Beautiful tree-lined streets, picturesque waterfront, and serene nature preserves perfectly describe the town of Oldsmar, Florida, a gem of a community located on the northern tip of Tampa Bay between Clearwater and Tampa. Founded by Ransom Eli Olds in 1913, Oldsmar was a carefully planned and developed community. From the location to the beautiful architecture and landscaping, Oldsmar was designed to be the “ideal community”.

Close to Lake Tarpon and both Gulf beaches, Oldsmar is an ideal place to live for water enthusiasts. Home to Harbor Palms Nature Park and 34 acres of protected wetlands, Oldsmar is also rich with picturesque views of nature and wildlife and provides and excellent landscape for many outdoor activities. With a population of just under 9,000, Oldsmar has the feel of a close-knit community, hosting festivals, fairs, and concerts year-round. Yet due to its proximity to Tampa and Clearwater, Oldsmar offers many big-city amenities and opportunities for employment, shopping, the arts and fine cuisine.

Offering all this and more, Oldsmar is an “ideal community” and an ideal place to live.

The well respected and coveted Kenst Report, which tracks the top 125 Real Estate Agents in North Pinellas, recently posted its’ current report. The three main categories, which include selling, listing, and combined sales, rank Robert Lipply of Lipply Real Estate as the #1 selling associate in North Pinellas for 1st, 2nd & 3rd Quarters. That’s every month from January up to October!  Robert and his team of four real estate agents (Joe Gibbons, Thomas Towns, Arlene Colecchia, and Michael Madson) together sold 40 properties during this time period. The Lipply Group, part of RE/MAX Realtec, had the most recorded sales in the entire North Pinellas area. The Palm Harbor RE/MAX Realtec office is centrally located in the Tampa Bay area.



Fred Kenst of Tarpon Springs has been reporting on Florida Brokerage firms for 18 years and compiles these numbers for profit.  Real Estate agents wait in anticipation to see where they rank with their associates. We are proud to be #1! What have we sold? Together our team has sold homes all over the Tampa Bay Real Estate area. From St. Petersburg in the south, Pasco County in the north, Tampa in the east and Dunedin in the west, we have sold in all these areas! Price ranges vary, but we are seeing an increased interest in condos, affordable single family homes, and waterfront property. Short sales and foreclosures seem to top the list, but for those who desire a quick closing or a “move in” condition property, a traditional listing with an aggressive offer most times works out to the buyer’s advantage. Yet, people all over the United States still think homes are not selling in Florida. Homes are selling and with our fantastic internet presence we have many buyers. We also have many of our own real estate listings and these listings are selling as well. Over the last few months, we have sold 6 of our own listings, some within one week of listing them.If you are looking to sell a home in Pinellas, Pasco, or Hillsborough County, it only makes sense to list with the team that has the buyers!  When you list with us, we give you ultimate exposure on the Internet to prospective buyers and a wide reach on the MLS to other real estate agents. Either way, the goal is to sell your home, and that’s what we have been doing.  And doing it well.

New Port Richey was humming with excitement Monday night! Senator Joe Biden came to Sims Park and joined the list of candidates who have visited this Pasco County park for a campaign rally. In 2004, George W. Bush spoke here during his election campaign.  And in 1992, Vice President Dan Quayle held a rally here as well. Senator Biden visited New Port Richey October 27th, his first stop on a 3-day “Early Voting for Change” bus tour.  The democratic vice presidential nominee was here to ask the crowd to take the opportunity and use the early voting option that Florida offers.  Several public libraries and county offices are open all across the state of Florida for early voting, and thousands of folks are lining up to take advantage of it.

Sims Park, on the corner of Grand Blvd and Bank Streets, is in the center of New Port Richey’s historic downtown. New Port Richey is a small city on the banks of the Pithlachascottee River, just north of Pinellas County and on the southwestern edge of Pasco County.  The walkable downtown, with shops & restaurants to browse through, is home to the beautiful Richey Suncoast Theater. Topped with a golden dome, this theater dates all the way back to 1926, when it first opened with a silent film.  It is now the proud home for community theater.  New Port Richey has many small affordable homes, some larger affordable homes, and even some grand homes along the river.  Surrounding areas include Holiday to the south & Trinity to the east, with many newer homes and subdivisions in Trinity FL. If you are looking for New Port Richey real estate, this town offers many options.  And many places like Sims Park to catch a campaign rally or a concert!

