Skypoint Condos For Sale-Tampa, Fl

Skypoint Condos is the first high rise luxury residential building in Downtown Tampa. At one time, they were completely sold out. I remember the lines around the sales center when they were first offered for sale about 3 years ago. If you were looking to buy one of these hot properties you were considered lucky to get selected through their lottery system.

Now is your chance to take advantage of buyer's who backed out. The developer has reduced prices on the remaining units AND there are short sale, resale units priced very agressively. If you've been waiting for a great deal on a condo, this is it!

Tampa's Skypoint Condo Development is running a wonderful promotion for developer units that are still available.

For Sale

One Bedroom/One Bath/One Parking Space starting in the 150's

Two Bedrooms/Two Bathrooms/Two Parking Spaces

Sky Point Penthouses/Two Bedrooms/Two Bathrooms/Two Parking Spaces

call for pricing.

Skypoint has every amenity you can ask for in a luxury living atmosphere. Throw away your gym membership because you won't need one at Skypoint. There's a Cardio Room, Weight Room, and plenty of weight machines, all looking over the fabulous downtown skyline and University of Tampa.

The gym is just the start. There's a game room with a pool table, video games, and hi definition tv's for watching your favorite sporting events. Outdoor decks with grilling areas, and of course a fabulous pool and spa. If you are looking for a social environment this is it!

To schedule an appointment to see this luxury high rise in Downtown Tampa
call 813-784-7744 or email us

see also: Downtown Tampa Updates in the news

Westshore Yacht Club GREAT news for buyers in Tampa

In August 2008, a U.S. bankruptcy judge approved a relief package for WCI Communities that's designed to assure homebuyers would not be impacted for future purchasers at the Westshore Yacht Club here in Tampa Bay. This is great news for one of the premiere boating communities on the West Coast of Florida.

Since August, West Shore Yacht Club has started a fast and furious sales promotion that has people taking action. This is a very positive sign for the Tampa Housing Market; especially for those who are looking to invest their money now while prices are aggressive.

From Collages

Unlike some other developments here in Tampa, The Westshore Yacht Club IS selling their townhomes, hi-rise condo tower, and accepting contracts for the single family homes yet to be built.

More good news.....They are not turning into rentals. Many other developments have caused the people who purchased in the beginning to live amongst mainly renters; which is not what buyer's signed up for originally.

When you take a tour of the community you'll notice that the people who are living there are enjoying life and taking advantage of the wonderful amenities this luxurious, resort style community has to offer. There are so many things to do, you may just decide to stay home and relax on the weekends.

I love the tranquil Spa! The fitness center is state of the art with views of the water. They offer complimentary towels, a very nice locker room with showers, blow dryers, and toiletries. It's really everything you'd expect a high-end club to be. There are also 2 heated pools, 2 restaurants, 2 bars, a billiards room and a yacht shop for supplies.

If you've been looking to purchase in South Tampa, you'll know a single family home is nearly impossible to find under 400K. Other options are townhomes and condos. If you need a 3/2 and 2 car garage, approximately 1900 square feet of living space, you may want to consider one of the townhouses or condos for sale at the Yacht Club. They are solid block construction on all floors, built to current hurricane standards, and have many upgrades like granite, stainless steel appliances and high ceilings. Best of all, these properties are brand new and never lived in. Another nice feature of the community is that there is plenty of parking for guests. Something you don't find in S. Tampa Townhome communities.

This year there have been approximately 35 units sold by the developer due to their very aggressive pricing and incentives. These Townhomes were once selling for 450-650K two years ago. The same units are now listed from 325K with additional incentives up to 6% of the purchase price.

These are the BEST prices we've seen in a Tampa Bay waterfront community.

The Westshore Yacht Club has become a lifestyle choice for many buyers...... "where you live is as important as how you live". Isn't that the truth?

Please emailto: info@TheTampaRealEstateInsider.com to schedule a by appointment only showing of the remaining developer units. Or call Rae at 813-784-7744

For more information on other Real Estate Development Deals, Short Sale and Foreclosures in Tampa visit: http://www.thetamparealestateinsider.com/

Search MLS Homes for sale, condos, townhomes and neighborhoods.
Prudential Tropical Realty

Super Bowl 43-Tampa Bay Fl, Events, Concerts, BEST things to do!

If you are coming to the Tampa Bay area for the Super Bowl you are probably wondering what to do while you are here.

I'm going to share with you my favorite things to do, events for kids, the best places to go out in Tampa, Superbowl Parties, Concerts, and Tampa's best restaurants.



Photos of Tampa Bay provided courtesy of
www.jdmtampa.com. If you need a photographer for your Super Bowl Event
Please Contact Jerry Moores 813.220.1428

I'm posting this for information purposes only, as I have not verified the information on the company who is booking the packages.

I HAVE however, been to all the restaurants, and done all the things I'm going to tell you about. I've lived here for 38 years so I think I'm qualified enough!

