A stormy morning turned into a nice evening for a run in Parkland. Love the sloping jogging trail in Heron Bay – beautiful landscaping and natural wonders to take in as you go. This is living now #parklandrun #parklandlife
Tag: Florida Golf Courses
Heron Bay Entrance
Plaza del Lago is just one of the two resort style clubhouses within Heron Bay
State of the art Fitness Center at The Plaza Del Lago Clubhouse
Many Group Fitness Activities Daily for All Age Groups
Located approximately 25 minutes from some of Florida’s most beautiful beaches
Heron Bay – New Listing is The Best of Florida Living…
Who do you know that wants the best that Florida living has to offer? Today we feature an exquisite Ground Floor Coach Home that is new to the market and is ideally suited for a small family or for Empty Nesters. View Home Tour.
With Heron Bay’s resort style amenities and active lifestyle, the community offers many programs and activities for children and families. It also offers many well organized daytime and night time events on an ongoing basis for adults of multiple interests and generations.
From ice cream socials for the family, card groups or book clubs, Family Fun Days on the holidays or themed party nights at the Plaza del Lago Clubhouse – living in Heron Bay is what community is all about.
There is a wide range of fitness group classes, including Yoga, Pilates, Zumba, Kickboxing and more as well as a fully equipped state of the art fitness facility open from 5am -10pm on weekdays and from 7am -10pm on weekends to accommodate everyone. Jogging trails wind throughout the community with sloping hills and lush landscaping. Tennis, Golf, Basketball and Racquet Ball are all offered right within the community.
Heron Bay is located within close proximity to the finest shops, restaurants and entertainment available and is known for its all A-Rated Schools . Nestled on the border of Coral Springs and Parkland, the community enjoys the full gamut of options in both cities, and is close to major highways and thoroughfares, making it easy to go north to Boca Raton and beyond or south to Ft. Lauderdale or Miami Beach as desired.
If you or anyone you know is thinking of a new home, consider this beautiful new listing in Heron Bay ~ the best of Florida Living. Click on the link below to view :
Exquisite Ground Floor Coach Home at Cypress Pointe in Heron Bay
GORGEOUS GROUND FLOOR 3/2 COACH HOME IN PRESTIGIOUS HERON BAY! THIS TRIPLE SPLIT FLOOR PLAN HOME FEELS LIKE A SFH WITH ITS IDEAL LAYOUT. TILED THROUGHOUT, THIS HOME FEATURES A GOURMET KITCHEN WITH GRANITE C-TOPS, S/S APPLIANCES AND A SEPARATE DINING AREA. ITS LARGE LIVING SPACE LOOKS OUT TO A LUSH, GREEN CONSERVATION AREA. IT OFFERS A LARGE MASTER SUITE WITH A SPECTACULAR MASTER BATH – ENJOY STYLE AND FUNCTION ADDED TO THE COMFORT OF HAVING A ONE YEAR HOME WARRANTY ON THIS SPECTACULAR HOME! THIS RESORT STYLE COMMUNITY HAS 5-STAR AMENITIES & A-RATED SCHOOLS! DON’T WAIT OR THINK TWICE – CALL TODAY!!!
Do Halloween Dangers Lurk at the Entryway of Your Parkland Home?
Do Halloween Dangers Lurk at Your Entryway?
Is your front entryway ready for Halloween visitors? Keep everything fun and accident-free with these seven safety tips.
Everyone loves a good scare on Halloween — as long as it’s just a trick.
To help you avoid any real-life scares — such as falls, fires, and traffic accidents — around your property this All Hallows Eve, play it safe while you’re setting up your Halloween lights and decorations.
Here are seven simple precautions recommended by John Pettibone, curator of Hammond Castle, a Gloucester, Mass., mansion that draws thousands to its renowned 20-room haunted house every Halloween season.
1. Light the Scene
Providing plenty of illumination ensures that your visitors can see where they’re walking, helping to avoid missteps and falls. Pettibone suggests using the highest wattage bulbs your outdoor lighting fixtures can safely take (check the label on the socket), and adding landscape lights every few feet along your front walk.
“We use the solar-powered kind because there’s no wiring needed,” he says. “Just push them into the ground, let them soak up the sun during the day, and they’ll light up the walk after dark.”
2. Secure the Footing
Clear your walk, steps, and stoop of any obstructions that could trip youngsters focused more on tricks and treats than watching where they’re going. That means moving potted mums and jack o’lanterns out of the way, and hammering down any nail heads protruding out of your steps.
If you have a concrete stoop, which can get slippery when wet, apply friction tape ($16 for a 60-foot roll of 1-inch-wide tape) to ensure stable footing, says Pettibone. He also stocks up on chemical ice melt ($20 for a 50-lb. bag) just in case of an early freeze.
