Tampa Real Estate Blog - Tampa Homes Blog

Solar Power - Coming Soon to a Home Near You

2011-11-07T21:48:00Z

Favored by the eco-conscious, solar power is clean, renewable, occurs during the time of greatest power usage, and eliminates the need for an expensive power grid. Until recently, however, the cost of the panels and their installation have made it prohibitive for most energy consumers. This is changing. According to Jonathan Fahey, writing for the Associated Press, the plummeting price of solar panels suggests that it will be competitively priced with fossil fuels as early as 2016. Currently, combined...(read more)

The New Mortgage Refinance Plan - Who is Eligible?

2011-11-07T21:48:00Z

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has announced changes to the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP). The FHFA hopes that the new program, which eases eligibility rules, will double the number of homeowners currently able to lower their mortgage payments. How does new program, extended through 2013, differ from the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) established in 2009? 1. Eligibility for HARP was limited to homeowners who were no more than 25% underwater. Under the new guidelines,...(read more)

New Taxes in the Future for Business Leases? Florida Real Estate News

2011-11-07T21:47:00Z

Are business leases in the state being taxed correctly? The Florida Department of Revenue hopes to discover the answer to this question in a hotly contested, upcoming study. Florida realtors worry that the Department of Revenue has a hidden agenda, and that the study is just a first step toward higher taxes. According to the Florida Realtor Association, Department of Revenue General Counsel, Marshall Stranburg's reassurance, "All we're looking to do is fairly administer the law,"...(read more)

New FHA Requirements Worry Condominium Associations

2011-11-07T21:46:00Z

Unlike traditional loans with their higher down payment requirements, FHA-insured loans have become the loan of choice for condominium buyers. According to Benny L. Kass, writing for washingtonpost.com, in 2010, the FHA issued between 30 and 40 percent of all condominium loans. This data was compiled by a national trade organization, the Community Association Institute (CAI) which represents condominium communities and their concerns. In response to the substantial condominium foreclosures in California,...(read more)

Consumers Sense Stormy Weather Ahead

2011-11-07T21:45:00Z

October's Consumer Confidence Index was at its lowest point since March 2009, when the U.S. was in the heart of the recession. The Index represents how secure consumers feel about overall economic conditions during the next six months. According to an Associated Press article by Ann D'Innocenzio, economists were shocked to discover the Index had dropped 20 points below what they had expected. In a strong economy, the Consumer Confidence Index reads above 90; last month's Index was only26.9....(read more)

Double-Dip Recession Appears Less Likely

2011-11-07T21:45:00Z

According to USA Today, in the wake of government reports issued on Oct. 19, economists are feeling more optimistic about third quarter economic growth. A Bloomberg News survey estimates economic growth up 1.8 percent from economist's projections less than 2 weeks ago. According to Capital Economics' Paul Ashworth, expansion in retail sales, manufacturing, business investment and jobs suggests that third-quarter growth could be as much as 3.2 percent. Optimism is due in part to 10-year Treasury...(read more)

Census Results Show High Rate of Homeownership

2011-11-07T21:43:00Z

According to Information, Inc. and based on data from the 2010 U.S. Census, the rate of homeownership is second only to the high rate of homeownership set in 2000. Rates vary by locale with the highest levels of homeownership, 69.2 percent, found in the Midwest, followed by the South at 66.7 percent, the Northeast at 62.2 percent, and the West at 60.5 percent. Although these levels are high, the data also reflect a 1.1 percent decrease in homeownership from 2000 to 2010. This is the largest loss...(read more)

About Bahia Realty and the Tampa Real Estate Market

2009-09-16T02:43:00Z

I know a lot of folks are quite worried at the moment about the current housing industry. This is understandable, as over the past year we have seen the price of housing come down to quite a large degree. But now could not be a better time to be buying a house whether you are a first-time buyer or looking to retire in the beautiful Tampa Bay area. And if you're looking to sell, then I'm sure you appreciate the importance of having a seasoned real estate professional who can maximize the return you will receive on your real estate investment.of the immense benefits you will receive by using the services of Jenn and I. It is because Bahia Realty Group is an independent Realty service, that we can offer personalized and professional real estate advice. Our only goal is ensuring you get the best value and professional service no matter what your real estate needs are. We are very proud of the fact, that my colleague Jenn was named the 2005 leading listing agent for a major Tampa real estate firm where she gained almost $10 million in real estate listings that year. Additionally, Jenn is fluent in Spanish.

The biggest thrill that Jenn and I experience, is seeing the smiling faces on our customers after they have either bought or sold their property with our help. This is what excites us, and drives us to excellence. So please have a look through our website at www.Tamparealestatelink.com. We pride ourselves in the many satisfied customer testimonials that you can find there. Please contact either myself or Jenn at 888-879-6703.

