I've been seeing more buyer in the last month.  I said that the month before that, and the month before that.  With five homes under contract to close in the next 30 days, I believe that the market in St. Augustine Florida is stabilizing.  I read an article in our local local newspaper, the St. Augustine Record, that quoted National Association of REALTORS (NAR) reported "the seasonally adjusted annual sales rate of existing homes in June was up 3.6 percent over May." Does that mean we are on the way to a recovery?  Read the article and see for your self http://staugustine.com/stories/072609/business_1781388.shtml Marjorie Taylor, Watson Realty Corp. is a licensed Real Estate Broker and community leader representing Homes in St. Augustine.   She holds the professional designations of CR... 07/26/2009

  For the month of July, Prudential Network Realty is participating in the Friends of St. Johns County Food Bank.  Food donated goes to foster families, homeless people, and families in need.  We received word yesterday that the shelves are empty, without even peanut butter to distribute. Our location at 112 SeaGrove Main Street is a drop-off center for non-perishable items.  Suggested items are boxed milk, pasta, cans of soup and vegetables, tuna and other canned meats, crackers, cereal, etc. It is in giving back to the community where we, in the real estate industry, stand out.  It is these same neighborhoods where we have homes for sale that we can build a strong bond and a collective conscientiousness.    Please join us in this effort to help provide food to those in need.      An M... 07/22/2009

For the month of July, Prudential Network Realty is  collecting backpacks for children in foster care.  Our location at 112 SeaGrove Main Street is one of the drop-off centers for the backpacks and various supplies, such as paper, pencils, crayons, rulers, school boxes, binders, glue, etc.   In 2008, our company collected 315 backpacks.  We hope to exceed that number and provide children who are in need a feeling of confidence and security to enter the upcoming schooldays.   It is in giving back to the community where we, in the real estate industry, stand out.  It is these same neighborhoods where we have homes for sale that we can build  a strong bond and a collective conscientiousness.    Please join us in this effort to help provide a foundation of education in our youth.     An Mar... 07/22/2009

St Augustine Florida When one considers their local community there are very few people in the United States who can walk about their home town and observe 400 years of history. St Augustine predates the founding of the "colonies" and has many "firsts" as in the first Catholic Cathedral (1870) founded in 1565. We have a wonderful historic district with homes dating back to the 1700's and 1800's. Our museum and historical society document our history back to the 1500's and even before that with the history on the local indians. Visit my website for more about St Augustine http://st-augustine-homesearch.com 07/15/2009

I recently attended a DotNetNuke convention in Tampa, Florida. The convention was held at Microsoft and promised to provide valuable information on new technology and techniques. I invited Dick Betts to come along and see first hand how dynamic and robust this platform is. Dick is a National Speaker and teaches classes for Realtors. I manage his Web Services Division and provide internet technology for him and his many clients. (I honestly could not tell you which one of us was "Oscar" and which one was "Felix" but, we were definitely the "Odd Couple") As soon as we arrived in Tampa, we met up with some friends at PF Changs for a late dinner. Three of them are from Canada and focus their talents on the real estate industry there. It was interesting to hear the state of the real estate ... 07/03/2009

The Nation's Oldest City starts it's Birthday Party Celebration TODAY! .   There is something to do for everyone this weekend in St. AugustineDo you like music and the arts? How about history? Want to paddle about the marshes? Do you like to see things blow up?    Take a look and see how we are celebrating the 233rd birthday of the United States!   Read More Here     Marjorie Taylor, Watson Realty Corp. is a licensed Real Estate Broker and community leader representing Homes in St. Augustine.   She holds the professional designations of CRS, CSP, e-PRO, GRI, TRC and is passionate about helping clients buy and sell Homes in St. Augustine and Homes in St. Augustine Beach, Florida. 904-591-9121 www.TheBestAgentInStAugustine.com Marjorie@MarjorieTaylor.net 07/02/2009

Have you been wondering how is the Nation's Oldest City celebrating it's 233rd Birthday this year?   By blowing things up, of course!  Visitors from far and wide come to view the spectacular display each year.  2009 is offering some unique viewing spots that you will not want to miss! Click here to find out where to view the best Independence Day fireworks in St. Augustine. Marjorie Taylor, Watson Realty Corp. is a licensed Real Estate Broker and community leader representing Homes in St. Augustine.   She holds the professional designations of CRS, CSP, e-PRO, GRI, TRC and is passionate about helping clients buy and sell Homes in St. Augustine and Homes in St. Augustine Beach, Florida. 904-591-9121 www.TheBestAgentInStAugustine.com Marjorie@MarjorieTaylor.net 07/02/2009

