Delray Beach real estate professional, like realtors everywhere, need to keep a competitive edge when helping clients buy or sell Delray Beach homes for sale. Most realtors think they are better than their competitors, but are they really. Are you?Successful realtors are aware of their competitive advantages as well as those areas where they could use a little work. That is the only way to remain among the top echelon of real estate professionals working any market. If you haven’t explored what your competitive advantage and hindrances are, find out 6 tips that can help you get started. 07/19/2016

1st Ever Delray Beach Restaurant Week  Delray Beach will now have its own first Dine Out Downtown Delray Restaurant Week Aug. 1 to 7, 2016.Some of the restaurants participating will be 50 Ocean, The Office, The Atlantic Grille, Big Al's Steaks, Boston's on the Beach, Tryst, Caffe Luna Rosa, DaDa, Deck 84, Eat Market, Gary Rack's Farmhouse Kitchen, Honey, Juice Papi, Max's Harvest, Max's Social House, Mellow Mushroom, Racks Fish House & Oyster Bar, Salt7 and Solita & Mastino.Each restaurant will offer a 3 course meal, there will be a class for "crafting your own cocktails" on Aug. 5 for $25 and will include small bites. Should be a fun week here in Delray Beach! 07/18/2016

Home Prices in Delray Beach FL for June 2016  Real estate market data for Delray Beach, FL provided by Elyse Berman of Realty Associates Florida Properties.  We continue to see higher prices on home prices in Delray Beach FL and don’t expect things to slow down anytime soon.  June market report shows an increase in single family homes and a modest decrease in condos, villas and townhomes.  If you are considering buying a home you can still find deals on a house in Delray Beach, but having a good real estate agent who understands the market is a must. Don’t wait on the sidelines for too long. Many of our listings are selling within a few days of hitting the market. As you can see from the graph below, listings are not selling exactly for asking price. To make sure you don't overpay for y... 07/13/2016

  The Daily (071216) Hot Sheet Of Top Real Estate News Trending NowGet ready for a baby boomer sell-off Freddie Mac survey: There are a lot of baby boomers out there, and many plan to downsize or move soon - and that would add a lot of homes to the market. Read more. All condos need sprinklers or opt-out vote by Jan. 1The Fla. agency regulating condominiums says all condos - not just high rises - must have fire sprinkler systems installed unless owners vote to opt-out of the requirement before the end of 2016. Read more. Office market landlords unlock bigger profitsOffice vacancies dipped below 16% in 2Q 2016 - the lowest vacancy rate since the recession seven years ago, according to new data released by Reis Inc. Read more.Brexit fallout could be good for U.S., less for Fla.UBS analyst... 07/12/2016

Testimonial - Palm Greens in Delray Beach FL  Since we were relocating from Pennsylvania, Elyse was invaluable as my representative in purchasing our home in Delray Beach. She answered all our questions and helped buying our house an easy transaction. We are still in touch and she is always ready to answer my questions and guide me in the right direction. I highly recommend her, she's a pleasure to work with. Diane & Richard Paul It's so nice to receive a note like this.   It makes me happy that Diane, her husband Richard, and their dog Dixie are happily settled in to their new home in Delray Beach. 07/06/2016

Renters, Buying May Be A Better Option! According to a new report by RentCafe, an online rental marketplace, rental prices are up 7% and the spaces are 8% smaller! With developers paying more in construction costs and the demand in large cities being higher, they are forced to fit more units in a smaller space. New studio apartments may be the smallest in size, having been downsized nearly 18% since 2006. The average size is now 504 sq. ft. One-bedroom apartments have shrunk by 5%, from 794 sq. ft. 10 years ago to 752 sq. ft. today. Two-bedroom apartments, however, have mostly held steady over the past 10 years, actually increasing 1% to 1,126 sq. ft.This may be a better time to buy, unless a renter has certain circumstances that make it less feasible. Those reasons could be, lack of cr... 07/06/2016

Buying homes for sale in Delray Beach are most likely to be made by couples, but there is a buying power that is growing in the Delray Beach real estate market as well as across the country – single women.Single women are coming into their own when it comes to being financial independent. In years past it seems that many women were unsure about their future financially and matrimonially, holding on to renting properties until they married. That type of mindset could end up costing them a lot of money that could have better been used in building up their own home equity.Take a look at some of the statistics defining this up and coming new home buyer at the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty. Some of the numbers may surprise you. 06/22/2016

