July Foreclosures Down from 2009

Foreclosure filings in July dropped 9.7% from the same month last year, the second straight month of yearly declines, according to RealtyTrac, an online foreclosure marketplace.

After a 1% yearly increase in May, filings declined 6.9% on an annual basis in June and nearly 10% in July. Default notices were down from the previous year for the sixth straight month in July, as servicers and lenders have escalated repossessions (REOs) to near-record levels.

The bad news was there were 325,229 properties that received a foreclosure filing in July, a 4% increase from May. It also marks the 17th consecutive month that foreclosure activity exceeded 300,000, said James Saccacio, CEO of RealtyTrac. 92,858 properties went back to the banks as REO in July, the second highest monthly total since RealtyTrac began tracking them in April 2005. It's 1% below the peak in May when there were 93,777 REO properties reported.

On the metropolitan-statistical area (MSA) level, the top-10 areas are showing a "bumpy downward trend," according to RealtyTrac. While those areas all showed decreases from last year in July, five of them had decreases from the previous month.

I haven't seen any specific numbers for Ormond Beach foreclosures, but our inventory still includes a disproportionate number of short sale and bank-owned properties. Which means it is still a great buyer's market.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com

Florida One of Top 4 States in Foreclosure Filings

Florida, California, Nevada and Arizona continued to lead the nation in the most residential foreclosures from January through June of this year.

According to RealtyTrac, the leading statistical source for foreclosure data, 154 of the 206 U.S. metropolitan areas with a population of 200,000 or more posted year-over-year increases in foreclosure activity, even while foreclosure activity decreased in nine of the 10 metros with the highest foreclosure rates.

Florida, California, Nevada and Arizona accounted for all top 20 metro foreclosure rates. Florida led the way, with nine of the top 20 metro foreclosure rates, followed by California with eight, Nevada with two and Arizona with one.

James J. Saccacio, chief executive officer of RealtyTrac, said, "If unemployment remains persistently high and foreclosure prevention efforts only delay the inevitable, then we could continue to see increased foreclosure activity and a corresponding weakness in home prices in many metro areas."

The good news is that the Daytona-Ormond Beach area was not in the top tier. The bad news is the Orlando-Kissimmee market was #8.

There are always two sides to bad news. This is great for buyers, who are finally discovering the low prices and bargains available in Ormond Beach for waterfront and canalfront homes.

Contact me for some ideas on how you can take advantage of this market.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachscene.com

Ormond Beach FL Puts Beach Park on Ballot

The Daytona Beach News-Journal reports that residents will be voting on a bond issue to purchase 4 beachfront acres for $5.5M to create a beachfront park. The Ormond Beach City Commission voted Tuesday to enter into a contract with the Trust for Public Land to purchase 839 S. Atlantic Ave. - 600 feet along the beach, subject to approval by the electorate on a referendum ballot Aug. 24.

The article continues, "The county agreed in May to share in the cost of the purchase, up to $3.5 million, including a development plan, estimated to cost about $1 million. 'This is the time to take advantage of low prices,' said Bob Guido of Tallahassee, senior project manager of the trust, which has helped conserve more than 2.2M acres nationwide.

"The vacant property, formerly site of a Days Inn, across the street from franchise restaurants, has three appraisals: $6 million by Hamilton & Jacobs of Port Orange; $5.82 million by Cooksey & Associates of Ormond Beach; and $5.7 million by Pomeroy Appraisal Associates of Edgewater. 'The old hotel on the property has been removed. There's sandy vegetation on the property and a sea wall that goes across the front of the property,' Guido said. 'It's a flat piece of ground. Against the sea wall there appears to be a buildup of dunes. There could be an opportunity for dune restoration on the property.'

"More than 60% of a cross-section of 300 voters in a public opinion poll sponsored by the Trust supported buying land for a first beachfront park."

If you have an opinion, you will be able to express it with your vote in the August election.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachscene.com
http://activerain.com/blogs/sherrya

Ormond Beach 30-year Mortgage Rates still at Record Lows

Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac's chief economist stated, "Fixed-rate mortgages continued to hover at 50-year lows, thereby supporting homebuyer affordability and refinance activity. Over the past month, about four out of five conventional loan applications and more than one-half of FHA and VA loan applications were for refinance. Compared to the recent peak in 30-year fixed interest rates 13 months ago (week of June 11, 2009), current rates are a full percentage point lower. With today's rates, homebuyers would save about $1,500 in payments each year on a $200,000 loan compared to rates last June."

30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.57 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending July 15, 2010, unchanged from last week when it averaged 4.57 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.14 percent. This rate ties the all-time low reached last week in Freddie Mac's 39-year survey.

Call or email me to start looking at a home in Ormond Beach. Don't lose the opportunity to take advantage of these rates in your investment portfolio.

with Your Key to the Beach,
Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachscene.com

Ormond Beach Mortgage Rates Hit Another Historic Low

The average interest on a 30-year fixed mortgage dipped to a new record low of 4.57% this week, down from 4.58% just a week ago, according to Freddie Mac, which began tracking rates in 1971. Last week's rate represented another historic low.

Pessimists in the real estate market say the low rates may not provide much of a boost for housing sales, because many people do not qualify for new mortgages or have already obtained loans at low rates this year.

Don't be discouraged. If you want to take advantage of the low rates, high inventory, and great bargains available in Ormond Beach homes, call or email and let's talk.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachscene.com

Ormond Beach Homeowners Granted Flood Insurance Extension

Congress has reauthorized the National Flood Insurance Program, and Pres. Obama has signed the bill. Extending the flood insurance deadlines will help provide additional stability to real estate markets across the nation, especially combined with the extension of the 1st time buyer tax credit. The bill, HR 5569, retroactively reauthorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to enter into new contracts for flood insurance under the National Flood Insurance Program through September 30, 2010.

Here are some sites with information on flood insurance for homeowners:

Information about flood preparedness and flood insurance

Claims Handbook

For Condos

Filing a claim

How to Buy Flood Insurance

Ormond Beach real estate offers an incredible inventory of oceanfront and riverfront homes now, at rates the lowest in history. Call or email me to see some of these great Ormond Beach properties.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachscene.com

Ormond Beach Short Sale - a Brief Explanation

A Short Sale is an option for a seller who must sell their home when the value of the property is just not sufficient to cover the balance owed to the existing lender. To "sell short," their existing lender(s), and any other existing lien holders, must approve the sales price, the sale terms, and payoff of their loan to be at a reduced amount.

The Short Sale process is as follows:
*The owner or their agent/negotiator must contact the existing lender.
*The lender will direct them to their website, or will advise how, to obtain specific forms, instructions and lender requirements.
*This group of documents, along with the lender’s financial forms (Short Sale Package*) is then sent to the lender as per the lender’s instructions.
*After the lender receives the package, it is assigned to a contact person in the lender’s Loss Mitigation Department. This process can take anywhere from two weeks to two months and sometimes longer.
*At this point the Loss Mitigation Dept then reviews the package and will contact the homeowner to request any additional items that may be required by the lender. This request is usually made verbally to the homeowner or negotiator but can sometimes be found via the lender’s website.
*The lender will then request a Broker’s Price Opinion (BPO) from an agent chosen by the lender.
*Once the lender has received the BPO as well as the Short Sale Package, they submit it for final review. When the lender has completed their final review, they may give approval "as is" or their approval may be subject to changes, such as sales price or terms. Or the lender at this time may decide that the seller did not have ample reason for the short sale, and therefore deny the request.

