Welcome to Tarpon Springs!

During a recent trip to Greece, I marvelled at the stunning beauty found everywhere I looked. I was amazed that the people who actually lived in the area didn't seem to notice the magic that surrounded them. This got me thinking. Upon my return home to Tarpon Springs, I realized that WE are truly surrounded by beauty and magic, and this only served to re-ignite my passion for this area.

My goal for this blog is to post useful information for buyers and sellers of real estate and to provide helpful statistics to anyone who is interested in them. I welcome your comments, suggestions and questions.

During the month of February 2007, MLS activity (Multiple Listing Service) shows that 24 single family homes sold in Tarpon Springs with the average sale price being $292,204 for a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home. The average days on the market for homes in Tarpon Springs was 108. A total of 7 condominium units sold in February 2007, for an average price of $236,482 after 44 days on the market.

How is this information helpful? After months of negative reports by the mainstream media on the "slumping housing market" and the "real estate bubble", it shows that there is activity happening locally. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) tells us that this change in market conditions is a "correction" from the outrageous prices and sales in 2005 and early 2006. Investors bought up all the reasonably priced homes in the area at the end of 2004 and during 2005 and then flooded the market in an attempt to "flip" these properties. Now that we have a more reasonable market, and buyers are starting to come out of the woodwork, it takes more dedication on the part of the real estate professional to sell homes that are listed than it has over the past few years.

As a seller, you should be asking your real estate professional to provide you weekly updates concerning their efforts to market your property. Are they using the most up-to-date technology to reach potential buyers? Are they driving traffic to your listing as often as possible?

We have also seen the decline in the "limited service" brokerages. Remember not too long ago all the billboards that advertised "2% commissions"? We don't see too many of them anymore because that business model not only didn't work, but got many of those companies into ethical trouble with their clients and the administrative bodies. Todays real estate consumers want full service and are willing to pay for it. Most people are too busy to show their own homes, worry about writing and negotiating their own contracts and promoting their own listings. This is also evident in the decreasing numbers of For Sale By Owner signs seen throughout the community.

The bottom line is, Tarpon Springs and the surrounding communities already have the driving force in real estate: Location, Location, Location. The market statistics give us great hope that we will enjoy increasing property values and successful sales for many years to come. With the fantastic improvements happening in the downtown area, our beautiful and serene beaches, excellent schools and cooperative community spirit, we live in paradise! It's my goal to let everyone else know it!