Kathy's Real Estate Blog - Kathy Palmer

Canadians Buying in Florida: A Beginner's Guide

When Canadians look to buy a vacation property, it's usually about the weather. Most Canadian cities get extremely cold in the winter, and endure a miniature Ice Age's worth of snow. Meanwhile, Florida's natural beauty—its white, sandy beaches, its gorgeous coastline, and its sunny, warm winters—is the stuff of legend, but the summer here can get a bit too hot.

This all means that Florida and Canada are something of a match made in heaven. Living in Florida during the winter and in Canada the rest of the year lets many Canadians avoid the cold and beat the heat, giving them the best of both worlds. It's no surprise, then, that an estimated half a million Canadians own property in Florida!

But it's not easy to buy real estate outside your…

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Top 4 Luxury Features Florida Buyers Want Most

It's no secret that Southeast Florida is home to some of the most incredible luxury properties in the world. If you've ever browsed through some listings for multi-million dollar villas in Palm Beach Gardens or Jupiter, you've seen some truly incredible homes with luxury features that will make your life a dream. But when it comes to actually selling a luxury home, you have to figure out how to get your home to stand out from a group of homes that already stand very far out.

The secret to making a luxury home appeal more than any other is to ensure it has the latest and greatest luxury amenities. From smart fridges to infinity pools, from landscaping to wine rooms, every incredible feature is a small piece of the puzzle. When a potential buyer sees…

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What a $1 million budget will buy you in these 5 cities

From stunning estates in Jupiter, FL to tiny teardowns in Canada, here's what $1 million will get you across the globe.

Although $1 million should get you the life of luxury, in many major cities around the globe it's not that simple. In fact, in major cities $1 million will get you less than 600 square feet of space. Thankfully it's quite the opposite in our slice of paradise, where luxury homes for sale in South Florida for $1 million will get you a 3000 square foot house situated in one of the area's top country clubs. You could purchase a beautiful luxury home in South Florida or a small apartment in Hong Kong, take a look at what $1 million gets you in these 5 cities and tell us which you'd choose to live on Facebook.

Vancouver, British…

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Purchasing Luxury Vacation Homes in South Florida? Consider This!

With an average 159 days of sunshine in West Palm Beach alone, what is there not to love about South Florida? We have some of the best golf courses in North America, stunning ocean resorts, and beautiful world-class homes in master plan communities in South Florida. It's no surprise that many people flock to our little slice of paradise. However, before you start scouring listings for luxury vacation homes in South Florida, here are some key things you should consider:

Ongoing Costs

Ongoing costs for vacation homes can vary depending on the type of property and the location. Below are some of the most common costs for luxury homes in South Florida:

Home Owner Association Fees

Home owner association fees are common throughout many…

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Choosing a Gated Community in South Florida

Whether you're a young entrepreneur looking for a place to golf on the weekends, or a retiring couple in search of an active outdoor lifestyle, there are gated communities in Jupiter or West Palm Beach perfect for you. But with lifestyle options ranging from country club dining to raising horses, it can be difficult to choose just one.

Finding the community that's right for you means figuring out the kind of lifestyle and values you want to share with your neighbors. Here are few popular choices in South Florida.

Jupiter Golf Properties

Many of the Jupiter gated homes for sale are close to world-class golf courses that attract enthusiasts and professionals alike. If you choose to settle down in Old Trail, you will have access to The Fazio and…

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7 Great Things To Do Near Jupiter This Summer

Though the weather's nice throughout the year, summer is a particularly exciting time in South Florida. Around here, locals love to maximize their R&R potential by firing up the grill or hitting some of the Atlantic Coast's award-winning beaches, but there are also plenty of other activities—in and out of the sun—that will keep you and your family busy. With summertime just around the corner, here are eight exciting activities in and around Jupiter and West Palm Beach in the coming months:

1. SunFest

The music lovers in your family will adore SunFest in West Palm Beach, a five day festival like no other that claims to be the largest waterfront celebration of music in the state of Florida. With a line-up featuring performers like Snoop Dogg,…

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Jupiter Jubilee Saturday February 4, 2017

Jupiter Jubilee is an annual event, which will be celebrated this Saturday at the Jupiter Community Center from 11 to 5pm.  Each year, the Jubilee highlights Jupiter's unique character, history, community and natural treasures. In the spirit of conservation, the Jubilee is a Green event, and vendors, exhibits and attendees are encouraged to recycle, re-use, and conserve.

Free parking is available at Jupiter High School, just south of the Jupiter Community Center, on Military Trail.  Free shuttles will operate continuously throughout the event, back and forth from the high school and the Jubilee.

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Get Ready for Hurricane Season

We've already had our first tropical storm Colin and although we didn't suffer a direct hit, you've all felt the effects of rain and blustery winds.  Now's the time to get ready for the hurricane season, and since we've been lucky enough to avoid any storms for the last ten years, that doesn't mean Mother Nature will give us a pass again.  Being prepared is the only way to deal with tropical storms, unless you'd want to leave this paradise and go somewhere up north!

You can get good information on what to do to cover all your family's needs by checking out this hurricane preparation list.  Do it today!

And when you're done get out and enjoy your summer,

Kathy Palmer

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Property for Sale in Trailside

This beautiful home could be your family compound or simply a private getaway from the maddening crowd. The property contains 20 completely fenced acres within the gated community of Trailside. Just off I-95 and 15 minutes to the beach, Trailside features a paved road, miles of equestrian paths, and 20 acre lots. This home has 6 bedrooms, 5 full baths, a side entry garage and front and back expansive porch areas. You’ll find hardwood flooring throughout the home, a magnificent stone fireplace, and a spacious kitchen with a full bath off of the garage. The master suite affords beautiful vistas and a working fireplace.  French doors open out to beautiful views of the best of Florida’s natural landscapes. Finally an affordable home with acreage allowing…

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Weekend happenings in west Jupiter January 28 and 29

January 28, 2017 9am to 4pm. 

Free Event, will go on Rain or Shine!

On Saturday, January 28, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., watch history unfold as the two engagements that occurred during the Second Seminole War in what is now Loxahatchee River Battlefield Park are re-enacted.

Dressed re-enactors will revive the battle that occurred between the U.S. Army and the Seminole Indians on January 24, 1838. The Loxahatchee Battlefield preservationists will take to the field during the re-enactment and will also guide battlefield tours throughout the day.

The re-enactment itself will start at 2 p.m. with opening remarks followed by the battle. Also on site will be exhibitors, weapons demonstrations, speakers of period history and archaeology, and…

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