Florida Real Estate Blog

Greg and JR began the day just after 7 at their favorite practice facility on the 16^th. Greg practiced his drive over the trees in preparation for todays competition. Chuck arrived early and our band of competitors beat the vast group of players to the first tee on time.

The first hole was won by Greg followed by JR on the 2^nd and then we were treated to a par run by none other then CW for the next 3 holes. On to the 6^th through the 8^th where our group pushed one another. So here we stand on the 9^th tee box with 4 skins to win. JR and CW hit drivers short and Greg blows one within 140 yards. CW is in the bunker and JR is off the green by 20yards while Greg is just off with a 20’ put for birdie. He wins

the hole and all 4 skins. JR ties Chuck with a 47 while Greg registers a 48. Yet in skins it is Greg the leader by 5 then Chuck with 3 and JR a single skin.

On to the back nine. 10, 11 are halfed and on the 12^th CW hits a great drive while JR and Greg are having issues. Yet both are either on the green or just off in 3. Greg makes his put to push that hole also. The next hole finds Greg in the bunker numerous times and it requires JR to make a putt to tie CW which he does not. CW records 4 skins. He is in the grove and feels it is his day. 14^th is won by Greg with a smooth par and he looks like he is in control until JR steels the next three holes. So we arrive on the 18^th where all three players execute drives and 2^nd shots. Then we find bunkers or duffed shots that provide us with a tie on the last hole.

It is the first time we have had a chip off. So all three hit from an area that CW chose. This is the way it will occur in the CW (if he is not in the chip off) they hit into the green and then putt into the hole. In this competition 2 of them made it in 2 putts. So the group went back to another area, picked by another competitor and chipped again. This time it was agreed that the closest to the hole on the chip would win. Since using the first format could have us playing all day. We agreed this would be the format we would use in the future. So at the end of it Greg won the 18^th skin to tie Chuck with 7 skins. JR would win

the match with a 94 followed by Greg 95 and CW 7 back.

Consider this change: Reduce the chip off to one Chip and one putt. We then measure the difference between the ball and the hole. This will reduce the time to one cycle. Your input is requested…..

One of the oldest courses in Central Florida was the site of this competition. It has just been refurbished and looks great. Greens are outstanding and fast. So today should be a true test for our four competitors. Yet there is something amiss and its not just the cloudy skies as our boys tee it up at Dubsdred 7:37 Am. A lengthy presentation by the Starter should have been a warning that this was going to be a long day. Yet we did get to tee off shortly after 7:45.

From the Back tees the first hole has a tunnel view and it allowed our boys to blast their shots all over the fairway. Yet Greg managed bogie to take the early lead. Next hole saw him come back to the field and then again with an OB on 3 followed by two OB's on 4. Greg was longing for his bed with the hopes that this was just a bad dream. By the time we left 4 Lou was up by two on Chuck. Chucks par on 5 provide him with a lead by himself until he strolled to the 6th tee box as he was leaving 6 green all he could be heard saying was give me a Ten....

Ranger Dan kept an eye on our boys the entire day. Seems these folks down here like to keep their Nines in two hour segments. Clearly they have never participated in a pressure cooker like the CW Cup. JR and Greg where having some major battles with the demons in their bags or was it between their ears. While Lou consistently drove the ball to the center of the fairway (attack the white post is what the starter said) and it was providing him with a nifty lead. Until the eight, there Greg hit the green in regulation and two putted for par to close on Lou. The 9th saw JR's driver woes take a whole new meaning as he found water twice. Lou, Greg and Chuck where strong in the middle of the fairway and Chuck would record pars to close on Lou. At the turn we have Lou in the lead Greg one back Chuck 2 back of him and JR trailing Chuck by one.

The 10th is a short par 4 and Lou Greg and Chuck hit great Tee shots. There was some concern that CW's 1st was in the drink so he tee'd up another and hit it in the same area. Not to be concerned he was dry. But much conversation could be heard on the Driving Range as they wonder aloud what the heck is Chuck doing. He walks clear across the fairway and up and down the hazard looking at his balls. Then as if just waking up he realizes he needs a club to hit the shot and has to trudge all the way back down the fairway (at least 100 yards) to get a club and then back to his ball. If Ranger Dan had seen it surely we would have been delegated to only the practice facility in the future. Pars where had by both Greg and Chuck bogie for Lou and JR had a snowman. Over the next 3 holes Lou put on a show off the tee and chipping. He was one over on that stretch and one got a since the last blog was right "Lou is Due" a battle was brewing for 2nd and 3rd between CW and Greg as they see sawed back and forth neither could shake the other. You could see Lou start to tighten up as he saw the finish line only 3 holes away. Muscles tighten and the fluid swing goes into protect mode. OB and a few grounders showed up and where enough to disturb what was shaping up to be a great round. Meanwhile Greg and Chuck are tied on the 18th tee box. Will we have our first chip off??? Drives are hit 2nd shots produce no one in a dominating position so CW pulls out his favorite 3 metal. Greg feels relief as CW nails one across the street OB and so it would end. Lou with a 98 Greg in 2nd CW 3rd and JR hosting Lou's first win Lunch. Congrats where shared by all.

