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Photo courtesy of LuxuryRealEstate.com.

Congratulations to our respected associates within the Luxury Real Estate network for handling the biggest single-family home sale in U.S. history!  An undisclosed buyer, through the “Conservation Institute, LLC”, purchased the $190 million (asking price) Cooper Beech Farm in Greenwich, Connecticut.  Cooper Beech Farm first came to the market in May with an unprecedented asking price of $190 million.   Built in the late 1890's, Cooper Beech Farm became the most expensive home for sale in the United States. By September the staggering asking price was reduced to $140 million.

According to listing Realtor, David Ogilvy & Associates, “the home has been a landmark in Greenwich for generations. Originally built in 1896 by…

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Rob Thomson, managing partner at Palm Beach County’s exclusive real estate firm of Waterfront Properties and Club Communities offers strong ties and marketing relationships with leading brokers in the Europe, the United Kingdom, Asia and Latin America.  These global connections have consistently lead to home sales from international buyers.

Thomson’s membership into the invitation only Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate, as well as sitting on the executive board, has enabled him and his expert team of professionals, market homes for clients to a worldwide audience.  Thomson, along with manager David Abernathy, has been forward thinking on real estate technology.  This foresight has enabled Waterfront Properties to become the accomplished and highly sought…

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The Palm Beaches gets "its party on" early with parades, bagpipes, green beer and traditional Irish fare. The festivities begin Friday.

Saint Patrick’s Day Festival 2014, Martin Health System Village Square, Port St Lucie, Friday, March 14.  Brought to you by the “Friendly Sons and Daughters of Ireland.  Music and Food Booths.  Anticipated 10,000 attendees. Visit www.festival.net.com for more information.
 
Saint Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival, Flagler Park, Saturday, Stuart, March 15 @ 10:00am.  There will be ice cold beer, hot corned beef and cabbage, traditional bagpipes, lively Celtic music , Irish dancers, plenty of quality vendors and a kid’s area at this fulfilled family event.  Parade starts at 2pm sharp!  8,000 attendees expected.  Visit…

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Do you live in one of the most dynamic cities of 2014?  Only seven of the top 20 cities were from the United States.
 
MSNBC Real Estate reported on a study that ranked 111 global cities looking for specific hallmarks of lively and progressive areas.  Using three main categories – commercial real estate, socio-economic momentum and high-value incubators representing “the quality of a city’s infrastructure, its innovation capability and the strength of its technology sector.”
 
California harbored two - San Francisco and San Jose, thanks to their high tech Silicone Valley contributions.  An ability to foster new and creative businesses, adapt and innovate quickly and new building construction were some of the criteria for the cities.

The top ten upwardly…

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Now more than ever the Jupiter area has been attracting professional golfers and golfing enthusiasts for its exclusive golfing communities and secluded atmosphere.  Palm Beach County is known as the “Golf Capital of the World”.

The Town of Jupiter is just minutes from pristine white sand beaches, excellent restaurants, and high end shopping.  If you happen to be interested in fantastic bill fishing, this is also the area for you…just north of Jupiter is the Town of Stuart, known as the “Billfish Capital of the World”.

Within the area, luxury country club communities such as Admiral’s Cove, BallenIsles, Bear’s Club, Old Palm Golf Club, and Trump National Golf Club to name a few, are drawing golfers south.  With private golf courses designed by the greats…

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According to data provided by the National Association of Realtors, a lack of houses for sale continues to lift the prices of homes for sale in much of the country, and our area.  This in turn has pushed down the number of existing homes sold in January.

The torrential weather has not helped either. NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said, “Disruptive and prolonged winter weather patterns across the country are impacting a wide range of economic activity, and housing is no exception.   Some housing activity will be delayed until spring.”

The National Association of Realtors noted some significant changes among the population of homebuyers.

1.     First time homebuyers accounted for 26% of purchases in January 2014. That is the lowest market share for first…

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South Florida saw the biggest gain in a monthly measure of national home prices replicating a slow but steady, continued upswing momentum in real estate market for Palm Beach County.   


Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties experienced an increase in single-family home prices according to the Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller Index.  According to the most recently released Index, single-family home prices have increased 0.09 percent from the previous month.


Last Tuesday’s report from Standard & Poor, as well as others, point to a slight deceleration in home prices as a normal beginning of the upturn cycle at the end of February. Winter shows no signs of cooling home prices according to the Standard & Poor/Case-Shiller home price indices.  They are…

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Last week the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) published tips intended to assist consumers protect themselves from fraud and help them in the event they encounter a problem.

"Phishing" is the activity of defrauding an online account holder of financial information by posing as a legitimate company by criminals.

Almost anyone who uses credit or debit cards has the threat of their credit or personal data being compromised.  A number of major companies over the recent months have reported breaches of data security.  Target, a national retailer, experienced a recent breach of data that could impact tens of millions of consumers, protect yourself!

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommends these four steps:

1).   Checking your accounts…

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Local Jupiter area “foodies” will delight with the progress of the nationally renowned chain, The Fresh Market, and their local outpost.  

For over 30 years, The Fresh Market, focuses on providing high quality products from around the world.  It started in North Carolina as a tiny little store and grew to over a 100 stores in over 20 states across the nation.

Each store focuses on the customer and the shopping experience.  It has an open-air feel and “an old world charm, stocked with fresh meats, seafood, fruits, and vegetables.  They wanted the store to be a fresh concept in grocery shopping.”

This "European feel" market will be present at the new local site of The Fresh Market in Jupiter and is currently under construction at The Shops at Fisherman’s Wharf…

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Yes, you read that correctly, Edward Snowden, who worked as a contract employee at the U.S. National Security Agency in Hong Kong and leaked documents that damaged the security interests of several nations, has been nominated for the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize! 

Anyone can be nominated for the prestigious award.  Two Socialist lawmakers Baard Vegard Solhjell, a former environmental minister, and Snorre Valen, both from Norway, jointly nominated the former National Security Agency contractor, stating his disclosures have contributed to making a more peaceful world.

In their nomination letter, the Norwegian politicians stated, “We do not necessarily condone or support all of his disclosures.  We are, however, convinced that the public debate and…

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