Whether you have new neighbors next door or old friends moving across town, a housewarming gift is a great way to show you care. New owners always appreciate anything that relieves the pressures of moving and settling in to an unfamiliar neighborhood. Here are seven fun and easy housewarming-gift ideas for your friends moving into their home.   A Pair of Candlestick Holders Candlesticks are a simple, yet practical gift for a new Parkland home. They're perfect for a mantel, dresser or table. Choose attractive candlestick holders that match the house's décor and include a set of candles to burn. A Homemade Meal Moving and getting settled in a new house takes a tremendous amount of time and effort. This leaves little time to cook nutritious meals. Bring either a takeout or home-cooked meal... 04/05/2013

When looking to buy or sell Parkland and Coral Springs real estate, confusing terminology can leave you feeling somewhat uneasy. From a multitude of numbers to marketing jargon, property listings can provide you with an overwhelming amount of information — and it's hard to know what's important. So, brush up on the terms below and don't get fooled this April. List-to-Sale Price Ratio This is an important number to pay attention to when choosing a real estate professional to sell your home. The percentage is calculated by what a home was initially listed for, divided by the actual sale price. The closer an agent's percentage is to 100, the better. If it's low, that could be an indication that they routinely list homes too high, or you may be in a slow market which would favor the home bu... 04/05/2013

It's a great time to buy a new home because there are still quite a few Parkland homes for sale, and interest rates have continued to stay comparatively low. Whether it's your first time purchasing real estate or you're a seasoned professional, here are a few tips to make shopping for a new house more pleasurable. 1. Get Help Searching through all of the available properties on the market can be mind-boggling. Find a professional real estate agent to help guide you through the homes for sale and select one that meets your family and financial needs. 2. Start Looking Now Finding the perfect house can take longer than you might think, especially if you're looking in a competitive market. If you're looking at getting a good deal on a foreclosure or short sale, then these transactions can t... 04/03/2013

Last week, the S&P/Case-Shiller Index showed home prices gaining 8.1 percent during the 12-month period ending January 2013, marking the largest year-over-year increases since the summer of 2006. The Case-Shiller Index measures changes in home prices by tracking same-home sales throughout 20 housing markets nationwide; and the change in sales price from sale-to-sale. Detached, single-family residences are used in the Case-Shiller Index methodology and data is for closed purchase transactions only. All 20 Case Shiller Index Markets Show Growth Between December 2012 and January 2013, home values rose in all 20 Case-Shiller Index markets, with previously-hard hit areas such as Phoenix, Arizona leading the national price recovery. Another notable gainer was New York, which posted the first ... 04/01/2013

Buying real estate for the first time is a very exciting step in life. It is likely to be one of the biggest financial commitments that you make, so it's very important to navigate the purchasing process wisely. Many first-time home buyers make rookie mistakes that bring on negative consequences and a lot of frustration. Outlined below are common errors home buyers make, so you can learn from their missteps and avoid them yourself. 1. Buying More Than What You Can Truly Afford Just because the bank says that you qualify a certain amount for a mortgage doesn't mean that you have to choose a house at the very top of this price range. Many people get carried away and buy the most expensive house that they qualify for. If something unexpected happens, they may find it difficult to keep up w... 03/28/2013

Have you ever heard the saying, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression?" If you have a Parkland home for sale, it is important to appreciate the significance a first impression has on your potential buyer. When buyers drive up to your property and take their first look at your home, they will instantly be forming ideas about your house and how it might be a fit for their family. When you are trying to entice a buyer to make an offer on your house, you must consider the curb appeal - how your house looks from the outside, or while standing on the curb - of your home for sale. In fact, some surveys show that curb appeal can affect a buyer's decision even more than price or square footage. Below are seven simple and inexpensive things you can do to improve your home's c... 03/27/2013

The National Association of REALTORS® released its monthly Existing Home Sales report on March 21 and gave investors and home sellers something to cheer about. While February sales of existing homes did not meet investor forecasts of 5.00 million homes sold on a seasonally adjusted annual basis, the actual number of existing (previously owned) homes came close at 4.98 million homes sold. This number surpassed January's revised reading of 4.94 million homes sold by 0.8 percent. Sales of existing homes comprise approximately 85 to 90 percent of homes sold in the U.S. Investors watch existing home sales for evaluating housing markets and short-term economic trends related to home purchases such as goods and services associated with home ownership. Existing Home Sales Up For 20 Consecutive... 03/27/2013

