Hillsborough & Manatee County Florida Real Estate

Hillsborough County Market Stats For June & July

Becky Troutt (No longer practicing real estate as of 2008.) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:52:17 -0700

Below are the stats for properties that SOLD and closed in June & July for Hillsborough County: June 2007# of single family homes SOLD = 895Avg SOLD price for SFR = $321,436Median price for SFR = $250,000Average Days On Market = 133# of condos SOLD = 256Avg SOLD price for condos = $218,754Median price for condos = $186,095Average Days On Market = 249 June 2008# of single family homes SOLD = 807Avg SOLD price for SFR = $253,631Median price for SFR = $208,000Average Days On Market = 149# of condos SOLD = 129Avg SOLD price for condos = $171,319Median price for condos = $139,000Average Days On Market = 224 July 2007# of single family homes SOLD = 835Avg SOLD price for SFR = $322,177Median price for SFR = $245,000Average Days On Market = 125# of condos SOLD = 215Avg SOLD price for condos = $211,305Median price for condos = $170,740Average Days On Market = 235 July 2008# of single family homes SOLD = 785Avg SOLD price for SFR = $260,455Median price for SFR = $208,500Average Days On Market = 147# of condos SOLD = 108Avg SOLD price for condos = $164,947Median price for condos = $129,000Average Days On Market = 245 As of today, there are: 9,495 SFR Active on the market and 2,355 Condos Active on the market for sale. To check previous months stats, click here. *Information is deemed to be accurate, but is not guaranteed.

Manatee County Market Stats For June & July

Becky Troutt (No longer practicing real estate as of 2008.) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:32:08 -0700

Below are the stats for properties that SOLD and closed in June & July for Manatee County: June 2007# of single family homes SOLD = 404Avg SOLD price for SFR = $372,744Median price for SFR = $297,500Average Days On Market = 120# of condos SOLD = 38Avg SOLD price for condos = $264,893Median price for condos = $212,500Average Days On Market = 200 June 2008# of single family homes SOLD = 397Avg SOLD price for SFR = $307,825Median price for SFR = $249,900Average Days On Market = 126# of condos SOLD = 52Avg SOLD price for condos = $275,308Median price for condos = $160,000Average Days On Market = 145 July 2007# of single family homes SOLD = 302Avg SOLD price for SFR = $372,769Median price for SFR = $298,500Average Days On Market = 119# of condos SOLD = 49Avg SOLD price for condos = $231,663Median price for condos = $181,000Average Days On Market = 135 July 2008# of single family homes SOLD = 249Avg SOLD price for SFR = $289,984Median price for SFR = $250,000Average Days On Market = 137# of condos SOLD = 47Avg SOLD price for condos = $242,140Median price for condos = $170,000Average Days On Market = 228 As of today, there are: 4,360 SFR Active on the market and 1,408 Condos Active on the market for sale. To check previous months stats, click here. *Information is deemed to be accurate, but is not guaranteed.

Bradenton Named One Of The Best Places To Retire

Becky Troutt (No longer practicing real estate as of 2008.) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:38:07 -0700

In the September-October issue of Where To Retire, Bradenton/Sarasota was named one of eight best places to retire. Other cities also named were: Ocala, FL Phoenix, AZ San Diego, CA Myrtle Beach, SC St. George, Utah Santa Fe, NM Brevard, NC With so much to do here, this is a great place for people to retire. Miles and miles of gulf coast beaches, golfing, museums, boating, fishing, theaters, shopping and more! It's all located here in Bradenton! In the March Issue of Art Calendar magazine, Bradenton was also named one of the top cities in the country for artists, because of the Village of The Arts. Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

A Sign Of The Times; New Subdivision Appears To Be Abandoned By The Builders

Becky Troutt (No longer practicing real estate as of 2008.) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:45:37 -0700