*Short Sale Package can consist of 100 to 200 pages including, but not limited to, the following items:
1. Listing Agreement
2. Short Sale Addendum
3. Offer to Purchase
4. Proof of Buyer’s funds
5. Owner’s Tax returns
6. Paystubs
7. Owner’s Bank Statements
8. Hardship letter from owner (explaining why the short sale is needed)

Remember that every lender and every situation is a different story. You need a Realtor proficient and experienced in short sales, who will stay in touch with the lender constantly throughout their process.

I have special training and education, plus experience, in Ormond Beach short sales. Contact me with your questions. Don't wait until your only choice is foreclosure.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachscene.com

Ormond Beach Homeowners get more Federal Funding

State Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs) in Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan and Nevada can begin to use $1.5 billion in “Hardest Hit Fund” foreclosure-prevention funding under plans approved recently by the Obama Administration. This aid will support innovative local initiatives to assist struggling homeowners in those states, as part of the first round of funding available under this new program.

“These states have identified a number of innovative programs that will make a real difference in the lives of many homeowners facing foreclosure,” said Treasury Assistant Secretary for Financial Stability Herbert M. Allison, Jr. “While we’ve made important progress stabilizing the housing market and keeping responsible families in their homes, the Obama Administration will continue to do everything it can to help those who are struggling the most during this difficult time. Today marks an important milestone for delivering relief to homeowners through the Hardest Hit Fund program.”

President Obama established the Housing Finance Agency Innovation Fund for the Hardest Hit Housing Markets (“Hardest Hit Fund”) in February 2010 to provide targeted aid to families in the states hit hardest by the housing downturn. The states approved to receive aid as part of the first round of funding provided through this program each experienced a 20% or greater decline in average housing prices.

Here are Florida's hardest-hit proposals ($418 million):

*Florida will offer mortgage payment assistance to the unemployed and under-employed while they seek re-employment.
*The state will also offer principal reduction or second lien extinguishment if necessary to achieve a mortgage modification.

If you are having problems paying the mortgage on your Ormond Beach home, contact me NOW. You have options. I have received special training in Ormond Beach distressed real estate problems, and can help you.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachscene.com

Struggling Ormond Beach Homeowners Have Options

More borrowers dropped out of the Obama administration’s foreclosure prevention program last month than were added, but many of those homeowners found private help from their mortgage companies, according to recently released data.

According to a post on RisMedia.com, "The number of mortgages with permanently reduced payments under the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) increased 15% in May 2010 to 340,459. The pace of temporary three-month modifications started in May slowed, with an increase of just 2.5% to 1,244,184.

"But cancellations of mortgage modifications continued to grow. Cancelled trial modifications rose 55% in May from April. More than a third of all trial modifications started since the program began last year—429,696—now have been canceled. Cancellations of permanent modifications also were up sharply, rising 70% to 6,357 in May from April.

"But overall, homeowners with permanently reduced mortgage payments have fared better in the program. The cancellations amount to just 1.8% of all the permanent modifications offered since it began last year.

"The administration’s report said that at the eight largest mortgage servicers, including Bank of America, CitiMortgage and JPMorgan Chase, nearly half of homeowners whose temporary government modifications were cancelled received an alternative modification.

"Of the 194,056 total cancellations for those servicers under the Obama administration’s plan, just 7% resulted in foreclosure actions. An additional 2% resulted in a short sale."

If you are an Ormond Beach homeowner having financial troubles, and finding it hard to make your mortgage payments, contact me NOW. You have options! I have special training in helping distressed homeowners and can help you.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachscene.com

Overpricing your Ormond Beach Home won't Help it Sell

In this market of falling prices and high inventory, it is a common mistake for sellers to price their property over the competition to try and get a little more. Especially if you are not a "short sale" seller, in other words don't have to sell, you think you should price your Ormond Beach home above those distressed properties.

Wrong.

Overpricing from the outset could actually force you to end up settling for a lower price than you would have received by setting a realistic asking price based on market research. There is a smaller pool of highly motivated buyers, and today's Ormond Beach buyers tend to be well educated about the market. Without the assumption of price appreciation, few buyers are willing to gamble and overpay for a home. In addition, credit tightening has reduced both the number of buyers who can qualify for a mortgage as well as the size of the mortgages available.

Here are just a few of the reasons you should never expect to get more than the market (or overprice your home):

1. Fewer buyers looking. There are many ways online now for buyers to find values in your neighborhood. They won't waste their time looking at a home obviously priced above sales.
2. You will help your competition. Your higher price will drive buyers to the homes in your community which are priced aggressively.
3. You risk stagnation. The effects of #1 and #2 will be to leave your property "sitting on the sidelines." You will have a longer market time, and realtors won't watch your home for a price reduction - they will show their buyers the new listings that are priced right.
4. You brand yourself as an unrealistic seller. This means tougher negotiation. With so many houses on the market, buyers won't work any harder than they have to for a home, or their agent spend any more time than needed.
5. Appraisals - if your price is above the market, it won't appraise for the buyer's mortgage. Who will make up the difference - you?

First, you need to contact a Realtor knowledgeable about sales prices in your community of Ormond Beach (me). Together, we'll create a pricing plan. When pricing your home, the best strategy is to remain objective and compare your home closely to similar properties on the market. Take the opportunity to visit open houses and pay attention to recent sales in your area.

Together we'll review recent Ormond Beach sales and discuss market trends. Then we will decide on a marketing plan to get you the best price you can in today's market. Call or email to discuss your Ormond Beach real estate options.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
www.sherryarmstrong.com
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.daytonabeachscene.com

Ormond Beach Seafood Fest June 19-20

The 1st Annual Ormond Beach Seafood Festival will be held this weekend, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Rockefeller Gardens, 25 Riverside Drive (southeast corner of the Granada Bridge), Ormond Beach.

Area restaurants will serve up seafood favorites, more than 20 musical groups will perform and there will be children's activities including bounce houses and face painting.

Musical performances include headliner Terry Sylvester formerly with "The Hollies," zydeco, jazz, Florida folk, bluegrass, Bahamian group Junkanoo Near You and more.

Visit the OrmondBeachSeafoodFestival.com for information, or call 386-451-2138. Admission is $3; children younger than 12 free. Want to volunteer? Call 386-299-8544.

Sounds like it will be a fun weekend event. Come join us in Ormond Beach!

with Your Key to the Beach,

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachscene.com

Halifax Plantation of Ormond Beach - Golf Course Home for Sale

Enjoy golf course living in this Shadow Woods Ceadar model on the 18th fairway of Halifax Plantation.

This 3 bedroom/2 bath home includes a fireplace, big kitchen with ample storage, den, front and back porches, central air, a beautiful view of the golf course, 1900 SF living area, and a 6240 SF lot.

Included are appliances, window treatments and ceiling fans. Community amenities include 18 hole golf course, Jr Olympic pool, exercise room, and tennis.

