The Latest News on Tampa Real Estate, Moving to Tampa, The Best Tampa Neighborhoods and MacDill Air Force Base Relocation, every day…
MacDill AFB is one of the largest employers in Tampa, with many military and civilian employees, who live all over the Tampa Bay area. It is “relocation season”…the time of year when many families with children are planning their move, or PCS, to Tampa. The top priority for those families is always the school district. With recent changes to school boundaries for six of the area high schools, it is important to work with an agent who knows the best school options for your child and the best neighborhood in Tampa for your family.
If you are moving to Tampa, for a position at MacDill Air Force Base, contact me, to find the right neighborhood for you, and your family.I have been relocating military families in Tampa for 15 years!
You can read some of my previous articles about moving to Tampa, and relocation to MacDill Air Force Base:
If you are buying a house in Tampa, or Selling a house in Tampa, I can help with any Tampa neighborhood, including:
Brandon, Riverhills, Valrico, South Tampa, Davis Islands, Beach Park, Sunset Park, Hyde Park, Culbreath Isles, Palma Ceia, Westchase, Waterchase, Odessa, Cheval, Avila, Brandon, Riverview, FishHawk, New Tampa, Tampa Palms, Hunter’s Green, Arbor Greene, Apollo Beach, South Shore, MiraBay, Golf Communities, Waterfront Homes, Luxury Homes in Tampa, Clearwater Beach, St. Pete Beach, Condos in Tampa and International Real Estate…contact me!
Sign up for my email list to receive the latest information on the Tampa Real Estate Market, Living in Tampa, and the International Real Estate Market!
If you are moving to the Tampa area, and will be working in Downtown Tampa, you might consider putting your children in a school close to your workplace vs. the assigned school for your neighborhood. Some parents enjoy the convenience of being close to their children during the school day. It makes it easy to attend school functions, or join their children for lunch.
A new disclosure for the resale of condominiums in Florida went into effect last week. For buyers and sellers in the Tampa Real Estate market this means "more paperwork". For sellers, it may mean a delay in the closing process if you don't have all of the necessary paperwork available for the buyer to review.
Tampa is “abuzz” with the Tampa Bay Rays playing in, and hosting, the World Series this week. Hordes of baseball fans will descend on the Tampa Bay area, which means they will be looking for all of the best restaurants in Tampa, and the best places to eat in Clearwater!
Yes, I sell real estate in Tampa, but I also love great food! Welcome, to all of the baseball fans who are in town this week! Enjoy some of my suggestions for all of the great places to eat, all over the Tampa Bay area!
For the Phillies fans, you won’t find much “cheese steak”, but you can feast on just about anything else, at some of my favorite spots!
If you are just loooking to “hang out”…Downtown St. Pete is loads of fun! You will find great shopping, restaurants, the Art Museum, movies and more! Head over to Dino’s piano bar for a drink and listen to some great music , or enjoy some wine and nibbles at Tastings!
If you have any questions about where to go, or what to do while you are in the Tampa Bay area, or, if you are thinking about buying real estate in Tampa Bay, or just want to chat, send me an email! Enjoy your Stay!
The big news in Tampa today is not about the Economic Crisis, or the Presidential Race. The Hillsborough County School Board announced that it will be making “Boundary Changes” for a number of schools next year and specifically mentioned Plant High School in South Tampa! Plant High is one of the Top 100 High Schools in the U.S., and the Plant High School District is one of the most sought-after places to live in Tampa for families with children. I have lived, and worked, in the Plant High District for nearly 20 years.
The Current Boundaries for Plant High School take the district north of Kennedy Blvd. to I-275 and south through the neighborhoods of Bayshore Beautiful and west to Bel Mar Shores and the bay. I can guarantee there are parents throughout South Tampa who are already forming a coalition to fight the boundary changes, since South Tampa Real Estate values are higher in the “Plant” District, any boundary changes are bound to affect housing values in certain South Tampa Neighborhoods.
Where will they move the boundaries? That will be a heated discussion! Since South Tampa consists of everything south of Kennedy Blvd., that would be the “natural” boundary change. However, that would virtually eliminate much of the “minority” student population and could be considered “segregation”. Moving the southern boundary farther north, would eliminate the Bayshore Beautiful neighborhood, which is filled with pricey homes and many prominent “movers and shakers” in Tampa! As Real Estate Agents, we often joke that someone influential must have lived on Chapin Avenue, since it is such an odd place for a southern boundary in the Plant District! The Bayshore Beautiful Homeowner’s Association meets tonight at 7 pm…I am betting this item is on the agenda!