Just a few miles around the corner from where I live in Riverview is what was to be known as Triple Creek. Triple Creek is located near the intersection of Big Bend Rd and Balm Riverview Rd. Triple Creek was supposed to be a large gated community of over 2,000 homes & townhomes ranging in size from 1,500 to 4,000 sq ft. Planned community amenities included a town center and a 6,000 sq ft clubhouse. Triple Creek is located next to Balm-Boyette Scrub Nature Preserve. The 5,000-acre preserve features 21.5 miles of hiking and biking trails. Sounds like a great community, eh? Well....this is what it looks like today.... It appears as if they have abandoned the entire project as of now. Trees are tipped over into the road, weeds and brush are overgrown onto the sidewalks and medians. Weeds are about waist high around the concrete block homes they started, but never finished. There are a few homes that were built and look like they were completed or are nearly completed, that were probably going to be the models. Some of the windows have been broken out of the homes, so who knows what type of damage or vandalism has been done to the inside of the homes. It's a shame this community is now a ghost town. Abandoned. Not a single construction worker, car or truck in the subdivision. Hopefully, they will be able to get moving on this project again soon!

The Promenade At Riverwalk, Bradenton Florida

Becky Troutt (No longer practicing real estate as of 2008.) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:23:10 -0700

The Promenade At Riverwalk is offering a great deal that some people won't be able to pass up! What is it? How about living there for three years practically free? The Promenade At Riverwalk is offering a fantastic deal to any buyers that can secure a loan with 20% down and are able to pay for all closing costs associated with the mortgage. So what do you get in return? They will pay your mortgage payment, taxes and association fees for three years. Yes you read that correctly...they will pay your mortgage payment, taxes and association fees for three years!!! Condos currently range from $360,000 to $700,000. There are about 47 units left for sale. They have 9 different floor plans available and units range in size from 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom and 1,414 sq ft up to 3 bedroom, 3 bathrooms and 1,883 sq ft. Amenities they offer are: Pool & Spa Basketball Courts Tennis Courts Fitness Center Waterfront Park Restricted Access Private Terrace with every residence Theater room Club room *Photo is from PromenadeAtRiverwalk.com

Riverview to get shops, offices, movie theater and 2 hotels

Becky Troutt (No longer practicing real estate as of 2008.) — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 04:17:39 -0700

Riverview will soon be growing even more! A lot more shopping, office space, a theater and 2 hotels will soon be added to the landscape of Riverview! What will be known as SouthShore Commons is due to break ground within the next few months. When fully completed, SouthShore Commons will be a "1.6-million-square-foot project that will include more than 1 million square feet of retail and dining space, 490,000 square feet of office, a 16-screen theater, and 250 hotel rooms within 2 hotels. The retail portion of the project will include department store anchors, several national big-box tenants and junior anchors, dozens of specialty retailers and a variety of dining options that include both casual and upscale restaurants." It will also have 7,000 parking spaces. SouthShore Commons will be located at Big Bend Rd near I-75 close to Covington Park. So it will have quick and easy access to get to from the interstate. *Photo from Equity, INC.

Moss Landing, Riverview Florida

Becky Troutt (No longer practicing real estate as of 2008.) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:21:02 -0700

Moss Landing is a gated community located off the beaten path on the outskirts of Riverview. Secluded from the hustle and bustle of the busy roads, yet just a short drive to I-75 and I-4. Moss Landing is within a short drive to Brandon, Tampa, restaurants and shopping. Moss Landing consists of 310 single family residences surrounded by old beautiful trees and preserves. There are currently 2 builders building in Moss Landing. KB homes and Adams Homes. Single family homes range in size from 1,277 to 3,508 sq ft. Moss Landing is located in Riverview off Balm Riverview Rd. Take I-75 to Exit 250, head East on Gibsonton-Boyette Road. Turn right at Balm Riverview Road, Moss Landing is 1 mile on the right.

