www.REALTOR.COM new Realtor.com consumer feature enables buyers and Realtors to immediately get listing information using their PDA or cell phone. The service, available 24/7, has a one-click button that delivers listing info about a nearby home, and another one-click feature to contact the listing agent or broker.Read the full story:http://click.email.floridarealtors.org/?ju=fe5f11767764007b751d&ls=fe0215707d64077877177371&m=feff1070756103&l=fec21d7177640c74&s=fe671c707464007d771d&jb=ffcf14&t=

RED-HOT TV REAL ESTATETelevision is one area where the real estate market hasn’t slowed. Among the hot programs are: “Bought & Sold” on HGTV, “Real Estate Pros” on TLC, “Flip This House” on A&E, and “Property Ladder” on TLC. Viewers might wonder if the situations featured in the episodes are made for TV. “My show is never scripted and never will be,” says South Carolina real estate developer Richard Davis, whose adventures are chronicled on “Real Estate Pros.” It’s just the way the business is, says Michael Morrison, executive produce of “Flip This House.” “The real estate world is a magnet for personalities. There’s no shortage of bold, in-your-face individuals who are at times likable and at other times not likable.”Source: McClatchy Newspapers, Robert Trussell (07/07/2007)

PROPERTY INSURANCEHow do property insurance rates compare in your county? Homeowners and buyers can now find comparison info on a state-run Web site, which creates a fictional house and then shows how much it would cost to insure, by company and county, based on rate filings submitted to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation.

http://www.flgov.com/shop4insurance/HOCompareRates.htm

SOME GOOD GRASS

A St. Augustine lawn boosts curb appeal, but a new type of grass developed by the University of Florida could make traditional St. Augustine an also-ran. Not only is this new turf far more resistant to sap-sucking, lawn-killing chinch bugs than current varieties, it’s also more attractive with a finer leaf blade and dark green hue. Need another hook? It also requires less mowing; perhaps 50 percent less than current common Florida grasses. Although IFAS officials recently approved the public release of the new grass, what’s now known as NUF-76 won’t be on the market until next year. Growers are quickly expanding acreage of NUF-76 to ensure there’s enough sod to create a buzz for the as-yet unnamed brand they hope will compete with Floratam, a turfgrass released by UF in the early 1970s that now covers some 750,000 acres around the state. Beyond homeowners, the grass could also help the environment. “If we can eliminate just one mowing per year, that could lead to substantial savings in fuel,” says Dr. Russell T. Nagata, associate professor horticultural sciences department. “And it’s possible the darker green color will prevent some people from applying as much fertilizer.”© 2007 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

The Luxury Homes Topping the MarketWant a 95-acre estate that boasts a 56,000-square-foot mansion with 15 bedrooms and 16 bathrooms? It'll only cost you $135 million. Find out the priciest U.S. homes for sale.

100 acres listed in the heart of North Central Florida, nearby the interesection of I-10 & I-75.



Check it out on loopnet at



http://listing.loopnet.com/15126218

100 acres listed in the heart of North Central Florida, nearby the interesection of I-10 & I-75.

Check it out on loopnet at

http://listing.loopnet.com/15126218

Check out my new Point2Agent site with lots of great virtual tours.

at

www.lakecityfloridarealtor.com

NEW HOME SALES
Sales of new homes surged in April by 16.2 percent – the biggest amount in 14 years – but the median price of a new home also dropped by the largest amount on record, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. The mixed signals left no clear picture of whether the worst of the nation's housing slowdown is over.
Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n1-052407.cfm

PROPERTY TAXES Business leaders met with Gov. Crist yesterday and asked him not to forget commercial interests when the state formulates new rules for property insurance, cautioning him not to shift more of the tax burden to commercial and non-homesteaded residential property owners.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n1-051607.cfm

TRENDSTo lure young buyers, many developers build condo complexes with amenities like videogame lounges that promise a great social life as well as an affordable first home. But it’s not easy to control demographics: Some of the buildings draw buyers old enough to be the parents of the kids down the hall.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n4- 051407.cfm

Lake City, FL is in the news. Fortunatly this is not effecting the major residential areas as much as it is in government or national forest areas.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070513/D8P3N7E80.html

INTEREST RATES
No news is good news: The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady yesterday at 5.25 percent. The current rate, relatively good by historical standards, impacts ARMs and home equity lines of credit.
Read the full story:
http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n5-051007.cfm

HOME SELLERS
Home sellers should find and fix plumbing problems before they put their home on the market – if they know how to inspect pipes and faucets. It’s worth fixing upfront. A buyer’s inspector will eventually find the troubles, which could delay closing.
Read the full story:
http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n5-050807.cfm

Ever wondered what at all Section Township Range, ex: as in the NW1/4 of the NW1/4, etc, etc means.

Graphical Display of the Federal Township and Range System
http://www.outfitters.com/genealogy/land/twprangemap.html

FHA REFORM
The U.S. House Financial Services Committee on Thursday passed legislation that would allow FHA to offer borrowers a safer alternative to risky mortgage products and help many homeowners facing foreclosure. NAR supports H.R. 1852, saying the bill will help provide stability to local real estate markets and economies. Read the full story:
http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n3-050707.cfm

$5 Ideas for Making a House More AppealingYou don't always have to spend the big bucks to get a home ready to sell.Read more >

Enjoy quite country living, but still say close to town in this 2001 built home. Enjoy your own pecan grove with 5 varieties of pecan trees. Wide brick steps lead to a 30ft wide elevated front porch to enjoy the great views & sunsets.

Interior of home features: 12ft vaulted ceilings, 2664 under roof per appraiser, wood fireplace, built in bookshelves, French doors, Florida room, a tiled 12’x31’ back porch, large windows to let sunlight in, tile throughout, laminate wood flooring, 3rd bedroom is connected to master.

A family member may build a 2nd house on property & the deed restriction give an exception on this lot to allow for this.

Top 10 Towns Where People Want to LiveRelocate-America.com has compiled a ranking of cities and towns that are considered top places to live. Did your town make the list?Read more >

The Priciest Homes on the MarketA home in Montana for $155 million leads a list of the top 12 priciest properties in the United States.Read more >