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
Homeward Real Estate
3401 Henderson Blvd
Tampa, FL 33609
My Profile
Email Me
Contact me to Buy or Sell Your Home
My Opinion

Follow me on:


My Zimbio
KudoSurf Me!

View Jackie Colson-Miller's profile on LinkedIn

fiabci logo


Tampa Real Estate Posts







Tampa Restaurant Reviews

Poshd

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

'MLS Listings in Tampa'

« Previous Entries        

Moving to Tampa? Start Searching for Tampa Homes Ahead of the Crowds…Tampa Real Estate Searches and More

Filed under: Best Places in Tampa, Davis Islands Real Estate, Florida Real Estate, Hunter's Green Homes, Luxury Homes in Tampa, MLS Listings in Tampa, MLS Search, MacDill AFB, Real Estate News, Schools in Tampa, Tampa MLS Listings, Tampa Neighborhoods, Tampa Real Estate

Finding a home in the Best Neighborhoods, or the Top-Rated School District in Tampa, means start EARLY!

This is “Relocation Season” in Tampa!  Many families, with school-aged children, are busy “house-hunting” in the Tampa area, so they can get settled in time for the new school year, which begins in August. This is a busy time of year for a PCS To  MacDill AFB, as well.  Moving to Tampa with children involves, not only finding the best neighborhoods, but it also requires some research about the best schools in Tampa. Most families want to get settled during the summer, but the best homes, at the best prices, are the FIRST to sell.  If you are looking for the most choices in the Tampa Real Estate market, you should start looking NOW.  By June, or July, your options will be limited and the “best” homes will already be sold! The earlier you start house hunting, the more likely you are to find exactly what you want in the Tampa Real Estate Market.

If you are moving to Tampa, or looking for a home in the Tampa Real Estate Market, and you have children, finding the right school will be at the top of your “to do” list!  Hillsborough County is the 8th largest school district in the Country and has many top-rated schools, both Nationwide and Statewide.

Each street address has a specific “school district” assigned to it, but another option to consider is one of the many “Magnet Schools” available at all grade levels.

I deal with a heavily “International” clientele.  Many of my clients have bi-lingual children and want to immerse them in a curriculum that is focused on languages and international studies.  I, personally, studied at a French elementary school and later at a university in Switzerland.  While studying Russian History in French may not appeal to everyone, it is EXACTLY the kind of challenge that many students thrive upon!

Hillsborough County offers the Interational Baccalaureate programme at the Elementary, Middle and High School levels. MacFarlane Park Elementary,  offers the IB program at the primary level, focused on ages 3–12.  Located on MacDill Avenue, close to South Tampa, MacFarlane Park Elementary is rated in the top 1% of all Florida School.  You can find more information about their program here.

Hillsborough County offers Magnet Programs in Math, Science, Arts, Performing Arts, International Studies and more.  Before you enroll your child, consider all of the options available to you.  To be considered for a magnet program, there is an application process and a spring deadline for the following school year.  This is the time to start investigating your options for the 2009–2010 school year.

Looking for real estate in Tampa? Need a list of the “A rated” schools in Tampa?  Send me an email today!

 

If you are buying a house in Tampa, or Selling a house in Tampa, I can help with 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, 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!

For more information about the schools in Tampa, or assistance in relocation to any Tampa neighborhood, contact me today.

Tags: ,

| Print This Post Print This Post

Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   Click Here To Comment »   |   02.01.2010

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!

| Print This Post Print This Post

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

Buying a House in Tampa? Hurry, Or You Will Miss Out On Homestead Exemption

Filed under: Buying a House in Tampa, Homestead Exemption, Hyde Park Real Estate, Luxury Homes in Tampa, MLS Listings in Tampa, MacDill AFB, Moving to Tampa, Real Estate News

The Latest News in Tampa Real Estate, Buying a Home in Tampa or anywhere in the World!

We are in the “end of year crunch”  with buyers who are trying to close on a home in Tampa before the end of the year. WHY? It’s all about getting the “Homestead Exemption”!

Florida Law allows for up to $50,000 to be deducted from the assessed valuation for a primary residence, which can significantly lower your property tax bill for a home in Tampa, or any city in Florida.

