Rebecca Fisher

If you are looking for a Retirement-manufactured home community FL-Cypress Greens-Lake Alfred FL, look no further!

We looked at tons of retirement communities before we moved to Florida, and this one was by far our favorite in Polk County FL.

Every one we went to seemed to drop you onto a major highway at the gate. We're country bumpkins and didn't like that at all! Finally we went to this one. AS we were driving, my husband said, "We're going out into the country. This can't be right! Look at those directions again." Just then we saw Evenhouse Road. BINGO!

We passed a school and an orange grove as we went up the hill. We turned into the development (which is leased land-- not deeded) and rode around. We liked what we saw. Only 264 lots and not planned to expand! Many communities of this type here are HUGE-- 1000 or more homes.

On one side it borders the University of Florida citrus groves-- a research center, so it won't be going anywhere. The rest of the property and golf course is bordered by a fence along country roads.

Amenities for this Retirement-manufactured home community FL-Cypress Greens-Lake Alfred FL include:

9-hole golf course, pro shop, and putting green

7000 sq ft Spanish style Clubhouse with fitness center, billiards room, ballroom, television and card room, library, fully-equipped kitchen, outdoor grill, and community deck

heated swimming pool

tennis court -- you will see it referred to as "lighted" but it really is not. I know for certain as I ride by it several times every day and my husband plays on it! As you can see from the photos, as of 4/1/10, there are no lights. There is also a shuffleboard court.

My favorite part about living here is that I am no further than a half hour from Lakeland for shopping and dining, or from Walt Disney World for entertainment.

I'd also like to mention that I do not hold a license to sell any of the homes in Cypress Greens. They are considered personal property and not real estate. I'm blogging about this community for several reasons: I live here. I have many friends living here. It's a great place to retire.

There are many homes in here that are for sale by owner as well as being sold by companies who are licensed to sell these homes. There are even some empty lots so you can choose your own model!

If you'd like any information, send me an email and I'll connect you. I prefer not to list their contact information in this blog for privacy concerns.

I will receive NO commission for this, nor can I accept any (it's illegal). I'd just like to help my friends and neighbors! This is a great Retirement-manufactured home community FL-Cypress Greens-Lake Alfred FL. Come see what there is to offer!

As always, contact me if you are interested in buying or selling real estate or would like to introduce me to friends and family with need of my help!

Are Your Winter Haven FL Homes -- varmint proof?

Here in Florida, wood boring critters abound. And wood can rot easily with all the moisture we have so most homes, especially new construction, are built on a slab foundation. I'm a Yank, and our homes are built on foundations.

When we bought our home here, we bought one with a foundation. For the last time.

So, most Winter Haven FL homes are varmint proof. Mine is not.

Maybe I should begin at the beginning.

We have a large live oak behind our house and enjoy watching three squirrels run around and around it. They were really cute.

All fall, they raced along the roof, batting at acorns. It sounded like a bowling alley up there. Even my dog would get disgusted and go elsewhere. Then they got bold.

They started running along our screens-- the entire back of my house is screened in with vinyl windows, and they used it to full advantage.

Then they got even bolder. I was looking out of the screen door one day and one jumped up and landed on the screen about 3 inches from my face. I had to go change my pants.

Not so cute anymore. Now they were dag-blasted varmints.

Maybe I need to go back farther still....

Last summer we had to replace our AC unit. You can't live without it down here, and our 'old' one was only 4 years old. Of course, the new one doesn't fit against the foundation the same way the old one did. Now there are two gaps.

Okay, back to the present:

A few weeks back, when it was really cold here, I heard a critter go under the house through one of the gaps. Hubby went out with his flashlight and found a possum. Sophisticated folks (and good spellers) would write that as 'opossum'. It was a possum, nonetheless. When it warmed up, he vacated the premises and hubby blocked the gaps. Good boy. Or so I thought....

Last weekend I heard a big racket around the AC unit. Yes, it was dark. Yes, hubby was at work. Yes, I WAS SCARED. All I could think of was a HUGE 30 foot Burmese Python was under my house and was going to come through my toilet and eat me.

The noise was terrifyingly loud, right under my bed. Of course, it was all over when hubby got home but there was no way on God's green earth that I was taking a flashlight out there to see what it was.

The next night, hubby was home and it started again. He listened and started laughing.

Apparently, there was a squirrel orgy happening right under my bed.

I moved into the guest room.

Copyright 2010 by Rebecca Fisher All Rights reserved. Originally published at http://winter-haven-properties.com entitled Winter Haven FL Homes -- varmint proof?

