The employment event of the season, the Tampa Bay Job and Career Fair, will be held on Monday, July 19 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the St. Pete Times Forum. For more info, please visit the St. Pete Times Forum page. Good luck!
Why you should buy a home now – even after the tax credit
While much press coverage has been given to the recent first-time and move-up buyer tax credit, there are many time-sensitive factors that make the current climate an exceptional time to buy a home…even without the tax credit.
As a Member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I have seen many real estate markets come and go, and I know for a fact that the many outstanding opportunities that exist for home buyers today will not be around forever.
Besides mortgage interest rates that have been hovering at near-record lows, homes in many markets have become more affordable. Prices have moderated from the highs of the housing boom that occurred in most of the country, especially in major markets where they had increased significantly.
According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), new construction homes are an especially wise investment for home buyers. New homes are generally built to be much more energy efficient than homes constructed a generation ago, making them more affordable to operate. Plus, new homes often incorporate open floorplans, flexible spaces, improved safety features and low-maintenance materials—making them well-suited for today’s modern families.
So, if you’re thinking about buying a home, please don’t count on interest rates or prices staying at current levels—I’ve seen them change unpredictably and quickly! Mortgage rates are sensitive to market conditions, and even a slight increase can push monthly payments beyond a family’s budget. As the country recovers from the recession and people stabilize their financial situations, NAHB economists expect that home prices will begin to increase by 2011.
For further advice on buying a home or market conditions, feel free to e-mail me anytime. And be sure to pass this information on to friends and family who might also be considering a real estate purchase.
St. Pete Fireworks this weekend – Have Fun, Stay Cool, Be Safe
As the Holiday weekend approaches, I wanted to wish you all a wonderful 4th of July Holiday. Please be careful, have fun and share some laughter with your friends and family this weekend. Here’s a list of local fireworks in the St. Pete and Clearwater areas.
SATURDAY, JULY 4
- St. Petersburg Pier – 800 Second Ave. N.E. – St. Petersburg,
- July 4 : 1 p.m. – 11 p.m.
- Get up close to the light show at the Waterside Courtyard & The Pier ! The Pier throws one of the most extravagant fireworks shows in the area.
Independence Day at Channelside
- 615 Channelside Dr. – Tampa
- July 4 : 2 p.m.
- Face painting, balloon artists, and moreWaterfront fireworks in the Channelside District
- Coachman Park – 301 Drew St. – Clearwater
- July 4 : 4 p.m. – 10 p.m.
- Celebrate with family-friendly activities, listen to the Mostly Pops Orchestra then top off the evening with one of Tampa Bay’s biggest fireworks displays
- Pasco County Fairgrounds- Fireworks and entertainment in Dade City
- 36722 State Road 52 – Dade City
- July 4 : 9:15 p.m. Gates open at 4p.m.
- Marina Jack Restaurant – 2 Marina Plaza – Sarasota
- July 4 : 8 p.m. Be early! (around 5)
- The 4th of July Fireworks in Sarasota starts at dusk over Sarasota Bay at Bayfont Park.
- Largo Central Park – 101 Central Park Drive – Largo
- July 4 : 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. Fireworks display at 9 p.m.
- Find your perfect stop to catch the Fireworks in Largo’s Central Park this Independence Day
How to Avoid Huge HVAC Mistakes
As things heat up in our area, I wanted to take the chance to remind you of the importance of regularly caring for your HVAC system.
- Image via Wikipedia
Failing to properly maintain your HVAC can cost you thousands of dollars. Unfortunately, I’ve had clients confronted with HVAC nightmares due to lack of consistent maintenance. And as a Member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I understand how important it is to keep your home’s value intact…especially in today’s market.
The good news is, while the cost to replace an HVAC system can be in the $3,000 range, simple maintenance is not costly at all. A filter is usually less than $10 and replacing it monthly keeps your air cleaner and your house less dusty.
Filters should generally be replaced every month when the system is running. Replace filters with the same kind and size as the original filter. If your filter is not disposable, follow the manufacturer instructions for cleaning. If you’re using a high-density filter such as an electrostatic filter, check with your local HVAC expert, who can raise the external static pressure of your system. If the external static pressure exceeds the design criteria of your system, it can negatively impact the performance and life of your equipment.
