Category: Business

Look To MariMark Mortgage For Expertise & Great Communication!

Since its founding by Mary Catchur in 2006, Marimark Mortgage has been a trusted mortgage brokerage for potential home buyers in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel areas.

Mary received both her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Accounting and Bachelor of Arts degree in French from the University of South Florida in Tampa. She also has earned licenses as both a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and as a Realtor in Florida.

Before founding Marimark, she worked as an auditor for public accounting firm Klynveld, Peat, Marwick & Goerdeler and also served as both the chief operating officer (COO) and chief financial officer (CFO) of New Homes Realty. Mary says that this experience allowed her to learn the business from the financial side.

“Between my background as a CPA and then as the CFO for a real estate company, I think my skills are somewhat unique (for the mortgage business), particularly the CPA background, because I understand the financial part of it.”

Since its origination here in Florida, Marimark has been able to expand to also provide mortgages in Pennsylvania, where Mary is originally from, as well as in Virginia, where she says she had multiple clients due to the solid housing market there.

Recently, Mary has been joined at Marimark by her sons Matthew (Matt) and Nicholas (Nick) Catchur. Matt works as a loan originator while studying at USF, while Nick is a real estate agent as well as a loan originator. With all of this combined expertise, Marimark strives to be a one-stop shop for people looking to buy real estate in New Tampa.

Marimark specializes in fixed-rate mortgages, which Mary says are the mortgages that her buyers are looking for the most, as well as being the most commonly recommended by Marimark.

“I do a variety of different types” she says, “but I think that most people are still looking for the standard, fixed-rate mortgage, not as much the adjustable rates anymore.” She adds that the reason is that conventional, fixed-rate mortgages often offer lower down payments, such as 3 percent down, for first-time buyers.

Other loans offered by Marimark are Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans, which are government-backed and also offer low (usually only 3.5 percent) down payments, as well as Veterans Administration (VA) loans, which allow U.S. military veterans to buy a home with no money down.

Another type of loan that doesn’t require a down payment is a USDA (U.S Department of Agriculture) loan, which was originally offered as a way to develop areas that may not have been built up, although this type of loan is not as common in the New Tampa or Wesley Chapel areas due to the increased amount of development seen in our communities.

Marimark also offers reverse mortgages, which allow borrowers over the age of 62 with equity (meaning the house is worth more than what is owed on it) to eliminate mortgage payments altogether, leaving only taxes and insurance to be paid.

Marimark also focuses on helping self- employed people find mortgages, as Mary says that finding a mortgage when self-employed can be harder because the tax return documentation needed can be harder to understand and obtain. To combat this problem, Marimark assists self-employed people with what are known as bank-statement loans, where, as the name implies, deposits into that person’s bank account(s) obtained from their bank statements are used to determine their income, as well as what loans they would be qualified to receive. Bank statement loans also provide pre-qualification letters, which can be obtained through a phone call. These pre-qualification letters allow buyers to get an idea of the amount of credit they may be given by a lender during the mortgage process. Pre-qualification letters then allow home buyers to effectively negotiate with sellers.

Another thing that Mary says is becoming more popular these days is what is known as a debt-service coverage ratio (DSCR) loan. This type of loan is useful for people looking to buy investment properties. Like bank-statement loans, DSCR loans don’t look at a borrower’s overall income, but instead consider how much money is going to come in from the investment property, and the borrower is qualified based on that amount. Debt-service refers to principal, interest, taxes, insurance, as well as Homeowners Association (HOA) fees. DSCR loans look at whether the income from the rent of the property will cover these fees, rather than looking at whether or not other income made by the owner will cover them.

Despite the local real estate boom cooling off somewhat, as people wait for home prices to drop more, Mary says that business at Marimark is still busy. Although there may not be as many people refinancing their existing homes, people are still moving into the area and are still looking to buy here. Even the refinancing market, which seems to have been somewhat slowing of late, is still a big part of Marimark’s business.

“One of the main things I do in refinancing is where people want to consolidate their higher-interest credit card and other debt,” she says.

