I recently met an appraiser at a sale I had in SeaGrove, St. Augustine, Florida.  He mentioned that he enjoys meeting with different offices to share information in a talk he entitles "Appraisers are not the Enemy."  We had him address our office meeting  today.  This professional was indicating that if there are enough sales in the subdivision, they are not supposed to leave that neighborhood for others.  They need 3, of which can be a combination of pending and sold (altho the REALTOR has to be willing to share the price of the pending).  If they don't have the number of comps in the neighborhood, they go back in time.  They also need to use at least 2 actives and then a variance of list/sale ratio of what they will sell form. It takes 6-7 hours of work to do an appraisal (sound famil... 05/26/2009

Hurry, hurry, hurry! This weekend is the 13th Annual 5K Run in Vilano Beach. Here is the application form. Visit http://VilanoBeachFL.com for more info and see the flyer below. It really is the 13th annual, not the 12th as shown below. We hope to see you there running the race, enjoying the country breakfast and the community flea market. Tell your friends and neighbors. 05/25/2009

I read a blog this a.m. about hosting a yard sale.  I kind of bragged in my return comment on how good I have gotten at coordinating and executing yard sales. Then later today I read an article on combining yard sales and open houses.  The idea attracts me because Open Houses as a way of getting buyer prospects makes sense, but typically they don't draw much traffic.  I interested in finding out if anyone has experience in combining these 2 venues and how successful it has been.   An Marshall, REALTOR Prudential Network Realty Extremely Full Service Ranked #1 for Seller Satisfaction, by JD Power & Associates www.AnMarshallOnTheMove.comview my blog email:an.marshall@prudentialnetworkrealty.com 05/23/2009

Memorial Day, Monday, May. 25, 2009Where:  Plaza de La Constitucion  Cathedral Place St. Augustine, FL  YES!  I know that summer is here when the music starts.  Gather at the bandstand in the plaza downtown St. Augustine this Monday to enjoy the return to the warm summer musical gatherings.  The Summer Concerts in the Plaza season kicks off with a performance by the St. Augustine Jazz Society.  Get comfortable by bringing a lawn chair or blanket.  Hope to see you there! 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. Augustine Beach, Florida. 05/22/2009

Come hear Maria Cristina Rivero, a native of Cuba present information on different cultures at tonight's  North Shores Improvement Association's (NSIA) Community Forum. Her topic should help in your international travels and in working with visitors to our area from other countries. Come learn and share. Updates on our community will also be presented. Come get involved. Date: May 11th Time: 7 p.m. Location: North Shores Community Center, 120 Meadow Avenue, Vilano Beach, FL 32084 05/11/2009

Every Monday  & Wednesday,  4 to 6 pm STUDY LAB & STUDENT TUTORING After school help at the North Shores Improvement Association (NSIA) Community Center.  Grades 1 to 12.  Hosted by the Church at Vilano, 808-8304, or Art Holden, 829-0823 to register a student for tutoring.   Every Wednesday & Friday Night,  5:30 to 7:30 pm WINE TASTING Pawnee's Café & Fine Wines, 165 Vilano RD, 824-2455.    Most Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 9:30 & 10:15 a.m.           FUN FITNESS CLASSES Harbor View Room at Kingfish Grill, Camachee Island Tighten & Tone and Jazzercise.  Susan Rubin, instructor, 669-9638.  2 free visits.  8 visits $40, Saturday only, $4 each. Call for exact schedule.   Every Sunday, 9:30 & 10:30 am CHURCH AT VILANO Bible Study 9:30 am, Worship 10:30 am..  Prayer & Bible Study... 05/06/2009

Looking for something unusual to do in St. Augustine? Replicas of Columbus' famous Nina and Pinta will sail into St. Augustine, the nation's first port, on Tuesday, May 5. Beginning Wednesday, May 6th, thru May 18th.  The two ships will be open to the public from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily at the St. Augustine City Marina. Admission is $7 for adults, $6.for seniors and $5 for children.  Children four and under are admitted free of charge.   No reservations are necessary and a portion of the proceeds will support the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum.    For more details, go to  www.thenina.com 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 ... 04/23/2009

