Want to get out on the water? Fort Lauderdale is in Broward County. Its nickname is the “Venice of America” because of its complex canal system that puts many residents on waterfront property. Many of the day cruises dock less than 15 miles from downtown Davie. Therefore, while Davie is landlocked, you’re never too far away from the Atlantic Ocean and a variety of water activities.
This company runs a variety of cruises, including 90 minute sightseeing cruises, evening cruises with dinner and a show, and afternoon cruises, including a stop at Jungle Queen’s private island.
If you want to spend a fun few hours, try the half-day tour. The Jungle Queen looks like an old-time double deck river cruiser. You’ll travel quiet waters in and around Fort Lauderdale, and see Millionaire’s Row where the mansions of the rich and famous grace the shores of the river.
A stop at the company’s tropical island will let you safely get close to the state’s famous alligators. Catch the alligator show, hold a baby alligator, and wander among a group of jungle animals that include exotic birds, lemurs and monkeys.
If you only have a couple hours, the 90-minute cruise is your best choice. It covers a lot of the same area as the afternoon cruise, but you won’t stop at the island.
Looking for someplace new to go for dinner? The evening cruise still lets you see Millionaire’s Row and other sights around Fort Lauderdale. You’ll also have an all-you-can-eat-dinner, and enjoy live entertainment before you finish your cruise.
This cruise is an adventure for the entire family, especially if you have children or grandchildren from the ages of three to 10 years old. You’ll cruise the calm Intercostal Waterway around Fort Lauderdale. Children can dress like pirates, with appropriate face painting to add scars, beards and mustaches, of course.
During the one-hour cruise, the kids will search for treasure and fight off rival pirates with water cannons. The adults can watch the kids in their new roles, and at the back of the boat, the Captain gives a tour of local landmarks. Reviews on Trip Advisor are outstanding.
The Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi is an excellent way to travel along the Fort Lauderdale coastline and leave the traffic behind. You can purchase a 12-hour ticket for the Taxi, then get on and off as many times as you want all day.
You can visit the Las Olas Shops, 15th Street Fisheries, Birch State Park, Esplanade Park and the famous Broadwalk (no, that’s not a typo) in Hollywood, Florida. There are 15 stops in total, so there are many activities and locations to choose from. You can even have a drink at the 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar at the Margaritaville Resort!
Broward County is a treasure trove of fun and interesting things to see and do, especially in the eastern area of the County near the ocean. Davie is centrally located to let you take advantage of all of it!
If you’re looking for Davie real estate, or you’re a resident who want to sell your home, talk to the local experts. The members of the Teri Arbogast Team are knowledgeable, know the local market, and are proud to be Broward County real estate agents. They love helping people buy and sell real estate in the area. The next time you or someone you know needs real estate assistance, call us at 954-242-8030, or send an email!
If you’re buying Davie real estate, you need to keep an eye out for basic problems when you look at a home for sale. You certainly can’t do a complete inspection – it’s not worth your time since you’ll have a complete inspection if you get serious about a house, and you don’t have the skills.
However, there are some things you can be on the lookout for to help you evaluate a home. If you find something you think is a problem, that may not be a reason to eliminate the home from consideration, but it gives you a clue as to the questions you should be asking.
Electrical problems are one of the most common things found in regular home inspections. The types of things you want to look for during a showing include:
It’s difficult to evaluate a roof from the ground, but some things might be visible as you look at the home, including curled or missing shingles and stains.
Look for places where new paint is obvious. If the homeowner has recently painted just one wall of a room, or part of a wall or ceiling, that might indicate that the homeowner needed to cover a problem.
Stains often come from water leaking. If you see stains on walls or ceilings, it’s a good idea to ask about the cause.
Any unpleasant odor in a home is a red flag. The cause could be pet damage, mold, water leaks, smelly hobbies that were done indoors, and the list goes on. On the other hand, if there is a very heavy scent in the home, the possibility exists that the homeowner is trying to cover up an odor.
