Getting a Loan With a Retirement-Level Income The ongoing housing recovery is being boosted by some older participants. Builders and developers in particular have found that catering to the 55+ segment of the market is good business. Many retired buyers in West Palm Beach looking to enter the resurgent market will be pleased to learn that getting a loan is still possible, even if their income isn’t all that it used to be. In addition to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, intended to keep lenders from discriminating on the basis of age, last Saturday the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a bulletin describing new tools which help Freddie Mac lenders evaluate properties—and new guidelines for disclosing that data to borrowers and loan applicants. Let’s face it: retirees w... 02/05/2014

Palm Beach County property owners, whether they are single homeowners or large institutions holding multiple rental properties, are members of the same club—at least by one definition. They are all real estate investors, even though not all of them are the kind of West Palm Beach property owners who keep an  eagle eye trained on the value of their real estate investment portfolio (most of us think of it more as just “home”). Unless they plan to sell sometime soon, today’s asset value, book value, or whatever financial term you are looking at, is pretty much an abstract notion. It only becomes significant in the real world if you set your sights on selling. Even so, West Palm Beach property owners may be interested to learn that the past few years’ steady rise in property values nationw... 02/03/2014

Staging your Palm Beach County home for showings will always be a time-eater. The word itself is indicative: “staging” means transforming your busy household into a theatrical set. In addition to thoroughly cleaning every nook and cranny, it usually means spending on paint and a variety of minor supplies to tweak the production. Then comes the actual visits by potential home buyers, sometimes interrupting your schedule (sometimes with very little notice). If you have kids, keeping the staging in pristine condition must clear an extra hurdle. When the kids spill food on the floor (or leave toys underfoot for potential home buyers to trip over), selling your home can turn into a hand-wringing ordeal. It needn’t be. Here are a few sanity-preserving pointers: Designate one room for the kid... 02/03/2014

There is less guesswork than you might think about establishing an on-target Palm Beach County real estate listing price. There is really very little mystery: Comps and CMAs When you hear your Realtor™ refer to ‘the comps,’ you probably think of them as the printouts of the Palm Beach County real estate listings which are comparable to your own property. More comprehensively, a CMA, or Comparative Market Analysis, also includes a broad look at pending and completed sales, as well as withdrawn listings. That analysis will also include and account for differentiating factors, such as upgrades you have made to the home, location, and other features that make your home unique. Market Conditions Market conditions will also play a strong role in developing a real estate listing price that’s ... 01/30/2014

If you plan to be looking for a new home in West Palm Beach anytime this winter, before long you will find yourself having to pare down your list of ‘eligibles’—the properties that you ask your Palm Beach County real estate agent to include on your gotta-see-this-one list. The better job you do in whittling down that list, the more efficient your tour of properties will be. That’s not just a time-saver, either: the fact is, you’ll be more sharp-eyed and energetic when visiting prospective homes if you don’t waste time and energy on those that you could have eliminated beforehand. Some earmarks: 1. Houses that have been on the market for a long time Area homes that have been on the market for more than 90 days probably have something about them that’s made them less appealing to buyers.... 01/29/2014

The signs are positive for those who will be putting their home on the Palm Beach County market this winter. Demand is there, mortgage rates are still low, and across the nation, prices are pointing higher. If you will be selling a home in West Palm Beach anytime soon, there are some extra steps you can take to strengthen your position. Clarify Your Finances Getting a home loan will be the concern of the buyer, not you. She or he will have to fill out the forms, go through the credit checks, etc. More subtle is the impact your own financial picture can have on the process of selling a home. If you will be moving to a new home yourself, it’s a good idea to get pre-qualified for that transaction even as you begin selling your Palm Beach County home. When you are secure in the knowledge t... 01/28/2014

If there is one question that homeowners and prospective shoppers have in common as we enter the New Year, it’s about the direction of Palm Beach County real estate values in 2014. Small wonder: the financial market meltdown of the last decade had such a profound impact on all forms of real estate that it still has many people looking nervously over their shoulders. How likely is another tumble in the coming 12 months? Will real estate values in West Palm Beach continue to rise? Knowing the answer could make a big difference to anyone planning to buy or sell a home in Palm Beach County this year. Of course, absolute certainty on that score is not possible for anyone without a time machine in their basement. But, as we look back over last year, we might gain a little bit more confidence... 01/27/2014

