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Jackie Colson-Miller

Jackie Colson-Miller, CIPS
Certified International Property Specialist
NAR Liaison to Austria
Tampa Real Estate
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Homeward Real Estate
3401 Henderson Blvd
Tampa, FL 33609
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'Tampa Foreclosures'

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Lenders Pursue Deficiency Judgments in Florida Foreclosures and Short Sales

Filed under: Short Sale, Tampa Foreclosures

The Latest news in the Tampa Real Estate Market, International Real Estate and Living in Tampa, every day on The Real Estate Sizzle

In the wake of the number of foreclosures and short sales in the Tampa Real Estate market, I have been predicting that lenders will start to issue “deficiency judgments”( the difference between the mortgage amount and the sale price in short sale or foreclosure) for those property owners who sold their homes in a “short sale” or let the property go in a foreclosure proceeding, without the protection of a bankruptcy to erase the debt.  And…months later…my prediction has come true!  Property owners should be aware that Florida law allows lenders to pursue a deficiency judgment for a period of up to 5 years after the date of the “short sale”, or foreclosure and allows TWENTY years to collect such a judgment.

With the number of “short sales” on the market, many homeowners have the mistaken impression that once the lender “accepts” a lower sales  price for the property than the amount of the mortgage payoff, they are “off the hook”. NOT SO.

Unless the “short sale” agreement between the mortgagee and the mortgagor specifically states that the lender will not pursue a deficiency judgment and the purchase price, upon sale,  constitutes a “full” payoff of the loan amount, the lender will have the option to pursue a judgment against the property owner for a period of 5 years, for both the principal amount, interest and legal fees!

If you are considering a short sale, or foreclosure, you should consult a Real Estate Attorney.


Make your online searches for homes in Tampa simple! You can get started on receiving all of the listings that meet your criteria in a matter of minutes…Just tell me what you are looking for…click here to receive the latest listings today! Any questions about the Tampa Real Estate Market, Tampa Schools, or the Best Neighborhoods in Tampa? Send me an email.

For more information about the Tampa Real Estate market, Tampa Neighborhoods, including Culbreath Isles, MacDill AFB,  South Tampa, Harbour Island, Davis Islands, Beach Park, Sunset Park, Hyde Park, Channelside, Palma Ceia, Westchase, Waterchase, Odessa, Cheval, Avila, Brandon, Riverview, FishHawk, Wesley Chapel, New Tampa, Tampa Palms, Hunters Green, Arbor Greene, Apollo Beach, South Shore, MiraBay, Golf Communities, Waterfront Homes, Houses in the Plant High School District, Tampa Schools, Luxury Homes in Tampa, Condos in Tampa, the Best Tampa Neighborhoods, or International Real Estate contact me.

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Posted by jackie   |   Click Here To Comment »   |   01.28.2010

Buying a Waterfront Home in Tampa? Tampa Real Estate News

Filed under: Buying a House in Tampa, CDD in Tampa, Florida Real Estate, Gated Communities in Tampa, Golf Course Communities in Tampa, Hunter\'s Green Homes, Luxury Homes in Tampa, MacDill AFB, Moving to Tampa, Schools in Tampa, Tampa Foreclosures, Tampa Home Search, Tampa MLS Listings, Tampa Neighborhoods, Tampa Real Estate, Tampa Real Estate Agent, Tampa Real Estate Market, Waterfront Homes in Tampa

It’s “relocation season” in Tampa, the time of year when families with children are relocating and searching for the perfect neighborhood and school district.  Many of the Tampa neighborhoods are filled with conservation areas and ponds.  Buyers who are moving from northern states are often shocked to see “Don’t Feed The Alligator” signs in the middle of a “city” neighborhood. 

Many of the newer subdivisions in Tampa, have natural, or man-made lakes.  Plenty of Tampa golf communities are filled with “water hazards” along the golf course. You can find them in Westchase, Live Oak, Cheval and Avila, just to name a few. I remember the first “pond front”  house I sold in Cheval.  We were doing the “walk through” the day before closing, just as the neighborhood gator was out for a swim.  The buyer, from Missouri, was stunned to see the mammoth creature just hundreds of yards away! We don’t have penguins in Florida, but we do have alligators!  If you are moving from outside of Florida, and spent your summers enjoying a swim in the local pond, or lake, then you need to understand one simple equation:

Fresh Water = Alligators= NO SWIMMING

Yes, Alligators will come out of the water to sun themselves on the banks, or in search of food. That leads to the second equation about alligators:

Feed The Alligator = Alligator Views Humans as a Food Source.

