Sales of vacation homes are on the rise, according to the Jan 10, 2011 WSJ.  Some levels of sales are equal to those in 2007, at the height of the housing market. According to the NAR, one in 10 real estate transactions in 2009 was for the purchase of a vacation home. And though a small fraction of the overall market, it is significant because vacation homes are often big-ticket properties and attract discretionary buyers.

Still, in most markets where demand has improved, prices haven’t.

Imagine looking out your window today and seeing sandy beaches and sunny skies. It’s here and it’s waiting for you. Whether you’re thinking of a single-family home, condominium, or an oceanfront retreat, Ponte Vedra Beach and the greater Jacksonville, Florida area is waiting for you.

According to the January 10, 2011 Wall Street Journal, vacation homes are on the rise. Some sales levels are equal to those in 2007, at the height of the real estate market. And while demand has increased in many areas, prices haven’t, making it the perfect time for you to consider buying your vacation home now. Combine that with the weak U.S dollar and there may be no better time for you to take the next step.

Foreign investors make up over 22% of home purchases in Florida, according to the National Association of Realtors. And with good reason. Ponte Vedra Beach and Northeast Florida real estate is desirable, profitable, and a relatively safe investment.  And have I mentioned “gorgeous” too?

Is it chilly where you are?  Snowing?  Raining?  Cloudy?  Perhaps just boring?  Whether you’re from Canada, the U.K., Germany, France, other parts of Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Venezuela, Brazil, other parts of Latin America, Asia, Australia…come here, come home, to sun, sea, a great investment, and friendly faces. We’re waiting just for you.

Posted by:  Nancy Herbkersman

One of the dilemmas of my customers considering selling their homes is when to put their home on the market. Many sellers want to wait until the market comes back. This is when I hear Paul McCartney’s song “The long and winding road” in my head. Realistically, this is not going to be overnight and will likely take many years to recover from this last “adjustment.”

Because profit today for sellers over what they owe can be very illusive, I now see my job as “minimizing losses.” Although this may have negative connotations for some, others actually are inspired more by this term as they see an end to the listing road and freedom to begin a new life.

The phrase “minimize losses” especially is directed at the starting price for the listing. The prime time for finding a Buyer is the first couple weeks of a listing and having it priced to attract the Buyers is critical. Showing my customers their competition, even if that means visiting these homes, is a must to chip away at the perceived value of their home. It does not make them feel any better about the reduced value, but it allows them to rationalize the marketplace in their minds.

I guess for those patronizing the craps table at your favorite casino, you could equate “Maximizing Profit” and “Minimizing Losses” with the “Pass” and “Don’t Pass” bets. One is considered a positive bet and the other a negative bet although the odds are virtually the same. However, I think for real estate the rolls of these two phases has reversed and I look at the term “Minimizing Losses” as the positive.

Mary Beth and I will do our best to minimize your loss and help you move on with your life. Please contact us through our website for a kitchen table meeting of your options.

Posted by:  Frank Wright

Mary Beth and I just listed a cute brick bungalow on a corner lot less than 7 blocks from the Ocean. The house was built in 1946 in red brick and has been in the family since built. Having survived a number of hurricanes is testament to the structure of this home. It even has roll down hurricane shutters on the front screen porch!

The possibilities of this home are unlimited as a permanent home or summer beach house. It is a 3 bedroom 1 bath (in the forties and fifties people my age accepted the bathroom sharing routine as normal) home. The house has only 937 centrally heated and cooled square feet; however, they managed to fit a living/dining room, 3 bedrooms, 1 bath and a kitchen very efficiently in that area. These days we have a lot of wasted square feet in a house.

Value added for this property includes a single garage, which is very rare for this size of house, with automatic garage opener, lawn well and irrigation system, original hardwood floors and screen porch with hurricane shutters. The home’s location is not a through street so it is in a quiet area.

The price is listed at $169,000 and for this location and type of house, that is a bargain. If you want to make this house your own please contact us through our website.

Posted by:  Frank Wright

Will real estate get better in 2011? Ok, so this is now the most asked question I get today from people I run into. Now the answer to this is really a matter of perspective.

• Sellers – Hopefully things will get better and the value of homes will increase as will the number of Buyers.
• Buyers – Hopefully things will get better and the value of homes will decrease and I will be able to buy my dream home.
• REALTORS – Hopefully things will get better and we will not have as many short sales, foreclosures and banks will make it easy for qualified buyers to get financing.
• Congress – Hopefully things will get better and corporations will create new jobs and current workers will have job security.
• Builders – Hopefully things will get better and building materials will go down in price and allow us to compete with the prices of re-sales.
• Banks – Hopefully things will get better and we can unload our huge inventory of short sale properties and REO’s.

Everybody is hopeful that their experience in 2011 will be a good one. So what do I tell people that ask me if real estate will get better in 2011? “Thank you for asking, I think it is going to be a fantastic year”. From optimism there is growth, from pessimism there nothing.

Mary Beth and I are bullish on 2011 and welcome all sellers and buyers to join us in our quest to make 2011 a great year for all of us. We love referrals and hope that you will send people to us via our website.

Happy Holidays from The Two Beach Nuts!!! See you in 2011.

Posted by:  Frank Wright

OUR BEAUTIFUL VENETIAN BAY COMMUNITY WELCOMES BUILDER D.R. HORTON!

Just a few short miles from our gorgeous beach is the New Smyrna Beach community of Venetian Bay. “Dream child” of developer Jerry Johnson, this fantastic community has grown over the last two years. Sitting just a short way out on the western outskirts of our city, this community sports single family homes, townhomes, condos and a town center, complete with restaurants, Pubs, fitness center, entertainment venues, shops, many parks and nature walks, and pools.

The community also sports a gorgeous 18-hole golf course and country club. The golf course is an 18-hole Lloyd Clifton World Championship Golf Course and with its stunning Country Club makes this area truly special. Membership in the Golf Course and Country Club is optional.

Nationally know and respected builder D.R. Horton has just bought up multiple lots in Venetian Bay and plans on building many fine homes both custom built and inventory (already built) homes. At this time D.R. Horton is concentrating mainly in the Savona North and Savona South area of Venetian Bay with models available to see and inventory homes ready to buy.

Both inventory and custom homes are priced right and I am available to show you either or provide information.

Ask me about showings, information, or plans. Inventory homes start in the $140,000s and custom built homes can run in the $130,000s.

D.R. Horton has also taken over about 40 lots in Sugar Mill Gardens sitting just south of our Sugar Mill Golf and Country Club. Homes are being started there (and a model is being built) and run in the same price range as the Venetian Bay homes. Contact me for more information, plans, or showings.

No matter which subdivision you choose, New Smyrna Beach is a great place to live. I have a townhome currently listed in Venetian Bay. Call me to ask about this three bedroom, three baths, two car garage newer home today…

Do all your searches at www.jenandfredfair.com!

Call 386-576-6564!

Posted by:  Fred Fair

Oh my goodness, the real estate world has gone crazy! Are you sitting by the heater up north wondering why you are not sitting on your oceanfront lanai in Florida? Have you been waiting for the prices to drop so you can buy a second home for you and the family? You need to get up and call Mary Beth and I (904-534-7655) or contact us at our website for a phenomenal deal going on right here in Jacksonville Beach.

Aquilus III is the third in a line of top notch Condo communities. They are all loaded with features and to be honest Aquilus III is the most beautiful of the three. As it turns out the Patten Company who successfully sold Stoney Creek, Cape Sound, and VillageSquareat Palencia at rock bottom prices has acquired the whole building at a very reduced price and is passing the savings to the buying public. Having dealt with them in their other communities, I will attest they are great to work with and they stand by their product.

I could give you all the amenities and benefits of Aquilus III; however, instead I am going to give you the link to it’s website. These units were selling around 2 million each when the real estate market dropped and not they are now starting at $699,000!!!! Every unit is magnificent!

If you are looking to buy an oceanfront condo for pennies on the dollar from the original price now is the time to act. Jacksonville Beach is not Miami for those who have not visited us. We have room to breathe and so many golf courses (including the TPC) that you can play a different course every day.

Come join us on our island (Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach) and enjoy all the things we have to offer like fishing, swimming, bike riding, surfing etc. Call Mary Beth and I when you are ready to come down (or come up) and if Aquilus is not your thing, we will find your thing.