One of the things that can cause big headaches after you’ve purchased a home is when the former owner was a self-appointed Do It Yourself expert. Look for things like tile in the bathroom that isn’t straight or has different-sized gaps in between the tiles.
Look for rooms that look like additions that weren’t done very well – maybe the floor isn’t level or the door won’t close. You need to find out if a permit was pulled to do the addition. If not, you’ve got a few problems.
Fixing structural problems can be very expensive. Look for large cracks in the walls on the interior and cracks or crumbling construction material on the outside. Other indications include uneven floors, doors or windows that won’t open and close properly. Don’t be afraid to open a window in different parts of the home just to check how well they operate.
Florida is often hot and damp, providing the perfect environment for mold to grow. Black mold can cause health problems, and it’s very expensive to remove. Not all mold is as harmful as black mold, but it’s worth looking under sinks and in places where ventilation is poor such as crawl spaces.
Florida’s lush landscape grows so well due to the abundance of rainfall in the state. Proper grading is required to keep all that water out of the house. It’s difficult for a homebuyer to evaluate the grading around a home. However, you can look for things such as standing water, overflowing gutters, and flower beds where it’s obvious that the mulch has been shifting position.
Your home is probably your biggest investment, and it’s important that you schedule a home inspection before your closing. When you work with a top Davie real estate agent, you won’t need to worry because your agent will help guide you through the due diligence period after you’ve signed an offer.
For example, you can trust the professionals on the Teri Arbogast Real Estate Team. Take a look at our Google reviews, and you’ll see that our clients have lots of good things to say. We’d love to make you our next successful client! Call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email today.
If you live in Davie, you’ll see a wide range of kitchen designs. Some are all about coastal or Florida design, while others could be kitchens located anywhere. If your kitchen is feeling a bit stale, customize it in a way that puts your personal stamp on it. Look for ways to use textures, patterns, materials and unique colors.
Many cooks prefer to have neutral walls and clean lines in their kitchens. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t create an accent wall with a splash of color. The 2018 color of the year is purple. If you’re brave, you could use that as the color for an accent wall, or find another color you really love to break the neutral color palette. If you like purple, you can be trendy by using it as an accent color in towels, flowers, and other accent pieces.
Blue kitchen cabinets are still popular. Some designers are pairing blue lower cabinets with white upper cabinets. Using two different colors for cabinets is still a popular trend that you might want to try. Besides that, some people are sanding down their painted solid-wood cabinets and staining them with a soft green or gray. Others are using stains in deep reds and browns to achieve the look they want.
White cabinets have been popular for years. However, some designers are making a change; they find that light wood cabinets give a warm, clean look without making the kitchen dark.
If you’re tired of your kitchen counters, you’ll find that updating them will give your entire kitchen a facelift. When solid counter top materials came into wide usage, granite and marble were the preferred materials. Unfortunately, cooks have found that type of material too labor-intensive to maintain.
Today, quartz is popular because it can look like marble if you want, but it’s much easier to care for. Another alternative to consider is concrete. Concrete can complement an industrial look. However, if you pair it with other style choices, it can work well with a number of designs.
Open shelving is still popular, but many people are moving away from that trend. Some cooks are finding that while open shelves are pretty, they require that you have decorative pieces to display. It also causes some discomfort because you need to dust your plates before fixing lunch.
Extra-large kitchen islands are not as popular as they used to be. An often-used alternative is a rolling island. If your home has an open floor plan, an island on wheels can often give you more ways to use the space.
If you can’t decide between copper or brass kitchen fixtures, you’re in luck because mixing metals is quite common in today’s kitchens. Done well, you can mix polished chrome and stainless steel, or use any of a number of other combinations depending on your taste.
Farmhouse sinks give a splash of old world style, and if you like the look, adding one to your kitchen would give it a new look. Materials for farmhouse sinks vary. One unique approach is to use soapstone. It’s heat and stain resistant and repels germs. Many people love the patina that builds with age, giving the soapstone a distinctive look.