Priced at $209,000, the Halifax Plantation golf course home is a great buy. This is not my listing, but I can help you preview any golf course home for sale in Ormond Beach. Call or email and take advantage of these low prices for golf course living.

Sherry Armstrong
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com

www.daytonabeachscene.com

Using Outdoor Spaces to Expand your Ormond Beach Home

We have the weather and lifestyle to use our outdoor living spaces in Ormond Beach for entertaining, relaxation, and to expand the square footage of our homes. Here are some ideas from Lowe's to help blend your indoor and outdoor areas, and create a space to welcome guests and residents alike.

1. If you have room, add a gazebo, or covered structure separate from a patio. This can provide a contemporary feel, and using a rust-free aluminum frame and water-repellent canopy make it durable enough for year-round use.

2. Move your dining table and chairs outside. This will give you a more modern look, and free up indoor space.

3. If you are limited on space, consider a patio set, just a small table and chairs you can use both as a gathering space and for casual eating.

4. Outdoor lighting can set off your outdoor spaces and make them special, as will outdoor landscaping. Use tiki lamps, hanging bulbs, chains around plants - there are many ways to make the outdoors more inviting after the sun sets.

If you'd like to find an Ormond Beach home where you can use the outdoors as a living space, call or email. There are plenty to choose from at low prices, and I will help you find what you want.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachscene.com

Ormond Beach - Private Compound for Sale - So Old Kings Rd

Experience the serenity of privacy while living in the heart of Ormond Beach. This exclusive family compound consists of: Custom built gorgeous 3 Bd/2 Ba main home with 2-Car Garage, 4 Bay Garage is 2900 sq ft for RV, Boats, Cars, and toys. 14 ft ceilings: 1door-12.5’ X 12’, 3 doors are 12.5’X10ft’. Heated and cooled, 7 ton lift, 200amp service, 2 offices and full bath. Guest House is 2 Bd/2.5 Ba with office and 1-Car Garage, intimate pool area with media room/bath house. Guest house is perfect for multi-generational families or for guests. Main House is beautifully appointed with saltillo tiles, volume ceilings and French doors, a gourmet chef's kitchen with a 6-burner gas stove and custom cabinetry. Spacious master suite overlooks pool and spa. Master bath has custom cabinets, dual sinks, soaking tub and large shower. Beautiful details, fixtures and finishes throughout. .Large lot is approx 211 X 215 and completely fenced for privacy and security. All sizes approximate.

Contact Sherry Armstrong, Realtor, 386-679-3191, for a private showing.

Ormond Beach to Benefit from BP Tourist Money

BP Plc has opened its wallet and given the state of Florida another $25 million check to spend on tourism advertising over the next two to three months. The $25 million tourism grant is in addition to $25 million BP earlier in May gave Florida to help implement an area contingency plan

Some financial industry analysts estimate the London-based oil company will wind up spending $1 billion to clean up the oil spill in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama and compensate residents in those states, according to various published reports.

Directly affecting the tourist dollars that support Ormond Beach, Gov. Charlie Crist said, "As one of the world's favorite travel destinations, we will use every marketing resource available to spread the word that Florida's beaches are clean, our fish are biting, and the Sunshine State is open for business."

The beach is Ormond Beach's greatest asset. Let's protect and preserve this beautiful natural resource which supports our community.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachscene.com

Home for Sale on Plantation Bay Golf Course, Ormond Beach

Here's a spectacular home just listed on the golf course in the gated community of Plantation Bay with views of two lakes and the green. Built by Centurion Homes, this is the Villa Ravello II model with pool, screened patio, 3-car garage, 4,124 SF interior, and a large lot of 29,210 SF. Built in 2007, the home features 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, fans, fireplace, wet bar, great room, hot tub, screened balcony on 2nd floor, gourmet kitchen, and large master suite.

Buyers of this home will receive their choice of either a $13,000. discount towards the initiation fee for a full golf membership to Plantation Bay County Club, a $2,350. discount towards the initiation fee for a sports membership, a $900. discount towards the initiation fee for a fitness membership, or a $100. discount toward the initiation fee for a clubhouse membership, provided buyers join with in 30 days of closing. Discounts apply upon application approval.

All this for an asking price of $995,000, a reduction of $400,000 from the original list price.

I'm not the listing agent, but can show you this home in Plantation Bay or any golf course home of your choice in Ormond Beach. Let's work together to give you the golf lifestyle you have always wanted.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com

http://www.sherryarmstrong.com/
http://www.daytonabeachscene.com/

Ormond Beach Homeowners Optimistic about Values

Zillow.com found that about half of US homeowners, those in Florida included, feel the value of their homes increased in the 1st quarter, 2010.

This statistic, however, also means about 50 percent of those surveyed think their home's value declined in the past year. Zillow's calculations conclude that 65 percent of U.S. homes actually declined in value.

To the extent home owners are overconfident about the value of their home, Zillow says, they could feel encouraged to put their home on the market. If a lot of them did so and their home values aren't as high as they think they are, it could have the effect of pushing down prices, feels Zillow’s Chief Economist Stan Humphries.

If you would like a professional opinion on the value of your Ormond Beach home, call or email me. Every neighborhood and community is different, and I can provide you with a thorough analysis of Ormond Beach real estate market trends.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachscene.com

Ormond Beach Wildflowers

Volusia County leaders have agreed to preserve the county's wildflowers along county roads. The County Council passed a resolution stating that the wildflowers are environmentally significant and county road maintenance programs should allow the blooms to flourish and set seed before being mowed.

A change in the road management program could not only make the roads more scenic, but would also save costs with less mowing, said Lisa Roberts, executive director of the Florida Wildflower Foundation, based in Maitland.

Volusia roads are already prolific with the native blooms, especially along the 260-mile River to the Sea Loop, a driving and cycling trail established in 2008. Volusia's county seat, DeLand, also hosts the state's largest wildflower festival, which attracted an estimated 9,000 attendees in March.

Volusia is the first Central Florida county to support the resolution, which has been accepted by Leon, Wakulla and Gadsden counties in Florida's Panhandle.

Come enjoy our lifestyle in Ormond Beach.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachscene.com

It's Turtle Nesting Season in Ormond Beach

May 1 marks the start of sea turtle nesting season along Florida's Atlantic coast, to run through October.

Volunteers and wildlife managers are hoping sea turtles that were released a year ago will return to give birth along the Volusia County shoreline. They saw a lower than average number of nests last year, so will patrol the beach and fence off active nests to protect them.

Beachfront businesses and homeowners will be required to keep lights from shining on the beach, which can cause the turtles to get distracted and crawl toward the light.

Learn more at the Sea Turtle Preservation Society.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachscene.com

Ormond Beach Sellers in Trouble - Understand your Credit Score

How will a delinquency on your mortgage affect your credit score? We all know how important that FICO score is - from getting car or health insurance, at good premium rates, to getting a mortgage. But if you fall behind on that home loan, what will happen to your FICO score?

Here's a recent article released by our Florida Realtors Assn which gives some good information (published by 2010 Information, Inc., source CNN):

"Fair Isaac, which developed FICO scores, used a comparison between two people to explain how mortgage delinquencies affect credit scores.