April in St. Augustine is alive with many events that include live concerts, kayak tours, art festivals and Sea Turtle Homecoming celebrations.  There is something for everyone!   Take a look at some of the fun....     MOSES CREEK CONSERVATION AREA KAYAK TOURS Tuesday, Apr. 14 – Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2009 Crescent Beach, 904.471.4144 FLAGLER COLLEGE WRITERS IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2009 St. Augustine MENORCAN FROMAJARDES SERENADE Thursday, Apr. 16, 2009 St. Augustine, 904.824.4991 CORAL REEF ADVENTURE AT THE WORLD GOLF HALL OF FAME IMAX THEATER Friday, Apr. 17 – Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009 St. Augustine JOE COCKER LIVE Friday, Apr. 17, 2009 St. Augustine, 904.471.1965 3RD ANNUAL SEA TURTLE HOMECOMING FESTIVAL Saturday, Apr. 18, 2009 St. Augustine Beach, 904.209.3740 3RD ANNUAL... 04/13/2009

Happy Easter! From noon to 4 p.m. today is the first Sunday Market (aka Farmer's Market) at the Vilano Beach Pier. The Sunday Market will be every Sunday from noon - 4 p.m. Come support the community and find fresh produce, desserts, baked goods, on-site cooking, arts, crafts, entertainment and much more. George McGovern will be attending the market from around 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. McGovern has been an advocate for the local farmer and United Nations Food for Peace. Approximately 40 vendors from Vilano Beach and surrounding areas will be out every Sunday.  Today's grand opening event will feature appearances by the Easter Bunny, so bring the kids! "The Vilano Beach Pier is an ideal location to host a community market.  It is a beautiful newly renovated area that hasn't been utilized to... 04/12/2009

Please check out http://vilanobeachfl.com for more information. Vilano Beach is excited to have their own Farmer's Market, called the Sunday market starting on Easter Sunday from noon-4 p.m.. Read below for more details. Every Mon & Wed                       STUDY LAB & STUDENT TUTORING 4 to 6 pm                                  After school help at the NSIA Community Center.  Grades 1 to 12.                  Hosted by the Church at Vilano, 808-8304, or Art Holden, 829-0823 to register a student for tutoring. No classes April 6, 8 or 13. Every Wed, Fri & Sat Night                WINE TASTING 5:30 to 7:30 pm                                   Pawnee's Café & Fine Wines, 165 Vilano RD, 824-2455                                                                Friday $10, 6 wines.  Saturday $ ... 04/05/2009

Vilano Beach Main Street was designated by Florida's Secretary of State Kurt S. Browning as the Florida Main Street Program of the Month for March 2009. Vilano Beach was designated a Florida Main Street Community in 2003. Communities are selected for this award based on active participation in the Florida Main Street Program. Vilano Beach's waterfront location adds to its ability to attract interest as a Florida Main Street community. There are two waterfronts on its main street ---the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Intracoastal Waterway on the other. From the Vilano Beach Pier you can enjoy fishing and viewing historic St. Augustine, the nation's oldest city. In October 2008, Vilano Beach Main Street celebrated the completion of its infrastructure including an underground stormwate... 03/30/2009

I’m so excited I can hardly stand it.   Coming soon to St. Augustine’s Francis Field—a “can’t miss” two day music festival.  The Inaugural Crawfish Festival will be jamming with the likes of 3 Doors Down, Saving Able, Hinder and Snoop Dogg.  OK that is a strange mix but here is the line-up       Friday, May 8: K’Naan, Corey Smith, Flyleaf, G. Love and Snoop Dogg. Saturday, May 9: Sean Fisher and the Jukebox Gypsies, Presidents of the USA, Saving Abel, Candlebox, Hinder and 3 Doors Down (my favorite)! The thought of eating creepy little crustaceans such as crawfish really does not excite me but, the tunes sure do!  St. Augustine is really coming out with some fantastic music.   Between the St. Johns County Fair Grounds, The Amphitheater and now, Francis Field, a music lover like myself i... 03/21/2009

