Tampa, FL

Fire safety is more than smoke detectors

02-14-12

Eric Frantz: Real Estate Agent in Tampa, FL

view my blog

No one wants to think about a fire starting in their home.

The cautious homeowner will install smoke detectors and place a fire extinguisher under the kitchen sink but there’s more to fire safety than those items.

Homeowners should have a detailed plan to not only prevent fires but also prepare for fires within the home. Fire safety begins by examining fire hazards throughout the home and planning escape routes from each and every room in the house.

Let’s evaluate a high-utilized room in any home – the laundry room.

Inspect the dryer to make sure there is no lint build-up inside the dryer or its exhaust duct and that the area behind the dryer is lint free.

Moving on to the garage, keep in mind that many items are stored in the garage but oily rags should not be kept close to heat sources. They should be kept in air-tight containers.

Inside the home, let’s spend some time in the kitchen. Homeowners should keep the stove clean of grease and food build-up. Towels, curtains, plastic utensils and potholders are stored away from the stove.

Snacks enjoyed by children, such as cookies, should not be stored above the store. A sneak attempt at a treat around a hot stove could be hazardous.

A great hazard, but appealing feature, is a fireplace. If you have a fireplace, make sure it has a screen, that the immediate area around it is free of clutter and flammable material, such as magazines.

While you’re fireproofing your fireplace, don’t neglect the chimney.

The chimney should be cleaned every year. It should also have fire-stop gypsum board at each floor penetration.

Exposed electric cords may be unsightly but you don’t want to place them under carpets or tape them against a wall. Check extension cords to make sure outlets aren’t overloaded.

8 Comments

Enjoy the great outdoors on your patio

02-12-12

Eric Frantz

view my blog

TAMPA – The weather is beautiful inFlorida more often than not and you should really take advantage of it without leaving home.

Many homes inFloridacome with a patio. Sometimes the patio is an attractive outdoor living space and other unfortunate times the patio is unappealing addition to a home. You can have a patio that you adore and that’s also practical if you figure out how you want to use it.

If you’re going to use it to throw parties, dine with family or have it as your own exclusive get away, you need to decorate it accordingly.

If your patio is situated off the kitchen then that patio lends itself to gatherings with family or friends. If your patio is small and located off to the side of the house, then a getaway patio theme is what you want to create.

Take a stroll, with clear eyes, around the property and determine which area you have and what you want to do with it.

If you are starting from scratch and need to build your patio, you have the rare option of locating your patio exactly where you want it. Check out the landscaping and small details that can add up to a lot for your patio location. You want to make note of where the best view lies, as well as the proximity to other homes.

If you are building your patio, spend a large amount of time determining exactly how large it should be. Think about how many people are in your family, as well as how people you need to regularly entertain in the space.

You also need to take into account the size of your home so the patio can be proportioned to the scale of the home. The patio should be the same length as the house, as well as the same height.

Your house should also be a factor in the building materials. You want to select colors and styles that compliment your home.

Lastly, remember to plan for a fireplace or fire pit. A water feature can enhance the mood and distort traffic noise.

0 Comments

Short Sale Facts For Your Tampa Bay Home

02-09-12

John K. Soliman, PA, MBA

view my blog
Office: (813) 641-8300

Mobile: (813) 442-3246

If you are facing the decision of short selling your Tampa Bay home, there are some common misconceptions about short sales that may have you considering a foreclosure. Be sure to talk with a Certified Distressed Property Specialist before making such an important decision to ensure that you know all your options before ruining your credit with a foreclosure.

Myth: You must be at least two payments behind in your mortgage to qualify for a short sale.

Truth: You need only prove a hardship to qualify for a short sale. This could include a job transfer, military move, loss of a job, death your spouse, etc.

Myth: A short sale is just as bad for your credit as a foreclosure or DIL.

Truth: If you are not behind on payments and your agent negotiates with the bank to show the mortgage as paid in full and stated as such in an Approval Letter, your credit may not be hit too hard.

Myth: The bank reviews and accepts the best offer.

