Spotlight on Dunedin, Florida

While Dunedin, Florida has a small town image, it is actually a bustling city of 37,000 residents. One of the oldest towns on the West Coast of Florida, it has a wooded and subtropical setting with almost four miles of picturesque waterfront, a relaxed lifestyle, and activities for all likes and ages, making Dunedin a truly delightful place to live or visit.

Dunedin offers something for everyone. A quaint and active downtown, beautiful parks, recreational activities for all ages, history, culture, educational opportunities, a wide range of housing choices, and much more. The Dunedin area enjoys near perfect weather, with an average summer high of 80 degrees and a winter low of 62 degrees. Average rainfall is 50 inches per year with the usual summertime afternoon showers.

Just off the coast of Dunedin are two of the communities’ most unique assets, Honeymoon and Caladesi Islands. Honeymoon Island State Park is less than a five-minute drive from the mainland, and offers a natural getaway for boating, swimming, fishing, picnics, and nature exploration. Caladesi Island State Park, accessible to the public by ferry from Honeymoon Island or by private boat, has consistently been named one of Florida’s top ten beaches and has won the coveted #1 spot for the best beach in America according to Dr. Beach.

The City of Dunedin also has one of the finest municipal marinas on the West Coast of Florida, offering safe harbor for sail and power crafts with dockside conveniences of water and electricity.

Dunedin’s economy is firmly rooted in the service industry, tourism, retail, financial institutions and services, health care, real estate and some light manufacturing.

Delightful Dunedin, with its rich Scottish heritage, is home to the Annual Highland Games and many other community festivals, making it one of the most popular places to live, work and play.

Begin your exploration with a visit to the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, located at the west end of downtown, 301 Main Street, in its beautiful, historic building, for the information you’ll need to discover Dunedin.

Spotlight on Inverness, Florida

Inverness, Florida …The Heart of Citrus County

The City of Inverness is the largest municipality in the County and continues to grow at a managed pace.  Residents take pride in being the County Seat of Government and becoming the principal hub for special events, culture and activity. Bordered by forests and lakes, natural resources have been protected and managed to provide a wealth of outdoor opportunities for family enjoyment. This is a community with a strong vested interest to respect their history and environment, while positioning themselves for future growth. Inverness, a transformed City of pride, progress, local values and opportunity.

With the Withlacoochee Rails to Trails only blocks from the heart of downtown, it is probably not surprising the City of Inverness is a bicyclers paradise.  Forty six miles of paved recreational trail allows bicyclists and walkers to get their daily dose of activity, while experiencing the natural beauty of areas surrounding the trail.  And, for those who wish to venture off the main trail, they will find easy access to downtown and bike lanes on the main roads to accommodate safe travel.

For the past decade, the City of Inverness has taken the lead to make our town a walkable, bicycle friendly community, giving the downtown area an “extreme makeover”, as well as adding benefits for all who live or work within the city.

Spotlight on Safety Harbor, Florida

At the head of Old Tampa Bay lies the City of Safety Harbor, a secret little hideaway, neighbored by the major cities of Clearwater and Tampa. This quaint community of 7,575 families boasts a famous resort, distinctive shops, award winning restaurants and plenty of family fun. There is certainly something for everyone, from beautiful parks laden with historical significance and nature’s artwork, to cultural venues for the cosmopolitan visitor.

Downtown Safety Harbor sets the mood for the community. With its palm treed thoroughfare, canopied sidewalks and brick lined streets, “Main Street” offers you the opportunity to succumb to your curiosity while perusing through captivating shops, sampling new cuisine and rediscovering a love of art displayed in one of the area’s finest galleries on Main Street.  Begin your exploration with a visit to the Chamber of Commerce. Located at 200 Main Street, this original bank building housed the first Town Hall when Safety Harbor was incorporated in 1917.

You will find history alive throughout Safety Harbor. The world famous Safety Harbor Resort & Spa is a landmark in the community with its historical Espiritu Santo Springs. Since the turn of the century, tourists have been traveling to this area to be rejuvenated by the spring waters. By ferry from Tampa or stagecoach from Clearwater, it was a full days adventure to visit the area. Now visitors fly in from around the world to experience the resort lifestyle.

