Best July 4th Fireworks in Pinellas County and Tampa Bay
July 3rd, 2009 categories: Pinellas Things to Do & Events
Fourth of July safety is always the pre-holiday caution. But how about a caution to sit back, relax, and enjoy the show? There are so many places to see fireworks in Pinellas County and in and around Tampa Bay that all you have to do is carry a cooler and some beach chairs and gaze skyward. Certainly a safe and fun way to celebrate our independence. Or grab a designated driver for the golf cart, have a few cocktails, and head for the Crystal Beach Pier. These Palm Harbor Realtors will see you there!
Clearwater Celebrates America
Coachman Park- 301 Drew St. - Clearwater
July 4th 4PM - 10PM
Family activities, Mostly Pops Orchestra, fireworks display
Crystal Beach (Palm Harbor) Annual 4th Celebration
Crystal Beach Pier- take Crystal Beach Ave West to Gulf Drive - turn North (right) .. you can’t miss it!
July 4th Sunset to - 10PM
Informal gatherining with all the locals, many driving their golf carts, fireworks display
Dunedin Hometown USA
Knology Park - 373 Douglas Ave - Dunedin
July 3rd 9:30 PM firworks display
City of Gulfport Celebrates
Gulfport downtown waterfront district- 2401 53rd St. S - Gulfport
July 4th fireworks display
Safety Harbor’s July 4 Celebration
Safety Harbor Marina Park - 110 Veterans Memorial Ln - Safety Harbor
July 4th 5 PM - 9:30PM Events and fireworks
Madeira Beach Fireworks
Maderia Beach
July 4th fireworks
Redington Shores Fireworks
County Beach Park- Gulf Blvd & 182nd Ave W - Redington Shores
July 4th shortly after dusk
St. Pete - Fireworks at the Pier
St. Petersburg Pier- 800 Second Ave. N.E. - St. Petersburg
July 4th events and fireworks from 1 PM - 11 PM at the Waterside Courtyard & The Pier
Independence Day Channelside
615 Channelside Dr. - Tampa
July 4th events starting at 2 PM and fireworks after dark
Pasco County Fairgrounds- 36722 State Road 52 - Dade City
July 4th fireworks at 9:15 PM Gates open at 4PM
Fireworks and entertainment
Marina Jack Restaurant - 2 Marina Plaza - Sarasota
July 4th 8 PM - The 4th of July Fireworks in Sarasota starts at dusk over Sarasota Bay at Bayfont Park.
4th of July Rock ‘n Wings Concert
Albert Whitted Airport- 107 8th Avenue SE - St Petersburg
July 4th 4 PM - 10 PM Gates open at 3 p.m.
Largo 4th of July Celebration
Largo Central Park - 101 Central Park Drive - Largo
July 4th 7 PM - 10 PM Fireworks display at 9 p.m.
St Pete Beach fireworks
St. Pete Beach Access Park- 4700 Gulf Blvd. - St. Petersburg beach
July 4th starting at dusk
Treasure Island fireworks
Treasure Island- Treasure Island
July 3rd
Enjoy some great BBQ, live music, and you can even park right on the beach.
Siesta Key 4th of July Fireworks
Siesta Key Beach
July 4th 9:30 PM - 10:30 PM
Fireworks can be seen from Midnight Pass to the Siesta Key Village
The Florida Aquarium- 701 Channelside Drive Tampa, Florida (813) 273-4000 Fireworks at 9PM
Happy 4th of July everyone!!
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If you’re looking to buy or sell Real Estate in Pinellas County (Tampa Bay), Florida – Give us a Call today at (727)366-0324 or...Contact Us!
FHA Loans for Pinellas Home Buyers
July 1st, 2009 categories: Mortgage Updates
If you’re looking to finance a Pinellas short sale or Pinellas foreclosure and have 3.5% for a down payment, then an FHA loan is your ticket to home ownership. The FHA is not a lender, nor do they set interest rates. The Federal Housing Administration is a federal government agency (a division of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD), that offers mortgage insurance on loans originated by their approved lenders. In a nutshell, it’s insurance that protects the lender in case the borrower defaults.
