Valerie Barber, REALTOR: Shop Small, Shop Local

09/22/2026

Trivia Tuesday: Did you know Sweden switched from driving on the left side of the road to the right side in just 10 minutes?

On September 3, 1967, all traffic in Sweden came to a stop at 4:50 a.m. Then at 5:00 a.m., drivers carefully moved over and continued on the right side of the road. This major change was called Dagen H, or H-Day.

The switch took years of planning. Traffic lights were moved, bus stops were updated, intersections were redesigned, and road signs were changed to prepare for the big day. Surprisingly, the transition went so smoothly that accident and injury numbers actually dropped afterward.

Now that is a piece of history worth remembering. Would you have wanted to be on the road that morning?

09/18/2026

Trivia on a FriYAY!

Ever feel like September goes by too fast? In 1752, it literally did.

When Britain switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, the two systems were already 11 days out of sync. To fix it, September 2, 1752 was followed by September 14.

That means September 3 through September 13 simply did not exist on the British calendar that year.

The change was necessary because the Julian calendar slightly miscalculated the length of a solar year. Over centuries, those few extra minutes added up and caused the calendar to drift away from the seasons.

Here’s another interesting fact: 1751 was only 282 days long in Britain because the country also changed when the new year officially began.

History has a funny way of reminding us that even something as ordinary as the calendar had to be redesigned over time.

Would you have been okay losing 11 days, or would you have wanted them back? 😄

09/18/2026

This one is already pending but if you want one similar, please let me know!

09/18/2026

This home was build LAST YEAR! It still even has the warranty!

09/18/2026

This home is already ready for the holidays! You can be moved in by then and possibly even keep the Christmas tree!

Hanson Real Estate Group, Inc. is a family-owned brokerage serving Central Florida. Our expert agents specialize in buying, selling, and investing in residential, land, and commercial properties—all with focus on integrity & honesty. It’s in our Roots!

09/18/2026

This is 5 acres of "do whatever you want with it" (well, almost).

Hanson Real Estate Group, Inc. is a family-owned brokerage serving Central Florida. Our expert agents specialize in buying, selling, and investing in residential, land, and commercial properties—all with focus on integrity & honesty. It’s in our Roots!

09/18/2026

I couldn't have said it better myself! The right time to buy is when you are ready.

Let's put it in perspective: in the early 2000s, the average interest rate was 6.5%. Historically, going back to 1971, the typical average was closer to 7.75%. But hey, at least it isn’t the early 1980’s when interest rates were double digits (18-20%).

09/18/2026

The August numbers are in for the Lake County real estate market, and this month brought one noticeable change: homes moved faster. Inventory stayed steady at 4.6 months, the median sale price increased slightly to $399,215, and homes went under contract in a median of 44 days, down from 57 days in July.

Buyers still have choices and some negotiating room, while sellers need to stay focused on pricing, condition, and presentation. In my latest market update, I break down the numbers and, more importantly, explain what they actually mean if you’re thinking about buying or selling in Lake County.

Watch the full update here:https://youtu.be/ZaTLKyYL9Oo