For example, If your home is “assessed” for $300,000, and it is your primary residence, once you file for a “homestead exemption”, your property tax bill will be based on $250,000, not $300,000.

Once you purchase a home in Tampa, in order to qualify for the Homestead Exemption, you must file an appication with the property appraisers office. You need only file once, and must reside in the home, on January 1, of the first year you are claiming the Homestead Exemption. JANUARY 1, 2010….YOU MUST RESIDE IN THE RESIDENCE BY THIS DATE, IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR 2010.  Many lenders are “backed up” and cannot close your loan in 30 days, especially if you are missing any documentation for your loan application.  Read my latest article on “Buying a Home in Tampa in 30 days”! In Hillsborough County, in order to qualify for the Homestead Exemption, you must file your application prior to March 1, 2010.

You can download the forms, here, and then see the list of County offices where you can file the application for the Homestead Exemption.

Don’t wait…you will find long lines as it get’s closer to the deadline!

It’s a buyer’s market in Tampa!  I can help find the perfect home in any Tampa neighborhood!

Read some of my previous articles about finding the right neighborhood in Tampa!:

New Suburb Beautiful…A Top Choice in The Plant High School District

Moving to Tampa? PCS to MacDill Air Force Base?

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.

| Print This Post Print This Post

Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   Click Here To Comment »   |   11.18.2009

Can You Close on Your Home in Thirty Days? Maybe Not…Tampa Real Estate Market News

Filed under: Buying a House in Tampa, MLS Listings in Tampa, MacDill AFB, Moving to Tampa, Tampa Real Estate, Tampa Real Estate Agent, mortgage news

The Latest news in the Tampa Real Estate Market, Tampa Neighborhoods and Buying a Home in Tampa….

So, you have found a home in Tampa and want to move in within 30 days. Is that possible? With the current issues in the mortgage industry, tougher appraisal guidlines and the fact that lenders have cut back on staff, chances are slim that your loan will close in under 30 days.  The FAR contract has no allowance for an extension of the closing date if the lender is unable to issue a loan commitment within the time allowed under the terms of the contract, unless the delay is due to a storm, which has suspended the underwriting process. Otherwise, if you do not have loan commitment on the date specified in the contract, and the seller does not agree to an extension of the closing date, YOUR ESCROW DEPOSIT IS AT RISK. Worst case scenario is the “domino effect”, Seller A has to close today, in order to purchase a home they are contracted for to close on the same date and Seller B is in the same position. Three parties with closings all set for the same date, moving vans ready to go and the LENDER, who has a backlog of files, and no risk of loss in the transaction, has created a financial and logistical nightmare for everyone involved.

In recent months, lenders have taken a “laissez faire” attitude about the closing date, as if it doesn’t exist.  They have no sense of urgency. In addition to the “backlog”, we have seen an increase in “inaccurate” appraisals.  I saw an appraisal recently where the appraiser “missed” part of the second floor on the diagram she drew and omitted the most recent sale in the area! This appraiser works primarily in another county and under the new appraisal guidelines, she was “picked” from a list! Many Appraisers are doing a “sloppy job”  and not using the “best comparitive sales” for the property, since the lender can no longer choose the appraiser.  Imagine, if you needed surgery, but could not choose your surgeon, based on expertise is a certain area.  Your insurance company just “picked a name” off a list and said….”take it, or leave it”. That is what has happened in the mortgage industry.  Just because an appraiser is licensed in the State of Florida does not mean he/she knows the intricacies of every neighborhood in the State, nor would they understand the different “nuances” in value, from one street to the next, or one neighborhood to another.  Properties located in the same zip code can have vastly different values.

So, welcome to the “new mortgage industry”! I think there should be fines for lenders who cannot close a loan on time.  There should be a “maximum time” allowed for the underwriting process, which should not be determined by the lender itself.  Buyers with good credit need to ask for a penalty, if the lender cannot close a loan on time. Or, in this era of TARP funds, bailouts and the like, maybe it’s time for the Federal Government to mandate a penalty for a delay in underwriting. Oh, I forgot, Congress is too busy working on programs to increase our electric bills, increase the cost of our health care, increase our national debt and cavorting with lobbyists….More “government” and less “accountability” has created this mess, so it’s up to the buyer, who has the most to lose if a loan does not close on time, to hold the lender accountable. 

