Common Contingencies in Real Estate

In many real estate transactions, the term 'contingency' may come up. A contingency is a clause that is added to the contract that gives the parties the right to back out of the contract under certain circumstances that must be negotiated between the buyer and seller. Essentially, a contingency clause allows either the buyer or the seller to back out of the sale without any kind of repercussions or breach of contract. For the majority of real estate transactions, most contingencies are for the benefit of the buyer. It's important to know the most common contingencies that could come up in your next home sale or purchase.

Appraisal Contingency

For those home purchases that require funding, an appraisal is required to determine the overall value of the home. The lender won't lend more than what a home appraises at, so should an appraisal come in lower than asking price, a problem arises. If a buyer doesn't have the cash to make up the difference, the lender won't loan more money to cover the difference. Because of this, an appraisal contingency is helpful: it allows the buyers to back out of a deal if the appraisal price is not as high as the purchase price, or it allows the buyer and seller to re-negotiate the purchase price, giving the buyer the ability to back out of the deal if the seller declines to come down in the total price of the property.

Financing Contingency

The buyer is responsible for funding the home purchase, whether it be with cash, mortgage loan or some kind of other funding. If the purchase is dependent on financing a loan, then a financing contingency will likely be included in the contract. A financing contingency helps protect the buyer should the loan not come through. A financing contingency can also include other details regarding the purchase, like the type of loan, the amount of the down payment, loan term and even the interest rate. This is an important contingency in that it protects the buyer, allowing him/her to walk away from the deal without any repercussions or loss of earnest deposit, which is incredibly valuable to the buyer.

Home Inspection Contingency

One of the most important protection contingencies, the home inspection is a huge part of the home buying process. The inspection is performed by the buyer in order to ensure the property is up to his/her standards. A home inspection does a great job at determining the overall condition of the property, calling to light any major issues with the home's major systems. The buyer has a lot of protection with a home inspection contingency, especially if major items come up in the inspection report. With a home inspection contingency, the buyer can: ask for a discount to help with any necessary repairs, go through with the sale regardless of the findings and do the repairs after move in, or back out of the deal based on the findings without any negative repercussions.

Home Insurance Contingency

Home insurance is important: it provides protection for things such as property damage, fires, natural disasters, and other issues. When it comes to a home insurance contingency, this could be a requirement that the buyer secures home insurance prior to finalizing the purchase. The contingency could be part of the loan agreement, put in place by the mortgage lender, or it could be something the seller dictates in the contract. This can be a tricky one (especially if the insurance is needed prior to closing) if the property is located in an area where insurance is difficult to get, like a known flood zone or other region that experiences inclement weather and/or natural disasters.

Home Sale Contingency

For those buyers who are also selling their own home, a home sale contingency is usually inserted into the contract. Basically, this contingency is "I want to buy your house, but I can't until my house sells." Properties listed as "under contract" or "contingent offer" likely have a home sale contingency on them. The homes are still open for offers, but the contingency clause will likely have a stated amount of time for the original offer maker to sell his/her home before the seller can accept new offers.

Contingencies are common in real estate, and they're not a bad thing: they help protect both buyers and sellers. If you have questions about contingencies, or about real estate in general, contact your local agent for more information!

I am a realtor working in South Florida. If you need help buying or selling a home, please contact me. Also, please view my website where you will also be able to search the MLS. 

http://www.lindatabaskygoldberg.keyes.com/

Investment Property FAQ

For many cities and areas around the country, real estate is an excellent investment as real estate markets continue to grow. Investment properties are a great way of taking advantage of competitive real estate markets, and with more renters in the U.S. than any time since 1965 (according to the Pew Research Center, as of 2016, 36.6 percent of household heads rented their home), investment properties are not only a great way to grow wealth, they're a sound investment for anyone considering the investment real estate world. With any type of real estate transaction there are a number of questions, and below are some of the most common FAQs regarding investment properties.

