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Stage Your Home To Sell with Free Help From Robb & Stucky

We all can agree that the most important decision you can make when selling your home is pricing it to sell.  The price determines whether your home sells or sits on the market.  However, the next important factor after pricing is appearance.  A well designed, functional home where home buyers can easily see themselves living in your home will move off the market fast and for the right price.  Before you list your home for sale with a Realtor® or even if it is already listed and not selling, take inventory of the appearance of your home.

Start at the curb and make sure your lawn is neatly trimmed, any debris and unnecessary items are removed, fill bare rock gardens, paint worn doors must be freshly painted.  Make it look as fresh as your budget allows.  Inside the home all clutter must be removed, excess furniture, pictures, ornaments.  Keep it clean and simple.  This is not the time to display an abundance of personal photos.  Home buyers need to visualize themselves in your home.  Personal photos and items can distract tremendously.  CLEAN your home.  Homes with years of dust, grime in tile grout, layers of dirt around light switches, doors, etc. is a huge turn off to home buyers.  They will not see past the dirt and grime.  They will walk in and right back out.  It doesn’t matter how well priced that home is.  Filth and odor is a turn off!

Next, take into consideration at how functional your home is with the contents within it.  A client and I were viewing some homes yesterday.  One home was vacant and left us feeling uneasy and seemed disjointed.  It just didn’t flow.  When we went to the second home, we found a huge difference.  It was the same floor plan, but having been filled with furniture it really helped improve the flow of the home.  Each room of your home has a purpose and should be staged appropriately to not cause confusion or leaving buyers feeling uncomfortable.

A great way to learn more about staging your home is to visit designer showrooms.  But, before I go any further, I need to explain how home staging differs from interior design before all the professional home stagers come after me for confusing the two.  Staging your home is not the same as designing your home.  Home staging is designing your home to sell.  You are designing for the general buyer not yourself or your family.  An interior designer helps you to design your home to your tastes and needs.  However, I do think as a someone selling their home, you can learn a great deal from the world of interior design on how to take what you have and arrange it to where your home is pleasing and functional for it’s purpose to sell.

I also believe in using all the resources available to you.  One resource is at Robb & Stucky.  The designer showroom off of PGA Boulevard offers free seminars throughout the year.  Take advantage of what the seminars have to offer.  You can take the opportunity to discuss your situation with one of their designers.  You may even take away some ideas for your future home!

If you find you need the services of a professional home stager, call or email me.  I can lead you to some great professionals in the area.

Susanne Quirk is a Realtor® with Cobblestone Realty specializing in residential homes in Jupiter, Juno Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Contact Susanne at (561) 386-0350, e-mail, or visit our website www.TheJunoBeachRealtor.com to learn more.

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Cielo Town Homes in Palm Beach Gardens

Cielo Townhomes - Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Stainless Steel Appliances

One of the sought after communities in Palm Beach Gardens has been homes for sale and rent in Cielo.  Located in a gated community of over 150 -  two and three level town homes. Each town home is elegantly designed with granite throughout the kitchen and baths, stainless steel appliances, tile and carpet and much more.   Amenities include a clubhouse, pool and secured pedestrian path to the shops and restaurants at Donald Ross Village.  Shops include, but not limited to, a Gold’s Gym, CVS, MedExpress, Hurricane Cafe, Grande’s Bella Cucina.

Two – two level town homes are available for rent starting at $1,950/month.  Prices for town homes for sale begin at $264,000.

Call Susanne Quirk at (561) 386-0350 for more information

or

E-mail me to request to see properties available for rent or sale

Complete Specifications:

• Hurricane impact windows
• Raised panel wood cabinets
• Granite kitchen countertops
• 20′ porcelain tile on diagonal
• Large master bedroom with large walk-in closet
• Granite countertops in master bath with dual sinks
• Roman tub
• Two level town homes include a large loft area on second floor
• Covered patio with pavers
• Gated community with resort style heated pool and spa
• Secured pedestrian walkway to shopping and dining at Donald Ross Village

Susanne Quirk is a Realtor® with Cobblestone Realty specializing in residential homes in Jupiter, Juno Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Contact Susanne at (561) 386-0350, e-mail, or visit our website www.CobblestoneFL.com to learn more.

