Helpful Guide for Our "Snowbird" Friends

This is the time of year when our friends from up North start coming to Tampa Bay, Florida to enjoy our fair weather and our casual sun-soaked lifestyle. Every year, more than a million Canadians and U.S. citizens from our more northern states migrate to Florida. Some are seasonal visitors while others consider becoming permanent citizens of Florida.

Some of these "snowbirds," as we like to call them, consider buying a home or condo here in Tampa Bay. Some of these "Snowbirds" also seriously consider taking the additional step of becoming residents of the state of Florida.

In both cases, these folks often wish they had better and more comprehensive sources of information to help them make good decisions about either buying a home or condo here in Florida or becoming Florida residents. While as a real estate agent, I can be very helpful, there is still much more one might wish to to learn before "taking the plunge."

There are two paperback books currently available for purchase that I think can be very helpful to those considering purchasing real estate in Florida and/or becoming residents of the state of Florida. I would like to point them out to my readers:

•"The Canadian Snowbird Guide" by Douglas Gray
•"The Official Snowbird's Guide to Becoming a Florida Resident" by Dean Hanewinckel, Attorney

Each of these books can be purchased from Amazon.com so we have included below direct links to the Amazon.com pages on which they are advertised.








For those of you with an E-Reader device such as an IPad or Kindle, it is noteworthy that these two paperbacks are also available to be downloaded to your E-Reader.

These two books are also available from other Internet sites such as buy.com and books.Google.com and from from many local bookstores such as Borders and Barnes and Noble. We encourage you to consider taking at look at these books either before you come to Florida this year, or, if you are already here in Florida, at one of our local bookstores.

For a permanent home, vacation getaway or an investment property, the Tampa Bay real estate market, after our recent price corrections, is hard to beat. I invite you to request my free Tampa Bay Real Estate Information Package or, for immediate assistance, I invite you to call me directly on my cell phone at 813-263-6806 for more immediate service.

Ten Step Process for First Time Home Buyers

The Key to a Stress-Free First Home Purchase

If you are a first-time home buyer in the Tampa Bay, Florida area, this is a great time and the real estate market right now is perfect for you because:

• You do not have another property to sell that you might lose money on.
  
  
• Mortgage rates are extremely low right now, and
  
  
• Price reductions have made homes much more affordable than they've been in over 10 years.

But you do need to understand that buying a home is a fairly complex process that takes time, some knowledge and the guidance of a real estate professional to make things go as smoothly as possible and for you to get the best possible deal. Here are 10 steps that will help you accomplish your goal of buying a first home that meets your needs and desires at a good price.

1. Buy a Notebook and get organized. Use this notebook exclusively for planning your first home purchase.

First, think about and then write down a summary description of the type of home and type of neighborhood you would like to find. Is it a ranch, a bi-level or tri-level, a two-story home, a duplex where you can rent the other half, or a condominium? Do you want a small lot to maintain, a maintenance-free community or a large lot of land where you can pretty much do whatever you wish without offending your neighbors? Do you prefer living in the city, the suburbs or in a more rural area?

Now, and this is a really important step, write down those things you REALLY NEED TO HAVE in the home for it to meet your needs for the next 7 - 10 years. Also list those things you’d REALLY LIKE TO HAVE but, if you had to, you could do without.

Keep this list handy and use it as a guide to judge every home you look at whether it’s a model home, an open house or part of a tour a Realtor has arranged for you.

2. You need to learn early on how much home you can afford. So, make a budget of your current expenses and use this to pinpoint how much you are willing and able to pay for the buying and maintenance of your new home. As a “rule of thumb,” keeping your monthly housing cost to 25% to 35% of your gross monthly income is a good place to start.

3. Meet with more than one mortgage lender. Bring you budget of current spending with you. Learn how much each lender believes you can afford to spend on a home and how much down payment will be required for the various types of mortgages available. Ask each lender for at least a pre-qualification statement. When you are reasonably sure which lender you would prefer to borrow from, ask if he or she will provide you with a "pre-approval" letter which you can attach to any offer you might make. Having a pre-approval letter already in place is a powerful price negotiating tool when you're ready to make an offer.