2009 Super Bowl packages
Super Bowl Packages. Location: Tampa, FL Venue: Raymond James Stadium Date: February 1, 2009. Package

The 2009 Super Bowl will take place at Raymond James Stadium on February 1, 2009. Super Bowl Travel Packages and tours are available that include accommodations, tickets, and transfer....The best 2009 NFL Super Bowl Packages and Tickets exactly here: 2009 Super Bowl packages .
If you need more than just tickets and want to enjoy the Super Bowl week to the maximum then White Glove International is the right choice for you.

I also found a website for Superbowl Rentals. They have an online searchable database for Super Bowl 2009 housing. Find Super Bowl Rentals in Tampa for Super Bowl 2009. Contact the owner directly to arrange your Super Bowl housing for Super Bowl 2009 in beautiful Tampa Florida.

Things for Kids to do:
Join in the excitement of The NFL Experience presented by Bank of America. The NFL Experience is the most exciting continuous event surrounding Super Bowl XLIII – pro football's interactive fan festival offering participatory games, displays, entertainment attractions, kids' football clinics, free autograph sessions and the largest football card show ever. Click here to purchase tickets through Ticketmaster or call 866.TIX.4NFL or buy at gate.

Gasparilla Extravaganza Including The Children's Gasparilla Parade
Saturday, January 24Bayshore Blvd., Tampa, FL3:30 p.m. - Parade7:00 p.m. -
Fireworks
An alcohol-free event celebrating the return of the Gasparilla season in Tampa Bay! Featuring the Children's Gasparilla Parade and the "Piratechnic" Extravaganza, one of the largest fireworks presentations in the country.

Superbowl Half Time Show
On February 1, 2009 Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform in the Bridgestone Super Bowl XLIII Halftime Show in Tampa Bay at Raymond James Stadium. They are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to be part of the on-field audience for the show. Click Here for details

Here are my favorite restaurants in the Tampa Bay Area: You'll have to google them to get the contact info. Menus are online as well.

It's Stone Crab Season. The BEST place is Frenchy's Rockaway Grill on Clearwater Beach. You can't come here without trying the Stone Crab! I like it served cold, however you can have them hot as well. It's located about a half hour drive from the Stadium, directly on our white sandy beaches with beautiful sunsets. Also try the She Crab Soup. Trust me on this one! Share a bowl, it's less expensive and everyone will want some! They also have great grouper sandwiches which are fresh off the boat!

The BEST Steak in Tampa is Bern's Steak House on Howard Ave. (15 min. from Stadium) Everything is great there; the atmosphere, service is five star. They even organically grow their own fruits, vegetables and age their own meats. They have they largest private wine collection in the country. Please note they will ad a 12% service charge, as many people don't notice it on the bill after a few glasses of wine. You also have to visit their dessert room upstairs. Get the Macadamia Nut Ice Cream with Dark Chocolate Sauce from France. Trust me, no one has ever said they don't love it!!

The BEST KING CRAB is at Salt Rock Grill on Redington Beach (45 min from Stadium) They split the crab in half and grill it on a wood fire! All you have to do it take your fork, scoop it out and drench in the warm butter! Everything is wonderful there, so if you don't want King Crab Legs, there are many other menu options. Located on the water, seating is inside or outside.
Where to visit while you are here:

Of course, Busch Gardens in Tampa is always popular for people who like roller coaster rides combined with an animal themed amusement park.
Downtown St. Pete has a large variety of art shops, galleries and museums. Visit the bar at the Vinnoy Hotel for a drink or appetizer on the front porch! The Vinnoy Hotel is one of the nicest hotels in the area. If you want a Historic Hotel with a great setting this is one of the best. There's also a large park and the famous St. Pete Pier overlooking Tampa Bay.

The famous Columbia Restaurant at the Pier is a Tampa Bay favorite(if you go, try the 1905 salad) which is also the year the Original Restaurant in Ybor City was established.

BEST BEACH- Clearwater Beach is one of the nicest beaches on the West Coast of Florida. The sand is pure white and very soft. You can go parasailing, deep sea fishing, take a dinner cruise on Yacht Starship, or just go to a laid back beach bar and relax. Check out the NEW Sand Pearl Hotel. There's a nice outside bar, and very upscale restaurant as well.

If you do plan on looking a homes for sale while you are here, stay an extra day or two! You'll be pleasantly surprised at the prices and inventory. We are #2 in the Country for foreclosures! You may decide to take advantage of our great deals and purchase a vacation home.

See also: Best Neighborhoods in Tampa, Buyers Market Studies , Tampa Real Estate Market News & Updates

Search our homes for sale here.

Questions? Send us an email or call us at 813-784-7744
Prudential Tropical Realty,Tampa, Fl. Rae Catanese PA, Real Estate Agent.

Hope you found this information useful. Feel free to print out and bring with you on your trip.

Is it a good time to buy a Waterfont Home in Tampa?

