Happy 4th of July! We've complied a list of the best places to throughout Pinellas County and Tampa Bay to catch a fireworks show tonight. Enjoy!
WANT TO WIN a $50 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO CARRABAS ITALIAN GRILL and have your photo published on www.PinellasPeach.com? Send in your best fireworks photo from tonight with a brief description of where the photo was taken by Monday, July 6th at 12:00PM. The photo entry with with the most "pizazz" wins! (Hey, we're Pinellas Realtors not wordsmith's, but you get the idea!) Contact us here or e-mail directly to Julia@PinellasPeach.com. Stock photos will not be considered - they must be your originals.
Clearwater Celebrates America Coachman Park- 301 Drew St. - Clearwater July 4th 4PM - 10PM Family activities, Mostly Pops Orchestra, fireworks display
Crystal Beach (Palm Harbor) Annual 4th Celebration Crystal Beach Pier- take Crystal Beach Ave West to Gulf Drive - turn North (right) .. you can't miss it! July 4th Sunset to - 10PM Informal gatherining with all the locals, many driving their golf carts, fireworks display
Dunedin Hometown USA Knology Park - 373 Douglas Ave - Dunedin July 3rd 9:30 PM firworks display
City of Gulfport Celebrates Gulfport downtown waterfront district- 2401 53rd St. S - Gulfport July 4th fireworks display
Safety Harbor's July 4 Celebration Safety Harbor Marina Park - 110 Veterans Memorial Ln - Safety Harbor July 4th 5 PM - 9:30PM Events and fireworks
Redington Shores Fireworks County Beach Park- Gulf Blvd & 182nd Ave W - Redington Shores July 4th shortly after dusk
St. Pete - Fireworks at the Pier St. Petersburg Pier- 800 Second Ave. N.E. - St. Petersburg July 4th events and fireworks from 1 PM - 11 PM at the Waterside Courtyard & The Pier
Independence Day Channelside 615 Channelside Dr. - Tampa July 4th events starting at 2 PM and fireworks after dark
Pasco County Fairgrounds- 36722 State Road 52 - Dade City July 4th fireworks at 9:15 PM Gates open at 4PM Fireworks and entertainment
Marina Jack Restaurant - 2 Marina Plaza - Sarasota July 4th 8 PM - The 4th of July Fireworks in Sarasota starts at dusk over Sarasota Bay at Bayfont Park.
4th of July Rock 'n Wings Concert Albert Whitted Airport- 107 8th Avenue SE - St Petersburg July 4th 4 PM - 10 PM Gates open at 3 p.m.
Largo 4th of July Celebration Largo Central Park - 101 Central Park Drive - Largo July 4th 7 PM - 10 PM Fireworks display at 9 p.m.
St Pete Beach fireworks St. Pete Beach Access Park- 4700 Gulf Blvd. - St. Petersburg beach July 4th starting at dusk
Treasure Island fireworks Treasure Island- Treasure Island July 3rd Enjoy some great BBQ, live music, and you can even park right on the beach.
Siesta Key 4th of July Fireworks Siesta Key Beach July 4th 9:30 PM - 10:30 PM Fireworks can be seen from Midnight Pass to the Siesta Key Village
The Florida Aquarium701 Channelside Drive Tampa, Florida (813) 273-4000 Fireworks at 9PM
See you at the show!
We are the Managing Agents at Suncoast Partners at Keller Williams Realty. We provide expertise and relentless representation for our clients throughout much of Tampa Bay, Florida. We specialize in Pinellas County waterfront communities including Palm Harbor (including Crystal Beach & Ozona), Dunedin, Clearwater, Clearwater Beach and All Gulf Beaches. Portions of Hillsborough and Pasco counties are serviced with a smile, too.
Expect professionalism with some fun along the way!
A great deal of justifiable fuss is made over Main Street in Dunedin; it is presented as a feature to potential purchasers of Dunedin Real Estate and it is just a beloved part of town to the long time residents. Chock full of charm and tremendous places for cocktails, shopping, dining, and just general loitering -- it is the place to be.
One of our favorite spots is The Black Pearl Restaurant at 315 Main Street. We've dined in some excellent restaurants in big cities in the states and across Europe, and the Black Pearl stands up very well against that kind of competition.
It is not the least expensive place to dine in Dunedin, Florida; but as a treat, or to celebrate a significant event, or to toast your favorite Palm Harbor business partner, you cannot beat the cuisine and the service.
