The Real Estate Sizzle

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Jackie Colson-Miller

Jackie Colson-Miller
Direct - (813)629-5757
Homeward Real Estate
3401 Henderson Blvd
Tampa, FL 33609
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Moving to Tampa? Orders to MacDill AFB? Plenty of Bargains in Tampa Real Estate Today!

Filed under: Best Places in Tampa, Buying a House in Tampa, First-Time Homebuyers, Florida Real Estate, Gated Communities in Tampa, Golf course communities in Tampa, MLS Listings in Tampa, MLS Search, MacDill AFB, Schools in Tampa, Tampa Real Estate, Tampa Real Estate Agent

The Latest News on Tampa Real Estate, Moving to Tampa, The Best Tampa Neighborhoods and MacDill Air Force Base Relocation, every day…

MacDill AFB is one of the largest employers in Tampa, with many military and civilian employees, who live all over the Tampa Bay area. It is “relocation season”…the time of year when many families with children are planning their move, or PCS,  to Tampa. The top priority for those families is always the school district. This is a great time to find a “bargain” in the Tampa Real Estate Market. Prices are the lowest in YEARS!

If you are moving to Tampa, for a position at MacDill Air Force Base, contact me, to find the right neighborhood for you, and your family. I have been relocating military families in Tampa for 15 years! I can find a “bargain” in any Tampa or Pasco County neighborhood!

You can read some of my previous articles about moving to Tampa, and relocation to MacDill Air Force Base:

MacDill Air Force Base…One of Tampa’s Largest Employers

Orders to MacDill Air Force Base? Find the Best Tampa Neighborhoods

Looking for real estate in Tampa?

 

If you are buying a house in Tampa, or Selling a house in Tampa, I can help with any Tampa neighborhood, including:

 

Brandon,  Riverhills, Valrico, South Tampa, Davis Islands, Beach Park, Sunset Park, Hyde Park, Culbreath Isles, Palma Ceia, Westchase, Waterchase, Odessa, Cheval, Avila, Brandon, Riverview, FishHawk, New Tampa, Tampa Palms, Hunter’s Green, Arbor Greene, Apollo Beach, South Shore, MiraBay, Golf Communities, Waterfront Homes, Luxury Homes in Tampa, Clearwater Beach, St. Pete Beach, Condos in Tampa and International Real Estate…contact me!

 

Sign up for my email list to receive the latest information on the Tampa Real Estate Market, Living in Tampa, and the International Real Estate Market!

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Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   Click Here To Comment »   |   01.30.2010

Want a Tampa Foreclosure? Read the Latest on the Tampa Foreclosure Market and How Fannie Mae Can Help!

Filed under: Buying a House in Tampa, First-Time Homebuyers, Moving to Tampa, Tampa Real Estate, Tampa Real Estate Agent, Tampa Real Estate Market

 

The Latest News on the Tampa Real Estate Market, Tampa Real Estate and International Real Estate News…

Great News from Fannie Mae Helps Tampa Foreclosure Buyers!

Many investors can move faster on home purchases because they are able to pay cash and don’t have to wait to qualify for a loan and get an appraisal. Investors often turn the homes into rental units or flip them to other buyers for a quick profit. People seeking to take advantage of the drop in housing prices to buy their first homes have been grousing that they often lose bidding wars to investors.

Fannie said it also would help owner-occupants acquire homes by reducing deposit requirements to as little as $500 and giving them a chance to renegotiate offers after appraisals. Such buyers also are to be allowed as many as 45 days to complete the transaction, up from the usual 30 days.

A Freddie spokesman said the company has similar pilot programs and is helping owner-occupants pay closing costs.

Fannie announced Tuesday that 4.72% of the single-family home loans it owns or guarantees were 90 days or more overdue in September, up from 4.45% in August and 1.72% in September 2008.

For more information about this program, or buying a house in Tampa, please contact me.   

If you would like to receive a list of homes in a certain price range…send me an email!

