Leesburg, FL

Blount Development Group, LLC is based out of Leesburg, Fl. From this base of operations, this company has continued to expand across Florida and into the Southeastern US. The company specializes in locating housing developments that have stalled due to financial issues and then acquiring them for themselves or their investor partners. They also aquire large land tracts suitable for future development.

I have known the Rick Blount, President of Blount Development Group for nearly 20 years. Recently, we have been discussing the pursuit of local subdivisions in the Lake County and Sumter County area that are failing. For those who don't know, over the last decade, Blount Development has successfully purchased and resold millions of dollars worth of land in the area, and has been expanding to other areas of Florida, Georgia, Texas, and a fairly large development in Tennessee.

Rick Blount, President of Blount Development Group, LLC explained that his company's success has caught the eyes of many financial investment firms, and raising money is no longer an issue. He went on to say that most of the investment firms that are backing his firm are looking to invest heavily in Florida Real Estate, and are very actively seeking primarily pre approved subdivision projects in the 5 to 25 million dollar range. The consensus is that the right projects in Central Fla are quite a bargin and these investment firms have huge resourses to buy now and hold for the future market rebounds.

Jason Blount, Vice-President of Blount Development Group LLC, is also heavily involved in Project Research and Acquisition. He also explained that finding troubled projects is getting easier due to the market slowdown, but choosing the correct ones to invest in what has made Blount Development Group successful. Our job is to Find, Fund, and Finish these projects. So site selection is extremely important. At this level, making mistakes is not an option! We have to determine why the first developer failed, and research the data to determine if the project can be turned around with a profit. That is our goal on every project. Once you have proven your company can find and fund some larger projects on your own, from start to finish, then other companies will want to be involved with you in the future.

Blount Land Development, LLC is growing rapidly. Recently, Rick Blount called me to discuss if I thought my expertise in finding and performing deal analysis on distressed homes would transition over to doing the same with whole subdivisions. After careful examination of the business model, I have made the decision to accept this challenge, and will actively seek the support of my Active Rain Associates. This is a big step for me, and I am very focused on making this transition. The stakes are much higher at this level, but till now my biggest hold up was in finding the money to get deals done.

That apparently will no longer be a problem....We will make the move officially by March 1, 2008. I will need a few weeks to get up to speed, but from what I have seen, Blount Land Development Group is soon to be a very recognisable name in Land Acquisition Business in the Southeastern States.

I am proud to have been chosen as part of their growing team...

In my opinion, here are the Top 10 restaurants in Leesburg, Fl.

(in no particular order)

1.) Cracker Barrel. Great home cooking. Try the meatloaf, you won't be disappointed.

9450 US HWY 441 (352-315-8447)

2.) Sonny's. In the mood for BBQ? Try the Brisket.

1396 North Blvd. W (352-326-3000)

3.) San Juan Mexican. Check my blog for further info.http://activerain.com/blogsview/383635/Want-Good-Mexican-Food

1341 S. 14th St. (352-787-7575)

4.) Osaka Steak House. Japanese Steak House. Try the steak, chicken and shrimp combo.

1401 Citrus Blvd. (352-728-0788)

5.) HP Grill. Mom and Pop. The buffet is very fresh.

1403 S. 14th St. (352-314-0006)

6.) Tijuana Flats. The burritos and enchiladas are AWESOME!

10300 US HWY 441 (352-343-3337)

7.) Outback Steakhouse. Alice Springs Chicken. Enough said.

9600 US HWY 441 (352-365-6222)

8.) Ruby Tuesday. Salad and Mini Burgers are great.

9616 US 441 (352-360-0455)

9.) Wolfy's. If you like biscuits & gravy...

918 N 14th St. (352-787-6777)

10.) Beef O'Brady's. The chicken wrap is mouth watering.

27405 US HWY 27 #109 (352-728-3233)

Hope this helps. Remember, when you visit these restaurants, tell them that Johnny Davis with Platinum Professional Realty PLLC sent you.

Until next time....

Johnny Davis

Platinum Professional Realty PLLC

www.iselllakecounty.com

Decided I would share a little secret with you...kind of let the cat out of the bag. My wife and I really enjoy trying small local restaurants and on this particular night, we found ourselves going to San Juan Mexican Restaurant.

We had never been to this establishment before, It is located at 1341 S. 14th St. Leesburg, Fl. 34748. The place was nicely decorated...very clean also. If restaurants we visit are even slightly dirty, my wife will never eat there again. Not this one. Very clean. We walked in and were seated in a booth immediately. After we ordered drinks, we were presented with some chips and salsa. Most Mexican places I go to give chips and salsa...however, these chips were very fresh and warm. We quickly asked to try the cheese sauce since we are both addicts when it comes to that. WOW. Extremely good. We felt like pigs. We quickly devoured the chips they gave us and were working on basket #2 in no time at all.

After the pigging out on chips, cheese and salsa, the nice waitress brought us our food. Piping hot! Just the way I like it. Not hot like spicy, but hot like fresh out of the oven, I ordered the burrito and enchilada meal. It came with refried beans and rice. My wife ordered the taco meal. Her meal was two large soft beef tacos with beans and rice. The food was excellent. I am not sure what "authentic" Mexican is, but it is great if what I had was authentic.

