One Way to Begin My Tallahassee Day

The word “day” is one of the first words in the holy bible. The word is throughout the bible, starting with “day” as newness, a beginning of something great. Later, “day” has a tone of inspiration to prophets, and a symbol of hope. Now, I am looking out the window at a new day, a new beginning, further hope, here in Tallahassee, Florida.

First of all, I have been reading so many mini blogs at http://twitter.com. This is a blogging service that goes on day and night, 24/7, just like there is always, day, somewhere on earth.

 On Twitter, I can read what my friends and others are doing at the moment, what they are thinking, what they are wanting, what they are cooking, what they are making, where they are traveling, how they are doing what they are doing. It is a real life storyline of events and thoughts. I jump into the mass of writers, and express myself as well. I tell the world who I am, where I am, what I am doing, how I am doing it. I discuss in the limited amount of space offered, about 140 words

Such is one way that I can start my day. Not the only way, I begin my Tallahassee day, welcoming all that the day brings.

An Oriental Rug Adds So Much to the Interior Decor

It arrived yesterday: an Oriental Rug, 100% wool, no synthetics, and made in the part of the world where these rugs are famous.

The rug was not bought on the internet, which I would be more inclined to make my purchase, but instead, from a Tallahassee retail store. There are many oriental rugs for sale here, and there are good deals.

After paying only $199 for a $600 Oriental Rug, I felt good about getting this rug. I like Google searching for rugs and especially natural Persian or Oriental rugs.

Rugs add so much to the interior décor and designing. People notice the colors,intricate designs,and the eye catching geometric lines and curves, all interacting and twisting around each other to form a story in our imagination. Each of us can look at one of these rugs and have a different story in the imagination. Each of us will see something different in the rugs. Actually, no two natural rugs are the same. The naturalness and uniqueness interests me.

Now, I am the proud owner of my fourth Oriental rug. I will not stop looking at more rugs on the internet.

With our dark living room color scheme, café, peanut butter, and beige walls, the Oriental rugs fit right in, bringing out the red tones of the dark neutrals.

Some things I look for in a n Oriental or Persian rug are the following:

1) Color schemes need to be earth hues or natural, muted colors and neutrals.

2) Has the colors faded into into other colors.

3) Is the knotting thick, thin, tight, loose.

4) Are there more fibers or fewer fibers on on a knot or strand of fibers.

5)How does the texture feel after rubbing the hand flat-opened, along a stretch of the rug. I look for lumps and inconsistencies.

6) What is the material made of. Wool is a natural material and a typical material in these rugs.

7) Are there any synthetics used. What is the age of the carpet. Older rugs carry more value.

9) Are there any tears, holes, cracks, torn areas.

10) Where did the rug originate from and in what community was it made.

11) Finally, the pattern itself. Are there imperfections, faulty arrangement in the designs that catch the eye’s attention. Are the patters what would be found in these types of rugs.

Between my tasks as a real estate agent, I like to admire these beautiful rugs wherever I may find them: in Tallahassee stores, when traveling or on the internet. I like to admire my own possession of these ancient art mediums. On my world map, I like to locate the cities or regions where the rugs I find, originate in. It improves my geography knowledge and appreciation or other cultures.

Kenneth Fach, REALTOR
Weichert, REALTORS-Anchor
1607 Village Square Blvd., Suite B103
Tallahassee, FL 32309
Cell 850-339-5753
http://KennethFach.wordpress.com

Each office is independently owned and operated.

Tallahassee Area’s Newest Park

Today, I took my family to a new park in Leon County, beside Lake Jackson, one of largest lakes in the Tallahassee area. Jackson View Park has plenty of open green space, trees, walking paths, covered picnic tables, a childrens’ playground, and a boardwalk looking out at the area’s nature. Green is the most common color found in this region it seems. There are so many parks, nature, and evergreen trees in Tallahassee, Leon County, and surrounding land.

We heard the happy sounds of birds. It is so comfortable walking in a park, and listening to birds. I get that from my dad, and his dad, who were both avid bird watcher. Unfortunately, I don’t know how to identify that many birds, but I do want to pick up my dad’s old bird books, and learn how to identify them. I also want to learn how to identify their sounds.

