No one can appreciate Hometown Heroes more than me!  My family is full of hometown heroes. Close friends serve and protect here in Tallahassee, Florida across the country and overseas. Military,Police, firefighters, nurses, and teachers, you are our heroes! You protect and serve us, often putting yourselves in danger and taking time from your families to serve us. Each of you are heroes in my eyes, each deserve affordable homes where you can lay your head down at night and escape the dangers and responsibilities of keeping us safe and of watching over our children every day. There are special loan programs designed for you to help you purchase a home.

If you live in Tallahassee, FL, have a public service job and are a home-buyer searching for your next home, I want to help you find the way home. Call me today, let me give something back ~ let me help you. Here to counsel you about home ownership, help you with home sales or difficulties, or assist you in your home purchases. Questions will be answered, problems will be solved, obstacles will be overcome. Debbie Kirkland, Realtor is here to help. Debbie Kirkland, Tallahassee, FL resident is thankful for you.

What People have to say about Using a Realtor, a real estate professional:

Nurses
Firefighters
Police/Sherrif’s Dept.
Teachers

Resources:
Florida Home Buyer Opportunity Information:
http://www.floridarealtors.org/AboutFar/upload/Florida-housing-resources.pdf

Federal Housing Resources:
http://www.floridarealtors.org/AboutFar/upload/Federal-housing-resources.pdf

Tallahassee Board of Realtors, First Member Technology Forum

Debbie Kirkland, Neil Ryder, Ken Griffin, Rae Roeder and Paul Galloway will be speaking to the Tallahassee Board of Realtors and sharing tidbits about technology with other Realtors in a non-traditional, un-conference that will hopefully be the beginning of future technology group discussions.

Want to know about smart phone technology, Social Media Tools for Realtors, Contact Management systems, Google Tools, Listing and Marketing Tools? Don’t miss this high energy, chock-full-of knowledge conference. Your Take-A-Way will give you a boost for sure!

WANT MORE?  Don’t forget to Register for the Real Estate Bar Camp in Orlando ~ a FREE un-conference, led by your peers from across the country, the brightest minds in the business. Come learn their secrets, tips and tools! It will be a great Follow-up to this presentation!

August 25, 2010 8AM – 5PM ~ The day before the Florida Realtors Annual Conference!

See details about REBarCamp Orlando at: http://www.REBarCampOrlando.com

Looking for a great home near Florida State University?  Look no further!  It’s ready to go.. and like new inside and out!  It’s in a neighborhood called Town N’ Country, established, families, professionals, retirees and grad students,’.. and it’s close to Florida State University. Owned by a family whose children were in college at FSU, and cared for like their primary home! Recently re-painted inside and out, new carpet,never lived on! Fenced yard perfect for the kids or 4 legged creatures! Newer roof, Amazing open Kitchen and dining Room. “L” shaped living areas, and Huge bedrooms with great closets and storage. Deep 1 Car Oversized Garage with Laundry and tons of great shelving! Less than 2 miles from Florida State University and it’s ready for you NOW!
See the pictures, etc. at HomeSalesofTallahassee.com “Featured Listings, 2107 Old Bainbridge Rd. Tallahassee, FL 32303

2127 Glennridge Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32308

A beautiful Home Close-In yet private, park-like setting in northeast Tallahassee, FL!
Help me find a buyer! Perfect for downsizing, starting out, professionals, small family. Open Floor Plan, Large Bedrooms and tons of closet and storage space. Brick and Vertical High-Grade Seamless Vinyl. Fenced Yard is like a garden oasis! Watch the birds.. Feel the cool breezes from the deck or the covered porch.
Just off Mahan Drive between Hi-Lo and TyTy. One block from Governor’s Park.. a beautiful place to hike, picnic or walk!
OFFERED AT JUST $240,000 ………..
Realtors work with ALL offers!