I can help with your move to any Tampa neighborhood, or Real Estate Listings in the Tampa area, including: South Tampa, Davis Islands, Beach Park, Sunset Park, Hyde Park, Culbreath Isles, Palma Ceia, Westchase, Waterchase, Odessa, Cheval, Avila, Brandon, Riverview, FishHawk, New Tampa, Tampa Palms, Hunter’s Green, Arbor Greene, Apollo Beach, South Shore, MiraBay, Golf Communities, Waterfront Homes, Luxury Homes in Tampa, Condos in Tampa and International Real Estate…contact me!

 
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Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   Click Here To Comment »   |   11.25.2009

Why Online Home Searches Cost Homebuyers Time and Money! Tampa Real Estate News and More!

Filed under: Buyers, Buying a House in Tampa, Clearwater Beach Real Estate, Davis Islands Real Estate, First-Time Homebuyers, Hunter's Green Homes, Hyde Park Real Estate, Luxury Homes in Tampa, MacDill AFB, Tampa Home Search, Tampa MLS Listings, Tampa Neighborhoods, Tampa Real Estate, Tampa Real Estate Agent, Tampa Real Estate Market

If you are moving to Tampa, or anywhere in the world, you are likely among the large number of homebuyers who begin with an “online” search for homes.  Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia and many of the other home search sites are often the “first stop” for homebuyers who are new to an area. They are a good “starting point”, simply to gauge the prices in a particular neighborhood, but they are NO substitute for the knowledge obtained from a local real estate agent. This article was prompted by an email this morning, from a client in New Tampa who has a friend moving to Seattle.  The friend has been shopping online for Seattle Real Estate.  She is confused about neighborhoods and pricing! Of course she is!  She needs a local real estate agent…not Realtor.com!

Here is are some interesting statistics:

87% of all Homebuyers begin their home search on the internet

In the past 15 years, NONE of my clients have bought a home they found on the internet.

Why? Because every online listing is presented to look “attractive”, but what you see is rarely what you get.  Listing agents use photos and descriptions to “entice” a buyer. They don’t show the neighboring homes in disrepair, the proximity to commercial properties, the old roof, or any other “undesirable” aspects of the home. Sites like Zillow, which estimate the market value of a home, don’t use accurate information for square footage, or recent sales.

Unlike buying a “Sony camera”, or a specific book or, perhaps a Nintendo Wii on the internet, no two homes are exactly alike, so you can’t “comparison shop” for homes, the way you would for any other product.

Buyer’s agents listen to what a homebuyer is looking for in terms of price, neighborhood, commute, schools and other amenities. There is NO substitute for the knowledge of a local real estate agent who knows “street by street” the different neighborhoods in Tampa.

When you are moving to Tampa, or anywhere in the world, contact me, to find the right home for your family’s needs!

For more information about the Tampa Real Estate market, Tampa Neighborhoods, including Culbreath Isles, MacDill AFB,  South Tampa, Harbour Island, Davis Islands, Beach Park, Sunset Park, Hyde Park, Channelside, Palma Ceia, Westchase, Waterchase, Odessa, Cheval, Avila, Brandon, Riverview, FishHawk, New Tampa, Tampa Palms, Hunters Green, Arbor Greene, Apollo Beach, South Shore, MiraBay, Golf Communities, Waterfront Homes, Houses in the Plant High School District, Tampa Schools, Luxury Homes in Tampa, Condos in Tampa, the Best Tampa Neighborhoods, or International Real Estate contact me

 

 

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Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   1 Comment »   |   01.23.2009

Search For Homes in The Tampa Real Estate Market

Filed under: Best Places in Tampa, Buying a House in Tampa, Channelside Tampa, Davis Islands Real Estate, First-Time Homebuyers, Hyde Park Real Estate, Luxury Homes in Tampa, MLS Listings in Tampa, MLS Search, MacDill AFB, Moving to Tampa, Tampa Real Estate, Tampa Real Estate Market, Tampa Schools

Are you moving to Tampa, or searching for homes in Tampa?  Make your search MUCH easier by having the latest listings in Tampa delivered to your email address, as soon as they are listed!  It is a “Buyer’s Market”, but the best “bargains” are selling quickly.