3. Tighten the Railings
If your porch railings are wobbly or broken, family members and friends may know not to lean too heavily on them, but Halloween visitors won’t. So hire a contractor or handyman to fix the problem. It’ll make your home safer for guests all year round. Because more strangers come to your front door this night than the rest of the year combined, now is the time to take care of it.
4. Eliminate Fire Hazards
Don’t put real candles into your carved pumpkins or paper lanterns. “That’s a fire waiting to happen,” says Pettibone. Instead, pick up a bulk pack of LED-bulb faux candles, which emit a yellowish, flickering, battery-powered light that looks amazingly similar to the real thing — without the danger.
5. Secure your Property
To prevent burglaries and Halloween pranks — especially on mischief night the previous evening — make sure to keep all windows and doors (other than your main door) locked shut.
You might have an electrician add motion-sensor lights around your property, so anyone who walks down your driveway or around into the backyard will be discouraged from intruding any farther.
6. Set the Scene
In addition to spooky items like cotton cobwebs and half-buried skeletons, consider a few safety-related scene-setters. Pettibone suggests propping open the screen or storm door so it doesn’t get in the way when there’s a big group of kids congregated on your stoop. “We use yellow caution tape to tie open the door,” he says. “You can order it online and it works well with the Halloween theme.” A 1,000-ft. roll of 3-inch-wide caution tape is about $8.
You’ll also want a working doorbell, so if yours is broken, either hire an electrician or handyman to fix it — or install a wireless doorbell in its place.
7. Enhance Street Safety
Four times as many child pedestrians get killed on Halloween night than a normal night. So limit the danger as much as you can by clearing parked cars off the curb to allow better visibility and placing a reflective “watch for children sign” at the edge of the road. For for high-traffic roads in Halloween-intensive neighborhoods, consider posting an adult in the street with a hand-held traffic control light to help maintain safety.
From all of us at Florida Luxury Real Estate Group ~
Have a Happy and Safe Halloween!
Article Written By: Oliver Marks - Houselogic.com Read more: http://members.houselogic.com/articles/halloween-safety-rules/preview/?cid=eo_em_mkt_rcrnewsletter#ixzz3HSDNVpQL Follow us: @HouseLogic on Twitter | HouseLogic on Facebook
Parkland Market Update Third Quarter 2014
The Parkland Real Estate Market continued to sell at a steady pace during the third quarter of 2014. Here is a quick look at the activity during that period.
There are currently 222 homes active/available on the market. During the third quarter of 2014, 38 homes went pending/under contract and 55 homes actually closed.
Further analysis shows that our ‘sweet spot’ remains in that $500,000.00 – $750,000.00 price range with an average of 4Plus Bedrooms – a true testament to our quality of life barometer and school district. Of the 222 homes available for sale, only 76 homes are within this price range, which means we have approximately 2 months of inventory in our best-seller category.
Homes that are priced correctly continue to sell faster and at a higher value than ones that 
were priced ambitiously to start. We all want wiggle-room for offers to be negotiated, but statistics continue to show that pricing right is more effective every time for a goal of selling quickly and at a higher price point, especially as we compete with new construction sales, so this is important to keep in mind.
Don’t Miss These Events, Parklanders…
Hope to see you out and about in our Town…
Do I Really Need A Real Estate Agent?
With so much information readily available online, clients sometimes ask me, “Why should we hire a real estate agent?” They wonder, and rightfully so, if they couldn’t buy or sell a home through the Internet or through regular marketing and advertising channels without representation, without a a real estate agent. Some do OK, many don’t. So if you’ve wondered the same thing, here are 10 reasons why you might want to consider hiring a professional real estate agent.1. Education & Experience
You don’t need to know everything about buying and selling real estate if you hire a real 
estate professional who does. Henry Ford once said that when you hire people who are smarter than you are, it proves you are smarter than they are. The trick is to find the right person. Why not hire a person with more education and experience than you? We’re all looking for more precious time in our lives, and hiring pros gives us that time.
estate professional who does. Henry Ford once said that when you hire people who are smarter than you are, it proves you are smarter than they are. The trick is to find the right person. Why not hire a person with more education and experience than you? We’re all looking for more precious time in our lives, and hiring pros gives us that time.2. Agents are Buffers
Agents take the spam out of your property showings and visits. If you’re a buyer of new homes, for example, your agent will whip out her sword and keep the builder’s agents at bay, preventing them from biting or nipping at your heels and will work to protect your interests. If you’re a seller, your agent will filter all those phone calls that lead to nowhere from lookie loos and try to induce serious buyers to immediately write an offer.
