Becky Lane, Graduate, REALTOR Institute

By Brittany Graham | Uncategorized

A big “Congratulations” to Becky Lane for recently completing the coursework to earn the Graduate, Realtor Institute designation. Available to all members of the National Association of Realtors, this program involves more than 60 hours of continuing education coursework. In Becky’s case, this additional coursework included specialized education on topics like contract law, professional standards, risk reduction, and marketing.

This advanced designation represents both Becky’s investment in her professional career and in her clients. She has taken the time to learn as much as possible about current real estate concerns, both on a local level and from a national market perspective. By doing so, Becky is prepared to anticipate and meet challenging situations for her clients, help them navigate an increasingly complex real estate market, and serve her clients and community at a much higher level.

From the entire Premier Realty Network family, we would like to say CONGRATULATIONS to Becky Lane for her accomplishment!

Search for Waterfront Property in Central Florida

By Brittany Graham | Buying a Home , Uncategorized

One of the best things about living in Central Florida is the abundance of waterfront property! Whether it’s a peaceful lake or beachside, you can’t skip a stone without finding a home on the water! (See what we did there?) We know it’s daunting to find a property to begin with, much less when you want something specific, so we created this hot sheet to help!

Use our site to search for home listings in Central Florida situation on waterfront property. These listings are updated continuously, so you’ll always have the latest info. When you’re ready, let us know and we can help get the ball rolling on your beautiful new home on the water!

Mother’s Day: Fun things to do in Lakeland!

By Brittany Graham | Lakeland Life , Uncategorized

Spending time with this weekend with a wonderful woman? We’ve got a big list of fun things you can do can do this Mother’s Day in Lakeland with your mother, mother in law, or any other great woman in your life! One of the best things about living in Lakeland is the abundance of community activities open to the public. Treat the women in your life this weekend for Mother’s Day to say a big “thank you!”

Summer Military & First Responder Giveback

By Brittany Graham | Lakeland Life , Real Estate News & Tools

Throughout the summer, the Home Connection Group would like to honor and recognize the commitment and sacrifice of our military servicemen and women and the first responders who protect and serve our communities. For any new listing between now and the end of August we will give 5% of our listing commision to the seller upon closing.

While this gift in no way matches the sacrifice you show everyday, we want to at least honor that sacrifice in a small way. We know these careers make your lives hectic and unpredictable at times, so we want to ease that burden in any way we can.

If you are interested in selling your home and have questions about the market or the home-selling process – connect with us! We would love to walk you through the process step-by-step and answer any questions you may have. You can email Becky at [email protected] or call 863-602-8605. Let us put our connections to work for you!

NEW LISTING in the Enclave at Imperial Lakes

By Brittany Graham | Real Estate Listings

Don’t miss this lovely new listing in the Enclave at Imperial Lakes off Shepherd Road! This home is an excellent value for the price – listed at just $162,000! The 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom listing has over 1,250 square feet of living space. The split bedroom floor plan offers privacy for the master suite. The great room, kitchen, and dining area are all open to each other, and combined with the vaulted ceilings in the great room, give the space a feeling of lightness and openness.

This home has been updated with several features that contribute to the value. These features include granite countertops and matching appliances in the kitchen. The home also has solid-surface flooring in the main living areas, making cleaning a snap! Other features include a whole-house Culligan water softener and filtration system and an upgraded 200amp electrical system with whole-house surge protector.

As soon as buyers see the exterior of this home, there will be multiple offers so don’t wait! The wooded conservation lot faces northwest and is backed by tall mature trees, offering abundant privacy and noise dampening. The backyard has a 6 foot white-vinyl fence, so children and pets can play safely. Speaking of children, little ones will appreciate the included playhouse/swingset (owners will remove if buyers request). The low maintenance landscaping on the front side of the house extends to the backyard, but also includes a dedicated garden bed for all the soon-to-grow summer veggies or an herb garden. Little ones will appreciate being helpers in your garden or you could create a rock pit for epic “construction” projects!

This home offers a great starter opportunity at the right price. With enough space for a small or growing family, this home is a great entry into real estate ownership for a first time home buyer. The home owners association does not restrict leases, so this home has potential as an investment or rental property! Cash, conventional, FHA, and USDA financing will be considered.

Current owners are coordinating all showings on this home, by appointment. Please contact the owner Paul at (863-354-4501) to schedule a showing and for any additional information on the home. All offers should be emailed to [email protected].

April is Fair Housing Month

By Brittany Graham | Real Estate News & Tools

April 2017 marks the 49th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act passed in 1968. Aft er decades of start and stop legislation, differing by state, area of the country, and now-protected classes of citizens, President Johnson signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1968, also known as the Fair Housing Act.

In short, the Fair Housing Act put in place federal prohibitions against discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex (since 1974), and disabilities and families with children (since 1988). Refusing to sell or rent housing, changing the terms or conditions of a sale or rental, discriminatory language in advertising, or threatening housing in any way to people in protected classes became illegal.

