This is your chance to own a home on the 8th fairway of the 1926 Donald Ross designed Pinecrest Golf Course.

Did you know the first televised PGA golf tournament was held here in 1959? This ranch style home has been totally remodeled and updated. The home is open and bright. Enter through a solid wood and beveled glass front door. You will immediately notice a lot of detail in the crown molding and wood trim. A wall of windows in the living room offers a view of the moss draped oaks trees in the front yard. The hardwood floors were installed last year. You will love the storage in the custom gourmet kitchen by Steve's Wood Exclusive. All cabinetry was custom built and features a surprising amount of storage in the pantry, china closet and under bar storage on the peninsula. The custom hood is the focal point with carved wood trim. Counters tops are granite slabs of Baltic brown granite and the back splash is tumbled marble. The dining room opens to the family which has a built in office. Again this room features lots of window and a French door that opens to the tiled Southern style white railed screened porch. This is a great room for additional entertaining or enjoying you morning coffee. The porch opens to a deck for grilling and steps down to a beautiful backyard with great views of the golf course. The master bedroom has hardwood floors and walk in closet. The master bath has a step in shower and seat. Bedrooms 2 and 3 also have built in cabinetry and hardwood floors. All interior doors are solid wood, the base board are taller. There is no popcorn on these ceilings! The yard was professionally landscaped and features beautiful camellias and fruit trees. Lake Lotela is across the street and the boat ramp is a few houses away if you like to fish. The one acre lot has RV parking. Double car garage has a workroom. There is an additional concrete shed and dog kennel in the backyard. (owner is a licensed Realtor).

Contact Maureen Cool of A Cool Realtor for more information or to schedule a showing. 

What a great home to enjoy the retirement life-style in the much desired 55+ community of Sebring Falls.

You are just a short walk to Lake Jackson. Amenities include a community pool and club house. Homeowner Association Fees are an affordable $35 per month and don't forget you own your own land in this community! The double wide unit has a spacious floor plan. The large living room/dining room opens with sliding doors to the enclosed Florida Room with vinyl windows for year round use. What a great sunroom to enjoy a morning cup of coffee! The kitchen offers lots of cabinets and a breakfast counter. For additional storage, the dining room has a wall of built in cabinetry. The master bedroom has lots of closet space along with a separate dressing/vanity area and separate compartment for the toilet and shower. There is a guest bedroom and hall bath for all your visitors when you move to Florida! The extra-long carport has room to park two cars and can still be divided if you desire to add a screened porch. The backyard is private and has your own grapefruit and tangerine tree for fresh fruit or juice in the morning. The laundry is in house and there is a separate workshop/utility room. This home is fully furnished and equipped to starting enjoying the great Florida retirement life-style at an affordable price. The carpet is original so does need replacing. But, you can add your own personal taste and style to the floors!

Contact Maureen Cool of A Cool Realtor for more information or to schedule a showing. 

You can enjoy an easy Florida life style in the established 55+ adult community of Fairmount Mobile Estates.

This double wide mobile home has no association fee, plus you own the land! The unit is located on a double, back to back lot with back street access to park and store an RV or boat on the covered concrete drive and slab. This cute home has been well maintained by the second owner and has a nice flowing floor plan. The living room dining room combination is L-shaped. The dining room features built-in cabinets for extra storage. The kitchen is compact with lots of cabinets plus a peninsula for serving convenient and easy meals. This counter separates a multi-purpose room. Use it as cozy family room/TV room, breakfast area or its current use as an office/computer area. The master bedroom is spacious with his and her closets. The master bath has a vanity dressing area and separate compartment with the shower and toilet. Enjoy a large bonus room/enclosed porch for additional living space. The owners just added a new screened porch and carport. The utility/laundry room is connected to the bonus room. For the handy person there are two workshops/storage sheds. Fairmount Mobile Estates is just north of the Wal-Mart in Sebring, close to grocery shopping, doctor offices and Florida Hospital.

Contact Maureen Cool of A Cool Realtor for more information or to schedule a showing.  Visit www.ACoolRealtor.com or email Maureen@ACoolRealtor.com

Adorable home located on quaint street of nice homes in Avon Park Lakes.

Just a short walk to the sidewalk around Lake Oliva. This split floor plan home is open, spacious and bright. The living room/dining room opens to a large family room. The family room could be divided for a third bedroom. The kitchen has white cabinets and a movable island. The laundry room opens to the garage and master bath, a great feature when you are working outside! The home has tile throughout & carpet in the family room. Roof was replace in 2005 & AC unit in 2009. Enjoy fresh fruit from the Honey Bell & Ruby Red Grapefruit trees! Large fenced yard.