Spotlight on Palm Harbor, Florida

Palm Harbor was originally called Sutherland, a shortening of Southern Land and Development Company, the group that originally platted the community as Sutherland, Hillsborough County in 1888. The name was changed to Palm Harbor in 1925.

Palm Harbor is roughly 45 minutes from downtown St. Petersburg and Tampa. It is a largely residential community with several concentrations of commerce. Notably, downtown Palm Harbor, north of Tampa Rd. between Alternate Hwy. 19 and Omaha St., hosts many small shops and eateries along with a handful of historic buildings.

U.S. Hwy. 19, a mile or two east of downtown, offers access to higher concentrations of commerce, with an array of national chain restaurants and retailers. One entrance to Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, a nationally-regarded golf course, is found on U.S. 19.

The historic downtown district of Palm Harbor, has numerous festivals and craft fairs. Old Palm Harbor Main Streets, Inc., a not-for-profit organization, hosts their signature event the first Friday of every month. “Palm Harbor’s First Friday Celebrations” — are a very popular community event for youngsters and adults alike. There are rides and games for the children, with opportunities to dine on food from the many local restaurants, enjoy local artists & crafters displaying and selling their wares.

Annually, the first Sunday in October marks when the “Taste of Palm Harbor” festival is held. The event is presented by the Palm Harbor Junior Women’s Club with the proceeds benefiting their “Making a Difference” grants & scholarships program. The Taste of Palm Harbor traditionally offers live music and the tasting of samples from over 20 local restaurants, many of which make seafood their specialty.

7 Key Questions To Ask Your Lender When Getting a Mortgage

Before you decide on a mortgage make sure you fully understand all the terms of the loan and make sure you know what you are getting yourself in for. Some home mortgages have features that may be risky and make it difficult for you to make your payments in the future. Be sure that you understand the loan terms, the risks and all the costs of the loan you are getting. To help you, below are 7 key questions to ask your lender about your mortgage BEFORE you accept a loan.

1.Will my interest rate ever increase, or is it fixed for the life of the loan?

* There are “fixed-rate” loans where the interest rate is generally the same throughout the life of the loan and then there are “adjustable rate mortgages” or ARM loans where your interest rate can go up or down after a short period. ARM’s are not bad loans and, in many cases could be a good alternative, but with an ARM there is more for you to look at and consider. You will want to find out how long the initial interest rate is fixed, and then how often your interest rate can change, is there a cap on how much it can change each time and is there a “lifetime” limit on how much it may change? Find out what the rate is tied to and how the adjustments are determined. Once you have all this information you can then compare all of the terms to other loans. You should also determine what your payment will become if the maximum adjustment upward happens and be comfortable that you will be able to afford the payment.

2. Can my monthly payment increase?

* Just like your payment may change if you have an ARM loan, some other loans may have provisions for a change in payment as well. This may be the result of a “buy-down” in the rate for a period of time, a lower introductory rate or other promotion. In addition, most mortgage payments include your home insurance and property taxes which most likely will increase in time so you should take that into account as well when determining what you can afford.

3. Will my payments reduce what I owe?

* You may think this is a silly question and may be saying “of course it will” but that is not always the case. There are “interest only” loans where none of your payment actually goes to repaying the loan, just the interest so your balance remains the same. There are also “negative amortization” loans in which your payment doesn’t even cover all the interest and you actually owe MORE on your loan each month than you did the month before.

4. Will I owe a balloon payment?

* Many home mortgages are “fully amortized” meaning you pay the loan off in full over time with your normal monthly payments but some loans have a “balloon” payment that comes due at some point. This balloon payment is usually the principal balance of the loan and therefore the typical borrower is not in a position to repay it at the time but must count on the ability to refinance or sell the property prior to the balloon coming due.

5. If I pay off my loan early will I owe a prepayment penalty?

* When lenders make you a home loan they incur some expense in doing so (processing, commissions, etc). They do this counting on collecting interest from you for a period of time so if you refinance your loan or sell your home and pay off the loan much earlier than expected their returns may suffer. To make up for this many lenders charge a “prepayment” penalty if the loan is paid off early. This penalty is typically thousands of dollars so you will want to know the amount up front, or better yet, find a loan without a prepayment penalty.

