Tampa Real Estate Market in Recovery

Tampa Foreclosures have been declining, Buyers are looking for that home they thought the couldn’t afford but now can, the phones are starting to light up, and people are more optimistic regarding the real estate outlook.  Most buyers realize that these homes are at a price point that will not be like this for years to come.  The bottom is here and the only way to go is up.  Most are playing the Tampa Real Estate Market like the stock market, buy low sell high, well the low is here and now so go at it!

First time home buyers are looking, 2nd home buyers are realizing that now is the best time in years to buy and investors are trying to get their hands on as much property as they can.

The Market is prime for the recovery, now we will all see how long that takes.  Builders are not building any new inventory so what is there, is there!

Tampa MLS Site hits the Web

Team Masse is in the process of creating a new addition to its family of Websites - soon to be announced TampaBay MLS.com to it’s family of websites.  Tampa MLS will continue its focus on delivering complete Tampa Bay Real Estate information in conjunction with our Main Site Tampa Real Estate.

Team Masse continues to outperform other real estate companies around the Tampa Bay Area.  For more information on our services, please contact us at teammasse@findmyfloridahome.net.

 

Team Masse Looking for Buyers Agents for Tampa Real Estate Market

Team Masse is looking for Real Estate Agents to help handle Buyers for the Tampa Bay Real Estate Market.  We have been swamped lately with buyers looking for great deals in this market and there are many currently to choose from.  So if you are an Agent that is currently licensed in the State of Florida, want to be part of an aggressive team with leads supplied and listings to man, please come to our website at Keller Williams Tampa Bay and fill out our more information request form.  We will get back to you in short order.

 

MiraBay Great Development to Buy a Waterfront Home…Now!

I have a vested interest in this post as I live in MiraBay.  Carla and I bough just before things went crazy here in the Tampa Real Estate Market, so our price was not so bad.  For our Team, I do most of the Marketing and Carla does all the rest.  We have a few clients coming in the next few weeks to look in MiraBay and other Apollo Beach Homes and boy was I surprised at some of the statistics.  First off, there is approximately 150 homes for sale in MiraBay.  Out of those 150, the majority are Short Sale properties, meaning that the owner owes more to the lender than what the home is worth.  The lowest priced home currently looking at water is $300,000 and the next lowest is $314,900 (that is my listing click here to view  MiraBay Homes).  The lowest priced home with a dock and Pool is currently priced at $525,000 (another short sale).

MiraBay is a great community that needs a little fixing with this Mortgage mess, I guess like every other development across the country.  So if you are looking for a great community (and Mirabay is an award winning community), come on by and take a look, and if you want a Guided Tour, just stop on by

5 Oppose Little Harbor Rezoning Request

So here is the latest on the great Little Harbor debate in the great Tampa Real Estate Race.  There were 5 apposed to the little Harbor Rezoning Request put forth by Little Harbor, ie. Earthmark.  The 5 in opposition lived next to or near the development.  This does not make the debate dead, but there was no one that appeared at the hearing that was for the rezoning.  Those 5 sited problems with noise, parking issues, and traffic issues if this change went thru.

The next step is a recommendation on or before May 20th.  At that point, this will go to the County Commisioner for another hearing and vote on June 10th.  Will this ever end!

 

Stay tuned as things progress

Great Deals in the Tampa Real Estate Market are Sometimes Hard to Come By

So what I hear almost everyday is that “I am looking for a great deal”.  We are all looking for a great deal but first lets define what makes a great deal.  My definition is being able to purchase a property for less than market value.  OK, this is my definition, everyone has there own idea of what constitutes a Great deal.  What does not necessarily constitute a deal at all is purchasing a home with the bank involved in the decision process.  Just because the bank has their hands in the deal, does not a deal makeith’.  In the Tampa Real Estate Market, deals are a plenty but if you want to buy property stress free, deal with a homeowner who can make decisions much faster than a bank can.  If you have the patience, time, and money, go the bank route, but be prepared to possibly wait along time.

The other problem are the Realtors that are listing these homes for the banks.  There is alot of unethical “stuff” going on that I will not go thru in this blog, but be rest assured, anything unethical in the handling of these properties will be reported.  I am not typically a “whistle blower” but these unethical agents are making my job extremely difficult…and those agents know who they are and they know what they are doing, enough said!

