ActiveRain MeetUp Time Again!!!! We are going to be doing another MeetUp on Tuesday, April 17th at the Tarpon Turtle located at 1513 Lake Tarpon Avenue in Tarpon Springs, Florida. I have already made reservations at the restaurant but you must RSVP either with a blog post here or by sending me an email since we need a head count for the restaurant. Starting time is 1 pm but I am sure we will be there if you come later...........so let's make this the BIGGEST Active Rain turnout yet! Bring colleagues that are in the housing market with you as well!!! What a great way to celebrate Spring, an ActiveRain MeetUp on Lake Tarpon!!!! Remember, Tuesday, April 17th at the Tarpon Turtle! 03/15/2012

  Tarpon Springs Florida is a Quirky, Crazy, Wonderful Town We love Tarpon Springs especially downtown. On our way home from the Autos for Autism car show last week, we couldn’t use our usual street because it was full of antique cars - 3 rows across. We ended up taking side streets; ones that were one way and the other way so we got to see some areas we hadn’t seen before. We stumbled upon this home with it’s certified American Garden. It has beautiful flowers, plants and interesting old garden “decorations”. The wonderful porch went almost all the way around the house. The gardens were lush and natural including the back garden with it's bridge. Notice the old "washing machine" with it's mangle. If you would like to live in a quirky, crazy town like Tarpon Springs; call us. Toni and C... 03/10/2012

The Mad Hatter General Store in Tarpon Springs Florida While I was at the Autos for Autism event on Saturday,. See my previous post, I wandered into and out of several of the really cute antique, and clothing boutiques. Mainly to take advantage of the air conditioning because it was a hot day.I found a cute boutique called The Mad Hatter General Store which sells hats, really nice hats and lots of pretty dresses and accessories.   But on my way out of the store, the window display kind of hit me in my camera eye. The manikin’s skirt is made of playing cards and I was impressed with the window dresser’s creativity. I guess that's why she owns a store and I don't. The Mad Hatter General Store is located at 204 E.Tarpon Ave. The website is www.madhattergeneralstore.blogspot.com and you can... 03/06/2012

Decreased inventory, increased prices....so what's the 'pending' market look like? It is looking mighty darn GOOD! People are taking advantage of the sweet deals that are to be found right now and the number of contracts that are just waiting to close has skyrocketed here in the Sunshine State. Florida's single family home market in 'pending' is UP 37.5% in January 2012 over January 2011! That is REALLY impressive! What does the condo and townhome market look like in that category? It is UP 18.0%.   Florida is rocking! With the unbelievably LOW interest rates on a 30 year fixed, it only makes sense to take advantage of these sweet prices! So what are you waiting for?   02/23/2012

  Autos for Autism Hosted by The Antique Automobile Club of America in Tarpon Springs-FloridaAutos for Autism is a Charity Antique Auto Show scheduled for Saturday, March 3, 2012 in Downtown Tarpon Springs (Tarpon Ave).The show is open to all classes of cars and trucks. There will be lots of trophies, door prizes, Chinese Auction, Goody Bags, and Oldies music to enjoy. And you can meet Jake of TV’s Tail Fins and Chrome. Registration starts at 9am to noon;  and awards are presented at 3pm. Registration donation is $15.00. and is limited to 300 cars so call right away. For more information  call Charlie 727-992-4486 or Dave 727-375-8473. Or email them at aacaricheyregion@yahoo.com This is for a great cause and will be lots of fun. So if you love antique cars, come on out to Tarpon Springs... 02/23/2012

Tarpon Springs Florida - January 2012 Market Report The Tarpon Springs Florida market for single family homes had 20 closings during January of 2012. On the high end was a single family home in Grey Oaks that was listed for $639,900 and sold for $575,000. At the other end of this short list of twenty closings was a small home on East Lime Street that was listed for 26k and sold for 19k. Sold Price/Sq Ft: High: $153.34 Low: $  34.55 Average Days on Market: 105 In the category of townhomes, villas and condos there were 16 closings. A townhome in Point Tarpon was the most expensive. Listed at 420k, this beautiful townhome sold for 340k! At the low end of this short list was a condo in Pine Ridge of Lake Tarpon. This two bedroom two bath condo was listed for $36,200 and actually sold for $3... 02/20/2012

