Many of you have been patiently waiting for the new pricing and release of condos in The Towers of Channelside. Now that the bank has taken over, your opportunity to buy at amazingly low pricing is here. Here is what is available for sale

FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY:

Bank Released New Pricing

Financing now available with 25% down!

Click here for details

CHANNELSIDE CONDO AUCTION! VENTANA-TAMPA, FL  

33 Luxury Channelside Condos For Sale• Minimum bids from $145K

 Pricing Example:

A 1 bedroom 2 bath condo, 1,143 square-foot condo at Ventana has a minimum bid of $145,000.

It’s last asking price: $473,100.

Total units in building 84. There are only 33 remaining.    Maintenance fees are calculated at .33 per sq ft.

 Includes: water, trash, basic cable, concierge, wireless internet throughout entire community, pool, fitness center and 2 parking spaces per condo!

From Ventana Condos Channelside Tampa

CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTO SLIDE SHOW  

With an intimate collection of unique residences, Ventana is a window to a world all your own.

Expansive picture windows illuminate each residence with natural light and are the focal

point of open floor plans that spill out onto large terraces and balconies overlooking downtown,

Channelside and the waterfront.

Designed by renowned architect Walton H. Chancey, AIA, and the Chancy Design partnership, these uniquely

gracious and sophisticated residences include concierge services, and exceptional features and finishes not found

in most urban residential offerings. More refined than lofts. More intimate than towers. This is Channelside’s

most livable take on downtown living.

All condos have granite countertops, hardwood flooring in living room and dining rooms, tile in bathrooms, carpet in bedrooms, Kitchen Aid stainless steel appliances  33 Available units ranging in size:

1 b/2b                      1,143 sq ft

2b/2b                       1,381 sf – 1,521 sq ft

2b+den, 2 bath     1,753 sq ft – 1,797 sq ft

3b/3b                       2,541 sf

This is the BEST deal in Channelside and the BEST time to buy! Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity!

When is the auction?

AUCTION will be held on Saturday, November 14th at 1pm.  

Previews of all condos are available by appointment until November 13, 2009Please email: info@thetamparealestateinsider.com to schedule your showing and for further details.

Or you may call us at 813 784 7744.

 Rae Catanese, Real Estate Agent

•   All sales must close on or before December 28, 2009 (31 business days after the auction). 
•   If financing you must use Fanne Mae Approved Preferred Lenders: MetLife and Bank of America.
•  20% of the purchase price is required to obtain financing.  

Top Real Estate Nightmares

My article for HGTV’s frontdoor.com, Top Ten Real Estate Nightmares, came in at #7 on the top ten list!!

Thanks to my buyers who helped contribute to this article.

Learn how you can avoid these hair-raising real estate horrors

By Shannon Petrie, FrontDoor.com | Published: 9/24/2009

Buying a short sale? Be prepared for plenty of obstacles between you and your home.

After taking nearly three months to approve the sale, the bank then took another two weeks to determine that the buyers only had 30 days to close. If the buyers couldn’t close in 30 days, they would be assessed a $1,350 fee and a to-be-determined per diem penalty. “Any mortgage person can tell you that getting a loan to close in 30 days is going to be difficult,” Catanese says. “This is especially true for those that are using FHA financing, which is now taking 45 days.”

Fortunately, Catanese and her buyers were able to convince the bank to give them 30 days to close without the penalties. But the problems didn’t end there. After the lender took nearly two weeks to set up an FHA account and schedule an appraiser, the buyers decided to change lenders, fearing that their bank would not be able to close and they would lose the home. Two days before close, everything seemed to be going smoothly, until Catanese found out that the sellers had received a notice of foreclosure. For the buyers, this means they have until the end of the month — or eight business days — to close on the home before they lose it for good.

TIP: Even under the best circumstances, short sales take a long time to close and may take extra effort from the buyer. If you want to buy a short sale, be sure you have plenty of patience and an agent who has experience with the process.

If you need help buying or selling a short sale home, please give me a call 813 784 7744 or email: realtyrae@yahoo.com Rae Catanese, Real Estate Agent

Towers of Channelside

The Towers of Channelside has been in receivership for the past couple months.  Receivership is a form of bankruptcy in which a company can avoid liquidation by reorganizing with the help of a court-appointed trustee.

During that time they have taken most of the condos off the market in order to re-structure pricing.  They are negotiating with the 5 banks that were investors in this luxury high rise; trying to determine what price they will sell the remainder of the units for. I’ve just received the new pricing! CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

There are several listed as resales, short sales and by the developer, but they represent only a very small fraction of the total inventory.

Please send me an email: realtyrae@yahoo.com  with the subject Towers of Channelside.  You may also reach me on my cell phone @ 813 784 7744 for current availability opportunities.

IKEA store grand opening – Ikea is opening their Tampa store at 22nd and Adamo on Wednesday, May 6.

Commuters in that area should expect major traffic impacts throughout the day and the rest of that week.

Due to the expected crowds that week Ikea has arranged for free overflow parking for customers in Ybor with a free shuttle service.

I think I’ll wait before I go!  Worth a trip if you’ve never been to Ikea and love contemporary furnishings.

Looking for a loft in Tampa Bay? Visit: www.TampaBayLofts.com

Home sales were up in March across Hillsborough County as some real estate practitioners hope the housing slump is in the past.

Some 1,400 homes were sold last month in Hillsborough, according to the Greater Tampa Association of Realtors, the best figures since June 2007. The sales were up 25 percent over February and 20 percent from the year before.

The average sales price also is up from $160,145 in February to $168,071 in March, creating sales in Hillsborough of $235.3 million, compared to $179.4 million the month before.

