Parking meters at the mall

Anyone who has been to The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel probably has noticed the parking meters on Paseo Drive. While there is no charge to park in the lots, there is a $1.00/hr parking meter charge to park in front of the stores.

Has anyone ever seen a meter reader there or received a ticket for being parked at an expired meter? I wonder about parking meters on a street that is not maintained by the county or the state.

Average Tampa home prices by area / neighborhood

The Greater Tampa Association of Realtors has just released the sales information by area of average home prices for homes sold in April, 2009:

Memorial Day

Short Sales -- Deal or No Deal?

Today James Thorner, real estate authority for the St. Pete Times writes about "short sales" and how sold prices on short sales (pre-foreclosures) are close to "conventional" home selling prices. Considering that the seller's lender can take months to respond to a short sale offer to purchase contract, buyers may no longer be motivated to suffer through the short sale process.
Full Story

NPR--Short Sales

Short Sales Real Estate Transactions To Be Improved

There probably isn't a real estate agent in the country who hasn't been frustrated with the "short sale" process. Given the incredible length of time that many sellers' lenders take to give a response on a Purchase Contract, buyers often ask why it is called a "short sale" when it takes so long for the banks to give an answer. Buyers are finding that the "sizzle" of pre-foreclosures/short sales turns into "fizzle" when the banks won't even approve the full list price offer on their short sale purchase contract, and that answer can take months of waiting.

All too often it appears that the banks would prefer to go through the time and expense of foreclosing on a home than to give a timely and reasonable response on a short sale transaction. Then, after foreclosing they often times end up selling it at a lower price than they could have gotten as a short sale.

Finally, this week federal incentives under the Foreclosure Alternatives Program have been announced to encourage the Sellers' lenders to streamline the Short Sale process and provide uniform procedures. Of course, we have no idea how long it will take lenders to "get with the program".

Full Story

Pasco National Tennis Center Update

Lisa Buie of the St. Pete Times reports today that the previously "approved"controversial Pasco National Tennis Center which was to be built in Wesley Chapel is dead. (Or is this a form of brinksmanship? Only time will tell.) The Center was to be built with Pasco tourist tax dollars and managed by Saddlebrook Resorts. Apparently the details of the "deal" between Saddlebrook and the county could not be agreed upon and Saddlebrook walked away from the deal. Full story

LA Fitness and Sweetbay in New Tampa Plan June Openings

Construction on The Cypress retail shopping center in New Tampa (BBD & County Line Road) continues. LA Fitness is planning a June 17th opening and Sweetbay a June 27th opening.

LA FITNESS

SWEETBAY:

A hockey arena and theater for New Tampa

The Hillsborough County Commission voted to transfer a 13.4 acre parcel in New Tampa to the Parks and Recreation Department. Plans are for two non-profit groups to build a hockey arena and theater venue on the New Tampa property located across from Hunter's Green. The two groups will have to raise their own funds for construction.

*Source: Tampa Tribune

Former Bennigans in New Tampa converts to TGI Fridays

Tampa Palms April Home Sales

Seven single family Tampa Palms homes were reported sold in April by our local MLS with sold prices ranging from a low of $220,000. to a high of $455,000. for a five bedroom, three bath, 3 car garage, pool home.
Currently Tampa Palms single family homes listed for sale in our local MLS have list prices starting at $189,900.

Lexington Oaks Fitness Center

Construction on the new fitness center for Lexington Oaks in Wesley Chapel was started back in March. Total construction time is supposed to be 17 weeks.

Suncoast Arts Fest

The Suncoast Arts Fest at The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel today from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

Opening of SR 56 delayed AGAIN!

For years the residents of Meadow Pointe have been promised an extension of SR 56 from BBD into the community and the project has been delayed repeatedly. The extension to Mansfield has the asphalt done, and even signage is up at the intersection of SR 56 and Mansfield (see photos) ! Asphalt is being put down on the Mansfield to Meadow Pointe Blvd. portion. So why isn't the BBD to Mansfield segment open?

Reports in the newspapers today attribute the latest delay to disagreements with TECO over who is to pay the cost of relocating utility lines. TECO says the developers are responsible for those costs. Of course you know what position the developers take over the estimated $600,000 cost. So the opening of this first segment remains delayed.

Pasco County Commissioner, Pat Mulieri is quoted today in the St. Pete Times as stating: "We worked very diligently to build that road. I've been in all the meetings and (the utilities issue) never came up. The people are going to be very angry, and I don't blame them."

Yes, the people are angry!

Commissioner, the people also don't understand why the previously approved Pasco National Tennis Center remains "bogged down" without resolution.