Backyard In Bloom!

If gardening is your passion,

there are plenty of properties in the area

where you can put your creative touches

into the landscape!

Annuals, perennials, Florida native plants,

the sky is the limit!

Contact me and I will help you

discover your own

backyard paradise!

October is "Florida Native Plant Month"

http://fnps.org/news/plantmonth

It's Florida Native Plant Month! 

Click on the link above to get some ideas on how you might introduce some

 wonderful native plants into your landscape! 

Before planting, please speak with the experts to determine 

which natives would be best for your yard. 

Happy Planting!

Monthly Florida Gardening Tasks!

Have you ever wondered what you should be doing every month in your Florida Garden?  Click on the link below and you will have suggestions for each month at your disposal.  

Link to Monthly Gardening Tasks!

TBT- 1996... My First New Construction Home!

Who can forget the first home they had built!!  This TBT post takes me back to the first home I had built.  It was 1996, Monee, IL.  It was a small builder, who semi-customized things for you, so it was definitely a step above "cookie cutter".  This floor plan called for gable ends, which I changed to a hip roof.  It also called for a bump out at the front, narrow entry and no utility door from the garage to the yard.  Because I was allowed to change some things, I created a flush front, gaining extra square footage in the bedrooms, moved the garage over 4 feet, widening the entry and created a hall closet at the front, added the octagon window at the entry, bayed all of the windows that I could, added lights on the side to break up that mass of brick and many interior items.  This process can be exciting, frustrating, confusing and more all at the same time.  Choosing flooring, fixtures, colors and everything that goes into a home from tiny samples and trying to envision the finished product is difficult, at best.  What is so exciting is starting to see it all come together.  This home was completed in 89 days.  The builder said 90!! haha  There were times I felt it would never get done, but by some miracle, it all came together.  Once the home was completed, I designed the complete landscape, designed and assisted in the building of the patio benches, trellises and gas fire pit.  This was going to be my last home......  I lied... and now I am here in Florida, living in my current..... last...... built..... home.

A Little Info About Myself!

I thought I would take a little time to introduce myself. My name is Mike. I am originally from Chicago and moved to the Tampa area in 2000. I settled in the Riverview area because of housing values. You could get more bang for your buck here than in other parts of Hillsborough County. I am most pleased with that decision. The area definitely feels like HOME!

I became a Realtor in 2004 and loved it. I did not have the sphere of influence that established agents had, but managed to get busy pretty quickly. I have clients all over Hillsborough County and Pinellas County. Each year I have improved my business and each year has been better than the previous. That takes into account the very GOOD years and now the very BAD ones! It just goes to show that people are purchasing homes in all markets. I have been a multi-million dollar producer each year.

I joined RE/MAX South Shore Realty in January of 2008 and just celebrated my first anniversary there. I work with wonderful agents and the Brokers, Ed and Bonnie Pichette, could not be any better! I donate part of each tranasction to Chilren's Miracle Network, a partner of RE/MAX.

I love to play volleyball and you can find me at the local YMCA playing several nights a week. I also volunteer my time coaching volleyball to young teens at the YMCA. This past December, I was fortunate enough to assist former Olympic Volleyballer Keba Phipps (1988, 2004) in a 27 hour clinic for these same girls at the YMCA. What a fun time THAT was! I cannot wait for the next one!

I also love to work in the garden. Call it therapy. I tried my luck with roses, but they all died, much to the dismay of the neighbor who is a rose EXPERT. I try to use a lot of Florida native plants in the garden and conserve water whenever possible. In fact, everything in the garden is now surviving on what Mother Nature gives them. It is always a work in progress, so there is always something to do.

In college, I was a swimmer and a cheerleader and would have played volleyball if there was a team. I support the Truman State swimmers (Women are Defending National Champs) and volleyballers (4th in Nation) and have gone to see the swimmers a couple times when they visit Tampa during their holiday break. I believe it is important to give back.... I also support the volleyball team, just because of my love for the sport. I am also a member of Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity and try to be as active as possible.

I am currently a member of the Tampa Bay Business Guild, Greater Tampa Assoc. of Realtors, Florida Assoc. of Realtors, National Assoc. of Realtors along with other organizations.

I would like to present to you in the blog, a realistic portrayal of the Riverview, Florida area market and statistics to help you make a good decision whether you are in the market to purchase or in the market to list and sell your property. I can assist you with either and look forward to the time I can. If you have any questions, let me know... just email me or leave a comment..... I'd love to hear from you all.

Here's to a great 2009!

Mike