SEE MORE OF THIS LISTING FROM YOUR SMARTPHONE: TEXT “6993″ TO “79564″
CONTACT AGENT FOR SHOWINGS

It’s Independence Day! Tallahassee, Florida knows how to celebrate! On July 4th,  at Tom Brown Park in Tallahassee, Florida, a full day of  traditional cookouts, pony rides, kids activities and more for families wanting to begin celebrating during the day. Live concerts in the park feature great local bands and the evening ends with a traditional fireworks display. Activities begin at 11am and continue until 10pm after the fireworks end.  Food vendors, entertainment stages and impromptu jam sessions among friends and a Naturalization Ceremony can be found as people gather in Tom Brown Park. Printable Event Flyer . (pdf)

Fireworks can be found throughout the city as many neighborhoods have their own homewoner’s association celebrations. Summerbrooke (at 9pm near the 11th hole on the golf course), Golden Eagle Plantation and Killearn Lakes neighborhood at Lake Monkey Business and neighboring towns of Chatahoochee, Mexico Beach, Cairo, all have fireworks in their parks. Here’s a list of when and where  to find your favorite  fireworks spot! Enjoy!

Tallahassee
Celebrate America at Tom Brown Park
Activities throughout the day
Fireworks at 9:30pm

Chattahoochee, FL
River Landing Park at 4pm

Mexico Beach Pier
Fireworks at 8:30pm

Cairo, GA
Gates open at 8:30
Fireworks at 9:30
at Cairo Football Stadium

Thomasville, GA – JULY 5TH
Gates open at 6:30
Fireworks at 9:30
at Remington Park

Whatever you do, wherever you celebrate, Be Careful!  Anybody else remember the fireworks on Lake Ella when we were kids?

Kleman Plaza is in the heart of downtown Tallahassee, Florida. It’s home of the Challenger Center, the Mary Brogan Museum of Arts and Science, Harry’s Restaurant and the Plaza Tower and Towne Center Residences . Kleman Plaza is also home of  a July fourth weekend celebrationin Tallahassee, FL. This great event happens on Saturday, July 3, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m at Kleman Plaza.  It’s a day to bring the kids, a blanket, sit on the lawn in the center of downtown Tallahassee and  sway to the sound of the blues, enjoy smoked barbeque and listen to great local bands like King Cotton, Rick Lollar, the Swingin’ Harpoon Blues Band and TJ and The Burglar Group. What a line-up!

Downtown Tallahassee Parking Map

Water mister’s and the fountains and ice-cream from vendors seem to keep the kids cool and a few shade trees and seat are available, but bring your own chair or blanket!  For more information and to view some July 4th Special Offers for Tallahassee visitors, visit www.VisitTallahassee.com/FreedomFest or call Visit Tallahassee toll free at (800) 628-2866.

Want to get out of Tallahassee? A bit further down the road is the Sopchoppy 4th of July Fireworks celebration in the park. This event features arts and crafts, music, food and entertainment, ending in a spectacular fireworks event that some say is the best in the area.

Whatever you do, drive carefully and be mindful of children, bikers and pedestrians along the roadways and in the area Tallahassee parks.

Tallahassee, FL prides itself on being a family town. There are always special events surrounding the holidays. The Fourth of July is a great weekend for traditional fireworks displays, concerts, barbeque’s and block parties.  The next three posts will highlight some of the activities around town.

A variety of weekend activities begin on Friday, July 2, with First Friday’s Gallery Hop into historic Railroad Square Art Park. See Map of shops. Railroad Square Art Park is home of over 50 art galleries and shops. Railroad Square is the heart of the Gaines Street Revitalization project for the City of Tallahassee that will become a corridor for the arts in Tallahassee.

July 2nd there is also a “Downtown Get-Down” along Adams Street with a “Salute The Military” theme. There will be some hand’s on military displays, music and food and music. These events typically last until 10pm.

