An Option for Real Estate Licensees in the Tampa Bay Area  I would like to recommend an option for current or new Florida real estate licensees.  Tampa Bay Referral Associates is an independent company that provides those with active Florida real estate licenses a way to engage in the real estate referral business without being a member of the local Realtors Association or putting in lots of hours. How does it work? If you know anyone who wants to buy or sell real estate anywhere in the U.S., contact our office with the information and we will place your referral. Or, if you know an active sales associate you can place the referral yourself. When the sale occurs as a result of your referral and the sale closes, you will be paid a referral fee. Benefits: Active License Status: Affiliatio... 02/27/2008

   The Importance of Pre-approval   Pre-approval can be a very valuable step towards purchasing a home. Many home buyers get pre-qualified for a home loan early on, and then become pre-approved before beginning a serious home search. By completing your mortgage application prior to choosing a home, you can get a pre-approval letter stating how much home you can afford.  Try our preferred lender:   Click Here Your pre-approval letter lets you know exactly how much you can spend, and it shows home sellers and real estate agents that you're serious about buying a home. This may give you leverage in the negotiation process. Many sellers actually prefer to work with pre-approved buyers, especially in hot real estate markets. In short-sales and foreclosures, pre-approval is often required bef... 02/26/2008

The Brandon area is growing. Many new subdivisions have been built and completed in the last several years. The surrounding areas of Valrico, Lithia, Riverview and Durant have also been growing. New developments have been built in the Bloomingdale area around the Bloomingdale Golf Course. Traveling south is the subdivisions of FishHawk, FishHawk Trails, and FishHawk Ranch. The growth has been fueled by homeowners looking for affordable single family housing.Brandon was founded in the 1850's by the Brandon family; Brandon has, grown from one family living alone in the wilderness, to a thriving community of over 170,000 in Tampa Bay. Brandon is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country.  Brandon offers a variety of dining experiences from fast food to fine dining. It al... 02/18/2008

Buying Bank Owned PropertiesThere is a lot of interest in buying bank owned properties in the Tampa Bay Area these days. A lot of information, some good and some bad, is floating around about the subject.  Often the information offered is for sale, with the promise that you can make a lot of money with little effort once you know "the secret formula".  The fact is, you can make money buying foreclosures and short-sales, but that there are no secrets, and to make money does require effort. What's an REO?REO stands for Real Estate Owned.  These are properties that have gone through foreclosure and are now owned by the bank or mortgage company.  This is not the same as a property up for foreclosure auction.  When buying a property during a foreclosure sale, you must pay at least the loan b... 02/16/2008

Bush Signs Economic Stimulus Package President Bush signed an Economic Stimulus package into law yesterday which will send $300 to $1,200 tax rebate checks to millions of Americans.  This package was passed by Congress last week and is hoped to boost the economy.  The bill was supported by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and their members around the country. Additionally, the bill will grant tax incentives for businesses investing in new plants and equipment. The legislation includes the requested GSE and FHA limit increases strongly backed and lobbied by NAR. The increased GSE loan limits means borrowers will see immediate relief with new liquidity in the mortgage market and the nation will see an additional 300,000 home sales. The increased FHA loan limits means an addition... 02/13/2008

The term real estate short-sale is being tossed about quite frequently these days.  All of the Media seems to have picked up on the declining real estate market conditions and the increasing willingness of banks and other financial institutions to consider real estate short-sales as an alternative to foreclosure. In many parts of the country, real estate prices are down and the time it takes to sell properties has risen dramatically. Declining real estate markets are the primary reason for the rise in short-sale real estate opportunities. So, what is a real estate short-sale? A short-sale is when a lender agrees to accept less than the amount owed against the home because there is not enough equity to sell and pay all costs of sale. Not all lenders will negotiate a short-sale, and that ... 02/13/2008

As outlined on Wikipedia, the free internet encyclopedia Brandon's history began on January 20, 1857, when John Brandon arrived at Fort Brooke (now Tampa) from Mississippi with his wife Martha and six sons. At first he moved his family to what is now the Seffner area. Then in August 1858, John Brandon purchased 40 acres of land in the New Hope area (now Brandon) south of Hopewell Road (now SR 60), between Parsons Avenue and Lithia Road. Nine years later, after his wife died, John left everything he owned to his son James Henry Brandon and moved to Bartow. In 1876 James built a home for his wife Joanna. It is still standing today and is now Stowers Funeral Home, a well-known landmark on Brandon Boulevard (SR60). Meanwhile, John Brandon remarried a widow named Victoria and moved back to N... 02/12/2008