6. Will I have to prove my income, employment and assets to get the loan?

* Sometimes a lender will make a loan without requiring you to show that you are employed or proving that you have the ability to repay the loan. This type of no-documentation (“no-doc”) or low-documentation (“low-doc”) loan usually have higher interest rates or higher fees than traditional loans.

7. How much “cash out of pocket” will I need for this loan and when will I have to pay it?

* Some, or all of the fees you will be charged in connection with your loan will be added to your loan amount but some will have to be paid by you in addition to your down payment thereby increasing the amount of cash you will need to invest in the transaction. You cannot be charged any loan fees, other than a credit report fee, until you have received all of the disclosures required by law with all the terms and costs associated with the loan so don’t decide on, or commit to a loan, until after you have fully reviewed all the disclosures and understand how much cash you will need to come up with to complete the transaction.

By Dennis Norman, on August 26th, 2010

Making Your Old Kitchen Feel New

(Money Magazine) — Shelved plans for that $50,000 kitchen remodeling until the economic recovery actually starts to feel like a recovery?

Make the waiting less painful by breaking out your toolbox. A few cheap fixes — painting cabinets, swapping out old knobs and pulls, and replacing your ceiling lights — can make a huge difference.

Consider tackling the following three projects too. They’re just a bit more difficult but bring big benefits to the look and feel of your kitchen — and cost less than $1,000 each.
Update your backsplash

It’s a quick way to dress up an old kitchen, not to mention protect your walls from stains and even fires. If you’re not eager to mess with mastic and grout, consider Aspect Tile’s new peel-and-stick metal tiles.

Available in copper and stainless steel, they’ll give the room a clean, updated feel. And though the metal finish can look fairly modern, these tiles come in a traditional three-by-six-inch subway-tile format, which fits in with a variety of décors.

How to Do It: The tiles, available at Lowe’s or aspectideas.com, go up as easily as address labels but stick tenaciously to the existing backsplash. Bonus: Your contractor can reuse them (with some added glue) when the kitchen gets redone later.

Cost: $500 to $600, typically

Time: One day
Dress up old appliances

Buying new appliances may not make sense at this stage because you don’t know what your eventual remodeling will require. But a fresh coat of white, black, or silver paint on old refrigerators and dishwashers (not ranges, which get too hot) will give them — and your kitchen — a cleaner, newer look.

How to Do It: Lightly sand the surfaces so the paint will adhere. Cover handles and hinges with masking tape. Then spray on two coats of Krylon’s Epoxy Appliance Paint or Stainless Steel Paint (available at Home Depot or thepaintstore.com).

Cost: $20 to $30 for three to four cans (enough to cover the fridge)

Time: One to two days
Make your own concrete countertops

Worn-out Formica, tile, or butcher block make your kitchen look dilapidated. But spending $6,000 or more for granite or even $2,500 for new laminate makes no sense if you’ll be reconfiguring the kitchen in a few years.

A solution: polished, colored concrete. It has all the burn and scuff resistance — and visual appeal — of granite but is pricey if it’s professionally installed.

How to Do It: Buy a DIY kit at concreteexchange.com. You’ll get everything you need to cast, polish, and install your own counters, including a customizable mold and detailed instructions.

Still none too sure you can pull it off? Attend one of the how-to seminars the company runs around the country.

Cost: $750 to $1,000

Time: Two weekends

Article Source: http://money.cnn.com/2010/08/06/real_estate/kitchen_remodel.moneymag/index.htm

It is Easy to Be Green

When that certain lovable Muppet Kermit the Frog sang “It isn’t Easy Being Green” so long ago, chances are pretty good that he wasn’t referring to how easy it is to help the environment.

Helping the world go greener can begin with you. Anything from purchasing the right appliances to changing out a light bulb can make a huge difference to both the world around you and even your pocketbook in the long run.

1. Reaching for the “stars”

What is already in place in your home that could be a drain on energy? Is it that old refrigerator in the garage? Did you know that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that one older appliance (such as your trusty old fridge) can cost you as much as $150 more per year than an energy-efficient model?