4. Introduce yourself to an experienced, full-time Realtor like Cheryl Stimac of Red Shoe Realty, Inc. Get to know the Realtor and make sure you feel comfortable dealing with him or her because you are going to be spending a fair amount of time together. Ask that realtor to act on your behalf as your "Buyer's Agent." Only when acting as your Buyer's Agent is a Realtor required to work for your benefit and yours alone. The Realtor whose name is on a For Sale sign in front of an Open House or a sales representative at a model home is NOT looking out for your best interest. They are working for and looking out for the Seller, not you.

5. Your Buyer's Agent Realtor will help you understand how your your housing affordability and your list of needs and wants fit with the market of for sale homes in Tampa Bay. He or she will then research the best home values and neighborhoods that meet your criteria and provide you with a list of homes currently on the market that fit your criteria.


6. With or without your Realtor, drive around visiting the neighborhoods with homes in your price range and identify those two or three neighborhoods and school districts you would most like to live in. This step will save both you and your Realtor a lot of wasted time and also help you to focus your criteria. After this step, you may want to sit with your Realtor again and adjust your list of "Needs and Wants" and make changes to your priorities of needs versus wants, if necessary. Remember, this list is only as useful as you have kept it in touch with the realities of your situation. It is natural to have started out with higher expectations than reality will allow, so do not be embarrassed or concerned if your list changes somewhat at this point. Update your list, share it with your realtor and carry on.


7. If you want to include "Short Sale" and "Foreclosure" homes in your search, be sure you fully understand how these procedures work (or in many cases, don't work) and the amount of time those processes can take. Your Realtor can explain the process by which these types of transactions occur and clarify for you the pros and cons of each of these home buying processes versus a normal purchase transaction.

8. Now get out there and get serious about finding that most perfect first home for you. There are wonderful homes available in Tampa and the Tampa Bay area at very attractive prices right now.

But, you need to be ready to act when you find that perfect one. The most desirable homes at the most attractive prices don't sit on the market for long, even in today's marketplace. Your "Needs and Wants" list, that hopefully you've kept up to date, will help you know when "this is the home for us."

9. Work with your Realtor to decide upon your offer price. Your Tampa Bay Realtor will help you by analyzing comparable properties in comparable neighborhoods to decide on an appropriate offering price. If you have secured a pre-approval letter from a lender, make sure it is still in effect, and attach it to your offer.

10. With the terms of your purchase contract agreed to by both you and the Seller, you will work your way through the multi-step contract-to-closing process. This process will include a home inspection, finalizing you mortgage application, and several other steps all of which your Buyer's Agent Realtor and your lender will help you with.

Eventually, on closing day, you will sign more papers than you'd ever imagined possible at the closing and then you'll be ready to move into your first home. Congratulations will definitely be in order at that point !!

Westchase - One of Tampa Bay's Premier Communities

One of Tampa’s premier communities that offers something for everyone is award-winning Westchase. It is a master-planned, deed restricted community encompassing over 2,000 acres located on the west side of Tampa in Hillsborough County near the Pinellas County line. It is conveniently located a 20 minute drive to the Tampa International Airport, the Westshore Business District and only 25-35 minutes to St. Petersburg and the some of the best beaches in all of Florida.

There are over 3,500 single-family homes, town homes and condos in 29 separate "neighborhoods." Each distinct neighborhood offers a different style of living including condominium, town home, villas, neo-traditional, porch style townhomes and single family homes as well as traditional Florida-style homes. Prices in Westchase range from the mid-$100's to approximately $850,000. There are also several gated neighborhoods and neo-traditional neighborhoods that feature alleys. In keeping with the planned unit development concept, Westchase also offers apartment living in West Park Village.

Each neighborhood has its own hub of activity all of which come together at the two Swim and Tennis Centers, two playgrounds, sport fields, picnic pavilions and the two Westchase Town Centers. The community includes hundreds of acres of preserved land, playgrounds, clubhouse, an 18-hole golf course, parks, nature trails, a soccer field and two swim and tennis centers, and most importantly for families, an A-rated school district.

The Westchase Golf Club, opened in 1992 as the centerpiece of the Westchase master-planned community. The club is a premium daily-fee facility recognized by the National Golf Foundation for its outstanding course conditions, service and value. The 6,710-yard, par 72 course winds through natural wetlands, wooden bridges and bulkheads. Called "one of the most beautiful public-access courses in the Tampa Bsy area," Westchase has earned a high rating from Golf Digest. The club has a beautiful 9,500 square foot clubhouse used by residents and others for a wide variety of events, group outings and weddings.

