Archive for May, 2009
Permanent Hazardous Waste Collection Centers Near Weston, Fl
May 30th, 2009 categories: Community Information, Living in Weston
If you missed (as I did) the special Hazardous Waste Collection on May 17th at Weston, Florida you don’t have to keep it forever haging around your backyard or garage. Broward County has 3 Permanent Places to drop off your hazardous waste.
The Closest to Weston is at 5490 Reese Rd davie, Fl and it opens on Saturday Only from 8:00AM to 3:00PM
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Marketing your Home for Sale. How Marketing Fundamentals Apply in Real Estate?
May 17th, 2009 categories: Tips For Buyers
The Marketing Mix
Getting a home sold requires a blend of tactical marketing tools. Knowing them is important because it helps you understand the things you need to do to reach the objective of selling your home at the best price possible in the time you have chosen to. You also have to understand that times have changed in every sense and consumers have much more information at hand than they did before. Everything is public information and it is readily available.
In marketing there is a wide used concept: Marketing Mix (the Four P’s of marketing). Some other P’s have been added over time but if we can manage the basic four we will be in good track. The P’s stand for:
Product=Your Home. The perceived value of a property is very much affected by how it shows. I remember once showing a property in the morning where everything looked “picture perfect”. Background soft music, little spots of light here and there, a couple of lit light smelling candles, everything in its place… All our senses were stimulated. My client fell in love with the place! She decided we should come back in the afternoon and see the house again before making an offer; the kids were back from the school and left there backpack next to the entrance along with their shoes, instead of the music what we heard we two of them fighting while playing a noisy video game, a dog barking, no light were turned on and the house looked dark, the smell of fish being cooked … Even thou it was a lovely family life scene it was not what she was expecting. The house didn’t look as lovely after all and she decided to keep looking even after I tried to convince her that the house was still the same.
Price=Realistic Price. Setting the price in a competitive market is challenging but numbers don’t lie if they are not manipulated. Your home is worth what Buyers are willing to pay for it. Set up realistic expectations up front and be ready for changes; closed sale close to your home can affect the price of your home from one day to the other. Most buyers in this market are looking for a good deal and you have to be ready for that!
Place=Availability. A responsive agent and a property easy to access make a great difference in the marketplace. I told you before that the house should be as picture perfect as possible so while your home is for sale you are in the “show business” .
Promotion=Exposure. A sign in the yard and uploading it in the MLS is not what we call exposure. A mix of media must be used to make sure your property is seen by as many people as possible. On-line advertising, Social Media, Postcards, Ads, Open Houses, Brokers Open all and everything should be done to give your home visibility.
I have to add something…that doesn’t start with a P; Customer Service and Communication must be added to this mix.
Good Luck selling your home!
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Recycle Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics in Weston,Fl on Sunday May 17th
May 13th, 2009 categories: Community Information, Living in Weston
From 8:00AM – 3:00PM
What a great opportunity to clean up our garages!
Drop off your items at the Public Works Complex, 2599 South Post Road Weston, Fl 33332. On South Post Rd Between Bonaventure and Saddle Club; north of Windmill Reserve
This is a list of what you can discard there:
Oil-Based/Latex-Based Paints
Used Oil
Nickel-Cadmium/Lead-Acid Batteries
Used Tires
Paint Thinners
Paint Strippers
Solvents
Pesticides
Insecticides
Fertilizers
Pool Chemicals
Oven and Drain Cleaners
Spot Removers
Furniture Polish
Mercury
Automotive Fluids.
If you need additional information call 954-385-2600
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2813 Kinsington Cr. Weston,Fl at Weston Hills Country Club for Rent $ 2,600
May 12th, 2009 categories: Properties in Weston, The Legends at Weston Hills CC
On Vacations All Year Long!
3 Bedrooms
2 Baths,
SF 1615
Built in 2002
The Relaxing views from your New Home overlooking a lake and the golf course are amazing….The Perfect combination of comfort and convenience; you can’t ask for more!!! Spacious and Open Kitchen, Double Head Shower & Roman Tub in Master Bath, two big Closets in Master Suite, Split Plan with 2 car Garage and Laundry Room.
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East City Grill at Weston Town Center
May 11th, 2009 categories: Eating Out, Living in Weston
All Lunch Items at $ 9.95 Served in 30 Minutes and Themed All Night Long Happy Hours!
I would call their Lunches “Affordable Gourmet”. Of all the times I have been there, no one has ever complained about the food or the Service; and that is awesome!
