St Augustine August 2012 BOR Forward
24
ST. AUGUSTINE & ST. JOHNS COUNTY BOARD OF REALTORS ® AUGUST 2012 VOLUME 5, ISSUE 8 BOR FORWARD INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Officers & Directors 2 Calendar 3 REALTOR/Affiliate Spotlight 4 New Members 5 September Events in St Augustine 6-7 Builder Council News 8 Go Green 9 Tech Tip 10 S.A.F.E Article 11 Committee Chair Updates 12-14 Real Estate Photo Shoot 15 Carmela “Gabi” Haenni Awarded CIPS Designa- 16 2013 Scholarship Sponsors 17 Back to School Basics 18-19 Back Pack Donations 20 Member Benefits 21 Wally Conway 22 Monthly Statistics 24 September Preview Staff Contact Information 24 BOR PUBLIC WEBSITE: www.stjohnsrealtors.com
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St Augustine & St Johns County August 2012 BOR Forward Newsletter
Transcript of St Augustine August 2012 BOR Forward
ST
. A
UG
US
TI
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& S
T. J
OH
NS
C
OU
NT
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B
OA
RD
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F R
EA
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OR
S®
A U G U S T 2 0 1 2
VOLUME 5, ISSUE 8
B O R F O R W A R D
I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :
Officers & Directors 2
Calendar 3
REALTOR/Affiliate
Spotlight
4
New Members 5
September Events
in St Augustine
6-7
Builder Council News 8
Go Green 9
Tech Tip 10
S.A.F.E Article 11
Committee Chair Updates 12-14
Real Estate Photo Shoot 15
Carmela “Gabi” Haenni Awarded CIPS Designa-
16
2013 Scholarship Sponsors 17
Back to School Basics 18-19
Back Pack Donations 20
Member Benefits 21
Wally Conway 22
Monthly Statistics 24
September Preview
Staff Contact
Information
24
BOR PUBLIC WEBSITE: www.stjohnsrealtors.com
Page 2 B O R F O R W A R D
BOARD OF REALTORS®
Roy Barnes Jr., PRESIDENT St. Augustine Realty (O) 824-3331 / (F) 825-2685/ (C ) 669-1430 [email protected] Andrew Birchall, PRESIDENT-ELECT St. Augustine Realty (O) 824-3331 / (F) 825-2685/ (C ) 392-3362 [email protected] Winston Burrell - SECRETARY Coldwell Banker Premier Properties (O) 471-4204 / (F) 471-4216 / (C ) 669-6585 [email protected]
Gene Johnson – TREASURER Watson Realty (US1) O) 797-8600 (F) 797-8606 (C ) 710-1090
DIRECTORS Roberta Odom (1)
Re/Max 100 Realty (O) 461-9500 (F) 461-9501 (C ) 466-0114
[email protected] Edward Paucek (1) Moses Creek Realty (C ) 669-6422 [email protected] Bill Thew (1) Olde Carriage Realty (O) 824-4500 (F) 824-6866(C ) 347-6736 [email protected]
Gayle Logan (2) Watson Realty (A1A)
(O) 461-9066 (F) 461-9925 (C) 669-2778
Judi Schuyler (2) Coldwell Banker Premier Properties (O) 471-4204 (F) 471-4216 (C ) 669-0788
Sean Hess (2)
St. Augustine Team Realty
(O) 825-0099 (F) 513-9264 (C ) 386-8327
Chuck Pacetti , PAST-PRESIDENT Homestar Pacetti Realty (O) 827-0600 / (F) 819-9907 / (C ) 669-5000 [email protected] Dirk Schroeder , Ex-Officio
Century 21- St. Augustine Properties
(O) 797-6000 (F) 797-7963/ (C ) 540-2360
Victor J. Raymos, Ex-officio
(O) 829-8738 (F) 823-9512 (C) 505-220-8683
MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE, INC. Dirk Schroeder , PRESIDENT Century 21- St. Augustine Properties (O) 797-6000 (F) 797-7963/ (C ) 540-2360 [email protected] Katherine Delaney , PRESIDENT- ELECT Watson Realty (US1) (O) 797-8600/ (F) 797-8606/ (C ) 669-2115 [email protected] Robert West – SECRETARY Coldwell Banker Premier Properties (O) 471-4204 / (F) 471-4216 / (C ) 814-2006 [email protected] Ian Edmonson, P.A. - TREASURER Edmonson & Associates Real Estate, Inc. (O) 827-0722 (F) 638-4746 (C) 315-0997 [email protected]
DIRECTORS Ron Barry (1)
St. Augustine Team Realty (O) 825-0099 (F) 513-9264 (C ) 501-2424
[email protected] Paula Silberberg (1) Watson Realty (A1A) (O) 461-9066 (F) 461-9925 (C ) 687-8803 [email protected] Gail Jones (2) St. Augustine Realty (O) 824-3331 / (F) 825-2685/ (C ) 501-7444 [email protected]
Daniel Lang (2)
Sunshine Realty & Appraisal Services
(O) 471-9259 (F) 461-3178 (C ) 501-6867 [email protected]
Ann King (2)
Prudential Network Realty
(O) 471-6906 (F) 471-6907 (C) 806-3865
Andrew Birchall, PAST PRESIDENT
St. Augustine Realty
(O) 824-3331 / (F) 825-2685/ (C ) 392-3362 [email protected]
Roy Barnes Jr., Ex-Officio
St. Augustine Realty (O) 824-3331 / (F) 825-2685/ (C ) 669-1430
Victor J. Raymos, Ex-officio (O) 829-8738 (F) 823-9512 (C) 505-2208683
2012 ST. AUGUSTINE & ST. JOHNS COUNTY BOARD OF REALTORS®
AND MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE, INC.BOARD OFFICERS & DIRECTORS
Page 3 V O L U M E 5 , I S S U E 8
S C H E D U L E O F E V E N T S
1st— Commercial
Committee 8:30am
Technology Committee
9:30am
2nd— Vacant Land 9am
3rd—Listing Agreement 9am
6th— Education Committee
9am
8th-—Affiliate Committee
9am
8th-12th—FloridaRealtors
Convention
9th—Success Series 11ce
8:30am-4:30pm
10th—Success Series 11ce
8:30am-12:30pm
Core Law 3CE 1:30pm
14th— MLS Training 1pm
Finance Committee 12pm
15th— Public Relations
9:30am
Technology Committee
9:30am
MLS Board Meeting 12pm
16th— Board Meeting 12pm
New Contract Class 1:30pm
17th—General Membership
Meeting & School Supply
Drive 11:30am
New Contract Class 1:30pm
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
Full Moon
2 3
4
5 6 7
8 9 10 11
12 13
14
15
16 17
General
Membership
Meeting
School Supply
18
19
20 21
22 23
24 25
26
27 28 29 30 31
Blue Full
Moom
August 2012
Birthstone: Jade, Peridot Flower: Gladiolus
Astrological Signs: Leo: July 23rd - August 22nd, Virgo - August 23rd - September 22nd
“Identify
your
problems
but give your
power and
energy to
solutions.”
R E A L T O R ® S P O T L I G H T – T E A M C A R R
P R U D E N T I A L N E T W O R K R E A L T Y
N E W A F F I L I A T E S – P E N N Y J A M E S -
A L A R I O N M O R T G A G E
Page 4 B O R F O R W A R D
Doug and Donia Carr came to Prudential Network Realty with over 25 years of experience as business Owners/Brokers who have specialized in real estate sales, investment properties and development. Doug and Donia joined Prudential Network Realty realizing their professionalism, outstanding reputation and cutting edge technology. Team Carr has been TOP sales team in the St. Augustine office for the last three years. Christy Budnick, Executive Vice President of Prudential Network Realty says about Doug, “His extensive knowledge and experience in the real estate market and a can-do, full service attitude makes Doug a perfect fit for Prudential Network Realty. He is exactly the type of sales professional we are seeking as we continue to grow the company.”
