tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224537722024-03-08T11:54:38.336-05:00Broward County Real Estate BlogThis Broward County Real Estate Blog is designed to be a resource center covering topics such as home selling and buying, market conditions, property values, title insurance, mortgages/home loans, home inspections, property taxes, homeownership, home maintenance, trends, and Broward County real estate news and views.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22453772.post-1154963980380460602006-08-07T11:14:00.000-04:002006-08-07T11:20:31.476-04:00Local MLS Statistics for July 2006 The Realtor Association of Greater Fort Lauderdale, of which I am a member, has released their July MLS Statistics:New Listings: Single Family: 2,831Condo / Townhouse: 2,957 Available Inventory: Single Family: 10,502 - (4% over June)Condo / Townhouse: 13,087 - (3% over June)Average Sale Price:Single Family: $468,275 (-2% over June)Condo / Townhouse: $257,226 (-3% over June)Median Sale Price*:Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22453772.post-1154963465953486652006-07-07T11:02:00.000-04:002006-08-07T11:12:08.930-04:00Local MLS Statistics for June 2006 The Realtor Association of Greater Fort Lauderdale, of which I am a member, has released their June MLS Statistics:New Listings: Single Family: 2,865Condo / Townhouse: 3,020 Available Inventory: Single Family: 10,086 - (6% over May)Condo / Townhouse: 12,735 - (4% over May)Average Sale Price:Single Family: $477,047 (0% over May)Condo / Townhouse: $264,759 (4% over May)Median Sale Price*:Single Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22453772.post-1149456353489381912006-06-05T17:23:00.000-04:002006-08-07T10:51:38.833-04:00Local MLS Statistics for May 2006 The Realtor Association of Greater Fort Lauderdale, of which I am a member, has released their May MLS Statistics:New Listings: Single Family: 3,068Condo / Townhouse: 3,535 Available Inventory: Single Family: 9,537 - (8% over April)Condo / Townhouse: 12,297 - (7% over April)Average Sale Price:Single Family: $474,725 (2% over April)Condo / Townhouse: $255,572 (3% over April)Median Sale Price*:Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22453772.post-1148910276430252292006-05-29T09:44:00.000-04:002006-05-29T09:54:46.163-04:00Negotiating House Prices in Broward CountyThere are a few valuable home improvements that Broward home buyers often forget to factor in when negotiating the price of a house they are interested in. Today I will discuss two of them: hurricane shutters and sprinkler systems. The number of hurricanes that have affected us in recent years has caused many Broward County homeowners to invest in hurricane shutters. This is good. However, the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22453772.post-1147743961707066782006-05-15T21:44:00.000-04:002006-05-29T09:58:47.106-04:00Teardowns and McMansions in Broward County According to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Florida is among the 20 states they identified in 2002 that is experiencing teardowns in historic neighborhoods. In 2002 they identified 100 communities in 20 states and, unfortunately, as of May 2006 that number has soared to more than 300 communities in 33 states that are being impacted by teardowns.Of the 21 cities in Florida Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22453772.post-1154961125186999762006-05-07T10:31:00.000-04:002006-08-07T10:53:58.510-04:00Local MLS Statistics for April 2006 The Realtor Association of Greater Fort Lauderdale, of which I am a member, has released their April MLS Statistics:New Listings: Single Family: 2,908Condo / Townhouse: 3,527 Available Inventory: Single Family: 8,838 - (9% over March)Condo / Townhouse: 11,490 - (9% over March)Average Sale Price:Single Family: $465,328 (-4% over March)Condo / Townhouse: $247,934 (-6% over March)Median Sale Price*Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22453772.post-1145995102951397412006-04-25T15:57:00.000-04:002006-05-29T10:23:01.230-04:00Mack's Groves Closes Another of Broward County's "landmark" businesses (opened in 1954) has closed their doors. Mack's Groves, which had two stores - one on the corner of A1A and Commercial Blvd. in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea and another on Federal Hwy. in Pompano Beach was run by two sisters who decided it was time to retire. Mack's Groves is remembered by many who visited them as being one of those uniquely Floridian Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22453772.post-1145462114683412442006-04-19T11:50:00.000-04:002006-05-28T12:42:39.170-04:00Hurricane Supplies Sales Tax Holiday This year Florida residents will have the opportunity to save money while stocking up on certain hurricane supplies in limited quantities. The hurricane supplies sales tax holiday runs from May 21 - June 1.This is expected to encourage residents to become self-sufficient for the first 3 days following a hurricane. Governor Bush is pushing for a "culture of preparedness" so that Floridians can beUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22453772.post-1144741723538334502006-04-11T03:47:00.000-04:002006-05-28T14:15:27.560-04:00Free Annual Credit Report Thanks to federal regulations, you can now get a free copy of your credit report once every 12 months from each of the top three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Simply go to AnnualCreditReport.com.Remember that your credit report contains valuable information and experts recommend that you check them at least once a year. If you're thinking of buying any real estate Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22453772.post-1144010343255875082006-04-02T16:36:00.000-04:002006-08-07T10:56:03.453-04:00Local