Do you have clients moving to Tampa? We can't wait to be their neighbors. We provide a lot of information on our Web site and blog to help potential clients when moving to Tampa or just across the Bay. We want to partner with you if you have clients moving to our area. Please give us a call so we can see if we are a good fit for your referral.As local real estate experts working in Tampa Bay, we know moving can be daunting. But that’s where we come in. We are a Team TLC - a group of 14 full-time real estate agents who serve the 4-county Tampa Bay area. We know the neighborhoods, the schools, the parks, the businesses. We know this area like the back of our hands and we want to share our knowledge with you.As you know, our business thrives on referrals from clients and fellow agents. Ple... 07/31/2023

We love our city and we want everyone to know it. Tampa FL is HOT (and we aren't just talking the heat index!)U.S. News recently published its top 150 places to live in the U.S. No surprise Florida has 14 spots on the list with five cities in the top 25 including Tampa! Zillow also predicted Tampa to be the hottest real estate markets in 2022 (and we agree!) Read our full blog hereTampa cracked the top 25 on the U.S. News list, coming in at No. 24. Tampa was selected based on “a laid-back beach lifestyle and the amenities of a large metropolitan area, including professional sports teams, museums and an array of entertainment and dining options.”Tampa also placed high on other U.S. News lists including best places to retire (No. 4), best places to live in Florida (No. 5), safest places t... 06/12/2023

We are all feeling the pinch of rising costs – at the grocery store, at the gas pump and restaurants. The real estate market is no different. During the pandemic home prices rose rapidly with many buyers facing a bidding war and having to pay way over asking price.Things have changed since then. Prices have stabilized and many buyers say they are hesitant to wade into the housing market with the rising interest rates.  But you should think twice before waiting for lower home prices. Here's why: Our broker, Ray Mihara, who has been selling real estate in Tampa Bay for more than 25 years, is a go-to source for current market conditions in Tampa Bay. He regularly meets with mortgage brokers, investors and banks and recently met with Team TLC to discuss market conditions and what buyers and... 05/10/2023

Tampa, FL, March 29, 2023 --(PR.com)-- Steve Eckhardt with Cornerstone Properties International in Tampa, Florida earned The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing’s newest and most prestigious designation of excellence, recognizing the best of the best, the GUILD Elite™. Only the finest earn the designation, not only for their experience, knowledge, and expertise but also for continued success in the top echelon of residential real estate. Steve Eckhardt is a GUILD Elite™ Member, part of an exclusive group of real estate professionals who have completed The Institute’s training and have proven their high-level performance in the multi-million-dollar market.“Agents who have earned the GUILD Elite™ recognition are rare and perform at a superior level in their community,” said Kathleen Bibbi... 04/10/2023

Tampa offers a vibrant lifestyle full of cultural attractions and great restaurants. The area is also home to many businesses, universities, and professional sports teams. Hyde Park: This historic district provides a mix of upscale living with easy access to shops, cafes and outdoor activities. New Tampa: Located in the northeast corner of the city, this residential neighborhood features modern single-family homes and townhomes that offer plenty of amenities along with access to parks and trails. Westchase: Westchase provides residents with an abundance of shopping, dining, and entertainment options. South Tampa: With its lively atmosphere and proximity to Amalie Arena, South Tampa is known for its diverse mix of restaurants, nightlife spots, art galleries, museums and include communiti... 03/21/2023

What will $1,000,000 Buy you in the Tampa MarketAs the Tampa Florida real estate market continues to evolve, many people are wondering what their money will buy them in the future. If you're thinking of purchasing a home in the Tampa area, it's important to understand how the market is trending. This blog post will give you an idea of what you can expect to get for your money in 2023. So, whether you're a first-time home buyer or a seasoned investor, this information will be helpful as you consider your options in the Tampa real estate market. Thanks for reading! Click here to read more! 03/01/2023

The city of Tampa is one of the best places to reside in Florida. It is part of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro region, which is one of the largest in the Southeast United States and provides a wealth of benefits to its people, including a low cost of living, wonderful tropical weather, easy access to the beach, and much more. If you're thinking about moving to Tampa, we'd like to show you a few of the city's perks.It’s More Affordable to Live in TampaA Great Alternative to Miami’s Sky-High Cost of LivingTampa is a viable alternative to Miami if you're searching for a change of environment.* To put it another way, Tampa's cost of living is in line with the national average, but it's just 1% higher than the state average.* Compared to the national average, housing costs are 4% ... 12/03/2021