"Fair Isaac derived these numbers from a theoretical calculation based on hypothetical borrowers – one with an initial score of 680 and one with an initial score of 780. FICO scores range from 300 to 850.

"The hypothetical person behind the 680 score had six credit accounts, while the person with the 780 score had 10. The consumer with the 780 score had no missed payments other than the mortgage; the 680 example had two late payments before they failed to pay the mortgage.

"After a mortgage payment problem, the two scores would look like this:

*After a 30-day delinquency, the 680 score drops to somewhere between 620 and 640; the 780 score declines to 670 to 690.
*After a 90-day delinquency, the 680 score falls somewhere between 595 and 610; the 780 score goes to 645 to 665.
*After a foreclosure, short sale or deed-in-lieu, the 680 goes somewhere between 575 and 595 and 780 drops to 620 to 640.
*After a bankruptcy, the 680 drops somewhere between 530 and 550; the 780 declines to 540 to 560. "

Ormond Beach sellers - let's talk about your alternatives before you get in a deep hole on your payments. You have options to foreclosure, and I'm a specialist in helping sellers who need a short sale. Let's work together before your FICO score gets too low.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachscene.com

Ormond Beach May Get Beach Park

Ormond Beach is the only city in the county that has no parks or large parking lots along the shoreline. That may soon change.

The four-acre site where a hotel once stood, along South Atlantic Avenue between Milsap Road and Harvard Drive could become the first beachfront park in Ormond Beach. The Trust for Public Land, a conservation group, is helping negotiate the final details. It could be done by next week and owned by the city by fall. The county property appraiser valued the land this year at $3.4 million, which is half of what it was just two years ago.

The Trust for Public Lands is planning a phone survey for later this month to figure out if citizens want this. If they do, it would probably be a city and county partnership to buy it.

If you have an opinion, contact the Trust.

Florida State Office
306 North Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301
(850) 222-7911(850) 222-7911
E-mail

Media Contact
Tim Ahern
(415) 495-5660

Northeast Florida Office
1022 Park StreetSuite
401Jacksonville, FL 32204
(904) 358-0114
E-mail

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachscene.com

Research Shows Housing Prices May be Nearing Bottom

New York City's Barclays Capital is reading the signs: home prices are stabilizing (with huge regional differences), loan modification efforts have increased, banks are more aggressively trying to dump their foreclosure portfolio. Could these mean the market is nearing bottom?

Barclays analyzes earnings from 20 banks, regional and national, to determine expectations of the housing market. While the 2010 outlook is mixed, many lenders agree home prices appear to have stabilized in several regions of the country. Certain markets - Arizona, Nevada, and parts of Florida predominantly - continue to exhibit softness in property values.

Our market in Florida is a good example of one of the conclusions of the analysts: the plethora of foreclosures already in the pipeline will likely weigh on the housing market for the foreseeable future.

Still, conclusions of the Barclays report indicate "The prices of real estate and the write-downs have been so significant that people are now starting to say maybe the bottom has been reached or maybe we're on the upside of that depending on the market. "

Our Ormond Beach home sales have significantly increased, but prices have not. Supply and demand will eventually exert some pressure, as inventory decreases. Contact me for ideas on how to take advantage of the Ormond Beach real estate market as it nears bottom. Search Ormond Beach homes for sale and let me discuss the best bargains you can find.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachscene.com
www.ormondbeachscene.com

Ormond Beach Dolphin Rescued

A male Wayward Dolphin, that recently swam into the fresh water of Tomoka River near Ormond beach, was rescued and relocated by Seaworld Orlando. After a veterinary health assessment, the 12-person team successfully completed an 8-hour rescue mission, moving the animal to the Intracoastal Waterway.

According to Seaworld's official blog, as the dolphin was exposed to fresh water, lesions began to form on his skin, which necessitated his being relocated to salt water. The lesions should eventually disappear now that it has returned to it's natural habitat.

The successful venture was made possible by a collaborative effort between SeaWorld, NOAA Fisheries Service, Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, The University of Florida and Volusia County.

Watch the YouTube video of the rescue here.

Isn't living by the water in Florida great? To share our world with dolphins? Wow!

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.
comhttp://www.sherryarmstrong.com/
http://www.daytonabeachscene.com/
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Mortgage Rescue Plan will help Ormond Beach

The government has released yet another plan to help troubled homeowners and rev up the real estate industry. Here are the key points:

• As much as $14 billion of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) will be made available to pay for writing down second liens for loans whose borrowers refinance through the Federal Housing Administration.
• Lenders that facilitate refinances through the FHA will be required to write down the principal of the first mortgage by at least 10 percent so the home owner has a loan-to-value ratio no higher than 97.75 percent.
• Lenders of second liens will be offered incentives of 10 cents to 21 cents per dollar of principal they write down in connection with an FHA refinance.
• Borrowers who lose their jobs can apply to have their mortgage payments reduced for three to six months while they search for a new job.
• Borrowers with a payment still greater than 31 percent of income after they find a job will be considered for a permanent loan modification.
• To encourage more short sales and “deed in lieu” of foreclosure transactions in which the lender settles the loan for less than is owed, the government will double assistance to borrowers to $3,000 and increase incentives to subordinate lien holders and investors to $6,000.

I recently received my FSP designation (Five Star Professional, of the Five Star Institute of Default Servicing) and also hold the CDPE (Certified Distressed Property Expert). You DO have options to foreclosure.

If you are having problems paying your mortgage, act now and give me a call. We can sell your home so you can get on with your life.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachscene.com

It's No April Fools Joke - Volusia County to Grow Marijuana

Just in time for spring planting, DeLand and Volusia County have received a federal grant to plant marijuana in neighborhoods and gateway corridors.

The grant, announced Thursday at DeLand City Hall, will pay for planting cannabis along Woodland Boulevard and New York Avenue in Downtown DeLand, and along Indiana Avenue between the Athens Theatre and the Justice Palace. Some of the plants will border the grounds of City Hall and the DeLand Police Station, Mayor Bob Agar said.

As reported by the BeaconOnlineNews, "It's a joint effort," City Manager Michael Plus explained, as a cloud of heavy, sweet smoke hung in the air of the City Commission chamber. "There will be no local dollars going into the grant program, but city crews will provide in-kind services in testing and planting the special herbs.'"

The U.S. Department of Agriculture grant has a street value of $1 million, and is part of the Weed and Seed Program in which DeLand has participated for several years.

Florida's congressional delegation secured the grant, as the last of its kind before the program is rolled into a larger single-source federal program to provide drugs under the new health-care-reform act passed by Congress and signed by President Obama.

"You might just call it pot luck," U.S. Rep. John Nica said.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachscene.com

Home Sold in Plantation Bay of Ormond Beach

I'm pleased to announce I was able to help buyers purchase this beautiful home in Plantation Bay, Ormond Beach, on Kingsley Circle. Offering 3 bedrooms/2 baths, the property is 2083 SF interior, built in 1989, with a fireplace, large screened patio, 2-car garage, security system, and workshop. All appliances were included, ceiling fans, and leaded glass door.

The asking price was $199,900.

