SI Real Estate Tampa and The Beaches

 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...

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...

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 listing videos have gained tremendous popularity over the last several years, acting as an invaluable asset for real estate agents. Whether by using a personal YouTube channel or featuring videos on a company website, these videos have allowed for increased interest from homebuyers across the nation. Not only do the videos increase the number of quality buyer leads for a listing, but they also act as a specialized marketing tool for increasing overall awareness of an agent or agency. Many listing videos tend to follow a predictable pattern of home images with classical music and a monotonous narrator in the background, which can nearly lull viewers to sleep. However, there are some agents who dare to be different. A real estate agent for Houlihan Lawrence of New York, Brian Murray, broke away from the lackluster pattern of a typical listing video when he starred the homeowner’s golden retrievers in his video .   In efforts to create a custom theme for the proper...