SI Real Estate Tampa and The Beaches

Do you prefer the charm of a home with history or the idea of a bright and shiny untouched single-family home in a new community?   One of the first decisions you will make as a homebuyer is whether new construction or resale home is for you and your family!   Below we explore a few pros and cons of both options. Remember that you’ll want to hire an experienced real estate agent that has experience with both scenarios to help guide you in making an informed decision. The best part? Your real estate professional will be at no cost to you as a buyer.   No cost, only benefits!   New construction homes   If you are in the custom home building option, you will be able to customize and personalize your home and select different upgrades prior to your home being built. This may increase your investment, however adding personalization may be worth it.   The ability to choose your flooring, or something in your bathroom, an island in the kitchen, or addi...

Reduction in FHA insurance makes home buying more affordable   The President announced on Wednesday that the federal government will reduce PMI insurance premiums on FHA loans with the goal of making it easier for Americans to own a home. This is fantastic news for anyone in the market for real estate since this reduction will save home buyers an average of $900 a year. The lower insurance premium will affect 800,000 home owners immediately, as they will save on their monthly mortgage payments. This change is coming out at a great time considering all of the other positive news in the Real Estate industry the first week of 2015. Unemployment is down, gasoline prices are the lowest in 7 years and spending power is up. In the Tampa Bay market, SI Real Estate is already noticing the enthusiasm and buzz this news is bringing to the area. Federal Housing Administration loans are largely popular for many home buyers in America. “I want to talk about helping more families a...

Now is the time to act on purchasing your home. The housing market climate has drastically improved and builder confidence is at the highest level it has been in nearly a decade.  Recent mortgage and inventory trends are allowing you, as a first time buyer or a repeat buyer, to make your move.  But are you ready?  Purchasing a home is one of the biggest financial investments that is made in a lifetime. Although you might be ready to buy your home, there are a few ways to simplify the purchasing process, making it smooth sailing for you.  Here are four key ways to prepare for your new home purchase:  Credit: When purchasing a home, make sure to check up on your credit. The higher your credit score is, the more likely you’ll be able to finance your purchase with lower interest rates. Credit is influenced by many things, so it’s imperative to be mindful of it.  Do not purchase anything from a car, furniture, or take on any debt before, during or after...

Back in April, we posted a blog titled, “Younger Generation Predicted to Turn Real Estate Market Around”. We focused primarily on the young families and adults that made up Generation X (32-45 year olds). New research is also putting a lot of emphasis on Generation Y (15-32 year olds). The statistics suggest they will be a strong driving force for the next ten years! Why is this group different from their older peers? The group is about equal to the baby boomer generation, about 77.4 million individuals. By sheer size alone, they are a significant percentage of the buying market. They make up over 25% of home buying age. They tend to be highly educated; more than 60 percent of them go to college. As more of this generation joins the work force there is going to be a “massive increase in housing demands”, according to University of Southern California Lusk Center for Real Estate. Below is a list of what you need to know about this group in order to market to them: Importance of ...