Real Estate Information Archive

New Year's eve in Tampa is great time to say goodbye to 2011 and ring in 2012 with style. Here are a few of the ways revelers can celebrate the occasion:

The Rooftop Eve

Have a great time and benefit a great cause at the same time. Rooftop Eve transforms the 4th floor of a parking structure in Hyde Park Village in Tampa into a lavish, shimmering scene filled with live music and entertainment and dancing. It's a stylish way to greet the new year! Rooftop Eve is sold out for this year,  but 98.7 radio will be offering the chance to win 3 pairs of tickets through Friday the 30th. Rooftop Eve is a fundraiser for Heartbeat International Foundation, Inc. which provides implantable devices and treatment to needy people. Cardiovascular disease is the #1 killer worldwide, and Heartbeat International Foundation is strategically placed to help as many people as possible.

www.therooftopeve.com

New Year's Eve at Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens knows how to put on an event, and this year's celebration will be no exception. The event will have special musical entertainment featuring Clint Wiley's None Other, DJ's, and a midnight fireworks show. Rides will be offered throughout the evening. Admission to the New Year's Eve celebration is included with every paid Busch Gardens admission.

Click here for more information.

First Night - Downtown St. Petersburg

First Night in St. Pete sees its 18th annual New Year's Eve celebration with "music, dance, fire, bubbles, stories, creative fun, fireworks and much more!" (www.firstnightstpete.com) This family-oriented event will be a blast for everyone.

Ice Hockey: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Carolina Hurricanes

Catch some hockey excitement a few hours before the clock strikes midnight! Watch the Lightning battle the Hurricanes in NHL action at the St. Pete Times Forum. The puck drops at 5:00 for this one. After the game, many in attendance will find their way to Channelside where thousands of people will enjoy a fireworks show to ring in the new year.

Visit the Lightning's official website.

The Outback Bowl (Jan. 2)

The Outback Bowl this year features the #3 teams from the Big Ten and Southeast Conferences, Michigan State and Georgia. The game kicks off at 1:00 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium. Georgia's Bulldogs are favored by 3 points over the Spartans from up north.

Here is the Outback Bowl's website.

Once again you can enjoy outdoor ice skating in downtown Tampa as the city's only outdoor ice skating rink will open on Friday, November 11th. Tampa's Downtown on Ice offers a fun, outdoor family friendly activity and brings a little more winter to Tampa.

The ice rink will be open from November 11th to January 1st, and is open daily (except Thanksgiving). Admission is $10 and this includes skates and a 90 minutes skating session.

Location: Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park
Season: Nov. 11, 2011 - Jan. 1, 2012

The overall outlook for the Florida real estate market dimmed during the second quarter in response to several contributing factors: political dickering, slow job growth and an upswing in foreclosures. For area buyers, the current Florida real estate market conditions are a double-edged sword.

The good news? With less competition from other buyers, first-time homeowners now have a wider selection of properties to choose from and more time to find a home (and a home loan) tailored to their budget. However, given the shocking rate of mortgage fraud in Florida, underwriting criteria has become more stringent, making it difficult for potential owners to receive financing.

Unemployment rates dropped statewide from 11.9% in January to 10.7% at the end of August – but are still higher than the national average. Although market analysts predicted a steady decline in home prices due to a market flooded with foreclosures and a limited pool of available buyers, Florida home prices have fluctuated from month-to-month this summer meaning homeowners should not give up on getting a fair price.

Despite statewide market trends, home prices in Tampa rose 6% from July to August in three counties. Meanwhile, the investment outlook is mostly positive across all property types, but particularly in apartments and warehouse type properties. In order to get the best price in a vacillating market, buyers and sellers need to team up with their agents. Our office is standing by to help you buy or sell your home, so call today!

Not only is national media rife with discouraging home buying data and cautionary headlines, our great state of Florida leads the nation in mortgage fraud. Florida accounts for nearly a third of reported cases of mortgage fraud in the nation! Many real estate agents try to avoid addressing troubling mortgage data in order to make a sale even when it is obviously not an easy time to buy or sell a home.

