tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77535591004918673862024-02-02T12:47:08.338-06:00Front Porch FootnotesReal Talk About Real Estate With Broker, Lynda WalkerLynda Walker, Brokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07248857936634637053noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7753559100491867386.post-25347706343711073702021-09-30T06:55:00.000-05:002021-09-30T06:55:17.031-05:00Could a Government Shutdown Affect Your Home Purchase?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjKf8D6Nh283RsQtrCXnzn493rUglm3CE1eq3w23nQYWE1MNZ7HdNFwPV0RAOSSHimkBPMgPSdpUwncM2owbSLmg0IBbf2W-sdvqajrXahgVgqbla5G7aNNLA9BH2OT1j0cSySia0MxU/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjKf8D6Nh283RsQtrCXnzn493rUglm3CE1eq3w23nQYWE1MNZ7HdNFwPV0RAOSSHimkBPMgPSdpUwncM2owbSLmg0IBbf2W-sdvqajrXahgVgqbla5G7aNNLA9BH2OT1j0cSySia0MxU/" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">With the deadline for congress to reach an agreement upon us, how could a government shutdown affect your upcoming home closing? We are hopeful that like in past years, a last minute extension will be passed to keep vital government services in operation, but it's important to be aware of what agencies would be impacted if it's not. This article from Floridarealtors.org provides an overview of what could be affected during a government shutdown.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">https://www.floridarealtors.org/news-media/news-articles/2021/09/without-action-government-shutdown-could-start-tomorrow</span></p><p><br /></p>Lynda Walker, Brokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07248857936634637053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7753559100491867386.post-2856726901263255332021-07-13T20:14:00.001-05:002021-07-13T20:14:19.918-05:00No Pool? No Problem!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulwExpGv2ECf2Y_bigsKZD4PQKXF2xm486eYvzPmyG0dR2v594CeAqgT8OshKSwrteqtkHxRn-tNQt5INFIQbNjFYg9_9VhagCN2kPEJm0LT1QoFVN2EDGm1SJtFAVQBYXchIJQE0fFY/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1075" data-original-width="2048" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulwExpGv2ECf2Y_bigsKZD4PQKXF2xm486eYvzPmyG0dR2v594CeAqgT8OshKSwrteqtkHxRn-tNQt5INFIQbNjFYg9_9VhagCN2kPEJm0LT1QoFVN2EDGm1SJtFAVQBYXchIJQE0fFY/w200-h105/image.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">It's mid July and it's hot. Jumping in the pool with the family would be a great way to cool off and have some fun. But wait, you don't have a pool! No worries, you just need the newest marketplace app that connects pool owners with would-be swimmers. Think VRBO or Airbnb for your pool! </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqD5zKziitixIqOpPZ8xha58O5Dl_2HSwBivCCv4Xi5khdIiRke8w844Fge-JwxUkCPdmQc1snDFOZc6RcUz4f0ov6r0JusC8dYu3KXfK2lO2u1RzyVd7p20vyY0EcPgbunrtL8f0f7A/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="1024" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqD5zKziitixIqOpPZ8xha58O5Dl_2HSwBivCCv4Xi5khdIiRke8w844Fge-JwxUkCPdmQc1snDFOZc6RcUz4f0ov6r0JusC8dYu3KXfK2lO2u1RzyVd7p20vyY0EcPgbunrtL8f0f7A/w200-h121/image.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">The concept is simple, pool owners or "hosts" can list their backyard oasis for rent by the hour and renters or "guests" can select a date and timeframe they would like to use the pool. Prices typically range from $15 to $60 per hour and usually include a limit on the number of guests. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCoTSV6mt9MYpMjN4iA8bWNkaiFptLNuFOjAkxlhyphenhyphenSLwHTEHGBTa1zLi7OH-YxDpNoDm5KUOlbPcbfO9pIYv6zMI82o5bRwaAeIRzsx43xyWbUM_OH96nKGnAmBF2qzg-I86Ea1ObB74/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1080" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCoTSV6mt9MYpMjN4iA8bWNkaiFptLNuFOjAkxlhyphenhyphenSLwHTEHGBTa1zLi7OH-YxDpNoDm5KUOlbPcbfO9pIYv6zMI82o5bRwaAeIRzsx43xyWbUM_OH96nKGnAmBF2qzg-I86Ea1ObB74/w200-h160/image.png" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">The Swimply app was launched in 2018, but saw tremendous growth and popularity during the pandemic and now boasts over 15,000 pools nationwide. So whether you're a pool owner looking to make some extra money, or a swimmer looking for a pool, this app might be just what you need this summer!</span><p></p><p><br /></p>Lynda Walker, Brokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07248857936634637053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7753559100491867386.post-61570518031504068742021-05-18T06:14:00.000-05:002021-05-18T06:14:26.216-05:00Are You Ready For Hurricane Season?<p>It's hard to believe, but the 2021 hurricane season is nearly here! Hurricanes are one of the few natural disasters that give us a small window of opportunity to prepare for their arrival, and get out of their path if needed. Instead of waiting until a storm is bearing down, take some time now to make sure that your home and family are prepared in the event that a hurricane is headed your way.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7oiWy9W0pr8GKHWAPy_ixZPvQUGPv_ipNyFt3BAicpiy80wd5QWjwkufKGfXYcZRwwJCx6A6UNkzhQOOHSHBw4I2ER1T4FZKvZVL8nghFWUBSeP01RbrkgZVNzApEOTC-xbGoQmL8N-s/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="338" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7oiWy9W0pr8GKHWAPy_ixZPvQUGPv_ipNyFt3BAicpiy80wd5QWjwkufKGfXYcZRwwJCx6A6UNkzhQOOHSHBw4I2ER1T4FZKvZVL8nghFWUBSeP01RbrkgZVNzApEOTC-xbGoQmL8N-s/" width="162" /></a></div><p><b><u>Know Your Zone</u>:</b></p>Do you live in a mandatory evacuation zone? Do you know if your home is located in a flood zone? Knowing this information can help you make educated decisions about what your family's plan should be during a hurricane. Check out the Floridadisaster.org link to their Know Your Zone map for updated information on flood and evacuation zones. <p></p><p>https://www.floridadisaster.org/planprepare/know-your-zone-know-your-home/</p><p><b><u>Have a Pet Plan</u>:</b></p><p>If you are a pet owner, having a plan for your pets in the event you have to evacuate is important. Many evacuation shelters do not allow pets so make arrangements in advance for somewhere to go that will allow you and your fur babies stay should you have to leave. Include your pet supplies in your disaster supply kit and make sure you have any medications that your pet needs.</p><p><b><u>Make a Disaster Supply Kit</u>:</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2y2TnW-8ddIlw_hXfVNW6lO0udW0NSnp-YDh0DoxeWIM07wyrsr7ak7LtrBvMbt4KfG43J3fUykAs_uyicyoC6mpexTDMpv2N16cdUwXODpZtdnUMyn8tQ9cHOpajLerIBxY0U2nwuk/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="850" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2y2TnW-8ddIlw_hXfVNW6lO0udW0NSnp-YDh0DoxeWIM07wyrsr7ak7LtrBvMbt4KfG43J3fUykAs_uyicyoC6mpexTDMpv2N16cdUwXODpZtdnUMyn8tQ9cHOpajLerIBxY0U2nwuk/w320-h400/image.png" width="320" /></a></div>Having supplies ready before a storm is coming is just smart. We've all seen (and probably stood in) long grocery store lines when it looks like you're in the path of a hurricane. Having a disaster supply kit ready in advance can cut your last minute supply runs down to a minimum, and using a checklist like the one shown here can make putting your kit together easy.<p></p><p><b><u>Do You Need Flood Insurance</u>:</b></p><p>Did you know that flood damage is the most common and damaging natural disaster in the U.S.? And where there is rain, there can be floods! So do you need flood insurance? Most insurance policies do not cover flood damage, so if you haven't added a specific flood policy, chances are good that you don't have coverage. We recommend that you contact your insurance provider and ask about flood insurance coverage and visit the National Flood Insurance Program website at https://www.floodsmart.gov/ for more information about insurance options and risk level maps.</p><p>Whether you live next to the water or miles inland, knowing your zone, being prepared and having a plan could possibly save your life! June 1st will be here before you know it, don't wait to be ready!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Lynda Walker, Brokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07248857936634637053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7753559100491867386.post-90617317377396263082021-04-20T06:26:00.000-05:002021-04-20T06:26:42.038-05:00Will Supply Catch Up With Demand?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8dOxz6Y56G5BAPhrfhU8c7Q_oQ9_Gc62iE4s7sik-1y4BZFBsWmzD1RcQXIFUGUlUylBCi2r08Diyb-4Q8sgLqtjm7TYB4FzbuQiM6RgMLdn9m-gECg_w4V6QSnyunNlBOl-CQaSLUM/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8dOxz6Y56G5BAPhrfhU8c7Q_oQ9_Gc62iE4s7sik-1y4BZFBsWmzD1RcQXIFUGUlUylBCi2r08Diyb-4Q8sgLqtjm7TYB4FzbuQiM6RgMLdn9m-gECg_w4V6QSnyunNlBOl-CQaSLUM/" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">We've posted many times over the past year about low inventory levels in the U.S. housing market, but exactly how big of a shortage is there of available homes for sale? After crunching the numbers for the first time, Freddie Mac released their recent analysis and estimates that the U.S. housing market would need to add 13.8 million single-family homes in order to meet the current demand. That's a 52% increase in the nation's home shortage in just three years. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Builders are racing to catch up and new residential construction saw an increase of over 19% in home starts, just since February. But with interest rates remaining historically low and more first time buyers in the market than ever before, catching up may be hard to do!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So what if you're a buyer trying to navigate this tight sellers market? Be prepared! Working with your lender ahead of time and being ready to make an offer with your agent when the right home pops up is key! With more and more multiple offer situations happening, there's no time to "sleep on it" anymore!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you're thinking about buying or selling a home, give us call, we'd love to help!