ST. AUGUSTINE & ST. JOHNS COUNTY BOARD OF REALTORS ® AUGUST 2012 VOLUME 5, ISSUE 8 BOR FORWARD INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Officers & Directors 2 Calendar 3 REALTOR/Affiliate Spotlight 4 New Members 5 September Events in St Augustine 6-7 Builder Council News 8 Go Green 9 Tech Tip 10 S.A.F.E Article 11 Committee Chair Updates 12-14 Real Estate Photo Shoot 15 Carmela “Gabi” Haenni Awarded CIPS Designa- 16 2013 Scholarship Sponsors 17 Back to School Basics 18-19 Back Pack Donations 20 Member Benefits 21 Wally Conway 22 Monthly Statistics 24 September Preview Staff Contact Information 24 BOR PUBLIC WEBSITE: www.stjohnsrealtors.com
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Transcript
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A U G U S T 2 0 1 2
VOLUME 5, ISSUE 8
B O R F O R W A R D
I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :
Officers & Directors 2
Calendar 3
REALTOR/Affiliate
Spotlight
4
New Members 5
September Events
in St Augustine
6-7
Builder Council News 8
Go Green 9
Tech Tip 10
S.A.F.E Article 11
Committee Chair Updates 12-14
Real Estate Photo Shoot 15
Carmela “Gabi” Haenni Awarded CIPS Designa-
16
2013 Scholarship Sponsors 17
Back to School Basics 18-19
Back Pack Donations 20
Member Benefits 21
Wally Conway 22
Monthly Statistics 24
September Preview
Staff Contact
Information
24
BOR PUBLIC WEBSITE: www.stjohnsrealtors.com
Page 2 B O R F O R W A R D
BOARD OF REALTORS®
Roy Barnes Jr., PRESIDENT St. Augustine Realty (O) 824-3331 / (F) 825-2685/ (C ) 669-1430 [email protected] Andrew Birchall, PRESIDENT-ELECT St. Augustine Realty (O) 824-3331 / (F) 825-2685/ (C ) 392-3362 [email protected] Winston Burrell - SECRETARY Coldwell Banker Premier Properties (O) 471-4204 / (F) 471-4216 / (C ) 669-6585 [email protected]
R E A L T O R ® S P O T L I G H T – T E A M C A R R
P R U D E N T I A L N E T W O R K R E A L T Y
N E W A F F I L I A T E S – P E N N Y J A M E S -
A L A R I O N M O R T G A G E
Page 4 B O R F O R W A R D
Doug and Donia Carr came to Prudential Network Realty with over 25 years of experience as business Owners/Brokers who have specialized in real estate sales, investment properties and development. Doug and Donia joined Prudential Network Realty realizing their professionalism, outstanding reputation and cutting edge technology. Team Carr has been TOP sales team in the St. Augustine office for the last three years. Christy Budnick, Executive Vice President of Prudential Network Realty says about Doug, “His extensive knowledge and experience in the real estate market and a can-do, full service attitude makes Doug a perfect fit for Prudential Network Realty. He is exactly the type of sales professional we are seeking as we continue to grow the company.”
Doug is a licensed Real Estate Broker in Florida & Colorado and has his Hawaii license as well. Donia is a REALTOR in Florida and also licensed in Colorado. They specialize in Anastasia Island Properties.
Doug and Donia live in Marsh Creek with their two daughters Makena and Riley.
Doug & Donia Carr
Team Carr
Penny James
Penny James has been licensed as a mortgage broker/originator since 2001. She managed a
small mortgage branch in St. Augustine for seven years and is currently with Alarion Bank
Mortgage, a mortgage division of Alarion Bank. Alarion Bank was founded in 2004 and is
based in Ocala, Florida.
Mortgage products for purchase and refinance include; Conventional, FHA/VA, USDA and Re-
verse Mortgages. Processing is completed in the St. Augustine office with in-house underwrit-
ing in Ocala. What this means to your customer is that they have direct contact with me and
our processor and we have direct access to the decision makers. We close our loans on or
before the closing date specified in the purchase contract.
Do you have customers age 62+ who want to pay cash for a new home in St. Augustine?
Maybe they don’t have enough money to stretch quite as far as they need it to or just want to
retain some cash in the bank. They may well qualify for a PURCHASE reverse mortgage.
Their money can go TWICE as far AND no mortgage payments ever!
