Spring Hill Realtor, Karl Hosp - Just Thinking...

Karl's Thoughts July 2006

Today's Thought
Wednesday July, 26, 2006
It seems there can be no better time to purchase a Brand New Home in Hernando County. The builders have over speculated and there are many homes to choose from in the county at this time. The prices are very attractive at this time and the interest rates are still very low. If you have been dreaming about purchasing a new home, follow that dream. There is still time to make the move before the start of the new school year, but you must hurry! Whether you are retiring, relocating, investing or looking for a second home, the time is right. Hernando County, from Brooksville to Spring Hill to Hernando Beach has a lot to offer from "value for your money" to "quality of life for you and your family". Close to the city life of Tampa & St. Pete, yet far enough away to enjoy the peace and quiet of Hernando County and the smaller towns. Whether you like the casual waterfront life style available in the boating community of Hernando Beach or the Old South atmosphere with it's Main Street Downtown in the county seat of Brooksville, or maybe something in between like Weeki Wachee or Spring Hill, you can find it in Hernando County.
Today's Thought
Thursday July 27, 2006 I've spent the day working on Issue #8 of my Service For Life Newsletter. I publish this newsletter every other month and send it to my customers and friends (circulation of about 1500). It is both entertaining and informative. Well, enough about the newsletter. Early this morning, while mowing the lawn, I realized how lucky I am to live here in Hernando County, where the weather is usually very comfortable. The average year round temperature is 73º, and the average January temperature is 63º. It was 8:00 AM and the temperature was still in the 70's and it's the END of JULY!!! The weather in Hernando County is definitely outdoors year round. Yeah, there are a few cool days in the winter months and a few hot days in the summer months, but it is never hot like it is now in the rest of the country. Who can stand it to be over 100º for days and days? Additionally since Florida is accustomed to high demand for electricity our power grids can sustain the heavy usage without the blackouts and brownouts that plague California every year. Maybe we pay a little more for the power in Florida than they pay in California, but I believe it is worth it to have uninterrupted power, especially in the summer months when our daytime temperatures are routinely in mid-eights to the low-nineties, but rarely do they top 95º in Hernando County, especially near the coastal areas. This is really a wonderful place to live. Great Weather, Great People, Great Place.
Today's Thought
Friday July 28, 2006
TGIF!!! This is the day of the week that I look foward to, it means the weekend is coming up. It means it's not the weekend yet, just very close to it. You see, because when it's Saturday the weekend is half over, and the dread of another work week is beginning to take hold!! The weekends are my favorite part of the week because they are the two days dedicated to really enjoying living in Hernando County. Saturday and Sunday afternoons are usually spent relaxing with my family, either on my boat in the Gulf, or some other kind of outdoor activitiy, especially in the summer (in Hernando County, summer is defined as between April and October or any time of the year that it's warm enough to go boating and be comfortable). It's a hard life but someone has to do it. We have it so rough here in Florida. We heard all the warnings from the press and our well meaning friends (who are not lucky enough to have visited or live in Florida) about moving to Hernando County, thank goodness we didn't listen to any of them.
Today's Thought
Monday July 31, 2006
Monday is the busiest day of my week, just like it is probably your busiest day. I went on a real estate tour today and got to see some beautiful homes that are currently for sale on Hernando Beach. This community is one of the best kept secrets in Florida. Most of the homes are waterfront, some of them are located directly on the Gulf of Mexico, almost all of the homes have access to the Gulf through the extensive salt water and fresh water canal systems. The people living in this water sport oriented community are friendly and they keep their homes and lawns in excellent condition. If you haven't taken a look at this waterfront community located in Hernando County, Florida, now could be the time. The Nature Coast of Florida really has a different look, it is not over built and care has been taken to preserve the natural beauty of the area.

Karl's Thoughts August 2006

Today's Thought
Tuesday August 1, 2006
Tonight I went to The Crab Shack, and sat out on the patio watching the boats go by on the Cotte River on their way home from a day out on the Gulf. The Miss Daisy was docked nearby, back from a day of taking passengers on a sight-seeing tour of the area. I was in New Port Richie, about 20 miles south of my home in Hernando County, Florida. I come to this restaurant often to eat and enjoy the music they have every night of the week. It is an open air restaurant and a favorite spot of both tourists and locals.
Today's Thought
Wednesday August 2, 2006
Today I have too many appointments, what was I thinking? These appointments are all over Hernando County and Pasco County. At least I will be able to see anything that has changed in these areas recently. I will be traveling to a rural area of Brooksville and to Hernando Beach and then along to downtown New Port Richie to list homes and possibly a business. This could be a Good Day!!
Today's Thought
Thursday August 3, 2006
The real estate market seems to be on an upswing again in Hernando County, Florida. I have notice so many more homes are currenty pending sale than in the past few months. I also noticed that sellers are for the most part getting close to their asking price. This means there are still plenty of buyers looking for a home. The inventory of homes for sale is still high right now but should be leveling off making the playing field fairly even for sellers and buyers. This leveling of could cause the prices of homes to rise slightly in the near future.
Today's Thought
Friday August 4, 2006
It's Friday again, the best day of the work week! The weather looks great, no tropical storms, maybe a little thunder storm late today, just the usual late afternoon, early evening rain that lasts only a few minutes and does a great job of watering the lawn for free! It should be another fun weekend, especially for water sports. I expect to see around 100 boats anchored out in the flats off Hernando Beach. (our swimming hole) The Party begins at about 11 AM. and it's a lot of fun socializing, swimming, cooking out... I'm looking forward to it.
Today's Thought
Monday August 7, 2006
Well, it's Monday again... I will go on The ERA Pearson New Listing Tour so I can see what's out there for my customers. This tour is Realtors only and gives us a chance to evaluate how other realtors and their customers have set the prices on the New Listings for the week. There are usually 7 or 8 homes on the tour each Monday. The trend for the last six months has been for customers to want to list their home priced on the high side and lower the price later, if it doesn't sell in the first few weeks. This can be a bad way to start out, since the biggest interest on the home will come in the first couple of weeks it is on the market. Starting out too high can waste this valuable window of time. Pricing your home at the RIGHT PRICE to sell is one of the most important things you can do to ensure that your home will be seen by as many qualified buyers as possible. Realtors show homes to their buyers if they believe it will be a good investment for them, as well as being a great place to live. If there is some doubt about the market value of a home, it is always best to obtain an appraisal by a licensed appraiser. This will validate your price and and assure potential buyers that they will be able to easily obtain financing on the home.
Today's Thought
Tuesday August 8, 2006
I've been working the last couple of days (early in the morning while it's still cooler) to clean and repair the privacy fence around my back yard. This is hard work but the pay off is worth it. My old fence that was already in place when I bought my home two years ago was looking pretty bad. There were a couple of loose poles which I replaced with a new pressure treated 4X4's in cement. Then I got out my pressure washer and just cleaned the wood, it took about 3 hours, but the results were amazing. Now, I can hardly tell the new poles from the old ones. It makes the backyard look like it is better maintained. Just by cleaning the fence! I always knew it worked for wood decks and now for wood fences. Try it and you will see the difference in the first couple of minutes.
Today's Thought
Wednesday August 9, 2006
Homeowners Insurance...Need more competition...Where have I heard that before... From the state government and now we are hearing it again. When will they stop talking and actually do something? The only way we will ever see competition in the Homeowners Insurance Business is when The State of Florida makes the rules instead of the Insurance Companies. Why are insurers so eager to sell auto insurance in Florida? Just a guess, they make a lot of money...that is the name of the game. Require insurance companies to offer a full range of products and services (the same ones they offer in other states) or not be allowed to sell any type of insurance in Florida. This is the only fair way to do it. The companies will have to make the decision to be fair, or get out. Whatever their decision, we can't be any worse off. Are you listening Allstate, State Farm, and the rest of you who have decided that making money hand over fist for years and years, and then losing money one year will break you? Shouldn't you have been escrowing money from the good years to cover a bad year? That's what other companies have to do. We all know that even if we currently have Homeowners Insurance through a private insurer, filing a claim may (probably will) result in cancellation. Hurricanes are not the only reason insurance claims are being filed in Florida, they are just the ones everyone hears about.
Today's Thought
Thursday August 10, 2006
A little more on Homeowners insurance...Let your elected officials from the local level to the federal level, know how you feel about the insurance crisis (and it is a crisis), call them, email them, write them and demand to know what they are doing to help homeowners with regard to insurance coverage for their biggest investment, their homes! If they do not respond or respond in a manner with which you disagree, FIRE THEM! Neighborhoods need to band together and VOTE for the people that agree that relief is needed and WILL DO something to change the way insurers do business in the state of Florida. Do this starting from the Governor down to the Homeowners Associations and Condo Boards. The most important thing to do is stay actively INVOLVED and IMFORMED.
Today's Thought
Friday August 11, 2006
As I sit at my desk watching the beautiful sunset, I am reminded why I moved to the Gulf Coast of Florida in the first place. Beautiful sunsets are just a part of the natural beauty of the Nature Coast. So much of Hernando County, is as it was when the early settlers arrived. You can still see wildlife in their natural habitat. It is not uncommon to see golpher turtles, deer, beautiful exotic birds and maybe even a bear. Hernando County has set aside many areas as preserves or greenbelt areas. The same is true for the wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico and the many rivers that run through the area. Very often you see dolphins (FLipper) or manatees swimming by when you look out your back window, if you are lucky enough to live on the water, either the Gulf or any of the rivers. So, if you are considering a Florida vacation, don't overlook the Nature Coast.
Today's Thought
Monday August 14, 2006
I saw a beautiful home today. It wasn’t new or even “recently updated”. It looked lived in. Most of all it was a labor of love for the couple that owned it. They had spent their time and money to make the most of what this home had to offer. From the unusual carved stone fireplace mantle to the many built-ins including bookshelves and a place to hide your TV when you are not watching (can hold any size TV and lots of other things). The walls in the kitchen where you could normally put a wallpaper border had a mural hand painted by the owner (he is quite a good artist). There was a beautiful Tiffany Chandelier in the dining room hanging from a vaulted ceiling, it was huge the kind you would normally see in the lobbies of fine hotels. Yes this a beautiful home that they must sell to be closer to family, but how do you put a price on something that has been such a labor of love? That is the sad part of the real estate business; the bottom line is square footage. Oh, did I mention you can see the Gulf of Mexico from the windows in the kitchen and breakfast room, and while you are swimming in the pool or standing on the dock?
Today's Thought
Tuesday August 15, 2006
Football season is upon us. To many fans this is the end of summer, put away your summer toys and sit on the couch every Sunday afternoon, Monday night and some Thursday nights, to catch the NFL games for the next six months. Additionally there are the NCAA games, all day Saturday and a few other nights and days from September thru November, and then again for all the Bowl Games (and there is a lot of them) from December thru the first week of January. Then comes the Super Bowl at the beginning of February. Did I say six months? It’s getting to be more like seven months. Great for Football Fans everywhere. Remember to exercise throughout the week since your weekends will be spent being a Couch Potato!
Today's Thought
Wednesday August 16, 2006
It rained yesterday, a good thing for my lawn. It missed the last couple of days, and I missed it. I thought I was going to have to water the lawn again. This is summer and it is the time of year when rain is supposed to come in the late afternoon, to help cool us down and to water our lawns and flowers. Usually, it rains for a short time (less than a half hour) then clears off to show us the beautiful sunset over the Gulf of Mexico. The rain is a welcome event for most people living on the Florida’s Nature Coast, it is expected and enjoyed.
Today's Thought
Thursday August 17, 2006
The price of gas is off the charts. As a Realtor, I am affected by the price of gas, since most of my day is spent working in the car. The big gas companies are making billions of dollars each year, but are they investing some of the money in maintaining the equipment they have in place. The pipelines to transport the oil, the wells where they drill, the platforms out in the Gulf and elsewhere? BP, for example has pipelines leaking and needs to shut them down to make repairs, (price for gas is going up)… but they made billions of dollars and only spent a fraction of 1% on maintaining these pipelines to make sure corrosion did not occur. They had the knowledge and products available to prevent this from happening, but were they too greedy to spend some of their profits to keep the US running and protect the environment as well?
Today's Thought
Friday August 18, 2006
Went to Hooters for chicken wings last night. They are always so good, but I’ve tried to make them at home following recipes on the net and it’s just not the same. I could use some help. If you have a really good copycat recipe for these wings and the sauce (Mild or medium), please send me the recipe to try. I know it can’t be that hard to make the things!
Today's Thought
Monday August 21, 2006
Now is a great time of year to enjoy some time out on the water. Since school is now back in session there are fewer boats going out especially on weekdays. So if you have the opportunity during the week, you will be able to explore the Nature Coast and Hernando Beach at your own pace. Enjoy the tranquility of a cruise through the canals or out the channel and through the flats.
Today's Thought
Tuesday August 22, 2006
Soon Floridians will be able to enjoy Home Grown vegetables and fruits again. This will put the word FRESH back in our vocabulary. As the temperature moderates and fall approacheson the Nature Coast, we will again see local vegetables and fruit for sale everywhere, from the major grocery stores to neighborhood stands. I just can’t wait!
Today's Thought
Wednesday August 23, 2006
The kids are all back at school now. That makes it more important than ever to drive carefully, especially around our schools. There have already been some accidents, some of them involving school buses. The bus drivers and their passengers are just getting used to the routes their buses will take and how to get on and off at the approved stops. Please obey the laws that are in place to protect our children.
Today's Thought
Thursday August 24, 2006
Labor Day is not far away. This will signal the end of summer in most of the country, but in Florida this will only signal the beginning of football season. This will be an interesting College Football season in Florida. The season begins with the Florida State Seminoles vs the Miami Hurricanes on September 4th and the Florida Gators vs Southern Miss Golden Eagles on September 2nd. I will be watching every game and cheering for my favorite team. (No I’m not going to say which one is my favorite, I have relatives and friends attending several of the above mentioned schools.)
Today's Thought
Friday August 25, 2006
I love a cup of coffee in the morning… and since I discovered these new coffee creamers in great flavors like Irish Cream, Hazelnut, & French Vanilla, I have even more reason to get up early and put on a pot of coffee. The only problem is that now it’s not a cup of coffee every morning, it’s a pot of coffee every morning. And I drink my coffee while sitting on my back porch watching the sun come up and the butterflies on the flowers in the backyard. The mornings are great on the Nature Coast, they are the coolest part of the day and so quiet.
Today's Thought
Monday August 28, 2006
The past few days have been very busy for me, my wife is starting a business and I have been helping her and the real estate calls have started coming in fast and furious. I know this is a good thing, but it really keeps me running. And then there is my newsletter, Issue 9 is due out in a few days and I am working to get it to print as quickly as I can. I will be posting Issue 9 of my newsletter on my website in the next few days, so make sure to check back and read it. It's a little real estate news and a lot of other interesting information and some things just for fun. Also on my website be sure to take the picture tour of Hernando County. See the beauty of the Nature Coast.
Today's Thought
Tuesday August 29. 2006 After working 7 days a week for two weeks in a row, I know why it is important to have a day off every week. It is a drain on your body, but the real drain is on your mind. To be effective at whatever you do, you must have time to yourself. So, all you workaholics out there, make sure that you are not working so much that you become totally ineffective at what you are doing. It defeats the purpose of doing your job in the first place.
Today's Thought
Wenesday August 30, 2006
There is finally a completed home on the lot next to mine. The construction is finally done and our new neighbors will be closing on the home in the next few days. It will be nice to have some new young people in the neighborhood. The house looks great and the yard is sodded and the there is going to be a big flower bed in the front yard that we will be able to see from our side window. The fenced backyards in the neighborhood allow for privacy, while the front yards are open and encourage neighbors to get to know each other. So I am sure they will get to know everyone in a very short time.
Today's Thought
Thursday August 31, 2006
It is a beautiful morning, maybe a little rain today leftover from Tropical Storm Ernesto. Yesterday it was supposed to rain a lot because of the storm, but the rain never really came. The storm just fizzled out with regard to both rain and wind. The only thing noticable in Hernando County is that the temperature was about 5 degrees cooler than it has been in the past few days, but that could be just the approach of fall and a general cooling back into the 80's. Remember that is why I moved to Florida in the first place, to have good weather year round.

