Willard Realty Team Blog

One of the nice things about moving to Spring Valley is the quality of our schools.  New homeowners with school-aged children will have the opportunity to enroll their children in Silver Palms Elementary, Walter C. Young Middle or Charles W. Flanagan High Schools.

Silver Palms Elementary is located at 1209 NW 155th Avenue and is already preparing for the end of school year on June 9^th.  Being a forward thinking establishment, the school has implemented a summer program to bridge the learning gap between June and August.  They definitely live up to their mission statement "to involve and inspire the entire school community." 

If your child attends Walter C Young Middle School, you will have taken part in a Parental Survey.  This is an annual event and your responses help the school in the development of the School Improvement Plan.

And for our graduating students over at Charles W Flanagan High School, tomorrow night and next week are Awards nights in the Auditorium.

Underclass Awards Night May 17, 7.00pm and Senior Awards Night May 24, 7.00pm

If you are not already a homeowner in Spring Valley, you probably want to be so let's look at this month's market update.  The Spring Valley weather is perfect this time of year, so we invite you to come and inspect our listings.

Currently there are 14 available listings in Spring Valley of 3 and 4 bedroom homes.  These range in size from 1,637 to a roomy 3,014 sq ft.  The average asking price for these homes is $302,629.  That calculates out to an average of $136 / sq ft.

Since the beginning of the year, there have been 11 closings and average Days of Market is sitting at just slightly over 80 days.  These 3 and 4 bedroom homes have been closing with an average sale price of $254, 036.  However, in the last 30 days one property has closed with a sale price of $260,000 for a 4-bedroom home of 3.091 sq ft.

With these great prices and the amenities of the Spring Valley, it is no wonder More Americans Flock to the South and West

Do you have any questions or comments?  Come and join the conversation and 'like' our fan page on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Or, you can always contact Claudia Willard directly.

Call now - 954.745.4735

Be among the first to know when new homes hit the market!

If you are out and about, enjoying the beautiful Pembroke lakes and now you would like to indulge in a little retail therapy that the City of Pembroke Pines has to offer, why not try The Shops at Pembroke Gardens.

The Shops at Pembroke Gardens is a distinctive open-air center offering unique shopping and dining.  As a resident or visitor to Pembroke Isles, it is conveniently located at Pines Boulevard.  There you will find notable retailers, including Ann Taylor Loft, Barnes & Noble, Sephora, and White House | Black Market, as well as restaurants such as BRIO Tuscan Grille and Village Tavern.

The Shops at Pembroke Gardens is located just east of I-75 in Pembroke Pines on 145th Avenue.  From the Club Pembroke Isles, via Pines Blvd it is less than 15 minutes away.

So, whether you are shopping for something at Pembroke Gardens or something a little larger like one of our featured properties for sale in our beautiful gated communities, we invite you to drop by our office.  We love to have visitors and we love to tell you about the current market not only in Pembroke Isles, but also in anyone of our communities.  We pride ourselves on being the local experts for the City of Pembroke Pines.

Reviewing last month's Market Update for Pembroke Pines, we see this month that inventory has held steady with 11 active listings.  These still comprise a good selection of 3 and 5 bedrooms and square footage from just over 1000 sq ft up to a roomy 3,500 sq ft.

5 of these listings are showing a price reduction of an average of 6%, indicating if you were in the market last month seeking to buy, then perhaps you should call us on (954) 745-4735 to take a second inspection.

Since the beginning of this year, 10 properties have closed with an average selling price of $260,481.  Over this period, the average days on market is 94.8.  More recently, in the last 30 days, there have been 4 closings averaging $300,850 and the days on market is greatly reduced at 25.25.

To learn more about this community, contact the experts at The Willard Realty Team.

Want to be the first to hear about our new listings?  Let us do the work for you and keep you informed via email.  Or get an analysis of your approximate home value delivered direct to your inbox.

Call now on (954) 745-4735 and speak with Justin or Claudia Willard for first hand advice.

Pembroke Falls - Health and Wellness Day

On Saturday, June 4th, 2011, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, the community of Pembroke Falls, located in Pembroke Pines, FL will host a Health and Wellness Day.  Residents will have the opportunity to engage many valuable services such as:

Cholesterol Screening

Blood Pressure Screening

Osteoporosis Risk Assessment

Smoking Prevention

Healthy Organic Cooking Demo

Yoga Demonstration by Janet Wampler

Water Safety Demo by Just Swim

Kids Corner

Teddy Bear Clinic

Poison Prevention

Child I.D.