Regardless of the loan product, I will pre-qualify your customers for their purchase over the
phone or in person. They can call me evenings and weekends too! I will meet with your
customer when it is convenient for them – they don’t have to take off work to complete their
(Sept 1) Sunset Celebration at Vilano Beach Town Center. Vilano Beach Town Center- 3:00 p.m. - dusk every 1st Saturday of the month
The Sunset Celebration is a special event which includes artist performers, local arts and crafts, and genuine Old Florida surprises. Dine on food samples from
local businesses along Vilano Road and see why Vilano Beach is the best-kept hidden treasure in the county. Floating docks near the pier allow for waterway trans-
port from the mainland to the island - just as in the early Henry Flagler days. The event is from 3:00 p.m. to dusk every first Saturday of the month at the Vilano
Beach Pier and Pavilion. Free to the public. 904-540-0402 http://www.vilanobeachfl.com
(Sept 1,8,15,22,29) Old City Farmers' Market. St. Augustine Amphitheatre- Every Saturday, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Shop for fresh produce, baked goods, hand-
crafted items and plants directly from the producers. There's always live entertainment and there is fresh seafood in season. The Old City Farmers' Market takes
place every Saturday morning at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre on A1A South in St. Augustine. http://www.StAugustineFM.com
(Sept 3) Concert in the Plaza: Weekly Concerts in the Downtown Plaza are free of charge and those attending are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for
seating. Performing from 7-9 p.m. will be The John Thomas Group ET Swing & Friends. Info: (904)825-1004.
(Sept 3,7,10,14,17,21,24,28) Archaeo Tours – The Lost Ships. St. Augustine Lighthouse - July 6, 2012 to December 28, 2012. Mondays and Fridays, 10 a.m., 1
p.m. & 4 p.m. Discover the methods of maritime archaeology on this exclusive 90 minute tour of the St. Augustine Lighthouse, 81 Lighthouse Ave. Guided by one of
the Lighthouse’s archaeologists, participants gain access to parts of the historic light station not available with general admission. After the tour, enjoy complimen-
tary adult beverages for guests 21+. Tours are $48/per person; scheduled three times per day on Mondays and Fridays, 10 a.m., 1 p.m. & 4 p.m. Advance reserva-
tions are required! No walk-ins. 904-829-0745 http://www.StAugustineLighthouse.org
(Sept 4,11,18,25) Ancient City Mosaic Exhibit. Visitor Information Center- September 2012 - January 2013. The St. Augustine 450th Commemoration, the St.
Augustine Sertoma Club, and the St. Johns Cultural Council are teaming up to present this exciting exhibit. The exhibit will feature 450 works of art depicting impres-
sions of St. Augustine. Everyone is invited and encouraged to participate. The call to local artists is scheduled for mid-August. A judging panel will select the top 450
works of art, which will be the first exhibit at the newly remodeled Visitor Information Center. The 450 works of art will also be available to view on the internet
through an online silent auction. Funds raised will be presented to St. Johns County Education Foundation Arts Alive Program. For more information, visit
www.ancientcitymosaic.com
(Sept 5,12,19,26) The Wednesday Market. St. Johns County Pier Park - Every Wednesday, 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
(Sept 5,12,19,26) Music By the Sea Concert Series Every Wednesday from 7p.m. - 9p.m. bring your chair or a blanket and enjoy a lively musical performance by Big
Lonesome. This family-friendly fun event takes place every Wednesday evening through September from 7p.m. to 9p.m. at the St. Augustine Beach Pier Pavilion on
A1A Beach Blvd. FREE Admission! Enjoy a signature dinner starting at 6 p.m. from Napoli Pizza for under $10.00. 904-347-8007 http://
www.thecivicassociation.org
(Sept 6) Train in Concert at the St Augustine Amphitheatre– September 6, 2012, 6 p.m. Pop/Rock artists Train take the stage at 6 p.m. at the St. Augustine Amphi-
theatre, located at 1340 A1A in St. Augustine.The multi-platinum band Train made its mark on music history with the Grammy Award-winning song "Drops of Jupiter
(Tell Me)" and chart-topping singles like "Meet Virginia" and "Calling All Angels," earning its third Grammy in 2011 for the worldwide smash "Hey, Soul Sister" from
Save Me, San Francisco. Released as a digital download in January 2012, "Drive By" has become Train's latest bona fide international sensation. Tickets are
$39.50; $59.50 and $65.
http://www.StAugAmphitheatre.com
(Sept 6,13,20,27) Cannon Firing Demonstrations at Castillo De San Marcos. December 17, 2011 to January 27, 2013. Rangers and Garrison volunteers will dem-
onstrate the weapons and relate the experiences of the colonial Spanish soldier of 1740s St. Augustine. Historic weapons demonstrations will be presented at
10:30, 11:30, 1:30, 2:30, & 3:30. Firing times are subject to change depending on weather conditions and staff availability. 904-829-6506 http://www.nps.gov/
casa
(Sept 7,8,9) 447th Menendez Founder’s Day Events. September 7, 2012 to September 9, 2012
A full weekend of reenactments and events commemorating the 1565 founding of St. Augustine by Spanish explorer Pedro Menendez de Aviles on the original
colony site at the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, the birthplace of St. Augustine and Colonial European America. The Fountain of Youth is located at 11
Magnolia Drive in St. Augustine. http://www.FountainOfYouthFlorida.com
(Sept 7,13,22,30) Big River at the Limelight Theatre Limelight Theatre- September 7, 2012 to October 7, 2012 St. Augustine's Limelight Theatre brings the world of
Huckleberry Finn to the stage in the multi-Tony Award-winning musical Big River. Located at 11 Old Mission Avenue, performances will take place through October 7
on Thursdays, through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. All tickets are priced at $25 each. 904-825-1164 http://www.Limelight-Theatre.org
(Sept 7,14,21,28) Ghost and Gravestones- St. Augustine Frightseeing tour. Welcome Center at 27 San Marco Ave. - 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Voted Best Ghost Tour by
Best of St. Augustine 2010, 2011. The stories you’ll hear come from years of research, personal accounts and hauntingly real-life experiences. Reservations Required!
