Bonnie Barbieri, TRC, GRI, AHWD, CIPS CANDIDATE

I spoke with my coach yesterday and she told us that the Canadians are coming to Florida and quite a few are already here. She told us we needed to advertise in papers where they were vacationing. It isn't Spring Hill, Florida. Its the beaches, Clearwater, St. Pete, Treasure Island, etc, etc. So we took out a very expensive ad for Saturday and Sunday hoping to reach the vacationers who are thinking it feels mighty good basking in the warmth of the Florida sun instead of being home trying to keep warm.

The miserable winter this year has pushed a few people over the edge and they are finally ready to make the move. We have received e-mails and phone calls from people who have had it with the cold weather. I know about cold weather. I lived in Michigan for 3 years and I've never been so cold. It is miserable and for people who have gone through a really bad winter, you can't even imagine. I am from Texas and a bad winter for me was 5 days of weather in the 30's and 40's - maybe dipping into the 20's. Then it would gone and we had nice weather again. Constant cold and snow and ice were not something I was use to. So I can understand when someone calls and says I've had it, send me some listings. I'm ready to make the move.

We say "Welcome to anyone who wants to come make Florida their home whether its only for the winter or year round." You can play golf every day. You can go to the beach and watch the sunset. Its a wonderful place - this warm playland of ours.

Bonnie Barbieri - Remax Advantage - Spring Hill, FL
www.HomeInTheSunGroup.com

I am so tired of listening to the media spreading their doom and gloom. It is as if they really want us all to fail. I work for a local Remax office and our office is bustling. We are getting leads from people still wanting to move to Florida from all over the country.

I read in the paper this morning that we are getting a new Kohl's and in fact quite a few stores including a bookstore. We are possibly getting a Super Target. Companies do not move into dying areas! Hernando County is alive and well and Florida is still a place where people would like to live.

We have an election coming up on January 29 for the Presidential elections but also there is an Amendment to help with the property taxes. It is not my first choice on how to handle it but its a first step. If passed, it will allow homeowners to carry their current tax bill with them instead of having a much larger bill if they buy a new home. This will hopefully stimulate buying.

People coming from the north aren't to shocked or upset by our taxes as they were paying much more. The weather is in the 70's today and no sign of snow!

So when you hear the doom and gloom that Florida is sinking into the sunset, don't listen to them. Hernando County (north of Tampa) is alive and well and we intend to stay that way.

When you mention Spring Hill, Florida, people look at me with this blank stare. No one seems to know where Spring Hill is located. That's not unreasonable. We are not a town, city or incorporated. We are a subdivision! Now this was really strange. But back in the day, Deltona Corporation was flying people here from Long Island and New Jersey to view property in this new retirement area, Spring Hill. There are still a lot of little Deltona homes in the area. As times changed, so did Spring Hill. We are now a bustling part of Hernando County. We are 45 minutes north of Tampa. We have easy access to Tampa via the Suncoast Parkway. We have some lovely subdivisions like Pristine Place, Silverthorn, Sterling Hills, Avalon, Woodland Waters, The Waters, Seven Hills and many more. We are neighbors to Weeki Wachee where the Mermaids swim every spring and summer. Weeki Wachee Springs has been in operation for about 25 years. Where there was nothing here, the mermaids would swim in the springs and people came from all over just to see the shows. The park is a little run down now and there is a fight with the county on who is going to take it over and run it. '

Brooksville is the other town (real town) in Hernando County. This is the area where all the new restaurants, and shopping is coming in. Hernando County has 3 super Wal-Marts and a Sam's. How many more do we need - true they wanted to build another one but they backed down when people who lived in the area protested.

I heard we are getting a Kohl's and a Super Target. They have already broken ground for a new J.C. Penneys and some other stores. We have a Carrabasas, Rita's, and Panera Bread. Things have changed dramatically since I've been here just 3 years.

People are still moving to Florida and they are moving to the West Coast (we are Florida's Nature Coast). We have a lot of wildlife and not many beaches. We do have waterfront property and its still the best value on the water. We have lots of golf course communities and 55+ gated communities. We have large lots with new homes on lime stone roads and of course the mobile home communities.

If you are ever in the area, stop by and say hi. You might just decide to want to live here.