You can get started on receiving all of the listings that meet your criteria in a matter of minutes…click here to receive the latest listings today!

For more information about the Tampa Real Estate market, Tampa Neighborhoods, including Culbreath Isles, MacDill AFB,  South Tampa, Harbour Island, Davis Islands, Beach Park, Sunset Park, Hyde Park, Channelside, Palma Ceia, Westchase, Waterchase, Odessa, Cheval, Avila, Brandon, Riverview, FishHawk, New Tampa, Tampa Palms, Hunters Green, Arbor Greene, Apollo Beach, South Shore, MiraBay, Golf Communities, Waterfront Homes, Houses in the Plant High School District, Tampa Schools, Luxury Homes in Tampa, Condos in Tampa, the Best Tampa Neighborhoods, or International Real Estate contact me

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Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   Click Here To Comment »   |   10.17.2008

Bad News for Wall Street is Still Good News for Homebuyers in The Tampa Real Estate Market

Filed under: Buying a House in Tampa, Cheval Homes, Clearwater Beach Real Estate, Davis Islands Real Estate, First-Time Homebuyers, Gated Communities in Tampa, Golf course communities in Tampa, Hunter's Green Homes, MacDill AFB, South Tampa, Tampa Foreclosures, Tampa Home Search, Tampa Neighborhoods, Tampa Real Estate Agent, Tampa Real Estate Market

 Earth to chicken little…the sky is not falling!

Maybe it’s time to turn off the television, or stop reading the newspaper, because the bad news in the financial industry is overshadowing the fact that this is an AMAZING time for homebuyers in the Tampa Real Estate Market! 

Homebuilding starts are down, foreclosures are up, and the combination of Chev_1“cheap money” and “high inventory” means BARGAINS galore for the Tampa homebuyer!  Home prices are down 25–30%, over the values of several years ago. So, while the financial news LOOKS bad…this is the BEST time to buy a home in decades!

FHA limits of $292,500, with a good credit score and 3% downpayment are still available!

What are you waiting for???? Next Year?  That is not a good plan.  We have nearly reached the “Bottom” of the real estate market in Tampa, so NEXT YEAR the bargains will be gone and you will say, “I wish I had bought that house LAST YEAR”…

Turn off the television and start that house hunt today!

For more information about the Tampa Real Estate market, Tampa Neighborhoods, including Culbreath Isles. South Tampa, Harbour Island, Davis Islands, Beach Park, Sunset Park, Hyde Park, Channelside, Palma Ceia, Westchase, Waterchase, Odessa, Cheval, Avila, Brandon, Riverview, FishHawk, New Tampa, Tampa Palms, Hunters Green, Arbor Greene, Apollo Beach, South Shore, MiraBay, Golf Communities, Waterfront Homes, Luxury Homes in Tampa, Condos in Tampa and International Real Estate contact me!  

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Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   1 Comment »   |   09.17.2008

Find the Best Schools and The Best Neighborhoods for Families in Tampa…Tampa Real Estate News

Filed under: Best Places in Tampa, Buying a House in Tampa, Channelside Tampa, Davis Islands Real Estate, First-Time Homebuyers, Golf course communities in Tampa, Historic Tampa, Hunter's Green Homes, Hyde Park Real Estate, Luxury Homes in Tampa, MLS Listings in Tampa, MLS Search, MacDill AFB, Places to Live, Relocation, Schools in Tampa, Tampa Neighborhoods, Tampa Real Estate Market, Tampa Schools, Westchase

School starts in Hillsborough County (Tampa) on August 18th! It’s “relocation season” in the Tampa Real Estate Market, as families are trying to coordinate buying a house in Tampa, selling a house in another area and getting their children settled for the start of the school year in Tampa.

