Plant City, FL

When I lived back in the Finger Lakes area of New York State, I had to wait until June for nice tasty strawberry shortcakes. Many of you who live in northern climes will also have to wait for these treats. However, here in Florida we will be way ahead of you. We get these delicious desserts in the winter while y'all are still shoveling that white stuff off your sidewalks.

In Plant City, Florida we have the yearly Strawberry Festival which will take place this year from March 1st to the 11th. This year will be the 77th Anniversary of this event. It is no small-town get-together. We are talking of about a major undertaking here, with numerous activities, top-notch entertainment, displays, thrill rides, food delights, etc for all to enjoy. Some of these include:

• Free entertainment like: Dennis Lee, Jay Taylor Band, Ron Diamond, The Gothard Sisters, the Kandu Magic Show and others.
• Star Headliners like: The Oakridge Boys, Crystal Gayle, The Gatlin Brothers, Air Supply, Hank Williams, Jr., and other well-known performers. Visit the festival's site link below for schedules and prices for the headline concerts.
• The Neighborhood Village which is dedicated to displaying the handicrafts and homemade items from our local craftsmen and women. Baking, cake decorating, food preservation, jewelry & beading, knitting, needlepoint, home decorations, etc.
• There is also a Kiddie Corral for the younger crowd. It includes: Kiddie Rides, Shoebox Float Contest, a Baby Parade, Kid Shows, Racing Pigs, a Baby Contest, and more.
• A great Midway full of attractions to delight you.

• And a lot more.

Add to this the wonderful food that will be available like the mandatory Strawberry Shortcake, and you have many opportunities to enjoy yourself at this year's Strawberry Festival. With our excellent weather here in February, what better way is there to spend a day or evening.

Check under the ABOUT US menu item at the top lefthand side of the home page for special price days for kids, seniors, and others. You will also find information about directions, location, and contact numbers. They even have a map to help you find the festival easily. If you have questions, you can call the festival office at: 813-752-9194

For more information about the festival, visit its homepage by clicking on the following link: 77th Strawberry Festival

Have a Great Time!!

Posted by John Elwell - REALTOR at CENTURY 21 Bill Nye Realty, Inc., Zephyrhills, Florida Tel. 813-783-4444.

Licensed in Florida.

Photo Courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Freemar Homes was one of the developers of Trapnell Ridge. The subdivision was developed in the mid to late 2000's. The homes are single family homes with garages. The subdivision is ideally located near major highways for easy access to shopping, dining and entertainment. Trapnell Ridge is located off of Trapnell Rd, east of Hwy 39. The zip code is 33567 for Trapnell Ridge.

Trapnell Ridge is just 30 minutes from Downtown Tampa, 20 minutes from Lakeland and 40 minutes to MacDill Air Force Base. FishHawk Trails is also a quick commute to Tampa International Airport, Raymond James Stadium, The Ice Palace, Lowry Park Zoo, Busch Gardens, The Florida Aquarium, and Tampa's Performing Arts Center.

To look for homes on MLX in the Tampa Bay and Pinellas area go to my website by clicking on Tampa Homes.

The contents of this posting are the property of Pam Joffe and Solaris Realty of TampaBay. Pam Joffe 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 by clicking on Tampa Homes. You can also call 813-245-0316.

PURCHASE AND REHAB YOUR HOME IN PLANT CITY FLORIDA WITH THE FHA 203(K) LOAN - Most home buyers are turned off at the sight or even thought of buying a fixer-upper; a foreclosure or an older home today. However, educated and informed home buyers are utilizing the FHA 203(k) loan to buy their new home and fix it up with no additional out-of-pocket expense.

The FHA 203(k) loan is a tool that savvy home buyers, successful contractors, Realtors and mortgage originators have been using since 1978. An FHA 203(k) loan is very similar to the traditional FHA loan. The only real difference is that with the FHA 203(k) loan, the home buyer is adding money to their mortgage balance to finance-in any repair/improvement cost.

Whereas the traditional FHA loan requires that certain repairs be done before the home is purchased, theFHA 203(k) loan allows the home buyer to purchase their home and complete the repairs after the transaction closes.

The other traditional FHA qualifications (appraisal guidelines,seasoning rules,credit qualifications, etc...) still apply. But with the FHA 203(K) loan, a home buyer can fix up his home and not have to worry about the additional out-of-pocket expenses for the repairs/improvements. What a brilliant way to purchase a fixer-upper!

HERE ARE THE REASONS SMART HOME BUYERS ARE CHOOSING TO GO WITH THE FHA 203(K) LOAN

1. Better opportunities for a great financial deal on a home purchase

2. Allows buyers who are approved for an FHA loan to buy properties that would not otherwise qualify

3. Allows buyer to put personal touches into the interior/exterior making it feel like more of a home

4. Sellers do not have to pay for repairs prior to listing the property if they do not care to

5. There is less competition to buy fixer-uppers which forces sellers to accept lower offers

6. FHA loans are assumable; so when buyers go to sell house it will be easy to market.

Walden Lake is a wonderful community. The community currently has several 3 bedroom/2 bath homes currently listed under $100,000. Walden Lake has outstanding amenities such as boat launch, dock, playground, fitness, golf course with 36 holes of golf, clubhouse, olympic size pool, tennis, park, and over 6 miles of walking/cycling trails . Walden Lake even has polo. The top-rated Walden Lake Elementary School is a short walk away, Tomlin Middle School and Plant City High School are also close by. Residents can even go fishing and sailing on beautiful Walden Lake. Many of the homes have backyards that either border the golf course, lake or woodlands. There is also a day care center on-site. To look for homes for sale or rent on MLX in this subdivision and others in Tampa Bay and Pinellas area go to my website by clicking on Tampa Homes.

The contents of this posting are the property of Pam Joffe and Solaris Realty of TampaBay. Pam Joffe 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 by clicking on Tampa Homes. You can also call 813-245-0316

FHA Loans Now Available With Credit Scores As Low As 500

GREAT NEWS! In an effort to help increase home ownership opportunities to those currently underserved, we are introducing a new program. Our FHA AFFORDABLE PROGRAM was designed to help credit worthy borrowers who have been unable to obtain financing due to their credit scores.

Under this program, eligible borrowers can obtain affordable mortgage financing with scores AS LOW AS 500.

Some of the necessary common sense requirements are:

1) Debt to Income Ratio's must be LOW (31/43 MAX) making the payments AFFORDABLE!!!

2) Borrowers must show a propensity to save money and/or pay down debt

3) Borrowers must have a solid 2 year work history with 6 Months minimum on current job

Exceptions to this rule can be made on recent college graduates with a job that is related to their degree

4) Borrowers must have their own down payments of 3.5% ( NO GIFTS ALLOWED)

5) NO INCREASE in current Rent/Mortgage payments

6) Owner occupant borrowers only

For more information on this dynamic new loan program call or email me today