As many of my readers know, I work in Zephyrhills and we have many mobile home subdivisions, most of which are occupied by retirees. However, we have quite a few that have residents of all ages.
One thing that most of these will have in common is the fact that behind the home is where the electrical lines often run. Usually underground, but sometimes with wires from poles. But, unlike conventional homes where the meter and main breaker box are attached to the home, with these mobiles, the meter and breaker box are usually on a short pole or support behind the mobiles. In a typical park they will be placed in groups of 4 with each one serving a home in each corner. It is at this box that most homeowners can cut the power to their entire home.
On conventional homes, these boxes are often attached right to the structure which can offer some protection from the elements. However, sitting on a pole out in the open behind a mobile home, these other boxes can really take a beating from the elements. They are sturdy and can take a beating, but like the great pyramids of Egypt, eventually, the rain, sun, temperature changes, wind, etc take their toll.
Most home buyers will have a professional inspection done before they close on a purchase. On a recent inspection, Stephen Brown of Accuchek Home Inspection Service here in Zephyrhills found such a problem. As you can see from his pictures to the left, there was severe corrosion on the breaker box. So much so that a child could have reached inside and possibly have been electrocuted. And once the integrity of the metal is compromised, the destruction only accelerates. Of course, the buyer wanted the box replaced and the seller, a very nice and reasonable person, agreed to take care of it.
In our area, the cost to repair this box can run between $500 and $600, and requires the use of a licensed electrician. How much cheaper it would have been if the box had been inspected from time-to-time by a professional, and a coat of protective paint applied. A lot cheaper than the replacement cost I bet. Good maintenance is the key!
This is the third time I have seen this occur. On one home I warned the owner, and he caught the problem early, and I noticed that he had indeed painted the box to protect it.
Since you are dealing with electricity here, and to examine the interior of the box a panel will likely need to be removed, I recommend that you either have a professional home inspector or a licensed electrician do the removal of the inner protective plate to check for damage. Checking inside is important since these boxes are not water-tight and if water sits and sits on the lower interior of the box it can only hasten the corrosion that can take place. So a coat of paint on the lower interior may also be necessary. The electrician or inspector can best advise you on what needs to be done.
So be observant of your exterior electrical boxes, and have them checked regularly. If you see rust on the outside of the box in any location, that should be a warning to get things checked out. Remember, a coat of metal paint is hundreds of dollars less than replacing the entire box. It can also diminish the possibility that someone could be seriously injured or killed. To the left you can see the new box the owner bought. Trust me. Paint is a lot cheaper!
If you would like to speak with Stephen Brown of Accuchek Home Inspection Service, feel free to call him at: 813-783-2662. He is certified by the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) and can be a great resource for you.
Today, 11/04/09, Freddie Mac reported that the average mortgage interest rate for 30 year fixed-rate mortgages was 4.98% (5.01% in the southeast), down from 5.03% a week ago. The average interest rate for 15 year fixed-rate mortgages was 4.40%, down from 4.46% last week. A year ago the 30 year rate was 6.20%.
Nice to see the rates back below the 5% point again! Keep in mind that time is short for those of you who have contracts on homes that need to close before the end of November so you can get the tax credit. However, the latest news I hear is that it will likely be extended in some for 5 more months in some form. The Senate and House have passed a bill that is apparently on its way to President Obama for his signature. Not all that a lot of us wanted, but it is better than "a poke in the eye", as my grandfather used to say. But keep abreast of developments so you do not lose out.
Freddie Mac is hoping that the drop in interest rates will help propel the housing recovery even further down the path to better times. In the first 9 months of 2009 Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae have helped to refinance 3.5 million loans. According to their calculations, these refinancings helped to lower the median interest rate of borrowers by 1.1%. That can mean big savings over the life of a 30 year mortgage. If the refinancing takes a borrower from an adjustable-rate mortgage to a fixed-rate product, that is another plus for the homeowner.
As I mentioned in a recent post, pending home sales are up again. More good news that you may want to check out. Supposedly this was the fastest pace of growth since December 2006. Spending on private construction also rose 3.9%. The largest gain since July 2003.
