The New England Ale House just opened a few days ago on Alt 19 here in beautiful Palm Harbor Florida. New England Ale House is located in what used to be called the Old School House. The Old School House was built in 1910 and was actually a school house at one time. The owners of New England Ale House, Randall & Tara Cook, have had the building remodeled and added a large covered deck outside for additional seating. With the kind of crowds they have been drawing, that additional seating is coming in handy! Here you can have your own beer mug reserved just for you! You 'rent' the mug for a year and thusly belong to the Mug Club. Check it out on their website, along with the menu. I had the New England Salad, which has mixed greens, dried cranberries, shaved onions, glazed almonds, warm b... 06/29/2014

Palm Harbor Florida Home Sales - June 2014 Palm Harbor Florida is a beautiful area that stretches from the shores of the Gulf of Mexico to both the western and eastern shores of lovely Lake Tarpon. Palm Harbor includes many gated golfing communities and some of the best schools in the county! With diverse restaurants, waterfront homes and plenty of boat storage facilities for those not directly on the water, this is a true water enthusiasts mecca. Honeymoon Island State Park and Caladesi Island State Park are both just off shore and Three Rooker Island is directly west of Indian Bluff Island (also part of fantastic Palm Harbor Florida). Since Palm Harbor includes three zip codes, it is easy to understand that there are currently 314 single family homes on the market. In the last six mon... 06/20/2014

The snook are biting off the shores of Palm Harbor Florida. While it is no longer snook season and they cannot be kept for dinner, you can photograph and release. Snook are one of those great fish that put up one heck of a fight if you are lucky enough to get one on the line. So may try to catch them but you have to let them take the line before you pull back. If you 'jump the gun' and pull your rod back too soon, they will spit the hook out. Nothing is better than fresh snook but it is not snook season right now, so Ronnie did the legal catch, photograph and release. Fishing is always wonderful off Palm Harbor Florida! It is a fantastic place to live and play in the Florida sun. Give me a call today for relocation information.   06/12/2014

William Dunn Conservation Park in Palm Harbor Florida was a park that I did not know existed. You cannot see it from the road but if you walk north of Palm Harbor toward Tarpon Springs, the park is right off the Pinellas Trail. This was an excellent surprise, a beautiful park next to the water treatment center, since I had forgotten to bring along a bottle of water and we walked over five and a half miles this morning. I took advantage of the William Dunn Conservation Park's water fountains and restrooms in both directions of our walk. It was a chance not only to hydrate but also splash water on my face, neck and arms to help me cool down from the walk. There are so many wonderful parks here in the Palm Harbor Florida area. That is just one more reason why I love living here. Let me kno... 06/07/2014

Yes, you are reading this correctly, we closed in less than three weeks and it was NOT a cash transaction. As a matter of fact, it was 17 calendar days exactly, from the date I had all signatures on the contract until the day we closed here in Palm Harbor Florida.  It wasn't a question of 'if' it could be done, I knew it could be since I have closed enough conventional loans in my time as a Realtor to know that conventional loans 'can' take up to three weeks but there is no reason for it to take that long IF everybody is on top of things and all paperwork moves to where it needs to be without delays. My clients were thrilled since they were living in a rental with their belongings in storage until they could get into their new home. When clients want to write an FHA loan, it can indeed ... 06/05/2014

John Chesnut Park in tropical Palm Harbor Florida is located on the eastern shore of Lake Tarpon. The park is 255 acres of trails, playground, doggie park and picnic facilities. There are 13 picnic shelters scattered throughout the park and three hiking trails. Two playgrounds, a boat ramp, softball field, water fountains and restroom facilities, along with a great doggie park make this the perfect destination for the entire family.    A great destination for birthday parties and picnics, there are grills at the picnic shelters. This is also a great place to catch deer, raccoon, gators, hawks and other wildlife with your camera. John Chesnut Park in Palm Harbor Florida is one of several fabulous parks located in northern Pinellas County and just one more reason why this is a great place... 05/27/2014

Sea birds on Honeymoon Island State Park off the coast of Palm Harbor Florida is a sight to behold. You can get to Honeymoon Island State Park via the Dunedin Causeway or by boat.   Naturally, if you go by boat, it is the northern end of Honeymoon Island State Park that you want to head to. That is where the least amount of people venture to since it is such a long walk. In addition to that, it is a sea bird nesting area! Honeymoon Island State Park has large areas marked off specifically for sea bird nesting and humans are not allowed to enter. The area is patrolled by the state park services and is really worth the trip out there. This is one of the things that makes life in Palm Harbor Florida so special. If you are ready to begin your relocation plans, give me a call today to discus... 05/27/2014