Plantation Bay is a premier golf community in Ormond Beach. Association dues for this home are only $306/quarter. For the serious golfer, there are three 18-hole private championship courses. For the tennis buff, there is a world-class tennis facility with 10 clay courts. There are two clubhouses, a 7,000 sq ft spa and fitness center, two restaurants, and a pool. Plantation Bay is a gated, secure community geared toward family enjoyment. The developers included nature areas, lakes, and many trees, so the enviroment hosts a variety of wildlife and residents can enjoy many acres of common grounds.

Visit the Plantation Bay page on my web site to search homes for sale and to find links to Plantation Bay resources.

Resales for attached homes in Plantation Bay range in price from $99,900 to $425,000, and single family residences from $124,900 to $1,499,990. Condos are available from the $160,000s to $250,000.

Call or email if you would like to preview a home or two in this Ormond Beach golf community.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com

www.daytonabeachscene.com

Ormond Beach Buyers - Are You Ready for April 30?

You probably know the 1st Time Buyer Tax Credit (up to $8,000) and Trade Up Credit (up to $6,500) expire April 30. That means you need to have a signed contract to purchase by that date. If you want to buy but haven't started the process, now is the time to get serious or you will lose out. The credit applies only to the purchase of a new principal residence costing $800,000 or less, and there are income restrictions and other limitations, including a requirement to close the sale before July 1.

Assuming you qualify and want to buy, how can you speed up the process so you can find your home and have an offer accepted in 30 days? Here are some suggestions.

1. Know your Market - start searching online (here's the link on my site to Search the MLS), and get a good Realtor working for you who knows the communities (me). Sign up for the free service that daily will email you listings that meet what you want, and let me know right away if you see one you want to preview. Remember, as a Buyer, you don't pay the commission. My professional experience and expertise are free to you.

2. Talk to a Lender - you must be preapproved, not just prequalified, to meet this deadline. Find how how much house you can buy and if your credit is good enough to get you a rate you can afford.

3. Narrow your Search - Ormond Beach has many communities, which vary widely in price and amenities. Decide on the ones you like the best right away.

4. Make a List of Needs vs. Wants - You can narrow the inventory easily by knowing what features you really have to have (bedrooms, baths, location) against what you'd like (fenced yard, view, family room).

5. Can you fix it up? Are you handy with repairs? Do you want to spend your free time for a few months after you move in fixing up what someone else damaged? If not, then don't look at fixer uppers.

6. Plan ahead - a contract probably won't be accepted overnight. The seller may counter, then you may counter - this takes a few days. Don't wait until April 28 to make your offer. Keep in mind that short sales take much longer, for the bank to approve an offer.

You have time, but let's get started now. If you don't know the communities or neighborhoods of Ormond Beach, or real estate sales information, just call or email. Don't lose this great opportunity for Uncle Sam to help you purchase your new home.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachscene.com

Outdoor Trends for Ormond Beach FL Homes

Despite a weak economy, Americans are expected to continue their love affair with the world outside their doors—and perhaps spend a little more time in it this year, as indications show they plan to spend their summer vacations at home.

About 94% of residential landscape architects polled by the American Society of Landscape Architects earlier this year said that outdoor living spaces, including cooking and entertaining areas, would be popular in 2010. Improvements are expected to have few frills as homeowners stick to the basics in this cool economy.

“Homeowners want to create a sense of place for their family, friends, and neighbors to enjoy outside, but an uncertain economy means many will dial back some of the extra features we’ve seen in past years,” said Nancy Somerville, executive vice president for the group.

According to the survey results, some of the most popular features this year include: outdoor seating and dining areas, including benches and seat-walls or weatherized outdoor furniture, as well as fire pits and fireplaces, the classic outdoor grill and outdoor counter space. More lavish outdoor kitchen appliances, including refrigerators and sinks, are expected to be less popular, as are stereo systems and outdoor heaters.

Survey results found a growing interest in low-maintenance landscapes and native plants. There’s also a continued resurgence of the home garden. According to the National Gardening Association, a well-maintained food garden yields an average $500 return, considering a typical investment and the market price of produce.

When designing any outdoor area, it’s important to create a series of places that you can inhabit, whether it’s a covered space to entertain in or a vegetable bed to attend to, said Sarah Susanka, an architect and author of The Not So Big House series of books. Don’t forget your garden’s view from the inside either, she added.

And while many homeowners are making these outdoor improvements to their homes so they can enjoy them—especially in a real estate market where moving to another home is financially difficult for some families—a well-planned and maintained garden and outdoor area will serve an owner at the time of resale too.

Arbors, water features such as fountains, pergolas and decks are expected to be the most popular outdoor structures for homeowners this year, according to the architects group. And making an investment in a deck, for example, might set an existing home apart from a newly constructed one.

We in Ormond Beach and other central Florida communities have the weather to enjoy our gardens and outdoor spaces most of the year. Contact me to discuss which improvements will add the most value to your home for resale. Search other Ormond Beach homes for sale on my web site and see what your neighbors are doing.

Use the tax credits available now for appliances and energy efficiency to make some of those upgrades you've considered. Call or email me for ideas.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191

yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com

www.sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachscene.com

Want a Golf Lifestyle? Try Halifax Plantation in Ormond Beach, FL

Dream of living the Golf Lifestyle but prices have been too high? Not any more. Here are some great buys in Halifax Plantation of Ormond Beach which will fit your pocketbook and make your hopes of enjoying golf every day of the year come true.

A stunning home on the 6th Fairway, this home has been reduced to $474,000. Features include a heated pool and hot tub, screened lanai, outdoor kitchen, 4 bedrooms/3 baths, 3,000 SF interior, and views of the Halifax Plantation golf course through your secluded treed lot. Want creative financing? The owner will consider financing.

This gorgeous golf course home on the 2nd Fairway of Halifax Plantation offers a split floor plan of 4 bedrooms (2 master suites) and 3 baths, 2142 SF interior, 12.500 SF lot, inground heated pool, 2-tier screened patio with triple tap draft beer system, JennAir grill, media center with big-screen plasma TV and in-ground gas fire pit. Asking price is $464,900.

Also this week are price reductions on golf course homes in the Ormond and Daytona Beach communities of Pelican Bay, Plantation Bay, Tomoka Oaks Country Club Estates, LPGA, and Cypress Head. These are not my listings, but I can help you preview any golf course home in Ormond Beach or Daytona Beach, and give you real estate sales information on all of our communities and neighborhoods.

Don't let another year go by before you put a plan in place to own that golf home you dream about - the time to buy is now! If you still want proof, search golf homes on my web site and see the prices for yourself. Call or email me for details on any golf home for sale.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com

www.sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachscene.com

Animal Shelter Fundraiser in Orrmond Beach on March 30

A silent auction and cocktail party to raise funds for Rescued Hearts Animal Shelter will be Saturday, March 30, in Ormond Beach from 6-9 PM. This will be the second annual Spring Cocktail Party and Silent Auction, at the home of members Jerry and Denise Siennicki in The Trails.

Amy Wade-Carotenuto, the founder and executive director of Rescued Hearts, said, “This will help us so much in our efforts to reach our goal for 2010 of finding and buying the land to build the Rescued Hearts Animal Shelter."

