Buyers as well as sellers need to pay close attention to this. You will probably say "What is this in the first place" When you hire a Realtor to represent you in a real estate transaction, you can choose between different forms of representation. The two most popular forms are Transaction brokerage or Single agency. There is a big difference between the two of them and you need to understand it. So, when you hire a Realtor this is the very first you need to ask or discuss. Our company policy is to work for you as a single agent, I do not believe in transaction brokerage at all. Well everybody is different and you have to find out what is the right thing for you. Just one little tip. Ask your Realtor (before you sign anything) how they would answer the question "What do you think we sho... 09/26/2007

First impression still counts. If you want to sell your home or condo here in St. Pete or along the beaches you need to make sure that your front yard looks inviting. If buyers drive by your home and do not like the inside, they will not call you, doesn't matter how beautiful the in site is. Doesn't matter how low the price is.   09/26/2007

Like every year, I am surprised. The few Oktoberfeste that we have in Pinellas County are all in October and most of them towards the end. Being a German I know my Oktoberfest dates. This year the Oktoberfest in German is from 9/16  to 10/3 Usually it is between 16 and 18 days long. Millions of people from all over the world join the celebration. It is a huge fair with lots of ride, music, food and last but defiantly no least BEER In 2006 they sold a little more than  1,611,449. Gallons of beer. Yes, that is right 1.6 million -can you imagine how many glasses these are? It is the biggest fair Germany has, followed by the  "Düsseldorfer Kirmes" Which is in the summer and also runs for about 14 days. If you know of an Oktoberfest in St Petersburg, please let me know, I need a reason to we... 09/25/2007

If you do not want to ruin your vacation, do the stingray shuffle. It really works. Stingrays are very shy and when they feel that someone is approaching they most likely take off before you can step on them. They swim in schools and most of the time "hide" in the sand. The  "season"  start in May and ends in Oct. I have seen a few of them and some were really close, but I was lucky, so far I never stepped on one. Unfortunately I have seen a couple of people stung by a stingray and it was not a pretty site. I hurts. The only thing you can do s to wash out the wound with salt water and soak it in hot water (as hot as you can stand it) for and hour or longer. Make sure the wound does not get infected. So - be safe, do the shuffle. 09/25/2007

Put it in your calendar and come out for a day of fun. St. Pete Beach Pinellas County is celebrating his 50th birthday Check the city website for more information November 9 Barbeque on the Beach- 50th Anniversary CelebrationNovember 10 Gala Celebration- 50th Anniversary Celebration November 11 Carnival at the Community Center - 50th Anniversary Celebration December 1, 2 Corey Avenue Christmas Arts & Crafts ShowDecember 8 St. Pete Beach Land & Boat Parade / Snow Fest at Dolphin Village Have a fun day in Tampabay Anne    09/25/2007

Have you been creative lately?Are you one of these people that always wanted to start a creative art project or it has been a long time since, or. . . . .Well here is a great opportunity to do something this fall.The Arts centre downtown St. Pete is offering wonderful classes, click here for schedulehttp://www.theartscenter.org/class/main.htmThey are located on719 Central Ave St Petersburg Floridago to their website or call 727 822 7872painting                               digital imagingmondays are minedazzio watermediasculptureglassfiber artspastelsopen studiosdrawingceramicsphotographymixed mediajewelryGet creative, it is fun. 09/17/2007

Skate or roller blade, why not find your roller blades or skates that you bought some years ago and wipe the dust off. Join us, have some fun and a great workout.Every ThursdayGather at 7:30 pm. - rollout at 8:00 pm. at the Tavern at Bayboro (formally Tavern on the Green, the pub on the USF Bayboro Campus located at 121 7 Ave S, St PetersburgCome on, convince yourself, bring a friend or husband or significant other and have some funfor more fun events please check out my websitewww.TodayinStPete.comAnne Hensel Realtor727 410 7777South Beaches Real Estate Professionals  09/11/2007

