Spacious 2-story Bank Owned home. Features incl. island kitchen and lots of ceramic tile...

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Live in style in the country. Impressive 2-story traditional home on over an acre of land. Upstairs can be easily converted to living space.

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Move-in-ready. Built in 2006. Fantastic curb appeal with stone accents and side-entry garage. Many upgrades...

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The futuristic architect was first contacted in 1938 by Dr. Ludd Spivey, then president of FSC, to design a campus in Lakeland, Florida. Although FSC had no money to spend on special architecture, Spivey assured Wright that if he were to design the buildings, the money would be raised. Wright first visited Lakeland at the age of 67 in 1938 and his basic plan included 18 buildings, constructed of steel, sand and glass, coming "out of the ground, and into the light, a child of the sun" to quote Wright himself.

The Annie Pfeiffer Chapel was the first of the buildings to be constructed in the orange groves of southern Lakeland. It was dedicated on March 9, 1941. Construction of three seminar units quickly followed and people gathered to see Wright when he visited the Lakeland construction sites, often in a cape and carrying a walking stick.

The E.T. Roux Library (renamed the Thad Buckner Building in 1968) was built next and dedicated in 1945. It's interesting to note that the construction of these first three buildings was done by students willing to work to pay their tuition, an arrangement instituted by President Spivey.

The Emile E. Watson-Benjamin Fine Administration Building and the J. Edgar Wall Waterdome were next, with the Waterdome being completed in 1948. During this time 1.5 miles of esplanades, extending from the library to the Administration building were also being built. After the construction of the Ordway Arts Building, the esplanades were continued from the Seminar Buildings to the Ordway Arts Building and back to the chapel, completing the quadrangle.

Construction on the Danforth Chapel was completed in 1955 with the $1,000,000 Polk County Science Building, completed in 1958, rounding out the 20 years that Frank Lloyd Wright was involved in the building of Lakeland's Florida Southern College campus.

With its abundant offering of sunny days every year, Lakeland makes us all children of the sun. Contact Damion Boyce to help you find your home in the sun. The Boyce Team has many beautiful homes to offer, and although they may not have been designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, they are still quite impressive and worth a look.

Golf Course - 3 Bedroom, 2.5 Bath, Two-Story with 2-car Garage.  Features Include Large Living Room, 2nd floor Loft/Family Room and Large Lanai with In-ground Pool.

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Purpose of Your Pool's Pump

Paul Roth, a member of the Florida Swimming Pool Association, an industry trade group, explains that the purpose of the pool pump is to circulate the pool water through the skimmer and main drain(s), through the filter and back into the pool. The pool filtration system depends on the pump being in operation.

Pool owners must realize that although pool water may be clear and look clean to the naked eye, it may in fact not have the proper chemical balance. Even though the floater of chlorine tablets is moving randomly around the pool, in actuality pool chemicals need the water circulation created by the pump to properly circulate them throughout the pool so that they can do their work on bacteria.

Interior Pool Damage

Roth further contends that concentrated chlorine tablets that are not properly circulated throughout the pool can damage the pool's interior as well by pitting plaster or gunite pool surfaces. Pitting or etching is also more likely to occur in pools whose chemical balances are not kept at an optimum level throughout the year. This can be a very costly problem to fix, usually requiring replastering of the pool's interior surfaces. It's also helpful to the pump itself to run since this heats up the motor and evaporates the humidity and water that can harm the motor.

So while enjoying life in the subtropical climate of central Florida, there is certain maintenance on the area amenities that needs to be continued even when the weather cools down a bit. Taking care of your pool properly year-round will go a long way to keeping it in good working order.

Finding Your Lakeland Dream Home

Finding a great home in Lakeland, with or without its own pool, is the job of Damion Boyce and the Boyce Team. Damion has the resources to help you determine that the home-with-a-pool that you're considering is in tiptop shape before you purchase it. Call the Boyce Team today to find your little piece of paradise.

SOUTH LAKELAND - 4 Bedroom, 2 Bath, Block Home with 2-car attached garage.  Features include Formal Areas, Family Room, Split Bedroom Plan and Huge Screened Lanai...