At East City Grill the food for Lunch is fantastic; Salads, Sandwiches/Wraps, Pasta, Cheese Burgers, Crispy Calamaris, Maine Lobster Bisque… My favorites are: Crispy Banana-Nut Crusted Goat Cheese Salad, Roasted Beet & Spinach Salad and Champagne Poached Chicken Salad & Asparagus Wrap; you can order anything and you will never go wrong!!! I saw an ad in a local magazine that if you bring three friends you will get a Free Lunch… At night their entrees are so varied that you will find something to please your palate every time you go. You can search the wine list and as quoted from their website:
“East City Grill has one of the area’s most complete wine lists, provided by “Libation The Love of Wine”, winning a “Best of Award of Excellence” from the Wine Spectator. The restaurant is often a site for special culinary events centered around wine tasting in conjunction with noted California vineyards”
After work the fun Themed All Night Long Happy Hours…Monday Night Football, Double Shot Tuesdays, Ladies Night Wednesdays and Networking Thursdays.
There is a Private Room for Special Occasions and if you feel like breathing fresh air the terrace is incredible!!!
Location: 18000 Bell Tower Lane (Next to Bank of America) Weston,Fl 33326
Phone: (954) 659-3339
Hours:
Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Dinner: Sun-Thurs 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Fri-Sat 5:00 PM – Midnight
On-Line Reservations 24/7
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U.S. Senate Votes To Create Nationwide Mortgage Fraud Task
May 7th, 2009 categories: General RE Info, Tips For Buyers
On Wednesday, May 6, 2009, the U.S. Senate voted to create a Nationwide Mortgage Fraud Task Force modeled after the Mortgage Fraud Task Force created by Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez in 2007.
Introduced by U.S. Senator Bill Nelson and Congressman Kendrick Meek of Florida and amended onto Bill S.896, Section 302 of the bill, establishes a Nationwide Mortgage Fraud Task Force within the U.S. Attorney General’s Office. Section 302 Task Force Bill S.896 was introduced by U.S. Senator Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut. In the U.S. House of Representatives, Bill H.R.1106 was introduced by Congressman John Conyers, Jr. of Michigan in February 2009. -
“Mortgage fraud is one of the fastest growing crimes in Miami-Dade County and the entire U.S.” said Mayor Alvarez. “Last year, more than 1,000 mortgage fraud cases were reported in our community and 63,000 cases nationwide. This new bill will help all communities reduce mortgage fraud and prevent victimization. I want to thank my Task Force Chairman Glenn Theobald and all of the federal legislators for this new legislation
The Attorney General shall provide the Task Force with the appropriate staff, administrative support and other resources. The Nationwide Mortgage Fraud Task Force will address mortgage fraud in the U.S. The Task Force will also solicit the voluntary participation of federal, state and local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies to organize initiatives to address mortgage fraud, including initiatives to enforce federal and state mortgage fraud laws
Since its creation in September 2007, the Mortgage Fraud Task Force has
· Made more than 150 arrests
· Drafted new state legislation, Florida Statutes 193.133, which was adopted on July 1, 2008. The new legislation requires law enforcement to notify the property appraiser’s office when fraud has been detected and mortgage fraud over $100,000 will now be considered a 2nd degree felony.
· Created the first Code of Conduct Model for real estate professionals and others involved in real estate transactions
· Created the first local public/private partnership Task Force in the nation to fight mortgage fraud
· Streamlined reporting and investigating of mortgage fraud by creating an online form
· Created a Speaker’s Bureau.
· Involved other local, state and federal agencies in a comprehensive approach to fight mortgage crime
The Mayor’s Mortgage Fraud Task Force is chaired by Glenn Theobald, Chief Counsel of the Miami-Dade Police Department, and made up of law enforcement officials, prosecutors, business leaders, elected officials and other public servants. Through their vision and direction the Task Force aims to help reduce and prevent mortgage fraud through law enforcement and prosecution, legislation and public education
Miami-Dade Mortgage Fraud Task Force Partners
Miami-Dade Police Department, Miami-Dade County Consumer Services Department, Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser’s Office, Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Courts, Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Attorney’s Office, IRS, FBI, Office of the Treasury, the Florida Attorney General’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Office of Financial Regulation, and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Coldwell Banker; Regions Bank; Florida Bankers Association; Florida Attorneys Title “The Fund;” Cohen, Fox; Coffey, Burlington; Abacus Lending; and National Title Insurance.
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Fed announces new program to help commercial real estate lending
May 5th, 2009 categories: General RE Info
New TALF (Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility) program launches in June.
On Friday, the Federal Reserve announced that it will launch a much-awaited program in June to bolster commercial real-estate lending. And, to help make the program more attractive to investors, the Fed will provide longer, five-year loans. Investors would use the money to buy securities backed by commercial real-estate loans.
The goal is to boost the availability of these loans, help prevent defaults on commercial properties like office parks and malls, and facilitate the sale of distressed properties, the Fed said.
