SI Real Estate Tampa and The Beaches

• Long term Investment According to Realty Times ,” An average appreciation rate during normal times is around 6.5 percent a year. That means if you buy a home for $100,000, in just ten years you will have a home that could feasibly sell for around $174,000” • Personal and Community Stability Owning a property creates a sense of community and accomplishment. People take better care of property; have higher graduation rates and lower crime rates in more stable communities with large percentages of homeowners. • Tax-Breaks Tax benefits are a huge asset to many Americans, you can deduct mortgage interest, and there are tax credits and money back for making energy efficient upgrades. These breaks might not seem like a lot at first but for middle income families they can add up fast. • Benefit to Economy and Job Growth According to Houselogic , “For every two homes sold, one job is created in the U.S.” Each housing purchase is estimated to generate $60,000 towards economic act...

The Real estate market is still changing. Homes are selling every day however, buyers have changed their expectations. Keeping you informed on what to expect when buying or selling a property in today’s market. 1. Buyers are opting for smaller homes Constraints on housing market really have made buyers reevaluate what is necessary in their next home purchase. A study conducted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reveals that homes are expected to be ten percent smaller in the next couple of years. “To save on square footage, the living room is high on the endangered list-52 percent of builders expect it to merge with other spaces in the home by 2015 and 30 percent said it would vanish entirely.” 2. Heavy influence on purchase decisions can be swayed in favor of green and eco friendly properties The NAHB reports that not only floor plans are changing. “68 percent of builders are including green and eco-friendly features by 2015. This includes low-E windows, en...

A hot topic for potential homebuyers is, should I look Foreclosures, existing older homes, or New Construction? The hype lately seems to be on Short sales and Foreclosures. Bank owned properties are being snatched up by cash investors and we hear of bidding wars everyday in Tampa over bank owned properties. Investors have money to spend, and no desire to occupy the property personally, they can fix any issues that arise with no problems. It is very enticing for a buyer to see large discounts foreclosed and short sales but what else does a buyer need to consider when deciding on purchasing a home? SI Real Estate has helped three clients purchase a new Construction home in the last two weeks. What made these buyers decide purchasing a new home was better than foreclosure and existing home options? There is a great website being advertised by Lennar homes, “Buying a New Home vs. a Foreclosed Home” . This website highlights advantages of purchasing new construction. Buyers need to cons...

Over the last couple of weeks, SI Real Estate has been posting updates on what we see in the Tampa real estate market. We have shown trends of Housing Affordability being the highest in 20 years , we have discussed that Tampa, Florida is one of the most searched real estate markets  online, and the large increase in Purchases and Multiple offer competitions in the Market . All of this adds up to the conclusion the market is changing and we want to be ready for it. SI Real Estate is front and center in the Tampa Bay real estate market we are seeking some new real estate agents to join our team. SI Real Estate, Tampa is your full-service real estate boutique that assists buyers, sellers, relocations, and investors with their real estate needs. We maintain an entrepreneurial spirit with a relaxed, yet serious and productive environment. We are a team of talented professionals with experience, drive and motivation. Our reputation and client rapport is renowned for unique quality and...

When it comes to buying, selling or renting real estate it is important you find the best representation to work alongside you. What qualities are the most important when selecting a Real Estate Agent to help you: 1. Trust In making the decision to purchase, sell, or rent a property the most important quality to look for in your real estate agent is whether you trust them. They will be advising you on what the best home prices in the local market, they will be drafting legal contracts for you and you need to know they have your best interest at heart. You also need someone who is going to be honest when you need it. 2. Experience Experience is one of the best ways to see how well a real estate agent has done their job in the past. The best way to judge experience may not be the highest number of listings, but instead the number of real estate buyers and investors who complete their real estate transaction with confidence they had the best real estate agent to represent them. I...

We all know that the housing market has had some challenges in the last couple of years. As the real estate market starts to even out, housing affordability is higher than recorded in over twenty years. This means middle income families can comfortably afford to purchase their own home. The National Association of Home Builder/Wells Fargo records a Housing Opportunity Index (HOI) every year. This index compares the median income of families in a specified area compared to the income needed to comfortably afford a home purchase. This year they report, “73.9 percent of all new and existing homes sold in the fourth quarter of 2010 were affordable to families earning the national median income of $64,400.” This statistic is significant because it is the highest percentage on record since they started collecting this data in 1991. How does this compare to the Tampa Bay market? The HOI in Tampa is 78.2% in the fourth quarter of 2010, with a median income of $59,400. The Tampa real estat...

Pulse 1 ~The Buyers Real Estate Market Local, national and international buyers are purchasing real estate here in the Tampa Bay area and around Florida like there is no tomorrow. The real estate market is booming with sales. Real estate prices are fantastic, mortgage interest rates are great, and people are taking advantage of the opportunities that are available. At this point in time, it is becoming more the norm to have multiple offers on properties for sale, indicative of the swarm of buyers into our real estate marketplace in Tampa Bay. First-time home buyers, along with move-up or repeat home buyers, and local and international investors are all jumping in with both feet to get their piece of the action during these unprecedented times. Pulse 2 ~The Real Estate Rental Market In an article titled, Cheaper to Buy Than to Rent in 72% of Largest U.S. Cities by Inman News dated January 24, 2011, “Despite the rising number of renters across the country, it is cheaper to buy...