Blog Northwest Florida

Realtors Don't Bite - Okay, okay, like the next guy (or gal) I don't like to be hounded by salespeople. So, I can understand a person's hesitancy to share their phone number with me on the first e-mail contact. But at a certain point, if you want the benefit of my YEARS of real estate experience (and we all know there's no better teacher than experience), you're going to have talk with me on the phone or in person.

Most of my clients are repeat or referral and I feel SOOOO lucky to be able to say this. It makes everything so much easier when the client already knows me, or their good friend or cousin or uncle Bob knows me, so we have a starting point. They call me on the phone. We make an appointment to meet at my office, or the local coffee shop so they can get more comfortable with me, ask me questions, determine if I really know my market . . . or maybe just to make sure I don't have two heads . . . whatever the motivation, we usually get comfortable with each other quickly. This is important because they are going to spend some time with me and they are going to need to trust me.

But lately more and more people are making their first contact with me through an internet search. This is wonderful. There are so many internet tools out there now and I try to give the internet researcher accesss to good tools. But the email dance can be frustrating.

I had an internet contact today and, while the person typed in their phone number (I assume it's a real number - it didn't read 888-888-8888.), but following the number was a message DO NOT CALL MY NUMBER - JUST SEND THE INFORMATION I AM ASKING FOR - I WILL CALL YOU IF I DECIDE TO USE YOU.

Well, in my book they are already "Using Me" So, I sent them the information that they requested with a message that I would love to talk with them in person and really explain the information in depth. I told them I wouldn't call them; I wouldn't hound them. In truth, I'm pretty busy with the clients that talk with me in person and on the phone and, anyway, it's just not my style.  

While there may be some Realtors that bite, I'm just not one of them.

Five Things to Love about Pensacola, FL - What? Only five? I'll have to make them REALLY Good!

1. The Beach - Where else can you find miles and miles of accessible Gulf front bordered by white sand beaches?

Of the 1,474 acres of Santa Rosa Island controlled by Escambia County, about 77 acres are approved for hotel development - a little more than 5 % of the total acreage. By contrast, more than 600 acres are reserved for preservation, conservation, recreation and beaches.  That's in addition to the 1,742 acres of Gulf Islands National Seashoreland preserved to the west of Pensacola Beach toward Fort Pickens and the 1,598 acres of National Seashore that will remain undeveloped to the east. Hotels are built along a central stretch a little more than a mile long.

2. The Blue Angels - Pensacola is home to the Navy's Flight Demonstration Team, the Blue Angels. The Blues call Sherman Field at Naval Air Station Pensacola home, so Pensacola residents are lucky enough to have two official Blue Angels Show, the July show on Pensacola Beach (usually the second week in July) and the Homecoming Show in November when the show season ends. But the best part is all the "unofficial shows" as the Blue Angels practice on Tuesday and Thursday mornings when they are between shows and in off season.

3. Historic Downtown Pensacola - How many U.S. towns can say their downtown dates back to 1559? Only one! Spanish Explorer Don Tristen DeLuna arrived in Pensacola with several ships and over 1500 colonists only to be met a few days after making landfall with a horrendous storm. Had it not been for the storm Pensacola would carry the title of oldest continuous settlement in the Untied States (an honor that now belongs to St. Augustine. However, Pensacola's historic downtown still maintains the Spanish influence. A day touring sites like Plaza Ferdinand, Seville Square and Christ Church make Pensacola a SUPER vacation spot.

4. Festivals - I think Pensacola must hold some kind of record for festivals. You can't find a weekend in the Summer (and many in the Spring and Fall) without a festival on tap. From the Fiesta of Five Flags, to Mardi Gras and the Greater Gulf Coast Arts and Crafts Festival . . . and all manner of festivals in between, this is the place for entertainment. And . . . every Tuesday through the summer there is a free concert on Pensacola Beach as well as a free concert at Seville Square. HOOOO . . . I'm getting tired just thinking about all of them.

5. Fabulous Housing . . . and friendly people to make your day! When it comes to housing inventory, we have an incredible variety. Do you want to sip your ice tea (sweet, of course) on the front porch of a 100 year old Victorian cottage or is a state-of-the-art beach condo more your style? We've got them both and MORE. With over 6,000 homes currently on the market in the Greater Pensacola Bay area . . . we've got the perfect home for you!

