OCTOBER 2025 - Your Haunted Fall Home-Selling Checklist

👻 Your Haunted Fall Home-Selling Checklist

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The secret to selling your St. Pete home this fall? Strategic preparation that starts right now!

October is a "golden window" for sellers. Motivated buyers, including the first wave of snowbirds, are actively searching for their winter homes. Listing your property in the coming weeks allows you to capture this audience and stand out before the holiday slowdown.

To help you capitalize on this prime season, we've created the ultimate pre-listing checklist, tailored for our unique St. Pete market.

🔑 Your Pre-Listing Preparation Checklist:

Declutter & Depersonalize: Clear countertops and remove personal photos. Aim to have closets 30% empty to showcase space.

Deep Clean: A professional cleaning is a great investment. Don't forget windows, baseboards, the pool deck, and lanai.

Repairs & Touch-Ups: Fix leaky faucets, touch up paint with a neutral color, and ensure the HVAC has been recently serviced (a must for Florida buyers!).

Boost Curb Appeal: Fresh mulch, trimmed palms, and a pressure-washed driveway create an unforgettable first impression.

Highlight Coastal Living: Emphasize outdoor spaces and be ready to share key details like hurricane protection and your home's flood zone elevation.

The Manly & Buns Group has the expertise to position your home to win this fall. Your dream move starts with a smart plan—let's create yours today.

With appreciation,

Ethel and Bryan

www.ManlyBunsGroup.com

[email protected]

Call Ethel at 727-260-1733

Call Bryan at 727-641-2419

P.S. Don't miss a thing—click the link at the end to view the full email in your browser!

Pinellas County Market Trends

Cash Deals, Rising Inventory & Strong Demand—August Market Insights

📊 August Pinellas County Market Recap: The numbers are in, and here’s what stood out last month:

✅ 7,487 homes on the market → 11.7% increase in active listings

✅ 1,426 homes sold → Sales are up 3.5% year-over-year

✅ 608 cash deals closed → Up 7.8% year-over-year

🏡 Buyers, inventory is strong and options are wide open. This is a prime moment to negotiate and SHOP SMART!

🪧 Sellers, demand is active and well-priced homes are moving FAST. The right strategy is key.

✨Opportunity favors the prepared. Get in touch and let’s get your custom plan in place!

🔗 https://manlybunsgroup.com/

National Real Estate Insights

From Coast to Coast

The latest Compass National Market Insights Report is here!

This month’s report offers a snapshot of real estate trends across the country—from shifting inventory levels to buyer and seller activity nationwide.

While these national numbers provide a big-picture view, remember: real estate is hyperlocal. What’s happening on a national scale may look very different from what’s unfolding right here in our own backyard. That’s why working with a local professional who understands our market is key.

Lending Corner

Smith Lending Mortgage Rate Update

Mortgage rates held steady this week, with conventional loans at 6.375% and FHA options still attractive at 5.75%. VA buyers also continue to benefit from favorable terms, holding at 5.75% with only a slight uptick.

For buyers, this stability means more confidence in planning and the ability to lock in a competitive rate before any future shifts. For sellers, steady rates keep motivated buyers in the market—especially as well-priced homes continue to move quickly. With inventory on the rise and demand still active, both sides have opportunities this fall.

Things to do This October!

Events Around Tampa Bay

Every Saturday and Sunday in October

Harvest Days at Keel Farms

"Join us for family-friendly and festive fun, featuring Hay Rides, a Corn Maze, a Pumpkin Patch with painting, exciting additions like Camel Rides and a Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest, and delicious treats from Local Vendors, Food Trucks, and Seasonal Wines and Ciders!"

Saturday, October 4

Piertoberfest 2025

"Join the fun at the 4th Annual Piertoberfest from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Family Park on the St. Pete Pier to enjoy free general admission, authentic German beer and food, live bands, dancers, and DJs, and to test your strength in the stein-hoisting competition and Bavarian games!"

