Melanie Loves Tampa Bay

Building a new construction home can be a challenging process, so I'm bringing in my friend & colleague John Skemp to spill the secrets INSIDE his $3.4M South Tampa build! This video would be helpful for anyone interested in learning more about what it takes to build your own home in Florida. John Skemp is the President at Baylife Builders / Realtor at Smith & Associates Email: jskemp@smithandassociates.com Melanie Atkinson is a Tampa Bay area Realtor

There are so many different types of waterfront property here in Florida - from the beach to the lake. In this episode, I briefly explain some of the most popular options in the Tampa Bay area. Melanie Atkinson is a Tampa Bay area Realtor

What can real estate buyers and sellers expect in 2023? Here are 6 major things you should look out for in the 2023 housing market. Quite a few challenges I think we'll say "good-bye" to next year, but new challenges we'll say "hello" to. Without a doubt, the process of buying and selling a home has been crazy the past few years. *Information subject to change* Melanie Atkinson is a Tampa Bay area Realtor

Besides real estate, I LOVE to try out new restaurants and continue to visit my favorites. Joining me in this episode to talk about the Tampa food scene is my bestie Chantelle Boothe. https://www.melanielovestampabay.com/agent/Chantelle_Boothe/8498883 Featured Tampa Restaurants: https://www.1905familyofrestaurants.com/ https://www.pontetampa.com/ (Now Taking Reservations) http://www.onswann.com/ https://www.oliviatampa.com/ https://bernssteakhouse.com/ https://www.properhousegroup.com/ https://sparkmanwharf.com/ https://roccatampa.com/ https://cenatampa.com/ https://www.piccolaitaliabistro.com/ https://bocellitampa.com/ https://beccofinotampa.com/ https://www.panerusticabakery.com/ https://donatellotampa.com/ https://www.restaurantbt.com/ https://www.edison-tampa.com/ https://www.nxtlevelbrands.com/ http://www.cicciorestaurantgroup.com/ https://spicekitchentampa.com/ https://oxfordexchange.com/ https://sacredpepper.com/ https://seaglasstavern.com/ http://www.bigraysfishcamp.com/ https://www.barterhouseybor.com/ https://www.ellasfolkartcafe.com/ https://www.willastampa.com/ *Information subject to change* Melanie Atkinson is a Tampa Bay area Realtor

Did you know the 30-year fixed mortgage interest rate has increased 120% in 2022? That's a big effing deal! In this episode, I'll be crunching some numbers and talking about the impact on the Florida housing market. *Information subject to change* Melanie Atkinson is a Tampa Bay area Realtor

Did you know the 30-year fixed mortgage interest rate has increased 54% in 2022? That's a big effing deal! In this episode, I'll be crunching some numbers and talking about the impact on the Florida housing market. Melanie Atkinson is a Tampa Bay area Realtor

For parents, I know researching school districts and figuring out the best education options for your children can be challenging. While I'm a Realtor by profession and am asked constantly about schools, I'm also a mother of three children who all went through the Florida education system and have personal experience with public, private and magnet schools. Due to professional & ethical guidelines, real estate agents are not supposed to directly advise clients on school districts or specific schools. That's why I've put together this guide for parents / guardians to navigate and research on your own. Some of this information applies only to the Tampa Bay area, but much of the content applies to the entire state of Florida. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL LOCATOR http://gis.sdhc.k12.fl.us/schoollocator/ HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CHARTER & MAGNET PROGRAMS https://www.hillsboroughschools.org/Page/3669 PASCO COUNTY SCHOOL LOCATOR http://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/planning/page/boundaries PASCO COUNTY CHARTER SCHOOLS https://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/schools PINELLAS COUNTY SCHOOL LOCATOR https://www.pcsb.org/domain/3106 PINELLAS MAGNET & FUNDAMENTAL SCHOOL PROGRAMS https://www.pcsb.org/Page/837 FLORIDA VPK https://www.floridaearlylearning.com/vpk FLORIDA STATE GRADES https://www.fldoe.org/accountability/accountability-reporting/school-grades/ https://www.greatschools.org/ *Information subject to change* Melanie Atkinson is a Tampa Bay area Realtor

What's REALLY happening on the ground level for Florida real estate? Sure, the housing market was on fire the last couple years, but what about now and moving forward to 2023? Nobody thought the crazy prices and demand would be sustainable long term here in the Tampa Bay area. Let's get real and chat about what I'm seeing in terms of price decreases, inventory, and demand. I also touch on why I dislike buzzwords like "housing crash." Melanie Atkinson is a Tampa Bay area Realtor

The past few years, this housing market has been absolutely insane with sky high prices, bidding wars, and rollercoaster mortgage rates. Is the real estate market due for a crash? Will anyone ever be able to afford a home? Three powerhouse real estate agents in the craziest housing markets across America break it all down here. Representing the Lone Star State Texas - agent Levi Lascsak

Being a first time home buyer is a very exciting, but stressful time. There are a ton of videos out there already about how to buy a house, but I wanted to share my very best tips as a veteran Florida real estate agent that you (probably) haven't heard yet. We'll be going over selecting the right neighborhood, figuring out your monthly housing budget, types of homes & more. 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: matkinson@smithandassociates.com Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.616.2427 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 dealing with homeowners' insurance sticker shock or get a notice that your policy is canceled? There's a LOT to know about the current property insurance crisis here in Florida. Joining me for this episode is State Senator Jeff Brandes (R) District 24 to discuss what's behind our insurance industry problems and possible solutions. https://flsenate.gov/senators/s24 https://www.facebook.com/SenatorBrandes https://twitter.com/JeffreyBrandes *Melanie Loves Tampa Bay does not make political endorsements 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: matkinson@smithandassociates.com Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.616.2427 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.

