I am SELLING the home, and I get charged for title insurance???      So you have your home under contract! Congratulations!!! You get through the inspections and the appraisals and you are all excited to move to your new dream home! Your closing agents sends you your settlement statement with the breakdown of all of your closing costs.... all looks normal, yes there is the proration of the taxes, the mortgage payoff, the HOA dues... WAIT!!! What is THAT charge for what they call the "owner's policy of title insurance", and if you are the seller, WHY are you paying for it?      Title insurance rules, regulations and customs vary from state to state. Here in Florida, our title insurance is regulated by the insurance commission. Which means, that the state regulates what amount will be pai... 12/27/2013

Palm Harbor - Clearwater Real Estate Market   How Long Will It Take To Sell My Palm Harbor Florida Home   As a Realtor I hear the question “how long will it take to sell my home” every day. The answer depends on a few things.Usually this question “how long will it take to sell my home” comes from someone thinking of selling or someone who has has a home on the market that didn't sell. They are thinking about selling and want to know how long it will take. My answer as a Realtor, first and foremost depends on who are you going to hire to help you sell? Using the right Realtor is incredibly important. Who you choose will affect all the other things that affect time. The next issue is pricing. If you price your home too high it will take much longer to sell, or it might not sell at all. Pr... 12/22/2013

Snowbirds are Moving to Florida – How to Capitalize on this Great Sellers Market   Snowbirds are flocking to Florida. Not real birds, people! People who head south for the winter to avoid the harsh, cold Northeast or Northern winters are called snowbirds. It creates a sellers’ market in many areas of Florida, and here’s how you, as a seller, can take advantage. “Snowbirds” is a term that plays on the idea of how birds migrate south for the winter. People who are called snowbirds also migrate south for the winter. Typically retirees or business owners, they are people who have or want a second home in a warmer location. If they aren't retired, they may own a seasonal business in a colder climate, or a business that can easily be picked up and moved, like a direct sales business, or a sat... 12/20/2013

Raving Fans: A Revolutionary Approach To Customer Service   Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles wrote this little gem of a book several years ago and it is still impacting thousands of lives and business's today.  I first read this book about 15 years ago and it has impacted my business more than I can share.  That Dietz Team motto is "People Helping People" which was inspired by the stories shared in Raving Fans and our goal with every client we are privileged to serve is to create Raving Fans.   So, the obvious question you are asking right now, is, what is a Raving Fan?  The answer is someone that you have worked for, a client or customer who LOVES you for the awesome service that you have provided.  They become an advocate for you and your business as they refer you to all of their fri... 12/18/2013

It may surprise some people that supply (inventory) of new listings in the Palm Harbor Florida 34683 is up 63.2% since November 2012. In November 2012 there were 49 additional homes for sale which include condos, co-ops, townhouses, and single-family homes. In October 2013 there were 80 more homes for sale.This data is for new listings from November 2012 to October 2013:   This may be a great time to buy. Source: My Florida Regional MLS If you are thinking about buying in Palm Harbor, FL 34683 with supply high, this may be a great time to buy. Keep in mind that the median is the middle number in a group except a group of even numbers so it does not give a full picture but it does give us an idea of the state of a local real estate market.   If you are thinking about buying a home or inv... 11/24/2013

The median sold price for condos, co-ops, and townhomes in Palm Harbor, Florida 34683 is up 57.1%. This is from November 2012 through October 2013:   Source: My Florida Regional MLS If you are thinking about selling your home or investment property in Palm Harbor, FL 34683 this may be a great time to sell. Keep in mind that the median is the middle number in a group except a group of even numbers so it does not give a full picture but it does give us an idea of the state of a local real estate market.   If you are thinking about selling your home or investment property in Palm Harbor Florida 34683, call Lana or Kay at (727) 376-0530 for a FREE market analysis.    *  Information is believed to be accurate but should not be relied upon without verification. 11/23/2013

Caladesi Island State Park, off the coast of Dunedin Florida, is only accessible by boat. If you don't have your own, there is a ferry that leaves Honeymoon Island State Park to take people over to the crystal white sandy beaches on this tropical island for a day of fun! My personal preference is to land on the northern tip of Caladesi Island with our boat since this is one section that very few walk out to. Here you have the beach to yourself with only the sea birds that nest there as companions. At this time of year we are still enjoying trips out to Caladesi Island State Park. It is one of the many advantages of living down here in the Dunedin/Palm Harbor area of Florida. To begin your relocation search for a home down, here give me a call today! 11/16/2013

