Bonnie's Blog: Hollywood News and Market Info.

PRICES are STABLE AND HIGHER than over the summer!

October 21st, 2009 10:00 PM

Hello Hollywood Residents!!

Things are stabalizing in the Hollywood Real Estate world of late.. and my thoughts on this are that so many buyers came out to take advantage of the $8000 tax credit over the summer that the homes at the lower priced end of the spectrum have almost all been scooped up. I did hear that banks will be realeasing a whole new batch of forclosures soon, but for now prices are higher than they were.

In Emerald Hills for example there are only two single family homes between $350,000 and $400,000 (as opposed to this summer where quite a few sold in the high $200,000's!!). And it's still hard to find a NICE Hollywood Hills home for under $250,000 when a few months ago you could buy a 4/2 with a pool for under that price and it was in great condition.

Point being... things are getting back to normal for now!

If you are thinking of selling, please give me a call. I've give you the rundown of whats going on in your specific area of town with all the details you need to be informed.

Servicing : Emerald Hills, Hollywood Hills, Hollywood Oaks, Forest View Estates, Aventura, Cooper City and Davie.

Posted by Bonnie Kaufman on October 21st, 2009 10:00 PMPost a Comment (0)

Attn: EMERALD HILLS RESIDENTS!!

June 23rd, 2009 1:35 AM

I have an EXCELLENT tenant looking for a home to rent in Emerald Hills close to the High School. If you or anyone you know has a home they would consider renting prior to the start of the school year please get in touch with me as soon as possible. Probable 2 year rental at a good rate for the area!

Bonnie (954)985-8336 or Bonnie@BonnieKaufman.com

Serving the Hollywood community, with a specific emphasis on Emerald Hills, Hollywood Hills, Cooper City and Davie, Florida.

www.HomesInHollywoodFlorida.com

www.HousesInEmeraldHills.com

www.BonnieKaufman.com

Posted by Bonnie Kaufman on June 23rd, 2009 1:35 AMPost a Comment (0)

SOLD - The Number of Homes under Contract is UP UP UP

June 16th, 2009 12:41 PM

Pending home sales surge in April

Joseph Lazzaro
Jun 2nd 2009 at 11:00AM

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Filed under: Economy

Make it three for three for pending home sales. Sales of pending homes -- sales contracts people have signed for existing homes -- unexpectedly surged 6.7 percent in April to a 4.68-million-unit annual pace, the National Association of Realtors announced Tuesday.

The pending home sales index has risen 3.2 percent since April 2008, with the NAR's pending home sales index now at 90.3. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg News had expected sales of pending homes to total an increase of one-half of one percent (0.005) or increase to a 4.66-million-unit annual pace in April. Pending homes sales totaled a 4.57-million-unit annual pace in March.

Pending home sales: A lead indicator

Investors should follow the NAR's pending home sales statistic because it is leading economic indicator that historically has predicted subsequent increasing (or decreasing) demand in the U.S. economy.

Still, economists caution that pending home sales tend to be subject to revisions, due to the number of home contracts that do not close, as a result of complications -- such as mortgage problems, property issues, or other impediments -- that occur in the six to eight weeks before a home closing, or when a home transaction is finalized. Economists say a more indicative monthly housing statistic is existing home sales, which the NAR announces later in the month.

Celia Chen, an economist at Moody's Economy.com in Pennsylvania, is in the economics camp that argues the record downswing in the U.S. housing sector is coming to an end.

"Home sales and construction activity are probably at the bottom," Chen told Bloomberg News Tuesday. "Home sales are being boosted by foreclosure sales and that's helping to keep activity stable."

Further, NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said the U.S. government's $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers is starting to get potential first-time homeowners to commit.

"Housing affordability conditions have been at historic highs, but now the $8,000 first-time buyer tax credit is beginning to impact the market," Yun said. "Since first-time buyers must finalize their purchase by November 30 to get the credit, we expect greater activity in the months ahead, and that should spark more sales by repeat buyers."

Economic Analysis: A positive April pending home sales statistic, made all the more pleasant by the fact it continued the favorable pending home sales trend, which now totals three months. Further, it appears lower median home prices and the $8,000 federal income tax credit are affecting sales, but investors should keep this data in perspective. The United States has massive inventories of both new and existing homes -- each housing classification has inventories that are roughly double what a healthy market contains. Hence, the pending home sales trend represents a minor step in what will be a long journey called 'housing sector recovery.'

Posted by Bonnie Kaufman on June 16th, 2009 12:41 PMPost a Comment (0)

Top REASONS why HOMES DON'T SELL!