How do I Find a Profitable Property

Finding the property that's going to fit your needs and wants in an income property begins with determining what kind of income property you'd like to own. Are you going the traditional route, where the property will be rented full-time, month-to-month or via a lease? Are you more interested in a home that will be used via a house rental program, like Airbnb or VRBO? Are you interested in a multi-family property, where there are multiple units within one property? Once the type of property is determined, the next step is to look. As your real estate agent, I am the best resource and will be able to find properties that fit your needs and wants. And remember, finding a location that is popular and sought-after is just as important as the property itself.

How do I Determine if it’s a worthwhile Investment?

The main indicator of whether a property will be a worthwhile investment is its potential cash flow. Cash flow, in the most basic sense, is the property's rental income minus monthly expenses. Positive cash flow means the property produces income each month or rental period; negative cash flow means there is not enough income to offset the expenses. With an investment property, you'll need to consider how many items influence positive cash flow: insurance, property tax payments, vacancies, general maintenance, upkeep of the property's major systems, and if there is a mortgage payment on the property. If the property is going to require a lot of repairs and monthly maintenance, there might not be a positive cash flow for some time. If the property won't require a lot of maintenance and is in a desirable location, it could have a positive cash flow in just a couple of months.

How do I Finance it?

Financing an investment property is similar to financing a regular home. The most common way to finance is through a bank loan. There are loans available specifically for investment properties, which can cover many different types of income or investment properties: multi-family properties, vacation homes and more. It's important to note that mortgage insurance won't cover investment properties, so if you're going the mortgage loan route you'll need to put at least 20 percent down to secure traditional financing. Credit score and income are also important when it comes to securing financing, and for some lenders, securing a loan will require two years of landlord experience.

Is An Agent Necessary?

Using an agent is an excellent idea, especially when you consider all an agent offers and can help with. An agent will often be the first to know of an available property as s/he helps with property searches; s/he will look into the different markets, work with inspectors and appraisers, aid in negotiations and much more. A real estate agent is trained to do the dirty work - and unless you are self-employed or have a decent amount of time to dedicate to searching for real estate and all the paperwork that comes along with it, using an agent will make the entire process more enjoyable and easier to navigate versus going it alone.

Are There Any Benefits?

There are a number of benefits of investment or income properties: if you own the property long-term, you have the possibility of seeing a significant appreciation in property value and equity growth. For rental properties, there are a number of tax deductions that landlords can take advantage of that cover things like interest, depreciation, repairs, local travel, long distance travel, employees and independent contractors, casualty and theft losses, insurance premiums and many more. It's important to note that a trained tax professional with experience in investment properties will be able to provide additional information on the tax benefits and deductions available to income property owners. There is also the potential benefit of leveraging your investment. As an example, if you purchase a property worth $300,000 with 20% ($60,000) down, when that property appreciates in value to $330,000, your $60,000 investment just appreciated 50 percent!

I am a realtor working in South Florida. If you need help buying or selling a home, please contact me. Also, please view my website where you will also be able to search the MLS. 

http://www.lindatabaskygoldberg.keyes.com/

Common Appraisal Myths

An appraisal is an important part of many real estate transactions. An appraisal is typically done if a buyer must get a mortgage loan to purchase a property. The appraisal is done by a licensed appraiser and it's based on a lot of different data gathered during an inspection by the appraiser. When it comes to appraisals, there are many myths or misconceptions around them. Whether you're looking to buy a home, refinance a current mortgage, or you're looking for more information about all that goes into real estate transactions, here are some of the most common myths when it comes to appraisals.

An  Appraisal is the same as a Home Inspection

While both an appraisal and home inspection provide important information to all parties, they are not the same thing. An appraisal is done to determine the value of a property, generally for the benefit of a lender. The appraiser will inspect a property for improvements and deficiencies but only to determine the overall value of a property. However, a home inspection’s main purpose is to look at the 'guts' of a property, assessing the overall condition, and inspecting the major systems, appliances and structure to determine the shape of a property. The appraisal is done to determine the value of a property; a home inspection, which is not required, is done to determine the overall health of a property.