Make your online searches for homes in Tampa simple! You can get started on receiving all of the listings that meet your criteria in a matter of minutes…Just tell me what you are looking for…click here to receive the latest listings today! Any questions about the Tampa Real Estate Market, Tampa Schools, or the Best Neighborhoods in Tampa? Send me an email.

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, Wesley Chapel, 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.

| Print This Post Print This Post

Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   Click Here To Comment »   |   10.19.2009

How To Find The “Assigned School District” For A House in Tampa…Tampa Real Estate News.

Filed under: MLS Listings in Tampa, Tampa Home Search, Tampa MLS Listings, Tampa Neighborhoods, Tampa Schools

The Latest News on the Tampa Real Estate Market, Tampa Neighborhoods and Tampa School Districts and the Best Schools in Tampa…

In Hillsborough County, the 8th Largest School District in the U.S., Teacherschool assignments are based on your home address. Florida schools are rated annually, with grades of A-F. While there are many school choices available with charter schools, magnet schools, and the International Baccalaureate programs, a house in one of the top-rated school districts, with an A rating, will have a better resale value than one in a lesser-rated district. Three of the district high schools have made the list of the Top 100 High Schools in the country. Special assignments to a specific school, outside of your assigned school, are available on a space-available basis, but every address in Tampa is assigned to a specific high school, middle school and elementary school.

It can be frustrating to determine what “school district” a particular home is located in, since too many agents neglect to include this information when a home is listed in MLS. Fortunately, the School District has a very comprehensive website. You can check the district site  to locate the school district assigned to a particular address before you make an offer. Even if you do not have any children, or are not planning to have children, the school district will affect your resale value!

If you need MORE help with school districts in Tampa, or the best neighborhoods in Tampa, contact me today!

Looking for Real Estate in Tampa or information about the Tampa Real Estate market? Moving to Tampa? Are you looking for assistance in choosing the best neighborhood in Tampa for your lifestyle? Need informations about the schools 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, 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!

Tags:
| Print This Post Print This Post

Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   Click Here To Comment »   |   09.21.2009

Bye-Bye “Buyer’s Market” in Tampa…Tampa Real Estate News

Filed under: Buying a House in Tampa, CDD in Tampa, Gated Communities in Tampa, Hunter's Green Homes, MLS Listings in Tampa, MLS Search, MacDill AFB, Moving to Tampa, Tampa Neighborhoods

The Latest News on the Tampa Real Estate Market, the Best Neighborhoods in Tampa and Relocation to MacDill AFB.

Shopping for a home in New Tampa?  In the Four-bedroom, pool home market, from the $300,000 to $400,000 price range, homes that are nice, and priced right, are selling. FAST!

In the New Tampa area, zip code 33647, 26 homes, priced between 300K and 400K, have sold in the past 90 days, with less than 60 days on the market! How do I know that “buyer’s market” is passe? Of those 26 sales, 23 homes sold for over 90% of the listed price, while 10 homes sold for in excess of 95% of listed price! That zip code includes Hunter’s Green, Arbor Greene, West Meadows, Cory Lake Isles, Live Oak and Grand Hampton.  It is a very family-oriented area with “A”-rated school districts.

It is nice to get back to a “normal” market, where homes are priced right and selling in a reasonable period of time. It would be nice if the MEDIA could pick up on the good news in the Tampa Real Estate Market…maybe they should follow me on Twitter!

While most of my articles on The Real Estate Sizzle are about the Tampa Real Estate Market, you will find plenty to read about living in Tampa, fun things to do in Tampa and great places to eat in Tampa.  Check out my favorite restaurants and read my reviews at Urban Spoon!

How about a “Google Alert”? I stopped reading the newspaper and get the majority of my “real estate news” via google. You can set up an an alert for “Real Estate Sizzle”, or any subject you are trying to follow.  When an article is posted on that subject, whether it’s in the Wall Street Journal, the local news, or on a website, “google” will find it and email the link to you!