Valencia Lakes in Wimauma Florida

Becky Troutt (No longer practicing real estate as of 2008.) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:41:18 -0700

I took my first drive through this community a couple days ago and I was pretty impressed. It's a beautiful community. You are welcomed into the community via a long winding road lined with lush tropical trees, greenery and rock waterfalls. Valenica Lakes is a resort syle community for adults, which means there are age restrictions. They are currently in the process of building a 27,000 sq ft club house. They will also have plenty of other amenities when completed. complete fitness center resort pool resistance pool pool area spa cabana bath aerobics studio art studio and gallery wine bar social hall with raised stage and dance floor gaming room multi-purpose room internet cafe locker facilities with steam saunas evaluation rooms 6 Har-Tru tennis courts with shade pavilions Pickle ball and bocce ball courts Half court basketball Grandchildren's tot lot Horseshoes play area Community gardens Dog park with agility training RV and boat parking recreational paths wide variety of clubs concerts One thing I noticed was that all of the homes have tile roofs and brick paved driveways. You can select from villas or single family style homes. Valencia Lakes is located in Wimauma off Hwy 301 just a couple miles north of CR 674 and just a short drive to Sun City Center, a brand new Super Wal-Mart, restaurants, hospital, doctors offices, pharmacies, grocery stores, shopping and banks. I found a commercial on YouTube and several other short videos that walk you through the model homes. Feel free to watch them! The prices are lower now than mentioned in this video. Their website as of today says the villas start at $159,900. Prices are subject to change at any given time though.

Belmont in Ruskin Florida

Becky Troutt (No longer practicing real estate as of 2008.) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:15:06 -0700

Belmont is a brand new community in Ruskin that is currently being built. Belmont sits on nearly 1,000 acres and will have over 2,000 residences when completed. Once completed, Belmont will offer a lot of amenities: 10,000 square foot pool complex Olympic size pool Splash zone Flume slide A 7.5-acre park area Fishing pier that will extend into one of the park's ponds Putting green 2 playgrounds Basketball courts Sand volleyball Fields to play in A colorful main boulevard to take a stroll down Outdoor picnic pavilion Bocce Ball Courts Belmont is located in Ruskin off Hwy 301 about 2 miles south of Big Bend Rd.

Thousands of criminals have been working in Florida's mortgage industry.

Becky Troutt (No longer practicing real estate as of 2008.) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:58:58 -0700

I was reading the news online this morning and of course this headline caught my attention right away. "The report says the Florida Office of Financial Regulation issued licenses to more than 10,000 people with criminal records, including more than 4,000 that cleared background checks despite committing crimes such as fraud, racketeering and extortion." "The office is also accused of failing to perform criminal background checks most of the time, despite a state law that mandates such checks." "The man in charge of the Office of Financial Regulation, Commissioner Don Saxon, says he has no idea why his staff issued licenses to bank robbers and those convicted of fraud." What the heck were they thinking? Issuing a license to someone with a criminal record? Good grief, all those people need to be fired! That's pretty pathetic to say the least! These people they gave a license to have access to all those people's financial information and they didn't think it was important enough to read through the background check, to check for crimes before issuing them a license? DUH! So what are people supposed to do now? Run their own background check on their mortgage broker before giving up any personal or financial information?

Snooty The Manatee Turns 60 On Monday

Becky Troutt (No longer practicing real estate as of 2008.) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:40:43 -0700

Earlier this year, I wrote a blog post about the South Florida Museum and the Parker Aquarium located in Bradenton. Manatee Counties famous manatee named Snooty lives at the Parker Aquarium. He is turning 60 on Monday and they are throwing him a birthday party this weekend! When: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. SaturdayWhere: South Florida Museum, Parker Aquarium, 201 10th St. W., BradentonSpecial admission Saturday: The event in the courtyard is free. There also will be reduced admission prices for the aquarium, planetarium and natural history museum.Information: 746-4131 or www.southfloridamuseum.org *Video is from the Bradenton Herald

Comparing Hillsborough & Manatee Counties

Becky Troutt (No longer practicing real estate as of 2008.) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:14:47 -0700

Hillsborough CountyCondos# of condos Active on the market - 2,241# of condos sold in the last 6 months - 588Average condo sale price - $188,787Median condo price - $135,000Average days on market for condos - 240 Single Family Homes (SFH)# of SFH Active on the market - 9,612# of SFH sold in the last 6 months - 3,985Average SFH sale price - $262,523Median home price - $205,000Average days on market for SFH - 146 Hillsborough County is 1,266 square miles In 2007, the Hillsborough County Planning Commission conducted a population estimate that put the county's population at 1,204,770. Manatee CountyCondos# of condos Active on the market - 1,797# of condos sold in the last 6 months - 404Average condo sale price - $275,475Median condo price - $175,000Average days on market for condos - 128 Single Family Homes (SFH)# of SFH Active on the market - 5,709# of SFH sold in the last 6 months - 1,905Average SFH sale price - $333,987Median home price - $250,000Average days on market for SFH - 108 Manatee County is 741 square miles The U.S. Census Bureau 2007 estimate for the county is 315,108

