Announcing Another Exquisite Residence Sold At Spectacular Signature Place

Space for living. Timeless design that’s modern, clean, sophisticated. With gracious living areas and bay views from every terrace. Enjoy your days and nights on the town, then come home to luxurious bliss. Signature is your own personal resort in the middle of the city.

Residences feature fine European cabinetry, polished quartz or granite countertops, premium stainless steel kitchen appliances, frameless glass shower enclosures, tile flooring, floor to ceiling windows, and designer bathroom fixtures.

Every aspect of Signature is a masterpiece. Light ricochets from richly illuminated surfaces of stone countertops and stainless steel appliances and custom-made European-style wood cabinetry.

The 6th floor sky garden area offers residents the use and enjoyment of amazing amenities:


■Sleek vanishing-edge lap pool

■Putting green

■State-of-the-art fitness center with cardiovascular and circuit training equipment

■Magnificent formal lawn

■Private cabanas

■Contemporary lounge chairs, tables and benches

■Reflecting pool

■Intimate lounging area

■Panoramic views of the Bay

■Lush tropical plantings

Social rooms offer ample meeting spaces, catering kitchen, flat screen televisions, bar areas, and a state
of the art media room.

Signature’s street-level Urban Plaza offers residents and workers a park-like oasis within the busy urban downtown setting.

■60-foot wide, 6-story waterfall

■Large reflecting pool

■Elegant Date Palm bosque

■Outdoor shaded eating area

■Sloped lawn viewing area

CNN Money || Yahoo Finance || St Petersburg Best Places to Retire

 St. Petersburg, FLPopulation: 245,314


% over 50: 36%

Median home price: $150,000

Where to take classes: Eckerd College

Visit St. Petersburg and you'll quickly realize that retirement in Florida isn't just about sunny beaches, luxury shopping, fine dining and signature golf courses. (Although, St. Pete offers all of the above.) For retirees interested in sharpening their intellect, Eckerd College offers two distinct programs: The Academy of Senior Professionals invites retirees to interact with Eckerd students and faculty by auditing classes, advising student teams and even teaching. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute offers enrichment classes, workshops and special events for the over-50 set.

Meanwhile, there are ample extracurricular activities in St. Petersburg. The Salvador Dali Museum is home to the largest collection of the artist's work outside of his native Spain, and the Museum of Fine Arts permanently houses works from Claude Monet, Georgia O'Keefe and other masters. The Mahaffey Theater hosts the Florida Orchestra and traveling Broadway acts, while the Sunscreen Film Festival annually showcases independent shorts, features and documentaries from around the world.

St. Petersburg Florida Real Estate - Saint Petersburg, FL - AmericanTowns.com

St. Petersburg Florida Real Estate - Saint Petersburg, FL - AmericanTowns.com

Just Sold || Villas of Cambray || Panther Trace || Tampa Bay New Homes

PANTHER TRACE EXCEPTIONAL FEATURES -
VILLAS OF CAMBRAY

CONSTRUCTION FEATURES
Fungus resistant 30 year dimensional shingle roof
Aluminum soffit and facia
Steel reinforced concrete footer and floor
Brick pavers at entry
Bora-Care termite treatment
Polyethylene vapor barrier beneath all concrete floors
Two car garage
Hydrostatically tested plumbing featuring CPVC water lines and air chambers for quiet operation
Washer connection for hot and cold water
220V Electrical connection in utility areas and dryer vent
Two exterior hose bibs
Three ceiling fan pre-wires
Four telephone outlets
Three cable television pre-wires
Garage door opener pre-wire
Copper Wiring
Minimum 200 AMP service with circuit breaker panel
White finish single-hung aluminum windows with screens
Lighted master closets
Drywall interior walls with orange peel finish
Spanish lace textured ceilings
Garage frame walls and ceiling finished with textured drywall


ENERGY SAVING FEATURES
Heavy duty weather stripping at all doors and windows
Lennox 13 SEER air conditioner
R-30 fiberglass ceiling insulation over all living areas
R-11 fiberglass insulation in exterior frame walls including wall between garage and living areas
Expanded foam insulation applied at outlets and plumbing openings
Continuous vent soffit system
Quick recovery 40 gallon water heater


