Fun at my home inspection

Yes, you read that right.

After all the drama that was our 18 month long wait for our house to sell  in Pittsburgh, PA, and after losing our financial shorts in a major way, I am thrilled to report that we've BOUGHT a HOUSE in the Haile Plantation neighborhood of Gainesville, Florida!  And best of all, since we live in Gainesville, Florida, we'll be able to live in the house that we've bought!   Much more gratifying than owning a house, and paying for a house, in a town where we don't live.

Being the vigilant REALTOR that I am, I immediately set up a home inspection with home inspectors McGarry and Madsen Inspection because they inspected the first home we bought in Gainesville (which ended up falling thru when our house didn't sell in Pittsburgh, which is why we had to move to a different house this past August....just a rental....where our hope was we'd be able to buy this SECOND home -- that we are living in as a straight rental -- once our home sold in Pgh but after losing our shorts on THAT deal that's just not possible if we want to put our kids thru college as well...soooooo.....here we go again!)....these guys were awesome home inspectors with the first house, and their inspection was SO thorough, that they have definitely made us raving fans for life!

So last week home inspectors Richard McGarry and Greg Madsen came over to do the home inspection.

I told them I wanted to boost my google juice by making short Flip videos of them to post on YouTube.  They backed away a couple of steps because I think they thought I was threatening them in another language.

After I explained what I meant, they were down with the idea .... well, home inspector Greg Madsen was, anyway.  He's shy like me.  Home inspector Richard McGarry, on the other hand, had to be coaxed.....which I did in my most professional manner by telling him not to be a wuss.

So he opted not to be a wuss, which is when I got this footage of him talking about radon and what to do about it.  Based upon this interview with Richard McGarry, I was also able to write a blog post about what radon is, why should anyone care, and what can be done about it.

Then I got to follow Greg Madsen around the house as he checked for water intrusion, leaking ductwork, and missing insulation with his handy-dandy thermal imaging dealio, which was so cool it looked like something right out of Star Trek.

Here's home inspector Greg Madsen talking about why he uses his thermal imaging whatchamacallit during home inspections, and how it helps the homeowner (WARNING: I'm still trying to figure out how to edit my videos) (OH, and that house you see in the video? It's OURS, or will be soon!):

Haile Plantation Homes Sold April 1, 2009 - June 30, 2009

*Information compiled from Gainesville MLS data*                         

Total homes sold 2Q09:                   30            (2Q08: 61)

List price average                       $333,563      (2Q08: $391,107)

Sales price average                      $317,174      (2Q08 $368,231)

List to sell variance                    95%           (2Q08: 95%)

 

Average price by # bedrooms:      3 bedrooms                  4+ bedrooms

Average list price                $209,045 (2Q08: $278,570)  $434,034 (2Q08: $471,917)

Average sales price               $204,855 (2Q08: $265,139)  $408,887 (2Q08: $408,887)

List to sell variance             98% (2Q08: 95%)             94% (2Q08: 94%)

Neighborhoods sold 2Q09:

HP/Founders Hill - 2	HP/Grahams Mill - 1
HP/Haile Market  Square - 1	HP/Heritage Green - 1
HP/Hickory Walk - 1	HP/Indigo Square - 1
HP/Katelyn Lane - 1	HP/Kestrel Pointe - 1
HP/Matheson Woods - 1	HP/Oakmont - 1
HP/Planters Grove - 1	HP/Preserve - 1
HP/Preston Wood - 1	HP/Sable Pointe - 1
HP/Stratford Ridge - 2	HP/Sutherland Crossing - 1
HP/Village Center - 2	HP/Westfield Commons - 1
Eloise Gardens - 2	Kenwood - 1
Stillwind - 4	Valwood - 2

Coleen DeGroff, MBA
Your Gainesville, FL REALTOR
Gator Nation Relocation - Specializing in drama-free realty for the hassle-averse
Coldwell Banker M. M. Parrish, Realtors
Gainesville, Florida
(352) 372-5375

