Laura Shirley Highlands County Real Estate

Hey, lend me your coat! I am a native redneck Floridian and I'm telling you...it's COLD OUT THERE! We just aren't supposed to get weather like this. To make matters worse, we just had a freeze two weeks ago. As I drive around town listing and selling property, I see all the brown lawns and dead shrubs. This is Florida...we see are supposed to see GREEN! My find myself apologizing to clients from out of State because of the cold weather. Of course, it feels good to them! As I was showing property to clients from Tennessee yesterday, I was wrapped in my warm winter coat and they showed up in shorts! What is the deal here? I just want to be a bear in the winter and hibernate! I decided to write this blog today because it's too cold to do anything else. Besides that, I'm trying to thaw out my fingers by exercising them! I just can't wait to feel Spring in the air and fortunately for us...it's around the corner. I know I shouldn't be complaining and I feel so bad for the people up north, but it sure feels like North Pole weather here! Stay warm!

Laura Shirley

RE/MAX Realty Plus II

Lake Placid, FL

Okay, okay, okay...I guess we all have our first time, but I'm not kidding, it frightens me! My name is Laura Shirley and I am with RE/MAX Realty Plus in Lake Placid, Florida. We opened up our office in October 2005 just when the market was taking a dive. Instead of going out listing and selling during the boom, I was painting, scrubbing, cleaning and trying to get the office doors open. When we finally hung the neon and turned on the lights we thought, build it and they will come. Needless to say, I missed all the fun and excitement, not to mention the $$$!

I have only been selling real estate since November 2004 and wish I had been doing it my entire life! The experiences I have had and the people I have met have been so rewarding. For the first 25 or so years of my career (I must have started working as a baby) I was in the agriculture business (working in the citrus business)and loved it as well, but didn't have the opportunity to meet very many people. The citrus market was way down, so I decided to get my real estate license and I'm sure glad I did!

My office is in the small town of Lake Placid, Florida and if you haven't been here, you haven't lived! We are close to either coast and have one of the top rated bass fishing lakes in all of Florida. One of our nicknames is "Florida's Lake Country" because we are fortunate to have 29 beautiful lakes in our town. We are also the "Caladium Capitol of the World" and have an annual caladium festival in August. The caladium fields are blooming with color during that time and really a site to see. Approximately 20 years ago, couple moved into town and started the "Lake Placid Mural Society". I am proud to say that we have about 40 outdoor murals which tell the town's history. Each year, we have thousands of tourist walking the streets enjoying the murals. In March of every year Sebring (town north about 10-12 miles) hosts the "12 hours of Sebring" race.

We are just a small beautiful town with little crime, little traffic and little else to do but enjoy life! Come see for yourself!

Okay...how did I do?