Southwest Ranches FL – Recent Home Sales Prices

If you want to live in Broward County and enjoy a semi-rural lifestyle, then the town of Southwest Ranches may be just what you’re looking for!  The majority of homes sit on 1+ acre lots and horses are permitted.  Sidewalks and streetlights are few and you won’t find any condos or townhome communities here.  If you’re an equestrian and want to live in Broward County, you’ll be hard-pressed to find another community as horse-friendly as Southwest Ranches.

Below is a sampling of recent sales prices* of single-family homes and vacant land that have sold/closed over the past few months.

Recent Single-Family Home Sales Prices in Southwest Ranches:

• Green Meadows – 3BR/2BA/2CG on 1.15 acres – $650,000
• Sunshine Ranches – 3BR/2BA/2CG/Pool & Canal on 1 acre – $747,000
• Sunshine Ranches – 5BR/3.5BA/2CG + 1BR/1BA Guesthouse on 2.35 acres – $1,025,000
• Rolling Oaks – 5BR/4BA/3CG/Pool & Canal on 2.5 acres – $1,300,000

Recent Land Sales Prices in Southwest Ranches:

• Sunshine Ranches – 1.57 acres – $575,000
• Rolling Oaks – 1.98 acres – $665,000

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

South Florida Real Estate Market Conditions – May 2007

The Florida Association of Realtors (F.A.R.) has released the sales reports for May 2007.  In comparison to last month, the numbers show somewhat of an increase in single-family resale homes in the West Palm Beach metropolitan area but no significant increase of same in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties.  Meanwhile, compared to last month, the median sales price for single-family resale homes increased in all three market areas, especially in the Miami metropolitan area.

Sales of resale condos in all three South Florida counties slowed slightly in comparison to last month’s figures.  However, the median sale price of resale condos increased in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale metropolitan areas, but decreased only slightly in Palm Beach County.

*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. ::

Florida Birds – Florida Audubon Society

There are many things that cause an average of 1,000 people per day to move to Florida.  Aside from our generally sunny days, I believe that one of the reasons that makes Florida living more enjoyable is the great outdoors or, more specifically, it’s environment and wildlife.  If you share this belief and would like to learn more about Florida’s birds, then you may want to visit the wonderfully informative website of the Florida Audubon Society.

While at the Florida Audubon Society’s website you can learn about the various Florida waterbirds including a few of my personal favorites - the herons, egrets and ibis’ – as well as one of the more interesting ones – the Florida burrowing owl, the mascot of my alma mater, Florida Atlantic University.  You’ll also learn about the Florida Audubon Society’s ongoing involvement in the restoration of the Everglades ecosystem, as well as Lake Okeechobee sanctuaries,  the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, and the Florida Keys Environmental Restoration Fund which is used to restore, enhance and manage Florida Keys natural areas. 

• View past editions of Florida Naturalist – the Florida Audubon Society’s signature magazine.
• Locate Audubon Chapters in Florida.
• Broward County Audubon Society Blog

Moving to South Florida? Some tips for a successful move…

Prime season for moving in South Florida (as in most places) is during the time kids are out of school – typically June through August.  Moving can be among the most stressful things we do in our lives, but with the right planning, your move to South Florida can be made easier.  Following the moving tips provided in the various sites mentioned below may help you turn your next house into a home sooner rather than later.

If you have any questions about intrastate household moving, you can call 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) when calling within Florida, or (850) 488-2221 when calling from outside of Florida.  Another helpful resource is Florida’s Division of Consumer Services website.  Their site offers some good information on moving within Florida (household intrastate moving), including information on how to choose a mover, what the cost of your move will depend on, tips on successful packing, what your rights are, what to know before you sign an estimate or contract, about liability for loss/damage, important terms to know, what to do if you have a claim, as well as a basic moving checklist.

Another resource with useful information is the Florida Movers and Warehousemen’s Association (FMWA) which has established a code of ethics for its members.  If you’re planning an interstate move, you may also find the information at the American Moving and Storage (AMSA) website helpful.  AMSA is a non-profit trade association.  Additionally, you can find articles on how to protect yourself from moving fraud as well as search movers and complaint history at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) website. 

To lighten your moving load, be sure to also read my previous post on ways you can benefit from having a garage sale which can also provide you with money to help pay for the move! 

