Louis "Lou" Tutko, Real Estate Broker

05/16/2025

Here we go....Time to get this gorgeous home SOLD!

03/10/2025

East Lake Luxury at its Finest! Come experience this stunning executive home featuring 4 spacious bedrooms, each with its own ensuite full bath. The chef-inspired gourmet kitchen is sure to impress, complete with a walk-in, temperature-controlled wine room. Enjoy movie nights in the dedicated theater room, or unwind in your private office and game room. Step outside to your luxurious pool and spa overlooking a serene wooded conservation area. All situated in the most desirable school zone in the area—this home truly has it all!

11/01/2024

Here We Go!!! Gorgeous 4 bedroom, 3 bath, 3 car garage POOL home on the 14th fairway or TPC TAMPA!!! Under $800K!?!?!? Non-Flood Zone! In the STEINBRENNER School Zone!!! No hurricane issues whatsoever!

09/04/2024

While most of the real estate market has been slow...Paradise Life Realty has sold 12 properties since 6/1 totaling $8.4 million!

08/08/2024

It’s time to enjoy all of your hard work!

1501 Gulf Boulevard #102 is currently listed at $889,900. View 46 photos of this 2 bed, 2 bath, 1390 Sq Ft condo in Clearwater Beach, FL.

08/05/2024

Tomorrow is the day (In the Tampa Bay Area). 8/6/2024 Real Estate transactions are changing. Any homes pending now are grandfathered in until they close. This is a simplified look at the changes. Please consult your chosen Real Estate Professional to explain this in much greater detail.
Brief Overview of how things used to operate. Previously, the listing agent and the seller would agree on a total commission amount. Essentially, the seller covered the commission for both the listing agent and the buyer’s agent (as an incentive to show their property). The listing agent would then allocate a portion of this total (often around half) to the buyer’s agent’s brokerage, and this amount would be posted on the MLS. The buyer’s agent could see their portion upfront, so there was no need for additional negotiation about their commission. The buyer's agent would schedule a showing, and then write the offer. Since the seller was paying for both sides of the commission, there was no need for the buyer to negotiate compensation for their own agent. Once it closed, the listing agent's brokerage would pay the buyer's agent brokerage the advertised amount and the brokerages would disperse it to their agents.
NOW...with the new changes.
BUYER Agents: MUST have a signed agreement with the buyer specifically stating their fees PRIOR to showing any property. The fees are negotiated between the Agent and the buyer. If the seller chooses not to offer a buyer's agent commission. It can be negotiated as part of any offer. If the seller still refuses to pay any commission or concessions...It will be the buyer's responsibility to pay their own agent.
SELLERS: Commission will no longer be advertised on the MLS. New listing agreements will spell out how your much your listing agent gets paid AND how much commission you are offering the Buyer's agent, if any. You can choose to offer CONCESSIONS and have that advertised on the MLS. Concessions will go straight to the buyer. The Sellers cannot force the buyer to use the concessions towards their buyer's agent commission. The buyer chooses how the concessions are to be used. Buy down of loan, closing costs, price reduction, etc.
IMPORTANT: SELLERS can still choose 'Business as Usual'. Pay the commission for both sides as an incentive for buyer's agents to show their property. We'll just be having longer conversations about it.
Now more than ever...who you hire MATTERS!
In other news...interest rates are dropping. So, there's that.
Oh and... the home shown below is for sale and just dropped their price by $100,000 AND are still offering a commission to a buyer's agent.

07/09/2024

🏆 Proud to be #1 in $1,000,000+ Listings Sold and #1 in $1,000,000+ Total Sales in 34677 / East Lake Woodlands over the past 2 years! 🏡✨ Thank you to our incredible clients for trusting us with your luxury real estate needs. Ready to make your dream home a reality? Let's get started! 🌟🔑

06/02/2024

The real estate market may be changing dramatically in August 2024... We are ready, are you?

05/09/2024

Guess what else happened today? ANOTHER listing. This one in Palm Harbor. THE BEST school zone in the Tampa Bay area!

Matterport 3D Showcase.

05/09/2024

You're going to need to be quick on this new listing!!! You've been warned. Gorgeous pool home in the Citrus Park / Westchase corridor. It's the big bomb diggity.

8921 Breland Dr, Tampa, Florida 33626.

05/02/2024

Ready for a dose of reality about Palm Harbor’s real estate? Here it is: The median household income here is $87,000, while the median home price stands at $437,000. See the issue? At the current 7.5% interest rate, a household income of $135,000 is needed to afford a home around the $430,000 mark. That's assuming you have no other monthly obligations like a car payment, loan payments etc.

Now, let’s talk interest rate impacts. Imagine if rates were still at 2.5% like before—the $87K median income could suddenly 'afford' a $430K home. That's right, recent rate hikes have priced home buyer's right out of the market.

Keep in mind, this assumes you’ve saved up $43,000 for a 10% down payment. It also assumes your real estate agent is able to negotiate on your behalf and have the seller cover your closing costs, which could be about 4% of the loan, or $15,000.

But hold on, in July 2024 and thanks to attorney's getting paid 33% of a $1.5 Billion settlement, you might also need to pay your own buyer's agent, (Which was traditionally covered by the Seller through the listing agent) that's negotiable but likely another 2% ($8,600), or risk going without representation in this complicated mess. You see, those attorneys convinced a few jurors in Missouri that 2-3% was too much for a Real Estate agent to get paid. The national media would have you believe that the 2% the buyer's agent earned during a transaction is why no one can afford a home today, yet the whole story often goes untold.

Don't hate the players...hate the game.