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1. The number one must-have is a large kitchen, preferably with an island. Most people feel that the kitchen is the heart of their home. Of course, it's where meals are prepared, but it's also often the gathering place for the whole family. Even when entertaining friends, everyone often winds up in the kitchen. Fill it with energy-efficient appliances to help save on energy costs.

2. A home office or study is a room that many people now consider a must-have. More people work from home, and in this electronic age, almost everyone has a computer and needs a place to keep and use it out of the general traffic flow. Consequently, such areas as formal dining rooms and home theaters are being shunned for the more popular home office.

3. As baby boomers grow older and become empty nesters, often downsizing and moving from the northern states to more weather-friendly areas such as Lakeland, having the master bedroom and bathroom on the main floor is becoming more popular. And as an offshoot of this move downstairs, utility rooms are also more often being located on the main floor.

4. Simple, fairly inexpensive in the grand scheme of things, and able to help heat and cool rooms efficiently at a minimal cost, ceiling fans have moved into the realm of must-haves in Lakeland homes. Gently circulating cooled air in the warmer months while pushing rising warm air back down to humans' levels in the heating season has made them a great choice for home owners.

5. Last on our list, but certainly not least, two-car garages are a definite must-have. Or for the more affluent, three-car garages where the third bay is often used to store yard equipment, outdoor toys, bikes or tools.

If these items are on the list as must-have for your new Lakeland home, Damion Boyce and the Boyce Team can help you find a house with all these amenities. Contact Damion Boyce today and let him or his team members show you properties you're sure to love in the Lakeland area.

Good Northside Location. Close to Lakeland Square Mall. 2 story home. 5 BR 2.5 bath. Close to I-4 access. Large open living area. Great Master Bath. Plenty of room.

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Great family home. Ready to move right in. Great room, formal dining room, double garage, nice yard. Located only minutes to Lakeland Square Mall and I-4.

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Furnished home with open floor plan, parquet flooring, screened lanai with vinyl windows, eating space in kitchen, inside utility, and built in china cabinet. Community features lake stocked with fish and Lake Walking Path. Video security surveillance at the Clubhouse, Pool and Parking Lot around the clock. Large Clubhouse, Heated Pool, Outdoor Covered SPA, Indoor Sauna, Health Fitness Center, Shuffle Courts, Billiard Tables, Horseshoes, Bingo, Cards, Crafts, Library and much more.

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Dixieland's streets were in place and a water system installed by the time Carter and Deen inserted ads in local newspapers touting Dixieland as a "fashionable suburb" of Lakeland as well as the "surest, safest investment in Florida."

Dixieland continued to grow in the next few decades, becoming both a residential and commercial neighborhood. Private residences in Florida's popular bungalow style during the 1920's and 40's represent about one-third of the neighborhood's residential homes.

A historic site survey completed in 1993 confirmed the number of historic buildings over 50 years old in the neighborhood and the Lakeland City Commissioners gave Dixieland "historic district status". Dixieland was also later placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Dixieland Historic District is bounded by Walnut Street, South Florida Avenue, Lenox Street and Hartsell Avenue.

Revitalization efforts have continued in Dixieland since the 1990's, and regulations were adopted in 2000 to preserve its architectural heritage. While only the exteriors of the buildings are covered by these regulations, before any demolition or renovation can occur, property owners are required to get city approval, thus ensuring the historic heritage of the area.

These and many other amazing neighborhoods can be found in the beautiful city of Lakeland, Florida. If you're looking for a special place to call home in Lakeland, why not contact Damion Boyce first and let the Boyce Team help you locate the home of your dreams in one of Lakeland's special neighborhoods today.

Contemporary home features ceramic tile, carpet, screened porch, 2-car garage, brick paver drive and much more...

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Super location!! This is a 4br 2 bath home in N lakeland located behind the Lakeland Square Mall with easy access to I-4 for Tampa or Orlando commute.Lennar built home. Fairly new.Good condtion. Needs range and refigerator. Open and roomy. Vaulted ceilings. Inside laundry. Breakfast nook in kitchen. Oak cabinets. Large garage. Wont last long. 