Bounce House for Fun and More!

Don't miss the chance to get and stay healthy at Pembroke Falls.

Event sponsored by Memorial Hospital Miramar and The Willard Realty Team: Clauida & Justin Willard, Keller Williams Elite Properties.

If you would like to know more about the community of Pembroke Falls please visit our web site at www.PembrokeFallsRealEstate.com

 Pembroke Falls

 Memorial Day Celebration

 2011

Join us on Monday, May 30th

at the Pembroke Falls Clubhouse Pool

from 12:00p.m. - 4:00p.m.

for our annual Memorial Day Poolside

Music Party!

FREE

 
LIVE D.J. - Fun & Games

Live Karate Demo by our award

winning Pembroke Falls Class!

 
Giveaways sponsored by

The Willard Realty Team:

Claudia & Justin Willard  

Keller Williams Elite Properties

 To learn more about what makes Pembroke Falls a great place to live please visit www.PembrokeFallsRealEstate.com

Summer is coming and the days are warming up in Laguna Isles and many of us are thinking, how to save money on your electric bill.  Thanks to American Home Shield, here are 8 tips.

1. An air conditioner set at 70 degrees can cost twice as much to operate as one set at 78 degrees.  Raise the thermostat by 2 degrees above its normal setting.  You’ll still be comfortable, and your pocketbook will thank you.

2. Set the thermostat to 80 degrees when you’ll be out of the house for several hours and lower it when you return.  However, don’t shut the air conditioner off; it’s less efficient to cool the house back down than to leave it set at a higher temperature.

3. A ceiling fan uses about as much energy as a 100-watt bulb, but it can make a room feel up to eight degrees cooler.  In summer, blades should turn counterclockwise, pushing air downward to create a cool breeze.

4.  Keeping windows closed and curtains drawn during the day can reduce cooling costs by 30%.

5. Lights, computers, and televisions all generate heat.  Turn them off when they’re not in use.

6. Get your air conditioner serviced before you need to turn it on to avoid the rush in service calls made to air-conditioning repair companies on the first hot day of the year.

7. Create shade for the outdoor part of your AC unit, but keep the area around the exterior unit clear of leaves, bushes, and other obstructions to ensure adequate airflow.

8. Clean or replace the air filter monthly.  Clogged, dirty filters block airflow and make a unit work much harder.  A clean filter can save up to 10% on your bill.

Source: American Home Shield

Now that you can save money on your electric bill, let's look at the market update for Laguna Isles!

Currently there are 7 active listings in this beautiful gated community.  You will have a choice between 3 and 4 bedroom homes, priced to suit a quick sale.  Listing prices range from a low of $245,000, which is an incredible $68 / sq ft up to a higher, yet still affordable $398,000.  The average size of these homes is approximately 2,500 sq ft.

Three homes have had reductions in their listing price, dropping on average 2.5% however there was one property that has had an 8.5% increase.

Since the beginning of this year we have seen a total of 4 closings with an average selling price of $315,625 achieving 93% of the listing price.  Days on market have been just a little shy of 55 days.  At the moment, closings have been a little quiet with no closing in the past 30 days.

Get ahead of the crowd - be the first to hear about new listings, sign up for our email service.  Let us do the work for you and keep you informed via email.  You can opt out at any time. Or perhaps you are thinking of selling.  Then you will want an analysis of your approximate home value delivered direct to your inbox so you can make an informed decision.

Call now on (954) 745-4735 and speak with Justin or Claudia Willard for first hand advice.

As we look at the market update this month, it is always nice to look to our past and see what it reveals.

Back in 1949, a young Elizabeth Taylor and her mother were on holiday in Miami Beach as guests of millionaire William Pawley Senior, a US ambassador to Brazil and aviation entrepreneur.  Mr. Pawley Senior had a son, also named William, and Elizabeth and the young William spent many an hour poolside as Elizabeth fell "head over heals" in love!

Now a month or so after Elizabeth Taylor's passing, the "never-before-seen" love letters are up for auction.  William Pawley, 90, now of Pembroke Pines, Florida, kept Taylor's letters and has now decided to sell them.  He told collectors at a viewing on Tuesday ''I have never got over Elizabeth.''