So good news, but small steps I think. However, any forward movement is not a bad thing. One big obstacle now is to get the mentality of the country on a more positive track. After so many months of doom and gloom, our society needs a while to assimilate the fact that the worst could be over. Let's hope so!
Do keep in mind that we are a very large country. So figures that come out for the entire nation, may have little or no relevance for your particular area. In the end, it is best if you speak with a local REALTOR or financing expert to see what the situation is for your part of the United States. Florida is not Michigan, nor is Maine the same as California. Market conditions can be very different from place-to-place. Also, your own credit history, the property you want to buy, etc. will effect your specific loan options and interest rates. Your mortgage broker or bank loan officer can give you more specific information.
If you want to learn more about Freddie Mac or see the details of their survey, go to: www.freddiemac.com and click on the link for "Current Weekly Survey". They break down the survey by specific regions in the United States so you can see how your state compares to other parts of the country. They also explain the mission of Freddie Mac and offer a lot of useful information for consumers.
If you would like to speak with a lender you can find some at my website: www.jelwell.century21bnr.com . You can also speak with your own bank, credit union, or mortgage broker to see what your particular interest rate would be, should you decide to finance a home purchase.
My November 2009 Real Estate Newsletter is now avaiable for download as a PDF (Adobe Acrobat) file. Just click on the following link: Download November 2009 Newsletter I hope that you will find this month's articles interesting and helpful.
If you would like to receive these newsletters automatically in the future each month, just send me an e-mail and let me know. I would be glad to add you to my e-mailing list. You can e-mail me at: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com or call me at: 813-783-4444
I also invite you to visit my my website where I think you will find a lot of useful information. To get there just click on the following link: www.jelwell.century21bnr.com
I just went to my mailbox, and guess what I found? My property tax bill from Pasco County, Florida. Now, this is no big surprise since I received a notice a couple of months ago that it would be arriving and what my taxes would be if the new budget was passed. I even wrote a post on it. That was called my TRIM notice which stands for Truth in Millage. It is a way that the public can see what the county government is proposing and can then attend hearings to express their views. Everyone in Florida who owns real estate should be getting these bills.
Now the official bill have gone out. They always arrive on November 1st or the first business day after that date. This year that was Monday, the 2nd. If you have a mortgage your lender may be paying your tax bill for you. If not, it is your responsibility to get your payments to the tax collector for your county. There is a discount if you pay early. So the quicker you pay your taxes, the less they will be!
No big surprises for me anyway. For many of us, our taxes actually went down for 2009. This was due to changes in the tax laws and also the reassessments of our homes that took into account the falling market of this past year.
If you own property in Pasco County and do not get your bill, you might want to contact the Pasco tax collector at:
352-521-4360
727-847-8165
813-235-6020
to see what you should do.
You can also visit the Pasco Tax Collector Site at: http://www.pascotaxes.com/ Then click on the link for "Real Estate Tax Record Search" Then just enter your LAST NAME & FIRST NAME and your 2009 tax bill should appear.
If you live in another county in Florida, just do a Google Search for your county tax collector, for example "Gadsden County Florida Tax Collector", and in all likelihood, his/her site will come up in the results.
To better understand your tax bill, our collector has included an explanation sheet. If you cannot find yours, click on the following link to download a copy from the one I scanned into my computer for you: Download Properrty Tax Explanation for PASCO COUNTY0001
Again, you can also call the numbers I gave you above to get even more answers to questions you might have.
If I can be of any further assistance, do not hesitate to contact me at: 813-783-4444 or e-mail me at: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com I will do my best to help you out.
What more could you ask for? A beautiful spacious home on a corner lot in one of Zephyrhills' most popular mobile subdivisions, South Hill. This wonderful furnished 2 bedroom/2 bath home could be just the winter retreat you have been searching for. However, it is so roomy it could also be a comfortable year-round home! It has 1,144 of heated and cooled living space, which does not include the airy and bright Florida room or the long carport & huge utility room. Even the lot the home sits on seems larger since it is on a corner.
