The Pinellas Peach on Active Rain

4th of July Fireworks: The Best in Tampa Bay! Photo Contest Too!

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:40:16 -0500

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

Madeira Beach Fireworks
Maderia Beach
July 4th 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 Aquarium 701 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!

(727) 366-0324 Julia | Info@PinellasPeach.com | (727) 366-0325 Matt

The Black Pearl in Dunedin Florida

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:17:03 -0500

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 Restaura nt 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

See our other Pinellas County favorite restaurants at The Pinellas Peach!

First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit for Pinellas Real Estate: The Truth, The Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:25:14 -0500

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.

Beware: Don't Miss the Boat(s) on Your Pinellas Real Estate Purchase! How Rising Mortgage Interest Rates Hurt Your Bottom Line ... Even in a Declining Market

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:01:05 -0500

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!

In the mean time, visit us at The Pinellas Peach or Suncoast Dream Homes for lots more Pinellas County Real Estate info.

All About Dunedin Florida Real Estate and Dunedin Things to Do

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 04:57:24 -0500

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 Fl Homes Are Selling While Kids Prepared for Crystal Beach Junior Talent Show!

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 05:07:48 -0500

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 at Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg This Weekend

Fri, 29 May 2009 23:31:03 -0500

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.

Visit the parking and shuttle map to get yourself situated. We hope to see you down at beautiful Vinoy Park in St Petersburg!

Friday, May 29, 5pm-10pm
Saturday, May 30, 12pm-10pm
Sunday, May 31, 12pm-7pm

Pinellas Real Estate Sales as of March 2009

Thu, 28 May 2009 10:42:55 -0500

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.

Palm Harbor Pizza - These Palm Harbor Realtors Give Corteo's Two Thumbs Up!

Wed, 27 May 2009 17:55:41 -0500

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 !

1st Annual Palm Harbor Citrus Festival - A Ferris Wheel Ride to Remember

Mon, 25 May 2009 23:25:33 -0500

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.

'Play Ball!' in Dunedin Florida

Mon, 25 May 2009 16:43:50 -0500

Disney World, sure; Busch Gardens, of course -- classic family vacations. But if you're a baseball fan, Florida is truly your destination! What could be better than visiting Florida in March and catching a couple of games in a smaller venue where the tickets are affordable and the weather is a balmy 75 degrees?

Even the beautiful Dunedin Florida homes take a back seat when the Toronto Blue Jays fly in! They've actually called Dunedin their spring training home for over 25 years. But no matter who you root for, you can come to Florida to see your team and actually get autographed baseballs without paying to get them signed at a baseball convention or not getting them signed at all at a major league park! Speaking of major league parks, while baseball isn't considered a contact sport, home plate umpire Kerwin Danley can tell another story after getting hit in the head by a broken bat during Tuesday's game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Texas Rangers. Good, bad, and shattered bats...baseball is back!

And of course, while Florida is the Spring Training home to all of the beloved baseball teams; Floridians are even more excited for the 2009 season because our very own "worst to first" Tampa Bay Rays who finished the 2008 season topping the American League East are starting out much the same this season. We're not worried, we've got a while before the Fall Classic!

Eniswood Subdivision, Palm Harbor Florida

Mon, 25 May 2009 16:00:13 -0500

There are little hills in Florida! The Eniswood subdivision is a beautiful tree-lined neighborhood in West Palm Harbor just northwest of Alt. 19 and Alderman Road. Eniswood is a deed restricted neighborhood with a voluntary Eniswood homeowner's association which costs only $100 a year if you elect to participate. Most but not all of the homes are 1-story and are 2,300 sq. ft. to just over 5,000 sq. ft.

This ideal family neighborhood features spacious lots and some even provide Eniswood Lake (really more of a large pond) or conservation views. These homes built in the 1980's feature vaulted ceilings, split floor plans and have a spacious feel to them. Many offer fireplaces for those occasional cool Florida evenings. Many have been updated with new kitchens and baths. You can invest in a home here between the high $200's to the mid-$500's.