We love being one of the hard working Palm Harbor Realtors, but after a long day of showing Pinellas short sales and Pinellas foreclosures, we love to treat ourselves to the exceptional service and soothing ambiance of this very fine establishment. Enjoy!
The Black Pearl 315 Main Street Dunedin, Fl 34698 727-734-3463
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was the heavily debated economic stimulus package that was signed into law in February of 2009. The home buyer tax credit is a component of this package and was created to promote home ownership. The bill originally provided for an $8,000 tax credit available to first-time home buyers for the purchase of a principal residence on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009.
There's great news, however, if you're in the market to purchase Pinellas Real Estate! Buyers may now use the credit upfront as extra down payment money, to lower payments, pay discount points (reducing their interest rates), or to supplement closing costs.
The big "BUT" here is that buyers CANNOT use the first time home-buyer tax credit toward the 3.5% minimum that is required of FHA insured loans. The buyer still has to present those down payment funds, yet they can be a gift from a relative. And now .......
The Truth About the Misinformation Currently Being Circulated Amongst the Mis-Informed:
There's a lot of misinformation out there saying that the $8,000 can be used for your down payment, but that's just not the case! It's a convoluted mess because HUD originally released this Mortgagee Letter 2009-15, later rescineded it (the details as to why are unclear other than they realized they made a mistake), and now it's up for public speculation as to what's going to happen with that aspect of it. For crying out loud, we reported last October that the FHA had just done away with all seller-funded closing costs - now they want to essentially reverse that?! For the real facts, keep checking back, or better yet subscribe to The Pinellas Peach and you'll be notified automatically.
Eligibility for the $8000 tax credit can be found on the IRS website. It is always wise to consult with a tax advisor and a licensed Realtor to discuss your particular situation. At this time the key components to this upfront monetization of the $8,000 tax credit it that:
it will only be available for FHA loans
full documentation of income is essential
low debt-to-income ratios are mandatory
the buyer is still responsible for the 3.5% minimum down payment
I'm going out on a limb here, and this will probably tick some of you off, but making sure buyers have the discipline to save 3.5% for a down payment is probably a good indicator as to whether or not they'll be able to keep up with mortgage payments in the event of an unforseen needed repair, life change, etc. Otherwise we're essentially back to 100% financing which is what got us all into this pickle in the first place. 100% financing with a rainy day savings account?! Fabulous. Otherwise, maybe it's not time to take the home ownership plunge just yet.
As Pinellas real estate prices have continued to drop each month, some Pinellas home buyers continued to play it cool, sit back and wait until a particular Dunedin Fl neighborhood becomes affordable in their eyes. Beware! There's another boat you don't want to miss.
Conventional interest rates had been hovering at historic lows of 4.75% - until this week, where they ended at 5.27%! It is unlikely they will stay in these low ranges, whether the 4's or the 5's for any length of time say most experts. Mortgage interest rates are tied to the bond market which has begun to take hits due to the state of the economy. Money.com had this good synopsis Thursday if you want to delve deeper.
So, if you're waiting for that $200,000 home to fall another $10,000 or 5% - this will take about three months in our current market. Now its September 1st and you're going to offer $190,000 and save about $50/mo on your mortgage payment. But wait! Interest rates have risen one point to 5.75%. Now your mortgage payment is $125.00 MORE than it would have been last week. This scenario has now cost you an additional $75.00/month - for the next THIRTY YEARS!!
$200,000 home with an 3.5% FHA 30 year loan:
4.75% = $1006.78/ mo payment
5.75% = $1126.30/mo
6.75% = $1251.79/mo
Some will say, "not a big deal." Really? A 2% jump in interest equates to an additional $3,000 per year and over $162,000 over the life of the loan. Hmmm...
What's the other boat? Trying to time the bottom of the market. A post for another day!
While visions of palm trees dance in the heads of the Florida real estate buying public, there are neighborhoods and towns in Florida that offer SO much more than swaying foliage. Case in point: Dunedin Florida. It has it all.
Dunedin Florida is a waterfront town nestled between Palm Harbor (including Ozona Fl and Crystal Beach) and Clearwater. Two of Dunedin's claims to fame are the very celebrated Honeymoon and Caladesi Islands situated off the Dunedin shore. The Florida pride is justified in the recent proclamation of Caladesi Island as #1 on the list of best beaches in America. Honeymoon Island is just a 3 minute drive from the mainland and Caladesi Island State Park is reachable via ferry or private boat from Honeymoon Island.
