Melanie Loves Tampa Bay

When it comes to items in the grocery store, pricing something at 99 cents is better than $1, but is the same thing true for pricing your house? 

Recently, I read an interesting article on the Florida Realtor's website about the psychology of home pricing based on information presented by Robert McTague.

https://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=378172 

https://www.inman.com/2015/04/17/the-psychology-of-pricing-a-real-estate-property/ 

This is a topic that's always fascinated me, so I wanted to share this with you and break down what it means.

WHAT ABOUT THOSE 9'S?

Sellers and agents love home prices that end in 9's - they think it will make their listing seem like more of a bargain than the ones listed at $100 more. But you need to be careful, because you might be losing potential buyers. Here's why: buyers tend to search online in $25,000 increments. If your house is priced at $350,000 - it will be included in searches up to or starting at $350,000. Homes priced at $349,900 won't be shown to buyers who set a minimum price of $350,000. 

It may be beneficial to use the 9 strategy for properties priced in the middle of a $25,000 increment such as $310,000 going to $309,900. However, the article also pointed out that luxury brands tend to price items at round numbers like $1,500 - so as a seller, you should want your house to convey luxury rather than bargain basement.

ODD PRICES SEEM MORE LEGIT

What if you price your house at $354,000 or $357,000 - does that help? It actually might. McTague says that a precise price suggests that the seller did a full analysis of what their house is worth, and the buyer might view that listing as having less room for negotiation. 

COMMAS AND DECIMALS

If you want to make your house seem more affordable, take out the commas and decimals from the price where you can. Buyers are more likely to see the price of $350000 as lower than $350,000.00.

On the flip side, when you're negotiating or have a price decrease - add in all those commas and decimals. For example, you can market "Home Reduced $15,000.00!" that makes it look like a bigger discount.

Hope you learned a few pricing strategies today! If you're looking to buy or sell a home in the Tampa Bay area - feel free to contact me.

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 

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. 

Moving to Tampa / St. Petersburg? Sharing lots of helpful information from things to do, where to live, cost of living, job opportunities, and more.

WHERE TO LIVE

Primary counties are Hillsborough (Tampa) and Pinellas (St. Petersburg / beaches). If you're considering a move here and prefer urban areas - you can choose between downtown Tampa and downtown St. Petersburg. Housing ranges from luxury high rise condos to historic bungalows.

Other communities throughout the area include Tarpon Springs, Dunedin, Safety Harbor, Hyde Park Village, Seminole Heights, and Ybor City.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

The Tampa Bay area is home to the headquarters of Fortune 500 companies such as: Tech Data, Publix, Jabil, WellCare, and Raymond James.

Other companies with a presence here include: Bloomin' Brands, Citigroup, Humana, USAA, JP Morgan Chase, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Progressive Insurance, and Mosaic. 

There are endless opportunities here for anyone in healthcare, education, and the service industry.

YEAR ROUND ACTIVITIES

From beaches to water activities including boating, fishing, kite surfing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and scuba diving.

Museums -  The Salvador Dalí Museum, Tampa Art Museum, Glazer Children's Museum, Museum of Science and Industry.

Aquariums & Zoos - Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Florida Aquarium, ZooTampa at Lowry Park

Amusement Parks - Busch Gardens, Adventure Island

We have festivals for just about everything and everyone.

Breweries - the Tampa Bay area is very quickly becoming a destination for those who enjoy a great craft beer. 

Music - Amalie Arena, Raymond James Stadium - these two host many of the most popular tours. 

https://www.visittampabay.com/things-to-do/ 

SPORTS

Home to three major sports teams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (football), Tampa Bay Lightning (hockey), Tampa Bay Rays (baseball). 

TAMPA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - consistently ranked one of the top in the nation.

https://www.tampaairport.com/ 

COST OF LIVING

The Tampa Bay area is very affordable in comparison with other cities in Florida. Our average housing costs are lower, and transportation is reasonable. Florida in general is an expensive state for all types of insurance, but at least you're not paying state income tax here!