Waterfont home for sale in Tampa for great deal!
• River/Bay Access
• 2/2.5
• Bonus Office/Guest Room
• LRG 2-Car Garage
• Wood Floor
• Fireplace
• LRG Deck/Balcony
• Corner Lot
• Dock On River
• 7 Minutes From Downtown
• Near Lowry Park
6726 N River Shore Drive Tampa 33604List Price: $299,900


Seminole Heights/Lowry Park area home on the Hillsborough River with Tampa Bay access: Situated on a corner lot with river frontage and boat dock in place. Short sale call for details.

“Listing courtesy of Keller Williams Realty”

Looking for waterfront homes for sale in the Tampa Bay Area? Have a Real Estate question?
Feel free to email or call us 813-784-7744
Rae Catanese, PA and Michelle Jordan, PA
Realtors.

Stonelake Ranch-Boating and Equestrian Community-Tampa, Fl

Tampa Lakefront Property on the Shores of Lake Thonotosassa. Over 10,000 feet of waterfront property lining the eastern shores of Lake Thonotosassa make the gated, master-planned Stonelake Ranch community a private, natural sanctuary.

From the wrap-around porches of the lakeside lodge to the beauty of the equestrian trails to the endless activities on and near the water, this Tampa lakefront community offers an abundance of varied amenities sure to please even the most discerning of tastes.

Here you will find the best in Tampa lakefront living, with lakefront and lakeview home sites, private docks and boatside access from the lakeside lodge. This wide open and wooded expanse of private countryside is worlds away from city life, yet located a mere 20 minutes east of metropolitan Tampa.

At this beautiful Tampa lakefront site you will find an expanse of open fields as well as diverse woodlands, all brought together by winding creeks. Oaks, magnolia, hickory, citrus and palm trees populate the dense forests while an island avian sanctuary provides refuge to native birdlife like ibis and spoonbills. For the boating or fishing enthusiast, the great Lake Thonotosassa is a secluded haven with very limited public access. There will be days that you will have the lake all to yourself. For those who prefer to enjoy their free time on land walking, jogging, biking or horse-riding.

Stonelake Ranch boasts 240 lush acres of common area and an extensive trail system that winds throughout the community. No matter where you roam on the pristine acreage of Stonelake Ranch there will be wide open spaces and awe inspiring views. And with only 160 home sites, spread over 685 acres, you are sure to always feel a sense of privacy and tranquility in this unique Tampa lakefront community surrounded by cool waters and endless sky.

Would you like more information on homes for sale at Stonelake Ranch?
Feel free to email or call us 813-784-7744
Rae Catanese, PA and Michelle Jordan, PA
Realtors.

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Prudential Tropical Realty

Towers of Channelside-Bankruptcy Update-Tampa, Fl

Towers of Channelside announced in the Tampa MLS condo listings that "DEVELOPER EMERGES FROM CHAPTER 11 ON OCTOBER 1. CHECK OUT LATEST DISCOUNTED PRICES."


I emailed my friend Michael at the Tampa Bay Business Journal to see if he had heard of anything regarding the bankruptcy. He says "It's on the front page of our website today"! Ok, so I'm a Realtor, not a journalist, but I do try and get the scoop on the Tampa Real Estate Market!

Here's the latest good news for The Towers of Channelside




Towers of Channelside emerges from bankruptcy
Tampa Bay Business Journal - by Michael Hinman

It looks like at least one high-profile condominium project in the Channel District will have a fighting chance to weather the housing market bust.

The Towers of Channelside LLC emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Wednesday evening with a new plan to pay back creditors over a five-year period and, its principals believe, the momentum to sell the remaining 150 units of its twin 29-story towers.

“We’re officially out,” said Richard Sacchi, one of the development partners for the project that was completed last year only to find that many of the potential buyers that placed deposits for units were not closing.

It was a problem afflicting a number of condominium projects across the Tampa Bay area, and eventually forced Towers of Channelside to reorganize and seek protection from its creditors last January when Wachovia Bank threatened to default on its $105.8 million loan used for construction.

That started a string of bankruptcy and foreclosure problems along Channelside Drive that included Key Developers Group LLC, which will auction off The Place at Channelside Oct. 15; Tampa Condo 2 LLC filing for Chapter 11 protection in March after failing to build its 51-story The Tampa Tower 2; and last May when Ventana Tampa LLC decided to give its 84-unit complex on Kennedy Boulevard and Channelside Drive back to the bank in lieu of $16.8 million still owed to Mercantile Bank.

But Towers of Channelside can now remove the bankruptcy clouds that have hovered over the project for the last 10 months, Sacchi, said.
“We were just better situated than these other projects, and we were driven to try and make it work,” he said. “The easier thing would’ve been to walk away, but we wanted to make it work and try and get everybody paid back. We’ll continue to stay involved and continue to sell units.”
Chasing away the cloud

When Towers of Channelside filed for bankruptcy protection, developers had sold 89 units, and had eight more that were just about ready to close. Even with the project in bankruptcy court, Sacchi said Towers of Channelside closed 16 units since March, and he believes those numbers could rise now that buyers don’t have to be concerned about what the bank will do about the money developers owe.

