<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
<rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
    <channel>
        <atom:link href="http://www.bocaraton-real-estate.com/blog/rss/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
        <title>Real Estate Blog</title>
        <link>http://www.bocaraton-real-estate.com/blog/</link>
        <description></description>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.bocaraton-real-estate.com/blog/why-you-should-invest-in-boca-raton-real-estate-now.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.bocaraton-real-estate.com/blog/why-you-should-invest-in-boca-raton-real-estate-now.html</link>
            <author>lisa@bocahome.com (Lisa Fox)</author>
            <title>Why should you invest in Boca Raton Real Estate?</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ Investing in Florida Real Estate   Boca Raton real estate is some of the most prime real estate in the country. With beautiful beaches, award winning championship golf course communities, luxury country club and resort style 55+ communities; there is truly something for everyone here. For these reasons, Boca Raton is a popular place to own real estate and retire. Baby boomers and foreign investors list Boca Raton as one of their favorite places.    Hot Boca Raton Properties   Foreclosures and shorts are the hot properties right now. Buyers know they are getting to acquire a property at a deep discount with a built in equity. Granted some foreclosures need repairs, but most buyers recognize the value in purchasing distressed properties so they are willing to make repairs. Short sales take longer to close, but are also good investment opportunities. Working with a local Boca Raton Realtor helps you sort through the housing inventory to find the right property for your needs. Your Realtor can search the MLS and find properties that meet your criteria quickly saving you the time it takes to search multiple websites to find properties you want to see and then having to call each Realtor. Your Realtor can set up all the appointments for you to view the homes you are interested in and help you figure out the right price to offer on the home you choose.        Florida rental properties are always in high demand, especially during season when snow birds come here to warm up from cold winter climates. If you are thinking about purchasing rental income property, now is great time to do so. Boca Raton has good schools and families are always looking for rental properties near them. Beach rental properties are popular with tourists and foreigners who are visiting for an extended period of time.    Investing in Boca Raton real estate just makes so much more sense now with low interest rates, an abundance of inventory, motivated sellers and banks that are looking for good qualified buyers to take their foreclosure inventory off their hands. Investors and first time buyers have been taking advantage of affordable South Florida real estate for awhile. Right now it’s off season so Boca Raton sellers are even more motivated to sell their properties. There is simply no reason not to buy now.   For more information on purchasing or selling Boca Raton or Delray Beach properties, please call us today at (561)703-4727 or (561)715-8630. ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:00:58 -0400</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.bocaraton-real-estate.com/blog/the-truth-about-credit-scores.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.bocaraton-real-estate.com/blog/the-truth-about-credit-scores.html</link>
            <author>lisa@bocahome.com (Lisa Fox)</author>
            <title>The Truth About Credit Scores</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Understanding your credit score is important because you have to maintain a good credit score of 700 or higher to get the best mortgage loan rates when you go to purchase a Boca Raton property. Lenders have tightened up credit requirements as a result of incurring substantial losses on foreclosures and short sale transactions since the mortgage meltdown. Credit scores are determined by the type of credit you are extended, the amount of credit limit you have, the total debt you owe your creditors and your payment history. Creditors also look at your income when making decisions to extend you credit. A score of 720 is considered the best score by most lenders.  With low credit scores in the 500-600 range, you will pay much higher interest rates. Scores below 500 will not qualify for Boca Raton home mortgages.   How to Improve Your Score?   Getting a copy of your free annual credit report is a smart thing to do each year so you can check your score and dispute any incorrect items. The credit bureaus are required by law to contact your creditors if you dispute a negative reporting. If your creditors fail to respond within the 30 day period after they are contacted, then the credit bureaus-Experian, Equifax and TransUnion will delete the negative time from your report forever. This could improve your score as much as 10-30 points pending on the number of negative reports and the amount of debt.   Before you are going to obtain a mortgage, you should not take on any debt. Also, try and pay down your credit cards or pay the balances off.  Make sure you pay your credit cards and car loan on time or early. Don’t go over your credit limits.  Only use your credit cards for emergencies, and pay cash, write a check or use your debit card for your everyday purchases. This way you won’t spend more than your earn, and you can save for the down payment on your Boca Raton real estate.    With interest rates at all time lows, now is the perfect time to purchase a Boca Raton home. Don’t lose the opportunity because you abused your credit privileges. The good news is over time your credit will improve on its own. Negative items fall off your credit automatically after seven years. Bankruptcy stays on for 10 years.  So if you do not qualify for a home mortgage today, chances are you may be eligible for one in six months or a year.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:02:47 -0400</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.bocaraton-real-estate.com/blog/real-estate-buying-tips-for-foreign-buyers-in-boca-raton.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.bocaraton-real-estate.com/blog/real-estate-buying-tips-for-foreign-buyers-in-boca-raton.html</link>
            <author>lisa@bocahome.com (Lisa Fox)</author>
            <title>Real estate buying tips for Foreign Buyers in Boca Raton</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Buying Tips for Foreign Buyers Purchasing Boca Raton Properties





Foreign buyers are scooping up Boca Raton and South Florida properties because they realize the value in buying U.S. foreclosure and short sale properties that are priced below market value. Canadians, South Americans, Europeans and Asians are among the largest group of foreign buyers investing in U.S. real estate because they know that U.S investments are the safest place to put their money and watch it appreciate.


