It is that time of year again. The nights have cooled to make an evening under the stars enjoyable. For those in the Seminole Heights area it becoming a new tradition as hundreds from the Heights neighborhoods, Sulphur Spring and beyond gather at the foot of the Josiah Richardson Water Tower on the banks of the Hillsborough River. The water tower is a Tampa landmark seen by thousands rushing to and from on 275, here is a chance to take a detour.
I know that I have enjoyed these events at the tower park and usually take my neighbor who is in her 80's. Ususally we run into not one or two neighbors but dozens of neighbors.
Target's Pops in the Park
Friday, October 17, River Tower Park in Sulphur Springs, 7:00 pm
Come discover that makes Tampa's river neighborhoods special.
Come see this spacious (1260 sq ft) 2/2 bungalow style home in Seminole Heights. Large private backyard. Huge master bedroom (14x16) for a vintage home. Very spacious 2nd bedroom (11x16). Big eat-in kitchen (15x11). Versatile living room/ Dining room area can be used as a great room or as a formal living room and dining room. Open front porch. Great neighbors in friendly Seminole Heights, a neighborhood known for porch party get togethers and just voted as best Tampa neighborhood in Creative Loafing's annual Best of the Bay awards. This solid home has been well maintained. This is not a short sale! Owner willing to help with closing costs. Home should meet FHA standards which only require 3% down. Just 6 miles to USF, and 3 or 4 miles to Ybor City, Channelside, and downtown Tampa.
Creative Loafing had their annual Best of the Bay awards last night. And the winner for Best Neighborhood in Hillsborough County for 2008: Seminole Heights in Tampa. Best Neighborhood in Pinellas County for 2008: Old Northeast in St. Petersburg. The annual Best of the Bay Awards have become a much sought after recognition for neighborhoods, restaurants, clubs, sports teams, local celebrities, politicians, etc. across the Tampa Bay area. These are the votes of their readers, not an editorial staff decision. This year's award ceramony was held in the Historic Tampa Theater. Yeah some of the categories are wacky but it is a community event that takes the pulse of the public, pokes fun at some politicians and some poorly thought out policies, but generally highlights the the best of the Tampa Bay area.
Riverside Heights is by far one of the "quietest" of the Heights neighborhoods in the urban core of Tampa. On the east it is bounded by several cemetaries and on the west it is bounded by the Hillsborough River. The northern boundary is MLK jr. BLVD and on the south Columbus Dr. In between is a whole lot of quiet and more than a few brick streets. It is a neighborhood of about 1,400 homes ranging from the 1920's to today. The Riverside Heights Civic Association has just elected new leadership for their board. Dianne McNeilly is the groups new President and she has set an agenda of reaching out. Check out the neighborhood website to learn of upcoming events.
The Fall edition of American Bungalow is out and features vintage bungalows in St. Pertersburg and the Kenwood neighborhood in particular. For those in love with the charm and funtionality of bungalows this is your coffee table periodical.
The Seminole Heights documentary has made it as a finalist in the Independents' Film Festival. Another kudo for for Seminole Heights and the efforts of Suzanne Prieur, the Chair of OSHNA's Preservation Committee and Krissy and Gene Howes who produced the documentary. Earlier this year the film made it's debut at the Tampa Theatre to a sold out crowd. For those who missed that showing the is another opportunity on Saturday, October 4, 2008 at 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM when both the Seminole Heights & the Hillsborough High School movie will be shown at the Hillsborough High Auditorium. Tickets are available at Sherry's Yesterdaze on the corner of Florida and Frierson in Seminole Heights.
Hillsborough High School is without a doubt the most beautiful school in Hillsborough County with magnificent Gothic Revival architecture and the recently restored stained glass windows.
Seminole Heights is like a small town in the heart of Tampa, what the urban planners call an "urban village". If you are looking for a home in Seminole Heights visit www.atHomeintheHeights.com to learn about the area and search our vintage and newer homes.
Fabulous vintage two story bungalow (3/1.5) on a brick street in St. Petersburg. Just a block from the Bay and a block from Lake Maggiore. Minutes to USF St. Pete Campus and downtown. Open and inviting front porch. Original wood floors. Spacious living room with fireplace (currently gas). Oversized dining room with built in shelving. Roomy kitchen with plenty of counter space. 1st floor bedroom. Exceptionally large master bedroom with seating nook in the roof dormer. Full bath on second floor and half bath on first floor. Relax in the back yard on a pergola covered deck shaded by a centuries old grand oak. Privacy fenced yard. Almost new air conditioning system. Roof approximately 10 years old. This charming home has been re-wired. Plumbing updated. Appliances included. Priced to move but not a short sale.
Congratulations to the folks who work so hard to make the Clip Film Festival (formerly known as the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival) the enormous success that it has become and for making it into the ranks of the top 25 Tampa Bay area events. That's right the top 25! That puts the film festival up there with the annual air show at MacDill AFB, the Stawberry Festival, the State Fair, Gasparilla.