When you're searching for Florida homes online, have you ever wondered why two similar properties have such different property taxes? I'll be explaining why you should NOT rely on a home's property tax history to estimate what yours would be on the same home. We're going to go over Florida's Homestead Exemption, the Save Our Homes 3% Cap, portability, other types of property tax exemptions in the Sunshine State, ad valorem vs. non-ad valorem, and how property tax rates are calculated. You'll definitely want to tune into this episode if you're a new home buyer in Florida. https://www.hcpafl.org/Property-Info/Homestead-Other-Info https://floridarevenue.com/property/Documents/pt109.pdf 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: matkinson@smithandassociates.com Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.616.2427 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.

In this red hot housing market of Tampa, Florida homes do NOT last very long once they go up for sale. But what about all those homes that show as 'pending' for a while, then pop back up 'for sale'? Let's go over some of the common reasons why residential real estate contracts fall through and how you, as a buyer, can use that information to *your* advantage. I'll also explain the differences between As-Is and Repairs contracts and why the As-Is contract became the standard in Florida. 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: matkinson@smithandassociates.com Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.616.2427 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 now that it's such a popular moving destination? So much has changed over the past few years in terms of cost of living, the housing market, Tampa Bay area neighborhoods, traffic, and population demographics. Florida still does not have state income tax, but there have been fluctuations in homeowners insurance as well as an increase in the taxable value of homes in regard to property tax. We'll also (once again) touch on elements of weather and Florida native wildlife. 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: matkinson@smithandassociates.com Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.616.2427 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.

Rent... the American Dream? 60 Minutes recently did a report on the housing market and the increase of rental prices around the country. In 2021, the Tampa Bay area experienced about a 25% spike in both home and rent prices. The high demand and lack of inventory is driving these costs up and consequently - pricing buyers out. In the 60 Minutes piece, the CEO of Tricon Residential (company buying single-family homes to use as rentals) stated that they are allowing people to 'rent' the American dream instead of owning. I looked at home sales in the community of Brandon, Florida to find out how many of these properties were bought by LLCs and not individuals. Let's also talk about the benefits of home ownership and tips for navigating this tough market. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rising-rent-prices-60-minutes-2022-03-20/ 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: matkinson@smithandassociates.com Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.616.2427 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.

To many buyers searching for the perfect home in the Tampa Bay area, it might seem like cash buyers & investors are swooping in to get all of the local inventory - pushing out everyone with financing offers. But is this really true? In this episode, I analyze & compare real home sales numbers to get an accurate picture on which types of buyers are making it to the closing table. And the breakdown may surprise you... Plus, be sure to watch toward the end to get a few of my power tips on navigating this competitive real estate market. 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: matkinson@smithandassociates.com Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.616.2427 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.

Zillow just named the Tampa metro as the #1 hottest housing market for 2022. Not surprisingly, Florida cities dominated much of the ranking list for the second year in a row along with North Carolina and Texas. According to Zillow, the housing market overall is expected to remain hot, maintaining many of the same sales trends as 2021. As a Tampa Realtor who's lived and worked in the Tampa Bay area for decades, I wanted to weigh in on this news and share insight on what's coming in the new year for buyers & sellers. https://www.zillow.com/research/zillow-2022-hottest-markets-tampa-30413/ Do you agree/disagree with Zillow's list? Let me know what you think! And why do you think the Tampa Bay area is attracting so many new residents? ZILLOW'S HOTTEST MARKETS 2022 #1 Tampa, Florida #2 Jacksonville, Florida #3 Raleigh, North Carolina #4 San Antonio, Texas #5 Charlotte, North Carolina #6 Nashville, Tennessee #7 Atlanta, Georgia #8 Phoenix, Arizona #9 Orlando, Florida #10 Austin, Texas 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: matkinson@smithandassociates.com Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.616.2427 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.

As the Tampa Bay area grows, there are quite a few new condo developments that will be available to new residents in the upcoming years. One of my favorite things about working for Smith & Associates is that we're the exclusive sales brokerage for so many of these luxury projects. Fair warning: this is *not* an episode for those seeking out average priced housing. All of these condominium projects have hefty price tags targeted toward the high-end home buyer. Real estate development companies are focused mainly on downtown St. Petersburg, downtown Tampa, and South Tampa. You can see all of the condos mentioned in the YouTube version: https://youtu.be/I12i3RaTkBM ST. PETERSBURG 400 Central https://www.residences400central.com Saltaire https://saltairestpete.com/ The Nolen https://thenolenstpete.com/ TAMPA Altura https://alturabayshore.com/ Hyde Park House https://www.hydeparkbayshore.com/ The Ritz-Carlton Residences https://theresidencestampa.com/ The Pendry https://www.pendryresidencestampa.com The Edition http://tampaeditionresidences.com Marina Pointe https://marinapointe.com 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: matkinson@smithandassociates.com Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.616.2427 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.