“It hasn’t been an issue to the people who have come in to buy units, but maybe being in Chapter 11 and the threat of foreclosure didn’t bring buyers to the property,” Sacchi said. “Now that they know we won’t be going to foreclosure, maybe some of those who shied away will come back.”

The biggest issue facing buyers right now is the lack of funding for home purchases – especially condominiums – coming from banks. Developers can’t control that, but a five-year window to repay its debts will at least give the market time to readjust, Sacchi said.

Buyers also could likely see prices on units drop at much as 15 percent from original pre-construction prices because of the reorganization, and drop that Sacchi said couldn’t come at a more perfect time with the housing market trying to rebound.

Last year, before the bankruptcy filing, Towers of Channelside earned more than $47.4 million in gross revenue from the sale of units, and had a net income of $5.9 million mostly from deposits and interest in escrow accounts, according to court documents. However, 98 percent of that net income was paid to Wachovia, which left $58 million of the developers’ initial loan still due.

The development team included Sacchi, Bradley Hite and Michael McGuinness, each who received compensation of more than $210,000 between July 2005 and June 2007 for their services, legal filings show. In the court-approved bankruptcy plan, however, each of them will receive $72,600 over the next 18 months with incentive compensation capped at $2.1 million total.

see also:
The Place at Channelside in Tampa sells at Auction.....read story




Feel free to email or call us 813-784-7744 with any questions regarding The Towers of Channelside or any other condo developments.


Rae Catanese, PA and Michelle Jordan, PA
Realtors.

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Prudential Tropical Realty

SkyPoint or Element Condos? Looking to buy or rent?

For Sale- Skypoint Condos on Ashley Drive in Downtown Tampa are still for sale. Resales are now starting in the 150's, originally selling for 220's and up for the same size 1 bedroom unit. There are bank owned/foreclosures and short sales available, as well as developer units for sale.

Send me an email for a current list of SKYPOINT Condos for sale! realtyrae@yahoo.com

or phone 813 784 7744

This is the latest news on The Element and their decision to consider the rental market.

Tower opens up to renters

By James Thorner, Times Staff Writer Published Friday, September 19, 2008 9:09 PM

Developers of Element, the still-incomplete 35-story downtown Tampa condominium tower, are considering converting much of the building into apartments until the housing market improves.
A shortage of qualified buyers forced the hand of Novare-intown Tampa Development LLC, whose completion of the neighboring SkyPoint condo tower was among the few success stories in the imploding urban condo market.

Novare is considering renting out units, which range from 691 to 3,445 square feet, and using the income to help cover its debts until the sales climate improves in a couple of years.
Christine Burdick, head of the Tampa Downtown Partnership, said the move makes sense: Better a vibrant apartment building than a half-empty condo tower. The partnership has banked on new downtown dwellers to stoke the city's restaurant and arts scene. "There are a lot of people not eligible for mortgages and there's a lot more renters," Burdick said. "I think having people living downtown and contributing to its vibrancy is one of the objectives.

Lauded as a bold follow up to SkyPoint, Element broke ground in February 2007. Work has advanced to the point that Novare expects to remove its tower crane this month from the construction site on North Franklin Street. Though the building is nearly topped out, interior work will stretch to the spring.

Sales prices for the estimated 395 units range from about $220,000 to nearly $1-million. That's proved to be too rich in a condo market where foreclosures and bankruptcies are rife.

Three prominent condo tower bankruptcies within sight of Element are Trump Tower Tampa, The Place at Channelside and The Towers of Channelside.

Interested in purchasing a condo at SkyPoint in Downtown Tampa?
Feel free to email or call us 813-784-7744
Rae Catanese, PA and Michelle Jordan, PA
Realtors.

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Prudential Tropical Realty

Tampa, Florida Economic Real Estate Report 2008

I've been receiving a lot of requests for the 2008 Tampa Bay Economic Report, which addresses the Real Estate Housing Market here in the Bay area. It also has data on new construction housing starts

If you would like to receive a copy of this 30 page in depth analysis just send us an email with your request. The file is in PDF format so I cannot post it to the site.As a Real Estate agent working with buyers; these are the trends I've seen over the last 3 months in the Tampa Bay area.

• Buyers who are inquiring are investors that have money in REITS and realize that it makes good business sense to buy low.


• Mother's are calling for their college kids; considering buying instead of renting.


• People wanting to move to Florida, or purchase a second home to buy now and have for retirement.


• Buyer's who need to relocate for their jobs.

Invest in that beach house you've always wanted. Beachfront and Waterfront Property is at an all time low in Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Indian Rocks Beach, and all the beaches within a 30-45 minute drive from the Tampa Airport.

We track where people are from through the site; so I can tell you most of the buyers are coming from New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Even International buyers from Shanghai. If that isn't proof that things are turning around I don't know what is.

