Is downtown St Pete a perfect place for photographers?

The answer is yes! St Petersburg FL offers endless “Kodak moment” opportunities.

One can never get tired of photographing St Petersburg. If you live in Tampa Bay and love taking pictures – you know it.  There’s a great combination of office towers, condominiums, marinas with boats, historical buildings and parks to take a perfect city shot.  What else makes downtown St Pete so amazing for photographers is that there’s a perfect setting for taking sunrise pictures.

So grab your camera, go downtown and start taking pictures!  We’d also love for you to share them with us!  Meanwhile enjoy some of out shots, taken by David Esposito.

Bank Of America tower - St Petersburg downtown icon

Marian near St Pete Yacht and Tennis club

Pelicans at the St Pete Pier

Progress Energy tower

View of downtown St Pete from the pier

Sunrise over Tampa Bay. View from downtown St Pete

Snell Arcade building downtown St Petersburg

Tampa Bay Real Estate Blog. St Petersburg Blog. The HOME Team.

Hot off the Press! Former St Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker’s New Book

Do you live in St Pete? Maybe you should read this book!

By Emily Zobanov, our guest writer

Seamless City by Rick Backer is now available on Amazon

The Seamless City:

 A Conservative Mayor’s Approach to Urban Revitalization that Could Work Anywhere is now available on Amazon.com.  The book is divided into two sections.  The first reveals Baker’s views on how to plan a great city.  Baker shares his perspective on a variety of city-related concerns: jobs, homelessness, public safety, etc.  The second part focuses on the mayoral duties.  Interspersed throughout are Baker’s conservative philosophies and aspects of his Christian faith.

At first glance, a book about how to manage a city seems dry.  Without yet having read the book, however, the descriptions I have come across so far make it sound quite compelling.  The editorial review on Amazon’s describes it as follows:

Rick Baker, the former St Pete mayor

In The Seamless City you’ll step behind the scenes of city government to learn

:

- How maintaining basic amenities, like running water, requires constant vigilance—and sometimes tough decisions on the part of city leadership
- Why a vibrant downtown is essential to attract businesses and create jobs
- Why the most effective leadership is servant leadership
- How to find and implement the most effective solutions to a city’s most challenging problems
- Why city government needs to regard the city as a seamless whole, with no section under-served or overlooked

I take my running water for granted so finding out what exactly it takes to make it happen every time is fascinating.  Ok, maybe not fascinating.  But good reading.  Of course, I’m naturally curious about my own city.  If this book was written by the mayor of Tallahassee or some other place I might not be so eager to read it.  Having said that, it seems plausible that Baker wrote the book primarily for people whose jobs actually involve running a city as opposed to just living in it.  The reviews, on the conservative end at least, are sparkling thus far.  As a not-publicly-employed person, I hope I can add my own positive review soon.

Tampa Bay Real Estate Blog. St Petersburg Blog. The HOME Team.

Kayaking in Gulfport. What’s your favorite outdoors activity?

Paddling through Clam Bayou in Gulfport

Kayaking in Clam Bayou

A few weeks back my wife took me kayaking as a part of her birthday surprise to me.  I never thought I’d enjoy it as much as I did.  Searching for an adventure doesn’t come to me naturally but I will often join yours if you invite me.  We had fun few hours cruising through the Clam Bayou that is located between Gulfport and St Petersburg.

Kayak Nature provides all the kayak fun you may want.  My wife was fortunate to get a coupon on www.LivingSocial.com which is Groupon’s biggest rival.  The owner of Kayak Nature, Kurt Zuelsdorf, was an extremely nice guy and provided us with a map of the bayou, explained the route and loaded us into a 2 seat kayak.  He also supplied us with life vests, even though some of the areas we’ve paddled through were only a couple feet deep.  However, safety comes first, so make sure you have a life vest on while you are kayaking, you never know what can happen.

Beautiful weather in Tampa Bay. Perfect time for kayaking!

