Be the Last to Buy a Home Mirasol Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens

You could be the last person to buy a home in Mirasol Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens. For about the last 10 years, developer, Taylor Morrison has been building beautiful homes in Mirasol Country Club which is located in the garden city of Palm Beach Gardens just north of West Palm Beach, Florida. While some of the models may have changed since the first home was built in 2000, the quality of the homes and the architectural value has improved. Now, all new homes have hurricane impact glass on all windows and doors eliminating the need to install cumbersome metal shutters in case of a storm. New homes have diagonal tile flooring, frameless glass shower enclosures, stainless steel appliances and many more luxuries now considered standard by Taylor Morrison.

There is something special about playing a round on a course that has challenged some of the best golfers in the world. The feeling is even more special when it’s your home course! The Country Club at Mirasol boasts 36 holes of magnificent, championship golf designed by legendary golf course architects, Arthur Hills and Tom Fazio. In addition, Mirasol holds the distinction of having hosted the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic four times.

Mirasol Country Club is the epitomy of luxury living but it is your last chance to own a new home in this world class community. There are only 3 homes and 2 lots still available in Mirasol Country Club!

And..... as an added Bonus, buyers who close by December 31^st get a great deal:

The developer pays the golf membership dues up to $16,500 for the first year and up to $7,000 in HOA fees for the first year.

All this and they are ready to negotiate prices.

Only 1 lake view left. It’s a great Bardini model that has had the kitchen opened to the living area. (This model is the only new home without impact glass)

In a few months there will be no new homes in Mirasol Country Club, only resales. But, don't worry about losing out, there are many great resale deals in Mirasol. For golfers, there is no better place to be this winter than Mirasol Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens.

The Club at Mirasol, features exceptional dining choices, Har Tru tennis courts, a world class fitness center and a resort style spa. All this could be steps from your home in Mirasol Country Club where you are minutes from the city center, malls and the Palm Beach International Airport.

You can take some time to look around but you will find that there is no community that offers what Mirasol Country Club does. It's definitely time to buy with home prices in Florida at the most competitive rates in over 10 years. Don't lose out and settle for second best when you can have the enjoyment of Mirasol Country Club.

I look forward to showing you around.

Forget Staging - Do I Insult My Friend?

There is much written about staging and there is no doubt that setting up a home to show for sale adds enormous benefit for the seller. Buyers are able to evaluate a home without being swayed by bad furniture arrangements, garish wall color or loads of clutter. But, staging is a next step in preparing a home for sale. What must come first are the basics of curb appeal, an appealing front entrace and a generally inviting look and feel.
A good friend lives close by in a beautiful neighborhood in Delray Beach that is much in demand because of the great school district in neighboring Boca Raton. Unfortunately she is getting over a recent divorce and is under some pressure to sell. The inside of her home is a listing agent's dream. Large tiles on the diagonal, a gourmet dark wood kitchen with a center island, granite counters, 4 bedrooms and a den, 4.5 bathrooms. The home is always tidy and uncluttered.

Great curb appeal

She decided to list with an agent that lives in the community, she felt this agent would have a better rapport with buyers and their agents as a resident. Here's the problem, I'll bet that many buyers take one look at the outside of the home and decide to drive by without looking at the inside.
The home is painted white and is showing dirt, so it looks more like a dull grey. The paint on the front door and garage door is peeling. This is Florida, the weather can be tough on homes. The front yard has no plants to speak of in the beds. All you see are a few dried shrubs around a palm tree, no flowers for color. The driveway and walkway is in desperate need of pressure washing.

The million dollar question??????????????
Do I tell her what she should do even though her home is listed elsewhere. I would love to remain friends with her and do not want to sound insulting.
Suggestions.

Pick Up The Dirty Laundry

As a real estate professional who works with many Buyers, I often don't get to view a home until I'm showing to a client. There are some things I've seen that would make every mother mad and ready to get out a rolling pin ready to discipline someone, anyone. As for me, I am sometimes just so flabbergasted I find myself at a loss for words trying to explain what's there to incredulous clients. Here's just a short list of some of the showing no-no's that I have been subjected to, and believe me when I say the value of the home really isn't the factor that determines what you'll see once inside. Some of these strange things have happened in $100,000 homes as well as in $750,000 homes:

- Dirty underwear on the floor, many items, not just one

- Unmade beds - this is so much more common than you would believe      

- Dirty dishes in the sink - not just from breakfast this morning, sometimes, days old