 Palm Harbor Real Estate Market Update     As inventory decreases and interest rates remain low, home sales in Palm Harbor, Florida continue to increase at a record setting pace, especially for homes zoned for Palm Harbor University High School. East Lake High School is also an A rated School in Pinellas County Florida but PHU seems to be the school of choice. There were 132 closed sales in October ranging from $35,000 to $1,112,500. Single Family Homes Sales continue to outpace Condo, Town Home and Villa Sales with 94 Single Family Home Sales in October. The average Single Family Homes sale in Palm Harbor, Florida for October, 2013 was $262,421 compared to $236,986 for October 2012. This represents an 10.7% increase for average sales price from 2012 to 2013. There are currently 287 Sin... 11/14/2013

Fishing off the coast of Crystal Beach Florida often means something tasty like this trout for dinner. Ronnie loves to go out fishing and I love the fact that he often brings home fresh fish for dinner. While I do not always get to go out with him (I do have to work every now and then) I do appreciate the fantastic meals he prepares with the fresh fish that he catches. Life is good down here in the Crystal Beach Florida area and our temperatures are still in the high 80s during the afternoon! Perfect boating weather! 11/09/2013

What could be more fun than boating between Caladesi Island State Park & Honeymoon Island State Park off Palm Harbor Florida during the month of November? While most of the nation is getting ready for snow and experiencing low temperatures, it is still in the high 80's here off the coast of Palm Harbor Florida! This is probably one of the reasons that so many decide during the winter months that they have had enough cold weather and make the decision to move down to the Sunshine State. If you are considering, give me a call today! 11/09/2013

Caladesi Island State Park in beautiful Florida is the perfect place to view birds nesting on the northern shore of the island. You can hear the sounds of the birds along with the wind blowing in the background just off shore from Dunedin and Palm Harbor. Caladesi Island State Park is accessible via private boat or by boarding the ferry that leaves hourly from Honeymoon Island State Park, on the western end of the Dunedin Causeway. With two fabulous state parks just minutes from Dunedin and Palm Harbor Florida, it is no wonder why people love to relocate to our area! Give me a call today to begin your home search!! 11/09/2013

Witchstock 2013 is taking place today in downtown Palm Harbor Florida and will go on until midnight. One new 'happening' at Witchstock this year is Captain Cannabis and the Medical Marijuana Fairy who are collecting signatures on a petition to put medical marijuana on the ballot for Florida citizens to vote on. The Orlando Florida attorney's office of Morgan and Morgan is also collecting signatures to get this important issue on the ballot. There are too many adults who would rather be able to use this method over taking a handful of pills to combat their aches and pains. Many of these people are terminally ill and I find it ridiculous that some of our elected officials are still backing the pharmaceutical industry and the strong lobby it has. But then, we all know the perks the pharmac... 10/26/2013

  Palm Harbor, FL -Wheelchairs For Kids Presents First Annual Corn Fest   Join the Wheelchairs For Kids organization at their 1st Annual Corn Fest. It’s being held at Palm Harbor Eagles, 4408 Club at 38555 US 19, Palm Harbor, FL 34684 (Connell Plaza). On Saturday, October 26, 2013;  from 1pm to 7pm. Music all day, and a Bike Show.    Wheelchairs for Kids helps provide them for children with physical disabilities in need For more information about Wheelschairs For Kids, click here.   For more Information about the 1st Annual Corn Fest go to their Facebook page here.     This local event information brought to you as a courtesy byToni Weidman- Re/Max Sunset.  Please contact the organizers for questions or concerns. And, if you go, have fun!     Recent Posts Main Street Zephyrhills: Hallow... 10/24/2013

Palm Harbor Florida Home for Rent UPDATE: Home has been rented. However there are other rental properties available so please give Kay Reyes a call at (727) 772-3918 and she will be happy to help you.This sublease opportunity is a one bedroom one bath sought-after Palm Harbor pool home. Ceramic tile in all the right places, bright open floor plan, and a  private fenced backyard overlooking lush landscaping and pool. Enjoy the pool views from your bedroom. This home is move in ready. Rent week to week or month to month or year to year. Rent includes water, power, trash, cable and WIFI.$850 per monthFor a private showing call Kay Reyes at (727) 772-3918. One bedroom one bath pool home for rent in Palm Harbor OverviewMapsPhotos $850 Residential Rental Main Features 1 Bedroom1 BathroomInter... 10/20/2013

