Brandon FL | Valrico FL Real Estate Chatter

11429 Captiva Kay Drive | Riverview, FL | Rivercrest

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 11:06:24 -0500

Meet the Neighbors...as they fly across this spring fed lake! You may also enjoy the sand hill cranes who frequent the neighborhood...

You will delight in this quiet - villa - community. With only one entrance the traffic is well limited to the homeowners. Take an afternoon walk to the Community Clubhouse offering a sparking pool and spa as well as a thrilling children's area.

A few features for this particular home include:

$169,000 Asking Price
2 Bedrooms
2 Full Baths
2 Car Garage
1372 Square Feet
Spring Fed Lake
Den/Office
Maple Cabinets throughout
Marble Sinks in bathrooms
Screened Front & Back Porch
Hurricane Shutters on ALL WINDOWS
Full Hurrican Shutter on Patio
Ceramic Tile & Flawless Carpet
All Appliances STAY (Maytag & Whirlpool)
Flat wall switches w/dimmers
Alarm System

Here's a Sneak Preview of what you'll find behind the door of this lovely Villa in Rivercrest:

The Rivercrest Community is located close to interestates, the crosstown, downtown Tampa, excellent schools, dining, and shopping. Orlando is less than 90 minutes and Gulf Beaches approximately an hour. Enjoy the active lifestyle Rivercrest offers all homeowners with sidewalks for exercise, lush lanscaping, and mini-bodies of water throughout the neighborhood.

Rivercrest has a very active Home Owners Association. You can search the Rivercrest Website for contact information, meeting dates & times, and other questions you may have. There is also a link for the CDD Board.

**You can search all Brandon Area properties using this link. If you would like further information not available on my website, please call me at (813)841-4721 or drop me an email at SusRoscoe@msn.com.

Susie Roscoe, Real Estate Consultant with Signature Realty Associates

Search the MLS at Brandon Real Estate Resources

Check out My Website at SusieRoscoe.com

**You can also find my blogs on Brandon Real Estate Chatter.

Make it a GREAT DAY! ☼

Susie Roscoe

Brandon, FL

Florida Schools Deserve Better Than 50th Place!

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:24:39 -0500

Make Florida Education a PRIORITY! Ever wonder WHY our teachers request so many school supplies at the start of a year...wonder why our children don't have more specialized classes? What about WHY you're less than thrilled with a teacher who doesn't seem thrilled to be in his/her position but needs the job. BETTER YET...what about the ones who are SUPERIOR and have made an impact on your child's life? Eveeryone has had their own childhood experience(s) in school that have left a permanant mark on your life.

Florida Schools Deserve Better Than 50th Place is a cause worthy of a read and email signature with nothing more required. Please take a minute and fill out this simple form on-line to help YOUR STUDENT, OUR CHILDREN, and Florida's future.

You can sign the petition without adding your name to future mailings or donating anything. Once you sign, you will go to a page that asks for donations, but it says at the top that your signature has been recorded and you can simply close the page. You can also contact your elected officials. Do something for the children in Florida today...

**Being a PTA Mom who's very involved means I try to go the extra mile to give my children as well as their teacher's that extra little bit when I can. Maybe if we can collect signatures like yours and mine we can make a difference in the education system in Florida. It can all start today...

Make it a GREAT DAY! ☼

Susie Roscoe

Brandon, FL

1714 Woodbine Drive, Brandon, FL 3/2/3 $209,900

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:46:43 -0500

Welcome Home! This house might be built in 1969 - but DON'T LET THE AGE FOOL YOU! This home has everything you need to move in TODAY and it's all very new!

The roof has new 3-dimensional shingles, the kitchen was completely remodeled, both bathrooms are updated and VERY-VERY CLEAN! Double-paned windows throughout the home that have a manufacturer's warranty that goes with the buyer! Newly tiled and wood laminate flooring to your delight! The Florida Room measures 28X16 has separate A/C unit and perfect for entertaining! Air Conditioned laundry room measures 11X10 just off carport!

NO BACKYARD NEIGHBORS!! NO DEED RESTRICTIONS!! This super sized backyard has a 3 car garage/workshop that is current with Hillsborough County Codes for hurricane standards. There is room to "drive into the backyard" to park your cars, boats, campers or whatever else you might want!

Homeowners are meticulous housekeepers and can show with 30 minutes notice! Buyers will be delighted for sure. The maintenance, repair work, and remodel work completed by licensed contractors and up to highest standards. (homeowner is a claims adjuster in Tampa Bay Area)

VERY CONVENIENTto all major highways, interstates and the crosstown for your commute. Just an hour from beautiful beaches, Disney World and other Orlando attractions. Minutes from shopping and dining! 30-45 minutes from Tampa Stadium...GO BUCS!