The FHA was created in 1934 after the Great Depression, and was widely popular until recent years when subprime lenders offered something seemingly better: artificially low interest rates, no-interest payments and a false dream. Daily, lender requirements are becoming more and more stringent, and, as a result, FHA loans are once again commonplace and the only vehicle for many to own their Duendin homes.
Advantages of an FHA loan include:
- low 3.5% down payment and closing costs
- gifts from family members, employers or charitable organizations are welcomed
- minimum credit scores are lower than for conventional loans
- lenders will consider payment of rent, utility bills and auto insurance premiums when evaluating the applicant
But Whoa! Hold on, there’s a tiny downside …. Read the rest of this entry »
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If you’re looking to buy or sell Real Estate in Pinellas County (Tampa Bay), Florida – Give us a Call today at (727)366-0324 or...Contact Us!
7th Annual Downtown Dunedin Fl Craft Festival
June 25th, 2009 categories: Pinellas Things to Do & Events
There’s probably not a day that Dunedin Fl goes unappreciated by residents or home buyers in search of Dunedin homes. It has charming streets and an eclectic mix of shops and architecture. And another thing about this town, it knows how to throw a party!
Main Street in Dunedin Florida is the hub of this town and is the location of this popular annual craft festival and the destination of lovers of pottery, photography, glass-work and woodworking.
The merchants of the famous Dunedin Green Market will also be making a most welcome appearance with platters bearing a wide array of cheeses and fruits and crepes and salsas and teas.
This celebration still boasts free admission and is slated this year for Saturday and Sunday June 27th and 28th from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
So set your GPS for:
271 Main St
Dunedin, FL 34698
After sampling the local fare, a great side trip is a hop over to award-winning Caladesi Island State Park or sparkling Clearwater Beach. With a refreshing 88 degrees predicted for the weekend, take a break from the Florida air conditioning and take it to the Dunedin streets!
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Dunedin Fine Art Center
June 21st, 2009 categories: Dunedin homes, Pinellas Things to Do & Events
Never let it be said that Pinellas real estate is just about Pinellas waterfront homes and a smattering of Pinellas foreclosures. This county has got more than just a touch 
of culture. Palm Harbor Realtors shouldn’t play favorites but there are just some towns that offer the whole enchilada. And fortunately, no matter where you live in the county, you are a short drive to all that each has to offer. As one of the area Dunedin Realtors, I am always blown away by the Dunedin Fine Art Center. Now through August 9th they are hosting an extraordinary exhibit showcasing contemporary quilts. The admission is $5 and is free for members.
For the summer vacation months there are classes for kids of all ages in a setting that will release their artistic talents and provide affordable entertainment and skill building; especially for all those kids that are “already bored” with summer vacation.
Instilling an appreciation of fine art is the center’s focus by providing exhibitions, lectures, studio classes and workshops that can strengthen abstract understanding and inspire creativity. And year round the Dunedin Fine Art Center can host your parties in a venue that is out of the ordinary!
If Dunedin real estate is on your short list of places to live in Florida, then count this community hub on the “pro” side of your list. Call us with questions at (727)366-0324 with questions. We’re here to help.
Dunedin Fine Art Center
1143 Michigan Blvd.
Dunedin, FL 34698
PHONE: 727.298.3322
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If you’re looking to buy or sell Real Estate in Pinellas County (Tampa Bay), Florida – Give us a Call today at (727)366-0324 or...Contact Us!
Pinellas Waterfront Homes on the Beach, The Gulf or with Gulf Access
June 8th, 2009 categories: Waterfront Homes
The market for single family Pinellas waterfront homes is heating up. And the water we’re referring to has SALT in it! No lakes or mud ponds discussed here.
If it’s waterfront and affordability you’re after, then the world is your oyster right now.
Currently in North Pinellas including Tarpon Springs, Palm Harbor (including Ozona and Crystal Beach), Dunedin and Clearwater, there are only 109 homes for sale on the Pinellas MLS. They vary in price from $189,000 to $6,500,000. Of the 109 available, 39 of them are above $1M and 21 are gloriously under $400K!