Doug is a licensed Real Estate Broker in Florida & Colorado and has his Hawaii license as well. Donia is a REALTOR in Florida and also licensed in Colorado. They specialize in Anastasia Island Properties.
Doug and Donia live in Marsh Creek with their two daughters Makena and Riley.
Doug & Donia Carr
Team Carr
Penny James
Penny James has been licensed as a mortgage broker/originator since 2001. She managed a
small mortgage branch in St. Augustine for seven years and is currently with Alarion Bank
Mortgage, a mortgage division of Alarion Bank. Alarion Bank was founded in 2004 and is
based in Ocala, Florida.
Mortgage products for purchase and refinance include; Conventional, FHA/VA, USDA and Re-
verse Mortgages. Processing is completed in the St. Augustine office with in-house underwrit-
ing in Ocala. What this means to your customer is that they have direct contact with me and
our processor and we have direct access to the decision makers. We close our loans on or
before the closing date specified in the purchase contract.
Do you have customers age 62+ who want to pay cash for a new home in St. Augustine?
Maybe they don’t have enough money to stretch quite as far as they need it to or just want to
retain some cash in the bank. They may well qualify for a PURCHASE reverse mortgage.
Their money can go TWICE as far AND no mortgage payments ever!
Regardless of the loan product, I will pre-qualify your customers for their purchase over the
phone or in person. They can call me evenings and weekends too! I will meet with your
customer when it is convenient for them – they don’t have to take off work to complete their
mortgage loan.
No BANKERS hours here!
I work when you work!
ALARION BANK MORTGAGE
2738 U.S. 1 S.
St. Augustine, FL 32086
office: 904-814-8508
Fax: 904-814-8609
cell: 904-466-0110
NMLS # 332892
Member FDIC
Equal Housing Lender
Page 5 V O L U M E 5 , I S S U E 8
J U N E N E W M E M B E R S
FRANCIS CICHY (NEW) SUNLINER REALTY GROUP, INC.
Join Date (06/04/2012) (Primary BOR/Primary MLS)
KRISTOPHER PACE SUNSHINE REALTY & APPRAISAL SER.
Join Date (06/05/2012) (Primary BOR/Primary MLS)
JAMES A. DAVIS, JR. (NEW) THE ST. JOHNS REALTY GROUP
Join Date (06/07/2012) (Primary BOR/Primary MLS)
VICTORIA MOUNTEER PRUDENTIAL EAST COAST REAL EST.
Join Date (06/07/2012) (Secondary BOR/Recip. MLS)
JACK MOUNTEER PRUDENTIAL EAST COAST REAL EST.
Join Date (06/07/2012) MLS ONLY
CHERYL THRASHER WATSON REALTY CORP.
Join Date (06/07/2012) (Primary BOR/Primary MLS)
DON CLINE PRUDENTIAL NETWORK REALTY-PV
Join Date (06/07/2012) MLS ONLY
PAMELA GILRIE (NEW) PRIME REAL ESTATE COMP
Join Date (06/08/2012) (Primary BOR/Primary MLS)
BRENDA BROWN NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Join Date (06/15/2012) Affiliate
ELLEN Z. BANOB (NEW) COLDWELL BANKER PREMIER PROPERTIES
Join Date (06/19/2012) (Primary BOR/Primary MLS)
KATHLEEN LAMB DELTONA REALTY SHORES
Join Date (06/21/2012) (Primary BOR/Primary MLS)
ERIC HUEY COLDWELL BANKER PREMIER PROPERTIES
Join Date (06/22/2012) (Second BOR/Reciprocal MLS)
AMBER WAYNE REMAX COAST 2 COAST
Join Date (06/25/2012) Primary BOR/Primary MLS
JACQUELYN MATTHEWS ALSOP PROPERTIES
Join Date (06/26/2012) Secondary BOR/Reciprocal MLS
TRACY DEVACK NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Join Date (06/28/2012) Affiliate
S E P T E M B E R E V E N T S I N S T . A U G U S T I N E
Page 6 B O R F O R W A R D
Changing of the Guard: Saturday Night Nightly changing of the guard in St Augustine, a Spanish military tradition will be
re-enacted at 7pm each Saturday through Sept. 3 in front of the Government House in the Plaza de la Constitution.
First Friday Art Walk (Every Month 2012) - Self-guided walking tour of numerous art galleries
5p-9p (904)829-0065 visit staugustinegalleries.com
(Sept 1) Sunset Celebration at Vilano Beach Town Center. Vilano Beach Town Center- 3:00 p.m. - dusk every 1st Saturday of the month
The Sunset Celebration is a special event which includes artist performers, local arts and crafts, and genuine Old Florida surprises. Dine on food samples from
local businesses along Vilano Road and see why Vilano Beach is the best-kept hidden treasure in the county. Floating docks near the pier allow for waterway trans-
port from the mainland to the island - just as in the early Henry Flagler days. The event is from 3:00 p.m. to dusk every first Saturday of the month at the Vilano
Beach Pier and Pavilion. Free to the public. 904-540-0402 http://www.vilanobeachfl.com
(Sept 1,8,15,22,29) Old City Farmers' Market. St. Augustine Amphitheatre- Every Saturday, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Shop for fresh produce, baked goods, hand-
crafted items and plants directly from the producers. There's always live entertainment and there is fresh seafood in season. The Old City Farmers' Market takes
place every Saturday morning at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre on A1A South in St. Augustine. http://www.StAugustineFM.com
(Sept 3) Concert in the Plaza: Weekly Concerts in the Downtown Plaza are free of charge and those attending are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for
seating. Performing from 7-9 p.m. will be The John Thomas Group ET Swing & Friends. Info: (904)825-1004.
(Sept 3,7,10,14,17,21,24,28) Archaeo Tours – The Lost Ships. St. Augustine Lighthouse - July 6, 2012 to December 28, 2012. Mondays and Fridays, 10 a.m., 1
p.m. & 4 p.m. Discover the methods of maritime archaeology on this exclusive 90 minute tour of the St. Augustine Lighthouse, 81 Lighthouse Ave. Guided by one of
the Lighthouse’s archaeologists, participants gain access to parts of the historic light station not available with general admission. After the tour, enjoy complimen-
tary adult beverages for guests 21+. Tours are $48/per person; scheduled three times per day on Mondays and Fridays, 10 a.m., 1 p.m. & 4 p.m. Advance reserva-
tions are required! No walk-ins. 904-829-0745 http://www.StAugustineLighthouse.org
(Sept 4,11,18,25) Ancient City Mosaic Exhibit. Visitor Information Center- September 2012 - January 2013. The St. Augustine 450th Commemoration, the St.
Augustine Sertoma Club, and the St. Johns Cultural Council are teaming up to present this exciting exhibit. The exhibit will feature 450 works of art depicting impres-
sions of St. Augustine. Everyone is invited and encouraged to participate. The call to local artists is scheduled for mid-August. A judging panel will select the top 450
works of art, which will be the first exhibit at the newly remodeled Visitor Information Center. The 450 works of art will also be available to view on the internet
through an online silent auction. Funds raised will be presented to St. Johns County Education Foundation Arts Alive Program. For more information, visit
www.ancientcitymosaic.com
(Sept 5,12,19,26) The Wednesday Market. St. Johns County Pier Park - Every Wednesday, 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
(Sept 5,12,19,26) Music By the Sea Concert Series Every Wednesday from 7p.m. - 9p.m. bring your chair or a blanket and enjoy a lively musical performance by Big
Lonesome. This family-friendly fun event takes place every Wednesday evening through September from 7p.m. to 9p.m. at the St. Augustine Beach Pier Pavilion on
A1A Beach Blvd. FREE Admission! Enjoy a signature dinner starting at 6 p.m. from Napoli Pizza for under $10.00. 904-347-8007 http://
www.thecivicassociation.org
(Sept 6) Train in Concert at the St Augustine Amphitheatre– September 6, 2012, 6 p.m. Pop/Rock artists Train take the stage at 6 p.m. at the St. Augustine Amphi-
theatre, located at 1340 A1A in St. Augustine.The multi-platinum band Train made its mark on music history with the Grammy Award-winning song "Drops of Jupiter
(Tell Me)" and chart-topping singles like "Meet Virginia" and "Calling All Angels," earning its third Grammy in 2011 for the worldwide smash "Hey, Soul Sister" from
Save Me, San Francisco. Released as a digital download in January 2012, "Drive By" has become Train's latest bona fide international sensation. Tickets are
$39.50; $59.50 and $65.
