HIGHLAND BEACH CONDOS FOR SALE

Walk the shores of this quiet, pretty stretch of land, a finger on the map, surrounded by the Intracoastal on the west and the Atlantic Ocean on the east. One road, A1A (Ocean Drive) runs through this narrow piece of land, dividing up the many condominium buildings & homes that abut the waters edge on both sides, many with boat docks. Realtor MARILYN JACOBS SPECIALIZES IN WATERFRONT CONDO SALES and will sell your condo quickly and find you the HOME OF YOUR DREAMS (561-302-3388).

Sunday, September 27, 2009

SEPTEMBER 2009 HOUSING NEWS

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

HOUSING INDUSTRY GROUPS WORKING ON APPRAISAL REFORMS

Things are looking up as this thorny appraisal vs.comparables problem is faced at last. Among the issues being discussed jointly by the NAR (National Association of Realtors), NAHB (National Association of Builders), MBA (Mortgage Bankers Association and appraisal groups are:

· Appraisers not using proper adjustments on comps (comparables) on foreclosed or other distressed properties

· The HVCC (Home Valuation Code of Conduct) impacting the ability to get quality appraisals in distressed markets

· Some appraisers for comps in area they are not familiar with and that impacts the appraisals, driving down home values

· Urging federal regulators to adopt and enforce more clear regulatory guidance on appraisals for distressed and foreclosed properties for realistic valuations and truly comparable sales

· Calling for immediate action to address these appraisal-related claims

· Sometimes appraisers do a “drive by,” only looking at the exteriors of homes as they do not have access, and distressed properties often have apparent problems inside as compared to new, updated, and “market-ready” homes.

Okay government, let’s get this fixed. It IS BROKE.

Friday, September 18, 2009

FOR THOSE WITH PROBLEMS PAYING THEIR MORTGAGES THESE LINKS MAY BE OF INTEREST

MAKING HOME AFFORDABLE PROGRAM

BUYING FORECLOSURES

FORECLOSURE PREVENTION

SHORT SALE GUIDE, ISSUES, PITFALLS AND MORE

Keep in mind: Marilyn's team includes CDPE Graduates (CERTIFIED DISTRESSED PROPERTY EXPERTS) and if you know someone who could use help, please let us know who they are, or suggest they call us. We will do the best that we can to be of help. Call Marilyn at 561-988-0070 for more information.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

GREATER BOCA RATON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AFTER-HOURS NETWORKING

The 4^th Tuesday of every month an event is held with nearly 250 attendees getting networking opportunities. In August the event was held at the Boca Resort Hotel. Your editor attended with friend John Allison, and we had a wonderful time mingling, dancing and... YES!… sampling the delicious foods and wines. The event was called WINE & ALL THAT JAZZ… AND MORE… 2009. Along with lots of people, great food, lots of new hellos, it was a night of wonderful wine from Southern Wine & Spirits of South Florida and fabulous food from Bogart's Bar & Grille, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Saba Asian Dining and Sushi Bar, The Addison Boca Raton, The Capital Grille, Truluck's, and ZED 451. YUM. Belly dancers performed and worked their way through the crowd – one gave Marilyn a lesson… hey! That is great exercise! There is a fee to attend. The Boca Resort Hotel just opened a new huge room – turn right when you enter the main doors and go to the end. It is filled with dark blue banquette lounge seats, and there was a “Neil Diamond-type” singer. $15 buys you 2 drinks and a comfortable seat. Nice place to while away the hours. Every seat was taken! Drop by and enjoy!

HIGHLAND BEACH

Condominiums offer a variety of amenities, some are older, established buildings and new ones are still going up. Grand estate and townhomes appear on both sides of A1A. Complexes with beautiful ocean front or intracostal views may include dockage and/or boating facilities.

Take your pick to enjoy a wonderful, comfortable lifestyle.

The Town encompasses 0.6 square miles and is bounded in the north and northwest by the City of Delray Beach and on the south and southwest by the City of Boca Raton.

