About Pinellas County, FL

Pictures of Tarpon Springs Florida

Downtown Tarpon Springs is known for its sponge docks. Some its initial visitors spotted tarpons jumping out of the waters so named the location Tarpon Springs.

The first Greek immigrants arrived to this city during the 1880s when they were hired to work as divers in the growing sponge-harvesting industry.

This industry helped build a Greek community that is now famous for sponges but also for some of the finest Greek restaurants and bakeries in the country.

What you will find at the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks: Greek restaurants, bakeries, natural sponges, diving, tours, sightseeing cruises, shopping, jewelry, art galleries, etc.

Here are some pictures:

There are many Greek restaurants in Tarpon Springs to choose from:

There are many places to shop:

Sometimes Tarpon Springs hosts art festivals for those looking for some unique gifts or accessories for their home:

There is also artwork throughout the area making it a pleasure to walk and view:

One reason I like Tarpon Springs is that it is a synthesis of an old charming town with modern amenities which make it an ideal place to live, work, and play. Another key feature is its close proximity to the Pinellas Trail which is a 34-mile long trail that offers residents and visitors a unique opportunity to enjoy the outdoors that it close to home, close to work, and close to where *you* want to go whether in-line skating, biking, jogging, walking, or biking. It is a gem in the area.

If you are looking to buy in Tarpon Springs call me at (727) 376-0530 or contact me via email for more information.

A hui hou (until next time)

~ Lana Robbins

Bardmoor Courtyard is a subdivision of elegant, stately homes priced in the $500,000's and up. The community is gated for the security of the residents. The subdivision located just off of Starkey Rd in Largo. Bardmoor Golf and Tennis club is just around the corner with an olympic size swimming pool and The Bayou Gulf Club, a private country club, is right by. You will definitely want to check out the lifestyle these homes to offer!

Bardmoor Courtyard is located close to the Gulf beaches, wonderful shopping and dining, great schools and Tampa International Airport. Its central location makes it easy for residents to commute to Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater or go sunbathing at the beaches.

Come experience the Florida Lifestyle in Largo with the nearby sparkling beaches of Clearwater Beach and just a little bit to the south is St. Pete Beach. It is a just short drive to I-275 and then it is an easy commute to Largo, Clearwater, Bradenton, St. Petersburg, or a quick trip to MacDill Air Force Base.

Let us show you your new home in Largo today! Just contact us at Solaris Realty of TampaBay.

The contents of this posting are the property of Pam Mabe and Solaris Realty of TampaBay. Pam Mabe is a broker working in the Tampa 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 Tampa area, click here and then fill in the information on your dream home.

Saint Petersburg’s reliable appliance repair man, Lance Kimball, at Appliance Repair Specialists has a few tips to beat the manufacturers’ shrinking warrantees.

Appliance Repair Specialists have been a permanent fixture on West Kennedy Blvd since 1998. Lance Kimball offered advice to his customers that may take some of the anxiety away from the appliance manufactures’ latest blow. Lance suggests that big-ticket appliances be purchased with a credit card that offers product insurance.

In late 2005, appliance manufacturer including Frigidaire, General Electric, Maytag, and Whirlpool shortened their warranties on refrigerators, ranges, washers, and other major appliances from two or three years to only one year, and it appears they have no intention of reestablishing the longer coverage. And, as far as their appliance extended warranties are concerned, they will also be adjusted.

One-year appliance warranties become the norm.

Shorter warranties went into effect Nov. 1, 2005, for Whirlpool, Roper, Estate, and Inglis brands, and on Jan. 1, 2006, for General Electric, Hotpoint, Americana, Maytag, Amana, Magic Chef, Admiral, Frigidaire, White Westinghouse, Tappan, Gibson, and Kelvinator.

Pricier brands, such as KitchenAid, Jenn-Air and Electrolux, still offer longer warranties on some appliances and their parts. Viking offers a one-year warranty but doubles it if a Viking-certified installer does the work according to Consumer Reports.

In fact, all of the major manufacturers are looking at the data from their pricier competitors. If the numbers are going in the right direction, shorter warrantees may stimulate business for their GE Appliance repairs, their Whirlpool repair men and women; and, it may even bring the Maytag repair man out of retirement.

