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        <title>Real Estate Blog</title>
        <link>http://www.real-estateinthepalmbeaches.com/blog/</link>
        <description></description>
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            <guid>http://www.real-estateinthepalmbeaches.com/blog/florida-hurricane-season-prepare-your-boat-before-a-storm-hits.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.real-estateinthepalmbeaches.com/blog/florida-hurricane-season-prepare-your-boat-before-a-storm-hits.html</link>
            <author>Chip@REPalmBeaches.com (Chip Armstrong)</author>
            <title>Florida Hurricane Season: Prepare Your Boat <em>Before</em> a Storm Hits</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Hurricane season in Florida runs from June to November with August to October being the most likely months that a hurricane may hit. Knowing what to do with your boat in the event of a hurricane, is a responsibility that can save not only your boat, but lives as well.


Boat Preparations Prior to Hurricane Warnings




Ensure your boat is in good working order and that all equipment is secured.


Seal windows and doors with duct tape, shut sea cocks, and cap off or plug all water fittings.


Make a record of the inventory on your boat. Move items that do not need to be on your boat.


Check with city police and county sheriff departments, state marine patrols, and the Coast guard to see if there are local plans for boats in your area.


Have a plan and be ready. Purchase supplies such as duct tape prior to storm warnings.


If you are planning to move your boat, plan well in advance since bridges will close for land evacuation routes. County bridges are locked in the down position 3.5 hours after the evacuation notice has been issued or when winds reach 39 mph, whichever comes first.


Make sure your boat registration and insurance is current and in a safe place – NOT on your boat. Know what your responsibilities are.


Ensure fire extinguishers and life preservers are in good working order.




Depending on where you store your boat, you may have a few other things to consider.


Marina Storage




Know what the marina’s procedures and plans are in the event of a hurricane.


Tie mooring lines high on pilings to allow for rising water and run extra line.


Cover tie lines with rubber or leather strips to prevent chafing.


Make sure batteries are charged and disconnect shore power.


Install fenders to protect your boat from the dock.




Moving Small Boats via Land




Bring your boat home on a trailer if it is small enough. Most people seek to move their boats as far inland as possible.


If you take your boat home, park the boat and trailer in a garage or near a building.


Fill the boat half way with water to add weight.


Remove outboard motors, if possible.


Let some air out of the trailer tires, put blocks in front and back of tires, and tie down the trailer with heavy ropes or chains to prevent rolling.




Moving Large Boats via Water




If you are moving your boat to a protected inlet or canal, know what the closest neighborhood plan is for boat moorage.


Be prepared not to return your boat to the marina for at least a week. You will need enough food, water, fuel, and batteries to be able to evacuate and return to the marina.


Know where you are going to go. Practice your route.


Have a variety of anchors for sand or rock bottoms. Have lots of long ropes and anti-chafing gear to secure your boat to trees or other objects on land.


Make sure cleats and deck hardware is reinforced with backing plates under the deck.




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            <pubDate>Thu, 03 May 2012 16:48:50 -0500</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.real-estateinthepalmbeaches.com/blog/west-palm-beach-single-family-homes-offer-investors-the-best-returns.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.real-estateinthepalmbeaches.com/blog/west-palm-beach-single-family-homes-offer-investors-the-best-returns.html</link>
            <author>Chip@REPalmBeaches.com (Chip Armstrong)</author>
            <title>West Palm Beach Single-Family Homes Offer Investors the Best Returns</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 



Wise investors are heading to South Florida's West Palm Beach to purchase rental properties.


According to the latest MarketPulse report, capitalization rates of 12.4 percent in West Palm Beach are the highest in the country. The cap rate for West Palm Beach single-family homes is 3.8 percent higher than the January 2012 national average cap rate of 8.6 percent.


Across the country, rental demand is high and supply is low. If you are a single-family home investor, now is an ideal time to consider purchasing a home in West Palm Beach.


Historically a place of wealth and a holiday destination for royalty and celebrities, West Palm Beach continues to enchant residents and tourists with beautiful beaches and a tropical climate.


Looking for West Palm Beach homes for sale?


#addthis#
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            <pubDate>Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:06:05 -0500</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.real-estateinthepalmbeaches.com/blog/from-gated-communities-to-green-communities-floridas-diverse-communities.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.real-estateinthepalmbeaches.com/blog/from-gated-communities-to-green-communities-floridas-diverse-communities.html</link>
            <author>Chip@REPalmBeaches.com (Chip Armstrong)</author>
            <title>From Gated to Green: Florida's Diverse Communities</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Florida is known for its diverse communities. Golf communities, boating communities, gated communities, retirement communities, and family communities are just some of the more typical Florida communities.


Current research suggests that a growing number of home buyers are considering green communities and/or sustainable communities in their search for a home. Home buyers are asking questions such as: Are environmental concerns or issues addressed in the covenants, codes and restrictions? Are the homes Energy Star® compliant? Have water conservation devices been installed in the homes? Does the community have a long-term environmental plan? Have any native area preservation strategies been employed? What materials have been used to build the home? What kind of irrigation system does the community have? Does the community have a green transportation system which includes convenient walking and biking paths? Did the developer have any third party "green" certification?