June 6th, 2009 1:01 AM

Reasons why homes don’t sell

If you have had your home on the market for several months and haven’t seen much activity or any offers, chances are that one or more of the reasons below are to blame.

Your price is too high

No doubt about it, the most common reason for a home not selling is that the asking price has been set too high. The reasons for setting your price too high to begin with are many. Ranging from over enthusiastic listing agents to unrealistic seller expectations. Regardless of the reason though, if you’ve priced your home too high, you’ve set yourself up for a number of obstacles to selling your home. Even if you do get an offer for the overly high asking price, the deal may fall apart before closing because the buyer may have problems financing at too high a price. Look at other homes for sale, ones as similar and as close to yours as possible. If they are going for less than you are asking, you may be priced too high. The fact is, your home is competing against those other homes, and what buyers are willing to pay is what will determine final sales prices.

The condition of your home

There is a lot of competition out there to sell homes. Your home has to compete against other similar homes for sale, as well as competing against shiny brand new homes. The more you can do to make your home look appealing to a buyer, the better your chances for a quick sale. Look at your home with a critical eye – put yourself in the buyers position. A buyer doesn’t want to have to do anything except move in. Your best “bang for the buck” in improving the condition of your home are paint and flooring. Make sure that all of the paint is in great condition, both inside and out. Repainting doesn’t cost too much, and will usually make the biggest impact on buyers. Make sure all of the flooring looks good too. You may want to consider putting in new carpet. Again, it’s not that expensive but it sure does make an impact on buyers coming to look at your home.

The market is slow

You’ll hear it described as a slow market, or a buyers market, or maybe a cold market. But it all means the same thing. That home sales in the local area, or market, are slow. That there are too many homes for sale and not enough active buyers. There are several things you can do to combat a slow market. The most effective strategy is to sell at a lower price. Buyers are expecting to find bargains during a slow market. You can also help yourself by offering to pay some concessions to help a buyer that might not have a lot of cash. The ultimate way to beat a slow market is to simply wait it out. But that’s not always an option for many sellers.

Your home isn’t easily accessible

To get your home sold quickly, it’s important that other agents in the area show it to as many potential buyers as possible. When a busy agent is compiling a list of homes to show a buyer, the agent will naturally tend to show those houses that are easiest to gain access to first. Many homes on the market have “lock boxes” on them. The lock box is a device which holds a key to the home, that only qualified local agents can access. Homes that are listed as being “lock box, no appointment needed” will get shown more often than homes listed as “agent has key, call for appointment”. If at all possible, you should let your agent put a lock box on your home for easier showing. If not, you should do anything else you can to make it as convenient as possible for agents to show your home.

You have an agent nobody likes

Sounds almost silly, but it’s very true. If your listing agent isn’t liked or respected by other agents in your area, it could slow down the sale of your home. When an agent prepares to show properties to prospective buyers, the agent begins by talking to the buyer to find out what kind of home they are looking for. Then the agent searches the local MLS and other sources for homes that fit the buyer. If there are a number of good matches to choose from, and one of them has been listed by an agent that is hard to get along with, or arrogant, or has otherwise made himself unpopular, well… It’s just human nature to tend to skip over someone you don’t like.

To take Advantage of the deals on the market call me today ! My team and I have access to non listed forclosures as well as all listed properties. Ask me about my BUYER LOYALTY REWARDS PROGRAM where you'll receive cash back at closing!

Emerald Hills

Hollywood Hills

Hollywood Oaks

Davie

Aventura

Bonnie Kaufman

Posted by Bonnie Kaufman on June 6th, 2009 1:01 AMPost a Comment (0)

Have you heard about CHINESE DRYWALL? and all of it's problems?

June 4th, 2009 9:38 AM

Curse of defective drywall forces Florida families to flee homes

Homeowners show effects of Chinese drywall video

BY NIRVI SHAH

nshah@MiamiHerald.com

There's something rotten in Homestead.

It's the odor in Jason and Melissa Harrell's house, which was built with defective, Chinese-made drywall redolent of strong paint or rotten eggs. The smell got so bad that the Harrells felt forced to move. They now pay rent on top of their mortgage.

''What it boiled down to is, I had to choose between my financial health and my children's physical health,'' Melissa Harrell said.

When the sulfurous stink in Gary and Andrea Suhajcik's Boynton Beach home wouldn't go away, the builder offered to rip out the walls, wiring, plumbing and molding in hopes of making it livable.

