"Mirasol"  which means "Look to the Sun" was the name Addison Mizner chose to call his first estate residence on the island of Palm Beach.  Mizner's vision of Spanish and Greek architecture is seen all over Palm Beach. Mirasol will feature an abundance of Mediterranean-style and Old Palm Beach designs. It brings the Old Florida Charm to the "Palm Beaches"The Country Club at Mirasol consist of approximately 1,170 homes ranging in price from $800's to over $5,000,000.  Homes sites offer water, golf course and beautiful preserve views.Golf Course:  36 holes of championship golf, 18 designed by Arthur Hills, 18 by Tom Fazio with world-class golf practice facilities.Grand Clubhouse: 50,000 square feet  Ammenities include:  Formal and casual dining, Meeting rooms, Full club facility and card ... 04/08/2007

A short time ago we took our Granddaughter to the emergency room at the Gardens Medical Center.  She was having sharp pains in her abdomen and was very nauseous.  We asked the person at the front desk about how long it might be for her to be seen and were told she did not seem to have any life threatening problem and she would have to wait her turn behind any serious cases.  I talked to the guard on duty and he said "Welcome to Hell".  We sat and sat and sat and waited and waited and waited and nine hours later they finally saw her.  They gave her a quick check, a prescription and sent her home.  She still had the problem and over the next week had all sorts of tests and after descending into Hell again for 7 hours finally found she had a kidney stone.  It seems kidney stones act up in ... 04/06/2007

We have a beautiful new home for sale in Ironhorse which will be open to the public Sunday, April 1 from 1 - 4 p.m.  Ironhorse is located on the northern edge of West Palm Beach, south on Job Road from the Beeline Highway. It is just a quarter mile from the Florida Turnpike Beeline entrance.This is an estate lot home with gorgeous lake and golf views.  The home is located on Lakeview, the first right turn after passing through the Ironhorse gate.It is three bedrooms, plus den, two and a half baths and totals 2,744 square feet under air.  There is a lovely pool area and patio, lending itself to family gatherings and entertaining.  The home has a very open floor plan with the den opening up into the living room and the kitchen open to the family room.  There are plantation shutters throug... 04/01/2007

I have just completed a study of high end homes in Palm Beach Gardens for a client and wanted to share the information with anyone interested in this market.We looked at five high end communities -- Steeplechase, Mirasol, BallenIsles, Old Palm and Old Marsh.  All but Steeplechase are country club communities, with mandatory memberships.  But Steeplechase homes are all built on lots of an acre or more, larger lots than any of the country club communities.  We studied homes with square footage between 5000 and 7500 SF under air. And the results come from Regional Multiple Listing Service data.There were 17 sales of homes in these five communities between January 1, 2006 and April 1, 2007.  Steeplechase had five sales ranging in size from 5364 square feet to 6752 square feet and ranging in... 03/31/2007

Lots to do this weekend in Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach and the surrounding area.For those who just want to chill out with a drink and good music, come to PGA Commons in Palm Beach Gardens for Smooth Jazz Saturday.  From 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. there will be live jazz along PGA Boulevard between I-95 and the Florida Turnpike.  And do go look through all the wonderful shops.For more activity, Barrett-Jackson is holding an antique car auction at the South Florida Expo Center, 9067 Southern Boulevard in West Palm Beach.  They are featuring over 600 antique and unique cars including a selection of rare Mid-Year Corvettes.  The auction began Thursday, March 29 and will run through Sunday, April 1 with gates opening every day at 8 a.m.For a bit more gentile horses, come watch polo in Well... 03/30/2007

It's not easy... Not only having to live in Florida year-round, but also being 'stuck' in Palm Beach Gardens, surrounded by Luxury Homes and Golf, Golf, Golf. Being able to swim all year long.... Easy access to the ocean for fishing, or just relaxing... It really is a rough life! (Nuts- I forgot to mention the tennis..  did I mention golf?  Oh, yeah - once or twice!) 03/27/2007

From Steeplechase, to PGA National, and Eastpointe to Woodbine there are 233 foreclosures in these and many other Palm Beach Gardens communities, according to RealtyTrac, an online company that tracks foreclosures throughout the country. And there are an additional 147 properties in pre-foreclosure stages.There may be some very good deals out there!!Foreclosures are rising in Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm and many Palm Beach County communities as well as throughout the State of Florida.  In fact, there were more homes in foreclosure or in some stage of foreclosure in Palm Beach Gardens during February than there were in the entire state of Rhode Island.For February, Florida holds the unfortunate distinction of have the largest number of homes in foreclosure or in some stage of foreclosu... 03/26/2007