Overall, the thing that Mary says sets Marimark apart from other mortgage brokers in the area is its borrower-focused approach without sales pressure. While some who get into the business are taught a sales-first approach, “That’s never been my way,” says Mary. “My method is I’m going to explain to you why this mortgage is the best thing for you or give you the options of what you have and explain the pros and cons of them. My approach is from a financial standpoint and an educational standpoint.”

Mary also says that she has some clients who have come to her after negative experiences in more high-pressure sales environments. Mary explains to clients what their rates look like, and notes that although rates could go up (as often said by people in high-pressure sales situations) they could also go down. This approach ensures that clients fully understand the process and are then allowed to make their own decisions.

Another thing that sets Marimark’s approach apart from other mortgage brokers is its attentive communication with its clients. This is evident from what clients have said about working with Marimark when obtaining mortgages, as well as home refinances.

“Refinancing with Mary has been an absolute pleasure,” says client Bret Brennan. “I had never been through the process before and she took the time to explain each step…The communication line alone made the refinancing process every bit worth it.” Communication is vital when making a big financial decision such as buying a home, so having good communication from the company allows clients to feel more comfortable throughout the whole process.

“I’ve been doing this for 17 years and it’s changed every year,” Mary says. “Either there are new rules or new documentation…but the one thing that remains constant is communication. If you just do that and educate people, you’ll still do good business.”

Marimark Mortgage’s office is located at 5327 Primrose Lake Cir. in the Tampa Palms Professional Center. For more info, visit MarimarkMortgage.com or call (813) 910-8020.

Running Great Auto — 26 Years Of Trusted, Family-Owned Repairs

When Glen Yudman purchased Running Great Automotive on N. Nebraska Ave (just south of Skipper Rd.) in North Tampa in 1997, his two sons were just kids.

Now, 26 years later, Glen’s sons Robby and Danny work right alongside him every day at the shop that has grown to earn a reputation for honesty and reliability. And, Glen’s wife Barbi helps with the books and sometimes answers the phones.

That makes Running Great a true family business — despite the fact Glen says he actually encouraged his sons to do something else. “It’s long hours,” he says.

On the other hand, it’s also rewarding, knowing that the business helps people and provides the kind of honest, quality service that is harder and harder to find these days.

A staff of 11 handles automobile maintenance and repairs at Running Great — from oil changes to brake service to new tires and more — while an additional seven employees provide services in the body shop.

As an independently-owned, neighborhood automotive center, there are no sales commissions, no quotas, and no dealer prices.

“The body shop world is mainly franchises,” Glen says. “It’s not personal.”

Not so at Running Great, where the service is personal and the customers span generations. There are now young people who bring their cars in for maintenance and repairs who are the grown children of parents who have been Glen’s customers for decades.

That’s the case with Helen Lucht, who moved to the area in 1996. At that time, the air conditioning went out in her 1989 Honda Accord. She started asking around and was referred to Running Great.

“We’ve been going there ever since,” she says. “Because they’re honest.”

Raising two teenage boys who were hard on cars, Helen says she’s had all kinds of work done over the years, including replacing transmissions, A/C systems and even motors.

Now those boys are grown and they bring their own cars to Running Great, too, which might not be remarkable, except that one currently lives in Atlanta.

“Whenever he comes down for a visit, we go to Running Great,” Helen says. “He doesn’t have a mechanic in Atlanta.”

She says she appreciates that the technicians at Running Great advise her of issues with her car, but also let her know which things are urgent and if anything can wait.

Most of all, she’s grateful for the relationship that has been built over so many years. “It’s nice to call and say, ‘It’s Helen,’ and they know who we are,” she says.

That’s possible because of the longevity of the employees who work at Running Great. Glen says the shop has many long-term employees and very low turnover.

For example, Chris Bach is a certified Master Mechanic by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and has been working at the location for 32 years, starting out when Nebraska Ave. was just a two-lane road and the business was called Mad Hatter Mufflers, Brakes & Transmissions.

Many other technicians have worked at Running Great for 10 years or much longer, which is something else that sets it apart from franchise or dealer shops.

