Orange and Blue Homes

New website

2010-05-10T23:40:00.001-04:00

Hello ~ I am no longer using this website.

Please visit my new website at www.orangeandbluehomes.com

Thanks!

Happy New Year

2010-01-02T19:55:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year! I hope everyone has a wonderful new year!

Happy Holidays

2009-12-04T21:42:00.002-05:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Short Sales in Gainesville, FL

2009-11-28T14:21:00.042-05:00

What is a Short Sale?

A short sale is a home that is listed on the market, but will eventually face foreclosure if not sold quickly. The homeowner is behind on payments and is making arrangements with the bank to sell the home for less than the amount they owe the bank. A short sale is not as bad as having a foreclosure on your credit report, but it is still harmful to your credit.

Keep in mind that it takes a lot longer to purchase a short sale than a regular home. You may have to wait several months to get bank approval on your offer before you can close on the home.

Here is a link to short sales in Alachua County. This list represents some of the residential short sales available in Gainesville, FL: Short Sales in Alachua County (This list will be periodically be updated, so feel free to bookmark this link).

Available short sales in our Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for Alachua County as of today's date:

247 Residential Short Sales in the Gainesville-Alachua County Association of Realtors' (GACAR) MLS system (includes other counties).
201 Residential Short Sales in Alachua County.
131 Residential Short Sales in the city of Gainesville.
6 Vacant land short sales in GACAR's MLS.
2 Multi-Family Unit short sales in Gainesville.
91 Attached unit short sales in GACAR's MLS, 89 of which are in Alachua County and 81 of those are in Gainesville. Attached units are usually condos.

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-13T08:13:00.002-04:00

Happy Halloween! I found some links to adorable pumpkins. Here are some ideas for decorating your home with hand made pumpkins that can be reused year after year.

Check out these scary, but yet cute pumpkins...

A previous employee of Martha Stewart created a blog titled Martha Moments. This blog entry shows some photos from the book above. These pumpkins are great.

Here are a few other sites to check out:
50 Craft Pumpkin ideas
BHG Pumpkin Decorating Ideas
Martha Stewart's grandinroad

This is a good book: Country Living Pumpkin Chic: Decorating with Pumpkins & Gourds

I got my craft pumpkins from Michaels

Have a great Halloween!

New home pricing!

2009-09-06T02:19:00.016-04:00

Hartley Brother's Construction has new LOWERED pricing and new Floor Plans perfect for your new home in Gainesville!

We've also started building in a new subdivision, Weschester/ Burbery Ponds off of 43rd Street.

Willow Oak Plantation
(off of Archer Rd at 88th Street)

Monticello (1434 sq ft 3/2) $174,750.

Clark (1453 sq ft 3/2) $177,800.
York (1456 sq ft 3/2) $179,000.
Micanopy II (1525 sq ft 3/2) $179,250.
Woodlands (1593 sq ft 3/2) $191,000.
Clark III (1622 sq ft 3/2) $182,750.
Madison (1675 sq ft 3/2) $188,250.
Wyndam (1789 sq ft 3/2) $213,500.
Kirkwood (1790 sq ft 4/2) $192,500.
Belle Grove (1918 sq ft 3/2/bonus) $218,500.*
Westover (2,234 sq ft 4/3/bonus) $232,500.*
*Belle Grove and Westover have bonus rooms.
Price are base price. Includes a $50,000 lot.

Weschester
(off of 43rd Street between 53rd Street and 13th Street)
Monticello (1434 sq ft) $169,900.
York (1456 sq ft) $175,350.
Micanopy II (1525 sq ft) $174,500.

Clark III (1622 sq ft) $177,900.

Madison (1675 sq ft) $183,500.
Prices are base price. Includes a $47,500 lot.

Call me if you are interested in building your new home in Gainesville, Florida

Featured Properties

2009-08-26T18:36:00.001-04:00

Click on the links below to view the properties I've decided to feature.

Homes priced below $150,000.

Homes priced from $150,000 to $200,000.

Homes priced from $200,000 to $300,000.

Homes priced from $300,000 and up.

I will update these lists periodically, so bookmark the site and check back frequently. The links are “active” so they will let you know of any price reductions as well as when the home is no longer on the market.

As a member of the Gainesville Alachua County Association of Realtors, I can show you any of these properties. If you would like to look at some homes give me a call.

I can also set up a personal list, like the ones above, that are tailored to your needs (price, size, features). It will update automatically as listings that match your criteria hit the market. Email me if you would like me to set that up for you. It takes me no time at all, so don’t hesitate!

Easiest way to change your Driver's License Address

2009-07-30T15:13:00.005-04:00

After your move, you will need to update your address on your Driver's License.

Here is the easiest way to take care this....

Go to the DHSMV website (click here) and update your mailing and home address. After you do that, they will prompt you to buy a new Driver's License (with your new address) for $10.00. This is much easier than waiting in line at the DHSMV!

If you do need to go in person, (click here) for DL and Tag office locations.

Open Door Home Sale ~ This weekend ~ July 24th through July 26th ~ 2pm to 7pm.