The Big East's University of South Florida Bulls signed a 22-member class that was ranked as high as third in the BIG EAST and included highly regarded Florida prospects B.J. Daniels of Lincoln HS (Tallahassee), Quavon Taylor of Northwestern HS (Miami) and George Baker of Archbishop Carroll HS (Miami). The spring football season gets underway on March 18 and runs through April 12 when the Bulls will host their annual spring game under the lights at Raymond James Stadium at 7 p.m.The students, fans and alumni anqciously await the 2008 season. GO USF BULLS.....   Click Here.....   http://www.gousfbulls.com/ 02/11/2008

Historically, real estate prices cycle through highs and lows. Tracking the following market indicators will help you decide if it's a good time to invest in real estate in your area. Job Growth- People go where the jobs are, and home prices follow jobs. A strong local job market is a sure sign of a healthy real estate market. While the Wall Street Journal gives you insight into the nation's overall economy, check your local newspapers for statistics in your area. Housing Inventory- The housing inventory is the number of houses for sale at one time in the area. If there are more houses than buyers, prices tend to fall and if there are more buyers than houses, the opposite happens. Also look at the number of months or days it is taking to sell a home. If it's less than 60 days the market... 02/10/2008

  Bloomingdale Fl East/West Single Family Homes    Search All Riverwoods Homes For Sale Now   Search All Bloomingdale Homes For Sale Now   Searh All Winthrop Homes for sale now Search All Moss Landing Riverview For Sale Now Search All Panther Trace MLS Search For Sale Now Search All Rivercrest Homes For sale For Sale Now  Search All Moss Landing Homes For Sale Now  Search All Riverwalk Townhomes For Sale Now  Search All Lake St Charles Homes Riverview For Sale Now  Search All St charles Homes For Sale Now  Searh All Winthrop Homes For sale now  Call Today 813-546-9725 Richard M Nappi 813-546-9725 Fallon & Associates If you're interested in buying a new home in Riverview. We can help your find new home builders that will show you communities, neighborhoods, and multiple home models in Ri... 02/09/2008

When you're thinking about making a move, the first steps in the home buying process are: 1. Deciding when you want to make your move 2. Considering how much money you would like to spend 3. Thinking about what needs you have in a home 4. Deciding where you would like to live The next step is usually finding out how much loan you can qualify for and deciding the type of financing that will work best for you. If you're in the "thinking" stage, you will want to speak with a lender about receiving pre-qualification. If you choose to become pre-qualified, the lender will determine how much you can borrow based on financial information you provide to the lender. Pre-qualification is useful for making preliminary decisions about how much home you can afford, but does not assess your creditwor... 02/01/2008

Meet David Tipton, Tampa Bay Real Estate Broker  Welcome !! And thanks for visiting the Big Dog Real Estate BLOG.I'm the Broker at Grady David Tipton Brokerage, based in the Tampa Bay Area. We are a small but growing office and we base our success on our in-depth knowledge of the marketplace and our standards of integrity.I was born in Danville, Illinois, a small town about 90 miles south of Chicago, and about 90 miles west of Indianapolis. My family moved from Illinois to Tampa when I was 9 years old, and except for periods in the military and working with the Federal Government, I have lived in the Tampa area most of my life. I currently live in the Brandon area East of Tampa with my wife Cathy and our dog Beau and two cats, Cocoa and Maui.I attended T.R. Robinson High School in Tampa... 01/29/2008

As CONSUMERS we need to ask ourselves the following question...."Am I an Actor or a Reactor?"  In light of the current situation in our economy both locally in Tampa, Florida and nationwide as well, we are faced with certain REALITIES.  First...there are opportunities galore for those who would seek them.Second...timing in real estate is EVERYTHING!!!Third...it has been said that SPECULATORS buy at the TOP of the market and INVESTORS buy at the BOTTOM! Don't be a SPECULATOR, who waits and watches, always reacting to the market too late.  Be an INVESTOR who acts decisively and seizes opportunities.  REAL ESTATE is ALL about timing, and the TIME IS NOW!Please click on this link to view a wonderful home in Brandon, Florida by a highly respected custom builder.Thanks for your visit! 01/24/2008

Good Morning and Welcome to my Blog!!  Today is a fantastic day in real estate!  Why?  Because prices are down, bargains are up and interest rates at at all time lows!!  What more could you ask for if you were buying a home? January is ALWAYS the BEST TIME to purchase a home.  The reason is that there tend to be less buyers at this time of year and sellers are more willing to wheel and deal.  This is the time to GET OFF THE FENCE and begin your home seach in earnest.  No one knows how long these deals will last, but for those of us who studied economics understand the following simple truth.....supply and demand determine price.  So, if supply is up (right now) and demand is down (less buyers) then price will go down!!  As we near March, buyers will begin to come out of the woodwork and... 01/23/2008

