Highland Beach Condos, Boca Raton Homes, Boca Raton Real Estate Advice and Opinions

Keeping your listings active during the holiday season is important.  Real Estate signs in South Florida get maximum exposure during this time from the seasonal snowbirds and out-of-town vacationers.  Here are some tips for your sellers to keep their homes holiday friendly for potentials buyers.

1. Use white lights as opposed to multi-color lights to keep the home neutral.
2. Keep holiday gifts in a closet.
3. Tone down the size of the Tree or Menorah.
4. Use more splashes of red (than green) and white (than blue); as red is a
    strong selling color and white is a neutral color.
5. At open houses and/or showings simmer a pot of hot chocolate or apple
    cinnamon cider to fill the house with a holiday aroma.
6. At open houses and/or showings set out festive holiday cookies for buyers.
7. Try to decorate with snowflakes, pinecones and other wintery things from
    nature rather than large religious decorations.

These helpful holiday tips may assist you in securing a contract this season.  Happy House Showings and Happy Holidays!

Boca Isles

Boca Isles is another one of Lennar's Masterpieces.  Located in West Boca Raton off of Cain Blvd. between Glades Road and Yamato Road, Boca Isles has 2 sections.  Boca Isles North was built in 1994 and consists of 388 single family homes, and Boca Isles South was built in 1996 and consists of 412 single family homes. 

With their dramatic gated entrances, and tons of amenities, Boca Isles is one of the most desirable communities in Boca Raton.  They both have clubhouses, exercies facilities, resort-style pools & spas, community rooms, and much more.  The Models range from just over 2200 square feet to about 4000 square feet, and are priced from the low $400's to the low $700's  Come Enjoy what Boca Isles has to offer!

If you have any questions about Boca Isles please feel free to contact me!!

Courtesy of www.KeepYourBocaBeachesPublic.org

It has been a widely cocntested debate over whether the what is now called "Ocean Strand" land should be public or private.  The group "Keep Your Boca Beaches Public" has argued that the City Council should not sell this land to a private developer as the land was purchased with taxpayer's money.  Apparently, the city Council of Boca Raton has heard their roar and are starting settlement talks with the group. 

The group has said they will drop the lawsuit if a settlement can be reached

Marci Shatzman mshatzman@tribune.com

12:10 p.m. EDT, May 5, 2010

It was inevitable. Parking meters and timed parking zones are coming to parts of downtown and the beaches after City Council approved the city's first paid parking program and revamped its parking laws.

 Some 387 free parking spaces may soon cost $1.50 an hour, and $2 in the evenings on the streets in Mizner Park, if those provisions are passed at the May 10 meeting. The locations and rate of the meters and other specifics will be discussed and voted on at that time.

 Parking tickets now cost $35 with a $25 late fee after 15 days. That is already the law.

 The City Council's aye votes April 27 carried Ordinance 5132. It revamps the city's parking codes, puts new regulations in place, and provides for citations and violations. In layman's language it means scofflaws will get the boot, literally, or be towed if they have three prior violations and unpaid fines, and the city manager will keep a list of offenders.

  The proposed meter program includes: 165 along the curbs in Mizner Park; 93 in the parking lot across from Red Reef Park, except for golfers; 32 east of the Intracoastal Waterway on Spanish River Boulevard and 77 on East Palmetto Park Road, and 20 in the parking on Second Street and Federal Highway. The city plans to use multi-space parking meters that accept bills, coins and debit and credit cards, if the program passes.

  Mizner Park garages will still be free, according to General Growth Properties, owners of Mizner Park.

  The meters are expected to bring in $600,000 to $700,000 of revenue a year, according to a staff report presented at the council meeting.

  "If you look at the neighboring communities, we're the only one," who still doesn't charge for some parking, said Assistant City Manager Mike Woika.

  There also are now timed parking areas and no-parking zones.

  The new ordinance sets out what it means to be legally and illegally parked. Anyone who exceeds 12 inches from the curb for parallel spots, overhangs the next space, sticks out in the aisle impeding traffic, exceeds the posted time limit or fails to pay the fees is now illegally parked, since the ordinance was effective immediately.

Parking on right-of-ways will be prohibited, with exceptions that include emergencies and breakdowns, deliveries, lawn maintenance or trade activity, as long if there's enough room for their vehicles and trailers.

  The city is also prepared to give the state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, "a listing of persons who have three or more unpaid fines" so the DMV can withhold a license tag.  There's an appeals process within 15 days, with a hearing.

  There's also a provision for a single-event parking rate.

  The parking program is costing $322,000 for the meters and installation and $140,000 for other costs. Staffing will include two new full-time employees and the work of six or seven part-timers, according to the staff report.