State Farm seeks To Increase Florida Homeowner Policies On Average of 47%

Becky Troutt (No longer practicing real estate as of 2008.) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:44:43 -0700

State Farm has asked for an average increase of 47% on Florida Homeowner's policies. If the rate hike is passed, south Florida residents in Miami-Dade could see rate hikes as high as 70%. "State Farm, which has been working aggressively in recent years to reduce its catastrophe risk in Florida, said earlier this year it wouldn't write new homeowner policies in the state. State Farm hasn't written new policies in South Florida for more than a decade. It's also not renewing about 50,000 policies in coastal areas throughout the state over the next year." "State Farm's last rate increase was approved in 2006. That rate hike left many South Florida policyholders with premiums that jumped 100 percent or more." If this is passed, it would effective for policy renewals starting March 1, 2009. An August 12th hearing in Tallahassee is set. It will be interesting to see what happens!! How's that commercial go again? "Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there"......NOT!! What are your thoughts on this?

SouthShore Florida Real Estate

Becky Troutt (No longer practicing real estate as of 2008.) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:18:51 -0700

If you live in or around the SouthShore area, then you're probably already familiar with the areas that are encompassed within SouthShore. However, if you don't then you may be asking yourself "where the heck is SouthShore"? The term SouthShore relates to the areas located within South Hillsborough County. SouthShore includes the following cities/areas: Apollo Beach Balm Gibsonton Lithia Riverview Ruskin Sun City Center Wimauma If you're interested in learning more about the SouthShore area, please feel free to contact me.

MiraBay in Apollo Beach, Florida

Becky Troutt (No longer practicing real estate as of 2008.) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:21:57 -0700

If you want to live in a gated community, on the water with a Key West style home, MiraBay might just be the community you're looking for. MiraBay sets right alongside Tampa Bay in Apollo Beach. There are a variety of different types of homes available in MiraBay. Townhomes, villas and single family homes. Townhomes start at 1,943 sq ft and go up to 2,627 sq ft. The villas start at 1,518 sq ft and go up to 1,966 sq ft. Single family homes start at 2,252 and go upwards of 4,200 sq ft. MiraBay offers a lot of different amenities: A junior Olympic lap pool Large tropical pool with water slide Children's pool Fitness center Racquet club Tennis Courts Admiral's Lounge The Galley Cafe' On-site spa and beauty treatments A 4,000 sq ft banquet room for parties/receptions/gatherings Kayak Tours Sailboat classes Deep Sea fishing excursions The Outfitter's bait and tackle shop 1,000 acre nature preserve 10,000 sq ft clubhouse 135 acre lagoon MiraBay is located in Apollo Beach off Hwy 41. If you are interested in MiraBay or would like more information about MiraBay, please feel free to contact me.

Winthrop Community, Riverview Florida

Becky Troutt (No longer practicing real estate as of 2008.) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 08:36:19 -0700

Everytime I drive past this community, I want to drive through it. I'm not sure what it is, but I just love this community. I love the style of homes and the way they designed the shops and restaurants within walking distance of this community. The homes were designed in a Key West style with large porches and white picket fences and the nearby shops and restaurants at the Winthrop Town Center were designed to feel like an old town. With brick paved steets and sidewalks, restaurants where you can eat outside while listening to live music, movies on the lawn, a farmers market and Sunday brunch...you really do feel like you're in a little town of your own. There are 3 different types of homes in this community. The Cottage Series range from 3 to 4 bedrooms, 2 to 3.5 baths and 1,943 to 3,203 sq ft. The townhomes range from 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and 1,703 to 2,384 sq ft. The traditional series range from 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and 1,928 sq ft to 2,467 sq ft. The tradional series are detached stand alone single family homes. The cottage series are attached single family homes. Some of the nearby shops, restaurants and businesses are listed below. Publix MJ Barleyhoppers M oe's Southwest Grill Shane's Rib Shack Mojitos Latin Cuisine Starbucks Bellafia chocolate shop Happy Paws and Tails pet shop Heaven Scent Soap and Bath Boutique Anew Lifestyle & Wellness Solution Downtown Divas clothing boutique Broomstick Baby infant and toddler boutique Asonipse Spa and Salon (Aveda) Optics Soho King Solomon Tailor First Choice Hair Cutting Regions Bank Railroad Federal Credit Union Allstate H&R Block St. Pete Times Building Beaux Arts Gallery Surgical Center Winthrop is located in Riverview behind the Winthrop Town Center located at Providence Rd & Bloomingdale Rd.