The big question is…”Where are the best schools and the best neighborhoods in Tampa?

For more in-depth information on Tampa Schools and Tampa Neighborhoods, you can read some of my previous articles:

Golf Course Communities:

Cheval

Hunter’s Green

Westchase

Davis Islands

Tampa Schools

Relocation to MacDill Air Force Base

Hyde Park

Find the Right Neighborhood in Tampa

For more information on any Tampa Neighborhood, Tampa School Districts, or help with your relocation to the Tampa Bay area, please contact me today.

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Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   Click Here To Comment »   |   08.07.2008

“Work The System”…It’s a Buyer’s Market, So Get In The Game…Tampa Real Estate Market News

Filed under: Buying a House in Tampa, First-Time Homebuyers, Short Sale, Tampa Foreclosures, Tampa Real Estate Agent, Tampa Real Estate Market

Should you Work The System or try to Beat The System ? Great advice from marketing guru Seth Godin, in one of his latest articles can be applied to the Tampa Real Estate market. Prices are the lowest they have been in yearsfar below the boom years of 2005 2006. At the same time, interest rates are also very low. That combination: low prices and cheap money havent occurred at the same time in decades! Some analysts say it has been 40 years! I certainly havent seen it, in my 14 years in Real Estate, or my 25 years as a homebuyer. Buyers have learned to Work The System make low offers on several properties and ultimately get the deal of the decade.

And, not surprisingly, sales are up! Prices are down 10 20% over the same period last year in the Tampa Real Estate Market and Inventory is down 2% since January. When will we bottom out ? Looks like were about there.

Sellers who think they can Beat The System are ignoring the simple law of supply and demand . Unless they want to get in the game and price their homes according to current market value, they might as well take their homes off the market and wait until 2013, when they can expect the prices of yesteryear.

Personally, I am Working the System helping Tampa buyers and European Investors find the bargains in this market of opportunity . A recent buyer picked up a 3 year old property for $224,000 less than the last sale price! That was 35% below the price in 2006!

I have two words for buyers in the Tampa Real Estate Market:

BUY NOW

I have just one word for the Sellers who dont want to Work The System :

ADIEU

If you want help Working The System in the Tampa Real Estate Market, contact me today813.629.5757or via email.

The Best Source for Tampa Real Estate News, Tampa Schools and Relocation Information for Families Moving to Tampaevery day on The Real Estate Sizzle.

For more information about Tampa Neighborhoods, including Culbreath Isles, South Tampa, Harbour Island, Davis Islands, Beach Park, Sunset Park, Hyde Park, Channelside, Palma Ceia, Westchase, Waterchase, Odessa, Cheval, Avila, Brandon, Riverview, FishHawk, New Tampa, Tampa Palms, Hunters Green, Arbor Greene, Apollo Beach, South Shore, MiraBay, Golf Communities, Waterfront Homes, Luxury Homes in Tampa, Condos in Tampa and International Real Estatecontact me!

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Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   Click Here To Comment »   |   05.26.2008

Changes in the Mortgage Industry Lead to a “Bumpy Road” in the Closing Process…Tampa Real Estate News

Filed under: Best Places in Tampa, Davis Islands Real Estate, First-Time Homebuyers, Golf course communities in Tampa, Historic Tampa, MLS Search, Tampa Neighborhoods, Tampa Real Estate Market, mortgage news

The Latest News on The Tampa Real Estate Market, Buying a Home anywhere in the World, and How to Buy Property in an ever-changing Real Estate Market!….

Today is closing day!  With recent changes in the Mortgage Industry, title companies and mortgage companies seem to be “overwhelmed” and “understaffed”, which leads to a sometimes “bumpy road” from contract to closing.  Real Estate agents need to be more involved in every aspect of a transaction these days, since I have seen less attention to detail every step of the way. I had to move into “bulldog mode”, just to get closing agents to pay attention to details, and deadlines. That was not the case in years past.  This is a foreclosure, so the transaction was much more complicated than a typical closing.  That will be a LONG article, for another day. Don’t miss it!