KITCHENS
Recessed can lighting
Quality wood cabinets with hidden hinges
GE self-cleaning range
GE ductless range hood
GE 3-cycle dishwasher
Garbage disposal - ½ horsepower
Pre-plumbed for icemaker
Stainless steel double kithen sink with Delta pullout faucet
Level one (1) tile flooring


BATHROOMS
Medicine cabinet
Delta faucets in tub and shower
Water saver toilets and shower head
Steel enamel bathroom sinks
Recessed shower with clear glass shower enclosure in master bath
Level one (1) tile flooring


DECORATOR FEATURES
Volume ceilings, per plan
Plant shelves, per plan
3 ¼" Colonial molding
9 light fiberglass French entry door
Classique interior doors
Decorative garage door windows
Two garage coach lights
Marble window sills
High quality Sherwin-Williams paint
Shaw 100% nylon carpet over ½" 6lb, padding for resilience, luxury and comfort
Level one (1) tile flooring in foyer and utility room


ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Fire rated door between house and garage
Gutters on sides only
Metal overhead garage door
Smoke detectors, per building code
Ventilated wire shelving in closets, pantry and utility areas
PVC mailbox
A/C supply in walk-in closets
Floratam sod and irrigation system
Personalized interior design assistance with a professional decorator
10 year limited home warranty

Choose from expertly crafted single-family homes, townhomes and paired villas – close to all the amazing Florida attractions, world-famous beaches and championship golf courses. Centrally located on Florida’s West Coast, our Tampa new homes are a perfect fit for your lifestyle. Visit all of our new homes for sale in Tampa, FL and experience our exceptional designs for yourself.

2 Foreclosure Scams to Avoid

WASHINGTON – Sept. 15, 2010 – Last year, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission identified 71 companies running suspicious foreclosure rescue ads. This year, the Better Business Bureau named foreclosure rescue rip-offs among its top 10 scams.


Here are just two common scams identified in the September “Foreclosure Resource Guide” now available at the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) Realtor Content Resource:

• A representative of a so-called foreclosure rescue company promises to negotiate a deal with your lender, instructing you not to contact your lender, lawyer or credit counselor during the supposed negotiations. After you pay an up-front fee or a few months of mortgage payments, the scam artist disappears.

• A scam artist promises to fend off foreclosure in exchange for an up-front fee. Instead of getting you legitimate relief, the fraudster pockets the fee and secretly files a bankruptcy case in your name.

Also covered in the “Foreclosure Resource Guide” are free tips on what to do immediately if you’re facing foreclosure, five foreclosure pros you need on your team, what foreclosure counselors can and can’t do, and website resources for foreclosure help.

© 2010 Florida Realtors®

Another Spectacular Residence Sold at Signature Place - St. Petersburg

David Greenlees and JoAnn Nicolo P.A. announce the sale of another spectacular residence at Signature Place in Downtown St. Petersburg.

6 tips for creating a great home office

ORLANDO, Fla. – Sept. 14, 2010 – A home office is a wonderful asset, so design it carefully. Here are some pointers to keep in mind:

• Privacy is important. Choose a location as far away as possible from children’s play areas, the TV room, the kitchen and other hubs of family activity.

• Do you need proximity to the door? If you expect to receive clients in your office, make sure they don’t have to walk upstairs past the bedroom to attend a business meeting.

• Is the space big enough for office equipment? Before you move in, measure the desk, bookshelves, file cabinets and other furniture to make sure it will fit in the designated space.

• Get electrical assistance. Your home office will certainly need more outlets than it did before it was an office. Don’t rely on power strips. Get expert assistance.

• Add some soundproofing. Consider replacing the drywall with a special soundproofing variety and hang a new solid-core door.

• Decorate thoughtfully. If you’re going to be spending a lot of time in your office, and especially if you’ll have clients there, take time to choose nice decor.