http://www.StAugAmphitheatre.com
(Sept 6,13,20,27) Cannon Firing Demonstrations at Castillo De San Marcos. December 17, 2011 to January 27, 2013. Rangers and Garrison volunteers will dem-
onstrate the weapons and relate the experiences of the colonial Spanish soldier of 1740s St. Augustine. Historic weapons demonstrations will be presented at
10:30, 11:30, 1:30, 2:30, & 3:30. Firing times are subject to change depending on weather conditions and staff availability. 904-829-6506 http://www.nps.gov/
casa
(Sept 7,8,9) 447th Menendez Founder’s Day Events. September 7, 2012 to September 9, 2012
A full weekend of reenactments and events commemorating the 1565 founding of St. Augustine by Spanish explorer Pedro Menendez de Aviles on the original
colony site at the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, the birthplace of St. Augustine and Colonial European America. The Fountain of Youth is located at 11
Magnolia Drive in St. Augustine. http://www.FountainOfYouthFlorida.com
(Sept 7,13,22,30) Big River at the Limelight Theatre Limelight Theatre- September 7, 2012 to October 7, 2012 St. Augustine's Limelight Theatre brings the world of
Huckleberry Finn to the stage in the multi-Tony Award-winning musical Big River. Located at 11 Old Mission Avenue, performances will take place through October 7
on Thursdays, through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. All tickets are priced at $25 each. 904-825-1164 http://www.Limelight-Theatre.org
Page 7 V O L U M E 5 , I S S U E 8
(Sept 7,14,21,28) Ghost and Gravestones- St. Augustine Frightseeing tour. Welcome Center at 27 San Marco Ave. - 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Voted Best Ghost Tour by
Best of St. Augustine 2010, 2011. The stories you’ll hear come from years of research, personal accounts and hauntingly real-life experiences. Reservations Required!
Tour Length: 1 hour 20 minutes For more information: 1-888-920-868 http://www.ghostsandgravestones.com/st-augustine/
(Sept 8) Fort Matanzas Living History Day. May 12, June 2 (British Navy), July 7, August 4, September 8, October 6 -- Living History Day at Fort Matanzas. Tours are
every hour on the half hour. 9:30a.m., 10:30a.m., 11:30a.m., 12:30p.m., 1:30p.m., 2:30p.m., 3:30p.m., 4:30p.m. On the first Saturday of the month (unless there is a
holiday) join us at Fort Matanzas and take the National Park Service's ferry to Rattlesnake Island. There you will see the 18th century fort that guarded the southern
approach to St. Augustine with re-enactors demonstrating Spanish muskets and cannons. Cannon firing on all tours except 9:30 and 4:30. A re-enactor is at the park
almost every day to tell the story of Fort Matanzas to park visitors. Musket demonstrations may be presented on Saturdays, weather and staff permitting. 904-471-
0116 http://www.nps.gov/foma/historyculture/index.htm
(Sept 8) Orienteering Festival at Florida Agricultural Museum. Florida Agricultural Museum- September 8, 2012, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring the family to have a fun day
learning how to navigate through the Florida wilderness. Open to all ages and levels of experience, this trail-hiking program is a light competition with different skill
level trails (one, two and three mile courses). The Festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Florida Agricultural Museum, located at 7900 Old Kings Road in
Palm Coast. Admission is $2 per person and map fees are $4 per group. Compasses are available for rent. 386-446-7630 http://www.MyAgMuseum.com
(Sept 9) Jethro Tull Performs at St. Augustine Amphitheatre. September 9, 2012, 8:00p.m.
Enjoy a performance of Thick as a Brick in its entirety performed by Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull (the first time since 1972). Also, the band will be performing cuts
from their latest release, Thick as a Brick 2. In addition to Anderson, Jethro Tull includes bassist David Goodier, keyboardist John O'Hara, drummer Scott Hammond,
and wunderkind guitarist Florian Opahle- all of whom have performed with Ian on his solo dates over the years as well as having performed at various times as mem-
bers of Jethro Tull. The show takes place at St. Augustine Amphitheatre, 1640 A A1A in St. Augustine. The gates open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets
range from $29.50 to $69.50. http://www.staugAmphitheatre.com
(Sept 13,14,15) Florida Heritage Book Festival. September 13, 2012 to September 15, 2012, varying times. Florida’s rich and colorful literary heritage is celebrated
at a series of workshops, presentations and readings. Featured opening keynote speaker is Jeff Lindsay, author of the Dexter novels. The 2012 Literary Legends
Awards Banquet will honor Edna Buchannan. Tickets range from $10 to $90, and full conference ticket package is $170. 74 King Street in St. Augustine. Check web-
site for schedule of events & ticeting information. http://www.FHBookfest.com
(Sept 13) Brantley Gilbert Concert, St. Augustine Amphitheatre - September 13, 2012, 7:30 p.m.Country music star Brantley Gilbert will perform on stage at the St.
Augustine Amphitheatre, 1340 C A1A South, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, September 13th. Tickets are $14.50 to $39.50. 904-209-0367. http://
www.StAugAmphitheatre.com
(Sept 15) Tolomato Cemetery Tours. Cordova Street, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. every 3rd Saturday of the month. Explore the historic markers at the oldest existing ceme-
tery in Florida. The self-guided and docent led tours are from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. every 3rd Saturday of the month. The Tolomato Cemetery, an historic cemetery, is
located on Cordova Street, the site of an earlier Franciscan Indian mission (Our Lady of Guadalupe of the Tolomato) in St Augustine. Burials officially ceased in 1884.
Visits are free of charge but donations are encouraged. All money goes to the preservation and restoration of the cemetery. Cordova St., St. Augustine, FL 32084
http://www.TolomatoCemetery.com
(Sept 22) Endless Summer Run 10K XC & 5K Walk. Anastasia State Park -Sept 22, 2012, 7:30 a.m.This 10k (6.2 mile) run through Anastasia State Park's beautiful
beach, hammock, and saltmarsh. The 5k beach walk starts and ends on Anastasia State Park's most beautiful beach. The fun begins a 7:30 a.m. Anastasia State Park
is located at 1340 Florida A1A. 904-461-2035
(Sept 22) North Florida Folk Festival Florida Agricultural Museum - Sept. 22, 2012, 10 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.Nothing beats listening to live music. Our beautiful rural setting
is a naturally perfect backdrop for this all day concert of local and touring folk artists. Come join us for lots of wonderful music and great fun. It all takes place from
10:00 a.m. To 7:00 p.m. at the Florida Agricultural Museum, located off I-95 Exit 298 at 7900 Old Kings Road in Palm Coast. 386-446-7630 http://
www.MyAgMuseum.com
(Sept 22) Blondie and Devo Concert. St. Augustine Amphitheatre - September 22, 2012, 7:30 p.m. Classic rock hall of famers Blondie and Devo will perform live at the
St. Augustine Amphitheatre, 1340 A1A S, at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 22nd.
