Chris Hounchell REALTOR

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

housing rent vs buying

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Rent Vs. Buy – Be Sure To Compare The Cost Of Renting Vs. Buying

The housing market in the St. Petersburg-Tampa area continues its rebound, resulting in more competition for the “perfect” home. As a result, we’re seeing a trend toward an increase in the demand for rentals. While renting a home may have been a viable option before the housing market began its recovery, now may not be the best time to sign that lease. Rentals often come with hidden costs that can really add up. Be sure to compare all the costs before deciding whether to rent or buy.

Here are some things to consider in the current Tampa, St. Pete rental market:

  • Landlords often charge application, administrative and pet fees. With the market heating up, resulting in increased competition, some landlords may increase these fees. While these may not technically be hidden fees, they do add up. Be sure to schedule an in depth review of the lease before signing.
  • Security deposits have been around since the rental market was born and are usually refunded following move-out. But some landlords are dropping security deposits and replacing them with “move-in fees.” Like security deposits, they’re charged to cover potential damages, but unlike security deposits, they may be non-refundable. Make sure you know where you’re money is going, and whether you’ll be getting it back when you move.
  • Utilities may be included in your rent, but there are plenty of landlords out there who expect you to either shoulder some or all of the costs for water, sewer, electricity, garbage, Internet, cable TV, etc. Don’t sign the lease until you know exactly what you’re expected to pay.
  • So too parking. Does your lease include one or two spots, and are they included in the rental cost or will you pay to park?
  • If your family includes a pet, you may plan on paying [Read more…]

HappyBirthday America 2012

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Happy Birthday America 2012!

For the past 236 years, Americans have celebrated our separation from England, and our independence as a free and democratic society. It’s our very own national day, and we commemorate it with all the gusto that continues to make the United States the best country in which to live.

And it’s a bonus that it’s a national holiday that comes with a long summer weekend to spend with friends and family. Time for cookouts, the beach, boating, music and of course, fireworks throughout the St. Petersburg-Tampa area.

In downtown St. Petersburg, the center of the action will The Pier, where there’s a full day of activities for the entire family, live music, and fireworks starting at 9pm.

On Treasure Island, the fun begins at noon behind the Belmar Beach Resort with live music, food vendors, a watermelon eating contests and fireworks at 9.

If you’re on St. Pete Beach, check out the fireworks display just offshore from the City’s public beaches, and to the south, which will begin just after dusk.

Festivities at Coachman Park in Clearwater will begin at 4 p.m., with a variety of family activities, and at 7 p.m. the 40-person Mostly Pops Orchestra will perform. Fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m., and Clearwater boasts they have the largest fireworks extravaganza in the Bay Area.

The Tampa Bay Rowdies play the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers at 6:30 p.m. at Al Lang Field, where you’ll be able to watch the downtown fireworks following the game.

In downtown Tampa, Channelside will be the place to go for fireworks, which will kick off at 9 p.m. And of course, Busch Gardens will offer up their Summer Nights promotion, which includes fireworks pretty much through August 12 with an extra spectacular display slated for July 4.

Wherever you celebrate July 4, enjoy them safely.

 

 

Martinis for Moffitt 2012

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Martinis for Moffitt, Friday, July 20 – Be There!

Here’s a great event to help lend a hand in the quest to find a cure for a disease that claims far too many lives, and it’s coming up right here in our own backyard.

Every day, the Moffitt Cancer Center treats hundreds of our St. Petersburg/Tampa area neighbors who are suffering from prostate cancer. And every day, the Moffitt Cancer Research Center works to find a cure. So, each year since 2006, Chris Hounchell & Associates, and Bay Area Advisors, get together to raise funds to help aid their search.

Join us for the seventh annual Martinis For Moffitt fundraiser, Friday, July 20.

From 7 to 11 p.m. at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Morsani Hall (formerly the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center), we’ll get together for an elegant martini experience that’s rich in Tampa tradition. We’ll socialize, network, enjoy our favorite martinis, bid on fabulous auction items, enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres, and dance the night away – all for a great cause.

We want you to join us! It’s serious fun.

Since its inception, Martinis for Moffitt has raised over $340,000 for research and patient care initiatives at Moffitt Cancer Center. Over 80 percent of those funds were directly used to help find a cure for prostate cancer, a disease that claims the lives of over 27,000 people each year.

Last year we donated $100,000 to the Advanced Prostate Cancer Collaboration. This year we expect to surpass that.

We need your help!

Sponsorships are still available. Please see the attached sponsorship opportunity package for details. Individual tickets cost $100.00 ($125 after July 1st) and must be purchased online at www.martinisformoffitt.org.

And if you can’t make it, donations will be gladly accepted. Contact us or call (727) 642-9107.

Happy Father’s Day 2012

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For You Dad!