Coral Springs Approved Short Sale Here is an approved short sale in beautiful shape. It's inside the gates of Heron Bay. Heron Bay in Parkland & Coral Springs Florida has been one of the choice communities for years. Heron Bay is amenity rich with a plush golf course and lifestyle living many work to duplicate. There are two manned gates, north and south. Two clubhouses filled with enough to do for weeks making the enjoyment of life very convenient. Many of the homes in Heron Bay show off large premium lots, designer kitchens and panoramic golf & water views! This is an approved short sale for $390,000. It is a 4 bedroom, 3 bath one story built in 1998 with almost 3,000. square feet. It's in the Mizner section of Heron Bay. It features many upgrades, including a seperate guest suite! Ho... 03/27/2013

You've finally made the decision and are moving to a new city. And while a move can be an exciting new adventure - new work, new friends, new life experiences - moving to a new home is a big deal, especially for a young child. They might not understand what is happening, and even feel apprehensive, overwhelmed or stressed during a move. However, there are ways that you can help your children adjust and make the transition of moving to a new house easier. Here are a few tips to help you, and your little ones, beat the moving blues. Talk to your children before the move and explain what is happening — why you are moving and where you will be going. Be straightforward and answer all their questions. From sadness to excitement, your children will have emotions associated with the move. Thes... 03/26/2013

The first sign of mold you notice may be a musty smell in your home. After looking around, you spot what looks like mold -- don't panic! You can remove unhealthy mold from your house without it costing a small fortune. Check To Be Sure It's Really Mold Mold can look many different ways, which depends on the type. Some are grayish-white or black and can look like a dirty smudge. If you're in doubt that a spot is mold, you can do a test with chlorine bleach. Simply put a drop on the spot. If the color immediately fades away, you have mold. Mold Infestation Usually Means Leaks Too Mold needs moisture to grow. If you find mold, you know that you probably also have a water problem in your Parkland home. So first, you'll need to find the source of the leak and repair it. After that, you can b... 03/22/2013

The Federal Reserve's statement after yesterday's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting left no doubt as to the Fed's dual commitment to keeping long term interest rates down and encouraging economic growth. No changes to the Fed's current bond-buying program were made during today's FOMC meeting. The Fed's monthly purchase of $85 billion in bonds and MBS works by boosting bond prices, which typically helps with keeping mortgage rates lower. The Fed reaffirmed its position that it will not withdraw or reduce monetary easing until the unemployment rate is substantially lower. Unemployment Rate Improving Nationally Fed predictions for the national unemployment rate improved; December's outlook for 2013 estimated the unemployment rate at between 7.4 to 7.7 percent; the Fed now expec... 03/21/2013

Staging is the art of preparing your home for sale before showing it to prospective buyers. The point of staging is to highlight the house's strengths, downplay its weaknesses and make it more appealing. With the right decorating techniques, you can win buyers over the moment they step through the door. Below are a few staging tips to help make your house irresistible to potential buyers. Put Everything Away The first step is to put away anything that is not essential. This will open up the house so that it appears more spacious. Even if you have to rent a storage unit, finding a new home for all of your family's projects and collections should clear some space and help buyers imagine their own belongings in your home for sale. Pay special attention to entryways and narrow hallways to i... 03/19/2013

Last week's positive employment reports were good news for the economy, which typically causes mortgage rates to rise, but mortgage rates ended the week lower. As of Thursday, Freddie Mac reports that the average mortgage rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage was 3.63 percent with borrowers paying their closing costs and 0.8 percent in discount points. The average mortgage rate for a 15 year loan was 2.79 percent with borrowers paying their own closing costs and 0.8 percent in discount points. Strong Retail Sales Show Consumer Confidence Improving In other economic news, retail sales for February surpassed Wall Street expectations and grew by 1.1 percent against predictions of 0.5 percent and January's reading of 0.1 percent. Retail sales account for 70 percent of the U.S. economy and ... 03/17/2013