</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sources: <br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">www.floridarealtors.org<br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">www.businessinsider.com</span></div>Lynda Walker, Brokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07248857936634637053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7753559100491867386.post-92060332912979639302021-03-03T15:16:00.001-06:002021-03-03T15:16:42.373-06:00Women's History Month<p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-l3pJLeZZrIn1z1cg9uGJ3PxyW5dXuOfISI1u6x_qaFO2iEAvTKRMAh2DPaLWFI4iD-_IyrNMR-1KDq5xpm0NZPitpwXdFmvISJl_0NE2zqPW-kKopE3c9zt-mi1nKc6lABMeJkqi2U/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="379" data-original-width="400" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-l3pJLeZZrIn1z1cg9uGJ3PxyW5dXuOfISI1u6x_qaFO2iEAvTKRMAh2DPaLWFI4iD-_IyrNMR-1KDq5xpm0NZPitpwXdFmvISJl_0NE2zqPW-kKopE3c9zt-mi1nKc6lABMeJkqi2U/w400-h379/image.png" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">As we celebrate Women's History Month, I find myself reflecting on the incredible achievements that women have made in our society. Brilliant authors, scientists, educators, politicians, and so on. But what I often forget is that even though we work in an industry that is made up so heavily of women, it wasn't always that way. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As early as the late 1700's, women had been a part of the real estate industry, but their roles were always clerical in nature. It wasn't until the latter part of the 1800's that women slowly began emerging as sales agents and brokers. As the industry continued to grow, more and more women were finding success as Realtors<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">®</span>. But even with this continued success, and over 3000 female brokers working nationally, the first woman didn't become a member of the National Association of Realtors<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">®</span> until 1910. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So today we recognize Corrine Simpson, a broker from Seattle, Washington who boldly stepped forward back in 1910 and in doing so helped pave the way for the over 900,000 female Realtors<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">®</span> that now make up 64% of the membership of the National Association of Realtors<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">®</span>.</span></p>Lynda Walker, Brokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07248857936634637053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7753559100491867386.post-53358448478498283892021-01-20T18:07:00.002-06:002021-01-20T18:07:19.879-06:00Survey Says....Kitchen Storage!<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksI5ogbRjsdtUSrdcV_iogioiZ2xiGlnu1g0oIBxVFrJrGFHvK5paFNaQc-D9l3mBRP-PcPPwDSI9RSSKKU7gkMn3sm5WATiMujDDQYDrQLbHNpHuHT9BA90tv4Sa31Nb726IxJ0149g/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="849" data-original-width="850" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksI5ogbRjsdtUSrdcV_iogioiZ2xiGlnu1g0oIBxVFrJrGFHvK5paFNaQc-D9l3mBRP-PcPPwDSI9RSSKKU7gkMn3sm5WATiMujDDQYDrQLbHNpHuHT9BA90tv4Sa31Nb726IxJ0149g/w400-h399/image.png" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">The people have spoken! Well, the people that were polled in the 2021 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study have spoken that is. And what do the people want? They want more kitchen storage.</span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">With families spending so much more time in their homes, finding storage solutions while using the same layout and square footage has become a priority for many of us. The Houzz study found that in addition to refacing and replacing cabinets, nearly half of homeowners that were in the midst of kitchen renovations were also adding to or upgrading their pantry space. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcfS9wMk8VpxWVFtZahoxWwyoyhziVW2lLYvDYhJrN4Ww5Wcpn9aAvHd45GsOUiDh_uQt3UCfB5G9OiDH0JlUWkt5PmlgQaUd-qaS6qgIks66mhi2oEexjwo93gKnD9sr_xExzGSmXNPc/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcfS9wMk8VpxWVFtZahoxWwyoyhziVW2lLYvDYhJrN4Ww5Wcpn9aAvHd45GsOUiDh_uQt3UCfB5G9OiDH0JlUWkt5PmlgQaUd-qaS6qgIks66mhi2oEexjwo93gKnD9sr_xExzGSmXNPc/" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Though storage was definitely the priority in this year's study, a few other emerging trends were noted as well. </span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Bold Kitchen Island Colors - With shades of blue and gray being the top choices, 41% of remodelers chose to make their kitchen islands standout.</span></li><li><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">On-Trend Cabinets - White doors and a simple Shaker style are still the top trend in cabinetry.</span></li><li><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Added Specialty Built-ins - Spice racks, drawer dividers and pull-out racks, OH MY!</span></li><li><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Add the Island - I can't imagine a kitchen without one, but apparently there are!</span></li><li><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Flooring - Tile has knocked wood and wood laminate into second place as the go-to kitchen flooring choice this year. This may be a trend to watch!</span></li><li><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Neutral Walls - Gray, beige and white are still the top kitchen colors, but bold pops of color are here to stay too.</span></li><li><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">High Tech Appliances and Faucets - If the budget allows for it, there is a gadget for everyone! </span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2pWo_YJhVP65mkQX1tv3tWr1wRHb3ETWqfdtFbc-NAwZL0I89Fp8g0fl5ZrVYUEKTy34Q7Z5luFhOq5kvrdhmtZ86SmE3dUkyY-sNrbpeXwxP1waS2lnb41IaBKxJzYxdytn7jffkqKA/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1052" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2pWo_YJhVP65mkQX1tv3tWr1wRHb3ETWqfdtFbc-NAwZL0I89Fp8g0fl5ZrVYUEKTy34Q7Z5luFhOq5kvrdhmtZ86SmE3dUkyY-sNrbpeXwxP1waS2lnb41IaBKxJzYxdytn7jffkqKA/" width="320" /></a></span></div></div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">If planting a For Sale sign in your yard and house hunting for the perfect kitchen isn't an option right now, have no fear, you can still make the kitchen you have work for you! Be creative, do your research and hire an expert when needed! Have fun!</span><p></p>Lynda Walker, Brokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07248857936634637053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7753559100491867386.post-40672074574190149132021-01-07T19:30:00.000-06:002021-01-07T19:30:20.770-06:00New Year, Even Lower Interest Rates!<p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoe4uHrimouuUnj8xYEITou_x0XDpnRQENjXWy_9wL6HQ6fExdexwI0MU1tr0-j2bm-ta_lgRLu67poGuOteUcVz0v7rWotlt0w5MZmnDIUjTqLu0upUbr1Xp1abgYn6OZ6QOrKTapQzg/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="412" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoe4uHrimouuUnj8xYEITou_x0XDpnRQENjXWy_9wL6HQ6fExdexwI0MU1tr0-j2bm-ta_lgRLu67poGuOteUcVz0v7rWotlt0w5MZmnDIUjTqLu0upUbr1Xp1abgYn6OZ6QOrKTapQzg/w400-h283/image.png" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />The new year is here, but the story on mortgage interest rates is a familiar one! As we pass through the first full week of January, Freddie Mac reported that average 30-year fixed mortgage rates have dipped to a jaw dropping 2.65%, nearly a full percent lower than this time last year. With the shortage of available home inventory, many buyers jumping into the housing market hoping to take advantage of the low rates are finding fewer homes to choose from and prices that aren't dropping.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So what is the future of real estate with so many Gen X and Millennial buyers entering the market? Check out this article shared by FloridaRealtors.org and get the scoop! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">https://www.floridarealtors.org/news-media/news-articles/2021/01/future-real-estate-lots-gen-x-millennial-buyers</span></p>Lynda Walker, Brokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07248857936634637053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7753559100491867386.post-75017305526163128052020-12-15T17:45:00.002-06:002020-12-16T06:39:16.320-06:00The Great Christmas Debate {Well, one of them anyway!}<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFoZOIpEzX1gKLXG6E-qaUFR6tepLcVl11BX0dhD6f1kXFBwJdKL8ugFNig4ttaRsSgsBPUfWKNqmuPl8wwZB7UZ-GtdDg9pyiQmy-4nVlM-P6OEJQicZHAhnrN5nWxOvoCzke9dveY6U/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1075" data-original-width="2048" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFoZOIpEzX1gKLXG6E-qaUFR6tepLcVl11BX0dhD6f1kXFBwJdKL8ugFNig4ttaRsSgsBPUfWKNqmuPl8wwZB7UZ-GtdDg9pyiQmy-4nVlM-P6OEJQicZHAhnrN5nWxOvoCzke9dveY6U/w400-h210/image.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Which do you prefer, white or colored Christmas
lights? It’s one of the greatest debates that the Christmas season brings, and
it’s been a holiday topic of conversation since the invention of multi-colored
lights in 1882. But despite the ever-changing styles and trends, most people
have a very clear preference of one over the other, and they are usually happy
to tell you which one it is!</span></span><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our job is not to say that one is better than
the other, but statistically speaking, white lights have the hands down
majority of sales. Georgia’s Christmas Light’s Etc. reported that a whopping
70% of the lights they sell are white. So in an effort to keep the peace
between our multi-colored and white light lovers, we’ve put together a list of why
we like each option to help everyone keep an open mind when decorating for
Christmas.</span></div></span></div><div><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOTMz0DvnPmJLH2sWA8H9IGc9wQz2AwN_NHiZofOEO7Qdcu8M_6M4ajdYUoa_vdpaCFcP02e2vOcS6xcyTn7DM2jhbQS6QLW8Ckywofj9yTyq9rQGvIXjJTmEceG2M8eWxGTpuo6fG0s/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOTMz0DvnPmJLH2sWA8H9IGc9wQz2AwN_NHiZofOEO7Qdcu8M_6M4ajdYUoa_vdpaCFcP02e2vOcS6xcyTn7DM2jhbQS6QLW8Ckywofj9yTyq9rQGvIXjJTmEceG2M8eWxGTpuo6fG0s/" width="320" /></a></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Why we like white lights:</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">They coordinate with
any décor and theme.</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">They highlight the greenery
and ornaments.</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">They are simple and
allow for other decorations to stand out.</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">They create a unified