3. Neighborhood Knowledge
![Neighborhood Expert [QuotePix.com]](https://parklandtoday.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/neighborhood-expert-quotepix-com.jpg)
Agents either possess intimate knowledge or they know where to find the industry buzz about your neighborhood. They can identify comparable sales and hand these facts to you, in addition to pointing you in the direction where you can find more data on schools, crime or demographics. For example, you may know that a home down the street was on the market for $550,000, but an agent will know it had upgrades and sold at $485,000 after 65 days on the market and after twice falling out of escrow.
4. Price Guidance
Contrary to what some people believe, agents do not select prices for sellers or buyers. However, an agent will help to guide clients to make the right choices for themselves. If a listing is at 6%, for example, an agent has a 6% vested interest in the sale, but the client has a 94% interest. Selling agents will ask buyers to weigh all the data supplied to them and to choose a price. Then based on market supply, demand and the conditions, the agent will devise a negotiation strategy.
5. Market Conditions Information
Real estate agents can disclose market conditions, which will govern your selling or buying process. Many factors determine how you will proceed. Data such as the average per square foot cost of similar homes, median and average sales prices, average days on market and ratios of list-to-sold prices, among other criteria, will have a huge bearing on what you ultimately decide to do.
6. Professional Networking
Real estate agents network with other professionals, many of whom provide services that you will need to buy or sell. Due to legal liability, many agents will hesitate to recommend a certain individual or company over another, but they do know which vendors have a reputation for efficiency, competency and competitive pricing. Agents can, however, give you a list of references with whom they have worked and provide background information to help you make a wise selection.
7. Negotiation Skills & Confidentiality
Top producing agents negotiate well because, unlike most buyers and sellers, they can remove themselves from the emotional aspects of the transaction and because they are skilled. It’s part of their job description. Good agents are not messengers, delivering buyer’s offers to sellers and vice versa. They are professionals who are trained to present their client’s case in the best light and agree to hold client information confidential from competing interests.
8. Handling Volumes of Paperwork
Today’s Sales Contracts run 10 pages or more. That does not include the federal- and state-mandated disclosures nor disclosures dictated by local custom. Most real estate files average thicknesses from one to three inches of paper. One tiny mistake or omission could land you in court or cost you thousands.9. Answer Questions After Closing
Even the smoothest transactions that close without complications can come back to haunt. For example, taxing authorities that collect property tax assessments, doc stamps or transfer tax can fall months behind and mix up invoices, but one call to your agent can straighten out the confusion. Many questions can pop up that were overlooked in the excitement of closing. Good agents stand by ready to assist. Worthy and honest agents don’t leave you in the dust to fend for yourself.
10. Develop Relationships for Future Business
The basis for an agent’s success and continued career in real estate is referrals. Few agents would survive if their livelihood was dependent on consistently drumming up new business. This emphasis gives agents strong incentives to make certain clients are happy and satisfied. It also means that an agent who stays in the business will be there for you when you need to hire an agent again. Many will periodically mail market updates to you to keep you informed and to stay in touch.
A good realtor will take the guesswork out of the process – a great realtor will put together the pieces of the puzzle to make the entire transaction work for you and your family’s needs!
Parkland Real Estate Activity June 2014
As Summer heats up in Parkland, so does the local real estate market. A quick look at the market activity for June shows once again that homes that are priced properly SELL. Here is a quick synopsis of what has been happening in Parkland’s real estate market in June 2014.
Currently there are 129 homes on the market for sale. Of these, 8 are short sales and one is an REO (Real Estate Owned or Corporate Owned property). This shows a marked decrease in short sales and foreclosures in the Parkland area.
One home sold so far in June. It was on the market for 90 days before going to contract and closed as an all cash sale at approximately $160.00 per square foot of living space.
There are currently 15 homes pending sale throughout Parkland. Of this number, one is a Short Sale and two of them are REO’s.
If you would like to know the comparable market value of your home, we would be happy to provide you with a complimentary assessment. Feel free to give us a call at 954.708.6841 to schedule an appointment, no strings attached.
Don’t Miss The Taste of Parkland Today!!!
If Parkland, FL Real Estate is Doing So Well, Why Isn’t My Home Selling?
We often meet Home Sellers who are feeling frustrated because their home isn’t selling and they ask for our advice. Selling your home really comes down to four key things:
Pricing: Is your home overpriced for the current market? Overpricing your home is usually the number one reason it’s not selling. Your home should be competitively priced for the current real estate market. Your Realtor should have done a Competitive Market Analysis (CMA in Realtor-Speak) to determine the market value. Using the CMA, you need to price your home at or below market value to gain the most interest from buyers in the shortest period of time. Yes, I did say below market value!
Consider this: If you start on the high side (aka as overpricing your home) because ‘you can always reduce the price’, you will most likely miss out on many buyers who figure your home is simply out of their price range. Statistics show that homes on the market generate the most interest within the first two weeks that they are listed – why not take advantage of your best time period by starting off right, instead?
