Archive for July, 2008
Entree Vous is Cooking for Fish Hawk Ranch and Lithia, FL.
July 30th, 2008 Categories: Apollo Beach, Brandon Real Estate, FishHawk
Entree Vous has opened their newest franchise in The River Springs Town Center, Riverview, FL and minutes from Fish Hawk Ranch. Entree Vous is the fastest growing meal solution company in the United States.
I had the opportunity to attend their grand opening and make my own group of meals. I chose 4 select meals that included a Chicken Piccata, Southwest Chicken Casserole, Margarita Beef Kabob and Mesa Verde Flank Steak. Now, this was a first time for me and I had all four meals completed in less than 30 minutes. Of course I had the superb assistance of owner Bill McCarthy and his team.
Once I got home, off to the freezer went the meals. Planning ahead for dinner was easier than I could have ever imagined. The day before my wife pulled out the Southwest Chicken Casserole (I am a chicken lover already) and because of my unusual work hours the meal sat in the refrigerator until I got home. Once home, the meal was thrown in the oven at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. I had time to unwind and check emails. Fifty Five minutes later the family was having dinner. I offered something very unusual for my wife. “Honey, I’ll clean the kitchen tonight!” “Yeah, thanks a lot. I think I can handle the three plates and utensils” she replied.
If you are not familiar with the Entrée Vous product and service, the best way to describe it is … hmmm, let’s say … convenient, fun, economical and easy.
First, we have to understand why Entrée Vous is growing so quickly. No one has to explain how busy schedules are now a days. Between running our kids to cheerleading practice, soccer, baseball and music lessons, there is little time to think what is for dinner. The solution in terms of dinner for busy families have been fast foods or ready to throw in the oven frozen entrees from the frozen food section of the grocery store. They are either not the healthiest or not the tastiest dinner for the family.
The “Kitchen” gets ready for you in advance
Entrée Vous is a complete prep to bake dinner provider. Each month complete menu lists of tasty menus are ready for the busy homemaker to prepare at Entrée Vous. All of the prep work is done ahead for the customer. All ingredients are set up at each menu station along with the menu instructions. Simply follow the instructions and less than five minutes you have prepared a delicious dinner for your family. There is no minimum on meals you have to make. You can make one meal or as many as you like. The meals feed four to six people per entrée. Entrée Vous will make your meals for you at no additional charge.
The complete process eliminates shopping (especially for spices or condiments that require a small amount for a single recipe) chopping, mixing and all of the other chores that go into preparing a meal. No measuring cups, bowls or pans to wash and scrub. No waste of ingredients and besides the less fuss, it is rather enjoyable.
Plan a party! It is not unusual that a group will call ahead and “reserve” the stations for the evening. This provides an opportunity to catch up with each other while getting the dinners complete and ready for future servings.
Do you need a caterer for a casual gathering, business meeting or working lunch? Entrée Vous has hot entrees, gourmet sandwiches on artisan breads salads, side dishes and freshly baked desserts.
All in all, Entrée Vous is délicieux!
Rick’s Pick of the Month:
Grilled Blackened Salmon with Citrus Chive Sauce Cooking Instructions | Serving Suggestions Six tasty salmon filets are coated in a traditional blackened seasoning. Not too spicy, but full of flavor. Perfect for the grill. Serve with our refreshing Citrus Chive Sauce (provided). Serves 4 to 6.
Bill McCarthy
13433 Boyette Rd.
Riverview, FL 33569
(813) 436 9205
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Brandon, Florida Stonewood Grill & Tavern
July 24th, 2008 Categories: Bloomingdale, Brandon Community, Brandon Real Estate, FishHawk, Riverhills
Cheers from Chef Mike
My wife and I are always looking for new eateries in the area and decided to check out the Stonewood Grill of Brandon. We found the inside to be very nice (above average) and quieter than most restaurants you find these days. We were actually able to carry on a conversation without shouting. We found some patrons in jeans, but most were in less casual clothing. The service was excellent and once we were served the manager actually came to our table to make sure everything was to our liking.
