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Award-winning Florida real estate Broker PROUDLY SELLING IN PINELLAS, HILLSBOROUGH, PASCO, MANATEE & SARASOTA COUNTIES since 2004.

5 Romantic Spots in Tampa Bay

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Are you looking to break out of the tired cliches of dinner, chocolates, and flower’s this Valentine’s Day? We have 5 romantic spots in Tampa Bay that fit the bill and fit your budget. Plan your day to enjoy what the Tampa Bay area has to offer in the romance department with your special someone.

5 Romantic Spots in Tampa Bay

  • A Streetcar Named Desire. Take a ride on one of the yellow street cars running between Downtown Tampa and Ybor City. This throwback mode of transportation will provide you with affordable access to museums, attractions, and restaurants. Fare is $5 for an all day pass.
  • Take a stroll. In recent years, St. Petersburg’s Beach Drive has seen an increase in the number of restaurants and shops dotting its length. Take a walk with your Valentine, window shop, or grab a bite to eat.
  • Pack a picnic. Vinoy Watefront Park in St. Petersburg is 1.16 acres sectioned off on the Tampa Bay. The park offers wide open spaces of green grass and shaded benches. Enjoy your meal or snacks while taking in the views of Tampa and the water wildlife (dolphins are known to swim in the Bay).
  • Watch the sunset. Fort De Soto is situated on Mullet Key, a barrier island near the edge of St. Petersburg. This location offers a perfect spot to cap off a romantic day (or get one started) by watching the sunset over Tampa Bay. The weather conditions can add amazing colors to the sky. Parking is $5.
  • Gaze up at the stars. No matter what time of day, you can view the stars at Saunder’s Planetarium in Tampa. The planetarium will showcase the night skies of several romantic cities including Paris, Buenos Aires, and Fiji.

Do you know of a romantic spot in the Tampa Bay area? Share with our readers in the comments section.

Davis Islands: Tampa Exclusive Real Estate

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Like Hyde Park, Davis Islands is one of the most prestigious addresses in the Tampa Bay area but holds the distinction of being Tampa’s most sought after waterfront island community.

Davis Islands is a mature and eclectic collection of architectural styles, beautiful, well-established tree lined streets, impressive estates owned by leading national sports and business personalities, as well a sprinkling of bungalow-style homes, deep-water lots, lovely condominiums. The Davis Island Yacht Club, Peter O’Knight Airport, a seaplane basin and a “downtown” shopping area serving up restaurants, intimate cafes, lively bars and unique shopping opportunities all serve the many needs and desires of residents and visitors alike.

Minutes away from Davis Islands are downtown Tampa, the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, the Convention Center, Tampa General Hospital, the St. Pete Times Forum, Florida Aquarium, Ybor City and virtually everything else Tampa has to offer both day and night. Tampa International Airport is conveniently and literally only 15-minutes away by car.

View of the downtown Tampa, Convention Center in foreground.
(Photo courtesy of By Robert Neff , via Wikimedia Commons)

Davis Islands is a dog friendly, walking neighborhood that offers a pedestrian trail spanning a majority of the island, and not one but two dog parks.

To reach Davis Islands from downtown Tampa, one must simply cross the Hillsborough River on the Kennedy Boulevard bridge, turn left (south) on Plant Avenue and cross the Davis Islands Causeway adjacent to Tampa General Hospital onto the islands.

From The Bottom of Tampa Bay To Exclusive Real Estate

Before there were Davis Islands, there were three small islands surrounded by mud flats at the mouth of the Hillsborough River where it flows into Hillsborough Bay and from there into Tampa Bay.

In the early 1920s, Tampa native D.P. Davis bankrolled some of the money he made as a Miami real estate developer to create a resort community complete with hotels, a nine-hole golf course, an airport and a swimming pool. Despite opposition from nearby neighbors, Davis dredged over 89 million cubic feet of sand from the bottom of Hillsborough Bay to create Davis Islands, which today encompasses 875 acres.

Davis Islands Florida | Hounchell & Associates

(Photo courtesy of Boston Public Library vis Flickr)

Every one of the initial 306 home lots that became available for purchase were bought within three hours after initially going on sale. A building frenzy ensued and many owners were encouraged to build Mediterranean Revival-style homes to help promote the “Venetian” ambiance of the new community. Many of these homes remain today.