Tallahassee Composters are Out and About

Yesterday morning, at Tallahassee Mall, in Tallahassee, Florida, it was a warm, and sunny. Hundreds of local residents patiently waited in line most of the morning waiting to purchase a $30 dollar Composter from the City of Tallahassee. I was one of the eager garden types waiting for my unit.

This is one of many activities that the City of Tallahassee, and Leon County are doing to make the community more green. Tallahassee, Florida is greening up. We already have an abundance of green spaces, new and established parks, trees everywhere, and which are protected by local ordinance. We have a solar powered gym in a city recreation center, the solid waste management facility is state of the art and an example of ideal recycling, we have solar panels on some government, as well as business structures, and private residences. There is even a school and a daycare with solar panels installed. Our water is about the best in the entire state of Florida, and our water district has received awards, and praise. We also have a great recycling system. Tallahassee is becomming green.

I drive through upscale and midscale neighborhoods, and see solar panels on some roofs.  A few years ago, I could not see solar panels anywhere. In a community surrounded by nature, and nature within, including deer, rabbits, fox, turtles, Tallahassee, Leon County, is a good place to be, and to live in.

Back to composting. My familiy and I, normally grow tomatoes and peppers in our backyard, beside little Lake Jackson, in the far northwest corner of Leon County, just outside of Tallahassee. We have been doing primitive composting, but now, with our new composter, we can follow the correct process to composting.

The four key steps to composing are, first, to chop the nitrogens materials, and the carbon materials. The carbons are the paper towels, used coffee grounds, coffee filters, leaves, to name a few examples, and the nitrogens are the vegetable matter. Second is to empty the waste into the composter. Third is to stir the nitrogen and carbon waste in the bin, and mix in well. Fouth, is to cover with leaves, pine needles or earth, and tighly secure the lid of the composter. Now, the composting unit is cooking.

Happy composting out there, in which ever yard or garden you may find yourself in.

Where to buy Tallahassee Real Estate

Buying a home in Tallahassee is a comfortable experience since there are so many beautiful parks, many trees all over this community, such as the evergreen pines, oaks, and others, and hills. Yes, Tallahassee, Florida has hills, which is something not typical in much of Florida. There are many new and older established neighborhoods in Tallahassee, and Leon County, with many ranch styles homes.

To better understand how to look for Tallahassee real estate to buy, consider
the four Leon County, Florida, real estate zones:

Northeast Tallahassee and Leon County,  is where the majority of residents live, and is the biggest zone
geographically, and the zone with many lakes. Leon County has over 60 lakes, many
located in neighborhoods. Northwest Tallahassee is where you find many established
single family home neighborhoods with ranche styles homes, as well as traditional style
contemporary, and some colonials here and there. Also, in this zone, homes tend to have
more square footage, typically over 2000 square feet of heating and cooling area.
Most single family homes in this zone are over $230,000.
Some of the attractions in northeast Tallahassee, Leon County include golf courses,
Maclay botanical gardens with a lake for summer swimming and boating, and
Tallahassee Little Theater. There is also Governors Square Mall, the largest shopping
mall in Tallahasse.

Northwest Tallahassee and Leon County
is a smaller geographic area that includes lower price ranges versus the northeast, a big mix of single family homes, townhomes, duplexes, and apartment communities. This is
ideal for the many Florida State University students that ocupy this zone, as well as many
first time homebuyers. There is beautiful Lake Ella park, kind of a central point in
Tallahassee close to Tallahassee Mall, and the many shopping establishments in the area.
Lake Ella is a popular place to walk, run, picnic, feed the ducks, and attend festivals.
At the northern end of northwest Leon County, is Lake Jackson, one of the two largest
lakes in Leon County, Florida, with fishing, boating, parks, and picnic facilities. There are
newer neighborhoods of single family homes in the area with three bedrooms, and two
baths and many homes under $200,000.

Southeast Tallahassee, and Leon County, 
Includes older Tallahassee homes, built in the 50’s, and include the traditional ranch style
homes.  There are also new single family home subdivisions with contemporary home
styles, and good price ranges for first-time homebuyers. There is also the enormous
Southwood planned urban development offering its own town center with eating
establishments, a coffee shop, a brand new YMCA, and more businesses to come. This is
a newer community in progress of further growth. There are many tradtional home styles here, but it is not a ranch style home community. Many of the homes are two-story, and the price ranges in Southwood tend to be higher than many other areas of
Leon County, but, you get a lot for your money: community recreation center, with
swimming pools, parks, walking trails, lakes, many community events, and festivals. You
will want to see Southwood to get a feel for all that is offers.