Yes, this is the biggest weekend activity in Porpoise Point and Vilano Beach. It seems the entire northeast Florida area comes to Porpoise Point to enjoy the 4th of July weekend on the beach and then watch the fireworks over our nation's oldest city. The entire neighborhood is one big party. It is one of my favorite weekends and makes me happy to live in Porpoise Point so I don't have to fight the traffic to get home! This year our local community association, North Shores Improvement Association along with Vilano Beach Main Street , is make the experience even better if you can imagine that! With funds raised from the Sunday Market, we are able to have The Falling Bones provide a  pre-fireworks entertainment experience (aka concert). Band members Rick Levy, John "Long John" Higginboth... 07/01/2009

Now you can read all about the Vilano Beach area via North Shores News. This monthly community newspaper is distributed by the St. Augustine Record, our local newspaper, to properties in the Vilano Beach (North Shores) area. The area distributed includes Porpoise Point to the last house on the ocean just before the The Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve and to Camachee Island on the west. This includes Vilano Beach, Surfside and North Beach and parts of South Ponte Vedra Beach. Some of the communities in this area are: Porpoise Point, South Beach, Serenata, Ocean Grande, Beachwalk, Turtle Shores, Tide's Edge, Mariner's Watch, Seaside of Vilano, and Villages of Vilano. To read the monthly paper, please visit http://VilanoBeachFL.com . 06/30/2009

Has the bottom hit in St. Johns County?   The state of Florida has some of the highest foreclosure concentrations in the country.  I am currently working with several young couples trying to find their first home and the foreclosures and short sales are so enticing.  Well, the prices of these are enticing to many buyers.  This is leading to people fighting over properties and getting into bidding wars.   We actually have BUYERS (yeah!) and they are BIDDING WARS!  Wow, what a change from last year.   I am beginning to wonder if the end of the bust is here and we are slowly climbing our way up.  I’ve been studying the numbers and have come to the conclusion it has.   According to the latest figures compiled from St. Augustine and St. Johns County Active Listings and Sales Trend Reports:  ... 06/29/2009

      What’s going on?  Yesterday’s Sunday local  front page has a feature story about a realtor that helps a financially distressed family stay in their house in St. Augustine  by communicating with the lender for loan modification.   Today the St. Augustine Record has an article about a meeting to take place in Jacksonville related to preventing  foreclosures in Florida.   Today’s meeting is a committee involving local, state and federal governmental agencies that can provide assistance with mortgage mitigation and various housing needs.    Just wondered if anyone else is seeing the print media painting a rosier picture of the housing market? Since so many people take what they read in print as gospel, it would be so great if people read that the situation is improving, and viola!    ... 06/22/2009

St Augustine, the oldest city in America, is preparing for a milestone birthday.  A 14-member Commission has been formed to develop plans for the celebratory event in 2015.  The commenoration will feature significant events, festivals, re-enactments and exchanges and displays of Native American, Africian American and European cultures. The city's history is truly unique.  Before the 2015 birthday bash, the city in 2013 will celebrate the 500th anniversary of Don Ponce de Leon's discovery of Florida in 1513. With over 46 million people of Hispanic orgins living in the United States, this will be the landmark event to experience their cultural heritage.  At the same time, Spain will be celebrating the 200th anniversary of their constitution.  St Augustine is home to many milestones in his... 06/19/2009

Looking for something fun to do this weekend?  June 20 and 21 the Castillo De San Marcos (the Fort as we call it here) will be open to the public FREE!  Read More.... FREE WEEKEND AT CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS Come explore the Castillo de San Marcos for free. The National Park Service is waiving entrance fees so all can experience history come alive. Throughout the weekend, the park staff and volunteers will present historic weapon firing demonstrations and living history programs about the culture of an eighteenth century Spanish fort! Click here for a link to learn more about The Fort Marjorie Taylor is a licensed Real Estate Broker and community leader representing Homes in St. Augustine.   She is passionate about helping clients buy and sell Homes in St. Augustine and Homes in St. Augus... 06/19/2009

