Tarpon Springs, Florida: A Great Place to Call Home

Writen by Robert Lipply

Tarpon Springs is a great place to live. If it’s Tarpon Springs real estate you are interested in, Tarpon Springs offers many types of homes, from bungalows to gated communities to mansions. You can enjoy the waterfront view from your front porch along the beautiful Anclote River. There are many beautiful waterfront communities in Tarpon Springs along the Gulf of Mexico and bordering Lake Tarpon. For roughly $3 million dollars you can buy a 6000 square foot home that is reminiscent of old European grandeur on S. Florida Avenue that has a wide open view of the Gulf of Mexico. The property sits on 1.6 private acres. On the low end, you can buy a condo hotel with waterfront access for under $150,000. There are many other great choices in between for Tarpon Springs real estate on and off the water.

For recreational activities in Tarpon Springs, my family and I have spent many days at Howard Park, with picnic facilities, playgrounds and its own beach where we enjoy the beautiful Florida sunsets. Tarpon Springs is known for its historic Sponge Docks and the biggest Epiphany celebration in the country, held annually in the month of January. You can enjoy authentic Greek food and pastries in its many restaurants. We enjoy a little restaurant called Plakas where they say they are the “Greek McDonalds”. They have wonderful gyros and offer appetizers of Greek specialties such as marinated octopus! The Sponge Dock area also offers shopping, day trip cruises, casino cruises or fishing trips. You can have a tour aboard a sponge boat and watch divers as they retrieve sponges from the Gulf of Mexico. You can also visit authentic Greek clubs where men spend the afternoon telling stories and playing cards.

Along with its Sponge Docks, Tarpon Springs offers a 120,000 gallon aquarium, a Performing Arts Center, a Cultural Center, and the Leepa Ratner Museum of Art which has been brought to the city by the St. Petersburg College of Tarpon Springs. For the fourth time in four years, St. Pete College has been rated number 1 in the state of Florida for distance education.

We also enjoy attending the Sunset Beach concerts, The Fine Arts Festival each April and attending wine tasting events at the Tarpon Springs Castle Winery. The historic downtown area offers First Fridays and Second Saturdays where the shops and restaurants are open late and there often is free entertainment to enjoy while you shop and dine.

Tarpon Springs, in northern Pinellas County, is centrally located to Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater and is only 90 minutes away from Disney World and Sea World which are in Orlando, Florida. Tarpon Springs is a great place to call home or buy real estate with all it has to offer.

Bob Lipply is a top Broker Associate working in the Tarpon Springs Real Estate market. He and his team work full time in Tarpon Springs helping clients buy and sell their homes. Lipply Real Estate also specializes in Palm Harbor Real Estate. Visit his website where you can search the MLS for up to date available homes for sale all over Pinellas County.

Rent to Own / Lease Option Your New Florida Home: Scam Alert Part 5

Writen by Mike Payne

“We got screwed, and we should have known better,” said Tim Johnson of Orlando, Florida, whose family took advantage of what he thought was a great opportunity on a rent to own home offered by the homeowner (or FSBO).

“The bottom line,” Johnson added, “was that the seller cheated us with a contract that allowed him to kick us out and take his house back when he realized the house was worth more than he had agreed in writing to sell us the house. We were supposed to pay association dues. We didn’t know that. We thought our rent payment covered everything. When we didn’t pay the dues, he said we were in default and kicked us out.”

Beware of FSBOs (For Sale By Owners) Offering Rent to Own.

If you are dealing with a homeowner or for sale by owner (FSBO) offering rent to own terms, you must be extremely careful. Even if you believe the homeowner has the best intentions, understand that what you don’t know about buying and selling real estate could steal your dreams and cost you thousands of dollars.

Are you willing to take the risk?

“That %$&* stole our down payment [on our rent to own Florida home] and [destroyed our dream] when we failed to read carefully the contract we signed.”

Unless you are absolutely confident in negotiating this type of transaction and absolutely confident in the contracts utilized, you are potentially inviting a horrible and expensive legal clash down the road.