Posted by:  Frank Wright

New Smyrna Beach is blessed with an awesome amount of activates, sports and entertainment options. One of our most important is golf! People flock to our area to enjoy our fantastic golfing and all that goes with it. We have five major golfing communities surrounding us and many more in the Daytona/Port Orange area.

One of our most beautiful, luxurious golfing communities is Sugar Mill, just west of New Smyrna Beach off of Sugar Mill Drive. This community sports two 18 hole championship courses, swimming, tennis, a clubhouse and many gorgeous homes. Homes include single family, townhomes, attached homes, and some really stupendous luxury houses. 

The community is broken-up into sections that surround the two golf courses, Red and Blue. The community is also gated and has a 24-hour guard on duty to insure your security. There is always a smiling face to greet you as they check you into the area.

The clubhouse sits atop a large hill with awesome views of the golf courses and homes surrounding it. It sports a pro shop, locker rooms, restaurants and more. The pool and tennis courts are close by. The restaurant is set up for meals, drinks, and banquets to fill all your needs.

A new listing I just took on is a three bedroom, two bath home right on the 9th fairway! 124 Oakmont Lane is a Brae Burn home complete with a wood deck so you can enjoy the action on the course. The home is just a short walk or ride to the clubhouse area. The home is offered furnished, with a beautiful piano and a newer golf cart all for $139,900.

So if you are looking for a golf community home, just let me know. I specialize in homes and condos at all our major golf courses. Call me at 386/576-6564 or visit my website (http://www.jenandfredfair.com) to find out all the information for our area.

Posted by:  Fred Fair

The Patten Group has struck again and provided buyers with one great deal in Fernandina Beach. Let me present “Cape Sound on Amelia Island.” Located blocks from the ocean on Sadler Road in Fernandina Beach minutes from the quaint shrimping town of Fernandina Beach. Known for it’s famous yearly Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival, Fernandina Beach normally is a town of many great restaurants and shops under tree lined streets. Lots of history and fantastic seafood. You are also very close to Interstate 95 and the Jacksonville Airport.

Now that I have you pumped up about the location, let me talk to you about Cape Sound. Originally sold in the $500,000 range, these new condo units were sold to the Patten Group at cents on the dollar and are now marketed at prices between $249,000 (3 Bedroom/2 1/2 Bath 1992 sq ft) and $329,900 (3 bedroom/3 1/2 bath 2782 sq ft). These are multilevel units that have elevators in the $299,000 and $329,000 units!

All units have great open porches overlooking a good size lake. Lots of windows make the units very light. These units were built to be sold at $500,000 so you can imagine how nicely appointed they are. Did I mention the units have 2 car garages?

What about amenities? This is a small exclusive community and naturally has a nice clubhouse and pool but not many have a private beach club. Yes, each buyer becomes a member of the private beach club house on the beach.

For those that may not be ready to move to Florida, these units could be rented for short vacation stays allowing you to utilize your unit when you want to and rent it the rest of the year.

Mary Beth and I are very excited about these properties. The location is perfect and the units are superb. We both love the lifestyle of Fernandina Beach and would love to show you these properties. If you want to live near the beach do not let this deal pass you up.

Posted by:  Frank Wright

The first question that sellers ask when we go on a listing appointment is “How much is my house worth?” At this point it is our job to look at the customers home and evaluate it based on other sales in the area. This is called a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). This is great stuff except we have a lot of things going on in these economic times. Foreclosures, Short Sales, Auctions, and For Sale by Owner has produced a cloud over this very sensible method.

Sellers have worked very hard to make their homes as close to perfect as possible with new roofs, upgraded kitchens, new windows, new AC/Heat systems etc., Has this increased the chances of a sale on the roulette wheel of buyers? The answer is probably yes that your house is the nicest house of that type in the area. Does it mean you should price above your competitors. The answer to that is probably no.

So what is my house worth? The short answer is whatever someone is willing to pay for it. For example, you have a house that a CMA says is worth $250,000. Your Agent places the house on the Multi-listing Service at that price and you have no showings. Next you reduce the price to $225,000 then to $200,000 and suddenly you get your first contract offer for $150,000. Are these people crazy? No way! Another contract comes in at $154,000. The reality of the economy is starting to rest on your shoulders and it is a heavy burden, You realize Buyers are in the drivers seat and have definite thoughts on what they want, and how much they want to spend for it.

This market does not leave you many choices. Stay if you can and ride out this housing cycle, sell at a very reduced rate or rent.

Mary Beth and I are very realistic about today’s market and will tell you the truth about selling your home. Call us for a kitchen table discussion of your options for your home in Jacksonvile Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra..

Posted by:  Frank Wright

When I think of the Palencia master planned community it conjures up thoughts of elegance, beauty and serenity at premium prices. Covering a range of housing from condominiums to homes as large as hotels. Sitting on a 1450 acre preserve with 33 acres of parks, it is wonderful place to raise a family. Activities abound with a pool, tennis courts and a 33,000 sq ft clubhouse. May I suggest you check out the community by clicking here.

Village Square at Palencia is a group of condominiums nestled in the 40 acre Village Center of Palencia. Condominiums are above the first floor of commercial storefronts with screened balconies overlooking the community. Units are on the 2nd and 3rd floor accessed by elevators that also go to the secure underground parking.

Originally priced between $400-500 thousand these never used units were a casualty of the economic downturn. These units have the best of everything. Trey ceilings, upgraded trim, marble counters, hardwood floors and high quality cabinetry all add to the elegance of these units. Floors and ceiling are constructed with concrete to reduce noise between units. Investors have purchased a group of these units at cents on the dollar and have priced them to sell.

Current prices range from $159,000 for a 1 bedroom w/study to a $306,000 unit with 2 master suites. Many 2 bedroom/2 bath w/study are at an unbelievable price of $189,900.

What makes this offer so great and why should I buy one? Let me give you some reasons.

• I cannot stress enough the quality and amenities offered at these low prices.
• Did you ask about golf? The Palencia course is an Arthur Hill designed course of indescribable beauty. Each hole is private with fairways that do not intersect. The table top greens on many holes are fast and would give the best PGA player a challenge.
• Wonderful amenities and walking trails through the community.
• Kid friendly sport fields and high quality schools. High School students attend Nease High School where Tim Tibow started his football career.
• Close to St. Augustine Airport if you are a private pilot.
• 30 minutes from Jacksonville and just up the road from Historic St. Augustine.
• PRICE!!!!

Ok, I am going to let the Elephant out of the room. Yes there is a CDD fee. If you do not know what a CDD fee is please call us so we can explain it. It is basically an addition to your property tax when the tax bill arrives.

If this sounds like a place that you would be interested in please contact Mary Beth and I, You can also call us at 904-534-7655 or email me at . Please do not wait, homes start selling 13Nov10 and the best ones will go very fast. One more thing, these condos are only 15 minutes from the Fountain of Youth in case you want to take a quick dunk.

Posted by:  Frank Wright

Did you know that Florida leads the world in the number of condominiums? Also Florida has over 50% of the USA Condominiums? If you have trouble sleeping may I suggest the Florida Condo Act (FS 718). A great resource for everything condo.

People generally buy condos because they like the idea of home ownership, but they do not want to be strapped down with home maintenance. Condo owners want the freedom to travel and not worry about the lawn, pool or whatever they have that requires maintenance. Another benefit is that you can live on a premium piece of land (e.g. oceanfront, golf course) at a much lower cost than a single family residence.
Is there a downside to Condos? Not so much a downside, but a different style of living. A condo is a mini-democracy. Each condo has an association that makes decisions for the Condo as a whole and majority rules! The Association sets the rules and regulations to live by. Enter Condo Docs. This publication, which in some cases rivals War and Peace in the number of pages, lays out the rules and regulations including covenets (thou shall not). If you break the rules, the Association will be in touch. Did I mention there is a condo fee usually monthly. Well there is maintenance and everybody pays for the good of all.

We have some great condominiums in Florida and perhaps millions of people that love this type of living. Many condominiums are actually conversions of apartment complexes. Be very aware of this and question your REALTOR^® about any lingering problems with conversions.

