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Photo courtesy of Tortuga Music Festival.

The Tortuga Music Festival is this Saturday and Sunday at Fort Lauderdale beach park.  Thousands of people are expected “to rock the beach” in support of marine conservation.

Music and beach lovers are expected to take over the beach this weekend for the “Rock the Ocean, Tortuga Music Festival”.  This is the second year in a row for the concert.  The inaugural concert drew more than 25,000 fans to Fort Lauderdale beach last year.

This year some of music’s biggest names will be performing.  Tortuga Music Festival is pairing country, rock and roots music with over 20 bands in the line-up including Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Train, Dierks Bentley, Hank Williams, Jr., Brantley Gilbert, Sheryl Crow, Billy Currington,…

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The Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction is a one of a kind car experience.  The event is the only collector car auction on the East Coast.  The world’s greatest collection car auction will be held at the Expo Center at the South Florida Fairgrounds, 9067 Southern Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL  33411 on April 11-13, 2014.

The auction brings thousands of visitors to the Palm Beaches every year to view millions of dollars of classic automobiles.  What started as a simple meeting between friends and car buffs in 1960 has emerged into the world's most prestigious and anticipated collector car auctions and events.  Previously, car collecting was a hobby dominated by dealers and the ultra-wealthy; many now enjoy it.  Barrett-Jackson offers the most desirable vehicles…

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Rob Thomson, managing partner at Palm Beach County’s exclusive real estate firm of Waterfront Properties and Club Communities offers strong ties and marketing relationships with leading brokers in the Europe, the United Kingdom, Asia and Latin America.  These global connections have consistently lead to home sales from international buyers.

Thomson’s membership into the invitation only Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate, as well as sitting on the executive board, has enabled him and his expert team of professionals, market homes for clients to a worldwide audience.  Thomson, along with manager David Abernathy, has been forward thinking on real estate technology.  This foresight has enabled Waterfront Properties to become the accomplished and highly sought…

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The petition reached the required 100,000 required signatures and the goal was to “Make Opening Day a National Holiday”.   The petition was sent to President Barack Obama proclaiming that today, March 31, should be declared an official day of national observance in the United States.  March 31, being the opening day games in Major League Baseball.
 
The White House said it is not going to happen because of “a lack of authority to create holidays.”  In an online letter, the White House specified that it is up to Congress to make those decisions.  The 2013 World Series champions, the Boston Red Sox will be honored at the White House.

For many, opening day will remain a special day. Plenty of people take time off from work, others call in sick, and children…

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There is good news and not such good news when it comes to filing taxes this year.  The IRS has made home office deductions simpler, and increased the deduction for using your vehicle. Some information about virtual money you should be aware of too.   Here is a brief review of a few of the changes you should be aware of this year to discuss with your professional tax advisor or C.P.A.

New Bracket for Top-Income Households

If you have had a successful 2013—so successful, in fact, that you find yourself in the highest tax bracket—be prepared to pay more than you did last year. That is because in the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, Congress created a 39.6 percent bracket for taxpayers whose adjusted gross income exceeds $400,000 for a single filer or…

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Palm Beach County offers the best of both worlds, with the sparkling blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean to the east, graceful ponies running out west of town and everything in between.  Here you will find your niche – golf, tennis, boating, polo, country club living.  Anything you desire is available in Palm Beach County, even a residential community where you can land your personal aircraft at your own home!  South Florida is not just about the sparkling blue water and sandy beaches, this area has some of the most prized farms and ranches on the coast.

What started as the “world’s largest strawberry patch” in the 1950’s has evolved into a renowned equestrian community.  Wellington is located just 20 minutes from world class shopping and dining on Worth…

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The Palm Beaches gets "its party on" early with parades, bagpipes, green beer and traditional Irish fare. The festivities begin Friday.

Saint Patrick’s Day Festival 2014, Martin Health System Village Square, Port St Lucie, Friday, March 14.  Brought to you by the “Friendly Sons and Daughters of Ireland.  Music and Food Booths.  Anticipated 10,000 attendees. Visit www.festival.net.com for more information.
 
Saint Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival, Flagler Park, Saturday, Stuart, March 15 @ 10:00am.  There will be ice cold beer, hot corned beef and cabbage, traditional bagpipes, lively Celtic music , Irish dancers, plenty of quality vendors and a kid’s area at this fulfilled family event.  Parade starts at 2pm sharp!  8,000 attendees expected.  Visit…

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Do you live in one of the most dynamic cities of 2014?  Only seven of the top 20 cities were from the United States.
 
MSNBC Real Estate reported on a study that ranked 111 global cities looking for specific hallmarks of lively and progressive areas.  Using three main categories – commercial real estate, socio-economic momentum and high-value incubators representing “the quality of a city’s infrastructure, its innovation capability and the strength of its technology sector.”
 
California harbored two - San Francisco and San Jose, thanks to their high tech Silicone Valley contributions.  An ability to foster new and creative businesses, adapt and innovate quickly and new building construction were some of the criteria for the cities.

The top ten upwardly…

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According to data provided by the National Association of Realtors, a lack of houses for sale continues to lift the prices of homes for sale in much of the country, and our area.  This in turn has pushed down the number of existing homes sold in January.

The torrential weather has not helped either. NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said, “Disruptive and prolonged winter weather patterns across the country are impacting a wide range of economic activity, and housing is no exception.   Some housing activity will be delayed until spring.”

The National Association of Realtors noted some significant changes among the population of homebuyers.

1.     First time homebuyers accounted for 26% of purchases in January 2014. That is the lowest market share for first…

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South Florida saw the biggest gain in a monthly measure of national home prices replicating a slow but steady, continued upswing momentum in real estate market for Palm Beach County.   


Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties experienced an increase in single-family home prices according to the Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller Index.  According to the most recently released Index, single-family home prices have increased 0.09 percent from the previous month.


Last Tuesday’s report from Standard & Poor, as well as others, point to a slight deceleration in home prices as a normal beginning of the upturn cycle at the end of February. Winter shows no signs of cooling home prices according to the Standard & Poor/Case-Shiller home price indices.  They are…

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