Melanie Loves Tampa Bay

Buying a home is a very exciting process, especially when it's your first house! But what happens when you move in and life isn't exactly what you imagined? Let's talk about some of the challenges that can overwhelm new home buyers right after closing that takes the fun away of owning your own place.

Featuring my new puppy Tucker, a smooth coat Brussels Griffon - otherwise known as the 'Petit Brabancon.'

Warning: Your new house might be really dirty. In Florida, sellers are not legally required to have the property professionally cleaned when they transfer it to the buyer. Before closing day, take note of any discoloration in flooring - especially carpet and grout. Often, this issue goes unnoticed until the furniture is gone. If you think you're going to need to replace flooring or spend money on cleaning, make sure to prepare for this added cost.

Paint jobs may be bigger than you anticipated. It's not required or customary to patch and paint portions of the walls with nails or screws. Sometimes the patch job ends up looking worse than before, so most of the time - the seller leaves the walls as-is. It will be up to you to repair the drywall. If you're planning to repaint anyway, that's the time to patch up those holes.

Your A/C will absolutely break in the first month. Okay, I might be exaggerating a bit, but I can't begin to tell you how many times air conditioners (or something else) break soon after a new buyer moves in. Homes are full of things that need to be fixed. Sometimes buyers will get upset with the home inspector or seller, because they feel like the issue should have been caught or disclosed. Most of the issues are just regular things that break. Once you close on your house, that is now your responsibility. Hire a good home inspector to begin with and consider getting a home warranty.

Your neighbors might be terrible. If you had visions of co-hosting summer barbecues with your best friends next door, you may want to adjust your expectations. Chances are, you WILL find friends in your neighborhood. If you have an unpleasant or intrusive neighbor, there's not much you can do about it unless their behavior warrants contacting local authorities. Driving around the neighborhood prior to purchasing and talking with people who live there may be helpful to avoid nightmare neighbors, but you can't always rely on strangers for solid information.

Furnishing and decorating is a marathon, not a spring. Making a house a home takes time. Lots of buyers don't expect that and want it to feel like home too quickly. It's frustrating with boxes piled up and furniture deliveries taking too long. Don't worry if there are empty rooms for a while, you need to figure out how you are going to live in the space. Decorate and furnish the rooms that are the most important for your daily life and do the rest over a longer period of time. Set realistic decorating and furnishing goals.

Melanie is a Tampa Bay area Realtor with Smith & Associates.

She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate.

melanielovestampabay.com

Email: [email protected]

Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.368.6084

DISCLAIMER: All content provided on melanielovestampabay.com and the Melanie Loves Tampa Bay YouTube channel/social media platforms is for informational/entertainment purposes only. The owner of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site. Information provided is subject to change.

There are some names of cities and places around the Tampa Bay area that are just really difficult to pronounce. Some are really long and complicated.  So here are a few of the trickiest and how to say the names just like a local.

Lutz  

St. Pete - some folks use the wrong abbreviation for St. Petersburg and refer to it as "St. Petes"

Ybor City  

Dunedin  

Thonotosassa  

Wimauma  

Kissimmee  

Masaryktown  

Homosassa  

Weeki Wachee  

Amalie Arena  (rhymes with family)

Melanie is a Tampa Bay area Realtor with Smith & Associates. 

She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate. 

melanielovestampabay.com 

Email: [email protected] 

Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.368.6084 

DISCLAIMER: All content provided on melanielovestampabay.com and the Melanie Loves Tampa Bay YouTube channel/social media platforms is for informational/entertainment purposes only. The owner of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site. Information provided is subject to change. 

Downtown St. Pete is one of the most coveted areas to move to in the Tampa Bay area.  So why does everyone want to move there and how much does it cost to live there?  

Honestly, it's just a really cool and beautiful place to live. Downtown St. Petersburg truly does have it all - the whole bay front is lined with gorgeous parks that host different festivals and events throughout the year. It's the perfect place for a long walk with your pet, a bike ride, or just to sit and enjoy the water view. It's a walkable city with a vibrant, inclusive energy.

Because so many people want to live there, it has become pretty expensive to own or rent. If you want to live in the heart of downtown, you'll probably have to choose from a townhouse or a condominium - many are in high rises. They range from small studio to penthouses. If you're lucky, you might be able to find a few for around $200,000 - but the median price is in the $500,000 range with prices going up well over $2 million.

