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THE POLES WED 8:00AM
12/01/2011

Crisp, clear and cool morning with knee high or less surf here at the poles at report time. Check back later. Share on Facebook

JAX PIER WED 7:30AM
12/01/2011

COLD air temps this Wednesday morning with small surf in the ankle to knee high range. Doesn’t look rideable at report time with side/onshore conditions out of the N. Small surf expected through Thursday, then a new round of windswell is expected into the weekend. Check the forecast for details. Share on Facebook

Jetski Love
12/01/2011

- Jetski Love from Sean Benik on Vimeo. Cody Thompson has been on a good run. The day after he found out his innersection entry had earned him a spot in the final movie, we ventured down to Daytona for an invite only, WINNER TAKE ALL $1,000 tow-at contest. The surf was small but the [...]

Innersection Video Premiere Featuring Cody Thompson at Mellow!
12/01/2011

Mellow Mushrooms very own team rider, Cody Thompson is featured in the new Innersection Video! They are having a huge video premiere party for Cody on December 1st! Come support local surfing and enjoy our ladies night! Two Showings: 7pm and 10pm Drink Specials: $1 house wine, $3 3olives, $3.50 smirnoff Live Music: Cope Share [...]

JAX PIER-1:15PM UPDATE
12/01/2011

Waves are still rideable at the Pier this afternoon. It’s dying now but there are still a few waist high sets coming through. It is looking pretty weak so grab your small wave board if you want to get some before there gone. Share on Facebook

JAX PIER TUES 7:45AM
12/01/2011

The cold front pushed through last night and left us with chilly air temps and clean waist high leftovers. Breaking a little soft and the sets are spread out but looking pretty fun for the right equipment. Get on it early looks like it will be gone quickly. Share on Facebook

JAX PIER MON 2:30PM
12/01/2011

We are seeing waist to occasional chest S/SSE windswell still in the water this afternoon. We have a strong south to north current pushing down the beach. Not the best looking form but still a couple good ones coming thru. New weekly forecast is up. Share on Facebook

DAR group recaps busy month
11/30/2011

The Ocala chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution recapped a busy month, including traveling to Belleview for the Women of the Armed Forces Luncheon.

Dr. Geist works toward CBCP Certification
11/30/2011

The Small Business Development Center at UNF announced today that Dr. Philip Geist, Area Director for Marion, Alachua and Citrus Counties has achieved a passing score on the Qualifying Examination for the Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP) designation from the Disaster Recovery Institute International (DRII). The CBCP is DRII’s most widely recognized and held business [...]

A Certain Vino earns world championship
11/30/2011

OKLAHOMA CITY-The 2003 brown American Quarter Horse gelding, A Certain Vino, earned the world championship in senior western pleasure on November 18 at the 2011 American Quarter Horse Association FedEx Open World Championship Show in Oklahoma City. A Certain Vino was bred by Tim and Lou Petty of Ocala, and was shown by Karen Hornick [...]

American Freight becomes sponsor of Wounded Warrior Project
11/30/2011

American Freight Furniture and Mattress is proud to announce its role as a corporate sponsor of Wounded Warrior Project™ (WWP), an organization seeking to honor and empower injured service members. The WWP assists injured veterans and their families through a holistic approach to their recovery. Whether through caregiver retreats, combat stress programs, career and education [...]

Ramona Kirsch represents CF on International Panel
11/30/2011

Ramona Kirsch, director of International Education at the College of Central Florida, was a panel moderator and presenter at the Indo-Global Education Summit in Delhi, India, in November. The summit focused on academic collaborations and student enrollment. Kirsch has served CF since August 2007 and is India country director for USA Community College Consortium. CF [...]

Council recognizes longtime city staffer
11/30/2011

The Ocala City Council recognized Ocala Police Officer Tom Neufeld on Tuesday for having completed 30 years of service with the city.

Buyer’s agent joins realty office
11/30/2011

Teresa Fikaris has joined the ranks at Fontana Realty as a buyer's agent.

Downtown square “painted purple” by March of Dimes
11/30/2011

On Thursday, Nov. 17, the inaugural World Prematurity Awareness Day, the local branch of the March of Dimes arrayed purple ribbons around the downtown square.

Dr. Cox opens new chiropractic office
11/30/2011

Dr. Nate Cox, will open his new chiropractic office, Back to Health Chiropractic on Monday, Dec. 5.  The office will be located at 1521 SE 36th Ave., Suite 2, Ocala.  For more information, call 512-0530.