MLS Statistics for March 2006 The Realtor Association of Greater Fort Lauderdale, of which I am a member, has released their March MLS Statistics:New Listings: Single Family: 2,626Condo / Townhouse: 3,213Available Inventory: Single Family: 8,109 - (11% over February)Condo / Townhouse: 10,570 - (11% over February)Average Sale Price:Single Family: $483,560 (3% over February)Condo / Townhouse: $257,831 (-1% over February)MedianUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22453772.post-1142909921807744532006-03-20T20:26:00.000-05:002006-03-21T02:52:34.896-05:00Fort Lauderdale Temperature AveragesWhen 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 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22453772.post-1142029506118773562006-03-10T17:24:00.000-05:002006-05-28T13:11:47.866-04:00English 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 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22453772.post-1142023713970177922006-03-10T14:07:00.000-05:002006-03-10T15:55:10.080-05:00Broward 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 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22453772.post-1141856262637261032006-03-08T16:47:00.000-05:002006-03-21T03:17:16.743-05:00Tips 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 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22453772.post-1141699099176823912006-03-06T20:33:00.000-05:002006-03-06T21:49:46.466-05:00The 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 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22453772.post-1141693679487273112006-03-06T19:43:00.000-05:002006-03-06T20:17:42.163-05:00Home 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 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22453772.post-1141690099534305592006-03-06T18:44:00.000-05:002006-03-06T19:14:26.136-05:00Broward 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.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22453772.post-1141609815584545192006-03-05T20:36:00.000-05:002006-03-05T21:00:02.510-05:00How 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 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22453772.post-1141244173677788032006-03-01T15:05:00.000-05:002006-08-07T11:01:03.336-04:00Local 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: 2,916Condo / Townhouse: 3,610Available 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 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22453772.post-1141065936506259862006-02-27T12:38:00.000-05:002006-02-27T14:02:41.290-05:00Broward County Homestead Exemption The deadline for filing for your Broward County homestead exemption is March 1st so if you have not already done so, don't delay!The Florida Constitution provides a tax-saving exemption of $25,000 of the assessed value of an owner/occupied residence for those who qualify. You can file online or at any of their locations.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22453772.post-1140794058091761942006-02-24T09:50:00.000-05:002006-02-24T10:31:43.743-05:00Luxury homes to replace Raintree Golf Course Pembroke Pines city officials announced last week that the 123-acre Raintree Golf Course will be replaced by a gated community of 103 homes on half-acre lots, each selling for at least $1 million. The city had wanted the land for a school and a park or open space but was unable to pay the $40 million dollar price the owner of the golf course had set.The 10-acre site on the corner of the propertyUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22453772.post-1140554241658408542006-02-21T15:34:00.000-05:002006-05-29T10:16:05.540-04:00IKEA to open store in Sunrise! The Swedish furniture giant IKEA, with 26 stores throughout the U.S., has announced that it will build its first Florida store in Sunrise by summer 2007. This comes after scouting for a South Florida location for two years and creating some controversy along the way.The store will be located on the NW corner of State Road 84 and NW 136th Avenue (formerly the site of Blockbuster Golf and Games). Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22453772.post-1140533840162897552006-02-21T09:30:00.000-05:002006-02-22T04:47:59.916-05:00Broward County Quick Facts Did you know...?Year Broward County incorporated: 1915Total Land Area: ...1,220 sq. milesPlanning Area: ........423 sq. milesConservation Area: ..797 sq. miles (mostly Everglades)Housing Units by Type:56% - Multi-Family41% - Single Family03% - Mobile HomesBroward Residents by Place of Birth:29% - Florida41% - Other U.S.30% - Foreign BornUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22453772.post-1140106094886141972006-02-16T11:04:00.000-05:002006-02-22T04:50:31.763-05:00Why Choose a REALTOR® who is e-PRO Certified? e-PRO is the mark of an Internet savvy REALTOR®. e-PROs are familiar with marketing to a global audience via e-mail and the Internet. Only members of the National Association of REALTORS® can become e-PROs after taking an online course that takes an average of 20 hours to complete and includes various assignments to ensure the candidates' comprehension of the subject matter. In January 2002 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22453772.post-1140105812476869122006-02-16T09:42:00.000-05:002006-03-07T09:53:51.346-05:00REALTOR® or Real Estate Agent? You choose.Most people believe that those two terms can be used interchangeably. However, they do not carry equal significance for property buyers and sellers. The term REALTOR® is a Registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (N.A.R.) and subscribes to it's strict Code of Ethics. Since 1908 the N.A.R. has been Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0