David Craven

Beautiful Golf Course Frontage

• Beautiful home in move in condition with 2,637 sqare feet including four bedroom and office/den (with closet) and three full baths.    $319,900     

Crescent Oaks, Tarpon Springs    A very desirable East Lake area home that is located along the tenth fairway of Crescent Oaks CC golf course. This Rutenberg designed home has an open floor plan and easy maintenance wood/tile floors throughout. Kitchen has stainless appliances and granite countertops.

Property information

Treasure Island Florida is a Tampa Bay Area beach community located south of Madeira Beach and north of St Pete Beach. This small beach community has become Internationally known for its wide beaches and beautiful Florida sunsets. The population of Treasure Island was estimated by the US Census Bureau in 2004 to be around 7500.

Sunset Beach located in the southern part of Treasure Island is a location where all the homes are near the sandy beach and no major roads are crossed for gaining access. This beach community also has a park with playground equipment.

There are currently several choices available for buyers who are looking for the perfect residence on Treasure Island including gulf front homes, waterfront homes with gulf access, condos, townhouses, quaint beach cottages, and a large variety of Treasure Island beach rentals. Find available Treasure Island homes for sale and Treasure Island rental properties on DavidCraven.com. DavidCraven.com has a premier map based real estate search with free access including the ability to search for Tampa Bay Area Foreclosures. Connect with David Craven, Realtor, with RE/MAX Realtec Group for all your Tampa Bay Area beach communities real estate needs.

David Craven
RE/MAX Realtec Group
David@DavidCraven.com
www.DavidCraven.com

The National Association of REALTORS monitors real estate trends by surveying home sellers and buyers to find out what is taking place within their industry. The results of these real estate surveys will help us to know housing trends and prepare for better results in 2012. Some of the highlights of the report are listed here.

1. There were slightly less people using the internet in order to search for a home with 88% using the internet in 2011 compared to 90% in 2009.

2. The average home buyer looked for 12 weeks and saw 12 homes before making a buying decision.

3. This past year first time buyers were 37% and that was down from 50% the previous year.

4. Nearly 25% of home buyers thought the approval process was was somewhat more difficult than expected and the survey results showed that 16% thought it was much more difficult than expected.

5. The percent of buyers who use a real estate agent is now up to 89% and that has been a steady increase from the results in 2001 when it was 69%.

6. The results for home sellers upon selling their home showed that 50% bought a larger and more expensive home.

7. The selling price of the average home was 95% of the final asking price with 61% reducing the oringinal listing price at least once.

8. The three most important criteria when selecting a neighborhood were; whether or not the homes were affordable, distance and time to a job, and the quality of the neighborhood.

9. The average home seller had been in their home nine years compared to the 2007 when the average was six years.

10. The average sales price when an agent was involved was $215,000 and the average price for a for sale buy owner was $150,000. Of the 10% market that was sold as a for sale by owner, 40% had known the buyer previously.

Another evolving real estate trend that was not on the survey is how home buyers are searching for homes on the internet. There has been a transistion to search real estate listings by using a map based MLS search and home buyers are now also searching for real estate using a mobile device. Home buyers can now be in front of the home and access the information about that home from their smart phones. Diverse Solutions, who were recently acquired by Trulia, has long been known as a trendsetter for real estate search technology and offers these options along with other popular real estate search tools. Search over 50,000 Florida real estate listings on DavidCraven.com and use this real estate search tool first hand.

David Craven
RE/MAX Realtec Group
David@DavidCraven.com
www.DavidCraven.com
727-698-9995

This past year David Craven with RE/MAX Realtec Group has written several top ten list for home buyers and home sellers and they are featured below. These previously published articles contain current information about Florida real estate sales trends, investing in Florida real estate, design trends, how to get a mortgage, among other great helpful real estate articles.

Top Ten 2011 Florida Real Estate News are the top stories from the Florida Association of REALTORS that were affecting the real estate market in Florida for the year 2011. Stories about buying opportunities, state and federal legislative and regulations that affect the real estate market, and various other top real estate stories for 2011.

