Melanie Loves Tampa Bay

Building a new construction home can be a challenging process, so I'm bringing in my friend & colleague John Skemp to spill the secrets INSIDE his $3.4M South Tampa build! This video would be helpful for anyone interested in learning more about what it takes to build your own home in Florida. John Skemp is the President at Baylife Builders / Realtor at Smith & Associates Email: jskemp@smithandassociates.com Melanie Atkinson is a Tampa Bay area Realtor 🌴 with Smith & Associates in Florida. She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate. melanielovestampabay.com Email: matkinson@smithandassociates.com Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.616.2427 DISCLAIMER: All content provided on melanielovestampabay.com and the Melanie Loves Tampa Bay YouTube channel/social media platforms is for informational/entertainment purposes only. The owner of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site. Information provided is subject to change.

There are so many different types of waterfront property here in Florida - from the beach to the lake. In this episode, I briefly explain some of the most popular options in the Tampa Bay area. Melanie Atkinson is a Tampa Bay area Realtor 🌴 with Smith & Associates in Florida. She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate. melanielovestampabay.com Email: matkinson@smithandassociates.com Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.616.2427 DISCLAIMER: All content provided on melanielovestampabay.com and the Melanie Loves Tampa Bay YouTube channel/social media platforms is for informational/entertainment purposes only. The owner of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site. Information provided is subject to change.

What can real estate buyers and sellers expect in 2023? Here are 6 major things you should look out for in the 2023 housing market. Quite a few challenges I think we'll say "good-bye" to next year, but new challenges we'll say "hello" to. Without a doubt, the process of buying and selling a home has been crazy the past few years. *Information subject to change* Melanie Atkinson is a Tampa Bay area Realtor 🌴 with Smith & Associates in Florida. She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate. melanielovestampabay.com Email: matkinson@smithandassociates.com Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.616.2427 DISCLAIMER: All content provided on melanielovestampabay.com and the Melanie Loves Tampa Bay YouTube channel/social media platforms is for informational/entertainment purposes only. The owner of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site. Information provided is subject to change.

Besides real estate, I LOVE to try out new restaurants and continue to visit my favorites. Joining me in this episode to talk about the Tampa food scene is my bestie Chantelle Boothe. https://www.melanielovestampabay.com/agent/Chantelle_Boothe/8498883 Featured Tampa Restaurants: https://www.1905familyofrestaurants.com/ https://www.pontetampa.com/ (Now Taking Reservations) http://www.onswann.com/ https://www.oliviatampa.com/ https://bernssteakhouse.com/ https://www.properhousegroup.com/ https://sparkmanwharf.com/ https://roccatampa.com/ https://cenatampa.com/ https://www.piccolaitaliabistro.com/ https://bocellitampa.com/ https://beccofinotampa.com/ https://www.panerusticabakery.com/ https://donatellotampa.com/ https://www.restaurantbt.com/ https://www.edison-tampa.com/ https://www.nxtlevelbrands.com/ http://www.cicciorestaurantgroup.com/ https://spicekitchentampa.com/ https://oxfordexchange.com/ https://sacredpepper.com/ https://seaglasstavern.com/ http://www.bigraysfishcamp.com/ https://www.barterhouseybor.com/ https://www.ellasfolkartcafe.com/ https://www.willastampa.com/ *Information subject to change* Melanie Atkinson is a Tampa Bay area Realtor 🌴 with Smith & Associates in Florida. She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate. melanielovestampabay.com Email: matkinson@smithandassociates.com Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.616.2427 DISCLAIMER: All content provided on melanielovestampabay.com and the Melanie Loves Tampa Bay YouTube channel/social media platforms is for informational/entertainment purposes only. The owner of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site. Information provided is subject to change.

Did you know the 30-year fixed mortgage interest rate has increased 120% in 2022? That's a big effing deal! In this episode, I'll be crunching some numbers and talking about the impact on the Florida housing market. *Information subject to change* Melanie Atkinson is a Tampa Bay area Realtor 🌴 with Smith & Associates in Florida. She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate. melanielovestampabay.com Email: matkinson@smithandassociates.com Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.616.2427 DISCLAIMER: All content provided on melanielovestampabay.com and the Melanie Loves Tampa Bay YouTube channel/social media platforms is for informational/entertainment purposes only. The owner of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site. Information provided is subject to change.

