Belleair Real Estate « Smith and Associates Blog

Featured Friday: 1196 Stephen Foster Drive September 23, 2011
By Kortney Gentry

This spacious Largo home for sale is located at 1196 Stephen Foster Dr. With 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 2,205 sqft, and a beautiful outdoor area with a pool, there is so much room to enjoy! The home features a fabulous kitchen, terrazzo floors throughout and the 4th bedroom can be used as an in-law or guest suite. Belleair Realtor, Susan Johnson-Cox sat down with me to splurge some of the home’s details…

Q: What distinctive features set this home apart?

A: The beautiful Largo home has the 4th bedroom above the garage that can be used as a guest suite or man cave. It actually has a separate entrance from the main house.

Q: What are the advantages of the location & neighborhood?

A: This home for sale in Pinellas county is within walking distance to the new Eagle Lake Park on Keene Rd. It’s in the Allen Creek area but does not require flood insurance. Close to shopping, restaurants, and airports.

Q: Have there been any recent renovations or upgrades?

A: The interior of the home is original with terrazzo floors throughout. It has excellent flow to combine family room and with your newly updated kitchen.

Q: What makes the price of this home so great?

A: The average 3 bedroom 2 bath Largo home is priced at $98 per square foot. This is a 4 bedroom 3 bath pool home priced at $90 per square feet. What a steal!

Enjoy the up coming fall weather underneath the shade of mature Oak trees in your new yard at 1196 Stephen Foster Dr, Largo, FL 33771. The home is move-in ready- just give Susan a call to arrange a tour.

About Susan:

With vast experience in both the Belleair and St Petersburg markets, Belleair Realtor, Susan Johnson-Cox is extremely versatile. Priding herself on her personalized service, Susan is a solid choice for the first time home buyer or luxury seller.

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Tuesday Morning Market: Introducing the Mortgage Team September 13, 2011
By Kortney Gentry

It’s official! All of our favorite Smith & Associates Mortgage Brokers have switched to New Penn Financial. I sat down with them to find out the scoop & why New Penn was the right choice & here’s what I found out:

– Since the company does not have any other lines of businesses, unlike most banks or insurance companies, it can focus all of its resources to residential mortgage financing.
– New Penn Financial has a local operation in the Greater Tampa Bay area with processors, underwriters, managers and regional executives located in our office to provide fast decisions and closing turn times. Smith & Associates Real Estate can now routinely close loans within 21 days or less while our competitors struggle to close loans in 30-45 days!
– Aligning themselves with local experts, they have created a nominated appraisal panel that comprises of the most adept, professional, and knowledgeable appraisers in the area. You never have to lose another deal due to a sub-par or out of area appraiser!
– By working with one of the Smith & Associates/New Penn Financial Mortgage brokers, clients have program options such as Super Jumbo, Asset for Income Qualification, High Debt to Income Qualification, Foreign National, Investors, & Non-Warrantable Condos.

So…What does all of this mean?? More qualified homebuyers achieving the dream of homeownership!

Smith & Associates Real Estate is equipped to assist in the entire home buying experience from the initial search with a Realtor, attaining a lender all the way to having Smith Title at your closing (which we will talk about next week!) Now to meet our fabulous Mortgage Brokers that make all of this possible:

Bobbie Nader
Smith & Associates’ Tampa Office

With over 20 years experience in the banking Real Estate Industry, consisting of operations, underwriting, closing, marketing, and originating loans, Bobbie Nader is well versed to say the least! She is a great asset to Smith & Associates and has been recognized as a Top Producer in the field. When asking Bobbie how she feels about her job, she said “I enjoy helping clients with their home financing needs. I love what I do, and meeting wonderful people in the process. I am also excited to work along David Donaldson, my future husband.”

David Donaldson
Smith & Associates’ South Tampa Office

After working with First Union for over 10 years, Dave Donaldson came to Smith & Associates and took over the mortgage department. Not long after, he moved to the Bank of Tampa for 12 years, then eventually ended up partnering with soon to be wife, Bobbie Nader back at Smith. They have happily landed that partnership back where they first met. A little inside scoop on Dave according to Bobbie, “David loves to cook, plan our vacations (a year in advance!), and spend time with the family.”