Here’s a sobering thought — if just 10 homeowners replaced their older appliances with EnergyStar®-qualified ones, it would be equivalent to planting 1.7 million new acres of trees. Plan a budget to slowly replace all your “energy hog” appliances with new energy saving models and you’ll thank yourself later on.

2. How hot is hot and how cold is cold?

Turning down the thermostat in cold weather and inching it up during the warm months can save as much as 3-5 percent for each degree adjustment. In fact, as much as 60 percent of your energy bill may be heating and cooling related. Programmable thermostats can make the most prudent adjustments automatically during any 24-hour period but are grossly underused, according to Ron McClure. of the Pleasant Hill, Calif.-based California Home Energy & Comfort Solutions, a company that sends inspectors to perform energy “audits” for homeowners or buyers.

“About six out of ten households already have programmable thermostats but don’t use the automatic (programmable) function on them,” says McClure, “The first thing they do on a cold morning is head to the thermostat to warm up the place and by the time they are comfortable they head out the door without another thought..” he relates. Even if you remember to shut your heat off before you leave the house, however, McClure goes on to say that it costs more to reheat your home than to maintain the temperature with a properly programmed thermostat.

Other low-cost energy saving tasks to look into:

* Get some new clothes for your hot water heater by placing an insulating jacket around it (usually costs under $20) and outfit your pipes for even less.

* HVAC (heating, ventilation and cooling) changes can contribute even more – something as simple as cleaning your furnace’s air filter monthly during heavy usage times can make a big difference.

* Shade your east and west facing windows to prevent the most brutal heat intrusion during summer months. And if your house doesn’t already possess dual-pane energy-efficient windows, why not start replacing those windows slowly, but start with those that receive the most intense sun exposure first?

* Saving heat generating activities such as dishwashers and cooking until the evening hours can help you ease up on cooling costs as well as your local energy grid.

* Using ceiling fans to move air on low speeds (even if TV reality remodeling shows think they’re not fashionable) can permit you to push the thermostat in either direction, providing more circulation of either cool or warm air.

3. Water, water everywhere but not a drop to waste

You may love the forceful flow of water at your faucets, toilets and showerheads, but did you know that installing aerators on them could cut your annual water consumption by more than half?

And then there is the commode… Toilets installed 15 years ago use more than twice the amount of water than the newer low-flow models. Even if you have older toilets, however, you can adjust your float valves to permit a lower water flow into the tank.

4. Going into the light

Replacing your incandescent light bulbs with the EnergyStar®-rated compact fluorescent variety all over the house can save you $100 per year, according to the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH), a voluntary partnership between leaders of the homebuilding, product manufacturing, insurance, and financial industries. They calculate that if every family in the U.S. did this, greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced by one trillion pounds.

True — buying new bulbs does take an initial investment, but even a recent ad by Starbucks in The New York Times that said if every person who received the newspaper switched one light bulb to a compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb, it would be the equivalent of taking 89,000 cars off the road.

5. Filling in the gaps

Have you bothered to look around your attic space to see if all areas contain insulation? According to PATH, even a small area with limited or no insulation — or even insulation that has been damaged or compressed — can significantly decrease overall effectiveness. The U.S. Department of Energy says that adding insulation to the attic is relatively easy and very cost effective. To find out if you have enough attic insulation, measure the thickness of the insulation. If it is less than R-22 (7 inches of fiber glass or rock wool or 6 inches of cellulose), you could probably benefit by adding more. Most U.S. homes should have between R-22 and R-49 insulation in the attic.

An “energy audit” may cost you anywhere from $159 to $359, according to McClure, but PATH figures that you can recoup the cost of the inspection in about a year by implementing the recommendations the audits can provide. Try PATH for a list of inspectors in your area.

Original Article: http://www.realtor.com/home-garden/green-your-home/It-is-Easy-to-Be-Green.aspx

6 Ways to Ensure a Remodeling Project Pays Off

(Money Magazine) — Just a few years ago you could count on getting the bulk of your money back for almost any home-improvement project you took on. Today merely replacing a toilet seat can feel like throwing caution, and cash, to the wind. According to a study from Remodeling magazine, the average return on value for an upgrade declined from 87% in 2005 to 64% in 2009. But these six new rules will help you maximize your return on your remodeling investment.