Short Sale Basics from a Tampa Bay Realtor
11/30/2011

"Education is learning what you didn't even know you didn't know."
Daniel J. Boorstin

Team Chais is a team of licensed Real Estate Agents, Top Notch Negotiators and Certified Distressed Property Specialists that have a lot of experience with short sales. Well recognized for our work with lenders and attorneys in this highly specialized process, Team Chais has earned this recognition because of our personal approach.

We constantly come into contact with clients who hear short sale and do one of two things.
A) Run for the hills because they won't even consider it an option.
B) Assume that they don't qualify and that foreclosure is their only option.

As Boorstin says, the best way to get people to open their minds, is through education.

In this posting, we would like to educate you on the short sale process in a simplistic manner. These are meant to make you think about the possibility of a short sale, without overwhelming you, or making your eyes glaze over. There is a lot more to know about short sales, and as you will notice, it is imperative that you have a licensed and experienced Realtor to help you along the way. So without further adieu...

Short Sale 101

1) Banks grant short sales to sellers who have a hardship (i.e. unemployment, divorce, bankruptcy, etc.) and owe more on the mortgage than the home is worth

2) To qualify for a short sale, the seller will need to submit the following:
- A letter of authorization
- HUD-1 or preliminary net sheet
- A Hardship Letter
- 2 years of tax returns
- 2 years of W-2s
- Recent Payroll stubs
- 2 months of bank statements
- Comparative market analysis

3) A buyer will write a short sale offer (at which point the buyer should ask his or her Tampa Bay real estate agent for a list of comparable sales)

4) The seller accepts the offer

5) The Tampa Bay Real Estate Agent sends the following to the bank
- Buyer's preapproval letter
- Copy of earnest money check
- Seller's short sale package

6) The Buyer waits to get a response from the bank. The Tampa Bay Real Estate Agent plays a large role here in keeping in regular contact with the bank.

Team Chais treats each short sale situation with compassion. We realize how important it is to provide counseling in more ways than one to help our clients through the short sale process. Being Tampa Bay distressed property specialists means wearing a lot of hats - part teacher, part counselor, part Realtor. Team Chais wears them all well. If you live in Tampa Bay and would like the full short sale lesson, we would be happy to help. Our site is a great resource - featuring articles on a Seller's guide to short sales, a Buyer's guide to short sales, as well as our exclusive short sale package.

Team Chais
Tampa FL Real Estate Agent
Tampa FL Homes for Sale
Search ALL Tampa FL Properties

11/30/2011

The beautiful thing about living in Tampa Bay Real Estate is that it is not quite a concrete jungle. Beyond the city streets and high rises, we are lucky enough to have the sunny, sandy beaches of the Gulf Coast. From St. Pete's Beach to Johns Pass and northward to Indian Rocks Beach - Tampa Bay boasts a pretty extensive sun and fun landscape.

Our beaches are unlike any other. They are more than just sand and ocean. A typical beach can feature everything from a campground to something as extravagant as an archaeological site. With too many to cover in one sitting, Team Chais would like to present you with…

The Featured Beach of the Week: St. Pete's Beach

Report by the American Medical Convention in 1885:
"Where should a healthy city be built? Overlooking the deep Gulf of Mexico, with the broad waters of a beautiful bay nearly surrounding it, but with little upon its soil but primal forest, there is a large sub peninsular, Point Pinellas, waiting the hand of improvement. It lies in latitude 27 degrees and 42 minutes, and contains, with its adjoining keys about 160,000 acres of land. No marsh surrounds its shores or rests upon its surface; the sweep of its beach is broad and graceful, stretching many miles, and may be improved to an imposing extent. Its average winter temperature is 72 degrees. Those who have carefully surveyed the entire state think it offers the best climate in Florida."

Nicknamed the Sunshine City, St. Petersburg is more than just a beach, it's an entire city. Just as this report says, this beach stretches many miles and may be improved to an imposing extent. St. Petersburg is vast and, year after year, continues to make improvements to its beaches and its community. Within the boundaries of this Sunshine City, there are five beaches.

Fort De Soto Beach
The first beach is one of the best around - not just in Florida, but in the entire United States according to numerous rankings and awards. The beach boasts a year-round county campground, miles of nature trails, paved fitness trails, canoe trails, and 800 foot boat launch with floating docks, fishing piers, picnic pavilions, a concession stand and shower facilities.