Here is a list of questions you should ask when thinking about purchasing a condo unit:

• What is the name of the association, the officers, the address and the phone contact?
• Is there an outside Management Company for the Condo? Also get names, address, phone numbers.
• What is the monthly fee and what does it cover?
• Do they anticipate any increase in fees in the next two years?
• Are there any extraordinary assessments for repairs to common areas or the main buildings?
• Is there any pending litigation between third parties and the Condo Association?
• Does the Condo Assoc. maintain a reserve fund, how is it funded, and what contingencies is it intended to meet?
• Does the Condo Assoc. allow owners to rent their units and what is the minimum rental period?
• If rentals are permitted, what is the ratio of owner occupied units and rental units?

This is not an all inclusive list of questions, but it will get you started. REALTORS deal with Condos everyday and can help you validate whether a condo is right for you. Mary Beth and I will be happy to help you pick out the best Condo for your needs. Just call us and we will go Condo shopping!! Oceanfront condo buyers, be aware of CCCL.

Posted by:  Frank Wright

People always ask us for our recommendations on where to live on Jacksonville’s Southside . First of all, Jacksonville’s Southside has grown considerably due to the building of our new shopping mecca, St. Johns Town Center which offers some of the best shopping and dining in the city.

The Southside is a great collection of old and new homes and condos. Just about every price range can take advantage of living in this area. I want to highlight today a favorite Condo complex of mine that has stood the test of time. The Lakes were built in 1973 on a 43 acre lot that reminds me unbelievably of the north shore of Lake Tahoe, Nevada. The Lakes complex is built around a lake (Lake Tahoe, imagine that) and the majesty of the pines and rolling terrain really give you a feeling that you are not in tropical Florida. There are 158 units in this complex although it is not apparent due to the winding roads that lead you through the complex. Many residents of The Lakes that purchased new Condos in 1973 are still there because they can enjoy the secluded and quiet of the The Lakes and still were only minutes to St.Johns Town Center, Avenue Mall, and the city via Interstate 95.

Ok, Ok Now that you are interested, lets talk about owning your own piece of paradise in The Lakes. There are normally units available in the Lakes, and like everywhere else in Jacksonville you have normal sales, short sales and foreclosed properties. As a result the price points for ownership are very good right now. Some short sale and foreclosure units will need some upgrading, but many times the views are well worth it. The monthly home owners association fees are generally around $380.00/mo. The Lakes have done a great job with this monthly fee of maintaining the property.

Mary Beth and I would love to show you properties in The Lakes. The time we spend there has a very calming effect on us during our normal routine. Please check us out at our website and call or email us to look at The Lakes or any other property that suits your tastes.

Posted by:  Frank Wright

Images: A Festival of the Arts

Atlantic Center for the Arts

Arts on Douglas

Poster for Images

The New Smyrna Beach, FL area is a fantastic place to live, retire, or visit! We have amazing beaches, river activities, fishing, golf, races, and special events to entertain everyone. On top of this we have fantastic restaurants, entertainment venues, and everything you could want in an area that has the most gorgeous, year-round weather.

Besides all of these amazing things, New Smyrna Beach is one of the art capitals of the Southeastern U.S.!!!  We have so many fine arts functions going on year round in this area that it is hard to mention them all. We have art shows, monthly Art Walks, galleries, performance centers, teaching centers, and so much more.

But, the shining star of all of these is Atlantic Center for the Arts or ACA. The Atlantic Center for the Arts was founded by an international group of artists, most of who wintered here. Their efforts combined with the community to build a beautiful artist retreat and learning center off of Arts Center Dr. This center has residences for visiting teachers, classrooms, performance art areas and so much more. It is a crowning achievement for our area.

Besides ACA, we also have a nationally renowned yearly arts festival know as IMAGES, a Festival of the Arts. This yearly festival is held in our beautiful Riverside Park. The festival draws artists, patrons and fans from all over the globe for our three day celebration of the Arts! The festival usually is held in late January each year. A couple of months before this, The Artist Workshop holds it’s yearly art show in Old Fort Park.

We also are home to many galleries in town, most located either on or close to Riverside Drive. ACA’s Harris House on Riverside Dr. and the Arts on Douglas on Douglas St. are two of our larger centers. Easy to visit and enjoy year round, both have shows, festivals, and teaching events.

We also have monthly or bi-monthly art festivals on our main streets, Canal Street and Flagler Ave. The largest of these is the Wine and Art Walk held monthly on Flagler Ave. on the beachside. For those that enjoy community theater, our Little Theater on Third Ave. has performance art year-round.

So, for the art minded person, or just someone who enjoys a balmy winter day strolling amongst nature and the arts, New Smyrna Beach is the place to be!! Call me (386-576-6564) for any information about our area, or visit my website to find out more.

More places to visit:

• The School of Clay, 100 N. Cooper St.
• Jonah’s Cat’s Art Gallery, 220 Flagler Ave.
• Palms Up Pottery, 413 Flagler Ave.
• TaDa Gallery, 113 Flagler Ave.
• 2 Jays Art Studio, 2113 Riverside Village Suite #7
• Artist’s Workshop Gallery, 115 Canal St.
• Art Space at SWA, 145 Canal St.
• Anthony Bell Creations, 320 Flagler Ave.
• Clay Art, 302 S. Riverside Dr.
• Galleria Di Vetro, 310 Flagler Ave.
• Bob Ross Art Workshop & Gallery, 757 E. Third Ave.
• Bruneau Art & Frame Gallery, 551 E. Third Ave.
• Black Heritage Museum, 314 N. Duss St.

Posted by:  Fred Fair

The bottom line is that it is buyers who set the market value.

There are several steps you can take to attempt to remedy the situation:

1. Appraisers have been known to make errors. Check the comps the appraiser used to compare your home. Make sure improvements were taken into account. You also have the option to get the appraiser to reconsider his or her evaluation of the home.
2. If the appraisal seems accurate, the next item to consider is your sales price. In fact setting the price right at the beginning of your listing, will avoid a low appraisal.
3. Another alternative would be for the buyer to pay the difference of the purchase price and what the bank will lend. (This could produce a negative equity in the home).

Before the buyer decides to walk away, be sure you’ve done all you can to remedy the appraisal and the sale back on track.

Posted by:  Michele Stewart

There has been quite a bit of discussion whether a Short Sale or Foreclosure will affect security clearances. I think the short answer would be maybe. Security clearances are in multi-level degrees depending on sensitivity. How many times have we seen secrets compromised for money. Many times it is just greed; however, there are a lot of instances where the money paid off a past debt. All the senses such as fear and embarrassment funnel into these scenarios.

A recent article I read written by a high level military officer whose job was clearing personnel for security clearances was quoted to say “As long as the homeowner discloses to his superior officer (or boss) his mortgage challenges, the issues concerning security clearance and foreclosure (not bankruptcy) are typically overlooked. They’re not that big of a deal.” Bankruptcy is another situation due to the fact that it usually affects the entire credit picture.

The rational for this position in the military is that you are not necessarily irresponsible because you can’t sell your home. The most important thing is to keep your superiors up to date on what you are doing to work out your problem. Disclose…Disclose.

Mary Beth and I are Certified Distressed Property Experts (CDPE) and want to save your home from foreclosure. If you are behind in your payments or expect to be soon, contact us at our website. We are here for you.

Posted by:  Frank Wright

If you are in the marketplace looking for a job or considering another career you need keep an eye on your credit score. Employers can run a credit check as long as they tell you. Some companies do a credit check on every potential employee and some for selected employees that deal with sensitive information, money or are required by needed licences. You can always tell them you do not want them to check your credit; however, if you were the employer, how would you interpret that?

According to the Society for Human Resources Management,a human resources firm, chances are you’re not going to get hired because of a current judgment against you, a lawsuit, an outstanding order against you in the court of law; debt collection, uncollected debt, you’ve got a lot of debt out there. Bankruptcy: 25 percent of the hiring managers would look you over because of a bankruptcy. High debt-to-income ratio, much less a foreclosure (which is only 11%), even less than that.