Builders and homeowners have feuded over construction defects, real and imagined, since the first slab was poured in the first house in the first subdivision somewhere in suburbia. But South Florida has never seen anything quite like the curse of the Chinese drywall. Tens of thousands of homes were built with the material, which was brought in by boat from the Far East when the demand for drywall exploded during the building boom.

Aside from the odor, scientific studies by the Florida Department of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency found that drywall made by Chinese manufacturers distinctly differs from North American-made product and emits high levels of three volatile sulfur compounds, which can corrode copper piping -- like the kind in appliances -- and blacken copper wiring in electrical outlets and light switches.

No scientific study to date has linked the drywall to any specific health problems.

And yet, Michael McGeehin, director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's environmental health division, told a U.S. Senate subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Insurance: ``There's no doubt that corrosive material is causing health problems.''

COUNTING THE COST

Buyers are suing. Occupants are fleeing. And builders are, in some cases, tearing out walls and rebuilding at a staggering cost.

Although the problem is most prevalent in Florida, the defective drywall was used in at least 18 states between 2004 and 2008. Some estimate the cost of addressing the problem could rise to $1 trillion.

Dajan Green and her mother bought a four-bedroom townhome in the Silver Palms community in Homestead, built by Lennar in 2006. By buying something new, she hoped to spare herself the problems that plague older homes, like corroded galvanized pipe.

''You know: Everything is new. You don't have any issues,'' said Green, 28.

Wrong.

The air conditioner's copper coils turned black. Jewelry, including a bracelet her brother gave her to celebrate her sweet sixteen, turned black too.

And, more disturbingly, her 7-year-old son became lethargic, a condition she blames on the home -- although there is no proof.

They would leave, Green said, but they can't pay the mortgage and rent somewhere else.

''What are we going to do? We're stuck,'' she said.

Lennar, which says it isn't commenting at this time, has litigation pending against the drywall manufacturer. At the time the suit was filed, it issued a news release declaring: ``Lennar is acting promptly to correct the problem in the homes we delivered.''

The first concerns about a possible problem arose at least five years ago. A Fort Myers environmental health firm investigated complaints but didn't link them to foreign-made drywall for about two years.

Then came the first lawsuit -- the first of many, both class action and individual. The target of the suit, Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin hired its own lab, which found that the drywall emitted sulfur-containing compounds at unnaturally high concentrations but said it should not be considered a public health problem.

Following the complaints, KPT abandoned a gypsum quarry in China's Shandong province, said Melisa Chantres, a company spokeswoman.

The company believes the composition of natural gypsum from the area -- which was used by several drywall manufacturing companies -- has something to do with the complaints.

In any event, by early 2007, the housing downturn had officially taken hold and KPT products, which constituted 20 percent of the drywall imported from China during the boom, were no longer being brought in, Chantres said.

But the damage was done.

Builders are victims too, said Edie Ousley, a spokeswoman for the Florida Home Builders Association.

''They used [the drywall] with the understanding that there's nothing wrong with it,'' Ousley said.

During testimony before the Senate, Randy Noel, president of Louisiana builder Reve, said builders rely on manufacturers to make sure their products are safe.

''We're not chemists,'' he said. ``We're trying to get the homes up as fast as we can.''

Bernard Markstein, senior economist and vice president of the National Association of Home Builders, said the use of Chinese drywall had nothing to do with saving money or cutting corners.

''It was not a cost consideration. It was hard to get drywall,'' he said. ``Chinese drywall was seen as a reasonable alternative.''

Michael Gardner, executive director of the Maryland-based Gypsum Association, agreed that the supply of domestic drywall couldn't meet demand.

''All the plants in the country were working at 100 percent of capacity,'' he said.

In its lawsuit against drywall company KPT and other manufacturers, Lennar said the responsibility for the bad drywall lies with its suppliers, installers and the drywall manufacturers, which include companies in Florida, other states and worldwide.

Several companies named in the suit said they could not comment or did not return phone calls.

Some of the companies subject to Lennar's claims are very small, including L&W Supply of Hialeah.

''L&W Supply imported a very, very small amount relative to the whole total,'' said L&W spokesman Bob Williams. ``Some of it went to Lennar. Enough to make 250 homes. It's really, really minuscule compared to the universe of Chinese drywall homes.''

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol inspects incoming shipments of building materials, including drywall, but only as part of its mission to track arms and prevent acts of terrorism, said spokeswoman Erlinda Byrd.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission was not responsible for inspecting the drywall shipments because drywall isn't a regulated consumer product, said Joe Martyak, agency spokesman.

''We don't have any standard of drywall to be enforcing,'' he said.

