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

FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATE

DATE:  07/13/2009

DAVID SERLE EARNS PRESTIGIOUS DESIGNATION TO HELP HOMEOWNERS IN DANGER OF FORECLOSURE

David Serle of RE/MAX Services in Boca Raton has earned the prestigious Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation, having completed extensive training in foreclosure avoidance and short sales. This is invaluable expertise to offer at a time when the area is ravaged by "distressed" homes in the foreclosure process.

Short sales allow the cash-strapped seller to repay the mortgage at the price that the home sells for, even though it is lower than what is owed on the property. With plummeting property values, this can save many people from foreclosure and even bankruptcy. More and more lenders are willing to consider short sales because they are much less costly than foreclosures.

In the Boca Raton area, more than 670 homes are in danger of foreclosing. It is happening in all price ranges. Local experts say that even high-priced homes are not immune.

"This CDPE designation has been invaluable as I work with sellers and lenders on complicated short sales," said David Serle "It is so rewarding to be able to help sellers save their homes from foreclosure."

Alex Charfen, founder of the Distressed Property Institute in Boca Raton, Fla., said that Realtors® such as David Serle with the CDPE designation have valuable training in short sales that can offer the homeowner much better alternatives to foreclosure, which virtually destroys the credit rating. These experts also may better understand market conditions and can help sellers through the emotional experience, he said.

The Distressed Property Institute opened in January 2008 and provides training on-site and online. The CDPE is the premier designation for Realtors helping homeowners in distress and handling short sales.

"Our goal is to educate as many people as possible so we can help as many homeowners as possible," Charfen said.

For more information about CDPE designation or to find a certified distressed Realtor in your area, please call 1-800-482-0335.

So I was reading a post by David Daniels the other day as to how you can enhance your twitter page.  I called him up, and I really think he did a great job.  Take a look.

www.twitter.com/bocaratonremax

Thank you David I appreciate it now he is doing my email stationery as well.  It is so important to brand everything you do on the web, and so I am revamping everything I do on the web to have that same consistent theme.  Check out my website as an example.

Highland Beach Condos

Boca Raton Communities

Azura
Azura is the newest single family community to come to Boca Raton built by Gordon Homes. This luxury community offers 92 estate homes which are priced from over 1.3 million.

Boca Isles
With their dramatic gated entrances and tons of amenities, Boca Isles is one of the most desirable communities in Boca Raton. Boca Isles North & South have clubhouses, exercise facilities, resort-style pools & spas, community rooms and much more.

New Floresta 

A community in every sense of the word.  Known for its Spanish and Mediterranean homes, New Floresta is in a prime location nestled in between the Town Center Mall, and some of the most amazing parks.

The Oaks at Boca Raton
The Oaks at Boca Raton is a prestigious community spanning 282 acres of magnificent landscaping in that Old Florida Charm. With approximately 469 homes to be built, they are priced from $900,000 to over 5 million.

One Thousand Ocean
One Thousand Ocean at the Boca Raton Resort & Club is located on a private peninsula and offers condos from 2900-8000 square feet that are priced from $2.7 million.

Saturnia
Built by GL Homes, this single family home community is located in West Boca Raton and has resort-style amenities and a dramatic gated entrance. Prices are from $700,000 to ver a million.

The Seasons Swim & Racquet Ball Club in Boca Raton
With 255 home sites surrounded in neatly manicured lawns in the heart of Boca Raton, the Seasons Swim & Racquet Ball Club in Boca Raton is a wonderful community is priced from the $700,000's to well over a million.

The Shores at Boca Raton
Built in 1993, The Shores at Boca Raton is one of the most prestigious communities in West Boca. This 330 single family home community has all the amenities of a resort and range in price from $400,000-$800,000.

Toscana Towers
Toscana is located in the exclusive city of Highland Beach and consists of 3 towers with 455 units in total. Most of the condos have intracoastal and ocean views, and the the building is one of the only buildings to have a beach club on the ocean side. Prices range from $500,000 to over 3 million.

New Floresta is a gorgeous community located within the city limits of Boca Raton, FL.  The community consist of almost 200 single family homes that are mainly of Spanish Colonial and Mediterranean architecture.  New Floresta is conveniently located near the Town Center Mall, and Boca Center.  Amazing Shopping, and incredible dining is all around New Floresta as it is located between many upscale shopping centers including Regency Shopping Center. 

With its tree-lined streets, and well manicured lawns, New Floresta has always been one of the most desireable communities in South Florida.  If you like involved communities that have lots of get togethers, New Floresta is for you.  There is a St. Patricks Day party, many happy hours on Fridays, a New Years Party, and a Halloween Party just to name a few.  They even rent out Molly's Trolley during the Holidays to have the kids take a trolley ride around the neighborhood to see all the lights and decorations.  All this with a very low homeowners association payment of around $130 a month.  Please look below at a video I made to give you a good idea of how New Floresta looks.

First the Real Estate Market, then the Lending Industry, then the Insurance Industry, then the Automotive Industry now the Restaurants. 

Well the sign of the times definitely.  I have noticed in the last few weeks popular  restaurants in Boca Raton have come out with promotions.