From this, your odds do not sound that bad. However; in today’s difficult employment marketplace where there may be many viable candidates for a position, every point of your education, experience, and credit situation counts. Bad credit may not be as important as having a Masters Degree, but if three candidates all have the same qualifications and only one has a bankruptcy or foreclosure listing posted will they get the job? Life is not fair so make sure you keep that credit clean as possible.,

Mary Beth and I are Certified Distressed Property Experts (CDPE) and specialize in keeping homeowners out of foreclosure. If you find yourself behind in your mortgage payments or heading in that direction contact us through our website. We are here for you.

Posted by:  Frank Wright

Your life has taken a turn for the worse due to a number of possible reasons such as illness, loss of job, or business failure. Your home value is upside down and you cannot make the current payments. Or perhaps you have an adjustable rate that is going to make your mortgage payment out of reach in the future. Help is available through your local CDPE (Certified Distressed Property Expert) trained REALTOR. I am a CDPE and along with my partner Mary Beth Lonergan will help you find your way.

Do not feel that you are alone! Statistically, if you spread the distressed properties across the country, roughly 2 homeowners on every street in America needs help. You can throw those feelings of embarrassment and loss of self worth out the window. Many people are facing tough times and we want you to be a survivor.

Mary Beth and I cover the northeast Florida cities of Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach, and Ponte Vedra. We sit down across the kitchen table and provide you with the best and latest advice we have to distressed homeowners. If we do not have the answers, we will refer you to another professional (e.g. Attorney, Certified Public Accountant.)

You can reach us through our website. I urge you to check my credentials and learn about how a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) can help you.

Posted by:  Frank Wright

On the Central Florida East Coast, just south of New Smyrna Beach and Daytona Beach, is a lovely community called Edgewater.

Edgewater, Florida is the home to two fantastic communities known as Pelican Cove East and Pelican Cove West. Houses in these communities are made up of either single-family or duplex-triplex homes. These two communities offer amazing amenities such as a pool, club house, boat ramp, fishing dock, pavilion and shuffleboard court. The Home Owner Association if Voluntary though: if you want to use these amenities you pap a very small yearly rate. Otherwise you can live in these communities with no fees!

Homes are also very reasonably priced! Some as low as $60,000! See my attached listings for examples.

Many homeowners in these two communities use their homes for winter retreats from the serous winters in the rest of the country! These, with a mixture of permanent residents make this a quit, happy neighborhood! And it’s just waiting for you to join.

Contact me for more information about Pelican Cove East or West, Edgewater, or my listings. Call 386-576-6564, e-mail ,  or search www.jenandfredfair.com.

Posted by:  Fred Fair

We live at the beach in Jacksonville Beach and crab cakes are a staple for people in our area. I have experienced this wonderful food all over the world and believe I am a qualified judge of good crab cakes. Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Ponte Vedra, St. Augustine, Fernandina Beach (home of the Shrimp Festival) and Palatka (Home of the Blue Crab Festival) all produce crab cakes of different textures and flavors. Ask twenty people their favorite and they will give you twenty answers.

In my opinion, you must consider two things when evaluating crab cakes. One, the size and quality of the crab used and two, the amount of filler (e.g breadcrumbs). I have found the best crab cake I have ever eaten in, of all places, suburban Philadelphia. Don’t get me wrong, Philadelphia and its suburbs are a mecca of good food. Remember Philly Cheese Steaks, soft pretzels, Tastycakes and scrapple (oops the jury is still out on that). However, may I introduce you to Springhouse Tavern which has a rich history and very rich crab cakes.

The Springhouse Tavern crab cakes have pieces of crabmeat that compare to the size of lobster pieces in a lobster roll. I must digress and mention that you can get a top notch genuine maine lobster roll in Jacksonville Beach. Call us if you are interested. Anyway, how much filler is in their crab cakes? None. Imagine a crab cake that has a hard crust and a soft rich center filled with huge crab pieces. If you have the time, spend a dime and visit historic Philadelphia with a side trip to Gwynedd for an unforgetable crab cake.

If you are relocating to or from the Philadelphia area please call or email Mary Beth and I so we can find you the perfect house here in Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach and Ponte Vedra. You can also check out our website www.TwoBeachNuts.com . Do not worry, we still have some of the finest crab cakes here at the Beach, but I will let you be the judge.

Posted by:  Frank Wright

Southwood subdivision is located just south of downtown St. Augustine, off US 1, and was developed in the late 90’s by SeaGate Homes. SeaGate Homes was founded in 1994 and is still a family-owned and operatedcompany, known for their 15 year structural warranty and pride in their construction of concrete block homes. You’ll enjoy living with the confidence that brings!

Located close to shopping, medical facilities, restaurants, shops, this gated community is the answer to a low maintenance lifestyle. A fantastic condo alternative, Southwood allows single family homes on smaller lots, with a modest HOA fee which includes the lawn and garden upkeep to include mowing, trimming, mulching, and even the water for the irrigation system!

The community offers tennis courts, sidewalks and a lovely pool and cabana area known to be a great gathering place for neighborhood potlucks and card games.

I have proudly sold many of the homes in Southwood to people who aren’t the condo type, yet, want the carefree lifestyle. All have enjoyed living in a neighborhood where neighbors care about their homes and one another, where they still lend a helping hand and share in each others joy, hopes and concerns. This community does a lot of activities together, yet, you can maintain your privacy as well!

For a personal tour of the homes for sale in Southwood, contact me at (904) 669-0781. This is a great time to purchase a home in St. Augustine! Serving all of St. Johns and Flagler counties’ real estate needs for over 12 years. Call today and let my expert knowledge go to work for you!

Carol Tunis
…a “HouseSold” name!

Posted by: Carol Tunis

One of the more attractive aspects of our beautiful area is our Special Events! Be it racing, motorcycles, art, or other great things to do, we literally have it ALL! In this issue let’s concentrate on racing and motorcycles.

Come the beginning of each year starting in late January, all senses turn to racing. Whether European/Indy style, NASCAR, FASCAR, and on and on, we have racing. The season starts with the late January Rolex 24-Hours of Daytona. This is a European/Indy style race of endurance that is run on the Tri-oval and infield track at Daytona International Speedway. Fans from all over the world come to this full day of racing and the almost week of ancillary racing events.

Come February, the area revs-up for major Stock Car Racing. Speed Weeks at Daytona is a spectacle of unimaginable proportions. Almost two weeks of racing for every fan capped by the Daytona 500! The area literally buzzes with fans, tourists, vendors, and international stars.

During this period, the New Smyrna Speedway sponsors ten nights of racing too! Just ten minutes from our city we have this top-notch ½ mile track that operates most of the year. There is also racing at this time in Barbarville, FL just up the road.

Racing again heats up in July at the “World Capital” of  Stock Car Racing in Daytona for the Daytona 400! This is a great time to summer vacation, do the beach and river, golf, and watch some fantastic racing under the lights!

We are also blessed with two major motorcycle events in our area and Daytona Beach. In October we have a fantastic long weekend event known as Bike-To-Ber Fest! Motorcycle aficionados come from all over to enjoy our fantastic, mild fall and cruise the area on their bikes. Of course, we have many great venues to visit for entertainment and they come alive!

In early March, our spring is here to greet thousands of Bikers for the world famous Bike Week! Ten days of cruising, partying, and seeing old friends and making new ones at this “World’s Largest” Bike event makes this the largest venue in the world for this type of activity. It is a fantastic time to visit even if you don’t own a “Hog”!

Some of the more famous venues for both Speed Weeks and Bike Week are: Gilly’s Pub 44, Main Street in Daytona Beach, the Boot Hill Saloon, the Iron Horse, the Eagle’s Nest in Samsula, and the World Famous Cabbage Patch!

The New Smyrna Beach-Edgewater area is not only a great place for special events, but also a fantastic area to live in. We have so much to do here and our housing is oh so affordable.

Call me up (386/576-6564) for a search of properties or search at my website www.jenandfredfair.com.

I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!

Posted by:  Fred Fair

One group that has benefited from the downturn in the Real Estate market has been spiders. This is due to all the homes that have been left empty and unattended. Yes, many spiders have been able to upgrade to larger homes and upscale neighborhoods and are resolved to attack any intruders in their new homes.