In 1925, the Florida real estate development juggernaut came to a screeching halt and construction did not fully restart until after World War II. To help kick start sales, owners were able to build in any style they chose, which accounts for the eclectic mix of architectural styles seen today.

Since the 1980s, the Davis Islands Civic Association has been an active collection of homeowners whose goal it is to maintain the unique character of the islands, improve the quality of life throughout the community for the roughly 5,500 residents and promote projects such as the Seaplane Basin Park, Apex Park and Welcome Home Park. Membership is encouraged but not required.

If you’re considering a move to or near downtown Tampa and are looking for a community that offers an appealing mix of architectural styles, waterfront and bay access, world-class amenities, a marina facility, private airport and quiet, check out all that Davis Islands has to offer. We can help, call  727-642-9107 or email us.

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in April 2014. It has been updated to reflect new information and edited for cohesiveness. 

 

 

Renting v. Buying: Why It’s Not a Black and White Decision

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The latest hot topic in real estate news is the cost of renting. A recent study conducted by Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies and Enterprise Community Partners, Inc, found that 11.8 million households are spending half of their take home pay on rent. The industrial standard for a quick estimate of an affordable housing payment (renting or owning) is about one-third a family’s take home pay. You can quickly understand why industry advisers are encouraging more people to purchase a property rather then rent but it’s not that cut and dry. There are many variables and circumstances to consider before you decide to rent or purchase.

Stability

When deciding whether to buy or rent, you should consider your employment and lifestyle. Do you currently hold a job and is that job likely to continue without reductions to your salary? Does your employer intend to keep you in the same location or is there the possibility or guarantee that you will need to relocate within a short time period? Are you someone who is looking to commit themselves to one location, one home for several years or do you have a bit of wanderlust?

Financial health

Obtaining housing regardless of the method, requires the applicant to have their credit history examined. For someone recovering from a prior foreclosure or bankruptcy, their history may not be appealing candidates to lenders and either be denied a mortgage or offered one with a higher than average interest rate that would raise their monthly payment. If you are attempting to pay down a large amount of debt, you may also want to consider holding off on a mortgage for similar reasons. Having a low debt-to-income ratio and a solid history of on time payments will only bolster your financial health and make you a more favorable candidate.

Renting v. Buying: Why It's Not a Black and White Decision

Cost-effectiveness

With statistics on rent like the one above it’s difficult not to feel like as a renter you will be squandering all of your money on nothing but the numbers don’t tell the whole picture. If you are a renter and you are spending half your pay on housing, this most likely includes maintenance, landscaping, and some or all utilities. If you own your home, you will be responsible for the taxes, all maintenance (big and small projects), landscaping, insurance, and utilities. You should also consider if you’d be able to handle home maintenance and landscaping yourself or if you would need to outsource these tasks and incur another cost. These costs aren’t calculated into that “magic” one-third rule that gets touted.

Savings

After the mortgage industry collapse in 2008, lenders instituted strict rules for borrowers and insisted on larger down payments. This excluded many from being able to become home owners. As the market recovers, lenders have relaxed these rules slightly. In most instances though, you will still need a down payment to buy a home and secure a mortgage. If you have only a small fund and use all of your savings on a down payment though, you will have nothing left to use for furnishing your new home or have an emergency fund to rely on should you need it.

Alternatives

If you’re currently paying a high rent, you may have little opportunities to save for a home in the first place and feel like you are stuck in the rental cycle forever. That may not be true anymore though. As rental prices continue to climb but the purchase market becomes more available to more people, landlords are going to find themselves with a smaller pool of tenants. Experts don’t expect to see rental prices to decline drastically just yet but it may make more landlords open to ideas such as rent-to-own. This provides the renter an option to purchase a home when they are in a good financial position and also provides an exit strategy for a landlord. We recommend both parties of such a transaction solicit the help of licenses Realtors and/or attorneys to draw up the proper documents.

As we’ve shown, purchasing a property isn’t a black and white decision. There is no stigma is renting a home and it’s not always a poor financial decisions as many would have you to believe. We always recommend that you evaluate your unique situation thoroughly before moving forward. Our team can help you with your decision and your search for the home that’s right for you.

