Clearwater Real Estate

When Is Hurricane Season and Should You Care If Your Are Selling Your Clearwater Home

November 11, 2021 By Deborah Ward

Hurricanes are a yearly occurrence on the Eastern seaboard of the US. They are also seriously damaging storms that more often than not hit one part or another of Florida. It’s just a fact of life in Florida, so should you care if you are selling your Clearwater home?

What is a hurricane?

When Is Hurricane Season and Should You Care If Your Are Selling Your Clearwater Home A hurricane is a tropical cyclone rotating low-pressure weather system. To be classified as a hurricane it has to have maximum sustained winds of 74 mph. There is a scale with a 1 to 5 rating, or category, based on a hurricane’s maximum sustained winds. The higher the category, the greater the hurricane’s potential for property damage. Hurricane Season begins on June 1st and ends on November 30th, and happen on average, 12 times a year in the Atlantic basin.

Hurricanes cause a lot of damage

Even category 1 hurricanes can cause damage to homes and businesses due to the winds and rain intrusion, not to mention flooding from the rain or higher tides. Regular homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover damage from hurricanes or flooding. That means that your buyer will have to look at the prospect of the cost of both hurricane insurance and flood insurance. That can be pricey, given the number of hurricanes that have caused severe damage in the last 10+ years.

Limit the damage your home suffers

The threat of annual storms, plus the cost, can make buyers nervous about buying in Clearwater. Hurricanes aren’t preventable, but you can limit the damage your home suffers. If you haven’t taken measures, your buyer will also be looking at the prospect of that cost as well.

Insurance

Another thing that your buyers have to worry about if they are looking to buy during hurricane season is whether they can actually get homeowners, flood and hurricane insurance during the season. If a particularly nasty season is forecasted, it may be impossible to get the insurance they need.

Hurricanes are a fact. Keep that in mind when trying to sell your Clearwater home.

A History of Clearwater Florida

November 11, 2021 By Deborah Ward

Clearwater, Florida like many of its surrounding towns, has a storied history. Present day Clearwater sits on the west coast of A History of Clearwater Florida Florida along the Gulf of Mexico.

Hundreds of years ago Clearwater was the home of the Tocobaga Indians. When Spanish explorers discovered the area the Tocobaga were a well established in the area.

Fort Harrison constructed

Around 1835 Fort Harrison, which was named after William Henry Harrison, was constructed to be used as an outpost during the Seminole Wars. The fort was located in a spot that was overlooking Clearwater Harbor, where today Harbor Oaks is located. Archaeologists from the University of South Florida uncovered an underground ammunition bunker on the spot.

Occupation Act

The Federal Occupation Act of 1842 caused a population growth. The Act offered 160 acres to anyone who would farm the land and also bear arms. Early settlers included the Stevens, Stevenson and McMullen families. Each claimed and farmed large tracts of land.

Clear Water Harbor

Initially the area was known as Clear Water Harbor, the “Clear Water” is believed to have come from a fresh water spring found near the location of the current City Hall building.
During the Civil War, most of the residents fought for the Confederacy. Union gunboats repeatedly raided the community’s supplies since it was largely unprotected.

Development really took off after Peter Demens completed the first passenger railroad line to Clearwater. It became a popular vacation destination and it’s reputation grew after railroad magnate Henry Plant built the Belleview Biltmore in 1897.

During World War II, Clearwater was a major training base for US troops destined for Europe and the Pacific. All of the hotels in the area, including the Belleview Biltmore and the Fort Harrison Hotel, were used as barracks for new recruits. Sand Key, then known as Dan’s Island, was used by the Army Air Corps for strafing and bombing practice.

Today, Clearwater is still a beacon for vacationers, but also a great place to live and soak up the history.

Are We Looking At Another Real Estate Bubble?

November 11, 2021 By Deborah Ward

You’ve probably heard it on the mainstream news. Stories about how improving real estate markets are a sign that we are in another real estate bubble. Don’t believe it. Improving markets don’t mean a bubble.

Inventory

The stories often talk about homes being sold after a ton of traffic and bidding wars. It has to mean a bubble, right? Wrong. In most cases higher traffic and multiple offers are because of inventory levels.

Inventory in many markets are still at low levels. A healthy real estate market should have about a six month supply of homes. That’s not the case. The national average is 2,4 months supply of homes.

Mortgage underwriting standards

Last sign we aren’t in a bubble is mortgage underwriting standards are still quite high. In order to qualify for most mortgages, applicants need to have a FICO credit score of above 740, and have a decent amount in savings for not only a down payment, but also for living expenses for several months.

At the height of the bubble, getting a mortgage was exceedingly easy. So much so that those who really couldn’t afford to buy a home did, causing the burst.

All markets are different

There are markets where homes are overvalued, and others where they aren’t. Every market is different. When all markets start to see the loan-to-value ratio of real estate creeping back to pre-bubble burst levels, then panic. Until then, relax.

If you would like to find out more about the Clearwater Real Estate Market, give Deb a call today! 727-410-0336

How To Have An Amazing Open House | Clearwater Realtor Tips

November 11, 2021 By Deborah Ward

You need to sell your home and have heard the suggestion to have an open house to generate interest. It’s a good idea, but it takes some planning to have an amazing open house.