St. Petersburg Municipal Beach
11260 Gulf Blvd. Treasure Island
On the border of Gulf of Mexico sits the 500 feet of St. Peteresburg's sandy white shores. This beach features full shower and changing facilities, snack bar, beach volleyball courts and a beach wheelchair for the handicapped. Its biggest accomplishment is its cleanliness, recently proven by winning a Blue Wave Beach Award from the Clean Beaches Council.

Maximo Beach and Park
34th Street and Pinellas Point Drive
This beach has recently become the place to be with its newest venture - the "Tocobaga Disc Golf Course." A championship 18 hole course for Frisbee that winds through 47 wooded acres. It also touts three boat ramps, a nature boardwalk, two beach-side playgrounds, bike and nature trails, a 70 acre archaeological site, and a 10 foot observation tower which offers the perfect panoramic view of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, the Gulf of Mexico and Boca Ciega Bay.

Downtown St. Petersburg's Spa and North Shore Beaches
2nd Avenue NE and Tampa Bay
A common place for tourists, this area offers two public beaches where visitors can rent paddleboats, jet skis and other watercrafts, as well as enjoy a playground, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, tennis courts, a palm arboretum, and plenty of parking. It is also the setting of big events such as the St. Anthony's Triathalon.

Egmont Key
If you're looking for the perfect place to take a long midnight stroll, this is it. This island features an 87 foot lighthouse, 440-acre wildlife refuge, and miles of beach offering the perfect view of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

So as you can see, life in Tampa Bay really is a beach! It is part of our culture to spend a Saturday lounging the sand, running the length of the beach, or taking advantage of the amenities of the beach for a day of amusement with the kids. If you are thinking about Tampa Bay Real Estate, please don't hesitate to contact Team Chais. Living on the beach is not as far-fetched as you think.

Team Chais
Tampa FL Real Estate Agent
Tampa FL Homes for Sale
Search ALL Tampa FL Properties

Join an All-Encompassing Volunteer Group with Handson Tampa Bay
Brought to you by the United Way of Tampa Bay, HandsOn is Tampa Bay's premier volunteering and community service platform. Its structure is ideal, uniting volunteers together in a fun and flexible environment, allowing you to choose from various volunteer opportunities throughout the year.

There is no better way to get to know your community than by volunteering. It makes a relatively large place like Tampa Bay seem much smaller when you are working within your community. If you are looking to move to Tampa Bay, Team Chais is a great resource for Tampa Bay Real Estate or simply advice about this great city.

Team Chais
Tampa FL Real Estate Agent
Tampa FL Homes for Sale
Search ALL Tampa FL Properties

. This particular event is definitely one of those….

The Museum of Science and Industry Presents - CSI: The Experience

For every die hard CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Fan out there who has ever wanted to play detective, this is your chance. The exhibit allows visitors to play the role of the crime scene investigator, learn the scientific principles and investigative techniques, and actually solve one of three crime scene mysteries.

DNA, latent prints, forensic anthropology, toxicology - this is the stuff that Forensic dreams are made of. This hands-on exhibit comes complete with special effects direct from the TV series.

The exhibit will be available from June 19th to September 6th, from 9 am - 6 pm. The Museum of Science and Industry (The MOSI), located at 4801 E. Fowler Ave in Tampa, boasts more than 400 exhibits, the nation's largest science center, an IMAX theatre, a planetarium, a 3-D theater and a butterfly garden. Once again, the MOSI is typical Tampa Bay. It has everything that you could possibly want, in one place, that you couldn't get anywhere else.

If you love the sounds of having fantastic places like the MOSI right in your backyard, maybe its time you look into Tampa Bay Real Estate. We would be happy to point you in the right direction. After all, we know and love Tampa Bay and are happy to help anybody else find a home here too.

Team Chais
Tampa FL Real Estate Agent
Tampa FL Homes for Sale
Search ALL Tampa FL Properties

The participating restaurants will offer a $25, $30, or $35 prix fixe 3 course menu featuring an appetizer, entree and dessert per person. Tampa Bay's restaurants run the gamut - from local charming bistros to Asian fusion hot spots, tapas to sushi, gourmet to the local beachside gem, from Spanish, French, and Italian, to every ethnic cuisine in between.