Range hoods are functional in a kitchen, and many people are making them the focal point of the room. You can choose from a wide range of materials, colors and finishes. In addition, the trend toward installing a microwave oven right over the range is waning, which gives you more options for the hood.
Since everyone in the family uses the microwave, its position over the range doesn’t make sense for many families. Think about other places where you could build in a microwave that are easier to reach; under the counter is a popular location for easy access.
Freshening your kitchen is a fun project whether you’re planning to sell your home or not. However, if you’re thinking of hiring a Davie FL real estate agent, please consider the Teri Arbogast Real Estate Team. Take a look at our Google reviews, and you’ll see that our clients have lots of good things to say. We’d love to make you our next successful client! Call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email today.
Spring is here and many homebuyers are going to be looking at Davie real estate over the coming months. If you’re going to be looking for a new home, there’s one thing you’ll soon discover if you didn’t know it already: The home of your dreams isn’t going to meet all your needs and wants.
Unless you build a custom home, every home you look at will likely be missing something on your list of needs and wants. You’ll find that you can adjust your list, but some things aren’t worth the compromise. The tips below will help you make the best choice.
Sometimes it’s easy to fall in love with a house before you consider if it’s in the best location for your lifestyle. You can change many things about a house, but location isn’t one of them!
If you had your heart set on a walkable neighborhood, you’ll get frustrated over time if you buy in a sprawling suburb. If you talk yourself into the fact that you’ll get accustomed to the noise of airplanes taking off, you’ll start to resent your location. Remain firm on what you want in terms of location.
People look for turnkey homes for a number of reasons. Some people wouldn’t recognize a hammer if they saw one, and they know that renovating isn’t their forte. Other people may have done renovations before and know that they hate it.
You may talk yourself into thinking that a renovation won’t be that bad, but you may change your mind. Unfortunately, once you’ve purchased the home, changing your mind isn’t really an option.
If you’re comfortable with a 30 minute commute to work, don’t even look at homes that would require an hour of travel time each way. The typical justification here is this: The commute won’t bother me because of all the great things I’ll see in this house when I get home. That state of euphoria isn’t going to last forever, and may not last after the first few weeks.
If you wanted to buy a 2000 square foot home, don’t be tempted by one that is 1600 square feet. Sure, the kids would be able to share a room, but will they do that without killing one another? And, what about as they get older and privacy becomes of prime importance?
On the other hand, if you fall in love with a 3000 square foot home, you may not think about the time required to maintain it, the cost of heating and cooling, or the high property taxes. However, those things can quickly turn into burdens once you move in.
It’s easy to justify going over budget. You could calculate how much more it would cost you per month. And, while an extra $100 per month may not sound like much initially, it often makes an uncomfortable difference later on.
People with that philosophy often find themselves “house poor.” They may have things they want to do or purchase that won’t be possible with a higher mortgage payment. In addition, a more expensive home often costs more to maintain, and property taxes will be higher.
Make sure you find the best home for you and your family by starting out with a list of needs and wants, and finalizing a pre-approval for a mortgage. Once you have that foundation, make sure you stand firm on your “needs” and only compromise on things you want, or that would be nice to have.
If you’re planning to buy Davie real estate, you’ll find that there are a lot of things to do in Davie, including the Everglades Day Safari, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, nature centers, and much more. Make sure you get the guidance you need to find your dream home. The local Davie real estate agents on the Teri Arbogast Team know the market and can help you stand firm on those issues you really shouldn’t compromise on!
Smart home technology is a growing industry. Experts estimate that by 2020, the smart home industry will be worth over $21 billion. If that projection is anywhere near accurate, it means that more and more people will be using smart home technology, and eventually it will be as common as bedrooms in a home.
You may have seen the TV commercial where a homeowner is watching an intruder trying to break into his home on his cell phone, and yells into the phone to scare off the thief. Smart technology has many uses in today’s homes, here are just a few.
