Curb appeal is an important aspect of selling your Pembroke Pines, FL home. Your home’s landscape is not limited to the lawn and shrubs; it encompasses everything from the street to your doorstep. So, you need to make sure each component of this visual landscape looks its best. As an expert in the Pembroke Pines real estate market, Adrian Valdes recommends you pay attention to the following details:

1. Street.  Make sure the street in front of your home is free of litter and debris. If necessary, give it a fresh sweep.
2. Fire Hydrant.  You don’t own the fire hydrant in front of your home, but you should still be concerned about how it looks. If it needs freshening up, get permission from your town and paint it.
3. Sidewalk.  Sweep your sidewalk if needed and remove any weeds that may be growing between the cracks.
4. Fence.  A freshly painted fence gives a home a crisp look. You should never let a peeling, faded fence stand between a prospective buyer and a positive first impression.
5. Mailbox and Light Fixtures. A quick painting of the mailbox and post will let buyers know you care about the details. If outdoor lamps look rusted and worn out, new ones add a ton of value for that first impression.
6. Landscaping. Neatly trimmed shrubs and a manicured lawn are essential. Taking the time to do this costs little, but has a big impact.
7. Front Walkway and Driveway. Like the sidewalk, both should be clean and free of weeds. If there are stains, or appears worn-looking, consider re-sealing with a high quality sealer. Believe it or not, pay attention to how any cars PARKED in the driveway appear. To a buyer’s subconscious mind, a clean, well maintained automobile will make a much different statement about you AND your property than an unattractive, poorly cared for car.
8. Paint. A fresh coat of paint can be one of the best investments to increase value. If that amount of money isn’t available, consider painting the trim and/or the front of the house.
9. Roof.  The roof may be the single most important aspect of your home front. Replace any broken or missing shingles or tiles and paint eaves and fascia boards. If the roof is old and needs to be replaced, consider having the work done before showing the property.

10.  Front Door. The doorway is the focal point of your home. Repaint the door, apply new door hardware and replace house numbers. Put a flower box or planter and a clean welcome mat alongside the door, install a new front light fixture and be sure the doorbell works!

Look for more tips in the blogs to follow in the coming weeks. If you’d like more information now, about selling or buying a home in the Pembroke Pines real estate market, contact Adrian Valdes and he will provide you with all the information you need. His goal is to help you with all of your Real Estate needs.

It’s normal for window treatments to be an afterthought when considering things you need to prepare when selling a home, but paying a little attention here may be worth more when it’s time to show the property. The purchase of custom window treatments is often overlooked mostly because they can be somewhat expensive additions and it’s common for people to underestimate the value they can add to a home being sold. However, they can be a big influence on homebuyers’ first impressions when viewing a property. Adding well crafted, new and stylish window treatments will make more than a visual impact, they can substantially add to your home’s resale value. Take advantage and consider these ways to add value with your window treatments.

• Window treatments that add insulation can increase the value of your home. Greener, energy efficient homes are in high demand right now. One way to save energy with window treatments is to choose cellular blinds which let light filter through, but without bringing the heat in. They also work well to keep the heat from escaping during the colder months. Some of these cellular blinds are recognized by the government for their energy saving quality and may be eligible for tax credits.  
• Natural wood shutters can make an elegant addition to your home. However, real wood shutters can be very expensive when compared to other window coverings. Some actually think of them more like furniture for windows. Fortunately, there are less expensive imitation faux wood shutters available. Stick with a neutral color such as white which will generally appeal to most potential homeowners rather than trying to pick out a particular wood stain, which will likely cost more as well.
• Adding custom shades, blinds or shutters can be pricey and especially hard to pay for since you’re planning to leave them with the house, so you definitely want to find something very economical. Neutral colors and thin sheer curtain fabrics tend to be less expensive and will add enough incentive for buyers to choose a home that already has window treatments when they move in. It’s a good idea to replace shades or blinds that are broken or show any damage like tears and dents. Also make sure to thoroughly clean the window along with the window coverings before showing the home to any homebuyers.  

