Quick Home Sale Strategy – Tip #1: New Paint

If you’re preparing your South Florida home or condo for sale, probably the best update you can do for your property before listing it is to give it a fresh coat of paint, especially if it’s been 10 or more years since it was last painted.  If you are the do-it-yourself type, it will also be one of the least expensive updates you can do.  When choosing a paint color in preparation for the sale of your home, it’s best to choose a neutral color on the light side.  Although white gives the next owner a “clean slate” to work with, it can be a bit harsh on the eye, so it’s probably best to pick a light shade of a neutral color you like.  It is especially important to remove outdated wallpaper and repair the wall if necessary before painting it.  Home buyers viewing your house will appreciate not having to spend additional time and funds removing wallpaper or painting a crayon-colored room because they plan to use it as their home office instead of a child’s bedroom.

There is no question that South Florida has been experiencing a buyer’s market for about a year-and-a-half now, which is why it’s more important than ever to make sure your home shows well when compared to your competition.  A fresh coat of paint can go a long way towards differentiating your home for the better.  Oftentimes, because of the preparation process, you’ll find it’ll also help you get your house clean and decluttered which can also help sell your house more quickly.

My “quick home sale strategy” tips are designed to do just that… help you get your home sold fast and for top dollar in today’s market.  Check back regularly for new tips that are sure to make a difference!

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South Florida Real Estate Market Conditions – February 2007

The Florida Association of Realtors (F.A.R.) has released the sales reports for February 2007.  Looking at the chart below, it’s clear that the number of sales has decreased considerably since a year ago.  Regardless of this, the greater Miami area real estate market conditions seems to be quite well with increases in the median sales prices of both single-family homes as well as condos. 

On the other hand, during that same period of time, the West Palm Beach/Boca Raton market area experienced a 4-5% decrease in the median sales price.  Meanwhile, the greater Fort Lauderdale area’s single-family home prices appear to remain stable, even while the same cannot be said of the median sales price of condos (possibly due, in part, to the overabundance of condo conversions).

*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.)

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Butterfly World in Coconut Creek, Florida

Whether you’re a resident or visitor to South Florida, you’ll find an abundance of places to go and things to see.  This post marks the beginning of a series titled “Things to do in South Florida“. 

South Florida’s Butterfly World – located in Coconut Creek – has been open since 1988.  This South Florida attraction offers over ten acres of aviaries and botanical gardens to explore.  Butterfly World is also a center for research and education and includes a living butterfly farm.  Other park features include the country’s largest free flight hummingbird aviary and a lorikeet encounter, resulting in the park also having an aviculture care and research staff.  Butterfly World has also been instrumental in saving an endangered species of butterfly that is becoming re-established in South Florida. 

Their website offers a very nice virtual tour of what you can expect to see and do at Butterfly World as well as a beautiful photo-filled butterfly guide and bird guide.  If you’re passionate about butterflies, they even offer a butterfly gardening workshop and a downloadable computer desktop calendar every month.

If you go, be sure to take your camera with you to capture all the colorful butterflies and plants found throughout the park.  The gift shop can be accessed without admission to the park and is full of interesting and unique gifts and books for butterfly and bird enthusiasts.

Location: 3600 W. Sample Rd., Coconut Creek, FL |  Phone: 954-977-4400 |  Map

Willow Grove Townhomes in Davie, Florida

Willow Grove is a luxury townhome community built in 2005.  Located in Davie, Florida, Willow Grove is an enclave of 42 spacious two-to-three level townhouses with 1-car garages.  You can choose either the 2 or 3 bedroom/2.5-bathroom floorplan and prices start in the mid-$200’s.

These townhomes are located just down the road from Tree Tops Park and Davie’s Pine Island Park which offers various activities.  Golfers can take in a round of golf at the Grande Oaks Golf Club.

Residents of Willow Grove townhomes that commute to Fort Lauderdale or Miami will love the convenience of being only a few blocks east of University Drive on the south side of Griffin Road, placing them less than five minutes from an entrance to the Florida Turnpike and about 10 minutes from I-595.  Willow Grove townhouses are also five minutes from the South Florida Education Center.

Read additional details about these Davie FL townhouses and find out which ones are currently for sale.  Of course, if you own one of these townhomes and are considering selling, we’d love to hear from you, too.  Remember… we market homes like no one else!

Florida Real Estate News

Local and Statewide Real Estate Headlines:

Broward County

Some South Floridians are trading homes. (Read Article)

Is a $300,000 townhouse “affordable”? (Read Article)

Miami-Dade County

Clinton has a pal in this Miami entrepreneur. (Read Article)

Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast

Home foreclosures in South Florida on the rise. (Read Article)

Counties protest tax cut. (Read Article)

Florida

Proposal would raise homestead exemption. (Read Article)

Push to cut property tax falters. (Read Article)

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Weston Florida – Recent Home Sales Prices

The City of Weston covers 24 square miles and was incorporated in 1996, making it one of the youngest cities in Broward County. Weston is a master planned community and much of the city was developed by Arvida which designed it to provide residents with a “hometown” feel complete with bike and walking trails. Residents in Weston enjoy one of Broward County’s best school systems and have access to some of the best healthcare with Cleveland Clinic Hospital and Miami Children’s Hospital (Dan Marino Center).

Below is a sampling of recent sales prices* of condos and single-family homes in Weston, Florida (sold/closed sales from 1/1/2007-3/8/2007).

 Recent Single-Family Home Sales Prices in Weston:

• Bermuda Springs – 3BR/2BA/1CG – $347,500
• Captiva Cay – 5BR/4BA/2CG/Pool & Lakefront – $690,000
• Country Isles Executive Homes – 4BR/2.5BA/2CG/Pool & Lakefront – $516,500
• Country Isles Garden Homes – 2BR/2BA/1CG – $330,000
• Emerald Courts/Opal Creek – 4BR/2.5BA/2CG – $410,000
• Isles at Weston – 5BR/3BA/3CG/Lakefront – $750,000
• San Messina – 3BR/2BA/2CG – $340,000
• The Cove at Savanna – 6BR/6BA/3CG/Pool & Lakefront – $950,000
• The Gables – 3BR/2.5BA/2CG – $428,000
• Windmill Lake Estates – 5BR/3.5BA/3CG/Pool & Lakefront – $1,645,000

Recent Condo Sales Prices in Weston:

• California Courts – 3BR+Den/3BA/1CG – $356,000
• Coconuts at Bonaventure – 2BR/2.5BA – $235,000
• Courtside at Weston Hills – 3BR/2BA/2CG – $477,000
• Courtyards at the Grove – 2BR/2.5BA/1CG – $300,000
• Gardens at Bonaventure – 2BR/2BA – $210,000
• Patio Village – 3BR/2BA/2CG – $320,000
• Racquet Club at Bonaventure – 2BR/2BA – $190,000
• San Mateo – 3BR/2.5BA/1CG – $322,000

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

The Sewell Lock and Broward County’s Canal System

The Sewell Lock is one of those sights seen by thousands of drivers along I-595 on a daily basis but mostly goes unnoticed.  It is located on the N. New River Canal near the intersection of Davie Road and S.R. 84 and is part of the canal system run by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD).  The Sewell Lock was completed in 1912 and is Broward County’s oldest water control structure. 

Broward County’s canal system is all about water management via a complex network of canals and operational infrastructure managed for both drainage and recharge purposes.  Curious?  Learn more about how the water flow system works.  Water management in Broward County is so important that a free half-day “Know the Flow” course has been developed to help Broward County property managers, landscape service providers, as well as Broward County homeowner associations and residents understand what they can do to manage and conserve water resources.

If you happen to be in the area and would like an up-and-close view, there is a small park located immediately next to the Sewell Lock where you can occassionally find people fishing.  There is a plaque at the park that reads:

THE SEWELL LOCK

These gates were restored by the South Florida Water Management District in 1992 as part of the G-54 Sewell Water Control structure replacement project.  The lock has been preserved as a historical site in cooperation with the Broward County Commission, the Broward County Park and Recreation Division, the Broward County Historical Commission and the Green Team.