As a Realtor® in Palm Beach I am always happy to see improvements being made to the fantastic Golf / Country Club Communities that the County is so famous for.Currently PGA National is undergoing approximately $35 million in improvements to both the Club and the Resort  - taking an already famous facility up another notch.  (Don't forget that PGA hosted the Honda Classic this year and will be doing so for the next 5 years.)Read More>> Marc J BlasiRealtor® - Leibowitz Realty GroupMortgage Broker - Knightlines Mortgage Services, LLCPalm Beach Real Estate and Loans(561)-282-7406 Cell(561)-627-5100 Office(561)-627-9385 FaxMarc@LeibowitzRealty.com Email 09/05/2007

When comparing the great Golf / Country Clubs of Palm Beach - PGA National, Ibis, BallenIsles and Mirasol, just to name a few - PGA National is the only one that does NOT have it's main roads gated. Sure, there are Security booths at all of the entrances, but non-Residents are allowed free access because the main roads belong to Palm Beach County. This has been an annoyance for quite some time - and most, if not all, Property Owners (myself included) have wanted to correct this problem. Well, it looks like it's finally going to happen! Read More >> Marc J BlasiRealtor® - Leibowitz Realty GroupMortgage Broker - Knightlines Mortgage Services, LLCPalm Beach Real Estate and Loans(561)-282-7406 Cell(561)-627-5100 Office(561)-627-9385 FaxMarc@LeibowitzRealty.com Email 09/04/2007

Mirasol, a new Palm Beach country club community offered by Taylor Woodrow Communities is comprised of 2,300 acres amid magnificent wetlands and preserves, with 30 diverse villages in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The Country Club at Mirasol consists of single family detached homes, priced from $500,000 to over $3,000,000, with each lot viewing either water or the golf course. Thirty-four holes of championship golf are featured, with 18 designed by Arthur Hills and 18 by Tom Fazio, both with world class golf practice facilities. Mirasol is now home to the Honda Classic. If you are not looking to buy, you may want to consider a seasonal rental in Mirasol. Mirasol and golf are a great way to spend the winter in Palm Beach! Learn more about Mirasol at Palm Beach Real Estate Blog. 09/03/2007

Catalina Lakes is a lovely duplex style two story townhouse residential community located in the heart of Palm Beach Gardens.  Each home has three bedrooms, two and one half baths, and one car garage.  These homes were built by Divosta.  Many of these townhouses front on one of the lakes and have great lake views, and come with enclosed screened patios and hurricane shutters. Catalina Lakes has two tennis courts, a tot lot and a community pool with pool house cabana. This community is conveniently located off Alternate A1A between PGA Blvd and Northlake Blvd.For more information contact:Ruth Jacobs   Broker/ownerQuantum One Realty561-308-2020Look for Palm Beach Gardens Homes at our website 09/02/2007

TAYLOR WOODROW COMMUNITIES is proud to present Mirasol - a magnificent 2,300 acre community set among natural preserves and exquisite lakes. The Country Club at Mirasol, a private, gated country club community with 25 diverse villages, offering private family residences ranging in price from the $800s to over $4 million. A wide selection of premium homesites offer golf, waterfront, and natural preserve settings. Homes in this exclusive community are being offered by many of Florida's most respected homebuilders. CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF: 36-holes of magnificent, undulating fairways designed by two of the world's most famous golf course architects - The Sunset course by Arthur Hills, and the Sunrise course by Tom Fazio. Mirasol also features world-class golf practice facilities. THE GRAND CLUBH... 09/02/2007

BallenIsles Seasonal Rentals are going fast. Tuesday is put a season rental into the MLS by Thursday I showed it and by Friday it was rented for $5,000 and a 4 month minimum. That's an excellent price only $166 per day for a 3 bedroom 3 bath house with a private heated pool and 2 car garage with a golf cart garage in Golf Club Communities. You couldn't stay at the nice hotel during season for that.  09/02/2007

I am new to the whole blogging thing, so please be patient with me as i find my way. As my profile states, I currently concentrates on the downtown West Palm Beach area, as well as the country club communities in Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter and Wellington. Over the next few weeks, I thought I would highlight some of the communities I focus on and provide an overview of the key points that might make them perfect place for your dream home.I thought I would start with the PGA National Resort. PGA National is a world-famous, resort-styled golf community located in beautiful Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. If you love golf, this is the place. This luxury community boasts 5 championship golf courses crafted by top designers including Tom Fazio and Arnold Palmer. However, this is not a one-dimen... 09/01/2007

