Carol Zingone, Beaches Expert, Northeast FL

I've lived in the beaches area of Jacksonville, FL for the past 20+ years, and have seen the redevelopment of several areas, maximizing their locations and consumer friendliness. I have first hand witnessed some of these changes, and for the most part, they have been positive changes.

One of the items the voters of Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach and Jacksonville Beach voted on a few years ago was a building height limit to keep the coastline looking like it did: not dotted with a myriad of high rise condos. It was really targeting residential, and defined several Central Business Districts.

Now, someone is proposing a modification of these building height limits, as they prevent businesses from coming and building at the Beaches - really? We have new businesses coming in daily. They move into existing space, and convert it to their needs. Not to mention, ahem: we have limited vacant land at any of the beaches! AND, parking is already tight, so any new projects, or modifications, will have to address parking issues.

Recent additions include:

• Atlantic Beach: M Shack Restaurant & Royal Palm Villlage Wine, Boom Shaka Laka Food Shack (all existing construction)
• Neptune Beach: Mario's Italian, Smashburger, Publix, Hurricane's Wings, Publix, TCBY (all new construction except for Mario's)
• Jacksonville Beach: 33 (apparel store), Sway (restaurant/bar)

Additionally, in the works are a Denny's and The Metro Diner, both of which are moving into existing spaces.

All of the buildings these businesses moved into are currently conforming to the building height limits, so it was not an issue to them.

I'm in support of the voting population. Why can't we work with what we have, rather than go against the voting public? Or, how about proposing a variance for a specific project, rather than ANOTHER building height limit vote?

You can read the full article here.

I took on a challenging listing earlier this year, with the conviction that I could, of course get it done, and look like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat.

Oh, boy. Here is the abbreviated back story:

• My seller purchased a condo at the beach on the courthouse website for $8000.
• This was an association foreclosure, subject to the first lien.
• My seller didn't really know what he had just done.
• The first lien is for $220K roughly.
• The lender has started foreclosure proceedings against the absentee note holder who abandoned the property (and took all the appliances and surprisingly, the bath vanities from both baths).
• Locating the absentee note holder was an adventure itself, requiring Dog the Bounty Hunter (not really, but much more colorful).
• Absentee note holder has been through bankruptcy and discharged of all debt (as explained to me, I'm not an attorney)
• We can't start a short sale without the absentee note holder's info (social security number, loan number, all necessary docs for the standard short sale process.)
• All conversations with the absentee note holder's bankruptcy attorney, and their communiques with their client have yielded nada, zip, zilch.

We are now on our 3rd offer, the first two walked, and then, wonder of wonders, the first buyer came back. Again.

I've just emailed everyone the executed contract, and am considering sending it to the law firm who is pursuing a foreclosure for the benefit of the first lien holder.

Tell me, O Wise Ones on AR, what would you do with this NOW? !

Two of my friends jumped from a perfectly good airplane yesterday as a fundraiser for the 26.2 with Donna to Finish Breast Cancer.

I watched from the ground (not really into jumping out of airplanes am I), and I have to say it was absolutely amazing to watch (once again, from the ground).

This is what the luxurious G6 looked like:

 Janice getting harnessed up:

And here is a video of the jump:

I managed to get up to Pete's Bar yesterday, Neptune Beach, FL for the annual street celebration - Neptune Beach suspends their open container law, and you can purchase beverages at Sun Dog Diner, Pete's, Carribbe Key, and Lemon Bar.

Needless to say, with fabulous weather, there is no better way to start your Thanksgiving Day!

Turkey Man - some people get dressed for the occasion.

Love this hat! Need to get one for next year!

There are 5 kids in that car...not sure if they are related to the owners/drivers???

And, this is the BEST oceanfront way to start your Turkey Day!

Hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving!

Here are the 2011 stats and 2010 for comparison -

2011

• 15 Homes Sold (September=15)
• Lowest price: $34,900 (September =$55,000)
• Highest price: $1,250,000 (September =$595,000)
• Shortest Days on Market: 5 (September =1)
• Longest Days on Market: 523 (September =379)

2010

• 16 homes sold (September =18)
• Lowest price: $66,000 (September =$32,100)
• Highest price: $900,000 (September =$545,000)
• Shortest Days on Market: 3 (September =2)
• Longest Days on Market: 259 (September =208)

Sales are flat month over month, and year over year, so the that’s good news. The lowest end of the market is down both month over month and year over year, which is disheartening to say the least. The high end of the market is up, which indicates the existence of either jumbo loan buyers, or deep pocket buyers, which is a good thing. Days on market is flat on the short side, but up somewhat (understatement) on the high side. mirroring both Jacksonville & Neptune Beach. Look at lowest price sold, and the increases year over year; combined with manageable inventory, this is an indicator of a recovering real estate market.

Atlantic Beach is the northernmost of our beaches communities here in the Jacksonville Beaches area, and many residents enjoy the pedestrian feel of the town, with Town Center’s restaurants and shops so close by.

Properly priced and properly presented properties are STILL selling – currently, the Jacksonville area has 9.70 months of inventory (housing supply), right now and homes can and do sell in very few days on market. Atlantic Beach has 8.13 months of inventory as I write this post.

If you are ready to list your home, call me for a comparable market analysis to see what price range you should list in, and to learn more about what sets myself and Prudential Network Realty apart from the competition. Our home sales in our Atlantic Beach office are up 26% comparing 2010 to 2009, so we know how to sell homes.

If you or someone you know is considering a short sale, please have them contact me for a no-obligation confidential interview about their current situation and how best for them to move forward. I hold the Certified Distressed Property Expert, and am one of a mere 18,000 who do so – I can help salvage their credit, and their financial future.