Five things to Love about Pensacola - shoot . . . heck, I've just gotten started . . .

Gulf Coast Vacation Rentals - Friends and fellow Realtors (Not that you're two separate groups . . . we're all friends here!) Here's my truly Shameless Plug for my lovely vacation rental on beautiful Pensacola Beach:

Imagine lounging on your wrap-around balcony, sipping your beverage of choice while you watch the waves roll in from the Gulf of Mexico . . . white sand beaches . . . emerald green water . . . deep sea fishing . . . sea shell scavenging . . . river canoe trips . . .

Well, enough of the ad talk. I have a great, new, three bedroom, three bath condo that I rent on a short term basis. It's pretty busy during the season, but there's lots of availability after Labor Day - when the weather is really perfect (in my humble opinion).

Mention Active Rain for a Special Discount Just for You!

Just click to see Robin's Beach Condo

Bands on the Beach - Pensacola . . . Grab your lawn chairs, the cooler and blankets, get some sand in your shoes! There's no better way to wind down from a hectic day at work than to enjoy the sunset and music at the Gulfside Pavilion at Casino Beach overlooking the amazing white sand beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. Every Tuesday evening from 7 to 9pm a local band wows the crowds at the Bands on the Beach event. 

Everyone is invited - it's free - and, trust me, the people watching is second to none. We've got grannies and grand dads swing dancing, children doing handstands and, well, you name it you will probably see it (All G-rated for sure!).

The event is sponsored by the Santa Rosa Island Authority. Here's the line-up for the remainder of the year:

• May 27: Wildwood
• June 3: A Touch of Gray
• June 10: Midnight Confessions
• June 17: Tin Feet
• June 24: Civilized Natives
• July 1: Local Hero
• July 8: The Dinosaurs
• July 15: The Kyle Parker Bankd
• July 22: The Reunion Band
• July 29: Nashville Country Night
• Aug. 5: Dr. Breeze
• Aug. 12: Mass Kunfuzion
• Aug. 19: The Fort Morgan Slammers
• Aug. 26: Crosstown
• Sept. 2: DMTs
• Sept. 9: Not Quite Fab
• Sept. 16: The Kee Creek Band
• Sept. 23 Big Muddy
• Sept. 30: Wildwood

Hurricanes in Florida . . . And the latest from the prognosticators? "Global Warming has Little Impact on Tropical Storm and Hurricane Numbers."

Yes, you are reading this correctly . . .  A leading scientist (meteorologist) with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and a harsh critic of the Bush administration's past censorship of studies citing the danger of global warming, has now come out with a study indicating that global warming isn't to blame for the recent jump in hurricanes.

Go figure . . . Tom Knutson's study released on Sunday indicates that the warmer temperatures will actually reduce the number of hurricanes coming ashore, and not by an insignificant amount. The study indicates that the number of hurricanes in the Atlantic will decline by 18% by the end of the century.

While numerous factors came together to slow the Florida real estate market, a spate of hurricanes hitting the state in 2004 and 2005 certainly had an adverse impact. The Florida Legislature ultimately stepped in to assume much of the risk in an effort to keep insurers from leaving the state altogether. So . . . there's a great deal riding on these predictions.  And, for the last two years the dire predictions - expectations of a higher than average number of hurricanes coming ashore - failed to materialize.

Hurricanes in Florida . . . it's anyone's guess. What say you?

Click on the Title below to go to the article:

Global Warming has Little Impact on Tropical Storm and Hurricane Numbers

Downtown Pensacola - Aragon Tour and Wine Tasting - What's a Realtor girl to do on a sunny spring day in Pensacola? Well if you're lucky enough to be me you head to a home tour and wine tasting combo!

The downtown neighborhood of Aragon held their fifth annual tour and wine tasting today and - wow - was there a good crowd! The neighborhood is a planned urban community that integrates Pensacola's rich history and it's varied architectural past. Aragon is pedestrian-oriented; lots of nice sidewalks, pocket parks, a community garden and a central park with a large gazebo.

Seven homes were on the tour today, with styles ranging from Federal to Florida Vernacular. Several of the architects were on hand to give visitors a fact-filled tour. One of the things I loved best about the tour was the opportunity to view the "secret gardents." Aragon homes have their garages in the rear of the home so each home has a courtyard.

