Folks, as every week for the past weeks you will find my weekly report below to offer you with an inside on what is happening in the Residential Real Estate Market for Lakeland, FL. This report is by zip code and is in my opinion more accurate than measuring by school zones, since school zone changes are in progress and Realtors® not always input the school zones into the Multiple Listing.

There are currently 2388 properties for sale, which is a decrease of 52 listings reported the previous week. Last week’s average sales price increased modestly. However, the average sold price increased almost 20% compared to my prior report of the Lakeland Residential Weekly Market Report 3/17/08-3/24/08.

So far, for the month of March, the Mid-Florida Regional MLS reports that 25 homes sold in Lakeland were in foreclosure, pre-foreclosure, bank owned, and/or required 3^rd party approval (short sale). The average sold price was $104,662 with an average of $73.65 per square feet. However, a total of 124 homes were sold by Realtors®, who had sellers that had not distressed homes; the average sold price for such properties were $182,390 with an average of $105.43 per square feet.

My weekly report is obtained from the Mid-Florida Regional MLS, it is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. This report does not include “For Sale By Owner”.

If you are interested in a specific area or neighborhood, feel free to contact me at petra@petranorris.com

Copyright © 2008 http://www.petranorris.com| All Rights Reserved |

Lakeland Residential Weekly Market Report for 3/24/08-3/31/08

Petra Norris - CDV TransAtlantic, Inc. - Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker -

PO Box 92050 - Lakeland, FL 33804-2050 - Telephone (863) 618-6919

This blog is solely my point of view

Did you purchase a home last year and you had to take out private mortgage insurance (PMI)?

This will be the first time that you will be able to deduct the full premium on this year’s federal tax return if your adjusted gross income is $100,000 or less. Families with incomes between $100,000 and $109,000 are eligible for a reduced deduction. According to Kevin Schneider, president of the Mortgage Insurance Companies of America (MICA), this year’s tax break could be worth $350.00 per taxpayer - an annual deduction that qualified homeowners can take each year through 2010.

Congress approved this tax deduction in late 2006, which applied to loans with mortgage insurance that closed in 2007. Congress also voted to extend the mortgage insurance tax deduction through 2010, this extension was part of the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007.

The business section of the Lakeland Ledger reports the housing market continues to have difficulties in Polk County and across the State of Florida.

Folks, as every week for the past few weeks you will find my weekly report below to offer you with an inside on what is happening in the Residential Real Estate Market for Lakeland, FL. This report is by zip code and is in my opinion more accurate than measuring by school zones, since school zone changes are in progress and Realtors® not always input the school zones into the Multiple Listing.

There are currently 2440 properties for sale, which is an increase of 46 listings reported the previous week. Last week’s average sales price increased modestly. However, the average sold price decreased almost 29% compared to my prior report of the Lakeland Residential Weekly Market Report 3/10/08-3/17/08.

For the month of February, a total of 135 Residential Homes have sold for an average price of $169,791, which is a decline of 13% from the previous year. There were also 125 Listings that have expired and have not re-listed.

My weekly report is obtained from the Mid-Florida Regional MLS, it is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. This report does not include “For Sale By Owner”.

If you are interested in a specific area or neighborhood, feel free to contact me at petra@petranorris.com

Copyright © 2008 http://www.petranorris.com| All Rights Reserved |

Lakeland Residential Weekly Market Report for 3/17/08-3/24/08

Petra Norris - CDV TransAtlantic, Inc. - Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker
This blog is solely my point of view

Harrison School for the Arts Music Department will present their Jazz and Chamber Winds Concert on Thursday, March 27 at 7:30 p.m.

You will hear some of the selections performed by The Harrison Jazz Band that includes: Morning Dance by Spyro Gyra, Switch in Time by Sammy Nestico, and A Night in Tunisia by Dizzy Gillespie.

Spyro Gyra performing Morning Dance

The Chamber Winds will perform selections such as: Jack Hawes’ Pieces of Eight and Walther Lampe’s Serenade op. 7. The Harrison Orchestra Department is under the direction of Rob Lambert and Matt Davis.

Tickets are $5.00 for students and senior citizens and $7.00 for adults and can be purchased online at Harrison School for the Arts web site or at the box office located in the Patrick Mitchell gallery on 750 Hollingsworth Road in Lakeland next to Lakeland High School. The box office opens at 6:00 p.m.

Copyright © 2008 http://www.petranorris.com| All Rights Reserved -

Harrison School for the Arts - Jazz/Chamber Concert

Petra Norris - CDV TransAtlantic, Inc. - Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker
This blog is solely my point of view

Please join me when these gifted Piano Students present their annual Spring Piano Concert on Tuesday, March 25 at 7:30 p.m.

This piano concert will not only feature solo piano repertoire of Mozart, Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, and Debussy; but also feature a Romance of Sergei Rachmaninoff written for six hands; Ritual Fire Dance of Manuel de Falla, and a movement of the Sonata for Two Pianos of Claude Bolling. Bolling’s piece depicts a musical duel between a “classical” and “jazz” pianist’s including drums and bass. There is a little something for everyone at this concert. The piano students are under the direction of Rebekah Haubry.

