Governor Ron DeSantis has recently enacted a bill aimed at curbing controversial enforcement practices by homeowner associations (HOAs) and enhancing their transparency. This new legislation, set to take effect on July 1, introduces a variety of measures designed to protect homeowners and ensure fair treatment.

Key Provisions of the New Law

Restrictions on Fines

HOAs can no longer fine homeowners for not bringing in a trash can within 24 hours before or after collection time. Additionally, holiday decoration fines can only be issued if a written notice is provided first.

Transparency and Accountability

Homeowners must receive a 14-day written notice of their right to a hearing to contest violation notices. Post-hearing, the HOA must notify…

3172 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Are home prices finally beginning to cool off? Recent data suggests that we might be seeing the first signs of a shift in the market, as more sellers are now willing to reduce their asking prices compared to any time last year.

According to a recent report from Redfin, 6.4 percent of sellers across the country cut their asking prices during the four-week period ending May 26. This is the highest percentage of price reductions since November 2022. Additionally, the median asking price dropped by approximately $3,000 last week, bringing the national median to $416,623. While this figure remains high, the decline is notable given that it's the first drop in six months.

Several other indicators point towards a potential slowdown in price growth. For…

627 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Downtown Fort Lauderdale, FL, is a vibrant area known for its beautiful beaches, dynamic nightlife, and top-notch dining options. Whether you're visiting for a vacation or considering making this sunny city your new home, knowing the best places to eat and drink can enhance your experience. Here's a comprehensive guide to some of the best restaurants and bars downtown Fort Lauderdale has to offer, complete with addresses, contact information, and links to their websites for your convenience.

Beach and Beach Bars

Downtown Fort Lauderdale's beaches are a major attraction, and the beach bars provide the perfect spots to enjoy the ocean breeze with a refreshing drink in hand.

Blondies

- **Address:** 229 S Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd, Fort…

704 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

The demand for housing remains high in Palm Beach County, with home values rising across the board last year in all 39 cities, towns, and villages. According to the property appraiser’s estimates released Wednesday, countywide taxable property values increased by 9.12%, factoring in new construction, and every municipality saw its overall home value rise.

Key Highlights:

  • Highest Increase: Westlake saw the highest increase in taxable value at 40.50%.
  • Lowest Increase: Atlantis had the lowest increase in taxable value at 4.99%.
  • Highest Median Sales Price: The Town of Palm Beach had the highest median home sale price at $13 million.
  • Lowest Median Sales Price: South Bay had the lowest median home sale price at $200,000.

Detailed…

497 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Property values have surged significantly across Broward County, with both major cities and smaller communities experiencing notable increases. According to the latest figures from the Broward Property Appraiser, taxable values have risen by an average of 8.77% countywide, based on sales from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023.

Key Highlights:

  • Highest Increase: Sea Ranch Lakes saw the highest increase in taxable value at 17.26%.
  • Lowest Increase: Lazy Lake had the lowest increase in taxable value at 4.36%.
  • Highest Median Sales Price: Sea Ranch Lakes also had the highest median home sale price at $2,900,000.
  • Lowest Median Sales Price: Pembroke Park had the lowest median home sale price at $260,000.

Factors Contributing to Property…

1188 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

 

I'm here to bring you your May, 2024 South Florida Housing Market Update.

As always, for the purposes of these videos, we're going to be talking about single family homes only in Boca, Parkland and Coral Springs. That's where our team does the predominant amount of our business.

So we're talking single family only no condos, no townhouses. Those are definitely different markets. And we're not talking about anything

When we give you these stats, we're trying to give you the leading indicator showing you what happened last month in the market. So you know where the market is headed. Not where it's been.

A lot of times when you hear these stats from the media, they're talking about closed sales price, which is really indicative of what…

973 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Where Does Zillow Say South Florida Home Prices Will Go In 2024?

Zillow's latest forecast anticipates an average of 1.9% growth in home values across the USA throughout 2024. While this rate is slower than historical averages, it signals a welcome slowdown for first-time buyers compared to the rapid appreciation witnessed during the pandemic. Zillow's prediction has increased from the previous month which projected a growth of only 0.9%. The modest upward revision primarily stems from a slowdown in the growth of new listings for sale, with interest rates remaining relatively high.

Despite a significant 21% increase in new listings in February, the year-over-year growth eased to just 4% in March, highlighting the continued tightness of the housing…

2354 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

The South Florida real estate market is still super competitive in 2024 for good properties, and when your up against multiple offers you will want to pull out all of the stops. While it’s tempting to think that all a seller cares about is the highest price…this just often is not the case. Many sellers have an emotional attachment to their home and really care about who will take over making memories in their beloved castle.

For that reason, we at The Mandel Team have found great success in attaching “love letters” to our offers. These are simple, one-page letters explaining who you are and why this home is the perfect fit for you. Here are the ingredients required for the perfect Real Estate Love Letter.

A photo of you

The cuter the better.…

981 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Maybe you've heard a headline or read an article about upcoming changes to how the real estate business is going to change starting in July 2024 - specifically how real estate agent commissions are going to be paid in the future. There are a lot of misleading headlines and talking points out there, so I want to share what this new change means.

This change stems from a lawsuit that was filed back in 2019 from home Sellers that were suing alleging that real estate agents were colluding and keeping commissions high by requiring Sellers to pay for the commission of an agent that represents a buyer. The fact is that real estate agent commissions have always been negotiable.

Nobody ever forced anyone to use a real estate agent - there is always someone…

15426 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post


Hey, it's Andy with the Mandel Team and I'm here to bring you your March 2024 South Florida Housing Market Update.

As always, for the purposes of these videos, we're going to be talking about single family homes only in Boca Raton, Parkland, and Coral Springs. Those are the areas where our team does the predominant amount of our business. And when we talk about single family homes, we're talking about all ages, no country clubs. So no townhouses, no condos, no 55 and over communities, and no country clubs.

It's been a little bit since we've done one of these videos, so I just wanted to recap what happened in 2023 and where we think the market's going to go in 2024.

In 2023 prices were up 5%, on average, compared to 2022. That is a major…

1389 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post