Affordable Winter Homes in Florida - Investing in Florida

Homes for Sale in Lutz Florida - Villarosa Homes in Lutz

Affordable Homes in Florida (Winter Home in Florida) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:21:32 -0600

$200,000 • Villarosa in Lutz
19203 Garden Quilt Circle • Lutz • FL 33558

SCHOOLS:

McKitrick Elementary
Martinez Middle
Steinbrenner High

CONTACT:
Lessie Reyes
Tampa4U.com Realty
813-298-5541

- 112009

Bedrooms:	3
Baths:	2
Garage:	3+
Year Built:	1997
Square Ft:	1775

MLS #: T2395164

SHORT SALE!!! Beautiful pool home with 3 car garage at great price in non-CDD Villarosa! This home is situated on a deep private cul-de-sac lot and features 3 bedrooms, 2 full bath, huge Master suite, Pergo wood flooring in the Great room and a very openand well lighted floor plan. Kitchen is open to the family room and perfect for family gatherings or entertaining your guests. Screened patio is great for family barbeques and your morning coffee. The unique feature of this home is its oversized yard with open pool area and fenced in back yard. No back neighbors, very serene and private.

The community offers 2 parks with tennis & basketball court, soccer fields, playground, pavilion w/ picnic tables, sidewalks with scenic lakes and nature preserves and more.

Listing price may not be sufficient to cover all encumbrances, closing costs, or other seller charges and sale of Property at full listing price may be conditioned upon approval of third parties. Bring ALL Offers... Call for details!!!

		*Lutz Communities - All Lutz Homes for sale*
		Avendale Calusa Trace Cambridge Cove Cheval Crenshaw Lakes Crystal Cove Crystal Lakes Deer Park Eagle Crest	Fern Glen Heritage Harbor Indian Lakes Kensington Estates Ladera Lakeshore Oak Grove Oak Path	Orange Blossom Creek Reflections Sanctuary Stillwater Villarosa / Villa Rosa Wellington Manor Willow Bend Wyndgate

Live Oak Preserve Homes for sale - New Tampa Real estate

Affordable Homes in Florida (Winter Home in Florida) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:34:29 -0600

$310,000 • Live Oak Preserve
20023 Tamiami Ave • Tampa • FL 33647

SCHOOLS:

Turner Elementary
Bartels Middle
Wharton High

AMENITIES:

The center of the community hosts a 7,900 ft club house with theme park style pool, state of the art cardiovascular center, library and so much more. Live Oak Preserve is close and convenient to the business, entertainment and cultural centers of downtown Tampa...and far enough to create a hometown sanctuary where roots can be firmly planted. With each Live Oak Preserve home, you will be able to "see the forest and the trees" within the award winning designed villages.

Bedrooms:	5
Baths:	3.5
Garage:	3
Year Built:	2005
Square Ft:	3600

MLS #: T2393097

Short Sale: Subject to 3rd party approval. Approval of the seller's lender may be conditioned upon the gross commission being reduced. Bring all offers.

Great location in New Tampa/Live Oak Preserve. House is on conservation lot in Mapplewood Village. 5 bedrooms, 3 1/2 bath with 3 car garage. First floor has hardwood floor in living, dinning room and den and tile in kichen and family room. Spacious master bedroom with beautifully tiled master bath.

Amenities in Live Oak Preserve include a resort style pool, clubhouse, fitness center, tennis and basketball courts. Located minutes from I-75. Elem. Middle and High Schools are near by.

CONTACT:
Eliane Balleza
Tampa4U.com Realty
813-679-2222

- 111809

►	*Other New Tampa Communities*
	Arbor Greene Cory Lake Isles Cross Creek Grand Hampton Heritage Isles	Hunter's Green Kingshyre Live Oak Preserve Meadow Creek Misty Creek	Pebble Creek Richmond Place Tampa Palms West Meadows

Apollo Beach Real Estate - Apollo Beach Home for sale

Affordable Homes in Florida (Winter Home in Florida) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:32:05 -0600

$215,000 • Apollo Beach • Pool Home
825 Eagle Lane • Apollo Beach • FL 33572

CONTACT:
Marta Wrzesniewski
Tampa4U.com Realty
727-481-3718

- 111909

Bedrooms:	3
Baths:	2
Garage:	2
Year Built:	1983
Square Ft:	1,930

MLS #: T2393943

You will love this beautiful meditteranean style POOL home the moment you step inside! Enjoy relaxing in the sparkling blue pool with tranquil views on the golfcourse in your backyard!

This home boast many upgrades and modern finishes.Granite counters and stainless steel appliances in the kitchen, new carpet, fresh paint and lovely ceramic tile! This home is truly ready to move in with all the finest touches.

SCHOOLS:

Lake Magadlene Elementary
Adams Middle
Chamberlain High

	*Apollo Beach Communities - All Apollo Beach Homes for sale*
	Andalucia Bimini Bay Braemar Covington Park	Harbour Isles Lake St Clair Mira Lago Mirabay / Mira Bay	Sabal Key Southshore Falls Symphony Isles

Fixed and ARM Refinance Loans - Are ARMS Still an Option

Affordable Homes in Florida (Winter Home in Florida) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:03:08 -0600

When the bottom fell out of the mortgage market, potential home buyers looked at the ARM loan as being the worst loan to choose. The ARM has its place in the mortgage and refinance world, but that does not mean it should be used by people who can only afford the lower repayment rate. Choosing between a fixed rate and ARM loan, the home buyer should look at all the costs of each loan before making the final decision.