Because of the recent #1 nod, Dunedin Florida has become a hot place to host weddings and to celebrate life's milestones. Your guests can enjoy a pampered experience and then kick up some sand and rejuvenate!
The Dunedin lifestyle runs the gamut of outdoor activities like: windsurfing, sailing, kayaking, canoeing, and jet skiing. This active way of life is only rivaled by spectacular dining offered at local restaurants like Bon Appétit and tranquil evenings of star gazing from one of the yachts that dot the blue water of St. Joseph Sound.
For pursuits further inland, Dunedin real estate is architecturally interesting. As one of the premier Dunedin Realtors in the area, we've sold Dunedin homes with styles that run the gamut from spectacular waterfront Dunedin homes to retro ranches. From any number of these special homes, Dunedin visitors and residents can just take a spectacular stroll to the picturesque and lively downtown Dunedin area with its beautiful parks, Dunedin Marina, and all manner of pubs, ice cream parlors, an eclectic array of restaurants, and shops owned by merchants of distinction.
While any day is a good day in Dunedin, there is a plenitude of multiple fine art and antique shows, festivals, parades, and all kinds of special events that pepper the calendar. To name just a few of the annual festivities: Art Harvest, full scale parades during Mardi Gras, the famous Dunedin Wines the Blues, The Celtic Festival, the Annual 9-day Highland Games, and The Honeymoon Island Seafood Fest & Boat Show.
Bottom line, Dunedin Florida is a lively yet relaxing and picturesque place to call home.
Crystal Beach Florida is it's own "town" within unincorporiated Palm Harbor FL. As you locals know, it's kind of a secret place, and many outsiders don't 'get it' with just a quick drive by. That's why if you're looking to sell your Crystal Beach fl home, it's important to hire a local professional who can sing its praises to the outside world. We just sold these two Crystal Beach homes with spectacular gulf views. We've also sold more Crystal Beach homes than any other Pinellas Realtor this year!
Sellers, take heed. We aren't the only game in town, but we are professionals that will get results for you. And we know how to have a laugh or two. We weren't the first listing agents on either of these homes, and one of these homes was listed FIVE times with THREE Realtors before Suncoast Partners @ Keller Williams Realty Palm Harbor was hired with our stealth marketing strategy.
Crystal Beach Junior Talent Show Info: Those of you with kids thinking about relocating to Crystal Beach Fl might want to stop in May 30th at 6PM to check out the 3rd Annual Crystal Beach Junior Talent Show. It will be at The Beach House @ 520 Crystal Beach Avenue. Residents 18 and under will we singing, dancing, acting, doing magic tricks and comedy for trophies, ribbons and door prizes, and lots of fun. Admission and entry are free, of course. Call (727)787-7523 for info.
Currenlty there are 34 Crystal Beach homes in the Pinellas MLS for sale. For your personal tour, or for a plan to get your Pinellas home SOLD, call us, Julia & Matt Fishel, at (727)366-0325 (Matt) or (727)366-0324 (Julia).
We'd love to meet you and see if we can't help you, too!
A Taste of Pinellas is happening this weekend and it looks like it's going to be even bigger and better than last year. The setting alone (on the waterfront in Downtown St. Pete) is spectacular, but the celebration of great food and music makes it one of the best annual parties in Tampa Bay. This event is like the Taste of Palm Harbor on steroids. Admission is free and all of the proceeds go to support All Children's Hospital.
Food and drink can be purchased from the restaurant booths with tickets -- a sheet of 8 tickets sells for $5 and can be purchased at the event. There will be a Kids' Zone for children and a specialty & import beer garden.
But central to this great festival is the tremendous opportunity for local restaurants to present selections from their menus. As of this writing some 40 restaurants are scheduled to set up and show off their extraordinary fare. Just some of the tasty treats will be served up from the ever-popular Bob Evans, the succulent ribs from Brady's Backyard BBQ, the Courtside Grille , famous Crabby Bills , classic favorites from Five Guys Burgers and Fries , perfect sausage and peppers from Gratzzi Ristorante , and the local favorite, Hurricane Seafood Restaurant.