This article was prompted an article by Seth Godin…Tips To Avoid Alligator Attacks. Common Sense, but pretty funny!

Bottom line?  If you want to swim in Florida…head for the pool, or the beach!

Looking for the perfect home in any Tampa neighborhood, or a “bargain” in the Tampa Real Estate Market? Contact me today…we can chat about how to avoid alligators!

 

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Posted by jackie   |   2 Comments »   |   04.14.2009

How To Get the Latest News on The Tampa Real Estate Market

Filed under: Buying a House in Tampa, Historic Tampa, Hunter\'s Green Homes, Hyde Park Real Estate, International Real Estate, Jackie Colson-Miller, Luxury Homes in Tampa, MacDill AFB, MLS Listings in Tampa, MLS Search, Places to Live, Real Estate Blogs, Relocation, Restaurants in Tampa, Schools in Tampa, South Tampa, Tampa Foreclosures, Tampa Home Search, Tampa MLS Listings, Tampa Real Estate Agent, Tampa Real Estate Market, Tampa Schools, Things to do in Tampa, Waterfront Homes in Tampa

If you are looking for the latest information about the Tampa Real Estate Market, moving to Tampa, relocation to MacDill Air Force Base, or what’s new in the International Real Estate Market, you can get the latest posts from The Real Estate Sizzle in a variety of ways!

Get a daily email of the latest articles, on The Tampa Real Estate Sizzle, or sign up for an RSS feed!

Use Twitter? Go to my Twitter page and Follow Me! Unlike many people on Twitter, I don’t “tweet” all day long!  You will only get the latest Real Estate Articles, or my latest Restaurant Reviews!  If you don’t use Twitter, you should give it a try.

Do you want to receive my email newsletter?  Sign up here! You can “opt out” at any time.

While most of my articles on The Real Estate Sizzle are about the Tampa Real Estate Market, you will find plenty to read about living in Tampa, fun things to do in Tampa and great places to eat in Tampa.  Check out my favorite restaurants and read my reviews at Urban Spoon!

How about a “Google Alert”? I stopped reading the newspaper and get the majority of my “real estate news” via google. You can set up an an alert for “Real Estate Sizzle”, or “Tampa Real Estate”, or any subject you are trying to follow.  When an article is posted on that subject, whether it’s in the Wall Street Journal, the local news, or on a website, “google” will find it and email the link to you!

Do you want to receive listings in any Tampa, St. Pete, or Clearwater Beach area?  That’s easy…send me an email and tell me what you are searching for!

For more information about the Tampa Real Estate market, Tampa Neighborhoods, including Culbreath Isles, MacDill AFB,  South Tampa, Harbour Island, Davis Islands, Beach Park, Sunset Park, Hyde Park, Channelside, Palma Ceia, Westchase, Waterchase, Odessa, Cheval, Avila, Brandon, Riverview, FishHawk, New Tampa, Tampa Palms, Hunters Green, Arbor Greene, Apollo Beach, South Shore, MiraBay, Golf Communities, Waterfront Homes, Houses in the Plant High School District, Tampa Schools, Luxury Homes in Tampa, Condos in Tampa, the Best Tampa Neighborhoods, or International Real Estate contact me today.

 

 

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Posted by jackie   |   Click Here To Comment »   |   01.26.2009

Why You Should Stop Listening to the Media in The Tampa Real Estate Market

Filed under: Luxury Homes in Tampa, MacDill AFB, MLS Listings in Tampa, Moving to Tampa, South Tampa, Tampa Foreclosures, Tampa Home Search, Tampa Real Estate, Tampa Real Estate Agent

Three little words have “ruled” in the history of buying real estate, in Tampa, or anywhere else…LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.  Though we are in a “Buyer’s Market”, the basic rule still applies…”a property in a desirable location, that is priced right, will sell quickly”… The media, however, talks about the prices in the “Tampa Real Estate Market” as though the “rules” have changed. But, the “law of Supply and Demand”, along with the rule about “Location”, will never change. An “oversupply” of properties lowers prices, and an “undersupply” of properties increases prices. Use New York City as an example. What happens in Harlem does not apply to Park Avenue, or Tribeca. In Miami, South Beach prices are very different from Calle Ocho, or the Kendall area.  You cannot discuss real estate, in any Metropolitan area, without understanding the “microeconomics” of that area.

Let’s talk about “Media News” vs. “Facts” in the Tampa Real Estate Market, so CNN, MSNBC, WSJ and Tampa Tribune…please “listen up” and get your facts straight. And, put the “local” back into your real estate reporting.

