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Land O Lakes, FL Real Estate News

By Katrina Madewell, Tampa FL Homes for sale | Tampa Bay - (813) 777-1196
(Charles Rutenberg Rlty- More than 5,000 agents(813) 777-1196)
Today I spent the day with a clients relocating to Tampa, FL more specifically the Land O Lakes area.  They had been to the Tampa bay area for vacation year after year, and loved it here in the Land O Lake area.  As the last month of their working career was coming to a close, they realized it was time to kick their home search into high gear.   They called me to help them find their Florida home, after they saw my use of video, and the services I offer to my relocation clients. Since they had not moved in 35 years, and realized that our market here in the Tampa Bay area was much different than it was in Tennessee, they did was most buyers do, search the web for an area or a neighborhood that they had previously driven through and fallen in love with Lake Padgett Estates and Lake Padget...
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By Rose & Joe LoCicero
(Prudential Tropical Realty)
            If you’re selling your home, you have enough to think about without worrying that your home isn’t safe, or that your things may be stolen.           Yet, whether from open houses or scheduled showings, strangers are coming and going in your house all the time. By taking a few safeguards, you can ensure that you don’t need to worry about such things and better protect your belongings in the long run.           Of course, the easiest solution is to remove valuable jewelry, fine art or collectables beforehand, storing them with a friend or family member. If that’s not an option, then find a place to hide valuables in the home or keep them with you in a suitcase and take the suitcase with you in the car every time you leave yourself.            This should also be done for perso...
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By Rose & Joe LoCicero
(Prudential Tropical Realty)
           People downsize for a variety of reasons, from the “empty nest” syndrome to convenience or hardship. Here are a few things to consider as you contemplate moving to a smaller home. “Before any move, focus on how you want to live. People don’t think enough about why they’re moving,” said Mary Jo Zeller, director at Gero Solutions, which manages moves for seniors. “Increasing numbers of downsizers these days want to exchange the worry and expense of maintaining a large property, for the luxury of low maintenance and the opportunity for more leisure time.”           Emotional ties to the family home is one of the main barriers to downsizing, but equally, deciding on where to move to, and what style of property will best suit, can be just as daunting a prospect.           During t...
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By Rose & Joe LoCicero
(Prudential Tropical Realty)
          There’s nothing worse than finding a great home only to discover that it’s a money pit waiting to happen. Let’s face it, sellers won’t always disclose everything that’s wrong.           No house is ever as “perfect” as it may appear, and with an inspection and due diligence on the part of you and your agent, you will learn about most potential problems. Watch for red flags.           Start by looking around the neighborhood. Are there many homes for sale? Are local stores and restaurants closing?  If you notice that a lot of people are looking to leave the neighborhood, there’s probably a reason why. You may have found a great home, but if it’s in a bad neighborhood, it’s going to affect the value.           You also need to pay close attention to the way the exterior of the h...
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By Rose & Joe LoCicero
(Prudential Tropical Realty)
          Today’s housing market makes it tougher to get the price for a home and, often, sellers can’t wait around while their homes are on the market. They may have a new job in a different location, may have already bought their next house or need to move to their new location so the kids can start at their new schools.           If sellers already have a new home, it’s likely that they’ll take all their furniture and leave the property empty during selling process. The U.S. Census Bureau’s most current data shows that more than 2.2 million for-sale houses in the U.S. were vacant in 2008, and that number has risen over the last few years as more homes fell into foreclosure or short-sale status.           Yet it all comes down to perception for buyers, who understand that vacant homes...
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By Rose & Joe LoCicero
(Prudential Tropical Realty)
          Friends often share holidays, vacation together and are there for all the important moments in life. So, why not buy a home together?           An increasing number of consumers are considering joint ownership. Such as transaction makes sense, as it can help those who may not have been able to afford a home on their own, it gives each owner a real estate investment, and it can even strengthen the friendship.           But the opposite could happen as well. Friends can feud over the most trivial of things, placing the long-term housing investment at risk.           Here are some tips for surviving co-ownership with a friend.           1. Be sure before agreeing to this life-altering decision that all parties are willing to disclose their financial information, agree upon the ty...
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By Rose & Joe LoCicero
(Prudential Tropical Realty)
          There’s no denying that purchasing a home is one of the biggest thrills of your life, but it can also quickly become overwhelming. While the home you choose may appear to be the perfect house, hiding underneath the dream could be serious unknown defects that can make your investment a costly one.           Enter the home inspector. A home inspector performs a physical inspection of the structure and systems of your prospective home. This means that while you may love the beauty of the living room’s wood floors, your inspector can tell if the floor will truly last.            The home inspection is an objective visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a home, from roof to foundation. The inspection will determine not only the condition of the home, but also h...