A fixed rate loan will cost the new homeowner more money, hands down. But, this higher loan payment comes with the benefit of never raising during the loan maturation. The same mortgage payment the homeowner makes on the first month of the loan is the payment they will make throughout the loan. The ARM, on the other hand, cannot say the same.

The ARM, or adjustable rate mortgage, is available for new home loans and refinance loans. The ARM is often blamed for the rise in foreclosures in many cities. The ARM payment often starts out lower and then rises over time. The homeowner could begin repaying the loan with an interest only option and a very low payment. When the loan adjusts, that payment could double or even triple depending on the current interest rates.

If the fixed rate or ARM loans both offer good benefits, the home buyer could be looking for a hybrid loan. A hybrid loan offers both ARM and fixed rate characteristics. There are many different types of hybrid home loans, so the homeowner looking to refinance or the potential home buyer shopping for the right loan will need to speak with their lender about the hybrid loan options.

Now on to the choice…

The trouble with many novice home buyers the lure of the ARM loan. The ARM may be pushed by the lender due to the lower upfront payment. If, during the adjustment of the loan, the homeowner will not be able to keep up with the payments (even hypothetically) they should not enter into an ARM. These loans are great for people who buy a home for a great deal and believe the value of the home will rise before the loan adjusts. This is the art of investing and not traditional home buying.

Homeowners can often afford the fixed rate loan by choosing a smaller home or a home with fewer features. If the home price is lower and thus the mortgage lower, the payment will be lower. It is better to afford the home you live in then lose the home you love.

Beware of America’s housing crisis - huh?

Affordable Homes in Florida (Winter Home in Florida) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:43:17 -0500

A must-read from the Washington Times: On and on go the professional alarmists - America’s housing sector is down and will stay down for a long time to come. Fact: The bursting of a severe housing bubble nearly pushed the American economy over the edge last year. But does that alone make a case for long-term distress? Take a look at the housing picture in its entirety, and count us among those who don’t buy the despair.

Let’s see, for example, how population affects the housing situation. In America, alone among today’s wealthy nations, is on a path of solid population growth. This is good, notwithstanding the harum-scarum alarms by those who see disaster impending from a “population explosion.”

The U.S. population was approaching 300 million in 2000. Quite solid projections by the Census Bureau see the number at about 400 million people in 2100.

Why is the U.S. growing, while other modern nations shrivel up? First, our total fertility rate is about 2.1 children per woman - a magic number in the demographer’s kit, because that’s what it takes to “replace” a society. Sooner or later, Mom and Dad pass on (sorry to break the news), and they must be “replaced” by two children. The extra 0.1 accounts for children who do not live to reproductive age.

A strong relationship exists between America’s “replacement fertility” families and what/where they call home. Much more than their counterparts in Europe and Japan, Americans inhabit single-family detached houses. There is room for two, three - or more - children to play in the backyard, and the nice sense of privacy those children have because they live in their own rooms. Residents of other large, modern and wealthy nations tend to live in apartment nations, where space limitations put a damper on the idea of having a big family.

The coming housing boom will not only employ carpenters, electricians and roofers, but real estate lawyers, policemen and firemen, teachers and athletic coaches to begin a very long list. It was once said that the automobile industry was the great American job producer. No more. That honor surely goes to housing.

America’s history of successfully absorbing large waves of immigrants is a lightning rod for controversy, but the historical record is clear. New immigrant groups - be they German, Irish, Chinese, Italian, Jewish, Polish or Greek - are at first greeted with suspicion. Then they work hard, make lasting contributions and end up being central to America’s cultural fabric.

Mexican immigrants are the hated group du jour but move into the mainstream rapidly. Today’s landscapers and housekeepers are raising tomorrow’s engineers, judges and entrepreneurs. Today’s immigrants, like others before them, will leave the slums and barrios to chase the American dream in a leafy suburb.

At present, about 1 million “net immigrants” (i.e., immigrants minus emigrants) arrive in America each year, so 20 years down the road there will be about 20 million additional Americans (plus their natural growth once here). They will either live in the streets, or the housing market will bloom. This is hardly the stuff of a housing crash. American cities may have problems, but they do not approach Calcutta and its twin Howrah, where sleeping on the street is common, notwithstanding India’s remarkable economic boom.

The bright future we envision for housing in America also tells us a lot about the infamous bubble in that sector and the bright side of all economic bubbles.

Remember the dot-com bubble of the 1990s? Despite suffering a truly spectacular burst, it laid the groundwork to go from dial-up Internet to wireless, and now computing in the cloud. It made e-mail and e-commerce part of our daily lives and gave us near-instant access to all manner of human knowledge. Many of the entrepreneurs who made it happen were immigrants. If that’s an impressive upside, imagine how we’ll benefit from a rebound in housing, something even more essential to us than our Facebook pages.

Housing will come back stronger than before because America possesses the essential ingredients - a growing, dynamic population and a resourceful spirit to overcome burst bubbles - that make us citizens of the First Universal Nation. We should revel in that. Far from a housing-led era of gloom, it guarantees that this will be the second American century.

Luxury Homes Can Sell - But You Need a Great Real Estate Agent

Affordable Homes in Florida (Winter Home in Florida) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:36:12 -0500

People are looking for the next great deal and when that buyer is talking about spending millions instead of thousands, the stakes and the rules change dramatically. Despite the fact that much of the real estate market has faltered over the last few years, there are home buyers out there that have been shielded from the recession. These home buyers can walk into a real estate agency and ask for a listing of million dollar homes - will you have that listing?

