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: home buying
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 I Need A Public Adjuster?
An oft-misunderstood role in the home industry is that of the Public Adjuster. I recently sat down with one of the top Public Adjusters in the State, Floyd Ostrowsky of Reliant Adjusters Group, to get a better idea of what their profession does and how a homeowner might benefit from working with one.
1. What is a public adjuster? The simplest answer would be an advocate for the people! A trained and state licensed professional hired by a homeowner and or business owner to represent them in the event of property damage.
2. Why would a homeowner need a public adjuster? When a homeowner has an insurance claim they are best served having someone who truly knows what they’re entitled to for repairing their home and other expenses. The Insurance companies have their people defending their interests, so it only makes sense that a homeowner does as well. A wise man once told me “You know what you know and you don’t know what you don’t know!” That said, having someone who knows how to manage the claim makes a substantial difference in the homeowner’s financial recovery.
3. How is a public adjuster different from a staff or independent adjuster? Great question! Both staff adjusters and independent adjusters work for the Insurance company whereas a public adjuster is hired by the insured to represent their interests.
4. When would a homeowner need a public adjuster? It is always best to consult with a public adjuster whenever a homeowner has suffered a property loss. We can review the policy, uncover what is covered and suggest a next best step.
5. In what circumstances? Public adjusters work specifically on property damage claims so we can assist with all claims arising, from the most common being water damage up to and including a full scale natural disaster such as a hurricane and everything in between, be it flood, mold, lightning strike, fire, smoke, structural, sinkhole, theft and vandalism. Basically if it causes damage to your home it is in the homeowner’s best interest to have a Public Adjuster give it a look.
6. How does a public adjuster get compensated for their services? Another great question, public adjusters work on a contingency basis. Basically we only get paid once the homeowner or business owner receives payment from their insurance company. If they do not receive payment, neither do we – so there is no risk.
7. When is the right/best time after a disaster for them to contact a public adjuster? Of course, first things first – take care of your family and mitigate your loss. Then, in my opinion, it is always best to engage a public adjuster right away. Being engaged from the beginning helps keep the process running smoothly. A good public adjuster can basically start the claim for the homeowner and manage it through completion. That’s not to say it is too late to engage a public adjuster once you’ve started a claim or even if a claim has been denied. Lastly a public adjuster can even reopen a claim up for to five years, if there is relevant reason to do so.
8. How do you find/select the right public adjuster? First, always make sure they are licensed and bonded. After that, there is nothing better than a referral. If you know someone who was satisfied with how their claim was managed that would be a good indication or ask for references. At Reliant we are always happy to supply references. It serves two purposes – it gives new clients confidence and maintains top of mind awareness of those we have worked for in the past. The greater majority of our business is word of mouth – when you are doing the right thing word gets around quickly.
9. What sets Reliant Public Adjusters apart from its competitors? At Reliant, we pride ourselves on customer service and great communication. Keeping homeowners and business owners in the loop on the status of their claims is a priority. Added to that, we are a team of experienced professionals, each with our own unique backgrounds, myself having 30+ years of negotiation in business experience and my associates, one with a wealth of construction experience and the other formally an independent adjuster working for the insurance companies. As a team we have the knowledge and experience to deal with whatever possibly comes our way.
Wow, this was amazing information! We would like to thank Floyd for making the time to 
sit with us to explain his profession so clearly. You can contact Floyd Ostrowsky of Reliant Public Adjusters at 954.805.3602.
Moving Day…
Moving can be one of the most stressful things anyone can go through and many of us say at the end of each move – “That’s it! This is the last time ever!!!” Hmmmm… Famous last words.
The truth is, the average family in Florida will move every 10-12 years. We move for many reasons, lifestyle change being primary. Whether our family is growing and, as such, outgrowing our home, shrinking, with kids moving away to college or getting married, or we are simply upgrading – we have more than enough cause to move a few times in our lifetime.