Spotlight on Abacoa

Abacoa Town Center

Abacoa is one of the more recent communities developed in Jupiter.  We have been residents of Abacoa for over six years.  We enjoy the close proximity of restaurants, shops, work and school.  It is a young community were the average adult age is approximately 36 yrs.  However, it caters to every age group.  It is a planned community on over 2,055 acres of land, including some areas of greenway preserves throughout the town.

Roger Dean Stadium has become the home for spring training for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Florida Marlins.  The stadium is conveniently located in the heart of Abacoa and brings great family entertainment to our community.  Other fun-filled activities include golfing at Abacoa Golf and family nights at the Abacoa Town Center.  The Abacoa Town Center is filled with retail shops and restaurants.  Most weekends at the town center are filled with live music, movies, and festivals for residents to enjoy.  Other businesses in the area inlude Florida Atlantic University and Scripps Florida Institute.  Since Scripps arrival, Abacoa has become a hub of scientific technology with the following of the Max Planck Society and other scientific institutes from around the world.

There are many community of homes that make up Abacoa.  A wide selection homes are currently for sale.  Prices begin at $84,000 for a condominium at the Village at Abacoa, located directly above the town center shops.  Townhomes in Antigua begin at $154,900 and single family homes start at $305,000 in Paseos and top out at just over $1,300,000 in Valencia.

For more information about the communities in Abacoa, visit our community page about Abacoa or the Abacoa website.

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Cobblestone Realty to Sponsor Florida Marlins Basebowl Tournament

Basebowl Tournament

Cobblestone Realty is proud to sponsor the Florida Marlins Spring Training Basebowl Tournament.   We will join Marlins players John Baker and Mike Rabelo at Jupiter Lanes on Saturday, March 21, 2009 at 5:00 pm in Jupiter, Florida to kick-off the Marlins 2009 season.  All proceeds will benefit the Quantum House, the Marlins-Cardinals Fund and Florida Marlins Community Foundation.

On hand to compete from Cobblestone Realty will be “LizBet” Proce, Mary Howarth, Vicki Copani and Renee Straubinger, Joe & Susanne Quirk and John & Jennifer Holland. will be on hand to compete against .  Included are a variety of activities including visits by Billy The Marlin, the Mermaids, silent auction, raffle items and awards for the top bowler and team.  Come cheer us on.

Egret Landing Open House

Open House Sunday, March 15, 2009 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Cobblestone Realty will be hosting an Open House this Sunday in Egret Landing at Jupiter.  You won’t want to miss seeing this home.  It is the lowest priced home in the community.  Located in a quiet cul-de-sac, this home is great for families.  An oversized lot with 4 bedrooms and 2 full baths, it is a great open floorplan with great potential for a pool and much more.

Open House by Cobblestone Realty

Where:  204 Banyanwood Point

When:  Sunday, March 15, 2009

Time:  1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Directions:  From 95 take Indiantown Road east, south on Central Boulevard, right onto Egret Landing Boulevard, Rt. onto Egret Cir. N., Lt. onto Banyanwood Point.

Artfest by the Sea in Juno Beach This Weekend

21st Annual Artfest by the Sea

Where: A1A Between Donald Ross Rd. and Marcinski in Jupiter/Juno Beach

When: Saturday & Sunday March 14-15, 2009

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The 21st Annual Artfest by the Sea is here once again.  Located in Juno Beach, this is one of the better artfests because of it’s great location along the ocean on A1A.  As residents of Juno Beach, it has become a family tradition for us.  There’s so much to see from handmade jewelry, contemporary art, paintings and other handmade crafts.