Now let’s get to the steak, a filet mignon that I found was comparable to any the Big Dog has found at the best steak places in the country, Morton’s, Shula’s, Ruth’s Chris, and even the coveted Bern’s Steak house of Tampa fame. Overall a great eating experience.
What to expect from Stonewood Grill
Stonewood Grill is a small chain with restaurants in Florida and North Carolina. It is an upscale dinner only establishment with casual surroundings, the ambience is reserved and inviting. Try a quiet dinner in the dining room or relax over drinks in the well appointed tavern. The menu includes a mix of steak, seafood and pasta dishes prepared by Executive Chefs.
Sample From the Menu 
New Winter Seasonal Menu features Chef Mike’s Oak-Grilled Sirloin with a Cognac peppercorn sauce.
Delicious !
612 E. Bloomingdale Avenue (Between Bell Shoals Rd. and Bryan Rd.)Brandon, FL 33511
Phone: 813-655-9561
Email: brandon@stonewoodgrill.com
Dave Tipton, Broker- Diamond Dwellings Realty- Brandon Florida
813-653-1241
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Brandon Florida- 12 Best Buy Homes
July 17th, 2008 Categories: Bloomingdale, Brandon Community, Brandon Real Estate
Brandon’s Best Buys in Real Estate
There are currently many homes for sale in the South Brandon area. Some are foreclosures, some are short sales and some are regular homes for sale. We have done the research for you to identify what Diamond Dwellings Realty believes are among the Best Buys currently on the market in this area. The criteria we used are cost per sq. ft. of living area (heated/AC), condition, amenities and neighborhood. None of these homes are foreclosures or short sales, just bargains. Two of the homes are brand new. Due to space constraints of this medium we were forced to pick 12. If you don’t see anything in this batch you like, give us a call, we have more already to send you.
MLS# T2301581 BRANDON, FL 33511 $219,900. $96.79 Per SQ FT
It’s hard To Beat This Combination of a Lovely Home in a Great Neighborhood! This Home Features all of the Attributes Sought by Discriminating buyers! It is Meticulously Cared for and Sparkling Clean! The 2-1-1 Split Plan is Open and Light. All the Bedrooms and the Office/Den are of generous size. It has Formal Rooms and the Family Room Opens onto the Under-Truss Screened Lanai. The Kitchen has Upgraded Cabinets and the Breakfast Area Looks Out to the Back Garden. All the Wet Areas are Tiled. The Master Suite Features a Huge Walk-in Closet and a Gorgeous Custom Designed Bath with Duel sinks, A Garden Tub and A Tiled Walk-in Shower. It’s Fantastic. The Rear Yard is Fully Fenced . The Exterior has Recently been Painted. There is a Community Pool with Dressing Rooms, Toddler Pool, playground, and Tennis Courts. Sidewalks throughout encourage joggers and perambulators. All this Located Close to Schools, Shopping and Major roads.
MLS# T2315718 BRANDON, FL 33511 $219,900. $90.64 Per SQ FT
Brand New- Home in Brandon for less than $90.64 per square foot! Tons of upgrades and GREAT floor plan! 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2 car garage with large kitchen, great storage, and much more! See it today! This will definitely not last.
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5 Foreclosure Laws You Should Be familiar With
July 16th, 2008 Categories: Apollo Beach, Bloomingdale, Brandon Community, Brandon Real Estate, Diamond Dwellings, FishHawk, Riverhills
Know the rules of the foreclosure process in your state.
Foreclosure laws very from state to state so research your state’s laws. A good place to start your research of your states foreclosure process is www.foreclosurelaw.org/. If you or someone you know is facing a foreclosure of their home, there are 5 laws that that you should be familiar with:
1. Active Duty Military- If the borrower or the borrower’s spouse is on active duty military, the Civil Relief Act of 2003, prohibits a lender from foreclosing on the mortgage. Additionally, the borrower may qualify for a reduction in the interest rate or even a temporary suspension of mortgage payments.
