Am I a “normal” Realtor?

There is an article in the August 2010 edition of Florida Realtor” magazine that caught my eye.

Find out how much you have in common with the typical Realtor in Florida.

You’re a normal Realtor in Florida if you have nine years of experience and a personal website, and you performed eight transactions in 2009. According to the 2010 Florida Realtors Member Profile, here are some other characteristics of Florida members:

• 81 percent of members specialize in residential brokerage in Florida and have nine years of experience.

Yes, this describes me. I’m a residential Realtor with about 9 years of experience.

• About two-thirds of all Realtors in Florida reported having a website, one in 10 members reported having a real estate blog and more than half use social media.

I have a real estate blog. You’re actually reading it now. I also have several other real estate sites including a Facebook page and Twitter account.

• The median gross income of Realtors in 2009 in Florida was $34,000.

My gross income in 2009 was significantly above the median gross income.

• The typical Realtor is a 54-year-old white female who attended college and owns a home. In fact, 56 percent of Florida members are female.

I’m a 41-year old white male with a BA in Business Administration, emphasis in marketing, from the University of South Florida. Yes, I’m a home owner.

• The typical Realtor earned 18 percent of his or her business from past customers.

I earn well over 50% of my income from past customers and referrals. And if you’re one of them….thank you!

• Realtors’ media business expenses fell to $4,960.

I spend more than this per year just advertising on Realtor.com.

The complete report is available online at floridarealtors.org/Research/index.cfm

Largo Florida Townhomes & Condos

Are you looking to buy a condo or townhome in Largo, Florida? You owe it to yourself to take a look at Cumberland Trace townhomes. Built in 2004 Cumberland Trace is one of the newest and nicest townhome or condo subdivisions in the city of Largo. Next time you’re out take a drive through the community and you’ll see that Cumberland Trace not only makes a nice investment, but it’s a fantastic community to call home.

Town houses, by definition, have 2 stories. The town homes in Cumberland Trace of Largo all have 1,271 square feet (not including the 1-car garages) with both huge bedrooms upstairs. The master bath is incredible featuring dual sinks and a garden tub larger than I have personally EVER seen in any townhome, condo or even house. You can almost swim in it. The master baths also have volume ceilings so they feel extra large. Walk-in showers too.

Cumberland Trace has a great swimming pool – and it’s heated year round! The pool is fenced in and private to residents only. There are bathrooms and a shelter for family BBQ’s.

If you’re interested in additional information about the townhomes of Cumberland Trace please call Chris at 727-804-5319. I’d be happy to help you find your next home, whether it be a purchase or a rental.

National Flood Insurance Program and Homebuyer Tax Credit Closing Deadline Both Extended

Congress has passed an extension of the closing deadline for the Homebuyer Tax Credit, the Homebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act (H.R. 5623). The extension applies only to transactions that have ratified contracts in place as of April 30, 2010, that have not yet closed. The legislation is designed to create a seamless extension; the new closing deadline for eligible transactions is now September 30, 2010. There will be no gap between June 30 and the date the President signs the bill into law.

NAR worked closely with Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle to enact this important legislation. Extending the tax credit closing deadline will help provide additional stability to real estate markets across the nation.

Additionally, the Senate has passed the National Flood Insurance Program Extension Act of 2010 (H.R. 5569), an extension of the National Flood Insurance Program until September 30, 2010. This will allow transactions to move forward. The bill is retroactive and covers the lapse period from June 1, 2010, to the date of enactment of the extension. NAR members sent more than 250,000 letters to Members of Congress encouraging them to extend the program.

Source: National Association of Realtors, Community and Political Affairs & Government Affairs

http://www.realtoractioncenter.com/

Pending home sales drop as expected

WASHINGTON – July 1, 2010 – Following a surge driven by the homebuyer tax credit, pending home sales fell, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). To qualify for the credit, homebuyers needed a signed contract by April 30, 2010.

The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI), a forward-looking indicator, dropped 30.0 percent to 77.6 based on contracts signed in May from a reading of 110.9 in April, and is 15.9 percent below May 2009 when it was 92.3. The falloff comes on the heels of three strong monthly gains as homebuyers rushed to take advantage of the tax credit.

The data reflects contracts and not closings, which normally occur with a lag time of one or two months. However, many closings have been delayed recently from a rush of buyers into the system and slow processing of short sales, in addition to the heavy volume and a more thorough loan underwriting process.

