Tampa New Home buyers, get a rebate of 1% of their new home price!!   My offer to you is simple, when you work with me, and I represent you with the Builder in the purchase of a New home, I will give to you a 1%(rebate) of my sales commission paid buy the builder at the time of closing of the home. Be assured, rebating to the Tampa new home buyer is 100% legal in the State of Florida and is warmly welcomed by the federal government as per the Department of Justice.  Here is a quote from the Department of Justice (DOJ) website "Consumers who live in states permitting the option to choose innovative brokerage options, such as rebates or fee-for-service MLS-only packages, can potentially save thousands of dollars on commission payments."  DOJ Antitrust Division There is no catch or contrac... 07/15/2014

Active Adults Biking for Exercise If you have fond memories of riding your bike as a kid, but haven't ridden a bike since you were 12,  this is an excellent way to get exercise as an active adult, and a means to observe scenery while covering more ground than walking, all while getting the old ticker going a bit. When trying to decide on the best type of bike, think about these questions: - Who do you ride with?  - What do they ride? - What have you had in the past that you liked? - What have you had in the past that you disliked? - What would you like to do with your new bike? - How much money are you comfortable spending? - Do you need to touch and test a bike in person or are you comfortable ordering online? Examining The Questions If you are buying a bike to ride with a group of fri... 07/09/2014

        7 Minute Guide to Wine Tasting     I hope you enjoyed this video Guide of Wine Tasting and that you picked up some wine tips that will help you enjoy wine and entertain using wine in a fun way. Can you invision yourself entertaining on the patio or screened room off the back of your new home in a Tampa Active Adult 55+ Lifestyle Community? Also read, Wine Tasting Tips for Active Adults For a Free Active Adult Buyers Guide, please give me a call or send me an email. 813-541-5427 07/09/2014

5 Natural Ways to Keep Your South Tampa Home Pest Proof   Pests are a part of life-the unwanted part of life that is. Everyone encounters a pest problem in their home at least once in their lifetime. Here's good news for South Tampa homeowners: You can avoid having encounters with these pests and get rid of them for good! What's more, you don't need to pay a pricey fee to an exterminator. Just go to the kitchen or make a quick fix from your garden and these pests will surely put your house on their blacklist!     Here are 5 non-toxic, natural and practical ways to keep your South Tampa home pest-free:   1. Peppermint Oil - We love this stimulating scent we find in herbal teas, toothpaste and gum. Mice suffer from the peppermint smell. Make a peppermint spray with 1/4 cup of water and 40... 07/08/2014

If you have been with a large national franchise, and find it lacking once you are trained and have some experience under your belt. You realize that independence is one of the key ingredients that are missing.   Independence fuels real estate agents entrepreneurial spirit but finding success solely on your own is a challenge. With HomeXpress Realty, you have the freedom to run your business your way while feeling secure that a team of dedicated and experienced industry professionals is standing by to help you with anything you need. Your business, our tools and support. That’s the HomeXpress advantage.   At HomeXpress, central Florida’s fastest growing independent real estate company, we help minimize the risk, eliminate excessive costs and enable you to make more money.  Check out our... 07/04/2014

Solana Bay Townhouse for Sale in Tampa FL | 8470 E Sandy Beach St   The delightful features of this Solana Bay Townhouse for sale is a must-see. Located in a lovely, gated community with controlled access to amenities including a pool, this townhouse is truly a wonderful retreat to come home to. It is being offered at a great price of only $147,900. You will love the open concept floor plan of this home which allows much flexibility for creative interior ideas. The warm laminated floor is such a beautiful sight and contributes to the cozy ambience of the first floor. There is ample space for large pieces of furniture in the living room. It is also the best area in this home to entertain your guests. You may open the blinds covering the sliding glass doors to make the room look wider dur... 07/02/2014

Tampa FL Home For Sale with Convenient Access to I-75 | 7209 Ridgeport Dr   Location and potential make this 2 story single family Tampa FL home for sale one of the best opportunities in Tampa FL. Beautifully set in a large lot next to a conservation, this home has a peaceful vibe that is fit for anyone seeking a truly relaxing home. You will want to make this 4 bedroom/2 bath Tampa FL home your own as soon as you set your eyes on it. Tampa FL is teeming with lots of beautiful attractions not limited to the waterfront areas. This community has many parks so you can easily go out on a picnic on a sunny day.  Enjoy plenty of outdoor activities or do your work-out under tree-shaded areas which are almost everywhere. Interesting events happen all year round making life more vibrant and inte... 07/01/2014

