Tampa Bay Home Team Helps Sellers & Buyers With Discounted Commissions 

Joe & Christina Kipping say they rare proud to run their Tampa Bay Home Team real estate office on Cypress Ridge Blvd. like a family, but here they are with their actual family. (Photos provided by Joe Kipping)

Joe Kipping loves his family and he also loves to be a coach. A former high school and college football player himself, he now coaches football for his sons, Joey, 10, and Jaxson, 9. 

But, Joe spends most of his time coaching clients in his role as a real estate agent and broker, and cultivating a business that feels more like a family than a corporation. 

He and his wife, Christina, who also is a real estate agent, own Tampa Bay Home Team. 

Joe started in the industry in 2003. 

“I was doing mortgages, but I didn’t want to be strapped behind a desk,” he says. From his vantage point, he met real estate agents who weren’t serving their clients well. “I can do this better,” he thought, so he pursued a real estate license. 

He started selling homes in 2007, then established the company that would become Tampa Bay Home Team in 2009. After 10 years under the Keller Williams umbrella, Tampa Bay Home Team is now part of eXp Realty. 

“We made the switch to eXp Realty because it offers greater opportunities for Realtors through revenue sharing and stock ownership,” Joe explains, adding that eXp Realty has an innovative model that allows agents to build wealth for retirement during their careers. 

In 2014, Christina was let go from a corporate job in finance and joined Joe in the business. 

And in 2021, Joe’s career came full circle when he opened a mortgage business, called Motto Mortgage Home Team, a local franchise of a Denver-based company that has more than 225 offices in 40 states. 

The office for both companies is located in Wesley Chapel, on Cypress Ridge Blvd. near AdventHealth Center Ice. It includes five more agents, all of whom have been at the company for several years. 

“We’re family oriented,” says Christina. “We’re a small business, and we really do treat clients as family, and our employees would say the same thing.” 

Joe and Christina are native to the Tampa Bay area and moved to Wesley Chapel almost 15 years ago. In addition to Joey and Jaxon, Joe and Christina also have two daughters. Taylor, who is 14 and six-year-old Natalie. 

“I love to educate people,” Joe says, “whether they’re buying now or 10 years from now. I’m a coach at heart. If they buy 10 years from now, I want to be the guy who has been there the whole time, educating them along the way.” 

“We’re here to help people when the time is right,” Christina adds. 

Discounted Commissions 

Joe and Christina say they have stripped their commission fees “down to bare bones” and offer a menu system where buyers can pay as little as 1.5 percent. However, they say, most people choose the 2% option. 

They say that if someone doesn’t see value in a particular service, they shouldn’t have to pay for it. In other words, their options put the consumer in the driver seat. 

Meanwhile, Tampa Bay Home Team’s clients say their lower commission rate doesn’t mean a lower level of service. 

When you list your home for sale with Tampa Bay Home Team, you can rest assured that outstanding photography will always be part of the deal. 

Eric Sanchez worked with Christina to sell his home in Meadow Pointe. He’s lived in Wesley Chapel for 18 years, but recently bought a home in Two Rivers. 

“I was under duress and had to make a quick sale,” he explains. “I was looking for a Realtor who was willing to take less commission and found Christina. It was truly a godsend.” 

Back in 2006, during the local real estate market crash, Eric had tried to sell in Temple Terrace by hiring a full-commission Realtor. That home never sold and he eventually lost it. He wanted to be sure he didn’t make that mistake again.

“(Christina and Joe) have a whole office working hard to sell my home,” Eric says. “They did everything from referring me to contractors who did an excellent job, to helping me pack. There was absolutely nothing the Home Team couldn’t handle for me.” 

Eric received an offer within two weeks and closed on the sale of his home less than four weeks from when it was listed. 

“A lot of things had to fall into place, and Christina handled everything to a ‘T,’” Eric says. “I got premium service — absolutely the full service of what you would expect from a Realtor’s office, with no corners cut – at a discounted rate. 

He says he and his wife, Carmen, speak of them highly every opportunity we get, and refer them to anyone they can. 

“They even have the post-sale saying,” explains Eric. “You’re family now. They have get-togethers and social events, and they invite us. It’s not a business feeling; it’s a family feeling. I don’t feel like a customer; I feel like a friend.” 

Joe and Christina say a couple of things their clients really appreciate include their partnership with Zillow to showcase the homes they market. 

