Latest from Clearwater Real Estate Tampa Homes

Enjoy Fun Festive and Free Holiday Boat Parades on the Beaches

Posted: 16 Dec 2011 12:48 PM PST

Last Saturday several of the beach towns and communities had their boat parades. We enjoyed attending the Clearwater Beach Holiday boat parade under a wonderful full moon over Clearwater Harbor. Holiday Boat parades are just one of the many ways we celebrate here in our Pinellas County beach towns. If you haven’t seen one you owe it to yourself to make some time to do so – it’s fun, festive and free, it doesn’t get much better than that.

Not sure what to expect at a boat parade? Check out this video from Clearwater Beach’s Boat parade last weekend:

You still have one more chance to enjoy a Holiday Boat parade this year. If you’ll be in the area this Saturday December 17, 2011 check out the 25th Annual City of Indian Rocks Holiday Lighted Boat Parade or the 45th Annual Madeira Beach Festival of Lights Boat Parade. Here are more details about both:

25th Annual City of Indian Rocks Holiday Lighted Boat Parade

Start time: 7:00pm
Cost: Free

The boat parade will starts at the Harbourside Holiday Inn in Indian Rocks Beach at 7:00pm. Jimmy Guana’s is a great place to watch the parade and make an evening of it, however, if that’s your plan you better get there early – it’s always packed that night. Jimmy Guana’s is located at 401 2nd St Indian Rocks Beach. there are 3 categories in the parade based on boat size. 23 ft and under, 24 to 30ft vessels and over 30ft. I’m always amazed at the creativity and beauty of each one.

The boat parade will start at the Harbourside Inn and run north under the Walsingham Bridge and up the intercoastal waterways of Indian Rocks Beach and end at the city limits near North Harbor Drive before Belleair Beach.

45th Annual Madeira Beach Festival of Lights Boat Parade

Start time: 6:30pm
Cost: Free

The Madeira Beach parade starts just north of the Tom Stuart Causeway. The Madeira Beach Boat Parade Route is quite extensive and lasts about 1.5 hours and ends around 8pm at John’s Pass. They award prizes as well and the categories are for boats under 25ft, over 25 ft and then another Old Salt award.

One final tip: If you are planning to watch the parades try to get to where ever you’re going to watch it from at least a half hour early so you don’t miss them since it can be crowded.

I’m curious have you ever seen a boat parade? Tell me below – and if not I hope you get to see one soon!

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New Home Inventory Keeps Sinking

Posted: 27 Oct 2011 05:45 AM PDT

New Home Supply Sep 2010 - 2011 Home builders continue to sell homes and work through inventory.

According to data from the Census Bureau, the number of new homes sold in September jumped 6 percent from the month prior, beating analyst expectations. On a seasonally-adjusted, annualized basis, buyers in FL and nationwide closed on 313,000 newly-built homes last month.

It’s the highest reading since April and a major reason why the available number of new homes for sale is shrinking.

As compared to September 2010, there are 19% fewer homes for sale nationwide. At today’s sales pace, the complete new home inventory would be “sold out” in 6.2 months – the quickest sell-out pace since the April 2010 federal home buyer tax credit expiration.

It’s no wonder builder confidence is rising.

After averaging 15 through the first 9 months of the year, homebuilder confidence jumped 4 points for October, carried by low mortgage rates and the expectation for a strong winter/spring selling season.

For buyers in Clearwater Beach , this could be construed as a housing market-shifting signal. As builder confidence rises, it becomes more difficult to negotiate for upgrades and price reductions on a new home. “Great deals” get scarce.

Furthermore, it’s unlikely that mortgage rates will sustain their current, ultra-low levels into 2012. Rising rates lead to higher housing payments on a month-to-month basis.

If you’re in the market for a newly-built home, in other words, today’s homes may represent your best value of the year.