Steve Stapleton
Smith & Associates’ Downtown St. Pete Office

Florida licensed mortgage broker, Steve Stapleton has been a loan officer for the past 14 years and is well known throughout the Tampa Bay real estate & lending community as an honest and reputable mortgage banker. Steve has worked hand in hand with his borrowers, lenders, realtors and title companies to make sure all his transactions run smoothly and all those involved are completely satisfied. He has lived in Tampa Bay area since 1990 & enjoys all the pleasures of the Gulf Coast, including boating, fishing, golfing, and of course…home ownership. He is very active within the community and served four years in the United States Air Force before being honorably discharged as a Senior Airman.

Amanda Stapleton
Smith & Associates’ Belleair Bluffs Office

Amanda L Stapleton is a Licensed Mortgage Broker that has been in the mortgage industry since 2001. Starting her career as a Mortgage Processor then progressing to Processing Manager and Operations Manager Amanda knows the mortgage process from start to finish. On her free time you may find her spending time with her husband Steve Stapleton & their dogs or volunteering for the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure!

Whether you are looking for Tampa Real Estate, a new St. Pete home or a Belleair home for sale, Smith & Associates has you covered!

Have you ever worked with our Mortgage team? Which office did you visit and hat did you think?

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Feature Friday: 450 Treasure Island Causeway #507 September 9, 2011
By Kortney Gentry

When traveling along one of St. Pete‘s premier waterways, Boca Ciega Bay, you will come across today’s featured property at 450 Treasure Island Causeway #507. This 3 bedroom, 2 bath condo has been wonderfully maintained and offers fantastic waterfront and golf course views from almost every room. St. Pete Realtor, Marsha Godwin shared some insider information about this amazing unit located in the Treasure Island Tennis & Yacht Club:

Q: What distinctive features set this home apart?

A: This well maintained 3 bedroom, 2 bath waterfront home for sale in Treasure Island offers beautiful views of Boca Ciega Bay. In addition, the home offers a split bedroom plan for added privacy, an office/media area, hurricane shutters, covered assigned parking, storage area, newer appliances, built in china/display cabinet and more.

Q: What are the advantages of the location & neighborhood?

A: You are conveniently located within just minutes to the beautiful Gulf Coast Beaches or to downtown St. Petersburg. Spend your time between sandy beaches, water activities and a casual lifestyle or enjoy restaurants, museums and entertainment in a waterfront downtown environment.

Q: What amazing views will the new homeowner be able to enjoy?

A: Enjoy amazing views of Boca Ciega Bay from almost every room. In addition to the Boca Ciega Bay views, you can enjoy overlooking the waterway to views of the Treasure Island Golf Course and Tennis Courts.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about the home?

A: You are just steps away from The Club of Treasure Island. If you choose to become a member, you can enjoy all the amenities offered such as Pool Pavilion, Bayside Lounge, Fitness Area, Tennis Courts, Game Room, Marina and more along with entertainment, services and programs for your enjoyment.

The fabulous 450 Treasure Island Causeway #507, Treasure Island, FL 33706 is listed by St. Pete Realtor, Marsha Godwin. This spacious unit is on one of the Bay area’s most sought after beaches waiting for a new owner!

About Marsha:

Born and raised in Florida’s panhandle, St. Pete Realtor Marsha Godwin has always been a Florida native at heart. After spending some time in Orlando, Newport Coast and Atlanta, receiving her Master’s degree at Georgia State University, she decide to move back to the Tampa Bay area where she has now grown her successful Real Estate career with Smith & Associates.

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Celebrities Call Tampa Bay Home Too! September 7, 2011
By Kortney Gentry

The Tampa Bay area is a hotspot for such a variety of people. We have everyone from the snow birds that spend the so called “winter months” here (some don’t consider weather that still allows for flip flops winter). Then there are those that come into town for a Tampa Bay Bucs, Rays or Lightning game or travelers here to see the beautiful beaches and local theme parks. And last but not least, there we are: your every day crowd here for work, play and just to live our lives. I love this area and will most likely always call Tampa Bay home but who would have guessed that outside of the “normal” crowd we are so accustomed to, many celebrities feel the same way about the Bay Area? You heard me right, fame in the flesh is here in Tampa Bay! So, who should you be on the lookout for?

Of course we will always have the athletes. Various Lightning players live all over the Bay. Some enjoy the exciting beach atmosphere in Clearwater while others like to stay in the South Tampa area, just a short commute to the St. Pete Times Forum. Then there are the Buccaneers. You will often spot these guys in International Mall and I don’t doubt that many of them will pay a constant tribute to Leroy Selmon by visiting one of his various restaurant locations. As for the Rays, you can find them dispersed throughout the area. While some opt out of purchasing homes due to the schedule fluctuation and possibility of being drafted, you can find many of them renting out some of the luxury high rises in Downtown St. Pete. And while he may be one of our team rivalries, you can also spot Derek Jeter in the area during Yankee Spring training, as he calls Tampa home as well (pictured above left).

