SI Real Estate Tampa and The Beaches

The year of 2013 has been proven to be an eventful time for the real estate market, especially here in Tampa, Florida. So far this year, we have discussed: the impact of international investors on the recovery of the housing market, the significant presence of Millenials as first-time home buyers, the recent mortgage rate activity with predictions of what to expect, the low housing inventory levels, and the encouraging signs of home value increases. So what can we expect to see as the next big move in real estate? The latest headline to grab the attention of the Tampa market came from a CNN Money article labeling Tampa, Florida at third place out of the top ten cities with highest percentage of all-cash home sales throughout the country. This is a positive sign of correction and stabilization returning to our real estate market. An astonishing 58% of all home sales in Tampa last month were settled in cash. This group of purchasers is made up of both international inves...

We are constantly being reminded about the condition of the real estate market, both nationally and locally. No matter which media outlet you choose to ingest, you are most likely seeing, hearing and wondering what is up and what is down, and more importantly, what it means for you. Here is a brief recap of some figures to keep in mind. What’s Up : We have heard this for the last few months of 2012 and will continue to hear that home building is on the uptick. Up almost 40% from the previous year, home start are on the rise. At the most recent International Home Builders Show in Las Vegas, the National Association of Home Builders Chief Economist, David Crowe said, “Nearly every measure of housing market strength – sales, starts, permits,  and builder confidence – all have been trending upward in recent months and we expect to see steady growth to continue in 2013.” Home prices also continue to rise. On a national level, we ended up with a 5.6% increase from la...

According to the National Association of Realtors, foreign buyers accounted for $82.5 billion spent in the residential real estate market for the twelve month period ending in the first quarter. That equals about 8.9% of all residential real estate transactions. Investors from Canada, Asia, Europe, and Latin America are all eager to invest their money into U.S. real estate. The weakness of the U.S. dollar compared to some currencies is an additional market factor as to why some investors like the odds of what some claim to be a “risky bet”. Recently SI Real Estate has seen an increase in rentals which stems somewhat from the hesitant nature of Americans when it comes to home buying. With rental rates increasing, investors will be presented with an even more favorable outlook when it comes to their returns on buying a home and turning the keys over to someone else to manage. Savvy foreign investors are beginning to invest their money for real estate in cities or areas with highly de...

It is quite common that around this time every December, end of the year recaps in various markets are released. You may hear a top 20 songs on the radio or see lists of best movie releases in 2011 on the television. Whether you care about what comes in at #1 on any list, it serves as a brief snapshot of what was news worthy that year. Here are a few of the more interesting and significant real estate stories of 2011 for you. Mortgage rates hit an all time low, and dropped to 3.94 this year according to the National Association of Realtors. In some Florida cities, including Tampa, home ownership became cheaper than renting! On the flip side, the unemployment rate made some of those buyers and investors hesitant to go forth with a transaction. Some people may look back on 2011 as the best time in years to buy real estate and make an investment. The Florida Legislature also showed signs of brighter days to come. In November 2012, Florida voters will be able to vote on Amendment 4, “sc...

Real estate investors and buyers are continuing to make property purchases that fuel the Florida real estate market. The third quarter boasted an increase in home buying and investing of 13% from last years numbers. Many of these new purchases and investments are viewed as long term and are helping stabilize our Tampa Bay real estate market. Even though Florida’s median sales price is lower than last year by a small amount, the volume of sales are significantly up. According to the National Association of Realtors, the foreclosures and sales of other distressed properties make the median sales price seem lower than what it actually is. Almost one thousand more condos were sold in October 2011 compared to October 2010, and the prices of those sold are up 9%. For more information about this, visit bizjournals.com. Stan Humphries, a real estate expert for Zillow, notes that Americans perception that lending standards are tougher now than during the 2000-2006 time period are simply misc...

Many people have yet to take full advantage of the buyer’s real estate market that still exists today in Tampa, Florida. While renting seems to be an easy option for many individuals, the benefits of home ownership far outweigh the benefits of renting. Drastically reduced home prices combined with historically low interest rates make this a fantastic time to buy. Take a moment to consider the real estate facts. When renting a home, every monthly payment is going to pay off your landlord’s mortgage. Not one dime is going into paying off anything for you. By making the sound investment decision, every time you make that monthly payment, you are making an investment in your own future. Not only does mortgage debt get reduced, but your credit worthiness is increased which is an absolute must in today’s credit driven society. Additionally, homeowners enjoy tax benefits such as property tax deductions when their taxes are filed. Renters receive no benefits from a tax standpoint whatsoever....