Haile Plantation Market Activity June 21 - 27, 2009

During the week of June 21 through June 27, six homes were sold (closed) in the Haile Plantation area. Homes ranged from a 4 bedroom/2 bathroom home listed for $239,000 to a 4 bedroom/4 bathroom home listed for $409,900. During that same period, two homes in Haile Plantation went under contract. Located just five miles from the University of Florida and Shands Hospital, the award-winning New Urbanist community of Haile Plantation features "A" rated schools, a Gary Player signature golf course, and miles of walking and biking trails.

Coleen DeGroff, MBA

Your Gainesville, Florida REALTOR

Gator Nation Relocation - Specializing in Drama-Free Realty for the Hassle-Averse

Coldwell Banker M. M. Parrish, Realtors

Gainesville, Florida 32606

(352) 372-5375

June 16, 2009

There are 127 homes presently available for sale in the Haile Plantation area.

The homes range in price from $125,000 for a 2 bedroom/1 bathroom home all the way up to a 5 bedroom/3.5 bathroom executive home listed for more than $2.5 million.

There are 44 3 bedroom/2 bathroom homes currently for sale in the Haile Plantation area,  priced from $125,000 for approximately 1300 square feet up to $695,000 for about 4800 square feet.

Haile Plantation encompasses several highly-acclaimed schools including Wiles Elementary School, Chiles Elementary School, Kanapaha Middle School, and Buchholz High School.  Please visit the Alachua County Public Schools website for zoning maps and school information.

A favorite with locals, the Haile Village Farmers Market in Haile Plantation happens every Saturday throughout the year from 8:30 until Noon.

White canopies dot the tree-lined boulevard where area farmers and local vendors display myriad offerings including organic baked goods, freshly picked fruits and vegetables, garden plants, and homemade dog biscuits.  

Savoring the tranquil setting, market goers pack Haile Plantation Village’s sidewalk cafes for breakfast or a cup of coffee with friends.  Eating fresh has never been such fun!

S.W. 91st Terrace, Haile Village Center, Haile Plantation, Gainesville, Florida 32608

Haile Area - Detached, Single-Family Homes Sold April 1 through May 31, 2009

Number of homes sold: 13

List Price Average:            $401,529

Sales Price Average:          $380,394

List to sell variance:           95%

Average Days on Market:    162

Average price by number of bedrooms:                            3 bedrooms                      4+ bedrooms

Average list price                                                                 $156,633                           $474,998

Average sales price                                                              $162,000                           $445,912

List to sell variance:                                                             103%                                 94%

Neighborhoods sold:

HP/Founders Hill - 1

HP/Katelyn Lane - 1

HP/Haile Market Square - 1

HP/Oakmont - 1

HP/Village Center - 2

HP/Sable Pointe - 1

HP/Kestral Point - 1

HP/Preserve - 1

HP/Westfield Commons - 1

HP/Stratford Ridge - 1

Stillwind - 1

Valwood - 1

                                        Haile Area – Detached, Single-Family Home Sales – January 1-March 31, 2009

Total homes sold 1Q09:    18
List price average:               $324,308
Sale price average:              $303,108
List to sell variance:             94%
Average Days on Market:      134

Average price by # of bedrooms:        3 bedrooms        4+ bedrooms
Average list price                                       $246,473              $446,621
Average sales price                                    $234,900              $410,293
List to sell variance:                                        95%                    92%


Neighborhoods sold:
HP/Katelyn Lane – 1
HP/Preserve – 2
HP/Haile Market Square – 2
HP/Southgate – 1
HP/Laurel Park – 2
HP/Hampstead Park – 1
HP/Oakmont – 1
HP/Sutherland Crossing – 1
HP/Victoria Circle – 1
HP/Indigo Square – 1
HP/Planters Grove – 1
HP/Retreat Place – 1
Kenwood – 1
Valwood - 2