2. Notification of Intent to Foreclose- Many states require that a lender notify the borrower 30 days in advance of obtaining a court judgment to foreclose.
3. Non-Judicial Foreclosure- Many states permit lenders to add a clause to a mortgage that permits the lender to foreclose and sell the property without obtaining court approval.
4. Right of Redemption- Some states permit a borrower in default to satisfy the loan default and recover the property if done within a specified amount of time after the property is sold.
5. Deficiency Judgment- Some states allow a lender that forecloses on a mortgage to file a judgment against the borrower that entitles the lender to collect from the defaulted borrower any amount of the outstanding mortgage not covered by the sale of the property in question.
It is always a wise decision to enlist the help of a local real estate attorney or one that specializes in bankruptcy or foreclosure law. They will have the answer to many of your questions concerning the foreclosure of your home.
Rick Frissell, Agent- Diamond Dwellings- Brandon Florida
813-653-1241
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FishHawk Ranch Area Golfers Wanted
July 14th, 2008 Categories: Apollo Beach, Bloomingdale, Brandon Community, FishHawk, Riverhills
Local FishHawk Ranch resident, Chris Moulin received the devastating news last August when he was having problems with numbness in his hand. What started out as a routine doctor’s visit to treat possible arthritis, ended weeks later with a diagnosis which left Chris and his wife with more questions than answers. Some doctors call Cordoma cancer and some don’t. It’s not categorized as a cancer and not benign tumor; however, for anyone diagnosed with a Cordoma, the lack of research is just one of many frustrating aspects of the disease. It’s so rare there’s really no information.
That was last August, now 9 months later, Chris has gone from fighting for his life to fighting for a cure. Chris put together his love of golf with his passion to find a cure to arrange his first, Swing for a Cure, golf benefit for H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center. The benefit will be held at Summerfield Crossing Golf Club in Riverview, Saturday, August 9. Local residents, either singles, $85.00 or teams of four, $320.00 are encouraged to enter by August 2. To register or for more information about Swing for a Cure, the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center benefit, visit www.summerfieldgc.com. If you love to golf but haven’t found other golfers in the area, this benefit, not only is a great cause, but also will be a great way to network with golfers within our community. Any single players who would like to be paired with other FishHawk Ranch residents, contact Chris Moulin at 334-7520.
Dave Tipton, Broker- Diamond Dwellings Realty
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Brandon Florida Bank Owned Properties- AKA Foreclosures
July 13th, 2008 Categories: Apollo Beach, Bloomingdale, Brandon Community, Brandon Real Estate, FishHawk, Riverhills
Buying Brandon Area Bank Owned Properties
There is a lot of interest in buying bank owned properties in the Tampa Bay Area these days. A lot of information, some good and some bad, is floating around about the subject. Often the information offered is for sale, with the promise that you can make a lot of money with little effort once you know “the secret formula”. The fact is, you can make money buying foreclosures and short-sales, but that there are no secrets, and to make money does require effort.
What’s an REO?
REO stands for Real Estate Owned. These are properties that have gone through foreclosure and are now owned by the bank or mortgage company. This is not the same as a property up for foreclosure auction. When buying a property during a foreclosure sale, you must pay at least the loan balance plus any interest and other fees accumulated during the foreclosure process. You must also be prepared to pay with cash in hand. And on top of all that, you’ll receive the property 100% “as is”. That could include existing liens and even current occupants that need to be evicted. An REO, by contrast, is a much “cleaner” and attractive transaction. The REO property did not find a buyer during foreclosure auction. The bank now owns it. The bank will see to the removal of tax liens, evict occupants if needed and generally prepare for the issuance of a title insurance policy to the buyer at closing. Do be aware that REO’s may be exempt from normal disclosure requirements. In California, for example, banks are exempt from giving a Transfer Disclosure Statement, a document that normally requires sellers to tell you about any defects they are aware of.