    Barrington Oaks East Brandon Florida 33511 Single Family Homes Search All Riverwoods Homes For Sale Now   Search All Bloomingdale Homes For Sale Now   Searh All Winthrop Homes for sale now Search All Moss Landing Riverview For Sale Now Search All Panther Trace MLS Search For Sale Now Search All Rivercrest Homes For sale For Sale Now  Search All Moss Landing Homes For Sale Now  Search All Riverwalk Townhomes For Sale Now  Search All Lake St Charles Homes Riverview For Sale Now  Search All St charles Homes For Sale Now  Searh All Winthrop Homes For sale now  Call Today 813-546-9725 Richard M Nappi 813-546-9725 Fallon & Associates If you're interested in buying a new home in Riverview. We can help your find new home builders that will show you communities, neighborhoods, and multiple h... 01/13/2008

    Lumsden Reserve Brandon Florida 33511 Townhomes Real Estate Search Brandon Homes for sale now  Search All Riverwoods Homes For Sale Now   Search All Bloomingdale Homes For Sale Now   Searh All Winthrop Homes for sale now Search All Moss Landing Riverview For Sale Now Search All Panther Trace MLS Search For Sale Now Search All Rivercrest Homes For sale For Sale Now  Search All Moss Landing Homes For Sale Now  Search All Riverwalk Townhomes For Sale Now  Search All Lake St Charles Homes Riverview For Sale Now  Search All St charles Homes For Sale Now  Searh All Winthrop Homes For sale now  Call Today 813-546-9725 Richard M Nappi 813-546-9725 Fallon & Associates If you're interested in buying a new home in Brandon. We can help your find new home builders that will show you communities,... 01/13/2008

    Lake Brandon Townhomes Brandon Florida 33511 Real Estate Search Brandon Homes for sale now  Search All Riverwoods Homes For Sale Now   Search All Bloomingdale Homes For Sale Now   Searh All Winthrop Homes for sale now Search All Moss Landing Riverview For Sale Now Search All Panther Trace MLS Search For Sale Now Search All Rivercrest Homes For sale For Sale Now  Search All Moss Landing Homes For Sale Now  Search All Riverwalk Townhomes For Sale Now  Search All Lake St Charles Homes Riverview For Sale Now  Search All St charles Homes For Sale Now  Searh All Winthrop Homes For sale now  Call Today 813-546-9725 Richard M Nappi 813-546-9725 Fallon & Associates If you're interested in buying a new home in Brandon. We can help your find new home builders that will show you communities, ne... 01/10/2008

    Whispering Oaks New Townhomes Brandon Florida   Search Valhalla Homes for sale now Search All Rivercrest Homes For sale For Sale Now  Search All Moss Landing Homes For Sale Now  Search All Riverwalk Townhomes For Sale Now  Search All Lake St Charles Homes Riverview For Sale Now  Search All St charles Homes For Sale Now  Searh All Winthrop Homes for sale now  Call Today 813-546-9725 Richard M Nappi 813-546-9725 Fallon & Associates If you're interested in buying a new home in Riverview. We can help your find new home builders that will show you communities, neighborhoods, and multiple home models in Riverview or throughout Hillsbough County.     Custom MLS Search all Riverview Homes for sale now    By combining their individual talents, knowledge, and expertise. Nappi Group will ensur... 01/05/2008

    Search all Tampa Homes for sale now If you're interested in buying a new home in Brandon. We can help your find new home builders that will show you communities, neighborhoods, and multiple home models in Brandon or throughout Hillsbough County.     Custom MLS Search all Tampa Homes for sale now     By combining their individual talents, knowledge, and expertise. Nappi Group will ensure you a professional service you will be happy with, whether it is buying or selling your home in the South Shore and Tampa area.   Below are our home listings. Click on the picture below to obtain more information on the home. We are able to gather information on any home or help you purchase any home you find on this Web site. Click here for all the Tampa FL listings.   Helping you locate Tampa Flori... 01/05/2008

    The Vineyard New Single Family Homes Brandon Florida   Search all Tampa Homes for sale now   Homes priced from the low $500's to $1.2 million. The Vineyards features luxury 2,800 sqft. plus, Mediterranian style homes located in a gated community. Buider:  Schmidt Brothers Homes Please Call Richard M Nappi 813-546-9725 riverviewrichie@aol.com     If you're interested in buying a new home in Brandon. We can help your find new home builders that will show you communities, neighborhoods, and multiple home models in  Brandon or throughout Hillsbough County.     Custom MLS Search all Tampa Homes for sale now     By combining their individual talents, knowledge, and expertise. Nappi Group will ensure you a professional service you will be happy with, whether it is buying or selling your ho... 01/05/2008