Paddling through the bayou we even ventured into the Boca Ciega Bay.  But it was a bit choppy and I was getting splashed with cold water, so after a few minutes we went back.  We paddled through the marina, checked out the boats, and then later almost got stuck in the shallows of the bayou.  Kayaks are so light, they are easy to operate and you can easily pull yourself back out if you come onto a shallow spot.  The fish jumping out of the water and some cool birds flying along the mangroves made our little voyage even more exciting.

Check out the little video I was able to shoot with my iPhone 4.  If you feel like getting a little work out and enjoy some nature scenery, grab your kayak and go to Clam Bayou, you’ll feel refreshed!  There are dozens of kayak launches in Pinellas County and Kayak Nature will gladly help you with your kayaking and other water activities. Check out their website at http://kayaknature.com/about/

So You Want To Buy Your First Home?

7 Guidelines For The First-time Home Buyers

First-time homes buyers often wonder what it takes to buy a house

According to a National Association of Realtors survey conducted in 2006 and 2007 the average first time home buyer’s age is 31 years.  This average is pointing towards Gen X, but in our experience we also have educated Gen Y’ers (or Millennials) on first-time home buying process.  Even people that have bought and sold homes in the past often like to go through the steps of this process with us once again.  So if you are a first-time home buyer, where do you begin and will you be happy with the ending?  Let’s talk about it:

-          Before you consider buying a home take a look at your budget.  If you are currently renting, do you want your house payment to be the same as your rent?  Well, remember you will need to factor in not only your mortgage but also taxes, insurance and maintenance.  If you are buying a condo you will also have to pay HOA fees.

-          Check your credit.  If you plan to finance your home you need to know what you qualify for.  Check with your bank or ask your real estate agent for a mortgage broker referral and get a prequalification letter.  This way you don’t waste your time looking at homes you are not qualified to buy.

Stop renting and start buying!

-          Once you are prequalified for a loan and know what your monthly housing expenses should be, you can calculate your home price point.  Don’t spend hours on Trilia, Zillow or Realtor.com looking at homes you can’t afford. 

-          Do you or your spouse care about the area where you will live? How about the style of your future home?  You will have to live with what you choose, so it’s ok to be picky.  Figuring out what you like will help you narrow down your search.

-          Find a Realtor.  If you are a buyer you don’t pay commissions, so please, please, please find a professional that can help you and guide through the whole process, from helping you with your search, writing contract, arranging inspections and appraisal to negotiations with the seller and a final closing.  

-          There are always closing costs involved in a sale of a house.  Most of your fees will be associated with your loan and some with have to do with the title agency services.  Ask your Realtor if the seller can contribute to your closing costs.  Make sure you have some cash in your account for a down payment.  Even FHA financing requires 3.5% down.

-          There are several government assistance programs that can help you with financing and down payment that you may take advantage of.  Again, ask your agent if you qualify for any of such programs.

Tampa Bay Real Estate Blog by The HOME Team of Charles Rutenberg Realty, Inc.

Taco Bus Opens New Location In St Pete

Hot Winter Day At Taco Bus!

Taco Bus new location in St Pete

What a beautiful day it was this past Saturday!  You could get sunburn being outside for too long.  It’s full blown spring time in St Petersburg and all Tampa Bay. No wonder “snowbirds” and tourists from all over the world are flocking to our area.  I was told many were seen swimming in the Gulf.  True Floridians don’t even touch water until April, so tourists are not hard to spot on the beach.

On our way to the 600 Block Art Show, we decided to stop at Taco Bus for lunch.  A recent article on www.TampaBay.com sparked our interest and we also new we’d be driving down Central Avenue.  Another interesting fact we discovered is that Taco Bus rated #2 on UrbanSpoon, just under #1: Bern’s Steakhouse.

The line was long and we waited for almost an hour.  A waiter told us they just opened a few days ago.  Steak tacos were delicious and all ingredients were very fresh.  They take credit cards and have both outside and inside sitting areas.  “Poor man” margaritas were served at 4 bucks a glass at the small bar area.

If you are in for something fresh and delicious, come check out Taco Bus at 2324 Central Ave in St Pete.  You’ll love it!  Their site is www.tampatacobus.com.  And here’s a short iPhone video I shot for you. Enjoy!

