Erica Larson - Real Estate Agent

07/01/2023

There’s just something about Saturdays in the summer — and if it were up to me, I’d spend every one of ‘em just like this:

Sleep in, grab a croissant 🥐 from , sneak in a quick workout, then head to the beach to enjoy a good book and the sunset 🌅

I give it all M-F, so I always look forward to slower-paced summer weekends. 🐢

What do you look forward to on the weekends in Tampa? 📍Let me know in the comments! 👇🏻

12/10/2022

Cleaning out and making room for guests and gifts this holiday season? 🎁

High-five 🙌- me too! After all, December is all about giving and sharing with family, friends, and those in our area who could use a helping hand.🤝

My guiding principle when cleaning out a closet? If I haven’t used it, worn it, or needed it in 12 months, it's gotta go. If the item is in good, used condition, to a donation center it goes. But if it’s worn out, has holes, or is totally out of style, I’ll toss it. 🗑️

Got a pile to donate like I do? Here are a few local places I trust to make the most of our donations:





Happy holidays, friends — and happy giving! 🎄

06/13/2022

Hey all! It's been a little bit since I've introduced myself on here and I see some new faces following along. Happy to have you here! Here's a bit about me:

Number of years I’ve lived in Tampa: 6️⃣ years

Three words my spouse would use to describe me: funny, smart, and loving 🥰

Snacks you’ll always find in my pantry: oatmeal bars, chocolate, and kettle chips 🍫

A TV show that makes me laugh out loud: Friends 👯‍♀️

What you'll hear pouring through my earbuds: either a self improvement podcast, violin music, or an audiobook. 🎧

What I absolutely adore about living and working in Tampa:
The mild winters, being close to the beach & Disney, and the diversity. 🏝

Enough about me, already! Introduce yourself and comment your favorite spot or hangout in Tampa. 👇🏻

03/24/2022

“Conditions are never perfect. ‘Someday’ is a disease that will take your dreams to the grave with you. If it's important to you and you want to do it ‘eventually,’ just do it and correct course along the way." Tim Ferriss, entrepreneur and author of The 4-Hour Workweek💥

This week, I’m gonna get after my ‘someday’ not worrying about perfection OR what others think, and confidently stepping over any speed bumps that come my way. Join me—and let’s have an AMAZING week! 🙌🏻

03/16/2022

Love having more daylight hours and beams of sunlight to pour through your windows? You can lighten things up with these design tricks meant to boost your home’s natural light.⁣ ☀️
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💡Replace outdated wall art or photos with mirrors. Mirrors are a great way to reflect natural light and make a space feel lighter and airier.⁣ 🪞

💡Consider “86ing” your window coverings. If privacy isn’t an issue, remove your blinds and shades and see how you like it. If it doesn’t work, no big deal. Just rehang them. If you do use coverings, go with a sheer or lightweight fabric.⁣🪟

💡Use bright interior wall and ceiling paints. Nothing is more brilliant than white. But if you can’t go that bright due to kids, pets, or some neat-freak tendencies, check out whites with other color tones like Benjamin Moore White Dove or Classic Gray or Sherwin Williams Alabaster.⁣🎨

💡While we’re talking paint, choose a glossy finish over eggshell or matte if you really want some shine. The gloss will have all your light (natural and artificial) bouncing around the room morning, noon, and night.⁣ 🙌🏻

💡Consider large wall art. A large painting or print can fill up a blank wall, plus if you frame it, it will add another semi-reflective finish to your walls.⁣ 🖼
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Go on, lighten things up this month with these design hacks. And as always, let me know how I can help you love your home — this month and all year long!🏡

03/03/2022

https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/2022/02/24/the-free-market-wont-make-tampa-bay-housing-affordable-heres-what-might-column/?fbclid=IwAR2SipVxhXS6kl6NdHKDRTZbVLcqrMe5jz8iuIhcaKxfPihaNw8-VgHuI14

Community land trusts, limited-equity cooperatives and other mixed-income models of rental and ownership are among housing solutions that work.

03/02/2022

❓FAQ: What are the hidden costs of buying & owning a home?⁣ 🏡
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Great question! While these are estimates, they will give you a good idea of what to expect:⁣
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〰️One-time closing costs: 2-5% of the home’s purchase price.⁣

〰️Annual home maintenance costs: 1% of your home’s value.⁣

〰️Monthly utilities: 10% of your gross monthly income.⁣

〰️Annual property taxes: 0.5-2% of your home’s value.*⁣

〰️Annual homeowners insurance: 2% of your home’s value.*⁣
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〰️Property taxes and homeowners premiums will typically be added to your monthly mortgage payment. Keep this in mind as you play around with mortgage calculators — some account for taxes and insurance; others do not. ⁣
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The best way to gauge your total costs of owning a home is to meet with a knowledgeable mortgage lender. If you’d like a referral, send me a DM! 📲

