SI Real Estate Tampa and The Beaches

There is so much news on the health of the real estate market every day. Many people are waiting until the market fully recovers before investing in real estate but some are not waiting. What if experts suggested however that buying a home is actually cheaper than renting? The newest studies of 50 of the largest cities in America are suggesting that it is a smart decision to buy and cheaper than rent in the same area. Trulia just released a new chart with varying factors that show which of the 50 largest cities is better to buy vs. rent a home. The results boast 39 of those cities are cheaper to purchase property than rent. Trulia is not the only one spreading the good news however, check out Inman News this week. The news source is reporting that 78% of the major cities in the U.S. it is cheaper to buy real estate than to rent a home. How does the Tampa Bay Area compare? Tampa, Florida is not one of the top 50 cities by population in the US therefore it doesn’t make most of th...

As the flowers and trees start to blossom, there is another change in the air. With drops in foreclosure filings and a rise in the buying market, could Spring bring a new season for real estate? According to an article published by Housing Wire , Housing starts rise 7.2 % in March 2011. This is after a long decline of months. The data is collected from Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau , and the Department of Housing and Urban Development every month to compare to previous months and previous years. March reached the highest peak in 16 months. Another noteworthy statistic to highlight is that RE/MAX National Housing reported that, “Home sales jumped more than 10% in 53 of the 54 metros tracked by RE/MAX between February and March”. This is a huge accomplishment in such a harsh season of retail. In this article it also quotes Freddie Mac in projecting that annual sales this year will be up a total of 5%. Another important thing that Freddie Mac monitors is foreclosure p...

The Tampa housing market has been hit hard with a glut of foreclosed properties that have forced home prices to spiral downward, along with most areas in Florida and the rest of the nation. HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan has announced a temporary policy to ease FHA 90-day seasoning guidelines to facilitate the sale of foreclosed properties, which should bring price stabilization to the real estate market in Tampa, Florida and other areas across the country. FHA has prohibited insuring mortgages on a home owned by a seller for less than 90 days. This has slowed the sale of many foreclosed homes. In the January 15, 2010 press release HUD Takes Action to Speed Resale of Foreclosed Properties to New Owners , HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan addressed this problem saying, “As a result of the tightened credit market, FHA-insured mortgage financing is often the only means of financing available to potential homebuyers. FHA has an unprecedented opportunity to fulfill its mission by helping many home...

Tampa’s real estate recovery has surely been underway in 2009, with changes in the housing market taking place throughout the Bay area. Appropriately priced Tampa homes spent fewer days on the market this year, banked owned property inventory saw depletion, and new home starts began to increase in mid-2009. The first-time home buyer tax credit gave way to significant results in the Tampa real estate market, with home sales soaring during the last few months leading up to its anticipated expiration date. Multiple offers were placed on discounted properties as many first-time home buyers hurried to take advantage of unprecedented deals. The Internal Revenue Services reported that more than 105,000 Floridians had applied for the credit prior to its extension. This positive rise in real estate market activity was not restricted to the Tampa Bay area in 2009. The St. Petersburg Times reported in November that all 19 Florida metro areas reported year-over-year gains in home sales. Tampa, bei...

Symphony Isles ~ Boat Lovers Paradise Direct Tampa Bay Access Absolutely Majestic Can you imagine walking out on your balcony every morning to a view of the majestic sparkling waters of Tampa Bay? We invite you to explore the small, secluded and intimate community of beautiful Symphony Isles. All community homes and lots are situated on wide deep-water canals leading directly to Tampa Bay. Symphony Isles is a vibrant deed restricted community with social activities for children, teenagers and adults. Beyond the crisply manicured properties are environmentally friendly surroundings, with amenities such as a clubhouse, pool, children’s playground, and designated boat launch area. This custom built 4 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom home for sale sits directly on Tampa Bay with a panoramic waterfront view and boasts over 3,445 heated square feet of open living space. Built with no expense spared when it came to luxurious, the property features such exquisite upgrades as cherry hardwood floors, gran...

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...

Where will real estate bounce back fastest? Prices have hit bottom in some cities and are heading back up, but recovery rates vary. Here are the places with the best prospects. By Matt Woolsey, Forbes.com When it comes to real estate, the questions on everyone's lips are: How low is low, and when's the perfect time to buy back in? That moment has passed in Seattle and in Charlotte, N.C. Both metro areas hit bottom in the first quarter of 2006 and have since posted price gains of 12.3% and 6.3%, respectively, according to National Association of Realtors (NAR) data. Ripe for investment? Philadelphia and New Orleans. Based on housing inventory and local economic conditions, both should hit price troughs by year's end and bounce back with moderate gains of around 4% in 2008. In markets expected to recover more slowly, such as Boston and Denver, low buyer confidence coupled with a surplus of housing stock has lengthened the slump. NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun points out tha...

The up and coming Channelside district is The Prime South Tampa real estate location, offering exciting urban condo style living. Channelside in South Tampa is located with in blocks of lively entertainment, Tampa ’s beautiful Bay, and the ever growing downtown. This is the spot for contemporary urban South Tampa condo’s, sales and rentals. Far from the ordinary . Channelside is the place to be for real estate in Tampa , FL. Along with new fresh and exciting South Tampa condos this area exudes trendy restaurants, happening hot spots, and an extensive growing business district. Channelside in Tampa , FL is becoming the new way to live, work, and play in the Tampa Bay area. Channelside is minutes from the Westshore business district, a small walk to downtown Tampa , and a quaint trolley ride to Historic Ybor City . Channelside in Tampa , FL is the leading location for desirable South Tampa condos designed for families, individuals, and today’s modern business professionals.

Downtown Tampa consists of 220 blocks with $813,000,000 of development currently under construction and $2,200,000,000 proposed development. ( Tampa Downtown Partnership) Average residential unit sale price: $405.00 per square foot. ( Tampa Downtown Partnership) The St. Pete Times Forum in Downtown Tampa is the number one venue in North America for ticket sales, hosting an array of concerts, events, and family shows. (Pollstar Magazine) The Center for Performing Arts is the fifth in the world for ticket sales and second in the world for ticket revenue. ( Center for Performing Arts) More about ChannelSide