Karl's Thoughts September 2006

Today' s Thought
Friday September 1. 2006
As a Realtor, I have been hit pretty hard with the high gas prices especially in the last few months. I was please to see that the prices are dropping somewhat at the pumps. It seems strange to be happy when a tank of gas for my car "only costs $41", but that was how I felt yesterday when I pulled away from the pump at my local gas station. They are predicting gas prices will be even lower in the not so distant future.
Today's Thought
Tuesday September 5, 2006
Took my boat out to the Flats yesterday to celebrate Labor Day. I also did not work in honor of Labor Day. That was my first day off in about three weeks, as I have mentioned before my wife has opened a business in New Port Richie and I have been helping her in addition to my Real Estate work. It did feel great to just enjoy the day at my leisure. Also on Saturady I saw Regular Gas for $2.55 at the Hess Station at Grand & US 19 in Port Richie. That's the best deal I have seen in a long time, but still higher than I think it should be considering the PROFITS of the oil companies. I have not seen the prices at the pumps as low in Hernando County as Pasco County, but they too have been steadily dropping in the last few day. Every little bit helps.
Today's Thought
Wedensday September 6, 2006
I went to show my listing on Hernando Beach yesterday. The people seem very excited about this beautiful waterfront home, which is good, but I notice that they were building on the vacant lot next door, also good... then I notice that the crew that was to drive the pilings for the new home (this is Hernando Beach and these pilings are mandatory) had dropped the materials (they were as long as telephone poles) in the neighbors yard damaging his lawn, making a deep hole and possibly damaging his irrigation system. This is not a good way to start the job, companies building homes in already established areas need to be very careful not to cause problems with the neighbors. There are several months of construction to go, so they need to try to be good neighbors for the time that they work on this new home. By the way I saw gas priced at $2.51 at the Racetrac Station on Ridge Road in Pasco County.
Today's Thought
Thursday September 7, 2006
$2.47 for gas at Walmart at US 19 in Port Richie... and it continues to drop! They say gas will be around $2.00 per gallon around Thanksgivving. Let's see if this is what really happens.
Today's Thought
Friday September 8, 2006
What is Miami to do? Fire Sabin or Fire Coker? I think maybe both need to go!! What do you think?
Today's Thought
Monday September 11, 2006
Ther was an earthquake about 250 miles off the Gulf Coast of Florida yesterday. They said it could be felt all over Florida, but not by me. I was driving my car, so maybe the great tires I have kept all of the vibration from being felt in the car! By the way I'm saw gas prices at $2.39 at the Sam's in New Port Richie over the weekend. Five years ago today is a day no one should ever forget September 11, 2001, our country was attacked by terrorists. We have come a long way in protecting our country from a repeat of this type of terrorism, but there are still some weaknesses in our security. All citizens should remain ever vigilant to protect themselves and their fellow citizens from terrorist that may still be living among us, both now and in the future. Say a prayer for those who died and their family and friends that horrible day in NewYork, Washington, DC & in that Pennsylvania Field.
Today's Thought
Tusday September 12, 2006
Went to but a refrigerator yesterday...to replace my refrigerator that is less than two years old and has already let me down twice. Bad compresor, just like the last time. Under warranty, just like the last time. This time I will not not trust it again, just went and bought a new one instead. Do not ever buy a Frigidaire. They are the cheapest for a reason!!!
Today's Thought
Wednesday September 13, 2006
Refrigerator delivered and it's a beauty. They had to take the doors off of it to get it through the front door of my home. When they replaced the doors on the fridge, they could not seem to adjust them so they would be level, (does anyone know how to do that?) so they will be sending me a serviceman for my brand new refridgerator, how weird! They will have to get it right or they will be getting the refridgerator back! Gas prices continue to drop. New update tomorrow!
Today's Thought
Thursday September 14, 2006
The gas prices are dropping all over the place. I think this just may prove that the last year of escalating prices was not because the oil was scarce and production low. Hurricanre Katrina must not have had as much effect on oil platforms and shipping as they led us to believe. Greed plays such an important role in the price of oil, that it is impossible for the public to truly know when there is a real problem with the supply and when there is just speculation of what may happen. Gas prices are controlled by the "what ifs" and this way of thinking truly impacts the lives of every citizen, and causes the prices of everything we buy to be raised the cover the transportation costs involved in shipping. The gas prices may be falling but the prices of the goods we buy that have increased in price due to transportion cost will take much longer to return to former levels if they ever do!
American citizens have a right to know when there is really a crisis, so they can make sure they help to save the resourses, but the past year of rising prices has not changed the way people drive, no one believed there was a true crisis. Just "Big Oil" further padding their already rich pockets at the expense of working people. We all need to be able to drive our cars and get to work, because if the average citizen can not work because they can afford gas, we will have a REAL CRISIS in this country.
Today's Thought
Friday September 15, 2006
In trying to cancel my cellular phone service with Cingular so that I could obtain service with a carrier that actually provided quality service to the area in which I live, since Cingular did not work in my living room or any other places that I happened to be. I was told that I was still under contract even though I had made no changes in my contract or otherwise signed for new service from their company. I had started out with AT&T in February 2004 in Memphis, TN and when Cingular took over AT&T in early 2005 I was among those unhappy people force to be a part of a company locked into a contract (two years originally with one year left) that I did not choose and would not have chosen because of the bad word of mouth on Cingular! When I moved to Florida in March 2005, Cingular told me that AT&T no longer existed and that Cingular would be the only company that I could deal with... I was getting nowhere, and all I wanted to do was to change my phone # from the Memphis area to a local # in Spring Hill, after many hours on the phone with Cingular telling me that I should just keep the Memphis # even though I had become a Florida resident, they changed the #... to a Gainsville, Florida #... oh good a new long distance #, when I called to complain and at that time I did"t know that it was a Gainsville #,they told me I should have told them I lived in Spring Hill and would need a Brooksville # (I'm supposed to know that?) I told them that it was their job to know the local #'s for my area and since they had my correct billing and mailing address it should have been easy. (where is their customer service, India?) Again I spent my time trying to correct their error. Today again I was on the phone wasting my time trying to correct their error again!! It was an error and they admitted it, but still would not give me their name or the name of their supervisor in case the problem does not get solved by the woman(Miss No Name) that assured me she would take care of it. With their track record I do not get that warm and fuzzy feeling that all is well between myself and Cingular. If you are thinking of opening an account with Cingular think long and hard, because they will be able to ruin the experience for you and you will feel that they are doing something unethical or are trying to in some way cheat you, their valuable customer without whom they would not be in business in the first place.
Today's Thought
Monday Septenber 18, 2006
This is one of the best events in the area. Make plans to attend, you'll have a great time.
11/11/2006 - 11/12/2006
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
32nd Annual Homosassa Arts Crafts & Seafood Festival
Hours: Saturday 8:30 - 5:00 pm, Sunday 8:30 - 4:00 pm

Location: Corner of Yulee Drive and Mason Creek Rd in Old Homosassa, FL

Cost: $2.00 -- 12 and under free
All proceeds go to charity

Visit a rustic river town for a delightful weekend. Old Homosassa will come alive for the 32nd Annual Homosassa Arts, Crafts & Seafood Festival sponsored by the Homosassa Civic Club. Juried art shows, exhibits and holiday gifts. Southern delicacies, fresh seafood and arts and crafts booths.


Today's Thought
Tuesday September 18, 2006
Update on my new cellular service... after a few little bumps in the road, all is well. The devices work well and the signal is so much better than my Cingular signal. What provider did I choose? Sprint/Nextell I have heard some not too good things about them as well, but I giving them a try. My office requested that if I changed services, their system was set up for Nextel, and that most of the other realtors also use Nextel. I will even be able to get the text messages they send. Another thing Cingular did was to restrict text messages to only other Cingular customers, at least in this area. What's the point in that? Oh well, glad to be rid of them. I did write a complaint to whoever gets the mail at their complaint dept., whatever that is worth!! By the way I paid $2.22 a gallon for regular unleaded at the Sam's store in Spring Hill/Brooksville on Sunday Morning. Best price in over a year.
Today's Thought
Wednesday September 20, 2006
Another coming event in the area is the Cottee River Bike Fest, make plans to attend, you'll be glad you did.
October 14-15, 2006 www.coteeriverbikefest.com
Today's Thought
Thursday September 21, 2006
Visit  http://www.khosp.com/Default.aspx?tabid=975 for interesting information on Hernando County. Pictures of the area, information on Real Estate, links to newcomer information, school sites and sporting events in the area, plus much more.
Today's Thought
Friday September 22, 2006
Keyboard Malfunction forces Shutdown!
Today's Thought
Monday Spteember 25, 2006
Thank goodness for overnite deliveries! New keyboard arrives as scheduled from Dell. It is a little different might take some getting used to, but seems to work great. Spending a day without a keyboard, (none of my backups would work on this computer) was not easy. You can't even answer your email or do a search. I guess I'm spoiled, what did we ever do without a computer. Even though I could have set up my old computer it would not have been the same. It's too slow, that's why I bought a new one about 3 months ago, nothing is made to last these days, keyboard broken in only three months! By the way gasoline prices in this area are around $2.15 per gallon, pretty good I'm waiting for under $2.00!
Today's Thought
Tuesday September 26, 2006
Looking for a House Band for a new club is not an easy task. There seem to be plenty of bands but even after you weed through the ones that do not match the needs and customer base of the club, most are too expensive for a start up club to afford. My friends are in the middle of this mess, they really want a live band for their club, and are fairly open to different kinds of music, but just can't seem to find the right combination of music and price.
Today's Thought
Wednesday September 27, 2006
I received a call yesterday from a client to whom I sold a home 6 months ago wanting to know what company installed the new A/C in the home a year before he bought it. Since I didn't know I called the previous owner and luckily she was able to supply me with the information. Keep in mind that this was not for a service/repair call, my client wanted to purchase a service contract from that company to maintain the unit. Attention ALL A/C companies, it would be a good idea to apply a sticker to the unit that will give the information on how to contact your company in the future should the unit need repairs or should they want to purchase new equipment or services. Some sellers do provide the paper work on equipment and services they use and some do not. Why take a chance on losing a sale, advertise your company directly on the piece of equipment, then the next time they need similar service they will have your company name and phone number easily available. Doesn't cost much and could get you new business.
Today's Thought
Thursday September 28, 2006
Just a note to say that real estate is the reason that I write this blog, and every day I wonder why the other realtors don't do the same thing. There are a lot of homes on the market and every buyer has a wide choice of homes from which to choose, but the homes that are best prepared for sale will sell fast and for the most money. Make sure your home is among the homes that sellers are looking for in this tight market. Do the best you can to make sure that your home is exactly the home that people want, just put the home in the best light and it will sell itself.
Today's Thought
Friday September 29, 2006
Today I am going to spend a little time at the Founder's Day Celebration in New Port Richey. This family friendly event promises to entertain everyone from the childen to adults. There will be everything from crafts to music.
It will continue through the weekend ending Sunday evening. See you there.

Karl's Thoughts October 2006

Today's Thought
Monday October 2, 2006
I seems that we are back to the "no rain" season so if your home is currently for sale or you are thinking of listing it, make sure to water on your assigned days. A lush green yard will make a difference to your prospective buyers.
Today's Thought
Tuesday October 3, 2006
A trip to the Post Office should be simple, especially if you go after hours. The problem is if you need to purchase stamps from the machine, it never works. Postal employees should be required to check the machines before they leave everyday. If it doesn't work there needs to be a sign place on it so people do not lose their money or better yet fix it!
Today's Thought
Wednesday October 4, 2006
Gas prices seem to be leveling off at around $2.15 per gallon, I haven't seen any real change in more than a week. Still waiting to see if it reaches the $2.00 mark!!
Today's Thought
Thursday October 5, 2006
One of my listings was expiring yesterday and when I called them to okay the renewal they said that they wanted to go with a bigger company to sell their home. My company, ERA is one of the largest Real Estate Companies. I wish them luck but they wouldn't listen when I told them that they had an unrealistic asking price for the home, so I only hope the new realtor can convince them that they need not over price the home again. The market is shifting in favor of the buyer, so sellers can no longer use their wish for price, instead they must use a current CMA to arrive at a price for which the home will sell in a timely manner. Otherwise they will be back in the same position in 3 - 6 months.
Today's Thought
Friday October 6, 2006
If you purchase an item for pick up on a different day, make sure the store marks the item with your name and a pick up date. I didn't and they place my purchase back on the floor to be sold again. Luckily it was still there when I returned to pick it up the following day!
Today,s Thought
Monday October 8, 2006
More trouble with Cingular Wireless and they are not even my service provider anymore. Now they just bill me for providing NO SERVICE which when I think about it, is pretty much what did for the entire length of my contract. The following is my letter to The Office of the President Cingular Wireless in Ocean Springs, MS:
Cingular Wireless
Office of the President
3051 Bienville Blvd.
Ocean Springs, MS 39564

Dear Mr. Sitton,

I was directed to you for help in solving my problem with Cingular Wireless, so here is the problem. I was told when I changed cellular service that I was still under my TWO YEAR contract and would have to pay $400 for the privilege of canceling my service. I explained that I didn’t have a contract since it expired in March 2006. She in no uncertain terms told me again that I did have a contract and I renewed it in March 2006. After a while on the phone she emailed AT&T? and they confirmed that I did not have a contract. She says she will make sure that I am not billed the $400. As you can see from the enclosed bill she did not make that correction.
I sent a letter to Customer Service in Tampa, Florida asking them to investigate my complaint and let me know how this happened. No response, just the bill for $400 plus the amount of the bill for services for a partial month. The letter is enclosed so you can see for yourself.

When the bill for $400 plus arrive I again called customer service and again they told me they would take care of the problem and call me in 5 days and let me know how much I need to pay, I told him that I would need this in writing with an explanation. He said Cingular does not write letters to their customers. I asked for a supervisor, his name was Joe(?) he told me the same thing. I asked for his supervisor, her name was Jennifer(?) she told me the same thing and added that Cingular just has too many customer to write a letter.

Please note that my bill has a past due on it, for I don’t know what reason since this is the first bill I have received since changing providers and at the time I was current, how could I have paid a bill without knowing how much the prorated charges would be. I will need the letter saying the mistake was Cingular’s to send to the credit bureau, since I am sure I will be reported for non-payment based on how Cingular has handled my account concerns in the past.

A letter from Cingular will let me feel secure that this was an error and that it is not the regular practice of Cingular. It seems to me that Cingular may be doing the same thing to many customers and hoping that some of them will just pay because it is too much trouble to fight it or because they just don’t understand the bill and think since you billed them they must pay and you must be right. The whole thing smells fishy to me. Maybe you should take a look around and see that other than your commercials, almost everything that is printed about Cingular is negative. Maybe that is because Cingular just doesn’t care.

All that I am asking for is a letter explaining what happened and why and what is being done to correct the problem, so it will not happen in the future, why is that so hard to get through to Cingular’s customer service reps? The truth is Cingular customer service is very, very bad.

I could go on for several more pages to list the problems I have had with Cingular in the last two and a half years. If you want to know more just ask me and I’ll be happy to give you the details.
I’m sure that it is noted on my account that I am not very nice to your “customer service reps”.
I can assure you that if you had spent as much time talking to them as I have and getting no results, you would be mad also and they would no longer be a Cingular customer service rep.

I have attached the previous letter that I sent to your Customer Service Dept in September. I also lodged a complaint with consumer affairs and posted the complaint on as many websites as I could find. I AM NOT ALONE IN COMPLAINING ABOUT BAD SERVICE FROM CINGULAR.

I am sending a copy of this letter to Stanley T. Sigman and Kathleen L. Downing.
Please help me resolve this matter soon. I’ll be waiting for your written reply.

Karl & Gail in Spring Hill, Florida
I am hopeful that this will help, but I was hopefull with the first letter. We will just wait and see if there is actually someone at Cingular Wireless other than just the computer to do re-occuring billing!!!