look.</span></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTrUiPVjfor5CbA2QhrPAJGEr0P6qZ87mQfIPJrc9XuMnS1My0gQBnWE9aOdwJm2Ktv-HbzlozdEvUTJAhf1Y98FyLTrzHPnRTFx5gVP1UpeVMP_w5s4mhVckOYd9E54R94_K15Zk_y8/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTrUiPVjfor5CbA2QhrPAJGEr0P6qZ87mQfIPJrc9XuMnS1My0gQBnWE9aOdwJm2Ktv-HbzlozdEvUTJAhf1Y98FyLTrzHPnRTFx5gVP1UpeVMP_w5s4mhVckOYd9E54R94_K15Zk_y8/" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Why we like multi-color lights:</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">They are vibrant and immediately
draw the eye.</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">They create a fun and
festive feel.</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">They fill spaces with color so fewer ornaments are needed.</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">They remind us of the
Griswalds. </span></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p></blockquote><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="color: #222222; text-align: left;"></span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtJ_w79jabVsFmE_GGkq28nC9bN-Rv7USRv2_gE3xbEJcAmLFh7tQPusJ5jvfMZwje8gIneaWoNlAsqjnPvIQmR8s_DqZtmua0z7e3ko74jM7mwcLtXtSUx-KxP-35pfzGlo2v3jUZMg/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="980" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtJ_w79jabVsFmE_GGkq28nC9bN-Rv7USRv2_gE3xbEJcAmLFh7tQPusJ5jvfMZwje8gIneaWoNlAsqjnPvIQmR8s_DqZtmua0z7e3ko74jM7mwcLtXtSUx-KxP-35pfzGlo2v3jUZMg/" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Which ever option your family chooses for their holiday decorating, we hope that the twinkling lights bring happiness and fun to your home this Christmas! </span></div></span></span></div><p></p></div>Lynda Walker, Brokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07248857936634637053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7753559100491867386.post-31905408228896873572020-11-30T16:12:00.002-06:002020-11-30T16:13:22.199-06:00The Newest Must-Have Feature...Good Neighbors<p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnyWq5T9sAW_8_YK4tnn-ElM0s1G4S8NKcHScx84Hm_9r2l_Mqmlv_7Anj5bD5DGC2jgJoxSge9pc3hIXvRR4bcJZ1Tp1RR0A0Oh34WiKRyv5pV01WrB62VNqbcVVgcmCzOPOqnIpuVnM/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnyWq5T9sAW_8_YK4tnn-ElM0s1G4S8NKcHScx84Hm_9r2l_Mqmlv_7Anj5bD5DGC2jgJoxSge9pc3hIXvRR4bcJZ1Tp1RR0A0Oh34WiKRyv5pV01WrB62VNqbcVVgcmCzOPOqnIpuVnM/w400-h266/image.png" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;">With people spending more time at home than ever before, their must-have lists for buying a home are looking a little different these days! Driveway get togethers and back yard movie nights are filling the gaps that live events once occupied making the importance of the neighborhoods we live in much more significant. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Check out this article from FloridaRealtors.org and find out more about why the newest must-have feature for home buyers is becoming good neighbors.</span></p><p>https://www.floridarealtors.org/news-media/news-articles/2020/11/latest-must-have-buyer-demand-friendly-neighbors</p>Lynda Walker, Brokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07248857936634637053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7753559100491867386.post-32964118677132798542020-10-16T07:53:00.000-05:002020-10-16T07:53:08.711-05:0030 YEAR MORTGAGE RATES SET A NEW RECORD!<p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApFyhe4junibe8WCAPJS1KwnJsgf4stbyntID1vXE7XONO6dpjw1ZCCUHh-MFwkfNymJ6lAiIrYp2_9nM93Naz8MBHwYrj_Ivfur7AHNlEwErIO1gsQ8qRTrY7w_3REsvwS_FKrucMc8/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="931" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApFyhe4junibe8WCAPJS1KwnJsgf4stbyntID1vXE7XONO6dpjw1ZCCUHh-MFwkfNymJ6lAiIrYp2_9nM93Naz8MBHwYrj_Ivfur7AHNlEwErIO1gsQ8qRTrY7w_3REsvwS_FKrucMc8/w400-h217/image.png" width="400" /></a></span></div><p style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">For the tenth time this year, U.S. long-term mortgage rates have set a new low record! Average 30-year mortgages dropped from 2.87% to 2.81%, nearly a point lower than the rates this same time last year. For more information on these record setting rates, check out this article shared on FloridaRealtors.org.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.floridarealtors.org/news-media/news-articles/2020/10/30-year-mortgage-rates-hit-another-record-low-281">https://www.floridarealtors.org/news-media/news-articles/2020/10/30-year-mortgage-rates-hit-another-record-low-281</a><br /></p>Lynda Walker, Brokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07248857936634637053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7753559100491867386.post-43491746946634575722020-09-22T13:06:00.003-05:002020-09-22T13:07:32.508-05:00<p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKff9RYTyUWy_zShC-9pynWXSeUkLsgoVaadOLgg7Yu5B7zoDwz9ThZ5yXb30MP2VWlxHnEmALSNgxTK1T4lIY7VGaoQQy7OokfNoBjGH3mPcjP8hjL5Y9YQ_NF3Q6K5fPuRX9owNzle4/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="948" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKff9RYTyUWy_zShC-9pynWXSeUkLsgoVaadOLgg7Yu5B7zoDwz9ThZ5yXb30MP2VWlxHnEmALSNgxTK1T4lIY7VGaoQQy7OokfNoBjGH3mPcjP8hjL5Y9YQ_NF3Q6K5fPuRX9owNzle4/" width="320" /></a></b></span></div><b style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">Watch Out For Insurance Scams and Red Flags!</b><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Hurricane Sally blew through the Gulf Coast leaving a huge mess to clean up in her wake. Anyone who has lived through just one of these storms knows that there is an extreme timeliness to documenting damage and alerting insurance companies, but be mindful that with the storms often come the sharks hoping to take another bite out of your post storm misfortune. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-family: times; font-size: 24px;"><b>How Can You Protect Yourself?</b></span></p><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">The best way to protect yourself is to stay educated on the process, document everything and follow your gut. If something feels off, it probably is. Here are a few more suggestions to help you stay sharp during the stressful clean-up and repair process.</span></div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Alert your insurance carriers about damage immediately after storm.</span></li><li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Take photos and videos of EVERYTHING. The more documentation that you have, the better.</span></li><li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Make only absolutely necessary emergency repairs yourself and save the receipts for the materials used. Anything more than this could be excluded by the insurance company.</span></li><li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Correspondence should be in writing (email/text) whenever possible. This creates a dated trail of interactions. </span></li><li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Take notes of verbal conversations including, dates, times, names, etc...</span></li><li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">NEVER give anyone your original documents. Make copies that can be shared, snap a picture with your phone and share it or scan the document to a PDF to be shared. </span></li><li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Use caution if asked to sign an “assignment of benefits” or AOB. This gives insurance rights to third-party vendors. </span></li><li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Stay local when looking for repair quotes and contractors, and take the extra time to check their BBB rating read reviews. </span></li><li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">If it sounds to good to be true, chances are that it is!</span></li></ol><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><h2 class="gnt_ar_b_h2" style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-family: "Unify Sans", "Helvetica Neue", "Arial Nova", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 26px; margin: 28px 0px 18px;"><p class="gnt_ar_b_p" style="font-family: "Georgia Pro", Georgia, "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin: 14px 0px;"><br /></p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p" style="font-family: "Georgia Pro", Georgia, "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin: 14px 0px;"><br /></p></h2><h2 class="gnt_ar_b_h2" style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-family: "Unify Sans", "Helvetica Neue", "Arial Nova", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 26px; margin: 28px 0px 18px;"><br /></h2>Lynda Walker, Brokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07248857936634637053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7753559100491867386.post-48441032657487880102020-09-09T10:51:00.001-05:002020-09-09T10:54:45.040-05:00Attracting Fall Buyers<div class="separator"><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></div></div><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Have you been thinking about selling your home this fall? The real estate is market is hot, hot, hot right now, and with kids heading back to school and the holiday season not yet upon us, this is a great time to sell a home.</span></span></p><div class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block" id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-2" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="comp mntl-block" id="mntl-block_2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="comp scads-to-load right-rail__item billboard-sticky billboard1-sticky-dynamic billboard-sticky--sc scads-stick-in-parent scads-ad-placed scads-stuck-bottom" data-height="1050" id="billboard1-sticky-dynamic_1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: 1050px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; right: -312px; top: 134px;"><div class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: none; height: 653.333px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><div class="comp billboard1-dynamic mntl-gpt-dynamic-adunit mntl-gpt-adunit gpt billboard dynamic" data-ad-height="600" data-ad-width="300" id="billboard1-dynamic_1-0" style="bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; max-width: none; min-height: 250px; min-width: 300px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; width: 300px;"><div class="wrapper" data-auction-floor-id="e4e3d53ce7db484a8f4d87e6b19e9fd6" data-auction-floor-value="600" data-google-query-id="CJyh2OCa3OsCFQRehwodaTAOlA" data-pos="atf" data-priority="2" data-rtb="true" data-sizes="[[300, 250], [300, 600], [160, 600], [300, 1050], [1, 2], "fluid"]" data-targeting="{}" data-type="billboard" id="billboard" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; width: 300px;"><div id="google_ads_iframe_/479/thebalance/bal_home-buying/billboard_0__container__" style="border: 0pt none; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 600px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><iframe data-google-container-id="5" data-is-safeframe="true" data-load-complete="true" frameborder="0" height="600" id="google_ads_iframe_/479/thebalance/bal_home-buying/billboard_0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="" sandbox="allow-forms allow-pointer-lock allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation" scrolling="no" src="https://tpc.