Our January Realtor of the month is Doris Howard, Realtor at Wagner Realty. Doris provides the monthly Real Estate market update for Sarasota, Florida.

Doris relocated from her home state of New Jersey in 1999 to Port Charlotte, FL, and then to Bradenton in 2005. After a 25-year career working for a Fortune 500 company, she transitioned into the Real Estate field. Doris specializes in new construction resales and works with buyers and sellers within the Manatee, Sarasota, and Charlotte Counties. 

Select a Realtor who takes pride in creating happy customers and contact Doris Howard of The Melnick Collection today to assist you with choosing your new Tampa Bay home! 

If you’re looking for a simple way to make your front elevation more modern and your landscape just isn’t cutting it, Wayne Dalton has an eye catching solution that will offer some major curb appeal to your home. The Model 8450 Luminous garage door is the first all-glass garage door on the market and is modeled after the appearance of a modern skyscraper. This sleek design is made up of glass panels that are constructed on an aluminum frame with no visible framework and comes in five finishes that are offered in translucent black, mirrored gray, mirrored bronze, opaque white and opaque black. The bottom vinyl seal of the door helps to prevent breakage and provides added protection against the elements and has also been tested to withstand extreme temperatures. In addition to great design and durability, The Model 8450 Luminous garage door offers the same great insulation as Wayne Dalton’s aluminum, steel, wood and vinyl doors which in turn provide energy efficiency and savings.

Upgrading your garage door is a great way to improve the visual appeal of your home but it’s also a great investment. Great curb appeal adds to the value of your home which could eventually allow you to receive a greater return on your investment. If you’re still not sold, The Wayne Dalton Garage Door Design Center is an interactive app that allows you to visualize what your home will look like after the installation. To find out more information on ordering the Model 8450 Luminous garage door, contact your local Wayne Dalton Dealer.

Looking for your very own slice of south Floridian paradise? Look no further than Kinglet Ridge at FishHawk Ranch, where D.R Horton's trademark "Manor" townhomes give homebuyers the ability to really have it all-- endless amenities, a convenient and beautiful location, and prices that won't break the bank! The Tampa Bay new townhomes for sale at Kinglet Ridge at FishHawk Ranch make up this 3,500-acre, master-planned community in southern Hillsborough County that features, where delightful comfort and local excitement go hand in hand, making these new townhomes for sale something that you just have to check out if you're currently in the market.

Situated on Florida's beautiful and sun-drenched gulf coast, Tampa Bay is a fantastic place to live for both singles and families alike. The second largest city in the state of Florida, Tampa was just recently ranked as the 8th cleanest city in America by Yahoo! Real Estate, as well as the 5th best outdoor city by Forbes Magazine.

Boasting a plethora of both national and statewide awards, like the 2007 and 2008 Tampa Bay Parade of Homes award for best community with 4,900-5,000 single-family homes. Kinglet Ridge at FishHawk Ranch was also selected as one of the nation's best communities by Professional Builder Magazine, as well the National Association f Home Builders, receiving the Best in American Living Award (Think of the Oscar's of the home-building industry). The Tampa Bay new townhomes for sale at Kinglet Ridge at FishHawk Ranch also have the honorable distinction of being recognized for D.R Horton's commitment to environmental sustainability, receiving both national and local environmental awards for the saving and preserving of trees during the development and construction of the new townhomes for sale at Kinglet Ridge. The new townhomes at Kinglet Ridge also received an award for excellence in environmental projects from the Hillsborough County Planning commission for best environmental design; Kinglet Ridge at FishHawk Ranch also received a Grand Award from the National Arbor Day Foundation as the United States' top master-planned community.

The Tampa Bay new townhomes for sale at Kinglet Ridge at FishHawk Ranch are currently available in several expertly-designed floorplans,  which range from 1,200 to 1,635 square feet. Homebuyers will also be able to choose between floorplans that contain 2-3 bedrooms and 2-2.5 baths. The new townhomes for sale at Kinglet Ridge are starting in price from around the low $100,000's, so you'll need to act fast if you're ready to learn more about these stunning new townhomes. For more information about Kinglet Ridge at FishHawk Ranch, please call 813-689-4600.

Looking for a beautiful new home to match the beautiful Florida weather? Well then you'll want to have a look at Camellia Estates, a new green home community by William Ryan Homes in the Tampa Bay area. Featuring 6 energy-efficient floorplans, open kitchens, 3 car garages, exquisite designer landscaping, and the kind of natural wonder that only sunny Florida can offer, Camellia Estates is the perfect place in the Tampa Bay area to start a new life with a brand new house; and since you'll be owning one of the nation's premier "green" homes, you'll be improving local air and water quality, improving your family's quality of life, and you'll have reduced home operating costs.