Send to a Friend Follow Me On:   In This Issue         Last Week in Review: The economic report calendar was quiet, but a window of opportunity appeared. Forecast for the Week: Look for key reports on housing, consumer attitudes, inflation, manufacturing and economic growth. Plus the Fed meets. View: Conquer clutter with the great tips below.           Last Week in Review         "If a window of opportunity appears, don't pull down the shade." Tom Peters. The markets were closed Monday in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday and the economic calendar was light, but last week still brought an opportunity, as home loan rates reached some of their lowest levels in months. Despite the quiet calendar, there was news to note in the housing arena. The National Association of Real... 01/27/2014

  The biggest benefit in this monthly marketing report for our readers is to provide content rich local information from a trustworthy source The Realtors® Association of the Palm Beaches. Understanding that an educated buyer and seller when provided with the latest facts in our marketplace creates trust and develops relationships to make educated decisions when it comes to buying and selling real estate. I hope you enjoy the reports and look forward in discussing any questions that you might have in one of the most desirable real estate markets in Palm Beach County Florida.   01/26/2014

How a new agent landed $1 million in listings marketing to expireds We have been in the lab testing a new strategy and the results are staggering. We tested it with a new agent who just received his license. We are talking green my friends. It gets better; he came from the music industry and didn’t even know how to spell Real Estate. He was able to get over a million dollars in new listings in one week spending less than $25 total. We are going to share What he is doing What he is saying (The Exact Scripts) How he did it for less than $25 dollars total How you can do the exact same thing How you can use this strategy for FSBO’S How you can have the same results very easily And what ever else comes up. Make sure you get registered for this one as seats will fill up fast! And it's FREE.!... 01/24/2014

For most of us, the appeal of new construction — a brand new home which your family is first to own—is undeniable. The idea of being able to select your own floor plan with a layout you like and upgrades built to order is hard to beat. But home shoppers looking for new construction in West Palm Beach should be particular. If their future home is to meet expectations, some sophisticated questions should be asked and answered before any agreements are reached. Home models are usually decked out with the best and most expensive furnishings and finishes, unlike more modest packages, where the unadorned dwelling is delivered without any fancy stuff. When you are viewing a home in a Palm Beach County new construction development, be sure to ask how much that specific model costs—as-is. You c... 01/23/2014

Credit Card Thefts: One More Reason to Monitor Credit ( First-time Buyers ) It can take years for Palm Beach County first-time buyers to save up for their first home’s down payment, but even after that hurdle has been cleared, it can take even more time to secure a mortgage -- if they have neglected the other part of the equation. Their credit rating. Before first-time buyers in West Palm Beach will be able to move forward with that initial home purchase, they need to ensure that their credit score does not raise the kind of questions that sometimes derails an otherwise well-qualified home loan applicant. This has always been true, but may become even more likely as lending limitations grow increasingly strict. But it’s the occasional recording error or misstatement that is most easily... 01/23/2014

Chinese New Year Celebration at Bistro Ten Zero One   When:       January 22 at 6 PM to 8 pm. Where:     Bistro Ten Zero One, West Palm Beach, Fl. Bistro Ten Zero will host a Chinese New Year celebration on Wed Jan 22. Guests will step outside into Bistro's garden for a festive evening with live music, drinks, and Asian-themed food menu.  Costs for this event is $10 (drinks only), or $30 (food and drink) --for all you can eat and drink. Price:  $10-$30 Phone:  305-929-3463   1001 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach, Fl.  33401 Come and join the Chinese New Year 2014 whether you are the year of the horse or some other animal. Looking for a home in the Treasure Coast or Okeechobee area, please contact The Kevin B Tolbert PA Team.     01/21/2014

Relocating to West Palm Beach can be an invigorating fresh start: an opening to unexplored opportunities and a brand new community filled with tomorrow’s life-long friends. Then again, faced with a sudden onslaught of details and decisions, it can be an experience that falls just short of overwhelming. Every year, 43,000,000 Americans move to a new home, yet the Employee Relocation Council says that moving is the third most stressful event in a person’s life. If you are relocating to Palm Beach County anytime soon, there is much that you can do to ensure the more positive outcome. Whether you will move for professional reasons or just to take advantage of the lifestyle the region offers, you will cut down on anxiety when you take positive steps to orient yourself ahead of time. If at a... 01/21/2014

