Parkland Parrot

Hooray For Parkland and Broward Real Estate Home Sale Increases

March Home Sales and Prices Increase

March, 2010 was a hot local real estate market, as prices saw two consecutive month increases!  But, does this mean that the real estate market is turning around?  Have we reached the bottom?  According to the Florida Realtor Association,  existing homes sales for last month was 1,169, which was up 8 percent from this time last year.

Yesterday’s Sun-Sentinel article: Broward home sales, prices rise in March showed how many real estate companies are claiming that the overall market is showing signs of life, as we have entered into the traditional spring and summer selling seasons.  Other real estate professionals point to how the market has improved as unemployment is declining.  Also, buyers are starting to get off the real estate fence more, as they see that the bottom of the market may be very near.

Another great indicator that the market is starting to stabilize is the current home inventory.  The current available real estate home inventory int eh Broward Metro area fell by approximately 12 percent in February from January of this year.  According to Move Inc, this drop in inventory was the largest in the nation.  Of course, we know that different cities and neighborhoods are more stable than others in the county.

Bank foreclosures have been down in recent months.  But, will the shadow inventory now be released by the banks as they see the overall inventory dropping in Broward County?  If so, how will this affect the market for the coming months?  Like many of my real estate colleagues, we are ecstatic to see the market picking up in sales activity and decreases in overall available home inventory.  We hope these trends will continue in the next few months.  With mortgage interest rates still hanging around 5%, NOW is the time to buy a home.  Our Parkland real estate market is on fire, as more and more sales are taking place in our great city.  What more could you ask for than a stable Parkland real estate market, great school district, over 7 parks and recreational activities, living in a safe community, and much more?  Buy Buy Buy!

We know the numbers, we analyze the market, our clients make better decisions. If you are interested in selling or buying a home in Parkland or South Florida and are looking for experienced local Realtors, please do not hesitate to contact the Squawk at 954-609-0591 or send us a message here.

To stay updated with all Parkland real estate information, receive our blog posts via email by subscribing here. After registering, you must activate the subscription in a follow-up email.

6 Affordable Ways To Fix And Sell Your Parkland Home For More Money

6 Simple And Affordable Do It Yourself Projects To Increase Value Of Your Parkland Home

Let’s face it!  Selling a home in today’s market is challenging.  With the plethora of foreclosures and short sales on the market in your area, there is a lot of competition.  You must take the necessary steps in order to make your home stand above the competition.  Below, please find 6 Worth-The-Price Fix-Ups to sell your home faster and for more money:

1. De-cluttering and cleaning: It’s important to depersonalize your home and declutter the countertops and closets.  It is also necessary to thoroughly clean your home.  Buyers are usually turned off by pack-rat sellers, so it is essential to make your home more open and look sparkling clean.  (Estimated Cost:  $290 – Estimated Return: $1,990)
2. Brightening: Grab the Windex and clean every window, both inside and out.  Also, replace old curtains, update lighting fixtures, and allow for the most amount of light to come into your home.  A home that is light and bright will appeal to a larger pool of buyers. (Estimated Cost:  $375 – Estimated Return: $1,550)
3. Staging: Every time we take a new listing, we always stage the home for the pictures.  Simply rearranging furniture or bringing in new accessories will enhance the rooms of the home.  It is also important to make your home look like and smell like a model.  Think when you go into a furniture show room, doesn’t everything seem to be arranged perfectly and have a fresh aroma?  When buyers feel more comfortable while looking at  homes, they are more apt to buying them!  (Estimated Cost: $550 – Estimated Return: $2,194)
4. Landscaping: Making great first impressions for a potential buyer starts before they even enter your front door.  Curb appeal is necessary to make your home pop and stand out.  Make sure to plant seasonal flowers and put new mulch out.  It is also important to landscape your backyard as well, as this is a major selling point for buyers will children and animals.  (Estimated Cost:  $540 – Estimated Return: $1,932)
5. Electrical and plumbing: Make sure to fix leaks under sinks and have the plumbing in your home in good working order.  If you need to, hire an electrician to fix and check all outlets and replace any old wiring.  If potential buyers see a home with leaky plumbing and non-working electrical outlets, they will believe that your home is in need of repair and look to pursue an offer on your neighbor’s home on the market instead.
6. Replace or Clean carpeting: There is nothing more of an eye sore than a smelly or stained carpet.  God help you if your home has a smoke or dog smell.   Replace or clean your carpet, and your buyers will appreciate it!  This could be the biggest return on your investment if your home has old, smelly carpet.  (Estimated Cost:  $647 – Estimated Return: $1,739)(Estimates & information provided by HomeGain’s annual home improvement and staging survey: homesalemaximizer.com)

These simple, yet affordable changes, could be the difference from getting a sold sign in front of your home in weeks.  If you fail to make these small, but necessary changes, your home will become stale and not sell for top market value.  When our team first meets with a new seller, we go through our Home Enhancement Checklist in order to assist our clients in getting their home ready to be put on the market.  If you are interested in receiving our Home Enhancement Checklist, please feel free to email us at: Michael@ParklandParrot.com or give us a call at: 954-609-0591.

We know the numbers, we analyze the market, our clients make better decisions. If you are interested in selling or buying a home in Parkland or South Florida and are looking for experienced local Realtors, please do not hesitate to contact the Squawk at 954-609-0591 or send us a message here.

To stay updated with all Parkland real estate information, receive our blog posts via email by subscribing here. After registering, you must activate the subscription in a follow-up email.

Entry-Level Homes In Parkland Florida

Available Parkland Single Family Homes Under $300,000

More and more younger buyers are calling Parkland home.  The great schools, parks and recreation, and safety of the city provides a great place to raise a family.  The Parkland Parrot Real Estate Team has been working with many first-time home buyers that are looking to live in the City of Parkland.

