When Tiffany Duffie makes out her $995 rent check each month, she tucks a little money away in the family's house fund. ...more

May 3, 2008

TAMPA -- When Tiffany Duffie makes out her $995 rent check each month, she tucks a little money away in the family's house fund. For the past year and a half, the family of four has rented a two-bedroom unit at The Pavillions at Ballast Point in south Tampa. They love the location, near MacDill Air Force Base, where her husband is stationed. They look out on mature trees from a small patio where they keep the children's bicycles and outside toys. Money is tight, and Duffie said she fears that if her rent goes up, they won't be able to save for a down payment on a home. And because of the credit crunch, she worries the family might not qualify for a mortgage. "I really want a house," she said. "I want a yard for my kids. It would be so nice to have something to call your own." As the economy weakens, more people who would have qualified for home loans a few years ago no longer do. And scores of homeowners losing their homes in foreclosure are turning to apartments. Others who could qualify for a mortgage are opting for luxury apartments instead, seeking to wait out the housing bust. The mixture is starting to heat up Tampa Bay's apartment market, which has struggled to fill thousands of units the past couple of years as renters rushed to buy homes. Anticipating increased demand, developers are shifting focus, too, from home building to apartment construction. There are 3,646 units either under construction or recently completed in Hillsborough and Polk counties, according to Triad Research & Consulting. Another 12,300 units are proposed for construction this year or next in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk counties, the firm said. ...more

May 2, 2008

A public hearing and decision on changes to the Little Harbor development at Bahia Beach to allow condominiums to be used as hotel will not be held Feb. 26 as originally scheduled. ...more

February 25, 2008

Fran Roy is growing green thumbs. As newly elected president of the Tampa Heights Civic Association, he wants to share his conversion. ...more

February 16, 2008

RUSKIN - A zoning hearing master is recommending denial of Little Harbor's request to convert 450 residential units at its Bahia Beach resort into hotel units. The proposal, which drew heavy opposition from residents at a public hearing last month, now goes to the Hillsborough County Commission for a final hearing and vote Feb. 26. ...more

February 7, 2008

TAMPA -- Sales of existing homes and condominiums in the Tampa Bay area continued to fall in December, according to data released today by the Florida Association of Realtors. ...more

January 24, 2008

Little Harbor's proposal to convert up to 450 residential units at its Bahia Beach condominium and hotel resort into daily rental units drew heavy fire from residents at a zoning hearing last week before a zoning hearing master. ...more

January 23, 2008

Developers are proposing several large residential and commercial projects in rural areas that critics say will cripple Hillsborough County's efforts to contain sprawl and cost taxpayers big bucks for county services far from urban centers. ...more

January 16, 2008

How difficult and how expensive is it to change our bylaws to eliminate rentals in our single-family homeowners community? We have a few rentals now, which could be grandfathered in. ...more

January 5, 2008

In 2007, the shift from small, cozy motels to mega resorts and condominiums continued, with backers saying economics dictated more and pricier rooms and opponents fearing concrete canyons walling off the beach. ...more

December 25, 2007