About Hillsborough County, FL

Most agents, and even most US citizens, are aware that there exists a non-discrimination law that covers housing in the United States. This was first established by the Fair Housing Act in 1968. It says that when dealing with housing "no one can be discriminated against based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or handicap. Notice it does not mention "age". The penalties for violations of the Fair Housing Act are severe, to say the least!

To see a lot more information about the Federal Law concerning housing in general and the Fair Housing Act, you can CLICK HERE. Lots of good information for home buyers, sellers, landlords, tenants, and their agents can be found here. Answers to the questions many of you may have. You can also get contact information so you can call and speak with a HUD representative in person.

What many people do not realize is that not only do we need to remember the Federal laws, we also need to be aware of city, county, and state statutes/ordinances that may go even further in creating protected groups. None of these entities can weaken the Federal laws, but they can add to it.

Here is a case in point. On November 19, 2009 the City of Tampa, Florida put in place an ordinance that prohibits discrimination against transgender persons in many areas of life, including HOUSING. Several years ago they had also included age and sexual orientation under their protective umbrella.

Now, Tampa is located in Hillsborough County which has rejected such protections. So in the non-Tampa parts of the county you just need to follow Federal law, for the time being. But cross over the border into the City of Tampa, and you had better know who is protected and who is not. Otherwise, you could find yourself in a courtroom! You can see the Tampa ordinance that was passed on November 19, 2009 and signed into law by Mayor Pam Iorio by clicking on the following download link: Download Tampa's New Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Other governmental bodies may have created different sets of protections. It is a big country afterall!

Whether or not you agree with a federal, state, or local law, it would behoove you to follow it. Personally I dislike discrimination of any kind. Perhaps that comes from living in Europe for many years and learning to like a lot of people that I would have never associated with back here before I left. Many are still great friends of mine. I also on a few occasions was the victim of discrimination by some people who did not want to rent an apartment to an "Americano Yankee". Until you have experienced this for yourself, it can sometimes be hard to empathize with those on the other side of the street. I KNOW what it feels like from first-hand experience.

So whether you are an agent, seller, landlord, buyer or tenant, know what the your obligations and protections are. If you need legal guidance, contact the Department of Housing and Urban Development in your area or speak with a local real estate attorney.

But whatever you do, make sure you do not break the laws, no matter which governmental body enacted them. Not just to keep yourself from getting punished, but to make sure you are not unfairly treating a protected group. Treat others in the same way that you would like to be treated.

If you would like to contact me, call me at: 813-783-4444 or e-mail me at: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com  You are also welcome to visit my website at: www.jelwell.century21bnr.com Lots of useful information and links there.

Bellefonte of Brandon is located in the heart of Brandon just minutes from shopping, schools, mall, interstates in a pristine, upscale, gated neighborhood all located in a mature neighborhood of estate houses that are generously spaced with trees and lawns. Bellefonte of Brandon is located just off of Lumsden, west of John Moore. Bellefonte is a gated community.

Shopping and numerous restaurants are conveniently located within a 3 mile radius. The highly rated Brandon Regional hospital is located just a couple of minutes away. Westlake Mall and Regency Square shopping center are within 5 minutes from the community. Access to the Crosstown Expressway is just a couple of miles from the subdivison allowing for an easy commute to downtown Tampa and MacDill Airforce Base.

If Bellefonte of Brandon is not what you are looking for, we can assist you in finding the right community for you. We can help you with search for the right home for you whether it is a Villa, Townhome, Condo, Residential, Luxury, Waterfront, Golf Communities, Senior Living, Horse Properties or Land.

The contents of this posting are the property of Pam Mabe and Solaris Realty of TampaBay. Pam Mabe is a broker working in the Pinellas and Hillsborough area helping buyers and sellers buy and sell homes. Contact Pam at 813-245-0316 to list your property for sale or to purchase a property in Hillsborough, Pinellas or Pasco County area. Information is provided in this blog with the intent to educate homeowners and buyers about Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Brandon, Wesley Chapel, Lutz, Valrico, Odessa and other communities in the Tampa area. For more information on different communities and subdivisions go to my website at TampaHomeGuides.

Visit my profile to find my more about my services. Call 813-245-0316. To view homes for sale in the Pinellas and Hillsborough area, click here and then fill in the information on your dream home.

Even those with a steady job and sufficient income are cautious about signing their mortgages for Tampa homes for sale. They realize that signing mortgages set them up with payments for a significant amount of their lifetimes. Others worry, especially now, about losing their jobs in an unstable economy. The "what if" game begins, and potential homebuyers know that, if they lose their job, there's a very real possibility they might lose their home.

Job-loss mortgage insurance gives homebuyers a "fallback plan" should they ever lose that stable income. It's a definite relief to many who want to buy Tampa homes for sale, but can job-loss mortgage insurance really help homeowners? Or, is it just another way to swindle the innocent out of hard-earned money?

What is it?

Job-loss mortgage insurance is exactly what it sounds like. Some insurance companies offer an insurance plan to help you pay your monthly mortgage payment should you lose your job. Although it's been around for years, the big companies, such as Bank of America and GE Casualty, have begun picking it up in the past 10 years,.

How does it work?