Quick info on this home:

$209,900
3 bedrooms - 2 baths
Lot size is 85x145
1925 square feet heated
3 car detached garage - 1 car carport
Family Room/Dining Room Combo
Florida Room (28x16) with separate A/C unit
Tile flooring and Wood laminate
NEW kitchen
Additional PICTURES AVAILABLE

Please call Susie Roscoe for a showing of this lovely home at 813-841-4721.

*For more information on 1714 Woodbine Drive in Brandon, FL? The full listing is available on the Tampa Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for your convenience.

Make it a GREAT DAY! ☼

Susie Roscoe

Brandon, FL

Riverview Real Estate| Rivercrest Real Estate Report | Villas

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 05:42:15 -0500

The Rivercrest Community, in Riverview, Florida, offers such an exciting lifestyle for the area. It's conveniently located and there are 3 (main) entrances which offer homeowners "back-road" options when traffic is heavy. This allows for quicker entry and exits for homeowners of the Rivercrest Community.

The Villas of Rivercrest in Riverview, FL are a terrific place to be. These offer several floor plans with maintenance free living! Maintenance free living means NO yardwork, NO painting, NO outside worries to tie up your free time! The Rivercrest Villas offer 2 bedroom and 3 bedroom homes. Prices currently range from $129k - $199k.

These villas are a short walk to the Rivercrest Community Pool & Clubhouse. What's better than a sparkling pool where the maintenance is not your responsibility? Sounds like a enticing place to check out if you're in the market for an afforadable villa in the Riverview area.

Rivercrest offers a very active Home Owners Association. You can search the Rivercrest Website for contact information, meeting dates & times, and other questions you may have. There is also a link for the CDD Board.

Currently there are 10 active listings available in Rivercrest, in this villa community. This small community offers a spring fed lake for most of the interior lots. Along with a beatiful view there are ducks, cranes, great fishing, and a maintenance free way of lifestyle.

Susie Roscoe, Real Estate Consultant with Signature Realty Associates

Search the MLS at Brandon Real Estate Resources

Check out My Website at SusieRoscoe.com

**You can also find my blogs on Brandon Real Estate Chatter.

Make it a GREAT DAY! ☼

Susie Roscoe

Brandon, FL

Riverview Real Estate| Rivercrest Real Estate Report | Villas

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 17:39:32 -0500

The Rivercrest Community, in Riverview, Florida, offers such an exciting lifestyle for the area. There are 3 main entrances which offer homeowners "back-road" options when traffic is heavy. The homes range in size and price to fit most budgets.

The Rivercrest Villa Community offers a "one street community" starting with 2 bedroom homes ranging from the $140's to the $220's. The Rivercrest Villa Community offers a maintenance free lifestyle for those less interested in outdoor chores.

Currently, the best priced villa is listed at $148,000 and located at 11567 Captiva Kay Drive. The highest price is villa is loaded with upgrades and is listed at $221,000 and located at 11431 Captiva Kay Drive. They are both located on the spring fed lake in this quiet one entrance neighborhood.

Rivercrest also offers convenience to homeowners with young children. There is a superior elementary school, Symmes Elementary, located right inside the Rivercrest Community. There are also preschools as well as daycares inside the neighborhood as well as located very close by for family convenience. Interstates are very close by, you can be there in minutes at any time of the day. Restaurants, grocery stores, and other shops are plentiful with more to come as the Riverview Area continues to grow and expand to accommodate the growing needs of the area.

**You can search all Riverview Area properties using this link. If you would like further information not available on my website, please call me at (813)841-4721 or drop me an email at SusRoscoe@msn.com.

Susie Roscoe, Real Estate Consultant with Signature Realty Associates

Search the Tampa Bay MLS at Brandon Real Estate Resources

Check out My Website at SusieRoscoe.com

**You can also find my blogs on Brandon Real Estate Chatter.

Make it a GREAT DAY! ☼

Susie Roscoe

Brandon, FL

Riverview Real Estate | Rivercrest Real Estate Report | Townhome

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:05:09 -0500

The Townhomes of Rivercrest in Riverview, FL are a terrific place to be. These have remarkable designs inside and out with maintenance free living! Maintenance free living means NO yardwork, NO painting, NO outside worries to tie up your free time! The Rivercrest Townhomes offer 2 bedroom and 3 bedroom homes. Prices currently range from $120k - $160k.