In fact, recent studies show that listing your home just 10% below market value can dramatically increase your chances of selling it quickly. Worried about losing money by underpricing? Weigh those potential losses against the costs of carrying the home for an extended period! In addition, we are seeing homes that are listed just below market value stir up so much interest, they often result in bidding wars! Now that’s a ‘HaPpY pLaCe’ for a Seller. 🙂
Promotion: Is your home being marketed properly? Another major reason for some homes not selling is lack of exposure. In today’s day and age the majority of Buyers use the internet to search for a home. You should list your home with a Realtor who is tech-savvy and up to date with today’s technology.
Your Realtor should be promoting your home on multiple online websites as well as sending out email blasts to colleagues, their contact database and the hundreds of realtors in your area. Are they announcing your listing and Open Houses on Facebook and Twitter? Believe me, these tools make a huge difference in this market.
Ask your Realtor to review the photographs they take of your home with you. Pay attention to the little details in those images, as that is what potential Buyers are using to determine if they are interested in looking at your home. (Word to the Wise: pics of the exterior only imply there’s something wrong with the interior).
Product: Think of your home as a product for sale! Does it show well? Is it clean and free of clutter inside and out? Many prospective buyers do not have “vision” and cannot see past these little cosmetic shortcomings. They are looking for something that immediately appeals to them and will give them the most bang for their buck. Simple things like clothes left on the floor, a sink full of dishes or soiled walls can make your home seem like it lacks the spit and shine they are looking for… Seriously!!!
Make sure your home is free from clutter, has clean walls and moldings, clean carpeting, well-maintained landscaping, and is neatly organized.
Also, make sure your home is well lit and smells appealing (air fresheners and candles work well) when Buyers are viewing the home. Think of it as setting a tone/mood for a prospective Buyer to feel warm and fuzzy about your home and see it as theirs!
You may even be better off doing some upgrades in your home before putting it on the market. Features like granite counter-tops in your kitchen, updated fittings and fixtures in your bathrooms and new carpets can bring your home to a competitive level or advantage with other homes for sale in your neighborhood. Ask your Realtor to walk through your home with you and advise you of what changes you could make to help it show at its best. Hire a Home Stager if necessary!
Professional: As you can see from the above, hiring the right Realtor is really essential in the home selling process. Make sure you hire a professional who is committed to getting your home sold and is thorough about the preliminary work of getting your home ready for showings. You need a Realtor who does aggressive marketing and has a strong online marketing strategy as a part of that.
Communication is also very important. Your Realtor should be in weekly contact with you to discuss your sale activity and the feedback from prospective Buyers who have viewed your home. They should be proactive about suggesting changes or adjustments that can help the process.
Having a Realtor work with you to sell your home is definitely the best way to go but it is equally important to hire the right Realtor who has the skill, knowledge, experience and communication skills to get the job done.
Got a question? Feel free to leave us a comment or shoot us an email at NICOLA@FLLUXREG.COM.
Parkland, FL Real Estate Update
With all the news about Parkland’s A-Rated Schools, the great family lifestyle and the way property values are holding their own, Parkland Real Estate continues to sell very well and June was no exception. Here is the Sales Activity for June 2011, broken down by Subdivision.
32 homes sold in Parkland last month. Of the 32, 9 homes were Short Sales and 5 were Foreclosures. 3 homes had neither pool nor lake, 13 had a pool only, 4 had a lake only and 12 had both a pool and a lake lot.
19 homes went under contract in June, of which 4 were short sales and 2 were foreclosures. 9 of these homes had pools only, 4 had lakefront property only with no pool, and 3 had both. 3 of them had no pool or lake.
The activity clearly shows that homes that are priced right are selling and selling quickly. In addition, it is evident from the statistics that a pool is a very important feature to prospective Buyers, more so than lakefront properties, in fact.
Homes in move-in condition, already upgraded and that offer good value for the price are also selling faster than their competition.
There are currently 158 homes available for sale in the Parkland area. Click here to use our complimentary, user-friendly Property Search to see what is available at the moment.
Here is this week’s Featured Property, which was listed for sale last month in Waters’ Edge, for $449,000.00.
Want more information on this beautiful 4 Bedroom with 3 bathroom Home? Just click here for more property details.
Parkland on a whole is selling very well. However, it is really important to work with a local expert in the area who is knowledgable about the specifics of the Parkland Real Estate Market. That’s a topic we will delve into further later this week.
Parkland Today is a project by Nicola Riettie dedicated to writing useful blog posts for consumers about the Parkland, Florida area. Find out what it is really like to live in Parkland, Florida by reading about our fair city at this Blog regularly. You’ll get the latest in local real estate information, Parkland real estate market reports, our favorite Parkland photos and a little bit of humor. If you have topic ideas, feel free to request a story about the idea! After all, this site is just for you.
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