 Media Myth:  “The entire Tampa Real Estate Market is still falling”

Truth:  Certain areas in the Tampa Real Estate Market, where investors were buying new construction at “pre-construction prices” during the “boom”, hoping to “flip” them upon completion, are in serious distress, with many foreclosures.  This includes the Channelside area and much of the South Shore area, including Riverview, Apollo Beach and Ruskin.  In Pasco County, the cities of Wesley Chapel and Land O’Lakes have also seen drastic price drops.

The area “least” affected by the downturn? South Tampa…the peninsula which is south of Downtown Tampa, beginning at Kennedy Boulevard and south to MacDill Air Force Base.

South Tampa has historically been one of the “best bets” for real estate, for three good reasons…LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. Just minutes to downtown Tampa and Tampa International Airport, South Tampa has top-rated schools and a “small town feeling”, with charming, historic neighborhoods.  In ANY real estate market, this area remains desirable.

In South Tampa, certain neighborhoods, which are in the Plant High School District,  are always very desirable: Hyde Park, Davis Islands, Palma Ceia, New Suburb Beautiful, Parkland Estates, Beach Park and Sunset Park. In the “prime” section of Hyde Park, or any of these neighborhoods, there might be one, or two, homes for sale, at any given time.

Statistics about the Tampa Real Estate Market,as a whole,  are often misleading, because they take the “location” out of the equation. Real Estate is “local”. In Tampa, it’s all about the neighborhood, so for news about a  specific Tampa neighborhood, PLEASE stop listening to the media and contact ME today!

 

 

 

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Posted by jackie   |   1 Comment »   |   01.20.2009

Mortgage Rates Dip Below 5%…Time to Buy in The Tampa Real Estate Market!

Filed under: Best Places in Tampa, Buying a House in Tampa, Cheval Homes, Clearwater Beach Real Estate, Davis Islands Real Estate, Gated Communities in Tampa, Golf Course Communities in Tampa, Historic Tampa, Hyde Park Real Estate, Jackie Colson-Miller, Luxury Homes in Tampa, MacDill AFB, MLS Listings in Tampa, MLS Search, Moving to Tampa, Real Estate Trends, Relocation, South Tampa, Tampa Foreclosures, Tampa Home Search, Tampa MLS Listings, Tampa Neighborhoods, Tampa Real Estate, Tampa Real Estate Agent, Tampa Real Estate Market, Waterfront Homes in Tampa, Westchase, Westshore Yacht Club

The latest news on the Tampa Real Estate Market, The Best Neighborhoods in Tampa and the International Real Estate Market, every day on The Real Estate Sizzle!

While Christmas shoppers head into the last week of scooping up the “bargains” in  the retail industry, homebuyers in the Tampa Real Estate Market should be focused on buying a house in the next month, or so.  Local mortgage brokers are offering mortgage rates below 5%.  Combine low interest rates, with discounted home values and you have the “Buyer’s Dream Market” in Tampa!  I saw Jumbo Rates (mortgages over $417,000) for 5.75% yesterday!  Get those visions of sugarplums out of your heads and start thinking “long term”….a 30 year fixed rate below 5% vs. 6% will save you over $100,000 in payments.

Want to get an even LOWER mortgage rate when you buy a home in Tampa, or Clearwater Beach right now?  Contact me today about how to take advantage of the “buyer’s market” and how to get a “free appraisal”, or “lower interest rate” in the Tampa Real Estate Market!

Contact me Today! 

You can read some of my previous articles about moving to Tampa, and relocation to MacDill Air Force Base:

MacDill Air Force Base…One of Tampa’s Largest Employers

Orders to MacDill Air Force Base? Find the Best Tampa Neighborhoods

Looking for real estate in Tampa?

 

If you are buying a house in Tampa, or Selling a house in Tampa, I can help with any Tampa neighborhood, including:

 

South Tampa, Davis Islands, Beach Park, Sunset Park, Hyde Park, Culbreath Isles, Palma Ceia, Westchase, Waterchase, Odessa, Cheval, Avila, Brandon, Riverview, FishHawk, New Tampa, Tampa Palms, Hunter’s Green, Arbor Greene, Apollo Beach, South Shore, MiraBay, Golf Communities, Waterfront Homes, Luxury Homes in Tampa, Clearwater Beach, St. Pete Beach, Condos in Tampa and International Real Estate…contact me!

 

Sign up for my email list to receive the latest information on the Tampa Real Estate Market, Living in Tampa, and the International Real Estate Market!