The concert takes place in the Harrison School for the Arts Theatre located at 750 Hollingsworth Road in Lakeland, next to Lakeland High School. The theatre has room for 650 patrons. Tickets are $5.00 for students and senior citizens and $7.00 for adults. You may purchase tickets online at Harrison School for the Arts web site.

Pictures provided by Dawn Kahre

Copyright © 2008 http://www.petranorris.com| All Rights Reserved –

Harrison School for the Arts – Piano Concert

Petra Norris - CDV TransAtlantic, Inc. - Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker
This blog is solely my point of view

Hello, as every week for the past few weeks you will find my weekly report below to give you an inside on what is happening in the Residential Real Estate Market for Lakeland, FL. This report is by zip code and is in my opinion more accurate than measuring by school zones, since school zone changes are in progress and Realtors® not always input the school zones into the Multiple Listing.

There are currently 2394 properties for sale, which is minimal increase of 9 listings reported the previous week. Last week’s average sales price increased modestly. However, the average sold price decreased by 3% compared to my prior report of the Lakeland Residential Weekly Market Report 3/03/08-3/10/08.

My weekly report is obtained from the Mid-Florida Regional MLS, it is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. This report does not include “For Sale By Owner”.

If you are interested in a specific area or neighborhood, feel free to contact me at petra@petranorris.com

Copyright © 2008 http://www.petranorris.com| All Rights Reserved |

Lakeland Residential Weekly Market Report for 3/10/08-3/17/08

Petra Norris - CDV TransAtlantic, Inc. - Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker
This blog is solely my point of view

If you missed the Harrison School for the Arts theatre sold out performances last month “Pride and Prejudice”.  You’re in for a treat at this year’s Spring Choral Concert on March 20, 2008 @ 7:30 p.m.

 picture provided by Dawn Kahre

The Harrison Chorus will be premiering the “Opera in a Box” program for the middle schools with an abbreviated presentation of Hansel and Gretel during the first half of the concert.  The second half will include songs from around the globe, including Japan, Brazil, Africa, England, and more. The choral students are under the direction of Judy McLaurin.

Tickets are $5.00 for students and senior citizens and $7.00 for adults. You may purchase your tickets on-line at Harrison School for the Arts web site or on the evening of the performance at the Harrison School for the Arts Box Office. Enjoy the evening with these talented young artists!

Watch out for more upcoming performances in the near future!

Copyright © 2008 http://www.petranorris.com| All Rights Reserved

Petra Norris -CDV TransAtlantic, Inc. - Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker
This blog is solely my point of view

Below you will find my weekly report to give you an inside on what is happening in the Residential Real Estate Market for Lakeland, FL by zip code.

There are currently 2385 properties for sale, which is a decrease of 19 listings reported the previous week. Last week’s average sales price decreased modestly as well as the average sold price had an insignificant increase compared to my prior report Lakeland Residential Weekly Market Report 2/25/08 - 3/03/08.

My weekly report is obtained from the Mid-Florida Regional MLS, it is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. This report does not include “For Sale By Owner”.

If you are interested in a specific area or neighborhood, feel free to contact me at petra@petranorris.com

Copyright © 2008 http://www.petranorris.com| All Rights Reserved

Petra Norris - CDV TransAtlantic, Inc. - Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker
This blog is solely my point of view

My First Concert

I remember when I was young, about 10 years old. Now growing up in the early 70s in a small German town my siblings and I were excited to hear that “The Les Humphries Singers” were in the same town my older sister lived in about 15 miles away from my hometown, we visited that sunny Sunday afternoon.

My parents did not have any money for us to attend, so we just walked down to see if we could get a glimpse of the very popular group. The concert was in an oversized tent, if you have ever been to the Oktoberfest in Munich, you know what I’m talking about. The tent was only half the size of a tent at the Oktoberfest. As the group got off their tour bus walking past me, people were cheering and kids were screaming.

Well, the officials closed the tent and all you hear is them singing their songs. My brothers and I were trying to look through the holes in the tent, when suddenly a man came up and asked us if we would like to see it? Yes, we would like to but we don’t have any money. To our surprise, this gentleman, just let us in. We inched our way to the front of the stage and there they were, singing songs like “We’ll Fly You to the Promised Land”,  “Kansas City” and “Mexico”, dancing right in front of me – up close and personal! Unforgettable to this day!

Now, as you think back it seems funny when you shop for clothing you find the style of clothing that you wore in the 70s - perhaps at your First Concert?

Lakeland Residential Weekly Market Report 

Below you will find my weekly report to give you an inside on what is happening in the Residential Real Estate Market for Lakeland, FL.   There are currently 2404 properties for sale, which is a decrease of 14 listings reported the previous week. Although the average sold price decreased by 6% from last week, the amount of 29 closed properties increased this past week from the previous reported week.

My weekly report is obtained by the Mid-Florida Regional MLS, it is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. This report does not include “For Sale By Owner”.

If you are interested in a specific area or neighborhood, feel free to contact me at petra@petranorris.com