The highly acclaimed Palm Harbor University High is a short walk from Eniswood, and it's just a few blocks from The Pinellas Trail and Wall Springs Park. As of this writing, a new Publix grocery store is being built in the small shopping center that borders the neighborhood. Of course, Pinellas Beaches are only a few minutes drive away - including the famed Honeymoon Island and Caladessi Island. If a manicured family neighborhood is what you're after with an ideal Palm Harbor location, Eniswood is the place to call home.

Call your Palm Harbor Realtors, Julia and Matt Fishel, at Suncoast Partners at Keller Williams Realty Palm Harbor @ (727)366-0325 for current offerings.

What Are You Afraid Of? Confessions from a Palm Harbor Realtor

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:15:57 -0600

What are you afraid of? Overpaying for your Pinellas home while being wham-blasted with negative news about the economy and the housing market? Or perhaps secrets horrifically and seemingly worse? OK. I'll go first.

I am dreadfully frightened of:

Public Speaking
Snakes
Having to work for someone else (translation: fear of failing with our real estate business - which, by the way, is the opposite of reality, but a fear nonetheless)
Slugs, snails and leeches (they belong in the same category, don't you think?)

In these times, more than ever, it's easy to venture into the realm of being fearful. Yet, I think we all now, more than ever, must encourage our friends and neighbors to not only to survive these times but to thrive within them. We're fortunate, we have family (note: not colleagues or friends) at Keller Williams Realty Palm Harbor that have helped our successes and continue to propel us forward. We give back, yet are at a point where it's our duty and honor to do so more.

How do we conquer fear and catapult into the realm of fabulous? I'm not quite sure, but after 43 years I think I might be on to something. I've been pushing the limits of my comfort zone. I invite you to stick your toes in the WATER OF FEAR, just to test the temperature. In the last 30 days I:

Chopped a 1' square, 1" thick piece of plywood in half with my bare hands (see picture above) - in front of 50 people.
Watched an entire show on Animal Planet about slithering snakes with my son.
Have pushed myself, more than ever, with my routine of doing the thing I like to do least (lead generation), first thing in the day, and track my results.
Public Speaking: As a newly appointed member of the ALC - Agent Leadership Council - in our Keller Williams Realty Palm Harbor office - I, with my dear friend Patty Neri, had to speak for a mere couple of minutes in front of a group of about 45 (which felt like 45,000). Five minutes before speaking, my face was heating up, my was heart racing, and had that same 'Oh my gosh I'm going to VOMIT' feeling just like when doing oral reports in 9th grade history class and again in college. Oh my!

Many of you are laughing about #4 and public speaking. Maybe some of you can relate? In retrospect, I managed to not throw up, my voice only cracked a few times, and I only stammered once or twice. Afterward, I made my way to the water cooler and my hands were still shaking. It's all a blur now. My stomach churns just thinking about it. Yet, somehow, the next time it think it might be just a bit easier. Afterward, more than ever before, I knew that everything was possible - if we just dare to try.

What's my point? It's summed up in a quote from an old book we started reading as part of a book club in our office (the brainchild of the amazing Ken Rossi) - Feel The Fear and Do It Anyway. I'm paraphrasing here, but it's this:

At the end of the day, I'd rather have said that I'm glad I tried or did than I wish I had.

How many of you have tested your fears? For those of you that have, what have been your experiences? Maybe it all just comes down to not overly analyzing whatever it is that scares us the most and just getting out there and facing it head on?

We can't control Wall Street, but maybe it's time to dip our toes in the waters of our inner fears - those fears that we actually CAN control?

Some of you now, are fearful of buying a Pinellas home in our current market. That, I can share with you, with full-hearted enthusiasm - is nothing to be afraid of! It's perhaps the best time in history to buy your Dunedin home! There are concrete facts to back that statement up if it's a concern. If you're scared and have doubts about investing now, I invite you to post your comments and chat about them. It's o.k. to just dip your toe in.