The Appraiser is Hired by the Buyer

An appraisal is required when a home is being purchased with a mortgage loan; a current homeowner is looking to refinance their existing mortgage; or when someone is selling a home to someone that is not an all-cash buyer. The appraisal acts as a security for the lender to understand the value of the property when making the loan decision. Due to federal changes several years ago, the lender does not hire a specific appraiser- they are chosen from a pool of appraisers. For the majority of property transactions, the buyer is responsible for the cost of the appraisal, and for the most part the buyer or borrower pays the costs through the lender. Sometimes  a seller will  get an appraisal to get an idea of a home's value before listing the property - in this case, the seller would hire the appraiser and pay for the appraisal.

The Appraisal Varies Whether it's For the Buyer or Seller

Typically, an appraiser has no vested interest in the price of a property – They don’t represent any particular person. The appraiser is to complete an independent and objective appraisal, simply performing the service of determining a property's appraised value. Appraisals can be done for a number of reasons: insurance, home loans, tax losses, estates, liquidation and net worth. Because of this, depending upon the purpose of the appraisal, the market value and appraised value can vary, but the appraiser does not complete an appraisal in favor of the seller or the buyer.

Appraisers Use a Formula to Determine the Value of a Property

The way in which appraisers determine the value of a property is very detailed. An appraiser will analyze all aspects of a property: location, condition, size, proximity to amenities and other facilities, and they will also consider the recent sale prices of comparable properties in the area. Other items that are considered in the appraisal: number of bedrooms and bathrooms and the floor plan functionality. The appraiser does a visual and physical inspection of the interior and exterior of the property. They will take into consideration the type of flooring in a home; the materials used in the kitchens, bathrooms, and other rooms; the siding and any other recent upgrades. An appraiser will also consider things that need to be repaired, and other miscellaneous items. Far from a specific formula, appraisers use a lot of data to determine the appraised value of a property and an appraisal can take a number of hours to complete depending on the size of a house and complexity of the property.

I am a realtor working in South Florida. If you need help buying or selling a home, please contact me. Also, please view my website where you will also be able to search the MLS. 

http://www.lindatabaskygoldberg.keyes.com/

Plantation, Florida home For Sale 5281 SW 5th St Plantation, FL 33317

UNDER CONTRACT IN JUST 4 DAYS!!!

Property Site: http://tour.keyes.com/home/9NEMSP/5281-SW-5th-St-Plantation-FL-A10327656

Are you looking to buy a home in the heart of Plantation? Here is your opportunity to own a beautifully, well maintained pool home. This home has great curb appeal. Circular drive way can easily accommodate lots of parking. All windows, doors and sliders are impact. Laminate flooring in bedrooms and living rooms, tile flooring in kitchen and hallways, lot of storage. Roof only 3 years old. Fenced backyard with shed. Screened patio and pool is perfect for entertaining. Close to highways, shopping, restaurants and park. What a great place to call home. 

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2

Square feet: 2,683

Price: $379,000

For more information about this property or to schedule a private showing, please contact Linda Tabasky at (954) 865-9572 or LindaTabasky@keyes.com. You can also text 4529567 to 67299.

See more listings at: http://LindaTabaskygoldberg.keyes.com/

MLS ID: A10327656

Common Items Sellers Forget To Do

Selling your home or property is a big event and it is very easy to overlook some relatively easy things that you can do that can really help to get your home sold. So check out this list of things to do. 

Check references 

The first thing I would do is to ask your family and friends if they know any realtors whom they trust. If they do not, then you can search for one online, but be sure to check their reviews and even ask for references. After all, you are entrusting them to help you sell one of your biggest assets.

Disclose Invisible Improvements and Former Issues

If you have owned your home for quite a while, it is very easy to have forgotten the small improvements you may have made. In addition to disclosing the larger improvements such as a new roof or new a/c, you will want to also disclose the smaller ones you have made as well. If you have had any damage to the home and it has been repaired, disclose that as well. No need to put yourself in a situation where you are at fault for not disclosing. 