Want to know more about Aragon and similar communities? Just check out my article:

Aragon Tour and Wine Tasting

Downtown Pensacola - Aragon Tour and Wine Tasting

East Hill Pensacola - Quaint, charming, historic, and vibrant all describe East Hill, one of Pensacola's largest and most popular neighborhoods. East Hill is one of two garden districts (the other - North Hill) that developed in the early 1900s as the City of Pensacola, fueled by the burgeoning logging industry and increasing imports through the Port of Pensacola, expanded north up the hill.

East Hill homes encompass a wide variety of styles and tend to be a bit smaller than those in North Hill, with the exception of the homes bordering Bayou Texar and overlooking Pensacola Bay.

The borders of the neighborhood (roughly) are Fairfield Avenue to the north, Scenic Highway to the east, Bay front Parkway to the south and 9^th Avenue to the west.

Today the neighborhoods' shady tree lined streets, variety of home styles, proximity to parks, restaurants, shops and water access make East Hill an in demand address.

Residents of East Hill can easily walk or bike to one of the many festivals held in Seville Square or Bartram Park or take in the Pensacola cultural scene by visiting art galleries, the Pensacola Symphony, the Pensacola Opera or a variety of theater and concert venues.

The vision of the early city planners has provided residents with eleven neighborhood parks, most of which encompass at least an entire city block. (Like Lakeview Park - Photo Right) 

The sprawling Bayview park on Bayou Texar covers 28 acres. As a little girl, my family spent many a Sunday afternoon picnicking at Bayview Park and I can still remember the difficulty I always had in deciding between swinging on the jungle gym or splashing in the water!

The park boasts the following amenities: boat launch, picnic shelters, bocce court, tennis courts, playground equipment, dog park, recreation center, restrooms, senior center, and soccer field.  

East Hill Pensacola  - A Pensacola neighborhood worth getting to know!

Historic Downtown Pensacola - Go figure . . . if Spanish explorer Don Tristen DeLuna had just a little more energy (or maybe a good cup of java) back in 1559, Pensacola would be able to claim St. Augustine's title as the United State's oldest settlement.  As fate would have it, a storm came ashore just after DeLuna made the decision to enjoy a few days of relaxation in his new home prior to unloading his cargo. All DeLuna's ships save one, and all his precious supplies, went to the bottom of Pensacola Bay. What with transportation being what it was at the time (Ha!) it took the Spanish another 138 years to colonize Pensacola.

Today historic downtown Pensacola is a magical place steeped in history, in part due to the great job being done by West Florida Historic Preservation Inc. (WFHP), a non-profit organization of the University of West Florida. WFHP manages 23 historic properties in the Pensacola Historic District (one of the oldest in the southeast), 10 of these are interpretive facilities and are open to the public.

At the core of the WFHP holdings is the T.T.Wentworth, Jr. Florida State Museum. Originally the 1908 City Hall, the Spanish Revival style museum has both permanent and temporary exhibits relating to art, science, West Florida's History and the properties which make up the Historic Pensacola Village. The museum also houses a popular children's hands-on exhibit, the Discovery Gallery.

Historic Pensacola Village is a must stop for guests to our area. I always make sure my out-of-town visitors take the tour! A great place to start is at Plaza Ferdinand VII, named in 1814 and often mistakenly called Ferdinand Plaza. This park, directly across from the T.T. Wentworth Musuem, was an early parade ground for the British fort. The Plaza was the center of town life during the late Colonial era and over the years even served as the site of executions. The Plaza houses markers for the Colonial Archaeological Trail which stretches the through the Historic Village providing evidence of fortified structures occupied at various times by Spanish, British, and American soldiers.

The plaza is also the site of the William Dudley Chipley Monument, a beautiful fountain which is a replica of a fountain in Seville, Spain, a United States Coast and Geodetic Survey Benchmark, a Plaza Ferdinand Renovation Monument, Andrew Jackson Monument and four cannons obtained from Ft. Pickens, Ft. Barrancas, and the Navy Yard.

Of interest is the wall built of ballast rock, which extends around the Plaza.  Begin your visit in the center of the Plaza; move north to the fountain and then rotate counter-clockwise. I'll be posting more on Historic Downtown Pensacola in future blogs so make sure to visit again!