Not very many permits were pulled for new construction in 2011, this is one of the few new homes built. 

J&J Parker is the contractor and just completed the home. Seller's plans changed and now must sell. The home is price below cost to build. It is located in the golfing community of Spring Lake and close to great fishing in Lake Istopoga. Featuring a light grey pallet throughout, the home has carpet in all the main living areas and ceramic tile in the kitchen and bath. The living room/dining room is L-shaped and spacious with a cathedral ceiling, plant shelves and media alcove for you entertainment center. Both bathrooms are handicap assessable. The one bath has a step in shower for easy access. All rooms have ceiling fans for energy efficiency. The kitchen has lots of cabinet space, Silverstone solid surface counter tops, white cabinets, double stainless steel sinks, GE smooth top cooking range and dishwasher and a new Maytag side by side refrigerator, recessed lighting and a pass through window to the screened porch for entertaining. Double sliding glass doors lead from the dining room to the screened porch. The neutral colors throughout allows you to add your personal touches. Included in the sale is a new washer and dryer as well! Buy this home and you do not have to remodel or renovate. Everything is new and nobody has lived in the home!

All closed real estate transactions between January 1, 2011 through August 31, 2011.

Data provided by Real Data Strategies, Inc., an independent consulting company.  The above representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the referenced Multiple Listing Service and it’s member associations of REALTORS®.  Neither RE/MAX, the Multiple Listing Service, nor the member associations of REALTORS® guarantee or are in any way responsible for data accuracy.  The data includes all reported listings sold and closed for the referenced area, county or city.  The data may not reflect all real estate activity in the marketplace. This is not intended to solicit property currently listed with any other broker.  This chart cannot be altered in any way; it must be shown in its original format. Any changes are strictly prohibited. Each RE/MAX office is independently owned and operated.

Welcome to 2105 Lake Lotela Drive.

This beautifully remodeled Mid-Century Ranch Style home is located on the shores of Lake Lotela and home to the beautiful 1920's Donald Ross designed golf course of Pinecrest. As you walk through the beveled glass front door you gaze upon a stunning view of Lake Lotela framed by moss draped oak trees. The remodeling of this home created a totally large open floor plan flowing from the kitchen to the dining room and living room. The home has new wood floors throughout and high ceiling for an open and bright feel. The new kitchen has a large counter opening to the dining room. The galley kitchen is a gourmet cook’s delight with lots of counter space, new cherry cabinets, style stone counter tops, tiled floors, and stainless steel appliances. The bedrooms are all spacious with lots of closet space. The master bedroom is on the lake side of the home. Both the master bath and guest bath have the original 50's tile in mint condition. The living room and dining room open with several sets of French doors to a 1,200 square foot screened lanai with vintage cracked clay tile floors. Relax and enjoy beautiful greenery and water views everywhere you look on this large L-shaped porch, step out on the 30 x 12 tiled patio or sit in the backyard swing under stately oak trees. Down on the beach is boat house with a large deck for enjoying the sunsets and sunrises with the south exposure. The backyard and porches are completely private for fabulous entertaining. This home has so much to offer and is ready for you to move in! Property includes security system and newer air conditioning with continuous air purifying/filtering system.

Contact Maureen Cool of A Cool Realtor for more information or to schedule a showing.  Visit www.ACoolRealtor.com or email Maureen@ACoolRealtor.com

This cute Sun n Lake home is fully furnished and tastefully decorated and boasts an open floor plan for a spacious feel.

Keep cool in summer with tile throughout the whole house including the bedrooms. This house is perfect for a starter home or great place to spend the winter. Enter the large 24x14 living with a built in bookcase separating the dining area. The split floor plan has a 16x11 master bedroom and a large walk in closet and guest bedroom and bath off the living room. The dining area opens with sliders to a glass window enclosed porch and built in seating. The kitchen has room for a breakfast table or island. It is updated with painted wood cabinets and newer side by side refrigerator. Sun n Lake is a golf community with one of the best golf courses in the county with 36 holes of golf. Enjoy the new club house and community pool.

Contact Maureen Cool of A Cool Realtor for more information or to schedule a showing.  Visit www.ACoolRealtor.com or email Maureen@ACoolRealtor.com

Attention: Bonus to Buyer...Seller will Pay First Year Taxes!