How To Dispose of Household Hazardous Waste

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Maybe your new year’s resolution was to clean out your garage or purge your house of everything that you’re no longer using. Maybe you’re preparing your home to list for sale. Whatever your reason for clearing out your shelves and closets, you’ll most likely need to dispose of household hazardous waste. “Household hazardous waste” sounds foreboding but you may be surprised to find out that everyday items like light bulbs and batteries are considered “hazardous”. Below we’ll cover the most common hazardous wastes found in a home and how to dispose of them properly.

What is household hazardous waste?

According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, household hazardous waste is defined as any item that is ignitable, corrosive, reactive, or toxic. This definition includes items such as batteries, paints, household cleaners, paints, solvents, pesticides and herbicides, and even CFL light bulbs due to their mercury content.

How To Dispose of Household Hazardous Waste

(via Flickr user Emilio Kuffer)

How to dispose of these items.

Because these items pose a hazard to either the environment or people, you should not dispose of these items in your regular garbage nor should you pour any liquids down the drain or flush them down the toilet. Both Hillsborough County and Pinellas County have hazardous waste collection sites that are open six days a week.

Prior to taking your items to a collect site, you should label each item you intend to dispose of and ensure that the contents are secured, if possible keep the item in its original packaging. You should not mix any chemicals or liquids together. For batteries, you should cover the terminals with tape or store them in secure containers to prevent short circuits or arching.

What isn’t considered household hazardous waste?

Items such as medication, prescription and over the counter, biomedical and sharp (needles, etc.) items, explosives (including guns), and radioactive materials should not be brought to hazardous waste collection sites. In the event you need to dispose of these items, you should contact a medical services for biomedical and sharps waste or the local sheriff’s office for prescription medication and weapons disposal. If you have questions about a certain item, you can always contact the local hazardous waste disposal office for more instructions.

Many of these items can actually be recycled either for reuse or repurposed entirely. For those items that cannot be recycled, the officials at the collection sites will ensure that these items are disposed of properly so as to pose the least amount of harm to people and the environment.

What Does the Interest Rate Increase Mean For You?

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Welcome to 2016! If you were like most of Americans in December, you were busy enjoying the holidays with your nearest and dearest. You may have heard a little bit about the Federal Reserve raising interest rates for the first time in seven years. The Fed board members say they decided to make this move because they are confident the economy is finally showing up with a clean bill of health after the recession that rocked it beginning in 2008. If you are planning to enter the real estate market this year, whether as a Seller, Buyer, or refinancer, you may be wondering what the interest rate increase mean for you.

What Does the Interest Rate Increase Mean For You | Hounchell & Associates

Buyers

As a buyer, one of your biggest concerns may be securing a mortgage. You may be surprised to hear there are still great interest rates to be found. The Fed raised the base rate by a quarter of a percentage point, up from nearly zero. Mortgage lenders use this base rate as a jumping off point to determine the rates they are willing to lend on. So that quarter of a percentage point will only have a nominal effect on the rate you secure for your new mortgage.

Sellers

If you were planning on listing your home for sale in 2016 or already have your home on the market don’t let the interest rate hike scare you. The small rate hike will not scare away all the potential Buyers. There are still plenty of Buyers out there looking for homes. The Fed’s confidence in the economy is a good sign that the market will continue to grow and that more Buyers will feel secure in their financial positions to take on a large liability like a mortgage. A slight rise in mortgage rates will still make for more affordable mortgage payments than rental payments in many markets.

Owners

If you own a home and have no plans to sell or buy a property, the rate increase can have effects for you, too. If you have a variable rate loan, it may be time to refinance. Rates on these products will see increases over the coming year and those increases will make larger payments for you. Home values are rebounding as well and you may be surprised at the value of your home now compared to what it was valued during the recession. This could allow you to refinance a loan you took out pre-recession and secure a lower interest rate and thus a lower monthly payment amount.

The bottom line is the interest rate hike is a step in the right direction for every one. Confidence is up which makes for happy mortgage lenders and the real estate market is still highly accessible for many Buyers.

What We Sold In 2015

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As we get ready to close out the new year, our team took a look back at all of the accomplishments we experienced over the year. It was a busy year to say the least and we worked with a myraid of Buyers and Sellers from across a wide range of backgrounds and locations to help them find the home of their dreams or move on from a house that no longer met their needs. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorites  house that sold in 2015 to showcase not only some of the best homes the Tampa Bay area has to offer but also the varying properties and neighborhoods we are experienced with. You can click on each of the main pictures for the full listing.

