Any number of Palm Beach County property owners remain on the sidelines even as demand for rentals continues to increase. They hesitate to convert their properties into income-producers — even those that are eminently rentable — because they are already fully occupied with career and family obligations. They simply cannot devote the time and attention required. If you count yourself in that group, perhaps it’s time to consider the possibility from another angle: hiring a Palm Beach County property management company. Not only do they make establishing a rental easier, they also help ensure that your asset is protected — a must for landlords who don’t live in West Palm Beach. Even if you own a residence in one of our more desirable neighborhoods, it’s still necessary to start with a com... 10/30/2013

In the aftermath of the 2008 housing crisis, many luxury homeowners in West Palm Beach found themselves with a tough decision. Even if they had reason to move on, they had to weigh whether it would be wiser to delay until a market rebound brought prices back to reasonable levels. The recovery has progressed for a while, buyers have returned, and prices continue upward — including those for Palm Beach County luxury homes. If you are one of those who have been thinking about selling their own upscale property, you may have concluded that this fall it’s finally time to act. If so, it’s worth remembering that yours is a specialized market segment. -Patience is the Key As elsewhere, luxury homes in West Palm Beach require a marketing strategy that differs from traditional real estate. It ta... 10/27/2013

Here’s the good news: Homes are selling faster today, with the National Association of Realtors® reporting that the sale of existing homes in July rose more than 17% from 2012. That, in sales results terminology, qualifies as a ‘spike!’ Better yet, homes are selling more quickly – TOM (Time on Market) shrank from 69 days to 42. And prices were rising: the national median sales price in July stood at $213,500, up 13.7% from 2012. But this is not to say that it’s easy to sell a home today. Homebuyers in West Palm Beach are plenty savvy. They won’t overpay for a home, and if they don’t like your asking price or terms, they are ready to move on to the next one. But you might be able to increase your odds of attracting solid offers by front-loading a concession that’s important to today’s W... 10/27/2013

Now that online listings provide potential homebuyers with instant access to the Palm Beach County homes for sale, there’s little reason to enlist the services of a buyer’s agent, right? Well, the short answer to that proposition is…wrong! In case you tended to agree with that opening statement, it’s based on the notion that most of what a buyer’s agent does is to find your new home. Yet for veteran homeowners and first-time homebuyers alike, a buyer's agent’s services reach far beyond just the initial search. Even so, taking that task on by yourself requires a great deal of diligence (and more time than most of us can spare). A Palm Beach County buyer’s agent removes that burden by keeping a daily lookout for appropriate new listings as they come online, weeding out the homes that fal... 10/25/2013

West Palm Beach housing stayed strong with a 56.3% change in Median Sales Price for September.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.   10/22/2013

In today’s competitive residential market, success can sometimes come down to presentation: how well a home is staged. Something like 94% of homes that are well staged sell in just 29 days on average (this compared with the 145 days Stagedhomes.com found it took to sell an unstaged home). If you are selling your house in West Palm Beach this fall and are aiming at a quicker sale, some simple DIY staging tips could help make the difference. If you will be selling your Palm Beach County house soon, you can think of the fall weather as a boon. West Palm Beach buyers will be receptive to that are warm, comfortable and inviting. Use these cues to help you decide on your color scheme. Choosing warm neutrals that make the space feel “homey” is many a pro’s choice. Another great idea for fall ... 10/22/2013

Taken as a whole, boomers remain a markedly active group — one less likely to consider a 65th birthday the end marker for their working life. Yet for those buying a home in West Palm Beach that will make their senior years as comfortable as possible, their choices are bound to differ greatly from those they’ve made in years past. According to the National Association of Home Builders, the 76-million-strong boomer generation is already registering some new preferences: Home offices Semi-retired is the new retired. Instead of giving up on work completely, many retirement-age homeowners choose to start small home-based businesses to supplement their income (or follow up on their passions). The home office is also a fine command center for researching vacation ideas, running household affa... 10/17/2013

Reasons Why You Shouldn't Get a Reverse Mortgage...Part 2 of 2 I've heard them all. The point of these posts, however, is to tackle them head-on and demonstrate how they're either false, or reveal an in-complete truth. I can only get up to 50% of my current appraised home value. It's true a reverse mortgage won't get you 100% of your home value but 50% of it is not a bad deal either. It is the equivalent of a couple hundred thousand dollar loan that you do not have to make payments on for as long as you live in your primary residence. The money you've invested in your home during your working years should pay off during your retirement, a reverse mortgage is the way to do it. I will only get enough to pay off my current mortgage. Even if this is true, this is one less payment you will h... 10/17/2013

