SI Real Estate Tampa and The Beaches

An interesting thing is happening in the Tampa Bay real estate market. Have you tried to put a contract out on a house that is unbelievably priced only to find that there are already several offers on the table? If so, you are not alone. Housing inventory is drying up. The drastic dip in supply is due to several factors. With fewer foreclosures, bargain basement prices on homes for sale, and incredible tax incentives being offered, investors and first-time home buyers are gobbling up Tampa housing inventory. Current demand has definitely reduced available housing supply. The National Association of Home Builders article Slow Recovery May Be Leading to Serious Housing Shortages addresses this saying “NAHB economists project that the industry will need to deliver 16 million homes over the next 10 years to keep pace with the demand. As the excess inventory is worked off, which is likely by the end of 2012, the long-run demand for new housing – based on population growth, immigration an...

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...

Great news for those wish to buy a home or sell your real estate in Tampa, Florida! Mortgage rates are hovering at near record lows. Freddie Mac performed a Primary Mortgage Market Survey® and the results show that 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.93 percent. The 15-year FRM averaged 4.33 percent, and the 1-year Treasury –indexed adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 4.23 percent. What does that mean in the big scheme of things for the real estate market? It means buyers have the ability to obtain financing at near historically low rates. It is also good news for sellers as buyers have more reasons to get off the fence and purchase that home they have been dreaming of but thought they could not afford. It’s a win-win for buyers and sellers. We have heard for months that the time to buy is now! It could also mean the time to list or sell your home is also now. Buyers are abundant. RealtyTimes® article Mortgage Rates Hover Near Record Lows adds “The National Association ...

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Don’t Miss the Boat! Part 2 of a 2-Part Series Are you a home owner in Tampa Bay, Florida and wish to move up to a larger home or even downsize? Are you uncertain whether you are financially able to make that move in today’s real estate market? Well, think again. Many people are unaware that tax credits are now available for existing and repeat home buyers. Time is of the essence. Time is ticking on this soon-to-expire opportunity! With historically low interest rates, an abundance of aggressively priced homes listed for sale, and the home buyer tax credit being offered, nobody is excluded in today’s real estate market. Everyone is included. Who is eligible for the $6,500 tax credit? U.S. citizens or those with permanent resident status who have owned and lived in the same home for at least 5 consecutive years of the 8 years prior to purchasing are eligible for this tax credit. What are the income limits for this tax credit? Single taxpayers can earn up to $125,000, and marri...

Don’t Miss the Boat! Part 1 of a 2-Part Series For the past six months, there has been a wealth of information and press about the 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit, but there has not been as much talk about the fact that move-up home buyers can also benefit from the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009. Who are move-up home buyers and how can they benefit from this tax credit by purchasing a home right here in Tampa, Florida? All real estate buyers should benefit in the first quarter of 2010. According to the National Association of Home Builders Home Buyer Tax Credits , “The law defines a tax credit qualified move-up home buyer (“long-time resident”) as a person who has owned and resided in the same home for at least five years of the eight years prior to the purchase date. For married taxpayers, the law tests the homeownership history of both the home buyer and his/her spouse. That is, both spouses must qualify as long-time residents, with at least five...

Just the FHA Facts The federal government’s decision to extend the 2009 Homebuyer Tax Credit is strong incentive for first-time homebuyers and move-up homebuyers to get off the fence and purchase a home. If that were not enough, new Federal Housing Administration (FHA) policy changes may push those who have been waiting to take the leap to make that real estate purchase sooner rather than later in Tampa, Florida and around the nation. FHA is one of the largest sources of financing with its low down payment program and generous seller concessions. FHA is often the only way for many to afford to purchase a home. It is a well-known fact that many are able to afford monthly housing payments, but coming up with the down payment is extremely difficult for a large majority of those who wish to purchase a home. Bearing that in mind, FHA is taking new measures to help manage risk while maintaining support for the housing market and its recovery. In a HUD Press Release on January 20, 2010 F...