Good News! The H.M.S. Bounty (replica built for the 1962 film)is coming to our shores in April. Will there be exciting sea battles staged with, for example , the pirate ship, The Black Raven? Will the losers have to walk the plank? Stay tuned! http://www.tallshipBounty.org
Not Good News! Could it really be possible that the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind be awarded eminent domaiin powers to expand, thereby, of necessity, requiring the demolition of existing structures, most famously, the Nelmar Tract, on the National Registry of Historic districts. Pretty scary, huh? Is this Dr. Proctor's going away gift to St. Agusustine? Bet he doesn't live there! Want to complain? The House sponsor is Doug Broxon doug.broxon@myfloridahouse.com St Augustine in the news again!
2012 Once again St Augustine has received international recognition, adding to at least 4 awards over the last year and a half (see my blog) - this time by none other than National Georgraphic, which has named our beautiful "city of lights" one of the world's top ten places to view the holiday lights, in such company as Madrid, Copenhagen and Hong Kong! Over the years since its inception, this has become one of St Augustine's major attractions, drawing visitors from all over the nation and beyond. It has also become a local favorite. It's quite a scene to watch the trolleys trying to avoid each other, touring the downtown(even "uptown" is getting into the act), loaded with tourists singing carols and yelling out Merry christmas to all and everyone on the streets. What do you think? Is St Augustine hot or not!!?
Moving on to a lesser known event, I want to mention the second annual film festival, The St Augustine Film Festival,last yeae known as the Flagler College Film Festival, though there were no student films. This will run with some fascinating indie films from Jan 19th through the 22nd. Anyone who is a film buff and doesn't shell out the $45 for an all included ticket plus two parties, needs to have their head examined!
Just a quick reminder that the Celtic festival, organized by the Romanza group(see previous blogs) will be repeated again this year and word has it that the parade will be bigger and even better. Many thanks to John Meehan, owner of the eponymous restaurant on the bay, for his solid suppport on every level. Thanks, John!
Murrell Weissinger, realtor, Watson Realty corp 904-669-2146 www.staugustinehomesforsale.com St. Augustine Spanish Quarter Museum
10/24/2011 The Spanish Quarter - light at the end of the tunnel? Hope so. Three tourism companies are vying for the opportunity to take over the running of this tourist attraction which the University of Florida currently controls, and has built up a deficit of over 700k. The possible candidates (they have not yet presented their actual proposal, just at the "audition" stage") are Pat Croce and Company of the Pirate and Treasure Museum, St Augustine Historical tours (the green trolleys) and Orlando dinner Entertaining. This is pretty exciting! How long as it been since we've seen even a whisper of a bidding war (Murrell, don't exaggerate...let's say "interest") over an apparently money losing operation. The loss is somewhere around $700,000. If the University of Florida can't balance the budget on an important attraction such as the Spanish Quarter, it looks like time to let a commercial entity have a try. There are so many up and coming celebrations to fund and organize and with the subsequent influx of visitors, the least we can do is have our already existing infrastructure functioning and in good health. Someone ought to be able to encourage visitors to turn their heads a few degrees away from the malls and enjoy the opportunity to see some living history! Nothing against shopping, mind you - guilty as charged!! As always, thanks to George Gardner for keeping us up to date on these very important matters so crucial to our near and not - so far- away future.
Did you know LinkedIn is an awesome networking tool? I am so impressed with their reports. Today I read that the 30 year fixed rate for loans was @ 4.15%, the lowest level in 5 decades! This has kept the refinacing activity very high and accounts for almost 70% of all mortgage activity! Treasury securities are averaging 2.86% coompared to 3.53% last year. The perception must be that these are a safer bet in these volatile times even though they are not paying what they used to.
Did you know that the National Association of Realtors is 1.1million strong and is America's largest trade association?!. Let's see if we have some pull with the powers that be. In California, the realtor association is calling for a summit to bring the policy makers and movers and shakers to come together to solve the economic and housing situations, both so mutually dependent. The short sale process needs badly to be speeded up and streamlined. That would be a great step forward. Come on banks - let's get on the same page!
Most of our local Saint Augusitne realtors were informed that Lawrence Yun, economist for NAR(National Association of Realtors) was coming to speak today a the venue of Anastasia Baptist Church which holds circa 600 people. Not sure if we aere even 300. Although I thought his talk was good and somewhat enlightening, I wondered if the lack of attendance had something to do with the fact that over the "lean" years, he - or they - kept putting out optimistic reports when all the evidence showed to the contrary about the housing market. Today he laid things more on the line. Yes, transactions are picking up, yes, new listings are down approx 2%, exisiting homes make up 90% of the market as new home construction stagnates, 8million jobs were lost, 2 million added on, America is still a land of property owners - 60 to 65% of Americans are homewoners, the loans issued since 2009 have onlly a 1% default stat...all this is well and good. But he did say that if certain things are not accomplished to help the housing market, which would help create jobs, etc. that we could be looking at a double digit recession rate...please no!! Price of gas, natural disasters helped to make April a very slow month. Locally our sales were way up, the inventory down, and the median price for homes only moved a small percentage down from last year's price but still, be aware that although sales are up, the volume (dollar amount) is way down. Fortunately, our local St. Augustine and St Johns County market are showing signs of becoming a niche market where prices are stabalizing in some niche areas and the overall outlook does look roseish!!
