Happy Thursday!

The weekend forecast? High energy, fresh thrills, and maybe… a market shift?

🎺 We’ve got live music all weekend in Dunedin and St. Pete — from salsa to Celtic strings, there’s something for every vibe.

🎢 Busch Gardens just dropped $40 million on new attractions and animal adventures (capybaras included).

📊 And in the housing world, rising inventory might just shake things up this summer — depending on what happens with rates.

Let’s dive in! ⬇️

—Sean

🎶 Our Top 3 Things To Do This Weekend

Friday - Orquesta INFINIDAD: Casa Tina’s Cinco de Mayo

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with live Latin music from Orquesta INFINIDAD at Casa Tina Mexican. Enjoy an energetic evening of salsa and rhythm with one of the most dynamic Latin bands, known for performing at major festivals and backing top artists.
📍 Location: Casa Tina Mexican, 365 Main St, Dunedin, FL
📅 Date & Time: May 2, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
🎟️ Tickets: Free Entry (subject to venue availability)
🌐 Website: https://www.casa-tina.com/

Saturday - Rich Sheldon Acoustic Afternoon

Enjoy a soulful afternoon of modern Americana roots rock with Rich Sheldon on the outdoor patio at Home Plate Restaurant. Known for his energetic performances and eclectic style, Rich brings the spirit of jam bands and classic rock to life.
📍 Location: Home Plate Restaurant, 234 Douglas Ave, Dunedin, FL
📅 Date & Time: May 3, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
🎟️ Tickets: Free Entry (food and drink available for purchase)
🌐 Website: https://www.homeplatedunedin.com/

Sunday - Justin Curry in Celtic Mayhem

Catch violinist Justin Curry in a powerful Celtic performance at the St. Petersburg Renaissance Faire. With international tours under his belt by age 20, Justin brings youthful energy and world-class talent to the stage.
📍 Location: St. Petersburg Renaissance Faire, 5010 81st Ave N, Pinellas Park, FL
📅 Date & Time: May 4, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
🎟️ Tickets: Included with Faire Admission
🌐 Website: https://www.stpeteRF.com/

MORE EVENTS→

🎢 $40 Million Upgrade Brings Fresh Thrills to Busch Gardens Tampa

Driving the news: Busch Gardens is investing $40 million in upgrades to refresh its family attractions, animal habitats, and culinary offerings — a bold move under the theme park’s new leadership.

Details:

• A new kid-focused zone, Wild Oasis at Jungala, opens in May with rides, animal encounters, and play areas.

• Fresh animal experiences will spotlight capybaras, anteaters, squirrel monkeys, and meerkats, plus upgraded habitats for elephants, chimpanzees, and giraffes.

• A revamped culinary direction led by executive chef Lavon Smith, including full-service venues like Treetop Kitchen.

• More live entertainment year-round — including a new nighttime show and Rhythm of Nature, North America’s only permanent theme park ice show.

• Nearby Adventure Island adds Castaway Falls, a splash zone with slides and water features.

Why it matters: The investment brings a family-friendly boost to Tampa’s tourism economy, refreshing a legacy park that drew 4 million visitors last year.

More attractions and better experiences mean longer visits — and more local spending.

The big picture: Under new president Jeff Davis, formerly of SeaWorld San Antonio, Busch Gardens is sharpening its focus on immersive experiences that blend thrill rides with animal education and upgraded amenities.

What’s next: The park will reveal more updates this spring, especially as Adventure Island continues to evolve into a more interactive water park.

The bottom line: Busch Gardens is investing in the future — not just in thrills, but in creating a more welcoming, engaging destination for locals and tourists alike.

MORE→

🏡 Luxurious $730,000 End-Unit Home!

This 3-bed, 3.5-bath end-unit offers rare privacy and big upgrades: new roof, fresh flooring, updated systems, and sleek finishes in every room.

Located steps from Tampa’s waterfront, Amalie Arena, top restaurants, and schools—this one checks every box.