“We don’t follow any franchise rules. No one works on commission here,” Glen says. “Nobody out in the shop is going to profit by saying you need something. Whether you buy new brakes or you don’t, it’s all the same to the mechanic.”

He says Running Great has no need for quotas, as the shop is always busy, but never so busy that it can’t take in new customers and their vehicles. “We can’t promise every job can be done the same day, every day,” he says, while adding that his mechanics do their best to finish every job as quickly as possible.

The New Normal

Glen says that, as cars get more expensive, people are keeping them much longer. While it used to be the norm to trade in cars every few years, it’s not as common these days.

“We see cars with more than 100,000 miles literally every day,” he says. “Most people used to only take a four-year loan; now there are seven-year loans.”

He says the key to keeping your car in tip-top shape is still oil changes. Being in Florida, the oil gets really hot, so it’s important to change it every 3,000 miles for conventional oil and every 5,000 miles for synthetic oil. When you bring your car to Running Great, your oil change will include a complimentary — and legitimate — vehicle inspection.

“If you go to the quick oil change place, they don’t usually care if your steering is about to fall off or if you have a bald tire,” Glen says. “Most are not trained to look.”

He says his customers tell him all the time that they’re surprised that the people at the oil change place didn’t tell them about problems with their brakes or other systems, but Glen emphasizes that’s not what a quick oil change place is in business to do.

And, he advises, if your brakes make any noise other than just a squeak, get someone to look at them right away. “The longer you wait,” he says, “the more it will cost you.”

As a NAPA-certified auto care center, any repairs done at Running Great use NAPA’s better quality parts and have a nationwide guarantee. Glen says that means if you take a road trip or move, if something fails, it will be fixed at no cost to you. He adds the he will get parts from dealers when needed, but even if the parts aren’t from NAPA, the work is still guaranteed and can be repaired at no cost at any NAPA-certified repair shop.

Over in the body shop, Glen says a steady stream of cars that have been in accidents come in for repair, with many more fender benders than they used to see.

Running Great uses a computer matching system for paint that has a camera with an eye that goes up against the body of the car to match the color. If it’s not perfect, the body shop can make adjustments based on what they see. They tint the paint on site so adjustments can be made as needed.

Drivers who have been in an accident have the right to take their car to any body shop they choose, so even if the insurance company recommends a specific shop, you don’t have to go there.

He says Running Great works with directly with all insurance companies and he recommends that you never pay out of pocket if your car needs body work.

“Always go through insurance,” he says. “Otherwise, you won’t get a rental and, if someone else agrees to pay for your repairs, they aren’t going to pay more if we find something else wrong. But, the insurance company will.”

Running Great Auto (14513 N. Nebraska Ave.) is open Mon.-Fri., 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and 7:30 a.m.-noon on Sat. For more information, call (813) 971-0642, visit RunningGreatAuto.com.

Auto Shop Car Car Repair Car Shop Glen Yudman New Tampa

Cerillo Family Dentistry Now Has Two Offices To Serve You Better!

With more than 30 years of experience in this area, Louis (Lou) Cerillo, DDS, of Cerillo Family Dentistry, has established himself as a trusted and highly skilled dentist in the New Tampa community and beyond. For the last five years, Dr. Cerillo has had a second Cerillo Family Dentistry office, in order to reach those who live in Pasco County. That newer office is located off S.R. 52, on Curley St. in San Antonio, just north of Wesley Chapel. And, after nearly a decade in a nearby retail strip center, Dr. Cerillo moved his Tampa Palms office to his own building in the Somerset Professional Park in Tampa Palms in 2001.

Dr. Cerillo earned both his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Psychology and his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degrees from Creighton University in Omaha, NE. He then completed his general practice residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry in Lincoln. He also has completed continuing education at the Dawson Center in St. Petersburg, the Engel Institute in Charlotte, NC, and at the University of Florida in Gainesville. After working as an associate in a dental practice in Nebraska for some time, Dr. Cerillo says he moved to Spring Hill, FL, to escape the cold.

