Fractional ownership has been around for some time but it may be a new term to some of us.  Popular in some of the tourist areas, such as Tampa Bay, Fractional ownership simply means "the division of any asset into portions or shares".  If the "asset" is real estate for example, the deed can be legally divided into shares and each purchaser owns a part of the deed.  The assets are taxable, represent equity, and can appreciate or depreciate in value when the property itself changes.

Factionals are not timeshares.  Timeshares are, for the most part ,a privilege to use the property for a period of time.  While timeshares tend to lose their value quickly, Fractionals follow the market trend of appreciation on the property.

Fractionals appeal to internet…

In their monthly "Marketplace Analysis", the Pinellas Realtor Organization released some figures announcing the first signs of a balanced market in one price range.  According the PRO, "there's been a slight shift in reported MSI (Month's Supply of Inventory) as of March 2008.  MSI is the number of months it would take to sell all the homes on the market at a given price range for any given point in time".

They report that for single family homes:

MSI of 9 to 14 is considered a balanced market

MSI of 17 to 20 is considered a buyer's market

MSI above 23 is an extreme buyer's market

Sales figures for March 2008 are showing that single family homes priced below $120,000 and up to $150,000 are within a balanced market.  According to President Ann…

Home Sales Shift Emerges" was the headline in the Business section today of the St. Petersburg Times.  Finally something positive!  Well, almost positive.  But, hey, they are trying.  The article goes on to say that while home sale are still declining in the Tampa Bay area, our area is falling much less that half of the state of Florida's average.  How's that?  Well apparently all the short sales that we have in the area are finally moving.  In fact, some Realtors have multiple offers on short sales today.  A short sale is simply the practice of selling a house for less than the outstanding loan balance.  And, the bank (lender) either says yes, no, or here's a counter offer. Lately lenders are signing off more and more on short sale properties rather than…

Probably true in most parts of the country - but especially here in Tampa Bay are desperate home sellers.  Otherwise known as "Motivated Sellers" but these are the sellers that have to sell their homes.  They have been transferred (happens all the time here), laid off, divorced, you name it - whatever lifestyle change that caused this - THEY NEED TO SELL THEIR HOME!  Most times, whatever it takes - they need to find a buyer.

And, quite frankly, they are not afraid to tell you.  Their real estate agents make sure they put those particular comments in the MLS descriptions that homebuyers see when surfing the Internet looking at homes.  Don't just look at the pictures if you are trying to find a good deal!  READ the text - look for clues.

Many potential…

There are many options when selling your home.  One of which is Flat Fee MLS Home selling.  That's what this blog will attempt to explain.  Comparing the options between FSBO, Flat Fee MLS, and Full Service will better equip you to determine which plan is best for you.

So what's this Tampa Bay Flat Fee MLS service all about?

Basically for a small administrative fee paid to a real estate agent, they list your home on the MLS and Realtor.com for a certain amount of time.  Depending on the fee paid, there may be more or less Internet advertising included in the price. You will be required to pay a real estate commission to the agent that brings the buyer, unless of course you sell the home yourself to an individual who is not represented.  You should expect…

Tampa Bay sellers are on board.  The painful buyer's market (well painful for the sellers) has taught us all a lesson.  Price matters.  Price really matters today.  Location and condition are almost equally important but in today's market it's all about the price.  Earlier this year, many sellers tried to test the waters and see if they could get their inflated price.  Well as you can imagine, it didn't work and many of them have either taken their homes off the market or decided to rent instead.  A few lucky ones sold, but it's no secret that the numbers are down this year from last.  Many stubborn homeowner's held on so tight to their price that they made themselves frustrated or even sick, tried to blame their real estate agent, or even worse, fired…

Tampa Bay offers a great opportunity for investors, especially homebuyers. The favorable buyers market conditions, added to the competitive prices, make the real estate investment a windfall in this season for prospective buyers.

Short-term or Long-term investment?

Both short-term and long-term investments have their own advantages and disadvantages. It depends on the investment plan one wishes to opt for and the kind of benefits he expects in the prescribed period. Be aware of the market trends and follow these guidelines before investing in them.

Short-term investment properties in Tampa are hard to find. There is a tough competition in grabbing them. And no doubt, one can be assured of a great benefit by procuring such a property and…

Many people relocate to Florida from the north wondering where to live.  While there are many good choices here in the state of Florida , one of the best places to find employment and reasonable home prices is the Tampa Bay area.  Tampa Bay area provides many affordable housing opportunities to growing families and retirees.  Some communities to seek out and learn about for employment opportunities and affordable housing are Dunedin, Clearwater, and Largo.  These cities are the mainstay of the area and offer many jobs in the tourist and service industry.  Regular people with regular jobs live here, raise their families, and enjoy a lower cost of living than many other areas in Florida.

Another affordable housing opportunity for newer homes is in…