Father’s Day is Sunday, June 17

For over 100 years, the third Sunday in June has been known as Father’s Day, a celebration honoring fathers, the contribution they make to their children’s lives and the influence fathers have on our society. And as we’re honoring fathers, let’s not forget stepfathers, fathers-in-law, grandfathers, etc.

There is a range of traditions families enjoy to celebrate Fathers Day. Some give gifts, send cards or place a call to their favorite fathers, while others throw parties to honor all the family’s father figures.

Whatever your tradition, be sure to reach out this Father’s Day and tell him what a great dad he was growing up and how much you appreciate having him in your life and as your personal mentor. Being a father is one of the best jobs in the world!

I’m fortunate to have two fathers. I love them both. So to both of you who have meant so much to me over the years, thank you dads. My only hope is that I can become as great a dad to my kids as you have both been to me. Happy Father’s Day.

Lawn Appeal

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Luscious Lawns Sell

Lawn Appeal

We’re all aware that curb appeal is one of the most important factors in making a good first impression. After all, most experts agree that potential buyers form their first impression of a home within the first seven to ten seconds of a visit. Lush, professional-looking landscaping attracts potential buyers. Shade trees, mature plantings and colorful blooms are all plusses, but a green, well-manicured, weed-free lawn is a good first step in helping you reach top dollar status.

Luscious Lawn Sells

Before the first prospective buyers visit your home, make sure your yard is in order. If it looks well tended, their first impression will begin with a smile.  They’ll also want to believe you’ve taken the same care with the rest of the home (which of course you have) and they’ll be excited to see more. A lawn with weeds, of course, is strictly a no-no.

If you’re one of the lucky ones with a green thumb, and no aversion to getting dirty, having a showcase lawn will be a no brainer. Work your magic with your landscape design, choose your shrubs carefully, nurture everything, especially those healthy green shoots, and spend time on your hands and knees getting rid of pesky weeds. It’s a fact that grass wants to grow where you don’t want it, but will turn its nose up at growing where you want it to grow. Teach your lawn who’s the boss.

But since you’re trying to sell the whole house, and not just the lawn, your time to get everything presentable will be stretched. Enter the landscape professional. The National Association of Realtors reports that 20 percent of buyers believe pro landscaping is very important. Thirty-two percent of buyers want a professionally landscaped lawn and yard. So while you’re fixing, painting and putting your home in the best possible condition to show and sell, let the experts take care of fertilizing, cutting, controlling weeds, edging, mulching and making your landscaping look its best.

Want more information on how to make your home more salable? Give us a call 727.642.9107.

Newlyweds Find Perfect St. Pete Home

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DC Newlyweds Find Perfect St. Petersburg, Florida Home

Well we’re back. And we’re really excited!

You may remember us as the couple currently living in Washington, DC who are looking to relocate back to Florida where we’re both from. In December, we met Chris Hounchell of Chris Hounchell & Associates, and spent a day touring several neighborhoods in the Tampa and St. Petersburg area to get a feel for where we might want to live. We also visited numerous houses to see what our money might buy. At the end of the day, we were focused on several neighborhoods and excited to find just how much our money could buy.

After lots of phone time with Chris, and hours pouring over listings in our target neighborhoods, we returned to Florida in April to spend three whirlwind days. We hoped to find what we were looking for but were in no particular hurry. By the time we arrived at Chris’ office, he had our days all mapped out and we were off.

By the end of the first day, we had narrowed our search to the historic Old Northeast neighborhood, which is just north of St. Petersburg’s bustling downtown and close to the water. By the end of the second day we had found the perfect house. Four bedrooms, two stories, older home with lots of character, a pool (which I insisted on, sometimes over my wife’s objections, but once she saw the sparkling blue water she was hooked), great landscaping, a nice back yard, room for future children, etc.

After a day of discussion and lots of guidance from Chris, we made an offer and held our breaths before returning to DC. Within a couple of days, we received a counter offer from the buyers. Once [Read more…]

Memorial Day 2012

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Memorial Day 2012 – A Day To Honor Our U.S. Soldiers

There is no greater sacrifice a person can make than to give his or her life in support and defense of our country. This is not just true of the fallen, but to the wounded and debilitated, as well. As we approach and celebrate Memorial Day 2012 on May 28, we honor those who have given so much so that we are able to enjoy the freedoms that set our country apart.

THANK YOU SOLDIERS!

Home Inspections Standard Components

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Home Inspections A Key Element in Buying ProcessHome Inspections – A Key Element In The Residential Buying Process

Home inspections are an essential part of the home buying process. Whether you’re purchasing your first house, or you’re a seasoned investor, in-depth inspections are often the only way to discover details of a home’s construction and other defects that may not be visible to the untrained eye.

