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Search for your FishHawk home by visiting: www.AtHomeInFishHawk.com Many “out-of towners” looking to move to the Tampa area tell me the most important things they are looking for in their new home is safety, security, a family friendly community and good public schools for their children. FishHawk Ranch instantly comes to mind when I hear that from buyers. It usually takes about 5 minutes for buyers to realize the incredible lifestyle one is offered at FishHawk. Locals already know this! For years families in other communities around Tampa Bay have been selling their current homes to purchase their new home in FishHawk and to obtain the 33547 zip code! FishHawk Ranch, an award-winning, master-planned community in southeast Hillsborough County, has become a truly established hometown with a spirit all its own.
New traditions are taking hold in each of the neighborhoods and throughout the community as residents come together at a myriad of social events and recreational activities.
FishHawk Ranch has received national and statewide environmental and planning awards for its efforts to save and preserve trees during design, development and construction. These honors include a Grand Award from the National Arbor Day Foundation as the nation’s top master-planned community, a Community Design Award of Excellence in Environmental Projects from the Hillsborough County Planning Commission, and a Future of the Region Development Award from the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. One-third of the community will remain conservation and open space. Moreover, the community is bordered by 2,000 acres of county-owned nature preserve.
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Acreage: 3,000 acres (1,200 hectares) |
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Walking Trails: Soon to be one of the largest community trail systems in the United States, the trails at FishHawk Ranch expand for nearly 30 miles, featuring an abundance of creeks and streams, plants, trees and wildlife. Hand-laid to minimize the impact to existing plant and wildlife, the trails feature educational markers highlighting species along the way. |
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Aquatic club: Features a competition swimming pool, a lagoon pool with water slide, indoor and outdoor aerobics, playground, a massage room and a gathering room in the clubhouse. |
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Palmetto Club: A new reception hall perfect for weddings, anniversary parties, and special events. Features a 5,200 square foot ballroom that can be divided into three smaller rooms for more intimate gatherings. Spacious outdoor veranda and garden areas, a conference room, pre-function area, and catering kitchen all add to the versatility of the club. |
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Osprey Club: 5,400 square foot clubhouse includes state-of-the-art theatre with stadium seating, gathering room with kitchen, fully equipped gym, Junior-Olympic swimming pool and children’s water playground, lighted tennis and basketball courts, playground and café. |
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Hawk Park: 40-acre community park features a 2,000 square foot clubhouse with a swimming pool, picnic area, a children’s playground, lighted sports field, two lighted tennis and basketball courts, sand volleyball, a roller hockey court and a butterfly garden. |
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Park Square: At the heart of the community, Park Square Town Center offers 30,000 square feet of specialty shops and offices, including a YMCA-Express and New Home Information Center. Adjacent to the shops is a 2-acre park that boasts dancing fountains, an outdoor living room with fireplace and plasma screen tv, and a performance area and broad lawn for concerts, art shows and theatre presentations. |
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Education: On-site A-rated schools, include Bevis Elementary, FishHawk Creek Elementary, Randall Middle School, and Newsome High School; also two on-site Early Learning Centers. |
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Location: Located in Southeastern Hillsborough county, one of Florida’s fastest-growing regions; close to surrounding areas of Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Bradenton and Orlando, with easy access to Interstate 75. |
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Garden District: A neo-traditional neighborhood with single-family and estate homes, townhomes and condominiums built around a town center composed of shops, restaurants and service-oriented businesses. Homes are priced from the $200,000’s to more than $1 million including homesite. |
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Homes: Townhomes, luxury condominiums,single-family, executive and estate homes are priced from the low $100’s to more than $1 million including homesite. |
Home Buyers Choose FishHawk Ranch!
FishHawk Ranch is voted THE BEST!
Tampa Bay Parenting magazine recently named FishHawk Ranch as “The Best Community To Raise A Family.” The well-respected parenting resource stated that in its 10 year-history, FishHawk Ranch has “grown to be a true hometown with an exciting year round calendar.” This honor joins a growing list of accolades our community has received, including: “Best in American Living” by the National Association of Home Builders, the “Award of Excellence in Environmental Projects” from the Hillsborough County/County Planning Commission, as well as the Grand Award from the National Arbor Day Foundation as the nation’s top master-planned community.