Today's Thought
Tuesday October 10, 2006
Last nite I played Texas Hold'em Poker at Prowlers in New Port Richey. It's the free kind and the winners will play in a championship tournament for a chance to get paid entry into Las Vegas Tournament. So far I don't have to woory about packing for Vegas, since I did not win last nite. I did however, enjoy myself very much and plan to play again next week.
Today's Thought
Wednesday October 11, 2006
Remember when you are using a coupon or gift certificate, that if it says you can not get cash back or it is a single use card then you must use up the full amount or forfiet the remainder. You can not tip your server with the remainder! Your server will not receive the money from his or her employer.
Today's Thought
Thursday October 12, 2006
I'm for some ideas for party games. This party is not for close friends, so the games must be suitable for all adults at the party both couples and singles will be invited. Remember that most of these people will not know each other.
Today's Thought
Friday October 13, 2006
Friday the 13th and in October to boot. Great day to just stay home and out of trouble.
Today's Thought
Monday October 16, 2006
This is still a great time for anyone who is thinking of buying an home. It is a buyers market for the first time in quite a while. Buyers can get great deals on homes right now. This market trend won't last too long, so if you're considering purchasing a new home just look around, there are many to choose from in all price ranges. You may even find some real bargains out there!
Today's Thought
Tuesday October 17, 2006
I think my wife is going to sell the small kithcen business she is currently operating. Since it is located in New Port Richey about 25 miles from our home , I won't say that I am too sorry to see it go. She wants to buy another business and I am sure that she has something else in mind to do. I am hoping that she finds something that operates less hours than a restaurant kitchen, but we'll see.
Today's Thought
Wednesday October 18, 2006
I have friends visiting from out of town. Need to take today to take them around to see some of the sites on the Nature Coast. Maybe even take the boat out for a few minutes.
Today's Thought
Thursday October 19, 2006
Took a boat ride with friends visiting from TN yesterday. It was a great day out on the Gulf. The tide was high and allowed us to get back in the small islands without worrying about running aground. This turned out to be one of the best times on the boat this year. The weather was beautiful and the Gulf was unusually calm for this time of year. The friends could not believe that they could enjoy the Gulf in the middle of October. Just the way it is year round on the Nature Coast.
Today's Thought
Friday October 20, 2006
Where did the month go!! Seems like time is passing so quickly these days leading up to the holidays. Hallloween almost here, Thanksgiving around the corner, Christmas will be here before you know it!! These are the days when everything becomes hectic and you can become overwhelmed. Planning is the key to keeping your life under control during the holiday madness. It may seem silly, but if you plan your days completely they will be much less stressful. Also remember to take some time for yourself evey day. This is very important to your health during times of stress.
Today's Thought
Monday October 23, 2006
If you have been looking for a home to buy in Spring Hill, Florida, I have the perfect one for you. Three bedrooms, two baths, stainless steel appliances, stone counter tops, swimming pool, hot tub, fenced vegetable or flower garden covered with a pergola, lush landscaping, sprinkler system on a well, stone floor to ceiling fireplace in huge great room, central vac system, attic fan and much, much more. Click on the link below for a virtual tour of this property:
http://khosp.com/FeaturedListings/13124FishCoveDriveSpringHillFlorida34609/tabid/1110/Default.aspx
Today's Thought
Tuesday October 24, 2006
A little change in the weather, something subtle, just a few degrees. Time to open the windows and letyour home air out from the summer of air conditioning. Let the breeze act as your air freshener. Remember that a fresh smelling home makes trying to sell the home easier. Plus, the fresh air will be good for you and your family.
Today's Thought
Wednesday October 25, 2006
I am waching the real estate market for you every day. If you are confused by what you hear or read in the news, call me and I will help you understand the changing market. Whether you are selling or buying the more information you are armed with the better decisions you will make when you enter the real estate market.
Today's Thought
Thursday October 26, 2006
In Hernando County the real estate market is currently a buyers market. There are many homes from which buyers can choose and some are bargain prices. Royal Highlands is a growing neighborhood in northwestern Hernando County bordered on the west by Weeki Wachee, on the south by Spring Hill, on the east by Brooksville and on the north by Sugar Mill woods in Citrus County, where there are new homes for sale at very reasonable prices. Take a look at what your money can buy in this beautiful residential neighborhood of new homes all of which are on at least ½ acre of property.
Today's Thought
Thursday October 27, 2006
Soon you will be able to get all the information you need on living in Hernando County and the entire Nature Coast by just visiting www.khosp.com There are links to everything from sporting events to the St. Pete Times & Tampa Tribune to how to get your utilities turned on to obtaining a Florida Drivers License. I am striving to make www.khosp.com as useful as possibl, take a look, your input is welcome. Use the searches to find your dream home.
Today's Thought
Monday October 30, 2006
Real Estate seemed to be more active this past weekend. I've shown several homes and my business listing. This could mean that the market is changing slightly. If you are a buyer now could be the time to make that purchase. New homes are plentiful and are priced very reasonably.
Today's Thought
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Trick or Treat! Well it's that time of year again, if you will be welcoming little goblins, make sure that your yard, sidewalk and driveway are safe and turn on your front lights. If you are not participating in the Halloween festivities, turn off your front lights early this evening. You can put the lights back on after about 8:30 PM.

Karl's Thoughts Novermber 2006

Today's Thought
Wednesday November 1, 2006
I drive on US 19 in Pasco County almost every night and this is the third time in the last month that I have driven past an accident where someone has lost his or her life. First it was a bicyclist who ran into the side of a moving vehicle in New Port Richey who was killed, then it was the motorcyclist killed in Hudson, and tonight it was a pedestrian crossing 19 just north of 52 in front of Bobkatz. When are we going to learn that US 19 is not safe for bikes or pedestrians, how many more people need to die before they enforce the laws regarding bicycles and the rules for riding on the streets and jaywalking. Jaywalking is the biggest problem for drivers on US 19; if you are driving you are constantly dodging jaywalkers, especially in Pasco County. Are these people just dumb or do they have a death wish? If you walk, hitch, or ride a bike, you are responsible for obeying the laws, as are drivers of vehicles. Just give the motorists a fighting chance by not riding your bike or walking straight into their path or vehicle. Police officers take note, save lives by enforcing the laws for pedestrians and bicyclists as well as motorists and motorcyclists. This will help especially in the congested areas of US 19. I do feel sorry for the folks that do not have a car and must cross US 19 on foot to go to the stores or work, but they must cross at crosswalks with a traffic signal to be safe, even if it means going a bit out of the way to do it. Too many people are sad today because this person lost their life, their family, friends, the driver of the vehicle, their family and friends, the list of people affected by this is too long to mention. Please think before you jaywalk the next time or ride your bike against traffic with no lights, if your life is not important to you, at least think of the person driving the vehicle that kills you, they do not deserve to have their lives ruined just because you don't care.
Today's Thought
Thursday November 2, 2006
There is a big Bike Show & Pig Roast this Sunday November 5th beginning at noon at Prowlerz7430 US Hwy 19 North in New Port Richey. It will be fun for everyone, even if you don't have a Bike.
Today's Thought
Friday November 3, 2006
Everybody is sick around here and I don't feel so well myself. Knew I should have gotten a flu shot last week. Last year I got my shot early and was never sick one day. Will I never learn.
Today's Thought
Monday November 6, 2006
Well , I got it, the flu that is. Maybe I'll be able to think better tommorrow.
Today's Thought
Tuesday November 7, 2006
Wonder how long the thing lasts. Seems like forever already, the days seem really long when you don't feel well.
Today's Thought
Wednesday November 8, 2006
Today is my wife's Birthday, can't forget this one. Still a little sick, but on the mend. At least I feel like I can breath again. Need to get things done around the house that I have been putting off for a few days so I could recover from this cold. It seems like everyone has it, where ever I go.
Today's Thought
Thursday November 9, 2006
Today will be a long day still feeling bad and need to get ready to show homes to buyers from Pembroke Pines, Florida. They have a long list of properties to see on Hernando Beach, hope I can talk by then.
Today's Thought
Friday November 10, 2006
The weather is beautiful. The air is crisp and clean. The humidity is very low. The temps are moderate for November in Hernando County. This is a great place to live and everyone living in and around the Nature Coast area knows to appreciate it. This is the reason hundreds of thousands of people from the North make the trek to Florida to spend November - March year after year. Whether you visit the Nature Coast or other parts of Florida, the winters are very mild and outdoor activities are available year round. If you are interested in spending the winter months in Florida, just call me, I have winter homes for sale and rental property. You can reach me, Karl Hosp at 352.650.6823 or visit http://www.khosp.com/Default.aspx?tabid=121
Today's Thought
Monday November 13, 2006
This weekend I went to see about 30 homes that are for sale in Hernando Beach, so that I would be better able to answer questions from buyers online and over the phone when they are just starting to shop for a home in that area. By knowing what is for sale in Hernando Beach and listening to the buyers list of what they want in a home they are purchasing, I will be able to better match that list with the homes that will best suit their needs. If you are looking for waterfront property, Hernando Beach may be just the spot for you. More information at  http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6195583025719744103&q=hernando+beach or call Karl at 352.650.6823.
Today's Thought
Tuesday November 14, 2006
When you start to look for a home to buy, get prequalified for a mortgage. This will make it easier for you to pick homes that are within your price range and you will know about what your payments will be per month, as well as taxes and insurance. There will be a much less chance for disappointment since you will will only be looking at homes that you can potentially afford to purchase. I can help you find the right home at the right price, just call Karl Hosp at 352.650.6823.
Today's Thought
Wednesday November 15, 2006
The work is really piling up now. I guess it is a good thing to be busy. I would not be happy if I had nothing to do, or would I? I really have never tried doing nothing for more a day or so, usually when I'm sick!! Working on the real estate business in addition to helping my wife with her business in the evening is keeping me on the go all the time. Really, no complaining here we love our work and the businesses that we have, even if they do make us crazy at times. Oh well, I'm off to the office this morning need to get a contract completed and schedule an open house for this week end. You can see the open house home at http://www.khosp.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1110 the home is on Fish Cove Drive and there is a vitual tour available on the site.

Karl's Thoughts December 2006

Today's Thought
Monday December 18, 2006
This is my first day back. I have been ill and in the hospital for a short time in the last month. I hurt my back, but the hospital could not find anything too bad. I still feel not so good, back hurts, arm hurts, chest hurts, but the doctors say "nothing really wrong", it will get better. Still waiting... at least I feel well enough to go to work again and according to the doctors it was not a heart attack or stroke. I will be working out of the ERA Pearson Realty Beach Office, but you can still reach me at the same telephone number 352.650.6823 for your real estate need on The Nature Coast. I have been updating my website in the last few weeks, there is still a ways to go but it's getting there. Check it out at www.khosp.com there are some new features available. I am in the office today til 3 PM.
Today's Thought
Tuseday December 19, 2006
Spending the day in the office. Gettting caught up on some things I have been meaning to do for quite a while. I am working on a new way to do virtual tours for my listings, I want to be state of the art when it comes to advertising the homes I have listed for sale. If you are thinking of selling your home, call me at 352.650.6823 and we can put together the perfect marketing plan to maximize you profits and sell your home in the shortest amount of time.
Today's Thought
Wednesday December 20, 2006
Well, it's time!! Christmas is 5 days away, so I guess I 'll go shopping. Actually it's earlier than I usually shop, but I saw something in an advertisement in the paper Sunday (I hope they did't sell out by now) for my wife. I am sure she has already purchased my gifts and wrapped them, but I always wait till the last minute, I think it is a "guy thing". I do not like to shop and at Christmas it is even worse than at any other time, but it is necessary to keep the peace in my house and so that Christmas will be "merry".
Today's Thought
Thursday December 21, 2006
Again I am spending the day in the office, seems like every one wants to be off to do something for Christmas. I have finished my shopping, I really don't have too much shopping to do so I can't complain. I am still working on my website to add tours of more homes, but now the real focus will be on making tour of entire neighborhoods. This way when people visit my website thay can not only see a Virtual Tour of a home, but also see a Virtual tour of the community where the home is located. Visit my website to see my progress.
Today's Thought
Friday December 22, 2006
My first Virtual Tour of a community is now on http://www.khosp.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1474 Aripeka is a very small community on the Central Gulf Coast of Florida. The tour is not very long, but it shows the rustic "old florida" flavor of tiny Aripeka Florida 34679. Hope you enjoy seeing the tour.
Today's Thought
Tuesday December 26, 2006
Good News, Christmas is over now I can go back to just the everyday way I normally live. The pressure is of for at least 330 days. Back to work after my 3 days off, I'm really glad that is all I have to do. I did take a little time to do what you can really only do in Florida on December 23, I went to the beach. The temp. was about 80 degrees, but because I am used to the water being much warmer, swimming was not an option for me. They say the water temp was 70 degrees but ... that was cold too me. Still I am just happy I had the option of spending the day at the beach, Clearwater Beach no less. Clearwater Beach is a beautiful white sandy, very wide stretch of beach on the Central Gulf Coast of Florida. It is a place that you must visit anytime you are in this area of Florida. See my link to pictures of Clearwater Beach at  http://www.khosp.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1477
Today's Thought
Wednesday December 27, 2006
Still haven't ventured out to the stores for the after Christmas sales. I have pretty much decided to go on Thursday, before I leave for my trip to Virginia. Need to pick up a few clothes that are suitable for winter weather in case I encounter any snow or ice. (I hope not) So far the forecast looks good around 50 degrees in the daytime and around 30 degrees at night. That's why I live in Florida, those temps are to cold and last too long for me. Virginia, it's a great place to visit!
Today's Thought
Thursday December 28, 2006
Great day to shop for a coat it's going to be 80 degrees! Leaving Friday AM will detail the trip along the way. Maybe even a few pics to go with the story. I am going to visit my Mom and the house I grew up in. The friends from high school, the old places I used to go, if any of them still exist. Should be fun and interesting, we'll see.
Today's Thought
Friday December 29, 2006
It's time to go. I had to get up very early since I didn't pack last night. I decided I should play BINGO, good decision I won twice. Thoughts from Virginia on Monday!!