Social Media Marketing 

The number one thing that all sellers want is to get their home sold quickly and for the most amount of money as possible. Chances are your realtor is on social media and she/he will share your listing with everyone they know. But you can do the same..share it on Facebook, twitter, Instagram and ask your friends and family to share it too. This way your listing can be viewed by hundreds or thousands of people easily, quickly and effectively. 

Curb Appeal

While you want the inside of your home to shine, you want the outside to reflect the same. Buyers see the pictures your realtor puts on the MLS. If the outside does not look good, you may have some buyers who don't even want to take a look at the home. Or the buyers driving by and see your for sale sign, they too may choose to pass up on a great home, just because the outside doesn't look appealing. So be sure to keep your lawn cut, bushes and trees trimmed, fix any blown bulbs outside and make small cosmetic repairs if necessary.

Clean 

Upon moving out of your home, you should clean it for the new buyers. Some contracts state that the home should be swept clean, but even if it isn't required, it is a nice gesture of good will. You should clean the inside of the home, wash floors, clean all appliances inside and out, clean closets, cupboards and clean out the garage. 

I am a realtor working in South Florida. If you need help buying or selling a home, please contact me. Also, please view my website where you will also be able to search the MLS. 

http://www.lindatabaskygoldberg.keyes.com/

Best Broward County Farmer’s Markets

Why Shop at a Farmer’s Market?

Local produce is fresher- Chances are the produce you buy today was picked just a day or 2 ago.

Your supporting your local farmers- More money spent at the farmer’s market goes back to the farmers.

Buying locally protects the environment- Buying locally helps to reduce energy consumption. Your food is not traveling thousands of miles to get here, therefore reducing the amount of transportation and storage needed.

Your money circulates within your community- Local farmers spend their money with local merchants and the money stays in your community.

Yellow Green Market 1940 N 30th Rd, Hollywood, FL 33021

Open Saturday and Sunday 8-4.

Stoll the aisles of this farmer’s market and be delighted by all the fresh fruit, vegetables, locally caught fish, home baked treats, artisinal jewelry, home décor, flowers and so much more. You can even catch a yoga or Zumba class.

Southwest Ranches Farmer’s Market

5150 South Flamingo Road Southwest Ranches, FL 33330

Find fresh local and organic produce. Plus, you will also find raw milk, cage free eggs and fresh yogurt. You can also get grass fed pasture raised meats free of antibiotics and hormones. Support your local farmers and enjoy the fresh food.

Brother’s Farmers Market-

6871 Stirling Rd Davie, FL 33314
4191 N State Rd 7 Hollywood, FL 33021
3429 N Hiatus Rd Sunrise, FL 33351

This market offers a huge selection of fresh and organic fruits and vegetables at great prices. Plus, they also have healthy prepared foods. Shop at three locations throughout Broward. This place is definitely one of my favorites. Open 7 days a week!

Marando Farms

1401 SW 1st Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315
5151 SW 64th Avenue Davie, FL 33314

Open daily from 10-6 on weekdays and 10-5 weekends

Two locations to serve you in Davie and Ft. Lauderdale. Marando Farms & Ranch in Davie features an organic market, u-pick eggs, pony rides, petting zoo, Zen Bar, Twisted Tomato Cafe, Artisan vendors, events & more! Plus, coming soon is a farm to fork restaurant.

By shopping at your local farmer's market, not only will you get the freshest produce of the season, you will get it at great prices. Not to mention that you will be able to find a larger variety of produce, than at your local supermarket.

So visit one of the farmer's market in your area, meet the growers and make a social connection with your community.

I am a realtor working in South Florida. If you need help buying or selling a home, please contact me. Also, please view my website where you will also be able to search the MLS. http://www.lindatabaskygoldbergkeyes.com/

Hurricane Preparedness

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1- November 30^th. With hurricane season right around the corner, now is the perfect time to start your preparations.

The first thing you should do as Hurricane season approaches is review your insurance policy. This way you know exactly what type of coverage you have. And, if you feel that it is not adequate, now is the time to make changes to your policy.