Do you want to receive listings in any Tampa, St. Pete, or Clearwater Beach area?  That’s easy…send me an email and tell me what you are searching for!

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 today.

 

| Print This Post Print This Post

Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   Click Here To Comment »   |   04.11.2009

Moving to Tampa? Find the Best Neighborhoods and Best School Choices in Tampa

Filed under: Buying a House in Tampa, MLS Listings in Tampa, MacDill AFB, Schools in Tampa, Tampa Home Search, Tampa Real Estate, Tampa Schools, Waterfront Homes in Tampa

This is “Relocation Season” in Tampa!  Many families, with school-aged children, are busy “house-hunting” in the Tampa area, so they can get settled in time for the new school year, which begins in August. This is a busy time of year for a PCS TO MacDill AFB, as well.  Moving to Tampa with children involves, not only finding the best neighborhoods, but it also requires some research about best schools in Tampa.

If you are moving to Tampa, or looking for a home in the Tampa Real Estate Market, and you have children, finding the right school will be at the top of your “to do” list!  Hillsborough County is the 8th largest school district in the Country and has many top-rated schools, both Nationwide and Statewide.

Each street address has a specific “school district” assigned to it, but another option to consider is one of the many “Magnet Schools” available at all grade levels.

I deal with a heavily “International” clientele.  Many of my clients have bi-lingual children and want to immerse them in a curriculum that is focused on languages and international studies.  I, personally, studied at a French elementary school and later at a university in Switzerland.  While studying Russian History in French may not appeal to everyone, it is EXACTLY the kind of challenge that many students thrive upon!

Hillsborough County offers the Interational Baccalaureate programme at the Elementary, Middle and High School levels. MacFarlane Park Elementary,  offers the IB program at the primary level, focused on ages 3–12.  Located on MacDill Avenue, close to South Tampa, MacFarlane Park Elementary is rated in the top 1% of all Florida School.  You can find more information about their program here.

Hillsborough County offers Magnet Programs in Math, Science, Arts, Performing Arts, International Studies and more.  Before you enroll your child, consider all of the options available to you.  To be considered for a magnet program, there is an application process and a spring deadline for the following school year.  This is the time to start investigating your options for the 2009–2010 school year.

Looking for real estate in Tampa? Need a list of the “A rated” schools in Tampa?  Send me an email today!

 

If you are buying a house in Tampa, or Selling a house in Tampa, I can help with 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, 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!

For more information about the schools in Tampa, or assistance in relocation to any Tampa neighborhood, contact me today.

Tags: ,

| Print This Post Print This Post

Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   Click Here To Comment »   |   03.16.2009

How To Get the Latest News on The Tampa Real Estate Market

Filed under: Buying a House in Tampa, Historic Tampa, Hunter's Green Homes, Hyde Park Real Estate, International Real Estate, Jackie Colson-Miller, Luxury Homes in Tampa, MLS Listings in Tampa, MLS Search, MacDill AFB, Places to Live, Real Estate Blogs, Relocation, Restaurants in Tampa, Schools in Tampa, South Tampa, Tampa Foreclosures, Tampa Home Search, Tampa MLS Listings, Tampa Real Estate Agent, Tampa Real Estate Market, Tampa Schools, Things to do in Tampa, Waterfront Homes in Tampa

If you are looking for the latest information about the Tampa Real Estate Market, moving to Tampa, relocation to MacDill Air Force Base, or what’s new in the International Real Estate Market, you can get the latest posts from The Real Estate Sizzle in a variety of ways!

Get a daily email of the latest articles, on The Tampa Real Estate Sizzle, or sign up for an RSS feed!

Use Twitter? Go to my Twitter page and Follow Me! Unlike many people on Twitter, I don’t “tweet” all day long!  You will only get the latest Real Estate Articles, or my latest Restaurant Reviews!  If you don’t use Twitter, you should give it a try.

Do you want to receive my email newsletter?  Sign up here! You can “opt out” at any time.

While most of my articles on The Real Estate Sizzle are about the Tampa Real Estate Market, you will find plenty to read about living in Tampa, fun things to do in Tampa and great places to eat in Tampa.  Check out my favorite restaurants and read my reviews at Urban Spoon!