Top Ten Home Design Trends will show home buyers and home owners what David Craven sees as real estate trends in remodeling, home colors, home designs, home values, and information about home down sizing and right sizing.

Top Ten Reasons Houses Do Not Sell and what to do will empower sellers with the knowledge to present their homes to buyers in the way that will help their homes stand out among the competition. Included are ideas about curb appeal, condition, marketing, and pricing.

Top Ten Reasons to Invest in Florida Real Estate Florida real estate prices have bottomed and smart home buyers have been capitalizing on this great opportunity to get a nice home at a great value. Article gives ten reasons why now is the time to buy real estate in Florida.

Top Ten Things to do on Clearwater Beach During Spring Break The International destination of Clearwater Beach has numerous year round activities and included in this article are ten great things do while visiting Clearwater Beach.

Top Ten Reasons Why the Florida Real Estate Sales Trend Will Continue in 2012 This article was published in May 2011 concerning 2011. The reasons listed for the improvement in the real estate market will continue to be motivating factors for Florida real estate buyers in 2012.

Top Ten Ways To Improve Your Credit Score When Buying A House. Useful ideas are included for improving your credit score in order to help purchase your dream home. This list also includes the activities to avoid which may harm your chances of financing a home purchase.

Top Ten Ways To Avoid Common Home Buyer Mistakes. This will have a list of several aspects of the home buying process where home buyers are making costly mistakes. Read this article and learn from their mistakes before entering into the home buying process.

Top Ten Most Expensive Homes For Sale in The Tampa Bay Area. This list of the Bay area's most expensive homes will continue to update as it identifies the ten most expensive homes in the Tampa Bay Area. See photos of these beautiful homes when viewing this list.

David Craven
RE/MAX Realtec Group
David@DavidCraven.com
www.DavidCraven.com

Crescent Oaks Country Club which is located in the East Lake area of Tarpon Springs reopened on October 1, 2011. This championship golf course had been closed since November 1, 2010 when Wells Fargo Bank had taken possession of the property. 

Crescent Oaks Country Club is a championship golf course located in the very desirable northern part of the East Lake Corridor. This beautiful course was designed by Steve Smeyeres and originally opened as a private course in 1991. The superb 18 hole course has a well bunkered layout that carves through scenic woodlands, picturesque lakes, and gently rolling hills. Even the most experienced golfers will find a sufficient challenge on this par 72 course. Crescent Oaks Country Club which had originally been a private course is now semi private allowing public play. 

Wells Fargo sold the golf course to Bill Place, the owner of Ace Golf. Bill Place along with his ownership of the premier driving range, Ace Golf, in Brandon is also the owner of Pebble Creek Golf Club in Tampa and Wentworth Golf Club in Tarpon Springs. Golf members at each of the three golf courses will now have access to all three. 

 Bill Place has invested a million dollars into renovations of the club including 18 new TifEagle greens, a refurbished clubhouse, new carts, new bridges, new maintenance and irrigation equipment, new fitess center, dining room chairs, new landscaping and much, much more.

The Crescent Oaks Community Association agreed to make changes in order to accomodate the new owner of the golf course because it was a win win situation for both Bill Place and the Crescent Oaks homeowners. The residents of Crescent Oaks in return for accomodating Bill Place as the new Country Club owner will have the opportunity of golf, fitness center, and social membership in a newly renovated and well managed Country Club, member reciprocal privileges at Wentworth Golf Club and Pebble Creek Golf Club, dining and golf open to all residents without membership, and competitive membership rates and trail fees among other benefits. 

While visiting this course you will see the beautiful homes of the Crescent Oaks neighborhood with well manicured lawns on tree lined streets. Available houses for sale in Crescent Oaks will range from $329,000 up to several million dollars. There are also maintained villas in the Crescent Oaks community with a beginning price around $250,000. Find all the Crescent Oaks homes for sale listed on DavidCraven.com.. This list of homes for sale in the Crescent Oaks neighborhood is provided by a Crescent Oaks resident, David Craven, with RE/MAX Realtec Group. Connect with David Craven for all your Crescent Oaks real estate needs.