Truth: NO – It is the job of your Certified Distressed Property Specialist to get the best offer for you, the seller, not the bank. The bank has a bottom number, called the net, which is the lowest they will accept. After getting notice from you, as the borrower, that a short sale is requested, they will get a Broker Price Opinion, or BPO, which is similar to an appraisal to determine what the Fair Market Value is and use that number to help them figure their net.

Myth: If you are successful at coming to terms with the lender, it’s safe to take the lenders word for it that the Approval Letter is what was negotiated.

Truth: Always read all documents from the lender, especially the Approval Letter to ensure it is exactly what you agreed to. DO NOT take the lenders word for it. Your agent can help you ensure that it states what all parties verbally agreed.

If you are weighing the options of a short sale, contact, me, John Soliman to help guide you successfully through the short sale process. I am a Certified Distressed Property Specialist and my consultation is completely free with no obligation. I want to help you make the best decision that is right for your current situation and your future. Call me at 813-442-3246.

2 Comments

Introducing New ActiveRain Member Linda Holloway

02-02-12

Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Homes for Sale ~ 760-840-1360

view my blog
Office: (JUS) TMY-CELL

Mobile: (760) 840-1360
Secondary: (877) 845-3178

Introducing New ActiveRain Member Linda Holloway

I wanted to take a moment to introduce Linda Holloway, a new AR member as of December 2011.

Linda Holloway from Tampa Bay FL A main reason for talking about her here is that even though Linda is a new member, in contrast to so many who simply join, add a bit to their profile and then disappear, Linda has embraced AR wholeheartedly.

No doubt many of you have already had her commenting on your posts.

I was pretty impressed to see how she is participating, and in particular that she took on the 2012 BIG Jumpstart Blog Challenge that is wrapping up on February 7, 2012 – not an easy undertaking as a new blogger, and not easy even for those who are experienced IMO!

Not only that she became a Rainmaker early on, so she obviously realizes the value of AR for her business and developing relationships. And she already has several featured posts! Congratulations!

Linda is a real estate investment specialist in the Tampa Bay area and she’s done a great job of getting her profile started, unlike many newcomers who don’t seem to realize the value of a strong profile, or take a few minutes to develop it. My guess is she will be doing more with this profile, too!

So stop by to visit if you haven’t already, and help Linda feel welcome. My hunch is we are going to continue to hear a lot from her…and I look forward to it.

9 Comments

Now is a Great Time to Buy your Tampa Bay Home

02-02-12

John K. Soliman, PA, MBA

view my blog
Office: (813) 641-8300

Mobile: (813) 442-3246

In December, the 2012 Real Estate and Economic Forecast Conference was held in Orlando. There, Florida Realtor® economists were hopeful for the obvious improvement with the Florida real estate market. Among other things, they determined that despite national and global headwinds, Florida’s real estate market is entering 2012 on an upward trend.

According to Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. John Tuccillo, “Our state is in a mini-recovery. Sales are trending up, listing inventories are falling, the supply of lender-related properties has stabilized, and we are seeing multiple offers on homes in some local markets.”

In light of this, now is proving to be a great time to buy a Tampa Bay home.

Low Home Prices
Florida home prices have fallen dramatically since the mid 2000’s but now, according to 2011 Florida Realtors President Patricia Fitzgerald, “Prices appear to be stabilizing in many local markets across the state. This is another positive sign that the housing recovery is gaining strength.”

All-Time Low Mortgage Rates
Today, mortgage rates are at an all-time low. According to Freddie Mac, in November, the interest rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage averaged 3.99 percent--the lowest rate in the 40-year history of Freddie Mac.

Large Variety of Inventory
In Tampa Bay alone, there is a large inventory, in all price ranges, from which to choose your dream home or condominium. The number of sales continued its positive swing into the end of 2011, and Dr. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist for the National Association of Realtors®, supported this by reporting that many Florida markets are showing that demand is picking up and prices are stabilizing by the show of recent drops in inventories of homes for sale. “That’s a major change from just a year ago,” he said. “Buyers have stepped back into the Florida market.”

If you have chosen 2012 as the year for you to make an investment in a Tampa Bay home, contact me, John Soliman. Buying a home is one of the largest purchases you will invest in, and you should have a Real Estate expert on your side to ensure you find the best home to suit all your needs. Call me at 813-442-3246.

0 Comments