Suzi Gravenstuk, REALTOR®, Broker

If you visit soon, be sure and bring your umbrella and/or rain slicker. We are having lots and lots of rain. As always, we must end with being grateful. SO, thank goodness for the rain because the dry parched look will soon be thing of the past.

This past weekend we had South of I-10 open houses that came off extremely well inspite of rain. The interesting thing about CAL Group open houses is that people are now stopping at any open house to get the scoop on any property. This is particularly useful for those who work all week and can't even find the time to get with pepole like me who will work beyond standard hours to get someone in CAL home.

Tonight, we have a rent to own seminar at the Hard Rock Casino, 7PM, upper level, in the Vibe room. This is an excellent time to stop in with questions about buying. If you are not sure how the $8000 tax credit works on outright purchases, this will also be explained.

March 28th and 29th is the Avondale Community Open House and Block Party . We will have Biloxi Bounce House both Saturday and Sunday, and refreshments. This is also a good time to understand the link between being a CAL Tenant in order to become a CAL home owner.

After taking exit 42B (I-110 North), You pass the Walmart shopping center. You are still on 67/15. About 4 miles North you will see the above sign. then you will drive about a mile. You will come to the intersection of Lamey Bridge and will see a convenience store on the right. Keep going or stop at the convenience store and say "Howdy" to the friendly people who run this store, or fill up with gas and tell them that Suzi from the CAL group sent you. About a mile past the convenience store you will see this sign on the right. That means you should prepare to turn left because you are at Avondale. We have several 3 bed/2ba duplex homes available as well as the townhome 2 bed 1 and 1/2 bath style. Please excuse the look of the community right now as we are still in the builing stage for part of community.

The Avondale Community is considered North Biloxi though students attend all D'Iberville schools. The electric is with Coast Electric and water is D'Iberville Water. Expect energy efficiency in these newly built homes with brand new energy efficient appliances!

Did I mention the Harrison County Bus picks up and drops off? I would say that is one of the best advantages of semi-rural living.

More later, thanks for stopping by. Feel free to drop me a direct note at suzi.gravenstuk@calinvestmentsllc.com. Please double copy to suzi@msgoal.com .

Well, its almost 10PM and I haven't treated myself to a blog yet. I need to do that. It helps keep me centered.

My thoughts have been so much on Avondale lately--and I'm living and breathing our first Community Centered Open House (Saturday March 28th and Sunday March 29th). So, today after working in the community for awhile, I was able to watch the Harrison County bus driver deliver students, parents were coming out.

I was treated to several chats--mostly one way. I had a little too much coffee and was excitedly telling residents about the coming community open. All of them patiently listened to my vision of "community".

I explained that all residents were invited. We have planned for Biloxi Bounce House to be on site both days. Part of each day we will have a radio remote. I discussed the idea of maybe having a DJ and Karaoke. Eyes lit up on that idea.

...One little problema, I have almost maxed out my $4000 budget. There's got to be a way to do this...because we want to have an adult hoola hoop contest with D'Iberville student judges. The residents and I discussed adding Croquet and horseshoes. I explained to them the idea of having visitors park and walk around the circle and they were welcome to invite any non-profit group they know to set up a table in the drive of one of our vacant and ready homes.

One set of parents seemed very happy with the idea of their children setting up a lemonade stand in their drive. I discussed how it would be a good way for them to reinforce counting money and serving customers.

I shared how I hoped to have ambassadors from the Boys Club/Girls Club, YMCA, and Scouts show up to give information about their programs. BEcause--the more positive influence we can bring into a community; the less room for negative influences.

I'm just missing a few things to feel secure about a great Community Open House. I would like to offer some prizes for best hoola,horesehoe, etc. And I need some sponsors for Flier Ambassadors, and Bounce House Monitors. I am sure I will be far too busy showing homes and writing contracts to actually manage these things during the Open House...hmmm, who could I turn to with CAL putting up $4000 and me contributing work wayyy past overtime?

What else? Maybe a scavenger hunt with clues at each vacant and ready home?

Some people may say, "Will all of this overshadow the Open House?"

Well, I don't think so. The underlying intent is to get more local folks talking about the community in a positive way. People will come who ARE looking for good home in an inviting community. Attenders will remember us when they run into someone they know that needs a safe, friendly community in our area. I am looking for short term gratification spiced by long term gratification and referrals.

Until next time. Suzi

PS: Why would be so conscientious about introducing current residents to the Open House Community concept? Because--Cal gives a $100 rent credit if a referrel of theirs moves in.

What could be interesting about my team mates' Open House in communities other than the one I adopted?

• I can observe
• I can note their mistakes and not make the same ones myself (I'm kidding:-)

Okay, the interesting, awesome, cool thing about CAL Group promotions is that when we are promoting one area, prospects always turn up for another area. For example...This weekend we are celebrating the communities of: Grand Lido, Tropical Cove and Foxwood (Gulfport, MS). I will be happy to attend, work, show, listen, and educate--because some of these folks don't know it yet, but the new Community of Avondale (North Biloxi, MS)will be perfect for them.

