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Wednesday, February 06, 2008

SEMINOLE HEIGHTS- Historical Neighborhood Real Estate Market Update

SEMINOLE HEIGHTS- Historical Neighborhood Real Estate Market Update- Tampa, Fl
Are you relocating and looking for something unique and historical?
Most people who live here in Tampa know about a quaint area we call Seminole Heights.
Seminole Heights makes sense for first time home buyers looking for opportunities and affordable prices.
It seems that all you hear about it on the news is negative. I thought I'd shed some light on the brighter side of our "Heights Market" by going back in time to get a better perspective on the future.

Remember three years ago when real estate was really hot? You were looking for a home between 200K to 250K, and there just wasn't enough to choose from. You may recall that when you found a suitable home, 2 or 3 other people were looking to make an offer on the same place. And people were buying homes left and right. Back then, sellers were all too happy to make a big profit. There were bidding wars and buyers willing to pay the price.

So now we’re on the downside of that frenzy of activity. Insurance and tax issues have caused the whole state of Florida to fall into a real estate rut, but there’s still a lot we can learn from the boom of just a few years ago. There were signs then that Seminole Heights was up and coming: Whispers of a Starbucks being built, and a Cappy's Pizza - who would have thought?

Today, the Seminole Heights Market is priming for another growth spurt. The Starbucks Coffee Shop and Cappy's Pizza are thriving, and there's much more to look forward to, like the proposed Sangria's Restaurant coming. Now this is really turning into something big. All this and live only 10 minutes from Downtown Tampa.

Alan Dobbs, owner of Florida Design Studio Corp has moved his offices to the Heights, where he’s basing most of his projects. Alan's company focuses on traditional bungalow architectural design, and business couldn’t be better. "I think it's because I do work for home owners and not speculative developers or track home builders," says Alan. Alan also noted, "even though there has been a downturn in the real estate market, it does not seem to of had an affect on people wanting to improve or add-on to their homes. If anything, I think the projects have become bigger and more substantial because people, including me, realize we can't afford to move, but we can afford to add-on of improve what we have."

Other buyers are opting to build new in our area, while maintaining the historical look of the neighborhood. If you’re thinking of taking this route, you may want to jump on the opportunity when you see a lot for sale. It seems that parcels of land are becoming scarce in the Seminole Heights Historic District as more people are looking to build from the ground up.

As a Realtor, part of my job is to pay close attention to the Real Estate Market in our area so I can inform buyers and sellers what to expect, and what not to expect. My business partner Michelle Jordan & I work with buyers and sellers in the entire Tampa Bay Area, and we have noticed an increased interest in the Heights over the last few months. Prospective homeowners are excited by all the choices they have now that simply weren’t affordable 3 years ago. If you haven't yet looked at homes or lots for sale in seminole heights, now is the time to start.

If you're going to make Tampa Bay home, then Seminole Heights is still one of the first places you should look. Beautiful and affordable with a tightly-knit community, the Heights is still a boon for small businesses and a great place to call home.

This is a picture of a new construction home that was designed by Alan Dobbs. The home is in the Historic District across from Hillsborough High School ....




See also:
Seminole Heights Historic District.
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Rae Catanese. P.A.
Licensed Realtor
Prudential Tropical Realty
813-784-7744
realtyrae@yahoo.com

Rae started THE INSIDER REAL ESTATE BLOG-TAMPA,FL in July 2005; her site focuses primarily on the Heights, South Tampa and Downtown Tampa Areas.

Bio for Michelle Jordan and Rae Catanese Shatto

Thinking about buying or selling a home or investing in land in the Tampa Bay Area? Have a Real Estate question? Feel free to email or call us 813-784-7744
Rae Catanese and Michelle Jordan
Realtors.

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