Dave Tipton, Broker, GRI, e-PRO, SRES Tampa Bay Area Real Estate

The Mid Florida Regional MLS has released the Tampa Bay real estate sales & inventory comparison of January 2007 and January 2008 as well as the comparison of February 2007 and February 2008.

Everybody seems to know that the real estate market is depressed. It seems clear from the chart that the number of sales each month is down, the Days On Market is up and the number of houses for sale (Current Inventory) and months it will take to sell that inventory at the current pace is up as well. The only positive numbers of note are the cost per square foot which are down. This is a positive sign, meaning that buyers in this market are getting more home for your money.

The numbers that concern me the most are the current inventory, which has remained high over the past 12 months, trending upward. These are the current existing single-family homes listed in the MLS. When the current inventory begins trending downward, this will be the signal that a recovery is in full swing.

An additional number to watch is the Average Cost Per Square Foot. We will keep our eyes on all of these numbers and keep you up to date.

Tampa Florida Real Estate Sales & Inventory Comparison January~February
Month	Year	Monthly Sales	Avg List Price	Avg Sale Price	% Diff List/Sell	Days On Market	Current Inventory	Months of Inventory	Avg Cost Per Sq. Ft.
JAN	2007	1,121	$272,006	$259,065	95.24%	88	18,707	16.69	$144.45
JAN	2008	791	$260,475	$246,260	94.54%	125	20,237	25.58	$138.52
FEB	2007	1,209	$275,872	$265,149	96.11%	89	19,234	15.91	$141.84
FEB	2008	813	$255,047	240,077	94.13%	120	20,486	25.20	$132.23

This data represents single-family home sales. Statistics derived from MFRMLS^® Statistical Overview February 2008 and reflects only sales reported to MFRMLS^®

Dave Tipton, Broker- Diamond Dwellings Realty- Brandon Florida

813-653-1241

In Ireland, the Pub is the heart of all social life.. It is a community gathering place for friends, and musicians. O'Toole's Pub is designed to offer a meeting place for good conversation, live entertainment and excellent food and spirits.

The moment you walk into O'Toole's you are transported from Brandon, Florida to the Emerald Isle and you know you are about to experience something different than the ordinary restaurant experience in the Tampa Bay area. From the hand made cherry wood bar to the authentic Irish menu.

Big Dog's Favorites Menu Sampler

Irish Crab Cakes- Fresh Maryland crab meat seasoned and pan seared to a golden brown. Served with roasted red-pepper remoulade.

Gaelic Chips- O'Toole's own homemade potato chips covered lightly with spices.

O'Toole's ½ pound Burger- Flame grilled to your liking.

Shepherd's Pie- A traditional Irish dish of ground beef and vegetables encrusted with mashed potatoes and gravy.

Plus a full Kids Menu

Directions: O'Toole's Pub is located at 1215 W Brandon Blvd, Brandon, FL 33511

Brandon Blvd. (SR-60) between Providence Rd. and Kings Avenue on the south side of SR-60

Click here for: MAP

Dave Tipton, Broker- Diamond Dwellings Realty- Brandon Florida Brokerage

Stonewood Grill & Tavern Brandon, Florida

The Big Dog puts his personal stamp of approval on this one.

My wife and I are always looking for new eateries in the area and decided to check out the Stonewood Grill of Brandon. We found the inside to be very nice (above average) and quieter than most restaurants you find these days. We were actually able to carry on a conversation without shouting. We found some patrons in jeans, but most were in less casual clothing. The service was excellent and once we were served the manager actually came to our table to make sure everything was to our liking.

Chef Mike

Now let's get to the steak, a filet mignon that I found was comparable to any the Big Dog has found at the best steak places in the country, Morton's, Shula's, Ruth's Chris, and even the coveted Bern's Steak house of Tampa fame. Overall a great eating experience. The Big Dog will come back for more.

What to expect from Stonewood Grill

Stonewood Grill is a small chain with restaurants in Florida and North Carolina. It is an upscale dinner only establishment with casual surroundings, the ambience is reserved and inviting. Try a quiet dinner in the dining room or relax over drinks in the well appointed tavern. The menu includes a mix of steak, seafood and pasta dishes prepared by Executive Chefs.