This home is simply gorgeous!

All the new owner needs to do is move it. The home has been completely remodeled with complete attention to detail. Located on the west most lake of Lake Josephine with spectacular natural views of the lake from every room. Enter the home through a large foyer with room for a single sleeper sofa! Facing the lake is the living room with high ceilings and lots of windows for natural light. The focal point of the living room is rustic slate fireplace. Sliding glass doors open to a large screen porch. The dining area separates the living room from the kitchen and in spacious enough to seat 12. The remodel included a new kitchen with stainless steel appliances, double ovens, cabinets with under cabinet lighting, granite countertops, stone cut backsplash, and wine rack. There is also a breakfast area in the kitchen separated by a breakfast bar. The family room has sliding glass doors to the screened porch. The master bedroom is on the first floor with glass doors leading to a private deck. The master bath has a dressing area, his and her vanities, and lots of tile. Upstairs are two guest bedrooms which overlook the lake, another remodeled bathroom and a loft that overlooks the living room. The yard is shaded with large oaks trees. Walk ways are flagstone and lead to a dock with a boathouse and seating area. The dock has three boat slips, two with electric lifts. In addition there is a carport and workshop. This house has it all. If you are looking for a private home with stunning lake views, this home is a must see. Owner Financing Available for Qualified Buyers!

This lovely home is located in a quiet neighborhood close to the Sebring Parkway and is beautifully updated and includes a recent family room addition.

This addition added 240' square feet to the home. The update and remodel includes new tile through the living area, a family room with thermo-paned windows and clay colored tile and fresh interior paint. The kitchen has newer appliances, a pantry, and breakfast counter. The open floor plan flows from the large living room to the dining area and opens to the family room. The owner’s favorite feature of the home is how open and bright the living area is. The master bedroom is large with lots of closet space. The master bath has a step in shower. The guest bedroom is also spacious. The yard has recently been landscaped offering beautiful floratan grass and a fenced backyard. If you are looking for a move in ready home a second home for the winter, the owner says the furniture is negotiable. This is a great home with easy upkeep. Take a look today!

This home is located off of Sparta and Bassage Roads, close to town but in the country. This mobile home has been updated with a family room and remodeled bathrooms. The kitchen is spacious with lots of storage. In addition there is a living room and dining room. Both bedrooms are a generous size. The master bedroom has a large walk in closet. There is a porch and carport plus two storage sheds. Check this one out today. What a perfect place to enjoy the winters, or to downsize or just start out in. The price is right!

The Avon Park Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) has a great incentive to invest in Avon Park. 

After purchasing a business or residential home, a buyer may qualify for free money or matching funds to improve the exterior of the property. I cannot say enough about this fantastic opportunity offered by the CRA. There are many great deals on commercial building, residential homes and rental/investment properties within the three CRA districts of Avon Park. Speaking from my personal experience, I was able to take advantage of the CRA matching grant for business owners. After purchasing a commercial building Main Street in downtown Avon Park, my husband and I qualified to receive a CRA Matching Grant.

As a past member of the Avon Park City Council and now property owner on Main Street, I believe in Avon Park and take pride in making our city better. For businesses, matching grants are available for the improvement of storefronts. This is the grant my husband and I applied for. Total allowable funds per business are 50% of costs up to a maximum of $5,000. Last year, after purchasing a foreclosed office building on Main St., which is now home to Carl Cool Engineering and Main Street Professional Offices, we applied for a grant. This grant paid half the costs for repairing stucco, exterior paint, adding stacked stone to the building front and a new awning. Carl and I are very proud of our office building and have received so many compliments with what we have done with the building.

Also available are Free Home Facade Grants for homeowners who meet very low, low or moderate income requirements. Homeowners who qualify can receive funds up to $2,500 per owner occupied homes every two years. For homeowners who do not qualify for the Free Home Facade Grant, a Matching Facade Grant is available. The total allowable funds for this matching grant are 50% of costs up to a maximum of $2,500 per residence per year. The homes do not have to be owner occupied.

Just as job hunters may wonder what top employers want to see on a resume, prospective borrowers may be curious about what lenders look for on a loan application.

The four C's

The answer may be summed up with a mnemonic called "The four C's,"

•    Capacity, which refers to the adequacy of the borrower's income to cover the interest and principal due on the loan, plus property taxes and homeowners insurance.
•    Character, which refers to the borrower's track record of paying debts, as evidenced by his or her credit history and credit score.
•    Capital, which refers to the borrower's down payment (or equity) as a percentage of the current value of the home.
•    Collateral, which refers to the safety and soundness of the home and the value of the home as determined by an appraisal relative to the agreed-upon purchase price.
Today’s mortgage broker might use a quadrant with "income," "credit," "assets" and "property" in the four corners, but his point is the same as that of the four C's:  What lenders like to see is strength and stability in all four areas.