How Everything's Changed in Real Estate Finance

“Everything’s Changed!”  My favorite line delivered by Holly Hunter in “Raising Arizona ” sums up what’s been going on in the mortgage markets.  I started in the mortgage business just over 25 years ago and at that time the available options were Conventional, FHA, VA, & Private Money, that all were fixed rates.  We’ve almost come full circle with the exception that there still are a few Alt-A and SubPrime programs available (for those borrowers that don’t meet the more stringent FannieMae, FreddieMac, Federal Housing Administration, or Veterans Administration guidelines). Gone are NoDoc loans where income, employment, or asset information was not required, gone is NoRatio loans where income information was not required, mostly gone are Stated loans where income is stated, but not verified.  It’s pretty much if you can’t prove it, you can’t get it … not that that’s not the way it should be, but let’s admit it, there are very savvy accountants many self-employed people use, as well as there being a segment our economy that is cash.  That’s where some of these now defunct programs came into play, but over recent years lower down-payments were permitted along with lower credit score thresholds, that turned to be riskier than thought.

The current state of our economy related to housing foreclosures and delinquencies was caused by a number of issues: the burst of the housing bubble and resulting decline in values, job loss or illness impacting peoples ability to meet their budgets, lenders creating products with fast and loose guidelines, homeowners not getting the proper type of mortgage or even the rate they really qualified for from who they trusted, and of course there has been outright fraud.  Regardless of the causes, were are where we are now.

What are the options?  VA loans permit 100% financing and a Funding Fee (comparable to Private Mortgage Insurance on conventional loans) is added to the loan, which remains for the entire term.  FHA loanspermit 97% financing (soon to change to 96.5%) and have both a one time MIP (Mortgage Insurance Premiumcomparable to Private Mortgage Insurance) added to the loan amount as well as a monthly MIP fee added to the payment, these also remain the entire term.  Both VA and FHA require “project approval” if the home or town home has a homeowner’s association, or if it is a condominium.  Conventional loans technically permit up to 97% for special programs, but unfortunately here in Florida we are (along with many areas throughout the country) in what is termed a “declining market”, which reduces the percentage for loans.  Here in Florida , at present the maximum loan for a single-family detached home is 90%, if it is attached (town house or villa) or a condominium then it is limited at 80%.  These restrictions will undoubtedly be eased as our market recovers.  Conventional loans over 80% require Private Mortgage Insurance, which is typically paid as a monthly fee in your payment.

WOW! What’s the good news?  The good news is that mortgage rates are at historically low levels.  On December 15^th a Conventional 30 year fixed ratewas 4.75% … in my 25 years in business I only remember a day or two about 6 years ago when I was able to lock a few clients this low.  Rates were over 12% when I started out in 1983 and for a long time if rates were in the 8’s, that was good.  With rates available at or below the 5% range and the available choices in property on the market it is a great time to buy.  Remember, interest rates can be very volatile and turn around faster than you think, much faster than real estate values move.

LaMarr Cromer is Broker/Owner of Cromer Mortgage Services, Inc. and has been a FloridaLicensed Mortgage Broker in Palm Beach County since 1983.  Contact LaMarr at 561-594-4025, email at lamarr@cromermortgage.biz, or additional information can be found at www.cromermortgage.biz.

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Open House in PGA Commons

When:  Sunday, December 14, 2008

Boat Parade in Jupiter

The boat parade is a big event throughout Palm Beach County. Each year we have enjoyed seeing the parade at different locations. We’ve tried The Waterway Cafe, The River House, Yacht Club and simply driving by. The bridges are always slammed with people, police, cars are parked haphazardly everywhere, and not the best place to be with kids.

So, if you are looking for something different, the town of Jupiter is hosting this years boat parade at the Riverwalk Events Plaza. Festivities include a parade, fireworks, food, music and a performance by the Atlantic Arts Academy.  The town is asking everyone to bring an unwrapped toy for Toys For Tots.

Other viewing locations are the Lighthouse Park and Sawfish Bay Park.  Call 741-2521 or visit the Town of Jupiter website for more information.

Susanne Quirk is a Realtor® with Cobblestone Realty specializing in oceanfront and luxury homes in Juno Beach and Jupiter, Florida. Contact Susanne at (561) 386-0350, e-mail, or visit her website, The Juno Beach Realtor.