So again, if you are looking for a great deal, be prepared to wait, have the money to proceed, and be ready to counteroffer whatever comes your way.  It takes alot of negotiating to get the deal done and if the banks would just make life easier for all of us, this problem we have of excess property would be a thing of the past.  There are plenty of buyers out there that want these properties, the banks just won’t let them buy them!

Little Harbor Vote Delayed Again

Sorry for the delay as I should have gotten this out sooner but have just been slammed with everything going on around me.  In either event, the Little Harbor (Earthmark) zoning proposal to change use of most of the land to allow Hotel use has been delayed until April 29th.  Earthmark is reducing the amount of units it is requesting for Hotel use in this new proposal.  There was an overwhelming negativity at the last hearing.  Carla and I were at the meeting and had a hard time understanding most of what was presented by the Earthmark Attorney.  It basically started off with watching a promotional video of Little Harbor, not sure why, but then progressed into “experts” speaking of how this change will have minimal impact on the surroundings.  Although I am neutral with this change, Earthmark did a horrible job in presenting their side…and it showed as their attorney seemed unprepared, presented incorrect information, and seemed flustered with the number of people speaking against the project.

Hopefully Earthmark will have their act together at the next hearing and will present with authority…if they want to get this change approved.

For more information on this project or others, please visit us online at Tampa Real Estate

Why Use a Home Inspector?

Recently I have been working with a First Time Home Buyer who really doesn’t know anything about buying a home and has no one other than myself to guide them along the way.  They decided to focus their efforts on looking at Tampa Foreclosures.  Each step of this process has been long; finding the right home, getting over the jitters of “signing my life away” and submitting an offer.  I have to remind myself that I am familiar with the process since I am a licensed Tampa Real Estate Agent and that I must be sure to explain carefully each step to get to the finish line.  That brings me to “Why a Home Inspection?” 

Buying a home is one of the largest investments you will make!  Along with the excitement and anxiety of buying a new home; you need to be educated about your purchase.  An inspection goes beyond the layout of the home, color on the walls, the stainless steel appliances and the newly updated master bath.   An inspection goes beyond the cosmetics of the home so that you can make a more informed buying decision; this means it isn’t just for the newbies, but also for the investors, and anyone who is buying a home!

Okay, so now you agree you should not skip an inspection because you thought you would save money by not having one done, right?  Well, not all inspections are created equal!  My first time home buyers wanted to save money, so they looked online and made a few calls.  They wanted to go with an inspector that was far less expensive than the one I referred.  Nothing wrong with that; except that in Florida, not all inspectors are certified.  A person can say they want to become a home inspector and file the appropriate paperwork, pay the fee and they become a licensed inspector!

 I explained this to my buyers and asked that they at least talk with the one I referred to them.  Not only is my inspector certified, he met the other inspector’s price!  They all met at the house, he gave them a first hand account of the conditions of the home as well as maintenance pointers that can add up to valuable savings for them in the future.    This service; in my mind is priceless and saves you money in the long run.  Even a new home may have issues and I would never suggest that my clients pass on having an inspection completed on a property they are considering to buy.

So the next time you are in the market, ask not “why a home inspection?” but “Who should I hire?” and you will always be equipped with the right tools to make a informed decision.

Final Vote for Little Harbor Zoning Change Delayed

Well, I am glad I didn’t go to the meeting as it did not occur.  Earthmark basically asked for a continuance because they believe that they will not get approval as it was presented.  Here is an excerpt from Tampa Bay Online:

“Liz Bleau, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 25, 2008

RUSKIN, FL - A public hearing and decision on changes to the Little Harbor development at Bahia Beach to allow condominiums to be used as hotel will not be held Feb. 26 as originally scheduled.

Little Harbor Request Denied and Goes to Final Vote

Well, it seems that the residents in and around the development at Little Harbor had some impact on the ruling board that night as it appears that a Denial is being urged by the zoning commission.  Here is an excerpt from the Tampa Bay Online news: ”RUSKIN - A zoning hearing officer is recommending denial of Little Harbor’s request to convert 450 residential units at its Bahia Beach resort into hotel units.

The proposal, which drew heavy opposition from residents at a public hearing last month, now goes to the county commission for a final hearing and vote on Feb. 26.