- Is leftover foods on the dining table a separate category or does it fit with the point above

- Bathrooms that look like they've never been cleaned with bottles and boxes of every personal care product on show

- Open suitcases with dirty laundry strewn all over the floor

- Here a living one, the owner lounging on her bed on the phone wearing - well, not very much (and the listing agent met me here)

- Sex toys on the side table - I won't go into detail here :)

- Enough religious items hanging on every inch of wall space, to make the place look like a cult den

Oh, I could go on but I think you get the message. Needless to say, I haven't yet met a Buyer willing to overlook any of these showing transgressions. If fact, they usually want to get out of the home as quickly as possible.

So, please Sellers, understand that your home will never sell if it looks like a college dorm room or like some religious sect has invaded the property. Now don't get all mad at me about the religious items, a few pieces here and there are fine, but when there is no more wall space left to hang one more religious item and that's the only decoration you have on the walls, you may have a problem selling the home.

Your Realtor should be advising you what to do with your home to help it sell quickly at the best possible price. This includes tips on staging, what personal items to remove from view. How to live in your home and have it ready to show at a moment's notice. With religious items, keep in mind that you're showing to people of all faiths and a more neutral environment will all make people feel more comfortable.

I am out of excuses to give my clients – suggestions please.

The Polo Club Boca Raton - Country Club living at it's Finest!

The Polo Club Boca Raton offers country club living at it's finest. For those thinking about buying a home in Boca Raton, this exceptional facility has a private tennis facility that has been voted the best in the world by the Professional Tennis Registry. In addition, The Polo Club Boca Raton has also been voted the best club in Boca Raton. But, for the community's residents who reside on the 1,100 acres of quality landscaping and beautiful design, awards are not needed to convince them that they live in the most beautiful country club in Palm Beach County.

In addition to the 29 Har-Tru tennis courts, The Polo Club Boca Raton has 2 18-hole championship golf courses, The Club Course and the Equestrian Course. The pro shop at The Polo Club Boca Raton has a wide selection of equipment and apparel. For fitness fanatics, the facilities offer state of the art workout equipment and a selection of classes extensive enough to suit everyone. You can also partake in the personal training that offers customized programs for each individual. And then, at the end of a long day in the beautiful Boca Raton with sunny weather all winter, you can take time off and be spoiled in the Polo Club Boca Raton spa. Skin care, body care, massages, you choose and then let the professionals take over. After that, it's time to dine or sip cocktails, choose from one of 6 restaurants or lounges, from the formal 5400 Steakhouse to the Polo Pub.

And we haven't even got to real estate yet. If you are looking for a smaller pied a terre, consider one of the condos or villa homes with prices starting at $150,000. For those looking for an estate home with all the luxuries you'd expect, prices can top $5million. The Polo Club Boca Raton offers a selection to suit every need with 23 separate subdivisions, there is sure to be a home that you are hoping to find.
With the Florida Real Estate market having bottomed out, there are deals. Talk to a Real Estate Agent that knows and understand the area and can show you, not just the Polo Club at Boca Raton but the surrounding amenities including local shopping, dining and schools.

If it's time to make a move or find a winter home in Florida, then you should take a look at The Polo Club in Boca Raton.

Boca Raton Homes For Sale Offer Choice for All



Family Community - Boca Isles

Boca Raton homes for Sale offer choice for all regardless of the type of home you are searching for. Located right in between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, it would be tough to find a more suitable location to live. What strikes most people though as they drive into Boca Raton from neighboring Deerfield Beach to the south or Delray Beach to the north is the clean, organised, tropical feel. Boca Raton is an oasis of tranquility amid the hustle of busier more urban surrounding areas.

The City is a haven for families with an excellent choice of A rated schools. both public and private, numerous social activities and well managed public parks and recreation areas. There is such an appealing choice of homes available for sale in Booca Raton, there is something to suit all tastes. Some of the nicest family communities in Boca Raton are Boca Isles North and Boca Isles South, Saturnia, Mission Bay, Boca Falls and Boca Winds.

Polo Club Golf Course

If you want to come to find a home in Boca Raton that offers on-site sports such as golf, then, once again, there is plenty to choose from. Homes in The Polo Club in Boca Raton as well as Broken Sound Country Club and Woodfield Country Club range from spacious condos  and convenient townhouses to single family homes. The country club communities in Boca Raton offer more than just golf, all have world-class clubhouses with spa facilities, tennis, fitness centers and an array of dining options. If you are considering a country club community in Boca Raton, now is the time to buy, with prices at historic low levels, you can ensure that you get your dream home at the price you want to pay.