“Consumers are rational and they rushed to meet the (April 30) tax credit eligibility deadline in April,” says NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun. “The sharp decline in contract signings in May is a natural result with similar low levels of sales activity anticipated in June. Surprisingly, though, some local markets such as Portland, Maine, and Jacksonville, Fla., actually experienced an increase in contract signings from a year ago without the tax credit.

“Existing-home sales that close in June will remain elevated, but we’ll then see a notable decline for July and August.” Read more

May shows continued strong pace for existing-home sales

WASHINGTON – June 22, 2010 – Existing-home sales remained at elevated levels in May on buyer response to the tax credit, characterized by stabilizing home prices and historically low mortgage interest rates, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Gains in the West and South were offset by a decline in the Northeast; the Midwest was steady.

Existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.66 million units in May, down 2.2 percent from an upwardly revised surge of 5.79 million units in April. May closings are 19.2 percent above the 4.75 million-unit level in May 2009; April sales were revised to show an 8.0 percent monthly gain.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said he expects one more month of elevated home sales. “We are witnessing the ongoing effects of the homebuyer tax credit, which we’ll also see in June real estate closings,” he said. “However, approximately 180,000 homebuyers who signed a contract in good faith to receive the tax credit may not be able to finalize by the end of June due to delays in the mortgage process, particularly for short sales. Read more

Florida’s existing home and condo sales rise in May, 2010

ORLANDO, FL., June 22, 2010 – Sales of existing homes in Florida rose 18 percent in May, marking 21 months that sales activity has increased in the year-to-year comparison, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®.

A total of 16,745 single-family existing homes sold statewide last month compared to 14,172 homes sold in May 2009, according to Florida Realtors. The statewide existing-home median price of $140,400 in May was slightly higher – by $300 – than April’s statewide existing-home median price of $140,100. It marks the third month in a row that the statewide existing-home median price has increased over the previous month’s median.

Across the state, a variety of housing opportunities continues to be available at attractive prices while mortgage interest rates remain historically low, said 2010 Florida Realtors President Wendell Davis, a broker with Watson Realty Corp. in Jacksonville.

“Favorable conditions like this spark buyers’ interest,” Davis said. “However, like the rest of the world, Floridians are deeply concerned about the long-term ramifications of the April 20th explosion of BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil rig, which killed 11 people and triggered the oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.” Read more

Top 10 Most Expensive Tampa Bay Listings

The following 10 listings are the most expensive homes currently on the market in the Tampa Bay area of Florida as of June 17, 2010. They range in price from a high of $17,500,000 to $9,995,000. All are breathtaking.

#1: 706 Guisando De Avila, Tampa, FL 33613 – $17.5 Million

Read more

What documents are needed in a short sale?

What is a short sale?

A short sale is a sales transaction in which the seller’s mortgage lender agrees to accept a payoff of less than the balance due on the loan.

Unfortunately, there is nothing “short” about short sales so be prepared for a lengthy process far more complicated and frustrating than a traditional sale. But in the end a short sale can save your credit from the long-lasting blemish of a foreclosure.

What documentation will I need to provide to my Realtor and lender?

Authorization Letter
An authorization letter giving your lender permission to speak with your Realtor about your loan(s).

2 most recent months of bank statements
You can use your online bank statements. Just print out the last 2 months.

2 most recent months of paycheck stubs
Be sure to use the 2 most recent paychecks or you’ll delay the process.

Last 2 years W-2s
Employers provide this to employees and to the IRS every year.

Last 2 years tax returns
If you missed filing write a note to the lender explaining this fact.

A hardship letter
A letter describing your financial troubles and inability to handle the mortgage payment.

There are many additional forms and documents that your lender may require, but just about every lender requires these above items. It makes sense to start locating these documents immediately when you believe you’re going to be attempting a short sale.

Your Realtor will need to provide an executed sales contract (both buyer and seller have signed), a comparative market analysis justifying the contract price, a signed listing agreement and a HUD-1 settlement statement.

Palm Harbor, FL Short Sale and Bank-Owned Statistics

My clients regularly ask for my professional opinion on the Tampa Bay area real estate market. Are things turning around or will prices continue to decline? Should I sell my house or attempt to find a tenant?

This week I was asked about the overall real estate market in Palm Harbor, Florida, and specifically, what percentage of homes for sale are short sales or bank-owned. So I set about to get some data for this client that I’ll now share right here for anyone interested in Palm Harbor real estate. Keep in mind that these numbers represent a snapshot in time and may not apply if you’re reading this post at a much later date.