First, get your timing right

Talk to your Realtor about when the best time to hold it would be, and start on advertising and marketing the open house. Check the newspaper or online to see if others are also having open houses nearby and try to hold yours then as well. People like to hop from open house to open house, making an afternoon of it, so others will help generate traffic for yours.

Clean and declutter

Next, clean it, declutter it and make the home look spacious, light and NOT yours. Stow away all extras to make counters look bigger in both your kitchen and bath. Buyers don’t care about your stand mixer and coffee maker, they care about how much room the counters have. Set your table. Make your dining room look fancy and your kitchen homey. It adds a touch of class, and helps the buyers picture THEIR dinner parties. Buy and put out a new doormat at the front door. It makes people think your home is clean and you take care of it.

Fresh baked goodies smell

It never hurts to “bribe” buyers. Put out baked goods (if you don’t bake them, warm them in the oven just before the open house to get that fresh baked goodies smell) and beverages for people to enjoy. It’s a small thing, but it will get you remembered.

A sign in sheet

Be sure to have a sign in sheet so people can leave their contact information, then use it afterwards to call and thank each person who came by. That extra step, which buyers won’t expect, may just pay off in a contract. Also leave something for them to take with them. Make sure they have a property flyer to take with them including a color photo of the house and all of the necessary information about it.

Lastly, LEAVE

Don’t hang around. It makes buyers uncomfortable and will keep them from asking questions about the property and getting honest answers. Be sure to take your pets with you and stay away until your Realtor gives the all clear.

The Three Most Expensive Homes For Sale In Clearwater FL

November 11, 2021 By Deborah Ward

House hunting can be fun. Sometimes looking at homes that you know you could never afford is fun too. Clearwater has a few pricey properties for sale. Here are the top three.

802 Druid Rd S

802 Druid Rd S, Clearwater, Florida 33756 is the most expensive. It has 10 bedrooms and 11 bathrooms. It’s listed for $9,999,999.00. Named Century Oaks, it’s located in historic Harbor Oaks. Enter the property though decorative iron entry gates on a red brick drive to a grand porte-cochere. The home has 17,000 square feet of living space on two acres of gorgeous landscaping surrounding this waterfront home. Century Oaks has a stately two-story ballroom, a movie theater with seating for 15, an executive home office and a trophy room. Terraced gardens lead down to a swimming pool, lighted tennis courts covered boathouse and docks, and historic clock tower. This historic property was built in 1915 and is worth every penny.

906 Druid Rd S

906 Druid Rd S, Clearwater, Florida 33756 is the next most expensive. Listed at $5,900,000.00, the 7 bedroom, 6 bath, 10,177 square foot home is also found in the gated Harbor Oaks community. The home has a dock with boat lift, Pebble Tec pool and spa, gazebo, playhouse and lushly landscaped grounds. The home has high end touches like a two story living room with two way fireplace, a library with custom built in bookcases, a formal dining room, chef’s kitchen and spacious game room with bar and safe room, exercise room and 4 car garage.

844 Eldorado Avenue – SOLD

The third most expensive home is 844 Eldorado Avenue, Clearwater, Florida 33767 is listed at $4,700,000.00 has 4 bedrooms, 5 baths and 4,921 square feet of living space. The views this property affords are well worth the price tag. Once you walk in the foyer you’ll be tantalized with a view of the beach and Gulf. Each bedroom has its own full bath and walk in closet and balcony. Then take the elevator downstairs to the living space which includes a formal dining room, formal living room, chef’s kitchen that opens to the family room with a fireplace. All this luxury is protected with an AMX Smart House control and security system.

So dream big and maybe one day…

Clearwater, FL A Bicycle Friendly Place To Live | Pinellas Bicycle Trails

November 11, 2021 By Deborah Ward

When you think of Clearwater, Florida you probably think “beach.” You should think “biking and walking and running.” Clearwater is a very biking, hiking and running friendly place to live. There are miles and miles of trails for the enjoyment of all.

Looking for more trails? Check out the official Pinellas County Trail Guide!

Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail:

The Pinellas Trail is one of the most popular urban trails in Florida. It stretches 38 miles from St. Petersburg and goes north to Tarpon Springs. The trail was created along an abandoned railroad corridor. It is now a protected green space that provides the many communities along it with places to ride bikes, run, walk and skate. It’s open during daylight hours and while horseback riding is prohibited, pets are not as long as they are leashed.

Ream Wilson Clearwater Trail:

This trail currently stretches from Tampa Bay to the Gulf of Mexico. Parts are still under construction, and once complete will connect more than 20 parks. Currently the trail connects Carpenter Field, Cliff Stephens Park, Del Oro Park, and Cooper’s Bayou Park, and goes to Safety Harbor.

Fort Desoto Island Park Trail:

This trail is a paved path that stretches along the entire offshore key. This trail connects military remnants, two piers, beaches, picnic and camping areas and the ferry to Egmont Key State Park. It’s known as an entry to the Great Florida Birding Trail. The Great Florida Birding Trail is part of a collection of more than 500 locations in the U.S. where there are protected bird habitats.

Courtney Campbell Trail:

This trail provides runners, walkers and bicyclers safe access to the Courtney Campbell Causeway, which links Tampa and Clearwater. The trail has amazing views of Tampa Bay and actually connects Cypress Point Park, Skyway Park, and Ben T. Davis Beach.

These are just a few of the trails available in and around Clearwater. Take advantage of them and get active!

The Deb Ward Team