Shadow inventory shrinks for 5th consecutive month

Barclays: Shadow inventory shrinks for 5th consecutive month


That ominous shadow inventory of distressed homes that's been hanging over the industry for some time now was trimmed in July, according to the analysts at Barclays Capital. It marked the fifth straight month the company has recorded a decline in the shadow supply. Barclays says it shrank 1.2 percent in July, to 3.92 million homes. At the same time, the research firm's assessment of the nation's REO inventory ticked up 0.2 percent to 538,000 bank-owned properties.

The distressed share of sales rose from 23 percent to 30 percent, resulting in July housing numbers that more closely resemble those of a typical December, according to Barclays' analysts. The company says the sudden rise in distressed share should pressure home prices starting with the upcoming July measurements, and will likely result in a 2 percent home price depreciation nationally over the next three months.

Barclays noted that as the foreclosure pipeline gradually returns to normal levels, the same distressed gap that is cause for concern in the near term will converge to zero, bringing aggregate home prices up with it.

Source: DSNews.com, Carrie Bay, (09/08/2010)

HUD to deliver $208 Million to Florida Communities to Help Foreclosure Crisis

TAMPA, Fla. – Sept. 10, 2010 – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded an additional $208,437,144 in funding to Florida communities struggling to reverse the effects of the foreclosure crisis, the third round of funding through HUD’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP).


To kick off the Florida funding – part of a $1 billion package for all states – HUD Deputy Secretary Ron Sims joined Congresswoman Kathy Castor yesterday in Tampa, which will receive $4.7 million for local foreclosure efforts.

“We want to make certain that we target these funds to those places with especially high foreclosure activity so we can help turn the tide in our battle against abandonment and blight,” said Sims. “As a direct result of the leadership provided by Senator Chris Dodd and Congressman Barney Frank, who played key roles in winning approval for these funds, we will be able to make investments that will reduce blight, bolster neighboring home values, create jobs, and produce affordable housing.”

The funding is provided under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. To date, there have been two other rounds of NSP funding: the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA) provided $3.92 billion, and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) appropriated an additional $2 billion. Like those earlier rounds of NSP grants, the new targeted funds will be used to purchase foreclosed homes at a discount and to rehabilitate or redevelop them.

State and local governments can use the grants to acquire land and property; to demolish or rehabilitate abandoned properties; and/or to offer downpayment and closing cost assistance to low- to moderate-income homebuyers (household incomes not exceeding 120 percent of area median income).

In addition, they can create “land banks” to assemble, temporarily manage, and dispose of vacant land for the purpose of stabilizing neighborhoods and encouraging re-use or redevelopment of urban property. HUD will issue an NSP3 guidance notice in the next few weeks to assist grantees in designing their programs and applying for funds.

In addition to the third round of NSP funding, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act creates a $1 billion Emergency Homeowners Loan Program to be administered by HUD. The program will provide up to 24 months of mortgage assistance to homeowners who are at risk of foreclosure and have experienced a substantial reduction in income due to involuntary unemployment, underemployment or a medical condition. HUD will announce additional details, including the targeted areas and other program specifics when the program is officially launched in the coming weeks.

In the third round of grants, the following cities and county governments will receive:

