Articles Archives

Tampa Bay Affordability: A Middle-Class Problem

Tampa Bay Affordability: Housing Costs Are Now a Middle-Class Problem Tampa Bay affordability is no longer a conversation limited to low-income households. Affordability is now a middle-class problem. For years, we used the term “affordable housing” primarily when discussing subsidized housing programs. More recently, “workforce housing” became the preferred phrase for homes intended for middle-income […]

Florida Housing Market: Why It Didn’t Crash

Why the Florida Housing Market Didn’t Crash Demand crashed. Prices didn’t. The Florida housing market crash many buyers expected never happened. Mortgage rates rose sharply, affordability deteriorated, insurance costs increased, inventory returned, and home sales fell dramatically. With so many pressures hitting the market at once, a significant decline in home prices seemed almost inevitable. […]

Florida Property Tax Bill 2026: How HJR 1-F Could Affect Your Taxes

Florida Property Tax Bill 2026: How Will It Affect Your Taxes? Florida Property Tax Bill 2026 is one of the most talked-about issues heading into Florida’s November election. If you’ve been following the news, you’ve probably heard about HJR 1-F, the proposed constitutional amendment that could significantly change how many homesteaded properties are taxed. Depending […]

Florida Home Improvements That Add Value | Homeowner’s Guide

Florida Home Improvements That Add Value: The Homeowner’s Guide The Florida Homeowner’s Guide to Smart Home Improvements Home improvements to your Florida home can do more than make it look better. Smart improvements can increase your home’s value, reduce ownership costs, and help your home sell faster when it’s time to move. Being concerned with […]

Florida Property Tax Bill 2026: Everything Homeowners Need to Know

Florida Property Tax Bill 2026: Everything Homeowners Need to Know About the Proposed Tax Cuts Florida Property Tax Bill 2026 at a Glance What is it? A proposed constitutional amendment that would increase Florida’s homestead exemption and modify property tax rules. Is it law yet? No. Florida voters must approve it on November 3, 2026. […]

Moving Before the School Year: A Smart Timeline for Families

Moving Before the School Year: A Smart Timeline & Checklist for Families Written by Susie Miano Collins f you’re reading this in June, good news: you’re right on time. The families who started in April have a head start on prep, but June is when the market really heats up and when the most motivated […]

Is AI Wealth Reshaping the Tampa Bay Luxury Real Estate Market?

Is AI Wealth Reshaping Tampa Bay Luxury Real Estate? Why Affluent Buyers Keep Moving Here The Tampa Bay luxury real estate market is making national headlines, and not for the reasons many people might expect. While much of the country continues debating mortgage rates, affordability challenges, and shifting housing demand, Tampa Bay is quietly attracting […]

Tampa Bay Flood Insurance 2026: Why More Homeowners Are Turning to Private Flood Insurance

Tampa Bay Flood Insurance 2026: Why More Homeowners Are Turning to Private Flood Insurance Flood insurance has become one of the most important conversations in Tampa Bay real estate. As waterfront values continue to rise and homeowners reassess storm risk after recent hurricane seasons, many buyers and sellers are exploring alternatives beyond traditional FEMA-backed policies. […]

What a New Fed Chair Means for Mortgage Rates and Real Estate?

What Happens to Real Estate When the Fed Chair Changes? When the Federal Reserve gets a new Chair, headlines immediately begin predicting what will happen next for mortgage rates, home prices, and the housing market. Some experts claim rates will fall. Others warn inflation could rise again. Buyers wonder if they should wait to purchase […]

How to Move Your Family Without Losing Your Sanity

How to Move Your Family (Kids + Pets) Without Losing Your Sanity Written by Susie Miano Collins Moving is stressful. Moving with kids, a dog who senses everything, a cat who hates change, and a calendar full of practices, birthday parties, and work deadlines? That’s a different level entirely. If you’re planning a move before […]

“ Rachel is amazing. She went out of her way to help me prepare for and stage my house to get top dollar for it. She knows the business and was able to keep me calm during a stressful closing period. She's one of a kind and the real estate agent and broker you want!”

"We had the pleasure of working with Jennifer and Bret as our real estate agents, and they were truly among the best we’ve ever worked with. From start to finish, they were professional, responsive, and extremely knowledgeable about the market. They made the entire process feel smooth and stress-free, always taking the time to answer our questions and guide us through every step. Jennifer and Bret were proactive, attentive to detail, and genuinely had our best interests at heart. We always felt supported and confident knowing they were handling everything for us. Their communication was excellent, and they consistently went above and beyond to keep everything on track. We are so grateful for their help and would highly recommend Jennifer and Bret to anyone looking to buy or sell a home. They are outstanding at what they do."

"Jen Walker is an amazing realtor, and working alongside her partner Brent Walker made the entire process even smoother. Jenny was always incredibly responsive, she answered every phone call when we needed her, no matter how small the question was. That level of communication gave us so much peace of mind during what can normally be a very stressful process. From start to finish, they were professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely cared about making sure everything went right for our family. They guided us through each step, explained things clearly, and always made us feel like a priority, not just another transaction. You can tell they truly love what they do and take pride in helping their clients. We had such a great experience and would absolutely recommend Jen and Brent to anyone looking for a dedicated, trustworthy real estate team. She handled our back to back closings beautifully!"

