Wakulla Springs is just minutes from the heart of Tallahassee and a favorite spot for swimmers, nature lovers, and bird watchers!

I've been going to Wakulla Springs since I was a kid, and taken my kids many times over the years. Wakulla Springs is one of the largest fresh water springs in the world! Over 250 million gallons of water flows from the spring and travels over 9 miles down the Wakulla river to the Gulf of Mexico.

Take a look at the Interactive Exploration Map and you will see why this is such a prized possession of the Florida State Park system. Also at Wakulla Springs you will find the beautiful Wakulla Springs Lodge. The Wakulla Springs Lodge was built in 1937 by financier Edward Ball and is open year-round. It is a hotel, conference center with meeting rooms, a dining room, and is a quaint get-a-way, popular for weddings and romantic retreats. The gift shop features an old fashioned soda fountain bar and ice cream is served just like in the old days! Ole' Henry the log-jumping mullet can be seen from the glass bottom boats and the riverboat tours offer views of alligators, deer, osprey, eagles, and much more wildlife. Here's my photos of Wakulla springs, take a look! Pack a picnic and take the family out for a day on the river.. you won't regret it! If you miss it today,... there is always the Spring Swing on May 8th, 2010 from 7:30-9:30pm.

It's that time again! Every spring new things blossom in Tallahassee, including shiny, stately, spacious new construction homes.

Ever wonder what granite counter-tops would look like with dark maple cabinets, or a white kitchen with tile accents would look like? Do you want to know what a "green-built" home looks like or what features might be in an affordable family home in the NW, or NE?

In the Tallahassee Parade of Homes, there are homes ranging from $159,000 to $1.8 million. Want to envision your dream home? Want information on new construction costs and time-lines? Now is your chance to ask those questions and see the latest in building and design in these beautiful new homes.

The Tallahassee Builder's Association is holding the 2010 Tallahassee Parade of Homes May 8th-9th and 15th-16th. New construction homes and homes which have undergone major renovations will be featured on the tour. The public is invited to tour these homes.

In case you missed getting your copy of the Parade of Homes Guide, here it is just for you! Click the arrow along the right and flip through the pages of the magazine or blow up to full screen!

New construction is my specialty. If you have a plan in mind, and need a buildable lot, a builder referral, an interview for a builder that will work best with your family, give me a call today for a FREE consultation. I will guide you through the process of new construction right up to closing! contact me today for your custom home construction appointment. For all your real estate needs, Debbie Kirkland 850-212-0440

I've never had a problem talking... don't get me wrong. But researching the hows and whats and wheres of social media marketing had been a journey. IThe journey has lead me to the most fascinating women and minds in my business. The goal of social networking, to build relationships.. well.. consider the goal obtained and so much more!

I began the journey with Google.. who are the top in the industry.. then Facebook.. again, connecting not just to friends.. but starting with industry leaders. Examining each one with great involvement, reading their blogs, browsing their websites. Secondly.. I spent a lot of time on you tube... looking for tutorials on the "how tos" of real estate technology. then came Twitter. What started as an innocent few words blossomed into searches for those with similar interests. Some work involved,.. following their tweets, skipping through to their websites and company information, etc. I soon became familiar with how it all worked. I added Tweetdeck for management of the people I have in int erst in, and learned volumes in just days.

If you are wondering how social networking will bring your busineess also.. well add up all the advertising you do, by talking about your business, This past week, I had not one, not two, ,but three customers come to me via Twitter. All three viable candidates for real estate purchases and sales.

The biggest surprise, meeting other real estate twitterers, engaging in conversation, many into the late night or early morning hours. Women who "get it". Smart, intelligent and caring women with a desire to have fun, throw around ideas and suggestions to me, and other professionals but with as much "color" as the newest 244 box of Crayola crayons. Before you know it.. there was the creation of the #twitterqueens.

How honored I am to be included, and can not wait to see these ladies in real lilfe... coming soon, God willing and a few more sales under my belt.

If you are not involved,.. you need to jump right in. Research or ask the best in your industry.

See me @FloridaSunSales or the other Twitterqueens at http://twittwerqueens.net !

Picking Up Speed in the Real Estate Market

Despite the ominous gloom and doom portrayed by the media, there is still a movement of real estate across the country. With job transfers, life changes, and the quest for the uncharted path in life comes the need for housing.

Historically, there are eerie similarities that seem to have been repeated. People compare our market to the Great Depression. The facts are failing interest only loans issued preceding and during the Great Depression were replaced with fixed rate mortgages which became the norm until the early 2000's. Economists warned government officials in years preceding 1921 of the impending issues that failing capitalism would bring. The educators and intellectuals of that era leaned toward socialism and ignored the warnings of the economists. Sound familiar?

Those who made money during the depression of 1921 were those who continued to build their wealth, to provide goods and services that people depended on such as household goods and housing. Investment groups were born as people pooled their hard earned savings to acquire housing and income producing properties. Landlords became popular. Seller financing increased and in most cases it created win-win scenarios for home-owners and property owners. Today, we are getting back to the basics, we are getting creative, and we are selling homes and real estate. What seems so new, is not so new!

The good news is, there is still affordable housing. There are homes for sale that are NOT short sales or foreclosures, that can be bought for reasonable prices. Can you expect a homeowner who has cared for their home, maintained their home and responsibly acquired equity in their home to give this home away for prices comparable to those who have not - the short sales and foreclosures? This is not true comparison shopping. If you are shopping for bargain basement properties, go to that market, if you are shopping for quality and value shop in that market. There is a huge difference in the distressed sale and non-distressed sale and their expected closing times. Be specific with your Realtor and be realistic in your expectations of time involved to acquire your property.

The nuts and bolts of the market are this... it's a great time to buy, it's still a good time to sell and realize a reasonable profit if you are not over-extended or credit-challenged and have gained steady equity during your period of ownership. If you have not, that is where a Realtor can help you get creative and explore your options for selling and purchasing.

REPORTS ARE IN FOR FEBRUARY AND THE NEWS IS GREAT!

"The Tallahassee Board of Realtors (Leon County) reports an
increase in their pending sales both from a year ago and from January 2008.
Today, the pending home sales in Leon County are 410 compared to 325 in
January 2008, an increase of 26 percent. A year ago, pending home sales in
Leon County was 283. " (an increase of 45% )

I mentioned in my last Blog,.. Tallahassee is unique. As a member of the local Board of Realtors, I have seen a resurgence of "joint business strategies". Realtors who lived through the late 80's and early 90's are communicating, learning from each other and it has proven valuable to new and older agents alike. Our market is surviving and I really feel our community owes it to Realtors working together to find solutions for buyers and sellers, and each other. It's a good time to get to know your fellow agents!

Let's have lunch!