Also, Tampa Bay Home Team has an in-house media department for photography and videography. When they used to outsource photography, pictures were snapped quickly in less than an hour, but now their staff can spend all day getting the perfect pictures to best showcase a home online. 

“Clients like it because they don’t feel rushed,” Christina explains. “This is a big step for them, putting their biggest asset on the market. They want someone to come in and care about it as much as they do.” 

They also say their background in the financial industry and mortgages also is a benefit to their clients. 

“A lot of agents are not trained on the mortgage side,” Joe says. “You want to make sure the person you’re hiring as a listing agent has the background knowledge to know what questions to ask the lender so there are no issues with the mortgage.” 

He says they’ve heard a lot of horror stories about deals that don’t close. “The worst thing is after you’ve made plans, you’re packed up and ready to move, and the deal dies,” he says. 

Guaranteed Offers, Too 

That’s one reason people are tempted by online companies that offer convenience and a sure thing, such as Open Door and Offerpad. But Joe says his company offers a better option. 

Tampa Bay Home Team will make a guaranteed cash offer on your home. 

“We have investors that will give full market value for homes,” Joe explains. “It’s a unique program that gets people a lot more money.” 

He says online companies typically offer about 80 percent of a home’s value. Recently, Joe says a seller got $30,000 more from Tampa Bay Home Team than they were offered from an online source. 

“If consumers go to Open Door or Offerpad, they are not being represented,” explains Joe. “Our fiduciary responsibility is to the client to represent their best interest. Those companies’ responsibility is to their shareholders.” 

He says the most important thing when buying or selling a home is to work with someone who has a track record of selling a lot of homes, with the experience and education to navigate the transaction. 

For example, Robert Holbert and his wife Carrie have 2-year-old twins and a 10-year-old. They are another client of The Home Team who recently moved to Wesley Chapel from New Tampa. They’re also repeat customers who first bought a house with Home Team in 2020. Then, The Home Team helped Robert’s parents move into the area in 2022. 

“Joe is super knowledgeable about the market and has done a great job of keeping the relationship with us,” Robert says. “It’s not just a deal, but he’s been someone we see around town, who has helped us with follow-up questions about schools and when we needed a recommendation to replace our A/C. He’s been available for us, not just for one transaction.” 

Tampa Bay Home Team is located at 2818 Cypress Ridge Blvd., Ste. 150. For more information about Tampa Bay Home Team, contact Joe and Christina at (813) 321-HOME (4663), email info@TampaBayHome.com or visit TampaBayHome.com. 

The professional real estate team at Tampa Bay Home Team also enjoys spending time together outside of work. 

Understanding The New Real Estate Rules — And How They Affect You 

The real estate industry in the U.S. has weathered many permanent changes since it first began. These changes typically have translated to greater protections and transparency for buyers and sellers, and has kept the industry innovating and moving forward. 

There are more major changes proposed for the national real estate market this summer, and they could end up affecting everyone. These likely changes are the outcome of a pending settlement in a national class action lawsuit, brought against the National Association of Realtors (NAR) organization by the plaintiffs, a group of home sellers from the Midwest who listed their homes for sale on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) using real estate Brokers. 

In order to try to better understand what’s happening, let’s first break everything down to the basics. 

What Is A Real Estate Brokerage? 

In order to legally practice real estate in Florida, a real estate agent must have an “active” license, working under a Broker or be the Broker (an experienced agent who’s gone through additional licensing requirements and runs a brokerage) themselves. The Broker and his or her agents all work under the brokerage (real estate company). Among the many well-known national brokerages are RE/MAX, Keller Williams and HomeServices of America, all of which were named in the suits. 

Exceptions for those who are able to engage in real estate transactions but who are not under a brokerage are the following — real estate attorneys, agents who are employed by home builders in community sales offices, agents in leasing offices and buyers or sellers who represent themselves in their own real estate transactions. 

What Is The NAR? 

As real estate records began being tracked in the U.S. around the end of the 1800s, there was inconsistency and dubious practices among some in the profession. To curb the problems, 19 various city real estate boards and the California State Realty Federation organized and created the National Association of Real Estate Exchanges in 1908. That name was later changed to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). 

In 1913, the Association adopted its ‘Code of Ethics’ with the “Golden Rule” as its guiding principle. Shortly after, in 1916, the term “REALTOR” was created for those who were members of the National Association and who went through extended training to learn and pledge to uphold its strict code of ethics. 

