Most renters want to own a home

Despite weakening optimism from non-homeowners at the end of last year that now is a good time to buy, an overwhelming majority said they do want to own a home in the future and believe homeownership is part of their American Dream. That is according to new consumer survey data from the National Association of

Related Group sees a St. Petersburg condo tower in its future

ST. PETERSBURG — Miami’s Related Group, one of Florida’s top developers, would like to build an “iconic’’ condo tower in downtown St. Petersburg, the company’s chairman and CEO says. Though the idea is very preliminary, it shows the continuing interest in what has become one of the trendiest downtowns in the state. And while Related
Tagged under: , , ,

30 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Snowbirds

They’re not just heading south to get away from you. Each December, my grandparents pack their bags, load up the RV, and enthusiastically wave goodbye to the cold weather while they head for the warm, Florida shores. And of course, every year I find myself awaiting the same inevitable phone call from my grandma. She’s
Tagged under: ,

Tips to prepare your budget before buying a home

It’s virtually impossible to know what size home you can afford if you aren’t fully aware of how much money you are earning and how much you are spending each month. Start with your income: How much do you bring home after taxes and retirement plan contributions? Next, look at your expenses: What are your

Water Street Tampa to include residential building with grocery store, apartments and condos

The first residential building at Water Street Tampa will have one tower with rental apartments and a second with condominiums, both rising from a base featuring a full-service grocery store, developers said Thursday. The building at 815 Water Street is planned for the intersection of Water Street and Channelside Drive, next to Amalie Arena and
Tagged under: , ,

Kitchen remodels offer big paybacks at resale

Homeowners looking for a remodeling project may be smart to tackle a kitchen renovation if they’re looking for projects with the strongest buyer appeal and higher returns on their investment at resale. Kitchen renovations and upgrades are among the top remodeling projects most likely to add value to a home at resale and most likely

Will Hurricane Irma slow Tampa Bay’s booming real estate market?

Expecting the worst from Hurricane Irma, Tampa real estate agent Jeff Shelton fled to Atlanta where wind-whipped trees toppled onto two rental properties he owns. Back in Florida, his house and beachfront condo both survived Irma unscathed. That’s the kind of story he’s happy to share with clients. “I’ve got two executives with a major
Tagged under: , , , ,

What do buyers think when they step inside your listing?

CHICAGO – Aug. 16, 2017 – If an interior designer walked through the front doors of your listing, what would their first impression be? Traffic flow “The first thing I notice is whether or not the furniture placement promotes good flow of traffic,” says Lorelie Brown, a Showhomes franchisee in Charleston, S.C. Open floor plans
Tagged under: , , , , , , , ,

Amazon’s Alexa adds more real estate skills

SEATTLE – Aug. 4, 2017 – More companies are finding ways to integrate digital voice assistants, like Amazon’s Alexa, into showcasing real estate information. Coldwell Banker focused more on voice-assisted devices after a consumer survey earlier this year found that 72 percent of Americans with smart home products want voice control. By the end of
Tagged under: , , , , , ,

Study: Best U.S. cities to flip homes

NEW YORK – Aug. 1, 2017 – More than 126,000 U.S. homes were flipped last year – the highest rate since 2007, according to a study by WalletHub. The average gross profit on a single home flip? Nearly $63,000. Overall, Florida metro areas ranked in the top 25 percent for home flipping, with only cities
Tagged under: , , , , , , ,