The Difference Between Sustainable Communities and "Green" Communities


According to NCAT (the National Center for Appropriate Technology), sustainable communities adopt a long-term community plan that considers economic, environmental, and cultural resources. By taking a collaborative, holistic approach to environmental issues and community concerns, this plan ensures that both present and future residents will have their needs met.


"Green" communities, on the other hand, are generally those that are built by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified builders. LEED, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, is a nationally accepted set of standards for green construction. LEED projects can be rated on a scale as Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum.


Green &amp; Sustainable Communities in Florida


Two communities in Florida's Palm Beaches that are considered "green" and sustainable include Old Palm Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens and The Woodlands at Ibis Golf &amp; Country Club in West Palm Beach.

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            <pubDate>Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:39:09 -0500</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.real-estateinthepalmbeaches.com/blog/strong-month-for-new-home-sales-pushes-inventory-to-record-low-levels.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.real-estateinthepalmbeaches.com/blog/strong-month-for-new-home-sales-pushes-inventory-to-record-low-levels.html</link>
            <author>Chip@REPalmBeaches.com (Chip Armstrong)</author>
            <title>Strong Month for New Home Sales: Inventory Pushed to Record Low Levels</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Today the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development released a report showing that although December, 2011 had a higher number of new homes sales than January 2012, new home sales in January 2012 were still above last year’s average.


In January 2012, twenty-two thousand new homes were sold at prices 0.9 percent less than in December 2011 and 3.5 percent greater than in January 2011. Spikes in housing prices in 2011 can be attributed to the homebuyer tax credit being in effect.


David Crowe, the chief economist of NAHB believes the slow, steady recovery of the housing market coincides with economic and job growth. Builders will likely not be out of work this year, since increased new home sales has resulted in record low numbers of new home inventory.

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            <pubDate>Sat, 25 Feb 2012 06:31:27 -0600</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.real-estateinthepalmbeaches.com/blog/housing-market-rallies-in-south-florida.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.real-estateinthepalmbeaches.com/blog/housing-market-rallies-in-south-florida.html</link>
            <author>Chip@REPalmBeaches.com (Chip Armstrong)</author>
            <title>Housing Market Rallies in South Florida</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
In areas such as Palm Beach, housing prices, new home permitting, and employment are on the rise. As a result, South Florida is now considered one of the most improved areas in terms of showing economic recovery. Out of 98 markets nationally showing improvement, 7 of those markets were in South Florida.


While this is good news, some economists and real estate analysts are more reserved, saying that improvements to the South Florida housing market will be slow as the economy continues to become more stabilized.


[Palm Beach Post].
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:11:59 -0600</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.real-estateinthepalmbeaches.com/blog/us-housing-will-bottom-in-march.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.real-estateinthepalmbeaches.com/blog/us-housing-will-bottom-in-march.html</link>
            <author>Chip@REPalmBeaches.com (Chip Armstrong)</author>
            <title>U.S. Housing Expected to Bottom in March</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
This March, US home prices are expected to reach the bottom of the market.


Recent studies are predicting that both the CoreLogic Index and the Case-Shiller Index will valley in March. However, because the data these indices use is from several months prior, the March prediction actually corresponds to current conditions.


These predictions are based on the price-to-rent ratio as well as the real price of homes, or home prices after being adjusted for inflation. After balllooning in the mid-2000s, both these factors have now returned to normal historical levels. As well, with listing inventory on the decline and with policies created to ease the pressure from distressed sales, the price free-fall will stop.


Although this is good news, according to Calculated Risk, prices do tend to move sideways for several years after a bust, so immediate rises in house prices are unlikely.


While these predictions cover all US housing prices, it will likely take areas with many foreclosures several months before their market bottoms.


[Calculated Risk]





Price-to-Rent ratio (source: Calculated Risk)

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            <pubDate>Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:23:01 -0600</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.real-estateinthepalmbeaches.com/blog/business-groups-want-florida-to-halt-tax-increase.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.real-estateinthepalmbeaches.com/blog/business-groups-want-florida-to-halt-tax-increase.html</link>
            <author>Chip@REPalmBeaches.com (Chip Armstrong)</author>
            <title>Business Groups Want Florida To Halt Tax Increase</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Business leaders in the Sunshine State are seeking to end the large tax increase expected to hit businesses in the upcoming year . . . . . read more.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 15 Dec 2011 06:47:06 -0600</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.real-estateinthepalmbeaches.com/blog/palm-beach-gardens-green-market-huge-success.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.real-estateinthepalmbeaches.com/blog/palm-beach-gardens-green-market-huge-success.html</link>
            <author>Chip@REPalmBeaches.com (Chip Armstrong)</author>
            <title>Palm Beach Gardens Green Market Huge Success</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ Season 10 of the Gardens GreenMarket is here! Come and visit us on Sundays from 8:00am-1:00pm and spend a relaxing Sunday morning at our GreenMarket with live entertainment, produce, plants, flowers, handmade crafts and prepared food and drink items. #addthis# ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:26:42 -0600</pubDate>
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