Living and working in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida I not only am a Mortgage Broker for residential home loans but I have carved out a specialty of Hard Equity also known and Private Money for both Residential and Commercial Loans.  When people think of Hard Equity / Private Money I find that most people think of Tony Soprano that you will pay or you will go for a swim with cement shoes. This might have been true back in the day but those days are far behind us.  These companies and also individuals look at each deal with a common sense approach.  How Much is the Property Worth?Does the Client have the ability to Re-Pay the Loan? (Yes for the most part they want your money not the property)These loans are for the most part No-Doc loansIf they have to foreclose will the be an equity situat... 08/31/2007

Yes, Matthew J Blum is the real deal. He is a mortgage broker in Palm Beach County Florida and is licensed by the state of Florida to help you get a loan for a home or for an investment property. Matthew has many loan programs available to you and no, all the loans are not gone. If Matthew can find you a loan to fit your scenario, credit history, FICA score and debt to income ration; he will get the deal done and you will be a happy camper, or should I say, homeowner! Matthew J Blum is an active member on Active Rain and he is very supportive of agents and fellow mortgage brokers on the Rain. Matthew referred a friend of his to me that needs to sell her house. Nestor and I met with her and she is getting the house ready for us to put on the market in 2 weeks. He trusted us to do a good ... 08/31/2007

                                                                Over the weekend I received a phone call from a referral asking me if I was able to help them with a Construction Loan for his home.  Now living in Northern Palm Beach County for so many years I have built up a reputation as an honest and to the point Full-Time Mortgage Professional which leads me to this post.  The Client who was referred to me, informed me that he was already approved from another Mortgage person (I can't say Professional)who approved him for $300,000 and he had great credit.When I received the phone call I was in line signing up my son for Baseball in Palm Beach Gardens, so I could not really speak to him in depth. However, I was able to find out that his current Mortgage person (Not Professional) inform... 08/27/2007

Today (August 25) was sign up day for youth baseball  (T-Ball) in Palm Beach Gardens.  I have to tell you, I do not know who was more excited my son (who is 5) or myself. The league office was ready for everyone and I have to inform you how easy the sign up went.  I really thought it would be an all day event.  We where in and out in under ten minutes.When I first moved to Palm Beach Gardens ten years ago I volunteered as a manager/coach for this league  and swore off volunteering again until I had a  child ready for this league.  Well today was the day I was more than happy to volunteer as a Coach (if they need me).  It is so exciting to me to watch the games through the children's eyes.While going to Florida State University in Tallahassee I was a volunteer at the YMCAwhere I coached ... 08/25/2007

In Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, North Palm Beach, Juno Beach, Jupiter and throughout Palm Beach County we are all looking for a healthier real estate market --- sellers, buyers, Realtors, mortgage brokers.It almost seems like getting there is akin to turning around a battleship in a very narrow canal.But we are seeing signs of a turn -- even though it is quite slow. The market we are looking for would have a better balance between the number of homes going under contract and sold and those coming on to the market.  Today we have many more homes coming on the market than are being sold.  And many of contracts are being voided due to mortgage issues.  Buyers are holding up sellers for repairs not specified in inspection reports.  We need more civility in the real estate market tod... 08/24/2007

* Please press play before reading below                                                       Lately with all the changes within the Mortgage Industry and the Sub-Prime Mortgages we have seen a mass exodus of Mortgage Brokers and Loan Officers from the industry.  I just would like to say BYE-BYE....It's been real and its been fun, it just has not been Real Fun having you around.(May I open the door for you?) I am a FULL-TIME Mortgage Broker and with the majority of these people leaving I am now busier than ever.  With them leaving I do not have to fight the lies or explain how the other Mortgage person is not quoting them the correct program because they don't qualify and to be prepared to have things change on them.  This might seem harsh but this is the reality. As many of you know ,... 08/24/2007