The interesting thing about luxury real estate is the price point and the variable separation between the luxury real estate market and the traditional real estate market. Home buyers will money to spend do not want to know the true cost of ownership or the fact that the local water bill is slightly higher than the surrounding area. They want to supply their real estate agent with a list of needs and have a home available when they are ready to buy.

On the flip side is the seller that is trying to sell off a million dollar home. Luxury real estate is all about patience even when the seller is hard pressed to get rid of the home. Again, when people have money, they know they have the buying power to choose the piece of luxury real estate they want, rather than a piece they need. Sellers have to make sure their homes are the BEST of the best and in optimal condition in order to sell fast and sell first.

When trying to sell a luxury home, the open houses and word of mouth recruiting that may work for a less expensive home is not going to cut it. There are less buyers with the buying power to land a mortgage for a luxury home and that means extra work for the real estate agent. In addition to the open houses, the agent needs to publish the home all over the Internet, in local newspapers, on the front page of their website and in print magazines. These listings need to be refreshed often and must include a huge list of pictures showing off the BEST parts of the luxury home.

You can sell a luxury home even when the rest of the world isn’t buying and while the work and labor will be hard, the commission is well worth the time.

Save Money With an Unfinished Home

Affordable Homes in Florida (Winter Home in Florida) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:01:15 -0500

There is money to be saved in the real estate market and it has nothing to do with home foreclosures. Not every home on the market was finished before the bottom fell out of the new home sales. Many builders were unable to finish their current projects before the market tanked and that left a huge inventory of homes that were in need of work before they could be move in ready. These homes are considered unfinished and that means money in your pocket.

There are several forms of unfinished home on the market today, but the start homes are the most money saving for the potential buyer. The unfinished starter home will often offer a main level that is move in ready with a second level and / or basement that have not been completed. These homes can be used as a primary residence while the remainder of the construction is completed.

Other types of homes that fit into the unfinished category include homes that have planned garages or additions that were started but not completed. If the landscaping is not finished, the home could also be listed as unfinished.

The Builder and the Unfinished Home

If the builder is still in the picture, the home could be finished according to the original plans with the purchase price being higher. The buyer could help to keep the price of the home lower by talking with the lender about the proposed upgrades on the home and cutting out some of the more expensive upgrades that are causing the price to increase. Expensive decking, landscaping and basement finishing can cause the price to jump dramatically. While the lender may not agree to all of the changes, there is no harm in asking for the bare essentials in order to keep the price low.

Lending and the Unfinished Home

When it comes to getting a mortgage for the unfinished home, the lender may require the home be mostly finished before they will honor a mortgage. This is due to the security the lender has in their ability to resell the home in the case of foreclosure. If the bank is requiring landscaping or minor repairs before the mortgage will be approved, the buyer could work with the builder to complete these items. The buyer must remember that the builder does not have the money to put into this home and is selling the home for a cheaper price because it is unfinished. This means the buyer may have to fund the repairs or landscaping in order to qualify for the mortgage.

When Neighbors Go Wrong

Affordable Homes in Florida (Winter Home in Florida) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:09:57 -0500

Buying a perfect home in the perfect neighborhood does not mean having the perfect neighbors. Unfortunately, many home buyers never think to meet the neighbors around their home befo0re they buy and that can lead to disaster. The people living on either side of the home or even down the street could be there as long as you are, should you not know a little about who they are?

A friend of mine recently moved into a new neighborhood and when the kids started school everything seemed perfect. Then, one day after school her daughter complained of losing a friend because she would not talk about religion with the young girl on the bus. What could she do?

When neighbors put you in a tight spot or do something you don’t like, the best solution is common kindness.

•    Approach the neighbor on friendly terms.
•    Introduce yourself and start a conversation.
•    Lead up to the problem at hand, but never make it seem like the issue is the only reason you are talking.
•    Discuss solutions to the problem.

Once the initial conversation is over, it is important to continue the relationship while living in the neighborhood. Having some sort of friendship with the nearest neighbor is not only cordial, but a great choice in personal safety and support.

•    If there is a storm coming through – the preparation could be divided.
•    If there is there is an emergency – a babysitter is there.
•    If the lights go out – the support is closer than you think.

The Unruly Neighbor

Of course, there is more than one type of neighbor in the world and the unruly neighbor is the one that no one wants to live next to. These neighbors are partying all the time with cops at the home and music playing until the wee hours of the morning. A confrontation seems like the worst solution, and it probably is. Often, homeowners who find themselves in this situation will need to involve the law in order to resolve the issues.

The neighbor is a part of the home for all intensive purposes. When walking around a potential new home, make sure to take a trek to the nearest neighbors home and the one beyond that. Finding out there is a bad neighbor being signing the contract can save years of disappointment and grief and all it takes is a bit of time

Carrollwood Homes for Sale - Carrollwood Community in Tampa

Affordable Homes in Florida (Winter Home in Florida) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:01:45 -0500

$154,000 • Carrollwood Subdivision
5024 Landsman Ave. • Tampa • FL 33625

CONTACT:
Irene Sandiego
Tampa4U.com Realty
813-451-3601

- 101609

Bedrooms:	4
Baths:	2
Garage:	1
Year Built:	1978
Square Ft:	1,476

MLS #: T2389673

Fabulously renovated charming Carrollwood home complete with brand new appliances, cabinetry and granite counter top. Home is freshly painted with beautiful tile flooring and brand new carpeting as well.

Spacious kitchen and dinning and living area. Landscaping meticulously manicured. Enjoy private outdoor living and barbecues in the spacious fenced in backyard.

