Low Price/Great Gifts - Food Baskets $15.00 and up! TwoBeachNuts Baskets

Are you looking for a economical gift that your customers, friends or family would love to receive? TwoBeachNuts Baskets are now available here on the First Coast in Jacksonville Beach providing economical food baskets. Whether you need 1 or 100, we get it done.

For only $20.00 ($15.00 for ten or more) you can have a great gift basket full of individually wrapped food items and 2 bottles of water with flavor packets attached.

What if I want a bigger basket of food to send? TwoBeachNuts Baskets is a custom food basket designer and will work with you to create something especially for you.

Contact:
TwoBeachNuts Baskets
904-655-5587 Ask for Mary Beth

Why would you want to pay more to the big box stores when you can get much better food basket products from TwoBeachNuts Baskets?

New Technology- I have Flip Video for my Buyers!!!

There is a new compact video technology called Flip Video which you may have seen in stores recently. It is the size of a cell phone and all it does is take videos. If you are interested in this little wonder may I suggest looking at http://www.theflip.com/en-us/

How does this help my Buyers? This little video camera can take a video of a house as seen by me (with all it's positives and negatives) and be sent to my Buyer as quickly as I can insert the camera in my computer. This can heighten or lessen the Buyers expectations if they like the house. If it is what they are looking for, they should have a greater urgency to see the house and hopefully contract it before somebody else buys it out from under them.

I just hate it when a Buyer loses a house because they saw it too late!!!!

To all my Buyers: If you are on your yacht or are working 14 hour days and cannot see a house you like from the outside, call me so I can take a video and send it to you. I write contracts quickly also.

Those aren't oil droplets, they are seashells!

There has been a low level concern about what the BP oil spill will do to the First Coast. First of all, we are all just sick about what has happened to the Gulf and the long term affects this will have on one of the most beautiful places in the world. We support our fellow west coast Floridians and our breatherin in the other Gulf States.

Although we do not know what the long term affect this spill will have on the First Coast here in north Florida, we are hoping it is minimal. We have seen our first 10 turtle nests of the season and the baby turtles will be hatching in about 45 days. The survival of these babies to maturity is already very small due to mother natures normal "survival of the fittest", but to add oil to this could be devestating.

Our beaches here are still fabulous and the water temperature is perfect. It has been reported that we may get some small tar balls here as the gulf stream passes us; however, these are dedicated communities that will do what is necessary to preserve our wonderful beachs and sealife.

We have had some tar balls before when ships illegally dumped oil in the ocean, so this is something we can handle.

Dancing in the Streets!!

Just another Chamber of Commerce weekend here on the First Coast. Weather is sunny with temperatures in the 80's. Ocean is about 76 degrees with a nice east to west breeze.

Today also happens to be the day Dancing in the Streets is happening in Atlantic Beach. A giant cocktail party with all your closest friends at the beach. Lots of food and drink booths, arts and crafts booths and bicycles all over the place. It is basically a high school reunion of everybody that went to Fletcher High School in the last 50 years. You get to meet people you have not seen (although frequently live within 2 miles of) for many years. We are all too busy to see our old friends during the year, but this event gives us one day to meet them all.

If you are not living at the beach, you are not living. Now is the time to move with lower prices and great mortgage rates.

Are you looking for alternatives to foreclosure?

Mary Beth and I see a lot of people today that are having financial trouble due to job loss, medical problems, transfers and other situations in today's economy. For many, foreclosure may be 3-4 months down the road. This is tragic and the stress transfers to us also because many times we were the ones that put them in their house.

A foreclosure is devistating event for many people not only because it ruins your credit for up to 10years, but also because it is a hit to your self esteem. Many people fall into foreclosure because they have a tendancy to ignore their situation and suddenly the foreclosure notice comes and they are asked to leave the property.

There are progams that may help you in the marketplace that Mary Beth and I can walk you through which may either help you stay in your house or walk away from your home with no appreciable damage to your credit.

Here are some two programs that you may want to consider:

Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternative (HAFA): www.makinghomesaffordable.com
This is a continuation of the government HAMP program that was originally set up to help homeowners restructure their loans so they could stay in their homes. If that does not work, the HAFA is the next step. This will be a short sale and then deed in lieu.