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" title="3rd party ad content" width="300"></iframe></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block" id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-5" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="comp mntl-block" id="mntl-block_3-0" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="comp scads-to-load right-rail__item billboard-sticky billboard2-sticky-dynamic billboard-sticky--sc scads-stick-in-parent scads-ad-placed" data-height="600" id="billboard2-sticky-dynamic_1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; right: -312px; top: 1284px;"><div class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="comp billboard2-dynamic mntl-gpt-dynamic-adunit mntl-gpt-adunit gpt billboard dynamic" data-ad-height="600" data-ad-width="300" id="billboard2-dynamic_1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; max-width: none; min-height: 250px; min-width: 300px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><div class="wrapper" data-auction-floor-id="9c18c86741764c8bada74937076ada9f" data-auction-floor-value="325" data-google-query-id="CMvU8OCa3OsCFQ_4hwody-EJqA" data-pos="btf1" data-priority="3" data-rtb="true" data-sizes="[[300, 250], [300, 600], [300, 601], [160, 600], [300, 251], [2, 1], "fluid"]" data-targeting="null" data-type="billboard" id="billboard2" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; width: 300px;"><div id="google_ads_iframe_/479/thebalance/bal_home-buying/billboard2_0__container__" style="border: 0pt none; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 600px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><iframe data-google-container-id="6" data-is-safeframe="true" data-load-complete="true" frameborder="0" height="600" id="google_ads_iframe_/479/thebalance/bal_home-buying/billboard2_0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="" sandbox="allow-forms allow-pointer-lock allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation" scrolling="no" src="https://tpc.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" title="3rd party ad content" width="300"></iframe></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p class="comp text-passage mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html" id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-7" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; counter-reset: section 0; margin: 0.875rem 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Here are some helpful tips to help attract home buyers in the fall season.</span></p><div class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block" id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-8" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="comp mntl-block" id="mntl-block_4-0" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="comp scads-to-load right-rail__item billboard-sticky billboard3-sticky-dynamic billboard-sticky--sc scads-ad-placed" data-height="600" id="billboard3-sticky-dynamic_1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; right: -312px; top: 1984px;"><div class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="comp billboard3-dynamic mntl-gpt-dynamic-adunit mntl-gpt-adunit gpt billboard dynamic" data-ad-height="250" data-ad-width="300" id="billboard3-dynamic_1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; max-width: none; min-height: 250px; min-width: 300px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><div class="wrapper" data-auction-floor-id="1037aa8329a5404eb09f87146b39adb9" data-auction-floor-value="220" data-google-query-id="CJe4i-Ga3OsCFVbThwodvsEP9Q" data-pos="btf2" data-priority="5" data-rtb="true" data-sizes="[[300,250],[300,252],[3,1],"fluid"]" data-targeting="null" data-type="billboard" id="billboard3" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; width: 300px;"><div id="google_ads_iframe_/479/thebalance/bal_home-buying/billboard3_0__container__" style="border: 0pt none; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 250px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><iframe data-google-container-id="7" data-is-safeframe="true" data-load-complete="true" frameborder="0" height="250" id="google_ads_iframe_/479/thebalance/bal_home-buying/billboard3_0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="" sandbox="allow-forms allow-pointer-lock allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation" scrolling="no" src="https://tpc.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" title="3rd party ad content" width="300"></iframe></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><a class="heading-toc" id="1-clean-up-the-yard" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #246fc8; outline: 0px; transition: all 0.15s ease-out 0s;"></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"></span></span><h2 class="comp mntl-sc-block money-sc-block-heading mntl-sc-block-heading" id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-9" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin: 2rem 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">Curb Appeal With an Autumn Flare</span></h2><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Mums, marigolds and pumpkins oh my! </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The most popular fall flowers are chrysanthemums (or mums), and they come in a wide variety of vibrant fall colors. With very little attention (this is important because I forget to water plants) their blooms stay colorful for a long time and they add a nice touch of autumn to your porch. Add in some marigolds, a nice planter and some pumpkins or gourds as accents, and you've created a curb appeal worthy of fall!</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><img height="405" src="https://howtonestforless.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/fall-front-porch-ideas.jpg" width="608" /></div><h2 class="comp mntl-sc-block money-sc-block-heading mntl-sc-block-heading" id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-9" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin: 2rem 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"><span class="mntl-sc-block-heading__text" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Make It Sparkle</span></span></h2><p class="comp text-passage mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html" id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-11" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; counter-reset: section 0; margin: 0.875rem 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Having a neat and tidy lawn when potential buyers stop by is important. Remember, you want to showcase your home and you only get one chance to make a first impression! So make sure that leaves and debris are cleaned up regularly and don't let plants, bushes and trees become overgrown. Make sure that leaves and limbs are trimmed back from the walkways and don't block the windows. Also, d</span><span>usty pollen covered screens, dingy streaked windows and dirty siding and walkways can really be turnoff for buyers. It might not seem like a big deal, but having windows that sparkle and a freshly cleaned exterior will help catch a buyers eye! Take the time to pressure wash your home and walkways and clean the windows and screens inside and out before marketing </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">your home.</span></p><p class="comp text-passage mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html" id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-11" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; counter-reset: section 0; margin: 0.875rem 0px; padding: 0px;"><img height="240" src="http://riversideclservices.com/attachments/Image/PW1.jpg?template=generic" width="720" /></p><div class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block" id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-23" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="comp mntl-block" id="mntl-block_5-0" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="comp native-placeholder mntl-block" id="native-placeholder_2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></div></div></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><a class="heading-toc" id="4-check-the-hvac" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #246fc8; outline: 0px; transition: all 0.15s ease-out 0s;"></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"></span></span><h2 class="comp mntl-sc-block money-sc-block-heading mntl-sc-block-heading" id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-24" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin: 2rem 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"><span class="mntl-sc-block-heading__text" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Do An Appliance Check</span></span></h2><p class="comp text-passage mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html" id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-26" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; counter-reset: section 0; margin: 0.875rem 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Living in Florida, we all know that just because the calendar says "fall" doesn't mean that the weather agrees. September and October usually fall into one of two categories, hot or less hot. That being said, make sure that your HVAC filters have been changed, test your heating system (even though you probably won't turn it on until January) and make sure that your drain line is clear. Making sure these things are in good working order now will help you avoid any surprises later!</span></p><p class="comp text-passage mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html" id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-26" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; counter-reset: section 0; margin: 0.875rem 0px; padding: 0px;"><img height="360" src="https://organizedcanadianmama.