The stunt has been in works for months and the grand event was held yesterday evening as thousands watched from the beach. Angel said before the event, “It is going to be one of the biggest, baddest, craziest escapes I have ever done in my career.” Criss vowed to his mother to no longer perform life threatening tricks.

The stunt involved 450 sticks of dynamite, 4,500 tons of cement, hand cuffs, and a helicopter. He had 3 minutes and 30 seconds to exit before the dynamite leveled the building.

Angel says he chose Clearwater because no other city in the country would allow him to perform the dangerous stunt. “We’ve been looking for a building now for nine months, and no one would allow me to be in a building that would be imploding,” he said.

Good work Criss and to the Spyglass Hotel, you will be missed.

Here is a link to Bay News 9 wrap up of Criss Angel’s amazing escape from the implosion.

Here is a blog posting and video from Tampa Bay’s 10 Adam Vance, who was in the vicinity filming reporting from a helicopter.

The city sponsored web site is called BillionDollarBeach.com and appears to be current with the condo, development, and beautification projects underway on Clearwater Beach. The City of Clearwater is planning to be one of world’s most desirable tourist destinations. According to the site, there is more than a billion dollars of investment flowing into the Beach area.

In our opinion, Clearwater, Florida has always been one of the worlds most desirable tourist destinations. The new and “improved” will be more desirable to some and less desirable to others. Only time will tell how Clearwater Beach will end up. We will be watching closely.

Thanks to John Jacobsen for the awesome photo!

We have concluded based upon our preferences the best values are the following:

Harbourside, South Pasadena (St. Petersburg), FL
South Beach I & II, Sand Key (Clearwater Beach), FL
Envoy Point East, St. Pete Beach, FL

The main similarity the above mentioned communities have in common is that they are large, well maintained communities with many units. The more units, the more competition.

Get in touch with us if you want to take a look for yourself.

As many know, condo living can be difficult for pet owners because 95% of the condominiums either don’t allow pets or only small pets. I have been doing research for a customer and have identified multiple buildings that have great views and relaxed pet policies.

The criteria : Amazing Views, Allow 30 lb. dog, Minimum 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, $300,000 range, washer and dryer in the unit.

Here are a few options:

• Bayside Gardens - Clearwater Beach (Sand Key), FL
• Captains Cove - Indian Shores, FL
• Bahia Del Mar - St. Petersburg (Isla Del Sol), FL
• Capri Lagoons Club - Treasure Island, FL

There can be many more options depending on your situation. Send us your criteria and we will see how many properties will work for you.

Reflecting disharmony. Remove or cover large mirrors in the bedroom if you don’t sleep well.

Room with a view. Place your bed to give you the widest view of the room. Your bed shouldn’t be in direct line with the door. Paint the bedroom walls in a color scheme that is both pleasant and inviting.

Calming sounds. Hang wind chimes outside your front door to create a soothing environment for occupants and guests.

Writing on the wall. Try to avoid having completely bare walls. Group together non-personal pictures or hang up interesting art pieces in a diagonal or staggered pattern.

Go with the flow. Place a blue or black doormat at your front door to encourage good things to flow in like water.

The color of love. Include the romance colors–white, pink and red–in your room. But don’t overdose with a red wall because too much red can trigger anger.

Plants for energy. Healthy plants generate positive energy. Avoid dried flowers because they have no energy left.

Look overhead. Move beds, couches and desks from under any overhead beams to keep energy flowing.

Less is more. When arranging furniture,less is better. Too much clutter can restrict the potential of a great room.

Create positive impressions. Keep counters clean, closets organized and clutter concealed in order to project an organized and stress-free environment for you and your guests.

Reprinted with permission from Buffini & Company.

The baby alligator photo is courtesy of John Jacobsen. John is a regular participant in the photography contest Boyd Hill Nature Preserve hosts on an annual basis.

The road to a successful short sale can be slow, complicated, and time consuming, however can be the best option for a seller who has a negative equity position in their property.

The most important thing to remember is that the bank does not want to lose money. It is necessary to convince the lender that they will lose FAR LESS money by doing a short sale than by foreclosing on the property.

Here are the basic items you will need in your tool box to convince the bank(s) to accept a short sale:

1. Time - It will take time to prepare the documentation and contact the correct department at the bank.
2. Patience & Persistence - Remember “You attract more flies with Honey than Vinegar.” Be calm and patient with the people at the bank. They are not going to make it easy, but be patient and persistent and keep calling until you get to the correct person. Once you get the correct person or department, document everything discussed as well as their complete contact information including an e-mail address.
3. Request a Short Sale Package - The package will detail the process and documents you need to complete to start the short sale process.
4. Prepare a Hardship Letter - The hardship letter is a detailed description of why you ended up in this situation. Be as specific as possible. The more heart wrenching the better.
5. 2 Years of Tax Returns
6. 2 Months Pay Stubs (if employed)
7. At Least 2 Months of Bank Statements
8. Financial Worksheet - This is a list of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. Most lenders will have their own form to complete.

The above list are the basic items you need in your tool box to negotiate with the bank. Of course, it is always best to consult someone who has experience with the short sale process such as a Realtor or an Attorney. Make sure to ask if they have successfully negotiated short sales in the past.

The city of Seminole is located in Pinellas County Florida and neighbored by Largo to the north, St. Petersburg to the south, Pinellas Park to the east, the intercoastal waterway to the west, and within minutes of the gulf beaches. Seminole is home to a large retiree population, seasonal residents and is also popular with younger families because of the great reputation of the school system and for its central location in the county. Seminole is known for great fishing, boating, hiking, biking trails, and outdoor recreation at Lake Seminole Park, which consists of 250 acres adjacent to Lake Seminole. Whatever your interest, it is sure to be found in Seminole, Florida.