Palm Harbor Florida Home Sales - May 2014 Palm Harbor Florida home sales have been steadily increasing while the time on market has been decreasing. As we have been telling clients for the last year, it is once again a seller's market! If you have been procrastinating on purchasing your home, don't wait any longer as prices are going to continue their upward trend. While it is a seller's market, there are still some great homes out there. Give me a call today to begin your search for homes in Palm Harbor Florida! 05/27/2014

Honeymoon Island State Park & Caladesi Island State Park are both west of Palm Harbor Florida. Located as barrier islands between the sparkling waters of the Gulf of Mexico and St Joseph's Sound, both of these magnificent state parks offer ideal bathing and hiking opportunities. Perhaps after viewing this video, you will understand why we love living here. Boating during the week, rather than on the weekend, means that we have the waterway and these parks pretty much to ourselves. For more information on relocating to the Palm Harbor Florida area and to begin your home search here, give me a call today. Both Honeymoon Island State Park & Caladesi Island State Park have been continuously rated among America's top beaches! 05/25/2014

It is Florida sea turtle nesting season again and there are several things to consider during this time of year: Sea turtles follow the light. After laying eggs, the sea turtle follows the light, which in ideal situations is the reflection of the moon on the ocean. Now that so many people live close to the sea, lights on homes can attract the sea turtles, making them go further away from the sea and leading to their death. Turn lights off at night or keep them directed away from the beach as much as possible to help protect sea turtles. Remain away from nesting areas and if you see a nest that is not marked, report it to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission (1-800-404-FWCC). Nests are staked and marked off with so the public realizes it is a sea turtle nest. For this reason, it is imp... 05/25/2014

  Palm Harbor homes for sale are being snagged by buyers just as quickly as they are hitting the market; and it’s no wonder why. The diverse areas of Palm Harbor make available Palm Harbor homes for sale meet the needs and check off the wants on most of our lists today. Proximity to highly rated Pinellas County schools, convenience to franchise and specialty shops, nearby beaches, commuting to work, adult communities, stately homes and small town charm are all characteristics of Palm Harbor homes for sale. Everything from old-fashioned Florida living, bustling family communities, and gated estates are available for Palm Harbor home-buyers! Property styles and community appeal coupled with the broad selection of amenities set the bar for all the reasons we are drawn to Palm Harbor homes ... 05/06/2014

Gardening in the Palm Harbor Florida area? Remember to add lime, especially if you are growing tomatoes! You can purchase lime at Lowe's or Home Depot and it comes in granular or in powder. The granular breaks down a bit slower. A great resource I have found is Bonnie Plants! Bonnie Plants are non-GMO and their website helps with every type of problem you may come up against in your garden, from the wrong PH levels to various garden pests such as tomato hornworms. Since the Florida soil has so much sand in it, it is necessary to compost, add the correct fertilizer and be sure to add lime since that supplies calcium to your plants. Another tip is to save egg shells - let them dry out, crush them and put them in your garden! Your plants will love you for it! What grows well in the Palm Ha... 04/26/2014

Wall Springs Park's otters are back in beautiful Palm Harbor Florida. Those adorable little critters that we all love to watch seem to have moved their nest to the northwest side of the spring. Perhaps they have had pups and are attempting to keep them further from people. There is nothing more enjoyable than an early morning walk to Wall Springs Park and watch the otters feeding on the wide variety of fish that live in the spring. The spring connects to St Joseph's Sound and the Gulf of Mexico, so many variety of fish winter in Wall Springs Park! That is just one more reason why people love living in Palm Harbor Florida. The open waters of the Gulf of Mexico, wonderful parks all around, top rated schools - what more do you need? Give me a call today to begin your search for a home in l... 04/18/2014