Now, NAR is the largest trade organization in the U.S., with nearly 1.5 million members. 

What Is The MLS? 

NAR also controls and regulates most of the 800 local and regional Multiple Listing Services (MLS) throughout the country. These MLSs serve as the primary databases where information (including photos) about current local real estate for sale or rent is uploaded, listed and then shared with potential buyers. Popular websites like Zillow.com and Homes.com (photo above) pull most of their information from MLS. 

From very early on, in order to list on an MLS, NAR required a written listing agreement, which meant that the seller would specify who (which Broker or agent) could list his or her property and the specific commissions that would be paid, and to whom, in order to avoid later disputes and build trust among those in the early profession. 

This early requirement stuck. The commissions are currently either specified in the listing agreement as a percentage of the total sale price, or as a flat dollar amount. 

What Happened With The Case? 

Previously, NAR’s “Participation Rule” required that for a property to be listed on MLS at all, some compensation (even as little as $1) must be offered to the buyer’s agent. The plaintiffs in the case claimed that some of the nation’s largest real estate brokerage firms used this rule to collude with NAR to fix prices and artificially raise the amount of home sale commissions, even though commissions had always been negotiable. 

The jury sided with the plaintiffs at the end of last October (2023), and awarded them approximately $1.8 billion in damages. After the ruling, NAR immediately changed its Participation Rule so that seller listings could offer as little as $0 commission to a buyer’s agent, and in November, Stellar MLS (the local MLS that covers the entire Tampa Bay area) updated its rules and regulations so the local system could accept $0 in that commission input field. 

When Was The Settlement Reached? 

On March 15, 2024, a smaller settlement in the amount of $418 million was reached between the parties. According to Katie Johnson, the chief legal officer of NAR, “This settlement would resolve the claims brought against NAR.” This settlement is the document all parties agreed to, but this isn’t the end. Johnson stated that, “Like all settlements of class action litigation, it is subject to court approval.” 

What this means is that the proposed settlement terms and changes to real estate policies might not take effect until July of this year, at the earliest. 

The settlement also came with a cap, meaning only large brokerages with residential transaction volumes of $2 billion or more in 2022 were liable to pay into the settlement fund, and ones with volumes below $2 billion were released from liability. The brokerage HomeServices of America, however, chose to not participate in the settlement, and has now become the lone defendant, wanting to fight it out and take its chances, potentially pushing the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. 

What Are The Proposed Changes? 

There are two primary changes that will affect the entire real estate landscape: 

From the Stellar MLS public website: 

1. “Compensation offers moved off the MLS: NAR has agreed to put in place a new rule prohibiting offers of compensation (to be listed) on the MLS.” As was mentioned before, NAR had already changed its policy to allow for offers of $0 compensation to the buyer’s agent on the MLS, but currently, most sellers are still opting to include some type of commission in that field. But, this change would strictly prohibit ANY commission being offered in the MLS listing at all. 

The intent was to level the playing field to make sure there was no steering, so buyers’ agents would show them every potential house, regardless of the commission, because they wouldn’t know what it might be up front, as they historically have been able to know. 

This doesn’t prohibit the agents from negotiating concessions behind the scenes, but the hope and goal of the settlement was that increasing negotiations at this step, and at the initial written representation agreements (see below), would overall reduce total commissions paid nationwide, saving consumers money. 

Also from Stellar MLS public website: 

2. “Written agreements for MLS participants acting for buyers: MLS participants [agents/Brokers] working with buyers will be required to enter into written representation agreements with their buyers.” 

These written and signed agreements are typically known as Buyer Agency Agreements and specifically might be referred to as Exclusive Buyer Broker Agreements (EBBA), which are already required in more than a dozen states, but are optional in the rest. These are meant to ensure that home buyers know in advance what their agent will charge for their services, if the seller doesn’t offer concessions to compensate them. 

Also, the seller may still offer concessions, but instead of a commission being paid directly to the buyer’s broker from the seller (like it had been traditionally done in the past), a concession might go to the buyer, and then the buyer would pay their agent the rate listed in the agreement. So, if the seller were offering 2% concessions, but the agreement between the buyer and their agent was 3%, then the buyer may have to come up with the remaining 1% themselves. 