Kessler closed on the land purchase from the City of St Petersburg in August and announced a November ground-breaking. Word now is that in order to start the hotel project more rapidly that the number of condominium units is again being cut, from 50 down to 22. No increase in hotel rooms this time, so the building will be reduced from 32 floors down to 26 floors, with the two 2-story penthouses occupying the 25th and 26th floors. The building plans will need to be redone, so groundbreaking is now expected in February 2008. The completion of the project is still estimated for November 2009 - no delay in that since there will be less building. Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area.    09/07/2007

Mystery dinner theaters are fun, and interactive. There are lots of them here in St Petersburg and the rest of Pinellas County, Florida. The cast meanders through the dining tables, sometimes interacting with each other, and sometimes having fun with the guests. Here in the St. Petersburg area there are more "roving troupes" than fixed locations. Many of the yacht clubs and country clubs will have a periodic Mystery Dinner; some of the theater groups have catered dinners with mysteries; even some of the yachts have luncheon or dinner cruises with mysteries.Last night we took our family (those who live locally) to The Poison Lounge, which was held at the St Petersburg Yacht Club. During the first act we discovered who was the victim. Carmine, the villainous, lecherous landlord, fell dead... 09/01/2007

Pinellas County, Florida is on the west coast of Florida, halfway between north and south - west of Tampa, and further west of Orlando. The main cities are St. Petersburg and Clearwater; we have many beach communities; we are primarily a peninsula between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.At the end of August 2007 there were 569 single family homes listed in the Multiple Listing System of the Pinellas Realtor Organization that were ovewr $1,000,000.  At $5,000,000 or above that number dwindles to 15, and once you pass the $10,000,000 point there are only 2 homes. I've written about those two homes in prior postings.There are 23 homes under contract that are over $1,000,000, but the more relevant statistic is how many homes went to contract during the month of August 2007 in Pinellas Coun... 09/01/2007

Parkshore Plaza luxury condominiums downtown St Petersburg FloridaAnother tower unit sold this month - at 2,384 it's the smallest, with 2 bedrooms and 2.5 baths, and water view of the Vinoy Basin. It sold for $745,000 which is $312.50/sq ft. The same unit, one floor below, sold at the same price in July. One of the front units also sold in July for $1,500,000. At 3,100 sq ft that sold for $484/sq ft. The view makes the difference!Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area.    08/31/2007

   Signature Place condominiums moves forward every week. It's one thing to hear that a building has 34 floors, and it's another when you see it in relation to the buildings around it. Construction is now up to Floor 15 - not yet half way. The sail shape of the building is evident. Check out the finished product at the Signature Place website. After you see the renderings, click on the floor you like and see the floor plans for that floor.  You can still get a 1 bedroom unit in one of the lower "loft" buildings for under $400,000 - you don't have the great water view, but you share the wonderful amenities and location.  Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area. 08/24/2007

Broadwater is a wonderful neighborhood of mostly waterfront homes on canals leading to Boca Ciega Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway. There's only one bridge between Broadwater and the Gulf of Mexico, and it's a drawbridge. Most of the homes were built in the 70s, though there were a few built in the 80s and 90s, and some are still being built on lots where the owners have torn down the original homes.There are currently 16 waterfront homes availavle from $575,000 to $1,895,000 and 6 nonwaterfront homes from $324,900 to $699,000.  So far this year there have been 12 waterfront home sales ranging from $545,0900 to $980,000 and one non-waterfront home sold at $335,000.  Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area.        08/18/2007

A new restaurant is coming to 400 Beach Drive, the newest luxury condo on Beach Drive in downtown St. Petersburg - which should be closing on the condo units above between December 2007 and February 2008.Chef Robert Irvine is a popular British chef who has cooked for queens and presidents, worked on cruise lines and in the casino industry. He has the popular "Dinner Impossible" show on the Food Network. He has his own company now, The Irving Group.He'll be an interesting addition to the downtown restaurant scene in St. Petersburg. His new location is within a block or two of some luxury condos, Vinoy Place and Parkshore Plaza, as well as 400 Beach, of which this retail is the ground level. Just around the corner is the Renaissance Resort, a luxury hotel in a renovated 1920s Mediterranea... 08/18/2007