Location is conveniently located to Citrus mall, shopping and restaurants with easy access to Veterans Highway, I-275, airport and downtown Tampa.

This house is MOVE IN READY waiting for a new owner. NOT A SHORT SALE so can close quickly. THIS IS DEFINITELY A MUST SEE and WILL GO FAST!!!!!!!

Tampa Palms Homes for Sale - Tampa Palms Community in New Tampa

Affordable Homes in Florida (Winter Home in Florida) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:38:39 -0500

$269,000 • Tampa Palms • Pool Home
5206 Ives Ct • Tampa • FL 33647

CONTACT:
Loreto Abogabir
Tampa4U.com Realty
813-263-6319

- 100809

Bedrooms:	3
Baths:	3
Garage:	2
Year Built:	1987
Square Ft:	2209

MLS #: T2387919

SHORT SALE. Great Home in one of the most desirable areas of Tampa Bay. Golf Community and Great Clubhouse with so many amenities.

This 3BED 2 BA Home offer Entrace Foyer, Formal Living Room with Wood Floors, Formal Dining Room, Large Family Room with Wood Burning Fireplace, French Doors to Lanai. Spacious Kitchen offers Flat Top Stove, Microwave, Pantry, Eating Area. Large Master Bedroom with French Doors to Pool Area. Chair Rails throughout the Home. Master Bathroom offers custom build Shower/Tub Com bo, His & Hers Sink, Walk-in Closet. Spacious Second and Third Bedrooms with Spacious Closets. Second Bathroom offers Shower/Tub Combo. Office/Den with Built-in Shelves.

Great screened in Pool Area and Lanai with gorgeous view to mature Landscape. Tampa Palms offers a great clubhouse with Pool, Tennis, Golf, Streets great for biking and walking.

Close to I-75,Shops, Restaurants, Movie Theater, Business and much more. THIS IS A MUST SEE HOME!!

Live Oak Preserve Homes - New Tampa Home for sale

Affordable Homes in Florida (Winter Home in Florida) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:57:18 -0500

$157,900 • Live Oak Preserve
20107 Bay Cedar Ave • Tampa • FL 33647

SCHOOLS:

Turner Elementary
Bartels Middle
Wharton High

CONTACT:
Lessie Reyes
Tampa4U.com Realty
813-298-5541

- 100409

AMMENITIES:

The center of the community hosts a 7,900 ft club house with theme park style pool, state of the art cardiovascular center, library and so much more. Live Oak Preserve is close and convenient to the business, entertainment and cultural centers of downtown Tampa...and far enough to create a hometown sanctuary where roots can be firmly planted. With each Live Oak Preserve home, you will be able to "see the forest and the trees" within the award winning designed villages.

Bedrooms:	3
Baths:	2
Garage:	2
Year Built:	2006
Square Ft:	1929

MLS #: T2388556

SHORT SALE! This very charming moved- in ready home offer 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 car garage in New Tampa - Live Oak!

This 2006 built home features bright, open rooms, vaulted ceilings, crown moldings, very appealing interior paints, hardwood floors, ceramic tiles, wall-to-wall carpet, built in shelves, recessed lighting, and a patio area .The combination living room/dining room boasts large bright windows and bamboo hardwood floors. The owner's retreat features archways and walk-in closets. The master bathroom has dual vanities and a glass walk-in shower that is tiled. Kitchen has Oak cabinets and a breakfast nook with huge bay windows.

Live Oak Preserve has on-site middle and elementary schools, and Wharton high school across the street. Live Oak Preserve amenities include a resort-like pool, 7970sqft club house, parks, walking & biking trails, tennis & basketball courts, ball fields, a fitness center and library.

Listing price may not be sufficent to cover all encumbances, closing costs, or other seller charges and sale of Propery at full listing price may be conditioned upon approval of third parties. Call for details!!!

Are Green Homes the Wave of the Future?

Affordable Homes in Florida (Winter Home in Florida) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:54:32 -0500

Green homes provide increased energy savings and healthier indoor air. With people being pickier about the homes they buy today, more than ever before, green home sales and construction is bound to take a huge jump up in popularity in the coming years. According to one report by McGraw-Hill Construction, a 10% hike is expected within the next few years.

What defines a green home? A green home is a house built with eco-friendly materials and energy saving appliances and heating and cooling systems. Taking that definition a bit further, some builders are even including solar panels on the roofs of home in order to increase their viability in a market where the home buyer has ALL the say.

Taking the total cost of ownership into consideration, the green home is more affordable over the life of the mortgage than a standard home. With reduced water and electric bills, the home owner will pay far less in utilities than their traditional home owning counterparts. These savings are enough for some potential home buyers to look for ONLY green homes on their home search.

Transforming a traditional home into a green home, or a semi-green home, is not that hard. Changing out all the appliances for energy star choices and the heating and cooling systems for newer, more energy efficient models is a step in the right direction. Spending another $5000 on solar roof panels could mean a home selling much more quickly even if the price is raised a bit to account for the installation costs of the solar panels.

Other green changes that can be made within a home include tankless water heaters and subfloor heating systems that keep the home warmer in the winter without the need to crank the heat to 76 degrees. Drought resistant landscaping and drip watering systems also offer huge benefits for the green home buyer.

With a greener home, the new homeowner also has the option to shop around for homeowner’s insurance with a discount offered for green home choices. In some cases, mortgage lenders are also offering discounts to potential buyers who choose a green home.

Over time, the purchase of a green home just keeps giving back to the owner as property values will remain higher even when the values of homes in the surrounding area decline.