Emerald Dolphin condominiums - Pensacola Beach Bargains! It's opportunity time on Pensacola Beach. Emerald Dolphin is a SUPER condo project (so SUPER that I had to buy one myself . . . ) There are currently eight listings in the Emerald Dolphin. This is one of the newer condos on Pensacola Beach - completed in December of '06 - and truly one of the better buys on the beach.

Here's why:

1. Superior Construction - built to the latest hurricane codes and with three levels of parking below the first floor (blow through), the building is built to last.
2. While on the beach - See Photo - this building is built far enough behind the dune line to be protected from the storms.
3. FABULOUS VIEWS - views from the end units with wrap around balconies take in both the white sand beaches of the Gulf of Mexico, the Santa Rosa Sound and Pensacola Bay. WOW!
4. State of the Art Exercise Facility - Work out with a view to the Gulf. Doesn't get much better . . .
5. Short walk to Peg Leg Pete's restaurant and Lafite's Marina.
6. Pensacola Beach is a true gem. This barrier island has only 8.2 miles of beach in development, bordered by 15 miles of state parks and National Seashore. 
7. There's only so much white sand Gulf out there!

Here are the units currently available at the Emerald Dolphin:

Four two bedroom/two bath units at 1235 square feet. Prices range from $449,800 to $625,000.

Two two bedroom/two bath units with a bunk room at 1345 square feet. Prices range from $$495,000 to $499,900.

One three bedroom/three bath unit at 1691 square feet priced at - NO KIDDING - $625,000.

One four bedroom/three bath unit at 1986 square feet priced at $695,000.

Want more information? As an owner, I know all the ins and outs and would be happy to share everything about these fabulous condos. The Emerald Dolphin on Pensacola Beach - SUPER time to buy!

In honor of Mother's Day . . . Oh, the Wild, Nekkid Bloganistas . . . It's not often I have a FREE Saturday. There's usually an event to attend, serious things to do with my spouse, Mr. Project Man, or - more often than not - a client to attend to. But, Mr. Project Man is away. There wasn't much in the way of "necessary" community events (I know, I should have been at Pet Fest, what can I say . . . I'm a two toed sloth and my big red dogs hate me for staying home.).  Worst of all, there were no clients with a burning desire to buy real estate from this gal, so here I sat with glorious time on my hands.

So, I spent a good part of the day in front of the computer. Which means I was in front of the picture windows.  AMAZING what you see if you are still for a bit.

Before the newspaper hit the porch two humming birds stopped by to graze on the colorful flowering bushes my mother planted (and whose name only my horticulturally gifted mother can recall). A little later I saw a peregrine falcon swoop low through the moss covered trees. By late afternoon two bunnies had hopped by, a small red fox had poked his nose out from around the bottle brush plants and a bold raccoon had walked right up the driveway as if preparing to mount the steps and knock on the door.  And I live in Florida. In a subdivision. God knows what's actually out there!

So it is with Blogs. What's out there? I am always curious. And finally, I really got to spend some time looking around and WOW . . . How differently people see things, how eloquent are some, what funny takes some have on things, how rooted in place many are (you can tell she's a city girl, from the sticks fer sure, and so on), and then there's the generational thing. Even though I'm sure I'm hip and all - after all I do have a momma's boy who's in a fraternity in college so not much shocks me - but, here I find myself thinking "Can they really be saying that?" Would I say that in a public forum? Hhhmmmm . . .

At any rate, I wanted to find blogs having to do with mothers so I went to "Oh, the Wild Nekkid Bloganistas, My, Big, Fat, Harry, Blogrolls" and there was a lot to choose from. From narcissistic whining about laundry and lack of sleep to crazy family dynamics bordering on psychotic, from Anthropologist for Corporate America to Death by Children, the mommy bloggers were baring it all. But my favorite, by far was the blog Ducks Mahal, this blog - I kid you not - is written by a colorful gentleman "Audubon Ron" who is a Rouen Mallard duck rancher in the Deep South (Mississippi I think). While Audubon Ron has southern roots, he spent much of his life working in corporate America in the California sunshine. Audubon Ron pulled me in with his Mother's Day story and then his "True to the last molecule" endorsement of a story in his blog kept me reading. Worth a stop by if you want a good story fix and some sublime southern creative writing.

Which has me thinking of a title for my creative writing blog. Think I'll call it Story Creep A.S.A.P. (As Southern as Possible). In Honor of Mother's Day . . .