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/clean-dirty-furnace-filters.png" width="400" /></p><p class="comp text-passage mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html" id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-26" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; counter-reset: section 0; margin: 0.875rem 0px; padding: 0px;"><span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Make It Smell Like Fall</span></span></p><p class="comp text-passage mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html" id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-37" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; counter-reset: section 0; margin: 0.875rem 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The sense of smell is one of the strongest human senses and it has strong ties to memory. They way your home smells when a buyer walks in has a lot to do with how they remember your home after they leave. Fall is a great time for fragrances (think maple chai latte or freshly baked pumpkin bread) but keep it light and it's best to stick with one scent (two if you have a second story). Too many scents or overpowering fragrances can be a turn off or give the impression that you are trying to cover up another smell, so keep it simple.</span></p><p class="comp text-passage mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html" id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-37" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; counter-reset: section 0; margin: 0.875rem 0px; padding: 0px;"><img height="381" src="https://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/fall-baking.png" width="635" /></p><p class="comp text-passage mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html" id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-37" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; counter-reset: section 0; margin: 0.875rem 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Bring On the Squirrels and Fall Y'all </span></p><p class="comp text-passage mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html" id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-45" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; counter-reset: section 0; margin: 0.875rem 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Fall decor is fun and there are so many creative ways that you can add autumn accents to your home without breaking the bank! If you haven't already discovered the value section located in the front of Target stores, you're in for a treat! And I'm sorry in advance because you'll likely become an addict once you've experienced it! You don't have to go squirrel crazy, but little things like putting miniature pumpkins or gourds in a large bowl or adding autumn silk flowers to a rustic wooden box make great table accents. Adding a few extra pillows or a warm throw blanket in neutral tones to your couch, chairs or bed can create a cozy setting in any room. And if you have a fireplace, a "Welcome Fall" sign on the mantel and mums on the hearth are the perfect additions to make your home look like autumn is here.</span></p><p class="comp text-passage mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html" id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-45" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; counter-reset: section 0; margin: 0.875rem 0px; padding: 0px;"><img height="800" src="https://homebnc.com/homeimg/2017/08/01-farmhouse-fall-decorating-ideas-homebnc.jpg" width="570" /></p><p class="comp text-passage mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html" id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-45" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; counter-reset: section 0; margin: 0.875rem 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></p>Lynda Walker, Brokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07248857936634637053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7753559100491867386.post-37111401719853470132020-08-31T13:09:00.001-05:002020-08-31T13:09:27.152-05:00TODAY IS WORLD DISTANCE LEARNING DAY<div class="separator"><p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img height="614" src="https://news.continuingstudies.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/photo_wagner_ellen-istock-2-e1530560014961.jpg" width="614" /></p><p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Happy Monday everyone! As I was reviewing my emails this morning, one of the many (oh so many) spam emails that I got caught my eye. It was reminding me that today is World Distance Learning Day. Normally this would have been sent straight to the trash bin, it's not like it's reminding me that it's Eat Cake For Breakfast Day after all, but instead it got me thinking about the new normal that we are all living these days. The truth is, whether we like it or not, most of us are paddling this canoe in one way or another! Whether it's a virtual learning environment with our children, continuing education requirements online or just the ability to work remotely, distance learning and virtual work, which was once just a choice, has now become a necessity for many of us. </p><p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">The real estate industry is a great example of how the distance learning model is a an excellent resource that was probably under utilized until now. Prior to the pandemic, many of us completed our continuing education requirements in a classroom setting in person. Though the social aspect of seeing our peers and other professionals in our industry was great, scheduling time out of a busy day to sit in class wasn't always the easiest thing to do. The e-learning solution has allowed many of us to find time at our convenience to successfully to complete our professional education requirements as well as take part in additional classes and certifications that may have been hard to make time for in the past. </p><p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">So two thumbs up and big high fives to everyone who is navigating through distance learning right now! Embracing change isn't always easy, but sometimes it ends up being an unexpected positive! Hang in there and no matter what, just keep swimming!</p></div>Lynda Walker, Brokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07248857936634637053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7753559100491867386.post-37794343499159338712020-08-19T11:18:00.001-05:002020-08-19T11:18:59.136-05:00New Home Construction Soared in July<div class="separator"><p style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="378" src="https://carolsawdey.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/new-construction1.jpg" width="567" /></p></div><p>New home construction has seen steady increases for the past three months and surged nearly 23% in the month of July. The Commerce Department reported that new homes were started at the highest rate since February of this year and the numbers exceeded what economists were predicting for the month. Check out this article from FloridaRealtors.com for more information on the growth of new home construction.</p><p><a href="https://www.floridarealtors.org/news-media/news-articles/2020/08/july-new-home-construction-surges-226">https://www.floridarealtors.org/news-media/news-articles/2020/08/july-new-home-construction-surges-226</a><br /></p>Lynda Walker, Brokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07248857936634637053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7753559100491867386.post-72211414248444341712020-08-11T14:07:00.001-05:002020-08-11T14:07:42.464-05:00<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: inherit;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEp1fjR2qK078Qnlrm2fsp7vaPoqVvzKaV9nbo8Sfcw7sjc55JXF0KxPc14JXfG0jQ3kgDRFcS2MZsDHA-KaSXDGjWfDeblHMV2P0XuZMwzUyhqL0Wb17GltC86cL3mlLJ9HYPUy_DHc/s1150/2020-Census.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="1150" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEp1fjR2qK078Qnlrm2fsp7vaPoqVvzKaV9nbo8Sfcw7sjc55JXF0KxPc14JXfG0jQ3kgDRFcS2MZsDHA-KaSXDGjWfDeblHMV2P0XuZMwzUyhqL0Wb17GltC86cL3mlLJ9HYPUy_DHc/w512-h255/2020-Census.jpg" width="512" /></a></div></span></span></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: inherit;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">2020 has been an "interesting" year so far (that seems like the safest description to use anyway), and somewhere in the middle of hearing about supersized killer hornets, deciding if Carole really whacked her husband, and social distancing ourselves to stay healthy, we received our 2020 Census forms in the mail.</span></span></h3><div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: inherit; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: inherit;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit;">With all of the craziness happening in our lives today, overlooking something else that requires our attention is easy to do. But the census form is important; it's actually required by law, and it only takes a few minutes to complete. And the best part is, once you're done you can check it off your to-do list for the next ten years! I wish I could do that with the laundry! </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit;">So, if you haven't already done it, find your form or go to census.gov and be counted!</span></span></h3><div><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"> <span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">INTERESTING CENSUS FACTS</span></span></span></h2><p></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: inherit;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">The framers of the Constitution of the United States chose population to be the basis for sharing political power, not wealth or land. Article 1, Section 2, The Constitution of the United States.</span></span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia; font-weight: normal;">The first census was completed in 1790 by U.S. Marshals who went door-to-door.</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia; font-weight: normal;">New York City has been the largest U.S. city in every census, all 22 of them! The population has risen from 33,131 in 1790 to a staggering 8.2 million in 2010.