A Bike Rack for Biking in and Around Tallahassee

I finally did it. I got a bike rack for my vehicle. Why? My son and I go to many of state parks that are scattered all over northwest Florida, and Georgia. These parks have good places for bike riding, and we usually see other family, or children riding their bikes. My son felt left out. He likes riding his bike, but I never think about taking the bikes to the forests. Until this month.

 Tallahassee is surrounded by nature. There are forests, family parks, fishing, swimming, camping, bike trails, horseback riding trails, hunting areas, and hiking trails all over. Even withing Tallahassee and Leon County, are numerous parks covered with trees. There is green everywhere.

If you like riding bikes, this is a great part of the country for doing that.

There are even new bike paths, and bike paths that stretch from Tallahassee, almost down to the coast. That is a good many miles (one hour by car).

A Home Sold in Wakulla Gardens

I recently sold this home in Wakulla Gardens, just outside of Tallahassee, Florida, to the south. Wakulla Gardens is a popular neighborhood with many new single family homes, most under 1500 square feet and most under $180,000. The prices are very good, for this part of the country.

I sold this home to an out of state buyer looking to find an affordable, and comfortable home in a quiet subdivision, yet, close to the city of Tallahassee.

It was a joy working with this buyer and all the homebuyers I have worked with looking for homes in this big subdivision, Wakulla Gardens. I find that buyers are attracted to Wakulla Gardens for the popular schools. The middle school and elementary are new. People are attracted also to the new homes that are below average prices. They are also attracted to the nearby Wakulla Gardens and other state parks and the abundance of nature in the area.

Kenneth Fach, REALTOR
Weichert, REALTORS-Anchor
Tallahassee, Florida 32309
850-339-5753 mobile, http://KennethFach.wordpress.com

Each office is independently owned and operated.

Battles that could be won

Throughout history, many battle could have been won with the technology available at the time, but for some reason, the technology was no used. I am thinking in particular of D-Day in World War Two. Some say that a particular tank should have been used which would have reduced the number of lives lost which was 2000.

In business, we go through battles too, but of course not as horrible as the battle of a physical war. We have constant issues, or struggles. However, it is important to know the behaviors of people we connect with to make the transactions harmonious. There are useful tools to study behavior: DISC profiles, psychology, and the years and years of business and negotiating experience revealed in books, many found in the popular book stores. The internet is full information on how people think, how people behave.

Similar to the record keeping we do in business, it is also valuable to keep a profile column in Excel on each customer’s or prospect’s personality. A simple word describing the peron could be inputed into the Excel column, such as: bossy, in charge, relaxed, patient, impatient, cooperative, my way only, and so forth. When we come into contact with so many people, we may forget how people behave with us, so lists are always useful. I am a firm practitioner of listing things.

We have the tools to remove potential battles, confrontations with our people. DISC gives us four main types of behaviors, and subcategories based on those four comprising a matrix. D is for agressive, dominant types, C for Cautious, analyzing types, S is for sympathetic, friendly, stability seeking types, and I is for the types who like to influence, and are very socialable. We all fall in one or more of these types. The DISC Profile test, which can be done online is a good way to see who we are, in terms of behavior, our weaknesses, and strengths. I have taken the test and know where I need to make improvements.

Battle start for lack of understanding one another. DISC shows us how to adapt to others’ behaviors, and deal with them, even if we do not totally agree with that individual attitude, way of behaving.

Our Constitutional Republic and Real Estate

America’s Founders created a system to protect “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” as stated in Declaration of Independence. The “pursuit of happiness” at that time meant the pursuit of property, and there were some that wanted “property” to be in the place of “happiness.” American’s of all periods have treasured the right to own property, and no other system on earth has protected, and enriched this right to own a home, or a piece of land.

