Buying Pinellas Real Estate? The New MUST-KNOW Mortgage Disclosure Rules: The Mortgage Disclosure Improvement Act (MDIA) starts July 30th
July 24th, 2009 categories: Mortgage Updates
On July 30th, 2009, the Federal Reserve Board’s new Mortgage Disclosure Improvement Act (MDIA) goes into effect. It’s mostly good news for if you’re refinancing your home or buying Dunedin real estate, yet it does mean that it could take longer to close on your home loan. Here are the facts simplified:
- This mandate will apply to EVERY mortgage in America.
- The lender must give you a TIL (Truth in Lending) disclosure with all of your closing costs spelled out within 3 days of your initial application. If you don’t get the disclosure, you can pull the plug. By the way, our lender partners have always done business this way. If you need a referral to a lender that has always played by the book, and provides the best interest rates going, contact us.
- There must be a 7 day waiting period between the date the initial TIL disclosure is provided to you and the closing occurs. AND! …best of all ….
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Pinellas Real Estate Sales May ‘09: On The Road to Recovery
July 7th, 2009 categories: Pinellas Market Statistics
These Palm Harbor Realtors were once again pleased to see the latest sales numbers for Pinellas homes just released from the Pinellas Realtor Organization (PRO). The number of Pinellas condos and Pinellas homes actively on the market continues to decline at a good clip, whereas the total number of properties sold is up for the FOURTH month in a row. WOW!The absorption rate (A/R on the above chart) is the quick indicator that’s shown above that Tampa Bay Realtors use. As you’ll note, the absorption rate for single family home sales is higher than it was in August of 2006!
Note that the average sales price of Pinellas condos was up significantly from March 2009, which made no sense to us at first glace, because the condo sales prices we’re seeing are dropping like stones due to tough financing issues specific to condos (a topic for another day). But we dove much deeper into the stats (so much for watching that Boston Legal rerun tonight), and discovered that there was a huge surge in high-end condo sales between $400K and over $1M, which explains the delta. It’s going to be interesting to see if that trend continues, and we’ll keep you posted. So, if you’re ready to dive in and buy that $1M+ Clearwater Beach condo, the getting is good.
By the way, click the “Submit Your E-Mail” button below to subscribe to The Pinellas Peach. We’ve got some really interesting sales stats for Pinellas Foreclosures vs. Pinellas Short Sales vs. “regular” sales coming your way as fast as we can write ‘em!
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Palm Harbor Pizza – These Palm Harbor Realtors Give Corteo’s Two Thumbs Up!
May 6th, 2009 categories: Eat A Peach Restaurant Reviews
Corteo’s Pizza and Pasta Restaurant in Palm Harbor, Florida makes a Sicilian pie that is hard to find outside of the Northeast. First of all, they construct it with real mozzarella cheese, not the inferior soy-based products that predominate. Their pie is also made in the infamous “Grandma-style” by nestling the cheese under the sauce. This method enables the cheese to stay moist and not burn. The sauce on top also helps to keep the cheese on the slice instead of it pulling off in the first bite. These things are important to a pizza lover!
The entrees are reasonably priced. The restaurant is clean and although not dripping with ambiance, it is open and friendly. The owners are those of the Michele’s Italian Restaurant that closed some years back.
Corteo’s offers “Parties on the Patio” for up to 20 guests for birthdays, anniversary parties etc. They only require a 5-7 day advance notice. Catering Trays “To Go” are another option with only 3 days notice required from order placement. Early bird specials are featured daily from 2:30 – 5:30 offering courses from appetizer to dessert.
The absolute best bet though is calling ahead and swooping in to pick up a Sicilian pie to go! Corteo’s is located at 32922 US 19 in the shopping center by Hops. Mangiare!
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Eniswood Subdivision, Palm Harbor Florida
April 22nd, 2009 categories: Palm Harbor Homes
There are little hills in Florida! The Eniswood subdivision is a beautiful tree-lined neighborhood in West Palm Harbor just northwest of Alt. 19 and Alderman Road. Eniswood is a deed restricted neighborhood with a voluntary Eniswood homeowner’s association which costs only $100 a year if you elect to participate. Most but not all of the homes are 1-story and are 2,300 sq. ft. to just over 5,000 sq. ft.
