SI Real Estate Tampa and The Beaches

So yesterday we talked about not being concerned about the national market conditions being whipped about in the news. All the horrid tales of just how bad things are in other parts of the world. And that's true! Today, we hear about the jobless rates in Tampa Bay rising from 4.5 last year to 7.8 percent ( see the Agency for Workforce Innovation report here ). We also heard about how the unemployment rate in Tampa Bay is higher than the unemployment rate for the state, which is 7 percent. Fear not! Once again, things really aren't as bad as the media paints them to be. When the jobs lost were primarily contained in one specific month, that doesn't mean that everyone in Tampa Bay or Florida, for that matter, will be out of job within the month. It means a large company closed its doors and caused a high loss of jobs somewhere in the state. Tampa is still a great place to live, work and have fun! ~The SI Team

Have you read about the 2009 Housing Market Forecast , portraying the dismal real estate market across the United States? The news is rampant with reports about how bad the real estate market is, especially in certain areas of California, New York and Michigan. Whether you are considering buying or are ready to sell , Tampa, Florida is the perfect place to do it! Why? Because Tampa isn't like other areas of the country . Tampa is a tourist city and a place people go when they retire. Tampa is where people go when they dream of getting out of the cold and snow. These conditions exist regardless of what national market reports say. So, feel comfortable in knowing that you can sell your house now instead of waiting - because tourists and retirees exist no matter what! Feel comfortable knowing that you can buy now because of the affordable homes and condos available here! Contrary to what the media says, now is a great time to buy in Tampa, Florida ! If you have specific question...

Existing homes, condo sales improve in Tampa Bay (edit/delete) With the abundance of interesting press regarding the housing slump, there has been a significant increase in optimism and market conditions in the Tampa Bay real estate arena. SI Real Estate calls it our "Shimmer of Hope" for the Tampa Real Estate Market. The experts have been chiming in and we are listening. From the nationally respected Jim Cramer and Dave Ramsey, to all of our local real estate market experts here in Tampa Bay, the news is refreshing and could not have come at a better time. Jim Cramer states that the "The Florida market is the template for all of the recovering real estate markets, being a year ahead of the rest." He further says that Florida is in this position because Florida builders stopped construction 2 years ago, which allowed for an earlier bottom. The inventory has NOW begun to go pending and sold. Let's face it folks, we are headed for brighter days. In partic...

A must see ! A must hear ! There is optimism by market experts.

Friday, May 16, 2008 Real Estate news today: things are starting to head up and lookup for the Tampa Bay, Florida real estate market!!!! In an article titled Hot Market: Seeing the Smoke before the Fire on Realty Times , the smoke is starting to rise as the flame begins to ignite. With the peak of the housing slump upon us, inventory is steadily decreasing and home sales are beginning to increase, especially in Tampa's real estate market. In a variety of other metropolitan areas, such as Fort Myers, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale, the numbers of sales have jumped while the absorption rate has dropped to at least half of what it has been in previous months. When you consider all of the shuffling and the inconstant movement that the Florida real estate market has been traveling in the past two years, everyone is ready for the smoke to blow out and the fire to blaze again. Don't wait for a whistle to blow to realize that now is the time to buy or to make an investment in real estate. ...

This week in Real Estate news, Foreign Investment is up! The Moscow Times , a premiere English speaking newspaper in Russia, has reported a surge in the amount of money flowing into Florida’s market. Primarily due to attractive currency exchange rates, Miami and Tampa Bay are benefiting from the weakened dollar. Tampa Bay real estate markets are appealing in the global real estate arena. Specific properties like Cordoba Beach Park, Courtney Palms, Grand Central, , Hyde Park and SOHO areas are popular pockets within Tampa Bay. Waterfront Luxury Real Estate in Mira Bay never loses it’s appeal. New Tampa, the USF and University of Tampa area are all feeling the positive effects of booming foreign investment. Tampa boasts many world-class attractions: Busch Gardens, Historic Ybor City, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Lightning, 3 Super Bowl contests, fine dining, and superb shopping. These qualities have made the Bay Area a desirable location for investment dollars. Much of Florida’s inter...

Buying a home for the first time can often be an intimidating ordeal. Below is an excerpt from an article from Realty Times regarding the Dos and Don’ts of first time home buying. I strongly agree with two of the Dos: getting pre-approved for a loan & finding a dream team of professionals. Getting pre-approved will allow your interest to be taken more seriously and you will get much better response from all parties involved. It will also help give you a better idea of what price-ranges you should be looking at. Working with a quality real estate professional will also make your first home purchase much smoother. It is important to have somebody representing your interests in the transaction to ensure that you are getting the best deal possible. SI Real Estate has done an excellent job of representing first time buyers in the Tampa Bay area. We know the market inside and out which allows us to make sure that our clients are getting the right property at the right price. I urge you t...

