Buy a home

Without a doubt, South Florida happens to be one of the biggest melting pots in the nation today. With both European and International markets declining in home sales, it seems more people are investing property in places such as Boca Raton. While moving to Boca is not a new trend, more Canadians are investing in property in Palm Beach counties than ever before. On this blog we highlight some of the reasons why our Northern friends continue to make this coastal area their vacation and secondary homes.

*In a recent article found in Huffington Post, they report Canadians who live in Toronto and Vancouver are under stress due to sky rocketing prices in their real estate markets. Because there's rumor of a global housing bubble. (Something we are hearing more

Maybe your dream home has the intricate details that you usually find only in older construction - wainscoting and crown molding in the interior, the front porch with a swing, an older tree shading the back yard, and the white picket fence.

Or maybe your dream home has all the conveniences of modern living - open floor plan in the living and dining spaces, large windows, connected, “smart” appliances and security systems, and minimalist design elements.

Whether you go for a brand new construction or an existing home, both types of properties have their pros and cons when it comes to purchasing. What type of home is right for you will depend on which factors are most important for your lifestyle.

Build your dream home with new construction

If

One of the world’s most premier destinations is the Sunshine State of Florida.  That being said, Boca Raton is hugely popular among an elite crowd of socialites and jet-set communities. This is also a select location for ‘snowbirds’ and people who live here part-time.  Business travelers have a fondness for investing in fleeting properties in this sought after area. If you’re considering a vacation or secondary home, we offer this blog as subject for thought. Here are some reasons why this South Florida town is ideal for this type of housing.

According to the National Association of Realtors, 21% of the homes sold in 2014 were vacation homes.  That being said, we can ‘guesstimate’ that with a stable economy, (such as the one we have today) there will

Despite the grim economic outlook for some industries, one sector is gaining viability -- real estate. According to the 2016 Emerging Trends in Real Estate, which was released by the Urban Land Institute earlier this year, trends such as “18-hour cities” and millennial parents increasing moving from urban areas out into the suburbs signal that real estate as an industry is gaining strength every passing day in 2016. One lending officer at a large financial institution even went to far as to say that “the next 24 months look doggone good for real estate.”

These trends means that real estate is a smart place to make an investment and grow your wealth. A housing shortage means that flipped homes tend to sell quickly and for high prices, and an increased

How strong is your credit? Cleaning up your credit is essential before you make any major financial moves. Having a bad score can hurt your chances of being able to open a credit card, apply for a loan, purchase a car, or rent an apartment.

It is especially important to have clean credit before you try to buy a home. With a less-than-great score, you may not get pre-approved for a mortgage. If you can’t get a mortgage, you may only be able to buy a home if you can make an all-cash offer.

Or if you do get pre-approval, you might get a higher mortgage rate, which can be a huge added expense. For example, if you have a 30-year fixed rate mortgage of $100,000 and you get a 3.92% interest rate, the total cost of your mortgage will be $170,213. However,

Whether you're putting your home on the market this year or in the next five years, it is a smart decision to start building your home's resale value now. Here are some ways to create a comfortable home while making it easier to put more money into your bank account on closing day.

Small Maintenance and Repairs

If you think that home  maintenance on the weekends waste your time and energy, think again. The small chores you do around your home prevents it from losing value. Neglecting small maintenance and repairs causes 10% of your home's value to walk out your door and slip through your windows. Most appraisers claim that homes showing little to no preventative maintenance can depreciate from $15,000 to $20,000.

A study conducted by

 
No matter if you’re in a buyer’s or seller’s market, there are a few critical steps you can take to make a smarter purchase. Since buying a home is likely the biggest single investment you will ever make, being prepared will help you make a better purchase. Here are our best tips to buying a home.

Know your buying power
What is your buying power? It is the combination of your credit-worthiness and how much you can realistically pay for a home.
First, you need to understand the hidden costs of buying a home. You will need to save not only for the down payment of your home -- which is typically between 10% - 20% of the offer price -- but also for any additional transaction fees, such as transfer tax, PMI, title insurance, and legal fees.
Then you need to

Ask just about anybody who falls into the ‘Baby Boomer’ age bracket where they'd like to buy their next property investment and they just might tell you South Florida is on top of their list. This age group continues to invest in homes in our area and it’s not just because of the weather. Less of this population focuses on the 'happening' city of Miami due to noise and crowds. But plenty of them are looking in places like Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton as a premier destination for second homes and retirement. When it comes to seeking luxurious homes, here's some secrets we've learned about this age group, you may not have thought of.

By the year 2029 over 17% of the population will consist of Baby Boomers.  According to a report done by Deloitte,

Welcome to 500 SE Mizner blvd unit A-307, Boca Raton, FL 33432, Townsend Place (MLS: RX-10206003)

Located on the third floor, just freshly painted, this 1,663 total square foot home is versatile for any lifestyle. Originally designed with 9-foot volume ceilings, floor-to-ceiling solar-tinted and impact glass resistant windows and sliders. Features the 1 bedroom + office / den, 2 baths, individualized with white marble flooring in the vast living and dining area.
The white contemporary gourmet kitchen includes marble countertops and frameless cabinets that complement the galley's interior. It also features a wall oven, microwave, glass cook top and a full-size refrigerator. The premier master bedroom's layout meets a luxurious full-size bathroom with

There are many beautiful country clubs in Palm Beach County that offer a life well-deserved, but one exuberant club to call home is the Polo Country Club located in Boca Raton, Florida.  The club endures eleven hundred acres of lush, bountiful greenery and offers privacy a within a community driven atmosphere. It’s a pleasure strolling the ambient grounds and the expansive yet private roadways.  Conveniently located off the I-95 corridor and Florida’s Turnpike, you have access to all the fine dining and entertainment South Florida has to offer. World-class dining, boutiques and haute-couture shops in Boca cater to a jet-set culture. These are just a few reasons why this club should be on the "A" list of choices while you're exploring your next large