These townhomes are a short walk to the Rivercrest Community Pool & Clubhouse. What's better than a beautifully heated pool where the maintenance is not your responsibility? Sounds like a enticing place to check out if you're in the market for an afforadable townhome in the Riverview area.

Susie Roscoe, Real Estate Consultant with Signature Realty Associates

Search the MLS at Brandon Real Estate Resources

Check out My Website at SusieRoscoe.com

**You can also find my blogs on Brandon Real Estate Chatter.

Make it a GREAT DAY! ☼

Susie Roscoe

Brandon, FL

Nativity Catholic Church Novemberfest Returns for 38th Year in Brandon, Florida!

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 12:38:09 -0600

Come Join The Fun at Nativity Catholic Church and School for their 38th Annual Novemberfest! If you've lived anywhere near Brandon, Florida, you already know about the Novemberfest.

This exciting event starts Wednesday, November 14th and lasts through November 18th, 2007. This event is the 3rd largest event for all of Hillsborough County behind the Strawberry Festival (Plant City, FL) and the FL State Fair (at the Fairgrounds in Tampa). This event offers 5 full days of carnival rides - terrific entertainment and the ever popular festival of food under the "Big Top Tent!"

Don't miss the raffles! This year someone will win a 2008 Pontiac G5! There are also other great prizes like a 50" plasma wide-screen tv, a 20" free-style bike, a men's Seiko watch and many other great prizes!

Armbands can be purchased from the school office or any Nativity student for $16 until November 13th. At the gate, armbands are $22.

For questions regarding this year's Novemberfest, please call 813-571-9397 or visit the Nativity Catholic Church/School Website.

Make it a GREAT DAY! ☼

Susie Roscoe

Brandon, FL

Been Caught Speeding Lately???

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 09:13:08 -0500

I haven't...but it's not because I drive the speed limit. I'm always more cautious when school is in because of the thousands of school aged children "out and about." So, this is not a blog to condone speeding but there are all times when YOU and I both have been "in a hurry" and gotten caught, or almost!

Jeff Kessler wrote a blog this morning that made me LAUGH OUT LOUD! His blog "shared" of a secret sight (I've never heard of) called Speed Trap website. Now you don't have to slow down. (jk) It made me laugh this morning and I wanted to share...please stop by his sight if you enjoyed this blog and THANK JEFF for the tip!! You too can seek and find the speed traps in your area or add some that you know of. Not a bad idea for those who have a lead foot...ya know?

This sight also offers tips including:

Beating a speeding ticket
Traffic School (for when the above is unsuccessful)
Speed Limit (Fact & Fiction)
Traffic Attorney Referrals (THIS IS ALMOST FUNNY)
Ticket Cameras
Lane Courtesy (THIS ONE needs to be reviewed often!)
Seat Belt Laws

Anyhow, for those of you near Valrico, Florida, there is a SPEED TRAP located at Ranch Road and Bloomingdale. Seen it? Been a recipient of a speeding ticket there? Got another hot spot to report? Get on the website and share your knowledge! Your fellow drivers may be very thankful later.

Make it a GREAT DAY! ☼

Susie Roscoe

Brandon, FL

11567 Captiva Kay Drive | Riverview, FL | Rivercrest

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 09:45:10 -0500

This is ONE GORGEOUS HOME in the Rivercrest Villa Community!

Professionally decorated! This is not a short sale! The best value in the Villa Community!

Wouldn't you love THIS VIEW day after day...after day...after day?

If you liked these pictures... ** COME INSIDE and SEE MORE**

$148,000

2 Bedrooms

2 Full Bathrooms

2 Car Garage

Water Front - Spring Fed Lake

Granite & True Hardwood in Kitchen

Crown Molding

Fresh Decorative Paint

BEST PRICE in Villa Community

Shows like a model home

Lanai offers interior garden

Move - In - Ready

Maintenance Free Living

Swimming pool, parks, club house, etc...

Minutes to interstates, the crosstown, shopping, dining and only an hour from beaches

For a private showing of this lovely villa, please call Susie Roscoe at 813-841-4721.

Susie Roscoe, Real Estate Consultant with Signature Realty Associates

Search the MLS at Brandon Real Estate Resources

Check out My Website at SusieRoscoe.com

**You can also find my blogs on Brandon Real Estate Chatter.

Make it a GREAT DAY! ☼

Susie Roscoe

Brandon, FL

Can You Spot a Fake Email?