Rescued Hearts, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency that organized in 2007 to help find homes for displaced or neglected animals in Volusia and Flagler counties, places dogs and cats in foster homes until they are adopted or until their “state-of-the-art-with-heart” shelter is built, she said.

The agency’s short-term goal is to obtain land in west Volusia and construct a facility to help decrease local government’s cost to house unwanted animals. The group’s other aims include setting up an aggressive spay/neuter program and finding ways to help animals stay at home so they won’t need to be given up.

Those attending the benefit can sample cuisine by chef Kevin Moore of Moore Fine Foods and sip cocktails from a deck overlooking the Tomoka River. The silent auction of artwork and gifts will include Walt Disney World tickets and a framed limited-edition lithograph by Thomas Kinkade.

Tickets are $25, and all proceeds will go to the group’s Property Acquisition Fund. For reservations, call Judy Thompson at 386-252-1050.

Rescued Hearts Animal Shelter
P.O. Box 731522
Ormond Beach, FL 32173
(386) 566-3734
acarotenuto@earthlink.net

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com

Oceanfront Home in Ormond Beach FL

This is a beautiful Oceanfront 2-story pool home with spectacular views. 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, 3192 SF interior living space, built 1983, on a 13,300 SF lot.

The first floor includes living room, kitchenette and breakfast nook, full bath and 2 bedrooms with access to lanai (new tile flooring) and pool. A wrap-around stairway guides you to a roomy upper floor that highlights French doors opening to a wooden deck that overlooks the in-ground heated pool.

The home offers a living room with wood-burning fireplace, built-in bookcase, volume ceilings, kitchen with skylight, all appliances and breakfast nook, a formal dinning froom, master suite with jacuzzi tub.

Enjoy the glass atrium with full views of the Atlantic ocean. Located on a corner fenced lot with full access to the beach and 140 foot frontage facing ocean. Listed at $699,000.

Contact me for a private preview today, and sales statistics for the Sea Oats Terrace area of Ormond Beach. Search other Ormond Beach homes for sale on my web site. This is not my listing, but I can be your advisor and Buyer Representative on any real estate in Ormond Beach. Just imagine owning an oceanfront home in Florida for under $700,000!

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
http://www.sherryarmstrong.com/
http://www.daytonabeachscene.com/

If you have ever dreamed of owning your own Villa on the ocean, then your search stops here. This oceanfront home in Daytona Beach has been extensively remodeled but tastefully done to keep the true era of when it was built in 1966. On the first and second story decks, you can watch the traffic-free beach, which is why this is one of the most sought after locations in all of Central Florida, on Triton Beach.

As you enter the home, you find a 37 x 38 glassed atrium with growing foliage and a flowing fountain which brings you back to yesteryear. The open floor plan is truly designed for entertaining, with columns and niches throughout. The kitchen has an upgraded appliance package and features panoramic views from the nook. The master suite on the second floor has incredible ocean views from the bedroom or the oversized marble tub/shower. The home also features a detached work shop which could easily be converted to a coach house, and 3-car garage.

View the virtual tour for this Ocean Shore Blvd home.

With 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 5,013 SF living area, 21,384 SF land, fireplace, decks, patio, security system, and oceanfront location, this home is a great buy and has just been reduced to $1,500,000. Search waterfront homes for sale on my web site, and contact me for a private preview of this oceanfront property in Ormond Beach.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachscene.com

IRS Rules on Tax Credits for Ormond Beach Buyers

The IRS has clarified documentation for taxpayers taking advantage of the 1st Time Buyer and Move-up Buyer tax credits.

While the IRS is still requiring the filing of Form 5405, it is not demanding that all parties’ signatures be on the HUD-1 settlement document in areas where requiring both the buyer and the seller to sign the document isn’t common.

The IRS clarification says: "In areas where signatures are not required on the settlement document, the IRS has clarified that it will accept a settlement statement if it is completed and valid according to local law. … The IRS encourages those buyers to sign the settlement statement prior to attaching it to the tax return.”

For repeat buyers, the IRS is seeking documentation that home buyers have lived in the previous property for a consecutive five of the past eight years. Proof can include property tax records, home owner insurance records, or mortgage interest statements.

Call or email me to look at properties. You need to be under contract by April 30, so don't wait.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachscene.com

Ormond Beach and Central Florida very Attractive Real Estate for Foreign Buyers

Property Frontiers, a six-year-old real estate investment advisory firm in southeast England, is telling its international clients "the whole of Florida is currently a hot bed of foreign buyer activity." Director and co-owner David Cox states, "Florida property is currently presenting some of the biggest bargains that the world of overseas property has even seen."

Although speaking of a development by Orlando, the same applies to the real estate of Ormond Beach. Cox feels, "When it comes to buying distressed property in (metro) Orlando, you don't need to look very hard to see that it will go back to the original value not long after the world has fully recovered from the current downturn, and once all the distressed sales and repossessed properties are gone."

Here's an example of a super buy in Ormond Beach which just had a price reduction to $124,900. This is a 2 bedroom/2 bath attached home in Lakes of Pine Run. Contact me for a private showing. To search for other great homes for sale in Ormond Beach, visit the communities on the Ormond Beach page of my web site, and use the search widgets. Don't lose this buying opportunity!

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachscene.com

Breakaway Trails Homes for Sale in Ormond Beach, FL

Here's a new listing in the gated community of Breakaway Trails, Ormond Beach, that highlights the great values now available in our Ormond Beach real estate market.

The custom built home is 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 5,108 SF, built in 1989, and is a nature lover's dream, complete with fireplace, vaulted ceilings, great room, and gourmet kitchen. The enclosed porch brings the beautiful grounds of Breakaway Trails into the home, while the master suite opens to an outside deck. An oversized yard on the 10,000 SF+ lot backs up to a nature preserve.

Breakaway Trails offers a clubhouse, tennis courts, pool, basketball courts, roller hockey rink, and is located just minutes from I-95, shopping, schools, beaches, and all the famous recreation the Daytona Beach area has to offer. Read more about Breakaway Trails on my web site.

The home is listed at $365,000, and HOA fees are $257/mo.

This is not my listing, but I can arrange a private showing for you, and show you other Breakaway Trails homes for sale, complete with a thorough Ormond Beach real estate market analysis. Just call or email.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachscene.com

Ormond Beach FL Unity in Community Program

Feb. 11 was the date, The Casements the place for the 4th annual Ormond Beach Unity in the Community event. The 6-hour program showcased exhibitors with blends of cultures, costumes, and customs. There were displays from local artists and Scotland, Japan, Hungary, Iran, and Colombia.

2 bagpipers weathered the cold wind in kilts on the front lawn, and students from Spruce Creek's Japanese Culture Club displayed crafts, origami, and traditional kimonos.

Visitors enjoyed Greek cooking demonstrations, a tai chi presentation, a Native American exhibit, and a handmade quilt showing all 50 states.

In addition, a 3 history-based talks highlighted the cultural diversity we take for granted here in Ormond Beach. Folks move to Ormond Beach for our weather and quality of life, and most are not disappointed. Request my free Relocate to Ormond Beach package, and contact me with your Ormond Beach real estate questions.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com
www.daytonabeachscene.com

Fast Trains to Come to Ormond Beach Area

When Pres. Obama visited the U of Tampa this past week, he committed to a proposal for a high-speed train to link Orlando with Tampa, as one of the 13 fast-train projects to receive federal stimulus money. The central Florida plan received $1.25 billion, about half of the official request and half of the estimate needed to complete the project.

