blog/web-journal

In the now and again, “Just For Fun” segment, here’s this year’s third challenge which presents  a slightly different twist.

The first current vacation home owners within 15 minutes of WDW to identify what this is, instead of where this is,  win the prize.  (Hint:  Golfers, it’s not a bunker sand trap divot.)

ANS:  Once again, though not easy, an interesting one.  This is a sea turtle nest emergence hole as can be found during the summer up and down Florida’s Alantic sea coast. (See the July 29th, 2008  post.)

WINNER:  A few good guesses were tendered, however no one hit it this time.

*30 Day Contest – (Expired)

PRESTON WOODS by Lennar

Look closely… Eight homes can be seen here in varying phases of completion.  Just an example of pockets of new construction that continue at a reduced, yet steady pace in the Central Florida Resort Area.

This development is taking place in Providence, an upscale gated golf course development within 15 minutes of Walt Disney World.  Just goes to show that good locations continue to do well.

Did you know that if you refill your swimming pool following a repaired leakage, the water company will give you a credit for the ‘sewerage’ portion of the refill, providing your home is on the mains sewage system rather than a septic tank. The credit is calculated by looking at your normal monthly consumption and giving a credit for the excess consumption for the month that the refill took place. Just contact your water company and they will send you a form to claim your credit.

Without question, Central Florida is the lightning capital of Florida, and an electrical voltage spike, or surge, during one of the afternoon thunder storms often proves to be costly for pool owners.

Damage can be caused to high-voltage pool equipment including pool pump motors, spa air blowers, heat pumps, and pool lights.  Low-voltage equipment at risk includes automated-control panels, displays, and actuator valves.

Replacing any of this equipment can be expensive as many an owner has discovered. 

So, the simple solution is to install a voltage surge-protector.  This can be wired into the power line feeding the pool equipment.  Designed to detect and disrupt a surge, it’s a simple cost effective way to secure peace of mind during the summer months peak storm period.

Remember though, a surge-protection device should be installed by a licensed, trained and insured electrical contractor.  No ‘do-it-yourself’ allowed…

Did you  know…

From your computer, you can shop & compare Florida insurance rates across the state in all 67 counties quite easily.

Simply go to:  ShopandCompareRates.com   Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the ‘Compare Rates’ icon.  Then, pick your county.

This Internet site lists the companies doing business in each county in order of price from lowest to highest.  The figures quoted are for one particular size block home.  However, based on the figures shown, each company can be contacted directly for a specific quote based on an individual home’s requirements by clicking on the name of the company.

 Presto!  An easy way to shop…

A bit of light here…

Mortgage servicers are the companies that collect the monthly payments from borrowers and then distribute the funds to investors, insurance companies, tax districts and any other entity involved in the process.  The mortgage servicer is also paid from the borrower’s check as well.  Due to the housing market down turn, mortgage servicers have to hire, train, and pay for new employees to handle loss mitigation.

To some, loss mitigation means finding a way to keep a borrower in the home, be it through changing the loan terms, or negotiating a new repayment plan.  In reality though, to the mortgage servicer, it means mitigating the loss to the investor who owns the loan. 

Mortgage servicers are currently swamped, thus the delay in negotiating results in many of the pending short-sale transactions.  What is happening is that while the number of borrowers in loss mitigation has increased, this number has been matched by an increasing number of delinquent loans.  Therefore, it seems like the mortgage services industry is running in place.

Time and patience are the keys.  Eventually a settlement will be reached for everyone.

WHITE IBIS

Less than 80 minutes from Central Florida, sights like this are common along the east coast of Florida.  Just takes getting an early start to the day.

These birds are really quite adapt at uncovering the sand fleas for breakfast with their long beaks.  Even more so than the common sand pipers.  Always fun to watch.

DREWS LANDING

Ground preparation continues as development readies for more growth in the hills of southern Clermont just west of Highway #27.

Trending models point to a population shift away from the southwestern coast of Florida and toward the inland central Florida counties over the next three to five years.  This Clermont infrastructure development is just a continuing example of the popularity of this area of the sate.

A new Florida law is now in place requiring all homes, beginning in 2010, insured by Citizens Property Insurance at a value above $500,000 in the wind borne debris region to provide a windstorm rating at closing.  This means the homeowners will have to complete the windstorm mitigation inspection prior to selling their home.

Then, starting in 2011, ALL homes in windborne debris regions (ALL VALUES and ALL INSURANCE CARRIERS) must disclose this rating at closing.

The new Publix supermarket in the Ovation Shopping Center at the intersection of Old Lake Wilson Road and CR532 has come along quite nicely since Art’s last post: