south florida: What is a Cramdown? - 01/23/09 05:13 AM
A ruling should be coming down soon regarding cramdowns and hopefully it will help some people stay in their homes and out of the foreclosure process.  A cramdown is when a bankruptcy judge has the ability to modify a first mortgage in bankruptcy court.  Right now it can't be done but certain groups are pushing for it and most banks are very opposed to it.
The banks are trying to work out as many loans as possible so they won't have this ruling go against them which is another reason to go after your modification now if you need one.
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south florida: CONDOMINIUM DOCUMENTS - 01/22/09 01:59 AM
Many people buying a condo for the first time usually are not familiar with the idea of Condominium Documents or condo docs.  When you buy a condo here in Florida, the seller is required to give you the condo docs for the building after you enter into a contract. From the time you receive them you have 3 days to opt out of the contract.
Inside the condo docs you will find things like rules & regulations, frequently asked questions & answers and the latest year end financials.  This is your chance to review whats happening in the building and to see … (0 comments)

south florida: What You Can Do Today to Sell Your Home Tomorrow - 01/21/09 12:30 AM
Everybody is looking for the magic answer on how to get their property sold in today's slow market.  While there may not be a magic answer there are certainly things you can do to help the process along and at the end of the day you can feel that you have done everything that you could possibly due. Here are some things you should be doing.
 
1. Use a full time hard working Realtor.
2. Never miss a showing.  Even though it might be an inconvenience at times, never break this rule. The one you miss might be the buyer and in this … (0 comments)

south florida: Changing the Messenger Does Not Change the Message - 01/20/09 12:46 AM
When we are going through such challenging times alot is going through the minds of sellers. Many of them are experiencing an enormous amount of frustration, stress and anxiety depending on what kind of financial situation they are faced with. Many of these sellers have great Realtors who are working extremely hard under very difficult circumstances to get the property sold.
Assuming you have a hard working, intelligent agent who is giving you good information you are in good shape.  Sometimes even when everything possible is being done, unfortunately your property can still remain unsold. 
Sometimes the Realtor will have to inform the seller of things which they may not want to hear … (0 comments)

south florida: Boca Woods Country Club - 01/19/09 07:46 AM
This beautifully updated golf course home is ready for you to enjoy featuring a new roof, redone pool with solar heating, totally redone kitchen & baths, tiles on the diagonal throughout and a new A/C.  The great room is impressive with magnificent built ins.  Enjoy the tropical pool area overlooking the golf course!  This home has new landscaping and has been freshly painted inside and out! 
Boca Woods Country Club is South Florida luxury living at its best featuring two championship golf courses and eight Har-Tru tennis courts, two of which are lighted for night play. A state of the art fitness center … (0 comments)

south florida: What Are Buyers Thinking? - 01/18/09 09:46 AM
There are certainly buyers out there and many deals are getting done.  Each market puts the buyers in a different state of mind and right now I'm seeing three different types of thinking out there. 
The first type of buyer is very serious about buying and they are realistic about what is going on.  They want good value because of the market conditions at this time. The other type of buyer I'm seeing now is the buyer who wants to buy a property at a price that does not exist.  They want to purchase a condo worth 1.2 million for $700,000.  Good deals are … (0 comments)

south florida: Palm Beach County Market Report December 2008 - 01/15/09 09:07 AM
Activity is picking up across the county mainly do to the foreclosure activity as well as sellers adjusting their prices to be in line with the market. The high season is here and people are looking at property and deals are getting done. Below are the numbers for Palm Beach County for December 2008. Inventory will continue to slowly decline getting us back to where we need to be.
 
Properties Available 29,257
Properties Pending   712
Properties Sold  1204
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south florida: Condominium Governance Form - 01/14/09 01:05 AM
There is a new publication put out by the state and its called the Condominium Governance Form. This publication was created to give buyers an overview of condominium governance and will be provided to buyers when they buy a condo. This will give you a behind the scenes look at how the association runs the condo which is a mystery to many people.  Check the website below for more information.
 
www.MyFlorida.com/dbpr/
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south florida: Mortgage Rates at 31 Year Low - 01/13/09 08:48 AM
The opportunity to borrow cheap money now is unbelievable! You would have to go back 31 years to get rates many of my customers are getting today.  Buyers should be out there shopping around for their dream home. For that group who are renting and thinking about buying, these rates are going to enable you to do it now. Call your lender and make it happen.
Homeowners who are looking to stay in their current home for awhile should definitely look at refinancing. If you could save a point on your mortgage go for it.  Here is a great tip.  Before you refinance … (0 comments)

south florida: Loan Modifications - 01/12/09 01:41 AM
Now that loan modifications are becoming very common its important to know a couple of things if you find yourself in the position of requesting one from your bank.
The most important thing is to be persistent.  You have to make it happen. The people who are persistent get it done.  The other thing you should consider is hiring an attorney who specializes in loan modifications.  More and more people are doing this with great results because attorneys know the ins and outs of modifications and the banks run attorneys around less than they would someone who has no idea what they … (0 comments)

south florida: Closings in Florida - 01/08/09 08:22 PM
Many people who come from up North find it a little unusual that when a real estate transaction is closed here in Florida the buyer and the seller usually don't use an attorney.  The reason for this is that down here we use closing agents or title companies who represent both sides and close the deal.
Now you certainly can retain your own attorney and in certain situations it is wise to do so but most of the time it really is not necessary.  Some people elect to do so because that is what they are used to and it gives … (0 comments)

south florida: When Will The Market Get Better in Boca Raton - 01/07/09 09:16 PM
Atleast a few times a day someone will ask me when  the market will get better.  I guess that depends on who you talk to but if you ask any people looking to buy property right now they will tell you that the market is just great.
The market will become more balanced as the inventory declines.  Like all commodities its all about supply and demand.  I remember a short time ago when people trying to sell were saying the market was just great and people looking to buy were looking forward to the market changing a little.
The housing market will … (0 comments)

south florida: Tour Boca on Your Bicycle January 11, 2009 - 01/07/09 07:45 AM
Here is your chance to really see Boca Raton.  This Sunday at 1pm is the Boca Raton Bicycle Clubs tour of Boca.  Register at Patch Reef Park at 12:30 pm and the police escorted tour will start at 1pm.  You will travel about 15 miles and you must be 10 years old or older.  The cost is $2 per rider. Bring the family and get a great workout seeing the best city in Florida!
 
www.BocaBikeClub.org
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south florida: Now is the Time - 01/06/09 02:35 AM
The season is here and now is the time to acheive your goals.  Buyers should be out there looking for the property of their dreams and making a deal.  As a buyer you couldn't ask for more things that are in your favor.
Sellers should be listening to the market and adjusting their properties accordingly. Keep in mind your property is a commodity and the market determines the price.
Keep positive and keep moving forward.
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south florida: Selling in Today's Market Requires Exposure - 01/04/09 11:50 PM
In today's challenging market it takes a generous amount of exposure to get your property sold.  Just throwing it in the MLS is not going to get it done. The best approach to take is to cover all your bases and do a little print advertising, some direct mail and heavy internet advertising. Having a Realtor who can network and promote your property is very important as well. Below is a list of some or the more than 100 websites my listings go on.
Coldwellbankerpreviews.com
Coldwellbanker.com
Realtor.com
Floridamoves.com
Forbes.com
NYTimes.com
FrontDoor.com
Kiplinger.com
OpenHouse.com
Trulia.com
Zillow.com
IHT.com
With so many people using … (0 comments)

south florida: New Years Eve in Mizner Park Boca Raton - 12/31/08 02:06 AM
Mizner Park is a great place to ring in the new year with many options for dining and entertainment. Whether you want to enjoy some fine dining or a more casual meal, check out what they have to offer. Its also nice to have such a great place to go so close to home.  Visit their website below for additional information.  Happy New Year.
 
www.MiznerPark.com
 

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south florida: Happy New Year from Boca Raton - 12/29/08 09:41 PM
As we wind up the new year here in Boca Raton I am sure many seller's are glad to see it go. One thing is for sure, Boca Raton is packed with people and this will be a great season and many homes will be purchased lowering the inventory even more. There is light at the end of the tunnel and people will begin to feel alot better as it gets brighter.
Have a safe and happy New Year.
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south florida: Single Family Luxury Homes Selling in Boca Raton and throughout South Florida - 12/29/08 08:38 AM
Single family luxury homes continue to do well in Boca Raton and across South Florida.  The reason for this is people from around the world continue to come here for the lifestyle and for the weather. 
Unlike condo buyers, many luxury home buyers use their homes as their primary residence. While many people will hold off buying that luxury condo in a challenging economy, people need a home to live in.  So whether its a corporate relocation or seeking a better quality of life for the family, South Florida will continue to be a great market for luxury homes. 
 
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south florida: Paying Doc Stamps on Short Sales - 12/26/08 01:24 AM
The Florida Department of Revenue has cleared up what was becoming a major issue in handling short sales.  They have ruled that the amount of Doc Stamps due is based on the amount actually paid by the buyer and does not include any amount forgiven by the lender. For awhile many closing agents had different views on this but now everyone is on the same page. This is great news for seller's in this challenging market.
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south florida: New Condo Insurance Law for January 2009 - 12/24/08 01:28 AM
Starting January 1, 2009 the law requires that condo owners purchase hazard insurance and put their Association down as an additional insured.
This actually has always been in force but the new part is that you have to put the Association down as an additional insured.  Many condo associations don't really check this and this law has been very confusing from day one and might very well be changed when the legislature meets in March. Consult your insurance agent or attorney on the best route to take.
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