Bent Tree a small, well established neighborhood in rural Valrico.  Homes don't come on the market in Bent Tree very often.  These homes in Valrico were built in the mid 1990's.  Gorgeous, mature landscaping and St. Augustine grass help make this a desirable neighborhood.  Nearby schools are Buckhorn Elementary, Mulrennan Middle and Durant High. Bent Tree does not have a CDD but does have low HOA dues. It is located south of Highway 60 off of St. Cloud. New commercial growth off of Highway 60 in the area has given the Bent Tree residents more local dining, and shopping with in easy drive of the community. If Bent Tree of Valrico is not what you are looking for, we can assist you in finding the right community for you. We can help you with search for the right home for you whether it is ... 05/12/2009

Welcome to Arista a gated community located just north of Highway 60 and off of Crosby and Valrico Rd. Come see these beautiful Morrison built homes in this small exclusive gated community of Valrico. These are larger homes many with three bedrooms. Some back up to either a pond or a wooded area.  Pricing starts in the mid $300,000's.  The majority of the homes were built in 2005 and 2006.  Enjoy all the shopping and dining that Brandon has to offer. Arista's location allows for easy access to I-75 and the Cross-town Expressway. Arista of Valrico is just 30 minutes from Downtown Tampa and 40 minutes to MacDill Air Force Base. FishHawk Trails is also a quick commute to Lakeland, Tampa International Airport, Raymond James Stadium, amusement parks, Orlando and Tampa's Performing Arts Cente... 04/16/2009

Bent Tree a small, well established neighborhood in rural Valrico.  Homes don't come on the market in Bent Tree very often.  These homes in Valrico were built in the mid 1990's.  Gorgeous, mature landscaping and St. Augustine grass help make this a desirable neighborhood.  Nearby schools are Buckhorn Elementary, Mulrennan Middle and Durant High. Bent Tree does not have a CDD but does have low HOA dues. It is located south of Highway 60 off of St. Cloud. New commercial growth off of Highway 60 in the area has given the Bent Tree residents more local dining, and shopping with in easy drive of the community. Come experience the Florida Lifestyle in Tampa with the nearby sparkling beaches of Clearwater Beach and  just a little bit to the south is St. Pete Beach. It is a just short drive  to... 03/31/2009

Twin Lakes is a night gated, master-planned community with an entrance located at the end of Bloomingdale. Twin Lakes offers a wonderful lifestyle for its homeowners with a blend of open areas, creeks, lakes and abundant landscaping and wildlife. Twin Lakes has approximately 1,500 homes with prices starting the 100's and up.  Twin Lakes has a community pool and a heavily wooded park. Twin Lakes is close to newly built commercial centers with dining, shopping and office establishments. A YMCA is also conviently located nearby. Twin Lakes offers ready access to Tampa, MacDill Air Force Base, Lakeland, West Coast Beaches and major tourist attractions. If Twin Lakes is not what you are looking for, we can assist you in finding the right community for you. We can help you with search for the... 03/19/2009

Corks & Forks YMCA Fundraiser This years YMCA fundraiser has a theme of "Carnivale Flavors of South America" , The event will be held poolside at the Campo Family Center on November 21st 2009. The event will feature wines from Chile, Argentina and other South American countries, as well as delicious food from a selection of local restaurants. A variety of sponsorships and ticket packages are available for businesses and organizations interested in supporting Corks & Forks: Viva Carnivale! All proceeds will benefit the YMCA's Building Strong Kids Campaign, which helps make YMCA participation possible for children and families in the Brandon area regardless of their financial circumstances. For tickets or sponsorship information, call Mags Oldman at 813-684-1371, ext. 208. About the Auth... 03/17/2009

RiverHills is a gated, golf master-planned community with two entrances. One of RiverHills entrances is located off of Lithia Pinecrest, while the other is located at the end of Bloomingdale. RiverHills offers a wonderful lifestyle for its homeowners with a blend of open areas, creeks, lakes and abundant landscaping and wildlife. RiverHills has approximately 1,500 homes with prices starting the 100's and up. Lithia Springs Elementary School is conviently located just outside of the Lithia Pinecrest gate in River Hills. The RiverHills Country Club is a semi-private  club that offers golf, tennis, swimming and fine dining. The RiverHills Country Club is located in the center of RiverHills. The club house is 13,000 square feet that offers a majestic setting for meetings and social events. ... 03/11/2009