As a general rule there is an inverse relationship between list price and percentage of short sales and bank-owned properties. As list price increase the percentage of listings that are short sales or bank-owned decreases. I’ve known this inverse relationship exists, just by virtue of being a full-time Tampa Bay Florida Realtor, but today was my first day running the numbers.

Palm Harbor, Florida Short Sale and Bank-Owned Statistics

I ran a series of MLS searches in Palm Harbor in $100,000 increments. Afterall, I’m trying to demonstrate that as price increases there are fewer and fewer financially distressed properties on the market.

	$0 – $100k	$101 – $200k	$201 – $300k	$301 – $400k
Total	12  (100%)	154  (100%)	125  (100%)	78  (100%)
Short Sales	6  (50%)	41  (27%)	19  (15.2%)	7  (8.9%)
Bank-Owned	3 (25%)	7 (4.5%)	2  (1.6%)	0  (0%)
Regular	3  (25%)	99  (64.3%)	104  (83.2%)	71  (91%)

I’ve called listings that are not short sales and not owned by banks “regular.” In real estate we often term these as “traditional sales.” The point being as price increases the percentage of homes that are financially distressed decreases. In the table above only about 25% of the Palm Harbor Florida listings priced below $100,000 are NOT in financial distress.

I actually ran the numbers for the next 4 $100,000 price increments and the trend continues to the point where there are virtually no financially distressed Palm Harbor listings at the higher end.

	$401 – $500k	$501 – $600k	$601 – $700k	$701 – $800k
Total	46 (100%)	19 (100%)	18 (100%)	4 (100%)
Short Sales	3 (6.5%)	1 (5.3%)	2 (11%)	0 (0%)
Bank-Owned	1 (2.2%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)
Regular	42 (91.3%)	18 (94.7%)	16 (88.9%)	4 (100%)

 

I hope brief study helps my Palm Harbor buyers and sellers understand the current ratio of traditional listings to distressed property listings. As is obvious I have refrained from commenting on why these numbers might be important to buyers and sellers of real estate. That will be a different post.

* These numbers only pertain to single-family houses and not condos, townhomes, villas, or land for sale.
* I rounded my numbers off and might not have always done so perfectly.
* The numbers don’t always add up to 100% because there are a few other seldom used categories in MLS, such as “pre-foreclosure” and “in foreclosure.”

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Buying a Home

Buying a home is the single most important financial move in most people’s lives. It only makes sense to have the most pertinent information available before plunging into this difficult process, especially for first-time buyers. This book covers a variety of buying aspects including inspecting, evaluating, negotiating, financing, contracts, and legal issues. The thorough advice, covering everything from buying houses at auctions to what neighborhood to live in, will provide reassurance for every soon-to-be homeowner.

Expect prices in Tampa Bay to drop even more

We hear so many different opinions on the subject of home values and the overall real estate industry that it is very difficult to know who or what to trust. I’m here to tell you that nobody really knows and anyone who claims to be an expert on the subject is trying to sell you something.

As someone who lives and breaths real estate I can say with complete confidence that I don’t know what the future holds. All I know for certain is that there are too many homes on the market for the quantity of buyers, and as a result prices are down and will remain down. If you’re looking to sell now or in the immediate future you need to face the music. You’re not going to get what you probably feel you deserve for your home should you decide to sell in 2010.

According to Inman News

National home prices were up slightly in February from a year ago — the first annual increase in more than three years — but are expected to give up those gains and more later this year, according to a report from First American CoreLogic.

First American CoreLogic’s LoanPerformance Home Price Index showed prices up 0.3 percent in February from a year ago, compared to a 0.5 percent year-over-year price decline in January.

The index currently shows a 30.6 percent decline in national home prices from an April, 2006 peak, or 21.7 percent if distressed properties are excluded.

Will the $8,000 tax credit be extended?

According to my sources the $8,000 tax credit will NOT be extended. There simply is not enough money available to extend this first-time home buyer tax credit. So it is now or never folks. If you’d like to benefit from this tax credit you need to be under contract in the next few weeks and closed by June 30, 2010. This means short sales aren’t going to work. Concentrate on traditional sales and bank-owned or you will miss the tax credit. Anyone that tells you that you can go under contract and close on a short sale by June 30, 2010 is either under the influence of something exotic or completely inexperienced with short sales.

Directory of 55+ Housing Communities

I’ve found a really great site for researching which Florida housing communities are for people aged 55 and up. The Florida Commission on Human Relations updates their Directory of 55+ Housing Communities weekly so you can expect their site to be a solid resource.