While Westchase was designed to be pedestrian-friendly, it is also close to three major malls, Westfield Citrus Park, International Plaza, and Westfield Westshore Plaza as well as a wide variety of theaters, retail shops, cafes, banks, professional offices, pre-schools, coffee shops and gyms.

While there are several other master-planned communities in Tampa Bay, Florida, residents of Westchase feel there are none quite as nice and quite as complete as Westchase. Here you will find a lifestyle and a housing option perfectly suited for young professionals, retirees and young families.

You deserve the best possible representation on the largest investment you may ever make, your new home in Tampa Bay Florida. I would be happy to introduce you to the many amenities of Westchase as well as other golf course communities and Tampa homes for sale.

I invite you to request my free Tampa Florida Information Package including information on Westchase and other communities or E-Mail Me or call me at any time.

For outstanding Tampa Bay real estate service, you cannot do better than selecting Tampa Bay real estate broker, Cheryl Stimac of Red Shoe Realty, Inc. You may contact Cheryl by E-Mail or for more immediate assistance, call her cellphone at (813) 263-6806

Chihuly Exhibit Offering Annual Passes

Good news for Tampa Bay newcomers, visitors and especially those residents who have lots of visitors during the upcoming Thansgiving and Christmas holidays and then the snowbirds from up North. The Morean Arts Center in St. Petersburg now offers an annual pass to the Chihuly Collection for just $99.

If you are a visitor to Tampa Bay or a resident who is not familiar with Dale Chihuly's unique, and gigantic, glass works, you should pay a visit yourself. You'll be amazed at what you see.

The Chihuly Collection includes Chihuly’s spectacular large-scale installations such as Ruby Red Icicle Chandelier created specifically for the Collection along with several popular series of his works including Macchia, Ikebana, Niijima Floats, Persians and Tumbleweeds which have thrilled audiences around the globe.

A pioneer of studio glass art movement, Chihuly is credited with transforming the methods of creating glass art leading the development of complex, huge multi-part glass sculptures and environmental art. He has created a number of memorable installations including “Chihuly Over Venice” with the sculptures installed over the canals and piazze; "Chihuly in the Light of Jerusalem”, attended by more than a million visitors, and the “Chihuly Bridge of Glass” in Tacoma, Washington.

The Chihuly Collection is now permanently located in a new 10,000 square foot exhibit hall at 400 Beach Drive, St Petersburg in St Petersburg's downtown waterfront at the heart of the most vibrant tourist area. The exhibit is within walking distance of the Vinoy Resort and Golf Club, the St Pete Pier, the Museum of Fine Arts, a multitude of galleries, restaurants and shops, and in January, 2011 the new Salvador Dali Museum.

 
This presentation is the first installation of Chihuly art in a building designed specifically for that purpose. The facility has been designed so the art and architecture work together to create a visitor experience unlike any other exhibition of Chihuly’s art. The entrance to the Collection has an iconic 20-foot sculpture created especially for the site.

The Collection is open seven days a week for your convenience.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 10am–6:00pm
Thursday, 10am–8pm
Sunday, Noon–6pm
Closed only on Thanksgiving and Christmas day

Docent-led tours are every hour on the half hour. The last tour begins at 4:30pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and at 7:15pm on Thursdays.

Single day passes for Adults start at $15.00 while seniors over 55 pay $13.00. Student's and children's prices are lower. The annual pass for unlimited entrances for a full year are priced at $99.00

I inivte those coming to Tampa Bay for the holidays or the winter season to visit my Tampa Bay Florida real estate to learn more about the Tampa Bay area, the enjoyable lifestyle available here, and the many homes and condos now on the market at seriously reduced prices. For more immediate assistance or for questions, please feel free to call me directly at 813-263-6806. I would be delighted to be of service.

The U.S. Economy Is In Better Shape Than is Being Reported

Although the U.S. economy is still soft and consumer confidence remains low, new data from several sources including the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), the Bureau of Economic Research (BER) and others exhibit positive signs for the future of Americans, in general, and Tampa Bay Florida home buyers in particular.

Some of the biggest names in business have said recently that they see a bright future for the U.S. economy. Famed investor Warren Buffett declared recently that the country and the world clearly will not fall back into another recessionary dip. "I am a huge bull on this country. We are not going to have a double-dip recession at all," said Buffett, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. "I see our businesses coming back across the board."

Others agree. Steve Ballmer of Microsoft says, "I am very enthusiastic about what the future holds for our industry and what our industry will mean for growth in other industries."

