It's open! (SR 56 extension)

After an "Inaugural Walk - Run" and ribbon cutting ceremony, the S.R. 56 extension to Meadow Pointe Blvd. in Wesley Chapel finally was opened today after years of delay after delay.  Considering the ridiculous length of time it has taken to design and build this 3.0 +/- mile extension from BBD, we probably should have had the Governor and the U.S. Marine Band there for the ceremony too.  (Well, at least Jersey Shore Snooki!)

Gone are the "Do Not Enter" and "No Trespassing" signs. Not gone--Pasco County deputies who seem to favor patrolling SR 56 and Mansfield Blvd.

TRAFFIC PATTERN CHANGE:  Northbound traffic on Mansfield Boulevard must now STOP at SR 56 before turning east or west onto the highway.  Additionally, there are stop signs at the Meadow Pointe Blvd. and SR 56 intersection.

What's next?  Look for the installation of traffic lights at Mansfield and Meadow Pointe Blvd. and additional work on the SR 56 and BBD intersection.

River Landing, a new 825 acre community gets green light

Yesterday, the Pasco County Development Review Committee approved a zoning change allowing for up to 2,000 homes to be built on 825 acres on the west side of Morris Bridge Road,  1/2 mile south of Chancey and north of Easton Park.  Additionally, the developer agreed to donate the right of way for the future extension of SR 56 to Morris Bridge Road and a school site.  No dates have been announced for River Landing, a Master Planned Unit Development District.

Inaugural Walk - Run in Wesley Chapel

A ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of the SR 56 extension will be held at 10:30 a.m.

Additional info on the inaugural walk - run:  (813) 994-8534

Pasco Sheriff to speak at August PACA meeting

LAND O' LAKES – Pasco County Sheriff, Bob White, will speak on public safety issues at the August 12, meeting of the Pasco Alliance of Community Associations (PACA).

The meeting, open to the public as well as to PACA members, begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 12, at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center located at 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. (US 41), three miles north of SR 54.

New Tampa's City Plaza

The facelift/renovation of City Plaza in New Tampa is almost complete.

Hunter's Green Market Update

Our local MLS reports that five single family homes were sold in Hunter's Green in the past month by various MLS participants.  The reported sold prices ranged from $146,000 for a distressed property to $312,000 for a 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom pool home.  MLS statistics reveal that the average sold price reported was 97% of the list price.*

*Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Wesley Chapel Water Treatment Facility

The Wesley Chapel water treatment facility under construction at Boyette & Overpass Road:

Turf war!

Tired of lawn maintenance such as mowing, fertilizing, and watering?  While artificial turf may seem appealing, it may not be permitted by your HOA!

Renters beware!

Thinking about renting a home?  Before you fork over that security deposit and first month's rent, make sure that the person you are dealing with has legal status to rent you the home. See video below:

Pasco County announces temporary closure of Boyette Road

Boyette Road in Wesley Chapel will be closed from the intersection of S.R. 54 and Boyette Road to .5 miles north at the S-curve beginning on Monday, July 19, at 8 a.m. and continuing through Sunday, Aug. 15. Local traffic will be able to access Boyette Road during the road closure; however, they will be unable to travel north of the S-curve. All traffic traveling south on Boyette Road will detour onto Curley Road and Old Pasco Road to access S.R. 54. The detour will allow the construction of the new T-Intersection at the existing S-curve, which is the first phase of the construction of the new Boyette Road Extension.

Red Robin at The Shops at Wiregrass

Red Robin restaurant under construction at The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel.  Website:  http://www.redrobin.com/

The red red robin comes bop bop boppin' along.

Woodys Pizza and Wings

Sign announcing Woody's Pizza and Wings coming to the Meadow Pointe Center, (across from the Meadow Pointe II Clubhouse on County Line Road) in Wesley Chapel:

SR 54 Public Information Update Announced

A public information update meeting on the widening of S.R./C.R. 54 will be held at the Atonement Lutheran Church, (29617 S.R. 54, Wesley Chapel) on July 26, 2010 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.   Have questions about the meeting?  Call:  (727) 847-3604.

Market Analysis for New Tampa Home Sales

Real estate is local.  Almost daily it seems that we see headlines regarding home sales at the national and state level, but rarely at our local level. Here's a look at New Tampa 2010 statistics for the first six months of total single family home sales reported by various participants in our MLS compared to a year ago.*  The sales numbers have remained remarkably close!

*Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

2010 Wesley Chapel Home Prices

The following chart depicts the sold prices of MLS reported Wesley Chapel single family homes sold from January 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010.* The majority of single family homes sold between $126,000 and $175,000.  Additionally, 35% of the homes reported sold were identified as Short Sales, 11% as REO/Bank Owned, and the 54% majority were not distressed sales.

*6 month reported home sales were from various participants in our MLS.  Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Publix at Tampa Palms

The sign's up and the shelving and checkout lanes are going in.  The  new and improved Tampa Palms Publix in City Plaza is scheduled to open next month.  Store phone number:  (813) 972-2784

A new mosque for New Tampa

The Islamic Society of New Tampa is building a new mosque.  The mosque is located between The Cypress Point Community Church and Easton Park on Morris Bridge Road.

2010 Single Family Homes Sold as Short Sales are 19% of Total Sold in New Tampa

The volume of Short Sales and REO/Bank Owned homes continue to have an impact on home sales in New Tampa, but may not be as significant as you may have been led to believe.  From January thru June, 2010 the New Tampa single family homes sold as Short Sales (reported in our MLS) represented 19% of the total sales, while REO/Bank Owned single family homes represented 13% of the total reported sold.  Non-distressed (traditional)  reported single family home sales represented 68% of the total sold for the first six months of the year in New Tampa.*

*All reported sales are from various participants in MLS.  Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed

Obama signs homebuyer tax credit closing date extension

Today, President Obama signed the homebuyer tax credit closing date deadline extension into law.  Previously eligible home buyers were required to have a valid signed purchase contract on or before April 30, 2010 and close no later than June 30, 2010.  (Many short sale homebuyers had valid contracts on or before April 30th but still had no response from the seller's lender by June 30th.)  The closing date only now has been extended to September 30, 2010 for those eligible homebuyers who had valid purchase contracts on or before April 30, 2010.  Sadly, many short sale homebuyers will still be waiting for a response from the sellers' lenders come September 30th.

Happy Fourth of July Weekend! (Dogs having fun at the beach video!)

Dogs having fun at the beach!

New HOA / Condo laws go into effect today

Renting?  Paying your rent on time?  Effective July 1, 2010 if your landlord isn't paying the required HOA / Condo fees, under Florida Chapter 720, you may be obligated to pay the fees directly or face eviction!