Home Front
Briefs and news of note

Throwing open the doors to designer decor
Two bay area trade-only furniture showrooms, which once only allowed design professionals, are now open to the public.

Community Living: Deed restrictions supersede lot deeds
Question: The board of directors of our villa development has stated that it cannot enforce the documents, which require property owners to keep up the appearance of the property (put in new lawns when needed, etc.). Its reasoning is that, because the individuals own the land on which their villas are built, those are not common areas. As a result, some owners' properties are a disgrace.

Eco-Home and Garden Festival today
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today an Eco-Home and Garden Festival will be at Longleaf, a neotraditional development on State Road 54 in New Port Richey.

Smith & Associates enters St. Pete market
Smith & Associates, a longtime independent real estate company in Tampa, has opened an office in St. Petersburg, citing growth in high-end property downtown and increased buyer interest in south Pinellas County.

House values
St. Petersburg

Homebuyer U
A "Ph.D. in Homeownership" will be offered by St. Petersburg Neighborhood Housing Services from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. today (every third Saturday) at 500 Dr. M.L. King (Ninth) St. N, St. Petersburg. Participants will learn what to look for in a house, how to work with a real estate agent and how to get a mortgage. Those who complete the seminar will receive a certificate that could help reduce down payment and closing costs. Call (727) 821-6897 for details or to register.

HGTV shows focus on local homes
Home & Garden Television has been taping in the Tampa Bay area recently, and a number of local homes will be featured on several programs soon. Here's the lineup:

12th Home & Remodeling Show Oct. 26-28 at Tropicana Field
The 12th annual fall Suncoast Home & Remodeling Show will be Friday through Oct. 28 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.