Families who live in FishHawk Ranch lovingly call it “The Trap”. They never leave FishHawk, they just buy or sell the house to best fit their current lifestyle!
TAMPA IKEA opening soon!
The 353,000-square-foot store on Adamo Drive will open at 9 a.m. May 6, according to a company statement.
“We are thrilled at the excellent construction progress made in the summer and fall and believe the remaining construction milestones and interior build-up process will be complete by May – much earlier than originally envisioned,” Tampa store manager Monica Varela said in the statement.
“Now our primary goal is hiring and training the 400 local hires who will be joining the Ikea co-worker family before we open.”
Ikea began hiring for the store, which will be the Swedish furniture maker’s third in Florida, in January.
The company has developed something of a cult following over the years, and past store openings have drawn hundreds of people. Some even camp out to be among the first to shop at a new Ikea. The company plans to allow people to camp out starting 48 hours before the Tampa store’s opening, Roth said.
Fore more information about the greater Tampa Bay area visit:
$8000 First Time Homebuyer Credit
FAR supports push to advance homebuyer tax credit aid
ORLANDO, Fla. – April 3, 2009 – – Finding a way to turn a new $8,000 federal tax credit for first-time homebuyers into money that they can use right away for a downpayment would spark the recovery of Florida’s housing market and boost the state’s economy, says Cynthia Shelton, 2009 president of the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR).
“A revitalized housing market and commercial real estate industry are crucial to Florida’s economic recovery,” Shelton says. “While the new tax credit provides a great incentive for first-time homebuyers to find the home of their dreams here in Florida, many qualified buyers may be unable to take advantage of it because they cannot come up with the necessary downpayment to purchase a home in the first place. We need to encourage Florida lawmakers to take action now – converting the tax credit into cash upfront could help thousands of first-time buyers overcome that financial barrier to homeownership, which generates an economic ripple that stimulates the state’s overall economy.”
With tighter credit restrictions these days, many banks are reluctant to lend money, notes John Sebree, vice president of public policy for FAR. Research indicates that 8,000 to 12,000 prospective first-time homebuyers in Florida could benefit if the federal tax-credit stimulus provision could be accessed on the front-end to help consumers with downpayment and closing costs.
“Finding a state solution to this problem is key,” Sebree said. “The money should only be available to people who are eligible for the new tax credit. The state would advance the cash to these buyers, who would then forward their tax credits back to the state. These families could get their $8,000 tax credit in a matter of months, so it basically would be a short-term loan. But we have to move quickly, since homebuyers have to complete their purchase by Nov. 30, 2009, to receive the tax credit.”
Gov. Charlie Crist is considering the proposal. A coalition of Florida consumers, Realtors, lenders and homebuilders are lobbying state legislators to come up with a “Florida Formula” to allow first-time homebuyers to use the federal tax credit upfront. Spearheaded by the Consumer Federation of the Southeast (CFSE), a nonprofit consumer advocacy group, the alliance includes the Florida Association of Realtors, the Florida Home Builders Association, the Florida Bankers Association, the Florida Credit Union League, the Florida Manufactured Housing Association, Florida Association of Mortgage Brokers, the Latin Builders Association, and the Builders Association of South Florida.
For more information about the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit, go to: http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n1-021709.cfm
To view ALL of the listings in the greater Tampa Bay area visit our website at: www.AtHomeInTampaBay.com
Call us directly at 813-699-1323
Home Buyers return to the market!
With home affordability up, buyers starting to return
WASHINGTON – April 8, 2009 – Thanks to record low mortgage rates and declining home prices, 55 million families – half of all U.S. households – can afford today’s $200,000 median-priced new home, according to figures released by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
“That’s an increase of 17 million households from conditions just two years ago, and the best housing affordability number we have seen in years,” says NAHB Chairman Joe Robson. “We are now seeing the first signs that buyers are returning to the marketplace.”