Ticket prices are $31.50 to $122.00 each. 904-209-3751 http://www.StAugAmphitheatre.com
(Sept 23) 2012 Car Show at TPC Sawgrass. TPC Sawgrass- September 23, 2012, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. More than 100 classic, custom and antique automobiles compete
for trophies. TPC Sawgrass is located at 1000 PGA Tour Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach. Vehicle registration is $25 for custom or antique car in advance and $30 the day of
the event. Admission is free! 904-285-2004 http://www.PonteVedraChamber.org
(Sept 29) UPTOWN SATURDAY NIGHT - From 5 to 9 p.m. on the last Saturday of each month, experience live music, refreshments, new exhibits, book signings and
much more at the galleries, antique stores and unique shops on St. Augustine’s San Marco Avenue between Ripley’s Museum and the Mission Nombre de Dios. The
Mission Nombre de Dios provides FREE PARKING.
S E P T E M B E R E V E N T S I N S T . A U G U S T I N E
S T . J O H N S B U I L D E R S C O U N C I L
Page 8 B O R F O R W A R D
www.stjohnsbuilderscouncil.com
St. Johns Builders Council
Leona Brown—Director
1535 SR 207, Ste 304
St. Augustine, FL 32086
Email: [email protected]
September 1—16th, 2012
St. Johns County 2012 Fall Parade of Homes
Sponsored by the St. Johns Builders Council, St. Augustine Record and the Florida Times-Union.
“The Parade of Homes” is the premier event of the season.
There is something for every lifestyle or the lifestyle of your
dreams and we offer the finest Builders to build your home. We
hope you enjoy the variety of homes and communities that our
area has to offer….”
Look for the Parade of Homes Magazine
in the St. Augustine Record
September 1st, 2012
SHOWCASE COMMUNITY!
Durbin Crossing
Visit and experience the latest decorating styles and features that our finest Builders have to offer.
August Challenge: lower your electrical usage For the month of August, I am challenging all of my readers to reduce their energy consumption. Let’s call it the August Green Living Challenge. Specifically, I want all of you to lower your electricity usage for the month of August compared to what it was last August. Most electric bills have a history of the previous 12 months of usage, so it’ll be easy to compare. If yours doesn’t, then dig last year’s bill out of the file for comparison. If you don’t have last year’s electric bill, then use July as your starting point. Challenge yourself for one month The summer months, including August, are typically high energy usage months. The summer heat drives the use of air-conditioners and electric fans. These devices may be partially offset by longer daylight hours that demand less artificial light, but the long, hot days of summer lead to increased energy usage overall. To participate in the first annual August Green Living Challenge, all you need to do is reduce your own electrical consumption. Develop green living habits The majority of Americans know the most effective ways to live a greener life already. Driving less and using less fossil-fuel derived electricity are two of the biggest things we can all do to lower our carbon footprints and to live a greener lifestyle. The problem is that it is inconvenient to cut back on our energy consumption. It means turning off our computers when we are away from them and then having to wait for them to reboot. It means planning ahead to consolidate trips instead of running out in our car for each little thing. It is our penchant for choosing the more convenient option that has put us in this position today. For the month of August, the Green Living Challenge is designed to help participants develop green living habits that will persist longer than just one month of the year. Lights off in empty rooms The first thing we need to do is dispel the myth that turning the lights on and off uses more electricity than leaving them on when we leave a room for a short time. Who better to dispel myths than the Mythbusters of TV fame. In Episode 69 aired in December of 2006, the Mythbuster crew set up a device to measure the consumption of electric lights when they are turned on and turned off. They found that even the most inefficient electric light bulb used in the home saved more electricity by being turned off for even brief periods than by remaining on. In fact, the break-even point was less than half a second for every bulb tested. If you are leaving a room for less than one half of one second, by all means, leave the light on until you return. If, however, you are leaving the room for more than that, you’ll reduce your usage of electricity by turning the lights off and turning them back on when you return. Computers and electronics The next thing we can all do to reduce our electric bills for the August Green Living Challenge is to turn off our computers when we are going to be away from them. That means overnight, while we are away at work, during dinner time, and any other time when we are not actively using the computer. A typical desktop computer will draw as much electricity as a 100 watt light bulb. Even in standby or sleep mode computers and most peripherals continue to use electricity so follow these tips for reducing electricity usage by electronics devices including televisions, game consoles, and other home entertainment appliances. Keeping cool without air conditioners Air conditioners are a big hitter when it comes to reducing electricity usage during hot summer months. Leave the air conditioner off if you can. If you can’t keep it turned off altogether, then adjust the temperature setting. Add five degrees so that it comes on less often and for shorter periods of time. Human beings become acclimated to temperatures relatively quickly. It won’t be long before you barely notice the difference if at all. Turn off the air conditioner overnight altogether. Night temperatures in the Northeast rarely exceed the sixties, and almost never get above the low seventies. Open some windows and let the cool night air in. Lowering window shades on the south side of the house will block the sunlight and reflect it back out through the window so that there is less solar heating during the day. The use of awnings to stop the light from even hitting the window in the first place is even better. Keep the windows closed during the worst of the daily heat to keep the cool air inside, then open them up whenever the outside temperature is lower than the inside temperature. Dishwasher and freezer efficiency If you use a dishwasher, make sure that it is completely full before running it. If you can cut out several cycles a week through better utilization of the space in the dishwasher, you can add to your energy savings. Keeping the freezer full will also help it maintain its temperature and reduce the compressor’s on-time. If your freezer has lots of empty space, add milk jugs or other containers full of water. Just be sure to leave room in the containers for the water to expand as it freezes. This is especially effec-tive if the freezer is busy, being opened and closed often by the kids looking for popsicles in the summer. Multiply the effect of your efforts To really make a difference, pass the August Green Living Challenge along to your friends and family. The biggest impact you can make is to get others to follow your example in reducing the usage of electricity around the home.
Page 9 V O L U M E 5 , I S S U E 8
G O G R E E N C H A L L E N G E
The internet has changed the way that real estate is marketed and
promoted on a daily basis. With over 90% of home buyers
utilizing the internet to assist them with their home search and
home sellers looking for better results, now is a great time to
focus on your online presence. Having a website does not ensure
that your website will get visitors. How successful you are in
attracting visitors to your website will depend on a number of
things. We have compiled a list below to assist you with ways to
promote your website.
Utilize Keyword Research Tools
Knowing which keywords and search terms have the most value
to you is critical to your success in attracting visitors to your
website. Keyword search tools enable you to see how potential
customers are already searching for your services. Utilizing this
technique will help you create content that is focused on
keywords and search terms that have the best chance of driving
traffic to your website. We recommend using Google AdWords
Keyword Tool.
Create and Frequently Post Unique Content
Providing new information is a great way to attract attention in
the search engines. Make sure that your content is unique and
relevant to your industry. When combined with the above
technique, you can create content specific to the keywords and
search phrases that you want to show up on in the search engines.
Blogs are the most popular example of using unique content to
rank in the search engines. Be sure to include video in your con-
tent.
Create Backlinks via Social Media
Still think social media is a fad? One out of every nine minutes
spent online is spent on Facebook! Social media marketing is
extremely popular and offers an effective way to create backlinks
to your website. Facebook’s new timeline offers some great
opportunities for you to promote yourself and your listings.
Google+, Twitter and Linkedin should be included in your online
marketing strategies, which help to create additional backlinks to
your website.
Submit Your Website to Directories While there are many companies offering automated directory
and link submission services, we recommend submitting your
website to The Open Directory Project (ODP). The ODP is main-
tained by Community Editors, who evaluate your
website for inclusion to the directory. They are recognized by
some of the Web’s most popular search engines like: Netscape
Search, AOL Search, Google, Lycos, HotBot, Direct Hit and
hundreds more.
Keyword research tool image
Unique Content image
Backlinks via Social
Media image
Submit to Directories image
Technology Committee “Tech Tip” Four Tips on Promoting Your Website for FREE
By Dave Hall—Listing Solutions
Page 10 B O R F O R W A R D
Page 11 V O L U M E 5 , I S S U E 8
A N D R E W W O O T E N S . A . F . E A R T I C L E
Stalking
As summer approaches, our focus shift to the prevention of crimes we see in warmer weather. Stalking is the number one crime against women in the real estate industry. We often find ourselves working in unfamiliar areas with clients we may not know well. It's our job to be nice to everyone. However, often our niceness can be misinterpreted. I can't tell you how many agents have told me that the day after working with new clients the spouse has shown up in their office park-ing lot, their favorite lunch spot or their super market, making them feel uncomfortable. While maintaining our profession-alism, we need to take precautions to ensure our safety.