Tampa Fl Townhouse within Solana Bay for Sale | 8470 E Sandy Beach ST   The moment you walk inside this lovely Solana Bay townhouse for sale, you'll find yourself pleasantly delighted in its open concept floor plan. This Tampa FL home offers great features including a living room and dining area with fine-looking laminated floor and ample space for large furniture. Its 3 carpeted bedrooms include a Master bedroom which has a large Master bath with a garden tub, and the other 2 cozy rooms share another full bathroom. The fully equipped open kitchen gives you a great view of the house and allows you to talk to your guests even while you're cooking. There's also a recently tiled lanai where you can relax and enjoy the view of the neat landscape surrounding this home. Know more about this ... 07/01/2014

Tampa FL Home for Sale with Easy Access to I-75 | 7209 Ridgeport Dr You don't want to miss an opportunity of owning a home in a wonderful location! This 4 bedroom, 2 baths Tampa FL home for sale is set beside a conservation giving the entire home a peaceful ambience. Enjoy its features including a Master Suite with large bathroom, a living room with vaulted ceiling, family room connecting to a spacious enclosed patio and a fully functional kitchen with a dinette area. The parking conveniently fits 2 cars and is air-conditioned.   This Tampa FL home is located near lots of shopping, dining and attractions including Busch gardens and The Museum of Science and Industry. Feel free to call me, Mary G. Diaz at 813-245-9677, and I'll be glad to show you this property. OverviewMapsPhotosFeatur... 07/01/2014

  BRAND NEW! MOVE-IN-READY HOME -- Price reflects 5K off List Price. Numerous Upgrades! Popular GENOVA model offers 2 BR 2 BA, and Den and 2 car garage. With Pond Frontage and view from the screened in lanai. Open floor plan, split BR's and high ceilings. Kitchen offers GE appliances, 42 maple cabinets + pantry, zodiac quartz countertops and upgraded tile backsplash. Master BR offers 2 huge walk-in closets and dual sinks in bathroom, separate glass-enclosed stall shower & garden tub. Granite countertops also in both bathrooms. Separate laundry room. Security system in your home; brick pavers on driveway, walkway & on lanai.   VERY ACTIVE COMMUNITY offers a Fabulous Waterfront Outdoor Recreation Area; includes a brand new 27,000 sq. ft. Clubhouse with resort style heated pools to includ... 06/26/2014

Independence Day in Tampa FL: 2014 Fun List   It's just a couple of days before the most celebrated event of the year: The 4th of July of course! There are numerous events across Florida but one of the best places to celebrate this year's brightest event is in Tampa FL where fireworks double their magnificence when reflected in Tampa waters. Residents and future homeowners looking for South Tampa homes for sale won’t want to miss these events: 10th Annual Brandon Blast An open event to be held at the Brandon Town Center on Independence Day from 5-9 p.m. Get to experience free live entertainment and fireworks display set to country music. Westfield Brandon restaurants will be open throughout the evening for those who would like to dine. Big crowds are expected so come early to secure the... 06/25/2014

May 2014 was a spectacular month for the real estate market throughout the nation. If you don’t feel like the market is recovering, here are some facts for you to consider. 1.    Total existing home sales, including completed transactions such as single-family homes, townhomes, and condominiums, grew 4.9% to an annual rate of 4.89 million in May 2014. This gain is the highest increase since August 2011. Higher sales volume is a great sign for the market as buyers are being more confident. According to National Association of Realtors (NAR) chief economist, Lawrence Yun, “home buyers are benefiting from slower price growth due to the much needed, rising inventory levels. Moreover, sales were helped by the improving job market and the temporary but slight decline in mortgage rates.” 2.   ... 06/25/2014

The World Cup is back. Brazil, the country where it all began, spent over $12 billion dollars to host the biggest futbol (soccer) event in the world. As 32 countries battle each other for the next few weeks, there are many beautiful things we can look forward to such as the amazing atmosphere, cultural treasuries that Brazil has to offer, and of course the actual performance of the teams. The entire country of Brazil is behind its own national team and expects nothing but winning it all. Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff welcomes all the futball fans, “I’m certain that in the 12 host cities, visitors are going to mix with a happy, generous and hospitable people and be impressed by a nation full of natural beauty and which fights each day to become more equal.” The United States are hop... 06/20/2014