David Craven
RE/MAX Realtec Group
David@DavidCraven.com

The 2012 Honda Grand Prix in St Petersburg Florida is scheduled March 23rd through March 25th. The location of this popular Spring Break weekend event is downtown St Petersburg along a 1.8 mile course with 14 turns.

Along with the races there will also be event entertainment, including parade fireworks, beer gardens, Bright House Speed Zone, driver autograph sessions, live music, and Tallest Ferris Wheel. The Star Mazda, USF 2000, World Challenge, and Firestone Indy Lights Paddocks will be open to all spectators.

Indy Car series is known as the premier open wheel racing series in the US and Canada. The race in St Petersburg has become especially popular because of its beautiful waterfront location and something for the Spring Break visitors to enjoy while on their vacation. Tickets to the 2012 Honda Grand Prix are available now and can be ordered online. Purchase your tickets and reserve you seats for the 2012 Honda Grand Prix here.

David Craven
RE/MAX Realtec Group
David@DavidCraven.com
www.DavidCraven.com

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The invasion of Tampa by the Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla will occur on January 28, 2012 and the city of Tampa will be overcome by pirates. This very popular event has been an annual tradition since 1904. The pirate ship known as Jose Gasparilla will enter Hillsborough Bay with her flags unfurled and cannons booming and dock at the Tampa Convention center. This will take place from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM.

The pirates after receiving the keys to the city from the mayor will participate in an Invasion Brunch. The Invasion Brunch (10:00 AM to 1:00 PM) is open to those who have reservations and a ticket. If you choose to be part of the Invasion Brunch, you will have the best view in Tampa of the invasion, a buffet brunch, and live entertainment. RESERVATIONS ARE NEEDED.

The Parade of Pirates will be the next event. The pirates will share their beads n treasures with onlookers as the pirates parade down Bayshore Boulevard. This event witnessed by over 100,000 people is scheduled from 2:00 PM to 5:30PM. The Parade of Pirates is a free event which begins at Bay to Bay Boulevard and Bayshore and continue on Bayshore to east on Brorein Street, and finally north on Ashley to Ashley and Cass. The pirates parade will include approximately 90 festive and elaborate  floats, fourteen marching bands, and fifty separate Krewes. See Youtube Video that is below for highlights of previous invasions.

The annual celebration continues. Pirate Fest Street Festival which begins at 10:00 AM and will last until 10:00 PM is along Ashley Drive from Cass Street to Kennedy Boulevard. This popular Gasparilla event will have stages of live entertainment and food.

The annual Gasprilla Distance Classic is scheduled for March 3-4, 2012 with entry forms available at all Publix Supermarkets. If you live outside of the area then entry brochures will be mailed to you.

David Craven
RE/MAX Realtec Group
David@DavidCraven.com
www.DavidCraven.com

If you need a short term rental while visiting the Tampa Bay Area Gasparilla events then find Tampa Bay Rentals on DavidCraven.com and if you are wondering how much those beautiful Tampa Bay Area homes cost then gain free access to a map based real estate search on the Tampa Bay MLS .

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Tarpon Springs Florida is a wonderfully unique Tampa Bay Area city along the Gulf of Mexico. Tarpon Springs is located north of Palm Harbor Florida, south of Holiday Florida, and is on the northern border of Pinellas County.

Tarpon Springs originally began to develop in the 1800's as a winter resort for the wealthy and after sponges were discovered off the coast of Tarpon Springs in the late 1800's, this city became (during the early 1900's) the largest source of sponges in the US. Tourism is now the main source of economic activity as this popular location receives visitors from around the world to experience the Greek culture that is found in the wonderful shops, restaurants, and local sites including the sponge docks.

Some of the popular places to visit while in Tarpon Springs include the St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Cultural Center, Sunset Park, Craig Park, Howard Park, Anderson Park, Anclote Key Lighthouse, Anclote River Tour, Tarpon Springs Heritage Museum, and the sponge docks. Historic Downtown Tarpon Springs offers a unique local flair with gifts shops, antique shops, art galleries, and the Greek restaurants.