Ever hear of Safety Harbor Florida? Well, don’t be afraid to say you haven’t because many people have not.  Found just north of Clearwater, Safety Harbor, Florida is also very close to Tampa too. This small, quaint and historic town has a population of only 17,000 and dates back to the year 1917.  It’s located on the northwest side of Old Tampa Bay in Florida which means there are many waterfront areas where you can go to soak in a peaceful view.  Probably the most notable area of Safety Harbor is the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa.  But, there’s more to Safety Harbor than just that!

Life in Safety Harbor is quiet and relaxing but you will have the definite advantage of being close to many recreational activities such as parks and beaches. Overall, Florida is considered a tourist area with many cities like Tampa and Orlando that appeal to those traveling from the north.  All of this and more is not far from Safety Harbor. Some of the most popular national parks are within just a few miles of Safety Harbor which are Caladesi Island State Park, Honeymoon Island, and Clearwater’s Sand Key Beach. Safety Harbor has a major park of its own called “Philippe Park” pictured above.  It’s one of the best waterfront parks in the entire Tampa Bay area.

Whatever you need, you can find it in Safety Harbor. Employment, shopping, quality education, etc., are close at hand. Safety Harbor can fulfill all the amenities of everday life, and with the larger cities of Clearwater and Tampa nearby, anything you need is at your fingertips. When you live in this area you have your choice of two international airports. St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport and the Tampa International Airport are both within 30 minutes of Safety Harbor.

Safety Harbor real estate offers variety and affordable style, in many of the homes and condos in the area. This community is comprised of families, singles, and retirees so you can find many facilities and activities geared to your needs and you will feel right at home here.

And, the best part is that we are experiencing a strong buyer’s real estate market in Safety Harbor today. What does this mean?  Well, for the first time in a long time you can buy property in Safety Harbor at some pretty amazing prices.  And, due to the fact that there is so much property on the market, you will have many choices. Now is the time to reap the benefits of this market and get a great bargain and we want to be your Safety Harbor Realtor.  Are you ready?  Just give us a call ~ we’re waiting to hear from you!

1 888 423 5775

So, guess who’s coming to Tampa for the Super Bowl? The NFL just announced that Bruce Springsteen with his E Street Band will be playing at the half time show here in Tampa Bay. Super Bowl XLIII is scheduled for February 1st, 2009. The Boss will surely rock Tampa! Last year’s Super Bowl half time show featured Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and more than 148 million viewers watched it. This will attract even more. Maybe Bruce Springsteen will want to shop for a new Tampa home while in the area? Well, we except the many people that are drawn here to the Tampa Bay area to fall in love with our area.  How could they help themselves?  So, if that’s you - looking for a new home in Tampa Bay, just let us know. Our calendars are wide open for the first of the year!

Oct

8

Admit it, everyone seems to be looking for a good bargain these days.  Well, some of the all time best bargains can be found in Oldsmar at the Oldsmar Flea Market.  Just off Tampa Road, the flea market is at 180 Race Track Road N, and it’s open every Sat & Sun from 9-5.  It’s huge, it’s full of stuff, and it’s all really inexpensive! Stroll the merchandise filled aisles and you will meet many friendly vendors selling everything from toiletries to rocking chairs.  Appliances, furniture, lamps, wall hangings - yes, I even spotted a Velvet Elvis - all kinds of useful and decorative items for your home can be found here.  They also have the fresh produce from local farms.  Plants too. You can spend a whole day cruising for bargains.

If you are shopping for a new home or condo, Oldsmar Real Estate is a great place to find a bargain too.  Prices have come down significantly in the past year or so; there are some great deals here. Tampa Real Estate has lots of homes for a frugal shopper, please come and browse and you’ll see for yourself.

We were so disappointed to learn that Fred Howard Park closed for renovations (it will be closed until Fall 2009), and so we’ve all been wondering where else to go in Tarpon Springs to enjoy the beach and take in a sunset. Well, we discovered a little known place not far from Fred Howard called Sunset Beach. Sunset Beach is a bit south of Fred Howard Park, off of Florida Avenue. Although the water here is not the best for swimming, this beach is a nice spot to relax and watch the birds. Even better, pack yourself a picnic dinner and head that way for the sunset. It’s a peaceful place to watch the setting sun. If you live in Tarpon Springs you probably know this little secret by now, but for those who are looking for real estate in Tarpon Springs, it’s good to know there are so many beautiful parks here.

