Hillsborough County

State Farm has asked for an average increase of 47% on Florida Homeowner’s policies.

If the rate hike is passed, south Florida residents in Miami-Dade could see rate hikes as high as 70%.

“State Farm, which has been working aggressively in recent years to reduce its catastrophe risk in Florida, said earlier this year it wouldn’t write new homeowner policies in the state. State Farm hasn’t written new policies in South Florida for more than a decade. It’s also not renewing about 50,000 policies in coastal areas throughout the state over the next year.”

“State Farm’s last rate increase was approved in 2006. That rate hike left many South Florida policyholders with premiums that jumped 100 percent or more.”

If this is passed, it would effective for policy renewals starting March 1, 2009. An August 12th hearing in Tallahassee is set. It will be interesting to see what happens!!

How’s that commercial go again? “Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there”……NOT!!

What are your thoughts on this?

Hillsborough County
Condos
# of condos Active on the market - 2,241
# of condos sold in the last 6 months - 588
Average condo sale price - $188,787
Median condo price - $135,000
Average days on market for condos - 240

Single Family Homes (SFH)
# of SFH Active on the market - 9,612
# of SFH sold in the last 6 months - 3,985
Average SFH sale price - $262,523
Median home price - $205,000
Average days on market for SFH - 146

• Hillsborough County is 1,266 square miles
• In 2007, the Hillsborough County Planning Commission conducted a population estimate that put the county’s population at 1,204,770.

Manatee County
Condos
# of condos Active on the market - 1,797
# of condos sold in the last 6 months - 404
Average condo sale price - $275,475
Median condo price - $175,000
Average days on market for condos - 128

Single Family Homes (SFH)
# of SFH Active on the market - 5,709
# of SFH sold in the last 6 months - 1,905
Average SFH sale price - $333,987
Median home price - $250,000
Average days on market for SFH - 108

• Manatee County is 741 square miles
• The U.S. Census Bureau 2007 estimate for the county is 315,108

I took my first drive through this community a couple days ago and I was pretty impressed. It’s a beautiful community. You are welcomed into the community via a long winding road lined with lush tropical trees, greenery and rock waterfalls.

Valenica Lakes is a resort syle community for adults, which means there are age restrictions. They are currently in the process of building a 27,000 sq ft club house. They will also have plenty of other amenities when completed.

• complete fitness center
• resort pool
• resistance pool
• pool area spa
• cabana bath
• aerobics studio
• art studio and gallery
• wine bar
• social hall with raised stage and dance floor
• gaming room
• multi-purpose room
• internet cafe
• locker facilities with steam
• saunas
• evaluation rooms
• 6 Har-Tru tennis courts with shade pavilions
• Pickle ball and bocce ball courts
• Half court basketball
• Grandchildren’s tot lot
• Horseshoes play area
• Community gardens
• Dog park with agility training
• RV and boat parking
• recreational paths
• wide variety of clubs
• concerts

One thing I noticed was that all of the homes have tile roofs and brick paved driveways.

You can select from villas or single family style homes.

Valencia Lakes is located in Wimauma off Hwy 301 just a couple miles north of CR 674 and just a short drive to Sun City Center, a brand new Super Wal-Mart, restaurants, hospital, doctors offices, pharmacies, grocery stores, shopping and banks.

I found a commercial on YouTube and several other short videos that walk you through the model homes. Feel free to watch them!

The prices are lower now than mentioned in this video. Their website as of today says the villas start at $159,900. Prices are subject to change at any given time though.