About Alachua County, FL

Spring is here, and if you are looking for something awesome to do this weekend, March 10th & 11th, then make plans to go to The Home Show at the O'Connell Center! I plan to be there as a visitor on Saturday afternoon....I need to learn about my options for updating my own kitchen!!

The North Central Florida Home Show will take place at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center located at the University of Florida. Presented by the Builders Association of North Central Florida (BANCF) and The Gainesville Sun, the show will feature products and services related to home improvement, landscaping, remodeling, decorating and home sales. In addition to the many home and garden exhibits, the Home Show also includes informational seminars, how-to clinics, and a farmers market.

The Home Show is unique in that it provides an opportunity for people to get new home improvement ideas, to have landscaping and remodeling questions answered by local professionals.

This is an event you don't want to miss!

Dates & Hours

Saturday, March 10, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday, March 11, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Admission Prices

Adults: $4
16 & Under: FREE Admission
FREE Parking

Location/Directions

Stephen C. O’Connell Center at the University of Florida

Click here for directions

Originally Posted at: Gainesville Real Estate Talk

A tradition has developed at the Tioga Town Center! The beautiful stage & pavillion at the Tioga Town Center has become the home to some great concert events all year, but the Free Movie Night is becoming a great family thing to do at Tioga.

Bring a lawn chair or spread out a blanket in the grass and enjoy the Concert And Movie Series At the Square on selected Fridays.

Check the Events Calendar at the Tioga Town Center Web Site for what is scheduled through the spring and summer.

Begins at DARK! Food & Drinks are available for purchase.

This is a great way to spend some of your Friday Nights!

Tioga Town Center is located in the Jonesville area, on Newberry Road across from the West End Golf Course....you can't miss it!

Originally Posted at: Gainesville Real Estate Talk

In an effort to offer information on the condo real estate market in the Gainesville Fl area, I thought I give an example of a recent sale in the area.

Last week, one of our listings in the Cricket Club Condominium complex in SW Gainesville closed. It was a new listing on February 3rd of this month. The seller was an investor and wanting it priced to move quickly. We had a handyman do some minor repairs that we knew might be an issue for any future buyer inspection, the carpets were professionally cleaned, and a cleaning service put the final touches on this unit.

This was an end unit, 3 bedrooms with 2.5 baths, and 1,384 sq ft. This townhouse had covered assigned parking as well. The list price was $ 65,900, and was not a short sale or foreclosure.

It closed on 2/28/12 with a cash buyer (also an investor) for $ 60,000. 19 Days from List to Close!

This is a good summary of the condo market in the Gainesville area.

• Motivated Seller with Competitive List Price
• Priced Right - Location is Good - Good Condition & Move In Ready
• Buyer with the ability to pay Cash
• Investment buyers getting good purchase prices for future rental income

If you are wanting information about selling your condo or townhome in Gainesville, you will need to know that the mortgage industry is very different now that when you bought your property. Call me and we can discuss your selling options.

Originally Posted at: Gainesville Real Estate Talk

If you are ready to sell your Gainesville area home, there are two very important things to consider when selling your Gainesville area home.

PRICE and PRESENTATION

Let's talk about Presentation first. You have to know that today's home buyers have started searching online before they start viewing homes with their Realtor®. This is why your Gainesville home must make a good first impression from the moment they pull into the driveway. Some call this curb appeal. Take a hard look at this list to see if you will need to tweak some things to make your home interest the buyers that come to your home.

• Attractive front entry: Polish your front door handle and other hardware. Fres paint or stain your front door does wonders. Set out pots of flowers near the front door and/or where potential buyers are likely to notice them. If you have a front porch, set the mood by featuring a charming bench or chairs with a table and flowers. Keep all sidewalks, porches and walkways swept.
• Landscaping: Prune overgrown trees and bushes. Pull weeds and install fresh mulch. Fertilize and mow your lawn to make it look manicured. Add come color by planting flowers along walkways, in pots, or in mulched beds. Have your lawn be an eye-catcher for those buyers.
• Just as you would inside the house, make sure your front & back yard does not look cluttered. Move cars into the garage and out of the driveway whenever possible. Keep the kids' bikes, toys and other play equipment out of sight. Keep lawn & garden ornaments to a minimum. Create an environment that invites buyers into your home and allows them to picture themselves enjoying your front yard & back yard.
• Interior Presentation - The home buyers must be able to visualize the home as theirs, not yours. A clean and uncluttered feeling will make a favorable first impression to a buyer. Make sure to take a hard look at the interior paint too. We do not encourage remodeling, as your taste and style may not be the same as your future buyers' styles.

Now let's discuss PRICING your Home. Pricing is everything in today’s market. A current competitive price will get a home sold in our current market. An overpriced home typically stays on the market a longer period of time. Today's buyers are educated by their Realtors® of recent comparable sales, and they are viewing other homes in the same price range too. So your price must be competitive. Your Realtor® will help you position your home's price to get it sold in a timely manner.

Price and Presentation are the strongest factors in getting your Gainesville area home SOLD in today's market. When I list and sell Gainesville area homes for my clients I strive to make the entire process a positive experience. If your price and presentation are good, this provides your home as a strong entry into the Gainesville real estate market. Let me help you reduce your stress level and get you home on the market.

My mission is to provide outstanding service to my clients while utilizing the best practices and systems available to reach your goals. Let's talk about your goals and getting your home on the market!

For more information on how I can best serve your Gainesville real estate needs, don’t hesitate to fill out the contact form or give me a call at 352-278-9357

Originally Posted at: Gainesville Real Estate Talk

If you are a fan of NHRA and Gatornationals you know this Gainesville Event is right around the corner! Every year Gainesville is home to the Tire Kingdom Gatornationals.

Our Gainesville Raceway held the first NHRA Gatornationals in 1970 and is considered to be one of the fastest tracks on the NHRA circuit. There is a rich history of the Gainesville Raceway.

And on February 16th, 2012 , our Gainesville Raceway got a new name, The AutoPlus Raceway at Gainesville.

NHRA announced that Uni-Select USA and its Auto-Plus® network of automotive retail stores have acquired the naming rights to the NHRA owned and operated facility in Gainesville, Fla.

This will be the 43rd Annual Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals

March 8th through March 11th, 2012

You can find full event schedule and ticketing information that will help you plan your time at this year's Gatornationals.

Remember kids under 12 get in FREE!

It's great family fun.

Gainesville is A Great Place to Live, Work and Play!!

Originally Posted at: Gainesville Real Estate Talk