The Real Estate Sizzle

Tampa Real Estate Sizzle…Your Best Source for Tampa Real Estate, Tampa Neighborhoods, South Tampa Real Estate, Florida Condominiums and The Latest News on The International Real Estate Market

Jackie Colson-Miller

Jackie Colson-Miller
Direct - (813)629-5757
Toni Everett Company
5000 Bayshore Blvd
Tampa, FL 33611
My Profile
Email Me
Contact me to Buy or Sell Your Home
My Opinion

My Zimbio
KudoSurf Me!

View Jackie Colson-Miller's profile on LinkedIn

fiabci logo


Tampa Real Estate Posts







Poshd

Creative Commons License
work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 License

'Florida Real Estate'

« Previous Entries        

Moving to the Tampa Real Estate Market? Yes, We Have Alligators!

Filed under: Florida Real Estate, Gated Communities in Tampa, Golf course communities in Tampa, Tampa Foreclosures, Tampa Home Search, Tampa MLS Listings, Tampa Neighborhoods, Tampa Real Estate, Tampa Real Estate Agent, Tampa Real Estate Market, Waterfront Homes in Tampa

I have lived in Florida for over 25 years, and have been selling Real Estate for nearly 15 years, so I am pretty familiar with “avoiding alligators”.  It’s common sense, really. Where do alligators live? Aside from the Everglades…wherever there is water.

Many of the newer subdivisions in Tampa, have natural, or man-made lakes.  Plenty of Tampa golf communities are filled with “water hazards” along the golf course. You can find them in Westchase, Cheval and Avila, just to name a few. I remember the first “pond front”  house I sold in Cheval.  We were doing the “walk through” the day before closing, just as the neighborhood gator was out for a swim.  The buyer, from Missouri, was stunned to see the mammoth creature just hundreds of yards away! We don’t have penguins in Florida, but we do have alligators!  If you are moving from outside of Florida, and spent your summers enjoying a swim in the local pond, or lake, then you need to understand one simple equation:

Fresh Water = Alligators= NO SWIMMING

Yes, Alligators will come out of the water to sun themselves on the banks, or in search of food. That leads to the second equation about alligators:

Feed The Alligator = Alligator Views Humans as a Food Source.

This article was prompted by Seth Godin’s blog today…Tips To Avoid Alligator Attacks. Common Sense, but pretty funny!

Bottom line?  If you want to swim in Florida…head for the pool, or the beach!

Looking for the perfect home in any Tampa neighborhood, or a “bargain” in the Tampa Real Estate Market? Contact me today…we can chat about how to avoid alligators!

 

Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   1 Comment »   |   11.12.2008

Foreign Investors Invade The Clearwater Beach Real Estate Market!

Filed under: Buying a House in Tampa, Clearwater Beach Real Estate, Florida Beachfront property, Florida Real Estate, Tampa Real Estate Agent, Tampa Real Estate Market

 The Latest News on the Tampa Bay Area Real Estate Market every day on The Real Estate Sizzle…

Florida is the place for British and European Investors! While dining, and relaxing by the pool, on Clearwater Beach this weekend, it seemed everyone was speaking a foreign language!  There were Danes, Norwegians, Australians, British and Europeans everywhere I went! We had much discussion about the Clearwater Real Estate Market and the “value” it represents for foreign investors in 2008! 

 

With the British Pound trading at 2 to 1 against the American Dollar, many of the investors in the Florida market are from the U.K. As the Euro continues to rise against the Dollar, we are getting increasing numbers of European buyers, as well. Now, Canadians are enjoying a 1 to 1 currency exchange with the U.S. Dollar. Prices in Florida are the lowest in years, so the time is right for foreign investment. There are some great bargains on beachfront condos, so don’t wait until the prices begin to recover! If you are interested in buying a condo on the beach, a home in Tampa, or Real Estate anywhere in the world, contact me.