Red Reef Beach Park Boca Raton

If the ocean is where you want to be, sitting on a balcony overlooking the beach and relaxing in warm weather all year round then you will be able to choose from many Boca Raton oceanfront condos. These condos suit many snowbirds who remain up North in the summer and then make the most of the beautiful Florida winters. Many buildings have been fitted with hurricane impact windows and these buildings are maintained beautifully. There are larger condo developments such as The Addison, Boca Towers and Chalfonte or, if anonymity is important, consider one of the boutique oceanfront buildings in Boca Raton like The Brighton, Ocean Reef or Luxuria.

Boca Raton Mizner Park

If you have been contemplating the purchase of a home in Boca Raton, it's time to take a look, you are bound to find exactly what you are looking for at the price you want to pay. Boca Raton Real Estate is in demand by people from the US and internationally. Buy now with a Realtor who knows and lives in the area so that you can get a thorough overview of all available options in Boca Raton.

Mizner Country Club Delray Beach - Homes for Sale

Mizner Country Club in Delray Beach has a wide section of homes for sale ranging in price from $350,000 to $2.5 million. 

Arnold Palmer Golf Course

At the low end, it seems improbable that you could purchase a luxury home with over 3,500 sq ft of living space for a price as low as $350,000. Well, with the depressed economy in Florida, many buyers from the northeast have flocked to pick up real estate bargains in exceptional communities such as Mizner Country Club. A few of these well priced listings in Mizner Country Club are short sale listings. This type of sale offers exceptional value but buyers will need to be patient as negotiations with the bank holding the mortgage could take some time.
Whether you are purchasing a home in Mizner Country Club in Delray Beach for $350,000 or for $2.5million, you will get to enjoy the absolutely world class facilities that a community such as Mizner Country Club offers. Situated just one mile north of Boca Raton, the boutique style club that is Mizner offers 470 single family homes. With the Arnold Palmer 18-hole Signature Golf Course, six tennis courts, resort style pool with cabanas, two pro shops, a fitness center with state of the art equipment a ballroom, dining and so much more, residents will feel right at home in Mizner Country Club.For out of town guest, the community offers guest suites in the country club section.

Grand Community Entrance

Fortunately for residents of Mizner Country Club in Delray Beach, a new high end shopping mall is being built close to the community that will offer entertainment in the form of movie theaters and bowling, luxury shopping and dining. This is perfect for the family oriented community that is Mizner Country Club. Parents have a choice of the best Boca Raton public and private schools for their children, including Eagles Landing Middle School, Spanish River High School, Pinecrest School and St. Andrews School to name just a few.
Whether you are looking for a 3 bedroom single level home or a 5 bedroom 2 story home, you will find a huge selection at Mizner Country Club. All homes offer beautiful finishes and often, the Sellers are willing to sell their homes fully furnished. In summary, Mizner Country Club in Delray Beach offers families one of the best country club communities in Palm Beach County.

Resort Style Pool

It is well worth your time to spend a day viewing the options available in Mizner Country Club. I am sure that you will find a home that perfectly meets your needs.

Highland Beach South Florida. Best Oceanfront Condos in S. Florida?



Highland Beach City Hall

This is the time of the year that many people up North are starting to feel the weather change and as many of clients tell me, they begin to dread the start of another cold winter. Months of snow, ice and below freezing temperatures. More and more people are starting to look south to Florida for a winter home away from the dreary winter cold. While some like the leisure activities provided by golf at their back doos and country club living, for many others, the thought of waking up to a view of the breathtaking Atlantic ocean is something they dream of.
Highland Beach, Florida offers one of the best places to enjoy oceanfront living. Highland beach is a town located in the southern portion of eastern Palm Beach County. The Town of Highland Beach is small, an exclusive enclave of only 0.6 square miles with Delray Beach as the neighbor to the north and Boca Raton in the south. To the east is the Atlantic Ocean lies and the Intracoastal Waterway is on the west.