With an honest homeowner offerering rent to own terms, it is an inconvenience promulgated by the homeowner’s and future homeowner’s lack of understanding of all paperwork involved in a rent to own, lease option, or lease purchase contract.

With a dishonest homeowner offering rent to own terms, you may endure a costly legal nightmare capable of haunting you for years.

How well can people do something for which they are not trained and in which they have little or no experience?

Still worse is the dishonest homeowner with the “honest and sincere” look whose contracts set you up for failure after you have performed honorably and now must fight the legal system or move out of your home. Similar horror stories occur daily.

We all want a “deal,” but to what extent do you plan to “deal” with the horror resulting from your “dealmaking?”

“What we learned,” Johnson added, “is that we have to get a lawyer involved. That should never have happened. Can you imagine my children…and how hurt they were when we had to move?”

Advice: If you insist on going through with a home on rent to own terms negotiated with the home’s owner, pay the $250.00 to get a lawyer to review ALL the paperwork and to advise you.

Mike Payne, a Realtor with Horizon Realty, specializes in providing Rent to own Florida Home || Florida Rent to Own Homes.

Learn more about rent to own Florida @ Rent to own Florida Home || Florida Lease Option.

To read other FR*EE special reports, visit Rent to Own Florida | Florida Lease Options.

Are Condo Hotels What the Orlando Real Estate Investor Has Been Looking For?

Writen by Marcus Truett

Earlier this year the Hawthorn suites in Lake Buena Vista quietly sold out all of their units in less than a month. These 540 sq. ft. units were an investor’s dream, with a price tag in the mid $100’s and an area average occupancy of over 84% these properties to quote one of our investors “make perfect sense”.

Many of the people buying these condo hotel conversions had different motivations for buying a second home in Orlando, but all had the same reason for buying a condo hotel conversion, namely the opportunity to cover their running costs with minimal or no effort. Many had sold their single family homes in Orlando, cashed in on the rapidly increasing prices and than reinvested their earnings utilizing a 1031 exchange and bought several condo hotel units. Others simply wanted an affordable second home near Disney which they could use when they wanted, and let the onsite management company rent it for them when they are not using the property.

So the big question is what are the benefits of a condo hotel?

There are many! What most people do is have the management rent the units out for them to offset the costs, and sometimes even creating a positive cash flow. If you feel like going on vacation, you just call up the management company and let them know that you’ll be using your unit on specific dates, and they set it aside so no one else uses it.

Condotels also have been appreciating in value at rapid rates in the last few years. Many investors have made incredible profits just purchasing and selling these units, which is known as flipping.

And don’t forget about the amenities! Think of all those amenities you have when you go to a luxury resort. Many condotels have pools, spas, tennis courts, restaurants, bars, saunas, playgrounds, and more. Keep in mind, however, that different establishments offer different types of amenities and you should research them before assuming that they have everything that you want. Many of the cheaper condo hotel conversions may not have some of these amenities, but if the price tag is less than $200,000, many people can forgo the spa!

For the condo buyer, these types of developments can offer enhanced financial returns when owners choose to place their units in a rental pool. Individual owners usually can put their units in the hotel room rental pool while they’re not using them and get a portion of the proceeds. Better yet, they get access to the same amenities and services as hotel guests.

By capitalizing on a hotel’s reservation system, brand recognition and management expertise, unit owners are more likely to receive a higher level of rental income through a rental pool agreement with a recognized professional operator, despite having to share a portion of their units’ revenues. Due to the high demand for accommodation near the theme parks, many hotels are dropping their branding as the hotels are showing good occupancy without the extra cost of paying for a brand name.

If you think that a condo hotel near Disney might be for you, or if you want to research condotels more, please visit http://www.orlandocondohotel.net

Marcus Truett is a second home specialist with the office of Ronald P Bressan Real Estate. Visit Marcus Truett’s condo hotel website at http://www.Orlandocondohotel.net

Condos Buying Guide How to Invest in Superior Condominiums

Writen by Sardool Sikandar

Condo or condominium is a housing option that looks like an apartment complex. Condo ownership lets the owner to own the condo only not the land. Condo owners have to pay monthly fee for maintaining common areas. Generally the association of property owners manages condominiums. Owners of condominium can do anything inside the their unit but not the outside. You’ve to clear all related points that what you can do or not inside the condominium at the time of signing the contract. You should check that whether it satisfies your requirements or not.