Here in Northern Florida I have seen a number of REALTORS and some customers that have been bitten when showing or being shown property. Some of these bites have become very serious with the onset of post bite infections. The pictures illustrate the progression of these bites. Spider bites are many times mistaken for infections such as staph and mrsa and doctors many times disagree on their diagnosis.

Be on alert when going into vacant houses and walking in dense undergrowth where spiders make their homes. Meet the spider family by going to the following site: (http://www.termite.com/spider-identification-chart.html). This chart will help you identify the good guys and the bad guys. If you feel a bite and it starts getting colorful, go see your doctor.

Mary Beth and I (www.TwoBeachNuts.com ) know it’s a jungle out there in Real Estate (sometimes literally) and will help you through your next transaction whether you are Buying or Selling property. We will even bring the bug repellent!

Posted by:  Frank Wright

The North Florida areas of Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beaches are loaded with concrete block constructed homes built in the late 40’s, 50’s and 60s. There are no better homes to withstand the Hurricanes, salt air and baking sun of Florida. People see them very differently ranging from disgust to new wave.

We come across many of these homes in their original condition with crank out windows, rough plaster walls and bathrooms/kitchens tiled in an unusual array of colors. Having seen many of these ugly ducklings turn to swans with creative buyers, I always look at them as a work in progress. People revel in the fun of making these homes in their own style.

Take your pick of these well located pieces of art and make it your canvas. Add another floor if you need to and add a gable roof. Now you’re cooking!

If you do not see the one pictured as your canvas, Mary Beth and I will find you one. Contact us TwoBeachNuts.com. By the way, the sky is the limit for designs of today’s concrete block building. Building a new home? Check out www.concreteblockhomes.com

**By the way termites do not like eating concrete, it makes their little mouth parts sore. Yea!

Posted by:  Frank Wright

August 26th, 2010 is the 2nd annual ”Art for the Hope” Event. This is in memory of Judy Nicholson. At the time of Judy’s passing she was one of the most professional people in real estate and I am honored to say, she was my real estate partner.

All proceeds from the event go for Kidney Cancer Research to Jacksonville’s Mayo Clinic Florida.

This year’s event will be August 26th 5:00pm to 8:00pm at Palm Valley Gardens, located at 4975 Palme Valley, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082. This stunning new facility, that has a vintage Tuscany appeal, will equal the outstanding art showcased. Admission price is $40 per ticket and other donations are greatly welcomed. The evening will include the art sale, silent auction with many outstanding packages like golf packages, spa packages, a vacation in Coasta Rica, Hor d’oeuvres, wine and music. Art will be on displayed for viewing and for sale at Palm Valley Gardens August 23-28, 9:00am to 5:00pm. Premier partners are CBC Benchmark, Stellers Gallery and Watson Realty Corp. Other levels of Partners and Sponsors are available. Anyone with an interest in art or a special commitment to joining the efforts to assist in finding a cure for this disease is invited to contact me to join our committee.

Posted by:  Janet Palmer

I wish I had a dollar for every home sale that went south because of an old or leaking roof. Many times Agents take a quick look at the roof and assume because water is not leaking in the home that the roof is good to go. This is a bad assumption. One of the most expensive fixes on a home is the roof.

For some reason, Buyers are much more aware of an old or worn roof. One of the first questions is “how old is the roof”? Any answer over 20 years results in either question 2 which will be “is the Seller paying for a new roof,” or a quiet walk out of the house.

The first question an Agent must ask a Seller is about the condition of the roof, especially if it has 20 plus years on it. If it is an old or damaged/repaired roof you must impress on the Seller that it should be inspected and quoted for a replacement. This preparation of the Seller will save you many heartaches later down the road. A new roof is also a wonderful plus when showing a property to potential Buyers. As long as the Seller recognizes this potential liability during final negotiation, they can act accordingly when evaluating a contract.

Wait a minute, how many of you have the Seller and Buyer holding hands and skipping to the closing when the Appraiser says “sorry, no closing until the roof is replaced”. Uh oh, what do we do now. Pass the Milanta.

If you do not know how to recognize the failure of a roof, check out the Owens Corning site.

If you see Mary Beth and I look up when we pull up to your house, we are not tracking the goose migration, we are evaluating your roof.

Posted by:  Frank Wright

Presenting this beautiful large modern New Smyrna Beach 5-bedroom, 3 ½-bath beachside family retreat. Constructed in 2007, this concrete block home has features such as: storm protection, aluminum railings, metal roof, and large balconies. Details like the bamboo and tile flooring, open decking areas, beautiful stacked-stone gas fireplace, and earth tone decor window treatments give this home a true coastal feeling.

The first floor consists of an extended deep two-car garage, two bedrooms, one full bath, a large utility room, and under stairway storage. Access to the second and third floor via either the wide bamboo staircase, or the cherry wood elevator.

The second floor contains three bedrooms, one large bedroom and two master suites. Each suite connected to their own luxurious bathroom featuring dual sinks and walk-in showers. A wide wraparound porch leads off the bedrooms for really phenomenal unobstructed views of the intracoastal and estuaries.

The third floor is the family area complete with gourmet kitchen, dining room and living room, wet bar with ice maker, half bath and utility room. The large family area contains a welcoming gas stacked stone fireplace and flat screen television.

An outdoor stairway off the third floor leads to a roof-top observation deck. This fantastic New Smyrna Beach family home really is like new and ready for a new owner.

If you would like more information on this property or others like it in the New Smyrna Beach area, please visit my website: www.buynsb.com

Posted by:  Lester Zunk

The short sale nightmare is changing thanks to The Home Affordable Alternatives Program (HAFA). New guidelines are now established. When I first started working short sales, nothing was consistent. Each person you worked with had a different way of working through the short sale process.

The new program will help close deals sooner so homeowners can move on with their lives. The first question that needs to be asked when doing a short sale with the lender is “Do you work with the HAFA program?” Some of the great incentives if the seller qualifies are:

• Sellers can get the short sale approved in advance.
• Sellers will receive a pre-approval from the bank that allows you to know the net amount lenders will accept.
• Commissions are not reduced for the real estate agent.
• $1500 to sellers for relocating.
• Mortgage lenders can get $1,000 for a completed short sale.

As they develop, I will keep you informed. If you have any questions, call me or e-mail me at mstewart@watsonrealtycorp.com.

Posted by:  Michele Stewart

The Ponte Vedra Inn and Club meets all the criteria of paradise. Sugar white beaches, Tennis Club, Pools and Spa. Oceanfront Fine Dining and wrapping through the landscape the fabulously Ocean side Golf Course. 8 San Juan Circle is a treasure overlooking the fairway and 11th hole. This home is on one of the largest lots in this prestige’s community. It is a short stroll to the ocean and the PV Inn and Club. And if you must pull yourself away from paradise, the location of this home at the northern end of St Johns Countymakes it a short, traffic free trip to J. Turner Butler Blvd for easy access to shopping at the St Johns Town Center, JAX international airport, Downtown, Jaguar Games and other events. This home underwent a total remodel which included addition of living wings and a new oversize garage and garden room. The area is blessed with one of the finest school systems in Florida, St Johns County School System with the wonderful new Ponte Vedra High School., Alice B Landrum and Ponte Vedra Rawlings Elementary School, and the newly created, Palmer Academy As I said, Life can not be better!

Posted by:  Janet Palmer

Access to J Turner Butler Blvd, AKA JTB or Route 202, has now been improved for traffic off of A1A. This makes my listings at 27 32nd Ave South and 8 San Juan Cir in Ponte Vedra even more accessible to trips into the city, the JAX airport or St Johns Town Center.

These two homes already are blessed with easy access to the Beaches of Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra. And our beautiful golf courses at the TPC, Ponte Vedra Inn and Club and Sawgrass. So these homes are now a perfect location for work and play.

Posted by:  Janet Palmer

In the Real Estate business terms and “alphabet soup” acronyms are thrown around constantly.  One of the most misunderstood of these is the pre-foreclosure “short sale.”  What is a pre-foreclosure “short Sale”?

Well, for the most part it is not short and possible not a pre-foreclosure. These types of Real Estate sales are short only in that the seller’s mortgage institution has agreed to let the owner sell the property for less than is owned on it. All sales contracts are between the buyer and seller with the “bank” only being a contingency. Some may really be pre-foreclosures, but many are up to date on their mortgages and have not been served a lis pendens as of yet.