According to NextMarketInsights, people in the Gen X age group buy lots of smart technology, which isn’t surprising since that generation is very tech-savvy. However, one survey found that 68% of Millennials think that smart technology is a good investment. And, don’t forget that the Millennials represent the biggest group of potential homebuyers, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.
It must be said that the technology is still relatively new, and it can be difficult to come up with hard and fast numbers. But, there are indications to support the idea that smart technology is affecting home prices.
For example, one study found that 59 percent of buyers who have children under 18 would be willing to pay more for a “smart” home. In addition, 47 percent of buyers without children under 18 felt the same way.
At some point, smart technology will be a standard amenity. For now, it’s something that many people want in their homes. Therefore, a home with the technology already installed can be seen to save the buyer the time and cost of installing it themselves – and that could motivate them to pay a bit more.
If you don’t have smart technology installed in your home, should you buy some before you put your home on the market? I think that the technology could make your home more attractive to the right buyer, but I’m not convinced that you’ll make a profit on it.
If your home needs a boost to make it more competitive with other Davie real estate for sale, smart technology could be the push you’re looking for. However, other updates might be more effective in getting the highest price for your home. As local market experts, we can help you make that determination. If you have questions about selling your home, or home values in the Davie area, please feel free to call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email.
We specialize in Davie FL homes for sale, and Broward County homes for sale in the Cooper City, Coral Springs, Pembroke Pines, Plantation, Southwest Ranches, Sunrise and Weston communities.
That sounds like an impossible statement to support, but if you’re thinking of selling Davie real estate, keep an open mind as you read this blog post! There are a number of good reasons to sell during the holidays.
Everyone knows that Spring is the time to sell, right? Well, a lot of people believe that, and it causes a large number of homes to come on the market in a very short period of time. As a seller, that means that you’ll be competing with lots of other homes in your area. During the holidays, your home will stand out much better.
The holidays are a busy time. If someone is looking for a new home, it means that they’re not just out looking at homes for the fun of it. Some buyers may be looking for tax advantages by purchasing a home before year-end. In addition, people who are relocating for a job often need to be in place at the first of the year. And, people relocating are very serious because they’re up against a definite deadline for their move.
The holidays, regardless of which one you’re celebrating, generally bring out the good in people. It’s a warm and fuzzy time of the year. And, since emotion plays a big role in the home buying process, buyers can be more likely to want to “nest.”
You can also take advantage of the part that emotion plays in home buying because your home looks wonderful and reminds people of family and friends gathering together. Don’t let your holiday decorations overwhelm your rooms, but low-key reminders of the season can help.
Traffic on real estate websites increases significantly during the holidays. People have more time to spend online, so make sure your home is well represented on the Internet.
Redfin did a study of over one million home sales and discovered some interesting facts. When homes were listed from December 21 through March 21, they had:
These aren’t hard and fast rules, but they go a long way toward dispelling the myth that the Spring is the best time to sell.
If you’re traveling over the holidays, you have no problem with showing your home. But, even if you’re staying at home, you can set boundaries to ensure that your family enjoys the holiday as much as everyone else. Normally, setting restrictions on showing a home isn’t tolerated very well by buyers. During the holidays, it’s much easier to set showing times and black out dates because everyone understands the problem.
If you’re ready to sell, hopefully this information has been helpful. If you’d rather not wait until Spring, the local Davie real estate experts on Teri’s Real Estate Team can help you capitalize on the season. Just call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email!
It’s a proven fact that the majority of homebuyers start their home search online. One of the more well-known sites for home information is Zillow. Zillow provides a range of tools for homebuyers, including Zestimates, which are Zillow’s best estimate of a home’s value. Should you make decisions based on a Zestimate? Here are the things to consider.
Zillow uses an automated system to prepare estimates for over 100 million home in the U.S. Given the sheer volume of estimates it tracks, Zillow must use a calculation based on a range of publically available information that results in an average price.
