SI Real Estate Tampa and The Beaches

Who you choose to represent you when you buy or sell your home is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make during your move. Your real estate agent can make the process easy, quick, and painless – or long, expensive, and painful. Here are 5 adjectives you should for in your real estate agent if you want to get the most out of the sale of your home or your home purchase: 1. Tenacious Real estate is at times a complex world. There are seemingly endless challenges to navigate through: the house you love was snatched up by someone else; someone put a bid in on your home and then pulled out at the last minute; there are issues with the community, or zoning, or construction! These are some of the reasons why you need a savvy real estate agent who is tenacious, never gives up, and doesn’t stop until you have successfully bought or sold your home at the right price with the least obstacles. The best real estate agents are the ones who not only have plan B, but plan C, D, a...

FOR SALE ~20437 Autumn Fern Avenue~ Absolutely pristine 4 bedroom, 3 bath home located on a picturesque conservation lot in Live Oak. Just built in 2011 and has ample space for your family to grow and stretch in this 2600 sq ft, 2 story, 2 car garage home!!  Just listed for $286,900! Beautiful 42” espresso cabinets and granite counter tops accent the generous gourmet kitchen with stainless appliances. Easy access to your huge screened in lanai to complete your outdoor space. The flex room downstairs is perfect for any office, den, library or even a formal dining room.  Upstairs you’re greeted by a loft space with lots of natural light. Down the hall, you’ll find the Master suite complete with dual vanities, granite counter tops, your walk-in shower and garden tub.  The community of Live Oak offers many amenities and recreational activities to enjoy such as: a clubhouse with fitness center, multiple pools, tennis courts, a covered playground, an...

As spring flourishes around us, the real estate market blooms as well! Are you considering making a move this year? Now is the perfect time to prepare for this home selling season! Keeping in mind a few simple marketing tricks to make your home stand out from the competition! First and foremost, jump on the spring cleaning bandwagon! Sometimes the small details of cleaning the inside of closets and clearing away clutter are forgotten, but these particulars are noticeable to potential home buyers. As articulated by Michele Lerner of Realtor.com, “While everyone has clutter, buyers want to see a fantasy version of your house in which they can envision living”. You can do it! While cleaning, take notice that all of the small repairs that have fallen by the wayside have now become more apparent. Take advantage of this time to move those repairs to the top of your to do list. Replacing doorknobs, updating fixtures, pressure washing the exterior of your home, and adding fresh m...

Searching for a home to purchase? You’ve probably noticed the increasing inventory of new construction homes available. Builders are developing new communities all over Florida, especially in the greater Tampa Bay area. If you’re ready to start exploring the option of purchasing a model or builder home, don’t go it alone! There are countless advantages of having an agent with connections to builders and the community, along with new construction experience, by your side for a new home purchase… Always use a Realtor ® As you admire the freshly built model home, you may be surprised to learn that the “new home sales consultant” greeting you might not actually be a Realtor. Builders employ sales agents and staff to sell their homes, but these individuals are not necessarily required to have a real estate license. While not hiring a Realtor may seem like a thrifty choice, it is always in your best interest to have representation in negotiating your purchase, sel...

Now that the Real Estate industry has final numbers from 2015, they are releasing that data and the subsequent results of last year. As we have reported many times throughout the last 12 months, 2015 was a very strong year in the housing market. After reflecting on 2015, FL Realtors President Matey Veissi states “Florida’s economy is in growth mode, more jobs are being created and mortgage interest rates remain at historically low levels which will continue to drive the state’s housing market in 2016.” Let’s see what else the 2015 FL housing market report says and the impressive numbers it contains. We are going to grade the major indicators we talk about and how we feel they did in the last year’s market.   Total closed sales on existing homes  is always a leading indicator for housing market experts. In 2015, there were 274,769 resale transactions! That is an increase of 12.4% from 2014, which is enormous. On the pricing side of resales, there was another sharp increas...

2015 has been a pleasant year for the Tampa Bay real estate market, marking a full resurgence. Normally sales fall off during the summer vacations, but not this year!  Homes listed for sale are continuing to seek out higher prices, while buyers are actively finding properties to put contracts on. A local North Tampa homeowner listed their house at $ 450,000 3 weeks ago and had a pending contract 8 days later, including backup offers. SI Real Estate has also participated in this high level of activity, selling three different properties in less than 10 days recently. While we normally see soft interest during summer months, especially July that has is not the case in 2015! ”Statewide in July, the inventory of available homes tightened to a 4 1/2-month supply. Most analysts consider a six-month supply to be evidence of a balanced market between buyers and sellers,” said John Tuccillo, chief economist of Florida Realtors. He is demonstrating here that inventory is d...

Buying a home is one of the most important financial decisions most people make, yet many give little thought to finding the real estate agent best suited to their needs. The process of purchasing a new home is much more involved than simply cruising open houses, “for sale” ads, or have someone simple unlock doors for you. Buying real estate can quite be complicated so it is essential to have the right professionals on your side. With so much at stake, working with a skilled real estate agent can help ensure that you find the right property for you at the right price. So how do you choose the right real estate agent for you? Here are a few helpful hints: Interview potential Realtors from different agencies and consider their qualifications. How competent are they? How compatible are you together? There’s no underestimating the importance of both when choosing a real estate agent. Do they know the neighborhood? Is the agent familiar with the housing market and values in the cities and ...

This beautiful and centrally located 3BR/2BA single family house has been fully renovated, with an extreme make-over inside and out. Attention has been paid to every detail in this large and spacious home. From the kitchen, to the flooring, to the bathrooms, to the roof, everything is fresh and new. New homeowners will enjoy upgraded kitchen cabinetry, countertops, tile backsplash and flooring, as well as the wide range of new appliances including refrigerator, microwave, range, dishwasher, disposal, washer and dryer. Both bathrooms have been have also been fully upgraded; now featuring new sinks, vanities, bathtubs, faucets, and toilets. New carpeting and ceramic tile flooring has been installed through out the house. French doors open to a large fenced backyard has been well maintained and beautifully landscaped. Mature trees surround the house, creating natural shade and privacy, a great place to escape the Florida heat while enjoying summer days outside. This home is conveniently ...

Many benefits come with the purchase of your home, such as having a place of your own, having stable housing costs, having a sound investment, having a financial stepping stone and even having access to tax benefits. There are important criteria that should be considered when buying a home, regardless if you are a first-time home buyer , second home buyers or real estate investor. Knowing the home buying process will help make your experience a smooth and pleasurable one. Set the stage for an easier home buying process. 1. Find professionals you can trust. - Ask questions and express your concerns up front. - Learn what to expect — and what will be expected of you. - The right people will walk you through, talk you through — and see you through! 2. Start with getting pre-approved. - Loan pre-approval gives you a rough estimate of how much you may be able to borrow. The process will help you figure out how much you can afford. 3. Determine the right financing for you. - There are many l...

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...

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 ...

Cash buyers are grabbing deals at rock bottom prices in the Tampa Bay real estate market. According to the market statistics provided by the Greater Tampa Association of REALTORS® ( GTAR ), in April of this year 38% of all financing was cash. This is more than a 10% increase from April of 2008. Cash financing increased from 285 transactions in April of last year to 508 this year. FHA and VA financing has also seen an increased from last year, although not as drastic. Conventional financing has decreased from 555 transactions to 394, signifying that a majority of real estate transactions being made in the Tampa Bay area this year are by cash buyers. According to the same report from GTAR, homes sales have increased from 897 in April of last year to 992 in April of this year, with more than 3,424 total homes being sold to date in 2009. Market activity is definitely moving quickly in Tampa, Florida.