St Augustine Sunrise Rotary is presenting their Rhythm and Ribs 2009 Festival at Francis Field  Saturday April 3rd, 4th & 5th. Red River Band is the Entertainment Friday evening.....If you have a chance stop by and enjoy our small town hospitality. 03/20/2009

Most Realtors should be getting the word out that Real Estate activity has been picking up. With all the negativity in the press, we need to get the positive news out. Our business in Saint Augustine has been picking up since December '08. It isn't easy getting good news out of our local paper but they have lost alot of ad revenue from Realtors so they have been a lot more open to listening to us lately. 03/19/2009

Truly this was one of the most spectacular launches I've seen. We watched it from Vilano Beach. I hope you enjoy the commentary. Obviously the people with me didn't realize I was recording! Enjoy and I hope you visit northeast Florida and our beaches soon. Vilano Beach is the closest beach to historic St. Augustine, FL and a wonderful place to watch space launches. 03/16/2009

Please note that March 16th will be the last day of the Bookmobile at the Vilano Beach Pier. Stay tuned for update as the bookmobile will be at some Vilano events. Please contact me at 904-823-0027 or via e-mail at Barbara@BarbaraJenness.com if you would like to get involved in any Vilano Beach happenings. Mondays * 2 to 3 pm                          LIBRARY BOOKMOBILE at Vilano Beach Pier.  Mar 16                                                   Note: Last bookmobile scheduled for Vilano Beach.                                                                                                                       Info:  827-6944, 827-6900, www.sjcpls.org.   Every Mon & Wed                       STUDY LAB & STUDENT TUTORING * 4 to 6 pm                                            After scho... 03/12/2009

Seafood, Music, Arts and Crafts in St. Augustine 28th Annual Lions Seafood Festival is this weekend, March 13 - 15th.  This is a fabulous  three-day festival that is an area favorite event that I look forward to every year!  I'll be there to enjoy live bluegrass, folk and country music while strolling through more then 100 arts and crafts exhibitors.   I can always count on finding something unique to take home. Hope to see you there! For recorded information, call 904.825.0850, visit www.lionsfestival.com, send an email to info@lionsfestival.com or call 904-829-1753 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. Augustine Beach, Flor... 03/10/2009

Please attend tonight's North Shores Improvement Association's (NSIA) community meeting at 120 Meadow Avenue in Vilano Beach to learn about the new landscape irrigation regulations for St. Johns County.   The meeting starts at 7 p.m. and is open to the public. Learn when you can and cannot water depending on your home's address. Come learn the ins and outs of St. Johns County new watering rules. Learn about new low-volume irrigation techniques to save water. You will also learn about the new fertilizer regulations and proposed stormwater regulations.  Presented by: Joe Sewards, County Horticulture Agent and John Kordic, Florida Landscape & Nursery, who installed the new drip irrigation in Turtle Shores.  Directions to the NSIA community building From the Usina (Vilano Bridge) travel no... 03/09/2009

Congratulations to the Florida Trend's Golden Spoon Winners in St. Augustine who have delivered fine food, with smart service and sharp décor.  These great restaurants are ranked Florida's top 500: Casa Monica Hotel/ 95 Cordova95 Cordova St.St. Augustine904/827-1888 AWARDS: Top 500 Restaurant, Golden Spoon Cuisine: World Attire: Casual Reservations: Suggested Service: Breakfast, brunch (Sun.), lunch, dinner REMARKS:  Class act of town in a beautifully reborn grande dame hotel and a kitchen that's ecumenical. Opus 3939 Cordova St.St. Augustine904/824-0402 AWARDS: Top 500 Restaurant, Golden Spoon Cuisine: New American Attire: Casual Reservations: Suggested Service: Dinner (Mon.-Sat.) Closed Sun. REMARKS:  Michael and Christine McMillan call Opus a "food gallery" where cooking is artful an... 03/08/2009

Are you frustrated when searching online to try to figure out exactly where the house is located and what the neighborhood is like?  Your days of frustration are over! CHeck out my new map-based MLS search on my website.  Now you will be able to know exactly where the house is located and investigate the neighborhood!   NorthFloridaHomeSearch.com 03/05/2009