Several years ago, Westchase Elementary School went through some boundary changes and THOUSANDS of parents showed up to protest!
Though I can’t predict WHERE the new boundaries will be, I CAN predict many heated discussions on the issue! My advice? If you live close to the “fringes” of the Plant High District, this might be a good time to sell your house and move to the “center” of the District! Davis Islands, Hyde Park, Palma Ceia, New Suburb Beautiful, Parkland Estates, Beach Park and Sunset Park are pretty safe “bets”.
You can read more about living in South Tampa, and the Plant High School District, in some of my previous articles!
If you are moving to Tampa, or looking for a home in the Tampa Real Estate Market, and you have children, finding the right school will be at the top of your “to do” list! Hillsborough County is the 8th largest school district in the Country and has many top-rated schools, both Nationwide and Statewide.
Each street address has a specific “school district” assigned to it, but another option to consider is one of the many “Magnet Schools” available at all grade levels. I am going to chat about several of the most popular magnet schools over the next few weeks, to educate my readers, and those considering a move to Tampa, about the incredible educational opportunities for your children outside of the “mainstream” curriculum.
I deal with a heavily “International” clientele. Many of my clients have bi-lingual children and want to immerse them in a curriculum that is focused on languages and international studies. I, personally, studied at a French elementary school and later at a university in Switzerland. While studying Russian History in French may not appeal to everyone, it is EXACTLY the kind of challenge that many students thrive upon!
Hillsborough County offers the Interational Baccalaureate programme at the Elementary, Middle and High School levels. Today, I will introduce you to MacFarlane Park Elementary, which offers the IB program at the primary level, focused on ages 3–12. Located on MacDill Avenue, close to South Tampa, MacFarlane Park Elementary is rated in the top 1% of all Florida School. You can find more information about their program here.
Hillsborough County offers Magnet Programs in Math, Science, Arts, Performing Arts, International Studies and more. Before you enroll your child, consider all of the options available to you. To be considered for a magnet program, there is an application process and a spring deadline for the following school year. This is the time to start investigating your options for the 2009–2010 school year.
Looking for real estate in Tampa?
If you are buying a house in Tampa, or Selling a house in Tampa, I can help with any Tampa neighborhood, including:
South Tampa, Davis Islands, Beach Park, Sunset Park, Hyde Park, Culbreath Isles, Palma Ceia, Westchase, Waterchase, Odessa, Cheval, Avila, Brandon, Riverview, FishHawk, New Tampa, Tampa Palms, Hunter’s Green, Arbor Greene, Apollo Beach, South Shore, MiraBay, Golf Communities, Waterfront Homes, Luxury Homes in Tampa, Clearwater Beach, St. Pete Beach, Condos in Tampa and International Real Estate…contact me!
Sign up for my email list to receive the latest information on the Tampa Real Estate Market, Living in Tampa, and the International Real Estate Market!
For more information about the schools in Tampa, or assistance in relocation to any Tampa neighborhood, contact me today.
Tampa summers are HOT and HUMID and enjoying a refreshing drink, while relaxing by the pool, in your backyard, is a great way to cool off after a long, hot day! I always counsel buyers to choose a “pool home” over a “non-pool home”, for resale value!
Recent sales in the Tampa Real Estate Market show the “value” of a “pool” increases with the value of the home. You can see the percentage of homes sold in 2008, with, and without pools in various price ranges.
Price range Homes Sold Percentage of “Pool Homes”
$350–500K 3351 63%
$501–750K 1543 72%
Over 750K 1212 82%
You can see, as the price for a Single Family Home in the Tampa Real Estate Market climbs, so does the desire for a pool! Given a choice between two homes...choose the one with the pool!
Isn’t this a FABULOUS pool? The asking price for this home in an exclusive, gated subdivision in Tampa? Over 20 Million!
For information on Luxury Homes in Tampa, or pool homes in any Tampa neighborhood, contact me today!
