It's that time of year again for Florida Students, and very soon for other parts of the country!  As a parent I know we all can have a difficult time encouraging our children to read.  My husband, who is in the book business, shared an approach that was shared with him called Reading Education Assistance Dogs developed by Intermountain Therapy Animals.  The concept is simple, children read to dogs.  Reading out loud is start in helping to develop reading skills.  The difficult part is the intimidation that children will naturally feel.  Reading to a dog eliminates that and also makes reading very fun since they have the attention of a friendly dog. You can approach this a couple of ways.  First, you can contact the Intermountain Group and they can assist in making this a group program i... 08/13/2007

Currently, a couple of separate development projects are underway in the Matanzas Woods area.  When this occurs, it can create some confusion as to who is doing what.  The construction we see along the US 1 corridor is a Mixed-Use project called Palm Coast Park which headed up by Palm Coast Holdings (also in charge of the current Town Center Project).  Click here to visit their website for further details.  This is also the proposed site for a Publix to be placed sometime in the future.  At this point the project is projected to take several years.The second project currently underway is the renovations to the Matanzas Woods Golf Course lead by LandMar.  This project includes not only upgrading the Matanzas Woods Golf Course, but also adds a new Clubhouse and residential townhouses/cond... 08/12/2007

As residents may be aware, the Matanzas Woods Golf Course is under renovations. One hole in particular has been a concern of homeowners. The 9th hole on Lee Drive. After speaking with the Project Manager from LandMar, we found that some of the information relayed from the City was a bit misleading. LandMar expressed a lot of concern that the residents are not getting the real facts, and stated that the hole will remain a golf hole. Whether that will be for the First Tee program or not is yet to be determined. LandMar also stated that the hole will be maintained as normal.The renovations will add a great deal to an already beautiful and attractive neighborhood, and I am sure the residents will find the plans and ideas to be very exciting. LandMar has offered to come and speak with the re... 08/12/2007

Sea Colony is a unique gated oceanside community located in the Hammock area of Flagler County, just north of the upscale Hammock Dunes, Ocean Hammock, Hammock Beach developments. Unlike its luxury neighbors to the south, Sea Colony is a quiet, laid back community of smaller homes, most less than 2,000 square feet. It offers a lovely beach, a community clubhouse and pool overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Several small lakes offer great views, privacy, and fishing. Biking trails and county parks are close by. Described best as a quiet retreat, Sea Colony is situated just 15 minutes from St. Augustine near Palm Coast. What makes Sea Colony particularly attractive is the value. 2006 and 2007 sales of non-oceanfront homes have typically been for less than $400K. The community is well landscap... 08/09/2007

Realtors and residents met with the City Council last evening to address the City ordinance which forbids the use of directional signs advertising an "Open House" event.  The current City Ordinance states:Sec. 42-41. Location standards--Utility installations. (a)   The primary concern in the design and location of utility installations is protection of the right-of-way and the safety of the highway user. In all cases, full consideration shall be given to sound Engineering principles. (b)   Where possible, all longitudinal underground utility facilities should be placed in an area within seven feet inside the outer edge of the right-of-way line except where potable water and sanitary sewers lie along the same side of the road, requiring a separation of ten feet between those utility line... 08/08/2007

In response to many inquiries as to the status of the Palm Harbor Golf Course, the City posted the following on its website http://www.ci.palm-coast.fl.us/ :Update on Palm Harbor Golf Course The City has been receiving a number of inquires about the status of our efforts to obtain and reopen the Palm Harbor Golf Course. The City continues to pursue this project and is very confident that we will be successful. However, our attempt to include the original driving range land has delayed our progress. We are still anticipating a 2008 opening.As we indicated when Centex offered the course to the City, there is a great deal of work to accomplish prior to commencing construction to help assure the course is successful. The following highlights occurred during the past few months:The City rece... 08/08/2007

As many residents may know, the renovations are under way.  I spoke with the Project Manager recently.  The news was very exciting.  One hole in particular that has been an area of concern is the 9th hole.  LandMar assures me that nothing will eliminate the use of that hole as anything other than a golf hole.  There is discussion of donating that particular hole to the City of Palm Coast for use of a youth program called First Tee.  Whether that occurs or not, LandMar is committed to maintaining the hole.  Regardless, under City Zoning Codes, once land is used for a Golf Course . . . it will always be used for Golf.  One other idea which is still being worked out is the possible addition of a small park as well.  With the addition of a new Clubhouse, improved golf course, the possible F... 08/06/2007