Without a doubt, green homes are set to be the next big thing in real estate and with the huge advances in energy saving methods, there is surely more to come.

Shopping Smart For Your New Home

Affordable Homes in Florida (Winter Home in Florida) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:11:08 -0500

Shopping for a home and shopping smart for a home are two totally different things. Home buyers often walk into a home with the thrill of buying on their back and the beauty of the home sweeping them off their feet. Soon after the sale is final, they find what they thought was the home of their dreams has many flaws. There are 5 aspects of the home to consider when shopping smart.

The Furniture

Taking one look at the staged furniture in a home and the home shopper could fall in love. But where is the television hookup? Just because the television is staged in a certain part of the living space does not mean the cable jack is located in that spot. Once the jack is located, the home shopper will be able to visualize how the furniture would need to be placed around the television. Now, will your furniture fit in that room in the proper way?

The Size

Home size may seem huge if the person or couple is moving out of an apartment or condo, but is the space really as big as it looks? This is especially important for a young couple that may have children in the near future or for newlyweds who are moving in together.

A family can take up a lot of space, which could crowd a 1,200 square foot home in no time. The couple, on the other hand, may be moving from separate residences into one home. How will two apartments full of furniture fit into a home that is smaller than the combined square footage of the apartments?

The Extras

Many home shoppers are taken aback with the little, or big, extras in the home. A private pool or hot tub is a great selling feature, but how much money will it cost every month to upkeep that extra? There is also the concern of safety for parents who are buying with small children or pets in the home. Maybe a private pool is not the best choice with a community pool being more feasible for the family.

Taking these small things into consideration is key to shopping for the best home to fit your needs, versus your wants. There is nothing worse than buying a new home thinking it was the home of your dreams only to step inside and realize the home looks nothing like it did when staged with tens of thousands of dollars in borrowed furniture.

Seven Oaks Home for Sale - Seven Oaks in Wesley Chapel

Affordable Homes in Florida (Winter Home in Florida) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:46:09 -0500

$260,000 • Seven Oaks Subdivision • Pool Home
3118 Sunwatch Dr. • Wesley Chapel • FL 33544

SCHOOLS:

Seven Oaks Elementary
John Long Middle
Wiregrass High

CONTACT:
Lessie Reyes
Tampa4U.com Realty
813-298-5541

- 090409

AMMENITIES:

Huge clubhouse, theater / projection-screen room, fitness room, aerobics room, children's playroom, locker rooms, cafe, coffee shop, juice bar, leisure pool, junior Olympic lap pool, water slide, children's water park, tennis courts, lighted full-court basketball, sand volleyball court, softball/baseball field, soccer field, children's playground

Bedrooms:	4
Baths:	2
Garage:	2
Year Built:	2005
Square Ft:	2071

MLS #: T2384383

Simply the best buy in Seven Oaks! Located on a beautiful conservation lot, mature landscaping provides a private and protected garden setting for your Florida lifestyle.

A beautiful open floor plan with gleaming hardwood floors in most of the areas.This home offers bay windows, volume ceilings and architectural columns in the formal living/dining room with a very well appointed interior design all throughout the house. Kitchen offers granite countertops, upgraded wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, kitchen desk, breakfast nook with bay window, hardwood flooring, pantry and breakfast bar. Family room provides openness perfect for entertaining with triple slider leading out to covered lanai and a relaxing pool and magnificent conservation view. Owners retreat includes French door to the lanai, walk-in closets, garden tub, separate shower and marble finish countertops. Seven Oaks features a resort style clubhouse w/ fitness & aerobics room, cafe, theater, tennis courts, pool, kid's water park, nature trail, & much more.

Close to major highways (I-75 & I-275), and very close to restaurants and new Wiregrass Shopping Mall. What are you waiting for...this is not short sale so make this home yours today!!!

What To Do When Your House Is Not Sold - Part 1

Affordable Homes in Florida (Winter Home in Florida) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:23:05 -0500

Many of our most popular blog posts have been started with questions asked by readers. Often times, consumers have a clarity of focus that allows this blog to write on issues that matter most, and we truly appreciate the questions and the feedback that are received here.We received the following message from reader “RK” recently stating:Hi Guys,

I have a house for sale in Tampa, listed with a local realtor since August 2007 and there had been no action whatsoever. I dropped the price twice and have heard nothing. I receive no information how the house is being marketed, if at all. Unfortunately I am locked in for a year contract, ending July. Any suggestion?

Obviously, RK is a frustrated homeowner who wants to sell a home in Tampa Bay and needs some help, and his message contains some key points that I would like to address.

Do You Absolutely Have To Sell Your Home?

The first thing I noticed in RKs message was that his home had been on the market since August of 2007. By my quick wizardly mathematical skills, I surmised that the home has been “for sale” for at least 24 months! I have not ever met a homeowner who was serious about selling their home and also had a sales schedule of 2 years to get it done. It definitely should have been sold a long time ago! My first advice, before even addressing the meat of the question is for RK to really decide if he wants to sell it. If the answer is “no,” then ask the listing real estate company to remove it from the market. If the answer is “yes,” then see below. Either way, it’s time for RK to take some action and to go visit his real estate broker.

Buying a Home at 25, Owning it at 40

Affordable Homes in Florida (Winter Home in Florida) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:35:47 -0500

Refinancing home loans is a huge topic of discussion right now. As the financial market just begins to crawl out of the recession, homeowners who managed to push their way through the tough times are now looking to refinance their loans to ease the financial pressure on the home. With stagnant credit scores and an interest rate that is not the lowest in history, how can the homeowner really profit from a refinance option? How about tightening the belt to save thousands of dollars?