Indicators like these are a very good sign that the bottom has bottomed out, and that now is the best time to buy a home. Yes, people type into Google "when is the best time to buy a home?"

Thinking about buying or selling real estate in the Tampa Bay Area?

Have a Real Estate question?
Feel free to email or call us 813-784-7744
Rae Catanese, PA and Michelle Jordan, PA
Realtors.

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Prudential Tropical Realty

Why People are still Moving to Florida- Tampa, Fl

Could the Tampa, St. Petersburg area still be one of the BEST places to buy a home and enjoy the sunshine? I say YES! Will the Real Estate Market come back to some sense of normalcy? As long as we still have our best attraction.....beauty!

The other day I was searching the internet and came across a blog site by Robert Payne. He travels all over the world, takes amazing photographs and documents his journeys. Robert just happens to live in Tampa, Fl.

As I was searching his website, I noticed beautiful nature pictures of our wonderful Tampa Bay area. It reminded me that although the Florida Real Estate market is the worst it's been since the early 1990's, people still want to live here, and people are still relocating to Florida.

Sometimes we forget just how amazing our landscapes are, just how lucky we are to say "I feel like going to the beach today" and doing it! That is what living in Florida is all about. Not shoveling snow or having to carry layers of clothes, jackets and shoes. You may want to invest in a good umbrella though!

Robert gave me permission to post some of his photos to The Tampa Real Estate Insider. Not only is his site a wonderful resource but he's a nice guy too!

One of his posts pertains to Canoeing and Sea Kayaking. If you are an outdoors adventurer then you'll enjoy reading about his trips to Weedon Island Preserve, Hillsborough River and Fort de Soto Park.

Here's Robert's posting:
In the time I have been in the Tampa, Florida area I have managed to discover quite a few nice places to explore in a sea kayak. Many of them are within an hours drive of downtown Tampa and can easily be accomplished in a day or less. Choose from brackish rivers, saltwater estuaries and white-sand beaches; it is all up to you as to what you want to experience. ......read full story

Thinking about relocating to the Tampa Bay Area? Have a Real Estate question?
Feel free to email or call us 813-784-7744
Rae Catanese, PA and Michelle Jordan, PA
Realtors.

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Prudential Tropical Realty

Tampa Bay Area Voted in top 10 Cleanest Cities-Forbes Magazine

Ybor City-Tampa, Fl

Forbes Magazine recently released a report on America’s cleanest cities. The Tampa-St. Petersburg area ranked 8th in the top 10. The study was not based on just trash removal, but environmental aspects. The story written about the report noted specifically Partnership member company Tampa Electric Company “for going beyond federal and state requirements on emission reductions.” Way to go!

Want to live where the air is sweet, the water is pure and the streets are clean? Try the country. But what if you don't like the sticks? Then try Florida.

Led by Miami, the Sunshine State dominates our 2008 list of America's Cleanest Cities with four metro areas in the top 10--Jacksonville (No. 3), Orlando (No. 4) and Tampa-St. Petersburg (No. 8) all make appearances. Clearly, a state that relies so heavily on tourism and part-time snow-bird residents knows the value of keeping itself spruced up for company.

read full story

See Also:

Relocating to Tampa

What to know about relocating to the Tampa Bay Area

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

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Prudential Tropical Realty

Hyde Park Historical Neighborhood-Tampa, Fl

Hyde Park, Tampa, Florida
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hyde Park is a historic neighborhood and district located within the city limits of Tampa. The ZIP code for the district is 33606.

Hyde Park is located near the University of Tampa and close to Tampa's business and cultural arts district. Roughly, the boundaries of the neighborhood include the Hillsborough Bay to the east, Kennedy Blvd to the north, historic and picturesque Bayshore Boulevard to the south, and Armenia Avenue to the west. Major thoroughfares within the historical district include Kennedy Boulevard, Bayshore Boulevard, Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway (Florida State Route 618), Howard Avenue, and Swann Avenue

Areas in Hyde Park
There are subareas within Hyde Park. These include Hyde Park Village, a unique shopping district located along Swann and Rome Avenues, and encompasses several city blocks. SoHo, a small sublet that runs though South Howard Avenue; and Bayshore, an area around Bayshore Boulevard.

If Hyde Park were its own independent city, its downtown area would most likely be centered around Hyde Park Village, a unique shopping mall located on Inman and Swann Avenues, and encompasses three city blocks. As opposed to the stuffy covered shopping malls common in the Tampa Bay area, the shopping center in Hyde Park is open and airy, with greenery and fountains everywhere and unique shopping discoveries around every corner.

see also: Best Neighborhoods in Tampa

Other Historical Neighborhoods
Seminole Heights Historic District Map (1)
Seminole Heights history (1)

Tampa Heights

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

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Prudential Tropical Realty

Housing Bill Set to Become Law - How will this effect you?

