Risk of enjoying excellent Tex-Mex food and an abundance of hot sauces, that is.... Even though I am a life-long Central Florida resident, I often wonder if I have some Texan or Mexican blood in my body, because every so often, I get a craving for Tex-Mex food that just won't relent until I visit one of the local Tijuana Flats locations. The Lake Mary Tijuana Flats is one of my favorites. Maybe because it's close to home AND to work, which makes it quite convenient when I get one of my famous "urges!"       In reading the story of how Tijuana got started, I am reminded that the owner, Brian Wheeler (a fellow UCF and UF fan) is the same age I am...which is pretty impressive if you think about it! Brian started Tijuana in 1995 in a small store-front location near the University of Central... 08/11/2008

I'm so excited. Today, I received my first email that specifically cited my A|R site: "LaShawn,I just had to drop a quick note to say hello. While looking for a fresh image to use as my desktop wallpaper the other day I came across a Smurfs background. It wasn't a great picture, but it made me nostalgic so I decided to do a Google Image search for Smurfs. Imagine my surprise when a photo of the Lake Mary High School sign showed up in the results.  That image was, of course, the one you posted in your blog about your reunion invitation. I graduated in 1989, and have already received an invitation for our reunion next July. I enjoyed reading your reunion post and thinking back to the days when LMHS was my stomping ground, when "The Breakfast Club" felt like a documentary, and when the ide... 08/11/2008

This Thursday, August 14th,  make sure you don't miss Movie in The Park in Lake Mary!  This month's feature is "Shrek The Third" in 3D.  Lake Mary will be providing the 3D glasses for your viewing pleasure, just bring your popcorn and a comfortable chair. Lake Mary - Movie In The Park is a free event for all area residents and everyone enjoys a movie under stars.  The all star cast makes this movie a real winner and if you haven't seen it, now is your chance. The film is shown in the park at Lake Mary City Hall located on the Northwest corner of Lake Mary Boulevard and Country Club Road.  The movie begins at dusk...  Between 8 and 8:30 pm depending on the conditions.  Bring your  snacks, popcorn and a comfortable chair.  It's free!    Licensed Real Estate Professional, ALHS, e-PRO @ 40... 08/11/2008

Join us for an Open House from Noon to 3 pm on Sunday, August 10th...  239 S. Country Road in Lake Mary, just South of Lake Mary Boulevard in the Heart of Lake Mary.    New Price - $225,000! 239 S. Country Club Rd., Lake Mary, FL 32746 View Map They don't build them like this anymore. Well built 3 bedroom / 2 bath home on large corner lot in the heart of Lake Mary. Fantastic home in great condition. It may have been built in the 50's but it is ready to accommodate the lifestyle of today's buyer. Clean, light and bright... This home sits on over 1/3 acre in one of the best school districts in Central Florida. Located within walking distance to Lake Mary Elementary and a few minutes drive from Lake Mary's restaurants, shopping centers and recreational areas. Lake Mary was recently voted t... 08/09/2008

My husband often questions the real reason I work. I say it's because I love what I do and he says it's so that I can book more massages. Honestly, I do love what I do....but I love my massages too! Some might call me a "massage" snob, as anytime I get a massage from anyone other than my favorite therapist, Wendy Hopkins, I am always comparing them to her.  Personally, I like massages that almost hurt...you know those deep tissue massages that really do loosen up your muscles and take a few days to recover from? Wendy has an incredible technique and is very intuitive...which is why I think she's the best massage therapist in Lake Mary! If deep tissue isn't your idea of relaxation, not to worry, Wendy is completely trained and offers other types of massages as well! Wendy works at Salon ... 08/08/2008

Master Planned Communities such as Lake Mary's "Heathrow" have plenty of options for housing. Heathrow is considered one of the most desirable communities to live, work and play! Situated just west of I-4 off of Lake Mary Blvd. is the 2000+ acre community. Developed in the 1990's and later, Heathrow has quickly become a desireable address by many locals and those relocating from outside of Florida. Some of the reasons for Heathrow's popularity are: Variety of Housing Options: There are condos, villas, single family homes and large estates within the community. Having options makes it appealing to many...especially those who might have other family members or friends who want to live nearby. I know of several families who live in larger single family homes within the community who have p... 08/04/2008

What's selling in Lake Mary? 16 homes sold during the week of July 27 - August 2, 2008 in Lake Mary, Florida.  Heathrow leads the way again this week with 6 sales, including the most expensive home located in Heathrow Woods that was listed for $2,250,000 and sold for $2,200,000. Heathrow Woods is a gated community that is outside of Heathrow on the West side of Markham Woods Road.  Heathrow Woods features estate homes on over an acre starting in the $700's. The least expensive  Condominium sold this week was in Regency Park at Lake Mary for $110,000 and the least expensive home was in The Crossings for $209,900.   Quick Market Facts:   Sold Neighborhood Street Address Living Area Beds/Baths Pool $ 110,000 Regency Park at Lake Mary 2548 Grassy Point 1,100 3 / 2 C $ 209.900 The Crossings ... 08/04/2008