While we do have an abundance of athletes in the area, they are not all we have here. Tampa Bay is home to its fare share of Professional Wrestlers as well (whom I guess could technically be lumped into the previous field). Some you may know, including: wrestler gone rapper gone actor John Cena who resides in Tampa, Joannie Laurer “Chyna” in Sarasota, Randy “Macho Man” Savage in Treasure Island, Paul Wight “The Big Show” in Odessa and Barbara Blank “Kelly Kelly” a Jacksonville native now living in South Tampa. And, of course I wouldn’t leave out the infamous Hulk Hogan who currently has his 17,000 SF Belleair home for sale (pictured above right).

If reading is your thing, thriller author, Stephen King, can be found conjuring up his next book in Sarasota along with AC/DC lead man, Brian Johnson. And if Ocala isn’t too far of a trip, John Travolta can be reached, but only via his private jet way, please. The late Oxy Clean/infomercial superstar, Billy Mays called Tampa home as well and I have a feeling if asked what he thought about the city, he’d sell it like he did in the commercials…”You’re gonna love it. I guarantee ya!”

Basically what I am getting at here is that Tampa Bay is great. Whether you want to call St. Pete home or opt for Downtown Tampa, there is something for everyone- even the stars!

We have all been starstruck at some point in our lives. Some become desensitized but to many of us, the excitement of celeb-spotting will never change. Have you ever met a celebrity in the Tampa Bay area? Who would you lose your cool over?

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March Goes Out Like a Real Estate Lion April 14, 2011
By Robert Glaser

In 2011, luxury market buyers throughout the Tampa Bay area are making purchase decisions based on quality and value.

By the end of last year, home sales above 1 million were up 18.6%. As the trend continues, it shows that the people who best understand the principle of cost versus price feel that now is the time to buy.

The first quarter of 2011 has been no less robust, with some new high sales on both sides of the Bay, as well as a steady pace of home sales above 1 million.

52 Ladoga Avenue

Smith & Associates Real Estate participated in the top sale on the Beaches (Pass-A-Grille) at 3.4 million and on the Pinellas mainland at 8 million.

This year has brought Pinellas County 33 closed transactions (including condominiums) with 39 pending sales to close above 1 million in the next 60 days.

In Hillsborough County, there have been 17 luxury sales with 2 above 2 million, 2 above 4 million and a recent sale to close above 5 million.

Smith & Associates Real Estate participated in 80% of these sales and continues to provide the necessary feedback for the consumer to make these purchase decisions. Although the pending sales have helped push the numbers up, the actual closed numbers are down by about 5% over last year in both counties. We expect the market has started to steady out as the inventory of the well-priced, well-located houses in the luxury range decrease and as sellers attempt to begin raising values.

Smith & Associates Real Estate is pleased to be a market leader in Tampa Bay with over 40 years of experience in luxury home sales.

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Spring Cleaning Tips March 31, 2011
By Alexis Bentivegna

It’s that time of year again to break out of the winter blues and into the colors of spring! Spring cleaning is more than just dusting and planting flowers. You can use this time to de-clutter and organize your home, especially if you are in the market to sell it. At Smith and Associates Real Estate, we have collected several spring cleaning tips from our agents and clients to help make this an easy process!

BG Holmberg is a veteran Tampa real estate agent who recently sold a home to the first buyer that viewed his listing. Some of his spring cleaning tips that helped sell the Tampa home included painting the pool deck, pressure washing the wood fence and removing overgrown flower beds and replacing it with sod.

St. Pete real estate agent Tia Hockensmith knows the importance of making your outdoor living space just as inviting as your indoor living space. Fill up container planters with vibrant annuals and freshen flower beds with new mulch. Make a great first impression with a great front porch by replacing your tired welcome mat and consider a new color for your front door. You might even enjoy your own homecoming each day!

Spring cleaning on the inside of a home needs the same amount of detail as the outside. When selling Tampa real estate, one of our associates, Carrie Smith, suggests getting the boxes and items stored in the garage off the floor and onto shelves inside storage containers. For a small investment, it can add a great deal of appeal to potential buyers, especially those who used to have basements. Closets systems can also add a great deal of appeal to buyers.