Many original mortgages are entered into for a 30 year term. This means the homeowner will make the payments on the home for 30 years. This equals 360 payments. If the principle on the loan is $1,250 per month and the interest is $250, the homeowner will repay $540,000. Now, what happens when 15 years of interest is taken off the repayment of that loan?

At $1,250, the purchase price of the home was $450,000. The interest paid on the home was $90,000. If the loan term is reduced by 15 years to a 15 year mortgage, the homeowner will still repay the $450,000 but the interest repaid will lower to $45,000. That is a 50% reduction in interest.

The trouble with refinancing to a 15 year mortgage is the cost of the new loan payment. The $1,500 a month paid before will rise to $2,750 per month, but these payments will be made only for 180 payments versus the 360 payments on the previous loan.

These figures are rough, at best. In most cases, the interest on a home loan is far greater than $90,000 per $450,000. Many homeowners choose not to take the 15 year option due to the higher payments. No one wants to pay MORE for the same house, right? In the short term it does look like the home is costing the homeowner more money, but they are essentially paying more per month on the same balance.

When is the Right Time to Refinance to 15?

The perfect time for some households to refinance from a 30 year mortgage to a 15 year mortgage is after a big house bill is paid off. This bill could be a car payment or a credit card balance. This will often free up hundreds of dollars a month which could go straight toward owning the home outright. Once the homeowner collects the deed on the home, they will have buying power like never before and the ability to sell, remortgage or save as they see fit.

Are Real Estate Agents Money Motivated?

Affordable Homes in Florida (Winter Home in Florida) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:56:02 -0500

So, back to the question of what type of market we are in. This is obviously the strongest Buyers’ Market we have seen in at least the past 20 years. If you need to sell a home in Tampa Bay, then you are crazy not to hire the best real estate company in Tampa Bay.

Are Real Estate Agents Money Motivated?

I’m not so sure that this question needs to be answered, but I will for those out there who live in fantasy land…. YES! Real estate agents are paid on commission. In the simplest form, that means they only get paid when they sell a home. You want them to sell your home? Offer to pay them. You really, really want them to sell your home? Offer to pay them more!

Does this make real estate agents bad? If you think yes, then you most likely do not rely on money to take care of you or your family’s needs. You see, real estate agents need money to take care of all of their needs just as the rest of our society does.

But understanding real estate agent motivation is your advantage over other home owners looking for a discount brokerage. In our current market, less than 20% of the homes being listed are actually selling. You can stand-out from the crowd by offering more money for your home than your competition is offering. New home builders do this all the time. When they have inventory they are trying to move, the first thing they do is offer more to real estate sales people to get them sold.

Current Market Conditions Dictate Wise Choices

If you want to sell a home today, be smart. Work with the best and then use every technique available under the Sun! A great real estate brokerage company will know how to get your home sold and will have a list of things that you can do to help your home stand out against the abundance of competition that you will have in today’s real estate market. There is no reason your home cannot sell if you follow the advice of somebody who knows what to do.

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Do agents look at the commission %?

Affordable Homes in Florida (Winter Home in Florida) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:47:06 -0500

I was surfing around some real estate web sites on the internet hoping to come up with today’s topic. You see, posts on this blog are usually based upon reader questions.

I came across a question posted on Trulia that I think might provide some interesting insight for some people who are trying to sell a home in Tama Bay. The question was about getting more agents to show a home that is already one the market, and asked: Do agents look at the commission %? If you saw a house that had 4% instead of 3% would you show it more?

This simple question actually brings up quite a few key points that homeowners should know when trying to sell a home. The reason that I think it makes a great discussion point is that currently there are 146 responses to this question at Trulia, and I suspect there will be more to follow. So folks over on Trulia have a lot to say about this, so I’ll chime in with a few points of my own. Is this a buyer’s market? The first thing that comes to mind when I read this question is that some homeowners are thinking they should consider a discount broker. Without being rude … Are you kidding? It has never been more difficult to sell a home in Tampa Bay than right now, do you really want to hire somebody who is willing to cut their fees?-Here’s a quick analogy for you…Hiring good help is always relative to the task at hand. I wouldn’t pay $1,000 per hour for an attorney to help me with a speeding ticket. I’m sure there are plenty of “discount” attorneys who could help me with that problem. But would my thoughts change with different legal problems? What if I’m being sued by somebody for hundreds of thousands of dollars? Sometimes it is worth it to hire the best.

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Google Economist Sees Good Signs for Real Estate in Searches

Affordable Homes in Florida (Winter Home in Florida) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:15:51 -0500

An excerpt from the Washington Post: Google chief economist Hal Varian is pretty confident the national economy is recovering, and he’s not just basing that on government data.

He says he can tell from Americans’ search habits.In March, the number of Google users searching for information about unemployment benefits or employment centers began to drop, Varian said. Overall unemployment has continued to climb, of course, but new jobless claims have declined since peaking earlier this year.”As a contemporaneous predictor, predicting the present through search queries has been a pretty good predictor of initial (jobless) claims,” said Varian, who was visiting Washington this week to make the case that government agencies should use Google tools to better draw current snapshots of consumer sentiment, corporate health and social interests.

There also has been an increase in searches for homes and real estate agents, he said, possibly foreshadowing new strength for the housing market. Google Trends, a tool that aggregates search terms, also showed an early spike in interest in the government’s “Cash for Clunkers” auto purchase incentive program this summer. Perhaps the government could have avoided that whole kerfuffle over the program initially running out of cash, Varian said, if officials had been watching search trends.