Tour Length: 1 hour 20 minutes For more information: 1-888-920-868 http://www.ghostsandgravestones.com/st-augustine/
(Sept 8) Fort Matanzas Living History Day. May 12, June 2 (British Navy), July 7, August 4, September 8, October 6 -- Living History Day at Fort Matanzas. Tours are
every hour on the half hour. 9:30a.m., 10:30a.m., 11:30a.m., 12:30p.m., 1:30p.m., 2:30p.m., 3:30p.m., 4:30p.m. On the first Saturday of the month (unless there is a
holiday) join us at Fort Matanzas and take the National Park Service's ferry to Rattlesnake Island. There you will see the 18th century fort that guarded the southern
approach to St. Augustine with re-enactors demonstrating Spanish muskets and cannons. Cannon firing on all tours except 9:30 and 4:30. A re-enactor is at the park
almost every day to tell the story of Fort Matanzas to park visitors. Musket demonstrations may be presented on Saturdays, weather and staff permitting. 904-471-
(Sept 8) Orienteering Festival at Florida Agricultural Museum. Florida Agricultural Museum- September 8, 2012, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring the family to have a fun day
learning how to navigate through the Florida wilderness. Open to all ages and levels of experience, this trail-hiking program is a light competition with different skill
level trails (one, two and three mile courses). The Festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Florida Agricultural Museum, located at 7900 Old Kings Road in
Palm Coast. Admission is $2 per person and map fees are $4 per group. Compasses are available for rent. 386-446-7630 http://www.MyAgMuseum.com
(Sept 9) Jethro Tull Performs at St. Augustine Amphitheatre. September 9, 2012, 8:00p.m.
Enjoy a performance of Thick as a Brick in its entirety performed by Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull (the first time since 1972). Also, the band will be performing cuts
from their latest release, Thick as a Brick 2. In addition to Anderson, Jethro Tull includes bassist David Goodier, keyboardist John O'Hara, drummer Scott Hammond,
and wunderkind guitarist Florian Opahle- all of whom have performed with Ian on his solo dates over the years as well as having performed at various times as mem-
bers of Jethro Tull. The show takes place at St. Augustine Amphitheatre, 1640 A A1A in St. Augustine. The gates open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets
range from $29.50 to $69.50. http://www.staugAmphitheatre.com
(Sept 13,14,15) Florida Heritage Book Festival. September 13, 2012 to September 15, 2012, varying times. Florida’s rich and colorful literary heritage is celebrated
at a series of workshops, presentations and readings. Featured opening keynote speaker is Jeff Lindsay, author of the Dexter novels. The 2012 Literary Legends
Awards Banquet will honor Edna Buchannan. Tickets range from $10 to $90, and full conference ticket package is $170. 74 King Street in St. Augustine. Check web-
site for schedule of events & ticeting information. http://www.FHBookfest.com
(Sept 13) Brantley Gilbert Concert, St. Augustine Amphitheatre - September 13, 2012, 7:30 p.m.Country music star Brantley Gilbert will perform on stage at the St.
Augustine Amphitheatre, 1340 C A1A South, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, September 13th. Tickets are $14.50 to $39.50. 904-209-0367. http://
www.StAugAmphitheatre.com
(Sept 15) Tolomato Cemetery Tours. Cordova Street, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. every 3rd Saturday of the month. Explore the historic markers at the oldest existing ceme-
tery in Florida. The self-guided and docent led tours are from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. every 3rd Saturday of the month. The Tolomato Cemetery, an historic cemetery, is
located on Cordova Street, the site of an earlier Franciscan Indian mission (Our Lady of Guadalupe of the Tolomato) in St Augustine. Burials officially ceased in 1884.
Visits are free of charge but donations are encouraged. All money goes to the preservation and restoration of the cemetery. Cordova St., St. Augustine, FL 32084
http://www.TolomatoCemetery.com
(Sept 22) Endless Summer Run 10K XC & 5K Walk. Anastasia State Park -Sept 22, 2012, 7:30 a.m.This 10k (6.2 mile) run through Anastasia State Park's beautiful
beach, hammock, and saltmarsh. The 5k beach walk starts and ends on Anastasia State Park's most beautiful beach. The fun begins a 7:30 a.m. Anastasia State Park
is located at 1340 Florida A1A. 904-461-2035
(Sept 22) North Florida Folk Festival Florida Agricultural Museum - Sept. 22, 2012, 10 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.Nothing beats listening to live music. Our beautiful rural setting
is a naturally perfect backdrop for this all day concert of local and touring folk artists. Come join us for lots of wonderful music and great fun. It all takes place from
10:00 a.m. To 7:00 p.m. at the Florida Agricultural Museum, located off I-95 Exit 298 at 7900 Old Kings Road in Palm Coast. 386-446-7630 http://
www.MyAgMuseum.com
(Sept 22) Blondie and Devo Concert. St. Augustine Amphitheatre - September 22, 2012, 7:30 p.m. Classic rock hall of famers Blondie and Devo will perform live at the
St. Augustine Amphitheatre, 1340 A1A S, at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 22nd.