Enough of the marina has been completed that the last two weekends had boat shows at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort in downtown St. Petersburg. The sound of pile drivers still echoes in the quiet morning air and the outlines of the docks are evident. Residents of the Vinoy Place condominiums are waiting for this to be done so that the ones who are Vinoy Cloub members can bring back their yachts to docks in front of their condos. Others are waiting for the visiting docks to be finished so they can boat over for lunch, dinner, or a weekend stay at the Vinoy.Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area.   08/17/2007

On August 15th the Kessler Group wired $1,500,000 to the City of St. Petersburg and closed on the purchase of land on the northeast corner of 1st Ave N and 2nd St N, where they will be building the Grand Bohemian Hotel and Residences, a luxury magnet in downtown St.Petersburg. The 52 condos will start on the 21st floor and will share the hotel's amenities.  By 2009 you could be having room service deliver your morning Eggs Benedict, then have the masseuse arrive for your morning massage - take a dip in the pool, do some shopping nearby, and have the chef prepare the food for your party this evening. Construction should start this fall and completion should be in fall-winter 2009. Pre-construction prices are still available.Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg,... 08/17/2007

Great news for the hotel-condo project in downtown St Peterburg. The Grand Bohemian Hotel & Residences in St Petersburg will be a cultural landmark for residents and visitors offering first-class services to accommodate guests. It has just been announced that Kessler Enterprise Inc. purchased the land for the future site of the Grand Bohemian Hotel & Residences from the city of St. Petersburg for the price of $3.3 million. From The Tampa Bay Business Journal "No progress has been made on the development since it was first announced in May 2005, but Richard Kessler, president and chief executive officer of Kessler Enterprises, said in a release that construction would begin this fall and end in the fall of 2009." The Kessler Collection currently owns other projects in Florida, including ... 08/16/2007

   Signature Place condominiums in downtown St. Petersburg Florida are well underway with their construction. From this angle you see the long face of the building, which will be covered with glass. All of these units have a view of Tampa Bay waterfront - and most have a ringside seat for spring training for baseball at Progress Energy Field - or Al Lang Field, as we oldtimers know it.Signature Place has taken photos each month of construction progress and posted them on their website. That's a great way for their out of town buyers to watch the progress.Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area.     08/11/2007

This morning B.C. Manion wrote an article in the Tampa Tribune regarding condo living in downtown St Petersburg and Tampa, Florida.  Manion chose Parkshore Plaza as St Petersburg's au courant residence and SkyPoint as Tampa's newest addition. There are descriptions and photos of these examples of exciting downtown living. Manion pointed out that SkyPoint has HART's In-Town Trolley passing by but didn't mention that Parkshore Plaza has The Looper Trolley going by.Even before gas prices started rising we were seeing people move from the suburbs downtown. Not only have they saved commuting time and energy, but there's so much activity around and so many choices of things to do in downtown St. Petersburg that chore-free life is very appealing. Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes i... 08/11/2007

The sale of a tower unit in Parkshore Plaza, a luxury condominium in downtown St Petersburg, it still news, as condos there have languished on the market, typical of all Pinellas County, and most of Florida. In July Unit #1903 sold for $1,500,000. Unit #601 recently sold for $745,000.All of the condominium units in Parkshore Plaza face the water - Units 02 and 03 face directly east toward Tampa Bay, and Units 01 and 04 have the narrow end of their balcony facing east and the wide side facing either north (Unit 01) or south (Unit 02). Two sales are certainly not enough to make generalizations, but based on just the two that have sold:01  -  $313/sq ft  -  29% appreciation over original pre-construction purchase price. 03  -  $487/sq ft  -  53% appreciation over original pre-construction ... 08/11/2007