Aside from the physically demanding side of moving, remember to notify the utility companies and delivery services when to stop services at your old address and begin services at your new address.  Additionally, your move will be smoother if you notify the post office of your change of address at least 7-10 days before your move-in date.

An Energy Efficient Mortgage?

Chances are you’ve never heard of one.  According to the EnergySavers.gov website, “Energy Efficient Mortages (EEMs) recognize that reduced utility expenses can permit a homeowner to pay a higher mortgage to cover the cost of the energy improvements on top of the approved mortgage. FHA Energy Efficient Mortgages provide mortgage insurance for a person to purchase or refinance a principal residence and incorporate the cost of energy-efficient improvements into the mortgage. The borrower does not have to qualify for the additional money and does not make a downpayment on it. The mortgage loan is funded by a lending institution, such as a mortgage company, bank, or savings and loan association, and the mortgage is insured by HUD.”

If you are buying a Energy Star-certified home or are considering making energy-efficient improvements to your home, learn more about FHA Energy Efficient Mortages and the eligibility requirements.  When you see products that carry the Energy Star label, you’ll know that they are highly energy efficient and kinder to the environment.

Check Your Credit Reports Annually for Free!

Thanks to federal regulations, you can 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 South Florida real estate, it’s especially important to check your credit reports as they sometimes have incorrect information… information on which mortgage lenders and credit card companies rely when deciding how much of a credit line to give you or even what interest rate to offer you.  You may request your free credit report online, by phone, or through the mail.  The site offers a comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page which should answer any questions or concerns.

Davie Condos Near Nova Southeastern University (NSU)

Parents of college students sometimes seek to make an investment in real estate while providing student housing for their son or daughter.  If you have a child that will be attending Nova Southeastern University (NSU) you may want to forgo looking for a Davie FL apartment rental and instead consider purchasing a condo for them to live in during their stay rather than paying rent and making their landlord rich.  If you’d like us to help you find a condo, villa or townhome near NSU to invest in that your child can call “home” during the time they’ll be attending NSU, contact us and we’ll do our best to find just the right fit for both of you.

Within a short distance of Nova Southeastern University there are several communities of Davie FL condos, villas and townhomes in a wide price range.  Below is a list I’ve compiled of the closest condo and townhome communities to NSU.  Next to each community’s name, I’ve included the price range of the homes you’ll find in that community as of the date this post was published.

• Arista Park Townhouses (low-to-mid $200’s)
• Arrowhead Condos (low-$100’s to the low $200’s)
• Arrowhead Golf and Tennis Club Townhomes & Villas (high-$100’s to high-$200’s)
• Brentwood Townhomes (high-$100’s to mid-$200’s)
• Country Pines (mid-$100’s to low-$200’s)
• Courtyards at Davie (low-$200’s)
• Delwood West (low-to-mid $100’s)
• Emerald Isles (mid-to-high $100’s)
• Jasmine Lakes (high-$100’s to low-$200’s)
• Marlboro Estates ($90’s to low-$100’s)
• Nova Gardens (high-$100’s to mid-$200’s)
• Nova Hills North (low-$200’s to low-$300’s)
• Nova North (high-$100’s to low-$300’s)
• Nova Place (mid-$100’s)
• Nova Townhouses (low-to-mid $200’s)
• Nova Village (mid-to-high $200’s)
• Rolling Hills Golf and Tennis Club (mid-$100’s to mid-$200’s)
• Royal Grand (low-to-mid $200’s)
• Serenity Palms (high-$100’s to low-$200’s)
• Sundance (mid-$100’s to mid-$200’s)
• The Escape at Arrowhead (high-$100’s to mid-$200’s)
• The Mews at Arrowhead (low-$200’s)
• Townhomes at Orange Drive (low-to-mid $200’s)
• University Parc (low-to-mid $200’s)
• University Village (low-to-mid $200’s)
• Valencia Village (high-$100’s to mid-$200’s)
• Villas of Arista Park (mid-to-high $200’s)
• Villas of Rolling Hills (mid-to-high $300’s)
• Willow Grove (mid-$200’s to mid-$300’s)

For information on the current availability of Davie FL real estate that matches your criteria, please be sure to contact us.  We can also provide you with additional options which may include condos in Plantation or townhomes Cooper City, both of which are surrounding cities, just minutes from Nova Southeastern University and the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Davie campus.