Tampa and Valrico Real Estate Market

PATIENCE IS A REAL TOOL FOR SELLERS TODAY…

trishcarter — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 13:46:47 +0000

If you are selling in this market…you may find yourself sitting, waiting for those valuable showings. This is a common thread to all sellers right now. The month of July is usually much busier given the timing of the school year. There are things you could be doing in the meantime…your agent should be double checking the mls making sure that you are getting full exposure and you should have full exposure on the internet and other advertising mediums. If this is being done, there are other things to consider…is your house in pristene condition? When that qualified buyer comes walking through that door, you want your home to knock their socks off with cleanliness, smelling great and no needed repairs. After that, pricing is a huge factor. Are you priced attractively enough to pull those buyers in? If you are trying to ‘push the envelope’ right now, you are putting yourself behind the 8 ball…attracting mostly those buyers that are in the mindset ‘hey, they are priced high, means I can come in and lowball’…or worse yet, ‘I will wait until they lower the price to where it should be’ is a typical mindset. The reality isn’t pretty…but here is a reality that some may not consider. There are NOT as many solid and qualified buyers out there right now, no matter how much advertising an agent does. Especially if you have a home that is in a compromised area, in a higher price range or without special features that make it stand out. (a pool or waterfront for example). PATIENCE is a tool at this point. If you are priced right, beautifully staged and marketed fully, PATIENCE is something that becomes very important. It is common for homes to be on the market fo 180 days or more before a successful sale (depending on price range and features). Otherwise, you could end up making unnecessary changes that waste your precious time on the market and apply more stress to your family. Any comments are welcomed here…insight into this market is precious.

NEW LISTS IN OUR AREA OF BLOOMINGDALE!

trishcarter — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 12:25:31 +0000

I mean it when I say that now is a GREAT time to buy. Right now, the market is such that only the most motivated sellers are on the market. Furthermore, they have had to reduce their asking prices to low low low in order to attract the best buyers. In the instance that you see a beautiful home with a fantastic price…move quickly to make an offer. These are the homes that are being snapped up. There are homes selling quickly and they are being driven by low prices.

There are some great buys to be had in the 400k range…bonus rooms, 1/4 acre lots, over 2800 sf, pool homes…these are under well under the 400k mark now. Inventory is up for gated community, custom luxury homes. They are quickly approaching the 400k mark….some currently at 399k.

Above is an example of one that is coming on the market today….$389,900…2835 sf…4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, PLUS DEN, PLUS POOL on 1/4 acre in The Estates At River Crossing. These are motivated sellers and they have picked a very attractive price point.
More info >>

I welcome any comments, as always,

Trish Carter

OPEN HOUSES THIS WEEKEND!

trishcarter — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 10:57:07 +0000

Hello out there!
Just wanted to let folks know (since I have been seeing an impressive amount of hits on this blog…thank you all), that I will be doing two open houses on this Sunday, the 24th…one will be at 1016 Peachwood Drive in North Brandon (great deal on this pool home for $219,900 from 11-1 and the second will be from 2-4 at 12404 Windmill Cove in the gated section of Rivercrest in Riverview…that is a beautiful home on 1/4 acre with hardwood floors and fantastic kitchen priced at $289,900.
Anyone is welcome to come by and say hello!
(813)695-2498 for directions.

Happy Father’s Day! Why not a foreclosure for a gift?

trishcarter — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 22:41:58 +0000

Hello to everyone out there, wishing all of you a Happy Father’s Day weekend. Were you thinking of the perfect gift? I tell you, the foreclosures really are coming in stronger and I have one right now for $222,900 LIST PRICE…built in 2005, a 4/2/2 just under 2000 square feet and on a pond…it is in Panther Trace in Riverview…Actually, the perfect gift for my husband is a new grill this year (on my way to purchase it right now)…but if anyone out there knows of a first time homebuyer or someone downsizing…great opportunities out there for you. Also, the bank that owns this one is offering free appraisal and credit report if you go through them. call me (813) 695-2498 Trish

The Temperment of Today’s Market

trishcarter — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 00:05:15 +0000

Selling…or buying…right now the market itself can be quite dicey. It is important now, more than ever, to choose your Real Estate representation wisely. For instance, for you sellers out there, it can be a costly mistake to choose an agent that is not agressive enough in their marketing, advertising, pricing, staging, etc…if your home for sale is not positioned correctly you could miss that one buyer out there and end up watching prices adjust yet one more time. For buyers, be careful to choose an agent that knows the temperment of the market EXACTLY…values can change quickly and you need an agent that is ‘in the loop’.

I advise all of my buyers and sellers to talk with more than a few agents…interview them as if you were hiring someone in a top position. Be aware of agents that seem to want to ‘buy’ your listing by presenting too high of a list price. Now is not the time to be pushing that proverbial envelope.

MacDill Air Force Base…to buy or rent?

trishcarter — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 19:26:57 +0000

MacDill Air Force Base…MAFB…Welcome Buyers!
Your orders are in and you are ready to find your home. I am finding that many of you are considering renting instead of buying. You have heard that the market is in a bit of an unpredictable flux and you might feel that now is a better time to rent. Well, the rental market does have some great finds out there. However, consider what the local real estate investors are up to. My office, Styles and Styles Company Realtors, does deal directly with bank foreclosure listings. Because of this, I have somewhat of a peek into the minds of seasoned real estate investors. Now,when I say investors…I am not talking about those that have recently jumped on the bandwagon. I am talking about the ones that make RE investment their living. These investors are the ones that had the wherewithall to jump OFF the bandwagon in time to save their shorts.

Here is what I see…

Since February, I see that more and more of the old investors are calling and saying that they are back in the game. They are looking for not only foreclosures, but also for short sales or any stress situation that may now be bubbling to the surface. These guys (and ladies) are setting the tone for stabilization (the bottom of the market). My professional opinion is this… being a military buyer right now…is putting you in the exact right place at the exact right time.

Now is the Time to Buy Real Estate

trishcarter — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 12:11:41 +0000

Hello out there! I am a very active Realtor (yes, some of us are staying busy) in the Tampa Bay area…Valrico, Brandon,Riverview area is where I am working today. I am here to tell everyone that NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY AND THERE ARE BUYERS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW LOOKING!

Despite the negative press…sales continue to push through. Not as quick of a pace as years prior, but they are happening. In fact, here I sit today in front of a home as the home inspection is occuring. Please feel free to comment on your experiences in today’s real estate market in our area. I invite buyers/sellers, past clients, title agents, mortgage agents to blog away!

First Post & Welcome

trishcarter — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 13:34:13 +0000

LIST WITH TRISH.
“Its about doing it right the first time.”

Hi there, and welcome to my blog!

Today’s real estate market is volatile. It is important to understand that even though inventory is increasing, it is still very possible to sell your home on your terms. Now, more than ever, an experienced, professional agent with a proven marketing plan is imperitive.

I want to take a moment to welcome future, past and current clients, as well as title and mortgage agents or anyone otherwise interested in the real estate market that we find ourselves in today…

Check back to the blog for market updates, tips, tricks & current events.
If you have any questions, please e-mail or call (813) 695-2498!