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Green Building grants - 03/05/2008
Grant Funds up to $50,000 per Project
Now Available for Developers Committed to Providing Green* Affordable Housing
Applications must be received online by April 11
Awards are expected to be made by the last week of June
Grant guidelines and application available at www.greencommunitiesonline.org
*Please note that Enterprise and its partners have updated the Green Communities Criteria. Before starting the application please make sure to request the new Criteria at: https://www.greencommunitiesonline.org/tools/criteria/request.asp
My mobile text address - 03/05/2008
My mobile text address 8507581236@txt.att.net
St. Joe Results to previous blog entry - 03/05/2008
I ran across an article I posted on my previous blog that I wanted to check out how things went now almost a year later here are the results.
Haven Custom Homes Press Release
Feburary 13, 2008
EMBARGOED: FOR RELEASE FEBRUARY 13, 2008
For further information contact:
John Ragland
Executive Vice President,
Land Acquisitions and Marketing
Haven Custom Homes
Phone: (410) 694-0094
https://www.havenhome.com/ /
TUCKER BAYOU, SOUTHERN LIVING IDEA HOUSE, WINS HOME OF THE YEAR AWARD AT BEST IN AMERICAN LIVING AWARDS CEREMONY
ORLANDO, Florida -Tucker Bayou, a 2007 Southern Living Idea House, was awarded the prestigious Home of the Year during the Best In American Living Awards (BALA) ceremony in Orlando. The innovative home was a result of strategic partnerships among Looney Ricks Kiss Architects, The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE), Haven Custom Homes and Southern Living magazine. Founding Principal J. Carson Looney, FAIA, of Memphis, Tenn.-based Looney Ricks Kiss Architects accepted the award.
"Tucker Bayou is an example of how strong partnerships can work together to create innovative concepts in new home design and produce a home that is widely acclaimed by the marketplace," Looney said. "A collaboration such as the one we have created with Haven Custom Homes, The St. Joe Company and Southern Living will change the way people look at design and modular construction and will ultimately improve the future of neighborhood developments."
Tucker Bayou was chosen as Home of the Year based on its architectural design by Looney Ricks Kiss Architects, site and landscaping by JOE, quality craftsmanship and architectural detail by Haven Custom Homes and interior design by Looney Ricks Kiss Interiors Group.
Located in The St. Joe Company's WaterSound community in South Walton County in Northwest Florida, the home is a 3,544 square-foot, shingle-sided, tin-roofed Southern cottage that combines the comfort of an empty nester vacation home with features that suit the versatile lifestyles - both social and private - of today's families. Haven Custom Homes utilized modular construction for Tucker Bayou, resulting in a home that was substantially complete upon arrival to the site and assembled in a matter of days. Site and landscaping details were then completed by St. Joe and the home's interior design was created by Ann Parker with Looney Ricks Kiss Interiors group, working with the Southern Living design team.
"Every partner contributed their expertise, from the initial design to the interior details, to create Tucker Bayou," said John Ragland, executive vice president, Land Acquisitions and Marketing for Haven Custom Homes. "We were privileged to work with such esteemed partners on this project and look forward to creating more innovative, award-winning homes in the future."
"With this project, we have advanced the art and science of homebuilding in Northwest Florida," said Jerry M. Ray, The St. Joe Company's Senior Vice President for Strategic Alliances. "Ultimately, this award demonstrates that a group of best-in-class strategic partners can effectively deliver an extraordinary product for homeowners. We look forward to this award-winning approach to homebuilding in all of JOE's Florida markets."
The St. Joe Company, one of Florida's largest real estate development companies, and Haven Custom Homes, one of the nation's leaders in the construction of modular homes, formed a strategic alliance in 2007 to bring state-of-the-art building techniques to JOE's communities in Northwest Florida and JOE's RiverTown near Jacksonville, Fla. Haven Custom Homes also has a strategic partnership with Looney Ricks Kiss Architects to create modular homes rich in architectural detail and design.
For more than 30 years, Haven Custom Homes has provided a unique approach to off-site construction. Partnering with local builders, Haven Custom Homes has delivered more than 350 quality homes each year to discerning buyers with homes prices ranging from $300,000 to $2.5 million. Haven Custom Homes was acquired by Wind River Holdings in late 2005, a private holding company out of King of Prussia, PA, and is poised to make significant expansion in the homebuilding business. Haven Custom Homes currently operates environmentally protected home building centers in Pennsylvania and South Carolina, with future expansion into other regions to meet the growing demand of its quality homes. For more information about Haven Custom Homes, visit www.HavenHomes.com or call (410) 694-0098.
