Rosswoods Mountain Estate

Arrive at Rosswoods Mountain Estate directly off Scotch Valley Road, Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania to a majestic gated entry that will lead you to your private and secluded paradise.  The lane is embraced by 50 Bradford Pear Trees, while the irrigated center median glistens by the light of eight lamp posts each with three globes that highlight the meticulously groomed grounds.  The circular drive leading to the main house is adorned with a center brick water fountain that transforms everyday life in to peace and tranquility.

The luxurious home that awaits your arrival was built in 1999 by Spicer Construction, a Central Pennsylvania builder featuring impeccable quality.  This secluded and amazing home, includes part of a mountain and 257 glorious acres with 70 acres groomed and the balance a forest of trees supporting life abundant natural habitats.  Enjoy the estate’s natural harmony as you cherish your own personal daily wildlife show from every window and door of the home.

A well-lit porte-cochere welcomes the motorized coaches of your guests in style and keeps them protected from the elements, no matter what the season or time of day.  The impressive detailed brickwork on the arches and columns displays magnificent craftsmanship.

Welcome your guests to the soothing sound of a waterfall penetrating from the two-sided gas fireplace found within the grand two-story foyer.  Enjoy a sneak peek into the elegant formal living room directly through the “looking glass” of the fireplace.  The gorgeous chandelier is equipped with a motorized lift system to keep maintenance simple for your household staff.

The stunning Formal Living Room boasts a 24’ Ceiling with a beautiful 2-story white brick fireplace, one of six fireplaces in the main house.  The breath-taking fireplace is centered between four elegant columns and is enhanced with an Emperador Dark Marble hearth.  Recessed can lighting just above the fireplace provide excellent lighting for your favorite painting and create just the right evening mood.  Ornate fluted trim, window casings, architectural arches, niches, a panel blocked ceiling and soffits adorn the massive living room.

Invite some guests and entertain!  Dual sets of welcoming French doors open to a very spacious formal dining room providing easy flow from room-to-room, perfect for an elegant dinner party to make your visitors feel comfortable and at ease.  An amazing lit barrel ceiling embellished with a pair of chandeliers will create gentle dinner ambiance.

Ornate windows above the Fine Custom Honey Maple Wood-Mode™ Cabinetry allow the beautiful morning sun to awaken the kitchen.  The hard and durable Brazilian Uba Tuba Granite Countertops contrast elegantly with the cabinets and provide an excellent surface to have a fine dinner prepared.  A view of the mountain can be seen through the window just above the under-mount single-bowl Kohler sink, one of two full-sized sinks in the kitchen.  The Mountain View is adorned by striking cabinets that encase a Subzero Refrigerator and a Kichenaid Superba Microwave and Oven.  Enjoy morning coffee in the breakfast room as the sun awakens the day or take a few steps into the adjacent morning room.

Emerge from the garden tub or elegant shower and into your personal and private dressing room with adjacent walk-in closet vanity area.  The master bedroom suite features two oversized bathroom ensembles giving you the individual space you command. A floral Kohler designed sink embossed with Jado gold-tone and crystal fixtures are set in a beautiful piece of marble with waterfall tiered edging.  The ladies vanity space is highlighted by the decorative sconces that are placed on each side of the elegant mirror and yes there is more…

Arrive at the private and gated entry of prestigious Presidents Landing with your sights set on the luxury home located at 3986 Capital Drive in Palm Harbor, Florida.  Welcome your guests into your home with a foyer flanked by a custom split staircase featuring oak treads and spindles.

This entertainer’s delight is nestled among mature oak trees and a tropical paradise. It is a beautiful and open Traditional home with a Floridian flair. There is unbelievable space to entertain with its many living areas: formal living room, family room, huge bonus room, game room with bar, and a media loft.

Open four sets of French doors onto the lanai and pool deck area and extend your entertainment space as you bring the outside in and the inside out. Enjoy the backdrop of the sparkling pool and spa as they glisten in the sun. Cool off in the afternoon in the shaded backyard while grilling on the spacious lanai as the scent of gardenia tantalizes your nose with a sweet bouquet.

Every chef will enjoy the newer stainless steel appliances including a double oven, glass top cooktop, microwave, dishwasher and refrigerator.  The low maintenance and recently replaced solid and glass front cabinet doors contrast beautifully against the dark granite that shimmers as its metallic flakes catch the rays from the natural light that shines through the window and French doors.

Elegant marble and tile floors throughout the home highlight its sophisticated design and make clean-up a synch. The large master bedroom has a spacious sitting area and plenty of room for a king size bed, while all of the secondary bedrooms easily accommodate double and queen size beds.  Each bedroom has excellent closet space to provide room for life’s essentials.  The bonus room has an adjacent 5’ x 21’ closet to store seasonal items.

The Landing and Drop Zone located conveniently near the garage leads to the second set of stairs in the rear of the home.  The Drop Zone is a very convenient and is an excellent transition space to drop your cell phone, purse, briefcase or book bags.  This is a must see home to really appreciate its many amenities and its private location among the mature majestic oaks.