Be there!! February 27th at safe daylight-- Lake Shipp-- 2nd Annual -Winter Haven FL -Big Bass Bash- Benefits Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Roughly 15% of the approximately 2,000 babies delivered every year at Winter Haven Hospital's Regency Center for Women and Infants require care at the NICU.

For the second year in a row, the Big Bass Bash promises to be a great time-- and right here in the bass capital of the world! Who doesn't want to help babies, too?

This years sponsors include Pepsi; Budweiser; Smokin' Jim's House of Bar-B-Q; the News Chief; the Ledger; Bright House Sports Network; Sunnyridge Farms; Ron's Bait & Tackle; Marine Supply; WPCV, 97.5 Country; WWRZ, MAX 98.3; Sodexo Health Care; Spring Lake Rehabilitation Center; the musical group Band Haven and the City of Winter Haven FL.

Weigh-in at 1:00pm First Place - $2,500 Second Place - $1,000 Third Place - $500 The award ceremony starts at 1:30pm followed by a huge raffle.

Festivities begin at 11:00 am and go until 2:00 pm. You need to bring your own lawn chairs and enjoy an afternoon of entertainment by the lake!

· Live music featuring Band Haven

· Great barbecue provided by Smokin' Jims --LOVE LOVE this BBQ!

· FREE admission to the public, and who doesn't like free?

· Fun for the whole family

· Kid's Casting Contest and other festivities

· Stop by and visit the many outdoor boating & fishing equipment vendors and bring your wallet!

The sun is scheduled to rise in Winter Haven at 6:53 a.m. on February 27th. For a great time, remember: Winter Haven FL -Big Bass Bash- Benefits Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Help the babies!

Copyright 2010 by Rebecca Fisher All Rights Reserved. Originally published at http://winter-haven-properties.com entitled: Winter Haven FL -Big Bass Bash- Benefits Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

This past Sunday, I showed a number of properties to a buyer. All was well and good.

Let me preface this by saying that combo lockboxes are prevalent here. There are electronic ones, but many more combos.

We went into a vacant REO, and it was quite gritty. It looked like the owners were halfway through a hairy remodel and walked out. They left a trail of what appeared to be grape jelly leaking from a fridge, right across their new wood floor. But I digress.

As my clients were looking around, another couple walked up the sidewalk and asked if they could look around. I said sure, why not-- it's not like they could hurt anything. They introduced themselves and we gave them our card. my husband kept an eye on them while I was with my client. They stayed about 5 minutes and left.

On the way out the door, they thanked me and said, as they were walking out the door, "We called an agent and he gave us all the lockbox codes in this development but he must have missed this one. If we see something we like, we'll call you." And then they were gone.

I was so stunned that all clarity left my brain. I couldn't even think of another thing to say as they walked away. Not even enough sense to ask the agents name. When my thought processes began functioning again, I became angry.

Angry at myself, for one thing, because I felt like the lazy agent had potentially put me and my clients in harms way and I didn't have the common sense to stop it.

Angry at myself, again, for not questioning the couple more closely.

After I calmed my brain, I really started thinking about the potential for disaster. Agents who give out codes and do not accompany are putting all agents and buyers, as well as inspectors etc, at risk. What if they were squatters?

This home had notes all over-- 'Don't plug anything into this outlet.' 'Don't turn on this faucet.' The liability of giving a code out is enormous. I violated this as well since I let the couple in. I was WRONG. (Note-- the same thing happened two weeks ago and I did NOT let the non-client in. Why did I this time? Maybe I was hungry and not thinking straight.)

If they get a code and go unaccompanied, does that make them trespassers?

Not to mention, giving out codes is unethical and against MLS rules to boot!

I try to be very careful. I don't preview homes alone-- I always take my husband. We are very careful upon entering vacant homes. This time, there was the risk that reasonable care may not have been enough.

Merlin Entertainments Group, Owner of Legoland buys Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven FL!!

This is such fantastic news!!!!

It almost makes up for the desertion to Arizona of the Cleveland Indians. Almost, but not quite! Just ask my husband.

Cypress Gardens, opened in 1936, is the oldest theme park in Central FL. After Disney came and made it attractive for guests to go no further in FL than Lake Buena Vista, Cypress Gardens held on. In recent years, though, it saw it's niche deteriorate and finally closed abruptly in September of 2009.

Merlin Entertainments Group also owns Madame Tussauds wax museums as well as Legoland parks-- in fact, they are the second largest attractions company in the WORLD. Their purchase includes the Gardens AND the water park.

A press conference is scheduled for Thursday morning, January 21 to announce their plans for the park.

This is such big news for this area! Jobs are sorely needed and this will provide construction jobs as well as ongoing park jobs and other employment due to the increase in tourism.

An alternative to Disney-- and don't we all love alternatives?