Tampa Bay area insurance agent Maria Rodriguez, with Rip Weachter Insurance Agency, joins me to talk about Florida insurance changes to know about going into 2022. She explains how insurance carriers have updated the methodology used to calculate flood risk and premiums. You'll want to tune into this episode if you're shopping for a new policy or already have homeowners & flood insurance because you *will* be affected. Maria also explains how flood zones and the age of a home's roof come into play. Contact Maria Rodriguez for your insurance needs within the state of Florida maria@weachterinsurance.com Office: 813.831.8889 Direct: 813.969.4466 Rip Weachter Insurance Agency http://www.weachterinsurance.com/ 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: matkinson@smithandassociates.com Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.616.2427 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.

With home prices on the rise, can you even afford to buy a home in 2022? In this episode, Melanie is joined by Patrick Storch with The Mortgage Firm Tampa to discuss mortgage changes you need to know about, interest rates, and the challenging housing market here in Florida. (Spoiler Alert: conventional loan limits have increased to $625,000 from the previous $548,250) You'll definitely want to tune in if you plan to house hunt over the next year - we're also sharing helpful tips on getting a home loan, creative financing, and what you can do to increase your chances of getting offers accepted! The Mortgage Firm Tampa / Patrick Storch https://www.closemymortgagetampa.com/ Call or apply online.

With a crazy nationwide housing market, the frenzy seems particularly high here in Tampa, Florida. If you're considering a move to Florida in 2022, or planning to buy a home - check out this update from experienced real estate agent Melanie Atkinson, who works in the Tampa Bay area. She'll also talk about new construction options and Realtor tips for buyers on actually getting your offers accepted in order to secure a house. 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: matkinson@smithandassociates.com 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.

It can be difficult to figure out where to buy a house when you don't know the Tampa Bay area, so I'm revealing the most popular neighborhoods for my own clients. Giving advice as to where to move can be tricky for me as a Realtor, because we have professional and ethical guidelines in place to discourage steering our clients to certain areas. People ask all the time, "Where are the good neighborhoods?" but it's not one I can answer directly. Not only for ethical reasons, but because everyone has their own definition of what a 'good' neighborhood is. Here is a list of the top spots my buyers chose to move to since the beginning of 2020: Wesley Chapel South Tampa Odessa Land O' Lakes Westchase / Citrus Park Clearwater Dunedin Beaches Lutz Riverview / Apollo Beach New Tampa Thonotosassa Looking back on the past couple years, I was surprised at some of the places missing on the list including St. Petersburg and Safety Harbor. Hopefully, by knowing where my previous home buyers chose to purchase will help you with your own decision making. It's been a whirlwind real estate market since early 2020, and I don't have any reason to think it's going to slow down in 2022. More on that to come in upcoming episodes! 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: matkinson@smithandassociates.com 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.

Two of my favorite small cities here in the Tampa Bay area are Dunedin and Safety Harbor - wonderful places to live and visit. Dunedin and Safety Harbor are waterfront communities with quaint, bustling downtown areas, plenty of fun events, things to do, places to eat and drink. Dunedin is located north of Clearwater and the beaches on the west side of the peninsula. Safety Harbor is located on the east side of the peninsula at the top of Tampa Bay. Dunedin isn't too far from Honeymoon Island (a favorite local beach) as well as easy access to the Pinellas Trail. There are lots of housing options from older and newer construction, condos, townhomes, and single family homes. Homes built closer to the downtown areas tend to be older, historical homes = $$$$. As you get farther away from the main areas, you will find larger new homes. Average home prices in Dunedin are approximately $365,000 with a recent sale over $4 million. Prices in Safety Harbor differ a bit - with the average home approximately $420,000 and a recent sale over $2 million. https://www.dunedingov.com/about http://dunedinhighlandgames.com/ https://www.safetyharborchamber.com/history/ 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: matkinson@smithandassociates.com 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.

White powder beaches, palm trees, luxurious new houses, manicured golf courses, and waterfront parks. There are so many gorgeous things to list in the Tampa Bay area, but everywhere can't be pretty - right? Is it possible that parts of Tampa are actually UGLY? Recently, a home buying client flat out told me, "It's ugly here." At first it kind of felt like she was calling one of my kids ugly, but then I thought about it and realized she was right. Every city has some not-so-glamorous parts, but with so many people looking to move to Florida I want to make sure you understand the whole picture and get a reality check before you start packing up the moving van. Most of this region was built a long time ago, and buildings were constructed for sturdiness - not architectural design. Houses from the mid-1900s were mostly small block homes and we have tons of commercial strip centers. Older neighborhoods tend to have above ground powerlines, and some may find oak trees to be a nuisance compared to lower maintenance palm trees. Surprisingly, property values in older parts of town also happen to be the MOST expensive and desirable. Areas in the city centers and near the beaches were among the first to be developed. Clients with big budgets tend to be confused on why these areas aren't aesthetically pleasing. Newer neighborhoods also have issues of their own - homes are very close together, and I've had clients tell me subdivisions lack charm and have a generic 'cookie cutter' look. Buyers tend to overlook those factors because they want new construction and community amenities. Driving on U.S. Highway 41 through Apollo Beach, it's hard to notice the large smoke stacks of the Big Bend Power Station - a coal-fired power plant operated by TECO Energy. While the area boasts some lovely waterfront homes, some clients are turned off by this landmark. 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: matkinson@smithandassociates.com 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.