Ticket prices are $31.50 to $122.00 each. 904-209-3751 http://www.StAugAmphitheatre.com
(Sept 23) 2012 Car Show at TPC Sawgrass. TPC Sawgrass- September 23, 2012, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. More than 100 classic, custom and antique automobiles compete
for trophies. TPC Sawgrass is located at 1000 PGA Tour Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach. Vehicle registration is $25 for custom or antique car in advance and $30 the day of
the event. Admission is free! 904-285-2004 http://www.PonteVedraChamber.org
(Sept 29) UPTOWN SATURDAY NIGHT - From 5 to 9 p.m. on the last Saturday of each month, experience live music, refreshments, new exhibits, book signings and
much more at the galleries, antique stores and unique shops on St. Augustine’s San Marco Avenue between Ripley’s Museum and the Mission Nombre de Dios. The
Mission Nombre de Dios provides FREE PARKING.
S E P T E M B E R E V E N T S I N S T . A U G U S T I N E
Sponsored by the St. Johns Builders Council, St. Augustine Record and the Florida Times-Union.
“The Parade of Homes” is the premier event of the season.
There is something for every lifestyle or the lifestyle of your
dreams and we offer the finest Builders to build your home. We
hope you enjoy the variety of homes and communities that our
area has to offer….”
Look for the Parade of Homes Magazine
in the St. Augustine Record
September 1st, 2012
SHOWCASE COMMUNITY!
Durbin Crossing
Visit and experience the latest decorating styles and features that our finest Builders have to offer.
August Challenge: lower your electrical usage For the month of August, I am challenging all of my readers to reduce their energy consumption. Let’s call it the August Green Living Challenge. Specifically, I want all of you to lower your electricity usage for the month of August compared to what it was last August. Most electric bills have a history of the previous 12 months of usage, so it’ll be easy to compare. If yours doesn’t, then dig last year’s bill out of the file for comparison. If you don’t have last year’s electric bill, then use July as your starting point. Challenge yourself for one month The summer months, including August, are typically high energy usage months. The summer heat drives the use of air-conditioners and electric fans. These devices may be partially offset by longer daylight hours that demand less artificial light, but the long, hot days of summer lead to increased energy usage overall. To participate in the first annual August Green Living Challenge, all you need to do is reduce your own electrical consumption. Develop green living habits The majority of Americans know the most effective ways to live a greener life already. Driving less and using less fossil-fuel derived electricity are two of the biggest things we can all do to lower our carbon footprints and to live a greener lifestyle. The problem is that it is inconvenient to cut back on our energy consumption. It means turning off our computers when we are away from them and then having to wait for them to reboot. It means planning ahead to consolidate trips instead of running out in our car for each little thing. It is our penchant for choosing the more convenient option that has put us in this position today. For the month of August, the Green Living Challenge is designed to help participants develop green living habits that will persist longer than just one month of the year. Lights off in empty rooms The first thing we need to do is dispel the myth that turning the lights on and off uses more electricity than leaving them on when we leave a room for a short time. Who better to dispel myths than the Mythbusters of TV fame. In Episode 69 aired in December of 2006, the Mythbuster crew set up a device to measure the consumption of electric lights when they are turned on and turned off. They found that even the most inefficient electric light bulb used in the home saved more electricity by being turned off for even brief periods than by remaining on. In fact, the break-even point was less than half a second for every bulb tested. If you are leaving a room for less than one half of one second, by all means, leave the light on until you return. If, however, you are leaving the room for more than that, you’ll reduce your usage of electricity by turning the lights off and turning them back on when you return. Computers and electronics The next thing we can all do to reduce our electric bills for the August Green Living Challenge is to turn off our computers when we are going to be away from them. That means overnight, while we are away at work, during dinner time, and any other time when we are not actively using the computer. A typical desktop computer will draw as much electricity as a 100 watt light bulb. Even in standby or sleep mode computers and most peripherals continue to use electricity so follow these tips for reducing electricity usage by electronics devices including televisions, game consoles, and other home entertainment appliances. Keeping cool without air conditioners Air conditioners are a big hitter when it comes to reducing electricity usage during hot summer months. Leave the air conditioner off if you can. If you can’t keep it turned off altogether, then adjust the temperature setting. Add five degrees so that it comes on less often and for shorter periods of time. Human beings become acclimated to temperatures relatively quickly. It won’t be long before you barely notice the difference if at all. Turn off the air conditioner overnight altogether. Night temperatures in the Northeast rarely exceed the sixties, and almost never get above the low seventies. Open some windows and let the cool night air in. Lowering window shades on the south side of the house will block the sunlight and reflect it back out through the window so that there is less solar heating during the day. The use of awnings to stop the light from even hitting the window in the first place is even better. Keep the windows closed during the worst of the daily heat to keep the cool air inside, then open them up whenever the outside temperature is lower than the inside temperature. Dishwasher and freezer efficiency If you use a dishwasher, make sure that it is completely full before running it. If you can cut out several cycles a week through better utilization of the space in the dishwasher, you can add to your energy savings. Keeping the freezer full will also help it maintain its temperature and reduce the compressor’s on-time. If your freezer has lots of empty space, add milk jugs or other containers full of water. Just be sure to leave room in the containers for the water to expand as it freezes. This is especially effec-tive if the freezer is busy, being opened and closed often by the kids looking for popsicles in the summer. Multiply the effect of your efforts To really make a difference, pass the August Green Living Challenge along to your friends and family. The biggest impact you can make is to get others to follow your example in reducing the usage of electricity around the home.