Maybe your credit score has some dings or you need a stated-income loan.  Borrowers who are qualified but whose down payment will be less than 20% of the purchase price of the home must withstand a second level of scrutiny. That's because mortgage insurers also have to approve such loans, and they have "completely different qualification ratios”. Borrowers in this situation should discuss their options with a loan officer who is familiar with lenders' and insurers' guidelines.

Have paperwork in order

Be able to back up your word. Lenders rely not on the borrower's say-so but on a pile of paperwork to verify and document the borrower's financial position. At a minimum, most borrowers are required to submit the following:
•    One month of paycheck stubs.
•    Two years of W-2 forms.
•    Three months of bank account statements.

Additional paperwork also may be required:
•    If you're self-employed or earn more than 25% of your income from commissions or bonuses, you'll need to hand over two years of income tax returns.
•    If you're divorced, the lender will want a copy of your settlement to ascertain how much alimony or child support you're obligated to pay or are entitled to receive and the duration of those payments.
•    If you've filed for bankruptcy protection within the past seven years, you'll need to show your bankruptcy papers.
•    If you've deferred repayment of student loans, you should provide your deferral agreement as well.

If you have a student loan that is going to be deferred for at least 12 months, that may help you qualify. So definitely bring in the account numbers for those loans. Student loans are considered debt, but deferral of payment could possibly strengthen your application.

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In this fun filled event, cyclists will ride 25, 50, 100 or 200 kilometer routes around the southern shores of Lake Okeechobee to raise funds and awareness for the Coalition and its mission.

For more information about promoting literacy at Okeechobee call 305-385-4010 or email events@excelsportsevents.com.

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As you are preparing to

Debt-to-income ratio is the comparison of the money you earn to the money you owe.  The debt included is credit card debt, existing mortgages, auto loans and any other personal debt.

Your mortgage lender will look at your Debt-To-Income (DTI) to evaluate your ability to afford your new mortgage. It is a good idea to know what your DTI ratio is before you approach a lender or consider buying a new home.

You ultimately want to achieve a low DTI ratio. A high number means that you have less disposable income and less ability to maintain the home once you purchase it. With foreclosures at an all time high, lenders are not willing to assume any additional risk in lending.

Most lenders seek DTI ratios in the 20-36% range or lower, with no more than 28% of debt dedicated to the mortgage itself. While some lenders will consider higher ratios, DTIs in the upper 30% range are considered high risk.

There are several different calculators available online to help you determine your ratio, and you can always check with your financial institution for guidance on determining your DTI ratio.

Here’s a simple formula:

• Add all your monthly payments (mortgage or rent, car, credit cards, any other debt payments)
• Add your gross income (before taxes), bonuses, alimony, or any other outside income and divide by 12
• Then divide the total number in (1) by the final number in (2)

The result is your DTI ratio. In this difficult economy lenders are tightening lending requirements so learning your DTI is important whether you are purchasing a home or just want to keep up on your financial health. When you know what your numbers are you can learn what to do to get the ratio lower and get closer to becoming debt free.

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Everyone is ready for spring!  So check out the Springtime on the Mall this weekend in

Avon Park Chamber of Commerce is hosting an Arts, Crafts, & Folk Music Festival in Avon Park.  Friday and Saturday, March 25-26^th. 

More than 100 vendors have signed up to participate featuring various arts and crafts items such as woodworking, jewelry, photography, lawn ornaments and handcrafted items.

Folk music artists.will perform 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday at the main stage located underneath the traffic signal at the intersection of Main Street and Lake Avenue.

The scheduled performers are: 10-11 a.m. - A2J; 11 a.m.-noon - Country Grass; noon-1 p.m. – Frank Thomas; 1-2 p.m. – Jerry Mincey and 2-3 p.m. – Blue Harmony.

For more information please call 863-453-3350.

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There are many different types of home loans available and you need to know which one will work best for your individual situation before you actually purchase a home.

I often get many questions often from potential Highlands County buyers who are confused and often overwhelmed by the home mortgage process. Getting a home loan doesn't have to be an ordeal if you do your homework first. A qualified real estate agent can assist with a list of local lenders and information resources to make your life easier. So just ask!