Here is the full list of participating Tampa Bay restaurants:

• 400 Beach Seafood & Tap House
• Avanzare
• Bella's Italian Cafe
• Blue Water Grill
• Boizao Steakhouse
• Brio Tuscan Grille
• Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
• Café Dufrain
• Capital Grille, The
• CineBistro @ Hyde Park Village
• Columbia Cafe at the Tampa Bay History Center Channelside
• Columbia Restaurant - Clearwater Beach
• Columbia Restaurant - St. Petersburg
• Columbia Restaurant - Ybor City
• Dempsey's Steak House
• Donatello, Inc.
• Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
• Gallagher's Steak House
• Grape at International Plaza, The
• GrillSmith- Tampa
• GrillSmith- Lakeland
• GrillSmith- Clearwater
• GrillSmith- Brandon
• Hangar Restaurant & Flight Lounge, The
• Hula Bay Club
• Jackson's Bistro, Bar & Sushi
• Kona Grill
• Marchand's Bar and Grill - Located at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort
• Melting Pot of Oldsmar, The
• Melting Pot of St. Petersburg, The
• Melting Pot of Tampa, The
• Mise en Place
• Mitchell's Fish Market
• NoHo Bistro and Catering, The
• Ocean Prime
• Oystercatchers
• Palm Restaurant: Tampa
• Parkshore Grill
• Pelagia Trattoria
• Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Restaurant
• Ruth's Chris Steak House
• Seasons 52
• Shor American Seafood Grill at Hyatt Clearwater Beach Resort
• Shula's Steak House
• SideBern's
• Spain Restaurant/Toma Bar
• StarLite Majesty Dining Yacht
• Tinatapas
• Urban Culinary Cuisine Cafe
• Yacht StarShip

As you can see, living in Tampa Bay puts you at the center of every possible amenity that you need. Its restaurants are a perfect example of this. Choose an area of the country, choose a type of venue ranging from luxury to local hole-in-the-wall, and choose from a large chain to a local gem. This is the beauty of Tampa Bay. If you are thinking about Tampa Bay Real Estate, please don't hesitate to contact Team Chais. We would love to show you around.

Team Chais
Tampa FL Real Estate Agent
Tampa FL Homes for Sale
Search ALL Tampa FL Properties

Gulfport Art Walk
The quaint Florida village of Gulfport is the ideal place for a sidewalk event. For the First Friday and the Third Saturday of every month, the village holds an outdoor art show to showcase all of their Galleries and shops and local musicians, as well as their fine restaurants.
Time: 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Place: Beach Blvd in Gulfport, Florida
Gulfport Website

Sarasota Art Walk
Dancing, live music, drinks - it must be Palm Avenue! On the first Friday of every month, you can peruse through the fine art galleries, jewelers and restaurants of Palm Avenue.
Time: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Place: Palm Avenue in Downtown Sarasota
Sarasota Website

Palm Harbor Block Party
From February to May, and August to November, on the first Friday of each month, the streets of Palm Harbor's historic district transform into one huge block party. This is worth the trip just to check out the historic downtown area if you have never seen it before. Its Old World atmosphere provides the perfect environment for live music, artists, crafts, and games.
Time: 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Place: Florida Avenue between Alt 19 & CR-1
Palm Harbor Website


Living in Tampa Bay Real Estate means, come Friday, it's time to shake off your work week, get outside, and loosen up. Start a tradition with a friend to go to one of the events above, or find one in your own Tampa Bay neighborhood. If you are only looking to move to the Tampa Bay area, this might be the perfect opportunity to get a better feel for the Tampa Bay community. Anything you need, give us a call!

Team Chais
Tampa FL Real Estate Agent
Tampa FL Homes for Sale
Search Sarasota Tampa FL Properties
Search Palm Harbor Tampa FL Properties
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Team Chais would like to educate you a little...


Ybor City
Eclectic shops, art galleries, jazz, reggae, and salsa emanating from bars onto the streets, hand-rolled cigars being made on every corner - these are the sights and sounds that define Ybor City. The city was founded by Vicente Martinez-Ybor as a cigar-manufacturing center and is now one of only two National Historic Landmark Districts in all of Florida. With its red brick buildings, wrought iron balconies, and narrow brick streets, a visit to Ybor is like taking a step back in time to Tampa's Latin quarters.


Hyde Park
If Ybor City is the "Trendy LA Neighborhood" of Tampa, then Hyde Park is definitely the "New York Borrough." It is even located on South Howard Avenue, earning it the name "The SoHo District. It is filled with more than 50 shops, restaurants, and movie theaters - martini bars, wine bars, outdoor bars, upscale dining, live music venues, upscale shops, and more. As Tampa's first western suburb, Hyde Park homes range from Bungalow homes, to condominiums, to mansions. The village itself resembles a European promenade with its tree-lined streets, vintage street lamps, designer stores, and lush foliage.