However, the agency has since been asked to help sort out the mess. Commission representatives will head to China in the next few weeks on a visit that will include a visit to the Shandong quarry.

''We weren't looking at drywall before in the ports,'' Martyak said. ``We will be now.''

The scene now unfolding at the Suhajciks' home could soon be a familiar one.

The family bought their six-bedroom house in Boynton Beach's Canyon Isles neighborhood in 2007. It has a one-year warranty. About five weeks ago, they moved out, at the builder's expense, so repairs could get under way. Everything was stripped. The family checks on the work daily.

''They have been nothing but nice and accommodating,'' Andrea Suhajcik said. ``When you want to be angry you simply can't because they're that amazing.''

GL Homes declined to comment on the cost of the repairs. But in Senate testimony, Louisiana builder Randy Noel said repair projections vary from $100,000 per home to a third of the home's value. If estimates that up to 100,000 homes nationwide are affected have any validity, a reasonable projection of total repair costs would be $1 trillion.

Gus Gil, former president of the Latin American Builders Association, said those numbers sound about right to him. If the cost of building a new home is about $75 per square foot, redoing everything could easily cost $125,000.

Andrea Suhajcik says she is pleased not just with the work but with GL Homes' agreement to restart the warranty at the time they reoccupy the restored home.

Lennar, which is currently fixing about 80 homes in South Florida, says it has made similar allowances.

Some lawyers who have joined in the frenzy of lawsuits -- there are whole websites devoted to litigation over drywall -- think the builders should be even more generous.

''Give them a lifetime -- not one-year -- warranty,'' Miami attorney Jeremy Alters said. He has filed suits in state and federal court against almost a dozen builders, along with drywall manufacturers. ``If they sell the house, people have the peace of mind of knowing there's nothing wrong. Otherwise no one's going to buy that house.''

Some families don't even want to return to their homes, even if they are repaired.

Amy Davy and her husband, Chris, moved to Parkland from Arizona two years ago. Initially, they figured the chemical smell stemmed from the fact that the house was new. Wrong again.

NOSE BLEEDS

After enduring four bouts of bronchitis, various nose bleeds and coughs so severe they have made one son gag, the family decided to flee. When school gets out this Thursday, Amy Davy and the children are off to Charlotte, N.C., for the summer to live with her parents.

When they return to South Florida, she said it won't be to the home in Parkland -- a home they chose carefully because of its built-in charm and proximity to schools.

Like the Harrells and the Davy brood, Kathy Foster and her family have moved out of their home, built in 2007 in Boyton Beach with Chinese drywall. Repeat problems with the air conditioning -- as well as headaches and lethargy -- became a way of life for her family of four.

When searching for a rental, the family made one stipulation: It had to be built in 1999 or earlier.

And at every place, her husband would ask, ``Can I see your air-conditioning coils?'' ###

Click the link below to see a 5 minute video regarding the Chinese Dry Wall problem.

http://www.miamiherald.com/video/index.html?media_id=4335991

As always, to take a tour of any property feel free to call me at (954)985-8336. Search the MLS on your own through my site at www.HomesInHollywoodFlorida.com and click the FIND A HOME button.

Bonnie Kaufman

Posted by Bonnie Kaufman on June 4th, 2009 9:38 AMPost a Comment (0)

Have you heard of the Buyers HOME Equity Protection Plan???

May 31st, 2009 11:19 PM

Interesting concept... does it make sense for everyone?? Does it really pay?Check out this article from e-Brief for Sunday, May 31 "The latest and greatest real estate news and advice, right to your inbox."

Home Equity Protection Plans Gain in Popularity

Watching a home's value plunge by double-digit percentages in a matter of months is enough to unnerve even the most financially secure homeowner. And, as the real estate market continues to reel concerns are growing that the free fall is far from over.

Playing into that anxiety are two companies – EquityLock Financial, based in Austin, Texas, and Lighthouse Group based in Charlotte, N.C. – that are selling products promising to put a little more control in homeowners' hands. Their pitch? That homeowners could spend a little now to hedge against declines in the value of their home later.

Here's how it works: For a fee of 1% to 3% of their home's value, homeowners buy a contract that protects them against the loss of equity in their home if the market takes a turn for the worse. The contract, which should not be confused with an insurance policy, pays the homeowner when he sells his home in a market where average home prices have dropped since their purchase. The amount he receives is tied to the size of the market's decline, as measured by one of two home price indexes (both of which are based on sales of single-family homes).

