One of the hardest things to do when you are preparing to sell your home, is to get rid of the clutter. After years of making memories, what appears as clutter to a potential buyer may not be evident to the homeowner. Invite a friend over to help point out the clutter areas of your home. If you find that these are things you can’t bear to part with, pack them away. Start a garage sale box and a donation box, mark both of them clearly and start placing things that you are willing to give up in each designated box. This will keep things looking organized for when I potential buyer is looking at your home. Think of this process as getting a jump start on the packing that you are going to have to do anyway.

Giving the kitchen and bathrooms a “face-lift” is one of the most important selling points of your home. Let’s start in the kitchen. Clean all of your appliances, including the oven place the smaller countertop appliances under the counters for those times when you will be inviting buyers to look at your home. Take a good critical look at your stove hood and filter and do what it takes to make it look nice. Remove anything that is stored on top of your refrigerator and take down and pack up all the kids artwork and refrigerator magnets. Clean out from under the sink, potential buyers tend to look under these places for any leaks in the plumbing. Look at the cabinet knobs and the curtains see if they can be cleaned up or if they need to be replaced. Repair any leaks or caulking problems that you find. Prepare a bowl of fruit or a vase full of flowers to place somewhere in your kitchen.

Now, let’s move into the bathroom. Scrub the sinks, tubs and toilets, remove any rust stains that you may find. Repair and leaky faucets, shower heads or trickling toilets. Vacuum your fan grill. Pay close attention to the light switches, knobs on your cabinets and the grout in the tile. Make sure that your medicine cabinet is clean and working properly. Again, remove any clutter that you have. Have special towels that you only take out when people are coming to look at your home.

For the general interior of the house, most problems with interior walls can be repaired with spackling compound and paint. Make sure all windows and doors open and shut properly and are clean. If they look like they need some paint, add some white paint to the doors. Keep furniture to a minimum so that rooms do not appear smaller than they are. Clean out all your closets, potential buyers want to see lots of space.

Now your ready for Showtime!

In the Tampa Bay Florida area, smaller and more affordable homes seem to be the way to go for first time home buyers, seasonal residents and people who are just looking to downsize. Builders are changing their floor plans by making the rooms smaller and in some cases they’re are able to fit four bedrooms in these smaller homes.

Some of the changes being made will include adding Bahia grass to yards instead of the more expensive St. Augustine grass, which will also cut out your need for an irrigation system. Cutting out the vaulted ceilings and plant shelves, although they give the home that “cottage feeling” they are an unnecessary energy cost and a waste of space. Putting in a front porch instead of a back patio. Putting a garage in the backyard.

These changes being made to house designs will enable builders to cut costs and offer lower prices. These new home prices are in the starting range between $117,900 and $131,900 for homes ranging in size from 1,130 sq ft to 1,598 sq ft. Builders hope that these smaller models will boost sales in order to level out the real estate market.

Buying your first home, can be a frightening process. Gather as much knowledge on the subject before you dive in. The more information you have the less intimidating the buying process will be.

Start your search online. This will give you the opportunity to look at the homes that are available in the area that your are looking to live in. It will also give you the chance to see what types of schools, parks and shopping centers that are in the area, as well. This is also a great way to find a real estate agent that meets your needs. An agent with experience and market knowledge will help you to avoid making any major mistakes and can help with finding a real estate attorney if necessary, that can walk you through all that messy paperwork.

Check out all the places to get a mortgage and compare rates and fees. Start with your own financial institution, then move on to interview a few mortgage brokers. Find a broker that you can work well together with. Finding a broker that you can trust is one of the most important steps to finding the perfect home for you. Remember, that there is no need to rush these things, home buying will be the biggest financial investment that you will make.

A short sale is a term that is used when a lender agrees to discount your loan balance because of any economic hardship that the borrower is going through at the time. The borrower would sell the mortgage for less than what is owed to the lender. The proceeds of the sale would be given to the lender which would satisfy the debt. A short sale is faster and much less expensive than a foreclosure. As a bonus, it also saves your credit.

You will have to prove to the lender that you can not pay what you are in debt to them for. So, gather as much information as you can before you make an appointment with your financial institution. Write a letter explaining your financial hardship. Ask your real estate agent if they can provide you with an estimate of the market value of your home and make certain that you get an appraisal done. When you provide your lender with as much information that you can, it will speed up the process and make this decision easier for everyone involved. Most lenders are just as anxious as you are to avoid a foreclosure. Keep in mind, that you are not trying to profit from the sale when you involve yourself with a short sale, you are simply trying to stop your home from going into foreclosure and help your lender recover as much of the money they loaned you as possible.

After two years of price declines in the real estate market, the St. Pete Times wanted to see what $225,000 could buy in the way of houses and condos in the Tampa Bay, Fl area.

A home’s location, condition and quality are still taken into consideration when making a pricing decision. But the housing bust has introduced another variable: seller desperation.

For more information on the St. Pete Times research click here

Criss Angel, the Las Vegas illusionist is in talks to bring his TV show to Clearwater Beach for another live stunt. His goal this time is to survive the implosion of the old Spyglass Resort built in 1971 on S Gulfview Boulevard near the Clearwater Beach roundabout. This vacant nine-story hotel is scheduled to be demolished on July 30, 2008. Clearwater, Fl officials and Angel’s representatives will meet to discuss the details. If everything goes well, Angel will perform the televised act live on his show Criss Angel Mindfreak.