Town Center is the largest and most significant real estate development underway in Flagler County, FL. Sited on 1500 acres north of SR 100 between I95 and Belle Terre Parkway, it combines business, residential, parks, government, and retail in a multiphase plan expected to be completed about 2020. Palm Coast Holdings, a subsidiary of Allete Properties, is the developer. Site work that began in the Spring of 2005 is nearing completion. The project is divided into 30 separate development tracts.         Development approvals are in place for the following land use entitlements:Residential - 2,500 units. Commercial/Retail - 3,400,000 sf. Office - 1,400,000 sf. Lodging - 480 rooms. Movie theater - 2,400 seats. Nursing home - 240 beds. Institutional - 625,000 sf. Th... 08/03/2007

Hammock Beach was the first of The Ginn Company's developments in Flagler County. Ginn purchased property from Lowe Destination Properties, the same folks that developed Ocean Hammock. It is located along the Atlantic shore in an unincorporated area known as The "Hammock.''Hammock Beach has 213 single family homesites but the jewel of Hammock Beach is the 12-story resort condominium called The Club at Hammock Beach. The Club at Hammock Beach boasts two fine restaurants, a state of the art fitness center and spa, and a $6M swimming complex. This club and its amenities are available only to property owners and their guests. Many of the condos are in Ginn's rental program which operates the facility as a full service hotel. Property owners in Ginn's other Flagler projects, have the option ... 08/03/2007

Hammock Dunes is a private, gated community located on 997 acres along 1 1/2 miles of beach front in Flagler County, Florida. The upscale community combines estate homes, luxury oceanfront condominiums and two championship golf courses. In addition, a 2 1/2 mile long island in the Intracoastal Waterway affords the venue for Island Estates, a sub-community of luxurious homes, most in the $million plus category. The equity club consists of two golf courses. The Tom Fazio designed Links Course is located on the barrier island within the Hammock Dunes compound. The Rees Jones Creek course is located among pristine creeks and marshes on the west side of the Intracoastal Waterway.Most new development consists of luxury oceanfront condominiums developed by WCI.The condominiums include:Portofin... 08/03/2007

Nestled along the West side of the Intracoastal Waterway in Palm Coast, Grand Haven is a residential gated community of homes in the $250's to $1 million plus range. Chose from Intracoastal, lake, golf course or preserve fronted homes and home sites. Homesites range from $90K for interior lots to $500-750K for Intracoastal sites. Live side by side with osprey, eagles, herons, egrets, gators, and deer. Sighting of Florida panther, bobcat, wild boar, and otter have also been reported. Launches from Cape Canaveral are often visible.A private highly rated Jack Nicklaus signature golf course with a beautiful clubhouse winds through the complex. The course is the focal point of the complex, however only one third of the residents are golfers. A Village Center offers 7 hartru tennis courts, a ... 08/03/2007

Current Active Residential Houses for Sale: 109Average List Price: $259,610Lowest List Price: $155,000Highest List Price: $609,000Current Active Residential Vacant Homesites for Sale: 102Average List Price: $85,711Lowest List Price: $39,900Highest List Price: $219,000Year-to-Date Resdential Home Sales: 28Average Number of Days on the Market: 128Average Sales Price: $222,943Lowest Sales Price: $160,000Highest Sales Price: $355,000July 2007 Residential Home Sales: 9Average Number of Days on the Market: 76Average Sales Price: $230,333Lowest Sales Price: $174,000Highest Sales Price: $310,000The following Residential Properties sold (sale closed bewteen 7/1/2007 and 7/31/2007) in the month of July 2007:2LANCASTER LANE$174,00063LUTHER DRIVE$185,00014LARAMIE DR$197,00028LAMONT LANE$230,00028LA... 08/03/2007

Current Active Residential Properties for Sale: 14Average List Price: $783,576Lowest List Price: $375,000Highest List Price: $1,149,990Current Active Residential Vacant Homesites for Sale: 114Average List Price: $244,785Lowest List Price: $115,000Highest List Price: $520,000Year-to-Date Resdential Home Sales: 2Average Number of Days on the Market: 170Average Sales Price: $562,500Lowest Sales Price: $500,000Highest Sales Price: $625,000Year-to-Date Resdential Vacant Homesite  Sales: 8Average Number of Days on the Market: 186Average Sales Price: $228,875Lowest Sales Price: $120,000Highest Sales Price: $379,000July saw no sales for Palm Coast Plantation.An overall Palm Coast Market Report can be found on my website at http://www.kathywestrealtor.com/Local_Real_Estate_Report/page_1740413.ht... 08/03/2007

