All Entries Tagged With: "Florida"

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.

Open House in PGA Commons

When:  Sunday, December 14, 2008

Hobe Sound Golf Club Exclusive Living at Affordable Prices

I recently was introduced to the Hobe Sound Golf Club in Hobe Sound.  The beautiful and private golf community is just minutes off US Highway 1 on Bridge Road.  Entering the community, it was surprising to see how close in proximity the community is to town shopping and activities.  It is a quiet neighborhood of approximately 90 upscale homes and estates.  Beautifully designed with luscious landscaping and preserves surrounding a Joe Lee designed golf course.

A very private a secure community with a manned security entrance makes this a safe and private community for your family and guests.  The clubhouse is elegant and richly designed with spectacular views making the clubhouse a grand place to dine and entertain your guests in luxury.

Community amenities include clubhouse events and activities, community pool and spa and tennis courts.

Susanne Quirk and Michael Galleher, Cobblestone Realty, are offering a gorgeous 3 bedroom 2 1/2 bath cottage in Hobe Sound Golf Club for $485,000.

For a private preview, contact Michael Galleher at (772) 285-6637.

Tracking A Real Estate Investor

Not too long ago, I would have many friends, neighbors and coworkers calling me and following me to see where I would buy next. As an investor, I was always looking to see where the best “preconstruction” deals were and how I could be the first in line to get the best picks. Sometimes I would pay people to stand in line. On at least one occasion I hired someone to sleep overnight while waiting in line for the games to begin the next morning.

We began this journey at Tuscany, a subdivision in Abacoa. That was a lark. In the beginning, all I wanted was one piece of investment property. The next thing I know we had close to 50 properties. After Tuscany, the list goes something like this…Botanica, Harbour Oaks, Antigua, Traditions, Harborage, the Edge, Midtown, Martinique, Mallory Creek, Canterbury, Astor, Boca Rio and on and on we went.

I became friendly with the sales people from most of the developers and that gave me an extra advantage from time to time. At the peak of the buying frenzy, I remember going to one “lottery” and there were 4,000 people lined up at 8:00am, each holding a cashiers check for $40,000.00. We were there to get one of 120 units. Everyone was going crazy. They picked names out of a hat and I got picked early. Everyone was told that if they got picked, they would only be allowed to purchase one unit. Our sales person allowed us to buy four units without a hitch. It’s good to have contacts!

I have learned more about buying investment property in the last 5 years than what most people learn in a lifetime. I haven’t stopped buying. As a matter of fact, I’m aggressively looking for great deals today. I recently picked up three units in Jupiter, preconstruction that will not be completed until the end of this year. The great thing about these units are this…they won’t be done until the end of the year and they may be the best deals I ever made…so far.

The phone  has stopped ringing and the knocks stopped knocking. Where are all of my friends now? It’s funny how quick things change. But, investing in real estate is something only for those who have the stomach for it and in the case of the current market…deep pockets. If you believe in long term investing, you have to believe in real estate.  I’m not sure if we have hit bottom yet, but I’m not waiting to find out before I buy my next few units.

I was on the phone today negotiating with a developer for four more units. I may get lucky and pick these up to add to the portfolio, I may not. One thing is for sure, it’s a buyer’s market and I’M A BUYER!

You may not be ready to buy and that’s understandable. If you would like to follow me on my searches and purchases, let me know. I will be more than happy to let you in on my purchases. You can decide for yourself if you think I’m doing well and whether or not you would follow. Give me a call or send a quick e-mail and I will fill you in on my latest buys.

Whether you decide to rent or buy, always consult the advice of a Realtor®.  You will want a Realtor with strong negotiating skills backed with a long history of buying experience.  A Realtor® who can put his money where his mouth is.

Happy hunting and e-mail me to hear about my investment picks.

Fortune Magazine Forecasts Population Growth in Florida

Palm Beach County has been hit hard by the housing market. Foreclosures were up by 68% in November. We have a four year supply of houses on the market and the Palm Beach Post reminds us almost daily how bad our market is. All the negative talk can stall our market even longer.

Well, I am here to send some positive news your way. The December issue of Fortune magazine highlights some of their best stock picks for 2008. St. Joe, a Florida based company, was listed as one of the top “Ten Strong Stocks for ‘08.” St. Joe Co. is the biggest private landowner in Florida. The housing market brought the stock crashing down from $82 to $28.

What is interesting is why the stock is forecasted as a top pick. As stated in the article, “The Census Bureau is projecting 33% population increase for Florida – the equivalent of six million new residents – between now and 2020.” Reaffirming our philosophy of why we began investing in Florida. Florida is unique to most other states in the nation. Our population is projected to keep increasing not decreasing. Our state is a top destination to retire for baby boomers. Our industry is expanding with the increase of businesses moving into our area. Including in our immediate area where Governor Charlie Crist just approved $94 million in state funding for the Max Planck Society to bring their German based bio-imaging center here to Jupiter.

We may be going through some tough times right now, but we have some strong signs of a promising future. What we do know is that housing prices have been the lowest they have been in years. Whether they will keep dropping is questionable. What we do know is that we will recover and prices will go back up. Making now a great buying opportunity.