You see, the Founders knew that government, left to itself, can take away the right to benefit from owning and using property. They knew the innately evil nature of government, having suffered the oppression of King George in England. The Founders were extremely educated, knowledgeable of world history, government, and were deep, reflective thinkers. They grouped together to create a system of government in which future generations of Americans would enjoy governmental protection of their “unalienable rights.” They made a system in which government has only ONE SOLE PURPOSE, and that is to “secure these rights…”

To protect the right to buy and own real estate, they created a Consitutional Republic. This is the best form of government to protect citizens, and control the growth, movement, and power of government.

I get tired of hearing people describe America as a democracy. That is not a word used much by America’s creators, since they defined Amerca as a Republic. Why? A democracy means that the majority rules over the minority. That leaves the minority without protection. A synonym for democracy is “mob rule.” The bigger, more populous group, has the most power, and makes the decisions. If you are in the minority, well, too bad. You are less important to society. In most of the history of democracies in the world, this is what has happened: one group take over government, because it is the larger and more powerful group. Then, a charismatic leader take control of the group, and becomes a friendly president, or other leader, but then, shortly, becomes a violent dictator. We see this over and over in history. However, in a Constitutional Repubic, there is no mob or majority rule anywhere.  Historically, the Repubican form of government has provided the most protection from dictators and evil men.  All groups, majority and minority have equal rights, and equal protection under the Constitution of the United States, and Bill of Rights (which is part of the Constitution). In a Republic, there are checks and balances on governments, and everyone’s vote counts, not just the votes of the biggest group. We have three arms of governments with the sole purpose to make a fair playing field for every American citizen: the Legislative, which makes the laws, the Executive, which enforces the laws made, and the Judicial, which interprets the laws, and tries cases in which clarification of the laws are necessary. As you read and study the Constitution of the United States of America, you can see how this document allows for a Republic as the best frame of government for all Americans. I admire the wisdom and thinking, as well as the enlightenment of America’s creators.

From the Federalist Papers comes a number of essays supporting the Constitution. Paper number 10 states the following about the American Republic:

“The two great points of difference between a democracy and a republic are: first, in a republic, a small number of governmental delegates are elected by the rest of the citizens; secondly, a republic can be composed of a greater number of citizens over a larger country.”

Paper number 39 states:

     “The first question is whether the general form and appearance of the proposed government is strictly republican.
     Clearly, no other form would be reconcilable with the nature of the American people, with the fundamental principles of the Revolution, or with that honorable purpose- to base our political experiment on the ability of self-government-than animates every ardent advocate of freedom. “

     “If we look at the principles used to establish different forms of government for a criterion, we may define a repubic, or give that name to,  a government that derives all its powers directly or indirectly from the people and is administered by persons holding their offices-through election or appointment-at the people’s pleasure for a limited period or during good behavior.”

     “It is essential that a republican government spring from the great body of society, not from a small proportion or a favored class. “

As we read the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Federalist Papers, we see that real estate is protected as an inalienable right from a creator, and is secured as a liberty by a government made to protect this liberty. We need to know who we are, a Republic, and not a democracy, since if we were a democracy, we may have long ago lost the liberty of buying a single family home, townhome, condominium, or acres of land. Americans under a Constitutional Republic have been able to buy many homes, even investment properties.

Let us all protect the work done by America’s creators. Let us cherish “the Republic, for which it stands…”

Real Estate in Writing

In real estate, we need to keep our contracts, and other documentation in writing, and make extra copies. Florida has what is called the Statute of Frauds, which states that a real estate contract is not enforceable in court if it is not in writing.

In the old days, a “man’s word” was sacred, and contracts could be oral, and not written. Times have changed, and with all the liability today, it is always safe to document, and document in writing. When I say writing, I am also including the use of online documentation as well.

The real estate Sales Contract (or Contract to Purchase) has to be in writing in Florida. This protects all parties involved: buyer, seller, real estate agent, lender, etc. Today, the courts are more involved in real estate than ever. Things need to be in writing.