The bundle of letters are written on pink, blue and ivory paper - some on Taylor's MGM studio stationery, or on her private stationery, embossed with Elizabeth at the top.

According to Bobby Livingston, the auction company's vice-president of sales and marketing, before Taylor's death, the letters were valued between $US25,000 and $US30,000.  You can bid on these love letters at RRAuction.com

OK, back to the real world!  What is happening here in Keystone Lake this month?

There are 3 active listings comprising all of three bedroom homes averaging 1.760 sq ft in size.  Expect to find these homes asking $268,000 or $153 / sq ft.

The year-to-date closings have totaled 4 properties, with an average sale price of $244,250.  These have mostly been 3 bedroom homes of 1,895 sq ft.  Two of these closing have occurred in the last 30 days with a higher average sale price of $252,500.

As was mentioned in last month's market update, Keystone Lakes offers a good selection of floor plans, one of which is the Athens.

Want to be the first to hear about new listings?  Let us do the work for you and keep you informed via email.  Perhaps you are thinking of selling.  Then you will want an analysis of your approximate home value delivered direct to your inbox.

Call now on (954) 745-4735 and speak with Justin or Claudia Willard for first hand advice.

Renovated Kingston Model in Pembroke Falls!

This beautiful home at 1571 NW 139th Ave has just been returned to Active status with an lowered price of $445,900.

Features include recently upgraded marble tile, wood floors, upgraded kitchen cabinetry, Whirpool stainless steel appliances, upgraded bathrooms, granite countertops, chandeliers, fixtures and more. Large back yard with gorgeous lake views.

Contact Justin Willard at (954) 745-4735 to be the first to see this property which has returned to the market.

New Home Listing Alerts for Pembroke Falls

Listing courtesy of Exit Metroquest Realty

What are some of the benefits of living in a Guard Gated community?  Well the first thing you will notice is the peace and quiet.  Neighborhoods with open access can, and often do, have lots of unnecessary traffic that adds noise pollution.  While a Guard Gated community, it tends to have only minimal traffic.  Residents and their guests come and go without the added hassle of other drivers passing through.  This is what you will enjoy when you join our beautiful community at Estancia, Pembroke Pines, Florida.

Security is another advantage.  Estancia is a Guard Gated community and you will enjoy the security of a Guard 24/7.  Being a self-contained community, there is not likely to be problems with vandalism, break-ins and strangers lurking around the house.  You will also feel confident and have no anxiety about walking the streets after dark.  This is an ideal living situation for those who live alone or who would otherwise feel vulnerable.  Families with smaller children will also appreciate knowing their children can enjoy quality time in and out of the house, and have safe streets to walk free of heavy traffic.

Then there is Property Value.  The houses built within a gated community are often on the upper end in regards to design, beauty, quality and price.  Being located within a community, houses have a better chance of gaining property value and are thought to be a better investment than some other types of housing.  This gives gated communities a significant advantage.

Looking at this month's market update for Estancia you will find 4 active listings.  On offer we have 3 and 4 bedroom homes with an average of 2,000 sq ft.  You can expect a listing price on average of $265,950 or if you prefer to break it down, that is $136 per sq ft.

Two listings have been reduced, one dropping 3.5% and the other 9.6% from their original listing prices.

Estancia has seen 4 closings since the beginning of the year averaging $229,975 with an average days on market of 47.  Two of these closing have been in the last 30 days.

Interested in seeing some of the floor plans available?  Then why not read last month's Market Update for Estancia.

To learn more about this community, contact the experts at The Willard Realty Team.

Want to be the first to hear about new listings?  Let us do the work for you and keep you informed via email.  Or get an analysis of your approximate home value delivered direct to your inbox.

Call now on (954) 745-4735 and speak with Justin or Claudia Willard for first hand advice.

In a far, far distant time… well, it seems like that for many people these days as credit remains tight and credit scores are often still tarnished.  Mortgage loans are often being denied and sometimes it feels like for no good reason.

If you are in the market to buy a home in Pembroke Falls, you could be well advised to be prepared before you start your search.  Some preparation can save you both time and money, not to mention possible disappointments.  Remembering that the rules have changed, here are a few points you may like to consider.