Laura Blackwell had the owners of her listing at 948 Lake Placido Court organize their walk-in pantry. Both the owners and Laura feel that this made a big difference. Not only did they get rid of food items that were expired but they found many duplicate items. It now showcases the size of the walk-in pantry and appeals to buyers that are looking for storage space in the kitchen.

Isabel Caruso, who has been selling St. Pete real estate for many years, offers a great household cleaning tip for owners thinking about selling their home. A solution of 3 cups water, 1 cup vodka and 25-30 drops of eucalyptus oil will help rid your home of dust mites. Lightly mist the areas and let it air dry. If you have scuffs on walls or doors, water marks, hard water stains, try the sponge product called Magic Erasers. They are very effective and can save you a lot of time and effort on cleaning.

Last, if you have a busy work and family life and don’t have the time to clean, hire a cleaning service. Let them do the heavy spring cleaning chores like moving furniture and cleaning all windows inside and out. This might help kick start your spring cleaning and motivate you to take care of other chores. A clean, de-cluttered home will you’re your home for sale a lot more attractive to prospective buyers!

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Charlene Renee Sears Joins Smith! March 7, 2011
By Jenny Lee

We are excited to announce that Charlene Renee Sears has joined Smith & Associates Real Estate. Charlene will be a great addition to our new office in Belleair Bluffs.

Charlene is a Clearwater Beach resident that has been a driving force in the Pinellas County luxury waterfront market since 1984. She is a Chicago native, but has traveled the US extensively living in Dallas, Los Angeles, Bloomfield Hills and Atlanta. Her mission is to provide clients with a swift strategic marketing plan that will achieve top dollar values for their properties. She is highly qualified to help with any concerns a buyer or seller might have and takes pride in giving her clients first class service whether they are buying or selling.

Belleair Realtor, Charlene Sears knows the waterfront and Belleair real estate markets inside and out. She understands the importance of listening to her clients wishes and dreams and then works diligently to find them the perfect property. Charlene’s experience in successfully negotiating and closing deals puts any clients mind at ease.

Vice President of Smith & Associates Real Estate, Amy Seeks added “Charlene is well known and connected in the luxury and international markets which makes her a perfect fit for Smith & Associates”.

Charlene Renee Sears is a National Luxury Real Estate Specialist and an Executive and Corporate Specialist. We are proud to have Belleair Realtor Charlene Sears as part of our team in Belleair Bluffs and would like to welcome her to Smith!

If you want more information on Belleair real estate or the surrounding areas please visit www.smithandassociates.com.

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Belleair Grand Opening! February 25, 2011
By Jenny Lee

Smith & Associates Real Estate with a 41-year history of helping families and individuals purchase luxury real estate in Tampa Bay, expanded into their new location in Belleair Bluffs on Thursday, February 24th. The company, which currently holds offices in Tampa and Downtown St. Petersburg, looks at the Belleair Bluffs office as an investment, as well as an embracement of the community and an opportunity for further development.

Smith & Associates Real Estate has become the powerhouse of Tampa Bay real estate, selling $500 million dollars in real estate annually. The company had the highest sale in Pinellas County in 2008 and 2009; and the most expensive single family home in 2010. Smith & Associates Real Estate represented either the buyer, seller or both in every single residential sale over $3 million in Pinellas and Hillsborough County, within the first quarter of this year. This includes the most recent notable sale of basketball player Matt Geiger’s estate at $8 million.

Smith & Associates Real Estate has been a mainstay of the Tampa Bay real estate market for over 40 years, providing clients with new definitions of service and luxury. CEO Bob Glaser leads the real estate team and is backed with the power of Smith & Associates Real Estate’s dedicated staff and more than 100 experienced agents. Smith & Associates Real Estate understands the world is changing including how customers buy and sell their property. Smith & Associates provides the following services to their clients: new and existing home sales, development, mortgage and title, individual and corporate relocations, rentals, commercial, and global properties. With now three locations across Tampa Bay, they have earned their leadership position by knowing the market, having great listings and a dedication to their local roots.