Condominium buying is just like purchasing single family homes. Condominium offers a joint ownership of real estate and partners can use common recreational areas. Condo buying is the cheaper option as compared to real estate market. It offers great living opportunity in United States. It is the great option for the people who travel a lot. Several owners of real property offer condos with kitchens and private bedroom that enables residents of condominium to cook their food. They can save money by cooking their meal own.

Condo buying offers ownership without maintenance harassment, repairs and security concerns. Condos are usually luxurious and cheap housing options and you can spend your holidays at beautiful locations. Before any type of purchase check parking spaces, bathrooms, fireplace, condos’ area, amenities such as pool, health club etc, area costs, and security arrangement.

Condos’ buying is an important financial investment. Before purchasing unique condominium answer yourself for some general questions like:

Which area of the city is best suitable to your lifestyle?
What type of condo do you want?
How much you can pay for it?
How do you make purchase of condominium?

You should research for the builders’ reputation on Internet or personally before any type of agreement. Read purchase and sale agreement carefully and check all terms and conditions that will apply on the transaction. Be sure about all details of condo homeowner association that includes costs of monthly maintenance fee. The decision of buying condo should be based on social, legal and financial understanding. You should check whether the property is right for you and your family for a long period. Important documents such as the declaration, operating budget, management agreement and regulatory agreement should be reviewed at the time of buying a condominium.

Condo buying is not the best option for all. People who don’t want to share certain areas, like pool etc, with other condos owner should go for single home ownership instead of condominium. Sometimes total price of condo is lower than single unit home. Condos’ residents should be aware of condominium settings. They can share their problems in monthly meeting with the association. It is compulsory to attend meetings and discussions. You should be active in community events while living in condominium.

You can talk to several professionals online to get all useful information about a particular area. They will provide significant information to make an easy condo buying. You should make your condos buying with complete understanding and awareness.

The Author owns a website on Condos Buying. The website provides some tips about how to buy condominium at reasonable rates. You can also visit his website about home equity loans

Real Estate Price Your Home Right (The Aggressive Bird Gets The Worm)

Writen by Will Daly

For the last ten or eleven months we have experienced an unbelievable real estate market. I’m sure most everyone has read about the phenomenal appreciation that home and land sales have garnered. Prices are going up at an incredible rate. Few people, even real estate professionals, truly recognize how crazy it is.

A big part of my job is to research home values for folks who are considering selling their home. Because market conditions are so unusual I have had to abandon the traditional way of determining value and develop a “new math” for values. The old, traditional method just doesn’t hold up anymore and can cost sellers profit. My new process has resulted in my clients continually getting far and away more money than anyone else in the neighborhood. Unfortunately, most agents are still using the “old” system.

I recently came across a home that sold just a month ago for $35,000 over full price. As this was such a huge number I had to hear more so I called the agent to get the story. He explained to me that there had been no unusual concessions or extenuating circumstances. Rather, within hours of putting the home on the market he received four offers, one of which was for $35,000 over full price. He was not shocked by the disparity between asking price and sales price and was very proud of the job he had done. He further shared that he was mystified to have been accused by a neighboring home owner of selling the home for too little and hurting the neighboring home values. I agree with the neighbor. In my opinion that agent may have cost his client thousands of dollars. Why?

In this market no home should sell in hours or even days. If the agent truly has his clients’ best interest at heart the home should take at least two to three weeks to sell. Homes that sell quickly were not priced aggressively enough to begin with and money was left on the table; at the seller’s expense. Now I’m not suggesting that one prices himself out of the market. But we should all test the waters to see how high we can go. I recently listed a home which I thought would garner about $360,000 at the most. However, I used my new system and decided to start at $399,000. We got a lot of traffic but no offers right away. Instead I received five phone calls from Buyer agents asking me how the heck I could justify such a high price. We ultimately put a deal together for $380,000 and my clients were delighted. I truly believe that our aggressive position put $10,000 to 15,000 extra in their pockets. They have since referred me to several friends and a co worker.

