TampaFreeRealEstateInfo.com

Tuesday, July 6, 2010
July Market Update for Tampa Bay, Apollo Beach Florida
In this month’s update I would like to share some real life stories rather than give you stats.We all like stories, don’t we? Especially when they are real and have “happy endings”. I recently listed a family’s 4 bedroom manufactured home in the Southshore area because they thought NOW was the time to BUY, and they are so right! We put the property under contract rather quickly (it was priced well) and fortunately the family had a home to move into until we found their new home. Over the course of several months they tried waiting on short sales to get approval from the bank, but found the waiting was too much for them. We tried negotiating with a seller on a non-short sale property,but felt the seller was not being realistic (he didn’t want to pay closing costs and actually wanted to offer a cheaper home warranty than the one requested). We were scheduled to go back and look
again at a short sale we heard was approved when I got a text from a NEW HOME sales rep about some special financing on their inventory homes. We went back into the short sale home and found it had an odor problem we didn’t notice the first time. Then we headed to the new home subdivision. They fell in love with a 2200 sq ft 4 bedroom 2 & ½ bath BRAND NEW HOME in a gated community with a pool, basketball court and playground! All this for only $1200 a month – and that includes principal, interest, taxes, insurance, HOA and CDD!!
They got a 4.25% 30 year fixed interest rate. LESS than RENT!! And the builder is paying $12,000 towards their closing costs and prepaids! Had they bought a short sale or bank owned property, they would buy “as-is”…no warranties, no repairs, and they would have to clean, paint and install new flooring (at least) in most we viewed. The non-short sale they considered had a 10 yr old roof, so in about 5 yrs they would have to replace that and the home had vinyl in the kitchen and baths. Their new home has 18” tile, laminate, granite in the kitchen (with an island and black appliances), brand new carpet and fresh paint. And they have full warranties for the first year, warranty less the appliances the second year, and a 10 year structural warranty. How is that for peace of mind? We even negotiated with the new home builder to include the refrigerator, washer & dryer, and blinds. And they can close in 30 days or less. So they ended up with much more house than they ever dreamed they could afford! I think I will end with this one story this month, and share the story next month of someone who “downsized” from an inland home with lots of yard work to a GORGEOUS WATERFRONT VILLA in Apollo Beach. No more mowing or pulling weeds! There is another happy ending.

I have a NinjaEX650, Blue. Its a cool bike and want to know if there are any other riders in the Apollo Beach, Fl. area? Also any riderrs in general.

I live in the Mid-West.

My husband and I have 2 child we now live in Vegas but my whole familly is on Long Island New York where my mom, 4 sisters and 2 brothers live. My sons would also be near their cousins, my sons are 2 yrs old and 6 yrs old. The 6 yr old is really close to his cousins and misses them, but I’m thinking that Tampa would be a better choice as far as weather, cost of living. That lifestyle would more coincide with what I want for the future possibly to become a stay at home mom or continue
working parttime. I am a pharmacist and my husband is a pilot(just starting off). We’re definately moving but its hard to decide on which to chose NY or Tampa, With the real estate costs in NY and high cost of living I’d be handcuffed to my job, but then I’d be close to family, we have noone in Tampa just like in Vegas and we felt totally isolated for the 5 yrs we’ve lived in Vegas, which would you chose if it were you in the same situation.

I would choose Tampa for a number of reasons. Myself weather for one but more important are other factors, education, economics, crime rate in the area you are wanting to move to, property values and sales or rents.

I myself have been in both areas and for me raising children Tampa would be much nicer then NY. I would suggest looking on the Internet at some sites that deal in demographics of the two areas that you would like live in. Do some comparing of crime, cost of living, education, etc and then make your choice that way.

Though true family is important, I would look at it this way You would be closer to them in Florida then Vegas, the cost of them coming to visit you or you them would be less and you would overall have a much better climate for you and your family.

Good luck on your decision and your move.