Mortgage fraud comes in many guises; from accidently entering erroneous financial information on applications to elaborate “shot-gunning” schemes. Criminal buyers who intentionally defraud financial institutions and buyers who fudge a little will meet the same set of consequences. And, although Florida’s mortgage fraud has taken center stage for four years, that doesn’t mean lending institutions are entirely innocent. So, buyers and sellers need to be wary. Unethical parties – agents, lenders, appraisers, buyers, etc. – will misinform, bully, and lie to con their way into a large sum of money. How do you, as a first-time home buyer or seller, arm yourself against these criminals? First of all, never sign an unfamiliar document. Conduct your own Internet investigation and keep tabs on the people with whom you do business. Consumers can learn more about potential mortgage brokers by visiting the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System & Registry. Simply enter the names of individual brokers and check out their professional histories, disciplinary records and the states where they are licensed. Soon, you’ll be able to access information on bank mortgage loan officers through the NMLS site.

With the advent of the internet, our generation of home buyers and sellers can research virtually any aspect of the home buying process. Zoning laws, lending rates, market trends . . . the amount of information you can access can be overwhelming at times. As the saying goes, there is no such thing as a stupid question, so do not hesitate to ask us about anything!

If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about living a vegan, or even vegetarian lifestyle, be sure to stop by the 2^nd Annual Tampa Bay Veg Fest down at the Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park. This free event, put on by Florida Voices for Animals and Whole Foods, offers visitors of all ages an opportunity to meet local vendors and vegan neighbors while savoring delicious vegan and vegetarian treats. Fluffy vegan cupcakes from Sweetsies, squash tacos a la Taco Bus, meatless lasagna, fritters, pies, shakes, curries, BBQ tempeh . . . even the most skeptical visitors will leave full and happy. Between gorging on humanely prepared food and grooving to local bands, visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the personal and global benefits of switching to a humane diet.

Tampa Bay Veg Fest offers games and activities for kids, such as yoga, puppet shows and more. This year’s entertainment lineup includes healthy-living advocates Dr. Milton Mills and Roberta Kalechofsky, as well as Hollywood veterans Ellen Jaffe Jones and comedian Carol Leifer. Given the success of last year’s event and that of the Central Florida Veg Fest, event officials are predicting an even greater turnout for 2011. For you eco-conscious entrepreneurs, this is the perfect venue for showcasing green products or services while networking with like-minded business owners. With live music and special guest speakers, the Tampa Bay Veg Fest will be the fall shindig you don’t want to miss!

Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo has something for animal lovers young and old. Today, the Lowry Park Zoo is recognized as one of the top zoos in the nation, especially for those with children. Named “Best Zoo in the U.S” by Child Magazine in 2004, and “Best Zoo for Kids” by Parents Magazine in 2009, Lowry Park features lush acreage, theme rides, interactive wildlife exhibits and rare glimpses of endangered wildlife, such as manatees, mandrills, or the Sri Lankan Sloth Bear. Florida’s tropical climate and expert park design make it possible for the Lowry Park Zoo to house animals from South Africa, Australia and humid forests of Asia. 

There are plenty of events to keep members and guests entertained throughout the year, as well as classes for animal lovers and an interactive Pre-School and Early Education programs offered through “Zoo School.” Lowry Park began as many wildlife conservation efforts do: as a small, localized effort to connect citizens to the plants and animals native to the area. Over time, the Lowry Park Zoo acquired more animals and joined the global effort to protect endangered wildlife when General Sumter L. Lowry, Jr. brought Sheena, a young Asian Elephant, to the zoo in 1961.

As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Lowry Park maintains rigorous set of operating standards that are both sustainable and conducive to species repopulation. (Surprisingly, over 90% of licensed wildlife exhibitors in the U.S. are not accredited by the AZA.) The Lowry Park Zoo is a world-class animal conservation center that you and your family will love visiting, rain or shine, just minutes from your home in Tampa Bay.

Since opening in 1959, Busch Gardens in Tampa has been entertaining and amazing guests with its thrilling rides, world-class zoo, and spectacular live shows. Located in Central Tampa, this African themed park includes safaris across the Serengeti Plain, jungle mazes and games the whole family will enjoy. There’s a reason why the park was visited by more than 4.2 million people in 2010, placing it among the top 25 visited theme parks in the world. The experience and the attractions at Busch Gardens are truly unforgettable.

