Here is a great blog about your credit score.  great tips as well as solid information on what makes up a credit score

Urban Farming by Will Allen AMAZING MAN

Short of it, he started by deciding to create a year round farm right near the projects on the North side of Milwaukee WISCONSIN.  Wait WHAT??? year round farming in the projects of Wisconsin???

As the son of a Share Cropper Will Allen had farming knowledge and as with most projects there is no access to quality or organic food, and there is usually a much higher unemployment rate.   He was able to get this off the ground based on the fact that healthy food makes healthy communities.  Kids with jobs are less like to turn to crime.  So he is providing a benefit to the community by providing year round quality Organic food, He is providing jobs to the jobless, and he is probably lowering the crime rate, which of course improves the community, so he basically created a repeating cycle where everyone benefits

What I found most amazing is he uses a big fish tank to grow hydroponics.  Basically the fish waste is nutrient rich.   He pumps the water to the top of a 3 tier garden.  they plant bed is on gravel which allows the plants to take the nutrients from the water.  The water runs from one end to the other and than drops down a drain into the 2nd tier garden and than again to the ground floor, from which it is pumped back into the fish tank.

so he has tripled production in his green houses by using tiers.  He uses composte on the inside and outside walls of the greenhouses to keep them warm and working year round.

Best news of it all his non-profit is starting to spread with numerous projects around the county

Have a good laugh, but I think this might actually work round these parts as well

Specials on New Construction in Pasco County

Well Pasco County took a huge hit in the Real Estate downturn, especially all the new subdivisions that were just getting started as the market tanked.  Eventually most closed there model homes and laid off or relocated their sales staff.   However more and more builders are coming back, and the deals are UNBELIEVABLE.

Right now you can buy:

a new construction 2 Bedroom 2 and 1/2 bath town home for as low $80,000

thats right new construction for under $100,000.  Way under.

Thats right New Construction for under $100/square foot.

I currently know of 7 townhomes under $100,000

New Construction Houses start at $129,000 as far as I can find in the latest promotions.

Still think the prices are beyond your budget?  Remember that Brand new construction homes have the latest codes built in, the highest required hurricane protection.  This results in lower insurance, a recurring monthly cost, a discount that may actually shock you.  Your electric bill will in all likelihood be significantly less than an existing home available for re-sale.   You really need to either do your homework or work with a REALTOR® who will explain all your options and costs.

Another key thing to remember is that while Home Builders are eager to get buyers into their newly constructed homes, the salespeople work FOR THE BUILDER.  A REALTOR® can work for you, and the Builder pays the commission.  Buyers rarely pay the commission, and I have yet to charge a buyer a commission check.

It is a great time to be a buyer in Pasco County.  Call me for more information on the great deals available today.

That is right folks, instead of worrying about one jumping into the street unexpected during class hours, we now have to get used to all those school lights that were blinking yellow all summer reverting back to a standard red light stop, along with those wonderful crossing guards holding up traffic at the beginning of the day and the end.

The decreased speed zones resume as well so make sure you are paying attention to those blinking yellow lights.  If you are not sure where the school zone begins or ends, although most are clearly marked, be extra vigilant.

Here in Pasco County schools resume on Monday

From the Pasco county School Website I am posting the opening dates for all surrounding counties

Citrus - - - - - -August 9th - Monday <----- already in session

Hernando - - - August 23rd - Monday

Manatee - - - August 23rd - Monday

Pasco - - - - - August 16th - Monday

Polk - - - - - - August 23rd - Monday

Hillsborough - August 24th - Tuesday

Pinellas - - - - August 24th - Tuesday

Sarasota -  - - August 24th - Tuesday

It is time to save during Florida's back-to-school sales tax holiday 

thats right folks, we have not had this since 2007 but Governor Crist, I imagine in an effort to garner support for his senatorial campaign, has pushed for the return of the Back To School Sales Tax Holiday.  

It kicks off at 12:01 Friday August 13th and runs through midnight on Sunday.  If you have kids it is a great time to save.  If you do not, you may want to avoid popular back to school stores, or perhaps you would be inclined to take advantage of this sale and buy items needed by those less fortunate or perhaps you would like to help out teachers.

Student Needs
Backpacks – Girls, Boys, Teens - (no Trapper Keepers or wheeled backpacks, please)
Loose leaf wide ruled notebook paper
Loose leaf college ruled notebook paper
1-Subject spiral notebooks (wide ruled & College Ruled)
Two-pocket folders with clasps
5” blunt Fiskars scissors
No. 2 yellow pencils (made in USA)
Crayons, Markers, Colored Pencils
Expo Dry Erase markers (not fine tip)
Plastic pencil box
One Mesh/Nylon zipper pencil pouch
Glue sticks
Yellow highlighters
12 inch shatter-resistant plastic ruler standard/met

On the Wish Lists of Local Schools:
Boxes of tissues
Sandwich-sized and gallon-sized Ziploc bags
Baby wipes
Waterless hand sanitizer
Brown and/or while paper lunch bags
Paper towel rolls
6” and 9” paper plates
Headphones with adapters
Post it Notes (approx. 1 3/8 x 1 7/8 in. in size)
*wish list items go directly to the teacher to use in their classrooms as needed.

It is time to save during Florida's back-to-school sales tax holiday 

Take advantage because is needed, or do it out of your desire to make a better community.  A rising tide raises all ships.  And in this tough economic times, more than ever, schools and the less fortunate need our help.

Houses for sale in River Ridge, New Port Richey, Fl & its June 2010 market report

Four months inventory, not too bad.  Actually pretty darn good for Home sales in Pasco County.  Some would attribute this to the fact that River Ridge is highly sought after with buyers, especially families.  River Ridge is the only school district in New Port Richey that I have had the most requests for.

I am surprised at the higher ratios of distressed properties on the market in River Ridge, New Port Richey.  And yet despite that they are closing.  With one of the lowest inventory levels in Pasco County, based on months of inventory, I think this speaks volumes to the quality of owners in the community.

Average days on Market (DOM) for Homes For Sale in River Ridge is ~4 months.  Yet when priced right you will see that the average DOM for homes under contract is 2 months or less.  And the average days on market for Homes that sold in June 2010 in River Ridge New Port Richey was on the market for an average of 63 days.  So if your house is languishing on the market, among other issues, you might want to revisit the list price

Homes For Sale in Golden Acres, New Port Richey, Florida & June 2010 Market Report

Well now things are not looking too bad in Golden Acres if you exclude the price declines.  Nine months inventory levels is not idealistic but is better than some areas.  What I think makes an even better impression is the chart below.   The low number of distressed properties for sale, I think, tells you about the people living in Golden Acres in New Port Richey.

With only 5 Homes for sale in Golden Acres in New Port Richey under distress, compared to 31 non-distressed is a much lower than average ratio than the rest of Pasco County.  I would like to see more homes under contract, but at least they are closing on some

You will also notice (in the SP/LP - sold price to list price ratio) the homes are not selling a a great discount.  The houses that are selling are priced right.  I am guessing the one on the market for over 2 years (802 days) is not property priced.  I am shocked that they actually is a home for sale in Golden Acres in New Port Richey for less than $100,000

Well folks if you missed the REALTOR® Magazine article and video (included below) an ingenious Hong Kong Architect got creative with what was his family shoebox Home.  Funny how even with the lack of space he still found room for a bar LOL.  Priorities people.  I hope you enjoy the video

In my experience alot of the communities have collapsed in value and in some the Tax Assessor has trouble keeping up with the collapse.  Quickest way to find out if you are over assessed is to have a REALTOR® do a Comparative Market Analysis, which I would be happy to do, at no cost and no obligation.