Karl's Thoughts January 2007

Today's Thought
Monday January 8, 2007
The trip was great, the weather was warm, the internet service was not available! Dial up was just too hard to use to update my site, so I just decided to wait till I got back. (I did check my email everyday) Every time I visit Virginia i am still amazed by the beauty of the mountains, especially in Roanoke, looking up from the valley. Big game is tonight, National Championship! I'll be watching.
Today's Thought
Tuesday January 9, 2007
Well, it's the Gators!!! Whether you like them or not they played a great game and clearly beat Ohio State. As the saying goes "on any given night". I think of the teams playing last night they were the better team. So the BCS questions will go on for another year, some things never change. Coming up with a fairer way to decide a National Champion could make someone very rich! Visit the Gator Zone http://www.gatorzone.com/
Today's Thought
Wednesday January 10, 2007
While I was in Virginia, I checked out some real estate in the Smith Mountain Lake area. There are truly some beautiful lakefront homes, building lots and even some acreage currently for sale. The Smith Mountain Lake area is beautiful year round but the water sports season is really late spring to early fall. Boating, sking, wake boarding, fishing and just about any other water sport you can think is available in this lakefront community located about 35 miles from Roanoke Virginia in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Blue Ridge Parkway is nearby and is a great place to view the fall colors. If you would like to learn more about the properties for sale in the Smith Mountain Lake area visit email karlhosp52@gmail .com I would love to provide you some imformation about the place I grew up in and called home for more than than 20 years.
Today's Thought
Thursday January 11, 2007
Today is BINGO day. Since I started playing at the Moose Lodge #521 on Mariner Blvd. in Spring Hill, Florida, I have enjoyed it so much. Unless I have something really important to do, I try to be there every Thursday night. I have met some of the nicest people since joining the Moose in 2005. Membeship also provides me with a way of meeting new people when I travel. On my trip to Virginia, I stopped in the Salem Virginia Lodge and also in the Bedford Virginia lodge. The Salem lodge began in 2001 and since it was a Saturday afternoon when I visited there, many people were there with their families. Saturday December 30, 2006 was the date and at that time all everyone was waiting for the Virginia Tech vs Georgia Chick-fil-A Bowl, this is Hokie Country, but the game did not turn out as they had all hoped, with Georgia coming from behind to win. Oh well, there's always next year. I was sure hoping Virginia Tech would win since everyone in my family when to Virginia Tech except for me. I went to Tennessee and we know how their season turned out. Oh well, there's always next year for them too.
Today's Thought
Friday January 12, 2007
First things first... I won at BINGO! I won't be in the office today but I will be there on Saturday in Hernando Beach, Florida - ERA Pearson Realty - 3195 Shoal Line Blvd. If you are in the neighborhood stop in, I'll be there from 10AM - 3PM, later if there is a reason to stay. I have recently moved from the office on Mariner Blvd. to the Shoal Line office. I found that I spent a lot of my time showing homes on Hernando Beach and it just seemed more practical to base myself at "the beach office". Please come by I'd love to meet you.
Today's Thought
Monday January 15, 2007
Today is Martin Luther King Day, but I have to work. It's just goes with the Real Estate Business. I am going to New Port Richie today, just a few things to do there and I will be back in Spring Hill for the rest of the day. I think that I will spend a part of the day taking some new pictures for my website. I need to update it and I like to do some of it with pictures. Right now I am trying to put together a photo tour of Hernando Beach, not just homes for sale but pictures that show what it is like to live in this area. Look for it on my website by next week.
Today's Thought
Tuesday January 16, 2007
Well, today is my Birthday, so I think I'll work a little and enjoy myself a little this afternoon. The Deli Business I have for sale is attracting a lot of attention, I will be showing this listing twice today. This is a turnkey business and is ready for new owners. I am always looking for new buyers or sellers, if you or your friends or family need a dedicated hard working real estate agent, please give me a call at 352.650.6823 or email at karlhosp@gmail.com Whether they are buying a new home or selling the home they currently own or if they just need some of their real estate questions answered, I will be happy to help. Visit http://www.khosp.com/Default.aspx?tabid=848 to learn more about the communities in Hernando County.
Today's Thought
Wednesday January 17, 2007
Last year I set up a domain name with Yahoo. Seemed like a great deal $1.99 for the first year, and as always when something seem too good to be true, it is. Oh, I did get the first year for $1.99 but when the time came to renew and I wanted to switch to Go Daddy since that's where I have my other domain names registered, I was informed that I would need to get an authorization number from Yahoo otherwise known as Melbourne IT. I have already tried to get Melbourne IT to reply to my emails on other issues and know that this is almost impossible. Now I have to try to deal with them again and if I can't get the authorization number in the next few days, I will either lose my domain name or have to stay with Yahoo. I think that this just a way for Yahoo to hold your domain hostage and force you to stay with them. When Go Daddy called to let me know about this problem, the guy on the phone told me if I want to get the Number from Yahoo, I will have to "hammer them" with emails until they finally answer, but I know from previous experience that this doesn't always work and I am running out of time. I know that they are in Austrailia and that there are many hours difference in the times but if they are a true IT company and they want to be there for their customers wouldn't they be a 24/7 operation since they do business around the world. All I am asking for is a 1 day (24 hour) turn around in email!!! Notice for everyone that has a domain registered with Yahoo (Melbourne IT) if you think you would like to change registars (and you should) make sure to give yourself plenty of time I gave 14 days and now I am against the wall!!!
Today's Thought
Thursday January 18, 2007
Well, I need to let Yahoo off the hook at least for now. I believe I have the domain name thing under control, and did not have to go through Melbourne IT this time. I'll know for sure in the next day or so. It has been very dry in my neighborhood and they have changed to once a week watering of lawns, so if you are in the same postion, make sure to water on you assigned day. You don't want your lawn, that you have worked so hard to maintain, to died off. St Augustine is especially sensitive to drought and if it dies out completely, you will have to resod your lawn. Don't water on the days you are NOT assigned because there is a fine and it varies from community to community.
Today's Thought
Friday January 19, 2007
I'm still working on adding to my website. In the last couple of months I have added may new links and I have almost completed my Virtual Tours of Homes in Hernando County. You can see tours of many homes at one place. I have gone through a lot of tours before deciding which homes to feature and how to set the tours up by communities. Some communities do not have any homes currently for sale with Virtual Tours, while others have many homes for sale with Virtual Tours, and this is reflected on my website. However if there is a home that you are interested in or even just a community or neighborhood, let me know and I will tour the home, community or neighborhood and make a video just for you. I will be in the office (3195 Shoal Line Hernando Beach, Florida) all day today, so just call 352.650.6823 and let me start working for you.
Today's Thought
Monday January 22, 2007
The it's the Colts and the Bears in the Superbowl this year. Rex Grossman and Peyton Manning, Peyton who was Tennessee's Golden Boy vs. Rex who was Florida's, well, if not Golden Boy, certainly one of the better QB's coached by Steve Spurrier during his tenure at Florida. The younger Grossman against the older more experienced Manning. This will be an exciting game, both teams are deserving.
Today's Thought
Tuesday January 23, 2007
Today I will be in the office on Shoal Line all day. Being in the office allows me to talk to other realtors, catch up on my paperwork, and find out any new properties that are coming on the market that may be of interest to my home buyers or my investors. One of my home buyers called to find out if a home that they had previously toured was still available, luckily it was and they can put an offer on it, sometimes by waiting you will be disappointed. They want to purchase this home as a weekend retreat, they will be retiring soon and expect to have more time to enjoy the getaway. They are also in the process of selling some of their investment property in South Florida. I am hoping that they want to invest in some more property in Hernando County. If you are interested in investing in a home or property or relocating to Hernando County or anywhere on The Nature Coast of Florida call me at 352.650.6823 and I will send you information on the area and properties that are available.

Today's Thought
Wednesday January 24, 2007
The President has spoken... Congress has spoken... The people have spoken... Everyone sounds good... But the situation is status quo... Soon we must take action to enact the changes that need to be made to keep this country moving ahead, and we can not move ahead until our elected officails and our citizens are at least reading from the same book, if not the same page. Whether you are in the blue corner or the red corner, remember that the goals are the same, just sometimes the strategies are different. Let's keep our eye on the prize and work as a team to attain it.
Today's Thought
Thursday January 25, 2007
Today I will be in the ERA Beach Office on Shoal Line all day, come by and see me. Saturday January 27, 2007, I will be holding an "OPEN HOUSE" at 13124 Fish Cove Drive Spring Hill, Florida 34609 from 1 PM - 3 PM. Come and tour this beautiful pool home!!! This home has it all, pool, spa, & fireplace in addition to this it has a great floor plan. Preview this home by visiting  http://www.khosp.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1110 to take the virtual tour slide show or see the the short version on Google Video at  http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4866915118328386009

Today's Thought
Friday January 26, 2007
I will be spending some time today getting my Flyers and other advertising materials ready for my open house on Saturday.  Since this is the first open house on this property, I have to start from scratch.  Just a couple of hours of work but it will make my job much easier if I have all of the information I need.  Hopefully, I will sell the house tommorrow and all of my hard work will pay off.  You just got to believe and sometimes things just work out!  Update on Monday...
Today's Thought
Monday January 29, 2007
Well, I didn't sell the house during the "open house", I did however have people show up that are looking for a home to buy and this home met all of their expectations.  I have a feeling that they will be back to look again this week.  As a real estates professional I could tell by the words they were using that they were more than "mildly interested".  Time will tell, it's just a waiting game now!
Today's Thought
Tuesday January 30, 2007
I will be in the ERA Pearson Realty office on Shoal Line Blvd. in Hernando Beach all day today.  I have a State Real Estate Test to take and I am going to spend a little time today going over the material that will be on the test.  This is just a part of my job and is the only way that I can renew my Real Estate License.  Stop by the office I'll be glad to have someone new to chat with.
Today's Thought
Wednesday January 31, 2007
Truthfully, today I am going to do nothing if my phone will allow it. Sometimes I just want a day off and they are hard to come by when you are in the real estate business. Wish me Luck.

Karl's Thoughts February 2007

Today's Thought
Thursday February 1, 2007
Well, the day off went fairly well yesterday, so today it's back to my office at ERA Pearson Realty on Hernando Beach. I will be there in the morning and then I will be out taking some more pictures of the neighborhoods in the Spring Hill area so that I can create more virtual tours of the communities for my website, look for them soon.
Today's Thought
Friday February 2, 2007
I will be going to Clearwater today.  I received a call yesterday that the eyeglasses that I had ordered earlier in the week were ready.  There are plenty of places closer to my house where I could have bought the glasses but I like the optometrist in Clearwater.  I also like the area and I always take a minute to stop at what I think maybe one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.  I usually make a day of it... feels a like a mini vacation.  It takes about 40 minutes to drive to there and today there will be a lot of traffic on US 19, so I think I'll take the Suncoast Parkway (part of the Florida Turnpike System) It will get me there fast.  That's why living in Spring Hill is so nice, I can be in the "Big City" quickly and take advantage of all of the amenities and still live the quieter life 40 minutes away. 
Today's Thought
Monday February 5, 2007
Well, we have a new Super Bowl Champ the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts looked good but so did the Bears.  The game was good with lots of scoring, too bad it rained.  It almost never rains in Florida in the winter.  There are also almost never any severe tornados either but last week proved that they can happen anywhere, even in Florida.  The areas involved in these terrible storms are in bad shape, some of the people say they are leaving the state, but these types of storms happen all over the South and we all have heard about the giant storms in the great plains and the midwest and even the midsouth.  It is though to go where no storms or other natural disaster happen, where would that be anyway?  Most of the storm victims say the will stay and rebuild, this what almost everyone says when they are affected by Natural Disasters such a these storm.  This is the American Spirit and the pride and importance of Home Ownership. 
Today's Thought
Tuesday February 6, 2007
Conserve water, plant Florida-Friendly landscaping! You need to think seriously about this since we are only able to water our lawns once a week now. Florida-Friendly lawn and landscaping will survive in the drought conditions that exist in our area at this time. These drought conditions appear in cycles and Florida-Friendly planting material are accustom to conditions from the very wet to the very dry in our area. Here's an interactive link to help you to understand and plan Florida-Friendly landscaping http://www.khosp.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1585 and another link to let you know what day you can water and what time http://www.khosp.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1586 Know the Rules!!
Today's Thought
Wednesday February 7, 2007
It seeems like everyone is calling about the small business that I had listed that is currently under contract, just a little too late since it has been on the market for over six months. Some of the people calling have looked at this property before and decided not to buy, but after looking around a little more they realize they may have made a mistake. When you look at a business remember to do your home work, there are not a lot of businesses for sale in Spring Hill, Florida and it may be a better deal than you think if it is your goal to have a business in the Spring Hill area
Today's Thought
Saturday February 10, 2007
I have taken a few days off. I have been working to update this website it is always a woork in progress, so check back often to see what's new or at least what I am trying to do. Joined a new real estate sit today here's a link to please check it out I will be posting to my blog on Active Rain as often as possible.

Today's Thought
Sunday February 11, 2007
Working in the office all day today in Hernando Beach. I hope someone stops by, it can be pretty boring in the office on Sunday. I'm still updating my website, sometimes is hard to come up with something new, so it's not just the same old thing. I want my site to be an informative marketing tool for my real estate business but I also want to provide some entertainment and local flavor as well. Sometimes this is easy and sometimes it is not. I just keep trying different things to keep you coming back.
Today's Thought
Monday February 12, 2006
Well, it's Monday again, the official start of my week. I will not be in the office today, I will be in Dade City checking on some property there. I haven't been out that way since before Christmas, I'll take my time while I am there to see if there is anything new in the area. Dade City is located slightly to the southeast of Spring Hill in Pasco County very close to I-75. It is a growing and thriving community with an easy commute to the metropolitan Tampa area.
Today's Thought
Tuesday February 13, 2007
I'm back from Dade City, the property that I went to look at is currently owned by the bank because of foreclosure. The agent handling the property had put it up for auction but it did not reach the reserve bid, so the auction ended without sale. The property in question is an older mobile home on 1 acre of property, where they are now building some very nice single family homes. This could be a good buy for my client, if I can ever get a call back from the banks agent. I don't know what the reserve was but I believe that this is a good area, if you are thinking of building a new home and want plenty of space. I'm in the office today, catching up on my paper work. Stop by to see me.
Todays Thought
Wednesday February 14, 2007
Here we are at another Valentine's Day, or as I like to call it "another Hallmark Holiday". I will be taking my wife out to dinner tonight, this is something we do every Valentine's Day. Maybe we will go to Remmingtons in New Port Richey. We always go early to avoid the crowds that will surely show up around 7PM. Even though there are many restaurants in Spring Hill, we just like to go some place different sometimes. Last week we drove to Clearwater just to go to Lenny's Sub Shop on US 19, just a little north of Westchase Mall on the west side of the road. There are sub shops in Spring Hill, but no Lenny's. They have the best subs ever, someone needs to open a Lenny's franchise in the Spring Hill area, so I can eat there more often. Remember if you see a Lenny's Sub Shop, stop and try a sub you will be happy you did. Lenny's is eat in, take out and catering, you won't be disappointed. That's my Lenny's advertisement for today!
Today's Thought
Thursday February 15, 2007
Another week is almost gone. Time sure flies when you're having fun!! Looks like the weather is going to turn cooler on Friday night. Some unusually cold temps for the Hernando County area. It doesn't happen often so we are a little unprepared for it but when you compare it to the weather in most of the country it still looks like Florida is having a "heat wave". I have learned to just deal with the one day of cold weather, there are almost never two really cold days in a row. I have not had my heat on in my house in the last two winters. It just never gets cold enough to justify the added expense. Most people unless they have lived in Florida most of their life, do not even find it cold. It's just what you get used to I guess. All in all living on the Central Florida Gulf Coast is wonderful, no matter if it's winter, summer, spring or fall.
Today's Thought
Friday February 16, 2007
A little cool today, but bright and sunny. I have a client looking for property, several acres but... he doesn't want to pay much. That makes it pretty hard to find anything. And on top of that he wants to list his current home for way above what the current market values suggest the price of the home should be...buy low, sell high, it's great if you can pull it off. We will just have to see what happens, for now, I'll just keep my eyes and ears open. Will post again Monday: Karl Hosp - Your Guide to Spring Hill Real Estate.
Today's Thought
Monday February 19, 2007
Monday again, winter sure is flying by, good thing too, that means spring and summer are coming soon to a beach nearby. Some people only live in this area during the winter and they think it is the best time to be here but they really don't know what they are missing in the spring. While the weather is still cold in the north the spring flowers are in full bloom and they stay that way all spring and even into summer. The gulf is beautiful in the spring and the water has warmed up enough for swimming by April. The summer though it is very warm, is still a great time here, the summer flowers are thriving in the heat, with rains to cool them late in the afternoon. The boating is the best, parties on the gulf every weekend anyone who can get to the flats is welcome to join the party. The summers go on far into Football Season and watersports can be enjoyed until the first cold snap when the gulf waters will become too cool for locals but for those among us that spend only the winter in the area, water temperatures seem not to be as important. I guest it's all what you are used to.
Today's Thought
Tuesday February 20, 2007
I need to buy a Washing Machine, mine just died!  Why is it that they only die when they a full of water instead of when they are in the spin cycle and there is very little water??  I guess I'll go and look at a few different models to see what's new in the last few years.  I know that they have that big front load machine but I don't have room for one of those.  So it will be just a regular washer for me. I really did have something else to spend that money on, but I guess washers come first, even if you did not plan to buy one.
Today's Thought
Thursday February 22, 2007
I hope "the New AT&T's" aquisition of Bell So And Cingular goes better than when Cingular aquired AT&T Wireless a couple of years ago. I was a AT&T wireless customer and when they became Cingular, my wireless service was for some reason affected for the worse, not for the better and Cingular's customer service was worse than terrible. As far as I am concerned Cingular was able to ruin the AT&T name, at least in the wireless business!! We will just have to wait and see what happens next.
Today's Thought
Friday February 23, 2007
The Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City starts March 1. I missed it last year, but that won't happen this year. It's announces the unofficial beginning of Spring. Make plans to attend. Will post again Monday: Karl Hosp - Your Guide to Spring Hill Real Estate.
Today's Thought
Monday February 26, 2007
In Hernando County the real estate market is now really a buyers market. There are many homes on the market, buyers will eliminate many of the prospects because some of the sellers have unrealistic ideas of what their home is worth. But many sellers really want to sell their homes and have priced them accordingly. Their realistic expectations will enable them to sell quickly. Because they chose to price their home at the right price the first time, it won't linger on the market becoming less and less actractive to prospective buyers with each passing day. Homes that remain on the market for longer than the average become stale and the seller risks not getting an offer at all. Buyers will wonder why the home hasn't sold before and immediately assume that there is either something wrong with the home or that it is over priced. Having to reduce the price of the home several times increases the chance that the price the seller actually receives maybe be less than what would have been the right price in the first place. The saying that "you never have a second chance to make a first impression" really applies to real estate. Price it right, keep it clean, get that "curb appeal" going!! If you do it right the first time you increase the chances for a full price offer in the least amount of time.
Today's Thought
Tuesday February 27, 2007
I have been taking advantage of all the free classified ads available on the internet to post the homes that I have listed for sale, I am getting a few bites from these ads, so if you have something to sell, take a look at some of these ads. You can post ads that are intended only for your area or for the world if you like, it's up to you depending on which classified you use. Try it and see if it works for you. Some classifieds even let you post ads for services that you offer for sale.
Today's Thought
Wednesday February 28, 2007
I got one of my Blogs Featured on Active Rain, "Insurance, Taxes and the Florida Property Owner" Take a look, leave a comment. I'l be adding more Blogs to Active Rain in the near future, so look for the posts.