Portions are large. I had plenty to fill me up (I'm rather big...6'4" 235lbs) and my wife couldn't finish her second taco. Once our check came, I was pleased to see that we both ate for around $20. Not bad. Meals at the Cracker Barrel usually run that much for us. Overall, this was a great experience. We will definitely go back to the San Juan Mexican Restaurant (I here they have good dessert). I give them my 100% recommendation.

Well done San Juan Mexican Restaurant, you should be proud.

Until Next Time.....

Johnny Davis

Platinum Professional Realty PLLC

www.iselllakecounty.com

I am working for a super great buyer/investor right now. He is a retired commercial broker that did very well buying and leasing huge commercial projects in the midwest. Now he plays golf , day trades, and has chosen me to represent him on a number of investment properties. He has freinds with cash and believe this is a great time to get out of the stock market and into something more stable. At long last, after all this time, Investors are coming off the sidelines and want to play again.

Its about time...

We have been busy working on finding deals. Deals are everywhere, but they are not simple. There are some with serious complications, some that look sooo good and then you see the hidden traps...Ohhhh, thats why it won't sell.. Others have appraisals, and well written, beautiful CMA's that I now see were using very flawed, loan fraud type comps even then. Many of these deals are in foreclosure now, and with good reason..

We have to be very careful. Tax issues, and other clouds on titles don't go away. We must know how to make them go away, and it will take time and money. Thats where the rubber hits the road..What seems an insurmountable problem for some is just another day at the office for others....Thats what experience will tell you. Our job is to know the difference between difficult and impossible..

My latest issues are all the people who spent good money on appraisals for the property they are attempting to sell. My crystal ball has very good backward vision, and is looking pretty clear on the 60-90 day forecast as well.

But I am now experiencing a negotiation with a lender who is using a two year old commercial appraisal as a weapon. I know they read the paper. I know they see a nightly news cast every once in a while. Every other person I meet on the street is willing to tell me how bad the market is, but this lender rep is sticking to his story like I might convert over if I hear it often enough. Its a perfectly done, $ 3000.00 appraisal that is good for making paper airplanes now. thats it. Its 26 months old...It has no bearing on current situations..

I had the lender tell me, what do you know, you are only a Realtor. This is a Certified Appraisal!!

My buyers group is having a ball with this one. They are all retired from big business, this is fun for them. I went on a fishing trip with some of our investors and learned more about what they really are interested in. Some of these guys made really big money, and playing Real Life Monopoly with a few hundred thousand is not a big deal..Some are really needing to recover back their positions lost in recent stock crashes.

All of them are looking at me, as the proffessional, to do my job.

In this market, we need to do our homework. We need to make it our business to know with certainty what is a good deal, and why. We have to power to change lives, and we need to be more careful with our customers money. We don't have to look back very far to see what happens when we get caught up in the hype.

Its time for us as professionals to act like we are proffessionals. Its only then that the public perception will change toward us in this business.

The joy of lease option in todays world. To those of you who don't like, or don't understand the power of lease option, then here is a short story.

Over 18 months ago I got a call on a sign. The property was a large double wide with about 3/4 acre and a beautiful huge deck. The mobile had been a model home for a development, and was very unique in how it was built...Well this couple were in love with this home, the location, the landscaping...everything.

So I get them started. We work with a friendly mortgage broker, who comes back with bad news. We have an issue with them when they lived in the west coast of Fl..The problem is, they never did live there..But her daughter did....

You got it, Identity theft. From your kids....Long story short, she won't press charges, and they take money out of savings to clear up the names. During this time, the Daughter is arrested on drug charges and is put in jail. My customers, who have been happy empty nester's for about 4 years now and saving for a house, are now in a dilemma. They of course step up and take the two children, aged 7 and 12.

They now need a bigger place, I still can't help them in traditional Real Estate until the credit is cleared. So they answer an ad and do a lease option for a very old 4 bedroom house and put down 8000. of their savings for the option. I figure I have lost the deal, and just let it go.

Two months later, the wife is calling me. The sheriffs department has just given them 45 days notice to move...the house is in Foreclosure....their landlord is a scammer!!!!

I begin to study foreclosure, lease options, and all this non traditional Real Estate.. I find a listing of MINE that is running behind three months, and who is getting ready to just walk away from the house..I ask if they would help out a nice couple who was in a jam, and they agreed. The home is about 10 years old and in super shape. Its 3 bed, 2 bath, with a 1/2 acre fenced in back yard...They have enough money left to catch up the mortgage and be one payment ahead, and the deal is made. Everything was done very legally, I would not let them get screwed again!!

One thing I have not mentioned is the wife , now full time mother to her grandkids, is on the liver transplant list. She has never had a home of her own. This is the first time she felt like she was in her own house, and is finally happy. Her husband is very supportive, and is of course troubled by the extra burden of raising their grandchildren as she slips away a bit more every month. Last week I was back in the home with them, and it appears we will finally be able to get them FHA financing with the First Time Home Buyers Assistance program.

She is smiling and tears are flowing. She and her husband are thanking me for making it possible to get a home set up for her family. She acknowledges that she will not make it without a transplant, its just a matter of months now at best. But her dream of being in a nice house is realized, and she and her grand kids gave me a Homemade Valentine for Sticking with them all this time. The husband, a proud, yet humble man who has worked hard all his life has to turn his head so that no one will catch him crying too.

Its an emotional scene, and I am proud to have been a part of helping this family finally get their house. The lease option idea made it possible for it all to happen, and done properly, may help someone you know too.

Thanks to Todd Clark (of AR Fame) for the neat graphic and some ideas months ago on Lease Options