Job-loss policies pay all or part of your mortgage payment if your job loss is involuntary, and some pay if you become medically unable to work. Policies vary depending on the provider, but most go into action after a month of unemployment. Most also have a wait period which means they won't pay out during the first six months after you've purchased the policy.

Maximum monthly benefits, what the policy covers and whether you have to be receiving unemployment benefits are just a few things to look over while researching providers. As usual with anything insurance, make sure you read the fine print.

Is it worth it?

A lot of financial advisors say not to bother with the job-loss mortgage insurance. Take the money you'd be spending on insurance and build a savings account to hold six months worth of payments. However, many first-time home buyers have depleted their reserve funds just to get the house, and may not have the money to put aside.

My advice to you…

If you're interested in buying one of the Tampa homes for sale, but you're worried about your job stability, look into job-loss mortgage insurance. Once you have the facts, policy information and coverage costs, figure it into your finances (payments for coverage vs. building a six-month fallback account) and decide what's best for you.

If you're looking for a beautiful home at a price you can afford, I can help. Call me at 813-469-3163 or email me at Info@SweetHomeTampa.com for more information.

Come join the fun and ambiance of Ybor City for a day of activities celebrating the rich cigar heritage that once made Tampa the "Cigar Capital of the World." Join thousands of cigar enthusiasts at the this annual festival!

See master cigar makers Wallace and Margarita Reyes attempt to break the

record for

"World's Longest Cigar."

World's Longest Cigar
2009 Record Attempt by:
Wallace Reyes,
Grand Master Cigar Maker

Current US Record Holder
(30.78 meters) in 2006

CENTENNIAL PARK
in YBOR CITY
on 9th Ave. between
18th and 19th Streets

Directions & Map

Saturday
NOVEMBER 21, 2009
10am - 5pm

Video of worlds longest cigar by Wally:

http://cigars.about.com/library/multimedia.--0Z/Windows-Video/blcigarlongest.htm

Tampa and Ybor City is holding it's annual Cigar Heritage Festival today, November 21. Tampa and Ybor City are known as the cigar capital of the world. The 2006 festival occurred in November also and a new world record for the longest cigar in the world was set by Wally Reyes of Gonzalez Habano Cigars in Tampa. It seems Tampa Wally Reyes and Cuba's cigar roller Jose Castelar Cairo (Cueto) have been battling for the honor of holding that record for worlds longest cigar. Cueto received officially his fourth Guinness Record certificate, in May of this year. This time for his 45.38 meters long Habano cigar.

Cueto, rolled his cigar during the 2008 international tourism fair and the record was certified by London's house of world records. The Cuban roller has made other three universal habanos. The first was a 11.04 meters long cigar, the second one was 14.80 meters and the third one 20.41, all of them registered as Records.

However, Wally brought that honor back to the United States (from Cuba) with a cigar measuring 101 feet.

Cigar Dave Zebplowitz, will also be there, conducting a live broadcast of his nationally syndicated cigar radio program and many of the personalities who frequent his show. http://cigardave.com/The show originates from Tampa, Florida on Saturday afternoons, and is available in about 100 local markets. The show is also carried on both Sirius and XM satellite radio

Cigar companies showcase their merchandise, while live bands and other performers will entertain the crowds. Cigar rollers will be on hand to demonstrate their craft.

The most well known would be Tampa Sweethearts Cigar Company. The cigar factory building was developed in 1895, and stands today as an outlet for some of the best hand-rolled cigars in the area.

The oldest cigar shop in Ybor City is El Sol Cigars. Back in 1929, the first Smok-A-Cuba cigar was made by Guy Saitta in his shop on 7th Avenue in the Ybor City.

http://www.elsolcigars.com/history.htm

Dana Devine

813-748-4115

dana@devineshowcasehomes.com

Over the past few weeks many news sources have released predictions for strong real estate stabilization in 2010. A recent article from NuWire credited the expansion and extension of the first time home buyer tax credit for the predicted stabilization and home sales increase. According to NuWire recent article, "Home Sales to Increase in 2010":

"After more than a three year downturn in the hardest hit areas of the nation, some markets have experienced slight rebounds, prompted by the first time buyers' tax incentive and low mortgage rates. But higher price ranges have been hindered in their recovery. However, momentum should gain strength in the second half of the year with expected improvements in mortgage lending and make strides towards stabilizing in 2010.

A series of interest rate cuts taking mortgage rates to near historic lows are one of the Fed's attempts to re-stimulate the housing market. But record foreclosures are producing a market that threatens to keep home prices at low levels for years to come. More than 19-million vacant homes sit empty in the U.S., much of which is an inventory that will have to be absorbed by home buyers before markets fully stabilize.

Still, signs of a recovery in housing are showing promise. As we maintained last year in our annual national forecast, improving conditions, however, do not signify that housing inflation or appreciation will develop in most areas for a number of years. The recovery will be a long haul."

Tampa's real estate recovery is underway. We have seen signs of real estate market stabilization throughout Tampa Bay, with appropriately priced Tampa homes spending fewer days on market, multiple offers being placed by first-time buyers and foreign investors, and sharply discounted homes being quickly absorbed.

We have even seen an increase in interest from Tampa home owners who were previously unable to sell their homes, now more interested in listing their property for sale. It surely is going to be a long haul but with positive signs becoming more and more prevalent, we are sure looking forward to what 2010 may have in store for the real estate market!