With a strengthening economy, mortgage rates are rising quickly and that can make a big impact on the path that buyers take when house hunting. 

As more time goes by and rates increase, buyers are more likely to stop searching until they make more money or settle for a smaller house. According to a recent realtor.com survey, 44% of buyers said if rates went up they'd settle upon a downsized house that costed less and required a longer work commute. 

Mortgage rates are the highest they've been in four years with a 4.6 percent rate on 30-year fixed loans and the feds say it's likely short-term rates will be risen this year too. First time buyers may be affected by rising home costs and interest the most because it places many of them out of the…

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WalletHub, a personal finance website, has just released its 2018 Property Taxes by State report, comparing home and vehicle taxes across the country.

Every year, the average American household spends $2,197 on real-estate property taxes, and 27 states charge an additional $436 for vehicle property taxes.

Florida, however, has a much lower tax burden, with no state income tax and residents don't have to pay any vehicle property taxes. The property tax rate in Florida is neither on the high or low end of the list, ranking in the middle at 27th out of 50 states and the District of Columbia.

This is good news for Florida residents- more money in your pockets.

To see the report by WalletHub which includes insight from finance experts,…

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The newest year-to-year marketing report from the Florida Association of Realtors shows a double digit increase in closed sales on single-family homes $600,000+ in Palm Beach County.

When comparing year-to-year numbers in January, we see that the overall inventory in Palm Beach County is down and median sale price has gone up. This is a good incentive for those thinking of listing and also a nudge for potential buyers to hop to it.

Closed sales in January were 1,103 in 2018 and 1,146 in 2017, a 3.8% decrease.

In the luxury category however, closings on residential homes $600,000-$999,999 increased 11.8% and home sales in the $1 million+ increased a whopping 28.4%. 

Jeffery Levine, President Elect of Realtors of the Palm Beaches &…

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According to recent reports, Palm Beach County is one of Florida’s fastest growing metropolitan areas. Palm Beach County’s population growth has risen 2.8 % percent, coming in behind Orlando and Fort Myers.

The most recent population estimate done in 2016 by the U.S. Census Bureau said the area was home to 1.44 million people. The recent reports have predicted that the population will hit 1.5 million this year, two years earlier than The University of Florida’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research have predicted.

A boost in homes sales, commercial activity, and housing affordability are considered some of the reasons for the economic growth. Palm Beach County offers some of Florida’s highest wages and low unemployment. The area has seen a lot of…

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Canadians are growing more and more fond of the idea of having a vacation home in South Florida, according to the numbers on new marketing reports from the Florida Association of Realtors. 

Canada has an especially cold winter which is part of the reason they've been moving to the area, and its consistently strong housing market has seemed to motivate Canadians to sell their primary residences.

In 2016, Canadians accounted for $8.9 billion residential property purchases in the U.S. according to the National Association of Realtors, but in 2017 they more than doubled their purchases to $19 billion.

South Florida, particularly Palm Beach County, has proven to be an attractive destination. For example, Canadians account for 15% of the 3,400…

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Groundbreakings on new homes went up nearly 10% last month, to the highest level since October 2016. 

January saw an annual new construction pace of 1.33 million, which is 120,00 more homes per year than just a month before in December 2017. Construction of single family homes rose 3.7% and apartments/condos ran up to 19.7%. 

Building permits also went up last month about 8% which is a good indicator that we will continue to see growth of new construction in the coming months.

Across the country the market is generally in need of new homes on the market, particularly in the Northeast, where new homes shot up 46%.

An improving economy has given Americans the confidence to buy a new home. Builders are also feeling confident as the…

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A new trend this year is adding black to the home with fixtures, appliances, and even cabinets and furniture. 

Black is a classic color and accenting the interior with it is a trend appealing to 2018. Black fixtures, especially matte, are replacing brass and rubbed bronze. It goes with everything and adds finish to a space.

Cabinets and furniture are being mixed in with lighter colors, to make a bold statement and sleek design.

Stainless steel black appliances are the newest appliance models being showcased at the CES 2018, a consumer electronic show. 

The National Association of Realtors says black is back, and if you're a trend-setter, try adding some black to your home to give it a modern and unique finish.

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Walls are typically routine; the only "options" we have are pretty much just placement and color. Until now, that is, as innovative designers and entrepreneurs have come together to recreate walls from the most efficient to the most unique.

Thermal Wall Insulators

One of the biggest problems in residential construction is condensation getting into wall cavities, which causes mold and mildew. This happens when one section of a wall conducts heat faster than another, also making the home less comfortable during colder weather. However a new thermal insulation coating has been invented to prevent that from happening. It's called Aerolon coating, a resin-based coating that peels and sticks to walls to thermally insulate them. The product can be…

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This time of year is known to be high season for home sales in South Florida, with exemplary weather, stunning real estate and homes on the market. 2018 has been off to a hot start. Palm Beach County’s Administrator, Verdenia Baker stated in her annual ‘State of the County’ address at the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce meeting last week that the market is “on fire.”

Baker also added that unemployment in the county is down and money is “flowing” into the local economy from the increase in Palm Beach County’s sales tax. Many of the indicators we look for in a growing and healthy economy, we have right now in Palm Beach County, meaning a bright future for our housing market. An example of a positive indicator of Palm Beach’s healthy economy is last…

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Searching for a new home to buy and/or sell this year? After analyzing millions of sales nationally, Realtor.com has come out with a list of features that'll get you the best return on investment on the home you're buying. Here are the factors you want to consider:

1. Smaller Size

Over the past 5 years, smaller-sized home sales have taken off as a favorite for retirees and first-time home buyers. Houses under 2,400 square feet appreciated an average of 7.5% per year while homes larger than 2,400 square feet have risen just 3.8% per year.

2. Open Floor Plan

An open floor pan has led to an average of 7.4% apprecition per year. An open floor plan makes a small space feel larger, entertainment is more social and convenient, and gives you…

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