Real Estate Views from St Pete

Find the Fun Now is a new iPhone app that lets you find active things to do in Pinellas County Florida, incuding St Petersburg, Clearwater, the Gulf Beaches and the many interesting towns. You can search from your existing location or you can enter a zipcode and other parameters. This isn't a listing of Events - it's a listing of healthy, active things you can do, from walking a portion of the Pinellas Trail (34 miles long) to golfing and tennis. In addition to a Fun To Do section, there's a Fun to Eat section (places to buy produce and farmers markets). You can search for things to do alone, as a couple or with a group. It even tells you if an activity is pet friendly, so you'll know ahead of time whether you can bring your dog along.  If you don't have an iPhone? It's less convenient, but you can go to www.findthefunnow.com on any computer.

If you're in downtown St Petersburg checking it now, it will suggest walking, jogging or biking a portion of the Pinellas Trail (34 miles overall), strolling through North Straub Park, circling Crescent Lake Park (all dog friendly) or visiting the St Pete Tennis Center or joining a Saturday morning ladies bike ride (not pet friendly).

The Old Northeast neighborhood, adjacent to downtown St Petrsburg, has always been a popular neighborhood. Now This Old House has recognized it as a Best Old Home Neighborhood 2012: South. It's the only neighborhood in Florida to be recognized by them this year and it rates in various categories: family friendly, parks and recreation, cottages and bungalows, gardening, Editors' Choice.

The varied styles of homes - bungalows, Colonials, Mediterranean, Italian, and even a few moderns - work together because of all the trees and landscaping. Many of the streets are brick and many of the sidewalks are made with hexagonal concrete blocks. Most of the garages are in the back of the homes, with alley access. Most homes have a front porch, which encourages conversations. It's easy to chat between someone relaxing on the porch and someone walking on the sidewalk. It's not unusual for three generations of a family to live in various homes in the Old Northeast.

The avenues end at a waterfront park for playing and viewing. There's a dog park nearby. In addition to The Old Northeast Tavern that's IN the neighborhood, all the restaurants and shops of downtown St Petersburg are a short walk away, as are museums and art galleries and an ongoing series of activities in the parks. The Old Northeast is known for celebrating holidays, with various flags and decorations. Easter egg hunts, Halloween trick or treating, 4th of July. It's a neighborly neighborhood. Downtown you'll find the Saturday Morning Market, First Friday and art crawls.

The only thing that This Old House got wrong is the prices. The range isn't from $90,000 to $400,000; it's actually $150,000 to $1,500,000. Let The Simms Team show you this and other wonderful St Petersburg neighborhoods and help you buy or sell your St Pete home.

Yes, cash does matter when buying a home in St Petersburg, Florida. Historically, sellers didn't give price concessions for cash unless time was critical to them. For most sellers, it didn't matter if their proceeds came from the buyer or the lender.

Today, well priced properties in St Petersburg will often have multiple offers. In most cases, the St Pete seller will accept the cash offer rather than the highest price. Of course it depends on the difference in price as well as other factors. The mortgage process is taking longer, a preapproval letter means less when "The Underwriter" adds conditions for either the buyer or the property, and too many appraisals - generally ordered through appraisal management companies - are coming in well below the contract price. 

Broadwater is a desirable waterfront neighborhood in southwest St Petersburg Florida. The market update for January 2012 shows

5 active waterfront homes for sale in Broadwater range from $475,000 to $3,500,000. Home sizes range from 2,299 sf to 6,610 sq ft.

3 Broadwater waterfront homes sold in Broadwater ranging from $300,000 to $380,000. The sold homes range in size from 1,809 sq ft to 2,262 sq ft

Most of these homes will accomodate sailboats. For more information on Broadwater homes, please contact Sharon Simms at ALVA International, Inc.

There  seem to be more Canadians than ever here in Guanacaste Costa Rica. Perhaps low fares are part of the reason: xxydeals.com shows round trip flights from Toronto to Liberia (LIR) Costa rica for $299, including taxes. From Liberia a 30 minute drive will have you on one of the many beautiful beaches of the Papagayo Gulf. Just 5 to 5-1/2 hours for a trip from Canadian cold to Costa Rica warm. Mornings in the low 70s, afternoons in the mid 80s - but with low humidity so it just feels comfortable and warm. 

Canadians are coming to Guanacaste because of its wonderful weather and because of the wonderful people. The Ticos (Costa Ricans) have been named the happiest people in the world. They are pleasant and welcoming. "Pura Vida" is the Costa Rican "Aloha". You can be as leisurely or as active as you want: laze by the beach or pool, horseback ride, scuba dive, golf, zip line or explore the jungle. 

It's a good time to buy real estate in Costa Rica, whether for a second home, an investment property, a now or future retirement home, or perhaps you just want to take a portion of your assets outside the country. Like anywhere else, though, it does depend on WHAT you buy and WHERE you buy. That's one of the reasons it's so important to choose the right real estate agent.