This ideal family neighborhood features spacious lots and some even provide Eniswood Lake (really more of a large pond) or conservation views. These homes built in the 1980’s feature vaulted ceilings, split floor plans and have a spacious feel to them. Many offer fireplaces for those occasional cool Florida evenings. Many have been updated with new kitchens and baths. You can invest in a home here between the high $200’s to the mid-$500’s.
The highly acclaimed Palm Harbor University High is a short walk from Eniswood, and it’s just a few blocks from The Pinellas Trail and Wall Springs Park. As of this writing, a new Publix grocery store is being built in the small shopping center that borders the neighborhood. Of course, Pinellas Beaches are only a few minutes drive away – including the famed Honeymoon Island and Caladessi Island. If a manicured family neighborhood is what you’re after with an ideal Palm Harbor location, Eniswood is the place to call home.
Call your Palm Harbor Realtors, Julia and Matt Fishel, at Suncoast Partners at Keller Williams Realty Palm Harbor @ (727)366-0325 for current offerings.
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The Palm Harbor Citrus Festival is April 23rd to 26th
April 18th, 2009 categories: Palm Harbor Homes, Pinellas Things to Do & Events
Just a short stroll from our Keller Williams Palm Harbor office is the site of the Palm Harbor Citrus Festival! This multi-faceted event is scheduled to run April 23rd through the 26th.
In the spirit of community, two organizations are joining forces to promote and produce the event, the Greater Palm Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce and Old Palm Harbor Main Street, Inc. This brand new event is a celebration of Palm Harbor heritage. All of the activities and exhibits will focus on the staples of life in the first days of Palm Harbor in the mid 1800’s.
To commemorate those simpler times there will be juice squeezing contests, bake offs, historical skits, a horseshoe pit, equestrian exhibits, and fish tosses! The music will run the gamut from bluegrass to folk to gospel and the first official “Miss Palm Harbor Citrus Festival Queen” will be crowned! Girls must attend Palm Harbor University High or Eastlake High, be 14 to 18 years old and live in Crystal Beach, Ozona or Palm Harbor to enter.
The sponsors are looking forward to an excellent turnout and a vehicle to bring revenue to our local economy. And don’t miss the premier attraction: the spectacular Palm Harbor real estate that frames the celebration. Definitely a must see!
Palm Harbor Citrus Festival
Thursday, April 23rd – Carnival Opens 5PM – 10 PM
Friday, April 24th – Carnival Opens 4PM -10 PM
Saturday, April 25th – Festival 10AM – 10PM
Sunday, April 26th – Festival 10AM – 6PM
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Buying Pinellas Real Estate? FHA Loan Limits Increased!
March 1st, 2009 categories: Mortgage Updates
HOT OFF THE PRESSES: If you’re considering purchasing Dunedin real estate, and have just a little cash for your down payment, note that the FHA loan limits for Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties just increased back to their early 2008 levels of $292,500.
This news is so fresh the FHA hasn’t even updated its website, but The Peach is here to let you know that you can purchase your Crystal Beach FL home up to $303,000 with only a 3.5% down payment. SWEET! Looking for a Tampa Bay golf course home? We’ll be expanding this section soon so stay tuned.
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Indian Bluff Island, A Must See if Searching for a Palm Harbor Waterfront Home
January 10th, 2009 categories: Palm Harbor Homes
Indian Bluff Island is Palm Harbor’s best kept secret neighborhood. Most Palm Harbor residents have n
ever even heard of Indian Bluff (the residents refer to it as IBI), and that includes many folks that have lived in Palm Harbor for years. Indian Bluff is a secluded neighborhood north of Alderman Road, West off of DeSoto Avenue and then West on Oceanview (the causeway to the island), just south of Wall Springs Park. Most of the homes are either on the Gulf of Mexico or on canals with easy access to the gulf. The more luxurious homes are well appointed and stunning in their own right, and feature luxurious finishes.