Next week will be an off week as Our Champion will be traveling to the Island (me thinks for autograph signing) you know some people think he is Asian. The rest of the boys will be playing a skins game at some course near by. Enjoy your day.

It is amazing in a time of Banking melt down and Foreclosure blues a star that has been out there since 1999 is providing our Sellers with a way to separate their home from that of so many others with the same attributes.

The program is AmeriDream Down Payment Assistance and it has a Payment Protection Program that comes with it. 

The program provides 3% towards a buyers downpayment for an FHA loan and another 3% to help with the buyers closing costs.  If the closing cost are more than that I suggest finding another lender something is wrong.

The buyer can come it with just the fee to participate in the program. Usually no more than $750 and get all their other fees paid by the program.  This is not a loan, it is a gift.  So you asking your self where was this three years ago when I bought my home, right?  Well it was here but the sellers where not interested in participating.  See they have to pony up at the time of closing 6% to go to Ameridream.  That is to fund future gifts to other buyers.

So in a hot market Sellers do not support this.  That is why we keep saying now is the time to buy.  Its not just great prices.  It is great loan support and you will soon lose the other great thing. That is low interest rates.  Yep Maggie and I had a Mortgage back in 1981 that had an interest rate of 17.5%. Don't laugh it can happen again.  Anyway back to this program. 

What I love about it is something my seller mentioned to me tonight.  He was concerned about closing on his new home and then losing his job.  It is something we all have had to deal with.  We trust that we will stay employed. This program has a DreamKeeper Protection Program that will pay your entire Mortgage Payment for 4 months if you lose your job or become disabled. It even allows for that to occur more than once.  I have been preaching to my children that you need to have 4 months of expense saved in case of hard times and here this program comes along and provides this for their buyers.  I think it is great.   Please do not take my word on this.

Go to:  http://www.ameridream.org/Programs/DPA/Sellers/HowItWorks

Call or email us today and we will provide you with the limited homes that are participating in this great program.

Errol Estates Country Club - Highland and Grove both from the whites @ 7:55Am

Tardy by 7 minutes our gang tee it up on a new course (the Highland) and the track seems to work well with all of our games today as all contestants broke 50. Two holes saw all four of our competitors score par so let us acknowledge the fact that these boys are getting better.

The play was tight thru the fist 5 holes until Lou had to endure an ant bite that caused swelling in his ankle much has been made of JR’s free drop from an ant hill back in match 13 but that is why the USGA made the rule to protect the athlete but it does require the ball striker to ask for relief. Its almost like riding your Hog with out a Helmet. Well that explains that.

So on with the match as JR stepped out to a two stroke lead Greg attempted to real him in on the next but JR expanded the lead at the turn to 4 strokes. On to a more familiar venue The Grove where

Lou and JR pared the first hole, pars where had by Lou and Greg on the third and a battle was beginning. On we went as Lou was playing a strong back nine in hopes of his first win if he could just overtake JR. CW started the back off with some big numbers but then settled in playing bogie golf and found him self just one behind Greg after 7. JR 4 putted that green to provide Lou with a light at the end of the tunnel (yeh yeh I use this analogy to often but it is so appropriate when describing a Train Wreck) yet the next hole would find Lou attempting a downhill 3 metal across the hazard, a shot that no one should attempt. So in the drink he goes and ends up with a Snow Man (8 strokes for you non golfers) to JR's 5. So with one hole to play JR leads by 6 but what is interesting is Lou now finds himself tied with Greg for second and CW is only 2 back. Anything can happen on the 18th at Errol, just ask Chuck. All 4 competitors hit safe drives but CW is long and straight down the middle it seems that he may make up the 2 stokes. Greg and Lou leave 2nd shots short of the green while CW pulls one left into a green side bunker. Bunkers are not his friend but he does execute a decent shot and has a putt to tie Greg as Lou had two putted to secure 2nd. Have we told you about CW's dreaded putter? Well its back, coming in on the last two holes he leaves each putt short. He could have taken 3rd place but instead he treated JR to a wonderful lunch.

So, you may sit your children down this evening before bed and share with them that all is not lost in this world. Oil may be up the war may drag on but at least JR has beat the Mann and it is clear that Lou is DUE. CW on the other hand may reload the field next Year.

Rumor has it he is checking out the Kids camp at both Rolling Hills and Sweetwater for potential competitors. See you all at the new and improved Dubsdred this Thursday.

Great article in the July Florida Realtor magazine addressing how this all works and why folks should get off the fence and make the move to their new home.  Key to remember is to apply using Form DR-501T Transfer of Homestead Assessment Difference. It will not happen automatically.

Seminole county has all the information on the top right hand side of their home page Try the link below.

http://www.scpafl.org/

If you have moved from another county they explain what you must do.

Give us a call we would love to work with you on your dream home.