Wall Street Journal: Yes, the Housing Market Has Rarely Looked Better

Affordable Homes in Florida (Winter Home in Florida) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 15:20:21 -0500

A must-read from the Wall Street Journal: Passing through the Fort Myers, Fla., airport a few weeks ago, I noticed people eagerly signing up for a free bus tour of foreclosed real estate—with all properties offering water views. During the ride to my hotel, the young driver volunteered that he had just bought his first house, paying $65,000 for a foreclosed property in nearby Cape Coral that last sold for over $250,000. He said he had never expected to be able to buy anything on a driver’s salary, let alone something that nice.Last week, Standard & Poor’s reported that its S&P/Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price index of real-estate values increased this past quarter over the first quarter of 2009, the first quarter-on-quarter increase in three years. Its index of 20 major cities also rose for the three months ended June 30 over the three months ended May 31, with only hard-hit Detroit and Las Vegas experiencing declines. The week before that, the National Association of Realtors reported that sales volume of existing homes was up 7.2% in July from June.

In short, the data suggest that real-estate prices hit a bottom some time during the second quarter, and have now begun to rise. There’s no way to be certain that this marks the end of the long, painful correction that followed the real-estate bubble, but clearly prices are no longer in free-fall. That means if you’ve been sitting on the fence, it’s time to act.Ordinarily I’d never try to time the real-estate market, but I can understand why buyers have been cautious. Few want to buy in down markets, just as stock buyers avoid bear markets. And for most people, of course, buying a house is a much bigger decision than buying a stock. But with real-estate prices nationally now down about 30% from their 2006 peak and showing signs of turning up, the prices aren’t likely to go much lower.

Every real-estate market is local, and so there may be a few exceptions. Overall, though, I can’t imagine a better time to buy than now.In addition to bargain prices, buyers also should find plenty of homes to choose from. The inventory of unsold homes was 4.09 million units in July, up 7.3% from June, according to the National Association of Realtors. And mortgage rates this week were at a two-month low of close to 5%, according to Zillow. Even the stricter appraisal process is working to the advantage of buyers. Appraisals are coming in far lower than most sellers have been expecting, forcing them to face the new reality of sharply lower prices. And with stricter standards, lenders aren’t going to let buyers borrow more than they can afford, which protects buyers and helps to keep prices down.Unless you’re really prepared to accept the demands (and headaches) of being a landlord, I don’t recommend direct ownership of real estate as an investment. The days of buyers lining up to flip Miami Beach and Las Vegas condos are mercifully gone.

There are much easier ways to make money in real estate, such as real-estate investment trusts or buying shares in home builders and other housing-related businesses (such as Home Depot). Historically, the mean rate of return on real estate has been around 3%, according to research from Yale economist Robert Shiller, who co-developed the Case-Shiller index. Shares in REITs and other stocks have often done much better.

But there’s a good reason homeownership has been such a central part of the American dream. It delivers security, pride of ownership, a sense of community and decent investment returns as a bonus. I felt glad for my driver in Florida. He represents the other side of the foreclosure crisis.For every hardship story, and no doubt there are many, others are realizing their dreams of home ownership and getting what may well turn out to be the deals of their lives.

Written by Peter for Tampa4U Realty

How to Buy Your First Home in a Slow Real Estate Market

Affordable Homes in Florida (Winter Home in Florida) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 22:11:36 -0500

A lot of people are eager to take advantage of the housing situation right now. Let’s face it, the foreclosure crisis has created a lot of great deals out there. But many first-time home buyers don’t know exactly what to do to take advantage of those great deals. Fortunately, it’’s not difficult to cash in on today’s real estate market and get the deal of your dreams. Here are the 3 steps to make it happen.

1. First, figure out if your finances are stable enough to buy a home. You’ll need to be able to afford your monthly mortgage payment while still affording the basic necessities, like food, utilities, insurance, etc. It’s better if your house payment is no more than 30% of your monthly expenses. Also, you should only consider buying if you’re planning on staying in the area for at least a few years. That way, you’ll be able to get a better return on your house when you move.

2. Are you financially responsible? You need to make sure you aren’t habitually late on your bills, and you definitely shouldn’t have trouble paying your bills. If you have trouble paying bills now, just think how much more difficult it will be when you get a mortgage! If you’re on financially shaky ground, take some time to learn proper budgeting skills and develop a savings account before purchasing a home. You’ll thank yourself for it later.

3. Finally, decide how much house you truly need. While large, fancy houses are impressive and tempting, you may not need one. In fact, you may find that you don’t even have enough furniture to fill such a place, and think about how much higher the utilities are in a large home! First, decide on the house size that’s right for your family’s needs (not wants), then decide how much of a monthly housing payment you can afford and stick to that estimate. Once you’ve made those decisions, then choose a neighborhood you like and start looking for a home to match your needs and budget in that area. When you have a plan and stick to it, buying your first home can be a breeze!

Tampa Bank Owned Homes

How to Get the Money to Finance a Foreclosure Purchase

Affordable Homes in Florida (Winter Home in Florida) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 10:01:08 -0500

Everyone knows that investing in foreclosures can be a highly lucrative endeavor. However, getting the financing for such properties can be a challenge. It can get even MORE tricky if you already have a mortgage on your primary residence. However, tricky does not mean impossible. Here are some avenues for foreclosure financing you may want to explore.