I represent taxpayers in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota as well as throughout the state of Florida who have federal and state tax issues. Suncoast Tax Solutions is a full-service tax resolution company helping clients to solve their tax problems quickly and efficiently. Every year the IRS mails letters or notices to taxpayers for many different reasons. Typically, it’s about a specific issue with a taxpayer’s federal tax return or tax account. A notice may tell them about changes to their account or ask for more information. It could also tell them they need to make a payment. This year, people might have also received correspondence about Economic Impact Payments (stimulus checks) or an advance child tax credit outreach letter. Here are some dos and don’ts for anyone who receives ... 08/17/2021

According to The Tampa Bay Times: "The Westshore Marina District is a 52-acre waterfront development right on Tampa Bay, long considered some of the area’s most desirable undeveloped land. It now has roughly 800 completed apartments and condos, the vast majority occupied. That doesn’t include three sharp-lined glass condo towers still to be completed, whose units will run from the $800,000s to more than $3 million, as well as some other unfinished townhomes. When all the construction is done, the district is expected to have about 1,350 residences total.With several shops and restaurants open or on the way in a new town center, as well as a future public-use marina for people to dock boats for visits, the developers also hope it’ll be a lure for people to come grab a bite or walk their ... 07/28/2021

Tampa, FL Neighborhood Spotlight: Tampa, FLThe wonderful city of Tampa in Florida has numerous tourist attractions that you will surely love. This article highlights the best spots you can visit so you could get the most out of your trip! The Florida AquariumOne of the top aquariums in the country, The Florida Aquarium offers interactive guest-dive programs like 'Swim with the Fishes' or 'Dive with the Sharks' which will allow you to swim with the fishes and experience aquatic life. More than that, the Aquarium's latest exhibit, Journey to Madagascar will give you a glimpse of the Island of Madagascar and its animals. You can also take a 75-minute  Wild Dolphin Cruise aboard a 72-foot catamaran, to get a chance of seeing the wild dolphins of Tampa Bay.  Busch GardensBusch Gardens is one... 06/16/2021

Veteran’s Home Loans for Tampa FloridaIf you are reading this, you or a family member have likely served in our military.  First off, we would like to say a sincere “Thank You” for your service!  We recognize that not only do our Veterans sacrifice by serving, but their families do as well-, and we owe you all a debt of gratitude!One of the best benefits Veterans and their families receive due to their service to our great country is the VA home loan benefits.  We are going to outline just a few of these significant benefits in this article for you. Here are some of the major benefits you may receive by using your VA home loan benefits:*100% financing available- one of the very few loans available with no down payment!*Lower rates available than most loan programs- which saves you money... 06/03/2021

Tampa Bay Buccaneers will win "Super Bowl" LV I am not much of a gambling man even though I am "Vegas Bob" and haven't watched football in over 10 years ...But I just put $500 clams on TB to win Super Bowl, don't care about the spread, just show me the money $$$Tom Brady's first year with TB and playing in the SB in TB, you do the math and Tom Brady will be getting his 7th SB ring this Sunday ... 02/06/2021

Don't Panic— Tampa Bay's Holidays are at the Door!Attention, Tampa Bay Area! Ready or not, the Holidays are not waiting around!If that alert strikes you as unnecessarily alarmist, remember that this year's calendar works out to have fewer days than usual between Thanksgiving and Christmas. And if your traditional Thanksgiving tryptophane-engendered post-turkey stupor was followed by too many days of leftover turkey sandwiches, the resulting snoozefest may have led to your catnapping through this year's shortened holiday preparation days. The fact is, the Tampa holiday celebrations are already well underway. If you find that hard to believe, there's this proof positive: the eighth, final day of Hanukkah arrives this Friday! That's right; the Jewish Festival of Lights began last Thursday.... 12/14/2020

