2850 Windmill Ranch Road, Weston, FL 33331

Elegantly designed home with panoramic view of lake and pool area! Grand foyer entrance that steps down to formal living room with 15′ ceilings, marble floors throughout, with gorgeous custom drapes…Master bedroom with sitting room overlooks pool area! Millwork thruout home with decorator and faux finishes! 4 Full bedrooms with office and playroom/den off of family room. French doors lead out to patio from every entrance! Rear 3 car garage plus circular driveway in front of house. Gas fireplace in family room plus wet bar/butler’s pantry and wide open kitchen with breakfast area that offers fabulous view as well. Summer kitchen under covered patio! Great entertainment house! Don’t miss this opportunity!

REDUCED TO $1,475,000

For more information on this listing or any other South Florida Listings please contact Liz Caldwell at 954-646-6332 or lizziebc@aol.com. Please visit my website at lizcaldwell.com

Now that today’s economy is becoming stable again and home prices are remaining relatively the same, it is one of the most opportune times to buy a home. Here are five reasons why right now is a good time to buy!

1. Low mortgage rates act as an equity shock absorber.This allows the buyers to have some leeway to build equity as the housing market gets better.

2. Houses are in move-in condition.Buyers do not have to worry about maintenance or repairs to the home, which will save you a lot of money.

3. Terrific houses are coming on the market.Because many foreclosure are starting to leave the marketplace, many desirable homes are entering the market.

4. Appraisal regulations are finally aligned with market realities.The appraisal guidelines have been adjusted so that appraisers now have more flexibility to set val;ues for available homes that better reflects the current market.

5. Plenty of programs. Programs, such as the “workforce housing” program, encourages middle-class families to buy homes and benefits these families ten fold due to the low mortgage rates.

For more information on this topic and the full article, please click this link: http://rismedia.com/2010-08-01/5-smart-reasons-to-buy-a-home-now/

2860 Birkdale Weston, FL 33332

Fabulous golf course home in the Reserve that offers 4 full bedrooms, a formal office, a three car garage, and a main living area with marble floors throughout. Updates such as new carpeting in the bedrooms, repainted exterior, and a totally remodeled gourmet kitchen with granite, wood cabinetry, stainless steal appliances, and more! Crown moldings are located throughout the home! Plus a great entertaining area and a heated pool! Very well maintained! Located on Culdesac Street! Don’t miss this opportunity!

Directions: Take Royal Palm Parkway to the main gate of Weston Hills. Go through the gate to The Reserve entrence and make a left at the first stop sign. Make your next left and follow to the road ro the property. The house will be on your right.

For more information on this property or any of my other listings, please visit my website: lizcaldwell.com

In the past eight years, there have been record temperature highs. Due to the steamy weather, we need to stay cool, but you don’t have to burn a whole in your wallet trying to avoid the heat. Here are ten ways, mostly costing under $25, to cut your air conditioning bill in half!!

1. Set the AC Dial Higher. If your home has central air, set your thermostat to 78 degrees and you with see a five to eight percent drop on your bill with each degree above the mark. When you leave home for more than one hour, set the thermostat to 85 or 90 degrees. Reset it upon your return, and the room will cool down in only 15 minutes. The system will use less energy during the cool-down period than if you had left it running at a lower setting while you were out.  Changing this routine could save you anywhere from 15 to 20 percent on your next bill and doesn’t cost you a penny!

2.  Use a Fan. A fan only costs five cents and hour to use and will cool your room anywhere from four to six degrees. In frequently used rooms, install a ceiling fan (set it to spin counterclockwise in summer). You’ll save the most money by running the fan only when you’re in the room. Fans can save you fifteen percent on your cooling bill. If nighttime temperatures drop into the 70s where you live, you might want to purchase a whole-house fan, which runs $300 to $600 installed. This type of unit goes in an upstairs ceiling, ideally in a central hall. When run at night with the windows open, the fan will pull cool air into the house as it vents hot air out through the attic. The whole house fan can cut your bill in half!!

3. Practice “Texas Cool.” At night when the temperature drops, open windows and bring in cool air with window fans or a whole-house fan. As soon as the sun comes up or the air starts to heat up, shut the windows and shades and keep doors closed. You can save 20 to 50 percent off your bill.

