Community News
Enjoy these Clearwater Beach Florida - Island Estates and Tampa Beach Holiday Boat Parades
December 9th, 2009 Categories: Boating, Clearwater Beach Florida, Community News
Clearwater Florida and other local Beach towns hold Holiday Boat Parades
Clearwater Beach Florida - Living in Clearwater one of our favorite things to do in December is to enjoy the beautiful Holiday Boat Parades held in the various Tampa beach towns. Unfortunately Dunedin’s and St Pete Beach boat parades were cancelled last weekend because of windy weather and currently there is no make up date.
For us, the Clearwater Beach - Island Estates Memorial Parade is one of our favorites and will be hosting their boat parade this weekend. You can see various lighted boat parades as far north as Tarpon Springs Florida down to Tierra Verde (southern Pinellas County) tonight. We’re so lucky to have so many great options. If you go, let me know what you think!
Here’s a list of the local parades we found going on the next two weekends (weather permitting).
Tierra Verde Florida (December 9th) is holding their boat parade tonight (Wednesday, December 9th) so if you have have time head down tonight and check it out.
Island Estates - Clearwater Beach Florida (December 12th) - One of the most popular in the area, this year’s parade on December 12th, 2009 and marks the 35th year that this parade. The boat parade is sponsored by the Island Estates Yacht Club. Boats. All boats will assemble at 6 pm in Mandalay Channel, between Island Estates and Clearwater Beach. They will proceed through Island Estates’ canals, arriving downtown at Coachman Park at 8 pm, then they will sail under Memorial Causeway Bridge, down the Clearwater Marina Channel and winds up finishing at the Clearwater Yacht Club on the southern end of Clearwater Beach.
Tarpon Springs Florida (December 12th)- I couldn’t find the details but I know it’s being held this Saturday night as well and runs along the sponge docks. My friends the Mason’s love watching from their backyard every year. So if you’re in that area be sure to check it out.
St Petersburg Florida (Downtown) (Saturday, December 12th) - The will be hosting a lighted boat parade this Saturday as well.
Treasure Island Florida - (Sunday, December 13) They are holding their Christmas Boat Parade this Sunday and it will begin at 6:20 p.m. at the Treasure Island Tennis & Yacht Club, 400 Treasure Island Causeway.
NEW!! Tarpon Springs FL - Lake Tarpon (Saturday, December 19th)This year is the first year for a lighted Christmas Boat Parade and will be held next weekend on Lake Tarpon. The parade begins at the Tarpon Turtle at 7PM (earlier than last year). See TarponTurtle.com for their location.
Madeira Beach Florida ( Saturday, December 19th) Will actually have 2 lighted boat parades. Their Festival of Lights boat parades will hold the first for smaller boats. It starts at John’s Pass at 6:15 p.m., heading north through all channels and ending at the Tom Stuart Causeway. The 2nd boat parade, for larger boats, begins at Tom Stuart Causeway at 6:30 p.m. and ends at John’s Pass. Both of these parades are expected to end at about 8:30 p.m. in addition, Santa will visit John’s Pass Village about 7 p.m.
Indian Rocks Beach Florida (Saturday December 19th) has their boat parade beginning at 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Harbourside and proceeding north under the Walsingham Bridge. We actually have taken video of this boat parade in the past - and Jimmy Iguanas is a great place to see the parade from but get there early!! You can check it out
Redingtons and Indian Shores Florida (Sunday, December 20th) will hold the last boat parade of the season is longer than most and will begin at about 6 p.m. These festive boats will start at the Welch Causeway Bridge in Madeira Beach Florida, and then the boats will head north among the intercoastal waterways in Redington Beach, North Redington Beach, Redington Shores and Indian Shores. The parade is expected to end about 10 p.m.
Clearwater Beach Properties: If you want to Buy your own Waterfront Condos or Homes - We Can Help!
Buyers continue to tell us that selecting the best Clearwater Realtors, online or from a distance, can be a challenge. So some of our past clients agreed to share their experiences and tell you why they think you should work with us. Meet some of our clients and now friends…we’d love to be YOUR choice too!
Give us a call so we can to discuss your needs! (727)710-8035 or (727) 710-8036
If you’ve been thinking about buying a waterfront or oceanfront beach condo or house in the Clearwater St Peterburg Tampa Bay area…
Call Us Today at (727) 710-8035 to hear more about how we can help you!
Contact us for a FREE quote and to find out your Tampa Mortgage options and you can search all Tampa St Petersburg and Clearwater homes for sale right now..