What We Sold in 2015

First we have this brand new, luxury home in the history Old NE neighborhood of St. Petersburg. This home featured a sleek, modern asthetic with four bedrooms and four baths. Master bedroom suites were located on both the first and second floors and the kitchen boasted a Viking applicances, quartz countertops, soft close cabinets, and a pantry room. Our Buyer was elated to call this “home”!

What We Sold in 2015

What We Sold in 2015

What We Sold in 2015

Our Buyers may never need to go on vacation again after buying this spectacular resort-style home in Odessa. In addition to the open floor plan, three-wing lay out and five bedrooms, four baths, the home featured a screened-in pool, direct access to Lake Armistead, a private dock, and lush landscaping.

What We Sold in 2015

What We Sold in 2015

 

 

What We Sold in 2015

 

Don’t judge this property by its size because inside is a magnificent three bedroom, two bath home. With neutral and simple decor throughout, the home has a light and airy feel. The kitchen featured newer cabinets and stainless steel appliances. Wood flooring was found throughout the common areas. It’s a little gem tucked away in Tampa.

What We Sold in 2015What We Sold in 2015

What We Sold in 2015

This listing in St. Petersburg was a dream come true for any entertainer. The kitchen would make any chef jealous with its stainless steel appliances, ample granite countertops, breakfast bar, and cherry wood cabinets. French doors led outside which featured pristine landscaping that also afforded privacy, outdoor lighting, a lanai with Jacuzzi, and separate wooden deck further back on the property with waterfront views.

What We Sold in 2015What We Sold in 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

We wish all the best to our Buyers and Sellers and thank them again for choosing to work with our team this year. If you’re resolving to buy or sell a home in 2016, please reach out to our knowledge and experienced staff who can help you reach your goal this year. Our phone number is (727) 642-9107.

 

Thank You and Happy Holidays

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As we celebrate the holidays and the year comes to an end, the Chris Hounchell & Associates team would like to take the time to say “thank you and happy holidays”.

Whether you are a client or a professional associate, we couldn’t have had the successful year we did without you. We strive to individualize our services to each of our Sellers and Buyers and we hope you have felt that in all of your interactions with our team. Working with professionals who understand the nuances of Florida real estate allows us to provide an excellent experience to each of our clients. Both of these factors make our jobs pleasurable and something to enjoy every day.

Thank You and Happy Holidays | Hounchell and Associates

May your holiday season be filled with family, friends, joy, and success for the upcoming new year. For those of you who are celebrating the holidays in your new home, it is our sincerest wish that it is the start of many happy memories.

It’s our hope that this message of holiday cheer and gratitude reaches you well. We look forward to continuing our relationship with you for many years to come.

Happy holidays and thank you once more.

All the best,

Chris Hounchell and Associates

 

Claim Your Home Mortage Interest Deduction

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Since 1913, American homeowners have been able to claim a mortgage interest deduction from their federal income taxes. There are limitations however; interest paid on first & second mortgages, lines of credit secured by real estate, and home equity lines of credit valued up to $1,000,000.00 or $500,000.00, if married and filing separately, is able to be deducted. After those limits are reached the remaining interest is not deductible.

Claiming Your Mortgage Interest Deduction

What do I need to do it claim the deduction?

First, fill out IRS Schedule A to determine whether your itemized deductions, including your mortgage interest, exceed your standard deduction. If they do, you’ll need to file the 1040 long form. Second, you’ll need Form 1098, your Mortgage Interest Statement, from your mortgage lender. This details the amount of interest and mortgage-related expenses you paid during the tax year you are filing for. Third, if you bought the property in the year for which you are filing, you’ll need the HUD-1 Settlement Statement form from your lender. This itemizes the fees you paid when you closed your loan.

If you prepare your own taxes, check out IRS Publication 936, the Home Mortgage Interest Deduction, and the instructions for filing Schedule A. If you use an accountant, he or she may simply need Form 1098 and the HUD form, but double check whether any additional documents are necessary.

Who qualifies for the deduction?

In order to qualify you must be legally liable for the loan. In other words, you’re not able to deduct mortgage payments you’ve made for someone else unless you’re legally liable to make the payments. Also, a qualified home, i.e. your primary or second home, must secure the mortgage. And, be sure to double-check that the mortgage interest deduction you claim on Schedule A and the amount on Form 1098 are the same.