Will Daly, a Realtor with RE/MAX Excalibur in Phoenix and owner of the marketing labels http://WeKnowUrban.com/, http://CondosPhx.com/, and http://WillDaly.com/, combines years of experience, a thorough understanding of current real estate markets, and cutting edge technology to provide his clients the best advice for proven results. He specializes in Loft and High Rise Development/Sales and Condo Conversions. You may reach him directly at (480) 510 8755 or by visiting one of his web sites.

Tips For Handling Early Signs of a Foreclosure

Writen by Stephen Kreutzer

A foreclosure can be a devastating experience for any homeowner. Foreclosure not only means the homeowner may lose their home, but also brings with it credit damage. When a homeowner starts struggling to make mortgage payments it is an early sign that a foreclosure may be in the future. Homeowners should learn to recognize and handle these early signs of a foreclosure so they can avoid the whole damaging process.

When a foreclosure begins it starts a legal process that is hard to get out of without some financial or credit damage. Fortunately there are early signs that a homeowner may be in danger of a foreclosure. The following list explains some early signs of a foreclosure:

Problems paying bills on time.

Behind on basic bills, like mortgage and utilities.

Using credit to make purchases that should be made with cash.

Using savings to pay bills.

Once a homeowner sees any of these signs they should immediate begin to handle the problem. If not taken care of these small problems could very well lead to major problems, like foreclosure.

Handling financial problems is becoming more and more important. With credit easily and readily available some people are falling into the credit trap. The credit trap is where a person starts using credit cards as if they were cash and burying themselves in debt. The following tips can help a homeowner who is experiencing early signs of financial trouble.

Make a budget and stick to it. Writing up all expenses and allotting money to pay bills is the best way to ensure spending is kept under control. Sticking to the budget is the key, though. It is very easy to stray from the budget. That is why it is important to also set up savings as part of a budget for emergency expenses that are not planned for in the budget.

Track spending. Tracking spending is a great way for a person to figure out spending problems. Tracking spending involves writing down every penny spent. This can help a person to see if they are overspending on certain things.

Use credit cards only if they can be paid back when due. Credit cards are best used if the person can pay back the amount spent in full each month. The fees and charges associated with credit cards can eat away at a budget and provide an unstable financial future. Credit card spending should be limited to emergencies or large purchases when cash is not immediately available. Many people end up in financial trouble due to abuse of credit cards.

Talk with lenders to try to renegotiate payment plans. Most creditors understand that situations arise that make it hard for a person to pay their bills. Creditors are not the enemy and will most often do everything possible to help a person that is willing to try and solve a problem before it becomes a crisis.

These tips not only can help clear up financial trouble, but also help a homeowner to avoid foreclosure.

Foreclosure is bad for everyone involved. Banks do not like having to take a house back and will work with a homeowner to help them get financial back on track. For someone who is experiencing early warning signs that a foreclosure may be in the future, trying to fix the problems is the best way to avoid a foreclosure.

About the author: Stephen Kreutzer is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides foreclosure information on Prevent Foreclosure!

Is Your Real Estate Agent A Spy?

Writen by Steven Gillman

The real estate agent, unless specifically contracted as a buyer’s agent, is working for the seller. Buyers usually know this, but they don’t think it matters, as long as the agent is helpful. While true to an extent, buyers don’t realize that an agent has a real legal responsibility to, and loyalty to the best interests of the seller. It is referred to as a fiduciary responsibility, but what does this mean?

A Real Estate Agent Is A Spy

Let’s suppose you make an offer on a home, and mention that if the seller says no, you’ll probably offer $5,000 more. The sales agent now has an obligation to tell the seller what you said. That’s an expensive comment, isn’t it? An agent may spend all his time with you, showing you houses and helping you write offers, but his allegiance is legally with the seller, unless he is hired by you.