In Florida, sellers have to disclose in writing, issues about their property, and things that materially affect that value of it, that they are aware of. We agents give sellers what is called a Sellers Disclosure, which is quite a lengthy document for sellers to complete when a property in Florida is listed with a real estate agent. Sellers should take their time in reading and answering the questions. The seller responds to questions about: Age of property, age of appliances, any known issues of flooding, when the roof was put on or replaced, any known issues of leaking, last time services took place or repairs in the home were made. Real estate agents take the Seller’s Disclosure after the seller makes the responses, and makes copies to provide to potential buyer prospects. Buyers have a right to know all they can about the home, before they buy it. The days of “buyer beware” are long gone.

What Trees to do Me

Around my home are many trees. We have a green zone of trees in our back, with rabbit, deer, fox, turtle, and other living organisms. I grew up with trees and in  most homes i lived in, in California, New Mexico, northwest Florida, Connecticut, there was a green zone either in the back yard, or close by. Always there were trees around the homes. To this day, I appreciate what trees do for the world, what values they have, and the beauty they have. Dad took me camping a lot when I was a young child, and I grew up in boy scouts. We went to a lot of interesting forests. I learned a lot about trees, how to tell the age of trees from the trees rings, how to identify certain trees. I read inspiring poems from great poets about trees. I read the thoughts and stories of the earlier native cultures in the Americas about trees. I am now teaching my son, and other children that I come in contact with, the importance of respecting, honoring and protecting trees, and what trees do for us.

Not too many decades ago, real estate developers, and builders went into an area, and literally removed all the trees to build what they felt was more important that saving the lives of trees. Of course, some trees have to be removed, this is logical, but not every single tree. Trees are part of natural ecosystems, and can color the landscaping.

Today, some, not all, developers are careful about removing all the trees, and do keep some of the trees in place. Also, laws or local ordinances have sprung up making those who cut down trees in the course of their business, to plant new trees. Tallahassee, Florida, has such an ordinance. In fact it is very hard to cut down trees in this community without a permit. Neighbors have had old, enormous Oak trees in or near their property, and have had a difficult time getting permission to have the big guy cut down. Tallahassee folks love trees as I do, and we are blessed with having so many canopy roads, roads with tree branch ceilings. There is a local group as well as local government, working to protect those trees from future threats.

Trees give us so many things. I will name a few that come to mind. They give us oxygen. Remember studying photosynthesis in biology class. Yes, trees need carbon dioxide to make oxygen for us breathing organisms. Cut down too many trees and the oxygen supply is in danger, and will be reduced. Of couse the seas also give us oxygen, as well as bushes.

Trees are the home to many other living organisms, squirrels, birds make nests, and so forth. Also there is the symbiotic relationship between trees and other plant life.

Trees are fun places for children to climb and make tree houses. What boy does not want to play in a tree house, and have his own club for his buddies.

Trees give us rubber for our tires, wood for furniture, paper we so religiously use, and wood for our homes. Most homes built today have a wood frame. Just drive by most any new home development under construction. What do you see going up: wood boards. We get pencils from our trees. I cannot neglect to mention the vast amount of medicines, and other chemical products that come from trees.

I like looking out at trees. I like visiting parks and forests, camping in the forests, admiring the stateliness, beauty and perfection of the trees. I can’t get enough trees in my life. They are my friends, each and everyone of them.

My suggestion to the world, is that we think carefully before chopping down a tree, or having someone do it. I would suggest that we make sure our local representatives pass ordinances to protect the trees in their communities. I would also suggest that more of us get out in nature, camp among the trees, and review the workings of photosynthesis, which is an necessary process for our survival on earth.

Tallahassee and its surroundings have so many trees, state parks for camping, hiking, getting out in nature, and a big national forest. This is a community of green everywhere it seems. Many other communities in Florida, such as Jacksonville, and Tampa, have few if any canopy roads, and have cut down most of their trees. I am proud of Tallahassee’s stand to protect its trees.

Visting and driving through the older neighborhoods, you see what was trees that that have been standing in their ground for so many years. There are trees several hundred years old. Yes, there is an abundance of old trees here. When looking homes with your real estate agent, talk about the trees if you like trees. Ask that one of the features that your home must have is trees in the yard, or a green zone out back.