A N D R E W W O O T E N S . A . F . E A R T I C L E
Stalking
As summer approaches, our focus shift to the prevention of crimes we see in warmer weather. Stalking is the number one crime against women in the real estate industry. We often find ourselves working in unfamiliar areas with clients we may not know well. It's our job to be nice to everyone. However, often our niceness can be misinterpreted. I can't tell you how many agents have told me that the day after working with new clients the spouse has shown up in their office park-ing lot, their favorite lunch spot or their super market, making them feel uncomfortable. While maintaining our profession-alism, we need to take precautions to ensure our safety.
Stalking generally starts out being nice and complementary. But once the stalkers advances are rejected they often be-come angry and hostile. Be prepared! Here are five quick preventative stalker tips.
1. Examine all your social media pages.
How much information are you sharing? Can someone easily track your schedule and figure out where you are or will be?
2. Find your local fire station.
If you feel like you are being followed on your way home, go to the fire department. Even if the trucks and EMTs are out on calls, there is still someone there.
3. Lighting
Criminals love well lit houses, it lets them see what they are doing. However, they have shared with me that mo-tion detector lighting is their biggest enemy. Motion detector lights make people look and criminals don't want to be noticed.
4. Establish a buddy system.
When you do open houses, listing appointments, showings or visit vacant properties, take someone with you. Remember our mothers told us there was safety in numbers? If this is impossible, be sure to check in with your buddy and that someone knows where you are, when you are supposed to return and who you are with at all times, and use updated safety forms at the top of this email.
5. Be proactive!
Find you local resources; like domestic violence centers, victims service centers and spend some time volun-teering there. Spending four hours a month at one of these facilities will provide you knowledge and skills along with paying it forward in your community. And remember, the best defense is a good offense.
Should you find yourself a victim of stalking, please visit our website and click on the Stalking Tips article for the steps to take.
For more tips, tools and information, please visit the resource page on our website, www.JustBeSafe.com.
Needed: Technology Subjects of interest to our board membership. In August -please respond to the up-coming REBAR Topic Survey.
The Technology Committee is planning to sponsor our second REBAR Camp in October this year. For the REBAR Camp session topics we are looking for 4 topics. We wish to make our REBAR Camp sessions of great interest for our board members to attend, so in August Board members will be receiving a topic survey to determine the top topics of interest. Once the survey is complete we will adjust our efforts to create the best REBAR Camp sessions for our members to attend based on the most popular topics.
We are always looking for board members wishing to join the Technology Committee, no technology skills are required. The Technology Committee meets the first Wednesday of the month at 09:30. However in August we will be meeting August 15
th at 09:30.
For additional information about the Technology Committee, please attend one of our meetings or contract John Taylor [email protected] or Gail Jones, [email protected]
The Education Committee is honored to welcome Tanya Libel to our group. As a reminder we are always seeking new
devoted members into our committee. Please feel free to attend any of our meetings. We would love to see you there.
The month of August offers another Success Series on the 9th and the 10th. This always proves to be a great class with
plenty of opportunity to expand your knowledge. Steve Walt, one of the best instructors that I know of in this state, is
sure to keep you amused while you are learning. Core Law is offered at 1:30 PM on the 10th. This is required every
two years, so please check to see if you are still in need of this class.
Other educational event s include: the FR Convention in Orlando from August 8th-10th, MLS training on August 14th
between 1PM-3PM, and After the contract August 15th from 1PM-4PM. Realist will be offered on August 21st at
1:30PM.
Please be sure to attend our General Membership Meeting on August 17th at 11:30AM at our local board office. We
are running a school supply drive at this meeting, so please bring any supplies you feel would help our local children.
Lunch will be provided by Maria from RMG Mortgage. I must tell you, that it is true Maria can most definitely whip up a
remarkable Italian spread. Stop by and you to will be convinced of her culinary talent.
Looking forward, George Sphorer and I have been working on developing an all new Realtor safety course. I will keep
everyone updated as this course develops. Seymoine Schmidt will be instructing a course on mortgage products in
today’s environment (date to be determined).
A quick reminder, discount cards are still available at $10 each. They are good all year and offer great savings for local
eateries! All proceeds will go to our Scholarship Fund.
