PROPERTY OWNERS... Have You Fallen Behind on Your Mortgage Payments?If you would like to stay in your home and have fallen behind on payments due to a short-term financial setback such as an unexpected expense or a temporary loss of income:                 A Forbearance allows you to suspend payments for a specified time period. At the specified period, the missed payments are either repaid in full or added on as an extension to the term of the loan. A Repayment Plan is similar to forbearance, although the past-due loan amount is spread out over a specified time frame, increasing the existing mortgage payment until the mortgage is brought back up to date. If you would like to stay in your home and have fallen behind on payments due to a long-term financial setback such as a job loss or ... 07/10/2016

Pet Friendly Dining in Boca Raton FLBy: Ryan Boylston Publisher, Delray Newspaper, Dinner Gone to the Dogs, June 1, 2016 She’s the one you can’t wait to come home to after a long day. Snuggling on the couch watching sitcoms with her is the best thing in the world. Her love for you is unconditional, and she’s never ashamed to show it. So, why not take her out for a nice steak dinner? There is one problem, however. This special lady in your life isn’t your wife or girlfriend… …She’s your dog.  This tends to complicate going out a bit. Where can you take your beloved pet out to dinner without, at the very least, getting a few upturned noses or raised eyebrows? Fortunately, South Florida is a decidedly pet friendly locale, with our mild climate allowing for plenty of year-round outdoor dini... 07/04/2016

First impressions are something you can never get back. When taking potential home buyers to look at Boca Raton luxury homes, Orlando, or anywhere else, you know as a real estate professional that the minute you drive up to the curb an impression is made. This imprint will stay with them no matter what excuse you give for an unkempt front yard.This is why when representing sellers of Boca Raton real estate, we’ve got to impress on them the fact that they can boost their home's value by up to 12% if the lawn and landscaping are well-groomed. For more advice on this type of curb appeal, visit Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty. 06/27/2016

Builders are excited to see an increased interest in Boca Raton luxury homes and other markets, as numbers across the country reflect an optimistic view when it comes to the real estate market.Housing starts held steady in May and permits were up, as developers and builders are experiencing an improving market, data shows. Insiders are seeing home buyers more ready and willing to make an investment in a new home purchase, which is giving builders a green light in taking on more new construction.Read more about the data recently released from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Commerce Department at the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty. 06/21/2016

 Home Prices in Boca Raton FL for May 2016  Real estate market data for Boca Raton, FL provided by Elyse Berman of Realty Associates Florida Properties.  Boca Raton Home Prices We continue to see higher prices on home prices in Boca Raton FL and don’t expect things to slow down anytime soon. If you are considering buying a home you can still find deals on a house in Boca Raton, but having a good real estate agent who understands the market is a must. Don’t wait on the sidelines for too long. Many of our listings are selling within a few days of hitting the market. As you can see from the graph below, listings are not selling exactly for asking price. To make sure you don't overpay for your home, you'll want to have an agent that does a thorough market analysis of the Boca Raton home  on... 06/12/2016

 The Daily (060916) Hot Sheet of Top Real Estate News Trending Now   Truth-in-lending disclosure to be tweaked in JulyNew lending disclosures went into effect last year. Since then, CFPB informally solved issues as they came up and now plans to make some changes official. Read more. Is tight credit another reason for fewer listings?Before the recession, many owners vulnerable to foreclosure chose to sell instead, but fewer feel threatened due to tighter lending standards. Another concern: Higher mortgage rates could convince more owners with low rates to hunker down. Read more. New homes are bigger than everCensus Bureau: According to its 2015 survey, the median size of a single-family home was 2,467 square feet thanks mainly to bigger bedrooms and bathrooms. Read more.Real Estate Round... 06/09/2016

Elyse Berman, Realtor, Has Been Awarded the CRS Designation   On May 26, 2016, Elyse Berman, was awarded the prestigious Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) Designation by the Council of Residential Specialists, the largest not-for-profit affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS®. REALTORS® who receive the CRS Designation have completed advanced professional training and demonstrated outstanding professional achievement in residential real estate.  Only 29,000 REALTORS® nationwide have earned the credential. Home buyers and sellers can be assured that CRS Designees subscribe to the strict REALTOR® code of ethics, have been trained to use the latest tactics and technologies, and are specialists in helping clients maximize profits and minimize costs when buying or selling a ho... 06/08/2016

You never know what you're going to find when looking at homes in Boca Raton.  We found this perfect pineapple growing in the back of a vacant home.  What a surprise!  05/28/2016

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN OUT ON A LIMB? Since the freeze came a couple of years ago, my tree friends have not returned for a visit until this year. From my patio, I could hear them climb the trees, especially the pines. You know they are not afraid of heights. They swim too, and to watch them take off it’s as if they are wearing track shoes. I sure hope they return as they did years ago, and bring a couple of friends too.       05/28/2016

The Daily (052716) Hot Sheet of Top Real Estate News Trending Now  NAR: Pending home sales at a 10-year highConsumers are buying homes. NAR's monthly gauge of homes under contract rose for the third straight month in April to a level not seen since Feb. 2006. Read more.30-year mortgage rate rises to 3.64%While fixed mortgage rates remain well below year-ago levels, the Fed's announcement about a possible June interest rate increase nudged mortgage rates higher. Only 10% of experts polled except a drop over the short term. Read more.Single men's home values increased more than women'sRealtyTrac: Homes owned by single men, on average, are valued 10% more (In Fla. it's 12%) and have appreciated 16% more than homes owned by single women. Read more.Landlord may be liable for damage but not h... 05/27/2016