Nothing gets your adrenaline pumping more than a thrilling roller coaster, and Busch Gardens has several unique rides that are sure to excite all of your senses. After entering the park, visitors will see Gwazi, a 90 foot wooden coaster in the Moroccan portion of the park. Gwarzi reaches speeds of up to 100 miles per hour and features six fly-bys. Gwarzi may satisfy one’s need for speed, but only the truly adventurous dare to challenge SheiKra, a 200 foot floorless dive coaster. This monster has a 90 degree vertical drop that will demand plenty of revisits.

Busch Gardens may be known for its rides, but it is also home to one of the nation’s largest zoos, containing nearly 3,000 animals. Visitors will quickly be transported to untamed exotic lands of Africa, as they get up close and personal with tigers, rhinos, alligators cheetahs and more. On the Serengeti Plain, guests get a wide variety of perspectives and breathtaking views of the wildlife, including an aerial view from the Skyride and a pass-by from the Serengeti Express Railway.

There’s no better place to take the family than Busch Gardens. Children of all ages will create life-long memories after experiencing Jungala, a four acre attraction with animal encounters, a water-play area, zip line and a launch tower ride that shoots guests over a majestic waterfall. Special offers include day passes with dining for under $80. To take advantage of current offers, visit buschgardens.com today and plan your own African adventure!

Channelside Bay Plaza is Tampa Bay’s premier destination for retail shopping, upscale dining and top-notch entertainment. Located on Channelside Drive, the Plaza is easily accessible from any part of the city or surrounding suburbs via I-275, I-4 and the Crosstown Expressway. Visitors and residents will love the variety of exciting and affordable shopping and dining venues that Channelside Bay Plaza has to offer. Channelside and its popular restaurants, shops and cinema are conveniently open seven days a week: Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday-Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Channelside is home to a wide array of restaurants and shops that give visitors a little bit of everything. Whether you are looking for the exotic cuisine of Tina Tapa’s or the fresh flavors of Oishi Sushi and Hibachi Grill, you are bound to find the perfect setting for lunch or dinner. There is also a police-themed pizza parlor, a Thai restaurant and a frozen daiquiri bar to add to the long list of quality dining spots at Channelside. After indulging your taste buds, you can browse some of the many unique boutiques and retail shops that inhabit the Plaza, including Lit Premium Cigar Lounge, Surf Downunder and Del Sol Apparel.

The weather isn’t the only thing that’s hot at Channelside Bay Plaza. The entertainment will make the evenings just as exciting as the days, as visitors can catch the latest flick at Channelside Cinemas 10, or quench their thirsts at a piano bar called Howl at the Moon. Then there’s Stumps Supper Club, which features the unique combination of southern cooking and dancing. Channelside Bay Plaza is a one-of-a-kind destination, providing good eats, quality brand-name products and plenty of fun all in one place.

Are you ready for some football?

Football season is upon us once again and for Tampa residents, this means the start of the Buccaneers season is quickly approaching. Since becoming an expansion franchise to the NFL in 1976, the Bucs have recorded several winning seasons, including a Super Bowl win in 2002. Today, the Buccaneers remain a vital part of Tampa’s culture and community, as one of the region’s most popular sports teams.

Every Sunday during football season, tens of thousands of fans flock to Raymond James Stadium to see the team compete against NFL foes and 2011 will be no different. You won’t want to miss out on the action, so make sure you get a seat by visiting buccaneers.com.

The Buccaneers are coming off a stellar 10-6 season and with many of the same players returning for this season, 2011 looks to be another winner. Second year starting quarterback, Josh Freeman, proved to be a fine offensive spearhead with a breakout season a year ago that included 25 touchdowns and over 3,000 yards passing. Rookie LeGarrette Blount also shined with over 1,000 rushing.

Head coach Raheem Morris and his braintrust will try to improve upon last year’s success starting September 11^th against the Detroit Lions in Tampa. But Bucs fans don’t even have to wait that long to see their beloved home squad, as the team will kick off preseason play on August 12^th against the Kansas City Chiefs. Their first preseason home game will take place on August 18^th against the mighty New England Patriots.