An agent, even if she is a seller’s agent, can be a great help when you are buying, but remember that she is a sales person, and you’re not the boss. Be careful what you say, and be careful with anything she says. You may want to work with a buyer’s agent. In that case the agent can work for YOUR best interests, but even here remember that she will usually get paid only when you buy something, so her objectivity is suspect.

Some real estate agents work under “dual agency” rules, meaning they’re supposed to work for both the buyer’s and seller’s interests. Of course, they only get paid when a property is sold, so they may be more helpful to the sellers. In any case, how can someone really be on both sides of a negotiation? It is probable they’ll work harder for whoever they like more. Do you want a popularity contest that can cost you thousands of dollars?

Things Real Estate Agents Won’t Tell You

An agent will often let you assume things, to get the sale closed. They’ll tell you that the seller and buyer always split the closing fee, for example, or let you assume it. They’ll say they can’t change the commission after it has been set. They’ll say you have to write a big check for a “good faith” deposit when you make an offer.

I’ve seen realtors take $4,000 off a commission to get a sale closed at a lower price. I’ve seen the buyer or the seller pay the entire closing fee. Buyers sometimes put less than $1000 down as a deposit with an offer, and sometimes nothing agreeing to deposit something when the offer is accepted. Little is set in stone when it comes to real estate.

Don’t think real estate agents are all experts. My first time making an offer on a house, the agent didn’t understand when I told him that I wanted to get a 90% first mortgage and have the seller carry a second for 5%, so I could get in with only 5% down. Many years into his career, he still had only dealt with conventional deals.

What do you look for in an agent when you are a buyer? Agents will often be knowledgeable about a certain type of real estate, or a certain neighborhood, but know little else. Just like other professionals, they specialize, so when you want to find a particular type of property, look through listings online until you find a real estate agent that already has several of that type listed.

Steve Gillman has invested in real estate for years. To learn more, get a free real estate investing course, and see a photo of a beautiful house he and his wife bought for $17,500, visit http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com

Home Buying Guide: Five Things to Remember When Making an Offer

Writen by Brandon Cornett

The offer is a critical part of the home buying process. It’s when you, as the buyer, say to the seller: “Here’s what I’m willing to pay for this house.”

This home buying guide will explain the five factors of a smart offer.

1. Base the offer on hard evidence
Before making an offer, you should have a good idea of the home’s estimated value. This knowledge will come from understanding your market conditions and knowing what comparable homes are selling for in your area. Making a realistic offer will increase your chances of acceptance, while preventing you from overpaying.

If you agree to a price higher than the home’s value, and the subsequent home appraisal comes in lower than that price, you’ll have trouble getting financing. That’s time wasted!

2. Make the offer contingent
It’s a safe practice to make your offer contingent on two things loan approval and inspection. Even if you’ve been pre approved by a lender, there’s a chance you could get turned down for the actual loan (especially if the price you agree to pay is higher than the pre approval amount).

The home inspection is also critical, because you won’t know the true “health” of the house based on a casual walk through. Only a qualified home inspector can dig up the facts. Your offer should be contingent on both of these things.

3. Set a time limit
The last thing you want to do is sit around wondering when you’ll hear back from the sellers (if at all). For this reason, it’s common practice to put a time limit on a home buying offer. It shows the seller you’re serious and prevents the process from dragging on. Some buyers limit their offer to 24 hours, some for 48 hours, and others even longer. It will depend on your comfort level and unique circumstances.

4. Hope for acceptance, but plan for everything
Of course you want the seller to accept your offer. But there’s always a chance they won’t, so you need to have a plan in place so you can react quickly. Discuss this with your agent before making the offer. Have a plan for three different scenarios an acceptance, a rejection, and a counteroffer.

5. Know your limits
If you’ve been pre approved for a certain loan amount by a mortgage lender, then you have a pretty good idea of your limitations. Be careful making offers that exceed your pre approval amount (unless you can make up the difference in cash).

Keep this home buying guide in mind when making offers. Practice the five factors of a smart offer. Good luck and happy home buying!

* Copyright 2006, Brandon Cornett. You may republish this article if you keep the byline and author’s note, and also leave the hyperlinks active.