Highland Beach is a residential community with a year-round population of approximately 3,200 which increases to approximately 6,500 during the winter months, adding part-time residents who list their northern homes as their official place of residence. Residents are composed of approximately 80% retirees and 20% persons employed or engaged in business enterprises in Palm Beach and Broward Counties.

From one full time employee in 1966, the Highland Beach Town Commission staff has grown to 38 full time employees, 4 part time employees, and 5 elected officials. In that same period, the assessed valuation of Highland Beach has mushroomed from $10 million to approximately $861 million.

In March 2000, voters approved a referendum to build a state of the art Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Plant on some of the land behind Town Hall. The new facility will replace their current lime softening plant which is now located in Boca Raton.

In March 2002, Highland Beach voters approved a referendum to build a new library in the rear of the Town Hall complex, next to the Intracoastal Waterway. The new library will be 6 to 8 times larger than the current one, and will provide patrons with even more choices and variety in the latest reading materials, periodicals, videos and DVDs. There will also be more public computers available for internet access. Construction of the new library is not expected to begin until 2004.

In 1999, the city of Highland Beach heartily celebrated its fiftieth anniversary.

Located between the cities of Delray Beach and Boca Raton, Highland Beach is a residential community. Highland Beach was once the home of the Caloosa Indian tribe. Pirates, explorers and buccaneers also visited the city over the years.

The roughly three-mile stretch of Highland Beach serves as a critical nesting ground for endangered sea turtles, which lay hundreds of eggs onshore each year from March through October.

Today, Highland Beach - along with the nearby upscale communities of Gulf Stream, Ocean Ridge and Manalapan - is home to some of the most beautiful homes and beachfront property along South Florida’s “Gold Coast.”

The Highland Beach real estate market is upscale, featuring luxurious beachfront single-family detached homes and exquisite condominiums, co-ops and high-rises. Highland Beach also features pristine oceanfront property, with homes ranging to more than $15 million. Equally upscale condominium high-rises priced from $300,000 to $3.4 million are available at Toscana Towers, Townhouses of Highland Beach, Trafalgar, Coronado at Highland Beach Isles and Regency Highland. Limited land and lots are available for custom building.

RENTED: POLO CLUB LAKEFRONT POOL HOME • FURNISHED TURNKEY • TWO PETS ALLOWED ANY SIZE

WHAT WOULD MARILYN DO DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHER AGENTS IF SHE LISTED YOUR PROPERTY?

Give your property WORLDWIDE EXPOSURE... ...email 38,000 local realtors with your property info - they may have YOUR BUYER in their portfolio ...list your property on both the Regional MLS (RMLSFL) and the Palm Beach Board of Realtors (PBB) - Marilyn is a member of both ...feature photos and info about your listing in our office window in a trafficed area in downtown Palm Beach (Jeffrey Ray & Associates, 210 Brazilian Way, corner of South County Road ...email information to over 1000 luxury agents around the US ...post your information all over the whole wide world on the internet ...talk to Marilyn to learn more.

MARILYN HANDLES SALES, RENTALS AND LISTINGS

SIX LISTINGS OF MARILYN... look how fasssst they sold!

A Polo Club single family house listed with Marilyn WAS UNDER CONTRACT THE SAME DAY IT WAS LISTED - in one day! A Delray Beach townhouse listed with Marilyn was UNDER CONTRACT IN 14 DAYS. A Polo property listed with Marilyn was UNDER CONTRACT IN 21 DAYS. A Lake Worth/Smith Farms single family residence listed with Marilyn was SOLD IN 63 DAYS when the real estate market was most distressed and the home had dozens of showings. After a year on the market, a listing of Marilyn’s WAS UNDER CONTRACT IN 90 DAYS. On the FIRST DAY OUT LOOKING, out-of-towners bought one of the 7 houses Marilyn showed them. Sending endless listings over the internet, one two occasions, buyers purchased homes from these LISTINGS SENT OVER THE INTERNET. MARILYN HAS HAD PROPERTIES UNDER CONTRACT IN ONE DAY AND HAS HAD BUYERS FIND THEIR DREAM HOMES IN ONE DAY!!! When you list with Marilyn, start looking right away for your next home as you may be there sooner than you think!