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By Rose & Joe LoCicero
(Prudential Tropical Realty)
          It’s astonishing how many people believe they are the next Mario Batali and have taken to the kitchen in a serious way.           Ratings for cooking shows are at an all-time high as viewers are enamored with the idea of being culinary masters. Home sellers are upgrading to professional-style kitchens to capitalize on the craze, and their investments are paying off in more potential buyers and attractive returns when their homes sell.           One of the easiest steps appealing to today’s tastes is adding stainless steel appliances and sinks, as sleek stainless resists scratches and is easy to maintain. Cast iron is another attractive choice for sinks, as they add color and are large enough for the pots and pans most chefs require. Still another popular amenity for the kitche...
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By Rose & Joe LoCicero
(Prudential Tropical Realty)
          Spring is here and for those selling their home or getting ready to put their house on the market, there’s nothing quite as beneficial as doing a great “spring cleaning” job to not only make your home look great, but to get rid of some of that clutter that could distract someone coming to see your home.            Here are five spring cleaning tips that will help you sell your home.           1: Curb appeal becomes as important as ever when the weather turns nicer and buyers are more likely to spend time outside looking at the exterior of the house and the property. Make sure to have a well-maintained lawn with all the leaves gone, the grass mowed and the hedges trimmed. Spruce things up by buying some inexpensive, yet colorful flowers and spread fresh mulch in flowerbeds. Fil...
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By Rose & Joe LoCicero
(Prudential Tropical Realty)
            The last thing anyone wants to hear when they buy a house is that there’s a mold problem, but these sneaky little spores aren’t always easy to detect.           Mold is a fungus and although some molds are visible and even odorous, mold can also grow between walls, under floors and ceilings, or in less accessible spots, such as basements and attics. Mold flourishes in water-soaked materials (paneling, wallboard, carpet, paint and ceiling tiles), and can survive in almost any damp location.           There have been thousands of disputes over mold between sellers and buyers through the years, so both parties should protect themselves up-front. A wise seller should put a specific mold disclaimer into the real estate sales contract and encourage in the sales contract that the b...
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By Rose & Joe LoCicero
(Prudential Tropical Realty)
          Turn on any financial news program and at some point you’ll hear the experts extolling the virtues of diversification. Real estate, even through the market downturn, has long been considered a conservative, long-term strategy to growing wealth. In fact, that very downturn has created a historic buying opportunity for potential homebuyers and investors alike. The combination of lower home prices across American and historically low mortgage rates, two essential factors that usually don’t trend in the same direction, have triggered a buyer’s market in many areas of the country. For real estate investors who want to rent their properties, this can make the difference in achieving positive cash flow sooner or right off the bat. While some seasoned real estate investors make it loo...
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By Rose & Joe LoCicero
(Prudential Tropical Realty)
              The theory behind short sales seems simple enough: If a homeowner owes more money on a house than the house can sell for, and the homeowner is struggling to pay the mortgage, the lender will allow the house to be sold for less than is owed. For obvious reasons, lenders are not big fans of short sales and often make it a complicated process.           In April 2010, The Home Affordable Alternatives Program (HAFA) released new guidelines designed to streamline the short-sale process and allow more delinquent homeowners to sell their homes and move on with their lives.           In its first year, participating servicers initiated 12,266 HAFA agreements and completed 5,447 transactions.           According to the National Association of Realtors, the share of distressed home...
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By Rose & Joe LoCicero
(Prudential Tropical Realty)
          One of the most in-demand requests that real estate agents are getting from those looking for new homes concerns home theaters, or at least the space to add such a multi-media room.           With home-theater technology evolving and prices lowering over the last decade, the concept has evolved from luxury to near necessity for many households. It’s the place where the family comes together to be entertained, and is the most occupied room in the house after the kitchen and family room. It’s become the focal point for entertaining and showcasing expansive, crystal clear flatscreens and impressive components. It’s why many homebuyers are looking for houses with home-theater spaces or extra rooms to create one.           Real estate experts agree that home theatres add value to a...
