Basements in South Florida Homes?

If it’s hard for some to believe that there are homes in Florida with basements, it’s even harder to believe they can be found in Southeast Florida.  The highest elevation found in the South Florida metropolitan area is only 29 feet above sea level, while many homes – especially those east of U.S. 1 are no more than 10-15 feet above sea level.  Yet, surprisingly, every once in a while a listing comes on the market that has some type of basement (this includes a few with ground-level basements). 

I did a quick search of the MLS and found 18 South Florida homes that are currently on the market and are stated to have a basement of some sort.  These homes are priced between the mid-$200s to a high of $2M, with a median price of $400,000 (somewhat lower than the average sale price of single-family homes).  Nine are located in Miami-Dade, three in Broward, and six in Palm Beach County.  Do you know someone who owns a South Florida home with a basement?

South Florida Real Estate Market Conditions – March 2007

The Florida Association of Realtors (F.A.R.) has released the sales reports for March 2007.  With the exception of sales of condos in the West Palm Beach/Boca Raton metropolitan area, all other areas and property types show a considerable decrease in the number of sales (22-45% less sales than a year ago).  This trend is part of what is fueling the current buyer’s market and causing inventory to reach levels not seen in many years.

*Median is the price at which half of the homes sold for more and half sold for less.

Source: Florida Association of Realtors (F.A.R.)

:: Read all posts tagged with South Florida Real Estate Market Conditions – 2007. ::

Improve Your Home’s Curb Appeal with Landscaping – Quick Home Sale Strategy Tip #2

We’ve all heard it before: first impressions are lasting impressions.  If you’re planning on selling your South Florida / Broward County home in the near future, one way to increase your home’s curb appeal as well as your Florida home’s 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 a healthy green… 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 touch 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.

In the strong buyer’s market we are currently experiencing in South Florida, every improvement you can make to your home can make a difference in how quickly it sells by making it more appealing to home buyers.  I’ve found HGTV to be a great resource for gardening tips and landscaping design ideas.

Cooper City Florida – Recent Home Sale Prices

Cooper City got its name from Morris Cooper, its founder in 1959.  It’s a mostly residential city located in central-western Broward County and offers easy access to major highways in the area.  Cooper City’s public school system is among the highest rated in Broward County and the expansive South Florida Education Center is just up the road in Davie.

Below is a sampling of recent sales prices* of condos and single-family homes in Cooper City, Florida (sold/closed sales from 1/1/2007-4/16/2007):

Recent Single-Family Home Sales Prices in Cooper City:

• Cooper Colony Estates – 3BR/2BA/Carport/Canal – $320,000
• Country Address – 3BR/2BA/2CG – $380,000
• Country Glen – 5BR/3.5BA/3CG/Pool & Lake – $924,900
• Diamond Head – 4BR/3BA/3CG/Pool & Lake – $625,000
• Embassy Lakes (The Estates) – 6BR/4.5BA/3CG/Pool – $690,000
• Embassy Lakes (Ventana) – 3BR/2.5BA/2CG – $415,000
• Flamingo Gardens - 3BR/2BA/2CG/Pool & Canal – $380,000
• Hibbs Grove - 6BR/4BA/3CG/Lakefront – $870,000
• Le Cristal at Rock Creek - 4BR/3.5/2CG/Pool & Lake – $450,000
• Royal Griffin Estates - 5BR/4BA/2CG – $600,000
• Summertime Isles - 2BR/1BA/1CG – $282,500
• Tierra Vista at Rock Creek – 3BR/2BA/1CG/Lake – $330,000

Recent Townhouse and Condo Sales Prices in Cooper City:

• Camelot Gardens at Rock Creek – 2BR/2.5BA Townhome – $245,000
• Embassy Courts at Embassy Lakes – 3BR/2.5BA/1CG – $296,000
• Flamingo Gardens Townhomes – 3BR/2.5BA/1CG/Canal – $243,500
• Forest Lake – 2BR/2BA Villa – $255,000

*As reported on the South Florida MLS. <– Search for South Florida properties for sale!

Is it time to hold a garage sale?

Is your home lacking in storage space?  If so, perhaps it’s time to have 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’re planning on putting your South Florida home up for sale 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 (rather than lack of) storage space in your home. Consider using the profits from the garage sale to pay for any necessary repairs you know would show up on a home inspection report, or perhaps to update or upgrade something in your home to make it more attractive to home buyers and help your home sell more quickly in this slower market.

Most local newspapers charge a nominal amount for those wanting to advertise a garage sale in the classified section.  You can also advertise for free on the Internet on websites such as Craigslist.  If your community allows them, I’d also suggest placing “garage sale” signs in key locations such as near intersections and entrances to your neighborhood.  Here is a webpage with useful garage sale tips.  Good luck!

Florida Real Estate News

Local and Statewide Real Estate Headlines:

Broward County

Despite the hurricanes and less affordable housing, South Florida is still in the top 10 nationally for drawing new residents. (Read Article)

Coconut Creek opposes Seminole plan to build casino. (Read Article)

Dania Beach OKs redevelopment plans. (Read Article)

Miami-Dade County

Owners find tax breaks through appeals process. (Read Article)

Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast

Boca Raton may offer incentives to eco-friendly developers. (Read Article)

Florida’s Indian River and Brevard Counties prepare for a housing boom. (Read Article)

Florida

Legislators are running out of time for property tax reform. (Read Article)

Criteria used for insurance rates is being questioned. (Read Article)

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Laguna Isles Homes in Pembroke Pines, Florida

Laguna Isles… a great place to live!  This luxury guard-gated community in popular western Pembroke Pines, Florida, offers superb recreational amenities including a lakeside resort style zero-entry swimming pool, in-ground spa, and a large sun deck as well as a covered patio area with several tables and chairs.  There are also two tennis courts, a children’s playground, and a clubhouse that includes a fully equipped exercise room and even an indoor racquetball court!

There are several lakes throughout Laguna Isles and a nice walking trail and lakeside gazebo where residents can sit and enjoy the view for a while as they stroll through the community.  The entrance to Laguna Isles is located on the north side of Sheridan Street just west of NW 184th Avenue in west Pembroke Pines, FL (approximately 3 miles west of I-75).  This luxury single-family community is one of the most sought-after subdivisions in southwest Broward County, Florida.  One of the benefits of this community is that children who reside here go to the Weston schools which are known for their excellence!

The monthly maintenance fee at Laguna Isles includes cable, monitored security system, lawn/hedge trimming service in both the front and back yards of your home as well as any needed sprinkler system repairs.  Gables Property Management (954-349-9244) is the company handling maintenance issues at this community.

:: View a Virtual Tour of Laguna Isles ::

Find out which Laguna Isles homes are for sale by searching the Southeast Florida MLS or contact Leanne Paynter at 954-846-1600.  I’m currently offering a $1,000 rebate* at closing if you purchase a home in this community through me (*I must be the one to show you the home and write the sales contract for the rebate to be valid).

Thinking of selling your Laguna Isles home?  Hire us and we’ll market your home like no one else!