Many classify IBI as prestigious and exclusive, as there are many $1M+ estates on the gulf. Yet part of the charm of the island is that there are still many of the original ranch homes here, and so it’s certainly got an eclectic and sometimes funky flair to it. Homes here were built anywhere from 1957 to 2008, are anywhere from 1 to 4 stores, and include many architectural styles. Most of the waterfront homes include docks, boat lifts, davits, etc. and the gulf-front homes feature unsurpassed gulf views.
Perhaps the best part of Indian Bluff living is that everyone on the island knows each other. There are the annual Christmas, Easter and Halloween events for the children, hosted on a rotating basis amongst the residents who choose to participate (and most do). Then there’s the annual Indian Bluff Island Summer Slam and Fishing Tournament, with a roaring barbecue with live Read the rest of this entry »
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1 Acre Estate in West Palm Harbor: A Rare Find, and a Beauty to boot!
October 24th, 2008 categories: Featured Listings
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SOLD @ $185K! Palm Harbor Real Estate in Gleneagles Cluster – Stunning 2/2 with privacy galore
October 24th, 2008 categories: Featured Listings
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Poof! Palm Harbor Realtor Has Magic Wand That Makes Great Home Deals Appear. Meanwhile, on Wall Street, 401K disappears.
October 11th, 2008 categories: East Lake Palm Harbor Homes, Pinellas Market Statistics
Do you wish that all it took to make sound investment, including real estate investments, was a $10 magic wand? Maybe all we need is a cozy 
living room without a television, a dog house in the yard and a Palm Harbor Realtor with the faith and perseverance to help you find and secure a great Pinellas home at an incredible price.
For those of you that know me best, you know I often speak of my magic wand, and how I wish I had one that truly worked wonders. Lately, I’m beginning to believe my wand has hutzpah. It’s been working magnificently as of late, particularly with finding bargains on gorgeous homes in Palm Harbor East Lake – the Ridgemoor neighborhood, as it so happens.
Last month my wand worked for Sasha and Kim, who landed an incredible below-market investment and beauty to behold, with two other bidders nipping at the heels of our offer. Today, my wand helped Charlie and Angela land the East Lake Palm Harbor home of their dreams, and we out-smarted THREE other bidders to land it! Poof! Just like that. (Well, perhaps it was because we really stay on top of these hot new listings as they appear out of the magic hat). These two examples of many remind us that:
- Homes that aren’t in foreclosure are in high demand. These homes weren’t Palm Harbor foreclosures or short sales. They were immaculately cared for.
- Homes are selling quickly. One of these homes was on the market 2 days before we made our bid and the other only 5 days before securing it. Note that they were well priced.
- Bidding wars are happening all the time. This is true for homes that are priced correctly and well-marketed, of course.
Meanwhile, on Wall Street, chaos abounds. Poof! 401K’s, lifetime savings, gone. Just like that. Just accross the wires tonight, we have this AP article which may be of interest to Pinellas Home buyers. It brilliantly discusses the topic of just where did all that money go? Or did we ever really have it in the first place?
The notion that we’ve lost everything when the price of our stock tanks, when in reality its value equals only the amount that a buyer is willing to pay for it on any given day, is right on the money. This concept holds true for Pinellas real estate, too. Hmmm….
Tonight, my magic wand reminded me that it’s probably a great time to remind all of our friends that at Suncoast Partners @ Keller Williams Realty we believe in our hearts that real estate remains the single best long-term investment.
Sure, Palm Harbor home values rise and fall, but over the long term the gains are there – historically and yes, even if you purchased fairly recently. Most remarkably, there’s something tangible behind the investment: A house to call home where a lifetime of memories can be made. And, baby, interest rates are incredible! To me, that’s much more exciting that a stock certificate any day of the week.
Would you like to see if the Suncoast Partners magic wand can work for you, too? Seeing is believing, after all.
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