Gainesville Life

How to Get Found on Google: A Primer for Real Estate Agents

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 23:12:54 -0400

How to Get Found on Google: A Primer for Real Estate Agents

Are you a real estate agent? Are you wondering how you can leverage your Internet marketing to get found on Google?

The real estate industry has undergone a paradigm shift over the past few years. Now 90% of buyers report looking on the Internet to find their homes.

That’s. Ninety. Percent.

That’s HUGE!

What are you doing to increase your chances of being found by Internet buyers?

This brief YouTube tutorial gives an overview of ways that you can connect with buyers on the Internet, concentrating on using blogging as a platform to get found on Google and build a customer base.

There are many different building blocks you can use to increase your Internet presence. Here are just a few:

Active Rain

Facebook

YouTube

Twitter

WordPress

Trulia

What is it about these building blocks that helps to build up your Internet presence so that you can get found on Google?

For the answer to this mystery, and for tips on things you can do to ensure customers find YOU when they are looking for a real estate agent, read the full report: How to Get Found on Google: A Primer for Real Estate Agents

Coleen DeGroff, MBA

Coldwell Banker M. M. Parrish, Realtors

3870 NW 83rd Street

Gainesville, FL 32606

Office: 352-372-5375; Cell: 352-359-2797

Haile Plantation - Quail Court in Gainesville FL is one of community's earliest neighborhoods

Sun, 04 Jul 2010 23:32:57 -0400

Haile Plantation - Quail Court in Gainesville FL is one of community's earliest neighborhoods

Haile Plantation - Quail Court in Gainesville FL was developed between 1982 and 1983, making it one of Haile Plantation's earliest neighborhoods.

An award-winning New Urbanism community, Haile Plantation FL in southwest Gainesville began in the late 1970's.

Quail Court features 2 and 3 bedroom homes ranging in size from 900 to 1100 square feet.

Read the full profile of Haile Plantation - Quail Court in Gainesville FL here.

Coleen DeGroff, MBA

Coldwell Banker M. M. Parrish, Realtors

3870 NW 83rd Street

Gainesville, FL 32606

Office: 352-372-5375; Cell: 352-359-2797

Haile Plantation homes - Camden Court - Gainesville FL

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:05:32 -0400

Haile Plantation homes – Camden Court – Gainesville FL

Haile Plantation Camden Court homes in Gainesville FL were built between 1991 and 1993. Camden Court is right across the street from Haile Plantation Village Center, providing residents with easy access to Haile Village Center‘s shops and activities including the Farmers Market which happens every Saturday morning rain or shine from 8 AM until noon.

Want to learn more about Haile Plantation Camden Court? Then full article about this southwest Gainesville FL neighborhood, including a video tour and local schools information, may be accessed here: Haile Plantation homes - Camden Court - Gainesville FL

Coleen DeGroff, MBA

Coldwell Banker M. M. Parrish, Realtors

3870 NW 83rd Street

Gainesville, FL 32606

Office: 352-372-5375; Cell: 352-359-2797

Landmark Haile Plantation pasture threatened with extinction

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:24:16 -0400

The Haile Plantation horse pasture at the community's Tower Road entrance, the landmark jewel in the crown of this Gainesville FL community, is threatened with extinction because of internicine warfare amongst Haile Plantation FL's three homeowner associations.

This pasture land, which also acts as a retention area during flood season, was deeded equally to all three of Haile Plantation's community associations, and the residents of all three community associations provided equally for its care.

In 2008 the TICOC (Tenants in Common Operating Committee) was formed to enhance communication amongst the three community associations which govern Haile Plantation so that we could act together as one whole community, rather than as three separate entities.

Unfortunately that lofty goal was shattered when the TICOC was torpedoed by the Haile Plantation Village HOA board in January 2010 by a vote of 3-2. The wide-ranging implications of this vote mean that the responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of the Haile Plantation pasture and community garden would no longer be equally distributed amongst the three HOAs.

At the May meeting of the board of directors of the Haile Plantation West HOA, they voted to have the horses removed from the Haile Plantation pasture 60 days from the date of approval by the other 2 boards.

As of today, we do not know what the other Haile Plantation HOA boards will do.

This information is not common knowledge to most Haile Plantation homeowners, as it is the HOAs who apparently make these decisions. I only happened to find out about the situation through an email list I am on.

The pasture and the community garden have been with us since the founding of the Haile Plantation community.