Your air filter should be located in either the blower compartment of the furnace, in an attached filter case, or in a return air grille in a wall of your home. If you cannot find the air filter, contact your local HVAC dealer for assistance.
Have your local HVAC dealer perform preventative maintenance before the start of a new season. Many companies offer service agreements that may include reduced rates on labor and parts and provide priority response. Service/maintenance agreements may also cover:
-Cleaning indoor and outdoor coils
-Tightening electrical connections
-Checking supply voltage and operating current
-Checking refrigerant charge
-Measuring temperature differential at supply and return registers
-Cleaning blower wheel and motor
-Inspecting and adjusting the burner
-Checking heat exchangers
-Cleaning drain lines and pan
-Checking ductwork for leaks and insulation
-Checking the thermostat
Like many of us, your home is most likely your biggest investment. Simple and regular maintenance will not only preserve your home’s value but help you avoid a potential crisis and unexpected expense. For more information or for a recommendation on a local HVAC expert, please e-mail me. Be sure to forward this email on to your fellow homeowner friends as well!
Free coffee from Kahwa
- Image by goro via Flickr
What can be better than freshly roasted coffee?
Kahwa has two shops in downtown St. Petersburg and they are offering a challenge: If you haven’t had their coffee, a cup is on the house between June 21-27.
They are located at 204 Second Ave. S and 475 Second St. N in St. Pete.
Cutting Energy Costs in the Summer
- Image via Wikipedia
With summer officially upon us, many homeowners will be confronted with rising electric bills as fans and air conditioners kick into high gear in an effort to keep cool. Demand for electricity can also increase if you have house guests or children home for the summer.As a member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I have access to lots of great ideas for planning ahead to control energy costs this summer. The following tips are from the experts at Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G):
- Use ceiling fans in the counter-clockwise direction to create a wind-chill effect, making you feel cooler. Also, whole-house fans that bring in cooler night-time air can pre-cool a house and reduce energy use in the daytime if heat is kept out by closing windows and shades.
- Install a programmable thermostat. If health conditions permit, raise the setting from 73 to 78 degrees. You can save 3-5% on your air conditioning costs for each degree you raise the thermostat.
- Close doors leading to uncooled parts of your home. If you have central air conditioning, close off vents to unused rooms and be sure to keep filters clean.
- Plant shade trees close to the house on the South and West sides.
- Seal holes and cracks around doors and windows. Eliminate air leaks between window air conditioners and windows with foam insulation or weather-stripping.
- Turn off power sources. TVs, computers and other electronic devices draw power when they are in standby mode or turned off but still plugged in. Plug electronics into power strips and turn off the power switch when the items are not in use.
- Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), which use 75% less electricity and burn more coolly than incandescent bulbs. Keep in mind that CFLs are especially handy in hard-to-reach fixtures and won’t need to be replaced for about five years.
- Use timers and motion detectors on indoor and outdoor lighting.
- Delay heat-producing tasks such as laundry until later in the day. Wash full loads, using cold water whenever possible.
- Run the dishwasher at night, using the shortest cycle that will get the dishes clean. If manufacturers’ directions permit, turn the dishwasher off before the dry cycle or use the air dry feature if your machine has one.
- Take short showers as they use less hot water than a bath.
- Replace old appliances with new energy efficient Energy Star appliances.
- Unplug the extra refrigerator in your garage or basement and use it only when necessary. Refrigerators that are only 10 years old can use twice as much electricity as new Energy Star labeled models.
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Oil Spill Update for St. Pete Area
- Image via Wikipedia
Obviously, the oil spill is of major concern to St. Petersburg and all of Florida, well everyone actually. As of now, there have NOT been any oil slick sightings from our 825 miles of beaches, 1,260 miles of coastline and 14 seaports. We certainly keep an eye on the slick and I have found that there are several websites dedicated to watching the progress or lack thereof of the spill. Here are a few of them for your convenience:
Here is the now world-famous live feed of the leak:
Updates on the spill:
WTSP daily updates and live feed:
All we can do is report the facts and the facts right now are that our beaches are safe and that there have not been any reports from our beaches. We hope for the best.
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Top 5 Hurdles to Selling your Home
The Top 5 Pitfalls of Selling Your Own Home
While it is certainly understandable why some people would like to avoid paying a real estate agent’s commission—especially in today’s economy—homeowners need to be aware of the serious pitfalls that can occur before they embark on the process of selling their own home.