A portion of my business is focused on the International Market. I am a Certified International Property Specialist and member of the International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI). Many of my clients are from foreign countries or work for foreign companies Beachin the U.S. Florida is very much an “International” Destination. Tampa is perfectly situated between Disney World and the Gulf Beaches. It is a great location for foreign investors. Having the CIPS (Certified International Property Specialist) designation, which is earned by less than 1% of all Real Estate Agents, allows me to better assist my foreign clients. Every country handles foreign investors differently and CIPS agents are specially trained to understand, and facilitate, the purchase and sale of Real Estate in every country around the world!

Real Estate is no longer a “local” market. Savvy buyers are Global. They are looking for smart investments all over the world, based on World_mapthe strength or weakness of a country’s currency, political stability, it’s economic development and potential for long-term gains. The political and economic situation in Venezuela right now, is sending Venezuelans to seek safe shelter for themselves and their finances. Many of them are heading to Florida and Central America. Check the latest exchange rate for your currency to see what you can spend in U.S. Dollars!

Conversely, the political and economic climate in Panama, makes it the number one Retiree destination in the world right now! Watch for more on the advantages of buying property in Panama, Costa Rica and Eastern Europe… in future “International Real Estate” articles…stay tuned…

If you would like to receive notifications of new articles on the Real Estate Sizzle by email…click here.

I can help with your move to any Tampa neighborhood, 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…Panama, Costa Rica, Europe, U.K…contact me!

Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   Click Here To Comment »   |   07.05.2008

Looking for Tampa Real Estate? Don’t Forget a Home Inspection!

Filed under: Buying a House in Tampa, Florida Real Estate, MLS Listings in Tampa, Tampa Real Estate Agent, Tampa Real Estate Market

THE LATEST NEWS ON THE TAMPA REAL ESTATE MARKET, BUYING A HOME IN TAMPA, AND REAL ESTATE ISSUES AROUND THE WORLD, EVERY DAY, ON THE REAL ESTATE SIZZLE….

When you are buying a home in the Tampa Real Estate market, or anywhere in the World, you should ALWAYS get a Home Inspection done to check for any structural or mechanical defects in the home you are buying.

Very often, buyers are trying to save money by having a “friend” who claims to be a contractor do the inspection. BAD IDEA. Home Inspectors are certified through ASHI, a professional association of Home Inspectors. They have specialized training, standards to uphold and checklists they can follow, eliminating the likelihood that they might “miss” something. While no inspector is perfect, the more training the inspector has, the more thorough he is likely to be in examining the home for any possible defects, especially those not visible to the untrained eye.

Davis_water

Occasionally, you will need to hire additional inspectors, depending on the home. A waterfront home generally will require a seawall inspection, or a dock inspection. Property in a rural area may warrant a septic inspection or well inspection.

Wood-burning fireplaces should really be inspected for any loose mortar, or creosote build-up. I recommend a local chimney sweep for those inspections. A fellow blogger, St. Louis Real Estate Voice, posted an excellent article about Fireplace inspections. The photo alone will scare you!

Radon inspections are common in many areas East of Tampa and that requires a cannister to be placed in the home for several days, then collected, and tested, for the presence of Radon Gas.

While the cost of inspections is not inexpensive, the cost of NOT uncovering a problem until after you are the homeowner can be HUGE. Ask your Real Estate Professional for the best inspectors, not the cheapest ones!

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!

 

Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   Click Here To Comment »   |   06.20.2008

What Is THE Most Important Thing To Have During Hurricane Season? Tampa Real Estate Market News

Filed under: Buying a House in Tampa, Clearwater Beach Real Estate, Davis Islands Real Estate, Flood Insurance, Flood Zones in Tampa, Florida Real Estate, Hurricane Preparedness, Tampa MLS Listings, Tampa Neighborhoods, Tampa Real Estate, Tampa Real Estate Agent, Waterfront Homes in Tampa

Hurricane Season opens this week and Tampa homeowners will begin the annual purchase of flashlights, batteries, canned goods, duct tape and bottled water. Hopefully, we wont need to use ANY of them and we will escape another Hurricane Season unscathed! So, you have your hurricane box stashed in the garage and you THINK you are ready??