The prices of homes for sale in the Tarpon Springs area range from very affordable to luxury estates. The variety of available properties for sale in Tarpon Springs include Gulf front homes, golf front homes, newer subdivisions, and very afordable homes in Tarpon Springs quaint older neighborhoods. Search the MLS for your Tarpon Springs home on DavidCraven.com or find the available Tarpon Springs homes for rent. If you are looking to buy a Tarpon Springs foreclosure then gain free access  to search for all available Tarpon Springs foreclosures on the Tampa Bay Area Foreclosure search. Connect wth David Craven (Tarpon Springs resident) with RE/MAX Realtec Group for all your Tarpon Springs real estate needs.

David Craven
RE/MAX Realtec Goup
David@DavidCraven.com
WWW.DavidCraven.com

The Florida Strawberry Festival will be held in Plant City Florida March 1st through March 12, 2012. This very popular Tampa Bay Area event which features some of America's best known entertainers dates back to 1930.

The Florida Strawberry Festival along with having various great strawberry treats will feature top name entertainment, glorious floats, marching bands, livestock, commerce, horticulture, and exhibits of fine Arts and Crafts.

Scheduled to appear at the 2012 Florida Strawberry Festival are the following headline entertainers: The Oak Ridge Boys, Gretchen Wilson, Jimmy Sturr, Demi Lovato, The Gatlin Brothers, Crystal Gayle, Suite Carolina, Air Supply, The JaneDear Girls, Hank Williams, Jake Owen, Josh Turner, Felix Cavaliere's Rascals, Vince Gill, Brenda Lee, The Band Perry, Lee Greenwood, Louise Mandrell, Luke Bryan, The Charlie Daniels Band, Ronnie McDowell, Toby Mac, Cornell Ganter's Coasters, Bobby Hendrick's Drifters, The Platters, Rodney Atkins, Allstar Weekend, Easton Corbin, and Reba!

Some of the free shows with a paid gate admission includes the Jay Taylor Band, Dennis Lee, The Walkers Brothers Acoustics Music Show, Ron Diamond, The Gothard Sisters, and Lloyd Mabry. Other entertainment to include Kandu Magic Show, Neighborhood Village, World Champion Lumber Jills, Pioneer skills in early Arts and Trades, Sea Lion Splash Show, Rock-it The Robot, Robinson's Racing Pigs, Runa Pacha, Mackenzie Raye, and Reverend Arthur T Jones.

David Craven
RE/MAX Realtec Group
David@DavidCraven.com
www.DavidCraven.com

David Craven offers free access to one of Tampa Bay's Area's premier map based real estate searches. This real estate search of 50,000 Florida  homes for sale can also be accessed with your mobile device. Search the MLS for Tampa Bay homes for sale now.

The Florida State fair will once again be held in Tampa Florida this winter. It is that time again when northerners who are experiencing the cold weather blues are looking forward to their escape to sunny Florida. A popular thing to do while visiting the Sunshine State is to see the Florida State Fair which offers something for all ages. This twelve day event is scheduled February 9th through February 12th.

Some of the events that are currently scheduled include Circus Hollywood, Xtreme Sports Show, Elvis Extravaganza Impersonator National Finals, and Chris MacArthur & The Florida Crackers. The International Stage will have Spanish Lyric Theatre and Distinquished Men of Brass. The ever popular family theater will have Yesterdaze (70's music), Elvis (Peter Alden), and Blues Brothers. The "Walk Arounds" include Oscar the Robot, Steve the Pretty Good, Hi Pockets, Dwayne Hill, Willy Washboard, Jamboree, and Runa Pacha.

Entertainment at the Florida Center will be Lloyd Mabry and Sandtastic, and Johnny Lowry will be performing at the Waterfront Cafe. Some of the other events that are currently scheduled are Doggies of the West, Welde Bears, Racing Pigs, The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show, and Florida Ranch Rodeo.