This, of course, could cause the buyer to reconsider that particular property or take concessions more into consideration, now that they might have to participate in paying for their real estate agent’s services. 

What Are The Concerns? 

This settlement has caused concern for certain categories of home buyers who may be at a disadvantage, given current restrictions and budgets. For example, a first-time home buyer with less buying power might be more swayed by certain properties based solely on the concessions they are offering in order to pay their agent, and sellers may not even entertain the buyer’s offers if they ask for too much in concessions. 

Other buyers who might be affected more than others are those who may use Veterans Administration (VA) loans, which are reserved for U.S. Armed Forces active duty service members, veterans, reservists, or their surviving spouses (under certain circumstances) that meet the minimum active-duty service requirements set forth by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. Many buyers who qualify might choose to use a VA loan over other types of loans because the terms are typically much better. 

However for VA loans, current restrictions on certain fees would not be compatible with the proposed national change. On March 27, NAR president Kevin Sears wrote a letter to the VA and shared his concern about this, stating, “In this exceedingly competitive market, we are concerned that the VA’s current policies place veterans at a significant disadvantage compared to traditional buyers. Under VA policies, buyers using their home loan benefit are prohibited from compensating their professional representative directly. In situations where no offer of compensation is offered from a seller, VA buyers are immediately at a disadvantage, potentially forcing them to forego professional representation, lose a property in an already limited inventory, choose a different loan product, or exit the market entirely.” 

No one knows exactly what this all will look like moving forward, or what things will have to change in order to make it all work, but there is a timid yet optimistic outlook from real estate professionals that things will work out for the best, as they have many times in the past. 

Realtor® & Military Veteran Kandice Perkins: Passion, Purpose & Legacy! 

Let Realtor® Kandice Perkins of Keller Williams New Tampa help you find a new home with the kitchen of your dreams, too.(Photos provided by Kandice Perkins) 

With six years of dedicated service in the real estate industry, Kandice Perkins stands out as a licensed REALTOR® at Keller Williams New Tampa (located near the AMC movie theater on Highwoods Preserve Pkwy.) who is known for her military discipline, compassion and commitment to excellence. Kandice brings a unique perspective to her role, having spent a decade as an active duty U.S. Air Force veteran and nurse and a devoted military spouse, she focuses on helping families navigate the real estate market in New Tampa, Wesley Chapel and the entire Tampa Bay area. 

Kandice says her journey into real estate was inspired by her great-grandfather, who owned properties during her childhood. She reflects, “When I came of age, I became interested in owning property. This might have come from that seed being planted when I was younger. As cliché as it sounds, I believe this is what God told me I should do.” 

She compliments the comprehensive training she has received with Keller Williams, emphasizing the importance of understanding the business side of real estate. 

“Keller Williams truly teaches you how to operate and run a business,” Kandice says. “For me, it’s about running a real estate business versus just selling houses. Training is important. You have to constantly be a learner of the craft.” 

A Texas native, Kandice began her real estate career in Virginia before settling in Florida. She shares her own experience while trying to find her current home online in the Watergrass community in Wesley Chapel during the pandemic. “We found the model home on the internet at the end of July 2020 in the middle of Covid,” she says, “and two days later, we drove down from Virginia to see it in person, wrote a contract on the home, sold our Virginia home and waited eleven months for our home to be completed before we relocated to Wesley Chapel.” 

Kandice adds that the home-buying process is an exciting — but also challenging — time for families, and research shows that families like hers spend hours on the internet before ever meeting with a real estate professional. 

Although she is active on all social media platforms, she champions old-school, traditional and personal interactions in real estate, like advertising in print publications. 

Fondly recalling her upbringing in a small Texas town, she explains, “Being from Nacogdoches, I grew up reading the newspaper. Whenever I go home to Texas, I still read the newspaper at my grandmother’s. When we relocated here, and I received the first issue of the Neighborhood News in our mailbox, it reminded me of that small-town newspaper I grew up reading. I still love traditional marketing, and when I saw the ads, I knew I wanted to run a real estate ad in this Neighborhood News.” 

Understanding The Market 

Kandice provides insight into the dynamics of the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel real estate markets, and also sheds some light on the impact of interest rates on local real estate trends. 

“It depends on whether you are buying or selling,” she says. “People are still buying and selling homes every day. With rising interest rates, you have some homes that stay on the market longer; however, this is why your representation matters, and it’s important to choose the right Realtor®️who will work with and for you and develop a customized marketing strategy specifically to meet your real estate goals.” 