Stalking generally starts out being nice and complementary. But once the stalkers advances are rejected they often be-come angry and hostile. Be prepared! Here are five quick preventative stalker tips.
1. Examine all your social media pages.
How much information are you sharing? Can someone easily track your schedule and figure out where you are or will be?
2. Find your local fire station.
If you feel like you are being followed on your way home, go to the fire department. Even if the trucks and EMTs are out on calls, there is still someone there.
3. Lighting
Criminals love well lit houses, it lets them see what they are doing. However, they have shared with me that mo-tion detector lighting is their biggest enemy. Motion detector lights make people look and criminals don't want to be noticed.
4. Establish a buddy system.
When you do open houses, listing appointments, showings or visit vacant properties, take someone with you. Remember our mothers told us there was safety in numbers? If this is impossible, be sure to check in with your buddy and that someone knows where you are, when you are supposed to return and who you are with at all times, and use updated safety forms at the top of this email.
5. Be proactive!
Find you local resources; like domestic violence centers, victims service centers and spend some time volun-teering there. Spending four hours a month at one of these facilities will provide you knowledge and skills along with paying it forward in your community. And remember, the best defense is a good offense.
Should you find yourself a victim of stalking, please visit our website and click on the Stalking Tips article for the steps to take.
For more tips, tools and information, please visit the resource page on our website, www.JustBeSafe.com.
Page 12 N E W S L E T T E R T I T L E
Seymoine Schmidt
Affiliate/Realtor Committee Chair
Anthony “Tony” Bosco
Commercial Committee Vice Chair
A F F I L I A T E C O M M I T T E E U P D A T E
C O M M E R C I A L C O M M I T T E E U P D A T E
Calling all Bottle Caps! Do you drink bottled water, juice, milk or soda? Do you take vitamins,
use spices while cooking, brush your teeth with toothpaste or use eye drops? These questions
may sound a little out of context, but did you know lids to all of the items and many more are
recyclable for cash?
The Affiliate Committee has put together a fund raiser that is both clever and pleasing to the
wallet. It will not cost you any money out of pocket to participate. All you have to do is change
your way of thinking. Rather than throw away your bottled water with the lid on it, just save the
lid. You will be amazed how quickly the lids will multiply. We will be happy to pick up your lids
or bring them to the next General Membership Meeting on August 17th. We will collect lids
throughout the remainder of the year. All proceeds will be donated to Habitat for Humanity.
The Affiliate Committee’s goal is to apply the special talents and resources of Realtors and
Realtor Partners in support of education, networking and community events. Come join the fun
and start networking your business through one of the most successful groups at the Board of
Realtors.
The Affiliate Committee meets the second Wednesday of each month @ 9:00AM at the
St. Augustine Board of Realtors Office. All members are encouraged to attend our meetings.
We welcome your feedback and hope to see you at our next meeting.
The Commercial St Augustine & St Johns County MLS is
available to all Realtor members. If you wish to utilize this
service simply call the Board office and sign up. If you have a
commercial or multi-family listing you will need to enter the
information separately into both MLS. The Committee is
working on a single entry format, but currently, single entry is
not available.
The advantage of entering your commercial listings on the
Commercial MLS is that when there are at least 100 Commer-
cial listings they will all appear on Commercial Realtor.com. So,
if you wish to get more exposure for your commercial listings,
please take the extra time to add your current commercial list-
ings to the Commercial MLS. Please attend our meetings held
on the first Wednesday of each month at 8:30 am at the Board
offices. "
ANTHONY BOSCO—Vice Chair Commercial Committee
Page 13 V O L U M E 5 , I S S U E 8
Ron Barry
Education Committee Chair
John Taylor
Technology Committee Chair
E D U C A T I O N C O M M I T T E E U P D A T E
T E C H N O L O G Y C O M M I T T E E U P D A T E
Needed: Technology Subjects of interest to our board membership. In August -please respond to the up-coming REBAR Topic Survey.
The Technology Committee is planning to sponsor our second REBAR Camp in October this year. For the REBAR Camp session topics we are looking for 4 topics. We wish to make our REBAR Camp sessions of great interest for our board members to attend, so in August Board members will be receiving a topic survey to determine the top topics of interest. Once the survey is complete we will adjust our efforts to create the best REBAR Camp sessions for our members to attend based on the most popular topics.
We are always looking for board members wishing to join the Technology Committee, no technology skills are required. The Technology Committee meets the first Wednesday of the month at 09:30. However in August we will be meeting August 15
th at 09:30.
For additional information about the Technology Committee, please attend one of our meetings or contract John Taylor [email protected] or Gail Jones, [email protected]
The Education Committee is honored to welcome Tanya Libel to our group. As a reminder we are always seeking new
devoted members into our committee. Please feel free to attend any of our meetings. We would love to see you there.
The month of August offers another Success Series on the 9th and the 10th. This always proves to be a great class with
plenty of opportunity to expand your knowledge. Steve Walt, one of the best instructors that I know of in this state, is
sure to keep you amused while you are learning. Core Law is offered at 1:30 PM on the 10th. This is required every
two years, so please check to see if you are still in need of this class.
Other educational event s include: the FR Convention in Orlando from August 8th-10th, MLS training on August 14th
between 1PM-3PM, and After the contract August 15th from 1PM-4PM. Realist will be offered on August 21st at
1:30PM.
Please be sure to attend our General Membership Meeting on August 17th at 11:30AM at our local board office. We
are running a school supply drive at this meeting, so please bring any supplies you feel would help our local children.
Lunch will be provided by Maria from RMG Mortgage. I must tell you, that it is true Maria can most definitely whip up a
remarkable Italian spread. Stop by and you to will be convinced of her culinary talent.
Looking forward, George Sphorer and I have been working on developing an all new Realtor safety course. I will keep
everyone updated as this course develops. Seymoine Schmidt will be instructing a course on mortgage products in
today’s environment (date to be determined).
A quick reminder, discount cards are still available at $10 each. They are good all year and offer great savings for local
eateries! All proceeds will go to our Scholarship Fund.
Page 14 B O R F O R W A R D
Bill Thew
Public Relations Committee Chair
Ed Paucek
RPAC Committee Chair
P U B L I C R E L A T I O N S C O M M I T T E E U P D A T E
R P A C C O M M I T T E E U P D A T E
The hardworking members of the Public Relations Committee continue to make progress in their
promotional efforts. Recently, a couple changes were made to the Real Estate section of The Record; the
Board’s physical address was replaced with an email address for the direct contact from the public. The
other change was the inclusion of the contributing member’s name in the “Did You Know” portion. This was
added to try to get more submissions for use in upcoming weeks. Note that there are currently 2 separate
drawings for free Board dues so any member can forward articles all year long. The next drawing will be just
in time for Christmas.
Recently, our committee was approached by the Affiliate Committee with the idea of bring back the Board
mixer. This idea was brought to the Board which agreed that, with current market conditions, this is in fact a
great time for our members to regroup and again share ideas, etc. The next mixer is in the planning stages
and will occur in Sept.
On a personal note: at the end of this year I will have completed my second year as Chairperson of this
committee. It has been a pleasure working with the very dedicated and professional members of this
committee and I feel that, from our conception to the present, this committee has made more than just an
effort to better promote our Board and its’ members, it has succeeded. Due to additional endeavors that I
have taken on recently, I find myself stretched thin with time and therefore will not be available next year.
As always, member participation is greatly appreciated and I would encourage any member to become part
of this, or any committee’s future activities – it benefits us all.