If you’d like more information now, about selling or buying a home in the Pembroke Pines real estate market, contact Adrian Valdes and he will provide you with all the information you need. His goal is to help you with all of your Real Estate needs.

If you are planning to buy a home in Pembroke Pines, you first need to make sure you have a good Credit score. If your score is not so good and you want to improve it, or simply, want to get it to the highest possible range, you first need to know the most important information used from your credit report in determining your score. The two things that account for two-thirds of your credit score are as follows:

1. Payment history: Having a long history of making payments on time on all types of credit accounts is one of the most important items lenders consider before approving you for a loan.

2. Debts versus available credit: This compares the amount you owe versus the total amount of credit available. Your credit score can be lower when you use more than 50 percent of your available credit. That’s because when you are close to maxing out on all of your credit limits, lenders see you as a higher risk and more likely to make late payments in the near future.

There are three other factors that account for about a third of your credit score:

1. Length of credit history: In general, a credit report containing a list of accounts opened for at least 10 years or more will help your credit score. The score considers your oldest active account and the average age of all accounts.

2. New credit: Opening several new credit accounts in a short period of time can lower your credit score. Also multiple credit report inquiries may be seen as risky credit behavior on the near horizon, and can therefore lower your credit score. But “soft credit inquiries,” which include requests made by you, an employer or by a lender who pre-approves, have little or no impact.

3. Type of credit you use: Your mix of credit cards, retail accounts, finance company loans and mortgage loans is considered.

Also keep in mind that your credit score ignores your age, salary and occupation. It also does not take into account financial gifts, support you receive, or your financial assets. For this reason, credit scores are less important for borrowers who seek loans that take these factors into account.

If you want to increase your credit score, then take a look at the people with the highest credit scores. About 13 percent of Americans have credit scores of 800 or higher. If you look at their credit profile, they have:

• four to six credit card accounts,
• no late payments in the past seven years,
• at least one installment loan — a mortgage or a car loan — with excellent payment history,
• an average of 10 years credit history per account and a few accounts with 20 years of good history,
• a low number of credit inquiries (fewer than three in the past six months),
• no bankruptcies, foreclosures, charge-offs or collections, and
• debt levels at no more than 35 percent of their overall credit limits per account.

The bottom line: Set your mind for success before applying start looking for your next Pembroke Pines home. Get a mortgage preapproval and take steps to improve your credit. Make sure you have a history of making all payments on time, using the right mix of credit, and not maxing out on available credit.  Contact Adrian Valdes with any questions regarding how to apply for a mortgage or getting preapproved.

Economic gains in South Florida’s manufacturing and service companies suggest hiring could pick up this year.  Activity for this kind of companies has reached a level not seen since before recession, suggesting a stronger year for hiring.

The Institute for Supply Management reported its service sector index grew in January at the fastest peace in five years.  The private trade group’s index covers a wide swath of employers, from retailers to health care companies to construction firms.

Nationwide, employers will likely create a net 2.2 million jobs this year, according to a survey of economists taken last month by the Associated Press. That’s double the number of total jobs generated during 2010.

This is the right time to buy your next home at a town like Pembroke Pines which is located near most service companies. The service sector, which makes up for 95% of South Florida’s economy, is expanding at the fastest pace in five years. Retail sales are up and many companies are nearing the point where they can no longer expand without more employees.  Call Adrian Vlades and start packing!

The Home buyer tax break has strict rules that you need to know.  For Pembroke Pines taxpayers who claimed the home buyer’s credit in 2008. Starting this year they’ll have to pay it back.

That is because the original first-time home buyer’s tax “Credit” was in fact an interest-free loan that had to be paid in equal installments over 15 years.  The law gave home buyers who claimed the credit a two-year grace period which means the first installment is due this year. It is estimated that more than 950,5000 taxpayers claimed that credit in 2008.