Think againthe single, most important thing, that every homeowner should have is a Home Inventoryan itemized list of everything (and its value) in your home!

You can read my thoughts on Hurricane Readiness in some of my earlier articles:

Why You Need a Home Inventory

What is Storm Surge and How Will it Affect My Home in Tampa?

Do I Need Flood Insurance?

Moving to Tampa? Do you have questions about Storms, or Insurance? What neighborhoods are safest in a storm? Where are the best School Districts? Send me an email!

Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   1 Comment »   |   06.01.2008

Pet Rules in Condominiums…Don’t Assume They Were Made to Be Broken!

Filed under: Buyers, Florida Condominiums, Florida Real Estate, Pet Friendly Tampa, Real Estate News, Relocation

The Latest Information about Moving to Tampa, or buying Real Estate in Tampa, or anywhere in the World!

Another article in my Pet Friendly series.

Florida is the Land of Condominiums , and I sell plenty of them! Each building has its own personality . From the concierge services, to the pool, common areas, floor plans, demographics and rules , you need to find the building that is best suited to your needs and yourPu_g personal life. A building known for its weekend pool parties is probably not the right place for someone who enjoys a more sedate lifestyle, so it is really important to ask the right questions when you are looking at condominiums and visit the property on various days, and at various times, so you can get a feel for what it would be like to live there. Likewise, a Building where someone scowls at your Pug in the elevator, and asks how much he weighs, may not be the most pet-friendly place in town.

One of the biggest issues, and one often overlooked, is a buildings Pet Rules . Are pets allowed? How many pets? What type of pets? Is M_cthere a weight limit? These are basic questions that the listing agent should know and the information should be in the MLS. Buyers agents should not assume that all pets are welcome and should ask the buyers specific questions about what kinds of pets they may have. A pot-bellied pig, certain dog breeds or exotic reptiles may not be acceptable in many buildings. I have had listing in one of the new condominiums in the Channelside district. It specifically excludes goats, reptiles and fowl…and has no weight limit on the two pets it allows, but specifically says they cannot be loud, or vicious! I have never seen a goat in a condo, but I read the condominium docs thoroughly, so I can explain the rules to any prospective buyers. I think we’ll have a little chuckle over that one! I guarantee, if you show up with a goat in tow, you will not pass “go”! Realtors should never tell a client that pet rules arent enforced, which happened with a buyers agent on one of my listings. The end resultthe dog had to go, so the buyer moved out, just months after moving in!

On a condominium resale in the State of Florida, you have 3 days to review the Condominium Documents, which will include the current rule about pets. It is very important that you have any updates to the documents, as any changes to the original documents may not be included. It is always a good idea to contact the building manager with any specific questions about pet rules in a building that you are considering.

PB-pigOne of the buildings where I have sold many units, requires a weight certificate from a veterinarian, to insure that the cute puppy will not exceed twenty five pounds at maturity. Some buildings prohibit all pets! Some allow certain kinds of pets and certain numbers of pets, weight limits or all of the above. If you have three pets and the rules allow for only two, dont think you can just hide one. Those condo commandos will find you!

Many single-family homes and townhomes in deed-restricted areas also have rules about pets. Save yourself some time and, lots of aggravation by asking those three little words What About Pets? .

If you are looking for the perfect condominium in Tampa, Clearwater or St. Petersburg, or need information about moving to Tampa, or would like listings in any Tampa neighborhood, please contact me today!

I

Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   6 Comments »   |   05.13.2008

Personal Liability Insurance…Why Homeowners Need An “Umbrella” Policy?

