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The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has released an infographic depicting the 2014 Profile of Homebuyers and Sellers. The report unveiled a great deal of information about who is buying and who is selling their home here in the U.S. and why. The profile includes statistics about their age and income, the home search process, the characteristics of homes purchased and how buyers financed their purchase. The following is a summation of NAR’s findings. 

WHO’S BUYING? 

As of 2014, only 33% of homebuyers across the nation were first-time homebuyers, the lowest percentage since 1987. The year before that, 2013, only 38% of buyers were first time. The other median numbers given by the NAR report include the median home size of 1,570 square feet…

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The 9th Annual Luxury Real Estate International Symposium was held Tuesday, January 20th through Thursday, January 22nd in Venice, Italy.  Rob Thomson, owner and Managing Partner of Waterfront Properties and Club Communities, attended the conference of top real estate brokers from around the globe.  The symposium allows the most prominent global luxury brokers, nationally and internationally, to discuss current real estate trends affecting high net worth demographics.

The event brought together the “best real estate brokers from all across the United States, Europe and Australia to discuss international real estate trends, digital marketing ideas and insight on pleasing clients in regards to marketing, negotiating and concierge service and more.” …

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Housing Market Predictions for 2015

The New Year is here and so are the predictions for the new housing market. After a strong end to 2014’s housing market, experts are predicting another robust year for the 2015. The infographic shown above is based on a National Association of Realtors (NAR) Chief Economist Lawrence Yun’s expectations for the 2015 housing market. 

A quick summation of Yun’s findings includes his prediction of an even better year for the housing market. He attributes the rising market to the bolstering United States economy, “solid” job gains and a healthy increase in home prices. Currently the United States gross domestic product (GDP) is over 4 percent. When GDP is this high economists label the nation’s economic state as “fantastic.” Historically, GDP growth…

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Predictions for the housing market in Palm Beach County for 2015 resemble the trends we saw in 2014. In 2014’s market the year began with double-digit price surges and a lack of inventory but it quickly steadied and leveled out. The local housing market is kicking off the New Year with substantial price increases, scarce inventory levels and bidding battles between buyers much like last year’s trend. However, experts and analysts are expecting this boom to stabilize at some point mid-year. These experts are calling this year’s market trends “the first full year of normal following a decade of extremes.” 

Don’t be confused by these “normal” predictions. Normal is a very positive description for this market. Bill Hardin, the director of the Hollo…

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Summer in Florida
To most people, Florida means seaside relaxation, beautifully landscaped golf courses, awesome fishing and waterfront properties with a semi tropical climate! In the weather world, Florida plays by a different set of guidelines than the rest of the country. “Predictably, residents shivering in northern towns began to turn their eyes toward the red on the map, and as the 80-degree highs were forced further south, Florida stood strong in frustrating the rest of the country to no end.”

Florida, known for the beautiful warm weather, the sand between your toes, and the total leisure bundle, The Sunshine State, is just lounging in the temperateness, dodging from cold fronts and snow storms, while the rest of the country freezes it’s... Oranges... off!  

The…

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Cato’s Beach Bridge, as the locals know it, is a sandy white shoreline, near the Jupiter Lighthouse, and just north of the bridge, is quite possibly one of the most outstanding natural areas in the state.  Located along the west side of the Intracoastal Waterway and south of the Jupiter Inlet Bridge, this “swimming hole” stays crystal clear all day! 

Cato’s beach is not a beach in the true sense of the word but a sandy shoreline that is bio-diverse.  It is full of warmhearted memories of residents of Jupiter, Tequesta, and Hobe Sound.  Many countless lazy days and warm summer nights have been enjoyed.  The barbeques on the beach, jumping off the nearby rope swings or  just watching the boats go by the turquoise blue waters of the Intracoastal…

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Research indicates that the human brain is most productive two and a half to four hours after waking.  Some simple habits can align someone for success.  Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”  A habit is a regular tendency or practice.

Robert Iger, CEO of Disney, claims to rise every day at 4:30am. Anna Wintour, Editor-in-chief of Vogue, commits to playing tennis daily.  India’s fourth richest billionaire is a marathon runner.  An active body equals and active mind.  Successful people do not stay in bed until noon on weekends.  They get up and get a head start on the day every day, including weekends. 

Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, said, “Its fine to celebrate success but it is more…

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Effective October 27, 2014 tap water for Jupiter Utilities customers might have a slight chlorine perception for four weeks.  The Town of Jupiter Utility Department states they are “committed to maintaining its established role in the industry as a standard of excellence with a commitment to a sustainable community in concert with our unique environment” and in doing so, chlorine will be used without ammonia to maintain water quality.  This temporary change in the treatment process is a standard industry practice performed in accordance with State and Federal drinking water regulations.

The Town of Jupiter water utility treatment facility is capable of producing 30 million gallons of “ultra-pure” drinking water a day.   This water treatment system…

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This year, Waterfront Properties and Club Communities attended the 19th Annual Luxury Real Estate Fall Conference presented by Who’s Who in Luxury Real in Boston, Massachusetts on October 5th – 8th.  Waterfront Properties honored as real estate industry leader.

Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate is a “global collection of the finest luxury real estate brokers in the world, this group of more than 130,000 professionals in more than 85 countries collectively sells in excess of $190 billion of real estate annually.”  Recognized as the industry leader, Luxury Real Estate has been recognized by the “Webby Awards”, has received “Best of the Web” by Forbes Magazine, acknowledged with an “Addy Award” for Excellence in Web Design, and recognized by the “Maggie…

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It is a historic street where people come to shop, dine, relax, and conduct business.  It extends for five blocks along the center of downtown West Palm Beach from the waterfront on Flagler Drive to Rosemary Avenue.  Eclectic and historic architecture draw many to Clematis Street with “the dining, retail and entertainment options for the startup businesses, small-tech companies, creative office industries, and artists that occupy the spaces above.”

Great Places in America by the American Planning Association, was launched in 2007.  The association is a program that celebrates places “of exemplary character, quality, and planning.  Places are selected annually and represent the gold standard in terms of having a true sense of place, cultural and…

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