The maximum 2008 credit was $7,500, so if you claimed the full amount, you’ll have to pay $500 when you file your 2010 tax return, and do so for 15 years on a row.

This means that a lot of people will end up owing a fair amount of taxes this year because of the additional $500 they’ll have to repay.

Now, if you bought a house in 2008 and then sold it, you could owe even more, because in that instance, you’re required to repay the entire amount of the credit all at once.

The repayment can’t exceed the gain on the sale, so if you didn’t make any profit on the sale, you may not owe anything.

This might be bad news for some of you but the Adrian4Homes team wants to keep you informed so you won’t have any surprises at the time of filing your 2010 taxes.

When it comes to selling your Pembroke Pines home, First Impression is key. Did you know that within 15 seconds a buyer has developed an opinion of your property? This is why establishing the right first impression is critical to achieving a successful sale. As a real estate professional in the Pembroke Pines real estate market, Adrian Valdes offers some advice on getting your home ready for sale.

The best way to make a buyer feel at home is to create an environment similar to a model home. We all know that a perfect display home is next to impossible to re-create, especially when you are living in it. But following are some key points you can use to help you get your home ready. Take a look around and see if you can mimic some of these techniques found in model homes:

1. A neutral environment. From paint to flooring, neutral colors appeal to most buyers because they create a sense of calm.
2. The colors and interior decorating accent the home’s features. An awesome lakeview can be showcased with open, airy window treatments and sparkling clean windows or doors.
3. There is a fresh, clean smell as soon as the door is opened. Don’t try to mask odors with fresheners, but rather eliminate the source. For example, no strong food cooking or pet odors. Give the dog a bath and/or keep that cat litterbox squeaky clean (and out of clear view)!
4. The sound of a model home is either quiet or enhanced by subtle background music.
5. All details of the home are looked after; lawns and landscape are manicured, fresh flowers at the entry, all clutter is eliminated. Bathrooms, Kitchen and appliances shine.

Look for more tips in the blogs to follow in the coming weeks. If you’d like more information now, about selling or buying a home in the Pembroke Pines real estate market, contact Adrian Valdes and he will provide you with all the information you need. His goal is to help you with all of your Real Estate needs.

The housing market received a serving of good news last week, as New Home Sales reportedly rose 17.5% in December to come in better than expectations. Overall, the report demonstrated that housing continues to recover – albeit slowly.

Despite the good news, the housing market was keyed in on another more important event last week: the release of the Fed’s Interest Rate Decision and Monetary Policy Statement. As expected, the Fed made no change to the Fed Funds Rate and even the Policy Statement was pretty much the same. But that didn’t stop the markets from getting a little fired up about the release.

In the end, the news last week demonstrated that economic conditions are improving, but they are doing so gradually. As a result, the market remains volatile, as Bonds and home loan rates move up and down depending on what reports or speeches hit the news wires. The good news is that despite the volatility, home loan rates remain extremely low for now and present a tremendous opportunity for buyers who lock in at the opportune moment.  Don’t miss this opportunity to buy a beautiful Pembroke Pines home and take advantage of the market conditions. Contact Adrian Valdes or visit  www.Adrian4Homes.com for more information.

The United States Postal Service is set to reduce the number of its offices by 2,000 nationwide this year as the agency can no longer afford to operate them. Most of the postal offices to be closed are in the rural areas and have low volumes of mails handled, according to Fetterly. However, she did not identify the sites saying these will have to be determined through 57 steps that will take from six months to a year to complete.

USPS spokeswoman Debbie Fetterly on Monday cited falling revenues as the reason for the planned closure of the 2,000 offices nationwide. She admitted that the postal service is losing out to the Internet as people prefer e-mail more than the traditional mail. Factors to be considered in closing a post office include cost of operation, revenue and proximity to stores and gas stations that offer postal services.