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We all know Florida is a wonderful place to reside, with it's year-round warm weather. Termites like it too! They enjoy the moisture that accumulates when higher humidity and summer rains show up. They love all the beautiful landscaping we do since it often involves mulch that holds the moisture in the ground. Here are a few things you can do to keep these dreaded creatures from setting up housekeeping near your Lakeland home.

1. Mulch. Since wood is the food of choice for termites, the point where the wood of your home meets the ground is where they like to live, especially if moisture is present as well. When landscaping close to the house, don't put mulch against your home's foundation. In fact, most termite experts recommend that mulch be no closer than one foot from your home. One of the main purposes of mulch is to hold moisture for your plants, which is a good thing. Not such a good thing, however, is keeping the soil moist for your termites!

2. Water. Don't let water stand in your gutters and downspouts, as this becomes another source for termites. Also be sure to eliminate moisture that may be in crawl spaces under the house. Dark, moist spaces are the dream home of termites!

3. Firewood. If you have stacks of firewood on your property, be sure it's stored at least several feet away from the house. The wood itself can harbor these pests, so also be careful when cutting or buying the firewood in the first place. Check it out to make sure you're not bringing home unwanted problems.

4. Termite Inspections. Have your home inspected for termites and treated if they are detected. Getting rid of them before they can do structural damage to your home is a MUST. A healthy infestation of these bugs can quickly do major damage before you realize it so keeping a watch on things is very important. Some companies also offer preventive treatments.

When purchasing a home in Lakeland, The Boyce Team can provide you with the names of termite inspectors to check out the home you're considering. And if you're still looking for just the right home, they can certainly help with that as well. Contact Damion Boyce today and find a new home for yourself - but NOT for the dreaded termites!

The population of Lakeland is about 90,000 people, making it Florida's 19th most populated city. 171,000 more people live in a 7-mile radius of the city proper. Money Magazine recently rated Lakeland as its 10th "Best Place to Live in America."

Those planning a move from the north will be happy to hear that Lakeland averages 330 sunshiney days per year. While July is the warmest month of the year with an average high temperature of 95 degrees, gentle breezes are usually stirring by 10 a.m. making golf possible even in the warmest months, especially for those who live here year-round and whose bodies seem to adjust to the warmer temperatures.

There is lots of wild life to see in Lakeland as well. You'll enjoy egrets, ibises, sand hill cranes, blue herons, pink spoonbills and, on occasion, wood storks. Exotic alligators live among us as well as turtles, deer, raccoons, bunnies and squirrels.

And, yes, there are even tigers in Lakeland. The Detroit Tigers baseball team, that is. They take their spring training in Tigertown at the 8,500 seat Joker Marchant stadium on Lakeland Hills Blvd. These big cats have been here every spring since 1934, except for the war years of 1943-45.

Lakelanders enjoy over 40 golf courses, the world's largest one-site collection of architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright at Florida Southern College, and an easy commute to Disney World, Sea World, Busch Gardens, Dinosaur World and Universal Studios.

Gulf beaches, including St. Pete Beach and Clearwater Beach, are within about an hour's drive of Lakeland while a two to three-hour drive to the east will get sun lovers to Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach or even to Cape Canaveral where the John F. Kennedy Space Center is located.

And the world's best strawberries can be found about a half hour from Lakeland at Plant City. Stop at the annual Strawberry Festival for an out-of-this-world strawberry shortcake. Even after the festival ends, the berries continue to please at local fruit stands in the area.

Beautiful Lakeland is in the heart of much of what makes Florida an exciting place to reside. Now's the time to make the move from the cold northern states to sunny Florida. Let the Boyce Team find you the perfect home, whether you're a retiree wanting to relocate, a snowbird or a family with kids, there's something in Lakeland for everyone to enjoy year round.

So you've made the decision to sell your Lakeland home. You have Damion Boyce as your realtor, all lined up and ready to sell your home, the paperwork has been taken care of, the carpets are cleaned and other deep cleaning has already been done. Now all you need are some buyers ready to see your home and fall in love with it.