The lesson here is, just because you think you know a place, doesn't mean you do. Tampa Bay is so much more than just a tourist destination. It is an up-and-coming city that brings in the amenities and unique features normally associated with the major cities throughout the United States. It can get overwhelming trying to understand all of the Tampa Bay Neighborhoods if you are not from here. As soon as you are ready for a Tampa Bay Real Estate agent, give Team Chais a call. We would love to educate you a little more on all the little hidden secrets of Tampa Bay.

In fact, why not get started right now by going to The Team Chais Listingbook website or clicking below to search for homes in Ybor City or maybe a bungalow in Hyde Park?

Team Chais
Tampa FL Real Estate Agent
Tampa FL Homes for Sale
Search Ybor City Tampa FL Properties
Search Hyde Park Tampa FL Properties

11/30/2011

Team Chais would like to remind you that November is the official month for Alzheimer's Awareness. We could not agree more that setting an official time of year to raise awareness is one of the best ways to make strides towards finding a cure for this widespread disease that continues to affect our parents, grandparents and friends.

It is estimated that 5.3 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's disease (source: www.alz.org). That number is doubled, if not tripled if you think of the number of people who are affected by this debilitating disease - the friends, family, healthcare and social workers, advocates, and volunteers.

So this November, Tampa Bay is standing up and taking a walk to raise awareness with the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk and you're invited!

Place: Lowry Park Bandshell, 7530 N. Boulevard, Tampa, Florida
Date: Saturday, November 6th 2010
Time: 8 am (Pre-walk activities); 9 am (Walk step off)
Length: 2 Miles

Team Chais is participating and we would love to see you there! This is such a great cause and such a successful event. Since its inception in 1989, Memory Walk has raised more than $300 million for the cause. The money goes towards Alzheimer's Association support and research. The mission of the Association is to provide care and support to those affected, reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health, and ultimately eliminate Alzheimer's disease through research advancement.

Team Chais welcomes your donations and your words of encouragement. Go to the Team Chais Facebook Page to check out the Team Chais Memory Walk Event. Or visit the Team Chais Donation page to make a contribution to the cause. We are always happy to get more involved in the Tampa Bay community and encourage new and old residents to do the same. If we can use this blog as a platform to make one more person aware of this disease and feel that they need to do something about it, then we have done our job.

Team Chais
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Unfortunately, with all of the good, also comes some bad. There are always precautions we should be aware of when it comes to Trick or Treating.

7 Tips to Tampa Bay Trick or Treating Safety

At Least One Adult: Children should always go trick or treating with a responsible adult. One large group of kids does not equal one responsible adult. Have at least one parent along for the ride, even if that means walking 10 feet behind them as to not embarrass them.

Stick to the Neighborhoods: Many Tampa Bay Neighborhoods have a town curfew. Make sure to stick to the curfew times and stick to the subdivisions and neighborhoods with lots of homes - not only does it make for the safest scenario, but it also allows the maximum amount of candy in a short amount of time!

Go Towards the Light: Tell your kids the importance of staying out of back allies and fields. For a reference, tell them to always stay towards the well-lit areas. As a courtesy to your neighbors, Tampa Bay Homeowners should turn on exterior lights to provide as much light as possible for the kids.

Look Before You Eat: Make sure your kids know not to open and eat any candy before bringing it home to be inspected first. Be wary of anything that is not factory-wrapped or no longer sealed. The easiest way to keep them from picking at their stash is to make sure they get a full meal in them before they go out.

Stranger Danger: They've heard it before and they'll have to hear it again. Instruct your child never to go into the home a of a stranger or into their car. No exceptions. Even if they roll their eyes at you as you tell them this for the 100th time, one more time is not going to hurt.

Stand Out: Make sure your child carries a flashlight, glow stick, or wears some sort of reflective tape on their costume. When it's dark outside, it's very easy for a car to miss a small child dressed in a dark costume.

Check In: The beauty of having cell phones these days is that we can keep tabs on our kids a lot better. Make it a rule that they check in with you every hour, or that you check in with them.

For a few more tips from Tampa Bay Online, check out this news story on Trick or Treating safety.

We feel pretty fortunate to live in a Tampa Bay neighborhood where we feel comfortable with our neighbors and safe in our community. When it comes to our kids, however, we always have to err on the side of caution. If you have any questions about any of the Tampa Bay areas, or you need some advice on which Tampa Bay Homes provide the safest areas - and will give you the best candy - give us a call.

Here is wishing all of you a very safe, fun and memory-filled Tampa Bay Halloween!

Team Chais
Tampa FL Real Estate Agent
Tampa FL Homes for Sale
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