The homes at Camellia Estates are full of all of the energy-saving benefits and features that come with owning a new green home. What makes a home "green," exactly? Well to start a green home is one that operates energy more efficiently than your average home. A new green home conserves water, electricity, and gas, and ultimately makes the home safer and healthier for you, your family, and the beautiful world around you. With Florida being one of the states that uses more electricity than most of the nation, it wont take long for you to see all of the benefits that come with owning a more eco-friendly green home.

Some of the wonderful things to do in the Tampa Bay area (that is, aside from lounging on one of the many beautiful sandy beaches) include visiting the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Busch Gardens, Adventure Island Theme Park, Lowry Park Zoo, or take in a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game at Raymond James Stadium.

The spectacular new green homes for sale at Camellia Estates are available from the high $100,000's, have between 3-5 bedrooms and 2-4 baths, and come in several functional floorplans that range from 1,907 to 3,065 square feet. For more information please call 813-677-6400.

If you're in the market for a brand new energy-saving home in the Tampa Bay area, then look no further than The Hammocks At Kingsway. Brought to you by a renowned builder, William Ryan Homes, The Hammocks At Kingsway are comfortably modern new green homes for sale in Seffner, Florida near metropolitan Tampa Bay, and since Kingsway is mere minutes away from the I-4/I-75 interchange, all of its culture and excitement is never too far away. With a safe and verdant park just across the street and respected area schools that are less than a mile away, The Hammocks At Kingsway is a great place to raise your family in southwestern Florida.

Each new green home for sale features an array of wonderful amenities, such as generously spacious master bedrooms, designer master baths, 3 car garages, ceramic tile in all wet areas, and open kitchens with 42'' open cabinetry.  These Tampa new green homes for sale also have all kinds of wonderful Energy Star benefits that will make your new home conserve water and energy, make its overall environmental impact minimal, and ultimately provide a healthier environment for you to raise your family.

You'll love being so close to the big city excitement of Tampa Bay, where you can enjoy the tremendous beaches, Downtown nightlife, amusement parks, casino’s, fairgrounds, fabulous shopping,  and world-class dining. And if you're looking for something to enjoy, but feel like staying a little closer to home, Seffner is a wonderful little city that features impressively large live oak trees, strawberry farms, and clear blue water lakes. The Hammocks At Kingsway is also close to Plant City, which is home to a world-famous strawberry festival that takes place every year.

The beautiful new green homes for sale in The Hammocks At Kingsway are starting from the high $100,000's and currently feature 6 different energy-efficient floorplans that range from 1,592 to 3,065 square feet, contain between 3-5 bedrooms and 2-4 baths, and provide you and your family all of the benefits of a green home that are available. For more information please call 813-657-5370.

If you are looking for a maintenance free living within a resort style atmosphere then welcome to Sea Pines at Bon Secour. Located in a tranquil setting just minutes away from a first class shopping district and only five miles from the beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama, this Epcon Communities new homes feature 84 condominium homes only starting in the low $200's.

At Sea Pines at Bon Secour you'll find comfort in this charming village-like setting and peace of mind of no longer having to deal with the hassles of home maintenance. Each new Foley home for sale offers 5 award-winning floorplan that blends form and function to create an inviting and open living space. Extraordinary features include European Country stone exteriors with brick accents, flourishing landscaping, four-season verandas, two-car attached garages, cathedral ceilings, large round-top windows, private entrances and of course plentiful storage space. Sea Pines at Bon Secour allows you to choose from numerous added features to personalize your new home with exciting selections like granite countertops, custom wood cabinets, hardwood floors and energy efficient appliances.

Epcon Communities add tremendous amount of value in every home designs, and that includes the new homes at Foley with Sea Pines at Bon Secour. The look and feel of a single-family home with all of the benefits of maintenance-free living can be yours. Residents at Sea Pines at Bon Secour have full access to the Clubhouse and Pool that offers resort-style amenities, just steps from your front door. At the clubhouse you can join your new neighbors to watch the big game on the big screen or where you meet for a game of cards. Your workout can be as rigorous or relaxed as you want it to be at the state of the art work out room.  Or where you can hang out poolside and dive into that book you have been meaning to read.  Whatever you choose, there are an endless activities and relaxing ways to enjoy your new home at Sea Pines maintenance-free community.

Tampa, FL is one of those rare, nationally coveted cities that offers the perfect balance of desirability and affordability. If you’re looking to make a move to Tampa, you’ll no doubt need to examine its recent market activity in order to gauge what you can afford.

However, when researching the Tampa real estate market conditions for August 2009, one must first take into consideration that there has been little month-over-month activity. In other words, if you’re looking for prices to drop a little more before buying, keep in mind that they may actually stay put.

