May 2007

Monthly Archive

31 May 2007 06:42 am

A Garden in Miami, a Loft in Athens

For Nicholas Pisaris, an international negotiator and corporate lawyer, life is a tale of two cities. He divides his year between a home hidden in an orchid-filled garden in Miami’s historic Coconut Grove and a loft apartment with the Acropolis on the skyline.

The son of Greek immigrants, Mr. Pisaris grew up in the United States speaking Greek, English and Spanish. His Athens connection, however, came less through birth than from friendships made when he worked in London for a petroleum company. Then, invited to serve on the board of a cruise ship line, he was introduced to a nontourist Athens and began shopping for property in 2000.

A year later, he found a loft in Psyrri, a somewhat gritty neighborhood where real estate goes for about 30 percent less than in Plaka, the tourist neighborhood that sits under the Acropolis. But even in Psyrri, cafes, clubs and ice cream parlors are replacing shoemakers and other light industry.

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Looking for a home in Gleneagles Country Club? Realtor® Caesar Parisi is ready to help you buy your dream property.

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30 May 2007 06:25 am

Setting the Rent

The rental price tag is largely dependent on the local market, of course, no matter how spectacular the home. As a consequence, the asking price should take into account several factors: how many potential renters there are, how large the overall inventory of properties on the market is, and finally, whether the rate should be lowered if vacant weeks remain as the prime season approaches.

The rental rate is also influenced by location and amenities. Waterfront properties will typically be higher priced than those with only a view. In addition, the number of bedrooms, the presence of an updated kitchen and even interior design can further increase the price. “The décor can’t be too personal,” said Ms. Ganss-Brady. “No bright colors.” She explained that renters “don’t want to feel like they are living in someone else’s house.”

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Real estate agent Caesar Parisi stands ready with effective advice on buying or selling a Royal Palm Yacht Club single family home. Visiting the Boca Raton FL community? Contact Realtor® Caesar Parisi for information on buying or selling an The Oaks in Boca Ratonal Estate.

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29 May 2007 06:22 am

First-time homebuyers, just say no to foreclosures

Generally speaking, investors bid on properties, often sight-unseen, and they accept a great deal of risk in doing so. What is the condition of the property? Will it be delivered vacant or will they have to evict the former owners? There are no guarantees. This type of investor is generally pretty battle-hardened, has rehabbed properties before, and has some extra capital to carry the property and pay attorney’s fees if any legal issues arise after the purchase.

Sometimes the properties are sold at or above market value and are not the instant bargain that people think they are. If you are thinking of buying your first home at auction, please think again.

As for financing, you can obtain a mortgage to buy a foreclosure property. The lender has to know that the property is in foreclosure, but you can get pre-approved for a mortgage subject to a ratified contract, appraisal and title work.

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Real estate agent Caesar Parisi stands ready with effective advice on buying or selling a Boca Raton FL condo. Visiting the Delray Beach community? Contact Realtor® Caesar Parisi for information on buying or selling an Atlantic Grove Condo in Delray Beach Real Estate.

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28 May 2007 06:17 am

Will climate change flood your home?

A new online service will predict whether your house — or one you’re considering buying — could be underwater sometime in the next century.

Are the effects of climate change — coastal erosion, rising sea levels and increased hurricanes — coming to a neighborhood near you? If so, what could it mean for the value of your property?

Climate Appraisal Services, a new online service for homebuyers and homeowners, says it can tell whether a home will be submerged from climate change in the next century by using a property’s address.

Entering the location of a U.S. home at the company’s Web site pulls up an environmental lowdown: information on the coastal erosion, tornadoes, earthquakes, droughts, floods, landslides and volcanoes in the area.

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Ready to buy or sell Palm Beach real estate? Consult with licensed agent Caesar Parisi. Caesar has assisted hundreds of buyers and sellers, giving sound advice on how to most effectively buy and sell property.

27 May 2007 06:01 am

As Condos Rise in Florida, Investors Try to Flee

As dozens of condominium towers conceived during Florida’s real estate boom near completion, investors who snatched up units in the preconstruction phase in hopes of turning a quick profit are increasingly trying to break contracts, even walking away from fat deposits.

“Motivated” sellers are flooding online forums like Craigslist with advertisements for condo units still months or years from being finished. And lawyers have been inundated with calls from people hoping to avoid closing on units they bought during the speculative craze of 2004 and 2005.

“I get two or three of these calls a day,” said James Ryan, a lawyer in Boca Raton who said he had 40 clients looking to get out of condo contracts. One, Mr. Ryan said, abandoned a $340,000 deposit rather than close on a $1.6 million unit that lost its appeal as the market faltered.

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Looking for a condo in Atlantic Grove? Realtor® Caesar Parisi is ready to help you buy your dream property.

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26 May 2007 06:10 am

Homes in Communities With Equestrian Centers

There are 9.2 million horses in the U.S., with more than one-third used specifically for recreational activities, such as by riders of “backyard horses,” reports an April-released study by the American Horse Council. Here are homes with on-site equestrian centers.

Price/Place: Sunset, S.C. / $1.99 million, Taxes: $21,945, The Property: 2 bedrooms, 5 baths, 3,245 square feet, Description: The home with a stone chimney has two rear porches, and one with a fireplace. In addition to a full-size kitchen on the main level, there is also a kitchenette in the finished lower level. Notable: This home at The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards has an equestrian center with 15 miles of riding trails. The Cliffs offer boarding, lessons, trail rides and pony rides. The community also has seven championship golf courses.

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For more information on this and other real estate matters, your first source for Palm Beach real estate should be licensed agent and long-time resident Caesar Parisi.

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25 May 2007 07:04 am

Signs of stability in housing

Sales of new homes took their biggest leap in 14 years in April, but analysts said it may be too soon to declare that the housing slump is ended. Some said a steep drop in the price of a typical new house indicated that the revival may be due to nothing more than bargain-hunting among buyers. Builders have been lowering price tags and offering layers of incentives to bring prospects into their sales centers.

But a steep drop in the number of unsold homes sitting on the market serves as a positive sign, said housing consultant Steve Hovany. “There are clear signs that the market has stopped falling, even though it will take the rest of this year for the industry to sort itself out,” said Hovany, of Strategy Planning Associates in Schaumburg.

Overall, sales rose 16 percent, to an annual pace of 981,000 last month, from a rate of 844,000 in March, the Commerce Department reported. The supply of new, unsold homes dropped to 532,000 from 540,000 a month earlier. That left the supply of homes at the current sales rate at 6.5 months’ worth, the lowest this year, compared with 8.1 months in March.

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Hunting for the perfect home in Grand Orchid? Realtor® Caesar Parisi is ready to help you buy your dream property.

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