Fresh market at Wiregrass tomorrow

Fresh market at The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel

Wesley Chapel's fresh market at The Shops at Wiregrass returns to the twice a month  schedule (1st and 3rd Saturday) starting tomorrow.  Hours are from 10:00 to 3:00.  With 77 degrees forecast for tomorrow, folks will be eager to get out after the recent cold snap!

Color in Wesley Chapel sky this morning

Pleasantly surprised this morning with this hot air balloon in Wesley Chapel.  I used to see them every weekend but haven't seen them in weeks until today.

96 Townhomes proposed for Seven Oaks

I notice that Item R-5 on the Pasco County Development Review Committee Agenda for Thursday is a proposed 96 townhome community in Seven Oaks.  The townhomes are to be located at the NE corner of Stockton and BBD.

Tampa 2nd in top moving destinations for 2013

Penske truck rentals has published the top 10 moving destinations in the US and Tampa/Sarasota was second!

Florida Homebuyer Stats

The Florida Association of Realtors has released the stats of 2013 Florida homebuyers:

Homebuyers:

• 27 percent were first time buyers compared to 38% nationally
• The typical Florida buyer was 55 years old and first time buyer was 34 years old
• The median household income of the Florida buyer was $82,100
• 66 percent were married couples

Characteristics of Florida homes purchased:

• 22% were new homes
• The typical home was 1,900 sq. ft., had 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and was built in 1996
• 76% of the homes purchased were single family detached homes

Florida home search process:

• The typical Florida homebuyer searched for 10 weeks and viewed 10 homes
• Real estate agents were viewed as a useful information source for 97% of those who used an agent while searching for a home
• 87% were satisfied with the home buying process

Primary reason for home purchase (Top 5):

• 23% - Desire to own a home
• 12% - Retirement
• 8%   - Job related relocation
• 8%   - Desire for larger home
• 8%   - Desire for smaller home

Home sellers and the selling experience:

• The typical Florida sellers lived in their home for nine years
• Sellers typically sold their homes for 96% of list price
• 52% of sellers reduced the list price of their home at least once
• 32% of sellers offered incentives--most often assistance with home warranty policies and closing costs

It's now Pasco-Hernando State College!

Pasco-Hernando State College sign unveiling at Porter Campus

It's official.  Pasco-Hernando Community College is now Pasco-Hernando State College!  The sign unveiling at the Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch was at 10:30 this morning.

Stonemill Artisan Bakery and Desserts opening soon

Stonemill Artisan Bakery and Desserts

Honor Brandao, the owner of Stonemill Artisan Bakery & Desserts is excited about the opening of his new bakery and dessert business in Wesley Chapel.  Brandao hails from Brazil originally and now lives in nearby Seven Oaks.  His business plan includes offering tasty baked goods and desserts in his retail establishment in the Village Market, and providing baked goods and desserts to area restaurants, hotels, and caterers.  There also are future plans for home delivery.

Honor says he expects to open no later than Valentine's Day and will be offering a wide variety of  fresh baked breads, French macarons and other pastries and desserts. The new bakery is located in the Village Market at BBD and SR 54 in Wesley Chapel.  This sounds like a great new concept for our area.  Imagine fresh baked bread delivered to your door!

" The Big W " at The Shops at Wiregrass

Yesterday I noticed this recently planted "Big W" at The Shops at Wiregrass. 

 

Does anyone remember what film in the 1960's is about a mad race to find "The Big W"? 

  

 

It's "The Big W" from the movie that came out just over 50 years ago that inspired "The Big W" in The Shops at Wiregrass sign:

 

 

 Here's the answer.



I have a dream

Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel takes off in 2014

There are clear signs that Wiregrass Ranch will take off in 2014!  There is lots going on right now that will add to some pretty impressive development already in place including Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel and The Shops at Wiregrass.

The $45 million Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch opened this week:

Porter Campus (Soon to be renamed Pasco Hernando State College.), features a classroom building linked by a plaza to the library building, built above a three story parking deck.  It has four floors, 10 classrooms, four computer labs, four science labs, eight health labs, a library, teaching/learning center, and a career and testing center.  The new campus is located on 60 acres of property.  A name change for the school to Pasco Hernando State College is scheduled to be announced on January 21, 2014. Students, faculty and staff are invited to celebrations that will be held on January 22, 2014 at each campus to commemorate this significant milestone in the College’s history. Refreshments will be served following brief presentations at the: Students, faculty, and staff are invited to a celebration to be held in the Conference Center (Building B) on January 22, 2014 from 9:00 to 11:00 AM.  The new campus is located just south of SR 56 on Mansfield Blvd.