While it may have felt like everything shut down in 2020, there's lots of building and development in the Tampa Bay area. In this episode, I want to update you on some of the most exciting residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects. Midtown Tampa https://midtowntampa.com/ Water Street Tampa https://waterstreettampa.com/ St. Pete Pier https://stpetepier.org/ Selmon Expressway Extension https://www.selmonextension.com/ FDOT Projects https://www.fdottampabay.com/projects/all Citrus Park Drive Extension https://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/library/hillsborough/media-center/documents/county-projects/citrus-park-drive-extension/citrus-park-drive-extension-project-map.pdf 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: matkinson@smithandassociates.com 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.

With the current state of the housing market, busy real estate agents must work together in order to best serve our clients. In this episode, I'm introducing you to my Smith & Associate colleagues and give them the opportunity to share their insight on what it's like to move to Florida and live in the Tampa Bay area. We talk everything from popular neighborhoods, weather, school districts, traffic, family life, and best local places for fun and food. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:59 Meet Chantelle 2:02 Meet Dale 3:29 Meet Karen 4:15 Moving & Packing Tips 5:29 Finding a Neighborhood 8:02 Pandemic Move 8:55 Why Tampa? 9:46 Florida Weather 12:10 Kids & Schools 15:05 Wesley Chapel 18:32 Westchase Area 20:26 Boat Life 22:54 Traffic 23:58 Animal Rescue Groups 25:09 Best of Tampa Bay 27:35 Lightning Round 32:09 Dale's Inspiration 32:49 Close Chantelle Boothe / REALTOR

By now you've probably heard about the low inventory real estate situation here in the Tampa Bay area, and I'm sharing my advice for how to best navigate this housing market. As of March 2021, Hillsborough County only has three weeks of single family home inventory, when a balanced housing market would have about six months worth of homes available. Take a close look at your finances, because you might have to get creative. It is very normal for a buyer right now to guarantee to pay a certain amount over appraised value. In order to win that contract, you may have to put down a larger down payment or the seller might want you to put more of an escrow deposit down. It's going to be difficult to get sellers who will accept a contract contingent on the sale of your home, so you may need to tap into other money sources such as investment accounts. For those lucky enough to be a cash buyer, you are likely to win the contract in a multiple-offer situation if it's the same price as finance offers. Be flexible, but don't settle! There will probably never be the perfect house, but cosmetic items can be changed. Be flexible on the "wants," not as flexible on the "must-haves." Why even jump into this housing market right now? My buyers are choosing to proceed for several reasons including historically low interest rates, the ability to work from home, and out-of-towners looking to leave more expensive states. 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: matkinson@smithandassociates.com 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.

Reading your comments and answering questions in the 3rd edition of this series! Leave questions you have down below in the comment section and they may be answered in future episodes. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 1:00 Pools & Property Value 1:55 NYC to Jacksonville 2:18 Homestead Exemption 3:54 Property Taxes 5:13 CDD & HOA Fees 6:43 School Districts 8:36 Singles Scene 9:17 Waves 9:58 Townhome Construction 10:56 RI to FL Florida Department of Education resource (researching school districts) http://www.fldoe.org/accountability/accountability-reporting/school-grades/ https://www.greatschools.org/ https://www.niche.com/ Juless_TheTipsyCook MOVING ACROSS COUNTY *Rhode Island - Florida* https://youtu.be/7uHP5QkPL04 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: matkinson@smithandassociates.com 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.

Planning to move to Florida in 2021? Here are some important updates for anyone considering a relocation to the Sunshine State. This episode will be building on information shared in a previous video about moving to Florida in 2020, so check that one out if you haven't seen it yet. 2020 has been a game changer for many of us, and it's been fascinating from a real estate perspective. We have seen record sales months, rock bottom interest rates, low inventory, multiple offer situations, and buyers buying sight unseen. Prices in Florida have gone up this year - a lot! How much? At the end of the 2020 third quarter, median prices statewide for single family homes were up 13% from the same time last year. Now that isn't true for every house in every neighborhood, real estate is very local. Topics discussed: 0:00 Intro 1:33 Housing Market 3:21 Starting the Home Search 4:52 Selling Your House 5:03 Mortgage Interest Rates 14:48 Insurance Changes 23:18 Final Advice The Mortgage Firm Tampa / Patrick Storch https://www.closemymortgagetampa.com/ Call or apply online.

It's hard to imagine buying a house without ever seeing it in person until after closing, but it's happening now more than ever. For much of 2020, there have been travel restrictions in place so house hunting has largely gone virtual. If you wait to fly down to see a home in person, it may already be gone so buying sight unseen has become a common practice. So how can you do it successfully and what are the risks? In this episode of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay, I'm sharing my best tips and advice. For all of you out there about to take the leap into buying a home sight unseen, best of luck to you! Use all of the available resources and ask a lot of questions. 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: matkinson@smithandassociates.com 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.