Seminole County's slogan is "Seminole County... The Natural Choice"   Along with nature comes wildlife and there is a lot of wildlife here, from the deer that roam along the Wekiva Preserve to the Sandhill Cranes that fly overhead, the abundant wildlife is all around us. I was driving down Lake Emma Road in Lake Mary this past week when I saw everyone on the roadway coming to a stop ahead of me.  I was worried that there had been an accident, but I saw a man was in the middle of the road reaching down to grab something.  As I came to a stop I could see that he was picking up a turtle that had made its way into traffic.  In our faced paced world someone stopping traffic would usually result in honking or words being exchanged for that moment of inconvenience. Not this time, other drivers... 08/03/2008

This is the Magnolia Plantation Market Update.  Magnolia Plantation is a guard gated, golf community in Lake Mary (North of Lake Mary Blvd. and West of Markham Woods Road).  This community of 500 homes is next to the Wekiva Preserve and features luxury homes starting in the mid $400's to over $1 million, with homesites that feature waterfront, conservation and golf course views, Magnolia Plantation continues to be one of the favorite of all the Lake Mary addresses.  Neighborhood Facts:     For Sale Under Contract Homes Sold July ‘08 28 5 1 June ‘08 27 5 4 May ‘08 32 6 8 April ‘08 31 6 0 March ‘08 39 3 2 February ‘08 35 3 2 January ‘08 31 2 4     July Sales Details: Sold Price Address List Price Living Area Beds / Baths / Pool Days On Market $ 566,000 1710 Shadowmoss Circle $589,000 2,74... 08/02/2008

Welcome to the Lake Mary Market Update for July 2008.  The statistics for Lake Mary include the zip code of 32746, which also includes Heathrow, Florida.  Lake Mary was voted the #4 Place to Live by Money Magazine in 2007 and The #1 Place in the South.  Lake Mary is a popular "bedroom community" less than 20 miles North of Orlando and is home to the National Headquarters of AAA.  Seminole County's highly rated school system is also another reason that Lake Mary is a great place to live.           For Sale Under Contract Sold July ‘08 547 51 44 June ‘08 554 66 47 May ‘08 566 64 42 April ‘08 555 74 32 March ‘08 575 62 33 February ‘08 549 60 32 January ‘08 526 43 26 The average days on market for sold homes in Lake Mary for July 2008 was 166 days, a decline of 11 days from the month of Jun... 08/02/2008

Attention all Lake Mary and Seminole County residents: Colonial Town Park in Lake Mary is the place to be...and not just on Friday nights! Now, I'll admit, I'm a little biased...my RE/MAX Central Realty office is located in Colonial Town Park and I've had the opportunity to experience first-hand what a great place this is to work and play! Several times throughout the week, I am patronizing the local coffee shop, taking my family to the movies or dining in at least one or more of the Park's restaurants...and every time, we've had a great experience! Located just outside the North gate of Heathrow, Colonial Town Park offers a variety of dining venues. For a quick bite, check out Crispers, Papa Joe's or Subway. For those interested in more of a social atmosphere with "adult interaction op... 07/31/2008

Cork & Olive Lake Mary has Just Opened in the Target/Publix Shopping Center in Lake Mary at the corner of Lake Mary Boulevard and Greenwood Boulevard/Rinehart Road.  I was in the market for a gift basket for a friend and I've been wanting to see the new store, I had a few minutes yesterday and I'm glad I stopped by.   I was greeted by Shannon Wagner, the manager, and was offered a tasting...  I told her not to laugh, but I'm allergic to alcohol (I know, it's a tragedy).  I love wine and yes, I still enjoy the occasional cocktail, but I have to be very careful. She suggested another type of tasting "Olive Oil"... Hence the "Cork & Olive" name...  She offered a variety of olive oils and spice blends.  I received an education about the different kind of olive oils and bought several as gi... 07/31/2008

What's selling in Lake Mary? 6 homes sold during the week of July 20 - 26, 2008.  Two new townhomes sold last week in Lake Mary Landings a popular new townhome community off 17-92, near the Seminole Community College that is zoned for Lake Mary Schools.  The neighborhood features a gated entry and a community pool. Heathrow tops the list with the most sales this week!  Heathrow is one of Lake Mary's most desirable addresses, the guard gated, golf course community of over 2,000 homes features a park, country club, racket club and some of the most luxurious homes in Lake Mary. Quick Market Facts: Sold Neighborhood Street Address Living Area Beds/Baths Pool $199,900 Lake Mary Landings    455 Canyon Stone Circle, #82 1,690 3 / 2.5 C $216,000 Chase Groves 2572 Acuna Court 1,550 3 / 2 No $21... 07/29/2008