Southwest Tallahassee, and Leon County,
Here you have many apartments, and townhomes for the big student population for
Florida State Univerity, and Florida A&M University. This is where the bulk of the area’s industrial complexes are located, and there is a lot of commercial locations. There are fewer single family homes and parks in this zone. However, the big attraction, besides the
two universities, is the Tallahassee Natural History Museum, which has a zoo focussed on
local wildlife in the natural environments. There is a lot of walking at this vast park. The
area’s airport is also in this zone.

I can tell you a lot more about Tallahassee and Leon County as well as its real estate market. Just let me know.

Kenneth Fach, REALTOR
Weichert, REALTORS-Anchor
1607 Village Square Boulevard, Suite B103
Blog: http://KennethFach.wordpress.com
Cell 850-339-5753

Each office is independently owned and operated.

Springtime Tallahassee has arrived

Today is the big springtime celebration in Tallahassee, Florida. It comes every year to welcome the community to my favorite time of the year, Spring. There will be a big parade downtown, and many vendors’ booths, music,
and food, food, food.

The Tallahassee sky is blue, the flowers are coming in, green is everywhere, and it
is a beautiful day here in Leon County, northwest Florida.

I have been working in the yard doing what I do every year: planting tomatos,
peppers, peas, and cleaning around the blueberries which have green on them.
They are looking good.

This is also a good time for buyers to look at homes, and sellers to put their homes
on the market. Tallahassee real estate estate is more stable than other areas of Florida.
The weather is   perfect for house hunting as it is not too hot or too   cold, just a lovely spring  day.

This weekend
there are many open houses in all price ranges to view. There are many
great opportunties out there for buyers to choose from, many homes between
$150,000 to $250,000 with at least three bedrooms and two baths.

Want to know more about Tallahassee real estate, just contact me.

Kenneth Fach, REALTOR, ePRO
Weichert, REALTORS-Anchor
1607 Village Square Blvd, Suite B103
Tallahassee, FL 32309
Cell 850-339-5753  Blog  http://KennethFach.wordpress.com
Web  http://KennethFach.com

Each office is independently owned and operated.

Tallahassee Ranch Style Home Basics

The ranch style home, with its low pitch, gable roof, typically fits in very well with the environment, and in its pure form, uses natural, and local materials. Tallahassee, Florida, has many ranch styles homes, and many of these are currently for sale. Ranch style homes are inside Tallahassee, and outside the city. In fact, ranch style homes are all over America, and have been since the 1940’s.

What is a ranch style home? This is a genuinely all-American architectural home style which was popular with the jet set generation of the post World War Two era. Soldiers came home from the war needing homes. Ranch style homes were built in great quantity and filled up suburbia as communities started to grow outward. With the automobile boom, people could live further from the town center, and commute long distances. Many ranch homes were built on big yards, at least big, relative to the yards offered by many of today’s new subdivisions. The ranch home was the perfect answer to a growing young family, and the need for a decent place to live. They were easy to build, and very affordable, and typically still are.

A ranch style home is a horizontal, low-lying, rectangular structure, which can be U shape, or L shape rectangular. The garage is an important part of the design, although, not all ranch style homes have garages. Later, split level, or raised ranch style homes became popular, allowing for more space within the home. However, there were always more one story ranches.

With a typical ranch style home, getting onto the roof to rake the leaves is no difficult task, since the roof is close to the earth, and the roof’s gable is low-pitched. I know it is easy to get on and off the roof. I did plenty of that when I was a teen growing up in a ranch style home. I just needed a small ladded, with just a few steps, and I was on the roof doing my regular task of sweeping, and raking the pine needles from the many pine trees that circled our Milton, Florida ranch style home.

The exterior of a ranch style home is simple. Here in Tallahassee, I see much creativity to bring interest to the facade of these kind of homes. People decorate the front with flowers, well kept shrubs, planters, mini waterfalls, sitting area, and rock garden. It is amazing what color and beauty you can bring to a simple, unadorned exterior.