It’s time for this Palm Beach County real estate observer to tackle the New Year’s roundup of the Year in Real Estate (along with the traditional disclaimer that, since the actual statistics won’t be tallied until 2014, this has to be a lot more sizzle than steak!) But this is one time in the year when we Palm Beach County residentsget to take pause to relax, perhaps put a bottle of bubbly in the fridge for later on, and take a sweeping view of the general direction of things across the land. If you’ve been reading here throughout the year, you already know that 2013 Palm Beach County real estate activity might easily justify chilling a superior vintage champagne: it’s been a pretty darn good year! A smattering of last week’s press reports confirms it: From the East Coast to Oahu (wher... 01/20/2014

When you put your home on the market, one of the decisions it’s easy to overlook is whether to engage a Palm Beach County home stager. Especially if you know you have a good eye for décor or have experience in the visual arts, it may not seem necessary to call in a heavy-duty home staging pro to get your place in shape to sell. It’s certainly not a requirement for listing, but using a professional home staging company can be invaluable for a number of practical reasons: Your home is lived-in That does give it a warm, comfortable feeling, but that’s seldom as saleable as a home that presents itself as open and slightly under-furnished. Prospective buyers react favorably when they can easily picture their own belongings in the living spaces. A Palm Beach County home stager is expert at k... 01/14/2014

You’re nearing your goal of buying a home in West Palm Beach! You have zeroed in on a property, submitted your offer, and heeded your agent’s advice and ordered a home inspection. Soooo…what if the inspector finds major issues nobody expected? While most home inspections only uncover small problems that can be fixed easily, some do turn up serious issues. In 2013, 16% of Realtors® reported sales that went off track due to the inspector’s findings. What’s your best course of action if that happens? Buying a home after major problems have been identified should only proceed after you know how much time and money it will take to solve them. Whether you are dealing with foundation, roofing, electrical, HVAC or plumbing issues, call a few Palm Beach County companies that specialize in deali... 01/13/2014

West Palm Beach Rental Homes Allowing Pets: a Win-Win for Everyone! Many West Palm Beach landlords are automatically less than enthusiastic when they hear a prospective tenant’s question, “Do you allow pets?” Small wonder. The specter of damage from unsupervised four-footed co-inhabitants is a real possibility (despite the assurances of their doting masters). Yet that kind of automatic landlord reaction might turn out to actually result in a questionable business decision. Some undeniably real benefits can accrue to those who open their Palm Beach County rental home to tenants who own pets. Don’t believe it? Here are just some of the reasons why renting a home to a strong applicant with a well-cared-for, healthy pet can benefit both parties: Widens the Number of Potential CandidatesAll... 01/11/2014

Buying a West Palm Beach Condo Involves Amenities, Lifestyle Choices Existing home sales rose nationally throughout 2013 – and included in those numbers were a good many condominiums. If 2014 will find you investigating the market for a new home, it may be time to give condo living a serious thought.  Buying a condo in West Palm Beach can provide many of the benefits of home ownership minus much of the worry that goes with keeping your property. Of course, whether buying a condo is the right housing solution depends on the buyer as well as the particular condo itself – but there are some generalities usually hold true. Most condominiums include a variety of amenities for the owners. There may be an on-site fitness center, or a pool. Owners may also have access to a club room, or even o... 01/09/2014

Imagine that you have just moved into your new West Palm Beach property, and suddenly you are up against some serious flaw you knew nothing about. Added on top of the normal moving turmoil: now there’s this! You didn’t have a chance to fix things up before you moved in because you were totally in the dark concerning the problem.  Imagine the frustration, disappointment, and anger… Enter: lawsuit. In other words, for you as a seller, there are some pretty convincing reasons to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. A disclosure is a written statement describing your obligations under state and local laws regarding property flaws you know about. Your disclosure might include structural defects—like leaking windows or cracks in the foundation. It might include landscaping prob... 01/07/2014