Smith & Associates Real Estate
716 N Indian Rocks Rd Belleair Bluffs, FL 33770
Phone: 727.282.1788
Fax: 727.282.1798
www.smithandassociates.com

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Bobbie & Jerry Rendel Join Smith! February 4, 2011
By Jenny Lee

We are proud to announce that Bobbie & Jerry Rendel have recently joined Smith & Associates Real Estate. They will be working at our new Belleair Bluffs office location. I caught up with Bobbie & Jerry to ask them how everything was going. “We feel so blessed to be with such a great group of professional associates. We are excited about our new office in Belleair Bluffs and look forward to a long and successful career with Smith & Associates Real Estate” said Bobbie.

Belleair realtors, Bobbie & Jerry Rendel have over 38 years of real estate experience. Before joining Smith & Associates Real Estate Bobbie was the executive Vice President of Jerry Rendel Realty. Bobbie & Jerry had their real estate business in Winter Park Fl, they then moved to the Clearwater Beach area in 1994. Bobbie has worked in corporate relocation for Fortune 500 companies such as: Hartford Insurance, Sears, UPS and Texaco, for over 30 years. This has given them a profound understanding of how emotional relocation can be on families. These same families still call on them for that second home or condo on the beach.

Living in the Clearwater Beach area for over 17 years has given Bobbie & Jerry great insight into the Belleair real estate market and the surrounding areas. They have a great knowledge of luxury real estate on the mainland and on the beach. Their sales experience as Belleair realtors has been very successful. Charity is also a big part of their lives. Bobbie is the Chairman of the American Cancer Society Silent Auction for the Cattle Baron’s Ball. She is also is a member of the PEO Sisterhood sending girls to college.

Amy Seeks, Vice President of Real Estate Services at Smith & Associates Real Estate said “With Bobbie and Jerry’s long standing real estate history, depth of knowledge and commitment to their customers, we could not ask for better agents to be affiliated with”.

If you want more information on Belleair real estate or the surrounding areas please visit www.smithandassociates.com.

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Moving Real Estate January 28, 2011
By Robert Glaser

As 2010 has now come to a close, Smith & Associates Real Estate can report that our sales volume increased 40% over 2009 with a 36% increase in residential units sold. This stacked up to $483,000,000 in closed volume. These impressive figures are the results of a team of dedicated professionals who exceed company goals and outperform the competition in the market share areas that the company dominates. The luxury market, a specialty of Smith & Associates Real Estate, has also seen a 40% increase with 38 homes selling above $1,000,000 in 2010. In addition, the company was fortunate to participate in the highest sale in Pinellas County at $8,000,000.

Through its participation in a staggering amount of transactions involving South Tampa homes for sale, our brokerage and its team of 150 agents has gathered historically high market shares. An analysis of South Tampa homes for sale which closed in 2010 shows a 40% plus market share in the $400,000 price range and above, reaching a 50% share over $1,000,000. In all of Hillsborough County, Smith & Associates Real Estate has a 20% market share in properties over $400,000, which rises to 40% at the $2,000,000 price level. This growth is attributed to our expertise in the luxury real estate market.

Our office at Beach Drive serves the metro St. Petersburg real estate markets in Pinellas County, where our market share is 45% at the $500,000 price range and increases up to the record high of 87% in other price ranges. The company acknowledges that all this momentum is attributed to the activities of an experienced real estate team, who work diligently in educating all parties in the changing economy to facilitate accurate and timely decisions. Because of their hard work Smith & Associates Real Estate closed 1,166 residential units in 2010 with an average sales price of $429,000, selling in some cases 35% of our own listings due to the approach of our associates. Agents meet weekly to preview and discuss recent listings and then “caravan” together to personally view them.

At the company’s annual meeting the associates with the help of national expert Steve Harney, we discussed the “Big Picture” of the current economic situation. The information discussed will be used to translate to the individual sub-markets that the associates serve. We do not expect the market to be any less challenging for our sellers to determine timing and price, as it is for the buyers. Smith & Associates Real Estate has identified sub-markets throughout Tampa Bay, as well as trends in sales and pricing. An individual can view these current market statistics by zip code by visiting SmithAndAssociates.com to assist them in their 2011 decisions regarding real estate.

Marking our 41st year of expertise in the Bay area real estate industry, Smith & Associates Real Estate will be opening a new office in Belleair. The new office location is planned to open in February 2011, and those agents will assist clients not only with the sale and purchase of Belleair real estate, but also in the areas of Dunedin, Clearwater, and the North Beaches.

We are grateful for the 150 agents, at Smith & Associates Real Estate for their level of performance, cooperation and camaraderie that results in this success. But more importantly, we are grateful for their dedication to their customers and communities, and to seeing to the real estate recovery in their own neighborhoods!

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