4. Use Sun Blockers. To cut “solar gain,” add curtains or blinds to rooms that get direct sun and draw them in daylight hours. With the shades drawn, a well-insulated house will gain only 1 degree per hour when outdoor temperatures are above 85 degrees. Save up to 20 percent on your next bill!

5.  Install a Programmable Thermostat. This device enables you to preset temperatures for different times of the day, so air-conditioning is working only when you are home. It is easy to install and can save you up to 20 percent off your AC bill.

6. Cook Smart. Save cooking, baking, and running appliances for cooler hours of the day because it could increase your overall cost 2 to 5percent otherwise.

7. Get Cooler Lights. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent. The bulbs use about 75 percent less energy and emit 90 percent less heat. You could save up up 5 percent on your bill.

8. Snug up the Ducks. Repair any minor leaks in your AC ducks and insulate ducts that run through a hot attic with a blanket of R-11 fiberglass insulation. You could save up to 40 percent off your cooling bill!!!

9. Seal Air Leaks. With a flashlight, exterior-rated silicone caulk, and a couple cans of expanding foam insulation on hand , search for and seal all leaks. Concentrate on the attic, basement and crawl space; pay close attention to anything that passes through a ceiling or wall, such as duct work, electrical or plumbing conduits and kitchen and bath vents. Other common leaky spots are around windows and doors. Save up to 10 percent on your bill.

10. Defeat Attic Heat. The temperature in your attic can reach 150 degrees on a hot summer day, a situation that if left unchecked can drive up cooling costs by as much as 40 percent. If your attic has less than R-22 insulation — 7 inches of fiberglass or rock wool, or 6 inches of cellulose — you should add more. Also, make sure that your attic is well insulated. These steps could save you 20 percent on your next cooling bill.

For the full article, visit this website: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,218939,00.html

2850 Windmill Ranch Road Weston, FL 33331

This property is an elegantly designed home with a panoramic view of the lake and pool area! It has a grand foyer entrance that steps down to formal living room with 15 foot ceilings, marble floors throughout, and gorgeous custom drapes. The master bedroom contains a  sitting room that overlooks the pool area! Mill work is present throughout home with decorator and faux finishes! The home contains four full bedrooms with an office and a playroom/den off of the family room. French doors lead out to patio from every entrance! In addition, the home has a rear 3 car garage plus circular driveway in front of house. There are gas fireplace in family room plus wet bar/butler’s pantry and wide open kitchen with breakfast area that offers fabulous view as well. The summer kitchen is under covered patio! Great entertainment house! Don’t miss this opportunity!

Directions:  Take Royal Palm to Windmill Ranch Road, head south past the guard gate, and the house will be on your left once you go through the stop sign.

For more information on this home or my other listing please visit my website: lizcaldwell.com

Due to the great low deals available for luxury homes whose prices were previously doubled, the market for luxury homes is bouncing back! Many of these luxury homes have been on the market for many years and are now starting to sell, indicating that this market is turning around due to the trickle-down effect on the prices of these properties. Sellers are finally lowering their prices and the bank are broadening the loan market. Banks are now lending international due to the large market of Europeans interested in buying homes near the beaches, especially in Dade county. The condo market has not seen the same turn around. Although the price of condos is coming down, they are not being “given away.”

When trying to sell a luxury home, you must get the buyers off the fence. This means that the buyers mentally ready to go to the next level and buy the home. To get buyers off the fence, there must be a good deal available and the banks must be willing to lend. When trying to market your luxury home, make sure you do not overprice your property at this current time. At this time, it is all about setting the right price, finding that buyer, and marketing marketing marketing!

To read more about this topic, please click this link: http://livemag.rismedia.com/wps/portal/ris/c1/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3iLkCAPEzcPIwN_d0tTA6OQYDPPAHN3Y38TU_1wkA6cKtyDDCHyBjiAo4G-n0d-bqp-QXZ2mqOjoiIAmS89-A!!/dl2/d1/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnB3LzZfOFRSSDRGSDIwT0c5NTAyVFM2SVA3RzNPSzU!/

Given the current economy, saving money is on every ones mind. One way to save money is to take steps to lower the property tax on you home. In the United States, sixty percent of all taxable property is over assessed. Therefore, take these seven steps to decrease your home’s property tax and save money.

1. Find out how your county calculates home value. Find out whether they calculate value based on the value of surrounding homes or the cost to rebuild a home in your area.