Ballast Point- Tampa, Fl

This is the best news article I found that outlines the details of the new Housing Bill and what it will mean to first time home buyers, as well as, homeowners facing possible foreclosure. Our Tampa Real Estate market will see a huge impact from this new law, as many people have been faced with foreclosure.

Also, note that the tax credit for first time homebuyers is retroactive and will continue to be in effect for another year! Another reason to start your home search in the Tampa Bay area now!

Understanding The Housing Bill

NPR.org, July 25, 2008 ·

The Senate is expected to clear a sweeping housing bill Saturday and send it to the president for his signature. The legislation would address the home-foreclosure crisis and shore up the government-sponsored mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The House passed the bill Wednesday by a vote of 272-152.

A look at what the bill would do:
— Give the Treasury Department the power to extend Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac an unspecified line of credit and to buy their stock, if necessary, to prop up the mortgage companies. The two companies back or own $5 trillion in U.S. mortgages — nearly half the nation's total.

— Allow qualified homeowners facing foreclosure to apply for lower fixed-rate, 30-year mortgages backed by loan guarantees from the Federal Housing Administration. The original lenders would have to agree to take a loss on their loans.

— Create an independent regulator to oversee Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The regulator could establish minimum capital requirements for the two companies and limits on their portfolios. It would also have approval power over the pay packages of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac executives.

— Provide $3.9 billion in grants to communities with the highest foreclosure rates to buy foreclosed and abandoned properties.

— Give about $15 billion in housing tax breaks, including a credit of up to $7,500 for first-time homebuyers who bought homes between April 9, 2008, and July 1, 2009.

— Increase the cap to $625,500 on the loans Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can buy in certain high-priced areas, and a cap in other areas of up to 15 percent above the median home price.

— Count any federal infusion for the mortgage giants under the debt limit, essentially capping how much the government could spend to stabilize the companies without further approval from Congress. As of Tuesday, the national debt that counts toward the limit stood at about $9.5 trillion, roughly $360 billion below the statutory ceiling.

Before this formally goes into effect, NOW is the time to take advantage of existing home buying assistance programs that may be going away.

Two proposed changes are:
1. All government-sponsored zero-down-payment assistance programs would be eliminated as of October 1, 2008. To be eligible for these programs, all home loans would need to be approved by September 30, 2008.
2. The minimum down payment for Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans, the largest purchaser of mortgages in the United States, would increase from 3 percent to 3.5 percent.

Material from The Associated Press was used in this report.


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

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Prudential Tropical Realty

Why Bank Owned is Better than a Short Sale if you need to close quick-Tampa, Fl

The past 3 weeks have been like a flood gate opening in the Tampa real estate market. I've seen more activity from interested buyers than I've seen in the past 3 years. Everyone is recognizing that now is a great time to buy.

I've been working with a buyer who is being transferred with the military and instead of renting he's taking advantage of our great deals.

We looked all day in Wesley Chapel, Fl. Previewed about 10 homes total. Every single home was either a short sale, foreclosure or bank owned property. I didn't look for properties that were in distress, however, every single home we saw was listed for less than what the seller paid.

At the end of the day my client decided to put in an offer on a 3/2 home in the Meadow Pointe Subdivision. The home is around 1,700 sf, has granite in the kitchen, nice wood cabinets a deep stainless steel sink, fireplace, outdoor grill area with a built in bar, pre-wired surround sound and yes a pool. The home sold for 189K back on 2004. It's now listed for 169K. A similar home in the same subdivision could have sold for around 250K in 2006.

Since they buyer needs to close quickly, having a home that's already owned by the bank turned out to be a better option. We submitted our offer and within 2 days the bank countered and my client accepted. We are still hearing it may take up to 5 weeks to close however. If you need to move quickly, a bank owned property will be your best bet. It's better than having to wait 45 days to hear back from the bank on a short sale to find out they didn't except your offer.

Thinking about buying or selling real estate 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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Prudential Tropical Realty

First Time Home Buyer Down Payment Assistance-Tampa,Fl

Down Payment Assistance could mean buying a home with no money down. One of the biggest struggles with first time home buyers is coming up with the down payment and closing costs associated with buying a home.

The AmeriDream Downpayment Assistance Program was created to overcome the greatest barrier to homeownership, the downpayment. The program provides an opportunity for qualified low to moderate income individuals and families to purchase affordable homes by receiving money for the downpayment on a home.

Homebuyers never have to repay the gift from AmeriDream. The program has helped over 250,000 qualified homebuyers become homeowners. AmeriDream is recognized as the most trusted and valued name in gift assistance.

Thousands of homebuyers a month purchase their own homes using The AmeriDream Downpayment Gift Program, which provides down payment assistance of up to 10 percent of the home's price.

How It Works

1. Contact a qualified real estate professional and qualified mortgage professional in your area if you are not already working with one.


2. 
   Contact a lender and get a pre-approval letter for a loan that accepts gifts from AmeriDream.


3. 
   Choose a real estate professional and begin your home search


4. 
   Find the home you’d like to purchase


5. 
   Make an offer on the home

Once the contract is ratified, your lender will submit a gift application on your behalf to AmeriDream. The Homebuyer will receive a notice of gift approval from AmeriDream.