Due to its sub-tropical to tropical climate, Tampa-St. Petersburg homes, especially older homes, are susceptible to termites, mold, mildew and wood rot, in addition to a variety of other maladies. A thorough home inspection will reveal readily observable problems, and a professional inspector will provide his or her client with an objective assessment regarding the conditions of the systems and components of a home. The assessment will also include recommendations to correct any problems the inspector uncovers, but most often it does not include the possible cost of the corrections. These estimates can be derived from the appropriately licensed contractors.

Keep in mind, inspectors look at readily accessible systems for flaws and deficiencies, but cannot reveal every problem that might exist in a given home.

9  Standard Home Inspection Components:

  1. Structural Inspection – A thorough assessment of any deterioration of the foundation, floor structure, wall structure, ceiling structure and roof structure.
  2. Exterior Inspection – The inspector will check the siding, flashing and trim, exterior doors, decks, balconies, porches, railings eaves, soffits and fascias, grading, surface drainage, walkways, patios and driveways. However, the inspector is not required to inspect shutters, awnings, fences, soil conditions, seawalls or docks unless otherwise licensed and/or requested to do so.
  3. Roofing – Roofing materials, drainage systems, flashing, skylights, chimneys and any roof [Read more…]

motivated seller tips

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6 Tips For Motivated Tampa Bay House Sellers               Tips for motivated Tampa Bay house sellers

First and foremost, work with the best real estate broker you can find. Seems simple, but it will entail a bit of homework on your part. Call several Tampa Bay real estate companies, ask for the sales manager and request the name of their top residential seller. Set up an interview, check his or her track record and make your decision.

Accelerate the House Selling Process:

1. Price It To Sell
Your broker will suggest a price range based on recent sales of comparable properties in your neighborhood. If you’re motivated to sell quickly at a fair price, go with the low end of the price range. Today’s buyers are savvy and won’t look at overpriced homes. And, you don’t want to chase the market; it’s a losing game that rarely works to the seller’s advantage.

2. Get Rid Of The Clutter
Buyers want to mentally move in when they look at a house. They want to imagine their furniture filling rooms, their photos sitting on tables, their knick-knacks, their artwork, etc. To let their imaginations run wild, sellers need to de-clutter as much as possible, and then get rid of some more. Don’t strip the place bare, but do keep it simple and open.

3. Give It A Deep Cleaning
Now that you’ve nixed the clutter, hire a crew to give it a professional cleaning. It’s an inexpensive expense. Clean sells!

4. Don’t List Too Long
Buyers are likely to make lowball offers on homes that have been listed for long periods. If your house doesn’t sell in six months, consider taking it off the market for a couple of months so when it’s back for sale it will seem like a fresh new listing.

5. Do The Sniff Test
You know how everyone else’s house has a certain smell? Well, yours does too, but you’re used to it so you don’t smell it anymore. Ask a trusted friend to stop over, take a sniff and give you honest feedback. A subtle fresh, clean scent is what buyers like.

6. To Drop Or Not To Drop
That is often the question. But how much? Think about price brackets, and consider dropping into the next lower bracket since that’s how most buyers shop. It will expose your home to a new and possibly larger market of buyers.

At Chris Hounchell & Associates, Chris is the owner, a broker and the leading sales associate, and there’s no experienced broker in the St. Petersburg-Tampa area that will work harder for you. Contact Chris today at 727-642-9107 to set up an appointment.

 

St. Pete-Tampa Housing Market

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Tampa Bay housing market on recovery and riseThe Residential Housing Market Is Stabilizing in St. Petersburg-Tampa

Chalk it up to an economy on the upswing paired with extremely low interest rates and housing affordability at all times highs. The St. Petersburg-Tampa housing market is not only showing signs of stabilization, but real growth is reappearing.

According to a recent Tampa Bay Times article, median prices for single-family homes in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, plus parts of Pasco and Hernando counties, rose seven percent in the last year. Indications are that sales through June of this year could be at their highest in many years. The supply of single-family homes is down while demand is increasing. This could be the good news for which our local housing market has been waiting.

Conventional Tampa Bay Real Estate Sales on Rise

One of the reasons conventional sales rose so dramatically is that the foreclosure and short sales markets have fallen, in some areas dramatically. According to the Times, the flood of foreclosed properties has begun to dry up. And in an improved economy with record low interest rates, buyers are increasingly seeking homes in areas outside of those hit hard by foreclosures.

At Chris Hounchell & Associates, we’re experiencing an upswing in the number of buyers actively looking for single-family homes, condominiums and waterfront property throughout the St. Petersburg-Tampa area. While we continue to experience strong sales of distressed properties, i.e. short sales and foreclosed properties, conventional sales are definitely increasing.

Thinking of buying? We are the leader in residential real estate, pre-foreclosure, short sale and foreclosure markets in the Pinellas County area. For more information, contact Chris today at 727.642.9107.