The high school jazz festival is February 10, Big Band is scheduled February 12th and 17th, and Melody Farm Follies Revues is all day everyday February 9th through the 20th. All dates, times, are subject to change without notice.

The most popular things to do at the Florida State Fair includes the animal shows, food, rides, and Cracker Country.

Find your admission information and discount information here. This will also have the Florida State Fair Value Days listings.

Another great thing to do while visiting Florida is find your dream home search the MLS and find your Tampa Bay dream home here.

David Craven
RE/MAX Realtec Group
David@DavidCraven.com
www.DavidCraven.com

The Florida Association of REALTORS reported on November 21, 2011 that the sale of existing homes and condominiums were up during the month of October 2011 compared to October 2010. Existing home sales in Florida showed a 13% increase over the previous years results and existing condo sales were up 12% from October 2010. Median home prices in Florida were also up over the previous year.

The sales increase of homes in Florida has been fueled by lower home prices, diminishing housing supply, very low interest rates, improvement in the employment outlook, and strong housing demand by foreign buyers.

Visitors to DavidCraven.com now have access to over 50,000 real estate listings from the Mid Florida Regional MLS. This premier real estate search tool is map based so buyers can readily pick the neighborhood that they want to search for real estate listings in. Gain free access with no registration to search the MLS listings in the Tampa Bay Area along with the Mid Florida region. Are you looking for a foreclosure then search through the Tampa Bay Area foreclosures here. DavidCraven.com also has a search for available Tampa Bay Homes for rent. Connect with David Craven with RE/MAX Realtec Group for all your Tampa Bay real estate needs.

David Craven
RE/MAX Realtec Group
David@DavidCraven.com
www.DavidCraven.com

The city of Tampa is located on Florida's west coast and has a population of around 350,000. The Metropolitan Statistical Area of the Tampa Bay Area is about 2.7 million people and includes Tampa, Clearwater, and St Petersburg among other nearby cities.

Home buyers looking for their dream home in Tampa will find a large variety of communities to choose from and various price ranges. Some of the larger better known Tampa communities include Ybor, Forest Hills, Seminole Heights, Palma Ceia, Tampa Heights, Hyde Park, Davis Island, Tampa Palms,and College Hill. Neighborhoods in the city of Tampa are often refered to by the sections of the city they are in including East Tampa, North Tampa, West Tampa, New Tampa, South Tampa, and Downtown Tampa.

Residents and visitors to Tampa have a continous choice of year round activities to choose from. Some of the more popular and well known events include Guavaween in Ybor, Air Fest at Macdill Air Force Base, Florida State Fair, Outback Bowl on New Years's Day, Gasparilla International Film Festival, Gasparilla Distance Classic, Saint Yago Knight Parade, and the Gasparilla Pirate Festival.

Homes for sale in the Tampa Bay Area are currently selling for about half what they were selling for just a few years ago and offer great bargains for anyone looking to buy a home in the Tampa Bay Area. Find your Tampa dream home on DavidCraven.com. The premier map based real estate search found on DavidCraven.com also gives home buyers free access to available Tampa foreclosures for sale and free access to find the Tampa homes for rent. Connect with David Craven with RE/MAX Realtec Group for all your Tampa Real Estate needs.

David Craven
RE/Max Realtec Group
David@DavidCraven.com
www.DavidCraven.com

The top ten news stories in 2011 for the Florida real estate market as reported by the Florida REALTOR Association is summarized here.

1. The year 2011 was a once in a generation buying opportunity for Florida real estate. For many areas of Florida real estate prices appeared to have bottomed, and there is still excess inventory including distresssed properties offering many buying opportunities, some areas of Florida it now cost less to buy than to rent, and thirty year fixed rate mortgages went down to 3.94 percent.

2.The economy appears to continue rebounding with a decrease in unemployment. Employment and the perception of employment is the number one factor that currently affects the Florida real estate market.