Boynton Beach – $1,168,808

Brevard County – $3,032,850

Broward County – $5,457,553

Cape Coral – $3,048,214

Charlotte County – $2,022,962

Citrus County – $1,005,084

Clearwater – $1,385,801

Collier County – $3,884,165

Coral Springs – $1,657,845

Davie – $1,171,166

Daytona Beach – $1,127,616

Deerfield Beach – $1,183,897

Deltona – $1,964,066

Escambia County – $1,210,487

Fort Lauderdale – $2,145,921

Fort Myers – $1,539,941

Hernando County – $1,953,975

Hialeah – $2,198,194

Hillsborough County – $8,083,062

Hollywood – $2,433,001

Indian River County – $1,500,428

Jacksonville-Duval County – $7,102,937

Kissimmee – $1,042,299

Lake County – $3,199,585

Lakeland – $1,303,139

Lauderhill – $1,500,609

Lee County – $6,639,174

Manatee County – $3,321,893

Margate – $1,148,877

Marion County – $4,589,714

Martin County – $1,563,770

Melbourne – $1,257,986

Miami – $4,558,939

Miami Beach – $1,475,088

Miami Gardens City – $1,940,337

Miami-Dade County – $20,036,303

Miramar – $2,321,827

North Miami – $1,173,374

Orange County – $11,551,158

Orlando – $3,095,137

Osceola County – $3,239,646

Palm Bay – $1,764,032

Palm Beach County – $11,264,172

Palm Coast City – $1,375,071

Pasco County – $5,185,778

Pembroke Pines – $2,330,542

Pinellas County – $4,697,519

Plantation – $1,216,427

Polk County – $5,443,116

Pompano Beach – $1,500,572

Port St. Lucie – $3,515,509

Sanford – $1,037,697

Sarasota – $1,037,697

Sarasota County – $3,949,541

Seminole County – $3,995,178

St. Petersburg – $3,709,133

St. Lucie County – $1,947,657

Sunrise – $1,775,162

Tamarac – $1,427,857

Tampa – $4,691,857

Titusville – $1,005,731

Volusia County – $3,670,516

West Palm Beach – $2,147,327

Florida total: $208,437,144

© 2010 Florida Realtors®

Beach Condos Price Trend Reports - Florida Suncoast Condo

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Beaches Condo Price Trend Report - Charts and Data

Downtown St. Petersburg Price Trend Report Sept 2010

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Downtown Price Trend Report - Chart and Data

FHA short refinance option now available

WASHINGTON – Sept. 8, 2010 – In an effort to help responsible homeowners who owe more on their mortgage than the value of their property, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) now provides a new refinancing option for underwater borrowers. Originally announced in March, the enhancement of a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) refinance program offers non-FHA borrowers the opportunity to qualify for a new FHA-insured mortgage. To qualify, the homeowner must be current on his existing mortgage and lien holders must agree to write off at least 10 percent of the unpaid principal balance.

The FHA Short Refinance option is targeted to people who owe more on their mortgage than their home is worth because the local market saw large declines in home values. The Obama Administration hopes the change, as well as other programs that have been put in place, will help up to 4 million struggling homeowners through the end of 2012.

Participation in FHA’s short refinance program is voluntary and requires the consent of all lien holders. To be eligible for a new loan, the homeowner must also qualify under standard FHA underwriting requirements. The property must be the homeowner’s primary residence and the borrower’s existing first lien holder must agree to write off at least 10 percent of their unpaid principal balance. In addition, the existing loan to be refinanced must not be an FHA-insured loan, and the refinanced FHA-insured first mortgage must have a loan-to-value ratio of no more than 97.75 percent, and a combined loan-to-value ratio no greater than 115 percent.

To facilitate the refinancing of new FHA-insured loans under this program, the U.S. Department of Treasury will provide incentives to existing second lien holders who agree to full or partial extinguishment of the liens. To be eligible, servicers must execute a Servicer Participation Agreement (SPA) with Fannie Mae, in its capacity as financial agent for the United States, on or before October 3, 2010.

For more information on FHA Short Refinance option, read FHA’s mortgagee letter: http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/hudclips/letters/mortgagee/files/10-23ml.pdf

© 2010 Florida Realtors®

David Greenlees and JoAnn Nicolo P.A. Proudly Announce

We are proud to announce the sale of another residence at SignaturePlace in downtown St. Petersburg.

Whether it be a single family home, townhome or condominium let us help you find your perfect Florida home in this Renaissance cosmopolitan city.

Home Improvement: 10 Tips on Selecting a Contractor

YORK, Pa., – Sept. 3, 2010 – An uptick in homeowners are opting to remodel to increase a potential sales price or just upgrade their living space. According to StateofLife.com, remodelers should keep the following in mind:

Tip No. 1: Does your contractor have proof of insurance?

Ask the contractor to have his insurance company mail or fax a copy of his current contractor insurance card to you. If the contractor can’t do this – stay away. Why? If there is an accident at your home, you are then liable. This also applies to any sub-contractor or employee that the contractor may use – those individuals should have active insurance cards faxed or mailed to you as well.