Now, if you look at the market conditions in Tampa July 2009, you may notice figures that are not consistent with the “no month-over-month change” assertion. Why is that? Because for one, the July report was based on figures gathered over a two-month period. Make sense? Good! Let’s go to the August data:

Inventory  
Homes for Sale: 6,389
New Homes: 28
Foreclosures: 7,732

Median Price
Homes for Sale: $169,900
New Homes: $324,990
Foreclosures: $140,000

Month-Over-Month Change
Homes for Sale: *0%
New Homes: *0%
Foreclosures: *0%

*Source: Yahoo! Real Estate Snapshot

For more information on homes for sale in Tampa, ask for a referral to a prime Realtor in the area.

Looking for new homes near Tampa, but have some concern about a possible work commute? What if you were in close proximity to I-75 and the Crosstown Expressway, making the drive a breeze? And, you came home to dramatic ceilings, Whirlpool appliances, gourmet kitchens, interesting niches and architectural details that elevate your home? If this sounds inviting, check out Watson Glen, an MI Homes community in Riverview, FL. New homes for sale in this area are in the affordable $100,000-$200,000 price range right now, and Watson Glen is no exception.

With prices that start at $209,990, these 1,806 - 3,778 homes are a great value. Yes, the features above are included in the design – but there’s so much more than that. For one, you can personalize your home to express your tastes with help from the 5,000 square foot design center. And, you’ll find the peace of mind that comes with Energy Star Certification, while saving as much as 30% on your energy cost. Plus, there’s a 30-year transferable structural warranty. While we’re on the topic of safety, you may want to note the security system that comes with your new Riverview, FL home. 

The community, dotted with mature oak trees, interspersed with conservation areas, and connected with inviting sidewalks, is an idyllic environment for families or singles. But descriptions hardly do it justice; you need to come see Watson Glen for yourself. Stop in to the sales office at 5922 Lilac Lake Drive, Riverview, FL 33569. Or, call (813) 643-3703. Office hours are Sun-Mon, 12pm-6pm, and Tues-Sat, 10am-6pm. 

Are you the type of buyer who appreciates new home promotions? In Tampa, one new collection of homes has an incredible promotion attached to it. The Sunrise Series from MI Homes, currently exclusive to MI Homes communities in the Tampa area, offers beautiful single family home plans at a great price – but that’s not all.

Ranging from 1400 to 3300 square feet, the nine floorplans in the Sunrise Series are just the right size for all kinds of occupancies and lifestyles. And, speaking of quality living, these homes are equipped with Energy Star® appliances – among other exciting features. One and two story options, many of which have entry ways, foyers, breakfast nooks (in addition to the standard spacious kitchens and living areas)…these homes are what today’s families are looking for.

So, what about that great price? Sunrise Series homes start in the 140,000’s, and increase up to $257,990; for beautiful homes in an area of the country with such hot market appeal, this is truly a great buy. Plus, with a 30 year transferable structural warranty, plus the MI Homes Worry Free Mortgage Plan™, you can gain added peace of mind from your investment. Finally – and this is the most exciting part – first-time homebuyers still have time to take advantage of MI Homes’ The Power of 8 offer, which grants $32,000 in savings for those who qualify. Inspired by the government’s $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers, this promotion – like its predecessor – is ending soon. So the time to inquire about it is now!

For more information regarding the Sunrise Series, a collection of new model homes in Tampa, please call (813) 918-4197, or submit your inquiry to salestampa@mihomes.com.  

Looking for a peaceful country retreat on the gorgeous Florida Gulf Coast? In Ruskin, FL, just minutes from Tampa, new homes for sale are plentiful and a great buy – but one of the greatest buys of them all is available in the community of River Bend. What makes River Bend so great? Take a look at these slashed prices:

• Tahoe model: Originally priced at $290,526, reduced to $205,990
• Corsica VI model: Originally priced at $291,580, knocked down to $210,990
• Barcelona model: Originally priced at $315,270, now an amazing $225,990

Is there a catch? Only if you don’t want a home with up to four bedrooms, a spacious family room, a gorgeous master suite, and even a small outdoor lanai! Yes, these 2,383-2,629 square foot homes have those features – plus, they’re nestled in a peaceful, naturally landscaped Florida neighborhood.  

Don’t forget: On top of these fantastic price discounts, first-time buyers have access to The Power of 8 promotion from MI Homes. It offers an additional $8,000 in options on top of the government first time home buyer tax credit. Chances are, you’ve heard that the tax credit is ending soon – and that’s correct. So the time to act is now! The sales office for River Bend is no longer on site, so interested buyers can contact a friendly representative by phone at (813) 918-4197.