Founded in 1983, Looney Ricks Kiss is an architecture, planning and interiors firm with offices in Memphis, Celebration, Rosemary Beach, Jacksonville, Nashville, Dallas, Baton Rouge, La., Boulder, CO and Princeton, N.J. The firm has been commended by developers across the nation for its success in the planning and implementation of mixed-use developments, urban infill projects, downtown revitalization and traditional neighborhood developments. To date, the firm has received more than 450 awards of recognition for design at local, state, regional and national levels. For more information about Looney Ricks Kiss, visit the company website at https://www.lrk.com/.
The St. Joe Company, a publicly held company based in Jacksonville, is one of Florida's largest real estate developing companies. The company is primarily engaged in real estate development and sales, with significant interests in timber. Its mission is to create places that inspire people and make JOE's Florida a better play to live, work and play.
Sponsored by Professional Builder magazine and the National Association of Home Builders, the BALA program showcases homes that illustrate design quality, succeed in the marketplace and exemplify the "Best in American Living." To qualify, homes must have been completed or communities opened between May 1, 2005, and July 12, 2006. A total of 106 award winners in 41 categories were chosen from more than 559 entries. The 2006 BALA competition's panel of 12 judges was composed of builders, marketing experts, architects, land planners, developers, design professionals, interior designers and Professional Builder editor.
Photography:
1.) Tucker Bayou - © 2007 Photography courtesy of Southern Living, Inc Magazine
ST. JOE Innovations - 03/05/2008
I ran across an article below that is turning a year old and I wanted to check on each project and see how things are going.
St . Joe Innovations
Among this year's out-of-the-ordinary from landowner St. Joe Co.:
» A prebuilt house assembled in a day. The home, constructed at WaterSound in Walton County, is a Haven Homes off-site built model using factory-made components. It will be a featured Idea House in Southern Living magazine.
» A fast-round golf course with six holes and three sets of tees. The course, designed by professional player Davis Love III , will open at WaterSound this spring.
» A town center design with interpretations by six architects. Six buildings, representing individual takes on the region's indigenous architecture, will begin opening this summer at WindMark Beach in Gulf County.
» A restoration project returning woods to the way Hernando DeSoto found them in 1539. St. Joe is converting industrial pine forest to the region's original forestlands at a 7,000-acre site at Breakfast Point in Bay County, where the National Audubon Society is partnering with St. Joe to build a state-of-the-art nature center
Natural Springs Private Lake Estate - 01/08/2008
MLS #:
482878
$2,600,000
Active
BAKER, FL
County:
OKALOOSA
1
25 Crestview Area
1988
10 BAKER & MILLIGAN
70.00
17-3N-24-0000-0004-0000
Land/Acreage
From 85 & 90 in Crestview head 90 west to Hwy 4 Take Hwy 4 north for two miles to just before the ball park, left takes you to Hilton this acreage is located at the end of the private drive.
NW1/4 EX PART NE OF ST RD & EX PART SE OF CO RD & SW1/4 LYING NW OF CO RD
Some of the area that I cover - 01/08/2008
Beaches of South Walton South Walton Real Estate North Walton Real Estate 30-A Real Estate Freeport Florida Real Estate Inlet Beach Real Estate Dune Allen Real Estate Miramar Beach Real Estate Santa Rosa Beach Real Estate Seacrest Real Estate Watersound Real Estate Watercolor Real Estate Blue Mountain Beach Real Estate Rosemary Beach Real Estate Grayton Beach Real Estate SanDestin Real Estate Seagrove Real Estate Seaside Real Estate Sandestin Resort Real Estate Destin Condos Resources Destin Condos Destin Beaches Destin Homes For Sale Okaloosa Island Real Estate Fort Walton Beach Real Estate Mary Esther Real Estate Shalimar Real Estate Niceville Valparaiso Real Estate Bluewater Bay Real Estate Navarre Beach Real Estate Navarre Real Estate Holly By The Sea Real Estate Gulf Breeze Real Estate
Coldwell Banker United Realtors - 11/19/2007
Airport Home in Northwest Florida - 11/19/2007
502 Tailspin Lane Holt Florida Airport Home for sale
ListPrice:
$575,000
Status: Active
ApproxSF:
1,500 BG:
Bedrooms: 2
Baths Full/Half: 3/
Zip 32564
County: OKALOOSA
Stories: 1
MainArea:
25 Crestview Area
YearBuilt:
2007
SubArea: 11 HOLT
OccStat: New
Subdiv: METES & BOUNDS
ImmOcc? Y
ParcelID: 09-2N-25-0000-0024-0050
ConstrStat: ConstrCmplt
ElemSch: BAKER Middle: BAKER High: BAKER
Dir:
From Holt Exit off I-10 go south on Log Lake Rd turn left on Tail Spin property is on the right.