As far as time involved to have these deals come together, they can be anything but short!  These type of transactions can take as long as 3 to 8 months to close after an offer has been made. Buyer burn-out is often the case. Buyers decide to look elsewhere after moths of waiting for their “short sale” offer to be accepted by the bank. And many times, full-price offers are not accepted in a timely manner by the lender.

 So, why bother to try and buy a “short sale”? Well, there are really many reasons to try and purchase one. If you have time to wait for the deal to come together than a “short sale” purchase can be for you. Generally you can find a nice home at a really good price or find a really good investment property if you have the time to wait for the “short sale”. If you are in a rush or need a home in a timely manner, then these are not for you!

As a seller, things have brightened for you with “short sales.”  Recently the Federal Government has passed legislation that helps the home owner that is in trouble with their lender. The two main aspects of these government programs are HAMP and HAFA!

 Both of these programs are only for owner occupants. You must live and stay in the home until the deal is closed!  HAMP stands for Home Affordable Modification. If you are having a hard time paying your mortgage or missing payments, contact your lender and mention this government programs. There is a good chance your mortgage can be modified. Most lenders are participating in this. If this fails then go to HAFA.  HAFA stands for Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (Short Sale). This sets regulations and controls set by the government to standardize short sales. It includes bank set listing prices and time tables in accepting offers, and even some money the seller can walk away with. Most lenders are participating in this program too.

 “Short Sales” can be hard, but they do work and have helped many home owners sell their property and not take the huge credit hit a foreclosure can give. Contact me for more information on any of these programs at .  Also check-out one of my websites for real estate help: www.jenandfredfair.com and http://fredfari.watsonrealycorp.com

Posted by:  Fred Fair

Prices have been coming down in many areas; however, on the the plus side, Buyers have been exposed to some unbelievable deals. I recently contracted one of my Buyers to a unit in the Cottages of Stoney Creek located in Fernandina Beach, Florida. Fernandina and Amelia Island are fabulous places with the charming downtown area of Fernandina that has a very rich history. More info available at the Chamber of Commerce website.

Cottages at Stoney Creek was a Vestcor development whose timing was not the best during our economic slide. National Land Partners who purchase good properties at good prices, and market them to sell, purchased 160 of the 224 units in 2007. These are virtually new units (2007) which have never been occupied. There are four models, two are single-level and two are two-story. Vestcor builds a quality product and the fact that Stoney Creek LLC has reportedly already sold 100 of the 160 units is testament to that quality albeit the price helps also.

These are great units for those that are looking to save a lot of money and live in a top quality unit close to shopping, beaches, downtown Fernandina and Jacksonville International Airport. Great for local residents and also for our Northern Snowbirds. They do have excellent financing available wiith a local bank if you are a non-cash buyer.

Mary Beth and I would love to give you more information on these great bargains. You can reach us through our website (www.TwoBeachNuts.com). Stop looking and start living!!

Posted by:  Frank Wright

Come down to Historic Downtown New Smyrna Beach for Classic Cars, Hot Rods, Family Fun and More.

Something to get excited about! The second Saturday of the month is the East Coast Cruisers Night car show, taking place in historic downtown New Smyrna Beach. The car show is on Canal Street, east of US1, and extends down to Riverside Drive. The next show will be August 14th, which happens to be the club’s anniversary cruise. Cake will be served at the information table, and commemorative dash plaques will be given away on a first come, first served basis. For more information and photos, check out their website.

There is always variety at this show, and it makes for a great, FREE, outdoor event taking place in a very nostalgic setting. If you are thinking of paying a visit to New Smyrna Beach and participating in some local activities, remember this monthly event, it is very popular, and people love it.

Participants come out to cruise and display their Street Rods, Antique Cars, Motorcycles and Muscle Cars, along with stock imports and domestics. Most merchants and restaurants along Canal Street are open during the show, which takes place between 4:00 and 8:00 pm. Cruisers show up early and by 4:00, the street is closed off. Hope to see you there!

Posted by:  Lester Zunk

What a terrific Atlantic Beach house on a corner lot with an over-sized screen porch, green belt, and english tea garden backyard. The 4 bedroom and 2 Bath configuration with vaulted ceilings makes the 1386 square feet seem much bigger. This great home is nestled in the Cypress Cove subdivision within close proximity to the Navy PX. Two-car garage and private well pump for lawn irrigation are extras that make this house a real bargain.

For details contact Frank or MaryBeth at www.TwoBeachNuts.com.

Posted by:  Frank Wright

Many of the houses we deal with in Jacksonville Beach that were built before 1970 have only one bathroom. Many of us grew up with only one bathroom in our house (some even had no bathrooms-oops showing my age). However, bathrooms rule nowdays with larger young families moving into the area.

This is a great concrete block home that provides 4 bedrooms and 3 full baths priced at only $214,900 ($116.79 price per square ft). The 1840 square feet of space is optimized with a full living room and family room. The kitchen which normally serves as the heart of the house is central to all rooms.

If you are looking for a great deal that will give you both the space you need at a first time buyers cost, please check out this house at our website: (www.TwoBeachNuts.com). Mary Beth and I will be happy to show it to you at your convenience.

Posted by:  Frank Wright

Northeast Florida is a great place to live for people who appreciate the open road with a motorcyle or scooter. This is a picture of Mary Beth and I next to my Suzuki Burgman 400. This is a new line of “Super” scooters that can cruise all day at highway speeds. When we have spare time between helping our real estate customers, we really enjoy exploring the First Coast from Fernandina to St Augustine. Living in the Jacksonville area you can enjoy riding year-round. I think our favorite routes are from the Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach or Atlantiic Beach to Fernandina Beach via the Mayport Ferry and the ride down San Jose Blvd to Palatka that follows the St. Johns River. Here is a good website that provides routes and ratings on rides in North Florida.

Note: Bike Week in Daytona Beach is coming up March 4, 2011. Take the time to go the long way and visit the First Coast (Fernandina Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra and St Augustine). You may end up staying for good. If you want to look at properties, you can can contact Mary Beth and I through our website www.TwoBeachNuts.com.

Posted by:  Frank Wright

Finding the right home can be a daunting task in these economic times! So many things to think about, so many things to look at, so many complicated terms to learn! How do you do it?

First off, find a local REALTOR®!!! We are trained to lead you through all of the twists and turns of our modern real estate market. And, hopefully make it a pleasant, successful journey to your new home. I can help you!

Decide what you are looking for. In our area we have a large selections of new and re-sale housing. So decide what you want – new construction or an established home? Each has its positives and negatives. And yes, you can use your REALTOR® to help you find and lead you through the process of buying a newly built home.

What type home do you want? Single family, condo, townhome, multi-family, or a factory built home? We have a large selection of each of these in our area. Look at your lifestyle or what you want your lifestyle to be and select accordingly. With many of these homes you must also select a community to live in. What do they have to offer? What are the costs of these amenities? What is this location close to that I like? In our series “Things to do in Beautiful New Smyrna Beach,” we cover many of these (the beach, the river, golf).

Have your REALTOR® search by your criteria! Include: size (number of bedrooms, baths, garage, pool, etc), location, style, and most importantly, price. With the technology available today it is very easy to design a search that will show offerings specifically for your wants. Don’t forget you can also search for special items such as foreclosures or short sales.

Once you have decided on 5 to 8 homes, have your REALTOR® set-up showing appointments. Go with them and see the available homes. Ask questions of your agent and ask for a Seller’s Disclosure. Line up your financing if you are using a mortgage to buy. Your agent can also help you with finding someone to give you a free “Good Faith Estimate” and to write you a pre-approval.

For any other information please don’t be afraid to ask me!!! Call 386/576-6564, e-mail , or visit my website at www.jenandfredfair.com. You can also search through my website.

I have included a few pictures from my listings in the New Smyrna Beach – Edgewater, FL area. Feel free to take a look at them.

Posted by:  Fred Fair

This is the third part of our series about things to do in the New Smyrna Beach – Edgewater, Florida area.

I have discussed our fantastic beach and river experience, now for our crowning glory: OUR GOLF COURSES!!!