Lenders and real estate professionals will explain the home buying process to buyers, as well as the AmeriDream’s Downpayment Gift Program.

Buyers will need to be qualified for a loan that accepts gift funds, such as an FHA or conventional loan. Interested homebuyers should contact a lender or a real estate professional to begin the down payment assistance process.

Take advantage of the Tampa Real Estate Market! Now is the time to buy a home. Learn how you too can become a homeowner through the AmeriDream Downpayment Gift Program.

Feel free to email or call us 813-784-7744
Rae Catanese and Michelle Jordan

Realtors.

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Prudential Tropical Realty

JUNE MLS Statistics-Tampa Real Estate Market

June statistics are in for the Tampa Real Estate Market

(1) EXISTING HOME SALES UP A WHOPPING 76% SINCE JANUARY, 2008

(2) INVENTORY DOWN 5.5% SINCE JANUARY 2008

(3) MONTHS OF INVENTORY DOWN 54% SINCE JANUARY 2008

(4) AVERAGE SALES PRICE DOWN TO $227,565

(5) AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET UP FROM 124 IN MAY TO 152 IN JUNE


Thinking about buying or selling real estate 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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Prudential Tropical Realty

Relocating? Consider three things when moving to Tampa Bay

Determining the most desirable neighborhoods means considering three things..........
Convenience, Location and Price

What is most important to you? Pick one of the three and narrow your search from there.

Convenience: I recently began working with a couple who has rented for the past five years in the Feather Sound area of St. Petersburg, but have realized that there is no better time to buy a condominium in the Tampa/St. Pete area than now. They are getting ready to retire which means the maintenance of a home is something they want to avoid. Isn't that what retirement is all about?

Location: These neighborhoods are located in a very convenient locations. They provide easy access to Tampa, St. Pete and major highways. Shopping and restaurants are all within a couple miles. For people who work at Raymond James Headquarters in St. Pete, or Franklin Templeton, the Feather Sound Community is an ideal location! Feather Sound is also 10 minutes to Tampa Int'l Airport and the Westshore Plaza Shopping mall.

Price: Although there are many great deals for all types of buyers today; buyer's who have the best chance of getting a great deal are able to pay cash and close quickly. My clients are in the driver's seat because they can do both! In this tight seller's market with almost a 2 year supply of housing inventory on the market Cash IS King! Every property on the market is negotiable; so ask for comparable properties sold with in the past year. Offer less and negotiate, negotiate....you are in the driver's seat.

As an experienced realtor who believes in showing properties matched to the buyers' needs, I was able to show them several properties in the Audubon Condominiums in Feather Sound and have located several more condos for them to preview as well in Clearwater.


Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Tampa Bay

If you are relocating to the Tampa, St. Pete or Clearwater areas and need advice on the best places to live, give me a call.

See also: Feather Sound Community-Clearwater, FL Golf Course, Grocery Stores, and more

Search MLS for homes for sale in Feathersound. See map of area, save favorites, findout what homes are selling for and more...Prudential Tropical Realty

Thinking about buying or selling real estate 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.

Prudential Listings Now Display on Nine Real Estate and Search Sites

When deciding who to use as a listing agent or firm, you'll want to have the most internet presence possible to get your home sold quickly. We are very excited to now have these additional listing tools available for our clients.

PRUDENTIAL REAL ESTATE FEEDS LISTINGS TO CYBERHOMES, GOOGLE BASE AND OODLE

Affiliate Listings Now Display on Nine Real Estate and Search Sites

TAMPA BAY (July 1, 2008) – Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., has begun flowing at least 140,000 for-sale property listings to Internet hot spots Cyberhomes.com, Google BaseTM and Oodle. The move positions Prudential Real Estate affiliates’ listings in front of the growing ranks of consumers who shop online for real estate and related services and information.

“Prudential is sending its affiliate listings to Cyberhomes, Google Base and Oodle for a couple of simple reasons,” explains Dewey Mitchell, President, Prudential Tropical Realty. “The sites are very popular among consumers, and each offers a rich search experience with a lot of useful information. Our listings as well as our services and resources are now readily available to the millions of consumers who frequent these great Internet sites.”

Prudential Real Estate teamed with Cyberhomes earlier this month to offer “Value Range Estimates” and “Property Profiles”, free consumer services now available on Prudential.com/realestate. Through Cyberhomes, Prudential Real Estate listings also will appear on AOL.com.

Moreover, Prudential Real Estate’s marketing plans include display and banner advertising on Cyberhomes and Oodle.

MORE
“Our mission is to drive significant consumer traffic to our listings,” states Mitchell. “Aligning with Cyberhomes, Google Base and Oodle will help us get that job done.”