For parents, I know researching school districts and figuring out the best education options for your children can be challenging. While I'm a Realtor by profession and am asked constantly about schools, I'm also a mother of three children who all went through the Florida education system and have personal experience with public, private and magnet schools. Due to professional & ethical guidelines, real estate agents are not supposed to directly advise clients on school districts or specific schools. That's why I've put together this guide for parents / guardians to navigate and research on your own. Some of this information applies only to the Tampa Bay area, but much of the content applies to the entire state of Florida. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL LOCATOR http://gis.sdhc.k12.fl.us/schoollocator/ HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CHARTER & MAGNET PROGRAMS https://www.hillsboroughschools.org/Page/3669 PASCO COUNTY SCHOOL LOCATOR http://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/planning/page/boundaries PASCO COUNTY CHARTER SCHOOLS https://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/schools PINELLAS COUNTY SCHOOL LOCATOR https://www.pcsb.org/domain/3106 PINELLAS MAGNET & FUNDAMENTAL SCHOOL PROGRAMS https://www.pcsb.org/Page/837 FLORIDA VPK https://www.floridaearlylearning.com/vpk FLORIDA STATE GRADES https://www.fldoe.org/accountability/accountability-reporting/school-grades/ https://www.greatschools.org/ *Information subject to change* Melanie Atkinson is a Tampa Bay area Realtor 🌴 with Smith & Associates in Florida. She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate. melanielovestampabay.com Email: matkinson@smithandassociates.com Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.616.2427 DISCLAIMER: All content provided on melanielovestampabay.com and the Melanie Loves Tampa Bay YouTube channel/social media platforms is for informational/entertainment purposes only. The owner of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site. Information provided is subject to change.

What's REALLY happening on the ground level for Florida real estate? Sure, the housing market was on fire the last couple years, but what about now and moving forward to 2023? Nobody thought the crazy prices and demand would be sustainable long term here in the Tampa Bay area. Let's get real and chat about what I'm seeing in terms of price decreases, inventory, and demand. I also touch on why I dislike buzzwords like "housing crash." Melanie Atkinson is a Tampa Bay area Realtor 🌴 with Smith & Associates in Florida. She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate. melanielovestampabay.com Email: matkinson@smithandassociates.com Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.616.2427 DISCLAIMER: All content provided on melanielovestampabay.com and the Melanie Loves Tampa Bay YouTube channel/social media platforms is for informational/entertainment purposes only. The owner of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site. Information provided is subject to change.

The past few years, this housing market has been absolutely insane with sky high prices, bidding wars, and rollercoaster mortgage rates. Is the real estate market due for a crash? Will anyone ever be able to afford a home? Three powerhouse real estate agents in the craziest housing markets across America break it all down here. Representing the Lone Star State Texas - agent Levi Lascsak 🤠 https://livingindallastx.com/ For the Golden State California - agent Jeb Smith Coldwell Banker Realty (Huntington Beach / Orange County Realtor) DRE 01407449 https://www.jebsmith.net/ Melanie Atkinson is a Tampa Bay area Realtor 🌴 with Smith & Associates in Florida. She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate. melanielovestampabay.com Email: matkinson@smithandassociates.com Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.616.2427 DISCLAIMER: All content provided on melanielovestampabay.com and the Melanie Loves Tampa Bay YouTube channel/social media platforms is for informational/entertainment purposes only. The owner of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site. Information provided is subject to change.

Being a first time home buyer is a very exciting, but stressful time. There are a ton of videos out there already about how to buy a house, but I wanted to share my very best tips as a veteran Florida real estate agent that you (probably) haven't heard yet. We'll be going over selecting the right neighborhood, figuring out your monthly housing budget, types of homes & more. Melanie is a Tampa Bay area Realtor with Smith & Associates. She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate. melanielovestampabay.com Email: matkinson@smithandassociates.com Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.616.2427 DISCLAIMER: All content provided on melanielovestampabay.com and the Melanie Loves Tampa Bay YouTube channel/social media platforms is for informational/entertainment purposes only. The owner of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site. Information provided is subject to change.

Have you been dealing with homeowners' insurance sticker shock or get a notice that your policy is canceled? There's a LOT to know about the current property insurance crisis here in Florida. Joining me for this episode is State Senator Jeff Brandes (R) District 24 to discuss what's behind our insurance industry problems and possible solutions. https://flsenate.gov/senators/s24 https://www.facebook.com/SenatorBrandes https://twitter.com/JeffreyBrandes *Melanie Loves Tampa Bay does not make political endorsements Melanie is a Tampa Bay area Realtor with Smith & Associates. She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate. melanielovestampabay.com Email: matkinson@smithandassociates.com Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.616.2427 DISCLAIMER: All content provided on melanielovestampabay.com and the Melanie Loves Tampa Bay YouTube channel/social media platforms is for informational/entertainment purposes only. The owner of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site. Information provided is subject to change.