Wednesday is the ideal day for a closing!  You can read WHY in my previous article on “Choosing The Right Day For Your Closing in Tampa.”

It is a “Buyer’s Market” in Tampa, with plenty of inventory of homes to choose from! I can help with your move to any Tampa neighborhood, including: South Tampa, Harbour Island, Davis Islands, Beach Park, Sunset Park, Hyde Park, Channelside, Culbreath Isles, Palma Ceia, Westchase, Waterchase, Odessa, Cheval, Avila, Brandon, Riverview, FishHawk, New Tampa, Tampa Palms, Hunter’s Green, Arbor Greene, Apollo Beach, South Shore, MiraBay, Golf Communities, Waterfront Homes, Luxury Homes in Tampa, Condos in Tampa and International Real Estate…contact me!

 

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Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   1 Comment »   |   05.21.2008

What Tampa Neighborhoods are Safe? Tampa Real Estate News

Filed under: "Where to Find", Best Places in Tampa, Channelside Tampa, Davis Islands Real Estate, First-Time Homebuyers, Florida Real Estate Law, Golf course communities in Tampa, Hyde Park Real Estate, Luxury Homes in Tampa, MLS Search, MacDill AFB, Tampa Neighborhoods, Tampa Real Estate, Tampa Real Estate Market

When families are searching for homes in Tampa, many of them ask about safety . They often ask for a home in a gated community. While Tampa is a very large city, there is very little serious crime in most residential neighborhoods. It really is a great city to live in!

This week, I received an email from a client, which included a new site, that I will share with my readers. Felonspy searches for convicted criminals within the radius of a particular address.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement provides information on the location of sexual predators on its website. You can search by name, or see if any offenders live in a Tampa neighborhood where you are considering buying a home. It is one more piece of disclosure that real estate agents should offer to their clients.
I believe in going above and beyond what the law requires real estate agents to disclose. If I have knowledge of any site, or resource, that helps families make better home-buying decisions, I am happy to share it! If you need help buying a home in the Tampa Real Estate Market, I am happy to assist you!

I can help with your move to any Tampa neighborhood, including: South Tampa, Harbour Island, Davis Islands, Beach Park, Sunset Park, Hyde Park, Channelside, Culbreath Isles, Palma Ceia, Westchase, Waterchase, Odessa, Cheval, Avila, Brandon, Riverview, FishHawk, New Tampa, Tampa Palms, Hunters Green, Arbor Greene, Apollo Beach, South Shore, MiraBay, Golf Communities, Waterfront Homes, Luxury Homes in Tampa, Condos in Tampa and International Real Estatecontact me!

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Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   3 Comments »   |   05.16.2008

The “Seller’s Disclosure”…a Critical Piece in the Florida Real Estate Contract…Tampa Real Estate News

Filed under: Disclosure, First-Time Homebuyers, Tampa Real Estate

This week, I have had two separate instances that involved Failure to Disclose issues that surfaced after a closing took place, so its the perfect topic today to educate anyone buying a home in Tampa, selling a home in Tampa or anyone contemplating a home purchase in the State of Florida.

The Florida Real Estate contract requires the seller to disclose any facts which materially affect the property . There is a lengthy form regarding all issues related to the property that a seller fills out , when a home is listed, known as the Sellers Disclosure . Since the contract states that the seller warrants that everything about the property is in working condition , filling out the sellers disclosure Tampahomefaucetproperly is a critical issue. It also requires all utilities to be on for the home inspection. Many sellers live with things their home that dont really work anymore, or they havent used them since they owned the property. For instance, a home may have a fireplace that hasnt been used by the current owner. Or, there may be a security system that has never been used. All of these things should be disclosed on the Seller’s Disclosure , along with the Mold Addendum. A savvy listing agent will review the Sellers answers on the disclosure, to ensure the questions have been answered properly. The seller can say I have never used the fireplace and it is not a warranted item. , or Two zones in the sprinkler system are not currently operating . Simple. Full disclosure.

