Living On The Beach Series - BEACH NEWS #2

As we contemplate the many amazing visual delights we see on a regular basis, some of these really stand out! On a daily basis, we see dolphins swimming and playing... manatees are more infrequent and a special treat. Working with a window looking out to the beach offers some great opportunities. When a small crowd starting gathering by the shore, we knew something was up. Mark and I literally put down what we were working on and went to investigate!

A family of 3 manatees was slowly swimming north to south very close to the shoreline. Such amazing animals! Completely fascinated, we strolled along the beach with about a half dozen other equally fascinated beachcombers. We probably walked along with them for about a quarter mile before they veered off out to sea. What a great treat to take back to our home office and pick back up with the work waiting for us!

And one of my favorites? A full moon setting over the water, for sure! Everyone knows our sunsets are spectacular, but this special event... when the moon is full and has transited the sky overnight then slowly begins its decent into the Gulf of Mexico is a WOW! What makes it unique is timing. Weather conditions have to be right, the setting needs to take place while it is still dark or close to it... many things can disrupt this grand event. But when it happens, it is mesmerizing!!! I have included this photo that I took because of its rarity. As the moon was setting, the sun was starting to come up in the east, so the clouds to the right started picking up an amazing glow. Like I said, camera always needs to be close at hand!

Living On The Beach Series - Beach News!

To say we never tire on living on the beach right here along the barrier islands of Tampa Bay is an understatement! When we first moved to the area in late 2001, we weren't sure if "living on the beach" would be the answer for us. We had sold one business and closed another... and the tragedy of 9/11 had affected us all, leaving us ready for a change.

People had asked us, "Why would you want to live on the beach??? With all the salt and the sand... and you know, it's just black after dark!!!" Hummm, we decided to see for ourselves and I have to say... we have never looked back! Every day, there is something different that catches our attention. We began to refer to these occurrences as BEACH NEWS and would call family or friends back home expressing the wonder of what we were seeing. Since that time, many of them have moved here themselves! This series will feature some of the amazing scenes we witness on a regular basis... which keeps our binoculars and camera close at hand!

We just uploaded a video of a full RAINBOW that started out coming out of the gulf, then as we looked in amazement... it began to open up into a full rainbow. SIMPLY AMAZING...

JULY Hiccup In Market Statistics

The link to the new July 2010 Market Statistics for Pinellas County has been posted on our Home Page. From March through June, we saw steady increases in our market absorption as inventory decreased and sales picked up. By the end of June, however, the fears of the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico along with slower than anticipated economic recovery and double digit unemployment... that energy lost some of it sizzle. In addition, sellers who felt they could finally put their home on the market and do a little better brought a new source of inventory.
Click On The Chart To Enlarge
We use this chart to get a sense of how much inventory is being reduced in the market and it is determined by dividing the number of units sold during the month by the total number of listings in the MLS. In July, 8.3% of single family homes were absorbed compared to 11.1% last year. 6.1% of condos were absorbed compared to 6.9% last year... not quite the falling off of single family homes (showing a little comeback on the part of condos in general).

51% of all new transactions in July were cash purchases, with 27% getting conventional loans and 16% FHA. 45% of all residential sales to date in 2010 have been priced between $120,000 and $399,900.

Waterfront property appears to be getting the most attention as international investors are taking full advantage of these prime real estate opportunities...

Canadians - Buying Florida Property In This Market!

Canadians are taking advantage of this market with the combination of a strong currency and devalued property value in Florida! We added an article published On August 6th by The Canadian Press... http://www.floridagulfproperty.com/canadian-snowbirds.html

“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for Canadians,” says Mark Dziedzic, a Canadian Realtor with Cross Border Realty and a snowbird himself.

Canadian realtors looking for a realtor who specializes in waterfront property along the beaches of Tampa Bay need look no further. The PURTEE Team will help your clients find the special opportunities! Prices at a fraction of original purchase price are attracting cash buyers ready to snag these deals up and those are gone in a matter of days. That is why you need to be aware of where those special properties are!!!

BP Oil Spill Finally Winding Down In Gulf Of Mexico

The news we have all been waiting for during 4 months of oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico finally came yesterday! Efforts to stop the well through what’s called a ‘static kill’ appear to be working—and a report out today by scientists show that the vast majority of the spilled oil has been dispersed or removed from the water. So the long battle to stop the leak and contain the oil is finally close to coming to an end. The relief well should be in place on schedule by mid-August. As we walk along these beautiful beaches of Tampa Bay, we are truly thankful we remained unharmed. http://www.restorethegulf.gov/

We have all heard about the impact of the spill on our friends in the panhandle and along that area of the northern gulf coast. Efforts to restore the damage will be going on for a long time. As we see vacationers and home seekers choose our area, it is a mixed blessing. The Tampa Bay barrier island beaches... from Clearwater Beach in the north to St Pete Beach in the south... are among the most beautiful in the country, and always ranked among the top favorites for their environmental efforts as well as their beauty. We love to share its assets as an exceptional destination. Come see for yourself what the beaches of Tampa Bay have to offer!

Mortgage Rates Hit Low Of 4.5%

Beginning in March, the forecast was that with Freddie Mac pulling out of government funding rates would start to climb as the private sector now funding these mortgage bonds would demand a higher return. That is what has economists amazed that the latest rate is the lowest for a 30-year fixed loan since Freddie began tracking rates in 1971! It also marks the fifth time in six weeks that the mortgage company has reported hitting a new average low. That makes mortgage rates are the most affordable in decades for those who can qualify for a loan.

"Refinance activity has increased over the last month as homeowners seek more affordable monthly payments. But many don’t qualify for a loan or don’t have the cash to pay for closing costs. And rates have been low for so long that many have already refinanced," according to an article published by the Associated Press last Friday.

To calculate the national average, Freddie Mac collects mortgage rates on Monday through Wednesday of each week from lenders around the country.

Rates on five-year adjustable-rate mortgages averaged 3.76 percent, down from 3.79 percent a week earlier.

Rates on one-year adjustable-rate mortgages fell to an average of 3.64 percent from 3.70 percent.

The rates do not include add-on fees known as points. One point is equal to 1 percent of the total loan amount. The nationwide fee for loans in Freddie Mac’s survey averaged 0.7 a point for all loans.

USA Today Travel Agrees - Tampa Bay Prime For Second Homes!

We say it so frequently that it is great to hear that a national news source agrees that Tampa Bay is an amazing destination for those seeking to relocate or purchase a second home. Two days ago, USA Today Travel published this article: Second homes: All the joys of Florida in one spot!

When we did our own personal research back in 2001 as we sold our business and looked ahead at where we wanted to spend the next decades of our lives, the one thing for sure was that it would be on the water! There is something so soothing and serene about watching the waves, the wide assortment of birds, dolphins and manatees swimming by... and of course the temperate climate. Tampa Bay offers all that splendor of nature on its pristine white sandy beaches, while giving us access to three dynamic cities (Tampa, St Petersburg and Clearwater) in which to enjoy fine restaurants, international shopping, entertainment and culture! One by one, as they visited this special area, our family members moved here as well. Even if they couldn't move full time, they bought along the beaches of Tampa Bay to enjoy whenever they can.

Prices skyrocketed in 2005 and 2006 when over 1000 people were moving to Florida every day. With the unprecedented market adjustment in pricing, there is no better time to take advantage of these extraordinary deals! Contact The PURTEE Team today!

info@floridagulfproperty.com