Is it a bargain?
It’s commonly assumed that any REO must be a bargain and an opportunity for easy money. This simply isn’t true. You have to be very careful about buying a REO if your intent is to make money off of it. While it’s true that the bank is typically anxious to sell it quickly, they are also strongly motivated to get as much as they can for it. When considering the value of an REO, you need to look closely at comparable sales in the neighborhood and be sure to take into account the time and cost of any repairs or remodeling needed to prepare the house for resale. The bargains with money making potential exist, and many people do very well buying foreclosures. There are also many REO’s that are not good buys and not likely to turn a profit.
Ready to make an offer?
Most banks have a REO department that you’ll work with in buying a REO property from them. Typically the REO department will use a local listing agent to get their REO properties listed on the local MLS. Before making your offer, you’ll want to contact either the listing agent or REO department at the bank and find out as much as you can about what they know about the condition of the property and what their process is for receiving offers. Since banks almost always sell REO properties “as is”, you’ll want to be sure and include an inspection contingency in your offer that gives you time to check for hidden damage and terminate the offer if you find it. As with making any offer on real estate, you’ll make your offer more attractive if you can include documentation of your ability to pay, such as a pre-approval letter from a lender. After you’ve made your offer, you can expect the bank to make a counter offer. Then it will be up to you to decide whether to accept their counter, or offer a counter to the counter offer. Realize, you’ll be dealing with a process that probably involves multiple people at the bank, and they don’t work evenings or weekends. It’s not unusual for the process of offers and counter offers to take days or even weeks.
Call Diamond Dwellings Realty- Brandon Florida today for a list of bank owned properties. Just let us know what your looking for and we will do the research for you.
E-Mail Us… BrandonDwellings@Verizon.Net
813-653-1241
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How Much Home Can You Afford?
July 13th, 2008 Categories: Apollo Beach, Bloomingdale, Brandon Community, Brandon Real Estate, FishHawk, Riverhills
Third in a Series for First Time Home Buyers
First-time buyers are often unsure about the financial aspects of buying a home, and you may have many questions swirling in your head. How much can I afford? Do I need a large down payment?
Your home price range will be determined by your income, credit history, the cash you have for a down payment and closing costs, and your debt. How much you earn compared to how much you owe will likely determine how much the bank allows you to borrow. For Pre-Qualification Click Here: Rick@DiamondDwellings.Com
The financial rule of thumb is: your total monthly debt service, which will include your monthly mortgage, shouldn’t be more than about 36 percent of your gross monthly income. Most experts say that your monthly housing expense, including taxes and insurance, should not exceed about 28 percent of your gross monthly income. Click Here for:
Naturally, every situation is different, and each lender has different rules about working with buyers. A number of choices within your control can affect your monthly payment as well. For example, you might choose an adjustable rate loan, which has a lower initial payment than a fixed rate program. Similarly, a larger down payment may lower your monthly payment.
If you’d like more information about how much home you can afford, please call or email me. I can help you get the mortgage information you need.
Dave Tipton, Broker, Diamond Dwellings Realty- Brandon Florida
Click Here….. DiamondDwellings@Verizon.Net
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FishHawk Ranch Summer Reading Program
July 13th, 2008 Categories: Brandon Community, FishHawk
OSCAR Summer Reading Program
Children entering grades 1-6 are invited to participate in the third annual OSCAR (Over the Summer Children Achieve Reading) program. It’s the perfect way to ensure that children keep their reading skills sharp over the summer!
FishHawk Ranch will be partnering again with local businesses and Barnes & Noble to provide a program that is both, educational and enjoyable. The theme of this year’s program is Swing into Summer.
The first 200 children who enroll in the program will receive a free T-shirt, courtesy of Newland Communities. Incentives will be awarded to participants as they progress through the program. After children have read eight books, they will receive a free book from Barnes & Noble.