Intracoastal Waterway

Highland Beach is a residential community with a year-round population of 4,150 which increases to approximately 8,500 during the winter months
Highland Beach provides general municipal services such as police protection and a library, as well as water and wastewater utility service. The Town also provides, through contract, fire protection, code enforcement, building inspection, solid waste, and postal services. The Highland Beach Holiday Inn, right in the center of the town is a local landmark and one of the best places around for a great Sunday Brunch. Although Highland Beach is quite exclusive with stunning high end condos such as Toscana, Villa Magna and Beach Walk, there are also quite a few reasonable priced buildings that offer exceptional amenities, these include Ambassadors East and Ambassadors North, Trafalgar of Highland Beach and Townhouses of Highland Beach.
Prices in Highland Beach start in the low $200's to the $3million range for condos, some as large as 4,000 sq ft. There are also oceanfront homers and townhouses in Highland Beach. Any property with an oceanview will demand a higher price than an Intracoastal or city view. But, for many buyers in Hioghland Beach, the activity of the Intracoastal cannot be beaten. Sit on your balcony and watch an amazing parade of boaters every day. At night, the lights of Highland Beach and the adjacent cities of Boca Raton and Delray offer an exciting vista of life and activity.
There is no shortage of dining choices for residents of Highland Beach. At the north end, where the Villa Magna, Coronado, Toscana, Bermuda Beach, Ocean Terrace and many other boutique buildings are, residents are no more than a mile away for the bussling Atlantic Ave in Delray Beach where one can enjoy every type of dining style and all night music as well as regular street fairs and green markets.

Concierge Beach Services in Highland Beach

To the south of Highland Beach, the refined Boca Raton Downtown offers gourmet dining choices, an amphitheater with regular free music performances, a regular Saturday green market and a mall with all the best stores in the country offering their wares. The buildings closer to the North include Dalton, Braemar, Beach Walk, Parker Highlands and many more.
In summary, if you are ready to escape cold northern winters and enjoy warm weather from September through April and you love the thought of being surroounded by water, ocean and Intracoastal, then Highland Beach, Florida is an option you should seriously consider.
For Realtors in the North who have clients desirous of a winter home in Florida, consider referring your clients to a Realtor who knows the area well and can be trsuted to provide excellent service to your clients who would consider Highland Beach or the surrounding areas of South Florida a viable option.

Is The Market Up or Down or Both?

I don't blame Buyers for being totally confused with all the contradictory real estate news reports. A report out today shows that prices of home list prices are up in many Florida metropolitan areas anything from 8 - 27%. Yet another recent report quotes economists saying we haven't hit bottom yet. So, what information is correct? Do I buy a house in Florida now, wait a year or two....... Who has the answers?

Villa Magna Highland Beach

Everything has to be viewed in context. The list price increases reflect year on year growth and August last year, prices slumped to their lowest level in years. So, yes prices are up but off a very low base. Are prices up across the board? No, certain sectors have far more demand. Once again, single family homes priced under $300k in great school districts are showing demand, condos with rental restrictions are lingering on the market and certain categories, for example ocean front condos in Boca Raton and Highland Beach are remaining firm. The oceanfront market in the cities indicated don't follow similar tends to other real estate categories. For the most part, there are seldom mortgages on these homes and sellers can afford to hold on, they are seldom in a rush to sell and hope for top dollar. Occasionally there are exceptional listings here like estate sales where the heirs want a quick sale, these deals are generally great and should be seriously considered.

As for the economists predicting further declines as more foreclosure inventory enters the market, they are not wrong. This is going to take 3 - 4 years to clear. So, until then, South Florida is still a buyer's market. If you're thinking of buying, don't hesitate, great deals abound.

Want to get off the fence and buy? Call me, let's talk.

Luxury Property Auctions - These Could be Real Steals

Golden Beach Home 1

It's not often that homes in the ultra luxury market are available for sale on auction terms. Miami, now a haven for the International community of the jet set from Europe, South America, Russia and China has 3 exceptional opportunities for those seeking a one of a kind home.

Of only 62 oceanfront homes in Golden Beach, 2 will soon be auctioned in an absolute auction on November 10 to the highest bidder. Each home is over 7,000 sq ft in size with magnificent finishes including custom cabinetry, onyx and marble and so much more. Built by renowned architect, Carlos B. Schoeppl , these homes would make ideal diplomatic residences or headquarters for a business titan.

Florida's Homestead law offers significant protection including bankruptcy protection, which is the reason that many of the US super wealthy choose to add a Florida home to their portfolio and define it as their homestead property.