Along the same thought, I am currently working on the Avondale Community Open to be running Saturday, March 28th and Sunday, March 29th, 10AM to 4 or 5 PM. Some visitors to the Avondale Community Open will actually fit better in a different community because of work locations, other family locations, etc

...Thankfully, with the CAL Group, I no longer micro-manage everything. I have people! :-) That is a very good thing because I feel the Avondale Community Open House taking on a life of its own. At this stage, I am pleased to have Vickie to consult with. Vickie is the nuts and bolts advertising production ultra creative person. She already has a knack of redirecting my focus when I stray too far.

The theme chose itself. Avondale students attend D'Iberville Schools. To make the most of advertising--why not let some non-profits benefit from the advertising? So, we are inviting student groups and clubs to offer fund raising activities such as bake sales, lemonade stand, maybe some games. In turn, I am sure they will bring us a bit of traffic that we would not reach through media. I think we are even going to have a moon bounce, and karaoke. (That should be fun along with the rock radio remote...)

All this fun you say; but what about showing homes? Well, if we have lots of kids having fun, even a few kids having fun--who is going to bring them and what are they going to do? Yep. Parents, or other responsible adult. Well, maybe the parents are not really looking for a community to move to. What good will this do, then? The parents will be informed. Kids and parents will be a source of information and will remember us at the right time.

The theme shaping up in my brain--IS education. A couple of reasons why:

1. The CAL Group is a company that believes in teaching what we know, educating those who seek it. Hence, the seminars that are frequently scheduled.
2. The above reason--celebrating D'Iberville schools.
3. My reason: I have discovered that sometimes because we know about a topic or issue, we assume others know the same thing. Well, guess what? I have discovered a world of consumer confusion regarding SRAP qualifications and Section 8.

So, MS Vickie--This is the theme for the Avondale Community Open. ...We have a lot of work to do. I better turn in.

PS: We encourage networking at our Community Opens.

Photos below are from a family outing on a Sunday without Open House:-)

More later,

I hear there is an Rent to Own seminar tonight. The location is the Hard Rock Casino, near the Beau Rivage on Beach Boulevard.

The seminar begins at 7PM. The first 30 people get a coupon for a buffet for 2. Expect unbelievably lucky move in specials. Click

below for the link to CAl Investments, CAl Realty Group, CAL, CAL, CAL.

Make it a date. 7:00, Hard Rock Casino. Tell them Suzi invited you.

Get More Information!

*Report by Suzi Gravenstuk, using research privileges of membership in the Gulf Coast MLS. This information is not a copy/paste. As MLS information is a collection of entries from many people, accuracy is not guaranteed. Also, keep in mind that a large groups of properties never touches the MLS figures (for sale by owners and new home builders that are not members of the MLS). Please contact me directly if you want a specific area researched, and/or photos taken of a neighborhood or specific property.

The Gulf Coast MLS active single family homes (homes for sale) for Gulfport as of January 25th, 2009 breaks down as follows:

Avail: SW Gulfport=80, SE Gulfport=288, N. Gulfport=405

Last 30 day Closings: SW Gulfport=3, SE Gulfport=5, N. Gulfport=28

Taking a closer look at SW Gulfport (because I have a listing in Original Gulfport--3214 12th St.)

The occupancy of the available homes in SW Gulfport breaks down as: 36 vacant, Owner Occupied, 11 Short term Tenant and 4 Long Term Tenant Occupied.

The lowest priced home is a 3 bed 894 sf for $18, 900 (Guttted and ready for rehab).

The high is $379,900. A Gorgeous 5 bedroom, 3 bath 3400 square foot home with in ground pool and hot tub.

3 Homes Sold in the last 30 days. All were cash closings.

*890 square foot, 2bedroom, original list: $29, 900 Close Price: $29,000 DOM: 88. Pend to Close: 18 days

*1200 square foot, 3 bedroom. Original List: $90,000 for a term of close to 6 months, then expired. Relisted with a different firm 3 months later at $65,000. Almost 2 months later reduced to $50,000. Dom: 156 Pend to close: 48 days This home also had an agent note: No FHA or VA Buyers. (Did they expect problems making appraisal criteria?)

*The last home was a bit odd in history as it went pending 5 times. It may have been used as a rental during that time, and the number of pendings represent different tenants. It originally went on the market January 30th of 2008 at $77, 500. The listing page shows the list date as 12/01/08 at $69,900 with a DOM of 39 days (hmmmm). When a listing expires and is relisted under a new MLS #, DOM starts over. The Final sale price was $65, 000. Pend to close: 12/18/08 to 01/09/09, or 22 days

The odd history home was a very cute 2004, 1216 square foot, 3 bedroom 2 bath home

*If you need to sell your home, and, if you are determined to sell your home during this highly competitive time--I may be able to assist you. We won't know until we communicate.

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