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 20:00:04 -0600

I received a startling email this morning (7:12am) confirming my purchase for $175 to "X" company for some product. Well, I didn't use this account and had no idea who the company was so I was on alert to find out WHAT was really happening. This left me concerned knowing my husband has never ordered anything online without me...maybe he got brave! OR...maybe he didn't!

Tis the Season to be SHOPPING ONLINE and using credit cards, debit cards and other online accounts. BE CAREFUL shopping, identify theft is running ramped! I looked at the email and it came directly from a reputable company of which I've used in the past for online purchases but not in the last 3 months at least. Needless to say, I was concerned. I went directly to their website (without clicking on any of the email links conveniently offered) for guidance.

Legitimate companies will NEVER ask you for the following information via email:

Your full name
Your password
Driver's license number
Social Security number
Credit and debit card numbers
Pin numbers or bank account numbers

*They will not ask you to download software onto your hard drive or open an attached file. Also, even if the email address is correct - this may be an illegitimate email.

TECHNIQUES for STEALING INFORMATION

Impersonating a well-known organization through fraudulent (phishing) emails and spoof websites.
Scavenging through or eavesdropping or spying on people during financial transactions and trash bins to find old bank statements or other documents with personal information
Breaking into computer databases and retrieving information

BE CAREFUL, as many phishing emails have links that look valid, but send you to fraudulent sites instead. If in doubt, open a new browser window and log onto the website. One can't be too safe!

Make it a GREAT DAY! ☼

Susie Roscoe

Brandon, FL

Remember "Pop Rocks" as a kid?

Mon, 07 May 2007 16:54:37 -0500

I just received this WARNING from a friend who has school aged children. I checked it out personally from SNOPES.COM and am furious! This is being forwarded around email but I wanted to share this with you as well, knowing it's something that affects everyone who has children. It amazes me that these drug dealers are so sick they are making this drug look just like "cotton candy" and it has the same taste as "pop rocks." I just remember loving both as a kid...PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN!!

Drug dealers are selling candy-flavored crystal methamphetamine known as "Strawberry Quick."

Drug Warning - Beware and please inform your children

I have been alerted by one of our EMT's for our volunteer fire department that they have received emails from emergency responder organizations to be on the lookout for a new form of Crystalized Meth that is targeted at children and to be aware of this new form if called to an emergency involving a child that may have symptoms of drug induction or overdose.

They are calling this new form of meth "Strawberry Quick" and it looks like the "Pop Rocks" candy that sizzle in your mouth. In it's current form, it is dark pink in color and has a strawberry scent to it.

Please advise your children and their friends and other students not to accept candy from strangers as this is obviously an attempt to seduce children into drug use. They also need to be cautious in accepting candy from even friends that may have received it from someone else, thinking it is just candy.
Origins: This warning about sweetened and flavored forms of methamphetamine began landing in inboxes in April 2007. Unfortunately, there's a great deal to it: candied meth is the latest thing in street drugs, first reported as appearing in the western states in January 2007. (Nevada holds the dubious honor of being the first state the substance was found in - its Department of Public Safety issued a bulletin about flavored meth seized during a 27 January 2007 search of a gang member's apartment in Carson City.)

The colored crystals have since spread across the nation. According to intelligence gathered by Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents from informants, users, local police, and drug counselors, flavored meth is available in California, Nevada, Washington, Idaho, Texas, New Mexico, Missouri, and Minnesota. Says DEA spokesman Steve Robertson, "Drug traffickers are trying to lure in new customers, no matter what their age, by making the meth seem less dangerous."

The e-mailed alert might lead you to believe you need only look out for "Strawberry quick" to keep your family safe. (The name is reminiscent of strawberry Quik, a powder used to make flavored milk drinks.) Yet that form of the drug is but one of many flavors in circulation: In addition to strawberry, crystal meth also comes in chocolate, peanut butter, cola, cherry, and orange versions. One DEA agent reported a red methamphetamine that had been marketed as a powdered form of an energy drink.

While it is not clear flavorings have been added for the express purpose of making the drug appeal to children (it seems more likely they were incorporated as a way of combating the substance's bitter taste), it is expected that "candied" versions of meth will nonetheless have that effect. Flavored meth has been described as resembling rock candy or Pop Rocks (a kid-favored confection that fizzles in the mouth). Because it looks, smells, and tastes like candy, flavored meth may fool children and teens into perceiving it as far less dangerous and addictive than it actually is. How can, after all, anything that looks that tasty and inviting be as evil as the grownups make it out to be? The new versions also present an increased risk that children who happen upon stashes of the drug will mistake their finds for candy.

