Buyers | Tampa Bay Homes for Sale

Does Your House Smell Like Your Dog?

If you’re like many pet parents selling a home in Tampa Bay, you know that your house might smell a little like your four-legged family member – but that’s exactly what you don’t want buyers to smell. This guide explains how to tell whether your house smells like your dog and what to do about it if the answer is yes. Does Your House Smell Like Your Dog? The best way to figure out whether your house smells like you live with an animal is to ask a close friend, relative or your Tampa Bay … Continue reading...

5 Warning Signs to Watch for When You’re Touring Homes for Sale in Tampa Bay

When you’re going to tour homes for sale with your Tampa Bay REALTOR®, your agent will help you make the right choices for your next home – but with that said, here are five red flags you should watch for while you’re out looking. 5 Red Flags to Watch for When You’re Touring Homes for Sale in Tampa Bay Though your REALTOR will catch any major issues, it doesn’t hurt to be on the lookout yourself. Check out these five red flags to watch for while you tour homes for sale in Tampa Bay: … Continue reading...

Tampa Bay, St Pete’s & Clearwater Area Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving 2021

If you are one of the many people who aren't attending the family gathering for Thanksgiving then you may be wondering what local Tampa Bay Restaurants are open on turkey day. If so, we've got the information you are looking for including an interactive map showing you all of the locations in Tampa Bay, St Pete & Clearwater FL. Best Restaurants Open for Thanksgiving 2021 in Greater Tampa Bay. St. Pete's & Clearwater Florida Some of the Greater Tampa Bay Area’s best restaurants (and … Continue reading...

4 Tips for Finding the Right Mortgage Lender

Especially when interest rates are low, you can go online and see dozens of ads for mortgages each day. If you're in the market for a home loan, it's tempting to click on the ad that shows the almost unbelievably lowest rate. Of course, that's what the lenders want you to do. They are using those low rates to generate leads for their loan business. But there's more to picking the right lender than simply clicking on the lowest rate you see on a screen. Not all lenders or loans are created … Continue reading...

4 Tips to Get More in a New Construction Home

Buying a newly constructed home often comes with a large price. After all, everything in the house is freshly installed and unused. Typically, the purchase price is predetermined, giving buyers little wiggle room to negotiate. Fortunately, buyers can use the following strategies to try and get more out of their purchase of a new construction home. 1. Remain Focused on Your Goal If you want to save as much money as possible and get as many extras as you can, it is important to remain focused. … Continue reading...

Pro’s & Con’s of Buying vs Renting

In past decades, the decision whether to buy or rent a home could move from buy to rent and back again based on interest rates and market factors mostly. However, over the long haul, the consensus was that it was usually better to buy than to rent. Renting was often considered as throwing money away, since there was no equity being built over time. In more recent times, there are other factors that have complicated the decision for many. Particularly for the Millennial generation and younger … Continue reading...

Renting vs. Buying: 3 Questions to Answer about Yourself

Various homeownership surveys show that about two-thirds of renters aspire to someday be homeowners. And the National Association of Realtors reports that about one-third of all homebuyers each year are first-time buyers. Depending on the market, renting vs. buying is often a financial decision, which makes the most sense for a household's budget. But even when one or the other is less expensive, at least on the surface, homeownership may not be for everyone. When it comes to renting vs. … Continue reading...

Is a Community with a Homeowners’ Association Right for You?

If you're interested in buying a home, you've probably thought about how many bedrooms you want, the general area in which you want to live, whether you want a large yard, and many other considerations. However, you may not have taken the time to consider whether you'd like to live in a community governed by a Homeowners' Association (HOA). These entities collect dues every month in exchange for enforcing the community's rules and maintaining common areas such as green space or swimming … Continue reading...

Buying Tip: Making sure the Neighborhood is right for you

When shopping for a home, particularly if you are buying your first, it is easy to get excited about features. It is important to like the home you are buying and for it to fit your lifestyle and needs, but back up a bit and look around it. Perhaps you had good help in locating the home, or maybe you found it online or went to an open house. You may have even done some research on the neighborhood or area of town. Considering the fact that you will probably own the home for at least five to … Continue reading...

Do Buyers Need a Home Warranty?

There are quite a few upfront costs associated with buying a home, including the down payment, closing costs, and moving expenses. Those are all expected. When moving into a home, the last thing homebuyers need is a large, unexpected expense on top of those. That's where a home warranty comes in. A home warranty offers limited-time protection against the failure of a home's systems - heating and cooling, electrical, plumbing, and sometimes appliances. It is different from homeowners' … Continue reading...