After all, talking about buying real estate, within the type of market when historically millionaires are made, is a lot better than stepping on a snail in your bare feet (been there, done that).

Indian Bluff Island, A Must See if Searching for a Palm Harbor Waterfront Home

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 23:03:07 -0600

Indian Bluff Island is Palm Harbor's best kept secret neighborhood. Most Palm Harbor residents have never even heard of Indian Bluff (the residents refer to it as IBI), and that includes many folks that have lived in Palm Harbor for years. Indian Bluff is a secluded neighborhood north of Alderman Road, West off of DeSoto Avenue and then West on Oceanview (the causeway to the island), just south of Wall Springs Park. Most of the homes are either on the Gulf of Mexico or on canals with easy access to the gulf. The more luxurious homes are well appointed and stunning in their own right, and feature luxurious finishes.

Many classify IBI as prestigious and exclusive, as there are many $1M+ estates on the gulf. Yet part of the charm of the island is that there are still many of the original ranch homes here, and so it's certainly got an eclectic and sometimes funky flair to it. Homes here were built anywhere from 1957 to 2008, are anywhere from 1 to 4 stores, and include many architectural styles. Most of the waterfront homes include docks, boat lifts, davits, etc. and the gulf-front homes feature unsurpassed gulf views.

Perhaps the best part of Indian Bluff living is that everyone on the island knows each other. There are the annual Christmas, Easter and Halloween events for the children, hosted on a rotating basis amongst the residents who choose to participate (and most do). Then there's the annual Indian Bluff Island Summer Slam and Fishing Tournament, with a roaring barbecue with live music in recent years. All proceeds go to support local charities. IBI is a non-deed restricted neighborhood and there's a voluntary $35 per year homeowners association.

Originally, Indian Bluff was a separate island from the mainland. In 1914, Robert Guase paid $27.93 for the entire island, as homesteading records show. It wasn't until 1957 that the causeway was built and the island was subdivided into lots and modern home development began. Sadly, there were discussions about building a community boat ramp, but they never came to fruition. However, nearby there are numerous nearby public and private boat ramps for those residents not on the water.

The Pinellas trail meets the end of the short causeway to the island, and Wall Springs Park is a block to the north. Wall Springs features playgrounds, fishing docks, trails and picnic areas. Just across the street is the renowned Innisbrook Golf Resort. There's plenty of shopping, restaurants, museums and recreational activities in the area, and major sporting events and Tampa Bay cultural activities are a short drive away. The Pinellas County schools serving the Island are highly acclaimed. The school bus picks and drops of kids at the end of the causeway, and, to make Island living just that much sweeter, a very special island resident has lovingly sat at the bus stop supervising the kids each day for more years than any of us can remember.

Contact us here or give us a call at (727)366-0324 to schedule a tour or receive the latest offerings on Indian Bluff Island.

Predictions for the Tampa Bay Real Estate Market ... When Will We Hit Bottom?

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 22:37:16 -0600

The #1 question on the minds of those thinking of buying a Dunedin home or a Palm Harbor home is "When will we hit bottom?". Timing the real estate market is no easier than trying to time the stock market. This graph illustrates this point.

We recently reviewed the benefits to buying a Pinellas home now. Pinellas real estate over the long term has always historically appreciated, n0t to mention there are many tax saving and intangible emotional benefits to home ownership. And whoa ..... interest rates are ridiculously low. If you're a first time homebuyer looking for an FHA loan, you've got critical timing issues to consider that can affect your wallet.

Now is the time to be investing in Pinellas real estate, because by time the bottom has been officially announced in the St. Pete Times, it will be staring at us in the rear view mirror.

Buying a Palm Harbor home? All about the $7,500 Tax Credit and Is It Right For Me?

