Jay D'Abramo, Tampa Realtor

09/18/2026

Got orders to MacDill? Here's what you need to know about buying in Tampa Bay. 🎖️

VA loans still come with zero down and no monthly PMI, and with full entitlement there's effectively no borrowing cap. Most MacDill families end up in Riverview, Brandon, Apollo Beach, or South Tampa, each with a different trade off between commute, price, and lifestyle. FishHawk is also popular for families prioritizing schools over commute time.

One of the biggest mistakes I see: treating your BAH as your whole budget. Your real monthly cost includes taxes, insurance (Florida's runs higher than most states), and any HOA/CDD fees. Get that real number before you start touring homes.

Good news if you're managing a PCS timeline: virtual tours, e-signatures, and remote closings are standard now. You can genuinely go under contract and close before you set foot in Tampa. Start the financing conversation the moment you have orders, not after you arrive.

The market right now is more buyer-friendly than it's been in years, real leverage for VA buyers. Relocating to MacDill? I specialize in working with relocating buyers, send me a message. 🏡

Relocating to MacDill? Here's What Military Families Need to Know About Buying in Tampa Bay

09/17/2026

Just Sold!

09/16/2026

Saved perfectly for your down payment but haven't thought about closing costs? This one's for you. 💰

Buyers typically pay 2-5% of the purchase price in closing costs, separate from your down payment. On a $400K home, that's $8,000-$20,000. It covers your loan origination fee, appraisal, prepaid insurance and taxes, and title insurance protecting your lender.

Sellers usually pay more, 6-10%, mostly driven by real estate commission and Florida's documentary stamp tax on the deed ($2,800 on a $400K sale).

Here's the mistake I see most: buyers who nail down their down payment number and treat closing costs as an afterthought. On that $400K home with 10% down, you actually need roughly $48,000-$60,000 total cash to close, not just the $40,000 down payment.

Good news: in today's market, buyers have more room to negotiate seller credits toward closing costs than they did a couple years ago. Worth building into your offer strategy from the start.

Buying or selling in Riverview, Brandon, Apollo Beach, Tampa, or FishHawk? Let's run your real numbers. 🏡

What Closing Costs Actually Look Like in Tampa Bay Right Now

09/14/2026

If you drive I-75 or Brandon Boulevard, you've definitely noticed the construction. Here's what's actually happening. 🚧

FDOT is widening I-75 between the Tampa Bypass Canal and Fowler Avenue, adding a lane each direction, replacing the bridges over US 301, and widening bridges over the canal and Harney Road. Nighttime lane closures have been running for weeks. Meanwhile, SR 60 (Brandon Boulevard) is getting its own widening project between Valrico Road and Dover Road.

Here's the silver lining: FDOT doesn't commit hundreds of millions to widening a major interstate without expecting continued growth in the area. Infrastructure investment like this is usually a solid long-term signal for Riverview and Brandon, even if the next year involves some real commuting frustration.

House hunting in the area? Ask about realistic commute times accounting for current construction, not just what a map app shows on a quiet Sunday. Worth it for the long-term payoff. 🏡

Living Through the Construction: What I-75 and Brandon Road Projects Mean for Your Commute and Your Home Value

09/11/2026

Today marks twenty-five years since September 11, 2001. 🇺🇸

We're pausing today to remember the 2,977 lives lost that morning, including 343 New York City firefighters and 71 law enforcement officers who ran toward danger to save others. We remember the passengers and crew of Flight 93, who fought back and prevented a fourth attack on our nation's capital.

Twenty-five years is long enough that many people alive today have no direct memory of that morning. For those of us who do, the day tends to stay remarkably vivid, where we were, who we called, the silence that followed.

If you know someone who lost a loved one that day, or a first responder who was there, today might be a good day to reach out. We haven't forgotten, and we won't.

09/10/2026

Upcoming Open House

09/09/2026

Genuinely unusual news as we hit the peak of hurricane season this week: 2026 hasn't produced a single hurricane yet. 🌀

Five named storms so far, but none have strengthened past tropical storm status. If the streak holds a bit longer, it would set a new record for the latest first hurricane since satellite tracking began in 1966.

Before anyone relaxes though: September is statistically the most active month for Atlantic storms, and the season runs all the way through November 30. A quiet start tells us very little about what's still ahead.

The real upside here connects to insurance. On top of last year's calm season, this continues building a multi-year trend that supports the gradual easing in insurance costs we've started to see. It's also giving buyers in coastal areas like Apollo Beach a bit more confidence to move forward on deals.

Stay prepared regardless. If you've been putting off a wind mitigation inspection or your hurricane supplies, don't let a calm September talk you out of it. Questions about how this affects a purchase or sale? Send me a message. 🏡

We're About to Hit Peak Hurricane Season With Zero Hurricanes. Here's Why That Matters for Real Estate

09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day, Tampa Bay! 🎉 While you're firing up the grill, here's something worth knowing: this weekend genuinely marks a shift in our local market.

Buyer competition eases as summer winds down, homes start sitting a bit longer, and sellers still listed after the rush tend to be more open to negotiating. Combined with inventory already sitting at multi-year highs across Riverview, Brandon, Apollo Beach, Tampa, and FishHawk, fall is shaping up to be a real window for buyers.

Here's the trade off: fewer new listings than spring, but way less competition too. Someone house hunting in April might face 15 other buyers on the best home. Someone shopping this fall might face just one or two.

And today, a genuine thank you to everyone whose labor makes this industry run: inspectors, title staff, movers, contractors, appraisers, and loan processors. Real estate runs on a lot of unglamorous, essential work. 🙏

Thinking about buying or selling this fall? Send me a message. 🏡

Happy Labor Day. Here's Why This Weekend Actually Marks a Shift in the Tampa Bay Market

09/04/2026

Quick fact that surprises a lot of homeowners: your homeowners insurance does not cover termite damage. 🐜

That's exactly why a WDO (wood destroying organism) inspection matters so much when you're buying. It's a separate inspection from your standard home inspection, specifically checking for termites, wood-boring beetles, and decay, and it's required for pretty much every VA loan in Florida plus most FHA loans.

Cost is usually $75-200, which is nothing compared to what termite damage can actually cost to fix, sometimes well over $10,000 for severe structural issues.

If you're selling, Florida law requires you to disclose known termite damage or treatment history. I'd recommend getting your own WDO inspection done before you list, not just waiting for a buyer to request one, so you can handle any issues on your terms.

Buying or selling in Riverview, Brandon, Apollo Beach, Tampa, or FishHawk? Happy to point you toward a licensed inspector. 🏡