  Palm Coast primary elections will take place on September 11,2007 with general elections to be held on November 6,2007; and candidates have been announced.  Visit the Flagler County Supervisor of Elections Website for information on each of the candidates.The big issues during this election race will no doubt be:The local economy and plans to attract business and bring jobs to the areaGovernment spending and solid budgetary visionStimulating attraction to the area Continued crime preventionIt should be an interesting race with very good candidates.  Palm Coast remains as one of the most attractive areas in Florida to live.  We are packed with anemities for peoples of all ages and interests.  We are a city which is still rather young, but has met the needs of rapid growth over the last... 08/02/2007

168...one hundred sixty eight...168th out of the top 500 nationwide foreclosure zip codes. What has happened here in the land of incredible profits in flipping homes and land? Someone turned the faucet to off and never turned it back on.Flagler County was given remarkable coast to coast press for being the fastest growing county in the country. Investors were snapping up homes and land without ever seeing the property. Now there are vacant homes all over and I doubt one street in the city is lacking a "For Sale" sign. This is great news for buyers! Negotiations are much easier without stubborn sellers who have finally come out of their denial that the market has changed. Lots of incentives out there...and a chance for folks to "lease with option" to fulfill their dream of home ownership... 07/30/2007

But let those who have not taken out a home equity loan, made possible by the handsome increase in the value of their home, cast the first stone.Palm Coast, Flagler County, Florida - One of my readers posted the following comment to a recent article about Sawmill Creek, a gated, golfing community currently under development by Lowe Destination Development. He questioned the sanity of developers. Here are his comments and my reply.Comment Title: "Why More Private Communities"Comment: "In all of your conversations and research has anyone made any sense as to why the persistent focus on these ‘upscale' communities in this area?  From what I understand, none of them have filled.  And as you reported, the Conservatory seems to be a ‘bust'.  What is the thought process?  It appears that some ... 07/29/2007

The ingredients for a successful sale were there. The auction company was highly respected Sheldon Good, the largest real estate auction company in the country. The properties were desirable, all in private communities developed by Bobby Ginn, rich with amenities packages. The seller was flexible, understanding that the market had changed from the time $2.5 million was paid for the lots two years ago. The sale venue was the Palm Coast Yacht Club. But the buyers were missing - at least enough of them willing to bid seriously. The five properties in the auction were:Hammock BeachLot 41 North Shore Avenue, purchased for $700,000 - suggested opening bid $175,000 Lot 47 North Shore Avenue, purchased for $430,000 - suggested opening bid $150,000 5 Spanish Moss Court, purchased for $427,000 - ... 07/23/2007

  One of those old sayings we often hear in reference to crime is "You could go to sleep and leave the door unlocked."  That is a wonderful notion, but the truth is that most of us would not leave unlocked doors even in the lowest crime areas.  Locks on doors serve as a detterent to those who may want to get in and steal from us at a time when we wouldn't be very aware . . . while we sleep.Locks are very important and necessary for most of our property.  This includes our houses, cars, etc.  When it comes to our cars what do most thieves do?  They walk from car to car looking for the one with the car door left unlocked.  Most incidents involving car theft involve the car door not being locked.  Thieves require one thing . . . opportunity.  Your best defense is to eliminate that opportun... 07/22/2007

Another Ginn development was hailed as a hugely successful offer in 2005. 337 Conservatory at Hammock Beach lots were oversubscribed by eager investors at prices ranging from $329,900 to $529,900. The final tally was nearly $142 million. Many buyers planned to flip their lots, reaping a nice profit, as many had done with previous Ginn projects.Today, 80 lots are listed for sale on MLS. No Conservatory lots have sold through MLS in the past 24 months. Nor does MLS list any Conservatory lots in either a pending sale or contingent sale status. (MLS data does not show subsequent sales brokered through the Ginn sales organization since they do not participate in MLS. However, the Flagler County Property Appraiser recorded only one sale from an original owner to a third party in all of 2006 a... 07/21/2007

Robert H. Gidel, formerly a Managing Director of Liberty Partners, LP, has joined The Ginn Company as President. Bobby Ginn will continue his role as Chairman and CEO. An internal announcement is being developed and a formal press release is forthcoming. Mr. Gidel is already residing in Orlando. I spoke today with Bobby Masters, Executive Vice President of The Ginn Company and with Ginn spokesperson, Ryan Julison. They described how the company has been looking for nearly five years for the right person to take over much of the day-to-day operations of the company, to free up Bobby Ginn to do the things he has done so well. Gidel will watch over things like operations, financial systems, human resources, while Bobby will continue to be the face of the company, the visionary, the markete... 07/17/2007