Tip No. 2: Check references and see photos

Ask for at least three references with two for the same type of project you’re planning – and call the references. Additionally, ask the contractor to provide photos of previous work, especially for the same type of project. If he produces lawn and garden photos and you’re planning a bathroom remodel, you may want to check with another contractor.

Tip No. 3: Does your contractor take debit or credit cards?

Besides your ability to earn a few points, bonus miles or cash back, credit card acceptance is a good sign that a contractor is financially savvy and has a bank behind his business. Even many small, one-man shops take cards if they have a good relationship with their business bank or credit union.

Tip No. 4: Manners and appearance

If the contractor drove his vehicle to your home to give you an estimate, take a look at the way he keeps the equipment and vehicle. Are things clean? Neatly arranged? The way a contractor treats his tools is a direct connection to how he’ll treat your home. During the initial meeting, does the contractor present himself in a professional way? Do you feel comfortable around him or his employees? They will be working in your home.

Tip No. 5: Clean up policy

If your improvement is a multi-day project, will the contractor clean up at the end of every day or will he leave the dust, wood chips and other mess lying there for day No. 2?

Tip No. 6: Will the contractor put it in writing?

Is your contractor willing to put both his bid and the scope of work in writing? If not – walk away immediately. Many homeowners have been duped by contractors who verbally say what’s included, but, in the middle of the job, require extra money to finish, effectively holding the owner hostage with an uncompleted home project.

Tip No. 7: Availability

Can the contractor get the job done in your timeline rather than his timeline? On the flip side, if you can’t find a good contractor that’s willing to commit to your timeline, your expectations may be too high and you may need to adjust your timeline.

Tip No. 8: The use of subcontractors

Does your contractor do everything himself or will he subcontract work? For example, if remodeling a bathroom, you may need a plumber, electrician and carpenter. It’s okay if the contractor subcontracts work out to these specific trades – it shows he wants the work done right – and it’s standard practice for the contractor to mark up the services to earn a profit. To save money, owners can subcontract the work themselves, but managing a total project brings its own challenges.

Tip No. 9: Quoting and billing procedure

Ask the contractor about his quoting procedure. Will it contain general information, or will it be specific? For example, most contractors will charge a fuel surcharge, material up-charges, waste removal, labor, etc. Some will show you these exact costs in a line item invoice, but others roll it up into one big bill. How much detail do you want? Clarify that with your contractor upfront. Also: What is the payment or billing policy? If money is required upfront, go back to No. 1 and No. 2 above to make sure you have the contractor’s references checked and have a copy of his contractor’s insurance.

Tip No. 10: Did your contractor get the permits?

Ask your contractor to take care of the permits. Although permits cost money, the inspection process also protects you from poor workmanship and makes sure everything is being built to code.
© 2010 Florida Realtors®

the latest preliminary population estimates from the University of Florida

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – After declining for the first time since the end of World War II, Florida’s population grew once again last year, a hopeful yet tentative sign that the worst of the recession may have passed, according to the latest preliminary population estimates from the University of Florida (UF).


Stan Smith, director of UF’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research, estimates that Florida added a modest 21,000 residents between 2009 and 2010, but that follows a population decline greater than 56,000 between 2008 and 2009.

“Even though the state turned it around, it still represents the smallest population increase since the 1940s and does not make up for last year’s loss,” Smith said. “Florida’s population growth continues to be very, very slow by historical standards.”

Florida grew by more than 125,000 residents in every year from 1950 to 2008. It’s estimated that Florida added 21,285 residents during the past year, with its total population increasing from 18,750,483 on April 1, 2009, to 18,771,768 on April 1, 2010, Smith says. The previous year it lost an estimated 56,736 residents.

“Two years ago, the economy was deteriorating rapidly, while over the past year there have been some signs that it is leveling off or even improving slightly,” he says. “I think that’s the reason we’re seeing a small increase in population. Although technically the recession has ended, the economy continues to be in bad shape, particularly in terms of its ability to create jobs. There have been some jobs added in the last few months, but unemployment is still very high and job growth is very weak.”