I cannot help but wonder if this motion will be brought up for a vote that all Haile Plantation homeowners will be able to take part in, or whether this will be passed, or failed, based upon the opinions of a few.

And no matter how the whole thing goes, who is going to tell these guys?

**UPDATED June 18, 2010**
I received the following communication from Craig Carty, HVCOA board president. Mr. Carty contends that I got several facts wrong in my original article. I am posting his communication in full. I would love to receive written communication from the president of the HPW board so that I might post that response to this website as well. It seems to me that Haile Plantation homeowners need all the facts before voting on such an important issue. To date, no member from any Haile Plantation HOA board has filled me in re when a community-wide vote regarding the future of the Haile plantation horses, pasture, and community garden is scheduled to take place. There IS going to be one, right?**

In regards to your website. I would first like to state that the Haile Village Center, HVCOA, is totally in support of keeping the pasture and the horses. The HVCOA board has recently voted and approved funding for the fencing and other pasture needs. This information was sent to both HPA and HPW in April of this year. So our decision has already been made and it should be very clear that we would like the horses to stay. To our regret, HPA’s board has not yet responded to our proposal sent to them in April and is unwilling to meet with us to discuss the matter. Please read below to learn more. Also, please correct the statements on your website to be accurate and fair. To keep the horses we need to overcome objections and come up with solutions. Not make false statements and bash others.

Thank you, Craig Carty, HVCOA President

To read Mr. Carty's answer in full, please visit:

Save Haile Plantation Pasture - HVCOA president Craig Carty's response

**UPDATE - After I received the HVCOA board president's response (above), it came to my attention that Mr. Carty's email needed some clarifications. My questions to Mr. Carty, as well as his answers, can be found here:

Clarification of HVCOA information re Haile Plantation Pasture

Coleen DeGroff, MBA

Coldwell Banker M. M. Parrish, Realtors

3870 NW 83rd Street

Gainesville, FL 32606

Office: 352-372-5375; Cell: 352-359-2797

Haile Plantation Gainesville FL - More Homes are Selling This Year!

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 23:46:20 -0400

Haile Plantation Gainesville FL - More Homes are Selling this Year!

An analysis of home sales in Haile Plantation - Gainesville FL for the first five months of 2010 reveals that more homes are selling in Haile Plantation this year than they did last year. The homebuyer tax credit most likely helped boost the number of homes sold in Haile Plantation in 2010.

Although more homes have sold in Gainesville's Haile Plantation community in 2010 than at this point last year, it should be noted that the median sales price of homes fell during this same period.

It is also taking longer to sell Haile Plantation homes in 2010 when compared to the average days on market for 2009.

Please click on the link to read the full Haile Plantation Real Estate Market Report - January through May 2010, as well as advice for Haile Plantation homeowners on the best strategy of pricing your home to sell in today's real estate market.

Coleen DeGroff, MBA

Coldwell Banker M. M. Parrish, Realtors

3870 NW 83rd Street

Gainesville, FL 32606

Office: 352-372-5375; Cell: 352-359-2797

Haile Plantation Neighborhoods - Gainesville FL

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:44:32 -0400

Haile Plantation Neighborhoods – Gainesville FL

The Gainesville FL community of Haile Plantation is approximately 8 miles southwest of Shands and the University of Florida.

Long before it had neighborhoods, the award-winning New Urbanism community of Haile Plantation in Gainesville FL was part of Kanapaha, a Sea Island cotton plantation founded by South Carolina transplant Thomas Evans Haile in 1854.

The New Urbanism community of Haile Plantation in Gainesville FL was developed in 1978 by The Fleeman Family, Matthew Kaskel, and Robert B. Kramer.

There are 3 separate homeowner associations which operate within Haile Plantation. Each neighborhood within Haile Plantation is governed by one of these homeowner associations. Here is a breakdown of the neighborhoods within Haile Plantation and the homeowner associations which govern each one:

One of two pools available to members of the Haile Plantation Golf and Country Club - Gainesville FL

Haile Plantation Association serves the following neighborhoods:

Camden Court
Century Oaks
Charleston
Chesnut Hill
Evans Hollow
Evans Hollow, The Grove
Founders Hill
Grahams Mill
Grahams Mill Garden Homes
Heritage Green
Heritage Green IV
Indigo Square
Laurel Park
Lexington Farms
Magnolia Walk
Planters Grove
Quail Court
The Preserve
Sutherland Crossing