Palm Harbor Florida will be having a Town Hall Meeting on Monday, April 21, 2014 at the Palm Harbor Library on Nebraska Avenue from 6 - 7 pm. This meeting will be for ALL of Palm Harbor, including the East Lake Area, Old Downtown Palm Harbor (also called by the former name of Sutherland), the villages of Ozona and Crystal Beach and everything in between (surrounding Lake Tarpon). Palm Harbor Florida actually has 4 zip codes: 34680 (Ozona), 34683, 34684 and 34685. The 34681 zip code belongs to Crystal Beach, which is still independent. The meeting will discuss government affairs and economic development. Citizens are asked to bring any questions they may have concerning the future of the entire Palm Harbor area, so that all issues may be addressed. Remember, the meeting is taking place a... 04/16/2014

Palm Harbor Florida - fishing is a way of life down here. Ron has lived here since 1949, when his family moved down from West Virginia. My family moved down to South Tampa in 1954 from Storrs, Connecticut. Both of our fathers got into the fishing business when they arrived here in the Sunshine State. While my dad got out of it after a little over a year, Ron's father, uncle and grandfather owned charter fishing boats in Clearwater Florida for years. Perhaps that is why fishing is in our blood. It is a way of life down here. The best way to relax and unwind is a day out on the water! Nothing beats bringing home your dinner!  Tonight fresh speckled trout is on the menu, from off the waters of beautiful Palm Harbor Florida. Those of us who grew up here consider fishing a way of life. 04/14/2014

Florida's snook season ends May 1 2014 here in the Gulf of Mexico. The Atlantic (east coast) side of the state has totally different seasons for the various fish and what takes place here on the west coast is not the case on the east coast. Snook season for the first half of 2014 is two months long. It began the first of March and will end the first of May. You cannot purchase snook in any store. The ONLY way to have this wonderful fish for dinner is to catch it. One per day is the limit during snook season! While it may have been legal to catch them last month (March), it was just about impossible to do so. Snook hate cold water and when the temperatures drop, they head up into creeks, where the water is warmer. As the gulf temperatures start to get into the mid-70's, snook will begin ... 04/06/2014

Lansbrook in Palm Harbor Florida Market Report March 2014 During the month of March 2014, two homes in Lansbrook in Palm Harbor Florida that were listed in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) sold. One was a condo while the other was a single-family home.   Address Listing Price Sold Price Bedrooms Bathrooms Square Feet             4214 Preserve Place #9B (condo) $225,000 $225,100 2 2 1,750 4731 Brayton Terrace N (single-family home) $399,990 $385,000 4 3 + private pool 2,849   There are currently five homes listed for sale:One is a townhouse listed for sale for $325,000.Four are single-family homes listed for sale from $474,900 to $625,000.There are currently nine pending sales in Lansbrook which shows brisk activity in this well-designed, diverse community:   Eight condos from $44,400 ... 04/04/2014

Short sales vs bank owned properties - What is the difference? This is a question I receive time and again from clients. It is important that they know the difference before we begin our search for a home here in the Palm Harbor Florida area. A short sale can be anything but short. The homeowner has stopped making mortgage payments and is attempting to sell the home before it goes into full foreclosure (bank owned). The problem is that the name is confusing for buyers. A short sale can be anything BUT short. Down here in Florida, it is not unusual for a short sale to take as long as a year to close! The homeowner is selling the home for less than the remaining amount on the mortgage. The bank (or banks) holding the loans must agree to the selling price. The home is being sold 'short' of... 03/19/2014

501 Palm Avenue in Palm Harbor Florida closed today. This beautiful 4 bedroom, 3 bath home with a widow's walk to watch the boats in St Joseph's Sound and the Gulf of Mexico beyond, closed. This fantastic home was bank owned and we were able to close just over 5 weeks and when we had the home inspection, we were pleasantly surprised with the results. It is always a good feeling to know that another family has found their place here in our tropical paradise, in Palm Harbor Florida. To find your place in the sun, give me a call today. 03/19/2014

Check out our website at www.rowlettrealestateschool.com           72hr. Florida Pre Broker License Online Course -----$199 Florida Real Estate Broker's Guide, v4.0   This course is designed to meet the 72-hour education requirement for broker candidates and includes all necessary topics for the broker exam, complete with end-of-unit questions and a practice final exam. Updated to reflect recent 2010 legislation, this course includes practice questions designed to prepare students for the new proficiency state exam requirements. And to reinforce key concepts, there is a new Summary of Important Points at the end of each unit. Unit 1: Becoming a Licensed Real Estate Broker Unit 2: Opening a Real Estate Office Unit 3: Owning, Managing, and Supervising a Real Estate Office Unit 4: Escrow M... 03/09/2014