Real Estate and More in Northeast Lake County, FL

Was that a collective groan I heard? Do you remember a few short months ago when you wondered what you were going to do all summer? The end is near…

Lake County Florida School is back in session August 18, 2008.

It is time to go hunting for those incredible deals on school supplies. This is my children’s favorite part of back to school. (That is until I inform them that they do not need a new backpack, pencil box, lunch box, or pair of scissors because last year’s is still perfectly good. – there are needs and there are wants.)

With plenty of sales the savvy shopper has to make a plan in order to make sure she has the best deal.

It’s a little like house hunting. There are many deals to be had but sometimes what appears to be a great deal is only mediocre.

I’ve been researching homes in the price range of $175,000 to $205,000 for some clients. The thing about this price range is there is a bunch of inventory that falls into the range. Even when I get specific on the number of bedrooms and square footage I end up with many results. The trick is determining from all those homes which home is the best value.

For $189,000 you can get an older home in an established neighborhood where homes have maintained a steady increase in value. This home might need a little updating but it has a good floor plan and has been well maintained.

On the other hand, for $193,000 you can get an almost new home with flashy stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. The neighborhood was the place to buy a couple years ago and home values were driven up fast. The seller is sacrificing the home for well below market value in order to cut off the financial drain he is experiencing.

Which would you choose?

It seems that most people I’ve run into lately would go for the newer home. They see a $4,000 difference and a great bargain to boot. This seller is sacrificing his home. They see built in equity.

Don’t let those flashy appliances and sleek countertops blind you. You need to look more closely at the value.

In the case of my clients we looked at several homes from both examples. For them the best value was a newer home that the seller was sacrificing. The HOA fees are inexpensive, it is closer to work and the home values in the neighborhood have stabilized.

We saw many homes and some appeared to be an incredible deal but when it came down to numbers the value disappeared. A professional REALTOR® can give you advice on which home is the better choice.

Gas prices are hovering around $4.00/ gallon (diesel is $4.75/ gallon on a good day,) airlines are charging for checked bags and talking of fare increases and surcharges, and restaurants are raising prices because their suppliers are raising prices. The family budget is feeling pinched and you might not be able to eke out the traditional road trip vacation.

Personally I am faced with the children being out of school and I am trying to come up with fun things to do on the cheap for 2 ½ months. I have already checked out The Eustis Memorial Library summer reading program and put it on the schedule. We will travel to exotic locales through the pages of books. We will be limited only by our imaginations. We will also go to the park, take some nature walks and go to the Eustis Pool.

We have several options for weekend getaways all within a couple hours of home. These mini-vacations are fabulous and affordable. I usually find these getaways more relaxing than the week-long road trips. There is less planning, less packing and less preparation.

We are 45 minutes northwest of Walt Disney World, Universal, and SeaWorld.

Fabulous beach locals such as Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach and Cocoa Beach are as close as one hour.

Historic St. Augustine can be reached in just under two hours.

This summer -- as you are feeling the budget crunch, yet yearn to get away-- select a destination close to home and explore your own backyard.

Kyle Thrush, a former Faith Lutheran School student, is a Mount Plymouth youth who suffered serious head injuries in a dirt bike accident in April. He was given a 4% chance to live. Through his own determination, the power of prayer and skilled specialists he has beaten those odds. Kyle is currently in a rehabilitation center in Jacksonville, FL. He is on track to return home before the end of summer.

Friends of the Thrush family have coordinated several benefits to help offset the family's medical expenses and other related expenses.

This weekend Florida Hospital Waterman is sponsoring a charity basketball game for Kyle. Faith Lutheran School (coached by Michael Repass) and WESH-TV 2 (coached by Greg Fox) will team up on Saturday, June 7, 2008 at Faith Lutheran Christian Life Center, 2715 South Grove Street, Eustis, FL.

The basketball warm up begins at 6:30 PM and game time is 7:00. Tickets are available at the door and seating is limited.

 A silent auction including sports memorabilia and a bake sale will begin at 5:30 PM.

All contributions are appreciated and will be directed to the Thrush family to help with the financial burden.

Direct donations may be made at any of the five branches of The First National Bank of Mount Dora or mailed to: FNB, P.O.Box 995, Sorrento, FL 32776. Please note "Kyle Fund" on the check's memo line.

Hurricane season is upon us and it is time to check your supplies. Lake County Florida has been fortunate since the 2004 hurricane season when we were pummeled every three weeks by the likes of Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jean.

This year the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is calling for 12 to 16 named storms and 2 to 5 of those being major. Will we experience another season like 2004 or will we have the worry-free season like 2007? We don’t know. The key is to be prepared for a 2004 and breathe a sigh of relief when we get 2007.

So what supplies should you have in your emergency kit?

· One (1) gallon of water per person per day (Don’t forget additional water for pets.)