We are blessed to have six fantastic golf courses right here in New Smyrna Beach, FL! Golfers from all over come here to play on our world-class courses! Golf vacations are a must in our area. And if you are looking to have a more permanent golf home, we have many golf community homes for sale here.

Most of our courses are open to the public too! Our beautifully, just remodeled Municipal Golf Course is home to the Professional Indian River Open each year. Golf enthusiasts from all over visit us to watch the pros play. This 18-hole course is open to the public seven days a week from dawn to dusk. The Clubhouse also boasts a new restaurant called Tianos complete with a singing chef.

Across the street is Hidden Lakes Golf Course at Fairgreen. This is an 18-hole executive course open to the public complete with banquet facilities.

Sugar Mill Golf and Country Club has two courses available. It is a private course with a full country club, restaurant, and banquet facilities. It is surrounded by a gorgeous community of homes, villas, and condos.

Another fantastic course is Venetian Bay Country Club. It is our newest course and is in the highly anticipated community of Venetian Bay. This is a small city complete with single family homes, townhouses, and condos. A town center is included with shopping, pool , Tiki bar, restaurants, and parks. It has a country club complete with facilities and a restaurant.

We also have a newer course at the Turnbull Bay community. This is a great course with lots of water and is surrounded by a very nice home community.

Besides the New Smyrna Beach courses there are another five golf courses within a 15 minute drive. So, as stated, this is a Golfer’s Paradise!!! Here is a list of all of our golfing facilities and contact information.

For any other information about our beautiful area, feel free to contact me at or visit my website: JenandFredFair.com

Posted by:  Fred Fair

I have just listed a fabulously priced condo in downtown Jacksonville, in San Marco, directly on the St. Johns River and this link will take you to the listing with a virtual tour.

This 2 bedroom, 2 full bath is luxurious in every way. The building has every amenity desired, including health facility, club facilities, pool on the 9th floor, spa, library, business center, 24-hour security and concierge service.

Come visit Jacksonville through this listing and see what a wonderful lifestyle awaits you. Downtown where business and pleasure become one, offers fine arts, museums and wonderful nightlife and clubs.

I live at the beach in Ponte Vedra but what a great well kept secret this lovely area offers.

I will be back to tell you more…

Posted by:  Sue Hollis

The very local and intimate New Smyrna Beach Farmer’s Market takes place every Saturday morning from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market is located at the corner of Sams Avenue & Canal Street in the downtown area of New Smyrna Beach landside, just west of Riverside Drive. The market has a great variety of locally grown produce, with an emphasis on in-season fruits, vegetables, assorted greens and herbs. Several vendors offer great, gourmet baked goods and coffees, making the market even more enjoyable. Participating nurseries supply a variety of native and exotic plants, favorable to our area’s growing conditions. Nearby restaurants are open for breakfast and fill up quickly. One short block away, you will find the scenic walking path along beautiful Riverside Drive and the Brannon Center.

If you are looking for properties for sale in the New Smyrna Beach, Florida area, please visit my website www.buynsb.com

Posted by:  Lester Zunk

Even in this slower Real Estate market there is still an allure in buying a larger, family home. There are many attractive four-bedroom plus homes for sale in the New Smyrna Beach – Edgewater, Florida area and at some really great prices.

Large homes are still an asset in our market! Many people move to our area from points up north or in the midwest and still have family connections. These families and friends love to come and visit our beautiful beachside area. So, having a larger home is a plus. They get to visit and you still have a connection to your old home area getting to see family and friends you might not have had a chance to see.

Larger homes tend to hold their value better. There are always customers with large families and sometimes it is harder to find those larger homes for them to fit their families into.

Many of our larger homes also come with private pools and a Jacuzzi. What a plus to be able to buy that four bedroom home with a pool! And prices here are so good!

I have attached some of my personal listings for larger homes in the area. Click here for more information on all of them. Please feel free to take a look and comment. You can contact me at or visit my website at www.jenandfredfair.com to search for any listings out there.

Posted by:  Fred Fair

What an honor it is to be part of this community! As the oldest city in our Nation, it is especially rewarding to celebrate the birthday of our great country. Rich in history and miles of sugar beaches, makes St. Augustine a destination for many this holiday weekend! 

A fireworks show over the bayfront will WOW and amaze anyone who has the opportunity to come downtown or view them from Anastasia Island! This weekend falls on the First Friday Art Walk as well! Our many galleries open their doors from 5-9 pm and offer music, hors d’oerves and art from some of the greatest artists known! 

I love nothing better than sharing St. Augustine with guests, but most of all, finding the right real estate for them when they make the decision to make it THEIR town.

Posted by:  Carol Tunis

The Cloverleaf Complex consists of two separate condominium towers: the Cloverleaf North building at 4 Oceans West, and the Cloverleaf South building at 3 Oceans West. The most unique feature of the Cloverleaf Complex is the ability to drive up to your floor, thanks to the circular garage in the center of the four-wing designed building. Each floor is connected via walkways that lead to the center covered parking structure, and each unit has assigned parking. This is a great advantage if you want easy access to your automobile that you would not normally find in a condominium. Both buildings offer fantastic amenities such as a spa, multiple pools, security and high quality maintenance, all set in a beautiful tropical landscape with the added feature of being located on a par 3 golf course. The Cloverleafs are located next to the Oceans Racquet and Tennis Club, and across the street from the Atlantic Ocean. Both Cloverleaf buildings offer plenty of great views regardless of which floor you are on.

Cloverleaf North at 4 Oceans West was completed in 1996 and consists of 214 units with four wings. Two wings are seven floors high, and two are eight floors high. There are currently 10 units for sale ranging in price from $169K to $300K, with no short-sales or REOs on the market presently.

Cloverleaf South at 3 Oceans West was completed in 1993 and consists of 181 units with four wings. Two wings are six floors high, and two are seven floors high. There are currently 14 units for sale ranging in price from $149K to $274K, along with a 2-story Penthouse unit with its own elevator for $695K, with no short-sales or REOs on the market presently.

To find out more about the greater Daytona Beach area, please view my website; www.buynsb.com

Posted by:  Lester Zunk

East Central Florida’s New Smyrna Beach is not only blessed with having one of the world’s most beautiful bathing beaches, but also with a gorgeous river! Our river separates the beachside from the mainland here and runs from Jacksonville to Miami with many inlets giving ocean access. It has many names as it runs down the east coast of Florida, but here it is called the Indian River.

Our river has many recreational uses such as: boating, bathing, fishing, skiing, kayaking, canoeing, oyster and clamming, camping, and on and on! Access to our river activities is allowed and encouraged throughout our area with many municipal riverfront parks. There are also five municipal boat ramp areas complete with parking that is free for the public to use.

There is a public park at the inlet in New Smyrna Beach with bathing, fishing, dog park, walkways to the river, the ocean, and the jetties complete with pavilions, picnic and cook-out areas, restrooms and changing area, fishing pier and both river and ocean bathing. There is a $5.00 parking charge.

Riverfront Park in New Smyrna Beach is a fantastic area with playgrounds, riverfront boardwalks, fishing piers, boat docks, facilities for cooking out and picnics, restrooms and parking. And it is all free!!! There is also a City Marina with both short and long term dockage.

The National Seashore Park also has wonderful facilities for the river enthusiast! The Park offers beachfront and riverfront parks, fishing piers, facilities, parking, and boat ramps and kayak launches.

Our river also offers championship salt water fishing, oysters, shrimp, crabs, and clams all the way from the Inlet to El Dora in the Seashore Park, to Oak Hill! Many tournaments are held here yearly, but the chance to fish is here everyday!

Our river also sports beautiful areas to just stop and relax! Our many river islands are a great place to stop the boat, cook-out, camp or have a party. Many islands in the Seashore Park are set up specifically for camping. And, our favorite “Disappearing Island” just behind the inlet is a place where everybody meets for a party!

We also have many restaurants along our river with some of the best seafood offerings in the nation. Stop by Dolphin View, JB’s Fish Camp, Riverview Charlie’s, Goodrich’s in Oak Hill, and Inlet Harbor in the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse area. We also offer a low cost Water Taxi through the Marine Discovery Center that travels throughout the day from the Riverfront Park to Inlet Harbor. So come and enjoy our fantastic river life!