Haile Plantation West Association serves the following neighborhoods:

Albury Round
Amelia Gardens
Annadale Round
Ashleigh Circle
Bedford Square
Benjamin’s Grove
Bennet’s Garden
Branton Court
Bueller’s Way
Carlton Court
Chickasaw Way
Colson’s Corner
Fairhaven
Hampstead Park
Hickory Walk
India Station
Katelyn Lane
Kestrel Point
Lenox Gardens

A typical home in the Hickory Walk neighborhood of Haile Plantation - Gainesville FL

Madison Square
Matheson Woods
Matthews Grant
Middleton Green
Millington
Mills Glen
Oakmont
Plantation Villas
Prestonwood
Retreat Place
Sable Pointe
Spalding Place
Storeys Round
Stratford Ridge
The Hamptons
The Links
Victoria Circle
Westfield Commons
Whitaker Oaks
William Kent Court

Haile Village Center Owners Association governs the residential and commercial properties within Haile Village Center.

Haile Village Center - The Heart of Haile Plantation - Gainesville FL

Coleen DeGroff, MBA

Coldwell Banker M. M. Parrish, Realtors

3870 NW 83rd Street

Gainesville, FL 32606

Office: 352-372-5375; Cell: 352-359-2797

Haile Plantation homes: Retreat Place - Gainesville FL

Sun, 06 Jun 2010 23:30:04 -0400

Haile Plantation - Retreat Place is one of Gainesville FL's newer neighborhoods.

Built between 2005 and 2007, Haile Plantation - Retreat Place is conveniently located by the Publix shopping center and the Haile Plantation Country Club clay tennis courts.

Interested in learning more? Then please visit my full article, Haile Plantation homes: Retreat Place, which will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about this lovely southwest Gainesville FL neighborhood!

Coleen DeGroff, MBA

Coldwell Banker M. M. Parrish, Realtors

3870 NW 83rd Street

Gainesville, FL 32606

Office: 352-372-5375; Cell: 352-359-2797

Buyers Don't Give a Crap about How Much Debt You Have

Thu, 27 May 2010 22:55:18 -0400

Buyers Don't Give a Crap about How Much Debt You Have

For those with tender sensibilities, I would suggest clicking away to something more...ahem....diplomatic.

However, for those who are not allergic to cold hard truths delivered in street language....welcome to my blog.

Here are 2 hard truths that you, as a potential homeseller, need to come to grips with if you plan on selling your home in this market (and by this market I mean Gainesville, FL....though the following truths apply to many other markets in the U.S. as well):

1) "I need to get X amount out of my house so I can pay off my debts."

Dude. Homebuyers do NOT give a crap about how much debt you have. If you bought your home in 2005, 2006, 2007 -- what I've come to think of as The Magical Years -- you are screwed. Okay? That's the long and the short of it. This is still a buyer's market. With the amount of inventory we are carrying, it probably will be for awhile.

You know those commercials where they say "It's a great time to buy?"

Well it IS a great time to buy.

So let's think about this for a minute. If it's a great time to BUY, what kind of time does that make it for YOU?

If you answered "A completely sucky time"......you are CORRECT!

You cannot price your home based upon how much debt you need to pay off....you have to price your home at the going market rates....and the going market rates are NOT what they were in 2005, 2006, or 2007.

They are LOWER than what they were in 2005, 2006, and 2007.

So please don't yell at your REALTOR(R) when they present you with the pricing statistics of recently sold properties.

Yes, we KNOW you want more for your house.

But you can't GET more for your house than what somebody, a BUYER, is willing to pay for it. And THEIR idea of the "going market rate" for your home is a LOT more important than what YOUR idea of the "going market rate" is.

Why?

Because THEY are the ones bringing the offer. And THEY are the ones who have been preapproved and therefore have the money to buy your home.

And if YOU don't say yes, THEY have lots of other homes to choose from....and, more and more often, these choices include short sales, and bank owned properties, and new build homes that desperate builders are trying to unload on the cheap.

So before you get yourself all up in a knot over a lowball offer, try to remember that these buyers are just doing to you what you are going to try to do to the seller of your next home....and that is, get the BEST deal they can. And in this market, buyers can get themselves a pretty darn good deal.

So you may not be able to pay off all your debt when you sell your house. That's just the way it is.