02/07/2022

An appraisal contingency is a clause included in a purchase contract that allows you to back out of a contract if a home is appraised for less than the purchase price. ⁣💰
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As a buyer, you should never waive an appraisal contingency UNLESS you've talked with an agent you trust, and you believe you'll need to waive it to have your offer accepted; even then, it’s risky.⁣😬
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It's my responsibility to protect and educate my buyers during the homebuying journey. Encouraging them to include an appraisal contingency in their offer is just one of the many ways I can make good on that promise. ⁣📝
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If you're looking to buy and need an agent to show you something that’s caught your eye, send me a DM. Let’s start the search for your next home today! 🏠

01/26/2022

📢Fiction book recommendations please! 📢

I don't always think about real estate, even though I love sharing about it here. In fact, I love to turn my brain off from it every now and then by reading a few non-industry related books. I'm talking fiction. 📚

Here are some fiction books I've read and absolutely loved:

📖The Vanishing Half

📖ACOTAR series

📖The Midnight Library

📖Red, White, & Royal Blue

📖Razorblade Tears

📖The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

📖Bridgerton series

📖The Witcher series

📖Lord of the Rings

📖 Where the Crawdads Sing

What about you... what's a book I should add to my reading list?📝

01/11/2022

Candle wax on the couch? 🕯Kitchen sink clogged? 🚰 Don’t panic if household mishaps threaten to steal your joy this new year. 😱 Check out these DIY home hacks:⁣
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🧊Remove wax from the couch with ice cubes. (And from the carpet with a steam iron.)⁣ 🧊

☕️Unclog a stuck drain with coffee grounds mixed with dish soap and boiling water.⁣☕️

🎨Use a hairdryer to get crayon marks off the walls.⁣🎨

🍴Organize guest bathroom essentials with a silverware tray.⁣ 🍴

🐕Get pet fur off of furniture with a squeegee.⁣🐕

👃Get your house smelling fresh by warming a cinnamon stick in water on the stove.⁣ 👃

👛Store wrapping paper in a garment bag in a closet.⁣ 👛

And one more I couldn't resist: If you're feeling a tad overwhelmed by all the things (and it happens to all of us!), smiling for sixty seconds will immediately improve your mood. I dare you to give it a try! 😊

01/06/2022

It's time to tour a handful of homes. 🎉YAY!! 🎉

Several already have a piece of your heart...after all, the price is right and the photos are stunning. ⁣😍
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Hang on there, friend! ⁣
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Before you go giving your whole heart away, keep an eye out for the following 10 signs of trouble as you check out homes in person.⁣
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⚠️Visible cracks in the foundation cracks⁣

⚠️Damp or musty smell⁣

⚠️Water stains on ceilings⁣

⚠️Sloping floors⁣

⚠️Doors that won’t close⁣

⚠️Evidence of active insect colonies⁣

⚠️Strong air fresheners + fresh paint (Hmm…)⁣

⚠️Lots of homes for sale on the same street⁣

⚠️Standing water in the yard (front or back)⁣

⚠️Current owners haven’t lived there long⁣
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Each of these by itself may not present a huge issue, but string a couple of them together, and you’ve got a good reason to press pause. ⁣🤔
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That’s why an experienced agent who knows what to look for is money when you’re house hunting. Looking for an agent like that? Send me a DM — I’d love to connect and help you find the right home for you!⁣ 🙌🏻

12/14/2021

When selling your home, there are a few things you can do to put buyers at ease the minute they walk in the front door—which is exactly what you want to do. ⁣🙌🏻
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So if you’re thinking of sticking a sign in the yard in 2022, keep these 4️⃣ staging tips in mind.⁣
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1️⃣ Make a great first impression. No time or budget to do the entire house? Focus on the entryway and living room. Consider a statement chandelier, a cozy entryway, or a pop of color on the front door.⁣ 🎉

2️⃣ Clarify each room's purpose by dividing large rooms into smaller seating areas. Have a space that’s no man’s land? Use furniture and household items you have on hand and give it a purpose (office, craft room, guest bedroom, etc.).⁣ 🎨

3️⃣ Consider the scale, texture, and tone of each room. Everything should “fit” and be visually appealing. Translation? Get rid of any unnecessary furniture that's cluttering up the room.⁣ ❌

4️⃣ Give attention to your great outdoors. Curb appeal — it's a thing. Buyers will love seeing new landscaping, clean walkways, and bright lighting.⁣💡
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You don't have to be a staging expert to get your home looking like it was styled by one! Have questions or want to chat more? Send me a DM!⁣ 📲