Nearly 24,000 homes are on the market in Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Juno Beach, North Palm Beach and throughout Palm Beach County  in February 2007 as we see the number of sales decline and prices drop.So while we hoped for a rebound in sales and prices after a slow market in 2006, a sales resurgence is somewhere over the horizon.Sales of single family homes in Palm Beach county declined 21 percent in February 2007 compared with February 2006. Condo sales declined 14 percent during that same period.The median price of a single family home in Palm Beach County dropped four percent in February 2007 compared a year earlier.  Condo prices declined five percent during the same period.  And last year;s numbers for both sales and prices were not great.These numbers indicate ... 03/24/2007

What a wonderful weekend to be in Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach and throughout south Florida!The 22nd Annual Boat show began Thursday, March 22 in West Palm Beach -- at the convention center and along Flagler Boulevard -- with an estimated $350 million in boats and accessories.There is also the CA Championship professional golf tournament at the Doral Resort and Spa in Miami.  Tiger Woods and a great international field of golfers are playing for this coveted trophy and purse.  After the first round on Thursday, Henrik Stenson or Sweden and Jupiter's Robert Allenby, who really hails from Australia, were leading the field at five under par.  Tiger was at one under par.Or if your passion is tennis, head down to Key Biscayne to watch Palm Beach Gardens' own Venus and Serena Williams ... 03/23/2007

Come visit Steeplechase in Palm Beach Gardens, bring your family, and consider moving in to one of the beautiful estate homes, each on an acre of land.Known as Palm Beach Gardens Premier Estate Community, Steeplechase is located in the heart of the city, just west of Military Trail on the south side Northlake Boulevard before the Turnpike overpass.  Yet, once inside this gated community, there is a spaciousness unequaled in the Gardens.  Large homes and large lots with plenty of room for pools, tennis courts, a putting green, even a waterfall, yet sufficient lawn space for family activities.There are 325 homes in Steeplechase, with the smallest being about 2500 square feet under air and the largest at about 9000 square feet.  Prices in early 2007 ranged from the high $700,000's to more ... 03/22/2007

As we anxiously await word from Tallahassee about property tax relief, we understand that early proposals floated during the first week of the legislative session have been abandoned.All of us in Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, Juno Beach, Jupiter, North Palm Beach and throughout Palm Beach County are clamoring for property tax relief.  It is especially hard on those who are not homesteaded.  Often our seasonal residents pay significantly more in property taxes for the same home on the same street as permanent residents who are homesteaded. And homesteaders wanting to move to larger or even smaller homes find they may be paying much more in property tax than they did in their current home.This phenomenon has adversely impacted the real estate market, impeding those who move among c... 03/20/2007

Come see Ironhorse Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens/West Palm Beach and move into a home in harmony with nature.Nestled adjacent to the Loxahatchee Nature Preserve, Ironhorse homes are build along the beautiful golf course, next to lakes or backing onto the preserve.  Peaking out our back door often brings peaceful views of birds strolling along the grounds or fishing in the lakes.There are 324 homes in Ironhorse, ranging in size from 1,700 square feet to over 5,000 square feet and priced just below $400,000 to over $1 million.  There is a good mix of seasonal residents and year 'rounders and all are members of the Ironhorse Country Club.  This includes tennis, fitness center, pool and social activities.  Golf memberships are separate and are priced very reasonably.Located on Jog Road... 03/18/2007

It may be possible for you to deduct that hated mortgage insurance for tax year 2007.If your adjusted gross income is less than $110,000 and you originate a mortgage or refinance your home during 2007, mortgage insurance (PMI) is deductible when you complete your 2007 tax return a year from now.PMI usually is required if the mortgage is more than 80 per cent of the value of the home.  Some people wanting a small downpayment avoid mortgage insurance by getting two loans, one for 80 per cent and another for 10% or 15%.   But under this new tax law, PMI can be deductible and it may cost less in the long run to take one loan rather than two.  After all, PMI can be cancelled if the value of the home increases and the loan amount is less than 80% of the home's value.It is worthwhile for you t... 03/15/2007

We will be holding an open house Sunday in Ironhorse at 8173 Spyglass from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.This home is value priced at $399,000 and is the lowest priced home on the market in this popular country club community.Loaded with upgrades, the Spyglass home has 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and was built in 2004.  Flooring is oak hardwood in the main living areas.  Kitchen has granite counter tops with tumbled marble backsplash and upgraded cherry cabinets. Ironhorse is a country club community where social membership fees are included in homeowner dues for all residents.  This includes the community swimming pool, tennis, fitness center and club activities.  Golf membership is an additional fee for the much acclaimed Arthur Hills course. The course was completed renoved last summer and is in wonderf... 03/14/2007