This is not to say you shouldn't counteroffer. However, keep in mind that a counteroffer means that the original offer is dead....and if you counter, there is no guarantee that the buyer won't have already decided to walk and buy something else instead.

It happens. Not always, but it does. Just something to keep in mind.

2) "But I don't want to bring money to the table."

Who does?

Look. If it makes it easier, just look at your home sale as a case of you going to Vegas and losing your shorts. The good news is, when you do sell your home, you can turn around and lowball the offer for your next house. That's the American way.

Now, if it's a case of you CAN'T bring money to the table, that's a different thing entirely. Some possible options to consider are to 1) not sell, and wait for things to get better; 2) rent out your home and wait for the market to improve; or 3) sell your home as a short sale. REALTORS(R) cannot advise you regarding the most financially feasible options for you and your family. A frank discussion with your accountant or financial advisor will give you a good idea of what your next steps should be.

I'm Coleen DeGroff. And I'm just sayin'.

Coleen DeGroff, MBA

Coldwell Banker M. M. Parrish, Realtors

3870 NW 83rd Street

Gainesville, FL 32606

Office: 352-372-5375; Cell: 352-359-2797

High Springs Hills: $15,000 Price Drop and $5,000 Buyer Bonus! - High Springs, FL

Tue, 25 May 2010 18:40:57 -0400

$15,000 price drop + $5,000 buyer bonus!

See more High Springs, FL real estate for sale

Coleen DeGroff, MBA

Coldwell Banker M. M. Parrish, Realtors

3870 NW 83rd Street

Gainesville, FL 32606

Office: 352-372-5375; Cell: 352-359-2797

Neighborhoods of Haile Plantation in Gainesville, Florida

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 22:16:23 -0400

Neighborhoods of Haile Plantation in Gainesville, Florida

The southwest Gainesville community of Haile Plantation is broken down into 3 separate homeowner associations. Each of these homeowner associations serves several neighborhoods. All 3 of these homeowner associations and their related neighborhoods make up the Haile Plantation community as a whole. Here is a breakdown:

Haile Plantation Association serves the following Haile Plantation neighborhoods:

Camden Court
Century Oaks
Charleston
Chesnut Hill
Evans Hollow
Evans Hollow, The Grove
Founders Hill
Grahams Mill
Grahams Mill Garden Homes
Heritage Green
Heritage Green IV
Indigo Square
Laurel Park
Lexington Farms
Magnolia Walk
Planters Grove
Quail Court
The Preserve
Sutherland Crossing

Haile Plantation West Association serves the following neighborhoods:

Albury Round
Amelia Gardens
Annadale Round
Ashleigh Circle
Bedford Square
Benjamin's Grove
Bennet's Garden
Branton Court
Bueller's Way
Carlton Court
Chickasaw Way
Colson's Corner
Fairhaven
Hampstead Park
Hickory Walk
India Station
Katelyn Lane
Kestrel Point
Lenox Gardens
Madison Square
Matheson Woods
Matthews Grant
Middleton Green
Millington
Mills Glen
Oakmont
Plantation Villas
Prestonwood
Retreat Place
Sable Pointe
Spalding Place
Storeys Round
Stratford Ridge
The Hamptons
The Links
Victoria Circle
Westfield Commons
Whitaker Oaks
William Kent Court

Haile Village Center Owners Association governs the residential and commercial properties within Haile Village Center.

Coleen DeGroff, MBA

Coldwell Banker M. M. Parrish, Realtors

3870 NW 83rd Street

Gainesville, FL 32606

Office: 352-372-5375; Cell: 352-359-2797

Gainesville Real Estate Market Report: Homes Sold in Alachua County - April 2010

Sun, 23 May 2010 21:55:40 -0400

Gainesville FL Real Estate Market Report: Homes Sold in Alachua County - April 2010

Across all categories, more homes sold in Alachua County in April 2010 than in April 2009.

With the exception of 2 bedroom homes, median sales prices dropped across all categories in April 2010 when compared to median sales prices in April 2009.

The homebuyer tax credit most likely helped to bump up home sales across all categories. Although active military still have access to the homebuyer tax credit for the next year, the tax credit officially expired for everyone else on April 30, 2010 – which was the deadline for homebuyers to be under contract for a home in order to receive the tax credit.

Even with the expiration of the homebuyer tax credit, this is still a GREAT time to buy.

