As you know not one state offers everything you dream of.  The Sunshine State has lots to offer and as they say “life’s a beach”!  There are many pros and cons of living in South Florida.

South Florida is warm and sunny the majority of the time.  With that comes living in flip-flops and shorts.  However, in order to respectably wear flip-flops, one MUST commit to impeccable foot maintenance.  It is one of the menaces of living in the sunshine state! No one wants to be exposed to unattractive feet, so unless you have time for a pedicure each week or every other week please wear closed shoes.

Florida is the “Golf Capital of the World”.  Prepare to see fairway after fairway; South Florida has more golf courses than beaches. Your golf game better be…

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When a  South Florida homeowner wants to renovate his/her home in the hopes of increasing its value, it is wise to know which renovations will enumerate their financial expenditure. Be cognizant that the average garage addition can cost more than $50,000, an  average bathroom remodel can cost more than $16,000, and adding a master suite or second floor can easily cost six figures, according to the National Association Remodeling Industry.

If the kitchen is over 15 years old, upgrading the appliances, cabinetry and flooring to contemporary ideals will net you more money at time of sale.  The kitchen is the “heart “of the home and a simple updating can increase the value.  Do not put in Wolfe or Sub Zero appliances if it is not warranted.…

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Admirals Cove is one of South Florida’s premiere yachting and golf addresses.  Winding through Admirals Cove is six miles of inland waterways offering direct ocean access and residential back yard docks.   Additionally, The Club at Admirals Cove features a 72-slip marina, marina store and marina café. Residents with memberships enjoy uncrowded golf play on redesigned Von Hagge designed 18-hole course with intense elevations or 27 holes on a traditional style course.

Take a glimpse behind the gates of this prestigious community and tour a magnificent residence on the market. The palatial property is located at 146 Spyglass Lane in Jupiter. The home is a six bedroom, five full and two half baths estate with 100 feet of waterfrontage!  It features…

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Easter Egg Hunts are all the rage with the kids this spring season and Southeast Florida does not disappoint.  Easter falls on Sunday, March 26, 2016 and kids are gearing up for the bunny’s arrival.

The word Easter has an interesting history of origin.  To some it is the celebration of spring’s arrival.  To others it is a religious holiday signifying deliverance.  

The Easter egg came to be based on fertility lore.  The egg was a symbol of spring.  The folklore then stuck and the Easter egg came to the United States. The bunny had its origin in folklore too.  The bunny never had religious symbolism.  He was used as a symbol of fertility.

Easter egg hunts are popular games where decorated eggs are hidden in various places for children to…

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Jupiter and Palm Beach Gardens area residents are very familiar with Donald Ross Road and Ellison Wilson Road. Beautiful gated communities such as Bears Club, Trump National, Frenchman's Reserve and Frenchman’s Creek line the busy street. However, do you know who or what the busy thoroughfare’s namesake is?

Donald Alexander Ross was a resident of Lake Park, formerly known as Kelsey City.  He moved to Kelsey City (Lake Park) in 1928 as a child.  Spending his days like most kids in the area, he played outside.  It is said he spent his childhood roller-skating along Dixie Highway and spent many days on the water.  He would row a dingy to Singer Island and have camp out, sleepovers on the vacant land that is Singer Island.

Ellison Wilson was a…

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Tax laws are constantly shifting, lots of ebbs and flows.  There are no major new tax legislation changes for 2015, but tax laws are still always changing.  Some changes for 2015 may affect you.  Thank goodness, Florida does not have a state tax!

The 2015 tax bracket refers to the top 1 percent of high-income earners.  This means high-income earners will be paying 39.6 percent income tax on gross taxable earnings.

The IRS is cracking down on IRA rollovers. It was easy to “borrow” money set aside for retirement for up to 60 days.  As of 2015, one can only do that once in a 12-month period.  If you wish to move IRA assets, you may do so by using “trustee to trustee” transfers.

The Health Insurance penalty for not having health insurance has…

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You may be curious about the clearing that is happening at the southwest end of Donald Ross Road Bridge in Jupiter.  The 17-acre Palm Beach County maintained park is currently being cleared of predominately of Australian pines.   Excavation of Waterway Park includes over 30,000 cubic yards of waste material brought up during the course of an excavation or a dredging. The Jupiter High School Environmental Academy, the Boy and Girl Scouts of America, and others have planted over 35,000 red mangrove seedlings.

The red mangrove plantings will create over 11 acres of new mangroves, wetlands and “the creation of 1 acre of maritime hammocks at the southern terminus of the park's peninsula”.

The total expenditures for the project exceed $500,000.…

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Local, organic, seasonal and sustainable are current “buzzwords” used a lot lately.  To be truly helpful to the environment one must know the differences between and similar implication of these words. If you are a health conscious foodie, you probably want your food or other agriculture products to be local, organic, seasonal and sustainable.

Local food means food that is grown within a certain range.  That radius can cover a few miles or hundreds of miles of your area.  It generally is a good idea to ask if the product is from your town, county or state so you are clear on what local means in that particular instance.

Organic refers to the method food production. Crops that are grown without artificial fertilizers, artificial pesticides, not…

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Everyone who is in the market to sell his or her home is looking for maximum dollar. The real estate market wavers each year regardless of whether you live in South Florida or another part of the country.  Spring and summer have proven to be the most advantageous time of the year with winter being slightly slower.  Palm Beach County real estate market seems to favor spring as the “selling season” with perfect weather, flowering plants and wonderful days at the beach.

Springtime is the beginning of selling season. There is an increase in new listings at this time.  The momentum from spring selling season overflows into the summer season, making summer the second best time of year to list your home.

Homes listed toward the end of the workweek,…

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March is a wonderful month in South Florida.  In Palm Beach County the sun is shining, people are bustling and the weather is perfect to be outdoors.  This weekend, March 17 – March 20, 2016, our area hosts a number of outdoor events for everyone young to young-at-heart.

The 31st Palm Beach International Boat Show, Downtown West Palm Beach Waterfront, March 17 – 20, 2016 is four full days of exhibitions of the finest yachts and boating accessories.  There are hundreds of boats, flats boats, sportfish, center consoles, and super yachts and much more on display.  The Palm Beach International Boat Show is one of the five top boat shows in the United States exhibiting over $1.2 billion worth of boats and accessories from the leading watercraft…

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