Data sources used for the estimate include MLS home listings, county tax records, and recent sales in the target home’s area.
Zillow is open about the accuracy of its Zestimates. For example, Zillow explains that half the home values are within 5.4 percent of the selling price, and half are off by more than 5.4 percent. That means that half of the $200,000 homes on the site could be valued at roughly $190,000 on the low side or $210,800 on the high side.
Let’s say that the half that are off by more than 5.4 percent are actually off by 10 percent. In that case, the $200,000 home could be valued at $180,000 on the low side or $220,000 on the high side.
There are many reasons why the estimate could be inaccurate:
The biggest problem is that homebuyers and sellers tend to take the estimates they see on Zillow and other real estate websites as fact. They don’t know about information like this and Zillow doesn’t make it easy to find.
Homebuyers may plan on making a ridiculously low offer on a home, and home sellers may plan to set an unrealistically high listing price for their home. Then, when a professional real estate agent gets involved, the homebuyers and sellers are often presented with conflicting information.
Real estate agents are very familiar with Davie FL homes for sale, the neighborhoods in the area and the real estate market. The comparative market analyses they prepare take many factors into account that the automated systems don’t.
The advice I give to my clients is that they can use websites like Zillow to see lots of information, but that they need to take estimated home values as a very broad guideline. They need to realize that the home value estimates are most likely off by tens of thousands of dollars.
In addition, I recommend that clients use a home search that comes right from our local MLS, like this one. Searching the MLS gives you the most accurate information available, and you can simplify your search by setting up your own search account.
Using this account, you can save homes you like as favorites, and get emails as soon as homes that meet your criteria hit the market. You can also save searches so you don’t need to select your criteria every time you visit the site.
If you have questions about buying or selling home in the Davie FL area, the experts on the Teri Arbogast Team can help. Call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email!
We specialize in Davie FL homes for sale, and Broward County homes for sale in the Cooper City, Coral Springs, Pembroke Pines, Plantation, Southwest Ranches, Sunrise and Weston communities.
Davie FL homes for sale
are in hot demand. You may not be ready to sell, but you may feel like you’d like to put some new life into your home. Here are some tips for updating your home using the latest decorating trends.
Navy blue is turning up everywhere. For example, navy blue kitchen cabinets with white countertops and silver accents, for door and drawer handles, works to create a modern but appealing kitchen design. In fact, some designers are using navy for the kitchen island and a lighter color for other cabinets.
If you already have white countertops, all you need is a bit of paint. If you’re considering changing the countertops, consider quartz. It’s almost maintenance free because it resists stains and scratches. It also doesn’t need to be sealed like other types of stone.
Kitchen islands are very useful and they’ll probably be in style over the long-term. They provide additional seating space and encourage more than one cook in the kitchen due to the extra prep space. You can customize yours with open shelving and charging stations.
Another alternative for charging your various devices is to install a drawer that holds electrical outlets. Your counters can stay clear while you prepare your phones and tablets for use.
For 2017, Pantone chose a green color called Greenery as the color of the year. It’s perfect for Florida’s indoor/outdoor lifestyles. If you’re looking for a bold change, try painting the walls of your room in a shade of Greenery, then include other color accents to bring the room to life. Navy and Greenery go very well together, bringing a fresh outlook to any room.
Bathrooms continue to be turned into spa-like getaways. You could consider the use of a freestanding tub to create a focus for the room. Claw foot tubs are always popular, but there are also very modern designs that almost look like a work of art.
Frameless shower doors have been popular lately. Another trend to consider is the “curb less” shower. Proponents of this design point out that a shower is safer when you don’t need to step into it. In addition, new construction methods make adding a curb less shower much easier than you might think. The other great thing about them is the clean look you can achieve to set your bath apart from the rest!
Another trend you’ll see is the move to larger tile in the bath. People seem to like the uninterrupted look and cleaning is easier with fewer grout lines. Tiles today can range from 12×24 inches up to 18×36 inches in size.
