Pinellas County has approved a 5.14 billion dollar budget for the next fiscal year, and it carries the county's lowest property tax rate since 1989. The same budget cuts 16 million dollars in spending, eliminates dozens of county positions and reduces funding for roads and sidewalks. The Tampa Bay Business Journal reported it Tuesday. Does a lower rate mean a smaller bill for every owner? The report does not give a per-household figure, so that part is not answered yet. What is on the record is the rate itself, and that it is the lowest in 37 years. I'm following this one for homeowners across Pinellas County, from St. Petersburg up through Clearwater and Palm Harbor. Tim Oyler, Realtor | Paramount Home Group | LPT Realty 📞 Text or call 813-590-6295

Sitting on the market with zero offers? Your mortgage might be the answer. If you bought your home when rates were 3% or 4%, that rate doesn't have to die with your sale — a buyer can take it over through something called an assumable mortgage. That means instead of paying today's 7% rate, they step into your loan at the rate you locked in years ago. That's a lower monthly payment, and in this market, that's a real edge. Most conventional loans aren't assumable. But FHA and VA loans often are — and if you have one, you may be sitting on something buyers would line up for right now. Call your mortgage servicer today and ask one simple question: "Is my loan assumable?" That's it. If the answer is yes, your agent needs to know immediately — because it changes how your home gets marketed and who it gets marketed to. And if your agent hasn't asked you this yet, that's worth a conversation. DM me if you wanna talk through your personal situation. Tim Oyler Realtor LPT Realty Lic# SL 3656828 This is market context, not financial advice — always talk to your lender / tax advisor / insurance agent for guidance specific to your situation.

341 apartments. That is the first phase of Azalea Cay, where Metro Development Group, Porter Development and city and county officials broke ground Monday morning at 1501 72nd Street North in west St. Petersburg, on the old Raytheon property near Azalea Park and Tyrone Square Mall. 102 of those 341 homes are income-restricted. Fifty-one go to households earning up to 80 percent of the area median income and fifty-one to households earning up to 120 percent. Porter Development says the affordability term was extended from 30 years to 50 after talks with city and county staff. The City of St. Petersburg put in 6 million dollars and Pinellas County added 5.25 million through Penny for Pinellas, and the team closed 75 million dollars in construction financing with Valley Bank earlier this month. What will the market-rate units rent for, and when do they open? Not announced yet. The full 29-acre site is planned for about 1,000 apartments across three phases, with roughly 300 of those set aside as affordable or workforce housing. I'm following this one for renters and buyers around Azalea Park, Jungle Terrace and the Tyrone side of St. Petersburg. Tim Oyler, Realtor | Paramount Home Group | LPT Realty 📞 Text or call 813-590-6295

The old Pebble Creek golf course in New Tampa has been rezoned for homes. Hillsborough County commissioners approved the rezoning 5-2 on Tuesday, Sept. 22. The vote moves builder GL Homes a step closer to building a new neighborhood on the course, which has sat closed for about five years. It took a second try. Commissioners turned down GL Homes' first request in 2023, and the case went through the courts before it was sent back to the county for a new decision. Is it final? Not yet. The residents' group Save Pebble Creek says it will appeal the vote. How many homes, and when? Tampa Bay 28's report doesn't say yet. I'm following this one for homeowners in and around Pebble Creek. Tim Oyler, Realtor | Paramount Home Group | LPT Realty 📞 Text or call 813-590-6295

Sarasota County commissioners approved a land swap that settles a Siesta Key beach dispute going back to around 2016. The county handed over a 50-foot-wide inland lot and took beachfront property in return. The dispute started when a Siesta Key owner said public beach signs had been placed on his private beach, people began walking onto it, and he asked the county to regulate access and staff a lifeguard. He took the county to court, and a judge rejected a challenge to the swap in March. The owner described the trade as two acres of white sandy beach with existing access going to the public in exchange for a strip with no public value. The county side of the settlement is now approved. I'm following beach access on Siesta Key for buyers weighing the key against the mainland. Tim Oyler, Realtor | Paramount Home Group | LPT Realty 📞 Text or call 813-590-6295

Twenty-five years as a realtor. 160 sales. A 5.0 rating across 17 Zillow reviews. Experience isn't a headline, it's knowing what a house is worth before the appraisal comes back, and what a contract will do before it's signed. Tampa Bay and statewide Florida. Ready to talk? No pitch. Tim Oyler, Realtor | Paramount Home Group | LPT Realty 📞 Text or call 813-590-6295

Buyers shopping new construction in Venice can now walk through something that was only on paper before. Toll Brothers says the Wellen Park amenity center is open to residents at its Oakbend community. The center has a resort-style pool, a fitness center, a clubhouse with a social lounge, pickleball and bocce courts, a playground, a viewing dock, and walking and biking trails. It belongs to the larger Wellen Park master plan, not to one street. Homes at Oakbend run from about 1,872 to more than 3,100 square feet, with three to six bedrooms, and pricing starts from the upper $400,000s. I'm following Wellen Park for buyers weighing Venice against the rest of Sarasota County. Tim Oyler, Realtor | Paramount Home Group | LPT Realty 📞 Text or call 813-590-6295

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ANOTHER 5-STAR ZILLOW REVIEW! Helping Alec and Marilyn purchase their first home was exactly why I love what I do. Buying your first home is exciting, but it can also feel like a lot. Financing, inspections, negotiations, contracts, deadlines, and figuring out which home is actually the right one. My job is to make that process easier. I want my buyers to understand what’s happening, know their options, and feel confident about every decision they make. And when it’s time to negotiate, I’m there to protect their interests and push for the best possible outcome. Thank you, Alec and Marilyn, for trusting me to help guide you through such an important milestone. Getting a 5-star review is awesome, but knowing you had a great experience means even more. 🏡 THINKING ABOUT BUYING YOUR FIRST HOME? You don’t need to have everything figured out before reaching out. You may be wondering: • How much home can I realistically afford? • How much money do I actually need to put down? • Are there first-time buyer programs available? • Can the seller help with closing costs? • Should I buy now or keep renting? • What areas should I be looking in? • How do I know if I’m getting a good deal? That’s where I come in. We’ll build a strategy around your budget, your goals, and your timeline — not pressure you into buying a house. Whether you’re ready today, six months from now, or simply trying to understand your options, let’s have a conversation. 📲 Call or text Tim Oyler 813-590-6295 Your first home starts with a plan. Let’s build yours. #FirstTimeHomeBuyer #TampaBayRealEstate #FloridaRealEstate