Vice President Joe Biden called the grant "seed money,'' adding that "more funding is going to come in the future as progress is made." Biden, who also came to Tampa, said the Florida bid was selected because it was the most advanced of all the requests considered by the administration. Sunshine State officials have been planning high-speed rail for more than 20 years. Florida officials say the Orlando-Tampa project could create 23,000 construction and 1,000 professional-service jobs.

The Florida Department of Transportation will build the 84-mile system, that will start at Orlando International Airport and run mostly along the median of Interstate 4. Although state and local officials are awaiting the details of how and when they will get the money, the grant is enough to pay for about three years of work, transportation experts say. If the schedule that the state DOT laid out holds true, the train could begin operating in late 2014 or early 2015.

There are no concrete plans yet to link the train with SunRail, the planned $1.2 billion commuter train recently approved by state lawmakers for Central Florida. The first phase of SunRail, from DeBary in Volusia County through downtown Orlando to Sand Lake Road in south Orange County, should be operating when the high-speed train is complete.

Florida received the second biggest slice of the $8 billion pie for high-speed rail. California was first, getting $2.3 billion to begin work on an 800-mile line tying Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay area to Los Angeles and San Diego. A third major grant was $1.1 billion to improve a rail line between Chicago and St. Louis so that trains travel up to 110 mph.

In the not-too-distant future, you can live in Ormond Beach, go a short distance to board SunRail, and connect with the Fast Train for Tampa. It's exciting to live in a progressive, forward-thinking part of the country. Come join us - search homes for sale in Ormond Beach and contact me for previews and real estate information on our Ormond Beach communities.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com

Ormond Beach FL Advisory Board Needs Members

The city is looking for a few good men or women, volunteers with expertise in public works, to sit on a new board that will provide advice on future projects that typically are very costly.

The hope is that adding knowledgeable people can assist staff members and commissioners choose the best, least expensive ways to proceed with projects. Commissioner Ed Kelley said officials have looked into establishing a public works advisory board for more than a year and this past Tuesday night it was approved unanimously.

City Attorney Randy Hayes said state and city statutes require anyone with a conflict of interest to announce it before a vote. He recommended that people not be picked if many conflicts are anticipated.

The two-year term of the public works advisory board will run concurrent with that of the City Commission.

City Manager Joyce Shanahan stressed that the commissioners are the "stewards of public dollars," adding that they needed to be careful to protect that public trust. She added that public works committees exist in other Florida cities. "We are not the first ones doing this," she said. "We're not inventing the wheel."

If you have an interest, contact Ms. Shanahan, 386-676-3200, shanahan@ormondbeach.org.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com

Trends for Ormond Beach FL New Home Buyers

The economic recession has brought some needed and interesting changes to the real estate housing market, not just in Ormond Beach. After years of More + More, Americans now want smaller houses, fewer rooms that reek of excess - like home theaters, and more practical answers.

Discussed at the recent International Builders Show, buyers today want cost-effective architecture, plans that focus on spaces and not rooms, and homes that are designed green from the outset. The key for home builders is finding the balance between what buyers want and the price point they can afford.

Carol Lavender, president of the Lavender Design Group in San Antonio, Texas, explained, "What we’re hearing is ‘harvest’ as a home theme—the feeling of Thanksgiving. It’s all about family togetherness—casual living, entertaining and flexible spaces."

Here are the 9 "must have" features in the new homes of 2010, as determined by Paul Cardis, CEO of AVID Ratings:

1. Large kitchens with an island
2. Energy-efficient appliances
3. Home office/study
4. Main-floor master suite
5. Outdoor living room
6. Master suite soaker tubs
7. Stone and brick exteriors
8. Community landscaping
9. 2-car garage

Read details of these trends in RisMedia. Some will be used more in Florida than others, and we will see even regional differences within our state. But the message is clear - for new homes and existing resales - buyers want efficiency, usefulness, and will watch their costs.

Contact me for information on which communities in Ormond Beach are offering new homes. I can help you preview the models and research the qualifications of the builders. Request the Relocation Package for Ormond Beach on my web site - that's a good place to start.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com

Ormond Beach FL Architecture Featured in New Book

Justin A. Nylander appreciates the varied architecture of the Ormond Beach area, and has combined his love of architecture with a skill in photography to create a coffee table book of Mediterranean revival homes throughout Florida. The book, titled "Casas to Castles: Florida's Historic Mediterranean Revival Architecture," features four homes in Ormond Beach, three in Daytona Beach, two in DeLand and 32 in nine other Florida cities. The full color book contains the history of each house, stories about the owners and 350 photos showing both exteriors and interiors.

Mediterranean revival, a blend of Spanish, Italian and Moorish style, which usually features red barrel tiles, iron work and stucco, appeared in Southern California in the 1920s when movie stars began building mansions. He said it was copied around the country, including Florida, which was experiencing a land boom at the time. Nylander attributes the variety of architecture in this area to the wealthy people from the north who built homes in Daytona Beach and surrounding communities in the early 20th century. Personally, he is currently renovating a Mediterranean home in Ormond Beach that was built in the 1920s.

In Ormond Beach, the book features The Doldrums on State Road A1A which was designed by noted architect Harry Griffin, who also was responsible for the post office on Beach Street in Daytona Beach. Daytona Beach homes in his book include the Rothschild Manor in the Ocean Dunes neighborhood, where a survivor of the Titanic lived for many years, and the Donnelly Mansion in the Seabreeze neighborhood, which is now a bed and breakfast called the Villa.

Why did Nylander pick Ormond Beach for his next book and remodel project? He grew up in Southern California, and said, "I had a love of architecture since I was a small child. I would look at beautiful homes and wonder what they were like inside." He discovered Ormond Beach in his travels and decided to move here after working in the entertainment industry in Las Angeles for 20 years. He was a songwriter, director and artist manager. "I like Ormond Beach. It's not too busy and not too quiet," he said. "I wanted to get out of the Los Angeles rat race."

"Casas to Castles: Florida's Historic Mediterranean Revival Architecture" is available for preorder at the Amazon and Barnes & Nobel Web sites and will be released to bookstores nationwide Feb. 28.

Come to Ormond Beach FL and see for yourself our homes and lifestyle. As the author says, "Many of the historic homes in this area need some TLC." At our bargain prices, you'd have room to renovate and be ready for the inevitable upswing in values. Maybe even find a home that qualifies for the National Historic Register and enjoy some tax savings. Call or email me for ideas, and learn more about Ormond Beach on my web site.

Cut Your Ormond Beach FL Taxes with Real Estate

This tax season, think real estate to save on your 2010 taxes.

*Installing energy-efficient home improvements like windows and doors in your principal residence will qualify you for a tax credit.

The credit equals 30 percent of the cost, capped at a maximum of $1,500. There's another credit of 30 percent of the cost of installing renewable-energy improvements like solar water heaters and solar panels. This credit isn't capped, and the residence doesn't have to be your principal residence. For detailed information on the laundry list of items that qualify for the two credits, go to www.energytaxincentives.org.

