You will never have to pay to be listed as a top neighbor. Period. That important detail clarified, let's discuss how we arrive at two "top neighbors" for a given region:
Localism is a bustling collection of hyper-local communities, and the top neighbors should reflect those members who are most active. When ranking users in a given region, several factors are considered. To get your foot in the proverbial door, you need to have posted at least one "Localism" article or photo for the region.
The very best way to quickly rise to #1 is to post high-quality local content. Keeping a steady strem of incoming posts and photos will massively tilt the scales in your favor.
What doesn't count toward the top neighbor ranking? ActiveRain points and community sponsorships. The top neighbor spots will always go to the most active members in a region. We want to create a level playing field that encourages the growth of communities — talent and dedication are required to win the day.
Port Orange Photo and Info by Lisa Hill: Local Native, and REALTOR® "THE SMART CHOICE!"
This week's photo was found in a Port Orange neighborhood where I've listed and sold several houses over the years. The photo itself, needs no explanation. But the neighborhood of Summertrees in Port Orange FL, where I found this beautiful bird, is a great place to buy a home.
Just a few miles from Summertrees is a brand new elementary school, and just a few miles away stands less than a decade old middle school. As for the high schools, my daughter thoroughly enjoyed her high school experience at Spruce Creek High School. She was also a student in the first class to attend, and pass through Creekside Middle School when it first opened. So if you have school aged children... or even if you have college aged students... Summertrees in Port Orange is in a convenient location to many schools,
If you're looking for a beautiful house in a fabulous neighborhood, (with a bonus of seeing this beautiful creature) there are currently 24 houses for sale in Summer Trees, priced from $74,000 to $359,000.
This includes a nice selection of homes currently available in the 55+ section of Summer Trees. This is the only 55+ community in Port Orange, (aside from manufactured homes).
Another benefit of living in this gorgeous community is the close proximity to shopping. And it's only a few miles from doctors, hospitals and banking, among other necessities.
*All material in this blog is fully copyright protected and owned by Lisa Hill (with exception of the copyright image at the beginning of this footer.)
Fun Photo and Video by Lisa Hill, Daytona Beach Native, and REALTOR® "THE SMART CHOICE!"
In answer to all the question about my Wordless Wednesday post this week, I thought I'd tell a little story. In case you missed that particular post. Here's the little bugger that's causing all the ruckus.
To answer the questions that were asked on that post...
1. Vickie Nagy: Nope. He didn't get in and hop around; at least not by himself
2. Kelli-Rhyanne Bartley: I think I had him pretty worn out by the time I took this picture =P
3. Crystal Kilpatrick: Nah. He was just a little slimy. lol
4. Johnny Huang: Son? Who says only boys can like frogs? =P
5. Tony & Darcy Cannon: That's exactly what I thought!
6. Mike Saunders: My sentiments exactly!
7. Betina Foreman: Actually, that's the comforter on my bed.
OK. So that takes care of my responses. Now for this little guy's story =)
One evening I was sitting in my family room watching TV. A storm had just ended, but it was still raining, when I suddenly heard a loud THUD on a window! It was so loud that it scared me. I was actually afraid to open the blinds. So of course I made my husband wake up =D
(Side note to men: In case you don't know this, it's your job to play hero, any time your wife demands requests it!)
While my husband loudly demanded that I just "open the blinds already!"gallantlly encouraged me to open the blinds, I finally mustered the courage to do so, and this not-so-little guy is what I found. He had apparently taken a big leap, and upon landing had hit the window so hard, it sounded like it could have broken. Considering that in his sitting position he was about 4-5 inches long, the hard landing is no surprise!
Now if any of you have watched my frog video... wait a minute. I don't think I've posted that here. Well all righty then. I guess you know what's coming. But let's finish this story first; I HAD to catch this frog! This was like the motherlode of ALL frogs, EVER! So I headed straight out the French doors, onto the pool deck, then out of the screened enclosure, into the yard, and the rain.
Unfortunately, this slimy guy was on a window behind a large, spiky palm tree. But I wanted this frog! So into the spikes I went. OUCH! Then I discovered a fascinating bit of information about this long-legged, sticky-footed froggy. He can seriously JUMP! So now I went back through the spiky branches as I backed out of that tree, to get about 9 feet to the left; now on a window behind.... a rose bush >.< So into the rose bush I went... and around the corner went the frog. DARN! It's dark over here! Now I need a flashlight! (insert non-expletives here; I don't swear. lol) Moving on...
Rush inside for flashlight and back out to find the frog. At least the rain had stopped. (Too bad all the bushes are still wet.) Find frog sitting on side of the house and attempt to sneak up on him. WRONG! He now leaps about 12 feet through mid-air, and lands on the wooden fence. (More non-expletives here =P) Now I crawl on hands and knees through wet grass, with intent to come up beneath the frog on the fence. Annnnnd.... YES! My hand is now over the frog! Now what?
