buyers: 7621 47th St. N, Pinellas Park Florida Sold to Happy Buyer
- 08/19/17 01:30 PM
Nothing like turning over the keys to a happy 1st time buyer, especially after multiple offers on other homes and being out bid. Add to that the $15,000 down payment assistance that his mortgage originator Robyn Field with Synovous Mortgage was able to get him, that will be forgiven as long as he stays in the house for 5 years.
This 3 bedroom 2 bath home had been on the market for 30 days when we went to see it. The master bath had been handicapped modified with a huge roll in shower and some other minor modifications, along with some TLC that the home … (1 comments)
buyers: Market Stats for June 2017 in Pinellas County
- 08/15/17 06:04 AM
It continues to be a sellers market in PInellas County Florida. There are more buyers looking for a home then there are homes available to buy, which is driving up prices and value.
We just received the stats for June and they are as follows:
Closed Sales Up 6.2% over the same month last year. Paid in Cash down 3% New Pending Sales up 2.8% New Listings up 5.4% Pending Inventory down 10.1% Active Listings down 7%
There is never a better time then now to sell your home and receive the highest possible price. If you are thinking of selling you home, call me to schedule a no … (0 comments)
buyers: Summer Blooms and Crops - Aug. 2017 Challange
- 08/05/17 06:52 PM
I love flowers and gardening. Living in Florida gives me the opportunity to do it practically year round. My featured image is of the only back yard I have. When we purchased the house, this area was all grass; no walkway, no plants, just grass. The first thing I planted was an orange tree. Got to have an orange tree in Florida. That was 32 years ago. The oranges are still green but very big and they will start to turn orange in about 2 more months. I fertilize once a year after most of the oranges have been picked and I start … (7 comments)
buyers: Market Update for Pinellas County Florida
- 07/25/17 07:49 AM
Median Sales price for single family homes is $245,000 for June, up 8.9% over the same month last year. Condos and townhomes are up 7.2% in June over the same month last year.
We currently have a 3.9 month supply of single family homes available to purchase and 5.8 months supply of condo and townhomes available. Definitely remains a sellers market. If we had a 6 month supply, it would be considered a balanced market and anything over a 6 month supply would be a buyers market. Multiple offers on available homes are very common in today's market.
You may be surprised at what you current … (3 comments)
buyers: Average Sales Price in Pinellas County, Florida
- 06/12/17 08:31 PM
The average sales price for a single family home is currently $318,451, which is an all time high. Compare that to the 1st quarter of 2011 when the average price of a single family home was $162,136 !!!
Home values have continued to climb, fueled by the low inventory and high buyer demand. Multile offers are to be expected and an agent may need to write offers on 5 or 6 homes for a buyer before one is excepted by a seller. It's especially difficult for first time buyers who are looking for a lower price starter home.
But with a persevering agent and a … (3 comments)
buyers: Just Sold. 7621 47th St N, Pinellas Park, Florida
- 06/11/17 05:15 PM
Just sold to a first time buyer with free $15,000 bond money for down payment and closing costs. Didn't need to bring even a dime to the closing table.
3 bedrooms, 2 baths, nice kitchen and a huge back yard. Perfect for this single dad.
If you know a first time buyer that doesn't think they can afford a home in the Tampa Bay area, call me with their name and number so I can consult with them regarding first time home buyer programs. I'm here to help!
Congratulations. It's closing day! It's finally here! But you have a few more things to do before it's yours.
Be sure to have identification with you at the closing. Usually a driver license will do but check with your Realtor to see if anything else is needed.
You should have received wire instructions from the title company or attorney that is facilitating the closing. You will need to go to your bank and have them wire the amount of money that you are required to bring … (23 comments)
buyers: So Your Offer Was Accepted. Now What ???
- 06/05/17 08:13 PM
You're under contract! Congratulations. But there's lots of work still ahead and that contract has lots of deadlines that with the help of your Realtor and lender, you need to meet.
You're Realtor will immediately get a copy of your executed contract to your lender, who will get your loan approval moving. Contact your lender and make sure he/she has all the documentation that is needed. Depending on when you were first pre-approved, you may need to provide updated docs like your most current bank statements or pay stubs. Get those to the lender right away.
That same day, or as soon as possible, … (2 comments)
Congratulations on finding a home in your price range that meets your needs. How much should you offer? Your decision on how much to offer should be in consultation with your Realtor, who should have already done some basic research prior to making the showing appointment. She/he will now do a more extensive analysis and look at comparable houses in the immediate area and make a recommendation based on a number of factors and Market Value.
The definition of Market Value is how much a person … (2 comments)
It's time to go look at houses....right? Not so fast. First you need to sit down with your Realtor and have a conversation about exactly what you're looking for in a home and what you can realistically expect to get in your price range.
Your Realtor will ask you a series of questions about your wants, needs and the location you would like to be in. Here is a list of features you need to decide on. Think about what's most important to you.
You're pre-qualified and pre-approved. Your next step is to choose what Realtor to work with. Maybe you're thinking that you don't need a Realtor. You will just work with the agent that lists the house you're interested in. Or you don't think you can afford one. Wrong.