I recommend that you do two things right away, even before you start house hunting for that perfect Highlands County Home:

1) Get your credit reports from the “Big Three” credit reporting agencies. Lenders will review these reports, and you need to know what they contain--and where you stand. Don’t be surprised by “red flags” when negotiating with a lender. Take action beforehand to correct or explain the negatives.

Under Federal law, you’re entitled to one free report from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion each year. Visit here to learn more.

2) Get pre-qualification from one or more lenders on a possible loan amount. That way you’ll have a good “guesstimate” of the loan amount you would qualify for--and how much house you can afford. Once you’ve chosen a lender, you can even get pre-approved for a loan. Knowing your mortgage limit up front will be a tremendous help in your search for the right home.

When you are looking for a mortgage loan, you need to know there are many resources available for you to learn more about the basics and the best way to work with lenders. 

There are many resources available out there for you to learn more about mortgage loan basics and the best way to work with lenders. One resource I like is Looking for the Best Mortgage, it is a free, easy-to-understand booklet you can download from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. You’ll get a “shop, compare, negotiate” strategy:

* How to get loan information from more than one lender
* How to get rate and fee information that you can compare
* How to get your “best deal”

This publication also includes a glossary of common mortgage loan terms and a handy worksheet you can use when talking with lenders. The worksheet is great. You’ll find yourself saying, “I didn't even think of that!” And that’s why it’s such a valuable resource: It keeps you organized and on point.

The first step in buying your dream home is getting the home loan. So it is very important you do the legwork ahead of time.  Learn what you need to know to start with and make the process of getting approved for your home loan a lot smoother.

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Enjoy race day at the

Sebring International Raceway is America's premier sports car racing facility. Nestled among the orange groves and cattle ranches of central Florida, it is the oldest permanent road racing track in North America, evolving from a World War II air base.

Click here for tickets and for a copy of the schedule click here.

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These tips and suggestions can help you make the best possible impression on any lender so that you can purchase your dream home in Highlands County.

Below are some of the top things that lenders are looking for.

The four C's

The answer may be summed up with a mnemonic called "The four C's,"

•    Capacity, which refers to the adequacy of the borrower's income to cover the interest and principal due on the loan, plus property taxes and homeowners insurance.
•    Character, which refers to the borrower's track record of paying debts, as evidenced by his or her credit history and credit score.
•    Capital, which refers to the borrower's down payment (or equity) as a percentage of the current value of the home.
•    Collateral, which refers to the safety and soundness of the home and the value of the home as determined by an appraisal relative to the agreed-upon purchase price.

Today’s mortgage broker might use a quadrant with "income," "credit," "assets" and "property" in the four corners, but his point is the same as that of the four C's:  What lenders like to see is strength and stability in all four areas.

Maybe your credit score has some dings or you need a stated-income loan.  Borrowers who are qualified but whose down payment will be less than 20% of the purchase price of the home must withstand a second level of scrutiny. That's because mortgage insurers also have to approve such loans, and they have "completely different qualification ratios”. Borrowers in this situation should discuss their options with a loan officer who is familiar with lenders' and insurers' guidelines.

Have paperwork in order

Lenders rely not on the borrower's say-so but on a pile of paperwork to verify and document the borrower's financial position. At a minimum, most borrowers are required to submit the following:
•    One month of paycheck stubs.
•    Two years of W-2 forms.
•    Three months of bank account statements.

Additional paperwork also may be required:
•    If you're self-employed or earn more than 25% of your income from commissions or bonuses, you'll need to hand over two years of income tax returns.
•    If you're divorced, the lender will want a copy of your settlement to ascertain how much alimony or child support you're obligated to pay or are entitled to receive and the duration of those payments.
•    If you've filed for bankruptcy protection within the past seven years, you'll need to show your bankruptcy papers.
•    If you've deferred repayment of student loans, you should provide your deferral agreement as well.

If you, the borrower, have a student loan that is going to be deferred for at least 12 months, that may hel you to qualify. So you will want to bring that information as well, to your lender.  Student loans are considered debt, but the deferment of the repayment could possibly strengthen your application.

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The weather will be perfect this weekend and on Sunday, March 13^th  join

This event draws lake pilots and enthusiasts from around the world. This event takes place on Lake Jackson behind the Sunset Grill Restaurant in Sebring.

 Bring the whole family for an exciting time! Food will be served all day.

For more information contact Bill Schmalz at 954-427-7158.

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