The National Association of Realtors obviously takes the Fair Housing Act very seriously. Their Fair Housing Declaration, which the Home Connection Group subscribes to wholeheartedly, outlines our beliefs and practices in accordance with the law. In addition, as Realtors, we also agree to take a positive and proactive approach to eliminating housing discrimination and to carry out the spirit of the law, not just the letter. Included in that are things like not discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation, avoiding social steering, and staying informed about fair housing practices. We take this promise very seriously and work hard to promote fair housing in our community.

Search for Property on 2+ Acres in Central Florida

By Brittany Graham | Buying a Home

Home listings on property with acreage are definitely the new black! A home on a large lot or parcel has enough room for your RV, boat, horses, and enough room to roam. You’ll have plenty of room for kids to explore in the backyard. You could even look for a property with old growth trees to give you plenty of privacy from noise and neighbors. Find your very home secluded slice of heaven that’s just a little closer to civilization than that cabin in the woods you’ve had your eye on.

Use our site to search for home listings in Central Florida with lot sizes between 2 and 10 acres. These listings are updated continuously, so you’ll always have the latest info. When you’re ready, let us know and we can help get the ball rolling on your beautiful new home AND property!

Price Change - 3 weeks ago

1 / 33

$375,000

Single Family Home For Sale

Active

3

BED

2

TOTAL BATHS

1,940

SQFT

26415 Dixieland Way
Dade City, FL 33523
N/A Subdivision

1 / 19

$375,000

Single Family Home For Sale

Active

3

BED

2

TOTAL BATHS

1,702

SQFT

1430 Turkey Lane
Kissimmee, FL 34746
CENTERLINE/CRESTRIDGE DRIVE Subdivision

1 / 34

$375,000

Single Family Home For Sale

Active

3

BED

2

TOTAL BATHS

1,726

SQFT

3080 Ulman Avenue
North Port, FL 34286
NORTH PORT CHARLOTTE ESTATES ADD 02 Subdivision

1 / 13

$375,000

Single Family Home For Sale

Active

3

BED

2

TOTAL BATHS

1,468

SQFT

5315 Pless Rd, 9.8 Acres Mol
Plant City, FL 33565
N/A Subdivision

1 / 38

$375,000

Single Family Home For Sale

Active

4

BED

3

TOTAL BATHS

2,153

SQFT

3629 Smith Ryals Road
Plant City, FL 33567
UNPLATTED Subdivision

1 / 24

$375,000

Single Family Home For Sale

Active

3

BED

2

TOTAL BATHS

2,621

SQFT

2680 Tiffany Drive
New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168
TIFFANY ESTATES Subdivision

1 / 43

$375,000

Single Family Home For Sale

Active

4

BED

3

TOTAL BATHS

2,081

SQFT

7311 Glen Meadow Dr
Lakeland, FL 33810
COUNTRY VIEW ESTATES Subdivision

New Listing - 2 weeks online

1 / 35

$374,900

Single Family Home For Sale

Active

3

BED

2

TOTAL BATHS

1,484

SQFT

3950 Doe Drive
St Cloud, FL 34772
SEMINOLE LAND & INV CO Subdivision

Price Change - 2 weeks ago

1 / 37

$374,900

Single Family Home For Sale

Active

5

BED

3

TOTAL BATHS

3,437

SQFT

7130 SW 93rd Street Road
Ocala, FL 34476
COUNTRYSIDE FARMS OF OCALA Subdivision

1 / 41

$374,450

Single Family Home For Sale

Active

3

BED

2

TOTAL BATHS

1,730

SQFT

2652 County Road 202
Oxford, FL 34484
NO SUBDIVISION Subdivision

Foreclosure

1 / 13

$372,300

Single Family Home For Sale

Active

3

BED

5

TOTAL BATHS

4,276

SQFT

98 Mountain Lake
Lake Wales, FL 33898
MOUNTAIN LAKE UNREC Subdivision

1 / 1

$370,000

Single Family Home For Sale

Active

3

BED

2

TOTAL BATHS

2,136

SQFT

3429 16th Avenue SE
Ruskin, FL 33570
RUSKIN COLONY FARMS 1ST EXTENS Subdivision

1 / 12

$370,000

Single Family Home For Sale

Active

2

BED

2

TOTAL BATHS

1,120

SQFT

6113 County Road 500
Wildwood, FL 34785
INDIAN OAKS Subdivision

New Listing - 3 days online

1 / 50

$370,000

Single Family Home For Sale

Active

4

BED

2

TOTAL BATHS

2,149

SQFT

9618 Moore Road
Lakeland, FL 33809
NOT IN SUBDIVISION Subdivision

Price Change - a week ago

1 / 21

$369,900

Single Family Home For Sale

Active

4

BED

3

TOTAL BATHS

1,794

SQFT

3011 Logue Road
Myakka City, FL 34251
 

1 / 38

$369,900

Single Family Home For Sale

Active

3

BED

2

TOTAL BATHS

2,900

SQFT

Address Withheld
Leesburg, FL 34748
 

Price Change - a week ago

1 / 45

$369,900

Single Family Home For Sale

Active

4

BED

3

TOTAL BATHS

2,352

SQFT

1670 Sundance Drive
St Cloud, FL 34771
BAY LAKE RANCH UNIT 02 Subdivision

New Listing - 3 days online

1 / 33

$369,900

Single Family Home For Sale

Active

4

BED

2

TOTAL BATHS

2,102

SQFT

6435 Dixie Way
Mims, FL 32754
FONTAINE GRANT RESUB Subdivision

Price Change - 4 weeks ago

1 / 44

$369,500

Single Family Home For Sale

Active

3

BED

2

TOTAL BATHS

1,939

SQFT

6354 Dunbarton Street
North Port, FL 34291
NORTH PORT CHARLOTTE ESTATES ADD 01 Subdivision

1 / 48

$367,900

Single Family Home For Sale

Active

4

BED

3

TOTAL BATHS

3,376

SQFT

9061 E Sweetwater Drive
Inverness, FL 34450
SWEETWATER POINTE Subdivision

See All Results

Top 5 Tools to Make You a Neighborhood Detective