Are you researching moving from California to Florida? My clients Bill & Dotty were longtime California residents who decided to make the change and spend their retirement years here in the Tampa, Florida area. They share insight and experiences that hopefully will be helpful to anyone looking into the process. Here are the topics we touched on during our conversation: 0:00 Intro 0:45 Background as CA residents 1:30 Florida Decision 3:35 Florida Misconceptions 5:35 Choosing a Location 6:06 Dunedin, Florida 7:17 Florida Homes 9:43 Swimming Pools 11:41 Taxes 14:19 Gas & Groceries 14:45 Vehicle Registration 19:31 Florida Residency 20:21 Weather 22:33 Hurricane Season 27:22 Retirement Lifestyle 31:07 Golf Courses 32:32 Beaches 35:07 Medical & Health Resources 36:22 Tampa Bay Negatives? 37:56 Tampa Bay Sports 39:26 Things to Do 41:55 Bill’s Fire Safety Tips 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: matkinson@smithandassociates.com 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.

As if 2020 couldn't get any weirder, we've been dealing with an insane housing market here in the Tampa Bay area for months along with other parts of the country. What the heck is going on and how do you figure out if now is the right time to buy a home? Do you take advantage of the ridiculously low interest rates or do you wait until there's more inventory? Will those interest rates still be low once there is more inventory? What about another housing market crash? What if I buy now and then it becomes 2010 again and home values plummet? I know you're probably thinking, "Well, she's a real estate agent. Of course she's going to encourage people to buy homes..." But I want to say that I never encourage anyone to buy homes who don't want or need to purchase homes. People have different reasons including getting married or divorced, starting a family, kids going to college, etc. Life continues even in the worst of times. Regardless of what happens to the economy, look at your own financial picture and personal situation to determine if buying a house now is right for you. 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: matkinson@smithandassociates.com 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 Tampa Bay area is seeing an influx of luxury home buyers coming from out of state. If you're seeking high end real estate in Florida, I've put together a guide for our area to help you. We have tons of coastline, two major cities, three professional sports teams, the award-winning Tampa International Airport, a great local food scene, and enough land for you to have room to breathe. So what does the luxury housing market look like in Tampa? You can choose whether you want a Gulf front home with a sandy beach in your backyard, a home on the Intracoastal Waterway with a spot for your boat, a luxury condo in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg or on Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa, or an estate home in northern Hillsborough County on acreage. There's also a historical home in Hyde Park or a waterfront house on Davis Islands. Golfers can check out Avila, Innisbrook, or Golfview in South Tampa. Other popular neighborhoods include beach communities along the west coast of Pinellas County from Clearwater Beach to St. Pete Beach, Snell Isle, and Venetian Isles. If you don't mind driving north out of Tampa - there are lovely properties in Lutz, Odessa, and parts of Tarpon Springs. East of Tampa is Thonotosassa, where The Oaks is currently for sale at $17,500,000. Luxury Condominiums https://saltairestpete.com/ https://marinapointe.com/ https://www.sandpearl.com/ https://www.viragebayshore.com/ https://www.hydeparkbayshore.com/ https://www.sanctuarybayshore.com/ https://www.alturabayshore.com/ https://waterstreettampa.com/residences/tampa-edition Golf Courses https://www.innisbrookgolfresort.com/ http://www.avilagolf.com/ http://www.pcgc.org/ 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: matkinson@smithandassociates.com 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.

New construction homes are on fire this year in the Tampa Bay area. Neighborhoods in Odessa, Wesley Chapel, and Riverview can hardly keep up with the demand. With the influx of people wanting to be in Florida, combined with low interest rates and affordable prices - it's easy to understand why these builders have had record-breaking months. This episode is for all of you out there looking to buy new construction in the coming months. Want to skip ahead? Here are the topics discussed: 0:00 Intro 0:43 Builder Incentives 1:49 Base Home Prices 2:24 Working with Realtors 3:56 Inventory Homes 4:50 Construction Timeline 5:52 Credit Scores 6:30 Down Payment 7:07 Additional Deposits Feel free to leave additional questions in the comment section, and they may be featured in a future video here on the channel. 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: matkinson@smithandassociates.com 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.

Wesley Chapel is a popular community outside Tampa, Florida that I get asked about all the time. Let’s dive into this area from new construction home builders, home prices, where exactly it’s located in Pasco County, flood zones, schools, and things to do. Want to skip ahead? Here are the topics discussed: 0:00 Intro 0:45 New Construction Homes 1:55 Crystal Lagoon @ Epperson 2:45 CDD Fees 4:03 Affordable Home Prices 4:35 Builder Competition 5:23 Wesley Chapel Location 6:26 Tampa Bay Commute 7:08 Flood Zone? 7:35 Things to Do 9:45 School District 10:12 Wesley Chapel Wrap Up 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: matkinson@smithandassociates.com 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.

Thinking about moving to Florida? While I've lived in the Tampa Bay area for two decades, my boyfriend Todd has lived in quite a few different cities. He relocated to Tampa in 2017 and joins me in this episode to share his perspective on how Tampa compares to other places in the U.S. Want to skip ahead? Here are the topics we touched on: 0:00 Intro 0:55 Why choose Tampa? 1:35 Florida offers year round outdoor living 2:17 Traffic & commuting in Tampa 3:35 Lower cost of living in Florida? State income tax, housing options, auto insurance 4:39 Home prices - how much do you get for your money? 5:51 How easy is it to meet people in Tampa? 6:35 Things to do, outdoor activities 7:15 Golf courses outside Tampa city limits 7:55 Bad drivers in Florida? 8:28 Weather & hurricanes 8:57 Bugs & alligators 9:36 Florida man news stories 10:15 Tampa food & restaurants 11:00 Sports, concerts, entertainment 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: matkinson@smithandassociates.com 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.

