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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Need another reason to sell your home? Home sales gains are the highest in a decade, according to the National Association of Realtors.

For the third month in a row, home sales are on the rise in all major regional areas on the east coast of the country, like Palm Beach County.

Home sales increased 5.6% last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.81 million. Sales now are 3.8% higher than a year ago and in the strongest place since December 2006.

Lawrence Yun, a chief economist at the NAR, says “Faster economic growth in recent quarters, the booming stock market, and continuous job gains are fueling substantial demand for buying a home as the 2017 comes to an end.” He also says the odds of closing on a home are much better at the…

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Certain styles can make your home look older even if it's a new house. Some quick and easy updating before putting you home on the market will make a big difference to buyers. Here are the styles that make your listing look dated according to the National Association of Realtors:

1. Bright and bold paint colors on walls. Turquoise might have seemed like a good idea at the time, but if you want to add color to the home it's better to do with pieces like pillows and vases. Neutral and warm colors are safe and always in style. 

2. Animal prints. At some time, someone somewhere came up with the idea that leopard and tiger prints on chairs and couches made them look more expensive. It's actually a big turn-off to home buyers if you're selling…

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The housing picture is improving in 2018. Home prices will still climb but not as fast, more homes are expected to be for sale at the end of the year giving prospective buyers a greater selection, while homeowners will have more equity to borrow from. Here are some trends to anticipate according the Florida Realtors Association:

1. Home Prices Decelerate

Home price appreciation is cooling down in 2018 after an intense few years. Prices jumped 6.3% in 2016 and are shaping up to be right around 6% this year. But median forecasts among six industry lender groups estimate a 4.1% increase in existing home prices nationwide next year. A contributing factor to this is the large number of new home construction we are seeing. Newly constructed…

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According to the National Association of Realtors, December can be one of the best times of year to buy a house. Here are a few reasons why:

Less Competition and Better Prices

The holiday spirit is in your favor: many realtors have found that home buyers often do well in the negotiation process during the winter months. And, instead of having to compete with a lot of buyers who are keen on moving in before the school year begins in the summer months, the dip in demand actually pushes prices down and can create a mini buyers’ market.

More Time to House Hunt

The time off around the holidays gives buyers more time to explore and search for specific wants. Instead of using up weekends and skipping out on things, house hunting can be done…

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