5 Things to Consider When Looking for Homes For Sale In South Tampa Area   You have made a great decision in planning to invest in a South Tampa waterfront home! Before plunging into this great opportunity, there are very important things you should remember when buying a home. Especially in waterfront areas you want to make sure you will not regret your investment. These 5 tips will guide you in the process of buying a waterfront home.     1. Find out how much you can borrow Waterfront properties are typically more expensive than other properties, more so if you are looking for luxury homes for sale in South Tampa. You can start the loan process even before finding your waterfront home because the loan process may take longer than processing a loan for a regular home.   2. Look for a w... 06/19/2014

South Tampa FL 2 Duplex Homes For Sale | 6607 S Faul St #0 This income-producing South Tampa FL property for sale is a rare opportunity you shouldn't miss! The 2 Duplexes on a single lot feature 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom each for a total of 4 units. The units are very well maintained and fully leased with long term tenants. This property produces a net income of over $25,000 a year. South Tampa FL is a beautiful and vibrant community Southwest of downtown Tampa FL. It is able to retain its small town feel despite its proximity to the city. You'll easily be charmed by this area's tree-lined streets and beautiful surroundings. Being very close to the bay, the area will never run out of attractive places to visit. South Tampa FL has nationally recognized schools and has an abundance of res... 06/10/2014

South Tampa FL Income-Generating 2 Duplex Property for Sale | 6607 S Faul St #0 One of a kind offer in South Tampa FL - This 2 Duplex property on a single lot is producing over $25,000 a year from its long term tenants and you can have one of the units as your new home. The property is very well maintained, has newer roofs, all freshly painted and have beautiful laminated floors, kitchens equipped with a range, refrigerator, All bathrooms are tiled and each have a tub with a shower. All units have a carport, a balcony and a lot of space in the backyard.   This great property is near nationally recognized schools. South Tampa FL has an abundance of restaurants and shopping and just a few minutes from downtown Tampa. Call Mary G Diaz now at 813-245-9677 and get the chance to view this dr... 06/09/2014

Activities You Can Do with your Kids this Summer in Tampa     It's that time of the year when your kids are free from school (for now) and the scorching heat just makes you want to live in the pool for the rest of your life. Yup, it's summer! These are the times where you usually ask yourself, hmm what is there to do in tampa today?      Well, I may know a few summer camps that your child or children will enjoy spending the summer at. If you want you can join in along the fun with them too! There are a variety of summer camps in Tampa. There's sports, drama, arts-and-crafts, and even modeling camps. So it's best to pick a camp the best suits your kid/s' interests. Here are a few: Abba Dabba Summer Theatre Camp     Like the name implies, this camp is for people who are gifted (or who wan... 06/05/2014

Real Estate factors you may want to consider If the thought of buying a home has crossed your mind lately, market conditions suggest that now may be the right time to make your move. The Real Estate market is reaching a critical point for home-buyers and conditions have not been better in the past 12 months. Many people dream of becoming homeowners, and mortgage rates, the qualification process and more seem to keep some home buyers on the side line.  Conditions for purchasing real estate have greatly improved. For example, according to this Housingwire article, 30-year fixed mortgage rates have hit a nine- month low.  In fact, mortgage rates have been declining for 5 weeks straight. Some may attribute this to 2014’s slow start to the fiscal year, but it’s evident that now is the time t... 06/04/2014

During the summer, Memorial Day is one of America’s favorite summer holidays (second only to Independence Day). Summer events draw much attention to the four day weekend, such as barbeques or events such as Tampa Bay Margarita Festival and Winter Haven’s Floatilla. During these relaxing and fun times, have we lost sight of what Memorial Day is about? Memorial Day is a United States holiday to honor and remember the people who served in our military branches. Boeing’s 2007 commercial tugged at the heartstrings of friends and family who served in the military.  The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs gives a beautiful history of the holiday.  After the civil war ended, Major General John A. Logan declared “Decoration Day,” a holiday to honor the soldiers who lost their life in the Civil Wa... 05/23/2014

Reverse Mortgages…."Why Should I Get One?" One of the questions consumers ask me during our initial conversations is: "why should I get a reverse mortgage?" I understand that they come from a place of misinformation where the reverse mortgage is a loan of last resort, only to be used if you want to pay off your mortgage (and have a little extra saved up) and should never be considered if you have a retirement plan in place. Nothing could be further from the truth. Not only has the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority stated that the reverse mortgage is no longer a loan of last resort, financial planners have also been working with the reverse mortgage industry since the changes last October to ensure the program is reevaluated and reintroduced to consumers who may not have otherwise ... 05/21/2014