Home insurance in Florida is optional, at least if you are paying cash for a property, like Delray Beach real estate. However, for most home buyers, a home loan will be required and most mortgage lenders typically require insurance to cover their own investment.When examining the different types of insurance coverages, insurance shoppers need to know that there are standard areas of coverage that will provide the bare bones. Although paying the lowest annual premium may be an attractive feature, it isn’t all there is to think about when insuring your biggest investment.There also are some lesser known factors that may affect a potential property owner’s coverage to their Delray Beach real estate property. Read 6 not-so-well-known aspects at the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Re... 06/20/2016

    Pet Friendly Homes for Sale in Valencia Palms in Delray Beach FL Why Do People Live here? Valencia Palms is a pet-friendly active-adult community of single family homes centrally located in Delray Beach.  It is also a guard gated community in Delray Beach.    It's not uncommon to see people out walking their dogs, or just out walking, or down at the  clubhouse in this very active 55+ community.   Valencia Palms is close to everything and about 15 minutes from the beach.   Looking for a home in Valencia Palms? Interested in finding  homes for sale in Valencia Palms Neighborhood of Delray Beach FL?  Click that link to find all the currently available homes in this area of Delray Beach, FL. What's the Neighborhood Like? The homes you would expect to find for sale in Valencia Palms are ... 06/19/2016

 Home Prices in Delray Beach FL for May 2016  Real estate market data for Delray Beach, FL provided by Elyse Berman of Realty Associates Florida Properties.  We continue to see higher prices on home prices in Delray Beach FL and don’t expect things to slow down anytime soon. If you are considering buying a home you can still find deals on a house in Delray Beach, but having a good real estate agent who understands the market is a must. Don’t wait on the sidelines for too long. Many of our listings are selling within a few days of hitting the market. As you can see from the graph below, listings are not selling exactly for asking price. To make sure you don't overpay for your home, you'll want to have an agent that does a thorough market analysis of the Delray Beach home on which you are... 06/13/2016

The Daily (061016) Hot Sheet of Top Real Estate News Trending Now  Downpayment assistance programs keep on givingWith downpayment assistance, it's not just about dollar value. By lowering the total mortgage amount, some Fla. buyers can save $50K over the life of the loan. Read more.State flags Assignment of Benefits restrictionsFla.-owned Citizens was granted permission to limit Assignment of Benefits policy coverage, and private insurers quickly asked for the same right. But some requested more restrictive changes and the state turned them down. Read more.Unpaid HOA assessment can lead to foreclosureReal estate Q&A: What can happen if several homeowners in an HOA don't agree with a special assessment and refuse to pay it? Read more.30-year mortgage rate slips to 3.60%Long-term mortgage... 06/10/2016

Pet Friendly Homes for Sale in Valencia Falls, Delray Beach FLWhy Do People Live here?Valencia Falls is a pet-friendly active-adult community of single family homes centrally located in Delray Beach Florida.  I t's not uncommon to see people out walking their dogs or at the  clubhouse playing cards, sitting by the pool, doing arts and crafts or in the cafe in this 55+ community. Valencia Falls is an active community.  It's also close to shopping and about 15 minutes from the beach. Looking for a home in Valencia Falls?Interested in finding  homes for sale in Valencia Falls Neighborhood of Delray Beach FL?  Click that link to find all the currently available homes in this area of Delray Beach. What's the Neighborhood Like?The homes you would expect to find for sale in Valencia Falls are ... 06/06/2016

Protect your credit score!Your credit score is one of the most important things to protect when thinking of buying a home. There are major factors that can lower your score. Don't max-out your credit cards. You should always have available credit open. Never make a large purchase (ex: a car) before getting a mortgage. Never pay your mortgage or credit card bills more than 30 days late. Debt settlement agencies can help consolidate your debt into easier payments, but for a price. It can lower your score 45-125 points. Bankruptcy is unfortunately almost never reversable on your credit report. Avoid foreclosures as they can reduce your score by 80-160 points. The 3 major credit scoring services are: www.equifax.com                                                                            ... 06/06/2016