¨       Are you buying a condo?  Be aware that if 15% of the current condo owners in the building are behind on homeowner dues and 10% or more units are owned by a single entity then your application is will likely be denied.

¨       Be aware of your Debt to Income ratio (DTI).  You can calculate this yourself by dividing your debt payments by your income and multiplying by 100 to give you a percentage.  Example; car loan, $400, house payment $1200, other loan $250; total debt payment $1850 with a monthly income of $4000 would be $1850/$4000 x 100 = 46.25%   A few years ago, 55% or less would be OK now if it’s over 45% you will likely be denied.

¨       If you have recently lost your home to a foreclosure, even though you have rebuilt your credit score, you may still have trouble.  If you apply for a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac loan within 7 yrs (vs. the previous 5 yrs) you will likely be denied.

Do not despair!  It doesn’t mean you won’t be able to buy a house.  It just means there may be more preparations.  Do your research.

Now that you are ready with your finance, let's look at this month's market update.  Pembroke Falls currently has 32 active listings so you have a good selection to choose from and should be able to find your dream home amongst these listings.  Nearly half of these properties, 15 out of 32, have seen a price reduction of on average of 6% and a few have dropped 12% & 14%   Most of these homes are 4 bedroom homes of approximately 3,000 square feet.  The average listing price is $500,747 but the median is a little lower at $437,950.

Properties that have closed since the beginning of the year total 20 selling at an average of $345,233, which is lower than the current average-listing price.  This is brought about by a couple of higher priced homes asking above $650,000, bringing the average up.  Homes selling are mostly 4 bedroom and approximately 2,700 square feet in size.

In the last 30 days, there have been 4 closings.  Again, these are 4 bedroom homes averaging 2,800 square feet with an average sell price of $350,725.  These properties are staying on the market an average of 82.5 days.

To learn more about this community, contact the experts at The Willard Realty Team.

Want to be the first to hear about new listings?  Let us do the work for you and keep you informed via email.  Or get an analysis of your approximate home value delivered direct to your inbox.

Call now on (954) 745-4735 and speak with Justin or Claudia Willard for first hand advice.

According to Trulia's rent vs. buy index it is cheaper to buy a home than to rent one in 39 of the nation's 50 largest cities.  This report compares the median list price with the median rent on two-bedroom apartments, condominiums and townhomes listed on Trulia.com as of April 1, 2011.  Although Walden Lakes is not mentioned in the figures, this report gives you a very good overview of our nation.

The index used below considers the total cost of homeownership compared to the total cost of renting. Calculations for the total cost of homeownership include mortgage principal and interest, property taxes, hazard insurance, closing costs at time of purchase, homeowners' association dues and private mortgage insurance.  The homeownership cost calculation also includes tax advantages from mortgage interest, property tax and closing-cost deductions.

Calculations for total rental cost include rent and renters insurance.

Top 10 cities to buy vs. rent:  

1 to 15 - much cheaper to buy than to rent

16 to 20     - more expensive to rent than to buy (depending on personal circumstances,   buying could "make financial sense,"

above 20 -  indicates that owning is much more costly than renting in a city

 As many home prices are still falling and more foreclosures are expected to flood the housing market over the next two years, the decision between renting and buying has swayed toward buying.  However, not everyone is in the current situation of renting, it may be that you are on the other side of the coin and are facing possible foreclosure.  Please, don't wait, let us help you through this difficult time and help you avoid foreclosure.  We understand that some homeowners are still confused and wondering what their options are, call now to speak with the Willard Realty Team.

Those looking to buy a home should be encouraged by the market and feel optimistic about their chances of finding an affordable home -- much more so than in previous years.

Looking at the Market Update in Walden Lakes we currently have one active listing.  This home is 1846 sq ft and 3 bedrooms with a listing price of $239,900 (reduced from $249,000).

From the beginning of this year a total of 5 homes have closed with an average selling price of $218,000.  Most of these homes were 3 bedrooms and had an average size of 1694 sq ft.

To learn more about this community, contact the experts at The Willard Realty Team.

Want to be the first to hear about new listings?  Let us do the work for you and keep you informed via email.  Or get an analysis of your approximate home value delivered direct to your inbox.

Call now on (954) 745-4735 and speak with Justin or Claudia Willard for first hand advice.