After five years, Dr. Cerillo decided to move to the New Tampa area with his family in 1993 to open his own dental practice. He says he was attracted to the area because of the amount of activity in the community and because he and his wife Pam agreed that it seemed like a good place to settle with their four children. Since then, the Tampa Palms and New Tampa areas have experienced significant population growth, which in turn has brought a need and demand for additional medical and dental services. This steady, continued growth in not only New Tampa, but also in Wesley Chapel and San Antonio, led to his opening the second office, “and that office has continued to grow with the increasing population coming into Pasco County,” he says.

Working alongside Dr. Cerillo in the Tampa Palms office is Affan Siddiqui, DMD. Dr. Siddiqui earned his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of South Florida (USF) before earning his Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Bradenton.

The San Antonio office also includes Katelyn Radner, DMD, who earned her B.S. in Biology and DMD degrees from the University of Florida, as well as a Master of Science in Medical Science (MSMS) degree from USF. Dr. Radner also is certified to treat patients with Invisalign clear aligners. Also working in the San Antonio office is Zayna Javeed, DMD, who earned her B.S. degree from USF and her DMD degree from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Dentistry.

Cerillo Family Dentistry offers many comprehensive services within its general dentistry practice. This includes preventive care, such as routine cleanings, low-radiation digital X-rays, extractions and fluoride treatments, as well as emergency dental work.

Implants, Crowns & More

Recognizing that restoring dental health is equally important, Cerillo Family Dentistry also provides a wide range of restorative options, including dental implants and dentures, as well as crowns, bridges and partial dentures to further improve the appearance of your teeth. Available cosmetic dentistry solutions also include veneers and dental bonding, as well as teeth whitening (including take-home whitening kits), reshaping teeth, closing spaces between teeth and restoring worn or broken teeth.

Patient Dave O’Connor says he has had a great experience with Cerillo Family Dentistry. “As soon as you walk into the office, everyone is super friendly and helpful.” Dave says. “We just moved to the area and couldn’t be happier with this office. I would highly recommend (it) if you are looking for an office that is professional and friendly.”

*Both Cerillo Family Dentistry offices (including the newer office on Curley St. n San Antonio) feature low-radiation digital X-rays*.

Both offices accept most insurance plans, including Aetna, Ameritas, Cigna, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Delta, MetLife and more. Also welcome are patients with disabilities. If you need an accommodation to receive dental services, Cerillo Family Dentistry is happy to provide one.

Dr. Cerillo — who is an active member of the American Dental Association (ADA), the Florida Dental Association, the West Coast District Dental Association, the Hillsborough County Dental Association, and the Florida Academy of Dental Practice Administration — prides himself not only on the quality dental work both of his offices provide, but also on his commitment to the communities he serves. He was a founding member of the New Tampa Italian Club (along with local orthodontist Dr. Mark Farina and photographer/DJ Paul Gigante). His offices also have sponsored many local athletic programs and schools. Outside of dentistry, Dr. Cerillo loves boating, fishing, traveling, cooking, and enjoying a glass of wine with family and friends.

Dr. Siddiqui also enjoys spending time with his family, trying new foods and watching soccer. He also is an avid exerciser, which he says is non-negotiable when you’re a foodie! He enjoys comedy, traveling, exploring new cultures, and making new friends from all walks of life. Dr. Siddiqui also volunteers at the Red Crescent Clinic in Tampa, which provides compassionate, free medical and dental care to anyone in need. No matter how busy he gets, though, he says his all-time favorite activity is spending quality time with his loving wife.

*(Above) Dr. Katelyn Radner (left) and Dr. Zayna Javeed are the dentists you’re more likely to see at the Cerillo Dentistry office at the corner of S.R. 52 and Curley St. in San Antonio.*

Meanwhile, Dr. Radner is an active member of the Academy of General Dentistry (AAGD) and the ADA who enjoys exercising, traveling, reading, hiking and spending time with family and friends.