You will also want to keep certain original documents safe in the event of a hurricane. Gather all important documents such as copies of wills, birth certificates, marriage certificates, passports, bank info, etc. If you can, these items should be stored in a safety deposit box. If you are in an evacuation zone and will leave if a hurricane approaches, be sure to have copies of these documents with you. If you do not have a safety deposit box, be sure to store all important documents in a sealed plastic bag.

Make sure to stock up on non-perishable food. Make sure you have plenty of drinking water. The recommended amount of water is 1 gallon per person for 3-7 days. Non-perishable foods include canned foods, juice boxes, dry cereals, canned soup, peanut butter and snacks. Don’t forget to buy enough baby food and food and water for your pet.

Hurricane preparedness doesn’t stop there. Be sure to have these other items as well:

·        Diapers, wet wipes, baby formula

·        Medications

·        Cash

·        Paper plates, paper cups, plastic ware, can opener

·        Lanterns

·        Flashlights and batteries

·        Toys, books and games to keep everyone busy

·        Gas up your car in advance

·        Toiletries

·        Fully charged cell phones

·        Battery operated radio

You will also need a first aid kit, just in case. You can easily make one by adding the following items:

·        Scissors

·        Alcohol

·        Bandages

·        Pain Relievers

If a hurricane is approaching, and you are under a hurricane warning, it is time to put up your hurricane shutters or plywood. Bring in all of your outdoor items that could potentially be picked up and hurled in a strong wind. These outdoor items include lawn furniture, plants in pots, bbq grills, extra roof tiles, etc. DO NOT PUT ANY OF THESE ITEMS IN THE POOL!

Remember, your safety and your family’s safety is key. Stay away from windows, resist the urge to go outside to see what is happening, and listen to your local weather stations for news and updates.

Once the storm is over don’t walk through puddles and watch for down wires. Remember, it only takes one storm to change your life. Be careful, take precautions and above all be prepared!

I am a realtor working in South Florida. If you need help buying or selling a home, please contact me. Also, please view my website where you will also be able to search the MLS. http://www.lindatabaskygoldberg.keyes.com/

1433 NE 15th Ave Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

Property Site: http://tour.keyes.com/home/HLVT52/1433-NE-15th-Ave-Fort-Lauderdale-FL-A10266138

THIS HOME HAS IT ALL! LIGHT, BRIGHT AND OPEN, BEAUTIFUL 3/2 HOME WITH GRANITE COUNTERTOPS IN KITCHEN. BRAND NEW STAINLESS STEEL DISHWASHER AND STOVE, NEW A/C UNIT, UPDATED BATHROOMS, TILE THROUGHOUT LIVING ROOM, KITCHEN AND BATHROOMS. WASHER/DRYER HOOK UP IN ATTACHED CARPORT, ROOF IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD, IMPACT WINDOWS AND SO MUCH MORE. NO HOA!! CLOSE TO 95, JUST 10 MINUTES TO THE BEACH, CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN LAS OLAS, FIVE MINUTES TO WILTON MANORS. MOVE IN READY!

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2

Square feet: 1,342

Price: $399,000

For more information about this property, please contact Linda Tabasky at (954) 865-9572 or LindaTabasky@keyes.com. You can also text 4300165 to 67299.

See more listings at: http://LindaTabaskyGoldberg.keyes.com/

MLS ID: A10266138

HOW TO REPAIR YOUR CREDIT

HOW TO REPAIR YOUR CREDIT

Good credit is crucial to helping you save money on home loans, car loans, and insurance. And believe it or not, having good credit can even help you to land a job or get a promotion. So if you are planning on buying a home or making another large purchase, or you just want to have a good credit score, here are some easy tips that you can follow to help get you back on track. But keep in mind, it won’t happen overnight. Take your time and be patient, and if you do the following, you will be able to repair your credit.

Pay Your Bills on Time- Paying your bills on time is one of the best ways to positively impact your FICO score. When possible, set up auto-pay so you don’t miss a payment. If auto-pay is not available, set up payment reminders on your phone.

Reduce Your Debt- Stop using credit cards!! This means that you may have to go without things that aren’t a necessity. If you don’t NEED it, don’t buy it!