There will be music for every taste throughout the weekend but the headliners include: Night Ranger with Lita Ford on Friday night, Travis Tritt on Saturday and the ever-consistent KC and the Sunshine Band on Sunday.
As Pinellas Realtors, we know that we have challenges ahead. Yet, as we study the statistics here at the Pinellas Peach, the signs are becoming clearer with each passing month that we are in a slow recovery pattern, at least in terms of the absorption rate. In fact, within the Keller Williams Realty Palm Harbor Florida office, we've all felt a significant uptick in buyer activity (and truly appreciate those rare days off!). Want proof?
Units Sold: There are more Pinellas condos and Pinellas homes selling now than have since 2007. Single family home sales were up 19.3% year over year in March. Condo sales showed a 17% increase over March of last year. If we had our magic wand, we could tell you if this trend will hold.
Inventory: The number of Pinellas homes on the market continues to drop, and were at their lowest point since March of 2006 when we were still in a boom Pinellas Real Estate Market. The Tampa Tribune reported similar findings in April for all of Tampa Bay.
Absorption Rate (A/R): The Pinellas County Real Estate absorption rates are higher than they have been since a couple of years. Yes, folks, you can sell your Crystal Beach Florida homes if you want to!
Pinellas Homes and Declining Median Sales Prices: OK, every silver lining has it's dark cloud. Prices are still dropping. Average sales prices are reported in our chart, yet the Pinellas Board of Realtors is reporting that the single family median price dropped 24.5% when compared to March 2008, and condo median pricess tumbled 20.9% during the same period. Don't dismay, it is still easy to sell your slice of Palm Harbor Real Estate quickly, with this proven home sale strategy in place.
Contact Matt and Julia Fishel, Licensed Real Estate Consultants, at (727)366-0325 (Matt) or (727)366-0324 (Julia) for an in-depth anyalysis of what these Pinellas home sales trends mean for you - whether buying Dunedin Florida homes you dream about or trying to sell your Ozona Florida home.
Corteo’s Pizza and Pasta Restaurant in Palm Harbor, Florida makes a Sicilian pie that is hard to find outside of the Northeast. First of all, they construct it with real mozzarella cheese, not the inferior soy-based products that predominate. Their pie is also made in the infamous “Grandma-style” by nestling the cheese under the sauce. This method enables the cheese to stay moist and not burn. The sauce on top also helps to keep the cheese on the slice instead of it pulling off in the first bite. These things are important to a pizza lover!
The entrees are reasonably priced. The restaurant is clean and although not dripping with ambiance, it is open and friendly. The owners are those of the Michele’s Italian Restaurant that closed some years back.
Corteo’s offers “Parties on the Patio” for up to 20 guests for birthdays, anniversary parties etc. They only require a 5-7 day advance notice. Catering Trays “To Go” are another option with only 3 days notice required from order placement. Early bird specials are featured daily from 2:30 – 5:30 offering courses from appetizer to dessert.
The absolute best bet though is calling ahead and swooping in to pick up a Sicilian pie to go! Corteo’s is located at 32922 US 19 in the shopping center by Hops. Mangiare !
So on another sparkling blue Sunday in Crystal Beach Florida, we followed the music and made our way over to the first annual Citrus Festival. The streets in this exquisite section of historic Palm Harbor form a quaint labyrinth that showcases all the shops and eateries that make it the place to be on any Sunday.
But this past weekend it wasn’t just the Pinellas beach homes on display. The whole area around Nebraska and Florida Avenues was closed off to accommodate all the rides and the full arcade of classic carnival games. All kinds of vendors were represented in addition to a full set-up by our local Palm Harbor YMCA. Savory snacks sizzled on grills and the multi-tap Budweiser truck dispensed frothy glasses of beer to the Palm Harbor revelers.
As usual, the Palm Harbor Chamber of Commerce events staff did an outstanding job (with a bevy of hard working volunteers) hosting a tremendous time in this beautiful hamlet in North Pinellas County. With all of the excitement, we dropped our Flip video camera, and lost the ferris wheel video. Yet we managed to save this shot of a high-flying ride against the back drop of the downtown Palm Harbor sky.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
WANT TO WIN a $50 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO CARRABAS ITALIAN GRILL and have your photo published on 
beautiful parks, Dunedin Marina, and all manner of pubs, ice cream parlors, an eclectic array of restaurants, and shops owned by merchants of distinction.
;)
;)