Copyright © 2007-2009 Jack and Cyndee Haydon, Clearwater REALTORS and specializing in Clearwater Florida, Clearwater Beach Florida, and Pinellas County Waterfront homes and condos. Information is deemed reliable however it is not guaranteed and subject to change at any time.
| Currently 4 Comments »
Clearwater Florida - What to Look for in an Auto Mechanic? Attend FREE Women’s Clinic
April 2nd, 2009 Categories: Clearwater Beach Florida, Clearwater Florida, Community News, Things to do
Clearwater Florida Community News - Womens Auto Repair / Care Clinic
Clearwater Florida - Whether you’re moving to the area, want to learn how to pick the best auto repair shop or find honest car mechanics when you need one - you’ll want to consider joining me at the this weeks Clearwater Auto Care Clinic being offered by Ice Cold Air and Discount Auto Repair. They’re giving a free car care clinic this Satuday for women of all ages to learn the secrets of auto repair in Clearwater that could save you thousands in unnecessary repairs.
So are you looking for a honest auto repair shop when you need to fix your car or do routine maintenance like oil changes? Do you know the 5 red flags when looking look for an auto mechanic in Clearwater. Now’s the time to learn what insiders know before you need you car fixed.
I started taking our cars to Ice Cold Air and Discount Auto Repair in Clearwater on Court Street about two years ago and love knowing I have mechanics I trust and I know will stand being their work. As a woman, I can tell you the number of times I’ve had my car repaired by other auto shops only to find out later I was taken advantage of (Not something I appreciate) Like in real estate, you need a professional you can trust to give you good advice and to do the right thing or their could be costly mistakes. And since a car is an integral part of my business - I need to make sure it’s always running and safe.
And don’t let their name fool you! I know I was a little confused a first thinking they only fixed car air conditioning problems - though that’s an important one here in Florida.
They are one of the best auto repair shops in Clearwater and are a true full service car repair shop and offer great value pricing. Yes, they do car air conditioners and everything else. Jack and I have had quite a bit of work done on our cars and highly recommend these auto mechanics to our friends.
The owner of Ice Cold Air at both Court Street in Clearwater on the way to Clearwater Beach and the Main Street location off US 19 and 580 near Dunedin is Brett ONeill.
Brett has become a close personal friend of ours over the years as a result of the personal attention and care he takes in his clients and recently was interviewed about the Auto Care Car Clinic on Channel 10 News - Check it out here
Need Auto Repairs? What to look for in a Clearwater Auto Mechanic?
So what will we learn? They are planning to teach us the 10 things everyone must know before having their car repaired in Clearwater FL.
Why did they focus on women? Recent statistics show that over 60% of women are the decision makers when choosing who repairs and maintains their family’s cars.
So as a woman like me…..
- Do you know how to choose the right repair shop?
- Are you going to the dealer, even though you know that it is far more expensive?
- Is the fear of being taken advantage of, or having unnecessary repairs done, driving you to someplace you ‘think’ you can trust?
- How do you really know you’re getting exactly what you paid for?
It is questions like these that prompted Brett’s Clearwater auto repair team at Ice Cold Air in Clearwater Florida to organize a car care clinic specifically for women.
They told me that these topics and many more will be covered in detail:
- “How you can be 100% sure your not being ripped off”
- “The 7 questions you must ask any automotive repair facility before you set up an appointment”
- “What maintenance items are really important and what is just fluff?”
Ice Cold Air owner Brett O’Neill explains, “We deal with women making decisions about their cars every day, and we are asked over and over some of the same questions. I thought it would be a good idea to host a clinic, just for women, to cover some of their main concerns and to help dispel many of the mysteries that have been associated with our industry.”
They will be opening their shop on April 4th to any woman who never again wants to have that frightening, out of control feeling when they think of car repair. I’m planning on being there - are you?
They will give us the questions and answers we need to never fear automotive repair again. As vehicles become more and more complicated, and the level of knowledge necessary to repair them correctly increases, choosing the right repair shop is critical to the long life and proper operation of our vehicles.
Women’s Car Clinic - Clearwater Florida
- When: Saturday April 4th 2009
- Where: Ice Cold Air 1180 Court Street in Clearwater on Gulf to Bay just west of Missouri on the North side of the road
- Time: Starting at Noon - lasting 1 hour until 1pm
- @$150 FREE Gifts, food drinks and more
There is ABSOLUTELY NO CHARGE to attend! As a matter of fact everyone who attends will get a FREE gift worth at least $150 dollars! However, space is limited, so please contact them to reserve your spot by calling 727-461-5727 or email info@icecoldair.net (If you email them your name they’ll send you a confirmation)
For a map to the location, please click here.
We had a great time….