The Daily (060316) Hot Sheet of Top Real Estate News Trending Now    1 in 10 home sales flipped in many Fla. metrosRealtyTrac: Home flipping increased 20% in the first quarter, though the total number of flips was still 26% below its 2006 peak - and more flippers now pay cash. Read more.Smart homes? You ain't seen nuthin' yetAmazon's Echo speaker responds to voice commands, and homes obey when owners say things like "Open curtain" or "Make coffee." Experts predict a voice tool will be mainstream in less than 20 years. Read more.30-year mortgage rate rises to 3.66%The average FRM has risen slightly for three weeks in a row, though it's still below year-ago rates. Only 16% of experts predict a short-term drop, however. Read more.Can HOA step in if landscaping not up to par?Real estate Q&A... 06/02/2016

Home staging is something that we have all heard of before, but it is important to tell every new home seller what it is they need to do if they want to move their homes for sale. In Delray Beach and other locations along the South Florida and Treasure Coast, homes sell quite quickly because of the gorgeous location. But, it doesn’t hurt to highlight a home’s strongest points and downplay its weakest with sophisticated staging that appeals to the greatest possible pool of prospective buyers.Familiarize yourself and your home sellers with 5 tips that can help sell Delray Beach real estate quicker and for a higher price. Visit the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty News Blog for a brief refresher. 05/31/2016

Hurricane Season Starts June 1st, Be Prepared! Another Hurricane Season is upon us!   Being prepared for the Florida hurricane season is crucial. Here are some things to remember before the hurricane strikes.Have a plan. Have a place to go if you get evacuated or choose to leave your home. Keep in mind when deciding where to go that Florida's large metropolitan areas may have hotels that fill up quickly, so make a reservation before you leave. Also, don't delay departure and be prepared to wait in traffic.Keep a hurricane supply kit that can accommodate 3-7 days if need be. Your hurricane kit should include water, 1 gallon per day per person, non-perishable canned and packaged food, non-electric can opener, food for infants and pets, any medications, paper plates and plastic utensils, ... 05/30/2016

Home Prices in Delray Beach FL for April 2016  Real estate market data for Delray Beach, FL provided by Elyse Berman of Realty Associates Florida Properties.  We continue to see higher prices on home prices in Delray Beach FL and don’t expect things to slow down anytime soon. If you are considering buying a home you can still find deals on a house in Delray Beach, but having a good real estate agent who understands the market is a must. Don’t wait on the sidelines for too long. Many of our listings are selling within a few days of hitting the market. As you can see from the graph below, listings are not selling exactly for asking price. To make sure you don't overpay for your home, you'll want to have an agent that does a thorough market analysis of the Delray Beach home on which you ar... 05/28/2016

Super Size Litter Box in the Kitchen, Good or Bad Idea? When you have been in the business like myself for almost 32 years you tend to see a few interesting things. I was on a recent listing appointment not long ago and this was sitting in the breakfast area. Notice the table standing nearby. I don’t know about you, but there is something about eating and looking at this, that screams out I just lost my appetite. I would love to hear from the folks that stop by what you have noticed in your travels, that struck you a little odd or disgusting.    05/27/2016

Sunday evenings shouldn’t be a time when your mind starts working overtime as you plan out and stress out about what your Monday is going to be like. Not that planning and confirming your schedule isn’t a good thing for Delray Beach real estate professionals, it just shouldn’t be a stressful event.One way you can destress your mind-think is by kicking off your Sunday evening with a session of Sunset Yoga at the Beach. If you haven’t tried yoga, then give this free class a try. It not only will get you into a positive mindset, yoga also can help improve your physical health. Find out more at the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty website. 05/25/2016

 The Daily (051316) Hot Sheet Of Top Real Estate News Trending Now     30-year fixed mortgage rates hit three-year lowThe average 30-year fixed mortgage rate dropped to 3.57% - far below its 3.85% one year ago and the third week in a row for a decline. Read more. Frustrations fly over FHA loan hangupsA lot of people aren't thrilled with FHA loans, including Realtors, appraisers and underwriters who aired grievances at NAR's Legislative Meetings this week. Read more. Agents, investors making unsolicited offersReal estate Q&A: A couple occasionally gets handwritten notes from strangers asking if they'd like to sell their house. Are these offers serious? Read more.Fitch: New-home sales should go up 14.6% this yearAfter "a solid spring," builders should complete 2016 with 11.5% more single-... 05/12/2016