As of today, there are 7 Parkland single family homes priced between: $223,860 and $299,999.

Community:  Parkside Estates
7463 N.W 70th Avenue
Beds: 3
Baths:  2
Square Footage:  1,713
Short Sale Listing
Asking Price: $223,860
Remarks:  Move-In Ready Home In Parkland’s Parkside Estates Gated Community.  This Home Is A Bank-Approved Short Sale & The Bank Is Ready For An Offer & Quick Closing.  The Asking Price Is Approved By The Lender, Best Deal In Parkland For The Money!

Community: Parkside Estates
7650 N.W. 70th Avenue
Beds:  4
Baths:  2.5
Square Footage:  1,668
Short Sale Listing
Asking Price:  $239,990
Remarks:  This Is A Charming 4 Bedroom, 2.5 Bathroom Home In Prestigious Parkside Estates in Parkland, Florida.  Upgrades Include New Kitchen With Granite Countertops & Eating Bar. Gorgeous Master Bathroom Featuring Dual Sinks,  & Separate Tub & Shower.

Community: Mayfair At Parkland
6331 N.W. 80th Drive
Beds:  4
Baths:  2.5
Square Footage:  1,935
Short Sale Listing
Asking Price:  $240,000
Remarks: Spacious 2-Story 4 Bedroom, 2.5 Bathroom Home In Desirable Mayfair At Parkland, Florida.  Home Has A Screened-In Patio & Spacious Backyard.  Pergo Floor Upstairs & Spacious Kitchen & Eat-In Area.  Home Is A Short Sale & Priced To Sell.

Read the rest of this entry »

5 Parkland Seller Tips To Make Your Home Stand Out In A Foreclosure Market

Calling All Parkland Real Estate Sellers – 5 Tips To Make Your Home Stand Out In Today’s Market!

1. Foreclosures & Short Sales Lurking In Your Neighborhood: According to Zillow.com, more than one out of every five homes sold in the entire United States were bank foreclosures.  In Zillow’s analysis, bank foreclosures typically sell between 18–59% less than comparable homes in the same neighborhood.  Like it or not, regular sellers must consider these bank foreclosure as their major competition.  But how can regular sellers in today’s market make their home stand above the competition, get traffic to the home, and ultimately sell for fair market value?  Below, please find some more helpful suggestions when selling in a foreclosure or short sale dominated market:
2. Advertise The Upgrades & Features: Normally, traditional sales are in much better condition than foreclosures or short sales.  Foreclosures are usually unkempt, stripped of appliances, and possibly in need of significant structural repairs. Also, banks typically sell their listings in “as-is” condition, which means that the buyers will be responsible for the necessary repairs. Before putting your home on the market for sale, it is important to make any necessary repairs, increase the curb appeal, and paint in order to freshen up your home for buyers to see.  As a result, your home will stand above the competition of the foreclosures and short sales competing against you.  Also, these improvements will be showed off in the listing photos and during the showings.
3. Photos, Photos, & More Photos: Most foreclosure and short sale competing listings only have one or a few pictures of the listings.  Make sure to take professional photos of your home.  The Multiple Listing Serivce (MLS) allows up to 16 photos to be included in each home listings, and Realtor.com permits up to 25 photos.  In a market where everyone is visual and is looking online for available homes, it is imperative to make your home show at its best.  Take photos of every features and benefit, so the potential buyers can see a pictorial tour of your home online.
4. Promote A Faster & Seamless Closing: Foreclosures and short sales are notorious for not closing quickly.  There can be delays due to liens on the properties, necessary repairs needed, and a plethora of other title or related issues that can delay the closing dates by weeks or even months.  If it is possible for you to close in 30-60 days, it is important to market that your home is in move-in condition and can close in an expeditious manner.
5. Spruce Up Your Neighborhood: It also important to know that buyers do not just buy a home.  They first buy a neighborhood.  As buyers drive around homes for sale, they will notice if there is other homes that have unkempt lawns and landscaping.  It could turn a buyer off to your home.  As a result, you should offer to cut the neighbors lawn or even the vacant homes in your community.  It will certainly help sell your home.  We had a seller that had two vacant properties next to them.  After agreeing to cut the 2 neighbors’ lawns, the home received an offer in a week and closed in less than 30 days.

We know the numbers, we analyze the market, our clients make better decisions. If you are interested in selling or buying a home in Parkland or South Florida and are looking for experienced local Realtors, please do not hesitate to contact the Squawk at 954-609-0591 or send us a message here.

To stay updated with all Parkland real estate information, receive our blog posts via email by subscribing here. After registering, you must activate the subscription in a follow-up email.

City Of Parkland Florida Voted Best Library Of 2011

Parkland Library – Best Library Of The Year For 2011

The City of Parkland Library received the coveted honor of best library in 2011 by the the Florida Library Association (FLA).   The library selected must demonstrate outstanding community-related services.  Also, key contributions are creativity, innovation, and the expansion of services.  The Parkland Library presents a great resource for all residents, especially children which other libraries around the state and country emulate. All typed of libraries were eligible.  The Parkland Parrot Real Estate Team encourages all residents to enjoy our city’s library.  We also want to congratulate the city and amazing staff that makes the Parkland Library a special place for the entire family!  For more information on the City of Parkland Library, please click here.

Besides keeping up to date with city events, we know the real estate numbers.  We analyze the market, and our clients make better decisions. If you are interested in buying a home in Parkland or South Florida and are looking for experienced local Realtors, please do not hesitate to contact the Squawk at 954-609-0591 or send us a message here.

To stay updated with all Parkland real estate information, receive our blog posts via email by subscribing here. After registering, you must activate the subscription in a follow-up email.