Call to set your personal tour:  727-423-0311.

     ALLEN COLLINS REALTY – INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE

      is Proud to sponsor “ROTARY TAKES FLIGHT”

     Presented by the St. Petersburg West Rotary Club

• Free Admission!!!             
• Static Displays
• Music
• Family Fun!!!
• Food Vendors
• Children’s Activities

WHERE: Albert Whitted Airport, Downtown St. Petersburg, FL, South Ramp 

TIME: 11 AM until 4 PM, 2013

DATE: Saturday, April 13, 2013

Local Pilots will donate their time and aircraft to give rides to individuals who donate $65 to the Saint Petersburg West Rotary Club’s charitable fund.  Food vendors and music will be on site at Hangar One for those waiting for their flight departure and others who just want to be part of the activity.  Your flight will take approximately 30 minutes and will take passengers out over beautiful downtown St. Petersburg, over the Sunshine Skyway, around Fort DeSoto Park and then along the Gulf Beaches before returning to Albert Whitted Airport. 

Allen Collins Realty is Proud to Sponsor

The Veterans of South Pinellas County

SPC Annual Military Parade, Fair, and Charity Pancake Breakfast

WHERE: Pass-A-Grill
TIME: 6 PM til ?
DATE: Friday, April 12, 2013

TIME: 8 AM until 12 Noon, 2013
DATE: Saturday, April 13, 2013

On Friday, Festivities will be from 5:00 PM to 10 PM starting with a “Salute to the Military Parade” To be held in honor of all those who have served our country. The event will benefit Staff Sergeant Charles Claybaker, U.S. Army Ranger, who was severely injured in Afghanistan, January of 2010. While on a special operations mission in the Zabul Province of Afghanistan, the U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey Aircraft he was riding in crashed. Building Homes for Heroes has selected SSG Claybaker, and his wife Kandice, to receive a home in St. Petersburg, Florida, USA. The Veterans of South Pinellas County, Inc., plan to assist with additional renovations to this home as SSG Claybaker and Kandice take possession of the property.

The parade will be followed by a Military Fair with fun and games for adults and children, along with numerous Military vehicles, equipment and displays. There will also be plenty of food available from the Hurricane and other local vendors. The St. Petersburg U.S. Army recruiting station will also conduct and enlistment ceremony for their new recruits at the conclusion of the parade.

Saturday morning brings a unique experience from the roof-top of the Hurricane Restaurant with vistas from the Gulf of Mexico to the Grand Canal. Enjoy a gourmet pancake breakfast prepared by a chef and staff from the Seminole Hard Rock Casino. You will also be able to partake of one of the most liked of military meals, “SOS.” In addition, the Military Fair and fun will continue at street level between 9th and 10th Ave. and throughout the Historic Pass-A-Grille Park on St. Pete Beach, FL.

We need your help to complete this project.
The Veterans of South Pinellas County are soliciting donations to fund participation in the completion of this project. We hope you will consider a donation for this well deserving St. Pete native.

Donations may be mailed to: The Veterans of South Pinellas County, Inc., 7217 Gulf Blvd. #14-155, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706. We are a 501(c)(3) Charity.

Article by:  Mike Simonsen

In January I penned an article for HousingWire magazine (paper! registration required) where I guided readers to watch for signals that the Fiscal Cliff could derail the housing recovery. A month later and the signals are strong: The Fiscal Cliff is long gone. The 2013 housing market is on fire, across the country, and the leading indicators point to home price appreciation far stronger than the 10% national jump of 2012.

Three Powerful Leading Indicators

Housing market headlines tend to focus on the traditional gauge of the market – prices of homes in completed transactions.

Fortunately, the active market of homes listed for sale is rich with signal about where prices are going in the future. Perhaps the most insightful of these is a stat we track closely: the percent of homes on the market with recent price reductions.

Contact us if for local or national details on any of these metrics

1. Percent of Homes with Price Reductions

Percent of Homes on the Market with Price Reductions in the past 90 days. Single Family Homes. Altos 20-city (national) composite. Data as of February 15, 2013

To understand price reductions, think of your personal experience with homes for sale. In “normal” markets, a little more than a third of homes (38%, in fact, nationally is common), are listed overpriced – many intentionally, to “test the waters”.  When they don’t sell, the asking price is reduced.

In weak demand markets, price reductions climb to over 40% and even over 50% of the active inventory – meaning half the homes on the market have had to cut their asking price in the last 90 days. Conversely, in the hottest markets, price reductions may be required by only around 15% of the stock. This means that demand is so strong that homes have buyer competition and prices are rising week-over-week.

We’ve had a hot year for housing. Demand is high and inventory low, and price reductions as of February 15, 2013 are at 28% nationally. Pent up demand is buying homes more aggressively than sellers expected. This is a significantly bullish leading indicator.

