SI Real Estate Tampa and The Beaches

Traveling back to the 1960s, homeowners were just beginning to enjoy the luxury of having a television in the home.  The families of the 1990s experienced the convenience of owning their very own computer. Fast forward to 2016, and not only has technology advanced in the way of entertainment, but it has become a part of our everyday lifestyle.  For years, technology has filled our homes – now our homes have become an integral part of new age technology. While the definition of a  smart home   is debatable, most consider a smart home a house that has remotely controlled systems including temperature, lighting and electronic devices. Once considered a luxury for the wealthy, smart homes have become a mainstream component of homeownership. Combining security with convenience, smart homes offer families enhanced peace of mind. Beyond the ability to remotely access security footage from your smart phone or tablet, some smart homes have the unique capabilit...

It’s time to take the next step and buy your first home. Where to begin, you ask? By and large we find ourselves scouring the internet for real estate listings and then driving by potential homes only to find that it’s been sold, or doesn’t live up to those beautiful online photos. Here’s the good news! Before getting too wrapped up in the home searching process, there are a few steps you should take to save yourself time, money and lots of disappointment. First and foremost: Prepare Your Credit for Mortgage Approval .  Now that you’ve decided to turn those rent payments into mortgage payments, the natural tendency may be to start looking for your dream home. But taking a step back to analyze your finances will be of absolute benefit to you when it comes to the mortgage approval part of the process!  The preliminary home search stage is the perfect time to check your credit score and the contents of your report.   If needed, you may dispute any erro...

For those selling your home, you may have seen an influx in Generation Y, or “Millennial” buyers flocking to your open house in recent years. Yet, with the most recent U.S. Census confirming that Millennials have surpassed the Baby Boomers, it’s no surprise the number of Millennial home buyers is on the rise. So what does this mean for the housing market? According to Realtor.org, “For the third straight year, the largest group of recent buyers were Millennials, who composed 35% of all buyers, more than the combined amount of younger and older Baby Boomers at 31%”. Millennials are a new brand of home buyer. Contrary to previous generations, Millennials are delaying marriage and family to a later time in life. Whereas, home buying is at the forefront of their priorities. Seen as a smart investment, these young purchasers are seeking the stability and security of home ownership. In most markets, Millennials are finding that renting is more expensive than buying - even aft...

Real Estate Buyers: Why a VA loan? Why not?! W hen you are looking for the best, lowest mortgage rate, the VA home loan is where it’s at.   The VA loan program is the most powerful home loan program on the market for many veterans, service members and military families (Active Duty, Retired, and Disabled).   These flexible, government backed loans are offered with significant benefits that open the doors of home ownership to veterans who might otherwise grapple (or not) to obtain a mortgage on a new home purchase. VA loans feature competitive rates and terms to qualified borrowers with little to no money out of pocket.  According to Ellie Mae, VA mortgage rates continuously beat conventional rates by 25 basis points (0.25%) or more on any given day, with gaps as wide as 150 basis points for some borrowers with less-than-perfect credit scores.  March marked the 23 rd month in a row in which VA mortgage rates being lower than conventio...

It’s no secret that spring is the busiest time for home buying and selling. Homeowners planning to put their homes on the market should start preparing NOW!  Following these few easy tips can make for a much smoother selling experience. If you are a prospective home seller, here are a few guidelines to help you get ready for the Spring Market: Minimize Clutter Don’t you love walking into a newly furnished model home? The open, clear, fresh new home is one you can picture yourself living in instantly.  What you don’t see in this model home is a stack of magazines on the table, perhaps a stack of mail or even children’s artwork casually hanging on the refrigerator. While everyone has clutter, buyers want to see the model home version of your home for sale. A home they can envision living in.  Putting away single framed family photos, clearing off shelves and counters can also help reduce clutter instantly.   Start Packing! As you begin to clear...

The real estate saying, “location, location, location” might not hold as much weight to this generations buyers. According to Realty Times , lifestyle options including health, safety, and nearby activities may be a leading factor in home buying selection. A recent survey conducted by Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC and the Meredith Corporation reveal that homebuyers prefer these traits in their community: 1. Ease of commuting by car: 38% 2. Access to health and safety services: 34% 3. Family-friendly neighborhood: 33% 4. Availability of retail stores: 32% 5. Access to cultural activities: 21% 6. Public transportation access: 19% 7. Nightlife and restaurant access: 18% 8. Golf-friendly area–access to golf courses: 6% If the community a buyer is currently living in doesn’t meet these desires, 1 in 5 homeowners have moved or would like to move to better fit their lifestyle. This data lets you as a seller know how to market your property to the way home buy...

First-time home buyers dominated the Tampa real estate market in 2009 and that trend is expected to continue into the first quarter of 2010. The 2009 First Time Home Buyer tax credit has been extended so that those with a binding contract on or before April 30, 2010, and closing before June 30, 2010, will be able to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity. That combined with fire sale real estate prices will create a second wave of first-time home buyers eager to take advantage of the benefits of homeownership. It will be forthcoming first quarter 2010 according to real estate market forecasts. Paul Bishop, vice president of research of the National Association of Realtors stated in an article titled  NAR Survey First-Time Home Buyers Set Record in Past Year that “several factors have been at play. Tax incentives, record high affordability conditions and pent-up demand brought a record share of first-time home buyers into the market. These buyers are critical to housing and ...

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...