinking Water - Howe Safe is It?

Mold Resources

Asbestos Resources

Historic Contamination - "Where You Live: Search Your Community"

Robin Sherman Realtors, Serving the Greater Pensacola Bay Area, Visit my website, www.PensacolaForYou.com

Happy Home, Beloved Pet - I work hard to keep my Blog on topic, and to that end I try to post lots of local market updates, neighborhood reviews, and specific listings. But the truth is . . . one of my favorite groups on Active Rain is the "Raining Dogs" group and while most of the time I just comment on the posts there, every now and then I have to throw in a photo of one of my pets. So indulge me Rainers . . . I know I'm not alone!

Call me crazy but - I admit it, I can't get enough of seeing people's pet photos. We have a weekly column in our local newspaper "Pet of the Week." As soon as I finish reading the real estate section I check out the pet of the week. (Okay, okay . . . sometimes I check out the pet of the week first . . . )

Anyway, most of us know that a pet anchors a household. Think of Lassie, Puss 'N Boots, Ol Yellar. In my experience, most happy homes have a beloved pet. So, who's your best furry or feathered friend? In the name of pure FUN (or Purr Fun) Post him/her/them in your comment section here for all the Active Rainers to see!

Olivia Sherman, lounging, as is her habit.                                        Beko and Kyrah, bed bugs!

Olivia was a street urchin we found on the streets of Brussels, Belgium. She adapted well to life in the U.S. Beko (top photo and on the right in the "Bad Dogs in the bed" shot) is my four year old male Rhodesian Ridgeback. He adores his little sister, Kyrah, age 3.

Happy Home - Beloved Pet - Post Your Pet Photos Here

Click Here to Search All Homes in the Greater Pensacola Bay Area

That sweet Liz Moras got me. Here I was, little 'ol me, trying to write a post every now and again, lurk around reading everybody else's posts, stay fairly anonoymous in the Rain. Yeah right . . . I'm a Leo with a great big L, so I love all the yakity yak (as my husband says, I talk even when nobody else is listening!) So here's my MeMe.

My favorite music: I adore the B-52s. The first time I heard them was back in about 1982 (here I go dating myself again). I used to leave the radio on when I went to sleep. In the middle of the night I woke up to Rock Lobster. At first I thought it was the end of the world - groggy, half asleep "Rock - Rock Lobster" - OHHHH - Talk about a rude awakening.

I also love Rickie Lee Jones. "Dooowntown in Eddie's All Star Joint, Juke Box Playing Goes Doint Doint"

My favorite artist: This is a tough one. I'm all over the map. My very favorite is my good friend Julie Higgins of Mendocino, CA. Please check her out: Julie Higgins Artist 

I do love Walter Anderson who was a sculpter, painter and naturalist from Ocean Springs, MS, and plied his trade in the 1930s, as well as the Dutch master Vemeer and the American artist from the Hudson School, Fredric Church.

My favorite blogger: Love YOU all. Couldn't possibly pick. Although . . . I read Lanza for his amazing wordsmithing. Sometimes I just have to read his seriously saucy sentences right out loud.

If I could meet anyone dead or alive, who would it be and what is the most interesting thing about them? Jane Austin. I'd want to give her a hug and tell her how much better things would really get for women.

What did I want to be when I grew up? Now this is an easy one. I wanted to be THE BOSS. What, grow up? I have always wanted to be the boss. Has it worked out for me? Well, not so much. I think the people that love me humor me. I couldn't ask for more!

What's the most interesting piece of trivia that I know? Over 2 million Americans get ringworm every year from their dog. For real! Now, how does that make you feel about having Rex in the bed?

What was my most interesting job? I was a Can-Can girl at Rosie O'Grady's the summer of my freshman year in college. Hey, it was honest work. They wouldn't let me be a cocktail waitress because I didn't know a mimosa from a glass of chablis.

1. If I could live at any point in history, when and why? Honey, we're just getting started. I want to live in the future! Beam me up Scottie!

What's my favorite game: Easy one - Liar's Dice, preferably at a bar filled with Navy pilots. I beat their socks off every time!

Rule Breaker - I understand I'm supposed to add or change a question - so here's mine:

What's the thing NO ONE on Active Rain would ever guess about you? I go to Europe every year (opps - missed last year) and drive a Porsche at over 150mph.