Say you buy a home in Denver for $300,000. Five years later, after Denver's home price index falls 10%, you sell it for $290,000. At closing, the company you bought the equity protection from pays you $30,000 – your original purchase price times 10%. Even if you sold your home for more than what you paid to buy it, you can still make the claim – as long as the index fell. (If the index rises, however, you can't make a claim and you're out the $6,000 you spent buying the contract.)

"It's the kind of product that ends up being useful for a niche part of the population, but likely not really worthwhile for homeowners in general," says Todd Sinai, associate professor of real estate at the Wharton School.

One factor to consider is how long you plan to live in your home. If it's going to be 10 or 15 years, buying protection doesn't make much sense, says Susan Wachter, real estate professor at Wharton. While home prices can change dramatically in the short term, they hold steady and increase over longer periods. For short-term homeowners, though, it might make more sense. If, for instance, you anticipate a move for work and worry that area prices will sag, the protection can be worthwhile, says Sinai.

We spoke with real estate experts about what to look out for when shopping for home equity protection plans. Here's what they had to say:

Calculate the costs

Payment terms are different for each product. EquityLock's premium, which is paid upfront, ranges from 1% to 3% of the purchase price (or of the current value if you already own a home). Lighthouse's premium could be paid either on a monthly or yearly basis, and typically works out to just under 1% of the home's value, per year, says a company spokesman.

Say your house is worth $300,000 and you pay $6,000 (a 2% premium) for EquityLock's protection. You're starting with a $6,000 loss, and you'll only break even if the house index drops enough from the time you purchase the home to the time you decide to sell. "You really have to think hard if the initial cost is worth it," says Sinai.

Watch out for lockout periods

Be sure to ask about any lockout period which bars you from collecting payment before a set time. EquityLock imposes an exclusion term ranging from 18 to 30 months from the time the protection is purchased. So you can't sell your home and make a claim a year after the contract begins. Lighthouse has no lockout period. But if a homeowner exercises the contract after, say, the first month, they still owe the future monthly payments that are due.

Housing indexes are imperfect

Potential payouts are tied to a house price index: either the S&P Case-Shiller house price index, which tracks 20 metro markets, or the Federal Housing Finance Agency's House Price Index, commonly known as OFHEO, which covers 386 markets. The problem? Indexes don't capture the true volatility and variation within markets – and don't always correlate with the specific value of your home, says Jonathan Adams, a finance professor at NYU. For example, if highway construction has just gotten underway at the next block over, chances are your home's value would dive – but the index might stay the same, says Adams. (Lighthouse says tying the contract to an index is the most efficient way to determine a home's value, without having to actually sell the house or get an appraisal.)

Be wary of new, untested products

Bear in mind the novelty of these plans when assessing their worth. "When it comes to finances and your home equity, you really want to go with someone who has a history," says Alison Southwick, spokeswoman for the Better Business Bureau. Also, new products tend to be more expensive, says Mark Browne, professor of risk management at the University of Wisconsin. They haven't been around for long, so it might be better to wait for competition to build.

Bonnie Kaufman...your Hollywood, Florida Real Estate Expert.

Emerald Hills, Hollywood Hills, Hollywood Oaks, Cooper City, Davie, Aventura and Dania Beach

Posted by Bonnie Kaufman on May 31st, 2009 11:19 PMPost a Comment (0)

Broward County Home Sales ...WAY UP!

May 24th, 2009 1:29 PM

I pulled a report this week from TREND GRAPHICS on Broward County Home Sales and compared sales on SINGLE FAMILY HOMES in February 2008 and April of 2009.... the change in the market was amazing... take a peek:

FEB 2008 APRIL 2009

Homes For Sale 14,257 9,685

Homes Sold 415 743

Went under Contract 645 1,585

Months of Inventory 34 13 Top should be 6

Ave.Price per Sq ft $192 $130

Days On Market 117 104

It's interesting to note that pending sales have more than doubled but the average days on market has not reduced that much...meaning that most are pricing too high in the beginning and selling after numerous reductions. The amoung of inventory is almost half of what it was... a fact I can personally attest to. As buyers are coming out of the woodwork ready to now buy, the inventory has dwindled in each of the various price ranges. Specifically $200,000-$400,000. As new homes come on the market I have found that there are many offers at once.

If you have a home you are thinking of selling in the range of $200,000 - $400,000 please call me as soon as possible. I have numerous buyers who want to move into the area.

The average price per sq ft has gone down dramatically as the market starts to stablize and we see sales of homes priced just at or under market value. Which brings me to the appraisal situation here in Hollywood Hills and Emerald Hills.

