Wednesday, January 25, 2023 / by Stephanie LeFew B
Ahead of the Gasparilla Pirate Fest in Downtown Tampa, everyone is invited to a Pre-Invasion Party at Tampa Convention Center. The Tampa Rough Riders organization is hosting the event on Friday, January 27 from 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
The Pre-Invasion Party will feature live entertainment, light appetizers, a cash bar, and drink specials.
You can purchase tickets at tamparoughriders.org
This party is a preface to the Gasparilla Pirate Invasion and Parade of Pirates, the signature annual event in Tampa, on January 28. ...
Read More
new home, first time home buyer, hillsborough, hillsborough county, city of tampa, tampa, tampa news
Wednesday, January 11, 2023 / by Stephanie LeFew B
Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon first arrived in the Tampa Bay area in 1513, but the Spaniards focused their attention on settling eastern Florida and left the western areas alone. In 1824, only two months after the arrival of the first American settler, four companies of the U.S. Army established Fort Brooke to protect the strategic harbor at Tampa Bay.
Development of the Tampa Bay region began after the territory became part of the United States in 1845. In spite of the blockade and Federal occupation during the Civil War, the area grew steadily. Henry B. Plant's 1884 railroad extension to the Hillsborough River provided access to new areas, and he built lavish hotels along his rail line to attract visitors.
Tampa owes its commercial success to Tampa Bay and the Hillsborough River. When phosphates were discovered nearby in the late 1880s, the resulting mining and shipping industries prompted a boom of growth and wealth that lasted through the 1890s. Tampa'; ...
Read More
new home, first time home buyer, florida home buyer, hillsborough, hillsborough county, city of tampa, tampa, tampa news
Wednesday, September 21, 2022 / by Stephanie LeFew B
Florida Housing offers down payment and closing cost assistance in the form of a second mortgage loan to assist eligible homebuyers with their down payment and closing costs. Down payment assistance is only available when used with Florida Housing's first mortgage loan. Down payment assistance is NOT available as "stand alone" down payment assistance. Florida Housing offers the following Down Payment Assistance Programs to eligible buyers:
The Florida Assist (FL Assist)
Offers up to $10,000 on FHA, VA, USDA and Conventional Loans.
0%, non-amortizing, deferred second mortgage.
The FL Assist is not forgivable. Repayment is deferred, except in the event of the sale, transfer, satisfaction of the first mortgage, refinancing of the property or until such a time the mortgagor ceases to occupy the property at which time, the Florida Assist will become due and payable, in full.
The Florida Homeownership Loan Program (FL HLP) Second Mortgage
Offers $10,000.
3% fully-amortizing, second . ...
Read More
florida home buyer, new home, first time home buyer, homebuyer, buyer
Wednesday, September 7, 2022 / by Stephanie LeFew B
Florida is the boating and fishing capital of the U.S. It's also home to white sandy beaches, palm trees swaying in the wind and golf courses by the dozen. In 2019, the state's economist estimated that more than 900 new residents each day took advantage of the beautiful weather and affordable lifestyle. That was before COVID-19 drastically changed the way we live, work and play.
Now, Florida is proving to be even more attractive. In fact, Lawrence Yun, chief economist for The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), predicts that more remote workers could flock to Florida, where the cost of living is low, and there's no state income tax. While Florida's beautiful weather, theme parks and beaches are attractive, hurricane season is already underway...and lasts through November. This year, the research team at Colorado State University predicts 20 named storms for an active season. If you're interested in buying a home in the Sunshine State, here are five things to know before a maj ...
Read More
florida home buyer, new home, first time home buyer, homebuyer
Wednesday, August 10, 2022 / by Stephanie LeFew B
The Real Reason Your Electric Bill Is So High Right Now—and the No-Brainer Way To Lower It
If you get a major shock every time you open your electricity bill lately, you are far from alone.
According to Bloomberg News, the average American paid about 15% more for electricity in July 2022 than they did the year before. That jolting figure is the most significant 12-month increase since 2006.
So it’s little wonder that these high prices may make you desperate to slash your monthly home energy bill. One of the easiest ways to save big bucks is to simply take a look around your house.
You may be unknowingly increasing your energy bill thanks to the many devices you keep plugged in all the time—even when not in use. Your energy company likely calls them “always-on devices.” But they’re also known as “energy vampires” for good reason: They are sucking your wallet dry.
So let’s look at how you can save money by battling thl ...
Read More
florida home buyer, first time home buyer