Tru Lucks in Mizner Park offers a $49.99 special which includes Lobster appetizer, 1.5 pound Lobster, and dessert.  Normally priced weill over $85.00.

Ruth Chris Steakhouse just came out with one of its own specials at $39.95 for one which includes an entree, salad, side dish, and dessert.  Normally priced over $65.00

PF Changs offers a dinner for two for $39.95 which includes rice, apppetizer and entree.

Lunch specials can be found at Gary Woo's Asian Cuisine, Boca Wings & Ribs, Max's Grille, The Grille on Congress, and many more.

There are now sites that cater to coupons such as www.SouthFloridaDines.com

I love this website because you can purchase many gift certificates for $25 which entitles you to $50 in food.  Some of the hottest restaurants are on it.  However, there are only a certain amount of certificates per restaurant per month. 

Every month the hottest restaurants sell out first so many people go on the website at 12:01 AM the morning of the 1st to purchase them.  They then will send you a check about 2-3 days later.

I wanted announce to the world that I had my 2nd daughter yesterday at 1:51 PM.  Her name is Romy Abigail Serle, and she weighed 6lbs 14 oz, and was 20 inches long.  She is really beautiful, and is extremely alert.  I usually am not really a baby lover, but I absolutely adore Romy.  Maybe because she kind of looks like me.  Thank you everyone for all your support, and thoughts Samantha & I very much appreciate it.  I attached some pictures and 2 videos.  Thanks again.

NEW FLORESTA

New Floresta consists of nearly 200 single family homes all from the mediterranean and spanish colonial style.  These styles present a unique divulgence into one of the most sought after communities in Boca Raton.  Neslted between the Town Center Mall and some of the most amazing parks and recreation makes for a perfect Central Boca location.  From the moment you drive into New Floresta you notice the character of the homes, and the neighborhood.  You will find many neighbors walking their dogs, taking a family walk, and adults and children playing outside their home.  New Floresta has that real community feel that you do not see in many communities in Boca Raton.  Between the Happy hour block parties, and the July 4th get togethers New Floresta is a great place to call home.  This is a non-gated community and is close to shopping, A+ rated schools, & places of worship.  The maintenance fees are low (around $100 a month) and include basic cable and landscaping maintenance for the community and common areas. 

If you would like more information about the community of New Floresta or you would like to see what homes are available please contact me at DSerle@SearchPalmBeachHomes.com

Change is apparently in the works for a proposed development adjacent to the Boca Raton Tri-Rail station.

Yamato Road Joint Ventures LLC, which hoped to create a million square foot "transit village" next to the depot, is apparently rethinking the plan - in particular, the size.

City officials have twice adopted strong resolutions saying the million square foot plan is much too large for that spot.  Coincidentally, because of the change of administration earlier this year, one resolution came about through former Mayor Steven Abrams, the other under current Mayor Susan Whelchel.

Peter Sachs of Sachs Sax Caplan, a Boca law firm representing Yamato Road Joint Ventures LLC, notified the City Council earlier this month that "Mike Langton and Tom Gustafson of Yamato Road LLC are proposing changes to the Yamato Road Tri-Rail development proposal."

Sachs' letter said the changes will result in "less mass," be "more likely to improve local traffic conditions" and be "more consistent with the city's effort to develop multi-modal transportation districts."  The letter also says the changes are "more likely to create a basis for passenger rail travel in Boca Raton on the FEC (Florida East Coast) corridor when FEC passenger services are planned and implemented for other South Florida areas."

Two Meetings

The letter proposes a meeting between Yamato Road Joint Ventures LLC and the City Council Sept. 22 - four days before the firm will make a similar presentation to the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, which operates Tri-Rail.

Earlier this year, SFRTA chose Yamato Road Joint Ventures' plan as its preferred development choice over a second one submitted by Boca developers Malcolm Butters and Ned Siegel, which exactly fits the zoning on that plat.

A follow-up letter from Sachs said Butters will be present at the Sept. 22 meeting.

Mayor Susan Whelchel said she knows no specifics about the plans to be presented at the meeting, but has "two impressions. We have unanimously voted twice not to allow the development.  Obviously, they got the message."

Her second impression is that the firm "knows we are committed to public transportation" and may tailor its proposal to that pledge.  

Initially, Yamato Road LLC wanted to create a transit "village" with a hotel, apartments, shops and offices.  The firm's $200 million proposal included a 150-room hotel, nearly 200 workforce housing units, 90,000 square feet of offices, 55,000 square feet of shops and parking garages with 1,731 spaces.

But the council twice rejected that plan by resolution, saying the zoning would not allow such massive development. While Tri-Rail owns the six-acre parcel near the train station, the city controls the zoning.

Regarding the upcoming meeting, Jack Stephens, deputy executive director of SFRTA issued a statement to the Boca Raton News: "The SFRTA Governing Board has made it clear that the involvement of the development team is with the local government. The site is very important to us and we look forward to the creation of a project that will benefit both the city of Boca Raton and our passengers."

Courtesy of Dale King City Editor of the Boca Raton News