Search The 55+ Housing Directory by county or city. As an example here are all of the 55+ Communities in Pinellas County. Here are the 55+ Housing Communities in Hillsborough County, and finally here are the 55+ Communities in Pasco County. Of course, you can search all counties in Florida too. I just happen to work almost exclusively in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco.

Can I still get the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit?

This is a question I’m being asked regularly these days both through email and in person. The answer is that there is still time to cash in on this tax credit, but your window of opportunity is shrinking daily. If you’re not out looking at homes right now you need to be. In order to qualify for the tax credit you need to have a fully executed sales agreement by April 30, 2010. And then you need to close by June 30, 2010.

If you want to take advantage of this first-time home buyer tax credit I strongly suggest you get started right away. It usually takes at least a few weeks to find the right home and then you might not win in the negotiation process. Another buyer could buy the house out from under you causing you to have to start the search again. It is better to get moving today and get under contract as quickly as possible.

Bending over backwards for buyers

It’s 2010 and the real estate market in the United States is still in turmoil. Nobody knows what the real long-term prognosis is for this troubled sector of the nation’s economy. Recent news shows us that home sales have now fallen for four straight months, hitting a record-low in February.

With all this uncertainty it is very important to figure out which factors in the equation you can control to some degree. As a home seller you need to realize just how precious and valuable each and every showing opportunity is. You can’t control the big picture, such as the economy or demand for real estate, but you can control the small picture, such as how well your home shows and how easy it is for buyers’ agents to show your home.

All too often sellers get asked to allow a showing on short notice or during inopportune times. Yes, this is annoying and frustrating. I get this. But there is an old idiom, “beggars can’t be choosers,” that really applies here. That buyer that calls 30 minutes before they want to see your house could very well be the buyer that steps up to the plate and makes an offer. Turning him or her away simply on principle because you’re upset they didn’t give you advanced warning of their arrival could backfire on you. That might have been the only buyer interested in your home.

Sometimes you have to swallow your pride and stifle your frustration. Allow that showing while you’re making dinner or watching a recording of the latest American Idol episode. Keep the goal in mind. You want to sell and you cannot sell without showings.

The Florida Reader: Visions of Paradise from 1530 to the Present

By Jack C. Lane & Maurice, Jr. O’Sullivan

Anthology of writings about Florida-a historical and literary introduction to our state’s rich and diverse culture. From early Spanish myths and Seminole and African-American folktales to the latest descriptions of modern Miami. For students of literature and Floridiana.

Programs hold key to homeownership

By SUZETTE PORTER
Article published on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010 at www.tbnweekly.com

There has never been a better time to buy your own home.

Real estate prices are down. Stimulus money is available as is federal dollars for county and municipalities to purchase and rehab property in eligible neighborhoods throughout Pinellas.

“Now is a great time to purchase a home,” said Daphne Johnson-Mccluster, senior community planning specialist with Pinellas County’s Housing Finance Authority and Community Development Department.

One of the reasons now is such a good time, especially for first-time homebuyers, is the up to $8,000 in federal homebuyer tax credit for qualified buyers who purchase a home before April 30, she said.

A tax credit of up to $6,500 also is available for buyers who have owned and used the same home as a primary residence for at least five consecutive years out of the past eight years.

An obstacle for many potential homebuyers, who would like to take advantage of the tax credit, is coming up with the money for a down payment and closing costs.

Johnson-McCluster said HFA could help.

The county currently is working with qualified buyers to help them get money they need to buy a house now and then repay the loan when they receive their stimulus refund.

Generally, the program is available to veterans and people who have not owned a home in the past three years with certain income restrictions. Repayment of the no interest loans is due 10 days after receipt of the tax refund. In some cases, longer repayment plans can be arranged.

Properties located inside the city limits of Clearwater, Largo, St. Petersburg and Belleair Shore are not eligible. However, Johnson-McCluster said some of those municipalities offer other programs that help with cost of buying a home.

Johnson-McCluster said HFA also offers additional programs all aimed at helping people afford their own homes. She said programs differ depending on the potential buyer’s income.

She encourages people who have been thinking about buying a home but need some financial assistance to give the county at call at 464-8210. People interested in the tax credit program can call Flo Harding at 464-8237.