So — you’ve decided now is the time to list your West Palm Beach house. Put it up for sale, see what happens… Maybe they never really were here, but one thing’s for sure: the days of simply planting a sign in the front yard and snapping a nice shot for the Palm Beach County listing…those days are gone! So what comes next? Depersonalize! First step: pack away those omnipresent family photos. Potential buyers would probably actually be interested in seeing your family snapshots, but they are distractions: you need them to be able to see themselves living in this lovely home, something they’d have a hard time doing if the walls are spoken for by such a delightful bunch of kids and parents and pets. It may be a little bit emotional when you’re taking them down, but keep in mind that listin... 10/16/2013

The advance home inspection process in West Palm Beach plays a pivotal role to both seller and buyer. Correcting problems at an early stage increases a home's appeal — and its selling price. An advance inspection also sets the stage for a favorable final inspection report for the buyer (and the buyer’s lender), expediting a sale. Yet according to home inspection experts, approximately half the homes on the resale market today have at least one significant defect! Advance knowledge of imperfections or malfunctioning systems in a property helps buyers commit if the house is a worthwhile buy. And knowing trouble spots in advance helps a seller set an attractive price. Whether you are buying or selling, here are a few tips to help you have a trouble-free final inspectionthis fall: Minimum ... 10/14/2013

Now Hiring Licensed Realtor Regional/Beaches MLS, SpoonFed Buyer LeadsRequirements: Licensed Real Estate Agent looking to break that 50k-60k a year mark. Okay with being held accountable Tech savvy - Smart phone, laptop/tablet, MLS Efficient, Social Media What I Offer As Your Broker: E-Sign Contracts Prospecting Scripts Help Cultivating A Farm Area in MONTHS not YEARS Spoon-Fed Buyer Appointments Full Time Marketing - Social Media, Real Estate Websites, Listings, Direct Mail Latest Technology - (Sharkey's Secret Sauce) 25 Years Coaching, Training, Accountability Techniques Competitive Splits - Based On Close % SharkeyRE - Brian Sharkey - (772)204-9965 Sharkey's WebsiteNow Hiring Licensed Realtor Regional/Beaches MLS, SpoonFed Buyer Leads 10/13/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Friday, October 11, 2013 TODAY'S TOP STORIES Average 30-year mortgage rate at 4.23% FRMs changed little this week, and most experts predict either declines or stability over the short term. Only 8% foresee a rate increase anytime soon. Read more.   Fla. backs Miss. lawsuit to block flood ins. hikes Lawsuit claims rates cannot go up until an affordability study mandated by the same law is completed. Fla. leaves options open but hopes for quick solution. Read more.   10 ways to use Twitter effectively Confused by all the TV shows that stick words with a "#" at the bottom of the screen? To start using Twitter, it's important to first understand the basics. Read more. Jumbo loans could be less jumbo after Jan. 1 Conforming lo... 10/11/2013

Ibis Golf & Country Club Palm Beach Homes for Sale | Homes in Ibis Golf & Country Club Search Ibis Golf & Country Club - Palm Beach Homes for Sale Type:All Types Single Family Condo/Townhouse/Co-Op Rental Properties Price: to Beds:Any 1+ 2+ 3+ 4+ 5+ Baths:Any 1+ 1.5+ 1.75+ 2+ 3+ 4+ 5+     12189 Tangerine BoulevardWest Palm Beach, FL 33412 $695,000 4 beds/3 baths Listing courtesy of Destiny International Prop. 6102 Wildcat RunWest Palm Beach, FL 33412 $699,000 4 beds/5 baths Listing courtesy of Illustrated Properties/Fairway 8177 Sandpiper WayWest Palm Beach, FL 33412 $250,000 4 beds/4 baths Listing courtesy of Golden Bear Realty 8929 Marlamoor LaneWest Palm Beach, FL 33412 $549,900 4 beds/4 baths Listing courtesy of Lang Realty/PBG   Short Sale 10154 Sand Cay LaneWest Palm Beach, FL 33... 10/11/2013