Based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau comparing home prices, mortgage rates and minimum income needed to purchase a median-priced home in February 2007 and February 2009, a typical family today can purchase a house with $20,000 less in household income as they save nearly $500 per month on principal, interest, taxes and insurance. The number of households that can afford to purchase a home today is 55.4 million, compared with 38.4 million two years ago, according to figures compiled by NAHB.
Single-family permits rose 11 percent in February; new and existing home sales also posted gains; and the huge inventory backlog is being slowly whittled down. In a survey for Century 21 Real Estate last month, a majority of prospective first-time home buyers – 78 percent – said that now is a good time to buy a home. Of those responding to the online poll, 68 percent said that now is a better time to buy than six months ago.
Another sign that consumers are considering jumping back into the housing market is the growing interest in the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit included in the recently enacted economic stimulus package. During February and March, 1.5 million visitors logged on to NAHB’s consumer Web site, www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com, to learn more about the tax credit. Further, a new survey commissioned by Move Inc. found that nearly 20 percent of those who plan to purchase a home this year are doing so to take advantage of the tax credit, which expires at the end of November.
To search all listings in the greater Tampa Bay area visit: www.AtHomeInTampaBay.com we would be happy to help you with ALL of your real estate needs!
© 2009 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
FishHawk Ranch goes GREEN!
Tampa, Fla. courtesy of The FishHawk Talon
Sustainable development may feel like a new concept to some, but at FishHawk Ranch, environmentally responsible development has been an essential component of the master planned community since its creation more than 10 years ago. And, today, Newland Communities is proud to announce that FishHawk Ranch has been officially certified as a green development by the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC), making it the largest community in Tampa, and the first residential community in Hillsborough County to receive this designation. “From the very beginning, we embraced environmental responsibility in creating FishHawk Ranch, so it’s truly rewarding to be recognized in this way,” said Rick Harcrow, senior VP of operations for Newland Communities. “At FishHawk Ranch, we were green before green was cool.” Although new home sales at FishHawk Ranch began in 1996, the idea to begin the FGBC certification process began just about a year and half ago when Newland Communities established its cornerstone of Healthy Living Systems company-wide. And, as the Newland team began evaluating various ways to plan, develop and certify all of its future Tampa Bay area communities as sustainable, they quickly realized that FishHawk Ranch was already highly certifiable as green, even though much of the community was already built. The community presently has about 3,700 homes, 10,000 residents and over 3,000 acres. “FishHawk is a great case study proving that sustainability on the front end not only makes good environmental sense, it also creates long term desirability and value to the homeowner and the community at large,” said Rob Vieira, certification reviewer for FGBC. The FGBC is a nonprofit that provides a statewide green building program that defines, promotes, and encourages sustainable efforts with environmental and economic benefits. Within the FGBC’s certification process, there are six key categories: 1) Preserve and protect the existing land2) Provide an alternative to automobile transportation3) Utilities4) Community Amenities5) Covenants, Codes and Restrictions 6) Education The process itself is very thorough and takes about six months requiring, data, metrics and analyses. Working very closely with Drew Smith president of Two Trails, Inc. to complete the certification process, FishHawk Ranch met and exceeded all of the criteria, where applicable, with noteworthy scoring for its reclaimed water system, low maintenance landscaping and the use of native vegetation. Additionally, the community shone because of its 25-mile trail system with interpretative signage, parks within a quarter mile of every home, and community recreation centers giving residents access to swimming pools so they don’t need to build their own energy-intensive backyard pools. FishHawk also did well because of their commitment to encouraging home builders and homeowners to build in accordance with a green standard when renovating and building new homes and for backing that commitment up with an education program. “The fact that Newland had its commitment to healthy living systems in place and company-wide was very compelling to the FGBG,” commented Vieira. “This illustrates a genuine commitment to sustainability.”