What about rentals? The same is true. Look to pay a minimum of $1,000 / month with most costing more than $2,000 / month.

Popular neighborhoods nearby include the Historic Old Northeast, Snell Isle, and Venetian Isles.

What about affordable areas near Downtown St. Petersburg? The short answer is, yes, of course there are. More budget-friendly neighborhoods tend to be farther away from the downtown core and the houses may need some TLC.  It's possible to find a single-family home for under $300,000.

Remember that most of St. Petersburg was developed quite a while ago, so there are lots of older, traditional, Florida-style ranch homes.

In closing, Downtown St. Petersburg is as beautiful and as fun as it seems. There are always resale opportunities in the area and new condo projects to look into.

Melanie is a Tampa Bay area Realtor with Smith & Associates. 

She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate. 

melanielovestampabay.com 

Email: [email protected] 

Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.368.6084 

DISCLAIMER: All content provided on melanielovestampabay.com and the Melanie Loves Tampa Bay YouTube channel/social media platforms is for informational/entertainment purposes only. The owner of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site. Information provided is subject to change. 

If you're looking at Florida homes for the first time, you're probably wondering what the heck a CDD fee is. How is it different from an HOA? CDD stands for "Community Development District." It's main purpose is to plan, finance, construct, and operate community-wide infrastructure and amenities for residents to enjoy.

http://www.ccfj.net/FS190CDD.html#190.012

The neighborhood developer takes out a bond to get access to the money to create all of this infrastructure - the bond is paid back by residents over periods typically 20, 25, or 30 years.

How do residents pay the CDD fee?

The yearly cost of the CDD fee is part of your non-ad valorem property taxes. Combined with your ad valorem taxes, this creates your total tax bill for the year.

How much is a typical CDD?

The amount varies widely from neighborhood to neighborhood, but I've noticed that most of the new, large, master-planned communities here in the Tampa Bay area have CDDs around $2,000 per year.

How is a CDD different from the HOA?

The CDD and HOA (Homeowners Association) are different entities within a community that work together, but have different responsibilities. Many of the maintenance costs in a community are handled by the CDD, whereas the HOA creates and enforces deed restrictions as well as operate the amenities. 

What happens when the bond is paid off? Does the CDD go away?

Westchase is a great example of a neighborhood that has certain villages with paid off CDD bonds. The homes in Westchase over 20 years old are now only paying the maintenance cost portion of the CDD, which will never go away. But once that bond is paid off, homeowners do get a significant cost break. I looked up a house in The Fords. In 2017, the CDD bill was $1,095.55. After the bond was paid off, the 2018 CDD bill was $486.20. 

Why spend money to live in a CDD community?

There are lots of Tampa Bay area neighborhoods without CDDs, but they tend to be smaller communities with fewer amenities. If you don't think you will use amenities like a swimming pool, tennis courts, or fitness center, you might want to look at non-CDD communities. Typically, those will have higher HOA fees, because the HOA is now responsible for all of the maintenance costs.

This is part of my new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) series here on the channel - feel free to drop any questions you have in the comments.

Melanie is a Tampa Bay area Realtor with Smith & Associates. 

She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate. 

melanielovestampabay.com 

Email: [email protected] 

Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.368.6084 

DISCLAIMER: All content provided on melanielovestampabay.com and the Melanie Loves Tampa Bay YouTube channel/social media platforms is for informational/entertainment purposes only. The owner of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site. Information provided is subject to change. 

Finding a home that's a lease with an option to buy (rent to own) can be extremely difficult - close to impossible in popular areas.  However, leasing while you get to know your new city, repair your credit or save up some money for a larger down payment may be your best option. Let's talk about a lease-purchase program called Home Partners of America.

While I am not affiliated with this company in any way, I do feel the program offers a valuable option for those who qualify so I want to share some details.

*Criteria subject to change and may vary by state

What is the Home Partners of America Lease Purchase Program?

https://www.homepartners.com/ 

Say you want to own a home in a nice neighborhood but you just aren’t ready to buy.  Maybe you want to be in a good school zone and there are limited rentals available to pick from?  Or, if you are working on repairing your credit and you just need a year or two to qualify for a mortgage. Home Partners of America purchases homes that are currently for sale and leases them back to you.  So, this opens up a lot more options of homes to rent because now you can look at homes that are for sale. 