The festival now in it's 19th year brings thousands of visitors to Tampa every year making it one of the largest GLBT events in the entire nation. This year's festival begins October 2nd and continues through October 12th.
Book your tickets early. While you're here discover Tampa Bay and it's thriving GLBT community. Tampa and you, feels like home.
The market in Tampa continues to be very challenging (what an understatement). The hardest thing these days seem to be those listing appointments. Folks that bought 2, 3, 4 years ago have lost ground. This is a shocker for them.
It is tough to have to tell someone who DIDN'T buy at the peak of the market that they have no equity or that they have negative equity. Some of these would be sellers didn't do any of the big no-no's. They didn't suck the perceived equity out with a HELOC. They didn't take out interest only mortgages. They were traditional home buyers who now find themselves upside down.
After numerous listing appointments over the past month, I have only found 1 in 10 that actually comped for more than they paid for the home even 3 or 4 years ago. So now I really ask..."Must you list?"
If you must list, be prepared to be totally committed to selling, no body buys a half baked cake.
Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 was signed by President Bush last week to deal with the economic issues surrounding the housing market. Critical to many buyers, and especially first time home buyers is the end of seller assisted down-payments on FHA mortgages.
Up until September 30th, home buyers obtaining an FHA garanteed mortgage can receive seller downpayment assistance for the FHA required 3% downpayment. ON October 1st it all goes away.
If you are looking for a home and struggling with coming up with your down-payment, this window of opportunity for the seller to assist you with it will close on October 1st! The loan has to close before October 1st, it cannot be in process.
What will be even more challenging for first time buyers is that the minimum FHA required down-payment will rise to 3.5% on January 1st 2009.
For buyers who have been trying to time the market in buying their first home, the cost and out of pocket expense is about to go up significantly.
On a $150,000 home 3% is $4,500 more dollars, $6,000 on a $200,000 home as of October 1st.
On January 1st that becomes $5,250 and $7,000 respectively. At the same time mortgage rates are rising, erasing many of the savings from the decline in home prices.
Don't wait too late and find yourself waiting yet another year with yet a new savings goal before you have a home of your own.
Office Phone: (813) 832-5400
Cell Phone: (813) 758-7444
Email Me
Tampa Real Estate information, listings, and stray thoughts. Information on Heights neighborhoods (Seminole, Tampa, Ybor, Riverside) and historic/vintage homes in the Tampa area.
Rick Fifer
It is that time of year again. The nights have cooled to make an evening under the stars enjoyable. For those in the Seminole Heights area it becoming a new tradition as hundreds from the Heights neighborhoods, Sulphur Spring and beyond gather at the foot of the Josiah Richardson Water Tower on the banks of the Hillsborough River. The water tower is a Tampa landmark seen by thousands rushing to and from on 275, here is a chance to take a detour.
Come see this spacious (1260 sq ft) 2/2 bungalow style home in Seminole Heights. Large private backyard. Huge master bedroom (14x16) for a vintage home. Very spacious 2nd bedroom (11x16). Big eat-in kitchen (15x11). Versatile living room/ Dining room area can be used as a great room or as a formal living room and dining room. Open front porch. Great neighbors in friendly Seminole Heights, a neighborhood known for porch party get togethers and just voted as best Tampa neighborhood in Creative Loafing's annual Best of the Bay awards. This solid home has been well maintained. This is not a short sale! Owner willing to help with closing costs. Home should meet FHA standards which only require 3% down. Just 6 miles to USF, and 3 or 4 miles to Ybor City, Channelside, and downtown Tampa.
The Fall edition of 
documentary. Earlier this year the film made it's debut at the Tampa Theatre to a sold out crowd. For those who missed that showing the is another opportunity on Saturday, October 4, 2008 at 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM when both the Seminole Heights & the Hillsborough High School movie will be shown at the Hillsborough High Auditorium. Tickets are available at 
Fabulous vintage two story bungalow (3/1.5) on a brick street in St. Petersburg. Just a block from the Bay and a block from Lake Maggiore. Minutes to USF St. Pete Campus and downtown. Open and inviting front porch. Original wood floors. Spacious living room with fireplace (currently gas). Oversized dining room with built in shelving. Roomy kitchen with plenty of counter space. 1st floor bedroom. Exceptionally large master bedroom with seating nook in the roof dormer. Full bath on second floor and half bath on first floor. Relax in the back yard on a pergola covered deck shaded by a centuries old grand oak. Privacy fenced yard. Almost new air conditioning system. Roof approximately 10 years old. This charming home has been re-wired. Plumbing updated. Appliances included. Priced to move but not a short sale.
For more information please visit: 
Congratulations to the folks who work so hard to make the 
The market in Tampa continues to be very challenging (what an understatement). The hardest thing these days seem to be those listing appointments. Folks that bought 2, 3, 4 years ago have lost ground. This is a shocker for them. 
Up until September 30th, home buyers obtaining an FHA garanteed mortgage can receive seller downpayment assistance for the FHA required 3% downpayment. ON October 1st it all goes away.
;)
;)