Why? Two main reasons:

Inventory is still at high levels (meaning there are more homes available to buy than there are buyers….which exerts a downward pressure on prices).

Interest rates are still some of the lowest we’ve seen. Jim Gillespie, president of Coldwell Banker, says you have to go back to World War II to find mortgage interest rates this low.

As the economy improves, interest rates are bound to go up. And really, who wants to pay more than they have to for a home?

If your answer is “Not me!” give me a call. I’d be happy to help you with your home search! :)

Coleen DeGroff, MBA

Coldwell Banker M. M. Parrish, Realtors

3870 NW 83rd Street

Gainesville, FL 32606

Office: 352-372-5375; Cell: 352-359-2797

Haile Plantation homes: Carlton Court - Gainesville, FL

Sun, 23 May 2010 19:11:58 -0400

Haile Plantation homes: Carlton Court - Gainesville, FL

Featuring homes built between 2002 and 2004, the southwest Gainesville FL neighborhood of Haile Plantation - Carlton Court is eight miles from Shands and the University of Florida. Haile Plantation - Carlton Court is zoned for Chiles Elementary School, Kanapaha Middle School, and Buchholz High School. Prospective residents of Haile Plantation in southwest Gainesville, FL are encouraged to contact the Alachua County School District at 352-955-7700 to verify school zoning information.

Music: "L.O.R.D." by echoed

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Coleen DeGroff, MBA

Coldwell Banker M. M. Parrish, Realtors

3870 NW 83rd Street

Gainesville, FL 32606

Office: 352-372-5375; Cell: 352-359-2797

Haile Plantation homes: Sable Pointe - Gainesville, FL

Sat, 22 May 2010 10:35:50 -0400

Haile Plantation homes: Sable Pointe - Gainesville, FL

The southwest Gainesville FL neighborhood of Haile Plantation - Sable Pointe was built between 2000 and 2003. Sable Pointe is within walking distance of Haile Plantation West Park (formerly Hampstead Park) and Chiles Elementary School. Located 8 miles from Shands and the University of Florida, Haile Plantation - Sable Pointe is zoned for Chiles Elementary School, Kanapaha Middle School, and Buchholz High School. Prospective residents of Haile Plantation are encouraged to contact the Alachua County School District at 352-955-7700 to verify zoning information.

Music: "June" by Carosone

Browse Haile Plantation real estate

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Coleen DeGroff, MBA

Coldwell Banker M. M. Parrish, Realtors

3870 NW 83rd Street

Gainesville, FL 32606

Office: 352-372-5375; Cell: 352-359-2797

Haile Plantation homes: Bueller's Way, Gainesville, FL

Mon, 17 May 2010 20:14:45 -0400

Haile Plantation homes: Bueller's Way, Gainesville, FL

Haile Plantation - Bueller's Way was established in 1996. Close to Haile Plantation West Park (formerly Hampstead Park), the southwest Gainesville neighborhood of Haile Plantation - Bueller's Way is eight miles to Shands and the University of Florida. Haile Plantation - Bueller's Way is zoned for Chiles Elementary School, Kanapaha Middle School, and Buchholz High School. Prospective residents of Haile Plantation are encouraged to contact the Alachua County School District at 352-955-7700 to verify zoning information.

Music: "Sweet Magnolia" by Calling Sister Midnight

Coleen DeGroff, MBA

Coldwell Banker M. M. Parrish, Realtors

3870 NW 83rd Street

Gainesville, FL 32606

Office: 352-372-5375; Cell: 352-359-2797

Haile Plantation homes: Albury Round, Gainesville FL

Sun, 16 May 2010 12:40:37 -0400

Haile Plantation homes: Albury Round, Gainesville, FL

Welcome to Haile Plantation - Albury Round! Established in 1997, this southwest Gainesville FL neighborhood is eight miles from Shands and the University of Florida. Haile Plantation - Albury Round is zoned for Chiles Elementary School, Kanapaha Middle School, and Buchholz High School. Prospective residents of Haile Plantation - Albury Round are encouraged to contact the Alachua County School District at 352-955-7700 to verify zoning information.

Music: "Rain Falls Soft" by Don Meyer

Don Meyer / CC BY 3.0

Coleen DeGroff, MBA

Coldwell Banker M. M. Parrish, Realtors

3870 NW 83rd Street

Gainesville, FL 32606

Office: 352-372-5375; Cell: 352-359-2797