Bill Thew—Chairperson, Public Relations Committee
RPAC Vice-Chair Berta Odom and I are extremely pleased to announce our committees efforts during the primary election season have been recognized by the voters in St. Johns County. I can’t thank my committee in any better way than to make mention that our recommendations for the County Commissioner races were Cyndi Stevenson, Rachael Bennett and Bill McClure. All three have been asked by the voters to run our County.
The RPAC Committee with their tireless work, research and sole searching up to and through the”RPAC Candidates Screening Week” have borne fruit! Also recommended were the victorious R.J. Larizza for States Attorney, Melissa Holland for District 17, State Representative and Bruce Maguire for Seat 1, City of St. Augustine.
The voter turnout was low. Out of 150,227 Registered Voters……..29,615 Ballots were cast. That is a voter turnout of 19.71%.
If you voted in this primary your vote weighted heavily in the results. Thank you for being part of the process.
Berta & I agree that our crew will take this month off and get a well deserved rest. We will not have a meeting in September but be back at it strong the first Monday of October! We will then prepare for the November General election. Many candidates, run-off finals and amendments will be on the ballot. We will make our recommendations so as to keep you informed.
Our Real Estate Industry is strong and well recognized. With over 115,000 members we shape the path to a brighter future for our industry and our profession. The political process substantially af-fects our livelihood and we let government know it. They do sit up and take notice.
Much thanks to all of our members for their support.
Best Regards,
Ed Paucek, RPAC Chairman
Page 15 V O L U M E 5 , I S S U E 8
Page 16 B O R F O R W A R D
Register Today! Register online, or over the phone -- 800-650-6893 (US/Canada); 847-996-5876 (outside US/Canada):
WHY ATTEND Every fall, real estate professionals from across the US and around the world come together for the annual REALTORS® Conference & Expo. This annual four-day event includes:
More than 100 education sessions, featuring nationally-recognized speakers, trainers, and industry experts, who discuss timely topics and
critical issues of value to REALTORS®
400 industry vendors at the expo, who present the latest innovative tools just for real estate professionalsUnlimited networking and referral
-building opportunities, including special events, networking lounges, and the expo show floor. In 2012, the REALTORS® Conference & Expo
will be held in Orlando, Florida. This year’s theme is DISCOVER YOUR MAGIC, and indeed, this year’s Conference & Expo will help REALTORS® discover the magic that they possess that will help them take their business to the next level.
20,000 members and guests are expected to attend this year’s event. Remember, it takes only one referral to pay for the REALTORS® Confer-ence & Expo!
What REALTORS® say about the REALTORS® Conference & Expo experience: “I stay ahead by being fully informed on issues affecting our market and by having innovative new products and ideas at my disposal. What I take away from these conferences makes me stand out as the strong, knowledgeable professional that every client wants.”
– Anne Meczywor, Broker/Associate, Roberts & Associates Realty Inc., Lenox, MA
“It’s a valuable part of my continued professional development. The educational sessions provide valuable information from recognized leaders and experts in the industry, and the expo is the best way to discover new products and services. Overall, the entire experience energizes me.” –Donn Roebke, REALTOR,® Illustrated Properties, Wellington, FL
“Attending the Conference & Expo offers invaluable experiences you can’t get anywhere else. Beyond the informative education offerings and events, the networking is priceless. From three-minute conversations in elevators to three-hour dinners with REALTORS® you’ve just met, the idea sharing and collaborating is phenomenal. I now have a network of not only brokers/agents/leaders, but friends from around the country and world. What a great experience, especially for someone who has been in the business for less than five years. Because of attending the Conference & Expo, I can now better serve and educate my clients and customers with a broader understanding of what’s going on in real es-tate beyond the boundaries of my market.” – Christian Zarif, REALTOR,® Prudential Kansas City Realty, Overland Park, KS
See for Yourself at Conference Live Visit www.REALTOR.org/ConferenceLive for videos and highlights from the 2011 REALTORS® Conference & Expo, including photos and comments from featured members, interviews from the expo floor, and more!
Page 17 B O R F O R W A R D
The St. Augustine & St. John’s County Board of Realtors®
Scholarship Program
The $500.00 Gold Sponsorship includes Recognition in
Newsletter
Weekly member email
Website
The St. Augustine Record
And you will receive 50 Discount Cards
The $250.00 Silver Sponsorship includes Recognition in
Newsletter
Weekly member email
And you will receive 25 Discount Cards
Choose a level of sponsorship to support
selected 2013 Graduating Seniors
To donate or to choose a level of sponsorship
contact the Board office at 904-829-8738
B A C K T O S C H O O L B A S I C S : 5 E A S Y T I P S T O H E L P E A S E Y O U R C H I L D ' S
E N D - O F - S U M M E R T R A N S I T I O N
Page 18 N E W S L E T T E R T I T L E
First Day Jitters Younger kids and those changing schools may feel some first day jitters. In fact, it is not uncommon for even high school
aged students to be nervous their first day.
Acknowledge their apprehension and talk about being nervous the first day. Perhaps use a personal story from your child-
hood or mention that a lot of kids are nervous. Let them know that it's okay to be a bit nervous but it will still be fun in the
end.
For younger kids you might want to walk/drive them to the first day of school. If there is a child of the same age in the
neighborhood, you may have them buddy up before school begins so they can comfortably share the adventure when the first
day comes. Also, if your youngster is taking the bus the first day, make certain to accompany them to the bus stop. Remind
them to be mindful of traffic and listen to the bus driver. The more anxiety the student has about the day, the more likely
they may not pay attention to their surroundings.
The demands on high school and even many middle school students are ever increasing. It is easy to forget all the pressures
of getting the right classes, preparing for college, adjusting to taking classes with different teachers, keeping good grades and
having fun on top of it all! When they start this new venture, take time to discuss with your teen what changes they may
need around the household to get their studies done - will they need more time on the computer, an evening at the library,
quiet time before an exam? The list can go on and on. But it is important to note that sometimes parents and younger kids
may forget that there will be an adjustment in their teen's expected workload. Although they will have to rise to the chal-
lenge on their own, an extra boost set up by a productive environment will work wonders!
Back-to-School Basics The end of summer is a study in trade-offs: book time replaces pool time; loungewear is swapped for school-wear; and strict schedules oust
free time in a blatant reminder that the summer’s over. Start off on the right foot with the following resources for organizing, communicating
and planning, during your child’s return to the classroom.
A Good Place to Start: Parent-Teacher Communication
Filling out forms during registration is the first step in starting at a new school and the ideal time to meet your child’s new teachers. Whether
your child is starting out in preschool, or a new high school, getting to know your child’s teacher(s) and their expectations is a good way to
start the school year off smoothly.
During the meeting, find out the school’s requirements: obtain a handbook, list of textbooks, work supplies and the dress code. Also, you can
learn more about what the school has to offer in terms of resources.
A Healthy Start
To start the year with a clean slate, update your child’s medical records. Most schools require your child to have a physical exam before start-ing school; this is also an ideal time to visit the dentist and have an eye exam—especially if they spent a lot of time playing video games dur-ing the summer. It’s also important to get back on track with your child’s bedtime routine, which may have gone by the wayside during those long summer evenings. We’ve all heard that kids, teens and young adults need between 8 and 9 hours of sleep per night in order to properly function at school and during after-school activities. According to WebMD, a sleeping pattern is a “group effort” and requires consistency. For teenagers, HealthDay suggests that you “slowly advance the wake time”, and each day they will
wake up earlier and earlier, eventually ensuring they’re up in time to get ready for school.
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/features/feature-articles/2008/september/Back-to-School-Basics.html#0
Page 19 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1
Back to School Supplies
Armed with a supply list provided by the school, it is time to begin the scavenger hunt. As you look for supplies for your
children, below are a couple items to keep in mind.
Waste Not, Want Not Take a look through left over supplies from last school year. Did older children leave something
the younger ones can use? Were certain supplies never used or still have some life left in them? Do some supplies just
need new batteries, lead, erasers or other refills? Also, check older items that may be spruced up a bit with stickers,
photos, etc. - it makes for a fun project for the younger kids and can help get them excited about going back for the
next year.
