Should You Use the Builder’s Lender? Once you decide on building a new home in a master-planned community, one of the most common questions is whether or not you should use the builder’s recommended lender.Depending on the situation, this can either mean the lender is part of the builder’s own company, or in some cases it can just mean they are closely aligned. There are pros and cons to both sides of going with the builder’s lender for your financing, so let’s take a look at both sides of the coin. Reasons to Work with the Builder’s LenderOn the surface, the builder-lender relationship is supposed to make the entire process easier for everyone. since they have an existing relationship, the builder and lender theoretically should be able to get your deal done quicker than someone from o... 06/10/2015

Top 5 Ways to Enhance the Foyer of Your South Tampa Home for Sale The foyer is the space in your home where you welcome your guests. This is where the first statement of your home begins. And if you want buyers of homes for sale in South Tampa area to be impressed with your property, give your foyer a makeover.Read on for some tips that will help you welcome your potential buyers into your home with style.  1. LightingLighting is one of the important elements that can work wonders for your luxury home for sale in South Tampa. You may consider hanging a pendant light or a chandelier if your foyer has high ceilings. You may also mount sconces beside a mirror. 2. Wall storageA Wall storage is a great idea for an entryway. Make the most of vertical space by placing hooks for hanging. But av... 06/08/2015

Town and Country 3 Bedroom Home for Sale in Tampa FL | 7703 Jodi Lynn Dr  Looking for peace, quiet, serenity and lots of space? Look no further than this ultra charming, nicely updated Town and Country 3 bedroom home for sale in Tampa FL!  Situated just minutes away from shopping centers, restaurants and good schools, this single family home has a lot to offer you and your loved ones. It has 2 and a half bathrooms, 2-car dettached garage and plenty of parking space for your guests. So, turn the key and prepare to be impressed by all the exciting amenities that await you inside!From the superb exterior curb appeal to the super comfortable interior, this 1,863 square foot property will definitely impress you at every turn! Step inside and be welcomed by a nice open floor plan with separat... 06/03/2015

3 Bedroom Home for Sale in Tampa FL | 7703 Jodi Lynn Dr   Enjoy a comfortable life in this stunning 3 bedroom single family home for sale in Tampa FL! This well-maintained residential dwelling features a very nice open floor plan with separate living/dining areas, beautiful Saltillo tile flooring and abundant natural light, immaculate kitchen with granite counter tops, island, wood cabinetry and functional appliances such microwave, range, refrigerator, dishwasher, and dryer - all for your cooking pleasure! This Tampa FL home for sale in the Town and Country area also offers a large family room that allows convenient access to the screened lanais with a fireplace and a hot tub.  Other features include 2.5 baths, 2-car dettached garage, updated master bath, brand new carpeting on all th... 06/03/2015

How to Save for a Home for Sale in South Tampa Area Buying your own home is an exciting milestone in life. But the financial preparation can sometime be daunting. In fact, your home will probably be the most expensive purchase that you will ever make so it pays to have a responsible plan.  There are many great ways that you can do to save for a home for sale in South Tampa area. Read on to get ideas on how to be financially prepared.1. Learn to prioritize.Saving for a South Tampa home for sale is all about priorities. How willing are you to tighten your belt and save for a house? Identify the areas where you can cut back the expenses so you can put more money in your savings. The best way to do it is by making a budget and sticking to it.  2. Avoid overspending.Be realistic when looking... 06/02/2015

Top 6 Things to Do When Viewing Homes for Sale in South Tampa Area One of the important stages of buying a house is the viewing. Some people spend only 20 minutes viewing a property that is going to be their home for many years. Sadly, they live to regret this. When viewing homes for sale in South Tampa area, it is helpful to gather all the information that you need before making a major decision. Here is a list of things that you should keep in mind as you go around the house.  1. Check if the home is structurally soundLook around the house to see if there are big cracks especially around where extensions join. Check if the house looks and feels solid. For a more professional opinion, enlist the services of a home inspector or a structural engineer.  2. View the property more than once... 05/27/2015

Tampa Lowry Park Zoo Zoominations What’s Zoominations, you ask? It’s a Chinese Lantern Festival of Lights, and the cultural event of the season says Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo. Originally scheduled to end this month, it has been extended from June 3rd to June 28th. Wednesdays through Sundays at 7 pm. I'm so glad because there was no way we were going to fit it into the May schedule.To get more information and see spectacular pictures of Zoominations, click here.  To enjoy the gallery of spectacular photos, click here.Here's a video showing some of the spectacular sights you will see:     Don't miss seeing this incredible display of Chinese Culture. Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo says; "A dazzling exhibition of colossal lanterns sprawling over 26 acres. It’s an unforgettable journey through the anci... 05/21/2015

