News and Views
Wedding Bells Indeed
December 30th, 2009 categories: News and Views
Newly Married - after successful sale of properties
Earlier this year we had a sign rider made for a home for sale, Wedding Bells. We wanted prospective buyers to know that this was a happy house and a happy sale – and also wanted to add a touch of mystery. What do they mean by that? Two of our friends/clients were planning to marry, but first we had to sell her house and his condo so they could buy a new home together.
House sold! Condo sold! Monday we closed the ALVA International real estate office so that all of us could attend their wedding at Ft. DeSoto Park.
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Google names The Simms Team at ALVA International a Favorite Place!
December 18th, 2009 categories: Downtown St Petersburg, News and Views
Google Maps Favorite Place for ALVA International Inc real estate
Google named The Simms Team at ALVA International a Favorite Place. This week google began distributing Favorite Place window stickers to 100,000 of the most popular business in its database. When you see this sticker in our window at 238 Beach Drive NE or in any other business window, you can use a code-scanning application on your phone to look up that business – the hours, company information, photos, web site, phone number and more – and either save it on your phone or e-mail it to a friend. Google has blogged about this new way to window shop.
Here’s where you can see the listing for The Simms Team at ALVA International. It includes a place where you can write a review of your experience with the Simms Team and ALVA.
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Florida ranked #3 state on happiness level
December 18th, 2009 categories: News and Views
LiveScience just released a survey on which states you’d be happiest living in – Florida ranked #3 state on happiness level, according to an article on Yahoo today. Rankings were #1 Louisiana and #2 Hawaii. The linked article discusses the criteria they used.
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It’s hurricane season in Florida – Ana is the first named storm for 2009
August 15th, 2009 categories: Miscellany, News and Views
Hurricane season here is from June 1 to November 30 but we don’t really start thinking about it until there’s a named storm. Today we have the first named storm of the 2009 season, Ana. Rather than watch the hype on weather stations, I prefer to check the advisories on the web at the National Hurricane Center.
Not sure how to prepare for a hurricane? Check out the 2009 Hurricane Guide at the St Pete Times. My husband, George, likes to track each named storm and hurricane on a tracking chart, with points from each advisory. You can download a tracking chart from this site if you want to do the same.
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Banks getting slower at processing loans
April 27th, 2009 categories: Financing, News and Views, Real Estate Tips, Trends
We’re seeing more instances of banks that are “ignoring” the closing dates on contracts – not all of them, but enough to be a concern. Other agents are reporting delayed closings as well. Sometimes the day before the scheduled closing the lender will ask for more information from the buyer – sometimes the lender will just say that they didn’t “get to it” and delay it a week, and then another week. Lesson 1: it’s not over until it’s closed. Lesson 2: have a contingency plan in case the closing is delayed.
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The future of suburbia
March 15th, 2009 categories: News and Views, Real Estate News
Michael Cannell of FastCompany.com wrote a thought provoking article called Suburbia R.I.P. in which he sees some suburbs as graveyards of homes. He blames the decline on gas prices and the economy giving people less money to spend. I don’t see St Pete’s subdivisions as the suburbia he describes, but I do see people who bought 30-45 minutes away, in Manatee County, for example, moving back to St. Pete. They bought because they could get bigger, newer homes there for less money – but the price of gas and the time on the road have taken their toll. Many homeowners who are now upside-down in their homes have moved back and are renting here in Pinellas.
The St Pete Times wrote of some new subdivisions in Hillsborough County and Pasco County where occupied homes are in the minority, and may be living among overgrown lots and deserted homes. In some areas McMansions have been divided up into multifamily dwellings (don’t know that our single family zoning would allow that).
Despite the high inventory of available condos, more people are opting for downtown living, where they can walk instead of drive, and where they’re surrounded by a wide variety of people and places.
Buying a new home? Consider whether a neighborhood has staying power.
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Overvue condos in St Petersburg revert to retirement community
February 11th, 2009 categories: Downtown St Petersburg, News and Views, Old Northeast, Other Downtown Condos
The Northshore, an assisted living community at 939 Beach Drive NE in St Petersburg was a desirable “cruise ship on land” that was sold to be converted into condominiums. I know it was desirable because my mother lived there. The residents were ousted, and construction began on Overvue, 72 condo residences, some with wonderful water views. Alas, none of them had balconies. Then …
The economy hit, and hit hard. Overvue wasn’t able to sell enough condos to complete the project.
Its neighbor, Westminster Communities of Florida, at 830 Northshore Drive NE in St Petersburg, recently bought the building from the bankruptcy court for $9 million. Westminster will convert the high-rise back to retirement living, with 135 apartments for active seniors. The $15 million of revenue bonds will finance both the purchase and the renovations. It’s expected to be ready for occupancy by the beginning of 2010.
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Wedding Bells are a good reason to sell
February 9th, 2009 categories: Miscellany, News and Views, Pink Streets, Properties
We see so many sign riders advertising misery – Short Sale, Foreclosure, Price Reduction, Must Sell – we thought we’d set this house apart. We had sign riders made up saying WEDDING BELLS. This wonderful 2 story Colonial home in the desirable Pink Streets of St. Petersburg is priced to sell at $575,000 (we listed it Thursday afternoon and held it open yesterday, with 22 groups of visitors, including three good prospects).
“What does WEDDING BELLS mean?” asked several guests. It means that this house is being sold because the owner is getting married. She’s selling her house; he’s selling his house; and they’re buying a new property together. It’s been a happy house, and it’s selling for a happy reason. That’s good news in the current market. More than one visitor said, “He must be quite a guy for her to give up this house!”
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Happy New Year 2009!
January 1st, 2009 categories: Downtown St Petersburg, Miscellany, News and Views, Real Estate News, Team News
Happy New Year 2009!
My lack of blogging the last month hasn’t been lack of interest, it’s been orchestrating change. The Simms Team left RE/MAX Metro, excited about the new possibilities, but sad about leaving some great people – though we’re only 2 blocks away so we should still be in contact.
We formed ALVA International, Inc., our own real estate company. Our new phone is (727) 898-2582 (898-ALVA) though our old phones will still reach us. Our new location – which we’re so excited about – is at 238 Beach Drive NE, right across Read the rest of this entry »
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Go Rays! On to the World Series.
October 20th, 2008 categories: Events, Lifestyle, Miscellany, News and Views, Things To Do
Tropicana Field glowed as I drove by this morning on my pre-dawn trip to the Vinoy Fitness Center. Usually when the Rays win a baseball game, the fabric roof is illuminated in Tropicana orange. Never before, though, have I seen it still glowing in the morning – but never before have the Rays made it to the World Series. All of St Petersburg was celebrating the win! Go Rays! Click on the photo to enlarge.
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