Dr. Javeed is a member of the AAGD, the ADA and the Florida Dental Association. She enjoys interior design, baking desserts and makeup artistry. All of her hobbies require close attention to detail and a steady hand, which aid her in creating beautiful smiles for her patients.

The Tampa Palms office of Cerillo Family Dentistry (15277 Amberly Dr.) is open Monday, Tuesday & Thursday, 7 a.m.-4 p.m., 7 a.m.-3 p.m. on Wednesday, and 8 a.m.-noon on Friday. For more information, call (813) 791-7871 or (656) 206-0147. Or, see the ad on pg. 36 of this issue or visit cerillofdtampa.com. The San Antonio office (11938 Curley St.) is open Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., and 8 a.m.-noon on Friday. For more info, call (352) 268-9630, or visit cerillofdsanantonio.com.

Affan Siddiqui Cerillo dentist Dr. Cerillo Dr. Siddiqui Louis Cerillo New Tampa Wesley Chapel

It’s All On The Avenue We’re Taking You To (Or Near?) — 42nd St.!

For years, whenever anyone headed southwest from Tampa Palms on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. towards the Lake Forest subdivision, there really wasn’t much between the two on the west side of BBD other than a gas station, a flower shop (A Special Rose Florist, now located in Tampa Palms), a do-it-yourself car wash, an Ob/Gyn office and the North Oaks condominiums.

(Top) For about 50 years, the for-lease Palma Verde apartments at the corner of Bruce B. Downs Blvd. & 42nd St. were the only buildings on 42nd St. But, eight years ago, the Angels Senior Living Assisted Living & Memory Care residence (middle and bottom photos) opened, and the beautiful lobby area has been welcoming residents to its 102 studio, 1- and 2-bedroom and 24 memory care apartments ever since.

Just north of North Oaks, a street labeled as 42nd St. already was home to the Palma Verde apartments, a small rental apartment development built in 1965 made up of ten one-bedroom units in five buildings.

Then, roughly eight years ago, Angels Senior Living at New Tampa Assisted Living & Memory Care, which has a sign at the corner of 42nd and BBD, near the Palma Verde apartments (which are managed by Martino Chillura Management), became the second establishment to open on 42nd St., and both Angels and Palma Verde have Tampa addresses in zip code 33613.

The 42nd St. location, which offers 102 beds and 89 total units (including 24 secured memory care apartments), is one of eleven senior living facilities the Angels Senior Living parent company operates throughout the Tampa Bay area. Photographer Charmaine George and I toured Angels and I will say that it is quaint, super-clean and provides its seniors with home health care, therapy, pharmaceutical services, adult day care, respite care and a lovely place to live.

What prompted me to write this story, however, was the fact that until more of the property on BBD began being cleared a couple of years ago, to add more than 750 total additional rental units (see below), I honestly didn’t even know Angels was there. Yes, we had published stories about the new apartment units that had begun construction at that time, but now, as you head north on 42nd St. from Angels, you realize that not only are there sparkling, new apartments for rent, but also that the street seems to change names to what is now called Cypress Cay Blvd.

This mile-or-so-long stretch of Cypress Cay Blvd. actually does have a separate curb cut on BBD just north of 42nd St. In addition, even though Palma Verde and Angels are located in zip code 33613, the new apartment communities — the separate Lantana and Sage at Cypress Cay rental communities located north of Angels — actually have Lutz addresses in zip code 33559.

Cypress Cay Blvd. continues past the 252-unit Lantana (which just welcomed its first residents a couple of weeks ago and is not yet 100% completed) and 304-unit Sage (which has been open for about a year) communities and winds its way towards a new multi-family development known as the Cottages at Cypress Cay, which will include 198 total additional rental units in 71 buildings.

Although we don’t yet have much information about the Cottages at Cypress Cay, based on the photo of its sign (below), it appears that, like Lantana and Sage, it also will be seeking to reach upscale apartment renters. Lantana and Sage feature 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom apartments ranging from $1,800 to more than $3,000 per month. And, while they are located near USF, these are not your usual student apartments, with their beautiful lobby areas, upscale amenities and gated security.