"Help! I have to sell my current house before I buy another one. Where do I start?" This is a question I get all the time, so get ready for all my best advice. TIP #1 - UNDERSTAND YOUR FINANCES There's a difference between NEEDING to sell your current home in order to qualify for the loan on your next house and WANTING to sell your current home. If you fall into the category of wanting to sell, you have more freedom to make offers on listings because you won't have as many contingencies attached, which gives you a leg up on negotiations. This is super important in areas that are a seller's market. TIP #2 - DON’T PUT THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE The card in this scenario is your next house, while the horse is your current home. If you can't buy the next house before selling your current one, then most of your focus needs to be on the sale. TIP #3 - FIND A NEW REALTOR Start reaching out to real estate agents in your new city well in advance of your move. Some of you might have relocation companies providing a Realtor, and you do have a say in who represents you. All agents are not created equal, so do your due diligence. TIP #4 - VISITING WITH A PURPOSE If you have enough time to take multiple trips to your new hometown, take advantage of it! Your first trip should be an introduction trip, not necessarily a house hunting trip. Tour neighborhoods, talk with builders, get a feel for areas you're considering moving to. TIP #5 - MAKING OFFERS When you start putting in offers, your current house should already be under contract. Remember what I said earlier about the contingency if your offer is conditional upon the sale of your own home first. Most builders are okay with this, so keep new construction in mind as you house hunt. If your current home is through the inspection period and/or the appraisal, that makes your contingency less risky so be sure your agent communicates this to the listing agent. TIP #6 - NAVIGATING THE MOVE Try and negotiate a longer escrow period of 45-60 days to give yourself more time. This gives you a chance to come down to your new city, find a house and get it under contract with enough time to process your mortgage loan. Consult with a moving company to get an estimate on how long it will take to get your belongings from A to B. Same day closings are doable, but there are potential snags that could hold up transactions. 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: matkinson@smithandassociates.com 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.

Real estate in the U.S. works much differently compared to other countries. In this #socialdistancing episode, I talk with Annette Reeve / Mayfair International Realty in London about European / UK residents buying homes in Florida. There's a lot to know when you purchase international property. Annette, who works with agents and brokers around the world, is a great resource for information. If you want to skip ahead to specific topics, here are timestamps: 1:30 UK buying process vs. US 6:51 Where UK buyers want to purchase homes 10:23 Rental & vacation homes 12:25 Financing a home for international buyers 15:50 Getting an international lawyer / attorney 21:30 How to find a Florida property 22:05 Brexit effects on UK real estate 23:00 COVID-19 and real estate Annette Reeve MNAEA CIPS / Director Mayfair Office and Mayfair International Realty - Cashel House - 15 Thayer Street – London - W1U 3JT Direct Line : + 44 20 7467 5332 Mobile : +44 7740 679715 Office : +44 207 467 5330 Email: annette@mayfairinternationalrealty.com The gorgeous house I Skyped at is currently for sale! $2.3M French-Inspired Estate Outside Tampa

39 closings, 10 pending properties, door knocking for 8 hours a day, and flipping a $10,000 house - Pensacola real estate agent John Cho shares his highs and lows from the first year as a Realtor. Great conversation and here's timestamps if you want to skip ahead: 0:56 Getting started in real estate 7:08 Is young age a disadvantage? 8:38 New vs. veteran agents 9:55 Team culture & mentorships 11:30 Door knocking for leads 17:45 Flipping homes 20:50 Finding investment properties 22:30 What's Pensacola, FL like? 26:10 Average home prices in Pensacola John Cho / Realtor - Pensacola, FL area Call: 850.602-5583 choyohan93@gmail.com https://www.blueanchorrealty.com/agents/john-cho/ https://www.instagram.com/Johncho_re/ https://www.facebook.com/JohnChoYourRealtor https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8CuHbQo6MSJfwU3iueGzaA https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-cho-0a4179124/ 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: matkinson@smithandassociates.com 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.

Mortgage rates are all over the place right now, as the Federal Reserve sharply cut interest rates and announced buying of mortgage-backed securities. How low can mortgage interest rates go? Melanie talks with David Donaldson, Branch Manager with VanDyk Mortgage, about what we can expect and answers some questions that popped up this week. Will mortgage interest rates ever come close to 0%? Should homeowners refinance their mortgage? Is now a good time to buy a home? The Donaldson Team David Donaldson / Branch Manager ddonaldson@vandykmortgage.com NMLS#506528 | FL#LO10267 Office: 813.230.3433 | Cell: 813.230.3433 teamdonaldson.vandykmortgage.com Note: this episode was produced in March 2020 - in the age of #socialdistancing Melanie is currently Skyping with guests.