The new commercial real-estate component is part of a broader program rolled out in March that aims to jump-start lending to consumers and small businesses called the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility, or TALF.
It figures prominently in efforts by the Fed and the Obama administration to ease credit stresses and stabilize the financial system. Those are critical elements needed to lift the country out of recession.
The TALF has the potential to generate up to $1 trillion in lending for households and businesses.
Earlier this year, the government said it planned to expand the TALF to include help for commercial real estate lending.
“There’s a looming crisis in commercial real estate whereby owners of shopping malls, hotels, rental properties and many other types of buildings are unable to refinance or to pay for new construction,” Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke warned lawmakers on Capitol Hill in March.
The market for so-called commercial mortgage-backed securities, or CMBS, came to a “standstill in mid-2008,” the Fed said Friday in announcing the launch of the new piece of the TALF program. The CMBS market accounted for almost half of new commercial mortgage originations in 2007, the Fed said.
The commercial real-estate lending industry especially welcomed the Fed’s decision to offer longer loans.
“A five-year term is more consistent with the longer-term nature of commercial lending and will provide more flexibility to borrowers as they navigate the current real-estate cycle,” said Christopher Hoeffel, president of the Commercial Mortgage Securities Association.
The association “strongly advocated for a term of five years to kickstart investor demand,” he added. To read the article in it’s entirety click here.
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Weston Real Estate Market Trends as of April 30,2009
May 4th, 2009 categories: Market Update, Tips For Buyers
Weston’s Single Family Homes Market is Getting in Balance
As of the end of April the Number of active listings has decreased in 266 units compared to 779 active listings at the end of March 2009.(almost a 35% reduction).
Active Listings: 513 units
Pending Sales: 148 units
Closed Sales: 50 units
Interesting Facts about Active Listings:
-Decrease in the percentage of Short Sales Listings from 38% to 35%
-Just a handful of Foreclosures (REO’s)
-In the Peak of the Market (Winter of 2004) – there were 121 Active Listings in Weston
-In the Bottom of the Market (Spring 2008) -there were 1204 Active Listings in Weston
-With 50 Closed Sales per month we would be in a balanced market if the number of Active Listings = between 450 and 500 units (9 to 10 months of inventory based on Closed Sales). We are almost there!
Interesting Facts about Pending Sales:
-Based on Pending Sales we have 3.5 months of inventory = A Seller’s Market
-There are some listings showing pending for almost a year, most of them Short Sales.
Interesting Facts about Closed Sales:
-Closings prices in most cases are very close to listed price and some sales have been above asking price.
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Chinese Drywall Update
May 1st, 2009 categories: General RE Info, Tips For Buyers, Tips for Sellers
According to recent news reports, there may be anywhere from 36,000 to 100,000 homes across the country built between 2003-2008 that may contain tainted drywall imported from China. Drywall commonly used for interior walls and ceilings in homes is usually manufactured in the U.S. however, due to several hurricanes and the building boom, a shortage of drywall occurred. To stay on schedule many builders had to order drywall from outside the U.S. Unfortunately, this resulted in some tainted drywall being imported from China. In March, the Florida Department of Health reported that recently analyzed drywall samples from China emitted a sulfur smell when exposed to heat and moisture. The department released the analysis of samples comparing American and Chinese drywall, finding that the Chinese samples gave off the sulfur odor.
Florida’s health department is currently analyzing the potential hazards from the tainted drywall, which potentially includes damage to electrical wiring, air conditioning parts and other appliances due to the presence of sulfide gases in homes built with the product.
Florida is not alone. Media reports indicate that drywall imported from China was also used in homes in other States, including Louisiana, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.
Legislative Action
On March 30, 2009, U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Mary Landrieu (D-LA) filed two bills relating to this issue in an effort to press the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for a recall of Chinese-made drywall based in part, on findings by a Florida home builder and state officials who have confirmed the presence of sulfide gases in homes built with the drywall.
S. 739, the Drywall Safety Act, would require the CPSC to work with federal testing labs and the EPA to determine the level of hazard posed by certain chemicals and unidentified organic compounds found in the drywall. The legislation also calls for an interim ban on drywall imports until federal drywall safety standards can be created to protect consumers in the future. Nelson and Landrieu are pushing for a recall in hopes of jump-starting a process to help affected homeowners with the costs of repairs or replacement. Their legislation would make manufacturers responsible for these costs. According to news reports, a companion bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Fla.
U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL) also sent a letter to Governor Crist requesting the Governor declare a state of emergency over this issue. A spokesperson for Governor Crist has stated that he is not clear what practical effect a state of emergency declaration would have at this time.
Senate Resolution 91 can be found here.
Senate Bill 739 can be found here.
Senator Nelson’s news release on the legislation click here.
For video on Congressman Wexler’s actions, click here.
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