*You've probably also read of the tax credits for homebuyers. There are two kinds of credits for homes costing under $800,000. One is a credit of up to $8,000 for first-time buyers of a principal residence who didn't own another principal residence during the three-year period ending on the date they purchase the new place. The other is up to $6,500 for buyers who owned a principal residence for any five consecutive years during the eight-year period that ends on the purchase date. Both credits allow buyers with higher incomes to qualify and require them to sign a binding contract by April 30, 2010, and complete the deal by June 30, 2010.

A principal residence is not just a conventional single-family home. It also can be a condominium, a co-op apartment, a housetrailer, a mobile home or anything else that provides all the amenities of a dwelling, such as a houseboat or yacht that has facilities for cooking, sleeping and sanitation.

*Is a tax credit like a deduction off my taxes? As explained by Julian Block on NewsGeni.us, "Most taxpayers do not understand the difference between credits and deductions. Credits lower a person's taxes dollar for dollar, making them more valuable than deductions, which merely reduce the amount of income on which taxes are figured. The distinction is critical. A deduction of $1,000 saves $350 in taxes for someone in the highest bracket of 35 percent, but only $100 for someone in the lowest bracket of 10 percent. A credit of $1,000 reduces taxes by that amount, whatever someone's bracket is.

"Another difference is that credits come in two flavors, nonrefundable and refundable. Nonrefundable means credits cannot be refunded to the extent that they exceed your income tax. Put another way, credits like the one for child care provide no help after your income tax becomes zero. Refundable means credits like the recently revised one for first-time homebuyers can be refunded to the extent that they exceed your income tax. So even buyers who have no income-tax liability could receive as much as $8,000 from the IRS. "

If this confuses you, contact me to talk about ways you can save on your taxes and buy real estate this Spring. Search Ormond Beach homes for sale, and call me to preview your favories. Don't lose these real estate opportunities in Ormond Beach!

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com

Act Soon if You are a Repeat Buyer in Ormond Beach FL

Originally termed a tax credit for sellers who want to trade up, the new tax credit authorized by Congress late last year is actually for "repeat buyers." Current homeowners who have lived in their home for 5 consecutive years out of the last 8 may now be eligible to receive a $6,500 tax credit.

Tax credit eligibility is subject to income limits, $125,000 for single buyers and $225,000 for couples. In addition, the sale price of the home being purchased can not exceed $800,000.

The credit will help homeowners who do want to sell and buy again right away to take advantage of the great prices, and is a great financial opportunity. Not only can you receive a large sum of money from the government, you’ll also likely purchase your next home for less money and at a lower interest rate than you could have in years past or years to come. There is no requirement that existing homeowners must have sold their home to be eligible for the $6,500 tax credit.

But - time is of the essence. To qualify for the tax credit, the repeat buyer must have signed a binding contract by April 30, 2010 and close on the home by June 30, 2010.

It typically takes 45 days to close, and longer if you purchase a short sale or foreclosure, so start looking. Search homes for sale in Daytona or Ormond Beach, and contact me now so you won't lose this opportunity.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com

Ormond Beach FL Bridge Parks

Two of the most popular city parks in Volusia County are the ones on either side of the Granada Bridge in Ormond Beach. Recently, Ormond Beach city staff drew up conceptual plans for the northwestern park that would displace the strollers, shove aside the fisherman, move the joggers, and move or demolish a historic church building so they could build a marina, commercial space, restaurant, and of course, a lot of parking places.

A funny thing happened on the way through the planning process. The Ormond Beach City Commission held a meeting last week on one of our colder nights, and about 50 residents showed up. The commission decided the issue wasn't worth fighting for.

As described by Mark Lane in the News-JournalOnline, "Far from being impediments to downtown development, the parks are destinations that draw people to the city's center. They help establish the place's character. Plus, you can fish or launch a boat there.

"They're the kind of unique open spaces that reinforce a person's attachment to a place. Because when your town looks and feels like anywhere else, there's no particular reason to live or work there rather than anywhere else."

Our parks are an important asset of our community, part of the reason folks in Ormond Beach like living here. Thanks to the residents who attended the meeting, and thanks to the City Commission for hearing their views.

Ormond Beach FL is a unique place to live. Contact me for a free relocation package, learn about our communities, and search homes for sale on my web site.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
386-679-3191

Breakaway Trails of Ormond Beach

Breakaway Trails is an upscale gated community that offers a unique lifestyle. This exclusive neighborhood is well-known for its small enclaves surrounded by environmentally- protected nature preserves. Drive up to the guarded gatehouse at Breakaway Trails and be welcomed into a wonderfully relaxing country atmosphere with fresh air and lots of room.

Located in the heart of Ormond Beach, it is just minutes from I-95, shopping, schools, beaches and recreation. Once inside the community, Breakaway Trails offers many amenities, including a community pool and covered pavilion, four tennis and basketball courts, roller hockey rink, a beautifully designed clubhouse and much more.

Here's a home which just came on the market - a good example of the quality available in Breakaway Trails of Ormond Beach.

5 bedrooms/4 baths
4,789 SF living area
heated, inground pool
Lakefront
3+ car garage
Built 2004
Custom Home
Billiard room with wet bar
Highly upgraded
Asking $825,000
Here's the Virtual Tour

Contact me for a private showing, and search homes for sale in Breakaway Trails on my web page with community information. This is not my listing, but I can show you any properties in Breakaway Trails or other golf course communities in Ormond Beach. There are great prices and interest rates just waiting for you right now!

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com
http://www.sherryarmstrong.com/

Ocean Hammock Home in Ormond Beach For Sale

This 4 bedroom/5 bath lakefront home, in Ocean Hammock in the Ormond Beach area, is the Gulf Stream model, with 4 master suites and sweeping ocean views. Built in 2005, with 3,350 SF interior, it has patio/balconies of almost 700 SF, on a lot of 7772 SF, with a 2-car garage. Maximizing the view of ocean and golf course, the home has central air, central vac, irrigation sprinkler, and includes appliances.

Watch the Virtual Tour and feel the ambience of the home. Asking price is $1,025,000.

Occupying 1,500 acres of pristine Atlantic coast, Hammock Beach offers a variety of luxurious lifestyles. The Hammock Beach development features a Jack Nicklaus 18-hole, par 72 championship golf course, which runs through live oaks and wetlands, and features several holes on the ocean shore. Residents have full access to club membership, which highlights the multi-million dollar Water and Swim Pavilion – complete with 3-story waterslide, several pools, a river, and poolside bar and grill. Or treat yourself to the 12,000± sq ft health spa with saunas, steam rooms, whirlpools, treatment and massage rooms. On site are a full fitness center and two tennis complexes with Har-Tru courts. Read more about The Hammock on my web site, and search homes and condos for sale.

This is not my listing, but I can arrange a private preview for you, and show you any other view homes in the Hammocks neighborhoods, or Ormond Beach. Don't pass up the opportunity to own a golf course - ocean view home at our low prices.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
yourkeytothebeach@gmail.com

www.sherryarmstrong.com