How I came to be helping buyers at Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club.

I have been investing in real estate since the 1980's. That is a very long time and you would think that I would be so tired of it by now. In reality, finding a bargain still makes me excited and gives me lots of energy.

My story is a long one.....

I suddenly found myself to be a single mom. I had two very small boys to raise. I was an elementary school teacher and my boys needed daycare. There was no way I could live on my salary and pay daycare. I has to think of a way to make money and be able to take the boys with me.

I decided that I would use my summer vacations to make good money. That led me to investing in real estate. I started by purchasing small ugly homes that needed lots of work. My plan was to fix a home up over the summer and have it on the market when I went back to school. I thought that would be a good way to make money.

That is exactly what I did, and I ended up keeping some home for rentals. That is how my real estate investing career got started. I branched out to buying and managing apartment buildings and duplexes as well. After two years I retired from my career as an elementary teacher. I started teaching about real estate investing at Wealth Builder Seminars all over the country.

I wrote a book on real estate investing. The premise of the book was that women do make good real estate investors. I spent some time traveling to promote the book and speaking.

I became a licensed real estate agent as well and worked as a buyers agent for some large corporations. My job was to help relocating executives make a wise purchase in a home.

As the years passed, I began to do 1031 Exchanges from small properties into better ones. I did this over and over until I had three brand new homes in Kansas City. I rented these homes for $1500 per month and they went up in value.

I continued being a landlord and a realtor for many years until I thought I was just worn out with the whole thing. I had been working hard...... seven days a week. I made the decision to move to Florida and live a completely different kind of life. I wanted to sit in the sun and read books. I wanted to exercise and ride my bike. I pictured doing this for the rest of my life!!

That lasted for about six months and I learned to love Florida.

Then, it wasn't long until the old real estate "bug" bit me again and I wanted to start investing. I found myself driving the areas and finding houses that I could rehab. I got excited again.

I became licensed in Florida and jumped back in to the market. I studied the area and decided to buy homes in a gated golf course community. That is when I found Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club. I thought I could do a different kind of rental. I could furnish the homes and do vacation rentals. My rentals would attract nice clients and I would enjoy renting to them. I purchases two nice homes at Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club that had fabulous golf course lots overlooking the water.

I bought a couple of other homes to rehab and to sell. They sold as quickly as I put them on the market for far more than I paid for them. It was easy!!

The market was appreciating like crazy. All of my investments were working. Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club was appreciating like crazy. How easy this was!!..... BUT THEN.........

This leads me to today.... I am still working with clients who appreciate my service. But, property values have declined in Florida. Today you have to do your research. There are bargain properties everywhere. There are foreclosures and short sales.

I am seeing a phenomenon that I have never seen in my 30 years in real estate. Homes have depreciated in value. The

Tampa Bay Economy has been good. The real estate sector is really suffering.

I believe that as long as we have this fabulous weather our market will recover.

Today there are bargains to be had in Florida. That is what is making me want to get the word out. It is a great time to be a buyer. I want to work with clients at Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club. I know the area like the back of my hand.

For more information on Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club.

Please give me a call at 727 744 5796. That is my cell phone and I will be glad to get you information on new or resale homes.