ActiveRain Community

As a long time transplant from Pennsylvania to Florida, I'm sharing this and a few of my thoughts with you.I first moved to Coral Springs, Florida which is just South of Boca Raton in the mid 80s.. Coral Springs was a growing family orientated community with terrific schools. My son was heading into 11th grade. It was crowded and congested but the weather was fabulous. It had the hustle bustle of South East Florida with beautiful beaches nearby, lots of activities for all ages and good eateries. I moved to Central Florida 2.5 years later.Seminole County, Florida was growing and had top rated schools. We were further from the beach but it was a better area for my family.  I remained in Longwood, Florida for nearly 30 years before moving to Leesburg, in the heart of Lake County where I ha... 11/14/2025

So you've decided Florida is calling your name – smart move! But now comes the big question: which side of the peninsula should you call home? The Gulf Coast with its crystal-clear waters and laid-back vibes, or the East Coast with its Atlantic energy and urban buzz?Here's the thing – there's no wrong answer, but there's definitely a right answer for you. Let me break down what each coast brings to the table so you can figure out where you belong.Join our Moving to Florida! GroupGulf Coast: Where Time Slows Down (In the Best Way)The Gulf Coast is like Florida's chill cousin who never gets stressed about anything. If you've ever seen those postcard-perfect photos of turquoise water so clear you can see your feet, that's the Gulf Coast showing off.The Water is Just BetterLet's start with ... 11/14/2025

 If you have had a feeling that the real estate market has been odd lately, you might be on to something. The third quarter numbers are all over the place. Sales have increased in some markets and declined in others. Prices are mostly up in the local markets, but they are down in some. The days on the market and volume of sales might be the most telling changes this past quarter.For instance, Winchester City had ninety-six sales in the third quarter. Of those sales, sixty-one sold in 0-30 days. That means 63% of the city’s third quarter listings sold in the first thirty days of the third quarter. At the same time in 2024, there were 101 sales in the third quarter with seventy-six, or 77% selling in the first thirty days of quarter. What about in the second quarter? The second quarter of... 11/13/2025

I pulled together a quick list of core acronyms. You may think some don’t belong — and that’s okay. I’m not looking to start a bar fight… just want your take on what should make the cut -- what you’d add, remove, or swapCheck it out here: realdata.com/realestateeducation/realdata_acronym_slideshow.html #RealEstateInvesting, #CommercialRealEstate, #CRE, #PropertyInvesting, #RealEstateFinance, #RealEstateAnalysis 11/13/2025

🏡 OPEN HOUSE – Sunday, Nov 16 | 2–4 PM📍 814 Meadowview Drive, Columbus, OH 43224💰 Listed at $400,000Step inside this charming all-brick ranch in the Moores and Dales subdivision of North Columbus! Featuring 3 spacious bedrooms, 2 full baths, a formal dining room, and a family room with a cozy fireplace — this home offers over 2,400 sq. ft. of comfortable living space on a beautiful corner lot.✨ Come see it this Sunday from 2–4 PM — you’ll be glad you did!📅 Hosted by: Rachel Flood📞 Listing Agent: Joseph C. Jackson | 614-431-1220 | rjoe@kw.com🏠 HissJackson Advantage | KW Capital Partners 11/13/2025

 1041 Rosebank Drive, Columbus, OH 43235Hosted by: Thomas HollowayListed by: Erik Hiss | HissJackson Advantage | KW Capital PartnersJoin us this Sunday, November 16, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM for an open house at this beautifully maintained home in the desirable Stilson Highlands neighborhood — now listed at $550,000!This 4-bedroom, 2.5-bath home combines Worthington Schools with lower Columbus taxes, offering outstanding value and location.Step inside to discover:✨ A spacious, light-filled traditional layout🔥 A cozy sunken family room with a fireplace🍽️ A bright, functional kitchen with a charming breakfast nook🛏️ Generous bedrooms with ample closet space🌳 A private backyard with a deck and patio, perfect for entertainingThe partially finished basement adds bonus living and storage poten... 11/13/2025