Missed this one? Call them and ask when the next one will be - I have a feeling they’ll be having more since the interest has been very high in the community.
Buying a Home in Clearwater Florida - We can help
If you have been thinking about buying a home or condo now is a great time to buy in home in Clearwater
Contact us for a FREE quote and to find out your Tampa Mortgage options and you can search all Tampa St Petersburg and Clearwater homes for sale right now..
Call Us Today at (727) 710-8036 to hear more about how we can help you!
Copyright © 2009 Jack and Cyndee Haydon, Clearwater REALTORS and specializing in Clearwater Florida, Clearwater Beach Florida, Sand Key Florida and Pinellas County Waterfront homes and condos. This article may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed or published.
| Currently 3 Comments »
Clearwater Condos have new hurdle in getting a Mortgage now - Bargain Hunters Beware
January 26th, 2009 Categories: Clearwater Beach Florida, Clearwater Florida, Community News, Condos for Sale, Tampa Mortgages
Clearwater Florida - It’s the time of year when we get lots of calls from people from NY, PA, OH, MI, Canada and more come down to looking to buy a Clearwater condo and those closer to Clearwater Beach Florida the better. Well now buying one of these condos just got a lot harder and darn near impossible if you’re not paying cash. Fannie Mae has slapped Florida with new tough guidelines - to learn more check out this recap from the The Miami Herald on the the new Florida Fannie Mae Guidelines for Clearwater FL condominiums.
“The standards, which took effect last week and apply only to Florida, include requiring that no more than 15 percent of a building’s unit owners be delinquent on association fees as a condition of funding home loans to new buyers.
Fannie Mae buys the majority of Clearwater Florida home loans from lenders, so it wields significant power in the making of mortgages. Fannie-backed loans generally offer the best rates and lowest down payments for borrowers.”
New Fannie Mae Clearwater FL Condo Mortgage Guidelines
“Fannie Mae has issued new guidelines that Florida condos and condo conversions, and, in some cases, old condos, must meet before it will fund loans:
- At least 70 percent of the units in new condos must be presold.
- No more than 10 percent of units can be owned by a single entity.
- No more than 15 percent of units in all condos can be more than 30 days past due on association fees.
- No more than 20 percent of a condo can be devoted to commercial use.
- All condos, new and old, must have fidelity insurance, which protects association funds from fraud.
- The seller is not allowed to help with down payments or offer other perks, like deductions of association fees, unless they are disclosed.
- Condos must have hazard insurance.
- When investors buy in established projects, at least 51 percent of units must be owner-occupied.”
Source: Miami Herald
The dilemma may not be obvious to you if you’re just starting to “look for Clearwater condos that are bargains” which is what people ask us everyday. Let me give you an example of how these changes may effect you now. There are some Clearwater properties that were built in the height of the real estate boom - it was not uncommon back then for someone to pay homeless people to wait in line so they could get a spot in the new construction because many believed there was no way not to make money and for a long time that seemed to be true.
Now fast forward to 2009 - many of those speculative investors who bought and never intended to hold the condominiums are now ending in short sales and foreclosures others have lost money in the stock market and their situation has changed and their vacation property may no longer be affordable for them. With large monthly condo association fees they quit paying the association which presents additional problems and already burdens to the other condo owners. (This is why as your buyers agent we recommend closely scrutinizing an association’s financials) Well now… if more than 15 percent of units in all condos are more than 30 days past due on association fees…then no buyers can get a Fannie Mae mortgage for those condos - WHOA! That’s HUGE!!!
So the end result is with the most distressed properties and bargains may have become “cash only deals” almost overnight. The communities most in need of buyers may actually be the most hrt by these new rules. If you are planning on buying Clearwater condos you should definitely have real estate agents, like us, to make sure you’re getting the latest information you need to make informed decisions in this dynamic Clearwater real estate market.
If you’re looking to understand all your Florida mortgage options for condominiums, please call Kevin Sandridge at 863-604-3019, or contact him via email at kevin.s@sigfunding.com.
Thinking of Buying or Selling Tampa St Petersburg Clearwater Condos
If you have been thinking about buying or selling a condo in the Clearwater St Petersburg Tampa area…
Contact us for a FREE quote and to find out your Tampa Mortgage options and you can search all Tampa St Petersburg and Clearwater condos for sale right now..
Call Us Today at (727) 710-8036 to hear more about how we can help you!
Copyright © 2007-2009 Jack and Cyndee Haydon, Clearwater REALTORS and your Clearwater Florida Real Estate Consultants specializing in Clearwater St Petersburg Tampa Real Estate and may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed or published.
| Currently 5 Comments »
