When the "Great Recession" is mentioned, many people think about the housing bubble that burst in 2008. However, in Florida, the crisis began one year prior in April 2007, according to the St. Augustine Record. The Sunshine State has come a long way since those days, and University of Central Florida economist Sean Snaith believes Floridians will have a stronger economy than most other states within three years' time. Snaith's extensive report on employment, payroll and housing growth shows that the construction, trade, hospitality and business services markets in Florida will help employment grow 2.3 percent every year. By 2017, the unemployment in Florida will stand around 5.7 percent with an average wage or salary of $55,400 per year. America's unemployment rate is hovering around 6... 04/09/2014

 Valencia Lakes Tampa Active Adult Lifestyle   For many active adult residents of the Tampa Bay area, the convenience of living in a community of like-minded 55+ neighbors, with easy access to a wide range of amenities designed for the Florida lifestyle, makes more sense every day. Valencia Lakes has built a reputation as the premier active adult community in Hillsborough County because it was designed specifically to meet the demands of today's active 55+ adults, according to Dave Tipton, Broker Associate with HomeXpress Realty Tampa. Residents often refer to the community as "Club Valencia," because they feel as though they are on vacation every day. With the release of new land parcels and the recently opened secondary recreation site, now is an ideal time for Tampa Bay area resident... 04/07/2014

Good News for Real Estate in the Sunshine State: As the 1st quarter of 2014 comes to a close, it is a great time to monitor the good news published across the Sunshine State in real estate headlines. In a recent report from Freddie Mac, utilizing its Multi-Indicator Market Index, analysts discovered that Florida’s housing market showed the most improvement in the entire country during 2013.  It also continued to show the most improvement month-to-month in January. The goal of the market index is to effectively measure the market’s stable range, proximity to “normal” and current trends.  In an article by Florida Realtors, Freddie Mac Deputy Chief Economist Len Kiefer said, “a better employment picture, along with some income growth, makes it possible for more people who are considering ... 04/02/2014

Humane Society Tampa 27th Annual Bark in The Park Likely the biggest gathering of dogs and dog lovers in the Tampa area will gather this weekend, March 29th for the annual Bark in the Park fund raising and awarenss event. Loaded with experts, show booths, competitions and shows, this will be the biggest one ever and right in beautiful downtown Tampa. For a video and links to all of the events and sponsors go to Blog: Bark in the Park 2014 My Golden and I will hope to see you there!! 03/26/2014

Reverse Mortgages Are Kinder and Gentler After Changes In the past few months, since the changes to the reverse mortgage brought the program back to basics, many financial planners are finally seeing the benefits, not only to the changes, but also to the program itself. The reverse mortgage was never created to be a “loan of last resort,” even though many borrowers used it as such. In fact, it was created as a way for borrowers to age in place comfortably and use the equity they have built up throughout the years. In all honesty, the reverse mortgage was meant to be an investment like any other, one that would secure considerable funds for the future. This is what the changes have accomplished in the few short months since they were implemented. They have placed the reverse mortgage pro... 03/24/2014

London, Singapore, Amsterdam, Dubai, Bangkok and now Tampa Bay! Our beautiful city has been selected to host a prestigious award ceremony of great magnitude at the end of April! The International Indian Film Academy Awards are coming to Tampa, and this will give us a unique opportunity to get a taste of spectacular and inspirational Indian traditions at our own doorstep. The international community will see Tampa in a way that has not yet hit the international stage.     Here is your point of reference: About 120 Million people turned in for the 2014 Super Bowl, whereas 800 million people are expected to view the IIFA Awards, Mayor Buckhorn said. Based on the premise that Bollywood fans like to follow e stars' footsteps, Anil Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and other stars have been. Visit Tamp... 03/21/2014

Are you ready to celebrate St. Patrick's Day 2014 in Tampa? Tampa Bay knows how to celebrate and you will have your choice of many events. Most of the events are taking place this weekend since St. Patrick's Day is on Monday. Are you ready to see the Hillsborough River dyed green? The City of Tampa's official St. Patrick's Day event will be the Mayor's River O'Green Fest at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. This event is on Saturday, March 14, 2014 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. In 2010, the Tampa Attractions Association started the tradition of dying Garrison Channel green for St. Patrick's Day. This year the Hillsborough River will be dyed green and the party will be centered around the River O'Green. The celebration will include live entertainment featuring Lucid Druids, games, kids activities, ... 03/14/2014