About FishHawk Ranch : The FishHawk Ranch Welcome Center and twelve model homes are open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. For more information, please call (813) 545-6735 or visit our web site at www.AtHomeInTampaBay.com
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About Newland Communities: Newland Communities has been creating desirable, livable communities across the nation for nearly four decades. With expertise in creating a special sense of community, Newland Communities brings to life the unique history, culture and traditions of the land we develop.
About the Florida Green Building Coalition: The Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) is a nonprofit Florida corporation dedicated to improving the built environment. Our mission is “to provide a statewide green building program that defines, promotes, and encourages sustainable efforts with environmental and economic benefits.
NOW is the BEST time to BUY a home!
Why Is NOW The Best Time To Buy A Home?
- It’s a buyer’s market. Price declines over the past 3 years have made this the best time to buy.
- The inventory of homes for sale offers today’s buyer’s incredible selections. The number of homes for sale is greater than it has been in 15 years.*
- Real estate continues to be a great financial investment. The average return on a five percent down payment over 10 years is usually three to five times greater than stock market returns.*
- The current favorable market conditions won’t last long. Research shows that prices are beginning to stabilize and price declines are over.*
- Mortgage rates are near all-time lows. Capturing these low rates now means your monthly payments are lower and much more affordable.*
- Visit our website today to start your new home search! www.AtHomeInTampaBay.com
* Information courtesy of the National Association of REALTORS®.
Pop Warner events in FishHawk!
October 18 – Dedication Saturday
We will be dedicating the flag pole and butterfly garden (to be planted soon) to the memory of Coach Rastus Kimbrell and Pamela Ward. Coach Rastus was one of the Junior Pee Wee assistant coaches during the 2007 season. Pamela Ward was the mother to three of our Tiney Mite cheerleaders in 2007. Both Coach Rastus and Pamela Ward passed away this year. We have had numerous families from the Wolfpack organization express a desire to do something in their memories. For this reason we will be establishing a scholarship fund that contributions may be made to in their memories. In future seasons we will use this fund to aid families that are unable to pay registration fees for their children. You will receive more detailed information about this special day and how to contribute in the near future.
October 26 – Cheer Jam
Our Wolfpack cheerleaders will be competing in the FYD District cheer competition. This event will be held at the USF Sun-dome. When available, we will pass on the schedule so that you will know when your squad will be competing. It would mean a lot to the girls if their football team would go and support them.
November 2, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. – End of Season Celebration
We are planning several activities and games! Please come out to celebrate the end of our 2nd season and spend some time with your Wolfpack Family. Each team will have the opportunity to meet as a team and re-cap their season. There will be lots of food, fun and games for everyone! Friends and family members are welcome too!
Wolfpack Gives Back is sponsoring a one day food drive and will be collecting non-perishable food items that will be donated to a local food bank or mission that provides food for the needy so start putting aside those canned goods now and bring them with you on November 2nd!
In addition, on Nov 2nd, we will be collecting any clean, used football or cheer equipment that is suitable for donation to a local boys/girls club so if your child has outgrown those cleats, practice pants, practice jerseys, or sneakers, consider donating them to an organization who could use them!
It will be a day of fun for the kids – and everyone involved – so mark your calendars now and plan to come celebrate with us on Sunday, November 2nd!
Start your home search for this wonderful community
(zip code: 33547) visit:
BUYING in Today’s Market
As realtors, we constantly hear from our buyers, “We want the best deal out there”. To be honest, the “Best Deal” varies from buyer to buyer. There are many things to consider as far as deals are concerned and any time restraints on the buyer. The information below will help you determine where YOU as a BUYER should look for the “Best Deal”. To start your homes search, log on to www.AtHomeInTampaBay.com
There are three distinct types of Sellers and each type of property they are selling has its own idiosyncrasies. Understanding them will help you in the process of trying to decide what is best for you and your particular needs. The three types are Bank Owned Properties often known as REO’s or foreclosures, Short Sales which are often referred to as pre-foreclosure properties and then there are the Typical Sellers who have their houses on the market because they have a need to move for all of the normal reasons that people move. Let’s take a look at all 3 and how they fit into your plans for a purchase.