Real Estate Basics

Real estate is the land and everything attached to it. Real estate has always been the most desired of all possessions. Historic wars have occurred over the desire to extend territory, own the land of other governments and peoples. Real estate has always been the hottest subject of conversation. Go into any barber shop, restaurant, work place, supermarket, and listen to the discussions on homes, buying a  home, real estate transactions. Real estate is always popular because real estate is an essential part of our life. We  live in structures, move out of structures, buy other structures, invest in structures, and decorate structures.

The first law of real estate is that real estate is local in nature. It relates to the land of a particular location on earth. You can export or import it. It is there, in its geographical spot, and cannot be moved in its entirety. Since each location is unique geographically and in other ways, the value may be different, and the demand for the property may be different.

A fact about real estate is that when you buy a structure: single family dwelling, townhouse, condo, duplex, you are buying a lifestyle. You are buying a part of you, of what you represent and stand for. There are homes for every kind of lifestyle. A home is an extension of your lifestyle. When you are out looking at homes, some will attract your attention, and your desire rate will go up, but others will turn you off, and you will not even want to go inside, or think any further about them. We have desires, tastes, wants, needs. In a sense, we have a lifestyle and need a structure that will harmonize with that lifestyle. A couple may argue for hours over the likes and dislikes, and if such and such a home will satisfy them. It all goes back to a lifestyle that we live or desire to live.

No two homes are exactly alike. One simple proof of this is that every geographic point is unique. Each home has its own location. It is always wrong to say that two lots are the same. They are not.

Since real estate is about lifestyles, and is a part of life that all crave, real estate is always moving,  but in different cycles. There are seasonal cycles, cycles that favor buyers, cycles that favor sellers, cycles of high demand, cycles of low demand, but regardless, people are always, everyday, buying and selling real estate. It never stopped, and has never stopped.

Another fact about real estate in a free market society, is that buyers determine value, and sellers determine the price. A seller may think his or her house is worth such and such amount, but the buyer is what will seal the deal. Without a buyer, the seller is unable to sell. Sellers have to know what buyers are willing to pay, and this is done by studying buyer demand, or seeing what comparable homes are selling for on the open market, as well as what homes have just sold for in the last six months, last year, or last 30 days.

Once that lifestyle is bought, that home, the buyer then owns a property. However, a property is often a misleading term. A property is not the actual real estate itself, but the legal right to own or possess a given piece of real estate.

These fundamentals of real estate never change. Real estate offers benefits for all of society including the buyers and sellers. A strong real estate market and easy access to money creates a healthy society. Everyone’s dream is to possess a piece of the earth wtih a home on it. Today, with all the mortgage options, and variety of homes, and home prices, this dream is possible for so many people.

What a Home Means

There are many words that describe a home, that define what a home is to many people. A home can mean many things, for sure. Here are some of the words that I find describes a home:

Relatedness- the feeling of relating to something beautiful solid, and tangible.
Connectedness- humans need connection, the feeling of oneness with our surroundings.
Family- home is family solidarity, family togetherness.
Hearth- in ancient cultures, the hearth, fire, fireplace centered the home, the dwelling.
Comfort zone- a home is our zone of protection from the elements.
Storage facility- we need a place to put and store our belongings, our prized possessions.
Food bank- with those big pantrys, we can keep a lasting food supply.
Entertainment center- today’s technology makes the home an entertainment center.
Business center- we sit around the kitchen table and write checks, plan our finances. We even have home offices and work out of the home (some of us).
Planning center- what better place to plan that vacation than at home by the fireplace.
School house- with more people home schooling their children, the home serves as a school.
Escape from work- after a hard day, tiring day, the home is our peace and refuge.
Protection- we feel secure in our homes, from weather, society, and dangers.
Conversation- we use our home to hold conversations with family, and friends.
Gardening- a home serves as a place to plant the seeds of a healthy garden.
Trying new ideas- we can afford to experience and experiment with new ideas in the home, such as a new furniture arrangement, new decorations, a new shelf added to the wall.
Technology center- we test the latest technology in the home, and have quite a performance of computer, wireless, digital TV, fax, printer, and much more.
The hub- just like airlines have a hub, the home is our hub. We move in and our daily, but always return the Hub.
Colors- everyone is sensitive to colors, and certain colors we employ and others we paint over.