Legal:
COM NE COR LOT 45 HILLCREST GROVE W870 FT TO POB W 145 FT S276 FT E145.& COM NW COR BLK G LAKEWOOD EST N229 FT N81 DEG E108 FT TO POB N81 DEG E230 FT
Exclusive Airport home.As you enter,you'll immediately notice this home's open floor plan with cathedral-style ceiling and wonderful natural light from the large and numerous windows. Notice the wood cabinets and hardwood floors as you enter in the kitchen. The large island with bar features a stainless steel sink, brand-new dishwasher,ample counter space and recessed lighting above. The kitchen also features a brand-new refrigerator,stove,and microwave as well. The hardwood floors extend into the spacious living room with a wonderful view courtesy of the windows and french doors leading to a covered back porch that runs the entire length of the house.Both bedrooms are carpeted and contain enormous 11x11 private baths, both of which have glassed-in showers and are tiled in natural stone. The bedrooms also have large Hampton bay ceiling fans and large window ledges for plants and bric-a-brac. Adjoining the house is an airstrip, a large guest house, and an airplane hangar. The hangar is 2000 square feet and can accomodate two aircraft. It contains a sink,mini-fridge, plenty of shelving, and a full bath for those long days after flying your plane. Fly to your private air strip and park your plane in your own hangar.The airport home owner association has a 2500 foot air strip that is located just north of destin and fort walton beaches and minutes from Eglin Air Force Base.
Lot Dim.:
IRR
LotAcc:
Near Interstate Exit, Private Road
PrkingFeat:
Boat, Detached, Guest, Other, Oversized, RV
Acres:
1.75
Zoning:
Residential Single Family
LotFeat:
Cleared, Irregular, Level, See Remarks
ProjFacil:
Airfield
Dimnsns
LivingRoom
1
19'5x15
Design:
Contemporary
Kitchen
1
19'5x13
Bedrm:Additnl
1
16x11
Bedrm:Additnl
1
16x11
Bath: Full
1
11x11
ExtFeatures:
Porch Covered, Separate Living Area, Guest Quarters
Bath: Full
1
11x11
IntFeatures:
Breakfast Bar, Ceiling:Cathedral, Guest Quarters, Kitchen:Island, Lighting:Recessed, Split Bedroom, Washer/Dryer Hookup
Appliances:
Auto Garage Door Opener, Dishwasher, Disposal, Microwave, Oven:Self Cleaning, Refrigerator
Utilities:
Community Water, Electric, Phone, Septic Tank, TV Cable, Underground
Energy:
A/C: Central Electric, Heat: Central Electric
Mbed/Mbath: Mbath Shower Only, Mbath Tile, Mbed Carpeted, Mbed First Floor,
American home remodeling projections - 08/19/2007
Americans will spend nearly $232 billion on home remodeling this year, according to the National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) 2007 industry forecast. This represents a 1.9 percent increase from the record $228 billion spent in 2006, according to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. NAHB announced this forecast this week at a teleconference celebrating National Home Remodeling Month.
"Remodeling continues to show strength despite the housing slowdown," said NAHB Remodelers Chairman Mike Nagel, a home remodeler from Chicago. "With more than 120 million homes in the United States plus $11 trillion in owner equity, the demand for remodeling will be there now and in the future." Remodeling currently accounts for more than 40 percent of the home construction industry by dollar volume.
RIS Media reports - 08/19/2007
RISMEDIA- According to the latest Swanepoel Trends Report the industry has never before experienced as many new business models and competition as it has during the last couple of years as well as growing government interest in the industry.
It seems that the Federal Government doesn't feel that the industry is doing enough and that real estate brokers and state regulators and legislators have impeded competition. Hence, in a new report by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ, it has decided to participate in the transformation of the industry by deciding that certain existing laws, rules and regulations need to be repealed.
