Carolina Chamberlin Realtor

11/01/2026

10/26/2026

cool!

You’ve been asking, and we know many of you plan your holiday fun around this beloved tradition. Even though parade night is still a few weeks away, here is this year’s official Treasure Island Holiday Lighted Boat Parade map.

This year, the city is returning to the original route that served our community so well for so many years. It’s shorter, which means more boats can join in and more spectators can see every participant light up the water.

Can’t catch it from your backyard? Try one of these prime viewing spots:
☑️ Treasure Bay
☑️ John’s Pass
☑️ Treasure Island Causeway
☑️ St. James Bridge

Or make it a block party: invite your waterfront neighbors and celebrate the season together!

‼️ Why the route change?:
Last year, we extended the route to nearly every finger of Treasure Island. While we hoped it would bring the parade closer to more homes, the route took more than three hours to complete. Some channels were too narrow for larger boats to turn around, and many captains couldn't finish.

Our boat captains are the heart of this parade. Their safety is our No. 1 priority, and they said they didn't feel safe taking that long route in the dark last year. Without them, there is no show. This year, we are returning to the original route that served our community well for more than 35 years, with a new starting point. We know some neighbors will miss seeing the boats pass their homes, and we truly appreciate your understanding. We hope you will join us along the route to cheer on our captains and enjoy one of Tampa Bay's brightest holiday traditions!

📣 Calling all boat captains:
This parade is our gift to the community, and we need as many participants as possible. Every captain who joins the fun this year will receive a gas card as our thank-you.

Stay tuned for more details. In the meantime, check out the route below and start planning today!

10/26/2026

As a veteran agent helping first-time home buyers, I always smile when we hit the “one more episode” tax—those nights when you plan to watch just one more show but end up house-hunting online until midnight. It’s the unofficial rite of passage into homeownership!

What’s your version of the “one more episode” tax—late-night Zillow scrolls, saving extra Zestimates, or something else entirely?

Drop your answer below and let’s laugh about it together.

10/23/2026

COMPLETELY RENOVATED FROM TOP TO BOTTOM! 🔑

📍 9951 Ashburn Lake Drive, Tampa, FL 33610

Come see this beautiful 3-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom end-unit townhouse featuring:

✨ Gorgeous, fully renovated interior
✨ Modern kitchen with granite countertops
✨ New flooring, fresh paint & updated finishes
✨ New A/C (2026)
✨ Spacious 1,764 sq. ft. layout
✨ Beautiful pond views
✨ 1-car garage
✨ Community pool & playground

💫 Move-in ready and waiting for its new owner!

Stop by this Saturday and see everything this home has to offer!

🏡 View photos and property details:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/9951-Ashburn-Lake-Dr-Tampa-FL-33610/64491515_zpid/

📲 Carolina Chamberlin
Century 21 Beggins Enterprises
📞 503-901-1259

://www.zillow.com/homedetails/9951-Ashburn-Lake-Dr-Tampa-FL-33610/64491515_zpid/?view=public

This 1764 square feet Townhouse home has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. It is located at 9951 ASHBURN LAKE DRIVE, Tampa, FL.

10/02/2026

If your home sat on the market without selling, it doesn’t mean it wasn’t meant to be—it simply means the strategy needed a reset. Many homeowners discover that small, strategic shifts in pricing, presentation, or timing can completely change the outcome the second time around.

With the right plan in place, what felt like a setback becomes the foundation for a stronger, smoother sale.

I’ve helped countless homeowners turn expired listings into successful ones by focusing on what truly moves the needle.

What’s one thing you wish had gone differently with your last listing? I’d love to hear.

08/28/2026

Having your home listed without a sale can feel discouraging, but it often opens the door to a smarter next chapter. My mortgage background helps first-time buyers I work with avoid the closing delays that commonly derail transactions, turning what could have been months of stress into a clear, supported path forward. That experience translates into practical roadmaps and realistic timelines so you can finally step into the stable foundation and lifestyle you’ve been envisioning for your family.

If your listing didn’t sell and you’re ready to try again with stronger preparation, I’d love to hear from you. What’s one challenge you faced last time?

08/10/2026

First-time buyers often notice how the same monthly payment lands differently across our Tampa Bay markets right now. In Apollo Beach, you’re looking at Hillsborough County taxes paired with a straightforward 30–40 minute commute to Downtown Tampa via I-75 and the Selmon Expressway, while Lakeland offers Polk County tax rates and a 40–50 minute drive along I-4—creating noticeably different cash-flow pictures before you even factor in insurance. With my mortgage background and two decades guiding first-time buyers in Apollo Beach, Lakeland, Riverview, Brandon, Valrico, Lithia, Palmetto, and Bradenton, I help families run these exact comparisons so the numbers feel clear and the decision feels supported.

Whether you’re weighing commute times, county taxes, or how each area fits the lifestyle you envision, the right choice is the one that builds the stable foundation you want.

What’s one factor that’s weighing heaviest on your mind as you compare these markets? I’m here to walk through the numbers with you.

08/06/2026

***CONDOS Info****
Condo Regulations were updated this week and will significantly affect the ability to buy or sell a condo.

Limited Review is now gone! A limited review was used if we knew there might be an issue with the condo docs. The buyer would put 25% down, and we would need very little info from the Condo Mgmt Co. We could then circumvent the problem. This is no longer an option.

Beginning now, lenders must use Full Review or Waiver of Project Review.

Starting Jan 4th, 2027. Minimum Budgeted Reserves Increasing (Big Change)
The required replacement reserve allocation increases from:

10% → 15% of the annual budget
Applies to Full Review projects only.

Effective: Jan. 4, 2027

Most Condos barely meet the reserve of 10%! This one is HUGE!!!! How many condo associations will realize they need to increase their budget? This will only happen when someone next year tries to sell their condo and can't. Please ensure that when you list a condo for sale, you review the budget now and advise the seller and the condo association of the upcoming changes. If that condo sits until January, you coulda have a major problem.

Replacement Cost Value Documentation No Longer Required

Lenders no longer need to document:

Replacement cost value
Roof replacement cost coverage
New rule:

Policy must generally provide replacement cost coverage,
Except roofs, which may be insured at ACV (actual cash value)
Effective: Immediately

🤨

06/18/2026

OPEN HOUSE
Saturday, June 20th
12-2 PM

05/29/2026