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By Rose & Joe LoCicero
(Prudential Tropical Realty)
          Today’s home buyers are often thinking about a home’s technology advantages as much as they are its floorplan, square footage and location.           A recent survey by the Consumer Electronics Association of real estate agents showed that home-theater systems, home security systems, home automation management systems and energy management systems are selling faster than they ever have.           “There is a strong relationship between home technologies and the real estate market,” said CEA’s Rhonda Daniel in a recent press release. “While the market needs to recover before home technologies play a more important role in home sales, the industry can help prepare real estate agents to be comfortable in discussing these types of systems with their clients.”           According t...
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By Rose & Joe LoCicero
(Prudential Tropical Realty)
         With winter weather gripping most of the country the fireplace takes on greater importance in the sale of a home. The National Association of REALTORS® recently conducted a survey that found nearly two-thirds of homebuyers had a fireplace on their wish list. The fireplace has become a coveted amenity and homes boasting this feature see its benefits during resale.“The fireplace is a focal point when people come to see your home,” said Hillary Staats, an interior designer for Sanctuary on Church in Vienna, Va. That’s why it’s important to make sure that the look of your fireplace has been updated and is working properly. An older looking fireplace that seems an eye-sore can be easily updated. “There is a lot you can do to enhance the fireplace before a sale. A lot of times, if it...
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By Rose & Joe LoCicero
(Prudential Tropical Realty)
          One of the great debates in real estate concerns the prospect of keeping a house on the market during the holiday season. Some argue that the time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve is busy enough without the worry of buying a home, while proponents like the prospects since those shopping are generally more serious about buying.           A downside for the seller is that the hectic time of year makes it harder to get your home ready at the drop of a hat if a call comes in. People are busy making food, wrapping presents and preparing for a house-full of guests.           However, your house will also be decorated with beautiful lights and decorations and will create a festive elegance to a home that will attract buyers.           Some agents believe that keeping your hous...
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By Rose & Joe LoCicero
(Prudential Tropical Realty)
Hollywood stars are not the only ones with homes in both California and New York. Farmers escape the Heartland for the sandy Floridian shores, too. Second home ownership has become an extremely popular trend in today’s real estate market. Why? Because demographics and technology are converging to create a historic opportunity for buyers and sellers. As Baby Boomers rush toward retirement, second homes suitable for play now and retirement later have enormous appeal. Today, thanks to technology, second homes are becoming a place to work as well as play. Second homes may be located in resort areas. Others may be located near a second work environment for those who commute frequently between different business destinations. And the second home phenomenon stretches from Alaska to Florida, fr...
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By Rose & Joe LoCicero
(Prudential Tropical Realty)
In the sales contract, the sellers of your new home agreed to leave the custom blinds, refrigerator, built-in entertainment system and those fine cabinets and workbench in the garage. But when you show up on moving day, all of those amenities are long gone. Moreover, the lock on the back door is broken; there is a huge gouge in the drywall near the front bathroom. Although these circumstances are extreme, they could happen, which is why it is important to have a final inspection of the home you are purchasing before the closing. A pre-closing inspection gives you, one last opportunity to verify that you are getting all that was promised in the sales contract. Although buyers still have legal recourse if they discover—even after closing—that the condition of the home is not as it should ...
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By Rose & Joe LoCicero
(Prudential Tropical Realty)
          Buying a new home can be a huge, complex undertaking, especially when it’s your first time. That’s why it’s important to have an experienced real estate agent guiding you along the way.           In a survey conducted earlier this year by Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services (PRERS),  a Prudential Financial, Inc. [NYSE:PRU] company, 75% of respondents highlighted the importance of real estate agents in the process of buying or selling their home, with only 24% saying agents are helpful but not imperative.           “Americans continue to see real estate agents as having a very important role in helping them price, buy and sell their homes,” said James Mallozzi, PRERS’ chairman and chief executive officer. “Although the data underscores the value real estate agents pr...
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By Rose & Joe LoCicero
(Prudential Tropical Realty)
          Tight lending guidelines have weighed on the U.S. housing market during its ongoing recovery. Most lending institutions during the past two years raised their credit score requirements to as high as 650, making it nearly impossible for many people to obtain a loan. Wells Fargo made it a little easier for homebuyers this past year, when the lender lowered its credit score requirements on FHA mortgages.           “Under its new policy, Wells Fargo will accept borrowers with credit scores of 500 to 579 if those borrowers can make a down payment of at least 10%,” said Robert Lentini, a mortgage expert who blogs for the website thetruthaboutmortgage.com. “For borrowers with credit scores of 580 to 599, borrowers must put down 5%. Borrowers with credit scores of 600 or higher can ma...
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