You get to pick the house, they purchase it, you rent it from them. You can buy it from them or a predetermined price at any time.  Now, nothing is that simple but that is the basic premise of the program.

FAQs

https://www.homepartners.com/how-it-works/faqs

Who qualifies to be a renter with Home Partners of America?

Which properties qualify for the program?

I am qualified and the house I love is qualified - what happens next?

What about the rent price?

What about a security deposit?

Can I bring my pets?

How do I purchase the home?

Breakdown by numbers:  https://www.homepartners.com/how-it-works/the-math 

Pros & Cons

The biggest pro to this program is that it gives future home buyers an opportunity to settle in their desired community before they can qualify to purchase a home. Or it gives new residents a way to try out a neighborhood before they commit to buy.  The program is transparent and your costs and fees are outlined prior to entering the program.  Your only obligation is to rent the home for one year.  

If you are a seller, consider using this program as a way to attract more buyers. Home Partners of America will pay a fair price for your home.  

The cons mostly revolve around the fees associated with buying.  Home Partners is going to roll the closing costs over to you, as well as increase your price 5% a year. 

Melanie is a Tampa Bay area Realtor with Smith & Associates. 

She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate. 

melanielovestampabay.com 

Email: [email protected] 

Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.368.6084 

DISCLAIMER: All content provided on melanielovestampabay.com and the Melanie Loves Tampa Bay YouTube channel/social media platforms is for informational/entertainment purposes only. The owner of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site. Information provided is subject to change. 

Lots of you out there are planning to move to Florida or purchase a second home here. If you're looking to establish residency in the Sunshine State, here are some practical tips. (Yes, you do have to go to the DMV)

*Disclosure: I am a Realtor, so  I help people buy and sell houses. I am not an attorney or accountant.  These matters can be complicated, so if you have any questions please consult a licensed professional.*

ESTABLISHING FLORIDA RESIDENCY

You are considered a Floridian when your true, fixed, and permanent home is in Florida. 

DRIVER'S LICENSE & VEHICLE REGISTRATION

If you are a new resident you must get your Florida Driver’s License and register your vehicle within 30 days of establishing residency in the state of Florida. 

DMV:  What to Bring to Get Your License

https://www.flhsmv.gov/driver-licenses-id-cards/what-to-bring/

Vehicle Registration General Information:

https://www.flhsmv.gov/html/titlinf.html

PET REGISTRATION

A Florida pet license is required for all pets. Florida pet registration forms are available at any local veterinarian.  Both dogs & cats over 4 months old must have a pet license, and all are required to have rabies inoculations or booster shots. All Florida pet registration fees will vary from county to county, so check your county’s website.  

HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION

Florida residents can apply for a Homestead Exemption.  You get a discount on the assessed value of your home. It also caps the amount that your assessed value can go up each year to only 3%.  This is a great tax benefit that Florida homeowners enjoy.  Your deadline each year for registering is March 1st, so don’t forget!  You will do this through your County Property Appraiser office or website. 

E-PASS / SUNPASS

Florida has a lot of toll roads and a lot of them don’t have pay booths.  If you live in an area with toll roads or plan on doing a lot of exploring in Florida, you will want to get a SunPass or an E-Pass.  

https://epass.cfxway.com/epassweb 

https://www.sunpass.com/en/home/index.shtml 

FINDING EMPLOYMENT

State of Florida Job Openings:

https://jobs.myflorida.com/

RETIRING TO FLORIDA

If you are planning on retiring to the Sunshine State there is a website for the Department of Elder Affairs that actually provides a lot of useful knowledge.  

Department of Elder Affairs:

http://elderaffairs.state.fl.us/doea/resources.php

Melanie is a Tampa Bay area Realtor with Smith & Associates. 

She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate. 

melanielovestampabay.com 

Email: [email protected] 

Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.368.6084 

DISCLAIMER: All content provided on melanielovestampabay.com and the Melanie Loves Tampa Bay YouTube channel/social media platforms is for informational/entertainment purposes only. The owner of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site. Information provided is subject to change. 

