The Gasparilla Invasion of Tampa is Imminent

On Saturday, January 30th, the world’s only fully-rigged pirate ship, the Jose Gasparilla, will magically appear at the south end of Hillsborough Bay. A multitude of pleasure crafts, all determined to defend the city, will boldly sail forth to meet the ship. But upon quickly seeing the error of their ways, they will join forces with the Captain and his Krewe’s flotilla. The tall-masted a 165' long Jose Gasparilla pirate ship with cannons booming will then sail across Hillsborough Bay and and attack the defenseless city of Tampa.

The colorful Tampa Bay "Gasparilla Invasion" will have begun.

In this annual re-enactment of Tampa’s historic pirate invasion, the Gasparilla Flotilla, led by the pirate ship Jose Gasparilla will dock at the Tampa Convention Center where the Mayor will surrender the Key to the City of Tampa into the hands of the Captain of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla.

Shortly thereafter, the jolly Krewe will launch a victory celebration in the "Parade of the Pirates" down beautiful Bayshore Boulevard. During the lavish parade, the captain and krewes will toss beads, coins and other items from their floats while shooting blank pistols as they proceed along bayshore Boulevard.

Average attendance for the parade event exceeds 400,000, so if you plan to attend go early to find a parking space, or better yet, take advantage of the many alternative ways to get to the event.

A week before the "Invasion" and the main parade, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla sponsors a family-oriented Children's Parade and "Piratechnic Extravaganza," with fireworks over Tampa Bay..

Shortly after the invasion celebration, a more adults-oriented Sant'Yago Knight Parade is held in the Ybor City district of Tampa running well into the early morning.

The annual Gasparilla celebration is just one of the many high-spirited events that make Tampa Florida amd its suburbs in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties such fun places for families of all ages to live.

Another popular Tampa celebration is "Guavaween," held at the end of October. During the day, the family Fun Fest features live music, food, activities, and a children's costume contest. Other Tampa events include the annual Climb Tampa event, Race for Sight, the Gasparilla Distance Classic Marathon, the Bloom & Garden Festival and the USF Botanical Gardens Spring Plant Festival. There is an also almost constant flow of arts and cultural performances and events, many free to the public.

If you'd like to learn more about why Tampa and Tampa Bay may be just right for your next home, E-Mail Me or call me directly at 813-263-6806.

More Federal Help for Tampa Bay Foreclosures May Be Coming

A number of U.S. government agencies are working together on a new plan that could help 3 million homeowners avoid foreclosures. These negotiations could still fail, but federal government agencies are contemplating using $50 billion of the recently-passed federal bailout plan to guarantee up to $500 billion of residential home mortgages. Florida, because of its enormous reliance on the real estate industry, could benefit greatly under this plan since the housing meltdown has had a major negative effect on the state's economy.

Under the plan, the government would agree to absorb half of the losses on home loans if the mortgage company agrees to lower the borrowers'
monthly payments for at least 5 years. Details f how the plan would work are still being negotiated but this is the cetnral concept of the plan at this point.

In another recent development, more than $540 million in federal funds is coming to Florida, earmarked to purchase foreclosed homes at a discount. “Florida has felt the sting of our nation’s housing market challenges, and these funds will provide a welcome boost to our state’s economy by helping Florida families stay in their homes,” said Gov. Charlie Crist.

Governor Crist credited Florida’s Congressional delegation with securing the support from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grants under the Housing and Economic
Recovery Act of 2008 passed by Congress earlier this year. The funds will provide assistance to state and local governments to acquire and re-develop foreclosed properties that might otherwise be abandoned and blight their neighborhoods.

Florida had the nation's second-highest foreclosure rate in September, an ignominious record achieved by beating out depressed housing markets in California and Arizona, according to the firm RealtyTrac. Foreclosure filings last month afflicted 47,956 Florida properties, or one in every 178 homes. Only Nevada, with one in 82 properties facing foreclosure, is worse off. Hillsborough County showed the biggest monthly increase in Tampa Bay with 4,663 properties falling into foreclosure in the month. Pinellas County had 1,813 foreclosure cases, while Pasco and Hernando counties had 1,175 and 374 cases, respectively.

"Anything we can do to get foreclosure numbers down will quicken the stabilization of the market," said Ritch Workman, president of the 2100-member Florida Association of Mortgage Brokers.

The new federal government foreclosure-assistance program now being negotiated would be run by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC).

No one understands that process involved in short sales and foreclosure sales than an experienced Tampa Bay real estate professional like Cheryl Stimac. You can visit her Tampa Florida real estate website or call her directly at 813-263-6806 for further information.

Before you Buy That Florida Condo

Before you make a firm offer to buy a condominium in Tampa Bay, Florida, regardless of whether its a normal transaction or a foreclosure-related short sale, you need to know what else is involved other than its availability, condition, and price.

You need to gather and understand a fair amount of information other than just its availability and price. Read this article about Questions to Ask Before Buying a Condo and then call me at (813) 263-6806 or email me at cheryl@cherylstimac.com

For more general information on Tampa Bay real estate opportunities, I invite you to visit my full Tampa Bay Florida Real Estate website.

Welcme to Tampa Bay Florida

Tampa Florida is the "heart" of Tampa Bay, an ideal hometown for young families and retirees alike. Tampa Bay's weather is delightful. The average year-round temperature is 72°, a refreshing 60° in January and an average of 82° in August.

Our phenomenal weather fosters an abundance of outdoor recreation. The Hillsborough River, stretching 56 miles, offers fishing, canoeing, and boating. There are numrous camping areas and hiking trails as well as nearly 200 parks, 136 picnic areas and 80 playgrounds. There are swimming pools, tennis and racquet ball courts, and dozens of golf golf courses as well as professional baseball, hockey and football teams including the Super Bowl-winning Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Lovers of art, music, dance and theater enjoy a wealth of galleries and museums like the Tampa Museum of Art, Museum of Science & Industry and University of South Florida's Contemporary Art Museum. Broadway musicals and operas excite patrons continually at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Lowry Park Zoo entertains families with frequent events as does the award-winning Florida Aquarium.

The Tampa lifstyle is further enhanced by several annual events including the Gasparilla Pirate Fest, Tampa's own version of Mardi Gras, the annual Strawberry Festival, and the MacDill AFB Air Show. Thanks to wonderful weather there are dozens of arts and crafts shows, parades, street festivals year-round.

The University of South Florida, University of Tampa, and Hillsborough Community College campuses plus other smaller insitutions of learning add an academic flavor to the area.

World-class medical care is available at Tampa General, University Community Hospital, Memorial Hospital of Tampa and at St Joseph's Women's Hospital and Children's Hospital and many other smaller health care providers.

In Tampa and the surrounding Hillsborough and Pasco County communities of Temple Terrace, Brandon, Lutz, Wesley Chapel, Land O'Lakes and Zephyrhills, there are homes and condos from the most luxurious to the very affordable. There is something for everyone on the Tampa Bay Florida real estate market. And with recent home price declines, there are very attractive bargains to be found right now.

For more information on popular Tampa Bay communities, including golf course communities, visit my Tampa Florida website. I'd be delighted to show you all that Tampa Bay Florida has to offer. You may also E-Mail Me or call me on my cellphone at (813) 263-6806 for immediate service.