3. The commercial market in Florida although still struggling had vacancy rate stabilize along with rental rates. Lawrence Yun, the chief economist with the National Association of REALTORS said that "with modest economic growth and job creation, the fundamentals for commercial real estate should gradually improve in the coming year."

4.The Florida legislation passed Admendment 4 and "Scrapped the Cap". Admendment 4 when approved by the Florida voters limits the property tax increase cap on non residential real estate to five percent per year creating a more predictable investment environment for Florida real estate investors. Admendment 4 will also give first time home buyers a property tax break that will decease over time.

5. Florida property insurance legislation which has been wrestling with available versus affordable insurance issues shifted close to the available by making sinkhole coverage optional and establishing more stricter criteria for those who want sinkhole coverage. This change should attract more private insurers to the state and cut down on the liability to Florida caused by the state run insurance coverage known as Citizens Property Insuarance.

6. The Florida REALTORS Industry and Data Analysis Department opened for business in June 2011.

7. Federal government programs did little to help financially distressed homeowners with the programs of HARP, HAMP, and TARP.

8. The federal government regulations to avoid another real estate crisis has conflicted with the federal government attempts to boost home sales as evidence in programs of HAMP, HARP, and TARP. Potential home sales were lost due to tightening appraisal standards, increased mortgage rules, and raising the issue of federal tax deduction.

9. Technology became an even more necessary form for real estate marketing. Google Plus grew from nothing in 2010 to another important social media in 2011. Social Media now takes many forms when marketing real estate including Google Plus, Youtube, Facebook, and Twitter. These social networking sites have now become standard on the real estate business.

10. The skills that REALTORS need to help buyers and sellers of real estate in 2011 have changed dramatically from the necessary REALTORS skills in 2005. Florida REALTORS in 2011 spent a lot more time with the necessities of short sales, communicating with banks, and understanding the application of the new laws that control what a Florida REALTOR can and can not do in reference to short sales.

The tools for searching for available Florida real estate in 2011 continued to improve also. Pinellas REALTOR Organization joined with the Mid Florida Regional MLS in 2011. Florida REALTORS and buyers of Florida real estate now have access to real estate listings in Florida from Clearwater Beach to Daytona Beach with information provided by the Mid Florida MLS. Another trend for buyers who are searching for a Florida  real estate listing is to use user friendly map based real estate search. Diverse Solutions recognized in the real estate industry for using this technology is offering a premiere map based real estate search for the Florida market. David Craven with RE/MAX Realtec Group now offers this map based real estate search free to home buyers in the Tampa Bay Area. Search the Mid Florida MLS and find your Tampa Bay home for sale here.

David Craven
RE/MAX Realtec Group
David Craven
David@DavidCraven.com
www.DavidCraven.com

Property has an Inlaw Suite

A four bedroom, three bath home near Indian Rocks Beach which features a very nice Inlaw Suite. This 1879 square foot home has a desirable kitchen/lving room/ breakfast room open floor plan. The separate Inlaw suite can easily be used as a very large and private master bedroom. Screened porch, utility shed, and a fenced yard add to the desirabilty of this home in a great location. Home is value priced at only $150,000!

Property information

David Craven
RE/MAX Realtec Group
David@DavidCraven.com
www.DavidCraven.com

The sale of existing homes and condos in Florida continue to reflect a positive real estate trend. The Florida Association of REALTORS announced today that the sale of existing homes and condos in September were up ten per cent from September 2010 results. This upward real estate trend began in January 2011 and has been continuing. Fiteen of the metropolitan statiscal areas in Florida are now showing higher property sales when compared to their year earlier results.

Real estate buyers in Florida have been motivated by the stabilzation of home prices, record low mortgage rates, and the very favorable housing affordability conditions. The fixed rate mortgage for thirty years averaged 4.11 percent during the month of September.

Find listings of Florida homes for sale on DavidCraven.com. This premier map based property search has over 50,000 real estate listings for the Mid Florida region. DavidCraven.com is also a free source for Florida foreclosure listings and available homes for rent in Florida.

David Craven
RE/MAX Realtec Group
David@DavidCraven.com
www.DavidCraven.com