For more information about things to do in the New Smyrna Beach area check out my website at www.jenandfredfair.com

Posted by:  Fred Fair

Why this one is still on the market, I don’t know! It’s concrete block and was built in 2006, with over 1400 sq ft! It sits pretty on the beach side of Hwy A1A in beautiful St. Augustine, FL. Close to some of the best restaurants on the beach and shopping is close by, too! This unit overlooks the pool and hot tub! A kitchen you’ll be delighted with. Featuring corian countertops and stainless steel appliances. You’re dream is possible with this unit which is now a short sale! Enjoy Anastasia Island with all its charm. It just doesn’t get better than this. (www.Obeo.com/488221)

Posted by:  Carol Tunis

Great floor plan with kitchen to die for! 42” wood cabinets, granite counter tops and glass top range, all stainless appliances, of course! Gorgeous owners suite with Roman shower and separate garden tub. Finished bonus room and closet with full bath makes for an awesome guest or in-law quarters. Snuggle-up fireplace and over 2500 sq ft under air-conditioning! Side-entry garage, on a corner lot, in a golf course community! What more can I say? Here view it on the virtual tour: Obeo.com/603834.

Posted by:  Carol Tunis

This is the first in a series of articles on what there is to do in the New Smyrna Beach – Edgewater area.

You cannot talk about the New Smyrna Beach area without beginning with our beautiful, natural beach! New Smyrna Beach, Florida is on the East Central Florida Atlantic Coast. All of our beaches are open to the public! We are blessed with over eight miles of gorgeous white sand beach in the city limits and continuing to Port Canaveral with access through the Canaveral National Seashore Park.

New Smyrna Beach is unique in that we have both a drivable and a no-drive beach available to the public. Access to the drivable beach is by way of four beach ramps. Two of these ramps have parking areas complete with dressing rooms, bathrooms, shower facilities, picnic and cook-out areas, pavilions, and recreation areas.

At the northern boundary of the beach area is the Ponce de Leon Inlet which gives us river access to the Atlantic Ocean. At this Inlet area is another city park complete with parking, restroom and changing facilities, pavilions, picnic and cook-out areas, and over 1.5 miles of walkways over the dunes with both river and beach access. Fishing and a dog park are also available here! There are also many other public parks available on our beachside as are multiple public parking areas.

The drivable beach stretches from the Inlet to the beach park at 27th Ave. From there it stretches south all the way through the County beach with access at Hiles Ave. and through the Canaveral National Seashore Park to Port Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center. This is approximately 50 miles of beautiful beach! The Canaveral Seashore Park is administered by the National Park Service and there are eight public parking areas, restroom and changing facilities, picnic and cook-out areas, and beach walk-overs for your use.

What to do at the beach? The list runs on forever!!! Sun and sand, layout, tan, swim, surf, walk, jog, run, bike, drive, fish, kite, parasail, boat, sleep, romance!!! The list is endless. Just enjoy our beautiful beach! There are many vendors available for food, drink, float, bike, and scooter rentals. And we have a great group of public lifeguards on duty everyday!

For more information about things to do in the New Smyrna Beach area, take a look at my website: www.jenandfredfair.com

Posted by:  Fred Fair

Buyers frequently ask if their earnest money deposit held in escrow and presented with their offer for the sale and purchase of a property is open to dispute and could be forfeited. Yes, the earnest money deposit is subject to time constraints, proper notification and performance requirements and could be forfeited by the buyer. Florida Realtor® contracts contain verbiage that clearly states that certain activities such as inspections, mortgage acceptance, property disclosures, receipt of homeowner or condominium documents, and other agreed upon items are to be either supplied to the buyer, or performed by the buyer, within specific time periods.

The buyer has until the final date of the stated time period to either withdraw from the purchase, acknowledge acceptance of the property and move forward, or attempt to renegotiate their offer. Deadlines for performance and buyer response vary from a few days in the case of reviewing Condominium Documents or performing Home Inspections, to longer time periods, like the buyer’s acceptance of title or receipt of the buyer’s financing and loan commitment acknowledgement. Correctly withdrawing the offer under the conditions of the contract will release the earnest money deposit back to the buyer. Money held in escrow can also be in dispute if the buyer is unable to or does not perform and neglects to withdraw their offer prior to a deadline, most commonly in the buyer’s loan commitment exceeding the time period resulting in the buyer not withdrawing soon enough, or asking for an extension.

The most common time concern facing a buyer involved in a Sale and Purchase Contract, is often for Home Inspections. The buyer is given a deadline to perform a property inspection, examine the results and come to a decision on whether to move forward, or withdraw their offer. In the event that the seller is providing repair liability up to a percentage of the purchase price, or a dollar amount, the buyer must give the seller notice of these findings and make a request for remedies. In the event that the seller is selling the property AS-IS, and not accepting liability, the buyer must either accept or reject the property or attempt to renegotiate their offer.

If you have any other questions about Florida Real Estate, please contact me: www.buynsb.com

Posted by:  Lester Zunk

The New Smyrna Beach, Florida arts community is very fortunate to have the ACA (Atlantic Center for the Arts). Located at the north end of New Smyrna Beach mainland, just off US1 (Dixie Hwy) on Art Center Avenue, a guest’s first impression of the ACA may be its integration into the native landscape through use of raw, natural materials, which provide visual interest and variety. The ACA hosts artists of all disciplines for intensive workshops several times a year led by guest artists of notoriety. Public presentations by artists attending workshops follow each three week residency period and are open to the public.

The ACA was the vision of professional artist, Doris “Doc” Leeper (1929-2000), a sculptor who realized the beginnings of her dream in 1979. Since that time the ACA has grown to include 69 acres of wild, Old Florida vegetation, punctuated by modern, dynamic architecture by well-known local architect Will Miller. On-site buildings include a variety of studios, artist housing, administrative offices and the stunning Mark and Margery Pabst Visitor Center and Gallery, completed in 2007.

The ACA holds an annual outdoor art show, “Images,” a juried outdoor fine arts festival every winter on Riverside Drive in downtown New Smyrna Beach, next to ACA’s satellite art center, Harris House, located at 214 Riverside Drive. The included photos offer a taste of what the ACA has to offer.

Pabst Visitor Center and Harris House Hours: Tue.-Fri. 10-4, Sat. 10-2. Located at 1414 Art Center Ave, New Smyrna Beach, Florida, 32168. Here is a link to the ACA.

If you would like to learn more about New Smyrna Beach, please visit my website: www.buynsb.com

Posted by:  Lester Zunk

In these days of economic twinges towards economic growth there are still many foreclosure and pre-foreclosure (“short sales”) properties on the market. Foreclosure properties being owned by the financial institution and “short sales’’ being where the sellers have an agreement with the financial institution to allow them to sell the property for less than the mortgage amount. Buyers must be prepared for the long haul when making offers on “Short Sales”!

Many buyers and their Real Estate Agents are attempting to close the sale on a short sale home without knowing the pitfalls. Here are some things you should know:

• In a short sale the contract is between you and the owner, not the bank! The bank is simply a third party contingency;
• You may not simply “walk away” from the contract! You are obligated to perform under the contract until the lender disapproves or counters your offer;
• The lender is under no obligation to consider, respond to, approve or disapprove your contract in any given time period;
• It is possible the lender will not approve even a full price offer;
• The seller and their agent may not have been informed of an acceptable price by the lender;
• A short sale purchase can take time, even as long as 6 – 8 months. Be prepared!

For more information on foreclosures or “short sales” contact me at my website: www.JenandFredFair.com and if you would like a list e-mailed to you send me your criteria to FredFair@watsonrealtycorp.com.

Check out this short sale property I have listed right now.

Posted by:  Fred Fair

Currently the NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program) has expired. As property owners and Realtors®, this is very significant and is causing closings to be delayed until this is resolved. At this moment a buyer involved in a purchase contract and waiting to close on a residential or commercial property that is being purchased with standard financing CANNOT get a mortgage if the property is in a Flood Zone other than Flood Zone X. This applies to a considerable number of properties, and effects Florida especially. This reality is creating more problems in the real estate market and it needs to be resolved soon.

I have attached a link that will connect you to your congressperson via email, and express your concern for having this matter resolved.

http://tinyurl.com/NFIP-petition

Posted by:  Lester Zunk