Providing Real Estate Info For Hillsborough County Now

Becky Troutt (No longer practicing real estate as of 2008.) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 08:06:08 -0700

I am making some changes to my blog and will now be posting about Hillsborough County as well as continuing to post about Manatee County. Since we recently joined the Mid-Florida Regional MLS, I will now have easier access to thousands of more listings that I can provide to you. The areas I will now cover will be the following: Manatee County: Parrish, Ellenton, Palmetto, Bradenton, Anna Maria Island, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach, Longboat Key and Lakewood Ranch. Hillsborough County: Sun City Center, Ruskin, Wimauma, Apollo Beach, Riverview, Gibsonton, Brandon, Lithia, and Valrico. I have worked in Manatee County for the past 4 years and am very familiar with it, yet I have also lived in Hillsborough County for the past 3 years and am also very familiar with this area as well. When our board decided to join the Mid-Florida Regional MLS, I was so excited. This meant I would be able to get easier access to more listings without having to join a second MLS, which in turn allows me to work a much larger area! I now have access to listings from Orlando all the way down to Charlotte County! We've defiantly got you covered! Stay tuned, as I will now be posting more and more info about Hillsborough & Manatee Counties!

Local Housing Inventory Has Been Declining

Becky Troutt (No longer practicing real estate as of 2008.) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 00:46:53 -0700

Over the past year, the Manatee County housing inventory has slowly been declining. Excess inventory is starting to get burned off and we are moving in the direction of more "normal" numbers and a "normal" market. We still have a lot of inventory on hand, but we don't have as many new listings coming on the market each day as we once did. In June 2007, there were 4,341 Single Family Homes on the market. Today there are 3,859. That's about an 11% decline over the past year. In June 2007, there were 2,047 Condos on the market. Today there are 1,682. That's about a 17.5% decline over the past year. *Information is deemed to be accurate, but is not guaranteed

Quick Tip To Save You $$ Money $$ At The Gas Pump

Becky Troutt (No longer practicing real estate as of 2008.) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 01:20:33 -0700

With the rise in gas prices and in trying to find anyway possible to save money at the pump, I just discovered a way to say 3 cents a gallon at Wal-Mart gas stations. It's not a big discount, but 3 cents per gallon is better than nothing! If you use a Wal-Mart gift card or a Wal-Mart Credit card at any Wal-Mart gas stations, you automatically save 3 cents per gallon. Now, I surely didn't need anymore credit cards, so I didn't apply for one of those, but the gift cards don't cost you anything at all to get and they can be reloaded over and over again and save you money at the pump. These are just the regular Wal-Mart gift cards that can be used in the Wal-Mart stores. All you have to do, is select a gift card, load the money onto it, take it to the gas station and use it just like you would your credit or debit cards. The pumps recognize that it's a Wal-Mart gift card and give you the 3 cent per gallon discount. Be sure to save that card and reload more money onto it over and over again! I have one specifically I keep in my car just for gas. Of course if you don't live near a Wal-Mart gas station, this won't do you a bit of good. However, since it seems like there is one in every town now-a-days, this little bit of info will help lots of people out. There just happens to be one close to me and it is already usually cheaper than the regular gas stations, plus I save the 3 cents per gallon on top of it. Hope that helps you out saving $$ at the pump! If you have any other tips on how to save money at the pump, please feel free to share.