Rusty Bellies Waterfront Grill on Sponge Docks in Tarpon Springs FL Looking for a great seafood experience on the Sponge Docks-you need to check out Rusty Bellies Waterfront Grill. The view from the patio is wonderful and totally relaxing and very often you will get to see a shrimp boat or fishing boat come in and park right next to you. The food is excellent and the restaurant has a charming Key West ambiance. Rusty Bellies has entertainment in the evenings on their outdoor decks.   Our Greeter Say Hi to one of the visitors we met outside. Call Toni and Craig Weidman-Re/Max Sunset if you're thinking of moving to the Tarpon Springs, Trinity or New Port Richey area. 727-237-0083 Recents Posts you may have missed Mr. & Mrs. Seller, Meet Your Front Door. Is It Ready for Visitors.Arts and ... 01/20/2012

Tarpon Springs Florida - 2011 Housing Market Review   Looking back on 2011 we find some interesting figures. In the group of Single Family Homes sold this past year in Tarpon Springs, from highest price sold to lowest: 418 single family homes sold List: $9,995,000.     Sold: $8,000,000. (most expensive) List: $    15,999.     Sold: $      13,500. (least expensive) Sale price/sq ft: High: $378.60 Low:  $ 13.42 Average Days On Market: 131   Now let us look at townhomes, condos and villas for 2011: 165 townhomes, villas, condos sold List: $674,900.     Sold: $640,000. (most expensive) List: $ 21,900.     Sold: $  21,900. (least expensive)  Sale price/sq ft: High: $183.10 Low:  $ 26.32 Average Days on Market: 153     When we compare 2011 residential sales in Tarpon Springs Florida to the 20... 01/04/2012

 Tarpon Springs Florida - Epiphany Celebration January 6 2012 Each year, on the Feast of the Epiphany, young Greek boys between the ages of 16 and 18 attend mass at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox cathedral in at 36 N Pinellas Avenue in Tarpon Springs. The services begin at 8 in the morning and once the services are over the boys head to the bayou to await the tossing of the cross.       At approximately 12 noon, once the services are complete, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta, Georgia, will lead the procession to the bayou. In the procession will be Greek school children, dressed in their native costume.       Anna Athanasatos, a student at the University of South Florida, will be the Dove Bearer this year.... 01/03/2012

Tarpon Springs Florida - Market Report December 2011   In December there were 32 Single Family Homes that sold in Tarpon Springs Florida. These homes ranged as follows: On the high end:  5 bedroom 4 bath home with 3734 sq ft List Price: $649,000     Sold Price: $592,000 71 days on the market   On the low end:  3 bedroom 1 bath home with 750 sq ft List Price: $ 19,000     Sold Price: $ 10,000 448 days on the market   Sold price/sq ft: High: $158.54 Low:  $ 13.33 Average: $ 85.14   Condos/townhomes/villas: On the high end: 3 bedroom 2.5 bath villa with 1704 sq ft 429 days on the market List Price: $289,000     Sold Price: $269,000   On the low end: 1 bedroom 1 bath condo with 740 sq ft List Price: $ 39,000     Sold Price: $ 35,000 19 days on the market   Sold price/sq ft: High: $157.86 Lo... 01/02/2012

Northside Seafood Market - Tarpon Springs Florida   Northside Seafood is located on the north side of the Anclote River in Tarpon Springs at 1078 Island Avenue. It is open seven days a week and my favorite place for fresh fish and shrimp.  If you haven't discovered Northside Seafood Market, you REALLY need to check it out! What could possibly make a better brunch than fresh shrimp sauteed in olive oil together with onions, tomatoes, garlic, zucchini slices and feta cheese? That is one of my VERY favorite dishes for a wonderful Sunday brunch! Serve that with a cup of hot tea and you have a little bit of heaven right on your table! Enjoy!     12/30/2011

Greek Boys Choice Foods - Tarpon Springs Florida   If you are looking for quality Greek imports, such as first cold pressed extra virgin olive oil from Greece, Greek feta, fava beans, Greek wine, stuffed grape leaves or any of the other wonderful Greek dishes that are so popular in Tarpon Springs Florida and you don't want to spend a fortune - then check out Greek Boys Choice Foods at 744 Anclote Road just north of the Sponge Docks. The warehouse is open to the public and you can purchase a can or a case of anything they carry! With prices for groceries going up all the time, it is good to know that you can save at Greek Boys Choice Foods! I love being able to direct my clients to great locations like this - it is not on any main street and you will only find it through somebody telling... 12/28/2011

Tarpon Springs Florida Farmer's Market is on Sundays in downtown Tarpon Springs.   Today Ronnie and I stopped there and purchased a couple of salt rock lamps, some handmade local soap and local honey. Some of these items are gifts for clients - I enjoy helping our local economy by purchasing items that were made here on our Gulf Coast.   From there we previewed a few homes for a client that is coming into town next week. It was a great day to do it since the sun was shining brightly and it was in the low 70's. Living in Florida means blue skies most of the year and mild temperatures in December........that is what I love most!       12/18/2011