Maybe there are other words you can use to describe the feeling of home, but that is my list. Today, the home offers activities that were not found in prior eras. Technology is more advanced today, and more a focus of our lives: computer, cell phone, and the home serves to integrate these technological innovations.

There is one underlying element however, that keeps the home, the home, and that is the feeling of ownership, fee simple ownership. This is the right to do what you want in your own property, and hold title to the rights of ownership. It is a wonderful feeling, when you legally, and actually own a property. Renters have the rights of possession, but miss out on full ownership, fee simple ownership.

What make home to everyone however, is warmth and peace. When we have that, we have home.

This Book Always Comes in Handy to Home Buyers

There is one book that home buyers and interested real estate aficionados should refer to, and that is the Real Estate Book. This small size, easy to carry, book, provides photos of homes on the market, great quality descriptions for the homes, and a listing of dedicated real estate agents. To get the book is easy, and it is free. Go go http://realestatebook.com. You will find your so much useful real estate information at Home for Sale.

There is a Real Estate Book for most any city in the United States, covering the local real estate markets, as real estate is local in nature. Buyers will find new homes for sale, resale homes, and foreclosed properties. This book is of a better caliber of real estate advertising book than others I have seen out there. They are are also easily found at the supermarket magazine racks, and in most real estate agent offices.

Here are two businesses that use the RealEstateBook: http://www.villageplaza.com/   and http://www.c21alliancerealty.com/.

When I go to the supermarket, I can’t help but pass by the magazine stand, and reach out to pick up one of these lovely, colorful books.  I stay up to date with the real estate market, homes in my community for sale through these useful books. They are put together professionally, and the folks at https://realestatebook.com know what works. Remember, it is a free publication, too.

If you are a home seller, you certainly will want to take advantage of the enormous outreach potential for you home when you home is advertised in the Real Estate Book. Buyers get the hard copy, as well as the online copy, which reaches the world over. This is marketing the way it should be. Yes, your home gets an online presence in the Real Estate Book. It is advertising that works.

There are independent distributorships available for the Real Estate Book as well for those with an entrepreneurship mind. You can go most anywhere with the Real Estate Book .

Those Lovely Trees

So Divine, so Majestic. Those trees, those lovely trees that dot the community inside and out in and around Tallahassee, Florida. This is the number one reason why I and many others live in this area, because of the trees. These trees are protected by local ordinance, and are one everpresent fact about this community. We have many tree canopy roads, that are an established feature in the Tallahassee community. The trees relate to the regions’ history, the lumber industry of the past, and they identify the neighborhoods. Newer neighborhoods have smaller, younger trees, usually, and established neighborhoods have big, older trees, usually. Each tree tells its unique story, and is its own character within a big book of nature. A tree standing for years on someone’s front yard, has watched over a lot of history going on at that residence.

Why my adoration of trees. I have always felt at home around trees. I daily commune among the trees of my backyard, and often visit the forests of the regions many parks and forests. The trees tell my story, my love of nature, and fondness for the simplicity of life among the tall giants that watch over us. I often feel like the trees are divine messenger to us, telling us how to behave. I try to listen to their messages, while in deep contemplation of their presense. I delight in the joy the trees bring me. They are my best non-human friends within the ecosystems I inhabit and visit.

After long hours of toil, I feel comforted among the trees. Some of my favorite moments are camping with family and friends in the woods, making a campfire, hiking on the trails, and just being there in nature away from the office, the hustle and bustle of work life.

Maybe there are others reading this who share the same fascination, and longing to be among the trees. I would love to hear from you, and your tree tales.