Property TaxesProperty taxes are the various fees and taxes you have to pay in a given locality in the United States. Typically, taxes are split between your local municipal tax and state tax, which varies depending on where you're home is located. There are also specialty taxes to consider, which affect specialty areas that are zoned for various uses. If you're planning to purchase a property, reviewing the taxes you have to pay is an important consideration to ensure you can properly pay for your home without breaking the bank. In this blog post, we'll share the various property taxes involved within Hillsborough County and the state of Florida. Property Taxes in FloridaFlorida is well-known for its relatively good tax rates, especially when compared to other major coastal cities. The... 12/08/2020

I represent taxpayers in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota as well as throughout the state of Florida who have federal and state tax issues.Each and every taxpayer has a set of fundamental rights they should be aware of when dealing with the IRS. Explore your rights and our obligations to protect them. The IRS grouped all of the rights taxpayers have under the law into the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. Included in the list is the right to retain representation.Here’s what the right to retain representation means to taxpayers: Taxpayers have the right to retain an authorized representative of their choice to represent them in their dealings with the IRS. Taxpayers who are heading to an interview with the IRS may select someone to represent them. Taxpayers who retain representation don’t have... 11/11/2020

Why are Average Down Payments Shrinking When Buying a Home? Most of today’s first-time Tampa FL area home buyers are aware that they’re no longer tied to strictures laid down in previous eras—especially the one dealing with 20% down payments. For buyers with stellar credit histories, that’s horse-and-buggy material. Last year, the U.S. average down payment was just 12%—but for first-timers, that average dropped to 6%! Relaxing steeper down payment requirements makes sense for everyone. It expands the field of buyers, so sellers and lenders benefit. But most of all, for first-time homebuyers who would need many years to save up the cash required for a 20% down payment, the advantage of being able to buy sooner (and thus, to begin building equity sooner) couldn’t be clearer. And today, wi... 09/13/2020

Cost of Living in South Tampa, FLCost of LivingThe Cost of Living is the total amount of funds a family or individual has to spend to maintain a good quality of life in any given community in the United States. There are several factors affecting the cost of living in an area, including groceries, healthcare, housing, utilities, transportation, and many more. We've created a friendly guide for those considering a move into the area. If you're new to Tampa or are moving in from a nearby city, compare the various costs and your potential new employer to see if the move would be financially right for you and your family. If you need help finding the right home and would like to work with a realtor to find a good deal for you, our team would be glad to help. We've worked in the South Tampa ... 09/05/2020

Buyer Preferences Shift as COVID Changes Our Daily Lives After months of lockdown, many homebuyers are rethinking what they want in their next home. Although the pandemic will not continue forever, it will have some long-term effects on our lifestyles and how we feel about public gatherings. During the quarantine, many people’s homes became their office, gym, and restaurant. The changes we made to our lifestyles during this time have changed what we want out of our living spaces.    When restaurants closed, we were limited to our homes to indulge in some good food. Luckily, many local restaurants opted for takeout options, even 5-star restaurants like Del Friscos and Capital Grill. However, the ambiance of eating at your dining room table or in front of your TV just isn’t the same. When... 09/04/2020

A Look into Tampa's Growing Neighborhoods in 2020 In the past few years, we have watched the once sleepy bay area transform into a vibrant city with pockets of lively neighborhoods. A variety of creative restaurants and rooftop bars emerged as well as chic residential dwellings. A billion-dollar investment from Bill Gates attracted technology and consulting companies like ConnectWise and PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Multiple new Amazon facilities and the possibility of becoming the headquarters for Space Force is also sparking interest in the Tampa Bay Area. Many neighborhoods have been brought to life such as Channelside, Hyde Park, and the southernmost point at Tampa’s Marina Pointe Westshore! The sprawling city is still experiencing massive growth in areas outside of the downtown areas. E... 08/10/2020

 Which home buying option is best for you? Do you prefer the charm of a home with history or the idea of a bright and shiny untouched single-family home in a new community? One of the first decisions you will make as a homebuyer is whether new construction or resale home is for you and your family! Below we explore a few pros and cons of both options. Remember that you’ll want to hire an experienced real estate agent that has experience with both scenarios to help guide you in making an informed decision. The best part? Your real estate professional will be at no cost to you as a buyer. No cost, only benefits! New construction homes! If you are in the custom home building option, you will be able to customize and personalize your home and select different upgrades prior to your home bei... 07/31/2020