We would be happy to discuss any of your real estate needs at no obligation to you. We wish you the best of success in finding your next home in the beautiful Tampa Bay area.

Raul Aleman

Jennifer talks about her partner: Raul

2009-09-16T02:38:00Z

My colleague Raul is not only fluent in Spanish, but has a deep understanding of South American Spanish culture from having been born and raised in Venezuela. Additionally, Raul has over five years of success in the Tampa Bay real estate market.

Before joining forces with me, he helped Charles Rutenberg Realty grow into a $5 million real estate business. Raul has an encyclopedic knowledge of the Tampa Bay area and its many neighborhoods. If there is one area where Raul excels, it is in his deep and abiding knowledge of the Tampa Bay neighborhoods. And for those of you who are interested, Raul holds a Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Home buying blunders to avoid

2008-10-29T21:36:00Z

Buying a first home is often a nerve-racking time for many. It’s easy to make a mistake when you’re nervous. While the Bahia Realty Group will do their best to help you avoid mistakes when you buy homes in the Tampa Bay area, there are some things that only you can take charge of.

The first blunder of this kind is not being totally open with the professionals, such as the real estate agents (that’s us). Some buyers are afraid that the agent will think badly of them and judge them. This isn’t the case. We have the responsibility to make sure that you make a good purchase and are set up with a good, manageable mortgage. It doesn’t matter who you are or what your situation is – we’ve seen it all. And if you’re getting really nervous and want to back out, don’t be afraid to tell us. While we’re only human and will be disappointed if a sale doesn’t go through, this is still much better than finding out later that you’re unhappy and in over your head with something you didn’t really want to buy.

The second big mistake that is out of our control is changing your credit and financial situation before closing on the deal. While you might feel like celebrating your first home purchase by buying a new car to match the property or taking out hire-purchase agreements for whiteware and appliances for that new home, this may suddenly change whether you qualify for that home loan. You may end up losing that house if the lender decides that you aren’t a good credit risk. Think carefully: it’s better to have a house of your own and stick with the old goods you had when renting than have shiny new appliances and no home to put them in.

Call us now. Our experts will be glad to help you determine the maximum price you should pay for your Tampa home.

Jenn Cook

Who are Habitat for Humanity?

2008-10-29T21:32:00Z

When you’ve been around in the real estate business as long as the Bahia Realty Group have (even though we’ve only recently begun to concentrate on the Tampa Bay area of Florida, we’ve been around for quite a while now), it’s inevitable that you’ll hear about the charitable organisation Habitat for Humanity.

A few myths circulate about Habitat for Humanity. The biggest one here is that this organization gives homes away to the homeless for free. This isn’t true. While it is true that Habitat For Humanity has the goal of helping people who are on lower incomes into their own homes, they don’t just give them away willy-nilly. Applicants have to meet certain criteria; the organization seems to look for those who fit the old description of “poor but honest”. And the applicants also have to put in up to 500 hours of sweat equity – their time and labour. As one Habitat For Humanity representative put it, anyone can bang in a nail to help build a house, at the very least.

Habitat for Humanity does not receive any government funding – it’s purely done on charitable donations. Donors can contribute building materials, empty lots or labour, as well as money. And yes, if you are interested in making a donation to this inter-faith charitable organization in the form of a building site, we can help you find a good one in the Tampa Bay area.

Jenn Cook

Buying a foreclosure home in Tampa Bay

2008-10-29T21:25:00Z

Many first home buyers that walk through the Bahia Realty Group’s doors looking for a budget-priced home consider buying foreclosure homes in the Tampa Bay area (among the other areas). Foreclosure homes are often a good buy, as the owner is eager to make a quick sale, but naive buyers can sometimes be ripped off. Some desperate people will try and clean out what they can from a foreclosure home when they leave, including (quite literally) the kitchen sink. While our team will do their best to make sure that foreclosure homes do indeed have everything that a house should have, it’s good for buyers to know what someone selling for foreclosure reasons should leave behind.

A house should be more than four walls and a roof (plus the indoor walls). All the fixtures should be there. This means that when you buy a home, even at rock-bottom foreclosure prices, you can expect that a home will have cabinets and countertops in the kitchen, anything built in (including a dishwasher and a microwave, if you’re lucky), plumbing, air conditioning and ventilation systems, lights, doors (that shut properly!), ceiling fans, toilets, sinks, basins, windows and built in shelves. You should also expect that fixtures in the ground are left behind – the previous owners shouldn’t try to rip out the fencing.

What previous owners of a foreclosure home can remove when they leave to make way for you, the buyer, includes: all their personal belongings that were moved into the house with them (obviously); equipment that isn’t built in, such as refrigerators and televisions; curtains and loose carpets, and pictures on the walls.

Some vicious and resentful sellers even go so far as to trash the house before they leave. there are many ways to acquire a foreclosure property. Visit our Tampa Foreclosure page to learn about the different ways to purchase a foreclosure property.