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 10:22:04 -0600

Since HR3221 went into effect on July 30th, there's been enough nationwide analysis and debate to make even a Palm Harbor Real Estate professional's head spin! Today, let's focus on one wonderful little piece of that legislation - the $7,500 tax credit!

Am I Eligible?

The $7,500 tax credit is for first-time home buyers only for any home in the U.S. If I haven't owned a home in the past 3 years, I qualify!
I must be a U.S. Citizen and file my taxes.

Will the Palm Harbor Home I'd Like to Buy Qualify?

Any Tampa Bay home qualifies as long as it's my principle residence.

Do I Earn to Much Money to Qualify?

Dunedin home buyers filing as single or head-of-household can claim the full $7,500 if my adjusted gross income (AGI) is less than $75,000.
Married couples filing jointly can double that to $150,000.
Single or head-of-household taxpayers who earn between $75,000 and $95,000 are eligible to receive a partial credit.
Married couples filing jointly who earn between $150,000 and $170,000 are eligible to receive a partial credit.
If my AGI is greater than the limits above, I am out of luck.

When Must I Buy My Palm Harbor Home?

I need to have closed on the purchase of my home on or after April 9, 2008 and before July 1, 2009.

Will the IRS Write Me a Check for $7,500?

If I pay less than $7,500 in taxes for the year, then they IRS will cut me a check for the difference. For example, if I owe $5,000 in taxes, I will pay nothing to the IRS and they will cut me a check for $2,500. Or, if I am due to receive a $1,000 refund, my refund will grow from $1,000 to $8,500. SWEET! (We'll ALL be paying for it in other ways but let's not digress!)
If I purchased my home in 2008, the credit must be claimed with my 2008 tax return. If I plan to buy my Palm Harbor home in 2009, then I have the option of filing it either with my 2008 or my 2009 tax return.

The Catch .... Payback Provisions

The tax credit is an interest-free loan that must be repaid over 15 years.
The minimum repayment amount must be 15 equal annual installments. For example, if the credit amount is $7,500, then I must repay a $500 each year for 15 years.
If I didn't take advantage of the tax credit and borrowed that same $7,500 from my mortgage lender at 6% for 15 years, I would pay $11,392.96 of interest in addition to repaying the $7,500 principle!
I must begin repaying the credit two tax years after claiming the credit.

What Happens When I Sell My Palm Harbor Home?

When I sell my home for a profit, then I must repay the remaining credit during the tax year I sell my home. The amount of of my repayment depends upon the amount of profit from the home sale:
- If the profit on the sale is more than the remaining credit, then I must repay the entire remaining credit.
- If the profit on the sale is less than the remaining credit, then I must repay an amount equal to the profit on the home sale. The remaining credit payback will be forgiven.
If I sell the home but did not make any profit on the home sale, then the remaining credit payback will be forgiven.

Oh, The Silly Disclaimer

As always, please don't construe this article as legal, accounting or tax advice. Always contact a tax accountant for advice specific to your situation. That being said, we think you'll be hard-pressed to find a professional that says this isn't a fantastic opportunity for free money!

How Do I Get Started?

It's easy. Give us a call at (727)366-0324 or contact us here to start your Tampa Bay home search today. Of course, you can also search the MLS like a Realtor!

Dunedin Home and Shower Curtain for Sale

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 10:09:36 -0600

Taking good bathroom photos is challenging, even with a wide angle lens. Does this shower curtain close-up make you want to run out and see this Dunedin home that's currently on the Pinellas MLS? Do you suppose there's something lurking behind there? What?!

When you're house hunting online, what photos do you most like to see?

The most interesting response to these questions wins a Starbucks gift card and a possible feature on The Peach! Please send your response here.

Pinellas Home Buyers Need to Know About FHA Loan Changes Effective January 1st

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 10:05:33 -0600

The FHA is pulling in the reigns on it's lending practices again. If you're currently out shopping for a new Dunedin home and were planning to put just a little money down, there are 2 critical changes that became effective yesterday.