Pembroke Pines currently has four post offices in Pembroke Pines:

1. CPU PEMBROKE CHEVRON

8881 PEMBROKE RD

PEMBROKE PINES, FL 33025-2094

Phone Numbers: (954) 447-1311

Business Hours: Mon-Fri  8:00am-5:00pm, Sat 8:00am-4:00pm, Sun closed

2. UNIVERSITY

7972 PINES BLVD

PEMBROKE PINES, FL 33024-6920

Phone Numbers: (954) 966-5705

Business Hours: Mon-Fri 10:00am-8:00pm, Sat 10:00am-2:00pm, Sun 1:00pm-5:00pm

3. FLAMINGO

12590 PINES BLVD

PEMBROKE PINES, FL 33027-9998

Phone Numbers: (954) 441-7427

Business Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:30pm, Sat 8:30am-12:00pm, Sun closed

4. PEMBROKE PINES

2350 N UNIVERSITY DR

PEMBROKE PINES, FL 33024-9998

Phone Numbers: (954) 441-7334

The USPS funds its operations through earnings from stamps sale and other postal services. Among the changes planned for this year is a New Postal Service Pricing becoming effective on April 17. Single-piece, 1-ounce First-Class letters will remain 44 cents with additional ounces increased to 20 cents. The price for mailing a postcard will increase one cent. It will not affect Express Mail and Priority Mail prices.

We’ll keep you updated as soon as we get more information affecting Pembroke Pines residents. You could also visit our website for more Pembroke Pines News.

There’s always a lot going on at Everglades National Park! You could plan a visit for a few hours or a whole week; it is so close to Pembroke Pines that you could plan a different activity for each visit. There are so many things to do at the park as new adventures beckon from every corner of this unique ecosystem. A vast expanse of roughly 1.5 million acres, there seems no end to the adventures that can be found in Everglades National Park. 

The diverse habitats allow for enjoyable activities ranging from hiking, canoe and kayaking, biking, fresh and saltwater fishing and camping in the ultimate wilderness. You may find yourself spending a morning photographing the birds, an afternoon seeing alligators and turtles, or take a ranger guided tour or just spend an evening enjoying the warmth of your campfire. Concession boat captains narrate boat tours along the mangrove coast at both Flamingo and the Gulf Coast, and Tram Tour naturalists guide your explorations of the Shark Valley Slough. 

Always keep in mind your physical limitations when hiking, biking, or paddling in the Everglades, particularly, if you’re not from Florida. This is a sub-tropical environment and can be very hot and humid, especially in the summer.  Here are some things to keep in mind when planning your visit:

• Familiarize yourself with the trails before hiking, biking, or paddling. You should know how long the trail is and the approximate time it takes to do a certain trail. Ask a park ranger or park volunteer, if unsure.
• Do not hike, bike, or paddle without someone knowing where you will be going.
• Bring water (especially in the summer), insect repellent (summer and if you will be in or around heavy vegetation), sunscreen, and proper clothing for the activity you will be doing.
• Keep small children close at hand and under supervision when walking the trails, remember, you are in a wilderness area, our animals move about freely.
• Do not bring pets on the trails. Not only do you put your pet’s life in danger, you put yours in danger as well.
• Do not feed any wildlife that you encounter, this includes the birds (crows and grackles). Feeding wildlife of any kind will eventually make the animal aggressive and is illegal.
• No rollerblades, roller-skates, scooters, or skateboards allowed on any of the trails within the park.

Everglades National Park is the third largest park in the lower 48 states, covering 2400 square miles! There is no shortage of activities for Pembroke Pines residents to enjoy outdoors. The Everglades used to span from Lake Okeechobee in central Florida all the way down to Florida Bay. Now only 25% of the historic Everglades remains, which is being protected by the National Park System. For more information on Pembroke Pines visit my website or Contact Adrian.

How does your home compare now? These recent closed sales are neither short sales nor bank owned properties. They are all single family homes located west of I-75. This information is extracted from the Realtors MLS system. All closed sales are within the last 30 days.