</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia; font-weight: normal;">The census is the U.S. government's largest peacetime operation. During the 2010 census, more than one million census workers counted approximately 310 million people in 120 million households. </span></li></ul></h4><p></p><p><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia; font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Sources: Census.gov, History.com</span></p><div class="reference parbase section" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="cq-dd-paragraph" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="textimage parbase" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-image: url(""); background-position: right bottom; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: contain; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><section style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="uscb-text-image-text uscb-text-media-text uscb-padding-LR-0" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 25px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; word-break: break-word;"><br /></p></div></section></div></div></div></div>Lynda Walker, Brokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07248857936634637053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7753559100491867386.post-14559362780395489622020-08-05T17:59:00.000-05:002020-08-05T18:02:00.347-05:00Easy Ways To Make Your Kitchen Stand Out!<h2 style="text-align: left;"><font color="#0b5394" face="times">With the exception of where we sleep, the kitchen is the most widely used room in our home, so it's no wonder that it's usually at the top of the importance list for potential buyers. As a seller, making simple upgrades in the areas of your home that appeal the most to buyers in your market is a great way to set your home apart from the rest. So, knowing that kitchens are important, what can you do to make your kitchen stand out without breaking the bank?</font></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><font color="#3d85c6" face="georgia"><br /></font></h2><div><b><font color="#0b5394" face="georgia" size="5">DE-CLUTTER YOUR COUNTERS</font></b></div><div><font color="#0b5394" face="georgia">This is the easiest, no cost way to help your kitchen's appeal. Less stuff = more counter space. It's basic math, but it can add up to a kitchen that buyers can't wait to have!</font></div><div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUypi8o8o-h7dTEn45Gd_RYKCMf2ya3D1OKlEj2Bp3hsqgXVe0esdO-YNwP0q29CVYnCHvEmSs2niplqqQLNkk2rDJj10_1kIEFivhEX3JZSKja2BqEyc_LoGH5CPoPooU7GZ2I4z6Lno/s1500/white+kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUypi8o8o-h7dTEn45Gd_RYKCMf2ya3D1OKlEj2Bp3hsqgXVe0esdO-YNwP0q29CVYnCHvEmSs2niplqqQLNkk2rDJj10_1kIEFivhEX3JZSKja2BqEyc_LoGH5CPoPooU7GZ2I4z6Lno/s640/white+kitchen.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><font color="#0b5394" face="georgia" size="5"><b>UPDATE YOUR LIGHTING</b></font></div><div><font color="#0b5394" face="georgia">This can be as simple as replacing your bulbs with a different wattage or style of light (indoor soft vs outdoor natural), or as elaborate as replacing outdated light fixtures with updated styles and finishes. Whatever option you choose, make sure that you create an inviting space with plenty of light.</font></div><div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimIMY1-al6OXIYNjqjsoMKFJeEuP19YkGoAdTY1iYTRyMXl-1hwV2X92RIcy-SqSZyfPzbe6YxoUXuPCkddSJJ3BJuNfMJJpYj18GbQFdsjj5oV0BianB9j8CAIOWUXucRhneEnbqW0eQ/s1200/lighting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="429" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimIMY1-al6OXIYNjqjsoMKFJeEuP19YkGoAdTY1iYTRyMXl-1hwV2X92RIcy-SqSZyfPzbe6YxoUXuPCkddSJJ3BJuNfMJJpYj18GbQFdsjj5oV0BianB9j8CAIOWUXucRhneEnbqW0eQ/w641-h429/lighting.jpg" width="641" /></a></div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><font color="#0b5394" face="georgia" size="5"><b>CHANGE OR ADD CABINET HARDWARE</b></font></div><div><font color="#0b5394" face="georgia">Changing out old or worn cabinet hardware is an easy fix that can give your kitchen new life! Be sure to select styles and finishes that work well with your existing fixtures.</font></div><div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJq05fa81JgUEX7mS6dhfUAHI9dNmOpKePHeCZgWSCfU1EupPPKbwAZi4t74Po7yy31R5Xmq6MORwD-TTflFuiR7LL4gC-l9f2y2loft6aYo4I6zJJElTpxQyghndMyTXLiF7xuNx5Yk/s1200/cabinet+hardware.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJq05fa81JgUEX7mS6dhfUAHI9dNmOpKePHeCZgWSCfU1EupPPKbwAZi4t74Po7yy31R5Xmq6MORwD-TTflFuiR7LL4gC-l9f2y2loft6aYo4I6zJJElTpxQyghndMyTXLiF7xuNx5Yk/s640/cabinet+hardware.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><font face="georgia" size="5"><b><br /></b></font></div><div><font face="georgia" size="5"><b><br /></b></font></div><div><font face="georgia" size="5"><b><br /></b></font></div><div><font face="georgia" size="5"><b><br /></b></font></div><div><font face="georgia" size="5"><b><br /></b></font></div><div><font face="georgia" size="5"><b><br /></b></font></div><div><font color="#0b5394" face="georgia" size="5"><b>ADD OR UPDATE A BACK SPLASH</b></font></div><div><font color="#0b5394" face="georgia">Back splashes are the perfect DIY project and can give your kitchen a whole new look. But don't just look at the tile options, some of the newest trends include, opaque colored glass, aluminum, copper panels and even mirrors. If you have an outdated back splash that you don't want to rip out, consider using tile paint or removable tile stickers to give your kitchen the updated look you want.</font></div><div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__LurgLLfqyU8ulkUi20pVdQYnNfrYT6EUFvX2AYJFqw_kPGGOeeMyyPvRJq-OgRYiZsDrU6oD4i1qd30hxEiGy6eTmf-sVKyod5xOzHO_GKptDIZiLAgyxAskgyBZfV5ubUzP_JjFDA/s550/backsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="550" height="573" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__LurgLLfqyU8ulkUi20pVdQYnNfrYT6EUFvX2AYJFqw_kPGGOeeMyyPvRJq-OgRYiZsDrU6oD4i1qd30hxEiGy6eTmf-sVKyod5xOzHO_GKptDIZiLAgyxAskgyBZfV5ubUzP_JjFDA/w689-h573/backsplash.jpg" width="689" /></a></div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYew1Si3qIZQHn_4kgLkkInQApptMOBZVL4Z6rnrjMIaFBJxlTxfo6xj0OfFf7fYgctWbLYQ9e_cIgtFwHWWYVpZJueClt_HKbXHfF1QzY8XFnyTZ9_7NqJ-Sfh8DuLs1Q7AL4VBqh7k/s800/backsplash1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYew1Si3qIZQHn_4kgLkkInQApptMOBZVL4Z6rnrjMIaFBJxlTxfo6xj0OfFf7fYgctWbLYQ9e_cIgtFwHWWYVpZJueClt_HKbXHfF1QzY8XFnyTZ9_7NqJ-Sfh8DuLs1Q7AL4VBqh7k/s640/backsplash1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><font color="#0b5394">UPDATE YOUR KITCHEN FAUCET</font></b></div><div><font color="#0b5394">Depending on your do-it-yourself skill level, adding a new kitchen faucet can be a simple way to add a needed pop to your kitchen. There are tons of unique styles and finishes available that will allow you to keep it simple or go full-on Gordon Ramsey. Whatever you decide on, just make sure it works well with your kitchen's style and is installed properly.</font></div><div><br /></div><div><font face="georgia" size="5"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfvDK3ynfRuO1CRdya8vXl-wn2kLnZtuCqKJUZmRv9tkaR9SsV_28Ukg2fBGQfcxEfHODwx3lb5wnUINgfi4GVHV5uVO1huUCgWefeSLzcoDTmo3OUn2pg6MXnw7weyuaR8S0bMw8X_Y/s800/faucet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfvDK3ynfRuO1CRdya8vXl-wn2kLnZtuCqKJUZmRv9tkaR9SsV_28Ukg2fBGQfcxEfHODwx3lb5wnUINgfi4GVHV5uVO1huUCgWefeSLzcoDTmo3OUn2pg6MXnw7weyuaR8S0bMw8X_Y/s640/faucet.jpg" /></a></div><b><br /></b></font></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><font color="#0b5394">PAINTED CABINETS</font></b></div><div><font color="#0b5394" face="georgia">Be still my heart, I love this new trend in kitchen design! That being said, I'm not sure I'd want to be the one to paint them! There's a reason I listed this kitchen upgrade last and it's because there is A LOT of room for error here! The key to beautiful painted cabinets is using the proper materials (yes, there is specific paint for cabinets) and taking the time to do the job right. When in doubt, hire a professional! The devil is truly in the details for this upgrade, but when done properly, your cabinets could be a kitchen game changer! </font></div><div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAhlJGqpd5nXmeU-SY-IOC8qEKPZnfWA7FQvaTM0GyLnhEx6oiy_C2Aks0OklYstTFhhPzFSXRy-ZXNInvwu-8MOdMIDUXrNyQl-iStDyz_ncmuR3pnuAtWCBqPWOCkh8oW-Lg7b7MEk/s900/cabinets1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAhlJGqpd5nXmeU-SY-IOC8qEKPZnfWA7FQvaTM0GyLnhEx6oiy_C2Aks0OklYstTFhhPzFSXRy-ZXNInvwu-8MOdMIDUXrNyQl-iStDyz_ncmuR3pnuAtWCBqPWOCkh8oW-Lg7b7MEk/s640/cabinets1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunfgoFOpvnVre3A7OK4LZou-Ax3XxObJef9F1O0mhpbMWcC9X1-W5Mp-xotIukcwQ-tx4APjnMS58HRO40lHDpE-Vg2yiLWzlyZofo-gzG9ECxIuiesCvN-fAfrqWDUQ0AOcVMG5eMr8/s968/cabinets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="968" data-original-width="642" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunfgoFOpvnVre3A7OK4LZou-Ax3XxObJef9F1O0mhpbMWcC9X1-W5Mp-xotIukcwQ-tx4APjnMS58HRO40lHDpE-Vg2yiLWzlyZofo-gzG9ECxIuiesCvN-fAfrqWDUQ0AOcVMG5eMr8/w530-h800/cabinets.jpg" width="530" /></a></div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><br /></div><div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><br /></div><div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /><div><div><br /></div></div></div>Lynda Walker, Brokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07248857936634637053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7753559100491867386.post-5191537131014822842020-07-24T10:24:00.001-05:002020-07-24T10:25:05.909-05:00Home Sellers Saw Record Profits In The Second Quarter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjw62w71FPLjGGSeTDGJt6kexfad29Mzu84bj8aeOBeTsLXiIGwg2O4iK26lhXDXLji5LbDwX095CJ-0RfmS2zRks_nJAIHdv_N1EQlwIRuelN1OUovIOOqhRXVMqUITd45UEi2tkXyhU/s1600/for-sale-sold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="355" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjw62w71FPLjGGSeTDGJt6kexfad29Mzu84bj8aeOBeTsLXiIGwg2O4iK26lhXDXLji5LbDwX095CJ-0RfmS2zRks_nJAIHdv_N1EQlwIRuelN1OUovIOOqhRXVMqUITd45UEi2tkXyhU/s400/for-sale-sold.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif;">With inventory still low and no shortage of buyer demand, home sellers saw record profits in the second quarter of 2020. Realtor.com reported on recent data released from real estate information firm ATTOM Data Solutions indicating that nationally, home sellers showed a profit of around 36% over what they originally paid for their property. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif;">By using median purchase and resale prices for properties in 104 metropolitan areas with at least 1000 home and condo sales in the second quarter, ATTOM found that profit margins hit new records even as prices continued to climb. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif;">As mortgage rates continue to drop we are seeing even more buyers drawn into the market in hopes of taking advantage of the low interest rates. But with housing inventory remaining low and new construction scrambling to keep up, it's likely that sellers will continue to see these increased profit margins for a while.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you've been thinking about selling your home or are curious about the current market, give us a call, we'd love to answer any questions you have!</span></span><br />