Increase in Down Payment for that Dunedin Home

You now need a 3.5% down minimum instead of the current 3% requirement.
As detailed in an earlier post about the passage of HR3221, the seller can't pay your down payment any longer, yet your Palm Harbor Real Estate professional can help you negotiate for seller-paid closing costs.

Mortgage Limits Decreasing

The maximum home purchase price effective January 1st will be $271,050, down from $292,500, as detailed in HUD's Mortgagee Letter 2008-36. Take heed of this if you're shopping in the $250K to $300K price range for that beautiful Crystal Beach Florida home. You don't want to find yourself out of the FHA loan package entirely.

A Recap of Your Options for a Pinellas Home Mortgage

Your T.V. set is incorrect - there ARE still plenty of loans available, and these are your options today:

FHA Financing - 3.5% down payment required

Conventional Financing - Requires minimum 10% down payment.

VA Loan - 100% loans still available

Private Financing - Private "hard money" is available at whopping interest rates for investors. Or there's always the bank of "Mom and Dad".

Feel free to contact us call us at 727-366-0324 (Julia) or 727-366-0325 (Matt).

Crystal Beach Florida - A Picture Slideshow

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:14:36 -0600

As Palm Harbor FL Realtors, we're often asked to describe Crystal Beach Florida, which hugs the gulf in North Palm Harbor. A picture is worth 1,000 words, so we whipped out the magic wand again (with fairy dust), and voila! Two of the homes in the slideshow below were just listed, 885 Point Seaside Drive, Crystal Beach Florida, and 128 Georgia Avenue, Crystal Beach FL.

Crystal Beach offers something for everyone - funky cottages, Key-West beauties, custom estates of all kinds - you name it - it's here. When searching for Crystal Beach homes, be sure to search in zip code 34681. See you at the Pier!

Pinellas Home Prices: Exactly Home Much Have They Fallen?

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:47:42 -0600

As Palm Harbor Realtors, we're often asked exactly how much Pinellas real estate prices have fallen. It's usually the buyers that are asking because Pinellas home sellers are having a harder time accepting the reality of today's market. Prices will rise again to those crazy 2006 levels, but it's going to be many years before that happens (speculation for another post). Yet this Zillow graph helps put perspective on the fact that homes always appreciate over the long term. In the mean time, if you know someone selling their Palm Harbor home now, give 'em a hug and a stiff drink and then, and only then, share this.

Before we get to the numbers, it's important to acknowledge that the fall in Ozona Florida or Dunedin real estate prices is actually a market correction from the falsely inflated prices we saw in the peak in July 2006. Things were nuts then, and would you agree that we've had a wake up call about the current state of the US economy, helped largely in part by the lending madness we saw a few years ago?

So the numbers.... The St. Pete times reported on November 26th that Tampa Bay homes lost 18.5% of their value the past year, according to September's S&P Case-Shiler home price index. As of end of 3rd Quarter '08, Zillow's reporting a 17.1% drop in Tampa Bay home values over last year. Last month, The Pinellas Peach reported a 16% decline in Pinellas home prices based upon our MLS research, so I guess you can say that we're optimists.

Pinellas home buyers, rejoice, and start shopping! Sellers, take heed, assuming our mere 16% decline, that's an average of 1.33% drop per month. Let's say your home was worth $300,000 last year, you lost $4000 a month EACH MONTH your home didn't sell last year, and today's it's worth a paltry $252,000.

If you're thinking of selling, and, by the way, there are still lots of wonderful reasons to sell now (buying up, anyone?!), it's time to talk turkey with a real estate professional that will get your home sold now.

Surf the Tampa Bay MLS Like a Realtor

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 22:35:13 -0600

There's this cool new technology that will let you search for that nice piece of Dunedin real estate by surfing the Tampa Bay MLS just like a Realtor does. It's free, it's easy, and you can sign up here.