Filed under: Florida Real Estate, Insurance, Jackie Colson-Miller, Luxury Homes in Tampa, MLS Listings in Tampa, Moving to Tampa, Real Estate News, Relocation, Tampa Real Estate, Tampa Real Estate Agent, Tampa Real Estate Market

The Latest News on the Tampa Real Estate Market and Everything You need to know about buying a house in Tampa, every day…

Another article in my series on Florida Insurance Issues

Commonly known as an Umbrella Policy , Personal Liability Insurance kicks in after the limits on your Homeowners Insurance, Auto Insurance or Boat Insurance have been reached.

For the purposes of Real Estate, we will just discuss the implications to a homeowner.

Suppose your dead tree falls over the property line and onto your neighbors home, causing $500,000 worth of damage. Or, someone is injured, or an uninsured workman (do you check for insurance coverage when you hire your lawnman?) is injured, or killed, while on your property. Or, you have a party for your child and one of the guests falls off the swingset and is paralyzed.A lawsuit could result in hundreds of thousands, or millions of dollars in damages. Without an Umbrella policy, you may be responsible for the payment.

With the cost of a One Million dollar Umbrella Policy averaging between $200 300 per year, few homeowners can afford NOT to buy it!

Call your insurance agent today!

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!

Graphic courtesy of MSN.com

Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   7 Comments »   |   04.29.2008

What is a CDD and How Will it Affect my Tax Bill?…Tampa Real Estate Market News

Filed under: CDD in Tampa, Florida Real Estate, Places to Live, Property Taxes in Florida, Tampa MLS Listings, Tampa Neighborhoods, Tampa Real Estate, Tampa Real Estate Agent, Tampa Real Estate Market, Waterfront Homes in Tampa, Westchase

The latest news in the Tampa Real Estate Market and Real Estate Issues around the World

Buying a home in Tampa in a community with a CDD fee? Since that term is very unfamiliar to most buyers who are moving to Tampa from other cities, here is a brief explanation of CDD fees.

A CDD is short for Community Development District which finances and manages community developments. Tax-Free Bonds are issued to the developer to finance the cost of building the infrastructure of a development, including roads, utilities and many amenities including, pools, clubhouses,tennis courts, golf courses, etc. Homeowners in the development pay the costs of the CDD over the span of 15 to 30 years. There are a number of communities with CDD fees in Tampa, and throughout the State of Florida, so if you are looking for real estate in Tampa, or anywhere in Florida, you should know about these fees.

Can CDD fees go up? Yes. The CDD fees appear on the homeowners tax bill. Each Community has a CDD board, initially appointed by the developer, which decides whether to include additional assessments into the CDD fee. If a community decides to do additional Chev_1landscaping, revamp the golf course, add gates, or any other amenities, those costs may be added to the existing CDD fees. That would increase a total tax bill and increase the escrow required by your lender.

What can you do if you live in a community with a CDD fee? Stay informed. Know who the members of the CDD board are and attend any meetings regarding CDD fees.

You can find a list of all communities with CDD fees in Florida here.

For assistance in finding a house in Tampa, or any of the surrounding suburbs, or any questions about the Tampa Real Estate market, please contact me.

I can help with your move to any Tampa neighborhood, 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, Hunters Green, Arbor Greene, Apollo Beach, South Shore, MiraBay, Golf Communities, Clearwater Beach, Waterfront Homes, Luxury Homes in Tampa, Condos in Tampa and International Real Estatecontact me today!

 

Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   Click Here To Comment »   |   04.14.2008

Foreign Investors…Florida is a Top Choice…Tampa Real Estate Market News

Filed under: Buyers, Florida Real Estate, International Real Estate, Real Estate News, Relocation, Sellers, Tampa

THE LATEST NEWS ON THE TAMPA REAL ESTATE MARKET, BUYING A HOME IN TAMPA, AND REAL ESTATE ISSUES AROUND THE WORLD, EVERY DAY, ON THE REAL ESTATE SIZZLE.

 

Florida is the place for British and European Investors! With the British Pound trading at 2 to 1 against the American Dollar, many of the investors in the Florida market are from the U.K. As the Euro continues to rise against the Dollar, we are getting increasing numbers of European buyers, as well. Now, Canadians are