School Supply Closet If you don't already have one, set up a supply closet/space where you can keep old and new supplies
all year round. Here you can keep packets of pencils and stacks of paper or notebooks that you know will be used
throughout the year. Buy commonly used items in bulk and you will save in the long run.
Collect Year Round Now that you have a School Supply Closet set up in your home, you can more easily take advantage
of deals as they arise during the year. With a place to neatly keep school items you will have a better idea of what you
need more of as you shop. Although Back to School sales can be good, you may find even greater bargains at the end
of the season or during clearance sales.
"Ouch! My back!" Backpacks are often overloaded with school supplies and can cause back pain and muscle soreness for
students of all ages. A backpack should only be 10-20% of the student's weight. If a smaller student is expected to
carry a lot, then you may consider getting a rolling backpack.
"But everyone else has one..." The plaintive cry of so many children around the country. But be strong - get only what
your child really needs for school. Get supplies that are basic and therefore timeless. Fancy cartoon or pop-icon cov-
ered supplies are short lived. If you do get them, only get a few that you are certain your child will use before they be-
come "unfashionable."
Batteries not Included Avoid gimmicky and flashy supplies that twirl and light up. Teachers find these are very distract-
ing in the classroom. If you do get a fun item like this, keep it at home where it can make the homework blahs a bit
more fun.
Accounting 101 As your children get older, include them in the budget planning. Working together on budgeting for sup-
plies will teach your students how to prepare and why all the flashy supplies may not be worth it. You will soon find
your child will learn to appreciate the cheaper supplies so they may budget for one or two more fancy items.
Organization 101 Along the same lines as Accounting 101, sit down with your older children and take the time to recall
what worked or didn't work last year for their learning. Did they find note cards useful and need more this year? Did
color coding subjects help or would an all in one binder be more useful? Are they still struggling and need to try
something new?
Munch a Lunch Increasingly, online access allows parents not only to review the menu but to check their child's account
and upload more funds when necessary. Many schools are also adopting healthier menus. If you don't have a picky
eater, this may be the most convenient option. However, if you do have a picky eater in the house or if your child has
any food allergies or dietary restrictions, then packing a lunch is the better way to go. Buying food and snacks in bulk
has decreased the grocery bills of many households. With a bit of pre-planning, you may actually save money if pack-
ing lunches with items you know your children will eat. For growing teenagers with insatiable appetites, giving them
as many snacks as possible can help curb the fast food purchases and the extra expense of impulse hunger-buys.
Packing Get a good, strong lunch bag. Brown paper bags don't hold up well and are not environmentally friendly. A
good lunch bag will protect other items from spills and with a small ice pack can keep food at a safe temperature until
eaten. Free Tupperware is good (i.e. sandwich meat containers) however they only have so long to live after being
tossed around in a lunch bag. Good containers are a worthwhile investment as they will be used 5 days a week to pack
a healthy and full meal!
Munchies Include your children in planning lunches for the week. Do this on a regular basis as they may have been all
about bananas the last two weeks but are now sick and want a different fruit or veggie. Find out if lunches are satisfy-
ing - are they still hungry or brining extra home? If they are brining a lot home, find out if they are preferring a food/
snack served in the cafeteria. If you are trying to save money by buying in bulk, you may be able to buy this favorite
to pack in their lunch or find a healthier alternative instead.
Free Shipping Shopping for school supplies online is not out of the ordinary anymore. Many office supply stores and
their competitors are allowing parents to shop from the computer. Compare shipping rates - you might even get free
shipping with purchases at a specified total.
Page 20 B O R F O R W A R D
B A C K - T O - S C H O O L S M A R T P H O N E A P P S
Flashcard Touch
Use Flashcard Touch to make personalized flashcards
No one will disagree that tests are one of the most unfortunate parts of school. But, if you have to study, you
might as well let your phone help you! If you have an iPhone, Flashcard Touch ($4.99) will help you ace that
next quiz. This handy app lets you create flashcards for any subject, and then store them in your phone.
StudyDroid
StudyDroid lets you make unique cue cards
Own an android phone? The StudyDroid app (free) will basically accomplish the same thing as Flashcard Touch and
even allow you to customize your flashcards with different colors and styles! StudyDroid can also be synced to your
computer so you can use your laptop or phone to test yourself.
Dictionary.com
Check the spelling of more than 2,000,000 words with the Dictionary.com app
How do you spell ‘hippopotamus’? The Dictionary.com app (free) offers trusted reference information from their
popular website. The app includes 2,000,000 words, definitions, synonyms and antonyms.
Wikipedia
Unleash a world of knowledge with Wikipedia
When did the American Civil War end? Who was the first president of the USA? Get the answers to these questions and more
with the Wikipedia app (free). Wikipedia offers the same wealth of knowledge that can be found on their online site. Just make
sure you don’t reference them in your paper!
iHomework
iHomework helps you organize assignments
So little time, so much to do (especially if you want to sneak in a trip to the mall after school). Make sure you spend more
time playing and less time on homework with the handy iHomework app ($1.99) for the iPhone. Available on all Mac
devices, iHomework lets you organize assignments, keep track of readings and record important class info.
HomeWork
Never miss a deadline again with HomeWork
Of course, there is an alternative for you android lovers. The HomeWork app (free) also lets you manage and sort
your homework and keep track of which assignments have been started or completed. Never miss a deadline ever
again.
iFormulas
iFormulas is the ultimate math cheat sheet
If you are having a hard time wrapping your head around the latest formulas in math class, pay a visit to the iFormulas
app (free). With everything from basic addition and subtraction to complex numbers and algebra, this app
is the ultimate cheat sheet.
CueBrain
Learn languages using CueBrain
More into languages? CueBrain ($3.99) will help you learn French, Spanish, Italian or any other language you desire.
Brush up on your vocab or quiz yourself for Friday’s test. Learning has never been so easy.
Read more: Top 10 Back-to-School Smartphone Apps http://www.kidzworld.com/article/25928-top-10-back-to-school-smartphone-apps#ixzz23iEQtCto
M E M B E R B E N E F I T S
Page 21 V O L U M E 5 , I S S U E 8
Lessons From Our Recent Hurricane Test by Wally Conway, Host of The Home and Garden Show, Saturdays 7 to 9 AM on WOKV AM690 and 106.5 FM, and President of HomePro Inspections
904-268-8211 WOKV AM690 and 106.5
Page 22 B O R F O R W A R D
HomePro Inspections is your go-to source for agent liability reduction and customer peace of mind! Infrared
technology separates the professionals from the pretenders in the home inspection industry, and only HomePro
utilizes infrared technology on every exclusive 5 Star Inspection™ Package. Call for your 5 Star Inspection today –
904-268-8211.
Have Wally Conway speak at your office or for your favorite group! Wally is a speaker, writer, FREC instructor, host
of HGTV’s “House Detective”, host of DIY Network’s “Finders Fixers”, and host of The Home and Garden radio
show on WOKV AM 690 and 106.5 FM. And don’t forget to pick up Wally’s book, “Secrets of the Happy Home
HomePro Inspections
is your best source for agent liability reduction and
client peace of mind! Your client’s one stop for:
Environmental Testing (mold, radon, water, lead paint,
meth lab); Wind Mitigation Evaluations,
Chinese Drywall Assessments, Insurance Inspections,
Energy Audits, Home Inspections, Termite Reports,
Construction Consultations, Infrared Moisture
Instruction Investigations, and More!
904-268-8211
GoHomePro.com
How’d you do on the tropical storm Beryl “practice hurricane test”?
Mother Nature appears be taking the June 1st official start of the 2012 Hurricane Season rather seriously!
Why else would she have sent us the pre-season tropical storm Beryl?
If we look at what frustrated us, aggravated us, or did damage to our homes during Beryl, we just might be better
prepared for the next storm. And to be sure, we will be seeing many more storms this year at least as large or larger
then Beryl.