Throughout this residence you have soaring vaulted ceilings that create a light and open feeling. It is tastefully decorated in color tones that will match nearly any accessories you care to add when you make this home your own. An inventory of the furnishings that will stay is available.
The kitchen has a cute breakfast nook and all of the major appliances that you will need. The sale includes a disposal, range, refrigerator, microwave oven/hood, and dishwasher. Storage space here is not a concern. More than enough to go around!
The large master bedroom has its own full en-suite bath with shower and plenty of natural lighting. There is ample closet space with full-length mirrors on the closet doors. No lack of space here for furniture or your personal items.
The guest room is also larger than you would normally find in many mobile homes. When friends and family come to call, you will be able to accomodate them in style here. The sofa in the living room also converts into a bed if you need it for additional visitors.
The Florida room also has a vaulted ceiling and feels more like a "second living room". Since it faces the south, during the winter months, this will be a welcome and cozy spot to laze away a peaceful afternoon while the rest of the world is shivering back in the north!
The carport is long and should easily accomodate two cars. At its end is the large utility room with its washer and dryer hook-ups. Plenty of room for a workshop and storage too. You can never have too much of that.
In South Hill Mobile Home Park you own the land under the home. This is NOT a rental park. The current homeowners fee is only $25/month, and gains you access to the park's heated swimming pool, shuffleboard courts, and recreation building. Especially during the winter months this area is the hub of social activites in South Hill. With some restrictions, pets are welcome in this subdivision.
Conveniently located just to the west of Zephyrhills, Florida you will have only short drives to supermarkets, pharmacies, parks, restaurants, supercenters, home centers, libraries, and the City of Tampa. That is an important point when traffic and the price of gasoline are both increasing!
Priced at just $79,900 this home will garner a lot of attention from buyers. For more information or to arrange a tour, please contact John Elwell - REALTOR at CENTURY 21 Bill Nye Realty, Inc. Tel: 813-783-4444 or via e-mail at: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com
I also invite you to visit my other websites at the following locations on the internet:
Today, 10/29/09, Freddie Mac reported that the average mortgage interest rate for 30 year fixed-rate mortgages was 5.03% (5.01% in the southeast), up from 5.00% a week ago. The average interest rate for 15 year fixed-rate mortgages was 4.46%, up from 4.43% last week. A year ago the 30 year rate was 6.46%.
Overall, interest rates for 30 year fixed-rate loans have averaged just under 5% for this year. Historically pretty darn good! This the lowest 10 month average since this type of record was begun in 1971.
This year, 7 out of 10 mortgage applications were for refinancing of existing loans as people seek to lower their monthly payments and take advantage of these really low rates.
Though today it seemed like everyone was touting the end of the slump, the latest data to come in was a mixed-bag, including:
National Association of REALTORs report that existing home sales jumped 9.4% in September.
The sales of NEW homes fell 3.6% during the same period.
But stronger demand has helped to lower the level of homes in the market's inventory and this can help to stabilize prices.
So a little good, and a little bad. But it appears to me that on a balance scale, the weight of positive news is tipping toward the recovery side. Things will take time to get back to normal, but it will eventually happen.
Locally, we are seeing a real pick-up in activity as more of our winter visitors return. The phone rang all day today. I wrote two offers on homes that were accepted and signed another set of homeowners to sell their home for them. This is kind of early for this type of increase in activity. One can only hope it is a good omen of things to come.
Do keep in mind that we are a very large country. So figures that come out for the entire nation, may have little or no relevance for your particular area. In the end, it is best if you speak with a local REALTOR or financing expert to see what the situation is for your part of the United States. Florida is not Michigan, nor is Maine the same as California. Market conditions can be very different from place-to-place. Also, your own credit history, the property you want to buy, etc. will effect your specific loan options and interest rates. Your mortgage broker or bank loan officer can give you more specific information.
