SI Real Estate Tampa and The Beaches

Every once in a while we like to examine data compiled from Trulia about the local Tampa Bay real estate market. Real Estate Facts: Tampa has seen a 6.1% increase in median home sale prices from November 2011 to January 2012 compared to this time last year. Also increasing is the price per square foot in Tampa which is up 19.3% from this time last year. High demand and popular communities that are seeing more activity than others are Tampa Palms, Bayshore Beautiful, Old Seminole Heights, Hunters Green, and Ballast Point. Increases are nice to see in areas such as the ones listed above, but declining numbers also show signs of a rebound in some aspects. Research done by CoreLogic shows that foreclosures decreased by 8.4% in 2011. More stringent credit conditions helped these numbers drop as much as they have. Additionally, there is more caution being shown by lenders who have been scrutinized in recent years for the way loans and foreclosures were handled in the previous years. ...

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 Real estate market is still changing. Homes are selling every day however, buyers have changed their expectations. Keeping you informed on what to expect when buying or selling a property in today’s market. 1. Buyers are opting for smaller homes Constraints on housing market really have made buyers reevaluate what is necessary in their next home purchase. A study conducted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reveals that homes are expected to be ten percent smaller in the next couple of years. “To save on square footage, the living room is high on the endangered list-52 percent of builders expect it to merge with other spaces in the home by 2015 and 30 percent said it would vanish entirely.” 2. Heavy influence on purchase decisions can be swayed in favor of green and eco friendly properties The NAHB reports that not only floor plans are changing. “68 percent of builders are including green and eco-friendly features by 2015. This includes low-E windows, en...

A hot topic for potential homebuyers is, should I look Foreclosures, existing older homes, or New Construction? The hype lately seems to be on Short sales and Foreclosures. Bank owned properties are being snatched up by cash investors and we hear of bidding wars everyday in Tampa over bank owned properties. Investors have money to spend, and no desire to occupy the property personally, they can fix any issues that arise with no problems. It is very enticing for a buyer to see large discounts foreclosed and short sales but what else does a buyer need to consider when deciding on purchasing a home? SI Real Estate has helped three clients purchase a new Construction home in the last two weeks. What made these buyers decide purchasing a new home was better than foreclosure and existing home options? There is a great website being advertised by Lennar homes, “Buying a New Home vs. a Foreclosed Home” . This website highlights advantages of purchasing new construction. Buyers need to cons...

Experts tell us, the end of the foreclosure crisis is finally in sight. This is good news indeed for the real estate market in Tampa, Florida. “Housing is on a path to recovery,” said Mike Larson, a real estate analyst with Weiss Research in a FloridaRealtors.org News and Events article titled Fewer People Behind on Home Loans . Jay Brinkmann, the trade group’s chief economist added the figures probably mark “the beginning of the end” of the crisis. In an effort to bring some relief to homeowners who are experiencing problems with their mortgage payments, the Obama administration’s $75 billion mortgage-relief effort is underway. All borrowers who are experiencing problems with their mortgages may not qualify for help under this plan, but it is a big step in the right direction for many homeowners. In addition to the $75 billion mortgage-relief effort which lowers payments and extends mortgage loan terms, President Obama has also stated that Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan an...