US housing starts rise by less than forecast
US home construction rebounded by less than expected last month data on Thursday showed, prompting one economist to says housing is “the sole weak spot in the economy”.
Tampa man gets prison term for condo sales scheme that defrauded Wells Fargo, other lenders
A Tampa man who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a Temple Terrace condo sales scheme was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Daniel Cardenas was one of several people involved in the scheme to sell units at The Preserve at Temple Terrace, a 392-unit condominium complex in Tampa, prosecutors said. The scheme took place from October 2007 through May 2008. Two other men — Carlos Escarria and Alejandro Tobon — were sentenced for their part in the scheme in May. All…
South Tampa real estate agent sells $9.5 million teardown in Boca Grande
A South Tampa real estate agent has closed the third highest sale on the Gulf of Mexico this year — a $9.5 million home in Boca Grande that will be torn down. Stephen Gay of Smith & Associates Real Estate represented the buyer of 4561 Shore Lane, which is 2 acres with 205 feet of beach frontage. The home on the site, built in 1981, is 9,580 square feet. “This may be the third highest sale on the Gulf this year, but it’s the only one that was sold for lot value,” Bob Glaser, president…
Median home values in the wealthiest Zip Codes
Over the past six years, the median home value remained relatively steady or even increased in the five wealthiest ZIP codes in the Tampa Bay area (see the List on Page 6). This is in contrast to the region as a whole, which saw home values decrease by an amount ranging from around 10 percent in Manatee and Pinellas counties to just under 30 percent in Hernando. However, this is still reflective of the home value lost during the housing collapse that accompanied the recession. Home values increased…
As Google Maps renames neighborhoods, residents fume
Google cartographers can reshape the identity of a city, town or neighborhood with a name choice. How the company arrives at its names is often mysterious, but it's clear the decisions have far-reaching consequences, including Google Maps driving increased traffic to quiet neighborhoods.
This is where Tom Cruise is likely moving in Clearwater
Tom Cruise is officially moving to a Clearwater condominium, nearly a year after public records linked him to the property. People magazine reports that Cruise is leaving Los Angeles for Clearwater, moving to a “penthouse apartment in Clearwater, Florida, just a block from the Church of Scientology’s international headquarters.” Cruise is a prominent member of the church and a close friend of leader David Miscavige, according to People. His move to Clearwater has been rumored for years. Multiple…
Tampa ranks as top Florida city and among top 10 in the U.S. for flipping houses
The popularity of flipping houses has grown, thanks in part to TV shows like “Flip or Flop” and “Flip this House,” and it turns out Tampa is one of the top cities for house-flippers, according to a recent report from WalletHub. Compared to 169 other cities across the country, Tampa came in as the No. 10 best city to flip a house, largely due to relatively low remodeling and renovation costs. The Big Guava also beat other Florida cities that were ranked, such as Orlando, Cape Coral and Jacksonville.…
What millennial homes will look like in the future
From New York and London to New Delhi and Shanghai, millennials are increasingly blurring the lines between home, work and play — sharing spaces to save money and time as well as make new friends.