So, here's my selection for tagees:

Connie Ragen Green

Christina Williams

Greg Hampton

Kris Wales

Debbie Malone

Steve Homer

Tim Rogers

I know you'll thank me!

Vacant Homes? How does the number of vacant homes impact your pricing strategies? One of our broker associates just sent me some research she has conducted on the Pensacola Multiple Listing Service (MLS). The numbers show 26% of the Pensacola residential detached resales are vacant. Mind you, this does not count new construction, homes under construction or homes about to be constructed, that are also listed on the MLS. To be specific, of 4,063 resales actively listed, 1052 are vacant and another 832 are in some stage of construction.

My friend attached a "daily tip" from real estate coach Rick DeLuca noting that vacant homes mean motivated sellers.

Do you know how many vacant homes are in your market? If not, perhaps it's time to take a look. We need to get the facts in the hands of the sellers, many of whom have - you guessed it - a vacant home on the market so understand motivation.

We need to get our housing stock priced right or we need to get it off the market until the market catches up with the "potential seller's" expectations. Until we get this done we will continue to be in a saturated buyer's market.

Vacant Homes in the Pensacola real estate market . . . what about your market?

Crab Jubilee - Okay, I'll admit it. I'm 50. Fifty is the new 40 you know (But, of course, in my case it's the new 30). Since I'm being honest about my age I have no problem telling you some of the things I remember about the Old Florida. That's the Florida that came WAY before the internet . . . heck that's the Florida that came WAY before Cable television and the 8-Track (if you don't remember 8-tracks, they came WAY before CDs).

When I was a kid we would finish our hastily prepared dinner, load the Igloo cooler with snacks and head to Santa Rosa Island (Pensacola Beach). We would pull the battery out of the car - no kidding - plunk it in a galvanized tub sitting in an inner tube and connect it to lights we floated on the water. My grandfather would tie the inner tube to his belt loop with a rope and pull the entire contraption behind him as we walked through the Santa Rosa Sound (Intracoastal Waterway), nets in hand. What in God's name were we doing you ask? CRABBING - this is the way you caught your fill of Blue Crab in those days and as a kid, it was more fun that Halloween and the Interstate Fair all wrapped into one.

Now, this is a thing most people have never witnessed, but I count myself among the lucky few (relatively speaking) who have been on the beach at the height of a Jubilee. The biologists will tell you a Jubilee occurs when there is too little oxygen in the water and the crabs make their way to the shore. I will tell you that a Jubilee is a CRAZY TEAMING MASS of Blue Crab making their way to shore by the hundreds of thousands come hell or high water.

I have only seen one Jubilee in my adult life (a small one at that), so I suspect we have done something to alter our environment in such a way as to eliminate this amazing phenomenon. But I cherish the memory of being a child, dozing off in the back seat of a Ford Fairlane, surrounded by buckets of Blue Crab, bubbling their last breaths as we trundled down the highway toward a backyard overflowing with aunts, uncles and cousins all gathered around a bonfire prepared just for one of our southern crab boil get-togethers.

Crab Jubilee - The Florida Panhandle

For More Articles like this:

Blue Crab Jubilee - Wild Delaware

Alabama - Great Days Outdoor Magazine

Mobile Bay Jubilee - Wikipedia

Gulf Breeze Waterfront Home - This one is SPECIAL and it truly needs a loving family right away - 3700 Square Feet - with a dock, boathouse and lift. The home has 90 feet on the Bay, a seawall and views to take your breath away.

You'll love the deep lot filled with Live Oaks. The home has a curved driveway leading to a two car garage. There are four large bedrooms, three with their own baths, and even an outdoor bathroom for the gardener or fisherman!

An easement next door makes the property feel even more private. The lot is elevated and out of the flood plain.

Work in Pensacola (NAS Pensacola) or Fort Walton Beach (Eglin AFB, Hurlburt AFB) and live in a private Paradise. Gulf Breeze is conveniently located midway between Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach. 

Gulf Breeze has award winning public schools. The home is only a short drive to beaches, parks and shopping.

Gulf Breeze Waterfront Home - This home is price at $699,340. For a virtual tour, visit my website: www.PensacolaForYou.com