Tampa Bay area insurance agent Maria Rodriguez, with Rip Weachter Insurance Agency, joins me to talk about Florida insurance. She explains homeowners, flood, auto, renters, and umbrella insurance policies and why they're important to protect yourself and your property. We also discuss what type of insurance you need in the event of a hurricane or severe weather. Want to skip ahead to a specific topic? Here's what we covered: 0:39 Homeowners insurance 1:45 Florida weather / hurricanes 3:50 Age of roof and how it affects homeowners insurance rate 7:05 Wind mitigation process 8:05 New construction 10:55 Older homes 13:50 Flood insurance 16:50 Flood zone changes expected 18:47 Flood insurance for 2nd homes / investment property 23:30 Auto insurance 29:10 Renters insurance 30:58 Umbrella insurance Contact Maria Rodriguez with your insurance needs within the state of Florida maria@weachterinsurance.com Office: 813.831.8889 Direct: 813.969.4466 Rip Weachter Insurance Agency http://www.weachterinsurance.com/

Answering your questions and responding to comments left on my channel - everything from relocating to the Tampa Bay area, keeping animals in your backyard, love bugs causing car damage, Midtown Tampa, to the supply of crocodile and snakeskin themed clothing!? Meanwhile, Tucker doesn't want to cooperate with this video shoot. This is going to be a regular video series, so keep 'em coming! If you're not looking to buy / sell a home, the best way to reach out to me with specific questions is by leaving a comment on a video here on YouTube (versus DMs or emails). This way, I'm able to see all of them in one place and respond as quickly as I can. Plus, the entire community can benefit by seeing your questions and comments. (And if you'd like to follow my dog, yes, he is on Instagram! @tampatucker)

So many of my buyers are looking for new construction in the Tampa Bay area and there are lots of housing options to choose from, but I want to share four popular communities that I show often in Pasco County, just north of Tampa. Three of these developments are in Odessa, and one is in nearby Land O' Lakes. State Road 54 is the main road that leads into all of the neighborhoods. Odessa is farther west compared to Wesley Chapel, so it's closer to the beach. If you work in Downtown Tampa, MacDill Air Force Base, or the Westshore district you have multiple routes to commute everyday including the Veterans Expressway / SR 589, which connects to I-275. There are lots of shops, businesses, and restaurants in this part of Pasco County, and Florida state school grades are pretty high for most of the schools in this area. You will still want to check the specific school grades for the house you are interested in. Starkey Ranch https://starkeyranch.com/ Asturia https://asturiaflorida.com/ The Preserve https://www.drhorton.com/Florida/Tampa/Odessa/The-Preserve Bexley https://www.bexleyflorida.com/ NOTE: This episode is very visual, so I'd recommend you also watch the YouTube video to see the homes I'm referring to, as the audio might not make much sense just listening.

We're giving one of my listings a home makeover by bringing in a home stager [before & after pics], plus I'm sharing some of my best home selling tips. This vacant Tampa villa went pending in just two days! We'll be getting into the importance of creating an identity for each room in a house, what impact rooms are, adding hardware to kitchen cabinets, making sure floors are very clean, and how curtains / window treatments make such a difference in a space. Home staging by Tracy Bowers of Upstage, Inc. 813.727.3311 / tracy@upstageinc.com NOTE: This episode is very visual, so I'd recommend you also watch the YouTube video to see the home makeover, as the audio might not make much sense just listening.

So you want to move to Florida in 2020? This is your last cold winter, right? There's a lot to know about our great state, and I want to share information about establishing residency, buying vs. renting and the Tampa Bay area specifically. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO MOVE TO FLORIDA? If you're planning to move to Florida part-time, you'll want to be diligent in following the rules to establish residency in this state. Consult an attorney if your situation is more complicated. Say, you own a home in another state and plan on buying another one in Florida. WHY SHOULD YOU MOVE TO FLORIDA? There are lots of reasons to move here and everyone has their own motivation. Warm winters and no state income tax are two of the most common ones I hear. Some people REALLY love Disney World and want to be close, or be near the beach. WHERE EXACTLY SHOULD I MOVE TO IN FLORIDA? If you're not being transferred by your job to a specific city, then you have an entire state full of different cities and towns to fit just about any lifestyle. Figure out if you want to be in a city or at the beach, and if you need to be close to an airport for frequent traveling. Which city has job opportunities that fit your skill set? What's your housing budget? Once you start answering those questions, you can narrow down which parts of Florida may work for you. Make sure to plan multiple visits to locations you're interested in to see what they're really like. Remember that vacationing in Florida is much different than living here day-today. Don't just hang out in touristy areas. Drive into neighborhoods, eat at local restaurants and talk to locals. WHEN SHOULD YOU MOVE? Whenever you're ready! Florida is a year round state - we don't really have a time when things are super slow. However, there are more people here during the winter months due to the part-time residents enjoying the warmer weather. As far as real estate is concerned, if you're looking to purchase a house - certain areas do fluctuate with inventory and prices throughout the year. For instance, homes in great school districts see peak buying/selling season during the spring and summer months before school starts. Vacation areas have busy winter months because that's when people are visiting and home shopping if they plan on staying. HOW DO I MOVE TO FLORIDA? Every circumstance is different, but there are a couple scenarios that I run across a lot. #1 - Family who wants to move here for the start of the 2020 school year #2 - Individual / family without a time frame or need for specific school district #3 - Florida retirees