Great News for Real Estate Market   On March 4th, 2014, the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act was passed overwhelmingly by the U.S. House! Thousands of realtors across the United States have already expressed their excitement about this newest development. Since the beginning of 2014, over 40 000 home sales have been lost because of unreasonable premiums on flood insurance. Once again, the housing market became once again more affordable. Homeowners and home buyers no longer have to be afraid of once again increasing flood insurance rates.   Here at SI Real Estate, we had our own experience with the flood insurance and saw contracts go south because of unrealistic premium charges, which our customers couldn’t afford. Thanks to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) which i... 03/14/2014

Let’s be honest…it is far too easy to take for granted everything a city has to offer after spending countless years living in it.  What is quite refreshing, however, is taking time to reflect on and appreciate some of the achievements of a city and the offerings it provides for its residents.     Tampa is the third most populous city in the state of Florida with over 350,000 residents, and is home to the largest port in Florida, Tampa Bay. One great aspect of this city is the prevalence of strong multicultural influences within the city and the residents who both live and visit our city!   Tampa, as a destination for the world, allows for people from all across the globe to share their cultural heritage and traditions with others who have a genuine interest in learning and experiencing... 03/06/2014

  Early each month, I profile a HouseLens market as part of my Market Closeup series. I think of these posts as a fun chance to show you what's great about the cities where we do business. Click here for a list of the other posts in this series.   This is the time of year when a location like Tampa, FL, has obvious appeal. While the rest of us shiver through the polar vortex, the folks in Tampa are enjoying sunshine and warmth. But living in this HouseLens market is about more than just the weather. Here are some of the other reasons people flock to Tampa.   It's growing. Both the market and population of the Tampa metro area (which includes St. Petersburg and Clearwater) have grown steadily and significantly over the last ten years, according to the U.S. Census. And both are projected ... 03/04/2014

Come out for the Buccaneer Beer Fest! At the Renaissance Fair at MOSI in Tampa, FL.  This will also be the place to bring your furry buddy to the 6th Annual Pet Fest. The Pet Fest features pet contests, pet training demos, and will showcase local Animal Rescues. This cutie was at our Barktoberfest Event last October. The 5th Annual Arm Wrestling Championship will take place in the afternoon too. The wine and beer tasting will take place after all those exhausting activities so you can wind down and relax. Tickets for the Renaissance Fair are $16.95 for adults and $8.95 for kids. (One day admission). MOSI is the Museum of Science and Industry located at 11315 N. 46th Street, Tampa, FL. The Beer and Pet Fest is March 8 & 9, 2014. Check out their Facebook page, click here.   This local eve... 03/04/2014

Gasparilla Festival of the Arts Tampa, FL The Gasparilla Festival of the Arts is coming to the Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in Tampa, FL on Saturday - Sunday, March 1 - 2, 2014. This two day festival is considered one of the premier arts events in the Tampa Bay area and ranks among the leading juried arts festivals nationwide that feature both fine arts and crafts. The fact that the Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts routinely attracts more than a quarter million visitors from all over the world is testament to the truly enjoyable experience it is. It makes for a delightful, culture-rich day where you can delight in artistic inspiration in a versatile range of mediums, from watercolor to wood, painting to printmaking. If you are looking for something to get you out of doors o... 02/28/2014

Newswires across the globe are issuing information about the severe security flaws within the IOs systems. Affected products included (but may not be limited to) the following The IPhone 4 The IPhone 5 IPod Touch IPad Air IPad 2 IPad 3 Pacemakers Credit Card Machines US Nuclear Missile Silos (Ok the last three were my vain attempt at humor!!!) There has been a security flaw that has been identified that allows encrypted data sent over a wireless network.  Especially unsecured networks like a restaurant, coffee shop or hotel. Highly sensitive information can be captured by hackers and used to destroy the world (or at least you and possibly a client) What Should You Do Update your devices immediately Here is a resouce (apple's website direct) that shows you how to do it (but most of my re... 02/23/2014

