SI Real Estate Tampa and The Beaches

A New Home may be the very best option for you to review!  “Thousands of new homes are under construction in the Bay Area.” According to the WFLA and the Tampa Bay Builders association, Tampa Bay has been booming with constructions. Since 2011, the housing market has been steady, and new home building has been slowly increasing. This could be due to the continuously low interest rates on mortgages over the past 2.5 years.  There are at least 3,000 new home construction starts in Tampa Bay this year, and there are still more coming.  Why new homes?  There are many floor plans and color options to choose from. You will enjoy less competition in the contract and offer process. Enjoy the streamline procedure of one stop shopping in a new construction development. These are just a few of the innumerable options available.  Jennifer Doerfel, the current Vice President of the Tampa Bay Builder Association says that if consumer confidence stays where it is, ...

Recently, bankers have joined loan guarantors to push the ease the proposed capital rules for mortgage insurers. The bankers advised that easing up on the proposed rules will make real estate financing even more affordable for buyers seeking a new home and loan.  Along with the bankers, the National Association of Realtors discussed the importance of having accessible mortgages for first time home buyers. According to the Wall Street Journal , Citigroup and Bank of America are providing mortgages at discounted interest rates as a part of their efforts to help borrowers with low incomes or lack luster credit histories. These discounts are larger than what other banks currently offer on fixed-rate mortgages with high credit scores. This new home loan program encourages borrowers to pay points as a means to receive an even larger discount rate. A point upfront fee lowers the interest rate on a mortgage, and one point is equivalent to 1% of the loan. If you have a $100,...

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...

Congress announced yesterday that the first-time home buyer tax credit, originally set to expire at the end of this month, will be extended through June of 2010. In addition to an extension, the bill includes a $6,500 credit for “move-up” buyers interested in purchasing a new primary residence. The first-time home buyer tax credit has shown significant results in the Tampa Bay real estate market, with home sales soaring over the last three months. The Internal Revenue Services reported that more than 105,000 Floridians have applied for the credit so far. Now, under the new bill, an even larger base of potential buyers will be able to benefit and take advantage of the program. The new plan is designed to spark interest in the “move-up” market, with these potential home buyers previous excluded for tax credit program. This additional incentive is designed to make real estate purchases even more desirable for qualified repeat buyers. The tax credit, along with affordable home prices and ...

Affordable real estate prices and adequate market availability have made owning at Cordoba Beach Park, one of the most desired luxury townhome communities in South Tampa, a reality for many. Hard wood and ceramic tile flooring pair with vaulted ceilings, dramatic interior views, fully equipped kitchens with granite countertops, cherry cabinets and black appliances, abundant storage space, walk-in closets, garden bathtubs, private garages, and three story spacious floor plans are just some on the features that accompany the townhomes of Cordoba. Mediterranean inspired architecture partnered with fountains and lushly landscaped courtyards brings charm to this upscale community. Residents enjoy access to a community fitness center, a 24-hour business center, clubhouse, sundeck and resort-style pool and spa. Cordoba Beach Park is located in South Tampa at the heart of the Westshore business district. Westshore is the economic and business epicenter of Tampa Bay, boasting over 11 million sq...

Florida consistently earns top rankings from lifestyle, business, education, retirement and travel publications. Constant economic growth, pristine landscape, and the consistently temperate climate are just a few factors that make the state an ideal location to retire, start a family, build a career, attend university, or advance in a profession. Florida is ideal for anyone’s relocation needs. • “Top State Business Climate.” Florida’s business climate ranked 4th among executives and 6th overall on Site Selection magazine’s 2008 Top State Business Climate rankings. Read more . • “Best Tax Climate for Business.” Florida continues to rank among the top five states for best tax climate for business, according to a Tax Foundation survey. With no state income tax, low corporate taxes, a low unemployment insurance tax rate, and sales tax exemptions for certain business transactions, Florida has remained among the top five U.S. states since the survey’s inception. Read more . • “#1 in Online ...

New Townhome Community Gorgeous and Incredibly Spacious 3BR/2.5BA for Sale in Brandon, Florida FHA Approved!! Brand New Townhomes Excellent Builder! These tastefully decorated homes are offered in the $140’s, and are located in the Brandon/Riverview area of Florida, offering the finest amenities and most convenient location. Enjoy the privacy of having no backdoor neighbors as you relax on your screen enclosed lanai overlooking the park and picnic area. Enjoy your morning coffee in the eat-in kitchen, at the breakfast bar, sitting at the dining room table, or on the lanai enjoying our fantastic Florida weather. The living area is spacious and open, providing an entertainment cut-out and an ideal lay-out for furniture placement. The large master bedroom boasts vaulted ceilings, walk-in closet and private bathroom with dual sinks, garden tub, and separate shower. The laundry room with washer and dryer hook-ups is conveniently located on the second floor allowing easy access. Total sq ...

Waterfront, Custom Designed 2 Story Home for Sale. Just reduced by $100,000.00! Located in the Prestigious Keystone area of Odessa, Florida. If luxury is what you seek, this home is for you!! This spacious, 3300 square foot, 3BR, home has it all including 25ft. ceilings, a unique sunken great room, formal living and dining room, and a fantastic master suite with stunning lakefront views from the private balcony. The master bath/spa features dual sinks and Jacuzzi tub, while the enormous 10x20 walk in closet is sure to accommodate any size wardrobe. True hardwood floors, 18in ceramic tile, crown molding, and spiral staircase make this home a must see! The light and bright kitchen features an abundance of cabinet space, newer appliances, breakfast nook, and desirable island. Included in this amazing home are the modern conveniences of and oversized laundry room with new front loading washer and dryer and plenty of storage space. Relax by the enclosed pool, private lake front and enjoy th...

Looking back at Real Estate News in December 2008, and reviewing real estate market conditions and news of March 2009, bolsters the conclusion that the time to buy real estate is NOW. A recent article from The New York Times , " It May Be Time to Think About Buying a House ", highlights that fact that first-time home buyers need to act now in order to take full advantage of their buying potential. "Five or 10 years from now, when the financial crisis has ended and housing prices are up smartly once more, we will look in the rear view mirror and realize that we missed a golden age for first-time home buyers.Then, everyone who sat on their down payment savings accounts for a few years too long will kick themselves for not taking advantage of what may turn out to be the buying opportunity of a lifetime for those who can qualify for a mortgage" According to this article, first-time home buyers still have the same advantage as always, being that they do not have current...

When the real estate market started to take a downturn a couple of years ago, foreign investors started to shy away from investing in the United States. All of that has changed in the last year with the rise of bank-owned homes and properties on the market at unbelievable prices sparking interest from local and international real estate buyers. This coupled with the weakened U.S. dollar against the strength of the Canadian dollar, the Euro, and the pound which makes foreign investors' money stretch farther than it ever has before in today’s buyer's market. Tampa, Florida has always had active, powerful interest from international real estate investors, visitors and buyers. Right now, many are ready to take advantage of the foreclosure prices to buy a second home for vacation, for a child to attend the University of Tampa or the University of South Florida, or even for the abundant buyer opportunities that are available in the Tampa Bay area. “Much of Tampa Bay’s international p...

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...

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. ...

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...