📍 501 Knights Run Ave APT 5101, Tampa, FL 33602
📞 Reach out now to schedule your private tour—this won’t sit long.

📈 Rising Inventory Could Tip the Market This Summer

Driving the news: March brought a split-screen view of the U.S. housing market: new-home sales jumped to their fastest pace in nearly a year, while existing-home sales dropped below already weak levels from 2024.

Details:

• Existing-home sales fell to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.02 million—worse than March 2024’s 4.06 million.

• New-home sales rose to an annual pace of 724,000, up 6% year over year.

• Inventory is increasing nationwide—up nearly 20% for existing homes, and 8.4% for new homes.

• Regional highlights: Inventory jumped 25% in the Northeast and 16.6% in the South.

• Pending home sales—an indicator of future activity—rose 6.1%, the largest monthly increase since Dec. 2023.

Why it matters: After a sluggish 2024, housing was expected to rebound. This mixed report reflects ongoing affordability challenges, but also hints at a slow thaw in supply—especially in markets where buyers have been locked out for years.

For communities in the Northeast and South, growing inventory could help ease sky-high price pressures and finally offer more choices to first-time buyers and move-up shoppers alike.

The big picture: The divergence between new and existing-home sales shows how the market is shifting.

Builders have more flexibility to offer incentives or price adjustments, helping them close deals, while existing homeowners are still holding out for top dollar or staying put due to locked-in low mortgage rates.

By the numbers:

• 6.65%: Average mortgage rate in March, down from 6.96% in January.

• 7%: Peak mortgage rate after new tariffs were announced in April.

• 6.93%: Most recent average mortgage rate.

• 2.4%: Annual decline in existing-home sales.

• 6.1%: Monthly gain in pending sales in March.

Between the lines: Market movement is closely tied to mortgage rate swings. March’s dip in rates briefly nudged buyers off the sidelines, but volatility tied to President Trump’s new global tariffs has shaken confidence.

Fear of inflation and economic slowdown may be pushing some sellers to act quickly—while buyers pull back.

What’s next: With mortgage rates bouncing and economic signals mixed, all eyes are on April's data.

If rates stabilize and inventory continues to grow, we could see a more balanced market emerge heading into summer.

The bottom line: March didn’t bring the housing boom some hoped for—but rising inventory and improving new-home sales offer a glimmer of momentum.

The market’s next move will depend heavily on interest rates and how buyers and sellers react to economic uncertainty.

MORE→

📊 Our Current Local Market Data:

The Tampa Bay housing market is shifting into a more balanced phase after years of rapid growth. As of March 2025, the median home price is $429,575—up 4.5% year-over-year, but with a slower pace than in past years.

Inventory is rising, giving buyers more options, while homes are taking longer to sell, with a median of 33 days on the market. This offers more negotiation power for buyers, especially on listings that have been sitting for weeks.

Despite higher insurance costs and affordability concerns, Tampa remains attractive thanks to its strong job market in healthcare, tech, and finance. The region continues to grow, both economically and in population.

Sellers should focus on competitive pricing and presentation, while buyers now have better leverage. Even with current challenges, Tampa Bay is positioned for steady growth and remains a market to watch in 2025.

If you’re curious how much your home could sell for now, then reply “What’s my home value” or you can get an estimated value here.

Or if you’re just curious about how the current market affects your situation & what’s going on in your specific neighborhood, just reply & ask.

📰 In Other News:

• Pasco County approves more options for housing

• Pasco County residents concerned about possible Rangeland Boulevard extension

• Moffitt's $600 million Speros campus hits major construction milestones

That’s all for today, I hope you have an amazing week!

If there’s ever anything you need:

• a custom market or home value report

• a home services list for a reliable contractor or services professional

• feedback or a professional opinion on a home project

Just let me know! We’re here to help with all your home needs.

Talk soon,

- Sean, and the Bello Home Team

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