We hear and discuss about property values, real estate horror stories, and other negative news on the economy. Well this post is a little back drop to a regular person, myself, and what lead me to Tampa and why I bought a home in this down market.

Some folks who choose Florida as a place to live, come from the North. As a native of Rochester, NY; the winters outlive the summers, and the gray skies outnumber the sunshine. My memories of Florida were always of fishing, Disney, and beaches & water that last as far as the eyes can see. Tampa Bay offers the best of everything in one location. I can travel to the beaches in St. Petersburg & Clearwater on a 15 minute drive, I can catch all of the major sporting events in my own backyard, and it offers jobs and opportunities that are not found in smaller cities.

Buying a home is not always about the dollar amount, or the return investment; it is about a lifestyle and quality of living. The views of Bayshore, my walks to Hyde Park Village, and the quality restaurants and shops are intangibles that make my life more enjoyable.

I bought a new construction home that was offering incentives, upgrade packages, and discounted prices to move homes. All of this, tied with low mortgage rates, made it fairly easy to keep cash in my pocket and pick up the home of my dreams. The prices of these homes were double/triple just two years ago; and the prices were comparable to resale homes on the market. Foreclosures and short sales are attractive because of the lower prices, but lower prices do not always equate to the best value. I felt location and the character of home were important to me, and I passed at taking a fixer upper or a home that must wait on a third party approval. I think of those properties as a “sale” item in the store, people are attracted to them, but usually they are out of style/date and a reason why they are on the back shelf.

If you are thinking of moving to Tampa Bay, I encourage you to check out the Relocation section of our website. This has a lot of useful resources that can help you make the move as simple as possible. We have lots of great development property to chose from at unbelievable prices, and my favorite new building Signature has just been completed with amazing views & the architecture is stunning. My life in Tampa Bay has changed my mindset and outlook, the sunshine, the water, the boats; feel like I am in a permanent Jimmy Buffett song.

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