Home sales in Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, Juno Beach, Jupiter, North Palm Beach and throughout Palm Beach County are declining, but The Weiss-Clawson Team is making deals for its buyers and sellers!We are selling our listings that are priced right and staged properly to attract buyers.  We are working with our sellers to fully explain the current real estate market and to help them price their homes at level for a sale. Buyers today want to be sure they are getting a good deal on their home purchase. We help our sellers stage their home so that it appeals to buyers.  Decluttering is the number one issue with most sellers.  Homes show bigger and better with less furniture and fewer accessories in view.  And closets need to be cleaned, too. We explore the value proposition of the... 08/21/2007

If you are looking for a home in Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, Juno Beach, Jupiter, North Palm Beach or anywhere throughout Palm Beach County, check out our website -- www.palmbeachcountyhomes.com.We have all homes in the Realtor's Multiple Listing Service available for you to review.  Just click on this link and you can search by community or by city.  And you can put in the criteria that are important to you as you begin your search.  Price is an important criteria as are number of bedrooms, bathrooms, square feet in the home, and other features.There are many more features on the website as well.  We have information about  communities in the area such as PGA National, Ironhorse, Steeplechase, Ibis, Mirasol, Midtown at PGA, and many, many more. There is a new section on golf c... 08/20/2007

As a Licensed Full-Time Mortgage Professional living and working in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida I have build up a quality reputation for Jumbo Mortgages in the Alt "A" product line as well as Sub-Prime Market.  With all the new changes in the industry (Some for the Good) I have been looking at the difference between the Sub-Prime Market and the Hard Equity (Private Money) market.  It seems now it is closer than ever before.     Sub-Prime                                                                                                                 Hard EquityLTV up to 90 With decent FICO and Proof of Income                  LTV up to 70 Credit FICO Not Required                                                                                                                No Income Requir... 08/20/2007

 OK - it's not ice cream, it's GELATO (close, but not quite)- If you haven't had it yet, you owe it to yourself to give it a try!                     One of my favorite places to get dessert in Palm Beach Gardens is Gelato Grotto.  It's in the new Legacy Place Shopping Center  opposite the Gardens Mall on PGA Avenue.  Legacy Place is an outdoor mall and when the weather cools a little, taking a walk around to all of the new stores is a great way to spend a weekend afternoon.You can certainly go there for sandwiches and salads for lunch and the espresso is fantastic - but he big draw is the gelato and the semifreddi (cakes and sundaes).I've tried most of the flavors, but my favorite is the Stracciatella Reale- described by them as "Ample chocolate chips adrift in a sea of white cream".  ... 08/19/2007

Want a getaway vacation retreat on the golf course in Palm Beach Gardens/West Palm Beach?Or just want to downsize?We have the cutest new listing at Ironhorse Country Club.  And it is priced to sell!!The home backs on to the golf course and has a huge screened in patio.  It has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a large open great room where you can arrange a breakfast area, dining room and family room all overlooking the golf course.  The kitchen is open as well and has granite counter tops and a granite backsplash.The home has 1700 square feet under air, but feels much larger because of the openness of the floorplan.Furniture is negotiable, so you can look at this as a turnkey ... just move right in and begin enjoying the relaxing country club life at Ironhorse. Listing price on this ho... 08/19/2007

I just received the Fall Issue of 'SignatureCity' - the quarterly magazine put out by the City of Palm Beach Gardens.I'll be discussing many of the events that will be coming up in the next few months - but the first thing that caught my eye was that the Sunday GreenMarket  will be back for it's 6th Season.I've been stopping by this event for the last few years - the attendance just keeps increasing as more and more people from neighboring cities find out about it so get there early! Read More >> 08/18/2007

How lucky am I to live in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida a true golfers paradise.  I also, realized how lucky I am  to be a Full-Time Florida Mortgage Broker in this market which really allows me some great opportunities for both myself and my clients.  I know many Direct lenders would like you to believe that they are squeezing out the brokers.   In some cases this might be true however, a direct Direct Lender can only offer products that they currently service.  Below are products that are still available in the State of Florida:Stated Loans.  (YES, these are still available from a 620 FICO) Bankruptcy Buyouts (Yes you might be able to buy your way out of your Bankruptcy)100% FinancingFHA = with 3% down.  However, the 3% can be a gift which would equal 100%Fannie Mae is Still in business... 08/15/2007