Jeffrey Immelt, General Electric CEO says business at GE, one of the world's largest companies, is improving. "General Electric," he said, "is now finding it more profitable to build manufacturing and service centers in the United States rather than overseas, because it is more competitive."

U.S.-based CEOs have begun to notice that shipping costs, inefficiencies, and the longer lead times associated with building products overseas are eating up the higher profitability that was forecast a few years ago. U.S. corporations are beginning to favor manufacturing here creating American jobs. An example may be the start-up of brand new lithium-ion battery manufacturing plants in Michigan focused on taking America's participation in worldwide battery production used for hybrid and electric vehicles from its current level of 2% to 40% over the next 5 years.

Some of the key economic facts published by NAR, BER and other economic analysis sources include the following:

• The U.S. economy is growing, though slowly. The private sector is finally creating jobs, 700,000 so far this year.
  
• While consumer confidence remains low, it is clearly up from its lowest point.
  
• 30-year mortgage rates are at their lowest point in decades. 30-year mortgages are available at close to 4%.
  
• Personal income increased in July, 2010 by $30.0 billion, or 0.2%. Disposable personal income increased by $17.6 billion, or 0.2% according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
  
• Although bad mortgage loans during overly-loose lending practice periods are still causing foreclosures and short sales, recent home price-to-income ratios indicate that people are now buying homes they can actually afford to own.
  
• Consumers in all income brackets are paying down their credit card balances and starting to save more.
  
• Median home prices across the U.S. are stabilizing and economists expect modest home price increases in the 2011-2014 period.
  
• Real estate speculators have been driven out of the market removing a huge source of instability.
  

So why does the American public still express so little confidence in the economic recovery? To a large extent, the 7 day/24 hour cable TV news networks and Internet bloggers focus far too much attention, in my judgement, on the latest outrageous or pessimistic statement or action by someone with an agenda, rather than someone with positive news or a constructive opinion. They have painted an economic picture that is much less positive than current underlying economic indicators and the CEOs of major U.S. corporations suggest is the case.

What does all this mean for you as a potential buyer of a home on condo. particularly here in Tampa Bay? It means that the U.S. economy is finding its footing and slowly but surely beginning to rebound - not as quickly as anyone would hope but, in fact, at a faster pace than occurred in either of the past two recessions.

So if you have been delaying a decision on when to buy that Tampa Florida area home, now is the time to come to Tampa / St Petersburg, work with a professional Buyer's Agent Realtor like Cheryl Stimac, and buy that permanent, retirement or seasonal get-away dream home you've been wanting before home and condo prices start climbing again.

If you would like to know more about Tampa Bay communities, schools, and cultural amenities, request my free Tampa Bay Florida Information Package or call me directly at 813.263.6806.

Brandon Florida - A Popular Tampa Bay Community

Located in the southeastern corner of Hillsborough County, Brandon is one of the most popular suburbs of Tampa Bay with easy access via I-75 and I-4 to both Tampa and Orlando,

In 1858, John Brandon purchased 40 acres in the New Hope (the former name of Tampa) area and another 160 acres later on and then named his land Brandon. In 1890, the Florida Central and Peninsula Railroad came through the area and John's wife, Victoria, convinced a civil engineer for the railroad to survey the area and lay out a "town".

Growing rapidly from its origins as a rural area, Brandon has become a place of refuge for families seeking a peaceful and convenient location. The population of Brandon stood at 90,470 as of 2007 up by 16.1% since the 2000 census.

Known for being one of Tampa's premier bedroom community, Brandon has the usual population of strip malls but it also has one of the largest and nicest regional malls in Florida. Quality schools also make Brandon a favorite community for families with children.

There is a wide variety of nerighborhoods - something to suit every taste and lifestyle. New and resale homes are for sale in neighborhoods such as Brentwood Hills, Heather Lakes, Hickory Lakes, Providence Lakes, and Sterling Ranch. Home prices appeal to a wide range of housing needs and lifestyles, and are range from the mid $100's to over $1 Million.

You deserve the best representation available to you on what may be the largest single investment you ever make, whether it is in one of our Brandon neighborhoods or elsewhere in Tampa Bay, Florida.

I invite you to request my free Tampa Florida Information Package or E-Mail Me or call me at (813) 263-6806 at your convenience.

For outstanding Tampa Bay real estate service, you cannot do better than selecting a competent and experienced Tampa Broker like Cheryl Stimac of Red Shoe Realty, Inc.