OMG, our Zoom meeting actually happened yesterday, despite a few technical hiccups along the way! A big shoutout to Carol Williams and Kathy Streib for going above and beyond to get everyone notified and the meeting up and running after finding the link (like fitting the pieces of a puzzle together). And kudos to Eileen Burns 954.483.3912 who stepped right in with her interview-style hosting skills to keep things flowing smoothly! Sometimes it takes a village to make things happen.Our roundtable discussion on plans for the first quarter of 2026 was both lively and inspiring. Whether retired or still hustling in business, everyone had ideas and goals to share. It’s amazing how hearing one person’s plan can spark a whole new idea for someone else, that’s what makes this group so special.W... 11/12/2025

This is my second entry for the November challenge, hosted by Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375 Last year I received a call from a young couple who had recently married and wanted to meet and talk about using my services to buy a home. This was in September and when we met at a Starbucks I came prepared. I have helped many young couples buy their first homes. It can be a stressful and heart wrenching process, especially in a market that leans strongly towards the seller and with so little inventory.I asked several questions, about what their life style was like, what they enjoyed doing, how they lived life. Then we moved onto the nitty gritty of what sort of house they were hoping to find. What areas they were looking in and where they both worked. We covered mortgages and h... 11/13/2025

Yesterday on November 11, 2025 many shared their feelings specific to Veteran’s Day.  Initially this day was known as Armistice Day to commemorate the end of World War I. In 1938, Congress made Armistice Day a legal federal holiday to honor for the most part those who had served in WWi. Then in 1954, Congress again made first a name change to Veteran’s Day and then the purpose of this still federal holiday was to honor all who had served. NOTE: Memorial Day is to remember those service men and women who gave their lives protecting this Republic. Many US citizens are Veterans.  From WWII, in 2024 there are an estimated 66,000 veterans still with us.  For the Korean War, that number as of 2025 that number is much higher with an estimated 650,000 to 800,00 veterans still alive.  Jump forwa... 11/12/2025

1041 Rosebank Drive, Columbus, OH 43235Listed by: Erik HissHissJackson Advantage | KW Capital PartnersWe’re excited to share a new price on this exceptional home in the highly desirable Stilson Highlands neighborhood! This is your opportunity to own a home that offers the perfect combination of Worthington Schools and lower Columbus taxes—a true win-win for homeowners.This 4-bedroom, 2.5-bath residence has been thoughtfully maintained and is ready for its next owner to bring fresh ideas and personal style. The traditional floor plan features: A spacious formal living room and dining room A cozy, sunken family room Large bedrooms providing plenty of comfort and flexibility A partially finished basement for extra storage or recreation space Step outside and enjoy the beautifully landscape... 11/12/2025

This brain buster is your moment of calm focus before the day begins.Mindful thinking sharpens everything else. 🧘‍♂️🧠Answer for the dayWhich verb becomes its past tense when you rearrange its letters?Today's answer: EAT becomes ATE Brain Buster for Thursday, November 13 I can be even without being divisible by 2. When I’m odd, I might be even. What am I? 11/13/2025

This brain buster is your moment of calm focus before the day begins.Mindful thinking sharpens everything else. 🧘‍♂️🧠Answer for the dayWhich verb becomes its past tense when you rearrange its letters?Today's answer: EAT becomes ATE Brain Buster for Wednesday, November 12 I can be even without being divisible by 2. When I’m odd, I might be even. What am I? 11/12/2025

There’s been a lot of talk lately about how a government shutdown impacts the housing market. You might be wondering: Is it causing everything to grind to a halt?The short answer? No.The housing market doesn’t stop. It keeps moving. Homes are still being bought and sold, contracts are still being signed, and closings are still happening. The difference is that a few parts of the process may slow down a little, but overall, the market continues to function.Here’s What Typically HappensWhenever the government shuts down, some federal agencies temporarily close or scale back their operations. That can cause a few hiccups in real estate, especially when it comes to processing certain types of government loans and insurance requirements: “Applicants for FHA, VA, or USDA loans—which account f... 11/12/2025

Zoom Homework…Sharing and Caring First of all, thank you to the members who managed to find the link to our Zoom meeting on Tuesday. Carol Williams and I appreciate the time and effort you took to get to the call. And, thank you to Eileen Burns 954.483.3912 , who knows how to keep the meeting going smoothly. We had a roundtable discussion about plans for the first quarter of 2026. Yes, I cannot believe we’re talking about a new year already!Even those of us who are retired or on our way there had things to share. You may think Big Woo…I already know what I plan to do.   However, the beauty of this roundtable discussion and other Zoom calls is that you never know when an idea…added to what your plans may be…can inspire you to do even more.  The members offer support for each other. For e... 11/12/2025

