The latest indications that we have seen the end of the sagging real estate market have started some Tampa Bay area homeowners thinking it may be time to sell. For those who are wondering if the long recession has altered how people look for homes – and if so, in what ways  – we’ve noticed a couple of new trends.

As before, the first stop for most potential buyers is the Tampa Bay area MLS listings. When you compare the language and features most prominent there, huge changes do not leap out. But a comparison with former language does reveal something of a shift in emphasis: many details that highlight opulence (to some, excess) are being replaced by features much more in tune with practicality and efficiency (to some, frugality). You would expect…

765 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Uncertain economy or not, we Americans remain a highly mobile bunch. In fact, the Census Bureau says that no fewer than 6,700,000 Americans packed up and moved to a new state in the period between 2010 – 2011, the latest year on record. The study sheds light on the movement of people within the U.S. — and it lets us know that of the most common reason for interstate relocation (43.9%) was for employment-related reasons.  The official stats are not yet available for last year, but the relocation numbers are expected to increase as people continue to relocate in search of more stable economic environments.

For just about everyone, even thinking about relocating is a daunting proposition. Although it can turn into a planet-sized headache, if you are one…

816 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Designers of today’s Tampa new homes are continuing to regard the kitchen as the functioning central gathering place – the family’s social hub, where a great deal more than meal preparation takes place. The trend toward bigger kitchens is on track: many feature kitchens designed with open space for family gatherings as well as multi-generational cooking. Many new homes deck out their kitchens in the hottest new colors (it’s become a widespread international fashion trend).

When you are making decisions about your own kitchen, if you decide to keep future home values in mind, your color choices may differ from what they might have been a decade ago. According to HGTV, “People are viewing kitchens that have too much of any one color as flat, so more…

716 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

July tends to be a busy month in most South Tampa homes. If you have kids who are out of school, it’s up to you to dream up new ways to keep them out of trouble (and away from non-stop video gaming). Even if kids are not at homes, you probably have to get twice as much done anyway – you want to be ahead at work and around the house so you can relax and enjoy your vacation. Or recover from it.

And then there is the likelihood that in the back of your mind is the knowledge that you’ve been putting off what should be an annual maintenance once-over. All homes have areas that need looking after, and July and August are the best time to get at them.  On dry days that aren’t too blisteringly hot to work, it’s prime time to fix areas that the year’s wear and…

780 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Following some legislative changes, successfully navigating a Tampa short sale has become a little easier, but is still a transaction that takes care and vigilance. A short sale — the arrangement between seller and mortgage lender that allows the seller to sell the property for less than what is owed – can be quite involved.  It requires negotiation directly with the lender, and contractual arrangements that can carry over into the future. If you are considering short selling your house, or simply want to know more about what it would entail, these are a few pointers to bear in mind:

A short sale is not always the best solution.One alternative, for instance, may simply include opening a discussion with the lender to see if a revised payment plan would…

907 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post