It's called Listingbook. You'll see new listings as they hit the market, price changes, contracts that go pending, how many days a home has been on the market and so on, just like we do. You get to drive the bus and customize your searches any way you like, and as often as you like.

We've been offering Listingbook for a while now, but we heard it can offer a lot more, not just for those of you wanting to purchase a Clearwater Beach condo, but for our Crystal Beach FL home sellers, too. So, yesterday, we jumped at the chance to attended a free advanced training session presented by Tara Jacobsen of Marketing Artfully and sponsored by Joyce Smith of Somers Title and Ingegrity First Funding Group in Dunedin. Tara blew our hair off. We're going to be working hard in the next few weeks to bring you all of the bells and whistles we learned about to help make you the most informed Pinellas home buyers and sellers out there!

Sign up and tell us what you think. Surfs up! (yes, that's Matt being an off-duty Realtor and our son catching a few waves at Lido Key in Sarasota).

Why Some Palm Harbor Realtors are Bored

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:46:17 -0600

Lately, when not in the Keller Williams Realty Palm Harbor office, we've run into far too many bored Palm Harbor real estate agents. Some are from real estate offices that are on the verge of closing. I plead to them "There IS hope. There IS a success plan!". Most often it lands on deaf ears. I must not be conveying my message with enough conviction, or maybe I come off as annoying, or maybe I'm just too busy to do so properly.

On Monday, I was told about a Palm Harbor real estate agent, a fairly well known one just a short year or two ago, was looking for a part time job. We'll call her Sally.

On Tuesday, I ran into another Palm Harbor Realtor that used to do a LOT of business in Pinellas County, and let it suffice to say that the opposite has been true for her lately. We'll call her Sue. Sue was working the election polls for the day doing her civic duty (hats off to her for that). Sue confided that she was there because she was bored and had a lot of time on her hands because there's not a lot happening in real estate any more. I was polite and tried to not let my mouth hang open too much, but has she not seen the numbers? Just as many homes are selling this year as were a year ago!

This week I had a transaction not come to fruition. The other agent involved, we'll call her Samantha, spent countless hours of her time, and as much of our time as possible, on the paperwork details and commiserating over what might have been instead of proactively finding the next buyer for this fantastic house.

This morning I had FOUR agents whom I've never met call me on some of our listings. Each one wanted to chit chat at length about how bad the real estate market was and tell me their tales of woe.

Sally, Sue, Samantha, these 4 Pinellas real estate agents and countless others haven't been blessed yet with the ability to go out there and make things happen while ignoring the negative media, declining Pinellas home prices and stories of the sky falling in. It's heartbreaking.

We aren't saying this to brag, but Suncoast Partners' business is humming along at a full-tilt boogie like never before. We're fully engaged in this wildly fun and challenging real estate marketplace. We're busy working hard for our clients, marketing their homes like never before, negotiating Pinellas short sales for buyers and sellers alike, attending home inspections for upcoming closings, answering phones that are ringing all the time, previewing hundreds of homes at fantastic prices for our buyers, staying in touch with people we've worked with in the past, finding plenty of new clients and making new friends, staying in constant touch with Brian Forrester of TriCounty Mortgage who keeps us up on the latest mortgage industry news, answering a flurry of Internet inquiries, crunching Pinellas real estate statistics so we stay on top of the latest trends, assisting other agents whenever asked, writing the occasional blog post, and about 2,343,698 other things.

If you are that bored agent, or perhaps just feeling a little overwhelmed or hopeless, give us a call. There are countless ways to turn your situation around, and we'd be happy to share what others were kind enough to share with us. Know that we've been there, too, and that's why it's part of our life's purpose to share the secret of how to grow a successful real estate business - in any market.

If you are looking to buy or sell real estate and are interviewing agents, ask questions and do your homework to find out how many homes they've sold this year, what their list to sale price ratios are, days on market for their listed homes, if they are experienced and certified in Pinellas short sales and Pinellas foreclosures, etc. Don't forget to ask for references!