Witchstock 2013 is Palm Harbor Florida's annual Halloween Festival. This year Witchstock will take place on Saturday, October 26 on the streets of downtown Palm Harbor in front of The Witch's Brew Cafe. Witchstock is always a lot of fun with costume contests for the children and adults. There will be street sales of food, drink, arts and crafts and so much more. Live music will go on into the night as the adults continue partying long after the little ones have gone to bed. Palm Harbor is celebrating the 7th annual Witchstock this year and it is close enough that residents of both Crystal Beach and Ozona can walk over to the festival. This is just one more reason why life here in the Palm Harbor Florida area is really wonderful. There is a sense of community and something is always goin... 10/17/2013

John Chesnut Park on Lake Tarpon in Palm Harbor Florida does have gators in it, just like most lakes in our state. You might not see them since they can stay under water for several hours if conditions are right, it would be best to be careful. I love going for long walks in John Chesnut Park since there are so many beautiful Live Oak trees there. No matter how hot it might be, there is always a breeze blowing over Lake Tarpon. That, together with the shade of those majestic Live Oaks, make it seem cooler than it would be out in the sun. We walked well over three miles yesterday, along boardwalks and on trails that meander through the park and along the lake. If you are quiet, there are deer in the park that you might be able to catch with your digital camera. Naturally, there is a boat... 10/14/2013

  Lake Valencia Home in Palm Harbor is  Sold and Closed   A 4-bedroom home with 2,203 square feet and a view of the lake is now closed. This was a short-sale that went under contract at the beginning of February. After many issues with the seller’s  lender, we finally resolved all of them and closedlate yesterday. The buyers stayed with us all through-out the nonsense and were very excited about finally closing. They told us all about their plans for making changes to the home, and there is a baby buyer on the way. It was nice working with Mary Carroll of Good Faith Real Estate and Marlene Crawford of Your Mortgage Source. We all were determined to get this finished for everyone and they both did a great job.   Woo Hoo,  the Lake Valencia Home in Palm Harbor, FL is  Sold and Closed. My ... 09/24/2013

An unexplained fire has destroyed the 3000 sq ft tower at Wall Springs Park in Palm Harbor Florida.  The park department had just opened the doors to the park one morning last week when they discovered the fire at the tower. Since the tower was located in a remote corner of the park, it was difficult for the fire department to extinguish the fire. The once popular three story high tower was engulfed in flames and totally destroyed. Law enforcement and the fire department say that arson is suspected and a reward is being offered. The west portion of the park is still closed at the bridge while investigators continue to search for clues. There was no lightening in the area on the morning of the fire. This is a real loss to a popular park since the top of the tower was a fantastic viewing ... 09/21/2013

There are currently 100 single family homes for sale in Palm Harbor Florida's 34683 zip code, which is the area of Palm Harbor closest to St Joseph's Sound and the sparkling waters of the Gulf of Mexico! This section of Palm Harbor Florida includes Wall Springs Park, Palm Harbor University High School and the lovely little fishing village of Ozona Florida! Naturally, the Pinellas Trail is also here, connecting the county for bikers and hikers! The range of homes currently on the market looks like this: 16 homes  - over $1 Million 11 homes  - $700,000 - $999,999 4  homes  - $500,000 - $699,999 19 homes  - $400,000 - $499,999 19 homes  - $300,000 - $399,999 15 homes  - $200,000 - $299,999 16 homes  - $100,000 - $199,999 To learn more about any of these homes or begin your home search for ... 09/12/2013

John Chesnut Sr. Park in Palm Harbor, FL-You Might See A Gator   John Chesnut Sr. Park is at 2200 East Lake Road in Pinellas County and it  is a great place for picnics especially group picnics.. We usually have our annual car club picnic there each year. The picnic shelters are covered and have lots of tables. You do need  to make a reservation; you can call (727) 582-2100. Last year we were lucky enough to see several deer playing in the open meadow beside our shelter. There's a lovely nature walk that leads to a view of Lake Tarpon. The wooden walkway meanders through the cypress hammocks, and at the end, there's a cool wooden tower that you can climb to get a really spectacular view of the lake.   The cypress hammocks are truly amazing with the trees growing out of the water. It’s s... 09/02/2013