Tampa Homes Best Buys Blog

But prices are still falling. The tax incentive once again pushed real estate sales in our area. Some homes saw multiple bids on them as first time home buyers competed for the best deals at the end of the tax time frame. Overall prices are still falling a little, about 1%. Other areas of the country are actually showing increases in value. To get the latest value of your home, go to www.tampahomesvalues.com

I had my first investor/second home condo buying tour last weekend. It had a good response. Beachwalk condos represent a good value and cash flow position now. They originally sold for $200k to $286k, now they are $40k to $90K. The higher end of the price range has a bay view.
According to USA Today, investors are buying around the country now. And most are buying with cash.
Tampa home sales are up again for Feb 2010 over Feb 2009. The tax credits are helping to stabilize prices.

You now have time to finish up a short sale purchase. I have dozens available for you to choose from. Pres. Obama extended it until April 30th.

 

What do bees, mold and green pools have in common?

 

These are all issues I�ve been dealing with on foreclosures or short sales for sale.   Although this is a fantastic time to buy (especially for first timers), you need to be very selective about homes that are not being lived in or not taken care of by absentee owners.

 

One house we have under contract has a hole in the exterior wall and some bees have set up honey production inside.  It turns out you cannot just kill the bees and patch up the hole.  You must have it all removed by a licensed beekeeper and get the honey comb out or it will grow mold.

 

Green pools with frogs and turtles living in them are now common place.  I had 5 turtles rescued from 1 of my listings.   

 

And I donâ��t even open refrigerator doors any more—not after the maggot story I have to tell.  It wasnâ��t funny when it happened, but now my husband and I enjoy telling the story after a glass of wine when good friends are over (only after we have eaten do I tell it!)   Letâ��s just say that whenever I call the housecleaners to do work on a new foreclosure listing, they now ask if maggots are involved.

 

Buyers are looking for deals these days, but you really need to use a Realtor who has rehab (fix up) experience or has worked around construction for a while.  That will save you lots of time and trouble in the long run!  And make sure you do an inspection on any house you are considering purchasing.

 

Visit my website at www.tampahomesbestbuys.com

 

Janet Montano, Broker  813-956-3563

jmontano@janetmontano.com

I have spent almost all week working with first time home buyers. It does my heart a world of good to see them looking at homes and getting prequalified by lenders.
For so long, Realtors couldn�t help them. Move up buyers, cash buyers and investors with larger down payments were knocking them out of the market.

Now it�s first time home buyers time! Look at these reasons to buy your first home:

1. $8,000 tax credit. You can amend your 2008 tax return and get that check now!
2. USDA Rural Program with 100% financing and no PMI. Who needs subprime when you have this? Any lender can do this loan and rates are very low. No mortgage insurance. In the Tampa area you can buy in the New Tampa/Tampa Palms area and in Pasco county from the Suncoast over to Wesley Chapel. By the way, that�s also where property taxes are some of the lowest around.
3. Prices have hit bottom. Realtors know before the media does. If you wander through my Remax office, you�ll see agents �high 5�ing� each other. The phones are ringing and everyone is busy showing real estate. Inventory is plentiful. I showed 2 houses today that were priced around $150k that were not short sales and were in move in condition. 3 bed, 2 bath, 1 or 2 car garages. One even had a nice pool.

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