2009-07-24T01:08:00.002-04:00

This weekend the Gainesville-Alachua County Association of Realtors is sponsoring the first Open Door Home Sale. Listings in the Sale are all offering at least a 3% (of the listing price) incentive. This could be, a reduction on the price of the home, seller paying closing costs, or allowing for concessions. Check the Gainesville Sun this weekend, or the links below to see what properties are participating in the sale.

The Hartley Brother's will have the Kirkwood Model at Willow Oak Plantation off of Archer Road in the Sale. Come out and visit!

If you have any questions, feel free to call me or send me an email. heather@orangeandbluehomes.com, 352-258-0768.

List of homes in the Sale: http://realestate.gainesville.com/homes/FL-USA/OPEN-house

This link from the Gainesville Sun has more information: http://www.gainesville.com/section/SPECIALSECTIONS04

Gardening

2009-05-17T21:14:00.050-04:00

Today, my husband and I decided that we might give gardening a try! We were going buy plants to spruce up our front yard, but instead we decided to grow pretty flowers ourselves. We purchased a Jiffy Seed Starter Greenhouse from Home Depot. It was only $4.98 and it grows 50 plants. The great part about it is that each of the 50 small pots are made of peat moss and can be re-planted right in the ground or into a larger pot. This helps to avoid root-shock. Similarly, we purchased little peat moss pots. A pack of 26 was only $1.99. Less expensive annuals cost about .89 cents (as much as I love Home Depot and Lowes, Wal-Mart has a better price on Annuals), and perennials usually cost more than that. So, planting 50 plants yourself can definitely save you money.

We planted several flowers and vegetables including: morning glories (in remembrance of my Grandmother), watermelon, sweet basil, sweet corn, carnations, sweet pea, lupine, hollyhock, and lettuce.

We are going to plant Mexican oregano and alyssum as ground cover around our garden. Alyssum is pretty and grows very fast.

I'll let you know how it turns out.

Click here for a website that will help you choose vegetables or flowers that meet your needs. You can search by color, sun amounts, annual vs. perennial, plant height, among other things.

Martha Stewart has a list of websites for companies that sell various plants and seeds. Click here for that list.

Sellers: Here is how I can help you.

2009-04-30T22:55:00.006-04:00

Here is the marketing video I've invested in recently, let me know what you think.

The Parade of Homes is Here!

2009-04-17T20:48:00.043-04:00

I am currently marketing for Hartley Brother's Construction in Willow Oak Plantation off of Archer Road.

The Belle Grove model will be in the Parade of Homes which will run from April 18, 2009, through

April 26, 2009, 1-6pm on weekends and 5-7pm on weekdays. Come by and see our homes!

We currently have three new construction homes for sale:

The Belle Grove model. MLS # 298266

$245,900
3 bedroom/ 2 bath, square footage: 1918

Bonus room over garage, crown molding throughout home, granite counter tops in kitchen. Energy Star Certified.

The Wyndam. MLS #: 298245
$249,000
3 bedrooms/ 2 bath, square footage:1789

Upgraded kitchen cabinets, low E. windows, Energy Star Certified, lots of tile, hardie siding and trim.

The Kirkwood. MLS #:299250
$229,900
4 bedrooms/ 2 bath, Square Footage: 1789

Vaulted ceilings in living areas. Open kitchen to entertain friends and family that looks out to your great room. Many upgrades throughout including tile, cabinetry and lighting to name a few.

The Hartley Brother's will pay the buyer's closing costs with the purchase of one of the inventory homes above, as long as a preferred lender is used.*

I can also help you BUILD your new home, either on your own lot or in Willow Oak Plantation, Savannah Station, or Fletcher's Park. (We can build in counties that neighbor Alachua as well).

I work for ERA Trend Realty and market for Hartley Brother's Construction, Inc.

http://www.eratrend.com/
http://www.hartleybrothers.com/

* Includes almost all of the closing costs, prepaid taxes and insurance are not paid for by the Hartley Brothers. Closing cost package is approximately valued at $3,500.

View all homes currently for sale built by Hartley Brother's Construction: Click Here.

I'm joining the world of Blogging.

2009-04-12T01:34:00.007-04:00

I’ve decided to give in to the blogging epidemic! It seems everyone else is doing it! I will say that I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the blogs of my family and friends who have recently had children. Especially, when they don’t live nearby. It is great to see pictures and videos of the kids. It makes it feel like you can follow along in their lives, even though you are not there as much as you would like to be.

As for me the question became, “What should I blog about?” Then I had an idea…considering I am a Realtor, I figured I should blog about homes. So, that is what I am going to do. I am going to blog about things that I think will be useful to homeowners, whether it be in regards to buying and selling a home, or cleaning, decorating, remodeling, and maintaining a home. I am also going to blog about local restaurants and interesting shopping and activities in Alachua County, as I think that will be useful to out of towners as well as some locals who are looking to explore Gainesville.

I like decorating, crafts and scrapbooking. (I love all the home shows on TV.) Artistic ability runs in my family, although I think my family has more of it than I do!! A little rubbed off on me. I have a very talented Mother who can paint, sew, and do everything else in between.

So, that is my story as to why I have started to Blog. I am extending an invitation to all… to please feel free to participate in my blog by adding comments as to successes you’ve had or things that have not worked out as well, so that others can benefit from your experiences as well. Thanks, and I hope this blog will be helpful to you.