Everyone probably knows that I was no fan of AI when it exploded across the Internet. And with good reason. It HAS taken some of my business.I still would not consider letting it do my writing, but I do dearly love it for research. I also love it for solving problems. Last week my husband's "TV Ears" quit working on the living room TV. I called Panasonic, and after going through all the troubleshooting steps, the technician said I needed to do a factory reset. That was fine, except we use the Starlink remote and didn't realize that the Panasonic remote had died. New batteries were no help.We disconnected and I called a neighbor to see if he had a Universal Remote. No - but he had a Panasonic and I could borrow it. I called Panasonic back and this time got a young woman who insisted that... 11/11/2025

We made it with the persistence and patience of Carol Williams and Kathy Streib! As I noted in the Q&A, Miss Anna "Banana" Kruchten 🍌🍌🍌, it is time to open the Point Store so we can send Carol and Kathy on an all-expense-paid vacation to a destination of their choice for their Herculean efforts in getting the Zoom link to WORK and their efforts to get the WORD out so people could join. When I spoke about the need for patience with AI today on the call ... I would not have gone the distance Kathy and Carol did to make it happen. Ladies, I bow down to you.  Well Done! The roundtable discussion flowed well. Thank you, Moderator, Eileen Burns. Each attendee was asked to share what marketing plans they have for Q1 2026.  The retired attendees were asked what fun things they have planned.   *... 11/11/2025

This month, the ActiveRain challenge is about thankfulness as is typical with our November challenges. Our host, Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375 has indicated we can share someone's thankfulness FOR us, or our thankfulness for someone else. Specifically, someone who may have been helpful in our real estate role. My first post focused on an attorney I met while taking real estate courses. The second post focused on my gratitude for people who were not so helpful. And this one is focusing on those in my real estate career who WERE helpful.First, there is Lesley. I just can't start without her. She was the office assistant who sat at the front desk in my first office. Lesley handled all the administrative tasks for the entire office of about forty or fifty people. She always ... 11/11/2025

For those interested in things other than real estate on this wintery fall day, I thought I would share this story that I just submitted to a contest on REEDSY, a writing platform I use to publish my book--still waiting for final edits on "HIDDEN HAMPTONS...A novel". *THE PHONE BOOTH...And the Black Cat Nothing prepared Ophelia for the long wait. Where is he? Why is it taking him so long?Ophelia was in a state of fear; a new feeling for this 14-year-old. She held onto her bag like it was a life saver—had she been too sure of herself? Was it true that there were dangerous people just waiting for her, like her mother said? “You need to get into the phone booth, as soon as you get off the bus!” Her mother’s warning words were stuck in her brain, like day-old oatmeal on a spoon. She could n... 11/11/2025

If you’re searching for a prime office space in Columbus, this property is one to see! The price has just been improved to $539,000, making it an outstanding opportunity for business owners or investors alike.Located just off Cleveland Avenue, south of Interstate 270, this modern and well-maintained office building features a brick and frame exterior with a newer roof — offering both functionality and curb appeal. The blacktop parking lot accommodates approximately 12 vehicles and includes handicap-accessible access with a front ramp for easy entry.Property Highlights: Welcoming main reception area Flexible layout — potential for a separate suite (with its own gas line) Series of connected dental labs Private office (originally a conference room) Two bathrooms Additional lab space that ... 11/11/2025

In Silicon Valley where I work homes have become very expensive over the past 25 years. Many homeowners are holding onto their homes because they have low interest rates from the pandemic refinance boom and because California is  very expensive for capital gains tax on real estate. The state   treats all capital gains as ordinary income and has the highest state income tax rate in the country, up to 13.3%For many years most of my customers have deeded their homes as Joint Tenants with rights of survivorship (JTWROS). This  is a form of property ownership where each owner has an undivided interest, and when one owner dies, their share automatically passes to the surviving owner(s) without going through probate.The method of ownership should be discussed with an attorney and/or financial ... 11/11/2025