Karl's Thoughts March 2007

Today's Thought
Thursday March 1, 2007
Today is the day that I call the "The First Day of Spring", I know that it is still cold in most of the nation, but not here in the Sunshine State. Year-round residents can now begin to really enjoy the weather. Our winter visitors will be returning North soon and our area attractons will be less crowded allowing Floridians to visit and see these attractions at a leisurely pace before the summer visitors arrive with the end of the school year. The Florida Strawberry Festival starts today, so get out of the house and enjoy the beautiful weather and the festival.
Today's Thought
Friday March 2, 2007
Swamp Fest 2007 is this weekend March 3rd and 4th at Linda Pederson Park on Shoal Line Blvd. in Hernando Beach. The 14th annual event will be fun for all. See you there. Additional, if you enjoy finding bargains at garage sales, make an extra stop in Hernando Beach this weekend and find your bargains at Hernando Beach South's Community Sale. The sale date is March 3rd, with a rain date of March 4th. If you are in the market for waterfront property take advantage of the trip to Hernando Beach and drive through the neighborhoods to see what is for sale. If you find hame that you would like to tour call me at 352-650-6823 and I'll be happy to assist you. Will post again Monday: Karl Hosp - Your Guide to Spring Hill Real Estate.
Today's Thought
Monday March 5, 2007
What do you think about Florida raising the sales tax and eliminating property tax? I am not sure what to think. Give me your imput.
Today's Thought
Tuesday March 6, 2007
Spring Hill Florida is a great place to live and work, but I realize that not everyone knows exactly where Spring Hill is located. So here is the scoop on my town! The community of Spring Hill Florida is located about one hours drive west of the Orlando Area and 40 minutes north of the Tampa/St. Pete/Clearwater area on the Central Gulf Coast of Florida in Hernando County commonly called "The Nature Coast". It is the largest community in Hernando County, but is not an incorporated city. Spring Hill is thriving with plenty of shopping and restaurants. The nearby Gulf of Mexico And the Withlocohochee and Weeki Wachee Rivers make the Spring Hill area a mecca for water-sports enthusiasts as they can enjoy their favorites year round. Enjoy them all, swimming, fishing, boating, diving, snorkeling, canoeing, kayaking and more. Or maybe you just want to watch the Beautiful Sunsets for which this area is famous. You can even catch a glimpse of the Space Shuttle just after launch on a clear day or night. If you would like more information on this home or others in the area or just more about "The Nature Coast in general, simply contact me at 352-650-6823 or karlhosp@gmail.com and I'll be happy to assist you.
Today's Thought
Wednesday March 7, 2007
The weather has been so nice in the last week that now I have to mow the lawn. The grass is starting to grow again, especially afer the rain a couple of days ago. It was good to have the rain, so I didn't have to water the lawn. Remember that watering you lawn is limited to once a week, so make sure you are watering on the right day, know the rules, don't get fined.
Today's Thought
Thursday March 8, 2007
I have upgraded my membership to Realtor.com By doing this I can offer even more services to my customers. For those that are selling, the enhanced Showcase Listing provides extra pictures of their home on the "go to" real estate website. Additionally I can display the Virtual Tour. For buyers, this means that they will be able to obtain information on homes that I have listed for sale 24/7. Of course they can always visit my personal website, but not "everyone" knows me and my site like they know Realtor.com So this will also benefit me by letting buyers and sellers know where they can find their guide to Spring Hill Real Estate anytime, day or night.
Today's Thought
Friday March 9, 2007
It's Friday again, where did the week go? Time seems to fly by when you are busy, and stand still when you're not. I guess I should be happy because I been busy all week. When you are in the Real Estate Business being busy usually translates to making money or a good possibility of making money. That's why I like to stay busy! So keep those calls coming! Will Post again Monday: Karl Hosp - Your Guide to Spring Hill Real Estate
Today's Thought
Monday March 12, 2007
I picked this up at the Hernando County Utilities Bldg in Brooksville, but I can't find out anything about it on any of the county website, so if you are interested this is the info I can give you from the brochure. Florida Friendly Landscaping Workshop - Learn how to keep your curb-appeal, without chemicals and with little additional water.
Today's Thought
Tuesday March 13, 2007
Spent most of my day on the web looking for a mobile home park for sale. There are quite a few listed but the good ones that are priced right sell fast. Guess I just never realized that the demand is so great for the parks. Just another thing I have learned for my customers. These parks come up for sale and usually go under contract pretty quickly. This could be one of those cases where "the early bird gets the worm". I just have to keep looking!!
Today's Thought
Wednesday March 14, 2007
One year ago today, my wife and I had to put our 17 year old Lhasa Apso named Jingles to sleep. He had become sick and was too old for the vet to chance an operation that might or might not have saved his life. Jingles was having prostate problems that required neutering, just to see if it would help him to recover, but his age and a heart conditions that was found during the testing eliminated him from the possibility of surgery. We were told that had we neutered him as a puppy, he would never have had to suffer from prostate disease. So PLEASE NEUTER and SPAY your pets, not only will you help with the pet population, but you could be saving you pet from disease. Even though Jingles lived to 17 years old, we probably could have had more time with him if he had been neutered, instead our only option was to put him down. Don't have to make this awful choice for your pet just because you, like us, didn't know. Ask your vet!!
Today's Thought
Thursday March 15, 2007
Just one month til TAX DAY, April 15. If you have not done so already now would be the time to gather your information and fill out your 1040. The thought may bother you but it is a necessary evil for U.S. citizens. Putting it off will not make it better nor will it just go away. By the way Saturday is St. Patrick's Day, so remember to show "your Irish".
Today's Thought
Friday March 16, 2007
It seems that the insurance industry in Florida has let us down again. The premium reductions the legislature promised Floridians in January are much smaller than origionally announced. Can you believe that? Is there anything we can do? As a real estate professional in Florida, I am impacted by the prohibitive insurance costs, both personally and professionally. I am at this time working with my insurance company to see if there is anything I can do to lower my premiums, including assuming more of the risk personally with higher deductibles and making sure that they are accurately depicting my home when they use their "Replacement Cost Estimator" to determine the current replacement cost associated with my home in case I suffer a loss. It may require a lot of work on my part, but if I can save a few hundred dollars it will be worth the effort. See how you may be able to lower your premium. Building or replacing your home in today's market, calculate the costs. I think if you are willing to accept more of the risk in case of a loss and to confirm the premium you pay is determined by accurate data on you home, that you can in fact lower you premiums. Will post again Monday: Karl Hosp - Your Guide to Spring Hill Real Estate
Today's Thought
Monday March 19, 2007
A little cooler this past weekend, wanted to work on cleaning my pontoon boat, but just couldn't bring myself to get started in the cool morning air. So there is always next weekend. I have been working with a seller who is trying to decide on acccepting a job out of state. I am unsure on what to advise him to do, he wants to sell his home in Florida if possible but is not opposes to a lease option if necessary. He is not in a good position to just outright rent the home, due to the logistics of being an out of town landlord. His home is priced in the range to sell, but with the slowed market, I am unsure what to advise with regard to the job. Leaving his family behind is not an option in this case due to small children. We will do an Open House this coming weekend. The home is very well kept in a great neighborhood. If you are looking for a 3/2/2 home in the Spring Hill, Florida 34609 area this could be the one for you.
Today's Thought
Tuesday March 20, 2007
If financing is standing in the way of owning your own home, call me and I will direct you to a local mortgage specialist at ERA Mortgage. ERA can do more for you than find your dream home, they can also handle your mortgage needs. Eric Contessa and I will do our best to help you realize your homeownership dreams. I have homes to sell and Eric has money to lend. This is the perfect combination to make buying a home as easy as 1-2-3... I'll be waiting for your call. Karl Hosp, Your Guide to Spring Hill Real Estate 352-650-6823

Karl's Thoughts April 2007

Today's Thought
Sunday April 1, 2007
I've been so busy in the last couple of weeks, that I have not time to sit down and write. I have been working on my internet marketing, researching sites that will advetise my listings and get them in front of the most Buyers possible. I have located many new and exciting venues on the web to place text ads, video ads, picture ads and any combinations possible. The more ads I place the better the chance that the perfect Buyer will find my listing. Whether the Buyer is next door or a world away, the pictures and descriptive captions, as well as the well written text ads will make them feel that they have already seen the home in person. The web offers many advantages since it is true that most Buyers start their search for a new home on Realtor.com or Trulia. These sites let Buyers see what is available in the areas they are considering purchasing a home without the time and energy to actually visit in person. By narrowing down the homes that are not suitable or do not meet their requiremnents, Buyers will be able to just visit homes they have previously viewed and selected on the web.  Most Buyers know what they want in a home and I am just making sure that they get to see my listings before they make the final decision.
Today's Thought
Monday April 2, 2007
Today will be another busy day. I will be in the Beach Office early in the afternoon, but in the morning I have an appointment in Brooksville and then it's all the way across the county to Hernando Beach. The Citgo and BP stations really love me!! How did the gas prices get so high anyway? It seems like every time there is a big travel time, in this case Spring Break, up go the prices!! It seems like the prices go up very fast and don't come back down the same way. Why do we let "Big Oil" treat us like they do? Last year Exxon made Billions of dollars in profit, not bad for a little company that was not going to survive after the Valdez oil spill off Alaska a while back!! They seem to have made an amazing recovery on the backs of working Americans.
Today's Thought
Tuesday April 3, 2007
Found a Good Buy on Hernando Beach today. 2/2/2 home for sale on Gulfview Drive for $345,000. This home was just listed and will sell fast. Great View and No Heavy Boat Traffic, screen lanai, seawall, needs updating. With just some flooring, paint and elbow grease this home will shine. If you are interested call me at 352-352-6823 and I will arrange a tour. The home is vacant.
Today's Thought
Wesnesday April 4, 2007
Today I am switching from Direct TV and Southern Bell with DSL to Bright House for cable, phone and Road Runner service. By making this change I will still have unlimited local and long distance phone service, cable TV with over 200 channels and Road Runner which is at least twice as fast as my DSL. With Southern Bell and Direct TV I paid $170/month ($108 to SB for phone and DSL and $62 to Direct TV), with BrightHouse my total bill will be $131.43 with everything including a DVR and cable at two other locations (no HDTV). My savings will be $38/month or $456/year, not bad, and my computer will download twice as fast!! By the way if you live in Pasco or Hillsborough County you will pay $10 less per month with Bright House because they have competition from Verizon in these counties. It wouldn't hurt to check out Verizon if you live in Pasco of Hillsborough, nothing like a little competition to reduce the prices.
Today's Thought
Thursday April 5, 2007
Gas almost $3.00/gallon, minimum wage $6.67/hour!!! Soon it will not be cost effective for minimum wage workers to even go to work. Since most are only part-time workers to begin with (employers don't want to have offer benefits) is it worth it to go to work for 5 hours/day 4days/week? Probably not if you have to drive more than a mile or so each way. After allowing for car expenses, taxes and medicare payments, do the math would you do it? If minimum wage employees don't work, the price of wages will go up, the price of everything else will also go up. See how the high prices for gas effect everything else. And $6.67/hour is the minimum wage in Florida, many other states have a lower minimum wage.
Today's Thought
Friday April 6, 2007
Can any one explain to me why the insurance industry includes the total value of your home including the land value in the amount of replacement value insurance coverage you will need on your home? It is my guess that if a hurricane comes by or a tornado or even a fire, that the land would still be there and the insurer will not have to replace the land. Since earthquake, flood and sinkhole are separate coverage, it just doesn't make sense. In Florida and California (maybe other states too) sometimes the land value exceeds the value of the actual structure. What happens to homes sitting on acreage, does the insurance industry's replacement cost for the home include the cost of the acreage? With the horror stories of how slow the insurance companies (not all but some) are to pay in the event you suffer a loss and the high cost of home hazzard insurance to begin with, we need to start asking questions and making the insurance industry explain how they arrive at their numbers. They should not be able to say "we just put in the numbers". Maybe if they had to get actual information on your home instead of just looking at the property appraiser estimate, which may or not be accurate, they would not need to charge 10% of the replacement coverage cost on your home for "other structures" which you may or may not have. I was not able to get any real information on the "other structures", the insurance company representative I spoke to told me that "it's just a percentage of total replacement costs that we are allowed to charge (by Law?)" Gee, I could have figured that out. Really, "other structures" covers fencing, sheds?, detached garages and things like that. I have none of these items, but still I pay 10% for them. I figure that I must share in the cost of replacing these items for those other property owners that do have them. Again, "it's just the way it's done". Well, I think IT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED!!!!