We may not have a white Christmas, but there is still plenty to do in the Tampa Bay area over the holiday season. Here are some great family-friendly holiday events you won't want to miss if you're a resident or just visiting Florida! Enchant - St. Petersburg - Tropicana Field November 22 - December 29 https://stpete.enchantchristmas.com/stpete Busch Gardens Christmas Town - Tampa November 16 - January 6 https://buschgardens.com/tampa/events/christmas-town/ Christmas in the Wild - Zoo Tampa November 29, 30 | December 6-7, 13-15, 20-23 https://zootampa.org/events/christmas-in-the-wild/ Winter Village - Downtown Tampa - Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park November 22 - January 5 http://www.wintervillagetampa.com/ Holiday Lights in the Garden - Largo - Florida Botanical Gardens November 29 - January 4 https://flbgfoundation.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=479557&module_id=350229&sl=1496170903 Oakdale Christmas House - St. Petersburg November 29 - January 3 http://www.christmasdisplay.org/ The Christmas Trail - Plant City Check website for dates https://www.thechristmastrail.com/ ICE! featuring The Polar Express - Orlando - Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center November 25 - January 5 https://www.marriott.com/gaylord-hotels/christmas-at-gaylord-palms-kissimmee-orlando.mi#Experiences COMPLETE LIST OF HOLIDAY EVENTS: https://www.melanielovestampabay.com/blog/2019-holiday-guide-things-to-do-in-tampa

Are you relocating to Tampa to work out of MacDill Air Force Base and need a starter guide to the Tampa Bay area? That's what this episode is for! MacDill Air Force Base is located at the southern end of the Tampa peninsula, about 4 miles south of Downtown Tampa. MacDill AFB is not only an Air Mobility Command (AMC) base, but headquarters for the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) and the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). We have a large military presence here as well as lots of civilians who work at the base. Sometimes you don't have much time to get to know an area before you're transferred here. Hopefully this video, as well as others here on the channel can be used as a resource. Popular areas for military families: BRANDON RIVERVIEW LITHIA / FISHHAWK RANCH SOUTH TAMPA CARROLLWOOD WESTCHASE NEW TAMPA WESLEY CHAPEL DOWNTOWN ST. PETERSBURG Toll roads you may have to take include the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway which connects South Tampa to Downtown Tampa all the way to Brandon, or the Veterans Expressway - a north-south toll road running from Tampa International Airport to northern Hillsborough County. State of Florida Department of Education, School Grades: http://www.fldoe.org/accountability/accountability-reporting/school-grades/index.stml/ About MacDill AFB: https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/military-installation/macdill-afb Disclosure: I am not affiliated with the military or MacDill Air Force Base

Answering your questions and responding to comments left on my channel - everything from weather to public transportation to snakes. Meanwhile, my puppy Tucker does his best to be a huge distraction. This is going to be a regular video series, so keep 'em coming! If you're not looking to buy / sell a home, the best way to reach out to me with specific questions is by leaving a comment on a YouTube video (versus DMs or emails). This way, I'm able to see all of them in one place and respond as quickly as I can. Plus, the entire community can benefit by seeing your questions and comments. (And if you'd like to follow my dog, yes, he is on Instagram! @tampatucker) 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: matkinson@smithandassociates.com 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.

One of the most popular Tampa Bay areas is definitely South Tampa, so let's take a closer look to see if it's for you! Generally when people are talking about South Tampa, they're referring to the peninsula that juts down into Tampa Bay with the northern boundary of South Tampa being State Road 60 (Kennedy Boulevard) and the southern boundary being MacDill Air Force Base. So why do so many want to live in South Tampa? LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION South Tampa is close to two large commercial areas - the Westshore District near Tampa International Airport, and Downtown Tampa. That makes for a convenient commute. However, you would have pretty quick access to highways bringing you to other Tampa Bay areas including I-275 and the Crosstown Expressway. It's also close to fun places around Downtown Tampa like Amalie Arena, Curtis Hixon Park, The Florida Aquarium, Glazer Children's Museum, Straz Center for the Performing Arts, and Sparkman Wharf. EATING, DRINKING & SHOPPING Because South Tampa has been a popular areas for a long time, many local and chain businesses and restaurants have set up shop here. You don't have to go far to find an amazing restaurant, fun boutique, or grocery store. SCHOOL DISTRICT If you've been looking online at listings, you probably see the phrase "in the Plant High School District." Plant High School is consistently one of the highest rated in the area. Make sure you check the actual school zone for the house you're interested in purchasing. The other high school in South Tampa is in the southern portion of the peninsula - Robinson High School. *NOTE: School zones subject to change NOT COOKIE CUTTER Because the area has been built over the last century, every house looks different and there are plenty of examples where century-old bungalows sit next to brand new contemporary construction. If you value privacy, South Tampa can be a hard place to find it with many smaller lot sizes. Unless you are backing up to the water, golf course, or a street changes are good that you'll have a neighbor backing up to your property. NEIGHBORHOODS & HOUSING OPTIONS You can see beautiful, historic bungalows in Hyde Park Village, lots of new construction in Swann Estates from builders developing existing lots where older homes used to stand. There are townhouses close to Howard Avenue, and you'll find some walkable neighborhoods in South Tampa. Like Downtown St. Pete, South Tampa has some of the highest price real estate in the area since demand is so high. If you want a waterfront property in South Tampa, be prepared to spend well over $1 million. Other popular neighborhoods include Beach Park, Bayshore Beautiful, Ballast Point, Interbay, Westshore Yacht Club, Culbreath Isles, Sunset Park, Golfview, Palma Ceia, Virginia Park, nearby Davis Islands and Harbour Island. 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: matkinson@smithandassociates.com 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.

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: matkinson@smithandassociates.com 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.