At the peak of the real estate boom, “house flipping” was all the rage.

Then the tumbling economy snagged investors like Mark Lepzinski of Clearwater.

After 36 months of buying and selling dozens of homes throughout the Tampa Bay, Fl area, Lepzinski, 50, declared bankruptcy this year. On Feb, 23, the Lepzinskis filed a Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcy. Their petition listed nine properties on which the lenders had foreclosed, repossessed or taken the deed in lieu of foreclosure.

For more information on House Flippers click here

As the foreclosure crisis has spread a recent study conducted by the University of Florida found that there is a growing number of “For Rent” signs on retail, office, industrial and apartment properties in Florida.

The quarterly study was based not on actual statistical occupancy rate data, but the direction in which 275 respondents from around the state, including 34 in Jacksonville, expect the market to take.

For more information on the University of Florida click here

Fourth of July Celebration of family fun, features face painters, balloon artists, live music and more starting at 2 p.m. July 4, 2008. Fireworks display starts at 9 p.m. at Channelside Bay Plaza, 615 Channelside Drive, Tampa, Fl. For more information call (813) 223-4250.

Fourth of July Celebration at The Florida Aquarium. They will be extending their hours until 9:30 tonight. Admission price is 10.00 for all ages after 3 p.m. The Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL. For more information call (813) 273-4000.

The fifth annual Brandon Blast lights up the night with a fireworks display at 9 p.m. July 4, 2008. Located at 459 Brandon Town Center Drive, Brandon, FL. For more information call (813) 661-6255.

“Proud to be an American” Fourth of July celebration features a parade and fireworks display. It will also include face painting and children’s games. Parade begins at 10 a.m. July 4, 2008 on Gillette Avenue and Whiteway, Temple Terrace, FL. Fireworks display will begin at 9:15 p.m. at 200 Inverness Ave., Tampa, FL. For more information call (813) 989-7004.

Celebrate your “fourth” with a “Twist” with rock ‘n’ roll legend Chubby Checker and the Wildcats. Other live entertainment includes ventriloquist Kevin Johnson. Party kicks off at 6:45 p.m. July 4, 2008. With a fireworks display after the concert at 8:15 p.m. Ticket prices are $64.95 adults, $54.95 children ages 3 to 9, and free for younger children. Party will be at Busch Gardens, 10001 N. McKinley Drive, Tampa, Fl. For more information call 1-888-800-5447.

Experience fireworks from the top of the IMAX Dome Theatre. Ticket prices are $225 (reservations required) this includes dinner, dancing, a musical performance by Spirit of Freedom and more. Celebration starts at 6:30 p.m. July 4, 2008 at the Museum of Science & Industry, 4801 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, Fl. For more information call (813) 987-6077.

Pied Piper’s Annual July 4th Party features musical entertainment and a fireworks display at 9 p.m. July 4, 2008. Fireworks display begins at 11 p.m. on the waterfront. Ticket prices range from $10 to $15. Located at Jackson’s Bistro, 601 S. Harbour Island, Tampa, FL. For more information call (813) 265-1234.

Fourth of July at The Pier, come celebrate with live entertainment, face and body paintings, comedic appearances, a fireworks display and more party runs from 2-10 p.m. July 4th, 2008. The fireworks display will kick off at 9 p.m. off Spa Beach. The Pier is located at 800 Second Ave. N.E. in St. Petersburg, Fl. For more information call (727) 821-6443.

City of Gulfport’s Fourth of July Celebration will feature children’s games, contests, a car, truck and motorcycle show, children’s pageant, parade, live entertainment, food, and fireworks display celebrations will kick off at 8 a.m. July 4, 2008. The parade will start at 6 p.m. on Beach Boulevard. The fireworks display starts at 9 p.m. at 5500 Shore Blvd. S., Gulfport, Fl. For more information call (727) 893-1067.

Fourth of July and Largo Centennial Celebration will feature activities, concessions, live music, fireworks display and more. Party starts at 6 p.m. July 4, 2008. The fireworks display will begin about 8 or 8:30 p.m. at Largo Central Park, 101 Central Park Drive, Largo, FL. For more information call (727) 587-6775.

Come celebrate Independence Day with a patriotic party and grand fireworks display in Tarpon Springs, Fl. Party starts off at 11 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m. July 4, 2008 at Craig Park, 5 Beekman Lane, Tarpon Springs, Fl. Fireworks will begin at sunset at Fred Howard Park, 1700 Sunset Drive, Tarpon Springs, Fl. For more information call (727) 938-3711.

Safety Harbor Festival and Fireworks features live music, food, fireworks and more. Celbrations will run from 5-9 p.m. July 4, 2008. The fireworks display will start at 9 p.m. at Safety Harbor Marina Park, 110 Veterans Memorial Lane, Safety Harbor, FL. For more information call (727) 724-1572.

Clearwater Celebrates America! features fireworks, food, concerts and more. Party kicks off at 4 p.m. July 4, 2008. Fireworks display starts at 9:30 p.m. at Coachman Park, 301 Drew St., Clearwater, FL. For more information call (727) 562-4813.