The interior of ranch styles homes had open floor plans. In fact, the ranches made popular the open floor plan, and teh abundance of incoming light. The kitchen, dining, and living room were an open unit, with the master bedroom on one side of the open floor plan, and the smaller bedrooms off the hallway on the other end of the rectangular structure. These homes usually had a hallway.

Many of the features that homebuyers like today, open floor plan, spacious yard, big windows, or a lot of windows, brick or stone fireplace hearth, backyard patio or deck, separation of master bedroom from other bedrooms, built-in shelves, or cabinets, and natural materials, wood, brick, stone, all were made popular by the ranch style homes.

I suppose I love the ranch style home because I grew up in this kind of home. My friends lived in this style of architecture. I have more experience with ranchers. In fact, I am the self-designated, ranch style home specialist of Tallahassee, Florida. If you want to know more about ranch homes, or how to buy one, please contact me. Just remember one thing, there is always an abundance of ranch homes in northwest Florida, and in most places in America. The ranch remains an important home style, and most homes built today, in other architectural styles, traditional, contemporary, and other styles, contain elements characterizing ranch style homes.

Contact me for assitance with getting you into a Tallahassee ranch home. I can tell you where the best deals for ranch style home are in the neighborhoods of Tallahassee, and Leon County, Florida.

Kenneth Fach, REALTOR, ePRO
Weichert, REALTORS-Anchor
1607 Village Square Blvd, Suite B103
Tallahassee, FL 32303
Cell 850-339-5753   Blog http://KennethFach.wordpress.com 
Web http://KennethFach.com

Each office is independently owned and operated.

Oak Valley and Russell’s Pond subdivisions in northwest Tallahassee with nice homes

Off of N Monroe, or Hwy 27, in northwest Leon County, just outside ot Tallahassee, Florida, sit two single family home subdivisions: Oak Valley and Russell’s Pond. Most of the homes were build after 1990. The homes are very affordable, have three bedrooms and two baths, nice yards, front and back, and a pond in the community.

Most of the homes in these two subdivisions, are contemporary in style, with or without ranch style home features, but there are some small ranch style homes as well.  Some homes have brick exterior, some vinyl siding, and some wood, or hardie board. Although, the homes are relatively small, (most under 1500 square feet of heating and cooling space), they come with popular features that so many buyers like: walk-in closets, cathedral, or vaulted ceilings, open floor plans, ceiling fans, and some with fenced in back yards, not to mention all the many other characteristics.

Both neighborhoods are close to several parks, both with recreational facilities, and a playground. One of the parks is situated on Lake Jackson, which is one of the biggest lakes, among the many lakes in Leon County, Florida. This park has bike trails, hiking trails, a boardwalk along the lake, with a view of a lake ecosystem, and there are picnic pavilions with grills, for big groups, as well as small groups. One of Tallahassee’s and Leon County’s newest schools, Canopy Oaks Elementary School, with just down the road. There is a new athletic community park next to this school, with soccer, tennis, running, and baseball facilities. Canopy Oaks Elementary is a very good school, but I am partial, my son attends there, and is a happy Cardinal. The school’s website is, http://www.canopyoaks.leon.k12.fl.us/ 

Russell’s Pond subdivision has 141 homes.
There are 9 homes currently listed with real estate companies, with the average price of $149,633. Since January, 1 home sold, and the sold price was, $145,000.

Oak Valley subdivision has 159 single family homes. There are 5 homes currently on the market with real estate companies. The average home price is, $167,00. Since January, 1 home sold, and for the price of $145,000.

As a real estate agent, I always like talking homes and neighborhoods with people. If you would like to know about other neighborhoods in and around Tallahassee, Florida, please let me know. If you are from Tallahassee, Leon County, and have information about neighborhoods, that you would like me to post, please tell me. I am always looking to learn more about the many neighborhoods from people who have lived there man years, or from the birth of neighborhood.

Please read my other real estate blog posts on this site, and don’t forget to leave a comment. Blogging is sharing ideas, and learning from one another.

