PONTE VEDRA BEACH REAL ESTATE Terri Hattaway

At the end of December, 2008, the overall market in Ponte Vedra Beach North continued to decline, creating great investment opportunities.

Dec.2008 From Dec.'07 Year to Date

These statistics are from the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors, (NEFAR) and do not include private sales, or sales from non-members.

While Ponte Vedra Beach is a high end market, it has not been untouched by foreclosures due to aggressive condo investments and heavily financed homes. This provides a unique opportunity for potential home buyers who want to enjoy beautiful beaches, great golfing and beautiful northeast Florida climate.

On Sunday, January 18, in front of Jacksonville Beach City Hall, over 100 people waved Israeli flags and US flags, in support of peace in Israel.

"Self defense is not just a basic human right," explained Rabbi Nochum Kurinsky, "it is an obligation. We are here today to make sure people can hear the other side of the negative media coverage about Israel."

The sun was shining as people kibbutzed with old friends and made new friends. The Jacksonville Beach Police Department was out in full force to make sure the rally for peace went off without a hitch. The day before Martin Luther King Day, and two days before the presidential inauguration, it was a great day for flag waving.

News from the website of my friend Rabbi Nochum Kurinsky...

You are what you write. How Graphology can shape your life.

Chabad at The Beaches will host renowned Graphologist Yaakov Rosenthal. Mr. Rosenthal will return to the Chabad's Center for Jewish Life in Ponte Vedra January 13th at 7PM. Yaakov Rosenthal of New York, an increasingly popular international lecturer and renowned graphologist, will present a lecture titled"Discover the Real you... The Kabbalah of Handwriting"

For eighteen years, Mr. Yaakov Rosenthal has been helping people discover themselves through their handwriting. Renowned Psychologists, school guidance counselors and social workers use his services on a regular basis. He has been lecturing on the subject for over 13 years.

Yaakov Rosenthal learned under the world famous authority on Graphology - Felix Klein. Mr. Klein is the founder of the National Society of Graphology.

Graphology is the science of "reading" an individual's personality based on their handwriting. "People are enlightened with the absolute depth of graphology," says Rabbi Nochum Kurinsky Executive Director of Chabad @ the Beaches. "One session with a good Graphologist can accomplish more than many sessions with a social worker".

A proper analysis of one's writing reveals a host of personality and character traits that enable one to make important life choices. Handwriting Analysis is the scientific study of handwriting and is invaluable in determining the personality and character of the writer. It is a tool that is successfully being used by Human Resource Departments in hiring employees, psychologists to better understand their patients, school teachers and counselors to aid in a better student-teacher interaction, as well as medical and psychological diagnosis and criminal identification and questions of parole and rehabilitation.

Don't miss this rare opportunity to meet Yaakov Rosenthal in person. For additional information or to make reservation call (904) 543.9301 or visit www.chabadbeaches.com. Price $25. Early bird special, paid reservations by Jan. 10^th, $20.

I'm looking for my perfect seller. He or she is motivated to sell. Maybe a job transfer or a divorce. Or maybe the family is growing larger, or getting smaller. He has lots of equity and is certainly not facing foreclosure. She understands that the market prices continue to fall, but in her situation, the lost profits will be outweighed by the benefits of selling.

I'm looking for my perfect buyer. She has cash or is fully qualified and can close quickly. Why? Because without cash, a particular loan program can be here today and gone tomorrow. He is not an investor, desperate to time the market at the bottem. He wants a place to call home, and if the value goes down a smidge following the purchase, it's not the end of the world.

If you are my ideal seller, take heart. Your home will be competing with short sales and abandoned homes that are trashed and vandalized more often than you would believe. So you're not desperate and you won't be walking away from an over-mortgaged house. You don't have a rock bottom investment to offer. You have a well priced, cared for home. Will it sell quickly? Maybe, but probably not. You need to be patient. But don't be discouraged by all the bargain competition out there. Remember, you don't HAVE to sell.

If you are my ideal buyer, you've probably seen a lot of properties in horrible condition. Where are the nice homes? You'd rather pay a a few more dollars because you're not looking for a fixup. You're looking for a home. Well, many of the nice homes have been pulled off the market by discouraged sellers who have elected to wait out the market. But don't be discouraged. Your perfect seller with a nice home is waiting for you. And when you find each other, you won't have to wait weeks or months to find out whether the bank will "allow" the seller to accept your offer.

Think you're my perfect seller or my perfect buyer? Call me. We'll talk. Matchmaking can be hard work and it often takes time. But when a match is finally made?... Heaven!

Chabad at the Beaches sponsored its annual Grand Menorah lighting at the Hilton Garden Inn in Ponte Vedra Beach today. With Zahava's famous falafels and latkes, free crafts and face painting for the kids, it was the usual warm and welcoming family event that we have come to expect from Chabad.

The Menorah was lit by Hanaya Zrihen (bottom right), who designed and made the Menorah for Chabad at the Beaches. And as long as we have a minyan... might as well pray!

And check out Rabbi Kurinsky's cyber-sidder!

And what is Chanukah without a make it yourself menorah?

And Zahava's falafels and latkes?

And how about a serious game of dreidel?

Happy Chanukah to all who celebrate this festival of lights! Oh, and let me light my own menorah, now that it is dark.

May your year be filled with miracles and light!