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Lynda Walker, Brokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07248857936634637053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7753559100491867386.post-85598693906845490652020-07-17T12:40:00.000-05:002020-07-17T12:40:09.001-05:00MORTGAGE RATES HIT 50 YEAR LOW!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="353" src="https://mou7z1xm2q3rzzg717wtqleu-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Screen-Shot-2019-03-25-at-1.26.20-PM.png" width="400" /></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">For the first time in 50 years the average 30-year mortgage rate has dropped below 3% this week, averaging just 2.98% according to Freddie Mac. As buyer demand is increasing, an already low inventory of available homes is decreasing making the demand for new construction even higher.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">According to Danielle Hale, chief economist for Realtor.com, the low rates are translating to monthly mortgages for a typical home that are $125 less per month than just a year ago.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">So are these new rates here to stay? Mortgage giant Fannie Mae seems to think so. They are expecting 30-year fixed rate mortgages to average 2.9% for the first half of 2021 and possibly drop to 2.8% for the remainder of the year. So, if you're thinking about buying, don't walk, run to your lender to get in on these incredibly low rates. And if you're thinking about selling, give us a call! We have buyers and inventory is low! Homework is what we do, and we'd love to help you find your dream home or sell your existing home at the best price possible!</span></div>
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<li><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: </span></span></li>
<li><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">www.floridarealtors.org/news</span></span></li>
<li><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">www.finance.yahoo.com/news</span></span></li>
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Lynda Walker, Brokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07248857936634637053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7753559100491867386.post-62462518056585925872020-07-08T14:56:00.001-05:002020-07-08T14:58:18.508-05:00The FICO Resilience Index and How It Could Help You Buy a Home<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #2f3034;">The FICO Resilience Index was created by the Fair Isaac Corp., also the creator of the FICO credit scoring system, to be used as a supplemental score that gauges a buyer's likelihood to default in the the event of a future recession. The new credit index was released last week and has the potential to help more buyers qualify for a mortgage by allowing lenders to assess their ability to withstand the effects of future economic changes even if the currently have lower credit scores. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #2f3034; font-family: , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">The new scoring tool works differently than the traditional FICO score by placing less importance on missed payments and a higher emphasis on having overall lower account balances and credit usage. Measuring on a scale of 1 to 99, lower scores reflect greater financial stability and higher scores indicate more sensitivity to possible economic changes. C</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f3034; font-family: , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">onsumers who have lower traditional FICO scores but also have lower balances, credit usage and inquiries may benefit from the new index and see a boost in their creditworthiness by lenders. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #2f3034; font-family: , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">For more information about the New Resilience Index, the article </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f3034; font-family: , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">“FICO Introduces New Resilience Index. Here’s What It Might Mean for You,” Forbes.com (June 29, 2020) has great information, or contact your lender directly.</span></div>
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Lynda Walker, Brokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07248857936634637053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7753559100491867386.post-1202102157386851202020-06-23T14:28:00.000-05:002020-06-23T14:28:08.924-05:00When You Can't Vacation, Make It A Staycation!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0nEnsyl-3CdcvsuoMaT3hPnItx6sN6LLfLw7HPGZhNoZ9BPCcc1_6KFpvx4NLogA-IH68Wz7RZrrFlARzUCfAsKmSDcr1KdjVBIfdEc4IyIwwTsEPvcecLOdVMe0v_Ug4hqNIsM_l9Y/s1600/stay-cation+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="565" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0nEnsyl-3CdcvsuoMaT3hPnItx6sN6LLfLw7HPGZhNoZ9BPCcc1_6KFpvx4NLogA-IH68Wz7RZrrFlARzUCfAsKmSDcr1KdjVBIfdEc4IyIwwTsEPvcecLOdVMe0v_Ug4hqNIsM_l9Y/s400/stay-cation+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">With July quickly approaching, and still so much uncertainty surrounding popular summer destinations, many of us are left wondering if we should vacation this year. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">According to Tripit.com, the experts agree, taking some time off, even at home, is good for your mental health! We agree, so we've included some fun ways that you can turn your vacation into a staycation. We know it's not the same thing as the cruise you had planned, but who knows, you may find that vacationing at home is more fun than you thought!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2shRUAgA_r69nUDux5ITnmepiMOoSRgReBJn7wxHV04eS-RcnN7jtR5uL-PI6aNpR2RJ0_KJhUdw6p21xhIWEMNJre_95veiyweM649oN_3nlUjlvUAoeRWiGDPK4WO2lNVT_YZT_fgE/s1600/Backyard-Camping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="750" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2shRUAgA_r69nUDux5ITnmepiMOoSRgReBJn7wxHV04eS-RcnN7jtR5uL-PI6aNpR2RJ0_KJhUdw6p21xhIWEMNJre_95veiyweM649oN_3nlUjlvUAoeRWiGDPK4WO2lNVT_YZT_fgE/s320/Backyard-Camping.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Backyard Camping</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Pull out your tent and plan some backyard fun under the stars. Cook hot dogs and roast marshmallows on your fire pit. Chase lightening bugs and play flashlight tag. Be creative and have fun!</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Great Outdoors</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Have you visited all of the parks and outdoor recreation areas where you live? Now is a great time to check them out! Go for a hike, ride your bike, walk with the dogs. Explore!</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Dinner With A Theme</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You might not be in Jamaica right now, but why not try the cuisine anyway? Find some recipes that sound good and try your hand at something new. Love Japanese food? Have a Hibatchi night at home. And it definitely doesn't have to be a Tuesday for us plan a a taco bar for dinner!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmXP1MpUJB2eMNw6KpzGpcaAqPmpEtAZRNhUc_-8lTokiAoQzwKqgjIFZVaa7OYphRXhFHOg3048fIKnr0_a2VTVH_kLfZdod7RVaPimUlEJj5DWT1n_S6jNnoHThyphenhyphenaNxtIke2NtvfN8/s1600/movie+night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="820" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmXP1MpUJB2eMNw6KpzGpcaAqPmpEtAZRNhUc_-8lTokiAoQzwKqgjIFZVaa7OYphRXhFHOg3048fIKnr0_a2VTVH_kLfZdod7RVaPimUlEJj5DWT1n_S6jNnoHThyphenhyphenaNxtIke2NtvfN8/s320/movie+night.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Movie Night</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Take your movie night at home a step further and serve a menu of all of your favorite movie theater munchies. Popcorn (with extra butter of course), nachos, candy and chocolate. Serve drinks with crazy straws, turn down the lights and enjoy!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3x4L5989ndVe5DPlo8qy4OIeUx0hPxQZhEH5Vk3pQs9M1CnlaNs2SQ9PtzyzXjaxLa1-w9ar2hsfCJnxDS9bgAAWhmW3aQOzSTWNEPVM8fczarxu75dImXJ29kxP8yvXTxusXU3ItARg/s1600/staycation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3x4L5989ndVe5DPlo8qy4OIeUx0hPxQZhEH5Vk3pQs9M1CnlaNs2SQ9PtzyzXjaxLa1-w9ar2hsfCJnxDS9bgAAWhmW3aQOzSTWNEPVM8fczarxu75dImXJ29kxP8yvXTxusXU3ItARg/s400/staycation.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Walmart Water Park</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Don't have a pool? Me either! Desperate times, desperate measures...so get creative! Grab a blow up pool or two, any size will do. Flamingo and pineapple floating drink holders, check! Set up a beach umbrella, throw in a few lounge chairs and your're ready to go!</span><br />
<br />Lynda Walker, Brokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07248857936634637053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7753559100491867386.post-49383960224148595582020-06-08T10:12:00.003-05:002020-06-08T10:12:22.191-05:00Happy National Best Friend's Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVZPCYRnoU_lwqeKK5_3uDhOmHP30MBSqovjmqF8zRkWQ8voMrA2tSRHDH7zSBunh2FijPVXDfto0UurUbRgIuDmdkUwx2-M3c3_j13tDKxHt3YRCUiO9g1iMHEqcCk8o-VySm9XaqkA/s1600/Happy-National-Best-Friends-Day-Picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVZPCYRnoU_lwqeKK5_3uDhOmHP30MBSqovjmqF8zRkWQ8voMrA2tSRHDH7zSBunh2FijPVXDfto0UurUbRgIuDmdkUwx2-M3c3_j13tDKxHt3YRCUiO9g1iMHEqcCk8o-VySm9XaqkA/s400/Happy-National-Best-Friends-Day-Picture.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It's June 8th, so you know what that means...it's National Best Friend's Day, and we're all about celebrating the friendships that are so important to us! After all, who do you call when you need to know if the amazing lime green curtains you've fallen in love will really make your kitchen "pop"? And who helps you organize your closet into sections of "jeans that still fit", "jeans that used to fit" and "jeans that I want to fit into so stop letting me eat ice cream at midnight!" Yep, that's definitely your bestie!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Scientists even agree that friendships are very important to our overall mental health. Research shows that by building close friendships we are enriching our lives, boosting self confidence and providing a needed sense of belonging. But we don't need science to know that having close friends that love and support us, just makes life a little sweeter! We sure are grateful for all of the people in our life that we are lucky enough to call our friends!</span><br />