Both Lantana and Sage are being developed by RangeWater Real Estate, which has developed dozens of apartment communities in 11 states, including Ascend Grove West and Beacon Epperson in Wesley Chapel. We were told that Sage, which is nearing its capacity, is now under contract to be sold.

Meanwhile, The Cottages are being developed by Capstone Communities, which also has developed thousands of units in over half the U.S. (including 8 projects in Florida), but is making its debut in the Tampa Bay area.

And, just northeast of where Cypress Cay Blvd. meets BBD (see map on next page), there is an undeveloped commercial lot. We don’t yet know what is planned for that site, but will update that for you in a future issue.

42nd St Angels Senior Living apartments construction Cottages at Cypress Cay Apartments Lantana Apartments New Tampa Palma Verde Apartments Sage Apartments

2023 Neighborhood News Dining Survey & Contest (New Tampa)

Whether or not you’ve ever entered one of our previous Reader Dining Survey & Contests, I hope you’ll consider entering at least once this year.

Yes, while we still have at least three (there could be more) free dining prizes, from $35 to $100 — to the restaurant of your choice in the Tampa Bay area — we’re making it easier than ever before for you to enter.

Instead of a full page or more of different dining categories, all we’re asking you for is to answer one or two questions in any issue between now and Thursday, November 16, and you’ll receive an entry into those random prize drawings for each Survey question you answer.

This issue, we’ll start you off with two questions, each of which asks you for FIVE (5) different answers.

The first question, on this page, asks you to “Name your Five Favorite Restaurants (of any kind) located in New Tampa” (including all of zip code 33647 — Bruce B. Downs Blvd. from south of the Pasco County line to where E. Bearss Ave. meets Livingston Ave. — and all of Cross Creek Blvd.).

For your entry to be valid to win prizes for these questions, you must name five different restaurants for each of them. If you only name one or two restaurants or fill in the name of the same restaurant in all five spaces for either question, you’ll only have one (or two) votes counted and your entry will not be eligible to win any of our prizes. Please also do not name restaurants located in Wesley Chapel as among your favorites in New Tampa or vice-versa.

Then, in each of the next five issues, we’ll ask you to name only one or two of your favorites — for example, your Favorite Chinese Restaurant, Coffee Shop or Pizza Place — and we’ll give you one additional entry into our random prize drawings for each valid entry you submit. We feel as though this should stimulate more people to enter the contests, because the task won’t be as daunting as having to completely (or nearly completely) fill out an entire page of favorites — and doesn’t everyone who lives in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel have at least five favorite restaurants located in or near our distribution areas?

As always, there’s no purchase necessary to enter or win a prize. All we ask is that you follow the following rules:

1. Enter by clicking HERE and filling out the online survey form.

2. You can mail us your filled-out entry form (send it to “2023 Neighborhood News Dining Contest,” 2604 Cypress Ridge Blvd., Suite 102D, Wesley Chapel, FL 33544) or email it to us at Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com. *Note-Entries filled out on our website do not need to be mailed or emailed to us.

3. Please check the addresses and zip codes of the restaurants you choose, as we will only consider votes for restaurants in zip code 33647, the portion of zip code 33559 (Lutz) on Bearss Ave., from BBD to Livingston Ave., and in the Oak Ramble Plaza (33613) as valid New Tampa votes, and only votes for restaurants located in zip codes 33543, 33544 and 33545 (Wesley Chapel) and zip code 33559 (Lutz, on S.R. 54 no further west than Oak Grove Blvd.) will be counted as valid “Wesley Chapel” votes.

4. In order to be eligible to win any of our free dining prizes to the restaurant of your choice, your entry form with a response to at least one of our questions over the next five months must include your full name, the community you live in (Hunter’s Green, Grand Hampton, etc.), a daytime phone number where you can be reached and your valid email address.

We look forward to seeing how this year’s contest shakes out. Good luck!

You can also click HERE to fill out the online form to tell us your favorite Wesley Chapel restaurants!

dining Dining Contest dining survey Dining Survey and Contest food New Tampa