Tampa - St. Petersburg - Clearwater In Top 10 Markets For First Time Homebuyers

Today, Realtor.com ranked Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater as #2 in the nation of the best real estate markets for first time homebuyers.   The five key factors used in the study to determine rankings were popularity, prices, inventory, time on market and unemployment rates.

1.  Pittsburgh, PA
2.  Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater 
3.  Philadelphia, PA-NJ (NJ)
4.  Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
5.  Orlando, FL
6.  Jacksonville, FL
7.  Philadelphia, PA-PA-NJ- (PA)
8.  Dallas, TX
9.  Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
10.  Phoenix-Mesa, AZ

According to the study, the median listing price for Tampa-St. Pete-Clearwater is $169,900 and the MSA has 21,062 listings, a median age of 88 days of inventory, with a 5.9% unemployment rate.

Local Sweetbay stores to close for a week

 

Our two local Sweetbay stores will close April 5th and reopen on April 11th as Winn-Dixie stores:

6425 E. County Line Road, Tampa

27301 S.R. 54, Wesley Chapel

(Note:  The Zephyrhills store located at 38901 SR 54 also will be closed during this timeframe.)

Pasco-Hernando State College Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch Open House & Dedication

Mercedes coming to Wesley Chapel

AutoNation plans to open Pasco's first Mercedes car dealership in Wesley Chapel before the end of the year.  A 45,000 sq. ft. facility with a total investment of $17 million will be located on 5.5 acres on SR 56 at I-75 and will feature a 21,000 sq. ft. showroom with 22 bay service department. 

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

 

Tampa In Top 20 Of Forbes 100 Most Affordable US Cities in 2014

Forbes ranks the most affordable cities in the 100 largest MSA's and MD's (Metropolitan Statistical Areas and Metropolitan Divisions) in the US for 2014 and Tampa ranks #18.

The ranking according to Forbes:

1.  Buffalo, NY
2.  Memphis, TN
3.  Cincinnati, OH
4.  Dayton, OH
5.  Knoxville, TN
6.  Akron, OH
7.  Grand Rapids, MI
8.  Louisville, KY
9.  Oklahoma City, OK
10.  Warren, MI
11.  Toledo, OH
11.  Detroit, MI
12.  Birmingham, AL
13.  St. Louis, MO
14.  Virginia Beach, VA
15.  Jacksonville, FL
16.  Pittsburgh, PA
17.  Tulsa, OK
18.  Tampa
19.  Syracuse, NY
20.  Columbus, OH

The two least affordable US cities according to Forbes are New York City & Honolulu.

Full article from Forbes

Estancia at Wiregrass

 

The new Wiregrass Ranch community, Estancia is under construction and has not yet opened for sales.  The Wesley Chapel community plans over 1,100 homes on 675 acres.  Here's a sneak peak at what's going on:

Future Clubhouse

Russ Perlowski, People's Choice Realty  813-505-7460

Proposed elevated expressway forum draws angry crowd in Pasco

 

The first forum to present the proposed SR 54/56 elevated toll expressway received an angry reception in Land O Lakes. The expressway in south Pasco County could eventually run from US 19 to 301 and a Pasco planning official stated that 12 to 20 lanes will be required on the major east-west SR 54 because of future growth.    Hundreds of residents showed up at the forum and the mood of the crowd was largely against the project. Opponents to the toll road have a Facebook page called Pasco Fiasco.

The next transportation meeting/open house will be held at the Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel on Saturday from 10-2.  Additional details

Pasco County MPO to Hold a Series of Public Transportation Workshops

Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is seeking citizen input as they develop the 2040 Long Range Transportation Needs Plan.

Additionally, the first round of public outreach sessions regarding the proposed elevated/toll road SR 54/56 project will be included.

The date for the session in Wesley Chapel is:

Saturday, March 15, 10-2 p.m.
Wiregrass Mall
Next to Guest Services Building, Center Court
28211 Paseo Drive, Wesley Chapel, 33543

NOTE:  March 15, 2014  I stopped by today to see the "session" at Wiregrass.  It's a "booth" next to the Customer Service Center, with representatives available to answer questions.  :(

Four other workshops on different dates and locations will also be held.  Link

Townhome project proposed for Wiregrass

M/I Homes is proposing a 220 unit townhome project in Wiregrass.  The proposed site is 1/2 mile south of SR 56 and across from Wiregrass Ranch High School on Mansfield Blvd.  The first phase consists of 112 units and the project includes an amenity center. 

Sandhill Cranes

Another perfect weather day in Tampa Bay!

Pier 1 Imports relocating in New Tampa

The Pier 1 Imports store on BBD at I-75 will be relocating to the Highwoods Preserve retail center on BBD (also home to Best Buy,  HomeGoods and Michaels).  Look for the move to happen later this year.