P U B L I C R E L A T I O N S C O M M I T T E E U P D A T E
R P A C C O M M I T T E E U P D A T E
The hardworking members of the Public Relations Committee continue to make progress in their
promotional efforts. Recently, a couple changes were made to the Real Estate section of The Record; the
Board’s physical address was replaced with an email address for the direct contact from the public. The
other change was the inclusion of the contributing member’s name in the “Did You Know” portion. This was
added to try to get more submissions for use in upcoming weeks. Note that there are currently 2 separate
drawings for free Board dues so any member can forward articles all year long. The next drawing will be just
in time for Christmas.
Recently, our committee was approached by the Affiliate Committee with the idea of bring back the Board
mixer. This idea was brought to the Board which agreed that, with current market conditions, this is in fact a
great time for our members to regroup and again share ideas, etc. The next mixer is in the planning stages
and will occur in Sept.
On a personal note: at the end of this year I will have completed my second year as Chairperson of this
committee. It has been a pleasure working with the very dedicated and professional members of this
committee and I feel that, from our conception to the present, this committee has made more than just an
effort to better promote our Board and its’ members, it has succeeded. Due to additional endeavors that I
have taken on recently, I find myself stretched thin with time and therefore will not be available next year.
As always, member participation is greatly appreciated and I would encourage any member to become part
of this, or any committee’s future activities – it benefits us all.
Bill Thew—Chairperson, Public Relations Committee
RPAC Vice-Chair Berta Odom and I are extremely pleased to announce our committees efforts during the primary election season have been recognized by the voters in St. Johns County. I can’t thank my committee in any better way than to make mention that our recommendations for the County Commissioner races were Cyndi Stevenson, Rachael Bennett and Bill McClure. All three have been asked by the voters to run our County.
The RPAC Committee with their tireless work, research and sole searching up to and through the”RPAC Candidates Screening Week” have borne fruit! Also recommended were the victorious R.J. Larizza for States Attorney, Melissa Holland for District 17, State Representative and Bruce Maguire for Seat 1, City of St. Augustine.
The voter turnout was low. Out of 150,227 Registered Voters……..29,615 Ballots were cast. That is a voter turnout of 19.71%.
If you voted in this primary your vote weighted heavily in the results. Thank you for being part of the process.
Berta & I agree that our crew will take this month off and get a well deserved rest. We will not have a meeting in September but be back at it strong the first Monday of October! We will then prepare for the November General election. Many candidates, run-off finals and amendments will be on the ballot. We will make our recommendations so as to keep you informed.
Our Real Estate Industry is strong and well recognized. With over 115,000 members we shape the path to a brighter future for our industry and our profession. The political process substantially af-fects our livelihood and we let government know it. They do sit up and take notice.
Much thanks to all of our members for their support.
Best Regards,
Ed Paucek, RPAC Chairman
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Register Today! Register online, or over the phone -- 800-650-6893 (US/Canada); 847-996-5876 (outside US/Canada):
WHY ATTEND Every fall, real estate professionals from across the US and around the world come together for the annual REALTORS® Conference & Expo. This annual four-day event includes:
More than 100 education sessions, featuring nationally-recognized speakers, trainers, and industry experts, who discuss timely topics and
critical issues of value to REALTORS®
400 industry vendors at the expo, who present the latest innovative tools just for real estate professionalsUnlimited networking and referral
-building opportunities, including special events, networking lounges, and the expo show floor. In 2012, the REALTORS® Conference & Expo
will be held in Orlando, Florida. This year’s theme is DISCOVER YOUR MAGIC, and indeed, this year’s Conference & Expo will help REALTORS® discover the magic that they possess that will help them take their business to the next level.
20,000 members and guests are expected to attend this year’s event. Remember, it takes only one referral to pay for the REALTORS® Confer-ence & Expo!
What REALTORS® say about the REALTORS® Conference & Expo experience: “I stay ahead by being fully informed on issues affecting our market and by having innovative new products and ideas at my disposal. What I take away from these conferences makes me stand out as the strong, knowledgeable professional that every client wants.”
– Anne Meczywor, Broker/Associate, Roberts & Associates Realty Inc., Lenox, MA
“It’s a valuable part of my continued professional development. The educational sessions provide valuable information from recognized leaders and experts in the industry, and the expo is the best way to discover new products and services. Overall, the entire experience energizes me.” –Donn Roebke, REALTOR,® Illustrated Properties, Wellington, FL
“Attending the Conference & Expo offers invaluable experiences you can’t get anywhere else. Beyond the informative education offerings and events, the networking is priceless. From three-minute conversations in elevators to three-hour dinners with REALTORS® you’ve just met, the idea sharing and collaborating is phenomenal. I now have a network of not only brokers/agents/leaders, but friends from around the country and world. What a great experience, especially for someone who has been in the business for less than five years. Because of attending the Conference & Expo, I can now better serve and educate my clients and customers with a broader understanding of what’s going on in real es-tate beyond the boundaries of my market.” – Christian Zarif, REALTOR,® Prudential Kansas City Realty, Overland Park, KS
See for Yourself at Conference Live Visit www.REALTOR.org/ConferenceLive for videos and highlights from the 2011 REALTORS® Conference & Expo, including photos and comments from featured members, interviews from the expo floor, and more!