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. 

During my real estate career I've shown thousands of houses, and there's one thing that's true for almost all buyers: they make observations on your home as soon as they walk in and some of them are not so nice.

Buyers need to connect with your home in a personal way in order to want to purchase it. They use all five of their senses and will often verbalize what they're thinking. Here are some of the most common (brutally honest) observations that I hear.

SMELLS

Whether it's food, cigarettes, or even overly aggressive air fresheners - nothing turns off a buyer faster than a smell that they don't like. Don't try and mask or cover up unpleasant odors - you need to get to the source and fix it. You may need to replace carpet, paint walls, clean out air ducts, or remove furniture - especially pieces that pets love to sit on. Don't cook any foods with pungent odors.

PERSONAL PHOTOS

I actually like when homes have a few pictures, despite what every real estate article and video recommends. Personally, I've never seen a buyer get turned off by a few lovely family photos. What you want to avoid are casual snapshots. You don't want buyers taking away too much of their time checking out your 2002 Spring Break photo collage. And lets talk about wedding photos - take down almost all of them. They could dredge up negative emotions for newly divorced buyers.

NICKNAMES

Your house will definitely get a nickname - every buyer does it. They come in, look at your house, remember one or two things about it and then give each house a nickname. Just the other day, I had a buyer refer to the "zebra house" because it had a cool picture of that animal above the couch. You want buyers to have a positive or neutral nickname, and not a strange personal item like tequila. I have found that buyers are much more likely to purchase homes with a positive nickname. 

DIRT, DUST, HAIR

It's really hard to keep a house clean with a family and pets living in it, but it's so important for the home to exude cleanliness. No dirty baseboards, dog hair on the floor, mold in the shower, or a dusty air filter. Buyers notice all of these things right away and it's a huge turn off. Do a deep cleaning before you list your home, and then spend the money to have someone come weekly for upkeep while you are showing it. 

 IS THIS HOUSE WORTH THE PRICE? 

Almost immediately, a buyer will make an assessment of what they think your house is worth, usually based on how much work they feel it needs. Buyers tend to overestimate the cost of cosmetic changes, so make easy ones before listing - modern paint colors, removing wallpaper, updating light and plumbing fixtures, and replacing worn carpet.

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. 

Getting mortgage tips for first time home buyers and talking credit with Patrick Storch of The Mortgage Firm Tampa.

So you've just graduated from college, got a great job, and live in a city you want to stay in... What are your first steps to buying a home in terms of getting a mortgage? 

According to Patrick, recent college grads may be able to step into home ownership sooner than they think and qualify for a mortgage. In some instances, education can substitute for being on the job for a few years. 

Credit score REALLY matters for anyone who wants to qualify for a home loan. Lenders look at your debt-to-income ratio (how much income and debt you have), credit score, and assets. 

Some first time home buyer programs only require a 3% down payment. 

The higher your credit score, the better it is for a mortgage loan interest rate and qualifying.

How to establish credit?

-Get a couple credit cards (2 max)

-Don't max out credit cards, pay them off monthly

-Always pay bills on time (credit cards, debt, utilities, phone bill)

Your Mortgage Credit Report is then pulled by lenders like Patrick. 580 credit score typically the lowest you can have to qualify for a mortgage, but ideally your credit score should be 700+.

The Mortgage Firm Tampa / Patrick Storch

https://www.closemymortgagetampa.com/

Call or apply online. 📲 813-616-8844 🖥 

8471 West Linebaugh Ave. 

Tampa, FL 33625

Monday - Friday: 8:30AM - 5:30PM

Evenings & Weekends: By Appointment

NMLS # 189233 | 228635

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. 

What is it really like to live in the state of Florida? This episode is focused on the perks and reality of the Sunshine State.

If you don't live here or have never visited, it's easy to create your own version of Florida and I get all sorts of questions.

WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH ALLIGATORS?