  Property for Sale 300 S. Australian #205, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 3/2/1 1302 sq. ft. under air, 1502 total Edge Condominium Community Standard Sale Offered @ $279,000 MLS:  RX-3366330     FABULOUS NEW YORK LOFT STYLE 2/2+SEPARATE DEN CORNER UNIT IN A GREAT MODERN BUILDING! STAINLESS STEEL APPLIANCES, GRANITE COUNTERTOPS, CONTEMPORARY LIGHT WOOD CABINETS, WALK-IN CLOSETS, LAUNDRY ROOM, SPLIT 2+DEN BDRM FLOOR PLAN, 10FT CEILINGS & MORE! GREAT CORNER UNIT WITH PARTIAL LAKE VIEW AND LARGE WRAP-AROUND BALCONY! THE EDGE CONDOMINIUM FEATURES 24 HR ATTENDED LOBBY, SECURED GARAGE, COVERED PARKING, WI-FI INTERNET IN DESIGNATED AREAS, BREATHTAKING AMENITIES INCLUDING OLYMPIC SIZE POOL, 4,000 SQ.FT. STATE OF THE ART CLUB HOUSE WITH 4 PLAZMA TV'S, DVD PLAYER AND PLAYSTATION, KITCHEN FACILITY, GR... 10/06/2013

Follow Me On:       A Look Ahead for Home Loan Rates Key Stories to Watch Heading to 2014The last quarter of 2013 is officially here, and it could prove to be another volatile one. As we head toward the new year, there are several key stories to monitor, as they could have a big impact on home loan rates. Keep Reading »     Managing Distractions From Others By Jason Womack, MEd, MAWhen it comes to super-sizing your productivity, there's a distinct difference between "multi-tasking" and holding a focus-to-finish mindset. While multi-tasking has become a modern-day work activity, doing too much will only set you back from accomplishing a single task very well. Keep Reading »     7 Ways to Cut the Cost of Cable TV You can spend less without cutting the cord entirely. By Cameron Huddleston... 10/04/2013

For veteran homeowners, a move from one property to the next is usually prompted by family, job, or budget considerations — factors which tell them where to begin. But for first-time house-hunters, they have to be thinking, “With all these houses for sale in West Palm Beach, where do I start?” The questions abound. Should they buy a home that will accommodate an expanding family…or look for a starter house, planning to upsize as the family (and, hopefully, the income) expands? Should they be shopping for a fixer-upper, or will that route ultimately prove more expensive? Do the houses for sale appearing in West Palm Beach’s online Multiple Listing Service comprise the entire market, or are there some that aren’t included? And why??? Then there are wider questions, with answers aren’t ea... 10/04/2013

Have you ever driven by fantastic-looking homes one week, only to notice that they have lost their appeal only a few weeks later? Chances are such a nosedive in curb appeal could be due to an unrealistic approach to front yard landscaping. Especially as Palm Beach County homes approach fall weather changes, and even more notably for West Palm Beach homes that are about to be put on the market, reality (instead of fantasy) should rule when landscape design changes are being decided. The key is maintenance. Taking care of lush landscaping is a time-consuming activity, so if you are not a garden hobbyist dedicated to the mowing, fertilizing, spraying, pruning, and weeding that elaborate greenscapes require, your choices are to be willing to pay a pro to keep on top of it all, or…actually,... 10/03/2013

According to this year’s data provided by RealtyTrac, the best short sale deals can save home buyers as much as 33 – 57%. For a short sale in West Palm Beach to result in anything like that kind of result in today’s improving market, buyers need to get active! Research While short sales indicate sellers under pressure to sell, not all short sales in Palm Beach County are automatically good buys. To support your offer, first make sure that there are other homes in the area that brought higher prices. You could access that kind of information via online records on sites like Zillow and Trulia — but the most reliable information and its context will be more readily available if you use an agent who has the expertise to explain the numbers behind the published sales. Elbow Grease If you ar... 10/02/2013

When it comes to selling a home in West Palm Beach, everyone’s primary objective is, of course, to maximize the final proceeds. It’s not surprising that some sellers assume that a savvy business move would be to ask their real estate agent for a reduced commission. After all, cutting the normal 6% a couple of percentage points still leaves a substantial amount, right? The reality: since most people haven’t delved into the challenges that always face real estate agents, they are likely to assume that their agent pockets the entire commission. They have no reason to have delved into how much, at the end of the day, an agent actually nets from selling a home. The fact is, the reasons why that 6% is so universally respected as a fair number (and why it makes sense for everyone involved) is... 10/01/2013

HECM Loan Changes...What They Mean for HUD: Part 1 of 3 The changes to the reverse mortgage program will affect everyone. From HUD to brokers to borrowers, these new changes are poised to change the reverse mortgage program (as we know it) completely. For HUD, these changes have been a long time coming. They don’t want to eliminate the program. They just want to make the necessary changes to avoid the same problems from the past to keep popping up in the future, namely, the non-borrowing spouse and originator steering. By making sure future borrowers (and their non-borrowing spouse) are able to keep up financially with their responsibility as well as limiting the amount borrowers can receive upfront, and in general, HUD is boosting borrowers' cash flow without hurting their own insuranc... 10/01/2013