 


Here are some tips that you might find helpful if you are a foreign buyer:






Work with a local Boca Raton Realtor to help you find your investment property. Realtors have access to the most up-to-date MLS information and are knowledgeable about local home prices, practices and traditions in connection with purchasing Boa Raton real estate.






Having a long term exit strategy is also a good idea.






Foreign investors are subject to U.S. capital gains taxes on any gains they receive when they sell their real estate. The U.S. FIRPTA tax laws require the real estate closing agent to withhold 10% of the purchase price of the property for sales over $300,000 even if you do not show a gain on your property. The exemption to the rule is if your buyer purchases your investment property for their own primary residence. You are still responsible for paying capital gains taxes, and you can apply for a refund with the IRS if you have made any over payments in capital gain taxes.






Foreigners pay a flat 30% tax on rental income unless they can show the income as “effectively connected income”, which is income that is either related to a U.S. business or trade. If the rental income qualifies as effectively connected income, then you pay the same graduated tax basis as U.S. citizens and resident aliens. 




You will need cash to purchase the investment property, as most U.S. banks do not loan to foreign investors. However if your bank has a branch in the U.S. you may be able to get a loan.




U.S. tax laws are extremely complicated so it is recommended that you speak with a U.S. tax attorney before buying or selling Boca Raton real estate to obtain information about the income tax laws.  For more information on purchasing Boca Raton area real estate, please contact us today.


 
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:12:48 -0400</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.bocaraton-real-estate.com/blog/florida-atlantic-university-in-boca-raton-fl-due-to-open-its-medical-school-facility.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.bocaraton-real-estate.com/blog/florida-atlantic-university-in-boca-raton-fl-due-to-open-its-medical-school-facility.html</link>
            <author>lisa@bocahome.com (Lisa Fox)</author>
            <title>Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton is due to open its Medical School Facility this fall!</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
This fall FAU will open its first charter medical classes to 64 applicants that will be attending the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine.  


The school received approximately 1000 applicants since the enrollment period started in February of 2011.  FAU has partnered with The Scripps Research Institute of Florida and will be offering a dual M.D. and Ph.D. degree program at their Boca Raton campus!  How exciting is it to know that Boca Raton will soon accommodate a prestigious state-of-the-art medical school!  This over whelming amount of applications is an example of just how high the demand has been for a first-rate medical school here in this area.  The campus has been designed for FAU’s master, doctoral and certificate programs in biomedical sciences. 


This $20 million, 95,000 square foot medical school project will soon be complete with a highly experienced faculty, high-tech classrooms and a state of the art laboratory facility.  FAU’s medical program began back in 2004 when they partnered with the University of Miami and offered a two year program.  This was so successful it was quickly expanded into a four year program in 2005. The success of this partnership enlightened FAU’s Board of Trustees so much that they decided the time had come for FAU to become an independent and public medical school!  This long-overdue demand was made possible from a generous donation given by the “Schmidt Family Foundation”. 


FAU has joined with eight notorious hospitals throughout Broward and Palm Beach Counties, of which some are JFK Medical Center, Cleveland Clinic Florida and Joe DiMaggio’s Children’s Hospital. 


The Boca Raton community is proud to know that these up and coming medical doctors live, work and serve in our communities!
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Fri, 12 Aug 2011 18:38:07 -0400</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.bocaraton-real-estate.com/blog/many-florida-homeowners-facing-foreclosure-are-staying-put.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.bocaraton-real-estate.com/blog/many-florida-homeowners-facing-foreclosure-are-staying-put.html</link>
            <author>admin@bocaraton-real-estate.com (Caesar Parisi)</author>
            <title>Many Florida Homeowner's Facing Foreclosure Are Staying Put</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
So many Florida homeowners are upside down and frustrated with their lenders lack of response to their mortgage modification requests, they have decided to stay in their homes and reduce their mortgage payments on their own to zero. Many of these borrowers are in the process of negotiating with their Florida lenders to find a resolution to keep their homes. Those who need to sell their homes are hopeful their lender will approve their short sale. While they are negotiating, they are using their mortgage payment money to pay for other family expense such as food, gas, medical expenses, car payments and credit card bills or reinvesting the money in their businesses to improve their financial situation. Some borrowers who have lost their jobs are going back to college to obtain their degrees or are getting training in a new trade so they can find another job.