 

The Pasco BOCC approved an agreement for a $34 million sports park featuring 19 ball parks to be located northeast of the Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel.  If the developer arranges financing within six months, construction will take another 18 months and the park may be open for spring, 2016.

The first residential Wiregrass Ranch community is under construction and models should open this spring with approximately 1,200 homes planned to be built:

 

 

A 200,000 sq. ft. Walmart is under construction on SR 54 and Wiregrass Ranch Blvd. and should open within months:

 

A second residential community for Wiregrass Ranch is planned/under review with 585 projected homes:

 

Raymond James Financial continues discussions with Pasco County regarding the purchase of 65 acres of Wiregrass Ranch property for the purpose of a future campus. The multi-building campus is expected to be between 500,000 and 1,000,000 sq. ft. and bring 750 jobs to Wesley Chapel. The location under consideration is in the heart of Wiregrass at SR 56 and Wiregrass Ranch Blvd.:

 

 

Lastly, land has been purchased between The Shops at Wiregrass and Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel for the construction of medical offices.

 

Expect other announcements of additional development in the coming months.

 



Search Homes For Sale In Wesley Chapel

 

Russ Perlowski, People's Choice Realty, 813.505.7460.

 

Suncoast Arts Fest 2014!

Pictures taken today at The Suncoast Arts Fest 2014 at The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel.  Don't forget to visit the chalk artists in front of Dillard's!

Suncoast Arts Fest 2014 today & tomorrow at Wiregrass

 

Don't forget to visit the Suncoast Arts Fest 2014 at The Shops at Wiregrass today and tomorrow.  Above is a picture I took today of Master Painter, Lisa Russo.

 

 

South Tampa chalk artist, BK Lyons.  Don't miss the chalk artists in front of Dillard's!



Out with the old and in with the new...

Wesley Chapel Super Buffet

It looks like the former "China" Super Buffet (& Johnny Carino's) on SR 54 next to Applebee's in Wesley Chapel may become a Chili's Grill and Bar.  If plans move forward, it is likely that the current building will be demo'd making way for a new 6,200 + sq. ft. Chili's.  It should prove to be a good location since it is directly in front of the new Wesley Chapel Walmart that is under construction.

January 2014 Wesley Chapel Home Prices

More than half of the single family homes listed for sale in MLS in Wesley Chapel have an asking price of less than $300,000 and the median list price is just under $280,000.

Search homes for sale in Wesley Chapel

Polar vortex reaches Tampa

 

The polar vortex reached Tampa last night.  Fortunately we didn't have a freeze and the tropical flowers are still blooming.  A high of 45 degrees is forecast for today.

2014 Wesley Chapel Real Estate Report

There was a marked improvement in the real estate sales for single family homes in Wesley Chapel last year compared to 2012*.  In 2013:

• 14% more homes were sold
• Distressed sales dropped from 45% of total reported sales to 31%
• The yearly average sold price per square foot increased 13% to $92.35
• The average sales price was 8.6% higher

There are currently over 275 single family homes listed for sale in Wesley Chapel.  The average list price/sq. ft. is $119.02 and the average list price is $325,281.

*Sales information reported in MLS deemed reliable but not guaranteed

2014 Real Estate Report For New Tampa (Zip code 33647)

The average sales price/sq. ft. (heated) for single family homes in New Tampa showed significant gains over 2012. (See graph with % increase over the same month in 2012.) The average sales price/sq. ft. (per single family homes in zip code 33647 reported sold in MLS) in 2012 was $93.81 and  the average for the last six months of 2013 in New Tampa was $108.10!*

Additional points of interest:

• Distressed sales made up 22% of the total reported single family New Tampa home sales in 2013 which is down from 28% in 2012. 
• Cash sales of single family homes in New Tampa in 2013 made up 33% of all reported sales compared to 28% in 2012. 
• The quantity of homes sold in New Tampa in 2013 was 19% greater than in 2012.
• The average reported sales price of single family homes in New Tampa in 2013 was $293,405.

Currently there are over 275 single family homes listed for sale in our MLS in New Tampa (Zip code 33647) and the average list price/sq. ft. is $119.86.

Search homes for sale in New Tampa

 

*Information reported in our local MLS deemed reliable but not guaranteed

Demo of Wesley Chapel McDonalds

Picture taken today of the demolition of the McDonalds on Wesley Chapel Blvd., to make way for a new and improved Mickey D's.