The St. Augustine & St. John’s County Board of Realtors®
Scholarship Program
The $500.00 Gold Sponsorship includes Recognition in
Newsletter
Weekly member email
Website
The St. Augustine Record
And you will receive 50 Discount Cards
The $250.00 Silver Sponsorship includes Recognition in
Newsletter
Weekly member email
And you will receive 25 Discount Cards
Choose a level of sponsorship to support
selected 2013 Graduating Seniors
To donate or to choose a level of sponsorship
contact the Board office at 904-829-8738
B A C K T O S C H O O L B A S I C S : 5 E A S Y T I P S T O H E L P E A S E Y O U R C H I L D ' S
E N D - O F - S U M M E R T R A N S I T I O N
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First Day Jitters Younger kids and those changing schools may feel some first day jitters. In fact, it is not uncommon for even high school
aged students to be nervous their first day.
Acknowledge their apprehension and talk about being nervous the first day. Perhaps use a personal story from your child-
hood or mention that a lot of kids are nervous. Let them know that it's okay to be a bit nervous but it will still be fun in the
end.
For younger kids you might want to walk/drive them to the first day of school. If there is a child of the same age in the
neighborhood, you may have them buddy up before school begins so they can comfortably share the adventure when the first
day comes. Also, if your youngster is taking the bus the first day, make certain to accompany them to the bus stop. Remind
them to be mindful of traffic and listen to the bus driver. The more anxiety the student has about the day, the more likely
they may not pay attention to their surroundings.
The demands on high school and even many middle school students are ever increasing. It is easy to forget all the pressures
of getting the right classes, preparing for college, adjusting to taking classes with different teachers, keeping good grades and
having fun on top of it all! When they start this new venture, take time to discuss with your teen what changes they may
need around the household to get their studies done - will they need more time on the computer, an evening at the library,
quiet time before an exam? The list can go on and on. But it is important to note that sometimes parents and younger kids
may forget that there will be an adjustment in their teen's expected workload. Although they will have to rise to the chal-
lenge on their own, an extra boost set up by a productive environment will work wonders!
Back-to-School Basics The end of summer is a study in trade-offs: book time replaces pool time; loungewear is swapped for school-wear; and strict schedules oust
free time in a blatant reminder that the summer’s over. Start off on the right foot with the following resources for organizing, communicating
and planning, during your child’s return to the classroom.
A Good Place to Start: Parent-Teacher Communication
Filling out forms during registration is the first step in starting at a new school and the ideal time to meet your child’s new teachers. Whether
your child is starting out in preschool, or a new high school, getting to know your child’s teacher(s) and their expectations is a good way to
start the school year off smoothly.
During the meeting, find out the school’s requirements: obtain a handbook, list of textbooks, work supplies and the dress code. Also, you can
learn more about what the school has to offer in terms of resources.
A Healthy Start
To start the year with a clean slate, update your child’s medical records. Most schools require your child to have a physical exam before start-ing school; this is also an ideal time to visit the dentist and have an eye exam—especially if they spent a lot of time playing video games dur-ing the summer. It’s also important to get back on track with your child’s bedtime routine, which may have gone by the wayside during those long summer evenings. We’ve all heard that kids, teens and young adults need between 8 and 9 hours of sleep per night in order to properly function at school and during after-school activities. According to WebMD, a sleeping pattern is a “group effort” and requires consistency. For teenagers, HealthDay suggests that you “slowly advance the wake time”, and each day they will
wake up earlier and earlier, eventually ensuring they’re up in time to get ready for school.
Lessons From Our Recent Hurricane Test by Wally Conway, Host of The Home and Garden Show, Saturdays 7 to 9 AM on WOKV AM690 and 106.5 FM, and President of HomePro Inspections
904-268-8211 WOKV AM690 and 106.5
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HomePro Inspections is your go-to source for agent liability reduction and customer peace of mind! Infrared
technology separates the professionals from the pretenders in the home inspection industry, and only HomePro
utilizes infrared technology on every exclusive 5 Star Inspection™ Package. Call for your 5 Star Inspection today –
904-268-8211.
Have Wally Conway speak at your office or for your favorite group! Wally is a speaker, writer, FREC instructor, host
of HGTV’s “House Detective”, host of DIY Network’s “Finders Fixers”, and host of The Home and Garden radio
show on WOKV AM 690 and 106.5 FM. And don’t forget to pick up Wally’s book, “Secrets of the Happy Home
HomePro Inspections
is your best source for agent liability reduction and
client peace of mind! Your client’s one stop for:
Environmental Testing (mold, radon, water, lead paint,
meth lab); Wind Mitigation Evaluations,
Chinese Drywall Assessments, Insurance Inspections,
Energy Audits, Home Inspections, Termite Reports,
Construction Consultations, Infrared Moisture
Instruction Investigations, and More!