Tampa Bay Real Estate Blog by The HOME Team of Charles Rutenberg Realty, Inc.

Madeira Beach Video And Sold Homes Price Review

Madeira Beach Video Tour And Sold Homes Price Review


Near St Petersburg FL housesSaturday was a stormy day in Pinellas.  I wanted to film Madeira Beach on a sunny day and possibly write a few condominiums reviews, but due to weather we ended up filming some waterfront homes, mostly from our car.  See sold prices review below.  In the video you will also see a popular local spot called John’s Pass.  Tourists love it because here you can find multiple dining places, gift shops, beach attire stores and jetski/boat rentals.  If you are on vacation or even live locally and love to fish, there are several fishing charter services available at the dock.  You can choose to go on a larger boat for a half of whole day of fishing.  A couple years back I caught quite a bit of gray snapper on a half day trip.  One thing I definitely enjoyed is that your fish can be filleted and cooked to order at a dockside restaurant as soon as you get of the boat.  Now, that’s service!

 

Madeira Beach, FL is a home to around 4,300 residents.  However, thousands of tourists come here on vacation yearly.  It’s a paradise for fishermen because of proximity to John’s Pass and direct access to the Gulf of Mexico.  At the same time you can find some of the most affordable waterfront housing in Madeira Beach.  When in places like neighboring Treasure Island, St. Pete Beach and even Redingtons many old homes have been replaced by newer construction, you can still find older 60s, 50s and even 40s and 30s homes that are still standing in Madeira Beach.  Often they can be bought for a bargain price (for a beach location that is).

A quick MLS price review and sales history gave me these numbers:

Single family homes. 

Waterfronts in the past 6 months sold within price range of $158-340/sq.ft, with average of $231/sq.ft with 17 homes sold in that category, and in the past 12 months – 31 homes.

Non-waterfront homes in the same time period sold in range of $88-241/sq.ft, with average of $146/sq/ft. In the past 6 months only 5 homes sold in that category. In the past 12 months – 18 homes.

Condominiums, townhomes, condo-hotels.

It’s harder to identify the price correctly when selling such properties as there are many variations of layouts, water views, floor levels, amenities and so on.  But sold numbers speak for themselves.  101 – is a total number of units sold in the past 12 months. Here are the categories:

Waterfronts sold in range of $108-400/sq.ft, with average of $253/sq.ft. That is in the last 12 months, and 84 units were sold in that timeframe. 17 of them were condos at Bellearte on the Gulf. In the past 6 months 45 units were sold in that category with range of $108-383/sq.ft and average sold price of $258/sq.ft.

Non-waterfronts sold in range of $85-225/sq.ft averaging at $139/sq.ft with 10 units sold in the last 6 months. Within last 12 months 17 units were sold and the sold price range was $85-251/sq.ft with average at $144/sq.ft.
In the last 6 months Madeira Beach properties sold as high as $1,350,000 and as low as $41,000. But majority of homes sold in $200’s, $300’s and $400’s.

How did your neighborhood do in the last 6 months?  Let us know if you want us to research your area and give you some numbers. We are here for you.

Tampa Bay Real Estate Blog by The HOME Team. St Pete Blog.

Planes And The Philli Flyer – It’s The Hangar

Planes And The Philli Flyer – It’s The Hangar

The Hangar restaurant St Pete, FL

I had my first lunch at The Hangar today and I really enjoyed it.  This place opened not long ago at Albert Whitted Airport terminal.  I expected it to be good, since the same owner runs Parkshore Grill and 400 Beach Seafood, and these places are always popular.  I love flying and today I wanted to see the planes.  The waitress was friendly and led me to a table with a perfect view of the landing strip.  I watched planes land and touch’n'go.  It was easy to see who’s a pro and who’s just learning to fly.  All of a sudden I felt like I was a distance away from downtown.  Then came the Philli Flyer sandwich!  Coming home from a two week trip to Russia this was a perfect American lunch treat.  Potato chips were out of this world and I smiled as I heard the same crunching at other tables.  As I was about to leave the place, Rick Baker, our former mayor set down at a nearby table joining someone for lunch.  Well, I felt like today we made good lunch choices.

