Julia & Matt Fishel, Real Estate YOUR Way in Tampa Bay by

Disney World, sure; Busch Gardens, of course -- classic family vacations. But if you're a baseball fan, Florida is truly your destination! What could be better than visiting Florida in March and catching a couple of games in a smaller venue where the tickets are affordable and the weather is a balmy 75 degrees?

Even the beautiful Dunedin Florida homes take a back seat when the Toronto Blue Jays fly in! They've actually called Dunedin their spring training home for over 25 years. But no matter who you root for, you can come to Florida to see your team and actually get autographed baseballs without paying to get them signed at a baseball convention or not getting them signed at all at a major league park! Speaking of major league parks, while baseball isn't considered a contact sport, home plate umpire Kerwin Danley can tell another story after getting hit in the head by a broken bat during Tuesday's game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Texas Rangers. Good, bad, and shattered bats...baseball is back!

And of course, while Florida is the Spring Training home to all of the beloved baseball teams; Floridians are even more excited for the 2009 season because our very own "worst to first" Tampa Bay Rays who finished the 2008 season topping the American League East are starting out much the same this season. We're not worried, we've got a while before the Fall Classic!

There are little hills in Florida! The Eniswood subdivision is a beautiful tree-lined neighborhood in West Palm Harbor just northwest of Alt. 19 and Alderman Road. Eniswood is a deed restricted neighborhood with a voluntary Eniswood homeowner's association which costs only $100 a year if you elect to participate. Most but not all of the homes are 1-story and are 2,300 sq. ft. to just over 5,000 sq. ft.

This ideal family neighborhood features spacious lots and some even provide Eniswood Lake (really more of a large pond) or conservation views. These homes built in the 1980's feature vaulted ceilings, split floor plans and have a spacious feel to them. Many offer fireplaces for those occasional cool Florida evenings. Many have been updated with new kitchens and baths. You can invest in a home here between the high $200's to the mid-$500's.

The highly acclaimed Palm Harbor University High is a short walk from Eniswood, and it's just a few blocks from The Pinellas Trail and Wall Springs Park. As of this writing, a new Publix grocery store is being built in the small shopping center that borders the neighborhood. Of course, Pinellas Beaches are only a few minutes drive away - including the famed Honeymoon Island and Caladessi Island. If a manicured family neighborhood is what you're after with an ideal Palm Harbor location, Eniswood is the place to call home.

Call your Palm Harbor Realtors, Julia and Matt Fishel, at Suncoast Partners at Keller Williams Realty Palm Harbor @ (727)366-0325 for current offerings.

What are you afraid of? Overpaying for your Pinellas home while being wham-blasted with negative news about the economy and the housing market? Or perhaps secrets horrifically and seemingly worse? OK. I'll go first.

I am dreadfully frightened of:

1. Public Speaking
2. Snakes
3. Having to work for someone else (translation: fear of failing with our real estate business - which, by the way, is the opposite of reality, but a fear nonetheless)
4. Slugs, snails and leeches (they belong in the same category, don't you think?)

In these times, more than ever, it's easy to venture into the realm of being fearful. Yet, I think we all now, more than ever, must encourage our friends and neighbors to not only to survive these times but to thrive within them. We're fortunate, we have family (note: not colleagues or friends) at Keller Williams Realty Palm Harbor that have helped our successes and continue to propel us forward. We give back, yet are at a point where it's our duty and honor to do so more.

How do we conquer fear and catapult into the realm of fabulous? I'm not quite sure, but after 43 years I think I might be on to something. I've been pushing the limits of my comfort zone. I invite you to stick your toes in the WATER OF FEAR, just to test the temperature. In the last 30 days I:

1. Chopped a 1' square, 1" thick piece of plywood in half with my bare hands (see picture above) - in front of 50 people.
2. Watched an entire show on Animal Planet about slithering snakes with my son.
3. Have pushed myself, more than ever, with my routine of doing the thing I like to do least (lead generation), first thing in the day, and track my results.
4. Public Speaking: As a newly appointed member of the ALC - Agent Leadership Council - in our Keller Williams Realty Palm Harbor office - I, with my dear friend Patty Neri, had to speak for a mere couple of minutes in front of a group of about 45 (which felt like 45,000). Five minutes before speaking, my face was heating up, my was heart racing, and had that same 'Oh my gosh I'm going to VOMIT' feeling just like when doing oral reports in 9th grade history class and again in college. Oh my!