Johnson-McCluster advises anyone thinking about buying a home to attend a homebuyer education class. She said the classes teach people important information such as the terminology used by the banks and Realtors. She said people learn what to expect from the home-buying process, how to get credit, home inspections and budgeting to afford a home.

She said some FHA programs require participants to attend class to qualify.

She said after people get educated about what it takes to buy a home, they should request a copy of their credit report. She said if necessary, they should contact a nonprofit credit counseling service, such as Consumer Credit Counseling and Homebuyer’s Club of Tampa Bay, for help.

Next, Johnson-McCluster recommends people contact a mortgage broker to get pre-qualified or pre-approved. For a list of current mortgage companies and lenders participating in the county’s programs, call 464-8210.

Once a person is pre-qualified and knows how much house they can afford, Johnson-McCluster recommends calling a licensed Realtor for help. The county does not recommend Realtors.

“We have homes looking for good owners,” Johnson-McCluster said. “And we’re going to have more property to sell to income qualified people thanks to the neighborhood stabilization funds.”

Johnson-McCluster is talking about the county’s receipt of $17.8 million for neighborhood stabilization from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

According to a press release, the funding is part of a $50 million award to Florida Suncoast Partners, a consortium consisting of Neighborhood Lending Partners, Pasco County, and Pinellas County.

The cities of Clearwater and Largo also collaborated with the consortium to prepare the grant. Pinellas County’s share will be used in eligible neighborhoods throughout unincorporated Pinellas, Largo, Clearwater, Safety Harbor, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs and Oldsmar that represent a high number of foreclosures.

The money will be used to help halt the decline of property values in neighborhoods that have been heavily impacted by the foreclosure crisis, the press release said.

Single-family and multi-family properties in physical decline will be purchased and renovated. Once properties have been refurbished, they will be sold or rented to income-qualified households.

Help with down payment and closing costs will also be available under the new program.

Johnson-McCluster admits that homeownership is not for everyone. She said people have to be realistic about what they can afford and understand they will be responsible for their property.

However, for people who are ready, the rewards in terms of tax benefits and stability are worth it, she said.

“Homeowners help make the community a better place,” she said. “Our staff is willing ready and able to help.”

Tampa on My Mind

Edited by Dr. Kimberly Williams, Mr. Greg Thomas, Mr. Ronald D. Williams, & Cheryl Borman

A photographic celebration of the city

“Gives readers a wonderful introduction to Tampa, both past and present.”–Rodney Kite-Powell, Saunders Foundation Curator of History at the Tampa Bay History Center

“Tampa is a great tourist destination, but more than that it is long walks on Bayshore Boulevard, quiet neighborhoods, and hand-rolled cigars. . . . Rich in history, beauty, and culture, our city offers something for everyone.”–from the foreword by the Honorable Pam Iorio

Tampa, Florida. “Cigar City.” “The Big Guava.” Nestled on the northeast corner of magnificent Tampa Bay, on Florida’s Gulf Coast, the city holds a unique charm for visitors and residents alike.

Tampa on My Mind is a visually stunning project, featuring the work of several top-notch professional photographers. The result is an intimate photographic tour of Tampa that goes beyond the traditional attractions and views of the impressive city skyline. Divided into sections that illustrate distinct aspects of this world-class city, the book also includes a historical essay that chronicles the growth of Tampa over the past two centuries.

The city of Tampa boasts a population of more than 300,000 and is the crown jewel in the Tampa Bay metropolitan area of 2.7 million (the third largest area in the southeast, after Miami and Atlanta). Tampa on My Mind is the first photographic celebration of the city to appear in more than a decade, a work long overdue.

Insiders’ Guide to the Greater Tampa Bay Area: Including Tampa, St. Petersburg, & Clearwater

By Anne W. Anderson

Anne W. Anderson has explored the Tampa/St. Petersburg area for over thirty years and written about  Florida’s West Coast for the St. Petersburg Times and Tampa Bay Newspapers, Inc. In addition to being a freelance journalist, she write children’s stories, liturgical dramas, ad copy, poetry, and grocery lists. Anne teaches seminars and short courses about writing, children and media, and liturgical drama.

Manatee Insanity: Inside the War over Florida’s Most Famous Endangered Species

By Craig Pittman

Why is the manatee just as imperiled today as it was 40 years ago?

“The best available, most factual account of the decades-long struggle to protect the Florida manatee, skillfully told by a veteran journalist who has followed the story closely. I’ve been involved in this controversy for over 30 years, and I learned countless things about it that I never knew!”–Daryl Domning, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution.

