What does a Buyer’s Real Estate Agent do for you?

Before you start your home search you may want to think about a few things:
When deciding on purchasing a home base your decision to buy on facts, not fears. If you are paying rent, you very likely can afford to buy. There is never a wrong time to buy the right home.  All you need to [...]

First Time Home Buyers getting GREAT deals-Tampa, Fl

Hello readers:  I’m posting an article that was in The Tampa Tribune a couple weeks ago. Shannon, the reporter from the times, called me for an interview!  I highlighted the article where she quotes what we disscused regarding the housing market in Tampa Bay.

By SHANNON BEHNKEN | The Tampa Tribune
Published: March 27, 2009
Joseph and Daisy Pardo [...]

How to buy a foreclosure in Tampa Bay

During the month of March, In Florida, one in every 282 homeowners received a foreclosure notice.  In the U.S. One in every 538 American households received either a default notice, auction sale notice or bank repossession, according to RealtyTrac’s U.S. Foreclosure Market Report. With foreclosure filings up 57 percent from a year ago, (Source: RealtyTrac.)
Before making [...]

New Home Buyer tax credit proposal could strenghten housing market

GOP Plan Aims to Expand Home Buyer Tax Credits
By Renae Merle
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 25, 2009;
House Republican leaders plan to unveil a housing package today that would increase the tax credits available for home buyers and would direct law enforcement to crack down on mortgage fraud.
Under the proposal, borrowers refinancing their mortgage would be [...]

Distressed about Short Sales and the Process? Tampa, Fl

 When I started thinking about a title for this article I came up with quite a few.  The METHOD of the Short Sale was 2nd choice.  Although, we are finding there is NO Methodology in the Tampa Real Estate Market.

Putting in an offer on a Short Sale Home in the Tampa Bay Area?  
Thinking of buying a short sale [...]

St. Pete Times article explains how to buy a 180K home for 121K

Should you buy now? Discounts look favorable in Tampa Housing Market-2009
Here’s a column from today’s St. Petersburg Times:  It’s actually the most cut and dry, easy to understand article that I’ve seen. It explains all the ways you can use today’s Tampa Real Estate Market, Low Interest Rates and the National Home Buyer Tax Credit to your advantage.  [...]

NEW FHA loan limits for Tampa, St. Petersburg Area!

GREAT NEWS!!!!
We are now able to use last year’s maximum loan limits on FHA which in Hillsborough, Pasco & Pinellas is $292,500
(much better than the &$271,050 we were rolled back to).
Don’t forget about the 8,000 tax credit for home buyers. This is not just first time home buyers, it is for anyone who hasn’t [...]

New 2009 Home Buyer Tax Credit Info-Tampa, Fl

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
ENHANCED HOME BUYER CREDIT
Who Qualifies?: Anyone who has not owned a home for the preceding three years. That means you may still qualify for the incentive even if you and your spouse owned a home more than three years ago.
How Much?: The incentive calls for a credit of [...]

New rules raise the bar for condo mortgages- Tampa, Fl

 In a move that will make it even more difficult to qualify for a condo loan, Fannie Mae is putting a host of new conditions on mortgages for condominiums.
 

 View from 345 Bayshore Condo

Lending giant Fannie Mae is slapping tough new requirements
Fannie Mae’s timing ”couldn’t be worse,” said Jack McCabe, a South Florida real estate [...]

Mortgage Rate Forecast 2009-CNBC Interview

If you’ve been on the fence about buying a home in the Tampa Bay area; you’ll want to read this news article about interest rates.
It’s hard to believe in today’s economic environment, but the overall Bond market, including Mortgage Bonds, are contending with the “I” word this morning…inflation…thanks to Fed member Frederic “Uncle Freddy” Mishkin.
Mishkin [...]