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Realtors Keep the Good Deal to Themselves

Writen by Greg Staker

On more than one occasion I have heard or have had customers exclaim to me that the best real estate buys are bought by not only Florida Realtors but Realtors in general long before the properties hit the market. This comment always makes me think of that cartoon character with the handle bar moustache tying some innocent damsel to a train track in hopes of forcing her to sell her property quick and cheap. Yes, there are Realtors that purchase real estate for their own investment reasons, and equally true is the fact that some Realtors are among the best negotiators in the business world BUT most non Realtor investors can rest easy that their Realtor is in fact providing them with the current up to date “deal” available on the market and are not keeping the good stuff for themselves. Nor, as I am about to explain, are they misleading sellers into selling their homes and property for a “steal”.

In the state of Florida, like all states, Realtors are bound by a code of ethics that guide them in how to do business. When we encounter a property that the seller wants to “give away” or price below Florida market value, either because of limited knowledge or even if done with a purpose, we are obligated to explain to them that they can, in fact, receive more money for the Florida property by placing it on the open market. Many times in this current market, sellers are surprised at how high above their expected selling price a Realtor suggests pricing their property.

Yes it is not a perfect world and I am sure there are those in my industry that do not care about ethics, but with nearly 20 years of full time experience, I am happy to say that I have never witnessed this happening. I am also pleased to report that my industry has done an exceptional job of policing itself and is quick to eliminate from our organization those who would seek to take advantage of the less informed.

Another point to keep in mind is that Florida Realtors, by and large, are not multi millionaire types that can afford to purchase every stick of real estate that comes along. While you may see Florida Realtors bragging about being million dollar producers or multi million dollar producers, the reality, when translated to real income, is that most make a modest honest living. I, like some of my other Realtor friends, have bought property over the years, some we have done well with, others we have done not so well.

All in all I know of many individuals who do not sell real estate for a living who have fared much better in the investment real estate market than I, or other Florida Realtors, have.

So, if you are looking for a nice home or property for investment or otherwise in Central Florida, give me or a Realtor of your choice a call, We will let you know what is available, even the good stuff.

Greg Staker is a Broker Associate and Assistant Manager with Watson Realty Corp. of Central Florida

Home Sellers: Is Your Listing Agent the Reason Your Home’s Not Selling?

Writen by Jeanette Joy Fisher

Many home sellers sign a listing agreement with an agent who makes big promises and then their home languishes on the market.

Do you know if your agent may be causing your home to go unsold? Some reasons why listing agents hold up home sales:

1. Lack of cooperation from other sales agents who dislike your listing agent. Some agents get a reputation of being difficult to work with. Ask another agent about the popularity of your listing agent.

2. Lopsided commission split. Check to see if other agents get their fair share of the sales commission. Some agents only offer discounted commissions to the selling agent who won’t show the home if they make more selling another house.

3. Busy agents neglect to hold open houses for other real estate offices. Have you had other agents preview your home? If not, ask your agent why he or she hasn’t held an open house for brokers.

4. Lack of exposure. Is your home listed correctly on the Internet? Check to see if you can find it online. Do a search for your city and home for sale to see if your listing or agent’s website pops up. Most of today’s home buyers begin their property search on the Internet. You should be able to find local multiple listings.

5. Poor advertising methods. Did your agent create a sales flyer that showcases your property or a sales flyer that showcases your agent? Does your agent advertise your particular property every week or just rely on generic office ads? Did your property get a photo ad in the local home buyer magazine? Another great sales tool used by aggressive listing agents, mailings to your neighborhood homeowners, generates interest from neighbors’ friends and family.

If you feel that you’re wasting your valuable time with an agent who doesn’t perform, ask for a cancellation. If your agent won’t allow a cancellation without receiving compensation for a job not done, insist daily that he or she start performing. If you become the disliked, difficult home seller, your agent will cancel you.

Copyright © 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved. (You may publish this article in its entirety with the following author’s information with live links only.)

Jeanette Fisher teaches home sellers five ways to sell their homes for top dollar fast. For free home selling ebooks, visit http://www.sellfast.info