 If you ask a Florida foreclosure defense attorney for a strategy to keep your home, they will most likely advise you to stay in your home if you are in default, don’t make any more payments while you are negotiating with your lender so you can save money to get back on your feet or to move in case the lender forecloses. It is taking on average 619 days for lenders to get around to instituting a foreclosure in South Florida which is giving borrowers more time to get back on their feet financially or tine to negotiate a more favorable mortgage modification. 


If you are unable to negotiate a resolution with your lender or you decide you need to sell your home, you should list it with an experienced Boca Raton Realtor who understands the Boca Raton real estate market trends and conditions. The Realtor will help you price the home at the right price so it attracts the right qualified buyer and sells quickly. The Realtor understands your predicament and knows that time is of the essence for you. 


For more information about selling or buying Boca Raton or Delay Beach real estate, please call us today at 561.703.4727 or 561.715.8630.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:25:07 -0400</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.bocaraton-real-estate.com/blog/boca-raton-and-fau-offers-the-opportunity-of-a-lifetime.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.bocaraton-real-estate.com/blog/boca-raton-and-fau-offers-the-opportunity-of-a-lifetime.html</link>
            <author>admin@bocaraton-real-estate.com (Caesar Parisi)</author>
            <title>Boca Raton and FAU Offers The Opportunity of a Lifetime</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Imagine if you will for just a moment back to when you were just 17 years old or so and getting ready to graduate from high school knowing that not only will you be receiving your high school diploma, but you are now, already ready for graduate school!  Yes, graduate school.


Sounds too good to be true; well it is not!  It is achieved right here in Boca Raton at FAU’s very own high school right on campus.  This is made possible through program called “Race to The Top” (a federally funded grant program).  On February 14, 2011 FAU Schools received full approval for the program! FAU High School has been featured in U.S. News and World Reports as being among the best high school in the Nation.  The enrollment program is a highly selective one; as students are enrolled in high school and simultaneously enrolled in college courses in accordance with the Florida Statues. 


Exciting?  Well it gets event better!  The school does not charge for university tuition, lab fees or books.  These young geniuses’ receive an intensive education and the high school provides an extensive athletics program, a variety of clubs and they support philanthropic learning.  As if this were not enough, students compete in state and national academic contests. 


Any child living in Palm Beach County or its surrounding counties are able to attend FAU High, first they have to successfully interview with the schools committee made up of faculty and administrators.  Applicants must then meet academic achievement, test results, writing samples, show social maturity, and have letters of recommendation.  After they are accepted students must maintain academic interest, sublime motivation, maintain persistent interest in math, science, engineering, liberal &amp; performing arts as well as the medical field. Wow, yes it is a stringent program but one that will reward these children in many ways to come in their future.


The first of many rewards students can look forward to is that when they leave FAU High School, they are college and even graduate school ready!  Grads will have met the requirements for the State of Florida’s Bright Futures Scholarship program and many other scholarship programs.  Talk about a “head start”; this is a phenomenal opportunity for any one with perseverance and drive for success!
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:48:51 -0400</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.bocaraton-real-estate.com/blog/addison-reserve-country-club-real-estate-homes-for-sale.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.bocaraton-real-estate.com/blog/addison-reserve-country-club-real-estate-homes-for-sale.html</link>
            <author>admin@bocaraton-real-estate.com (Caesar Parisi)</author>
            <title>Addison Reserve Country Club Real Estate - Homes for Sale</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Addison Reserve Country Club


Addison Reserve Country Club is located on Jog Road North of Clint Moore Road and South of Linton Boulevard and is one of the most beautiful country club communities located in Delray Beach. Built in 1995, this spectacular community is located on 653 gorgeous acres with 19 villages including 717 single family homes. Addison Reserve Country Club offers an outstanding lifestyle community with Classic Mediterranean designed homes consisting of quality finishes such as Tuscan Columns with Corinthian Caps and coffered ceilings.  Addison Reserve Real Estate ranges from $400,000 to $5,000,000, and offers residents spacious and luxurious resort style living. You will find homes from 2,500 square feet to 10,000 square feet. Families choose Addison Reserve not only because of its first class reputation and amenities, its central location to restaurants, shops, Atlantic Avenue and beaches, but also because of its close proximity to Calusa Elementary, Morikami Elementary, Omni Middle, and the Spanish River High Schools. Addison Reserve County Club boasts of amenities including a 42,000 square foot Grand Clubhouse,  where residents have the choice of formal or informal dining, card rooms, meeting rooms and full club facilities including a 11,000 square foot state of the art sports and fitness center featuring men’s and women’s locker rooms, massage facilities, a large swimming pool with lap lines and spa, a wading pool, and world class Har-Tru Clay tennis and basketball courts as well as a children’s playground. 


 If you are in the market for one of the finest Delray Beach Country Club Communities, Contact Claude Champagne, The Addison Reserve Country Club Specialist at 561-703-4727.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Mon, 27 Jun 2011 11:52:07 -0400</pubDate>
                    </item>
    </channel>
</rss>