Top 6 Tips for an Easy Move to Your South Tampa Home Once you have found your dream home among the many homes for sale in South Tampa area, the next task is to make the move. This chore can present the organizational challenge of a lifetime. This can be really daunting because you are packing your whole life for a new home. Cut the stress and plan an organized move with the tips below.1. Start earlyPlan ahead. You have more than enough time to ensure that your move to your new South Tampa waterfront home will run smoothly. Avoid packing up and leaving in a hurry. Chances are you will forget many things if your do not get organized early. 2. Pack an overnight bagMake sure you have easy access to your essentials. These may include a change of clothes and toiletries, especially if you have... 05/20/2015

Tampa Real Estate Market Update – March 2015 Tampa Real Estate:  Up, up, and Away? Well, it would appear so, looking at the data released for March 2015.  Of course, never is everything exactly as it seems.  First, the good news.  And it is very good news indeed. Looking at the actual number of sold homes, March 2015 registered 2,071 properties sold.  This is an excellent number, the highest in more than five years, or since the real estate recovery began. In fact, looking back to January of this year there were 1,254 sales.  The March figures reflect an increase of 65%, by any measure, a remarkable increase.  This is great to see, because it tells us that housing demand is strong.  See the chart below for a graph depicting the data for the last 3 years.On the other hand, Active Listing... 05/11/2015

How to Sell Your South Tampa Home Faster with Great Photography  Good pictures are crucial in marketing a home for sale. And if you want your home for sale in South Tampa area to sell fast, it is important to show your property at its best. Keep in mind that 9 out 10 buyers use the internet in their search for their dream home. So make sure to catch your buyers’ attention by catching their eyes with superb photography. These easy-to-follow tips will give your home the best presentation possible.  1. Use the right cameraIf you do not a have a camera yet or a smartphone with a great camera, it is about time to go out and buy one. An advanced camera is perfect for real estate photography. Even in low-light home interiors, advanced cameras can take clear pictures because of their large sens... 05/05/2015

Top 5 Ways to Protect Your Home for Sale in South Tampa Area You have made all the necessary preparations. You have dusted every corner, repainted the walls, and reorganized the furniture. You even have the paperwork ready for the potential buyer’s perusal. But there is one more thing that you should do to feel more at ease and eliminate the feeling of being unsettled. It is a sad fact that houses for sale can be targets for burglars and theft. So keep unwanted intruders from your homes for sale in South Tampa area with these tips. 1. Keep your valuablesWhile your South Tampa home for sale is on the market, don’t keep high-value items like jewelry and collectibles inside your property. These items can be easily stolen. For safekeeping, put your valuables in a large, heavy safe or secure... 04/28/2015

Find Out How Much Your Tampa Home Is Worth In Today’s Market...Another property just sold in your neighborhood. Do you know how that affects the value of YOUR home? If you’re going to sell your home in the next 6-12 months, what you do right now to prepare for the sale could make a difference of thousands of dollars. The first thing you’ll need to know is how much your home is worth compared to other houses in today’s market. It’s easy to find out…Now you can get a FREE No Obligation Market Activity Report of homes for sale and that have sold in your neighborhood in the last 12 months - and an estimate of the value of your homes based on the competion and what comparable homes sold for in your neighborhood.  This is not just a couple of paragraphs or a page of information, it's a compre... 04/24/2015

  Every quarter, I host a Business Mixer at various venues across the Tampa Bay Area. I partner with one of my preferred business associates and invite all of our clients, friends and colleagues that are entrepreneurs. It’s an opportunity to not only solidify our existing relationships with these business owners, but to introduce their services to other like-minded individuals. We can all help each other succeed is what I believe to be the key to success. For my Real Estate business, I keep a well-defined list of professionals that I can refer should the opportunity presents itself. Since I work by referral, I do like to offer referrals too. It’s a Win Win. Not only does the end recipient receive service from a trusted professional,  it also helps build the client’s confidence in me.  I... 04/22/2015