You might even want to contact us. We'd be thrilled to have the opportunity to interview for the job of being your Pinellas real estate consultants for life.

Pinellas Real Estate Sales as of August 2008, The Good, Bad and The Ugly

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:19:19 -0600

Do you want to know what's really happening with Pinellas Real Estate? Want to avoid the sugar-coated smooth talk and just want honest answers?

Suncoast Partners and The Pinellas Peach take pride in providing meaningful knowledge, insight and data to assist you with making informed Pinellas real estate investment decisions. Above is our first monthly installment of data that's seemingly too difficult for the educated Pinellas real estate consumer to find these days.

PRO, The Pinellas Board of Realtors, dispenses boat loads of data each month. Some meaningful and some, quite frankly, will put even the most analytical types to sleep. ZZZzzzzzzz. We've assembled the parts we believe are important, but we need you to please let us know what you like, don't like, and what data, if any, you would like to see that's not here.

This data shows us that for Pinellas home SELLERS (reverse this if you're buying or buying up):

The Good :

Just as many homes are selling this year as last year.
The number of homes on the market has declined slightly, which is good news for everybody because it's an indicator that we've got fewer non-serious sellers.
Our MSI (Month's Supply of Inventory) numbers are down significantly for single family homes and down slightly for condos - a healthy sign toward market correction.
In August we saw the lowest 'Days on Market' numbers we've seen in months. Homes are selling more quickly than they were earlier in the year.

The Bad:

Prices are down significantly from last year - roughly 14% for single family homes and 22% for condos. Keep in mind this is just a snapshot for the past two months over last year. The thing I hate about statistics is that one can slice them and dice them to suit just about any purpose, but know that the numbers being bantered about by those in the know is that Pinellas home prices have come down about 16% in the last year.
Prices are still declining as the Palm Harbor foreclosures and Dunedin Short Sales continue to pop up. (The rate at which that is happening and what we expect to happen is subject matter for another post).
These low interest rates aren't going to last forever (they were already up again to between 6.5% and 6.75% today), so it's going to continue to get harder and harder to find qualified buyers to buy your Ozona FL home. If you're considering a purchase, it's time to get your game shoes on (yet another subject for another post).

The Ugly:

There's nothing ugly about real estate as long-term investment, a great tax write-off, and most importantly, a place to call home sweet home.

Remember, tell us what you think. Your opinion matters!

Ozona Florida, an “Old Florida” Waterfront & Golf-cart Friendly Community

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 20:09:56 -0500

Ozona FL offers "Old Florida" small-town living with the added benefit of being part of a larger, surrounding community with fabulous amenities. Sometimes it seems that this eclectic waterfront community likes to keep itself a secret from the mainstreamers of Palm Harbor. One thing's for sure, having an Ozona address unofficially puts you into the insiders club.

Part of unincorporated Palm Harbor, Ozona is not quite a city, yet there's certainly more to love here than your average neighborhood.

Hugging the Gulf of Mexico, Ozona sits just south of Tarpon Springs and Crystal Beach and north of Dunedin -and stops to the East at Alternate 19 (aka Palm Harbor Blvd.). Boaters relish in it's surrounding waters leading to St. Joseph Sound and the open Gulf of Mexico. There's Sutherland Bayou to the north and Smith Bayou to the south, and that's Lungreen Cove just north of the dash after Ozona in the picture to the right. While Ozona is a small community of about 1100 people, it supports 5 marinas for those that don't have the luxury of a dock in the backyard.

Ozona is a golf-cart friendly community where you'll find parents cruising their kids to school in style. There's also the annual Christmas golf-cart parade, with the carts fully decorated to the nines. If actually playing golf is what you're after, Innisbrook's four championship courses are laid out on over 600 acres about a mile up the road in Palm Harbor.