To enroll in the Summer Reading Program, please attend our OSCAR Kick-Off at Park Square on May 31 from 10 a.m. until noon. Meet and greet a special guest that we are so honored to have, the MOUSE, that has become famous from the popular story, If You Give A Mouse A Cookie! In addition, the Hillsborough County Public Library will be there. If you need a new library card, or would like to learn more about the library’s special services, this will be the perfect time to do so! Suggested reading book lists for grades 1-6 will be available. Finally, those who successfully complete the OSCAR program will be invited to the OSCAR Graduation Ceremony at the end of the summer!
For more information about the OSCAR program, please contact the Osprey Club at 654-6360. Information about the program will also be available on www.FishHawkConnect.com.
Sounds like a great summer program for the kids.
Rick Frissell- Diamond Dwellings Realty
813-653-1241
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Is Owning Your Own Home On Your Mind?
July 13th, 2008 Categories: Apollo Beach, Bloomingdale, Brandon Community, Brandon Real Estate, FishHawk, Riverhills
Second in a Series For First Time Buyers
When you’re thinking about making a move, the first steps in the home buying process are:
1. Deciding when you want to make your move
2. Considering how much money you would like to spend
3. Thinking about what needs you have in a home
4. Deciding where you would like to live
The next step is usually finding out how much loan you can qualify for and deciding the type of financing that will work best for you.
If you’re in the “thinking” stage, you will want to speak with a lender about receiving pre-qualification. If you choose to become pre-qualified, the lender will determine how much you can borrow based on financial information you provide to the lender. Pre-qualification is useful for making preliminary decisions about how much home you can afford, but does not assess your creditworthiness.
You will need to fill out a loan application and go through the lender’s loan approval process at a later date. When you decide to buy a home, you will want to become pre-approved for a loan prior to beginning your home search. This makes the process smoother and shows sellers you are a serious buyer.
To contact our preferred lender Click Here: rick@diamonddwellings.com
Please don’t hesitate to call or email me for additional information about the buying process. My goal is to provide you with practical information as you consider your next move. And, when you’re ready to make your move, I’ll help you find your dream home and handle all the details of the transaction, so all you need to do is pack!
Rick Frissell, Agent, Diamond Dwellings Realty- Brandon FL
If you have questions about making the decision to buy a home, please feel free to call or email. DiamondDwellings@verizon.net
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Brandon, Florida Area History
July 13th, 2008 Categories: Bloomingdale, Brandon Community, Brandon Real Estate
As outlined on Wikipedia, the free internet encyclopedia
Its history began on January 20, 1857, when John Brandon arrived at Fort Brooke (now Tampa) from Mississippi with his wife Martha and six sons. At first he moved his family to what is now the Seffner area. Then in August 1858, John Brandon purchased 40 acres of land in the New Hope area (now Brandon) south of Hopewell Road (now SR 60), between Parsons Avenue and Lithia Road. Nine years later, after his wife died, John left everything he owned to his son James Henry Brandon and moved to Bartow. In 1876 James built a home for his wife Joanna. It is still standing today and is now Stowers Funeral Home, a well-known landmark on Brandon Boulevard (SR60).
Meanwhile, John Brandon remarried a widow named Victoria and moved back to New Hope in 1874. John bought 160 acres and named his land Brandon. John and Victoria’s house was located on what would become the corner of Knights and Victoria Street. Four years later, the New Hope Church was built on land donated by John. Besides being the first church in the community, it also served as Brandon’s first school.
After John’s death in 1886, Victoria took a leading role in the community. The community’s first post office was opened in Victoria’s home, when she became the postmistress. In 1890, the Florida Central and Peninsula Railroad came through the area, encouraging the people of New Hope to build a depot on Moon Avenue. Victoria convinced a civil engineer for the railroad to survey the area and lay out a town site. He surveyed 40 acres and prepared a map, and Victoria named the town Brandon, after John Brandon.