No Oil Spill Impact on Tampa Bay Beaches

Tampa Bay Florida beaches, including those in Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough counties remain untouched by the Gulf oil spill and are as clean and as pristine as ever.

On August 4, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecast that what few patches of oil in the Gulf of Mexico as a result of the explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig 130 miles southeast of New Orleans, remain well to the south and west of Florida.

No oil has been observed on the Florida coast for several weeks and it was reported this week at a White House briefing that the "static kill" process to seal worked exactly as expected with no oil escaping into the Gulf. Thad Allen, a retired Coast Guard admiral and director of the federal goverment's response continues to insist that crews complete and then shove more mud and cement down through the 18,000-foot relief well which should be completed shortly as the final step to permanently seal the well.

Governor Charlie Crist, the State Emergency Response Team and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) continue to actively coordinate the state's response to the Deepwater Horizon incident. They also reported that no recoverable oil has been seen through over-flights of the spill area since July 31. Satellite data analysis shows no new Florida shorelines impacted or expected to be impacted at any time in the foreseeable future.

All Florida beaches are now open. NOAA further announced this week that its latest analysis shows Southern Florida, the Florida Keys, and the East Coast are unlikely to experience any effects at all from the little oil remaining on the surface of the Gulf.

Only in the most northwestern-most Panhandle areas of the state have a few tar balls and light sheen been reported. Nonetheless, as a precaution, five state-leased skimmers remain on standby in that area to protect sensitive inland water bodies. All supplemental booms are being removed and stored in the area in the unlikely case they are needed at some point in the future.

The Florida Oil Spill Information Line continues to be available to answer your questions at:

• English – (888) 337-3569
  
• Spanish – (877) 955-8773
  

If you have been concerned about how the Gulf oil spill might affect your vacation plans or your interest in investing in a Tampa Bay area home or condominium on the waterfront, close to our gorgeous beaches, or in a golf course community rest assured. All Tampa Bay beaches and beach communities remain untouched by the spill and remain as attractive to visitors and investors as ever.

Come experience Tampa Bay and learn about the wonderful lifestyle that only Tampa Bay Florida has to offer whether you are a single, a young couple or active retirees.

If you would like to know more about Tampa Bay Florida real estate, our golf courses, soft beaches, friendly neighborhoods, and cultural amenities, request my free Tampa Bay Information Package or call me directly at 813-263-6806.

Intro to the Live Oak Preserve community in Tampa Bay

The Live Oaks Preserve community was designed and constructed by the developer, Transeastern, to complement the 100-year-old oak trees in the area. Located in the New Tampa area on 1,300-acres northeast of I-75 Exit 270, bounded by Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and County Line Road, the community features several village-themed developments including Cedarwood, Cypresswood, Laurel Oak, Brentwood, Maplewood, Oakwood and Weatherwood. Over time, eighteen unique villages are planned to lie within the boundaries of Live Oak Preserve.

This spectacular private, gated community offers quiet and tranquil neighborhoods with 362 acres set aside for wetlands and picturesque wildlife, ponds, and conservation area vistas. Located just outside the community gates there is an abundance of restaurants, parks, professional offices, and retail shopping. University of South Florida and Busch Gardens Amusement Park are less than a 15 minute drive away. You also have convenient access to downtown Tampa via I-75 and I-275 with all of its cultural and recreational attractions including the Florida Aquarium, historic Ybor City and the Tampa International Airport just a 30 minute drive away. Disney World and Universal & MGM Studios are about an hour's drive to the East. And, the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico are less than 30 miles to the west.


The community is highlighted with multiple single family home villages and a town home village with traditional Florida charm and natural splendor in varying price ranges. There is a multi-million dollar clubhouse at the center of the community which includes a 10,000 square foot, resort-style pool, fully equipped fitness center, children’s playground, as well as tennis and basketball courts. All of Live Oak Preserver's villages, parks and schools are connected by private roads and wide winding sidewalks perfect for either active exercising or just a leisurely stroll.

You deserve the best possible representation on the largest investment you may ever make, your new home in Tampa Bay Florida. I would be happy to introduce you to the many amenities of Live Oak Preserve and other communities and homes for sale throughout Tampa and Tampa Bay.

I invite you to request my free Tampa Information Package including information on Live Oak Preserve and other communities or E-Mail Me. For more immediate assistance call me at any time at 813-263-6806.