If you were to search for Ozona homes, you would find them from the low $200's for a funky cottage up to the $2M+ range. The cute and somewhat dusty downtown "main" street (Orange Street) brings you back to yesteryear, and here you'll find casual restaurants including Molly Goodhead's and The Ozona Pig. There's also the Ozona Blue Grilling Company just down the road, where you can have lunch and a cocktail while taking a dip in the waterside pool! For your sweet tooth, there's Chocolate Studios, featuring exotic homemade chocolate creations. If you prefer to prepare your own fine dining experience, then a trip to the Ozona Seafood Company is a must - they have incredible fresh fish, meat and all sorts of gourmet goodies.

If you've got young ones, they're eligible to go to Ozona Elementary - the school in Palm Harbor that elicits tons of rave reviews from parents year after year. Best yet, the local high school is Palm Harbor University High, ranked in 2008 by Newsweek at #208 of the top public high schools in the nation (of which there are over 27,000!)

Even if you're not a big fan of the water, yet you enjoy an "Old Florida" town feel, you'll fall in love with the charm and sense of community that Ozona offers. It is unsurpassed in North Pinellas County - except perhaps by the other seaside community to the north which is Crystal Beach.

Then again, it depends who you ask. Feel free to call us for more details on the area or available homes.

Poof! Palm Harbor Realtor Has Magic Wand That Makes Great Home Deals Appear. Meanwhile, on Wall Street, 401K disappears.

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 22:52:09 -0500

Do you wish that all it took to make sound investment, including real estate investments, was a $10 magic wand? Maybe all we need is a cozy living room without a television, a dog house in the yard and a Palm Harbor Realtor with the faith and perseverance to help you find and secure a great Pinellas home at an incredible price.

For those of you that know me best, you know I often speak of my magic wand, and how I wish I had one that truly worked wonders. Lately, I'm beginning to believe my wand has hutzpah. It's been working magnificently as of late, particularly with finding bargains on gorgeous homes in Palm Harbor East Lake - the Ridgemoor neighborhood, as it so happens.

Last month my wand worked for Sasha and Kim, who landed an incredible below-market investment and beauty to behold, with two other bidders nipping at the heels of our offer. Today, my wand helped Charlie and Angela land the East Lake Palm Harbor home of their dreams, and we out-smarted THREE other bidders to land it! Poof! Just like that. (Well, perhaps it was because we really stay on top of these hot new listings as they appear out of the magic hat). These two examples of many remind us that:

Homes that aren't in foreclosure are in high demand. These homes weren't Palm Harbor foreclosures or short sales. They were immaculately cared for.
Homes are selling quickly. One of these homes was on the market 2 days before we made our bid and the other only 5 days before securing it. Note that they were well priced.
Bidding wars are happening all the time. This is true for homes that are priced correctly and well-marketed, of course.

Meanwhile, on Wall Street, chaos abounds. Poof! 401K's, lifetime savings, gone. Just like that. Just accross the wires tonight, we have this AP article which may be of interest to Pinellas Home buyers. It brilliantly discusses the topic of just where did all that money go? Or did we ever really have it in the first place?

The notion that we've lost everything when the price of our stock tanks, when in reality its value equals only the amount that a buyer is willing to pay for it on any given day, is right on the money. This concept holds true for Pinellas real estate, too. Hmmm....

Tonight, my magic wand reminded me that it's probably a great time to remind all of our friends that at Suncoast Partners @ Keller Williams Realty we believe in our hearts that real estate remains the single best long-term investment.

Sure, Palm Harbor home values rise and fall, but over the long term the gains are there - historically and yes, even if you purchased fairly recently. Most remarkably, there's something tangible behind the investment: A house to call home where a lifetime of memories can be made. And, baby, interest rates are incredible! To me, that's much more exciting that a stock certificate any day of the week.

Would you like to see if the Suncoast Partners magic wand can work for you, too? Seeing is believing, after all. See for yourself