Located in South Tampa, just minutes from Downtown and running along beautiful Bayshore Boulevard, it is one of the most popular neighborhoods in town. Homes with large front porches, dating back to the early 1900s, sit on streets lined with grandfather oaks. You can walk to the shops and restaurants in Old Hyde Park Village, head over to the Best Steakhouse in Tampa, or jog along Bayshore. Its a very neighborly , place to live, in the highly rated Gorrie Elementary, Wilson Middle, Plant High School district! Prices for Single Family Homes range from the $400,000s to several million.
The waterfront estates on Bayshore Boulevard are some of the most prestigious homes in Tampa. It is just five minutes to Downtown Tampa and 10 minutes to the Airport or MacDill Air Force Base. ark. If you would like more information about living in Hyde Park, or any Tampa neighborhood, please contact me!
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The Latest News on Moving to Tampa, Living in Tampa, or Buying Real Estate anywhere in the World...every day on The Real Estate Sizzle...
We are in Hurricane Season in Florida. Though Tampa has not been hit by a MAJOR storm in many years, we still need to prepare when a storm heads into the Gulf of Mexico. One of the first questions every Homebuyer asks me, when they are moving to Tampa, is Do I Need Flood Insurance? The answer: YES. While a mortgage company may only REQUIRE a homeowner to carry flood insurance in certain flood zones, , here are some facts every homeowner should know. Just a glimpse of flooded Bayshore Boulevard, where my office is located, tells the story
1.Onein Four flood claims, are in a low -moderate risk zone! Chances are good that nearly 25% of those homeowners did not have flood insurance because it was not REQUIRED by their lenders.
2. A car can be swept away by just 2 feet of water!
3. Flash floods occur in all 50 states! Look at the tragedy of the flooding in Iowa and other midwestern states.. Many of them had no insurance because the risk of flooding was very low.
4. Homeowners Insurance generally will not cover rising water . That coverage requires a separate flood insurance policy.
5. You must add contents coverage to a flood insurance policy, if you want your belongings to be covered.
6. Premiums in low-risk areas are very reasonable, but damage from a flood is costly. Do you want to take that chance?
7. It takes 30 days for insurance to take effect, so do not wait until a storm is coming to call your insurance agent.
For more infomation on Flood Insurance, visit FloodSmart.gov.
For information on the Tampa Real Estate Market, or any neighborhood in Tampa, please call me at 813.629.5757 or send me an email!
The Latest News on the Tampa Real Estate Market, every day, on The Real Estate Sizzle!
Tampa is home to MacDill Air Force Base, which includes Central Command, Centcom, as well as SoCom. The entire Tampa Bay area is filled with military families from all branches, as well as civilians who are employed as military consultants.
This summer, I have been busy relocating several military families into the Tampa area. In the Tampa Real Estate Market, there are many neighborhood choices for military families.
Their questions are always the same…Where are the best school districts in Tampa and…Which neighborhoods are affordable, and convenient, to MacDill Air Force Base?
Families with children are often on a budget and need a combination of larger homes, good school districts and reasonable prices. Most families dont want to commute more than 30 40 minutes to get to MacDill AFB, so that narrows their focus to Westchase, New Tampa or the Brandon, Valrico, Riverview areas. For those with smaller families, singles, or couples, they may want to live close to the base in South Tampa. Housing prices are higher, but offer many options with condos, townhomes and single-family homes in historic neighborhoods. Living in South Tampa keeps them close to the base, as well as downtown Tampa, and just minutes to the airport, and the neighborhoods include some of the top-rated schools in the U.S.
Check on the Tampa Neighborhoods section on right sidebar on The Real Estate Sizzle, or you can search for any category in the search box on the right, for more information on the Tampa Real Estate Market.
You can read some of my previous articles on Tampa Neighborhoods:
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.
subdivision in Tampa? Over 20 Million! 
town. Homes with large front porches, dating back to the early 1900s, sit on streets lined with grandfather oaks. You can walk to the shops and
only REQUIRE a homeowner to carry flood insurance in certain 
of larger homes, good school districts and reasonable prices. Most families dont want to commute more than 30 40 minutes to get to MacDill AFB, so that narrows their focus to Westchase, New Tampa or the Brandon, Valrico, Riverview areas. For those with smaller families, singles, or couples, they may want to live close to the base in 
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