Rule No. 1: Repairs get the biggest returns

The smartest money now goes into “undeferring” needed maintenance. That’s because while buyers might appreciate enhancements like Jacuzzis and Sub-Zeros, they won’t tolerate a house with a leaky roof or antiquated plumbing. “If a property is known to have issues, today’s buyers won’t even look at it,” says Austin real estate appraiser Jim Amorin.

And trying to keep problems a secret can cost you big-time. If buyers discover them during inspection, it’s now common practice to ask sellers not only to pick up the tab for the repair but also to pay a penalty to compensate the buyer for the inconvenience of having work done.

So the $20,000 you saved by putting off a roof repair, say, could turn into a $30,000 credit to the buyers at closing, says Amorin.

Rule No. 2: Remodeling beats adding on

McMansions have gone the way of the SUV — and large additions don’t pay off either. “There’s been a fundamental shift toward quality over quantity,” says Warwick, R.I., real estate agent Ron Phipps.

Having a big, formal living room plus an everyday family room is less desirable than having one multi-use common space. So rather than adding on, you’re better off repurposing existing square footage by reconfiguring the floor plan or capturing unused basement or attic space.

Want an eat-in kitchen? Knock down the wall between the kitchen and dining room ($2,000 to $8,000, depending on whether it’s load-bearing or contains plumbing). That will instantly create a large eat-in kitchen and give the whole house a more open feel — without a huge investment to make up at resale.

Rule No. 3: Eco-friendly upgrades can save cash

Some green improvements pay you back long before you sell your house. Install energy-efficient features, such as EnergyStar appliances and extra wall insulation, and you’ll see lower energy bills every month.

Add in the federal tax credit of up to $1,500 that lasts through 2010, plus many local rebates and tax incentives (see dsireusa.org), and the work may pay for itself in just five years. Green features are also increasingly a selling point, says Phipps. “Most people in the market right now are first-time homebuyers in their thirties, and they’ve been raised to care about carbon footprints and being ecofriendly,” he says.

The best way to go green is with a while-you’re-at-it job: When it’s time to replace your furnace, for example, upgrading to super-efficiency might add only $500 (after tax credits), compared with standard new equipment, but it will save you — and your buyers someday — $150 or more in annual heating costs.

Rule No. 4: Tech infrastructure trumps cool gadgets

Home electronics seem like a deal, since prices have fallen about 50% over the past three years and continue to drop, according to Stephen Baker, president of industry analysis at NPD Group, a market research firm.

Still, that doesn’t change the fundamental problem with expensive built-in technology: Put in a $10,000-plus dedicated home theater today, and something better will come along tomorrow and make your system look as if it’s from the Mesozoic Era. With buyers seeking any excuse to low-ball their offers, they’re not going to reward you for an out-of-date system.

Tech infrastructure is different, however. Anytime you’re opening up walls for a construction project, have cabling and Ethernet ports installed. At about $80 a room, it’s a low-cost way to provide the capability for whatever technologies come along.

Rule No. 5: Let the Joneses be your guide

During the boom, you could be the first on your block to have a luxury kitchen, spa bathroom, or in-ground pool and count on others following suit. And even if the neighbors never took your lead, there was plenty of equity growth to cover your costs.

Nowadays that fudge factor is gone. “You really have to keep your house’s amenities in line with the neighborhood now,” says Kermit Baker, director of the remodeling futures program at Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies.

If other houses on the block have real marble countertops, by all means add one to your house, but if everyone still has faux blue-marble Formica from the ’70s, you’re not getting your money back.

Also, keep your projects design-neutral so they’ll appeal to the greatest number of people. Choose neutral colors and traditional electrical and plumbing fixtures unless your house has a modern architectural style.

Rule No. 6: The new payback time is five years

As with any volatile investment, the longer your time frame, the lower the risk. Don’t take on a big project if you’re likely to move in less than three to five years. There’s just too much chance that any money you put in — aside from necessary repairs or superficial cosmetic work — could be lost while the housing market continues to meander.