Many of you are laughing about #4 and public speaking. Maybe some of you can relate? In retrospect, I managed to not throw up, my voice only cracked a few times, and I only stammered once or twice. Afterward, I made my way to the water cooler and my hands were still shaking. It's all a blur now. My stomach churns just thinking about it. Yet, somehow, the next time it think it might be just a bit easier. Afterward, more than ever before, I knew that everything was possible - if we just dare to try.

What's my point? It's summed up in a quote from an old book we started reading as part of a book club in our office (the brainchild of the amazing Ken Rossi) - Feel The Fear and Do It Anyway. I'm paraphrasing here, but it's this:

At the end of the day, I'd rather have said that I'm glad I tried or did than I wish I had.

How many of you have tested your fears? For those of you that have, what have been your experiences? Maybe it all just comes down to not overly analyzing whatever it is that scares us the most and just getting out there and facing it head on?

We can't control Wall Street, but maybe it's time to dip our toes in the waters of our inner fears - those fears that we actually CAN control?

Some of you now, are fearful of buying a Pinellas home in our current market. That, I can share with you, with full-hearted enthusiasm - is nothing to be afraid of! It's perhaps the best time in history to buy your Dunedin home! There are concrete facts to back that statement up if it's a concern. If you're scared and have doubts about investing now, I invite you to post your comments and chat about them. It's o.k. to just dip your toe in.

After all, talking about buying real estate, within the type of market when historically millionaires are made, is a lot better than stepping on a snail in your bare feet (been there, done that).

Indian Bluff Island is Palm Harbor's best kept secret neighborhood. Most Palm Harbor residents have never even heard of Indian Bluff (the residents refer to it as IBI), and that includes many folks that have lived in Palm Harbor for years. Indian Bluff is a secluded neighborhood north of Alderman Road, West off of DeSoto Avenue and then West on Oceanview (the causeway to the island), just south of Wall Springs Park. Most of the homes are either on the Gulf of Mexico or on canals with easy access to the gulf. The more luxurious homes are well appointed and stunning in their own right, and feature luxurious finishes.

Many classify IBI as prestigious and exclusive, as there are many $1M+ estates on the gulf. Yet part of the charm of the island is that there are still many of the original ranch homes here, and so it's certainly got an eclectic and sometimes funky flair to it. Homes here were built anywhere from 1957 to 2008, are anywhere from 1 to 4 stores, and include many architectural styles. Most of the waterfront homes include docks, boat lifts, davits, etc. and the gulf-front homes feature unsurpassed gulf views.

Perhaps the best part of Indian Bluff living is that everyone on the island knows each other. There are the annual Christmas, Easter and Halloween events for the children, hosted on a rotating basis amongst the residents who choose to participate (and most do). Then there's the annual Indian Bluff Island Summer Slam and Fishing Tournament, with a roaring barbecue with live music in recent years. All proceeds go to support local charities. IBI is a non-deed restricted neighborhood and there's a voluntary $35 per year homeowners association.

Originally, Indian Bluff was a separate island from the mainland. In 1914, Robert Guase paid $27.93 for the entire island, as homesteading records show. It wasn't until 1957 that the causeway was built and the island was subdivided into lots and modern home development began. Sadly, there were discussions about building a community boat ramp, but they never came to fruition. However, nearby there are numerous nearby public and private boat ramps for those residents not on the water.

The Pinellas trail meets the end of the short causeway to the island, and Wall Springs Park is a block to the north. Wall Springs features playgrounds, fishing docks, trails and picnic areas. Just across the street is the renowned Innisbrook Golf Resort. There's plenty of shopping, restaurants, museums and recreational activities in the area, and major sporting events and Tampa Bay cultural activities are a short drive away. The Pinellas County schools serving the Island are highly acclaimed. The school bus picks and drops of kids at the end of the causeway, and, to make Island living just that much sweeter, a very special island resident has lovingly sat at the bus stop supervising the kids each day for more years than any of us can remember.

Contact us here or give us a call at (727)366-0324 to schedule a tour or receive the latest offerings on Indian Bluff Island.

The #1 question on the minds of those thinking of buying a Dunedin home or a Palm Harbor home is "When will we hit bottom?". Timing the real estate market is no easier than trying to time the stock market. This graph illustrates this point.

We recently reviewed the benefits to buying a Pinellas home now. Pinellas real estate over the long term has always historically appreciated, n0t to mention there are many tax saving and intangible emotional benefits to home ownership. And whoa ..... interest rates are ridiculously low. If you're a first time homebuyer looking for an FHA loan, you've got critical timing issues to consider that can affect your wallet.

Now is the time to be investing in Pinellas real estate, because by time the bottom has been officially announced in the St. Pete Times, it will be staring at us in the rear view mirror.