I wanted to pass on an update as to the status of the down paymentassistance industry in regards to the Housing Bill about to be signed byCongress and President Bush.  The bill will mention the elimination of DPAprograms.  However, we have been granted an extension until October 1st tocontinue our fight against HUD.  What this means is that we are business asusual and can continue to provide gift funds for you.   Phew! Buyers if you have thought about buying now is the time. It's possible these programs could go away for ever and so will the thought of 100% financing and no money for closing costs. If you have been thinking about purchasing a home in Seminole or Orange County contact me today. I hope that you continue to come back to my blog or click to subscribe to my RSS feed For info... 07/23/2008

Congratulations to Jon & Christine Gillen, Buyers from New York who successfully closed on their Heathrow home in Lake Mary, Florida yesterday! I had the pleasure of working with Jon & Christine in their search for a new home and after a few days of marathon "house-hunting", they found their dream home in the Heathrow community. Their new home is just under 2400 square feet, boasts three oversized bedrooms, formal living and dining rooms, a kitchen worthy of learning to cook so that you can spend time in it and a pool which overlooks an oversized pond. I'm sure you'll agree that these new Heathrow homeowners on Lakeworth Circle have more than one reason to be happy with their new abode! This fine home was listed for over $450,000, but with Buyer Representation, they were able to close o... 07/22/2008

         Great Experience!! "Richard was everything that I wanted in a realtor!! He listened to what I wanted and delivered. I flew in from Ohio for a weekend in order to buy a house. We went out and in one day had the offer accepted on a wonderful house. He continued to help me throughout the closing process and even set me up with a great insurance agent. I would definitely recommend Richard to anyone that is looking to buy or sell a home with out dealing with all the BULL!! Thank you so much Richard!!"  Dr Marian M. A Long Enjoyable Relatioship: "Over the year that it took to sell our house in Knoxville and bu... 07/21/2008

I just couldn't resist that title considering my Buyers have a dog named Trouble! After a two-day trek from Long Beach, New York, Jon and Christine arrived in Lake Mary this afternoon for their anticipated closing on Monday with their two dogs, Trouble and Bessie. It's my understanding that Trouble really IS trouble considering he ate Jon's Blackberry today. I'd say he got his name legitimately...don't you?     Jon and Christine are closing on their home in Lakeside, which is an enclave of homes within the Heathrow community. Heathrow, a Master Planned Community, is located just west of I-4 in Lake Mary and has more than 1400 residences...If you are in the market for a condo, townhome, single family home or large custom estate, Heathrow is one of the most well-known and sought after com... 07/19/2008

If you are considering buying a home in Lake Mary, Florida, which is a city within Seminole County, Florida and have $250,000 or less to spend, there are 13 homes for sale today that have a minimum of three bedrooms, two bathrooms, 1800 square feet and a two car garage! Click here for more information on the City of Lake Mary! I've been a Seminole County resident for more than 35 years and would love to help you find your next home in Lake Mary, Florida at a price that's still affordable! Special financing and down-payment money is still available! You can buy a home with no down payment and I can tell you how! Click here to email me via my website and I'll be happy to send you a customized list of homes that meet your both your household and financial needs. If you are a Buyer who is i... 07/16/2008

Lake Mary has been ranked by CNN as the # 1 Best Place to Live in Florida and the # 4 city in the U.S.  It is located in Central Florida abutting Longwood and Sanford in Seminole County straddling I-4 (a major thoroughfare reaching from Tampa, on Florida's West Coast to Daytona Beach on its East Coast).  Lake Mary is just minutes away from downtown Orlando, the Orlando Sanford Airport, Orlando International Airport and the major theme attractions.    Lake Mary, which is an actual lake, was named for the wife of Major William Randolph. Lake Mary is geographically located between Orlando and Daytona Beach.  Shopping abounds from upscale boutiques and shopping centers to department stores.  Right next door there is the Seminole Town Center.  You will find a wide-range of dining choices fr... 07/14/2008

Welcome back to Magnolia Plantation, a guard gated, golf community in Lake Mary just North of Lake Mary Blvd. and West of Markham Woods Road.  This community of 500 homes is nestled up next to the Wekiva Preserve and features homes starting in the mid $400's to over $1 million, with homesites that feature waterfront, conservation and golf front views, Magnolia Plantation continues to be one of the favorite of all the Lake Mary addresses. The inventory of homes for sale in Magnolia Plantation continues to be stable with 27 homes currently up for sale.  5 homes are under contract and there were 4 closed sales for the month of June.  While a lot of areas are seeing a rapid decrease in sales prices, Magnolia Plantation continues to boast prices in the high $100's and well over $200 per squ... 07/13/2008