In April 2007, U.S. Senators Feinstein and Grassley introduced legislation aimed at increasing the criminal penalties for anyone who markets or makes candy-flavored drugs by imposing upon them
the same enhanced criminal sentences handed down to drug dealers who knowingly sell to minors. The Saving Kids from Dangerous Drugs Act would alter federal law from its current state of requiring doubled (or tripled for a repeat offense) sentences for those caught selling illegal drugs to those under the age of 21 to imposing doubled or tripled sentences on anyone who "manufactures, creates, distributes, or possesses with intent to distribute a controlled substance that is flavored, colored, packaged or otherwise altered in a way that is designed to make it more appealing to a person under 21 years of age, or who attempts or conspires to do so." No longer would a dealer have to be caught red-handed in the act of selling to an under 21 for the doubled or tripled sentences to kick in; under the proposed refinement to current law, simply possessing flavored versions of street drugs would be enough. Also, by the lights of this rewriting of the law, manufacturers of flavored drugs would also be subject to doubled or tripled sentences.

There is one bit of good news in all this: Methamphetamine use is down for much of the country for the second year running. Researchers say it appears this latest meth epidemic reached its peak in 2004 and 2005, and data from the federal government shows the number of first-time meth users has steadily declined in recent years.
***This was taken directly from SNOPES.COM

Make it a GREAT DAY! ☼

Susie Roscoe

Brandon, FL

Estate Planning 101

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 16:24:11 -0500

When Bob found out he was going to inherit a fortune when his sickly father died, he decided he needed a woman to enjoy it with. So, one evening he went to a singles bar where he spotted the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her name was Millie. Her natural beauty took his breath away. "I may look like just an ordinary man," he said as he walked up to her, "but in just a week or two, my father will die, and I'll inherit 20 million dollars."

Impressed, Millie went home with him that evening and, three days later, she became his stepmother.

Women are so much smarter than men.

***I received this in an email. I have no idea who wrote it but I had to share...

Make it a GREAT DAY! ☼

Susie Roscoe

Brandon, FL

I can see clearly now...

Sun, 26 Aug 2007 11:33:00 -0500

Have you ever been misunderstood? Do you frequently misunderstand your clients, friends or family? Sometimes expressions or body language can be misunderstood and can cause more problems in life (business and personal) if you're unsure.

Avoid these circumstances by asking open ended questions. Make sure you listen carefully when conversing with your potential customers. Did this family "really love this house" or did they actually love how it made them feel? Did it really meet all their requirements?

The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift." A. Einstein

If you look at the above images from your seat in front of the computer, Mr. Angry is on the left, and Ms.Calm is on the right. *NOW...Get up from your seat, and move back 12 feet, and PRESTO!! They switch places!!

Does this prove that we sometimes may not be seeing what's actually there?

It is said this illusion was created by Phillippe G.Schyns and Aude Oliva of the University of Glasgow .

Make it a GREAT DAY! ☼

Susie Roscoe

Brandon, FL

$30,000 for a funeral... (HUMOR)

Sat, 25 Aug 2007 12:59:54 -0500

A husband died, leaving a will that provided $30,000 for an elaborate funeral. As the last of the visitors departed the affair, his wife, Dawn, turned to her oldest friend Karen and said, "Well, I'm sure he would be pleased."

"I'm sure you're right," replied Karen, who then lowered her voice and leaned in close, "How much did this really cost?"

"All of it," said Dawn. "Thirty thousand."

"No!" Karen exclaimed. "I mean, it was very nice, but $30,000?"

Dawn replied, "The funeral was $6,500. I donated $500 to the church. The wake, food and drinks were another $500. The rest went for the Memorial Stone."

Karen computed quickly. "$22,500 for a Memorial Stone?
My Gosh , how big is it?"

"Two and a half carats."

Make it a GREAT DAY! ☼

Susie Roscoe

Brandon, FL

Women's Words

Wed, 23 May 2007 09:38:02 -0500

Women's Words...

1.) FINE: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right, and you need to shut up.

2.) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means half an hour. Five Minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

3.) Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine (see #1)

4.) Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!

5.) Loud Sigh: This is not actually a word but a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing
with you about nothing . (Refer back to #3 for the meaning of nothing.)

6.) That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. "That's okay" means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

7.) Thanks: A woman is thanking you - do not question or faint. Just say you're welcome.

8.) Whatever: Is a women's way of saying "screw you"

9.) Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking "what's wrong" - for the woman's response refer to #3.
***Any suggestions for WORD #10???

Make it a GREAT DAY! ☼

Susie Roscoe

Brandon, FL