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Good News For Florida! Covid-19 Hasn't Decimated the Real Estate Showings!

How badly did Covid-19 hit the real estate market?

Great question. A question we have been asked a lot lately. The investors/bottom feeders come out of the wood work when they smell a little blood in the water. 

It is still too early to forecast what impact Covid-19 has had on the real estate market. I do have some good news to report. Below are three charts displaying showing volume for North America, New York and Florida.

Naturally, with the quarantine, there are just going to be fewer real estate showings. The above chart displays the showings across North America for the Showing Time service. They handle quite a few of the showing appointments for real estate brokers. Not all real estate brokers use this service so it does not display all showings. However, they do have a good sample size for statistical purposes. 

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Note from DWELL Real Estate about Real Estate and COVID-19

To Our Friends, Clients and Colleagues,

First and foremost, we want to send our love and support during this difficult time. The global COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most challenging things we have had to face as an industry, community and country. While we tread through these unchartered waters it is important not to panic and that we tackle this challenge together as a community.

DWELL Real Estate is proud to have been part of the Sarasota and Tampa Bay communities for many years. Our seasoned and expert agents have seen many different types of real estate markets. From boom to bust and everything in between. We will continue to provide you with useful real estate market statistics and updates.

Fortunately, the real estate market is less vulnerable to irrational, panic selling than the financial markets. In a world of uncertainty one thing hasn’t changed and that is everyone needs a place to live and Florida is still an attractive place to live, work and...

What Does Flood Insurance Cost in St. Petersburg?

Flood insurance cost in St. Pete, FLWe Realtors are often asked by prospective home buyers about flood insurance rates in St. Petersburg, Florida.  I am sure we will get asked even more now that hurricane Irma hit the state of Florida. There is no easy answer to this question. 

There are many horror stories when it comes to the cost of flood insurance in Florida. We are just talking about flood insurance here and not general homeowners insurance. They are seperate policies.

All of Florida is a Flood Zone

People frequently get confused about this. The entire state of Florida is in a flood zone. Yes you read that correctly. Even the highest point in the state, Britton Hill at 345 feet above sea level is in a flood...

Estimating St. Petersburg Property Taxes

We often get asked the question from potential buyers, "What will my property taxes be if I buy this property?" Many Realtors will say that a good rule of thumb in estimating St. Petersburg, Florida property taxes is 1.0%-1.5% of the value of the property. 

Is this true?

Fortunately, for those thinking of purchasing in Pinellas county the Property Appraisers office has a useful tool to help you estimate what the taxes will be on a property. Check out this tool. I wrote a similar article today about Sarasota county here and their property appraisers office does not provide an equivalent tool. 

Is 1.0%-1.5%...

Just Sold in St. Petersburg, FL

Below are recently sold homes and condos in St. Petersburg, Florida that DWELL Real Estate was fortunate enough to be involved in this year. We were a little late in blogging this information so many of our sales are not here. We are only mentioning these sales to help educate you on the local real estate market (not to be braggadocious ;-)). 

If you are thinking of buying or selling in St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Bradenton, Sarasota, Bradenton, Bellaire, Clearwater, Downtown St. Pete, Indian Rocks Beach, Largo, Madeira Beach, Old Northeast, ...

St. Pete Beach vs. Clearwater Beach - Where Do You Belong?

St. Pete Beach vs Clearwater Beach

Since DWELL expanded from Sarasota north to our sister-city St. Petersburg early this year, we have been interacting much more frequently with buyers looking to be closer to Tampa in the vibrant area of St. Pete/Clearwater. Let’s take a closer look at the differences between the small beach towns of St. Pete Beach & Clearwater beach, so you can find the place that’s best for you!

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  Demographics

4 Quirky Houses in Tampa Bay

For the person who shuns the standard three-bedroom, two-bathroom ranch house, here are some quirkier homes you might want to check out.

TAMPA BAY, FL -- For the person who shuns the standard three-bedroom, two-bathroom ranch house, here are some quirkier homes you might want to check out.

2917 Sunset Way - St. Pete Beach

4 Quirky Homes For Sale in Tampa BayThe Alamar is a custom-built, three-story waterfront home on Pass-A-Grille Beach in St. Petersburg that was designed with a modern flair by renowned Florida architect Michael Dedmore. This five-bedroom, 5,915-square-foot house was built from solid...

A Guide to the 203k Home Renovation Loan

Your 203k Loan GuideA 203k loan is a loan granted by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to be used for homes in a state of disrepair at the time of purchase. To qualify for traditional FHA financing, the stipulations state that the property must be in livable condition. If this isn't the case, the FHA offers a 203k loan to give buyers another option. These loans are seen as a way to bring older homes (and hopefully the surrounding community) back from the dead by giving people the resources they need to restore them.

What is the 203k Loan Used For?

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The VA Home Loan Process: 4 Things Every Buyer Must Know

VA Home Loans: Four Important Facts Every Home Buyer Needs to KnowWith home mortgage interest rates still very low, today's home buyers have many excellent home loan options available to them. But for those who meet the military service qualifications, the VA home loan option continues to provide a very affordable path to home ownership. If you are shopping for a home and wondering which mortgage you should choose, here are four important facts about the VA home loan program that will help you decide if it is the right choice for your buying situation.

VA Home Loans are a Zero Down Mortgage Option

Designed to make becoming a ...

Is an FHA Loan a Good Choice?

Is an FHA Loan a Good Choice?Not everyone can put aside 20 percent of the purchase price of a home to use as a down payment. This is one reason for the popularity of the FHA loan. This product has become useful for those homeowners who may have had previous credit issues or who can afford a smaller down payment. In such a case, homeowners may step into their first home with a down payment as small as 3.5 percent with an FHA loan.

When getting approved for conventional home financing is not an option, there are a variety of mortgage products...