Although the FTC acknowledges that real estate industry has undergone a number of substantial changes in recent years it also states that competition has been hindered as a result of actions taken by some real estate brokers acting through MLSs and the National Association of Realtors and state legislatures and real estate commissions. The report points to various areas in which the diversity and power of these new models are already reshaping the way real estate is conducted.
According to the report it's all about the consumer, of course, and making sure that their choices are not limited. The Feds especially want regulators to pursue a detailed study of commission rate and fee practices to better measure price competition in the industry. Their feeling is that as commission fees "do not vary in proportion to changing home prices," they are considered to be "relatively inflexible" and therefore have in real terms become too high.
FTC chairwoman Deborah Platt Majoras said, "The FTC is committed to working with the industry and policymakers to ensure that competition is not inhibited and that consumers are well-informed about this important marketplace. Home ownership is the American dream, and real estate brokers have helped to achieve that dream for many. But when anticompetitive practices stand in the way, consumers lose."
Real estate brokers and agents don't want consumers to loose, so that isn't the issue. The real debate is how to "ensure" that the consumer does not loose.
The FTC is recommending that state "legislators and industry regulators" should consider repealing existing laws, rules and regulations like minimum-service and anti-rebate provisions that limit choice and reduce the ability of new brokerage models to compete. To date 12 states have enacted so-called "minimum-service" or "limited-service" laws; Florida, Illinois, Alabama, Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Indiana, New Mexico, Virginia and Tennessee.
At this point the minimum-service laws appear to accomplish little more than to add another level of disclosure to the growing stack of paper in a transaction that is already too complex. Many home sellers and buyers already struggle to grasp even the basic aspects of agency and this new addition seems to add no real value to the consumer. In some states, Tennessee for example, agents must spell out services they are not providing to the home buyer or seller - now that makes no sense at all.
There is a broad consensus that the industry has too many licensed real estate agents today for the number of transactions. A former chief economist for NAR, John Tuccillo said in reference to the recent hot market, "There are large numbers of Realtors out there who have not participated in a transaction in months, or even years - and this during the best real estate market in history. The level of competence in the industry has fallen to its lowest point ever," he adds.
So is the solution the implementation of impractical "minimum-service" levels or to follow the latest recommendation to repeal them? Wouldn't a logical argument be that the time has come to rather increase the quality and quantity of the education required to obtain a real estate license in the first place?
The barrier to enter the industry in real estate is very low and when compared to other industries the licensing requirements are far too easy. The average real estate agent only needs to complete some 48 hours of pre-licensing training and pass a simple multiple choice exam to obtain a real estate license. According to research by Anthony Marguleas of A. M. Realty, a California esthetician requires 600 hours, a hair stylist 1,500 hours and a plumber 2,080 hours before they are licensed. The hours required to become a doctor, lawyer, engineer or CPA are obviously off the chart.
So, back to the debate of not wanting the consumer to loose and it is surprising that the FTC Report in its Conclusion and Recommendations does not say one word about ensuring that the participants in the industry are better qualified.
Isn't the logical step to improve the quality and level of service given to the consumer by first improving the quality and level of education and training of the brokers and agents tasked to serve the consumer? Surely this can't be anti-competitive.
The current real estate pre-license education most individuals receive is primarily focused on gaining a better understanding of many of the terms and principles found in the industry so they can pass the exam. The course does little, if anything, to prepare them to become a successful real estate professional.
Therefore, today's average new real estate agent has not been equipped with the necessary skills to properly serve today's consumer. Jim Sherry puts it very bluntly when he states that "Consumers have no guarantee that anyone calling themselves a Realtor actually knows what they are doing."
If the FTC wishes to make recommendations, perhaps it should be recommending higher and better quality pre-licensing as well as ongoing education. This would help ensure that those people licensed to work with the most valuable asset the average family has will be competent in doing so - be he or she a "traditional," "new paradigm" or "online" agent.
Either way, both the FTC/DOJ 2007 Report and the Swanepoel Trends Report 2007 point to the significant change continuing to take place in the real estate industry. For some agents that have been in the industry a long time the "gravy train" has come to an end.
The real estate broker and agent of tomorrow will have to accept the fact that more of them will be fighting for fewer transactions - transactions that are likely to be carrying lower commissions. At the same time technology and new business models will continue to erode away certain functions or duties traditionally exclusively undertaken by real estate agents - again pointing to a decline in earnings per agent.
Real estate has always been a fiercely competitive industry and it is only going to become more so.
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