 

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Posted by jackie   |   5 Comments »   |   12.18.2008

Mortgage Rates at 4.5%?? A Gift for Homebuyers in the Tampa Real Estate Market

Filed under: Buying a House in Tampa, Clearwater Beach Real Estate, Davis Islands Real Estate, Florida Real Estate, Gated Communities in Tampa, mortgage news, Tampa Foreclosures, Tampa Home Search, Tampa Real Estate, Tampa Real Estate Market

The latest news on The Tampa Real Estate Market, Buying a House in Tampa, the Best Tampa Neighborhoods and International Real Estate Issues, every day on The Real Estate Sizzle…

The Tampa Real Estate Market is “abuzz” today with the news of mortgage rates dropping to 4.5%.  My phone has been ringing all morning.  Is it true?

Maybe!  The Treasury Department is considering the purchase of mortgage-backed securities from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which would encourage lenders to lower 30–year fixed rates to 4.5%, thereby stimulating activity in the housing industry, with a “trickle down” effect to the rest of the economy. The Treasury Department is expected to make a decision as early as Monday. So, stay tuned.

My advice?  If you are looking for a home in Tampa, or looking to invest in the real estate market, THIS IS THE TIME.  There are plenty of bargains, and foreclosures, in Tampa Real Estate, as well as the Clearwater Beach Real Estate Market.  Sellers are willing to negotiate. When the rates drop again, you need to LOCK and BUY! 

What does that mean?  Most lenders will “lock” your interest rate, for a certain length of time, usually 30 – 45 days. If you are a homebuyer, you need to be prepared to move quickly, to lock an interest rate, find a home, and close in 30 days! Take advantage of the “Best Buyer’s Market” in recent history…low interest rates and lower home prices are a homebuyer’s dream!

Looking for Tampa Real Estate?  Bargains? Foreclosures? Great Neighborhoods and School Districts in Tampa?  Contact me today, for help with the homebuying process, or a local mortgage lender!

I can help with your move to any Tampa neighborhood, including: South Tampa, Davis Islands, Beach Park, Sunset Park, Hyde Park, Culbreath Isles, Palma Ceia, Westchase, Waterchase, Odessa, Cheval, Avila, Brandon, Riverview, FishHawk, New Tampa, Tampa Palms, Hunters Green, Arbor Greene, Apollo Beach, South Shore, MiraBay, Golf Communities, Clearwater Beach, Waterfront Homes, Luxury Homes in Tampa, Condos in Tampa and International Real Estate contact me today!

 

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Posted by jackie   |   3 Comments »   |   12.04.2008

Moving to the Tampa Real Estate Market? Yes, We Have Alligators!

Filed under: Florida Real Estate, Gated Communities in Tampa, Golf Course Communities in Tampa, Tampa Foreclosures, Tampa Home Search, Tampa MLS Listings, Tampa Neighborhoods, Tampa Real Estate, Tampa Real Estate Agent, Tampa Real Estate Market, Waterfront Homes in Tampa

I have lived in Florida for over 25 years, and have been selling Real Estate for nearly 15 years, so I am pretty familiar with “avoiding alligators”.  It’s common sense, really. Where do alligators live? Aside from the Everglades…wherever there is water.

Many of the newer subdivisions in Tampa, have natural, or man-made lakes.  Plenty of Tampa golf communities are filled with “water hazards” along the golf course. You can find them in Westchase, Cheval and Avila, just to name a few. I remember the first “pond front”  house I sold in Cheval.  We were doing the “walk through” the day before closing, just as the neighborhood gator was out for a swim.  The buyer, from Missouri, was stunned to see the mammoth creature just hundreds of yards away! We don’t have penguins in Florida, but we do have alligators!  If you are moving from outside of Florida, and spent your summers enjoying a swim in the local pond, or lake, then you need to understand one simple equation:

Fresh Water = Alligators= NO SWIMMING

Yes, Alligators will come out of the water to sun themselves on the banks, or in search of food. That leads to the second equation about alligators:

Feed The Alligator = Alligator Views Humans as a Food Source.

This article was prompted by Seth Godin’s blog today…Tips To Avoid Alligator Attacks. Common Sense, but pretty funny!

Bottom line?  If you want to swim in Florida…head for the pool, or the beach!

Looking for the perfect home in any Tampa neighborhood, or a “bargain” in the Tampa Real Estate Market? Contact me today…we can chat about how to avoid alligators!

 

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Posted by jackie   |   1 Comment »   |   11.12.2008

How to Find the Tampa Foreclosures, or “Bargains” in the Tampa Real Estate Market!