Online listings include property descriptions, photos and company/listing agent contact information. In addition to Cyberhomes, Google Base and Oodle, Prudential Tropical Realty listings also appear on Frontdoor.com, PropSmart.com, Trulia.com, Yahoo! Real Estate and Zillow.com. They are also featured as part of its “Company Showcase” on Realtor.com.

Cyberhomes valuations provide access to most of the same information from Fidelity National Information Services, the leader in property information, services and technology for REALTORS®, appraisers and lenders, to created detailed, proprietary analysis of a property and the surrounding community. Cyberhomes enables the exploration of real estate data ranging from property facts, value estimates and a variety of important indicators of local and national changes in the housing market.

Google Base enables structured data such as real estate listings to better surface on the Google search engine improving the quality of search results. Real estate listings from Google Base are available on Google MapsTM. Google, Google Base and Google Maps are trademarks of Google Inc.

Oodle allows consumers to buy and sell through online classifieds. Bringing together more than 40 million listings from over 80,000 sites, Oodle improves the way people buy and sell locally. Oodle offers the most comprehensive search, convenient email alerts and information to empower consumers to make better buying decisions.

Thinking about buying or selling real estate 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.

Search MLS , get a market analysis, search for sold homes and more.

Click on the link below
Prudential Tropical Realty

Taps Wine and Beer Merchants opens in SKYPOINT Condo Building

AT TAPS, BUSINESS IS BOOMING
By: Gary Shepherd For James DeVito, owner of newly opened Taps Wine and Beer Merchants in the SkyPoint condo building, the future is now.

Sure, downtown Tampa’s business climate may still be on the upswing, with the best days ahead. But, says DeVito, business has been fabulous since he opened on June 6, and he couldn’t be happier about how things are going.

“Our timing is good, and business is astonishingly good. We have to chase people out every night at closing,” says DeVito, a former Wall Street employee of Deutsche Bank. “Tampa really needed something like this. That’s what I hear all the time.”

His customers include a pre-theater crowd, visitors from Hyde Park and other local communities, as well as downtown workers and residents. “We definitely have a big happy hour crowd just about every day.”

And DeVito expects business to get even better – he just held his grand opening in late June, and he is just now opening up a Web site and doing other marketing.

The concept is unique: Half of the 1,850-square-foot business is devoted to beer, with about 25 beers on tap and another 275 sold by the bottle. As for wine, nearly 60 wines are on tap and about 100 are available by the bottle.

Taps uses “variety and technology as entertainment. The goal is to encourage our guests to experience our diverse collection of beer and wine,” said DeVito. More expensive wines are sold by the ounce or other small portions, so that customers can try exotic labels inexpensively if they wish to. Customers can by a swipe card that tracks purchases.

DeVito, who says opening Taps is a $500,000 gamble, says business has been great both for lunch and during the evenings. Taps, located in SkyPoint’s ground floor, seats about 130, and there is plenty of seating outside facing Ashley Street.

Taps menu includes sandwiches and salads at lunch, and tapas-style plates of food – cheeses, cured meats, fruits and breads.

skypoint condos for sale (2)
skypoint resale (2)

Thinking about buying or selling real estate 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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Prudential Tropical Realty

More Good News for buyers-Tampa Real Estate Market Update

Earlier this year Dave Ramsey, financial author and Radio Talk Show host, was on CNN Larry King Live touting what a great buy Tampa Bay housing is right now. He was on The CBS Morning Show this week again commenting on the real estate market from Nashville Tenn. He said “There is no longer a national real estate market. We are made up of local real estate markets which may be completely different.” He further said, "If I was in Tampa, Florida and I am a buyer this is a great time to buy!”

Thinking about buying or selling real estate 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.

Search MLS
Prudential Tropical Realty

How Many Foreclosures? How Many Homes on the Market? Tampa, Fl

How's the Real Estate Market in Tampa, Fl? That's a question I am often asked by clients looking to relocate to our wonderful Bay area. The facts are revealed in this article that was published in The Tampa Tribune. It is hard to believe that The Tampa Bay area is number two in the nation for foreclosures. Yes, now is the time to buy!


Where Business Is Booming
The region's real estate market has been among the hardest-hit in the nation. The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area had 4,773 foreclosure filings in May alone, or one in every 271 households. That was up 15 percent from April and 29 percent from the same month last year. Nationally, the foreclosure rate is one in 483 households.

Along with the construction of homes, the foreclosure spike is contributing to a housing glut that has depressed prices. The median sales price in the area was $176,100 in May, down 16 percent from $209,300 a year earlier.

The Greater Tampa Association of Realtors says there is a 15-month inventory of homes on the market in this area, compared with one to two months in 2004-05. One key to a housing turnaround would involve removing a big chunk of the 19,800 listings on the local market.

Economists report that new housing starts are down, which can bring alarming headlines but is good news for the bloated Bay area market. A reduction in the number of foreclosed homes on the market would also provide a shot in the arm.


Thinking about buying or selling real estate 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.

Search MLS
Prudential Tropical Realty