When you’re searching for Florida homes online, have you ever wondered why two similar properties have such different property taxes? I’ll be explaining why you should NOT rely on a home’s property tax history to estimate what yours would be on the same home. We’re going to go over Florida’s Homestead Exemption, the Save Our Homes 3% Cap, portability, other types of property tax exemptions in the Sunshine State, ad valorem vs. non-ad valorem, and how property tax rates are calculated. You’ll definitely want to tune into this episode if you’re a new home buyer in Florida. https://www.hcpafl.org/Property-Info/Homestead-Other-Info https://floridarevenue.com/property/Documents/pt109.pdf Melanie is a Tampa Bay area Realtor with Smith & Associates. She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate. melanielovestampabay.com Email: matkinson@smithandassociates.com Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.616.2427 DISCLAIMER: All content provided on melanielovestampabay.com and the Melanie Loves Tampa Bay YouTube channel/social media platforms is for informational/entertainment purposes only. The owner of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site. Information provided is subject to change.

In this red hot housing market of Tampa, Florida homes do NOT last very long once they go up for sale. But what about all those homes that show as 'pending' for a while, then pop back up 'for sale'? Let's go over some of the common reasons why residential real estate contracts fall through and how you, as a buyer, can use that information to *your* advantage. I'll also explain the differences between As-Is and Repairs contracts and why the As-Is contract became the standard in Florida. Melanie is a Tampa Bay area Realtor with Smith & Associates. She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate. melanielovestampabay.com Email: matkinson@smithandassociates.com Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.616.2427 DISCLAIMER: All content provided on melanielovestampabay.com and the Melanie Loves Tampa Bay YouTube channel/social media platforms is for informational/entertainment purposes only. The owner of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site. Information provided is subject to change.

What is it really like to live in the state of Florida now that it's such a popular moving destination? So much has changed over the past few years in terms of cost of living, the housing market, Tampa Bay area neighborhoods, traffic, and population demographics. Florida still does not have state income tax, but there have been fluctuations in homeowners insurance as well as an increase in the taxable value of homes in regard to property tax. We'll also (once again) touch on elements of weather and Florida native wildlife. Melanie is a Tampa Bay area Realtor with Smith & Associates. She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate. melanielovestampabay.com Email: matkinson@smithandassociates.com Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.616.2427 DISCLAIMER: All content provided on melanielovestampabay.com and the Melanie Loves Tampa Bay YouTube channel/social media platforms is for informational/entertainment purposes only. The owner of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site. Information provided is subject to change.

Rent... the American Dream? 60 Minutes recently did a report on the housing market and the increase of rental prices around the country. In 2021, the Tampa Bay area experienced about a 25% spike in both home and rent prices. The high demand and lack of inventory is driving these costs up and consequently - pricing buyers out. In the 60 Minutes piece, the CEO of Tricon Residential (company buying single-family homes to use as rentals) stated that they are allowing people to 'rent' the American dream instead of owning. I looked at home sales in the community of Brandon, Florida to find out how many of these properties were bought by LLCs and not individuals. Let's also talk about the benefits of home ownership and tips for navigating this tough market. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rising-rent-prices-60-minutes-2022-03-20/ Melanie is a Tampa Bay area Realtor with Smith & Associates. She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate. melanielovestampabay.com Email: matkinson@smithandassociates.com Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.616.2427 DISCLAIMER: All content provided on melanielovestampabay.com and the Melanie Loves Tampa Bay YouTube channel/social media platforms is for informational/entertainment purposes only. The owner of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site. Information provided is subject to change.

To many buyers searching for the perfect home in the Tampa Bay area, it might seem like cash buyers & investors are swooping in to get all of the local inventory - pushing out everyone with financing offers. But is this really true? In this episode, I analyze & compare real home sales numbers to get an accurate picture on which types of buyers are making it to the closing table. And the breakdown may surprise you... Plus, be sure to watch toward the end to get a few of my power tips on navigating this competitive real estate market. Melanie is a Tampa Bay area Realtor with Smith & Associates. She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate. melanielovestampabay.com Email: matkinson@smithandassociates.com Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.616.2427 DISCLAIMER: All content provided on melanielovestampabay.com and the Melanie Loves Tampa Bay YouTube channel/social media platforms is for informational/entertainment purposes only. The owner of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site. Information provided is subject to change.

Zillow just named the Tampa metro as the #1 hottest housing market for 2022. Not surprisingly, Florida cities dominated much of the ranking list for the second year in a row along with North Carolina and Texas. According to Zillow, the housing market overall is expected to remain hot, maintaining many of the same sales trends as 2021. As a Tampa Realtor who's lived and worked in the Tampa Bay area for decades, I wanted to weigh in on this news and share insight on what's coming in the new year for buyers & sellers. https://www.zillow.com/research/zillow-2022-hottest-markets-tampa-30413/ Do you agree/disagree with Zillow's list? Let me know what you think! And why do you think the Tampa Bay area is attracting so many new residents? ZILLOW'S HOTTEST MARKETS 2022 #1 Tampa, Florida #2 Jacksonville, Florida #3 Raleigh, North Carolina #4 San Antonio, Texas #5 Charlotte, North Carolina #6 Nashville, Tennessee #7 Atlanta, Georgia #8 Phoenix, Arizona #9 Orlando, Florida #10 Austin, Texas Melanie is a Tampa Bay area Realtor with Smith & Associates. She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate. melanielovestampabay.com Email: matkinson@smithandassociates.com Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.616.2427 DISCLAIMER: All content provided on melanielovestampabay.com and the Melanie Loves Tampa Bay YouTube channel/social media platforms is for informational/entertainment purposes only. The owner of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site. Information provided is subject to change.

