Hey everyone,

I just wanted you all to know that we are finally settled into our new office in Ocala. We are now located at 515 NE 25th Ave.

What a rush! We bought the building about a month ago and it was a definite fixer-upper but we just loved the location. So me and my family and a few of our closest friends jumped in and helped us turn it into a fully functioning real estate office. I’ll put the new contact information at the bottom of this post.

I hope all of you have a happy 4th of July. Stay safe!

Beck Properties, LLC
515 NE 25th Ave.
Ocala, FL 34470

Phone: (352) 690-BECK (2325)

- Justin

This is a great article brought to you buy Diana Hudson Kresnye and Rismedia. I loved this article because some of the best vacations I’ve ever had were the ones where I didn’t even leave town. I did that a lot when I was serving in the military. It was nice to take a week off and just get some things done around the house and relax by the pool. Check out what Diana has to say about this.

Create ‘vacation spots’ at home this summer to beat the high cost of gas

RISMEDIA, June 28, 2006—Decorating diva Diana Hudson Kresnye suggests creating “vacation spots” at home this summer to beat the high price of gas. “With some creativity and just a bit of cash, it’s amazing how you can transform your home into a great place to vacation,” Hudson Kresnye says.

“Most of us have unclaimed spaces inside and outside our house that we can cleverly transform into vacation spots,” she says. Hudson Kresnye, owner of Devine Designs in Mentor, Ohio suggests “summer-izing” your house by first packing away the velvet pillows, heavy draperies, wool blankets, and dark area rugs. “We need to shed all the trappings of winter. The goal is to visually lighten up the space.”

Next, she says to turn your eye toward your “large investment pieces” like couches, love seats, chairs. “Many people have what I call hand me ups, hand me downs, and hand me overs,” she says. “An easy way to unify our misfit collection of furniture is with ready-made slipcovers. Stores like Target and JC Penneys offer good selections at affordable prices. The key is to go neutral and stay with solid colors. To create the feeling of a vacation retreat, I suggest cool colors like whites and pastels.”

Hudson Kresnye offers other tips for creating a vacation feeling within your home. “Replace heavy wool area rugs with floral print rugs for a cottage look. Or, if you’re going for a tropical feel, bamboo rugs add wonderful texture to a room. They are very affordable and make for easy clean up because you can just wipe away spills,” she says.

Art is another opportunity for a quick summer time change. “Replace your art for an instant change in latitude. Bed, Bath and Beyond, Marshalls, and TJ Maxx carry inexpensive framed art that can transport you from Cleveland to the Caribbean as quick as you can hang it.” Hudson Kresnye also says to replace the variegated ficus tree you picked up at your local craft store. “The trend in home décor is beautiful silk palms. Add one to a corner of the room to give depth and dimension. Put an inexpensive canned light behind it to brighten up the dark corner,” she suggests. Lastly add a few throw pillows, some new accessories, light and breezy ready-made cotton curtains, a lamp or two, and some fresh blooms from outside to complete the feel of a vacation retreat in your own home.

Hudson Kresnye doesn’t limit the “summer-izing” of your home to just the inside. She suggests reclaiming a corner of your yard, the deck, patio, or porch to complete the transformation of your home into a vacation spot. “There are so many fun things at the stores for summer. It’s amazing how a couple of brightly colored pillows, a summery blanket, a few potted plants, and some wicker furniture can transform these forgotten areas outside our home,” she says.

“Transforming your home into a vacation retreat this summer is a great way to turn the challenge of high gas prices to our favor,” Hudson Kresnye says. “Invest your summer vacation savings on a few cosmetic changes to the house. Once the transformation is complete, enjoy your new vacation retreat. When the kids are at camp, whether for just a day or a week, use one of your vacation days from work. Play some vacation music and revel in the retreat you’ve created,” she says.

“You can be a thousand miles away in an instant and without the hassles of packing, traffic jams, crowded airports, flight delays, lost baggage, getting lost in unfamiliar cities, and the challenge of traveling with kids. Invite friends and family to ‘vacation’ with you all summer long for barbeques, luaus, play dates, and movie nights.” Hudson Kresnye says that with a little creativity, this can be your best summer vacation ever.

What’s happening today in the Ocala/Marion County MLS (today’s listings, price changes, etc.) Ocala MLS E-update

Here’s some good info!

Existing-home sales ease in May, says NAR

ORLANDO, Fla. — June 27, 2006 — With mortgage rates still ticking upwards, Florida’s housing sector in May continued to adjust to changing market conditions, including a greater inventory of homes available for sale in many areas. Statewide, the existing-home median price rose 11 percent to $256,400 last month; a year ago, it was $232,000, according to the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR). A total of 18,680 existing single-family homes sold statewide last month, a decrease of 24 percent from the 24,523 homes sold during the previous May, according to FAR.

In 2001, the statewide median sales price was $125,200, which is an increase of about 104.7 percent over the five-year-period, according to FAR records. The median is a typical market price where half the homes sold for more, half sold for less.