Appraisals are a big problem in the area for many sellers. A beautiful 3bedroom, 2 bath home in Emerald Hills is appraising for $340,000!!! Even if a buyer is willing to pay higher for a 3/2 home in Emerald Hills with a 2 car garage and a pool, many banks WILL NOT lend based on current appraisals. If you live in Hollywood Hills and think you can still get $350,000 or more for your home, the news for you isn't pretty. If you can get more realistic in pricing to sell, you WILL SELL FAST as the demand is there now.

I had a cash buyer last week with an agreed upon contract of $390,000 on a completely remodeled home, on an oversized lot. (In Emerald Hills) They questioned the value when the appraisal came in at $340,000. They requested another $15,000 reduction from the seller. We were fortunate they had cash otherwise a lender would have required the seller to reduce even further.

Good news.... SALES ARE UP!!!! Bad News....Prices are DOWN! If you want to move, you can, and you will! Call me to discuss how we can price right, and market your home to entice the motivated buyers!

Currently servicing Emerald Hills, Hollywood Hills, Hollywood Oaks, Forest View Estates, Cooper City and Davie, Florida.

Please subscribe to this blog to receive notifications on updates.

Bonnie

www.HomesInHollywoodFlorida.com

www.HousesInEmeraldHills.com

www.BonnieKaufman.com

www.RepairYourNegativeCredit.com

Posted by Bonnie Kaufman on May 24th, 2009 1:29 PMPost a Comment (0)

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!

May 9th, 2009 10:38 PM

Greetings Hollywood!!!

It's been a while since I've written!!! So much is going on in the area and there is a lot of info to share. Home sales are up..especially in Hollywood Hills with a dramatic drop in inventory of homes priced between $200,000 and $300,000. If you have a home to sell in that price range please get in touch. I am getting at least 5 calls a day from buyers wanting to move into the area and unable to find a home. Prices in Emerald Hills have taken a real dip with appraisers coming in on NICE, remodeled 3/2's with pools and garages at a high of $340,000!!!! There have been numerous Emerald Hills sales in the $295,000 range as CRAZY as that sounds. Details to follow in the very near future.

Be on the lookout for a revamped website and My Hollywood Home News to be in your mailboxes sometime next month. If you are interested in advertising in the HOLLYWOOD HOME NEWS and reaching approximately 10,000 Hollywood homes a month for mere pennies per home please contact me through this site or my office at (954)985-8336.

Wishing all of you MOMS out there a beautiful Mother's Day!!!

Bonnie

www.HomesInHollywoodFlorida.com

www.HousesInEmeraldHills.com

Specializing in Emerald Hills, Hollywood Hills, Hollywood Oaks, Cooper City, Aventura and Davie Florida

Arden Park

Posted by Bonnie Kaufman on May 9th, 2009 10:38 PMPost a Comment (0)

HAPPY NEW YEAR HOLLYWOOD!!!! 2009!!

January 8th, 2009 11:01 PM

Hello Hollywood:

Here is to wishing all of you a healthy and very prosperous 2009!

So much has changed in the world in the last few months and also so much in our real estate market. Gone are the days of over inflated pricing, and quick sales. Although I will tell you that business is picking up!!

Inventory in our area has decreased as sellers have decided to STAY Put for now, and others have dramatically dropped pricing in order to get out of town quick. The name of the game seems to be RENTING. Many many of the calls that come in to my office are people looking to rent a home.

If you have a home to rent out, please call me. I have qualified tenants waiting to move in. If you have a home to sell and understand the realities of pricing in today's market, I have buyers who love our area and want to move in. Please call my office at 954-985-8336 so we can set aside a time for me to tour your home.

On another note:

I represent the only NEW CONSTRUCTION in a single family home east of University Drive, south of 595 and North of Aventura. FOREST VIEW ESTATES.. On the NorthWest corner of Stirling Road and SW 35th ave...across from DiSalvo's.

These BRAND NEW homes are fabulous, boasting over 3,000 sq feet, 4 bedrooms and 4 baths, marble flooring, state of the art Italian Kitchen, full 2 car garage, crown molding and more.

WE HAVE JUST REDUCED our pricing by $100,000. Yes, $100,000 off the most recent price, bringing the cost of a BRAND NEW home in Emerald Hills to only $650,000!!!

WE WILL BE HOLDING OPEN HOUSES EVERY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY From 1:30-4:30pm starting this Saturday, January 10th!! Please come by, tell your friends and family.

Hope to see you there. Don't forget to check my newest listings on my website at www.HomesInHollywoodFlorida.com, or www.HousesInEmeraldHills.com I specialize in Emerald Hills, Hollywood Oaks, Hollywood Hills and Forest View Estates.