Alligators are a big part of our world here in Florida, and they've been here for a lot longer than us people have. For the most part, they stay away from humans. Alligators migrate, so a pond or lake without any could get a gator a few months down the line. Alligators only become a problem when they lose their fear of humans, which can happen if they are being fed.

https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/alligator/

 WHAT'S IT LIKE LIVING SO CLOSE TO BEACHES?

Sandy... It's really sandy.

I fully understand that beaches are a big reason people move here. They are so beautiful and there's nothing better than watching a sunset while sitting in the sand. The West Coast of Florida has some of the best!

HOW'S THE TRAFFIC?

Just like all major cities, we have traffic headaches, mostly during rush hours.

If there's a wreck on a major highway like I-75 or I-275, it can cause significant delays. We see a spike in vehicles on the road during peak tourist season: January through March. Beaches get very crowded and I-4 to Walt Disney World can see a lot of activity. 

https://www.fdot.gov/statistics/trafficdata/

DISCOUNTS ON AMUSEMENT PARKS?

Yes! Florida residents can purchase discounted tickets and annual passes to your favorite amusement parks. 

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/special-offers/resident-stay-rooms/details/

https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/tickets-packages/park-tickets/flr/index.html

https://www.legoland.com/florida/buy-tickets/tickets/

FLORIDA'S COST OF LIVING

That really depends on what you're used to. If you're coming from the northeast or California, then no, it isn't expensive to live in Florida.

But compared to other southern states, Florida can be more expensive.

WHAT ABOUT THE WEATHER???

Weather is a major concern for new residents and it should be. Hurricanes are a possibility and we do have days with intense storms and flooding.

Yes, it's hot and humid lasting well into the fall months, but this is a tropical climate and that's normal. Makes for some bad hair days, but also keeps your skin and eyes from drying out.

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. 

What if the housing market isn't a seller's market or a buyer's market?

Does that mean we're headed into a balanced housing market?

Lately I've been asked about another possible housing bubble. We have enjoyed a very healthy and fast-paced market for several years now in Florida.

Prices are much higher than they were when this positive trend started, and that worries people because they naturally wonder how high prices can go before they start to fall.

Well, the short answer to that question is NO.

I don't think we're going to experience another bubble, followed by a crash like 2008 to 2011.

The market is different this time around, and lending requirements have changed. 

What I do think is happening is that the prices and sales frenzy are slowing down, which makes it seem like the market itself is going down - but is it?

Think of it this way...

When you're in an airport on one of those moving sidewalks, you feel like you're really zooming along. All of a sudden you step off and it's like you're moving at a snail's pace. But, you are actually moving at a normal pace - it just feels slower.

That same concept is true for a housing market that's cooling off. When the market slows down, it's like stepping off the moving sidewalk. It feels like a big difference, but we're still moving forward, albeit at a slower pace.

And that's okay! I promise.

In the past two decades, we have become so used to unbalanced markets. First, we had the extreme seller's market in the mid-2000s, which quickly turned into a buyer's market by 2009. A few years of that led us to the seller's market we have experienced for the last couple of years. We've been riding a roller coaster!

But here's the thing: When it's a seller's market, they have all the power and buyers feel like the inferior party in the transaction. 

When it's a buyer's market, sellers are tripping over themselves to attract buyers among a lot of competition. 

For so many years, one party or the other has had all the power.

When inventory rises, but there are still a healthy number of buyers (which there are in Florida), the market balances and prices won't continue to climb at the same speed.

I realize you don't like to hear that your home value isn't increasing like it once was, but prices can't go up indefinitely. We all know that. 

They either have to go down or slow down, and I'll take slowing down any day.

But here's the beauty of a balanced housing market - everybody has to do their part. Sellers who prep their home to perfection will benefit from more buyers wanting their home. Buyers who have been struggling to find homes will have a better opportunity to find the perfect one.

With Love, Melanie

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 Love

For anyone who doesn't live in Tampa, Gasparilla can be a real head scratcher - what is it? Mid-January, us Tampa Bay residents are getting our beads ready.

So what is Gasparilla?