Today's Thought
Monday April 9, 2007
Well, it has finally rained a little in Hernando County. It's been a while and I was kind of missing it. You know a little rainy day to just stay at the house a get things done that I have been putting off, cleaning out my files and making some phone calls. Tommorrow I am back at the Beach Office. I have two appointments on the beach Tuesday so I might as well spend the rest of my day in the office. They say it may still be raining but I hope it's clear at least in the AM so I can get the pictures for my new listing, I hate to take them when the weather is gloomy! Everything looks better in the sunshine. It seems like things are picking up a little on Hernando Beach, buyers seem to be venturing out on the beach again. Not a big increase just a little stirring of things to come. I'll take that as a good sign in the real estate market. The Real Estate Industry needs some good news these days.
Today's Thought
Tuesday April 10, 2007
Today will be a test of my photographic skills. I always thought I was pretty good at taking pictures, but taking pictures for a virtual tour is a little different. Working in the small areas like laundry rooms and trying to show them off is not an easy picture to take. I have a new lense for my camera and the wider angle should help a lot. I really want the house to show well in the pictures since I am going to make a video tour to post on my site as well as others. You can check out my work in a couple of days!
Today's Thought
Wednesday April 11, 2007
My list of things to do today is short, Make Video Tour 3240 Gulfview Drive Hernando Beach, Florida. I want it to really look good so I will need to take my time. I also want to get it right the first time. The home is really beautiful and has a great view of the Gulf of Mexico, so I took plenty of pictures. There are three bedrooms and three baths, great room, family room, game room and loft, pool, seawall and dock. This home is ideal for entertaining. It's just a minute or so from the open water of the gulf. It is a great place to call home.
Today's Thought
Thursday April 12, 2007
Some hard rain last night here in the Hernando County area. This is a welcome event since it had been a while since the last hard rain. I am glad that there were not a lot of tornado warnings with this storm. The rain will clear the air of the pollen that is so bothersome in the spring if it doesn't rain very often and the humidity stays low. And as much as the folks who went to the car wash yesterday hate it, I for one, am happy that my car got a free wash last night, it certainly had gotten dirty on the dry roads, some are not even paved, that I have travel everyday while looking at homes and land that are for sale as well as visiting the homes of my clients who would like to list their home for sale. Keeping my car clean used to be very important to me but in the dry weather we have experienced lastly it is almost impossible. I would Like for it to rain everyday, but only at night while I am asleep, so I will not miss the sunshine that I really love. I guess I'll just have to keep wishing!
Today's Thought
Friday April 13, 2007
Well, another weekend is here and again I will be working. I will be in the office on Shoal Line Blvd in Hernando Beach today, Staurday and Sunday, seems like everyone else wanted the weekend off. I hope I am so busy that everyone who took the weekend off will wish they had worked instead of going away. If you are thinking of selling your home and/or buying a home, remember me, I work on weekends!! I will be more than happy to show you homes that are for sale or to show you how I will market your home for sale. Let me get you the best price for a home whether you are buying or selling or both. Serving the Hernando County area including, Spring Hill, Hernando Beach, Weeki Wachee and Brooksville. Looking forward to working with you.
Today's Thought
Monday April 15, 2007
Tax day is here, so I will be doing the same thing I do every year on this date, filing my tax return! I always end up waiting until the last minute, no excuse, just do. I spent the weekend showing some of the beautiful homes in Hernando Beach. My customer is from South Florida and loves this casual waterfront community. Hernando Beach offers them a wonderful place to raise their family, far enough away from the big city life to enjoy the peace and quite and close enough to use the amenities that only a big city can offer, like museums, zoos and cultural events. Hernando Beach is made up of waterfront homes on canals leading to the Gulf of Mexico, most have their own docks and many also have pools. Everyone has a view of the beautiful sunsets for which the Central Gulf Coast of Florida is famous.
Today's Thought
Tuesday April 16, 2007
Back in the office on Hernando Beach today to do some paper work. It seems like it never ends, the paper work that is. Got to end now, new crisis!
Today's Thought
Wednesday April 17, 2007
Several appointments in Brooksville this morning, sometimes I enjoy going to Brooksville, it is so peaceful and quiet, just driving through the slightly hilly terrain reminds how different this area is from the rest of Florida. Occasionally I see someone riding a bicycle and wonder how they climb those hills on the bike. There is also the historic brick-paved streets to get your attention. Just like going back in time!! If your are in the area, be sure to visit Brooksville!
Today's Thought
Thursday April 18, 2007
Working at the Beach Office on Shoal Line Blvd today. The homes in Hernando Beach are completely different from the homes I saw yesterday in Brooksville. Almost all are waterfront stilt homes with a great view of the sunsets. This casual waterfront community is a great place to spend some time relaxing on the Gulf of Mexico or just sitting out by the water on the dock and watching the setting sun.
Today's Thought
Friday April 19, 2007
The boating season is almost here for me and it is time again to get the boat cleaned and ready to go. I need to fix my radio, got to have music for the ride. Also need to change the spark plugs, pressure wash, wax the boat and it is ready to go! I'll be out on the gulf by the beginning of May, at least once a week for a few hours.
Today's Thought
Monday April 23, 2007
Well, after working on my boats radio for a while without any luck, I decided to check out the speakers, who would have thought that all of the speakers would go bad at the same time? I went to the Internet ordered speakers, they will be here in a few days. Problem solved $40!!
Today's Thought
Tuesday April 24, 2007
Had to go to Tampa yesterday, since I don't go down there very often, I took the rest of the afternoon to look around. Driving in Tampa, I did not notice any really heavy traffic, even while making my way back to Spring Hill during rush hour. I did not use any of the expressways or the Interstate and was pleasantly surprised at the way traffic flowed, even as most businesses closed for the day and employees began to venture home from work. Next week I plan to go to St. Pete and Clearwater and spend the afternoon looking around these cities.
Today's Thought
Wednesday April 25, 2007
As the real estate market changes, so do the incentives sellers use to attract more buyers. Some reduce the price, some offer to pay closing costs, some even offer to finance the home for the buyer! Whatever sellers use they must understand that pricing the home correctly from the beginning is the most important thing they can do to get buyers to look at their home as opposed to all of the other homes on the market. When homes for sale are as plentiful as they are in the current market, sellers must set their home apart from the rest and pricing it correctly is the first step. After setting "the right price", then concentrate on "curb appeal", first impressions are very important. And remember CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN...buyers are better able to envision the home as "home" if it is clean and clutter free!
Thursday Today's Thought
April 26, 2007
From the buyers side of this real estate market, there are also many different options. Buyers now realize that they do have some leverage. They have many homes to choose from and are taking advantage of being in the drivers seat when they find a home that they might consider buying. They want to home to be in top-notch condition and usually want the seller to provide a buyer’s protection warranty on the major appliances, at least. If the seller has not priced the home correctly, more often than not the buyer will offer a much lower price for the home sometimes lower than market value. This is where an appraisal can come in very handy for the seller! Also buyers might not only offer the seller cash for the home but may also include a trade of property or a cash and property trade. The real estate offers and the contracts of the past are making way for the future of real estate, no longer is it “just agree on a number, go to the bank to get financing and go to closing on the home”!
Today's Thought
Friday April 27, 2007
Remember that most buyers are also sellers. The real estate market is “soft” nation-wide, so no matter where you live selling a home is not as easy as it has been in the recent past. This is why it is very important to get buyers and sellers working together for the greater good of both. Sellers must look at each contract they receive and evaluate them. Even if they are not exactly what was expected, these contracts may work out to mutual benefit. Buyers must remember that some sellers are just testing the market and are not motivated, thus may not be as willing to negotiate or accept alternative types of offers as the more motivated seller who has a job waiting in another city. Buyers must also realize that most sellers can not afford to sell their home for less than they paid for it and certainly not for less than they owe on it! In the current real estate market, home are not appreciating as rapidly as in the past few years and sellers who have borrowed money on the home, sometimes as much as 25% more than the value can not expect to recover that money as they may have taken more equity out of the home than the market has let the home appreciate in the last year or so.
Today's Thought
Monday April 30, 2007
If you are thinking of selling your home, I would love to provide you my professional services. As a licensed real estate professional, I will provide you with services that wll "exceed your expectations".
Karl Hosp Real Estate “Exceeding Your Expectations”
Marketing by KCH Production Services Internet Marketing
In today’s tech-savvy world, most “Buyers” will start their search for a home on the Internet. “Sellers” who have their home heavily marketed on the World Wide Web will reach a market that could never have been tapped even a few years ago. I work hard to maintain a presence on the Internet for my listings and myself as well. By posting your home on the sites listed below (new site are being added all of the time), we can reach the international market (I have seen one of my ads translated to Chinese) as well as state and local markets in the United States. Your home will have a prominent position in a search, when “Buyers” search the web for a home like yours in your area.
Hernando MLS Directory 4RealEstate.com Localism Houseinfo.com Hernando Property.com ERA.com Active Rain Wellcome Mat.com Yahoo Craig’s List Tampa Backpage Google County Ads.org ERA Pearson Realty You Tube Realtor.com Fast Real Estate.net Zipply.com Iggyshouse.com Point2Agent Reallyo.com Konnects.com Postlets.com Hoobly.com Trulia.com Zillow.com Realty-Space
Additionally, I post my listings to my “Blogs” on Blogger, my home page blog, Active Rain Real Estate blog and Localism, a community blog for “buyers” searching for Real Estate and a Realtor. These Blog postings help to keep my listings in front of prospective “Buyers”. After a few days on the Internet, your home should be found on a search with the address or maybe even the street name!
“Karl Hosp’s – News You Can Use”
My newsletter is published six times a year and mailed by first-class mail to 1500 households locally. I hear from newsletter recipients often telling me how much they enjoy my newsletter and often referring business my way. KCH Productions This is my company for my marketing services. We create Real Estate Flyers, For Sale Postcards and print ad marketing for each listing. We do not use print ads in the classified section of the newspaper. My research indicates that this is not an effective way to use my advertising dollars. Instead, we rely on classified ads on the World Wide Web, where we can place text advertising and pictures. “Buyers” want to see pictures of the homes they find interesting and the Internet allows them to see many views of the home. There are homes in Hernando County that have recently been sold to “Buyers” who have never visited the homes and have only seen pictures and videos.
KCH Productions also produces and hosts my Visual Tours at Realty-Space, the domain I own for this purpose only. I looked at several types of visual tours and chose the “Slide Show” format to showcase my listings. I believe that slide shows offer one of the best presentations for the home of any of the visual tour formats. I provide a Visual Tour for every home I list and post it to the Hernando MLS and unless the “Seller“ objects, I post it to the additional websites listed above. For marketing to work it must reach the largest target audience possible and the World Wide Web clearly offers our advertising to the WORLD and every interested “Buyer” in it. Call Karl Hosp at 352-650-6823 for more information.