Here are a few tips to make sure your home is ready at a moment's notice for prospective buyers to see it and get that "gotta-have-it" feeling. Let's consider what needs to be done on a daily basis, preferably first thing in the morning, room by room:

1. Kitchen. Be sure all dirty dishes are either washed, dried and put away or at the very least, stashed in the dishwasher. Give the sink a quick swipe with a rag and cleanser and polish the faucets to make them shine. Wipe off the counters (no crumbs, please), and put away clean dishes, snacks, loose dishtowels and dishcloths or anything else that could be construed as clutter. Sweep the floor, brush the crumbs off the toaster, wipe up any spills anywhere in the room, remembering to check the floor and stove top as well. If the kitchen wastebasket is overflowing, take out the trash! And please, no leftover coffee in the coffeepot either.

2. Living or Family Room. It should go without saying, but I'll say it anyway - get rid of clutter. No dirty dishes from the night before, no DVD's, newspapers, chip clips, snacks, magazines, or any other loose junk can be left lying around if you want prospective buyers to feel comfortable in your home. Fluff the couch pillows, fold up any afghans or other throws, put footstools where they belong and box up the dog's toys. Dust any surfaces that need it and sweep up any undesirable dirt lying about.

3. Bedrooms. This is the foremost bedroom tip - make the beds! Then, pick up dirty clothes, the jewelry you wore yesterday and neaten your bedside stands. Put away extra shoes and slippers and be sure you don't leave your coffee cup in the bedroom when you leave for work.

4. Bathrooms. Take a wet wipe or a rag and cleanser and tidy up the sink. Be sure to wipe down the faucets till they sparkle like diamonds. A quick swish of the toilet brush will get the potty in shape and by spraying the shower after each use, you may be able to avoid any shower cleaning at all! Shake or sweep any rugs that are showing lint or loose hair. And of course, as in every other room in the house, put away any clutter such as combs or brushes, toiletries, and make-up.

As you can see, clutter is now your enemy. So get rid of it before it multiplies when you aren't looking. Remember, this is the day that the new owners of your house may decide to pay a visit so you must be ready!

The Boyce Team is ready and waiting to help you sell your Lakeland home, or if you prefer, buy a Lakeland home. They know lots more tips to help your house sell quickly, so why not contact them today!

After hitting an all-time low in late December of last year, 2009, mortgage rates were on the rise. As of January 5th, 2010, rates for 30-year fixed mortgages had risen four weeks in a row, but have dropped again as of January 12th. Here are some statistics on the weekly averages in current mortgage rates being quoted for borrowers in the U.S.:

30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Rates:

12/01/09: 4.62% (Lowest on record since April, 2008)

12/08/09: 4.67%

12/15/09: 4.72%

12/22/09: 4.77%

12/29/09: 4.93%

01/05/10: 5.05%

01/12/10: 4.99%

15-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Rates:

12/01/09: 4.19%

12/08/09: 4.20%

12/15/09: 4.21%

12/22/09: 4.24%

12/29/09: 4.37%

01/05/10: 4.48%

01/12/10: 4.41%

5/1 ARMS:

12/01/09: 3.74%

12/08/09: 3.74%

12/15/09: 3.81%

12/22/09: 3.85%

12/29/09: 3.98%

01/05/10: 4.15%

01/12/10: 4.06%

As we said, rates have risen in the past weeks, but they're still very low and this is still a great time to purchase a new home. If buying a new home is on the horizon for your family, contact Damion Boyce and the Boyce Team to see listings that are available in the Lakeland area. This is also a great time to leave the cold confines of the northern U.S. and see what it's like to live where temperatures are more moderate year round.

If you're a first-time home buyer or a home-owner who has owned the house you're selling for at least the past eight years and lived in it for five, you may qualify for the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit. Let The Boyce Team determine if you qualify, and get ready to move into your new home.

As we know, Florida is a mecca for retirees and snowbirds. Many of these people find themselves with lots of possessions and a big house they no longer need now that the kids have their own places. So one of the basics of retiring to Florida often includes downsizing from the previous home.