This is a fantastic small deed restricted community in a quiet alcove of St. Augustine on Anastasia Island.It has less than 75 homes with homeowner association and community pool.  The homes are concrete block and interspersed amongst quiet lakes. The community is located off of State Road 312 very close to historic downtown St. Augustine, shopping, and the fabulous St. Augustine Beaches.  Built in the mid 1990’s  by  Palmetto,  the homes provide low maintenance and distinctive floor plans. An Marshall, REALTOR Prudential Network Realty Extremely Full Service www.AnMarshallOnTheMove.com view my blog email:an.marshall@prudentialnetworkrealty.com www.palmettohomes.net 06/12/2009

  I just suffered and survived, a computer melt down.  Luckily I was able to call Eddie Roberts of Jacksonville, FL who was able to respond to my needs immediately, and thank God, successfully.  But itleft me to wondering, if I lost everything,  what information would be most devastating.   My email folders seemed to be pretty high up there.  I do have them categorized by client and listing and then some.    I have 2,274 saved emails.  Since, we are all about document, document, and document, I would love some ideas on what systems people use to save their emails.      An Marshall, REALTOR Prudential Network Realty www.AnMarshallOnTheMove.com view my blog email:an.marshall@prudentialnetworkrealty.com www.eddiesPC.com     06/10/2009

I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it. Yes, I already knew that St. Augustine is one of the best places to live, but it is so nice to hear others verify it. With the Atlantic Ocean, the Intracoastal and the St. Johns River we have so many water choices. And our nation's oldest city has to be one of the most charming places ever. I feel like I am on vacation every day here. There is always stuff happening. I try to keep my website updated under Calendar of Events with all the happenings. We are a small town, with so much culture (art, music and dance) and great restaurants with fresh seafood. The recreational activities are overwhelming: great fishing and boating, jet skiing, kayaking, canoeing, water skiing, sailing, parasailing, wind surfing, the beach, etc. plus parks, golf, tennis... 06/10/2009

One day I was walking through a community where I had a listing.  I was going door-to-door (the old fashioned way)  inviting neighbors to an open house I was hosting later that week.  One door I knocked on was that of an elderly woman whom I have since befriended.  From the beginning, I knew that her time in that house was due to come to close fairly shortly.     Now that time has come.  She has no family except a son, overtaken by his own problems of being laid off from the auto industry and his house going thru foreclosure in Detroit.  Over the last six or eight months I have known her, I have seen her health decline.  She is on constant oxygen and errands have become a chore.   Last week she called asking if I could help her find a place to move to.  She needs a retirement home where... 06/08/2009

Enjoy the beach this summer. Vilano Beach, the closest beach to historic St. Augustine, Florida. Here's what's happening. Call me at 904-823-0027 or e-mail me at Barbara@BarbaraJenness.com with any questions or if you'd like to get involved.     MondayJune 89 am   ST. JOHNS COUNTY CIVIC ASSOCIATION ROUNDTABLESpecial meeting at the newly dedicated Emergency Operations Center, 100 EOC Drive at the end of Agricultural Drive.       MondayJune 87 pm   NSIA FORUM - NEW WEB SITE TOOLSAt the North Shores Community Center, 120 Meadow Avenue Info: 904-607-7771Understanding what is needed to be an important part of our image to the world. Come provide input on what you want on the VilanoBeachFL.com website. Presented by our webmaster, Mike Kilgallon of Aardvark Associates.         MondayJune 159 a... 06/06/2009

St. Augustine is a fantastic location for a comfortable, medium-paced life along the Atlantic Ocean.  Just a couple miles outside of the historic district is Anastasia Island  - a much sought after peninsula because of its proximity to both the extended beaches and the Intercoastal Waterway.  In the midpoint of this island, located on the east side is Sea Place - a small established community built in the 1980-1990's.  The community has a distinct Mediterranean flair with red tile roofs and "pink" stucco over concrete block.   It was built in 4 phases: phase 1 comprises of 72 condos, many of which have ocean or pool views; phase 2 is 24 patio homes, many of which are located on an attractive lake; phase 3 is  34 estate homes which may have an individual pools or lake view; 10 ocean fron... 06/01/2009

Today was the first of four classes led by Dave Hall of Listing Solutions on social networking and blogging. To be honest, I'm barely computer literate, so maybe to others this wouldn't be so mind blowing... There's so much more that can be done on these sites than merely chatting with friends and colleagues. He clued us in on ways to increase our internet presence and visibility that would never have entered my mind. Great class, terrific instructor, enlightening experience, and well-worth the money. I highly recommend this class to anyone serious about growing his business. 05/28/2009