When working diligently, it is often disheartening for a Realtor to hear from clients, “I think I’m just going to rent for a while longer.” The hard work and countless miles traveled over the last month seem wasted, but is this really a waste? It is most definitely not. You never know what that relationship could develop into. Some of the most successful real estate agents are those with strong interpersonal communication and networking skills. Those who provide an unsurpassed level of quality service for clients do not go unrecognized. Success in this industry is highly dependent on one’s ability to stay in contact with clients, even long after a phone call, showing, or transaction. In providing premium customer service for your clients, regardless of their current needs, you are much ... 02/21/2014

Search Tampa homes for sale, both New & Re-sales in Active Adult 55+ communities in the Tampa, FL area. You may filter between single family detached, condominiums, and town-homes by using the sliders on the right side of the map.  You may also scroll through every listing in the area that you have defined, posted below the search map. Please click on any of the homes on the interactive map for more details about the home and lifestyles.  Create your own searches and check daily for new listings! Please favorite on your computer or device TampaActiveAdultLiving.com to come back, search for all homes for sale in the area and to read or see our interesting and informative articles and videos about the Active Adult Lifestyle and the 55+ communities in the Tampa area that promote this lifes... 02/18/2014

Millennials refer to those born between 1980 and 2000, and they make up the second largest segment of homebuyers according to a study on generational housing trends conducted by the National Association of Realtors.  So where have they gone? The weight of student loans has significantly affected the rate at which Millennials are making home purchases, with many college graduates struggling to keep up with the hefty payments after graduation. The tough job market and current economic conditions are also contributing factors to Millennials renting homes rather than purchasing.   The good news, however, is that consumer confidence about the potential to qualify for a mortgage is increasing, meaning that this segment is moving closer to becoming first-time homebuyers. According to Fannie Ma... 02/14/2014

Back in the Spring of 2012 after one of Kerrie's ActiveRain Meetup I talked Andre Aragon into doing a one minute pitch for his business.  Who could blame me, with the backdrop of the Hudson River and the Newburgh Bridge this was an ideal spot for someone to talk about their photography business. Andre was successful in the Tri-State area , ask anyone who used his services. Recently Andre moved to Tampa Florida where he is providing the same services, our loss here in New York but your gain Tampa. Connect with Andre you will be thrilled with his work. 02/08/2014

Some very exciting news is making headlines across the country; the 15th Annual International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards are to take place in Tampa this April. This is the first time in history that the international showcase event will be held in the United States, and it is a great honor for Tampa to be selected as the host. Bollywood superstars, Priyanka Chopra and Anil Kapoor, made a visit to the University of South Florida in January during their Tampa visit and were greeted by hundreds of fanatical students.     When Janak Vora, an IIFA representative, was asked in a Tampa Bay Times interview why the Tampa Bay area was selected, she replied, ‘It’s about the enthusiasm of the community.’ Preparation and training is already underway throughout Tampa’s hospitality industry to... 02/07/2014

Real estate listing videos have gained tremendous popularity over the last several years, acting as an invaluable asset for real estate agents. Whether by using a personal YouTube channel or featuring videos on a company website, these videos have allowed for increased interest from homebuyers across the nation. Not only do the videos increase the number of quality buyer leads for a listing, but they also act as a specialized marketing tool for increasing overall awareness of an agent or agency.   Many listing videos tend to follow a predictable pattern of home images with classical music and a monotonous narrator in the background, which can nearly lull viewers to sleep. However, there are some agents who dare to be different. A real estate agent for Houlihan Lawrence of New York, Bri... 01/29/2014

The Tampa Bay area is a very high-paced growing metropolitan area, and it is home to many major corporations, health centers, and educational institutions. Whether you live in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, or Sarasota, there are many intriguing business opportunities for hard-working people of all ages. Here at SI Real Estate, we proudly support local business and we diligently work with people from all parts of the greater Tampa Bay area. In the past we have had the privilege to work with professors, students from the University of South Tampa and the University of Tampa, and many others purchasing their first home. The SI Real Estate team believes that education is one of the most important investments one can make, and that is why we have actively participated in the award-winni... 01/24/2014