By Brittany Graham | Buying a Home , Lakeland Life , Neighborhoods , Real Estate News & Tools

We love helping new visitors and transplants to the Polk County area discover Lakeland and the surrounding cities! It can be stressful, however, to move to a new place thanks to work/family/etc. without much info. Here are several tools to give you all the data on the key factors that you may want to know when looking at a new neighborhood:

Foursquare.com

Foursquare, and it’s social media sister-site Swarm, is a great resource when you’re looking for a new location or for when you’re traveling. You can get a great overview of everything an area has to offer by searching categories like “coffee” or “breakfast”. You can also search based on businesses or locations that are trending, so you can get a feel for the up and coming things a city has to offer.

City-Data.com

For the math geek in all of us, there is City-Data.com. It has all the info you could ever hope to have about a city, compiled from public records and government data. One of the things we love about this site is that it not only gives you current stats, but also shows historical data (where available) so you can get a feel for how things change over time.

Livability.com

This site is the user-friendly version of City-Data.com. It’s got all the same info, but it’s presented in easier to view formats with eye-catching charts and graphics. We also love their Top lists, highlighting interesting points about what makes a great city for entrepreneurs or people who are self-employed!

GreatSchools.org

You’ve probably already heard of this one – it’s the gold standard for area school research based on the most current available data. You can search for specific cities, then narrow down your search for elementary/middle/high schools and other options. There is good content on the site as well, including info for college prep and planning.

SpotCrime.com

It can be hard to get an accurate view of the crime in a particular neighborhood. Spot Crime does a fair job of reporting all of the official incidents in an area within a giving time frame. You can also use the map feature to see where incidents are reported most frequently and the types of crimes that occur, information that can be hard to discern from simply search police records.

Whether you’ve done all your neighborhood research or you’re just beginning your search, we can help you find a great home! Call 863-602-8605 to let the Home Connection Group put our connections to work for you!

Home Staging Infographic!

By Becky Lane | Uncategorized

Happy Friday everyone! Hope everyone is having an excellent end to the week and is excited for the holiday weekend! I know I am!

I found a great infographic on Pinterest a couple days ago and have to share it – it’s all about the numbers of staging. I know, I know – you all know about staging and how much it can help when selling your home, but this info really spells it out in numbers. I think the most interesting take-away is that homes that are staged sell 79% faster than homes that aren’t staged!

Coming up soon, we’ll talk about ways that you can “faux stage” your home without having to pay someone a couple thousand dollars to do it. What do you think? What are your favorite ways to stage prior to selling? If you have questions about ways you can show off your home’s assets prior to listings, don’t hesitate to ask me!

SHOWSTOPPER of a home close to EVERYTHING!

By Becky Lane | Uncategorized

We might be biased, but we’re pretty sure this is one of the best homes on the market in Lakeland right now. This G.O.R.G.E.O.U.S. showstopper of a home is the definition of Central Florida suburban living at its finest. The 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom property in Hampton Hills South is currently listed for $223,500 and won’t be on the market long.

The open floor plan welcomes you from the foyer and you know this house is going to be great!

The flow between the kitchen and living room create seamless living space. The warm, neutral finishes unify the space and create character beyond what you’d expect in a suburb. The penninsula counter in the kitchen is the perfect serving space for your Thanksgiving appetizers and the large island makes meal-prep a breeze! The granite counter tops, stainless appliances, and cabinet pantry make you actually *want* to cook dinner every night ?

The warm and inviting master suite feels peaceful and serene – the perfect place to relax after a long day! The suite has separate large walk-in closets for plenty of storage and trey ceilings that add to the airy feeling.

Without a doubt, one of the best features of the home is the master bathroom. The granite and tile continue into this beautiful space, with a dual-height double vanity, large soaker tub, and separate shower.

Seriously, we know we say “it won’t be on the market long” for all our properties (and we’re almost always right!) but we really mean it for this one! Call us today to schedule a showing (863-606-8161) or check out the listing page for more info!