Too often, sellers either forget about a non-working item, or they hope that the issue may not be discovered by a home inspector, or their listing agent does not quiz them thoroughly about any non-working items. Bad Idea. Throughout the listing period, the disclosure may need to be “updated” with new information about any thing that may have changed, i.e. a new roof, new A/C, flooding, etc.

The two issues I encountered recently are worth discussing because they are VERY different examples of a sellers Failure to Disclose .

Case #1: A spa heater was found to be non-functioning during a home inspection. The spa was apparentlygas heated . The sellers disclosure indicated there were no issues with the pool, or spa. It also indicated that the sellers had occupied the home, which is VERY important. If a seller had NOT occupied the home, they would not necessarily have knowledge of any non-working items. In this case, they had purchased it 3 years prior, but it was now vacant. Repair of the spa heater was listed on the items which needed repair, along with a number of other items. The listing agent sent an email stating that all repairs had been completed. The Contractor who made the repairs provided an invoice which stated the breaker needed to be on for the spa heater to operate and the spa blower is operating normally. A VA appraiser had checked the repairs and there was also a written invoice of verification of repairs. The repairs were triple-checked .

Once the buyers moved into the home, it was discovered: 1: the spa heater was still not working, 2: there was NO GAS TANK (it had been removed after the previous owners cancelled their service) 3: without gas at the time of the home inspection, the spa heater could NEVER have been tested, nor could it be operable. The Sellers failed to disclose 1. there was no gas service for the spa 2. there were any issues with the spa AND they are guilty of Breach of Contract by failing to provide gas for the home inspection. None of these things were readily observable to the buyers, or the home inspector, but they were all facts which materially affect the property. The home had a general home inspection, radon inspection and mold inspection! Buyers are expecting to be reimbursed by the Seller for the spa heater repair and the installation of a new underground tank. All of this could have been avoided if the Seller had simply stated the lack of a gas tank and the unknown condition of the spa, since they had apparently never used it and should have stated that is was not a warranted item. Oh, these sellers also failed to disclose they had a mitigation fan due to the presence of radon. The radon inspector is the one who alerted us to THAT little tidbit, when the radon levels were slightly elevated, and the radon company had a record of a previous installation of a fan at that address. I always recommend a radon inspection in the Eastern part of the county, due to phosphate in the soil, but over 80% of homes in the area go uninspected. Why? Uninformed agents and buyers.

Case #2: First time homebuyers purchase a home without representation, through the listing agent. The home had apparently had an addition done without permits. The buyers never received, nor did they sign, a sellers disclosure. They have now incurred substantial costs related to obtaining the proper permits, since the latest version of the Florida contract(not the one THEY signed) requires seller verification that all work was done with permits, and they have passed the final inspection. I was contacted by them through the Real Estate Sizzle, to get some advice, so I referred them to the listing broker, as well as a Real Estate Attorney.

Hopefully, a good paper trail and the obvious “failure to disclose” in each case ,will result in a positive outcome for the buyers, but an accurately filled-out “Seller’s Disclosure” could have avoided a lot of hassles for all parties…AND… …HONESTY IS ALWAYS THE BEST POLICY.

Selling a Home in Tampa? When in doubtOVERDISCLOSE! Buying a Home in Tampa? Read the Sellers Disclosure thoroughly and get written verification of any, and all, repairs. And, never buy a home, especially a “For Sale By Owner”, in Tampa, or anywhere, without the help of an EXPERIENCED agent who can properly advise YOU through every step of the homebuying process. Need help with your Real Estate needs in Tampa? Contact me today!

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Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   4 Comments »   |   01.24.2008

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