“Going into the home buying process for the first time, it was important to us to have a real estate agent who was patient, responsive, and determined. Abby met and exceeded those expectations as our agent. She was quick to follow through, answer our questions, and update us on market changes. You could tell Abby was passionate about her job and cared about her clients. It was also helpful to have the support of Rachel, owner of the Tenpenney Collection, as a second opinion. I would recommend working with Abby and Rachel for those buying or selling in the Tampa Bay area”

“Rachel Sartain Tenpenny has been my realtor since I moved to Florida in 2004. She has always guided me in the right direction due to her extensive knowledge of the market. Rachel has the professionalism to help you in your endeavors and the drive that stands above many others. She is great athlete, wonderful friend, and a devoted mother. Rachel has the character traits that make her not just a great realtor but a wonderful person. She went above and beyond during my house hunting journey. She always responds to my calls, texts, and emails even when she is busy. I have learned so much from her and have benefited greatly from her services. Rachel is my realtor for life!”

Susie is an exceptional realtor who stands out from the rest. From the start, her personalized, relationship-driven approach was apparent. Susie listened closely to understand my wife and I to better understand our needs. She provided thoughtful guidance at my pace, and was always accessible and responsive. Susie is impressive because of her genuine care for her clients. She built a wonderful rapport with me and had my best interests at heart throughout the process. Thanks to Susie's expertise, hard work, and unwavering commitment to help. I recommend Susie without hesitation.”

“10/10! We recently purchased a home in St. Pete and Susie made our home buying experience a breeze! Susie is extremely knowledgeable of the area and understood exactly what we were looking for. She was there throughout every step of the process to guide us and answer our thousands of questions along the way.”

“What a pleasure it was working with Susie in searching for my perfect house! She was so professional yet friendly in our day to day quest for my replacement home. Susie was patient and thorough in finding the right area and city for my needs. She made many suggestions and provided helpful options that worked for me along the way. It was obvious to me that Susie knew the area that I was looking for and brought background information on each property I was interested in. She was also helpful in answering my questions on shopping areas and finding utility resources. She also made sure to keep me within my budget, which was very important to me. She encouraged me to call or text her with any questions. The closing on my home went very smoothly and I asked Susie to accompany me.

“Rachel was our realtor and did an amazing job finding our home. We truly believe we never would have gotten the home if she wasn’t our realtor. We had been searching for three years, and every time we found a home, it became a bidding war on day one. I refused to pay way over the asking price and in all cash, so we lost many opportunities. Then we met Rachel. She found us a home, and once again, we faced a bidding war. This time, Rachel recommended we put in a backup offer after losing the initial bidding war. We were the only ones who did this, and when the initial buyer didn't come through, we got the home—even though we weren’t even the top two offers. We owe this all to Rachel, who also provided us with all the contacts needed to help remodel the home, as we knew no one. We couldn’t be happier and highly recommend Rachel.”

“Abby is motivated, hard-working, and a pleasure to work with. She is very communicative and stays on top of action items. She prioritizes well and has great internal and external contacts for inspections, utilities, insurance, etc. Rachel and the rest of the team are great as well. They’re ready to assist whenever necessary and I strongly recommend their team to any friends or family who are in the market.

“Rachel is the best realtor in St Pete. She is extremely professional and has ran multiple brokerages. She helped me get seller concessions and a great deal on my property. Could not be more happy with her service.”

“Susie came recommended by a friend. I was an undecided client...selling?...buying a condo here and there to be a snowbird?...moving out of state? Susie helped me through it all. Twice. I was going to sell, then I wasn't. Susie was amazingly patient and provided professional guidance at all of my indecision points. When it finally came to selling, Susie helped me navigate all steps along the way. Susie would be an excellent buying and/or selling representative on your behalf. She was for me!”

"I can’t say enough good things about Jenny! She went above and beyond throughout the entire process of selling our home. From day one, it was clear that she had our best interests at heart. She worked tirelessly to ensure that everything went smoothly, always keeping us informed and handling every detail with care. It was such a relief knowing we were in such capable hands. Jenny’s dedication and hard work truly made a difference, and I would absolutely recommend her to anyone looking to buy or sell. Thank you, Jenny, for making this experience as stress-free as possible."

“When you need to buy or sell Susie knows her stuff. great communication and demeanor keeps you feeling great no matter which direction you need her to go. susie has done a great job on 3 different properties. I will definitely go with her again!”

“Susie was the ultimate professional realtor in a real estate transaction that was extremely challenging. Personally, as a Seller, I have participated in over 200 real estate transactions in my career and this transaction was the absolute worst due solely to an extremely difficult buyer. Susie was there the entire way!! She is a gem!”

“Susie is terrific. Knows the landscape and did a great job of getting our home ready for sale, and the entire sales process.”

“Susie is a great agent that will do every thing she can to help you in the process of selling your home. Calm, friendly, and non-pressuring, I couldn’t ask for another realtor than Susie.”

“Whether you are buying or selling Susie Collins is the one to call. She explained everything to us during the process of us selling our home which put us at ease. She was super patient in answering all of our questions we had as well. I can not express how great she is. We highly recommend Susie to anyone looking for a realtor in the area.”

Category: Articles