There was some interesting news in the Palm Beach Post on Sept. 12th. An article written by Gretel Sarmiento noted that city officials here approved sending two hot-button issues to the State to review. One is the Ocean Breeze Golf and Country Club development (proposed is 211 town homes and a 10,000 sq foot community center, plus an upgrade of the existing golf clubhouse and an addition of 46 more rooms at the Inn at Ocean Breeze). Also the existing three golf courses, at 5800 N.W. Second Ave., will be reconfigured and re-done into an 18-hole golf course and a brand new nine-hole executive golf course.

 As usual, there are people both for and against the project and some things needed to be ironed out. Neighbors of the proposed community are happier

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There are people who swear by the feel and long lasting benefits of organic clothing! There’s a company here in Boca Raton that designs organic items for your home and for you to wear. Managing Director of Under The Canopy (which has been in Boca Raton for over 10 years) Barbara Cavanagh, told the Miami Herald that “Organic is the new luxury”.

Everything produced by her company is eco-friendly. "The main fabric we're using is organic cotton and that means the cotton is grown without the use of any kind of pesticides," said Cavanagh. The article explained that 25 % of the world's pesticide use goes to growing conventional cotton. "A normal t-shirt, for example, uses a third of a pound of chemicals," said Cavanagh.

They sell t-shirts that have

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Florida roads soon could be up for bid, according to “Land Line”, a business magazine aimed at those in the trucking industry. Florida Gov. Charlie Crist said he is considering turning some highways over to private groups, in hopes of plugging a $1.1 billion hole in the state budget.http://www.dot.state.fl.us/ “I don’t know if it’s good or bad at this point, but I think it’s important to continue to be innovative,” Crist told The Associated Press. Privatization of certain roadways in Florida could help rebalance the state’s $71 billion budget. Officials say the shortfall is because of lower tax revenue caused mainly by a slump in the housing market.
 
Gov. Crist signed a bill into law this spring allowing the Florida DOT to lease most toll roads in the…

The Pros and Cons of Buying Condos
By Krista T. Collins

Condominiums and townhouse offer an affordable option to single-family homes in most areas. But consider these facts before you buy.

When you buy a condo, you do not own the land beneath the building, you simply share an interest in it. Instead, you own the space between the walls of your unit, and share ownership of the common areas with other owners.

Storage. Some condos have storage lockers, but usually there are no attics or basements to hold extra belongs.

Outdoor space. Yards and outdoor areas are usually smaller in condos, so if you like to garden or entertain outdoors, this may not be a good fit. However, if you hate yard work, this may be perfect option for you.

Amenities.

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7 Simple Steps To Real Estate Investing

By: Heather Seitz

Whether you are BRAND NEW to real estate investing or an expert in the game, it's critical that you understand these 7 Simple Steps to real estate investing.

First things first...

• Real Estate is NOT a get rich quick scheme. However, if you learn the foundations and put them into practice, you will make more than enough money to realize any and all of your dreams and goals.

   

• The real estate bubble is not going to burst! The real estate market will, however, shift and the real estate market will change - just as it always has! What's "hot" now may turn ice cold in the next 3 years (or perhaps even 3 months). But, there are ways to "bubble proof" your real estate investments.

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People in Palm Beach County spent a large portion of their paychecks in 2007, on housing. In 2000, Palm Beach homeowners with mortgages spent 24 percent of their gross income on housing, which has risen to 35 percent in 2007, according to the U.S. census data, that was just released.

Homeowners in Palm Beach and Boca Raton have been squeezed to spend more of their paychecks on housing due to rising interest rates, higher insurance and the increase in property taxes.

The difference between salaries and affordable housing could hurt South Florida's desirability, even with the recent drop in home prices.

Woodfield Country Club Real Estate Update

There were a total of 40 sold homes from 1/1/2007 - 9/1/2007
in Woodfield Country Club.





 



I have categorized the sold properties by subdivision:

Bay Creek  (2 Homes) $1,106,000 - $1,540,000
Briarcliff  (4 Homes) $662,500 - $1,030,000
Cambridge Park  (5 Homes)  $292,000 - $459,000
Clubside  (2 Homes)  $1,000,000 - $1,300,000
Coventry  (2 Homes)  $2,150,000 - $2,350,000
Devon Place  (1 Home)  $1,229,750
Enclave  (2 Homes)  $1,287,500 - $1,575,000
Hamilton Place  (4 Homes)  $570,000 - $740,000
Hamptons  (6 Homes)  $615,000 - $2,100,000
Kensington  (1 Home)  $500,000
Landings  (4 Homes)  $1,050,000 - $1,700,000
Mayfair  (3 Homes)  $515,000 - $710,000
Regents Square  (1 Home)  $575,000
Victoria Isles  (2…

Has everyone breathed a sigh of relief that mighty Hurricanes Dean and Felix, in their trek across the Caribbean and the Gulf, never set his sights on Florida? I don’t wish any such storm on anyone, but am feeling particularly lucky that we didn’t have to deal with those two storms in Boca Raton or any of our beautiful South Florida neighborhoods. Still, as the first large hurricanes of the 2007 season, Dean and Felix were a good reminder for each of us to ask ourselves: How prepared am I?

You need to assemble a good Disaster Supply Kit. This means keeping at close hand a basic first aid kit and any medicines essential to you or your family.  You will need canned food (don’t forget the can opener!), at least 3 gallons of water per family member,

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President Bush has come up with a new plan that can help South Florida Homeowners. Many South Florida homeowners purchased real estate above and beyond what they could originally afford. This has caused a tremendous amount of short sales and foreclosures for our region.

The numbers have risen with people facing foreclosures in Palm Beach County this year. The amount of people that were facing foreclosure in 2006 was 298 and that number has risen to 1,063 in 2007 according to the Florida based company, realestat.com. A great majority of these foreclosures are due in part to the short term loans that contained adjustable interest rates.

President Bush's plan to assist homeowners through the FHA, by guaranteeing them loans at lower interest rates which…