As the slimy, squirming frog is trying to escape from beneath my hand, he finally makes a wrong move. On his next attempt to jump, he gets stuck between both of my hands =D *Insert overwhelming excitement. Yes, really. And no, I never really grew up.*
So of course I have to bring the frog into the house. Hmm. I wonder if my cats nature's are affecting me... bringing my prized catch inside the house... Whatever. I was wet, scraped and scratched, but I had an awesome frog!So I let him peak out at my daugther; who screamed... (more fun!)... then took him to my husband who was trying to go back to sleep. I don't think so!
By this time the frog was enjoying the warmth of my hands (for those who don't know this, this always happens eventually when you catch a frog) so I set him on the bed while my daughter got the camera.
Voila! Picture of froggy. And then we let him go. The cats were now sniffing at the door of the master bedroom. So I took him out through the master/pool bathroom, back onto the pool deck, and out the other screen door, and set him in the cold wet grass, which immediately prompted him to leap away again. Whoa! His best leap yet! Out-of-sight... literally! Bye-bye froggy =(
But here's a fun video to make up for letting this one get away. One of my YouTube friends and I had a frog discussion that somehow ended in a challenge of me going on a frog hunt during the next hard rain. Of course I complied. How fun is that!? Enjoy! =D Sorry for the repeated mention of "Andrew" and his user name. As I previously stated, this video was made specifically by request for "Andrew". But hey, why not let everyone enjoy it! (What the heck? Let's go ahead and put this in the Silly Saturdays group too. I think it applies. Don't you? =D)
*All text, photos, video and graphics are owned and copyright protected by Lisa Hill, except for the actual copyright logo at the beginning of this statement.
Fun Photo by Lisa Hill, Daytona Beach Native and REALTOR® "THE SMART CHOICE!"
Well, it's Wordless Wednesday again. And as usual, my post is not wordless >.< BUT, I'm not telling you about the photo >=) LOL. So enjoy contemplating, surmising, and commenting on this week's photo. (Hope you're not grossed out. Muwa ha ha haaa) And when you're done, I'll tell you what I had to go through to catch this leaping little bugger!
Lisa is a Daytona Beach Native, and REALTOR® with Adams Cameron & Co., REALTORS®. Adams Cameron & Co., REALTORS® has been in business in the Daytona Beach area since 1967 (the year I was born =) ) We have 8 offices East and West Volusia county, and even into Flagler county. We're the largest real estate company in the area, with the most offices, the most agents, and the highest sales volume year, after year, after year. Adams Cameron has been the #1 real estate company in the Daytona Beach area for many years, due to their long history strong community ties, and excellent track record of having the highest quality REALTORS® in their brokerage.
View Lisa's Daytona Beach area MLS listings, and feel free to contact Lisa with any questions, or to schedule your appoinment to view homes. Let Lisa Hill put her many years of experience and succes in the real estate industry to work for you!
*This entire post is protected by copyright laws. But you may use the actual copyright symbol at the beginning of this footer, in your own copyrighted works.
The Villages of Royal Palm is an award-winning, maintenance-free lifestyle community in Port Orange, Florida just east of Orlando and south of Daytona Beach on the East Coast of Florida, voted one of America's 100 Best Master Planned Communities, by Where to Retire Magazine.
The gated community offers many amenities, some of which are
12,000 square foot clubhouse with large banquet and social hall
Fitness center, billiard room, & meeting rooms
Full-time activities director on staff
2 swimming pools with spacious sun decks and a heated Jacuzzi
2 tennis courts
Putting green, horseshoes, shuffleboard, and Bocce
Villages of Royal Palm has been developed by Winston-James, who have over 30 years of real estate development and construction experience ranging from over 3,000 residential homes to commercial shopping centers and office parks. As a Realtor in the Port Orange area, I am very familiar with the quality of the developers. They have been responsible for many projects in Volusia County, including Cypress Cove at Pelican Bay, Sandpiper Villas at Pelican Bay, Cypress Head Golf Villas, Beville Road Business Park, Townhomes North, Pine Trails, Hawks Landing in Pelican Bay, Fisherman's Landing, and Independence Court of Ormond Beach.
And, of course, contact me for sales statistics and to preview any home in the Villages of Royal Palm. Use the widget below to search the properties for sale in Villages of Royal Palm.
On June 23rd, Rob contacted me about see a home that was back on the market. 5308 Georgia Peach is a 4 bd 2 ba 2020 sq ft home on a lake. This is the home they saw listed that started their home search.
It had a contract on it that fell through, I talked with the listing agent and found out the bank would accept the asking price of $174,000. I wrote up a contract for $180,000 with the seller paying $6,000 towards cosing cost, before going to show the home to Rob and Tina.
Rob and Tina both really liked the home and were ready to sign the contract. We talked about the timeline that would follow after submitting the contract, and both decided they needed to check on finances before signing.
I told them I wanted them to be sure, and to take the time they needed, but homes in this price range are not sitting on the market for long. Rob said he understood that and was willing to lose the home rather than jumping in without everything in order. And the home in Bay Berry Lakes was a good backup.
5308 Georgia Peach went under contract on 7/6 and the home in Bay Berry Lakes went under contract on 7/7.
Rob and Tina have decided to postpone the search for a new home until August, when his new union contract at work will be final.
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