Kenneth Fach, REALTOR, ePRO
Weichert, REALTORS-Anchor
1607 Village Square Blvd., Suite B103
Tallahassee, FL 32309
Cell 850-339-5753, Web http://KennethFach.com
Blog http://KennethFach.wordpress.com

Each office is independently owned and operated.

Neighborhood Lifecycles

I wonder how many of us here in northwest Florida, specifically, Tallahassee, have lived in the same neighborhood for many years, or at least long enough to observe the process of growth that occurs in neighborhoods. When you plant a garden, it is a rewarding experience to observe the baby plants shoot up out of the soil, pass through the state of childhood, and become a full florishing plant, with fruits, vegetables, or and flowers. A neighborhood has its growth as well.

The developer moves in,  clears the land, flattens it, puts in infraestructure, such as  the roads, utilities, water system, drainage, and lighting. Next, the homes are built, perhaps spec homes, if builder is making a quantity of homes, with several models to choose from sometimes. Or, the neighborhood may consist of custom homes, in which the buyer can pick and choose what appearance and style is wanted for the home. Next, the home is lived in, the neighborhood grows, more people populate the area, trees grow, and over time, there is wear and tear of the structures, and the newness fades into history.

One neighborhood in particular here in Tallahassee, the Weems, was a forest a few years ago. I walked and explored that wooded area in east Tallahassee, which is the direction much real estate development is moving in. I was surprised when the Weems Subdivision was developed into a community of many single family homes. The trees were cut down, and new homes built. I then noticed over a few years that the landscaping in the community was developing, and trees planted or put in, were growing. The Weems is still a young neighborhood, but it is easy to notice that it is maturing, and is now established in the hearts and minds of folks here in Tallahassee.

It is fun to reflect on how neighborhoods grow, and change over time. I am always interested in hearing and reading about peoples’ experiences living for a period of time in a community, and the observations they have.

Kenneth Fach, REALTOR, ePRO
Weichert, REALTORS-Anchor
1607 Village Square Blvd., Suite B103
Tallahassee, FL 32303
Cell 850-339-5753, Blog: http://KennethFach.wordpress.com 

Each office is independently owned and operated.

Kenneth Fach is at Your Service

Reading my many blogs will help you know more about Kenneth Fach, and what he is about and what he believes in.

One important fact about me is that I am a liberty loving American, who admires, and honors the work and vision of America’s founding fathers, and what they stood for: liberty.

I lived the first 9 years of my life in southern California, and two years after that in New Mexico, I lived most of my life in northwest Florida, primarily in Pensacola, and later in Tallahassee, Florida, where I currently reside with my wife and son.

I graduated from Milton High School, Florida, earned two B.A. degrees from the University of West Florida, taught high school, lived in Paraguay, South America for over three years (the only one from that university to ever have lived in that country), taugth school in Greenwich, Connecticut for a couple years, went to graduate school at Florida State University, taught school some more, worked as a technology customer service representative, and got into real estate.

I come from a family of real estate investors, and other entrepreneurs. I grew up viewing properties in New Mexico, where grandpa owned big pieces of land,  was a land developer, and had a highly successful photography business. While growing up in northwest Florida, I helped relatives clear land bought for investment, and had the opportunity to view many new developments and new homes.  It was fun, and I experienced what real estate investors do, however, it was not until many years later that I decided that teaching was not what I wanted to do, and instead, helping people locate properties and sell properties was what I should do. I became passionate about real estate, and made the move to study formally at a licensed real estate school.  

I began practicing  real estate, officially, as an agent, in the middle of 2004,  in Pensacola, Florida. Then, after Hurricane Ivan struck and devastated my hometown, I returned to Tallahassee, where I had been living prior to 2004, and continued my real estate profession. 

Although, I have been in a customer service and teaching role for most of my adult life, I have not had greater joy with serving the public then as a real estate agent. I have helped buyers and sellers with serious life issues. Buying and selling a home, or a lot, is a serious life issue. It has given me immense pleasure to have been an agent for wonderful human beings.

Kenneth Fach, REALTOR, ePRO
Weichert, REALTORS-Anchor
1607 Village Square Blvd, Suite B 103
Tallahassee, FL 32309
Cell 850-339-5753, Blog: http://KennethFach.wordpress.com

Each office is independently owned and operated.