Karl's Thoughts May 2007

Today's Thought
Tuesday May 1, 2007
My marketing company KCH Productions also offers services to homeowners who want to sell their home without representation by a real estate professional.
KCH Productions (a Karl Hosp Real Estate Company)
Marketing Help for “For Sale By Owner” Let KCH Productions do the Marketing for you.
Get your “For Sale By Owner” in front of Potential Buyers.
KCH Productions can market your home for sale on the World Wide Web by creating and posting, text and picture advertising. Just as they do for Karl Hosp Real Estate, they will work to get your property noticed by interested “Buyers” anywhere in the world. This is achieved by posting to most of the same websites I post to as a realtor. They can post your home to a local Multiple Listing Service or create a website and give your home “it’s own web page and domain name”. Easy marketing with KCH Productions!
Visual Slide Show Tours Let KCH Productions Create a Video Slide Show for your home. They will post this slide show to the World Wide Web for the “world” to see. We take the pictures, create the Slide Show (with text commentary and titles) and post it to the Internet sites that are available to post “For Sale By Owner” video and advertising. You will receive a copy on DVD.
Flyers – Brochures – Print Ad Marketing KCH Productions can create professional looking Tri-Fold Color Real Estate Brochures and single page Color Real Estate Flyers. They can also create print ads for you to place in the advertising forum of your choice.
Marketing Extras KCH Productions can provide Yard Sign Arm Posts (just like the pros use), For Sale By Owner Signs, Real Estate Rider Signs (examples; pool, owner finance, etc) as well as other signs you may need in the course of selling your home. If you need it, we can get it, just ask! Additionally, if you do need expert advise we are just a phone call away at 352-650-6823!
Today's Thought
Wednesday May 2, 2007
Today I am going to tackle working on the electrical in camper trailer. I've never really done the before last week and now all of my friends think I am a "Pro". Time will tell, this time it's not just a broken wire like in the other camper. Ever since I worked on the wiring in my boat people have come around asking for my help with boats and campers. Maybe I missed my calling, 12-volt electrical?? Anyway must be a big need for this in Hernando County, there are plenty of boats and campers here. Actually, the entire state of Florida has plenty of them! If my friends need my help they better ask soon, or we will have to do repairs out on the gulf because that is where I will be spending my free time in the very near future!
Today's Thought
Thursday May 3, 2007
I have been working with a couple trying to find them the right home at the right price for about six months, (they are very picky) and today they will finally be making an offer on one of the homes we visited last week. They have missed out on two other homes they liked because they waited too long. I am glad that I could help them find a retirement home that was right for them, and this time we are not going to let it get away!. The lesson to be learned from this couple is that if you find a home you like, you must make an offer in a timely manner, remember that others are also looking and if the home is priced right and well maintained, it will sell quickly even in this less than stellar housing market!
Today's Thought
Friday May 4, 2007
I showed one of my listings for a second time to the same people today! They want to buy the home!! They are pre-approved for a loan in the right price range. All that's left is an inspection of the home. My seller is so happy because he needs to be in another state at his new job very soon and selling his home in Spring Hill will certainly ease his mind and make the move to Indiana something to look forward to instead of worrying about it. He will know for sure by next Friday.
Today's Thought
Monday May 7, 2006
I have a home on the Hernando Beach ERA Pearson Realty Agent Tour today. So I'll be out and about today showing my Gulfview Drive listing and looking at what other agents have to offer on the tour. This is a good way for ERA agents to keep up to date with new listings in the Hernando Beach area. The feed back that they provide will also help me to determine if the house looks good to others and if it is price correctly. What the other realtors have to say will also serve as a reality check for the home owner. These realtors will either show this waterfront gulfview home(or not)based on what they see today on the tour. Sometimes it takes this kind of tour to really motivated the owner to "get the home ready to sell" and to assume that it will be selling soon and that they will be needing to pack and be ready to move! Sometimes a slight price adjustment after an agent tour will be just what is needed to attract these agents and their buyers looking for waterfront property on Hernando Beach to take a look at my listing when that might not have happened before the tour. Sellers must be realistic about what their home is worth and just how much a buyer will be willing to pay, even for property overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Right now buyers are in the drivers seat when it comes to real estate and sellers need to know that, even if they are selling a luxury waterfront home. Having a motivated seller is one of the most important things to any realtor listing a home in the current market on Hernando Beach and the rest of Hernando County as well.
Today's Thought
Tuesday May 8, 2007
The Agent Tour on Monday did generate some attention for my Gulfview listing. The agents who visited on Monday for the most part loved the home and thought it was priced correctly. One of the agents made an appointment to show the home to her buyers looking for luxury property in Hernando County and Hernando Beach. This home is move in ready. Since the home is very unusual for the Hernando Beach area, a two-story ground-level home in a neighborhood of mostly stilt-homes, it will grab a lot of attention, especially from buyers who do not like to climb a lot of stairs. The sparkling pool and absolutely beautiful view of the Gulf of Mexico make this home irresitible to those looking for a waterfront home in Hernando Beach.
Today's Thought
Wednesday May 9, 2007
I am writing late in the afternoon today because it was such a beautiful day that I spent as much time as possible outside. Got a few errands done early and then just spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon enjoying the sun and breeze! Maybe the breeze is caused by the sub-tropical storm, what is a sub-tropical storm anyway? I have not heard that term used before, guess I just wasn't paying attention! I also discovered a new website (new to me anyway)to upload my video slide shows that I make for every home that I list for sale. Blip.tv is the site and the pictures just seem to be clearer than they are on youtube, google video or uncut video. Take a look at one of the slide shows that I uploaded. Hernando Beach - Beautiful Sunsets.  See more at Blip.tv. Seems like a a good site.
Today's Thought
Thursday May 10, 2007
Working hard today to get my website back in order, a little computer problem yesterday led to some website problems. I think everything is fixed now. Guess I just need to spend a little more time checking all of my links. I just switch my Internet Service and I guess there were a few kinks in the system. Office duty today, it always lets me have a little time to take care of the paperwork, so I usually spend at least 1/2 day in the office 3 or 4 times a week. Sometimes it's daylight hours and sometimes it extends into the night, you just never know how long things will take. Friday's a day on the road, so I know I will be up early since I alraedy have 2 appointments one in the morning and one in the evening. Friday will be a long day!!
Today's Thought
Friday May 11, 2007
Hernando County is very smokey today although there are no wild fires currently burning in the county (that I know of), for the second time this week winds coming from the north are causing the smokey conditions. The fire burning in Southern Georgia must be really big! I sure do feel sorry for the people living in that area, if the smoke in Hernando County is this bad how bad must it be the closer you get to the actual fire. My wife remembers burning embers from fires in the Everglades falling in her yard and on her house when she lived in Sunrise Florida in the early '80's, so I guess it could be much worse. I will say that my lungs were not made for this quality of air so I hope it clears soon! By the way, I heard from a friend last night that we are not supposed to buy gas on May 15th, some kind of protest about the high price of gasoline. Count me in, but I don't think it will have much effect on the prices because "big oil" is so wealthy that those companies will not notice. The only way to get the attention of "big oil" is to drastically reduce the ammount of gasoline Americans consume. Hard to do, but possible if everyone does their part to conserve. And on another conservation issue, we must do everything we possibly can to conserve water. I drive round many areas of Hernando County, from Spring Hill to Ridge Manor and the water level in our lakes and ponds is very low. In some areas of Spring Hill, homes that used to be on water, now have little or no water. Lake Teresa for instance, was bone dry a couple of weeks ago and though I haven't been by there since then, I don't think anything has changed. Let's all do our part to insure that our water supplies do not run dry. Know you watering day and only water your lawn on that day, keep your sprinkler system in good working order, (water shooting from broken sprinkler heads is wasted, usually watering only the road) and do not BURN anything! Take care when disposing of cigarette butts, they start many wildfires. Well I guess I've said enough for today, but if we all do what we can the world will be a better place in the future.
Today's Thought
Monday May 14, 2007
I had to have my septic tank pumped today and I learned a lot about septic systems. Since most homes are on septic in Spring Hill I will try to pass on a little information. First of all septic systems last a long time as long as you have them pumped yearly. At first, that seemed like a lot but then I relalized how inexpensive it was to have it pumped verses having it repaired or replaced. Less than $150 to pump once a year, really cheap, if you were on a sewer system it would be more than $12.50 per month on you utility bill. New systems have a filter in them that must be changed, so you must get it pumped, I think they started using the filters to make sure septic systems were properly maintained and pumped on a regular basis.
Today's Thought
Tuesday May 15, 2007
Having just discussed septic systems and sewer systems yesterday, here's a good question for anyone who lives near Spring Hill Drive and Mariner Blvd, "When will they ever finish laying the sewer pipes and doing other repairs to that intersection?" It seems like they have been working on it for ever. The hardship being placed on area businesses is hard for me to estimate but it would seem that for the small business owner this might be more than they can financially handle. I noticed that one of the fast food restaurants in the immediate area has recently closed, what busienss will be next? Maybe the businesses are being compensated? If so, wonderful, if not, that's bad. Now getting to the drivers that must pass this intersection daily. This intersection was not safe before the construction and it is certainly not safe during the construction. What's the hold up? How much longer will it take? They rebuilt an entire expressway system in Los Angles, California in what seems like less time then this small project in Hernando County Florida.
Today's Thought
Wednesday May 16, 2007
It looks like another beautiful day in Spring Hill Florida, 30% chance of rain and we do need some rain. My lawn is looking a little bit rough right now, especially since I had to dig up a small area to have the septic pumped this week. I still have a vegetable garden growing but there are only tomatoes and cucumbers this year, they will be enough for me to take care of this summer. I really like to have a garden and when I lived in TN, I had egplant, yellow squash, tomatoes, okra, strawberries and rasberries. Gardens in TN really require less of your time than here in Florida, mostly due to the water needs in the Florida soil. If you decide to grow a garden for the first time just remember to keep it small and allow plenty of room between the plants, this will give them room to grow and you plenty of room to weed and otherwise take care of your garden. Just a couple of tomato plants that are well taken care of, will supply your family with plenty of tomatoes for the season. I have never tried to grow tomatoes in the winter here in Spring Hill, but probably with a little effort you could have home-growns year round, maybe I'll try it this year. Now it is time to work as a Realtor for a while today, I need to take pictures of my new listing 11326 Riddle Drive Spring Hill, Florida Visual Tour Coming Soon. (Hopefully Tomorrow)
Today's Thought
Thursday May 17, 2007
The new Visual Tour for 11326 Riddle Drive Spring Hill, Florida 34609 is ready to view. Please take a minute to check this one out. Also check out this home that I found for sale 11383 Redgate Street Spring Hill, Flroida 34609, both of these homes are priced right and just waiting for their "new owner". If you would like to know more about these homes just give me a call.  Karl Hosp - Spring Hill Realtor - 352-650-6823.
Today's Thought
Friday May 18, 2007
Beautiful day today and I get to spend it in Hernando Beach. Okay, I won't be out on a boat or lounging at Pine Island Beach but at least while I'm working and driving from listing to listing I will have a water view, a light breeze and bright sunshine. Put it all together and you have the perfect spring day in Hernando Beach, Florida. The boats are out on the water, at least for those who are either retired or do not work on Fridays, as for me I will have to wait for Sunday to enjoy a day of boating fun. I have also been busy helping a friend install a whole house generator in his home. Many homes have generators to provide electricity to their home in case of a power failure. Hurricane season is coming and people just want to be prepared in case the power is off for an extended period of time. Soon you will be able to purchase tax free hurricane preparedness supplies during the usual Florida tax holiday. It is always best to be prepared and have nothing happen than to not be prepared and well you know.
Today's Thought
Monday May 21,2007
Okay the price of gasoline has hit a new high in Spring Hill, Florida, I saw it for $3.11 per gallon for regular unleaded. A few stations are a little less, like $3.07, still way too high.  I'm looking for the cheapest gas in town, where do I find it?  To keep my useage down, I have been planning my trips but I can only do so much on the planning.
Today's Thought
Tuesday May 22, 2007
Today I should know something on a contract that I have been working on for several weeks.  Actually, I have been showing this customer homes for over six months and if for some reason this contract falls through because the buyer and seller can't agree on price, I will be starting the whole process over showing more homes that have come on the market in the last few weeks.  It is a buyers market, but sellers can still choose not to accept an offer and wait for a better offer, they may or may not get one and eventually may wish they had sold when they had the opportunity.  Should they take a little less now or try to wait out the slower market?  There is no clear answer to this question, every seller must decide for themselves, their realtor will help but ultimately it will be the sellers decision and it is a big one and should be thought out carefully.
Today's Thought
Wednesday May 23, 2007
Wednesday already, where has the week gone? Spent all day on the road today, so the late post. Anyway it was another beautiful day in Spring Hill Florida, so doing the realtor thing wasn't bad at all. I got to be out in the sunshine and though it was a little breezy, I was again reminded of why I moved to Hernando County Florida in the first place. Big weekend coming up, Memorial Day, the official start of summer. Just a good excuse for a big party out on the flats soaking up the rays and enjoying boating on the Gulf of Mexico. By the way I know of several good buys on waterfront homes in Hernando Beach, living in one of these beautiful homes sure will make it easy to enjoy some of the parties on the flats. If living on the water is not your thing, there are some great buys available in Spring Hill, Weeki Wachee and Brooksville. Take a look and see what's out there just looking for a new owner. As your Spring Hill Realtor I would love to show the good life here in Spring Hill Florida and the other communities that make up Hernando County including Weeki Wachee, Hernando Beach and Brooksville. From the rolling hills of Eastern Hernando County in Ridge Manor and Brooksville to the shores of the Gulf of Mexico in Hernando Beach, Bayport and Pine Island, let me be your guide to Hernando County. Your Spring Hill Realtor, Karl Hosp
Today's Thought
Thursday May 24, 2007
I have noticed a lot of homeowners in Spring Hill as well as Hernando Beach, Weeki Wachee and Brooksville in Hernando County Florida, are again trying to sell their home without the help of real estate professional. Although, there are homes that are sold everyday by the homeowner, this may be the time to use a professional realtor, the market is still slow and a "For Sale" sign in the front yard is not likely to sell the home. Advertising is much more important in a slower market than in the red hot market of the last few years. I have heard homeowners say that they had their home listed "for months and their realtor did not show it one time" but sellers must also know that in this slower market, that buyers have a lot to choose from when they are searching for a home to buy and they are not willing to pay an inflated price for a home. The home must be price right, and in saying that, I must qualify it by also saying that homeowners who do sell their homes flying solo, typical receive less money than if they had hired a realtor even when the real estate commission is added. If marketing is included the profit goes down again. Don't leave money on the table. Talk to a Realtor and see what the options are before trying it yourself. A Realtor will enlighten you to some of the pitfalls as well as the advantages of going it alone vs hiring a real estate professional. Karl Hosp, Your Spring Hill Realtor
Today's Thought
Friday May 25, 2007
As a real estate professional, I receive referrals from my friends, family and customers, this is what keeps my business going strong. If I receive a referral that I can not, for some reason handle, usually because it is outside of my market area, I will refer it to another professional who is more familiar with the area where the client has an interest. I would not feel comfortable assisting a buyer or seller if I was not completely familiar with the market. When I send a referral to another real estate professional, I have already talked to the client being referred and this client is aware of who will be calling and they will know that I have spent the time to update everyone concerned with all of the information I have about the realtor, the customer and the property. When the referred client either buys or sells, which ever the case maybe and only if they buy or sell, it is usually agreed that I will receive a portion of the commission earned by the realtor representing the client that I referred. These referrals assist clients by assuring them that they will be well represented by a competent, caring real estate professional. Some realtors also subscribe to services that feed them leads about potential buyers or sellers. These lead generating systems differ from a referral because the person or company suppling the lead has little information to offer other than the customer responded to a advertisement such as "find out how much your home is worth". There is no relationship with the potential client and the lead generator except to sell their the name of the client, they call these "qualified leads", but they have not done even the slightest amount of research to determine if in fact the lead is"qualified" or even if there is a real interest in buying or selling a home or property. These leads are usually paid for in a monthly fee for the service or a set amount for each lead. The lead is to be paid for whether or not it results in a real estate transation. So please remember if you are asked for personal information such as your name, address, phone number or email, most likely you will be contacted by an agent who has paid for the information that you submitted. If however you are referred to a real estate professional by another real estate professional, the refering agent will pave the way for a smooth transition and you should not receive a call from anyone until you are informed who will be calling. When I refer a client, I do so with the confidence that the client is well informed and in fact is in the market to buy or sell real estate. When the new realtor calls my referrals, my clients will be waiing for the call. Both the client and the agent will be well informed. I make sure that when I expect a portion of the commission, that I have done all that I possibly can to insure that a real estate transaction will in fact take place.
Today's Thought
Monday May 28, 2006
Memorial Day, the unofficial beginning of summer. Time to enjoy watersports, but remember while you are enjoying the water, be safe. Whether boating, fishing, swimming or anything else safety must be on your mind all the time. I am only working this morning and then it time to party with friends and family out on the Gulf followed by a B-B-Q this evening. See you out on the Gulf later today. Karl Hosp, Your Spring Hill Realtor
Today's Thought
Tuesday May 29, 2007
I don't know about you, but I had a nice holiday weekend. Although we really do need some rain, no one really wanted it to rain Memorial Day Weekend and the weather turned out to be great. Sunshine the entire weekend made it great for boating and other outdoor activities. I did notice that the water in the Gulf of Mexico is not as warm as it normally is at this time of year, usually by the end of May the water temperature in the gulf off Hernando Beach is in the mid eighties but this year it still feels cool when you first entered the water, only high seventies. The water temps must be lower due to the cool night time temps that we had been enjoying all this month. Next weekend is supposed to be rainy, I won't mind, maybe the rain will bring my lawn back to the lush green that I Like, save me some money on my water bill and make my tomato plants and annuals bloom more. The rain will also help my listings show better, by giving them a little more "curb appeal". You know that it never hurts for your home to make a great first impression when you are trying to make a sale. Remember when you think "realtor" in Spring Hill to give me a call. Your Spring Hill Realtor, Karl Hosp
Today'sThought
Wednesday May 30, 2007
One of the hardest things for a realtor working with a buyer is waiting for a contract to be accepted, countered or in the worst case rejected. Buyers are on the edge of their seats waiting and they can keep their realtor pretty busy on the phone during this process. It's a new beginning for the sellers and the buyers and job satisfaction for the realtors involved in the sale. Everyone knows that a lot of time has gone into the sale and this is the payoff for all. Most of the time the parties come to an agreement, but in a few cases this does not happen. In the cases where an agreement was not reached all of the parties involved experience a big let down, but then the process of the buyer selecting another home to buy begins and the adventure in on again. As for the sellers, they to will find another buyer for their home and hopefully they will be able to accept the next offer presented. Maybe they will regret not selling to the first buyer, maybe not, but they will know that the choice was theirs to make. The art of negotiating a real estate contract can be tricky, the buyer wants to buy low and the seller wants to sell high and it is the job of the realtor(s) to find a place somewhere in between that will make everyone happy. Usually it works, sometimes it does not, that's just the way it is in real estate today. The Spring Hill real estate market is still lethargic, so a seller must take care not to dismiss a contract without first making sure that they have really reached the last possible chance to make the deal work out favorably. If you need a caring professional to assist in buying or selling property in Hernando County, call your Spring Hill Realtor, Karl Hosp to discuss your options and opportunities.
Today's Thought
Thursday May 31, 2007
Six months of work pays off. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but after six months and looking at over 50 homes my buyer is the proud owner of a beautiful home on the Gulf of Mexico. Almost 1/3 acre, 3500 square feet, a beautiful pool, seawall and floating dock and the Gulf of Mexico for a backyard. What a way to live! Let me show you how great the lifestyle can be here on The Nature Coast of Florida. Your Spring Hill Realtor, Karl Hosp

