Social Security Deadline Approaching!

Uncle Sam wants the over 5 million households to remember if you are still getting Social Security checks by means of paper, you have until March 1, 2013 to switch to electronic delivery.  The Treasury Department is phasing out paper check payments and requiring federal benefit recipients to get their money electronically.  You have the choice to switch to direct deposit or the U.S. government’s Master Card debit card.  The modification is not optional.  All new Social Security recipients since 2011 have been required to use the electronic system.  Remaining Social Security recipients must choose one of two options by March 1.  If this applies to you, here is how to sign up:

DIRECT DEPOSIT:

  • - Go to www.godirect.org. The Federal Reserve and the…

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The Fiscal Cliff

The House approved a Senate bill and our country has avoided the dreaded “fiscal cliff”.  As anticipated the vote, held Tuesday evening, fell along partisan lines, but how does this affect you or your family in 2013?  

The following items are key concerns to most Americans:

-  Income taxes for Americans earning less than $400,000 (joint filers earning less than $450,000) will NOT go up. “Bush-era” tax cuts are staying. 

-  Payroll Tax for Social Security is INCREASING back 6.2% from 4.2%. For every $30,000 earned anticipate taking home $50 less per month (approximately $600 per year).

-  Unemployment has been EXTENDED for a year. 

-  Child Tax Credit has been EXTENDED.  

-  Research and Development Tax Credit EXTENDED.

-  Tuition Tax…

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Mayfair International Realty 

It is undisputed in the luxury realty market if one is looking for uncompromising service for discriminating clients - membership within Mayfair International Realty is advantageous!  Waterfront Properties and Club Communities has been the exclusive member of this network that redefines international real estate marketing for their discerning clients for many years.

Mayfair International Realty was founded in 1995 as a real estate service for London clients seeking country homes and estate agents seeking representation in London.  Over the years, the company has transitioned into a worldwide organization representing 125 real estate brokerages and 350 offices.  Their unique approach to marketing includes Country Club UK.  This is a unique concierge…

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Jupiter Lighthouse

CoreLogic (NYSE: CLGX) a leading provider of information, business services and analytics released its October 2012 report comparing it to October 2011.  It noted home prices nationwide, including distressed sales, increased on a year over year basis by 6.3 percent.  This change signifies the biggest increase since June of 2006.  It is also the eighth consecutive increase in home prices nationally on a year-by-year basis. www.corelogic.com

Anand Nallathambi, President and CEO of CoreLogic, stated, “We are seeing an ongoing strengthening of the residential housing market. Reduced inventories and improving buyer demand are contributing to stability and growth in home prices which is essential to the long term health of the housing market and the…

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Building Up!

Last year Warren Buffet predicted, we will come back big time on employment when residential construction comes back.” According to the H.U.D. and U.S. Census Bureau there was a 5.7% increase in the number of newly built single-family homes in the United States.  This is the fastest pace since April of 2010, when first time homebuyers hurried to take advantage first time homebuyer tax credit opportunities.

Hovnanian CEO, Ara Hovnanian told NBC, “We are undoubtedly on the recovery route.  It is not a question of are we beginning it.  I’d say it began at the beginning of the year and that’s not just for Hovnanian, that’s for the entire industry.”  Hovnanian noted net sales for the ten public homebuilders have increased 30% year over year.  Barry…

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 Housing Prices Are Up 8%

South Florida home values were up nearly 8% in the third quarter of the year from the same time in 2011!  They are expected to outperform the national price hikes through 2013 according to the online real estate firm Zillow (www.zillow.com) . Three counties in Florida (Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade) are forecasted to experience a 3.8 percent rise in value over the next year compared to a national increase of 1.7 percent, as reported by Zillow on October 23, 2012.  

Zillow is a Seattle base real estate analysis firm which released its third quarter home value report which included South Florida.

Any inquiries you may have about the current state of the real estate market in the Loxahatchee Riverfront, Jupiter Island, Abacoa, or any of the…

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image_446 

The 2010 Tax Relief Act extends through December 31, 2012 and the extended “Bush” tax rate cut revert to previous levels in 2013.  President Obama recently proposed additional tax changes for 2013.  

The 2010 Tax Relief Act also maintained “the reduced maximum capital gains rate of 15% on adjusted net capital gain on noncorporate taxpayers (for regular tax and AMT purposes) and 0%  capital gains rate on adjusted  net capital gain of noncorporate taxpayers in the 10% or 15% income tax bracket.”  The favorable taxation of qualified dividends received by individuals, trusts or estates at capital gain rates was also extended through 2012. 

Without any further legislation, the individual income tax rates will revert to 15, 25, 28, 36 and 39.6 percent. …

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South Florida real estate has sparked international intrigue among home buyers in Canada, Brazil, Venezuela and the United Kingdom, according to the National Association of Realtors.

The association’s 2011 Profile of International Home Buyers in Florida survey found foreign purchasers accounted for 25 percent of all sales in the Sunshine State – with Southeast Florida ranking as their No. 1 destination.

Thirty-six percent of those purchasers preferred to live in a city environment, while 32 percent chose resort areas.
“The significant share of resort buyers is not surprising given the nature of the Florida market,” the report states. “In addition, international buyers found Florida’s central cities to be desirable locations in a number of instances.”


…

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Rob Thomson, the Managing Partner of Waterfront Properties & Club Communities began his career with the company 25 years ago. Waterfront Properties has been devoted to finding buyers the ultimate waterfront or country club home as well as helping sellers list and market their homes to the best of their ability.


"My mother was in the real estate business, and I watched her as I grew up," Thomson says.  "I never knew while I listened to her calls as a child or watched her show a home after school that I was going through the Joan Thomson School of Real Estate." Since January of this year, Rob has set a record high closing more than $70 million. His sales have far surpassed the next highest producing agent outside of Waterfront Properties, Thomas Frankel…

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Internet marketing in today’s real estate market is a driving force helping brokers and agents sell. Someone on the leading edge of this trend is Rob Thomson of Waterfront Properties in Jupiter, Florida.  Rob, his team of web marketing specialists, and his expert Admirals Cove Team have had Admirals Cove homes list and sell in as little as a week! They have successfully implemented a combination of traditional and online marketing techniques, and as a result have been a part of the majority of sales in Admirals Cove since January 1, 2011. Rob and his team have experience representing all sides of the deal, the buyer, seller or both.

Consumers Are Far More Savvy

Today, consumers seek information about the real estate market through the internet where…

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