If you fit this category, here are a few tips that you may find helpful in deciding what to get rid of and how to go about it before your move to Lakeland.

1. Determine What to Keep. If you know the size of your new home, or at least the range of square feet that you're planning on purchasing, you'll be better able to select what larger pieces of furniture to keep and what must go. If you have 3 bedrooms now and will only have 2 at the new location, pick and choose the best pieces to fill the 2 new rooms and get rid of the rest. If you currently have a room for a home office and will now only have room for a small desk, you might consider visiting an office store for organizational storage.

2. Sort Out Any Must-Have Items. Everyone has some things they just can't seem to be able to part with. Go through your house and determine what these items are so you can be sure you'll have enough space for them in your new home.

3. Ask Relatives What They Want. Once you've determined what to keep, you may want to send a list of the remaining items to your children or other relatives so they can make known what they would like to have. Using their lists of choices, you can then make the final determination as to who gets what.

4. Sell or Give Away the Rest. For items that you don't plan to move with you, and relatives don't want them either, you may want to have a garage sale or sell them on consignment. If neither of these choices seems attractive, you can simply give them to charity. In fact, many local charities will often come directly to your home and pick them up.

5. Use Colored Stickies to Keep Track of Items. As you go through the process of choosing things to move with, what to give to friends and relatives, and what to sell or give away, it's helpful to put colored stickies on each item to enable you to easily keep track of what is going where.

6. Pare Down Kitchen Items. If kitchen cabinet space will be at a premium at your new abode, empty your cabinets, determine what you want to take, and see how many cabinets this will fill. Repeat this process of elimination until you're only taking what you'll have room to store. Chances are, once you're in your new home, you won't even miss the items you left behind.

If you're planning on downsizing and moving to Lakeland, let the Boyce Team help you find the perfect house for you. If you already live in Lakeland and just want a fresh start, they have many listings from which to choose a great new home.

In 2006, 80% of prospective home buyers were searching for homes on the Internet, in 2007, there were 84% and by 2008 the count was up to 87%.

Back in 1997, only 2% of home buyers found the home they wound up purchasing on the Internet while 50% found it through a realtor. In 2008, 32% found their home on the web with only 34% finding it through a realtor.

While all this Internet surfing can be a viable way of finding your new home, don't discount what a local realtor can do to help in your search. Here are some things you'll want to remember when searching for your new home in Lakeland:

1. Remember There's More to Buying a Home than Just Finding It. While finding the perfect home is the exciting part of home buying, there's also a lot of paperwork involved with the purchase of property. A real estate agent is used to working with the paper portion of home buying and can often save the home buyer money. So while you may be able to save money by not having to pay a realtor's fee, you may also lose both time and money resolving title problems, survey inaccuracies or other things by yourself that realtors are already familiar with.

2. Be Sure to See All the Homes that Fit Your Criteria. All houses for sale in the area you're searching are not listed on all real estate search websites. Therefore, you may be missing some houses that would be the perfect match for you and your family. By using a realtor to help you search, the homes that don't match your criteria can be filtered out, while those that meet all your needs can be shown to you in a timely manner.

3. Beware of Internet Real Estate Scams. Be sure the sites you're searching are reliable. There is a lot of scamming going on over the Internet these days, so it pays to be very careful. If a site doesn't have pictures of the home, it may not be legitimate. Most realtors use pictures with watermarks so this is another thing to look for, although savvy scammers may use watermarks as well.

4. Don't Rely Too Heavily on Home Values Found on the Internet. While the site you're searching may be quite legitimate, home values on the Internet may not be very accurate and reliable as they may not be using all the information a local realtor has at their disposal.

When looking for a home in Lakeland, it's fun to search on the Internet and get ideas of what's available. But when it comes time to buy, why not contact Damion Boyce and get professional advice on finding and purchasing your new home. Buying a home is a big investment and needs to be done correctly to avoid problems down the line. Start your web search by seeing some of the listings The Boyce Team is offering in Lakeland.