Investing In Ourselves Pays High ReturnsAs we bring about the middle of May, what changes will be made in 2016. Will we try that new diet plan to shed the left over holiday pounds? Will we join the local gym to get in shape for the summer vacation? Or will we just do the same things hoping for different results. I encourage everyone going into the next month to start investing in Themselves. This will not only give you added confidence in your market place, but you may just learn something too. Once the mind stretches to new limits, it never goes back to the original state some have said.Listed below are several courses to increase your knowledge, and will help improve your income as well.                                Let this year be the year of Education, Prosperity, and Professiona... 05/15/2016

Home Prices in Boca Raton FL for April 2016  Real estate market data for Boca Raton, FL provided by Elyse Berman of Realty Associates Florida Properties.  Boca Raton Home Prices  We continue to see higher prices on home prices in Boca Raton FL and don’t expect things to slow down anytime soon. If you are considering buying a home you can still find deals on a house in Boca Raton, but having a good real estate agent who understands the market is a must. Don’t wait on the sidelines for too long. Many of our listings are selling within a few days of hitting the market. As you can see from the graph below, listings are not selling exactly for asking price. To make sure you don't overpay for your home, you'll want to have an agent that does a thorough market analysis of the Boca Raton home  ... 05/14/2016

Happy Mother's Day to mothers everywhere!     A mother's love nurtures us, teaches us, guides us and picks us up when we're down.  She is always there for you, whether here or in memory.  Treasure her for she is a gift. Wishing you a wonderful Mother's Day! 05/08/2016

Is Boca Raton the laziest place in Florida?All the good people of Palm Beach County know Boca Raton as a regional business center and home to the headquarters of Fortune 500 companies like Office Depot and, until a merger this month, Jarden Corp. But Realtor.com analyzes the data and comes to a different conclusion: Boca Raton is the laziest city in the country. The ranking system was based on such factors as number of restaurants that offer delivery; number of day spas and massage therapy centers; percentage of homes on Realtor.com that advertise a hot tub, sauna or steam room; average hours of sleep; and average work hours per week.  In one word, how would you describe the city or town you live in? 04/26/2016

April means it is time to start wrapping up your tax filing information and, hopefully, you got it turned in on time. If you are anticipating a tax refund, then you may be wondering how to spend that money. Although tax refund checks are often used to fund an impromptu vacation or splurge on a frivolous gift for themselves or someone else, there truly are better ways to use this sudden influx of cash that can help your finances in the long run. Get three financially savvy ways to invest this year’s tax fund at the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty, and see listings for the latest Boca Raton luxury homes currently available. 04/26/2016

Home improvements continue to get better all the time. One of the ones that has caught many home owners’ attention, including those in Boca Raton luxury homes, is polished concrete flooring. Durable, affordable, and stylishly flexible, polished concrete is growing by leaps and bounds in homes for sale in Boca Raton and other locations.Stains, dyes, stencils, and engravings have given this old flooring material new life. Learn more about it and whether or not this kind of floor will work well in your home or investment property. Read more at the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty website. 04/18/2016

 The Daily (040816) Hot Sheet of the Top Real Estate News Trending Now   Mortgage rates hit lowest level since 2015 The average rate on a 30-year FRM fell to 3.59% from 3.71% last week after the Fed chair reaffirmed her plan to raise interest rates slowly. Read more. Mitigation key for flood program reauthorizationsWe should prepare for floods now rather than make repairs later - and figure out how to do it without more gov't money, says Florida Realtors Pres.-Elect Maria Wells. Read more 2015 vacation sales retreat, investment sales leapNAR: Vacation home purchases dropped but still hit their second-highest level in almost a decade - and investment purchases rose for the first time in five years. Read more.Credit unions report TRID delaysSurvey: A credit union mortgage takes about five... 04/07/2016

After their parents bought them a house in Boca, I got to meet Lucy and Diego.  I had been hearing about them for months.  What a treat that was!  Lucy is a loveable Boston Terrier while Diego is a Chihuahua, a work in progress.  I thought he did pretty good!  He loves his family and his space, what can I say.  They are enjoying their time in Florida and their new home.          What I didn't know was their brother, Jordan Rothman, is an honors graduate of the world-renowned SF SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers, is a published author and is also in Boca Raton.  Imagine that!  I received a gift of two wonderful books, The Misunderstood Dog and Win-Win, both written by Jordan who is also the owner of Keen Canines LLC in Boca Raton FL.  Jordan's books are available on Amazon or he can be reach... 04/07/2016

Home Prices in Boca Raton FL for March 2016Real estate market data for Boca Raton, FL provided by  Elyse Berman of Realty Associates Florida Properties.      Boca Raton Home Prices We continue to see higher prices on home prices in Boca Raton FL and don’t expect things to slow down anytime soon. If you are considering buying a home you can still find deals on a house in Boca Raton, but having a good real estate agent who understands the market is a must. Don’t wait on the sidelines for too long.  Many of our listings are selling within a few days of hitting the market. As you can see from the graph below, listings are not selling exactly for asking price. To make sure you don't overpay for your home, you'll want to have an agent that does a thorough market analysis of the Boca Raton hom... 04/05/2016

Dog Friendly Homes for Sale at Boca Isles in Boca Raton FL  Boca Isles South is a pet-friendly community in Boca Raton FL, in what is commonly referred to as West Boca. It's a beautiful planned community of single family homes along tree-lined streets and lakes.  It is the sister community to Boca Isles North.  It is not uncommon to see neighborhood kids playing in the streets, at the clubhouse or people out walking their dogs among the swaying palm trees.  Lot sizes in Boca Isles South run about one-quarter of an acre. These are full-size lots.Boca Isles South and Boca Isles North are guard-gated all age communities. What is the Neighborhood Like  Boca Isles South in Boca Raton FL was built by Lennar Homes beginning in 1994 with the last homes being delivered in 1996. Since that time, ... 04/04/2016