By the way, 7 of these North Pinellas waterfront homes closed in the last 30 days, and another 6 sales are pending. That’s 13 out of 110 homes - stellar absorption rate numbers for waterfront! The spectacular rear deck view pictured here is of an Ozona home we helped some more happy buyers close on today.
In the South Pinellas Beach areas, there are 376 Pinellas waterfront homes for sale from the area from Sand Key and Belleair all the way to Maderia Beach and St. Pete Beach. Of these, 16 have sold in the past 30 days and a whopping 46 sales are pending. They are priced between $199K and $11M.
Whether you’re dream home is a simple rancher with canal access to the gulf, or something more palatial with a sprawling balcony directly on the Gulf of Mexico, you’ll be reving up the boat for your trip to Caladessi Island and laughing all the way to the bank.
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If you’re looking to buy or sell Real Estate in Pinellas County (Tampa Bay), Florida – Give us a Call today at (727)366-0324 or...Contact Us!
Bike Rentals on The Pinellas Trail
June 6th, 2009 categories: Pinellas Things to Do & Events
Can’t cruise The Pinellas Trail because you no longer own a bicycle? Why not rent a bike and remember what you’ve been missing? 
Pinellas Trail Bike Rental is located in Dunedin, Florida right on the trail itself! They’re open:
Tuesday through Sunday
10 AM - 6:30 PM
and are located at 357 Scotland St in Dunedin, FL and can be reached at (727) 734-5976.
If you’re on the Palm Harbor end of The Pinellas Trail then your must stop is SunWest Cyclery. The back of the shop faces mile marker 27 on the Pinellas Trail and they are open six days a week:
10am-6pm Mon-Fri
10am-4pm Sat
Closed Sundays
Their storefront is at 625 Palm Harbor Blvd. (Alternate 19 N) which is south of Alderman Ave & north of Tampa Road and their number is 727-785-0110.
There’s tons of info on The Pinellas Trail but I found a great map created by the brilliant bloggers at Spoke’n'word. So leave the car at home and take a stroll to Pinellas Trail Bike Rental or SunWest Cyclery and rent some wheels! Better yet, find yourself a new slice of Pinellas Real Estate right by the Trail so you can enjoy this shade and sun dappled jewel of Pinellas County!
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If you’re looking to buy or sell Real Estate in Pinellas County (Tampa Bay), Florida – Give us a Call today at (727)366-0324 or...Contact Us!
First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit for Pinellas Real Estate: The Truth, The Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth
June 5th, 2009 categories: Mortgage Updates
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was the heavily debated economic stimulus package that was signed into law in February of 2009. The home buyer tax credit is a component of this package and was created to promote home ownership.
The bill originally provided for an $8,000 tax credit available to first-time home buyers for the purchase of a principal residence on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009.
There’s great news, however, if you’re in the market to purchase Pinellas Real Estate! Buyers may now use the credit upfront as extra down payment money, to lower payments, pay discount points (reducing their interest rates), or to supplement closing costs.
The big “BUT” here is that buyers CANNOT use the first time home-buyer tax credit toward the 3.5% minimum that is required of FHA insured loans. The buyer still has to present those down payment funds, yet they can be a gift from a relative.
The Truth About the Misinformation Currently Being Circulated Amongst the Mis-Informed:
There’s a lot of misinformation out there saying that the $8,000 can be used for your down payment, but that’s just not the case! It’s a convoluted mess because HUD originally released this Mortgagee Letter 2009-15, later rescineded it (the details as to why are unclear other than they realized they made a mistake), and now it’s up for public speculation as to what’s going to happen with that aspect of it. For crying out loud, we reported last October that the FHA had just done away with all seller-funded closing costs - now they want to essentially reverse that?! For the real facts, keep checking back, or better yet subscribe to The Pinellas Peach and you’ll be notified automatically.
Eligibility for the $8000 tax credit can be found Read the rest of this entry »
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If you’re looking to buy or sell Real Estate in Pinellas County (Tampa Bay), Florida – Give us a Call today at (727)366-0324 or...Contact Us!