02/09/2009

Remember the times we would all sit in a stadium and somebody would start the WAVE? At first one, two or three people would take the risk of starting a small wave.  Then foolishly they would turn to those behind them and encourage the others to join in.  This would be repeated until the next section would join in.  Then the next section and the next section and the next section.  Until finally there would be one full revolution around the stadium.  The next revolution more would join and the next reveloution even more.  And soon you would have the WAVE. Well, I am somewhat new to social internet marketing and for that matter web 2.0.  I have hours and hours of Twittering, Facebook and web site tinkering.  I often wonder ... "What will it look like when I get there?"  Another question I ... 02/06/2009

Mason Oaks is quiet, well establised community of larger homes on gorgeous lots, perfect for a growing family with prices from the 300's. Brandon Lakewood Estates is located off of Lithia Pinecrest just minutes from Bloomingdale. Nearby schools are Lithia Pinecrest Elementary and Bloomingdale High. Conveniently located near schools, shopping, and major highways for easy commuting, Mason Oaks  has all the comforts that Tampa Bay has to offer.         The contents of this posting are the property of Pam Mabe and  Solaris Realty of TampaBay. Pam Mabe is a broker working in the Pinellas and Hillsborough area helping buyers and sellers buy and sell homes.  Contact Pam at 813-245-0316 to list your property for sale or to purchase a property in Hillsborough, Pinellas or Pasco County area. Info... 02/05/2009

  The first thing you should know about buying a Tampa Bay Area bank owned property is that you have greater negotiating leverage if the property has been on the market for a while.  When a foreclosure first goes on the market, the bank may be unwilling to negotiate down on its asking price as it wants to get as much of what was owed on the original loan back as possible.  However, once a home or condo has sat too long on the market with few bites, a bank becomes more willing to take what it can get since its primary goal is to get the asset off the books and increase shareholder value.  Banks have no desire to be in the real estate business. So, here are some tips on how to negotiate with a bank when buying a property that they own.  1.  Make offers on Tampa Bay Area foreclosures only ... 01/19/2009

Mason Oaks in Valrico is quiet, well establised community. Mason Oaks has larger homes on gorgeous lots, perfect for a growing family with prices from the 300,000's. Many of the lots are larger then the normal size in a subdivision. Mason Oaks is located off of Lithia Pinecrest just minutes from Bloomingdale. Nearby schools are Lithia Pinecrest Elementary and Bloomingdale High. Conveniently located near schools, shopping, and major highways for easy commuting, Mason Oaks  has all the comforts that Tampa Bay has to offer. If Mason Oaks is not what you are looking for, we can assist you in finding the right community for you. We can help you with search for the right home for you whether it is a Residential, Luxury, Premier and Estate, Waterfront, Golf Communities, Condominiums, Senior Li... 12/27/2008

I'm not usually a violent man... I have never been much for violence.  As a matter of fact I don't even own a gun or rifle.  Now I am not one that is against the NRA or anybody that owns a gun. As a matter of fact, I had to borrow a gun from a friend of mine so I could protect my property. I borrowed a 410 Shotgun from Jim.  I distinctly remember the conversation. Me:  Jim, I need to borrow one of your guns. Jim:  You need a gun? Me:  Yeah, for tonight. Jim:  What's going on? Me:  I want to shoot my neighbor. Jim:  What for? Me:  I found out this morning that he and his family were in my backyard last night. Jim:  Well, you want a .22?  It's not likely to kill him, but he'll know your serious. Me:  No, I want to kill him and any of the rest of his family I can get at the same time. Jim:... 11/11/2008

Now is the chance to view spectacular art by nationally known artist John Costin.  Mr. Costin has been recognized across the country with awards  for his outstanding bird portraiture.  His talent for art is through his skill of the Intaglio Printing Process. In addition to viewing his artwork, John Costin will be available to explain his process.  Make plans to attend and "Meet the Artist."   11/05/2008

Ah yes, this day has finally arrived! I actually love voting day.  This is the best day of the election process.  Yes, a lot has to do with the fact that this morning is the beginning of the end of campaigning and campaign television ads.  But, there are a couple of fundamental reasons I love this day other than the end of campaigning. The Bedside Alarm Sounded Early The alarm went of at 5:00 AM this morning, but it was not required.  Since I rise early, this mornings alarm was for security reasons.  Although I seldom have the alarm as my wake up notification, I knew that minutes either way this morning would put me way back in the line to vote.  There are a lot of ambitious neighbors in River Hills. Our precinct for River Hills, in Valrico, is at the clubhouse.  If your early, as I usu... 11/04/2008