Posted by Bonnie Kaufman on January 8th, 2009 11:01 PMPost a Comment (0)

FOUR straight Months of RISING house prices...!!!! NAR Reports

July 15th, 2008 10:05 PM

RISMEDIA, July 14, 2008-Amidst the gloom on Wall Street about housing someone forgot to check the stats. The National Association of Realtors® has now reported four straight months of rising housing prices, but it seems no one is listening.

According to NAR statistics, the median home price has fallen from a high of $230,200 in July 2006 to a low in February 2008 at $195,600, a drop of 15%. Since February, however, it has risen steadily every month. By May the index (which will be revised on July 24) had risen to $208,600, up $13,000 and a full 6.6%. Another indicator, the mean home price (otherwise known as the average home price), has also shown strength and has risen from a low of $242,000 also in February of this year to $253,100, a rise of $11,100 or 4.5%. It, too, has risen every month since February of this year.

“I just don’t know where Wall Street’s brains are today,” said David Michonski, CEO of Coldwell Banker Hunt Kennedy in New York City. “Everyone on the Street is wringing their hands over housing when in fact the average American has been out this spring buying homes and pushing the median price higher. This has got to go down as one of Wall Street and Main Street’s biggest disconnects in history.”

In addition, on an annualized basis the volume of home sales has also risen somewhat from a low of 4,890,000 homes in January to 4,990,000 in May.

“Rising prices on expanding volume should not a crisis make on Wall Street,” says Michonski.

So why the crisis?

“They say that there are bulls and bears on Wall Street but there are also pigs. Pigs try not just to profit from a crisis but create one to profit from. Today there are just so many people who have positioned themselves to profit from a crisis that they refuse to admit the reality of what is happening on Main Street. It might hurt their positions.”

Is this the bottom?

“No one can know for sure, but the hard data is clear. The median price has risen four straight months. The average American is out there taking advantage of bargains in their local real estate market. They are not listening to Wall Street but following their own belief that the best time to buy is when no one else is, and they are out there buying. If this keeps up, February may prove to have been the low in prices.”

“It is possible that it will not be Hank Paulson or Ben Bernanke who will pull this country out of a housing recession, but the good common sense of the average American whose affordability to buy a home is at a five year high and is acting on it.”

RISMedia welcomes your questions and comments. Send your e-mail to: realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com.

Posted by Bonnie Kaufman on July 15th, 2008 10:05 PMPost a Comment (0)

The DECLARATION ...The Signatures... Their Stories Happy 4th!!

July 4th, 2008 9:59 AM

Here are short biographies of all 56 signers of the Declaration. The first, largest, and most famous signature is that of John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress. The youngest signer was Edward Rutledge (age 26). Benjamin Franklin (age 70) was the oldest. Two future presidents signed: John Adams (second President) and Thomas Jefferson (third President).

http://www.ushistory.org/Declaration/signers/index.htm

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

hen in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Posted by Bonnie Kaufman on July 4th, 2008 9:59 AMPost a Comment (0)

Off Topic - Excellent Customer Service - Quality Table Pads

July 1st, 2008 12:28 AM

I WANT TO HONOR GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE!!... I don't know why but I hear it everywhere I go ... complaints about the service in South Florida. So I thought I would start a little monthly posting session on a vendor, business or person that stands out above the rest.

Last month I called upon Quality Table Pads to come to my home, measure my oversized (and odd shaped) dining room table and to make a plush table pad. Not only did they come out the next day, I received my table pad within 2 weeks and it was the exact size... perfectly measured.. (I have a weird size table where the edges curve outward)

Friendly people, great service and another satisfied customer. (and a great price too!)

Keep them in mind if you want to protect your table from spills, hot items etc., and order in advance for the upcoming Holiday Season.... big family dinners etc.

Call Dave Kessler at: (305)322-5779

Quality Table Pads - Corp office in N. Miami Beach

Serving Dade, Broward and the Palm Beaches

I ordered the thick black with the black velvet underneath.

(currently flipped open for demonstration purposes)

Check out the variety of colors:

Mahogany

Blonde Woodgrain

Tan Woodgrain

Antique Brown

Black

Brown Woodgrain

Chocolate Woodgrain

Oak

Sandalwood

Walnut

White Crush

White Woodgrain

Back to Real Estate news tomorrow....

Don't forget my WEEKEND OPEN HOUSES at FOREST VIEW ESTATES....(Corner of Stirling Rd and SW 35th Ave) from 2-5 on Saturdays and 1-5 on Sundays!!

www.HousesInEmeraldHIlls.com

www.HomesInHollywoodFlorida.com

Bonnie

Posted by Bonnie Kaufman on July 1st, 2008 12:28 AMPost a Comment (0)

BLOG READERS.... who are you?