If you have good credit, you can often purchase foreclosures using an unsecured credit line, such as a credit card or personal loan from your bank. The loan will typically be referred to as a business loan, so it is in no way considered a mortgage. It’s a short-term loan that allows you to have the cash you need to get the property. Because it’s not meant to be a long-term loan, your primary business model for this type of loan should be to pay it off in full within a year or two, as soon as you sell the property for a profit.

You could also get the money to finance a foreclosure by getting an FHA loan. Be aware that FHA loans are not meant for professional real estate investors. These are for people who want to buy a foreclosed home to live in. In fact, many FHA loans contain guidelines requiring you own the property for a certain amount of time before you sell it again. It’s more of a long-term investment, but you can use the funds from the loan to re-hab the house in many cases, so when you DO sell it down the road, you can make a profit on it.

You can also pool money with other investors to buy a foreclosed property. This is a good option if you’re forming a company for the purpose of buying, improving, and re-selling foreclosed properties. With enough people willing to go in with small amounts of cash, you can easily get that great foreclosure deal you want, pay for it for cash, and have no strings attached on your future use of the property. As you can see, sometimes it takes creative financing to get a foreclosed property, but it’s still entirely do-able if you put your mind to it. WIth all the great deals out there right now, this is the perfect time to get into a beautiful foreclosed property for a fraction of its real value, which can spell profit for you later down the road, so take the plunge and give it a try!

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How to Arrange a Successful Short Sale

Affordable Homes in Florida (Winter Home in Florida) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:58:57 -0500

So, you need to arrange a short sale on your property. You're behind on payments, the bank is nipping at your heels, and you have an offer on it, but it's not enough to cover the amount you still owe on the house. What do you do? You ask your bank to allow a short sale. But this means the bank won't be fully re-couping its investment in your house. You've got to make a compelling case to your bank as to why the short sale is necessary. Here's what to do.

First, you need to submit a package of supporting documents to your lender to prove that financial hardship is the reason you need to do a short sale. Banks will usually look favorably on cases of financial hardship, while they'll most likely deny your request if it looks like you got into your predicament through irresponsibility.

Call your lender and request a short sale package. Then, be sure to fill out every line of every page of the package. Go over it several times if you need to, in order to be sure you didn't miss anything. Even a tiny mistake or one piece of missing information can delay or even derail your short sale effort, and may even lead you into foreclosure.

Once you've submitted the package, be aware that the loss mitigation departments of most banks and mortgage companies are very slow in their operations. It can often take weeks for them to even look at your package. If your package has any mistakes, it will sit there for even longer, while bank employees look at other packages. It could be a long time before anyone gives your package a second look. This is why you MUST get everything right the first time you send the package in.

Also be aware that the hardship letter you write must be extremely specific. For example, if you lost your job and are no longer receiving paychecks, you will need to mention in your letter that you aren't receiving checks, or your bank will call you and ask for proof of those lack of checks. Further, be sure you know your bank's submission policy before sending in your package. Some banks require you to call first to let them know you're sending it in....and if you don't call, it's almost certain no one will look at it when it arrives. Find out in advance, too, if your bank will accept generic short sale forms, or if you must use the forms specific to that bank alone. It will make a difference in how quickly your request is processed.

You can put your short sale package together yourself if you do it carefully, but if you request help from a real estate professional, make sure you get one who is experienced in short sale packages. One inexperienced agent can totally de-rail your efforts, so look for one with not only experience, but a track record of success, as well. You'll be glad you took the time to do the research when your short sale is accepted and your home--and credit rating--is safe from the damage a foreclosure can cause.

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Carrollwood Tampa Homes - Lake Ridge Community

Affordable Homes in Florida (Winter Home in Florida) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 12:03:39 -0500

$160,000 • Lake Ridge
2562 Lake Ellen Drive • Tampa • FL 33618

CONTACT:
Marta Wrzesniewski
Tampa4U.com Realty
727-481-3718

- 091209

Bedrooms:	3
Baths:	1
Garage:	1
Year Built:	1959
Square Ft:	1,312

MLS #: T2380407

Amazing home in Awesome Location! You will love this beautifully maintained and upgraded home from the minute you step inside.

This home beautiful bamboo flooring in main livings areas, a huge great room/family room , a formal dining room and beautiful granite counters in the kitchen! This home also offers a large screened in lanai and a separate outdoor deck to enjoy, as well as a large backyard with storage.

This home also features a sprinkler system, new a/c, lots of indoor storage, and a b eautiful and large corner lot! Perfect for a starter home, investment, downsizing or retirement home! Don't miss it!

SCHOOLS:

Lake Magadlene Elementary
Adams Middle
Chamberlain High

Raintree Village Condos - Tampa Condos

Affordable Homes in Florida (Winter Home in Florida) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 12:01:10 -0500

$138,500 • Raintree Village Condos
11812 Skylake Pl. # 11812 • Tampa • FL 33617

CONTACT:
Rose Pierre
Tampa4U.com Realty
(813) 451-7598

- 081109

Bedrooms:	3
Baths:	2
Garage:	0
Year Built:	1987
Square Ft:	1,302

MLS #: T2379440

This is not a short sale! Move today into this wonderfully maintained 3 bedrooms 2 baths spacious condo. The unit is ready move-in condition.

Pride of ownership is noticeable throughout this maintenace free condominium living in a serene setting. The unit features french doors, fireplace, upgraded countertops, and a breathtaking view of the woodlands conservation areas and pond.

All appliances stays with purchase. Community features, pool tennis court, walking trail and so on. Close to USF and University C ommunity Hospital. convey.

SCHOOLS:

Lewis Elementary
Greco Middle
King High