A typical warranty from an appliance manufacturer now covers parts and service for only one year from purchase. If a part breaks after that, you pay. Before the warranties got whacked down, pricey parts-refrigerator compressors and dishwasher tubs, for instance-were usually covered for 5 to 10 years. To get longer coverage today, you'll have to buy a separate appliance extended warranty, which will cost about $100 to $200 for three years.

Some appliance companies insisted that the changes did nothing more than make warranties simpler. One company spokesperson told us that consumers would benefit from this warranty change by having simplified terms and improved product quality and after-sales care. You're probably as confused as we are, but one thing is clear: consumers are getting less coverage for the same price.

Our Service Technicians are certified in all of these categories: small appliance repair, gas appliance repair, garbage disposal repair, electric dryer repair, washer and dryer repair. Please call me, Lance Kimball, at 813-288-1900.

How much should I pay for a condo in Sunset Vistas in Treasure Island Tampabay on Gulf Blvd.

You do not need to be a Realtor or an appraiser to find the right price for these condos. All it takes it common sense. All of the units are the same, same size, same year built, same color, same floors, same kitchen, same furniture same everything BUT the view.

There are 13 units in a row going all the way from the street to the beach angled so each unit has a view of the water. The building has five floors above parking. The units have 3 digit numbers the first number is the floor and the other two are the position on the floor. It starts with 1 at the street site and goes up to 13 which is closest to the beach.

So, right now unit units in Sunset Vista Treasure Island

408 is listed for $299,000

302 is listed for $306,000

403 is listed for $309,900

Now here we have unit 201 listed for $399,000. I hope the seller does not wonder why it has been on the market for 1132 days. This unit is on the lowest floor and the furthers from the beach.

All this said, one last thing. Don't just "stumble" into the Real Estate market, do your homework first, be prepared find a good Listing agent or selling agent that knows Treasure Island, someone that does a lot of online advertising and marketing for a listing and comparative market analysis for a sale, check out his or her testimonials, "Google" the name.

I hope I gave you a good answer to your question. How much should I pay for a condo in Sunset Vistas in Treasure Island Tampabay on Gulf Blvd.

If you think about buying or selling a house or condo in the Saint Petersburg Tampabay Florida area, please give me a call. Ask me about waterfront homes or condos in St. Pete beach, Treasure Island, Madeira beach, Seminole and other Clearwater Tampabay neighborhoods. Find out what we can do to sell your home or condo and what the value of your property is. Check out great real estate deals or visit condo associations like Seminole Isle.

We also work with short sale bank owned and foreclosures. Find a property or go to my website for more real estate information or simply contact us. 727 409 8706

Selling/ listing my home or condo in Treasure Island, how do I find the right asking price?

The answer to that is very easy, have your Realtor (make sure it is a local real estate expert) do a comparable market analysis for you or get and official appraisal. (From an appraiser that knows the area well) Yes, that's how easy it is. No if's and but's, no guess work. Keep in mind we homeowners all think that our house or condo is so much NICER that the neighbors. Our children are so much smarter than the others and on we go. It is impossible for a home owner to be unbiased or objective about their own property. There are too many emotions involved and we simply cannot see a clear picture. Talking to your friends and neighors won't help either, they are not experts and they do not want to "hurt your feelings"

Keep in mind, in this kind of market is it more important than ever to ask the right price for your home or condo. If you are priced wrong, nobody will make an offer and you will sit on your listing forever.

I am a Realtor in Treasure Island and also a homeowner in Treasure Island, if I want to know what I could sell my home for, I would ask one of my fellow Realtor here in Treasure Island. I can do the comparable market analysis for ever home or condo in Treasure Island BUT for my own. I simply can't see it objectively.

Hope this helps you a little bit to answer the question Selling/ listing my home or condo in Treasure Island, how do I find the right asking price?

If you think about buying or selling a house or condo in the Saint Petersburg Tampabay Florida area, please give me a call. Ask me about waterfront homes or condos in St. Pete beach, Treasure Island, Madeira beach, Seminole and other Clearwater Tampabay neighborhoods. Find out what we can do to sell your home or condo and what the value of your property is. Check out great real estate deals or visit condo associations like Seminole Isle.

We also work with short sale bank owned and foreclosures. Find a property or go to my website for more real estate information or simply contact us. 727 409 8706