Why Buy Real Estate In Florida Over The Holidays?

While daily life is filled with shopping, holiday parties and trimming the tree... how can one be expected to focus their attention on a real estate purchase in Florida? Well, the savvy buyers are making it a point to jump start their search here in December.

By the beginning of January, the snowbirds will be descending upon the beaches of Tampa Bay as their warm weather oasis to remove themselves from the blistering cold and icy conditions back home. Our moderate temperatures and sunny weather are very addicting. As often happens, while they are here thoughts turn to owning their own piece of paradise. For that reason, sales traditionally increase with dramatic intensity during January, February and March. Once that starts, the competition for the best real estate opportunities that abound in this depressed (but recovering) market strengthens.

During this month of December, those in the know realize that burst of sales activity is on the horizon. Thinking of buying here along the beaches of Tampa Bay? Fill out your Dream Home Questionnaire today to begin your search right from your home or office computer. The PURTEE Team will take that information, along with their knowledge of the area to help find you the best possible deal!

Spotlight On John's Pass At Madeira Beach

So, what is John’s Pass Village really all about? All December - John's Pass Village becomes fabulous Christmas Village for this month-long celebration! The lighting of the Madeira Beach Christmas Tree was on November 30th and the arrival of Santa Claus to the Village! John's Pass merchants offer Special Discounts throughout the entire Holiday Season.

But how did John’s Pass come to pass (sorry about the pun). Years ago, in the early 1800’s Florida was not a state yet… merely an American Territory with no law enforcement. The Native American tribe of Seminole Indians was joined by runaway slaves from the southern states. Together, they co-existed in a rugged terrain full of pine forests and mangrove-covered islands. What was also prevalent were bands of pirates!

John LeVeque, a Frenchman, set out to find his fortune in the new World by serving as a cabin boy on a Spanish Galleon in 1836. The ship was attacked by pirates and young John was enlisted into the pirate crew as a galley slave. He moved up the ranks to First Mate and finally Captain of his own pirate ship. According to legend, John LeVeque always allowed his victims to keep their lives and their freedom. His sailings took him throughout the Caribbean and up into the Gulf of Mexico where he discovered a beautiful beach on an island on Florida’s West Coast. He buried his treasure chest with his amassed fortune right off this very beach and it became a peaceful hideaway for him… and what would some day become Madeira Beach.

LeVeque decided to retire to New Orleans and was making his way to retrieve his treasure from his hideout in Madeira Beach. As he sailed north a hurricane blew in on the horizon and he held back. The next morning, September 27, 1848, LeVeque found that the hurricane had cut his long skinny island clean in two, rendering his treasure map useless. The storm had destroyed the very area of the island where his treasure had been buried! As he sailed through the new pass, and as dolphins played alongside his boat, John LeVeque realized his treasure had been lost forever. Since that day, the inlet has been known as John’s Pass in honor of LeVeque’s discovery and maiden passage through the waterway. He never found his treasure, but did settle there watching his isolated island become a quaint fishing community.

It was Wilson Hubbard who, in 1978, saw the potential of a waterfront boardwalk with its marina facilities, restaurants and variety of shops. Recent renovations brought in Bubba Gump’s Restaurant which has been an instant success. In June every year, there is even a 3-day Pirate Invasion event to honor John LeVeque’s story.

December at John’s Pass should be fun-filled and well worth the visit!

Featured Listings Are Only The Beginning!

As the use of our website (http://www.floridagulfproperty.com/ ) increases... with all of its tools from Free Reports to Daily Real Estate News to Rentals to lots and lots of Community Information... it is easy to understand why our Hot Deals Page and Featured Listings are reviewed most often. The thing that can be overlooked is that these are our client listings, not a selection from the whole market area.

Our listings continue to change, or sell. We keep you up to date with each of them, and move a property to the Hot Deals page when it becomes a pre-foreclosure, short sale or has a particularly motivated Seller. However, we know the market very well and know of deals that might be listed by other agents. We have total access to the entire Tampa Bay real estate market. As part of The Purtee Team, we are constantly searching for clients and keeping up with those special gems of properties that we know are available at an incredible value! For example, we had a client who wanted a condo in a certain new building in Clearwater Beach - but he did not want to pay over $400,000. Condos in that building sold up to the high $700,000's! Through mailings and keeping a close watch on the building, we actually were able to get two clients a purchase in there for just under $400,000. They are thrilled and have made a great purchase!

Refer back to the Exclusive Buyer Program. It really does work and can be an amazing tool in finding just the right property. There is not fee to get this service.