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The 9th Annual Luxury Real Estate International Symposium was held Tuesday, January 20th through Thursday, January 22nd in Venice, Italy.  Rob Thomson, owner and Managing Partner of Waterfront Properties and Club Communities, attended the conference of top real estate brokers from around the globe.  The symposium allows the most prominent global luxury brokers, nationally and internationally, to discuss current real estate trends affecting high net worth demographics.

The event brought together the “best real estate brokers from all across the United States, Europe and Australia to discuss international real estate trends, digital marketing ideas and insight on pleasing clients in regards to marketing, negotiating and concierge service and more.” …

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Breakers Palm Beach The well-respected guide to traveling, The Travel Channel, has released a list of the “Best Florida Resorts” to visit and you will want to see which resorts graced the top of the list! The Travel Channel has been long admired for it’s on point recommendations regarding hotels and getaways as well as its entertaining TV shows about travel and luxury. You can turn to the Travel Channel for just about anything when it comes to your traveling needs. The network has a team of gurus that narrow down the top spots to visit in the world based on categories like: most romantic, most exotic, best all inclusive resorts, most exotic and even most bizarre. 

The newest “Best of” list covers the sunshine state and it hits the nail on the head with its suggestions.…

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New Laws in Florida for 2015
The New Year brought a few new laws to the state of Florida that affects household smoke detectors and car seats. 

The majority of smoke alarms installed in Florida homes are battery powered. As of January 1, 2015, battery operated smoke alarms can no longer be installed. Florida Building Code is implementing the new law and it requires homeowners without hardwired smoke detectors to install 10-year sealed battery smoke alarms in their homes. These long lived, battery smoke detectors contain lithium batteries, which cannot be tampered with or changed out to operate with other electronics in your home. The reason Florida Building Code has cracked down on smoke detector safety is due to the 114 people that were killed in fires last year. Over half of the…

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Housing Market Predictions for 2015

The New Year is here and so are the predictions for the new housing market. After a strong end to 2014’s housing market, experts are predicting another robust year for the 2015. The infographic shown above is based on a National Association of Realtors (NAR) Chief Economist Lawrence Yun’s expectations for the 2015 housing market. 

A quick summation of Yun’s findings includes his prediction of an even better year for the housing market. He attributes the rising market to the bolstering United States economy, “solid” job gains and a healthy increase in home prices. Currently the United States gross domestic product (GDP) is over 4 percent. When GDP is this high economists label the nation’s economic state as “fantastic.” Historically, GDP growth…

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Can you guess which Floridian city is home to the most searched zip code of 2014? Orlando’s 32801 zip code topped the charts according to Realtor.com’s annual list. What is interesting about Orlando topping the chart is that it didn’t reach number one for its most recognizable feature, Disney World, but for its downtown scene. 

Realtor.com’s report showed that the downtown Orlando area is a “magnet for young people and empty nesters alike.” Only 28 percent of residents in this area are homeowners. It has been considered a “more educated population with its median age range at 37 years old instead of the state average of 40 years old. The stats for Orlando’s population show at least 42% of downtown Orlando’s people have attended college compared to…

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Predictions for the housing market in Palm Beach County for 2015 resemble the trends we saw in 2014. In 2014’s market the year began with double-digit price surges and a lack of inventory but it quickly steadied and leveled out. The local housing market is kicking off the New Year with substantial price increases, scarce inventory levels and bidding battles between buyers much like last year’s trend. However, experts and analysts are expecting this boom to stabilize at some point mid-year. These experts are calling this year’s market trends “the first full year of normal following a decade of extremes.” 

Don’t be confused by these “normal” predictions. Normal is a very positive description for this market. Bill Hardin, the director of the Hollo…

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Purchasing a home is similar to looking for a spouse.  You may go on many first dates and in the end, the one that has the most, but not all, the characteristics that you desire, will win you heart. The same holds true when searching for your dream home. 

However, first-time homebuyers and even the most experienced homebuyers can get frustrated and disappointed with how long the process can take.  Yet they may not understand how their expectations, views, and lack of action may be causing the delay in finding the right home.

One of the biggest hazards a buyer can fall into is not working with a professional real estate agent. Waterfront Properties and Club Communities buyer’s agents can assist buyers readily identify the best-suited properties in…

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One way for Florida residents to support sea turtle conservation is to purchase a sea turtle specialty license plate. Proceeds from the specialty license plates help fund the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Marine Turtle Protection Program.

Florida is a key location for endangered and threatened sea turtles of the world.  Sea turtles nest on our Florida shores and forage for food in our estuaries. Five species of turtles are found nesting on Florida beaches and protected by Florida state statutes.  Illegal harvesting, habitat encroachment, pollution, and hazardous boating are some of the things sea turtles fight to survive.

If you ever encounter an injured or dead sea turtle, please report it to Florida Fish and Wildlife…

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Venus Williams the former number one world ranked tennis player, five-time Wimbledon titleholder, is also an interior designer. On the court, she is known for her strength, style and grace.  Well-respected developed Jorge Perez, Related Group, is building 172 apartments in Delray Beach. Mr. Perez has teamed up with Ms. Williams and her V-Starr design team to design the interior of the project. The two story buildings will be located on two parcels south of Atlantic between First and Fourth.  

Mr. Perez is an American real estate developer and author.  He has successfully built his reputation by building multifamily apartment across Miami and then by becoming one of the “most prolific high rise condo builders across the Southern United States.  He is…

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Photo credit Eduardo Buchin/Jupiter,FL

Delray Beach is a bustling community with award winning beaches, active downtown district, rich culture with vibrant gallery and art district.  Art shows, art fairs and festivals are commonly held in Downtown Delray. 

There is always something to do in Delray. Stroll down Downtown Delray the first Friday of every month and enjoy “Art Walk”.  “Art Walk” is a distinctive evening.  The sunset hour of this evening features “artist showings, jewelry, entertainment, receptions and more at over 14 fine art galleries in the Pineapple Grove District and along Atlantic Avenue.”  The art scene in Delray Beach is a bustling art district with almost 30 galleries and entertainment venues gathered among boutiques, cafes,…

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