 You've made the major decision to move to a new city that you don't know very much about. You are excited about your transition, but have to figure out the right place to live. Should you rent before you buy? There's no one answer to this common question, so I'm breaking down both sides to help you find your answer.

WHAT'S YOUR TIME FRAME FOR MOVING?

If you're being relocated for a job, your employer may need you to move within a few months - not a lot of time to get to know an area. Being crunched for time may mean taking a breath and renting is your best bet.

Planning a move well in advance? Then you'll have more time to get to know your new city. Visit there multiple times, explore the area on weekdays and weekends to get a feel for your commute, different seasons, and talk to lots of locals. 

Do your online research on home prices, neighborhood safety, distance from places you know you'll frequent. 

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR JOB?

If you're starting a new job with a new company or feeling antsy in your current career path, you are probably going to want to rent until that situation solidifies.  

On the other hand, if you're moving with an employer you already know and like - then buying is an easier choice because you're not as worried about having to find new employment in the near future.

DO YOU HAVE KIDS?

With school-aged kids, you don't want to have to rent for a year - then move elsewhere and have to switch schools. There are rental options in good school districts, although they can be difficult to find in the Tampa Bay area - especially if you're looking for a large enough house for the family. Landlords may also restrict pets based on size or breed. 

WHAT DO YOUR FINANCES LOOK LIKE?

If you can't qualify for a mortgage or want to save more money for a down payment, then renting is the easy decision. However, if you do have money to put down and you can qualify for a loan - consider interest rates and home prices in the area you're looking at. 

ARE YOU AN EXPERIENCED HOMEOWNER?  

If you've been a homeowner for a while, being a renter may be a bit uncomfortable - even if it's temporary. You don't want to ask permission to change your living space. Or you could want a break from the responsibilities of ownership and can make a comfortable home for yourself while learning about your new city.

DO YOU HAVE A RELOCATION PACKAGE?

I've worked with many clients who move with very generous relocation packages from their employers that pay for moving expenses and closing costs if they purchase a home. Those packages often have an expiration date. Being offered thousands of dollars toward a home is enticing, and you may not want to lose those benefits if they expire while you're living in a rental.

Melanie is a Tampa Bay area Realtor with Smith & Associates. 

She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate. 

melanielovestampabay.com 

Email: [email protected] 

Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.368.6084 

DISCLAIMER: All content provided on melanielovestampabay.com and the Melanie Loves Tampa Bay YouTube channel/social media platforms is for informational/entertainment purposes only. The owner of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site. Information provided is subject to change. 

The words "safe neighborhood" are included in just about every text or email I get from people looking to move. It's no surprise that you want to live in an area you consider safe, but everyone has a different definition of what feels safe to them. This is why I wanted to share some tools to help you navigate this issue.

Real estate agents are not supposed to share their views on the safety of various neighborhoods, as it's against our code of ethics and violates the Fair Housing Act. Answering questions based on what we consider safe can get us into trouble both legally and ethically. Please understand why we cannot answer that question directly, but we can tell you about resources so you can make that decision based on your own research.

We live in a time where information is right at our fingertips, so the search will start online.

Realtor.com is a great place to start. Put your new city's name in the search criteria, click on any listing - then click the map. You'll see useful icons - but I will be focusing mainly on the CRIME button. Zoom out and you'll be able to see areas shaded based on crime statistics. 

I also highly encourage you to check out city, municipality, and county websites for direct crime information and detailed maps. 

Here are some in the Tampa Bay area:

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

http://gis.hcso.tampa.fl.us/PublicGIS/CrimeMapping/

CITY OF TAMPA

https://www.tampagov.net/police/info/crime-statistics

PINELLAS COUNTY

http://egis.pinellascounty.org/apps/CrimeViewer/

Another website that I have found helpful for United States crime statistics is crimemapping.com - many cities are featured.

One more thing you may want to look at is a sexual offender / predator map for the state you're moving to. Florida's version allows you to search by address to see where registered offenders live in proximity to the address.

STATE OF FLORIDA SEXUAL PREDATOR MAP

https://offender.fdle.state.fl.us/offender/sops/search.jsf

Obviously, maps can only tell you so much - but they are a solid starting point.

Next - spend time and the money to visit where you want to live. Go to restaurants and shops, talk to locals. If you're a parent - find a local playground and talk to other parents. Go to potential schools and meet with administrators.