Golden Beach Home 2

Deep water lots offer ocean access for yachts. These homes are just minutes from the Bal Harbour shops where all luxury brand stores offer their wares.

These 2 magnificent homes will sell to the highest bidder. If you have a desire to live in one of the most magnificent locations in the world, perhaps it's time to consider these auctions.

Star Island Estate

Another real estate gem to be auctioned is one of only 35 homes on Star Island near Miami. The island is home to stars like Gloria Estefan, Shaquille O'Neil, Lenny Kravitz and Sylvester Stallone when you live here, you have truly made it. Starting prices are at $10million for one of the luxury oceanfront estates. Now a bankruptcy has forced the sale by auction of this magnificent residence. The previous owner's misfortune could be your gain as this home will sell well below market value and allow the buyer entry into an exclusive cartel of select homeowners.

Star Island Estate

Your entry to become one of the elite, any one of these homes will place you in the top echelon of society. Miami is an international city with an international airport offering flights to all corners of the world.

For more information and auction representation, give me a call or contact me by email. All enquiries treated with the utmost confidentiality.

Investors - Florida Offers Exceptional Returns.

A recent article in Money Magazine profiled the residential rental market. It has been heating up for a number of years. In Florida where so many have been hit hard by foreclosure, certain areas have seen a massive increase in families looking for a home to rent in a good school district and in an area close to highway access. In Boca Raton specifically, this trend is evident because many parents will do whatever it takes to have their children in any one of the exceptionally rated Boca schools.
A 3 bed / 2 bath rental priced under $2,000 per month is usually under contract to lease within 10 - 15 days. Investors are taking careful note of this trend and are paying asking price when homes that fit the ideal rental model come up for sale. Foreclosed properties in this market segment also sell at list or higher. In Boca, monthly maintenance fees and insurance can be high so investors target the few communities that have either no fees or fees under $200 per month. Most of these communities are located west in the county district or east in the city boundaries. Central Boca tends not to have a huge number of the ideal rental properties.

If you are considering the Landlord role, note that ready cash will be a requirement. You will be competing for homes with other all cash buyers who can close quickly and will buy homes in the right communities regardless of the condition of the homes. I have seen many homes snapped up in days that required new roofs and major renovation.
Buying at the right price in Boca Raton, you can realize ROI's of 6 - 10%.

Most new investors must buy with a landlord's perspective though. Don't look at the intrinsics of the home itself, you are not going to be living in it. Consider the area and its amenities, the potential monthly rent and the demand for rentals in the community.

My final comment; don't think of becoming a landlord in Boca Raton if you think you can buy homes at a huge discount to the list price, it's not going to happen for high demand homes.. A good Realtor should be able to show you statistics of recent sales and sold vs list prices. Trust the professional you choose to work with and you should be successful in acquiring investment properties.

As always, I welcome your calls and emails.

Mirasol Country Club - Golf Membership - Yes or No?

There is no doubt that Mirasol Country Club is one of the premier residential developments in the country today. A private, gated community with 25 subdivisions, offering private family residences ranging in price from the $800s to over $4 million. All the homes have exceptional views, either golf, waterfront, ornatural preserve.


The clubhouse is world-class and the 50,000 sq. ft. facility includes formal and casual dining, meeting rooms, full clubhouse amenities, locker rooms and card rooms. Adjacent to the clubhouse is the Esplanade Sport and Fitness Center with 17,000 sq. ft. of amenities that include 15 clay tennis courts, state-of-the-art fitness center, men's and women's locker rooms with steam and massage rooms, swimming pool with lap lanes and soothing spa.


But, the key to the success of Mirasol Country Club is the Golf. 36-Holes 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 as well as a fully-equipped golf pro shop.

It's understandable then that those who wish to purchase in Mirasol want a home that has golf membership but there are a limited number of memberships available with a 5 - 6 year waiting list. A smart buyer though can get the best of both worlds. As with every Florida community today, prices are depressed. In Mirasol, homes without golf membership are being sold at never-before seen prices, some in the $300's, as much as $250k less than the same homes with golf membership. Those real estate buyers with a long term view should consider these deals as, even without golf membership, residents still have access to the golfing facilities, more so in the summer months but still very reasonable even in the wintertime. Put your name down for golf membership, you may have to wait 5 years but you still get to golf as and when you wish. Makes sense!

If you are a smart real estate buyer on the lookout for an exceptional golf community in south Florida, consider Mirasol Country Club.