Murrell Weissinger's Blog

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 so...

The Early Learning Coilition...helps expose toddlers and pre-schoolers to books, words and any vehicle that helps them to experience the joys and potential of the written word. It is a well-known fact that if a child reaches the age of 6 without receiving certain brain stimuli, those "electric" c...

  Let's Talk about Food! What is a St. Augustine Datil Pepper?   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 migrate...

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 yo...

Last night at dinner a friend took my little study of Ponce de Leon in America a step farther for me. He said - which I will research - that Ponce de Leon was in Tampa at some point although he did not, as I have said, make it to St. Augustine. What was he doing there?? All hands on deck for Celt...

I recently had to change my lifelong version of Ponce de Leon and his search for the Fountain of Youth, which supposedly brought him to St Augustines' shores in 1513, prior to its official founding in 1565. George Gardner, who regularly writes a wonderfully informative email/newsletter, The St Au...

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! ...

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 lu...

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...

I wrote on my laat blog that St. Augustine had just been named one of the the Top 10 places to retire by US News and World Report, but did you know....St Augustine was also voted one of the Top 10 best places to LIVE in by the same publication for both 2009 and 2010? Also in 2010 Smart Money Maga...