Let's Talk about Food! What is a St. Augustine Datil Pepper? May, 2011
History tells us that the Datil Pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacques) arrived at our shores in 1768, brought from Minorca by indentured servants on their way to Dr A. Turnbells' plantation in New Smyrna, FL. In 1777 the survivors migrated to St. Augustine and brought with them the seeds of this unique hot pepper. Rumor has it that this pepper only thrives in St. Augustine and close surrounding areas, though I have read differing opinions. The plant can grow as high as 4'or more and gives green fruit which eventually can turn a yellow orange color - they're even hotter at this stage! One of St. Augustine's' best restaurants, Collage, has been generous enough to share their wonderful recipe for a carrot, bacon and datil pepper soup. It has traveled with me to California, New York City and practically to Canada! Always a success, except for the faint of heart and palette - they can be so hot that one of the traditional uses, putting them in a jar with white vinegar and flavoring food such as cocktail sauce with a few drops, can be repeated with the same peppers once the vinegar is gone!! Freeze them, dry them, make "dust", mustard, jellies, hot sauces such as the ubiquitous Dati'l Do- It or make your own version of bottled hell..whatever you do and wherever you take this unique pepper, people will never forget that taste! Most will thank you but others need to be forewarned!
A bubble in the real estate market?? March, 2011 Has everyone else noticed what I have been noticing - at least within our local market here in St. Augustine? The phones are ringing and customers are coming out of the woodwork. Lots of pent-up demand...easing up on the loans (MetLife is offering some extraordinary rates on jumbo loans which you can now get up to 2million! I heard that there are 750 foreclosures waiting in the wings in St. Johns County. However, some local experts believe we have really finally come to the bottom. We may stay there for awhile while these distressed properties get disposed of, but the general feeling is one of better than cautious optimism!! Any thoughts?
Well...according to NAR, our inventory of homes is down from a 12 month supply in mid-2010 to a 10 month supply. That's good news. Curious point - home sales were up from 4.8million to 5.2million - the same amount as in 2000!! also the "pent-up demand" could be as high as 30million people! whew! won't it be something when they make a move! Have we seen the bottom of mortgage rates? That threat should help people get off the fence if they have been waiting and watching!!
According to some info from Realtor.Mag the upward trend in mortgage rates might get some buyers off the fence. The general feeling is that the rates have bottomed ouit and can only creep up. The "perfect" loan ( i.e., significant money down, great credit, ec.) 30 yr rate went up to 4.61 (good luck!) and the 15 yr rate from 3.81 to 3.95. We all know there is a pent up demand and that sales in St Johns County seem to be increasing, although not the average price. Comments I have heard would indicate that the general public still believes the prices will continue to go down (though a faster recovery is expected for St Johns County than the rest of Floroida) and that another wave of distressed property sales is in our near future. A rise in the mortgage rates could encourage buyers to move forward anyway - we'll see!!
On another note, Inman News has named thier 100 most influential people of the year and that included 6 officers from the national board of NAR! Goes to show how imporant real estate is to our economy!!
Curb appeal is top of the list for helping the sale of a property. Exterior improvements lead the way with a steel entry way door getting back 102.1% of the investment! These replacement projects are less expensive and give back the most. Upgrades such as granite countertops, actually declined on percentage of money gained back. You have to get people in the door before anything can happen!!
REALLY GOOD STATS FOR ST JOHNS REAL ESTATE! December, 2010 Metro Market Trends has reported some, I think, exciting new statistics. For instance, comparing the month of Oct. in 2009 to 2010, the petitions for Lis Pendens were down 51% and foreclosures were down 33% from last Oct. Does that tell you anything? Although volume was down 10% for Oct 2010, the year to date volume is up 11% and the year is not over! I have noticed several niche markets where the prices have not only stabilized but are gaining slightly. Logically, these are communities where the demand is high and the short sales and foreclosures may have run their course. The sale of single family homes, though showing a downturn for Oct, year to date is up 11%! Onward and Upward say I!!
KUDOS TO ST. AUGUSTINE AGAIN! November, 2010 And the awards keep rolling in for our beautiful St. Augustine. The local paper, The St. Augustine Record, has just announced that "Smart Money", a personal finance magazine published by the Wall Street Journal, has named st Augustine one of nine "best places to retire". Apparently, the small size of the city, less crowding and less expensive than some of the more traditional spots( as in Sarasota for example) are some of the reasons. But let's not forget that St. Augustine is really on the map now with the high quality concerts being offered at the Amphitheatre, lots of festivals, a mecca for artists, plenty of great restaurants and entertainment, beautiful beaches, gorgeous golf courses, our own concert association,Emma, an active Cultural Council, good theatre, charm and lots of history, quality of life, proximity to a large city, Jacksonville, with it's symphony and pro football team, the Jaguars!!! What more could we ask for!!?