What You Should Know Before Buying a Home

By Joe Quirk

I read in the paper the other day that there are four years of housing inventory currently on the market. Whoa! That’s a lot of houses and that tells me that there are great opportunities for buyers. The buyer has the upper hand right now. You can take your time shopping around, learn about the neighborhoods and be choosy about the home you plan to purchase.

With that said, it is a good idea to take a few things into consideration before taking the plunge. Doing a little planning beforehand will make for a focused search and will prevent you from wasting a lot of time while conducting your search.

1. Get a copy of your credit report. The top three credit agencies are Equifax, TransUnion and Experian (formerly TRW). Reviewing your credit report before applying for a mortgage will you help you to clear up any discrepancies on your report.

2. Get your papers in order. You will need to provide documentation to your mortgage broker to qualify for a mortgage. You mortgage broker will be able to provide you with a list of records needed.
3. Get preapproved for a mortgage. Find out how much you can afford. It is one of the first questions your Realtor will need to know. It helps to eliminate the homes that are not within your price range. Your Realtor should be able to recommend a mortgage broker to you to help you prequalify for a loan. Prequalifying for a loan will also help to make the negotiation process of buying a home run smoothly. Did you know that the general rule of thumb is a mortgage equal in value between two and three times our gross income?
4. Search online. Most consumers start their search online and I highly suggest all interested buyers do that. It gives you a starting point and will help you to communicate to your Realtor® what you are looking for and, just as importantly, what you are not looking for. It makes for more meaningful communication with your Realtor® and will help your Realtor to hone in on the key points important to you.
5. Shop for neighborhoods. There are many great neighborhoods in Jupiter, Florida and the surrounding areas. Along with the price range, you will need to decide if you want to live in a gated, golf, family friendly neighborhood. Our communities page can give you some insight into the neighborhoods in the area.
6. Assess your expenses when buying a home. Don’t forget the incidental costs of purchasing a home. Some communities include homeowners fees. You’ll also want to consider the cost to maintain your home. For example, moving from a home with no pool to a new home with one will increase your water, heat and maintenance costs. Property taxes are high and should always be included in your monthly expense.
7. Prepare to bring some cash to the table. You will need a considerable amount of money to purchase a home. The typical down payment is 20% of the purchase price. Then there are the closing costs that can be about 7% of the home price.

8. Find a good Realtor®. Finding a good Realtor® is wise for a number of reasons. A Realtor who is familiar with the area and the communities within the area can consult with you on finding the right community for you. A strong knowledge of real estate laws and practices can help you through the complete buying experience from applying for a mortgage to the closing. Lastly, a Realtor® with strong negotiation skills are critical when purchasing or selling a home. You will want a Realtor® who can best represent you when negotiating the purchase of a home.

Dining Out in Jupiter at Samantha’s

By Susanne Quirk

We dined at Samantha’s in the Jupiter Shoppes this weekend.  It was our first visit there although Samantha’s has been around for a couple of years.  I was eager to go because close friends of ours had recently dined there and raved about the place.  I don’t mind saying that they are quite the critics when dining out.  Their reviews carry weight with us because they dine out almost nightly and have acquired a long list of restaurant recommendations in the process.    They won’t hesitate to give you a detailed critique along with their recommendation! 

Samantha’s is quietly tucked away in the Jupiter Shoppes located next to the now defunct billiards place.  Inside and outside dining is available.  The restaurant is very cozy and intimate.  There are not many tables and that is a nice change from the mega chain restaurants that are flooding the area and can be so difficult to get into.  The seating is limited and I would advise making reservations.  We did not have reservations, however the hostess was very pleasant and fortunately was able to squeeze us in.   

The menu is extensive and I wanted to provide it here for you.  So, I searched online and in my search I also found some great reviews consistently making claims that the calamari is to die for.   We didn’t have an appetizer to give you our thoughts on that, but we did have dessert.  But before I get into that I’ll go over our entrees first.  I had the usual Filet Mignon and I was quite impressed.  It wasn’t my preferred Oscar style but I was pleased with all 11 ounces encrusted with Gorgonzola, Roasted Garlic Cream & Red Wine Reduction - all for $38.   Great price since we’ve paid more than that for smaller portions.  My steak was so big I didn’t pay too much attention to the mashed potatoes and seasoned vegetables.  

Dessert was the best part of the dinner.  I perused the dessert menu and found a delicious bread pudding loaded with vanilla bean ice cream, bananas and drizzled with caramel.  Pure heaven!

We enjoyed everything about Samantha’s.  The food was great, the service was top notch and I can’t wait to go back for the dessert. 

There’s a great website for those who dine out frequently www.SouthFloridaDines.com.  This website is packed with restaurant reviews, menus and more.  They also offer gift certificates at discounted rates.

ARTrageous at Abacoa Town Center

By Susanne Quirk

The ARTrageous festival will be at the Abacoa Town center this weekend. It’s the 2nd annual event for artists to display their fine art work. Mediums include photography, sculpture, glass, paintings, ceramics, jewelry, mixed media. This is a great opportunity for fabulous finds for your home. 

The festival is Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.  Admission is free.