Clothing Optional Swimming Pool For One Condo Community

Becky Troutt (No longer practicing real estate as of 2008.) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 04:50:03 -0700

I was reading the Tampa Tribune paper online this morning and an article caught my attention. Condo Company Plans Clothing-Optional Pool. This is a ploy to help move units in a down market in Temple Terrace (near Tampa). My first thought is, it might have the opposite affect of what they are hoping for. Even though only one of the pools with be clothing optional and will be 18 and older, I still would bet a lot of people would not want their kids in a community where some people are outside nude even if it is behind gates, shrubs or whatever. In an online advertisement, the following statement was used: "You're going to be very comfortable with our dress code," it says. "Our residents are welcome to shed more than their inhibitions as they enter the gates of Eden. Because when our residents come home after a busy day in the working world, they want to completely unburden themselves, shed the trappings of the outside world ... and be totally free." After some residents read that statement, they were up in arms because it made it sound as if the entire complex was going to be clothing optional. Not true they say. Only one of the private pools with me made clothing optional! I'll be curious to see what happens if it gets passed and if it helps the sales! Instead of "The right to bear arms" maybe it should read, "The right to bear butts"!

Manatee County Market Stats For April & May

Becky Troutt (No longer practicing real estate as of 2008.) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:46:02 -0700

Below are the stats for properties that SOLD and closed in April & May for Manatee County: May 2007# of single family homes SOLD = 248Avg SOLD price for SFR = $368,228Median price for SFR = $309,500Average Days On Market = 106# of condos SOLD = 81Avg SOLD price for condos = $243,872Median price for condos = $185,000Average Days On Market = 104 May 2008# of single family homes SOLD = 207Avg SOLD price for SFR = $318,821Median price for SFR = $245,000Average Days On Market = 113# of condos SOLD = 86Avg SOLD price for condos = $205,662Median price for condos = $152,000Average Days On Market = 146 April 2007# of single family homes SOLD = 235Avg SOLD price for SFR = $365,430Median price for SFR = $290,000Average Days On Market = 98# of condos SOLD = 88Avg SOLD price for condos = $228,691Median price for condos = $176,250Average Days On Market = 113 April 2008# of single family homes SOLD = 223Avg SOLD price for SFR = $352,745Median price for SFR = $255,000Average Days On Market = 101# of condos SOLD = 79Avg SOLD price for condos = $212,856Median price for condos = $165,000Average Days On Market = 147 As of today, there are: 3,859 SFR Active on the market and 1,682 Condos Active on the market for sale. To check previous months stats, click here. *Information is deemed to be accurate, but is not guaranteed.

Hello! You have a cell phone, but do you use it?

Becky Troutt (No longer practicing real estate as of 2008.) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:04:31 -0700

I am so irritated with agents that don't return phone calls! I had a buyer from the UK email me 2 days ago wanting room measurements for a listing I sent him from the MLS. Of course the agent didn't take the time to add them in the MLS, so I called the agent to see if I could get them. I called yesterday and no answer. So I left a voicemail asking the agent to please call me and let me know if they had the room measurements. Yesterday passed and no phone call back. So I called again this morning first thing. Don't you know it's 9:03 pm here and still NO PHONE CALL!!! I just emailed my buyer to let them know this and to also let them know that I will go there tomorrow MYSELF and get the measurements for them! I challenge anyone that has a listing with an agent to have a friend or someone you know call and request some info about your home as if you were an interested person and see if they even bother to call you back. You might also want to ask your agent for a copy of the MLS printout to see if they even bothered adding in all the info about your home! And a note to agents....if you have a cell phone....USE IT! Return people's calls for pete's sake! There is this little thingy-ma-bob on your phone known as an "icon" that shows you have voicemails you have yet to pick up! It's there for a reason!! Pick them up and then return the calls!

Real Affordable Housing In Parrish Now Available!!

