Sunday, June 3, 2018
Tampa Bay Times | Sunday, June 3, 2018 |
1H
Homes Sold in the bay area
$266,000
4716 Travertine Drive 4 bedrooms, 2 1⁄2 baths Tampa in Bay Crest Park: This pool home, built in 1970, has hardwood floors throughout, granite counters, stainless-steel appliances, under-cabinet lighting, breakfast bar, dining area, office/den looking out on covered lanai and screened pool, fenced and pavered back yard, master with custom walk-in closet, newer roof, washer and dryer, and five-camera security system. Listed at $265,000, the 1,950-square-foot home sold in May. Century 21 Affiliated, Ann Danner
$250,000
10321 111th St. 4 bedrooms, 2 baths Seminole in Hi Ridge Estates: Built on a cul-de-sac in 1969, this home was listed at $245,000 and sold in May. The 1,580-square-foot house has a covered front porch, large open living area, eat-in kitchen with new wood cabinets, appliances, granite counters and pantry closet, family room with a covered screened porch on one side, master with walk-in closet and full bath, carpet, terrazzo and laminate flooring, and one-car attached garage with laundry facilities and extended parking pad. Sun Sand & Sea Homes Realty, Karen Fairbairn
$268,000
1350 Scotchwood Glen 3 bedrooms, 2 baths Dunedin in Robin Woods Estates: This home, built on a quiet cul-de-sac in 1977, features a double-door tiled entry, volume ceilings, newer appliances including a built-in microwave, private master bedroom with walk-in closet, updated bath with tub and shower, large fenced backyard with 15- by 30-foot freeform pool and raised deck, hurricane-code double-paned windows throughout and two-car garage. Listed at $275,000, the 1,397-square-foot house sold in April. Bremer-Bjurquist Inc. Realty, Betty Becker TO SUBMIT YOUR SALE for consideration in this column, please send us a photo of the home plus the address, sale price, listed price, month sold, number of bedrooms and baths, and short description. Submissions may be emailed to bmoch@tampabay.com (put HOUSE VALUES in the subject line) or mailed to: Tampa Bay Times/House Values, Attn: Barbara Moch/ Newsroom Services, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731
‘Let’s get small’ Tiny house trend is big Spectators got to tour a number of tiny homes on wheels at the St. Pete Tiny Home Festival, held April 7 and 8 on the grounds of SPC Allstate Center in St. Petersburg. Some 5,000 paying visitors attended over the two days of the festival. BY NICK STUBBS Times Correspondent
Owning a home may be the American Dream, but upkeep, property taxes, mortgage payments and utility bills can be the stuff of nightmares for some. Piled on top of the other stresses of modern life, some people are opting to downsize
their woes by downsizing their abodes. It was 40 years ago that comedian Steve Martin said, “Let’s get small,” and it looks like people finally have taken him up on it. From houses on wheels to micro homes on foundations, many have gone small, trading square footage for more freedom, and elbow
room for more room in the monthly budget. It seems simplifying one’s life can be a seductive call. At a recent tiny home festival in St. Petersburg, some 5,000 paying customers browsed tiny models over a weekend. Many were shopping for a home to call their own, rather than buying a conventional home they fear
could end up owning them. Monthly savings (electricity can run as little as $25 per month), ease of cleaning, less clutter, a smaller carbon footprint and just a general reassessment about one’s “real needs in life,” are what it’s all about, said Debbie Caneen, a tiny house advocate who sees micro homes as not only an
alternative for those who can afford big, but those who can only afford small. But “there’s a problem with tiny homes on wheels,” said Caneen. Like “where to put them.” It’s a problem she is trying to help solve by working with Hillsborough County to open a community for tiny homes on property she owns in Ruskin.
“It’s going to happen, it’s just a matter of time,” said Caneen, who added that Hillsborough is “working hard” on helping her find a solution. The issue, said Caneen, is legally tiny homes on wheels are RVs, the same as camp trailers. Even though they usually are structurally more sound than
See Tiny Houses, 2H