Bank Owned Foreclosure Properties:
Price: These are often the best prices of any of the houses on the market for many reasons that will become apparent as you read further.
Condition: These are often properties that need a considerable amount of work due to the condition in which the previous Seller left them. Many of them need a great deal of cosmetic work, appliances, sometimes structural work, etc. which is why they usually carry a “bargain” price. Because these properties are sold as is, it is important that you plan to have the home inspected. In order to do this, you need to be prepared to pay to turn on utilities if necessary.
Offers: Your offering price, while it is important to the Bank, is not the only important factor. If you are a cash buyer, a buyer who is going for a small mortgage or you are willing to purchase the property “as is where is” (which is how most Bank owned properties are sold), your offer will carry more weight. At the time you submit an offer, you must submit a Pre Approval Letter stating that you are qualified financially to purchase this property or proof of funds for a cash involvement. You should also be aware that it may take the Bank quite some time to even look at your offer, more time to accept it in writing and that they may continue to seek other offers even after you have submitted yours. A quick answer to your offer will rarely happen.
Closings: If you need a quick closing and need to plan on an absolute date for closing, foreclosure properties may not be the answer for you. While these properties have certainly been known to go fast from the time of offer to closing, this is not something that you can count on as an absolute. If you are not under any particular time frame, then this won’t be an issue.
Pre-foreclosure Short Sales:
Price: These are properties that will be contingent upon a bank accepting your offer even after the seller has accepted and signed their agreement on the price. The bank will have to agree to a price that is usually less than what the original mortgage was. Often they are well priced or better priced than some other properties in the same market.
Condition: Goes from bad to excellent depending on how long the seller has been in financial difficulty. Your home inspection will help you determine what (if any) delayed maintenance there might be.
Your offer: Since your offer is contingent upon Bank approval just like the foreclosure properties, you should plan on submitting a pre-approval letter with your offer. Price is going to be important on this type of purchase since the bank will be discounting what is actually owed to them and the amount you plan to finance is important. The bank can be slow to answer even after the seller has agreed to your price as it is in their best interest to continue to shop for a better offer. A quick answer to your offer is often difficult to obtain.
Closings: This is similar to Bank owned foreclosures. Please see those comments above.
Seller Owned properties:
Price: While not usually the least expensive of what is on the market, they are usually fairly priced – just not priced as a distress sale might be.
Condition: The majority of these houses are in excellent condition and show well as these Sellers are competing with properties that are distress sales and priced under market value.
Your Offer: While these sellers usually have their houses priced according to the market, they are not in a position to play major negotiating games nor do they need to if they were priced fairly for the location and condition. If you are used to dealing with foreclosures and short sales and making low offers, you may find that this won’t work for you with these sellers. These sellers may request a pre -approval letter with your offer as well due to the mortgage issues that have arisen in this market correction. For many obvious reasons they don’t want to take their property off the market if you do not qualify for a mortgage to purchase their house. Some of these houses are sold as is, but many sellers are willing to make repairs that the buyer feels are important that are covered by the language of the contract.
Closings: This is where you can usually be in the driver’s seat. If you have specific needs to close quickly and on time. Seller’s who are competing with distress sales can make up some of that difference by allowing the buyer to determine how fast they want to close.
Tampa Bay’s home market trends upwards!
Tampa’s home sales have risen 60% since January!
Nationally, existing-home sales rose in July to the highest level in five months, although sales have hovered in a relatively narrow range over the past 11 months, according to the National Association of Realtors®
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said home prices in some regions could soon increase. Tampa is one of those regions! “Sales have picked up significantly in several Florida and California markets. Home prices generally follow sales trends after a few months of lag time,” he said. “Still, inventory remains high in many parts of the country and will require time to fully absorb. We expect more balanced conditions in 2009 and will eventually return to normal long-term appreciation patterns.”
If you are looking for the BEST time to buy…you’ve found it!