ActiveRain MeetUp - December's Season of Celebrations & Sharing   Yesterday we had our December Meet Up at the Tarpon Turtle Restaurant on Lake Tarpon in Tarpon Springs Florida and it was fantastic!   Unfortunately, not everyone that sent an RSVP showed up  but those who were there had a wonderful time!   I got to finally meet Lana Robbins who lives just up the road a few miles. I have read her blogs and it was great to finally meet her in person!   Naturally my buddies Jeanne Gavish, Toni Weidman and Silvia Dukes were on hand and it was wonderful to get to see Anne Hensel. Anne brought Manuela Baginski with her. Manuela is one of the Realtors that work in Anne's brokerage down on Madeira Beach.   Craig Weidman came along with his wife, Toni, and Kwee Huset drove two hours from Venice F... 12/16/2011

Active Rain MeetUp - Thursday December 15 - Tarpon Turtle Restaurant - Tarpon Springs Florida This is a reminder to ALL Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas ActiveRainers -and anybody else willing to drive over for our MeetUp- we are meeting at 12 noon at the Tarpon Turtle Restaurant, on the shores of beautiful Lake Tarpon! Lunch and drinks and fantastic conversation - last time we were together for about four hours, so if you come a little late, it is NOT a problem! We would love to see you at the MeetUp! So far there are approximately 20 people that have responded that they will be there, so come on out and enjoy an afternoon with like-minded professionals! What better way to get to know each other - who are you most likely to refer a client to? A total stranger or someone you have met? That... 12/14/2011

JIMBO DOES JUMBO IN TARPON SPRINGS FLORIDA Looking for that perfect loan for your new dream home? Well look no further. Jimbo has been closing JUMBO loans in Florida for over 10 years. The key to getting the best rate for a non conforming loan such as a JUMBO is to have an experienced loan originator put the file together for you in the right manner. Shortcuts and files that make for messy presentations end up costing you money. Jimbo is an experienced loan originator that knows how to present your loan in it's best light to the investors. Call Jimbo today for a Free no obligation interview @ 813.205.7958 12/11/2011

Victorian Christmas At The Safford House - Tarpon Springs Florida - December 11th @ 5:30 in the evening. The beautiful Safford House is located at 23 Parkin Court, just off Grand Blvd. It was the home of Anson P.K. Safford. Safford moved to Tarpon Springs due to his work with Disston Enterprises and it is here that he formed the Lake Butler Villa Company. This beautiful Victorian home is on the National Register of Historic Places and well worth a visit this holiday season! There will be Victorian carolers, live music and refreshments. Be sure to also visit the gift shop while you are there. Local museums, such as this one, offer so much local history!         12/11/2011

Tarpon Springs Florida Market Report - November 2011   As we come toward the end of 2011, let us look back at the month of November in Tarpon Springs. There were 29 single family homes sold. At the high end was a 5 bedroom 3 bath two story waterfront Mediterranean style pool home. Located directly on a saltwater canal that leads out to the Anclotte River and the Gulf of Mexico beyond, this 3088 sq ft home was listed at $569,500 and sold after only 73 days on the market for $520,000.   At the other end of this list is a 4 bedroom 2 bath 1540 sq ft short sale on Spruce Avenue. This little home was listed at $30,500 and sold for the list price after being on the market for 163 days.   When we look at townhomes, villas and condo that closed during November we start off at the high end with ... 12/06/2011

Lagerheads Grill in Tarpon Springs Florida was our destination for lunch today. It was one of those days when you just feel like eatting out and Lagerheads just re-opened and changed their name from Snookers.   They still have the gator tank out back where you can see live Florida alligators up close and personal but our destination was lunch.   I had the filet mignon and Ron had the roast beef. Both were excellent as was the salad. If you have not tried Lagerheads on Alternate 19 in Tarpon Springs since it re-opened, it is worth a trip.     12/03/2011

Billy's Tarpon Turtle Restaurant at 1513 Lake Tarpon Avenue in Tarpon Springs Florida has re-opened! Ron and I decided to have lunch out today and had heard that the Tarpon Turtle had re-opened under new management so we drove over to Lake Tarpon to check it out. Located directly on Lake Tarpon, the Tarpon Turtle has always been one of my personal local spots! The views are fantastic and if you are out boating on the lake, you can dock right at the restaurant and have your lunch or drinks before getting back in your boat. We split our lunches so we could both try two different meals and both were GREAT! We had the Black Angus beef burger and the hot pressed Cuban. Both were served with fries and cole slaw. Now that we know the Tarpon Turtle is open once again, we will be back! I am also... 11/30/2011