Stephanie LeFew

This time we were set up for bunnies, with a nesting box and Ariel had 7 baby bunnies and all are living. Yeah!! It was quite upsetting with her last litter. 6 were born, but only one survived -- the kids named her Bambi. The Father's name is Thumper. Having bunnies has been a great experience for the whole family, a lesson about the birds and the bees, as well as a small business for our home-schooled children. A local feed store in Tampa has agreed to purchase the baby bunnies for $5 each and plan on selling them for $10. With the money the kids are going to make on each baby bunny, baby chickens are going to be purchased so that we will have farm fresh eggs that I believe will be a lot healthier than the eggs we are used to buying in the grocery store.

The kids are learning responsibility. The bunnies depend on them for everything -- water, their food. The children get the benefit of holding often the grown bunnies and the sweet baby bunnies. They are real animal lovers.

Just this week, I had to take Thumper to the vet, as he appeared for days to not be feeling well. The Tampa veternarian said he looked really healthy, but gave us an antibiotic to be dissolved in pineapple juice to make sure he wasn't compacted, as well as a list of items that should be in the rabbits diet each day. I thought I would share it with you --
Unlimited Timothy Hay
Pelleted rabbit food
1 cup of vegetables, a combination of any of the following -- broccoli, green peppers, parsley, squash, romaine lettuce, carrots.
Small amount of fruits - apples, peach, plum, pineapple, grapes, bananas.

Have a wonderful day. Life is precious. Enjoy it, please.

Warmly,
Stephanie LeFew, Tampa Realtors
Broker Associate
Solaris Realty of Tampa Bay
813-624-3332 cell phone - Hunters Green Real Estate for Sale
Tampa Real Estate Tampa Homes for Sale
My Services are Free to Buyers!! Buyer Incentives Available
First time home buyers are so appreciated! I will walk you thru every step of the home buying process.

I have heard it a lot lately - "shortsale? you mean long-sale!" It is really true. It often takes a longggg time to get a response from the bank on shortsale offers. It is a real test of patience that can play havoc on a buyer's nerves. Recently, a seller decided that after the shortsale was approved, he wasn't sure he wanted to sell anymore. He contacted the bank in order to see how the shortsale was going. The seller is very sick and hasn't apparently been working for a year. The person at the bank reportedly told him that he could just do a loan modification...mind you, the seller again has no job, no money coming in. How in the world the could person on the other line at the bank even begin to tell the seller that he can do a loan modification? The seller decided to not move forward with the sale. Now the buyer has all these expenses that they won't be able to recoup -- home inspection, termite inspection, survey, appraisal -- over $1000 worth of expenses...all going down the drain because of bad information given to a sick and upset seller, in addition to their really bad attorney that advised the seller to not sign any extension or anything until she gets back in the country. It was this mistrust that the attorney sowed into her customer that caused this seller to call their bank in the first place, and then received erroneous info about the loan modification. The seller then also grew to mistrust his real estate agent. There was an extension needed because the survey that was ordered showed that there was an encumbrance on the property -- fences over the property line. While the inexeperienced attorney was baffled about how to deal with that, time on contract was ticking. An extension as needed...the buyer's bank after all does need some time to close a loan. The seller would not sign an extension. Nor would he sign a cancellation of contract. Nobody wins in this one. That is one horror story that we have experienced

Now, a buyer has a decision to make --- should we continue our home search, or should we just say forget it -- let's continue to rent? A lot of people have experienced similar situations. Shortsales can be very frustrating. Is the dream of home ownership big enough for you to continue in your search for a great deal for you? That is a personal decision for each person looking to buy a home, no matter where they live.

Here is something to consider -- a buyer cannot get a loan for a home unless the house at least appraises for the contract price. With all the shortsales and bank owned properties out there, property values, based upon these sales have fallen, which then causes of course the appraisals to come in lower -- it is happening nearly everywhere in the country. Why not consider a purchase of a bank owned home instead, or a "traditional/regular sale"? You will get a great deal also with a lot less stress, because you cannot pay too much on the home---your loan depends on the appraisal coming in at an acceptable value.

What's your sanity worth? Just a question.

I believe in shortsales and preforeclosures. All of my listings are shortsales. They work; people get a great deal. Buyers just have to determine if they are able to be patient, try again and again until one of them pans out for them. A diamond in the rough that just needs paint and carpet at a super terrific price may be just around the corner, literally. We realtors really do work long and hard to get the shortsale approved and sold --- it benefits the seller, the buyer, the bank and the neighborhood.

Warmly,
Stephanie LeFew, Broker Associate
Tampa Shortsales, Tampa Bank Owned homes, Tampa homes for sale at Reduced Prices
Solaris Realty of Tampa Bay
www.TampaHomeBuy.com
813-624-3332

Pick up a travel brochure and some benefits are clear: Beautiful beaches. Miles of scenic parks and nature preserves. Oceans, rivers and lakes offering boating, fishing, swimming and other water recreation. A rich and varied history, which includes the city of St. Augustine, the oldest permanent European settlement in the mainland United States. Unique entertainment parks and other family-friendly attractions. Cultural activities that offer residents and visitors fine theater, music, dance and arts events. Then there is Florida's climate featuring an average annual high of 81 degrees Fahrenheit and an average annual low of 60 degrees, giving the Sunshine State its well-known nickname and reputation. Florida Beaches are awarded more Top Ten spots than any other state. The States Park systems has 160 Parks covering more than 700,000 acres and 100 miles of Florida's Beaches.

Florida is home to the following public colleges - University of Florida, New College of Florida, Florida State University, University of Central Florida, Univeristy of South Florida.

FREE - Search the mls now at www.TampaHomeBuy.com

Looking forward to hearing from you with any questions that you may have...
Warmly,
Stephanie LeFew, Tampa Realtor
Real Estate Broker Associate
Solaris Realty of Tampa Bay
813-624-3332
My Services are FREE to Buyers!! ASK me about Buyer Incentives that I offer :)
www.TampaHomeBuy.com

Here is one possible factor - some banks, including Bank of America, are making it easier for states and cities to buy foreclosures before investors purchase them.

The program is a result of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Neighborhood Stabilization Program, which aims to encourage redevelopment of neighborhoods hit hardest by foreclosure and the resale of properties to homeowners.

Bank of America will notify participating cities that properties are available before they are listed on multiple listing services. The company will set the prices with no haggling allowed.

If you have any questions about the homes for sale in Tampa Florida, please feel free to Call me on my cell phone.

Click Now in order to go online now to search for homes available at reduced prices - www.TampaHomeBuy.com

Warmly,

Stephanie LeFew

Tampa Realtors / Broker Associate

Solaris Realty of Tampa Bay

813-624-3332 cell / 813-991-1355 office

Newsflash!!

When speaking with a Lennar representative recently, while my customer was considering putting in an offer on a new townhome in the Brandon area, I was told that a change was coming to Lennar.

Apparently, US Home is being brought back -- big spacious homes without all the extras at a terrific price!! The want to be competing with the other local builder that offer huge homes at terrific prices.

Lennar will continue on as the higher end, everything is included line.

Warmly,

Stephanie LeFew, Realtor / Broker Associate

Tampa new construction for sale at reduced prices!!

www.TampaHomeBuy.com

Solaris Realty of Tampa Bay

813-624-3332