Another thing we learned about Sunset Beach is that they have been hosting a Music on the Beach series every month that runs from April to November. The shows are free of charge, but donations are welcome and go towards the construction of the Beach Pavilion to be used for concerts like these and other events. Upcoming dates for the rest of 2008 are Thursdays from 7-9 PM on Oct. 16 (with the Dapper Dan Band) and Nov 13 (with Lil Pearl & the Big Boys). Tampa Bay Real Estate offers many single family homes, townhomes and condos in and around Tarpon Springs, come take a look.If you are not familiar with the area, it is not far from the big city of Tampa.  Visit our new website where you can search Tampa homes by area.

The city of Tampa sure does have some wonderful neighborhoods. The mix of old and new architecture comes together so beautifully in one of my favorite areas, Davis Islands. There are lots of old Mediterranean style homes with historic distinction, and also newer homes, townhouses & condos. So much to choose from if you are looking for a home on Davis Islands. Surrounded by water, it’s a great place for an evening stroll. The little downtown is charming, perfect for shopping and sitting down for a bite to eat. There is the Davis Island Yacht Club, a nice marina, even a dog beach for Fido. Owning Tampa Bay real estate here is like a little piece of heaven.

Another neighborhood farther north that I love is the Carrollwood area. A few interesting things to do in Carrollwood are weekend performances at the Cultural Arts center. That’s on Lowell Rd. Also the Carrollwood Players Community Theater on Gunn Highway. The Carrollwood Village area is also perfect for walking or biking, and so is Lake Carroll. And speaking of biking, that can be done on the Upper Tampa Bay Bike Trails, and the nearby Suncoast Trail. So if you are planning to search for a home in Carrollwood, you’ll want to get a bike too! Carrollwood is in a convenient central location, close to all the major highways. You really can’t go wrong with Tampa real estate in Carrollwood, it’s a place where you’ll want to call home.

Sep

26

Wow has our little city of Dunedin FL been getting a lot of attention in the press lately! Last week CNN’s Money Magazine featured the city in a recent article and on their travel show, plus our democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama chose Dunedin to hold a rally this week. Tons of people took notice to both of these hot press annoucements.  Lots of buzz for the Tampa Bay Florida area!

CNN’s Money Magazine announced the six terrific towns on the water, naming Dunedin as one of the best places in the US to retire.  The beach is just over the causeway from Honeymoon Island, and just a quick ferry ride away from Caladesi Island State Park, rated the best beach in America by Stephen Leatherman, aka “Dr. Beach.”  And, yes, we agree, it is a great place to retire.  There are many Dunedin 55+ active adult condos for sale at bargain prices, and an abundance of single family homes for sale in Dunedin right now reasonably priced as well.  Yes, Money Magazine was right on the money when they told the world that retirees are safe to buy their retirement haven in Dunedin FL.

And, as Barack Obama said when asked why he chose the Tampa Bay area to do his debate prepping before Friday night’s presidential debate: “Look at the weather, man.  It’s great.”  We couldn’t agree more and so will you!

Many agree that real estate in Dunedin offers the most value for homebuyers that want to buy real estate in Tampa Bay.  Again, that’s another true statement!  Visit our website and check out all the Dunedin homes for sale.

2008-2009 Pasco County School Calendar

Aug. 11-15

First Day of School for Teachers

Aug. 18 First Day of School

Sept. 1

Schools Closed for Labor Day

Oct. 17 State Training Day - No School

Oct. 20

Teacher Planning - No School

Oct. 29

Report Cards

Nov. 11

Veterans Day Holiday

Nov. 26 - 28

Thanksgiving Holiday

Dec. 22.-Jan 2

Winter Break

Jan. 5

Teacher Planning - No School

Jan. 14

Report Cards

Jan. 19

Martin L. King Holiday

Feb. 16

Presidents Day Holiday

Mar. 27

Teacher Planning - No School

April 6-10

Spring Break

April 14

Report Cards

May 1

No School

May 25

Memorial Day Holiday

June 3

Last Day of School for Students

June 4-5

Last Day of School for Teachers

June 11

Final Repot Cards

This schedule serves all students in the following areas: Holiday, Trinity, New Port Richey, Hudson, Port Richey, Land O Lakes.Now that the kids are back in school, if you need a great Pasco County Realtor, we are here to serve you!

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