As the Tampa Bay area grows, there are quite a few new condo developments that will be available to new residents in the upcoming years. One of my favorite things about working for Smith & Associates is that we're the exclusive sales brokerage for so many of these luxury projects. Fair warning: this is *not* an episode for those seeking out average priced housing. All of these condominium projects have hefty price tags targeted toward the high-end home buyer. Real estate development companies are focused mainly on downtown St. Petersburg, downtown Tampa, and South Tampa. You can see all of the condos mentioned in the YouTube version: https://youtu.be/I12i3RaTkBM ST. PETERSBURG 400 Central https://www.residences400central.com Saltaire https://saltairestpete.com/ The Nolen https://thenolenstpete.com/ TAMPA Altura https://alturabayshore.com/ Hyde Park House https://www.hydeparkbayshore.com/ The Ritz-Carlton Residences https://theresidencestampa.com/ The Pendry https://www.pendryresidencestampa.com The Edition http://tampaeditionresidences.com Marina Pointe https://marinapointe.com Melanie is a Tampa Bay area Realtor with Smith & Associates. She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate. melanielovestampabay.com Email: matkinson@smithandassociates.com Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.616.2427 DISCLAIMER: All content provided on melanielovestampabay.com and the Melanie Loves Tampa Bay YouTube channel/social media platforms is for informational/entertainment purposes only. The owner of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site. Information provided is subject to change.

Tampa Bay area insurance agent Maria Rodriguez, with Rip Weachter Insurance Agency, joins me to talk about Florida insurance changes to know about going into 2022. She explains how insurance carriers have updated the methodology used to calculate flood risk and premiums. You'll want to tune into this episode if you're shopping for a new policy or already have homeowners & flood insurance because you *will* be affected. Maria also explains how flood zones and the age of a home's roof come into play. Contact Maria Rodriguez for your insurance needs within the state of Florida maria@weachterinsurance.com Office: 813.831.8889 Direct: 813.969.4466 Rip Weachter Insurance Agency http://www.weachterinsurance.com/ Melanie is a Tampa Bay area Realtor with Smith & Associates. She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate. melanielovestampabay.com Email: matkinson@smithandassociates.com Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.616.2427 DISCLAIMER: All content provided on melanielovestampabay.com and the Melanie Loves Tampa Bay YouTube channel/social media platforms is for informational/entertainment purposes only. The owner of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site. Information provided is subject to change.

With home prices on the rise, can you even afford to buy a home in 2022? In this episode, Melanie is joined by Patrick Storch with The Mortgage Firm Tampa to discuss mortgage changes you need to know about, interest rates, and the challenging housing market here in Florida. (Spoiler Alert: conventional loan limits have increased to $625,000 from the previous $548,250) You'll definitely want to tune in if you plan to house hunt over the next year - we're also sharing helpful tips on getting a home loan, creative financing, and what you can do to increase your chances of getting offers accepted! The Mortgage Firm Tampa / Patrick Storch https://www.closemymortgagetampa.com/ Call or apply online. 📲 813-616-8844 🖥 8471 West Linebaugh Ave. Tampa, FL 33625 Monday - Friday: 8:30AM - 5:30PM Evenings & Weekends: By Appointment NMLS # 189233 | 228635 Melanie is a Tampa Bay area Realtor with Smith & Associates. She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate. melanielovestampabay.com Email: matkinson@smithandassociates.com Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.368.6084 DISCLAIMER: All content provided on melanielovestampabay.com and the Melanie Loves Tampa Bay YouTube channel/social media platforms is for informational/entertainment purposes only. The owner of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site. Information provided is subject to change.

With a crazy nationwide housing market, the frenzy seems particularly high here in Tampa, Florida. If you're considering a move to Florida in 2022, or planning to buy a home - check out this update from experienced real estate agent Melanie Atkinson, who works in the Tampa Bay area. She'll also talk about new construction options and Realtor tips for buyers on actually getting your offers accepted in order to secure a house. Melanie is a Tampa Bay area Realtor with Smith & Associates. She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate. melanielovestampabay.com Email: matkinson@smithandassociates.com Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.368.6084 DISCLAIMER: All content provided on melanielovestampabay.com and the Melanie Loves Tampa Bay YouTube channel/social media platforms is for informational/entertainment purposes only. The owner of Melanie Loves Tampa Bay makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site. Information provided is subject to change.