904-268-8211
GoHomePro.com
How’d you do on the tropical storm Beryl “practice hurricane test”?
Mother Nature appears be taking the June 1st official start of the 2012 Hurricane Season rather seriously!
Why else would she have sent us the pre-season tropical storm Beryl?
If we look at what frustrated us, aggravated us, or did damage to our homes during Beryl, we just might be better
prepared for the next storm. And to be sure, we will be seeing many more storms this year at least as large or larger
then Beryl.
First, our friends at the power company. They really took some heat for the thousands of homes that lost power during
Beryl. This is really strange to me because they had plenty of power to deliver! The real problem was not the power
company, the problem was that OUR trees knocked down their power lines!
So if you see a tree that is endangering a power line, report it to the power company, they will put it on their
trimming schedule.
Never attempt to trim a tree that’s on or near a power line. Touching a power line with a ladder or saw can kill you.
And that’s not good!
Even after you do all that you can about trees taking down power lines, you can still lose power!
That’s why both at my home, as well as my office, I have a back-up generator.
The ideal is a permanently installed generator with automatic switching so that you’re never without power. For those of us on a more limited
budget, a portable generator with a transfer switch is a great and affordable alternative.
I’ve got the Generlink transfer switch, and I love it! Remember, once the next storm starts, it’s too late to install a transfer switch. Get a transfer
switch installed today and you’ll feel safe, secure and hassle free the next time your power goes out.
Back to the subject of trees! A tree coming down on your roof can be a real danger both to you and your home. Most always the fallen tree will
puncture your roof bring in gallons upon gallons of water, maybe even thousands of gallons. Often the tree will miss the roof, but take out a few
windows. Again here come hundreds of gallons of water from the wind driven rain.
How can you reduce the risk of trees damaging your home? Have a properly licensed and insured tree service remove those trees and limb, espe-
cially those that pose the most danger to your home. Just having them clear out any dead limbs, as well as those branches that touch your home,
is a very cost effective strategy to becoming more storm safe.
Tree trimming is dangerous work. You want to be sure that the people in the trees have the experience and equipment. When selecting your tree
service, be sure the company is properly licensed and insured. Hiring Bubba in a truck with a ladder and chain saw not only puts Bubba at risk,
but also your trees, your home and your family finances.
IF you hire someone who is not properly licensed and insured to do work at your home, it is you, not the unlicensed worker, and NOT your home-
owner’s insurance that is responsible for cost of damage or injuries that occur, including injuries to the unlicensed worker.
The cleanup after the storm has past is as dangerous as the storm itself. Did you know that more people are injured after the storm than during
the storm?
If you see downed power lines, assume that they are live so they don’t kill you!
Want to eliminate the risk of falling off your roof doing a roof repair? Call a roofer!
Want to eliminate the risk of sawing off your hand cutting trees? Call a tree surgeon, which is far less expensive than calling a hand surgeon.
I’m about as frugal a guy as there is, but I do spend money on storm preparedness and will spend money for storm clean-up and repairs. The
peace of mind is worth every dime!
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J U L Y S T A T I S T I C S
Monthly Statistics Report
07/01/2012 - 07/31/2012
St. Augustine & St Johns County
Compiled on August 15, 2012
Jul-12 Jul-11
Change from
7/1-31/11 - 7/1-31/12 YTD 2012 YTD 2011
YTD 2011-12
Residential
New Listings 351 301 16.61% 2,505 2,455 2.03%
Sold Listings 222 183 21.31% 1,502 1,397 7.51%
Vol. Sold Listings $44,775,065.00 $31,613,979.00 41.63% $290,317,431.00 $273,118,555.00 6.29%
Avg. Sell Price $201,689.48 $172,753.98 16.74% $193,287.24 $195,503.62 -1.13% Avg. Day on Mar-
ket 145 151 -4.16% 156 157 0.83%
Lots and Land
New Listings 91 93 -2.15% 522 576 -9.37%
Sold Listings 12 19 -36.84% 155 119 30.25%
Vol. Sold Listings $647,850.00 $2,037,150.00 -68.19% $11,845,111.00 $12,289,257.00 -3.61%
Avg. Sell Price $53,987.50 $107,218.42 -49.64% $76,420.07 $103,271.07 -26.00% Avg. Day on Mar-
ket 231 281 -17.74% 297 212 40.11%
Commercial/Industrial
New Listings 15 39 -61.53% 82 117 -29.91%
Sold Listings 2 3 -33.33% 16 22 -27.27%
Vol. Sold Listings $591,000.00 $422,000.00 40.04% $3,893,050.00 $5,486,686.00 -29.04%
Avg. Sell Price $295,500.00 $140,666.67 110.07% $243,315.63 $249,394.82 -2.43% Avg. Day on Mar-
ket 311 293 6.14% 327 190 71.85%
Multi-Family
New Listings 4 3 33.33% 32 45 -28.88%
Sold Listings 5 0 N/A 18 21 -14.28%
Vol. Sold Listings $2,757,150.00 $0.00 N/A $5,299,550.00 $3,797,900.00 39.53%