The Brandon Ballet has planned a magical afternoon for you for the showing of the Sugar Plum Fairy Tea.  You will not want to miss this opportunity to meet the Sugar Plum Fairy, Snow Queen, Arabian Princess and Company Dancers! Two Seatings: 1-3 PM and 4-6 PM Tickets: $25 Adults, $20 Students 17 & Younger Sunday November 2, 2008 River Hills Country Club - 3943 New River Hills Parkway - Valrico, FL Call Brandon Ballet for tickets at 813-684-4282 to order via VISA/MC or visit their office at 161 East Bloomingdale Ave., Brandon. Office hours are M-F 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., M-Th 3:30 - 5 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. At the Tea make sure you visit our “Nutcracker Gift Shoppe” for Early Holiday shopping! Special items for Brandon Ballet’s 15th Anniversary Celebration, as well as beautiful novelties... 10/24/2008

Great News - Pending Real Estate Sales are on the Rise!!  The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI), a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in August, jumped 7.4 percent to 93.4 from an upwardly revised reading of 87.0 in July, and is 8.8 percent higher than August 2007 when it stood at 85.8. The index is at the highest level since June 2007 when it stood at 101.4.Lower home prices mean increased affordability.  Now more people can afford to purchase a home.  Renters and people who had been sitting on the sidelines are starting to realize that now is the time to buy.  These numbers reflect the facts. People wanting to get their piece of the American Dream are taking advantage of low home prices.  I can tell you that despite all the doom and gloom that is being highlighted on th... 10/08/2008

Valrico is in Hillsborough County, in the Tampa-Saint Petersburg metro area, its name means "valley of gold. Valrico is boarded by Brandon, Lithia and Riverview.  It is approximately 13 miles east of Tampa.  Valrico has a large variety of homes from condos, townhomes, single family residence and luxury family estates. It also offers gated communities such as Riverhills, Canterbury Oaks, Eastmonte and Twin Lakes.  Valrico is growing. Many new subdivisions have been built and completed in the last several years. The surrounding areas of Brandon, Lithia, Riverview, and Durant have also been growing. New developments have been built in the Bloomingdale area around the Bloomingdale Golf Course. Traveling south is the subdivisions of FishHawk, FishHawk Trails, and FishHawk Ranch. The growth h... 10/06/2008

Lithia Ridge is a subdivision just off of Lithia Pinecrest Rd in Valrico. It is a community of affordable single family homes. The real estate statistics for July 2008 are as follows: Total Homes Listed (Including New) = 7 Number of Homes Under Contract (Pending) = 0 Homes Sold = 0 Homes Expired from the market (EXPIRED) = 0 Number Withdrawn = 0 Lowest Priced Home = $ 219,000 Highest Priced Home = $ 350,900 If you would like more information about Tampa, just click on Tampa Bay Homes. Number are derived from the MidFlorida Regional MLS and is not to be guaranteed reliable or accurate and is for informational purposes only.       The contents of this posting are the property of Pam Mabe and Solaris Realty of TampaBay. Visit my profile to find my more about my services. Call 813-245-0316.... 09/07/2008

Brentwood Hills is located off of Mount Carmel Rd just south of Highway 60 in the Brandon/Valrico area. It has a swimming pool, park and sports field for its residents to enjoy. The July 2008 real estate statistics are: Total Homes Listed (Including New) =  38 Number of Homes Under Contract (Pending) =  2 Homes Sold =  4  Homes Expired from the market (EXPIRED) = 3 If you would like more information about Tampa, just click on Tampa Bay Homes. Number are derived from the MidFlorida Regional MLS and is not to be guaranteed reliable or accurate and is for informational purposes only.    The contents of this posting are the property of Pam Mabe and Solaris Realty of TampaBay. Visit my profile to find my more about my services. Call 813-245-0316. To view homes for sale in the Pinellas and Hi... 09/07/2008

It was Sunday evening, this week, and I was at my parents having our weekly dinner and Sunday night movie when my cell phone rang.  It was my wife. "Honey, I have some bad news ... Fred Stubbs was in an accident this afternoon and they had to Medivac him to Tampa General Hospital."  Tampa General is the hospital with the largest triage center. Fred had been on a Sunday afternoon drive with a couple of his Christian brothers on their Harley's.  The road was wet from a recent sprinkle and Fred hit standing water that took his Harley across the center line and into oncoming traffic. I've know Fred for over 20 years and we are neighbors in River Hills in Valrico, FL.  He is one of the few people I know that has a legacy while he is alive.  He has led more people to the Lord than one can cou... 08/27/2008