“The Florida legislature gave the manatee its own license plate, and Jimmy Buffet sang poetic lyrics about the iconic creature, but Craig Pittman offers a whole new perspective–the manatee as battleground. With a cast of characters including environmentalists and biologists, developers and boaters, lawyers and lobbyists, politicians and shady citizens, Manatee Insanity is a colorful work of non-fiction.”–Keith Rizzardi, South Florida Water Management District.

Loveable or loathed? Poster child for conservation efforts or impediment to development? Nuisance or in need of protection? For the past two decades, the quiet manatee has been a flash point of frequent environmental debates.

Included on the very first endangered species list issued in 1967, the docile creatures have stirred curiosity and passions for more than a hundred years. They are Florida’s most famous endangered species, as well as its most controversial. Manatees appear on hundreds of license plates, attract hordes of tourists, and expose the uneasy relationships between science and the law and between freedom and responsibility like no other animal.

As passions have flared and resentments have grown, the battle over manatee protection has evolved into a war, and no reporter has followed the story more closely than Craig Pittman. He’s flown with scientists trying to count manatees from overhead. He’s been on the water with the leader of the biggest pro-boater group. He’s observed biologists dissecting the animals and politicians discussing their fate.

Manatee Insanity provides the first in-depth history of the attempts to provide legal protection for the manatee. Along the way, Pittman takes a close look at the major and minor players in the dispute, from Jacques-Yves Cousteau to Jeb Bush, from Jimmy Buffett to O. J. Simpson, from a popular children’s book author to a federal lawman who dressed in a gorilla suit for the ultimate undercover assignment.

Weird Florida: Your Travel Guide to Florida’s Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets

By Charlie Carlson

This book makes you feel proud to be a Floridian. Graphic and in depth, Weird Florida probes into the dark under belly of our battered state. I discovered stuff I drove by all the time that I never thought much about. Now I know–it’s weird! Much better than those Roadside America books since this goes into more depth. I’m looking forward to getting the other books. – Amazon.com Review

Tampa Bay Realtor – Short Sale Specialist

Are you considering buying or selling real estate in the Tampa Bay area? More than likely your home is going to be worth less than you owe if you bought in the past four years. This poses a challenge to both buyer and seller as the transaction is much more complicated and lengthy than a sale where the seller is walking away from the closing with money.

If you owe more than you can sell your home for you will need to consider a short sale, and to do a short sale you need an experienced and knowledgeable Realtor with a proven track record for selling short sales in the Tampa Bay market. Please consider calling me today at 727-804-5319 and I’ll help get your home sold. With close to a 100% success rate with Florida short sales I have the knowledge and experience to navigate the complexities of loss mitigation and short sale negotiation.

Open Road’s Best of the Florida Keys & Everglades by Bruce Morris

Open Road’s Best of the Florida Keys gives readers a great mix of unique trips of varying lengths for great diving and fishing, kayaking through mangrove swamps and hundreds of square miles of sand and turtle grass flats, sightseeing along the bridges and causeways of stunning overseas highway, and visiting the fun and quirky towns along the way to anything-goes Key West. This edition includes a new chapter just on visiting Everglades National Park. Morris explores the delights of quaint B&B’s delicious seafood, the small islands and coral reefs that make up Dry Tortugas National Park, historic walks through Key West’s old town-and where to go to relax, hang out on a remote beach, and watch a beautiful sunset.

About the Author

Bruce Morris is also the author of Open Road’s Best of Panama and co-author of Open Road’s Best of Costa Rica.

Charles Rutenberg Realty is on the rise

Over 3700 agents have joined Charles Rutenberg Realty.

30 agents joined Charles Rutenberg Realty this month! They decided to keep all of their commission. They heard of the free training, the social/charitable events, a non-competing broker with the best staff in the business and much more.

Hidden Florida Keys and Everglades: Including Key Largo and Key West

Perfect for lovers of hot beaches and warm water with complete information on swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving and boating. This book guides readers to both famous and unknown spots all along the beautiful string of islands. It also includes reviews of over 80 local restaurants including the best places for fresh seafood and homemade key lime pie.

