my old blog

Today's Our Opinion section of The Tallahassee Democrat laments the cutting of the Wakulla Springs Lodge from the state budget. The park will stay open and the boat tours will continue, but the government will no longer support the Lodge that was built in 1937 and operates as a restaurant, gift s...

"45% of taxpayers won't pay any taxes this year either because they don't make enough money or they have claimed enough deductions ... on the other hand, 99.7% of people making over 1 million will pay taxes; a few super-wealthy will not pay taxes due to elaborate tax planning." Check out the arti...

I heard a loud noise after I went to bed last night and thought it was a neighbor's car door.  The banging continued and when I turned on the porch light, it  frightened  a large black bear away from the garbage can it had knocked over and into the woods.  I have to admit I was freaked out.  I ha...

Sellers sometimes decide to get an appraisal so they'll know what their house is worth before putting it  on the market. This isn't always the best option since an appraisal gives the impression that there is one "real" value and may set unrealistic expectations about what they'll actually get fo...

I recently heard about a FSBO ad in Craigslist that offered 1% to any Realtor who brought a buyer - it was called a finder's fee.  A mutual friend called to let me know about it in case I was interested.   In years gone by, these FSBOs had successfully sold two other houses on their own.  "They k...

Short sales aren't for every buyer.  If you have a great deal of patience and don't have a short timeline for moving, a short sale may be a good way to find a great deal on a home. Here are a few tips if you decide to consider a short sale: Understand the Short Sale Process Research Market Value ...

This chart gives an overview of the short sale process based on my experience in the last four years working with short sales.  The chart focuses on essential short sale tasks, not every step in the home selling process. The first two stages are primarily tasks for the listing agent to complete w...

From Mashable.com, here are 7 Simple ways to help Japan's earthquake victims  

My primary laptop died on Friday.  The repair rep had bad news, so I purchased a new one for just a few dollars more than it would cost to fix the old one.  It has taken me two half-days to get the new one set up to do everything the old one did.  Luckily, I had backed up files recently and had m...

An article in the NY Times today says that AARP is suing HUD regarding their unfair rule changes in reverse mortgages (RM). Surviving spouses are now facing foreclosure if their name wasn't on the note.   Even after careful research and going through the RM process, home owners may still not unde...