Winter Seasonal Menu features Chef Mike's Oak-Grilled Sirloin with a Cognac peppercorn sauce. Delicious !

Sample From the Menu

Brandon
612 E. Bloomingdale Avenue (Between Bell Shoals Rd. and Bryan Rd.)
Brandon, FL 33511

Phone: (813)655-9561
Email: brandon@stonewoodgrill.com

Dave Tipton, Broker- Diamond Dwellings Realty- Brandon Florida

Diamond Dwellings Realty 813-653-1241

Over 100 communities in the Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando counties on the Central West Coast of Florida will feature homes in the 2008 Tampa Bay Parade of Homes from March 1^st-16^th 2008.

The Parade of Homes models can be seen from 10:00 AM till 6:00 PM Monday through Saturday and 12:00 PM till 6:00 PM on Sunday during this event.

Nearly 70 home builders will take this opportunity to showcase the designs and trends in the home building industry.

One of the winners in this years Parade of Homes in the Single Family Homes in the Price Range: $249,900 - $348,900 and Square Footage: 1,972 - 2,713 is Radd Builders based in Valrico, Florida.

Radd's award winning entry, the Jamaica I is in the Walden-Pointe community which is nestled conveniently between Tampa and Lakeland with easy access to I-4. Walden- Pointe is easily accessible to golf, shopping and restaurants and schools. The Jamaica I model is a 3 bedroom 2 bath with 1,904 sf of living space.

For additional information on the Radd award winning design or any of the other entries in the 2008 Parade of homes, please contact Preferred Professionals Real Estate Brokerage 813-653-1241

Dave Tipton, Broker e-mail: PreferredProfessionals@Verizon.Net

How About Printing Some of the Positive's of the Local Real Estate Market

Big Dog on the Soap Box

I believe that it's a foregone conclusion that the local newspapers have fallen on hard times. They are under constant pressure to remain a viable source of news, competing with 24/7 cable news channels, the internet, even Web-logs. The newsprint that your parents and great great grandparents retrieved from their drive way in the morning is still there for you to pickup each day. Let's face it, the news is somewhat stale by the time you read it by today's standards, but there are those that still enjoy reading the paper with their coffee in the morning, me included.

Newspapers circulation rates are down and consequently, their advertising revenues are way down as well. There are three main groups of advertisers in the news papers, Retail Stores, Car Dealers, and Real Estate Brokers. As has been well documented to the point of "beating a dead horse", the real estate market has suffered, I think everyone acknowledges that. Sales are off, real estate agents are struggling, some have had to leave the industry and find other jobs to live. Consequently, there has been fewer and fewer of those pages and pages of real estate ads showing up in the local newspaper. This has no doubt put a serious hurt on the newspaper's pocket book.

This brings me to the question that's been puzzling me. I know the real estate market has fallen on hard times as of late, and that has been big news. People need to know these things, and Headlines sell papers. Why copy cat every other news paper's stories around the country, be original, there are some good potential story lines that are of a positive nature that they choose to ignore every day.

• Home Prices are Back Down to Realistic Levels
• There is a Huge Inventory of Homes to Choose from
• Mortgage Rates Remain Low
• Florida Passed a New Homestead Exemption Tax Bill
• Many Local Experts Believe the Market Has Bottomed and is Poised for a Rebound
• Each Real Estate Market is Local in nature, what is happening in California or Idaho is not necessarily pertinent to the Tampa Bay Area
• Florida was already number three in the national number of foreclosures before the credit crunch

Assuming that there are some real estate agents left who think that the print media is a good advertising investment, and that if business picks up, they will advertise in the newspapers, why you ask do newspapers keep printing the gloom and doom every single day about the real estate industry? The more they hammer how bad things are the fewer and fewer ads they get and the fewer ads they get, they only hasten their demise.

Meanwhile, we who are out in the local real estate market every day are seeing very positive signs showing an increase in buyer activity. Don't get me wrong or start calling me "Pollyanna", we have a ways to go, but the first steps back are the hardest, and we have already made those.

Don't fret publishers of the local papers, I still love the comics and the Horoscope, they still seem relevant, just stop shooting yourself in the foot.

If you believe that I'm wrong or have any thoughts to add, please feel free to comment.

Dave Tipton, Broker- Diamond Dwellings Realty- Brandon Florida