2. Price of Newly Listed Properties

Median Price of Newly Listed Properties. Single Family Homes. Altos 20-city (national) composite. Data as of February 15, 2013

The pricing of newly-listed properties are a terrific signal of where a market is headed. To calculate this statistics, we snapshot prices for every property every week. Like watching the first grapes on the vine, the prices of this week’s new crop is the signal for the coming season. Why is PNL so insightful? It’s a textbook example of the “wisdom of the crowds” phenomenon. Real estate agents listing a property determine the optimal list price taking into consideration a number of factors, including everything they know about local demand levels. Those realtors, in aggregate, know exactly where to price their properties to sell. Therefore, when we observe the newly listed prices climbing, we know the Realtors are telling us something.

3. Median Days on Market

Median Days on Market. Single Family Homes. Altos 20-city (national) composite. Data as of February 15, 2013

The time it takes to sell a home is a much more intuitive signal of demand than the above two leading indicators. Homes move faster when there’s more demand.

But watching Days on Market (DoM) for an area can be deceiving, for a nuanced statistical reason: most often when you hear about DoM, the number reported is an average. Averages have this nasty habit of being skewed by outliers. In this case, garbage properties that sit around the market forever skew the average DoM higher. So instead I like to look at median DoM (the middle). Median DoM reacts more quickly in recovery markets. When the good properties are going quickly, the Median DoM falls. Guess what? Across this country Median DoM is falling. Steeply.

Demand is high, supply is low. Prices are taking off. 2013 is going to crush it on home price appreciation.

Click for Original Article

Now throw in Up, Up and Away with Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. and what have you got?

The Mayors’ Prayer Lunch, which was sponsored by Bill Edwards and The Edwards Family Foundation in support of All Children’s Hospital held at The Club, Treasure Island, Florida, USA on February 19, 2012. 

The luncheon was held and brought together a unique yet intertwined group of faithful individuals.  Rabbi Dr. Bernard Wolfson shared a prayer for world peace, while Former Treasure Island, Mayor Mary Maloof shared a story of prayers that were answered and how important it is that prayer be very specific.   Former St. Petersburg, Florida Mayor Rick Baker (2001-2010) shared an empowering story of his campaign days and how a bible verse, Isaiah 54:17, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper…” impacted him and his success in life.  Baker came to understand that the word “weapon” can refer not to just guns and other forms arms, but also to disparaging words that public officials and individuals commonly hear in various forms of media and general communication.     

Later in the luncheon, Father John Blum of St. John Vianney Catholic Church in St. Pete Beach, Florida shared a prayer of community.  Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. formally of the 5th Dimension presented bits of their lives, how faith can impact and strengthen our lives, and how they developed everlasting love and faith.  McCoo and Davis shared their most recent book Up, Up and Away, How We Found Love, Faith and Lasting Marriage in the Entertainment World, with an estimated crowd of 200.   

The luncheon closed with remarks made by current Treasure Island Mayor Robert Minning and the musical finale I Still Believe in America sung by Kenn Mann.  Mann had the crowd join him in singing just before Master of Ceremonies, David Chubb, brought the Mayors’ Prayer Luncheon to closure before the inspired group of attendees.  

Shared by Theresa Lynn Collins

Secluded – Take a Break from the City Life

     Massive Mountain Mansion Estate with 257 Acres

    46 Rosswoods Lane, Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, USA

27,000 Sq. Ft. Mansion with 6 Bay Garage, a Caretaker’s or Hunting Cottage with 8 Bay Garage, Detached Garage with 2 Bays, Trails through the Mountain, 75 Acres of Groomed Land, Koi Fish Pond with Two Spray Fountains, Picnic Pavilion, The List Goes on…

Secluded – Get Away for some Peace and Quiet in the Alleghany Mountains – More to Follow…

Really…there is conventional financing available for some owner occupied condos – at 97% – including Florida!

• LTV 97% Owner Occupied (with income restrictions)
• LTV 95% Owner Occupied (with PMI and yes you can find PMI for some condos)
• LTV 90% Second Homes (with PMI)
• LTV 80% Investment

Get with a great lender and ensure that the condo project is eligible for this type of financing.

The EverBank PRO Business Partner Team Presented “Debunking the Myths of Condo Financing” to a large audience at PRO in Clearwater, Florida, USA on January 9, 2012…

www.everbank.com

www.efanniemae.com

New Direction(s)?

We are just over a week into the New Year!  Are you still focused or is life getting you off track of the plans you established for your personal and business life?  Today I attended the seminar “New Direction for 2013” presented by Linda S. Goldfarb of LSG Consulting Services at the monthly Independent Real Estate Professionals (I.R.E.P.) meeting.

It was a great and focused presentation which helped get me “reeled” (Love Fishing) back-in to my life goals, beautiful sunny Florida days with flat waters can be a distraction, as are the things you love in your life!  Linda talked about action plans, schedules, organization, running a business, obstacles, and normal life commitments.   She also discussed becoming accountable for your personal and business self…as Nike says “Just Do It”…

If you are getting sideways already, reel yourself in too, and give Linda a call http://www.lsgconsulting.com/

Linda – Thanks for Your Inspiration –