“Our members have been saying they are seeing positive movement in the housing market. These latest statistics prove that they are indeed experiencing a more positive market,” said Carol Austin, GTAR chief executive officer, in a release.

Nearly 17,000 homes still remain for sale, representing an inventory of just under a year. However, that’s the lowest inventory Hillsborough has seen since October 2006, and inventory was more than 17 months just a year ago.

“These statistics are extremely positive,” said Jack Rodriguez, GTAR president, in a release. “Hopefully it signals a trend to better things ahead, both for real estate and the economy in general.”

Search all homes for sale in Tampa Bay

Questions? Call Rae @ 813 784 7744 or email: realtyrae@yahoo.com

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 do in the short run is find a good buy and make sure you have the financial ability to hold it for the long run.

The lack of a substantial down payment doesn’t prevent you from making your first home purchase.  A less-than-perfect credit score won’t necessarily stop you from buying a home. The best way to get closer to buying your ultimate dream home is to buy your first home now. Buying a home doesn’t have to be complicated – there are many professionals who will help you along the way.

Hire your agent.

A buyer’s  agent is compensated from the seller’s agents commission, which is split between the two agents.  If you are looking at homes without an agent just remember that the seller’s agent is working on behalf of the seller and not you.

The typical real estate transaction involves at least two dozen separate individuals – insurance assessors, mortgage brokers and underwriters, inspectors, appraisers, escrow officers, buyer’s agents, seller’s agents, bankers, title researchers, and a number of other individuals whose actions and decisions have to be orchestrated in order to perform in harmony and get a home sale closed.

It is the responsibility of your real estate agent to expertly coordinate all the professionals involved in your home purchase and to act as the advocate for you and your interests throughout.

Seven main roles of your real estate agent

A Buyer’s Real Estate Agent:

Educates you about your market.

Analyzes your wants and needs.

Guides you to homes that fit your criteria.

Coordinates the work of other needed professionals.

Negotiates on your behalf.

Checks and double-checks paperwork and deadlines.

Solves any problems that may arise.

Eight important questions to ask your agent Qualifications are important. However, finding a solid, professional agent means getting beyond the resume, and into what makes an agent effective.

Use the following questions as your starting point in hiring your licensed, professional real estate agent:

Why did you become a real estate agent?

Why should I work with you?

What do you do better than other real estate agents?

What process will you use to help me find the right home for my particular wants and needs?

What are the most common things that go wrong in a transaction and how would you handle them?

What are some mistakes that you think people make when buying their first home?

What other professionals do you suggest we work with and what are their credentials?

Can you provide me with references or testimonials from past clients?

As a Realtor, I would be happy to answer any home buying or selling questions you may have.  You can reach me via email: realtyrae@yahoo.com or call Rae at 813 784 7744

TAMPA — Nearly half of the 257 condos at the Towers of Channelside have sold, including one in February to Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria, but those sales still aren’t enough.  The developer of the twin 29-story towers has notified its lender it’s giving up on the project 15 months after it sought bankruptcy court protection and six months after it declared its reorganization a success.

“Unfortunately it’s the economy. It’s bigger than us. It’s bigger than any one person,” said Richard Sacchi, a principal of Towers of Channelside LLC.

If you are looking to purchase a condo or have questions about developments in the Channelside and Downtown Tampa Districts give us a call

813 784 7744 or email: realtyrae@yahoo.com

APRIL 9, 2009, 8:15 P.M. ET

Obama for Change (In Your Mortgage)

By JOHN D. MCKINNON WASHINGTON — WALL STREET JOURNAL ARTICLE

President Obama called for millions of Americans to refinance their homes, in his latest turn as salesman-in-chief for the administration’s economic policies. In a White House event aimed at building on recent hopeful signs in the housing market and economy, Mr. Obama urged Americans to take advantage of current low mortgage rates, so they can stay in their homes and spend more on other needs. Getty Images REFINANCE NOW! President Obama speaks about the impact of historically low interest rates on Thursday at the White House.

He estimated 7 million to 9 million people could refinance, saving $1,600 to $2,000 a year. “That is money in their pocket,” he said. “We are at a time where people can really take advantage of this, and what we want to do is to send a message that if you are having problems with your mortgage — and even if you’re not, and you just want to save some money — you can go to www.makinghomeaffordable.gov.

SEARCH ALL HOMES FOR SALE IN TAMPA BAY

Still on the fence about buying a home in the Tampa Bay Area?  Here’s some statistics on our housing market.

Home sales were up in March across Hillsborough County as some real estate practitioners hope the housing slump is in the past.

Some 1,400 homes were sold last month in Hillsborough, according to the Greater Tampa Association of Realtors, the best figures since June 2007. The sales were up 25 percent over February and 20 percent from the year before.

The average sales price also is up from $160,145 in February to $168,071 in March, creating sales in Hillsborough of $235.3 million, compared to $179.4 million the month before.

“Our members have been saying they are seeing positive movement in the housing market. These latest statistics prove that they are indeed experiencing a more positive market,” said Carol Austin, GTAR chief executive officer, in a release.

Nearly 17,000 homes still remain for sale, representing an inventory of just under a year. However, that’s the lowest inventory Hillsborough has seen since October 2006, and inventory was more than 17 months just a year ago.

“These statistics are extremely positive,” said Jack Rodriguez, GTAR president, in a release. “Hopefully it signals a trend to better things ahead, both for real estate and the economy in general.”

Looking to buy or sell a home in the Tampa Bay area? Give us a call 813 784 7744 or search all homes for sale www.TampaBayDwellings.com