She adds that there is a direct correlation between interest rates and buyers’ purchasing power, and says these fluctuations definitely do affect the housing market. 

“Interest rates directly affect most people’s buying power and have knocked some of those buyers who already had challenges out of the market,” Kandice says. “The higher the rate, the lower the home value many people are able to purchase. Increasing rates have created fear in some buyers, too. Some feel like they want to ‘wait until the market crashes,’ but they could potentially be waiting for something that might never happen.” 

At the core of Kandice’s philosophy is her commitment to educating her clients, whether buyers or sellers. During her initial consultation with you, she will try to ensure that you understand the market. 

“It’s all about educating the clients to make sure they know exactly what the home buying or selling process is about,” she says, “so they can truly make an informed decision. I can educate my clients about the market, my partners and lenders. I get to know each client. The real estate process itself is the same whether you are buying or selling a home.” 

Kandice adds, however, that “What will be different will be the client’s understanding of that process. I find out the client’s needs and expectations and tailor my services. I ensure they are informed every step of the way so they can make the right decision for themselves. It always goes back to the education piece.” 

With her exemplary track record as a multi-million-dollar real estate producer, Kandice’s work ethic is an extension of the dedication she had to have during her military and nursing careers. She aims to create a seamless real estate experience for clients and has cultivated a nationwide network of reliable referral partners who share her values. 

And, unlike Realtors who confine themselves to rigid 9-to-5 schedules, Kandice embraces flexibility and multifaceted involvement. She teases, “I’m a Realtor, but I’m also a counselor, a therapist and a financial advisor. I wear many hats throughout the process. I’m truly here in a support role for whatever level of support my clients need. I care about the client as a whole person, not just as a transaction.” 

Still In Service To Others 

Kandice’s dedication to her clients extends to the elderly, as she recounts helping an 83-year-old transition to a new chapter in her life — selling the family home and moving in with her child. 

“I felt like I gave her the same service and care I would have if I was helping my own grandmother,” she says. “I felt proud because, especially in this day and age where you hear about elderly people getting taken advantage of, I know she had a great experience.” 

And, thanks to her client-centered approach, Kandice says, “She wasn’t overwhelmed and felt like she was working with a family member. She trusted me in one of the most vulnerable stages of her life. I was able to provide that service for her with true care and compassion.” 

As a senior Air Force veteran, empowering fellow veterans to achieve home ownership is another source of pride for Perkins. “To help a veteran who never thought they could own a home and build a legacy for their family,” she says, “those are really proud moments as well.” 

Monique Wyche, a fellow retired Air Force vet, says she is happy to discuss the outstanding service she experienced with Kandice during the purchase of her family’s dream home in Wesley Chapel and the sale of their former residence. 

“Kandice’s exceptional dedication, expertise and unwavering commitment as our family’s Realtor truly set her apart,” Monique says. “Not only did she skillfully guide us through the process of purchasing our home, but she also orchestrated the sale of our previous house seamlessly. Her deep knowledge of the market, strategic insights, and excellent communication made every step smooth and stress-free. Kandice went above and beyond by even arranging stunning drone photos that showcased our properties in the most captivating way. Her professionalism, warmth, and genuine care for her clients make her an invaluable partner in any real estate journey…..” 

In her personal life, Kandice enjoys reading, traveling, working out and spending quality time with her husband of twenty years, Nor Bryant, their college freshman son at A&M University, and their daughter, who is a junior at Wesley Chapel High. 

Kandice maintains an unshakable belief in real estate as a sound investment, rooted in her commitment to empowering clients through education. 

“No matter what changes are happening, real estate is always a great investment,” she says. “People will always need somewhere to live. The most important thing I do is educate the people to make sure that they make an informed decision about the investment. This is their experience and one of the most significant purchases that most people will make in their lives. It’s about serving the people selflessly. It’s never about me. It’s all about them and their experience. It’s about integrity, doing right when no one is around. As it’s changed my life, I love changing other people’s lives through real estate.” 

Realtor® Kandice Perkins is based at Keller Williams Realty New Tampa (18302 Highwoods Preserve Pkwy., Suite 110). The office number is (813) 991-1044, but the best way to reach Kandice is by calling (813) 560-5104 or visiting KandicePerkins.kw/com.