Nationally, the median sales price for existing single-family homes was $222,700 in April, up 4.3 percent from a year earlier, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). In California, the statewide median resales price was $562,380 in March; in Massachusetts, it was $354,000; in Maryland, it was $305,720; and in New York, it was $263,000.

Home sales across the nation are settling into a slower pace, which is good for the long-term health of the sector, according to NAR housing industry analysts. Still, NAR expects 2006 to be the third strongest sales year on record. Analysts note that the adjusting housing market will continue to provide a strong underlying base to the economy, while slower appreciation will help to preserve long-term affordability.

Looking to Florida’s existing condominium market, sales of existing condos also decreased in May, with a total of 5,725 condos sold statewide compared to 8,337 in May 2005 for a 31 percent decline, according to FAR. The statewide median sales price for condos remained relatively flat last month at $222,000; a year ago, it was $222,100. The national median existing condo price in April 2006 also was $222,000.

According to Freddie Mac, the average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 6.60 percent last month, up from 5.72 percent in May 2005. FAR’s sales figures reflect closings, which typically occur 30 to 90 days after sales contracts are written.

Among the state’s larger markets, the Jacksonville metropolitan statistical area (MSA) reported 1,732 existing homes changed hands last month compared to 1,671 homes sold in May 2005 for a 4 percent gain. The market’s median existing home price rose 15 percent to $208,700; a year ago, it was $181,700. A total of 230 existing condos sold in Jacksonville in May for a 35 percent increase over the 170 condos sold the previous year. The market’s median existing condo price rose 3 percent to $170,900; a year ago, it was $166,700.

“The range of housing options and prices available in the Jacksonville area is one of the attractions here,” says Kay Seitzinger, president of the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors and assistant manager with the South Beach office of Watson Realty Corp. in Jacksonville Beach. “The economy continues to be very strong, there are new businesses coming to the area and our jobs outlook is solid now and for the future. The market is adjusting and rising inventory levels offer buyers more opportunities.”

Of the state’s smaller markets, the Pensacola MSA reported a 1 percent increase in existing home sales in May, with 589 homes sold compared to 582 homes sold a year earlier. The area’s median existing home sales price rose 8 percent to $170,600; a year ago, it was $158,600. Sixty-seven existing condos sold in Pensacolalast month compared to 70 condos sold in May 2005 for a drop of 4 percent. The market’s median existing condo price rose 31 percent to $196,700; a year ago, it was $150,000.

“The forecast for the Panhandle remains good for housing sales,” says Auby Smith, president of the Pensacola Association of Realtors and broker for Real Estate Counselors in Pensacola. “We’re expecting an increase in military expenditures, which is good for the area’s economy. Buyers have a variety of housing choices at reasonable prices, especially when you consider some of the costs of waterfront property in other areas.”

© 2006 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS

What’s happening today in the Ocala/Marion County MLS (today’s listings, price changes, etc.) Ocala MLS E-update

Here are some stats from the Florida Association of Realtors. Enjoy!

Consumer confidence up modestly in June

NEW YORK — June 27, 2006 — The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which had decreased in May, posted a slight increase in June. The Index now stands at 105.7, up from 104.7 in May. The Present Situation Index decreased to 132.7 from 134.1. The Expectations Index that gauges attitudes about the future, however, edged up to 87.6 from 85.1 last month.

“The slight bounce-back in confidence this month was a result of the moderate improvement in consumers’ expectations,” says Lynn Franco, director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center. “Despite the up-tick, consumers remain concerned about the short-term outlook. Furthermore, the Present Situation Index lost ground for the second consecutive month, a signal that the economy is shifting into lower gear heading into the second half of this year.”

Consumers’ overall assessment of current conditions, while favorable, declined for the second consecutive month. Those claiming conditions are “good” declined to 26.8 percent from 28.5 percent. Those claiming conditions are “bad” eased to 14.9 percent from 15.2 percent. Views on the current labor market conditions were mixed. Consumers saying jobs are “plentiful” decreased to 28.1 percent from 29.1 percent, while those claiming jobs are “hard to get” decreased to 19.9 percent from 20.2 percent.

Consumers’ outlook for the next six months, which had deteriorated in May, improved moderately in June. Those expecting business conditions to worsen decreased to 11.8 percent from 12.9 percent. Those expecting business conditions to improve increased to 16.8 percent from 16.5 percent.

The outlook for the labor market was also somewhat more optimistic. Those expecting more jobs to become available in the next six months increased to 15.6 percent from 14.8 percent in May. Those expecting fewer jobs declined to 17.0 percent from 18.0 percent. The proportion of consumers anticipating their incomes to increase in the months ahead remained virtually unchanged at 17.1 percent.

The Consumer Confidence Survey is based on a representative sample of 5,000 U.S. households. The monthly survey is conducted for The Conference Board by TNS. TNS is the world’s largest custom research company. The cutoff date for June’s preliminary results was June 20th.

© 2006 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

What’s happening today in the Ocala/Marion County MLS (today’s listings, price changes, etc.) Ocala MLS E-update