Becky Troutt (No longer practicing real estate as of 2008.) — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 03:19:14 -0800

In case you haven't heard yet, Forest Creek in Parrish, a Neal Communities subdivision now has REAL affordable housing available!Single family cottage style 2 bedroom single story homes are starting in the low 120's. Two story cottage style homes are starting in the 150's! THIS IS FANTASTIC NEWS!!Forest Creek is a beautiful gated community located off of Hwy 301 in Parrish.I will be getting more info on these new houses including prices, floor plans and such and will be posting more info in the next day or two! So be sure to check back!!If you're interested in touring this community, please feel free to contact me. Don't forget that it costs you NOTHING to use your own agent so that you're fully represented when you do decide to purchase! Our commission is paid for by the builder and is already included in the price of the home! It just makes sense to have your own agent!Here's a quick video I found on Bay News 9 about this fabulous news!

Manatee County Market Stats for January

Becky Troutt (No longer practicing real estate as of 2008.) — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 22:51:07 -0800

Below are the stats for properties that SOLD and closed in January for Manatee County:Jan 2007# of single family homes SOLD = 135Avg SOLD price for SFR = $345,304Median price for SFR = $279,000# of condos SOLD = 35Avg SOLD price for condos = $319,034Median price for condos = $218,000Jan 2008# of single family homes SOLD = 149Avg SOLD price for SFR = $314,903Median price for SFR = $245,000# of condos SOLD = 33Avg SOLD price for condos = $282,539Median price for condos = $192,000As of today, there are: 4,237 SFR Active on the market and 2,036 Condos Active on the market for sale.To check previous months stats, click here.*Information is deemed to be accurate, but is not guaranteed.

South Florida Museum

Becky Troutt (No longer practicing real estate as of 2008.) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 05:13:23 -0800

Yesterday I visited the South Florida Museum in Bradenton. This was the first time I had ever been there. I can't believe I've missed out on such an interesting place for so long! I've driven by it hundreds of times, yet never stopped in to check it out!I was quite surprised at how big it really is. There are actually 3 sections. The South Florida Museum, the Bishop Planetarium and the Parker Aquarium. All 3 are connected and you get to visit all of them when you pay the admission.There was a lot to see there and I found it pretty interesting! They had a mastodon display, fossils, archaic murals and artifacts, medical gallery, Model T Ford, an old boat building shop, a pioneer cabin from the 1880's, old war uniforms and artifacts, a Spanish home, Spanish chapel, fountain and statue of Hernando DeSoto, discovery place for kids, the new state of the art planetarium and of course the aquarium where snooty the manatee and 3 others are at.We were able to catch one of the shows at the Planetarium while we were there. We watched a fascinating show about black holes. At some points in the show, it felt almost like 3-D and you were right there in the sky or floating along the streets. It was pretty cool! I wish we could have saw a couple of the other ones, but we missed them!We also got to see the manatees being fed and learned a little bit more about them. Snooty is currently the oldest living manatee in captivity. He is 59! The other 3 manatees are only there for a short period, and then they will be released back out into the wild.The South Florida Museum201 10th Street WestBradenton, Florida 34205941-746-4131January through April and the month of July: Open 7 days a week.Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays from 12 noon to 5 p.m. All other months: Open 6 days a week.Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Sundays from 12 noon to 5 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day & New Year's Day.The Museum is closed for annual maintenance the last two weeks in August, re-opening the first day after Labor Day. Admission is as follows:Adults: $15.95Seniors (60+): $13.95Children (4-12): $11.95Children (under 4): FreeIt's well worth the money I think. Once you pay, you can stay there all day if you want. They will let you leave and come back later too as long as you leave your sticker on they give you. So if the kids get hungry, you can go have lunch and still come back to see the rest!On Saturday March 1 from 10am-9pm, they are celebrating heritage days. Explore Florida's rich history while commingling with historic figures, observing rare artifacts and reenacting activities of yesteryear. There will be snacks, games and engaging activities for everyone to enjoy.Enjoy a screening of Fantasia on the big screen in the planetarium at 4:15. Learn about Florida's past, present, and future through engaging activities for the whole family. Explore John James Audubon: Birds of Florida in the East Gallery. Live Star Talk with Jeff Rodgers at 7:00, Infinity Express at 7:30, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at 8:00. Admission is half price after 4pm. Members are always free. Food is available for a nominal price. Here are some of the photos that I took and a couple short video clips of the manatees! Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com