Another trend that can help brighten up a room is an accent wall. Traditionally, homeowners painted one wall a relatively bold color to bring depth into a room. Today, accent walls are made from a variety of materials. Shiplap is being called passé by some, but it’s still very popular for those who want more rustic charm. Other accent walls use 3D wall panels to add texture. 3D panels come in a variety of designs; some are geometric while others mimic the waves of the ocean. If you’re big into do-it-yourself projects, you’ll find peel and stick panels that you can paint to match your décor.
When you’re ready to make a move, keep the local experts on Teri’s Real Estate Team in mind. I can’t tell you that we’re all interior design experts, but I can tell you that our team is highly rated. Check it out for yourself – we’re proud of the service we provide. If you have questions about Davie real estate, feel free to give us a call at 954-242-8030 or contact us online.
If you’re planning to buy one of the Davie homes for sale, you’re probably going to be buying in a seller’s market. It’s not a problem – people do it all the time. But, there are things you need to know to get the best deal.
Real estate markets are often defined as either a buyer’s market or a seller’s market. It’s important to keep in mind that these labels change as the market indicators change. To be a seller’s market, Davie realtors look at several indicator, including:
Right now, all three of the indicators above signal a seller’s market. The number of homes on the market is slowly decreasing, sales prices are increasing slightly and homes aren’t staying on the market as long as they have been in the recent past.
Any time you plan to buy a home, it’s important to get pre-approved by a local lender before you start looking. That preapproval will help you in negotiations, but it will also tell you the maximum price you should pay for a new home. In a seller’s market, some people are tempted to continue increasing their offer price if there is competition for a house. That’s not a bad strategy as long as you don’t offer more than the home is actually worth. In addition, it’s a good strategy unless you overextend yourself by offering more than you can reasonably afford.
When you’re buying in a seller’s market, you need to be very clear about the things you can compromise on and those you can’t. If you absolutely want your children to be in a specific school district, don’t even bother looking in another one. If you’d like to have a swimming pool, but could live without it, considering a home without a pool is reasonable. Don’t be tempted to give up on your “must haves” just because you want to buy a home. You’ll undoubtedly regret it later.
Things can happen very fast in a seller’s market. The perfect home you see one day may be sold the next. Work with a real estate agent who will keep you informed as new homes hit the market and make yourself available for a showing, even on short notice.
If you’ve found the home of your dreams, a seller’s market isn’t the time to try to get a great deal. If you don’t want to pay list price, keep in mind that there will be others who will. Make an offer quickly and at market value.
You may find some advice online saying that you should eliminate all contingencies from the offer. It’s true that would be very attractive to the seller, but there are some areas where you just shouldn’t compromise.
You need to make the offer contingent on an inspection. It’s always possible that a home will have hidden problems you need to know about in order to make an informed decision. You typically need to make the offer contingent on obtaining financing. Even when you’re pre-approved, you won’t know that the loan will go through until it does.
There are problems that can arise while your loan is in underwritten. Some of those problems have nothing to do with you. But, if you’re caught in a position where you must purchase a home and can’t get the financing, you’ll have a much bigger problem than simply losing out on the purchase.
You can do other things to make your offer more attractive. Perhaps you can offer an earnest money deposit that is larger than the standard. You might be able to offer the seller a day or two after close before you take possession. Work with an experienced real estate agent to ensure you make the best offer possible without jeopardizing your interests.
When you’re buying in a seller’s market, it’s even more important to choose an experienced real estate agent who knows the local market, like those on the Teri Arbogast Team. We can help you whether you’re a first-time home buyer, looking for NSU housing or relocating to Broward County. Call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email for the professional help you need to make your next real estate transaction a rousing success!
We specialize in Broward County homes for sale in the Cooper City, Coral Springs, Pembroke Pines, Plantation, Southwest Ranches, Sunrise and Weston communities, along with the following Davie Florida locations:
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