For Military: Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP): www.usace.army.mil
This is a program directed at the military. It can provide assistance in many cases including transfers. We have helped customers with this program and it has been successful for our customers. A very important point for people in the military: Foreclosures can keep you from holding a security clearance. Do not risk your careers.

Mary Beth and I are here to help you, call us if you need us.

Isle of Eight Shrimp Festival is coming!!!!

Save these dates: 30Apr-02May (there is also a Pirate parade on 29Apr). These are the dates of what is commonly called the Fernandina Shrimp Festival. One of the largest festivals in Florida it celebrates the history of Fernandina and their shrimp boat fleet.

The activities are too numerous to mention so I will refer you to the festival websites: www.shrimpfestival.com . Lots of some of the best art and crafts in Florida line the streets along with antiques and collectibles.

Oh yes, I forgot, THE FOOD!!!! Seafood galore with crabs, fish, clams etc etc and of course shrimp.

If you want a great time come out to the festival, you will not regret it. And do not forget to bring your hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Leave the dog at home.

The Official Opening of the Beaches

After a very cold winter in Florida we have finally come to the "official" opening of the Beaches. Lots of hoopla all weekend. As I write this, people are streaming down the major highways to the beach with their beach chairs, sunscreen and hopefully their money to bolster our economy.

The weather is marvelous with a high temperature of maybe low eighties and low humidity. The ocean is a bit cold, but kids have no conception of cold, so they go in no matter what the temperature is.

For those of us who actually live at the beach, we are likely outside riding our bikes and checking out those white skinned aliens that come from town that are looking for a golden tan. They will leave today with that lobster red burn and will aloe themselves down for the next couple days. We will also be assessing the winter kill of our plants and start thinking about what to replace them with.

Living at the Beach is a lifestyle that is so understated. The early morning walks on the beach, the casual lifestyle and the ocean breezes make it a perfect place to live. That plus excellent schools makes it a great place to raise a family.

If all this makes you wanted to move to the Beach call me or Mary Beth.

Thanks to all the hard working Blues Festival People

Billed as the largest free Blues Festivals, the Jacksonville Beach "Swinging the Blues" festival was this past weekend Apr 9-11. As usual the organizers including Georges Music put on a terrific show. The weather was perfect with temperatures in the mid-70's and no rain. My favorite act was Chubby Carrier who brought his Louisiana party to Jacksonville Beach. The city fathers and our local police should be congratulated on the job they did to make this festival enjoyable and safe to all that attended.

Jacksonville, Neptune and Atlantic Beach are one of the best kept secrets in Florida. We are the gateway to Florida and many times after visiting, people decide this is the best place to live. If you feel that way call the TwoBeachNuts so we can find you a home.

Cute Atlantic Beach Home

Meticulously maintained 3 bedroom 2 bath home on a lovely corner lot. Completely remodeled 3 years ago, this 1251 square foot house has a split plan layout with a vaulted ceiling through the core of the house. Other features include:

• Stainless appliances



• Custom tile breakfast bar



• Whole house water filter



• Two car garage

This house is conveniently located with easy access to the beach, Hanna Park, Mayport Naval Base and Atlantic Beach Town Center. Cute as a button! $189,900

Amazon Kindle Fever is spreading!!!

If any of you have an Amazon Kindle electronic book reader disregard this blog because you already know what a fabulous machine this is. When the astronauts go on the Mars expedition is 6-8 years they will likely be taking their "Kindle" with them to fill the boring hours of the mission. They may have their space manuals on it.

I like to read, but I have not done much recreational reading except on long airline flights. I just am to busy to open the book, find where I was a pick up on my reading again. Enter the "Kindle". The "Kindle" is the equivalent of packing a produce box full of books in a 6x5 inch tablet no more than 1/2 inchs thick.

What else does it do? You can subscribe to most of the major newspapers and get them delivered through the air to your "Kindle" every day. You can subscribe to blogs and have them delivered daily.

The kindle allows you to change the font of text for those of us like me who is getting what they call "old eyes". It also saves the spot where you stopped reading automatically so you can pick up at the same place.

Anyway, if you like to read please take a look at Amazon.com and go to the "Kindle" section. I have only given you a small amount of the total things the "Kindle" can do. I am reading recreationally again and it feels great!

P.S. When you order a book on your Kindle from Amazon they send it over the airways to your personal Kindle in less than 60 seconds. The books are cheaper also because the publishers have not production costs.