Learn more

OCT 1-31, 2025

Hyde Park

Pumpkin Patch

"Celebrate the season at the Village Circle Pumpkin Patch, open daily from October 1 to 31. Pick the perfect pumpkin, snap photos in enchanted carriages, and enjoy special story times with Mother Boo—all while supporting the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. A fall favorite for the whole family!"

Learn more

OCT 26, 2025

Halloween On Central

"Returning this spooky season, Halloween On Central features costume contests, trick-or-treating and more at the largest street festival in St. Pete! Transforming two business districts and 22 blocks of Central Avenue into a vibrant, family-friendly, car-free celebration."

Learn more

👇 Tap the links below to discover more can’t-miss events and make the most of the fall season!

Buddy Has Found His

Forever Home! 🐾

We’re thrilled to share some PAWsitive news—Buddy’s adoption is official! 🎉

After being lovingly fostered, Buddy has now found his forever family with none other than Ethel Buns of the Manly & Buns Group. 🙌

From the very first meeting, it was love at first sight. Ethel welcomed him into her home, and Buddy wasted no time making himself part of the family—complete with tail wags, tiny tongue peeks, and his signature goofy grin.

A huge thank you to Heidi’s Legacy Dog Rescue for their incredible work in giving pups like Buddy a second chance. If you’ve been thinking about adding a four-legged friend to your life, we can’t recommend them enough.

Here’s to happy endings, wagging tails, and forever homes. 💛🐶

NEW Fall Buyer & Seller Guides!

🍁 Buying or Selling This Fall? 🍁

The Manly & Buns Group Fall Guides are here to help you navigate today’s market with confidence.

Each guide is packed with timely insights and clear data to answer the big questions on everyone’s mind:

✅ What’s happening with home prices?

✅ What’s next for mortgage rates?

✅ What does it all mean for your move?

Whether you’re making a move now or just planning ahead, these guides are your must-have resources for fall real estate success. 🍂🏡

Fall Lifestyle Tips and Tricks

MacKenzie-Childs Is Now On Amazon, And We’re Shopping These 16 Pieces For Our Fall And Halloween Displays

"Halloween decor doesn’t have to be scary—it can even be designer. While we’re adding our fall wreaths to the front porch and styling our tablescapes for the season, we’re also gearing up for the holiday with elevated pieces that take Halloween style to the next level."

Courtesy of Southern Living

36 Spooky Halloween Food and Drink Recipes

"If you’re looking for spooky, ghoulish, unique recipes to celebrate Halloween, then you’ve come to the right place! October 31st is the ultimate night to get dressed up in your favorite costume, enjoy creative Halloween treats, attend Halloween parties and go trick-or-treating with the family."

Courtesy of Parade

Thinking about building a real estate portfolio in Tampa Bay? While traditional rentals are a solid choice, short-term vacation rentals (like Airbnb and VRBO) offer a powerful and flexible strategy to maximize your return.

Especially in a top-tier destination like St. Pete, the advantages are clear. Here are the 5 key reasons why investors are turning to this model.

#1. Booming Tourism Market 🌴

St. Pete attracts millions of visitors each year with its award-winning beaches, vibrant arts scene, and year-round sunshine — keeping vacation rentals in high demand.

#2. High ROI Potential with Short-Term Rentals 💰

Compared to traditional rentals, Airbnb/VRBO properties can command premium nightly rates, especially during peak season and major events.

#3. Flexible Use for Owners 🏡

Unlike long-term rentals, you can block off time to enjoy your property while still generating steady income the rest of the year.

#4. Diverse Buyer & Renter Demographics 🌍

From snowbirds and digital nomads to families and couples seeking coastal getaways, St. Pete offers a wide pool of potential renters.

#5. Appreciating Real Estate Market 📈

St. Petersburg’s coastal neighborhoods continue to see rising property values, giving investors both strong cash flow and long-term equity growth.

👇 KEEP SCROLLING for 3 HUGE investment opportunities we have available RIGHT NOW in St. Petersburg. Let us know how we can help you build your portfolio.

Manly & Buns Group

Bryan Manly: (727)-641-2419

Ethel Buns: (727) 260-1733

manlybunsgroup.com

[email protected]