9188 Smith Creek Road – for complete listing information see “Featured Listings.” or Click Here

Artopia – An Art Auction and event with a purpose. Big Bend Cares Charity Auction 2010

Big Bend Cares is the primary AIDS service organization providing HIV/AIDS education in this mainly rural region in and around Tallahassee, Florida. Big Bend Cares exists to provide education and comprehensive support to people infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS. My friend Kevin Hattaway, has been involved as a sponsor and fundraiser for years with Big Bend Cares and I have been to several events and fundraisers over the years. Having lost a loved one to HIV/Aids, Kevin is dedicated to the support of education and awareness that Big Bend Cares provides.

What impresses me most is the attitudes and generosity of  the caring, cooperative volunteers and people involved in Big Bend Cares. Some have lost loved ones, others struggle with HIV/Aids even now. It’s an ongoing battle and it’s why the fight to educate must continue. Big Bend Cares has many events throughout the year equally as fun.

My daughter and I are still reeling from this great art show and auction! I did not win any of my bids, however, she walked away with four pieces that I am still envious of! In my opinion, she was the winner of the deal of the century. A local artist,  Shea Murphy’s, first piece, which he donated to charity. It took over a year and a half to produce and when he is famous, which I am sure he will soon be, she will have in her possession a work of art that is even more meaningful and valuable!

Shea Murphy is a quiet soul, a giving soul. That much we learned when we talked to him after the auction. Shea works for Home Depot and is a contractor and loves hosting the “how-to” sessions for kids. He also has a passion for introducing art to kids. He works with handicapped children, introducing not just the how-to of art, but the vision that anything is possible. Children with severe physical handicaps learn from Shea that anything is possible and that art comes from within. I can’t wait to learn more about Shea. I am sure  that my daughter and I will be keeping in touch with this wonderful man.

Watch for next year’s show. You really don’t want to miss this great opportunity to purchase art from local artisans, to mingle with the artists and hear their stories and passions and to share your love of art and Tallahassee’s wonderful Big Bend Cares volunteers with friends in Tallahassee, FL.

Artopia 2010 Gallery: View it on Facebook or join the Facebook Community and become a “fan” of Big Bend Cares for future postings and events! If someone you know and love has been affected by HIV/AIDS consider making a  Donation to Big Bend Cares.

Just click here: DONATE

Boy! HGTV has set some pretty high standards for sellers, buyers and Realtors. Our expectations of the perfectly staged home, the immaculate house cleaning on an hours notice with the picture-perfect set of toddler triplets who live in a seemingly storefront bubble is what we have grown to expect.  However, that’s not the average person’s reality, now is it?

Often, we catch people rushing to make dinner for their families, interrupting visits with families, attending sick loved ones (including the furry sort). Timing is not often perfect, and life happens. As sellers we often wait for those buyers who are running late with their Realtors as well. Usually, there is a reason..we are showing on an average 15 – 30 listings before the buyers can make a decision. There are issues with buyers as well, mobility issues, children in tow or parent’s tagging along.  Patience is a virtue in the real estate business.

As Realtors we want you to focus on what is important as you are looking at a home, or prepping your home for sale. Prepare for your appointment, look over these Home-Buyer FAQ’s.

Focus on structural and functional details, imagine how furniture will fit in a room, research property taxes and flood zones. A little less time sitting on furniture, looking at baby pictures and let’s give this family their home back, for now!

Sellers, we have a goal, to make a sale. Get ready to sell. If it’s not perfect it doesn’t have to be upside down. If it is, reschedule.

Yes, I’ve seen some sites while showing property, some have impressed me, some have annoyed me, and some have taken my breath away, (positively and negatively).  I’m a Realtor, but more, I’m human and I understand how people live and care for the things they value or don’t value. It takes all kinds of people to make the world go ’round and if you really want to get hung up on all that, there’s lots of reality tv shows you can watch!

As for my customers, they will be taken care of and prepared for their showing appointments and their listing presentations, as well as they can, but… we may be late from time to time.