SI Real Estate Tampa and The Beaches

Unbeatable Perks that Help Our Veterans Purchase Their Dream Home The VA Loan Program is one of the best mortgage options out there. VA Loans are designed to make homeownership affordable for veterans and active-duty military members. There are millions of veterans and service members that are eligible, but only a few use their benefit. If you qualify for this type of loan, here are a few reasons to take advantage now!   VA Loans are relatively easy to qualify for. VA Loans are backed and guaranteed by the U.S Government. Because there is less risk involved for the bank, there is a higher chance of loan approval compared to an FHA or Conventional Loan. Additionally, lenders are more flexible regarding an applicant’s credit score.   A Down Payment is not required. This is a HUGE perk of qualifying for a VA Loan! Usually, with an FHA loan or conventional loan, you will need to pay a minimum of 3.5% - 5%. On a home priced at $300,000, $15,000 would need to be placed down ...

 Homebuyers Take Advantage of Record Low Mortgage Rates 2020 has sent every industry on a rollercoaster, especially residential real estate. During the lockdown, sellers pulled their homes off the market and buyers postponed their showings. The economy cautiously reopened and pent up buyers were ready to resume their house hunt.   Besides the 6-foot distance rule and normalizing face masks, the pandemic brought on a major reduction in mortgage rates. When we say major, we mean major. The average rate for the past five years was 4.05%, right now you can get a mortgage rate as low as 2.6%. This is the lowest we have seen in decades.     A mortgage rate is essentially the amount it costs to borrow money from lenders. When a homeowner pays their mortgage each month, the money goes towards paying off their home as well as paying interest to the lender. At first, most of your mortgage payment will go towards interest. Over time, more of your monthly payment will go to your...

Do you prefer the charm of a home with history or the idea of a bright and shiny untouched single-family home in a new community?   One of the first decisions you will make as a homebuyer is whether new construction or resale home is for you and your family!   Below we explore a few pros and cons of both options. Remember that you’ll want to hire an experienced real estate agent that has experience with both scenarios to help guide you in making an informed decision. The best part? Your real estate professional will be at no cost to you as a buyer.   No cost, only benefits!   New construction homes   If you are in the custom home building option, you will be able to customize and personalize your home and select different upgrades prior to your home being built. This may increase your investment, however adding personalization may be worth it.   The ability to choose your flooring, or something in your bathroom, an island in the kitchen, or addi...

As the 1 st quarter of 2014 comes to a close, it is a great time to monitor the good news published across the Sunshine State in real estate headlines. In a recent report from Freddie Mac, utilizing its Multi-Indicator Market Index, analysts discovered that Florida’s housing market showed the most improvement in the entire country during 2013.  It also continued to show the most improvement month-to-month in January. The goal of the market index is to effectively measure the market’s stable range, proximity to “normal” and current trends. In an article by Florida Realtors, Freddie Mac Deputy Chief Economist Len Kiefer said, “a better employment picture, along with some income growth, makes it possible for more people who are considering buying a home to stay within reasonable payment-to-income ratios on their monthly mortgages.” Employment opportunities and income growth are essential components to the continual housing market stabilization in Florida, as well as nati...

In the blogging world, we try to provide facts and interesting articles for our viewers so that you might find helpful information to satisfy your interest in following us. SI Real Estate’s expertise is in real estate here in sunny Tampa, Florida. We feel it is important to inform our clients, associates, and customers that the real estate market in Tampa has a new trend, we no longer have over a year’s worth of inventory. As a buyer client, if you find a home you like, buy it before others start bidding. Instead of quoting a good article or just cold facts we have been following in the real estate market, we decided to give you a real insight into what our company’s valued agents experience on a daily basis here in Tampa. As we all know, real estate is a local industry. It varies greatly from one zip code, city, and state to another. We have agents in our geographic area every day looking for the properties that fits the criteria and wish lists of their customers. What they see o...

Have you thought about purchasing a home, a condo, or townhome instead of continuing to throw your money away on rent every month? We regularly share with our customers that for years the market in Tampa Florida has been leaning in favor of buyers. Right now there is some incredible real estate buying opportunities to take advantage of. According to a press release August 16, 2011 by Freddie Mac, the HomeSteps program is offering a $1500 incentive for qualified buyers in order to put towards condominium association dues. They will prepay condo dues for the new homebuyer to get adjusted into the property. In addition to condo cash, qualified homes may also receive a two year home warranty. To find out more information about what offers there are in the market to help you find your next home, please contact SI Real Estate at 813.631.5144 or email us at Yourhome@sirealestateinvestments.com .