Builders or owners taking existing home as trade? (Tampa, Sarasota: for sale, real estate)

[upgrader]

I'm looking to upgrade from my Tampa lake front condominium to a single family home, somewhere from Tampa down to Sarasota.

Are their any builders (or investor owners) that are offering a "painless upgrade" experience?

The idea is to take my condo as a "trade in" towards the purchase price of the house. Once I've move they can use some of their idle workforce to renovate the inside, and likely sell for a profit (even in these hard times).

I've read that "trade-ins" are occurring in California, but have only found one builder in this area (not that I've done an exhaustive search). Unfortunately their single family home properties are in Wesley Chapel (too far north for my needs). Any ideas?

[bentlebee]

Originally Posted by upgrader

I'm looking to upgrade from my Tampa lake front condominium to a single family home, somewhere from Tampa down to Sarasota.

Are their any builders (or investor owners) that are offering a "painless upgrade" experience?

The idea is to take my condo as a "trade in" towards the purchase price of the house. Once I've move they can use some of their idle workforce to renovate the inside, and likely sell for a profit (even in these hard times).

I've read that "trade-ins" are occurring in California, but have only found one builder in this area (not that I've done an exhaustive search). Unfortunately their single family home properties are in Wesley Chapel (too far north for my needs). Any ideas?

Which builder is doing that in Wesley Chapel. This is new to me, sounds great for people who need it.

[upgrader]

Parkview homes replied to my inquiry that they'd consider trade-in's, especially on their inventory homes.

This was the article I saw from last year:

More builders are taking trade-ins - Jun. 5, 2007

You'd think with tax savings portability our Florida builders would get creative and flexible in going after the Florida upgrade buyer. Sure beats laying off their workers and leaving communities half finished. Same thing for the investor/renovator.

[TampaKaren]

US Homes has a recurring advertisement in the Sunday Times about trade-in / trade up. I've seen it in the Wednesday flyer-type advertisements as well. I'm not sure of the terms.

[upgrader]

Just picked up the St Pete Sunday Times and I couldn't find the ad. Can you point me in the right direction?

Wasn't US Homes bought by Lennar a while ago?

Would be great if Lennar had some sort of Trade-up program as one community I'm interested in is Heritage Harbour in Bradenton.

Thanks for taking the time to share the information.

Originally Posted by TampaKaren

US Homes has a recurring advertisement in the Sunday Times about trade-in / trade up. I've seen it in the Wednesday flyer-type advertisements as well. I'm not sure of the terms.

[TampaKaren]

Yes, Lennar scooped up US Homes. Now I'm scrambling to find the ad. Wasn't in my SPT today either. I know a fellow who checked into it in Ft. Lauderdale, but he had no equity in his home. I'll see what else I can find out. Sorry.

[upgrader]

Originally Posted by TampaKaren

Yes, Lennar scooped up US Homes. Now I'm scrambling to find the ad. Wasn't in my SPT today either. I know a fellow who checked into it in Ft. Lauderdale, but he had no equity in his home. I'll see what else I can find out. Sorry.

Thanks for the quick reply. Isn't that just the way things sometimes go; you can never find something you've casually seen when you are subsequently looking for it.

I submitted a question to Lennar on their website, hopefully they will reply.

I own the condo outright, so that should simplify the equity question.

[pops1868]

I live in Riverview and for several months I have been doing an exhaustive search for any builders that will do a trade. Unfortunately no builders have entertained the "trade" offer. The best they will do is offer a real estate or lease transaction. Smith Family has one of these programs, but after reading the contract it scared me to death. After contacting Morrison homes they guided me to this website Mark Glaser - Homes for sale in

Let me know if you find anything.

[upgrader]

Hi, please help me understand the difference between a "real estate transaction" and a "trade"?

If you know of builders that will do a transaction involving a buyer's currently owned property (and cash for the balance) please provide their names in a reply or Direct Message - thanks

Originally Posted by pops1868

The best they will do is offer a real estate or lease transaction.