Keep Balances on Credit Cards Low- High balances can negatively impact your credit score. Always try to pay off your balance each moth but if that’s not possible, you should at least try to pay more than the minimum due.

Don’t Close Unused Credit Cards- When you close out a credit card, you reduce your overall available credit. So if you do not cut back on spending money, this will have a negative impact on your credit utilization rate, which is one of the most important factors used to calculate your credit score. It may be best to just keep the card.

Check Your Credit Reports- Everyone makes mistakes, even credit reporting companies. By checking your reports periodically, you can catch any mistakes before they get out of hand.

For more tips on how to repair your credit or to find out what your credit score is, click on one of the following links.

https://www.creditkarma.com
https://www.credit.com/free-credit-score/
http://www.experian.com/

I am a realtor working in South Florida. If you need help buying or selling a home, please contact me. Also, please view my website where you will also be able to search the MLS. http://www.lindatabaskygoldberg.keyes.com/

Home Staging Tips on a Budget!

Ready to sell your home but you know it may not look its best? Here are a few easy and cheap tips for home staging on a budget.

Paint- Painting is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to change the look of a room. Be sure to use neutral colors and don’t forget to paint the doors and trim

Clean- Get your home professionally cleaned – windows, sliding glass door tracks, fans, etc.

Clear the clutter- even if your home is not white glove clean, it will look clean with papers and stuff you don’t need out of the way. Box it up and put it in a box in the garage.

Use air fresheners- clean homes smell good!

Furniture- No need to buy new furniture but you can re-arrange the furniture to make a better flow

Buy new slip covers for your sofas

Reduce the size of your dining table so it gives the appearance your dining room is larger

Bathroom- If the bathroom and cabinets are worn and tired consider painting them.

Change out the hardware on the cabinets, toilet paper roll, etc.

Add a new shower curtain

And one last thing that you can add to any home to instantly make it look nicer and brighter is fresh flowers and live plants. Plus, when you sell your home, the plants can easily travel with you.

I am a realtor working in South Florida. If you need help buying or selling a home, please contact me. Also, please view my website where you will also be able to search the MLS. http://www.lindatabaskygoldberg.keyes.com/

Tips for First Time Home Buyers

So you are finally ready to transition from a rental to purchasing a home? Or maybe you lived with your parents a little longer than you wanted to so you could save for a down payment? Either way, if you are a first time home buyer, here is a great little guide to help you navigate the road to home ownership.

Save! Save! Save! 
In addition to a down payment, you will also need to have enough money for closing costs and escrow for insurance and taxes.

Improve Your Credit Score- Remember the higher your credit score, the lower your interest rate

·        Make sure you pay your bills on time

·        Do not make any major purchases (car, furniture, etc.)

·        Don’t cancel any credit cards

Get Pre-Approved 
Chances are what you think you can afford and what you actually can afford is very different. Speak to a few different mortgage lenders to get pre-qualified and make sure to shop the best rate.

Decide What Your Non-Negotiables Are 
No house is perfect and no house will have every single feature you want. Decide on the must haves so you can weed out the ones you don’t want before ever going to see it.

Choose a Realtor

Make sure that you are comfortable with the person you choose as your realtor. You will be working very closely with them during the home hunting and home buying process.

Visit Homes

When you go on appointments to view the properties, make sure you take lots of notes and maybe even pictures.

Narrow Choices

·        If you see a home you like, you may want to drive through the neighborhood at different days and different times and check for noise, traffic, etc.

·        How is the commute to your job?

Make an Offer

Your realtor can help you to determine the asking price based upon comps in the area

Schedule the Home Inspection

Do a Final Walk Through

·        Test all light switches and outlets

·        Check that windows and doors work

·        Check faucets, drains, toilets

Move In and Create Your Memories!

I am a realtor working in South Florida. If you need help buying or selling a home, please contact me. Also, please view my website where you will also be able to search the MLS. http://www.lindatabaskygoldberg.keyes.com/

Botaniko Weston, Fl.

Welcome to Botaniko of Weston, Fl.

