Central West Florida’s Hub: St. Pete and Gulf Communities

Known as St. Pete to the locals and also called “The Sunshine City,” Saint Petersburg, Florida is a sun-soaked metropolis offering world-class amenities; hence, it’s popular as both a retirement and tourist destination. Home to a thriving arts scene, the city also has a fine arts museum, history museum, children’s museum, a magnificent Dale Chihuly Collection of glass works and the largest Salvador Dali museum outside Europe.

Saint Petersburg real estate can be pricey, but careful shoppers can find good buys at all positions on the pricing spectrum. As always, location adds a premium, and in the case of St. Petersburg waterfront real estate the city’s more typical listings in the $100 to $200 range per square foot can easily be doubled or more.

Across Tampa bay and to the south, the history-rich Bradenton, Florida is close in proximity to the urban Tampa-St. Pete hub but worlds away in character. With roots dating to Hernando De Soto’s exploration in 1539, Bradenton real estate boasts many historic and superb properties.

Whether old or new, Bradenton waterfront homes can be multi-million-dollar listings for as high as $1,000 per square foot, though much of the seven-figure Bradenton real estate is listed in the $200 to $400 per square foot range.

Continuing south down the Gulf Coast is Sarasota, Florida. Famous for its beautiful sandy beaches found on the many small islands—known as keys—separating Sarasota Bay from the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Sarasota offers some of the most magnificent homes in central west Florida, often with listing prices to match.

Keys located within the Sarasota city boundaries include Lido Key, St. Armands Key, Otter Key, Coon Key, Bird Key as well as a portion of Siesta Key. You may find Sarasota homes on these islands and surrounding the Sarasota Bay listed in the $100 – $200 per square foot range, but typically only for small condominiums. Many Sarasota real estate listings are multi-million dollar properties priced in excess of $500 and even $1,000 per square foot.

If you are shopping this home market, you need a Sarasota mortgage broker that can deliver the best jumbo loan. For a Sarasota mortgage look no further than Avrus Financial & Mortgage Services, Inc., where personal, one-to-one service is our hallmark. Our dedicated loan officers, processors and associates are knowledgeable and have deep roots in Florida. They know mortgage rates and they know the entire central west Gulf Coast, so you get to reap the benefits of our long-term investment in Florida.

Central West Florida’s Hub: St. Pete and Gulf Communities
About 20 miles south of Sarasota is the coastal city of Venice, Florida. Travel east from Venice and find North Port, Florida, which borders the Myakka River State Park, one of the state’s oldest and largest state parks.

These communities at the southern end of central-west Florida are warm and friendly with abundant outdoor recreation opportunities such as boating, fishing, golfing, diving, camping or just lying on the beach. Venice is known worldwide for its vast cache of fossilized shark’s teeth found on its coast, and the annual Shark’s Tooth Festival is popular among both locals and tourists. North Port benefits from its proximity to the Myakka River State Park, which is noted for its rare bird habitat, miles of hiking and horse riding trails, and its wetlands marshes and cypress domes.

Unlike its more costly neighbors to the north, Venice homes and North Port real estate listings are highly affordable. Two- and three-bedroom properties are listed starting under $100 per square foot, while larger homes are typically less than $200 per square foot. Both cities also offer more upscale listings, though you’ll have a hard time finding million-dollar Venice or North Port real estate listings.

Whether in the urban center or a short distance from the core, in St. Petersburg, Bradenton, Sarasota, Venice and North Port, Florida real estate you will find gems just waiting to be discovered. And when you’re ready to shop, count on Avrus Financial & Mortgage Services, Inc., for the best mortgage and one-to-one personal service in all of Florida.

The Best Mortgage Rates in Tampa, Florida

Whether you need to refinance your Tampa home mortgage, are a first-time buyer or are shopping for a jumbo loan, the mortgage process can sometimes be tricky and potentially troublesome. Partnering with the right lender will make the difference between agony and ease.

The right partner

Getting the best mortgage rate in Tampa means you must first find the best mortgage partner– a company that will put your needs first and match you to the best loan to develop your unique financial picture. Florida is filled with mortgage brokers and wholesale lenders, but finding that perfect partner is as easy as connecting with Tampa’s top source for reliable service and reasonable rates: Avrus Financial & Mortgage Services, Inc.

When it comes to mortgage rates in Tampa, Florida, Avrus Financial is the lender you can trust for fast application approval, the lowest rate and hassle-free closing. We have more than 30 years of experience in the financial and mortgage business, we understand what it takes to close loans quickly and get our customers the best Tampa mortgage rate.

You can count on our “customer for life” philosophy, our expertise and our know-how to take the worry out of wondering whether your loan is approved. We are licensed, insured and bonded as a direct Florida lender and broker. With our Fannie Mae underwriting privileges, we can give a mortgage or mortgage refinancing answer just minutes after receiving your application.

At Avrus Financial, we provide personal, one-to-one service. Our dedicated loan officers, processors and associates are knowledgeable and have deep roots in Florida. They know mortgage rates and they know Tampa, so you can reap the benefits of their knowledge and experience to feel good about your long-term investment in Florida.

Making the mortgage process easy

As your partner, we inform and guide our customers through their mortgage, from application to close. We will help you obtain the best mortgage rate or refinance rate by making sure you have the right information to make your financial picture shine its brightest.

Even if you’re just in the earliest stage of considering a mortgage or refinance, it’s never too soon to think about getting the best rate. Getting your finances in top shape will go a long way toward helping us get you the best mortgage or refinance rate in Tampa.