Slightly more counties lost rather than added population, but the split was fairly even. In percentage terms, both increases and decreases in counties’ populations were generally very small, with no dramatic changes.

“At the state level, foreign immigration continues to be relatively strong, and the state also continues to have substantially more births than deaths, which are really the drivers of Florida’s growth in the last year,” Smith says.

The largest population gains were in some of the biggest counties. Miami-Dade led by adding an estimated 8,253 residents, followed by Hillsborough, 6,353, and Broward, 5,834. “Because they’re the largest counties, they have fairly sizeable numbers of births,” Smith says. “They also receive a substantial number of foreign immigrants.”

The county with the biggest percentage increase was Lafayette, which grew by 5.2 percent, but that change was largely attributed to the addition of state prison inmates. There was no pattern to which counties lost population, which were spread throughout the state and include both large urban counties and small rural counties.

The largest population decline was in Seminole County, which lost 3,659 residents, followed by Pinellas, 3,119, and Volusia, 2,055. In percentage terms, the county with the biggest decline was Glades, followed by Jackson and Holmes.

With a quick economic turnaround unlikely at either the state or national level, Smith expects Florida’s population to continue to grow slowly during the next year or two. But within the next 10 to 20 years, the state’s annual population growth could be as high as 250,000.

“From 2003 to 2006, Florida’s population grew by more than 400,000 per year, and in the previous three decades increases averaged about 300,000 per year, although there were certainly ups and downs from year to year,” he says.

Last year’s population decline, a result of the economic slump, was the first since 1946, when military personnel left the state at the end of World War II.

“If the economy recovers sooner than people expect, we would expect faster growth,” Smith says. “If it recovers less rapidly or even slips back into recession, we would expect that growth will continue to be very slow and possibly even be negative again.”
Between 2000 and 2010, the counties that grew the most in absolute numbers were Miami-Dade, Orange and Hillsborough. Flagler had the highest growth rate, 90.4 percent, followed by Sumter, 82.6 percent, Osceola, 59.8 percent, St. Johns, 50.6 percent, and Wakulla, 41.7 percent.

The population figures are interim estimates that will be replaced by numbers from the 2010 census when they become available early next year.

© 2010 Florida Realtors®

The New Wealthy - Who Are They?

Market Niche: The New Affluent


At the REAL Trends' Gathering of Eagles, Jeremy Conaway spoke to attendees about a new group of buyers: the new affluent.

Who are they?

-They're 45 years old

-Most text, use social media, the mobile Web, and apps on their Smartphones
-They have a median income of $198,000

-Most are college grads; half did some graduate work

-Most work 50 hours a week or more

-Regardless, family is their No. 1 priority. Most have children at home.

-Their careers are jobs; only 4% see them as a priority.

-Most will pay more if they like the product, but luxury is not a priority.

-Social status is no longer a dominant theme.

-Conspicuous consumption is looked down upon.

-Authenticity is the new prestige.

A brand doesn't have to be expensive to attract the new affluents. These customers look for value and pick from product to product. They might buy paper goods at Costco, meat at a boutique grocer and vegetables from a local farm co-op. They don't base their buying decisions on how expensive an item is or how cool it is. This group is more discretionary than boomers. They want a relationship from everyone with whom they do business. They don't buy to impress or for social status.

So, how do you reach them? You market to them as a lifestyle. Current players who do it right:

AT&T

Apple

Mountain Dew

Nike

The Weather Channel

Use your marketing program to demonstrate integrity, ethics and a sense of community. The younger your target audience, the more you have to line up community activity and that means more than just writing a check to a charity.

With the Boomers, they chose neighborhoods to impress friends and get rich. They weren't in neighborhoods for very long as they were always moving up.

The new affluents aren't like that. They celebrate neighborhoods. They're not buying their homes to get rich. Good thing, huh? They're not buying homes to impress. They're buying homes to raise families--it's a new look at neighborhoods. So, show them the functionality of the neighborhoods. Know your communities and the lifestyle they provide.