Recently, I sat down with our favorite Relocation Specialist, Mary Ann Colton of Armstrong Relocation, to get her top insider tips for making the moving process easier. Here are her top 12:
- Donate or sell items you don’t plan to move
- Remember to send change of address notifications
- Packing yourself can save some $$
- If you have children, include them in the planning
- Discard items that will be dangerous to move, like flammables or fireworks
- Pick up items you may have at cleaners, repair shop, etc., ahead of time…
- Schedule your move as far out as possible to ensure capacity
- Plan to take irreplaceable items with you personally
- Empty your refrigerator and make sure it is defrosted and dry by moving day
- Separate any items you do not want movers to pack/move
- Tour your home with the driver to make sure all items are loaded
- Use up existing food and supplies you have and try not to buy more till after the move
Our personal favorite tip for stress-free moving is HIRE A GOOD MOVING COMPANY – probably the most important thing you can do to enable you to have a streamlined move 
and start the process of getting settled into your new space. Get a referral from a friend or neighbor, try a reputable referral website like Angie’s List (but always check with the Better Business Bureau first) or do some solid research online. An experienced moving company will definitely make moving day a lot easier.
For more information on moving tips or if you would like to contact our Mover of Choice, Mary Ann Colton, to discuss or schedule a move, you can find her at Armstrong Relocation and Companies. They are conveniently located in Pompano Beach, FL, making them the ideal mover for your Parkland, FL move. They also offer commercial, national and global relocation services, so wherever you may be going, Mary Ann and her team at Armstrong Relocation are the best movers for you!!! Call her at (954) 956-0059 or email her at mcolton@goarmstrong.com.
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.
Home Inspections – What Every Seller Needs to Know.
Home Inspections – What is Considered a Defect?
There is almost nothing as challenging as attending a home inspection on a beautiful, seemingly perfect home only to learn that a home inspector has discovered a larger issue which requires significant, costly repairs. Buyers can become apprehensive, sellers can become defensive and the entire transaction can teeter on the brink of collapse.
Several of the home inspections I’ve attended have had a few major items which would be considered surprises by most standards. Combine a surprise with the usual list of other “handy man” issues found in discovery and a home seller can become a bit defensive. The emotions kick in and occasionally a statement along the lines of “now they’re just nitpicking” comes into play.
What I can share about all of the years I’ve been selling real estate is that I’ve never once met a buyer who contacted a home inspector and told them to manufacture a long list of nitpicky-type issues just to upset the seller or to create a reason to get out of the contract.
During a home inspection what is or is not considered a defect? Very often, consumers are confused about what is considered a defect, a broken item, something that needs repaired by the seller prior to closing. There rarely is a gray area. The contract that both the buyer and seller executed likely delineates what is actually considered a defect and the course of action to remedy those items. Essentially, things that are meant to function must, in fact, function as they were intended.
The home inspector has been hired to do one thing, thoroughly assess the entire home for a buyer so that they completely understand the condition of the home that they’re buying. Every single item, big or small, not working in the capacity for which it was designed will be itemized on the list. Very often, even cosmetic items are, at the very least, noted on the list just so the buyer understands that there are cracked tiles or stains or whatever the anomaly may be.
So, to help avoid any surprises and added stress down the road here are a few tips for home sellers to get through the inspection period and to the closing table:
- Prior to signing the sales contract a seller should fully understand their financial and contractual responsibility for remedying defects discovered in an inspection.
- When in doubt, disclose. It doesn’t matter how long ago it happened be it a fire, flood, a roof leak – disclose everything.
- Home inspections may have changed since you last purchased or sold a home. Inspectors now use specialized equipment such as thermal imaging and air quality testing to find nearly invisible defects such as faulty wiring, moisture intrusion and mold.
- Whatever the defect is, it doesn’t matter “if it was like that when you bought it”. It will be a defect on an inspection report.
- Love the one you’re with. Warts and all, do your best to work out the transaction at hand. If the buyer walks, the items from the home inspection report may have to be disclosed to the next buyer. The inevitable repair is only going to be delayed and potentially interfere with the next transaction and may even result in a lower selling price down the road.