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<br />Lynda Walker, Brokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07248857936634637053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7753559100491867386.post-50008798564199151172020-06-01T11:20:00.002-05:002020-06-01T11:21:25.191-05:00Buyers Are Ready To Buy!!<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #2f3034; font-family: , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Home buyers seem to be taking "the glass is half full" approach to the pandemic and using it as an opportunity rather than a challenge. Lenders are seeing the number of mortgage applications on a steady increase and it there's no slow down in sight. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #2f3034; font-family: , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reports that </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f3034; font-family: , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">applications for home purchases rose 9% last week compared to the week before making this</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f3034; font-family: , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> the sixth consecutive weekly gain and a 54% increase since the beginning of April.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #2f3034; font-family: , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">2020 began with a strong demand for housing and low numbers of available inventory. Though there was initially a dip in the market as the COVID-19 crisis set in, it has quickly rebounded and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f3034; font-family: , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">home prices are continuing to hold strong. With record low mortgage rates, buyers are finding this to be an excellent time to find their dream home!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #2f3034; font-family: , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">If you're in the market to buy or sell a home, give us call, we LOVE homework!!</span>Lynda Walker, Brokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07248857936634637053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7753559100491867386.post-47810845752036076162020-05-28T12:31:00.001-05:002020-05-28T12:31:08.940-05:00Get Ahead of the Home Inspector!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjBa94Tk_l14JE1sLX82BGDkgQpc9J_mAy64equjbTVthLLNTMeueqgFZeJMS6jSsPwpZKxG1tWFDkCzmdhgpP5w15vUwQ8n0hjfXAm6hGav50V74qGAX75B-LiVsX6Slf6SAKL2ayk4/s1600/Home+Inspection+Flaws.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1196" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjBa94Tk_l14JE1sLX82BGDkgQpc9J_mAy64equjbTVthLLNTMeueqgFZeJMS6jSsPwpZKxG1tWFDkCzmdhgpP5w15vUwQ8n0hjfXAm6hGav50V74qGAX75B-LiVsX6Slf6SAKL2ayk4/s640/Home+Inspection+Flaws.jpg" width="475" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One of the things we are often asked by sellers is how they should get their homes ready for an inspection, and the best answer is to think like an inspector. As social distancing restrictions are being eased, more and more sellers are ready to get their homes on the market. So to help you get market ready and think like an inspector, we've included a chart with the most commonly found home inspection flaws. Don't wait until it's inspection day. By checking and addressing these items ahead of time you may save yourself from unwanted delays and re-inspections. If you're thinking about buying or selling a house, give us a call, we LOVE homework!</span>Lynda Walker, Brokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07248857936634637053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7753559100491867386.post-45889261674839660552020-05-14T10:17:00.004-05:002020-05-14T10:18:52.758-05:00Stay Cyber-Safe While Working From Home<br />
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Even as most states are beginning to relax stay-at-home orders, many of us are adapting to what is likely a long-term shift to working and attending classes virtually. For the foreseeable future the new normal will likely include using platforms such as Zoom and FaceTime to communicate with clients, coworkers and educators. Now, more than ever, online security is critical and we want to help you and your family stay cyber-safe with these valuable tips.<br />
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<b>WHAT'S IN THE BACKGROUND?</b><br />
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<li>Try not to showcase valuable items while you're online. Most of us don't pay too much attention to what's behind us while we're in a virtual workspace, but someone else could be.</li>
<li>Avoid having photos, signs or other items that could identify your location. </li>
<li>Don't forget that you're online with others. We've all heard stories of situational unawareness and people changing clothes, eating meatball subs and taking a bathroom break while in a meeting or virtual classroom. Don't be that guy!</li>
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<b>AVOID BEING ZOOMBOMBED:</b></div>
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Zoombombing is when a hacker can hijack a Zoom call and post offensive content. There's a few precautions that you can take that will help avoid this.</div>
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<li>Disable the participant's ability to share audio and video recordings.</li>
<li>Block late callers from automatically joining the meeting.</li>
<li>Use a different Zoom ID for every call.</li>
<li>Require participants to hold in a Zoom Waiting Room until the call starts.</li>
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<b>BEWARE OF SOCIAL ENGINEERING POSTS:</b></div>
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<li>Avoid posts that could be designed to elicit information that is often used for passwords or security questions. </li>
<li>Questions like: "What was your first car and the color?" or "What year did you become a parent?" or "Post the city you met your spouse in." These all seem like harmless social media posts, but in the wrong hands they can help someone access your personal information.</li>
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<b>CYBER SECURITY EXPERTS ALSO RECOMMEND DOING THESE THINGS:</b></div>
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<li>Mix it up often! Change your passwords regularly and do not use the same password for multiple sites or logins.</li>
<li>Consider using a digital background for Zoom calls...who doesn't want to be sitting on the beach while at work!</li>
<li>Cover the camera or close your laptop when you're not using it. Computer cameras can easily be hacked.</li>
<li>Use common sense. If something seems strange, end the call. It's better to apologize than to be a victim!</li>
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Lynda Walker, Brokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07248857936634637053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7753559100491867386.post-48538187156139163242020-05-07T11:34:00.002-05:002020-05-07T11:34:45.302-05:00NATIONAL HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHkviJwBi0xJApT2obPdHN86dSIBE7HcpP5KDzwjw50z2YcGUXDZxOXsHHnSKGV_bzykiWeeHt0t5PE-ZK7hoyZ6LpL7jJNYVTM3hyphenhyphen6DNBgjZLVvFYUw18Fcs0e07Vi7nOXet0FICMuo/s1600/Hurricane+-+Evac+Plan.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1400" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHkviJwBi0xJApT2obPdHN86dSIBE7HcpP5KDzwjw50z2YcGUXDZxOXsHHnSKGV_bzykiWeeHt0t5PE-ZK7hoyZ6LpL7jJNYVTM3hyphenhyphen6DNBgjZLVvFYUw18Fcs0e07Vi7nOXet0FICMuo/s400/Hurricane+-+Evac+Plan.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It's hard to believe that hurricane season begins in just a few weeks, especially with all of the craziness that 2020 has already thrown at us! But despite our sincerest wish that we could just skip this level of Jumaji, we've decided that getting prepared for the inevitable is definitely the better idea. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPA3e1rOR5tQ5Pi3EyGI2SztYEnlNWrRQfGp5piAnVgXXdMCEwb0X7fNm-mpRMeHSc83p05cikXEbJlcxzOK_MMoP17HbI-d-3IOU-N6AYcuoFUxq0fwWaHpJ0cK_LySAcAekxWc7VWbk/s1600/Hurricane+-+Supplies.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1400" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPA3e1rOR5tQ5Pi3EyGI2SztYEnlNWrRQfGp5piAnVgXXdMCEwb0X7fNm-mpRMeHSc83p05cikXEbJlcxzOK_MMoP17HbI-d-3IOU-N6AYcuoFUxq0fwWaHpJ0cK_LySAcAekxWc7VWbk/s400/Hurricane+-+Supplies.png" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We've included some great tips provided by the National Weather Service for getting your family and home hurricane ready. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZcAN5GBIOa2ZIw-3ootEKCgLUlc_e2wYPWrVU0gCSui0Bh8gkyC1AxnCU8ToYee6izyjCOviej4xMLMnuY06tbC_spo8SzkfvTbSBNACpAFJYKNuh9oisrg7gNUTQNcVDu7SroMYF74/s1600/Hurricane+-+Insurance.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1400" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZcAN5GBIOa2ZIw-3ootEKCgLUlc_e2wYPWrVU0gCSui0Bh8gkyC1AxnCU8ToYee6izyjCOviej4xMLMnuY06tbC_spo8SzkfvTbSBNACpAFJYKNuh9oisrg7gNUTQNcVDu7SroMYF74/s400/Hurricane+-+Insurance.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You can find more information by visiting the links listed below. Stay safe everyone!</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.weather.gov/wrn/hurricane-preparedness">https://www.weather.gov/wrn/hurricane-preparedness</a><br />
<a href="https://floridadisaster.org/planprepare/preparing-for-the-2019-hurricane-season/">https://floridadisaster.org/planprepare/preparing-for-the-2019-hurricane-season/</a><br />
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<br />Lynda Walker, Brokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07248857936634637053noreply@blogger.com0