SimpleShowing opens doors for homebuyers, sellers
The technology-power brokerage is among a growing group of companies disrupting the residential real estate sales industry.Original Article
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…Original Article
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.Original Article
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…Original Article
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…Original Article
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…Original Article
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.Original Article
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.…Original Article
Overstock returns to the real estate game
Online discounter Overstock.com still wants to sell you home furnishings, but is adding another layer to its services — helping you find a new home to put those furnishings in. Overstock (NASDAQ:OSTK) announced plans to launch O Real Estate in September, an initiative that will use the company’s search technology to help customers buy, sell and manage real estate. “For nearly 20 years, Overstock has connected customers with premium home goods, helping them build their dream homes; now,…Original Article
Quality of life, safety put Tampa among the top 20 best large cities to live
As some families spend their summer planning to relocate, many will look to Tampa as one of the best large cities to live in, according to a new ranking from WalletHub. The study evaluated factors that would make a metropolitan hub a good place to live. By comparing the 62 largest U.S. cities based on 56 indicators of livability, WalletHub ranked the top major cities in the U.S. Tampa came in at No. 16 overall and No. 4 out of 62 in the category of job opportunity. Data collected also included…Original Article