As anyone here at SI can tell you, Tampa Bay has some of the best Real Estate properties you are likely to find anywhere. However, many people seem to overlook Tampa in favor of its famous cousin slightly to the east. Not this time though, in a recent article written for Turks.us World News, Vanessa Arellano Doctor explains exactly why the Tampa Bay area is such a wonderful place to live. Enjoy! “For those who are familiar with the communities around Tampa Bay, they would understand just how dynamic and culturally infused its real estate market truly is. When it comes to different lifestyles, the Tampa area has it, with notable areas like Hyde Park, Downtown, Channelside, New Tampa, Brandon, and Westshore, it' quite easy to locate a place that compliments an individual's unique style and personality. According to long-time observers, one of the joys of living here is that local culture and themes are best exemplified in the condominiums that are home to the area’s residents. De...

This past winter proved once again that Florida is still a hot spot for those seeking relief from the cold. Here as SI Real Estate, inquiries were coming in left and right for furnished and seasonal vacation rentals in Tampa and St. Petersburg. Rentals in places like Coquina Key in St. Petersburg, The Moorings in Tarpon Springs, as many others were in high demand and were snatched up early in the snow bird season. All season long we were receiving phone calls from individuals from the Northern US, Canada, Europe, and even Russia. With so many attractions in the Tampa Bay area it is no wonder that so many people want to vacation in Florida. Tampa and St. Petersburg are renowned for their world class beaches, fishing, golf, boating, and dining. And with the Port of Tampa so close, vacationers can easily plan on fitting a relaxing cruise into their schedule. Tampa's central location also puts all the activities of Orlando right at your fingertips. With legendary theme parks such as ...

Greetings! Well it finally happened! The US dollar has finally slipped to a record low against the euro ($1.54/1€), breaking the $1.50 barrier that seems to have an emotional, as well as an economic, impact on the US. The US dollar is doing even worse against the British pound, which is up to about $2.00/1₤. The surge in foreign investment in the US real estate market shows how this currency change has not gone unnoticed abroad. Foreign investment in real estate has been flowing in from all over the globe, including a great deal from Candan, Europe, and Russia & South America. Foreign investors are seeing their buying power increase in the US and have started to capitalize. And when it comes to purchasing real estate in the US there is no place like Florida. The Sunshine State has attracted overseas real estate buyers who are looking for both investment properties, as well as buyers who want to purchase vacation homes for their own enjoyment, taking advantage of reduced prices and...

Greetings! If you are familiar with Tampa Bay, you understand just how dynamic and culturally infused its real estate market really is. When it comes to different lifestyles, you name it…Tampa has it! With areas such as Hyde Park, Downtown, Channelside, New Tampa, Brandon, and Westshore, it is easy to find a place that compliments your unique style and personality. One of the joys of living in these areas is that the local culture and themes are captured in the condominiums that are home to the area’s residents. Whether it is the sleek and stylish design of Grand Central Condominiums of Downtown Tampa, the European inspired charm of Cordoba Beach Park, or the tropical tranquility of Courtney Palms, there is a place to call home for anyone looking to live the Florida lifestyle in Tampa Bay. Whether you are looking for a condo home for yourself, or looking to purchase an investment property, the Tampa condo market is a great place to purchase or rent. SI Real Estate has in-depth knowledg...

Whether you realize it or not, globalization is effecting nearly every aspect of our lives. The real estate market is no exception. With international boundaries becoming less and less constraining, the market that investors can participate in has become a great deal larger. With the recent decline in the value of the dollar, the US real estate market has become more attractive than ever for foreign investment. Here at SI Real Estate in Tampa, Florida, we have noticed a significant increase in the amount of interest from over-seas investors. The real estate experts here at SI Real Estate have the ability to work with domestic and foreign investors alike to facilitate solid investment property transactions that can lead to a more diversified and more profitable investment portfolio. The Tampa Bay area is filled with wonderful real estate investment opportunities, and nobody knows the Tampa Bay real estate market better than SI Real Estate! This article is just one example of how Europea...

Greetings! Here is a great article we came across written by Blanche Evans. We are passing it along to you because she did such a great job of stating important principles of real estate in very basic terms. This is knowledge we can all use to make smart home-buying decisions. Enjoy! Best Wishes, The Team at SI Real Estate Six Signs It's Time For Home Buyers To Buy If you're waiting for signs of a housing bottom, join the club. Nobody blows a whistle and say, "It's time to buy!" That's why market timing is an art, not a science, but you can improve your odds of buying wisely. First, stop paying attention to the national media. Fear has sidelined buyers even in good markets, and that's exactly when you need to take advantage -- before other buyers wise up. Second, be ready to pounce when you see the home you want. The time is right to buy when you see these signs in your marketplace: 1. Inventories start to decline. That means that the best buys are leavin...

From a buyer’s perspective, the Florida real estate market is in a great position to allow investors to get in on the ground floor of a wonderful real estate opportunity. With a wide selection of favorably priced homes to choose from, buyers have a great position of strength. Sellers are motivated !!! With the inevitable influx of baby boomers and other newly relocating families to Florida, the current real estate inventory will certainly turn over . Net result: home values start to increase in price and appreciate once again in value. It has also been our observation that many European investors are expressing great interest in our local market. We are getting the sense that foreign investors are able to make a more objective analysis of our market, without being influenced by all the negative media that swirls around the market’s downturn. The lesson here is when it comes to using one’s money to invest in any sort of market, it is necessary to be able to see the forest through the tr...