Stop by The Hangar for good food, friendly service and your childhood dream views.

Tampa Bay Real Estate Blog.  St Petersburg Real Estate Blog.  The HOME Team.

Good Eats Around St. Pete. Some of my favs!

Good Eats Around St Petersburg And Beyond

What is good living without good eating?  Being one of St Petersburg Fl Realtors, I work with buyers that are new to our area and I often get a question: so where’s a good place to eat around here?c Of course, then I ask what they mean by good, what type of food they are in the mood for, and what their budget is.  In St. Petersburg and in nearby towns of our densely populated county, it’s not hard to please even the choosiest diner.

Cafe Ponte in Clearwater, FL

Over the years, I’ve visited a slew of restaurants in St. Petersburg and, being a person who’s appetite is not hard to satisfy, I like many of them.   I’ll share with you just a few of the top of my list.  My longtime favorite is Café Ponte in Clearwater. It’s a 30 minute drive from St. Pete, but completely worth the trouble.  Here’s an excerpt from Café Ponte’s website:

“…Named ‘Best in the Tampa Bay/Sarasota Area’ by Zagat’s Guide (2006), [Café Ponte] features outstanding dining in a modern and elegant setting.  Chef Ponte’s vast culinary skills draw influences from all corners of the globe… Cafe Ponte features Contemporary American Cuisine with French, Asian, and Italian influences.  Potato Encrusted Sea Bass and Filet Mignon are current signature favorites…Appetizers and salads range from $5 to $14; entrees start at $12 to $32. Catering, a private dining room, and take-out are available. Only first-rate ingredients and Ponte’s culinary expertise make this hot spot a must-see for any gourmand…”

Wow, I’m salivating as I type!  Definitely a five star rating in my book.   I hope you get an opportunity to dine there soon too.

O'Bistro cafe on Central Ave

If you find yourself in the west side of St. Pete, I recommend stopping by O’Bistro on Central Avenue and 66th Street.  I always know, whether I’m there for breakfast, lunch or dinner, I’ll have a great experience.  Their Eggs Benedict is amazing, the Belgian Waffles are to die for, Tuscan Style Pot Roast smothered in delicious sauce is a delight, and the hamburgers are juicy.  Eggplant fries on the side are an added bonus.   This simple but stylish place is definitely where one could become a regular guest.  Salads and starters range from $5 to $14 and entrees from $8 to $25.  Four stars is my rating for O’Bistro and three minutes travel from my home to this tasty destination is hard to beat.

Agave, mexican restaurant on St Pete Beach

Now to the beach.  After a long day in our sandy shores you can work up a good appetite.  If you’re in the mood for  lots of flavor and a cozy atmosphere,  Agave Mexican restaurant on St Pete Beach  may just hit the spot.   From chips and salsa with guacamole to brisket tacos and sizzling fajitas, everything I’ve tried here is delicious.  Don’t forget to try their tasty margaritas or homemade sangria to smooth out the night.

In the next ”good eating” blog post, we’ll focus on downtown St. Petersburg where there are lots of great places to dine.  They’re worthy of their own special blog post.

Tampa Bay Real Estate Blog. St Petersburg Blog. The HOME Team.

Got a parking ticket in downtown St. Pete?

Parking ticket in downtown St Peterburg

I happened to be in a wedding this past Saturday and it took place in a downtown St. Petersburg park under those huge Banyan trees.  Yes, the two-hour limit on the parking meter wasn’t sufficient and there was a brightly colored slip on my windshield by the time I got back to the car.  What to do?!

Downtown St. Petersburg parking ticket

St Petersburg parking ticket

Many of us who love spending time downtown frowned when we saw those multiple meters installed along major streets.  Oh well,  more funds for our city improvements!  My parking ticket was $25.  One good thing about a parking citation is that if it’s your first one, it will be waived if you spend $25 at any downtown business and present a receipt with your citation at the ticket fee collection office at the corner of Central and 3rd.  I spent my money on a gift card at Hooker Tea Co.  But rememeber, you have only 2 weeks to do it.

Tampa Bay Real estate blog. St Petersburg Blog. The HOME Team.