June 28th, 2008 9:27 PM

Hi to my loyal Blog readers.....

In the last 30 days, 3,592 people have visited my blog. Holy moly... that's alot. I love that. And I love you for reading....BUT not one has posted a comment, written to me, let me know what you enjoy reading about. I want to know Who you are... I'd love it if you asked a question.... we don't need to meet, we don't need to work together. I want to be here as the area expert to answer your questions... offer opinion and assistance. No strings attached.

Back again soon. AND Drop me a line sometime!!!!

Bonnie

HousesInEmeraldHills.com

HomesInHollywoodFlorida.com

BonnieKaufman.com

954-985-8336

Bonnie@BonnieKaufman.com

Posted by Bonnie Kaufman on June 28th, 2008 9:27 PMPost a Comment (0)

SLOW MARKET? Not for me! HOLLYWOOD IS HOPPING!!

June 25th, 2008 11:58 PM

Just wanted to get online and let you all know that Hollywood is HOT. This IS the area people want to live in. With prices finally leveling off, interest rates still good, and BLACKJACK at the Hard Rock..people are moving in.

In Emerald Hills alone this month 5 houses went under contract. That actually may not sound like a lot, but consider that from January through March, only 1 house sold. Here we have 5 in one month and the buyers are out like busy bees, hopping from one great home to another.

Here are the Emerald Hills stats as of today: (all stats are based on Single family only...for condo and townhome info please call or email me)

Currently 41 homes on the market ranging from $1,598,000 down to a mere $360,000. Wow..that's a steal for Emerald Hills... but not if you consider the most recent sale of $260,000 for a 3/2 home with a 2 car garage and Pool. Now THAT is a REAL STEAL in Emerald Hills. Lucky buyer on 44th Avenue!!

A 5 bedroom, 4 bath home with over 3,500 sq feet sold this month for $700,000. Wow.... On 34th Street.

In Hollywood Hills the homes are being scooped up before buyers can get their offers in.

20 Hollywood Hills homes CLOSED in the last 2 months

20 Homes went under contract and are PENDING this month!!

There are 160 homes for sale in Hollywood Hills (from Hollywood Blvd to Sheridan Street) ranging in price from $595,000 to as low as $179,000 for a 3/2...single family home.

Even the media is hip to the fact that the market is UP!

If you are thinking of selling, please call me for a free Pre-Listing Packet and DVD "Pricing your home to sell".

If you are looking for a new home, call and ask about our CASH BACK Buyer reward program!

Please post a comment! Let me know what you want to read about or any feedback or question about the area.

Please come see me at FOREST VIEW ESTATES (the corner of Stirling Rd and SW 35th Avenue)every Saturday and Sunday from 1-5pm and check out Hollywood's Newest community. Gated Luxury Homes starting at only $699,000 for a 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom, upscale home with marble flooring, impact resistant windows, top-of-line kitchen and baths... Pools available on specific lots!!

Bonnie!

www.HomesInHollywoodFlorida.com

www.HousesInEmeraldHills.com

Posted by on June 25th, 2008 11:58 PMPost a Comment (0)

Just Listed! 2080 S Ocean Drive Hallandale Beach, FL 33009

June 25th, 2008 5:04 PM

$839,000.00
2080 S Ocean Drive
#1512
Hallandale Beach, FL 33009

Beds: 3.0	Rooms: 3
Baths: 2.00	Sq. Ft.: 1540.00
Garage: 1.0	Built: 2002

Magnificent Oceanfront living in this TRULY Elegant, Northeast corner 3/2 home, with wraparound Ocean Views. Decorated with TOP OF THE line EVERYTHING,from the new and gorgeous EURO style kitchen with Granite, Maple,and Stainless to the marble baths-- this beachfront home is impeccably furnished to create a zen like and upscale atmosphere. Pool, Tennis, Gym, Valet, 24hr security. Parking Spot right next to the elevator. You'll love this one BEST!! Your new home is minutes from wherever you want

This is a new listing that
I thought you might be
interested in. Visit this
listing online to see more
photos of the property,
Google Earth satellite
images, and much more.

If you have any questions
about this property or
require more information,
please feel free to call.

Bonnie Kaufman
Bonnie Kaufman
954-985-8336
www.bonniekaufman.com

Visit this listing at Here

Posted by Bonnie Kaufman on June 25th, 2008 5:04 PMPost a Comment (0)