As a member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I have had many clients enlist my services after losing valuable time and money attempting to sell their own home. What seems like a relatively easy undertaking at first, can become a time-consuming and overwhelming process. I’d like to share with you some of the most significant snags that often occur when selling one’s own home:
1. Ineffective marketing. Most homeowners simply lack the resources necessary to effectively market their own home. Working with a professional real estate agent, such as a member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, however, usually means your home will be marketed to the widest group of potential buyers possible, both through digital and print advertising, virtual tours, and online listing portals.
2. Mispricing your home. In order to sell your home quickly for the best possible price, pricing your home correctly is critical. This very nuanced process of choosing the right listing price, however, is always best left to a real estate professional. Most who sell their own homes price too high, resulting in their home sitting on the market for an extended period of time. And, unfortunately, the longer a home remains on the market, the less desirable it becomes for buyers.
3. Missing documentation. These days, a real estate transaction requires more documentation than ever before. It’s virtually impossible for the average homeowner to be aware of all the forms necessary to complete a real estate deal, and missing paperwork will bring any transaction to a grinding halt.
4. Overlooking legalities. The risk of overlooking important legalities, such as disclosure and compliance regulations that vary from state to state, is high for most homeowners. The average person is, understandably, not well versed in the many laws that govern the sale and purchase of a property.
5. Dealing with unqualified buyers. If you accept an offer from an unqualified buyer, you can delay the sale of your home indefinitely. A professional real estate agent will take the necessary steps to work with a lender to ensure a buyer is qualified before accepting their offer.
In most cases, owners end up exhausting more dollars than they would have paid in commission when attempting to sell their own home. If you would like more information on selling your home, please e-mail me. I also encourage you to forward this email to anyone you know who might be considering taking on the monumental task of selling their own home.
10 Tips to Rebuilding after a Bankruptcy
As a rule of thumb, bankruptcy is the least desirable option available to you when your finances have gotten out of control. However, if your financial situation has been going downhill for an extended period of time, your credit standing is probably so bad that filing for bankruptcy really won’t do much to make it worse, with one exception: A bankruptcy remains on your credit report for 10 long years. With this in mind, creditors will know that once you file bankruptcy, you cannot do so again for seven years.
- Image by Getty Images via Daylife
As a member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I am well versed in some of the ways you—or someone you know—can start to rebuild your financial life after bankruptcy. Here are 10 tips from consumer credit experts ApprovalGuard.com:
1. Plan your credit recovery. Take it slow and easy, do it right and don’t exceed what you can afford.
2. Learn more about how credit works through the Internet, counseling services or a service. Do it right and know what you’re doing.
3. If your credit report contains inaccuracies about debt that was discharged through your bankruptcy, contact the creditor or the credit bureaus to request a correction.
4. If you didn’t have enough savings to survive a setback, get serious about savings for an emergency fund. In the current economy you need at least 12-16 months.
5. If your problem was overspending, create a written budget and stick to it.
6. If your problem was related to medical bills, seek out a solution for insurance.
7. To re-establish a strong credit profile, you need a good history of payments from credit cards and installment debt such as autos, student loans or a home loan.
8. The rebuilding process requires you to use credit responsibly. Use only a small portion (30% or less) of your available credit line and ensure you make a payment every month.
9. When you start to re-establish your credit, consider a “secure” credit card. Such cards are usually backed by your savings account or money you place in escrow to cover 100% of your credit line in case you don’t pay your payment.
10.You may be able to apply for a home loan in as little as two years after the discharge of your bankruptcy, however, expect to pay higher fees and interest rates.
When you are ready to rebuild, make sure you understand credit and how to use it responsibly. Feel free to e-mail me for further information and please forward this e-mail to family and friends to keep them in the know as well.
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True Returns from Home Remodeling Projects
When it comes to major or minor remodeling projects most homeowners think they will break even at selling time. Many wrongly feel that adding the in-ground pool will make the home more marketable.
The following data is derived from the study. (http://www.remodeling.hw.net) The columns represent the project cost, value at the end of the project and the % of value retained upon sale of the home.
From this year’s results , improvements to the exterior had the best returns and a new entrance way door had the best return of all the minor projects.
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