Eric Holsinger

You may want to consider Hyde Park or Palma Ceia areas if an easy commute is important to you. It would be an short and easy drive up either MacDill or Lois Ave to the office. They are both great areas, top rated schools, close proximity to downtown, cultural and entertainments districts, and airport. I've attached a link to the Old Hyde Park Village website so you could get a feel for what's going on around the area. - Fri May 2 2008, 06:48

I'd question why you're focusing on foreclosures. Foreclosures rarely represent the best deals - assuming that's why you're looking at foreclosures to begin with. You'll have better luck with short sales and pre-foreclosure for the simple reason that foreclosures are the ones that everyone passed over in the short sale/pre-foreclosure stage and now have to tag on the attorney fees and court costs of the foreclosure process. Additionally, the banks are not then going to sell the home for what the previous owner owed on the property, they are going to attempt to maximize the amount of money they can recoup by setting the price based upon the condition of the home in respect to the market.

You definitely want to go with an independent mortgage broker so they can shop your loan to a variety of lenders to get your best deal. I personally recommend Roberto Cabrera of Mortgage Solution Providers (813) 205-9007 for his work ethic, professionalism, and industry knowledge. He can help you regardless of whether you want to use FHA, VA, conventional, down payment assistance, first time buyers or even bruised credit, if necessary. You can find all his contact information on my links page. - Wed Apr 30 2008, 09:59

The Hyde Park and surrounding area of Tampa 33609, 33629 will provide the type of neighborhood most similar to the UK. Urban living with independently owned restaurants and shopping within walking distance. Literally minutes from the center of Tampa, the airport, the bay, cultural, arts, and entertainment centers. Plant High School district is "hands down" the best school in Tampa - highest test scores, most students continuing on to get university degrees (incidentally, Apollo Beach doesn't do so well in that area). If you'd like to do some searching on your own, you can visit my website and search by zip code and also I have links to the school districts so you can read their reports. Alternately, I'd be happy to conduct a customized search for you and send the results to your inbox. If you have other questions or would like more details, don't hesitate to ask. - Wed Apr 30 2008, 09:11

If you're just looking for "ballpark", you could always check Zillow.com. However, to get accurate info (and maximize your profit) get a CMA from a few different realtors that specialize in your area. Average pricing just isn't good enough these days. If the specific features of your home aren't considered in your pricing, you're likely to leave money on the table. Price it too high and it will lanquish on the market. - Wed Apr 30 2008, 08:39

I tried following your link but receive an error. Could you verify that it is correct and/or send the info directly to me? - Wed Apr 30 2008, 08:26