The Northeast Florida Association of Realtors has published an excellent information guide for home owners who are considering selling their home as a short sale. Check out the guide and talk to your real estate agent before putting your home on the market!
Lisa's Blog
Insight to Real Estate News in Jacksonville & Ponte Vedra, Florida
So, you're getting ready to put your home on the market and your real estate agent has suggested that you clean-out your garage. What do you do with all the toxic materials you've accumulated? It's important to get a handle on any hazardous household cleaning, automotive and gardening chemicals you may have stored on your property. You know you need to be careful when you read a label with "signal words" such as:
- Poison: highly toxic.
- Danger: extremely flammable, corrosive or highly toxic.
- Warning: moderately toxic or product has lesser hazards.
- Caution: slightly toxic or product has lesser hazards.
Also, look on labels for information on health effects and safety precautions. Always try to minimize exposure to harmful chemicals. Reading labels will help identify the least toxic product for the job at hand. Once identified, you need to decide on the safest way to handle those products. Unusable or unwanted portions of hazardous products become household hazardous waste. Generally, it's best to avoid creating hazardous waste in the first place. Buy safer alternatives, buy only what you need so you won't have leftovers, use up or share leftovers with others or recycle them.
Here are some general tips if you do have to store household hazardous chemicals, or waste that will be disposed of during designated community hazardous waste collection programs:
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Store products in original containers with labels marked with product contents.
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Lids should be kept tightly closed.
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Write the date or purchase on products to keep track of their age.
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Always store your hazardous products far away from children and pets.
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Never dump any kind of household hazardous waste down storm drains, ditches or waterways.
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Store products in containers intended for that purpose (for example, do not store gasoline in a container previously used for kerosene).
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Store all products in cool, dry areas with adequate ventilation.
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Do not eat, drink or smoke while handling household chemicals.
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Wear the right kind of gloves for effective protection against household chemicals. Solvents, acids and bases may be absorbed through or deteriorate regular latex gloves.
Don't forget, the improper handling and storage of hazardous chemicals can be a disaster waiting to happen. Both Duval County and St. Johns County offer hazardous waste disposal days, which is a good way to safely dispose of the toxic materials you no longer need.
Here's a quick summary of the Riverwood neighborhood in Nocatee. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.
- Neighborhood: Riverwood
- Nearest Major Intersection: Coastal Parkway and Nocatee Parkway
- Gated: Yes
- Clubhouse: Yes, residents of Riverwood have access to their own community center and fitness facilities as well as Community Park and Crosswater Hall.
- How Many Homes: Communities in Nocatee continue to expand. Riverwood will have nearly 2,000 residences upon completion.
- Size Range: Two to three bedrooms in 1,300 – 2,600 square feet depending on model by Del Webb.
- Pedestrian-Friendly: Yes, very.
- Recreation: Indoor and outdoor community facilities including sidewalks, cart paths, fitness center, community hall, dog park, and Splash Water Park.
- Nearest Grocery Store: Publix
- LB’s Favorite Neighborhood Feature: Their 38,000 square foot clubhouse has an indoor pool, fitness center, exercise classes, craft classes, meeting rooms….you name it!
- Fun Fact: The Riverwood site office has the best chocolate chip cookies.
RISMEDIA, February 8, 2011—April 15 will be here before you know it, and for those who have recently purchased or sold a home, there are a number of tax deductions of which you should be aware. One of the best things about owning a home is the fact you can deduct the mortgage loan interest every year on your tax return.
The deduction that most buyers forget about is points. Points on a home loan are tax deductible if they are used to bring down the mortgage interest rate.
“Points or origination fees that were paid during the purchase of a home are generally tax deductible in full for the year that you paid them,” said Manhattan accountant Russell Goldstein. “However, origination charges from the lender that constitute a service fee are not tax deductible.”
If you haven’t been to the University of North Florida (UNF) campus lately, I think you’ll be surprised! Located in Jacksonville, just north of JTB between Kernan and St. Johns Bluff, it's perfectly situated next to the shops and restaurants of the St. Johns Town Center. Several new buildings have been added over the last couple of years, including the Library, Coggin College of Business, and the College of Education and Human Services building. The education building is the first to receive the distinction of certified LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council.
On Tuesday the Ponte Vedra Council of Realtors hosted a breakfast meeting at the Plantation Country Club (which, by the way, has a gorgeous dining room!). The speaker for this meeting was Eddie Sims, the Hospital President of Baptist Medical Center Beaches and Dr. Pamela Rama, Cardiologist and Chief of Staff of the hospital. Eddie Sims described the recent changes and additions to the hospital--exciting news! Dr. Rama discussed recent research in heart health and reviewed ways to get (and stay) healthy. Baptist Medical Center has undergone a transformation in the last several years and more improvements are in the works. Baptist Medical Center Beaches is a tremendous resource for residents of Ponte Vedra and the Jacksonville Beaches!
Next weekend will be a great time to see what's on the market in Florida. The Florida Association of Realtors is holding a statewide open house on March 26th & 27th. Thousands upon thousands of blue balloons featuring the signature Realtor "R" logo will be flying at open houses from the Panhandle to Key West ... and Northeast Florida is no exception. The members of the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors (NEFAR) are gearing up to host hundreds of open houses in our area as part of the second annual statewide Open House Weekend; the largest in the nation. With continuing low interest rates and an ample supply of homes at all price points, the Florida Open House Weekend is a must-do for anyone even considering buying a home.
I'll be holding one of my featured listings, 221 Royal Tern Road North, open on Sunday, March 27th. This home is located in Marsh Landing Country Club which is one of the prettiest neighborhoods in Ponte Vedra Beach. This is a wonderful house with golf course views, a gourmet kitchen and huge windows. Come by and see me!
If you haven’t checked out Nocatee lately, there’s a lot happening. David Weekley Homes has started development in Greenleaf Village and has several model homes ready for viewing. January brought the 2nd Annual Polar Plunge, an event where residents and guests brave the chilly waters of the Splash Waterpark swimming pools. February events included the Farmer’s Market and Bookmobile as well as the Tastefully Simple Cooking Class.
The Ponte Vedra Concert Hall is now open in the heart of Ponte Vedra! This facility offers a large performance stage, dressing rooms, visual arts lobby, catering facilities and bar, convention and meeting space, wedding facilities, private recitals, and many other rental options.
This venue currently seats 450 in the theatre and can be converted to house 1000 in a standing room only format. Parking is conveniently located on site.
Upcoming events include A Conversation with Diane Rehm on March 24, 2011 and The Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Tour on April 23rd. Ticket prices for these events vary.
For general information, call (904) 209-0367. The Ponte Vedra Concert Hall is located at 1050 A1A North in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
Here's a quick summary of the Tidewater Condominium neighborhood in Nocatee. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.
- Neighborhood: Tidewater
- Nearest Major Intersection: Nocatee Parkway and Preservation Trail
- Gated: Yes
- Clubhouse: Yes, all residents of Nocatee have access to the Community Park and Crosswater Hall.
- How Many Homes: Communities in Nocatee continue to expand. When construction is complete, Tidewater will have condos housed in four buildings.
- Size Range: Two to three bedrooms in 1100-1700 square feet.
- Pedestrian-Friendly: Yes, very.
- Recreation: Indoor and outdoor community facilities including sidewalks, cart paths, fitness center, community hall, dog park, and Splash Water Park.
- Nearest Grocery Store: Publix
- LB’s Favorite Neighborhood Feature: Feels like a house inside.
- Fun Fact: Tidewater is the only condo community in Nocatee.