Gasparilla Pirate Festival was inspired by the legend of Jose Gaspar, who supposedly was a Spanish Naval officer-turned-pirate back in the late 18th century and early 19th century who plundered the waters of the West Coast of Florida.

Now, there is no actual evidence that this really happened, but nobody cares about that little detail.

Back in 1904, the story of Jose Gaspar was unearthed and Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla adopted him as a patron rogue of their city-wide celebration.

That celebration has been evolving ever since, and now the Gasparilla invasion and pirate parade is the third largest parade in the United States, attracting around 300,000 people to the city of Tampa.

Even though the pirate invasion is the main draw, there are lots of other Gasparilla-themed events that take place over several weeks:

Children's Gasparilla Parade - family-friendly, bead-throwing good time for all ages. Parade route runs along Bayshore Boulevard, and this usually takes place the week before the main pirate invasion. Alcohol-free event.

http://gasparillapiratefest.com/childrens-fest/

Gasparilla Parade of Pirates presented by Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla - held on the last Saturday in January, Ye Mystic Krewe fearlessly pilots their ship up Tampa Bay, firing off cannons until it reaches the city shore. Once there, they demand the key to the city from the mayor. When the mayor gives up the key, they have a victory parade up Bayshore Boulevard, and the pirates take over for one not-so-fearful afternoon.

http://gasparillapiratefest.com/

http://ymkg.com/

Even if you're not a 'parade person,' you should still make your day downtown and enjoy the festivities throughout the day at the local bars and restaurants.

Sant'Yago Illuminated Knight Parade 

http://www.knightparade.com/

Gasparilla International Film Festival

https://www.gasparillafilmfestival.com/

Gasparilla Festival of the Arts

http://gasparillaarts.com/

Gasparilla Music Festival 

https://gasparillamusic.com/

If you aren't from Tampa and want to join us for the invasion, we hope you do! It is always a fun and memorable time for everybody!

With Love, Melanie

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. 

Hello friends,

Very excited to announce that I’m running as a candidate for the Westchase Charitable Foundation Tampa Bay Woman of the Year!

The Westchase Charitable Foundation is a non-profit, public charity started in 2004. It relies on fundraising to support families who have either children or parents battling a serious illness or assisting people in the community and beyond who are faced with a family tragedy. 

Since its inception, the Westchase Charitable Foundation has provided over $500,000 in direct financial grants to families around the Tampa Bay area. Even though the name references Westchase, over 90% of the grant recipients reside outside of the Westchase area.

So to all of my friends and Tampa Bay community - I humbly ask for your support, and there are several ways you can get involved.

http://www.westchasefoundation.org/candidate/melanie-atkinson/

The Tampa Bay Woman of the Year event takes place Saturday March 2, 2019 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Sheltair, which is in the jet center across from International Plaza. Previous events have attracted 500 - 600 people. It is a beautiful venue and there will be a live band, live and silent auctions, food & drinks, private jets to tour, and so much more.   

I've attended in the past and it's a great time!

The most impactful way to support the organization is to become a sponsor. I am looking for business or personal sponsorships ranging from $1,000 - $15,000. If you're a local business that wants to get behind a strong cause, I would love to talk to you.

Restaurants/food & beverage distributors - we're also looking for anyone who wants to set up a station to provide food and drinks to guests - the more the better!

Have things you'd like to donate for the live or silent auction? This could be smaller or big ticket, anything helps!

Of course, another way to support my candidacy for Tampa Bay Woman of the Year is to go to the event on March 2nd and have a wonderful night out. Tickets are available now. Early bird pricing is in effect until February 8 - $60/per person for general admission, $80 after February 8. Register now and don't forget to put my name in the box that asks: "Which candidate are you supporting?"

BUY TICKETS:

https://tbwoy19.auction-bid.org/microsite/

Finally, I'm also selling 50/50 raffle tickets for $100 each. You do not have to be present to win, so this is a great way to participate if you live out of the area or won't be in town.

📞 Call/text 813.368.6084 or email me at [email protected] 

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.

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.