How about a “Google Alert”? I stopped reading the newspaper and get the majority of my “real estate news” via google. You can set up an an alert for “Real Estate Sizzle”, or “Tampa Real Estate”, or any subject you are trying to follow.  When an article is posted on that subject, whether it’s in the Wall Street Journal, the local news, or on a website, “google” will find it and email the link to you!

Do you want to receive listings in any Tampa, St. Pete, or Clearwater Beach area?  That’s easy…send me an email and tell me what you are searching for!

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 today.

 

 

| Print This Post Print This Post

Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   Click Here To Comment »   |   01.26.2009

Why You Should Stop Listening to the Media in The Tampa Real Estate Market

Filed under: Luxury Homes in Tampa, MLS Listings in Tampa, MacDill AFB, Moving to Tampa, South Tampa, Tampa Foreclosures, Tampa Home Search, Tampa Real Estate, Tampa Real Estate Agent

Three little words have “ruled” in the history of buying real estate, in Tampa, or anywhere else…LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.  Though we are in a “Buyer’s Market”, the basic rule still applies…”a property in a desirable location, that is priced right, will sell quickly”… The media, however, talks about the prices in the “Tampa Real Estate Market” as though the “rules” have changed. But, the “law of Supply and Demand”, along with the rule about “Location”, will never change. An “oversupply” of properties lowers prices, and an “undersupply” of properties increases prices. Use New York City as an example. What happens in Harlem does not apply to Park Avenue, or Tribeca. In Miami, South Beach prices are very different from Calle Ocho, or the Kendall area.  You cannot discuss real estate, in any Metropolitan area, without understanding the “microeconomics” of that area.

Let’s talk about “Media News” vs. “Facts” in the Tampa Real Estate Market, so CNN, MSNBC, WSJ and Tampa Tribune…please “listen up” and get your facts straight. And, put the “local” back into your real estate reporting.

 Media Myth:  “The entire Tampa Real Estate Market is still falling”

Truth:  Certain areas in the Tampa Real Estate Market, where investors were buying new construction at “pre-construction prices” during the “boom”, hoping to “flip” them upon completion, are in serious distress, with many foreclosures.  This includes the Channelside area and much of the South Shore area, including Riverview, Apollo Beach and Ruskin.  In Pasco County, the cities of Wesley Chapel and Land O’Lakes have also seen drastic price drops.

The area “least” affected by the downturn? South Tampa…the peninsula which is south of Downtown Tampa, beginning at Kennedy Boulevard and south to MacDill Air Force Base.

South Tampa has historically been one of the “best bets” for real estate, for three good reasons…LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. Just minutes to downtown Tampa and Tampa International Airport, South Tampa has top-rated schools and a “small town feeling”, with charming, historic neighborhoods.  In ANY real estate market, this area remains desirable.

In South Tampa, certain neighborhoods, which are in the Plant High School District,  are always very desirable: Hyde Park, Davis Islands, Palma Ceia, New Suburb Beautiful, Parkland Estates, Beach Park and Sunset Park. In the “prime” section of Hyde Park, or any of these neighborhoods, there might be one, or two, homes for sale, at any given time.

Statistics about the Tampa Real Estate Market,as a whole,  are often misleading, because they take the “location” out of the equation. Real Estate is “local”. In Tampa, it’s all about the neighborhood, so for news about a  specific Tampa neighborhood, PLEASE stop listening to the media and contact ME today!

 

 

 

| Print This Post Print This Post

Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   1 Comment »   |   01.20.2009

Moving to Tampa? Need Health Insurance? Tampa Real Estate News and More

Filed under: Health Insurance, MLS Listings in Tampa, MLS Search, MacDill AFB, Moving to Tampa, Real Estate News

If you are moving to Tampa, or anywhere in Florida, a new program to provide affordable health insurance to Florida Residents has just become available.

Depending on the city in Florida where you live, the available plans will vary, but “Cover Florida Health Care” aims to provide health insurance to all Floridians.

Moving to Tampa?  Contact me today to find the perfect home, or for more information about relocation to Tampa!

| Print This Post Print This Post

Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   Click Here To Comment »   |   01.08.2009

« Previous Entries