But if you plan to stay awhile, don’t delay starting a project. Home improvements are a bargain right now, with contractors bidding 10%, 20%, even 40% lower for the same work than just a year or two ago, says Bernie Markstein, senior economist for the National Association of Home Builders.

Grab them while they’re hungry for work and make it clear that you’ll be getting multiple bids so they’ll be motivated to undercut one another’s prices. You’ll fulfill the first rule of investing: Buy low. Then hope that when you’re ready to move, you can sell high.

Original article: http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/04/real_estate/tips/home_remodeling_investment.moneymag/index.htm

6 Backyard Improvement Ideas

The way your house looks from the street can impact its value. It can also shorten the time it takes to sell your house. And the same outdoor improvements you might make to get it sold can enhance your enjoyment factor if you and your family plan to stay in your home.

Deck. Adding a deck to your home is one of the most worthwhile of all home improvement projects. In fact, according to Remodeling Magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value survey, a wood deck addition project returns on average more than 80% of the original investment—one of the highest values in the survey. One of the reasons that a deck is such a good investment is because it increases living area at a minimal cost per square foot.

Other recommended projects, says Jimmy Rane, president of Great Southern Wood Preserving:

A gazebo, whether freestanding or attached to a garden wall or roofed and open on all sizes, is a great way to add shade, shelter, and visual interest.

Planters and window boxes are both functional and ornamental. Some can be moved easily to account for seasonal weather or to create a change in scenery.

Picnic tables can you serve you well on a patio, deck, or under a tree in the yard.

A trellis can function as a sunscreen or as the framework for an outdoor hanging garden. Building it with pressure-treated lumber minimizes rot.

Trash can corral or compost bin. A trash can corral lets you hide unsightly trash cans. A compost bin lets you reduce your own carbon footprint in a way that doesn’t take away from the visual appeal of your yard.

Source: Business Wire

Spotlight on Bradenton Beach

Bradenton Beach is a city on Anna Maria Island in Manatee County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Bradenton–Sarasota–Venice Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city occupies the southern part of Anna Maria Island and is one of three municipalities on the island. The others are Holmes Beach in the center and Anna Maria in the north.

Bradenton Beach is a small, friendly island community that values the civic pride of both permanent and seasonal residents, maintains its Old Florida charm, and respects its bountiful natural resources. History, hospitality and spirit are the hallmarks of this thriving waterfront, offering ease of mobility by land and sea.

Bradenton Beach is a charming and vibrant community located at the southern end of Anna Maria Island. The Island is located at the southern entrance to Tampa Bay on the Gulf of Mexico. They share the island with sister cities of Holmes Beach and Anna Maria City. Access to Anna Maria Island can be achieved from the mainland (Bradenton) via bridges on Cortez Road or Manatee Avenue or from Longboat Key to the south via the bridge over Longboat Pass

Bradenton Beach is blessed with miles of sugar sand beach. Cortez and Coquina beaches on the Gulf side are managed by Manatee County. Cortez Beach lies in northern section of the city, with numerous access points available. Coquina Beach lies at the southern end of the city and has lifeguard supervision. A large parking area is located next to the beach from 5th Street South, with acres of parking found at the Coquina Park at the south end of the island.

On the bay side at Coquina is a small beach that is popular with personal watercraft riders. Public washrooms, a picnic area and snack bar are also found at CoquinaThe city boasts miles of uninterrupted supervised public sugar sand beaches on the Gulf side and calm docking and mooring areas on the mangrove lined bay side.

You can fish from the popular City Pier, which features a full service Café and where bait is available. Inshore and offshore fishing tours are also readily available from local Guides. There are a number of Parks within city limits, including beach front with picnic facilities and public restrooms. There are numerous public accesses to the beach. There are also public boat ramps at the county managed Bay Side Park at the southern tip of the city

Bradenton Beach merchants offer a full slate of goods and services including accommodation of every kind, restaurants, bars, retail outlets, real estate and other professional services. The unique shops of Bridge Street in the city’s central Historic Old Town district are one of kind!

The city is a gem positioned on the sparkling waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Laid back, friendly and open-hearted they welcome visitors and new residents with equal warmth.