Posts made by author 'Jay D'Abramo'

Mortgage rates are still high. Home prices keep pushing upward. And the Fed isn't exactly signaling relief anytime soon. If you're feeling unsure about buying a home right now, you're definitely not alone.

But according to Barbara Corcoran—the real estate icon who turned $1,000 into a multimillion-dollar empire—this kind of market is when smart buyers make their move.

In a recent interview with Realtor.com®, Corcoran laid it out clearly: when uncertainty creeps in, most people hit pause. But for those willing to act, that's often when the best deals appear.

"When things are uncertain, buyers hesitate before committing to a new home—they might be worried about the stock market, politics, or interest rates, but when they worry, they hesitate to move. That makes uncertain markets th...

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Property taxes are one of the most overlooked ways homeowners lose money every year—especially in areas like Tampa Bay where home values have fluctuated significantly over the past few years. According to new data, more than 40% of U.S. properties may be overassessed, and most homeowners aren't even aware of it.

What That Means for You

If your property's assessed value is higher than it should be, you're likely paying more in taxes than you should. In hot markets like Tampa, Riverview, Wesley Chapel, and FishHawk, where values have shifted rapidly, county assessments sometimes lag behind the true market value—or swing too far in the other direction.

That means you could be overpaying by hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars annually.

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It's no secret that the housing market has shifted—but not everyone has gotten the memo. Many sellers in Tampa Bay are still pricing their homes like it's 2021, and that's creating some serious disconnect between list prices and what buyers are actually willing to pay today.

The National Trend: A Growing Price Gap

According to Redfin, the national median asking price recently hit $469,729, while the median sale price was $431,057. That's a 9% difference—the largest gap we've seen since 2020. What that tells us is clear: homes are sitting, price cuts are becoming more common, and buyers are no longer biting at inflated asking prices.

What's Happening in Tampa Bay?

Locally, Tampa Bay is following a similar trend. While exact numbers fluctuate week to week, many neighborhoods across Hills...

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When it comes to selling your home, not all rooms are created equal—especially in a market as competitive and discerning as Tampa Bay.

Buyers here are savvy, and their expectations—shaped by shows like HGTV and the polished feel of new construction—are higher than ever. Fortunately, there's a smart, research-backed way to make your listing stand out: stage the rooms that matter most.

According to the 2025 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Staging, three spaces have the biggest impact on buyer perception and offer strength: the living room, primary bedroom, and kitchen.

And in a market like Tampa Bay—where new builds and renovated homes are plentiful—properly staging...

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The Federal Reserve just hit the brakes — again. At their May meeting, the Fed opted to hold interest rates steady, keeping the benchmark rate unchanged for now. This comes amid a mix of political pressure and economic uncertainty, but for Tampa Bay buyers and sellers, it raises one big question:

What now?

Tampa Bay Snapshot: Rates, Reality, and Real Estate

As of this week, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate hovers around 6.86%. While we saw a slight dip in rates, it wasn't directly because of the Fed's decision — it was more of a ripple from broader financial market movement.

Here's how this impacts

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