Amazon.com Review

Candace Leslie’s Hidden Florida Keys And Everglades is a compact and reliable guide to the unique attractions and outdoor activities of Florida. Complete travel information is provided for sightseeing, lodging, dining, shopping, and urban nightlife. For the outdoor enthusiast there is sound advice and suggestions for camping, hiking, diving, canoeing, horseback riding, biking, and fishing. For the truly adventurous there are “hidden locales” where you can find such time capsules as the Historic Smallwood Store Museum, built in 1906 as a trading post for settlers and Seminole Indians; underwater attractions such as the San Pedro Underwater Archaeological Preserve where an 18th-century galleon went down in a hurricane; and Civil War sites such the Fort Zachary Taylor State Historic Site featuring the remains of an 1845 fort. If you are Florida bound, begin your trip with a copy of Hidden Florida Keys And Everglades.

Your Florida Will, Trusts, & Estates Explained: Simply Important Information You Need to Know

By Linda Ashar

Few people want to think about what would happen to their family if they become disabled or die; however, planning for these occurrences in advance will reduce potential stress on your family later in life. This new book will take the guesswork out of planning your estate and help you finally understand the complex processes. The right plan can protect the value of your estate and spare your loved ones unnecessary hassles and legal conflicts. Your Florida Wills, Trusts, & Estates will help you glide through this complicated process.

This new book has been adapted to offer Florida residents state-specific advice for estate planning. Author Linda C. Ashar, Attorneys at Law, has crafted an estate planning primer, allowing Florida residents to become more informed and more involved during the process. Your Florida Wills, Trusts, & Estates will provide all the information you need to choose, set up, and execute a will, trust, or estate. You will learn the legal terminology, including beneficiary, probate, trustor, trustee, assets, guardianship, and executor. You will also learn about trust agreements, trust property, settlement costs, life insurance, durable power of attorney, marital deductions, gift splitting, survivorship deeds, gift tax issues, generation skipping transfer tax, tax deferred accounts, and advance directives.

Florida -specific information is offered throughout this book, including: Florida probate code; Florida rules, regulations, and laws specific to estate planning; elements of a valid Florida will; planning your living will in Florida; explanations of Florida laws regarding durable health care power of attorneys, do not resuscitate (DNR) orders, and directives to withhold CPR. The book s easy-to-understand context clarifies this complicated and sensitive subject and gives readers the power to take control of their future.

Whether you are writing your will, establishing a trust, planning your estate for the first time, or updating and revising your previous plans, Your Florida Wills, Trusts, & Estates will give you all the tools and knowledge you need to decide where and to whom your assets will go when you die. Other books offer a non-state-specific overview of estate planning, causing many readers to be misinformed about rules and regulations particular to their state; but, this new book provides information Florida residents need to know. Do not get outdated or wrong information that does not pertain to you specifically. Use this new book to craft an estate plan that is not only legally sound but also fully carries out your last wishes and protects your loved ones.

Seminole Voices: Reflections on Their Changing Society, 1970-2000 (Florida Indians)

By Julian M. Pleasants and Harry A. Kersey Jr.

In a series of interviews conducted from 1969 to 1971 and again from 1998 to 1999, more than two hundred members of the Florida Seminole community described their lives for the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program at the University of Florida. Some of those interviews, now showcased in this volume, shed light on how the Seminoles’ society, culture, religion, government, health care, and economy had changed during a tumultuous period in Florida’s history.

In 1970 the Seminoles lived in relative poverty, dependent on the Bureau of Indian Affairs, tourist trade, cattle breeding, handicrafts, and truck farming. By 2006 they were operating six casinos, and in 2007 they purchased Hard Rock International for $965 million. Within one generation, the tribe moved from poverty and relative obscurity to entrepreneurial success and wealth.

Seminole Voices relates how economic changes have affected everyday life and values. The Seminoles’ frank opinions and fascinating stories offer a window into the world of a modern Native community as well as a useful barometer of changes affecting its members at the beginning of the twenty-first century.

About the Authors

Julian M. Pleasants is an emeritus professor of history at the University of Florida. He is the author of several books, including Hanging Chads: The Inside Story of the 2000 Presidential Recount in Florida.

Harry A. Kersey Jr. is an emeritus professor of history at Florida Atlantic University. He is the author of several books, including An Assumption of Sovereignty: Social and Political Transformation among the Florida Seminoles, 1953–1979 (Nebraska 1996), and the coauthor of Buffalo Tiger: A Life in the Everglades, available in a Bison Books edition.

Florida Heat Wave by Florida Author Michael Lister

By Michael Lester

The suffocating heat makes you do things—it seeps in through your pores and sucks out your life. Like the bloody smear of a swatted mosquito on sweat-soaked skin, violence erupts suddenly, but the damage lingers.