Key financial factors that will ultimately lead to getting the lowest mortgage rate include:

• Make your housing payments on time
• Pay off debts on time, every month
• Put away a bit into savings each month
• Fill out loan applications only when you’re ready to get the loan
• Provide timely and complete application information
• Do not overstate income
• Exercise extreme caution in co-signing
• Maintain your credit through a few good accounts
• Use a qualified and competent realtor to negotiate the best deal

When you partner with Avrus Financial, we dedicate all our efforts to match you and your unique situation to the best home mortgage and the best rate in Tampa. There’s a reason the majority of our business comes from previous customer referrals and local real estate professionals. You can trust that as our customer you will receive personalized attention from our knowledgeable staff to help you close in the quickest, easiest way possible.

Finding the Best Mortgage and Broker in Tampa, Florida

When it comes to finding the best mortgage, you first need to find a top mortgage broker. What separates the best from the rest is local experience, trustworthy service and fast turn-around. While there are lots of mortgage brokers in Florida, in Tampa the only home loan company you need to know is Avrus Financial & Mortgage Services, Inc.

The Tampa mortgage broker experts at Avrus Financial provide personal, friendly service and the ability to obtain almost immediate home loan approval. A family-owned company, Avrus Financial has been successfully closing mortgages since 1982.

Avrus Financial has home loan and mortgage broker know-how and experience; after all, they’ve been matching each of their customers to the best mortgage loans for them for over three decades. That’s why they’re more proficient in providing quick, thorough, and accurate mortgage answers than any other company in the area. We are eager to show you why we’re the best mortgage brokers in business.

At Avrus Financial, you will find only the most friendly and skillful mortgage brokers, loan officers, processors and associates who are knowledgeable and keep up-to-date with the mortgage industry in Florida and especially Tampa. Key to fast answers and swift mortgage approval is our Fannie Mae underwriting privileges, which means we can make a reliable mortgage decision within minutes of taking your application. We are a leading Tampa mortgage broker, distinguished by our caring people—your Florida neighbors who live and work locally, not thousands of miles away in some oversized corporate office.

We are licensed, insured and bonded as direct mortgage lenders and mortgage brokers in Tampa and all of Florida. You can count on us to be here for you with more than 30 years of experience, local knowledge and personalized one-to-one attention. Avrus Financial provides our clients with a “customer for life” philosophy based on trust, expertise and know-how. We will take the worry out of wondering whether your loan is approved and get you the best mortgage in Tampa.

We work hard to earn and maintain our BBB A+ rating, and as your complete Tampa mortgage company, Avrus Financial offers a broad range of mortgage products, including:

• First-time Tampa home buyer loans
• FHA home loans for Tampa customers
• VA home loans for Tampa customers
• Mortgages for Tampa customers who are self-employed
• Tampa commercial real estate loans
• Tampa reverse mortgages
• Tampa jumbo loan packages
• Debt consolidation refinance mortgages for Tampa residents

Whether you’re newly relocated or a long-time Tampa resident, in Avrus Financial you’ll find a partner for life—a mortgage broker interested in you and your individual circumstances that will provide a loan tailored to meet your unique needs. Avrus Financial is your best choice for a Tampa mortgage. Fill out an application today and discover why.

Real Estate Gems

With the motto “Gem of the Nature Coast,” central west Florida’s Crystal River is truly a jewel for the outdoor enthusiast and nature lover—especially for folks who love the manatee. This small, relaxed community has the second-largest natural springs grouping in all of Florida, attracting a strong tourist contingent.

Crystal River homes tend toward modest two- and three-bedroom residences typically under 2,000 square feet listed below $200,000—sometimes far below depending on location, condition and lot size. Newer Crystal River real estate are generally four bedrooms or more, and listings can easily reach mid-six figures.

Also known as “manatee heaven,” what can make Crystal River homes especially desirable is the unique display of hundreds of manatees that call the adjacent Kings Bay home during the winter. Manatee viewing and swimming tours draw a strong tourist trade—the Bay is the only place in the U.S. where it’s legal to interact with manatees in their natural environment. Travel from Crystal River due west about 15 miles to reach the small town of Hernando, Florida. Bordering the northern end of Tsala Apopka Lake, Hernando real estate offers many waterfront options. Larger 2,000+ square foot homes can be found listed over $200,000, but the majority of Hernando home real estate listings are quite modest, often under 1,000 square feet and priced well under $100,000.

Bicycle enthusiasts and hikers will want to take note: Hernando offers a 46-mile bike trail converted from an early 1900s Atlantic Coast Line Railroad line. Known as the Withlacoochee State Trail and closed to motorized vehicles, it’s the longest paved trail in Florida.

Just a couple of miles from the Withlacoochee State Trail’s southern end and about 27 miles south of Hernando is Brooksville, county seat for Hernando County, Florida. Tracing its roots as a military fort established in 1840, Brooksville was incorporated in 1880, having also served as a trading post and regular stop for the Palatka to Tampa Concorde Stage Coach Line.

Brooksville real estate includes magnificent, historic mansions along cobblestone-covered streets, though more typical are modest two- and three-bedroom homes smaller than 2,000 square feet. Places like these go for around $50,000 to the low $100,000’s.

Wherever you find your central west Florida real estate gem, count on Avrus Financial & Mortgage Services, Inc., for the best mortgage and refinance rates teamed with personal, one-to-one service. We dedicate all our efforts to match you with the best home mortgage for your unique situation.