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Luxury Sales Trending Up April 12, 2010
By Robert Glaser
 

In the first quarter of 2010, Tampa Bay saw the easing of credit in jumbo loan markets.  That, in tandem with an inventory of properties which were at the right price for buyers, created a clear upswing in activity in closed sales of homes above $1,000,000.

Pinellas County home

Pinellas County home sales in the luxury market led Hillsborough with 35 sales above $1,000,000 recorded through the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) with an average sold price per foot of $366.  “It has become apparent that starting in January of 2010 buyers recognized the value luxury homes on the market,” said Robert Glaser, President & CEO of Smith & Associates Real Estate.  “This pushed sales at a pace not seen in the last 3 years.”  In addition, the number of sales over $1,000,000 currently pending in Pinellas County is 33.  This does not include a number of luxury condos currently under contract at 400 Beach Drive and Ovation which will close in the next 60 days.  Looking back to the month of April 2009 comparatively there were 11 pending sales – the trend up is very significant. One enclave of luxury properties seeing this increase in activity is the St. Petersburg neighborhood of Snell Isle, which has seen 4 recent luxury closings.  Brightwater Estates has also seen 3 closings in first 3 months of the year.

In regards to Hillsborough County home sales, there were 22 homes sold above $1,000,000 during the first quarter – the highest sale price being $4,500,000.  The average sales price of the closed listings was $1,755,000 and the average price per square foot was $291.  The pending activity for April 2010 shows 30 homes presently under contract, compared April 2009′s 7 transactions closed over $1,000,000.  “Today’s luxury buyer will be able to enjoy best values and prime locations,” says Glaser. “Also, depending on property condition buyers will find that the market has settled into a ‘new’ value range that is in line with overall economic conditions.”

For more information on the beautiful luxury properties for sale in our Signature Collection™, please feel free to click here.  If you are interested in selling a luxury property and would like to know more about our marketing services for The Signature Collection™, please click here.

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Why Tampa Bay? August 24, 2009
By David B Moyer
 

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.

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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.

Tampa Skyline

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.

Victory at Dusk

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.

The Vinoy1