More than just a Jar Opener "Chapter One"

Many of you have received a jar opener from me and think is that all it is? No..No..No. This is the first of my series on the additional uses for this effective tool. Look at it as our answer to the Swiss Army Knife.

Here are 10 additional uses (more to come):

• 1. Put it on the console of your SUV for your cellphone so it does not slide off.
• 2. Great for holding hot and cold drinks
• 3. Helps open childproof bottles.
• 4. Place around needleso it pulls through easier while sewing.
• 5. Use to twist sprinkler devices and separate hoses.
• 6. Wrap around knife handles to avoid slipping.
• 7. Use for extra grip to help remove the oil filter of your car.
• 8. Use a jar opener and a sheet metal screw to plug a leak in a water line until a plumber can make a repair.
• 9. Great when shucking oysters.
• 10. Place a clove of garlic in the jar opener. Roll on counter. The skin comes right off (This really made this job easier for me!)

Don't have a jar opener yet? Please let me know so I can send you one. I have at least another 80 uses coming up in future blogs!

Need more space for Hobbies or Storage? Check this out.

2855 Southside Blvd. Jacksonville, Fl 32216 Price: 183,900 (Reduced)

Those of you who are gearheads, sawdust sniffers, hobbyists, or just packrats, this is the home for you. On the spacious 90x186 ft lot there is a very nice 3bedroom/2.5 bath home with 2096 heated and cooled square ft. of living. The home has a nice split layout, great for families.

The separate garage is 1976 sq ft of free standing open space. The sellers claim they have had 9 cars in there at one time. If you like to work on cars or dreamed of having the ultimate woodworking workshop you cannot go wrong with this home.

If the sight of that garage gets your water running, call Frank at 904-534-7655 or Mary Beth at 655-5587 for more information or an appointment to see it.

Two wheeling in Northeast Florida

Northeast Florida is a great place for two wheeling. This is a picture of Mary Beth and I next to my Suzuki Burgman 400. When we have spare time, we really enjoy exploring the First Coast from Fernandina to St Augustine. Naturally, our weather is very supportive of this all year round. I think our favorite routes are from the beaches to Fernandina via the Mayport Ferry and the ride down San Jose Blvd to Palatka that follows the St. Johns River.

Club Continental in Orange Park

We went to a wedding in Orange Park yesterday at Club Continental. Club Continental (Mira Rio) was built in 1922 at a whopping price of 200,000 as the winter retirement home of Caleb Johnson the son of Palmolive Soap Company's founder. The original mansion now serves as a Dining and Tennis Club. Membership is around 800 and now has 7 tennis courts, 85 boat slips, 3 swimming pools and twenty-two overnight guest rooms.

Oh, by the way, it is also one of most sought after locations for weddings, parties and company functions. It is truly a marvelous place with views of the St. Johns river that take you back to the elegance of Old World Florida. If you have a very special event, it is the place to have it.

Attention all you people planning weddings. The band at the wedding was the ultimate musical group for this venue. Check them out at their website: misstessmusic.com

Here is the pitch: There are a number of very nice condos, patio homes and single detached homes directly around Club Continental that share the ambiance of the historical site. This area tucked in the ancient oaks on the St. Johns River is located very conveniently near the 295 and the Buckman Bridge providing excellent access to all parts of the city.

If home foreclosure sneaking up on you?

Foreclosure can sneak up on you very quickly. Some of the reasons why homeowners are losing their homes to foreclosure are as follows:

• Loan products with increasing monthly payments (e.g. adjustable rate loans)
• Loss of employment
• Major Health Issues
• Divorce
• Relocation
• Too much debt (e.g. credit card debt)

Foreclosure is a life event that can follow you for many years. Here is why you should avoid foreclosure:

• You must disclose foreclosure on loan applications. Definitely affect your rates.
• Credit scores lowered by 300+ points. The most devastating credit issue you can have for future credit availability.
• It is the one credit report item that is almost impossible to have "repaired"
• Your lender has the right to seek a deficiency judgement from you for the money they do not recuperate at a bank sale.
• Employers run credit checks on prospective employees and foreclosure is one of the top items that will put a new hire in jeopardy.
• Security clearances and government positions including military and law enforcement can be jeapordized by a foreclosure.

If you have a house in the Northeast Florida area that is going to be affected by the above circumstances, get in touch with us to find out your options. Do not wait until it is too late for us to help you.