Today is Free Museum Day in St Petersburg, Florida. 10 am to 3 pm today there is free admission to: Museum of Fine Arts St Petersburg Museum of History The Dali Museum (sorry - this is free only for Pinellas County residents) Great Explorations Children's Museum Morean Arts Center Galleries and more The photo is taken from the front door of our officee, looking across some of the outside tables at Tryst looking at the entrance to the Museum of Fine Arts.  Don't we have a great location for our real estate office? And did you know?  The American Style Magazine for the second year in a row designated St Petersburg, Florida is the #1 Top Arts Destination for a mid size city!   Come to St Pete and see for yourself. 09/24/2011

FHA 203K Rehab/Home Improvement Loan in Florida  With all the Bank-Owned, Foreclosure, Short Sale and Aging properties on the market today the 203k loan is becoming the answer on a growing number of real estate purchase transactions. This HUD approved FHA 203k loan gives buyers the MONEY they need for property repairs and Improvements at closing. It's an FHA loan that requires only 3.5% down at closing. All homes are sold AS-IS and an escrow account is set up to pay for the improvements.  Everyone is winning with this program. My company an I offer a 1 hour training class at no cost by a HUD Certified 203K Instructor that is done at your office for anyone who is interested in hearing more about the 203k loan program. The FHA 203K Streamline Rehabilitation Program Process is simple when ... 09/23/2011

  Non-Occupying Co-Signers Are On The Increase for Purchase Transactions In Tampa Non-Occupying Co-Signers - FHA allows a direct family member to co-sign with the buyer and still live at another property even if it is located in another State. This allows individuals who are directly related to buyers with high Debt-To-Income Ratios to Co-Sign and add additional income to the application in an effort to bring the ratios in-line with the lenders guidelines. The Non-Occupying Co-Signer can also gift the buyer the money for the down payment or simply pay it out of their own funds. A Non-Occupying Co-Signer has been a popular sales tool for my Realtors who cater to younger first time buyers who's incomes are still fairly low but who's parents are more then happy to help their children quali... 07/25/2011

The Festival of Reading will be held in downtown St Petersburg this Saturday, October 24, 2010 from 10 am to 4 pm at USF St Petersburg. More than 40 authors, including Michael Connelly, will be reading and signing their books. The festival used to be held at Eckerd College but has grown a lot over the years. Visit the USF waterfront campus in downtown St Pete and take the opportunity to meet and talk with Florida authors and to buy books and have them autographed.   Correction:  Saturday is October 23rd! 10/19/2010

The 25th anniversary celebration of the movie "Cocoon" in St Petersburg is scheduled for October 19 and 20 in St Petersburg. Tuesday night is a VIP Reception and Party at the Princess Martha Hotel and Wednesday is both a Tea Dance at the St Petersburg Coliseum and an Open House at the Mirror Lake Complex. The film won an Academy Award for special effects. Not only do we remember the local scenes, but there was quite an array of start in the film: Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy, Don Amece (who won an Oscar), Brian Dennehy, Wilford Brimley, Tyrone Power Jr and others. Barbara Harrington had helped recruit retirees as extras, and when the director saw them, he sent her out for older, more decrepit extras. Hernando De Soto was looking for the Fountain of Youth in Florida back in the early 15... 10/16/2010

The Fire Prevention Block Party in downtown St Pete will be Saturday, October 9th, from 10 am to 2 pm in Vinoy Park, at 701 North Shore Drive NE. The fire department will be setting up Safety Village where you can learn about safety. There will also be fire trucks on display, fire and rescue demonstrations, K-9 demonstrations, inflatable games and free food and drinks. Contact the St Petersburg Fire and Rescue Prevention Division at 727-893-7218 for more information. 10/05/2010

This Saturday, October 2nd, 2010, the Saturday Morning Market in downtown St Petersburg opens its 9th season. We've missed it during the hot summer and are glad to see it back. It's at the Al Lang Stadium parking lot at the corner of 1st St S and 1st Ave S and will be open from 9 am to 2 pm. Come shop, eat, listen to music.  09/27/2010