If you want to learn more about Freddie Mac or see the details of their survey, go to: www.freddiemac.com and click on the link for "Current Weekly Survey". They break down the survey by specific regions in the United States so you can see how your state compares to other parts of the country. They also explain the mission of Freddie Mac and offer a lot of useful information for consumers.
If you would like to speak with a lender you can find some at my website: www.jelwell.century21bnr.com . You can also speak with your own bank, credit union, or mortgage broker to see what your particular interest rate would be, should you decide to finance a home purchase.
Our state Attorney General Bill McCollum has created a project called Seniors vs Crime in Florida. This sounds a lot like the neighborhood watch volunteer programs, but on a more grand scale.
If you want to learn more about the ways this project can help you, OR how you can help this project, click on the following link: http://seniorsvscrime.com/
Ignoring problems can be the worst thing we can do, in many cases. So if you are able to, get involved. If you need assistance, see if this program can assist you in some way. It never hurts to offer help or to ask for it.
Hard to believe it, but without even finishing October, I am already seeing a lot more of our winter visitors, aka "Snowbirds" returning to Zephyrhills. I think that since there is no big national election this year, a lot of people are coming down south earlier than normal.
Former customers/friends have called me to let me know they are back in town. I always enjoy seeing them again since most of them have become my good friends.
I also have been receiving many many more calls from people who have arrived here to find winter homes and investigate the option of avoiding the cold, ice, and snow of the north. A lot of these folks have seen my sites on the internet and are now contacting me to see what our market is doing and what is available for purchase here.
Overall, over market has stayed pretty stable during the country's economic slump. In the 55+ subdivisions (both those with mobiles or conventional homes) the prices fluctuated some, but not like they did outside in the "real world". It is very seldom that a short sale or foreclosure takes place in the 55+ parks, and therefore, that keeps the market prices from plummeting like you see in other parts of the United States.
However, that does not mean there are not good opportunities out there. Unlike some of the super-expensive areas in the state, Zephyrhills has remained a place that caters to retirees yet at moderate prices in most cases. Also, its central location makes state & county parks, Tampa, Orlando, and the Gulf of Mexico beaches a reasonable distance away. And do not even get me going on the number of activities that seem to abound inside and outside the subdivisions here, especially in the winter. I swear, some of these places would wear-out a teenager.
If you want to explore purchasing a winter home or a year-round residence here, do not hesitate to contact me. I can very easily e-mail you what is on the market, and can even set up an auto-notification program to let you know when a home comes on the market that meets your needs. At no cost, of course! My e-mail is: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com
If you are already in town, just give me a call at: 813-783-4444 anytime from about 9 AM to 11 PM. It will be a pleasure to assist you in any way that I can. You do not even have to be a snowbird!!!! Just call me!
I also invite you to stop by my websites at the following web addresses:
I think you will find that each of them has some useful information for buyers, sellers, and current residents of our sunny part of the State of Florida!
Church Street Christmas is a tradition you do not want to miss. Come stroll historic Church Street in Dade City, Florida with its many beautifully decorated homes, life-sized Christmas cards and entertainment. The evenings are cooler in December yet still pleasant compared to up north.
This event will take place from December 18th to December 20th on Church Street in Dade City, Florida. For more information: Call: 813-714-3674.
The 3rd Annual Lake Jovita Reindeer Run/Walk will take place Saturday, December 12, 2009 at 8 a.m. Proceeds will benefit East Pasco Habitat for Humanity. The course will take you through the hills of Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club's South Course.
A great post-race party will offer food, drinks, and family fun! Event T-shirts will be provided to all participants.
Pre-race registration & payment of $20 may be mailed or turned in to theFitness Center located inside the clubhouse at 12900 Lake Jovita Blvd, Dade City, FL 33525 no later than Wednesday, December 9, 2009. Race day registration will be available for an additional $5.00. For questions call the Fitness Center at 352-588-2233 ext 316.
Real estate news, opinions, and listings from Zephyrhills, Pasco County, Florida and the west central region of Florida in general. Licensed in Florida.
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.
Church Street Christmas
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