Our Steeplechase listing at 5776 Lady Luck Road has just come back on the market and we are ready to show it to buyers interested in this wonderful and unique community.The classic Spanish style home features terrazzo tile in main living areas and carpeting in the bedrooms.  There are four bedrooms or three bedrooms and a den -- complete with a wood burning fireplace and built in bookcases.  With 3560 square feet of living space under air, the rooms sizes are very large -- they just don't build them like this anymore for less than $2 million!The great room is 28' by 21', the family room is 28' by 14' and the master bedroom is 20' by 14.' There is a pool and separate spa surrounded by a brick patio. The house is located in the middle of the community, in a cul-de-sac just off of Steeplec... 03/13/2007

Two homes in Palm Beach Gardens' Steeplechase will be open to the public on Sunday, March 11 from 1 - 4 p.m. Value priced at $895,000 5149 Desert Vixen, has 4 bedrooms, 3 baths and is a warm and inviting country style residence on 1.09 acres.  With over 3100 square feet under air, the home has a fireplace, an in-ground pool and a large screened porch.  Come meet The Weiss-Clawson Team at Desert Vixen and we will take you to another open house at 5776 Lady Luck.  This home has 3560 square feet under air, 4 bedrooms or 3 bedrooms and a den with 5 baths.  It sits on 1.3 acres and boasts a beautiful yard, heated swimming pool and separate spa plus a huge open great room.  The home is priced at $1,195,000. Steeplechase is Palm Beach Gardens' premiere estate community located in the heart of ... 03/10/2007

With the Florida State Legislature convening its 2007 session yesterday (March 6) we are actively watching for any actions our lawmakers may take to relieve homeowners' property tax burdens.While permanent residents who have homesteaded their properties and intend to remain in their homes for the foreseeable future are not immediately impacted by inflated tax bills, those who recently bought homes, snowbirds, investors and people who have not homesteaded are paying property taxes based on rapidly increased property values.High property taxes are one factor that has impeded real estate sales over the past year to 18 months.  Those who normally move from one area to another, those who downsize or need larger homes are often able to afford the price of the home, but not the inflated tax bi... 03/07/2007

There are 37 homes on the market today in Ironhorse Country Club and we are actively looking for buyers for these wonderful homes!The homes range in size from under 2000 square feet to more than 4000 square feet, some with beautiful lake and golf views and others on private internal lots.  Prices start below $400,000 for a fully upgraded 2 bedroom plus den, 2 bathroom, three car garage home and top out at $1.4 million for an estate home with golf and lake views.Ironhorse Country Club is also offering incentive equity golf memberships during the month of March. In addition to a championship Arthur Hills golf course, Ironhorse boasts a newly renovated clubhouse, tennis courts, fitness center, community swimming pool and loads of member activities. This is a choice community located just o... 03/05/2007

Here is some more information about BallenIsles that was emailed to me.The 6,000 club managers and club presidents who are surveyed for their views on Platinum excellence are asked to consider five components of a private club: (1) quality of membership, (2) tradition and culture, (3) amenities, (4) governance, and (5) quality of management and staff.Other Florida clubs achieving Platinum Club rankings include: Boca West Country Club, Boca Raton #7; John's Island Club, Vero Beach #8; Islesworth Golf & Country Club, Windermere #14; and Ocean Reef Club, Key Largo #16.  Behind BallenIsles Country Club are The Club at Admiral's Cove, Jupiter #24; Jupiter Island Club, Hobe Sound #26; and Frenchman's Creek Country Club, Palm Beach Gardens #36BallenIsles Country Club's pedigree began in 1963 w... 03/02/2007

Palm Beach Gardens and PGA National Resort are in the national spotlight this weekend as the host communities for the well known Honda Classic Golf Tournament.We are expecting fine weather and a wonderful turnout of spectators for this local stop on the PGA tour.  Well known professional golfers Berhnard Langer, Robert Allenby, David Love III. Mark Calcavecchia and Jim Furyk are among the large field competing for this championship.We are proud that this event is showcasing PGA National Resort and the many fine homes and condos in this community.PGA National features five magnificent golf courses, croquet fields, tennis courts, swimming pools, and a world-class spa for residents and visitors. It has long been a haven for seasonal residents taking a break from harsh winter weather.  But ... 03/02/2007