2. Check your property card. Make sure the information about your home is recorded properly on the card.

3. Compare your property with similar homes in your area

4. Evaluated assessed value v.s. market value

5. Build your evidence. Compare what you find about your home after you have fully assessed all the characteristics of your home with those of similar surrounding properties.

6. Set up an appointment with a professional assessor

7. Finally, appeal your tax assesment

To view the full video and to recieve more information on the topic, click this link and watch the full video: http://manage.top5inrealestate.com/videos/preview/55

In today’s housing market, there are low home prices, high volumes of inventory, and low goverment tax deals. Even though all these factors make buying a home look simple, Buyers should educated themselves about the potential pitfalls of purchasing a distressed property. When they come upon a problem in a home the buyer is considering purchasing, the buyer should consider the source of the problem and when the problem was addressed. Also, when looking at homes, a buyer should look out for these ten indications that trouble could be right around the corner:

1. Unheated house in winter months

2. Missing sinks, toilets, and other fixtures

3. Peeling, bubbling, and or swelling of paint (indication of water damage)

4. Fungus growth (potential water damage)

5. Blocked drains or pipes

6. Black cobwebs or greasy gray residue

7. Old home with extensive renovations

8. Excessive painting (attempting to cover up mold)

9. Discolored subflooring (indication of mold)

10. Air quality

To view the full video and get even more information about purchasing a damaged property click this link: http://manage.top5inrealestate.com/videos/preview/62

The most important precaution you can take to reduce damage to your home and property is to protect the areas where wind can enter. It is important to strengthen the exterior of your house so wind and debris do not tear large openings in it. Make sure to enforce the critical areas of your home, which include the roof, straps, shutters, doors, and garage doors.

Protecting your roof is vital to preventing your house from collapsing, especially if you have a gable fit roof. To secure your gable end wall, fasten eight-foot long braces to the bottom chord of the gable truss and the adjacent trusses with sixteen-penny nails. The braces must be perpendicular to the truss, spaced at a maximum of four feet on center. Also, be sure to tie back the gable truss with at least one eight-foot long brace, along the ridge of the roof, to several of the interior trusses. If you have a shingle roof, be sure to hire a professional to inspect if the adhesive is in proper condition for weather damage. Take the next step of cementing the shingles to the roof if you want to be extra precacious. To cement the shingle tabs to the underlying shingles, place two spots of quick-setting asphalt cement about the size of a quarter under each tab with a putty knife or caulking gun. Press the tab into the adhesive. Be sure to cement all the tabs throughout the roof, being careful not to bend them farther than necessary when applying the adhesive. Replace any damaged shingles immediately.

Also make sure to secure where your roof and wall meet. Metal hurricane straps ensure protection for those places in your home where the roof and wall connect. To install hurricane straps and clips, remove the roof sheathingaround the perimeter of the roof to reveal the top of the wall. You may also need to remove the soffit and exterior cladding to reveal the top 12 to 18 inches of the wall. In addition, if the exterior cladding is brick veneer, you may need to remove small sections of brick as needed. If your roof has trusses, make sure you tie them to the wall by either anchoring to the top plate and then the top plate to the wall stud, or strapping the truss directly to the wall stud.

To further secure your home, make sure your home is equipt with shutters. Impact resistant shutters are a great option. They protect against flying objects and sudden pressure changes that could break or weakend the structure of your door or home. A good option for new homes are laminated window systems, or plastic bonded to glass. If your home has permanent shutters, make sure to have them inspected for quality and effectiveness. Also, impact-resistant windows are very effective in protecting your windows from flying debris, even large objects.

Make it a priority to secure the doors in your home. to secure your doors, install head and foot bolts on the inactive door of double-entry doors, make sure your doors have at least three hinges and a dead bolt security lock which has a minimum one inch bolt throw length, and make sure the surface bolt of any double doors extends into the door header and through the threshold into the subfloor. You must even make sure to retrofit your garage door for a storm. To secure your garage door, check with your local government building official to see if there are code requirements for garage doors in your area and check with your local building supplier or garage door retailer to see if a retrofit kit is available for your garage door.

In preparation for hurricane season, take all these precautions to retrofit your home and look into flood insurance. Better safe than sorry.

To read more, please visit http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/retrofit/secure_home.shtml.