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Clearwater, FL

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Belleview Biltmore Hotel - The White Queen Of The Gulf

02-02-12
Barbara-Jo's Beach Blog - Clearwater Florida Real Estate
Barbara-Jo's Beach Blog - Clearwater Florida Real Estate: Real Estate Agent in Clearwater, FL
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Belleview Biltmore Hotel - The White Queen of the Gulf was built in 1896 by Henry B. Plant and his son, Morton Plant. The hotel is the world's largest occupied wooden structure. Built of pine, the structure was originally dark since it was not painted white for many years.

Barbara-Jo's Beach Blog,ClearwaterFloridaRealEstateBlog.com

This beautiful old landmark was a Winter resort to European royalty as well as the Vanderbilts, du Ponts, Thomas Edison and many other famous people.

For years I would go to this landmark hotel every Thanksgiving with my children for the most magnificent feast imaginable!

There are many stories surrounding this beautiful old hotel. One is that Morton Plant's wife, Maisie lost her necklace of double strand natural pearls that she purchased from Henri Cartier. Guests through the decades have commented that they have seen Maisie wondering the hotel, searching for her pearls. Even great hotels can have spirits wandering the halls.Belleview Biltmore Hotel, Clearwater FL

I would be searching for them as well if I had lost them! It seems that Morton did not want to pay the $1.2 million that Cartier wanted for the pearls, so Maisie traded the home that Morton Plant had built and given her for the necklace. That house, on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Fifty-second Street in the Big Apple is home to Cartier Jewelers to this day.

In 2009 there were plans to renovate the hotel, which was the site of many high school proms. Upper floor rooms were said to suffer from roof leaks and restoration work was indeed needed. The facility was closed and an ad placed in the local newspaper that items would be sold to the public.

A wonderful couple who purchased a house with my assistance in 2009 went to a sale that was being held at the hotel. There they purchased a wonderful Belleview Biltmore Hotel chandelierchandelier and put it in their hallway after having it rewired for safety reasons. It is still in their home, which is being sold the end of this month. They have decided to leave it here, in Clearwater.

Once again, the hotel is back in the news. New owners filed paperwork in January of 2012. They want to tear most of the building down, keeping part of the hotel and lobby as a museum and building a least 120 Victorian townhomes on the sprawling 21 acres that overlooks the sparkling waters of Clearwater Harbor.

Local historical preservation groups want to save the landmark. Only time will tell the fate of this piece of local history that has always played such an important role in Clearwater's development.




8 Comments
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Clearwater Florida - January 2012 Market Report

02-01-12
Barbara-Jo's Beach Blog - Clearwater Florida Real Estate
Barbara-Jo's Beach Blog - Clearwater Florida Real Estate: Real Estate Agent in Clearwater, FL
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  • Office: (727) 512-0910
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Clearwater Florida - January 2012 Market Report

Barbara-Jo's Beach Blog,ClearwaterFloridaRealEstateBlog.com

A new year is here and this one is going to be GREAT for the local real estate market! Clearwater's single family home market started off the new year with 56 closings in January! These ranged from a 4 bedroom 3 bath 2555 sq ft home in Wynwoods Landing that listed for $324,900 and sold for $305,000 to a little home built in 1921. This little 1456 sq ft 3 bedroom 2 bath home was bank owned. Listed at $26,999 it sold for $26,900.

Barbara-Jo's Beach Blog,ClearwaterFloridaRealEstateBlog.com

The average time on the market for these 56 homes was 90 days! That is not a bad average at all! The market has really picked up and that is wonderful!

Turning our attention to townhomes, condos and villas, there were 50 closings during January in Clearwater. These ranged on the high end from a waterfront condo at Water's Edge in downtown Clearwater that sold for the list price of $493,900 to a little coop in Drew Ridge that sold for only $8,000.

Average time on market for this category was 109 days. Again, it is so nice to see closings taking place in less time! This is a great indicator of how the year is going to develop.


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We Came, We Viewed, We Wrote The Offer

01-31-12
Barbara-Jo's Beach Blog - Clearwater Florida Real Estate
Barbara-Jo's Beach Blog - Clearwater Florida Real Estate: Real Estate Agent in Clearwater, FL
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  • Office: (727) 512-0910
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We came, we viewed, we wrote the offer.....three hours later we have a bilateral contract.

Barbara-Jo's Beach Blog,ClearwaterFloridaRealEstateBlog.comWhen you look at this adorable community, is it any wonder that my client did not want to look any further?

Not only does she have a garage with her downstairs condo, but from the lanai there is a magnificent lake front view.

To top it off, the pool is about a two minute walk away from her front door!Barbara-Jo's Beach Blog,ClearwaterFloridaRealEstateBlog.com

As always, cash is king. This one will close in three weeks. There are wonderful homes and condos out there just waiting for new owners! Give me a call today to begin your search!


13 Comments
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Two Contracts In One Day - A Good Indicator Of The Market!

01-31-12
Barbara-Jo's Beach Blog - Clearwater Florida Real Estate
Barbara-Jo's Beach Blog - Clearwater Florida Real Estate: Real Estate Agent in Clearwater, FL
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  • Office: (727) 512-0910
  • Mobile: (727) 512-0910

Two contracts in one day is certainly a great indicator of the market!

Barbara-Jo's Beach Blog,ClearwaterFloridaRealEstateBlog.com

We all remember the days when we could not write contracts fast enough and I am so happy to report that the market is certainly changing in that direction once again!

This morning I wrote up a contract on a single family house and it was followed only three hours later with a contract on a condo in Clearwater's beautiful Countryside neighborhood.

Both clients got fantastic homes at great prices! Both are going to close in February and both are cash deals! It really doesn't get much better than that! Oh, and yes, this photo was taken today and that bush IS blooming in January!

If you are in the market to purchase a home or condo, the time is now to spring into action! Give me a call today to begin your search!

6 Comments
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Clearwater Florida - 2011 Housing Market Review

01-24-12
Barbara-Jo's Beach Blog - Clearwater Florida Real Estate
Barbara-Jo's Beach Blog - Clearwater Florida Real Estate: Real Estate Agent in Clearwater, FL
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  • Office: (727) 512-0910
  • Mobile: (727) 512-0910

Clearwater Florida - 2011 Housing Market Review

Barbara-Jo's Beach Blog,ClearwaterFloridaRealEstateBlog.com

Reviewing the Clearwater Florida housing market for the year 2011 in the category of single family homes we find that there were a total of 984 closings. These break down as follows:

List $ 1,100,000 Sold: $ 830,000 (most expensive)

List $ 5,000 Sold: $ 32,500 (least expensive)

Sale price/sq ft

High: $308.03

Low: $ 11.09

Average Days On Market: 94

Barbara-Jo's Beach Blog,ClearwaterFloridaRealEstateBlog.com

Now turning to the category of townhomes, condos and villas we find that there were 944 closings. These break down as follows:

List: $ 1,143,450 Sold: $ 1,143,450

List: $ 12,000 Sold: $ 8,500

Sale price/sq ft

High: $334.20

Low: $ 12.59

Average Days On Market: 95

Things are indeed happening in Clearwater Florida! Home sales for 2011 rose 8% and condo sales were up 15%! If you are considering purchasing, NOW is indeed the time to buy!

3 Comments