Are you a Tampa first time home buyer that is just entering the Tampa real estate market? If so, then read about a New Program Helps Tampa First Time Home Buyers with Closing Costs. The government entity known as Fannie Mae wants to give you gift -- 3% of the sale price of a Fannie Mae REO that can be used to assist with closing costs when buying a home in Tampa FL. The only catch is - you are required to take a required home buyer counseling course first. Fannie Mae, announced last Wednesday a new program called Home Path Ready Buyer Program for Tampa first time home buyers. If you are a Tampa first time home buyers which really means you have not owned a home in the last three years, then you can take the Home Path Ready Buyer Program online course . Once endorsed and certified, Tampa... 04/22/2015

How cool will your house be this summer in Tampa FL when the spring and summer sun comes?Just like your car, truck or boat, your air conditioner at home needs a regular tune-up. Assuming you don’t know much about air conditioners, we wanted to share some quick tips and facts:Your home’s air conditioner consists of three main parts: The compressor: That is that large outdoor unit which is usually on the side of your house or behind the garage. It compresses the refrigerant, or Freon®, into a liquid which evaporates, resulting in cooling. The blower unit: Pushes the air throughout the system. The ductwork: Circulates the air. Cool air is carried into the home; warm air is exhausted. Now if you have some going wrong or anything having to do with refrigerant, you should be leave that to Tam... 04/21/2015

Top 4 Tips when Pricing Your Home for Sale in South Tampa Area When selling your property, first impressions matter most. Studies have proven that the first two weeks on the market are the most crucial to the success of your sale. Pricing your property strategically will help it stand out from among the homes for sale in South Tampa area. Read on for some tips on how to set the listing price of your home.  1. Compare previous salesTake time to study and analyze similar homes that were listed in the same neighborhood in the past months. Having a clear understanding of the market value will help you establish the price of your South Tampa area real estate for sale. 2. Get real estate appraisalsA real estate appraisal will help you get an estimate of your home’s value. Usually, this is off... 04/21/2015

Top 4 Common Repairs Before Listing Your South Tampa Home  As a home seller, do not make the mistake of passing on your “to do” list to your potential buyers. Doing so would convey a negative message that might send your buyers looking for other homes for sale in the South Tampa area. If you want your property to sell fast, make sure that everything that needs to be replaced or fixed is taken care of before you show your home to your buyers.Read on to know some of the quick fixes that you should do before listing your property.  1. Replace worn carpetPut yourself in the eyes of your potential buyers. An old and worn out carpet that greets them upon opening the door may indicate that the house was not well maintained. If the carpet is already shabby and not of a neutral color, you may co... 04/14/2015

Good Friday morning, here is a list of all the current Open Houses in Hillsborough County FL April 2015 that are for sale.Open Houses in Hillsborough County FL April 2015312 Roxbury Crossing,          Valrico FL             10AM - 6PM             $259,900316 Roxbury Crossing,          Valrico FL             10AM - 6PM             $210,690320 Roxbury Crossing,          Valrico FL             10AM - 6PM             $253,990527 Westchester Hills Ln      Valrico FL             10AM - 6PM             $274,6781105 Emerald Dunes Dr        Sun City Ctr          10AM - 2PM             $242,000310 Brockfield Dr                   Sun City Ctr          10AM - 2PM             $198,0007228 Hammet Rd                    Tampa                   12PM - 2PM             $259,000817 King Leon Way           ... 04/10/2015

6 Best Tips on How to Sell Your South Tampa Home to Younger Buyers Young buyers who are on the look out for homes for sale in Tampa area know exactly what they want. That is why as a home seller, you need to put in extra effort in meeting the needs of this specific group of buyers. Learn the best ways to attract young buyers to view your property and secure a sale. Read on for some helpful tips on how to make your home appeal to a younger generation of buyers. 1. Upgrade your appliances.You need to update your appliances before putting it up for sale. Most younger buyers prefer stainless steel appliances.  2. Market your community.Most younger buyers consider neighborhoods with great amenities such as good schools, restaurants, commuting options, and recreational establishments. They al... 04/07/2015

Recently I went to a new restaurant that I think will be one of the best little known restaurants in South Tampa and one that will definently be on my repeat menu In fact, I may even start a series of some of the best little known restaurants in South Tampa just so that you can get a feel of the eateries in the South Tampa Florida area. Daily Eats, one of the best little known restaurants in South Tampa Daily Eats is located on South Howard Ave just south of West Bristol avenue in South Tampa, not too far from Bayshore Drive. Not far from the University of Tampa main campus and downtown Tampa A rather small establishment and with the small town diner feel, my party and I was greeted propmtly and courteously. Daily Eats is open most days until 10 PM and serves breakfast all day.   Our wa... 04/01/2015