Botaniko Weston is a pre-construction, new home community located in Weston, Fl. Botaniko is a collection of 125 architecturally distinctive homes, situated in a gated community along the historic Florida Everglades.  

Designed by award winning architects Chad Oppenheim and Roney J Mateu, these homes are both elegant and private. There will be a collection of unique one and two story homes by the designers, ranging in size from 4200 to 7200 sq ft. Each home will offer a great outdoor entertainment space with a private pool and summer kitchen. Both designs celebrate the tropical climate of Florida, allowing for indoor and outdoor living.

Additionally, landscape architect and master planner JEFRË has designed lush landscapes, a tranquil sanctuary of winding residential streets, jogging paths, biking paths, lakes and beautiful water features.  And that’s not all, Venus Williams’ design firm, V Starr, has collaborated with Botaniko to create striking interior design spaces that you will notice the moment you enter.

In addition to the natural beauty of Botaniko, residents can take comfort in top notch security with a 24 hour security gate, which will be staffed 24 hours a day. Plus, for an added safety measure, there will also be security cameras and state-of- the- art closed circuit tv.

Why choose Weston? Weston is a family oriented, master-planned community. Ranked by Money Magazine as the #8 best places to live in America 2016, Weston has become one of South Florida’s most desirable communities to live, work and play!

·        Top Rated Public Schools

·        Excellent Private Schools

·        Lowest Crime rate per capita in the County

·        The lowest combined property taxes, municipal taxes and fees in the County

·        Bicycle Friendly Community

·        Great Parks and Recreational Facilities

·        Home to Cleveland Clinic, Weston


If you would like to schedule a tour of Botaniko, please contact me.

I am a realtor working in South Florida. If you need help buying or selling a home, please contact me. Also, please view my website where you will also be able to search the MLS. http://www.lindatabaskygoldberg.keyes.com/

Indoor Plants that Detoxify Your Home

                                                    

Did you know that formaldehyde and benzene, common air pollutants are lurking in your home? Indoor air pollution is most commonly caused by synthetic building materials but cleaning products and personal care products are culprits as well. Symptoms of exposure to formaldehyde and benzene include irritation of the eyes, nose and throat and they have also been linked to asthma. So if you’re looking for some natural ways to detoxify your home, while beautifying it at the same time, check out this list of house plants that will help to clean the indoor air.

Aloe- Aloe is a plant that helps to clear formaldehyde and benzene from the air, but the gel on the inside of the plant can help to heal cuts and scrapes. It’s perfect for a kitchen window where it will thrive in the sun. It only needs to be watered once every week or so. Aloe can also be used to help soothe a sunburn and can even be used as a hair conditioner.

Areca Palm- Areca palms are one of the easiest palms to grow indoors. It is one of the top air purifying plants, so it not only looks good but is good for you as well. The Areca Palms require bright, indirect light; near a window is best and it only needs to be watered when the soil feels dry. This plant is safe if your home has pets.

English Ivy-  Also helpful at filtering out formaldehyde, this plant can reduce air borne fecal matter as well. It grows best with about 4 hours of direct sunlight daily and moist soil.

Peace Lily- This plant is at the top for filtering out formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene, a solvent that is toxic to human and wildlife. Caring for the Peace Lily is easy- when it droops it needs water. It does well in shady areas.

Rubber Plant- Also great at removing formaldehyde, the Rubber plant grows in little sun. It only needs to be watered well about once a week, and the leaves may require a light misting of water.

Snake Plant- We love snake plants! It is one of the best plants for getting rid of formaldehyde and other air pollutants. These plants don’t require much light and only need to be watered when the soil feels dry. They also absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen at night.

Spider Plant- The spider plant is great at eliminating benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and xylene. They like bright indirect sunlight; they do best in cooler temperatures and like drier soil. They are safe if you have pets in the home.

So if you are wondering what would make a great closing gift for your customers, you my want to consider one of these plants.

I am a realtor working in South Florida. If you need help buying or selling a home, please contact me. Also, please view my website where you will also be able to search the MLS. http://www.lindatabaskygoldberg.keyes.com/