From the pine tree–lined rural highways of north Florida, the tourist traps of central Florida, and the tropical, international environs of South Beach, come stories of sun-faded noir, orange pulp served up freshly squeezed.

Michael Lister is a novelist, essayist, screenwriter, and playwright who lives in northwest Florida. A former prison chaplain, Michael is the author of the Blood series featuring prison chaplain/detective John Jordan. His second series features Jimmy “Soldier” Riley, a PI in Panama City during World War II (www.FloridaNoir.com). Michael also teaches college, operates a charity and community theater. www.MichaelLister.com

The Complete Guide to Planning Your Estate in Florida

The Complete Guide to Planning Your Estate in Florida: A Step-by-Step Plan to Protect Your Assets, Limit Your Taxes, and Ensure Your Wishes Are Fulfilled for Florida Residents (Back-To-Basics)

What happens to your estate after you are gone is very much within your control. Estate planning is not only for the wealthy; it is for everyone. It is simply the process of deciding where your assets are to be distributed after your death. For those people who wish to preserve their assets for designated purposes such as family or special charities it becomes necessary to make special advance preparations. To ensure your assets are protected and final wishes are carried out, there are some common actions that should be taken now. Proper estate planning allows you to plan for yourself and your loved ones without giving up control of your affairs.

Your estate plan should also allow for the possibility of your own disability. It should detail what you own and whom you want to leave it to at a time of your choosing and the way you want. Your estate plan should include fully disclosed, controlled costs for you and your loved ones. The last thing you want to worry about is having your estate drained of value through taxes and legal costs. The right plan can protect the value of your estate and spare your loved ones unnecessary hassles and legal conflicts.

The Complete Guide to Planning Your Estate in Florida will help you glide through this complicated process. This new book has been adapted to offer Ohio residents state-specific advice for estate planning. Author Linda C. Ashar, Attorney at Law, has crafted an estate planning primer, allowing Florida residents to become more informed and more involved during the process. Many books on estate planning indicate you do not need the services of an attorney, but this book highly recommends using an attorney versed in this area: You should not go through the process alone. This book is intended explain the complicated issues, terminology, and planning strategies of estate planning so when you do meet with a qualified attorney, you will be well prepared. You will understand the legal terms and be ready to discuss issues and strategies with familiarity, saving you time and legal fees and ensuring peace of mind.

Florida -specific information is offered throughout this book, including: Florida s probate code; Florida rules, regulations, and laws specific to estate planning; elements of a valid Florida will; planning your living will in Florida; explanations of Florida laws regarding durable health care power of attorneys, do not resuscitate (DNR) orders, and directives to withhold CPR. The book s easy-to-understand context clarifies this complicated and sensitive subject and gives readers the power to take control of their future.

This book also offers an overview of abatement rules, settlement costs, guardianship and minor children, executors and trustees, life insurance, potential long-term care needs, marital deductions, types of trusts, gift splitting, survivorship deeds, 529 plans, reducing or eliminating estate taxes, avoiding tax on life insurance, using insurance to pay estate taxes, gift tax issues, generation skipping transfer tax, and tax-deferred accounts.

Estate planning should be a positive experience. It involves reviewing your situation and planning for your future. Although few people want to think about the possibility of disability or disease, advance planning is also a way to show your love and to reduce potential distress later. Other books offer a non-state-specific overview of estate planning, causing many readers to be misinformed about rules and regulations particular to their state; but, this new book provides information Florida residents need to know. Do not get outdated or wrong information that does not pertain to you specifically. Use this new book to craft an estate plan that is not only legally sound but also fully carries out your last wishes and protects your loved ones.

Florida (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE)

With its theme parks and fabulous beaches, The Sunshine State deserves its reputation as the perfect family vacation spot. But Florida offers much more to those who venture away from their beach towels. This is the perfect guide to exploring all that the state has to offer, including the extraordinary diversity of wildlife at Everglades and the Keys, and the rich mix of Caribbean, north and south American culture. With over 1000 photographs and illustrations, plus top recommendations on where to stay, shop and eat.

Recognized the world over by frequent flyers and armchair travelers alike, Eyewitness Travel Guides are the most colorful and comprehensive guides on the market. With beautifully commissioned photographs and spectacular 3-D aerial views revealing the charm of each destination, these amazing travel guides show what others only tell. Includes beautiful new full-color photos, illustrations, and enhanced maps Extensive information on local customs, currency, medical services, and transportation New “Discovering” feature helps decide which regions are best suited to the trip.

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