Karl's Thoughts June 2007

Today's Thought
Friday June 1, 2007
It begins today, the most dreaded five months in Florida, Hurricane Season 2007. Buy your supplies and be prepared, but don't worry. There will be enough time and warning, so you will be able to complete your preparations as long as you already have your supplies. Take advantage of the tax holiday and stock up (it runs from June 1 - June 12). Be sure that the supplies that you are purchasing are on Florida's list of approved tax exempt items and that they fall into the price guidelines set by the state. It is a win-win situation since these are normal items that you would be purchasing anyway. So don't worry, just be prepared. I will probably see you at Lowes or Home Depot this week. Make your family ememgency plan now. Your Spring Hill Realtor, Karl Hosp
Today's Thought
Monday June 4, 2007
Over the weekend our little tropical storm "Barry" gave us some much needed rain, now the yards are green again and growing again. This means the mowing begins again this week. I attended the Spring Hill Drifters Classic Car Show at the Hernando Beach Club on Sunday. The music was good and they were serving hot dogs, hamburgers and beverages. The cars looked great with the back drop of the Gulf of Mexico. The classics were beautiful, but I have to admit, the 2007 Mustang convertible really caught my eye. It seemed that all in attendance were having a good time. Watch for other events at the Hernando Beach Club. Sunsets over the gulf are always worth watching.
Today's Thought
Tuesday June 5, 2007
Everyday now I hear more stories about insurance companies that are cancelling homeowners policies instead of renewing the policy, even though the these homeowners may have been insured by the same company for many years. Although this does not seem fair it does happen. If this happens to you, you will still have time to arrange for an new insurer, but be aware that insurance is very hard to obtain if there is a hurricane or tropical storm threatening. Most insurers do not write new policies when a storm is imminent, so there is no time to waste now that hurricane season is upon us. Learn more about how to save on Homeowners Insurance. Asking the right questions and getting the right answers is the key to getting the right coverage for you and your home. The most important thing you can do is to make sure the insurance company has the correct information on your home. For example, if your home has a bath with a shower only (no tub) then it is only a 3/4 bath not a full bath and this should save you money. Also changing your deductible (be sure to check with you mortgage company before making deductible changes) will save you money. I'll be happy to help you find an insurer if you contact me at 352-650-6823 or karlhosp@gmail.com, your Spring Hill Realtor, Karl Hosp
Today's Thought
Wednesday June 6, 2007
Another busy day with real estate and I have to deal with an overheating problem with my outboard motor. I have promised to show a customer homes from the water next weekend and I sure can't do that if the motor overheats at idle speed. Since I am not really that familiar with repairing outboards, this should be interesting. Oh well, just another problem to deal with. Sometimes you just need to be a jack of all trades and this could be one of those times. Wish me luck!
Today's Thought
Thursday June 7, 2007
The Real Estate Market in Hernando County is constantly changing. Every home that sells effects the market whether the home is sold by the owner or a real estate professional, as does every house that is listed for sale and does not sell. Since there is no real way to track homes that are withdrawn from the market that were not listed in the MLS, I can only use the information available for listed homes. Homes that are listed in the MLS for sale and expire without being sold do so for many reasons, but the # 1 reason is that the home was not priced correctly. Other reasons may include lack of marketing, the homes condition and the flexibility of the owner with regard to showing the home as well as many other reasons. The general real estate market conditions also are a big factor. For homeowners selling a home when there are many homes available, care must be taken to price the home correctly, stage the home to show at it's best and market the home in a way that it will be seen by more potential buyers. Buyers must feel that they are getting the most house for the money they are spending. Also sellers must be aware that the home must appraise for the amount the buyer is offering or the contract will not result in a transaction. No bank or mortgage company will loan more than the home appraises for, so for a transactions to be completed the buyer will have to make a larger down payment (which they are unlikely to do) or the price will have to be reduced to the appraisal price. This is why it is sometimes advisable for the seller to obtain an appraisal, having the appraisal will allow them to back up the asking price. If you want to know what your home is worth, call your Spring Hill Realtor, Karl Hosp at 352-650-6823 or reach me by email at karlhosp@gmail.com
Today's Thought
Friday June 8, 2007
Today at least a portion of Hernando County got it's wish, the rain came and seemed like it was trying to make up for the rain shortage we have been experiencing all in about one hour. Although, the south east area of the county received a lot of rain the rest of the county did not, so we still need more! For some of us in Hernando County this means we won't have to water this week. If your area was not included in the rain yesterday, remember that we are still only allowed to water turf grasses once a week. Do you know your day?
Today's Thought
Monday June 11, 2007
It seems like I have caught a summer cold, runny nose, cough...you know the symptoms. Maybe if I take it easy today, I will feel better in the morning, maybe! One of my customer has asked for my assistance to help to chose the type of hurricane shutters that are best suited for the home he is purchasing in Hernando Beach Florida. He asked about shutters and impact resistant glass. I have seen many different kinds of shutters being used, but other than aesthetics and price, I have  not really thought too much about hurricane shutters. I will be researching what is available from plywood to plexy, from those that are manually installed for each incident to electric/manual roll-downs and everything in between. As for impact resistant glass, my brother-in-law has this type of window in his home on the Intercoastal Waterway in Palm Beach County Florida and has weathered several storms in the past few years without any glass damage. A small leak did appeared around one of the windows when the high winds blew the driving rain upward into the window, not too bad considering the intensity of the storm. A couple of advantages to impact resistant windows is there is nothing else you must do ever after the installation, your protection is always in place and you can see out and  daylight  can come in during the storm. If you have ever weathered a storm behind shutters that block your view and the light, you know how important this can be. Besides, it is human curiosity to want to know what is going on outside! I'll post my findings soon, your Spring Hill realtor, Karl Hosp
Today's Thought
Tuesday June 12, 2007
Tax relief may be on the way soon!! The Florida Legislature, both the House and Senate have reached an agreement. We should be looking at cut of around 40% or so on average. Most Floridians will benefit from the change proposed, but in the event any homeowner is better of under the the "save our homes" plan, their taxes will remain the same. They are saying that more than 70% of Floridians will benefit from the new plan. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the bill passes this week. Now if they will just work on real insurance reform and stop bowing to the pressure exerted by the insurance companies, Floridians will again be able to live their lives and not be faced with moving to another state for purely econimic reasons. Insurance companies that want to do business in Florida must be required to do business here in the same way they do business in other states, if they sell homeowners insurance in other states they must also sell homeowners in Florida. If they do not wish to offer Floridians the same benefits as they offer in other states, these companies should not be allowed to sell insurance of any kind in the state of Florida. Just my thoughts on the subject, your Spring Hill Realtor, Karl Hosp
Today's Thought
Wednesday June 13, 2007
Got a new listing today. A beautiful home in a great neighborhood called Orchard Park in the heart of Spring Hill Florida. Easy access to shopping, dining and an easy comute to the Metropolitian Tampa/St.Pete/Clearwater area. Excellent doctors and hospitals are nearby and a quality education for you children is available in the Hernando County Public Schools. A virtual tour of this home is coming soon, I will post as soon as it is complete. If you are thinking of selling your home give me a call at 352-650-6823, find out what your home is worth and what marketing techniques will help to make the sale at the right price in the least amount of time. Your Spring Hill Realtor, Karl Hosp
Today's Thought
Thursday June 14, 2007
Let them know in Tallahassee that you want meaingful Property Tax Reform NOW! Contact Your Representative in the Florida House of Representative and Your Senator in the Florida Senate. Let your voice be heard, Property Taxes affect everyone in Florida, even those who do not own a home. Businesses pay Property Taxes too and when they pay higher taxes, they pass this along to everyone in the form of higher prices for goods and services. Just keeping you informed, Your Spring Hill Realtor, Karl Hosp
Today's Thought
Friday June 15, 2007
My pontoon boat is back in the water after a week in the repair shop. It was such a simple problem and I can't believe I didn't think of it. The problem, overheating only at idle, the solution, set the idle higher. The idle was so low that it would not turn the impeller to bring water to up through the engine. No one knows how the idle got set that low. On the good side of this the bill was under $100 and that is unusual for any repair on a boat. Maybe this weekend I will have time to take the boat out on the gulf for a little while. We will just have to wait and see. Could be a rainy weekend if the storms move in off the gulf, but we still need the rain so that will be okay if it happens. It has been dry in the Spring Hill area for quite a while.
Today's Thought
Monday June 18, 2007
No boating for me this weekend, too busy working, even on Father's Day! I did hear from both of my grown children wishing me a Happy Father's Day and I enjoyed talking to them. I also completed my Video of my newest listing, take a look. Karl Hosp, Your Spring Hill Realtor
Today's Thought
Tuesday June 19, 2007
Just another work day in Spring Hill, Florida. Sometimes I wonder about the services that I offer my real estate customers! Today, I am taking an old couch to the dump. It was in a home that I sold last week and neither the seller nor the buyer wanted it, the seller tried to get it picked up by Salvation Army, but they declined it because there was a tear on a seam. That's where I come in, just a realtor and his truck, borrowed truck that is, to the rescue. Oh well, all in the line of duty. Karl Hosp, Your Spring Realtor and Furniture Removal Specialist!
Today's Thought
Wednesday June 20, 2007
I will be spending the day in the office on Shoal Line Blvd. It is my turn to answer the phones, so if you need to talk to me, today will be a great day. I use my office days to catch up on phone calls and paper work. I always try to spend one day per week in the office and sometimes two days, but lately it seems that when it is my day in the office I have appointments and have to leave. You just never know when you sign up for office duty at the beginning of the month what's going to happen to change those plans!
Today's Thought
Thursday June 21, 2007
Spent the day catching up on little jobs that I have been putting off. They were piling up. I want to spend Saturday out on the boat and those little things had to be done before taking the boat out. I will be taking a customer who is in the process of buying a home in Hernando Beach out to see what boating in Hernando Beach is all about. It will be the first time he has seen the home he is purchasing from the water. It is also the first time he will be able to see just how close this home is to the Gulf of Mexico. My guess is that he will be in the market to buy a boat in the very near future. He is closing on his home on July 16, so he doesn't have long to wait. He and his family are very excited about moving to Hernando Beach!
Today's Thought
Friday June 22, 2007
The weather looks good for boating on Saturday. My customer is coming to town to go out on the boat, he has come here before to do the same thing but bad weather and rough seas prevented even taking the boat in the canals on that visit. As a matter of fact on that visit, we were experiencing some of the highest tides and the water was lapping at the edge of Flamingo! Tomorrow promises to be a much better day for them to experience our waterways.
Today's Thought
Monday June 25, 2007
Spent Saturday and part of the day Sunday out on the gulf. Quite a few boats out there with me this weekend. The weather was beautiful, especially on Sunday morning. We got out there a around 8:30 AM, the first ones there and it was like having the entire gulf to yourself. Early morning is "the time" to be out, especially when high tide is occurring in the morning hours. We were able to watch the aquatic life before they moved out due to the influx of boats and people. It is amazing how many rays, crabs, and fish are out there, especially near the islands and mangroves. See for yourself, it's worth getting up early once in a while. Karl Hosp, Your Spring Hill Realtor
Today's Thought
Tuesday June 26, 2007
Doctors appointment this morning followed by a little volunteer electrical work at the Moose Lodge this afternoon. Hopefully, a little real estate at some point in the day. It seems the real estate business is either feast or famine lately. Either I can't get off the phone all day or it never rings and I have to keep checking it, thinking maybe I turned it off or it is broken! I sure do like it better when it's ringing of the hook! So If you are are thinking about buying or selling real estate, give me a call and let's talk about you options, Karl Hosp, Your Spring Hill Realtor
Today's Thought
Wednesday June 27, 2007
The Florida Legislature has passed tax reform for property owners. Cuts are expected to be large and the vote will be put to the people in January. If the reform passes, property owners will be able to choose between the "Save Our Homes" that is currently in place or the "Super Exemption Reform" which ever is in their best interest. It would seem that the only property owners that would be better off under "Save Our Homes" would be a property owner that has owned the home and homesteaded for many years. Even then run the numbers to see what your best option would be, you may be surprised. Karl Hosp, Your Spring Hill Realtor
Today's Thought
Thursday June 28, 2007
Today, I am thinking about Florida Tax Reform. Will it live up to what Floridians and other property owners in Florida expected? We must wait and see, I guess. What do you think about the Florida Tax Reform enacted by the Legislature on June 14, 2007? Read more about Florida Tax Reform and how it will effect you. Karl Hosp, Your Spring Hill Realtor
Today's Thought
Friday June 29, 2007
I took some time today to travel to Citrus County. Although I have been to Homosassa and Crystal River several times recently, it had been a long time since I has been to Floral City and Inverness. Floral City is so quaint and charming with it small town qualities that make it a great place to raise a family. Inverness is larger than Floral City but only slightly and it is the Citrus County seat. Work is being done to revitalize the historic town square and bring citizens to the square in the evening as well as the daytime. Restaurants and retail businesses are mixed with the professional offices that make up the tenants in the square. Citrus County has much to offer its residents from the Gulf of Mexico to the Withlacoochee River and everything in between. If you would like to find out more about property for sale in Citrus County, just call me at 352-650-6823 and I will help you to find just the property you are searching for. Karl Hosp, Your Spring Hill Realtor and More

Karl's Thoughts July 2007

Today's Thought
Monday July 2, 2007
I have been using Blip.tv for Video Slide Shows (Virtual Tours) of the homes I have listed for sale in Spring Hill, Hernando Beach and Weeki Wachee in Hernando County on the Nature Coast of Florida. This allows for full screen slide shows of my properties and the picture quality of the slide show is as good as the quality of the still photos you used to create the slide show. You can also use your video on Blip.tv, but I have had better luck with just the slide show. These slide shows can be used for all of your Virtual Tour needs with only a small investment of your time. This Virtual Tour uses Blip.tv.  Karl Hosp, Your Spring Hill Realtor
Today's Thought
Tuesday July 3, 2007
Got to get ready for my 4th of July celebration! Remember as you celebrate the the 4th, that fireworks can not be used in Hernando County, they did not even allow any professional fireworks displays this year due to our drought conditions. The Hernando County Sheriff's Department has announced that they will enforce the law and will be issuing investigating all complaints. The fines are high, if you are caught. Everyone knows that fireworks will be used, so if you decide to do your owned fireworks display anyway, please remember that even though it has rained a little in the last few days, some areas of the county remain very dry and even the smallest spark can ignite and spark a large fire. This article appeared in The St. Pete Times. Karl Hosp, Your Spring Hill Realtor
Today's Thought
Wednesday July 4, 2007
Have a Happy and Safe 4th of July! Karl Hosp, Your Spring Hill Realtor
Today's Thoughts
Thursday July 5, 2007
A little bad news today one of my customers has decided not to purchase a home in Hernando Beach due to an unfavorable interest rate. Since this home was not going to be their primary residence (the home they own and live in is in South Florida), the interest rate did not come in as low as they had agreed upon initially. The costs associated with the new higher interest rate, no homestead exemption, high insurance costs and the taxes, (whatever they might be) they like many others have literally been priced out of the second home market here in Florida. While most second home owners can easily afford the home, they are caught off guard by the taxes and insurance. One can only guess what the property taxes will be in this and coming years and as for insurance, most property owners only received reduced insurance rates if they reduced the coverage. Karl Hosp, Your Spring Hill Realtor
Today's Thought
Friday July 6, 2007
Took the day off and went out on the boat. Since it was Friday, there were not as many boats out on the flats as there usually are Saturday and Sunday. We had company in town for a couple of days and wanted to show them around our little space here in Spring Hill and Hernando Beach. Since this is a big boating community, I wanted to show them all of the things we have come to love here in Spring Hill, Florida. While we were out on the boat we saw a couple of dolphins, we were able to take some of pictures of them before they swam off into the Gulf of Mexico. It doesn't matter how long the dolphins hang around, they are just so much fun to watch while they are there. I think this may be the reason I became your Spring Hill Realtor in the first place, I just could not bear to leave this beautiful place.
Today's Thought
July 9, 2007
Another week has begun here in Spring Hill, Florida. Had a lot of fun this weekend, but now it's time to get back to work, guess that always happens when you are having fun. A bunch of loose ends to tie up this week so that I can go out of town in a couple of weeks. I am hoping to sell one of my Spring Hill listings this week, the sellers are ready to move and I have two buyers interested in the home, but neither one has made an actual offer. This is a beautiful home and both of the buyers have looked twice. TOUR THIS HOME, what do you think? Let me know, Your Spring Hill Realtor, Karl Hosp
Today's Thought
Tuesday July 10, 2007
I am always looking for new ways to market my properties, my sellers expect me to use my marketing expertise to make their home stand out in this ever changing real estate market. I am not sure that direct mail has any impact in this new tech savvy world. Newspaper and other print advetising is very questionable, considering the expense. It seems that the Internet is really the way to go, but even then, there is a right way and a wrong way to market. Buyers love pictures, but there is also a need for descriptive information. The most important thing is to make your properties highly visible to your target market and the hardest thing to do is to figure out who your target market really is and where your target market is most likely to look when they start their search for Spring Hill real estate. There are many homes currently for sale in Spring Hill, as well as the rest of the country, and as Your Spring Hill Realtor it is my job to make my listings shine and attract the attention of my target market, buyers who want to purchase real estate in Spring Hill, Florida and the surrounding area.
Today's Thought
Wednesday July 11, 2007
The news came in yesterday, my digital camera which was accidentally dragged into the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday will cost $60 to repair. Good news since I thought it was a total loss. The camera was on the seat on my boat with my dog Buddy. Somehow the camera, in it's case, got wrapped to Buddy's leg and when Buddy decided to go for a swim so did the camera. So now your Spring Hill Realtor must wait for a couple of weeks to get the camera out of the repair shop, but at least it is coming back to me. Lesson learned put camera on the table when Buddy is on board.
Today's Thought
Monday July 16, 2007
Sorry about not posting in the last few days. Here's the update, my mom had been sick for a couple of weeks and sadly she pased away Saturday July 14th at the age of 78. I will be in Virginia for a couple of weeks for the funeral and to visit family. You can reach me by email at karlhosp@gmail.com or call 352-650-6823. If you want to see any of my listings, just call me and I will make the arrangements. I will post when I can and answer email and return your calls promptly. Karl Hosp, Your Spring Hill Realtor, trying to stay in touch.
Today's Thought
Friday July 20, 2007
Just to touch base, I am still out of town, but my phone is still working. Actually, today I talked to four of my customers, one buyer and three sellers, good news for one of my sellers, the buyer wants to see their home. If you are interested in purchasing Spring Hill Real Estate, just give me a call and I will help you find your perfect home. Call Karl Hosp at 352-650-6823 for all of your Spring Hill Real Estate needs.

Karl's Thoughts August 2007

Today's Thought
Thursday August 2, 2007
Just drove in last night, what a trip. After the funeral service for Mom, I had to drive to Memphis, TN to take care of some personal business (I lived in Memphis for 20 years before moving to Spring Hill, Florida) and see a few friends. If you ever want to be busy in the real estate business, just go out of town. The calls just kept coming, I hope some of those calls will turn out to be real business this week. It must have rained every day that I was out of town, my lawn is knee deep, but very green. Now is the time to get back to the business of selling real estate here in Spring Hill, Florida. Call me at 352-650-6823 if you are in the market to sell or buy real estate in Spring Hill, Weeki Wachee, Brooksville or Hernando Beach, on Florida's Nature Coast. Karl Hosp, Your Spring Hill Realtor
Today's Thought
Friday August 3, 2007
As I said yesterday, I am getting a lot of calls to list property and a few calls from buyers looking for a good deal on a home to purchase. Many of the buyers are just testing the water, which means they will want to look at many homes. They have a lot to chose from with more than 4000 homes listed on the Hernando County MLS at this time and many others FSBO. Looking for a home now takes a considerable amount of time and offers many different choices. Serious buyers will want to have their financing in order before they get too involved in the search. Interest rates are still very reasonable, but mortgage loans are not as easy to get as they have been in the last few years. Arranging for mortgage financing before beginning a search will give you the total amount you can spend when you find your dream home and will let the seller know that you are serious about the purchase and have done your homework in advance. Sellers are more likely to accept a contract if the financing is already in place instead of contingent upon obtaining favorable financing. So BUYERS, being prepared may result in you receiving a better price on your DREAM HOME and save you a lot of time and energy. You will also be able to avoid the disappointment of finding the perfect home, only to find out later that the financing you need is not available. Now, for sellers, the first question I have been getting lately from homeowners wanting to list their home for sale is WHAT'S THE COMMISSION? The commission for selling a home averages 6% in the this market. This commission will be divided between myself (for the listing) and the real estate professional representing the buyer (normally 50/50), after this split, both myself and the buyers representative must split our portion again with our respective Brokers (split varies). From the remaining portion, real estate professionals must pay for expenses including advertising the home for sale, professional fees, franchise fees, Federal Income Tax, Medicare & Medicaid (both parts), auto expenses (gas, repairs, insurance), etc. Since most of these are fixed expenses over which I have no control, that leaves only advertising as a place to cut costs and this will also hurt your chances of reaching potential buyers. If I charge you a lower commission, I will have to offer you less in the form of advertising services. Karl Hosp, Your Spring Hill Realtor
Today's Thought
Friday August 10, 2007
Sorry about the no posting this week, but I have been busy catching up on all of things I didn't get done while I was out of town. The real estate market in Spring Hill and the rest of Hernando County is still slow. Homes for sale are in abundance and priced attractively, but buyers are still holding out, possibly due to questions regarding how the new legislative actions will really impact taxes and insurance. While the real estate market remains somewhat slow, it has become necessary for many realtors to work in other jobs at least part-time. Some realtors have left the business entirely. Gone are the days when you could make a living selling real estate with very little effort. Realtors who are still in the business, must now cultivate real relationships with their customers and go above and beyond the call of duty. Karl Hosp, Your Spring Hill Realtor
Today's Thought
Saturday August 11, 2007
I was going to have a garage sale at my home today, but decided to wait until next weekend to give me more time to get things prepared. There is a lot more to having a garage sale then just setting things out in the yard or driveway or just openning your garage door. You really only get one chance to get it right. Yea, you could just have another sale next week for things you didn't sell this week, but a lot of people who visit yard sales are regulars and they will remember you and just skip on by the second week or if they do show up they will expect rock bottom prices. In addition to that, it is very hot in Florida in August and most folks don't want to spend two weekends in a row standing in their front yard doing a sale. It is much better to get it right the first time!!