First, our friends at the power company. They really took some heat for the thousands of homes that lost power during
Beryl. This is really strange to me because they had plenty of power to deliver! The real problem was not the power
company, the problem was that OUR trees knocked down their power lines!
So if you see a tree that is endangering a power line, report it to the power company, they will put it on their
trimming schedule.
Never attempt to trim a tree that’s on or near a power line. Touching a power line with a ladder or saw can kill you.
And that’s not good!
Even after you do all that you can about trees taking down power lines, you can still lose power!
That’s why both at my home, as well as my office, I have a back-up generator.
The ideal is a permanently installed generator with automatic switching so that you’re never without power. For those of us on a more limited
budget, a portable generator with a transfer switch is a great and affordable alternative.
I’ve got the Generlink transfer switch, and I love it! Remember, once the next storm starts, it’s too late to install a transfer switch. Get a transfer
switch installed today and you’ll feel safe, secure and hassle free the next time your power goes out.
Back to the subject of trees! A tree coming down on your roof can be a real danger both to you and your home. Most always the fallen tree will
puncture your roof bring in gallons upon gallons of water, maybe even thousands of gallons. Often the tree will miss the roof, but take out a few
windows. Again here come hundreds of gallons of water from the wind driven rain.
How can you reduce the risk of trees damaging your home? Have a properly licensed and insured tree service remove those trees and limb, espe-
cially those that pose the most danger to your home. Just having them clear out any dead limbs, as well as those branches that touch your home,
is a very cost effective strategy to becoming more storm safe.
Tree trimming is dangerous work. You want to be sure that the people in the trees have the experience and equipment. When selecting your tree
service, be sure the company is properly licensed and insured. Hiring Bubba in a truck with a ladder and chain saw not only puts Bubba at risk,
but also your trees, your home and your family finances.
IF you hire someone who is not properly licensed and insured to do work at your home, it is you, not the unlicensed worker, and NOT your home-
owner’s insurance that is responsible for cost of damage or injuries that occur, including injuries to the unlicensed worker.
The cleanup after the storm has past is as dangerous as the storm itself. Did you know that more people are injured after the storm than during
the storm?
If you see downed power lines, assume that they are live so they don’t kill you!
Want to eliminate the risk of falling off your roof doing a roof repair? Call a roofer!
Want to eliminate the risk of sawing off your hand cutting trees? Call a tree surgeon, which is far less expensive than calling a hand surgeon.
I’m about as frugal a guy as there is, but I do spend money on storm preparedness and will spend money for storm clean-up and repairs. The
peace of mind is worth every dime!
Page 23 V O L U M E 5 , I S S U E 8
J U L Y S T A T I S T I C S
Monthly Statistics Report
07/01/2012 - 07/31/2012
St. Augustine & St Johns County
Compiled on August 15, 2012
Jul-12 Jul-11
Change from
7/1-31/11 - 7/1-31/12 YTD 2012 YTD 2011
YTD 2011-12
Residential
New Listings 351 301 16.61% 2,505 2,455 2.03%
Sold Listings 222 183 21.31% 1,502 1,397 7.51%
Vol. Sold Listings $44,775,065.00 $31,613,979.00 41.63% $290,317,431.00 $273,118,555.00 6.29%
Avg. Sell Price $201,689.48 $172,753.98 16.74% $193,287.24 $195,503.62 -1.13% Avg. Day on Mar-
ket 145 151 -4.16% 156 157 0.83%
Lots and Land
New Listings 91 93 -2.15% 522 576 -9.37%
Sold Listings 12 19 -36.84% 155 119 30.25%
Vol. Sold Listings $647,850.00 $2,037,150.00 -68.19% $11,845,111.00 $12,289,257.00 -3.61%
Avg. Sell Price $53,987.50 $107,218.42 -49.64% $76,420.07 $103,271.07 -26.00% Avg. Day on Mar-
ket 231 281 -17.74% 297 212 40.11%
Commercial/Industrial
New Listings 15 39 -61.53% 82 117 -29.91%
Sold Listings 2 3 -33.33% 16 22 -27.27%
Vol. Sold Listings $591,000.00 $422,000.00 40.04% $3,893,050.00 $5,486,686.00 -29.04%
Avg. Sell Price $295,500.00 $140,666.67 110.07% $243,315.63 $249,394.82 -2.43% Avg. Day on Mar-
ket 311 293 6.14% 327 190 71.85%
Multi-Family
New Listings 4 3 33.33% 32 45 -28.88%
Sold Listings 5 0 N/A 18 21 -14.28%
Vol. Sold Listings $2,757,150.00 $0.00 N/A $5,299,550.00 $3,797,900.00 39.53%
Avg. Sell Price $551,430.00 $0.00 N/A $294,419.44 $180,852.38 62.79%
Avg. Day on Mar-
ket 246 0 N/A 273 137 99.09%
Total
New Listings 462 436 5.96% 3,142 3,193 -1.59%
Sold Listings 241 205 17.56% 1,691 1,559 8.46%
Vol. Sold Listings $48,771,065.00 $34,073,129.00 43.13% $311,355,142.00 $294,692,398.00 5.65%
Avg. Sell Price $202,369.56 $166,210.39 21.75% $184,124.86 $189,026.55 -2.59%
Avg. Day on Mar-
ket 153 165 -7.64% 171 161 6.26%
Search Criteria
Date Start: 7/1/2012
Date End: 7/31/2012
ALL INFORMATION DEEMED RELIABLE BUT NOT GUARENTEED
S T . A U G U S T I N E & S T . J O H N S
C O U N T Y B O A R D O F R E A L T O R S ®
Page 24
SEPTEMBER 2012 PREVIEW
3rd LABOR DAY CLOSED
5th COMMERCIAL COMMITTEE 8:30AM
TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE 9:30AM
6th BOARD ORIENTATION 9:00AM
AFFILIATE COMMITTEE SPECIAL MEETING 9:00AM
7th FR/BAR-1 3CE 9:00AM
10th EDUCATION COMMITTEE 9:00AM
11th FINANCE COMMITTEE 12:00PM
12th AFFILIATE COMMITTEE 9:00AM
MLS BOARD MEETING 12:00PM
13th BOARD MEETING 12:00PM
14th CODE OF ETHICS 3CE 9:00AM
17th—23rd FREI REAL ESTATE SALES COURSE
18th MLS TRAINING 1:00PM
19th PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE 9:30AM
24th TODAY’S MORTGAGE-SEYMOINE SCHMIDT 9-10:30AM
25th INNOVIA 2 TRAINING—INTERMEDIATE 1:30PM
28th AUCTION OF THE WEEK PROGRAM 10-12:00PM
Phone: 904-829-8738
Fax: 904-823-9512
C O N T A C T I N F O R M A T I O N
Board Office Staff
Victor J. Raymos, RCE
Association Executive
Professional Standards
Sharon Lainhart
Membership and Finance
Lise Hays
MLS/Education /SUPRA/
Newsletter/Website/ Membership
Linda McNett
Membership/Website/SUPRA
/Committee Support/Education
Just like the Board of REALTORS® is your
Board, this is YOUR newsletter! We can’t
do this without you!
B O A R D W E B S I T E : S T J O H N S R E A L T O R S . C O M
Primary Business Address
Your Address Line 2
IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION
National Association
of REALTORS—
www.realtor.org
1-800-874-6500
NAR Member
Benefits Program—
800-NAR-5233
www.REALTOR.org/RealtorBenefits
REALTOR.COM— 800-878-4166
INNOVIA (MLS) Support—
800-334-0831
FORMSimplicity— 407-587-1450
SUPRA Support—877-699-6787
FloridaRealtors–
www.floridarealtors.org
Tech Hotline—
407-587-1450
Legal Hotline—
407-438-1409
FR Event Registration—
800-669-4327
FR Orlando—407-438-1400
FR Tallahassee—850-224-1400
RPAC—850-224-1400