Since then, Brandon has grown in spurts, beginning with the first general store opened by Dan Galvin on the corner of Moon Avenue and Victoria Street. In 1905, a school was built on Parsons Avenue and Victoria allowed new teachers to board with her so that the new school would have a teacher.
At the time, Valrico began to develop as Victoria’s son Lovic, moved there and opened a general store. Lovic and Victoria’s other son, Mark, organized the Valrico Baptist Church in 1915, which later moved to Brandon and became the First Baptist Church in 1930.
By 1916, the community needed a large central school to house all of the area’s students, so the Brandon Grade School (now McLane Jr. High) was built on Knights Avenue to house grades 1 through 12.
The first Brandon census was taken in 1922 when the population was 100. In 1925, Hopewell Road became a 9-foot wide, paved road and residents such as Clarence Hampton began building business along it in 1927. Clarence opened the first gas and service station.
During the 1920s, the eastern border of Brandon was Pinewood Avenue. Beyond that, was the Kingsway Poultry Colony, where chickens were raised during the winter to be sold in Ybor City. During the Great Depression, the poultry farms closed, and Brandon stabilized with a population of about 250 people.
Most local residents worked in the two orange packing houses in Valrico. The center of town remained at Moon Avenue and Victoria Street, where the train depot, post office, school, and grocery store were all located. For entertainment and everything else, the train to Tampa was the way to go, as only a few paved roads existed with most being dirt or shell topped, making the drive to Tampa very difficult.
World War II was an interesting time in Brandon, with little growth, but a definite edge as they had the food they raised on their farms. After the war, new businesses began to open again. A drug store and soda fountain at the corner of Parsons Avenue and Hopewell Road quickly became a popular teenage hangout. In 1950, Scogin’s opened their famous variety store on Hopewell Road, and in 1953, Brandon got its first doctor, Dr. V. R. Hunter.
The 1950’s were the beginning of the real growth period for Brandon. Yates Elementary was built in 1954, followed by Mann Junior High School in 1957. Brandon Grade School, on Knights Avenue, became the first Brandon High School. At the time, there were fewer than 100 graduates a year. In 1956, Hopewell Road was connected to Adamo Drive, which made access to Tampa easier, thus turning Brandon into a bedroom community. With commuters, came subdivisions, the first of which was Hill-Dale Heights on Kingsway Avenue. The Brandon News was established in 1958 as a one-page newsletter and advertisement for Scogin’s clothing store, written by Al & Chris Scogin. Brandon’s first honorary Mayor’s race was held in 1959 and was won by Nat Storms.
In 1959, the Brandon Chamber of Commerce was formed to help promote business and growth. By the early 1960s, Brandon’s population was 8,000, and it was estimated that one new family moved into town every day. Brandon began spreading out into the bordering communities of Limona, Seffner, and Valrico; Hopewell Road became four lanes wide and was designated State Road 60. Soon, the town’s first shopping center, Brandon Center, was built, and Brooker Elementary School and the Brandon Swim and Tennis Club both opened in 1965. In the next few years, Kingswood Elementary School, the Brandon Public Library, and many housing developments, shopping centers, and golf courses further fueled or reflected the influx of new residences and businesses.
By the 1970s, growth was causing traffic congestion, as approximately 430 commercial and service businesses, 3 malls and a population of 40,000 were all contained with-in a six-mile radius.
In the mid 1970s, Hillsborough Community College moved to Brandon by holding classes at public schools. More indications of the increasing population were the building of Brandon Community Hospital and the Brandon Cultural Center (now the Center Place Fine Arts and Civic Association). Brandon took off rapidly during the 1980s. Development of the southern area of Brandon brought thousands of new residents. On September 27, 1986, I-75 began to bring traffic through the Brandon area, dramatically changing the community and helping its population reach approximately 100,000 with over 2,500 business by 1988.
Diamond Dwellings Realty- Brandon Florida 813-653-1241
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