Look up social media pages for that community to get information on prospective neighborhoods.

Lots of factors go into deciding where you want to live, and safety is at the top of the priority list for most buyers and renters. The reality is - no location is 100% crime-free and everyone has a different opinion on what is safe to them. Take your time and do your research.

Melanie is a Tampa Bay area Realtor with Smith & Associates. 

She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate. 

melanielovestampabay.com 

Email: [email protected] 

Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.368.6084 

DISCLAIMER: All content provided on melanielovestampabay.com and the Melanie Loves Tampa Bay YouTube channel/social media platforms is for informational/entertainment purposes only. The owner of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site. Information provided is subject to change. 

Have you been dreaming about a beachfront vacation home? One that you get to enjoy, but also pays for itself with rental income? 

Are you ready to take the plunge, but not sure where to start here in the Tampa Bay area? I'm here to share some tips on buying a property at the beach.

#1 LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

It's the first rule in real estate for a reason, and very much applies to vacation rentals. There are two things to consider when evaluating locations. What type of location do you want for your own use, and what will renters want? 

As you drive down the beach areas in Pinellas County, there are different towns with totally different vibes from St. Pete Beach to Clearwater.

#2 MINIMUM RENTAL RESTRICTIONS

If you're looking at condos, please know that nearly every condominium association has specific rental restrictions you will have to follow. Some allow for short term rentals, but others only permit longer time periods like six months or more. 

Considering a single family home? Be sure to check the rules of individual towns or villages as some of them do have rental restrictions - especially for short term rentals or renting out rooms in homes. 

#3 PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Most of my clients who have purchased beach rental properties don't have the time and desire to advertise the home, handle the lease, collect rent, pay taxes, and deal with ongoing maintenance issues.

Property managers tend to charge between 8 - 10% of the monthly rent for their services.

It can save you a lot of headaches and keep you out of trouble - especially when dealing with state and local taxes.

Owners that rent out a condo/home for less than 6 month periods are required to collect both a tourist development tax and sales tax - 13% in Pinellas County.

#4 COSTS

There are quite a few costs to consider from condo association fees, property taxes, insurance, property management fees, and general maintenance. These costs can add up, so crunch the numbers to see if you will actually net a profit.

#5 KNOW YOUR SEASONS

Rent prices vary depending on the season. Obviously, the winter months of January, February, and March are peak times for beach rentals. That's also when most Northerners want to actually use their beach house.

If you're looking to maximize your rental profit, you may need to use your home during off-peak seasons. 

BONUS TIP: Make sure you are working with a knowledgeable realtor with expertise in the areas you're looking to purchase in.

Melanie is a Tampa Bay area Realtor with Smith & Associates. 

She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate. 

melanielovestampabay.com 

Email: [email protected] 

Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.368.6084 

Free sound effects from http://www.freesfx.co.uk 

DISCLAIMER: All content provided on melanielovestampabay.com and the Melanie Loves Tampa Bay YouTube channel/social media platforms is for informational/entertainment purposes only. The owner of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site. Information provided is subject to change. 

Previously, I've highlighted mostly the good things about living in Florida and the Tampa Bay area. It's in my nature to do so, because I love these areas but no state or city is perfect so... Let's talk about the worst aspects about living in Florida.

Why would I try to talk you out of moving to Florida? Because you need to relocate here with realistic expectations and with eyes wide open.

My goal is that the people who choose to move here LOVE IT. 

BUGS & CREEPY CRAWLIES

POLITICS

BAD DRIVERS 

HEAT & HUMIDITY

SINKHOLES

CRAZY NEWS STORIES

INCREASED POPULATION

LIGHTNING, HURRICANES & STORMS

INSURANCE COSTS

ABOUT MELANIE LOVES TAMPA BAY:

Melanie is a Tampa Bay area Realtor with Smith & Associates. 

She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate. 

melanielovestampabay.com 

Email: [email protected] 

Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.368.6084 

Free sound effects from http://www.freesfx.co.uk 

DISCLAIMER: All content provided on melanielovestampabay.com and the Melanie Loves Tampa Bay YouTube channel/social media platforms is for informational/entertainment purposes only. The owner of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site. Information provided is subject to change.