Fort Lauderdale Temperature Averages
When I ask buyers what made them decide to relocate to Florida from other states, their reasons almost always include Florida's year-round warm weather. If you're thinking of embarking on a Broward County, Florida relocation, be sure to check out Broward Homes For Sale where you can view a virtual tour of Broward County, find information on Broward schools, things to do in South Florida and search the Broward County MLS for listings of condos, villas, townhouses and homes. (Table below is copyright: ©Leanne Paynter)
English Spanish Real Estate Glossary
According to the 2005 Profile of International Home Buyers in Florida Survey sponsored by the Florida Associaton of Realtors®, one-third of the international buyers who purchased Florida real estate in 2005 were from South America, Central America and the Caribbean.
For Spanish-speaking real estate buyers, real estate terminology can be challenging if not intimidating. I just found a resource ideally suited for Spanish-speaking home buyers who are not yet completely fluent in English. It is the Real Estate Center's English-Spanish Real Estate Glossary which defines, translates and explains 700 real estate terms in English and Spanish and it can be purchased either in book or CD-ROM format at a reasonable price. For more information, click here.
Broward Condo Conversion - Colonnade Residences
In recent years there have been many South Florida condo conversions. One of the latest to open for sales is the Colonnade Residences at Sawgrass Mills in Sunrise, Florida. Offering 1, 2 and 3 bedroom condos from the low $200's, these condos include a washer & dryer, have a patio or balcony and some include a garage. The community features a pool, spa, tennis court, air-conditioned racquetball court, fitness center and children's playground.If you would like to preview these condos, please contact Broward County Realtor Leanne Paynter at 954-846-1600 before going in person. Having your own representation does not cost you extra and may save you money.
Tips for a Successful Garage Sale
Spring is just around the corner and this is a great time to plan for and hold a garage sale (or yard sale). Although a successful garage sale takes good planning, time and effort, the benefits usually make it worthwhile. It can help declutter your home and depending on the quantity and quality of the items you put up for sale, it has the potential to be reasonably profitable. If you are planning on putting your Broward County home on the market in the near future, consider having a garage or yard sale to make your move lighter as well as help potential home buyers see the amount of (not lack of) storage space in your home. Perhaps you'll even decide to use the profits from the garage sale to replace a stained carpet or an old appliance, or pay for any necessary repairs you know would show up on a home inspection report.Most local newspapers charge a nominal amount for anyone wanting to advertise a garage sale in the classified section. More articles for tips on having a successful garage sale:
The Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass Grand Opening
The latest addition to the ever-popular Sawgrass Mills Mall in Sunrise, Florida is now open. The Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass is an open-air promenade featuring luxury boutiques and gourmet dining. The high-end outlet stores include Crate & Barrel, Coach, Barneys New York, Hugo Boss, Burberry, Cole Haan and Escada. A day spa and elegant dining at the Grand Lux Cafe can also be found here.Printable Mall Directory (PDF)
Home Improvement Tips: Cost vs. Value
As a Broward County Realtor, I'm occasionally asked which home improvements provide the greatest return on investment (ROI). My answer really depends on several factors and in order for me to provide useful advice, I must be familiar with the property in question as the options can vary somewhat from house to house. Having said that, there are a few rules of thumb that are standard no matter what the property.
Generally speaking, kitchen and bathroom improvements will provide sellers with the greatest resale value. However, this does not mean it must be a complete makeover. Sometimes replacing items such as flooring, countertops, sinks, faucets, cabinet hardware and/or lighting fixtures can make a room look considerably more updated than before. Applying a fresh coat of neutral-colored paint is among the easiest and least expensive improvements you can make to any room. On the outside of the property, well-maintained front yard landscaping can also provide a good return on investment.
Another factor to consider when deciding what home improvements to make is the neighborhood the property is located in. Many real estate investment books advise home buyers and real estate investors to purchase the worst home in the best neighborhood in order to get the best value for their money. Keeping this in mind, you don't want to over-improve your home or landscaping so that it becomes the best house in the neighborhood unless you are doing it for your own enjoyment and not for resale value.
The suggestions in this article can be useful even if you own a condo. If you are thinking of placing your Broward condo for sale, it helps to know what types of improvements or upgrades your neighbors have made before deciding what, if any, updating you will make to your own condo before selling. The older the condo building is, the more useful this knowledge and research will be to you.
High on the list of things to take into account is whether you will be selling during a buyer's or seller's market. In the hot seller's market that we experienced in recent years, even properties that were not in good condition were selling quickly, sometimes at or near full price. Now that the market has cooled down somewhat and there are more properties on the market for buyers to choose from, buyers have the luxury of being pickier and expect more for their money.
Articles for further reading:
Broward County Foreclosures Increasing
The number of Broward County foreclosures increased by more than 25% in February according to Default Research Inc., a real estate research company for foreclosure properties.
How To Increase The Value Of Your Home Through Landscaping
We've all heard it before: first impressions are lasting impressions. If you're planning on selling your Broward County home in the near future, one way to increase your home's curb appeal as well as your Broward County property value is through landscaping. In this article, we'll concentrate on the front yard since that's among the first things a prospective home buyer will notice as they pull up to your home.
At a minimum, the lawn should be free of weeds, fertilized when appropriate, mowed and watered regularly and any patchy areas should be replaced with new grass or sod. Any dead or dying plants, shrubs, etc. should be removed or replaced. While mature trees can be great providers of shade and help reduce home energy costs, they should be pruned back if they are touching your home or thinned out if they shade such a large area that grass won't grow under their branches. Applying a fresh layer of mulch around trees, plants and in flower beds is one of the quickest and least expensive ways to improve your home's curb appeal. Finally, placing a nice container full of flowering plants next to the front door makes for an inviting entrance.
Articles for further reading:
Local MLS Statistics for February 2006
The Realtor Association of Greater Fort Lauderdale, of which I am a member, just released their February MLS Statistics:New Listings: - Single Family: 2,916
- Condo / Townhouse: 3,610
Available Inventory: - Single Family: 7,304 - up 16%
- Condo / Townhouse: 9,521 - up 15%
Average Sale Price:
- Single Family: $467,927 (-5% over January)
- Condo / Townhouse: $261,460 (7% over January)
Median Sale Price*: - Single Family: $355,000 (-7% over January)
- Condo / Townhouse: $215,000 (6% over January)
*The median sale price is the market price where half the homes sold for more, half sold for less.