Additionally, keep your 1098 Form and any worksheets you use to figure the amount of your deduction along with a copy of your return for as long as is legally necessary. If you need additional information, check the IRS for their guidelines.

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in January 2011. It has been updated with the latest information and edited for cohesiveness.

Should I List My House During the Holidays?

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The holidays are upon us, as if you didn’t already know. If you’re a home owner looking to sell your property, you may be asking yourself “should I list my house during the holidays?” It used to be that Realtors would recommend against putting your home on the market or renewing a listing during the busy holiday season. The thought that you should wait until early spring to list when more Buyers would typically be available is beginning to waver though.

Should I List My House During the Holidays

Supply and Demand

If you list your home during the holiday season, typically from November through January, you’re likely to be part of a smaller inventory of homes available. Fewer homes for sale mean that your house will be seen by more Buyers. This means you have a better chance of securing a Buyer and the sales price you’re asking.

There is always a Buyer

People move more often for their careers then they ever have and January is typically the month you will see career changes take place for employees. This means there are Buyers looking for a new home during every time of year, including the holidays. Online search engines and cell phone apps make it even easier for Buyers to keep looking no matter what they’re doing. Some Buyers may need to buy a property before the end of the year to take advantage of tax credits. All of these reasons make for motivated and serious Buyers.

Staging

The buzzword in listing advice is “staging”. Staging, in part, means you remove your personality from the home to allow Buyers to envision their personality in the house. Staged homes sell faster than non-staged homes. Many home owners need to store personal items and give their homes a deep cleaning before they decorate for the holidays which in effect is staging. Holiday decor can make your home inviting and relatable. Just keep the Grizzwold-motif in the garage until next year.

Take action

If your home has been on the market for a while and you haven’t received an offer that you’re willing to accept, meet with your Realtor to come up with a plan of action. Take the showing feedback seriously and if there is a common theme consider making changes to address the concerns of potential-Buyers. This may mean making a repair or reduce the price. Make the necessary changes and push hard to let the market know.

The holidays don’t have to put a pin in your plans to sell your home. There will always be Buyers and they will have less of an inventory to choose from which bodes well for your as the Seller. You also have the ability to limit showings during the actual holiday or when you plan on hosting a gathering. Buyers understand that the holidays are special to most people and are more flexible to see the house on the Sellers terms. So if you’re asking “should I list my house during the holidays” the answer is yes.

Holiday Events in Tampa Bay 2015

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‘Tis the season! Tampa Bay isn’t just a summer getaway. It has plenty to offer throughout the year and the holiday season is no exception. We’ve rounded up the best holiday events in Tampa Bay to check out throughout the season.

Holiday Events in Tampa Bay

Tampa Downtown on Ice. Skating rink is open now through January 3. $12 per person for 90 minutes of skating. Curtis Hixon Park 600 N. Ashley Drive Tampa, FL.

Holiday Lights in the Garden. Florida Botanic Gardens are decorated with holiday lights and displays. Santa and Mrs. Claus visit on select nights. A donation of $4 is suggested, children under 12 are free. 12520 Ulmerton Road Largo, FL.

Holidays at the Village. The homes of Heritage Village, the historical living museum, are decorated in lights associated with their original time period. 11909 12th Street Largo, FL.

Let It Snow. The Bishop Planetarium produces a 32 minute show featuring holiday songs from Frank Sinatra to Trans Siberian Orchestra. The shows run throughout the month. www.southfloridamuseum.org

Holiday Nights at Ca’d’Zan. The mansion is decorated for the holidays. Come tour the rooms December 3, 10, and 17. Admission is $10, members are free. 5401 Bay Shore Road Sarasota, FL. www.ringling.org/ca-dzan

Kresge Mega Light Display. Rated as one of the Top 3 light displays in the country by Today. The display is open from now until January 3, 6 – 10 p.m. 2719 Oakdale Street St. Petersburg, FL.

Bright Nights. Thursdays and Fridays until December 18th feature a holiday themed museum exhibits at the Glazer Children’s Museum. Admission is $15 per person, $10 for members. www.glazermuseum.org

For even more events you can visit tampabay.com/things-to-do/holiday.