Working with a Realtor is free in most cases. They are usually conpensated by the listing agent and that agent's broker. Be sure to ask the agent under what circumstances you might be charged a fee. Usually, it may involve … (1 comments)
buyers: So You're Pre-Qualified for a Mortgage. Now What ???
- 06/02/17 01:35 PM
This post is a continuation of a blog series for buyers titled So You Want to Buy A House. Now What ??? You're pre-qualified for a loan which helps you know how much of a home you can afford. Does that mean you're fully approved? No. There is a difference between being pre-qualified, pre-approved and approved.
Pre-qualified means you have contacted a loan originator/lender, answered a number of questions regarding your income, work history, expenses and debts and based on that verbal information and the lender pulling your credit report, he/she told you how much of a loan you could qualify for.
Pre-approval means that … (2 comments)
buyers: So You Want to Buy a House. Now what ???
- 06/01/17 08:46 PM
Congratulations on deciding to begin your wealth building by owning your own home. This is an exciting time and there is lots to think about. But.... Before you start driving around neighborhoods and even before you start searching on line, you need to know how much of a home you can afford. Your first step is to find a mortgage originator/lender and get pre-qualified for a mortgage.
There are plenty of them available and you should talk to several before deciding on who you will work with. Start with the bank you currently use as you will use them to compare with others. They will … (4 comments)
Stavrula “Sam” Crafa Earns NAR Pricing Strategy Advisor Certification Buyers and Sellers from REALTOR® Expertise in Pricing Properties
Seminole, Florida May 25, 2017 — Stavrula “Sam” Crafa with Future Home Realty has earned the nationally recognized Pricing Strategy Advisor (PSA) certification. The National Association of REALTORS offers the PSA certification to REALTORS as determining property values depends more than ever on professional expertise and competence, the best use of technology, and a commitment to approach the pricing assignment from various perspectives. “The market demands accurate property value assessments, so NAR is excited to provide Realtors with enhanced tools, education and … (0 comments)
buyers: Search Buyers/Sellers or Not to Search: That Is The Question.
- 05/03/17 07:38 PM
I recently read an article about buyers researching sellers on line to find out information that might reveal the sellers motivation to sell or other information that could help the buyer decide how much to offer or help in the negotiations. Buyers were also being searched by sellers for the same reasons. Both looking for information that is generally considered confidential between a client and their agent in a real estate transaction.
I must admit that I was a little shocked when I read the article because it never even occurred to me that people would do that. But it does bring up some … (6 comments)
buyers: Are You Giving Back or Just Taking?
- 04/17/17 02:04 PM
In Michael J. Mahers book The Seven Levels of Communication, he talks about the Generosity Generation. He encourages people to come from an approach of giving. I'm sure that most of you have heard of the saying; Give and it will come back to you 10 fold. But beyond that, giving just makes you feel good. Helping others and feeling good about it should be enough reason in and of itself. With that in mind, I wanted to find a charity that I could support through my business. It had to be a local charity; something where the money would directly benefit the general … (5 comments)
buyers: My Biggest Pet Peeve in Real Estate
- 04/03/17 08:17 PM
The Active Rain community is having a contest for it's members. The challenge is to pick our biggest pet peeve. What is the one thing that dives us absolutely crazy when it happens in our real estate business. Well, as much as I love what I do, I have several pet peeves to choose from. Today, I'm going to talk about one that just happened to me recently. I had a buyer that I helped purchase a home about 10 years ago. The transaction went smoothly with no issues and we established a good relationship in the process. After the closing, I did what I … (16 comments)
If you're looking for a foreclosure in Pinellas County and think you can get a property that you can move into right away for pennies on the dollar, think again. Just like all the other homes for sale, values are going up and distressed properties are no different. And like everyone else, the banks want to get as much money as possible to recoup the loss they have taken due to the owner defaulting in their mortgage and the cost of foreclosing.
As you can see in the chart above, the … (3 comments)
Median Sales Price $225,000, up from $165,000 from a year ago.
View of Lake Seminole.
Median List Price $225,000, up from $190,000 a year ago.
Seminole is a great place to live and work. I know, because I live here and just 1 mile from the beautiful beaches on the Gulf of Mexico.
If you are thinking of buying a home in the general Seminole or surrounding areas, call me for available reports and available homes, condo's, townhomes and villa's. 727-409-0686.
One more statistic: The number of available homes are down. If you're … (2 comments)
buyers: 55+ Condo Available in the Active Community of Five Towns
- 03/04/17 09:46 AM
Senior living at it's finest in one of the largest 55+ complexes in St. Petersburg. Tennis court, workout room, swimming pools and recreational building are just some of the amenities available. Pet friendly too with restrictions. This unit, with it's original cabinets, give you the perfect opportunity to renovate to your standards and is as of this post, is the lowest priced 2 bedroom, 2 bath unit in the complex, with a current asking price of $69,900. But it also has a much larger kitchen then most.
The grounds also include these beautiful ponds and walking trails for your enjoyment. Complex is just a short … (0 comments)
Nothing like turning over the keys to a happy 1st time buyer, especially after multiple offers on other homes and being out bid. Add to that the $15,000 down payment assistance that his mortgage originator Robyn Field with Synovous Mortgage was able to get him, that will be forgiven as long as he stays in the house for 5 years. 
;)
;)