We'll be glad to help you find the best deal in Tampa Foreclosures.

Jenn Cook

Avoiding loan fraud

2008-10-29T21:20:00Z

When you’re buying a new house, it’s not just important to make sure that you choose the right property to suit your needs; you also need to make sure that you get the right mortgage deal.

When you’re looking for the right property, you can usually trust the professionals to be on your side. We here at the Bahia Realty Group know that – when we help you to find the home in Tampa that suits you down to the ground, we feel as satisfied as you do. However, some “mortgage” providers aren’t quite so scrupulous, and you do need to be careful. Some news headlines have recently highlighted the dangers of mortgage fraud, so keep your eyes open.

Some so-called mortgage brokers, especially in the area of investment properties, run what is known as a Ponzi scheme. A Ponzi scheme entices investors (such as home buyers) into putting up their money into a scheme, but the broker or middleman doesn’t actually do anything to make that money work. All the Ponzi schemer does is take use the money from investor B to pay investor A. Be wary of any investment plan that tells you that you will get very high returns very quickly. A sound investment is for the long-term.

If you’re really unsure, ask the Bahia Realty Team for advice. We are very experienced and can help you in the right direction. Because when a home buyer wins, we win as well.

Call us to today show you the best deals in Tampa Real Estate.

Jenn Cook

Keeping cool for less energy in your Tampa home

2008-10-20T18:41:00Z

As we just come out of another hot Florida summer, you might wonder how on earth people survived the summer in the Tampa Bay area without air conditioning. Or else, you might wonder how to cut down on your energy needs/consumption but still keep cool – and as the Bahia Realty Group knows well, plenty of first-home buyers (and others) want to keep their energy costs down.

Fans were an old solution that have been around for a long time. And I don’t mean the sort of feather fans used by Southern belles to flirt with, or the things that look like horizontal windmills hanging from the roof. The most effective fans are whole-house fans or attic fans. These are mounted in the roof, and they suck in cooler air from the outside and push the warmer air up into the attic space and out into the air again. The breeze created by this moving air is much cooler than still air, so fans can drop the temperature to a comfortable level. And they use up to 90% less energy than regular air-con.

To be fair, whole-house fans aren’t perfect. They can’t do anything about humidity, and they can bring in pollen and dust from outside, which is bad news if you have hay fever or allergies. They may have to be supplemented by regular air-con in the hottest days of summer, but they can work well on their own.

If you’re buying and renovating a home in the Tampa Bay area – or building a new one as part of a development – then maybe you should consider installing a whole-house fan as a way of keeping energy costs down. Not a do-it-yourself person but still interested? The Bahia Realty Group can help you find contractors to install a whole-house fan or anything else you need.

Jenn Cook

How to spot serious flaws before you buy a Tampa Property

2008-10-20T18:11:00Z

We have homes in all sorts of conditions on the Bahia Realty Group’s property listings, ranging from brand new homes to foreclosures, REO's and older ones in serious need of some renovation and repair. While many people choose to buy property from us in the Tampa Bay area with a view to repairing or renovating, others buying in this desirable area just want a nice place to live in with no nasty surprises.

If you don’t want a do-it-yourself project but don’t want to buy new, it’s important to inspect your new property carefully. While the Bahia Realty Group will help you through this process – and you should be able to ask us any questions, including questions regarding the condition of the property – it wouldn't hurt to do a little looking on your own.

What are some warning signs that the property you are considering may be in need of some serious renovations: Here’s a list:

Discolouration in walls and ceilings: Yellow marks on walls or ceiling indicate leaks and water damage, which may be from a roof in poor condition or from leaky pipes. Black spots or patches are caused by mould. This is treatable, but something will have to be done to prevent the mould coming back. Mould likes damp, so maybe improving the ventilation or using a dehumidifier may be all that’s needed.

Other water damage: corroded (spalled) concrete blocks in the basement, bowed walls, rotting wood in the floors and a general musty smell. These may hint at serious plumbing problems.

Check the roof with a pair of binoculars and watch out for curling, chipping, cupping or rounded edges in shingles.

Power outlets: these are easily checked with a receptacle tester (see your local home improvement store) to see that the socket is wired correctly. If it isn’t, or if the polarity is reversed, this may mean the wiring was done by an amateur and it hasn’t been inspected. Avoid.

Plumbing: good plumbing should drain properly (fill the tub or the sink, then let it out to test it) and check the drain pipe. It should go into the wall, not into the floor. If it goes into the floor, it may need to have a vent added.

Sound like too much hassle? Just ask the Bahia Realty Group. We will provide you with a list of the best home inspectors in tampa Bay. We will always be there to help you make the right decision on your Tampa Real Estate purchases and investments.

Raul Aleman