- Don’t get upset about a lengthy list of repairs. The home inspector is doing their job and the buyer is getting what they pay for, a thorough inspection.
Purchasing New, Pre-Construction Homes in Parkland
The city of Parkland is a beautiful and green, upscale residential community with small scale commercial villages. Its hometown feeling and excellent neighborhood schools help to make Parkland a family friendly community that its residents enjoy. It offers an active lifestyle through first class leisure and cultural amenities, and easy movement through its streets and multi-use trails. The “parklike” character of the city is one of the things it is best known and admired for.
Located in Northwest Broward County, Parkland was established in 1963. This city of 22,000 residents is proud of the country-like, rural ambience that it strives to keep, while maintaining a first class lifestyle. Take a look at this video which explains what Parkland living is all about.
If you have been thinking of purchasing a new home, Parkland’s exclusive communities offer the best that Florida lifestyle has to offer. With exquisite architecture, ‘A-Rated’ schools and the city’s first class amenities, Parkland is, unquestionably, the destination of choice in Broward County.
Parkland also has some exciting new construction opportunities to consider. From Watercrest and Mira Lago in The Wedge area, to Parkland Golf and Country Club and Heron Bay, Parkland’s new homes have a lot to offer.
You should consider using a Realtor for your new construction purchase to get the most information and widest exposure to the most suitable Parkland real estate within your budget and search criteria.
Since real estate customs vary all over the country and all over the world, many home buyers wonder how working with a real estate agent works with new construction or builder product. There are a few things you should consider and know before you begin a search for new construction in Parkland, Florida.
- New construction is on fire in the Parkland area. Our real estate market is recovered and we’re short of quality real estate inventory. The developers and builders have recognized that deficiency and they’re building exquisite new homes for the discerning home buyer
- Builders and developers actually encourage and welcome home buyers to use a Realtor for purchasing new construction. The developers know that real estate agents are always working with home buyers and they cooperate fully with the business relationship. There is no added cost to a buyer for Realtor representation in a model home sales center for new construction purchases.
- Your Realtor will likely have worked the area and the real estate market in which you’re looking and so they will be able to show you a range of communities and properties that best suit your “wish list”, saving you time while giving you your full range of your available choices.
- Both new construction and resale real estate can be available in some neighborhoods. Get the best of both worlds by seeing what resale homes are available also, so that you won’t miss a great opportunity. Your real estate agent can make appointments for resale homes to compare on the same day that you visit the model home center.
- Experienced real estate agents can help you sort through what you saw at the end of the day. Touring multiple sales centers can be overwhelming. At the end of the tour you’ll need someone to help you sort through what you’ve seen and, should you decide to purchase new construction, they can help you make important selections such as upgrades, additional options and home sites so that you enjoy it to the full and see returns in the future if you decide to sell the home.
- Your real estate agent can also help you negotiate incentives, upgrades, home sites and pricing when you purchase new construction.
- Often times, your real estate agent may also know of similar product in a different community that is at a better or comparable value, or one that offers incentives – so find an agent experienced with the area, and specifically, with new construction.
When you’re buying new construction and using a real estate agent, it is important to remember that real estate agents don’t get paid unless they’re involved with your transaction. Your loyalty to the business relationship is a must. This will require you attending the model home sales center with your agent and “registering” with them. It only takes a moment or two. Again, there is no added cost to a buyer looking for new construction who utilizes Realtor representation.
If you have questions about new construction in Parkland, Florida contact Nicola Riettie at 954-708-6841. Nicola is a Luxury Home Specialist with over ten years of experience in the Parkland real estate market.
Greater Ft. Lauderdale Area Market Report May-14
May-14 REALTOR® Association of Greater Ft. Lauderdale Regional Sales and Price Activity
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Single Family = Single Family Res
Condo = Condo/Co-Op/Villa/Townhouse
Reports generated from Clarus MarketMetrics®
Contact your REALTOR® for additional local market trends in your neighborhood. Reports were generated from ClarusMarketMetrics® for the Realtor Association of Greater Ft. Lauderdale.
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.
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