JoEllen Stranger-Thorsen; Lake County Florida Real Estate & Lifestlye

Am I here for the consumer or other professionals? I joined Active Rain a few months ago. And it wasn't long (about one week) before I realized that creating a blog was going to be in my best interest. I started my blog here on Active Rain with the consumer in mind but as I posted I began to feel...

  Gas prices are hovering around $4.00/ gallon (diesel is $4.75/ gallon on a good day,) airlines are charging for checked bags and talking of fare increases and surcharges, and restaurants are raising prices because their suppliers are raising prices. The family budget is feeling pinched and you ...

My accountant gently reprimanded me on my mileage log from 2007. It seems I have to keep a more meticulous log this year. (The sticky notes just weren't working for him.) I not so jokingly told him I should be able to write off every mile I had on my car since I stalk houses for a living. Althoug...

I had the pleasure today of writing an offer on a home. I had spoken to the other agent several times in anticipation of submitting the offer. In all our conversations he had given me the impression the seller was agreeable to negotiation and in fact had encouraged me to make an offer when I told...

When I worked for a Realtor® as a listing manager about fifteen years ago things were a little different. Home searches were not done on the internet. As a matter of fact it was at the end of my tenure there when the national franchise developed a web search for properties. It was not met with op...

Kyle Thrush, a former Faith Lutheran School student, is a Mount Plymouth youth who suffered serious head injuries in a dirt bike accident in April. He was given a 4% chance to live. Through his own determination, the power of prayer and skilled specialists he has beaten those odds. Kyle is curren...

Hurricane season is here and we have already had our first named storm. It is time to check your supplies and make your emergency plan. Lake County Florida has been fortunate since the 2004 hurricane season when we were pummeled every three weeks by the likes of Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne...

I'm going to forgive Teresa Berry for not realizing that this is recital week, the last week of school and the week of other endless deadlines. Despite these entire goings ons I have been MeMe'd. I can't tell you my first thoughts when I received the tag.                             Suffice it to...

I joined Active Rain for two basic reasons: 1) Networking 2) Learning I have only been here since March. In the time I have been here I have done more than learn. I have been submerged in information relating to just about every aspect of real estate that exists. And along the way I have made con...

I love reading through MLS listings. Not only do I get a feel for the area inventory and pricing I get a pretty good laugh out of this practice. Here are some of this week's favorite MLS property descriptions. •1.       $2500 flooring allowance, $5000 landscaping allowance, seller will look at an...