When you are looking to buy a home, it is important to keep in mind that no real estate price is set in stone. There is always room for negotiation, and with the right techniques you may end up saving thousands of dollars on your dream house. However, it can be tricky to get the right reaction when you are negotiating. Here are a few tips that will help you to haggle your way to the best deal. Find Out The Seller's Motivation If they really need to move and sell the property, it will be easier to convince them to negotiate on price or other deal points. For example, they might be relocating for a job or the house might be close to foreclosure, which would give them the motivation to sell quickly at the price you offer. Investigate How Long The Property Has Been On The Market If the sell... 03/14/2013

Parkland's High School principal is being forced out!!  According to several news sources in the Broward County area, the school board is not renewing contracts with approx. 10 principals.  To the suprise of Stoneman Douglas High School parents and Parkland Mayor Michael Udine, Washington Collado is included in the group. This is, despite the fact that Stoneman Douglas is an "A" school and ranked in the top 1% of the nation.  Mayor Udine told Channel 10 News  "This came out of left field for us and was very concerning as parents and community leaders." There are rummors as to the school board's motivation for this decision.  Reagardless of their reasons, Parklanders should be concerned. As a long time realtor in Parkland, I know our superior schools have a major impact on our property v... 03/13/2013

Last week's jobs report -- a combination of the Department of Labor's Non-farm Payrolls Report and Unemployment Rate -- provided investors and job seekers with unexpected good news. Job growth for February handily exceeded most economists expectations of 160,000 by adding 236,000 new jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment increased in business and professional services, construction and healthcare: Business and professional services added 73,000 jobs Construction added 48,000 jobs. Of these, 17,000 jobs were for residential construction. Healthcare added 32,000 jobs Since September, construction employment has risen by 151,000. This increase in construction jobs may point to a strengthening in the home building sector. Stronger home building numbers may lead to in... 03/12/2013

Whether you are moving to a new house with children or you are buying your first Parkland home or Coral Springs home with the intention of raising future little ones there, many factors will come into play when making your decision. You will want to find a house with the right size and layout, that has a suitable number of bedrooms and bathrooms, is in an excellent neighborhood and has all of the local amenities your family will need. Here are three important factors to consider during your new home search: Location Take a look at the area where the property is located. Is it close to a school that your kids can attend when they are old enough? Is there a playground where they can play with their friends? Are you near any convenient shopping areas or stores for picking up groceries? Loc... 03/12/2013

Mortgage rates and the major stock market indices rose last week in response to a strong jobs report and lower national unemployment rate. The Department of Labor's Non-farm Payrolls report for February surpassed expectations with 236,000 new jobs reported against expectations of 170,000 new jobs expected by Wall Street. This stronger than expected showing in jobs numbers points to a stronger economy and may lead to less pressure to hold mortgage interest rates lower. The Dow Jones Index also reached record levels last week. This strong stock market performance is to be expected with better than expected employment reports. February's numbers also exceeded January's reading of 157,000 new jobs added to the economy. Lower Unemployment Rates Help Economy, May Push Interest Rates Higher Th... 03/10/2013

Although the financial markets have tightened lending guidelines and financing requirements over the last few years, the right advice when applying for your loan can make a big difference. Not all loans are approved. And even when they aren't approved immediately, it doesn't have to be the end of your real estate dreams. There are many reasons why a mortgage loan for the purchase of your real estate could be declined. Here are a few things to understand and prepare for when applying for a mortgage: Loan-to-Value Ratio The loan-to-value ratio (LTV) is the percentage of the appraised value of the real estate that you are trying to finance. For example, if you are trying to finance a home that costs $100,000, and want to borrow $75,000, your LTV is 75%. Lenders generally don't like a high ... 03/07/2013

The previous couple of years' doom and gloom outlook is looking like it is turning more upbeat and robust for the rest of 2013. Home Prices Climb Nearly 10% Over Past YearIn fact, a recently released report by CoreLogic stated that home prices were up 9.7 percent from one year previously. That kind of increase is a very good sign that the momentum may be building for a strong real estate market this year. Many other economic experts are predicting that things might be improving this year, including increases in both home prices and sales. Here are some of the ways that these positive changes may impact home buyers and sellers this year. For Buyers: Attractive Financing Options Interest rates could remain at the lowest levels they have been in years, which can make purchasing a home more... 03/06/2013