· 3-day supply of non-perishable food – ready to eat canned meat, fruit and vegetables—canned juices, high-energy foods, vitamins, baby food – comfort and stress foods

· Can opener

· NOAA weather radio – extra batteries

· First Aid Kit – including bandages, gauze, cold pack small scissors, tweezers, antibiotic ointment, tape, antiseptic wipes, hand wipes, hand sanitizer, pain reliever

· Paper goods – plates, napkins, cups and plastic forks, spoons and knives

· Battery operated radio – extra batteries

· Flashlights – extra batteries

· Fire extinguisher

· Tools – pliers, shut-off wrench

· Large tarps

· Garbage bags

· Rope

· Cash – remember, if the power is out ATMs will not be operational

You should have a full emergency kit at your home. You may choose to have a smaller version of this kit in your vehicle.

If you decide to purchase a generator please learn how to safely operate it prior to an emergency. The same goes for chainsaws and all power tools.

Once your area has been placed under a hurricane watch (which means there is a threat of hurricane conditions within 24 to 36 hours):

· Make sure your emergency kit is properly stocked

· Gas up your vehicle

· Bring in or secure outdoor objects such as patio furniture, toys and garden tools

· Clear your yard of debris

· Install storm protection devices such as hurricane shutters.

· Gather important documents and either put them with your emergency kit or place them in your car.

Remember in the event of a hurricane you may be several days without power and roadways may be unsafe to travel. Take personal responsibility for your well-being and prepare accordingly.

Interested in buying or selling a home in northeast Lake County Florida, including Eustis, Mount Dora, Howey-in-the-Hills, Tavares and Sorrento contact JoEllen E. Stranger-Thorsen, REALTOR® for all your real estate needs. Visit my website.

Lately I have been asked at least three times a week if the Lake County, Florida real estate market has hit bottom. Well the short answer is, "I don't know." But that answer doesn't help anyone.

I'm going to give you my opinion.

I do not think the market has hit bottom yet. That is not to say we have far to go before we hit bottom. I'm just saying there is still some more market correction that needs to take place.

Buyers still have a great deal of negotiating power. But before you buyers go out and hunt down a house to make a ridiculously low ball offer on, please note that I said you have negotiating power. Power does not mean you can steal a house.

Power means: 1.) You have a good selection of homes available for consideration. 2) You can take your time to make a decision. 3.) You can do your homework and make a fair market value offer that most likely will be accepted.

While I am on the subject I will let you in on a secret. I do not care what the media says, not all sellers are on the brink of foreclosure and therefore most are not going to just give the house away.

Over the past several months I have seen more buyers actively looking at homes. Instead of just surfing the web to look buyers are actually contacting REALTORS®. My phone is ringing a little more and my e-mail inbox is seeing more activity. Could it be the market in Lake County is on its way up? I'll let you know when the facts are in.

Sellers be ready the buyers are surfacing.

I have been remiss in checking in with my web site as of late. So this morning I check in, made some changes, altered some wording and then came to my blog -- 22 days since my last post! That just won't do.

Since I am new to blogging, it takes me a while to put together a post. I don't like to be rushed and I definitely don't want to go back and edit for mispellings and the like. So I put it off until I have a good hour or two to work on it.

Guess what happens when You have two children in the house and you want an hour or two of uninterrupted time? I'll give you a hint, it's been 22 days!

I haven't been totally unaware of the time. I have been out and about taking photos with the anticipation of putting them in blog posts. While volunteering at Faith Lutheran School's library I scanned a book on Lake County history. (I found out some very fascinating facts I was unaware of, Al Capone slept here!)

So although it's been 22 days since it won't be 22 days until.

Thank you for stopping by and if you are interested in buying or selling in Lake County, FL give me a call.

I have entered the world of blogging. I've been trying this new to me practice for a few weeks now on Active Rain. And I can say, I am already addicted.

For those of you who don't know, Active Rain is an on-line community for real estate and real estate related professionals to network and socialize. Consumers can go there also and get information on just about anyplace in North America.

I am no fancy blogger. I have seen blogs with widgets, video, wikis and more. One day I may be able to do all that stuff. But for now I want to share what I know about the Northeastern area of Lake County, FL and I'll throw in a couple of pictures.

I especially love the pictures. I came down with the photography bug several years ago working as a crime scene investigator. Yes, I fell in love with photography taking pictures of crime scenes. I was hooked and I have boxes of photographs to prove it. Digital cameras have just fed my hunger. I have disc after disc of photos and those jump drives are gold!

My camera is with me wherever I go.

What do I hope to accomplish with this blog? Not much. I look forward to sharing information and events in Mount Dora, Eustis, Tavares and the surrounding area of Northeast Lake County, Florida. I will include my pictures. I will also give my opinion on market conditions, house prices, the whole real estate process. There will probably be some entries about my family, life and faith.

So hop on board and let's see where this journey takes us.