Filed under: Condo Foreclosures, Tampa Condos, Tampa Foreclosures, Tampa Home Search, Tampa MLS Listings, Tampa Real Estate, Tampa Real Estate Agent, Tampa Real Estate Market

Are you looking for a foreclosure, or a “bargain” in the Tampa Real Estate Market?  How about a beach condo foreclosure in St. Pete, or Clearwater, or a “distress” sale? You are not alone.  In this “Buyer’s Market” in Tampa Real Estate, everyone is hoping to find the “deal of the century”.

How do you find foreclosures in Tampa?  Use a Tampa Real Estate Agent! I just put a property under contract for 80% less than the sales price in 2005! My client is thrilled! The house is just 3 years old…in great condition.

While there are many sites “advertising” foreclosure listings in Tampa, or offering to send you lists of bank-owned properties in Tampa for a “fee”, the only current information is found through the Multiple Listing Service, not through outdated lists from other sources.

I can search for “bank owned” properties, foreclosures, and pre-foreclosures in any area in the Tampa/Orlando/Sarasota/St. Pete/Clearwater market.

For foreclosures in Tampa, or anywhere in Florida, don’t waste your time searching the internet for outdated information…contact me today!

Don’t miss the latest articles on the Real Estate Sizzle!  You can subscribe by email, or RSS feed here!

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Posted by jackie   |   1 Comment »   |   11.11.2008

Live at Ventana…An Upscale, Urban Lifestyle in Channelside…Tampa Real Estate

Filed under: Channelside Tampa, Condo Foreclosures, MLS Listings in Tampa, MLS Search, Real Estate News, Tampa Condos, Tampa Foreclosures, Tampa Home Search, Tampa MLS Listings, Tampa Neighborhoods, Tampa Real Estate, Ventana Tampa

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2689813664436911980On the edge of downtown Tampa, along the Port of Tampa, on Channelside Drive, sits the Channelside District.   Formerly a mass of rundown wearhouses, this area has been transformed into an upscale, urban setting filled with lofts, condominiums, shopping and entertainment.

One of the best places to live in the Channelside District is Ventana…a small, intimate, beautifully designed complex with just 84 units, right on the Trolley Stop! Contact me for floor plans and pricing today!

The Channelside Shopping Complex sits in the heart of it all.  You can enjoy a movie, go bowling at Splitsville, or enjoy Tapas, Thai or Japanese food, and many other dining options, right on the water.  You can enjoy a night on the trolley and head over to Ybor City!

The St. Pete Times Forum,  formerly The Ice Palace ,  is home to the Stanley Cup Champions, The Tampa Bay Lightning.

It is also the Venue for some great concerts and shows every year. Or, you can enjoy the “sharks” at The Florida Aquarium.

The cruise ships depart from the Channelside area, so you will often see the Carnival Cruise Ship docked at the Port of Tampa!

If you live in the Channelside area, you can leave your car behind. The Trolley, which stops in front of Ventana, can whisk you through Channelside and over to Ybor City.  Enjoy a night on the town, without driving!

There are many lofts and condos just completed, and under construction, in the Channelside district.  Prices from the 300′s to the 500′s for a penthouse with a view, Ventana  offers something for everyone.  For more information about what is available in the area, which is MLS area 264 and zip code 33602, or would like to receive listings in any Tampa neighborhood by email, contact me today!

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Posted by jackie   |   Click Here To Comment »   |   11.06.2008

What’s Happening In the Tampa Real Estate Market?

Filed under: Buying a House in Tampa, South Tampa, Tampa Foreclosures, Tampa Home Search, Tampa MLS Listings, Tampa Real Estate, Tampa Real Estate Agent, Tampa Real Estate Market

All over the country, the Real Estate Market is reacting to the financial crisis and news of the bailout. Tampa Real Estate is no exception.

I was recently interviewed by Inman News, a national real estate news organization, regarding the state of the Tampa Real Estate Market.

You can read the article, my thoughts, and reaction from Real Estate agents around the country.

Read the Inman News Article here.

Mortgages ARE available and, after a few weeks of QUIET, the phones are started to ring again!

Remember, if you are buying a house in Tampa, you must close before December 31, 2008, in order to be eligible for the Homestead Exemption on your Property Taxes for 2009! It’s a “Buyer’s Market” in Tampa!

If you are looking for Real Estate in any Tampa neighborhood, contact me today!

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Posted by jackie   |   Click Here To Comment »   |   11.05.2008

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